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IN THIS ISSUE
Outdoor fun Travel Education Apply for a free holiday with Away Resorts!
May/June 2023
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May/June 1 Familiesonline.co.uk
2 May/June
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CONTENTS
Welcome
In this issue
Now the weather is getting better and the evenings longer, you can get the kids outside to play. We’ve provided some tempting activity ideas for outdoor fun. It’s also a great time for eating outside – from family barbeques to street parties. Check out our simple outdoor dining ideas. Meanwhile, if you’re planning some time under canvas this summer, you may be interested in our top picks for UK camping destinations.
4 Education 10 What’s on 12 Outdoor play 14 Father’s Day gifts 15 Giveaways 16 Craft 17 Coronation downloadable 18 Days out 19 Health 20 Food 21 Parties 22 Travel
And as we head towards the end of term, don’t forget Father’s Day or a thank you gift for your child’s teacher – we have plenty of ideas for you in this issue. There are some great giveaways for you in this issue too, including your chance to win a holiday from Away Resorts, tonnes of Orchard Toy Little Shopping Lotto games and much more! Apply inside and also ensure you receive every issue of our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.
Get in touch Competition winners from our January/ February issue Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list HERE
New Affordable Foot Care Service For the Over 50's in Tameside For help looking after your feet book an appointment today call our Customer Service Team on 0161 308 5000
Our Happy Feet Footcare service offers: A Trim and Tidy for £12 A Deluxe Treatment that includes, a trim, tidy, file, massage, and nail nourishment for £18.00 Our Footcare Practitioner is professionally qualified, and we deliver excellent customer service. To book call 0161 308 5000 or email happyfeet@ageuktameside.com or visit our Centre Front Desk
131 Katherine Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7AW
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May/June 3
EDUCATION
Stockport Grammar audiences voyage to Ancient Greece Stockport Grammar audiences stepped back in time to Ancient Greece to watch a spectacular production of Dido and Aeneas. The production was created collaboratively between the Music, Dance and Classics departments. Based on Virgil’s poem, the Aeneid, which was written in the first century BC., the play follows the tragic love story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan Prince Aeneas. Composer Purcell set the fourth book of the epic poem to music in the 17th century. Chamber Choir and orchestra expertly brought Purcell’s compositions to life and the school’s dancers interpreted the story with expressive choreography. Drama students also created three exclusive scenes which portrayed the thoughts of Dido throughout the play. Find out more HERE
STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL An independent school for children ages 3-18 years
Assistance with fees available at 11+ and 16+ (means tested), academic and music scholarships FOUNDED IN 1487
Senior School Taster Days for Year 5 children Junior, Senior and Sixth Form school day tours • Outstanding academic results • Teaching that stretches and stimulates • A friendly and caring environment • Excellent facilities • Over 200 extra-curricular activities • Extensive school bus routes including Sale, Altrincham and Hale
SGS Inspires Tel: 0161 456 9000 4 May/June
“Excellent” Highest Inspection Rating
www.stockportgrammar.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk
EDUCATION
What is the CPA approach in maths? By Jemma Z Smith CPA (concrete, pictorial, abstract) is a maths teaching approach that has grown in popularity in recent years. It involves using tangible objects for children to add, subtract, multiply or divide. They then progress to using pictorial representations of the objects and ultimately, abstract symbols. This way of learning is one of the foundations of Singaporean maths, now being adopted in the UK. Concrete The tangible, ‘handling’ stage uses physical objects to solve problems. For example: There are four buttons in the pot. Stanley has two buttons in his hand. How many buttons are there altogether? In this problem, the children might first count out actual buttons before moving on to non-related objects such as counters. Of course, almost anything can be used to help a child master this stage from pencils to plastic pots, to counting beans and coins. You don’t need to spend money on concrete resources to support learning. Pictorial The next step is for learners to move on to making their own representations.
Returning to the buttons example, these could be drawn as four circles on one part of the paper and two more on another part, representing the pot and the hand. Kids can then count each small circle, getting the same answer as with the buttons READ MORE
Orchard Toys Giveaway Claim your FREE Little Shopping Lotto game NOW* Small in size but big in fun – perfect for both home and travel!
APPLY HERE *while stocks last
AGES 3 to 6 T&C’s apply
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May/June 5
EDUCATION
Teacher gift ideas It’s approaching the end of term again…here are some great ‘thank you’ gift ideas for your child’s teacher, both hand-crafted and shop-bought.
Make a photo frame
Make a terrarium
Make pebble class art
Teacher’s Tin
Simple, fun project. Requires three materials and a photo memento.
Decorate pebbles marking out members of your class and your teacher.
Keep Calm & Pretend coffee mug
Fun quality mug for the teacher who enjoys a joke. £9.45 6 May/June
Terrariums of all shapes & sizes look great on a desk!
A novelty desk tidy for the teacher who likes to be organised. £11.79
Make DIY hot chocolate bombs Encased in chocolate & filled with mini marshmallows.
School backpack charity gift
A charity gift your child’s teacher will love. £11 ActionAid
Thank You Teacher Personalised chocolate gift box Teacher’s Survival For a teacher with a Kit sweet tooth! £10
Fill with essentials tissues, paper clips, tea bags £7.87
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EDUCATION
Developing independent learning
How handwriting affects self-esteem
By Zuzu Jordan
By Catherine Loble and Lisa Wander
Big family celebrations occur when our children display independence by taking their first steps or riding their bike without stabilisers.
Kids who struggle with handwriting are often at a disadvantage in the high-paced classroom setting. According to the Dyspraxia Foundation, they are usually aware of their difficulty and their untidy writing can make them feel uncomfortable and frustrated. READ MORE
So how do we then help children develop independence in their learning? READ MORE
Is it time to rethink school attendance? By Catherine Lynch
During the pandemic, school absence was understandably high with anxiety about sending children to school and many children absent with Covid 19. However, throughout the past year, problems with school attendance remain ongoing.
Looking for a way to keep your child’s brain engaged while having fun? Look no further than Brainy Play!
READ MORE
info@brainyplay.co.uk
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Our out-of-the-box thinking toys and scientific sets are made from sustainable wood, ensuring that your child can enjoy hours of play whilst also learning about the world around them. Take the fun outdoors with our petanque and mud kitchens, perfect for inspiring creativity and exploration. With Brainy Play, your child will have a blast while developing valuable skills and discovering their potential. These toys are perfect for keeping, as they’re made to last a lifetime. Give your child the gift of learning through play with Brainy Play.
www.brainyplay.co.uk May/June 7
EDUCATION
Top children’s literature festivals Children’s literature festivals are springing up all over the country and offer great entertainment for families. Here’s our selection.
Barnes Children’s Literature Festival
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Bath Children’s Literature Festival Europe’s largest dedicated children’s literature festival. 29 Sep-8 Oct
London’s largest festival. Big-name authors, shows & activities. 24-25 Jun
Hundreds of events for families. 12-28 Aug
Appledore Book Festival (North Devon)
Cuckfield llkley Literature Children’s Children’s Festival BookFest (Sussex) (Yorkshire)
A dedicated children’s programme. 15-24 Sep
Spectacular one day event with author ‘meets’ & talks. 7 Oct
Top authors, free dropin events, storytelling, workshops. Oct
Wokingham Children’s Book (Berkshire)
Hay Festival (Wales)
Great Malvern Festival of Stories (West Midlands)
Festival with author ‘meets’ & talks. 15 Oct. 8 May/June
Extensive programme & section for toddlers & parents. 25 May-4 Jun
Storytellers, authors, theatre. 24-29 Oct.
Familiesonline.co.uk
Kids Planet Day Nurseries in Manchester PLACES AVAILABLE!
Kids Planet Day Nurseries provide quality, child-centred care and learning for children 0-5 years, and our nurseries are ‘All-inclusive’ which means: We include all nappies, baby formula and baby wipes in our fees, so all you have to do is arrive at nursery with your little one and we’ll provide the rest! Kids Planet - Working together to inspire your world.
Find your nearest nursery:
www.kidsplanetdaynurseries.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk
May/June 9
WHAT’S ON
What’s on
All listings are correct at the time of publication. Please check with the venue before you visit in case anything has changed. 12-15 May Segway Experience Tatton Park Try a Segway experience, environmentally friendly, fun-filled machines create a fantastic day out. 9am– 6pm. £20-£30 pp Sat 13 May Family Bushcraft Day Valley Farm CIC, Ashton under Lyne A fun packed day immersed in nature. Fire lighting, shelter building, campfire cooking and more. 9:30am-4pm.
the time slot to meet the characters. 10am. 21 May The Wizarding Adventure East Lancs Railway During this magical interactive experience you’ll take lessons in the basics of broomsticks, practice your potion making, be instructed in incantations and learn to tattle and talk with a tawny owl. Ages 5–12.
26-29 May Flower Festival Paddington Bear Family Manchester City Centre Fun Day With fabulous floral East Lancs Railway, Bury installations, outdoor Come and see dining, live music and Paddington and make entertainment, you’re in sure you get a photo with for a bloomin’ amazing him! There are family long weekend in activities including fun fair Manchester. rides, face painting and craft activities. Complete 26 May-6 June your day out with a ride Whit Funfair with one of the heritage Heaton Park steam or diesel trains. There will be a fabulous Book online. selection of family rides and attractions to suit all 13 & 14 May the family. 12pm to 8pm. Bluey & Bingo Meet & Greet Sat 27 May–Sun 4 June Cockfields Farm, Ashton May Half Term: Sow under Lyne Awesome Bluey and Bingo are back! RHS Garden Bridgewater Join them on the Farm The garden is literally for a special meet and bursting with life so greet session with your there’s no better time to favourite characters. Its learn how to grow your all included in your farm own! Discover how fun admission. Just choose and easy it is to plant and 10 May/June
harvest vegetables and learn more about where our food comes from. Sun 28 May Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish The Lowry, Salford Man’s dream to reach the stars leaves the world in ruins and disturbs the sleeping dinosaurs. 28-29 May Steaming Days Bolton Steam Museum No admission fee, donation only. 29 May-4 June Camelot comes to Cockfields Cockfields Farm, Ashton under Lyne Join this brand new event when Camelot come to the Farm. There are real dragons, a Knight School, Sword in the Stone, Whirlin the Wizards Workshop and more! Early bird offer online. 1 June The Wizarding Adventure East Lancs Railway During this magical interactive experience you’ll take lessons in the basics of broomsticks, practice your potion making, be instructed in incantations and learn to tattle and talk with a tawny owl. Ages 5–12. Familiesonline.co.uk
WHAT’S ON
What’s on
All listings are correct at the time of publication. Please check with the venue before you visit in case anything has changed. 3-4 June We Invented The Weekend Festival MediaCity We Invented the Weekend promises to be a colourful, exciting weekend of music, theatre, sport, workshops, dancing, laughs, and more to celebrate the joy of free time, with 150,000 people anticipated to attend over the two dates.
3-5 June The Snail and The Whale The Lowry, Salford Join an adventurous young girl and her seafaring father as they reimagine the story of a tiny snail’s incredible trip around the world, inspired by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s muchloved picture book.
7-11 June Festival of Libraries Manchester The festival, which is supported by Arts Council England, will feature a vibrant programme that highlights the library network’s full offer, across wellbeing, culture and creativity, digital and information, and of course, reading.
rhs.org.uk/bridgewater
Sow Awesome – May Half Term Sat 27 May – Sun 4 Jun
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JO
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RHS T
OD
RHS Members go free O
IN
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Your visit supports our work as a charity.
IN
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Our gardens are bursting with life there’s no better time to learn how to grow your own. Discover how fun and easy it is to plant and harvest vegetables and learn more about where our food comes from, as a family.
THE
RHS T
OD
May/June 11
OUTDOOR PLAY
OUTDOOR PLAY
Creative garden play Water
Sand & mud
Mix & stir
Creative garden
Leaf tea – infuse a variety of leaves from the garden in an old teapot or saucepan. Cappuccino – help them carefully froth a muddy watery mix with a whisk. Mud ice creams – use ice cream cones, dirt and flowers for decoration. Garden perfume – using sealable bottles, add water and best smelling flowers and herbs.
Small world garden play – connect with the natural world with these imagination zones. Soil art – use an ancient method to make paint from the garden. Paint a mural – let imaginations flow using a washable chalk paint recipe. Ice excavation – freeze interesting items inside blocks of ice for your children to release.
Make a cheap & easy mud kitchen
Make seed bombs
Transform an old chest of drawers into a kid’s kitchen using household junk.
Two simple ways to spread colour and biodiversity in your garden.
Plastic water bottle guns – use old squeezy detergent bottles for squirty fun. Water balloon pinata - make with balloons, water, string and a stick. DIY Slip n Slide - spread out a long tarp and apply hose for slippery, slidy fun. Ice play – freeze water overnight in empty cartons for building, sculpting and slipping.
12 May/June
Mobile mud patch – convert your wheelbarrow into a mud pit. Natural sand pit – dig a shallow hole. Line using plastic with rock edging. Add sand. Sand wall – attach old, upsidedown cartons and bottles with ends removed for pouring sand. Muddy car wash – get the toy cars really muddy, then wash them in a soapy water bucket.
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May/June 13
FATHER’S DAY
Great gifts for the dad in your life Don’t forget to show dad how much he’s appreciated on Father’s Day on Sunday, 18 June. Check out our gift suggestions for something he might like – all for £20 or less.
FOCO Moccasin slippers
Comfy suede slippers with your dad’s team logo. £15.
Reversible belt
Wardrobe versatility with this reversible black/tan belt. £20.
Dad’s Toblerone
Personalised Toblerone bar for a special treat. £17.
I Love My Daddy picture book
Spend special time with dad with this joyful, rhyming picture book. £6.64.
Stormtrooper decanter
For the Star Wars lover. Stores spirits, decants wine and serves. £19.99.
Tile Mate
Keeps track of Dad’s keys, wallet and phone. £15.99.
V&A Italian hot chocolate
Hotel Chocolat Personalised face Milk Chocolate Old cooking apron Rich, mouth-watering hot Great for the cook who Fossil chocolate from Italy in a keepsake arty tin. £10.
14 May/June
Smooth, mellow and from the prehistoric era (remind you of anyone?).
can’t get too much of himself! £19.99.
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GIVEAWAYS
Go on an adventure with AquaPlay
Win a family holiday with Away Resorts!
Get your FREE AquaPlay Mountain Lake Set now! APPLY HERE
Win a four night stay for a family of up to six people at an Away Resort of your choice.
4 Available
Experience one of Away Resorts’ fabulous UK locations, from countryside to coast, all within areas of natural beauty. Your accommodation will be off-thescale amazing and new experiences await at every turn. Jam-packed with activities, entertainment, fantastic facilities and events, every member of the family will be grinning from ear to ear.
T&C’s apply
GIVEAWAY Hape Nature Fun Detective Sets
Explore The New Forest, Hampshire, Tattershall Lakes Appletree or Cleethorpes Pearl in Lincolnshire, Mersea Island in Essex or Golden Sands in North Wales – or perhaps somewhere else will take your fancy. Full list of locations HERE. APPLY HERE by 30 June 2023 T&Cs. Familiesonline.co.uk
6 Available T&C’s apply
Sustainable toy for curious little explorers
APPLY HERE May/June 15
CRAFTS
STEM craft activities Stimulate your child’s interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics with these inspiring craft ideas.
Create salt dough fossils
Paper straw rockets
Fun activity which shows Experiment with kids how fossils are propulsion and flight with made. these easy downloadable templates.
Simple craft demonstrating engineering with paper.
Gravity action art A super-easy way of seeing science and art working together.
Magnetic slime
Discover how to create magnetism with this fun activity.
Fruit Solar System
Invisible ink art
Make a volcano
Robot Hands
Fascinating art project where science plays a big role. 16 May/June
A safe miniature eruption!
Paper building blocks
A fruity way to grasp the planet sizes in our Solar System!
Discover the mechanics of robotics and how everything works together. Familiesonline.co.uk
Coronation Activities for Kids
Your child can enjoy our three, fun Coronation activities, including an anagram, quiz and guess who or what? You’ll find answers at the bottom of each page. Guess Who or What? Can you name the following people, places and things that are all connected with the King’s Coronation? 1
2
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n Anagram will Coronatio er what you ers to discov
3
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1. What is
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3.
I KNG
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This is………………….............. 5
7
S R This is………………….............. This is…………………..........
E N O R 4. T H R I R A C
This is .......................
Answers: 1. Charles and Camilla 2. William and Kate 3. Westminster Abbey 4. Harry and Meghan 5. Union Jack flag 6. Queen Elizabeth II 7. Buckingham Palace
R Y 5. A L O
This is…………………..............
6
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DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR CHILD HERE!
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May/June 17
DAYS OUT
Eco family days out Entertaining and inspiring places with a conscience that also offer bags of adventure for a family visit.
Bewilderwood
Environmentally-friendly adventure parks in Norfolk and Cheshire.
The Living Rainforest
Berkshire. Tropical rainforest adventure with plants & animals.
Markshall Estate Essex. Ancient woodlands, arboretum & The Wild Wood play area.
18 May/June
The Centre for Alternative Technology
Snowdonia, Wales. Interactive displays, ecodemonstrations & family activities.
Pensthorpe
Award-winning indoor and outdoor adventure park in North Norfolk.
Wildwood Trust
Kent. Set in 40 acres of ancient woodland & holds over 200 British animals in natural enclosures.
The Eden Project
Cornwall. Rainforests, Mediterranean zones & outdoor gardens.
Greenwood Family Park Award-winning family fun park in Gwynedd, Wales.
Kew Gardens
London. Land train, nature play area, the Hive & the Children’s Garden. Familiesonline.co.uk
HEALTH
Tackling summer ailments Summer is fun but it’s good to be prepared for the common ailments your child may suffer that are peculiar to the season. Here are our tips.
Sunburn
Heat exhaustion
Insect bites
Tick bite
Dehydration
Eczema
* Stay in shade from 11am to 3pm; * Cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses; * Use at least factor 30 sunscreen; * Reapply frequently.
Most improve within hours. * Remove the sting; * Wash affected area; * Apply cold compress to any swelling; * Avoid scratching/bursting any blisters.
Thirst/dark yellow, strong smelling wee, weeing less, lightheadedness, dry mouth, lips & tongue – if untreated, can become serious. * Give extra fluids gradually.
Asthma
*Keep taking preventer inhaler; * Take reliever inhaler everywhere; * Use your action plan; * Go outside earlier - air quality better; * Drink plenty of fluids. Familiesonline.co.uk
Dizziness/nausea/ headache/fast breathing or heartbeat. * Move to cool place; * Remove clothing; * Give sports drink/water; * Cool skin; * If still unwell after 30 minutes, call 999.
* Cover skin walking outdoors; * Use insect repellent; * Check for ticks on clothes and skin; * Remove quickly; * If rash appears or child become unwell, see GP.
Itchy, red, dry, cracked skin. * Dress in thin cotton layers; * Use light cotton blankets or sheets; * Apply moisturising cream; * Keep out of the heat.
eczema
Swimmer’s Ear
Painful ear/itchiness/reduced hearing/noises inside ear/discharge from ear. * Use drops from pharmacist. * If symptoms after a week, see a GP. May/June 19
FOOD
Simple outdoor eating Take your pick of these great recipes and create meals to eat outside which the family will love.
Roast chicken garden salad
Sweet & sticky chicken wings with classic slaw
Super easy Spanish tortilla
Quick grilled pizza
Lamb meatball pitta pockets
Salt & pepper tofu skewers
Vegetable tartlets
Roasted banana & cinnamon ice cream
Lemon sherbet ice
20 May/June
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PARTIES
Upcycling your child’s party
Be kind to the planet with these ideas from Ice Cream and Jelly
Party bags
Party bag fillers
Store shopping bags can make perfect gift/party bags. With a little imagination, crafty materials and glue, these branded shop bags can be transformed into unique, personalised bags. Or make your own: there are some easy video instructions on making a paper bag in the tutorials section on Instagram.
Make time to make these rather than buying new. Here are some ideas to get you started: scrunchies made from leftover fabric, painted rocks or shells found on the beach, bracelets made from beads from your local scrap store or crayons made from all your kids’ broken crayons.
Tablecloth and napkins
Wrapping presents
Old bed sheets work well refashioned into tablecloths - paint, tie-dye or appliqué in order to tailor them to the party theme. It’s a great activity to get the kids involved in! If you already have a tablecloth, make placemats or a table runner from scrap fabrics to match the theme of your party.
There are many household items that you can use for wrapping gifts: magazine pages, old maps, pieces of sample wallpaper, your kids’ paintings or leftover packing paper. If you can sew, you could make a drawstring bag from leftover fabric scraps. Alternatively, reuse an old pillowcase or wrap with fabric, like the Japanese art of Furoshiki.
Familiesonline.co.uk
May/June 21
TRAVEL
Top UK camp sites for families Looking for a family-friendly camping experience? Take a look at our top picks.
Catgill Farm
Burnbake
Gwithian Farm
Camping to glamping in Yorkshire Dales. Outside village of Bolton Abbey.
Woodland campsite/ luxury lodges in Dorset, close to coast & Corfe Castle.
West Cornwall. Close to beach & pub, goats & guinea pigs to feed.
Kelling Heath Holiday Park
Sherwood Pines Campsite
Red Shoot Camping Park
Surrounded by Norfolk woodlands/trails, indoor/ outdoor pools, steam railway.
Acres of Nottinghamshire woodland, walk to adventure playgrounds, Go Ape, bike hire.
Ideal base to explore New Forest, attractions nearby, family friendly pub.
Glenmore Camping
Fforest Fields
Heathland Beach
On the shores of Loch Morlich, Scottish Highlands. Hiking, swimming, kayaking.
22 May/June
Set on family run farm in Wales; green hills, woodland trails, lakes.
Walk to Suffolk beaches. Heated pools, fishing lake, tennis, family restaurant. Familiesonline.co.uk
TRAVEL
Best travel games for kids Perfect for stashing in a corner of the suitcase or car when you head away this summer!
Mixups
Mini 4 in a Row
Articulate!
Compact card game for Snap or creating fantastical beasts. Ages 4+. £5.94
Classic game. All-in-one folding compact design. Ages 3+. £5.59
Compact version of this classic fast-talking description game. Ages 6+. £10.19
Othello on the Move
Cluedo Grab & Go
Battleship Grab & Go
Dino Dump
100 PICS Riddles Family Travel Card Game
All the thrills of the Pint-sized version of this classic detective game in Compact, mobile version a mini set. of the Battleship game. classic strategy game. Ages 8+ £5. Ages 7+ £5. Ages 7+. £9.95.
Speedy card game featuring kids’ faves: dinosaurs and poo! Ages 6+. £9.99 Familiesonline.co.uk
Pocket sized, full of family-friendly brain teasers. Ages 6+. £6.99.
Rummikub Travel
Fast-paced game of tile manipulation. Ages 8+ £15.99.
May/June 23
Orchard Toys Giveaway Claim your FREE Little Shopping Lotto game NOW* Small in size but big in fun – perfect for both home and travel!
AGES 3 to 6
APPLY HERE *while stocks last 24 May/June
T&C’s apply
Familiesonline.co.uk