Families London SE May June 2016 issue 177

ESTABLISHED 1996

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ISSUE NO. 177

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MAY – JUNE 2016

®

southeast london familiesse.co.uk

FESTIVALS ARE FUN Where to stay, what to pack and what to eat WIN Tickets to see the Gruffalo Live WHAT’S ON Half term events, shows and summer workshops

online edition

with working website links

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I LOVE THIS time of year. Our dusty city manages to look fresh and green and everyone’s just that little bit more willing to smile in the street. Picnics in the park seem like the best idea ever; there's a Spring half term to enjoy, plans to make a fuss of Daddy for Father’s Day, oh and my birthday too - hooray!

Even the cats have a spring in their furry step: jumping off the clean laundry pile to pounce on drifting blossom and shadows in the back garden. Before coming in again, with muddy paws, to drop grit and paw prints on the clean laundry pile before curling up for a blissful snooze.

Robina Cowan, editor

IN THIS ISSUE 3-5 Local News Tennis, preschool sports, drama and swimming classes for children, Gruffalo tickets up for grabs, a writing competition and glorious Greenwich it’s all happening!

COME CELEBRATE Greenwich Market is buzzing with things to see and do and The Pavilion, our new food area, is temptingly tasty.

Open 7 days a week and Bank Holidays, 10am – 5.30pm

Craftisan Meet the maker craft event Friday 27 to Monday 30 May The Greenwich Creative Wedding Fair Sunday 5 June

Music in the Market Friday 13 May and 17 June, 7pm – 8.30pm

Park It in the Market

Celebrity visitors to local schools, and award-winning southeast London pupils

9 The Book Page

A blog, and a book review, from The Bookseller Crow’s inimitable Justine Crow

10 And Baby Makes Four A step up to your second child changes the family dynamics. The Vale Practice have thoughts on the new challenges

Thursday 26 May and 30 June, 7pm – 10pm greenwichmarketlondon.com

l l l l 6-8 Education News

Supporting the Royal Navy since 1694

11 Family Health

Sugary drinks, alfafa males, screen-time eyecare, and panda-friendly lavatory paper

12 Festivals Are Fun

Easy steps to make your children’s first festival a breeze

13 What’s New

Saving for your child’s future, fashion on a budget, a portable baby bath and jolly stripes

14-19 What’s On

Local festivals, school holiday workshops, family events, shows and creative workshops to enjoy

Front cover: Baby Toddler Swing in midnight blue, available from www.solvejswings.com

Next issue out for July and August Published 1 July, deadline 10 June

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

Children’s activities

Free tennis trials With the evenings finally lighter and warmer, Tennis-4-kids is taking its classes outside for their Grandslammers 6-11 year-olds’ classes, after school on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Much loved in the Dulwich area, Tennis-4-kids run funfilled, scaled down tennis games for children from as young as 21⁄2 to 11 years; indoors and now outdoors too, with extra sessions for school holidays.

New players can try a free introductory session. For details, see www.tennis-4-kids.com or call 07877 391005.

Take to the stage with SLYT Enrolment has opened for the South London Youth Theatre Summer workshops, running in Dulwich throughout August.

The courses attract talented ‘theatre mad’ students of all ages from across London, who relish in producing full-scale theatrical productions with a team of West End professionals and hoards of like-minded comrades for a summer experience to remember.

Following the tremendous success of last year’s productions of ‘Les Miserables’ where 40 teenagers aged 13-19 took to the stage, and 30 Juniors aged 7-12 roared to success in ‘The Lion King’, SLYT is thrilled to have obtained special performance rights for ‘Matilda the Musical’ for this year’s Junior course.

They also introduce for the first time, an Infant course for children aged 4-6 years who want a taste of the action.

For more information, visit the website www.slyt.co.uk or call 020 8850 0516.

Microsport is 25 2016 is an exciting year for Microsport, who celebrate their 25th birthday this month.

Bromley area coach Angela told us more: “Over the years we have grown from a single class in Beckenham, to over 30 classes at eight locations, including our latest edition in Biggin Hill! How have we made it so far?

We like to think that the way we run Microsport, and the experience we have accumulated, has contributed to our success.

At Microsport the focus is on learning sports skills through fun. By offering a massive diversity of sports, many of which preschool children will never have experienced before, and maybe won’t again, boredom is kept at bay!

Combining this with a teaching approach tailored to individual abilities, children not only enjoy themselves and learn fundamental sports skills, but also their confidence soars and their social skills rocket.

During the past 25 years, thousands of children have benefitted from coming to Microsport. Our consistently high numbers are testament to the advantages of our approach to sport. Indeed, some of our very first children are now parents themselves, and are bringing their own children to Microsport - what better recommendation could there be!”

For more and to enrol your child, email angela@micro-sport.co.uk or call 01689 600992.

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Swimming with confidence One of the best life skills we can help our children learn is how to swim, and it is recommended to start your baby/ child as early as possible.

Angela’s Swim School is run by fun and fully trained instructors who use proven methods to help swimmers of all ages and abilities become water confident, and learn to swim to a high standard. Local teacher Sara told Families: “We pride ourselves on our small class sizes, with only four children to one instructor. We offer discounts on group bookings, 121 private lessons for children and adults, and crash courses. So whether you are a beginner or want to brush up on your skills, we have lessons suitable for you.”

Lessons are available in Catford, Lewisham and Deptford, and the first one is free. Get your family ready for the summer by visiting www.angelasswimschool.co.uk for more information, or contact a Greenwich & Southwark teacher direct on 0780 1237 165 or 07525 182 186, email: greenwichandsouthwark@angleassswimschool.co.uk.

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Hartbeeps up for a class award Hartbeeps baby and toddler classes have been nominated in the 2016 What’s On 4 Junior Awards, which celebrate the very best children’s activity providers in the UK. Lotte Layzell, who runs the local branch of Hartbeeps, and her two session leaders Chloe Van Harding and Catherine Ward, have all been nominated by parents who attend their classes, in the category of Most Outstanding Activity Leader for the Under Fives in the South East.

Hartbeeps South East London runs classes in Crystal Palace, Dulwich, Herne Hill and Goose Green. The sensory play and music sessions for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers incorporate original songs - including funky re-workings of classic nursery rhymes - and sound effects as a platform for theatrical and multi-sensory mini-productions. Alongside this, innovative and unusual props, puppetry, baby signing, dress-up, musical storytelling and lots of play create a magical experience for parents and little ones.

Hartbeeps is also nominated for Best National Development Activity in two age-group categories, ‘Baby & Toddler’ and ‘Pre-schooler’.

For more class information, go to www.hartbeeps.com or Facebook: HartbeepsSELondon. Voting is open until 11 May at www.whatson4littleones.co.uk.

Musical Bumps in Forest Hill Musical Bumps have brought new Thursday classes to Forest Hill, thanks to the success of their classes on Tuesdays in West Dulwich.

Musical Bumps classes feature traditional songs and lullabies with musical games, puppets and percussion from around the world. From newborn to pre-school, the classes are a lovely way to spend your morning singing, bonding and learning with your child.

The classes are run by Katherine Corrigan, who has been involved with music for most of her life from teaching in schools to performing in choirs. She told us: “As a mum and teacher, I understand how important it is to have fun whilst you learn.

Musical Bumps classes are the perfect way to learn and share new skills together and I am thrilled to be offering these classes in this area.”

For more information and a free trial session, call Katherine 07599 628 542 or email Dulwich.foresthill@musicalbumps.com.

News for parents

WIN - Tickets to see Tall Stories’ THE GRUFFALO LIVE in the West End The Gruffalo Live is coming to the THE HIT MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE AWARD WINNING J LIA DONALDSON AXELL SSCHEFFLER JU PICTURE BOOK BYY JULIA Lyric Theatre in Shaftsbury Avenue from 6 July to 4 September - and you could be there!

Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the party mad Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo - is there?

Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world! Running time 55 minutes (no interval). For bookings, call 0330 333 4812 or book online at www.gruffalolive.com.

COMPETITION: To celebrate The Gruffalo Live’s 15th birthday this May, Families magazine has one VIP family ticket (admits 4) to be won.

To win just answer this question: AND

How many times is Mouse pictured in this issue of Families magazine?

There are some images of Mouse throughout this magazine (here’s one to get you started). How many can you find in total? Email your answer - together with your contact details - to info@familiesSE.co.uk, with ‘Gruffalo’ in the subject line, no later than Friday 4 June.

Terms & Conditions: The ticket prize admits 4 (minimum 1 adult) to see Tall Stories’ The Gruffalo Live at the Lyric Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue for performances between 4-24 July 2016 and must be redeemed by 24 June.

Tickets are non-transferable and hold no cash value.

Healthy Food in Education conference Charlton Manor Primary School is holding its seventh annual healthy food conference at the school on Friday 20 May, where CBBC’s food adventurer Stefan Gates will be one of seven speakers.

“We hold the conference to inspire other schools to become healthy, food-growing and cooking schools,” said Charlton Manor headteacher Tim Baker.

Schools, colleges and various organisations will be attending from all over the country and as well as the speakers there will be presentations and practical demonstrations using cooking linked to maths, English, geography and other subjects. There will also be a tour of the school, secret garden and teaching kitchen, and healthy food and refreshments will be provided.

Advance entry costs £99. For bookings, call 020 8856 6525 or visit www.charltonmanorprimary.co.uk.

THE HIT MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE AWARD WINNING PICTURE BOOK BY JULIA DONALDSON AND AXEL SCHEFFLER

Outdoor Adventure - Art and Craft Music, Games & Theatre - Healthy Whole Food Based at Greenwich Steiner School 90 Mycenae Rd, SE3 7SE www.firsthandexperiences.co.uk contact@firsthandexperiences.co.uk T. 01843 652 833

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The Gruffalo © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler - Macmillan Children's Books 1999

Day Camps - Clubs - Sleep Away Adventures

“A FINE PIECE OF CHILDREN’S THEATRE” !!!!

The Sunday Times

“MONSTROUS FUN!” !!!!

Daily Mail

LYRIC THEATRE FROM 6 JULY BOOK NOW 0330

333 4812

nimaxtheatres.com gruffalolive.com

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Glorious Greenwich Greenwich Market is buzzing with designer makers, showcasing many of the best arts and crafts makers in London.

Meet artists, wood turners, weavers, knitters, jewellers and sculptors at the Market’s fantastic Craftisan event from Friday 27 to Monday 30 May. Join in the workshops and have a go yourself - it is really fun!

Enter the colouring competition by colouring a Richard Argent cartoon about the story of Greenwich Hospital and your artwork could be displayed at Craftisan too, and there are prizes to be won. The closing date is 21 May, and you can download an entry form from www.greenwichmarketlondon.com.

Exceptional Dance Classes for Children

SOUTH LONDON DANCE STUDIOS

Final few Saturday spaces for this term are now available for our popular and fun nursery dance classes for 3-5 year old boys and girls

130 Herne Hill, SE24 9QL 020 7978 8624 info@southlondondancestudios.co.uk www.southlondondancestudios.co.uk

Calling all young writers Do you know a young author? The National Young Writers’ Awards judges are looking for the best short story of under 500 words based around this year’s theme of ‘The Mash-Up’. The winner of the competition will receive £500 of books for their school and a trip to Disneyland Paris!

The annual awards, run by tuition company Explore Learning, are now in their 8th year. This year’s judge is renowned author of the Charlie and Lola series of books, Lauren Child.

To enter either pick up an entry form from your nearest Explore Learning centre or visit www.explorelearning.co.uk/youngwriters.

Who needs Hay? When we moved from Chiswick to buy our first flat in “sarf’east Lundun” in the late eighties, friends and family considered it a rather edgy decision.

Look at us now - while for the last three years we’ve been to the marvellous Hay (on Wye) Literary Festival, there’s so much culture on our doorstep, who needs a long train journey out of Paddington this spring, eh?

Check these out: the Brockley Max Festival (pictured); festivals in Dulwich, Hither Green, Balham, Greenwich + Docklands, plus the return of Udderbelly at the Southbank, all coming our way very soon. Read more about them on our What’s On listings, pages 15.

And there’s more - in September OnBlackheath and the Catford Arts Trail are coming our way.

Effraspace comes to Brixton Brixton publishing company Pinter & Martin have opened a new multi-purpose venue and bookshop on Effra Parade, Brixton SW2.

Launched in April, effraspace has two interlinked event spaces for classes and workshops, a cinema screen, café and a specialist bookshop showcasing Pinter & Martin titles.

A hub for the local community, effraspace is primarily dedicated to pregnancy, childbirth and parenting education, and is also available for community events and private hire. For more information, visit www.effraspace.co.uk.

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l l l l l l l l education news Professor Brian Cox channels the spirit of enquiry at Alleyn’s School

Professor Brian Cox was a hit at the first RV Jones Science Lecture, hosted recently at Alleyn’s School.

The well-known academic and TV presenter headlined the event and joined in scientific conversation with Alleyn’s scientist-in-residence, Dr Adam Rutherford.

The RV Jones Science Lecture series has recently been announced as an annual feature at the school, with the aim of bringing prominent scientific minds to the local community for thought-provoking evenings of debate and enquiry. Professor Brian Cox was the first such speaker and he will soon be followed by the likes of Professor Robert Winston and Dr Helen Czerski.

Professor Brian Cox and Dr Adam Rutherford engaged in discussions that ranged far and wide, and managed to take the audience with them, in what was a truly inspirational event.

Alleyn’s is celebrating all things scientific as it has recently opened its RV Jones Science Building after an 18 month long redevelopment project. The development includes state of the art laboratories, a rooftop observatory and a Cloud Chamber that allows the effects of individual electrons and alpha particles to be seen. Variously described as a war hero, wizard and trickster, RV Jones was first and foremost a physicist and a problem-solver. Born in 1911 in Dulwich, he shone at Alleyn’s and went on to achieve a first in Natural Science (Physics) at Wadham College (Oxon) in 1929.

For more school news, open day dates and admissions criteria, visit www.alleyns.org.uk.

Future astronaut inspires a mental health conversation Students at Sydenham High School GDST channelled their poetic side with the help of a future astronaut in a workshop around mental health issues and awareness.

The group of Year 8 students was inspired to write and perform a series of poems around the topics of anxiety and depression by mental health spokesperson, YouTuber and global Kruger Cowne Rising Star winner, Hussain Manawer.

Before setting the students their task, Hussain explained how poetry can be a powerful form of self-expression as well as a way of encouraging vital conversation on the traditionally difficult topic of mental health issues. He also talked to them about what makes a good performance to help drive a message home.

An inspirational performer, Hussain beat thousands of other young hopefuls from over 90 countries to the chance to go into space with the XCOR Space Expedition as the first British Muslim astronaut. He regularly takes time out of his business schedule to go into schools to talk to young people about combating cyber bullying and the importance of self-expression through the arts, in an effort to reduce the stigma of talking about mental health issues and provide positive pathways to improve it.

The Sydenham High students also wanted to know more about Hussain’s future trip into space a dream he never imagined could become real.

He promised to come back and tell them more about the trip once he has undergone his training in the US. For more school news, open day dates and admissions criteria, visit www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net.

Sydenham student wins top national library award A fifteen-year-old Lewisham student has been declared Pupil Library Assistant Of The Year 2016. She received her prizes and praise from the current Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell in front of a packed audience of parents, teachers, authors and representatives of the library organisations and publishers responsible for sponsoring the scheme.

Dielleza Brava was nominated by grateful staff at Sydenham School who have come to rely increasingly on the GCSE student as a key member of the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) team.

“She is a real asset,” said Sydenham School LRC manager Diana Adams. “She is a trusted volunteer and has become head pupil librarian thanks to her consistent, calm work here with us. We are incredibly proud of her. “ The Pupil Librarian of the Year Award 2016 is a national award organised by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and the School Library Association. As well as an impressive engraved glass trophy and certificates, Dielleza won £100 in book tokens for herself, £100 in tokens for her school library, along with substantial goody-bags for her and her fellow finalists made up of signed copies of novels donated by publishers Hachette and Macmillan.

For more school news and admissions criteria, visit www.sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk.

Lucy Worsley visits Bromley High School Bitesize revision There’s a new way to revise at home and on the go with the new BBC Bitesize revision app. Aimed at 14-16 year-olds studying for GCSEs, the app has bite-sized text, videos, graphics and quizzes for a range of subjects, with more to follow. It is available for free on Android and iOS smartphones.

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Popular TV historian and author Lucy Worsley took Bromley High pupils back to Tudor times when she visited the school to launch Eliza Rose - her first novel for young people.

Lucy spoke to Year 7 about her role as Chief Curator of the Historic Palaces, and how her work at Hampton Court inspired her to write the book, which centres on Henry VIII and his marriage to the ill-fated Katherine Howard.

The girls also got the chance to dress “Queen Katherine” in Tudor costume, and take part in a picture quiz.

Bromley High GDST is holding an Open Event on 17 May, and Taster Days for prospective pupils on 8 and 17 June.

For details and to register online, go to www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net/fse1.

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l l l l Lewisham Students trailblaze for girls’ sport at London School Games Five young Lewisham sportswomen have put down an athletic marker for their fellow students with success in the London School Games.

In under a year since forming, the members of the under-15 badminton squad at Bonus Pastor Catholic College did exceptionally well; coming seventh in the rankings of finalists representing all 33 London boroughs.

The girls’ achievement should be seen against the background of a special push to encourage young women to take part in sport at Bonus Pastor - a strategy led by Claire David, the head of Girls’ PE at the College. She said: “What I am most pleased with is that badminton seems to attract young women who have not been drawn to other sports at the school. The girls have the honour of being the first Bonus Pastor students to qualify for the School Games in any sport and so are a great advertisement not just for girls’ participation in sport but also for all our students.”

For more school news and admissions criteria, visit www.bonuspastor.co.uk.

an inspirational learning environment A vibrant and inspiring learning environment, Southwark Primary Free School’s new, architect designed building has state of the art facilities, a large multi-use sports hall and amazing outdoor spaces to develop pupils’ imagination, inventiveness and resourcefulness.

The school will be relocating from Ledbury Hall, Pencraig Way, SE15, to its fantastic purpose built facilities at 391 Rotherhithe New Road, SE16 in September 2017.

We believe every child should benefit from an outstanding education. If you do then call: 020 7635 4256 or email southwarkfreeschool@gmail.com to arrange a visit and find out more.

New Classes available!

Angela’s Swim School is a long established family run

business headed up by former international swimmer Angela Wilson. Our fully trained instructors help pupils become confident swimmers by using proven methods and keeping class sizes small.

Southwark Primary Free School is moving to SE16 At Southwark Primary Free School learning is child-led, enabling pupils to think critically, caringly, creatively and collaboratively.

The school has a vibrant well-resourced curriculum, fantastic facilities, specialist music and PE teaching and access to additional resources, expertise and specialist teaching support through strong links with an outstanding London Academy.

In September 2017, the school will be relocating from Ledbury Hall in SE15, to its purpose-built facilities on Rotherhithe New Road.

Matt Rampton, the school’s Executive Headteacher said: “We are delighted to be able to offer our children an amazing learning environment where they will be able to learn, aspire and achieve.”

To arrange a visit and find out more, call 020 7635 4256, email southwarkfreeschool@gmail.com or go to www.southwarkfreeschool.com.

PLACES LIMITED CALL TODAY Catford - Lewisham - Deptford For more information please call 07801 237165 or email greenwichandsouthwark@ angelasswimschool.co.uk

FIRST LESSON FREE

Available Classes: Parent & Child Preschool Swim Level 1 Swim Level 2 Swim Level 3 Swim Level 4 Swim Level 5 Adult

4 mths-2 yrs, 2-3 yrs 3-5 yrs Non Swimmers Beginners Improvers Advanced Improvers Saving Skills & Rookie Lifeguard Beginners and Improvers

Small class sizes to help children with their individual needs. Only 4 children to 1 instructor. 121 private lessons & adult classes are also available.

Please contact us for more info & availability.

www.angelasswimschool.co.uk

Lewisham students plan emergency response to natural disasters Year 9 and 10 geography students at Bonus Pastor Catholic College in Lewisham had the chance to be emergency-zone ‘mapping’ experts, planning the humanitarian reaction to the Sendai earthquake and tsunami disaster of 2011.

The opportunity arose thanks to The British Cartographic Society’s ‘Restless Earth’ workshop programme, which explains the essential role of volunteers working for charities such as MapAction during such crises.

“With the news filled at the moment with desperate pictures of the emergency responses in both Japan (again) and Equador, this workshop could not be more relevant, underlining the kind of detailed planning and co-ordination that is necessary after such catastrophes,” said Alice Gadney, co-ordinator of the Restless Earth Project.

The exercise requires young people quickly to absorb and act on the kinds of information that was available to emergency services faced with the real events, including documentary footage and a range of complex maps (some in Japanese) illustrating everything from topography to air-traffic routes. The students work in teams of five with each person carrying specific responsibilities such as search and rescue, medical and humanitarian aid delivery; their goal to come up with a map illustrating the deployment of resources in the disaster area. Each group had to present their ‘emergency response’ charts, and there were large world map prizes for all members of the two teams that best synthesised all the information that had been provided during the two-hour workshop.

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Highly interactive, multi-sensory musical experiences for the very young.

Suitable from birth!

Come & play with us in Baby Land Classes in Herne Hill, Dulwich, East Dulwich, Crystal Palace.

Coming soon to Forest Hill & Nunhead.

Contact Lotte for more details call 07522 386334 or email lotte@hartbeeps.com Book your class online at bit.ly/BookHartbeeps

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

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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.

While their little darlings are busy speed spinning the greeting cards stand and climbing over the displays in the bookshop window, one of the most common conversations overheard between adults in the children’s section isn’t “what are our kids up to?” Rather, it’s about the books they themselves recall when they were children and often they are the very same bestsellers we stock today such as Not Now Bernard, The Tiger Who Came To Tea, and Where the Wild Things Are. The latter being a staple when I was small, though my dad would be handing out the thick ears left, right and centre if me and my siblings dared to rumpus in public.

THERE’S A TIGER IN THE GARDEN by Lizzy Stewart Frances Lincoln rrp £11.99. Borrowing no doubt from Kerr’s classic picture book about change, this author creates her own atmosphere through pace and excellent illustrations. You’d be depressed at just how much shallow digitally created guff I come across apparently published in earnest but none has a hope of the longevity of Sendak or Scarry and most will be in a charity book bank by the autumn. This resonant tale about having an imagination deserves to be on any local bookshop shelf in twenty years time. That’s if there’s any of us left. And I’m not talking about being dismantled by kids.

BOB THE ARTIST by Marion Deuchars - Laurence King rrp £10.95. And without sounding like the same old record bumping round and round, one of the key reasons behind the survival of the genre is that children’s books look absolutely rubbish on a tablet. Deuchars is one of those writers for whom image is integral to the story. We begin with simplicity here black, white and a splash of red, with wit and a footprint and suddenly it explodes into colour as if Matisse has stepped onto the page.

BEE-&-ME by Alison Jay - Old Barn Books rrp £10.99. No words in this. They aren’t required. You supply them instead.

When I worked in nursery, text-less picture books were the most effective tool for getting children to understand the process of narrative as well as getting them to use their vocabulary skills.

It ain’t rocket science. In this case, it’s about biodiversity. And friendship. Which is a kind of biodiversity in itself.

PATTERN-TASTIC TREASURE HUNT by Hvass & Hannibal Wide Eyed Books rrp £9.99. This publisher absolutely gets it.

This biteable board book introduces young ones to the concept of pattern. This guys have worked at Marimekko so they know what they are doing. And if your specific little critter is already cool with colours, how about the TECHNICOLOUR TREASURE HUNT by the same team? Robust and bossy and bright, these books really are good enough to eat.

WHAT DO GROWN-UPS DO ALL DAY? by Virginie Morgand Wide Eyed Books rrp £14.99. Good question. I had no clue as to what my dad did for a living apart from go to the office with felt-tips in his top pocket so I spun the teacher a loooong yarn about how he had to wash the windows of aaaaaall the shops in the high street. Which I thought, aged seven, would be a gigantically brilliant job. Little did I realise that it all went down on record and it wasn’t until I was interviewed for grammar school some years later and was asked about the hardship of being a window-cleaner’s daughter that my fib resurfaced.

He actually worked in advertising.

We didn’t do stereotypes in our family. We didn’t do Father’s Day either. Being war babies of Croydon stock, my parents were too busy being groovy to partake in anything as trivial as sentiment. I didn’t write a Father’s Day card until I was 38. Whereupon the response was so baffled, I never bothered again.

Obviously for all other people, Father’s Day means daddies everywhere get the kids for a whole 24 hours, all to themselves.

It is the law. And as a special treat, he’ll need some picture books to read aloud to them while they are having all that fun bonding and suchlike: AMAZING DADDY by Rachel Bright, Hachette rrp £6.99 features a papa panda and a baby one created by an actual greetings card designer; SCHOOL FOR

DADS by Adam & Charlotte Guillain, Egmont rrp £6.99 turns the table and puts children in charge and WHEN I’M A MONSTER LIKE YOU, DAD! by David O’Connell, Harper Collins, rrp £6.99 is about wanting to emulate dear pater, even if he has yellow eyes and thinks he’s really scary. Just like my new neighbour, only that guy hasn’t the charm.

JULIUS ZEBRA, BUNDLE WITH THE BRITONS! by Gary Northfield - Walker rrp £9.99. A second adventure for the “people’s champion of the Roman gladiator world!” Described as “Stupid, clever and very very funny,” I have to agree and sticking with the visual theme, although this is supposedly a novel, it is the comic book action style drawings that keep the momentum galloping along as our monochrome hero in a helmet braves the channel and warm beer. And Gary’s Facts give us a bit of historical context. Which is always useful when it comes to homework.

500 HUNDRED HIDDEN SECRETS OF LONDON by Tom Grieg - Luster rrp £13.95. Want to know which are the five best stalls in Borough Market? Yep, heads up to Spice Mountain with a biryani mix to die for. Seriously. Other secret spots highlighted include essential fashion shops (Margaret Howell? Gulp..), the best places to have a cuppa or drink something naughty on a rooftop, to find a swim outdoors or see some stunning modern architecture hitherto unnoticed in the blur of the rush hour.

Mindyou, there’s one hidden secret the author himself needs telling about - South London. Apart from a couple of measly references, his London spreads North, West and East but appears to fade into nothingness beyond London Bridge as if, for 1.3 million of us, our social and creative lives are completely invisible.

ESCAPE LONDON by Yolanda Zappaterra - FL rrp £9.99. So, everyone will have to float over the fluffy white void that makes up a quarter of the capital to get to enjoy some of the great suggestions here for days out within easy reach of bedtime, like the real live caves at Chislehurst or the thrilling funicular lifts at Hastings Country Park, St Leonard’s at Hythe with its cache of skulls (probably dismissive North Londoners) or the delightfully rewarding whatever-the-weather, RHS Wisley.

A WALK IN THE PARK by Travis Elborough - Vintage rrp £14.99. Published in June, here’s somebody who definitely knows London from our perspective: picnic level. And what’s that I see? Ah, could it be a park dedicated to a “Cinderella’s slipper of a building?” Our Travis is a joyful cultural celebrant offering tantalising nuggets of social history. For instance, the pricey but rubbish food in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in the 1770s was as much of a recurrent joke as British Rail sandwiches were in the 1970s. And he doesn’t just stick to London either, taking his stout walking boots afar from Birkenhead to Hull via Manhattan, filling us up with corrupt politicians (really?) and priests, bandstands and post-war spam sarnies, poets and punk. If you were to ask me to recommend a Father’s Day present that daddy might actually enjoy on his own on a bench with a quiet pint, this is it.

When my lot were tiddlers, parks (all of them) not only contributed to my sanity but also helped keep my house clean.

The grass was an endless carpet where we ate, where nappies were changed and potties placed. Generational favourites like MR GUMPY’S OUTING were read on repeat and wet birthdays were rescued under gazebos with wine and hot-dogs.

I’m wistful for that extra living room in our lives. Mindyou, it cost me a fortune in shoes. No kidding. My son, despite being warned not to with a threat of a total lifetime Mini-Milk ice-lolly ban - “Yes, EVEN when you are forty-two” - would take off his hated sandals or wellingtons and hide them in the myriad laurels and after ages of fruitless searching, I’d wheel him home cold and barefoot in a buggy braving the disapproving passers by. The memory still haunts me. Indeed, like a timeless classic!

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

may / june 2016 - families south east

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And baby makes four

By Caroline Reeves and Dr Lucy Chan of The Vale Practice

ONCE YOUR FIRST child is born, people will often ask “When are you having the next one, eh?”

There’s a big leap from no children to one child, but with a step up to your second child, suddenly you’re a real family.

Adding another member to your growing troop is a big decision, and your second pregnancy may not be quite the same as your first experience. Whilst it is not possible to plan and prepare for every eventuality when having another baby, here are some thoughts and tips to help things go as smoothly as possible.

•

Your second pregnancy It can be hard to put yourself first in the first trimester, but it’s crucial to listen to your body and try to give it the support it needs. Rest as much as you can, take time for yourself, breathe and enjoy the sensation of your baby kicking as it develops. If nausea and fatigue are really getting you down, try acupuncture and reflexology, which are great for low energy and general wellbeing.

Pay attention to your diet. Comfort foods are tempting but choosing foods rich in minerals and vitamins will be the best for both you and your baby.

A nutritionist can give advice on how to get the best out of your diet in order to get the best out of yourself.

Physically you may notice your bump showing sooner in your second pregnancy. This can trigger earlier changes from your first pregnancy, which can predispose you to pelvic and low back pain not experienced the first time round. An osteopath may be able to help address some of these imbalances and changes.

Anxiety and stress can be increased in second pregnancies due to increased family, work and other commitments. Mindfulness, mediation and gentle exercise can help with stress and anxiety, but more deep rooted concerns may benefit from the input of a therapist or counsellor.

Family dynamics •

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Fathers play a hugely important role in supporting mothers at what can be a sensitive and vulnerable time, but they will themselves

families south east - may / june 2016

•

•

experience a mix of emotions related to a growing family. It’s just as important for them to share their feelings, so try to keep the communication open.

Most children will be aware of a pregnancy on some level, and you can help them prepare by talking about the new baby and involving them.

It is normal for children to react in different ways as they try to make sense of what a new baby means to them. This time will require understanding and patience on your part, and your child may communicate their mixed up feelings through their behaviour or habits. Give your first child time and space to sort through their feelings, to allow them to manage the change better.

Ultimately, your older children need to know that it is ok for them to feel whatever they feel about a new sibling, and that you still love them too.

Keep consistent limits and boundaries to help them to feel safe and secure in the face of all this change, and ensure they have some quality one to one time with each parent.

Planning the practical arrangements for the birth and discussing these older children is essential; eg who will look after them, where, or what will happen if you have to stay in hospital? Try to avoid too many new faces, separations or major changes around this time.

In the first few weeks Mothers are naturally preoccupied with the all-encompassing needs of the new baby. Dads or partners will be able to take a central role at this time, supporting their partner emotionally and practically as well as caring for the older children and the new baby, providing an important opportunity to build on these relationships. Fathers can try to find ways to boost their partner’s selfesteem and ensure she has time to herself now and again in order to recover from challenges of pregnancy and birth and protect against post-natal

depression and anxiety. The baby blues are normal but if you are worried about your partner, talk to them and ensure the midwife or health visitor is aware and maybe seek help from a professional counsellor.

Remember that however your older children react to the arrival of a new baby, they will learn to accept their new sibling. As far as it is safe, try to ignore any unwanted behaviours towards the new baby and praise positive and gentle behaviours. Encourage them to help out with small tasks if they wish but do not insist. Finally, watch out for developing family stories about each child which can create narratives about ourselves that may be constraining and hard to break free from e.g. being the naughty or sensitive one!

For some having a second child completes their family, for others signals the start of something bigger. It can be both challenging and rewarding in equal measure, and if the challenges get a bit too much, remember that there is expert help out there.

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

They offer ‘Babies, Bumps and Beyond’ - a truly integrated approach to care for you and your family, from pregnancy through infancy and onwards through family life.

The Practice is open from 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.

Resources: The Vale Practice, www.thevalepractice.co.uk The Neo Practice, www.theneopractice.com Be Fit Mom, www.befitmom.com/discomforts.php

Bibliography: Van Veelen, G.A., Schweitzer, K.J., Van der Vaart, C.H. (2014).

Ultrasound imaging of the pelvic floor: changes in anatomy during and after first pregnancy. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oct, 44(4): 476-80.

familiesse.co.uk

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FamilyHealth

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...

Children’s drinks ‘too sugary’

64 Grove Vale, London SE22 8DT

Campaigners from the University of Liverpool and Action on Sugar are calling for the levels of sugar in children’s drinks to be lowered, as they have found that some smoothies contained an average of five teaspoons of sugar per serving.

The study was published in the journal BMJ Open and the researchers have said that although the drinks contain fruit, they should no longer be considered one of children’s five a day, as the sugar content is close to the daily limit suggested for a young child.

The current advice is that one glass of juice or one smoothie of 150ml counts as one of the five fruit and vegetables per day. However, they are also advised that children between the ages of four and six should have less than 19g of sugar per day from all their food and drinks.

This is about five teaspoons, so if children are getting it from just one drink, the likelihood is that they will exceed this by taking on sugar from other sources.

However, some health professionals say that, as it can be difficult to get children to eat fruit, smoothies are still useful in the diet as long as they are limited and drunk with meals to protect the child’s teeth. They contain minerals, vitamins and also fibre from the whole fruit, which is beneficial to the diet of children. Products called “juice drink” may be high in sugar and contain no fibre, so should be avoided.

E. info@thevalepractice.co.uk

From alpha male to alfafa man A new breed of super-fit man - who is better aware of his diet, knows which fats to avoid and is happy to pay extra for organic produce emerged from a survey 1,000 UK males aged 18-45.

He eats at least one superfood every day, has completely deleted sugar from his diet - and has a morbid fear of developing a beer belly.

The study shows eight in 10 British men are fully conscious of the nutritional value of the meals they are eating, and actively avoid bad foods which contain lots of saturated fats, salt and sugar.

More than half of men say they now place more emphasis on their health and happiness than they have done in the past, and 48 per cent agree public attitudes are changing when it comes to men looking after their diet and bodies. Indeed, seven in 10 men reckon it’s now okay for men to take pride in their approach to health and wellbeing. One in five men has tried yoga or Pilates, 33 per cent have joined a gym and 12 per cent have even attempted meditation.

The poll, by PhD Nutrition, marks the launch of their new, naturally sourced Protein Superfood range, which is designed to support a clean living lifestyle. For more information, visit www.phd-supplements.com.

T. 020 8299 9798

www.thevalepractice.co.uk

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A light for sore eyes The majority of children are spending two hours or more a day in front of screened devices when at home, according to new research which also reveals 72% of parents are happy to allow their kids to use a smartphone or tablet.

Dr Steve Schallhorn, Chief Medical Director at Optical Express, said: “It is estimated that over half of all people who work at computers, or use them for prolonged periods, suffer from eye strain. Symptoms of eye strain include headaches, blurred vision, difficulty focusing, gritty eyes and increased sensitivity to light. Unlike other health issues parents often can’t see the problem, so if you or your child experience headaches, discomfort or are in any way worried about your eyesight consult an optician.”

The research was carried out by BenQ, leaders of digital, lifestyle and personal lighting products, to support the launch of ‘WiT’, an adjustable desk lamp that improves visibility and reduces eyestrain related to screen and e-reading. The WiT provides a 90cm-wide area in light and 150% greater width of illumination than conventional reading lamps. We think it looks funky, too, available from www.wit-lighting.com.

Bamboo in the bathroom 10m trees a year are used to make lavatory tissue alone, leading to deforestation and damage to the environment.

The Cheeky Panda is a new brand that uses 100% bamboo pulp that would otherwise go to waste. As a grass, and unlike trees (which take 30 years to grow), bamboo harvests every year. The material is sourced from FSC® certified bamboo forests that are not the same type of bamboo that pandas eat.

The natural skin friendly properties in virgin bamboo makes The Cheeky Panda tissues very hygienic and luxuriously soft to use, with fewer chemicals.

Cheeky Panda officially launched to coincide with Earth Day on 11 April.

Other products in the range such as kitchen towels, napkins, pocket handkerchiefs and wet wipes will launch very shortly. Read more at www.thecheekypanda.co.uk.

familiesse.co.uk

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www.nannybank.co.uk may / june 2016 - families south east

11

Festivals are fun - easy steps to make your children’s first festival a breeze

By Sally J. Hall

Introducing your children to all kinds of music can be a great way to give them a lifelong love of everything from folk to classical.

Many of the UK’s festivals have plenty to do for the whole family and with some careful planning and by packing a few essentials, you’ll all have a great time.

Where to stay If you have (and know how to put up) a tent, this can be the most cost-effective way of attending a festival, as ticket prices can be high. Check the tent before you go, to ensure it has all its poles and pins.

A good ground sheet is a must, as are camp beds or self-inflating air beds. A playpen is great for babies and small children to sleep in at night and play in the day.

Alternatively, other options, from pre-erected tents to Yurts and teepees may be provided. Take a look at the festival’s website to see what’s suitable.

If you can’t face roughing it, book a local hotel or bed & breakfast. You’ll have a bolthole should the weather turn nasty and somewhere to wash properly!

Site map Take time to orient yourself around the site, find where your favourite bands will be and most importantly, check out where the loos and showers are. These can get very busy and there are often long queues. For small kids, take a travel potty, as they often need to ‘go’ quite suddenly. Most festivals have a craft and activities area for kids too.

Pushchairs can be tricky to use if the ground is muddy. Carriers are more portable and take up less space.

With small kids, try to camp in the family or quiet areas so that you won’t all be kept awake by people coming back to their tents (in all conditions) through the small hours.

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families south east - may / june 2016

Setting up Car parks can be quite a way from camps, so try to ensure that all gear can be put into a couple of backpacks for you and your partner to carry - and still have a hand free for the kids. Some festivals rent a wagon to transport your stuff, which you can then use to pull the kids around in.

Packing list

What to eat

3

There are usually lots of food stalls but bear in mind they can be pricey.

If you want to do your own cooking, invest in a camp stove. Easy, one pot meals are best, like soups, stews, rice or pasta, Freeze some home made meals, then just before you leave, put them in a cool box together with drinks and milk.

Take lots of snacks too, in case cooking or queuing for meals takes longer than you think!

3

3 3

Safety Kids should have your name (not theirs) and number on them in case they get separated. Write it on their arm, or buy luggage tags and attach them to their clothes and bags. Talk to them about how to behave should they get lost. Make sure your phone is charged, so if your kids do get separated, you are able to be contacted.

Dress your kids in bright clothes so you can spot them and take a photo of them each morning, so if they go wandering, you can remember how they were dressed and show others.

Don’t take valuables and keep things you can’t leave behind, such as phone, keys, your purse and credit cards, with you in a day pack all day. Never leave them in your tent.

3 3 3 3

Waterproofs and wellies, comfy shoes Toiletries in small packs, a hang-up sponge bag you can take to the shower Toothbrushes and paste Lots of changes of clothing Warm jumpers and socks Sun screen and hats A baby carrier Torch and batteries

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

3

Phone and charger Ear defenders Toilet rolls, tissues and wipes Insect repellent First aid kit Comfy clothes Flasks, camping cutlery and crockery Small backpacks for all, with a change of clothes, loo paper, wipes and snack in each, plus drinks Camera

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

Fancy dress Many festivals now have a fancy dress parade as part of the fun, so take costumes. Some things can be made on-site at a craft stall. Face paints are great to pack, as are glow sticks and bubbles.

familiesse.co.uk

What’sNew Saving for the future

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by Michele Debono The start of the financial tax year is an ideal time to put in place plans to help children get a head start in a challenging financial world.

We all want the best for the children in our lives. We don’t know what their future will hold, but we do want to make sure they have every opportunity to do well and be happy, whatever they eventually decide to do.

Today’s children are growing up in a very different and challenging financial world. It means that, whether parents or grandparents, saving for their future is increasingly a necessity rather than an aspiration, to help with the costs of education, training, or that crucial first step on the housing ladder.

A Junior ISA is one of the most tax-efficient and flexible ways to help create capital and income for a child’s future. In this tax year you can invest up to £4,080 for each child, either through a lump sum or regular savings.

The investment is locked in until the child reaches the age of 18, at which point it is rolled over into a standard ISA. It is also now possible to transfer into a Junior ISA money that has been saved in a Child Trust Fund, which were available to children born between September 2002 and January 2011. With wider investment choice, and more control over the distribution of funds when they reach 18, many parents now recognise the advantages of a Junior ISA. Thinking longer term, paying into a pension on behalf of a child currently provides the most generous of tax breaks. For example, you can pay £2,880 a year into a child’s pension, this is grossed up to £3,600 by basic rate tax relief - even if the child is not working.

As Winston Churchill famously said, “Saving is a very fine thing, especially when your parents have done it for you.”

Making a start will give them a head start, and an introduction to the importance of saving.

Michelle Debono is offering Families readers the opportunity for a complimentary Confidential Financial Review. Please contact her by email michelle.debono@sjpp.co.uk.

A year of frugal fashion Caroline Jones’ mother, Mary (72), passed away in October 2014 after a brave battle with breast cancer. A couple of months later, on New Year’s Eve, Caroline had an idea that would lead to her raising more than £50,000 for Cancer Research UK (and counting!).

Every day in 2015 Caroline put together a fabulous outfit from pre-loved items sold in Cancer Research UK shops. Despite grieving for the loss of her dear mum, Caroline got up every day and had her photograph taken to share on social media. She quickly amassed thousands of followers, thousands of pounds in donations, and become the solo fundraising success story of 2015.

Caroline brought together her outfits in a stunning, photo-led fashion book Knickers Model's Own - A Year of Frugal Fashion - which is packed with tips for anyone keen to learn how to spot a gem in their local charity shop, how to fundraise in style and how to honour your loved ones. The frugal fashionista has an incredible eye for pick n’ mix styling, and a passion for pre-loved shoes, jewellery, hats, and clothes.

Caroline’s innate sense of style and her tendency to successfully bend the sartorial rules, mean this book will inspire you to embrace the endless possibilities of pre-loved clothes.

Knickers Model's Own - A Year of Frugal Fashion will be published on 25 May, priced £20 from www.cruk.org/knickersmodelsown. 100% of profits from book sales go directly to Cancer Research UK’s life-saving research.

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This is rather neat, isn’t it? Baby brand Béaba have launched a waterproof, canvas baby bath that folds flat after use for easy storage hanging on a door, or packing for overnight visits to family and friends. A shower head clip makes it easy to fill from the bath, and canvas is softer on babies’ skin than plastic.

The bath is suitable for use from 0-12 months and will launch in June, rrp £67 from selected retailers including JoJo Maman Bébé and John Lewis.

Tiny Tots age 2.5-3

Best bib and tucker Oh we do like a stripe, and are rather amused by the idea of matching outfits for our family trip out on Father’s Day. The funky Scandi brand Polarn O. Pyret make some of the best t-shirts, leggings, jackets, jeans, vests and accessories, available from selected stores including House of Fraser on Oxford Street, Westfield, and online at www.polarnopyret.co.uk.

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What’sOn Holiday Camps and Workshops SPARK4KIDS COMPUTER CODING WORKSHOPS

FIRST HAND EXPERIENCES - Unique Day Camps

May/June half-term computer coding workshops in DULWICH, 020 8090 1444, www.spark4kids.com Spark4Kids’ May/June half-term holiday workshops are designed to teach children computer coding, games design, robotics, electronics as well as Minecraft in a fun, engaging environment. Ages 8+. Term-time classes are also available - see website for details.

31 May - 3 June and 18 July - 12 August, GREENWICH STEINER SCHOOL, Mycenae Road SE3 7SE, 01843 652833 contact@firsthandexperiences.co.uk, www.firsthandexperiences.co.uk First Hand Experiences’ children’s camps explore seasonal, nature based themes that celebrate the natural world. Ages 4-11, £55 a day/ £240 a week, sibling discounts and half days for four year-olds available.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE. Meet wolves, giants and lost adventurers with immersive theatre deep in the wild woods; go mudlarking, cob-building and crabbing on the banks of the river; get up close to birds of prey, wetland animals and butterflies; milk cows to make butter, pick fruit & veg at the farm, forage for your lunch, learn how to be a market trader and even make and sell your creations at your very own stall.

HEALTHY WHOLE FOOD Freshly prepared picnic lunches, gardening and cooking each week.

ART & CRAFT Inspired by your outdoor adventures professional artists teach you to knit, weave, mould, sculpt, carve, paint & build.

MUSIC, GAMES & THEATRE Sing, dance and celebrate your adventures with original songs and themed games.

SUPER CAMPS 31 May - 3 June and 11 July - 26 August, various venues including Blackheath High School in BLACKHEATH and St Dunstan’s School in CATFORD, 01235 467300, www.supercamps.co.uk Super Camps run multi-activity, Ofsted-registered daycamps designed to offer holiday childcare to parents while appealing to children of all types and ages. Each child explores and experiences a daily schedule of different activities with others their own age, under the guidance of superbly-trained staff. The venues offer sports, outdoor and indoor games, arts and crafts activities.

For the summer holidays there are also themed camps for lovers of nature adventures, baking, cooking, science and arts and crafts. Ages 4-14 years, 8am-6pm, bookings available by day or week - see website for prices and availability.

FUNKY MONKEY KEYBOARD WORKSHOPS 25 July-5 August, various SE London locations, 0800 107 7949, www.funkymonkey.info Funky Monkey Keyboard Classes are running their fun filled electronic keyboard workshops across the summer holidays. Their ever popular ‘One Hit Wonder’ one day taster workshops are perfect for 4-8 year old beginners, whilst the Keyboard Superstars week long workshops are a must for anyone 5-9 years old who would like to explore the electronic keyboard further.

JUNIOR TENNIS CAMPS 31 May - 3 June, SYDENHAM TENNIS CLUB, Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham SE26 6ET, 020 8778 7217, www.sydenham-tennis-squash-croquet-club.co.uk Sydenham Tennis Club’s fun camps are great way to keep children aged 5-15 busy during the holidays. The camps include a mix of activities with the focus on tennis coaching, games and other team events. Suitable for all standards from children who want to try tennis for the first time to those who have regular coaching.

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August dates in DULWICH, 020 8850 0516, www.slyt.co.uk South London Youth Theatre is once again running summer holiday workshops in Dulwich, which all work towards a performance for family and friends on the last day. Now in its 6th year, SLYT attracts students with a passion for theatre and acting, and many students have gone on to secure places at top London drama schools after attending Summer courses and weekly classes.

THEATRE WORKSHOP, 8-20 August. A full-scale musical with a cast of 40 teenagers aged 13-19 years over two weeks.

10am - 6pm daily, £325 per student for the 10-day course.

Enrolment for this course is by audition.

‘JUNIOR’ MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP, 22-27 August.

Six days of Acting, Singing, and Dancing at this action packed experience, led by professionals from the West End and designed to expose talented children to the thrill of live theatre! Ages 7-12 years, 9.30am - 4.30pm daily, £225 per child for 6-day course.

Early booking is advised to ensure places and roles for each child.

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‘INFANT’ MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP, 22-26 August. A new five day course for 4-6 year-olds, covering all aspects of performance, led by specialist teachers with a wealth of experience in working with this age group. 10am - 12.30pm daily, £95 per child for 5-day course, with sibling discounts available. Early booking is advised to ensure places.

FREEDOM ACADEMY ARTS SUMMER WORKSHOPS 8-19 August, various SE LONDON venues, 020 3793 6843, www.freedomacademy.co.uk Fun-packed, week long workshops full of acting, song, dance and games for all ages from 3 to teens.

PETER PAN, 8-12 August in Sydenham. Ages 3-6, 9am-12noon.

STICK MAN, 15-19 August in Dulwich. Ages 3-6, morning or afternoon sessions available.

POP ACADEMY, 8-12 August in Sydenham. Write and record your own songs, and film your own pop video in a professional recording studio, and take home your own CD. Ages 7-16, 9am-3.30pm.

FILM SCHOOL, 15-19 August in Dulwich. Write, direct and star in your own short movie. Ages 7-16, 9am-3.30pm.

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

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

THE JUNGLE BOOK: PERFORM SUMMER HOLIDAY COURSES 18 July - 19 August in BLACKHEATH, GREENWICH and DULWICH, 020 7255 9120, www.perform.org.uk/holidays Based on Rudyard Kipling’s classic, The Jungle Book, Perform’s three and five day courses are led by actors, musicians and dancers and end with a mini-musical on the last day. Ages 4-7 years, £225 (3 day), £330 (5 day), 25% discount for siblings and reductions for groups.

familiesse.co.uk

Events and Attractions THE HORNIMAN MUSEUM

UDDERBELLY FESTIVAL

Diary Dates for Grownups TABLE TOP NEARLY NEW SALE

THE PRIVATE PREGNANCY SHOW

14 May, AZELIA HALL, 258 Croydon Road, Beckenham BR3 4DA, www.nct.org.uk/branches/beckenham-borders A sale of good quality second hand clothes, toys and equipment, organised by NCT Beckenham and Borders. 10.30am - 12.30am, admission £1.

21-22 May, THE ROYAL INSTITUTION, 21 Albermarle Street, London W1S 4BS, www.privatepregnancy.co.uk Leading obstetricians, gynaecologists, fertility consultants and midwives from the UK’s leading private hospitals and clinics showcase the latest innovations from the private sector, with everything from pregnancy scanning technologies to new assisted fertility techniques. 10am-6pm, tickets £20 includes access to two seminars.

BABY & CHILDREN’S MARKET 14 May, CHARLTON HOUSE, Charlton Road SE7 8RE, www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk Nearly new books to buggies, clothes to cots and more, with children’s entertainment, refreshments and local business stalls. 1-3pm.

FANCY BETTY NEARLY NEW WOMENSWEAR SALES Term time Thursdays (closed 2 June), Open House at 60 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 4BJ, www.fancybetty.com Fancy Betty’s nearly new sales specialise in women’s clothing and accessories that are in excellent pre-loved condition. Think great quality second hand, think barely worn, think ‘posh’ jumble. If you love great quality clothing and want to breathe life back into pre-loved fashion or sell yours - you’ve found the right place. 9.30am-11am.

FIRST AID FOR LIFE Various dates in Balham and Westminster, www.firstaidforlife.org.uk A three-hour course covering care of the unconscious baby and child as well as most commonly occurring injuries and illnesses such as choking, bleeding, breaks, bleeds, burns, head injury and febrile convulsions.

9.30am-12.30pm, £60.

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

BABY & CHILDREN’S MARKET 11 June, AZELIA HALL, 258 Croydon Road, Beckenham BR3 4DA, www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk Top quality nearly new baby & children’s items at up to 90% off full price, plus selected local baby & child businesses. 1-3pm, admission £1.50 first hour, £1 thereafter, children.

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.

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT 11-14 May, various venues, www.museumsatnight.org.uk Over 30 museums and galleries across the capital will be open late, from National Trust properties and major museums and galleries, to quirky spaces and hidden gems such as the London Museum of Water and Steam. Museums at Night offers the chance to discover museums on your doorstep that you didn’t even know existed, and includes early evening, family-friendly events. See the website for full listings.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM 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.

CAPTURING THE CITY: PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE BANK OF ENGLAND. Beyond the beautifully austere stone walls of the Bank’s building lies a hive of activity incorporating a remarkable architectural history. Featuring artworks and artefacts not usually on display, this exhibition looks at the Bank’s past and explores the medium that has come to dominate the world around us.

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT, 13 May. A rare opportunity for an evening visit.

As well as the Museum displays, there will be presentations on banknotes, gallery talks and Bank staff will also be on hand to answer questions about gold. 5.30-9pm.

PICTURE PERFECT, 31 May - 3 June. Be inspired by ‘Capturing the City: Photography at the Bank of England’ and create your own memories by becoming the face of a current banknote on a giant banknote photo board. You can then join a creative workshop and make your own ‘funky photo frame’ to display your picture. 10.30am-4.30pm.

VIEW FROM THE SHARD KIDS GO FREE

Spring Fairs and Festivals DULWICH FESTIVAL

BALHAM LITERARY FESTIVAL

6-15 May, in and around DULWICH SE21, www.dulwichfestival.co.uk Comedy, talks, walks, literature, performances and artists’ open house events. Highlights for families include the Festival Fair on Goose Green on 8 May, Love West Dulwich Fair (see below), The Biggest Drum concert on 14 May, and Dulwich Park Fair on 15 May.

10-12 June, THE BEDFORD, 77 Bedford Hill, Balham SW12 9HD, 020 8670 1920, www.dulwichbooks.co.uk Dulwich Books is launching a unique new festival for South London.

Balham Literary Festival will bring together world-class writers, artists, musicians, photographers and commentators to explore the many ways that we are connected to our landscapes.

The line-up features exclusive appearances from much sought-after authors of books for adults and children alike, curated walks, live music and more. See the website for the full line-up and book online, in person at Dulwich Books, 6 Croxted Road SE21 8SW, or email hello@dulwichbooks.co.uk.

LOVE WEST DULWICH SPRING FAIR 14 May, Park Hall Road, Croxted Road and Rosendale Road, West Dulwich SE21, www.facebook.com/lovewestdulwich Live music, dancing, children’s workshops and facepainting, baby farm animals, a carousel and maypole, arts & crafts market, local business activities, fresh produce, street produce and local craft beer stalls.

10am-5pm.

HITHER GREEN FESTIVAL 14-22 May, in and around Hither Green, www.ourhithergreen.com Nine days of great entertainment and good food, including live music, storytime for children, a teddy bears’ picnic, concerts and quizzes, open gardens and chocolate tasting, finishing with a street party on the last day. See the website for the full line-up.

GREENWICH + DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 24 June - 2 July, various venues, www.festival.org This year, Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF), celebrates its 21st birthday with a programme which will include six World Premieres, five UK Premieres and 12 London Premieres.

Presented as part of Royal Greenwich Festivals, GDIF showcases the latest UK and international outdoor productions, with dancers, musicians, actors and artists bringing indoor and outdoor events and installations to the area. See the website for the full line-up.

BROCKLEY MAX FESTIVAL 27 May - 4 June, in and around Brockley SE4, www.brockleymax.co.uk The Brockley Max arts festival is back with a jam-packed programme of music, film, exhibitions, theatre, craft workshops and more. Most events are free and will take place in venues across Brockley, Crofton Park, Hilly Fields, Honor Oak Park and Ladywell.

The festival unfurls over nine glorious days coinciding with half term, so there will be plenty of activities to keep children occupied, from painting a pub bench, catching storytime in a church crypt, to flexing their vocal chords in a singing workshop. See the website for the full line-up.

UDDERBELLY FESTIVAL Until 17 July, SOUTHBANK CENTRE, Belvedere Road SE1 8PX, 0844 847 9944, www.udderbelly.co.uk The big, upside-down purple cow has returned to graze on the South Bank for an ox-cellent eighth year in 2016. Udderbelly presents a moo-vellous programme of rib-tickling comedy, sensational circus and charming shows as well as one of London’s largest outdoor bars.

Children’s highlights include Comedy Club 4 Kids, The Amazing Bubble Man and Braniac Live! - see the full line-up online.

familiesse.co.uk

30 May - 5 June, THE VIEW FROM THE SHARD, Joiner Street SE1 9RN, 0844 4997111, www.theviewfromtheshard.com The View from The Shard provides families with an unforgettable experience, and is the perfect place to nurture a child’s fascination with London’s history. Spark their imagination with the spectacular 360degree view that stretches for up to 40 miles and see London as a city of toys from the top of Western Europe’s tallest building.

During the half-term school holiday, each paying adult can take two child tickets free of charge. New for half-term, children can play the ‘Spot the Sights’ game for the chance to win a Romeo the Fox goody bag!

Activity sheets are available at The View from The Shard ticket desk, or download at home from the website. Adult tickets from £25.95.

LONDON TRANSPORT 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 10am-6pm Mondays to Thursdays and weekends, from 11am Fridays. Admission free for under 17s, £16 adults. Tickets are valid for 12 months’ unlimited admission.

THE POSTER PARTY, 28 May - 5 June. Holiday storytime sessions and creative workshops for families. Little ones can get artistic with foam block printing inspired by the Museum’s iconic posters, and make their own postcard to take home, or listen to a fun storytime session about the loveable pelican Mr Beak.

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.

may / june 2016 - families south east

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VIEW FROM THE SHARD

FAN MUSEUM

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD

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

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

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 10am5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and from 11am Sundays. Admission free for under 16s, £8.25 adults.

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.

SCIENCE MUSEUM SCIENCE MUSEUM, Exhibition Road SW7 2DD, 0870 870 4868, www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Aiming to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the Science Museum makes sense of the science that shapes our lives, sparking curiosity, releasing creativity and changing the future by engaging people of all generations and backgrounds in science, engineering, medicine, technology, design and enterprise. Open daily 10am-6pm except 24-26 December.

LAUNCHPAD SCIENCE SHOWS. The largest free interactive science gallery in the UK is packed with exhibits which allow visitors to launch a rocket, turn their head into a sound box and control a magnetic cloud.

Ages 8-14, free.

LEONARDO DA VINCI, THE MECHANICS OF GENIUS, from 6 May. Predominantly recognised as one of history’s greatest painters, Leonardo da Vinci was also a uniquely gifted scientist and engineer. The Mechanics of Genius brings the intricate mechanical concepts of this restless and curious mind to life in a major interactive exhibition. £10.

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.

OTHERWORLDS; VISIONS OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, 6-15 May. Travel to the remote edges of our Solar System in this spectacular new photographic exhibition created by artist, curator and writer Michael Benson. Using raw data provided by NASA and ESA missions, the 73 composite images on display demonstrate an important chapter in the history of photography and bring art and science together to create a glimpse of worlds currently beyond our reach. Adult £11, child and concession £6.

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families south east - may / june 2016

SENSATIONAL BUTTERFLIES, until 11 September. This living exhibition includes a riot of colourful species usually found in the tropical forests of Central and South America, Africa and Asia. The magical experience of being surrounded by free-flying butterflies is captivating for young and old alike. Wander through a tropical habitat of flowers, vines and foliage and view these creatures close-up, using a magnifier to admire the irintricate beauty and tiny features. Admission £6.50, families £22.

DINO SNORES, once a month on Saturdays. Discover what really happens at the museum when the staff and visitors have gone home.

Children aged 7-11 years, from 7pm to 9.50am the following day.

Tickets £60.

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.

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-6pm, admission £16 adults, children £8, family tickets from £28.

GUN TURRET EXPERIENCE. Immerse yourself in the Gun Turret Experience, a chance to see what fighting at sea would have really been like. Overlooking the front of the ship, or Fo’c’sle, is the forward most of HMS Belfast’s Triple Gun Turrets. Lights, audio, videos and projections will recreate the experience, highlighting the hectic and cramped conditions that would have seen twenty-six men in this confined space at any one time. Entry included in general admission price.

TATTOO T-SHIRTS, 28-31 May, 1-5 and 18+19 June. Impress your friends and family by designing your very own t-shirt, inspired by traditional Navy tattoos, and the sailor legend of Davy Jones’s Locker.

11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

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.

HALF TERM ACTIVITIES, 30 May - 3 June. Includes Moving Museum, Crazy Jumping Jacks Workshop, Speaking Sculpture Workshop and more.

MONTESSORI FAMILY DAY, 5 June. Montessori educators lead a Montessori focused play activities for children and their parents and carers. A range of creative activities will be introduced which can be also used in the home. In collaboration with Montessori Centre International and funded by Montessori St. Nicholas Charity. 11am-4pm, free drop in, all ages.

IT’S A HARD WORLD FOR LITTLE THINGS, until 17 July. Children Carrying Heavy Objects is a series of six large-scale drawings that depict children and the burdens that they carry. The graphite drawings by C A Halpin show children carrying physical, societal and political loads such as: water; a blackboard; each other; in grief and love, or in the loneliness of a runaway boy. The images explore children’s absolute will to survive in a sometimes-hostile adult world and reflects the plight of children on a global and domestic scale; the show features local children and others from around the world.

CHILDREN AT THE V&A V&A MUSEUM, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL, 020 7942 2000, www.vam.ac.uk/families Pick up a family trail from the Information Desk and explore the museum through puzzles, drawing and observation. Suitable for 7-12 year-olds.

There are also hundreds of exciting hands-on exhibits containing plenty to touch and try out. Museum open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free.

BACK-PACKS, Saturdays. Pick up a back pack and explore the museum with fantastic jigsaws, stories, puzzles and games. 10.30am5pm.

ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH

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.

DRAWING A SOMME FLIPBOOK, 28 May - 5 June. Find out about how images were made into flipbooks during the First World War as a way of animating pictures, create your own silhouette of a British ‘Tommy’ soldier and add it to the museum’s animated flipbook collection.

11am-4pm, free.

OBJECT CONVERSATIONS: THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME, 30 May - 3 June. Feel the weight of a shrapnel piece from the First World War and come to grips with real First World War objects from our collections. In this special immersive object handling session linked to the 100th anniversary this year of the Battle of the Somme, families can explore objects from our collections and how they connect with iconic objects on display in our atrium and terraced galleries. 11am-2.30pm and 2-4pm, free.

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.

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.

AUDIO-DESCRIBED TOUR, 10 May. Explore the ship and its fascinating story on this audio-described tour for blind and partiallysighted visitors. Come on board and get hands-on with history on the world’s last remaining tea clipper. 2.30-3.30pm, £17 adult, £13.50 concessions (includes visitors with disabilities). Price includes admission to the ship, sighted companions enter free.

ABOVE AND BEYOND, 27 May - 29 August. A ground-breaking new exhibition about the wonders of flight and mankind’s remarkable journey to space. Created in collaboration with NASA, this exhibition hopes to inspire the next wave of engineers, pilots and astronauts by taking visitors on an exciting journey through the past, present and future of aerospace in the most interactive exhibition on the subject ever to tour.

Admission £9 adults, £6 children.

MARITIME FAMILY HISTORY STUDY DAY, 27 May. Led by expert staff, the study day introduces the Caird Library’s collections, the world’s largest collection of merchant navy family history resources. Sessions include an introduction on basic conservation of family history records and workshops to enhance genealogical research skills. 11am-4pm, £27 adults, £24 concessions.

GREENWICH BOOK FESTIVAL, 27+28 May. The second Greenwich Book Festival, hosted by the University of Greenwich and with the support of the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the Old Royal Naval College, will take place in the beautiful buildings and grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich. See www.greenwichbookfest.com for the full line up.

ABOVE AND BEYOND HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS, 30 May - 4 June. To celebrate the opening of the Above and Beyond exhibition, learn about space, ships and spaceships and help build amazing top-secret flying, floating and sinking machines. 11am-1.30pm and 1.30-4pm.

familiesse.co.uk

HMS BELFAST

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

TOUR IN BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE, 11 June. Join deaf historian, John Wilson, for a tour of Cutty Sark and its history in BSL. Explore the 1869 clipper, celebrated for its record-breaking passages around the globe and find out about life on board and the story of this ship’s survival. £17 adult, £13.50 concessions (includes visitors with disabilities, prices include admission to ship, carers enter free).

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.

DANCING SAILORS, 30 May -1 June. Stamp your feet and clap your hands, Cutty Sark’s sailors are having a dance. Make a colourful sailor puppet to dance around the ship and take home to play with. 11.30am1.30pm and 2-4pm.

STORY SHIP, 2+3 June. Help make a spectacular story ship. Add your sea-faring adventures to the rigging and watch the sails grow. 11.30am1.30pm and 2-4pm.

COLOURFUL COCKERELS, 4+5 June. Cutty Sark sailed all around the world. Celebrate Portugal Day by making your own colourful cockerel decoration to hang up at home. 11.30am-1.30pm and 2-4pm.

CUTTY SARK TOUR IN BSL, 11 June. Join deaf historian, John Wilson, for a tour of Cutty Sark and its history in BSL. Explore the 1869 clipper, celebrated for her record-breaking passages around the globe and find out about life on board and the story of the ship’s survival.

11.30am-12.30pm and 1.30-2.30pm, £17 adults, £13.50 concessions.

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.

GEFFRYE MUSEUM GEFFRYE MUSEUM, Kingsland Road E2 8EA, 020 7739 9893, www.geffrye-museum.org.uk The Geffrye is set in almshouses built in 1714 by the Ironmongers’ Company. As a museum, it explores the history of English homes from 1600 to the present day, with 11 period rooms, original objects, images and texts, and a faithfully restored herb garden. Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Sundays, admission free. On the first Saturday of each month and during school holidays, special workshops and quizzes inspire creativity and provide amusement for accompanied 5-11 year-olds.

MANY HANDS, 31 May - 3 June. Inspired by the jobs done by families and servants in the home through the centuries, make natural cleaning products, bake seasonal biscuits and plant seeds. Ages 5-16, 10.30am12.30pm and 2-4pm, free, on a first come, first served basis.

ALMSHOUSE TOURS, 7, 10, 18 and 24 May, 1 and 4 June.

Almshouse No. 14 has been restored with most of its internal woodwork intact, including its staircase, upper floors, closets and panelling. It is furnished to show the living conditions of poor pensioners in the 18th and 19th centuries. Admission is by a timed ticket, adults £4, under 16s free.

GEFFRYE MUSEUM

ZIPPO’S CIRCUS

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.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM BRITISH MUSEUM, Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG, 020 7323 8181, www.britishmuseum.org The British Museum was founded in 1753, the first national public museum in the world. Each year nearly 6 million visitors pour through the doors to see the museum’s collection of ancient and historical artefacts including the ever-popular Egyptian mummies, or to take in the latest block-buster exhibition. Open 10am-5.30pm daily, admission free, charge for some exhibitions.

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.

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 noon4pm 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.

The Great Outdoors COLOUR RUN

LULLINGSTONE CASTLE

15 May, DANSON PARK, Danson Lane, Welling, Kent DA16 2BL, www.communityhospice.org.uk Open to anyone over 12 years of age; crawl, walk, jog, run or dance your way round the 5km course to get Covered in Colour, while raising funds for Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. 11am start, advanced registration £15 includes a pair of sunglasses, a bag of powder paint for you to celebrate with at the finish line party, a medal, and a well-deserved hot drink.

LULLINGSTONE CASTLE, Eynsford, Kent DA4 0JA, 01322 862114, www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk MEDIEVAL WEEKEND, 29+30 May. Step back in time to experience the authentic sights and sounds with ‘living history’ displays, character dress, campfires, tents and medieval weapons, courtesy of the Woodvilles medieval re-enactment group. 11am-5pm, £10 adults, children free.

SPRING TRAIL, 28 May - 5 June. Explore the woods following a self-led activity trail and see what you can discover about the park. All completed trails will receive a small prize. 10am - 3pm.

CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea SW3 4HS, 020 7349 6453, www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk FAMILY ACTIVITY DAY, 17 May. An assortment of drop-in activities for families including Art Safari, Pulp Fiction, Chocolate Tuesday, Water World and Creepy Crawling. 12-4pm.

HALF TERM ACTIVITIES, 31 May - 2 June. An assortment of drop-in activities for families including Chocolate Tuesday, Puppetry in Motion, Marvellous Masks and Thinking With Your Nose: an introduction to plant perfumes.

LABYRINTH 29 May, FOAL FARM ANIMAL RESCUE CENTRE, Jail Lane, Biggin Hill, Kent TN16 3AX, 01959 572 386 Watch this great fantasy film under the stars!

Doors open 7pm, film starts 8.30pm.

Adults £10, under 15s £6, book first.

OPEN GARDEN SQUARES 2016 18+19 June, various venues, www.opensquares.org See what grows behind the normally closed gates of over 200 gardens in this magical two-day event. Gardens range from the historic and traditional to the new and experimental and can be discovered right across the city. In southeast London, you can visit Ballast Quay Garden, the Centre for Wildlife Gardening, Charlton Manor Primary School, Culverley Green, Dulwich Woods, Red House Gardens, Sydenham Garden and the Royal Garrison Church of St George in Woolwich.

Tickets £12, children free, book first.

LONDON WETLANDS CENTRE WWT LONDON WETLANDS CENTRE Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes, London SW13 9WT, 020 8409 4400, www.wwt.org.uk WEEKEND FAMILY ACTIVITIES. Enjoy a pond dipping session to see what mini-beasts are about, and get creative with nature crafts.

PIRATE TREASURE HUNT, 28 May - 5 June. Ahoy there Shipmates!

Captain Blackbird’s motley animal crew have stolen his precious treasure and hidden it around the centre. But wait, Polly, his faithful parakeet has spotted which direction they went in. Help the Captain find his treasure in return for a piece of his gold. Dress as your favourite pirate for fun.

10am-4pm, £1 per trail includes a small prize.

HYDE PARK Royal Parks Education Centre, HYDE PARK, London W2 2UH, 020 7036 8056, www.supporttheroyalparks.org/experiences The Royal Parks Foundation Education Centre in Hyde Park is perfectly placed to host a range of outdoor activities exploring nature in the Park.

It is a unique eco-friendly building, set in an acre of enclosed grounds, and the perfect base for outdoor learning. Facilities include state-of-theart equipment and web cams in nest boxes and underwater. With a wide variety of habitats to study, from log piles to meadows and ponds, there’s no end to discovery.

NATURE EXPLORERS, 31 May. Give yourself a rest and drop off your 8-11 year old at the Education Centre for a fun filled, educational day of outdoor games and activities based around hedges and hedgerows. £15, drop off 10am, collect at 3pm.

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DISCOVERY DAYS, 1+2 June. Based on hedgehog heroes, with a discovery trail, arts and crafts and the chance to find out how the Royal Parks use scientific equipment to survey hedgehogs. 11am-3pm, free family drop-in.

LONDON WILDLIFE TRUST Join in with fun, free, family activities run by the London Wildlife Trust, suitable for children of all ages accompanied by their parents or carers.

For details, see www.wildlondon.org.uk and to book, email dwallace@wildlondon.org.uk NATURE MASH UP, 21 May. Learn about wildflowers and herbs, make a natural remedy and a Japanese ‘Hape Zome’ print. 11am-4pm at the Centre for Wildlife Gardening, East Dulwich SE15.

NATURE MASH UP, 2+3 June. Learn about plants, make herb pots, natural remedies and recycled paper. There will be games, crafts and fun on this two-day course. 11am-4pm at the Centre for Wildlife Gardening, East Dulwich SE15.

POND LIFE, 12 June. Find out what lurks in the woodland pond, and enjoy crafts and games. 2-4pm at Sydenham Hill Wood.

CHISLEHURST SUMMER FAIR 11 June, CHISLEHURST COMMON, The Old Fire Station, Hawkwood Lane, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5PW, www.rotary1120.org/chislehurst The Summer Fair includes a children’s funfair; a performance stage featuring local dance and theatre companies throughout the day; the Rotary Club beer and Pimms tent; and around 70 stalls including entertainments, food, drink, and a huge range of different products and services. 10am-4pm.

FUN DOG SHOW 26 June, HAWLEY GARDEN CENTRE, Hawley Road, Dartford, Kent DA2 7RB, 01322 224108, www.hawleygardencentre.co.uk Classes include waggiest tail, the best young handler, best mover, prettiest bitch and most handsome dog. Registration 9am, judging from 11am, Spectators can watch the show for free.

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THE GRUFFALO

ROYAL ALBERT HALL

GOOSEBUMPS ALIVE

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MoreWhat’sOn

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

RUG RHYMES, Fridays until 15 July. What rhymes with rug? Join the Poetry Library puppets, Federico and Firebird, on their poem rug to find out. This short session of nursery rhymes, poems and rhyming stories is followed by the opportunity to look at and borrow books from Southbank’s ever-growing children’s collection. Under 5s and carers, 10.30-11am, free.

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

Theatre, Shows and Music ZIPPO’S CIRCUS - MEGA DOME 19-22 May, STREATHAM COMMON, High Road SW16 3EN, 23-25 May, SIDCUP PLACE DA14 6BF, www.zippos.co.uk Zippo’s sparkling new touring show is an action-packed treat of ceiling-walking, flying trapeze, jugglers on horseback, a contortioniste archer, human pyramid acrobats, a knife-thrower, comic performers, and the incredible wheel of death - all introduced by the supreme ringmaster Norman Barrett MBE, along with his performing budgies.

THE GRUFFALO - LIVE ON STAGE 6 July - 4 September, LYRIC THEATRE, Shaftsbury Avenue W1D 7ES, www.tallstories.org.uk/the-gruffalo, www.kennywax.com This July everyone’s favourite furry monster roars back into the West End in celebration of his 15th anniversary on stage! Tall Stories’ smash hit production of The Gruffalo returns to the Lyric Theatre by popular demand, forming a huge part of this summer’s West End calendar.

The most fearsome creature that never was - but is - takes to the stage in this enchanting production combining songs, laughter and storytelling theatre with just the right amount of scary fun! Set to a wonderfully catchy score with original music and lyrics, The Gruffalo is a must-see show which continues to entertain audiences the world over. Tickets from £15.10 WIN tickets. We have a family ticket to be won - see page 4.

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.

BACKSTAGE TOURS. The Backstage Tours include an introduction to the colourful history of the theatre, an insight into the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House and a look at aspects of current productions.

Each tour is a unique experience, and may include opportunities to see The Royal Ballet in class, or the magnificent backstage technology in operation. Suitable for ages 8+, book first.

ALBANY THEATRE ALBANY THEATRE, Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG, 020 8692 4446, www.thealbany.org.uk SNOW WHITE, 15 May. With endless meals to prepare, a never-ending pile of dishes to wash, not to mention that huge and ridiculous mirror that needs polishing morning, noon and night, life’s never easy for the royal servants downstairs at the palace. 1pm and 3pm, tickets £7, £24 family ticket.

THE SQUIDZ CLUB, 20 May. The Squidz Club is for young people with learning disabilities (aged 10-25), their friends and families. Featuring a range of activities plus live performances and DJs on the main stage.

Free drinks and massages for parents and carers. 7pm start, tickets £5.

GOOSEBUMPS ALIVE 14 May - 5 June, THE VAULTS, Leake Street, Waterloo SE1 7NN, 0871 220 0260 www.goosebumpsalive.com Ghouls, ghosts and monsters - watch out! The kids are feeling fearless and want to see who’s the real scaredy-cat. Bring Mum and Dad, just in case, as this promenade show might have some twists and turns... And you wouldn’t want to get Goosebumped yourself!

Goosebumps Alive and Goosebumps Kids are immersive, promenade theatre productions that take you through the cavernous Vaults beneath Waterloo station. Goosebumps Alive is aimed at adults, but can be attended by ages 12+, while Goosebumps Kids is suitable for ages 511. Timed tickets £15, book first.

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THE ADVENTURES OF THE LITTLE GHOST 28 May, BATHWAY THEATRE, The Old Baths, Bathway, Woolwich SE10 6QX, 020 8858 7755, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk The Adventures Of The Little Ghost is a new show for young audiences based on the book by Ottfried Preussler. Choreographed by Sophie Nuzel with an original soundscore by Seymour Milton, the piece welcomes the audience into a magical, immersive world that unfolds before their eyes.

Working with a cast of three professional dancers, a free runner and a young dancer as The Little Ghost, this piece also invites and incorporates a community cast of up to thirty people aged 10-100 years old. Ages 4+, 2pm and 6pm, tickets £10.

ROYAL ALBERT HALL

THE TRAMSHED THE TRAMSHED, 51-53 Woolwich New Road SE18 6ES, 020 8858 7755, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk LIGHT SHOW, 1 June. In this unique show for young people on the autism spectrum, Oily Cart invites you into a magical paper palace, where the sensory delights of nature unfold to provide the audience with a fully immersive experience.

Creating distinct silhouettes, in an exquisite play of light and shadow, a serene papery white landscape transitions from a beautiful warm day at the beach to a dreamy moonlit wonderland. The show takes the participants on a multi-sensory journey of textures, smells and tactile experiences, all accompanied by enchanting live music from a virtuoso double bass player. Ages 3-11, 11am and 2pm, Tickets £15.

SPOT, 2 June. Enter a magical world of light, sound and movement.

Spot can be the yellow sun, the blue sea or red fire; a balloon, a hoop or nothing at all. But most of all, Spot loves to have fun. International theatre company La Baracca explores children’s fascination with light in this show specifically made for younger children with simple words in English and Italian. Ages 1-4, 2pm and 4pm, tickets £8.50.

JESSIE AND THE CLOUD MACHINE, 3 June. This is the story of a little girl who lives up in the clouds, and her struggle against the great machine that comes to take all the clouds away. The adventure is brought to life with hand carved puppets and enchanting song. Ages 6+. 11am and 2pm, tickets £8.50.

PITSCHI THE KITTEN WITH DREAMS, 4 June. Pitschi lives with her cat family, Grandma Lisette and a dog called Bello on a farm high up in the Swiss Alps. She doesn’t much care for the rough and tumble and mischievous fun of kitten play and dreams of being something else - a chicken, perhaps, or a goat, or a bunny - for after all, for Pitschi, anything is better than being a cat! 11am and 2pm, tickets £8.50.

UNICORN THEATRE UNICORN THEATRE, 147 Tooley Street SE1 2HZ, 020 7645 0560, www.unicorntheatre.com UP CLUB and UP CLUB+. Join the Unicorn Play Club most Saturdays for free activities from portrait painting and potato printing to giant Jenga and more. All arts and crafts are activities designed for you and your tiny human to create together. There will usually be cutting and sticking responsibilities for the grown-ups. 12noon - 2pm, free drop-in.

SEPTIMUS BEAN AND HIS AMAZING MACHINE, 20 May - 26 June.

Septimus Bean has invented a very great machine but is yet to work out what it is for. With the help of the king and court, he finds out lots of things that it isn’t for and one unexpected thing that it is utterly perfect for. This comical, rhythmical and inventive show, based on the much-loved book, is suitable for ages 4+. Tickets £10 children, £16 adults.

THE HAMILTON COMPLEX, 30 June - 2 July. Thirteen girls aged 13 - and a bodybuilder. Through dance and movement they borrow, copy and shamelessly fuse past and present. Then pull the rug right out from under your feet. Nothing is what it seems. Their transition into adulthood reflects an ever-changing society. Ages 13+.

SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE

The ROYAL ALBERT HALL, Kensington Gore SW7 2AP, 0845 401 5045, www.royalalberthall.com STORYTELLING AND MUSIC, Wednesdays from 6-25 May. Storytellers Paul Rubinstein and Olivia Armstrong deliver a series of sessions for babies and toddlers, aiming to engage and encourage interaction between parents/ carers and their little ones using musical instruments, singing, movement and stories. Suitable for children aged 0-4 years, 10am and 11.30am, £5.

SPACE SPECTACULAR, 27+28 May. A voyage through a galaxy of favourite music from deep space and beyond, with lights, lasers and fireworks. Including works by Holst, Strauss and John Williams. Ages 5+, performances 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

ARABIAN NIGHTS, 31 May. Meet Sheherazade, the greatest storyteller of them all. She has a feast of adventures and fantasies to tell involving genies, villains, heroes and princesses. Ages 5+, performances 11am and 2pm.

SWAN LAKE, 1-12 June. Dancers from English National Ballet perform in Derek Deane’s critically acclaimed production of Swan Lake, where true love triumphs over evil. Set to Tchaikovsky’s memorable score played by the English National Ballet Philharmonic, the production has 60 swans, stunning costumes, sensational lighting and a magical set.

2.30pm and 7.30pm.

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.

WICKED: AUTISM-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE 14 May, APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE, Wilton Road, London SW1V 1LG, 020 7828 7074, www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/autismfriendly The classic West End musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is proud to announce its first ever autism-friendly performance. The production is working closely with the National Autistic Society, the UK’s leading charity for people on the autism spectrum and their families, to create a friendly and supportive environment in which to enjoy the show. The specially adapted performance is suitable for people with autism, with trained staff on hand in dedicated quiet and activity areas should anyone need to leave their seats. 1.30pm, ages 7+, tickets from £15.

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GANGSTA GRANNY

MISSION IM’PUDSEY’BLE

THE CAT IN THE HAT

SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE

TORTOISE & THE HARE

Sackler Studios, SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE, 21 New Globe Walk SE1 9DT, 020 7401 9919, www.shakespearesglobe.com SHAKESPEARE UNTOLD, 28 May. The stories you know from the characters you don’t, in a family-friendly double bill. 7.30pm start, adults £16.50, children £11.50.

STORY DAYS. 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.

27 May, SADLER’S WELLS THEATRE, Rosebery Avenue,London EC1R, 020 7863 8000, www.sadlerswells.com

THE FAIRFIELD FAIRFIELD HALLS, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 1DG, 020 8688 9291, www.fairfield.co.uk ANNIE, 2-7 May. The world’s favourite family musical comes to Croydon, starring Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph as the tyrannical Miss Hannigan, and the unforgettable songs Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You, and Tomorrow. Tickets from £30.

DOGS DON’T DO BALLET, 27+28 May. Join Ballet Black for their first family ballet, based on the best selling book by Anna Kemp and choreographed by Christopher Marney, full of fun, magic and one very special dog! Suitable for the whole family, adult tickets £12, children £8.50.

GANGSTA GRANNY LIVE ON STAGE, 17-31 May. It’s Friday night and Ben knows that means only one thing - staying with Granny! There will be cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake and Ben knows one thing for sure - it’s going to be sooooooooo boring! But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret - and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could ever imagine, as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny! Tickets £17 adults, children £13, families £53.

MONSTERSAURUS! 8+9 June. Follow the young inventor Monty as he creates a whole world of whacky inventions and incredible monsters, but he has a problem - now he has made them all, what is he going to do with them? This brand new show from the creators of Aliens Love Underpants is monster-ously good! Adult tickets £12.50, children £10.

Northern Ballet brings its magic to Tortoise & the Hare. Once upon a time there was a speedy hare who never stopped talking about how fast he could run. Tired of being teased for his slowness, Tortoise challenged him to a race. No one thought he could win, but life is full of surprises!

Bringing this much-loved Aesop’s fable to life, Tortoise & the Hare is the perfect opportunity for little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre, in a child-friendly 40-minute production. 12 noon & 2pm, tickets from £6.

POLKA THEATRE POLKA THEATRE, 240 Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB, 020 8543 4888, www.polkatheatre.com THE BOX OF PHOTOGRAPHS, 6-15 May. Every picture tells a story.

When Chelsea moves into a new flat with her mum, she finds a box of intriguing old photographs underneath her bed. The mysterious lady who lived there before must have left them just for her... Ages 7-11, tickets £13.50, concessions £10.

FLIGHTS OF FANCY, 14+15 May. Follow the tale of a baby Glovebird learning to fly, while the earthbound puppeteer and stick-in-the-mud musicians attempt to get the show off the ground. Anything is possible in this menagerie of the imagination, where we meet varieties of Glovebirds who sing, balance and unicycle, and even a flying pig! Martin Bridle and Su Eaton of Hand to Mouth Theatre present another whimsical and thoughtful rag-bag puppet delight, with music, laughter and feathers. Tickets £12, concessions.

A REAL MERMAID’S TALE, 21+22 May. An exciting adventure on the high seas with pirates, monstrous sea creatures and mermaid treasure.

Follow our intrepid explorer on a journey full of magic, puppetry and mutinous rats as she discovers evidence of hidden mermaids and mythical underwater creatures! With audience participation, puppetry and magic tricks. £12 for adults and children, concessions £9.

MEADOW, 28+29 May. The grass remembers. It remembers you. It remembers me. And it remembers the animals that called the meadow home... Meet the animals and insects that lived in the meadow, and see their stories come to life. Told with handcrafted puppets made from organic materials found in the meadow and a stunning original score by Paul Mosely. Tickets £12, concessions £9.

I PACK MY BAG, 1-5 June. A playful performance about fantasy, imagination and packing a bag, un-packing a bag; dancing with a bag and singing with a bag! Based on the memory game, often played by children. Tickets £12, concessions £9.

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, 27 May - 14 August. One dark night a mysterious man gives James Trotter an unexpected gift - a bag of glowing, wriggling lights, and a promise of magic. When James drops the bag underneath a dead tree, something amazing happens - a single peach begins to grow, and grow, and grow. Join James and his new-found insect friends as they embark on an extraordinary adventure which takes them halfway around the world with excitement, songs and laughter. Ages 5-11, tickets £15, concessions £10.

CHURCHILL THEATRE BROMLEY CHURCHILL THEATRE, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA, 0844 871 7620, www.atgtickets.com HORRIBLE HISTORIES: GROOVY GREEKS, 31 May - 4 June. Two two-hour plays in this ever-popular, entertaining, spectacularly dramatic history-on-stage series! Tickets from £7.75.

PEPPA PIG’S SURPRISE, 18+19 June. Enjoy fun, loads of songs and of course, surprises in this charming, colourful new show. Peppa Pig’s Surprise promises to be the perfect theatre show for all pre-schoolers!

10am, 1pm & 4pm, Tickets from £15.

SING-A-LONG-A SOUND OF MUSIC, 26 June. The audience is the star of the show and almost anything can happen - the first rule of Sing-a-long-a is there are no rules! Don’t forget to dress up as one of your favourite things! 7pm, tickets £16, under 16s £10.

ORCHARD THEATRE ORCHARD THEATRE, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent DA1 1ED, 01322 220000, www.orchardtheatre.co.uk MISSION IM’PUDSEY’BLE, 29+30 May. Join Ashleigh & Pudsey, everyone’s favourite BGT champions, for a brand new interactive spy adventure suitable for the whole family With a fantastic array of gadgets, cars, jet packs and gismos, help Ashleigh and Pudsey by finding clues, breaking codes, and solving puzzles. Tickets £19, under 16s £16, family ticket £64.

THE CAT IN THE HAT, 2-4 June. Based on the much loved book by Dr Seuss, The Cat in the Hat is a lively and engaging first theatre experience for young children aged 3+ Expect towering hats, mischief and fun that is funny! Tickets £12.

FAMILY DAY, 26 June. A day of workshops for families to take part in together, themed with the adventures of storybook heroes and villains!

The day will include a children’s theatre show, arts and crafts, theatre workshops, face painting, family disco, quizzes and competitions and more. Ages 3+, 10am-2pm, tickets £6, £20 families, includes lunch.

Art Activities DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY

FAMILIES AT THE TATE

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.

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.

SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION, until 13 May. See a remarkable collection of garments designed from scratch by nine young people age 11-18 from East London. In a six month project led by Dulwich and creative youth space, Spotlight, the budding fashion designers found inspiration in the Old Master paintings at Dulwich Picture Gallery, creating bespoke garments that call to mind the likes of 16th century portrait sitter, Joan Alleyn, and the more contemporary style icon, Lady Gaga. Free to the public, the exhibition is a great opportunity to see the Gallery’s permanent collection interpreted in a fresh, new way.

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.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION, Hertford House, Manchester Square W1U 3BN, 020 7563 9500, www.wallacecollection.org The Wallace Collection displays wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess, in their main London townhouse. Family multi-media tours and trails bring the exhibits to life for younger visitors. Open 10am-5pm daily, admission free.

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.

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.

CHILDREN’S ART WEEK - AN AFTERNOON WITH CHRIS RIDDELL, 19 June. A special interactive drawing session with writer and illustrator and children’s Laureate Chris Riddell. During the afternoon Chris will talk and draw his favourite portraits from the collection as well as take part in a Q&A. There will be a book signing after the event. Ages 7-11, book first by 1 June.

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

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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.

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

may / june 2016 - families south east

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31 May–3 June 10:30am–4.30pm

Explore the Museum’s inspiring ing p ph photography ho ottto oggr o grap aphy eexh exhibition xhib ibit itt ankk off En EEngland, ng Capturing the City: Photography at the B Bank revealing some of the Bank’s historical moments. Create your own memories by becoming the face of a current banknote with our giant banknote photo board and capture this moment by having your photograph taken.

You can then join a creative workshop and make your own ‘Funky photo frame’ to display your picture.

17-19 Blackwater Street East Dulwich SE22 8SD

020 7720 1144

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families south east - may / june 2016

10:00am–5:00pm Share your experience @boemuseum Monday to Friday. @boemuseum Closed weekends and Bank Holidays. Entrance T: 020 7601 5545 in Bartholomew Lane, London EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum

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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

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