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In this issue...

ISSUE 46: NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 2018

12 Winter fun - Indoors!

4 Family News

10

Christmas

6 Health

cooking

7 Parenting 9 Clubs & Classes 11 Christmas

GSCE Computer Science Interactive Exam Practice Paper with Online Submission for Marking Author Zenita Smythe

13 Out & About

Families London-Kent Borders Magazine is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.

Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families London-Kent Borders are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families London-Kent Borders. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

Front cover: Bigstock Photo Editor: Mima Walia 07792 006546

editor@ familieslondonkent.co.uk Design: Kevin Smith Listings Editor: Anna Blackshaw

The interactive paper allows students to fill in their answers on the PDF paper and it can be submitted for automated marking.

• NO PRINTING PAPER NEEDED. • Lifetime licence • Can be used with all your children.

• NO TRACE OF THE OLDER CHILD’S ANSWERS. • Produced and marked by exam question writer.

• Based on the new GCSE 9-1 specification.

• Buy It Now £29.99 + vat.

01708 720585 • www.educate-first.co.uk/publication www.familiesonline.co.uk NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

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Family News

PROVIDES A LIFELINE OF SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES

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romley-based Maypole Project has new Sensory Cabin to benefit ill and disabled children and their families - Bromley, Lewisham, Greenwich, Lambeth and Southwark The Maypole Project, a charity which provides a lifeline of support for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families across Bromley, Lewisham, Greenwich, Lambeth and Southwark, has recently opened brand new Sensory Cabin.

A Sensory Cabin provides a tailored sensory environment and uses lights, sounds and textures to provide engaging learning opportunities and also a calm space for times of difficulty.

Sally Flatteau Taylor, Founder and CE of The Maypole Project, said: “Our new Sensory Cabin will bring enormous benefits to the ill and disabled children we work with. It will act as both a safe space where they can calm down and relax, and an interactive, engaging learning environment.”

Maypole’s Services include: therapies and counselling (family, one-to-one, couples, play therapy); activities and events for children and their siblings – including Maypole

Active, the inclusive sports club – drumming workshops, soft-play sessions at Gambado and outings such as pony rides; befriending service; and Helpline and Monthly support groups – e.g. GetTogther@51 coffee mornings.

Property services business Axis Europe PLC sent their First and Second Year Apprentices to convert an old shed at Maypole into a Sensory Cabin and create a water feature in Maypole’s sensory garden. The relationship between Maypole and Axis dates back to 2016 when the Axis Foundation donated a minibus to The Maypole Project. The minibus helps over 500 children a year, transporting them to different events and activities. The Axis Foundation also donated a stairlift improving accessibility within the Maypole building. The Sensory Cabin is the latest donation

by Axis to the Maypole Project.

Maypole Project: 51 High Street, Green Street Green, Orpington, Kent, BR6 6BQ 01689 851596 www.themaypoleproject.co.uk

COMPULSORY RELATIONSHIP AND SEX EDUCATION Relationship and health education will become compulsory for school children from September 2020, the Government has announced.

extend teaching to include intimate relationships as well.

At both primary and secondary, pupils will learn about staying safe online and how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully.

Under the proposals, all pupils will study compulsory health education and new reformed relationship education in primary school, as well as and relationship and sex education in secondary school.

other relationships they are likely to encounter.

Teachers will talk to primary school pupils in an age appropriate way about the features of healthy friendships, family relationships and

At secondary school, teachers will build on the foundation of relationships education in primary school and, at the appropriate time,

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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

Classes will also cover physical health, such as the importance of exercise and healthy eating, as well as the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and how it contributes towards the prevention of health problems.

More information can be found under Consultations at www.gov.uk/government/publications

Family News

ODD SOCKS DAY FOR ANTIBULLYING WEEK

NEW RECEPTION TEST CRITICISED C

Anti-Bullying Week runs from 12 to 16 November 2018 and the theme this year is choosing respect over bullying.

The aim of the week is to support schools to help children understand: • The definition of respect • That bullying is a behavioural choice • That we can respectfully disagree with each other i.e. we don’t have to be best friends or always agree with each other but we do have to show each other respect • That we all need to choose to respect each other, both face to face and online Students are being encouraged to wear odd socks to school on Monday 12 November to show their support and raise money for a good cause.

To get involved, visit www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

hildren who start Reception in September 2020 will be the first group to take the new Reception test, a baseline measure to track pupils’ progress during primary school. It is proposed that it will take place during the first 6 weeks of the autumn term.

Guidelines recently released by the governments say the new reception baseline assessment will be short (about 20 minutes), interactive and practical.

It will cover language and communication, early mathematics and social and behavioural skills.

However, the proposed test has been criticised in a report written by an expert panel and published by the British Education Research Association.

The report’s authors say that the assessment is highly likely to produce unreliable and invalid results, as it fails to recognise that young children develop at different paces and doesn't adjust for key factors, such as differences in ages and family background.

Add to this the fact that teachers and practitioners are likely to become increasingly pressured to 'teach to the test', and it is difficult to see how baseline results will have any real value.

More info at www.bera.ac.uk

HELPING SUPPORT YOUNG CARERS Imago is a local charity providing services across Kent and into London.

Established in 1964 Imago has a long history of supporting people. In Bexley and Kent Imago runs the Young Carers services Bexley Young Carers and Kent Young Carers. The services offer support to children who have caring responsibilities at home for a parent or sibling who has a disability, long-term health condition, mental health or substance misuse issue.

Across Kent young people with disabilities are accessing the Imago Short Breaks service. For children aged 8-15 there are fortnightly Youth Cafes meeting for 2 hours and for those

aged 15-19 there are monthly Saturday Clubs for 6 hours. The Short Breaks service aims to provide a fun filled learning experience, a chance to meet others and explore their local area.

For more details about either service visit www.imago.community or call 0300 111 1110.

There are volunteering opportunities to assist the Short Breaks groups or the Young Carer workshops. Imago welcomes individuals, businesses and groups who would like to choose the charity to fundraise for. Evelyn is running the London Marathon for Imago, you can sponsor her at:

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ EvelynDalton Contact hello@imago.community to find out more about supporting the charity.

www.familiesonline.co.uk NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

5

Health

A DAILY MILE IMPROVES CHILDREN'S HEALTH

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n initiative to get school children to walk or run a mile every day leads to significant improvements in their health, according to a study.

The Daily Mile scheme was originally the brainchild of a Scottish head teacher who started it in 2012.

Beat Head Lice and Nits with the Bug Buster Kit

Researchers at Stirling University compared the health of children at a primary school taking part in the scheme with those at a school that wasn’t participating.

If your children have had head lice before, then you may have been put off using expensive neuro-toxic pesticides on their heads. Bug Busting is a head louse detection and eradication method, which works by combining specially designed bevel-edged combs with your own family shampoo and conditioner.

The children wore accelerometers which recorded how much moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) they were undertaking every day, and for how long they were sedentary. Children who were doing the Daily Mile were significantly healthier than those who were not.

According to the Daily Mile Foundation, more than 3,600 schools worldwide have introduced the initiative, including about 1,200 in England, 770 in Scotland, 210 in Wales, 85 in Northern Ireland and more than 100 in the Republic of Ireland.

For more information, visit www.stir.ac.uk and www.thedailymile.co.uk

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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

Parenting

EQUIPPING OUR CHILDREN FOR A

Digital Future

By Casey Farquharson

A

nalysts Gartner have predicted that £19bn will be spent globally on educational technology by 2019.

But are we sure that this will make our children better prepared to succeed in the future? Will they possess the necessary skills to thrive in an increasingly digitalised world?

Coding is a key tech skill which can help prepare our children for the future. Yet, according to an article in The Guardian, over 67% of primary and secondary school teachers believe they cannot teach coding because of a lack of 'skills and teaching tools’. Many schools simply don't have personnel with the required skills and understanding to teach pupils how to code. There is an urgent need for more investment in the education sector to train teachers to code, to attract more individuals to learn and teach coding, and to equip schools, both secondary and primary, with the necessary hardware.

However, it isn’t all about technology.

Yes, we want our children to have good tech and digital skills, but character, creativity and social skills are also vital.

No matter how digitalised the world becomes, these three attributes of success cannot be compromised.

*Source: www.educationdegree.com

The components of character are courage, determination, the audacity to be different, focus and the ability to ask questions and make one’s own decisions. With creativity comes problem-solving skills, innovation, critical thinking and the ability to think outside the box. Rapport and relationship building, the ability to effectively express oneself both orally and in writing, confidence and collaboration are key components of social skills.

Plying our children with tablets and other forms of tech hardware is most definitely not a sure-proof way to ensure they have these attributes. The point here is not that tablets are bad or not useful, but that they should never be utilised as a be-all and end-all.

Technology should not be a foundation of learning, but rather an enabler and a catalyst.

There are seven learning styles* that need to be understood and embraced if our primary-age children are to get

the most from their technology learning experiences:

as Siri, Cortana and Ok Google can be utilised to teach such individuals.

Aural Listeners – individuals that respond

Visual Learners – individuals that learn

logical Learners – individuals with logical

It’s clear from the above that technology has the potential to be an effective enabler of specific and overall learning experiences. However, the key to its sustained effectiveness when it comes to education lies in technology being utilised in a supportive capacity, as against a leading one.

primarily to sound. Technology can be utilised to effectively engage with such individuals via the use of podcasts and audio teaching tools.

and organised minds. Mind mapping technology can be effectively utilised to improve their learning experience.

Physical Learners – individuals who

respond to words that incite feeling and activity. They like to understand what it feels like to go through the motions of what they are learning. Virtual reality technology can be utilised to optimise their learning experience.

Social Learners – Individuals that respond to teachers who are inquisitive and ask what they are thinking and feeling about key topics and concepts. Search engines such Google, Google Assistant and Siri can be utilised to maximise their learning experience.

Solitary Listeners – individuals that are

more comfortable sorting out problems on their own. Videos, online tutorials and audio learning can be utilised to optimise their learning experience.

Verbal Listeners – individuals who absorb information more effectively via verbal instruction. Innovative technology such

more effectively with pictures and imagery. Tablets and virtual reality technology can be utilised to optimise their learning experience.

If we want our children to succeed in the future, then we must protect their emotional and psychological wellbeing.

It is time to take responsibility for educating children, not only on the distinct dangers of the digital world but also on the importance of the true foundations of positive self-esteem.

In order for our children to prosper in the future it is absolutely vital that we improve and preserve their emotional well-being; appropriate technology training and learning scenarios can play a part in that education.

Casey Farquharson is the founder of IDEAS Bus, an interactive educational platform (on wheels!) designed to help educators discover the latest cutting-edge learning technology and students to get hands on coding, tech and digital media experience. For more information, visit http://theideasbus.org.uk

www.familiesonline.co.uk NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

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Clubs & Classes

MORE THAN JUST SWIMMING… PART I Aquakids is approaching 25 years of delivering high quality, fun lessons and I am very grateful to all the positive feedback and support from our customers who are so pleased with the progress made and the personal service we offer that makes swimming an enjoyable activity for their children.

I absolutely love watching our swimmers grow and develop their confidence and skills level but what I really enjoy is where learning to swim can take them.

We all know its an essential life skill and after the summer break so many parents have expressed what a joy it was to watch their swimmers being in the water for hours while on holiday and knowing they were safe in the water.

Finally what I find very exciting is that we now have swimmers who not only enjoyed the swim journey with Aquakids but are returning to become swim teachers – now that is a true reflection of a good swim school when their experience has inspired them into a teaching career.

Aquakids www.aquakids.co.uk

Aquakids instructors

But what I get excited about is hearing how that competency can lead to other water based activities such as body boarding. Surfing, sailing or even open water swimming This was also put into context when at the start of the term two of the A team took part in events that relied heavily on being able to swim so while our focus is to teach children to swim we are also making sure the swimmers enjoy the lessons which in turn will motivate them to want to attend each week which in the long term will make sure they don’t miss out on all the spin offs from being able to swim. y C 2 sw ear ele 01 im s o br 9 m f h ati in ig ng g h le qu ss a on lit s y

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Lessons at Bromley High, Bickley Park and Green Street Green Adult and Child Lessons at Green Street Green Swimming is an essential life skill - so make sure you get it right!

Visit our website: www.aquakids.co.uk Follow us on Twitter: @aquakidsuk, Instagram: @aquakids.uk or connect with us on Facebook: Aquakids

Swimming Lessons that last a lifetime

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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise contact Mima on 07792 006546

Clubs & Classes

W H AT T Y P E OF ACTIVITY IS

MOST BENEFICIAL FOR MY CHILD? P

arents are faced with a daunting array of extra-curricular activities from which to choose appropriate classes for their children and the choices just keep getting wider! The vast majority of these activities offer many skills and benefits, as well as being enjoyable and fun.

To help guide you in your decision making, Families takes a look at the benefits of some of the available options.

BALL SPORTS As children grow, learning how to play a variety of ball games is a great way of keeping fit. The remarkable thing about playing with a ball is that your child can run for miles without noticing, because their mind is focussed on the action and not the physical exertion. Some benefits are: Physical health: Maintaining a healthy weight, good level of fitness and strengthening of bones and muscles.

Co-ordination, timing and attention: Improving all of these!

Sociability: making friends, gaining confidence and improving self-esteem.

Life skills: Learning to handle victories and defeats, persistence, problem solving, self-discipline, leadership and working with others towards a common goal.

Confidence: Coaches are trained to help children take small steps to learn the basic skills required and to improve their confidence. They don’t have to be naturals!

DANCE If your child is always practising their moves and can’t help getting up and moving as soon as there’s music in the air, signing up for dance classes is a great way to tap into their enthusiasm.

Dance classes improve: Physical health: Flexibility, coordination, balance, range of motion, stamina, muscle tone, strength and posture.

Spatial and Self Awareness: Feeling

more at home in their own skin, becoming more agile and paying more attention to others sharing their space.

Self-expression: Expression of their feelings with immediacy through dance and movement. This can help children who struggle to express their feelings verbally.

Socialisation: Working as part of a team, developing a greater sense of trust and co-operation, and making new friends. Dance is a highly social activity.

Cognitive development: Improving memory skills through learning choreography.

Self-confidence: Which comes with each new routine they practice and master.

There is a wide range of dance classes available – for both boys and girls – from pre-ballet classes and tap, street dance, contemporary, creative movement to music and more.

HORSE RIDING Childhood is full of stories, songs and role-play games about horses so learning to ride can add an exciting new dimension to childhood. With horse riding comes: Responsibility: Learning to look after and ride a pony instils a sense of responsibility and accountability for another animal that will be valuable as your child grows up.

Stress relief: Being outdoors can enhance your child's sense of happiness and well-being. Experienced riders talk about the freedom and exhilaration of riding a horse in the great outdoors.

Empathy: Dealing with animals helps children understand that someone else’s needs have to be considered alongside, and sometimes before, their own.

Confidence: Learning to ride and care for an animal that’s twice their size can be really empowering for children.

Learning life-lessons: Great for instilling an attitude in children that success and rewards come from hard work.

Many riding schools will take children as young as age 3 but some stipulate a minimum age of 5 or 6 years. Horse riding is usually taught in small groups (one to one is also available) to ensure each pupil receives a good level of attention.

LANGUAGES Learning another language can be exciting and empowering for children, whether to communicate with friends or family or to understand more when abroad. While English is an important language, it’s still the case that only 6% of the worlds’ population speak it as a first language - 75% don’t speak any English at all! Some benefits are: Growing kids’ brains: People who are bilingual are better at tasks that require multi-tasking and focussed attention.

Brain scans show they have more grey matter in the regions of the brain involved in executive function.

Boosting results in core subjects: Children who have studied foreign languages perform better in English and mathematics and SAT-verbal scores improve with the length of time students have studied a foreign language.

Improving learning skills: Develops the skills of memory, attention to detail, noticing, pattern-finding, creative thinking and reasoning.

Ease of learning: Post-puberty our aptitude for second language acquisition is reduced. Up until ages 7 or 8, children can learn to speak a second language with fluent grammar and without an accent. After this critical period the ability to master a foreign language gradually declines.

Setting them up for adult life: Learning a foreign language as a child means they have a lifetime to benefit from cross-cultural friendships, broad career opportunities, exciting travel adventures and deeper insights into how others see the world.

www.familiesonline.co.uk NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

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Wellbeing Christmas

m t a s i s r h C

cooking inspiration

By Claire Winter

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WHITE CHOCOLATE DIPPED GINGER BISCUITS

These delicious ginger biscuits from mylittlepiccolo.com are great on their own with a cuppa, or dipped in white chocolate, and are fabulous to make with children or wrap up as a present.

For a less sweet biscuit, you can make them with half the sugar – they don’t stay as crisp as long, but are still just as delicious!

T

he festive season is a great time to get cooking in the kitchen. Families has talked to chefs, food influencers and readers across the country to give us the best ideas on what to cook with the children this Christmas.

FESTIVE DARK CHOCOLATE AND BERRY VEGAN MUFFINS Jessica Prescott author of Vegan Goodness says that baking is always her favourite thing to do at this time of year. ‘My son Louie loves helping me in the kitchen and I feel that getting him involved is a great way for him to connect with food and the process of turning raw ingredients into delicious creations.

‘Because he is still little, we stick mostly with baking for now. Muffins are a great one – I measure out all of the ingredients and get him to line the muffin tray with little paper cups, and then he adds the ingredients to a bowl one by one and we both have a turn at mixing. These muffins are great for Christmas time, especially if you roll them in dehydrated raspberry powder to give them a festive hue.’

To make: 1. Heat the oven to 180°C. 2. Line a muffin tin with paper muffin cups.

3. Combine 250ml of soy milk, 1tsp of apple cider vinegar, 1tsp of pure vanilla extract, 2 tsps of chia seeds and 3 tablespoons of coconut or olive oil in one bowl.

4. Sift 125g of spelt flour, 60g of millet flour, 100g of sugar, 1tsp of baking powder and 1tsp of bicarbonate of soda into another bowl and then add 200g of frozen berries and 100g of dark, vegan chocolate. Roughly combine.

5. Make a well in the centre of the mixture and pour in the wet ingredients until just combined.

Spoon the mixture into the muffin cups and sprinkle with the toppings, some extra dark chocolate and 3tbs of puffed quinoa.

6. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes, cool on a wire tray and then tuck into your delicious vegan treat!

Vegan Goodness: Feasts by Jessica Prescott (Hardie Grant, £15) is available to buy on Amazon.

TURKEY OR CHICKEN CURRY Award winning Indian food expert, Sarah Ali Choudhury, suggests making a simple curry, which is tasty, nutritious and easy to make. This is a great dish to cook with the kids on Boxing Day.

To make: 1. Add 300g of chicken or turkey breast to a bowl with 2 finely chopped small shallots, 2 plum tomatoes cut into quarters, 1 spoon of garlic paste, 1 spoon of ginger paste, ½ tsp of salt, 1tbsp of mixed curry power and ¼ tsp of turmeric powder. Make sure the chicken or turkey is fully covered.

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2. Next, add 2 tbsp. of sunflower oil to a wok or pan and when it’s hot add all of the ingredients, stirring thoroughly.

3. Cook for 3 minutes and then add ½ pint of water and cook for a further ten minutes.

4. The water should be reduced and the chicken cooked thoroughly.

5. Chop up some fresh coriander to garnish the curry and you are now ready to serve it.

The curry would be delicious with some rice or Naan bread. You can find more recipes at Sarah’s website sarahalichoudhury.com.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

To make: 1. In a mixing bowl, whisk 340g of flour, 1tsp of bicarbonate of soda, a pinch of salt, 3 level tsps. of ginger, 1tsp of cinnamon and 1/4tsp of nutmeg. Set aside.

2. Either in a mixer or by hand, cream together 100g of butter and 130g of light brown sugar until light and creamy.

3. Mix in one egg and combine.

4. With the mixer set on low speed, slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until you have a dough.

5. Cover bowl with cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

6. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F during the last 10 minutes of chilling.

7. For a smooth top to the biscuits, roll out the dough to around ½ inch thick and cut circles out with a cookie cutter. For a more rustic ‘ginger nut’ top, scoop out a dessert spoon of mixture from the bowl and shape into a ball, transfer to the baking sheet and, spacing around 2 inches apart, flatten tops slightly.

8. Bake for around 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown.

9. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

10. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 100g of white chocolate in the microwave (in 10 second intervals until melted). Dip half of each cookie in melted white chocolate mixture then run bottom of cookie slightly along edge of bowl to remove excess, then return to Silpat or parchment paper to set at room temperature.

11. If you are feeling artistic you could also pipe on a holly leaf. Yummy!

TIP: Make double the dough and freeze half for another time, or just make double quantity as they disappear pretty quickly!

Christmas

This Year’s Must-Have Christmas

TOY GUIDE E

very year, desperate parents exhaust themselves searching high and low for the most wanted toys on their child’s Christmas list. To avoid last-minute panic and possible disappointment, the key is to do your research and start shopping early.

To help you get prepared, we’ve put together a guide to Families favourite Christmas toys for 2018.

Ani-Mate Mini Movie Maker Kit £14.99 Age: 8+ www.findmeagift.co.uk

Create quirky little movies with your own phone and this ingenious Mini Movie Maker Kit.

VTech Kiddizoom Smart Watch

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Set

£44.99 Age: 4+ www.amazon.co.uk

£89.99 Age: 9-15 www.amazon.co.uk

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Lego and Harry Potter in the same box, what’s not to love?

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✶ The Poopsie Unicorn Surprise £49.99 Age: 3+ www.amazon.co.uk

The Poopsie Unicorn Surprise is a ‘cute’ toy that poops out glittery slime when you feed it special unicorn food.

Densters £19.99 Ages: 3+ www.firebox.com

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All children love building a den! This great kit allows kids to set up their own hideaway in minutes. The set contains flexible toy monsters so you can create a magical den from everyday household items. It’s a great way to get your kids off a gadget!

Dino Fingerling £16.99 Age: 6+ www.argos.co.uk

This year WowWee Toys' popular Fingerlings are all about dinosaurs (or mythical unicorns, if you fancy something a little less fierce). The dinos respond to motion and sound and are bound to be a massive hit.

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My Rebounder Mini Rebounding Trampoline £89.99 Age 4+ www.myrebounder.co.uk

✶

Classic fun, these rebounders will keep kids active all year round and can be used inside and out. They help improve strength, balance, co-ordination and general fitness.

www.familiesonline.co.uk NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

11

Winter Fun

WINTER FUN – INDOORS!

By Claire Winter

During the winter months, there’s no avoiding spending much more time indoors. It’s tempting to allow the kids to while away the time on devices or playing on their Xbox. But there are ways of keeping your kids off their screens and still having fun, even within the four walls of your own home.

Here’s Families guide to some fun bad-weather-day activities.

Make a Cardboard Town Get hold of a giant cardboard box or add lots of small ones together to make a town using large felt tips or paint. Let their imaginations run riot, and they can add cars and wooden/ plastic people to make it more realistic.

Set Up an Indoor Treasure Hunt Write some cryptic clues and hide a treasure trail of items for them to find.

They may want to design one for you to do too!

rewarding but simple dishes to make.

If you have smaller children baking something simple like fairy cakes or biscuits would obviously be more appropriate.

Make Slime Batten down the hatches, get the aprons out and be prepared for a tsunami of a mess in your kitchen.

This activity is satisfyingly messy and great fun. Get your children to research how to make the best slime or play-doh on YouTube (it’s for educational purposes after all).

Make Special Cards Get out the art supplies and card and make some Christmas and birthday cards. Why don’t you get creative with Origami? My kids love making butterflies and birds and sticking them onto cards.

Get Cooking If you aren’t keen on the slime idea, get the kids to cook you a meal instead. This is satisfying for them but also a treat for you (hopefully!).

Suggest they plan a three-course meal for dinner. Get them to design a menu and research how to make the dishes online or refer to some recipe books. I think getting them to look in the fridge and come up with some dishes with ingredients you already have teaches them a great a life skill too. A pasta sauce or an apple crumble are tasty,

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Have a Kitchen Disco My favourite thing to do on a rainy day is to have a party in the kitchen.

Choose the most appropriate room in your house and sort a great playlist of music that will get the whole family moving. Have a ‘dance off’ with your kids.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

Play Cards Teach the kids the card games you used to play as a child.

If you can’t get them interested in Patience or Gin Rummy, look up

some cool card tricks for them to learn and show their friends.

Make a Magazine Set up a news desk in the house and decide what the magazine is going to be about. Think up a great name and get someone in the “team” to design the front cover. Send out some roving reporters to write some news stories and create some fun features. The whole family can get involved!

Set up a Racing Track Use masking tape to create a huge car-racing track around the house or living room, create a second track alongside it and get the toy cars out and race away!

Get Active You could make an indoor obstacle course or try hula hooping or skipping in the living room. To make it more interesting, do some timed challenges. You could also create indoor hopscotch with masking tape.

Try Balloon Ping Pong or Table Tennis Blow up some balloons and use some table tennis bats or make your own with some sticks and paper plates.

Alternatively, if you have a table tennis set, drag out the dining table, set up the net and hold a tournament.

Out & About

Out & About T H E B EST O F W H AT ’S O N N EA R YOU

FESTIVE FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AT BLUEWATER THIS WINTER! For those looking to enjoy some festive fun, tickets are now on sale for Santa’s 4D Grotto experience and beautiful covered, outdoor Ice Rink at Bluewater - both located by the lakes at The Village.

Santa’s Grotto will be at Bluewater from 15th November to 24th December, inviting little ones on a unique Christmas adventure where they will meet Santa’s elves and receive their own reindeer hat, before enjoying a magical 4D screening of the “Twas the Night Before Christmas” story. Children will also visit Mrs. Claus’ room for fun crafting, encounter an animatronic reindeer and of course, meet Santa himself. Each child will take home a soft toy and photographs with Santa can be purchased on leaving the Grotto.

Bluewater’s spectacular outdoor Ice Rink is back from 15th November, open until 6th January.

The rink is undercover, so perfect for families to enjoy whatever the weather. Kids can learn to skate with lessons and seal-shaped skating aids, while the really little ones can enjoy baby and toddler mornings and get on the ice with the help of bob skates.

Booking is advised as demand is high and availability is limited.

Tickets for Santa’s Grotto and Ice Skating can be purchased at: www.bluewater.co.uk

RUXLEY’S REAL ICE RINK Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, Maidstone Road, Sidcup, DA14 5BQ 020 8300 0084 www.ruxley-manor.co.uk

It wouldn’t be Christmas at Ruxley without the opportunity to get your skates on and pirouette around the all weather, covered ice rink. This year it is back and better than ever, with daily sessions.

Until 19 January

2 NOVEMBER GRAVESEND FIREWORK DISPLAY Riverside Leisure Area, Gravesend, DA12 2BS 01474 337000 www.gravesham.gov.uk

All are welcome to the annual firework display at Gravesend Riverside.

3 NOVEMBER WW1 HISTORY DAY

War, learn about life at home and away with talks, re-enactors, replica weaponry and local history displays.

LEEDS CASTLE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1PL 01622 765400 www.leeds-castle.com

25,000 starbursts will fill the sky above the Castle this Bonfire night for the biggest firework display in the South East of England. Arrive from 2pm onwards to enjoy live music, fairground rides for children, 3pm falconry display, maze and play areas and variety of delicious food options all before the fireworks begin at 5.30pm.

Until 4 November

4 NOVEMBER

THIS IS THE GREATEST SHOW

Gravesend Borough Market, Queen Street, Gravesend, DA11 0AZ gravesendboroughmarket.co.uk

The Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford, DA1 1ED 01322 220000 www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

Commemorating the Centenary of the First World

Join the cast of the finest west end singers and the live

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Out & About

Revel in traditional Christmas tales and celebrate the festive season

greatest show band as we take you on a journey through music from “The Greatest Showman” “Moulin Rouge” “Smash” “Barnum” and many others. A memorable night that will have you singing along and dancing in the aisles.

9 NOVEMBER DOCTOR DOLITTLE THE MUSICAL

Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA 020 3285 6000 www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

What the Dickens will Hever Castle be doing this festive season? Playing homage to traditional Christmas tales ishow the historic attraction in Kent is celebrating Christmas for 2018. Rooms of the Castle will be beautifully decorated and themed around stories including the Nutcracker, The Tailor of Gloucester and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas with twinkling lights andwelcoming log fires. Revel in the Christmas spirit at Hever Castle Wednesdays to Sundays from 24 November and daily from 10 to 24 December.

Outside in the stunning grounds wrap up warm and discover the festive interactive trail themed around Charles Dickens’ classic novel ‘A Christmas Carol’. As dusk falls, the gardens are illuminated with up-lighting and colour washes. Each weekend and daily from selected dates ride the carousel and enjoy vintage fairground stalls (£1 per go), roast chestnuts for sale and the chance to meet characters along the trail including Bob Cratchit and Scrooge and pose for a picture with a husky (suggested £2 donation towards Siberian Husky Welfare Association).

Nothing says 'Christmas' quite like a visit to Father Christmas in his Grotto. Children will be enchanted by the magical Grotto where they will be taken byanelf through the snowy ‘forest’to meet Father Christmas in his log cabin.

Father Christmas visits must be pre-booked, and each child will take home a special age-appropriate gift.

Experience Hever Castle after dark at magical Twilight Christmas evenings taking place on 1 8, 14, 20 and 21 December which offer the perfect opportunity to see the enchanting gardens illuminated and enjoy the Castle decorations by the warmth of log fires. There’ll also be Father Christmas in his snow-dusted grotto and a fairground carousel. Twilight Christmas events must be pre-booked.

Complete your visit with relaxed Christmas shopping in the beautifully decorated Hever Castle shops packed with fabulous festive gift ideas and stocking fillers to delight all agesand tastes. Follow this upwith tempting treats in the restaurants where our chefs will be offering delicious seasonal food, mince pies and drinks.

Tickets will goon sale for annual members at 11am on Monday 10 September and 11am on Monday 24 September for general sale. For further information about Christmas activities, prices and booking Father Christmas visits, see hevercastle.co.uk/whats-on

Join the eccentric Doctor, his human companions and his exotic menagerie of animal friends on an extraordinary adventure. This exciting musical adventure promises stunning visual puppetry, all your favourite songs and fun for all the family.

Until 24 November

10 NOVEMBER BROMLEY MUM2MUM MARKET

Ravens Wood School, Oakley Road, Bromley, Bromley BR2 8HP www.mum2mummarket.co.uk

The Mega Bromley Mum2mum Market is back for one final event before the Christmas break on 10am - 12pm, Entry only £2 (kids are free). Over 40 stalls packed with everything baby, maternity and children related at a fraction of the high street price.

15 NOVEMBER SKATE AT BLUEWATER

Bluewater, Greenhithe, DA9 9ST. 01322 475475 www.bluewater.co.uk

Take a trip to the spectacular undercover outdoor ice rink, located outside by the beautiful lakes at The Village, beneath a beautiful clear roof so you can skate rain or shine! Perfect for all the family to enjoy, there are seal shaped skating aids for kids, bob skates for those who need to be steady on the ice and skate lessons for anyone hoping to whirl, glide, skate and slide around the huge sparkling Christmas tree.

Until 6 January

17 NOVEMBER CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR

Hall Place & Gardens, Bourne Road , Bexley, DA5 1PQ 01322 526 574 www.hallplace.org.uk

Find gifts with a difference

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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

from over 45 stallholders from jewellery, handicrafts and festive decorations. A must for the start of the festive season.

10am-4pm. Free entry.

18 NOVEMBER CRAFTS, VINTAGE & GIFT FAIRS

Meopham Village Hall, Wrotham Road, Meopham, DA13 0AT 01474 813064 www.eventissima.co.uk

Fabulous, locally-produced Arts and Crafts and Unique Vintage items and unusual gifts. FREE Entry! 11am-3pm.

18 NOVEMBER

FIREWALK AND LEGO WALK St Christopher’s Bromley, Caritas House, Tregony Road, Orpington BR6 9XA 01689 892 991 stchristophers.org.uk/firewalk

Why not brave the heat and challenge your perceptions by walking barefoot over hot coals this November.

Organised by St Christopher’s Hospice, the evening will be a fun event for the whole family with BBQ and refreshments.

19 NOVEMBER BRING YOUR OWN BABY COMEDY

Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA 020 3285 6000 www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

Bring Your Own Baby Comedy is the UK’s premier baby friendly comedy club! The shows feature the funniest comedy stars from the circuit and TV. Soft flooring, toys, buggy parking and baby changing are provided so that your baby is happy and you can relax, have a drink and be entertained!

Also 3 December

24 NOVEMBER INSIDE OUT

St Andrews Art Centre, Royal Pier Road, DA12 2BD 01474 363998 www.graveshamarts.co.uk

Explore how you express and think about yourself by making a collaged vision boards with Fiona and Jacqueline. 2-4pm, £3.

1 DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL & CRAFT FAIR St John’s Church, Church Road, Sidcup, DA14 6BX www.stjohnsidcup.co.uk

Go and see a glittering avenue

Out & About

Until 2 December

RUDOLPH RAVE The Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford, DA1 1ED 01322 220000 www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

With a DJ on the decks playing classic Christmas and party tunes, glow sticks, giant balloons, a spectacular laserlight display and a licensed bar for the big kids, this familyfriendly party afternoon will make Christmas 2018 truly unforgettable for everyone.

A GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS AT QUEBEC HOUSE National Trust Quebec House, Quebec Square, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1TD nationaltrust.org.uk/quebec-house

Go and see the house decorated with greenery as it would have been in the Georgian era. Join in the Georgian fun and play Hunt the Slipper around the house.

Booking not needed.

Also 2, 8, 9, 15 & 16 December

2 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS FAIR

The Woodlands Farm Trust, 331 Shooters Hill, Welling DA16 3RP 020 8319 8900 www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org

Go along between 11am & 3pm for a chance to find some

unique Christmas presents with stalls selling country crafts, meet Father Christmas and enjoy a festive day out at the farm.

8 DECEMBER

THE OWL & THE PUSSYCAT Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA 020 3285 6000 www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

This festive season join the two old friends by the fireside, as they reminisce over memories of their travels.

Since they sailed away in their pea green boat they have visited far flung places, playing their songs together. Enjoy a warm, musical journey down memory lane with a touch of silliness this Christmas!

Until 21 December

ALADDIN The Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford, DA1 1ED 01322 220000 www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

Jump aboard a high-flying magical carpet headed for Dartford and make tickets for Aladdin one of your three wishes. The Orchard Theatre’s spectacular pantomime is packed with all of the traditional ingredients audiences expect, Aladdin features laugh out loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses.

✴✶

Tall Stories’ hit family show Room on the Broom will fly into the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue from 23 November 2018 to 13 January 2019.

FAMILY CAROL CONCERT Hall Place & Gardens, Bourne Road , Bexley, Kent, DA5 1PQ 01322 526 574 www.hallplace.org.uk

A carol concert for all of the family performed by Erith Operatic Society. 2.30pm (doors open 2pm).

Advanced booking required.

15 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS CRAFT

St Andrews Art Centre, Royal Pier Road, DA12 2BD 01474 363998 www.graveshamarts.co.uk

Create your own tree decorations, gift tags and bespoke Christmas cards with Gravesham Arts. 2-4pm, £3.

SHORNE WOODS SANTA’S GROTTO Shorne Woods, Brewers Road, Shorne, Gravesend, DA12 3HX 03000 41 47 47 www.kent.gov.uk

Follow the self-led trail through the woods, then create some Christmas Crafts before meeting a traditional Santa in his Grotto. All children will receive a small gift from Santa.

Also 16, 22 & 23 DECEMBER

16 DECEMBER FESTIVE CAROL CONCERT Hall Place & Gardens, Bourne Road , Bexley, DA5 1PQ 01322 526 574 www.hallplace.org.uk

A Festive concert with songs,

Until 30 December

ROOM ON THE BROOM SEES A WITCH FLY INTO THE LYRIC THEATRE FOR CHRISTMAS

9 DECEMBER

carols and literary gems performed by The Geoffrey Whitworth Strolling Players.

2.30pm (doors open 2pm).

Advanced booking required.

CHARITY SANTA DASH Cyclopark, The Tollgate, Wrotham Road, Gravesend, DA11 7NP www.cyclopark.com/promotions/ cyclopark-holiday-active/

Join one of Kent’s biggest Charity Santa Runs. This festive Santa Dash will be the perfect way to get you in the holiday spirit, you can choose either a 5k or 10k route.

17 DECEMBER BABY BROADWAY

Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA 020 3285 6000 ww.churchilltheatre.co.uk

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas at a festive Baby Broadway concert this December! An interactive Christmas performance suitable for all ages.

Until 18 December

1 JANUARY

NEW YEARS DAY SHOW 2019 Mount Mascal Stables, Vicarage Road, Bexley, DA5 2AW 020 8300 3947 www.mountmascalstables.com

Indoor Showjumping . A Variety of showjumping classes to suit ALL abilities featuring the popular & very exciting Puissance Class.

Based on the bestselling book by

Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

LIVE ON STAG E

✶

Room on the Broom © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 2001

of trees decorated by local schools, businesses and groups together with a variety of handmade crafts for sale.

10pm to 4pm, free admission.

After a successful run in 2014, Room on the Broom returns to its West End home for a limited run this Christmas. Renowned theatre company Tall Stories has adapted the best-selling book of the same name by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, published by Macmillan Children’s Books, for the stage.

BSL Interpreted Performance: Thurs 6 Dec, 11am Relaxed Performance: Thurs 13 Dec, 11am & Fri 28 Dec, 12pm For more information and booking, visit Roomonthebroomlive.co.uk

23 NOV – 13 JAN BOOK TODAY

roomonthebroomlive.co.uk

W EN ES D T

The Olivier Award nominated production tells the story of a friendly witch, her cat and three loveable animals who take to the skies on a broom and face a fearsome dragon in this magical, musical adventure. With enchanting puppetry, original sing-along songs and scary fun, Room on the Broom is ideal for families with children aged three and up.

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Whether it’s a trip to the grotto or a twirl on the ice, we’ve got it all.

Book tickets today at bluewater.co.uk

Because it’s Christmas.