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Leaving Lockdown Find some Summer family fun while supporting local business
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Summer 2020 familiesonline.co.uk
familiesonline.co.uk Summer 2020 1
ART WITH TEDDIES ONLINE
Download and print this great colouring sheet and enter our Teddies Online Music Club colouring competition!
Win a unique personalised print created by Teddies Online Music Club!
WIN!
Choose between a farmyard animal and a train scene.
Fiddle-i-fee...
Just colour or paint the great colouring sheet on this page. Then email a scan or photo of your sheet to us, together with your name, post code, child’s age and choice of print. Closing date: 31 August 2020
www.teddiesmusicclub.co.uk 2 Summer 2020
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CONTENTS
Welcome
Contents
With six weeks of (mostly) schoolfree summer ahead of us we have put together an interactive resource of ideas and activities to make the most of your family fun time over the school break. Whether you are continuing with home learning, camps and childcare, days out or short breaks, or things to keep the kids entertained while you squeeze in a few hours or work or ‘me-time’ – we’ve got it all here in one place! New this issue we are able to support some of the editorial features (Mums in Lockdown) and advertisers with videos imbedded in the magazine – look out for the play button as you scroll through the pages to find out more!
2 Drawing and Colouring with Teddies Online 4-7 Learning 8-10 Early Years 12-13 Places to Go 14-19 Activities, Camps & Education 20-23 Parenting 24-26 Holidays & Staycations 27 Work
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Please help us to support our local businesses featured among our pages as they come out of lockdown. If you want to get in touch, email editor@familiesnwlondon.co.uk or call Heather on 01923 237 004.
Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.
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Summer 2020 3
Royal Academy of Dance registered ballet school in Stanmore
4 Summer 2020
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LEARNING
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Mini Movers
Tiny Twirlers
Diddy Dancers
Toddler Dance ages 2–3 years
Pre-Primary Ballet ages from 3 years
Primary Ballet ages from 5 years
Petite Pirouetters
Jazz Juniors
Jazz Seniors
Primary Modern ages from 4 years
Grade 1 Modern ages from 7 years
Adult Tap and Jazz
Lamda Classes
Grade 1 Ballet ages from 7 years
Tip Toe Tappers Primary / Grade 1 Tap ages from 7 years
Follow us on Selectschoolofdance Select School of Dance
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for all ages and abilities
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ages from 4 years
Reserve your place now! lauren@selectschoolofdance.com www.selectschoolofdance.com 07771 683 588
Summer 2020 5
LEARNING
Sourcing Children’s Books over Summer Our guide to finding the right books for your child at the right price.
Book Trust Great Books Guide
100 best new books for children.
The Libby App
Free ebooks and audiobooks with your library membership.
Library E-Lending Love Reading4Kids
National Shelf Service
Daily book recommendations from professional librarians.
BorrowBox App
All libraries have e-lending services. Join remotely and enjoy.
UK’s number 1 book recommendation site for children’s books.
Borrow ebooks and audiobooks free from your library.
Hive.co.uk
Oxfam Online Book Shop
World of Books
Free delivery. UK’s largest seller of Commission paid to 1000s of new/pre-loved pre-loved books online. your local independent books and audiobooks bookshop. available online. 6 Summer 2020
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LEARNING
Preparing your Child to Start School
Return to School: How to Support your Child
Starting school for the first time is exciting - despite the pandemic. Remember that children starting school for the first time will not know that school routines are different to the past! So how can you best prepare your little one to start school?
Throughout the long, strange months of lockdown parents have provided continuity and a sense of reality for their children. Soon it will be time to get them back to school and parents can help their children through this transition in numerous ways.
READ MORE
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Summer Reading Challenge 2020: Let’s Get Silly
Calling all young scientists
By Gabrielle Lawrence
By Kairen Cullen
Help us discover how babies & kids learn! We’re recruiting infants and children from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at the Birkbeck Babylab in central London. Our prime location is easy to reach via public transport and we refund travel expenses.
Over summer, there is often a dip in children’s reading levels. The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children aged 4-11 to read for pleasure and maintain their literacy levels. This year’s ‘Silly Squad’ theme places an emphasis on funny books.
We’re also developing online studies you can do from the comfort of your own home. Please check out our website for more details.
020 7631 6258 babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk
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Summer 2020 7
PRE-SCHOOL
Best Printable Early Years Activity Sheets Free printables to help your little one’s pre-school learning.
Learn About Numbers
Big Bird Number 6 Alphablocks A to Z Colouring Colouring
Family Card Game
Counting Sheet
Paint by Numbers
Bing Big Surprise Activities
Tracing Ace Learn to Draw
Maisy Dinner Doodle Mat
8 Summer 2020
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ING AL L L A L C F A M ILIE PER U S S
The power of family saving + investing with our super app
ROUND UP YOUR RECENT PURCHASES
TOP UP AS MUCH AND AS OFTEN AS YOU PLEASE
SEND GIFTS AND MESSAGES WITH LOVE
EARN MONEY BACK ON YOUR ONLINE SHOPPING
Click here to learn more Summer 2020 9
Please note: capital as risk. As with any investment, the value can go down as well.
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PRE SCHOOL
Nursery at Home Activities for under 5s that are easy to do at home and mirror the range of play experiences offered at nursery.
Make a Mermaid Tail
Make Sparkly Playdough
Make a Magic Garden
Make Crab Handprints
Car Name Game
Make Tractor Tyre Printing Pictures
Enjoy Songs and Action Rhymes
Make an Under the Sea Water Tray
Enjoy Dressing Up Role Play
10 Summer 2020
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PARENTING
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Summer 2020 11
PLACES TO GO
Places to Go this Summer These places are opening many outside spaces and gardens (and possibly some inside ones too). Find out what is open near you.
National Trust
Celtic Harmony Camp Prehistory Open Air Museum
English Heritage
Woodland Trust
WWT Wetland Centres
Forestry England
Zoos and Wildlife Parks
National Parks UK
Go Ape Adventures
12 Summer 2020
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PLACES TO GO
Roundhouse Overnight Stay Celtic Harmony Camp, Open Air Museum and Prehistory Centre 15 July to 29 August
Enjoy a magical family adventure sleeping overnight in your own roundhouse in a safe and stimulating outdoor setting at Celtic Harmony Camp, a hidden gem in the Hertfordshire countryside, with its thatched roundhouses located in a beautiful native woodland. Your stay includes: • BBQ dinner with vegan and vegetarian option • Evening Activities: Bat Walk around the woods and marshmallows on the fire • Sleep in the comfort of your own roundhouse with double and single beds (up to 2 adults and 3 children)
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including all linen and towels • Continental breakfast before 9am As an outdoor venue, Celtic Harmony camp is perfect for a safe break with your family. We have measures in place to keep your stay safe such as social distancing, limited visitor numbers, hand sanitisers and regular cleaning.
We are open for overnight stays Wednesday to Saturday from 15 July. The Overnight experience runs from 5pm to 10am the next day and is £200 including food, roundhouse accommodation and evening activities. Make your stay extra special and book a Family Day Out either the day you arrive or after your overnight stay with activities and primitive skills demos! We are currently catering for 3 family roundhouse stays per night - so bring your friends for a special evening together. If you have a larger family group, please get in touch. Limited spaces, pre-book your overnight adventure today, click here.
Summer 2020 13
ACTIVITIES
Live and Virtual Kids’ Summer Camps and Courses
Chelsea Young Writers
Online streamed creative writing courses. Ages 6-12.
Sparks Filmmaking Courses Action-packed online course. Ages 9-18.
Camp Beaumont Summer Camps Live multi-activity camps. Ages 3-16.
14 Summer 2020
Perform
Live 3/5 day performing arts courses. Ages 4-10.
Sophia
Online classes from Harry Potter to coding. Ages 4-18.
Firetech Courses
Online tech for ages 9-17. 20% off with code Families20.
Elain Patrou Academy of Dance Ballet; Contemporary; Pilates in Stanmore.
Little House of Science
Online video science camps. Ages 3-11.
The Strings Club Camps
Live & online music/ craft camps. Ages 3-11. familiesonline.co.uk
ACTIVITIES
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Book now Fire-Tech.com * T&C’s apply
Private Tuition
We’re ready to support you and your children! Changes we’ve made
• Hand sanitiser on arrival and exit • Protective panels between each desk • Steam cleaning all contact points after every class • Face masks provided to every child
Stanmore familiesonline.co.uk
020 7157 9775
Ages 5 - 16
Proven Results for SATs, 7+ and 11+ Exams Free Assessment for All Children!
www.knowledgeabovestandard.co.uk Summer 2020 15
ACTIVITIES
Best Online Classes for All Ages Are your children missing their regular classes and activities? Try these instead!
Family Dance Workshops
Teddies Music Club Online
Sadler Well’s fun family Lively music and art for dance workshops for 2 pre-schoolers. to 6 years.
Little Kickers Football for Kids
Easy, fun football classes with a warm up, games, and goals.
Book NOW!
Want to type faster?
• After School Lessons • Holiday Courses • DofE Skill Centre • New online course! • 8 yrs. – Adult
Call or book online for all courses: www.touchtypeit.co.uk. 020 8434 7111
TypeIt!
Tutor supported online remote courses. Ages 10- adult.
The Strings Club Ukele/guitar/violin classes for ages 3+. FREE session!
16 Summer 2020
Funky Monkey Keyboard Classes at Home Self-guided, fun tutorials (5-8yrs).
The Little Gym at Home
Phonics with Robot
Fun, high energy and educational classes for babies to year 1.
Little STEAMers
Play-based science/ engineering classes for Fitness sessions for ages 2-4. primary and pre-school children. familiesonline.co.uk
ACTIVITIES
Win an Online Song Writing Course! Songwriting4Kids teaches children ages 8-13 how to write songs. The selfguided instruction WIN! videos cover reading and writing music as well as basic rhythms and lyrics. Perfect for kids who are new to music as well as those who already play an instrument! First prize: Level 1 & 2 worth £135.99. Second prize: Level 1 worth £79.99. Enter here with name & postcode by 15 August 2020.
Struggling to Get Your Child to Do Music Practice? By Ruth Seodi
Having to constantly push your child to practise their music becomes tiresome and often leads to fall outs. Here are four ways in which you can turn practising from a chore to a pleasure for your child. READ MORE. WATCH VIDEO.
Ten Cooking Skills for Every Child to Master T&Cs apply
There’s no doubt parents will need a bank of fresh, childfriendly activities to get through the summer holidays. Why not add cooking to the list? It’s fun, educational and most children enjoy it. Here are ten cooking skills for children to master this summer. READ MORE. familiesonline.co.uk
Summer 2020 17
ACTIVITIES
Best Printable Primary Age Games Free printables to help your child keep busy and learning.
Battleships
Develops strategy, logical thinking and concentration.
Country Word Search
Find 20 countries amongst the letters.
Alphabet Scattegories
Find a word for each letter! 18 Summer 2020
The Mystery of the Missing Pirate Treasure
Car Bingo
Great for alphabet recognition.
Practises maths and problem solving.
Colouring Picnic
Read the sentences to colour the picture.
Premier League Football Facts
Solve the sums to complete the football facts.
ABC Trace & Colour
Trace the letter and colour in the drawing.
Harry Potter Word Scramble Figure out what Harry is saying.
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COEDUCATION
An independent 11-18 day school in Harrow, North West London. Excellent for academic achievement. Excellent for personal development. ISI Inspection Report 2019
Welcoming girls for the ďŹ rst time from September 2021. Information about Summer Open Evening and Autumn Open Day at www.johnlyon.org familiesonline.co.uk
Summer 2020 19
PARENTING
How to Motivate Your Child to do Anything There is a long summer ahead…. and for many families, this is just an extension of a long spring at home with no school attendance and precious little by way of entertainment. Many children are fractious, bored, lonely, discontented and anxious. It’s no wonder many are struggling to concentrate, focus and motivate themselves to do very much at all. In order to get your child up and moving this summer and avoid a case of terminal boredom, your child needs a few projects and goals that will give them a sense of achievement and productivity. These could be anything from practising times tables, having a day of screen free time every week, reading a book, doing some daily exercise or tidying their room. You may even challenge them to complete some of the projects in this magazine! For little ones, some
more specific goals for positive behaviour might be appropriate. Decide what you think might work for your child and, if they are older, discuss and agree this with them. Consider an appropriate motivator for your child. This doesn’t have to be (and, in fact, shouldn’t always be) money and it’s best to avoid sugary treats as rewards too. But it may be that you offer to pay for something your child really needs if they achieve their goal. It’s fun to give an older child a few different projects and goals with points they can earn for each, with the aim of reaching a total number of points and a bigger reward. Remember to give praise generously for the effort your child goes to, even if they don’t quite achieve all their goals. You can find lots of reward ideas from simple/low cost to more involved on the next page.
20 Summer 2020
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PARENTING
Rewards to Motivate Your Child Simple/Low Cost • Pick a movie – anything goes if it’s age appropriate! • Cook their favourite dinner. • A later bed time. • Read an extra bed time story. • 30 minutes of extra screen time (not appropriate if you are trying to get them off a screen!) • One to one time with mum or dad doing exactly what they want. • Stickers.
More Involved • A picnic in the park. • Choosing a family activity. • An outdoor playdate with friends. • Time with your phone to take some photos. Then get them printed. • Camp in the garden. • A family sports activity • Visit the beach. • Go for a bike family bike ride.
A safe And Loving Home
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For Every Child
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Summer 2020 21
PARENTING
Mums in Lockdown Four mums and Families magazine Editors tell us how lockdown has been for them. How have they juggled work, parenting, home schooling and life – and survived intact?
Caroline Roope is Editor of Families Solent East magazine. She lives in Hampshire with her husband and two sons. Watch Caroline’s lockdown video.
Laura Macaulay is Editor of Families North Yorkshire and Families Newcastle magazine. She is mum of two boys and lives in Yorkshire. Watch Laura’s lockdown video.
Katy Stollery is Editor of Families Fife and Tayside in Scotland. She just started running her business at the start of lockdown! She is the mum of two girls and lives in Fife. Watch Katy’s lockdown video.
Claire Bottomley is Editor of Families Leeds & West Yorkshire magazine. She is mum of three children ages 2 to 11 – two boys and a girl - and lives in Leeds. Watch Claire’s lockdown video.
22 Summer 2020
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PARENTING
Talking to our Children about Racism
Helping your Child Cope with Nightmares
Last month saw an unprecedented outpouring of movements throughout the world advocating an end to racial inequality. Children certainly have questions about the stories they hear, see and read, so how do we talk to them positively and openly about race? Download A Parent’s Guide to Black Lives Matter.
Many children have more underlying worries than usual right now. These are often kept at bay by the routines, occupations and pleasures of the day, only to surface at night in the form of scary nightmares. Our friends at Fegans share their top tips for coping with your child’s nightmares.
familiesonline.co.uk
Summer 2020 23
HOLIDAYS
Beat the crowd staycation ideas Please check the latest Government guidance before you book.
Canal Boat Holiday
Eco-Friendly Tree House
Rustic Woodland Shack
Hobbit Inspired Pod
Explore the UK’s rivers/ Luxury woodland break canals. From £725 a in Devon. From £1,390 a week (family of 4). week.
Retro Airstream Caravan
Go retro in Suffolk. From £66 a night (min 2-nights).
Idyllic Shepherd’s Hut
Get off the grid in Yorkshire. From £125 a night.
Pod living in Suffolk. From £710 a week (family of 4).
Northumberland’s beaches. From £180 for 2 nights (family of 4).
Gorgeous Highland Cottage
New Forest Cottage
Stunning St Ives Hideaway
Wild Scotland! From £1,990 a week (inc daily catering).
24 Summer 2020
Forest and beach. From Secret tunnel to beach! £949 a week (July). From £164 a night Sleeps 4. (min 3-nights). familiesonline.co.uk
HOLIDAYS
Staycation Survival Guide Check for the latest government travel advice. The rules are different in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, so make sure you check the details for the country you are visiting. Consider insurance. New policies no longer cover coronavirus-caused cancellations. If you have pre-booked insurance or an annual policy, the FCO has currently advised against all non-essential travel, which invalidates your insurance. It seems likely that the FCO position will change with regard to those countries with which the UK establishes air bridges but check your insurance T&Cs before you book/travel. Check the cancellation policy for any holiday you book. Will your deposit be refunded if another lockdown happens or if travel restrictions are not lifted? Lower your expectations. There will be fewer places open and some form of social distancing is likely to still be in place. Embrace nature and spending time with your family and think of all the money you are saving towards next year’s holiday!
Budget Staycation Ideas Lodge in the grounds of the Thomas Lord Inn, Hampshire. Private facilities/meals to your room. Farmstay UK 700 farms offering camping, B&B and SC. Birdholme Glamping in Notts. Stilted safari lodges in acres of space! Forest Holidays Log cabins/ tree houses in 10 forest locations across UK. Camp Too - retro VW campers + modern motorhomes. Various UK pick-up points. Tent Share. Rent a tent so you don’t have to buy camping gear! Canopy & Stars - reconnect with nature! Glamping to shepherd huts. familiesonline.co.uk
Summer 2020 25
HOLIDAYS
Family Tour of the UK No holiday? Take your family on a virtual tour of the UK’s most famous places.
Stonehenge
Roman Baths
Edinburgh Castle
Interactive 360º tour + live view from inside the monument.
Virtual ‘walkthrough’ of Bath’s Roman baths.
Stunning aerial view of the building and city.
Tower of London
Giant’s Causeway 360º tour of this spectacular landmark.
Hadrian’s Wall
A 360º view of the world’s largest Roman artefact.
Buckingham Palace
The Shard
Dover Castle
Interactive 360º tour of the building and grounds.
Tour THE most famous Royal Palace. 26 Summer 2020
View London from the tallest building in Europe.
360º tour of the castle on top of the white cliffs. familiesonline.co.uk
WORK
Avoiding Home Working Hell…. By Mandy Garner Working from home is the nirvana parents have been waiting for, right? Well, maybe, but NOT when combined with looking after children full time. Here are some tips on successfully working from home as the school holidays and exhaustion kick in. Manage expectations - not just those of your employer, but your own and those of your family. Creating a routine that allows you to work can help everybody. For instance, some quiet time after lunch when your children know that you will be making phone calls. Ask your manager if you can work around your childcare responsibilities, perhaps in the evenings or at weekends, tag teaming with your partner, if you have one. Or consider reducing your hours if this is affordable, and explore this with your employer. As with flexible working negotiations, if you spell out the issues, explain how you are trying to tackle them and suggest potential workable solutions, managers are more likely to listen. The right set up - it’s not just about the hours you can work. You need the right long term setup, given fears of commuting and familiesonline.co.uk
a second wave of infection. Can your employer help with technical support and ergonomics? It’s sensible to have a back-up if your laptop goes down or to have someone you can call with technical issues. This is far less stressful and time-consuming than trying to work things out for yourself from YouTube tutorials. You also need the right workspace and furniture. There are reports of increased back pain as a result of people working from sofas or beds during lockdown. Ask your employer for support - it’s a health and safety issue - and for help with work-related phone/internet bills if they don’t provide phones and laptops. READ MORE Summer 2020 27