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Low cost summer fun Beat the summer childcare challenge What’s on for kids this summer Issue 214 July/August 2022 Familiesonline.co.uk
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Families South East • July / August 2022
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Celebrating 135 years of empowering girls to forge their own path. Visit us this autumn to discover more:
sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net
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Families South East • July / August 2022
To advertise please call 07980 556813
Y A D LI ! O E H NG ER LE M L M HA SU C
Can you complete the:
?
Blackheath High School, an Independent Day School for girls aged 3 to 18, has launched The Mighty Girls Challenge - a unique challenge-based programme aimed at inspiring girls to develop core skills that will be central to their development now and in the future. They have kindly shared some of these challenges to provide a free resource of activities to complete over the holidays, aimed at Year 2 students. The programme focuses on helping children to become even more Ambitious, Brave and Curious and gets more challenging each year for increasing age groups. For each activity, children should share what they achieved, what they learned and what qualities they showed. This is an opportunity to let creativity run free over the holidays and to have fun learning some new skills! This challenge programme has been created with the input of Blackheath High School’s Year 6 Mighty Girls Club, an empowering collective group of young feminist Year 6 pupils, as well as being inspired by the key skills that the World Economic Forum says will be critical to entering the future workplace. The challenges reflect the skills and qualities Blackheath High School values in its students and embodies the school’s ethos of ‘Where Girls Boldly Go’.
Here are some suggested activities: Tick each task off as you complete it!
Ambitious: Learn to say “Hello, my name is” in three different languages. Then teach someone else how to say this. Learn and perform a magic trick. Practise your trick until you can confidently perform it to an audience, without them guessing how to do it! Read three books or watch three films that you are interested in. Write a review about each, or film yourself reviewing them, giving recommendations to others. Brave: Cook something new using some ingredients that you would like to try for the first time. Learn a dance from another country or culture and perform it to an audience. Practise your dance until you can perform it confidently. Build a model with moving parts. This could be using Lego, junk models, timber kits or devise your own from scratch. Curious: Make an origami model. Write the instructions and teach someone else how to make one too. Make a den and test it out. Is it a stable shelter? How could you improve it? Identify three trees by their leaves and be able to point these out to friends. Draw and label the leaves.
Where girls boldly go www.blackheathhighschool.gdst.net
Good luck, you can do it!
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EDUCATION
Sponsored Feature
Antonia Geldeard Sydenham High School
Antonia Geldeard joins Sydenham High School as Head in September 2022. She was formerly Head of English and Head of House at Alleyn’s before moving to Trinity School, Croydon, where she is currently Deputy Head and Head of Sixth Form.
being “an inspiring woman” who was “approachable and thoughtful” and told me that my work “really reflects how much [I] care about the students and bring the best out of everyone [I] work with”. It was most rewarding to read this endorsement as this is very much what I aspire to be, and I hope that this is a sentiment that is shared by others!
Q: What was it about the school that made you want to apply for the position?
I think that every individual in the school community can make a difference to an individual student, including the Head. Whether it is a positive welcome in the corridor, an open door to be able to talk, a contribution to the ethos, which is kind, inclusive and equal, or an inspiring lesson, every interaction has the power to make a difference. I think that it is also my job as the Head to ensure a purposeful and happy community that places the individual child at the centre and remains forward thinking and creative in outlook.
I have lived and worked in Southeast London for many years and during that time, I have got to know a number of Sydenham High families who have such wonderful experiences to share and words of praise for this warm and caring school which supports each individual to be the best that they can be, whatever their chosen pathway. This ethos has always resonated with my values and outlook, so I relished the opportunity to apply for the role of Head and I feel hugely privileged to have been chosen. Q: How would the students describe you? A recent Year 13 school leaver sent me a card in which she thanked me for
Q: How do you think a head teacher can make a difference to an individual student?
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a news reader and I remember revising for my school exams by reading my notes out loud as if I was reading the news! After university, I did go on to work in journalism but not as a news reader. I think, even
back then, I had a desire to inform and impart knowledge but, etymologically, education is not about ‘inputting’ but about ‘drawing out’ and developing skills. What I have found immensely rewarding about teaching is helping young people to learn and develop in a dynamic and collaborative environment, not only from me but also each other. Q: What is something about yourself that no-one else knows? This is not a secret, but it is something that not a lot of people know. When I was at Cambridge, I played football for my college’s women’s football team. In my first year, someone asked if I would have a go. (They were probably struggling for players!) I had never played before that day. I still remember the elation of our team getting promoted to the first division at the end of that season! Many years later, I am delighted to see women’s football gaining greater recognition. I often encourage my students to try a new co-curricular activity—to broaden their horizons and not to always pick the things that they know they are good at. Branch out sometimes and be brave; there is always something to learn.
Join Ms Geldeard, the staff and students at Sydenham High School for their autumn open mornings: Saturday 17th September, 9am–12.30 (Whole School), Thursday 29th September (Senior), 9.30-11am and Friday 7th October (Prep), 9.30–11am. Booking encouraged via www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net/admissions/open-events-taster-days You can also find out more via their social media pages, @sydenhamhigh on Twitter and @sydenhamhighschool on Instagram. 4
Families South East • July / August 2022
To advertise please call 07980 556813
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Families South East • July / August 2022
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SUMMER FUN
Low-cost summer fun
Educational
Out and about
Visit a museum. There are world-renowned museums in cities across the UK that offer free access to exhibitions year-round. To find a museum near you, visit www.visitbritain.com
Cinema deals. Odeon cinema and Cineworld will be running kids screenings all summer, with tickets priced from £3.25. www.odeon.co.uk and www.cineworld.co.uk
Festival of Archaeology. The Council for British Archaeology has teamed up with hundreds of museums to organise more than one thousand archaeology-related events and activities all over the country. www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk
Hop on board the train. Taking the train to visit somewhere new is an adventure in itself. And it doesn’t need to cost the earth if you buy a Family and Friends Railcard. www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk
Take the summer reading challenge. The challenge, aimed at children ages 4 to 11 years, is to read six or more library books over the summer. There are stickers and other rewards available from the library. Sometimes free and always inexpensive, a local library membership will really encourage your children to dive into books, audiobooks and more. www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk 50 things to do before you’re 11¾. Get your kids closer to nature with The National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’. There’s plenty of outdoor activities to undertake during the summer, from watching the sunset to creating some wild art. Many can be done at home and in your garden. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/50-things-to-do
Visit a pet store. Kids will enjoy seeing all the furry pets for sale including hamsters, rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs and fish. Pet stores often run animal handling sessions and other free activities during the holidays. Find My Pet Pals workshops at www.petsathome.com Pick your own berries. Take your young ones to a pick-yourown farm to gather a heap of juicy strawberries or raspberries. Of course, they will do plenty of eating too but, hey, it’s fruit! Drive-in cinema. The perfect retroactivity for a balmy summer night or afternoon, why not head to an outdoor cinema? With outdoor or drive-in cinema popping up in various places throughout the UK, you might catch a family favourite or retro classic.
Toddlers Little fence painters. If you want less mess but just as much fun, simply give your toddler a bucket of water and a large brush or roller and let them ‘paint’ the garden fence. Chalk pavement painting. Arm your toddler with some chalks. Big chunky ones are good but any chalks will do. Then let them draw and decorate the driveway or pavement. Instant ice paints. Mix paint with water, add a lolly stick and freeze in an ice cube tray to make these incredible ice paints. They melt as your toddler paints with them and they can play around with patterns and blend the colours. You’ll want them to do this outdoors, of course! Hula hoop obstacle course. Place hula hoops in a row along the garden. Challenge your little one to jump from one hoop to the next – forwards and backwards! Nature sticky bracelets. Pop masking tape or thick duct tape round your toddler’s wrist, with the sticky side outwards. On a walk in the park (or in the garden) ask them to find leaves, seeds and flowers to stick to their bracelets.
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Families South East • July / August 2022
To advertise please call 07980 556813
SUMMER FUN
Low-cost summer fun
Something different
Outdoors
Enjoy a wild swim. When it’s warm, it doesn’t get much better than taking a dip in the sea, lake or river. If you live in a big city, don’t be put off ! You’ll be surprised how many wild swimming spots are nearby. www.wildswimming.co.uk
Join in National Play Day. National Play Day takes place across the country on 1 August. Children and families have the chance to play at hundreds of community events, from mass adventures in woodlands to street parties with games. Find your nearest ones at www.playday.org.uk
Let’s fish! The Canal and River Trust is running free fishing taster sessions over the holidays, with professional angling coaches on hand to teach the basics. www.canalrivertrust.org.uk Go geocaching. This is a real outdoor treasure hunting game that uses an app. You navigate to a set of GPS coordinates and try to find the treasure at that location. www.geocaching.com Borrow a doggy. Join Borrow My Doggy to let your kids bond with a dog that need some love while their owners are out at work. It’s a great way to get the kids walking in the school holidays. www.borrowmydoggy.com Free tennis coaching and court usage. You can net free tennis sessions or coaching as part of Big Tennis Weekends, organised by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), at venues across Britain. www.lta.org.uk
Go fly a kite! They’re cheap and easy to buy or you can even make your own. Read up on tips about how to fly them. www.thekitesociety.org.uk Go for a bike ride. Cycling is a great way to reconnect with nature and get off the beaten track. Take a ride on a local cycle path or if you’re a bit more ambitious, why not take a family bikepacking trip somewhere a bit further afield? Find the Gruffalo. If your kids love Julia Donaldson, there are themed walks based on her books up and down the country to take the family to visit. Find out more details on these trails at www.forestryengland.uk/gruffalo Woodland adventure. Explore your nearest woodland and enjoy adventure play areas, natural play, off-road cycling and lots of space to create dens. Find your local wood or forest at www.forestryengland.uk
Childcare from just
Camp Beaumont adventure day camps
£43 a day
Dedicated to delivering confidencebuilding adventures throughout the school holidays, Camp Beaumont run award-winning day camps offering over 50 activities including archery, football and arts and crafts across 45 locations in London and the surrounding areas.
New Saturday morning school for Stagecoach Sydenham Due to popular demand, Stagecoach Performing Arts Sydenham is opening a new Saturday morning school in September for students aged 4 – 18 years of age.
With a focus on reducing stress and learning new skills through carefully selected activities they will get children moving, socialising and back in the great outdoors!
Principal Kim Findlay says, “Our school has been running 19 years, and we are so excited to be able to offer more classes to the children in the Sydenham and Crystal Palace area. At Stagecoach we teach our students so much more than how to sing, dance and act. We help them blossom into well-rounded individuals, ready to embrace life and all its opportunities. We delight in seeing our students have fun, make friends, learn new skills and discover hidden talents.”
Book a multi-activity programme and ensure your child learns new skills, makes new friends and enjoys their most exciting school holiday yet! Camp Beaumont has over 40 years’ experience caring for children and their fully DBSchecked Group Leaders ensure safety and fun for every 3-16 year old. Join Camp Beaumont in 2022 and help children bounce back this summer!
The new Saturday performing arts classes will be based at Kelvin Grove Primary School (SE26 6BB) in addition to the established Friday classes at Sydenham High School GDST (on Westwood Hill). Stagecoach offers 90-minute Early Stages classes for 4-6 year olds and Main Stages classes of three hours for 6-18 year olds.
www.campbeaumont.co.uk
For more information or to enrol your child for a 2-week trial: www.stagecoach.co.uk/sydenham
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Families South East • July / August 2022
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Families South East • July / August 2022
Outstanding dance classes for girls & boys from 18 months in our own fully equipped dance studios in Herne Hill southlondondanceschool.co.uk
To advertise please call 07980 556813
CHILDCARE
The summer holiday childcare jigsaw By Andrew Campbell For many parents, the long summer holidays can cause a massive childcare headache requiring an enormous amount of juggling and ‘piecing it together’ and involving substantial cost. If you’re facing the school holiday childcare puzzle right now, then here are some of the pieces you might be able to fit together in your jigsaw. Family care Family members, typically grandparents, are often more than happy to share the childcare burden and with this comes with the advantage of knowing your children are with someone you all trust. Your kids will benefit by learning they don’t need you all the time and will build long-lasting bonds. Other parents Teaming up with other parents by taking turns to care for each other’s children is a great way to spread the load. But this will require forward planning and organisation - so get in now. Try setting up a summer childcare WhatsApp group with the parents of your child’s friends. Private nursery Many nurseries continue as normal throughout the summer but those adjoined to schools and pre-schools usually follow school term dates. Some private nurseries will take on some younger children just for the summer holidays. Contact them to enquire. Childminders Childminders care for small groups of children of different ages in the childminder’s home. The children usually come from different families and sometimes include the childminder’s own children. If you currently use a childminder, ask about availability
A love of performing can develop key skills for life
Whether it be diving into their dressing up box or stepping onto the stage, performing is important to children and young people, and the benefits of this can often go unnoticed. Performing arts can teach children and young people key skills that can be used in everyday life: Creativity, problem solving, empathy, listening and confidence building. Some children are never happier than putting on a show for their family and friends, but for some standing up in front an audience can be daunting. Performing arts are hugely beneficial to children’s confidence levels. Learning new skills, rehearsing, and performing in a safe space, with the support of expert teachers and encouragement of their peers, can prepare children to deal with situations in which they feel anxious. “At PQA we believe that our three core modules, Musical Theatre, Comedy & Drama and Film & Television, offer our students the very best mix of both performance based and technical training as well as providing them with skills for life to help them grow into well-rounded individuals.” pqacademy.com Familiesonline.co.uk
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for summer childcare as they take holidays too. Nanny share A nanny share or ‘home childcarer’ is when you and another family share the costs and responsibilities of employing a nanny to look after your children in your home. Nannies can often work for two or more families, by caring for the children all at the same time or by splitting the week between them. Holiday camps and workshops Run by private providers, these can be multi-activity day camps focussing on a variety of sport and/or creative activities or single activity camps focussed on a specific sport/creative activity. Holiday workshops tend to take place for shorter more intense periods and, often organised by providers that also offer weekly term time classes, they offer a valuable opportunity to receive elite coaching and tuition. Holiday play schemes Playschemes are usually for children of primary school age. Run by schools, councils, youth clubs and community groups, they provide a range of activities and typically cost around £30 a day although this can vary widely, with subsidised prices offered for low-income households.
Where to find childcare? Finding someone you trust to look after your children can be a formidable undertaking. There are three main ways of finding the best person for the job. Using an agency Whilst there will be additional agency fees payable, using an agency means you don’t have to check references/backgrounds and do Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) checks. Look out for agencies registered with ANA (Association of Nanny Agencies) or the British Au Pair Agencies Association (Bapaa). Searching and advertising Parents who wish to employ someone directly can search or advertise on websites such as www.searchchildcare.org.uk, www.childcare.co.uk, www.nannyjob.co.uk or even www.gumtree.com. Check https://bit.ly/FamChildmind for local registered childminders and look up a childminder’s latest Ofsted report at www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports Word of mouth Ask friends, neighbours and parents you know in the local area. Personal experience is likely to give you the best insight into the quality of childcare care offered by a provider.
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Families South East • July / August 2022
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CHILDCARE
What are babies and toddlers thinking? Babies can’t tell you what they’re thinking and toddlers may not have all the words necessary to explain themselves. But sophisticated advances in technology are making it possible to get an understanding of their behavioural and cognitive development. This is the work of the Birkbeck Babylab & Toddlerlab (www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk), a specialist university research centre in the heart of London, which has spent decades perfecting the art of running non-invasive studies of babies and toddlers, with the aim of uncovering how they develop and learn. Elena Throm is part of a new study at Birbeck which looks at babies’ social interactions and development. As part of the study, she is seeking to understand what environmental cues facilitate the development of brain regions involved in social interaction in that first year of life. This pioneering study combines an artificial intelligence algorithm with babies’ responses to a range of visual, auditory, or live stimuli, analysed in real time. The algorithm uses the information about individual brain responses to the presented stimuli to identify the set of characteristics that leads to stronger responses in the baby’s social brain network. Elena is recruiting babies ages 5 to 12 months to help her with this exciting study. Although babies are happy to sit through Elena’s study, busy toddlers are not! Developments in mobile technology have allowed Birbeck to create studies that work for toddlers and children who are too busy to stay still. These take place in a groundbreaking and custom designed lab called the CAVE (cave automatic virtual environment). In this immersive virtual reality environment, projectors direct images at the walls and floor of a room size cube. The CAVE allows researchers to recreate any environment or scenario of interest, from playgrounds and school classrooms to meadows and mountains. The hope is that by conducting research in more naturalistic settings, the findings will be more relevant to life in the real world. In her current research, Lisanne Schröer is using a combination of motion capture and fNIRS (a child-friendly
PAINTING & DECORATING
Currently, Lisanne is running a behavioural study with 3-yearolds investigating whether children use both hands when constructing a toy house. The ability to co-ordinate the use of both hands at once is thought to develop in the second year of life. However, when the task is hard, 3-year-olds tend to rely on just one hand. Lisanne’s new toy house task will use easy goals to monitor whether or not these enable 3-year-olds to use both hands. Lisanne is also conducting studies with older children up to age 6, including one which involves children doing tasks with parents. Using Birbeck’s new virtual reality lab, Chiara Bulgarelli is researching the role of empathy in toddlers’ daily social interactions. Her project will use virtual reality and fNIRS to investigate the social situations and behaviours that trigger empathic reactions in toddlers. She aims to map the behaviours through which toddlers express empathy and understand which brain regions are responsible for it.
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Birbeck also has researchers studying a variety of other areas, including the development of curiosity as a tool for learning and the impact of socioeconomic status and the home environment on school readiness.
John: James & Lamont 020 8462 4646 - 07802 535695 jamlam.john@btinternet.com
If you have a baby, toddler or older child, and would like to help Birbeck with any of its research, you can find out more at www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/toddlerlab
Calling all young Scientists! Help us discover how babies & kids learn! We’re recruiting infants from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at Birkbeck’s Babylab & ToddlerLab in central London. Our prime locations are easy to reach and we refund travel expenses. We also have online studies you can do from the comfort of home www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/online-studies
020 3926 1207 babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk 10
method to measure oxygen levels of blood in the brain) to investigate whether toddlers brains are interested in a specific task. Toddlers brains are studied via a novel child-friendly ‘helmet.’
Families South East • July / August 2022
Baby Massage Courses
These 5-week online courses for babies from
throughout the year.
Our courses help you to recognise and tune into your baby’s cues, strengthening your bond and enabling their development. londonandkent@eyalliance.org.uk To advertise please call 07980 556813
Calling parents living in South East London! Would you like to try your hand at magazine publishing? Do you think you could grow a business? Work part time from home around your family and do something you love.
Are you interested in media and marketing?
Come and run Families South East London! To find out more contact Linda at info@familiesmagazine.co.uk or call 020 8241 0423
Magazine
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AS YOU LIKE IT AT SHAKESPEARES GLOBE
BACH TO BABY
What’sOn JULY AND AUGUST 2022 Compiled by Robina Cowan All details are as provided when going to press, however in case of changed plans, do double-check before setting out DIARY DATES Gipsy Hill Village Fete Long Meadow SE19 1HX www.gipsyhillfriends.org 10 July Enjoy a day of outdoor fun, with a dog show, birds of prey, music, games, bouncy castles, community planting, marquees, food and drink and a selection of local community groups. River Stage Festival National Theatre, South Bank SE1 9PX www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
15 July - 14 August Five weekends of outdoor fun celebrating the best of British culture. Choose from live streamed theatre, dance performances, DJ sets, drag queen displays, workshops and plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy. All outdoors, and all free. Lewisham People’s Day Mountsfield Park SE6 1AN www.lewisham.gov.uk 16 July Listen to great music, see amazing art and get crafting, take home some goodies from local businesses. An extra special event this year as part of Lewisham’s Borough of Culture programme. Woolwich Words & Sounds Woolwich Works, Royal Arsenal SE18 6HD www.woolwich.works 15-31 July A new festival of live music, stand-up comedy, spoken word and family events, including:
A theatrical dream like no other
BIG FISH LITTLE FISH AT THE HORNIMAN
24 July The Adventures of Mangolina A magical quest to find Mangolina’s wings in the middle of carnival celebrations. Twirl to the ting, ping, ping of steel pans, then make your own special fairy to take home. Unity Link Family Fun Day Upper Norwood Library Hub SE19 1TQ https://bit.ly/38wC44H 30 July A pop-up day featuring local independent, cultural inspired businesses with arts and crafts, fashion, market stalls, taster samples, live music, face painting, children’s activities and refreshments. MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES Horniman Museum London Road SE23 3PQ www.horniman.ac.uk 24 July Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave Dance along to the absolute
for ages 5+
Join us for a hilarious new play for families based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Nick Bottom and his troupe of craftspeopleturned-actors need your help to stage their latest theatrical masterpiece! Tickets £25 – £15 seated £5 standing (restricted view)
28 July – 21 August SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE Blackfriars / London Bridge / Waterloo
Book now at shakespearesglobe.com
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Families South East • July / August 2022
To advertise please call 07980 556813
CUTTY SARK RIG CLIMB EXPERIENCE
DINOSUAR WORLD LIVE. BROMLEY CHURCHILL
best in acid house, hip hop, techno, drum n bass and more, plus enjoy food stalls and bars, craft activities, giant colouring, storytelling, bubbles and foam. Until 30 October Cats and Dogs Discover more about our fascinating furry friends in this interactive, family-friendly exhibition. Go on an exciting, sensory journey, exploring what it’s like to be a cat or a dog. IWM London Lambeth Road SE1 6HZ www.iwm.org.uk 29 July - 29 August Camouflage A special camouflage themed adventure across the museum, complete with a dedicated hub full of camouflage themed family activities (if you can find it!) Until 8 January Royals in Wartime Follow a trail through time and space, exploring the Royal Family’s association with the armed forces and its key role in times of conflict. HMS Belfast The Queen’s Walk SE1 2JH www.iwm.org.uk/hms-belfast 21 July - 4 September Summer Family Activities Travel back in time to D-Day 1944 with the Family Mission storytelling experience. Learn how to keep HMS Belfast in tip-top shape and take charge of an iconic warship in the interactive family activity Sea Legs, co-created with CBBC’s Ben Shires. The Garden Museum Lambeth Palace Road SE1 7LB www.gardenmuseum.org.uk 6 July - 4 September The Secret Garden An exhibition of illustrations created for Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic children’s book. Featured artists include E.H. Shepherd, Lauren Child, Inga Moore and MinaLima. Look out for summer holiday workshops, talks and learning activities suitable for children and families. National Maritime Museum Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk/national-maritimemuseum Until 25 September Canaletto’s Venice Revisited See the complete set of 24 Venetian views painted by Canaletto in the 1730s. On loan Familiesonline.co.uk
from the world-famous collection at Woburn Abbey, the works form the largest single commission the Italian artist ever received. Once a month on Saturdays SENsory Sailors An explore-thecollection session for families with children with special educational needs and disabilities. Museum SEND specialists are on hand to guide participating visitors. Ages 13 and under. Free, book first. Queen’s House Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk/queens-house All the Queen’s Men Uncover the lives of Elizabeth I’s male courtiers and their personal and political relationships with the monarch. The display features paintings of Sir Francis Drake, Thomas Seymour, and the Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I, one of the treasures of Royal Museums Greenwich’s collection. All ages, free. Royal Observatory Greenwich Blackheath Avenue SE10 8XJ www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory Various dates The Sky Tonight A live show taking visitors on a tour of what can be seen in the night sky, complete with a fly-out to the edge of the visible universe. Ages 7+. Cutty Sark King William Walk SE10 9HT www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark Weekends and school holidays Cutty Sark Characters Costumed guides bring to life on-board stories, from the perspective of the most senior captains to the vital supporting workers. Ages 3+. Various dates Rig Climb Experience Climb the famous masts and enjoy views of the Thames and London like no other. Visitors can traverse one of the ship’s lower yardarms before reaching the tops platform, taking in the view from the rigging of a true London icon. Ages 12+. Southbank Centre Southbank SE1 8XX www.southbankcentre.co.uk 10 July Find Your Poetry A day of workshops and readings especially for 11-17 year-olds, all for free. Until 18 September In the Black
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FANTASTICALLY GREAT WOMEN, THEATRE ROYAL STRATFORD
Fantastic Myth, science fiction, spiritual traditions and the legacy of Afrofuturism are all sampled, reimagined and recontextualised through painting, photography, video and mixed-media installations. Brunel Museum Railway Avenue SE16 4LF www.thebrunelmuseum.com Sir Marc Isambard Brunel and his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel changed the world with their inventive tunnels, bridges and viaducts, built during the Victorian reign. Housed in their Thames Tunnel Engine House, today the museum celebrates both engineering and performance in its Grade II* listed Tunnel Shaft. Open weekends, with Tunnel Trouble family adventures during school holidays. Tower of London EC3N 4AB www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london Until 18 September Superbloom at the Tower Over 20 million mixed seeds have been sown in the Tower’s moat, to create a spectacular, colourful field of flowers to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Grab a mat and slide down the Superbloom slide and follow the visitor route through the display. The British Museum Great Russell Street WC1B 3GD www.britishmuseum.org Until 17 July The World of Stonehenge Your last chance to unravel the story and secrets of Stonehenge, which reveal that prehistoric Britain was a place of big ideas, commerce and travel, rather than a shadowy land of mystery. London Transport Museum Covent Garden Piazza WC2E 7BB www.ltmuseum.co.uk Explore the heritage of London and its transport system, and the stories of the people who have travelled and worked in the city over the last 200 years. Family events include singing, storytelling and craft activities. Accompanied children go free. Legacies: London Transport’s Caribbean Workforce Uncover stories and memories from first, second and third generation Families South East • July / August 2022
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FEEDING BLACK, MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS
HEVER CASTLE JOUSTING
Caribbean people who worked for LT in the past and now work for its successor, Transport for London (TfL).
are invited to create their own work of art to add to an ever-growing garden in the Turbine Hall.
Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk Until December I Want To Play Football World-leading striker and England team captain Harry Kane is celebrated in a rarely seen display of personal items, family photos and iconic objects documenting his career to date. The free display aims to inspire the next generation and encourage visitors of all ages to be their best and never give up on their dreams.
Dulwich Picture Gallery Gallery Road SE21 7AD www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk 4 May - 4 September Reframed: The Woman in the Window Featuring artworks from ancient civilisations to present day, the exhibition brings together over 50 works by artists including Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, David Hockney, Louise Bourgeois and Cindy Sherman. The enigmatic motif of the ‘woman in the window’ is portrayed through painting, sculpture, print, photography and film.
Museum of London Docklands West India Quay E14 4AL www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ docklands London’s tales of trade, slavery, life through Victorian times and the wars, through to the present day. Admission free. Until 17 July 2022 Feeding Black: Community, Power & Place From shopping centres to street corners, from market spaces to living rooms, entrepreneurial African and Caribbean food businesses have thrived across southeast London. The museum display spotlights four businesses and their owners with recipes, objects and recorded stories, revealing how much more they are than the services and goods they provide. The Foundling Museum Brunswick Square WC1N 1AZ www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk Until 28 August Superheroes, Orphans and Origins Enter into the world of superheroes in an exhibition which explores the representation of foundlings, orphans, adoptees and foster children in comics, graphic novels and sequential art from around the globe. Tate Modern Bankside SE1 9TG www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern 23 July - 29 August Tate Play Help transform a blank white apartment into a sea of colourful dots, in Yayoi Kusama’s ‘The Obliteration Room.’ As well as having a chance to cover every available surface of the installation with bright circular stickers, families 14
Families South East • July / August 2022
THEATRE & SHOWS Shakespeare’s Globe New Globe Walk SE1 9DT www.shakespearesglobe.com 28 July - 21 August Midsummer Mechanicals Your eyes will pop, your mouth will gape and your sides will split as the Mechanicals present a theatrical dream like no other. Suitable for the young and young at heart. 9+10 August As You Like It with CBeebies Featuring favourite CBeebies stars, this special live adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy is guaranteed to offer young audiences include plenty of songs, dancing and joining in. Ages 3+. Greenwich Theatre Crooms Hill SE10 8ES www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk 17 July Comedy Club 4 Kids The best stand-ups and sketch acts from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children and their families - but without the rude bits! Ages 6+. 19 August - 4 September Treasure Island This riotously chaotic adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s beloved tale of pirates and buried treasure is full of physical comedy, daft jokes and thrilling adventure, with Jim setting sail on the high seas with Captain Birdseye, Blue Peter, Long-John Silver and the parrot Alexa. Ages 6+. Terrible Thames From Tower Bridge Quay www.terriblethames.com Provided by the Horrible Histories
HMS BELFAST
team, this is a boat tour all about the history of the Thames with the nasty bits left in! There’s no better way to learn about the country’s most famous river and the incredible history of the nation’s capital. Departing from Tower Bridge Quay, the fantastic journey incorporates immersive theatre to surprise and shock in equal measure as it delivers a unique take on London, thrilling both children and adults alike. Theatre Royal Stratford East Theatre Square E15 1BN www.stratfordeast.com Until 17 July Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World A fun and inspiring girl power musical, based on the popular children’s book by suffragette descendant Kate Pankhurst. The production tells the inspirational stories of historic women such as Marie Curie, Rosa Parks, Jane Austen and more, including author Kate’s own relative Emmeline Pankhurst. Gillian Lynne Theatre Drury Lane WC2B 5PW www.lionwitchonstage.com 18 July - 23 January The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain and embark on the most magical of adventures. In a frozen, faraway land they meet Mr Tumnus the faun, talking beavers and Aslan (the noble king of Narnia). Samantha Womack stars as the coldest, most evil White Witch. Bromley Churchill Theatre High Street Bromley BR1 1HA www.churchilltheatre.co.uk 8+9 August Dinosaur World Live Discover a prehistoric world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including a T-Rex,Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus. A special meet and greet after the show offers brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend. 12+13 August The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show Dive into Eric Carle’s bright and colourful world as four timeless stories are transformed from page to stage using a menagerie of lovable puppets and charming music. To advertise please call 07980 556813
SUPERBLOOM AT THE TOWER OF LONDON
SUPERHEROES, ORPHANS AND ORIGINS, FOUNDLING MUSEUM
Bring Your Own Baby Comedy Various venues www.byobcomedy.com A funny, friendly afternoon of top comedy, where baby can come too and join in with the rumpus. Shows feature a new line up of comedians each month with two acts plus a compere. Ages: grownups plus under 12 months. 19 July in Crystal Palace Bach to Baby Various venues www.bachtobaby.com Critically-acclaimed classical concerts for babies and their grownups. Outstanding musicians put on exhilarating performances where babies can ‘join in’ with as much noise as they like! 10 July and 14 August in London Bridge 21 July and 25 August in Greenwich & Blackheath 22 July and 26 August in West Dulwich 3 August in Sydenham 16 August in East Dulwich THE GREAT OUTDOORS Summer of Play Crystal Palace Park SE19 www.play.crystalpalaceparktrust.org 23 July - 31 August Free creative and sporting activities for local children, young people and families. The initiative promises something for everyone to enjoy and best of all, it’s free, thanks to funding from Crystal Palace Park Trust. Climate Home Richard MacVicar Adventure Playground, Deptford SE8 3JB www.youthfirst.org.uk
1 July - 31 August Climate Home is a temporary, sustainable space, co-designed, built and led by young people, where the community decide what matters. This is a place where young people of all backgrounds can express themselves, amplify their voices, be agents of change, connect with nature, rest and celebrate their people and cultures. Eltham Palace and Gardens Court Yard SE9 5QE www.english-heritage.org.uk/eltham 23 July - 4 September Medieval Season From jester workshops, have-a-go archery, storytelling and squire training to lessons in courtly etiquette, there will be a different activity each week for children to take part in. 13+14 August Legendary Joust Experience the exhilarating spectacle of speed and skill as four legendary knights compete for honour and glory in the Grand Medieval Joust. See lances shatter, feel the thunder of hooves and hear the roar of the crowd as reputations are won and lost.
TATE PLAY, TATE MODERN
community, with live music, street food, entertainers, workshops and exhibitions. A Kids Zone will host races, face painting and balloon modelling. It’s the perfect summer family event to relax, socialise and be entertained, and all are welcome. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens Kew TW9 3AE www.kew.org Until 18 September Food Forever Step into the future of food at Kew’s event of the summer and discover how we can transform our planet for good through four new large scale art installations and a major exhibition across the Gardens. Kew for One Pound A new low-cost entry has been introduced for a visit to Kew Gardens and its sister site, Wakehurst in Sussex, for people in receipt of Universal Credit or Pension Credit. For families or other groups, there is also now a reduced price for early booking of just £15 per adult.
London City Island Hopewell Square E14 0JU www. londoncityisland. com 23 July The Islander Festival is a summer fetestyle celebration of the island
To advertise: 07980 556813 Editorial: editor@familiesselondon.co.uk Visit www.familiesse.co.uk for back issues and our media pack. Next issue: Sept / October 2022 Facebook: @FamiliesLondonSouthEast Twitter: @familiesSELon Families South East 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 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 Families South East. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families South East, its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof. Designed by 45 Degrees www.fortyfivedegrees.co.uk. Printed by Buxton Press Ltd.
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Engineering Open House Day 2022 Now in its seventh year, Engineering Open House Day is all about showing children and their parents just how exciting a career in engineering can be! On Friday, 29 July, companies across the country will be opening their doors to give exclusive behind the scenes access to the wonderful world of engineering and technology! Plus, we’ll be holding our very own event in London with lots of interactive exhibits and two very exciting live shows hosted by Greg Foot, with special guests including Dangerous Dan! You don’t want to miss it.
Visit our website to find out what’s happening near you or register for our London event
theiet.org/OpenHouse TheInstitutionofEngineeringandTechnology #IETOpenHouse @TheIET The Institution of Engineering and Technology is registered as a Charity in England and Wales (No. 211014) and Scotland (No. SC038698). Futures Place, Kings Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2UA, United Kingdom.
SSD4638 EOHD 2022 Advert 180x130-v2.indd 1
31/05/2022 11:00
Unlock your child’s potential Sydenham is delighted to be opening a NEW SCHOOL near you Our fun and engaging weekly classes are for
4 - 18 year-olds. Children are given both structure
and freedom as they learn how to sing, dance and act.
Age: 4 - 18
Date / Time: 10 Sep 2022 10:00 - 13:00
Venue: Kelvin Grove Primary School, SE26 6BB
stagecoach.co.uk/sydenham 020 8949 1116
Creative Courage For Life® Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited.