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Issue 142 July/August 2021
Familiesonline.co.uk
Familiesonline.co.uk July/August 1
Support your child! Receive a FREE children’s activity book when you sign up to our magazine*
Ages 7-11
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Fun and engaging activities which guide your child to explore feelings, improve confidence and Approved self–esteem and by a children’s health boost wellbeing. mental practitioner
Magazine 2 July/August
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CONTENTS
In this issue
Welcome
4-9 News and Info 11-12 Summer boredom busters 13 Competition 14-15 Holidays 16-19 Health 20 Tween 21 Summer fun 22-25 Food 26-17 Family life 28-30 Fun summer learning
Get planning for the long summer holidays! We know how challenging it can be to keep the kids entertained, so we’ve got dozens of ideas for you in our three part, six page summer boredom busters special. Plus fun activities that will keep little brains learning throughout the break too.
Get in touch Competition winners Congratulations to Kate Petitclerc from Poole in Dorset whose family won a Smoby Playhouse in our Mar/Apr issue. 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.
If you’re dreading spending the entire summer cooking meals for the family, worry not. We have some great suggestions for tasty summer lunches, food ideas for when you are away from your own kitchen and healthy yogurt ice lollies to make with the kids. You can also apply for a free children’s wellbeing activity book by signing up to receive our magazine in this issue. Signed up already? We have a free gifts for subscribers too. Have a happy summer!
Based in the heart of Windsor, Upton House is a thriving Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School for boys and girls aged 2-11 years. Self-esteem and happiness, we believe, are paramount to each child’s success and we pride ourselves on developing confident and happy children with a love of learning. Call 01753 862610 or email registrar@uptonhouse.org.uk
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July/August 3
CLUBS&&INFO CLASSES NEWS
Performing Arts prepares your child for the new school year The start of the school year is a great time to consider new activities for your child and the skills learnt in performing arts can be hugely beneficial to children. These include empathy, listening, problem solving and confidence. Empathy One challenge children face when they return to school in September is changes to friendship groups. Empathy is essential to help them react appropriately to their peers and develop their social skills. To portray a character in a play we need to be able to step into their shoes and understand their situation; if a child learns to understand a character in this way, they can apply this skill to everyday life. READ MORE
OUTSTANDING PERFORMING ARTS TUITION FOR 4 - 18 YEAR-OLDS
ACT, DANCE, SING AND MAKE FILMS! Find your local Academy at pqacademy.com
BOOK YOUR
FR TASTEEE SESSI R NOWON !
4 2 July/August
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NEWS & INFO
The benefits of summer study and beyond
Daily study of the Kumon Maths and English Programmes can make all the difference when it comes to keeping the brain active between school terms, as well as throughout the year.
Summer holidays are often jampacked with energetic activities for children, but it is just as important to keep their minds active over the holidays as well as their bodies.
The Northfields Study Centre is located at Kingsdown Methodist Church, Kingsdown Avenue W13 9PR, with in-centre classes running on Tuesdays and Saturdays and online classes running on Thursdays.
Having long breaks from study means children can sometimes require extra support to get back into the routine of daily study and they may be out of practice when the new school year comes around. Ensuring they continue educational activities throughout can mean they are confident, equipped and ready to tackle new work when they go back to school.
The summer holidays provide an ideal opportunity for your child to settle into their new routine of daily Kumon study, before getting off to a flying start in the new school year. Call Supriya Teckchandani on 07931 266011 Email Website
Kumon’s Maths and English study programmes work throughout the summer to ensure your child is constantly learning and developing their ability. Free registration with families magazine this summer (June, July & Aug), worth £30 Contact your local Instructor for a free assessment.
Northfields Study Centre
Supriya Teckchandani 07931 266011 www.facebook.com/kumonnorthfields www.instagram.com/kumonnorthfields www.kumon.co.uk/northfields/
Northfields Study Centre Familiesonline.co.uk
School stops for summer, learning doesn’t have to Morning summer classes with exciting incentive and rewards.
Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.
kumon.co.uk July/August 5
NEWS & INFO
Clifton Lodge Nursery & Prep School – Raising Expectations in Maths attainment at or exceeding a As a Prep School focussing on 11+ entrance exams for pupils in Year 6, year above National Curriculum Clifton Lodge start preparation early expectations. with a strong emphasis on Maths. Their next Open Day is on Saturday 9th October 2021. Alternatively By the time children reach Year 1, their aim is to utilise materials from contact them to arrange a private tour or Zoom call. schemes of work one year above, differentiated to each individual Acting Head, Mr Graeme Smith pupil. Clifton Lodge School In Reception this means the children Address: will access some Year 1 materials. 8 Mattock Lane, Ealing, Maths is taught to the youngest London, W5 5BG pupils in a ‘fun’ way and pupils are eager to learn through exciting play Email: and stimulating activities. graeme.smith@cognita.com Challenging their pupils builds Website: aspiration and confidence. www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk Clifton lodge’s standardised testing scores show pupils have an average Phone: 020 8579 3662 6 July/August
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HOLIDAYS
First Bridge Centre for Autistic Children opens in West London Parents of autistic children in West London could benefit from a new type of early intervention centre that has recently opened, modelled on the science-led approach that is the standard in North America. First Bridge Centre is an Ofstedregistered centre in Imperial Wharf, Chelsea for pre-school and schoolage children with autism, ADHD and related conditions. It uses an outcomes-focused teaching approach in which parents in the UK are increasingly seeking to help their children gain skills that can help them communicate, learn more effectively and become more independent as they grow older.
West London parent, I had to move to the US to receive support that built an evidence-led programme specially designed around his needs, before moving back and getting the support of our local authority. There is a fundamental lack of information for parents of newly diagnosed children, and even less information for parents who do not know that what they are facing with their child, is in fact autism.”
First Bridge Centre offers childcentred and individualised programmes based on the science of behaviour analysis, an approach that puts first a child’s needs and aims to help them achieve sustained progress. First Bridge Centre is First Bridge is the brainchild of CEO and founder Sasha Zerkalova, currently available for privatelyfunded families and is working the mother of an autistic son who with local authorities and parents discovered first-hand the lack of evidence-based support available to to be included in the local offer, so that children’s places can be parents. She comments: “When my son was funded following a diagnosis and the successful application for an diagnosed with autism, aged two, I education, health and care plan immediately thought he would get the best support in the world thanks (EHCP). Sasha’s vision is to open more First Bridge Centres around to our amazing health service. the UK. Unfortunately the type of support that is common in other countries is www.firstbridgecentre.com/ still not widely available here. As a Familiesonline.co.uk
July/August 7
Join the Hartbeeps Family Hartbeeps offer award-winning, original, multi-sensory musical classes. Specifically designed for each stage of your baby’s development, sessions feature bubbles, costumes, massage, sensory textures and lights, puppets and more. Enjoy in person sessions in a safe and welcoming environment or join online with over 100 sessions available to do at a time that suits you. Choose from: • Baby bells - Newborn - Sitting • Beeps - Sitting - Standing • Happy house - Toddlers & Siblings For classes in: Bayswater, Maida vale, Notting Hill, Shepherds bush, Mayfair and Kensington email: loulou@hartbeeps.com Or for classes in: Ealing, Acton, Hammersmith and Chiswick email: kimmy@hartbeeps.com
www.hartbeeps.com
8 July/August
ORBITAL ARTS HOLIDAY DANCE WORKSHOPS IN ACTON W3 09 – 13 AUGUST for children 5 – 8 years 10.00am – 1.00pm £80 Ballet, arts & crafts, mime and prop making, dressing up, create your own dance – it will be fun! 23 – 27 AUGUST for children 9 – 15 years 10.00am – 1.00pm £120 Intensive course in ballet, jazz, contemporary, choreography, guest teachers Full details on our website orbitalarts.co.uk To register email office@orbitalarts.co.uk or phone 07771 905226
Familiesonline.co.uk
NEWS & INFO
New Paint Pots Montessori Nursery Opening in Notting Hill
The Grove, the latest Montessori Nursery by Paint Pots, has recently opened on the first floor of the beautifully renovated Westbourne Grove Church in the heart of Notting Hill. From September 2021 there are places available for 2-5 year olds in the Montessori Nursery. A room for children from 12 months old is also due to be added in 2022. Paint Pots has listened to the needs of modern parents who have different work patterns and want increased flexibility. Parents want childcare and a nursery that fits around their working day, their older children’s school times and want access to high quality childcare throughout the school holidays all of which The Grove provides.
required since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. At Paint Pots our ethos is to follow the child and see each and every one of them as an individual while providing a 360-degree education and we are looking forward to continuing to do this at The Grove.” www.paint-pots.co.uk Georgina Hood
Georgina Hood, Founder and Director of Paint Pots and former ‘Montessorian of the Year’ says… “It has been a long-held dream of mine to be able to offer Paint Pots families a flexible year-round Montessori Nursery. Starting from when they are one, children can join Paint Pots The Grove throughout the year, with their families choosing which days they attend, and with opening hours from 8am-6pm. This allows today’s parents the flexibility they need, particularly Familiesonline.co.uk
July/August 9
10 July/August
Familiesonline.co.uk
BOREDOM BUSTERS
Top ideas to entertain the family this Summer By Claire Winter Keep the family busy all summer long! Outdoors Find the Gruffalo. For Julia Donaldson fans, enjoy a themed family walk based on her books up and down the country. Trail details. Get appy. Get reluctant kids excited about walking with a brilliant app, Caper. Download and receive a call from Captain Redtail who needs help locating a crashed spaceship. New hobbies Explore geocaching. Join the world’s largest treasure hunt! Download the official Geocaching app, create an account and unlock the location of thousands of caches (i.e. the treasure) that other hunters have left for you to discover. Get green-fingered. Plant a veggie grow bag. You don’t need any more space than a window-box, or a tiny space in your garden. Kids will love deciding what to grow and charting its progress.
Familiesonline.co.uk
Boredom busters Rough and tumble. Play fighting is a great way to let off steam. Stuff some pillows up a pair of dad-size T-shirts to set up a ‘sumo wrestle.’ Make the rules of play fighting clear, otherwise the session might descend into chaos and tears. Eat a rainbow. Of course, we’re not talking about vegetables! Have fun with edible food colouring and let your kids paint and then eat rainbow toast. You could also make rainbow cake! Products at Cake Craft World. Free Get wild. Join the Summer Reading Challenge, Wild World Heroes, at your local library or online. Libraries have teamed up with WWF to create a nature-themed challenge. Go fly a kite! They’re cheap and easy to buy, or you can even make your own. Tips on kite flying.
July/August 11
BOREDOM BUSTERS
Top ideas to entertain the family this Summer Bucket list Flying high. Perfect for thrill seekers, try indoor skydiving and soar like a bird in a super-smooth, super-fast and super-cool wind tunnel. Suitable for kids aged 3+. Locations in Manchester, Milton Keynes and Basingstoke.
balloons and play-doh for kids, baby raves are a great way for the whole family to dance the day away. Big Fish Little Fish has events coming up in London, Liverpool and Norwich.
Wild swimming. Nothing beats swimming in nature (as long as the weather Take to the skies. co-operates). You could try wild For a really special treat, book a paddling if you have little ones! hot air balloon flight for the family. Ideas of where to go to find wild Suitable for children who are 7+ and water near you. at least 4ft 6in (1.4m) tall. Must also be accompanied by a responsible adult. MORE FUN IDEAS Learning ideas Letter fishing. This is a fun game for pre-schoolers. Grab yourself some magnetic letters from the fridge, some string, a pencil and a paperclip. Make a DIY fishing rod so your little one can fish for letters. Family history. How about finding out a bit more about your past and making a family tree? Get your kids to do some research about their grandparents and distant relatives. Check out Ancestry and Find My Past. Unusual Baby raves. With reasonable DJ bills for parents and bubble machines, giant 12 July/August
THE PERFECT SUMMER TREAT
LIV E O STA N GE
Based on the award -winning picture book by
Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks © Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks 2009.
PALACE THEATRE 15 JUL– 29 AUG BOOK NOW nimaxtheatres.com
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FOOD
WIN a family ticket for 4 to see What the Ladybird Heard Live on Stage at the Palace Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue Email your answer to the question below with your name and the subject heading LADYBIRD WEST LONDON COMPETITION to info@familiesmagazine.co.uk before midnight on Wednesday 21st July 2021. Applies to selected performances only*.
What do Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len want to steal from the farm? a. The Ladybird b. The fine prize cow c. The woolly sheep Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow. But the Ladybird has a scheme of her own! Join the clever Ladybird as she leads the animals on their quest to save the day. With live music, puppetry and a whole farmyard of fun, this 55-minute family favourite is the perfect summer treat! For ages 3+ whattheladybirdheardlive.co.uk @LiveLadybird T&Cs - Prize is for one family ticket (admits 4, minimum 1 adult) to see What the Ladybird Heard at the Palace Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for selected performances from * Saturday 24 July to Sunday 29 August 2021 only. The winner will be selected by random prize draw of the entries with the correct answer. Tickets are subject to availability, hold no cash value and are not transferable. No answers will be accepted after the closing date of midnight on Wednesday 21st July 2021 and all decisions are final. What the Ladybird Heard © Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks 2009. Macmillan Children’s Books
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July/August 13
FOOD
Baby and Toddler Travel Essentials We asked our friends at NapNapUK for their top product picks to make travelling with your little one easier this summer.
Babasac
A multi tog baby sleeping bag with removable inner layers.
Dribblebuster Baby Dribble Bibs
The designer bib for dribbly babies with soft absorbent backing.
SnoozeShade Original
The UK’s favourite baby buggy sun and sleep shade. 14 July/August
TUM TUM Travel Cutlery Set
Toddler travel cutlery with ‘make a picture’ handles & handy travel case.
Snugglebundl
Travel wrap to move baby without waking wherever you are.
NapNap Lullaby Sleep Mat
Award-winning mat with white noise and gentle vibrations.
Totseat
The original portable travel high chair, your washable, squashable lifesaver.
Tidy Tot Cover & Catch Bib
Perfect to keep mealtime mess at bay, with handy travel bag.
Gummee Mini UV Steriliser
Portable, attachable, rechargeable. No water, chemicals or fuss. Familiesonline.co.uk
FOOD
Fun travel activities for kids By Jemma Zoe Smith At long last, we’re able to go on holiday with the kids. But before the fun can begin, there’s the journey to deal with. Don’t despair! These activities will help keep your kids occupied and your sanity intact. What can you spot? Get your kids to spot cars/lorries from different countries. Younger children can spot cars or lorries of different colours. Books like the i-Spy series or Usborne Minis are great for primary school children. They can tick off what they see as they travel, whether that’s wildlife, birds or trees. ‘Person Do Thing’ The challenge is to describe a complex idea (eg ‘glasses’) in just thirty six simple words (eg person, see, thing, use, good, bad, yes, no). See beginner’s version. Road trip bingo Download/create bingo cards. Different ages can work at different difficulty levels; your toddler might need to spot a cow or a caravan, while an older child might need to spot an Eddie Stobart lorry. Audiobooks If your child suffers from car sickness, audiobooks are an alternative. Give the kids a shortlist to choose from, and let them rule out options so the final choice is something everyone’s happy with. Familiesonline.co.uk
Colour with water Colouring books can be difficult in the car but water colouring books let your child colour with a messfree, reusable, water-filled pen. Galt Toys has a good range. READ MORE
Support your child! Receive a FREE children’s activity book when you sign up to our magazine*
Ages 7-11
Two other titles also available *while stock last T&Cs apply
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Magazine July/August 15
HEALTH
Improve your child’s mental health Using proven cognitive-behavioural therapy methods along with fun and engaging activities, these peer-reviewed children’s wellbeing activity books, published by Summersdale, have been approved by a children’s mental health practitioner. Aimed at children ages 7 to 11, because much happens during these years that can impact a child’s sense of self-worth, the books can help
establish how your child is feeling and offer ways to improve their confidence and self-esteem and lower their anxiety levels. Children are guided through the activities and, with the help of a friendly character, supported to navigate their inner world. These great practical guides are also interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents. For more details an purchase d ,c on the bo lick ok image.
Getting kids to talk feelings
By Esther Marshall
It’s not always easy to get children to open up.
Use code ‘FAMILIES15’ to get 15% OFF
The ultimate summer camp for creative kids. From 12th July, Notting Hill Prep School
Book now at www.blueshiftcoding.com 16 July/August
Author of the Sophie Says children’s book series, Esther Marshall, shares with us her five top tips for helping children feel safe and comfortable enough to start talking about the difficult stuff. READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk
From Baby to Ballerina
Classes for Boys and Girls aged 2½ to 16 years Ballet, Pointe Work, Modern Jazz, Tap, Annual Performances
Classes held in: Bayswater Covent Garden Notting Hill Gate Shepherds Bush
020 8743 3856 info@westlondonschoolofdance.co.uk www.westlondonschoolofdance.co.uk
WEST LONDON DANCE ACADEMY
Ballet, Tap, Contemporary and Jazz classes for all ages in Chiswick.
We are so happy to be back!
This is where it all begins…… All of our Teachers are fully qualified and DBS certified.
Our studios now have COVID-SAFE measures in place .
Email: Natalieparnell.wlda@gmail.com visit:westlondondanceacademy.com Contact :07795578781. IDTA & ISTD Accredited Dance School. Familiesonline.co.uk
July/August 17
HEALTH
Family Couch to 5K (ish) By Andrew Campbell During the pandemic, lots of people chose running as their ‘exercise of the day’ and experienced a significant boost to their health and wellbeing as a result. The NHS ‘Couch to 5K’ programme allowed many to gradually build up their endurance until they were able to run a five kilometre course. So, is it time for the whole family to get in on the act? Is it realistic or advisable to expect children to run such a distance? Government guidelines stipulate that children ages 5 to 18 should accumulate an average of at least sixty minutes of physical activity per day across a week. Such activity can include running. However, it isn’t appropriate to expect children as young as age 5 to run continuously for five kilometres. As, they get older, however, it’s certainly possible to entice your child to extend their ability to run. Encouragement and fun will be the key to keeping them on board. Kids love a big occasion, so join a family fun run event or take the whole family to your local parkrun, where children are welcome to join their parents on a five kilometre course through parkland or open space. Don’t feel you need to run the whole course – starting small is best and you don’t want to push your child beyond what they are comfortable with. Try alternating running and walking and praise their effort. 18 July/August
Alternatively, make your ‘family run’ a scavenger hunt with prizes. Or use the Couch to 5K plan to develop your own week by week plan to work towards running a shorter distance as a family.
Free gift for our subscribers!* Readmio app (worth £49.99) Bring children’s books to life with sound effects triggered by your voice!
100+ stories + record your own audiobooks
*while stockslast T&Cs apply
Magazine
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HEALTH
HEALTH
The Worry Cabinet
Download this activity, complete with instructions, to help your child deal with their worries. The Worry Cabinet is an activity for children taken from The Worry Workbook: The Worry Warriors Activity Book published by Summersdale.
The Worry Cabinet
The Wo
rr y Cab
inet
In every pe about lurk rson’s brain is a w and som etimes it orry cabinet. It’s whe can get a Write yo bit over-f re all the things ur ull. that you and the bi worries on the worry labels; th g drawer e lit s are for the things tle drawers are When we for small that you w ev rit w e eryd orry abou down ou with your rw t the mos ay worries, t. the most child on this activ orries, it can mak solutions attention, so that ity, it can help th e them seem less em to wor you can for them scary. If yo tackle th . k em togeth out which wor u work ries er one by one, and need find
Things yo u can’t co ntrol Once yo u you can’ have finished th t control e worry ca - lik a news pr ogramm e thunderstorm binet, try getting e. rid s or som ething yo of the worries See if yo that u have he u ard abou control. O can compile a lis t on t nc fro e m your w you realis easier to or e ry th stop wor rying ab at these things ar drawers of the th out them in e gs ou t of your yo . hands, it u can’t becomes The Wor ry The Wor Cabinet is an ac ry by Imogen Workbook: Th tivity for children eW ta Harrison , publishe orry Warriors A ken from ct d by Sum mersdale.ivity Book
DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR CHILD NOW!
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July/August 19
TWEEN
Screen time (out?) By Chris Skeat
Most of us old enough to have tweens in the house, will remember the mantra from our childhoods that ‘watching too much television will make your eyes go square.’ Now the choice of screens and screen activities to be glued to is significantly wider with everything from Fortnite to TikTok competing for attention. But are beneficial for their children’s just how detrimental is this to the development, how do we maintain overall well-being of tweens and a healthy balance? are there any significant lasting effects? WeareTwixt, offers parenting support for tweens/teens. We asked The British Psychological them for their thoughts. Society warns that ‘too much screen time can unintentionally READ MORE cause permanent damage to stilldeveloping brains.’ It also advises that when using screens ‘the ability to focus, to concentrate… to sense other people’s attitudes and communicate with them, to build a large vocabulary… are harmed.’ However there are some pluses. Screens can be social, interactive and provide escapism. They can be an opportunity to connect with friends and family members; they can, at times offer a welcome break and respite from the challenges and anxiety of modern day living. Let’s also not forget that it’s valuable for today’s generation to be ‘tech savvy’ when it comes to the workplace. With new research suggesting that four in five parents think gadgets 20 July/August
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SUMMER FUN
Beach games and activities Bored of building sandcastles? Try these other great ideas to keep the kids entertained at the beach.
Beach treasure hunt You’ll need to give each child a bucket to collect treasure in for starters. Then they’ll need a list (words or pictures depending on their age). You can ask them to Running and jumping look for lots of different treasures like certain colour shells, different Sharks and minnows Play with a group of children. All you shapes of stone, a bird’s feather, need is something to mark out a big seaweed, driftwood. circle or square in the sand – and Throwing and catching children with plenty of energy! READ MORE Spiral stones Use a spade, piece of driftwood or Water bucket relay even sharp rock to draw a spiral in You can play this with two players the sand with a small circle in the or more. Each player will need a middle. The idea of the game is that bucket or container, as well as a children take it in turns to throw spoon, cup, or large shell to carry pebbles in the direction of the spiral. water in. A bit like darts, the closest to the READ MORE circle centre wins the round. Thinking and exploring Sand skeeball For this game, you’ll just need Outdoor noughts and crosses flat sand and a small spade or This game is perfect for dialling something to dig small holes with. down the pace a notch or two and goes down well if you’re feeling a bit READ MORE lazy! You’ll need something sharpish to draw the grid in the sand and then you’re ready to go.
Familiesonline.co.uk
July/August 21
FOOD
Annabel Karmel’s easy toddler meals Enjoy these toddler meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, specially curated for Families by baby weaning and toddler food expert, Annabel Karmel.
Apple cinnamon sultana pancakes
Chicken apple balls
Dippy eggs and crumpet fingers
Sweetcorn and tomato rainbow fritters
Courgetti tomato sauce
Cheese and cherry tomato muffins
Mini fish pie
Spinach frittata
Mini cottage pie
22 July/August
Familiesonline.co.uk
FOOD
Tasty summer lunch ideas
Without too much time spent in the kitchen, you can keep the kids full of yummy, nutritious food. And involve them with the preparation, of course!
Ham and pineapple pizza muffins
Easy veggie fried rice
Salmon and cucumber sandwich
Egg mayonnaise pitta pockets
Scrambled egg, tomato and sweetcorn on toast
Tuna pasta salad
Chicken pasta salad
Beans, mushrooms and tomatoes on toast
Tomato and bacon muffins
Familiesonline.co.uk
July/August 23
FOOD
Away from home? Simple meal ideas Cooking in a kitchen with more limited facilities than usual or on a BBQ? Find inspiration here.
Rainbow pizzas
Fish finger butty with lemony mayo
Tuna rice salad
Anytime eggs & potatoes
Campfire doughnuts
Cowboy chicken & bean stew
Traffic light chicken shish kebabs
Campfire nachos
Marshmallow & strawberry kebabs
24 July/August
Familiesonline.co.uk
FOOD
DIY coconut, vanilla and blueberry yogurt ice lollies Emily Leary, multi-award-winning food, lifestyle and parenting writer, presenter and photographer and author of A Mummy Too shares her yummy fruit and yogurt lolly recipe - the perfect healthy summer cooler!
Equipment Chopping board * Kitchen knife * Weighing scales * Jug blender * Four lolly moulds with sticks * Spoon
Prep Time: 15 mins Freezing time: 8 hrs Servings: 4
Step 1
Pulse the blueberries, vanilla yogurt and coconut milk in blender.
Step 2
Continue pulsing until ‘smashed’ but not completely blended.
Step 3
Carefully spoon the yogurt mix into four lolly moulds.
Ingredients
90g blueberries 100ml coconut milk 100g vanilla yogurt
Step 4
Place a lolly stick into each cup. Freeze for a minimum of 8 hours.
Families Special Offer! 50% discount on RocketLearn summer school RocketLearn is holding a two week online Summer School for children ages 7 to 13. Aimed at keeping children learning over the Summer in a light, fun manner, the online sessions, accessible whenever, will cover maths, English, daily PE challenges and well-being sessions. The academic enrichment sessions will include challenges in coding, esports and teamwork among others. Maths sessions have three levels for different age groups, focusing on topics covered throughout the year in school, whilst English will be about fostering a love of reading – complete with suggested reading lists for children. The School is priced £50 for two weeks. Families readers can register for a 50% discount if they enter the code FAMILIES2021 HERE. Familiesonline.co.uk
July/August 25
FAMILY LIFE
Talking about racial stereotypes By Bilkis Miah With Black Lives Matter still on everyone’s minds, many questions have come to the fore about how we can challenge racial stereotypes and help our children thrive, regardless of their race. As parents and communities become more reflective, here are some tips to help you and your little one identify and talk about race. How do children learn racial bias? Children learn about racial bias from a young age, often from their surroundings and the people they come into contact with. This could be at school or at home. As early as 6 months, a baby’s brain can notice race-based differences. Between ages 2 to 4, children can begin to internalise racial bias.
This is an important time to work to unpick these beliefs. So what can I do? Plenty! Including talking to your children about race and the existence of racial bias, confronting your own bias and encouraging kids to challenge the stereotypes and bias they see. You can also give your children access to lots of different types of role models and expose them to many people from different cultures from a young age.
By age 12, many children become set in their beliefs and embedded in their views about racial stereotypes. READ MORE
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26 July/August
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FAMILY LIFE
Is a vegan diet ‘safe’ for children? By Louise Palmer-Masterton
When it comes to a child’s diet, balanced nutrition is important. It’s obvious that fifteen packets of beef and onion crisps for dinner means you’ve lost your way. But how do you know what constitutes a balanced plantbased diet for your family? READ MORE
Why doesn’t my ex want to see our children?
While supporting parents with legal aspects of their divorce and separation, Only Mums & Dads are contacted regularly by parents concerned that their ex-partner does not want to be involved with their children. This concern is usually accompanied by much emotion and sadness. So how can this be handled? READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk
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 7631 6258 babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk
Orchard Toys Game Giveaway! 6 bundles available, worth £27.80 each 3 games per bundle
APPLY HERE
T&Cs apply
Magazine July/August 27
SUMMER LEARNING
Fun educational apps for all ages Make screen time learning time with our top picks.
Khan Academy
Fish School
Think!Think!
Free app with high quality/creative early learning activities. Ages 2-7.
Learn basic ABCs & 123s with fun fish pals. Ages 3+.
Engaging mini game. Develops lateral thinking and spatial reasoning. Ages 7+.
LEGO DUPLO World
DIY.org
Teach your monster to read
Free-play and goaloriented mini games. Ages 2-5.
Virtual treasure trove of craft, activity and practical activities. Ages 5+.
Engaging way for kids to learn phonics and reading. Ages 4+.
ScratchJr
The Human Body
Marvel Hero Tales
Introduces coding with interactive stories and games. Ages 5-7. 28 July/August
Brilliant interactive app about the human body. Ages 7+.
Beat the villains & learn language skills. Ages 7-11.
Familiesonline.co.uk
SUMMER LEARNING
Back to school Get organised now! Don’t end the summer holidays with a frantic last-minute rush! Manage a successful and stressfree return to the classroom. Get organised early. Doctors/Dentist/ Optician Get done at beginning of holidays. Haircut Phone early to get an appointment close to start of term. School shoes Visit a shoe fitter. Shop before the last minute rush.
Book after school care All schools are required to provide access to wraparound childcare but it’s popular, so book early. After school activities Take advantage of early bird/free taster sessions.
Uniforms & sports kit Do the summer sales. Check out second hand options or unbranded supermarket alternatives. Labelling Label everything. Choose your preferred labels and start early to avoid late nights! Stationery Check out supermarket kits. Buy plenty of spares!
Familiesonline.co.uk
July/August 29
SUMMER LEARNING
Seven steps to a book-filled summer Start small. For reluctant readers, start with magazines, comics or graphic novels. Let them choose. Children need to feel they are in charge of selection – as long as it’s age-appropriate. Join the Summer Reading Challenge. Your child will need to read six or more books during the holidays. Rewards include stickers and small prizes. Audiobooks improve literacy skills and whet appetites for more stories. Summer Book Club. Encourage your child to start a Book Club with friends. Then host a playdate with snacks and chats about their
favourite/least favourite parts. Keep it handy. Wherever you go this summer make sure you have reading material to hand. Make it a routine. Try to schedule regular daily ‘downtime’ for reading. Pick up a book at the same time as your child, so you can be a reading role model.
Children’s books with sound effects App from Readmio Watch how it works!
30 July/August
Familiesonline.co.uk