Families Dorset Sep/Oct 2021 by Families Magazine

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IN THIS ISSUE

Education Autumn Activities Bonfire Night Family Life

THINK BIG Are you choosing the best school for your daughter? Register online for our

Open Day, 1st Oct. Limited places in Kindergarten and Junior School for Autumn start.

Talbot Heath Independent School for Girls aged 3-18

September/October 2021

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CONTENTS

In this issue

Welcome

4 14

Back to school already! Our Education feature will help ease the transition and provides helpful tips and support.

15 19 20 24 26 27 28 30

Education Scavenger hunt downloadable Autumn activities Tween Environment Family life Bonfire Night Early years Black History Month Toys

Autumn is a beautiful season and a great time for getting outside with the family. Hunt down some autumn trees in our downloadable Scavenger Hunt, enjoy some Autumn crafts and get organised early for Halloween with our great costume and decoration ideas.

Get in touch Competition winners from our May/June 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.

Get prepared for Ride to School Week with our family cycling feature and challenge your kids with our Black History Month quiz. How many faces can they match to names? Whether you’re an existing subscriber to this magazine or haven’t signed up yet, take advantage of our fabulous free gifts for you in this issue!

Free gift for our subscribers!*

Clinically researched combination

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September/October 3

EDUCATION

Tips for a positive Parents’ Evening By Annabel Gray Despite the sore throat and spinning head by the end, as a teacher, I used to love parents’ evenings. Those ten minutes can make all the difference to a child’s experience and outcomes at school. So, to make the most of them:

What do you want to know? Their level? Their test results? How they interact with others? How confident they are? What the homework is about? How to do long division? This is your chance! Don’t waste it!

Work these top tips into your parents’ evening and you’ll feel positive, productive and informed by the end of it. Want other tips to support your child’s learning? READ MORE

FRE

TAKE

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ili

es Mag

years

Holiday act ivities Summer Lea rning Health Family food

Free gifts for existing sub new and scribers

4 September/October

ME HO

Celebrate their work. Pandemicpermitting, let your child show you their work on display and their books. Most parents are surprised at the quality of the work their children do at school.

Be proud. Your kids are amazing! Tell them that!

Come armed with questions. The most productive meetings are when a parent brings all the queries they have to the meeting so they can be ironed out quickly.

Smile. The teacher you are meeting spends just as much time as you do with your child and will know them very well. Make them feel at ease and create a positive vibe from the outset.

Focus on solutions. If there are tricky issues to tackle, from either side of the desk, focus on solutions rather than blame. Like you, teachers want the best for your child. If an issue can’t be resolved, book a further meeting.

Attend. Obvious maybe – but vital if you want to show your child that you value their learning.

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SEE INSIDE

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EDUCATION

Talbot Heath School continues to forge ahead For many during the pandemic, their motto has been to ‘keep calm and carry on.’ At Talbot Heath, their motto has been ‘keep calm and forge ahead.’ Using an iPad issued to every child, pupils continued to follow a full daily timetable to develop the knowledge, resilience and independence to stay on top of all their learning. They have realised that adversity does and 3D sculpting, established a not prevent creativity and progress. cricket club partnership, devised a new design module to build Pupils can now perform live on sustainable housing projects, stage or create and edit a virtual written an outdoor learning performance, present on Zoom, curriculum and devised interactive model in 3D or place themselves lessons incorporating virtual reality in virtual worlds of dinosaurs, in History, Geography, Maths, Ethics rainforests and oceans. and Music. This generation of Talbot Heath pupils will step into our brave new world with skills, knowledge and confidence, keen to embrace the future and all its challenges. During the pandemic, the school has also partnered with experts in game design, computer animation

It is a testament to Talbot Heath’s determination to blaze a trail into the future. Find out more at their Open Day on Friday 1st October, book your place online here.

THINK BIG Are you choosing the best school for your daughter? Register online for our

Open Day, 1st Oct. Limited places in Kindergarten and Junior School for Autumn start.

Talbot Heath Independent School for Girls aged 3-18

September/October 5

EDUCATION

Dealing with back to school anxiety By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble For most children, back to school anxiety fades quickly. But how do we support our children when it lingers? Prevent common worries from becoming deep-rooted by establishing good practice and routines. For children whose worries persist, this simple five step programme can to our children is that they don’t help. need to worry. Take care of the basics. Ensure a Not sure how to be an ‘active good sleep routine, healthy snacks listener?’ and regular exercise. Provide empathy. Find READ MORE uninterrupted opportunities to listen to your child’s worries, expectations and fears. Car journeys, bath time and walks are ideal. Listen actively, withholding judgement and advice. Validate their feelings. Turn your child’s life Problem solve. Discuss coping adventures strategies, ideally led by your child. into Showing confidence in their own personalised problem solving abilities nurtures tales with a greater resilience. Tales of Me Highlight the positives. Encourage book your child to recognise the fun elements of school and not fixate on 5 the negatives. Use questions like: of each ‘What was your favourite thing for book available lunch?’ and ‘What was the funniest thing that happened today?’ Be mindful of your own emotions APPLY HERE IT’S FREE! and reactions. They can create learnt behaviour. By staying calm *while stock last T&Cs apply Magazine and seeming positive, the message

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EDUCATION

Teacher talk

Getting your school acronyms muddled? Confused by terminology your child’s teacher is using? Check out our handy guide. Blended Learning: A mixture of face-to-face and online teaching. Blending: The merging together of the separate sounds in a word. CAMHS: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services CATS: Cognitive Abilities Tests. These assess strengths and weaknesses in reasoning and are used in some primary and secondary schools. Circle time: This is time that children spend sitting on the mat or on chairs in a circle to discuss a particular topic. Core subjects: These are the subjects making up the core part of the overall curriculum, such as English and maths. Differentiation: Teachers can vary activities in class depending on the ability of different children and make sure that each student is appropriately challenged. DfE: Department for Education. EAL: English as an additional language. Early Help Assessment (EHA): An assessment which identifies children and families who need support. Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): The Early Years Foundation Stage includes Nursery and Reception classes. The focus here is learning through high quality play. When your child moves from Familiesonline.co.uk

Reception into Year 1, more formal teaching is introduced. Fine motor skills: The ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands and wrists. These are important when learning to write or threading a needle, for instance. Foundation subjects: Non-core subjects eg History, Geography, IT, DT, Modern Foreign Languages, RE, Music, PE and Art. Want the rest of the alphabet? READ MORE

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September/October 7

EDUCATION

Ride to school safely It’s Ride to School Week starting 27 September! To get your family riding to school (and beyond) safely, check out our great videos and articles.

Teaching your child to ride a bike

Cycling as a family By Catherine Ellis

There’s no better time than the Autumn to start cycling: it’s generally mild but not too warm, it’s a beautiful season and cycling is a great way to see it unfold. But preparation is key to ensuring you get the best out of the experience and take an appropriate route. READ MORE 8 September/October

Safety-checking your child’s bike

Transporting children by bike

It can be difficult to know how to best transport your growing family by bike. What if you have a baby? What if you also have a toddler? What if you have an older child too? Cycling UK explains how to make the best cycling choices for your family. READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Autumn term BCP children’s cycle safety courses

Bikeability is like cycling proficiency, but better, giving children aged 9+ the skills to cycle on today’s roads. BCP Council’s Autumn Term Bikeability courses, held at Kings Park and Bournemouth Velodrome, are now available for Level 1 & 2 (9–16 years) and Level 3 (11–16 years) who live or go to school in the BCP area. Level 1 & 2 Courses These are 2-day combined courses and your child will need to attend both sessions. Level 1 teaches riders to control and master a bike in a playground area, developing basic cycle control skills. Level 2 equips riders with the skills to cycle on local roads, developing safe cycling skills and understanding of the road and traffic environment. Level 3 Courses An advanced course to give children aged 11–16 the skills to tackle a wider variety of traffic conditions, roads and more challenging traffic scenarios. Email for more information or visit bcpcouncil.gov.uk/bikeability for further details or book a place here.

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September/October 9

EDUCATION

Can dyslexia be the key to success?

By Jemma Zoe Smith

It can be worrying when your child is diagnosed with dyslexia and, with one in ten people in the UK challenged by dyslexia to some degree, this is a situation that many parents face. I’m dyslexic. I hold three Oxford degrees, am a qualified teacher and run two businesses. I was diagnosed after my first year at university, meaning that I went through school without any support or accommodations. I knew that I had to work for longer than others (I started my GCSE revision the day I started Year 10) and certain subjects, like French, were much trickier. Several teachers mentioned that I may want to look into dyslexia as I displayed some of the traits such as poor organisation and time management. But because I scored well in exams and no-one really knew about it in my family, it wasn’t something I looked into until university. The days of believing that students with dyslexia just need to try harder are over; now, schools and universities employ dyslexia specialists and provide accommodations such as extra time for exams, so that dyslexic students aren’t left at a disadvantage. In fact, concrete evidence shows that a high percentage of entrepreneurs are dyslexic, compared with the general 10 September/October

population. Famous dyslexic entrepreneurs include Sir Richard Branson, Anita Roddick and Jamie Oliver. So can dyslexic students actually have an advantage over their peers? READ MORE

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EDUCATION

Top questions to ask on a school visit By Emma Lewry Choosing a school for your child is a big decision that can feel charged with pressure and uncertainty. As a teacher, former head teacher and a mum, I’ve been through the process from both sides of the classroom door, so here’s my simple advice to make the most of your visits. Firstly, read my tips on preparation for your visit here: So what should you ask at the school? • What’s the best thing about your school? • What are you working on to improve as a school currently? • What do the children say about your school? (or ask a child if you can!) • How are your classes organised? Are the mixed ages and abilities? • How do you deal with behaviour incidents and bullying? • About any logistics that are important to you; Do you offer a breakfast club? Do you teach

Watch Emma’s top school visit tips

particular sports or musical instruments? What time does the school day start? Looking for more essentials to get the most out of a school visit? READ MORE

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September/October 11

AUTUMN

Discover endless fun at RockReef on Bournemouth Pier! A huge range of amazing activities to suit all ages from 4+ awaits at RockReef on Bournemouth Pier. It’s the perfect fun day out to keep the whole family entertained! The indoor adventure centre includes 28 climbing walls, an aerial obstacle course, Pier Cave, Vertical Slide and Leap of Faith jump are all great activities, whatever the weather. Sessions range from 30 minutes to 1 ½ hours, or for the more adventurous there’s an ‘Ultimate Adventure’ ticket which gives you two hours on all the indoor activities! Outside is the awesome PierZip, the only pier to shore zip wire in the world! There are not many places you can take all the family and find something they all enjoy together, no matter what their age. Great for building confidence, challenging yourself or just having fun together with friends and family.

12 September/October

For groups of 4 or more there’s a great value Friends & Family ticket available saving you money off the individual tickets. Group bookings and Birthday Parties are back but there’s already huge demand so make sure you book your party early to secure a date. To book a birthday party call 01202 983983. RockReef is committed to keeping their guests and employees safe and as a COVID secure venue. RockReef has been awarded the Visit England ‘We’re good to go’ mark. Capacities on sessions are still reduced so book in advance here for a fun, safe day out.

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AUTUMN

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September/October 13

Autumn tree Scavenger Hunt

Get outdoors and go on a treasure hunt with your kids, matching leaves to their trees and trees to their fruit. Download this activity and instructions.

DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR KIDS HERE

14 September/October

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AUTUMN

Best Autumn crafts for all ages Celebrate the season and get creative with these colourful and rewarding activities.

Autumn garland

Apple stamping

Hanging leaves

Pine cone peanut butter bird feeder

Leaf people

Paper plate flappy owl

Pine cone people

Nature ‘tic tac toe’ game

Nature wand

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September/October 15

AUTUMN

Child seat safety saves lives Recent research shows that 65% of child car seats are not properly fitted. That’s why Child Seat Safety and BCP Council’s Road Safety have teamed up to educate parents about how to transport their children, grandchildren and friends safely. Seat belts the Law: • You must wear a seat belt where one is fitted • The driver is liable to prosecution if a child aged under 14 years doesn’t wear an appropriate seatbelt which, for children aged under 12 years and shorter than 135 centimetres in height, means the correct child restraint • A child may wear an adult seatbelt when they reach 135 centimetres in height or the age of 12 years old (whichever is reached first) • The law in respect of cars, vans and goods vehicles is summarised in this link.

have IOSH accreditation or can direct you to someone who is experienced At the point of sale: 4. Ask for the car seat expert in store to serve you and ask what qualifications they have. If they are IOSH approved in Child Seat Safety Awareness they should be able to provide you with their accreditation number 5. If they aren’t available ask for an appointment 6. Where possible make sure your IOSH expert shows you how to fit the seat in your car. This avoids confusion and should give you confidence to fit the seat 7 Top Tips before you buy: correctly yourself 1. Avoid second hand car seats, you 7. Don’t worry if you haven’t done can’t be sure of their history this, please visit us at one of our Car seat fitting clinics in Poole, 2. Research and Prioritise Safety. Bournemouth and Christchurch, All seats must pass minimum to get your car seat checked. standards of safety some manufacturers test way beyond these standards You can get your child’s car seat checked by child seat safety 3. Get independent advice from experts at free events this October Child Seat Safety or from BCP and November. Council Road Safety Team who 16 September/October

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September/October 17

AUTUMN

Autumn outside It’s a great season to be outside with the kids and here’s how to keep them happy and busy enjoying nature.

Track local wildlife

Create a journey stick

Spider web safari

Geocaching

Make a leaf stack

Build a den

Discover a wood near you

Make a mini garden

Build a hedgehog home

18 September/October

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TWEEN

The best foods for pre-teens By Katie O’Connell We have a running joke in our family. If it’s not burger-shaped, my son won’t eat it. Finding out what we should be feeding our tweens is one challenge, working out what they will actually eat is another! Teen and pre-teen experts at wearetwixt offered us this advice from Katie, nutritionist and gut health expert. Fats are not the enemy Healthy fats are probably the most important food group for growing tweens and are vital to healthy brain development. The best sources are fish, nuts and seeds. I recommend oily fish twice a week - salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna (fresh not tinned), herrings, prawns and whitebait – and a handful of nuts a day. Fishy and nutty food ideas Chuck a handful of prawns into a stir fry/pasta sauce with some chilli and lime. Mackerel has a mild flavour that works well mashed into a dip with a squeeze of lemon and garlic. Add pesto or cherry tomatoes to baked salmon steaks; serve with potato wedges. Try salty anchovies in pasta sauce or on pizza. They taste great amongst other complicated flavours. Spread nut butters - peanut, almond or hazelnut- onto toast. Slice apple wedges for dipping in a small bowl of peanut butter. Familiesonline.co.uk

Sprinkle mixed seeds over breakfast cereal, salads, in sandwiches and stir fries. Katie O’Connell is an experienced nutritionist offering consultations to parents and children. Find out more.

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September/October 19

ENVIRONMENT

Growing oak trees from acorns According to the Woodland Trust, trees are our most powerful weapon in the fight against climate change. Join Luke Cook and The Acorn Project to give nature a helping hand in encouraging acorns to grow into trees. 1

Here’s what to do. 1. Start looking for green or brown acorns around mid-September. Make sure they have no insect damage or holes/cracks from falling. 2. Take the caps off your acorns. Fill a clear container up with water and drop in the acorns. Fertile acorns will sink. Non-fertile ones can be put outside for birds and squirrels (but out of reach of dogs, as acorns are poisonous for them). 3. Keep your fertile acorns in a cool, dark place until they sprout. When the roots appear, fill a small

20 September/October

container with compost and some gravel. A yoghurt pot or plastic bottle cut in half, with drainage holes at the bottom works well. Make a hole and plant the acorn (about an inch below the surface). Cover with compost and put outside/in a dark spot until shoots appear (usually in the spring). 4. Look around your local area to see where trees could be planted. Council-owned parks, schools and hospitals are likely to be grateful for your saplings!

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ENVIRONMENT

Reduce food waste, combat climate change and save money! Edible food we throw away contributes to climate change. We are wasting not only the food, but the valuable resources gone into creating it too - from fertilisers and water used for growing it, to greenhouse gases created from its production and transportation. Tips to reduce food waste: • • • •

Make a list - only buy what you need and only cook what you will eat Store food correctly – making good use of your fridge and freezer Keep an eye on your date labels and eat everything that’s edible Try using up leftover food as a lunchtime snack in a jacket potato/ sandwich or have fun creating new meals with your leftovers.

For more ideas click here.

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September/October 21

HALLOWEEN

Halloween decoration ideas Get into the spirit of the Halloween season with these fabulous decoration ideas.

Milk carton ghosts

Halloween shadow puppet activity

Easy jar lantern

Witches cauldrons

Pumpkin paper plates

Puffy ghosts

Conker spider

Mini broomstick

Flapping bat

22 September/October

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HALLOWEEN

DIY Halloween costumes Does your heart sink when your child asks if you can make them a costume for Halloween? If so, check out this great but simple ideas.

No sew spider

Luna Lovegood

No sew ghost

Zombie

Mummy

Pirate

Duct tape skeleton

Velcro vampire

Halloween face painting - step by step

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September/October 23

FAMILY LIFE

Is it really over?

Journaling for kids

All relationships have ups and downs but when the balance has tipped very much in favour of downs, you may be wondering whether your marriage can be saved or whether divorce could be the right decision.

Journaling is an excellent activity for kids. It creates an outlet for thoughts and feelings and a safe space for children of all ages to explore their emotions.

By Rhiannon Ford

You may have talked to your spouse about your unhappiness and not received a satisfactory response? Or feel you’ve done everything you can to improve your relationship and it’s just not working? Find out what to do next.

By Stacie Swift

Journaling can foster greater self-awareness, self-belief and help with decision making. It’s also a great tool for encouraging gratitude, kindness and positivity. Check out my five starter activities for children. READ MORE

Dozens of family activities! Check out the FREE resources at Only Mums & OnlyDads and find out about 101 Questions Answered About Separating With Children, an invaluable resource for parents in the early days of separation. 24 September/October

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FAMILY LIFE

The benefits of family pets

Saving tips for families By Clare Francis

By Caroline Wilkinson

While raising kids can feel like enough of a job without the added responsibility of pets, bringing animals into your family home can be incredibly beneficial. A pet can provide huge confidence-boosting opportunities for children and can also reduce anxiety levels. READ MORE

Home from Home with Chilly Powder

Do you prefer winter or summer in the Alps… or both? Chilly Powder offer the perfect ski and summer holidays with fantastic food and outstanding facilities, with unrivalled in-house childcare facilities. For many returning guests Chilly Powder is considered a real home from home. For more about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter CLICK HERE. Familiesonline.co.uk

Over the last tumultuous eighteen months, families have realised the importance of having a financial safety net. Financially supporting the various stages of your child’s life requires planning and the earlier you start to save, the less you will feel the impact on your day-today budget. READ MORE

Giveaway! Turn your child’s life adventures into personalised tales with a Tales of Me book 5 of each book available APPLY HERE Magazine

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September/October 25

BONFIRE NIGHT

Staying safe on Bonfire Night Animals and children (particularly younger ones) often find fireworks scary. Help them relax and stay safe using a few simple tips. Indoor pets Keep your pets in the house whenever you think there will be fireworks; Walk dogs during daylight hours; Shut windows and doors, close blinds and curtains; Put on some music or television to mask the firework sounds; Create a quiet space or hiding places where your pet can feel secure; Make sure your pet can’t escape if startled by a sudden noise.

Outside pets Partly cover outside cages, hutches and pens with blankets. Provide extra bedding inside cages and hutches so small animals can burrow in. Consider bringing outside pets indoors – this may need to be done gradually so plan ahead. More at RSPCA

Enjoy fireworks with kids

Bonfire Night safety tips

Invest in a pair of earmuffs to protect their sensitive hearing;

Don’t build a bonfire too high;

Sparklers offer fizz and glow without the bang but never give them to a child under 5;

Keep a bucket of water nearby; Only buy fireworks with the CE mark;

Decorate the garden with fairy lights;

Never go near a firework that has been lit;

Hide glow sticks in the garden for a treasure hunt in the dark;

Never give sparklers to a child under 5;

Let off some party poppers;

Light fireworks at arms length;

Invest in torches tinted with cellophane;

When a sparkler is finished, put it in a bucket of cold water;

Giant bubbles are easy to make and are great fun at night.

Follow ROSPA’s sparkler safety advice.

26 September/October

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EARLY YEARS

Bonfire Night for under 5s It’s a fun night for older kids but little ones can sometimes get overwhelmed by the loud bangs and noise. So here are some ideas to help them celebrate more quietly!

Firecracker pull string pinata

Firework star hat

Sparkly fireworks picture

Fork stamped fireworks

Edible sparklers

Shaving foam fireworks

Toilet roll rocket

Pretend bonfire

Firework cookies

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September/October 27

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black History Month ‘Who’s Who’ Quiz Look at these photos and clues with your kids and match them to the list of important figures from black history on the next page. How many do you know?

His art is displayed in galleries all around the world.

Famous for her books for young adults, including Noughts and Crosses.

First black driver to win a Formula One championship.

Born a slave in Maryland, She paid her own way to the Crimean War, setting USA, she led military campaigns to free slaves. up a hotel for soldiers.

He served twenty seven years in prison and was finally freed in 1990.

She was a ‘human computer’ making the calculations required for space flight.

He campaigned for laws to end racial segregation and discrimination in the USA.

He served two terms as president, leaving office with a sixty percent approval rate. 28 September/October

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

What do you know about Black History Month? October marks Black History Month (BHM) in the United Kingdom. The event was first officially recognised by the US government in 1976 and was first celebrated in the UK in 1987. Events celebrating African and Caribbean cultures will take place across the UK until October 31. People from African and Caribbean backgrounds have been a fundamental part of British history for centuries. However, many have highlighted that their value and contribution to society is often overlooked, ignored, or distorted. Many schools still teach a history curriculum which focuses on traditional events and the achievements of white figures. BHM gives everyone the chance to

share, celebrate and learn about the impact of black heritage and culture – something we should, of course, be doing all year round. BHM also goes further than the traditional concentration on slavery and segregation in the history of African and Caribbean people, giving us the chance to uplift figures previously disregarded in British and world history. www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk

Answers. Left to right Row 1: 1. Chris Ofili 2. Malorie Blackman 3. Lewis Hamilton Row 2: Harriet Tubman, Mary Seacole, Nelson Mandela Row 3: Barack Obama, Katherine Johnson, Martin Luther-King Jr.

Who’s Who Quiz names

Barack Obama Chris Ofili Harriet Tubman Katherine Johnson Lewis Hamilton Malorie Blackman Martin Luther King Jr Mary Seacole Nelson Mandela Familiesonline.co.uk

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September/October 29

TOYS

The must-have family game! Get playing this Autumn With the summer holidays now behind us and children back to school, ToyMonster introduces the BEST family card game ever: Kids Against Maturity! This is the perfect game for unwinding after a day at school; an ideal way to spend a rainy weekend and a brilliant surprise to have up your sleeve for play time and family time over the October half term… and, dare we say it – the Christmas holidays, too! It’s impossible not to love this award-winning, fill-in-theblank game. Its age-appropriate toilet humour and witty innuendos for adults, make Kids Against Maturity enjoyable for players of all ages from ages 8 and up. Easy to learn, simple to play, and absolutely hilarious, this game is a staple for every family home.

The player with the highest number of most amusing responses wins the game. Each game set includes six hundred cards – a mix of question and answer cards – from which players can create over forty thousand combinations of answers. Kids Against Maturity is available now from Smyths Toys Superstores, RRP £19.99.

Best enjoyed with 4+ players, all you need is to ‘be the worst to be the best.’ Each player gets ten white answer cards and takes turns asking the blue question cards. Everyone answers each question with their funniest white card choice and places it face down. The question reader chooses what they think is the funniest answer and the player who placed down that card wins the hand. 30 September/October

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