Families Dorset March/April 22 Print

EEHome FTRake Me

Dorset

IN THIS ISSUE

Easter Education Travel What’s On

OpEN DAY

Are you choosing the best school for your daughter? Come along to our

Kindergarten, Pre-Prep & Junior School. Enrolling now!

Friday 4th March 2022

Please secure your Open Day place via our website.

Talbot Heath Independent School for Girls aged 3-18

Rothesay Rd | Bournemouth | Tel: 01202 763360 | talbotheath.org | Connect with us @TalbotHeathSch | Day and boarding

Issue 22 March/April 2022

Familiesonline.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk Families Dorset 1

WHAT’S ON

2 Families Dorset

Familiesonline.co.uk

CONTENTS

Welcome We’re really looking forward to spring here at Families and in preparation, here’s our Easter magazine.

Contact us Editor Linda Stone editor@familiesdorset.co.uk 020 8241 0423 Sales Claire Clarricoates claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk 01494 689098 / 07812218331 Printed by Buxton Press Design Rebecca Carr

Book now to include your advert in our next issue

In this issue 4.

What’s On

6.

Education

It’s time to start thinking about getting out and about with the family again and, in this issue, animal lovers can plan a unique wildlife encounter and find accommodation nearby.

With fuel bills rocketing, saving energy is on everyone’s mind. Get the kids involved in cutting the cost and easing pressure on the environment – read our suggestions on how to do this.

Are you nervously waiting to find out the results of your school application? We have suggestions on what to do if you don’t get your first choice.

Plus, embrace going out with some great entertainment options from our What’s On guide.

Finally, we have lots of Doodlejamz to give away! Apply for this squishy, squashy, sensory – but mess-free - drawing toy for your child. And, if you haven’t signed up to receive our digital magazine and enjoy additional, interactive content, you can do this at familiesmag.co.uk/go to receive every issue free to your inbox.

November/December competition winners

Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list at https://bit.ly/compwinnersND

10. Parenting 13. Environment 14. Easter Craft 15. Early Years

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.

26 March to 18 September 2022 Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AA www.russellcotes.com

Exhibition organised by

Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Dorset 3

WHAT’S ON

Easter Holiday Activities at Purbeck Sports Centre

Make birthdays special with RockReef parties

Purbeck Sports Centre in Wareham, has eggciting activities galore over the Easter holidays to keep children and adults busy.

Make a birthday special with a party for your child at RockReef, the all-weather activity attraction on Bournemouth pier.

The swimming pool is open every day of the Easter holidays.

Bring your family along for family fun swims or to enjoy any of the general swimming sessions. Children can also have a go on the swimming pool inflatable which is suitable for competent swimmers over 5 years old. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Young adventurers can share their birthday with all their friends, with parties from £22 per child.

There is also a huge variety of other activities to try at Purbeck Sports Centre during the holidays. These include intensive beginners’ swimming lessons, tennis, football, aqua circuits for kids, kayaking, parent and baby exercise classes, children’s First Aid courses, laser tag, nerf gun fun and lots, lots more.

For more information on Easter holidays at Purbeck Sports Centre, visit www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/purbecksportscentre or call 01929 500000.

Kids can choose from a Clip ‘n Climb party with ninety minutes of activity time on all the indoor climbing challenges, followed by delicious food in the RockReef café. For even more fun, opt for a Combo Party, which includes a choice of experiences on the HighLine aerial obstacle course (minimum height 1.1 metres) or in the Pier Cave.

The birthday child also receives a free Vertical Slide experience and a Clip ‘n Climb Gift Voucher as a present from RockReef.

Parties are bookable for a minimum of eight children and parents can watch all the fun from the mezzanine above.

RockReef birthday parties are very popular so make sure to book your party early to secure a date. Call 01202 983983.

Visit www.rockreef.co.uk/birthday-parties for more information.

Enjoy Easter at Farmer Palmer’s

Lost Words exhibition at Russell-Cotes Art Gallery

Farmer Palmer’s is THE place to be this Easter!

Running from 26 March to 18 September, The Lost Words is an enchanting exhibition for all the family to enjoy this year.

This farm-tastic, family run, award-winning, all-weather attraction is open every day from 9.30am. Come along and meet the adorable animals, explore acres of play and adventure with your little ones, indulge in delicious breakfasts and lunches in the Hen House restaurant and don’t forget to visit the dinosaurs on the World of Dinosaur Roar discovery trail!

Farmer Palmer’s also has some EGGCELLENT additional Easter activities designed specifically for under 8s. Join in with the baaarilliant Bandit Bunny Tractor Rides (Thurs 14 to Tues 19 April). Children will love soaking the cheeky bandit bunnies with water with the water pistols provided and helping to rescue the friendly Easter Bunny!

Kids can also take part in the EGGCITING Easter Egg Hunts from Good Friday to Easter Monday inclusive. Full details and tickets are available from Farmer Palmer’s website. Don’t delay, book today.

Visit www.farmerpalmers.co.uk 4 Families Dorset

Combining the creative talents of writer Robert Macfarlane and artist Jackie Morris, the exhibition celebrates the relationship between language and the living world and nature’s power to spark the imagination.

Based on The Lost Words, the Sunday Times best-selling book, published in 2017, the exhibition began as a response to the removal of the names of plants and animals from children’s dictionaries due to their lack of use in everyday life.

Suitable for all ages, the exhibition will feature twenty acrostic spell-poems and fifty beautiful watercolour and gold-leaf original paintings which were used to create the book. A retreat for the eyes, mind and soul, this exhibition aims to reconnect adults and children to the natural world using the magic of words and art.

A touring exhibition organised by Compton Verney, with Hamish Hamilton and Penguin Books.

More at www.russellcotes.com

Familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

What’s on

All listings are correct at the time of publication. Please check with the venue before you visit in case anything has changed.

Thurs 3 Mar-Sun 6 Mar World Book Day at Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park Enjoy book readings of the World of Dinosaur Roar books to celebrate World Book Day. Plus little ones can get their hands on the official World of Dinosaur Roar. Pre-book tickets. www.farmerpalmers.co.uk 26 March to 18 September The Lost Words at RussellCotes Art Gallery & Museum An exhibition based on the Sunday Times best-selling book which aims to reconnect adults and children to the natural word using the magic of words and art. www.russellcotes.com Sat 9 April Exciting Science at The Regent Centre, Christchurch A show full of wiz, bang, pop and splurt suitable for ages 4 upwards. www.regentcentre.co.uk Thurs 14 Apr- Tues 19 Apr Easter Activities at Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park Join in the Bandit Bunny Tractor

Familiesonline.co.uk

Rides and rescue the Easter Bunny from those cheeky bunnies! Enjoy EGGCELLENT Easter Egg Hunts daily from Good Friday to Easter Monday inclusive. Plus adorable animals to meet and feed around the farm and plenty of all-weather play to discover. Full details and tickets via website. www.farmerpalmers.co.uk BOOK AHEAD! Sun 15 May Horrible Histories Terrible Tudors Meet the terrible Tudors in this acclaimed show with jokes, songs and the funniest facts in history. www.regentcentre.co.uk Don’t forget to say you saw these in Families Dorset magazine.

To feature your business in our next issue, call Claire on 07812 218331

Dorset

Live shows at the Regent Centre, Christchurch Looking to keep the kids entertained this spring? They’ll love these brand-new, exciting (and educational!) live shows coming to the Regent Centre in Christchurch.

Exciting Science is heading to the Regent for the first time on Sat 9 April (11am).

Join their crazy scientists as they create a volcanic eruption, build an Air Missile Launcher, make mini rockets and create some pretty big bangs - live on stage! This show is full of wiz, bang, pop… and splurt and is suitable for ages 4 and upwards.

Tickets are £11 and £10 for under 16s.

Horrible Histories is back by demand with a brand-new show Terrible Tudors on Sun 15 May (1.30pm & 4.30pm).

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! This acclaimed show tells the horrible history of the terrible Tudors with jokes, songs and the funniest facts in history.

Tickets £15, Family Ticket: £52 (2 adults, 2 U16s) Conc. £13.

Book at www.regentcentre.co.uk or call 01202 499199.

Families Dorset 5

EDUCATION

Help, we didn’t get our first choice school!

By Emma Lewry School allocation day is almost upon us. In England, secondary school places are announced on 1 March. Then, during April, those who have applied for a primary school place will find out their designated school. Thankfully, almost ninety two percent of families are given their first-choice primary school and ninety eight percent get one of their listed preferences. In secondary, ninety six percent of students get one of their listed schools. But what about those who do not get their first choice or even any preferences? How can you deal with the fallout from not getting a choice you planned for? Here are three suggestions: Give the allocated option a chance If you do not know much about the school, get nosey on their website and give them a call see if you can visit. In many cases, second or third choice allocations turn out to be brilliant and families are really pleased with the decision. Give the school a chance, it might work for you!

Manage disappointment Sometimes the biggest issue is managing the disappointment you and your child might feel. Look after yourself and take some time to be sad, angry and frustrated; these are important and valid feelings. Communicating positively with your child is important if you can, so they don’t feel nervous about their new school.

Get on the waiting lists Plenty changes between the spring and September and there is still a good chance you can get a space at your first choice school or another you feel happier about. Depending on your local authority procedures, you may automatically go on a waiting list or you may need to request this with your local authority or directly with the school.

If you are still feeling unsure about the school options, there is time to look at other schools and request a change. Both starting school and moving to secondary are big events and you need to feel as happy about them as you can. There are also options to appeal; although this can be challenging, it may be worth a shot.

Again, your local authority website should explain the appeals process.

Emma Lewry is an Early Years teacher, former Headteacher and mum to two little girls. Emma co-owns Every Day’s a School Day (www.edasd.co.uk/links) which supports families to prepare for starting school through groups, courses and a school starters planner available from Amazon.

Early Years at Yarrells

Appealing a decision

At Yarrells, the youngest children start their learning in Greenwood, its eco-friendly Early Years Centre, tucked into a snug and safe corner of the woodland site where children benefit from all the wonderful facilities and opportunities at Yarrells.

Each local authority has an appeals procedure to follow and this can be found on their website.

Children in the Early Years are at the heart of the school community and benefit from being immersed in the school’s enriching environment. All classes are taught by specialist Early Years practitioners and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) areas of learning are used as the basis for an over-arching and extensive curriculum.

From the age of 2½, children enjoy specialist teaching in art, cookery, gymnastics and outdoor sport and pre-school classes learn dance, French and swimming also taught by specialist practitioners. Yarrells’ pupils learn through a wide variety of play and creative activities and are encouraged to develop selfassurance, independence, resilience and collaborative skills.

The school offers a seamless transition through its Nursery to Reception and beyond in a stimulating environment which builds the foundations of learning.

It will explain how to appeal and what reasons you can use for appeal. It is quite difficult to be successful with an appeal and in most cases, this only happens where children have additional needs which cannot be supported in any other setting. In a nutshell, if you appeal a decision, you are effectively asking a school which is full to remove a child from that allocation and move them to a different school. As you can imagine, that is an unlikely scenario.

It can be worth going through the process though, as there are situations in which schools may take on more children if they are able to and by appealing, you are showing you are serious about wanting a place at that school.

Once you appeal, the case will be heard by a panel, you may be invited to the hearing and you will be given a decision with reasons.

More information at www.yarrells.co.uk 6 Families Dorset

Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Parental pressure

By Catherine Loble and Lisa Wander

It can sometimes be challenging for parents to walk the fine line between caring too little and caring too much about their child’s progress at school.

Whilst we all want the best for our children, our own expectations and behaviour can have a direct impact on their academic and emotional development. The weight of pressure and expectation can lead to low self-esteem and anxiety, whilst a lack of pressure and expectation can be equally counterproductive. So how do we strike a balance, ensuring that we are setting and supporting realistic goals for our children?

Research suggests a strong and positive link between high expectations and high academic achievements. But these expectations must be based on a realistic understanding of our children’s abilities. When our dreams and fantasies do not coincide with their own interests and abilities, our expectations can strike a debilitating blow to their development.

Putting children under unreasonable pressure can impact their mental and physical health as well as their relationships with both parents and peers. The constant stress to perform interferes with children’s identity formation and can cause them to feel that they can never be good enough.

On the other hand, having low or no expectations can lead to poor performance and an inability to cope with pressure of any kind. When parents are too accepting of whatever their child does, it communicates that the child doesn’t really matter. This can be equally damaging.

Key here is to maintain expectation but minimise pressure. High expectations can be motivating and encouraging, helping your child reach their potential and feel confident and secure. Think

about the process rather than the result by encouraging them to stick with their studies even when they are struggling.

Work with your child to decide on best ways to manage test situations. Experiment with different study methods together to find out what works best for them. If your child is struggling, then talk to your child’s school to see what support can be provided.

Finally, it’s crucial to remind your child of your love and support without reference to their academic performance and test outcomes.

Supporting them to learn from their mistakes motivates them to try new approaches to problem solving, achieving wisdom and good judgement along the way.

Lisa and Catherine are co-founders of Emparenting (www.emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with the insights, skills and tools needed to nurture the development and well-being of the next generation.

Don’t worship grades

Positive parenting is key

Worldwide studies show that our children will have fallen behind due to the pandemic. This information must be taken into account when thinking about their progress. Rather than being a grade-slave, consider the following:

Focus on positive action, trust and communication. This will lead to a greater sense of happiness and help your child achieve their goals.

Manage your own expectations. Our own reactions towards our children’s behaviours have a direct impact on how they internalise and develop their own sense of themselves so try to focus on the child you have and not the child you wish you had.

Value goals over grades and focus on the process they used to get there. Use positive language and help your child learn about growth mindset – rather than ‘you only got 5/20 in your test,’ ask how you can help them to improve, think about what worked and what could work better.

Talk about their successes and failures. This shows you are invested in the process of learning and not just interested in the end grade.

Maintain a long-term perspective with realistic expectations.

Choose the right school, not just the one that achieves the highest grades.

Manage your own disappointments and value what is, rather than what might have been.

Is my child making progress? It’s essential not to compare progress between peers or siblings. Your child may not be at the same stage that an older sibling reached at their age.

Setting realistic expectations will help nurture your child’s sense of self-esteem and encourage healthy development.

Praise your child’s achievements. This is an opportunity to encourage your children to find what they are good at and what they enjoy - whether it be dance, drama, sport.

Encourage their hobbies and help them to appreciate that their success is not just measured on their academic grades.

Remember our children are individuals and progress in their own time.

Let children make mistakes, mistakes are how we learn and improve.

Offer support and encouragement even if the end result is not what was hoped for.

Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Dorset 7

EDUCATION

How important is spelling?

By Jemma Zoe Smith At a time when autocorrect is everywhere and very few situations call for handwriting, the question being debated is: does spelling matter?

As a dyslexic tutor, my answer does not fit squarely on one side of the fence. Spelling is a recognised core skill which helps with reading, processing and pronunciation. That said, should anyone be penalised for having important and novel ideas, simply because they struggle to write them down?

In UK primary schools, children are given regular spelling tests and spelling is tested at each stage of pupils’ lives. 11+ exams, SATs, GCSEs and even some job interviews require a writing task without spellcheck. So yes, spelling must matter because it is tested at so many points in the UK (although not so much in the USA). Fail to master spelling and it is harder to make it to top universities or careers.

Indeed, poor spelling skills can also impede you in love! In 2016, a survey of over five thousand people on online dating site Match.com found that over a third judged whether a potential date was suitable by their grasp of grammar.

Poor spelling can also impact business ratings, with a BBC article in 2011 stating that ‘a single spelling mistake can cut online sales in half.’

While spell checking tools can be used, they raise a new issue.

When spell check corrects a word, it can also change the word to one different than intended, creating hundreds of ‘funniest autocorrect’ articles online but also leaving governments red

faced as ‘peace’ turns to ‘peach’ in press releases.

But let’s not come down too hard on spelling lest it discourage children from writing. I have seen students go from enthusiastic to disengaged learners after seeing their work returned with red rings around the misspelled words. For many, their ideas for stories, articles and debates stay locked in their heads, never written down for fear of over-zealous correction. We might be missing out on some amazing works - after all, Jane Austen is known for spelling scissors as ‘scissars’ and sofa as ‘sopha’. And her novels are considered literary classics!

So does spelling matter? Sort of. But it shouldn’t get in the way of encouraging children to write. My solution? Spend longer on proof-reading, a skill that can help beyond the classroom. And, on that note, I’m off to proof-read this article.

Jemma Zoe Smith is Director of The Education Hotel (www.educationhotel.co.uk).

New skill sets?

Learning to proofread

Across the pond in the USA, spelling has been phased out of the school curriculum, in the same way as handwriting. Spelling errors don’t count against students on the essay portion of the SAT, according to the College Board which administers the exam.

While grammar and autocorrect tools can support writing, I believe there is a missing skill: proofreading. Something that I often work on with students is ‘hearing their inside voice’ reading their work. Being able to spot mistakes can help students to notice patterns in their own writing, identify grammar errors and lead them to understand hidden meanings in texts.

With online learning forcing many students onto laptops over the last two years, some schools in the UK are now following the USA and allowing laptops in lessons. So is spelling becoming less important in their curriculums?

Certainly schools are no longer purely about the ‘three Rs’ of writing, reading and arithmetic (why did only one of those start with an R?). Indeed, many UK schools are now including wellbeing, computing and even BTECs in agriculture in their curriculums, instead of GCSEs like history.

So what skills are becoming more important? Coding is already a highly valued skill and is destined to become even more important in the future. Look into www.mama.codes. Equally, success for our children is likely to require strong critical thinking and communication skills. You can encourage this at home with www.kidcoach.app.

8 Families Dorset

The process of proofreading encourages children to slow down and consider making changes to their work, such as upgrading a word like ‘big’ to ‘enormous,’ allowing them to explore and use more advanced vocabulary. To produce crisp, clear copy, proofreading is the final part of the writing process and is as important as creating and revising text.

Proofreading is a skill that many of us will need in the world of work, when sending emails and writing presentations. For the best, proof reading can be a job in its own right.

To practise proofreading, try www.twinkl.co.uk for age-banded proofreading packs and worksheets www.portlandproof.com for free online games.

Familiesonline.co.uk

Calling parents living in Dorset!

EARLY YEARS

Would you like to try your hand at magazine publishing?

Do you think you can grow a business?

Are you interested in media and marketing?

Work part time from home around your family and do something you love.

Come join the team at Families Dorset magazine!

To find out more contact Linda at info@familiesmagazine.co.uk or call 020 8241 0423

Magazine Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Dorset 9

PARENTING

Tackling childhood fears

By Tanith Carey

During the pandemic, levels of anxiety among adults have risen sharply and some of this worry has been contagious for kids. So how do we help children manage their own feelings when the world feels uncertain for grown-ups too?

Firstly, remember that children take their cues from you. This means noticing when you feel overwhelmed.

Visualise a sliding scale in your mind with notches from one to ten. When the scale starts to move towards seven or eight, take deliberate steps to process your own worries, maybe talking them through with another adult, so you can stay calm and rational around your child.

You may be concerned that this is hiding your worries from your child. Don’t be. It’s putting on your own oxygen mask so you can reassure them they are safe within the world of their home. If your child seems worried by something about Covid they have heard outside the home, ask what they’ve heard.

From around age 4 or 5, young children engage in ‘magical thinking’ in which they believe they are the centre of the world.

In order to try and make sense of how the world works, they also tend to link events that aren’t linked, meaning that they often leap to the wrong conclusions. If a grandparent gets Covid, they may for example, assume it’s down to them not washing their hands when they come home from school.

Asking your children about their fears allows you to tackle their concerns directly. You can help them feel more in control by telling them they are part of a big team winning the war on the virus and helping by wearing masks and washing their hands. Explain: ‘Lots of people have caught this germ, but for most, it’s been like a really bad cold.’

Talk too about how clever scientists have come up with vaccines and millions of grown-ups, from health care staff to teachers, are still working hard to look after them. Help them get the virus in perspective too. Explain that there are good germs in our bodies as well as bad ones, how their immune system works and how to look after it.

While young children tend not to worry about death as something that happens to them, they may worry about who will look after them if you or your co-parent dies. If this is a concern that surfaces, tell your child that everyone dies eventually but

you don’t expect it to happen for a long time and by then they will be grown-up.

Facing and talking about their fears doesn’t mean they will become persistent. In fact, they are more likely to keep coming back when children feel alone with them, not heard or unable to express them.

If you do lose a loved one, give clear, open honest answers because younger children don’t understand death is final. Avoid phrases such as ‘gone to sleep’ or ‘we’ve lost them.’ Explain simply the reason that their loved one is no longer here is that their body stopped working.

Sometimes kids can find it easier to process the death of a loved one through tangible ways of mourning. Going through family photos, making a keepsake box, releasing a balloon with the person’s name on or planting a tree can all be helpful.

Tanith Carey is author of What’s My Child Thinking: Practical Child Psychology for Modern Parents with clinical child psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin, published by DK books.

Fears and anxieties are some of the one hundred scenarios faced with children aged 2 to 7 that are tackled in this book.

Follow us

I’m scared of the dark

Will bad people hurt us?

Fear of the dark at bedtime affects about half of children up to the age of 5. When a room goes black, children can feel ‘trapped’ by the darkness around them.

By the time children are 5 or 6, they may overhear talk about crime or terror attacks and worry that ‘bad people’ may want to hurt them or the people they love.

By helping kids name their worries, they will feel more in charge.

Summarise and talk about what they are saying, so they know you have heard and understood.

While you may feel it’s too soon to tackle such a big subject, they are really asking if they are safe with you right now.

To make lights-out seem less scary, offer your child a nightlight which will cast a warm glow around them without interrupting their sleep.

10 Families Dorset

Acknowledge their concerns and how scary this must feel.

Explain that serious crimes and big news incidents are rare and they are safe at home.

Familiesonline.co.uk

PARENTING

Endless creations at your child’s fingertips!

Receive a FREE DoodleJamz pad for your child*

Try BCP Kids Cycle Safety courses Bikeability is about giving children and parents in Dorset the skills to cycle on today’s roads.

Draw, squish, sculpt, shape, erase and repeat...

Levels 1 and 2 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.

Apply at familiesmag.co.uk/go

Magazine

Familiesonline.co.uk

*while stocks last T&Cs apply

Level 3 Level 3 is for riders who have successfully completed Level 2 and are experienced, confident cyclists. It provides the skills to tackle a wide variety of traffic conditions, many different road layouts and challenging traffic scenarios.

Find out more about BCP Council’s sessions at www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/bikeability

Families Dorset 11

PARENTING

What’s new in 2022 Trendsetters tell us this is the year to embrace the Swedish word ‘lagom,’ which roughly translates as ‘not too much, not too little.’ But if you want to live life just a bit greener, need a bit more entertainment for the children or the one latest piece of tech to make your life easier, we’ve got it covered!

Here is Families’ guide to some of this year’s best new products:

It’s a wrap, from £12 Play an active part in the war on plastic consumption by switching to new WaxWrap.

It’s a sustainable, reusable beeswax wrap which keeps food super fresh.

With conventional clingfilm responsible for polluting the waterways of the world and poisoning our wild and marine life, this cotton-based product is a welcome alternative.

Available as a handy bag, pre-cut sheets and a food roll. www.waxwrap.uk

Keep baby safe, from £229 Designed by doctors in the UK, Bluebell Smart Monitors track babies’ breathing, skin temperature, crying, activity levels, sleep/awake status and sleeping positions.

The paired mobile smart hub for parents gets realtime alerts, allowing you to control the perfect sleeping environment with lullabies, nightlight, white and pink noise, two-way talk-back and room noise/temperature monitoring. www.bluebellbabymonitor.com

Cooking made easy, £22 Bananrocket’s colourful cooking activity cards weave puzzles, interactive mazes and ingredients into delicious family recipes.

Each set includes activities to educate your child about protecting the planet and the superpowers of nutrient-rich ingredients. Wipe-clean and free from the distraction and complication of technology, Bananrocket places small humans in control in the kitchen.

Ages 3+. www.bananrocket.com

Get the best out of family life!

SIGN UP NOW at familiesmag.co.uk/go to receive every issue IT’S FREE!

Coffee with benefits, from £7.95 Exhale antioxidant-packed organic coffee is a hug in a mug, putting goodness into your body while delivering a caffeine hit.

A single cup contains the same amount of antioxidants as twelve punnets of blueberries or fifty five oranges!

Delivered in compostable pouches, available singly and via letterbox-friendly subscriptions. www.exhalecoffee.com

Vegan sweet treats, 12 bar packs from £12.07 Flower & White’s decadent chocolate meringue bars are the perfect solution for when you crave a sweet hit, a sneaky snack or a super light dessert.

The Melting Strawberry and Melting Chocolate meringue bars are made from a melt-in-the-mouth chickpea-based meringue middle wrapped in scrumptious 100% dairy-free creamy M*LK chocolate. One-off orders and subscriptions available. www.flowerandwhite.co.uk

Boost your baby’s brain, from £34 Small positive interactions have a big impact when it comes to your baby’s brain.

The Mindful Parenting Company’s baby and parenting boxes help you to support your baby’s development while keeping your own wellbeing in mind. Created by a child health specialist, each month-specific box includes a relaxing gift for you, guidance and tips, a book, toy and activities to help you connect and learn together. www.themindfulparentingcompany.co.uk

Grow your own, £20.99 by subscription Launched during lockdown, the Pot Gang sends out boxes containing three types of seeds, compost, pots and all the know-how needed to grow delicious vegetables and herbs at home. Fun and easy both for grown-ups and children, it’s a great way to save money and encourage your little ones to eat their own seasonal, completely locally grown fresh food. Sunday Times best gardening subscription winner. www.potgang.co.uk

Magazine 12 Families Dorset

Familiesonline.co.uk

ENVIRONMENT

Involving children in saving power

By Angela Terry The climate crisis is hot news, energy prices are soaring and families are feeling the pain. With nearly a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions created by our homes, there’s no better time to instil good energy-saving habits in our children, help the environment and reduce energy bills. Luckily, there are many creative ways of doing this so you don’t need to resort to nagging. Here are some suggestions: Measure your household carbon footprint To put energy saving into context, find a free online calculator and measure your household carbon footprint. Start a family art project, drawing a big foot and recording the date and the number of tonnes of emissions generated by your household. As you work together to reduce your footprint, you can update your achievements periodically, getting your children to draw smaller and smaller feet. Display your feet in a row along a wall to chart your progress.

Get children to write the rules Go through each room in your house with the kids and ask them to pinpoint all the potential sources of wasted energy. Draw up a list together and agree a set of family rules that you’re all going to stick to, like switching off appliances that aren’t in use and keeping all curtains closed at night. Ownership of the rules should help motivate kids to follow them.

Rewards To help younger children stick to your rules, try a reward chart with stickers. If they stick to them for a week, you can then give them a special eco treat, like a bee hotel for the garden or a packet of sunflower seeds to plant together. Older children and teens are more likely to be motivated by money, so agree a small weekly financial reward. Given how much energy prices are increasing, this will still save you money overall.

Appoint monitors Allocate specific roles to each child. One could be the curtain monitor, ensuring all curtains are pulled shut at dusk, stopping extra energy seeping out of windows as the temperature drops.

Likewise, another child could be the thermostat monitor and check it isn’t set above nineteen degrees Celsius. Children can

also check that bedrooms and little-used rooms are not being heated unnecessarily by turning down their radiator valves.

Finally, a socket monitor could make sure all appliances not in use are switched off at the wall.

Time showers Make a game of it when it comes to cutting hot water usage by timing each other in the shower to see who can be the quickest – whilst still actually getting clean, of course!

Screen time Screen time limits can be one of the greatest sources of tension between parents and children. Building in an energy saving component can help. Explain to your children that the carbon footprint of our gadgets, the internet and the systems supporting them is nearly four percent of global emissions - greater than those from aviation. If they stick to agreed limits, offer to reward them with an outing to the park or a hot chocolate in a cafe.

Set an example One of the best things you can do, is role model ultra-efficient energy usage. Children are like sponges and imitate those they’re closest to. Make sure you do everything you’re asking them to do and ask them to remind you if you forget. They’ll love the sense of responsibility (and telling you what to do!).

Angela Terry is an environmental scientist and founder of One Home (www.onehome.org.uk), the UK’s first consumer climate action hub.

Draught hunting...

Smarten up your saving

Of course, you want to save energy but simultaneously make your home as insulated and cosy as possible. Encourage your children to come on a draught hunt with you, searching for any leaks around windows or doors. When you find some, enlist their help in a bit of easy DIY, sealing them with inexpensive rubber trim, available from most DIY shops. If cold air is seeping under the front door, do some ‘draught craft’ and make a snake draught excluder together. YouTube has lots of helpful tutorials.

A smart meter is a great visual tool. Once you’ve had one installed, use it to show your children when you’re using the most energy and how much it’s costing. Set targets to reduce your monthly usage and bills. Explain that just by turning down your thermostat by one degree saves an average of £80 per year. The ideal temperature is nineteen degrees Celsius.

Set targets and treat yourselves to a family games night or outing whenever you hit them.

Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Dorset 13

Make an Easter birds nest!

&

Cut out and Keep

Spring is springing and the birds are nesting.

So why not take the time to get crafty with the kids and help them make their own bird’s nest for Easter. Once you have gathered all of the pieces, you can put together your bird’s nest in no time.

Your child will love developing new skills as they explore making, sticking and creating.

Once the nest is complete, why not go on a walk and enjoy the sights and sounds of spring and see if you can spot birds’ nests in the trees?

You will need: • • •

Paper plate Brown paper squares Brown shredded paper

• • •

Feathers Wiggling eyes Bird cut outs (see below)

Instructions:

Step 1:

Cut the paper plate in half.

With one half, cut out a semicircle.

Step 2:

Cover both halves in brown paper.

Step 3:

Add the brown shredded paper to the half with the semi-circle cut out.

Step 4:

Step 5:

Then cut out the blue and yellow circles with the bird beaks in them and stick into the nest.

Step 6:

Add the wiggly eyes and feathers to the birds.

And, ta da, your nest is complete!

Stick the two pieces together, the half with the shredded paper on it on top of the other (so it makes a nest).

&

With thanks to Karen Allen, co-owner of Kidzplay Playbox for this craft activity. Kidzplay Playbox produces creative playboxes which are guaranteed to be fun and contain high quality, engaging activities. Visit www.kidzplay.co.uk for playboxes delivered to your door.

14 Families Dorset

Familiesonline.co.uk

EARLY YEARS

Play for nurturing emotional intelligence

By Dr Anne Lane When my daughter was in her first year at nursery her favourite game was pretending to say goodbye to me. ‘Bye Mama, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later.’ ‘Oh no! You’re not going...’ I’d say after her, ‘I don’t want you to go!’ The more I sighed ‘Don’t go,’ the more she’d giggle and run off. Thus reassured, we were ready for our day.

Little moments of play like this helped my daughter process her separation from me at nursery from a space of safety and connection.

For a child, life can be full of emotional demands; from the strains of separation from you, to new friendships, periods of uncertainty and family changes.

As a parent and psychologist, one of the most effective and fun ways I have found to help children navigate experiences and the difficult emotions that come with these is through this process of play. Simple, giggly, repetitive play helps children develop a resilience and familiarity with situations which can dispel tension and anxiety.

So how does play work?

Play is serious work for your child. The process of role-playing real scenarios allows them to reflect on their reactions and beliefs about a situation. They can steady their emotions and become more nuanced and agile in their reactions.

in the world of play, they get to switch things around and feel empowered. They can explore and try different things. The play scenario can be ridiculous, funny, amusing - tense and tight emotions soften and ease.

Against this background of safety and security, your child can become more comfortable making suggestions and changing things, allowing their understanding of situations to develop.

They’re the boss, they call the shots and decide how a situation goes. From this place of safety, they revisit difficult experiences without feeling vulnerable or uncertain.

In role playing and playing out different scenarios with them, your child comes to know you as someone who can understand and relate to their experience. They feel steady and secure.

Dr Anne Lane is a clinical psychologist and author. Her new book Nurture Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence: 5 Steps to Help Your Child Cope with Big Emotions and Build Resilience is out now.

The most important aspect of play is that it feels safe. In the real world, things are unpredictable. People can be abrupt and cross and make your child feel vulnerable and uncertain. But

Top tips for playing

Play and tricky emotions

When you play with your child, focus less on conversation and more on acting things out and exploring. This focus away from language allows your child to relax and connect.

Role reversals are a fantastic way to help children feel safe and more in control around an area of anxiety.

Follow the laughter. When your child is laughing they are releasing fear and tension, enveloped in happiness with you.

Silliness, smiles and laughter are great indicators that play is working.

Let your child take the lead. If you can, get down to their level.

Prioritise your child feeling in control. If your child seems uncertain or pulls back then slow down, change things around.

Let them be the boss.

Be careful with tickling. Although a lot of children love tickling, the feeling of being tickled can be overwhelming and intense.

Instead prioritise play which creates real engagement and collaboration, as well as laughter.

Play doesn’t have to be big, take long or be over-planned.

Make it spontaneous and funny. Some of my children’s favourite games can involve me simply looking surprised or pretending to sleep on the sofa!

Familiesonline.co.uk

You might role play being worried about something (for example, a teddy bear or a falling leaf). Your child gets to reflect on what it feels like to be anxious and to calm you.

Easing resistance or struggle: does your child become frustrated and resistant even around small things like brushing teeth or dressing?

Playing in a way that brings on giggles melts away these tired, stuck emotions. I’ve often pretended to scrub the floor and a child’s legs with the toothbrush. When they start giggling and the mood softens, you can say: ‘Here you go, let’s get those teeth brushed.’

Play can also help your child notice and reflect on a behaviour.

If your child is being mean to another, play ‘shaking out the meanies.’ The behaviour gets named but without shaming the child, tension shifts and a more collaborative, open way of relating replaces the power play.

Families Dorset 15

Yarrells School & Nursery

OPEN DAYS FRIDAY 11TH MARCH

THURSDAY 5TH MAY

We know that investment in your child’s education is one of the most important decisions you will make.

A rich combination of indoor and outdoor experiences makes children’s learning magical, meaningful and memorable.

By appointment only

‘I describe Yarrells as a great big hug of a school.’ (Parent Quote)

MONDAY 14TH MARCH

please email admissions@yarrells.co.uk or call 01202 622229 www.yarrells.co.uk

BIRT H PA DAY PAC RTY K AVA AGES ILAB LE

R YOU FOR FUN

LE LITITPS V

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU

RELEASED YOUR INNER CHLD? Come play on the farm

ANNUAL PASSES Our annual passes are an inflation-busting no brainer.

WEATHER PROOF Lots to do inside and out.

Have fun whatever the weather!

PREB TIC OOK ONLKETS INE

www.farmerpalmers.co.uk

Wareham Road, Organford, Poole, email.shop@farmerpalmers.co.uk call. 01202 622022 BH16 6EU email.shop@farmerpalmers.co.uk J006513 FPFP - Families Dorset Magazine 4.indd 1

16 Families Dorset

11/02/2022 11:14

Familiesonline.co.uk