Families Sussex March-April 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

Bumper Spring What's On Guide Supporting your child through exam stress 'Sharenting' what's the best approach?

Issue 63 March/April 2019 1 | Families Sussex Magazine

familiesonline.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Perform’s Four Ways to Boost your Child’s Self-Esteem A child’s self-esteem is influenced by feeling loved, valued and believing good things about themselves.

Perform have teamed up with positive parenting expert, Anita Cleare, to bring Families top tips for boosting self-esteem.

Encourage Independence When children do things for themselves and are praised for this, they feel proud.

Teach your child to dress themselves and wash their own hair.

Use Believable Praise It’s not believable to tell your child he did something well when he clearly didn’t.

Praise concrete achievements.

Saying ‘Well done for keeping on running' (even when he lost the race) tells your child exactly what they have done well.

Listen to their Ideas Expressing ideas and being listened to

helps children feel valued. Involve them in practical family problemsolving by asking for their input. This helps them feel they are making a positive contribution.

Encourage Laughter and Show you Care Play, chat, share jokes and funny stories. Laughter helps children relax and feel good about themselves.

Be affectionate. Snuggle and cuddle! Show your child they are utterly lovable exactly as they are.

More tips from Anita can be found at www.anitacleare. co.uk l To book a FREE confidencebuilding Perform drama class in either Hove, Haywards Heath or Worthing, visit our website at www.perform.org.uk/try.

Get your Club or Class in Front of 35,000+ Sussex Parents!

Do you run a Club or Class for children in Sussex? Do you want to advertise and get your message out to more than 35,000 Sussex parents, without breaking the bank? If so, you should join our new Clubs and Classses listings.

Families Sussex magazine is launching a new Clubs and Classes directory in our next issue - and we've already sold almost half the space available!

Listing your local Club or Class with Families Sussex is the most effective way to reach thousands of parents of 0-12 year olds across key areas of West Sussex, from Littlehampton to Brighton, Horsham to Crawley, Petworth to Haywards Heath and many places in betweeen!

18,000+ copies of Families Sussex magazine are read by more than 35,000 parents, every issue.

But it doesn't stop there. We can also promote your Club or Class through our social media channels and website. So don't miss out - order your Club & Class listing with prices starting from just £100+VAT per year!

2 | Families Sussex Magazine

Clubs and Classes Listings Package

• 35 words in a dedicated directory •

across six issues per year Listing in Clubs & Classes directory online OR social media posts

£100+VAT per year

Enhanced Upgrade Package

• All the benefits of our standard package • Upgraded 100 word listing plus an image to make your class stand out

• Social media promotion of your class £30+VAT extra per issue

familiesonline.co.uk

Editorial

editor@familiessussex.co.uk 07411 583259 Advertising Opportunities

Sandra Clout sandra.clout@familiespublishing.co.uk 07488 244896 News Desk & Features

editor@familiessussex.co.uk What's On? listings

Sonia Heryet editor@familiessussex.co.uk Covering Littlehampton, Worthing, Arundel, Petworth, Storrington, Steyning, Lancing, Shoreham-by-Sea, Portslade, Brighton, Hove, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Crawley, Horsham and all the communities in between. © Families Sussex Magazine Limited 2019 Families Sussex Magazine Limited is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Sussex are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Sussex Magazine Limited. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Sussex Magazine Limited, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

In this issue...

4 News and Views 6 Learning the Times Tables 7 Coping with Exam Stress 8 The benefits of mindfulness 10 Cutting the Cost of Childcare

18 'Sharenting'

11 Raising a Supported Child

19 Tackling 'Fake News'

12 Fun Easter Craft Ideas

19 Must-have family photos

14 Spring What's On Guide

Talk to us....

fscmagazine

FamSussexMag

NEW CHILDREN’S DAY NURSERY The Barn, Parkfield Way, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 4QX

Perfect Start Children’s Day Nurseries are delighted to announce that our Nursery at Bolnore Village, Haywards Heath is now open

and we are now accepting registrations.

Please contact us to arrange a visit.

t. 0333 772 0689

3 | Families Sussex Magazine

Fully air conditioned, beautiful environment with specially designed rooms to promote the very highest standard in child development Stimulating range of Educational Programmes A dedicated ‘parent room’ where you can watch your child settle in with us on CCTV

e. info@perfectstartnurseries.co.uk

Children’s Library Wonderful spacious outdoor area in lovely surroundings All of our staff are First Aid trained All fees inclusive of nappies, meals, formula milk and wipes 5 Star food hygiene

w. www.perfectstartnurseries.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

News and Views

Sussex Schools Invited to Join ‘Recycle with Michael’ Challenge

Football Boosts Girls Confidence New research suggests that playing football can have a greater positive impact on the self-confidence of teenage girls than other popular sports.

The study by the University of Birmingham for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is the largest of its kind and features data collected from 4128 girls and young women aged 13 and over in Denmark, England, Germany, Spain, Poland and Turkey. 80% of teenage girls surveyed said they felt more confident as a result of being part of their football team compared to 74% who played other sports. 58% of the female footballers questioned said they had overcome a lack of self-confidence as a result of playing football, compared with 51% of girls who play other sports.

UEFA have launched the Together #WePlayStrong campaign, which aims to make football the number one participation sport for girls and women in Europe by 2022.

Sussex schools are being encouraged to ‘Recycle with Michael’, as part of an initative by The Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd to divert thousands of tonnes of unwanted clothing and shoes away from landfill.

Local schools that sign up to the scheme will be challenged to fill as many bags as possible before the end of March 2019, for the chance to be crowned Michael’s recycling champions.

The winning school – calculated as the one with the highest ratio of bags to pupils - will receive a trophy, certificate and a very special visit from Michael, the scheme’s mascot.

Designed especially for primary schoolaged children, the programme is also an important way for schools to generate much-needed funds - a percentage of the bags’ financial value is donated back to the school to spend how they wish.

The remaining funds raised will go towards supporting The Salvation Army’s important work to help vulnerable people from all walks of life in communities across the UK. The scheme aims to educate young people about the importance of recycling in a fun and engaging way.

The programme is supported by free downloadable school materials such as presentations, posters and lesson plans which teach environmental and charitable messages.

Kirk Bradley, Head of Corporate Partnerships at The Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd, commented: “We’ve tried to make the scheme as easy as possible for schools to take part in.

"By following four simple steps, schools across Sussex can receive a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of their donations directly into their school accounts."

Schools can sign up by visiting https:// recyclewithmichael.co.uk/ to register and request bags.

4 | Families Sussex Magazine

Nursery Children Could Be Coached for Exams from 2020 In September 2017 the Government announced that a new assessment would be introduced in Reception as a baseline measure to track pupils’ progress during primary school. Children who start Reception in September 2020 will be the first group to take the new test.

The focus of the assessment will be on communication, language and literacy, numeracy and ‘self-regulation.’ A recent report from an expert panel who examined the proposals concluded that the new test will not provide an accurate comparison between schools and that it is “flawed, unjustified and wholly unfit for purpose.” Additionally, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the charity the Pre-school Learning Alliance, has warned that the new test risks putting pressure on the youngest group of school children and would encourage the coaching of pre-schoolers to ensure they were ‘test-ready.’

More info: www.bera.ac.uk and www.pre-school.org.uk

Family Safety Week to raise awareness among young people Accidents are the biggest killer of children and young people with at least one child under 5 killed each week.

Every year, over 2 million children under the age of 15 have an accident in and around the home which takes them to A&E and half of the under 5s visiting do so as a result of a preventable accident. Family Safety Week, which commences on 1 April, is run by the RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) to help raise awareness of the “simple things you can do to stop your child becoming an accident statistic.” RoSPA provides free resources and advice to help families keep children safe in their homes. Its free Keeping Kids Safe packs also enable schools, nurseries, playgroups and children’s centres to hold child safety session for parents.

familiesonline.co.uk

NSPCC: At What Age Can Children Be Home Alone?

Lack of Sleep Damaging For Children More than a third of primary school children are failing to get sufficient sleep, according to research by the University of Leeds.

The study has linked poor sleep with difficulties in paying attention in class, keeping up with school work, forgetfulness and absenteeism.

Parents often ask when it is safe to leave a child unsupervised at home. The law does not specify an age at which a child can legally be “home alone.” However, parents commit an offence if leaving the child unsupervised at home puts them at risk.

Given that maturity and understanding at specific ages differs from child to child, there is no set age at which leaving a child home alone would be risk free.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has published a guide “Is My Child Ready to Be Left Alone?"

This states that: children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time, children under 16 should not be left alone overnight whilst babies, toddlers and young children should never be left alone at all.

More info at www.nspcc.org.uk

Enjoy British Science Week

Families can enjoy wondeful time together during British Science Week 2019 which will take place from 8 to 17 March.

Science Week is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths with fascinating, entertaining and engaging activities for all ages taking place across the UK. Last year there were over 2,100 events involving almost 1 million participants.

You can also download a series of FREE activity packs at www. britishscienceweek.org filled with resources and ideas to try out at home or school, without the need for a science background or expensive equipment.

The NHS recommendation is that children of that age should get 10 hours sleep per night but the study discovered that out of 1,100 children ages 6 to 11, 36% were getting only eight hours sleep or less on a weekday night. Just under a third of children reported that worrying about school work was keeping them awake, whilst around one in six children reported that they found it difficult to sleep because of concerns about bullying or friendship.

The researchers identified that children who had access to technology in their bedroom were more likely to experience a shorter night’s sleep and recommended that parents consider removing technology from their children’s bedrooms.

Research Suggests Music Can Improve Parent-Child Bond New research suggests sharing music can improve parent-child relationships, especially during adolescence.

Researchers found that young men and women who shared musical experiences with their parents during childhood - and especially during adolescence - report having better relationships with their mums and dads as they enter young adulthood.

While shared musical experiences at all age levels were associated with better perceptions of parent-child relationship quality in young adulthood, the effect was most pronounced for shared musical experiences that took place during adolescence.

The authors said shared musical experiences with their children don’t have to be complicated, and can include simple activities like listening to music in the car together.

The research, published in the Journal of Family Communication surveyed young adults about the frequency with which they engaged with their parents as children from the age of 8 and how they perceived their relationship with their parents now.

More info: www.tandfonline.com

Hove Park Carnival set to be an exciting charity event Martlets Hospice in Hove's popular Hove Park Carnival takes place on Spring Bank Holiday Monday – 27th May 2019 from 11am - 5pm. The family event attracts crowds of people and there is fun for young and old - with amusements, displays, fairground rides and arena entertainments.

To find an event close to you, visit www.sciencelive.net.

5 | Families Sussex Magazine

There will also be a wide range of stalls and food stands available.

Funds raised will help Martlets continue to provide care for local people with terminal illness and their families.

familiesonline.co.uk

Education

Learning the Times Tables - useful tips and tricks In 2020, it becomes compulsory for all Year 4 students to undergo a new times table test and this is likely to put additional pressure on parents to help their children get to grips with their times tables.

Children’s inability to instantly recall times tables and manage simple multiplication is a recurring theme of mathematics teaching reported by teachers in primary schools.

These skills need to be embedded by Year 4 in order to prepare for the maths teaching for the next two years. At secondary school, lack of basic numeracy, including not knowing their multiplication tables really well, can lead to an inability to grasp new concepts and really slow children's mathematical progress.

While it may seem tedious to practise times tables with your child, by ensuring your child is confident with times tables you will be equipping them with essential tools for success in maths.

Getting Familiar with Multiplication Concepts The first step with multiplication is to make sure your child understands what multiplication really means. In other words, they need to understand that 4 x 3 is the same as 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 and be confident with such number sequences.

The Rule of Commutativity Show your child that each answer repeats, so, technically, they only have to learn half of the tables. In other words, 4 x 5 is the same as 5 x 4. The rule of commutativity helps them understand that they know more than they might think.

Point Out Patterns It doesn't all have to be memorised by rote.

There are clues and helpful hints that can be learned.

For example 2x is just doubling the number.

This is the same as adding the number to itself: 2 x 2 = 4, 2 x 3 = 6, 2 x 4 = 8 etc.

So the pattern is 2, 4, 6, 8 etc. And once these are remembered then the rule of commutativity above means they also know 3 x 2, 4 x 2 etc.

Learning the 11 times table is actually easy up to the number 9. It is simply doubling the appearance of the number you wish to multiply by. For example, 2 x 11 = 22, 3 x 11 = 33, 4 x 11 = 44 and so on.

9× has a pattern too: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90. Notice how the tens (first digits in every number) go up by one and the units (second digits) go down.

The great thing with times tables is that there are many tricks that can help your child memorise them more easily. Let's take a look at a couple of tricks:

All the multiples of ten end in zero.

All the multiples of 5 end in either 5 or 0 and are half as large as the multiples of ten.

(10 x 5=50 which is half of 10 x 10 = 100).

Any number x 0 is always 0. No matter what. The answers to the 4 times table are double the answers to the 2 times table.

For example, 3 × 4 = 12 is the same as 3 × 2 × 2. Likewise, the answers to the 8 times table are double the answers to the 4 times table. For example, 5 × 8 = 40 is the same as 5 × 4 × 2.

Teach the Tricks

2 times tables: Double it! Two times a number simply means add the number twice. 6 x 2 is actually 6 + 6 and 8 x 2 is the same as 8 + 8. 4 times tables: Double the number you are multiplying, then double it again! It is simply a matter of doubling the number, then doubling the answer. For example, 4 x 5 is 5 + 5 = 10 and then 10 + 10 = 20. 4 x 5 is 20.

12 times table is 10x plus 2x. For example: 10 x 4 = 40, then add 2 x 4 = 8 Drilling Some drilling is inevitable. Drilling should be done once the child is familiar with their tables or at least a set of numbers. Drilling should be started in order and once you feel they are getting there you can mix it all up. They may hesitate at the beginning but the more you drill the more the times tables will be embedded into their memories.

Everyone’s Different Some children like to learn by rote; for others it doesn’t work at all. To support their learning, work out what will make times tables stick in your child’s mind, whether that’s singing them, putting them into practice with puzzles, playing games with them or writing them out. Good luck!

6 | Families Sussex Magazine

familiesonline.co.uk

Supporting your child with SATs and exam stress

By Vicky Bellman

We have come to the time of year when many children are preparing to face exams or tests at school.

These exams or tests vary in their significance for your child’s future. For some, they will be the stepping stone to the next part of their educational journey, for others an assessment of their progress this academic year.

Regardless of which category the exams or tests fall into, exam time is likely to be a pressured and overwhelming time for most children and their parents. Stress and anxiety in young children is particularly heightened at this time of year as they deal with performance-related concerns related to their educational tests. These tests can often feel like tests of who they are. Their behaviour may suffer during a stress peak and it’s important to do what you can to respond from a place of calm. Invite them to join you in feeling calm, rather than you joining them in emotional chaos.

With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you support your child at this time:

7 | Families Sussex Magazine

Keep it in Perspective Yes, of course exams are important. But everyone involved needs to remember it's not the end of the world if there’s a hiccup and things don’t go as well as expected.

There is almost always another chance.

Help Manage Expectations Working longer than is advisable for their age, or expecting grades significantly higher than their capabilities could well be detrimental to your child’s emotional and mental well-being.

It’s important you guide your children appropriately in this area.

Encourage Good Work Habits Primary school children may find it hard to sustain concentration for longer than 30 minutes without a break.

It’s important not to schedule too many study sessions in one day – one or two would be the appropriate maximum for this age group on a weekend or school holiday day, but less if they are also managing homework.

Otherwise your child will become stressed and it’s

much harder for them to learn under pressure.

Remember the Building Blocks Again, when it comes to the real basics, we can easily forget the building blocks for emotional wellbeing. Make sure that your child is getting enough good food, water and sleep!

Free time is Vital It’s a difficult balancing act, but it’s important to remember that primary school age children need plenty of free time - structured studying has to be balanced with plenty of unstructured free time.

Relaxation and fun are vital.

Getting outside to play and spending time relaxing with family and friends are superimportant at this time.

A useful analogy to share with your children is that human beings are basically machines. We need fuel, and we also need to switch our engine off every now and again. Otherwise, we risk overheating! On any longterm journey in a machine, comfort breaks and fuel fill

ups would be an accepted and necessary part of the journey.

Humans are no different.

Make Time for You You can’t pour from an empty cup. Your children need more from you when preparing for and going through exams or tests. To be able to give more you need to be able to have more fuel in the tank.

Connection is Important Make sure you have family down time; perhaps, watching a movie one night with popcorn, or going for a family walk, or day out. Don't just save the treats for the exam results, as this reinforces to children that they have more value when they achieve more.

Let them know that their wellbeing and enjoyment of life is as vital when they're striving for success, as well as when they're achieving it. l Vicky Bellman is a counsellor at Fegans, a Christian charity which counsels children and provides support for parents.

For more parenting advice on stress and mental health, visit www.fegans.org.uk/parent

familiesonline.co.uk

Health & Wellbeing

The benefits of mindfulness in children daily and part of one's lifestyle, not only for children but also for adults. Parents and/ or carers who look after children with such disorders can often find themselves dealing with stress, so things such as meditation and mindful thinking can help reduce the effects of stress, thus enabling them to deal with situations in a calmer, more helpful way, to themselves and children.

The past two decades have seen an abundance of research, and hundreds of studies conducted, about the increasingly popular practice of mindfulness. Countless results of said studies have shown a great increase in stress, so much so that some Fortune 500 companies in the US for instance, have even employed mindfulness coaches to benefit their employees.

the ages of three and 11. If we take a look at the developmental changes that occur within children, the physical changes and events such as starting school, socialising, and simply learning about life, it makes perfect sense to equip youngsters with tools on how to deal with their emotions, and how to develop a positive outlook on life with mindfulness skills. Children can learn vital stress-relieving skills such as breathing techniques, mindful hearing

Specific programs for businesses around the globe have been created for their employees to help reduce stress, keep employees' minds fresh and focused and in turn able to perform better at work and of course be happier and healthier from the inside out.

What is mindfulness?

How can it help young children?

Extensive research has shown that mindfulness can help children between

8 | Families Sussex Magazine

Can mindfulness help your child thrive at school?

It is a sad and somewhat worrying fact that more and more children are feeling the stress and pressure of school life.

With a push to succeed academically, to make friends or even anxieties related to changing or starting new schools, these pressures are simply no good for our children.

With this in mind it is no surprise that teachers, carers and parents are looking towards proven methods of mindfulness to protect and nurture their youngsters' mental and general wellbeing.

But, just what is mindfulness? And does it has the same positive effect on younger children, specifically those between the ages of three and 11?

In short, mindfulness is a simplistic program of meditative activities. It is a simple, yet powerful observation free from criticism and is a new and improved way of seeing what is happening to us in our lives. Although very effective once learnt, mindfulness does of course not rid you of everyday problems and pressures, yet it does, however, provide you with the tools and mindset needed to handle them in a calmer way. This calmer way has been said to benefit not only your mind but also your heart and body, thus providing an improved way of life and a greater sense of clarity and focus.

Some of those with autism suffer from psychological imbalances, such as lack of rhythm. Children who struggle with this can have difficulty when trying to balance the inner and outer world, which can result in issues with interaction or distorted relationships. One area of mindfulness that may benefit these children is Mantra Meditation. This type of meditation is all about repetition, such as repeating a sound or repeating a movement or word. It’s this calm and harmonising meditation that can help to restore the child's sense of rhythm.

and listening. If children struggle with an emotion or getting angry they can revert to mindfulness techniques to learn how to deal with, and control, those emotions.

Mindfulness and autism, ADHD and ADD The Autism Research and Treatment study undertaken by Sequeira is a piece of research that supports the notion that mindfulness meditation has a great positive effect on children with autism.

To be mindful helps one keep focused in a precise moment. Taking medication for autism, ADHD or ADD does not have long-term benefits, however, mindfulness can help long term given it is practised

Some children find short yoga routines at the start or end of their day a great way to clear their mind and relax, as well as stay in tune with their mind and bodies.

These sorts of activities are perfect for all ages, from very young children to the elderly. Children who are undertaking exams may find yoga a much-needed break from studying, as even 10 minutes’ practice can provide great clarity and help to re-focus the mind.

Many practitioners are encouraging schools and parents to practise mindfulness with their children due to the plethora of proven benefits to all.

For instance, Susan Kaiser Greenland has published a study named “Mindful Revolution in Education”. This informative piece goes into more detail on the ways in which mindfulness programs for children can help create a more compassionate, calmer youngster with good practices.

For more information, visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/wellbeing

familiesonline.co.uk

Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes for 4-12s

Sackville Road, Worthing, BN14 8BQ

SPACES AVAILABLE - APPLY NOW! HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF OPEN DURING SCHOOL HOURS BREAKFAST CLUB AVAILABLE 30 HOURS FREE CHILDCARE FOR

3-4 YEAR OLDS BOOK A VISIT NOW

BY CALLING 01903 219243 www.springfieldschool.co.uk For more please see our FACEBOOK page

Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes for 4-12s Perform is a unique children’s drama school that has a special emphasis on child development. Perform uses a mvix of drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s full potential.

Springfield Nursery Worthing

Run by highly experienced actor-teachers, in small groups, Perform classes focus on developing the 4 Cs: Confidence, Communication, Coordination, and Concentration.

The perform curriculum ensures plenty of fun, using a mix of energetic games, catchy songs and funky dances. All class materials are written by Perform, with apps, music downloads and videos for the children to play at home, keeping the magic of the classes alive.

Sat 6th April to Mon 22nd April

Perform offer no-obligation FREE trial sessions. Visit our wesbite www.perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class today.

Venue

Session

Date and Times

Clair Hall, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3DN

Drama 4-7s

Saturdays at 9:30am

Clair Hall, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3DN

Drama 7-12s

Saturdays at 11:15am

St Andrews (old Church) Hall, Chuch Road, Hove, BN3 2AD

Drama 4-7s

Saturdays at 9:30am

St Andrews (old Church) Hall, Chuch Road, Hove, BN3 2AD

Drama 7-12s

Saturdays at 11:15am

Rottingdean Public Hall,Park Road, BN2 7HL

Drama 4-7s

Thursdays at 4:00pm

Rottingdean Public Hall,Park Road, BN2 7HL

Drama 7-12s

Thursdays at 5:00pm

St John The Divine Church Hall,Ripley Road, Worthing, BN11 5NQ

Drama 4-7s

Tuesdays at 4:00pm and at 5:00pm

For more information please get contact:

at

ARUNDEL

TR E WETLAN D CE N

Find the

GIANT

YELLOW DUCKS nd

hiding all arou

THE WETLANDS! Find out more at wwt.org.uk/AReasterducks

Telephone: 020 7255 9120 Email: enquiries@perform.org.uk Wesbite: www.perform.org.uk/try

9 | Families Sussex Magazine

#EasterDucks WWT reg. charity in E & W, no. 1030884 & Scotland, no. SC039410

familiesonline.co.uk

Early Years

Cutting the Cost of Childcare cheaper than nannies and many other forms of childcare.

Company Benefits Are there benefits available from your employer? Whilst company childcare vouchers are now closed to new entrants, those already in the scheme can continue to save up to £243 per month tax free to pay towards OFSTED registered childcare.

In addition, companies may also offer discounts at certain childcare providers to help save you money or offer a back-up care provision.

Re-Consider Working Hours Childcare is inherently inflexible but maybe your working arrangements don’t have to be! So before searching for childcare see if you can make them more flexible.

If you are considering working part-time, check whether local nursery providers offer discounts on less popular days (some do!) before confirming your work days.

Childcare can cost parents up to 45% of their disposable income; after housing, it is the second largest household cost. At the most expensive end, a full-time nursery place or child minder can set you back over £1,300 per month.

When you factor in other costs such as commuting, it’s no surprise that many parents decide it is not financially viable for both parents to continue working.

Nanny Sharing Nannies are expensive which is why it’s common place now to share, particularly when/if you only have one child. Whilst it’s not as easy as a 50/50 split in relation to costs, as each family must be registered separately as an employer, there are definite savings on both employer National Insurance and the nanny’s salary.

However, with some foresight and planning, there are some ways to cut your childcare costs.

Family Members Many parents turn to family members for at least some element of their childcare. From full-time care, to part-time regular days to ad hoc school holiday care, childcare from family members is free! In fact, paying them anything at all has tax implications, but, you can pay their expenses without being seen to employ them.

Help from Friends Building a network of local working parents offers the opportunity for sharing childcare responsibilities.

Looking after each other’s children on days when you are not working can reduce costs especially during school holidays. Providing no cash exchanges hands, you don’t need to register as a childminder, but if the arrangement is regular and more formal, you may want to consider public liability insurance in case a child has an accident in your home.

10 | Families Sussex Magazine

Remember that employees have the statutory right to take reasonable time off to deal with an emergency involving a child and the right to up to 13 weeks unpaid parental leave prior to a child’s 5th birthday.

Employees are also entitled to make a formal application for flexible working hours annually and many employees arrange informal flexible working direct with their line manager.

Can you work from home to help take the pressure off commuting and being late to collect your child? Are compressed hours or term time only working an option? Co-ordinate a plan with your partner to work out a weekly routine.

If one of you starts work early and the other later, this may reduce childcare costs.

Free Hours and Tax-Free Childcare Tax credits and a new style of childcare voucher (replacing the employer scheme) can create savings of up to £2,000 per child for parents meeting the eligibility criteria. In addition, children aged 3 and 4 in England are entitled to 15 hours free childcare for 38 weeks per year.

It’s important to be realistic when considering your needs. Paying a nanny with her own car may come at a premium (simple laws of supply and demand!) but if you only need her to drive once a week, would it be cheaper overall for her to use public transport or take a taxi instead?

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to 30 hours free. Whilst most nurseries do offer these free hours, you do need to check (especially for the 30 free hours) and calculate if any additional costs must be factored in. To check if you are eligible, go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Au Pairs

l Stephanie Rough is Corporate Childcare Manager at Parental Choice, the essential one-stop shop for guidance on making the right decisions on your childcare needs. For further information, visit www. parentalchoice.co.uk

Live-in au-pairs are now very popular providing families with childcare and help with general household duties.

At £100 to £140 per week for 25 to 30 hours of work, au pairs are considerably

familiesonline.co.uk

'Raising a Supported Child' by Pam Rowe I think it is likely that he will be comfortable telling his wife or partner and children the same.

Lead by Example – Be the Person You Want Your Child to Be

It can be hard to know what to do to ensure your child feels well-loved and supported. Here are my thoughts on helping your child to become the adult you know they can be: Always Show Love When I first had my son, I remember feeling overwhelmed by his total dependency on me.

This innocent baby was reliant on me for his survival. Our children rely on our love too and we need to show them we love them.

Throughout my son’s life I told him I loved him all the time. Now he regularly says this to me and

WIN!!

If you want your child to be honest, show him how, by being honest yourself. If you lose your temper and lose control, think about what this teaches your child. Talk and read to your child about the importance of morals and values, being kind and caring, sharing, handling dilemmas and expressing their feelings but make sure you positively demonstrate these in your own behaviour.

Reinforce Positive Behaviour Whatever you reward will be reinforced as important and will stick. Decide what is important and reward it with words that make your children feel your praise.

Take Care of Yourself Parents who are physically and

The Supercar Event 2019

On Saturday 1 June more than 150 of the nation’s most exciting supercars will gather at Goodwood Motor Circuit for The Supercar Event 2019, an interactive supercar festival that offers once-in-a-lifetime passenger rides in some of the world’s most exclusive supercars.

On the track we will have Lamborghini Aventador SV, Lamborghini Huracan Performante, Ferrari 812, Ferrari 458 Speciale, McLaren 720 and McLaren SLR in addition to some very special cars to be announced. You might even spot a celebrity or two, with well-known names such as Chris Evans, Shane Richie, Phil Tufnell and Nick Whale taking part in previous years.

The fun doesn’t stop there, we also have a Caterham Seven skid pan, helicopter taster flights, the amazing Wall of Death, a VIP Lounge and a host of other attractions for our younger guests. Teenagers can enjoy the young driver’s experience (age 14+). There is free parking and don’t forget to collect your free kid’s activity passport.

COMPETITION! WIN a family entrance ticket for The Supercar Event by answering the following question: Where is The Supercar Event being held: Goodwood / Donington / Brands Hatch?

emotionally healthy are more likely to raise happy children.

Take care to eat and rest well, find time for relaxation and share your feelings with an appropriate adult in a place where you feel supported and loved. l Pam Rowe has 30 years’ experience working as a social worker and in Children’s Services. Her memoir, Clear Water, is out now and is available from Amazon.

g tin 19 i c x 0 w e for 2 e N ue ven

The Supercar Event Now in its 13th year, The Supercar Event has something for the whole family, with attractions and rides for children and adults – including passenger supercar rides from just £30!

1 June 2019, 9am-5pm GOODWOOD MOTOR CIRCUIT

Sponsored by

Supported by

thesupercarevent.com

Email your answer to editor@familiessussex.co.uk including your name, phone number and address and a winner will be selected at random after the closing date.

Closing date for entries: 30 April 2019.

T&Cs apply.

11 | Families Sussex Magazine

Registered charity number 288018. TCT_254_V2. February 2019.

familiesonline.co.uk

Easter Craft Ideas Let's make a Spring Bird Café

The Easter holidays will soon be here, and, this being the UK, the sun may not always shine. So why not use one of those rainy or chilly days to celebrate the arrival of Spring and get creative making this fun craft project created by our friends at Wonderbly?

You can help your children create an amazing Spring Bird Café. It’s great for small fans of nature and Babyccinos.

I’ll have one latte, to fly…

You can make your own (really) small family business with an upcycled milk carton and get to feed the local bird population at the same time. Let’s get ready for the bird café opening day!

You will need: l A milk carton l A paper plate l A pencil l A ruler l Scissors or a Stanley knife (for adults only) l Paint (use acrylic paint if you want it to go outside but make sure you wear an overall or apron as it doesn't wash out!). l Bell and paper clip (optional) l Decorative tape (optional) l Bobbins and mini umbrellas l Dowel or BBQ sticks l Yummy seeds l Some flappy customers...!

12 | Families Sussex Magazine

Here’s how to do it….

1. First things first, grab your (empty) milk carton. Take your ruler and get your child assistant to measure and trace two flaps for awnings and a hole for the birds. Your team’s builder can then cut the holes.

2. Time to get creative. Paint the milk carton and paper plate to make your building and outdoor area.

For sharper colour, give your milk carton two coats.

3. It’s all in the details. Tile your roof by painting them on with the brush, and adorn your awnings. We used decorative tape, but you can paint or colour in with pens and pencils.

4. Get your bird café customerready. Add a doorbell (obviously) by rolling a paper clip around a

pencil, thread the bell into it and push it through the milk carton. Make some bunting using thread and decorative tape. You can even make a window plant box by folding up some paper and gluing it underneath one of the awnings.

5. While you’re doing the fiddly bits, let your child make their café’s sign with some cardboard and paint. Let them paint with their fingers for more sensory fun! Leave to dry, and then help the café owner write their name with a marker before you cut and glue it.

6. Almost time for the grand opening. Get the kids to stock the café with seeds. Birds especially love sunflower seeds and peanuts.

7. Nearly ready!

Grown-ups, make a little ‘X’ with the Stanley knife below the seed hole and push a piece of dowel or a cocktail stick through. Finally, pop some tables and parasols outside for your first customers.

Bobbins and mini umbrellas are perfect for this, or you could use corks and leaves if you want more plants.

Now take your bird cafe outside for the birds to enjoy or play inside with your own paper birds, you decide! l Wonderbly creates beautiful, personalised children’s books that inspire courage, curiosity, and kindness in children all over the world. A treat for any curious little mind. Find out more at www.wonderbly. com

familiesonline.co.uk

Easter egg-bunny Use this simple step by step guide to make a super cute Easter egg bunny with your little munchkins. You will need: l hard-boiled egg l Yellow and white felt l PVA glue l Felt tip pens Step 1 Begin your craft by taking a freshly cooked and cooled hard-boiled egg.

Step 2 Cut shapes for the bunny’s feet and hands out of the yellow felt; then cut larger ear shapes out of yellow felt and smaller ones from the white.

Step 3 Stick the felt feet onto the base of the egg, making sure the egg can stand upright on them.

Special themed Easter Cruises will be running on The Wey & Arun Canal on Friday 19th April, Easter Sunday 21st April & Easter Monday 22nd April.

Step 4 Stick the white ears onto the yellow. Once they have dried a little, stick them on to the rear of where the face will be.

Step 5 Finally, draw a rabbit’s face on the front of the egg and decorate as your child likes.

You could even stick a cute little bow on the eggs!

Easter bunny ears Step 1 Paint two sheets of white cardboard grey and then another two sheets pink.

Make sure your kids get into the Easter spirit with this simple to make homemade bunny ears.

What you will need: l White cardboard l Scissors l Grey and pink paint l PVA glue l An Alice band

Easter Cruises on the Wey & Arun Canal, Loxwood

Step 2 Using child-safe scissors cut out larger ear shapes from the grey cardboard and then slightly smaller ear shapes from the pink cardboard.

Step 3 Stick the smaller pink shapes onto the larger grey ears.

Step 4 Finally, glue the shapes to the Alice band and leave to dry.

Easter Surprises!

Mon 15th Fri 19th April 11am - 3pm

Join in with some springtime crafts and have a go at our Easter treasure hunt around the Palace grounds.

Plenty of Easter characters will be on the canal to entertain you – come along and join in the fun! The trips take 40 minutes and depart at 11.00am, 12.00 and 2.00pm.

Children will receive a chocolate gift from the Easter Bunny while adults can enjoy the chance to unwind and enjoy the scenery. Tickets are £10.00 per person and refreshments for everyone are included. Booking in advance is advisable.

Bookings for all special events can be made via the Trust website. For enquiries about private charters call the WACT Office on 01403 752403 or email office@weyandarun.co.uk.

Find out more at www.weyandarun.co.uk

Distributors wanted!

Do you have a car available and driving licence?

Are you able to spare 2/3 days every couple of months within school hours? Are you looking for extra income?

If you live in the following areas and would like to distribute Families Sussex magazine to local schools, nurseries and family attractions every two months, please get in touch!

Horsham | Crawley | Burgess Hill Petworth | Brighton | Shoreham

Email for more details at: editor@familiessussex.co.uk

PO19 3QR 01243 785859 w w w. s u s s e x p a s t . c o. u k

13 | Families Sussex Magazine

familiesonline.co.uk

What's On Guide for Sussex Families Now until 31st May Aliens, Zombies & Monsters: The Weird World of Aaron Blecha Littlehampton Museum, BN17 5EW

Visit the museum to see the recently extended opening of an interactive and immersive exploration of Children’s books and their characters that were created by Aaron Blecha. Take a picture with some monsters and colouring. While there you can also see all the museum has to offer and there are activities for the children to do on the way round. Free entry.

Sat 2nd March Littlehampton Pancake Olympics, Littlehampton

High Street, Littlehampton, 11am - 1pm

Come see the pancake Olympics in the High Street.

Teams will be competing not only for glory but also to win money for their chosen charity.

Sat 2nd March Burgess Hill Girls Open Day with Paw Patrol Burgess Hill, RH15 0EG

PAW patrol’s Chase and Skye will be providing entertainment. The school will be open for tours and staff available to speak to. For more information visit www.burgesshillgirls.com

Sat 2nd March Arty Crafty Club

Hove Museum and Art Gallery BN3 4AB, 2.00-4.00pm

Art club that uses a different gallery within the museum as the theme, using different

skills and methods. There are things including plaster casting, clay work and animation amongst others.

This is suitable for ages 8 – 12.

Charges apply. Visit www. brightonmuseums.org.uk for more information.

Saturday 2nd March Wildlife Watch

Rye Harbour Village Car Park, TN31 7TX, 10.00am – 2.30pm

This is a monthly club for children aged between 5 -and 11 years old. This club offers a chance to see the natural world, find out more and look at the types of wildlife in the area. Visit www. sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk for more information.

Saturday 2nd March Chorister Open Day

Chichester Cathedral, PO19 1PX

Junior choristers will be performing. A chance for budding young choristers to find out more information.

Suitable for boys in years 2 and 3. Charges apply. Visit www.chichestercathedral.org. uk for more information.

Sunday 3rd March Big Beach Clean

Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters, East Dean, BN20 0AB, 10am – 12pm

A great opportunity to help protect our oceans, help to clean the beach and survey the litter. This event is held by the Marine Conservation Society, all ages welcome. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ birling-gap-and-the-sevensisters.

Sunday 3rd March Walk with a Warden

Rye Harbour Village Car Park, TN31 7TX. 10.00am – 1.00pm

Take a short walk with an experienced warden viewing the coastal reserve and viewing the wildlife. Will begin at the car park. Visit www. sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Sunday 3rd March Estate Car Sunday Goodwood Breakfast Club Goodwood Motor Circuit, PO18 0PX, 7.00am – 12.00pm

Join the Motor Circuit to celebrate all types of Estate cars at this very popular event. There will be German uber-wagons to rare Italian designed estates. This is a free event, but you will need to get tickets for entry. Visit https:// www.goodwood.com/sports/ motorsport/breakfast-club/ to book.

Thursday 7th March World Book Day, Nationwide

Take part in the world’s biggest campaign to help every child and young person to have a book of their own.

There are a number of creative resources and to take part visit www.worldbookday.com

Thursday 7th March World Book Day, Book Signing with Julia Donaldson

Steyning Bookshop, 106 High Street To celebrate the release of her new book -The Go Away Bird’, Julia Donaldson will be signing books at the

bookshop. Although there is no charge for this event, there are three signing sessions and booking must be made to get a signing along with purchase of the book which is £11.99.

Call 01903 812062 to book.

Thursday 7th March World Book Day, Workshop with illustrator Aaron Belcha Littlehampton Museum, BN17 5EW. 3.30pm – 5.00pm

Aimed at 8-12 year olds, this fun workshop with Aaron Belcha aims to guide you through the process of creating your own characters. Come dressed as your favourite character. Free event but must be booked. Telephone 01903 738100 to book.

Saturday 9th March Curtain Up! The Sequel,

Windmill Theatre, Littlehampton, BN17 5LH

This brilliant show is hosted and organised by the Mayor of Littlehampton. It is his Charity Gala Performance following his super successful first show last year, bringing together different local amateur dramatic and musical societies. Tickets are £15, book by calling 01903 730775.

Saturday 9th March National Trust World Book Day, Petworth House and Park GU28 0AE, 10.00am – 4.00pm

Celebrate World Book Day with the National Trust.

Dress as your favourite character and take part in the Bookworm Trail. Normal admission applies.

Find more exciting events at www.familiesonline.co.uk. Families Sussex reccomends that you always check details of the event with the organiser. E&OE. 14 | Families Sussex Magazine

familiesonline.co.uk

Saturday 9th March Spring Fayre

Steyning, 10.30am – 3.00pm

Homemade cakes and other stalls. Crafts, tombola and lucky dip also going to be there all raising funds for Cruse WSA. www.cruse.org.uk/westsussex-area.

Sunday 10th March Design, Draw, Print, Play, Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft BN6 8SP, 11.00am – 4.00pm

Students from the graphics and illustration department at University of Brighton have created a variety of activities for all ages to enjoy. Visit www. ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org. uk for more information.

Friday 15th March Red Nose Day

to discover how colours, paints and dyes were made and how they were used during Roman times. This is a club suitable for those aged 6 – 12 who are budding archaelogists.

Admission charges apply.

Booking is essential, visit www. sussexpast.co.uk for more information.

Saturday 23rd March Monday 6th May Jawsome Sharks

Sea Life Centre, Brighton, BN2 1TB

Become a recruit with the Jawsome Rangers, completing your mission to find missing shark teeth to get a PlayDoh prize at the end. Normal admission charges apply.

Sunday 24th March Steyning Welcomes Super Cars & Super Food!

High Street, 10.30am – 4.00pm

Events nationwide

All across the UK people will be doing all matter of things big and small for Comic Relief. For more information and to get a fundraising pack visit www. comicrelief.com/rednoseday.

Saturday 16th March K2 Crawley Open Day

K2 Crawley, Pease Pottage Hill, RH11 9BQ

A fun day of activities and events for all ages with bouncy castles, football, £1 swimming sessions, diving, climbing, bowls, badminton, netball, squash and much more from 10am-3pm!

Saturday 16th February – Sunday 17th March Underwater Superheroes

A super fun day out, there will be a French market with a great selection of foods.

At 2pm there will be a band and will preceed Super cars that will stop for a while on the High Street. There will be cars ranging from Ferrari’s Lamborghini’s and Aston Martins to US muscle cars.

Monday 25th March Borde Hill Garden

Haywards Heath, RH16 1XP

Borde Hill Garden will reopen its doors today, visit the horticultural delights.

Admission prices apply, for more information visit www. bordehill.co.uk.

Friday 29th March Wear A Hat Day 2019

Sea Life Centre, Brighton, BN2 1TB

Nationwide

Thursday 21st March Shoreham-By-Sea Beach Clean

Saturday 30th March World Book Day Weekend

Help clean the beach with a dedicated team. Visit www. sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk for more information.

Join the team at Bodiam for World Book Day celebrations, there will be storytelling and a bookworm trail. Take your tokens and exchange for a £1 book. Charges apply. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ bodiam-castle for more.

A chance to find your super hero power awaits at the sea life centre. Challenge yourself against speedy sharks, intelligent octopuses and strong starfish. Normal admission charges apply.

BN43 5LJ, 2.30-4.30pm

Saturday 23rd March Togi’s Team – Colour Magic at Fishbourne Roman Palace

April 6th - 26th GIANT Easter Duck Trail

Arundel Wetland Centre Mill Road, Arundel, BN18 9PB 01903 881525 Find these cheeky ducks hiding with their real-life cousins on this fun, family trail to win a treat. Visit the roaming Eggstraodinary Trolley, make a Cracking Craft or try a Pooology workshop. Pond dipping and a ride on the Wetlands Discovery Boat Safari is also included in your admission price! Visit www.wwt.org.uk/ Arundel to get admission tickets online and save 10%.

Arundel Wetland Centre, Mill Road, Arundel, BN18 9PB open 9:30am-5:30pm.

List your event in Families Sussex You can list your forthcoming event in our "What's On? guide for FREE by sending the event details (up to 35 words) to editor@familiessussex.co.uk.

May/June issue copy deadline: 15th April 2019.

SPECIAL OFFER: upgrade to 100 words plus an image AND a listing in our online directory AND two social media posts promoting your event, all for just £65+VAT per issue.

Multiple issue booking discount available. Email us now!

Easter Holiday ACTIVITY PROGRAMME Worthing Leisure Centre | Splashpoint Leisure Centre Davison Leisure Centre | Field Place Manor House

Monday 8th to Friday 19th April

Wednesday 20th March

Join thousands of children, their parents and teachers across the country who will be holding all types of fundraising events in support of Brain Tumour Research. Visit www. wearahatday.org for more.

Bodiam Castle, Robertsbridge, TN32 5UA, 11.00am – 4.00pm

g includin

Drop off and go!

For childre n and young peo aged 5 ple -16 years

Fully supervised sessions from 8:30am-6pm*

*Drop off and go sessions do not apply to activities at Splashpoint Leisure Centre

Book online or call 01903 905050

Fishbourne Roman Palace, PO19 3QR, 10am-12.30pm

Visit Fishbourne Roman Palace

15 | Families Sussex Magazine

Bookable from

South Downs www.southdownsleisure.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Sunday 31st March Mother’s Day Cruises on The Wey & Arun Canal

Wednesday 17th April Peter Rabbit Meet & Greet Drusillas Park

www.weyandarun.co.uk 01403 752403

Special cruises will be running on the canal on Mothering Sunday, 31st March 2019. A ‘Coffee & Danish Pastry Cruise’ will depart at 11.00am and Cream Tea Cruises will depart at 2.15pm and 4.30pm. Black tie service will enhance the relaxing treat for Mums (and all passengers)! The trips take 1½ hours.

Tickets cost £14 for adults and £10 for children and must be booked in advance. Call 01403 752403 or visit www. weyandarun.co.uk .

Saturday 30th March – Sunday 31st March Mother’s Day Craft Weekend

Saturday 6th April Easter Egg Hunt

There will be theme craft activities to help celebrate Mother’s Day across National Trust locations including Bodiam Castle. Activities include decorating your own potted spring flower pot.

Charges apply. Visit www. nationaltrust.org.uk for more information.

Hunt for the hidden eggs within the museum and claim your reward when you have.

The Easter Bunny will be around Friday 19th April and Saturday 20th April. No need to book. Free admission.

National Trust Venues

Saturday 30th March Sunday 31st March Mums Can Do

Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre, Amberley, BN18 9LT

Experience a fun filled weekend where mums can take part in activities such as pottery and train driving. Normal admission charges apply. Visit www. amberleymuseum.co.uk for more details.

Sunday 31st March – Mothering Sunday Borde Hill Garden Haywards Heath, RH16 1XP, 10.00am – 6.00pm

Take a spring time walk and enjoy delicious food including vintage afternoon tea to celebrate Mother’s Day. Normal admission charges apply. Visit www.bordehill. co.uk for more information.

Saturday 6th April Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt

Petworth House and Park, GU28 0AE Join Bunny to find his friends who have gone missing. Once you have found them there will be a chocolate reward.

Tickets for the Egg Hunt is £3 per child. Normal admission charges apply.

The Novium Museum, Chichester, PO19 1QH – 10.00am – 5.00pm

Then from Good Friday, 19th April and Easter Monday, 22nd April there will be traditional Easter preparations and celebrations which will begin with the Easter Bake in the Winkhurst Tudor Kitchen and an Easter Bonnet Parade in Market Square.

Activities vary throughout but will include egg painting and bonnet making.

Normal admission charges apply. Free Parking and dogs allowed on leads.

Sunday 10th April Easter Out & About Session Mewsbrook Park, Littlehampton, BN16 2LX

Fun activities for all at this local event run by Littlehampton Town Council.

Saturday 6th April 22nd April Adventure Zone, Tilgate Park

Friday 12th April Easter Eggstravaganza Race Day

Inflatable fun for younger children with bungee trampolines and small Disney car rollercoaster ride.

More information at www.crawley.gov.uk/events.

Easter entertainment including an Easter Egg Hunt and activities as well as 7 excellent horse races.

Admission charges apply.

Tilgate Park, Crawley, RH10 5PQ

Friday 8th April – 18th April Have bundles of fun at Barracudas Activity Day Camps

Easter holiday entertainment is sorted for 4 ½ – 14 year olds with a brilliant programme of over 80 amazing activities.

The camps run at Patcham High School in Brighton from 8th - 18th April. Early & late pick-ups are available to extend the day from 8am to 6pm. Visit www.barracudas. co.uk/camps/brighton or phone 01480 467567 for further details.

Friday 8th April – Friday 22nd April Easter at the Museum

Weald & Downland Museum, PO18 0EU - 10.30am – 5.30pm

Easter activities that are family friendly including crafts and traditional games. A chance to see traditional farm animals such as horses, lambs and sheep. If the weather is good, for a small donation you can take a ride on a wagon.

Fontwell Race Course, BN18 0SY

Monday 15th April – Friday 19th April Easter Surprises

Fishbourne Roman Palace, PO19 3QR – 11.00am – 4.00pm Celebrate with Fishbourne Roman Palace this Easter. Within the Gardens there will be an Easter themed treasure hunt and there will also be spring crafts.

Normal admission applies.

A good rabbit never gives up!

After a busy morning causing trouble in Mr. McGregor's garden, Peter Rabbit has left his radishes and tree house behind to visit us at Drusillas Park! For more information please telephone 01323 874100 or visit the website at www.drusillas.co.uk

Friday 19th April – Monday 22nd April Easter Weekend Michelham Priory BN27 3QS

Enjoy a weekend of Easter hands on activities including a children’s trail and Easter Egg Hunt. Normal admissions charges apply.

Friday 19th April – Monday 22nd April The Easter Trail, West Dean Gardens

West Dean Gardens, Nr. Chichester, PO18 0RX, 9.00am – 5.00pm

An Easter Trail, with two levels of difficulty so suitable for all ages and there is a prize at the end.

There will also be arts and crafts within the garden classroom.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Under 16’s are free admission to the gardens, however tickets are needed for the Easter activities. These are priced at £5.

Adult tickets are £9 which is the normal garden entry fee.

Saturday 20th April – Sunday 12th May Harriers & the 69 Air Race Tangmere Aviation Museum, O20 2ES – 10.00am – 5.00pm

Visit this temporary exhibit

May Half Term Spring To Life at Arundel Wetland Centre

Arundel Wetland Centre, Mill Road, Arundel, BN18 9PB Open 9.30am-5.30pm See new life awakening in the ponds and meadows of the wetlands this spring. Enjoy daily pond dipping, kids crafts and other spring family activities.

A ride on the Wetlands Discovery Boat Safari is also included in your admission price! Visit www.wwt.org.uk/Arundel to get admission tickets online and save 10%.

Find more exciting events at www.familiesonline.co.uk. Families Sussex reccomends that you always check details of the event with the organiser. E&OE. 16 | Families Sussex Magazine

familiesonline.co.uk

Monday 15th April - Friday 19th April Easter Surprises at Fishbourne Roman Palace to mark the anniversary of the 1969 Transatlantic Air Race which included the participation of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. Normal admission charges apply.

Sunday 21st April – Easter Sunday Fun Day, Mewsbrook Park, Littlehampton Littlehampton, BN16 2LX, 10.30am – 4.00pm

There will be a number of attractions including an Easter bonnet competition, coconut shy, plate smashing and an inflatable assault course and much more besides.

Sunday 21st April – Monday 22nd April Parham Easter Opening Parham House & Gardens 10.30am – 5.00pm

Easter fun in Parham House and Gardens. There will be a garden

Fishbourne Roman Palace, Roman Way, Fishbourne, West Sussex, PO19 3QR Tel 01243 785859 www.sussexpast.co.uk

Celebrate the coming of spring at Fishbourne Roman Palace this Easter. Explore the Roman gardens with an Easter-themed treasure hunt around the gardens.

Try your hand at springtime crafts including spinning wool into yarn, Roman writing, designing a mosaic, dressing up Roman-style and making a Roman sundial and use it to tell the time. There is plenty to do under cover so if the spring weather does its worst, you can still have a great family day out. trail and when finished if you can find the Easter bunny you can get a prize. There will also be face painting, storytelling and craft activities. There is something for everyone.

Admission fees apply.

Saturday 19th April – Monday 22nd April and Tuesday 23rd April Easter Egg Hunt

Sompting Big Local, BN15 0AH

Over the Easter weekend, look out for Easter Eggs that are SBL coloured through Sompting. These can then be exchange at the Big Local Hub on Tuesday 23rd April between 1-3pm. Only one egg per child.

Sunday 21st April Easter Sunday Funday 2019 Shoreham Fort, BN43 5HY 11.00am - 4.00pm

Shoreham Fort's Easter

Sunday Funday is just that, a fun day for all the family.

There will be kids games, Easter crafts, cakes, the gun rack, merchandise and a small raffle - all run by the charity's volunteers. The purpose of the event is to raise funds for the charity. For more information please visit Shoreham Fort's website at www.shorehamfort. co.uk

Join All Stars Cricket Today!

All Stars Cricket is a programme aimed at children aged 5-8 years old to give them a great first experience in cricket.

Sessions are accredited by the England & Wales Cricket Board and delivered nationwide at over 2,000 centres.

All Stars Cricket will help your child develop key skills in a fun and safe environment where parents can join in too and help create #BigMoments you’ll both treasure!

Following successful registration, All Stars Cricketers will receive a brand-new kit bag full of goodies to help them get

17 | Families Sussex Magazine

their summer of cricket started and fully look the part when they attend their 8 weekly sessions.

This year we have a brand-new Cricket World Cup themed activity book that is full of top tips, games and, it’s a great place to keep those weekly stickers to celebrate your All Star's achievements.

Plus, it’s all delivered straight to your door.

To find out more about how to get involved this summer, simply visit www.allstarscricket.co.uk and get your place booked as session begin May 2019.

familiesonline.co.uk

Parenting & Family

'Sharenting' - what's the best approach?

By Dr Bex Lewis you live. Consider turning off geo-tagging on your photos. Check the re-share rights of images that you’re uploading.

3. Get permission to feature other children.

4. Try not to show that you have a regular routine every day.

5. Don’t post pictures of your children naked.

Develop your own and your child’s digital literacy. Don’t believe that others have ‘perfect lives’ with their children any more than you do, and consider whether you need to capture every moment.

Conversations about Sharenting

Sharenting is the term used to define the sharing by parents of posts about their children on social media, whether the everyday, or special milestones such as birthdays, travels, first steps or achievements.

Often known as ‘over-sharenting,’ it can be seen as negative, attracting criticism for being repetitive, boring, a form of digital narcissism, humble-bragging (“isn’t it terrible that my child is struggling with Grade 7 piano?”), or insensitive of those who are unable to have children.

The Benefits of Sharenting For many, sharing posts about their children validates the value of the parenting role, and is seen as the modern equivalent of sending round-robin letters: part of the duty of communicating with the wider family.

Geographical distance can limit the ability to meet up physically and being able to engage online with the lives of nieces, nephews, and grandchildren online has been joyfully embraced as a substitute.

For parents themselves, social media can create a sense of community and connection and can be helpful when managing the challenging aspects of parenting. For those who have grown up sharing their lives online, sharing parenthood is simply the next stage of their life journey.

18 | Families Sussex Magazine

The Risks of Sharenting Every interaction that we make online leaves a trail, commonly known as a ‘digital footprint,’ which others, such as future employers, may find by searching for your child’s name. Many children’s first appearance on social media is their birth scan announcement. Once information is out there, it is hard, if not impossible, to recall it. Barclays are saying because of how much we share online, identity fraud has never been easier, so beware of revealing full names, dates of birth, home addresses, places of birth, mother’s maiden name, schools, names of pets, sport teams supported and/or beware of using the same information in passwords.

Practical Steps to Take Many of the practical steps that you can take to protect yourself or your child whilst sharenting are largely common sense, and involve thinking before you post:

Conversations about digital and social media should be an everyday conversation in most households. Before you post about your children, think whether this will cause them embarrassment or give rise to bullying. As they get older, ask permission before you post content.

Be prepared to take content down. At the same time, be mindful that we tend to over-curate our lives, and, as Aimee Horton from www.passthegin.co.uk says, at some point children need to learn to laugh at themselves, and recognise that there’s a difference between amusing posts (shared with love) and harmful content. There are no fixed rules when sharing, but thinking about what and where you are posting is critical. l Dr Bex Lewis is Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University and author of Raising Children in a Digital Age: Enjoying the Best, Avoiding the Worst. She is passionate about helping people engage with the digital world in a positive way.

More info at www.drbexl.co.uk

1. What platform are you sharing content on?

Facebook is restricted to friends but other platforms are more public. Check your privacy settings. Within Facebook, use lists to share content with specific groups of family and friends.

2. Take care with photos Especially the ‘traditional’ back to school photos, cropping to remove the school logo and backgrounds that identify where

familiesonline.co.uk

Helping your children spot 'Fake News' The term ‘fake news’ first came to the fore during the course of the last American Presidential election, when Donald Trump used it to describe some of the news reporting around the campaigns.

Since then, debate about ‘fake news’ has hit the headlines amidst concerns that its proliferation is disrupting elections around the world: it’s one of the most talked about subjects of the year.

Most school children know what fake news is, but teachers report that many of them aren't always able to correctly identify it. They don’t always know what they are looking for. Here are our top 5 tips for helping children spot fake news:

But what is it? What does it mean to you and your family? Being news-savvy empowers children and keeps them engaged and motivated to find out about the world around them. But what should we be teaching them about ‘fake news?’

If it makes you feel very strongly, it could be ‘clickbait’ - a grabbing headline to get you to follow a link.

A recent BBC survey of 18 countries worldwide found that nearly 8 in 10 people said they worried about what was fake and what was real on the internet.

Fake news can easily go viral via social media so it’s vital that children learn to question what they see and read and have the opportunity to discuss it and share their views.

Question, Question, Question!

Who made this? Who is the target audience? Who paid for this? Or, who gets paid if you click on this? Who might benefit or be harmed by this message?

Is the Article Angry or Emotional?

Facts, Facts, Facts!

What proof or evidence does the article give? Does it cite credible research or expert opinions?

If you can help familiarise your children with what is real and ‘fake’ news, they will soon be able to critically assess what they are reading and seeing. l Katie Harrison is an early-years educational expert and founder of Picture News, a new service for schools helping them teach children about the news.

More info at www.picture-news.co.uk

Check what Other Media are Saying Don’t rely on a single source. Are other wellknown news providers sharing this news story? If not, it may not have been verified.

Spell Check!

Obvious grammatical errors or spelling mistakes can be a sign that an article hasn’t been professionally produced or proofread and can be a giveaway.

Top 10 “must have” family photos for your home Do you have trouble deciding which family photos to display in your home? Do you feel that you have too many similar images on your walls?

Would you like to use your family photos to really enhance your child’s sense of themselves and their family? Dr Amanda Gummer explains all... behind the camera; try to capture a candid photo instead of a selfie to reinforce the strength of your bond with your child.

A Candid Photograph Natural photos reflect a person’s personality, whether they are of an energetic toddler running around or if they are a shot which captured someone by surprise. These photos help children value the diversity and uniqueness of their family and friends.

A Photograph with Dad Following child birth, photographs will often feature mother and her child.

It’s also very important for dad to be photographed with his baby son or daughter.

A Baby Photograph Children love seeing themselves as babies in photographs. It really helps them to develop a sense of their own identity.

A Family Unit Photograph A family picture reminds a child that they are loved, they belong and hold a vital place within the unit.

A Club/Classmate Photograph A team sports or classmate photograph helps reinforce a child’s sense of belonging to their friendship group or team and can be reassuring and increase confidence

19 | Families Sussex Magazine

An Extended Family Photograph

levels, particularly at challenging times.

An Everyday Photograph Activities such as playing after school, walking the dogs or helping you with the gardening are important as they reinforce a child’s routine and reaffirm lasting memories.

A Special Day Out Photograph Visits to a theme park, farm

or seaside remind children of really memorable experiences they can talk about and share with other family members.

Pet Photographs All family members can build special bonds with pets they’re an important part of the family, so should also feature in a frame.

A Photograph with Mum

Don’t forget about grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins (especially those who aren’t seen very often) – they are all an important part of a child’s upbringing and identity. l Dr Amanda Gummer is a child development expert and family psychologist and has written this article in collaboration with Canon, which has a great selection of photo printers in its PIXMA range, perfect for printing family photos at home.

Mums are often the ones

familiesonline.co.uk

BO󰈮󰈮󰈮󰈮󰈮󰈮󰈮󰈮󰈮󰈮

T󰉀󰉀E 󰈖󰈖󰈵󰈵’S 󰉇󰉇󰉚󰉚󰈍󰈍O󰈖󰈖R 󰈽󰈽󰈜󰈜 E

80+

󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜 AC󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜a󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜lways! & oice a ch

S󰉑󰉑󰈿󰈿O󰈮󰈮L 󰉀󰉀󰈭󰈭󰈳󰈳󰇳󰇳IOD󰈖󰈖󰉝󰉝󰇳󰇳 !

FU󰈰󰈰 󰈯󰈯󰉋󰉋󰉚󰉚R

PA󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜 B󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤 Easter 8th - 18th April rd Summer 29th July - 23 August

EX󰉑󰉑󰉑󰉑󰉑󰉑󰉑󰉑󰉑 AC󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜󰈜 󰉑󰉑

WE󰉋󰉋󰉋󰉋󰉋󰉋󰉋󰉋 󰈜󰈜󰈜 󰉋󰉋 DU󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰈤󰉋󰉋󰉋󰉋󰉋󰉋 T󰉀󰉀󰉀󰉀󰉀󰉀󰉀󰉀󰉀 󰉀󰉀󰉀󰉀󰉀󰉀󰉀 HO󰈴󰈴󰈴󰈴󰈴󰈴󰈴󰈴󰈴󰈴󰈴

󰉆󰉆󰉆 FU󰈰󰈰 󰉆󰉆½-14 4 󰉋 󰉋󰉋 AG󰉋󰉋 E󰉝󰉝󰉝󰉝󰉝󰉝 Y

V

o r is󰈎󰈎󰉃󰉃 󰇻󰇻󰇽󰇽 r󰈸󰈸 󰇹󰇹 󰈀󰈀 󰈘󰈘 l 01480a󰇸󰇸󰉉󰉉d󰇽󰇽󰈻󰈻.󰇸󰇸o.󰉉󰉉k 4 6 75 6 7

Q

Giving every child such an

AM󰉝󰉝󰉝󰉝󰉝󰉝󰉝󰉝󰉝 EX󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪󰈪

Rated 5 Stars - Jan 2019

they can’t wait to come back!

2103-hever-easter-family-fun-87x130mm-Families.indd 1

20 | Families Sussex Magazine

08/02/2019 17:46

familiesonline.co.uk