Families Upon Thames January/February 2024 Print

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Upon Thames

IN THIS ISSUE

Education Early Years What’s On

Issue 160 January/February 2024

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NEWLAND HOUSE SCHOOL

Nursery Places Available

An Independent Co-ed Prep School and Nursery for children aged 3-13

ISI rated EXCELLENT

Availability may be limited in certain age groups or booking patterns

FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS

OPEN 7.00AM TO 6.30PM

Fun is an essential ingredient at Knowle Green Day Nursery and Preschool where the care and education opportunities for each and every child are as extraordinary as our colleagues who provide them.

Welcome Morning and School Tours 19th Jan, 1st March, 19th April, 24th May Wrap around care 7:30am-6pm | Holiday club | School bus Non-selective entry at Nursery or Reception | 11+ and 13+ offers to range of top selective schools www.newlandhouse.net

0208 865 1305

Knowle Green Day Nursery, The Pavilion, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames, Middlesex TW18 1AJ

We look forward to hearing from you

admissions@newlandhouse.net

Waldegrave Park, Twickenham, TW1 4QT Families upon Thames.indd 1

Please call 01784 464141 or email knowle.green@childbase.com www.childbasepartnership.com

05/12/2023 15:08:02

Meet our garden’s up-and-coming stars this winter.

THE G R E AT E ST S H OW IN EARTH L I V E AT W I S L E Y

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Families Upon Thames

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CONTENTS

Contact us Editor Linda Stone editor@familiesuponthames.co.uk 020 8241 0423 Sales Amanda Biggs amanda.biggs@familiespublishing.co.uk 07835 848066 Design Rebecca Carr rebecca@familiesmagazine.co.uk Printed by Buxton Press Ltd Next issue: March/April Book by: 2 February Sep/Oct issue competition winners Congratulations to all our winners. Find a list at https://bit.ly/SO23recipients

Would you like to advertise your business in our next issue? Call Amanda on 07835 848066 for information.

In this issue 4.

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Education Early years Health New Year, New You Interview Clubs & classes What’s On

Welcome Happy New Year from all of us here at Families upon Thames! We wish you health and happiness in 2024.

If your goal is to work towards being even healthier this year, then we have an idea for you to introduce to your family for each new month of 2024 in our New Year, New You feature.

Despite the bad weather, we all know that our kids still need to get outside. But what happens if you don’t have rainy day gear? We talk to CBeebies presenter, Gemma Hunt, about her role as the ambassador of The Waterproof and Wellies project which plans to give every primary school in the UK ten sets of waterproofs and wellies. Don’t forget to check our What’s On guide and plan some time outside with your family.

Finally, in this issue, we have National Geographic Science Kit bundles to giveaway!

Apply inside. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

Linda Editor, Families Upon Thames This product is made of material from wellmanaged, FSC®-certified forests and other controlled sources.

Calling all Young Scientists!

Help us discover how babies & kids learn!

We’re recruiting infants, toddlers and children to take part in fun studies at Birkbeck’s BabyLab & ToddlerLab in central London.

All babies and children who visit receive a thank you gift and we refund your travel expenses. Register today!

020 3926 1207 babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk

Handwriting Tutor ✓Achieve clear and

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Handwriting Association . DAB checked

An independent school and nursery for children aged 6 months to 11 years.

Non-selective for entry into Reception Consistently impressive 11+ results September 2024 entry: Limited places for girls and boys to join Reception and Year 1 September 2025 entry: Reception registrations now open with first 25 received guaranteed a place

Scan and Register

185 Hampton Road, Twickenham TW2 5NQ | 020 8977 2523 | admissions@themallschool.org.uk | www.themallschool.org.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

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3

EDUCATION

Beyond the school system

By Ana Fábrega It’s a fact that the traditional school system doesn’t suit everyone, yet many parents aren’t in a position to take their children out of school. The good news is that there are some fabulous learning opportunities available outside of the school system, which can be used to complement school learning. Consider these: Self-directed learning communities. Programmes like Kubrio (www.kubrio.com) bring kids together to share interests and design their own curriculums. Over one hundred classes cover coding, game design, art, writing and entrepreneurship.

Academy (www.khanacademy.org) offer amazing courses.

Forest Schools. Forest School programmes (www.forestschoolassociation.org) put kids at the centre of learning, connect them with each other and nature and challenge them to take responsibility and make meaning for themselves.

Foster a love of reading. Let kids read freely and widely. Let them skim through books and dive deep into what interests them: poems, comic books, non-fiction, magazines, cookbooks or even the same book over and over. Choice is the secret recipe for fostering a love of reading. Once they develop this, they will be able to teach themselves anything.

Team problem-solving. Synthesis School (www.synthesis. com) empowers kids to solve the world’s hardest problems.

They compete in teams, debating ideas, testing tactics, communicating decisions, taking ownership and drawing out the best in each other.

Alternative schools. If you are thinking of a different school, consider alternatives such as Montessori, Waldorf and Reggio Emilia. For specific alternative schools, research Sora Schools (www.soraschools.com), Higher Ground (www.higherground. com) and Acton Academy (www.actonacademy.org).

Project-based learning. Programmes like Arduino (www.arduino.cc) cover chemistry, physics, electronics, coding and more. They ship all the components to your door, with online training and support to allow kids to learn by doing.

Microschools. Microschools are also wonderful options, like those available through Prenda (www.prenda.com) and other networks. To find a good one, look for mixed age groups, a childcentred curriculum and project-based learning.

Online STEAM classes. Many schools struggle to provide enough opportunity to explore science, tech, engineering, art and maths (STEAM subjects). Platforms like Brilliant (www.brilliant.org), Skillshare (www.skillshare.com) and Khan

Ana Lorena Fábrega is a teacher, turned edupreneur and author of The Learning Game: Teaching Kids to Think for Themselves, Embrace Challenge, and Love Learning, available from www.bookshop.org

JUNIOR MENUHINS The Lindy Effect

• Baby Menuhins 6 months to 4 years • Mini Menuhins 4 to 7 years • Little Menuhins 7 to 11 years Weekly music classes incorporating musicianship, mindfulness and yoga, as well as group and individual instrumental lessons for children aged 4 years old and above.

Find out more and book classes online at: MENUHINSCHOOL.CO.UK/junior-menuhins

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Lindy ideas refer to concepts or principles that have demonstrated resilience and longevity over time. The term ‘Lindy’ comes from the Lindy Effect, a concept introduced

by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his book Antifragile. In essence, it says that ideas age differently from people. The longer ideas have been around, the longer they’re likely to last.

Each of the learning options explored above share common traits. Although each is unique, they all take Lindy ideas from the past and apply them to today in various ways. Lindy ideas stick around for a reason: they often work quite well and have proven themselves across generations. We should leverage wisdom from the past and adapt it for today.

Although most traditional schools today do not follow Lindy ideas, there are an increasing number of alternative schools and educational programmes that do things differently. These can help parents of children for whom traditional education is not working to replace or supplement it with learning experiences that are grounded in Lindy ideas and updated for today.

Familiesonline.co.uk

An Independent Co-educational Day School in Hampton for pupils aged 4-13

Open Mornings Thursday 1st February Wednesday 20th March "This is a truly happy, nurturing school that challenges children at the right levels in a calm, safe environment."

Good Schools Guide

Book your place today For more information please visit www.twickenhamprep.org.uk

Nurturing Inspiring Achieving Minds Spirit Success

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A PLACE IN RECEPTION 2024?

To find out more about life at Staines Prep, join us for our Open Morning on

FRIDAY 1ST MARCH 2024 or book a personal tour by contacting our admissions team.

An independent day school and nursery for children aged 3-11 years

01784 450909 | www.stainesprep.co.uk | admissions@stainesprep.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

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5

EDUCATION

What to expect from ICT at primary school

By Zuzu Jordan When managed well, technology can transform learning into an engaging and interactive experience. Yet technology now develops and changes so fast that parents may find it difficult to keep up with what their children are learning.

Schools are constantly reviewing their ICT (Information Communication Technology) practice and policies in light of the forever evolving technological world. Additionally, the Covid home schooling experience made schools, parents and carers evaluate both the available tools and what children need in order to access learning, whatever the situation.

At primary school, parents can expect their children to be taught ‘computer science’ in ICT lessons including coding, algorithms and writing programmes to improve the world around us. They will be encouraged to use technology and logical reasoning purposefully. The range of devices and software used to achieve this will vary from school to school. For instance, there are number of free online games which help children learn to code such as www.studio.code.org and www.scratch.mit.edu.

With ICT integrated across the whole curriculum, children will be using some form of technology in most subjects. This may include using tablets, laptops, cameras and the internet.

Teachers use SMART boards allowing children to directly interact with devices in lots of different ways.

Students will use technology for research and presenting information. Schools buy software to help teach some of the curriculum; for instance, Duolingo to support modern foreign language lessons. Some standard tests are even administered online such as the multiplication check in Year 4.

Schools and parents have a dual role in teaching children to be responsible users of communication and information platforms.

Children learn about the benefits and uses of these platforms but the inherent risks involved in online activity is what receives most attention during ICT lessons.

The online world is hard to control and monitor and can be very daunting for parents. All schools should hold an Online Safety Agreement Policy which outlines their plans to safeguard children online. This may tie in with their anti-bullying and child protection policies. Part of these policies involves families agreeing to clear expectations and boundaries. In schools,

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pupils are explicitly taught to use technology safely and report any unacceptable behaviour. They are taught about privacy, protecting their online identity and knowing where and how to report anything disrespectful. In addition, teachers discuss the importance of critical thinking when children obtain information from the internet.

Meanwhile, at home, we are now surrounded by multiple devices to monitor including phones, tablets, smart TVs, smartphones and speakers. Games consoles are increasingly connecting people to the online world too, with children as young as age 2 able to work these devices independently.

It’s a great idea to devise your own family online safety agreement such as this one from Childnet (www.childnet.com) at www.bit.ly/OnlineFamilyAgreement It’s also important to set clear time limits on devices, check parental controls on websites and consider the location of the devices in your home.

One thing that children fear the most is having devices taken away so encourage transparent communication between you and an atmosphere where they feel comfortable to tell you about anything that worries them.

Other useful links for parents include NSPCC at www.bit.ly/ NSPCCOS and Think U Know (www.thinkuknow.co.uk).

Zuzu Jordan is a Mastery for Maths specialist who has taught primary aged children for sixteen years and is interested in early years and home learning. For free homework and home learning resources, find the Facebook page Edumateuk.

Homework tech tool kit

FREE websites or apps

Online English dictionary and thesaurus; YouTube (vetted by parents) for education videos to help clear up misconceptions and consolidate learning; Timers help kids improve their awareness of time constraints; Cameras can evidence homework or present information differently; Word processing software; Calculator.

Tip: Schools increasingly set homework using apps and websites with unique logins and passwords for pupils.

Download and bookmark the app/website and save the password.

As a teacher and parent I highly recommend the following: White Rose Education 1 minute maths (www.bit.ly/1minute maths) is great for practising the four mathematical operations.

BBC Touch Typing dance mat teaches touch typing in steps essential for navigating a keyboard.

Topmarks (www.topmarks.co.uk ) has many interactive games for lots of subjects. Handy if you want visual representation in maths.

BBC Bitesize - you can’t go wrong! It covers so many aspects of learning and is up to date.

Families Upon Thames

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EDUCATION

A perfect blend of highly nurturing, personalised education with outstanding academic results.

Book your place at our open morning on Friday 1st March 2024

24 – 26 Cumberland Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3HQ www.kewcollegeprep.com

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THE GOLDEN TICKET TO A BRIGHT FUTURE

“

The Good Schools Guide

Making your mark on the world begins on day one at Sir William Perkins’s School.

Every student is supported to pursue their passions, whilst working to the highest educational standards.

An independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18.

Book your place at an open event at swps.org.uk Guildford Road, Cherstey, KT16 9BN Tel. 01932 574 900 admissions@swps.org.uk

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The Good Schools Guide

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7

EARLY YEARS

Best new baby products 2024

By Mallory Reynolds-Trout

Knowing what to buy when you’re a new parent can be confusing when everyone has different lifestyles and there’s so much out there to choose from. So here are my top picks of some of the best baby products recently launched in the market.

The Sleep Nanny App

The BabyUp The brainchild of renowned paediatrician Dr Albani and based on vigorous testing, the BabyUp cradles babies in a natural, upright position which is as comfortable as a parent’s arms. It gently rocks your baby while playing a soothing heartbeat or lullaby through integrated Bluetooth speakers.

Keeping your baby in the optimal position aids digestion and prevents stomach contents from coming back up, easing babies who suffer from reflux. The foldable design makes it convenient to take wherever you and your baby go. www.dralbani.org

Devised by sleep expert Lucy Shrimpton, The Sleep App by The Sleep Nanny® is a new solution to help babies and children sleep happily and healthily. The app uses science-based strategies that can be tailored to parents’ unique needs, with bespoke plans, tips on navigating every stage, tracking tools and a community chat. Download from App Store or Google Play. www.sleepnanny.co.uk The SleepaSloth This portable and fully customisable baby sleep sound machine allows you to play the sound you want, at the volume you want and for exactly how long you want. You can record your voice to replay to your baby as if you were right next to them and there’s an adjustable nightlight for night time changes and feeds. www.sleepasloth.com

Milestone prints from My Baby Days These are beautiful and unique to the UK. Designed in France, these stunning prints look great as part of the nursery décor and would make a lovely gift. They enable parents to timestamp precious milestones, capturing everything from their baby’s earliest giggle, to their first taste of lemon, to their first ride on a swing. www.mybabydays.com

The Flavour Academy Cookbook by Zenia Deogan The Flavour Academy is a platform with online courses and individual guidance to provide healthy, positive family mealtimes. Zenia’s first family cookbook is filled with recipe ideas and healthy eating tips to give little ones the best start in life. She highlights how mealtimes play a huge role in children’s development, affecting sleep, behaviour and mood. www.bit.ly/FlavourAcademyCookbook

Maternity leggings from Natal Active Natal Active creates activewear for every stage of motherhood and their new selection of leggings for postnatal mums is stylish, supportive and fun. Available in a selection of colours, they are perfect for both new mums dashing from A to B and those re-starting their fitness journeys. www.natalactive.com

Kaia Leather changing bag from Storksak Changing bags never looked so good and Storksak’s brand new styles offer unrivalled functionality to modern parents.

The elegant Kaia Leather bag combines their signature grained leather with a new buttery soft nappa leather and includes hidden backpack straps. www.storksak.com

The Modern Midwife’s Guide to the First Year Marie Louise is The Modern Midwife and a regular speaker at The Baby Show.

Charting the highs and lows of parenthood from birth up until your baby’s first birthday, this book is an informative and supportive read during those crucial first twelve months. www.bit.ly/Modern MidwifeFirst

Mallory Reynolds-Trout is Show Manager at The Baby Show with Lidl GB. The UK’s largest and best loved pregnancy, baby and parenting event will take place from 1-3 March 2024 in London, 10-12 May in Birmingham and 7-9 June in Manchester.

More info at www.thebabyshow.co.uk 8

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EARLY YEARS

What makes a good pre-school or nursery?

By Justina Gapper When choosing a nursery or pre-school, most parents base their decision on a combination of personal recommendation, the vibe of the setting, how much they like the staff and the setting’s Ofsted report and rating.

But what are the other features that contribute to the success of a nursery or pre-school setting? What really makes the difference between your child having a great experience, rather than just an acceptable one? Here are some things to take note of when you are visiting potential nurseries for your child.

Staff team Recruiting the right staff and ensuring they work closely as a team is crucial to the success of a nursery setting. Look out for the way staff interact with each other. Are they supporting each other, anticipating issues and problems and each other’s needs, as well as those of the children? Look out for nursery managers who are present in the main part of the nursery, as opposed to spending all their time sitting in an office. When they are working alongside their staff, they can steer the ship and also offer support at particularly busy times of the day.

Communication Communication between nursery key workers and parents is a number one priority. Can you see evidence of nursery staff working closely with parents to help new children settle?

Settling a child into nursery or pre-school can be a stressful and anxious experience for both parent and child. Not all children are

the same, so settings should, where possible, be flexible enough to adjust their procedures to suit each child.

Good nurseries provide daily feedback to parents, send weekly emails and use social media to show the nursery in action.

Parents should expect to receive regular updates from their child’s key worker and be kept informed of their child’s progress and what is happening more generally at the nursery.

Look out for nurseries and pre-schools that help parents understand and support at home what their children have been learning at the setting. For instance, use of Home-Link Books which suggest small, achievable, fun activities that parents can do with their children at home.

Structure, routine and safety To feel safe, children need routine, so it is important that staff are able to maintain this. Parents also need complete peace of mind that their child is safe at the setting and may want to check whether the nursery has installed CCTV and telecoms on its entrances to ensure secure access.

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The Mall Nursery achieves 10/10 rating The Mall Nursery in Twickenham opened in September 2022 with provision for up to eighty children ages 6 months to 4 years. The nursery has already achieved a 10/10 rating on www.daynurseries.co.uk and was a finalist for New Nursery of the Year at the Nursery Management Today awards.

98% of parents with children at the nursery say they would recommend it to friends and 68% feel it has exceeded all expectations. Parents say: ‘The outdoor space is just mindblowing’ and ‘My daughter has been at The Mall Nursery since it opened. It is one of the best decisions we have made for our family. The staff are amazing, so friendly and welcoming.’

Children attend The Mall Nursery for a minimum of three days a week and are all automatically offered a place in Reception at the Mall School. Fees include a weekly swimming lesson in the indoor pool on the main school site.

Confidence starts in the

water

We teach the lifesaving skill of learning how to swim - taking each child on a journey of aquatic discovery, adventure and purposeful play. We create an experience where little ones can unlock new challenges as their skills develop and uncover missions around core aquatic skills, swimming, and water safety milestones. It’s all about igniting imaginations as they learn.

Early registration is advised to guarantee preferred days and start date.

Join us anytime! Classes available now.

When you’re ready, we’re ready.

More information at www.themallschool.org.uk

01932 227428 underthewaves@waterbabies.co.uk

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EARLY YEARS

Thriving not surviving: the toddler years

By Heidi Skudder While the baby months pass by in a flurry of contact naps, back-to-back feeds and trying to work out when you will ever sleep again, the toddler years are definitely something to look forward to.

Multiple naps a day are over, eating is on its way to being well established and you actually have time to get out and about between meal times. That said, the toddler stage has its own unique challenges which can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, it is possible to actually thrive during these years, not just survive.

Here are my top tips and observations.

Toddlers start to become more vocal and know their own minds, often refusing to engage in even the most basic daily chores: getting dressed, nappy changes - the list goes on. Prep in advance by talking them through everything you’ll be doing that day step by step, so that nothing takes them by surprise.

Poor behaviour is always about communication and although toddler tantrums are considered a normal rite of passage, excessive tantrums and big feelings could indicate that they are trying to tell you something. This could be something as simple as hunger, needing a little more sleep or even a tummy ache that they can’t explain to you. Toddlers simply aren’t ‘naughty’ just for the sake of it.

wide range of foods, not giving second choices and recognising that appetites vary day to day. You decide what is on their plate and they decide how much they want to eat.

Sleep is essential for a calmer journey throughout the toddler years. It’s often assumed that the sacred ‘lunch time nap’ can be dropped at two years of age but the reality is that most toddlers need this nap well into their third year, with some needing it until they go to school.

It may sometimes feel like you’re in an uphill battle with your toddler to get out of the house each day. Remember that with time and by rationalising with them, things do get easier. Soon you’ll look back and miss the fight about not wearing their wellies to the supermarket and those muddy footprints will be a distant memory!

Heidi is a parenting coach. For online toddler courses including toddler behaviour, fussy eating and sleep, see her website at www.positivelyparenthood.com

During a tantrum, try understanding and listening to how your toddler actually feels rather than telling them to stop crying or assuming that they are just being difficult. Often by identifying with the emotion and feeling, it can really help stop them in their tracks and deal with their feelings more easily.

For example, using the words: ‘Oh, you really wanted that ice cream didn’t you, because you love ice cream SO much. I totally understand,’ rather than: ‘stop crying’ is going to elicit a calmer response and help you both move through those big feelings more easily and in less time.

The toddler years often bring phases of fussy eating and food refusal. Keep on top of mealtimes by exposing little ones to a

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Thinking that it's starting to get too cold to swim with your little one? Think again! There are so many reasons to continue swimming through winter.

Water Babies classes use repetition which helps babies and toddlers understand key safety skills and grow their water confidence. Swimming also has many physical benefits so you can keep your little one active and fit, whilst enjoying a special opportunity for some skin-to-skin bonding time.

In the winter months, you’re more likely to be at home indoors where there are fewer opportunities for social interaction for you and your child. Swimming lessons are a fantastic way to combat this. There’s also a real advantage in keeping your baby or toddler’s skill levels up by maintaining the routine of going to lessons.

Find out more about local swimming classes with Water Babies in Addlestone, Chessington, Cobham, Kingston, Shepperton, Chertsey, Surbiton and further afield in Surrey at www.waterbabies.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

HEALTH

Ultra-processed foods: the dangers and alternatives

By Charlotte Stirling-Reed There has been a lot in the press recently about UPFs (ultra processed foods), especially related to what we feed our children.

In an ideal world, most babies, toddlers and young children would eat meals cooked from scratch at home as the standard.

This allows them to get used to fresh food and ingredients and a variety of tastes and flavours that are typical of your family meals. It also means that you know exactly what’s going into your young children’s bodies and how the dishes are made.

In this way, it’s easier for you to have more control over the everyday diets of your children.

Sometimes have been made using high heat treatments to create longer shelf lives. This may reduce the vitamin and mineral content.

What are the alternatives to UPFs?

However, on the other side of the coin, parenting is HARD and sometimes preparing freshly cooked meals for young children, up to three times a day, just isn’t achievable. That’s okay. It’s very much to be expected in our busy society and with more of us both working and raising children.

Firstly, think about UPFs as ‘every now and then’ foods for young children, where possible.

There really is nothing wrong with having the odd packaged snack, fruit pouch or pack of baby biscuits, so try not to get sucked into the ‘giving young children UPFs is terrible’ idea.

However, what you should know is that offering them as regular options can be problematic because they:

Use fridge-raid meals. These are meals where you look in the fridge and make mini picnics out of all the foods that need using up. This both reduces prep time and food waste at the same time. I do this at least twice a week.

Make big batches of meals and snacks at home to portion freeze for weeks ahead.

Don’t be afraid of using pre-prepared options when you need the convenience, even if they are sweeter or have a little added salt.

Don’t represent the balanced options necessary for snacks and meals;

Team them up with extras which add more nutrients to the eating occasion. For example, if you’re offering crisps, add a tangerine and some hummus to dip them in.

Are often high in sugar and/or calories but with little extra nutrients such as iron, protein, iodine or zinc, for example; Are often not very satiating so don’t sufficiently fill little ones at mealtimes, either leaving them hungry or eating more than what should be a ‘portion;’

If you’re offering a baby pouch, try decanting the pouch, mashing in some lentils and spreading it on a piece of toast to create more of a meal. poster CLEAN2.pdf

Are often overly sweet to encourage little ones to accept them readily and want more. However, this doesn’t help babies and toddlers to explore and accept a wider variety of tastes;

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Charlotte is working in association with Stokke and their iconic Tripp Trapp chair (www.stokke.com), the chair that grows with the child. Her new book, How to Feed Your Family is out now. You can also find helpful downloadable resources for family feeding on her website at www.srnutrition.co.uk/ factsheets

Sometimes have added, unnecessary ingredients such as sugar, salt, fillers and oils that aren’t needed and that you wouldn’t add when home cooking;

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11

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

Twelve months to It’s the New Year! This is the perfect time for a reboot designed for the whole family. Get started February Grow more veg & herbs

January Eat less meat Veganuary takes place every January. Having started in the UK in 2014, it now has global traction. If going vegan is a step too far for your family, how about Meatless Mondays? Even reducing red meat by a small amount can improve heart health. Try a half-and-half approach; instead of using just minced beef in recipes, replace half with beans, lentils or mushrooms. It increases the amount of fibre in your diet.

It might be looking a little bare out there but the frostbitten days of winter are coming to an end. What better time to visit the garden centre, shake out the gardening gloves and push some seeds into the soil. Assigning individual pots to the kids might encourage them to get more involved in growing their own veggies and herbs - and eating them!

March Bake healthier snacks

April Take up a sport together Biscuits and cakes are often the easiest snacks to reach for after school. With forward planning though, we can all do a little better.

Homemade snacks don’t have to look or taste too different from shop-bought ones; by just by adding less refined white flour and more fibre you can improve gut health over the course of a year.

For biscuits, try a bit less flour and a few more oats. With cakes and traybakes, using wholewheat flour is a great way to introduce more fibre, antioxidants and protein, along with tonnes of important nutrients like B vitamins, iron, magnesium and zinc.

Finding an active challenge you can enjoy as family, can be loads of fun and healthy. But finding something that works for every age is tricky. Ice skating and golf can be good levellers and appealing to older children. If nothing else comes to mind, swimming or cycling usually work for most; it’s all-round physical exercise and always seems to have an immediate and positive effect on appetite and sleep.

June Go dancing!

May Tackle anxiety At this time of year, school tests and exams can pile on extra pressure. Meditating regularly, even for a few minutes a day, can make a difference and there are lots of meditation apps designed for children, as well as adults. More effective than yoga, meditation is proven to reduce the reactivity of the brain in response to stress and a Harvard-based study in 2011 demonstrated that you can even reduce the size of the amygdala (the bit of the brain associated with the stress response) when you meditate for a longer period of time.

12 Families Upon Thames

The days are long and the sunset casts a rosy glow… well hopefully!

The festival season has arrived and it’s time to embrace the midsummer madness and go dancing. The health benefits of dance are impressive; cardio, weight-loss, strength, agility and balance are just the start. To top it all off, dancing brings joy and is a natural form of stress relief. Throw in some choreography and you’ve even got a workout for your memory too.

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NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

a healthier family with our step-by-step guide and let every month take you closer to a happier, healthier, family life.

August Drink more water

July Tech-free weekends Or, more realistically, just one day! As it gets brighter and sunnier, it’s much easier to come up with tempting outdoor alternatives and any reduction in screentime is likely to improve sleep and mental health.

Consider device-free times or designated tech free zones at home.

Are you keeping to your own weekly or daily limits? Revisit the rules, especially with older kids and discuss what a healthy balance looks like. Visual timers help some children keep screentime under control.

Yawn, we know this, yet we are probably still not drinking enough.

Let’s just recap how essential it is for our health. The blood is ninety percent water so good hydration basically effects every single organ and cell in the body, from heart to brain to skin. How about trying a different strategy for each family member? For one child, a new water bottle. For another…. deploying the dark art of parental bribery. For yourself, water infused with lemon instead of a coffee.

September Enrol in a new class

October The vitamin refresh It’s a new academic year and there is no need to limit the anticipation and thrill of a new start to just the children in the family!

There’s also no need to spend a penny. Start by visiting your local council website to find out about free short adult education courses.

Or you could check out the online learning platform backed by The Open University called Future Learn (www.futurelearn.com). Most of their courses are also free.

Perhaps you’ve dished out vitamin C to head off colds, tried some probiotics for gut health or have been taking Omega 3 to improve focus? The chances are you probably have some unfinished bottles lying around in a cupboard somewhere. October is a good time to sort through what you already have and set your priorities for the winter ahead. The NHS recommends all children under age 6 (who are not being fed formula) should have vitamins A, C and D as daily supplements. Vitamin D is particularly important as winter approaches, as we get less sunshine.

November Switch to sugar alternatives

December Family cooking day Adding more spices to our diets benefits us by replacing sweetness with flavour. Other sugar alternatives, like agave or stevia, convert to glucose more slowly, helping improve our energy and health over time. Date sugar is made from dehydrated dates, retaining more of the fibre and vitamins than standard refined sugar. Monk fruit is a natural sweetener made from a Southeast Asian fruit.

It’s increasingly available in health food shops and is many times sweeter than sugar, yet it has no calories or effect on blood sugar.

Familiesonline.co.uk

Help! It’s nearly Christmas again! This year, it might be a good idea to get some meals in the freezer before the holidays start and relatives descend. Dedicate a day to cooking as a family and let each member choose a healthy recipe. It’s great for teamwork and even better if you discover some new family favourites. Younger members can get to work on healthier versions of seasonal staples like mince pies or gingerbread men.

Families Upon Thames 13

INTERVIEW

Helping children embrace the great outdoors Gemma Hunt, children’s storyteller and long-time presenter of CBeebies show Swashbuckle, tells Families about her role as ambassador for The Waterproof and Wellies Project for The Outdoor Guide Foundation (www.theoutdoorguidefoundation.org) and why she’s passionate about getting kids and families outside.

Tell us about The Waterproof and Wellies Project?

purpose. Like going out to collect leaves or feathers for an art project or going on a litter pick.

We’re looking to raise £6m to provide ten sets of waterproof jackets, trousers and wellies to the twenty thousand state primary schools in the UK. Unfortunately around thirty percent of children do not own their own wellies. So having these sets in schools enables them to play outside in all weathers without ruining their shoes!

If we take her bike or scooter that usually stops the moans about her legs aching if we’ve walked too far!

What advice would you give to families whose access to green spaces is limited?

Make the most of the outdoor spaces you do have access to. Take outdoor games if there is no play area. If it’s rainy, put your waterproofs on and take a flask of hot chocolate and a big umbrella!

Why do you feel particularly passionate about this project?

I long for children to enjoy the physical, mental and spiritual value of getting outdoors more. It’s so good for their appreciation of our great British countryside, wildlife and nature.

I love to see my daughter play outside, climbing trees, investigating flowers and spotting insects, coming back with flushed cheeks and grubby knees!

On occasion, we’ve ruined clothing or footwear as we haven’t had the right gear with us BUT we’ve been able to replace them. This isn’t possible for all families so to have the right outerwear to enjoy time outside together is essential.

How do you think children’s experience of outdoor time today compares to yours as a child?

I don’t think we get outside as much as we used to – there are so many inside distractions. It used to be a treat to run around outside, play games and let off steam. Now children seem to view it more as a punishment as they’d often prefer to stay indoors connected to electronics and Wi-Fi.

What has The Waterproof and Wellies Project achieved so far?

Of course, we had more freedom to roam safely and I understand why we may not be so willing for our children to go out alone now but that is all the more reason to try and do so as a family.

How much time do you spend outside with your family?

Honestly, not as much as we should.

We do walk to school or play in the garden every day and we like to take our daughter out on her bike.

Luckily we live near the coast and great country parks like Betteshanger Park near Deal in Kent where we can walk, cycle and scoot. There’s also a great play area there and the most delicious café (I recommend the sweetcorn fritter burgers!).

To motivate our daughter, we turn outside time into an adventure or give ourselves a

Since Covid, we have donated more than three thousand sets of waterproofs and wellies to UK schools. We need more support from businesses and individuals as we’re still a way off our target and there are more than three hundred schools on the waiting list who are desperate for the gear.

You can see how you can support us at The Outdoor Guide Foundation website at www.theoutdoorguidefoundation.org You’re also a writer. Tell us about your new book.

My newest book is about helping children to express and deal with big feelings like anger, jealousy and frustration.

I understand the power of imitative behaviour and wanted to write something that children could read (or have read to them) that would inspire them to better manage their behaviour.

My favourite role model has been Jesus so I wanted to take some stories told by or about him and re-tell them from the perspective of a mixed race family like mine. My husband and daughter and my parents and I all appear in the stories.

What motivated you to write it?

I wanted to write a series of children’s books that represented our own mixed race family. I struggled to find good books for my daughter that depicted our family dynamic - so I wrote them! The first book is about encouraging children to be a good friend and is called See! Let’s Be A Good Friend; the newest one has five helpful short stories which explore emotions. It’s called See! Let’s Be ME and is available from www.bookshop.org

14 Families Upon Thames

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CLUBS & CLASSES

Boost your child’s confidence in 2024 with a FREE Perform class The new year is a great time to start something new and Perform is offering every child a free trial class to help them shine this spring. With two brilliant new themes incorporating confidence-building fun, classes for children ages 4 to 7 will join a high-energy adventure to the Wild West while kids ages 7 to 12 will enjoy a dancefloor-filling adaptation of Snow White, in Killa Queen.

Classes are packed with confidence-boosting games which focus on developing the 4 Cs - confidence, communication, coordination and concentration - using drama, dance and singing.

At the end of each term, the children will take part in a showstopping final performance for family and friends so you can see the progress they’ve made!

Classes are for all abilities with no previous experience required and children are welcome to join at any point in the term.

Book a no-obligation FREE trial at www.perform.org.uk/try Classes take place in: Brentford, Esher, Hampton, Kew, Kingston, Richmond, St Margaret's, Surbiton, Twickenham, Walton and Weybridge.

More about Perform’s weekly classes Confidence building weekly drama, dance and singing classes for 4-7s and 7-12s, designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination.

Visit www.perform.org.uk/try, email enquiries@perform.org.uk or call 020 7255 9120 to book a FREE trial class in one of the following venues.

Brentford: St Paul Church of England Primary School Esher: Church of the Holy Name Hampton: Linden Hall Community Centre Kew: Kew Community Centre Kingston: Alexandra Infants School Richmond: Vineyard Life Church, The Russell Primary School & Holy Trinity Church Centre St Margaret's: St Margaret’s Catholic Church Hall Surbiton: Surbiton Hill Methodist Church Hall Twickenham: The Crossway Centre & Twickenham United Reform Church Walton upon Thames: St Andrews Urc Weybridge: St James’ Parish Centre Join Perform and The Ice Queen this February half-term!

Three days of Frozen-themed fun awaits your child in a glittering drama, dance and singing adventure with Elsa, Ana and friends. Ending with a dazzling performance, this is the coolest half-term treat going!

For children ages 4 to 10, this half term course takes place between 12 and 14 February at The Crossway Centre in Twickenham.

Visit www.perform.org.uk/icequeen to book.

Kingston and Twickenham

Pre-school dance classes from 18mths office@danceforceschoolofdancing.com www.danceforceschoolofdancing.com

Learn a skill

CONFIDENCE BUILDING FUN

for life

Try a FREE drama, dance and singing class Book at www.perform.org.uk/try www.suzannaraymondschoolofdance.com

RAD Classical Ballet ISTD Tap and Modern

Established over 45 years

Classes in Teddington & Hampton

info@suzannaraymondschoolofdance.com Contact Lucy: 07968598507

Familiesonline.co.uk

We teach 0-5 year olds the lifesaving skill of learning how to swim - taking each child on a journey of aquatic discovery, adventure and purposeful play.

Join us anytime! Classes available now.

When you’re ready, we’re ready.

01932 227428 underthewaves@waterbabies.co.uk

SINGING, DANCING AND ACTING CLASSES FOR 4 TO 18 YEAR OLDS Chertsey, Hinchley Wood & Esher, Richmond, Staines, Teddington, Twickenham, Weybridge

www.stagecoach.co.uk

Families Upon Thames 15

CLUBS & CLASSES

Alternative sports for your child to try

By Andrew Campbell Whether your child is bored with the usual options or simply not interested in the conventional after-school and weekend sport activities, you might be able to entice them to get active, develop a new interest and meet other like-minded kids by considering one of these more left-field sports.

Archery can captivate children’s interest with its blend of focus, precision and historical allure. It provides a sense of accomplishment as kids master the art of hitting targets with arrows. The sport encourages discipline, patience and fine motor skills, promoting mental and physical development. Archery also instils confidence, teamwork and respect for safety. Soft archery is now available as a safe and fun way to introduce the sport to young ones.

Cheerleading is growing in popularity as an alternative sport with over eighty nine thousand involved at recreational, competitive and elite level. Requiring a unique combination of gymnastics, dance and acrobatic stunts, it fosters physical fitness, teamwork, discipline and confidence. Competitions and events are held regularly at venues across the country and you are likely to find a club not too far away.

More info and local clubs at www.startarchery.co.uk

More info at www.ukca.org.uk

Padel tennis is an enticing sport for children due to its accessibility and engaging nature. It’s usually played in doubles on a smaller court enclosed by mesh or glass walls, making it easy for kids to keep the ball in play. Padel combines elements of tennis and squash, emphasising hand-eye co-ordination, strategy and teamwork. Its social and active aspects make it a fun and appealing sport for children.

More info and local clubs at www.lta.org.uk

Disc golf appeals to children due to its simplicity and accessibility. With just a frisbee, kids can enjoy outdoor fun, exercise and social interaction. It offers a sense of achievement, skill development and the opportunity to play in beautiful natural settings.

Disc golf is inclusive, allowing kids of all ages and abilities to participate, making it an attractive and cost-effective choice.

More info and local courses at www.discgolfuk.uk

16 Families Upon Thames

Street dancing is a freestyle dance form that emerged from urban culture and is great for a child who loves to get down and boogie but is not attracted to traditional dance styles. Whilst fantastic for encouraging self-expression, creativity and self-confidence, it also promotes physical fitness and flexibility while teaching rhythm and coordination. A local dance school is sure to offer classes or you will find a dedicated street dance school nearby.

Fencing is ideal for children who struggle with team sports.

Combining physical activity with mental strategy and discipline, it also promotes agility, balance and co-ordination, all while teaching focus and quick decision-making. Fencing enhances self-confidence and sportsmanship through oneon-one combat. It’s safe and emphasises protective gear and rules. Additionally, the sport encourages a sense of chivalry and respect, offering valuable life lessons alongside the physical benefits. Local clubs at www.britishfencing.com

Parkour (or Freerunning) harnesses kids’ instinctive love of jumping and throwing themselves around. It enhances strength, agility and spatial awareness, instilling self-confidence. It’s an athletic discipline which focusses on moving through urban environments using acrobatic techniques like vaulting, climbing and jumping. But it’s also popular at indoor settings such as leisure centres, gym clubs and trampoline parks.

Futsal is an exciting, fastpaced form of football. It’s played in a smaller, confined space, making it easier for kids to get involved and actively participate. The emphasis on ball control, quick passing and teamwork help develop soccer skills while encouraging social interaction. Futsal’s reduced physical demand and emphasis on fun make it an attractive choice, fostering a love for the sport from an early age.

More info at www.parkour.uk

More info at www.englandfootball.com

Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It’s played on a smaller court with a low net.

Pickleball is attractive to children because it’s easy to learn, offers immediate success and doesn’t require much physical strength. It fosters hand-eye co-ordination, social interaction, and physical activity. The sport’s adaptability and inclusive nature make it an appealing choice for children of various ages and skill levels. There are over two hundred and seventy pickleball courts in Britain. More info and local clubs at www.pickleballengland.org Familiesonline.co.uk

CLUBS & CLASSES

#EnjoyEncourageBelieve at Danceforce Danceforce School of Dancing is a thriving and successful school for ages 18 months to adult.

Classes are available in a diverse range of styles including ballet, modern, tap, jazz, contemporary, acro and musical theatre and students can also take part in performances and gain recognition for their hard work through RAD and ISTD dance exams.

Danceforce is dedicated to providing an exceptional quality of dance instruction and specialist training, which may explain why it is now one of the longest running dance schools in the Kingston area. Principal, Carol Winter took over in 1997 and is passionate about working with great teachers and offering the best possible experience from the very first stages of learning.

‘Whilst dance is fun, it is also physically demanding and parents should take great care to send their child to professional, qualified teachers’ she comments.

Muddy Boots February Half Term Camp

Many students train with the Danceforce family from nursery to university age and return as adult students and with their children too!

More information at www.danceforceschoolofdancing.com

Fun-filled activity camps for children 3 to 8 years.

Would you like to advertise your clubs or class in our next issue?

Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’

BOOK TODAY

Keeping siblings and friends together regardless of age

Call Amanda on 07835 848066 or email: amanda.biggs@familiespublishing.co.uk

www.suzannaraymondschoolofdance.com

12 to 16 February Cobham

9am to 4pm (extended time available)

Early bird £41 a day

www.muddybootscamps.co.uk

Clubland Holiday Clubs Fun and affordable holiday clubs for primary school aged children What’s on offer Arts, crafts and cookery • Sports and games Bouncy castle, discos and day trips

Free

Trial

Class

February Half Term: 12-16 Feb 2024

Claygate Primary School, Esher

CLASSES IN TEDDINGTON & HAMPTON

Established over 45 years in Teddington, Suzanna Raymond School of Dance continues to offer a high standard of Classical Ballet, Modern, Tap & Jazz for children of all ages.

Contact: info@suzannaraymondschoolofdance.com / 07968 598 507

Familiesonline.co.uk

Exceptional Value • Outstanding Quality • Unlimited Fun www.clubland-playscheme.com

Families Upon Thames 17

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.

Various dates in Jan and Feb Bring Your Baby events Fun, brain-stimulating, day time pub quiz socials for parents of babies and young children.

24 Jan & 28 Feb The Anglers, Teddington 8 Feb The Cabbage Patch, Twickenham 12 Feb The Bear, Esher 13 Feb Kew Gardens Hotel www.bringyourbaby.org

Sat 3 Feb– Sun 10 March House Plant Takeover – Plants before Time at RHS Garden Wisley Step inside the Glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley and be transported back millions of years. Pick up a trail booklet and discover fun facts about incredible plants and fossils and spot the footprits of pre-historic creatures. https://bit.ly/houseplantrhs

Every Tue Storytelling for Pre-schoolers at Landmark Arts Centre Art, yoga and musical storytelling for ages 2-4. www.landmarkartscentre.org

Sat 3 Feb-Sun 3 Mar Orchid Festival at Kew Gardens A celebration of vibrant flora inside the conservatory to brighten up the winter months. www.kew.org

Every Tue to Fri Winter Warmer Activities at Museum of Richmond Drop-in for some FREE cosy crafts from 1pm weekday and Saturdays. www.museumofrichmond.com

Sat 10 – Sun 18 Feb Half term fun at London Museum of Water & Steam Interactive storytelling sessions, hands on art & craft and make a ‘climate change pledge’ artwork. www.waterandsteam.org.uk

Every Thu Story & Rhyme Time at The Alligator’s Mouth, Richmond Drop in session with new picture books and traditional rhymes performed by staff. Ages 0-4. www.thealligatorsmouth.co.uk Every Sun Junior Parkrun FREE 2k event for ages 4-14 at Bushy Park, Latchmere, Hanworth, Kingston, Osterley, Surbiton & Twickenham. www.parkrun.org.uk From Sat 6 Jan Saturday Art Club at Riverhouse Walton FREE fortnightly art club by age group from 6+. Enrolment required. www.riverhousebarn.co.uk Sat 20 Jan Magical Family Concert at Cobham Free School Join Woking Symphony Orchestra for a fab programme of exciting tunes.

Try out some instruments too! www.wokingso.org.uk Young Archaeology Club at Chertsey Museum A group for 8-16s to learn and get hands on with the past. www.chertseymuseum.org Sat 20 Jan & Wed 14 Feb Depot Family Tours at London Transport Museum Acton Depot Exclusively for family groups to uncover the stories in the special vehicles in the collection. www.ltmuseum.co.uk Sat 27 Jan Big Garden Birdwatch at Marble Hill Grab your binoculars and join in this brilliant appreciation of nature. www.english-heritage.org.uk Fri 2 Feb & Fri 16 Feb Museum Monkeys at Chertsey Museum Join Charlie the Chimp for singing, stories and crafts for under 5s. www.chertseymuseum.org Sat 3 Feb Museum Makes at Chertsey Museum FREE drop-in craft session for all the family. www.chertseymuseum.org 18 Families Upon Thames

Tue 13 Feb Family Arts and Crafts at Marble Hill Explore your creative side with painting, drawing and making models. Booking required. www.english-heritage.org.uk Tues 13 & Thurs 15 Feb River Thames Boat Project Half Term Fun, Kingston Riverside Indoor activites for ages 5 to 11 on a historic barge. Morning and afternoon sessions. www.thamesboatproject.org Tue 13-Fri 16 Feb Love in Richmond Workshops at Museum of Richmond Discover great love stories in Richmond, then make some love tokens and cards to take home. www.museumofrichmond.com Wed 14 Feb Pine Cone Bird Feeders at Marble Hill Build a pine cone feeder for the birds in the grounds. Booking required. www.english-heritage.org.uk Thu 15 Feb Bug Hotel Building at Marble Hill Help construct insect hotels for the garden at Marble Hill. Booking required. www.english-heritage.org.uk Sat 16 Feb Family House Tour at Marble Hill Go on a tour past historic and artistic treasures and learn the history of Marble Hill. Booking required. www.english-heritage.org.uk

BOOK AHEAD Wed 19 Jun-Thu 11 Jul Painshill Live Music LATES Summer 2024 Enjoy the very best tribute bands, appealing to a wide range of tastes, at Painshill this summer. Listen and dance to a live band in the beautiful surroundings of Painshill's tree lined amphitheatre. www.painshill.co.uk Don't forget to say you saw these events listed in Families Upon Thames magazine!

CHILDREN'S THEATRE DORKING HALLS www.dorkinghalls.co.uk Jurassic Earth 3 Feb State-of-the-art, animatronic, lifelike dinosaurs in an interactive and exciting story-telling show. Ages 3+.

The Amazing Bubble Man 13 Feb Shrieks of laughter and gasps of amazement for all ages.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea 5-6 Mar Delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos.

THE ESHER THEATRE www.electric.theatre Princess Live 12-13 Feb All singing, all dancing, hour long concert show. All ages.

THE EXCHANGE, TWICKENHAM www.exchangetwickenham.co.uk Bring Your Own Baby Comedy 17 Jan Relax and have a good laugh at the best comedians in the UK, without needing childcare.

Comedy Club 4 Kids 18 Feb Hilarious comedy club suitable for children and adults alike.

LYRIC THEATRE, HAMMERSHITH www.lyric.co.uk Groove into the Woods 13 Jan An exciting, jazz and funk fuelled show. Ages 3-7.

Florence Nightingale & the Light of Life 20 Jan Join Florence Nightingale and her little owl Athena on this wonderful adventure. Ages 3+.

The Witch & The Egg 27 Jan One performer and a flock of shadow puppets tell an engaging and heartwarming story. Ages 3-9.

In the Dead of the Night 3 Feb Spooky and heartfelt story told through original songs, puppetry and a dash of silliness. Ages 3+.

Luna Loves Library Day Musical 10 Feb Join Luna and Dad as they discover magic, mystery, laughter and sadness through stories. Ages 3+.

Can Bears Ski? 13-17 Feb Stunning illustrations, puppetry and music. Ages 3+.

The Three Bears 24 Feb Bring your bears for an adventure in the woods, with original music and puppets. Ages 0-6.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 2 Mar Journey down the rabbit hole into a timeless world of wondrous fantasy.

Ages 3+.

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/newwimbledon-theatre Sing-a-Long-a Matilda 13 Jan The host will teach dance moves, show how to use free props and get you singing along. PG. Ministry of Science Live 10 Feb Dive deep into the world of science with a few loud bangs along the way.

Ages 6+.

POLKA THEATRE, WIMBLEDON www.polkatheatre.com The Littlest Yak 24-28 Jan Beautiful puppets, catchy tunes and an uplifting tale of self-acceptance.

Ages 3-7.

Tidy 10 Feb-24 Mar With beautiful puppets, original music and a touch of silliness, this playful story will delight. Ages 3-7.

PLOT17 31 Jan-4 Feb An interactive performance using spoken words, lyrics, visuals and Djing. Ages 7-12.

You are the Sun 7-11 Feb Combining the joy of gentle classical singing and sensory play. Ages 0-2.

Remarkable Rhythm 14-18 Feb A dance theatre show. Ages 7-12.

Romeo and Juliet 2 Mar-14 Apr Shakespeare’s famous story is re-told through rap, rhythms, and beautiful harmonies. Ages 9-12.

RICHMOND THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/richmondtheatre Ministry of Science Live 21 Jan Dive deep into the world of science with a few loud bangs along the way.

Ages 6+.

Storytime with Little Supernovas 12 Jan & 9 Feb Join Little Supernovas for fun, adventure storytime sessions. Ages 18mths-5.

RIVERHOUSE BARN, WALTON ON THAMES www.riverhousebarn.co.uk Breathe 16 Feb Beautifully realised through a combination of puppetry, detailed sets and live camera work. Ages 5+.

THE ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON www.rosetheatre.org The Boy at the Back of the Class 3-22 Feb Highlights the power of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn’t always make sense. Ages 7+.

WATERMANS THEATRE, BRENTFORD www.watermans.org.uk Family Folk Show with Megson 21 Jan, 3pm Organic, authentic and fun folk concerts for big and little music connoisseurs! Award-winning folk duo, Megson blend their infectious mix of heavenly vocals and lush harmonies into a gentle, entertaining concert specially for younger children. Ages 0-8.

Baby Broadway - Baby Knees Up 4 Feb 2pm & 3.30pm A good old-fashioned East End knees up. A zany, interactive family event with bubbles, puppets and plenty of singing. Ages 0-7.

Snug and Bug Catch a Grub!

14-16 Feb, 1.30pm & 3pm A wonderfully wiggly family puppet show adventure for all the family.

Join Garlic Theatre for this funny, bug-tastic adventure, with clowning, a beautifully crafted set, colourful puppets and foot tapping music.

Ages 3-8.

Belongings 25 Feb, 3pm Sometimes you have to find the courage to be you. Cleo arrives at a new home, unsure of what the future holds. A funny and heart-warming theatre show. Ages 7-11.

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WHAT’S ON

Discover Plants before Time at RHS Garden

From 3 February to 10 March, step inside the Glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley and be transported back millions of years with the new Houseplant Takeover – Plants Before Time exhibition.

Pick up a trail booklet and travel through time to discover fun facts about incredible and fascinating plants; listen carefully and keep a look out for weird and wonderful fossils and the footprints of creatures that roamed the earth millions of years ago.

The Glasshouse is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3:45pm (last entry 3:15pm) and Saturday to Sunday 9.30am to 3:45pm (last entry 3:15pm). Normal garden admission applies.

There’s plenty more for families to enjoy at RHS Garden Wisley this winter too. Wrap up warm and discover what makes winter gardens extra special and let the kids burn off energy in the Back to Nature play area!

More info at www.rhs.org.uk/wisley

Painshill Live Music LATES return in 2024 An exciting new line up of tribute bands, appealing to all musical tastes, is coming to Painshill Live Music LATES this summer. Summer LATES offer the chance to enjoy a perfect evening, listening and dancing to a live band in the beautiful surroundings of Painshill's tree lined amphitheatre.

The Painshill landscape will be open to explore from 5.30pm to 9pm (last entry 8pm). Take in the spectacular views, soak up the atmosphere and explore the follies whilst the sun sets.

Discover the magic of the Crystal Grotto in the evenings.

Food and drink available or bring a picnic. Music begins: 7pm to 7.30pm.

Bands and dates: 19 June Rick Parfitt Jr Band; 20 June Absolute Bowie; 26 June The Rat Pack Tribute; 27 June Abba Revival; 3 July Oasish; 4 July Boot Led Zeppelin; 10 July T Rextasy; 11 July Genesis Connected Book early to avoid missing out on your rock and roll evening!

More information and tickets at www.painshill.co.uk

Half term fun on the river for children aged 5 - 11 Indoor activities on a historic barge Art & craft, nature and boat themed games Canbury Gardens, Kingston Riverside 13 & 15 February 2-hour morning or afternoon sessions £20 per child info@thamesboatproject.org www.thamesboatproject.org Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Upon Thames 19

ASK ABOUT OUR TWO WEEK TRIAL

ENROLLING NOW FOR NEXT TERM Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year-olds

CHERTSEY, ADDLESTONE 0772 517 6102 stagecoach.co.uk/chertsey

STAINES 07802 800633 stagecoach.co.uk/staines

HINCHLEY WOOD AND ESHER 01372 238238 stagecoach.co.uk/hinchleywood

WEYBRIDGE 07939 208234 stagecoach.co.uk/weybridge

RICHMOND 020 8332 6741 stagecoach.co.uk/richmond TEDDINGTON & TWICKENHAM 0208 979 5276 stagecoach.co.uk/ teddington stagecoach.co.uk/twickenham

Creative Courage For Life®

SUN 21 JANUARY 3PM

SUN 4 FEBRUARY 2PM & 3.30PM

WED 14 — FRI 16 FEBRUARY 1.30PM & 3PM

SUN 25 FEBRUARY 3PM

FAMILY FOLK SHOW WITH MEGSON

BABY BROADWAY — BABY KNEES UP

SNUG AND GRUB CATCH A BUG!

BELONGINGS

Organic, authentic and fun folk concerts for big and little music connoisseurs.

A zany, interactive family event with bubbles, puppets and plenty of singing.

A wonderfully wiggly adventure for all the family.

(0–8YRS)

(0–7YRS)

(3–8YRS)

(7–11YRS)

Sometimes you have to find the courage to be you.

BOOK NOW! watermans.org.uk 20 Families Upon Thames

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