Families Upon Thames March/April 22 Print

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Upon Thames

IN THIS ISSUE

Easter What’s On Education Travel

Issue 149 March/April 2022

Familiesonline.co.uk

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The Little Gym’s age-appropriate children’s activities are Serious Fun! Using movement, music, learning and laughter to nurture ongoing skill development and boost self-esteem, your child progresses at their own pace, having fun and building confidence.

Explore the range of classes on offer at The Little Gym of Hampton & Teddington.

Visit hamptonteddington.thelittlegym.co.uk

ASK ABOUT OUR TWO WEEK TRIAL

Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited.

2 Families Upon Thames

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CONTENTS

Handwriting Tutor ✓Achieve clear and

confident handwriting

✓Neat handwriting is important in Exams

✓Don’t lose marks unnecessarily!

Mrs Cutler: 07521 554188 e: Info@handwritingsupport.co.uk BA(Hons) Languages . Professional Handwriting Analysis/Graphology . Member of the National

Handwriting Association . DAB checked

Welcome

In this issue

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

With fuel bills rocketing, saving energy is on everyone’s mind. Read our suggestions for getting the kids involved in cutting the cost and easing pressure on the environment.

It’s time to start getting out and about with the family again and, in this issue, animal lovers can plan a unique wildlife encounter and find accommodation nearby. Plus embrace the local entertainment options from our What’s On guide.

Finally, we have lots of DoodleJamz to give away!

Don’t forget to apply for this squishy, squashy, sensory – but mess-free drawing pad for your child.

English Tutor

Location: Hampton Hill

Contact us Editor Linda Stone editor@familiesuponthames.co.uk 020 8241 0423 Sales Amanda Biggs amanda.biggs@familiespublishing.co.uk 07835 848066

Calling all young Scientists!

I work with all abilities and levels on comprehension/creative writing/spelling/ 10+ years’ punctuation & grammar/verbal reasoning/ experience/ DBS persuasive writing/literary analysis/essay writing/exam technique/references available checked

Joanna joanna2tutor@gmail.com 07941 799096

Education Health Clubs & Classes Easter Parenting Travel What’s On

Book now to be included in our May/June issue. Call 07835 848066 Booking deadline is 4 April

7+, 11+, 13+, GCSE, A level

£40ph

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Help us discover how babies & kids learn!

We’re recruiting infants from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at Birkbeck’s Babylab & ToddlerLab in central London.

Our prime locations are easy to reach and we refund travel expenses.

We also have online studies you can do from the comfort of home www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/online-studies

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

Shrewsbury House Pre-Preparatory School Now registering for Nursery & Reception places 2022 and 2023 At Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep we offer an excellent academic provision combined with outstanding pastoral care.

If you would like a personal tour of the School, please contact our Registrar, Mrs Jules Akhurst: shppadmissions@shstrust.net | 01372 462781

Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep offers an excellent educational experience to both boys and girls aged between 3 and 7 www.shrewsburyhousepreprep.net 22 Milbourne Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 9EA

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Families Upon Thames 3

EDUCATION

Parental pressure

By Catherine Loble and Lisa Wander

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEWLAND HOUSE SCHOOL Independent Nurse ery & Preparatory Day School for Girls and Boys from 3 to 13 Years

All being well at Newland House School

At Newland House School, well-being is of fundamental importance to pupils’ enjoyment and success in and outside of school. We know that when children have good levels of wellbeing, they are more able to feel, express and manage positive and negative emotion, helping them to develop better resilience, self-esteem and confidence and leading to good relationships with others.

INNOVATE, NURTURE, INSPIRE, FLY...

WELCOME MORNINGS 25 February

18 March

Newland House School

13 May

Waldegrave Park, Twickenham, TW1 4TQ T. 020 8865 1305 E. admissions@newlandhouse.net www.newlandhouse.net

Newland House School recently appointed an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant as its new Well-being Coordinator to help provide pupils with a better understanding of how to invest in their mental health. Research has shown that emotional literacy promotes creativity, innovation and leadership. The new role further supports children to develop positive emotions and relationships, using individualised support programmes, therapeutic interventions such as Lego Therapy and group work.

This support benefits learning skills, increases concentration and improves memory and problem solving. Children are also supported to manage their own well-being throughout PSHE lessons and in form time.

Visit www.newlandhouse.net

4 Families Upon Thames

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EDUCATION

An independent day preparatory school for boys aged 3-13 and girls aged 3-4

“THE BOYS SOLD THE SCHOOL FOR US. THEY WERE EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED MY SON TO BE LIKE IN A FEW YEARS: ARTICULATE AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE WORLD.” CURRENT PARENT

To arrange a visit or sign up to an upcoming Open Morning, please contact Sally Bass at bass.s@kingshouseschool.org or call 020 8940 1878 kingshouseschool.org 68 King’s Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6ES

OPEN EVENING

Joint school and nursery open evening Thursday 24 March 5.00pm-7.00pm

A happy, nurturing and inspiring environment for boys aged 4 to 11 in Twickenham

OPENING

SEPTEMBER 2022

New day nursery for boys and girls aged from 0-4 Extended day

51 weeks a year

Large outdoor area

“Our son is thriving. The progress he has made both academically and pastorally has been magical.” Current parent 185 Hampton Road, Twickenham TW2 5NQ • 020 8614 1082 admissions@themallschool.org.uk • www.themallschool.org.uk

84 Hampton Road, Twickenham TW2 5QS • 020 8898 3528 info@themallnursery.org.uk

Bringing out the best in every child Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Upon Thames 5

EDUCATION

Meet the Head

Meet the Head

Families chats with David Price, Head of the Mall School in Twickenham.

Special feature

What do you like best about being Head of The Mall School?

schools are looking for children with interests and passions outside of the core subjects and so we will continue to provide these opportunities for the boys.

The pupils, of course. They are kind, amusing and smart. Every day they amaze me with their consideration towards others, their take on the world and their sense of fun.

Why is it important to you that The Mall is non-selective at Reception?

In three words, how would the students describe you?

I couldn’t select boys at the age of three.

It goes against our ethos of bringing out the best in every boy and our small classes and fantastic teaching means all boys have made excellent academic progress by the time they leave, reaching their potential and gaining places at the best senior schools.

Kind, funny and busy.

The Mall School is a boys’ prep school for ages 4 to 11 but you’ll soon have some younger boys AND girls joining you. Tell us about that.

In September, we will be opening a new day nursery for girls and boys ages 6 months to 4 years old. It will be situated just along from the main school site on Hampton Road and will offer exceptional care for up to twelve hours a day, fifty one weeks a year.

There will be a huge outdoor area for the children to explore and play in, as well as four large, bright, newly refurbished rooms catering for the different age ranges. It is very exciting and I am looking forward to welcoming our new families and children.

What do you see as the advantages for children of The Mall in offering a nursery?

The nursery will provide an excellent start for all the children. The focus will certainly be on play but we will also be able to draw on our existing excellent early years’ provision to prepare the children for their transition to school. All the boys in the nursery will be able to join the main school and the girls will be ready for whichever school they are going on to.

The nursery children will also have use of the school’s indoor swimming pool and purpose built theatre as well as enjoying lessons with our specialist teachers.

What qualities do you look for in a great teacher?

In what ways do you strive to make The Mall a happy place for children to be?

I believe the opportunities our boys have in sport, music, performing and creative arts, together with our commitment to pupil wellbeing through our pastoral care provision, enables each boy not only to discover what he is good at but, more importantly, what he enjoys.

Do you think prep schools can sometimes be too orientated towards maths and English ‘power housing’ for the 11+?

I think some can be. We have kept the wide range of curriculum subjects from when we were a 13+ school so the boys still learn French and Latin, history and geography as well as using our specialist art, design technology, music and science facilities.

From Year 3, boys have two afternoons of sport each week and all boys have weekly swimming and physical education lessons. The 11+ process in London is highly competitive but we know that senior

Passion, enthusiasm and a willingness to go the extra mile for the children in their care.

If you weren’t Head of The Mall, what would you be?

Bored!

What advice would you give to parents choosing a school?

Visit as many schools as you can and make sure you meet the pupils as well as the Head.

Go on a normal school day so you can experience the atmosphere and get a feel for the energy and enthusiasm of teachers and pupils. Decide which school would be the best fit for your child. It is a bit like buying a house in that the right school will feel right.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

All my cousins were involved in education so I think it was inevitable that I would follow in their footsteps.

What is your most useless skill?

An ability to wiggle my ears!

What is your real-life superpower?

My wife.

Film or theatre?

Film.

Bake Off or Premier League?

Premier League especially since Wolverhampton Wanderers were promoted.

The Mall School is an independent school for boys ages 4 to 11 in Twickenham. It is opening a nursery for children ages 6 months to 4 years in September. Visit www.themallschool.org.uk for more information.

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EDUCATION

Join us for our Open Days March Thursday 17th I 5 to 7pm Saturday 19th I 10am to 12 noon May Thursday 19th I 5 to 7pm Saturday 21st I 10am to 12 noon Staines Preparatory School, 3 Gresham Road, Staines-Upon-Thames, TW18 2BT

Every Step of the Way www.stainesprep.co.uk

admissions@stainesprep.co.uk

A GREAT PLACE TO COME TO SCHOOL

Open Morning - Friday 27 May 2022 9:30am: Headmaster’s Welcome at the Prep School, Gloucester Road 9:45 – 11.00am: Tours of the Pre-Prep & Prep

Register here: www.hamptonprep.org.uk T 020 8979 1844 E admissions@hamptonprep.org.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Upon Thames 7

EDUCATION

Tidy bedrooms and school performance

By Usha Patel The instruction ‘Tidy your room!’ is the bane of most children’s lives. But there’s so much more to keeping bedrooms tidy than maintaining a positive environment. In fact, the very act of regular tidying can actually help children in other areas of their life too, including at school. It’s all part of building certain processes and routines that are important to their overall development.

Nurturing a sense of tidiness By the age of four, children can usually hold just one notion in their active memory, for instance, immediate instructions such as picking up certain toys or doing one tidying job. Young children often struggle with being given too much to do all at once simply because their active memory is quickly drained. However, by the time they are sixteen, they can hold six or even seven notions in their active memory at a time.

If you want your child to more easily absorb a sequence of instructions, you can try habit stacking, with tidying their bedroom a perfect example of how to nurture it. Habit stacking is achieved by linking an existing habit with a new one you want to create.

How a tidy bedroom can help with working memory How easily can your child find something in their bedroom? To recall where a particular item is, children first need to retrieve the information from their long-term memory storage and bring it forward to their active thinking. The more items they have to put away, the more working memory is used to remember where each one is located.

Working memory is a critical cognitive function for everyday activities from learning to reading, remembering spellings, maths and mathematical tasks. By encouraging your child to start small and create the tidying habit and then retrieve the items, you are exercising that same part of the brain.

It’s impossible to overstate just how important working memory is in every aspect of your child’s life. In fact, Dr Tracy Packiam Alloway, award-winning psychologist who has conducted extensive research on memory and the brain, states it is a more significant indicator of academic success than IQ. So, there’s no need to feel like you are being a nag when you ask your child to tidy their room; it really is good for them. There’s a direct line from toybox to brainbox - just don’t expect them to thank you for it yet!

Usha Patel (www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk) is a neurocognitive therapist and an expert in special educational needs.

EXPLORE CHEAM

OPEN MORNINGS

Friday 4 March | Friday 20 May

CHEAM

Habit stacking to improve bedroom tidying Beds take up a large portion of any bedroom and having a madeup bed can contribute to a ninety percent tidier room if your child’s room is small. Using a habit stack to instruct your child to make their bed could be worded like this: Cheam is a leading independent, day and boarding prep school, nestled in 100 acres of Berkshire countryside, for pupils aged 3 to 13 years. Local and London bus services are available.

C

Please join us and see first-hand why Cheam is such a special and inspiring place for children to spend their formative years. Visit our website to register for an Open Morning or to arrange an individual tour. Our pupils and staff promise you a very warm welcome.

www.cheamschool.com 8 Families Upon Thames

registrar@cheamschool.co.uk +44 (0)1635 267822

‘After your feet touch the floor in the morning, plump up your pillow and pull the cover straight to make your bed. After making your bed, head straight to the bathroom’.

A room tidying habit stack might sound like this: ‘Pick up your cars and put them in the blue crate. Then sit your soft toys next to each other on the shelf.’

Habit stacking becomes a routine that can be easily adapted and made more complex with age. It creates a series of sequential steps that leave no gaps for distraction. Importantly, it does not drain active memory. If you want to find out more, Habit Stacking creator Dr BJ Fogg’s book Tiny Habits is an excellent guide to the science of behaviour change.

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HEALTH

Pick your perfect membership at Lampton Leisure

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The fitness experts at Lampton Leisure know that a one-size-fits all approach to fitness doesn’t always suit everyone. So, with this in mind, they have launched three new smart membership packages, designed to offer your favourite fitness fixes, at affordable prices.

The new Bronze, Silver and Gold membership packages offer a great choice of activities and flexibility. Bronze memberships give access to the pool and the gym at your local centre.

Silver membership adds group exercise, access to online Les Mills classes and court bookings. Gold gives you an access all areas membership, plus the use of additional services like the Bodytrax machine and fitness programme, as well as discounts on tennis membership and coaching and lots more.

Junior Gym and Swim School options can be added to all memberships, meaning you can create and build the perfect membership to suit the whole family.

Lampton Leisure has six leisure and sport centres across Hounslow with facilities offering everything from state-of-the-

art gyms, ten swimming pools, tennis courts, soft play, a running track and even a stunning wellness suite at Isleworth Leisure Centre.

To join one of our centres, give us a call, pop into a centre to talk to our expert team, or visit www.lamptonleisure.co.uk to find out more.

Local centres Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre 658 Chiswick High Road, Brentford TW8 0HJ Tel: 0208 583 2900

Osterley Sports and Athletic Centre 120 Wood Lane, Isleworth TW7 5FF. Tel: 0208 583 2900

Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre and Library Uxbridge Road, Feltham TW13 5EG Tel: 0208 755 6285

Activities

Isleworth Leisure Centre and Library Twickenham Road, Isleworth TW7 7EU Tel: 0208 583 2900

Swimming

Heston Pools and Fitness New Heston Road, Heston, Hounslow, TW5 0LW Tel: 0208 583 2900

Health suite

New Chiswick Pool 4 Edensor Road, Chiswick, London. W4 2RG Tel: 0208 583 2900

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Gym Group exercise Swim school Tennis Indoor racket sports Soft play Junior athletics Junior gym Cafe

Families Upon Thames 9

CLUBS & CLASSES

Perform classes will build your child’s confidence Perform puts children’s social development at the heart of its weekly sessions for ages 4 to 7 and 7 to 12.

Using performing arts-based games and inspiring activities, classes are designed to boost confidence, build concentration, develop communication skills and hone co-ordination – and are brimming with fun and laughter too.

Run by professionally trained actors, dancers and singers, classes are small to ensure individual attention, with regular progress reports provided. Free apps, music downloads and dance videos support each theme, meaning the fun continues at home! But don’t just take Perform’s word for it, see what parents say by visiting www.perform.org.uk ‘The beaming smile you see when Annabelle finishes a class is so wonderful to see. She has grown in confidence and thoroughly enjoys it.’ Katie Pashley Regardless of when children join in the term, they can still take part in the end of term performance. Classes are for all abilities; just prepare your child for the best fun of the week!

To book a no-obligation FREE trial in Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington, Kew, Brentford, Isleworth, Esher, Cobham, Weybridge and Kingston, visit www.perform.org.uk/try, email enquiries@perform.org.uk or call 020 7255 9120. Use code LUT310322 for a £40 discount when booking before 31 March.

More about Perform’s weekly classes Confidence building drama classes for 4-7s and 7-12s. A unique mix of fun drama games, dance and singing specially designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination.

Just Play Band Club

- where future rockstars come to learn Immerse your child in a world of music at our professional recording studio in Addlestone.

All ages/beginners welcome.

Award winning teachers & small groups Fun engaging syllabus Gain confidence and musical skills for performance and graded exams Small groups Learn: Guitar, Drums, Piano, Vocals.

Individual lessons available To book a FREE TRIAL lesson and to tour our new premises email justplaymusicacademy@gmail.com www.justplaymusicacademy.co.uk

01932 689556 10 Families Upon Thames

Venues: Brentford: St Paul Church of England Primary School Cobham: St Andrew’s Church Hall Esher: Church of the Holy Name and NEW at St Andrews Urc Isleworth: St John’s and St Mary’s Church Hall Kew: Kew Community Centre Kingston: Alexandra Infants School & The Parish of St John the Baptist Richmond: Vineyard Life Church, The Russell Primary School & Holy Trinity Church Centre Teddington: Teddington Methodist Church Twickenham: The Crossway Centre & Twickenham United Reform Church Weybridge: St James’ Parish Centre Visit www.perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class, email enquiries@perform.org.uk or call 020 7255 9120.

Special offer for Families readers Perform is offering Families readers a special £40 introductory discount on bookings made by 31 March just quote LUT310322.

Nurturing your child’s relationship with music

The work of the British Association for Early Childhood Education shows how parental support for a child’s musical development is underpinned by two simple but vital principles: positive relationships and enabling environments.

Relationships which encourage a child’s musical development are sensitive and responsive to the child’s needs, feelings and interests. For example, giving them access to variety of music to hear and play but acknowledging the child’s own tastes. It’s also about supporting the child’s own efforts to express themselves and being consistent in setting clear boundaries.

Creating enabling environments is about making sure that your child – whatever age – has access to appropriate stimulating resources which are relevant to a range of children’s cultures and communities, has rich opportunities to learn through play and playful teaching and is free to take risks and explore through music.

Visit www.early-education.org.uk for some great tips.

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CLUBS & CLASSES

Easter Holiday Camps Disney-inspired!

Danceforce School of Dancing, Kingston RAD BALLET

Free trial class

ISTD TAP, MODERN & JAZZ CONTEMPORARY PRE SCHOOL, MINIS, JUNIORS, SENIORS & ADULTS

www.danceforceschoolofdancing.com office@danceforceschoolofdancing.com

• • • • •

MUSICAL THEATRE DRAMA • PIANO SINGING • PLAYWRITING YOUTH THEATRE LAMDA, TRINITY AND ABRSM EXAMINATIONS

Classes in Hampton Hill & Twickenham Please call 07973 900196 or e: info@steponstageacademy.co.uk

www.steponstageacademy.co.uk

Build your child’s confidence through singing, drama and dance.

Small group so every child can shine and be heard!

AGES 5-11 9am 3.30pm

Filmed performance on final day Encanto: 4th - 7th April (4 days) Luca:

11th - 13th April (3 days)

CHILDCARE VOUCHERS ACCEPTED

020 8088 0113 SWL@littlevoices.org.uk www.littlevoices.org.uk

Fun & engaging NEW ballet classes for girls and boys age 4+ held Wednesdays & Saturdays in Weybridge

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FREE TRIAL classes available

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Call: 07455 336032

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office@releveschoolofballet.co.uk www.releveschoolofballet.co.uk

FootballFootbal for childre fun 18 months -7

for children Classes a Ages 18mths to 7 yearsmultiple venu Classes available acrossElmbridge/S Elmbridge & Spelthorne Get in Find out more! northsurrey@littleki northsurrey@littlekickers.co.uk 07880 07880 633885 Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .eps

www.LittleKick LKFCNorthSurrey Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .eps

facebook.com/LKFC

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Families Upon Thames 11

CLUBS & CLASSES

Classes directory Danceforce School of Dancing FREE Kingston TRIAL RAD BALLET, ISTD TAP, MODERN, JAZZ & CONTEMPORARY PRE-SCHOOL, MINIS, JUNIORS, SENIORS AND ADULTS www.danceforceschoolofdancing.com

Fun NEW ballet classes ages 4+ Weybridge FREE TRIAL

Call: 07455 336032

office@releveschoolofballet.co.uk www.releveschoolofballet.co.uk

SINGING, DANCING AND ACTING CLASSES FOR 4 TO 18 YEAR OLDS

Classes for ages 4-13 in Richmond 020 8088 0117 swl@littlevoices.org.uk www.littlevoices.org.uk

FREE TRIAL

Chertsey, Hinchley Wood & Esher, Richmond, Staines, Teddington, Twickenham, Weybridge

www.stagecoach.co.uk

Fun football classes

CONFIDENCE BUILDING FUN

Ages 18mths to 7 years Elmbridge & Spelthorne

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

northsurrey@littlekickers.co.uk

Kingston and Twickenham

Just Play Band Club

Your classes ad here?

Pre-school dance classes from 18mths

Learn guitar, drums, piano, vocals Small groups/any age FREE TRIAL

Contact Amanda on 07835 848066

office@danceforceschoolofdancing.com www.danceforceschoolofdancing.com

www.justplaymusicacademy.co.uk

Learn to act, dance and sing at Stagecoach Chertsey!

‘All three of our children, 10, 8, and 4, love Stagecoach Chertsey. It is a wonderful environment that has given them the confidence to take on new challenges in all aspects of their lives.’

Stagecoach Chertsey Parent For twenty years, Stagecoach Chertsey has been providing performing arts classes for ages 4-6 (Early Stages) and 6-18 (Main Stages). No audition is necessary and every child that joins is nurtured and encouraged.

With a reputation for boosting confidence, fun and lively classes inspire children to develop creative courage and a broad range of life skills.

Children quickly make friends, enjoy becoming part of a team in class and when performing and become more imaginative, expressive, resilient and sociable.

Classes take place on Saturdays at St Anne’s School KT16 8ET.

12 Families Upon Thames

Early Stages (for ages 4-6) 9.30am to 11am or 2pm to 3.30pm Main Stages (for ages 6-18) 10am to 1pm or 2.30pm to 5.30pm Stagecoach Chertsey’s two week Try Outs are the perfect way to experience classes.

To book, call 07725 176102, email chertsey@stagecoach. co.uk or enrol at www.stagecoach.co.uk/chertsey

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EASTER

Easter workshops and days out Perform’s Easter Course The Secret Garden

Mon 4 Apr- Fri 8 Apr Stagecoach Weybridge Easter Workshop Explore famous musicals from around the world. www.stagecoach.co.uk/ weybridge Mon 4 Apr- Fri 8 Apr Stagecoach Hinchley Wood & Esher Easter Workshop Just Dance workshop for ages 6 to 16. A fun week of dance, learning different dance styles and making new friends. www.stagecoach.co.uk/ hinchleywood

Mon 4 Apr-Wed 13 April SW London Little Voices Workshops: Richmond These Disney-inspired workshops full of singing, drama and dance are for ages 5 to 11.

Small groups so every child can shine and be heard. Filmed performance on the final day.

Encanto! 4-7 April Luca 11-13 April www.littlevoices.org.uk/ location/south-west-london Mon 4 Apr-Wed 13 April Perform Easter Course: Richmond and Twickenham Join Perform and enter the mysterious world of Misselthwaite Manor. Discover the excitement of reawakening

Head to Hever Castle this Easter Make some special family memories this spring at Hever Castle.

Between 2 and 18 April, families can embark on the colourful carrot trail, spotting the Hever Bunny along the way. And a chocolate reward (dairy-free alternatives available) awaits at the end of the Easter egg hunt. Just discover the hidden eggs around the gardens, answer the questions you find around the eggs and head to the information centre for your prize.

There’s also the chance for children to get creative at FREE scratch art workshop.

As well as the Easter activities, a visit to Hever Castle in spring offers a great chance to explore the play areas, water maze and stunning gardens and enjoy a dazzling display of spring blooms from late daffodils to tulips.

Round off the day with some seasonal home cooked food and mouth-watering cakes from the restaurant or bring a picnic and enjoy stunning views of the Castle and grounds.

a long-abandoned garden in these drama, dance and singing holiday courses based on The Secret Garden. Packed with adventure, these three-day courses (4-6 Apr in Richmond and 11-13 Apr in Twickenham) are designed to nurture the creativity, confidence and communication skills of kids ages 4–10, ending with a fantastic show on the last day. www.perform.org.uk/ secretgarden Tues 12 Apr-Thu 14 Apr Step on Stage Musical Theatre Workshops: Hampton Hill Encanto!

Children will work alongside a team of theatre and education

professionals combining live music, dance and improvisation into three mornings of creative fun. Ages 3-7.

West End Workshops Led by the stars of the West End including School Of Rock, Aladdin, Hairspray and Grease!

Children learn the choreography from these iconic shows, participate in a Q&A with the performers and develop their skills as a performer. Ages 8-15. www.steponstageacademy. co.uk

Easter Duck Trail at WWT London Wetland Centre Can you ‘quack the case’ this Easter and find the bright yellow ducks hiding around the London Wetland Centre?

From 2 to 18 April, pick up a trail card at the admissions desk and crack the clues to find the bright yellow, cheeky ducks that are hiding around the nature reserve. You’ll need all your special detective skills to track them. Look up as well as down, as ducks like to perch above you sometimes! They also love splashing around, so they won’t be far from the water.

London Wetland Centre is home to a wide variety of duck species, from the brightly coloured Mandarin to adorable whistling ducks. Ducks are particularly wonderful at this time of year with male ducks displaying their bright breeding feathers.

Don’t forget! There’s loads of other activities to enjoy every day at the London Wetland Centre. Drop into a Spotlight talk and/or otter feed on your visit.

Visit www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london

Visit www.hevercastle.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Upon Thames 13

PARENTING

Tackling childhood fears

By Tanith Carey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Will bad people hurt us?

Small and caring pre-school in Hampton Ages 2 to 5 Teaches Early Years Foundation Stage.

Curriculum and Montessori Method.

For a prospectus or to visit, call Julia on 020 8335 0666 / 07939 838 991 or email juliasmontessori@aol.com 14 Families Upon Thames

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

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

Acknowledge their concerns and how scary this must feel.

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

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ENVIRONMENT

Involving children in saving power

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Draught hunting...

Smarten up your saving

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

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

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

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Families Upon Thames 15

TRAVEL

Unique UK animal encounters From the truly wild to the more domestic, there are so many animal experiences to be enjoyed here in the UK. Whether you dream of taking you and your family strolling with alpacas or heading out into the deep blue sea, these animal encounters will create lasting memories.

Spot badgers in Dorset

Walk alpacas in East Sussex

Herd sheep in the Lake District

Watch beavers in Cornwall

Possibly one of the most elusive of all British wildlife, wild badgers are often difficult to find despite their size. For an opportunity to glimpse one of these creatures, head to Dorset’s Old Henley Farm where guests can sit and view in two spacious hides. Visit www.badgerwatchdorset. co.uk

A stroll through the British countryside with an alpaca friend in tow is certain to put a smile on your face! Alpaca walking at Spring Farm Alpacas in East Sussex will take you through beautiful countryside, where you can spot a wide range of wildlife the farm has encouraged. Visit www.springfarmalpacas. co.uk

If you’re keen to get stuck into life on the farm, look no further than the truly unique Lake District Sheepdog Experience. Designed for absolute beginners, just one session will see you guiding your flock around a small course all with assistance of your trusty sheepdog. Visit www.bit.ly/lakesheepdog

After four hundred years of extinction in the UK, beavers are making a comeback thanks to the Cornwall Beaver Project. These chubbycheeked rodents in Cornwall have been reintroduced into a secure area of woodland and can be viewed on weekly beaver walks. Visit www. cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

Stay: Shepherd’s Hut, Blandford Forum

Stay: Gun Hill Cottage, Heathfield

Stay: Winster Fields, Windermere

Stay: 2 Pencoose Barns, Truro

Go whale watching in Scotland

Kayak with seals in Pembrokeshire

Spy red squirrels in the Yorkshire Dales

See wild boars in the Forest of Dean

Whale watching may be on your bucket list for an exotic country but it is achievable here in the UK. Off the mainland of Scotland, near the islands of Tiree, Coll and Mull, you can see Minke whale along with dolphins and porpoises.

The Pembrokeshire coast is home to one of the largest breeding Atlantic seal colonies in the world. Glimpse these inquisitive creatures and their pups up close. Mayberry Kayaking are so confident you will see them that they even offer a ‘seal guarantee’ during certain months. Visit www.bit.ly/mayberryseals

The endangered red squirrel is a rare find but can be easily found in Yorkshire’s Widdale Squirrel Reserve, one of the last strongholds. With a special viewing area for the public, you will be sure to get the perfect vantage point to spot these bushy tailed beauties. Visit www.bit.ly/yorkshiresquirrels

Wild boars had largely disappeared from the UK until an unsanctioned release from a farm in the Ross-on-Wye area. Many now roam the Wye Valley. If you are lucky enough to spot one on your visit, stay still and keep your distance they are not as friendly as their domesticated counterparts.

Stay: Tirlaggan Studio, Oban

Stay: Maerdy Lodge, Haverfordwest

Stay: Mary’s Cottage, Hawes

Stay: Danby Lodge, Coleford

Gun Hill Cottage, Heathfield

16 Families Upon Thames

Tirlaggan Studio, Oban

Compiled by Yonder (www.yonder.com), a new travel brand that offers responsible and nature rich stays and experiences. All properties referred to in the article can be found on their website.

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WHAT’S ON

What’s on

©National Trust Images/ James Dobson

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

Every Sat & Sun Steam Train Rides at Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway Train rides every half hour and picnic area open some Saturdays.

Booking required. www.hamptonkemptonrailway. org.uk Tue 1 Mar-Sun 27 Mar Sense-ational Trees Family Trail at Morden Hall Park Children use their senses to interact with the trees in the park through touch, sight, sound and play. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ morden-hall-park Sat 5 Mar-Sun 6 Mar World Book Day Weekend at Dapdune Wharf Free activities to mark World Book Day’s 25th anniversary. Book swap, storytelling, craft activities. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/riverwey-and-godalming-navigationsand-dapdune-wharf Sun 6 Mar & 3 Apr Let’s Get Creative at Orleans House Join an artist to explore different themes and techniques in friendly, relaxed environment. Ages 4-11. www.orleanshousegallery.org

Mon 7 Mar & 21 Mar Welly Walk at Marble Hill House Learn about the history of the house/park whilst under 5s splash in puddles. www.english-heritage.org.uk Fri 11 & 25 Mar Play:Make:Art at Orleans House Playful, creative environment to have fun exploring arts skills and techniques in workshops. Ages 2-5 years. www.orleanshousegallery.org Sat 12 Mar Storytelling in the Park at Morden Hall Park A storyteller will be reading spring-themed books. £5 per child. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ morden-hall-park Sat 19 Mar Bee Hotel Building at Marble Hill House Learn about the life of solitary bees and how to build and maintain bee hotels. www.english-heritage.org.uk Young Archaeology Club at Chertsey Museum Join a walk around Chertsey to see how buildings and houses have changed throughout the years. www.chertseymuseum.org

Sat & Sun 19-20 Mar & 23-24 Apr Steaming Weekend at Kempton Steam Museum Watch the unique and enormous ancient steam engines in action. www.kemptonsteam.org Sat & Sun 19-20 Mar Spring Steam Up at London Museum of Water & Steam Discover the fascinating world of water and steam. www.waterandsteam.org.uk Sat & Sun 19-20 Mar, Fri 25-Sun 27 Mar Mum’s the Word at Morden Hall Park Create a special present to take home for Mother’s Day. £5 per child. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ morden-hall-park

Sat & Sun 26-27 Mar Mother’s Day Weekend at Hever Castle Free workshop for little ones to make a craft gift for mum. Pose for a family photo in the Mother’s Day Frame with the castle in the background or enjoy a special afternoon tea. www.hevercastle.co.uk Sun 27 Mar Signs of Spring at Ham Lands Join a mindful walk to discover the first signs of spring or make some wildflower seed bombs. www.tcv.org.uk/london/ richmond Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea at Painshill Park Enjoy homemade scones, freshly made sandwiches and indulgent cakes with mum. Booking required. www.painshill.co.uk

R O YA L A L B E R T H A L L P R E S E N T S

Fri 23 – Sun 25 Sep 2022 With the London Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams’ epic score live to picture.

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Families Upon Thames 17

WHAT’S ON Fri 1 Apr & 6 May Museum Monkeys at Chertsey Museum Join Charlie the Chimp for singing, stories and crafts for under 5s. www.chertseymuseum.org

EASTER Fri 1 Apr-Tue 19 Apr Giant Egg Hunt at RHS Wisley Discover the enormous painted eggs hidden around the garden and join in planting or craft workshops. www.rhs.org.uk Sat 2 Apr Quacky Races at Morden Hall Park Hire a plastic duck and race it down the river to see whose is fastest. £2 per duck. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ morden-hall-park Sat 2 Apr-Mon 18 Apr Easter Duck Trail at London Wetland Centre Can you ‘quack the case’ this Easter and find the bright yellow ducks hiding around WWT London Wetland Centre? Pick up a trail card and crack the clues to find the bright yellow, cheeky ducks. www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/london Lost & Found Easter Family Trail at London Transport Museum Follow the stamper trail route to discover the weird and wonderful world of London Transport’s Lost Property. Ages 3-12. www.ltmuseum.co.uk

Easter Adventures at the National Trust Discover your local familyfriendly trail with fun activities to do along the way. Complete the trail and earn your chocolate egg at the end.

2-18 Apr Claremont Landscape Garden www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ claremont-landscape-garden 15-18 Apr Dapdune Wharf www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ river-wey-and-godalmingnavigations-and-dapdunewharf 2-18 Apr Ham House www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ ham-house-and-garden 2-18 Apr Hatchlands Park www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hatchlands-park 6-18 Apr Morden Hall Park www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ morden-hall-park 2-18 Apr Polesden Lacey www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ polesden-lacey 2-18 Apr Winkworth Arboretum www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ winkworth-arboretum

at London Wetland

Goaall! at London Museum of Water & Steam Calling all sports fans! Join in themed family crafts, story times and run around with Brentford FC. www.waterandsteam.org.uk The Very Hungry Caterpillar at Kew Gardens Experience the caterpillar’s metamorphosis as you journey around the gardens through a series of 3D interactive installations. www.kew.org The Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace Find the Lindt gold bunny statues hidden in the gardens and collect a chocolate reward. Ages 4-12. www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-courtpalace Easter Family Fun at Hever Castle Take part in free activities including a colourful carrots Easter egg hunt with chocolate reward and scratch art craft workshop. www.hevercastle.co.uk

Tues 5 Apr-Fri 8 Apr Mask Making at Museum of Richmond Be inspired by the masks on display and the stories behind them. Create your own characters for your own performances (online workshop also available). www.museumofrichmond.com/ families Sat 9 Apr SEND Explorer Event at London Transport Museum Families can explore the museum at a quieter time, free from the general public with many gallery sounds switched off. www.ltmuseum.co.uk Sun 10 Apr London Bus Museum Spring Gathering at Brooklands Museum Extensive display of 100s of buses, old and new, free heritage bus trips and children’s activities. www.brooklandsmuseum.com

Sat 2 Apr-Sun 24 Apr Easter Egg Statue Trail at Painshill Park Giant, colourful Easter eggs are waiting to be found! Pre-book. www.painshill.co.uk

Awesome Origami at Museum of Richmond Create your own model theatre set, inspired by the Orange Tree Theatre’s recent production of Pinocchio (online workshop also available). www.museumofrichmond.com/ families

Sun 3 Apr Families in the Forest at Orleans House Interactive experience for families to explore the house and grounds through a series of encounters with inhabitants past and present. www.orleanshousegallery.org

Fri 15 Apr Mayor’s Easter Egg Hunt at York House Twickenham Join the Mayor of Richmond for a fun Easter Egg Hunt around beautiful York House Gardens. www.richmond.gov.uk/mayors_ charities

Centre

SAT 2 - MON 18

APRIL Can you ‘quack the case’ this Easter and find the bright yellow ducks hiding around our wetlands!

For more information search WWT London

18 Families Upon Thames

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WHAT’S ON

Egg Rolling at Box Hill Bring your decorated eggs for the annual egg rolling! Prizes awarded for best decorated eggs. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/boxhill

CHILDREN’S THEATRE DORKING HALLS www.dorkinghalls.co.uk Winter Pantomime – The Wizard of Oz 2 Apr Packed with brilliant dance routines, pop songs and audience participation. All ages.

Exciting Science 14 Apr Highly interactive show featuring plenty of amazing experiments.

Ages 4.+ G LIVE, GUILDFORD www.glive.co.uk Crabby 9 Apr A performance plus a sensory play session, this little tale explores anger, frustration and tantrums.

Ages 0-7.

Milkshake Live! 23 Apr Plenty of laughter, audience interaction and fun to get everyone up on their feet.

Ages 3+.

THE EXCHANGE, TWICKENHAM www.exchangetwickenham. co.uk Morgan & West: Unbelievable Science 7 Apr Expect explosive thrills and chemical spills in this fun science extravaganza. Ages 7+.

Teach Rex 10 Apr Get up close and personal with these fantastic, realistic beasts.

Ages 3+.

Plundered 30 Apr Set sail on a swashbuckling environmental quest to battle a dastardly litterbug pirate.

Ages 5-11.

LITTLE LYRIC, HAMMERSMITH www.lyric.co.uk Pebble on the Beach 12 Mar Lively mix of dancing, singing and puppetry magically transports you to a day at the seaside. Ages 3+.

Oldilocks and the Three Bears 19 Mar Live show packed full of puppetry, songs, games and laughter. Ages 3-7.

The Hug 26 Mar A journey full of fun, laughter and love and at the end, a very special hug from a puppet. Ages 2-8.

Jabala and the Jinn 2-9 Apr A funny and endearing story for the whole family. Ages 5-12.

POLKA THEATRE, WIMBLEDON www.polkatheatre.com How to Hide a Lion 11 Mar-24 Apr Helen Stephens’ book comes to life with playful humour, dazzling puppetry and original songs. Ages 3-6.

Plastic Drastic Fantastic 6 Apr-8 May New interactive dance show exploring our complex relationship with plastic. Ages 7+.

The Emperor’s New Clothes 28 Apr-22 May Hiccup Theatre spin music, puppetry, BSL and storytelling into a very special yarn. Ages 3-8.

Ready, Steady, Go until 27 Mar Join Sofia and her mum as they travel across mountains and lakes, through day and night, in a race like no other. Ages 2-5.

RIVERHOUSE BARN ARTS CENTRE, WALTON ON THAMES www.riverhousebarn.co.uk Kidocracy 26 Mar Interactive show which introduces very simple concepts of politics and governing. Ages 6+.

THE ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON www.rosetheatre.org A Monster Calls, 24 Mar-9 Apr Olivier Award-winning production offers dazzling insight into love, life and healing. Ages 10+.

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, 12-16 Apr Join Jade on her pop musical journey to meet the original and incredible wonder woman. Ages 6+.

YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk The Gingerbread Man 30 Mar Enthralling tale to inspire your little one’s creative imagination.

Under 5s.

Wolf! 15- 16 Apr Join a magical adventure and find out what happens when Jack cries WOLF! Under 5s.

Don’t forget to say you saw these listings in Families Upon Thames magazine

To feature your business in our next issue call Amanda on 07835 848066 Familiesonline.co.uk

© National Trust 2022. Registered charity no. 205846. ©National Trust Images/James Dobson

Fri 15 Apr-Mon 18 Apr Easter Adventures at Runnymede Children can explore the countryside to discover ten spring-themed boards, completing fun activities as they progress.

Chocolate reward. £3 per trail. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ runnymede-and-ankerwycke

Easter egg trails

with the National Trust 2-18 April (Dates vary at each property – please check the website)

Enjoy an adventure in nature and collect your chocolate egg at the end.

Visit Claremont Landscape Garden, Dapdune Wharf, the Devil’s Punch Bowl, Hatchlands Park, Morden Hall Park, Polesden Lacey, Runnymede and Winkworth Arboretum.

For further details visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/surrey

Families Upon Thames 19

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