Families Upon Thames Nov/Dec 2023 Print

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Upon Thames

Issue 159 November/December 2023

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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: January/February 2024 Book by: 1 December Jul/Aug issue competition winners Congratulations to all our winners. Find a list at www.bit.ly/JA23recipients

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

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Education Work Early years Kids’ parties Christmas Gift guide Parenting What’s On

Welcome There’s a chill in the air, we’re edging towards winter and the Christmas season will soon be with us! Get ready to shop with inspiration for Christmas toys for the kids and family in our gift guide. And, most importantly, check out where to see Santa, dates for local Christmas light switch-ons, Christmas trails and much more in our What’s On section.

In our Education feature, find out about multiple intelligences, understand reading and the Key Stage 2 curriculum and discover the connection between growing sunflowers and maths skills! Those with little ones can also learn about how to improve their social skills.

If your child has a birthday approaching and you are looking for inclusive options for children with SEND, we have some tips and suggestions for you.

You also have the opportunity to be the lucky recipient of one of our Christmas gifts for kids in this issue – make sure you apply inside and 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.

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EDUCATION

Growing sunflowers and learning maths?

By Usha Patel Parents often ask me how to get their child interested in maths because ‘they just don’t get it.’ Luckily, they can give their child a lot of help at home in just a few easy steps.

Maths language It’s essential to keep maths language simple to build a strong foundation. Use words like ‘more’ for addition and ‘less’ for subtraction in everyday situations. For instance, you can introduce these concepts during meals: more roast potatoes, less sprouts! Repeatedly using these words alongside tangible materials helps children gradually grasp mathematical concepts.

Maths talk There are many words to describe each mathematical function.

When you teach your child the basic concepts of ‘more’ and ‘less,’ you are implicitly teaching them maths and how to think mathematically. By doing this, you are combining logic, sequence and memory. Having the basics in place can also allow you to introduce more words to describe the same function: ‘add,’ ‘together,’ ‘plus’ and ‘addition’ all mean the same.

Develop sequential thought processes Sequential thought processes are fundamental to understanding logical thinking. Parents can encourage these by discussing daily activities and routines with their children. By reflecting on how one event follows another, children can grasp the concept of sequencing, which is a vital skill in mathematics.

Establish logical thinking Children also need to develop logical thinking abilities. Fun activities like baking a cake or growing sunflowers can help introduce logic to young minds. These activities require following

Check memory Short-term memory is crucial for mathematical tasks. Insufficient working memory can hinder a child’s ability to hold and manipulate information during calculations. Playing memory games is an effective way to enhance memory capacity. For instance, counting games such as counting the number of cars on the way home can reveal memory strengths and weaknesses.

Finally, learning should be fun. When we are relaxed, we are more predisposed to absorbing what we learn. The funnier the delivery, the quicker it will stick. If your child is struggling and your efforts need to gain ground, take some steps to put the fun back into maths!

Usha Patel is a neurocognitive therapist at Raviv Practice London. If you need help to put fun into maths for your child, you can contact Usha at www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk.

Rhythm forms the foundation

Engaging in linear activities

Developing rhythm, sequence and logical skills are all prerequisites to mastering maths. Children can implicitly nurture these skills by playing a simple game of bouncing and catching a large ball by themselves.

Children can learn to count by, but comprehending number value represents a distinct skill set. Understanding value requires the capability to compare two or more numbers.

Comparative knowledge can only be applied with a firm grasp of linear processes. Whether they are growing a sunflower or making a sandwich, precise steps exist to achieve the end goal.

In the first stage, they bounce and catch the ball slowly, counting each time it hits the floor. The second stage involves counting and walking one small step every time they say the next number. The sound of the step should synchronise with the ball hitting the floor. Importantly, they should utter only one number per step taken.

Achieving synchronisation between body movement and counting speed demands significant practice but becomes rhythmic once established. The significance of this game lies in the ability to think, move and count with ease. If children find this challenging, you may count for them until they can perform both tasks simultaneously. Once mastered, children can up the challenge by walking backwards and counting in reverse order. Or try counting in times table blocks eg 3, 6, 9, 12.

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a series of linear steps. Discussing each phase from beginning to end helps children understand the importance of logical thinking, which can extend to organising their school bags or planning for sleepovers.

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When assigned the task of implementing each stage, children can observe that they are systematically progressing towards their goal. Upon reflection, children can discern the steps and understand why those steps are necessary to achieve the desired results. The key is to discuss each step in the process, emphasising what comes first, second, third, fourth and so on.

By repeating the experience, children can perceive how individual components are interconnected within the whole.

Crucially, a specific order must be followed to attain the desired outcome.

Linear processing facilitates teaching sequence, logic, mathematics and comparative skills.

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EDUCATION

Reading and the Key Stage 2 curriculum

By Jemma Z Smith Reading is vital for enabling students to access the rest of the curriculum and to deepen their understanding of the world around them.

While phonics lays the initial groundwork in Key Stage 1, the emphasis in Key Stage 2 (Year 3 and beyond) expands beyond pronunciation towards exploring characters. Students are asked what might happen next or why the character would decide to do something. This skill is especially significant when preparing for SATs or 11+ entrance exams, as it helps students answer questions based on inference and understand why authors choose to use certain words or phrases.

As a parent, the importance of reading aloud to your child remains significant as they will hear words that they are not yet ready to read themselves. This is particularly true with stories which contain idioms and figurative language.

As children delve into stories from different cultures and backgrounds, they are transported to other worlds and eras.

They learn to relate to characters’ experiences, feelings and decisions, understand more about the world and cultivate a love of reading and storytelling. Reading becomes about much more than simply being able to answer exam questions and starts to broaden their horizons. It can also provide a strong model for a student’s own writing, as well as leading to improved spelling.

Firstly, think about your child’s eyes and ears. How recently did they have an eye test? It’s important that children who experience difficulties reading have their eyes checked by an optician. It could be that they actually need glasses.

Meanwhile, if an optician says your child’s eyes are fine, rest assured that schools are well-informed about learning difficulties. They can screen for memory recall and retention issues and should be able to help with different learning approaches and varied resources to support any area your child is finding tricky.

Your child’s school will also be able to explain how to obtain a dyslexia diagnostic assessment. If your child does receive a diagnosis, there’s support to help your child to access the education to which they have a right.

My child struggles to read - what should I do?

Bear in mind that sometimes it may be that confidence that is holding your child back and this is where a tutor can help.

Speak to your child’s school to find out why your child is struggling as this is not always due to a learning difficulty.

Jemma Z Smith is Director of The Education Hotel. For further advice, visit www.educationhotel.co.uk

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EDUCATION

Understanding multiple intelligences

By Zuzu Jordan

Look up the word intelligent in the thesaurus and you will find words like ‘smart’, ‘clever’ and ‘bright’. Traditionally in schools, pupils with regular high scores in academic or IQ tests are recognised as intelligent. Yet, as a society, we marvel at great artists, musicians and Olympians for their outstanding talent.

How intelligence is measured is a debatable topic and leaves many people divided.

Howard Gardner (a well know theorist) proposed that there are many types of intelligences.

Logical relates to someone who can carry out mathematical problems, hypothesise and investigate scientifically.

Linguistic describes someone who is considered word smart and can easily learn languages.

Spatial refers to artists and architects who can visualise with their mind’s eye.

Kinaesthetic is being able to use the whole body or parts of the body exceptionally well, such as a dancer or athlete.

Musical refers to someone who can perform, compose and appreciate musical patterns.

Interpersonal is working effectively with people, knowing their intentions and motivations.

Intrapersonal refers to strong self-awareness and using this understanding in everyday life.

Naturalistic is the ability to identify different species and work well with all things natural.

activities. What are they like outside? Do they naturally tap out rhythms in the car whilst the radio is playing?

Celebrate what they CAN do so they develop a sense of pride.

Does your child know which intelligences they lean towards?

Play to their strengths. For example, if your child is spatially smart, ask them to draw what they are learning. If they show signs of naturalistic intelligence, give them sticks and other natural objects to create patterns and images.

Children are required to learn to read. Choose books that tap into their interests and intelligences.

Discuss your child’s strengths with their teachers. The more they understand your child’s leanings, the better lesson planning can involve multiple intelligences.

Play games such as Junior Scrabble, Monopoly, making sound effects in a story, charades, puppets and role play or garden activities.

Children may show strong signs of intelligence in more than one area, perhaps with a tendency to a dominant one. Sometimes their intelligences may shift when exposed to different experiences and activities.

Nurture their particular intelligences with after school activities/clubs.

How do we support our children in harnessing their intelligences?

Read books that help children understand the importance of working on their intelligences, for example You are Awesome by Matthew Syed.

Not all educational establishments will fully cater for your child’s intelligences but parents can play a vital role by using some of these ideas at home: Start by observing what your child enjoys across a range of

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Use online quizzes which help identify children’s intelligences.

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.

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Mind mapping

How do you know if your child really understands a topic?

According to Benjamin Bloom, there are six cognitive processing abilities which reflect someone’s level of understanding: remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate and finally, create.

To see if your child understood their topic on the Romans at school, you may look into whether they remember facts first, before eventually progressing to creating something such as an amphitheatre. As you move up the hierarchy, the cognitive process requires a deeper level of thinking and ultimately understanding.

Mind mapping is a useful way to organise information, helping children see connections between points around a central topic.

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Mind maps can include pictures and diagrams and can be ‘messy’ like a ‘brain dump’ or presented in a more organised format. Sub-topics break off the main topic like tree branches.

The information is a summary of ideas in either a few words or a sentence. Children can create their mind maps by hand or use software which allows them to move the sub-topics around.

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7

WORK

Are you suffering from tech stress?

By Mandy Garner I once asked my son what he thought I did for a living. ‘Stare at the computer all day and then get very cross’ he said. This is the kind of levelling comment that keeps your feet on the ground as a parent. There you are thinking you were doing something exciting that you feel passionately about and all your child sees is someone glued to the computer, getting angry because the screen has frozen and they have minus ten minutes to get everything done before school pick-up.

Tech stress has not eased over time and is something remote workers struggle with more than most, simply because there is no one else to ask for help. I long for someone to come over, press a button or two and bingo, everything works.

But, unless a digital-native child is around (and even they are often nonplussed by work-related things), the main ploy is to rely on what I loosely call workarounds: basically any strategy you can devise to do whatever it is that your computer won’t. This can result in fairly surreal situations, which, when you look back on them seem really quite amusing but at the time are definitely not.

Take the other day. I have just changed my phone. I was after a better deal, having been suckered into getting a more up-to-date iPhone but was bedazzled by the promise of 5G and a special offer. In my house mobile reception is very patchy. One minute you have bars, the next…nada.

The world of work now functions on 2FA which means it sends codes to your phone. Not if there are no bars. I have to run up into the furthest corner of daughter three’s room and dangle the phone out the window to get them. This is not what I call

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Unfortunately, there was a big graduation ceremony taking place outside the cafe with groups of students and lecturers in gowns thronging the streets. Inside it was quieter and I even had a plug socket to charge the laptop. Then the cafe started playing loud classical music and it began to fill up with people. I found myself having to get very close to the computer to hear what the meeting attendees were saying. I think my colleagues must have basically been looking at my ear for most of the meeting.

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I had to go to a meeting the other day and do an online call on Zoom half an hour beforehand. As the Zoom audio doesn’t work on my laptop – no idea why – and I can’t access the Zoom app on my phone, I borrowed a laptop and headed to a quiet cafe opposite the place where my next meeting was.

Mandy Garner is editor of www.workingmums.co.uk, a job site and community for working parents. Visit the website for more working mum blogs, advice and support and to search for flexible jobs with family-friendly employers.

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I didn’t want to stay with Apple, but felt I needed to in order to keep all my photos and videos. But my phone doesn’t recognise my Apple id password. One of its robots has assigned me an icloud.com address with a password which I don’t know because I didn’t even know I had an icloud account. This means I cannot get into any app on my phone, including Zoom and WhatsApp for at least seven days. I can reset my bank password in minutes but Apple takes up to seven days because they are so security conscious. One day they will shut me out of my own (online) life.

By next week, all should be resolved... provided Apple verifies my id, although my phone informs me that my work gmail password is ‘compromised.’ The Apple man told me I should ring google for advice. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Sometimes I think maybe I struggle more with technology due to my age, conforming to all the negative stereotypes. But then I think it really isn’t an age thing. It’s more of a time thing. Time poor people need technology that works intuitively - which means modelling it on a diverse range of customers - and instantly. And they need humans, not robots, to understand their frustrations when it doesn’t.

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EARLY YEARS

Developing your child’s social skills Some children may find socialising more difficult than others.

If your little one struggles or seems reluctant to be with other people, they may need some support to learn social skills.

Here are some things you can do to help.

Practise talking Chat about what you are doing, seeing or feeling to help build your child’s vocabulary and exposure to conversations. Role play, games and storytelling are all good for developing language.

Model good manners, such as saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’

This will encourage children to act this way with their peers.

Listen and take turns Children learn both verbal and non-verbal skills from the people around them. Try showing them what good listening looks like through your own behaviour and using games like Simon Says.

Find ways to make taking turns fun. Choose an object and tell your family they need to be holding it when they talk. Pass it between you. If your child is a little older, take it in turns to make up funny sounds as if you are having an alien conversation.

Show the importance of body language Use eye contact and body language with your child. Experiment by asking them to talk about something while you use poor body language. This could be crossed arms, looking away, fidgeting or frowning. Ask them how your actions made them feel. Then show them attentive body language. Take it in turns.

Teach them about personal space Consider teaching your child about personal space. Ask

them to put their hands on their hips and stick their elbows out to understand their personal space. Introduce the idea of boundaries by asking first if you can come into their space for a hug.

Develop their emotional skills When you help your child understand, express and cope with emotions, it helps them recognise the emotions of others and develops empathy. Teach them to problem-solve, guiding them with questions such as ‘What could you do?’ or ‘What could you say?’ Try to avoid answering for them.

You can also talk to your child about friendships and what it is to be a good friend. If you can, arrange and support opportunities for socialising.

With thanks to Action for Children (www.actionforchildren.org. uk) for this article. For further support on child development, visit its Parent Talk website at www.parents.actionforchildren. org.uk

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Learning moments in play It can be helpful to spot opportunities for learning social skills in your child’s play. For instance, you can ask your child to help with tasks and see if they’ll try activities with others, to learn teamwork skills.

You can also teach your child positive ways of responding to winning, losing or not getting their way. Show them you understand when they’re upset but help them see what the positives could be. Might the outcome have made their friend happy? You can also show them what sharing looks like when playing at home.

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If your child hits or bites, help them recognise how others feel when they’re hurt. Praise your child when you see them playing well.

You can also gently encourage your child to apologise if they do hurt someone during play. If they don’t feel comfortable doing this, model apologising for them until they feel more confident. You could say something like: ‘Freddie feels sad that he’s hurt you and he wants to say he’s very sorry.’

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PARTIES

Top tips for throwing an inclusive kids’ party

By Tamsin Ryan Parties can be overwhelming for all children and parents too! But they are even more challenging for a child with special needs.

As neurodiverse diagnoses increase, so does the need for awareness and inclusivity. Autism and ADHD can influence how a child perceives the world, communicates, learns and manages anxiety. However, there are lots of quick and easy things we can all do to make children’s parties more inclusive. Taking insights and experience from parents, party suppliers and professionals, here are some tried-and-tested ideas for hosting inclusive parties, which foster understanding and awareness. Try these five top tips and you will have manageable strategies to ensure that every child, from the birthday child to each of the guests, can enjoy a truly inclusive party.

Carefully select activities

Share the schedule

Support social skills

Sensory activities provide an inclusive space for all children, especially those with complex needs. Think sensoryfriendly stations with sand, playdough, kinetic sand and similar. Offer fidget toys, musical instruments and engaging crafts like jewellery making, biscuit decorating or pottery painting.

Share a detailed timeline when you send out the invitations, possibly in the form of a ‘social story’ filled with pictures.

This helps children to understand the content and flow of the party and sets expectations. Parents will also appreciate the advance information, helping them decide if their child should attend the entire event or only parts. While sharing the party theme (if there is one) is beneficial, flexibility is key; for example dressing up might not be suitable for everyone.

Navigating a party can be challenging for children with special needs. Overstimulation may affect their social interaction. You may want to organise a few short, structured games but be ready to accept that not all of the children may want to participate. You may also like to designate a familiar adult as a ‘safe’ go-to person.

Craft a sensory-friendly environment Some children get easily over-stimulated and it’s a great idea to plan a sensoryfriendly atmosphere by avoiding loud music, bright decorations and boisterous activities. Outdoor parties can be ideal, offering a lower noise level and natural sensory experiences.

Offer accommodations Plan for the needs of individual guests Children with autism may require breaks or quiet spaces. A sensory tent or den or just a soft, quiet reading corner could provide an oasis for short respites.

A few inclusive party suppliers to get you started: Mrs Miles Magic Facepainter. (Find on Facebook) The Little Gym Gym-based activities and fun. www.thelittlegym.co.uk Playhouse Parties Shows and performances. www.playhouseparties.co.uk Kingswood Shetlands Animal experiences. www.kingswoodshetlands.org Jelly Jade Entertainer. www.partywithjellyjade.co.uk The Oxford Facepainter www.oxfordfacepainter.com

If hosting the party yourself seems a little overwhelming, an increasing number of party suppliers are offering inclusive parties that can be tailored to particular needs.

The Party Noodles Entertainment. www.thepartynoodles.com

The above tips will give you some useful and actionable ideas for making your parties more inclusive. Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once; take small steps.

The key is putting structure in, preparing the child(ren) and being motivated. But, most of all, have fun and enjoy the party!

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Find lots more ideas and advice for inclusive parties, including party suppliers, on Tamsin’s blog at www.icecreamandjelly.com.

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11

CHRISTMAS

Join Dick Whittington at Richmond Theatre

Winter wonders at RHS Garden Wisley

Running from 9 December to 7 January, Richmond Theatre’s annual, family favourite pantomime returns for another festive season of songs, laughs and plenty of boos and hisses!

On selected dates from Friday 24 November to Tuesday 2 January, you can bring all the family to enjoy a magical evening at RHS Garden Wisley.

Join Dick Whittington in the ultimate pantomime adventure as he seeks fame, fortune and happiness on his journey to become Lord Mayor. Can he outwit the evil Queen Rat and free the city from her team of revolting rodents?

This year, accompanied by an all-star cast, comedian Paul Merton steps out from behind the iconic Have I Got News For You desk and dons the Panto Dame’s heels in the role of Sarah the Cook.

Packed with all the traditional pantomime ingredients Richmond audiences have come to expect, don’t miss this action-packed pantomime that promises to be full of laughout-loud comedy, stunning scenery and beautiful costumes.

Book today for the pantomime paved with gold at www.atgtickets.com/richmond

Take the spectacular Glow Trail and see the breathtakingly beautiful garden lit up with amazing illuminations. Don’t forget to book ahead at https://bit.ly/RHSWis For day time adventures, open your eyes to the wonders of winter!

RHS Wisley’s Winter Walk on Seven Acres is a feast for the senses. Be inspired by a fantastic assortment of plants chosen for their winter colour, shape, structure and scent. Wrap up warm and follow the hard-surfaced pathways to discover what makes winter gardens extra special.

Give the kids the chance to burn off steam in the Back to Nature play area while you warm up with a coffee.

Plan your visit today at www.rhs.org.uk/wisley

Wishing all our readers a very Merry Christmas

Experience family curling at Southbank

Santa at Squires' Magical Grotto

This winter, the latest cool seasonal family activity returns, once more, to Southbank! So why not head down to The Curling Club and try your hand at casual curling?

Meet Santa at his Magical Grotto at Squires Garden Centres in Shepperton, Woking, Badshot Lea and West Horsley this Christmas.

Based on the Winter Olympic sport of curling, the sport’s ambassador, Eve Muirhead, captained Team GB to Gold Medal glory in 2022. Your family can now emulate her and the team by gliding your stones down a fit-for-purpose sheet, giving you an experience as close to the real deal without the need for ice or specialist footwear.

Combining casual curling with a winter spectacular of live entertainment, festive music, cocktails and delicious food that the whole family will love, The Curling Club is the perfect way to experience après ski vibes in an all-inclusive, competitive, social environment.

Spaces are limited and The Curling Club must close on 11 February so book today for an unforgettable winter experience.

Santa’s Grotto is open on weekends from Saturday, 25 November to Sunday, 17 December and daily from Monday, 18 to Sunday 24 December. Children will receive a wonderful, wrapped gift and an 'I’ve Seen Santa' badge.

Purchase tickets in-store on the day you visit. £8 per child, first two adults FREE (£1 per additional adult).

For full details, visit the What’s On section at www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Book at www.thecurlingclub.com/south-bank 12 Families Upon Thames

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Festive Fun Spot the Difference Can you help us spot 6 differences between these two festive pictures?

Join the Great Search for Santa and experience so many thrilling adventures with Santa’s Lapland.

You can experience reindeer sleigh rides, husky driven sleds, tobogganing and so much more.

No one knows how to make Christmas more magical.

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Families Upon Thames 13

CHRISTMAS

Christmas with the National Trust Venture into a fairytale world and enjoy fantastic festive activities and family fun at your local National Trust properties this Christmas. With Christmas fairytale trails, Father Christmas, carousel rides, light installations, games, shopping and creative activities, there’s really something for everyone.

Be captivated by the immersive fairytale scenes of A Fairy Tale Christmas at Polesden Lacey (25 Nov to 7 Jan) as you wind your way through the sumptuously dressed house on your way to find Father Christmas. You can book ahead to see Santa from Fri 25 Nov to Sun 10 Dec and then daily from 15 to 23 Dec. There is also an outdoor fairytale-inspired Christmas trail to explore and the chance to ride on a traditional carousel (on selected days). www.nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey At Claremont Landscape Garden (25 Nov to 1 Jan), the classic tale of The Snow Queen will be brought to life in a magical outdoor trail, with installations reflecting scenes from the story

and activities to enjoy along the way. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ claremont-landscape-garden For fans of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, step into Narnia® at Hatchlands Park (1 to 31 Dec), inspired by the beloved book. Go on a magical journey through the house as well as enjoying the parkland. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hatchlands-park Create Christmas cards, crackers and decorations at Dapdune Wharf (25 and 26 Nov). £3 for craft activities. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/riverwey.

While, if it’s Christmas shopping you’re after, browse the stalls at Frost Fair at Box Hill (9 and 10 Dec) for gifts and stocking fillers and find the best local food, drink, art and craft in the Surrey Hills. You can also enjoy family crafts and a winter trail. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/box-hill For a winter walk, wrap up warm and head for the Winkworth Welly Wander at Winkworth Arboretum (16 Dec to 3 Jan). Grab a trail sheet and play a range of welly-based games that will get everyone rosy-cheeked and smiling. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ winkworth-arboretum

Discover Painshill This Winter

Meet Santa in his magical grotto at Squire’s Shepperton, TW17 8SG

From Sat 25 Nov – Sun 24 Dec* £8 per child, includes wrapped gift. £1 from every child ticket will be donated to charity

Selected days

*

Cobham, Surrey

where the walk is a work of art

Plan your visit at painshill.co.uk 14 Families Upon Thames

Familiesonline.co.uk

FAMILY DAY Christmas Carols and The Snowman Sunday 10 December Grounds open from 11.00am to 5.00pm Performances at 12.15pm and 3.00pm Tickets: £10, under 30s half price Come to The Menuhin Hall at this magical time of the year for carol singing and a screening of Raymond Briggs’ charming story of The Snowman, accompanied by the orchestra of The Yehudi Menuhin School. You can also enjoy a mini-Christmas market and festive fun and games.

Full details of the event and online booking: THE MENUHIN HALL.CO.UK

The Menuhin Hall Stoke d’Abernon KT11 3QQ

© Snowman Enterprises Ltd

THE CURLING CLUB

IS GLIDING ITS WAY BACK TO THE SOUTH BANK CENTRE THIS WINTER

Celebrate the festive season in style with friends, colleagues, and loved ones at The Curling Club, opening this October!

Located in the heart of The South Bank Centre this immersive, alpine-themed, curling-infused pop-up is the perfect way to party this winter and we want you to be a part of it.

Casual Curling combines a short, fast form of curling with winter cocktails and festive music.

The Curling Club is the perfect way to entertain friends, colleagues and loved ones this winter whilst experiencing the apres-ski vibes in an all-inclusive, competitive, social environment.

Call today on 0208 126 1561 WWW.THECURLINGCLUB.COM Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Upon Thames 15

Christmas

Your Christmas Toy

GIFT GUIDE Whether you’re a spontaneous shopper or a meticulous gift planner, you’ll want your choices both to hit the mark and become firm favourites. While age recommendations are useful guidelines for toy purchases, remember that not all children develop at the same rate. Do consider the child’s passions and hobbies.

Do they love dinosaurs? Are they a budding artist or passionate about science?

Once you have a clearer picture in your mind, it’s easier to get started.

For inspiration, take a look at The Good Play Guide’s (www.goodplayguide.com) top picks for the festive season. You can rest assured that these accredited products have been independently tested by play experts and most importantly, by children.

Rock Stepper - Educational Playmat (baby & pre-school) £195

Paddington’s Campervan

Tonies Toniebox

Paddington and Bessie the Campervan are ready for an adventure. Paddington himself has a picnic hamper, blanket, cup of tea and, of course... a marmalade sandwich. Press Bessie’s grill to hear a ‘Beep Beep’ and a ‘Broom Broom,’ Paddington’s voice and fun music from the TV show. The campervan roof comes off so Paddington and his accessories can easily be packed and unpacked.

Role-play toys like this help to build vocabulary and language skills as children give the characters voices and talk about what is happening while they play.

The Toniebox is an invincible musical storybox that children control. The box comes with one character, with addons available such as Peter Rabbit, Elsa (Frozen) and James and the Giant Peach.

The figures help bring stories to life, also giving children a sense of independence as they choose which character they want to listen to and place the figure on the box. There are ‘Tonies’ that just play music and the option to record your own stories onto certain characters meaning children can listen to stories or goodnight messages from relatives who live far away.

(pre-school) £29.99

(baby to 10 years) £62.95

Cube Fun

(Ages 3-8) £14.95 Cube Fun are soft cubes with fun game instructions on each side, helping children enjoy being active and extending their vocabulary at the same time. The cubes are themed: on the Christmas cube, you can prance like a reindeer and twinkle like a star. Children enjoy playing this in a group and competing to do the best or most actions each time the cube is thrown. Great for rainy day active play.

16 Families Upon Thames

The Rock Stepper playmat supports early learning and development by introducing phonics, word formation and early maths skills. Shapes, letters, numbers, colours and pictures keep children of different ages engaged. Accompanying flashcards and access to an app bring another play dimension, prompting children to interact with the mat in different ways. The mat is well cushioned to avoid bumps and bruises if children take a tumble while playing. The reverse side has a stylish design on it, so you can turn it over when it’s not being played with instead of putting it away each time.

LocBloc Counting Blocks (pre-school) £20.89

This is a set of colourful building blocks in different sizes to stimulate a child’s imagination. They can use the wheel blocks to build a racing car, school bus or their own unique vehicle. Other blocks have facial expressions, so little ones can build figurines for pretend play scenarios; great for learning social-emotional skills. The sets come with play cards and stickers to develop number recognition, colour perception, counting and more.

Familiesonline.co.uk

Christmas

Christmas toy choices Biggies

Ages 3+

Introducing Biggies! The first-of-itskind SUPER-SIZE mega plush. Use the foot pump inside the box to inflate your mystery character. Watch as your character gets bigger and bigger, until POP, your perfectly huggable plush is revealed – at ten times its original size. Which cool animal will you get – the dog, dragon, rabbit or unicorn?!

Biggies are reusable. Just deflate to store and recreate the experience again and again. Available at Smyths. £19.99.

Ultimate Hero Electronic Fireman Sam Ages 3+

EDURINO

Ultimate Hero Fireman Sam is a large scale, fully articulated action figure, packed with fun features. Measuring 12” tall, Sam has over thirty sound effects and phrases. With working torch, L.E.D Morse Light and radio, raise or lower Sam’s safety helmet visor to change between ordinary day vision... and super special night vision!

Sam comes prepared with tools, a gripping hand to hold his Fire Axe Accessory and an action button which makes his arm move up and down.

He can use the the climbing rope with grapple hook to reach up high and you can use the built-in winding wheel to extend and retract it. Available at Smyths. £29.99.

This playful digital learning system enables meaningful screen time for children. Developed in collaboration with teachers, EDURINO offers a combination of physical and digital learning, with maximum fun. Every starter set includes an ergonomic pen (great for perfecting pen grip) and a real figurine which, when touched to the screen of your device, magically unlocks a particular subject to encourage learning and comprehension via a free app. There are loads of games to choose from, no ads or in-app purchases within the app and extensive parental controls – it’s a whole new digital learning solution for children. More info at www.edurino.co.uk £44.99.

Ages 3+

The 2-in-1 Plush 3D Helmets give kids two different looks. They can choose between the printed graphic or add the plush cover for a 3D effect. The Perrycornio scooter features a plush head for the coolest look and lights in the wheels that are useful for visibility. It’s also foldable, making it perfect to fit into any space and extensible so can grow with children. Available at Toyland. £50.

Ages 4-8

Voxblock Ages 3-12

Immerse young minds in a world of stories with Voxblock, the screen-free audiobook player for kids. Designed for children, with no grown-ups needed, simply pop in the audiobook, press play and go! There’s no need for Wi-Fi, downloads or set-up, Voxblock is ready-to-play straight from the wrapping paper. With hundreds of audio stories to choose from, there's something for everyone. Begin with a Voxblock Starter Pack, which includes a Voxblock player, three stories and a protective bumper. Buy at www.voxblock.co.uk £59.99 Familiesonline.co.uk

K3YRIDERS 2 in 1 3D Perrycornio Plush Helmet & 3 Wheeled Perrycornio Plush Scooter

Miraculous Magic Heroez Reveal Dolls Ages 4+

Miraculous fans can bring the show’s magic of transformation to life with these dolls and transform Marinette into any Superhero. In an unboxing experience full of surprises, simply open the container, add some water and swirl it around to discover Marinette in one of her superhero costumes. Which of her superhero alter egos will you reveal? Ladybug, BunnyX or Rena Rouge? Each doll has a unique outfit from the show and features five points of articulation.

There’s also an additional blind bag.

Add the bag to the container and watch it dissolve to reveal a matching mask, Kwami character and one more themed accessory unique to each costume. Available at Smyths and Amazon. £22.99.

Families Upon Thames 17

PARENTING

Granny knows best?

By Ellie Malt Respect for your elders is still considered an important principal but perhaps it’s another way of saying we need to pay attention to the wisdom of grandparents. They are the bearers of family traditions and their advice helps pass down values, stories and customs, helping a child understand their roots.

But how far should we follow their parenting advice?

Grandparents grew up with punishments that seem old fashioned and even inappropriate now, such as spanking or being sent to bed for not finishing everything on your plate.

Traditional ‘authoritarian parenting’ which used external punishments to drive unquestioning obedience has fallen out of favour. So why is this and what has replaced it?

A major reason for the change comes down to modern scientific research. In the UK, research with children who were separated from their parents during the Second World War led to the development of theories like ‘attachment parenting’. This suggested that trust and a good rapport between child and parent was, in the long term, much more effective in changing behaviour than physical punishment.

Since then, advances in MRI scanning have generated new insights into the development of children’s brains. Parenting styles based on this science are called ‘neuro-parenting.’ Each new step-up in scanning technology reveals more detail about how children’s brains grow. However, the link between structural changes in the brain and child behaviours is still subject to interpretation and pre-conceived bias.

Sometimes, neuro-parenting has pressured parents into worrying about the impact of every action on their child’s future success. Yet there are limits on how far parenting can affect children.

We now understand that genetics intervene and that perhaps our children won’t ‘fail at life’ if we don’t constantly stimulate their brains. Recently, there’s been more concern about overstimulation, while the latest brain scans show brains remain impressively elastic throughout life.

Who is the best source of parenting advice: modern science or granny?

‘authoritarian’) as achieving the best outcomes. It is a parenting style that combines one aspect of traditional parenting (setting limits and holding a child to rules) with the science of brain development, by adopting different methods in enforcing the rules.

Rather than punish, authoritative parents now coach their child on the consequences of behaviour. They are firm but kind. They may be strict but they are not mean.

They have learned that children are born with different types of brain and differences in sensory processing abilities. A child might have good reasons for not clearing their plate. Whereas a more traditional parent might issue punishment, an authoritative parent may question whether this is a rule worth setting in the first place.

On the other hand, suppose you have decided a fixed bedtime is a rule you want to be consistent about. Having established the rule, as an authoritative parent, you discuss the reasons and involve your child in establishing how it will work. You then give positive praise for any progress.

Refusal or delays are met with reminders about the rule and why it exists; always in a calm and warm manner. The parent will stand firm. Phew! No one said it was easy but it does have scientific evidence behind it. In long-term studies, non-punitive discipline was found to promote children’s own self-control and honesty and prevent aggressive behaviour.

I wonder what granny will think of that?

Ellie is a journalist, writer and mum of two daughters. She and her family live in Surrey.

Research supports ‘authoritative parenting’ (as opposed to

Different parenting styles

Finding your own style

Developmental Psychologist, Diana Baumrind, highlighted four parenting styles: Neglectful parenting: nothing is demanded and parents have a low responsiveness to their child.

Authoritarian parenting: parents demand unquestioning obedience but responsiveness to their child is low.

Permissive parenting: parents demand little from their children but are highly responsive.

Authoritative parenting: parents place demands on their children to obey rules but are also responsive to their children, allowing for reasoning.

Parenting fashions come and go, from the ‘we were outside playing all day until teatime and it didn’t do us any harm,’ through to so-called ‘helicopter parenting’ at the other end of the scale.

18 Families Upon Thames

There is no absolute right or wrong, just as there is no blueprint child. While mindful of research, what’s more important is that you are consistent as parents and bring up children in a loving and engaging home where the ‘rules’ are the ones you know work for your family.

Familiesonline.co.uk

PARENTING

ASK THE EXPERT My circumstances have changed, do I need to make a new Will?

Less play linked to rise in mental health problems Fewer opportunities to play and roam free has led to a decline in mental health among adolescents, new research suggests.

Life is a journey full of twists and turns and our circumstances are always evolving. As such our Wills need to change throughout our lives. Major life events such as marriage, divorce or the birth of a child can all trigger the need to create a new Will. These milestones not only alter your personal landscape but can have profound implications for your inheritance wishes.

Marriage A new marriage revokes a previous Will so it is important to make a new Will to ensure that your wishes are met and not left to chance.

Children The birth or adoption of a child is a pivotal moment in your life. You are likely to want to provide adequate financial support for new children as well as appointing a guardian.

Separation Separation before a divorce is finalised, means that your former partner would still be entitled to inherit from your Estate, either under your Will or via intestacy rules. Divorce, once finalised, doesn't automatically invalidate an existing Will. Instead, your previous spouse or civil partner will be considered to have died before you. If you wish a former spouse to still inherit, you will have to create a new Will.

Why should I make a Will, my family will inherit without one?

A Will is useful at almost any stage of life and even if you are not worried about who will inherit from your estate, you may want to stipulate things such as funeral arrangements.

You may also want to consider friends or charities that would benefit from a gift from you.

Regardless of the size of your Estate, if you are in a relationship but are not married or in a Civil Partnership, you should put a Will in place to stipulate who your beneficiaries will be. Without a Will there is no right for unmarried partners to inherit.

Taking legal advice is invaluable as every individual’s circumstances are different. A specialist will be able to provide advice tailored to you and your current circumstances.

NE Family Law is a boutique firm based in Richmond specialising in Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Estate Administration. Maddie offers bespoke advice and guidance and will work with you to create a later life plan that works for you. For more information, visit www.ne-familylaw.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

The team behind the findings say the reduction in play stems from parents’ ‘good intentions carried too far’ as families are subject to more messages about keeping children safe and more emphasis on school achievement.

The research was carried out by three prominent specialists in child development at the University of Florida, who say that children’s worsening mental health has ‘crept up on us gradually, over decades.’

Taking part in ‘risky’ play, such as climbing high in trees and activities which encourage personal responsibility, can help to develop self-confidence and reduce the risk of future anxiety, say the study authors. Unfortunately children are being given fewer opportunities to engage in these sorts of activities.

More info: www.bit.ly/FloridaUni

GIVEAWAY!

Therapeutic Fairytales Volume 2

APPLY NOW!

This is the chance for THREE lucky families to receive a complete set of three new Therapeutic Fairytales (Volume 2), which show how being in nature can support children through different feeling states including anxiety, feelings of loneliness and OCD. Animal guides lead the way, offering gentle, mindful breathing exercises to help children find stillness inside.

Beautifully illustrated and sensitively written, these books explore the anxiety and loneliness we can all feel, while offering practical, self-calming strategies that can be learnt together as a family. ‘A truly wonderful set of resources – of value to us all’ – Sarah Temple, GP and author.

For more info, visit www.bit.ly/fairytalestherapeutic For those interested in storytelling as a therapeutic, creative tool, author Pia Jones and illustrator Sarah Pimenta have also written a manual full of practical, creative exercises on how to read with children therapeutically. More at www.bit.ly/ storybookmanual

APPLY AT www.familiesmag.co.uk/go Closing date: 1 December T&Cs at www.bit.ly/fairytalestcs

Families Upon Thames 19

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.

Every Mon to Sat Get Crafty at Museum of Richmond FREE art and craft from 1pm each weekday and Saturday that the museum is open. www.museumofrichmond.com Every Tue Storytelling for pre-schoolers at Landmark Arts Centre Music storytelling for ages 2 to 4 to assist with language and cognitive skills. www.landmarkartscentre.org Every Thu Story & Rhyme Time at The Alligator’s Mouth, Richmond Drop in session with new picture books and traditional rhymes performed by staff, for ages 0-4. www.thealligatorsmouth.co.uk Until Sun 18 Feb Curling Club at Southbank Centre Exciting new alpine-themed curling pop-up, a great winter sport for families to play together with delicious food, festive music and an après ski vibe. www.thecurlingclub.com Wed 15 Nov-Sun 7 Jan Christmas at Kew Botanical world brimming with seasonal cheer as twinkling lights and seasonal sounds fill the air. www.kew.org/christmas Thu 16 Nov & Sun 3 Dec Let’s Get Creative at Orleans House Gallery Creative activities for families with children ages 4-11. www.orleanshousegallery.org Fri 17 Nov-Sun 19 Nov Sparkle Festive Fair at Landmark Arts Centre Great chance to kick off festive shopping with local artists and producers selling high quality gifts. www.landmarkartscentre.org Fri 17 Nov-Sun 7 Jan Ice Rink at Hampton Court Palace Quintessential winter experience located in front of the spectacular palace. www.hamptoncourtpalaceicerink. co.uk Thu 16 Nov-Sat 31 Dec Kingston Christmas Market European-style market stalls with bar, live music, Candy Cane Forest and new Curling Experience. www.kingstonchristmasmarket. co.uk Fri 17 Nov, 1 & 15 Dec Museum Monkeys at Chertsey Museum Join Charlie the Chimp for singing, stories and crafts for under 5s. www.chertseymuseum.org Sat 18 & Sun 19 Nov Steaming Weekend at Kempton Steam Museum Watch the unique and enormous ancient steam engines in action. www.kemptonsteam.org Sat 18 Nov-Sun 7 Jan Alice in Wonderland Trail at Painshill Park Help the white rabbit find Alice at Painshill’s Alice in Wonderland Trail this winter. Suitable for all ages. Last entry is at 3pm, closes 4pm. Trail included with general admission/ 20 Families Upon Thames

Fri 1-Sun 3 Dec & Fri 8-Sun 10 Dec Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace The palace courtyards will be transformed into a food-lovers paradise. www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-courtpalace

free for members. Non-members or those without Historic Houses card, book in advance online and save up to 20%. https://bit.ly/AlicePainshill

Sat 2 Dec 15 Minutes of Fun at Chertsey Museum FREE drop-in craft session. www.chertseymuseum.org

Sun 19 Nov Mum2mum Nearly New Sale at Twickenham-Whitton Community Centre Buy quality second hand baby and children’s stuff at pop up market. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk

Sun 3 Dec Carols on the Green at Claygate Join in traditional community Christmas singing event. 3pm. www.facebook.com/ claygatevillageassociation

Fri 24 Nov-Tue 2 Jan Glow 2023 at RHS Garden Wisley Bring all the family for a magical evening at RHS Garden Wisley. See the garden in breathtaking beauty as amazing illuminations light your way on the spectacular Glow trail.

Advance booking required. www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/ whats-on/glow-at-wisley Sat & Sun 25-26 Nov Creative Christmas at Dapdune Wharf Join in and create Christmas cards, crackers, tree decorations and more. Pen your letter to Santa and explore the bookshop, tuck into hot chocolate with marshmallows from the tearoom. £3 for craft activities. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/riverwey Sat 25 Nov-Sun 7 Jan A Fairytale Christmas at Polesden Lacey The house will be dressed for Christmas including a twenty foot Christmas tree with immersive fairytale scenes. Explore an outdoor fairytale-inspired Christmas trail with scenes from favourite fairy tales.

Follow the immersive Christmas displays through the house on your way to find Father Christmas (prebook). www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ polesden-lacey Sat 25 Nov-Mon 1 Jan The Snow Queen at Claremont This Christmas, Claremont is bringing to life the classic fairytale, The Snow Queen. Explore the magical outdoor world with installations reflecting scenes from the story with activities to enjoy along the way. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ claremont-landscape-garden Sat & Sun 25-26 Nov, Fri 1-Sun 10 Dec, Fri 15-Tue 2 Jan Ride on the Carousel at Polesden Lacey Enjoy the colour and magic of a traditional carousel with carved horses twiring round. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ polesden-lacey Sun 26 Nov Family Tree Trail at Marble Hill Park Collect your family tree trail to learn more about the trees around the park. Booking required. www.english-heritage.org.uk Fri 1-Sun 31 Dec Narnia® at Hatchlands Park Step into Narnia this Christmas, with a magical journey through the house and a family trail in the parkland. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hatchlands-park

Fri 8 Dec Play:Make:Art at Orleans House Gallery Creative activities for families with children ages 2-5. www.orleanshousegallery.org

Sat & Sun 9-10 Dec & 16-17 Dec Santa Special Train Rides at Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway Take a ride on Santa’s sleigh railway, and enjoy hot chocolate, mince pies, soft drinks and presents. Booking required. www.hamptonkemptonrailway. org.uk Sun 10 Dec Christmas Carols and The Snowman at The Menuhin Hall, Cobham Carol singing and a screening of The Snowman accompanied by the live orchestra of The Yehudi Menuhin School. Enjoy a mini-Christmas market and festive fun and games for the whole family. Book ahead. www.themenuhinhall.co.uk Santa Fun Run at Bushy Park Gather for some festive fun whilst raising money for Princess Alice Hospice. www.pah.org.uk/santafunrun2023

Sat 9 Dec Family Day at the National Archives Kew Festive family fun with local children’s choir and range of FREE craft activities. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Thu 14 Dec The Fair Symposium Christmas Fair at York House Twickenham York House will be filled with local artisan and craft makers. Fundraiser for UK Sepsis Trust. www.pedddle.com

Comedy4Kids Christmas Special at The Last Hop, Staines Hilarious comedy club for children. www.visitstaines.co.uk

Fri 15 Dec Bach to Baby Festive Concert in Twickenham Festive fun and frolics for the whole family to enjoy. www.bachtobaby.com

Sat & Sun 9-10 Dec Frost Fair at Box Hill Featuring some of the best local food, drink and art and craft in the Surrey Hills. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/box-hill

Sat & Sun 16-17 Dec Carols by Candlelight at Landmark Arts Centre Festive programme by Surrey Brass and Excelsis Chamber Choir.

Booking required. www.landmarkartscentre.org

Alice in Wonderland Christmas Trail at Painshill From 18 November to 7 January, families can meet the White Rabbit and other well-known characters within the beautiful landscape of Painshill Park in Cobham and begin a ‘chase’ across a topsy-turvy world that gets ‘curiouser and curiouser’ as their fantastical adventure unfolds.

Meet the Mad Hatter (remember not to be late for a very important date…), find the mischievous Tweedledum and Tweedledee and sneak up on the Cheshire cat. If he’s grinning, you must grin back! You will also come across the Queen of Hearts garden and many more unforgettable characters, until, eventually, you’ll find Alice…

Transformed into a landscape of awe-inspiring splendour and magical fantasy madness, make sure you enjoy the unique and extraordinary tale of Alice in Wonderland at Painshill Park this Christmas.

Booking in advance is essential to secure your timed slot and comes with a saving of up to 20%.

More info and booking at https://bit.ly/AlicePainshill

Familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON Sat 16 Dec-Wed 3 Jan Winkworth Welly Wander at Winkworth Arboretum Bring the family out for the Winter Welly Wander. Pick up a trail sheet and play a range of welly-based games that will get everyone rosycheeked and smiling. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ winkworth-arboretum

laughter for all the family.

Sun 17 Dec Christmas Jousting at Ham Polo Club A spectacular show of skilful riding and horse gymnastic qualities and skills. www.hampoloclub.com

Let’s All Dance – The Nutcracker 21 Dec Perfect Christmas show for whole family with fabulous dancing and gorgeous costumes. All ages.

Santa Fun Run at Sandown Park Gather for some festive fun whilst raising money for Princess Alice Hospice. www.pah.org.uk/santafunrun2023 Wed 20 Dec Hampton Wick Christmas Carols Festive Get-Together at Bullen Hall with FREE mulled wine, mince pies and soft drinks and stories for children. www.visitrichmond.co.uk Thu 21 Dec Christmas Holiday Activities at Chertsey Museum Make a Christmas village using mini cardboard houses, decorate with paint, gems and glitter. Ages 4-12. www.chertseymuseum.org

CHILDREN'S THEATRE & CHRISTMAS SHOWS Cecil Hepworth Playhouse www.cecilhepworthplayhouse. co.uk Ellie & Starlight's Christmas Adventure 13-24 Dec Ellie and her best Friend Starlight the Polar Bear are heading for the North Pole to find Father Christmas. This heart-warming magical Christmas story is a tale of a little girl’s determination to find Father Christmas and tell him that all the boys and girls in her village have had to move to a new place.

She must reach the North Pole before Christmas Eve or it will be too late and none of the children will get a Christmas present this year. Ellie and Starlight embark on a difficult journey across snowy mountains where they meet lots of different animals on their way to the North Pole. Can you help them to find Father Christmas?

This atmospheric and festive production is the perfect family show to get you into the Christmas spirit. Performances at 11am and 2pm. Relaxed perormance 14 Dec 11am. Ages 3-8. Tickets at https://bit.ly/elliestarlight DORKING HALLS www.dorkinghalls.co.uk There’s a Monster in Your Show 11-12 Nov A high-energy 50-minute adventure featuring lively original music.

Ages 3+.

Cirque - The Greatest Show 3 Dec Award-winning, smash-hit sensation that is fun for all the family.

Santa’s New Sleigh 8-10 Dec A festive play full of song, dance, audience participation and a FREE present from Santa.

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs Pantomime 16- 28 Dec Traditional panto with great songs, dance routines and plenty of Familiesonline.co.uk

THE ELECTRIC THEATRE, GUILDFORD www.electric.theatre A Christmas Wish 4 Dec With lovely dancing, music and costumes, a magical festive tale of love and friendship. Ages 0-6.

Santa’s Christmas Wish 24 Dec Festive song-filled, interactive family show where every child will receive a gift. Ages 2-8.

ESHER THEATRE www.eshertheatre.com Dick Whittington Pantomime, 7 Dec–6 Jan Packed with songs, slapstick, silliness, audience participation for the whole family.

THE EXCHANGE, TWICKENHAM www.exchangetwickenham.co.uk Hansel & Gretel 9-10 Dec New festive take on classic fairy-tale with puppets, innovative theatre and original music. For ages 3+.

A Christmas Carol 9-10 Dec Magical new adaptation of Dicken’s classic, with remarkable puppetry and original music. Ages 7+.

Robin Hood the Pantomime 18-22 Dec Interactive show full of fun, laughter, phonics, counting dance, song and puppetry. Ages 2+.

G LIVE, GUILDFORD www.glive.co.uk Santa’s on his Sleigh 16-24 Dec Live show packed full of songs, games and laughter.

Cirque Enchantment 29-30 Dec Magical production, superb choreography, breathtaking vocals and mesmerising circus performers.

GUILDFORD SPECTRUM www.guildfordspectrum.co.uk Alice in Wonderland On Ice, 9-11 Dec Lavish winter wonderland on ice featuring performances from rising ice skating stars.

HAMPTON HILL THEATRE www.hamptonhilltheatre.org.uk Buddy & Cocoa’s Christmas Adventure at Hampton Hill Theatre 14-24 Dec A story of friendship, magic, and mischief but above all else, the determination of two elves to make sure Christmas can happen.

A festive family show perfect for ages 3-8. Performances at 11am and 2pm. Tickets at www.buddyandcocoa.com

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/newwimbledon-theatre

POLKA THEATRE, WIMBLEDON www.polkatheatre.com The Lightbulb Princess 8 Nov-12 Nov A delightful new show full of sparkle and song for everyone. Ages 4+.

Annie 3-31 Dec Smash-hit West End production of Annie, the world’s favourite family musical.

Fairytale of New York 5 Nov The ultimate feel-good Irish-inspired Christmas show is back with an even bigger production.

A Christmas Carol 20 Nov Unique adaptation presents two actors taking on every character in a fast-paced show. Ages 8+.

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World 30 Nov-2 Dec This ‘pop-fuelled, upbeat’ (The Times) hit musical, based on the picture book by Kate Pankhurst and published by Bloomsbury, comes from one of the producers of SIX the Musical. Join our heroine Jade as she breaks away from her class to peek behind the scenes in the local museum, where she meets the incredible wonder women: Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Emmeline Pankhurst, to name just a few. With characters and songs that pack a popstar punch, prepare to move and be moved! Ages 7+.

Cinderella Pantomime 8 Dec-7 Jan Comedian and magician Pete Firman as Buttons, returning for his third Wimbledon panto.

Here Comes Santa Claus 13-24 Dec See the wonder of Christmas unfold in this new production. Ages 3-8.

OSO THEATRE, BARNES www.osoarts.org.uk Comedy Club 4 Kids 22 Oct-19 Nov The comedy club that is suitable for all humans! Ages 6+.

Jack and the Beanstalk Pantomime 1-21 Dec Laugh, shout and sing yourself silly this Christmas at a panto classic reimagined for the whole family.

The Snow Queen 11 Nov-21 Jan Classic tale brought to life with songs, spectacular storytelling and a flurry of mythical magic. Ages 6-12.

The Night Before Christmas 18 Nov-14 Jan Featuring music, skilful puppetry and a generous sprinkling of festive magic. Ages 2-6.

RICHMOND THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/richmondtheatre Dick Whittington Pantomime 9 Dec-7 Jan Action-packed pantomime that full of laugh-out-loud comedy.

THE ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON www.rosetheatre.org Peter Pan 2 Dec-2 Jan Enchanting Christmas adventure packed with song, dance and magic.

Ages 5+.

WATERMANS THEATRE, BRENTFORD www.watermans.org.uk Can Bears Ski? 26 Nov 3pm Based on the book by poet Raymond Antrobus, a Ted Hughes awardwinner, who draws on his own experience as a deaf child in a hearing world. Ages 3+.

The Pixie and the Pudding Christmas Show Sun 13 Nov This enchanting musical brings a tale from Scandinavian folklore to life with puppetry, original music and a sprinkling of pixie magic.

Ages 4-11.

YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

ORANGE TREE THEATRE, RICHMOND www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk

Cinderella Pantomime 2 Dec- 7 Jan Classic take on the original rags to riches tale, full of slapstick and slosh, music and magic.

Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol 18-23 Dec A much-loved Christmas story is reinvented for families with children.

Ages 5-10.

Short Stories, Tall Tales: Mouse and Sam's Winter Holiday 8 Nov An exciting adventure into stories and exploration through the senses and play. Ages 0-4.

HHHH HHHHH HHHH The Times

Musical Theatre Review

Evening Standard

‘a DYNAMIC, FAST-PACED GALLOP of a SHOW, BOLD and SPIRITED... like SIX’s LITTLE SISTER’ Bouquets and Brickbats

LYRIC THEATRE, HAMMERSHITH www.lyric.co.uk Cinderella 18 Nov-6 Jan Full to the brim with sass and magic, rip-roaring comedy, live music and chart-topping hits. Ages 6+.

Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas 22 Nov-30 Dec Watch as Santa prepares for his Christmas deliveries, feeds his reindeer and takes flight. Under 6.

BASED ON THE BOOK BY

KATE PANKHURST AND PUBLISHED BY BLOOMSBUR Y

THU 30 NOV – SAT 2 DEC *Booking fees apply

atgtickets.com/Wimbledon*

WIN

UK THENATE R AW RE BEST FAMARD ILY SHOW

Families Upon Thames 21

WHAT’S ON select your own Christmas tree to take home. www.hanschristmasandersen.co.uk

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS UP Claygate Village Christmas Lights Sat 25 Nov from 4pm Traditional opening of Christmas in Claygate, with stalls, entertainment and carols. www.facebook.com/ claygatevillageassociation

Meet Father Christmas at Ham House Sat 2-Sat 23 Dec on selected dates Meet Father Christmas and a North Pole elf in a beautiful historic setting.

Booking required. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hamhouse-and-garden

Hampton Hill Christmas Parade Fri 24 Nov, 4.30-9pm The High Street becomes a winter wonderland with music, stalls, activities and Christmas shopping. www.visitrichmond.co.uk

Father Christmas at Hatchlands Park Sat & Sun 2-17 Dec Meet Santa in his cosy hideout in the old stables and receive a special present. Booking required. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hatchlands-park

Kew Sparkle Fri 1 Dec, 5-8pm Christmas market with food, drink and craft stalls and family entertainment. www.kewsparkle.org Richmond Bridge Christmas Lights Fri 24 Nov, 4.30pm Enjoy mulled wine, mince pies and live entertainment. www.visitrichmond.co.uk Staines Christmas Parade Sun 19 Nov 10.30am Annual parade followed by entertainment in the High Street, FREE train rides, Santa’s Grotto and more. www.visitstaines.co.uk Teddington Christmas Lights Festival 2021 Thu 23 Nov from 4pm Lantern procession, indoor market, live music, children’s rides and more. www.teddingtontogether.org Twickenham Fri 24 Nov 3-5pm Christmas carols around the tree, live entertainment and music.

Visit Santa’s Grotto and follow the Twickmas trail. www.discovertwickenham.co.uk Walton Festival of Light 2023 Sat 25 Nov A Christmas market, performances from local groups, light procession, ‘Town Tree’ switch on. www.lovewalton.co.uk Whitton Light Up & Christmas Market Sun 26 Nov 11am-8pm Annual Christmas market and Lights Switch On event. www.visitrichmond.co.uk

Weybridge Christmas Lights 2023 Thu 1 Dec from 5pm Parade of lanterns, mulled wine and late-night shopping until 7pm.

SANTA GROTTOS Christmas at Bocketts Farm Thu 23 Nov–Sun 24 Dec Enjoy a magical festive family day out including a visit with Father Christmas. Booking required. www.bockettsfarm.co.uk Santa’s Winter Wonderland at Chessington Garden Centre Sat 18 Nov-Sun 24 Dec Includes short animated film, magical journey through fairytale inspired scenes before meeting Santa. Booking required. www.chessingtongardencentre. co.uk Winter’s Tail at Chessington World of Adventures Sat 25 Nov-Sun 31 Dec Meet Father Christmas in his grotto, visit the Toy Workshop and receive a present. Booking required. www.chessington.com Storytelling with Santa at Chiswick House & Garden Sat 25 Nov-Fri 22 Dec Enjoy a story from Santa in a small group, before a photo with Santa and a Christmas gift. www.chiswickhouseandgardens. org.uk

Denbies Santa Express, Dorking Sat 25 Nov-Sun 24 Dec Special ride on Santa’s Express train includes special passport, ride through vineyard and a gift. Booking required. www.denbies.co.uk Father Christmas at Hever Castle Sat 18 Nov-Sun 24 Dec on selected dates Travel through the grotto, meeting cheerful elves and then meet Father Christmas to receive a soft toy gift.

Booking required. www.hevercastle.co.uk Swingbridge Santa Cruises, Guildford Sat 2-Thu 21 Dec on selected dates Gentle festive family cruise along River Wey meeting Santa who will hop aboard giving presents. Booking required. www.swingbridgeboats.co.uk Father Christmas at Gunnersbury Park & Museum Sat 2-Sun Dec 17 Visit a traditional Victorian Father Christmas (in green robes) in his festive study and receive a traditional wooden toy. www.visitgunnersbury.org Santa Fir Christmas Tree Farm, Shamley Green, Guildford Sat 2-Sun 17 Dec on selected dates Visit Father Christmas then meet Hans’ Reindeer – you can even

Santa’s Grotto at Hobbledown Heath, Hounslow Sat 25 Nov-Sun 24 Dec on selected dates Step into Santa’s magical grotto.

Ticket includes general admission to Hobbledown Heath, transformed into Santa’s Secret Village. Booking required. www.hobbledown.com/hounslow Santa’s Grotto at Fenwicks Kingston Wed 22 Nov-Sun 24 Dec Magical grotto with Santa’s sleigh, singing reindeers and cheeky elves who’ll invite you to get crafty.

Booking required. www.fenwick.co.uk Santa at London Transport Museum Fri 24 Nov to Sat 23 Dec Climb aboard the Routemaster businspired sleigh and meet Santa in a twinkling winter wonderland. Kids go FREE. www.ltmuseum.co.uk Father Christmas at Marble Hill House Sat 2-Sat 23 Dec on selected dates Join in the festive fun with Father Christmas at Marble Hill as the man himself tells seasonal stories among the traditional decorations. Booking required. www.english-heritage.org.uk

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22 Families Upon Thames

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Familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON Meet Father Christmas at Ham House Sat 2 Dec-Sat 17 Dec on selected dates Meet Father Christmas and his elves in his enchanted grotto and receive a gift chosen just for your child.

Booking required. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hamhouse-and-garden Santa’s Grotto and Christmas Fair at Mortlake Community Centre Sat 25 Nov An afternoon of festive fun with stalls, crafts, activities, hot chocolates and mince pies. www.mortlakecommunity association.org.uk Father Christmas at Polesden Lacey Every Fri 25 Nov-10 Dec, Daily from 15-23 Dec Follow the immersive Christmas displays through the house on your way to find Father Christmas.

Booking required. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ polesden-lacey Shrek’s Grotto at Shrek’s Adventure, London Southbank Sat 2-Sun 24 Dec London can meet Shrek Santa in his special grotto and pose for a picture with him. www.shreksadventure.com

Meet Santa at Squires Garden Centres Sat 25 Nov-Sun 24 Dec on selected dates, buy tickets in-store on day of visit.

The popular family-owned garden centres will be hosting Santa at four locations: Badshot Lea, West Horsley, Woking and Shepperton.

The grotto will be open on weekends from Sat 25 Nov to Sun 17 Dec and daily from Mon 18-Sun 24 Dec. Children will receive a wonderful, wrapped gift and an ‘I’ve Seen Santa’ badge. Tickets are available to buy in-store on the day of your visit. £8 per child, first 2 adults go free (£1 per additional adult). Full details in What’s On section of Squires website. www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk Meet Father Christmas at West Horsley Place Sat 2 Dec-Mon 18 Dec on selected dates Father Christmas will have time to spend with every family and each child will receive a present. www.westhorsleyplace.org

Upon Thames Don't forget to say you saw these events listed in Families Upon Thames magazine.

CHRISTMAS WORD SEARCH Find the names of lots of lovely Christmas things in the grid below CAROL STOCKING PRESENTS REINDEER TURKEY CRACKER

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Christmas with the National Trust A Fairytale Christmas at Polesden Lacey

Sat 25 Nov-Sun 7 Jan Enjoy a show-stopping fairytale Christmas experience at Polesden Lacey this winter. A perfect opportunity to make some wonderful Christmas memories to last a lifetime and get into the festive spirit together.

Narnia at Hatchlands Park

Fri 1 Dec-Sun 31 Dec, 10am-4pm Step into Narnia at Hatchlands Park this Christmas, with a magical journey through the house and a family trail in the parkland, inspired by C.S. Lewis’s beloved story The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Winkworth Winter Welly Wander Sat 16 Dec-Wed 3 Jan, 10am-3pm Pick up a trail sheet and play a range of welly-based games that will get everyone rosy-cheeked and smiling.

Enjoy a festive family day out at a property near you this winter.

The Snow Queen at Claremont Landscape Garden

Sat 25 Nov-Mon 1 Jan, 10am-3pm Explore the magical outdoor world of the Snow Queen at Claremont with activities to enjoy along the way.

Creative Christmas at Dapdune Wharf

Sat 25 & Sun 26 Nov, 11am-4pm Bring the family and spend a festive day creating Christmas cards, crackers and tree decorations.

Frost Fair at Box Hill

Sat 9 & Sun 10 Dec, 10am-3pm Browse the stalls at this Christmas market for gifts and stocking fillers, enjoy family crafts and a winter trail.

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/surrey for details of prices and opening times. Please note that properties are closed 24 & 25 December.

Narnia® is a registered trademark of CS Lewis Pte Ltd, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis © C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. 1950.

RHS Glow B O O K TO DAY Fri 24 Nov – Tue 2 Jan When the sun goes down, the lights go up.

Watch the night illuminate at our festive winter spectacular.

Your visit supports our work as a charity. rhs.org.uk/wisleyglow

24 Families Upon Thames

Familiesonline.co.uk