Families Hampshire North Magazine Issue 32 May/June 2019

FREE TAKE ME HOM

E

IN THIS ISSUE RECRUITING NOW Successful ‘business mum’ is seeking 5 working partners to work part-time from home, alongside and without compromising family commitments or current career.

If you have a supervisory, managerial, sales, marketing, recruitment or self-employed background, or you wish to develop an extraordinary lifestyle

please call Vicki King 07501 433 922

Issue 32 May/June 2019 familiesonline.co.uk

Back to basics with outdoor play Tutoring Clubs & Classes What’s on in May & June

familiesonline.co.uk Families Hampshire North

Hampshire North Issue 32 I May/June 2019

Managing Editor Rebecca Carr editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk 07789 882 467 Advertising Claire Clarricoates claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk What’s on listings compiled by Chloe Atkinson Next issue July/August 2019 Booking deadline 3 June 2019 Cover image: Helen Hoffman Photography www.helenhoffmanphotography.com

Contents

CMYK / .eps

Facebook “f” Logo

Facebook “f” Logo

CMYK / .eps

Stay in touch

ine

Familieshampshirenorthmagaz

4. News & views Printed By Holbrooks Printers Ltd Published 6 times per year © Families Hampshire North Magazine 2019 Families Hampshire North is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.

Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Hampshire North are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Hampshire North. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Hampshire North; our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

6. Why parents are turning to tutoring

We Distribute 18,000 copies in Andover, Basingstoke, Fleet, Hook, Alton, Bordon and all the areas in between. If you would like copies for your establishment please contact us.

7. Clubs & classses news 8. Back to basics with outdoor play 9. Childcare options during the summer 10. How to sleep better 11. Party time 12. What’s on in May & June

Free Magazines for your school, nursery, cafe, shop or club - just ask!

editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk or 07789 882467

Saturday 6 Sunday 7 July www.blovemusic.com

@blovefestival Children 12 and under are FREE with a paying adult

2 Families Hampshire North

familiesonline.co.uk

www.infinityhomes.com.tr

FAMILY HOLIDAY VILLAS AND APARTMENTS IN TURKEY AVAILABLE NOW FOR SUMMER 2019 Infinity Homes is one of the most successful and respectable design and construction companies in Fethiye, Turkey. Infinity Homes has a portfolio of high quality holiday villas and apartments in Fethiye, Ovacik and Calis. The properties are very well prepared for guests and include cleaning, technical support, gardening, and pool maintenance and are a perfect base to explore Fethiye and the surrounding areas.

To book or enquire about availability for summer 2019, email info@infinityhomes. com.tr or visit www.infinityhomes.com.tr and quote Families Magazine.

Family summer breaks  On-site restaurant & pub  Meet our alpacas or hire bikes & explore!  Woodland walks & adventure playground

Breaks from £365 @SandyBallsHolidayVillage

familiesonline.co.uk

 Swimming and jam-packed activity programmes  Top entertainment NEW Indulgent accommodation including: the Knightwood & Heartwood

To book, visit awayresorts.co.uk or call us on 01442 50 88 50

@AwayResortsHolidays

@AwayResortsUK

Families Hampshire North 3

News & views

Jubilee has a highly regarded reputation for outdoor learning Jubilee has a highly regarded reputation for outdoor learning.

With over 60 acres of private woodland and farm, babies and children from 3 months to 5 years, learn through engaging hands-on experiences, sprinkled with imagination and magic every day!

Spring is well and truly under way and our farm has come to life with with over 30 lambs this year. The children have enjoyed small workshops with our farmers teaching them how to care for our new lambs. We aim to increase children’s appreciation of nature, promote healthy living and educate on the life cycle of animals, benefiting the children’s learning development. Give your child a truly unique experience to learn from the world around them at Jubilee.

For more information contact Jubilee Day Nursery (full time) www.jubileedaynursery.co.uk or call 0118 970 1600. Jubilee Gems Nursery (term-time) www.jubileegems.co.uk or call 0118 983 4018.

Local award winning photographer Helen Hoffman Photography Helen is a Mum of three and an award winning photographer based in Fleet, Hampshire. She is the local photographer of choice for laid back families who are looking for a natural and artistic photography experience. She loves producing colourful, striking and emotive photos, using stunning seasonal outdoor settings, to be enjoyed every day by the whole family.

Helen believes it is the little moments that make life big. That the small family moments bring the most happiness; a group belly laugh or a little hand resting on your arm for comfort; these are the moments that carry us through the trickier parts of family life. Helen loves to capture those moments in beautiful images, telling the story of your family, so you will feel that happiness each time you look at your photos.

See more of her work and contact her via her website at www.helenhoffmanphotography.com.

Make a Will to Make the most of your family holiday protect your children this summer with Away Resorts It may be the last thing on your Your time away is precious. You want to leave the real world behind, make the most of every moment and create memories with your loved ones.

Here at Away Resorts, we want the same thing. Their priority is that you have an amazing time away, so they’ve pulled out all the stops, and added the bells and whistles, to make sure you have an unforgettable holiday.

Each of their six award-winning holiday parks is unique, but they all offer amazing accommodation, fantastic facilities, top entertainment, jam-packed activity programmes, an array of events and festivals, unrivalled service and unforgettable experiences. To find out more visit www.awayresorts.co.uk

Fostering - can you make a difference?

Foster Care Fortnight™ runs from 13-26 May and is the UK’s biggest foster carer awareness raising campaign, delivered by leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network. The campaign showcases the commitment, passion and dedication of foster carers. It demonstrates that ‘foster care transforms lives’ - not just the lives of the young people who are fostered, but also those of foster carers and their families and friends.

Undoubtedly fostering is challenging but there are tremendous rewards including making a positive difference to a vulnerable child or young person, opportunities to expand skills through training courses, the chance to develop relationships that can last a lifetime and generous financial incentives. The satisfaction and pride in helping a young person with difficulties develop into a rounded individual is the ultimate reward for the majority of foster carers. Visit www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/ couldyoufoster for more information.

4 Families Hampshire North

mind, but becoming a parent is the perfect time to make a Will.

In fact, making a Will is probably one of the most important things you can do to protect your children’s future should you die. Without a Will your loved one’s financial future could be at risk as the law will decide who gets what.

However, a Will covers more than just money and property; it also decides who should look after your children if you pass away by appointing a guardian or guardians for them and making proper financial arrangements for them as they grow up.

If you would like to make a Will or have one reviewed, contact Caroline Wallis, head of the Wills and Probate team at Phillips Solicitors by calling 01256 854637 or send an email to caroline. wallis@phillips-law.co.uk

Helping you and your family find the right way forward www.phillips-law.co.uk 01256 460830 legal@phillips-law.co.uk Phillips Solicitors Ltd, Town Gate, 38 London Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 7NY familiesonline.co.uk

Walk to School Week 2019 Thousands of children across the UK will celebrate the benefits of walking during national Walk to School Week from 20 to 24 May. Families will be encouraged to walk to school for the whole week to see the big differences that come from small steps: from healthier and happier children, to fewer cars outside the school gates.

Walking to school is an easy way for children to fit more activity into their day whilst also helping them to develop vital road safety skills.

As awareness grows of the dangers of air pollution on our health, walking to school is a positive action people can take to help clean up our air.

Special Walk to School Week classroom packs are available for school pupils containing wallcharts, stickers, diaries and fun walking journey activities.

For more information visit www.livingstreets.org.uk/wtsw

Family fun with National Children’s Gardening Week This summer, why not get involved in National Children’s Gardening week?

Happening from 25 May to 2 June, this week-long event sees garden centres around the country providing activities and resources that offer parents a great opportunity to get children outside enjoying nature, plants and wildlife.

Gardening can play a huge part in a child’s health and wellbeing with over 1.5 million children gardening at school in the UK. As well as simply good outdoor fun, school gardening has been shown to have many benefits to health and wellbeing. These include being more physically active and feeling happier and more connected with the natural world.

There are many ways to get involved with National Children’s Gardening Week, visit www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk for DIY project ideas and details of local events.

Protection for Mums returning to work New parents returning to work could receive greater protection from redundancy under new government proposals. The government is proposing that mothers returning to work from maternity leave will be protected from redundancy for a minimum of six months.

The announcement followed research which found that one in nine women had been fired or made redundant when they returned to work after having a child, or were treated so badly they felt forced out of their job. It is also considering giving the same protection to parents returning from adoption or shared parental leave. familiesonline.co.uk

Family events at National Mills Weekend

Knockando Watermill, Scotland

On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May, more than 300 windmills and watermills will open their doors to the public as part of National Mills Weekend, taking place across the UK. This annual festival celebrates our milling heritage and is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to get inside their local windmill or watermill and explore the industrial history on their doorstep.

Mills participating in the weekend will hold a range of special events and family-friendly activities and will include many that are not normally open to the public.

Until the advent of the steam engine, wind and watermills provided the only source of power for many different processes - from making flour, paper, cloth to hammering metal and extracting oils. During National Mills Weekend, families can explore mills that produced, or still produce these products.

Visit www.nationalmillsweekend.co.uk to find an open mill in North Hampshire.

School holidays put single parents under pressure Single parents struggle particularly with the extra costs involved in school holiday childcare, according to recent research commissioned by the credit information provider, Equifax.

A fifth of single parents admit to calling in sick because they are unable to afford childcare. 35% of single parents take unpaid leave, compared to just 18% of dual-income households, which puts them under further financial pressure.

School holidays also come with the added pressure to spend money to keep children entertained. The research revealed that most parents expect to spend £178.29 during a half-term holiday.

4 out of 5 parents agree that school holidays are getting more expensive every year, with more than 76% saying there are fewer free entertainment options out of term time, compared to five years ago.

Check out our what’s on guide on page 12 for some free events and activities to do in North Hampshire and surrounding areas this May half term.

Enjoy an adventure at the Museums at Night Festival Families can explore art, history and heritage after dark with the Museums at Night bi-annual nationwide festival which runs across a wide range of venues from 15-18 May. Every year in both May and October, museums, heritage sites and historic properties, as well as smaller cultural venues throw open their doors after hours to showcase their treasures in unexpected ways. Discover new exhibitions, take torch lit tours, enjoy live music in historic surroundings, and engage in a range of free and ticketed night-time activities.

To find your local events, visit www.museumsatnight.org.uk Families Hampshire North 5

Why are parents turning to tutoring?

Around a quarter of children in the UK are being tutored. Claire Winter looks at why one in four families are seeking extra help outside of the classroom. and expectations from parents struggled with failure, needed more encouragement and guidance to complete tasks and often suffered from a sense of overwhelm.”

The education charity the Sutton Trust acknowledges the importance of tutoring but worries that extra tuition is causing the educational gap to widen between children from affluent economic backgrounds and those from poorer economic backgrounds.

For example, around 40% of children are receiving help in London compared to around 25% in the rest of the country.

Parents often get extra tuition for their children to prepare them for important entrance exams or the 11+. They also get them to help boost their child’s skills in a subject in which they aren’t doing well or to help them excel in a subject, so they can impress the schools to which they are applying.

Modern technology means kids can be tutored virtually via Skype or Zoom and its big business. It’s estimated that we spend £2 billion a year on private tutoring, which makes us one of the top spenders on tuition in the world.

Many parents believe that tutoring can be an amazing resource that gives children extra confidence, reassurance and skills to stop them feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of schoolwork. Others argue that extra tutoring creates more pressure on children.

Many children are busy already with lots of extra-curricular activities and homework.

Ex-teacher Victoria Kennedy, who is now a confidence and image coach (www. thefairyclothesmother.com) takes the view that tutoring needs careful management to ensure it doesn’t result have a negative impact on a child. She says: “When I worked as a teacher in Hampshire and London, I found that children with extra pressure

Sir Peter Lampl, chair of the Sutton Trust, says: “Private tuition is widespread and increasingly so. Nearly half of teachers have tutored and a quarter of teenagers have been tutored. But with costs of at least £25 per session, many cannot afford to benefit from this extra support, which exacerbates education inequalities.”

“The Trust is recommending that the government introduce a means-tested voucher scheme to enable lower-income families to provide tuition for their children.”

CEO and founder of the charity, Action Tutoring, Susannah Hardyman, also highlights the importance of tutoring. “We know tutoring works to improve grades and this impact is not limited to young people from high-income backgrounds either. In the UK today nearly a third of all pupils are classified as disadvantaged and less than half of this group, 48%, will meet national standards in their SATs at Year 6, compared to 67% of their more privileged peers. On joining secondary school, it’s much harder for these pupils to catch up and by the end of Year 11, they are, on average, 12 months behind. As more and more young people access private tutors, the gap in attainment between disadvantaged young people and their peers will grow. Our charity uses the power of volunteer tutors to bridge the gap and ensure tutoring support can be accessed by every pupil who needs it, not just those who can afford it.”

Basingstoke North Basingstoke South

01256 636233 01256 533234

Improve your child’s study skills

Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.

6 Families Hampshire North

Families® Magazine spoke to parents about the pros and cons of tutoring Gill says: “We hired a tutor for our daughter in Year 5 to help her prepare for the 11+. She is bright but has an August birthday. We felt she needed to be taught technique and get lots of practice as she would be so young when she took the exam. I think tutoring can be a positive thing at junior school age; it can shore up work done in class. Know what your goal is when you hire a tutor, finding the right one is crucial.”

Mark says: “Our son has always struggled with maths. Having a weekly tutor has meant he is confident in the subject and hopefully will go to secondary school at the same level as his peers.”

While Jennifer says: “I don’t think my child needs a tutor, she spends enough time learning at school. I want after school to be for fun activities, homework, and chilling out!”

Academic performance is important to Judith. “We want our son to get into a good Prep school, and the entrance exams are very competitive. Tutoring will ensure he gets the best chance to go to the school of our choice.”

Sarah says, “We hired an 11+ tutor for our eldest child because it is so hard to get into our local grammar schools.

Most parents in our area invest in tutors, so we felt we had to do the same.”

Kumon’s maths and English study programmes work to improve your child’s skills, develop their confidence and inspire a passion for learning.

To unlock your child’s potential, contact your local Instructor for a free assessment.

The option for all children to have access to tutoring whatever their economic status needs to explored at Government level too.

My children attend a secondary school where gaps in knowledge are quickly identified, and pupils are asked to attend booster sessions before and after school so that they can catch up. Not all schools can offer this and long term, it is a situation that needs to be addressed.

kumon.co.uk

Does your child need help with Maths?

"I can already see her confidence growing in just one month" Get a FREE trial pack today

MathsClubByPost.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Clubs & classes news

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

Perform is a unique children’s drama school which has an emphasis on child development. Perform uses a mix of drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s potential. Run by energetic and inspiring actor-teachers, Perform classes focus on developing the 4 Cs: Confidence, Communication, Coordination, and Concentration.

The curriculum ensures plenty of fun, using a mix of energetic games, catchy songs and funky dances. All class materials are written by Perform, with apps, music downloads and videos allowing the magic to continue at home.

Classes are available in Hook, Basingstoke, Bramley or Fleet.

Perform offer no-obligation free trial sessions.

Call 020 7255 9120, email: enquiries@perform. org.uk or visit www.perform.org.uk/try to find out more or to book a class.

Interested in a drama party? Perform also offer children’s parties with a variety of themes. See page 11 for more details.

Book a Free Trial Today!

Help your child overcome maths anxiety

Jubilee Holiday Clubs Jubilee Jets Holiday Club is open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm during West Berkshire school holidays. Children aged 5 – 11 years old can enjoy a range of fantastic activities led by a caring and dedicated team. Call 0118 983 4018 or email: info@jubileejets.co.uk for more information or to book. www.jubileejets.co.uk.

Jubilee Cadets Woodland Holiday Club is open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm during school holidays, giving children aged 5 – 11 years old the freedom to play in the natural world. Call 0118 970 1300 or email: info@jubileecadets.co.uk for more information or to book. www.jubileecadets.co.uk.

Stagecoach Performing Arts enrolling now in Hampshire Stagecoach Performing Arts schools offer unique singing, dancing and acting classes which encourage children to grow in confidence and develop as individuals. Classes are available in Andover, Basingstoke, Basingstoke West and Fleet.

Early Stages sessions cater for children aged four to six years and Main Stage classes are designed for six to 18 year-olds, with students enjoying unrivalled opportunities to sample a variety of musical and theatrical genres.

As well as nurturing young talent in singing, dancing and acting, Stagecoach endeavours to instil students with Creative Courage for Life to empower children with the confidence to express themselves.

Brain scans show that a quarter of the population suffer from Maths anxiety, responding to sums in the same way that arachnaphobes respond to spiders.

If your child panics over Maths lessons and homework, helping them now will prevent problems in the future. There are lots of ways to include Maths learning in every day tasks without it becoming a big issue. Find gentle ways to practise Maths. Start with things that are easy for your child until they have developed more resilience. Try Maths Club by Post for some fun puzzles and games, selected for your child’s ability and confidence level. Last, but most importantly – don’t look for mistakes – that’s the teacher’s job, just give them lots and lots of praise.

For more information about Stagecoach Schools in Hampshire visit www.stagecoach.co.uk

Do you run summer workshops or holiday clubs?

Would you like to advertise your business to 38,000+ parents in the local area? Get in touch today to include your business in the July/August issue and be included in our holiday clubs guide. Email editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk for more information.

Try Maths Club by Post for free at mathsclubbypost.co.uk

Helping children believe they can do anything Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year-olds

BASINGTOKE 01252410625 stagecoach.co.uk/basingstoke

BASINGSTOKE WEST 01252 810 256 stagecoach.co.uk/basingstokewest

ANDOVER

FLEET 01252 410 625 stagecoach.co.uk/fleet

01264 748 365457 01264 847

stagecoach.co.uk/andover

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.

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Hampshire North 7

Getting back to basics with outdoor play

a huge mud pit in my garden with my cousins. Squidging in the mud was and still is glorious.

Re-introduce traditional childhood games Go back to the ones that you remember like hopscotch and skipping. You could also get them to invent new games like building a real-life Minecraft shelter or devising a Scavenger Hunt with a theme. Balls, chalk, and buckets are all fun to have outside too.

Plan outdoor activities and trips with the family Plan a trip to the sea or some mountains. In the holidays, get your child to research local wildlife centres, farms or parks you can visit and explore.

Grow something Get some seeds and plant up some pots to grow on your windowsill, kitchen or back garden. It’s always magical watching those first shoots appear.

Modern life means that children are increasingly spending less time outside. Claire Winter looks at what we can do to inject play back into our childrens’ lives.

A recent report by The Children’s Play Policy Forum (CPPF) says there is a modern crisis in childhood and they are calling for children to be given more play opportunities. Increased time spent on screens and the cancellation of public liability insurance for children’s playgrounds means that kids are spending less and less time outdoors playing.

It also warns that the cost to society of allowing these trends to continue is significant including the human cost of physical and mental ill-health, and the financial cost of increased demand on public services.

Sometimes simple advice is needed in a complicated world. We are all spending much more time sitting down and on devices than we did twenty years ago. I have visited so many beautiful places and watched both parents and children are glued to a phone or device. I am also guilty of this, I often use working for myself as an excuse, but we don’t have to be contactable all the time.

Disconnecting from gadgets is vital to feel connected to the world and the people that live in it. If we model the behaviour we want to see from our kids, take a break from our laptop and mobile phone and play outside too, hopefully, they will be inspired to do the same.

Your Child, Their Journey, Our Focus

The CPPF also points out that the mental health of a generation is at risk. Just last year the NHS released figures saying that one in eight children have a mental health issue, which is a shocking statistic. Childhood obesity is also on the rise. We need to start making changes now.

Robin Sutcliffe, Chair of the CPPF says: “Lack of play leaves children mentally and physically unprepared to cope with life.

This affects them in childhood and throughout the rest of their lives. There are huge benefits to be gained when we make sufficient time and space for children to play every day. These benefits contribute to the prevention of the prime issues of health, mental health, obesity and school exclusion – key issues in need of urgent resolution. Play builds happy, healthy children.”

Playing outdoors allows children to learn new skills in a fun environment. It also helps enhance creativity and boosts wellbeing, it makes kids more sociable and the health benefits are numerous. They get stronger bones and better fitness levels and that all important Vitamin D. They learn how to take risks and become more independent too.

So what can we do to get our children outside?

Limit screen time Decide what a reasonable time is for your child/children to spend on electrical gadgets and stick to it. Get them to agree to your time limits. You could even create a printed contract that you can both sign! There are also some great apps that you can use to restrict time on devices too.

Let them get messy Get them outside in their old clothes, wellies or trainers. Tell them it’s fine to get wet and dirty. Let them explore and enjoy being in the elements! One of my favourite memories is digging 8 Families Hampshire North

A co-educational independent school (3 to 13 years) full of opportunity, offering an inspirational educational journey for a successful adult life

Open Mornings Friday 24th May - 9.15am Friday 21st June - 9.15am 01252 405500 registrar@yateleymanor.com www.yateleymanor.com familiesonline.co.uk

Childcare in the school holidays

Piecing together the puzzle

By Gabrielle Nash What do the summer holidays mean to you? Ice creams in the park?

Lazy mornings with the kids? Or a carefully constructed puzzle of parental annual leave and various childcare options?

When your children reach school age, the burden of full-time, stay-at-home parenting begins to lessen allowing both parents to work. Then the school holidays arrive and there are long weeks of childcare to find. For many families this is a painful financial burden and with holiday childcare costs rising by 4% last year that burden is set to increase.

In their latest survey, the Coram Family & Childcare Trust found the average price of holiday childcare in Britain to be £133 per child per week. Megan Jarvie, the head of the trust, believes now is the time to urgently address the issue. “For too many families, the long summer holiday is a time of stress and expense as they try to patch together a solution despite gaps in availability and financial support.”

What are the options?

Annual Leave

Most parents do not have sufficient annual leave to cover the entire school holidays, so it’s worth investigating if your employer can offer additional parental leave. A less desirable option is “shift parenting” whereby you and your partner each take annual leave separately.

The downside, of course, is that you don’t see each other, although this option does cover a large portion of the holidays.

Flexible Working

Can your employer offer the option to work flexibly? If you work shifts, can you work a different shift pattern to assist with holiday childcare? Katie Abdullah has five children and started her own business because of the tricky work/school balance. “I can tailor my work around the children. I try to take extra hours during the term so I can have more free time during the holidays.”

Piecing it together If your family are just at the beginning of school life, then the key is early planning for childcare that will accommodate, if possible, both school holiday and term time needs. But if you are already in a situation where you have term-times sorted but not school holidays, there’s still time to make this summer easier: Budget – what can you realistically afford to spend? Research what is available from your council? Are there local schools offering holiday camps? What other private local holiday camps are available?

Reach out - can extended family help? Perhaps a family member that doesn’t live locally might come and stay?

Co-ordinate – for children who are resistant to attending holiday camps or clubs on their own, try signing them up with friends.

Schedule - when you’ve got your plans together, draw up a schedule and make it available to all the family.

Give your child a truly unique experience...

Family Assistance

If you’re fortunate enough to have extended family nearby, willing grandparents can play an integral role in school holiday childcare.

What about asking a sibling, aunty, uncle or even a friend to provide the odd day or even week?

Childminders

You may be lucky enough to find a childminder who handles termtime wrap around care and covers school holidays. Alternatively, for more ad-hoc hours, try getting some regular, friendly babysitters on board. Take a look at organisations like www.sitters.co.uk

Holiday Nanny/Au Pair

If you have term-time wrap around care sorted but require holiday care, another option is to find a childcare provider who can provide care in your home just for the holidays. These can be more affordable than you think. Try: www.childcare.co.uk

Holiday Clubs

It’s unusual not to find several local holiday club options, with specialisations ranging from sport to drama or a mix of lots of activities. Some are run privately, others by your local authority.

Local authority provision is less expensive but limited so it’s wise to investigate all options. If you have a disabled child, access to local authority schemes is even harder. Another option is American-style residential holiday camps. Try www.campexperts.co.uk For more parenting tips and advice, read Gabrielle’s blog @londonishmum

familiesonline.co.uk

With a highly regarded reputation, Jubilee Day Nursery provides exceptional care for children from three months to five years of age.

Over 60 acres of gardens, woodland & farm A highly skilled and caring team Freshly prepared food Funding available For more information please visit:

www.jubileedaynursery.co.uk Rectory Road, Padworth, RG7 4JD | 0118 970 1600 |info@jubileedaynursery.co.uk

Families Hampshire North 9

How to sleep better As we approach the run up to the busiest and most stressful time of the year, any sleep difficulties you generally experience can be heightened.

If you are a sleep deprived parent, it’s most likely because you have a child who is not sleeping well. Of course, there are things that you can do to help your child get a better night’s sleep, which will hopefully result in improved sleep for you but it is also important that parents seek to improve their own sleep.

The key to a well slept household is to put in place whatever sleep arrangements are right for you, your partner and your children - not what your friends, neighbours, mother-in-law, sleep experts or self-help parenting books tell you.

Firstly, take control of the situation and agree the ‘sleep rules’ that work for you, your partner and child. How will you react to your child crying in the night or wanting to get into bed with you? How will you handle their resistance to going to sleep at a set bed-time? What is the right bed time? Once agreed, you need to stick to these rules and, if they are working, don’t change them.

How do you know whether it’s working? Simply, if your child is happy, healthy and well behaved and you and your partner feel awake, alert and focused during the day, don’t worry. If any of you are sleepy, moody and prone to temper tantrums, then your sleeping habits need improvement.

Here are some of my tips on how parents can sleep better: Avoid an overloaded schedule If your child does not have the time they need to sleep, then it’s likely you won’t either. Identify and prioritise activities that allow for relaxation and sufficient sleep time for yourselves and your children.

Take a nap, don’t resort to stimulants If you feel sleepy during the day, your body wants sleep - it does not want to be stimulated by caffeine or anything else! A 20 minute power nap will boost your mental performance and that improvement will last for a few hours. Napping for more than 20 minutes means that you risk waking in the deepest stage of sleep and will feel worse when you wake than you did before your nap.

Rationalise sleeping arrangements If children feel scared, insecure or lonely, they generally want to be comforted and reassured by a parent. The most natural thing in the world if they are sleeping in a separate room is to come to into your

room, and perhaps get into the bed. The way you deal with this is down to you, but if your child is going to sleep with a parent, it would probably be far easier for you or your partner to relocate to the child’s room or another bedroom, if available.

Alternate night time parenting Rather than sharing the parenting duties every night, which just means that you are both disturbed, you can alternate duties so one partner gets a good night sleep every other night. It is even better, if you have the space, to have a ‘sleep’ bedroom and a ‘parent’ room, so your children genuinely do disturb only one of you every night.

Get up and do something relaxing If you are disturbed during the night and find it hard to go back to sleep, it is best to get up and do something relaxing, only going to bed again when you feel sleepy. Lying in bed feeling frustrated that you are not sleeping is counter-productive.

Don’t get uptight about not sleeping The reality is that you will survive a bad night’s sleep and cope okay the next day. Getting over anxious about not sleeping will only compound the problem. Remember that your children will not always need you during the night – all these things shall eventually pass!

Outdoor exercise works Getting exercise outside during the day is an ideal way to improve both your physical and mental health and aiding good sleep. You don’t have to jog or go to the gym - just a walk in the park will be beneficial.

Dr Neil Stanley is an independent sleep expert and the author of How to Sleep Well: The Science of Sleeping Smarter, Living Better and Being Productive (Capstone, July 2018). For more information, visit www. thesleepconsultancy.com

Seven ways to turn off screens without a meltdown

by Andrew Campbell

Create a routine - Children who know they have to turn off the TV before a specific activity (like dinner) can sometimes transition easily.

Encourage other activities - Keep other options such as board games, art supplies, books, Frisbees, and bikes around and ready when your kids claim there’s nothing else to do.

The best part about your child’s screen time is that it gives you a short break. The worst part is the meltdown when you turn it off.

Helping children regulate their own media use is an ongoing process, and along the way you’re likely to experience some struggles when it’s time to turn off the TV or any other digital device. When it’s time to move from TV watching to another activity, using prerecorded shows can be effective. On traditional broadcast TV, one show follows another, but when you use a DVR, streaming-video services like Netflix, or even DVDs, your child can be encouraged to turn off the TV when the show they want to watch is over.

To minimise the meltdowns, try these things: Explain your reasons - Children are less likely to push your limits when you thoroughly outline your reasons for reducing screen time.

Let them know that, in your family, you place a higher value on family bonding, physical

10 Families Hampshire North

Disable back-to-back shows - If you’re using a streaming service, disable the setting that automatically plays the next show in a series. activity and positive sources of entertainment.

Have a clear plan - Explain to your child that he or she can watch a certain number of TV shows or be on a device for a specific time period. Decide what times of day are appropriate for viewing. For instance, you may decide that your children can watch television before but not after dinner, or that you want devices turned off a good hour before bedtime.

When the rules are clear and consistent, you can avoid daily battles when you say it’s time for screens to be turned off.

Keep screens out of bedrooms - It’s much easier to exercise control when your child is within view. So that means keeping video games, the TV and the tablet in a common area where you can keep an eye on things.

Give praise - If your child successfully transitions to another activity without a meltdown, show your appreciation. Say something like, “Thanks for turning off the TV and coming to set the table!” Children will be more likely to follow through again if they have a positive experience.

familiesonline.co.uk

It’s Party Time Planning your child’s birthday can involve deep-breathing and militarystyle planning. This annual event has kids jumping for joy but many parents breaking out into a cold sweat. Claire Winter takes a look at some different party ideas to inspire you.

Food Parties Kids love food, so why not theme your party around it? A pizza making party is always winner. You can go to your favourite pizza restaurant or hold a DIY party at home. Cupcake decorating parties also go down well and the guests can take home the tasty treat instead of a party bag. How about a doughnut themed party? They are even trending on Pinterest!

Why not set up a Doughnut Wall covered in a variety of doughnuts? You could even attempt a DIY version.

You could also serve food that has a surprise element to it. A cake that is full of sweets when you cut it. Ice cream cones filled with savoury fillings.

You could also mix up healthy food with treats, such as marshmallows and fruit kebabs or tortilla chips with hummus and crudités. Number cakes decorated with fruit, meringues, and flowers are also all the rage.

They make a great centrepiece on a party table.

Active Parties According to Pinterest searches for scavenger parties are up by 302%.

These are similar to treasure hunts and start with a list of things to find (or do) and a time limit. But there is no set path as players scavenge around and search for all of the items on the list. The player or team who finds everything on the list first or finds the most items before the time is up wins. These parties can be great fun and relatively inexpensive - you could hold one in your garden or a local park or wood.

You can also do a whole variety of different activities at your local leisure centre. They often offer a variety of swimming, inflatable and sports parties. Why not pick a sport your child loves? You could also check out your local trampoline park to see what party packages they offer. Other easy activity parties include paintballing, bowling, laser quest and gokarting.

Parties at Home If you want to host a party at home, think about hiring a company to help. You can even get specialists to come in and set up a sleepover these days. They will put up tents in your garden or your home, and some even supply breakfast on a tray!

Or host a science party where someone comes in to do experiments and make goo with the children. They’ll even clean up afterwards. There are also gaming party providers who bring all the entertainment to you.

If you prefer a more traditional party, why not hire an entertainer like a magician or clown?

Parties from Perform Perform parties are high energy, fun and totally infectious. Based around a colourful theme, Perform’s enthusiastic party leaders use a magical mix of songs, games and laughter guaranteed to ensure every child is part of an enthralling adventure. From the moment the lively leaders walk in the door, they’ll give your child and friends the best birthday party they’ve ever had.

Whether your child wants to be a sensational superhero, a shimmering princess or a wise wizard, they’ll be sure to have a brilliant time. Themes include: Superheroes, Mermaids and Pirates, Pirates and Princesses, Fairytale Forest, Knights and Princesses, Puppy Patrol, Popstarz, Moana, Ghost Hunters, Alice in Wonderland, Outer Space, Secret Spies,The Ice Queen, Dinosaurs, The Magician’s Chamber, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Beauty & the Beast and Trolls.

To find out more or book a party visit www.performparties.co.uk or call 0207 255 9120.

Parties at Riverside Bowl in Andover Book a fun filled party at Riverside Bowl to mark a birthday celebration or special occasion.

Riverside staff will ensure that you have a great time. Riverside now offers four strikingly good party packages that range from silver to platinum, all at affordable prices.

For more information, visit our website www.riverside-bowl.co.uk

Themed Parties

Another popular party is a Harry Potter party. You can make up lots of magical games to recreate a mini Hogwarts at home. You could also try something a bit different like a Mexican themed party. Decorate the house with cacti, serve guacamole and dips, hit a Piñata and have plenty of themed games.

bo

Magical forest and flower-themed parties are great fun to host if you like being creative. A perennial favourite is also a superhero party. It ticks a lot of boxes and offers great fancy dress options for boys and girls. There are also loads of great decorations you can make, or buy if you don’t have the time!

party! a ok

Art Parties If your child loves making things, an arts and crafts party is the perfect choice for them. You can go to pottery centres, art studios or get a party provider to come to your house to host a craft party. You can do a huge variety of things like mosaics, pottery, painting and jewellery making.

Your potential Picassos will also get to take their masterpiece home instead of a party bag.

Remember not to stress too much! Your child will remember your efforts whether you hire a circus performer and a bouncy castle; host a fun party at home or organise a trip out the cinema or a trampoline park.

Enjoy it and embrace the mayhem; they grow up quickly!

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Hampshire North 11

What’s on Your essential guide to family events this May & June compiled by Chloe Atkinson. We take great care in compiling our events guide, but check with the venues before you leave home just in case times or prices have changed since we went to print. If you would like to include your event in our next issue email it to: rebecca@familiesmagazine.co.uk by 1st June.

May Throughout May & June Explorers Trail Marwell Wildlife Winchester, SO21 1JH Pick up your Explorers Trail at the info cabin for a suggested donation of £1. Children can collect nine stamps around the park at some of Marwell’s favourite animal enclosures. Once you’ve completed the trail don’t forget to stop in at the shop to claim your free sticker. You could even win annual membership for 2 adults and 2 children. Normal admission charges apply Throughout May & June Brickosaurs!

Marwell Wildlife Winchester, SO21 1JH The interactive exhibition created with more than two million bricks is sure to excite families, LEGO and dinosaur enthusiasts alike.

A highlight includes the largest touring LEGO brick dinosaur model ever made – a whopping eight-metre T-Rex, plus be prepared for a few surprises.

Normal admission charges apply Until 24 May Bulbs and Bluebells Hinton Ampner near Alresford, SO24 0LA Explore the glorious grounds and see the wonders that spring brings to the garden and woodland.

Until 2 June Young Environmentalist Award The Vyne Basingstoke, RG24 9HL Through a series of outdoor activities, families can learn about

and look after nature. Among other tasks, measure bug biodiversity, see how camouflage works and map the audible landscape of The Vyne.

4 May Farmer 4 a Day Miller’s Ark Animals Hook, RG27 9PH Each senior handler will have a group of children approx the same age, so that the activities carried out will be suitable for that age group. The morning will start by ensuring all animals have fresh food and water. Mucking out pens, collecting eggs and grooming the animals will result in the children ending the day tired and dirty.

Ages 5-14. 11am – 3pm. £50.

4 May Recycled Plastic Bottle Craft Viables Community Centre Basingstoke, RG22 4BJ Boys and girls aged 5 - 12 can be dropped off for two hours of creative fun and making new friends. Your child will have the opportunity to recycle plastic bottles into works of art.

Possibilities could include masks, robots, piggy banks, fairy houses, bird feeders and more. Imagination is the only limitation. Booking essential: satartclub@homeedhub. com. 1-3pm. £10 per child.

4 – 6 May Unicorn Weekend Finkley Down Farm North Way, Andover, SP11 6NF Enjoy a day on the farm with a sprinkle of unicorn magic!

Children will have the opportunity to meet the Finkley Unicorns and follow the Unicorn Trail to win a prize! At 11.30am and 1.00pm there

will be giant bubble fun with Jewel and Glimmer the unicorns. Plus children can enjoy a unicorn disco with a big balloon drop at 3.15pm.

4 – 6 May Fairytales and Unicorns 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park and Family Farm Headley, RG19 8JY There is something for everyone at 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park and Family Farm. With over 20 play zones, a petting zoo, laser tag, giant slides, bumpy tractor rides and a multitude of climbing equipment! Enjoy an extra special day with an added fairytale and unicorn twist. Tickets from £9.75 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 & 19 May Myths and Monsters Winchester Science Centre Winchester, SO21 1HZ Fun and thought-provoking activities, live science show and planetarium experience featuring myth-busting science, fact and fiction, and the stories behind the constellations. £12 per person, including entry to Explorer:Space, live science show and Invention Studio activities. Planetarium tickets sold separately.

5 May & 2 June Learning to Grow Various Wyevale Garden Centres Come along on the first Sunday of the month for an educational planting activity, and get your Little Diggers planting and learning! Each month they will be picking a fruit or vegetable to talk about. Children will learn all about planting seeds, and how to care for them. They will also have the chance to plant their own seeds to take home and watch them grow!

Suitable for ages 3+. 10.30am & 11.15am. Free.

5 & 6 May Magic Lantern Shows Hollycombe Steam in The Country, Liphook, GU30 7LP Step back to Victorian times when the highlight of family entertainment was the Magic Lantern Show! The Hollycombe

Bioscope – the earliest form of travelling cinema will be running special Magic Lantern Shows on both afternoons. The Magic Lantern Shows will be accompanied by music and song, some especially written for the occasion. Standard admission charges apply, but your ticket is valid for a whole year.

10 & 24 May Toy Library Alton Maltings Alton, GU34 1DT The complete take-away service where you can borrow toys, DVDs, games and puzzles for children aged from birth to 8 years old. Toy hire starts from as little as 30p.

9.30am – 11.30am 12 May Festival 5k Festival Place Basingstoke, RG21 7LJ Enjoy a race around the shops with a quirky 5k run around all parts of the town centre and right through the middle of Festival Place as well as a circuit of the Top of Town, Basing View and Eastrop Park. The race usually sells out, so sign up soon online as numbers are strictly limited.

17 May Disco Skate Events – Roller Disco The Harlington, Fleet, GU51 4BY Family friendly, fun, exciting and great exercise. 6-9pm. All ages £5 (including skate hire).

18 & 19 May Steam in Miniature Hollycombe Steam in The Country, Liphook, GU30 7LP Come and marvel at around 35 miniature traction engines, from 2 inch to 6 inch scale, all in steam.

There will be plenty to see and enjoy in addition to the normal attractions at Hollycombe. The little engines are great for children to see and understand how they work.

Friday 21 June Sunday 7 July IN T R A R DISCOVE PLACES

www.basingstokefestival.co.uk

L A U S U UN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

12 Families Hampshire North

familiesonline.co.uk

18 & 19 May Scouting the Zoo Marwell Wildlife Winchester, SO21 1JH Calling all Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides, Rainbows and Brownies to join the Scouting the Zoo event! As part of the Brickosaurs! event, this year’s Scouting the Zoo will be dinosaur crazy with exclusive fast track access to the Brickosaurs! basecamp area and the chance to earn your ‘Scouting the zoo’ dinosaur badge. £17 per adult and £16 per child.

19 May World Bee Day - Celebration Family Day Chawton House Alton, GU34 1SJ Bring your family along to find out all about bees and what makes them so special: see the Chawton House bee hives and find out how honey is made; have your face painted like a bee and play bee games on the lawns. The Old Kitchen Tearoom will be serving honey-based specials all day.

11am – 4:30pm.

24 May Open Morning Yateley Manor School Yateley GU46 7UQ Co-educational day school 3 -13 years. Excellent academic results with inspirational teaching in superb facilities Woodland learning area. Call 01252 405500 to book your place.

familiesonline.co.uk

24 May - 23 June Robots and Future Tech Winchester Science Centre Winchester, SO21 1HZ Get set for a great family day out with plenty of hands-on science, a shockingly good live science show demonstrating electricity and future tech, and a chance to design, build and compete in the ultimate robot wars challenge in the Invention Studio. Add a planetarium show to take a virtual flight through space. £12 per person, including entry to Explorer:Space, live science show and Invention Studio activities. Planetarium tickets sold separately. 24 - 31 May (daily) and 1 - 23 June (weekends) 25 & 26 May Chawton Open Gardens Jane Austen’s House Museum Chawton, GU34 1SD Meander around Jane Austen’s garden as part of the bi-annual Chawton Open Gardens event.

The garden will be transformed for the weekend with a special garden trail and additional drop-in activities for families. 11am – 4pm.

25 & 26 May Spring Summer Fashion Event Festival Place Basingstoke, RG21 7LJ Join Festival Place for the fashion event of the summer. Visit the website for more details.

25 May – 2 June Half Term Bee Trail Hinton Ampner near Alresford, SO24 0LA

Spot, listen and draw on the bee trail as you explore the grounds this half term. Follow the points on the map to uncover fun facts about our important buzzy friends.

Standard admission charges apply. £1 per trail.

25 May – 2 June Half Term Trail Uppark House & Garden Petersfield, West Sussex, GU31 5QR Explore the garden and meadow this half-term while following the nature-themed family trail. £1.

25 May – 2 June Secret Agents Beaulieu National Motor Museum New Forest, SO42 7ZN Beaulieu was a top secret school for agents of the Special Operations Executive during World War II. Follow in their footsteps this May half term and learn espionage skills before graduating as a fully-trained SOE agent. As you follow clues and hidden messages around the Beaulieu attractions you’ll learn to see through deceptive disguises, inspect household items that hold remarkable secrets, locate the site of a parachute drop and more.... Everyone who successfully passes their training will receive a graduation certificate. Normal admission charges apply.

25 May – 2 June Meet Your Favourite Characters 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park and Family Farm Headley, RG19 8JY There is something for everyone

at 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park and Family Farm. With over twenty play zones, a petting zoo, laser tag, giant slides, bumpy tractor rides and a multitude of climbing equipment! Come along and meet your favourite characters from the screen and stage, on selected dates. Tickets from £9.75 26 & 27 May Highclere Country Show Highclere Castle, Newbury RG20 9RN 2019 at the Highclere Country Show promises plenty in store for all visitors. From world class sporting qualifiers offering some truly amazing prizes, to outdoor family entertainment with something for every age, the Highclere Country Show has something for everyone. Adults £13, children £6.

26 & 27 May Family Fun Day Mid Hants Railway Alresford, SO24 9JG Your standard travel ticket will allow you unlimited travel, enabling you to explore all four period stations. As well as access to hands-on and creative activities in the Viewing Gallery. Make a 3D train or a hand puppet to take away with you.

27 May Half Term Bowling Offer Riverside Bowl Andover, SP10 1BN Buy one child, and get another Free on Bowling or Glo-Golf. Every Monday in Half-Term and Bank

Families Hampshire North 13

Holiday’s. Pre-booking is essential.

Call 01264 568192 or email info@ riverside-bowl.co.uk.

27 – 31 May Intrepid Explorers Chawton House Chawton, Alton, GU34 1SJ Become an intrepid explorer this May half term and see which species you can find.

Come along to the house and ask for an Explorer trail or Art Pack when you purchase a ticket.

The Old Kitchen Tearoom will be serving a special seasonal menu all week. 11am - 4:30pm. Standard admission charges apply.

28 May Fantastic Forest Art Club Alice Holt Forest Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LS The craft club gives your child the opportunity for guided outdoor exploration and games around the forest, as well as seasonal indoor crafts sessions using gathered natural materials. Suitable for children aged 5-12 years. Booking is essential. 10am- 3pm. £20.

JUNE 1 June Monsters & Aliens The Osborne Room Viables Community Centre, Basingstoke RG22 4BJ Using lonely socks and gloves that have lost their partners, we will be making cute and adorable (or gruesome and terrifying) monsters and alien soft toys. A variety of crafty supplies will be available but children may be requested to bring additional clean socks or gloves with them on the day.

Booking essential: satartclub@ homeedhub.com. 1-3pm. From £10 per child.

1 & 2 June Thruxton Motorsport Celebration Thruxton Race Circuit Andover, SP11 8PW Visitors will be treated to incredible on-track racing action with glorious machinery from

across the decades. A host of activities will also be taking place off track, including kids’ activities, Supercar Displays, Skid-Pan demonstrations and much more.

Tickets from £12, children under 15 free.

3 June – 29 September Victorian Children’s Play Trail The Vyne, Basingstoke, RG24 9HL In The Vyne’s gardens look for toys from days gone by and complete the activity sheet available from Visitor Reception.

Standard admission charges apply. £1 per trail 8 & 9 June Pirate Adventure 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park and Family Farm Headley, RG19 8JY With over 20 play zones, a petting zoo, laser tag, giant slides, bumpy tractor rides and a multitude of climbing equipment! Enjoy an extra special day with an added pirate twist. Tickets from £9.75.

8 June Grateley Summer Fair Grateley House School, SP11 8JR An afternoon of fun activities for all the family! There’ll be bouncy castles, tombolas, BBQ, cakes, beer tent, displays and much more. 12-4pm.

8 & 9 June The Ginchester Fete The Great Hall Winchester, SO23 8UJ Nestled in the heart of Hampshire lies the quaint village of Ginchester, the ancient capital of Gin. This event isn’t just about gin! Have fun at this quirky ‘village fête’ with games and amusements. Various sessions. £15.

9 June Classics at Hollycombe Hollycombe Steam in The Country, Liphook, GU30 7LP Enjoy all of the regular attractions at Hollycombe, such as the steam fairground, steam railway, woodland gardens and the steam farm plus you will see classic

commercial vehicles and classic cars.

9 June Mum2Mum Market Hatch Warren Community Centre Basingstoke, RG22 4XF Buy top quality baby and children’s second-hand goods.

2–4pm. £2 adults, children free.

14 & 28 June Toy Library Alton Maltings Alton, GU34 1DT The complete take-away service where you can borrow toys, DVDs, games and puzzles for children aged from birth to 8 years old. Toy hire starts from as little as 30p.

9.30am – 11.30am.

15 & 16 June War on the Line Mid Hants Railway Ltd The Railway Station, Alresford, SO24 9JG Transport yourself back in time to the 1940s, against the backdrop of a Second World War railway, to experience the ‘Blitz Spirit’. Adults £20, Children (5-16 yrs) £10, under 5 yrs free.

15 & 16 June Dad’s go Free!

4 Kingdoms Adventure Park and Family Farm Headley, RG19 8JY Treat dad to a free day out at 4 Kingdoms to celebrate Father’s Day. Tickets from £9.75.

17 June – 29 September Tapestry House Trail The Vyne, Basingstoke, RG24 9HL We have to repair our tapestries and we need your help in hunting for the lost sections that have been hidden around the house.

Put your skills to the test and see if you can locate each missing piece of tapestry in the house. Standard admission charges apply.

21 June Roller Disco The Harlington Fleet, GU51 4BY Family friendly, fun, exciting and great exercise! 6-9pm, All ages £5 (including skate hire).

21 June Open Morning Yateley Manor School Yateley GU46 7UQ Co-educational day school 3 -13 years. Excellent academic results with inspirational teaching in superb facilities Woodland learning area. Call 01252 405500 to book your place.

21 June - 7 July Basingstoke Festival: Discover art in unusual places Basingstoke town centre and surrounding areas This free annual arts festival is designed to showcase the best of the arts locally, nationally and internationally. From music to dance, visual art to theatre, you will ‘discover art in unusual places’ suitable for the whole family.

22 June Alton Regency Day Market Alton High Street Alton, GU34 1AB This event marks the start of the Jane Austen Regency Week celebrations in Alton and there will be a street market, horse & carriage rides, folk music, Mill Cottage Farm Experience, living history displays and Maypole and country dancing. 10am – 3pm

Enjoy a visit to Hollycombe this Summer Hollycombe Steam in the Country is a hidden gem on the border of Hampshire & Sussex. Home to a unique collection of truly historic fairground rides which have been entertaining families for over a century. Explore beyond the fairground and you can ride on our Quarry Railway and enjoy the breath taking views over the South Downs National Park. Venture further into the site you can enjoy a walk in our grade II* listed gardens which are perfect for a family picnic.

Come to the (Steam) Fair!

Activity Trail

Join in

the fun!

Zog © 2010 & TM Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler.

Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.

14 Families Hampshire North

Alice Holt Forest • • • •

New Activity Centre Go Ape Gruffalo sculptures Cafe

forestryengland.uk

Visit Britain’s largest working traditional steam fairground, railways & more.

Enjoy the choice of traditonal rides, such as the unique Razzle Dazzle.

The atmosphere is cordial and ideal for that relaxed, family day out.

All rides are included in the admission price, and once you’ve paid, you can come back free as many times as you like for a year!

OPEN: All Easter Weekend & Sundays & Bank Holidays from 14th April Daily: Wednesday 29th May to Sunday 2th June (limited rides on weekdays) Gates open at 11.00 Rides from 12.30 Last admission 16.00 Midhurst Road, Liphook, Hampshire, GU30 7LP Follow the brown signs 01428 742 900 www.hollycombe.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Family Festival Highlights

Hollycombe

26 & 27 May Nature Festival Gilbert White’s House, Selborne, GU34 3JH The 2019 Nature Festival incorporates fun activities for all the family and information from experts! Meet the animals and plants of Selborne and surrounding areas, including reptiles, cattle, bees, and worms. Each stall has an interactive nature activity and you can collect stamps for each activity in your Nature Passport. 10.30am – 5pm. www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk 22 - 23 June Basingstoke Festival Basingstoke Town Centre On the opening weekend of Basingstoke Festival head into town to be entertained by street theatre.

On Saturday, it’s another busy trading day, but sheep are running loose in the town! Only an inept shepherd and their mischievous, music-loving, roller-skating dog, Patch, stand in between an orderly shopping experience and almost certain chaos …could you be the one to bring Patch to heel and round up all the grown-ups? Join in with One Kid and Their Dog by Mufti Games – it’s your chance to play with playing by the rules in public.

On Sunday, head across to The Malls to see trampolinist extraordinaire Max Calaf, joined by his musical, acrobatic friends.

Dip is a light-hearted, breath-taking performance of a show for all ages to experience. Expect air-twisting tricks and funky tunes with a good dose of humour and a poetic touch. On a trampoline!

29 - 30 June Basingstoke Festival Basingstoke Town Centre There’s so much to discover in town on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June.

In Festival Place, five shopping trolleys randomly appear. Be amazed by C-12 Dance Theatre as the Trolleys spin, glide and slide in this highly physical, humorous outdoor performance, where high-octane contemporary dance, acrobatics and street dance merge with the extraordinary world of trolleys. You’ll never go shopping in the same way again.

In the Top of Town and The Malls join Mind The Gap in MIRROR MIRROR as a Human Test Specimen. They have been studying two alien creatures and have finally been given clearance for you to make first contact. What will you teach them? And what will you see in the mirror? Come and join the experiment. www.basingstokefestival.co.uk 19 May Watercress Festival Mid Hants Railway Alresford, SO24 9JG This nationally acclaimed festival draws together the local community and food lovers for a free day to celebrate the local watercress!

8 June Alresford Music Festival Alresford, SO24 9EP Alresford Music Festival is a family friendly festival with five stages of live music, plus there’s a festival village and a huge dedicated family arena with lots of free activities.

25 May The Town Park Festival Alton Town Park Alton, GU34 1HD It’s a family fun day with music and a range of stalls including children’s games, handmade crafts, food and charity stalls. 10am – 6pm.

15 June Winchfestival North Walls Recreation Park, Winchester A fun, family friendly festival with kids activities including a kids stage, circus skills, kids disco, wood workshop, bungee trampolines and tea cups.

familiesonline.co.uk

22 & 23 June Hollycombe Steam Festival Hollycombe Steam in The Country, Liphook, GU30 7LP Come along and see visiting traction engines, steam rollers and other steam-powered items, as well as other exhibits. In addition to the regular steam railways and fairground rides, this will be a great way to spend a weekend.

22 & 23 June Meet Ben & Holly Paultons Park, Ower, Romsey, SO51 6AL Young fairy princess Holly and her best friend, Ben Elf, live in Little Kingdom, a tiny land where flowers and grass grow above the tallest towers. See them at Paultons Park this June. Standard admission charges apply.

23 June Summer of Music: The Harry Strutters Jazz Band Uppark House & Garden Petersfield, GU31 5QR Enjoy the grounds of Uppark while listening to the gentle sounds of Harry Strutters Jazz Band. Bring a picnic or visit the café and enjoy your refreshments with a view over the South Downs.

29 & 30 June British Truck Racing Thruxton Race Circuit Andover, SP11 8PW Come and see these heavyweight monsters at full speed as they battle it out at Thruxton. Tickets from £12, children 15 and under go free.

29 & 30 June PJ Masks Paultons Park, Ower, Romsey, SO51 6AL It’s time to be a Hero with the PJ Masks team! Everyone’s favourite heroes Catboy, Gekko and Owlette will be at Paultons both days so come down to help save the day.

29 June - 21 July Destination Space - Apollo Winchester Science Centre Winchester, SO21 1HZ 20 July 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of NASA’s 1969 Apollo 11 lunar mission, and the first time humans landing on the Moon. Celebrate this

momentous achievement with a Destination Space live science show and activities. Destination Space is a nation-wide project funded by the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres. £12 per person, including entry to Explorer:Space, live science show and Invention Studio activities. Planetarium tickets sold separately.

30 June Funtime Dance Show The Harlington Fleet, GU51 4BY A showcase of the dancing abilities of all of the children who attend ‘Funtime Dance & Drama’.11am & 2pm. Adults from £12, concessions from £5 30 June Pelican Summer Fun Run War Memorial Park Basingstoke, RG21 3AA With a 2.5 or 5k course available, you can run, jog, skip or walk the route with family and friends. And get covered in foam along the way. Along the course, you will come across foam-filled, inflatable obstacles to tackle, including a mega slide and a foam pit to jump into at the finish line. 9.30am – 1pm. £20 plus sponsorship.

6 - 7 July B LOVE Live Music, Arts and Family Festival Basingstoke War Memorial Park, RG21 4AG Enjoy live music from local and international acts including Toploader and a Faithless DJ set

by Sister Bliss. Get involved in wonderful family activities and events including thrilling outdoor performances, beat-boxing workshops, and pop-up theatre or explore the Magical Forest created for festival goers aged 12 and under, with face-painting, arts and crafts, games, and storytelling.

Don’t forget to say you saw these events advertised in

Hampshire North Families Hampshire North 15

Move to your dream home now!

Berkeley has a selection of 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes in a stunning country park setting from ÂŁ495,000* PART EXCHANGE NOW AVAILABLE

40 minutes** to London Hart Leisure Centre on doorstep Less than 2 miles from Fleet town centre In the catchment area for excellent schools

edenbrookvillage.co.uk 01252 757 557 Edenbrook Village, Hitches Lane, Fleet, Hampshire GU51 5DN Sales Suite and Showhomes open daily 10am-5pm

*Price correct at time of going to press. **Source: www.nationalrail.co.uk. Photography depicts streetscene and Showhome and is indicative only. Help to Buy is available on selected plots only. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.helptobuy.gov.uk for more information. Part exchange is available on selected 4 & 5 bedroom and is subject to agreement with Berkeley Homes Southern upon reservation and Berkeley Homes Southern reserves the right to withdraw the option at any time.

Families Hampshire North

familiesonline.co.uk