Families Hampshire North September/October issue 34

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IN THIS ISSUE

Is good grammar important?

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

Why your child should learn to swim The head lice help guide

please call Vicki King 07501 433 922

Issue 34 September/October 2019 familiesonline.co.uk

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Hampshire North Issue 34 I Sept/Oct 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 Rebecca Carr events@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk Next issue November/December 2019 Booking deadline 4 October 2019

Printed By Holbrooks Printers Ltd

Contents

Published 6 times per year

4. News & views

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.

6. Is good grammar important?

Cover image: Depositphotos

© 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.

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8. Independent school open days 8. Supporting your child to be a confident communicator 9. It’s time for nursery or pre-school 10. Try a new club or class 12. Why learn to swim?

14. Does co-parenting work?

15. The head lice help guide 16. What’s on in September & October 18. Halloween & October half term

To advertise your business, club, class or nursery in our next issue, Nov/Dec call 07789 882467 or email: editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk Christmas events I Education Pantos I Family shows I Parties

Alice Holt Forest • • • •

Activity Centre Gruffalo Sculptures Go Ape Cafe

2 new play areas!

2 Families Hampshire North

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‘R’ you school lunch ready?

You take care of breakfast and tea. Let us take care of lunch!

My son is in Year R and has loved his school dinners from day one.

He has become a much less fussy eater.

’’

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hants.gov.uk/hc3s find us on facebook @hc3seducation

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Local News

‘R’ you school lunch ready?

Starting school is a huge step for young children; they can tire quickly as they become used to the school routine. You can help keep their energy levels high with a freshly cooked nutritious school meal. Research suggests that well-nourished children perform better at school.

HC3S meals are carefully planned in line with the school food standards; they contain the correct balance of calories, vitamins and other nutrients that children need. HC3S is proud to be the first school meal caterer to be awarded the Hyperactive Children’s Support Group award for excellence in school catering, proving that they do not include additives in their ingredients. Research shows that only one in 100 packed lunches meet the nutritional standards required.

Local children’s speech and language therapist As an experienced speech and language therapist (SLT), Yvonne Hedgecock feels she is very fortunate to have a profession that she loves. “It is very special to see the relief on parents’ faces when they realise that there is someone who understands how they are feeling about their child’s speech or language difficulty who can help them. I love seeing the delight on the younger children’s faces as they rush in ready to play “Yvonne’s games!” And it is great to work alongside the older children to help them achieve their goals. I enjoy helping parents to gain the confidence and skills to help their children’s speech and language development”.

Having worked for many years within the NHS, Yvonne now offers a private service which means she can use her extensive knowledge and experience to see children for assessment or therapy without the constraints of a waiting list.

Her particular areas of interest are speech sound difficulties, stammering, hearing impairment including glue ear, cleft palate and nasal speech.

If you have any concerns about your child’s speech or language, contact Yvonne for a discussion and no obligation chat on how she may be able to help.

Email: yh.slt@btinternet.com or call 07532 228992.

Next Issue Nov/Dec 2019 Parties I Christmas Events I Education

Meals are free up to Year 3 regardless of your income, so you can save your family money.

Find school lunch menus, healthy recipes and other useful information on the HC3S Facebook page or download a menu and calendar from www.hants.gov.uk/hc3s.

Beautiful homes in an exquisite location at Edenbrook Village Set on the edge of the stunning 82-acre Edenbrook Country Park, Edenbrook Village is the perfect place to call home for those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Comprising of stunning two, three, four and five-bedroom family houses, Edenbrook Village offers the epitome of vibrant country living. The distinguished properties provide a relaxed country lifestyle with a great range of leisure, retail and travel connections on the doorstep. The sought-after town of Fleet is located less than two miles away, offering high-street necessities, independent stores and a variety of restaurants. For residents commuting into London, Fleet Station is just a 5-minute drive away, where residents can be connected to London Waterloo in just 40 minutes.

Prices at Edenbrook Village start at £410,000. For further information on the homes available, contact the marketing suite on 01252 750 877 or visit www.edenbrookvillage.co.uk.

Picky Eaters Still Grow Up Healthy Picky eating in toddlers is a well-documented phase when children don’t want to try new foods and/or show very strong preferences. It can create much worry for parents, and has created a whole market for advice, guidance and tools to encourage young children to try lots of new tastes and textures. But researchers from the University of Bristol using data from a study of children between the ages of 7 to 17 have found that instead of being harmed by their diets, children who had been picky eaters at age 3 were growing normally as adolescents with a healthy height and weight.

The researchers claim the study shows that even children who are picky as pre-schoolers usually eat well enough over time to ensure they grow properly. More info: www.bristol.ac.uk/ news

YVONNE HEDGECOCK BSc. HCPCreg. MASLTIP certMRCSLT

YH-SLT

CHILDREN’S SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST Appointments available for assessment and therapy Book now - T: 07789882467

editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk 4 Families Hampshire North

Enquiries: yh.slt@btinternet.com Tel: 07532 228992 familiesonline.co.uk

Reduction in School Breaks ‘Unhealthy’ School break times are much shorter than they were two decades ago meaning children are missing out on valuable opportunities to make friends and develop social skills and exercise, according to research by the Nuffield Foundation.

The study looked at how school breaks have changed over 25 years comparing data from over 1,000 primary and secondary schools.

It found that despite the length of the school day remaining much the same, break times are being squeezed even further with potential serious implications for children’s well-being and development.

Afternoon breaks have been virtually eliminated; they are now only available to 15% of primary school children and 1% of secondary schools. There is also a clear trend to shorter lunch breaks with reported lunchtimes of 35 minutes or less.

According to the authors, break times are important for children to get physical exercise – a particular concern given the rise in obesity, and to develop important social skills that are not learned in school lessons.

More info: www.nuffieldfoundation.org

Education News

What do you need to do this year to increase your child’s confidence in Maths?

If you have ever worried about your child’s confidence in Maths, then September is a great time to make a change. At this time of year children are much more receptive to doing something new. A little regular, non-threatening practice can transform your child’s ability to cope at school. If you’re not sure where to start then practise using money, clocks and times tables – these are fundamental building blocks of both SATs and GCSE. You can also supplement this with some targeted, age-appropriate work sheets relating to the National Curriculum for Maths - like Maths Club by Post.

It’s a fun little pack of Maths puzzle sheets delivered to your door each month and will ‘drip-feed’ your child with all the skills they need to be super-confident in Maths at school.

For your free trial pack go to mathsclubbypost.co.uk and for more ideas for helping your child at home yourself follow facebook.com/ mathsclubbypost

St Nicholas’ School Happiness and achieves an success at St excellent ISI rating Neot’s Preparatory Founded in 1935 St Nicholas’ School is School set in beautiful surroundings covering 27

St Neot’s is a co-educational day school for children aged 2 - 13 years, where the number one priority is to prepare children for successful, happy and purposeful lives.

The stunning 70 acre grounds and facilities, including arts centre, language and IT suites, state of the art sports facilities and Innovation Room provide children with a world of opportunity. Through specialist teaching, they experience the breadth of the curriculum in a fun, engaging way, aimed at igniting lifelong passions and a zest for learning.

Forest School, Outdoor Learning and Leadership Days encourage the children to venture outside their comfort zones, to take risks and develop the purpose and drive to make the most of their talents in life beyond school.

Staff are inspired to awaken intellectual curiosity and encourage the children to challenge themselves.

For further information visit www.stneotsprep.co.uk or call 0118 9739650.

Across the globe, the Kumon Maths and English Programmes advance students beyond their school level.

School kids tackle speeding drivers An initiative in London is getting primary school pupils to confront speeding motorists, in a bid to enforce the 20mph speed limit near schools. The Junior Roadwatch scheme involves drivers who are caught speeding and pulled over by police officers being given the option of receiving a fixed penalty fine and points on their license, attending a speeding awareness course or being told off by children.

Collisions are a leading cause of serious injury, disability or death of children in the UK. In 2017, 48 children died in road collisions in the UK and over 15,700 children were injured.

Calls for compulsory climate change education in schools A petition launched by four Oxford school girls calling for lessons on Climate Change to be made compulsory in schools has gathered over 75,000 signatures. The students are hoping to make climate change a “core part of the compulsory curriculum” to increase the next generation’s understanding of the global issue. They claim they have “barely learned about the climate crisis at school, even though it’s supposed to be part of Geography and Science.”

kumon.co.uk

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Come along to the open day on Saturday 5 October to find out more or visit www.st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk

Similar schemes are being used elsewhere in the UK. More information at www.tfl.gov.uk

Contact your local Instructor for a free assessment.

Basingstoke North 01256 636233 Basingstoke South 01256 533234

Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.

acres. Offering superb facilities in sport, music, art and drama for girls age 3 – 16 years and boys 3-7. With extensive bus routes, after school care, as well as a newly appointed breakfast club and forest school, they can offer parents round the clock care in such a fantastic educational environment.

They are also offering 15 hours EYE funding for the Nursery Department.

The most recent inspection report by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) achieved the highest rating, ‘Excellent’.

According to the petition: “Climate change is the biggest issue of our time, and it must be a part of our education if our generation is to understand it and help us to combat its effects. That’s why we want climate change to be made a core part of the national curriculum.”

More info: www.change.org Families Hampshire North 5

Education Matters Some tips for helping your child with grammar Bring grammar to life by asking questions to find out what your child knows about grammar. Do they know what a noun is? If not, show your child some objects. Explain that nouns are the names used for people, places and things. You can do the same with verbs by acting out some actions such as ‘jump’, ‘hop’ and ‘clap’.

Do simple crosswords with your child using a dictionary to help you. The dictionary tells you what type of word you have looked up (verb, adverb, pronoun, noun etc.), and you can share this with your child.

Is good grammar important?

By Andrew Campbell

When you went to school, it’s possible you didn’t get much grammar instruction and as a result didn’t absorb its importance.

Alternatively, you may have had grammar drummed into you again and again, using a prescriptive rule-based approach which didn’t create an understanding of its significance or purpose.

Either way, you may feel that you don’t know much about grammar and may wonder if it is really an essential component of your child’s education or future.

The truth is that the use of correct grammar is important because it is the main feature within both our spoken and written communication that allows us to communicate our thoughts and ideas clearly and be understood.

Using incorrect grammar can lead to meaningless sentences and unclear messages, which in turn can lead to misinterpretation or misunderstanding. Even something as simple as a misplaced comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence. For example: “Let’s eat Grandpa.” versus “Let’s eat, Grandpa.”

Children who don’t develop a good grasp of grammar fall back on what they intuitively know about language; as a consequence they simply write like they speak. Whereas, with a good understanding of the different grammatical components of language, a child is able to express themselves clearly and establish good foundation skills for written documentation like school essays, job applications and creative writing in later years.

the habit of thinking logically and clearly.

They provides the building blocks for them to expand their vocabulary and understand and express themselves in longer, more interesting and more complex ways. When children increase their language complexity (with word endings, or longer/more complex sentences), they can express and understand more complicated ideas.

The rise of social media as a dominant form of communication amongst young people has given rise to much short-cutting of the English language. When sending texts or messages via Facebook or WhatsApp, simple sentences or fragments of sentences are the norm and it is unnecessary to use grammar. This short-cutting of language exposes children to a real risk of developing bad communication habits which could hold them back in the future.

Play with punctuation. When you read, occasionally look at the punctuation and talk about what it is telling the reader to do.

Show your child how a question mark tells you to raise your voice at the end of the sentence to indicate a question being asked.

Play ‘i-spy’ with the focus on looking for nouns (e.g. dad, bridge, tree, shop, apple).

Tell your child that you are going to ask questions about the noun they have chosen.

For example, ‘Is your noun green?’, ‘Can your noun fit in my hand?’ In this way you introduce grammatical terminology in a fun way.

Model. When your child says something that is grammatically incorrect, model to them the correct way of saying it.

For older primary school children: Opposites. Help your child understand antonyms (opposites) by calling out words like hot, big, slow, and getting them to shout out the opposite. Alternatively, get your child to shout words that mean the same as the ones you’re calling out (synonyms).

Tense tents. Help your child understand verb tenses, by drawing some ‘tense tents’ on pieces of paper. Write down some verbs in their various tenses – present (play), past (played), future (will play) and get your child to move the verbs into the correct tent.

Sentence Challenge. Challenge your child to write sentences of more than 25 words that only contain one verb. This helps them to understand how to control a sentence, rather than overcomplicate it.

More resources at: learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/ grammar-vocabulary www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zhrrd2p www.theschoolrun.com/best-grammarapps-for-kids

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editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk or 07789 882467

Grammar rules also help children develop 6 Families Hampshire North

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OPEN MORNINGS

A co-educational independent school (2 to 13 years), building confidence through opportunity

Saturday 5th October (registration at 9.45am) Friday 15th November (registration at 9.15am)

Open Evening

Contact 0118 9739650 to book your tour

Thursday 12th September - 6.15pm

Open Morning Saturday 9th November - 10.00am 01252 405500 registrar@yateleymanor.com www.yateleymanor.com

St Nicholas’ School fleet • hampshire

Open Mornings Saturday 5th October 10.00am – 1.00pm Monday 18th November 9.30am – 12.00pm

An independent day school for boys aged 3-7 and girls aged 3-16 • • • • • •

Small class sizes Inspirational teachers A caring, family ethos Purpose-built facilities Outstanding results ‘Excellent’ ISI Inspection

• School buses run from Alton, Bentley, Basingstoke, Bramley, Chineham, Hook, Old Basing, Odiham, Hartley Wintney, Fleet, Farnham, Rowledge, Yateley, Camberley, Farnborough and Aldershot

Year 3 & Reception Taster Day 8th November 2019 8.45am - 3.30pm

Senior Entrance Exams 10th January 2020

T. 01252 850121 | E. registrar@st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk @stnicholasschool |

@stnicholasfleet

st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk

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Families Hampshire North 7

Education Matters

Independent School Open Days

Supporting your child to be a confident communicator

St Neots Preparatory School

I was a particularly shy child who didn’t like speaking in front of people. For me it was a lonely and painful place. In light of my experiences, one of my main objectives has been to encourage confidence in my 6 year old boy, Sam. While hearing him speak so freely and clearly on the radio recently, I smiled, turned to his dad and said “there is no way that either of us would have been able to speak so confidently as a child.”

Eversley, Hook RG27 0PN 0118 973 2118 www.stneotsprep.co.uk Saturday 5 October, 9.45am

St Neot’s is a co-educational preparatory school in a wonderful rural setting in the north east corner of Hampshire. Ages 2-13 years gain an outstanding education in a family centred environment, where happiness is seen as the key to success.

St Nicholas’ School

Church Crookham, Fleet, GU52 0RF 01252 850121 www.st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk Saturday 5 October 10am-1pm Founded in 1935 St Nicholas’ School is set in beautiful surroundings covering 27 acres. Offering superb facilities in sport, music, art and drama for girls age 3 – 16 years and boys 3-7.

Yateley Manor

Yateley, GU46 7UQ 01252 405500 www.yateleymanor.com Thursday 12 September, 6.15pm Co-educational day school 3 -13 years with excellent academic results and inspirational teaching in superb facilities.

Inclusive and simple fee structure and work friendly hours. Coaches from Camberley, Farnborough, Fleet, Odiham and Hook. Call to book your place.

Help YOUR child discover their CONFIDENCE and enjoyment in MATHS Claim your FREE pack at MathsClubByPost.co.uk 8 Families Hampshire North

So how can we encourage children to speak up confidently?

During the course of my work in schools, I have come across shiny students in the classroom who put their hands up to ask questions and aren’t afraid to challenge me with a naturally charming confidence. But, on the whole, most children I meet at school don’t like putting their hand up in class or speaking up. Fear of failure and social judgement interferes with confidence and, in my view, social media is exacerbating this problem.

Here are some tips for addressing this:

Specific praise for speaking up I often ask Sam if he answered or asked questions at school or I ask him to relay his understanding of a book to me. I praise him for putting up his hand and speaking up and for talking clearly to me. Now, he often tells me that he’s good at speaking up. He believes it.

Being told I was “shy” by teachers made me feel even more shy!

Positive affirmation This ‘can do’ attitude is really important for speaking in front of people. I have a video of Sam learning to ride his bike. He fell into stinging nettles and felt reluctant to get back on. I bent down to his level and asked him to repeat the phrase “I can do this, I can do this.” In the video he gets back on to the bike, repeats this phrase over and over and off he goes. He often repeats this to himself before he faces any challenge now. I encourage this technique in the classroom and it’s amazing how it visibly helps students.

Singing

they are happy. Studies suggest that the endorphins released through singing create an immediate feeling of pleasure. So before school, belt out the tunes with your child. This can set them off on a positive path for the day and encourage them to unlock their voice. I’m aware lots of children don’t need help in this department but it’s a great habit to add to the morning routine!

Deep-breathing techniques Recently I was delivering a stress management programme to year 11. There were several students who had a drama exam straight after and they were incredibly nervous. They said their hearts were beating fast; some were visibly biting their lips or nails; others kept telling me they were going to “fail the exam.”

I asked everyone to be totally still and quiet. I asked to them to be very present and then to take deep breaths. For 5 minutes, we breathed in for 6 seconds and out for 10 seconds. The students themselves were amazed at their response. Their calmer and more confident energy left them in a better place to enter the exam.

Performances Have fun! Encourage children to perform in front of you or anyone. It could be reading a poem out loud, acting out a story, playing a teacher. Anything. It’s great for getting children used to people watching and listening to them.

In most schools, there is currently no specific lesson for learning how to speak up confidently; yet in the business world the requirement for this skill is tremendous.

It’s easy to get to evening and feel exhausted by the amount of parental challenges you’ve faced from the minute you woke up. I get it! However, it’s worth reflecting back over the day and considering how much you’ve praised your child’s efforts for speaking up and communicating. If they can absorb the belief that they can do this when they are young, it will help them with many life situations.

Lindsay Maclean is the author of the book Speak Up & Be Heard, priced £10.99 and available from Amazon.

A child is more likely to feel confident when familiesonline.co.uk

Early Years Use your settling-in days

Make sure you negotiate settling-in sessions. You won’t be a high-maintenance parent for requesting as many sessions as you need. The setting staff would much rather have a happy child on day one than one who is unsettled and not having fun.

The importance of goodbyes

This is one of our key pieces of advice. It may feel easier to sneak away while your child is distracted but imagine how they feel when they turn around to show you what they are doing, and you aren’t there. If they haven’t been left before they may feel abandoned and worry that you aren’t coming back. So, actively say goodbye. Give cuddles and kisses and let them know when you will return.

It’s time for nursery or pre-school Many children are left at nursery as babies, around the time when separation anxiety kicks in and both parents and children feel bereft. However, a few weeks on, the tears turn to smiles and both parties relax into their new routine.

But what happens if you have chosen alternative childcare or stayed at home with your little one? At the age of two or three, depending on your circumstances, your child will be entitled to some free hours of childcare each week. Who wouldn’t want to make use of this?

As with babies, starting a new nursery or pre-school can be unsettling for both child and parent, but with good transition plans, you will both adjust more quickly than you expect.

Choosing the right environment

By now you will probably have an idea of what kind of child you have. Are they aged two and already counting to one hundred or are they happier covering themselves in mud and running amok in the garden? There will be a setting just right for their style of learning through play. Because this is what it is…their first official step into education and learning.

There may still be tears while you make your guilt-ridden escape, but when they see you come to collect them, they quickly learn that you always come back.

Involve them in the preparation

Let them choose new shoes and bag. If they need a uniform, get them to try it on. This helps them feel excited. Buy a new lunchbox together if they need one.

Play dates

Are there friends who will be going to the same nursery? Invite them over for a play or meet in the park so your children can get to know each other. Play dates are also a great time for parents to share worries.

Live it at home

Make sure you talk to your child about their day. Look for positives when there are tears or make them laugh by asking silly questions. Display their artwork so they develop a sense of pride in what they are achieving.

Some kids run into nursery without looking back, while other parents feel like a tree trunk with a little person attached. Whichever way it is for you, there is no right or wrong. Every child is a small human reacting to a new environment and experience and we need to respect their feelings.

Parental Choice are childcare experts with a team that can help you find your ideal nursery setting locally to you. Visit www. parentalchoice.co.uk for more information.

Some pre-schools are academic-focussed, and the room settings will reflect this, while others will look very much like a playgroup. Visit and choose the one in which you both feel most comfortable. Remember, your child will be restricted to a classroom environment from age 4 to 18, so it is okay to think play rather than lessons!

Get them a place

In pockets of the UK, supply for funded childcare is outweighed by demand and waiting lists can be long. Apply and secure your place as soon as you can.

How will your child transition?

Who knows?! Many of our top tips are the same for a toddler/preschooler as they are for babies.

What to look for when choosing a nursery Jubilee Day Nursery believe that the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning. When children are presented with enabling environments they will discover, learn, grow and most importantly play.

Conveniently situated between Newbury, Reading and Basingstoke, Jubilee nurseries in Padworth provide exceptional care for babies and children, from three months to five years. Jubilee Day Nursery offers full time care 51 weeks of the year whilst Jubilee Gems is a term time nursery option. Both settings are renowned for creating engaging experiences with a strong focus on outdoor learning.

With 60 acres of gardens, private woodland and their own working farm, children participate in magical hands-on experiences every day.

Whether they are down in the woods with Forest School leaders or up on the farm with farmers, children are given the opportunity to learn from the world around them.

For more information visit www.jubileedaynursery.co.uk

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

Over 60 acres of gardens, woodland & farm A highly skilled & caring team Funded places available For more information, please visit:

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

Families Hampshire North 9

Clubs & Classes

Improving your child’s concentration

Trying a new club or class

By Claire Winter Whatever the age of your child, trying a new activity or sport encourages them to be more adventurous and learn new skills.

For parents of under 5s, classes and clubs can enrich a child’s day, giving them the chance to experience many different environments and activities. Vitally, these activities also provide social stimulation for parents too.

Set up for success

If your toddler or pre-schooler is reluctant to join in a class, participate in the activity alongside them. It takes pre-schoolers time to get used to a new environment. Once they get used to the situation they will join in with gusto.

I still have fond memories of my shy, twin girls dancing and singing at their first music class!

Make it fun

Tap into the demand factor and coordinate with others

Here are Families’ helpful tips for encouraging your child to try something new.

Try talking to other parents and see what activities their children are involved in. You could even co-ordinate for your children to participate in the activity together. Simply knowing that their friends are interested in a new club or class may mean your child will be keener to get involved.

A good starting point is to look at your child’s current interests. Their school may offer a wide range of classes and clubs from IT to sport. Additionally, local sports centres, libraries and art centres are often teeming with opportunities to join classes and clubs.

So don’t be afraid to look outside the school environment for things to do.

For active kids, why not consider something more challenging, such as climbing, caving, or martial arts? Those interested in animals may find opportunities at your local zoo, petting farm or riding centre. While for the creatively inclined, investigate an art class, reading or book club or a school newspaper or blog.

While it’s a little more difficult to assess the interests of pre-schoolers or toddlers, most enjoy sing and rhyme classes or activities that involve physical activity, like pre-school gymnastics or football.

Understand what’s stopping them Many children can be apprehensive about new experiences, but if your child is consistently shying away from trying new activities, sit down with them and try to find out why. It could be a fear of not making friends, being bullied, low self-confidence about their abilities, or being in an unfamiliar environment.

10 Families Hampshire North

Perform and parenting expert and child psychologist, Dr Claire Halsey offers their tips.

Once you know the cause of their anxiety, you can help address it.

Meanwhile, the lives of older children have been changed by modern technology, and we need to strongly encourage them to be more active and step away from their smartphone, Xbox, or PlayStation. Thankfully, there are a huge range of organised after-school or weekend clubs and classes for children to attend, from pottery painting to coding.

Target their interests

Concentration is a vital life skill which develops from birth. Linked closely to brain development, it improves alongside a child’s memory and ability to organise their thoughts.

Many children simply want to fit in, so if this is important to your child, look for new or popular activities. Our local directory can help you find potential classes and clubs that you may not know about.

You could also introduce a reluctant child to an activity their sibling does, or for younger children nervous about being alone, you can attend the first session with them.

For pre-school and toddler classes, coordinating with other parents in your network can feel more important than whether you feel your child will particularly enjoy an activity.

Structured activities can keep your little one occupied for a while and give you a welcome chance to make friends with other parents who have children at the same age and stage.

Highlight the benefits Focus on the positive things your child will gain by taking part in a particular sport or activity.

These could be a new social circle, certificates, medals or stickers, job or education opportunities in the future, greater confidence, getting fitter, or simply being with friends.

After-school and weekend clubs and classes are a great way for your child to stay active and learn new things. Remember, it doesn’t matter what activity your child pursues, as long as they enjoy it.

Reduce big distractions: television, music and screen time make it difficult to listen and concentrate, so limit these to set times.

Make activities fun as your child is more likely to pay attention eg tidying up toys is less of a chore when you offer a tickle to the child who finishes first!

Keep practising

Games and activities can build concentration. Choose turn-taking games like Snap or Picture Dominoes or those with simple instructions.

Praise the good stuff

Praise your child when they focus rather than highlighting when they don’t eg “Well done for sticking with that puzzle.”

Seek advice

A small number of children have difficulty paying attention no matter how hard they try. Ask your child’s teacher for suggestions. If you’re still concerned, see your GP. Visit www.clairehalsey.com for more from Dr Claire Halsey.

Perform offers concentration-boosting drama classes in Bramley, Basingstoke and Fleet. Try a free no-obligation class at www.perform.org.uk/try

Local Classes Clift Meadown Pavillion Bramley, RG26 5BH Drama 4-7’s, Fri 4pm & 5pm Zebon Community Centre Fleet, GU52 0ZE Drama 4-7’s, Mon 4pm & 5pm, Tues 4pm Drama 7-12’s, Mon 5pm & Tues 5pm Hatch Warren Community Centre Basingstoke, RG22 4YF Drama 4-7’s, Tues 4pm & 5pm Drama 7-12s, Tues 6.15pm familiesonline.co.uk

Clubs & classes

Gymnastics – not just flexibility and fun!

By Andrew Campbell Gymnastics is regarded as one of the most comprehensive exercise programmes available to children, incorporating strength, flexibility, speed, balance, coordination, power, and discipline.

Whether your child becomes involved in recreational gymnastics or with a competitive squad, skills learned in gymnastics can benefit a child’s overall development significantly.

It’s also a very exciting, empowering sport.

Dance classes – movement with purpose

By Andrew Campbell

If your child is always prancing around the house practising their moves and can’t be dragged away from Strictly even if chocolate or ice cream are on offer, signing up for dance classes is a great way to tap into their enthusiasm for music and movement.

As well as being lots of fun, dance classes offer a host of other advantages:

Physical health

Dance improves flexibility, coordination, balance, range of motion, stamina, muscle tone, strength and posture.

Physical benefits

Gymnastics increases strength, flexibility, endurance and coordination. Balance is vital whilst working on apparatus such as the beam, whilst power is essential when vaulting and tumbling during floor work. The bars and rings encourage lifting, swinging and movement of the body in new ways. As gymnastics uses so many different skills, classes can help train children for any other sport they choose to pursue.

Cognitive effect

Children struggling with language can express their feelings and creativity with immediacy in a positive way through dance and movement.

Your child will need to visualise the gymnastic skill they are learning before performing it.

So gymnastics is a great way for a child to use their brains and their bodies together.

The intense movement that takes place in gymnastics opens up neural pathways in the brain, which can lead to increased concentration, focus and success, not just in the gym but at school and at home.

Socialisation

Character building

Self-awareness

Through dance, children develop spatial awareness, become less clumsy and pay more attention to others sharing their space. They can feel more at home in their own skin.

Self-expression

Dance is a highly social activity. In a dance class, children learn how to work as part of a team, develop a greater sense of trust and co-operation, and make new friends.

Cognitive development

Children strengthen their cognitive abilities and memory skills through learning and remembering choreography.

Behaviour

Dancing requires intense focus, discipline and co-ordination. This can have a calming effect and help children release pent-up energy.

Self-confidence

Dance helps build self-confidence with each new routine they practice and master.

There are a wide range of dance classes available – for both boys and girls – from pre-school ballet classes to primary ballet, tap, street dance, contemporary dance, pop dance and many more.

As well as singing and acting classes, Stagecoach also includes dancing in their programmes.

Children can learn basic dance steps and moves, produce a dance sequence and explore movement. For details and to book a class visit www.stagecoach.co.uk

Gymnastics promotes discipline, determination, courage and self-confidence, and requires perseverance to practice and perfect a skill and learn from mistakes.

Social benefits

Gymnastics provides children with the opportunity to communicate with other children of a similar age, to work together as part of a team, and to engage with other adults. Some of the other social skills necessary to pursue gymnastics are listening, following directions, taking turns, being quiet and respecting and encouraging others.

Everyone Active offer Gymnastics classes for ages 5+. There are centres in Hart, Alton, Frogmore, Millchase and Taro. Visit the website for class timetables and more information www.everyoneactive.com

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.

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Families Hampshire North 11

Swimming all the information they have for you to consider. If they don’t take an interest in you, cross them off your list!

Ask to observe some lessons

If you aren’t permitted to observe lessons, proceed with caution!

Why your child should learn to swim Swimming is the only sport that could save your child’s life. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents more than 400 children in the UK died as a result of drowning. The bottom line is: it makes sense to seriously consider how and when your child is going to learn to swim.

Self teaching

One option is teaching your child yourself.

Most children love going to the pool and with your persistence, and their willingness to practice, should learn to float and swim doggy paddle well enough to get out of trouble if they fall into the water. However, if you don’t have the time or confidence to do this, or if you would like your child to be able to dive and swim with an ease that enables them to keep swimming length after length, you will need to consider booking some lessons.

What is available?

In this area, we are very fortunate to have plenty of choice of swimming classes include at: • Local Authority Swimming Pools •

Private Health Clubs

•

Private Swim Schools

•

One to One tuition

How to choose?

How do you know which approach is best for your child? Ask around: get recommendations from friends and family and ask about their experiences.

If possible, ask the children for their feedback too.

Talk to the swimming provider you are considering

Tell them about your child, what you are looking for and ask what suitable lessons they have. Pose as many questions as you want and don’t be hurried into accepting unsatisfactory answers. Ask them to send

At a lesson, watch out for: Interaction between the instructors and the children – are the instructors teaching the children or just watching them swim up and down? The instructors will probably have to raise their voices to be heard, but are they giving the children lots of praise and encouragement along with corrections?

Do they treat the children like individuals, giving pointers to each child, or as one large group? Do they include all children in the group? Would you like to be taught by them? If not, don’t inflict them upon your children!

Are the children enjoying themselves? Is there good discipline in the groups? This is essential when you are leaving your child in a dangerous environment. Watch the children in the higher ability groups – are they swimming well and with seemingly effortless grace?

If you are paying good money for lessons, you need to be sure that the end product is good!

Consider group size

The smaller the group, the more individual attention your child will get. Of course, the smaller the group, the more expensive the lessons as well, so consider your budget.

There are advantages and disadvantages with every group size: •

One to One lessons with a good instructor can be great, but your child will miss out on the fun of learning with other children.

•

If you’d like your child to have lots of individual attention, but also want them to have fun with other children, small groups of three are ideal.

•

Larger groups of four or more are handy if you are on a budget and your child is confident, but not so good if your child is shy or nervous and needing a bit more support.

Baby & Pre-school classes age 0-4

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Find your local class at puddleducks.com

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Remember that if your child does not seem happy attending the lessons or does not seem to be progressing, it’s time to consider another option. However, don’t give up on the idea of your child learning to swim. Learning to swim is like riding a bike. It’s a skill that, fortunately, once learned will never be forgotten.

FREE taster session *T&Cs apply

t: 01252 418250 westberkshire@puddleducks.com A qu a ta an e class

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12 Families Hampshire North

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Book swimming lessons for your little ones with Puddle Ducks Puddle Ducks teaches children from birth to 10 years, to swim independently, beautifully and confidently, and to love and respect the water. Puddle Ducks teach essential life skills and water safety to over 19,000 babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and primary school children across the UK, every week.

Classes are packed full of fun! Watch as your little one develops into a confident swimmer without realising they are learning to swim. Puddle Ducks recognise that every child is different; expert teachers individually tailor activities to suit your childs ability and confidence levels.

Teaching water safety from a young age is also core to their classes. Babies as young as six months learn water safety and personal survival skills, and school aged children also learn life-saving skills.

Their highly qualified teachers are passionate, professional, nurturing, fun and loved by little swimmers. Puddle Ducks innovative programme, incorporating bespoke songs and rhymes, has been developed over 15 years and is continually evolving.

Puddle Ducks West Berkshire run classes in Reading, Bagshot, Frimley, Yateley and Odiham. For more information or to book a class email: westberkshire@puddleducks.com or call 01252 418250.

SWIMMING LESSONS

Swimming

Everyone Active’s awarding winning learn to swim programme offers swimming lessons for all ages Learning to swim is a vital life skill which every child should experience. Swimming lessons teach children independence and give a sense of accomplishment as they feel themselves improving. Swimming offers a whole-body workout like no other, helping children to keep active whilst having fun. Notably, learning to swim also gives children the ability to get themselves out of potentially dangerous situations, enabling them to fully enjoy trips to the seaside and beach holidays.

Everyone Active’s awarding winning learn to swim programme offers lessons for all ages of swimmers, from child classes starting at 4 months right through to adult classes and are available at over 120 sites. All swimming teachers are Swim England level 2 (or equivalent) qualified. All stages are progressive and continually assessed, initially developing water confidence and then teaching children to swim. As they improve, this distance is increased and all strokes are introduced. They also have the opportunity to develop water safety skills and other aquatic disciplines such as Rookie Lifeguard, synchronised swimming diving and water polo.

Everyone Active has centres across North Hampshire to find out more or to book classes visit www.everyoneactive.com/ content-hub/swimming

SPACES AVAILABLE NOW!

DON’T PANIC, WE’VE GOT THIS Enrol today at www.everyoneactive.com/swim-lessons 14836_Families Ads_31 Aug.indd 2 familiesonline.co.uk

06/08/2019 14:03 Families Hampshire North 13

Parenting

Does Co-Parenting Work?

Co-parenting means sharing the care of children between you, in a situation where you are living separately, generally after a divorce or similar, with each of you being responsible for your child for half of the week or alternate weeks.

Co-parenting doesn’t work for everyone. It can put some additional practical stresses on both parents but it can provide stability and continuity for the children involved. Co-parenting is successful when both parents can co-operate sufficiently to create a routine that works for their child. This will largely depend on how acrimonious or otherwise their separation has been.

Living in close proximity to each other is desirable so that there isn’t too much travel time involved for any of you. It also means that each of you can continue to share responsibility for attending things like doctor’s appointments, school concerts, sports days and parents’ evenings.

Some ground rules are essential, such as: No arguing in front of the children Remaining united in your co-parenting Making parenting decisions together

Of course, as with most arrangements, there are also disadvantages.

Lack of Stability Can a child really feel stable when they are moving between two homes? This is a tricky one and it’s not a one-size-fits all answer.

Whilst being co-parented may not offer some children what they need, many co-parents have well-balanced, happy, caring and loving children, for whom the arrangement clearly works.

Logistics

The obvious advantage of co-parenting is that you both get to spend equal time with your child and, in so doing, create a familiar routine in which he or she has sufficient access to both parents. Children love routine, so once there is a pattern and things go to plan, they settle very quickly.

Endless numbers of carrier bags, overnight bags, tote bags and rucksacks will travel backwards and forwards between your child’s two homes, containing anything from soft toys, school work, new shoes or clothes or particular outfits they want to wear. So things will get lost or turn up in the opposite place to where they are needed. But with good organisation, this can be managed to ensure your child has with them what they want when they need it.

There can be other advantages too.

Sense of Loss

Equal Input

You may feel a sense of loss when your child isn’t with you. This is almost inevitable when you’ve been used to being a full time parent. But in time you will adjust to the rhythm of co-parenting and, in the interim, you can take comfort in the fact that your child has gone happily off to join their other parent.

Your child has equal input from both parents and will reap the benefits; for example, one parent assisting with homework one week and the other parent the following week.

Time Out Each parent has time out for themselves. This time can be used to re-charge and re-energise. Whilst you may not know what to do with this time initially and even feel guilty about having it, it is a real positive for your child. With more fuel in the tank you can spend better quality time together, and you will be far more fun for your child to be around.

Co-parenting should only be embarked upon if you and coparent are communicating well and feel able to put your child’s wellbeing above your feelings towards each other. It’s essential to do what is in the best interest of your child and be united in giving them the support that they deserve, regardless of whether you, as their parents, are together or not.

Extended Family As your child will spend equal time with both of you, they have a better opportunity to maintain close relationships with grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins on both sides of the family, as well as building relationships with step and half siblings.

Excitement Children are generally happy to see their parent when handover comes. Everything feels fresh and new again! During breaks from each other, arguments and tensions between you and your child are often forgotten.

Two of Everything Two bedrooms, two sets of belongings, two sets of pets! And, maybe even two birthdays and two Christmasses! It’s not hard to see why this might be a big selling point for some children…

14 Families Hampshire North

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

Family Health Lice - up to 4mm long and a light tan or brown in colour.

Baby lice - can be tiny and may be identified on the tissue as darker specks alongside the eggs.

Wet dandruff can be mistaken for eggs. The key is, it can be rubbed off. A nit egg can only be removed by sliding it down and off the hair shaft.

What to do if you find lice

The Head Lice Help Guide!

Primary school children are the main spreaders of head lice as they spend lots of time in close contact with one another.

How these blood-sucking critters move from head to head remains a mystery to many of us, but if you understand this happens, it can help you avoid an infestation.

How lice move from head to head Lice have claws at the end of their legs designed for walking through hair; they cannot fly or jump. The male lice happily stay on the scalp. After mating just once, the female louse lays up to 10 eggs daily for the rest of her 30 day life. She travels down the hair and waits with her front claws stretched out to grab any passing new hair. When a new hair passes by she will cling on, scurry up the follicle to the scalp, and start laying eggs. Transportation is as simple as that!

The female louse doesn’t care if your hair is curly or straight, clean or dirty. Essential oils as a repellant is another fallacy; there’s no medical evidence they will prevent head lice, and a female louses genetic profile to colonise is far stronger than their dislike for any repellant.

Simple preventative and checking measures •

Keep long hair tied up in a bun plait or

Roasted Vegetable Pasta (Serves 6)

Ingredients 150g Sweet potato finely diced 6ml Oil 96g Mixed peppers fresh or frozen 270g Courgettes finely diced 200g Red onions finely diced 1 Garlic clove grated 24g Tomato puree 200g Chopped tomatoes 100ml Vegetable stock ½ tsp Mixed herbs 180g Sweetcorn 3g Parsley 210g Pasta

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If you find evidence of a louse, you can keep on repeating this combing down in sections until the tissue is clear of specks or lice. Keep the cleared sections away from hair that has not been treated. After each section is combed, check for eggs and use a tweezer to slide eggs down the hair shaft and off the hair.

By Eileen Hutchinson

a ponytail at the nape of the neck for school and play dates.

•

Use a separate brush for every member of the family. Advise children not to share brushes with friends.

•

To check for lice, use a nit comb on wet hair coated with a small amount of clear conditioner and separate the hair into straight line sections, using clips to keep hair secure in each section.

•

When checking, let down one section at a time, positioning the teeth of the lice comb at the top of the hair shaft at a 16-degree angle out.

•

Gently pull the comb down the length of the hair from the root to end. Wipe the nit comb on a tissue and look for lice, baby lice and eggs.

How to recognise lice, baby lice and eggs Eggs - the brown and tan flecks, measuring around 2mm in length, are similar to the shape of a sesame seed. They are laid close to the scalp but are glued to the hair shaft so move down with the growth of the hair. So they can be found at any length of the hair.

Sterilise combs and put clips and bands in a plastic bag after washing. Do not use for at least three days.

If using the combing method, you must comb every 3 to 4 days until the entire infestation has been removed. This can take up to a month, depending on the severity of the outbreak.

It is easy to miss a louse or egg, and it is recommended you use a CE certified brand of head lice serum. Hypoallergenic and pesticide free treatments are now available which are safer and more effective than natural remedies.

Eileen Hutchinson is the founder of NitNOT head lice serum treatment. For more information, visit www.nitnot.com Be aware of your reaction to your child’s head lice. If you are emotional or obviously disgusted, their lice experience will affect how likely they are to talk about other embarrassing issues in the future. If you find a louse or egg, take some time to compose yourself before explaining to your child a simple treatment is needed. If you are not worried or stressed, your child is less likely to be concerned.

Remember lice are unpleasant, but harmless. If you do find it difficult to treat your child, you can always contact a clinic for advice or further treatment.

Method 1.

2.

3.

4.

Put two thirds of the cooking oil in a baking tin and add finely diced vegetables Roast the vegetables at 180̊ or gas mark 4 for 25 minutes Check the vegetables halfway through and turn to ensure they don’t burn Put the grated garlic into a saucepan with the remaining oil, add the tomato puree, chopped tomatoes, herbs and half of the stock, stir well and bring to the boil

5.

6.

Top tip

The pasta, tomato sauce and roasted vegetables can be served separately if required

7.

8.

Add the remaining stock slowly then add the sweetcorn and simmer Cook the pasta in rapidly boiling water for approximately 10 minutes and drain well Mix pasta, tomato sauce and roasted vegetables and serve Sprinkle with chopped parsley and some grated cheese (optional)

Families Hampshire North 15

What’s on Your essential guide to family events this September & October.

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 events@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk by 4 October.

Free family fun with Heritage Open Days This year, Heritage Open Days is celebrating its 25th anniversary and will be the biggest and most diverse to date.

Running from 13 - 22 September, this annual celebration of England’s history and culture, allows visitors FREE access to historical landmarks that are either not usually open to the public, or would normally charge an entrance fee.

Nationwide there will be hundreds of FREE interactive activities for children, including dressing up, crafting, woodland walks and railway rides. With a theme of ‘People Power,’ this year’s festival will offer visitors more opportunities than ever to discover the secret history of their towns, villages and countryside.

Co-ordinated nationally by the National Trust with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery, the celebration brings together thousands of organisations and properties across England.

For local events visit, www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Here is our pick of local Heritage Open Days

Throughout September Rhymetime Basingstoke Discovery Centre Festival Place, Basingstoke, RG21 7LS Thirty minutes of songs, rhymes, rhythm and actions to get your little one moving and singing!

11.30am. Various dates. These events also run at all libraries across North Hampshire. Visit www.hants.gov.uk/libraries for more information.

Throughout September Storytime Basingstoke Discovery Centre Festival Place, Basingstoke, RG21 7LS Thirty minutes of storytelling every Friday morning at 10.30am.

These events also run at all libraries across North Hampshire.

Visit www.hants.gov.uk/libraries for more information.

Until 8 September We’ll Meet Again Milestones Museum Basingstoke Experience life on the home front in WWII from the Blitz through to VE day at Milestones. Daily from 10.30am – 3.30pm.

Until 29 September Geocaching The Vyne Basingstoke RG24 9HL Until 29 September, intrepid explorers can enjoy geocaching in Morgaston Woods while in the gardens, young adventurers can find 10 signs featuring riddles about toys on the Victorian children’s play trail. In the house, all ages can hunt for 18th-century motifs on the Tapestry house trail or dress up like a Victorian in the Housekeeper’s Room. From 30 September-29 November, the Tormore house trail explores the tale of Second World War evacuees who made The Vyne their home. Normal admission.

16 Families Hampshire North

7 September Open Morning Highfield & Brookham Schools Liphook, GU30 7LQ Highfield and Brookham offer an exceptional all-round education for girls and boys aged 3-13. Find out more at their open morning from 10am – 12noon.

14 September – 13 October Curious Combustions Winchester Science Centre Winchester SO21 1HZ Discover Curious Combustions at Winchester Science Centre every weekend from 14 September – 13 October. Ignite inquisitive minds with an explosive live show exploring the fascinating science behind combustion, and fun hands-on activities in the Invention Studio. Learn why and how combustion occurs, as we discover what makes up an explosion, with plenty of exciting demonstrations along the way!

Admission: £13.20 per person (with donation), including live science show and Invention Studio activities. Planetarium tickets sold separately.

14 September Rushmoor Food Festival West End Centre Aldershot, GU11 3JD A celebration of food, music, craft and wellbeing in a bigger and better Rushmoor Food Festival, 11.30am -3.30pm, at Municipal Gardens.

14 – 15 September In the Night Garden Live Anvil Arts Basingstoke, RG21 7QR Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends are back in their brand new live show Igglepiggle’s Busy Day! Various times. £19.50; Under 16s £17.50. call the box office on 01256 844244 to book.

14 September Alton Quaker Meeting House Alton, GU34 2 DA Free entry. 10am - 4pm.

14 September The Vyne Basingstoke RG24 9HL Free entry. 10am - 5pm.

17, 19 & 22 September Chawton House Costume Tour Chawton House Alton, GU34 1SJ Unlock the secrets of Chawton House with a costumed tour.

Specific times. Booking required.

19 September Gilbert Whites House Selborne, GU34 3JH Free entry. 10.30am - 5pm.

14 September – 12 October Fairground at Night Hollycombe Steam in the Country, Liphook, GU30 7LP Step back in time to experience the magical nature of Hollycombe’s Edwardian fairground as the sights, sounds and smells all come alive as darkness falls. 7-10pm.

15 September Dog Show Gilbert Whites House Selborne, GU34 3JH Join their annual fun dog show.

With novelty classes, fun classes, obstacle courses and fastest recall. Free entry. 10.30am.

20 September Roller Disco The Harlington Fleet, GU51 4BY Roller disco fun from Disco Skate Events for all ages. 6pm–9pm. £5 per person.

20 & 27 September Owls by Moonlight Hawk Conservancy Andover SP11 8DY Step into the magical world

19 September Making the Museum: Celebrating Jane Austen’s House at 70!

Jane Austen’s House Alton, GU34 1SD Pre booking required. Talk 2.30pm.

21 September Heritage Open Day Theatre Royal Winchester Winchester, SO23 8SB A fun day of behind-the-scenes tours, demonstrations, fun craft activities and more! 11am–4pm.

Free 21 & 22 September The Watercress Line Alresford, SO24 9JG Explore behind the scenes at the engineering hub at Ropley. Select times. Tours are free. Normal fees for train travel. of owls. Watch these mystical birds twist and turn through the night sky. Weekend evenings throughout the autumn. 7pm.

22 September Antique, Vintage, Craft & Gift Fair Chawton House Chawton, GU34 1SJ There will be up to 30 stalls inside and outside offering a plethora of interesting and unusual items for purchase.

27 September Farm Day Highfield & Brookham Schools Liphook, GU30 7LQ A hands-on educational and recreational farm experience morning for children aged 2+. Book your free place at highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/farmvisit. Free. 10am – 12noon.

Throughout October Rhymetime Basingstoke Discovery Centre Basingstoke, RG21 7LS Thirty minutes of songs, rhymes, rhythm and actions to get your little one moving and singing! familiesonline.co.uk

11.30am. Various days. These events also run at all libraries across North Hampshire. Visit www.hants.gov.uk/libraries Throughout October Storytime Basingstoke Discovery Centre Festival Place, Basingstoke, RG21 7LS Thirty minutes of storytelling every Friday morning at 10.30am.

These events also run at all libraries across North Hampshire.

Visit www.hants.gov.uk/libraries for more information.

4,12 & 19 October Owls by Moonlight Hawk Conservancy Andover SP11 8DY Step into the magical world of owls. 7pm.

4 – 6 October The Gruffalo Live The Haymarket Basingstoke RG21 7NW Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

10.30am & 1pm. £15.50. call the box office on 01256 844244 to book.

5 October Meet Pinkfong and Baby Shark The Entertainer, Festival Place Basingstoke, RG21 7BA The Entertainer, we have loads of free events and kids’ activities for children of all ages. Meet Pinkfong and Baby Shark and have fun.

5 October – 4 November Happy Halloween Paultons Park Ower, SO51 6AL Happy Halloween at Paultons Park is the friendliest, most frightful fun fest and new for 2019 and for the very first time, Peppa Pig World will be transformed for this year’s fang-tastic festivities! Meet Peppa and George in their spooky outfits and enjoy lots of fun Peppa themed Halloween decorations.

The Big Boo Barn will have some ghoulishly delightful farmyard fun.

6 October Learning to Grow Wyevale Garden Centres Locations across Hampshire An educational planting activity, get your Little Diggers planting and learning! Each month they will be picking a fruit or vegetable to talk about. Ages 3+. 10.30am & 11.15am. Free.

9 October Dig! The Lights Andover, SP10 1AH A play for babies and young toddlers! Come and join us for music, singing and story – and stay to play amongst the plants in the garden we’ve created. Running Time: 30 mins + 15 mins stay.

10am, 11.30am & 1.30pm.

18 October Roller Disco The Harlington Fleet, GU51 4BY Roller disco fun from Disco Skate Events for all ages. 6–9pm. £5.

19 October – 10 November Incredible Inventions Winchester Science Centre Winchester SO21 1HZ Explore the greatest inventions through the ages and learn how they have transformed the world we live in today. Unleash your imagination as you discover super smart machines and glorious gadgets in an epic live science show. Encourage your little ones to think big with fun hands-on activities and challenges in the Invention Studio. £13.20 per person (with donation), including live science show and Invention Studio activities.

29 October Bows & Bunny Ears The Haymarket Basingstoke RG21 7NW A Tribute to Ariana Grande & JoJo Siwa in one fantastic show. 7pm. £17, Family ticket £56.

30 October Nick Sharratts Right Royal Drawalong West End Centre Aldershot, GU11 3JD A family-friendly, fun filled drawalong for all ages. £10. 2pm.

30 October Family Fun: Wonderful William Walker Winchester Cathedral Winchester, SO23 9LS Pick up a free trail from the Entrance Desk and follow it around the Cathedral. End the trail at the craft table for crafts, colouring and fun worksheets.

What’s on Suitable for children aged 4 to 11 years. Normal admission applies.

31 October – 2 November The Gruffalo, The Witch and The Warthog with Julia Donaldson Theatre Royal Winchester Winchester, SO23 8SB The UK’s best-selling author Julia Donaldson presents a show featuring Room on the Broom, The Magic Paintbrush, The Ugly Five, Superworm, The Gruffalo and The Cook and the King. The cast of five, including Julia’s guitar-playing husband Malcolm, bring Julia’s stories to life with songs, puppetry and a touch of magic. £18.

HOLIDAY CLUBS Jubilee Jets Holiday Club School Road, Padworth, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4JA www.jubileejets.co.uk Open Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm during school holidays. Children in reception to 11 years old can enjoy a range of fantastic activities led by a caring and dedicated team.

Jubilee Cadets Woodland Holiday Club Rag Hill, Padworth, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 www.jubileecadets.co.uk Open Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm during school holidays giving children 5–11 years the freedom to play in the natural world.

CURIOUS COMBUSTIONS Weekends: 14 Sept - 13 Oct

The Vyne We've got family fun wrapped up this autumn, with woodland walks, birdwatching and Pooh Sticks.

Hallowe'en garden trails, with prizes: 26 Oct-3 Nov, 10am-5pm, £2 donation plus normal admission. #nationaltrust

TO BOOK TICKETS - winchestersciencecentre.org | 01962 863 791

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Call 01256 883858 for details nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne

© National Trust 2019. The National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846. Photography © National Trust Images\John Millar.

Families Hampshire North 17

What’s on

Half Term Highlights & Halloween

(with donation), including live science show and Invention Studio activities. Planetarium tickets sold separately.

19 October Fairground at Night – Halloween Hollycombe Steam in the Country, Liphook, GU30 7LP Enjoy Hollycombe’s Fairground at Night with a spooky theme, and experience the magical nature of the Victorian and Edwardian fairground as the sights, sounds and smells all come alive as darkness falls. Hollycombe’s railway will also be running with trips to the dis-used Quarry .

Come dressed to scare! 7-10pm.

25 October - 4 November Incredible Inventions Winchester Science Centre Winchester SO21 1HZ Explore the greatest inventions through the ages and learn how they have transformed the world we live in today. £13.20 per person

26 – 27 October Wizard Weekend The Watercress Line Alresford, SO24 9JG Join The Watercress Line for a spooky day of magic and mischief!

11am – 4pm.

26 October – 1 November Hallo’welly’ween Wellington Country Park Berkshire, RG7 1SP Head to Wellington Country Park this October Half Term for some halloween fun. Enjoy a week of activities including pumpkin carving, spooky train rides and much more.

26 October – 3 November October half-term trail: Frankenstein Hinton Ampner Alresford SO24 0LA Discover the untold side of the story of Frankenstein, while exploring Hinton’s autumnal grounds. The outdoor family trail will engage children’s detective

skills as they discover how Frankenstein’s Monster might have survived outdoors at Hinton.

26 October – 3 November Halloween Spotter Trail The Vyne Basingstoke RG24 9HL In the gardens, collect your £2 activity sheet from the Halloween tent and look out for ten photos of animals mistakenly linked with witchcraft. Ages 0 – 7years. 10am – 5pm.

26 October – 3 November Halloween Trail The Vyne Basingstoke RG24 9HL On this mystical adventure through The Vyne’s gardens, decipher 16th-century runes to reveal a secret word. Collect your £2 activity sheet from the Halloween tent and look out for ten signs hidden around the gardens. Ages 8+. 10am – 5pm.

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF

FAIRGROUND AT NIGHT

14th, 21st & 28th Sept 5th, 12th & 19th Oct

Rides from 7pm-10pm • Gates & Cafe open at 6pm

LIPHOOK HAMPSHIRE

T: 01428 724900 E: info@hollycombe.co.uk

www.hollycombe.co.uk

26 October – 3 November Boo at the Zoo Marwell Zoo Winchester, SO21 1JH www.marwell.org.uk Bring your little monsters to Marwell Zoo this October half term for lots of spooky fun!

Take part in their monster trail and track down 12 hidden monsters around the zoo. Join in with their craft activities, decorate a wand and make your very own monster. Their resident wizard Lowedolf is back by popular demand teaching broomstick flying lessons. Plus, catch one of their spooky story telling sessions and join Esme the witch to help conjure up a spell in the giant magical cauldron!

Plus, experience a living rainforest at Marwell’s Tropical House: Energy for Life! Share the habitat and enjoy uninterrupted, close-up views of colourful and charismatic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects.

Visitors can enjoy a range of daily animal talks, plus, with five adventure playgrounds, a rail train and free road train, there’s plenty to occupy your little ones whilst you relax and soak up the surroundings.

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29 & 31 October Owl-O-Ween Hawk Conservancy Andover SP11 8DY Prepare for a wickedly spooktacular family evening for Halloween, with spooky crafts, ghostly story-telling and a special owl flying display. 6-8pm.

Enjoy a visit to Riverside Bowl, Andover this October Half Term Riverside Bowl is a community focused entertainment venue offering ten-pin bowling, glo-golf, snooker, pool and arcades along with an American style diner. You can enjoy a bite to eat at their King Pin Bar & Diner where you can build your own burger or hotdog to exactly how you like it. Visit: www.riverside-bowl.co.uk for more information.

28 October Spooky Science The Harlington Fleet, GU51 4BY Ian B Dunne, the stand-up scientist presents Spooky Science.

What could be better than a science show filled with seasonal spookiness. Pumpkins and potions, sparks and spectres, and demonstrations of the dark.

11.45am & 2.30pm. £9 or £33 family. Call 01252 811009 to book.

29 October Creepy Craft Club Alice Holt Forest Farnham, GU10 4LS This extra special edition of Groundwork’s popular forest craft club revolves around Halloween.

All crafts will have a scary theme to help you decorate your house and perhaps add a unique touch to your Halloween costume! 10am – 3pm. Ages 5-12. £20. Booking essential call 07736 132692.

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

29 & 31 October Happy Halloween Special later Opening Hours Paultons Park Ower, SO51 6AL Happy Halloween at Paultons Park is the friendliest, most frightful fun fest plus the creepy themed fun continues with extra special late night opening until 7.30pm on Tue 29th and Thurs 31st October.

29, 30 & 31 October Wild Learning Holiday Club Alice Holt Forest Farnham, GU10 4LS Sneak through the woods from the Timberline Meadow, over the stream to the secret valley where our camp is hidden. Try fire lighting and den making or work out how to cross the stream with a rope bridge, or dam the stream 30 October Awesome Autumn Workshop The Lights Andover, SP10 1AH An exciting interactive autumn themed session full of action songs, dancing and craft. Ages 1-3 years. £5. Visit the website for times.

30 October Half Term Fun & Games The Harlington Fleet, GU51 4BY Daytime fun and games on roller skates. 2-6pm. Drop in. £5.

What’s on

Halloween custard Your little ones will absolutely love this custard and chocolate spooky treat; perfect for a Halloween night in.

Spooky treat idea

What you will need Chocolate brownies (make your own or buy) Ready-made custard Mini marshmallows Chocolate buttons

How to make it: • • • • •

Begin by crumbling up the brownies into mini bite sized pieces.

Pour the custard into a large bowl and drop two spoonfulls into the base of the serving bowl you are using.

Next, place a few of the brownie pieces into the glass on top of the base layer of custard, ensuring they go right against the edge for that layered look.

Spoon more custard into the bowl until it reaches the top.

Pop two mini marshmallows on each and place a chocolate drop in the middle of each marshmallow to make eyes.

Why not try?

Alternatively, you could make this dessert with banana custard or Angel Delight instead and use writing icing for the googly eyes.

31 October Children’s Halloween Party Hook Village Hall Hook, RG27 9HH Lots of spooky fun and entertainment. Fancy dress and party food. £1 per child. 2.304.30pm.

5 October -4 November Happy Halloween Paultons Park Romsey SO51 6AL www.paultonspark.co.uk Happy Halloween at Paultons Park is the friendliest, most frightful fun fest in the UK, and is back for another year with even more spooky fun to enjoy.

New for 2019, Peppa Pig World will be transformed for this year’s fangtastic festivities! Meet Peppa and George in their spooky outfits and enjoy lots of fun Peppa themed Halloween decorations.

The Legend of Paultons Manor returns once again and follows the exploits of the intrepid Spirit Squad as they track down the Creepy Gatekeeper so Pickles can throw the best Halloween party ever.

Don’t forget to head over to The Big Boo Barn for some ghoulishly delightful farmyard fun this Halloween.

As the sun begins to set, the creepy themed fun continues with extra special late night opening until 7.30pm on Tues 29 and Thurs 31 October.

familiesonline.co.uk

Disability Forum Rural Day 21st Sept Green Week 25th – 29th Sept The Malls Food & Drink Festival 10th Oct World Sight Day 12th Oct Guide Dogs for the Blind in Action 19th Oct BATS sing “9-5 The Musical” 31st Oct Halloween meet Frankenstein & His Beautiful Bride 13th Sept 14th Sept

www.themalls.co.uk facebook.com/TheMallsShoppingCentre

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