Families Hampshire West May/June 22 PRINT issue

EEHome FTRake Me

Hampshire West

IN THIS ISSUE

Education What’s On Early years Summer camps

Issue 88 May/June 2022 May/June 2022

Familiesonline.co.uk Families Hampshire West 1

CONTENTS

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May/June 2022

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Contact us

Welcome

Editor: Rebecca Carr

There is so much to look forward to in May and June, including two bank holidays, one of them extra-long! Yippee!

T: 07789 882467 E: editor@familieshampshirewest.co.uk

Warm sunny days are on the horizon so start planning some local family adventures as well as exploring the outdoors closer to home with our Adventures at Home feature.

Advertising sales: Claire Clarricoates

The long summer break is also just around the corner so take a look at our summer camp feature for some ideas on how to manage school holiday childcare, as well as giving your child some great experiences.

T: 07812 218331 E: claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk

Next issue: July/August Booking deadline: 7 June To receive free copies of Families Hampshire West for your school, club, class or venue call or email us.

Readership of over 40,000 local parents, carers and teachers every issue. Published six times a year. For families from birth to twelve.

© Families Hampshire West 2022. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

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Rebeccca Editor, Families Hampshire West

IN THIS ISSUE: 4 Summer Camps 5 Clubs & Classes 6 Early Years 7 Education 9 Health 10 What’s On 14 Adventures at Home 15 Gardening

IN THIS ISS

Education Activities Health Family fo od

If you have a little one who starts school in September or a child transitioning to secondary school, now is also the time to start thinking about preparation. Find tips and advice in our Education section.

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bit.ly/forestholidayclubs • • • • •

Age 4+ 8.30am - 4pm Ofsted Registered Social Distancing Childcare Vouchers & Sibling Discount

Woodland Holiday Clubs Join us for our forest school themed holiday club at Itchen Valley Country Park

May/June 2022

Spend time outside building dens, campfire cooking, playing games, & exploring the natural world!

www.youthoptions.co.uk Families Hampshire West 3

SUMMER CAMPS

The lowdown on school holiday camps and workshops

By Andrew Campbell

Summer holiday camps, schools and workshops are not only an ideal way to fill in childcare gaps during the long summer break but offer the opportunity for your child to discover a new hobby or take their existing passion to a new level.

Multi-activity day camps Offering a varied daily programme of sports and creative activities, with each session lasting between 1 and 1.5 hours, multi-activity camps are ideal for children who have a range of interests or have not yet found their ‘thing.’ Some camps offer an astounding range of sports, arts and crafts, outdoor exploration, games and challenges. Generally, camps can be booked for single days, half days and full weeks, including extended hours and multi-week discounts.

Sport/single activity camps or workshops These intensely focused summer schools offer specialisation.

Think a specific sport such as football, gymnastics and cricket, one creative activity such as painting, photography and cooking, a single performing art like drama, musical theatre or dance or an area of STEM such as computer coding, robotics and game design.

Generally operating for two to five hours per day and running for just one day or as a progressive course from a few days to two weeks, these camps or workshops often cater for all ages of children and culminate in staging a performance, playing a competitive game or demonstrating a completed project.

For children who have an established interest, single activity camps or workshops offer a valuable opportunity to receive elite coaching and tuition, often from highly qualified or experienced instructors which can result in a significant boost to their existing skill level, confidence and enthusiasm in their chosen endeavour.

For a child curious about an activity, single activity camps or workshops are a great opportunity for an immersive experience which will test their interest and aptitude and for gaining an appreciation of what a regular commitment to weekly term time classes, often run by the same organisation, could offer.

For children who may struggle to find school friends who share their ‘passion,’ activity camps or workshops are a great way to meet ‘like-minded’ peers in their local area.

And for you? A patchwork of activity camps and/or workshops can be expensive but there is a distinct advantage in that they offer some mainstays of childcare across the summer that simultaneously allow your child to be doing something enjoyable, fulfilling, exciting or unique.

What to take to a camp/ workshop

Residential camps – the benefits

A refillable water bottle – there should be drinking water available but remind your child to stay hydrated during the day.

A residential summer camp may feel daunting for both parents and children but there are significant benefits in having time away from home.

For outside activities, make sure your child has sun cream already applied. Ask them to re-apply it every four hours. Ensure they have a sun hat.

Choose well-worn, weather-appropriate practical clothing and comfortable footwear. Layers are good if the weather is unpredictable. Avoid flip-flops which can cause health and safety issues.

Remember swimming costume and towel or apron/old shirt for creative activities.

Packed lunch, plus additional snacks for break times/extended hours.

Rucksack (to carry everything).

Leave mobile phones at home – they are often prohibited by camp organisers anyway.

4 Families Hampshire West

Acquire new life skills. Whatever the type of camp, your child will learn new life skills based on their experiences. They may discover a sport or hobby they have not considered before.

Gain more independence. From choosing what to wear, to ensuring they eat well and keep their area tidy, your child will gain a sense of independence and responsibility that can only come from being away from you.

Experience a sense of belonging and make new friends.

Having fun with peers can foster a sense of belonging. Kids bond with their teammates on tasks and feel included in the activities taking place, not to mention making new friends.

Character development. With more responsibility and freedom comes newly gained confidence which could see your child becoming better organised, making better choices and achieving more in the future.

May/June 2022

CLUBS & CLASSES

An hour of daily exercise for your child

Perform’s Peter Pan summer courses

By Andrew Campbell

Inspire your child’s imagination this summer with a unique drama, dance and singing holiday course. In July or August, children ages 4 to 10 years can fly away to Neverland with Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and friends on an unforgettable confidence-building adventure.

In order to develop healthily and maintain a healthy weight, children require a minimum of sixty minutes a day of exercise. But research shows that the number of children actually getting this amount of exercise each day drops by forty percent as they move through primary school.

In 2020, before the pandemic, just under a quarter of boys and fewer girls met the national recommended level of daily activity. Additionally, one in five children started primary school overweight or obese, with this ratio rising to more than a third by the time they moved on to secondary school.

A survey from Public Health England (PHE) and Disney which looked at the effects of physical activity on children’s emotional wellbeing, found: •

being active made the majority of children ages 5 to 11 feel happier, more confident and more sociable, according to their parents;

•

nearly all children said they liked being active;

•

the main motivations for kids to be more active were having friends to join in with the activity and having more sports or activities they liked to choose from;

•

children’s overall happiness declines with age; sixty four percent children ages 5 to 6 said they always feel happy, compared to just forty eight percent of 11 year olds.

The survey identified the main barriers to physical activity, revealing that the worry of ‘not being very good’ was one of the most common. This worry increases with age.

Parents are being urged to try new sports and physical activities locally, whether at their local park, leisure centre or via a popular sport or activity group in an effort to help children get more of the sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity they need each day for healthy development and to maintain a healthy weight.

Why not try some clubs and classes in your local area?

As part of its campaign to assist children to engage in enough physical activity, a national 10 Minute Shake Ups programme run by PHE offers fun, ten minute activities for kids, featuring their favourite Disney characters and shows as inspiration.

With a sprinkle of Perform fairy dust, a team of skilled actors, musicians and dancers will ensure your child enjoys every minute as they work towards a show-stopping performance to delight family and friends.

‘Freyja got so much out of those three days; it’s given her a lot of confidence in her ability to join in, make new friends and perform songs and dances. We were so proud of her.’ Emma Robinson (parent) Courses take place from 25 to 29 July in Winchester. For more info and booking, visit www.perform.org.uk/peterpan Try some free weekly fun this summer term Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes for children ages 4 to 7 and 7 to 12 run throughout the summer term and are specially designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and co-ordination. Visit www.perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE trial class in one of the following venues.

Chandler’s Ford: Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, SO53 2GJ Lymington: St Thomas Church Hall, SO41 9ND Romsey: United Abbey Reform Church, SO51 8EL Sarisbury Green: Sarisbury Green Community Centre, SO31 7AA Southampton: Highfield Church Centre, SO17 1RL Winchester: Holy Trinity Parish Church, SO23 8DG

Outdoor Adventurers Holiday Club Come and join The Outdoor Learning Company for our fun Holiday Clubs

Activities Include Pond Dipping • Cooking on a Fire Environmental Art • Den Building Woodland Games • Tool Work

Hinton, New Forest

Bug Hunting and much, much more...

For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/10-minute-shakeup

Would you like to include your club or class in our next issue? Email us now for more details and our special offers editor@familieshampshirewest.co.uk May/June 2022

www.theoutdoorlearningcompany.co.uk admin@theoutdoorlearningcompany.co.uk • 07523 918580

Families Hampshire West 5

EARLY YEARS

The importance of routines for young children

By Claire Burgess

Routine is important for all of us. It provides safe, comfortable boundaries and keeps our lives on track. But it also means different things to different people and needs to fit each individual family, adjusting as children grow. Some families benefit from more structure, while others work well with more flexible routines. There is no right or wrong in a routine, other than when it doesn’t work for your children or for you!

Why do babies and children need routine?

As humans, every day of our lives is made up of various mini routines. These are the little routines which we have perfected over time and repeat daily, all of which help us to manage our day, many times without even really thinking about it.

Routine is also another word for security. By having a routine it helps our children (and us) to feel secure and we are at our best when we feel safe and secure. This is when we are able to concentrate, co-operate, negotiate, listen and ultimately learn.

Being able to tell the time gives adults the ability to develop routines but babies and young children don’t have this luxury. So they are relying on us to help them understand how their day is going to be structured.

It’s worth being aware that if this timing changes day to day, your child will be constantly unsure of what is happening next.

In turn, this may lead to them displaying challenging behaviours, their eating habits fluctuating and their sleep being disturbed.

How do I keep my child on track?

It is all about watching for the signals. These can be subtle and can sometimes be easily missed; observation of your child is key.

Look for those little indicators such as wandering off around the house and not being able to focus on things, becoming clingy when they were happily playing, staring into space, getting cross, frustrated or fidgeting, upset or boisterous.

These behaviours can all be indicators that your child is feeling out of kilter and needs you to help them find the way back into their routine.

Once you have recognised this, you can put a plan into action.

Top tips Make the routine fit your family. Every family is unique and has their own way of structuring their day; what works for your friend might not work for you.

Don’t make it too rigid. But do have two key times of the day: the time your children get up in the morning and the time they go to bed. If you aim for and stick to these two points of the day, it will help to regulate your child’s sleep hormones at night and ‘get up and go’ hormones in the morning.

Between getting up time and bed time you should schedule regular mealtimes (and snacks dependent on the activity of the day) and possibly naps.

These focal points provide a constant structure which will give both you and your children the security and safety to approach each day with confidence.

Go for consistency. For something to become a habit it needs to be consistent. When implementing a new routine or an adjustment, it can take at least two weeks to stick, so persevere!

Claire Burgess is a director and family consultant at Bespoke Family (www.bespokefamily.co.uk), which offers tailored support from newborns to teens.

Places filling fast for September at Woolston Preschools WOOLSTON PRESCHOOLS

Where adventures begin…

A great way to explore, socialise, develop and grow!

Give your preschooler the best start in prepara3on for ‘Big School’. Places filling fast for September - enrol your child today!

Fully funded children welcome.

Flexible sessions for 2-5 year olds.

A choice of two settings www.woolstonpreschool.co.uk 6 Families Hampshire West

Woolston Preschools are encouraging parents to enrol their child early in order to secure a place for the autumn term.

‘Ofsted - Outstanding’ Woolston Adventures is currently oversubscribed, so the register for September is now open.

All children are welcome from the age of 2 until they leave to begin Year R. Flexible sessions mean parents can choose a couple of sessions to help their child learn to socialise or enjoy full, term-time childcare. Children are encouraged to develop their independence, imagination and learning through sensory experiences, offsite adventures and, of course, messy play.

Woolston Adventure Preschool is set in the grounds of Woolston Community Centre on Church Road, within easy reach of Woolston Centre, the shore and the forest. Woolston Preschool is located at Woolston Infants School and benefits from the school’s onsite facilities, creating the perfect stepping stone for ‘big school’.

Find out more at www.woolstonpreschool.co.uk

May/June 2022

EDUCATION

Lessons to learn before you’re 10

By Gail Hugman We live in a world where it’s easy to become overwhelmed. So teaching young children to make good use of their working memory, exercise self-control and get organised will really help them develop the skills they need to succeed in life.

These key skills underpin everything we do in life and it takes just a few minutes a day to boost them so your child learns more effectively and confidently. What’s more, growing these skills can be fun!

Developed by experts who understand how children’s brains develop and form, try these starter activities to set your child off on the right path.

Working memory Play Kim’s Game.

To set up, gather ten objects together on a tray. Give your child one to two timed minutes to look at the objects, then cover them up. Depending on age and ability, ask them to tell, draw or write which ones they remember. As they progress, add more objects or give them less time to remember them.

There are ways help brains recall objects; the trick is to make links and spot patterns.

Give them these tips: To start with, count how many objects you’ll have to remember.

Look to see if any can be linked together, by colour or by material, such as all plastic or all wood, by shape or by use; eg knife and fork go together, tools together, toys together.

Older children ages 7+ might be able to order the objects in a sequence or a story.

The more children play the game, the better they will get at recalling the objects. Why not see for yourself and play along too! Keep a tally so they can track their improvement and praise them for being clever. Explain that this is more than just a fun challenge, it’s all about teaching their brain to have a really good memory.

You can say: ‘When your teacher shows you something in school, your brain will remember it better if you sort the information first. You’ll be able to remember names, countries, lists, linked facts and even do magic tricks by remembering a bunch of playing cards in order - how cool is that?’

Self-control Ask your child to tell you really quietly what colour socks they are wearing. Then ask them to tell you again as LOUDLY as possible (it may not be such fun for you, but they will love it!)

Each time they whisper or shout, give feedback to their brain by telling them ‘that’s great whispering, can it be quieter?’ or ‘excellent LOUD voice, is that the loudest you’ve got?’

Do this exercise a few times and congratulate your child on their self-control. Tell them that taking charge from the inside is a very grown up thing to do.

Decide one thing you’d like your child to get under control. For example, it may be to resist the impulse to call out in class. Or leave their desk when they should be sitting quietly. Make it a positive.

Explain to your child that you’d like them to focus on this one thing every day for a week. Remind them each day, ask how they got on and praise their progress. In this way, you’ll support their effort to control their impulses.

Gail Hugman is the bestselling author of 100 Things to Learn Before You’re 10. A children’s life coach, she owns and runs Human at Core (www.humanatcore.com), which helps parents motivate and engage their children in developing a bright future and provides science-based online personal development courses for children and parents.

Time management

Organisation

Organising time is a great skill, but children first need to grasp how long things actually take. Our ‘just a minute’ might take five or ten minutes and young brains may understandably be fooled into thinking only a minute has passed.

Have fun using a timer to count how many of the following things they can do in one minute: hops, writing their name neatly, reading words out loud, starting a colouring-in page.

Show them a timetable of their day with blocks of playtime in which they can plan their own fun.

Good habits created early on pay dividends in later life!

Help your child put together a homework kit so all the stationery they need is at hand before they start working.

Teach your child to get ready the night before, setting out tomorrow’s clothes and any extra kit they will need.

Time homework. If it’s supposed to be thirty minutes, don’t spend longer on it. If your child is not finishing on time, either the teacher needs to know or they need to focus more effectively.

May/June 2022

Families Hampshire West 7

EDUCATION

A parent’s guide to secondary school transition

By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble

The move from primary to secondary school is a major change for children. Most see this as an exciting next stage in their school journey but, for some, the change can make them feel anxious and uncertain. And all this at an age when children are already going through many physical and emotional changes ahead of adolescence.

Bringing up children is a slow, staggered process of detachment, from the moment they learn to crawl to the moment they finally leave home. When a child starts secondary school, with a mobile phone and travel card, it’s easy to see impending adulthood in the paraphernalia of independence as the detachment process begins.

Our role is to give our children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is and wings to fly away. The roots begin to form during early years education; secondary school is the place where children start to grow their wings.

Whilst most children will have a positive secondary school start and will embrace the new experiences on offer, research has found that the shift to secondary school can be stressful for about one in four children and that nearly three quarters of parents are anxious themselves.

Our input at this stage is crucial and our role as parents is to be our child’s sounding board, establishing an open relationship in which they feel valued, respected and connected. By adopting this non-judgemental response, our children are more likely to

keep talking to us as they get older.

Finally, while we may no longer be at the school gates, our involvement continues to be crucial to both our children’s emotional wellbeing and academic success. There are still many opportunities to stay involved: by joining the PTA, becoming part of a class WhatsApp group and getting to know the school and what support it offers.

Talk to your children about their day but possibly not the moment they walk through the door - a snack and a drink often help to ease the way into a pleasant chat.

The key to a healthy ongoing relationship is to keep the communication going. Remember that you are your child’s emotional coach.

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

Before your child starts Exploring Recognise and talk about their primary school highlights and achievements - and things they may miss.

Find out what they are looking forward to at their new school, addressing worries and concerns.

Connecting Look at the new school website with your child and take part in any induction events.

Help your child think about how to approach new people and start conversations.

Find other children on the new school route to travel with.

Empower your child Encourage your child to take more responsibility at home to build their confidence and independence.

Support steps towards independence: allow them to walk home alone in their final term (if practical), meet a friend locally or run an errand for you.

Notice when your child does something well and praise them.

Organisation is key to success Help your child plan out their journey and do a few trial runs together.

Make sure you have all the uniform and equipment ready in time.

Plan a suitable space and time for daily homework.

8 Families Hampshire West

May/June 2022

HEALTH

Keeping children’s teeth healthy

By Dr Attari

Dental decay has become one of the main reasons for hospital admission among children in recent years, with forty thousand children ages 1 to 14 admitted in 2019. Many of those needed dental extractions under general anaesthetic. This isn’t surprising when around a quarter of 5-year-olds have tooth decay.

But tooth decay is preventable with good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups from an early age. Children who are used to the dental setting are more at ease and find it easier to return and have their oral health monitored throughout their lives. Here are our top tips for healthy teeth: Babies Clean your baby’s mouth with a soft, clean cloth even before the baby teeth start to come through, moving to a soft finger brush or handheld brush once the teeth start to erupt.

Once your baby’s teeth are coming through, don’t give them a bottle of milk before bed. Formula and, later, cow’s milk can cause dental decay if pooled around the teeth at night.

Once all twenty baby teeth have erupted, teeth should be brushed, in a circular motion, on all the tooth surfaces, not forgetting the gumline.

When to brush Brush teeth twice per day, ideally after breakfast and before bed but avoid brushing young children’s teeth just before bedtime – they are less likely to co-operate when tired.

Toothpaste, floss and brushes Always use fluoride toothpaste. In older children, fluoride mouthwash should be used at a different time to brushing.

Interdental cleaning with floss is useful where the teeth are not well-spaced.

Use of electric toothbrushes should be avoided until children are around age 12. When used, the brush head should be placed at a forty-five-degree angle at the junction of gum and tooth. Hold the brush for three to five seconds on every tooth surface.

Avoid using battery-operated electric toothbrushes; use

Preventing Bad Breath

A combination of good oral hygiene, diet and routine dental visits from a young age can reduce the likelihood of children needing any dental treatment but can also help avoid bad breath.

rechargeable toothbrushes or stick to manual brushing.

Assisting children Help your child with brushing and flossing up to the age of 9.

By this age, they should have good enough manual dexterity to clean their teeth independently.

After night-time brushing, avoid children snacking or drinking anything apart from water.

Toothpaste should be spat out after brushing but don’t rinse mouth with water as this actually washes away the fluoride.

Finally, remember, a visit to the dentist isn’t just for when you’re in pain - routine check-ups can prevent the pain occurring in the first place!

Dr Attari works at Weymouth Street Paediatric Dental Care in London. For more information, visit www.wpddentistry.co.uk

Diet and oral hygiene A balanced diet is vital for a child’s oral health and it’s important to eat varied foods and minimise snacking.

Sugary foods result in an acid-attack on teeth. It’s not the quantity but the frequency of eating sugar that causes decay.

Remember that fruit juices and dried fruit are two of the main causes of dental decay – they are not healthier than refined sugars.

Get some ideas and recommendations on snacks for kids from the NHS Change4Life website and app at www.teethteam.org. uk

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Other tips include: Good brushing and interdental cleaning; Tongue scrapers which can help reduce bacteria on the tongue; Probiotics which restore the balance of bacteria in the gut, combined with good oral hygiene.

May/June 2022

Magazine

Families Hampshire West 9

CLUBS & CLASSES

What's On

Fun for all the family

To promote your local event, coffee morning, nearly new sale, parenting courses or community group in the next What’s On listing. Email editor@familieshampshirewest.co.uk Listings in this section are FREE for most non-commercial ventures. Please check details of the events before setting off in case anything has changed since going to print.

Don’t forget to sign up for our digital magazine for more interactive content at familiesmagazine.co.uk/go All listings correct at the time of going to print. Please check with the venue before visiting to ensure events are still going ahead and venues are open.

Until Sun 8 May Planet Protectors Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ winchestersciencecentre.org Celebrate 20 years of science at WSC with fun facts and explosive demos on how fashion can affect the climate.

Throughout May & June Superworm Trail Alice Holt Forest, Farnham, GU10 4LS forestryengland.uk/superworm Discover the small but mighty creatures in the much-loved story and learn about the everyday heroic feats of minibeasts in the forest.

The self-led trail features brightly illustrated panels and a trail pack full of fun activities, including your very own mask. Ages 3-9. £3.50.

Throughout May & June Bond in Motion - No Time To Die Exhibition Beaulieu National Motor Museum, SO42 7ZN beaulieu.co.uk Brand new exhibition: Bond in Motion – No Time To Die. Featuring nine iconic vehicles, gadgets and costumes from the latest 007 film.

Plus, be amongst the first to see the No Time To Die folding-wing glider. The exhibition will be on show until November 2022.

Throughout May & June BRICKOSAURS! Evolution Marwell Zoo Winchester, SO21 1JH marwell.org.uk/brickosaursevolution An event featuring an allnew collection of 55 dinosaur sculptures. The interactive expedition is on display alongside hundreds of resident endangered and exotic animals, is sure to excite families.

Throughout May & June Gruffalo Sculptures Alice Holt Forest, Farnham, GU10 4LS forestryengland.uk If you venture into the deep dark wood you may bump into the Gruffalo and other characters from Julia Donaldson’s fantastic story!

Each sculpture has been carved in a different position unique to Alice Holt Forest, and they bring this much-loved story to life in the forest.

Sat 7 to Sun 8 May National Mills Weekend Winchester City Mill Winchester SO23 0EJ nationaltrust.org.uk/winchestercity-mill Every May across the UK, more than 300 windmills and watermills open to the public to celebrate our milling heritage. Visit Winchester City Mill to see the millers in action, learn about the mill machinery and talk to the farmers who supply them with their grain.

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10 Families Hampshire West

Sat 14 May to Sun 3 July Lights, Camera, Science!

Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ winchestersciencecentre.org Explore how science, not CGI, can be used in films to create magical light effects in a free live show. Their Inspirers will use some explosive experiments to recreate famous moments from the movies. There will also be some ‘illuminating’ audience participation along the way. Runs on weekends and May half term.

Wed 18 May to Fri 20 May Zog and The Flying Doctors Mast Mayflower Studios Southampton, SO14 7DU mayflowerstudios.org.uk Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling sequel, Freckle Productions (Zog, Stick Man, Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales, Tabby McTat) bring the creative team behind Zog, Emma Kilbey and Joe Stilgoe, back together for this truly modern take on the classic fairy tale.

From 28 May Launch of new Winchester City Mill Children’s activity book Winchester City Mill Winchester SO23 0EJ nationaltrust.org.uk/winchestercity-mill The Winchester Activity Book is designed to be used at the Mill and at home. From wildlife spotting to baking shortbread, this booklet is packed with activities and is

designed to be read over and over again. Learn about how the Mill came to be here and don’t forget to watch out for the naughty flour thief!

Sat 28 May Fireman Sam Saves the Circus Theatre Royal Winchester Winchester, SO23 8SB theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/ whats-on Join Sam, Penny, Elvis, Station Officer Steele and Norman in an all singing, dancing, action-packed show. You can become a fire-fighter cadet and then watch the magic of the circus. 10.30am, 12.30pm, 3pm.

Sat 28 May to Sun 5 Jun 1940’s Week Milestones Museum, Basingstoke, RG22 6PG milestonesmuseum.org.uk Step back in time to the 1940s and take part in the fun activities for all ages. Enjoy re-enactments, make do and mend demonstrations and food tasting of the era. Enjoy music and dancing 4-5 June. 10am-5pm.

Sun 29 & Mon 30 May Twirlywoos Live!

Theatre Royal Winchester Winchester, SO23 8SB theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/ whats-on Join Great BigHoo, Toodloo, Chickedy, Chick and their friends as they discover the wonderful world around us! Expect mischief, music and plenty of surprises as they set sail in their big red boat. Ages 2+.

Win a Great British WIN! Map of Wonders Let the adventures begin!

Families has teamed up with ST&G to offer ten lucky readers their very own Great British Map of Wonders.

There are so many amazing adventure-filled things to do here in Britain, that it’s hard to take them all in without a ginormous map! For children ages 6+, this map includes 1000 of the most fun things to do and places to visit around Britain, with great games to play, boxes to tick, notes to fill in and a huge colouring map. Find and explore amazing animals, awesome activities, brilliant beaches, thrilling quests, super-fun festivals, funny place names and legendary places. For more information, visit www.marvellousmaps.com

To enter, visit familiesmag.co.uk/go Closing date: 20 June. T&Cs at https://bit.ly/MapofWonders

May/June 2022

WHAT’S ON Mon 30 May Family Old Town Walk: Pirates, Plunder & Plague Tudor House and Garden, SO14 2AD wegottickets.com/event/543267 Discover tales of plunder, plague and villainy by venturing into Southampton’s vaults and scaling the towns ancient walls. 11am & 2pm, £6.

Tue 31 May WW2 Super Science Family Fun Tudor House and Garden, SO14 2AD wegottickets.com/event/543313 A super-charged session of experiments and history based around the World War II! Create egg parachutes, design your own gas masks and more. 10.30am, 1pm, £8. Ages 7+.

Mon 30 May Kids’ Culture Club: Pokemon day SeaCity Museum Southampton, SO14 7FY wegottickets.com/f/12763 Spend the day exploring lots of different art techniques whilst making creations inspired by your favourite characters. Ages 6-12.

9am-5pm. £35 or £60 for two days.

Wed 1 June Star Wars Pencil Pots Southampton City Art Gallery, SO14 7LY wegottickets.com/event/543905 Make a brilliant pencil pot by upcycling a coffee pot into your favourite Star Wars character.

10:15am, 11:45am, 1:30pm, £7.

Tue 31 May Kids’ Culture Club: Space day SeaCity Museum Southampton, SO14 7FY wegottickets.com/f/12763 Head to a Galaxy far, far away and hunt your own bounty! With lots of fun activities to keep all budding bounty hunters amused. Ages 6-12.

9am-5pm. £35 or £60 for two days.

Tue 31 May Ministry of Science Mast Mayflower Studios Southampton, SO14 7DU mayflowerstudios.org.uk Join the presenters as they dive deep into the world of science and look at how science shapes the modern world we live in with a few loud bangs along the way!

11am & 1.30pm. Ages 6+.

Wed 1 June Wizard School Tudor House and Garden, SO14 2AD wegottickets.com/event/530508 Create your very own magic wand, witness magic and search for the magical characters in the Tudor House garden. Ages 6+. 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm, £6.

Thur 2 to Sun 5 June Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Hinton Ampner, Alresford SO24 0LA nationaltrust.org.uk/hintonampner Join Hinton Ampner to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee with lawn games and fun activities across the weekend. On Saturday 4 June, they will be joined by renowned jazz band ‘Jazz Magic’ from 12pm–3pm.

Thur 2 to Sun 5 June Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Romsey, SO51 0QA hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/ hilliergardens/whatson Bring the whole family and enjoy culture and entertainment with a programme of events, trails and activities in the gardens for this four-day weekend. 10am to 6pm.

Thur 2 to Sun 5 June Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Winchester City Mill Winchester SO23 0EJ nationaltrust.org.uk/winchestercity-mill Celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee with a delicious celebratory cream tea and sandwiches from the café, freshly made using their wholemeal flour and baked onsite.

Fri 3 Jun Fifties Fete - Jubilee Event Whitchurch Silk Mill, RG28 7AL whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk Take a step back into the 1950s at the Mill with live music, games and entertainment. Historic reenactors and interpreters, Pedlars and Petticoats will be bringing it all to life performing in character throughout the afternoon and there will be lots more to enjoy besides.

Free. 12-4pm.

Sat 4 Jun Pond Dipping Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Romsey, SO51 0QA hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/ hilliergardens/whatson What is lurking in the ponds? Come

along for a quick dip and a swish in the Education Ponds. Ages 3+. £3.

Booking essential.

Tue 14 June Midsummer Night’s Dream Hinton Ampner, Alresford SO24 0LA nationaltrust.org.uk/hintonampner Quantum Theatre presents a Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s classic comedy of love and intrigue, magic and mayhem comes to Hinton Ampner, when fairies are abroad and nothing is as it seems. 7pm.

Fri 17 to Sun 19 Jun The Gruffalo Theatre Royal Winchester Winchester, SO23 8SB theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/ whats-on Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Ages 3+.

Sun 19 June Father’s Day Classic Car Rally Hinton Ampner, Alresford SO24 0LA nationaltrust.org.uk/hintonampner From 12pm onwards, Join the members of the Morgan Car Group with a range of classic cars parked outside the mansion house. Owners will be on hand to answer any questions.

10 STUNNING PROFESSIONAL

RACECAR SIMULATORS

New Systems I New Cars New Tracks I Stunning New Visuals School Holiday Specials

- Discounted Daily Sessions Monday-Friday - For Under 18’s and accompanying adults - Book online for just £15 per driver

Junior Birthday Parties

- Exclusive venue hire from £185 - Catering options available - Try-before-you-buy (call to book)

Book online at www.theracecentre.co.uk Tel: Chandler’s Ford 023 8026 9927

May/June 2022

Families Hampshire West 11

WHAT’S ON

Half-term family fun: Enjoy motorsport from the drivers’ seat The Race Centre in Chandler’s Ford offers an awesome experience for all the family. Their ever-popular School Holiday Specials provide half-price events for groups with ‘drivers’ aged 8 to 17.

Half-term outdoor ideas for the family to enjoy

By Harrison Thorne

With the sun shining, the kids off school and a beautiful clear blue sky, you’re no doubt itching to get out and enjoy some local activities that will keep the whole family entertained.

Here are a few ideas for fun low-cost outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Nature walks What’s better than spending the whole day on a walk in the countryside when it’s sunny?

Hampshire has some great locations full of beautiful wildlife, colourful plants and sweeping vistas that will take your breath away. The New Forest National Park is always a great choice for a day out as you’ll find an abundance of quiet picnic spots and long trails through tall trees and dense forest or why not visit your local National Trust such as Hinton Ampner, Nr Winchester, The Vyne, Basingstoke or just a short drive to Gilbert White’s House, Selborne for some lovely nature trails. This summer you can also enjoy a Superworm trail at Alice Holt Forest, Farnham.

Visit the beach A walk along the 230 miles of coastline of Hampshire is the perfect family day out. The county has several beaches which offer fantastic walks at any time of the year. Discover the beaches of Calshot, Southsea, Lepe Country Park, Hayling Island and Milford-on-Sea.

Using their ‘Track of the Month’, drivers start with an entry-level car to learn the circuit and controls. Drivers can then stick with that car or upgrade to something more powerful and challenging!

All drivers are on track together competing to be the quickest.

Lap times go into a monthly leaderboard to make comparisons between siblings and friends super easy.

Mum, Dad, and other supervising adults are also able to join in at the discounted rate and younger siblings can have a go too by sitting on an adults lap (restrictions may apply).

The Race Centre also offer exclusive venue hire for Junior birthday parties. Up to ten drivers competing head-to-head in a series of qualifying and race sessions. Racing concludes with podium presentations and additional time for pizza and cake (optional).

Learn more on 023 8026 9927, or visit www.theracecentre.co.uk to book online.

National Mills Weekend On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 May, National Mills Weekend will take place across the UK, with windmills and watermills across the country opening their doors to the public.

This annual festival of our milling heritage is a fantastic opportunity to explore local mills. Participating mills include many not normally open to the public, with a range of special events and family-friendly activities.

Visit Winchester City Mill to see the millers in action, learn about the mill machinery and talk to the farmers who supply them with their grain. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-mill

Get the kids gardening Grow your kids’ green thumb by getting them into the garden and planting seeds that will grow into stunning flowers, or grow some yummy vegetables. Early summer is the perfect season for growing primrose’s, snowdrops, and lavender and is also the perfect season for growing radishes, spinach and rhubarb that will go great in a variety of meals.

See more in our gardening feature on page 15.

Bluebell walks Right now, is the perfect time for spotting bluebell’s and seeing them bloom.

We’re so lucky to have the most incredible number of bluebell woods in Hampshire. You can see some of the beautiful purple flowers at local treasures like Upperford Copse, Nr Wickham, Micheldever Woods, Winchester, Hinton Ampner, nr Winchester, Itchen Valley Country Park, nr Eastleigh, Manor Farm Country Park, Southampton, Exbury Gardens, near Southampton, The Vyne, nr Basingstoke and Durley Mill, Botley.

12 Families Hampshire West

Nature Day 15th May

GU34 3JH www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk

Stall holders & Activities from nature & conservation organisations and an eco-produce fair!

May/June 2022

WHAT’S ON

Explore our gardens and discover another world

There is something for everyone at Exbury NOW OPEN www.exbury.co.uk

Exbury Gardens, New Forest, Hampshire, SO45 1AZ info@exbury.co.uk | 023 8089 1203

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Families Hampshire West 13

ACTIVITIES

Adventures at home

By Zoe Lake I’m a big fan of planning fun-filled family adventures at home for weekends and holidays. Here are some of our favourites, which can be easily adjusted if the weather does not behave. All the activities can be tailored to children and adults of all ages, adding a little magic to precious family time.

Garden music festival Dig out your tent, drag out your blankets and cushions, power up the radio and set up camp. Spend the day listening to music in the comfort of your own garden.

Homemade ribbon wristbands and VIP lanyards allow unlimited access to the snack cupboard, fruity mocktails and ultimately, the lavatory - without needing to queue!

Twenty four hours without electricity Challenging the family to go without electricity is great fun. Not only does it encourage you to get creative with your time, it also opens up the broader topic of eco-living and which small changes can be made at home. Activities for the day might include painting, poetry, games, bird watching, cooking over an open flame and sleeping outside.

Stargazing Our favourite way to stargaze is in an old inflatable pool, patched with duct tape and filled with duvets! It keeps the chill out whilst we snuggle down and watch for the first star to appear amidst the myths and legends. Look out for the Big Bear, the Pegasus and Draco the dragon, which snakes across our sky.

Garden fete

Mini Olympics

Wildlife hunting

Village fetes are often a washout but you can schedule yours when there’s glorious sunshine! String up your bunting, bake some scones, set up a raffle and a lucky dip (from old goody bag items), provide an (unplugged) microphone for announcements, hold a pet show, even set up a Pimms’ tent (no judgement here).

Our annual garden Olympics is one of our favourite days of the year. Open with a (tissue paper) Olympic flame and homemade hanging flags, followed by competitive rounds of egg and spoon, sack races, hula hooping, bean bag throwing and swing ball. Keep score on a chalkboard and finish with salt dough medals at an elaborate award ceremony.

Find out who you share your garden with, using a nature guide to help with identification. Or encourage a few new residents with a log pile house for insects, hanging feeders for birds, a compost heap for worms, upturned pots for frogs and a colourful flowerbed for bees and butterflies. Keep an illustrated journal of what you all see.

Family heritage

Reading nook

Spend a bit of time asking relatives about their own adventures, jotting them down as you go. If the weather is a bit rubbish, this is the perfect excuse to scour old family albums full of photos of when they were young. And if the weather is kind, ask them to take you around their old haunts, perhaps to where they grew up.

A reading nook is a wonderful place to spend a lazy afternoon. Set up a den or a teepee and make it cosy inside. Fill a basket with books and make the most of little ones curled up in your lap for story time. Or even have a go at writing your own story together.

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Zoe Lake’s book Adventures at Home (Pimpernel Press) is available at all good book shops and at www.zoe-lake.co.uk May/June 2022

HOME

Garden time

By Jo Behari Ah, the summer breeze is in the air! Looking forward to spending more time in the garden? Maybe not, if your garden is like mine and covered in green moss and winter dredge. So, it’s time to make it shine!

Pressure washing is your friend when it comes to sprucing up your garden after the winter. You can hire a pressure washer from a tool rental company for around £40 for the weekend. Or invest in one if there’s space to store it. Use the brush tool on the pressure washer to lift any green moss. Treat the areas with a disinfectant like Jeyes fluid beforehand, scrubbing them with a stiff bristled brush.

What about rust on metal furniture or BBQ’s? Most rust spots can be cleaned and treated easily by soaking them with white vinegar. Scrub the vinegar off with a stiff brush or even a light sand with sandpaper for stubborn spots. For some metals you can even use WD-40 to lift off rust but test this on a small area before treating larger spaces.

Think outside the box and bring some interesting non-plant features into your garden. Mirrors are a brilliant way to add a quirky element to your garden. Hang them from fences or trees to create a secret garden feel. Light up your entire garden with solar powered lights that can be hung from trees and bushes on fence panels or even staked into the ground.

Now the garden’s looking better - apart from the graveyard of discarded toys on the lawn. How can you get that Insta-garden feel whilst still making sure the kids have plenty of space and toys to play with?

And don’t be afraid to use old, discarded items as planters or garden features to make your garden feel that bit more characterful. For example, old tyres make great herb planters, hanging plants can be suspended from pallets and old wooden ladders look great with plants trailing on them.

Everyone knows the importance of good storage in a family home and that’s true outside as well as inside. For a multifunctional garden, storage that doubles up as furniture is a great idea. Look for garden benches that have in built storage or footrest/storage boxes. Plastic garden storage solutions don’t always look great but are functional. Get quirky and creative and use old chest of drawers or cupboards outside.

If you get the entire family involved in coming up with creative ideas, it won’t be long before your garden feels unique to you and a place you really want to spend time this summer.

Jo Behari is an entrepreneur, DIY expert and TV presenter www.jobehari.co.uk

How to bring colour into your garden

Creating a kids play area on a budget

Obviously, plants and flowers provide colour but this may only last a few months of the year.

Kids garden toys can be pricey so start by using what you already have.

Another way of introducing colour and vibrancy which will last all year is to paint fences and furniture. You can choose any colours you like from pastels to vibrant shades. Cuprinol do a great range of outdoor paints but if you are looking for something more environmentally friendly, Graphenstone paints remove CO2 from the atmosphere, so make a great eco choice.

Hang pipes, old bottles, funnels and tubes to the fence to create a water run for young kids who love water play.

Use soft furnishings like brightly coloured cushions and throws to bring in colour too. Just make sure you have a decent place to store them, so they don’t get ruined by being left out overnight.

As we all know, it generally rains plenty during a UK summer!

Invest in an outdoor rug for your seating area. This can be left out overnight and all year round and makes a great addition to any garden seating area, offering additional colour as well as pattern.

May/June 2022

Put two washing up bowls side by side, one containing mud and one containing water. Add a few old kitchen utensils and some plastic bowls and you have yourself a mud kitchen!

Use old wellie boots as planters so kids can look after their own plants. These are great for strawberries and small flowers.

String some old tins and pots to the fence and with an old wooden spoon let little ones bang out a tune. Paint them some fun colours to make them really bright and appealing for younger children.

Old tyres can be picked up cheaply and can be used to create an obstacle course for older kids. These are also easy to paint so another great way to bring colour into the garden.

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May/June 2022