Families Hampshire West Mar/Apr 23 PRINT issue

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Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list at https://bit.ly/NOrecipients

© Families Hampshire West 2023. 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.

In this issue

Welcome

The seasons are turning and spring is just around the corner. So it’s time to stop hibernating and re-embrace the big outdoors! To celebrate, we have all the instructions for you and your kids to make a spring bird café to welcome in the new season – and bring some birds to your garden, of course.

Do you remember when you were young, all those blissful and adventure-filled days playing in the local neighbourhood with the other children that lived nearby? We have some interesting information on how you can offer your child the freedom of ‘playing out’. Also in our Health section, we have some imaginative and healthy after school snack ideas for the kids.

Of course, Easter is just around the corner and it’s not too soon to start making plans for those all-important egg hunts. See our What’s On guide for some great days out. Whilst, if you are looking further afield at holiday options overseas for later in the year, we have some interesting ideas for the best value destinations for you to research.

Finally, in this issue, we have Smoby Nature Playhouses to giveaway and you can apply inside. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

Rebecca x

News

Local news and competitions, plus local clubs, classes and activities to try.

Travel

Top value family holiday destinations.

Education

How you can help with homework and how to stretch your child’s imagination.

Health

Imaginative and healthy after school snack ideas and bringing back playing outside.

Interview

Families chats with George Webster, the 22-year-old TV presenter, actor, dancer and ambassador for Mencap.

What’s On

We’ve got a round-up of events happening in March and April and some great Easter days out.

What’s new

Families brings you the lowdown on exciting free events and new products for 2023.

Easter activity

Make a spring bird café and bring some birds to your garden.

Editor, Families Hampshire West

Enjoy Earth Day this April

Earth Day takes place on Saturday 22 April every year and is a time when environmental issues take centre stage.

Marked by millions around the world, Earth Day is an annual event designed to shine a light on the serious environmental problems we’re facing, from the climate crisis to air pollution and deforestation.

The first Earth Day took place in 1970 in the US to highlight the importance of clean air and water following a large oil spill in California. The event saw an astonishing twenty million people across the US taking to the streets –around ten percent of the country’s population at the time. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength is now the world’s largest civic event.

There are thousands of events taking place around the world. To find an event near you visit: www. bit.ly/EarthDayEventsMap

Visit www.earthday.org to find out more.

Songplay

Get connected during British Science Week

British Science Week is a ten day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths which takes place from 10 to 19 March.

This year’s theme is ‘Connection.’ Nearly all innovations in science are built on connections between people and connections occur across all areas of science, including animals, the internet and even between human action and climate change.

During British Science week, people from all over the UK take part in events and activities to develop their skills in these areas at a wide range of venues, such as community groups, cultural centres and museums.

A range of FREE activity packs and other resources suitable for all age groups can also be downloaded for fun family activities in the home.

To find a local event, visit www.britishscienceweek.org

Great British Spring Clean is back

Wherever you live, you and your family can make a difference to your local environment by sparing just a few hours to take part in the Great British Spring Clean from 17 March to 2 April.

Now in its eighth year, the event aims to encourage people across the country, from individual volunteers –dubbed #LitterHeroes by the charity – to families, schools, groups of friends, businesses, community groups and local authorities to come together to clean up streets, parks, beaches and other public spaces.

It’s easy to get involved. Simply pledge to take part and either organise a litter-pick in your community or join an organised event.

To find out more, join a local event, register to take part and access resources including a how-to guide, visit https://bit.ly/KBTspringclean

Spring confidence-building fun with Perform

Spring is the perfect time of year to get those feel-good endorphins pumping and Perform’s new summer term themes will get bodies moving and hearts singing. What’s more, your child can try a class for FREE!

Perform offers a different type of children’s drama class. It doesn’t focus on creating perfect dancers or the next child star. Instead, children’s social development is at the heart of its classes, using a specially formulated mix of drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s true potential.

Exciting termly themes keep young imaginations buzzing while small class sizes ensure lots of individual attention from experienced, professionally trained actors, dancers and singers. Classes are for children of all abilities and they can join at any point in the term; just be ready to have the best fun of the week!

This term, ages 4-7 will be setting sail on the Jammy Dodger in Mermaids & Pirates, whilst ages 7–12 will take part in The Dream, an hilarious adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Visit www.perform.org.uk/try, email enquiries@perform. org.uk or call 020 7255 9120 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

Southampton: Highfield Church Centre, SO17 1RL

Winchester: Holy Trinity Parish Church, SO23 8DG

Songs, games and learn music

Songplay is a music class for children aged 5-8, based in Bitterne Park, Southampton.

Classes include singing, games and a dynamic curriculum of activities that develop rhythm, pulse, pitch awareness, coordination, active listening and the rudiments of music notation. These skills support the development of children who are already learning an instrument, or plan to do so in the future. They also support emotional development, social skills and self esteem.

Each lesson is planned and adapted according to the strengths, interests and learning styles of the children in the class. Class sizes are strictly limited for this reason.

Visit www.songplaysouthampton.com for more information.

Family

Their family Go Adventure Activities are the perfect opportunity to try an activity and experience the great outdoors for just £14 per person for a 90-minute activity.

There are lots of free activities to enjoy too and it’s the ideal environment to experience learning outside of school where everyone can discover new skills through adventure and discovery.

Want to make a break of it? Combine activities with a stay in the Grade 1 listed calendar house, in a self-contained lodge or have the ultimate outdoor experience and camp on site!

For more information email info@avontyrrell.org, call 01425 672347 or visit www.avontyrrell.org.uk

Stretching your child’s imagination

By Jemma Z Smith

Imagination is the ability to create mental images, thoughts or ideas. It helps us to generate new ideas, to think creatively and to consider possibilities that may not be rooted in current reality. Imagination can be a powerful tool for problem-solving and innovation.

Imagination is often associated with childhood and is an important aspect of child development. Children use their imaginations to create stories, games and other forms of play in which they explore their environment and learn about the world.

However, imagination isn’t only important in childhood. There are many jobs that rely on imagination and creative thinking. For example, imagination is used by the following professionals in the following ways:

Painters, sculptors, photographers - to create works of art; Novelists, screenwriters and other writers - to create stories and characters;

Actors - to portray characters and bring stories to life;

Architects - to design buildings and other structures; Graphic designers - to create visual designs for websites, advertisements and other media;

Musicians - to compose music and create new sounds; Game designers - to create interactive games and virtual worlds;

Marketers - to come up with creative marketing campaigns and advertisements;

Teachers - to create engaging lesson plans and activities for their students;

Engineers - to design and build new products and systems.

Activities to develop imagination

Encourage open-ended play. Playing with certain toys allows for open-ended exploration and creativity. Blocks, dolls and dressing-up clothes can all be used in a variety of ways, led by a child’s imagination.

Encourage storytelling. Parents can encourage children to create their own stories and characters, either through verbal storytelling, drawing or writing.

Encourage experimentation. Children use their imagination and creativity when trying new things and experimenting with different materials. For example, parents can provide children with art supplies, such as paint, clay or markers and encourage them to create their own projects.

Read together. Reading with children stretches their imagination and exposes them to new ideas and concepts. Encourage them to ask questions and make predictions while reading, to help stimulate their imagination.

Encourage role play. Role play is a fun way to use imagination, for instance, pretending to be a doctor with dolls and soft toys or pretending to be a chef while cooking dinner.

Imagination takes many forms, including visual imagination to create mental images or pictures, verbal imagination in stories or ideas using words and musical imagination creating melodies and harmonies. It can also involve the use of all five senses, such as when someone imagines the taste, smell, or texture of a food they have never experienced.

By providing opportunities for children to use their imagination and encouraging them to be creative, parents can develop their creative thinking skills.

All imaginative play starts with an understanding of the world around us, so to help a child to use their imagination we must first introduce them to different experiences, from sensory experiences such as discovering new foods or smells, to listening to different accents and instruments. This exposure to the world allows your child to have a large mental ‘dressing up box’ to use when creating characters and scenarios for their imaginative play.

Jemma Zoe Smith is Director of The Education Hotel (www.educationhotel.co.uk).

What to do when your child says ‘I’m bored’

Leaving a child to be bored can actually be a good thing; it can help them to develop their imagination and creativity.

When children are not constantly entertained or stimulated by screens or other external sources, they are more likely to turn inward and develop their imagination to create their own fun and entertainment.

It is important therefore to make sure that children have access to a variety of age-appropriate materials and resources that they can dip into anytime to engage their imagination and creativity. Keep a box of ‘prompts’ nearby full of open-ended materials such as art supplies, dressing-up clothes, pieces of old board games, pictures, story books and materials such as pinecones collected on a walk.

By directing your child towards this box of goodies, they will find something to spark their imagination, without being constrained by an existing game, story or role play. This allows them to discover their imaginative process on their own, without input from you.

Homework: how you can help

By Zuzu Jordan

Homework is an important part of the learning process but many parents find it difficult to help their children with this for a number of reasons. Sometimes it’s difficult to juggle work and find the optimum time when your child is most productive. Frequently parents feel that ‘the way they teach now’ isn’t how they were taught when they were school age.

Nevertheless, we all want to feel that we have done all we can to steer our children’s education in the right direction.

So what is homework?

Homework covers activities set by the class teacher, which vary from preparing for an upcoming topic, consolidating a lesson already taught or revising for a test. Your role at home is to help your child learn how to work independently, rather than endeavouring to ensure they get full marks.

Consider some of these techniques as a starting point towards a happier homework environment:

Ensure the space helps your child concentrate. A quiet room in the house with a table or desk is preferable. If this isn’t possible, libraries offer quiet spaces and most schools run a homework club. If you don’t have access to a computer or tablet, these are valuable free services.

Establish a routine. If your child works better in the morning when they are more alert, then consider doing some homework before school. This may require a complete change to your morning routine.

Devising a timetable with your child that shows the times for homework across the week can help them see what is expected each day.

All the kit at their fingertips. This is key to ensuring a smooth transition into getting the homework started. Searching for a pencil for half an hour will not help your child stay on track.

Technology can be a great tool. It helps with research and can also be used to revise a concept with which your child may be struggling. More and more schools are setting homework online and expecting children to use a unique login.

Teachers appreciate your input so do ask them for advice if homework is proving a sticking point.

Zuzu Jordan is a Mastery for Maths specialist who has taught primary aged children for sixteen years and is interested in early years and home learning. For free homework and home learning resources, find the Facebook page Edumateuk.

A city school with a village heart

Transitioning from Preschool to Reception

Starting school in Reception class is a milestone for children and their parents. The Gregg Prep School ensures that the transition from Pre-school is as smooth and as fun as possible. Reception class encourages children to learn independently and interdependently through age-appropriate play as well as structured learning tasks. Pupils are provided with opportunities to express their imagination and creativity and enjoy outdoors activities such as Forest School and Beekeeping. They develop good social skills and learn to respect one another in a nurturing environment. By the end of their first school year, pupils will have cultivated a deep love of learning which is enriched throughout their time at the school.

The Gregg Prep School takes part in the Government’s Early Years Education (EYE) Scheme which enables parents to claim up to 30 hours of free early years’ education up to the child’s 5th birthday.

If you would like to attend the Open Morning on 27 April, call the school office on 02380 472133 to book your place. ww.thegreggprep.org

Meet George Webster

Families chats with George Webster, the 22-year-old TV presenter, actor, dancer and ambassador for Mencap. George was catapulted into the public eye when he spoke about Down syndrome in his myth-busting video for BBC Bitesize. A trailblazer, he is now the first ever CBeebies presenter to have Down syndrome. In November 2022, George won a BAFTA (Children and Young People Awards) for Best Presenter.

Congratulations on winning your BAFTA! How do you feel about that achievement?

I feel really proud and really honoured to achieve the award for presenter. I work with so many brilliant people at CBeebies and I feel like things are starting to improve for people like me in the media industry.

Tell us about your journey to become a presenter on CBeebies.

I always loved acting, dancing and performing at school and since then one thing has led to another. While volunteering at Parkrun, Sky filmed me for a documentary and I then became a Mencap ambassador. When my BBC Bitesize video busting the five myths of Down syndrome got five million hits, CBeebies got in touch inviting me to be a

guest presenter and now I’m a regular!

Who has been most supportive in helping you achieve your success?

My parents have been really supportive throughout my life and they always keep telling me ‘just be yourself.’ I always am and I want to say thank you to them for their love and support. Also, my support teachers at school, my friends, the NHS and local charities.

What advice would you give to encourage other youngsters who are facing challenges and want to pursue similar careers?

Be yourself and dream big. We can all dream big so don’t let anyone else decide for you as it’s your life. Get involved with local performing arts groups too.

GIVEAWAY!

Five signed copies of This is ME! picture book

Families has teamed up with BAFTA award-winning TV presenter, George Webster, CBeebies’ first presenter with Down syndrome, to o er five lucky children copies of George’s new book, This is ME!

This is ME! is a heartfelt and uplifting story that follows a little boy called George as he tells the reader all about who he is, his life and his experiences. George knows that having Down syndrome is an important part of him but it does not define him.

Featuring George’s real-life friends and family as well as a joyful cast of characters reflective of society and with bright and bold illustrations by best-selling illustrator, Tim Budgen, This is ME! celebrates uniqueness, being ourselves and how our di erences make us special.

Scan the QR code to apply or visit familiesmag.co.uk/go

Closing date: 21 April

T&Cs at https://bit.ly/gwbookgiveaway

What do you enjoy most about presenting?

I love everything about presenting at CBeebies! I’ve met loads of brilliant people and now we’re great friends. I also enjoy showing the viewers at home that people like me can be represented within the media and that ‘difference’ can inspire their kids’ lives. Their kids can have many role models, no matter who and what they are.

You’ve now written a picture book called This is ME! Tell us more.

This is ME! is about me, my friends and family when I was younger. It’s about celebrating differences no matter what we look like and who we are. It’s also about each person having their own glow inside that we all need to see.

The book illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to your rhyming words. How did the partnership come together?

My publisher, Scholastic Children’s Books, paired me with the wonderful illustrator, Tim Budgen. Working with him and my co-author, Claire Taylor, has been brilliant and a real collaborative effort.

What has been the best moment of your career so far?

There are so many! Working with CBeebies, writing a book, winning a BAFTA, being on Casualty, going to the premiere of S.A.M and dancing on stage with Talent Hub. Plus going to UDance National Finals to represent

Yorkshire as the first inclusive dance group with Meshdance and watching my appearance on Strictly Come Dancing back on Christmas Day.

You are ambassador for the charity Mencap, which works to improve the life of young people with learning difficulties. Tell us what this work means to you.

It means a lot to me as I have many friends with a learning disability and they’re all brilliant. People like us exist and working with Mencap means our voices get heard. I want people to understand us more rather than be scared of us.

Where would you like to see your career heading in the future?

I’d love to do more presenting and acting work. I would love to be in Death in Paradise, EastEnders and Doctor Who. Or I could be the new James Bond - why not! Also, I’d love to compete on the main show of Strictly Come Dancing.

If you had to bust one myth about having Down syndrome, what would it be?

‘People with Down syndrome are always happy.’ This just isn’t true! We have a range of emotions like every living person has.

What do you do to relax?

I love going to the theatre or cinema, watching films and tv and listening to music. Oh, and thrashing my dad at FIFA!

What’s new or free in 2023

By Claire Winter

To help you and your family get the best out of the year ahead, Families brings you the lowdown on exciting free events and new products for 2023.

The Young V&A (formerly the Museum of Childhood) will re-open in Bethnal Green, London this summer as a new national museum and creative powerhouse for children and young teens.

www.vam.ac.uk/young

Manchester Museum has undergone an incredible £15m transformation project. The Golden Mummies of Egypt promises to be an exciting exhibition featuring more than a hundred objects including eight mummies. www. museum.manchester.ac.uk

Go on a night-time adventure to look at constellations and galaxies at one of England’s growing range of dark sky experiences and festivals. 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, the UK’s largest and first International Dark Sky Park, which spans nearly 1,500 square km of Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park. https://bit.ly/northdarkskies

Explore the North Downs Art Trail on foot or bicycle to enjoy stunning views between Dover in Kent and Farnham in Surrey, where a series of sculptures work as benches or shelters. Choose from a range of downloadable, self-guided walking or cycling routes. https://bit.ly/ndownsarttrail

Check out the all-British and all-electric Firefly Sports car for kids. It’s hoped the car will help educate youngsters about road safety and how future motor vehicles can be an environmental force for good. Try driving the Firefly Sport at Young Driver’s UK venues for £20. Book a lesson at www.youngdriver.com

All eyes will be on London with the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6 May. Plus, we get a new bank holiday on Monday 8 May to continue the celebrations. Expect lots of free royal-themed events, exhibitions and celebrations across the UK. www.royal.uk

LEGO Friends® releases five new sets this year with diverse characters that better represent children. The new sets will be inclusive of various ethnicities, disabilities and neurodivergence and will feature characters with limb difference, Downs syndrome, anxiety, vitiligo and even pets with disabilities, including a blind dog and a dog with a wheelchair. https://bit.ly/friendsdiverse

The new car sunshade from Shady® is the only car sunshade that allows you to wind down your car window. The sunshade blocks nearly all harmful UV rays and sticks firmly to the glass of the window. It’s perfect for any age and if you have a newborn, it has been specifically developed to nurture and stimulate vision and the optic nerves by incorporating high contrast, black-and-white, fun images whilst providing protection from direct sunlight. www.sunshady.co.uk

Baboodle is the first baby equipment subscription platform, renting baby essentials to parents for as much time as they need. There are huge discounts on baby equipment and the scheme reduces the waste associated with baby equipment. Sign up and start saving at www.baboodle.co.uk

NEW

Funky T-Shirts from BonBonBon will brighten up any day. Designed by mother and daughter duo Nat and Bonnie, they give ten percent of every sale to Place2Be, a charity dedicated to improving children’s mental health. https://bit.ly/bonbonfunky

Top value family holiday destinations

By Ashley Lutz

Travelling abroad as a family is a wonderful experience for all. It can seem quite a significant financial outlay but with careful planning you can still find destinations that offer excellent value for money and magical memories for years to come. Here are my 2023 hot spots for your next family holiday.

Turkey

Make the most of the long, warm Turkish summers and the pound’s strength against the lira. Choose from many familyfriendly resorts and eat out at a reasonable cost as a threecourse meal can come in at just £12 a head in the popular beach resort of Marmaris, while a round of drinks should cost you less than UK prices, particularly if you stick with local beer and wine.

Montenegro

Montenegro offers a great alternative to its popular neighbouring country Croatia, with cheaper prices and quieter beaches. The local food is delicious and accommodation can cater to a variety of family budgets. Boasting golden beaches, whitewashed villages and lush green forests, it’s one of the most picturesque spots in the Balkans.

Portugal

While sterling’s value against the euro has plummeted since Brexit, Portugal is one Eurozone destination where your cash can work harder. In the Algarve, dinner for two will come to around £20, half the price of eating out on the island of Madeira. But despite the bigger food bills, Madeira and the Azores are still relatively inexpensive compared with some Greek equivalents.

Mauritius

Looking further afield, Mauritius offers great value, with prices almost half those of the neighbouring Seychelles. With white sands, crystalclear waters and adrenalinfilled activities, Mauritius has something for children and adults of all ages. If you’re after a family holiday with a difference, this should be on your list.

Jamaica

The Post Office’s long-haul holiday report named Jamaica as the best value destination in the Caribbean. Montego Bay is a perfect base for families wanting an active holiday, keeping everyone from beach lovers to snorkellers entertained, whilst those who like to get off the beaten track can explore the rainforest.

Sail away to the Isle of Wight with Red Funnel

Sail across to the Isle of Wight with Red Funnel and discover over 25 beaches, 50 attractions and 100s of miles of countryside waiting to be explored.

With no more than one hours drive between the many exciting things to do on the Island, get ready for an action-packed day out or holiday the family will enjoy. Head for the beach for rock pooling, paddling and fossil hunting. Then onto one of the Island’s top attractions for some family fun. You’ll find plenty of great family and dog friendly restaurants and cafés wherever you go, or why not pack a picnic and adventure to one of the many idyllic viewpoints in the country or by the sea.

Just one hour from Southampton with Red Funnel, fares start from just £28 each way for a car and up to seven people. Find out more at www.redfunnel.co.uk

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is open for tourism and the pound is strong against the rupee, providing very good value for money for familiesand a fantastic adventure. Once you are there, it’s incredibly easy to holiday on a budget with food, transport and accommodation all relatively affordable. Plus, travelling around this beautiful country by train is great value and fun for families.

Ashley Lutz is a Travel Counsellor with seventeen years’ experience working with families to find inspiring holidays. Find out more at

Bringing back playing out

For the majority of today’s parents, the best childhood memories don’t involve expensive toys or organised activities. Instead, they remember the simple pleasures of playing and running around outside with their friends. Their strongest and fondest memories recall a magical sense of freedom and possibility.

There have been many studies into the benefits of free, unstructured outside play. Children playing together use their creativity and imagination to create games and invent rules; they learn how to collaborate, share, negotiate and resolve conflicts. They build resilience, independence and social confidence as they learn to navigate the world without adult interference. All valuable experiences as they grow into young adults.

Playing outside is also the natural, joyful way that children are physically active and develop running, balancing, skipping, climbing, jumping and even ball skills at their own pace. You don’t have to ‘make’ children do this; just look at a school playground at breaktime!

In the past, playing outside was the easy, free way that children got all these vital health and wellbeing benefits, every day. All it needed was safe spaces close to home: streets, patches of land, small parks children could get to. It didn’t need money, a car or an adult to take them.

Today things are very different. While screens and ‘lazy’ children or parents often get blamed, one of the biggest barriers is traffic. UK traffic volume has doubled since the 1980s and roads are now seen as ‘just for cars.’ Parental fears are justified, as the numbers of children being killed or injured on our roads is shocking and should be unacceptable in any society.

Getting started with play streets

There are four steps involved with setting up a play street: Consult your neighbours. It’s clearly got to be something that they will either actively embrace or, at the very least, find acceptable.

Apply to your council for permission. Not all councils have policies to support play streets but they can often be persuaded if they can see that there is demand from residents. In these areas, why not start with a street party (for the Coronation perhaps), focus on low key space for play and then take it from there?

Effectively communicate what is happening to everyone on the street.

Release your kids to play out. On the day, volunteer stewards supervise the road closure so that residents who need to can still drive in and out and the disruption to neighbours is minimal. All the information and support you need to take this further is at www.playingout.net

So what can parents do?

Gardens are safe but not everyone has one. Organised activities are great but not always possible and don’t replace the benefits of unstructured play.

Play streets are one way to reclaim some of the freedom children have lost. By temporarily stopping through traffic on a residential street, neighbours can open up a safe space for children to play together on their doorsteps.

In 2009, a group of Bristol parents closed their street to through traffic for a few hours to give their children some of the freedom they grew up with. Their council then agreed that this could happen every week. The idea began to spread and they set up Playing Out to support other parents and residents do the same.

Playing Out brings more play and freedom into children’s lives in an easy, affordable way. Look into setting up your own space at www.playingout.net

Children’s health and community

Play streets have been spreading across the UK for over a decade now and the positive impact on children is backed up by research: regular extra hours of physical activity, the opportunity to make friends with other neighbourhood children and picking up fun and useful skills such as skipping and riding bikes. In short, all the good benefits of playing out for health and wellbeing that many of us used to have.

Many streets which have been playing out regularly for several years have found that it’s not just the children who benefit; it can bring the whole street community together. Everyone on the street is invited to join in, whether they have children or not.

Friendships between neighbours are formed or strengthened, while older residents often feel less lonely. When Covid left some elderly or unwell people feeling isolated, those living on play streets found that they already had a support network of friends and neighbours on their street.

Play streets aren’t just for children, they’re for everyone on the street!

Healthy after-school snack ideas

By Sarah Alder

It’s a familiar scene across the country at school pick up time. Children come running out of the classroom to greet you and instead of ‘hello’, it’s: ‘can I have a snack?’. So how do we satisfy their ravenous after-school hunger with healthy foods?

It’s good to have some quick and easy ideas to hand to avoid spending a fortune on packaged snacks.

Savoury

Fun bites

Fruity

Celery sticks filled with peanut butter and raisins or cream cheese and tomato are really yummy and can even be presented as a stack to make a Gruffalo log pile house!

Vegetable sticks (carrot, cucumber, pepper etc) are easy to prepare and work well with houmous. Or, for something a bit different, try bread sticks with a yoghurt-based dip or guacamole.

I’m a great fan of savoury muffins. These can be batch cooked and frozen. For a great courgette, spinach and cheese muffin recipe, head to https://bit.ly/ ktsavourymuffin

To ramp up the novelty factor, you can make a simple but tasty savoury mix and keep it in an airtight container for the kids to snack on throughout the week. There’s one at https://bit.ly/kttrailmix you can try. Or you can mix together some dried fruit and seeds if you don’t have much prep time.

Don’t forget healthy cereals which make a great snack especially if paired with some fruit and milk or yoghurt - think popped rice, Shreddies, Shredded Wheat or Cheerios. And then there’s the fun favourite – popcorn! Try popping your own and experimenting with flavours (think cinnamon, smoked paprika, Marmite butter…)

Top Tip

Think of snacks as mini meals which should ideally include a small amount of foods from different food groups to ensure your kids stay fuller for longer. This will reduce the demand for more snacks!

Not always a firm favourite with kids but fruit can be offered in different ways to keep it interesting. Think fruit salad, fruit kebabs, chopped apple, banana and grapes, berries and natural yoghurt (you can use frozen berries to save some money and to offer them all year round).

Fruit smoothies are really tasty and go down well with kids, whilst home-made fruit muffins don’t even feel like fruit! See https://bit.ly/ktsmoothie for recipe.

Carb Filled

Think oatcake with peanut butter or cheese, toasted fruit bread or even a fruity, low sugar flapjack - there’s a great recipe at https://bit.ly/ktflapjacks

You can also serve cheese with crackers or plain scones with cheese. Great for days when the kids really need to get their teeth into something….

Images, top row from left to right: celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, savoury mix, fruit kebabs and natural yoghurt. Bottom row from left to right: courgette, spinach and cheese muffins, popcorn, fruity, low sugar flapjack.

Sarah Alder of Kitchen Titbits (www.kitchentitbits.co.uk) is a meal planning and family mealtimes mentor who works with parents to support fussy eaters. Visit her site for lots of tips and advice and to find out about her courses and workshops.

Explore the outdoors this Easter with the National Trust

Visit egg-cellent Easter trails at Mottisfont, Hinton Ampner, The Vyne and Uppark House & Garden this spring.

Discover beautiful landscapes, gardens and woodlands whilst completing a set of 10 unique challenges in order to win a chocolate prize. These Easter trails will have you hopping like a bunny, leaping like a rabbit and running like a hare to triumph and celebrate Easter with the whole family. This is a chance for both children and adults to experience these unique sites, whilst celebrating the joys of spring. The daffodils and tulips are out, and they've combined the awesome power of nature with active family fun to leave you with memories of a great day out together!

Share your images with the hashtag #NTEaster and tag each place you visit.

Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hampshire

Spring family fun at Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre

Visit Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre, Nr Wareham this Spring for some Mother’s Day and Easter family fun.

Mum’s get 50% off entry at Monkey World on Mother’s Day (Sun 19 Mar). There’s also lots of Easter fun from Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr, including a free activity sheet for kids! As well as 260 rescued and endangered apes and monkeys, three play areas and a woodland walk, kids can complete a fun activity sheet during their visit and collect a prize! The kids activity centre will be running primate arts and crafts too. Plus, on Bank holiday weekend (Fri 7 to Mon 10 Apr), there will be a FREE Easter egg trail for kids around the park. Find all the clues to lead you to a tasty chocolate treat (while stocks last).

Book online to receive an extra 10% off gate prices.

Find out more at www.monkeyworld.org/events

Spring into exciting science fun at Winchester Science Centre

Outside things are beginning to bloom and inside the experiments are set to go boom at Boom & Bloom, the second in a series of six brand-new school holiday seasons in 2023.

Between Sat 18 Mar and Sun 17 Apr, including every day in the Easter school holidays, there’ll be all the usual Science Centre fun, plus even more to excite all ages, all included with admission.

Join in with an eggs-travaganza Easter egg hunt where you’ll be looking for pictures of eggs laid by animals that hatch before getting a delicious Easter treat. Head off on a pollination exploration in Flower Power a free live science show. Help plant the Boom & Bloom garden in Bio:Space and get hands-on with bubble-fun in Science Live. Plus there’s two floors of interactive exhibits and the awesome Planetarium.

Find out more and book at www.winchestersciencecentre.org

New activities at the New Forest Heritage Centre

Join the New Forest Heritage Centre during the Easter holidays for a new programme of family workshops running during the school holidays.

Come along on Tue 4 and Tue 11 Apr and and find out about New Forest animals and their habitats with Wild Escape themed activities. The cost is £3 per child and booking is essential, so please email: education@newforestheritage.org. uk to secure your space.

The free, interactive museum is always a fun day out and so this spring, with a brand-new trail, a competition and children’s workshops, there’s plenty to keep the whole family busy!

For more information, visit www.newforestheritage.org.uk

What's On Fun for all the family

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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.

DIARY DATES

Every Fri St Bees Musical Adventures

St Barbe Museum, Lymington, SO41 9BH

www.stbarbe-museum.org.uk

Take your child on a magical sensory journey, inspired by the objects on display, through stories, songs, puppetry, baby sign, dance and creative play. 10-11am. Not on during school holidays. Under 5s. Pre-book, call 01590 676969.

Every Sat Storytime

Netley Library, SO31 5DT

Let their imagination run wild. Join for free. For young children to get creative by craft making and listening to stories.

Throughout Jan & Feb ‘50 Things’ Activities

The National Trust

Why not try some of the ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ challenges?

From rolling down a hill to making friends with a bug, there’s something for every young explorer to do. Take part in this initiative at Hinton Ampner, Mottisfont or The Vyne.

Throughout Mar & Apr ZOG™ Trail

Alice Holt Forest, GU10 4LS

www.forestryengland.uk/aliceholt-forest

Everyone’s favourite dragon is at Alice Holt Forest this year with a brand-new family activity trail and app! Get ready to join Zog™ on his latest forest adventure to collect golden stars as your little dragons learn how they help care for the forest and how the forests can care for them. Plus, explore trails and discover different play areas before treating yourself in the lovely café.

Throughout Mar & Apr Family Spring Garden Explorer Sheet

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey, SO51 0QA www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/ hilliergardens

Spot the signs of the season and learn all about nature and wildlife. Free online or £1 from a copy from the ticket desk. (Normal garden admission fees apply).

Sat 4 to Wed 15 Apr

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Trail Festival Park, Basingstoke, RG21 7BA www.festivalplace.co.uk/ theveryhungrycaterpillartrail

Festival Place will be feeding the imaginations of book lovers as they invite them to take part in an exciting interactive trail in celebration of World Book Day. Pick up a trail map from the customer lounge and begin your journey.

Tue 14 Mar

Park Explorers: Super Sticks

Itchen Valley Country Park, Eastleigh, SO30 3HQ

www.itchenvalley.co.uk/whats-on

An outdoor session for accompanied 3-5 year olds. Join us in the woods for themed games, crafts and a story. 10.30-11.30am.

Thu 16 Mar

Science Explained: The Science of Star Wars

Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ

www.winchestersciencecentre.org

Movie fans have been wowed by spaceships, super-weapons and visions of the future for decades. But how much of the famous movie world is rooted in a science reality? Jon Chase will explore the physics of the classic movie series.

Sat 18 Mar

Café Crafts: Sunflower Pots

Itchen Valley Country Park, Eastleigh, SO30 3HQ

www.itchenvalley.co.uk/whats-on Paint a terracotta pot and plant a sunflower seed in it. An ideal Mother’s Day gift! 10.30-11.30am.

Sat 18 Mar to Mon 17 Apr

Boom & Bloom

Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ www.winchestersciencecentre.org Spring into a new season of exciting science fun at Boom & Bloom. Outside, things are beginning to bloom and inside, experiments are set to go boom. As well as the usual Science Centre fun, there will be even more on offer to excite all ages. On weekends and school holidays.

Sun 19 Mar

Mother’s Day Lunch

Chawton House, Alton GU34 1SJ www.chawtonhouse.org

Relax in the historic surrounding of Chawton House’s Old Kitchen this Mother’s Day and treat your Mum to a delicious two-course lunch. 12pm-1.15pm or 1.30pm-2.45pm. Adults £25, child £12.

Sun 19 Mar

Mother’s Day

Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre Wareham, BH20 6HH www.monkeyworld.org

Mum’s get 50% off entry at Monkey World on Mother’s Day! Pre-book online and receive an extra 10% off gate prices.

Sat 25 Mar

Paper Marbling Workshop with Ebru Kocak

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, Petersfield, GU32 3HX www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Ebru Kocak is a leading artist, her workshops offer an introduction to paper marbling and the exciting

opportunity to create beautiful, unique patterns. 10.30am-3pm.

Wed 29 Mar to Tue 4 Apr

Inclusive Sensory Trail

The Vyne, Basingstoke, RG24 9HL

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hampshire

Developed in partnership with Tadley Court School, eight sensory experiences invite you to smell, touch, look and listen to natural surroundings in The Vyne’s gardens. Free trail map available from visitor reception. 10am-4pm.

Sat 1 to Mon 10 Apr

Canoe Easter Egg Hunt

New Forest Activities, Beaulieu, SO42 7YF

www.newforestactivities.co.uk

Enjoy a fun-filled guided paddle along the Beaulieu River in stable ‘Canadian style’ canoes. Plus enjoy an Easter egg hunt with a twist! All participants will receive a chocolate egg. From £36 adult, £21 child.

Sat 1 to Sat 15 Apr

School Holiday Trail: Spring

Forward

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, Petersfield, GU32 3HX

www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Follow the clues, find the hidden objects and take part in a series of exciting challenges in exchange for a mystery prize. 10am-5pm.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Spring into Nature Trail

Hinton Ampner, Alresford SO24 0LA

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hampshire

Ready, Set, Hop! Complete a set of Easter challenges and work together to show us your best hopping, leaping and running to win a chocolate prize whilst taking in the beautiful spring gardens. £3 per trail sheet + prize. 10am-4pm.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Easter Adventures at The Vyne

The Vyne, Basingstoke RG24 9HL www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hampshire

From spotting wacky wellies hidden in trees, to a bit of nifty ‘nature bingo’ and hopscotch by the lake, come out and play this spring in The Vyne’s gardens. Trail sheet available at Visitor Reception. Visitors need to pre-book their parking space on 0344 249 1895. £3 per trail sheet plus prize. 10am-4pm.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Easter Science Fun

Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ

www.winchestersciencecentre.org

Families are invited to join in with an oviparity egg hunt during Boom & Bloom. Visitors will be looking for eggs laid by animals that hatch rather than brightly coloured Easter eggs. What birds will be found? Will there be a creepy crawly or two? And will there be a few surprise species that hatch? The hunt is a picture trail and once children spot all the eggs, they’ll be in for a delicious Easter treat. 9.30am-5pm. Pre-book online.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Mottisfont Easter Fete

Mottisfont, Romsey, SO51 0LP www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hampshire

With all the feel of a classic village fete, Mottisfont’s Easter egg trail is packed with traditional springtime activities, set in acres of glorious garden. Look out for wooden egg rolling and other energetic games, alongside spring-themed crafts such as daffodil pinwheel-making. There’s a seasonal art gallery where kids can display their drawings for everyone to enjoy. £3 per trail sheet plus prize. 10am-4.30pm.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Easter at Monkey World Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre Wareham, BH20 6HH www.monkeyworld.org

Easter fun at Monkey World, including a free activity sheet for kids! As well as 260 rescued and endangered apes and monkeys, three play areas and a woodland walk, kids can complete a fun activity sheet and collect a sticker as a prize! Book online and save.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Hoppy Easter Paultons Park, Ower, SO51 6AL www.paultonspark.co.uk

Meet Bobtail Bunny and Betty Bunny at Paultons. Guests will be able to meet the cute characters

at the main entrance plaza. Guaranteed to put a spring in your step the Park entrance will also be festooned for Easter with colourful giant Easter eggs and bunnies.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Easter Egg-splorers Trail Uppark House & Gardens, Petersfield, GU31 5QR www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hampshire Uppark’s Easter trail is jam-packed with activities for fun family challenges. Can you jump as far as a deer on the lawn, or hula hoop for thirty seconds in the scented garden? Who’s best at racing just like a rabbit, or playing Bug Bingo in the woods? £3 per trail sheet plus prize. 10am-3.30pm.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Bun & Ted’s Eggscellent Adventure!

Milestones Museum, Basingstoke, RG22 6PG www.hampshireculture.org.uk

Step onto the streets of Milestones and help Bun and Ted save Easter and hunt the missing eggs that have been hidden through time. £2.50 per trail. 10am-4.45pm.

Ages 4+.

Mon 3 Apr

The Amazing Bubble Man MAST Mayflower Studios Southampton SO14 7DU www.mayflowerstudios.org.uk

Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences around the world for over 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. Louis explores the breath-taking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerized. 2pm.

Mon 3 Apr

Toddler Takeover VII: Easter Eggstravaganza Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, Petersfield, GU32 3HX www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Show off your dance moves at the Bunny Hop Disco, hunt for chocolate eggs, decorate your own easter crown and enjoy a relaxing story time with the Easter Bunny. 11am-4pm.

Mon 3 & Tue 4 Apr

Tales from Acorn Wood Theatre Royal Winchester, SO23 8SB www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Tales from Acorn Wood stories are brought to life on stage in an enchanting lift-the-flap experience. Packed full of toetapping songs, puppetry, and all the friends from Acorn Wood. All ages.

Mon 3, Tue 4, Mon 11 & Tue 12 Apr

Kids Culture Club

SeaCity Museum, Southampton, SO14 7FY www.seacitymuseum.co.uk

A day full of fun crafts, activities each day has a different theme including: Pokémon inspired creations, Easter animals, a Titanic day finding out interesting things about the world’s most famous ship and a time travelling theme learning about Romans, Saxons and the Tudors. 9.30am-4pm. £35 per day (£60 week).

Tue 4 Apr

Printing Workshop

St Barbe Museum, SO41 9BH www.stbarbe-museum.org.uk/ events/printing-workshop

Learn how to make and create prints and create your own masterpiece to take home. All

materials provided. 10am-12noon. £5. Limited places. Ages 6+.

Tue 4, Thu 6, Tue 11, Thu 13 & Sat 15 Apr

Pond Dipping

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey, SO51 0QA

www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/ hilliergardens

What is lurking in our ponds? Visit Sir Harold Hillier Gardens for pond dipping and see what is living in the Education Garden ponds. Can you find diving beetles, nimble pond skaters and slimy snails? All equipment is provided. £3 per child (for a 25 minute session).

Tue 4 & Tue 11 Apr

Wild Escape

New Forest Heritage Centre Lyndhurst, S043 7NY

www.newforestheritage.org.uk/ events

Come along to the New Forest Heritage Centre for Wild Escape themed activities and crafts. Drop in. Free but donations welcome. 11am-12pm or 2-3pm.

Tue 4 to Thu 13 Apr

The Great Railway Easter Hunt Isle of Wight Steam Railway, PO33 4DS

www.visitisleofwight.co.uk

Make some amazing, amusing family memories together as you search for the giant eggs hidden around our entire attraction and solve the clues to claim your chocolate.

Wed 5 Apr

Woodland Stories: Owl Babies Itchen Valley Country Park, Eastleigh, SO30 3HQ

www.itchenvalley.co.uk/whats-on

An outdoor session including a story and a craft for accompanied 3-5 year olds. 10.30-11.30am.

Wed 5 Apr

Hoppy Easter St Barbe Museum, Lymington, SO41 9BH

www.stbarbe-museum.org.uk/ events/printing-workshop

Create a colourful Easter themed decorations to help celebrate the beginning of Spring. 10.30am or 1.30pm. Ages 3+.

Wed 5 Apr

Wild and Wonderful Family Day Whitchurch Silk Mill, RG28 7AL

www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk

Join local animal and nature charities in the Mill gardens. Take part in activities to learn all about the wildlife of Hampshire, try river dipping to see what you can find in the River Test. 10.30am-3pm.

Wed 5 & Thu 6 Apr

Family Fun with LEGO® Bricks

The Brickworks Museum, Swanwick, SO31 7HB

www.thebrickworksmuseum.org

Two days of fun featuring LEGO® bricks. Find the models and minifigures hidden around the museum, see the display of models made from LEGO®, enjoy the free play areas and add a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the wall. 11am-4pm.

Wed 5 & Thu 6 Apr

Springtime Lanterns

Southampton City Art Gallery Southampton SO14 7LY www.southamptoncityartgallery. com

Spring is in the air! Use collage to decorate a lantern with bunnies, chicks, daffodils or your own ideas to celebrate the new season. £6. 10am, 12.30, 2.30pm. Ages 5+.

Wed 5 & 12 Apr

Tour For All: Hidden Hamtun

Walking Tour

Tudor House & Garden, Southampton, SO14 2AD www.tudorhouseandgarden.com

Join local historian and guide Andy Skinner for this exciting walking tour in the Old Town. Including medieval vaults not usually accessible to the public. £6 per person, £24 family ticket. 11am & 2pm.

Thu 6 Apr Art for All: Block Carved Press

Printing

Tudor House & Garden, Southampton, SO14 2AD

www.tudorhouseandgarden.com

Explore the possibilities of layering colour with a different technique of press-printing and create a unique picture inspired by Spring. 10.30am, 1pm. £7.50. Ages 6+.

Thu 6 & Fri 14 Apr

Discover Titanic Family Workshop

SeaCity Museum, Southampton, SO14 7FY www.seacitymuseum.co.uk

Join a member of the SeaCity team for an hour-long activity and story workshop to discover more about the RMS Titanic. Try your hand at Morse Code, handle objects from ocean liners, sink the Titanic and see how an iceberg floats! 10.30am, 12pm, 2pm. £6. Ages 6+.

Wed 5 & 12 Apr

Poly-Printing Workshops

New Forest Heritage Centre Lyndhurst, S043 7NY www.newforestheritage.org.uk/ events

Poly-printing workshops for school age children. £3 per child. Booking essential, email: education@ newforestheritage.org.uk. 11am12pm or 2-3pm.

Fri 7 to Mon 10 Apr

Easter Eggs-travaganza at Monkey World Wareham, BH20 6HH www.monkeyworld.org

With over 260 rescued and endangered monkeys and apes, three play areas and a free activity sheet for kids, there’s plenty of fun things to do this Easter at Monkey World! Plus, free Easter Egg trail for kids around the park over the bank holiday weekend. Find all the clues to lead you to a tasty chocolate treat! Book online to save up to 10% off gate prices.

Fri 7 to Mon 10 Apr

Easter Weekend

Beaulieu National Motor Museum, New Forest, SO42 7ZN www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/ easter-holidays

Join in with fun Easter craft activities and see a larger-thanlife Easter bunny hop through the grounds and gardens. Plus, enjoy all the usual attractions too.

Sat 8 & Sun 9 Apr

Easter Weekend Family Fun

Bursledon Windmill Southampton, SO31 8BG www.hampshireculture.org.uk

Take part in the Windmill Easter trail, once completed receive a sweet treat and then join in with Easter themed make and takes. £4 per child plus Windmill entry fee. Ages 4+.

Wed 12 Apr

Woodland Stories: Easter Egg Hunt

Itchen Valley Country Park, Eastleigh, SO30 3HQ www.itchenvalley.co.uk/whats-on Join in for a story and craft in the woods. Plus, make a wooden bunny face using a saw, hammer and nails and hunting for eggs. 10.30-11.30am.

Thu 13 Apr

Soaring Spitfires

SeaCity Museum, Southampton, SO14 7FY www.seacitymuseum.co.uk

This fun-filled session explores the story of the most famous WW2 fighter plane of them all - the Supermarine Spitfire! Create your very own pump rocket plane using our junk modelling kit. 10.30am, 1pm. £8. Ages 6+.

Thu 13 Apr

Art for All: Spring Chickens

Southampton City Art Gallery

Southampton SO14 7LY www.southamptoncityartgallery. com

A fun clay workshop exploring different techniques to create cluckingly quirky spring chickens. With artist Debra Marsh. 10.30am, 1pm. £7.50. Ages 6+.

Fri 14 Apr

Tour For All: Southampton’s Titanic Story Exhibition Tour SeaCity Museum, Southampton, SO14 7FY www.seacitymuseum.co.uk

Immerse yourself in the story of the RMS Titanic. Discover stories, weigh up conspiracy theories and learn more about one of the most enduring tales of all time. 2pm. £6 per person, £24 family ticket.

Fri 14 Apr

Art for All: Spring Scenes

Southampton City Art Gallery

Southampton SO14 7LY www.southamptoncityartgallery. com Capture the beauty of spring on a clay tile with artist Debra Marsh. Working through different stages you will build a picture with Debra on hand for advice and guidance. 10.30am, 1pm. £7.50. Ages 6+.

Sat 15 Apr

Easter Family Fun Day

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, GU32 3HX www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Enjoy and eggcellent day of easter activities! From the Easter hop disco and seasonal crafts to our Easter hunt trail, there is fun for all the family. 11am-4pm.

Sat 15 Apr

Family Fun Day: Flower Power Bursledon Windmill, Southampton, SO31 8BG www.hampshireculture.org.uk

Make your own seedling pot from paper and then plant sunflower and courgette seedlings to grow out later in the summer. £4 per child plus entry fee. Ages 4+.

Mon 17 to Mon 24 Apr

Mischief Makers

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, GU32 3HX www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Join with your little ones for a unique opportunity to explore the Museum and Art Gallery in a new, interactive, sensory and sometimes messy way. 10-11am.

Sat 22 April

Earth Day

Southampton City Art Gallery

Southampton SO14 7LY www.southamptoncityartgallery. com

A free family fun day at Southampton City Art Gallery packed with arts, crafts and free family activities as part of the Wild Escape. Free.

Sat 22 to Wed 26 Apr

Zog™

MAST Mayflower Studios

Southampton SO14 7DU www.mayflowerstudios.org.uk

Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Large in size and keen in nature, Zog™ is eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know. With lively songs, Zog™ is a magical production for all ages. 10.30am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm.

Sun 23 Apr

Spring Steam Up

The Brickworks Museum, Swanwick, SO31 7HB

www.thebrickworksmuseum.org

Featuring traction engines, craft stalls, children’s activities, miniature train rides and The Brickworks Museum in all its glory. Join in and celebrate the start of the traditional brickmaking season. 11am-4pm.

Sun 23 & Mon 24 Apr

I Spy With My Little Eye - The Party!

Theatre Royal Winchester, SO23 8SB www.theatreroyalwinchester. co.uk/whats-on

Molly and Bingo the puppy are having a birthday party and best of all, you’re invited! There’ll be a terrific treasure hunt, all your favourite sing-along songs and lots of fantastic games to play, including Molly’s favourite game, I Spy With My Little Eye! Ages 2-5.

Mon 24 to Sat 29 Apr

Annie

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, SO15 1AP www.mayflower.org.uk/whats-on/ annie-2023

The smash-hit West End production of Annie, the world’s favourite family musical, returns to Southampton for one week, starring Paul O’Grady as Miss Hannigan. Ages 5+.

Fri 28 to Sun 30 Apr

BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair

Beaulieu, New Forest, SO42 7ZN www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com

Whether you’re a keen gardener, experienced plant enthusiast or a budding beginner, inspiration will be in plentiful supply. There will also be delicious food and drink to be enjoyed at the BBC Good Food Market and a variety of artisan producers and street food vendors, with live music at the Bandstand.

Don’t forget to say you saw these in Families Hampshire West Magazine!

EASTER WORKSHOP

Wed 12 to Fri 14 Apr

Perform’s The Jungle Book Workshop in Winchester

Running at Holy Trinity Parish Church in Winchester, from 10am to 3pm, children ages 4 to 10 will enjoy three days of drama, dance and singing at Perform’s Easter holiday course based on The Jungle Book. Children will join Mowgli and friends as they journey deep into the jungle, meeting Baloo the bear, black panther Bagheera and hunting down ferocious Bengal tiger Shere Khan. Topped off with a fabulously colourful final show, it’s going to be the wildest holiday ever! More info and booking: email enquiries@ perform.org.uk, call 020 7255 9120, or visit www.perform.org. uk/junglebook

The Amazing Bubble Man at MAST Mayflower Studios

andCutout Keep

Let’s make a spring bird café!

Celebrate the arrival of spring by making this funky spring bird café from our friends at Wonderbly. It’s great for small fans of nature and you get to feed the local bird population at the same time.

You will need:

• Milk carton

• Paper plate

• Pencil

• Ruler

• Scissors or Stanley knife (for adults only)

• Paint (use acrylic paint if you want your bird café to go outside but make sure you wear an overall or apron as it doesn’t wash out!)

• Decorative tape (optional)

• Bobbins and mini umbrellas

• Dowel or BBQ sticks

• Yummy seeds

• Flappy customers!

Step 1:

Grab your (empty) milk carton. Take your ruler and get your child assistant to measure and trace two flaps for awnings and a hole for the birds. Then cut the holes.

Step 5:

Instructions: &

While you’re doing the fiddly bits, let your child make their café’s sign with some cardboard and paint. Leave to dry and then help the café owner write their name with a marker before you cut and glue it.

Step 2:

Paint the milk carton and paper plate to make your building and outdoor area. For sharper colour, give your milk carton two coats.

Step 6:

Almost time for the grand opening. Get the kids to stock the café with seeds. Birds especially love sunflower seeds and peanuts.

Step 3:

Tile your roof by painting tiles on with the brush and adorn your awnings. We used decorative tape but you can paint or colour in with pens and pencils.

Step 4:

Make some bunting using thread and decorative tape. You can even make a window plant box by folding up some paper and gluing it underneath one of the awnings.

Wonderbly creates beautiful, personalised children’s books that inspire courage, curiosity, and kindness in children all over the world. A treat for any curious little mind.

www.wonderbly.com

Step 7:

Nearly ready! Grown-ups, make a little ‘X’ with the Stanley knife below the seed hole and push a piece of dowel or a cocktail stick through. Finally, pop some tables and parasols outside for your first customers. Bobbins and mini umbrellas are perfect for this, or you could use corks and leaves if you want more plants.