Families Solent West Magazine

Issue 33 March/ April 2013

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SOLENT WEST

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Childcare Easter activities Health Fostering FREE

DELIVERY!

Free Drama Class Watch your child’s self-esteem soar with Perform’s unique drama, dance and singing classes.

Our weekly workshops will do wonders for their social, linguistic and physical development as well as being the best fun they’ll have all week.

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0845 400 1304 Solent West useful magazine for parents with children 0 - 12 yearsFamilies in Hampshire

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Families Solent West

Contents SOLENT WEST Families Solent West Magazine Editor: Rebecca Carr 023 8040 3247 editor@familiessolentwest.co.uk Next issue: May/ June 2013 Booking deadline: 1 April 2013 Copy deadline: 5 April 2013 To book an advert call: 023 8040 3247 or email: ads@familiessolentwest.co.uk 40,000 readers per issue Printed by Cedar Group www.familiessolentwest.co.uk

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News

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How childcare is changing

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Can you make a difference to a childs life?

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The ultimate me time

12 The truth about sugar in our diet

-familiessolentwest @familiessolentw

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What’s on guide and Easter activities

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Competition win tickets to Marwell and Paultons Park

Copyright: Families Solent West, March/ April 2013 Data Protection: if you send us your name and address in order to win a prize in a competition, we may supply your details to the company offering the prize. If you would prefer us not to do this please state this on your entry.

Disclaimer: Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at the owners risk and whilst every care is taken, neither Families Solent West not its agents accept liability for loss or damage. We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for consequence.

Families Solent West is part of a group established in 1990 headed by Families South West London. All magazines are independently owned and operated under licence.

Development through Drama Boost your child’s confidence & communication skills.

Prepare them for growing up.

Ages 3-17

FREE TASTER SESSION

Act Now 0845 226 8117 or soton@helenogrady.co.uk

In Southampton – Romsey, Bishop Waltham, Lymington, Hedge End, Lordshill & Eastleigh.

March/ April 2013

Families Solent West

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NEWS Happy Birthday SeaCity Museum

SeaCity Museum are offering free entry to children at their first birthday celebration on Wednesday 10 April. They will be open from 10am – 5pm and in addition to all the usual fun interactives that the museum has they will also have, family ‘make and take’ drop-in craft activities, face painting, a special Titanic themed green screen photo booth, costumed characters, story telling and object handling. There will of course be balloons, party bags with birthday cake; all the usual things that birthday parties include! www.seacitymuseum.co.uk

Little Gems Pre-School children ‘sparkle’

Little Gems PreSchool have had an exciting year by welcoming new manager, Angela O’Shea to the Chandlers Ford pre-school and our West End pre-school were winners of the West End carnival with their English Country Garden float. Also, the staff and children at Little Gems pre-school recently completed a sponsored walk to raise money for Russell, a little boy who needs to travel to America for an operation to allow him to walk. Little Gems also have a new logo to reflect how their ‘sparkle’. www.littlegemspreschool.co.uk

Can you run or walk 10K for Age UK Southampton?

Want to get fit, have some fun and make a real difference to the lives of older people living in our City?

Then join in our 10k Run on Southampton Common on Sunday 17th March and help us to support more vulnerable, isolated and lonely people living in Southampton. You can support your local Age UK Southampton by taking part in our 10k run or sponsoring a friend who is running, or come along to cheer the runners (and walkers) on the day.

Enter online at www.ageuk.org.uk/10k Don’t forget, if you want to ensure that the money you raise benefits local people, please remember to tick the local Age UK (Southampton) box when you enter. So come on, spring into action and join in the fun! Sign up now and help us to raise as much money as possible for Southampton’s elderly citizens.

For any enquiries about the services and support Age UK Southampton provide, please call 023 80 368 636.

Family photo shoot event Rob from Tickled Frog Photography has created a wonderful Easter package – combining beautiful portraits with a spot of family fun on Friday 29th March.

The Easter package costs £130 per family (up to six people) and includes a half hour photo shoot in the woodlands at Manor Farm Country Park, your choice of five high resolution images on CD plus your favourite photograph mounted in a contemporary frame.

During your photo shoot at one of Hampshire’s most beautiful parks, children can meet the Easter Bunny puppet, take part in a mini Easter egg hunt and will be presented with their very own chocolate egg to take home!

A limited number of sessions are available. For further details or to place a booking contact Rob on 07545 234155, email: rob@tickledfrog.co.uk or visit www.tickledfrog.co.uk

Save 70% on baby clothes at a Southampton NCT Nearly New Sale Parents and parents-to-be in Southampton can find top quality baby clothes, toys and equipment they need at the Southampton NCT Nearly New Sale, and save around 70% on what they would cost brand-new.

Well-established and trusted by over 200,000 parents who visit them every year, NCT Nearly New Sales represent the best sales of excellent quality used baby and children’s items.

The Southampton branch of the NCT has recently been awarded a gold standard accolade in recognition of the valuable service that its sale provides for expectant parents and for achieving fantastic fundraising success for the NCT charity. The money raised at the sale goes towards helping to provide face-to-face support to parents in the local community, as well as funding national helplines, breastfeeding counselling, training antenatal and postnatal teachers and many more services.

The next sale will take place at the Oasis Academy on Romsey Road in Lordshill on Saturday 16th March. Visit the website for the opening times. www.nct.org.uk/branches/southampton/nearly-new-sales

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March/ April 2013

Families Solent West

News Brand new under five play centre opens Easter at the Submarine Museum A brand new indoor family play and explore centre for under 5s - Busy Boats Bay will open on Saturday 23 March for the Easter school holidays at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport.

Families can have splashing fun with water, dress up as pirates or take command of a play submarine and pirate ship. Busy Boats Bay is a new family centre funded as part of the Saving HMS Alliance community project to bring new audiences to the Submarine Museum.

Chris Munns, Director at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, “We are delighted to be opening a new play centre for under 5’s. This will be a great new facility for our visitors and local community. It will really add to the family experience when visiting the Submarine Museum.”

Busy Boats Bay will include a water play area, a role play area with a crawl through submarine and climb onboard pirate ship, dressing up, toys and games area and a soft sensory play harbour for very young children.

The play centre will be open during all school holidays, weekends and for special events.

New vintage collection available at Emily and Evelyn The new range of beautiful hand-knitted clothing and hats is now available at Emily and Evelyn.

Our retro and vintage designs are made using top quality yarns including Italian Merino and cashmere and are perfect for a newborn photo shoot or to give as a gift. Our full range can be bought via the website and are also available from Etikett of Botley.

Families readers can get a special 15% discount.

Quote ‘Families’ at the checkout. www.etsy.com/shop/emilyandevelyn

New spring/ summer collection now available at Etikett of Botley

For more information please call 023 9254 5036 or visit the website: www.submarine-museum.co.uk

Labels4Kids launches their new website Leading UK based international kids’ labelling specialist Labels4Kids is launching their new look website for March 2013. Attention to detail is something Labels4Kids does well and to make high quality labelling easily available to help families save money on returning property to them is something vital more so than ever before with the cost of new clothing, shoes and other belongings increasing all the time.

The new Labels4Kids website makes ordering so much easier and you can even try designing your labels on the site prior to ordering. See the full range by ordering at www.labels4kids.com/fam

Etikett have a great range of baby and childrenswear including outfits for parties and weddings. The new spring/ summer collection will be arriving from some great brands including; Emile et Rose, Girandola, Sarah Louise, Abella, Little Darlings, Coco, Weekend a la Mer, coquito shoes, Tutto Piccolo, Darcy Brown plus we are excited to be stocking the beautiful Mayoral childrenswear from April. Come and visit us in Botley High Street for that something special. www.etikett.co.uk

Etikett is a unique boutique specialising in classic, traditional and designer wear for babies and children 0 - 8 years. l l l l l l l

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Families Solent West

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By Joanna Moorhead

How is childcare changing?

Childcare in Britain costs more than childcare almost anywhere else in the world – according to recent figures, 27% of the income of families with young children is spent on the costs of a nanny, a childminder or a nursery.

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For under-ones, the ratio will rise from 1:3 to 1:4

Everyone agrees it would be better if childcare was more affordable – especially for parents with two or more children, many of whom say it doesn’t make financial sense for them both to be at work.

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Qualifications would be raised for new nursery staff – they’ll be required to have a GCSE grade C or above in English and Maths

But how can childcare be made cheaper without compromising on quality? That’s the question everyone, from government ministers to childcare providers, is grappling with at the moment.

What the government is saying In late January the government announced a new plan to change child:staff ratios for childminders and nurseries, in a move it says will cut costs for parents and raise pre-school standards.

Early years minister Elizabeth Truss is proposing that: •

Childminders, who are currently restricted to looking after three children aged one to five, should in future be able to look after four

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They would also be allowed to look after two children aged under one, instead of being restricted to one child under one

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March/ April 2013

Nurseries will be allowed to increase their staff-to-child ratio from the current 1:4 to 1:6

Other changes include the introduction of a new graduate-level early years teaching qualification.

Truss says the proposals won’t lead to children being neglected: she points out that the changes she is suggesting will still leave England with higher staff:child ratios than those for childcarers in France, Denmark and Germany, three countries that are often cited as providing high-quality care for pre-school children.

Her basic argument is that the current relatively tight ratios have two main effects: they mean higher costs for parents, and lower pay for staff. The changes she’d like to see would, she believes, lead to lower fees for parents and higher pay for staff, and this in turn would improve the quality of childcare workers over time.

But Labour’s shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg says he believes the plans would undermine the quality of the UK’s childcare. “I think this is one area where we’ve got something to teach other countries,” he says. “If you look at France, there’s quite a big public debate

about whether they’ve got this right.”

Marg Randles, managing director of Busy Bees, the UK’s largest childcare provider with 213 nurseries across the country, says “This flexibility already exists within settings for 3-5 year olds where providers can choose to adopt a 1:13 ratio where there is a qualified teacher or EYP working directly with the children.”

She believes Busy Bees baby ratios of 3:9 and toddler (2-3’s) ratios of 3:12 works best across its 213 settings, but others may find they can work within the new ratio guide lines.

She welcome changes that put the decisions in the hands of individual childcare experts and trust they will make the right choice for their children, parents and business. ”But the important issue for Busy Bees is childcare vouchers: currently, employers are allowed to give employees up to £55 a week in tax-free vouchers to pay for childcare; raising this to £75 a week would make a real difference to parents,” the chain argues. In comparison, the saving to families if the Truss proposals go through would amount, says Busy Bees, to less than £3.00 per week.

What about tax breaks?

Childcare vouchers are one form of tax breaks for parents paying for childcare. However, before the recent Truss announcement it had been hoped Families Solent West

Childcare that the scheme would be reformed and extended, allowing more parents to benefit from the scheme, and those already using it to save more.

Unfortunately these hopes haven’t come to fruition: Ms Truss has said changes are in the pipeline, but that they’re “going to be slightly longer in the gestation than would be ideal”.

So the details of the scheme are still being worked out, and it’s been widely reported in the press that there are ideological differences within the Coalition. Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat deputy prime minister, has suggested that changes should be for those on lower incomes, while the Conservatives are believed to want the breaks to be universal.

While we wait for another announcement, it’s being reported that the scheme under consideration could be worth thousands of pounds – sources close to the government have said working women with children aged under five could become entitled to claim a flat rate tax allowance of £2,000 a year to pay someone to look after their children.

But if that’s the good news, the bad news – sadly – is that with all the political wrangling going on behind the scenes, the plan could take some time...though some experts still believe it could be introduced before the next General Election.

How to cut your childcare costs in the short term So the bottom line is that there’s not a huge amount happening at government level to cut your childcare costs right now – so if you need to get them down, it’s up to you to find a way. Here are a few ideas we’ve come up with at Families:

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Change your working hours: as a parent with a child under 16, you’re entitled to request flexible working hours from your employer, provided you’ve worked there for more than six months. You could ask to fit your work into fewer days that are longer – then your partner could collect your child or children from your carer on the days you’re working, and you can cut childcare bills.

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If you work part-time and use a nursery, check out whether the fees are lower on certain days of the week (they sometimes are) and see if you can switch the days you work.

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Team up with a friend who’s also working part-time and has a child of a similar age. So you look after her child with yours while she’s working, and vice versa.

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When you’re choosing a childminder, check whether she can access the

free 15 hours’ childcare a week that all three and four-year-olds are entitled to – not all childminders can do this, and it can be worth up to £180 for 38 weeks of the year.

For more on childcare go to www.familiesonline.co.uk

Home-School Tutoring UK (est. 1984) Tutors (with full references/CRB checked) available for: • • • • •

All ages, levels and subjects Special Needs Support Exam Preparation Support with Home Schooling Holiday and/or Term time work

Initial consultation is free and without obligation

Please contact the Area Advisor for Hampshire (West & Central) Mrs Alex Murray-Twinn, BA (Hons) PGCE, NPQH e: alex.murray-twinn@homeschooltutoring.co.uk t: 02380 275573 www.homeschooltutoring.co.uk March/ April 2013

Families Solent West

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Could you make a difference in a child’s life? be challenging yet incredibly rewarding, where the work you do can genuinely make a difference to the lives of others and also provide an opportunity for selfdevelopment and growth.

“I’m now more aware of the different issues and challenges many young people face and I’ve realised just how lucky I was growing up in a stable family home, and how wonderful it is that I can provide the same stability to a young person.”

There are different types of fostering schemes. Is one of these right for you?

Amongst the many good deeds one can do in life, there are few that will impact a child’s life like fostering.

It’s sometimes all too easy to take for granted a happy and settled childhood, if you have been lucky enough to have one. Foster carers are urgently required with the time, space and energy in their lives to provide a home to someone else’s child.

Can I do it?

You can foster if you are working, not working, or a full-time parent at home.

Foster carers caring for children from birth to five years need to be at home on a full-time basis (one of the partners if you are a couple). If you are caring for a school age child and you work you will need to consider what arrangements you will make to take the child to and from school and to accommodate school holidays.

You can foster if: •

• • • •

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You are 21 years old or above You have the time, space and commitment

You are single or with a partner You practice a religion or not

You are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or heterosexual March/ April 2013

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You have got your own children or not

I am not sure if it for me?

Almost anyone can apply to be a foster carer, but as with any career, some people will be more suited to it than others. You do not need any formal qualifications to become a foster carer.

However, you do need skills and experience that will enable you to meet the needs of the children and young people you care for.

Fostering services need to recruit a variety of foster carers to offer as much placement choice as possible to children and young people. You can apply to foster regardless of your marital status, sexuality or residential status. Foster carers come from a diverse range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds which reflect the children and young people who are in care.

“Fostering has totally changed my outlook on life,” said Kevin Mahal, full time foster carer with Core Assets Fostering.

“Five years ago I was an overworked recruitment consultant, but fostering has opened my eyes to a new world, a world where a career could

Main-scheme / fee-paying: Fostering children from 0-18 years old from an emergency overnight stay up to two years or more.

Specialist fostering: Full-time foster care to children who need more specialist care due to their additional needs.

Short breaks: Part-time and respite fostering for children with disabilities, young people in specialist foster care and families that need a break.

Supported lodgings: Foster care to children between 16-21years old who need support in a nurturing environment to help them develop independent living skills.

Permanent fostering: A permanent arrangement for children who are unable to return to their birth families, but for whom adoption or special guardianship is not an appropriate option.

Parent and child Parent and child foster carers provide a family environment of support and nurture for a young parent and their child.

Parent and child foster carers help young parents to develop confidence in their parenting skills in a safe environment.

Families Solent West

Fostering and Adoption

Are you looking for a challenging career?

Core Assets Fostering is looking to recruit further foster families in Hampshire.

For more information, call us on Freephone 0800 023 4561 or visit www.iwanttofoster.com

Think about adoption Adoption is a way of providing a new family for children who cannot be brought up by their own parents. It’s a legal procedure in which all the parental responsibility is transferred to the adopters.

Once an adoption order has been granted it can’t be reversed except in extremely rare circumstances. An adopted child loses all legal ties with their first mother and father (the “birth

parents”) and becomes a full member of the new family, usually taking the family’s name.

Who can adopt?

You have to be over 21, happy to make space in your life and home for a child, patient, flexible and energetic, and determined to make a real difference to a child’s life, for a lifetime.

adoption agency to get to know prospective adopters, assess them and help prepare them for the task ahead and to get approved.

For more information on adoption and fostering visit: www.iwanttofoster.com www.couldyoufoster.org.uk www.hants.gov.uk/fostering www.baaf.co.uk

Initially, it usually takes at least six months for social workers from an

Room to spare?

Become a foster carer As a foster carer you can help create memories that will last a lifetime. Get in touch with us now to start a journey you’ll never forget.

If you have a spare bedroom and are committed to making a difference we’d love to talk to you.

QUALITY CARE IN A FAMILY SETTING

March/ April 2013

0800 023 4561 iwanttofoster.com Families Solent West

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The ultimate me time Mindfulness has become the buzzword in the world of health and wellbeing. Helena Foss explores what the fuss is about and how busy mums can fit it into their day.

Over at Bangor University, you can do a degree in it. It is at the cutting edge of psychotherapy. Study after study shows it reduces the stress hormone cortisol (linked to everything from heart disease to cancer), alleviates headaches and anxiety; boosts the immune system; improves mental health, creativity and problem solving. In fact, with regular practice of mindfulness it is perfectly possible to rewire the brain to a more peaceful disposition, a process known as neuroplasticity.

Academics at Bangor describe mindfulness as: ‘paying attention on purpose moment to moment without judging.’ This quote comes from Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the stress reduction programme at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre, where mindfulness has been taught and studied since the 1970s. Based on Eastern meditation techniques, the Centre’s mindfulness programmes have yielded consistently successful results in all kinds of settings: from prisons and deprived inner cities to the corporate world.

But where do I find the time?

Cross Country Rail recently commissioned a poll of 1,000 parents, 62 per cent of whom described managing their home, parenting responsibilities and longer working hours as akin to ‘one big juggling act’. Three quarters of those polled said that lack of time to themselves causes arguments with their partners, whilst one in ten get only ten minutes to themselves each day. Cross Country 10

March/ April 2013

Rail have responded by creating a timesaving Smartphone app for booking train tickets. But are super efficient gizmos really the answer to alleviating constant overwhelm?

Human doings or human beings?

Yes, women have the vote and legalised equality. But while we’re busy proving our worth to the world at large and overturning patriarchy, we are slowly but surely burning out. ‘Having it all’ has really transpired into ‘doing it all’, which is why we all need to schedule in pure nothing time on a regular basis.

This might appear unproductive. But there is great value in stopping being a ‘human doing’ and practicing the forgotten art of simply being, if only for a few moments. Most of us, at some point in our lives, have had a standstill moment in time – maybe watching an awe-inspiring sunset, looking into your newborn’s eyes for the first time, or even hearing heartbreaking news that you know will change your life forever. In that instant, we are so immersed in the moment that time itself slows right down.

Now, this is the point of mindfulness practice; to be so present that time actually stretches, a little like blue tac, opening up space in your mind. No smartphone app required. Cool, huh?

(Did I mention this takes practice?)

Mindless chatter Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), the

NHS approved treatment of choice for depression, works to change the negative thought loops which trigger emotional distress. Indeed, most of us identify so closely with our minds that we believe the stream of mindless chatter that forms the running commentary to our lives, is who we actually are. But if you listen closely, you will notice that a lot of it is, well, a load of old nonsense: Judgements, opinions, shoulds, what ifs and if onlys.

Endless self-criticism, worrying about the future, pining over the past, arguing with someone in your head, wondering what the neighbours think of you in your most stressed out moments (come on, admit it, we all yell sometimes), picking over every last detail of that mortifying incident when your child projectile vomited all over that terribly nice shop assistant...

Anything except relaxing into the moment that is happening right now and letting everything be exactly as it is.

Doing nothing changes everything The magic of mindfulness is that simply observing our thoughts without judgement (which really does take practice!) can, over time, actually change them – no effort required. Using will power to, for example, lose weight, rarely works, as any yoyo dieter will tell you. Rather than sergeant majoring yourself into a strict health regime (and beating yourself up when you give into temptation), in the long term it is more practical and effective to observe your behaviour and compassionately notice the deeper, subconscious thoughts and Families Solent West

Health emotions driving the urge to overeat. The Buddhist psychotherapist Tara Brach, calls this approach ‘radical acceptance.’

Not necessarily easy, but it does work.

You see, silence can actually be deeply intelligent; doing nothing extraordinarily productive. You should try it sometime. Here are a few pointers to get you started:

Mindfulness Just like learning to ride a bike, mastering the art of mindfulness takes practice.

Once you have the knack, however, you will be able to call on it whenever you have a few spare minutes (on the bus, in a waiting room, while the baby is napping). Find a way that works for you:

Get the knack

Once you have the hang of it, you can make any and all mundane daily activities mindful: Whilst washing up become as present as you can to the sights, sounds and sensations of that moment. Feel how your feet touch the ground whilst walking.

Just notice. Simply be.

If you have three minutes: According to Goldie Hawn’s book 10 Mindful Minutes, a recent American study found that just three minutes of mindful breathing three times per day is enough to strengthen the brain and effectively change stressful thought patterns. Again, the key is regular practice.

If you have twenty minutes: Transcendental Meditation is a popular technique that involves repeating a personalised mantra silently to yourself.

To find teachers near you see: www.t-m. org.uk/

If you have forty minutes: Sometimes we are so full of tense energy that it has to be released before our minds will calm down too. The trick is to find any physical activity that you enjoy (swimming, jogging, walking through nature, dancing around the living room) and let your body take over and find its natural rhythm. This will naturally clear your mind. Then sit for a few minutes afterwards and practice mindful breathing.

If you have an hour: Try an active meditation like Osho Kundalini Meditation, which involves four equal parts of shaking, dancing and stillness (all set to specially designed music) and a final fifteen minutes of silence. It is worth trying this in a group first (check www.oshoinuk.com/places-tomeditate for one near you) or purchase the CD or MP3 download, available on Amazon, to do at home. The first half an hour moves the body, releasing stress and pent up emotions, making it much easier to sink into stillness. You will emerge a different person!

Helena Foss is a hypnotherapist, mum and writer. www.helenafoss.co.uk

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Find some quiet time and practice sitting with a straight back, feet on the floor (cross legged if you prefer) and notice your breathing, how the air feels as it touches the insides of your nostrils, your chest rising and falling. The idea is to witness thoughts that come and go without getting caught up in them. You could see them as clouds in the sky or a newsfeed along the bottom of your internal TV screen.

Random thoughts will distract you time and time again. This is normal. ‘What can I make for dinner? Oh, my nose is itchy.

I’ll never get the hang of this.’ You know the kind of thing. Keep bringing your attention back to the breath. If emotions arise, give them space and just let them be.

VISIT BEAULIEU THIS EASTER...

U P DAT E D & E X T E N D E D F O R 2 0 1 3

E A ST ER EGG - S TRAVAGANZA From 29th March - 14th April Face painting, Victorian games and a sweet treat from the Easter Bunny!

The world’s largest official collection of original James Bond vehicles at the National Motor Museum

IT . . .

D O N ’T M IS S

National Motor Museum

Palace House & Gardens

Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire SO42 7ZN Exit 2 M27 Open daily 10am

March/ April 2013

Beaulieu Abbey

Tel 01590 612345 www.beaulieu.co.uk

Families Solent West 11

Addictive, unwholesome and everywhere: The toxic truth about sugar in our children’s diet

By Elisabeth Dolton

A silent revolution Essentially, the mass development of a cheap, highly sweet, glucosefructose syrup, produced from surplus corn, started in the 70’s, and was soon pumped into every conceivable food: pizza, coleslaw, meat. It provides a “just baked” sheen on bread and cakes, makes everything sweeter, and helps to keep foods moist so extends shelf life from days to years. At the same time low fat foods were being embraced by dieters, so as fat was taken out of foods, sugar replaced it to maintain taste. Unsurprisingly, sugar consumption has trebled worldwide over the last 50 years, and this purified sugar (known as ‘added’ sugar) is now an alarmingly major part of the Western diet. As a result, the amount of sugar going into our bodies has been silently revolutionised.

12 March/ April 2013

© Kati Neudert

So you sent your child off to school this morning on a full bowl of cereal and some fresh orange juice. Thinking this is a good start to the day, you may have already given them over half their recommended daily allowance of sugar. This scenario is common across many families. Over the past 10 years the use of sugar in foods has undergone a transformation, resulting in us potentially providing a diet for our children that contains too much sugar than their bodies can cope with.

Unavoidable UK guidelines recommend that added sugars shouldn’t make up more than around 50g a day, equivalent to ten teaspoons of sugar for adults and nine for five to ten-year-olds. Added sugar is now found in almost all processed foods and not just obviously sweet foods - glucose-fructose syrup is found in everyday products, such as cereal, salad dressing, sausages, making it easy to send our children over the recommended limit, sometimes with just one product.

Increasing addiction Moreover, recent research has been looking into a worrying trend that the more sugar we eat, the more we want, and concluding that the addictive nature of sugar for

our children is much higher than previously thought. Added sugar dulls the brain’s mechanism that tells you to stop eating, by reducing activity in the brain’s anorexigenic oxytocin system that gives the body the ‘full’ feeling. Without this, our appetite becomes insatiable, making it very easy to overeat.

The dangers “Sugar is ubiquitous, and the problem with refined sugar as opposed to natural sugar,” says Tracey Harper, Nutritional Therapist, “is that this sugar is an empty food with the goodness striped away, so when eaten it actually robs the body of vital nutrients, resulting in a depleted immune system.” She goes on to explain that sugar feeds bad bacteria in the gut, the gut lining becomes exposed, so toxins can enter the blood stream, causing Families Solent West

Health allergens to develop and other auto-immune deficiencies. Studies confirm this, showing that excess sugars cause a fifty-percent drop in the ability of white blood cells to fight off bacteria.

The growing problem of obesity in the UK with 31% of children now classified as overweight and the rising incidence of Type 2 diabetes, once associated with old people, also points to the overconsumption of sugar in children’s daily diet.

Excess sugar rots teeth and let’s not forget, poor memory, low moods and depression all have been linked to the over-consumption of sugar.

The recognisable ‘sugar high’ you get after eating sugar resulting in more energy and improved mood is temporary. After some time, the body crashes, energy levels plummet, leaving lethargy and tiredness. Further effects can include hyperactivity in children, crankiness and eczema.

So, as we scratch our heads on how to get our kids to eating less sweets and exercising more, perhaps we also need to start looking more closely at what are putting on their plates at meal and snack times.

How much sugar is there in......

1.5l bottle of Volvic Touch of Fruit Lemon and Lime

16 ½ teaspoons of sugar

Orangina 500ml

13 teaspoons

McDonald’s milkshake

Tesco Pure Orange Juice Smooth, 250ml Dolmio Bolognese sauce, 500g

Walls soft scoop vanilla ice cream, 200ml Serving of Kellogg’s Frosties Two McVities Jaffa Cakes

Muller Light Strawberry yoghurt, 175g

16 teaspoons 6 teaspoons 6 teaspoons

4 ½ teaspoons 4 teaspoons 3 teaspoons

2 ½ teaspoons

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

How to reduce added sugar in your family’s diet Remember natural sugars are good - Soak apricots, whizz them in a blender, and use that to sweeten foods Ensure every meal includes protein. Have meat, fish, vegetable or salad with pasta or pizza, so your child is getting everything for the body to function properly Eat from scratch. Eat real food not processed food – Porridge with a dash of honey has everything a young child needs to start off the day Make your own pasta sauce, stuffed with lots of pureed vegetables (carrots, peppers, greens.) Make a large batch then freeze on small portions Make smoothies using a hand blender and a jug. Add in a vegetable, e.g. avocado and strawberry. Cheaper and as good as any supermarket brand Children eat what is there. Keep sugary snacks and junk food out of the house, instead offer oat biscuits, hummus, chopped vegetables, Whole Earth peanut butter

How to spot a high sugar food?

Look for ‘total sugars’ on the label which include natural and added sugar.

A food with less than 5g ‘total sugars’ per 100g is classified as low, more than 15g per 100g is high

March/ April 2013

Further Information www.traceyharpernutrition.co.uk www.hungryforchange.tv/sugar-is-a-drug www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/pages/sugars www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/pages/food-labelling www.bbc.co.uk/health www.myhealthnewsdaily.com www.telegraph.co.uk/health/dietandfitness www.nhs.uk/change4life

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Exbury Gardens

What’s on Please always phone or view the website before attending the event listed in case details have changed since we went to press.

Throughout March

9 - 10 March

LEGO ® Mania 2013 Milestones Museum

www.milestones-museum.com

Popular event! Booking in advance is recommended We’ll be building live in front of you a massive 4m long truck out of LEGO. Event includes: workshops, competitions and prizes, LEGO minifigure hunt, build and customise your own LEGO minifigure, LEGO and DUPLO® play tables and new graffiti wall, LEGO photograph gallery, exhibition of fantastic LEGO models including our Olympic stadium! Some activities have additional charges. Check website for times and prices.

Woodland Craft Weekend Manor Farm Country Park

www.hants.gov.uk/manorfarm

See woodland craftsmen in action including hurdle making and willow weaving. Activities for children and grown ups.

Small charge for some activities. For opening times see the website. Normal farm admission charge

10 March

10 March

Peter and the Wolf Puppet Show Winchester Discovery Centre www3.hants.gov.uk/wdc 11.30am, £6 each or four for £20, Ages 3+ An energetic and fun adaptation told with the use of Sea Legs wonderfully creative puppets. The audience is hooked from the start as they are led into an enchanting storybook world. 45 minutes plus 15 minutes to “meet the puppets.”

Sea Urchins: Making a sea lion puppet Royal Marines Sub-Museum

www.submarine-museum.co.uk

10am -12pm Discover the story of Queenie and Bilikins, two sea lions who helped the crew of a special submarine and explore our new early years gallery Busy Boats Bay. Free with a valid Museum ticket

A unique 18th century village where warships for Nelson’s Navy were built

KIDS g

FAMILY FUN WEEKEND

FREE

Terms &

6 - 7 April 2013 Celebrating Living History Characters years of the Kid’s Fun Trails Maritime Museum Lots of prizes to be won

Condit

50

ions ap

o

ply*

*Terms & Conditions: Free admission only applicable on 6 and 7 April 2013. Up to three children free of charge when accompanied by one full paying adult. Children aged up to 17 years inclusive are eligible for offer. Bring this advert with you to gain admission. Code: SOLENT

Buckler’s Hard, New Forest, Hampshire SO42 7XB Exit 2 M27 Tel 01590 616203 www.bucklershard.co.uk Open daily 10am 14 March/ April 2013

Families Solent West

What’s on 10 March Bushcraft for all the Family Sir Harold Hillier Gardens www.hilliergardens.org.uk 10.30am – 1pm This fun family bushcraft day for children age 4 to 11 years and their parents Families are welcome to stay on and enjoy the Gardens afterwards. £10 per person, accompanied Mothers free. Children under seven must be accompanied by one adult per child.

16 March The Incredible Book Eating Boy The Berry Theatre www.theberrytheatre.co.uk 12-1.30pm & 2.30-4pm suitable for ages 4+ An adaptation of Oliver Jeffers’ enchanting tale, staged in an intimate two-person box theatre.

Come and see this unique performance in the company’s world-renowned Black Box theatre and watch Bootworks bring the pages to life! An exciting adventure for 4+

year olds, and their grownups using live performance, puppetry and back projection.

17 March

Grand opening of Busy Boats Bay Royal Navy Submarine Museum.

17 March The Elephant s Bridesmaid Winchester Discovery Centre www3.hants.gov.uk/wdc 01962 873603 11.30am, Adults £8.50; Children £7.50, or four for £28, Ages 4+ Written especially for parents to enjoy with their children, The Elephant Bridesmaid is a magical musical about weddings and wombats and the loveliest elephant the world has ever known. Based on a story from the best selling book How The Koala Learnt To Hug and Other Australian Fairytales this most charming of shows has just the right balance of games, songs and heart warming elephant antics to make any day feel like your special day.

23 March

10K Run Age UK Southampton Southampton Common www.ageuk.org.uk/10k See page 4 for details.

22 March New 4D Cinema Launch Paultons Park www.paultonspark.co.uk The brand new 4D cinema

will put families in the heart of the action with a 3D movie, specially-designed moving chairs that coincide with the action on the screen, water sprays, blasts of air, leg ticklers, bubbles and even snow.

www.submarine-museum.co.uk

1pm – 3pm Join the party in Busy Boats Bay – a brand new play and explore centre for under 5’s at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. It’s the official opening from 1pm with lots of fun including balloons and a children’s entertainer. Have splashing fun with water, dress up as pirates and take command of your own play submarine or pirate ship.

Or simply just take in the sights and sounds of this play harbour in the soft sensory play area. Free with a valid museum ticket Visit Busy Boats again and again. Save over 40% and buy our 2yr PASS. Under 5’s are free.

Visit this EastEr and join thE giant EastEr Egg hunt around thE toWEr! 27 March – 14 april

View things differently ne w f or 2013

i-view interactive view interpretation

Wow! Explore one of the most amazing sea and landscapes, spanning 23 miles and over 1700 years of history with our new multi-touch screens. i-view reveals the fascinating facts and hidden stories of the stunning panorama and brings key landmarks closer to you.

k Booe to n i on l

saVe 15%

March/ April 2013

www.spinnakertower.co.uk 02392 857 520 Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth PO1 3TT Open daily 10am to 6pm Find us on @spinnakertower

National Museum of the Royal Navy Guidelines

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24 March Family Sundays: Unmythable Winchester Discovery Centre www3.hants.gov.uk/wdc 01962 873603 1 and 3pm, Cost: £8.50 For ages 8+ all need tickets All the greatest Greek myths in just one hour - get ready for the journey of a lifetime.

Set sail with Jason and the Argonauts as he takes on his greatest mission: the quest to bring back the Golden Fleece, adventure for everyone aged 8 to 88.

24 March Snail Trail Manor Farm Country Park

www.hants.gov.uk/manorfarm

10.30amd & 2.30pm, 01489 787055. Booking essential.

Join the Park Ranger on an easy access trail through the woodland to discover the story of the Manor Farm Fairy Folk. Charge includes a set of 6 Story Trails at countryside sites around Hampshire.

EASTER ACTIVITIES 29 March - 1 April Easter Egg Hunt Itchen Valley Country Park 023 8046 6091 Drop in any time between 10.30am and 4.00pm Find where the Easter Bunny has hidden his eggs in the woods. If you can spot them all you will win a prize! Cost £1.75 per trail pack.

Easter Egg Trail Mottisfont near Romsey www.eastereggtrail.com 10am - 5pm, normal admission charge plus £2 per trail.

Easter egg trail through these world famous gardens, leading to a chocolatey prize

29 March - 1 April Easter Egg Trail Hinton Ampner, near Alresford www.eastereggtrail.com 10am – 4pm, normal admission, plus £2 per trail.

10 giant eggs have been hidden in the gardens, leading to the Golden Egg. Take up the quest and follow clues that will end in a chocolate egg prize. There’s more fun in the house, with face painting workshops, and a chance to hunt out the popular Hinton Ampner Bunnies, all dressed in their best Easter outfits!

Easter at Exbury Exbury Gardens www.exbury.co.uk Easter is a wonderful time at Exbury, with stunning displays of camellias, primroses, azaleas and early rhododendrons, and a cloth of golden daffodils leading down to the Beaulieu River.

Ride on the Exbury Steam Railway and look out for the Easter bunnies hiding in the woods! With a trail sheet and colouring for children, it’s fun for all the family! Standard Gardens Admission prices apply. Train rides are extra, £4.00 per person.

29 March - 7 April Day out with Thomas Watercress Line www.watercressline.co.uk Thomas and Friends return to the Watercress Line for more family fun! See Toad, Diesel, Bulgy, George and of course Thomas the Tank Engine.

All day travel on the day of your visit, giving great value for money. Free children’s entertainment and activities Find out more and book your tickets in advance visit the website or pay on the day.

March/ April 2013

29 March - 7 April Easter Egg Trail Winchester City Mill www.eastereggtrail.com 11am – 4pm Enjoy Easter egg trails and quizzes at this 18th-century working watermill, with Cadbury chocolate treats for all participants.

29 March - 14 April

Eggciting fun down on the Farm Manor Farm Country Park

www.hants.gov.uk/manorfarm

Join us down on the farm this Easter and visit our brand new hatchery! Experience a new life emerging from its egg, meet our feathered friends in the nursery and learn about the life cycle of a chick or baby duck. Take part in our new farm explorer trail and discover lambs, piglets and rabbits as you wonder around the farmyard. Get up close to the animals, have a go at milking and take part in a Victorian school lesson.

Also don’t forget to join in our Easter egg hunt in the park and see if you can follow the trail.

Easter Trail Surprise Hillier Gardens www.hilliergardens.org.uk To celebrate Easter follow the Trail of the Coloured Eggs find clues around the Gardens and solve the puzzle to win a chocolate surprise. Running throughout the Hampshire spring break. Great fun!

Adults: free with normal admission children: £1

Families Solent West

What’s on 29 March - 14 April

29 March - 14 April

30 March

Easter Egg-stravaganza Beaulieu www.beaulieu.co.uk See website for admission price There’s a lot more for all the family at Beaulieu this Easter; take a ride on the high-level Monorail or see the sights from the replica open-topped London Bus. Budding drivers can get behind the wheel on the Mini Car Driving Circuit and younger visitors can get physical on Dipstick’s Mini Motor Play Trail with its Veteran Bus climbing frame, swings and Little Tykes rideon-cars. There is also face painting and Victorian games outside on the lawn.

Giant Easter Egg Hunt The Spinnaker Tower www.spinnakertower.co.uk Far from a traditional Easter egg hunt, the Spinnaker Tower is hosting a hunt of giant proportions where the elusive eggs will be hidden around the 170 metre viewing tower.

Visitors are challenged to discover the eggs locations for the chance to win a delicious seasonal prize. Price: Adult: £8.55, child: £6.75

Medieval Monsters – Felt Crafts (8-12 years) Tudor House & Garden www.tudorhouseandgarden. com 10:30am-3:30pm, £17 Prebook only 023 8083 4536 Discover all about medieval monsters, then make your very own monster-themed pouch to take home and keep things in. Working with Lokksley Illustration & Crafts you will use felt and other trimmings making a frighteningly good accessory.

All things feathery Marwell Zoo www.marwell.org.uk Visit our new walkthrough bird aviary, get creative with our free feathery crafts, listen to our fascinating talks. Take part in our Wild egg hunt and visit the Easter Bunny to collect your very own chocolate egg (Bank Holiday weekend only).

Easter Fun Tudor House and Garden www.southampton.gov.uk 10am – 5pm Enjoy the first signs of spring at Tudor House and Garden with our Easter eggstravaganza. Run around the garden and discover the hidden trail to crack the puzzles to win a prize. Take part in our Easter themed family workshops with a Wonderland twist. You’ll be mad to miss it.

Traditional Easter Egg Dying Hillier Gardens www.hilliergardens.org.uk 1pm- 4pm A crafty way to celebrate Easter. Decorate your very own egg using dyes, was crayons and your imagination, then make a basket to carry it in. No need to book, just turn up. Adults: free with normal admission, children £1

30 March - 1 April New Forest – Foxbury Common www.eastereggtrail.com 11am – 4pm, £3 each, booking advisable on 01794 344020 The beautiful and exciting wilderness that is Foxbury Common is hosting two days of Easter fun, with a family trail that takes children on a hunt for clues, leading to an Easter egg prize.

30 March - 6 April Hot cross bun baking Winchester City Mill www.eastereggtrail.com 11am – 4pm The spicy aroma of hot cross buns will be floating across the mill at Easter; discover how the freshly milled flour is combined with other local ingredients to make these delicious tea-time treats.

Join Thomas & FriendsTM at a heritage Railway near you.

Experience a ride on a real steam engine and take part in Thomas-themed activities.

MID HANTS RAILWAY ‘WATERCRESS LINE’ Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9JG

29TH - 7TH 2013

www.dayoutwiththomas.co.uk Day Out With Thomas Thomas the Tank EngineTM. Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W. Awdry. © 2013 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, Thomas & Friends and Day Out With Thomas are trademarks of Gullane (Thomas) Limited. © 2013 HIT Entertainment Limited.

TM

March/ April 2013

Families Solent West

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Whatever you want to store...

THEY’RE BACK! DALEK INVASION OF PORTSMOUTH!

Whatever your needs, long or short term

6 & 7 APRIL 2013 10am-5pm

...for whatever reason – house sale and purchase not coinciding, travelling, bereavement, house building work, decorating or even ‘de-cluttering’ to sell your house more quickly – we offer a friendly, flexible and secure facility.

ADULT £10 CHILD UNDER 12 £5 CHILD UNDER 5 £3 CALL 023 9281 9385 VISIT ROYALMARINESMUSEUM.CO.UK

Barn-Store is a friendly family run business only a mile from Stockbridge. We offer all the features associated with the national chains, from high tech security to hassle-free 24/7 access.

For more information, visit our website:

www.barn-store.co.uk or give us a call on:

01264 316166 Reg. Charity Nº 1142186

18

March/ April 2013

and ask to speak to Rachel Families Solent West

1

st

Birthday

Knot just a Garden Tudor House & Garden open 7 days a week, 10 - 5pm Visit the website for details of family events.

www.tudorhouseandgarden.com

March/ April 2013

It’s our birthday party!

Join us on 10 April between 10am – 5pm for a day of family fun.

Kids go FREE www.seacitymuseum.co.uk

Families Solent West

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Until 14 April LEGO ® Mania 2013 Milestones Museum www.milestones-museum. com Popular event! Booking in advance is recommended We’ll be building live in front of you a massive 4m long truck out of LEGO. Event includes: workshops, competitions and prizes, LEGO minifigure hunt, build and customise your own LEGO minifigure, LEGO and DUPLO® play tables and new graffiti wall, LEGO photograph gallery, exhibition of fantastic LEGO models including our Olympic stadium! Some activities have additional charges. Check website for times and prices.

1 April Mad Hatters Tudor House & Garden www.tudorhouseandgarden. com 10.30am-12.30pm or 13.302.30pm Pre – book 023 8083 4536. (4-11 years) Go “through the looking glass” at Tudor house and stumble across this fun-filled hat-making workshop. Using junk modeling and recycled items create a hat that is set to impress. Why not come dressed as your favourite fairytale character!

Egg and Spoon Race Mottisfont near Romsey www.eastereggtrail.com 1 April, 12.30 – 12.45pm, normal admission charge only.

Set off from the starting line, and try to complete the assault course without dropping your precious egg.

Don’t forget to bring a spoon!

Marwell Zoo

1 April Easter Egg Trail The Vyne, near Basingstoke www.eastereggtrail.com 11am – 5pm, normal admission charge only The Cadbury ‘eggheads’ have escaped! Follow the Easter egg trail through the grounds and track down a chocolate treat.

3 April Forest Activity Day Itchen Valley Country Park Booking Essential 023 8046 6091 Join us for a day of forest skills including fire lighting and shelter building. A fun day for 6 – 11 year olds from 9.30 to 4.00pm. Cost £20.00 per child

4 April Animal Tracks Art Gallery www.southampton.gov.uk 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30 –3.30pm Pre – book only 023 8083 4536 Work with a professional artist to create a wild collage after listening to the story of Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson. Suitable for 4 – 8 year olds.

4 - 6 April Tiddler Winchester Theatre Royal Thur, 4pm, Fri, 1pm & 4pm, Sat, 10am & 1pm, £11 or £36 per family

Sock Bunnies Itchen Valley Country Park 023 8046 6091 Drop in any time between 10.30am and 4.00pm Come and make a charming beanie bunny from a sock!

Cost £2.00 per bunny

Scamp Theatre & Watford Palace Theatre are delighted to present Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales from Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler Under sea, over land, on the farm and in the jungle, these tales are woven together with live music, songs, puppets and a host of colourful characters who will delight.

6 April Family Forest School Itchen Valley Country Park Booking Essential 023 8046 6091 11.00am to 1.00pm Fun in the woods for families, including campfire cookery, shelter building and woodland craft. Cost £7.00 per child age 4 – 11 years.

6 - 7 April Family Fun Weekend Bucklers Hard, New Forest www.bucklershard.co.uk Open daily from 10am Family Fun Weekend at the Unique 18th century village where warships for Nelsons Navy were built. Living history characters, kids fun trails

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March/ April 2013

Dalek Invasion Royal Marines Museum Southsea, Hampshire, PO4 9RX Come out from behind the sofa and prepare to be brave as an army of Daleks invade the Museum. Back by popular demand, the Daleks continue their reign of terror with shows, monster characters & children’s activities. Ticket prices – Adults £10, Child (under 12) £5, Child (under 5) £3 7 April

4 April Camouflage Creations Southampton City Art Gallery www.southampton.gov.uk 10.30am - 12.30pm &1.30 –3.30pm.

Pre-book 023 8083 4536 4 – 8 years. Hear the story of the Hidden Hippo by Joan Gannij and then be inspired to create amazing patterned prints of the spectacular animals.

and prizes to be won. KIDS GO FREE this weekend with advert on page 15 (up to 3 children free with every full paying adult).

The Selfish Giant

By Sea Legs Puppet Theatre Winchester Discovery Centre www3.hants.gov.uk/wdc 01962 873603 11.30am, £6, or four for £20, Ages 3+ Since building a wall to keep the children out of his garden, the only visitors the Selfish Giant gets are Lady Snow and her friends. Sea Legs Puppet Theatre’s highly acclaimed production of the Oscar Wilde classic uses beautifully crafted puppets, a brilliant musical soundtrack and superb storytelling.

8 April Marine Roadshow SeaCity Museum www.seacitymuseum.co.uk 10am-4pm, Free drop-in activities, venue charges apply Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is bringing their Marine Roadshow to the SeaCity Museum. Come and explore the indoor beach, discover what a scuba diver sees off our coast and find out more about cuttlefish, seahorses and crabs. All activities at the roadshow are free of charge, venue charges apply.

Families Solent West

8 - 9 April LEGO® Mania sweeps Southampton Southampton City Art Gallery and Tudor House & Garden www.southampton.gov.uk We are offering hands-on animation workshops and master-classes to complement the LEGO® Mania Trail activities across Hampshire.

Visit website for opening times and prices

10 April

Birthday Party SeaCity Museum www.seacitymuseum.co.uk 10am - 5pm FREE ENTRY FOR KIDS

9 April Forest Activity Day Itchen Valley Country Park Booking Essential 023 8046 6091 Join us for a day of forest skills including fire lighting and shelter building. A fun day for 6 – 11 year olds from 9.30 to 4.00pm. Cost £20.00 per child 10 April Sunflower Painting & Planting Itchen Valley Country Park 023 8046 6091 Any time between 10.30am and 12.30pm Paint a terracotta flowerpot and plant it up with a sunflower seed, then wait to see how high it grows! Cost £3.00 per pot.

March/ April 2013

Join us to celebrate SeaCity Museum’s 1st Birthday, with In addition to all the usual fun inter-actives that the museum has to offer there will also be ‘make and take’ drop-in craft activities, face painting, a special Titanic themed green screen photo booth, costumed characters, story telling and object handling. There will of course be balloons, party bags with birthday cake; all the usual things that birthday parties include!

12 April Tractors on Parade!

Hillier Gardens www.hilliergardens.org.uk 9am-11am Join us before the Gardens open to the public for our first Tractors on Parade! Meet Big Blue and his friends. Watch the convey as is trundles through the Gardens then see the machines in action.

A fun way to round off the spring school break. Parade starts at 9.30pm followed by meeting the machines. You are welcome to stay and enjoy the Gardens after. No need to book, just turn up at 9am. Adults: free with normal admission, children £2.

18 April Twiglets (Pre-School Forest School) Itchen Valley Country Park Booking Essential 023 8046 6091 9.30am to 11.30am. 6 weekly 2 hour sessions in the woods for 3 and 4 year olds (and their carer) – den building, campfires, games, stories and woodland crafts. Cost £30.00 per child (6 sessions).

15 - 21 April

REAL NAPPY WEEK Real Nappy Week takes place from 15 to 21 April, with the theme of ‘Real Nappies...

Real Change’ to inspire a new generation of parents to make the change to real nappies. Each day allocated a theme such as Real Choice, Real Easy and Real £change looking at the benefits of Real Nappies.

This year you can take part in The Great Cloth Diaper Change on 20 April at 11am local time, and be part of a world record breaking attempt for the most Real Nappies changed simultaneously. On 21 April join in Real Clean and hang a chain of washing up in your garden, as others will do up and down the land. Find out about the latest events in your area at www.goreal. org.uk/real-nappy-week or visit the New Forest Nappy Network for local events: nappynetwork.net/ To include your event in our what’s on guide email the details to: editor@familiessolentwest.co.uk

Families Solent West

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Competitions

WIN

WIN a family ticket to Party in the Park at Marwell Zoo on 7th June Join Marwell Wildlife on 7th June for an evening of fun and festivities after hours.

See the animals at sunset, meet the keepers who care for them and enjoy special talks and presentations. Party with the birds in their new walkthrough aviary, bounce on the bouncy castle and have your photo taken with a giant rhino sculpture. Plus, to keep the party swinging, see all manner of incredible performances and entertainment, from costumed stilt walkers to record-breaking bubble blowing or fantastic fire eating, samba band to comedy street theatre. It’s time to party!

The event runs from 6.30pm until approximately 9.30pm. To enter the competition, simply go to our website: www.familiessolentwest.co.uk/ competitions. We have 3 family tickets to giveaway worth £56 each.

Tickets are valid for 7th June only. No cash alternative available. Full terms and conditions are available on our website. Entries must be received by 25 May 2013.

Enjoy 20% discount off tickets for this event with an early bird offer before 7th May, go to www.marwell.org.uk/party

WIN a family ticket to Paultons Park Paultons Park is the theme park for families which has more than 60 wonderful rides and attractions included in the admission price.

Dare to enter the caverns of molten rock and discover the Jurassic secret entombed below.

When MAGMA erupts, guests will rise and spin out from the volcanic smoke, 25 metres in to the clear sky above, only to face a stomach churning plunge back to the fiery heart of the mountain below!

Paultons is of course home to the world’s first and UK exclusive Peppa Pig World! This amazing land let’s youngsters discover Peppa’s World in nearly 3 acres of fully themed fun!

Families Solent West has two family tickets to giveaway to enjoy at Paultons Park this summer. To enter the competition simply go to our website www.familiessolentwest.co.uk/competitions.

Entries must be received by Friday 30th April 2013.

Families Solent West Magazine is distributed to over 20,000 families To advertise YOUR BUSINESS with us.

Call: 023 8040 3247

22

March/ April 2013

ONLINE Sign up to our monthly e-newsletter for all the latest news, events and competitions www.familiessolentwest.co.uk and click register Families Solent West

Get your Culture-all Passport now!

12 months’ unlimited entry to some of Hampshire’s best attractions

Featured attraction: Paultons Park Paultons Park is home to the world’s one and only Peppa Pig World, a fully themed adventure in to Peppa’s world where you can ride in Grandpa Pig’s Train or take a flight on Miss Rabbit’s Helicopter Ride.

Paultons is now home to over 60 exciting rides and attractions including the awesome Cobra rollercoaster and last year’s new sensation – Magma which drops riders in to a smoking volcano!

With a large collection of exotic birds and animals Paultons is a great day out for families all set in over 140 acres of landscaped gardens.

Did you know?

Passpor

t

Paultons is celebrating 30 years of providing family fun this year and was recently voted by Mumsnet as the best the Winner in the categories of Kid’s Favourite, Best for Family Fun and Best for PreSchooler in their UK wide survey.

What’s coming up?

New for 2013 is the Show Street 4D Cinema. This amazing new, state of the art, 4D effects cinema will put you in the heart of the action like never before! Take to the high seas with Captain Scabb on a swashbuckling tale to find the legendary treasure of Skull Rock. Feel the sea spray, peer through the eerie mist and ride the high rolling waves

only

£75

as you explore the depths of the bubbling ocean in this ultimate family adventure – all presented in sense-tingling 4D! What do our visitors say? “fantastic!”

5 of 5 stars Reviewed 22 January 2013 We had a fantastic family day out at Peppa Pig world. Our 2 kids, 5 and 2 were so excited and loved every ride and meeting Peppa and George.

“Great fun for all the family.”

My husband and I took our 6 year old and 2 year old (who loves Peppa Pig).The park catered for both age groups really well, the Peppa pig part of the park is amazing and both children loved it very much.

There were also faster rides to keep my 6 year old happy.The whole park was clean as were the other facilities.Well worth a visit.

Brilliant place, very clean, safe with loads to do! Perfect for younger children, especially if they love Peppa Pig!

www.hants.gov.uk/passport For more information, news and special offers visit www.hampshireattractions.co.uk

www.hants.gov.uk

March/ April 2013

Become a fan: www.facebook.com/HampshireTopAttractions Follow Us: www.twitter.com/HantsTopDaysOut

paultonspark.indd 1

12/02/2013 09:40

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March/ April 2013

Families Solent West