Families London SW April 2011

April 2011

Issue No. 205 ISSN 1354-9553 Est. 1990

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SouthWest FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Special

BABY FEATURE

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Families SW London

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OUR EASTER ACTIVITIES LISTING IS ONLINE!

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Families SW – useful information for parents of 0-12 year olds in SW London

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April 2011

Contents

Our HUGE

APRIL 2011

Easter activities listing is online! www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/ holidayactivities

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Local news & information

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Family walks in Wimbledon Common, SW19

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Peeping at postcodes

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Maggie researches the best things and places in SW7 South Kensington

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SouthWest

The Windmill on Wimbledon Common

French exchanges

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Families® South West

Sending a child abroad

All content ©Families 2011

PO Box 4302, London SW16 1ZS www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680 Fax: 020 8696 9679 Editorial: editor@familiesmagazine.co.uk News: news@familiesmagazine.co.uk Adverts/artwork: adverts@familiesmagazine.co.uk Personal ads: personalads@familiesmagazine.co.uk Events, diary dates, whats on info: whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk

The Natural History Museum

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Baby feature

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Next issue: May 2011 Deadline: early April

22-24

10-11

Baby Exercise?

Cranial osteopathy Struggling with secondary infertility Getting some sleep Ever thought about the levels of radiation your baby is exposed to?

Spring days out

Cranial Osteopathy

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Mazes, castles, woods and Easter egg hunts

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Neil’s foodie page Recipes and a revamped pub

28-29

Connecting with nature Join the RSPB wildlife awards Collecting bugs

32- 37

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What’s On Theatres, exhibitions, events, galleries, diary dates and much more

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Families SW London

April 2011

National Trust

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local news

compiled by Joanna Parry

Inclusion in these pages is always FREE

Designer Mum Local mum Joelle Seksum has turned designer in search of the perfect baby change bag. The 36year-old mum of two set up www.josoblu.co.uk this winter after struggling with an inadequate changing bag while on a family holiday and trying to juggle baby bottles and nappy changing mats with spare clothes and kids’ snacks. www.josoblu.co.uk offers practical, stylish and, most importantly, reasonably priced bags, from baby change bags to shoppers and everyday handbags. I love their gorgeous Bouquet Bleu baby change bag for £45.00 and they also have shoppers, make up bags, baby change mats and paisley aprons from just £9.99. Worth a look!

Dress your little one to impress If you thought baby cashmere was only for a very special occasion, think again. Les Tricots de Margot has been set up by two local mothers who wanted to create dream clothes for little ones knitted with high quality cashmere in a timeless French design. The clothes are made of 100% cashmere and, most importantly, are affordable. Pascaline and her partner Aude have selected high quality cashmere wool from Inner Mongolia, and the clothes are made in an on-site workshop staffed by local workers to ensure an old-world craftsmanship, while maintaining an affordable price. Despite their reasonable prices, the cashmere is ethically produced and Aude visits and monitors the factories personally ensuring the standards are high. Their jumpsuits are to die for and the cardigans are adorable, with beautiful dresses from only £36 and scarves from only £21.

Well worth a look. www.lestricotsde argot.com

Chelsea FC scores with new museum Chelsea Football Club has announced a brand new museum will open at Stamford Bridge this summer. The museum will have many fun and interactive features, including an Adidas Shooting Gallery offering a tutorial on how to perfect goal scoring techniques, and also a showcase of shirts worn by some of the greatest players in the club’s history. The museum will focus on immersing visitors in the story of the club, creating a fun environment while reflecting on how Chelsea has progressed from its beginnings in 1905 to reach all corners of the globe today.

It will offer a highly interactive experience, bringing the club’s past alive through audio visual shows, as well as a fascinating collection of Chelsea related memorabilia and some of the most iconic images from the club’s history, making it a must see attraction in London. “The new museum will engage our fans, capture their imagination and ensure they return for years to come,” says Sarah Bagg, Stadium Tours & Museums Manager at Chelsea FC. “Already hugely popular with families, the new museum is set to be bigger and better than before, allowing every visitor, young and old, to live the Chelsea dream.” www.chelseafc.com

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Little Girls’ Jewellery Little girls will love the sparkly Swarovski crystal flowers, butterflies and pretty sterling silver charms available at a brand new website www.littlegirlsjewellery.co.uk, which launches this month. The collection is not mass market, high fashion but rather high quality, unique and original, pretty jewellery that is made to order – ideal for a birthday, Christening, First Communion or bridesmaid gift. Each item of jewellery is presented in a pretty pink gift box tied with a luxurious organza ribbon.

To view the collection and buy online visit www.littlegirlsjewellery.co.uk

While life goes on in South West London, we keep in our hearts all those families who have been hurt in recent events.

In Japan particularly, but also in New Zealand as well as in the Middle East.

Japan Emergency appeal www.savethechildren.org.uk

April 2011

send to news@familiesmagazine.co.uk

local news

Hello 2011!

This year, the St George’s Healthcare community speech and language promotion and prevention team has launched Hello, the 2011 National Year of Communication campaign, with a star studded ‘words will take you far’ balloon launch at Wandsworth Museum. Local children said Hello at the launch by releasing balloons across the borough. Also releasing balloons into the sky were actress Elizabeth McGovern, star of Downton Abbey and Once Upon a Time in America, Jean Gross, the government’s communication champion, and Mayor of Wandsworth Cllr Piers Conolly McAusland.

Each balloon had a postcard attached to it with one of the borough’s favourite words printed on it and a return address so the children could see which word travelled furthest. Hello is a campaign run by the Communications Trust that aims to increase understanding of the importance of good communication skills. “More than 1 million children and young people have some form of speech, language and communication need in the UK,” says Joanna Hardman, Co-ordinator of the Promotion and Prevention Team, “and in deprived areas more than 50% of children start school with delayed language skills. Events like this are a great way to raise awareness of this important issue.” Throughout 2011 there will be many initiatives to continue to raise awareness – find out more from the communications team at St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust on 020 8725 5151 or email communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk

Write for charity This is your chance to wax poetic while giving our soldiers a boost. If getting fit is not your thing but you still want to help our heroes, then get those pens to paper. Publishers United Press are running a competition to find the best Help for Heroes poem, with entrants asked to donate at least a pound per poem and everything going to Help for Heroes. The competition is open to all UK residents and your poem can be any length. “We’re looking for poems related to Help for Heroes,” says Peter Quinn, Managing Director of United Press. “It Peter Quinn could be a poem about an individual or it could be a poem with a message, and you can send in as many poems as you’d like.” The winner will have their poem published in a general collection of modern poetry and will receive a free copy of the book, as well as £250 of Primark vouchers. Find out more at www.unitedpress.co.uk or call 0844 800 9177.

The Oscars come to Battersea This spring the Oscars sprinkled South West London with their stardust, when they came to the Newton Prep Oscars Night! The star-filled night took the form of a showcase and awards ceremony to mark the end of the 2010/11 Year 4 Film Project. The event, complete with red carpet, paparazzi and glamorous VIP guests began with a screening of eight student-made silent films, accompanied by live music from the music department, including two westerns, two horrors, two slapstick comedies and two melodramas. The second half of the evening saw the presentation of a host of coveted awards including best actor, best actress and best film. Newton Prep pupils have worked tirelessly on the films, both in front of and behind the cameras, with filming taking place in a variety of locations around Battersea. “This annual project is a fabulous opportunity for our pupils to learn new skills, gain confidence and produce a final product that they can be really proud of,” said Eimear McEvoy-Edwards, Head of Drama at Newton Prep. “The Oscars Night is an exciting event for parents, pupils and teachers, and gives the school a chance to celebrate all of the hard work that has gone into this project.”

April 2011

Young film makers academy If you have a child who would love to learn about film making, 4jtv academy could be for them. The company runs numerous workshops where young people write, direct and film their own stories, along with a home study programme for students who have their own ideas and want to create it, film it and edit it. Home study students also receive a free brand new camcorder at the end.

Locally, there are afterschool classes in Tooting and Wimbledon with more to follow. For bookings or more information, email courses@4jtv.co.uk, telephone 07985 717 933 or go to www.4jtv.co.uk

Parisian chic Paris fashion comes to South West London this spring. CdeC by Cordelia de Castellane has just opened on the Fulham Road – with a cosy feel and a classic style, CdeC offers a stunning collection for babies and children, with a distinct French flair. From Orientalstyle embroidered shirts to vintage-style dresses, the collection is chic and affordable, perfect for every day use without compromising on style. I love the girls’ floral jumpsuits and Christina blouses from their Spring/Summer 2011 collection, and their Bermuda shorts for the boys. This spring, CdeC are pleased to offer all Families South West readers a 10% discount for their first purchase in store – simply quote “FAMILIES” at the counter. CdeC by Cordelia de Castellane, 133 Fulham Road, SW3 6RT, 020 7225 0708. www.cdec.be

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local news Grow sunflowers for charity!

This Easter, keep your children busy by getting out into the garden and planting sunflowers. Action Duchenne, a charity for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, is launching its Seeds of Hope Appeal for the second year running, to get everyone growing sunflowers while raising awareness of the disease and raising funds to help find a cure. Last year over 3000 people took part in the charity’s appeal, principally from infant and primary schools around the nation, with all funds raised going towards medical research - the ‘Seeds of Hope’ for those living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The sunflower project involves plenty of activities that support children’s learning - measuring the flowers, counting the seeds, monitoring weather, drawing pictures and recording data, and is designed to stimulate their interest in nature and the outdoors. “This is an ideal opportunity for children to explore their environment and learn aspects of the curriculum in a fun and interesting way,” says Nick Catlin of Action Duchenne. “We hope that by being involved in this project, it will also encourage children to think more about those who are not as lucky as themselves and are not so easily able to freely enjoy the outdoors.”

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a severe muscle wasting disease that affects boys and very occasionally girls, and most diagnosed children are restricted to wheelchairs very early in their short lives, often not surviving beyond their late teens and early 20s. In Denmark young men with Duchenne live much longer, often into their 30s and 40s, due to the better, multi-disciplinary medical care provided, and Action Duchenne is lobbying the UK government to provide a similar standard of care to boys and young men in the UK. To take part in the Action Duchenne Seeds of Hope campaign, go to www.actionduchenne.org to receive your individual pack, containing full instructions, a pack of seeds, Action Duchenne stickers and a sponsorship form.

Easter fun with the kids Are you looking to spend some creative time with your kids this Easter? www.mumetmoi.com has been set up by a local Fulham mum offering creative treats for little ones. Emilie Mauran is a mum of 3 young ones who became a big e-shopper when her 1st child was born, searching especially for creative products to enjoy with her children.

When she struggled to find what she was looking for she decided to do it herself, and the result was mumetmoi.com Delve into the site for fun cake moulds and cookie cutters and get cooking with your kids, or put aside those plastic toys and check out their eco-friendly flat-pack aeroplanes, dinosaurs and castles and get building!

The website also has a gorgeous selection of French jewellery and accessories – the perfect treat for yourself! www.mumetmoi.com

Get fit for charity…

Gym for Heroes is a nationwide challenge to raise money for Help for Heroes, and this summer the new Junior Gym for Heroes is being launched. Aimed at school children of all ages, Junior Gym for Heroes encourages kids to do their bit in aid of the Nation's heroes, while getting fit in the process. It’s free for both schools and pupils to participate and is easy and flexible – in fact, it can be anything the school and children want it to be, from running, swimming or bike riding to skipping, hop-scotch or egg-and-spoon races. Once a school registers for the event, which takes place from 9th – 22nd July, it will be sent sponsorship forms, promotional posters and certificates, so get your school to register now, get fit and get fundraising! “Junior Gym for Heroes is a wonderful example of children having a great deal of fun while they raise money for a worthy cause,” say Bryn Parry & Emma Parry, co-founders of Help for Heroes. “Last year's Gym for Heroes challenge was a huge success and we hope this year it's even better and as many people as possible take part and raise some serious money for some very special people indeed." www.gymforheroes.co.uk

The big Easter Bunny Giveaway!

From 7th – 25th April Polarn O. Pyret will be giving away these gorgeous soft cotton Bunnies with every sale over £35 in their stores. The Bunnies retail at £12, are 30cm tall and wear iconic Polarn O. Pyret stripe top. Loved by children for over 20 years, these Bunnies become a real long-term favourites because they are so soft and easy to handle. Polarn O. Pyret garments are all made from 100% organic cotton, the stripes stay bright and fresh wash after wash because they have a special colour lock at 60o, and most have roll down cuffs for growing room.

Come dine with Home-Start Did you know that 23% of all children in Wandsworth live in workless households, where the standard of living is significantly below that of an average family? Home-Start Wandsworth, part of the UK’s leading family support charity, is asking local people to hold dinner parties for their friends and family. The challenge is simple – host a dinner party throughout April and in return ask your guests for a minimum suggested donation of £15. Everyone who takes part in the challenge will be entered into a prize draw to win a cookery lesson for 6 people courtesy of Recipease Jamie Oliver, Battersea, London. The winner will be announced on 1st May 2011.

In the last year, Home-Start Wandsworth has trained 30 volunteers who are already supporting 25 families and 53 children. Contact Sue Winter for a fundraising pack on 07500 805912 or sue@homestartwandsworth.org.uk

The children are on holidays soon, help!

Do you need ideas to occupy them? Karin has spent hours collating a fabulous listing for you: she has found lots of camps, workshops, arts & crafts activities, days out, sporting activities and of course a comprehensive listing of museums activities and workshops. There are three parts altogether, the one Karin did in March, this one and the museum one, phew ... Go to FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/holidayactivities

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April 2011

Family walks in South West London

SW19 Wimbledon Common Limitless acres to run about in, lots of hide-and-seek trees, scenery, woods, and wildlife, and the welcome sight of the Windmill café.

Distance 41/2 miles.

Time 21/2 hours.

Terrain Gravel paths and some rough tracks, which may be muddy in wet weather.

Food and drink Pubs and cafés in Wimbledon Village, Windmill café, Fox and Grapes pub.

Toilets Next to Windmill café.

Start and Finish Rose and Crown Hotel, High Street Wimbledon Village.

Bus 93. Buses 200 and 493 both stop nearby in Wimbledon Village.

Footpath through Caesar’s Camp

Queensmere

South-West London Walks, 30 enjoyable walks for the whole family

By Patrick Hamilton, £9.95.

Patrick is always happy to send copies out post-free (sometimes even delivered by hand while on a walk!).

Email him on capitaltravelbooks63@yahoo.co.uk Or call 07939 260405

The Windmill on Wimbledon Common

We love this book by local author Patrick Hamilton. There are 30 walks to try out, 2 – 5 miles long, that seek out the most interesting parts of the SW postcode area. Walk in areas you perhaps didn’t know like Knightsbridge, Westminster, to Barnes, Putney, Wimbledon, Streatham, and just about everywhere in between. Unexpected delights for the whole family to discover. The book can be purchased from Wimbledon Books, Bolingbroke Bookshop, Village Bookshop at Wandsworth Common, Clapham Books, and branches of Waterstone’s, as well as several outlets in central London. It is also stocked at Little Rascals toyshop of course, Patrick owns the shop! 140 Merton Road, South Wimbledon. There’s a great range of traditional soft and wooden toys to discover.

April 2011

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April 2011

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Maggie’s treasure trove: SW7 South Kensington

Maggie O’Brien continues her search for the best things and places in SW London... this month SW7 South Kensington Peeping at this postcode has proved to be particularly difficult this month. As well as being museum-land, it is also a hot tourist spot as well as a school trip destination. There is therefore oodles to include, where to start?

Restaurants and cafés are plentiful in SW7 from oyster bars to noodles to pancakes. With museums, boutiques and some chain shops, you can shape a day out to make everyone happy.

South Kensington has some well known Parks and Open Spaces within walking distance or a short bus ride away.

There is a cycling route to get there from south of the river, try it with the children and make a great day out during the Easter holidays!

Museum-Land I will only mention two Museums here, as there is limited space here for such a HUGE topic!

The Natural History Museum is a personal favourite and one my children repeatedly want to go back to—fine as it is free! You can never see a dinosaur too many times it seems! Every time we go, and that is often, we try and see a different section: we have learnt so much from the flesh-eating beetles, (hard at work on their webcam), to fossils, volcanoes and butterflies! They always have the most excellent exhibitions too, including the Wildlife Photographer of the year. Have you ever been to the Darwin Centre? And why not subscribe to their quarterly magazine Evolve.

Friends visiting from Cardiff with their children said: “We came for a few days to ‘do London’ with the boys and the Natural History Museum was a really big hit!”

“I loved the model of the T-Rex”, said Cameron, nearly 4. “The dinosaurs were brilliant”, said Daniel, 8. “We bought some stimulating toy ideas for the train journey home from their excellent shop”, said Catherine.

Wow, there is so much going on at the Science Museum! Simply don't miss these: Take your 3–6 year olds to the Garden, an ideal place to discover science by playing in an exciting, multi-sensory environment: The main areas – construction, water, light and sound – introduce simple yet key scientific principles in a fun way. The Pattern Pod is a hands-on gallery that was created especially for children from 5–8 years. Like the other interactive galleries in the Museum, Pattern Pod also encourages learning through play and exploration, enabling children to develop key science skills in a fun and stimulating way. Your older children will enjoy a trip to the IMAX cinema, the flight simulators, or even camping in the museum overnight! Check out their new galleries: Antenna and Who am I? The museum also do birthday parties. * Look in our ‘What’s On’ section for up to date information on what is happening at the various museums.

The Royal Albert Hall’s free events Children love music and what better way to expose them to it than FREE family-friendly events that offer them the chance to experience it live, in such a wonderful setting. Often performed by fellow young people, the Junior ignite and Family ignite, run as part of a series of non-auditorium events. “The junior ignite concerts are in association with Music For Youth, a charity that we are proud to work alongside as they promote education through music on a global basis”, says Matthew, marketing assistant.

(A new series for these and other activities for children this summer will be announced soon).

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The Institut Francais Founded in 1910 to ‘promote French language and culture’, this official Government Centre is not exclusively for the French, as I myself had thought originally, (a common misconception, I was informed by the friendly receptionist). This is a great place to start your children young and ignite their interest in another language. Or, if you have older children, there is help with those dreaded GCSEs or A Levels! It runs an imaginative programme of films at the Ciné Lumière, including vibrant and lively Saturday screenings for Children. Stories geared to different age children, are acted out by visiting Theatre companies, and what about joining their Reading Group, a monthly get together focusing on French classics. New ideas are regularly on offer.

There are musical performances, talks and an excellent café. You can even get involved with wine tasting!

The vibrant children’s library is a great experience in itself. (See their clear, informative web site, address below).

Kensington Chimes Music Having been desperately hunting for some modern sheet music for my nephew’s birthday, it was typical I stumbled across this music shop after the event.

Established for some 35 years, it has a huge range of materials to suit all ages. From toddlers to professionals, indeed it is popular with celebrities and is situated close to the Royal Academy of Music.

A favourite for local schools too, this is a shop well worth a visit.

“We only employ staff who know what they are talking about, even our student staff have music degrees,” says Tony. Employee Lara said: “I have been working here for about 12 years and I love it.”

Log on www.familiessouthwest.co.uk/Peeping to read about the postcodes we have peeped at in previous issues:SW1, 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19

April 2011

Peeping at postcodes Medici Gallery The great thing about SW7 is that there are several excellent and specialist shops. Medici, in Thurloe Street, has been there for over seventy years!

“We sell an extensive range of greeting cards, stationary, gifts, books, soft toys, pens and games”, says Tim who works there.“Uniquely, we also sell our own range of art prints focusing on the works of Margaret Tarrant, Molly Brett and LS Lowry”, he says.

Parents often try to find the prints that they had and loved as children. Go on; see if you can recognise something from your childhood. I did!

Hummingbird Bakery Yes, I seem to have an obsession with cupcakes, but it appears so has everyone else, at the moment! This bakery, one of the originals to start the whole craze, certainly lived up to my expectation. It’s got the lot: delicious, delectable and actually affordable. I bought one each for my children; “Superb”, said Maddie. “Amazing”, said both Connie and Olivia. “Good”, said my teenage, son, Joey, trying not to appear too excited!

The General Trading Company This is where to find something a bit different. Initially set up in 1920 and recently taken over in 2008, it has an exciting selection of oriental antique and British furniture, with a ‘real focus on British design and manufacture, valuing nature, helping people in developing countries and stocking items from reclaimed, recycled and reused products’.

One young mother I talked to, Sarah, said, “I loved the seats for children shaped like giant colourful teacups, I wanted one just for myself!”

Snog Alternatively, try this natural frozen yoghurt bar. It offers mouth watering frozen yoghurt made from organic skimmed milk and agave nectar, healthy ingredients and fresh fruit toppings, all served in a fashionable and colourful environment. Conveniently open 11am until midnight, 7 days a week.

(A guilt-free bonus for parents perhaps).

So, whether you like ice cream or frozen yoghurt, indulge and lift those spirits!

Further Information: • Natural History Museum – Cromwell Road, London. SW7 5BD Tel: 020 7942 5000 www.nhm.ac.uk • The Science Museum – Kensington, London. SW7 2DD Tel: 0870 870 4868 (020 7942 4000). www.sciencemuseum.org.uk • The Victoria & Albert Museum – Cromwell Road, London. SW7 2RL Tel: 020 7942 2000 www.vam.ac.uk • Royal Albert Hall – Kensington Gore, London. SW7 2AP Box Office: 0845 401 504 • The Institut Francais – 17 Queensberry Place, London. SW7 2DT Tel: 020 7073 1350 www.institut-francais.org.uk • Medici Gallery – 26 Thurloe Street, London. SW7 2LT Tel: 020 7589 1363 thurloe@medici.co.uk / www.medici.co.uk • The Hummingbird Bakery – 47 Old Brompton Road, London.

SW7 Tel: 020 7584 0055 www.hummingbirdbakery.com • Kensington Chimes Music - 9 Harrington Road, London. SW7 3ES Tel: 020 7589 9054 www.chimesmusic.com • The General Trading Company – 91 Pelham Street, London.

SW7 2NJ Tel: 020 7225 6470 www.generaltradingcompany.co.uk • Oddono’s Gelati – 14 Bute Street, London. SW7 3EX Tel: 020 7052 0732 www.oddonos.com • Snog – 32 Thurloe Place, London. SW7 2HQ Tel: 020 7584 4926 www.ifancyasnog.com

Some Additional information:

Oddono’s Gelati I know from my own experiences with my children, that as well as ‘doing things’, they love eating! Tucking into one of Oddono’s award winning, natural Italian gelatos, is the perfect way to end the day after a trip to the museum.

Managing Director, Christian Oddono says, “All the gelato is produced in South Kensington, using in-house recipes and fresh ingredients from scratch, adding each ingredient individually”. No wonder it tastes so good!

April 2011

• Thurloe Place Gardens – Thurloe Place, SW7.

Near South Kensington tube station, this is a peaceful green open space. For further information on this and for other Parks, Green Spaces and Libraries; visit The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea: www.rbkc.gov.uk • Snap Dragon Toy Shop – 25 Bute Street, London. SW7 3EY Tel: 020 7581 2804 Good toy shop.

• La Cave à Fromage – 24-25 Cromwell Place, London. SW7 2LD Tel: 020 7581 1804 (Some wonderful cheeses to try, the smell alone is delicious)!

• Tombo – 29 Thurloe Place, London. SW7 2HQ Tel: 020 7589 0018 (Japanese Café and delicatessen; indulge in a delicious low fat, healthy meal or buy one of their taster boxes to take away.

Good value at £7.50).

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Learning a foreign language

By Joanna Parry

Exchange for life Learning a language can be the key to your child’s future, giving them an invaluable skill that will set them up for life. A French exchange can be a fun and interesting part of that learning - your child is immersed in the culture of the country, which often proves to be the most effective way of rapidly improving language skills. “They develop greater mental agility, better communication skills and awareness of another culture,” says Annie, a mother of 3 who is a great fan of French exchanges. “Beyond the academic benefits, exchange visits are a wonderful way to develop your child’s self-confidence and inter-personal skills and for them to make new friends.”

But how easy is to organise a French exchange, and how do you start going about it? Many schools have their own exchange programmes, however more and more parents are opting to organise exchanges through a number of different companies, all of whom will help you to arrange the swap. Here is our guide to help you navigate your way through arranging an exchange, so that your child has a successful and enjoyable experience.

The basics Exchange visits are based on reciprocal hospitality your child will stay with a French family and one of the French family’s children will stay with you.

Once you register with an exchange company, they will ‘match’ you with a French family based on age, interests and family background and then discuss with you possible dates of visits. Finding dates that work for both families can be tricky, so try to be as flexible as possible. Remember, you don’t have to restrict yourselves to the summer holidays – a half term swap can be a good bet too.

Top tips

An exchange should only cost you a minimal fee to arrange, and then the cost of your child’s transportation. Be aware of some of the expensive foreign language travel programmes that sometimes masquerade as exchanges.

• Once you have chosen a family, encourage your child to communicate in French with to their exchange by telephone or email

Most companies recommend exchanging when your child is 12 or over, for a maximum of 2 weeks.

However it is possible to arrange an exchange for a younger child and some sites arrange for swaps for an extended period of up to 6 months.

Most exchange companies are available to provide assistance with translation and travel advice and to generally act as a ‘go-between’ if this is needed.

Although you will make your own travel arrangements, the French family is contracted to meet your child at the nearest port, railway station or airport.

• When you’re choosing a family to exchange with, make sure you look for a match not only with your child’s age but also their interests - shared passions are often the key to a successful exchange, whether it be football, horse riding or music. "My son went to stay with a lovely French family in August,” says Kate, mum of four. “We liked the family and the boys had similar interests, that was key!”

A reputable exchange site will help you find a good match, but you can help by emailing or chatting to a number of families before confirming the exchange

• Make sure your child’s health records are up to date and write a parental authorisation in case of medical emergency. If your child has to take any kind of medication, make sure everything has already been purchased and that the prescription goes with your child. Make clear notes of allergies to food or medicine • Send your child to France with some spending money for outings and souvenirs • Don’t forget to encourage your child to pack a camera, a notebook for writing down daily adventures and an MP3 player for the trip. A welcome present for their exchange’s family and a mini-dictionary will be useful too !

• Make sure your child has full travel insurance and an E111 form • It may sound obvious, but don’t forget to double check their passport is still in date !

• When your child’s exchange comes to stay with you, enjoy taking them around your home town and seeing some of the sites you never found time to visit yourselves!

Sending your child off to live with another family can be stressful. “You need to be bold, have an open mind and be willing to trust another family with your child,” says Annie. “In return, when it is your time to host somebody else’s child, you will need to provide for them and make sure they feel equally at home. But I promise you, it’s all worth it. You will be giving your child the gift of a new language and a friend for life.”

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Websites www.linguisticexchange.com. www.french-exchange.co.uk www.enfamille.com www.lingua-links.com/en/welcome.html www.lingoo.eu/language-exchange-french.html

April 2011

There are loads of sporting activities running this Easter

See our selection of Days out : Most museums run events and workshops, we have got them all listed!

Our fabulous

Easter Activity listings

Arts & craft activities are always a winner with children

are online: Go to

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk /holidayactivities

A musical Easter?

We've done the hard work for you We've rung and asked who runs Easter activities ... we’ve found masses!

Get your children involved in Drama workshops?

We are listing where, when, prices and ages. All you have to do is decide and book!

Enjoy the peace !

Time to brush up their foreign languages?

April 2011

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April 2011

baby feature BPAs banished from baby bottles, hooray!

The European Commission has just announced a ban on the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) plastics in baby bottles, which will come into effect during 2011. The controversial chemical is still currently used in some baby bottles sold in the UK, although many brands have stopped using it, and there is evidence to suggest it can interfere with healthy growth and body functions, mimicking the effect of the hormone oestrogen in the body, to which babies are particularly vulnerable. “We have been calling for a UK ban on selling baby bottles containing bisphenol-A plastics for several years,” says Belinda Phipps of the NCT, “and are thrilled their import and sale will soon be outlawed across the EU. When you put hot liquids into a bottle containing BPA, particularly as the bottle gets older and more scratched, the chemical can leach out of the plastic and be absorbed into the baby’s body. However, now there are viable alternatives and so there is no reason to continue using this chemical when there is concern about potential risks to young babies.” She adds, “we would now like to see BPA plastics banned in other products, as the chemical is also used in the linings of some formula tins and baby food containers.”

Watch this space…www.nct.org.uk

Bambino Merino SW London’s favourite supplier of 100% natural merino baby and children’s wear is offering readers 15% discount off their luxurious and practical spring collection Soft, stretchy newborn swaddling wraps and bestselling baby sleepbags come highly recommended by local parents and maternity nurses. New additions to the range include striped merino hoodies, long johns and trousers that are just the right weight for changeable spring days.

If you’re looking for gorgeous items for newborns to 4 years old, that are produced entirely from natural fibres with no synthetic fillings or linings visit www.bambinomerino.com Lightweight and silky soft, merino is perfectly suited to wearing next to delicate skin and helps maintain an even body temperature throughout the night and in all seasons.

To claim your 15% discount, enter the code Families at checkout. http://www.bambinomerino.com (Offer applies to online orders only and excludes gift sets/value packs and existing special offers. Expires 30th April 2011).

What a sensation This spring new Baby Sensory classes are being launched at Eddie Catz in Putney. The popular Baby Sensory programme has been designed specifically to stimulate your baby’s senses, using a combination of original and traditional songs and rhymes to develop early communication skills. Each session provides hundreds of simple activities that are fun for both babies and parents, with classes offering experiences such as baby signing, fibre optic light shows, light balls, bubbles and bells - all designed to support your baby’s sensory development.

Many of these activities are set to Baby Sensory's own music and most of the sensory materials and activities are unique to the programme.

The classes will take place on Thursday mornings from 10.45 to 11.30am for all babies from birth to 13 months at Eddie Catz Putney, 68-70 Putney High Street, London SW15 1SF. For bookings call Kasia Sipowska on 07966080805 or email putney@babysensory.co.uk. For a full listing of Eddie Catz Putney classes see: www.eddiecatz.com/classes.php?centre=putney

Nappies?

Get real!

Real Nappy Week is taking place 16th – 22nd May 2011.

With at least 35,000 parents currently using Real Nappies, this spring Go Real challenges all parents to give Real Nappies a try. With hundreds of different nappies available, plus huge savings to be made, it could be worth a try!

Go Real Nappy Facts: Real Nappies are fun, funky and well designed and are made from fabrics that dry quickly and absorb where they need to.

The fabrics are natural, organic and fair trade, and save billions of tons of waste to landfill. Most importantly, using Real Nappies can save a family up to £500 per child, and up to £1200 if reused on a second child. In fact, if 20% of all nappy wearing children Go Real, that would save 123,883 tons of waste from landfill every year and save the UK taxpayer £18.6 million a year. “I realised that from birth to potty I would spend over £2500 on disposables,” says Jessica Wall, a young mum, “all of which would be sitting in landfill today. I was also horrified to learn that the disposables I have been placing on my daughter contain a lot of chemicals – no wonder she suffered with such bad nappy rash! Now I am opting for the gorgeous cloth nappies and have spent less than £60 in total!” www.goreal.org.uk

April 2011

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baby feature

Baby Exercise – not just a fad

By Joanna Parry

The science According to some paediatric experts, parents who use prams, playpens, car seats and bouncing chairs for hours at a time may be delaying not only their child's physical development but their mental development too. "The need for even the very young to be physically active is something parents often don't understand," says Jane Clark of the University of Maryland, USA. "The earlier infants and toddlers get exposure to daily movement and exercise, the better the likelihood of healthy

development in later life." In fact, regular exercise in the very young encourages the kind of development that may be critical for health in later life, as during infancy the brain is developing pathways and connections to the muscles.

Children who do not get enough exercise may miss out on the chance to make the strong kinds of brain-muscle connections that make physical activity easier, more enjoyable and more likely to become a life-long habit avoiding obesity and other weight-related conditions. The lesson learned – keep your baby active and it will set them up for a healthier life.

Early Days Although it may not seem like much, a newborn baby's daily routine of changing, bathing, crying and growing is enough exercise for them. In fact, a newborn is exercising many of its muscles in the very act of feeding at the breast, and crying is important for the lungs and diaphragm and plays a large part in the development of the baby’s musculature. One exercise you can do at this stage is baby massage, a great way to physically and emotionally bond with your baby, and a soothing and relaxing experience for babies. You can do baby massage at home or in a class - for tips go to www.bbc.co.uk/health/ physical_ health/.../babies_massage or www.make wayforbaby.com/massages.

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By Sindesign

In recent years, new mums have found that there has been an explosion of classes for babies, from baby massage to music, signing to singing, gymnastics to yoga. Many of these classes are valuable both for baby’s development as well as a way of meeting other mums, but recently research has been undertaken that pushes the importance of some of these classes to the fore, with the theory that exercise in infancy is vital in maintaining a child’s lifelong health. This may seem like a fad, but concerned parents are flocking to exercise classes catering for children of all ages, including those too young to even crawl.

Exercise classes Once a baby reaches 4 months, there are a plethora of baby exercise classes out there. This doesn't mean your baby needs to take weightlifting classes down the gym (in fact, there are no dumbbells involved at all!), but parents keen to give their little one a good start in life are looking to yoga, swimming and developmental play classes for their tots.

• Start with a baby massage class, where simple massage techniques help stimulate your baby's senses. Many local health services run free massage classes and there are plenty of private classes around too • Baby yoga is a great way to encourage babyparent interaction. Through free-flowing movement, touch and sound, babies learn better coordination, sitting and standing techniques and motor skills. Proponents of yoga say it also helps alleviate problems such as colic and constipation. "You do things like bend their legs, push their knees up to their chests and make hip circles," says Sally, mum of two.

"You can be surprisingly firm as you move them around as they are so flexible, and they seem to like being manipulated." There are many baby yoga classes across the UK, but one company that runs classes throughout the country is www.yogabugs.com.

• Swimming – babies are born with natural swimming reflexes which, if not developed, they lose at 8-10 months. Swimming not only helps with bonding, but exercise in the water is particularly good because it supports the weight of the baby.

• Baby gym classes have sprung up across the UK in recent years, with sessions from as young as 3 months. What you get depends upon where you go, but many have ball pits, trampolines, basic gymnastics equipment, crawl tunnels and soft play areas to teach babies and toddlers about rhythm, movement, coordination skills and dance through a series of fun tumbling exercises. Check out www.gymboree-uk.com and www.thelittlegym.co.uk.

April 2011

baby feature Exercise at home Baby exercise classes may be fun, but some can cost upwards of £10 per session and with many of the free, SureStart-organised classes rapidly disappearing, filling your baby’s day with a range of activities can become expensive. The good news is there are plenty of exercises you can do with your baby at home.

3-6 month old babies: • Lie your baby on a blanket and put toys in front. Encourage your baby to reach and try to grasp them. A baby gym with hanging toys is great too.

• Finger pull exercise – put your baby on their back and offer your two fingers. When they catch them successfully, lift your hands. Most of the time your baby will leave your hand quickly, but as you play they will hold tighter and hang on for longer.

• Play peek-a-boo or other games that will encourage your baby to imitate you.

• Give your baby supervised tummy-time every day to help with crawling Any kind of movement that your baby enjoys is good - bouncing on your knee, standing with support or "flying" through the air all helps to strengthen their bodies.

Older babies: • Sit your baby on the bed with your hands a few inches away. When your baby inclines to one side, help them sit upright again. This will help with balance and develop trunk strength.

• With your baby on their tummy, roll a ball so they have to extend their arms to grasp it and roll it back to you. Alternatively, sit facing each other with your feet touching and roll the ball back and forth, stretching in the process.

• Practise rolling in both directions • Your baby’s attempts to crawl will help them exercise as they work to push themselves forward. Motivate baby to move by clapping your hands and motioning to come towards you.

• If your baby is trying to stand, encourage them to move towards you.

Remember, whatever exercises you do with your baby, they will enjoy it. "These activities are not done to babies, they are done with babies,” says Francoise Barbira Freedman, the founder of Birthlight, a charity which runs infants' yoga and aquatic classes. “The aim is to help parents bond with their new child, and to instill an enjoyment of exercise from the start of life."

Websites For more tips on exercising, playing and bonding with your baby and for more baby exercise classes go to:

www.birthlight.com www.babybuilders.com www.familyfitnessexpert.co.uk www.kidsexercise.co.uk www.tumbletots.com www.babysensory.com www.jigalongbabes.co.uk www.babylovesdisco.co.uk

The benefits of Cranial Osteopathy for babies

By Adam Beaumont, D.O, B.A.

The safe techniques involved in Cranial Osteopathy make it especially suitable for treating babies and children with a variety of conditions.

This subtle, but powerful form of treatment can be particularly beneficial for babies who suffer from a flattening of the head, medically known as Plagiocephaly. Although a fairly common condition, there are many reasons why babies can suffer from it. Generally it results from the baby’s sleeping position; commonly the flattening will be on the baby’s side of their head that he/she lies on. Cranial Osteopathy and simple methods/techniques used at home can help correct the imbalance and progression.

Try ‘tummy time’ each day. The more time babies spend on their tummies, the better the chance of stopping the plagiocephaly getting worse - and allowing natural correction to begin. So play with him or her on his/ her tummy when awake. When feeding your baby hold him/her the opposite way to which you normally do. This can help prevent putting pressure on the flat part of the head from the crook of the arm. Finally, when walking use a front carrier, instead of a buggy or seat carrier where possible.

• Adam Beaumont, D.O, B.A. is a local Registered Osteopath who has been practising Osteopathy in SW London ‘Between the Commons’ for over 15 years. During this time Adam has treated many babies and children using the gentle cranial approach.

He can be contacted on 020 7223 7171 or 07966 177320 for advice and appointments.

Clinics at Thurleigh Road Doctor’s Practice and Neal’s Yard, Northcote Road. He has a free first-time appointment scheme for new mothers and babies.

Nannies, Maternity Nurses, Housekeepers and Mother’s Helps

All our applicants are personally interviewed and their references checked

Permanent and Temporary Residential, Daily, Full and Part-Time Evening Babysitting Register

Tel: 020 8947 4666 info@wimbledonnannies.co.uk www.wimbledonnannies.com 184 Copse Hill, SW20 0SP Fax: 020 8947 0405 bestbear.co.uk accredited

April 2011

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baby feature

Struggling with secondary fertility?

Fertility problems in women and men can have both medical and hormonal reasons. Some couples, though, are told all is well physically, even after extensive tests. Perhaps the state of your mind can also affect the physical working of the body? Jeanette Wallis, a reflexologist and NLP practitioner practicing in Wimbledon who has been working with couples who have fertility problems for twenty years, definitely believes it can.

She sees many couples who have had secondary fertility disappointment; couples who conceived their first born without problems and planned an age gap of about two years before trying for a second child, but have no luck conceiving again.

They have no known medical reasons for not being successful. Jeanette calls them ‘the silent voices’: “Why silent? Because all the mums they meet in their pre-natal classes are all having their second children. They are obviously happy for them, but are also holding resentful feelings and are not able to express them. Possibly their relationship with their partner is suffering with the stress of the disappointing situation. People are constantly asking: ‘When are you going to have another one?’”

The mind works with the body Jeanette believes the mind does affect the physical working of the body and tries to give couples a way to change the way they think, thereby instigating a subtle physical shift in the body so that they can achieve a pregnancy naturally.

Reflexology, according to Jeanette, is an effective treatment in that respect. Reflexology uses the reflex points in the feet that determine the physical imbalances in the body. By working on these points, a reflexologist can kick-start the body into working more efficiently. It assists in pinpointing where the imbalances are and corrects them.

“Patients usually notice a difference after one treatment”, Jeanette finds. “The feedback I get is very positive. Women become more aware of ovulation, more aware of their natural cycle – generally they just begin to feel more in control of their body rather than feeling their body is constantly letting them down.”

Jeanette is also an NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) practitioner. She helps people to change the way they think and see things and believes this can help women with fertility issues

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too. “I rarely see anyone who is relaxed about getting pregnant. I had one patient who insisted she was OK about having had many miscarriages. After five minutes, she spent the rest of the hour crying. I realise there are often medical reasons why people miscarry but she really believed that her body would always let her down, as it constantly did. In her case, changing that belief seemed to have a dramatic effect. I am happy to say she is fine now and has a healthy baby boy.”

Each person is unique and individual in their thinking, and in their physical conditions too.

Often women will tell Jeanette about their birth experiences. Again, most women first-time round encounter difficulties, long labour times, intervention, or poor after-care; sometimes their babies needed extra care or they suffered with post-natal depression. Jeanette believes strongly that there is a connection to the trauma of their first birth and the fact they can’t conceive again: in some way their experiences might be holding their body back.

As food for thought, Jeanette tells the story of one client who was trying to conceive her second child. She was progressing very well with the treatment until her husband’s sperm test came back. It was a very poor result. Instead of dealing with the bad news directly, Jeanette started asking questions about the new house they were moving into and which room they had planned for the new baby. The client was shocked at her avoidance of the matter, but described the house anyway. As the client was leaving, Jeanette told her: “You only need one good sperm and you never know – getting pregnant can be just good luck in some cases”. She conceived that cycle.

•Jeanette Wallis, ITEC, MAR, NLP, Dip Raw. Back On Track, Wimbledon Osteopathic Clinic, 9 Merton Park Parade, Kingston Road, Wimbledon SW19 3NT. Telephone: 07973 779853 (020 8545 0965 for the clinic). wallishealth@homecall.co.uk www.wallishealth.co.uk

The couple themselves are key in the process too “Most are just not having fun. Bringing up a child is not easy and most couples just don’t give enough time to each other, time for being intimate is pressured. I sometimes ask how often they have sex and I am sure you can guess that it isn’t that often. I do believe that once you start to feel physically and emotionally better, you are more able to see the bigger picture. The changes my patients encounter definitely make the difference that is needed to help towards a happy outcome. How many times do you read about couples who, after many attempts at IVF or who finally adopt a child, suddenly fall pregnant naturally? There has to be something in the way the mind works.”

April 2011

baby feature

Sleep solutions Leading baby sleep expert, Jo Tantum discusses a problem many new parents are faced with.

Isn’t life hard enough without having to live on very little sleep? Sleep deprivation has been named as a torture technique because that is exactly what it is. If your child doesn’t sleep, you become a living zombie; you are probably sleeping in different beds, snapping at everyone, getting over emotional at everything. You start looking at the floor in the supermarket and think if I can just find a quiet corner, I’ll have a quick nap... There are parents everywhere reading this and thinking yes that’s me - HELP! Well, don’t worry, help has arrived, and whatever problem you may be having and however you got there, it can be fixed.

Many parents start off one of two ways with their delicious newborn; they will either have an angelic baby who sleeps all the time, anywhere, or a baby who is very alert and doesn’t seem to want to sleep. Most babies, including the seemingly angelic ones, may well become the baby that doesn’t want to sleep.

The reasons this happens, so that you can be forewarned, is in the first two weeks your baby is sleepy and after this they will wake up and will be hungry. Most parents are told to feed on demand and so by the time your baby is able to sleep for 12 hours through the night (yes it is possible!) he or she will be used to being fed to sleep and that is what they will continue to do.

When you aren’t getting any sleep, you will do anything to get some. So out of desperation your baby will be picking up bad habits on how to get to sleep. Rocking your baby and using a dummy all contribute to your baby’s inability to go to sleep by themselves.

Picture credit: Pralina Cashmere Comfort Blanket from www.stellinababy.com

April 2011

Firstly, don’t panic. There is always a way to reteach them. It’s certainly harder as your baby gets older, especially after a year, but it’s still achievable. Setting up a good bedtime routine will reassure your baby, and for younger babies, a dream feed before you go to bed also helps them to sleep longer in the night. Making sure your baby has lots of daytime naps will stop your baby becoming overtired. For example, a newborn will need to sleep every hour and a 6 month-old every 2 hours. Overtiredness is one of the main reasons that your baby finds it difficult to go into a deep sleep. You need to be consistent with whichever routine you choose, and also realise that it took time for this to become a habit so it may take time for it to work, but be strong, encourage your baby and it will work.

Tips from the experts at Greatvine: •

Start a simple bedtime routine as soon as possible. A bath, massage and feed in the bedroom will help relax your baby.

•

Unless they had a low birth weight, don’t wake your baby up in the night to feed. Let them sleep – and you can too. Instead, give them a dream feed at 11pm. That means they’ll have a long sleep in the middle of the night, when you have yours.

•

Don’t change nappies in the night after 11pm unless dirty. It’ll wake them up and make it harder to resettle.

•

Try not to rock your baby or feed them to sleep. Cuddle them until they’re calm, then put them in the cot while they’re awake, but drowsy.

Jo Tantum

•

Always carry out the same familiar routine at bedtime with your baby. Babies are very ritualistic and like to know their routine is the same.

•

Don’t make the cot a stimulating environment with musical toys or lights.

It does not send out the right signal.

•

Your baby should always be awake when put in the cot so they know what is happening.

•

The room should be very dark for all sleeps but not pitch black.

Brenda Hart

•

Remember you only have a sleep issue if you are not getting enough sleep. Don’t compare yourself to all your friends.

•

When planning to put a sleep routine in place always start your day and end your day at the same time.

•

Be reasonable with your expectations, you are not going to turn a bad sleeping habit round in a night!

•

Be prepared to persevere, allow yourself four nights of the same routine and approach and then reassess.

•

From the age of six weeks, have the same bedtime routine every night, so your baby begins to pick up bedtime cues.

•

Do not let your baby or child become overtired, they will be even harder to settle.

Linda Russell

Your baby craves some sleep as much as you do and what better lesson for them to learn, and for you to teach them…how to go to sleep!

• Jo Tantum is a leading baby sleep expert and author of ‘Baby Secrets’. Her unique, gentle methods help ensure a great night’s sleep for any baby.

You can get individual baby sleep advice from Jo Tantum by visiting www.greatvine.com/jo-tantum or calling 0906 400 6222 (£1.50/min from BT landline.

Calls from other networks and mobiles may vary.)

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baby feature

Ever thought about the levels of radiation your baby is exposed to?

By Patty Hemingway, RMANM

Did you ever realise that your cordless baby monitor emits radiation?* That your cordless (DECT) phone is like one of those dreaded masts, acting as a transmitter? You can’t see it but electromagnetic radiation is all around your baby. Have you ever thought whether it might be harmful to your baby?

It is never too soon to find ways to protect your baby from ElectroMagnetic Radiation (EMR) produced by wireless devices and mobile phones. In the same way that you can choose how to use this technology safely**, you can also choose to create a safe zone for your baby at home.

No official safe levels for babies The current international safety limits for exposure to EMR radiation are measured in relation to the heating effect that microwave radiation—for this is indeed the type of radiation that comes from a wireless device—has on a fully grown, thick skulled, adult male***, ie. not on a baby, which has a much thinner skull! These safety limits refer only to the tissue heating effect, and take no account of the more subtle effects on health, which can arise from radiation: disruption to the central nervous system, heart rate, skin sensitivity and dysfunction at a cellular level causing a range of symptoms.Note 1 There are NO safe levels of radiation for babies and small children. The Stewart Report in 2000 recommended the precautionary principle in relation to mobile phones and children2; the Bioinitiative report3 in 2007 declared that safety thresholds are far too high; and in February of this year a new consensus statement was issued by the SELTUN Scientific Panel4 urging the adoption of significantly lower exposure standards based on the latest body of evidence for biological harm.

So what can you do to make sure your baby is safe?

When you are at home you can create a completely safe environment for your baby to grow and develop naturally. By eliminating wireless radiation from your baby’s environment you will be rewarded with a contented baby with better sleep patterns, fewer skin problems such as eczema, and improved cognitive development.

Physicians working with autistic children have proved that children living in an EMR-free environment 24 hours a day respond faster to treatments than those given the same therapies, but who are not protected from EMR5.

Dr Dietrich Klinghardt goes further, and observes that autism can be linked to the mother’s exposure to EMR during her pregnancy (in an interview for ES-UK6). Perhaps they know about this in China where a protective apron is available for pregnant women7.

If you are not sure it is safe, why take the risk?

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Better be safe than sorry Recent research has found that children who are exposed to mobile phone radiation in the womb, and who have used one themselves are 50% more likely to develop behavioural problems8. If you are pregnant or want to be, ensure that your sleeping environment is EMR free.

As a precaution it is best to: • switch off mobile phones; • switch off wireless routers; • switch off electric blankets; • switch off anything electronic, to avoid winking LED lights which can disrupt the sleep hormone, melatonin9; • pregnant women should not carry their phones next to their bodies, (as recommended in mobile phone instruction booklets!)

• mobile phones should not come to rest anywhere close to the baby’s body, not in the pram, not in your pocket, etc.

April 2011

baby feature

Simple but effective solutions I hear parents protest that they have no choice but to use their cordless DECT phone while feeding their infant, or that microwaving baby foods is essential. A moment’s reflection on how this was done as recently as 10 years ago will remind us of the alternatives. Standing a bottle in a jug of warm water will safely heat formula milk without degrading its nutritional value10.

If you feel you can help Families campaign, please email the editor.

If you need to phone in the baby’s room, or from your favourite feeding chair then simply invest in a wired telephone! Then either buy an extension cable or get an additional phone socket installed by your phone company. Make use of the speakerphone facility when you need to be hands-free.

Choose low-radiation or analogue baby monitors.**** Warnings were issued a few years ago about the problems with some wireless baby monitors, and parents reported that their baby seemed to be restless and unable to settle, or even in pain when it was switched on. If mobile phones can produce headaches in adults, there is every reason to wonder whether a wireless baby monitor might not have a similar effect when placed near a baby’s head.

Low energy light bulbs (compact fluorescent lights) also emit radiation11.

For more information about creating a safe environment for your baby see: http://www.buildingbiology.net/ • Patty Hemingway (RMANM) is a family homeopath with a special interest in electromagnetic radiation sickness. www.pattyhemingway.com or tel: 020 8333 0413

If you have a question on this issue and want to talk with Patty and EMR experts, or simply talk with other parents, please go to Families Forum: www.familiesonline.co.uk/radiationtalk * Watch a video of a baby’s monitor being tested for electromagnetic radiation levels www.familiesonline.co.uk/radiation ** to find out simple ways to create a safe zone at home see www.familiesonline.co.uk/radiation *** See Families South West Jan/Feb 2011, article is also online as above **** See Families website for safer alternatives to mobiles and cordless baby monitors NOTES. Due to the numerous links in this piece, you might find it easier to read this article online and click through to the various links from there.

• 1. http://tinyurl.com/nquscq • 2. http://www.iegmp. org.uk/documents/iegmp_1.pdf • 3. www.bioinitiative.org • 4. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21268443 • 5. Mariea & Carlo, J.Aust Coll Nutr & Env Med Aug 2007 • 6. www.es-uk.info • 7. http://www.made-inchina.com/showroom/yogifly/productdetailkqPEeKtGhbRs/China-Anti-RadiationProtection-Apron.html • 8. J. Epidemiol Community Health, 2010 • 9. http://emf.mercola. com/sites/emf/archive/2009/07/23/creating-asleeping-sanctuary.aspx • 10.http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/ archive/2010/05/18/microwave-hazards.aspx • 11. http://www.mastsanity. org/index.php?option=com_content&task=vie w&id=233&Itemid=1

New mobile phone leaflet issued by UK Department of Health on 7th March 2011 says: “As a precaution, the UK Chief Medical Officers advise that children and young people under 16 should be encouraged to use mobile phones for essential purposes only, and to keep calls short.”

Placing a mobile phone or a baby monitor all day and all night close to a baby is therefore not advised. How far away should it be placed? Watch the video.* See the NHS leaflet on www.familiesonline.co.uk/radiation

April 2011

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Steam train to Bodiam castle

April, a lovely time to escape to the

countryside

Museums, Easter egg hunts and races, the countryside is full of inviting treats and fun times.

DENOTES AN EASTER EGG HUNT

SATURDAY 9 APRIL Easter Egg Hunt Sayers Croft Field Centre Cranleigh Rd, Ewhurst GU6 7SS 01483 275990 10am-12noon.

Join an Easter egg hunt through the maze and blindfold trail.

For 5s and under with an adult FREE. No booking, but please arrive promptly!

SAT 9 - THURS 21 APRIL Children’s Easter Quiz Claremont Landscape Garden Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG 01372 467806 Daily from 10am-4pm.

A children’s trail around the garden.

Learn fun facts that will enlighten the whole family. Included in admission.

Also, Easter holiday crafts (admission plus £1.50) from Mon 11-Thurs 14 April from 11am-1pm, Easter egg trail on Fri 22 and Sat 23 April 11am-4pm (admission plus £2) and Easter bonnet parade on Sat 23 April 3.30pm.

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SAT 9 - SUNDAY 24 APRIL Easter Eggstravaganza Winkworth Arboretum Hascombe Rd, Godalming GU8 4AD 01483 208477 10am-5pm. Follow the eggcellent trail, decorate your own egg and learn how to make the perfect nest. Admission plus £1.50.

Also different crafts each day on Tue 12 & 19, Thu 14 & 21 Apr (admission plus £1.50) plus Easter Egg Hunt on Fri 22-Mon 25 Apr (admission plus £1.50). No booking needed.

Alice Holt Forest Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham GU10 4LS 01420 23666 Editor of Families Surrrey West says: "A place I'd recommend for a day out would be Alice Holt Forest, which belongs to the Forestry Commission.

You only pay for parking, there's no entry fee and there are lovely walks and masses of play equipment for a range of ages. There's a cafe, or you can bring a picnic. They also run great activities such as den building and pond dipping in the holidays. This Easter with a £2 per sheet you can follow the forest trail, solve the clues and enter your sheet into the grand prize draw. Sheets available from Cafe on the Green. Self-led, no booking needed. It's just south of Farnham so

you could go down the A3 from London."

On 14th April For 8yrs+. 11am-2pm. £9.

Learn essential camp skills like fire lighting and cooking. Join Nigel, one of the rangers, for an outdoor forest meal - sizzling sausages and marshmallows! Please pre-book.

SAT 9 - MONDAY 25 APRIL Children’s Easter Bunny trail Milestones Museum Leisure Park, Churchill Way West Basingstoke RG22 6PG 01256 477766 From 11am. Closed on Mondays (except Bank Holidays). Each child will receive a mini chocolate egg on completion of their trail sheet.

Included in entry (Adult £7.90, child £4.75, family (2+2) £22.75).

Easter Holiday Activities Marwell Wildlife Park Thompsons Lane, Winchester SO21 1JH Easter craft activities plus see the new Cheetah enclosure and enjoy cheetah based feeds and talks.

Included in admission. On 22-25 April there’s a Wild Egg Hunt.

Opens at 10am.

Easter Eggstravaganza Fishers Farm Park Newpound Lane, Wisborough Green, W Sussex, RH14 0EG 01403 700063 Easter events include Easter Egg Hunt, bottle feeding lambs, collecting real eggs, baby bunny cuddling, magic shows and Shetland Derby - included in admission.

10am-5pm.

Easter Eggstravaganza Bocketts Farm Young St Leatherhead KT22 9BS 01372 363764 There’s Eggstra fun this Easter! Lambing is the main highlight with over 300 newborn lambs due. They’ll be cute chicks and cuddly bunnies too in the animal handling sessions. There’s an Easter Egg Hunt trail, with a yummy chocolate treat for everyone! With indoor and outdoor play plus pony rides, tractor rides, pig racing, gold panning and more, it’s great fun for all family! £8.50 for adults and children (3- 17yrs), 2 yrs £6.95, under 2 years FREE. Open daily 10am-5.30pm.

www.familiessouthwest.co.uk/holidayactivities sport, arts and crafts, music, drama, museums, etc.

April 2011

Spring days out 2011 there’s Crazy Golf, climbing activities and quad biking. The family farm and shooting gallery are also back! Grandstand admission £17 on the day or £15.30 in advance. Under 18s free. Gates open at 10.45am and the first race is at 2pm.

9-25 APRIL THE HOP FARM Beltring, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6PY Tel: 01622 872068. www. thehopfarm.co.uk Easter Holiday Fun and Easter Weekend activities 9-25 APRIL POLESDEN LACEY Great Bookham, nr Dorking RH5 6BD Tel: 01372 452048 9-21 April 10am-5pm Discover Polesden’s Secret Garden £1 per trail 17 April Dog Agility Course and displays 22-25 April Easter Trail and Family Fun £2 per trail

11-21 APRIL (WEEKDAYS) PAINSHILL PARK Portsmouth Road, Cobham Tel: 01932 868113 www.painshill.co.uk Adults £6.60, Children (5-16) £3.85, under 5s Free. Daily 10.30am–6pm 12-4pm Easter Holiday Fun: Easter Egg & Spoon Obstacle Course. Come along with the family and take the egg & spoon obstacle course challenge set within the springtime woods.

SUNDAY 10 APRIL FAMILY DAY Countryside Alliance Raceday, Ascot Racecourse Ascot SL5 7JX 0870 727 1234 Countryside Raceday features superb Jumps racing plus off the track there is loads of fun for all the family with a wide range of countryside inspired activities, including a parade of hounds who will commence down the track after the first race. In the main arena there’s an array of interactive displays with sheep dogs demonstrating their skills as they herd disobedient geese. Plus terrier racing, gun dog shows and a spectacular falconry display, throughout the afternoon. New for

11-24 APRIL DENBIES VINEYARD London Road, Dorking RH5 4DR Tel: 01306 876616. www.denbies.co.uk - 11-24 April 11am-3pm daily Easter Break “Trail” and Children’s Activities in the Kitchen Garden Farm Shop £1.50 - £3.50 per activity - Tuesday, 19 April 11am and 2pm Tropical Rainforest Roadshow Learn about a selection of exotic creatures. £6.50 per child.

Booking essential.

- Wednesday, 20 April, 11am Teddy Bear’s Picnic Bring along your favourite teddy for

Alice Holt Forest a special picnic. £6.per child+bear.

Includes train ride, packed lunch and story- telling. Early booking advised.

- Thursday, 21 April, 11am. Cat’s Grin Theatre presents “Wind in the Willows” £5 per child/£2.50 accompanying adults.

Booking essential.

route around the farm and meet the farm animals while looking for your favourite bunny characters!

Refreshments. £1.50 per child inc. chocolate egg, adults free. Book tickets by April 22nd

SAT 16 - MONDAY 25 APRIL Day Out With Thomas Mid Hants Railway www.watercressline.co.uk Your travel ticket includes freedom to travel all day on steam trains such as Henry or Daisy the diesel rail car (trains run approx every 30-40 mins from 9.35am-4.30pm), free ‘live’ entertainment with Mr Wizard shows and a bouncy castle/slide on Thomas - Mid Hants Railway MON 14TH APRIL BOWER HILL FARM Bower Hill Lane, South Nutfield RH1 4EH Easter Sunday Open Day, 24 April 10am-4pm Follow the

Ropley picnic area and free rides with ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’, ‘Diesel’, ‘Dodge’ and ‘Toad’ the brake van. Look out for ‘Sir Topham Hatt, The Fat Controller and other characters. Free face painting, transfers, colouring and Thomas &

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Play area at Bocketts farm

MON 11 - THURS 21 APRIL Brooklands Museum Brooklands Road, Weybridge KT13 0QN 01932 857381 On weekdays only, car rides in vintage-style cars will be operating from 11am-1pm and from 2-3.30pm (subject to weather). Plus bus rides on a historic London bus and guest appearances from Bertie the Brooklands Bear. There’s a BBC Relic Trail for children up to 12 yrs.

Always double check before setting out in case things have changed since publication.

April 2011

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Spring days out Friends DVD shows in the Imagination Station at Alresford.

Adult £16, child (2-16) £10, family (2+2) £48.

16-25 APRIL BODIAM CASTLE (NT) Bodiam, East Sussex TN32 5UA - 16-25 April Dragon’s Quest secret trail with chocolate prize! £2 per child + normal entry - 22-25 April 11.15am-4pm Plays performed in castle courtyard – no additional charge.

- 18-21 April 11am-4pm Dress to Impress Try on replica armour! 18mths+. £2pp plus normal entry.

- 30 April–2 May 11am-4pm Meet members of the Bodiam household in costume.

Each character has a fascinating story to tell. Arrrive at Bodiam from Tenterden on the Kent and E Sussex Railway.

9-10 April is grandparents weekend - when every child rover ticket purchased (costing £8.50) entitles a grandparent to travel for free. For more information on events, train times or how to purchase tickets or order lunch or perhaps a cream tea please visit www.kesr.org.uk or call 01580 765155.

WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL Epsom Downs racecourse FREE entry if your name is Kate, Catherine or William! In honour of The Royal Wedding. All accompanied children under 18yrs go FREE and there is plenty of entertainment for the family To book tickets visit www.epsomdowns.co.uk or call 0844 848 0197 SUNDAY 23 APRIL 12noon - 4pm The Children’s Trust Spring Fair at Tadworth Court, Tadworth KT20 5RU Tel: 01737 365019 Tickets for adults will be £2.50 and can be booked on-line at www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/springf air where places can also be reserved for the Easter egg hunt.

Chicks at Bocketts Farm

Raceday, Ascot Racecourse Attractions include fairground rides, a ‘pets corner’, an Easter egg hunt, face-painting, a bouncy castle and lots of stalls and, for the first time – a mascot egg and spoon race! Children are invited to enter the Easter Bonnet Competition by either taking along their home-made creations, or making hats at the Fair with materials provided.

30 APRIL-2 MAY 10am-6pm Kent County Fair – celebrating Kentish activities and ‘Village Fete’ area plus Green Zone, live music and other new entertainment such as The Pirate’s Cove. Outdoor and under-cover attractions for children up to 11yrs.

Over 30 rides and attractions plus Xtreme zone for older children.

Advance booking discount. Eg Family ticket £47.50 (£40 advance) Camp at the farm for the weekend!

Fri-Mon: Family £99 (advance) includes entry to the fair!

Camping enquiries 01622 870838.

30 APRIL–2 MAY HEVER CASTLE Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG Tel: 01732 865224 www.hevercastle.co.uk Dancing Round the Maypole plus Morris Men. Gardens open 10.30am; Castle opens 12 noon. Last admission 5pm; close 6pm (from April). Adults £14; Seniors: £12; Children £8; Family: £36

•For more Easter egg hunts, and days out in Surrey visit www.FamiliesSurreyWest.co.uk •For days out in the Chilterns go to www.FamiliesChiltern.co.uk •For days out along the south coast go to www.FamiliesSolentEast.co.uk or www.FamiliesSolentWest.co.uk or www. FamiliesSussexCoast.co.uk There are Families® magazines all the way up to Scotland, so if you are looking for family events and activities go to: FamiliesOnline.co.uk/Locations to see if we have a magazine covering the area you want.

Creativity Classes for Children (5 to 9 years old) in South Kensington On Wednesdays 4.15 - 5.45pm Thursdays 4.15 – 5.45pm The Dovehouse studio is a safe and nurturing space for children to develop their creativity and skills. We provide scope for artistic continuity and growth on a short, mid and long term basis.

One to one sessions available for all ages

For booking or info please call Cornelia or Sandrine on 07775 682094 or 07976 751559

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London South West Why you must register on

www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk FamiliesSW is one of many Families sites within FamiliesOnline.co.uk

This means you have access to thousands of articles, not just from South West London.

The clever bit about our site is that it displays your LOCAL contacts at the bottom of any article you read. So for example, if you are reading an article on football, your local football clubs will be automatically displayed... Clever!

Simply type your postcode when Registering—it is free and fast (we promise we will not give your email address to ANY third party)

Go to www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk and click REGISTER.

Dawmouse Montessori Nursery Schools WWW.DAWMOUSE.COM There are now two established Montessori Nursery schools in Fulham bearing the Dawmouse name. The original Dawmouse Brunswick in Haldane Road, SW6 7EU and Dawmouse St Peter’s at St Peter’s Terrace, SW6 7JS. Both schools offer a wide range of Montessori equipment and have outdoor play areas. They will offer a safe, stimulating and active environment in which children can have fun and achieve.

The broad curriculum covers all areas of the Early Learning Goals and includes science, drama, cookery and music lessons.

Project work will give the children scope for creative development as well as an increased understanding of their world.

We insist on our staff being Montessori trained teachers.

For a prospectus and a visit to view the schools please contact : www.dawmouse.com or speak with Miss Emma 020 7381 9385

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April 2011

Neil’s foodie page Hello, I’m Neil Hennessy-Vass, the new food writer for Families.

You may wonder why you should take any notice of me or try out any of my recipes or tips. Well I have been writing about food for many years and cooking for my family longer than I care to remember (I have a wonderful wife and children who are quite happy to let me get on with it!). I enjoy cooking, learning and writing about food. It has become a bit clichéd in these MasterChef times but I am very passionate about every aspect of food from the supply to execution of any recipe. By the way I try all my recipes out (on my family and friends) and don’t get too many complaints!

But most of all I really love making things in the kitchen – I hope you enjoy reading about my culinary adventures and secondly I’d love to hear from you.

If you have any thoughts or questions or indeed ideas then please do get in touch I’d love to hear from you. This is a page for all to enjoy and hopefully take something from. I’m not a health fanatic but believe in a healthy eating philosophy which is simply you can eat what ever you want but in moderation (that’s the hard bit I know). Looking forward to hearing from you Neil Hennessy-Vass

Chillicheese burgers Ingredients 700g Minced Beef 1 Chopped Onion 1 Teaspoon of dried Thyme 1-3 Teaspoons of Chilli flakes Strong Cheddar Cheese Salt and Pepper

Three things to do with Truffle Oil First of all if you have never used Truffle Olive Oil then there are a few things you need to know. It is extremely strong in taste – a little goes a long way. Try a bit at a time – add more if you like what you taste. Also it is sold in a few forms – the best being ‘infused’ there are other kinds but I wouldn’t bother with them as they can be a bit artificial and synthetic tasting.

Here’s a quick tasty and economical recipe that is a good way a getting your kids into hotter food.

Put the mince in a bowl and add all the ingredients except the cheese and mix well. It’s worth saying that while mince is cheap, try to purchase the best quality you can – it’s always worth it. Shape the mixture into about 10 – 12 patties. Place the patties on a lightly greased cooking tray and cook in a warm oven for about 20 minutes at 180c. At this stage they should be cooked and starting to brown. Take them out and carefully turn them over. Add a small knob of cheese to the top of each one and return to the oven for about five minutes. Serve with jacket potatoes or if you’re

You can add a few drops to scrambled eggs – this will increase the depth of flavour. Just add them at the end after you have taken them off the hob and stir in just before serving. Eggs and truffles are a good match.

When you have made a large batch of mash potato adding butter and cream are a natural improvement. If Truffle oil is added not only will this increase the creaminess of the dish but it will enrich the mash enormously. I find that if left for a day in the fridge it intensifies the flavour.

If you fancy making a very easy and quick starter (of maybe when you have people drop in unexpectedly!) this is something you can make pretty much any time. Take some sliced Salami (you can keep this in the freezer and use what you need) add one drop of Truffle Oil to each slice then a fine shaving of Parmesan Cheese and a grind of black pepper. Then place on a thin slice of French Baguette (buttered if you like). Bet you’ll have more than one!

April 2011

feeling really healthy a salad! You can vary the spicing in these. An option if you are feeling a bit adventurous is to finely chop some coriander leaves and add this to the mixture, this gives them a Far Eastern feel.

Review 27th February 2011

The Fox & Grapes 9 Camp Road, Wimbledon Common London SW19 4UN. 020 8619 1300 When you have a team that created Hibiscus – a 2* Michelin restaurant which successfully moved from Shropshire to London – expectations are bound to be high. The Fox and Grapes until recently was a local pub. After a four-month refit it has been transformed into a fantastic bright, busy restaurant and bar. Very assured staff and full of customers it seems like it has been there forever. I think this is because of the excellent reputation of brothers Claude and Cedric Bosi the chef and manager respectively. The food is an ambitious mixture of high-end classics and the unusual. Some worked more successfully than others. I didn’t particularly enjoy the Leek and Potato Soup (£6) as it was strangely bitter and too runny for my liking. We had a Sunday menu, which is a cut down of the weekday variety (which was a shame as I really wanted to try the Herefordshire

Snail Lasagne!) The highs for me were Confit of Lamb Shoulder with Fresh Mint and Chilli, which was simply outstanding. A pure indulgence of lush smooth rich lamb that just fell apart when touched with a fork. The mild Chilli enhanced this wonderfully and left a tasty glow in the mouth. At £14.50 with side vegetables I thought this was superb. Hake with a Beer Batter, Chips and Mushy peas was very fresh and had the lightest of batters that gave it a dignity never afforded by something wrapped in newspaper. Provided on a plate for £13.50. My Vanilla and Pear Junket with Cinnamon Shortbread (£6) was very appealing, the texture of the shortbread was a perfect foil to the soft sweet velvety Junket. But the absolute star was a bar snack – A Scotch Egg no less. Just simply sublime – I could have eaten half a dozen of these gorgeous light crispy concoctions.

A soft egg with spiced outer and bread crumbs that actually crunched in my mouth. Go to The Fox and Grapes it’s good and I think it will only get better.

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Connecting with nature

The RSPB Wildlife Action Award scheme is designed to help children, families and groups discover wildlife and do practical things to help. From pond dipping and birdwatching, to making homes for mini-beasts and planting trees, there are plenty of activities to inspire young people as they work their way towards bronze, silver and gold awards.

The scheme is open to anyone. Children can do it on their own, as a family, if they are home educated or belong to a community group. The flexibility of the scheme has meant that Guide and Scout groups have been able to fit many of the tasks within their various badge activities.

Connor White, aged 5, achieved a gold award by taking part with his family. Connor said: 'I really enjoyed feeding the birds, digging in the garden and drawing things from nature. I also liked recycling things at the bottle bank. I like hearing the bottles break and it is better to take all the tins and glass to a safe place so it does not hurt the animals and the world.'

George Osgerby, aged 12, put his wild talents to use to also earn a gold award.

George is home educated and since getting involved in the scheme has created a wildlife pond, amended his family's shopping habits, and drawn up a guide to wildflowers. Mum Leanne said: 'I was attracted to the educational aspects of the scheme. It fitted very well with the way we do things. There isn't a specific curriculum we work to, we tend to do lots of bite size projects and treated the award scheme in this way. George was attracted to the scheme because he receives certificates and stickers, things his friends get all the time at school.'

You can also get your children’s school involved.

In 2008, the Department for Children, Schools and Families acknowledged that these awards support Sustainable Schools and Eco Schools.

Scotland accepts them as work towards their biodiversity module. Lesley Nundy, RSPB Wildlife Action Award organiser, said: “By taking part in the award scheme you learn lots, have fun and do something good for wildlife. Every child that takes part gets their very own Wildlife Action Award certificate and a special sheet of award stickers.”

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Children looking at bugs in jars

Here are just a few suggestions on how to encourage minibeasts: ᭏ Leave a long patch of grass, ideally in a sunny spot – good for butterflies, grasshoppers and crickets. ᭏ Pile up leaves in a shady corner of the garden – good for worms, woodlice and slugs.

Be a bug hunter There are currently over 6,000 young people stepping up for nature and working their way through the scheme. There are 33 activities to choose from including feeding birds, being environmentally friendly and writing to an MP. One activity you can take part in is to get close up to minibeasts. Here’s your chance to discover what crawls, slithers, creeps and scuttles in your garden or school grounds.

Insects, bugs, creepy-crawlies and minibeasts are names used to describe a huge range of different creatures from insects to spiders to slugs and snails.

Minibeasts come in huge range of shapes, colour and sizes. Spiders, snails, slugs, beetles, centipedes, worms, earwigs and caterpillars are just a few wellknown examples of the thousands and thousands of types of ‘creepy-crawlies’ that exist.

One of the best things about them is that they are everywhere and you can easily make your garden a great place for minibeasts. If you don’t have easy access to a garden or school grounds, you can visit your local park, nature reserve or woodland.

᭏ Bind twigs together tightly with string and wedge it in a fork in a tree, or place it on the ground in an out-of-the-way spot – good for ladybirds and other beetles. ᭏ Plant nectar-rich flowers like honeysuckle, lavender and marigolds – good for small tortoiseshells, hoverflies and honey bees.

Look and identify Finding and catching minibeasts is the best way for you to get close to look at them and identify them.

Here are two ways you can do this: ᭏ Pitfall trapping Pitfall traps are containers set into the ground to catch minibeasts that creep along. ᭏ Pooter A pooter is a special collecting tube that you use to catch insects by sucking through a tube.

You can make your very own pitfall trap or pooter.

You don’t need to buy any special equipment – you can make everything with things you can either find at home or buy cheaply.

April 2011

Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com)

RSPB Wildlife Action Awards

How do I make a pitfall trap?

How do I make a pooter?

Choose a site for your pitfall trap – try somewhere with plenty of plants, under a hedge or tree or in a flowerbed are good places.

To make a pooter, first punch two holes in the lid of a jar (or plastic pot). The hole should be no bigger than the width of a straw.

Dig a hole the size of a margarine tub. Remove the lid of the tub and put the empty pot into the hole so that its rim is level with the ground.

Place some banana in the tub to attract the minibeasts.

Get two straws. Cover one end of one of the straws with cloth and fasten in place with a rubber band.

Take the lid off your pot and push the straw that has the cloth-covered end through the lid so that the cloth-covered end is in the jar.

Leave the pitfall trap overnight and check in the morning what creatures have been caught. You could put your catches into a pot or jar so you can have a closer look at them.

Don’t forget to release any creatures once you have identified them.

Put the lid back on and then put a little piece of tape around the top of the straw that sticks out of the jar.

Only put a pitfall trap out on a dry night because minibeasts will drown if the trap fills with rainwater.

Push one end of the other piece of straw into the other hole in the jar.

To pick up a minibeast, place the straw that doesn’t have the coloured tape up against insects small enough to travel safely down the tubes. Then suck on the tube with the cloth on the end that you have marked with the pio the jar and the cloth will stop you from sucking the insect up – yuk!

Only put the tube up against insects small enough to travel safely down the tubes.

Always put minibeasts back where they came from.

April 2011

How do I get involved?

If you would like to find out about all the activities you can do, and how to take part in the awards, you can send off for a Wildlife action awards booklet. The booklet costs £3 and has all the information you need to achieve the awards.

Every child that takes part receives a special certificate and stickers.

Send your name and address, and a cheque for £3 to: RSPB Wildlife Explorers, The Lodge Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL Cheques should be made payable to RSPB. Or visit the RSPB youth website www.rspb.or.uk/youth

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April 2011

Bilingual education since 1996 The French Nursery School For children from 2 years old to 5 years old.

(Toddler group from 1yr) Morning or afternoon sessions available Full time sessions 9h - 15h

SW7 Queen's Gate SW1 Knightsbridge Group of international nursery schools

The Belgravia Nursery School Bilingual Nursery school French/ English.

For children 2-5 years. (Toddler group from 1yr) Part time session 9h - 12h Full time session 9h - 15h • 15h35-17h

All schools have native language teachers, excellent facilities and lovely outside The Spanish Nursery School playground / garden.

SW7 and SW1 The Spanish out of school club for children For a brochure please call from 2 to 5 years old.

Marie-Laurence Edmonstone Toddler Group from 1 year old 020 7259 21 51 marie-laurence@thefrenchnurseryschool.com

April 2011

THE WILLOW NURSERY Clapham Baptist Church, (corner of Queenstown Road) 823 Wandsworth Road, SW8 3JL Tel: 020 7498 0319 Est.1981 E-mail: alice@thewillownursery.co.uk Head: Alice Irvine BEd + Creative Arts.

Opening hours: 9am to midday Sessions: Mornings only Weeks open a year: Termtime Ages: Two and half to 5 years Max no. of pupils: 40. Pupil/teacher ratio: Under 3yrs: 4:1, 3-5yrs 8:1 Curriculum: Montessori and traditional methods.

Activities: Art, craft, cooking, singing, dance, drama, gym, French, gardening, home corner, sand & water, etc.

Facilities: Large, bright, spacious hall and a smaller reception room.

Contact: Please contact Alice for Prospectus and to arrange a visit.

Previously inspected by OSTED with an excellent report. Our aim is to create a stimulating, happy and fun environment so that the children love coming to school. We develop confidence and a keen interest to learn. Children learn at their own pace and we provide lots of individual attention.

www.thewillownursery.co.uk

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What’s on Compiled by Sophie M-C. Please always phone before setting out in case details have changed since press deadline or we got it wrong...

DIARY DATES EVENTS FOR CHILDREN WILDLIFE WATCH CLUB -WIMBLEDON COMMON. Meet on the first Sunday of each month at the information Centre, Wimbledon Common, near the Windmill. 10am12pm. 8-14yrs. £1 registration fee and £2 per session. 020 8540 6154 3 Apr. MINI BEAST HOTEL AND GRASSY HEDGEHOGS 8 May. POND DIPPING EASTER CRAFT WORKSHOP Holy Trinity Church, 74 Trinity Road, London SW17 7RH 01985 923472 or lynsbennett@gmail.com Sun 10 Apr. 2.30pm-4pm. Fun and crafts with an Easter theme for children 3-11yrs. Egg rolling and egg hunt. £4 per child.

SEE OUR COMPREHENSIVE EASTER ACTIVITIES LISTING ONLINE! FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/holidayactivities LANDMARK KID’S ART CLUB Landmark Arts Centre Ferry Road, Teddington, 020 8977 7558 www.landmarkartscentre.org Children’s Saturday morning class. Workshops range from drawing, collage, sculpture to painting and explore different art ideas every month.

5-11yrs.

Early booking recommended. Full details of dates and course on the website.

LONDON PRO DANCE CLASSES LOST THEATRE - Studio One, Wandsworth Road, London SW18 2JU 07852 181239 londonprodance@yahoo.co.uk Opening classes for girls and boys. 4yrs+.

Join us for a FREE TRIAL CLASS every Tues 6pm-7pm.

LOST THEATRE CLASSES Studio One, Wandsworth Road, London SW18 2JU 020 7622 9208 www.lostheatre.co.uk losttheatre@yahoo.co.uk Classes every Sunday morning from 10am-1pm.

In conjunction with FUTURE FACES Theatre school which employ teachers of the highest calibre and produce shows with high production standards.

SMILEY TIME NURSERY RHYMES & STORY TIME The Bowler, 20 Bellevue Road, Wandsworth Common,

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London SW17 07540 990133 www.smileytime.co.uk Mondays & Thursdays 10am. £5 per child (sibling discount £2), drop-in sessions. Babies to under 5s.

THINGS TO DO EN FAMILLE VENN STREET MARKET This monthly Street Market aims to encourage flower, plant and food production, better reflect the seasonal nature of food and plants, reduce produce mileage and packaging and support the local economy.

Saturdays 10am-5pm: FRESH FOOD MARKET. Sundays 12pm-5pm: FOOD, GARDEN PLANTS & CRAFTS. Sat 23 and Sun 24 Apr (last weekend of every month) www.vennstreetmarket.co.uk BUGGYFIT CLASSES IN SOUTH WIMBLEDON Tuesdays 10am-11am Morden Hall Park Thursdays 10am-11am John Innes Park An effective and safe post natal workout with a qualified post natal instructor, a mix of cardio-vascular and strength training, improves posture and strengthens core muscles, great for fat burning, motivation to exercise, group support for new mums dad's come free. £7. Call Gayle 07985 280109 ANTHEMS: THE CONCERT Starring Kerry Ellis and Brian May for the benefit of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research 020 7589 8212 www.royalalberthall.com Gala tickets available 020 7269 9003.

Sun 1 May at the ROYAL ALBERT HALL, London. 8pm.

Tickets from £17.50 - £72.50

Focus on DIY, sign up for the art of canapé making, listen and learn to successful businesswomen and enjoy a wonderful lunch and glass of wine. £12 per person and includes a main course and a glass of house wine.

Future events will be listed on www.theavalonlondon.com/function.htm or www.thebolingbroke.com/functions.php LANDMARK ART CENTRE Landmark Arts Centre Ferry Road, Teddington, 020 8977 7558 www.landmarkartscentre.org Great range of leisure courses in visual arts and crafts for adults. Visit the website for details.

EXPLORING DRAWING. Starts 26 Apr - 5 weeks £80 BOTANICAL ART. Starts 27 Apr - 5 weeks £80 PAINTING MADE EASY. Starts 27 Apr- 5 weeks £80 CONTEMPORARY TEXTILES AND FELT MAKING. Starts 10 May - 6 weeks £99 PRINTMAKING. Starts 12 May - 6 weeks £99 COURSES WITH ANNABEL HARGRAVE YogaBirth Teacher & Doula and Ratna Vohora – Cranial Osteopath. 07817931571 or hargrave.family@blueyounder.co.uk YOGA FOR PREGNANCY Wednesday evenings 7.15pm. New YogaBirth Class at Jitterbugs Café, Wimbledon SW19.

HYPNOBREATHING FOR COUPLES Friday evenings 7pm at the Vitality Centre, Southfields SW18. Exploring yoga, relaxation, massage and hypnobreathing techniques for birth preparation and labour.

YOGA CLASS A safe way of working using postures to undo tension and feel the connection with the breath and the spine.

EVENTS FOR ADULTS THE FRENCH COCKTAIL PARTY Couleur Café, 32 Webbs Road, London SW11 All Welcome but please call Teresa first 07889 967 003 Mondays 6.30pm-7.30pm. Wine and soft drinks are served to help the language flow and French speakers are at hand if anyone gets stuck! Mistakes are corrected discreetly and each participant receives an e-mail the following day with words and phrases used during the session.

INTERIOR DESIGN CLASSES The BBC BAR, 7-9 Ramsden Road, Balham, London SW12 8QX www.londonpropertymakeover.com Sat 16 Apr. 1pm-4.30pm £60. Learn how to make your home a HOT property. It’s an interactive class that usually has about 10 people.

“MUMMY ME TIME” EVENTS Renaissance Pubs (www.renaissancepubs.co.uk) are launching their “Mummy Me Time” club where welldeserved mothers will be rewarded with a selection of events guaranteed to inspire as well as provide fun, stressfree afternoon.

First Aid course with Emma Hammet FIRST AID COURSES With Emma Hammett, Qualified Nurse, First Aid Trainer and local Mum. HSE and Qualsafe approved. Over 20 years of healthcare and teaching experience 020 8675 4036 emma@firstaidforlife.org.uk or www.firstaidforlife.org.uk

visit www.familiessouthwest.co.uk for What's On

April 2011

Please send info to our editor to be considered: whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk (inclusion is free)

EARLY YEARS FIRST AID COURSES Thu 7 Apr, Fri 6 May, Sat 7 May, Fri 20 May and Sat 21 May. Ideal for Nannies and au pair too!

SHORT EMERGENCY FIRST AID COURSE Wed 11 May, Sat 14 May and Thu 26 May. Covering CPR, recovery position and injuries in adults, babies and children.

PREGNANCY BLISS –YOGA AND MASSAGE With Anja Brierley Lange A qualified Ayurvedic Practioner and Yoga teacher 07963 820 702 www.yogaembodied.com Tuesdays and Thursdays 6.30pm-7.40pm at the Capoira School, 1-4 High Parade, Streatham High Road, London SW16 1EX. All welcome. Drop-in. £12.

Thursdays 10.30-11.30am Post natal yoga for mums and babies.

What’s on

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1QG 0844 871 7646 www.ambassadortickets.com/wimbledon Tue 5-Sat 9 Apr. SWAN LAKE ON ICE. With Tchaikovsky’s glorious music, exhilarating new choreography and dazzling new costumes, this innovative portrayal of the classic love story will take your breath away. £14 to £35.

Tue 19-Sat 23 Apr. JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Sparkling family musical with unforgettable songs. (At last the “Any Dream Will Do” runner-up gets the coat! KEITH JACK is JOSEPH!) £13 to £34.

Visit 345 Nursery where “The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding” (Ofsted 2008).

Children become independent inquisitive and motivated in this rich and vibrant learning environment.

Great outdoor space!

Options include Afternoon School, Lunch Club and Early Bird Club. www.345nurseryschool.co.uk

PARENTING PROGRAMME 10-week Family Links Nurturing Programme for parents with children any age.

Starting May 5th in Battersea and Wandsworth.

Day and evening session available. Kathryn 07779 5959 76 or kathrynarielshearing@gmail.com , Anastasia 07908 883 307 or find “courses” at www.infinityparentcoaching.com

Please contact us on 020-8870-8441 or dixonannab@aol.com Fitzhugh Grove, Trinity Road, London SW18 3SA

SEE OUR COMPREHENSIVE EASTER ACTIVITIES LISTING ONLINE! FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/holidayactivities

DRAMA POLKA THEATRE

April 2011

Sat 16 & Sun 17 Apr. THOMAS AND FRIENDS LIVE ON STAGE This new 90-minute musical adventure is packed with audience sing-a-longs, high energy dancing and thrilling adventures. £11.50 to £15.50, family ticket £50.

• We coach children for state and independent school and entry tests: VR, NVR, English, Maths and interview preparation.

TARA STUDIO

• We are also happy to offer Maths and English support for children in school, and Home Education.

356 Garratt Lane, London SW18 4ES 020 8333 4457 www.tara-arts.com Sat 16 Apr. DAVID WOOD MAGIC AND MUSIC SHOW 10.30am. An hour of entertainment and fun!

David Wood’s adaptations of Roald Dahl’s “the BFG”, “The Witches” and “The Twits”, Enid Blyton’s “Noddy” and Eric Hill’s “Spot’s Birthday Party” have been huge hits in the West End and on tour. His plays are presented worldwide. £6.50/£7.50.

• NEW- a dedicated Maths tutor up to A Level available for home-visits in central London Tuesday Tutors has placed many children in top state and private schools. It is advisable to contact us early, as high demand may mean that your child will be placed on our waiting list.

THE COLOUR HOUSE THEATRE

Experienced tutors welcome

Merton Abbey Mills, Merantun Way, SW19 2RD 020 8542 5511 www.colourhousetheatre.co.uk Sat & Sun 2pm and 4pm. £7/£9. Parties £6.

To Sun 17 Apr. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST A great family show with plenty of fun and excitement!

From 23 Apr every weekends until 27 June THE PUPPET SHOW SEASON Every Sat & Sun 2pm & 4pm New exciting puppet shows for all the family. Be ready to be amazed!

Sun 24 Apr. BIG EASTER EGG HUNT around the Abbey Mill site. Join the fun!

Tel: 020 7735 8268

07906 312541

tuesdaytutors@hotmail.co.uk tuesdaytutors.com

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Little Venice, Blomfield Road, London W9 2PF 020 7249 6876 www.puppetbarge.com £8.50/£10.

9 to 25 Apr. BRER RABBIT AND THE TAR BABY 3pm. Carved marionettes, dramatic lighting and effects, specially composed music and story telling by well known stage and TV star Rudolph Walker will enchant and delight all ages.

30 Apr, 1, 2 May. CANALWAY CAVALCADE daily 2pm, 3pm & 4pm.

THE LYRIC HAMMERSMITH THEATRE Lyric Square, King Street, London W6 0OL 0871 22 117 20 www.lyric.co.uk Saturdays shows 11am/1pm £6/£8, then “MESSY PLAY” arts and crafts activities £5, 12pm & 2pm. £9 for Show and Messy Play Workshop. Add Messy Play to your family ticket for just £3 extra per child. Family ticket £25.

Sat 9 Apr. FLYAWAY KATIE Katie is all alone and feeling grey. The birds in the picture on her wall look so

For our online offering go to www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/whatson

Cont. pg 34

240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SB 020 8543 4888 www.polkatheatre.com MAIN THEATRE 13-23 Apr. LITTLE ELEPHANT Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s much loved tale, this is an exuberant and playful show with inventive puppetry, laughter and fun. £7/£9. 47yrs.

26 Apr-7 May. SCARECROW Unlikely friendships are forged in this fun show full of music, movement and puppetry by Mike Kenny. £7/£9. 5-9yrs.

VISITING ADVENTURES Tickets £7/£9.

Sat 9 Apr. TALES FROM OLD JAPAN These delightful traditional Japanese tales are brought to life through inventive storytelling, puppetry and music. 5-8yrs.

Tue 12-Sat 23 Apr. ON-OFF A tribute to children’s amazement at the behaviour of light and their interest in controlling it! A wonderful story with music, rhythm, movement and dance, to help young children overcome fear of the dark. 2-4yrs.

Sat 30 Apr. THE PAPER WASHI WISH A unique theatrical experience featuring traditional Japanese storytelling: Kamishibai. A charming, vibrant show for younger audience. 3-5yrs.

EASTER HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS Tue 12 Apr. LITTLE ELEPHANT’S MASK MAKING WORKSHOP 10.30am-12.30pm. 5-7yrs. Make Little Elephant masks from recycled materials in this drama and craft workshop. £20.

Wed 13 Apr. BEHIND THE SCENES: DANCER FOR A DAY 10am-3.30pm. 6-9yrs. Experience a day in the life of a professional dancer, learn routines inspired by different dance styles and create your own choreography, then perform to family and friends. Everyone welcome, no previous experience required. £25.

Thu 14 Apr. DRUMMING WORKSHOP, in association with Cherry Pie Music. 10.30-11.30am or 12.30-1.30pm.

8-13 yrs. Join in the drumming circle and create percussive rhythms and beats with your friends. Early booking recommended. £10.

Fri 15 Apr. BEHIND THE SCENES: AN ACTOR’S LIFE WORKSHOP 10am-1pm. 6-10yrs. Spend the morning with one of Polka’s professional directors, play drama, games, explore acting techniques and exercises and work with Polka scripts to bring them to life. £20.

Tue 19 & Wed 20 Apr. BOUNCING EASTER BUNNIES BUMPER WORKSHOP Create bunny ears and tails, decorate eggs and help the Easter Bunny prepare for Easter in this jam-packed two-day drama and craft workshop. £25 3-4yrs: 9.45am-10.45am and 4-5yrs: 11.15am-12.15pm.

Tuesday Tutors

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What’s on colourful – if only Katie could be as bright as them, who knows what might happen? 2-7yrs.

Sat 16 Apr. SUITCASE CIRCUS Roll up for this interactive circus with the world’s only acrobatic potato sack, a daredevil ski glove and a incredible dancing milkshake straw. 4-7yrs.

Sat 23 Apr. THE PAPER WASHI WISH 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm. Messy Play 11.30 am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm. During a game of hide and seek Rabbit goes missing. Can you help his friends to find him? This unique theatrical experience features a hands-on papermaking workshop. 3-7yrs.

Sat 30 Apr. THE FABULOUS FLUTTERBYS As two different caterpillars travel through their insect sized world they encounter a host of fabulous creatures, including bluessinging Slow Worm Joe and a patch of mean strawberries.

3-7yrs.

UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, London SE1 2HZ 020 7645 0560 www.unicorntheatre.com 2 Apr-8 May. THE THREE MUSKETEERS. With a contemporary twist to Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel, the show is full of adventure, intrigue, romance and sword-fights. £8 to £12, family £34/£54.

19 Apr-8 May. OILY CART presents DRUM. A wonderful multi-sensory adventure for very young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities or on autistic spectrum disorder.

SOUTHBANK CENTRE Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX 0844 875 0073 www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Credit: Patrick Baldwin

Southbank Centre: Rip, Fold, Crunch:

15-25 Apr. ALCHEMY FESTIVAL Explore Indian culture in all its colour and diversity, with dozens of events taking place over eleven days, including dance performances, traditional music, bhangra artists, film screenings and more. All ages.

Wed 20 Apr – Sun 24 Apr. PART OF THE FESTIVAL: RIP, FOLD, SCRUNCH Blue Room, Spirit Level. 11am & 2pm. Half Moon’s enchanting new children’s show fuses theatre, kathak dance and live music within a paper world. After the performance come and experiment with paper – rip, fold and scrunch your own creations. £8.

Wed 20 Apr 3.30pm.

FREE WORKSHOP for Rip, Fold, Scrunch tickets holders.

SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE Bankside, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT 020 7902 1400 www.shakespeares-globe.com The 2011 season at the Globe theatre celebrates the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible and the enduring power of dramatic language.

17-25 Apr. THE BIBLE From 23 Apr. HAMLET by William Shakespeare 27 Apr-21 Aug. ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL by William Shakespeare Box Office for the whole season: 020 7401 9919/0871 297 0749 or online. Please check the website for full detail of the performances.

BFI SOUTHBANK THE DISNEY 50 AT THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE 020 7928 3232 www.bfi.org.uk/southbank £6.75/£9.50, family £20.

Some of the world’s most celebrated FAMILY FILMS of all time on the big screen throughout 2011 Sat 9 Apr 1.50pm & Sat 16 Apr 4pm.

THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR TOAD (USA 1949) + Good Scouts (1938, 8min) + The Greener Yard (1949, 7min) Tue 12 Apr 6pm & Sun 17 Apr 3.20pm.

CINDERELLA (USA 1950) + The Little House (1952, 8 min) Sat 23 Apr 1pm & Mon 25 Apr 3.50pm.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND (USA 1951) + Thru The Mirror (1936, 8min) Fri 29 Apr 4.20pm & Sat 30 Apr 1pm.

PETER PAN (USA 1953) + Working With Peanuts (1953, 7min) FILM FUNDAY CINDERELLA FUNDAY WORKSHOP: Sun 17 Apr, 1.20-m, Foyer. Tell us why you love Cinderella and who your favourite character is. Enter our competition to draw your favourite scene from Cinderella and you’ll even be in with a chance to win some fabulous prizes!

Belgian Hares at Battersea Z00

EVENTS BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN’S ZOO. Battersea Park, Chelsea Bridge Gate, London SW11 020 7924 5826 www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk Daily from 10am. Usual child entrance fee £6 with activities.

9-24 Apr. EASTER EGG HUNT! Around the zoo our animals are guarding EASTER EGGS, purchase a quiz sheet upon entry & use the clues to work out where they are. £1.50 (includes prizes) Thu 14 Apr. HEDGEHOG DAY The People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) are visiting the zoo today for some hedgehog focussed fun..storytime, meet a real hedgehog & fun hedgehog themed arts & crafts! 4 x 45mn sessions, starting 10.30am. 1st am & 1st pm sessions only bookable in advance through the PTES. www.ptes.org/events . Free.

12, 19 and 21 Apr. MAKE AN EASTER CARD Drawing, colouring & sticking fun!. Drop-in sessions: 11am-12noon & 1.30pm3.30pm. £1.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN, 020 7563 9500/ 9551 www.wallacecollection.org 10am-5pm. Free.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Sat 9 Apr. NEW! FREE FAMILY PUBLIC TOUR 2.30pm-3.30pm. Explore the collection through new eyes and handle objects as the young curator’s from St Vincent’s Primary School guide you through intriguing corridors and magnificent rooms.

HAPKIDO SELF DEFENCE Kicks for Kids & Self-defence for children ages 5 and upwards Ki breathing, Kicks, punches, throws, joint-locks, tumbles, jumps and breakfalls.

NEW: Classes for Parents and Adults and self-defence classes for Women Hapkido teaches: •Respect •Fitness •Discipline •Confidence •Control & sensitivity •Inner calm & peace •Defence •Strength & agility Instructor: Jon Bailie, 2nd Dan Qualified Hapkido Instructor and fully insured Classes available @ Balham Leisure Centre SW17, St Luke's Community Hall SW12, Broomwood Hall SW11, The Contact Centre SW4 and other venues

For all enquiries/bookings, please call on

07932 667 336 Private tuition/home visits also available

www.semokwan-hapkido.co.uk

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®

visit www.familiessouthwest.co.uk for What's On

April 2011

Please send info to our editor to be considered: whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk (inclusion is free)

Mon 18 Apr. EASTER SURPRISES 10.30am-12.15pm or 2pm-3.45pm. Free drop-in family activity. Spot bugs, bugs and blossom on all sort of objects in the gallery then make a colourful Easter pop-up card to surprise your family.

FAMILY WORKSHOPS Bkg essential on 020 7563 9527 or booking@wallacecollection.org Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tues 19 Apr. GALLOP AWAY! Family craft activity 10.30am-12.30pm or 2pm-4pm £7. Look at pictures and statues of horse belonging to kings, emperors and knights.

See the amazing armour made for horses as well as people and then make a hobby horse of your own to ride home. 59yrs.

Wed 20 Apr. FANTASY GARDENS: 3D WORKSHOP 10.30am-4pm £14. Be inspired by the paintings and porcelain to design your own 3D garden using plaster, paint and clay. (Parents/careers may leave your children during the workshop but must pick them up at lunch time) 912yrs.

Daily: FAMILY MULTIMEDIA TOUR with interactive games.

Small fee.

FREE ARMOUR HANDLING Daily. Find out what a brigandine is and how heavy a bullet-proof breastplate really was.

FAMILY TRIALS Themed family trails available from the information desk at the front Entrance.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE 020 7306 0055, www.npg.org.uk/events Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun 10am-6pm. Late opening Thu, Fri 10am-9pm.

FAMILY EVENTS: Meet in the Ondaatje Wing Main Hall Sat 16 Apr. STORYTELLING FOR FAMILIES 10.30am & 1.30pm. Bring the Gallery’s portraits to life in this exciting storytelling sessions followed by a fun art activity.

Sat 16 Apr. FAMILY ART WORKSHOP 11.30am & 2.30pm. Explore portraits in the Collection, followed by an art activity in this enjoyable family session. Free ticket

National Trust

What’s on

required and available one hour before the event.

EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES (Every weekdays) Mon 18 Apr – Fri 22 Apr. IN THE FRAME Meet in the Ondaatje Wing Main Hall. Free Ticket required and available 1h before the event from the information desk in the Ondaatje Wing Main Hall. 20 tickets available per workshop.

A week of photography workshops inspired by “Ida Kar: Bohemian Photographer” NEW FAMILY AUDIO GUIDE £6 for up to five audio players £4 for two audio players (one adult and one child) Explore amazing facts and stories about people in the Collection with specially recorded tours and interactive touch screen players. 7-11yrs

THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH Daily 10am-5pm. Free. 020 8858 4422, www.nmm.ac.uk EXHIBITION To 29 Aug. IMPACT: COLLISIONS AND CATASTROPHES From meteor showers to giant asteroid this brand new exhibition takes a look at these fiery visitors and their impacts on our planet, which can cause death and destruction, laying waste to vast areas and even triggering mass extinctions of plants and animals. Plus there’s the chance to see and touch real space rocks in the ROG’s astronomy galleries.

13 & 14 Apr. EASTER STAR PARTIES: GAGARIN 50.

5.55pm, 6pm, 7.15pm & 7.20pm. Come and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic journey, including the “Dawn of the Space Age” planetarium show, a chance to look at the Moon through a gigantic 28-inch telescope and an opportunity to use small telescopes in the Meridian Courtyard. £16, family £54. 5yrs+.

30 Apr. SATURDAY SPACE EXPLORERS Learning Centre. 2pm, 2.3pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm. Free family workshop focus on meteorites, with the chance to handle real space rocks and find out what we can learn from them.

5yrs+.

PLANETARIUM SHOWS 9-25 Apr. DAWN OF THE SPACE AGE 9-25 Apr. THE SKY TONIGHT: EASTER MOON Throughout Apr: SKY TONIGHT LIVE For more shows and details of performance please visit the website.

NATIONAL TRUST HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN LONDON

essential 0844 249 1895. Adults £8, child £6.

22-25 Apr. EASTER EGG HUNT 11am-4pm. Family fun with chocolate prizes. Child £3.

OSTERLEY PARK Jersey Road, Islework, Middlesex TW7 4RB Garden, shop and café open Wednesday to Sunday 11am5pm (house 12-3.30pm) Park open every day.

Just 8 miles from Piccadilly Circus!

14 & 21 Apr. OSTERLEY CRAFT CART 1pm-4pm.

Free fun in the park for families.

24 & 25 Apr. EASTER AT OSTERLEY 12-4pm. Easter trial with chocolate prize. Child £2.50.

GARDEN TOURS A garden quiz leads children on a tour of discovery around the grounds, including a rare cork oak tree and a boathouse island.

MORDEN HALL PARK Morden Hall Road, Morden, London SM4 5 JD 020 8545 6850 14 Apr. DAFT DUCKS 11am-3pm. Learn about real ducks and enjoy the plastic ducks race. £4 per family or £1.50 per person, plus £1 race entry.

21 Apr & 23-25 Apr. EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA 11am-3pm. Family fun with chocolate prizes. Child £3.

LONDON DUCK TOURS 020 7928 3132 or www.londonducktours.co.uk London Duck Tours is a sightseeing company that offers tours from a fleet of bright yellow amphibious vehicles originally used for the D.Day landings in 1944. It is the only sightseeing tour that combines a trip on land and river.

BRAND NEW TOUR: THE D.DAY DUCK TOUR. The tour will take passengers back in time to London’s home front during the Second World War. In a lively, entertaining and informative adventure suitable for all the family, a professional character tour guide will reveal London’s most important Second World War sights.

This tour will operate the first Sunday of every month. £16 to £22.

EXHIBITIONS & MUSEUMS

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/localtoyou or 01494 755500.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM HAM HOUSE

April 2011

See also www.familiessouthwest.co.uk/whatson

Cromwell Road, London SW7. 020 7938 9123. Open: Mon-Sat: 10am – 5.50pm Sun: 11am-5.50pm.

Info: Mon-Fri 020 7942 5000. Sat & Sun 020 7942 5011.

Free. www.nhm.ac.uk EXHIBITIONS: 22 Apr-4 Sept. AGE OF THE DINOSAUR Dinosaurs make a dramatic return in this summer blockbuster

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...cont page 36

Ham Street, Ham, Richmond upon Thames TW10 7RS 020 8940 1950 Garden, shop and café open everyday, 11am-5pm. House open (except Fridays) 12-4pm.

13 & 14 Apr. FAMILY GHOST TOURS 11.30am12.30pm. With stories of residents who never left. Bkg

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What’s on

THE SOUTHFIELDS SCHOOL OF BALLET We offer imaginative Ballet and Jazz classes for children (boys & girls) from 21/2 years. The emphasis of the school is on fun, musicality and fitness, with the option to take Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) examinations.

020 8683 0222 classes held in Southfields and Wimbledon

Sibling Discount Join anytime

exhibition. Combining stunning imagery with amazing specimens and interactives, “Age of the Dinosaur” will take visitors on a journey through millions of years to life on Earth with the gargantuan reptiles.

5 Apr-25 Sept. SENSATIONAL BUTTERFLIES Experience the sensory world of butterflies, explore the five different sensory zones of sight, smell, taste hearing and touch in this new exhibition, come face to face with live butterflies in the beautiful butterfly house and learn more about the surprising life they lead.

EVENTS FOR FAMILIES: check the full listing on www.nhm.ac.uk/whats-on Here some highlights: Sats, Suns and School Hol. HANDS-ON NATURE: CORALS 2pm-5pm. Visit the handling trolley in “Lasting Impressions” and take a closer look at some interesting specimens with the help of science educators. Free.

16 Apr. CRAFTY NATURE: OCEAN MAMMALS 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm. Use interesting materials to make fun creations based on natural history themes. Free. Meet in the Mammals Gallery. Under 7’s.

24 Apr. NATURAL PUPPET TALES 12noon & 1.30pm.

Lively, storytelling workshops based on discovering amazing facts about the natural world. Free, to reserve a place visit the Central Hall information desk. Under 7’s.

DAILY FAMILY ACTIVITES Younger visitors can pick up an Explorer backpack and take a mini adventure around the Museum.

Principal: Mrs. Eliane Gerhard, BA (Hons), LRAD

SCIENCE MUSEUM

Warm loving environment for 2+ to 5 year olds Montessori-qualified staff International atmosphere Light and airy premises Private sunny patio Fulham /Hammersmith border Please ring— Morning sessions plus Tuesdays 1-3pm

020 7381 3511 020 7736 8729

Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD. www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Open 10am-6pm. Info & bkg 0870 870 4868. Adm is free but charges apply to some special exhibitions, IMAX cinema and simulator rides ATMOSPHERE: EXPLORING CLIMATE CHANGE This exhibition will transform the second floor of the Wellcome Wing in the Museum, making it THE destination to explore the science of climate change. Includes a 700 year-old Antarctic ice core and hopes to inform the public about Climate Science, its limitations and its history. Free.

FLY ZONE Visit the brand new Fly Zone simulator area where you take control in 360 degree flight simulators or fly with the red arrows in our sensational £D motion effects theatre. Charges apply.

IMAX 3D Cinema. Charges apply.

LAUNCHPAD SCIENCE SHOWS Launch a rocket, turn your head into a sound box and control a magnetic cloud and play with 50 more brand new interactive exhibits demonstrating light, sound, electricity and magnetism and more amazing physics phenomena. Free. 8-14yrs.

Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ. 10am-6pm. 020 7416 5320/5321. www.iwm.org.uk NEW EXHIBITIONS To 30 Oct. ONCE UPON A WARTIME: CLASSIC WAR STORIES FOR CHILDREN The exhibition delves into the pages of well-loved books, bringing five stories of war dramatically to life. Behind the scenes of the stories, see what inspired the authors to write their books, and find out about the historical context of each story through objects, photographs and films. £3.95 to £5.95, family £12.50.

9 Apr-31 Dec. WOMEN WAR ARTISTS Focusing on work by women war artists from the first World War to the Kosovo conflict as eyewitnesses, participants, commentators and as officially commissioned recorders.

Free.

NEW FAMILY ACTIVITY 9-22 Apr DRAWING STORIES 11.30am & 2.30pm.

Michael Foreman and other illustrators will work with families to develop visual stories through drawing based on inspiration from the Museum’s collections. 6yrs+. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Michael foreman will be taking part 18-22 Apr in the morning sessions. Free.

Cromwell Road, London SW7.

020 7942 2000, www.vam.ac.uk 10am-5.45pm until 10pm on Fridays. Free

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V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9PA, 020 8983 5200, www.museumofchildhood.org.uk Daily 10am-5.45pm. Free.

EXHIBITION To 25 Apr. FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD Explores how food plays a central role in our lives. Foodies young and old can explore eclectic displays of labour-saving gadgets and historic culinary devices and explore kitchen larder, packed with interesting food stories and nostalgic packaging.

Visitors can also share their food likes and dislikes using special food phones.

EVENT FOR FAMILIES Mon 11-Fri 22 Apr. PLAYING WITH WORDS Storytelling 10.30am, 11.15am & 12noon. , trails and arts & crafts 2pm-4pm. Drop-in, all ages Fri 15 Apr. LOST IN THE TOY MUSEUM 1pm1.30pm. David Lucas reads from his new children’s book “Lost in The Toy museum”. Drop-in. 4-11yrs.

Sun 24 Apr. BUNNIES AND BONNETS Hunt for bunnies in the Museum for the chance to win a giant chocolate egg! Plus, storytelling (10.30am, 11.15am & 12noon) and arts & crafts (2pm-4pm). Drop-in, all ages.

Fri 22 & Sat 23 Apr. CHOCOLATE EGG DECORATING 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm & 3.30pm. Chocolate egg decorating workshops. £5 per egg. Bookings taken from 8 Apr. All ages.

Sat 23 Apr. ST GEORGE’S DAY CELEBRATIONS 11.30am-4pm. A day of English merriment, in partnership with Tower Hamlets Council. Drop-in, all ages.

CHURCHILL MUSEUM & CABINET WAR ROOMS Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ 020 7930 6961.

Open daily 9.30am-6pm. £12.80 to £15.95. Under 16 free.

16 & 17 Apr. CHURCHILL CABINET OF CURIOSITIES Drop-in 11am-12.30pm & 2pm-4pm. An engaging drop-in session where visitors can examine replica objects that have become unique symbols of Churchill, the most famous of British wartime leaders... and even try on the clothes! Entry included in adm price.

Suitable for all ages with parental supervision.

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

36

EASTER WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN 11 & 15 Apr & 18-22 Apr. FABULOUS FABRICS & FANCY FONTS Get inspired by colours, textures and William Morris patterns. Visitors will have the opportunity to work with an artist to make their own decorative wall hanging. £3. 5-12yrs.

BRITISH MUSEUM Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG 020 7323 8000 www.britishmuseum.org NEW EHXIBITION: To 3 July. AGHANISTAN: CROSSROADS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD A unique opportunity to see an exceptional collection of over 200 objects which show how ancient Afghanistan was at the heart of a cultural crossroads. It revolves around precious objects drawn from some of the most important sites in the country. Each tells a story of how the inhabitants traded with or were influenced by the fashions of their ancient neighbours.

Adm charge.

GEFFRYE MUSEUM 136 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London E2 8EA 020 7739 9893 www.geffrye-museum.org.uk Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun and Bank Hol Mon 12noon-5pm.

Closed Good Friday. Free.

SPECIAL EXHIBITION To 29 Aug: AT HOME IN JAPAN: BEYOND THE MINIMAL HOUSE This exhibition goes behind the doors of contemporary urban homes to find out how private lives are lived in Japan today. £3/£5, under 16’s free.

FAMILY DAYS Tue 19 & Wed 20 Apr. STORIES OF THE WORLD 10.30am-4.30pm. Two fun-filled days for all ages including craft workshops, stories and much more! Free.

CHILDREN

visit www.familiessouthwest.co.uk for What's On

April 2011

What’s on

Please send info to our editor to be considered: whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk (inclusion is free)

Tue 12 to Fri 15 Apr. EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES: HOMES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. 10.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-4pm. Travel the world in your head and create fab crafts for your home which reflect your trip! Free. 3-16yrs. All children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tue 12 to Fri 15 Apr. NURSERY RHYME TIME: GLOBAL HOMES 10.30am-11.30am & 12noon-1pm.

Explore homes from around the world through stories, songs and craft activities. Free Quizzes, activity packs and audio guides are available during holidays every Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM Entrance: Bartholomew Lane, just off Threadneedle Street, London EC2R. Two minutes walk from Bank Underground station.

Mon to Fri 10am-5pm.

Free.

020 7601 5545 www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum 11-15 and 18-21 Apr. EASTER FUN! PUT ALL YOUR

Bank of England

JOURNEYS 12noon-1.30pm. Create a fantasy journey for the new bus. Families can build bus shelters, iconic structures and buildings out of everyday objects. 5yrs+.

11-15 Apr & 18-22 Apr. WORKSHOP: NEW BUS, NEW LOOK 2pm-3.30pm Design a new staff uniform, sort through London Transport uniforms from the Museum’s collection and try on caps, ties and badges for inspiration, then style your own London look to take home.

5yrs+.

Tue 12 & 19 Apr and Thu 14 & 21 Apr. MAGIC BUS STORY-TIME 11am & 4pm. Using the Museum’s famous poster collection and their imagination, children will visit the Zoo, the Park, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.

Under 5s.

Sat 16 & Sat 23 Apr. NEW STORY, NEW BUS Imaginations can run riot with our resident storyteller to make a unique and exciting story about the adventure of the New Bus for London. Sing, hear and see the sights of London in this interactive lyrical trip.

MUSEUM OF LONDON London Wall, EC2Y 5HN 020 7001 9844. Open daily 10am-6pm The MUSEUM OF LONDON and MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS are having family fun Victorian style this April.

Please visit the websites for details. www.museumoflondon.org.uk and www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands VICTORIAN TOYS What did children play with before games consoles? Find out and have a go at some popular toys from Victorian London. Free. 5yrs+ Mon 18 Apr 12.30pm-2pm and 2.30pm-4pm Fri 22 Apr 12.30pm-2pm and 2.30pm-4pm.

MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS EGGS IN ONE BASKET! 10am-4.30pm.

Follow the treasure trail to find eggs hidden in the Museum, then create and decorate your own Easter basket to take home. Prizes to be won and a chocolate egg for every child taking part.

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 7BB 020 7565 7299, www.ltmuseum.co.uk Sat to Thu 10am to 6pm. Fri 11am to 6pm. Adm to the Museum and family activities are free to accompanied children under 16. Adults £13.50 and tickets allow unlimited admission for 12 months.

Celebrate the Mayor’s New Bus for London which has been inspired by the old iconic Routemaster. Modern, fully accessible, using the latest green technology the static mock-up is on show at London Transport Museum for families to enjoy over Easter.

11-15 Apr & 18-22 Apr. WORKSHOP: FANTASY

West India Quay, E14 4AL 020 7001 9844. Open daily 10am-6pm.

VICTORIAN TEA PARTY What Victorians have for tea?

Use creative materials to make your own plates, cups and cakes to add to the tea table. 2-5yrs. Advanced booking required.

Mon 11 Apr 11am-11.30am, 12noon-12.30pm, 2pm-2.30pm.

Mon 18 Apr 11am-11.30am, 12noon-12.30pm, 2pm-2.30pm

SEE OUR COMPREHENSIVE EASTER ACTIVITIES LISTING ONLINE! FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/ holidayactivities Information for What’s On send to whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk

Day Nurs er

y

n ko u Y

For children (2-5) Full/part time vacancies * * * * * *

Bright well-resourced centre Pre-school education guaranteed Flexible hours/days Children in small groups Offers French, dance & swimming Positive emphasis on physical education * Very good OFSTED report

To view call 020 8675 Limited spaces

8838

Yukon Rd. Balham Hill Estate, Balham Hill, SW12 9DN

April 2011

Visit www.familiessouthwest.co.uk/whatson

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classified ads PARTIES

STORYTELLING & ART OR FACE PAINTING •Workshops & PARTIES! •Small groups, interactive & fun!

•Themes.....NO MESS! Tel: 8870 8243 www.wendystonestoryteller.co.uk wendystone@madasafish.com

www.charlietheclown.co.uk www.charlietheclown.co.uk

07808 732 390

clown pirate story-teller wizard

Ly d i e

622 2540 The0207 Unique Birthday Experience

babbleparade.com

C h i l d r e n’ s Pa r t i e s

www.magictheo.com

Hugely popular

Free Magic Wand & Magic Certificate for Birthday Child

BESPOKE PARTIES:

CRB CHECKED, Magic for Children & Adults 020 8642 6519 (Magic Circle & Equity)

The theatre of Peter Peter Pan, Pan, Superheroes, Fairies,Arabian Fairies,Arabian Nights and more...

In your home! Unforgettable Bilingual English/French English/French www.lydieparties.com

Fairies, Pirates, Spies, Circus, You name it!

Jam packed with fun activities!

07794 084671

Silly Millie the Clown Parties for 3-9 year olds Funny Magic Show, Puppet’s, Party Games, Silly Songs and Balloon Animals Call 020 7823 8329 - 07939 239397 www.sillymillietheclown.co.uk

FREE PERSONAL ADS: Ads can also go online now!

If you have unwanted baby goods, prams, or clothes sell them to other families locally.

Please log on to www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/personalads If you are looking for childcare or offering your services as an au pair, nanny or housekeeper go to www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/childcareads It is FREE!

To appear here email to: personalads@familiesmagazine.co.uk

CHILDCARE Offered • NNEB qualified and experienced nanny looking for a one day a week Friday job from April. I have a full clean driving license, first aid and excellent references. I have looked after children of all ages from newborn to 12 years of age. I am looking to work in South West London preferably in Clapham, Wandsworth or Balham.

Please call Ellen Cockerill 07751 157 977 or ellencockerill@yahoo.co.uk • Experienced & reliable Nanny/Mother's Help is looking for part-time work. Live in/out.

Excellent references available.

Also available to work weekends.

Please ring: 07543 647 321 and leave a message.

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• FULL OR PART TIME NANNY!!! Available from mid Apr in SW area. Energetic, fun, caring, honest and practical with solid experience of looking after small children. I’m non-smoker, 26 years old and have checkable UK references. I’m registered as a self-employed nanny for over 4 years. If you are interested please call Aneta on 07891 197 693

HOUSEKEEPING

Wanted • I am looking for a personal carer to help my family with either school runs or babysitting, Brixton area. 7 to 10 hours available. Must have some experience of working with children with special needs and full driver’s licence. Please call 07413 772 705. Thanks.

• Hi. My name is Amanda. I am 32 years old. I live in SW17. I have experience as a cleaner for 5 years. I have references. My English is good. I do have permission to work and live in UK and I can prove it. I am looking for a job as a house cleaner. I would like work in South London. Please call 07916 759 537 or email amanda290878@hotmail.com

• Experienced and Reliable Cleaner is looking for work Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm. Am very responsible, friendly and honorable with a lot experience.

I can do laundry, ironing and babysitting. Please contact Liz on 07768 460 687 or 020 8333 7979 for further information. Thanks.

• Cleaning/ironing available in all areas. Excellent references.

Please call Elia on 07830 539 109.

Many thanks.

FOR SALE • Wooden single loft bed with mattress and detachable ladder, very solid (originally John Lewis) £60 ono; IKEA desk, yellow laminate with bureau style shelves, computer shelf etc, great for child’s room £40 ono; whitepainted wooden rocking chair £40 020 8769 6400

April 2011

classified ads Reliable Handyman • Garden maintenance and building work (fences, patios, sheds, etc..)

• Jobs around the house (carpentry, painting, fitting furniture, etc…)

• Computer maintenance (repair, teaching) £20/hour or packages possible.

Call Brian: 0774 513 6424

Handyman Reliable, skilled and tidy General home maintenance, including: • Carpentry and painting • Garden clearance and fencing • Flatpack assembly and fitted kitchens Please call Nigel Fletcher for further details or free quotation. 07988 983273

TUITION

Learn to massage your child Massage is relaxing and brings loving closeness.

Learn simple techniques in your own home or your friend's.

Hands-on parent and child workshop by qualified massage therapist and aromatherapist.

Call Lorraine on 079101 14153

AMITY COMPUTER SERVICES

HOLIDAYS

Home and business computers repaired & managed.

Consultancy and tuition also available.

Traditional Cornish cottage in beautiful village of St Tudy, north Cornwall.

Phone Danny on

8944 0681 or 07961 428 596

Fifteen minutes from stunning sandy beaches of Polzeath, Trebarwith, Rock etc. Surfing, sailing & masses to do for all the family. Reasonable rent; cottage has 4 bedrooms, 1 bath, sitting/dining room, kitchen, parking, garden.

Near pub & shop. Enquiries: susanconnolly@aol.com.

E-mail: acs@amitygrove.com

SERVICES Man Friday Carpenter/Handyman

PAINTING & DECORATING Interior / Exterior Experienced, Reliable, Clean Fully Guaranteed / Insured FREE ADVICE & QUOTE 020 8462 4646 - 07802 535695

HOLIDAY FLAT IN PROVENCE

Carpenter

PAINTERS & DECORATORS General Building Maintenance

RELIABLE, FRIENDLY & AFFORDABLE SERVICE No Job too small

Vaugines (Luberon), 30 min from Aix/ Marseille. In the centre of an historical village a flat on the first floor, accommodation for 2 to 5 people.

One room with double bed, and mezzanine two small beds.

Huge living room looking on to the Durance valley.

Perfect pied a terre to visit and discover this part of Provence.

Price 400 Euros/week Dep 250 Euros.

Please contact l.metge@hotmail.com Ring us 00 33 474 67 59 17 fax 00 33 474 67 50 29.

"The perfect painters" Family-friendly painters, decorators, plasterers, household jobs…

Call Tony for a reasonable quote.

07930 348095

John:- James & Lamont

City & Guilds Qualifications SAM FROST 07855 433 412

PRIVATE SPANISH TUTOR Qualified & experienced class teacher G.C.S.E. & A-Level preparation Younger age groups / beginners Maria Baker 07881 828513 www.wimbledonspanish.co.uk

BUILDING AND HANDYMAN SERVICE Painting, decorating, carpentry, plastering.

Fit lights, switch, sockets.

Change a lock, hang blinds, picture. Assemble furniture, putting up shelves.

CALL MARK 07834 069943

Est. 25 years

020 8741 4242 Prompt reliable seven day service for deep down cleaning, removing dust, mites, dirt & stains

- including sports facilities and indoor & outdoor pools.

Please phone for details 01483 282471 or e-mail nancyshafee@tiscali.co.uk.

SPEECH SPECIALISTS Individual Tuition Public Speaking, Confidence Building, Interview Technique, Speech & Drama

Cots, highchairs etc can be arranged too!

MUSIC

SW8 & SW19 Studios Clare Price. LGSM, ALAM, SRD.

(020) 7735 3156

PIANO TUITION

• CARPENTER•

Come all the family and learn

Friendly, experienced and qualified teacher of children 6+ and adults.

Take exams or learn purely for pleasure.

30yrs experience working in SW London homes

Spanish with Pedro.

Different styles covered.

Home visits possible.

Design + build

Group and individual lessons.

020 7610 0906 • 07966 159234 www.mccormackcarpentry.com

Call Pedro on 07956 699963

April 2011

Mark Lester MA, CT ABRSM

020 8870 7830 www.marklester.biz

®

www.familiesmagazine.co.uk

JAMES ALLEN CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS

2 cottages in Cornwall

adverts@familiesmagazine.co.uk

• Doors • floors • flatpacks • • kitchens • bathrooms • • painting • decorating • • lettings maintenance • gardens • Fully insured and CRB checked.

Tel Dave: 07761 055071 Office: 020 8874 2830

Contact us: PO Box 4302, London SW16 1ZS 020 8696 9680 Fax: 020 8696 9679

HEALTH

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ŠFamilies Magazine

April 2011