Families London SW issue 222 December 2012

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

December 2012

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ISSN ue 22 2 135 4-95 Est 53 19

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SouthWest

Find us online:

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Where is Santa?

Grottos in & out of London

Cover picture shows: © Anatoliy Samara - Fotolia.com

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All the pantos Christmas Shows Christmas fairs, carols & events Holiday activities

LILY’S KIDS KLUB

Quality Childcare & Pre-School Education in a Caring & Friendly, Stimulating Atmosphere • • • •

Ofsted registered & Qualified staff Caring for Children aged 0-5 years Full & Part-Time places available Opens 50 weeks a year

Self contained BABY UNIT. PRE-SCHOOL We also provide - BREAKFAST CLUB, AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB & HOLIDAY PLAY SCHEME

TEL: 020 8674 8678 OR 07958 346 058 BRIXTON HILL METHODIST CHURCH ELM PARK, SW2 2TX

131 REAR OF BRIXTON HILL ELM PARK, SW2 1AF

Pottery Painting & Craft Studio Personalised Christmas Gifts painted by You! Baubles, tree decorations & more Capture your childrens' prints on silver jewellery, Birthday parties, hen do's & Christmas do's all welcome Open Mon足Sat 10am足6pm, Sun 11am足6pm.

85 Nightingale Lane, Wandsworth SW12 8NX 020 8772 8702 www.smartypaints.co.uk

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Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

is already here o n ear heaven Everyt th e in b hing that o is supposed t

SouthWest

Cover picture shows: © Anatoliy Samara - Fotolia.com

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December 2012

Contents 04-05

Local news & information

08-09

Mums know best

12-16

Christmas Shopping • Local Shops • Local Shopping • Where is Santa?

All content ©Families 2012 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 Events, diary dates, what’s on info: whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk Next issue: Jan 2012 Deadline: early December •“Families® South West” heads a group of magazines. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.

•There are now 40 UK local editions with a print run of more than 700,000 copies in all, in which you can advertise too. Oh, and we have a very useful website… familiesonline.co.uk • MOVING? Families® magazines can be be franchised in new areas. Read initial franchise information on the website or call.

•Printed by Ridgeway Press Ltd, Basingstoke, Hants We take every care preparing this magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Paper used to print Families is from fully-managed sustainable sources — meaning trees which are felled are continuously replaced. Inks are soya-based, which can be re-cycled.

Find us on Facebook and Twitter FamiliesSW

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Book reviews

18-19

Alternative Christmas

12-16

20-21

Holiday Activities listings

22-26

Health Feature • Are you concerned about your child’s development • Kriston Intimate Training • Mindfulness— the ultimate me time

26-27

Christmas shows and pantomimes

28-34

What’s On

34-35

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When you really don’t want to celebrate anything, let alone Christmas

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Drama Events Exhibitions & Museums Diary dates

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28-34

Magazine Directory & Classified

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News Sleep deprived?

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Then you’ll need the new nanny agency recently set up in SW London! Hushabye Nannies offers a range of services including Sleep Training, Toddler Taming and Babysitting as well as Nannies, Night Nannies, Emergency Cover and Birth and Postnatal Doulas. Set up by two local mums, both of whom trained as nannies at Norland College, Hushabye Nannies also offers First Aid courses for both parents and childcare workers. “Now that we are parents,” says co-owner Caroline, “we can understand the business from both perspectives - that of the parent and that of the nanny.”

Hushabyenannies.co.uk

Get arty…

Let your monkey get funky!

Funky Monkey Keyboard Classes introduce Funky Foundation Course, an exciting new scheme for children 3½ to 5 years to bridge the gap between general music percussion or singing sessions and instrumental lessons. This half-hour, after school class is jam-packed with music awareness activities, introducing children to notation and basic keyboard skills.

An absolute must for music confidence, coordination and brain development at this exciting stage of life! Rolling out to all centres from January 2013. Register your interest at funkymonkey.info or call 0800 107 7949.

Families South West is the biggest it has

EVER been!

No other parenting magazine prints as many copies for the SW postcodes.

We now print 30,000 copies …and did you know?

There are now 40 local Families® magazines around the country!

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…with new art sessions from Les Petits Artistes. At their drop-in classes your little one can create new and wonderful masterpieces using different materials every week. Classes are at Smarty Paints, 85 Nightingale Lane SW12, Eat Play Love, 324 Battersea Park Road SW11, It’s A Kids Thing, 279 Magdalen Road SW18 and St Luke’s Church, 194 Ramsden Road SW12, see website for details. Or have them host your next children’s party where your guests can enjoy creative art parties - choose from making t-shirts, painting canvasses, decorating photo frames, designing crowns and wands, and more. All materials, mats and aprons provided so you don’t have to worry about sticky fingers or glitter!

Lespetitsartistes.co.uk

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RSPCA searches for the next Jemima Puddleduck This season there’s the launch of the children’s Short Story Competition, Wild About Britain, with young people encouraged to go wildlife spotting to get inspiration. The wildlife-themed contest, run by the RSPCA, is inspired by classic bedtime tales such as Wind in the Willows, Peter Rabbit and Fantastic Mr Fox – shown by a recent survey to still top the list of the nation’s favourite wildlife stories and characters. “What could be a more perfect way to enjoy our autumn than go out into the woods and search out signs of animals like hedgehogs, foxes and badgers – then go home and write about them,” says Chris Packham, RSPCA Vice President. Your story must be no more than 500 words and feature an animal from British Wildlife, closing date 10 December. Find out more at wildaboutbritain.org.uk

Dance to the Bollywood Beat Has your kid got twinkle toes?

Bollywood Dance London introduces a Kids Class for 4-9 years on Sunday mornings at LA Fitness, Great Portland Street (Off Hallam Street), W1. Learn Bollywood Dance techniques, coordination and musicality while having fun and telling a story through dance.

They also offer themed birthday parties for children.

Bollywooddancelondon.com

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Inclusion in these pages is always FREE: send to news@familiesmagazine.co.uk

News

Keep drawing

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Hornsby House School children and their families embraced The Big Draw event this autumn. Organised by The Campaign for Drawing, the children spent time drawing together, sharing ideas and producing wonderful art. The activities on offer included study of texture, investigation of spirals to create Snazzy Snails, and drawing a flower or plant in detail. “The children loved drawing with their friends and families and sharing ideas together,” said Helen Shannon, Head of Art. “They were thrilled with the art they produced and many had not realised before how well their parents could draw! They felt a great sense of achievement and produced a wonderful array of drawings." Hornsby-house.co.uk

French on Saturdays If you’re after a playgroup for French-speaking parents or bilingual families, look no further than Pom D’Api Saturday French Club. These weekly sessions enable children aged 3-5 to learn French by taking part in fun activities such as songs and stories, with a structured programme of French activities based on the French cultural calendar and French Curriculum. Saturdays 9.30am-12.30pm at 59 Balham Grove SW12 8BD. 07590 057304, grovehallnursery.com/Pomdapi.htm

Children’s parties with a difference

Drop before you shop

With dressing up accessories from the 1920s, afternoon tea with cakes and lots of pink flowers, the Betty Blythe Vintage Tea Room is an ideal choice for your little princess’ birthday party.

Popular with little girls who love to dress up and take part in a grown up Tea Party, your guests can adorn themselves in pearls, gloves and fascinators before joining a movie photo shoot on the chaise lounge where the group of new found starlets can practice their vintage Hollywood poses. Then the tables are set for tea with hot chocolate, mini sandwiches and a tempting array of biscuits and mini muffins. Add on biscuit decorating, jewellery making and chocolate cookery and you have the perfect party! Bettyblythe.co.uk, 73 Blythe Road W14 0HP.

A new drop-in-creche for babies has opened in Wandsworth. The Baby Drop is set to be the busy mum’s 4th emergency service as this Ofsted registered crèche, just moments away from the busy Northcote Road, gives parents the convenience of safe and secure childcare at a moment’s notice. Kitted out like a premium nursery, The Baby Drop is open 9am-6pm Monday-Friday, plus Saturdays in December, for children aged from birth to 5 years. Prices start at £10 per hour, no pre-booking required. What a great idea! 32b Webbs Road SW11 6SF, thebabydrop.co.uk

Yummy Scrummy There is a new cookery school for children in Clapham. Just Yummy runs a variety of cookery workshops for children aged 2-10, where they can explore, create and most importantly have fun with food. They will learn basic cookery skills as well as about where food comes from, experiment with flavours and learn about a healthy diet. Or book a Just Yummy Cooking Party where the party guests transform into little chefs and prepare their own party food. Christmas Workshops take place at St Michael's Hall, Cobham Close, SW11 6SP 17-21 December. Just-yummy.co.uk

Quotes for free Need to get repairs sorted out fast? Been asked to get two quotes by your insurance company? At All Property Claims they will not only provide a quote, but also get it agreed with insurers and start your building repairs faster than anyone else and in one amazing free service. After surveying the damage they will draw up a specification of repairs, prepare a quote for insurers, negotiate and agree repairs with your insurer or their loss adjusters, carry out all building works and get your property back to the way it was in record time. Worth a try! Allpropertyclaims.co.uk, 020 8764 0007

Too poorly for nursery today?

New football class If your child is a budding Berbatov check out the new Football For All class on Saturday afternoons. Children aged 3-14 are welcome at Furzedown Recreation Centre, Ramsdale Road, Tooting SW17 9BP, where they can learn from professional coaches, get active, improve their skills and have fun! Classes run between 2 and 5pm. Zeshrehmanfoundation.org

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So what’s your backup plan? A typical working parent in the UK will have a childcare breakdown 9 times a year. That’s a lot of lastminute childcare to find, which we all know can be stressful. Emergency Childcare is new membership service that lets parents plan ahead for these little emergencies, so when things do go wrong you can book an emergency nanny, nursery or childminder with as little as 2 hours’ notice. Membership is £9.60 a month, or £99.60 a year. www.emergencychildcare.co.uk

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Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Mobile Beauty and Brazilian Blowdry ...treat yourself at home Brazilian Blowdry £150 Facials /Face massage (1hr) £85 Full Body Massage (1hr) £90 Waxing from £35 0791 203 7769

December 2012

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Mums know best The page where parents share their knowledge. (Because raising the next generation is, you know, only the most important job in the world.)

Compiled by Helena Foss

Think about this: The end of 2012 and the dawn of a new era?

So that was the year that was 2012. The year when rumours of an old Mayan prophecy that predicted the supposed end of the world were rife, sparking an apocalyptic Hollywood movie of the same name. But according to the anthropologist and journalist Will Black’s book, ‘Beyond the End of the World: 2012 and Apocalypse’, what the Mayans – and a huge number of other indigenous tribal cultures – really predicted, was that 2012 would mark the end of a certain way of thinking and, hopefully, the dawn of a new level of awareness; one that no longer champions greed, exploitation, abuse and ruthless business practice.

Could it really be the beginning of the end of unfair and unsustainable moneymaking? The banking industry, once a paragon of respectability, has been exposed as corrupt. Financial systems are crumbling. Austerity measures are squeezing family budgets. Country after country appears to be in debt.

Child abuses are uncovered. © rolffimages - Fotolia.com

The Dalai Lama said that it is the Western woman who will save the world: well, that’s YOU! So, maybe 2013 could be the year when women empower themselves fully.

A time for women to take action, however small. What do you feel passionate about changing?

Online campaigning organisations such as Avaaz.org and 38Degrees.org.uk have real clout when it comes to governmental decision making. Indeed, 38 Degrees were instrumental in saving British forests being sold off to land developers and are working hard to persuade the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to ban pesticides linked to the potentially devastating decline in the bee population. “It takes me barely a minute to sign one of their petitions and is just one small, but important, thing I can do to help causes that move me” says Pascale Gravell, FSW editor.

It sounds corny to say let’s work together for a better, more loving world. But hey, let’s work together for a better, more loving world! It is the season of goodwill after all. What better gift can we give our children than that?

We’ve put a lovely video of a native American Indian talking about our connection with the earth on facebook.com/FamiliesSW Food for thought. Will you Like it?

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Family time: Nativity services Take the hustle and bustle out of Christmas and add a dash of magic with a family nativity or carol service. Don’t be shy to go somewhere new; you will be made very welcome. Find a local service at: www.achurchnearyou.com

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

© Alexander Hoffmann - Fotolia.com

If your child refuses to take a certain medicine, then an ice cube in the mouth will numb the tongue and also make it easier to swallow. Better than sugar (Mary Poppins, take note).

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, French philosopher and radical priest

© Givaga - Fotolia.com

Health care: Making the medicine go down

“The day will come when after harnessing space, the winds, the tides and gravitation, we shall harness [...] the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire.”

In our Ja nuary/Fe bru issue we will focu ary ‘New Yea s on r and Tric New Health’ Tip s ks to get our kids eat their to greens o exercise r take . do on Fa Share what you cebook/F amiliesS W

© Davido - Fotolia.com

Burning Bird at the Unicorn, Nov 2012

Mums know best

Education: Finding your child’s spark

Eco tip: Hemp – nature’s multi-tasker

In these tumultuous times, it is easy to worry about how to prepare our children for an uncertain world.

According to education and creativity expert Ken Robinson, the best form of future job security lies in tapping into children’s natural talent and creative passion. Could it really be that our children can make good livings for themselves doing what they love?

Robinson, a visionary thought leader, believes so. See his book, ‘The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything’, or his popular (and entertaining) TED talk: www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Talking of making the world a better place, Families SW is very impressed indeed with the myriad uses of the humble hemp plant. ‘Industrial hemp’ (which has none of the psycho-active properties of its cannabis cousin) is thought to be the first plant cultivated for fibre uses and can be traced back to almost every civilisation. From the building of the pyramids, to supplying ropes and sails to the British navy, it was an absolute life essential. Indeed, the first bible and the first drafts of the Declaration of American Independence were written on hemp paper.

Now hemp is making something of a comeback, since it was all but outlawed in America and Europe in the early 20th century under pressure from cotton producers and the early petro-chemical and nylon corporations. A robust fibre, hemp is more breathable and has three times the tensile strength of cotton.

© Gennadiy Poznyakov - Fotolia.com

Not only that, it takes much less water and pesticide to grow and is currently being developed into plastics. (Seeing as much of our oil consumption goes on producing plastic, this is great eco news.) It is being made into bricks, ‘hempcrete’, chipboard, biodiesel and is used in car manufacturing. It even absorbs carbon dioxide. And on top of all that it is a nutritious food full of omega fatty acids and absorbable protein. What is not to love about that? Do your bit to create demand for this wonderfully sustainable resource and start using it however you can.

See the YouTube clip: ‘The power of hemp and its countless uses’ to find out more.

And finally...

Reasons why it is all worth it

Mother care: Perfect chillaxing The kids are over-excited, the in-laws are on their way, the turkey won’t fit in the oven... Whatever you’re up to this festive season, we implore you not to bust a gut trying to create a ‘perfect’ Christmas. No. Instead, we implore you to take time out. Winter is a time for rest and rejuvenation as well as merriment – and mums deserve all the relaxation they can get. Families SW writer Helena Foss recently discovered the benefits of Florida Water, an old fashioned eau de cologne recipe (£1.99, available in Afro beauty shops).

“Splashed into a candlelit bath with a few handfuls of seasalt, it is the most wonderful soak,” she says. “Somehow, it manages to both relax and revive me when life gets overwhelming. Apparently, Americans with African roots traditionally bless their homes with it. I have to say, there must be some magic in it to make me feel so good afterwards.”

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We all know it is the children that make Christmas special. But imagine how hard it was for Families SW reader Gemma Brooks from Wimbledon to stay poised during a family carol service last year: “Look!” her four-year-old son Alfie piped up during a quiet interlude, pointing to a statue of Jesus on the cross.

“There’s that man on the stick again!” Gemma gently told Alfie that if he was quiet, the vicar would tell a story about baby Jesus. “I don’t want a story about baby Jesus,” he protested in an even louder voice. “I want a story about Robin Hood!”

And if you are feeling nostalgic for those priceless moments that can only happen during school nativity plays, then we recommend this YouTube clip: ‘Funny Nativity: Sing like no one is listening’.

May your Christmas be full of those cherished moments that come from our children’s charming unselfconsciousness!

Please be in touch!

Tell us the things you do to get your kids to eat healthily, for our Jan/Feb issue.

We’d love to hear from you. Post on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/familiesSW

Love this page?

See previous ones on FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

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Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

THE WILLOW NURSERY 823-825 Wandsworth Road, Clapham, SW8 3JL Tel: 020 7498 0319 Est.1981 E-mail: admin@thewillownursery.co.uk Joint Heads: Caroline Henson & Virginia Bisset.

Opening hours: 8.15am to 12.15pm 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, Spanish, gardening, home corner, ICT, messy play, computer club.

Four specialist teachers for singing, dance, gym and cooking.

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

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

The Willow is renowned for its creativity. 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 both independently and with individual attention.

www.thewillownursery.co.uk 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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The best local Christmas toyshops you away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping!

Christmas is just around the corner, and we at Families South West like to see independent shops flourishing on the high street. So, for that special Christmas present or perfect stocking filler take a browse around our local stores.

•Quackers 155 Northcote Road, SW11 6QB, 020 7978 4235 Smart and casual wear for 0 to 10 year olds swimming suits, pyjamas, designer clothes from Oshkosh and Petit Bateau, plus gifts and wooden toys •QT Toys 90 Northcote Road, SW11 6QN, 020 7223 8637 Great for its Schleich and Breyer animal ranges and wooden chess sets

Balham, Clapham and Tooting

•Waterstones 70 St John's Road, SW11 1PT, 020 7978 5844 A wide range of children's books as well as audio books, cards and wrapping paper.

•Deelicious Nazish’s Kitchen 12 Tooting Bec Road, SW17 8BD, 020 8767 4743, 07950 836585 www.deelicious-nk.com Freshly-baked cakes and cupcakes topped with mouth-watering frostings

East Sheen •Twist Kids 111 Balham High Road, SW12 9AP, 020 3538 6229 www.twistkids.com A handpicked selection of children’s toys, games, books and accessories, including brands Melissa and Doug, Brio, Lego, Playmobil and Manhattan Toys

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•Pandemonium 125 Sheen Lane, SW14 8AE, 020 8878 0866 www.pandemoniumlondon.com Stocked floor to ceiling with traditional and unusual toys, books and music, plus an eclectic selection of games and puzzles •Play Inside Out 377 Upper Richmond Road West,SW14 7NX, 020 8876 5229 www.playinsideout.com A magical world of wonderful toys - a treasure trove of quality wooden, traditional, soft and educational toys, plus games, puzzles, cards and gift wrap

•Under the Greenwood Tree 11 The Polygon, SW4 0JG, 020 7627 4557 www.underthegreenwoodtree.co.uk A fantastic selection of books and toys with a café serving delicious cakes •Just Williams 8b Balham Hill, SW12 9EA,020 3538 6798 www.justwilliamstoys.com An Aladdin’s cave of pocket-money toys, puzzles, games and ever popular brands Lego, Brio and Warhammer •The Sweet Life 204 Trinity Road, SW17 7HP www.thesweetlife.co.uk Old-fashioned sweets you can only dream of. Party bags, gifts and vintage-style tearoom •Tickled Pink 2 Bellevue Parade, SW17 7EQ, 020 8767 6753 Gorgeous gifts and jewellery

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Battersea •All Good Gifts 65 Northcote Road, SW11 1NP, 020 7223 8257 www.allgoodgifts.co.uk Design-led high quality gifts and cards •Puppet Planet 787 Wandsworth Road, SW8 3JQ, 020 7627 0111 www.puppetplanet.co.uk A magical shop filled with puppets from past and present - something for everyone from kitsch to culture •The Bolingbroke Bookshop 147 Northcote Road, SW11 6QB, 020 7223 9344 A large selection of children’s books, cards and wrapping paper - a lovely villagey feel that takes

•Sheen Bookshop 375 Upper Richmond Road West, SW14 7NX, 020 8876 1717 orders@sheenbookshop.co.uk Find almost every fairy princess book imaginable, plus Horrid Henry and classic audio books. They also have shops in Kew and Barnes

Fulham •Bigoodi 52 New Kings Road, SW6 4LS, 020 7736 4768 www.mybigoodi.com Gorgeous treats, toys and clothes for your little one. Also a vibrant hairdressing salon complete with nail bar, playroom and individual TV sets •Cissbury 93 Wandsworth Bridge Road, SW6 2TD, 020 7731 5059 www.cissbury.com Discover well-picked and unusual cards, gifts and trinkets. Fantastic presents for both young and older boys and girls and Christmas treats •Little Heroes 638 Fulham Road, SW6 5RT, 020 7348 7907 A trove of classic and traditional toys

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Local shops •Little Toyshop at the Pottery Café 735 Fulham Road, SW6 5UL, 020 7736 2157 www.pottery-cafe.com An irresistible collection of your favourite toys with a focus on Fair Trade, traditional and wooden toys, plus gorgeous items for babies and toddlers. Your little one can decorate a plate for while you enjoy a well-deserved coffee •Nomad Books 781 Fulham Road, SW6 5HA, 020 7736 4000 www.nomadbooks.co.uk A wonderful selection of cards, wrapping paper and notebooks, not to mention great range of books. Enjoy coffee in the cafe whilst dipping into a favourite book, or try out the huge children’s section •Patrick's Toys and Models 107-111 Lillie Road, SW6 7SX, 020 7385 9864 www.patrickstoys.co.uk One of London’s biggest and oldest toy and model shops. Great for Lego, Playmobil, Sylvanian Families, Hornby, Scalectrix and Renner skateboards, plus everything from traditional wooden toys to the latest craze

Kensington and Chelsea •Semmalina Toys and Gifts 225 Ebury Street, Pimlico, SW1W 8UT, 020 7730 9333 www.starbags.info Quirky, original gifts for the young and young at heart. Great for stocking fillers, costumes and little treats

•Snap Dragon 25 Bute Street, SW7 3EY, 020 7581 2804 Loads of niche products as well as well-known brands such as WOW toys, Sylvanian families and Playmobil •Traditional Toys 53 Godfrey Street, Chelsea Green, SW3 3SX, 020 7352 1718 www.chelseatoys.co.uk Great for, unsurprisingly, traditional toys!

Putney and Barnes •Toystop Putney Exchange Shopping Centre, Putney High Street, SW15 1TW, 020 8785 9955 Stocks all the big brands including Sylvanian Families, Playmobil, Lego, Meccano, Jellycat and Jellykitten and Baby Alive dolls. Possibly the biggest independent toyshop in South West London!

•The Treat Garden 17 Station Road, Barnes, SW13 0LF, 020 8878 4525 www.thetreatgarden.co.uk A one-stop-shop for yummy treats, toys, crafts, gifts and books for all the family. Good old-fashioned high-quality products, plus a café serving a range of delicious cakes, salads and sandwiches •Waterstones 6/6a Exchange Centre SW15 1TW, 0843 290 8561 A wide range of children's books as well as audio books, cards and wrapping pape.

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Wandsworth, Earlsfield and Wimbledon

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•The Entertainer 29 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1XX, 020 8946 9889 North Mall Southside Wandsworth, SW18 4FT, 020 8812 3724 www.thetoyshop.com Anything and everything you could possibly need toys-wise!

•The Golden Treasury Children's Bookshop 29 Replingham Road, SW18 5LT, 020 8333 0167 www.thegoldentreasury.co.uk A specialist children’s bookshop. One of the best regarded independent children's book specialists in Britain, with booksellers who read widely and give helpful advice and recommendations •Mini Potters 430 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, SW18 4HN, 020 8944 7466 Pottery painting, gifts and children’s parties •Sienna Loves Kai 440 Garratt Street, Wandsworth, SW18 4HN, 020 8944 6776 Siennaloveskai.tumblr.com Luxury brands for children

Present ideas from our local businesses Personalised baubles, tree decorations & more Smarty Paints Pottery Studio in Wandsworth is now very excited to be able to capture your children's hand or footprints, whatever their age, in beautiful silver jewellery forever. It's easy to do and a good selection of designs to choose from. A truly delightful present for parents and family. Please call the studio to book or for more details.

They have a fab range of Christmas tree decorations and baubles to paint starting at £5.

Give something truly personal for Christmas.

Smarty Paints Pottery Painting Studio 85 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8NX, 020 8772 8702 www.smartypaints.co.uk

Smarty Paints

For perfect Christmas gifts look no further than Kemp & Co. This growing, local family-run clothing line for women and girls is, as ever, passionate about quality fabrics and simple designs. Made using the best cottons, silks, faux furs and cashmere blends, it provides a truly relaxed style and classical English look. We love their gilets with coordinating ear warmers for girls – just gorgeous!

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Christmas gift from Truepenny Property Consultants Truepenny’s opens on Clapham’s trendy Abbeville Road SW4 on Mon 3rd Dec 2012.

A new independent boutique-style estate agent following the success of the Lordship Lane office in East Dulwich. Truepenny’s covers all aspects of the property spectrum and welcomes anyone to discuss their property needs.

A small friendly office and team with a wealth of experience. They are offering a Christmas gift introductory 0% on the first ten instructions received before the 31st December 2012.

020 8675 1762, 29 Abbeville Road, London, SW4 9LA www.truepennys.com

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© Ronald Hudson - Fotolia.coma

Winter warmers

Saturday Christmas creche

Unique silver jewellery Smallprint capture a precious moment in time with a unique item of jewellery handcrafted in fine silver. They can help you cherish every milestone like tiny fingerprints, hand or footprints to those first drawings and doodles. Choose from a wide range of pendants, charms, cufflinks, book marks and keyrings! prices start from £45. Cufflinks from £95. Keyrings from £90.

Pendants from £70.

Thank you.

Annabel Johnson, smallprint www.smallp.co.uk 020 7610 2898

Third Door in SW18 are now offering a creche service on Saturday mornings between 0900-1300. So if you need some spare time for your Christmas shopping - you can leave your little ones with them!

Please book your place, £10 per hour. www.third-door.com

Small Print

Bananagram wins business award Mumpreneur UK, a not-for-profit organisation that supports mums in business, has crowned Rena Nathanson, an East Sheen businesswoman as the winner of its “Inspirational Business Mum of 2012” award. Her family word game Banagrams has now become a hugely successful business with over six million units sold worldwide. Bananagrams has been in production since 2005 and is now one of a collection of five products available under its brand name.

Bananagrams players race against each other to build crossword grids and use all their letter tiles. There's no turn-taking to be found here—it all happens at once and it’s a race to the finish. No matter how old you are and how many anagram games you’ve played, Bananagrams is sure to drive you absolutely bananas ... in the best possible way!

Widely available or see www.bananagrams.com/Our_Games/ www.mumpreneuruk.com/

Shop at Happy Faces hair salon Happy Faces sell gorgeous exclusive bows and nail varnishes. The bows come in different sizes and colours and priced from £1.95. The nail varnish, LittleBu is water-based, wash-off natural that is safe for kids, retail £9.95. (see also their Christmas event in Diary dates section) 50 Webbs Road, SW11 and 288 Munster Road, SW6. yourhappyfaces.com

© Ronald Hudson - Fotolia.coma

From p.13

Present ideas from our local businesses

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Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Pottery Studio Sammy Duder specialise in taking babies prints in Silver Jewellery, Pottery and Clay at their friendly studio on Webbs Rd. Perfect presents for all the grandparents this Christmas. Choose from the large range of pottery including their very popular Christmas Baubles and the favourite Silver Fingerprint Cufflinks for Daddy this Christmas. NCT groups very welcome.

To book your appointment call the studio on 0870 2427881 or visit www.sammyduder.com

Perfect Christmas gifts

Family photo-opportunities at the Exchange Capture your own memories of Christmas 2012 at the Exchange Shopping Centre, Putney, where during December you’ll be able to step inside a larger than life snow globe and picture yourself against a Winter Wonderland! Once inside, snow will magically start to fall and a photographer will be there to record the moment.

Great for family group shots, you can buy prints or purchase merchandise featuring your family photograph.

The cost for each sitting is £8 for up to 4 people and £10 for five people or more to include a 6x8 standard photograph. A booking system will be in operation.

For cute and quirky ideas for your little ones this Christmas, take a look at howdydoodle.co.uk Set up recently by local graphic designer and mum of one, howdydoodle offers everything from wall art and maps for children, to car signs, mini mirrors and personalised prints. We love it!

December 2012

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Where’s Santa this Christmas?

Wetlands Centre Santa and Huskies

Kew Gardens

In your own home!

Lapland UK

Bring your little ones along to meet Father Christmas in his grotto, located in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, (open for free from Sat 8 to Sun 23 Dec, 12 midday to 3.30pm, with last entry at 3pm). www.kew.org

FC can come in your home on Christmas eve or Christmas day. He will bring in the presents, chat with the kids, eat a mince pie or two or might even sing a few songs and then says goodbye. Call the Santa hotline on 0208 959 1045 or email www.adamantsparties.co.uk

Travel along the Elves’ magical forest pathways to a snowy wonderland, visit the Toy Factory and help the Elves before moving on to Mother Christmas’ Kitchen to decorate gingerbread and gather for storytelling. It’s then skates on at the ‘ice’ rink in Elf Village before meeting Lapland UK’s resident huskies and reindeer. Tickets from £44.50, eek! 1-24 December, Kent, 0871 620 7063, www.laplanduk.co.uk

London Wetlands Centre Winter Wonderland Weekend on 8 and 9 Dec. Experience the magic of a festive visit to Father Christmas and his huskies on this beautiful nature reserve. The friendly huskies look gorgeous but they're also working animals, younger children can experience the excitement of a free husky sleigh ride (age eight and under, although weight restrictions apply). 10am - 4pm. Father Christmas will be in his cosy grotto alongside arts and crafts activity tables. (£5 charge for visiting the grotto.) wwt.org.uk/visit/london

Music House for Children On Sunday 2 Dec at 6pm, the Music House will be hosting Carols by Candlelight for all the family- a magical evening under Bush Hall’s glittering chandeliers. (Adults £7 / Children £6, under 1’s free.) www.musichouseforchildren.co.uk

Winter Wonderland Hyde Park

Santa’s Victorian Grotto Meet Santa in his very own grotto, receive a special present and have your picture taken with him. £5, book first on 020 7001 9844. 8-23 December. Museum of London, www.museumoflondon.org.uk

Westfield Get the family ready for a magical, all-digital, 5D personalised Christmas experience with a Pixar film quality animated story that tells the tale of Elbow the Elf, who saves Christmas. Free gift and opportunity to feature in the film, helping Elbow on his journey to help save Santa’s presents from the good elf-turned-bad. Dates TBC, see www.uk.westfield.com/london

Turn Finding Santa into a day out! Santa’s Special Steam train

All children receive a gift and photo can be purchased.

Until 24 Dec. £10. Tickets for specific time slots can be booked online. www.harrods.com

Climb aboard one of Kent and East Sussex Railway’s Santa Specials, and meet Santa during a return journey to Northiam Station.

Gift to take home. At the end of the journey, everyone can meet the beautiful Snow Queen. Tickets from £14.50 include the one hour ten minute train ride, a present for each child, a ride on a miniature railway and a colour portrait with the Snow Queen to take home. 8+9, 15+16, 22+24 December, Tenterden Town Station, Station Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HE, 01580 76515, www.kesr.org.uk

Hamleys

Bluewater Shopping Centre

Until 24 Dec you can have breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea or dinner with FC and his team of elves! Hour long session with storytelling, individual chats and gifts for £45 per child. www.hamleys.com

Until 13 January, visit UK’s biggest indoor winter wonderland, enjoy the magic of snowfall as you take to the skating rink (ages 4+), try the 40 metre long snow slide, visit the new Santa’s Grotto Experience, enjoy stacks of vintage Christmas rides, games and amusements for all the family. www.bluewaterwinterwonderland.co.uk

Until 6 Jan Santa will be opening his grotto every day from 10am to 6pm. Entry is free and Santa will have a gift for children who've been good! Run on a first-come firstserved basis. www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Harrrods

London Zoo 17 Nov-24 Dec. See Santa in his Reindeer Lodge, a custom-designed grotto built in a fairytale setting at London Zoo. Children can see the reindeer close up! www.zsl.org

Odds Farm Park Every weekend and 24 December, children can visit Santa in his magical grotto. Continue the warm fuzzy feel with a visit to the lambs due in December. Odds Farm Park is located just minutes from Junction 2 of the M40, near Beaconsfield. 01628 520188 www.oddsfarm.co.uk

Watercress Line Santa Specials See Santa on a steam train - the perfect way to start Christmas! Join Santa as you steam on a magical one hour round trip through the scenic Hampshire countryside as he visits you in your seat! Departing from either Alresford or Alton, Santa Specials are by advance booking only. Santa Specials run on 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21-24 Dec. Fares: Adults £15, Children over 1 year £15, Children under 1 year £8. www.watercressline.co.uk

Chessington Garden Centre Wonderland of fairy-tale inspired scenes, starting with an Alice inspired trip down a rabbit hole, see inside the Elves mystical workshop. www.chessingtongardencentre.co.uk to book.

Claremont Landscape Garden Father Christmas will be visiting Claremont on Sat 15 and Sun 16 December. Admission (Adult £7, child £3.50, family £17.50) + £10 per child. Booking essential on 01372 476436. Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG.

Bocketts Farm Park Children will love to hop on board the Santa Express to his magical hay barn workshop. Once inside, each child will meet Santa and receive a gift. Voted one of the top 6 places in the UK to see Santa by ‘The Guardian’. Also hundreds of Christmas Trees and wreaths will be on sale, and the Gift Shop selling a great variety of toys, gifts, games and sledges is not to be missed! What’s more, there’ll be 25 gorgeous new born lambs due, and plenty of indoor play! £5.95 to see Santa, plus the cost of farm entrance.

To know other places where Father Christmas can be seen, go to www.familiesonline.co.uk and search! We have several sister magazines nearby like Families West, Families South East, North etc

Please note this is a shortened listing. There are so many places to see FC we ran out of space! For the full listing go to ww.familiessouthwest.co.uk

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Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Book reviews Reviewed by Louise Turner

Reviewed by Jan Deykin

The LEGO® Ideas Book

Mac’s Christmas Star

By Margaret Forrester, illustrated by Sandra Klaassen Published by Floris Books RRP £5.99 Paperback ISBN 978 086315 842 1

By Daniel Lipkowitz Published by Dorling Kindersley Publishing RRP £16.99 Hardback ISBN 9781405350679

Who hasn’t been tempted to open a Christmas present early? Catriona didn’t mean to but, following Mac the cat into her parent’s room, couldn’t resist peeking into a box and trying on the sparkly ring she found. In the chaos of Christmas tree decorating, though, she loses it. Now what will she do? Meanwhile, Mac has his eye on that tree… A beautifully illustrated picture book that captures the atmosphere of a real Christmas: excitement, secrets, tinsel and just a little stress! A lovely new Christmas story for younger children Families Rating: 5 out of 6

With over 500 models and ideas, this book is a Christmas must for all Lego fans! It’s a visual treasury of building ideas with lots of tips and tricks to inspire your own creations. Children can quite easily build from the clear and colourful pictures – it’s a great way of re-using all those Lego bricks in the house.

The book is divided into six sections Planes, Trains and Automobiles; Town and Country (buildings and bridges); Out of This World (space ships, robots and aliens); In Days of Old (castles, dragons and catapults); A World of Adventure (pirates, Vikings and wild animals); Make and Keep (useful pieces like desk tidies, minifigure displays, picture frames and board games).

Families Rating: 6 out of 6

London’s professional mobile bicycle mechanics •Bicycle servicing, repairs, sales, restoration and fleet maintenance.

•Bikes and scooters road side assistance and recovery.

We come to you anywhere in London and Greater London.

0800 0910 500 www.cycledelik.com

The Lying Carpet

By David Lucas Published by Andersen Press Ltd RRP £6.99 Paperback ISBN 9781849390170

The Advent Craft and Activity Book

By Christel Dhom Published by Floris Books RRP £12.99 Paperback ISBN 978 086315 912 1 This practical and traditional book includes old-fashioned creative suggestions for each day from December 1st through to Christmas and Epiphany.

The book is inspired by German Christmas traditions, and the crafts, activities and stories all have a wonderful German flavour. Learn how to bake delicious German biscuits and Stollen, make your own advent calendars, Christmas decorations and candles, and find out more about legendary figures such as St Nicholas as well as make nativity figures.

There is a chapter for each day of the season so it can be used for counting down to Christmas and is a good resource for keeping slightly older children (6+) engaged with celebrations through the season.

Families Rating: 5 out of 6

December 2012

Contact Vicky Barnett BA, MSc, PGCE Tel: 020 8876 2553 barnes@firstclasslearning.co.uk putney@firstclasslearning.co.uk www.firstclasslearning.co.uk

®

A girl of stone wakes, wondering aloud where she is. A voice answers, ‘rich as fur and just close by’: a carpet, claiming to have once been a tiger. She asks the carpet for information but his replies are confusing – are they real or stories?

Will she ever be able to move? This intriguing modern fairytale spins a thought provoking web of stories that draw you in and question what is true. Black and white illustrations add to the debate by being presented as ‘figures’ as if supporting evidence.

Wonderfully mesmerizing.

Families Rating: 6 out of 6

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick

By Chris Van Allsburg and 14 other authors Published by Andersen Press Ltd RRP £14.99 Hardback ISBN 9781849394086 Previously published as mysterious drawings with puzzling captions left by the enigmatic ‘Harris Burdick’, these are now the focus of fourteen intriguing short stories written by brilliant (mostly American) children’s authors. And what a treasure trove it is! A Grandma-eating dust-bunny; stretching Einstein’s theories sideways; a girl turned into a frog; caterpillars solving complex problems in physics; and children using their mutating house to dispose of a hateful stepfather.

By turns entertaining, strange, hilarious and bizarre this is enough to keep a bookworm of 9+ absorbed all through the holidays and a great gift.

Families Rating: 6 out of 6

Le Club Français FUN FRENCH FOR CHILDREN FROM 3-11yrs In school teaching for Keystage 2 children We arrange Clubs for Nursery, Primary Schools for lunch and after School

Call 07918 156831 or 020 8542 2709 for details

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When you really don’t want to celebrate anything, let alone Christmas…

There are many reasons why some of us find Christmas difficult, whether it is the loss of a family member, severe health problems or because your children are with dad and you are lonely. With the shops shut and attractions closed, you can feel like a prisoner in your own home with only endless episodes of EastEnders for company. But whether it’s volunteering in a soup kitchen or escaping to the sun, there are plenty of alternatives for everyone.

Get busy and active!

“A friend of mine who was single one year volunteered to help at one of the Crisis at Christmas lunch centres,” says Robina. “While we all admired her altruism, she said it was the best thing she'd ever done - rather than moping at home alone, she was helping other people, and came away appreciating what she did have, rather than what she didn't.”

While some charities shut up shop for the Christmas period, others, particularly those supporting the homeless, elderly or sick, are extremely busy, and are looking for people with a range of skills and backgrounds to do a whole host of different things this Christmas.

• Help out at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Many shelters are set up especially for Christmas so they need extra volunteers to help give out clothing, look after luggage and perform cleaning and kitchen duties. Many also provide services such as hairdressing, dentistry and medical services so they need volunteers with these skills too.

They even need musicians, magicians and entertainers! Crisis is one of the biggest homeless charities and over Christmas will need up to 8,000 volunteers nationwide. A worthy local homeless charity that needs your help this Christmas is Spires (spires.org.uk) • Manning a helpline. Helplines such as Samaritans and ChildLine can be a real lifeline at Christmas but they require volunteers to keep them running. Most involve a training programme before you start so get in contact as early as possible.

• Selling Christmas merchandise. Cards and gifts are great sources of income for charities but they usually need extra help selling them. Volunteer at your local charity shop or offer to sell to friends and family. Alternatively, contact Card Aid, a charity that produces Christmas cards for about 300 different charities. Throughout the UK there are around 30 Card Aid shops needing help over the festive period.

• Collecting for Christmas. Contact your favourite charity and offer to help with Christmas collections. You only need spare a few hours and there are no necessary skills to take part – just enthusiasm!

• Help a lonely neighbour. There are several charities across SW London working towards a community where neighbours look out for each other. Fulham Good Neighbours needs your help this Christmas - invite a lonely neighbour for lunch, help with transporting them to local services or do a few jobs around their house to make their lives easier.

• Help a family. HomeStart Wandsworth is a wonderful local charity that supports young vulnerable families in the area. If you can offer a helping hand this Christmas, whether it’s practical help, playing with children or just making a cup of tea, please get in touch.

• Donate food. FareShare is a national charity promoting the message 'No good food should be wasted'. Donate food at your nearest location or help with distribution and delivery.

• Be a DJ. Radio Lollipop provides entertainment and comfort for children in hospitals, which is especially important over Christmas. If you’re enthusiastic, positive and outgoing why not try this.

• Keep it local. There are lots of organisations that need help within your community. Charities such as Age Concern or the Alzheimer's Society often require befrienders in their local centres, you can coordinate carol singing for Christian Aid, and the Salvation Army is very active at this time of year. For opportunities in your area, visit www.do-it.org • Get loads more ideas to inspire you this Christmas at volunteering.org.uk and timebank.org.uk/christmasvolunteering

Volunteering Websites broadwaylondon.org fulhamgoodneighbours.org homestartwandsworth.org.uk westlondongrid.co.uk aslan.org.uk

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fast58.org.uk sn-works.com simoncommunity.org.uk streetlytes.org tclondon.org.uk/pages/home/st

reet-outreach crisis.org.uk samaritans.org/volunteer-us childline.org.uk charityshops.org.uk

cardaid.co.uk fareshare.org.uk volunteering.org.uk

© stojanovic - Fotolia.com

© mark yuill - Fotolia.com

Alternative Christmas

Be alternative in London… …and spend the day doing something completely different.

• Walk back through history. Join London Walks for their walk 1660 – The London of Samuel Pepys or The Christmas Day Charles’ Dicken’s London Walk. Meet by the Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square. www.walks.com • Meditate. Join the London Buddhist Centre on one of its retreats, in or out of London. www.lbc.org.uk • Swim in the park. Fancy spending Christmas stripping off and plunging into icy water? The most famous Christmas Day swim is the one at the Serpentine in Hyde Park, or you can join the Christmas Day races in Hampstead, or at Tooting Bec Lido visitors can watch the coldwater races!

• Take a cruise. On Christmas Day City Cruises are running special circular sightseeing cruises from Westminster pier. www.citycruises.com • See a show. Escape the Christmas madness and see something different – from the Argentinian extravaganza Fuerzabruta at the Roundhouse to Kiss Me Kate at the Old Vic, there are many un-Christmassy shows in town

Get away from it all “The first Christmas after my mother died, I couldn't bear the idea of a big family Christmas at home without her,” says Annie, “so my husband booked us into the Grand Hotel in Brighton. The distraction of the Grand's celebrations, the sea air and being somewhere without memories, turned what could have been sad in to an occasion we still remember for all the right reasons.”

Book a cottage, go wild in a theme park or Centerparcs, hole up in a hotel, spend a few nights in a new city, take a day trip to a National Trust or English Heritage property. Why not book a retreat?

Pamper yourself!

Find a longer version of this article on familiessouthwest.co.uk

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Education School fees soar

STOP PRESS DISCOUNT OFFER STOP PRESS DISCOUNT OFFER STOP PRESS DISCOUNT OFFER

Many middle class families are being priced out of private education after school fees soared by more than twice the rate of inflation in a decade, according to new research. Figures show that the cost of independent schooling has leapt by nearly 70% in 10 years - more than 1.8 times the standard rate of inflation - with school fees now at an average of £11,500 per year. Some headteachers, let alone parents, are concerned that private schools risk pricing out an enormous number of families and becoming the “sole preserve of the super-rich,” as researchers warn that parents even in relatively well-paid occupations might struggle to afford independent schools without financial help. Martin Stephen, ex-High Master of St Paul’s School, west London, said earlier this year that some schools were becoming as “socially exclusive” as they were in the Victorian era because of rising fee levels. However, many schools have denied that prices are being overinflated, insisting that they merely reflect the increased cost of staffing and buildings, combined with record sums being invested in bursaries.

East Sheen parents can now send their child to the popular Vacani school which now has an East Sheen branch.

To celebrate they are pleased to offer a 25% discount off the Spring Term to all Families Magazine readers who may wish to enrol their 2 ½ to 5 yrs child at the East Sheen and Colliers Wood branch.

Do also look a their new website www.vacani.com which displays some beautiful photographs of their pupils (150 of them!).

Wandsworth Prep children building a Forest School shelter

Is your school ready?

This autumn Ofsted has issued new guidelines in regards to e-safety provisions in schools. From now on Ofsted will be concerned about how each school protects and educates its staff and students in their use of technology, plus ensuring there is support in place should any issues arise. Although many schools might already have existing policies in place, others will need to revise their priorities to include this immediately. E-safety is constantly changing but by empowering both students and teachers with enough know-how to identify online risks, we can make sure children, even at an early age, can protect themselves from abuse, cyberbullying and other internet threats throughout their school life and into adulthood

From primary to academy .

400 primary schools judged to be among the weakest in England and Wales are set to become academies, the Prime Minister announced. David Cameron plans to pair these schools with sponsors, taking them out of the control of their local authorities in a drive to improve education in the poorest-performing schools. “The driving mission for this government is to build an aspiration nation, where we unlock and unleash the promise in all our people,” he said. “A first-class education system is absolutely central to that vision. Time and time again we have seen how academies, with their freedom to innovate, inspire and raise standards are fuelling aspirations and helping to spread success. So now we want to go further, faster, with 400 more under-performing primary schools paired up with a sponsor and either open or well on their way to becoming an academy by the end of next year." At the time of the previous general election there were 203 academies, all secondary schools. There are now 2,456, with 823 more in the pipeline.

December 2012

New branch for Vacani School of dance

®

New school is a Forest school!

Wandsworth Prep School is one of the first schools in Wandsworth to set up its own Forest School. Forest Schools is an initiative, which was initially developed in Scandinavia in the 1950s. It aims to increase the understanding and appreciation of the environmental, social, and economic potential of trees, woodlands and forests.

Children are encouraged to climb trees, learn how to use real tools safely, catch mini beasts, collect signs of seasonal changes, build 3d structures in the woods, hunting for treasure, cooking and yes! They are allowed to get dirty!

The Vacani School of Dance (Clapham, Colliers Wood & East Sheen) offers classes in Ballet, Modern Dance and Tap Dancing for children aged 2 ½ years and upwards. All Ballet classes are accompanied by live piano music. Children are given the opportunity to work towards their Cecchetti Ballet Examinations and are adjudicated by examiners from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD).

• Vacani School of Dance, All Saints Church Hall, Park Avenue, London, SW14 8AU enquiries@vacani.com 07974 682123

Non-selective for entry at Reception, Wandsworth Prep is part of the Bellevue Education group of schools and provides an exciting and stimulating educational environment. The school opened in September 2012 in the building of the old library on Allfarthing Lane.

Classrooms are really spacious and light. Already Year 3 has been announced as the additional Year Group from September 2013. We wish the school the best of luck and invite readers to go and visit the school. The Old library, 2 Allfarthing lane, SW18 020 8870 4133 www.wandsworthprep.com

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Christmas holiday activities listing COOKERY

Christmas Drama Workshops Take part in a ‘Play In Two Days ’ write a script, use music, props, costumes and your imagination to entertain family and friends with a seasonal show at the end of the day.

4-6yrs, 7–11yrs, 9.30am – 3.30pm, £90 with a 20% sibling discount.

02087675298 / 02089693249, info@allsortsdrama.com www.allsortsdrama.com

Just Yummy Cookery School St Michael's Hall, Cobham Close SW11 6SP 17-21 December.

Christmas Workshops Cookery workshops for 2-10yrs – explore, create and have fun with food. Learn basic cookery skills as well as about where our food comes from. 07930 563 116, justine@just-yummy.co.uk www.just-yummy.co.uk

Artpeggios Music and Art School Academy 198-200 Earl’s Court Road, SW5 9QF 19 December – 6 January.

Christmas Holiday Camps

ARTS AND CRAFTS Artyard Handmade 318 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen SW14 7JN 10 and 13 December Make presents, cards, gingerbread house boxes 5-12yrs, 4-6pm, £20 12 December Christmas Craft Club. 4-6pm, £20 12 and 13 December. Magical Christmas art for 2.5-4yrs, plus a visit from Santa! 1.30-3pm, £15 14 December. Christmas Creation Station Workshop 512yrs, 4-6pm, £20 020 8878 1336, info@artyard.co.uk. www.artyard.co.uk Dulwich Picture Gallery Gallery Road SE21 7AD 2 December.

Artplay Get creative at drop-in workshops with different art activities. Make everything from bunting to block prints and all things in between.

2-3.45pm.

020 8299 8732, l.mckie@dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Fulham Palace Bishops Avenue SW6 6EA 1 and 2 December.

Father Christmas and Christmas Workshops Meet Father Christmas and receive a festive gift. Send letters to the elves at the North Pole via the Christmas Post Box and join in craft workshops.

10am-6pm, £10 per child, adults free. Book via The Lyric Hammersmith, 020 8741 6850.

16 December.

Dulwich Picture Gallery

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Little Hands Design Festive family drop in - Get creative at Jessie Mylne Education Centre at Fulham Palace. 5-12yrs, £2 per child, no booking required. www.fulhampalace.org Fun with Fimo Clay West London 18 and 20 December, and 7 January.

Craft Activity Sessions Fun and creative, fully supervised and non-messy! 6 yrs+, 10.15am4.15pm, £45. Bring a packed lunch and a box to put your creations in.

020 8992 3767, fimofun@tiscali.co.uk. www.funwithfimoclay.co.uk Little Hands Design 67 Belsize Lane, NW3 5AU 17-21 December.

Festive Holiday Course Dress to impress this autumn with clothes made by you! Two 3-hour sessions daily, 9-12pm and 1-4pm. £225 for the full week, or £120 for a half-day week. 6-18yrs. info@littlehandsdesign.com 07739 535684 www.littlehandsdesign.co.uk Paint Pots House St Mary the Boltons Church Hall, The Boltons, SW10 9TB 12-21 December.

Festive Fun Christmas Classes Make creative treats and presents, including gift and card making, Christmas cooking, music and art activities. 18 months-6yrs, times and

dates vary.

08456 434442, admin@paintpotshouse.com www.paintpotshouse.com Youngstars St Lukes Community Hall, 192 Ramsden Road SW12 27 and 28 December, 2, 3 and 4 January. Christmas Camp Games, activities and aspects of a range of sports, plus Christmasthemed arts and crafts. 9am-3pm (plus half-day options), 3-7yrs.

0845 222 1313, info@youngstars.co.uk. www.young-stars.co.uk

LANGUAGES Le Club Tricolore St Saviour's Hall, St George's Square, SW1V 3QW 19, 20 and 21 December.

Holiday Fun Activity Days Cooking, art and craft, drama and games for children who want to improve their French while having fun. Ages 5-12, 10am-4pm.

Teresa on 020 7924 4649/07889 967003, info@leclubtricolore.co.uk. www.leclubtricolore.co.uk

MUSIC AND DRAMA Allsorts Drama More House School, 22-24 Pont Street, SW1X 0AA 20 and 21 December.

Allsorts Drama

Artpeggios Music Rock Band, French Pop, Jazz Group, DJing and more. 5 sessions a week, enjoy learning how to play and interact with fellow musicians, make new friends and go home with your own professionally recorded music.

07932 473607 or info@artpeggios.com. www.artpeggios.com Caterpillar Music Battersea, Southfields and Tooting Until 21 December.

Music Classes Fun, stimulating classes using puppets, nursery rhymes, action songs and instruments. 020 8540 1762, 07968764301, shumi@caterpillarmusic.com. www.caterpillarmusic.com Kensington Imaging Lancaster Gate 17 and 18 December.

Christmas Young Film Makers Club A 2-day workshop to discover the world of filmmaking, from script writing to designing the DVD cover as well as acting and filming with green screen. 7-15yrs, 020 7993 6527, info@kensingtonimaging.co.uk www.kensingtonimaging.co.uk The Music House for Children 306 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush W12 7LJ 2 December.

Carols by Candlelight Enjoy performances, readings, carol singing and Christmas refreshments.

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Christmas holiday activities listing Plus, a special guest may drop in…6pm, all ages, £7/£6, under 1s free.

20 December.

Make and Shake – Art and craft workshop making props and bean shakers to be used a musical show. 3-8 yrs, 10-11am, £8 20 December.

Musical Storytelling: Jack and the Extraordinary Beanstalk An enchanting musical tale about Jack, his bean and a very high tree. 08yrs, £7/£6, under 1s free.

Book on 020 8932 2652 or notes@musichouseforchildren.co.uk www.musichouseforchildren.co.uk

15-16 December.

Put on a Panto in 2 Days Back by popular demand! Dance, drama and singing workshops followed by a production of Dick Whittington. 4-16yrs, from £50.

Call Micky on 020 8946 2986, email battersea@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoach.co.uk/battersea

Inspire Life and Leisure Wandsworth Common SW18 2-4 January.

Christmas Football Fun

Tin Pan Annie Music St Lukes Church, 194 Ramsden Road, Battersea SW12 8RQ

Menace Football and times dependent on venue.

07788 486469 or 020 3532 4940 www.menacefootball.co.uk Inspire Life and Leisure

Polka Theatre 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB 2 January.

New Year's Arty Party Welcome in the New Year with this sparkly craft workshop. Make dazzling jewellery, hats or masks using recycled materials. 5-7yrs, 10.30am-1pm, £25 3 January.

Make Masks with The Wind in the Willows Bring Mole, Badger, Ratty, Mr Toad and your favourite characters to life in this all-day drama and maskmaking workshop. 5-8yrs, 10.30am3.30pm, £30 4 January.

Penguin Party Join in with Mr Polaro and Penguina as they play their favourite games in this drama, music and craft workshop. 3-4yrs, 10-11.15am, £18 020 8543 4888. www.polkatheatre.com

15 December.

Family Christmas Shows All the best Christmas favourites, with special guests Rudolph, Frosty and Santa's Elves. 2.30p.m and 4p.m.

020 8670 0644, tinpanannie@btinternet.com www.tinpanannie.co.uk

Join the Inspire Coaches for a funfilled 3 days of football fun and games. Boys and girls of all ability welcome. 3.5-11yrs, 10am-2pm, £30 per day or £50 for 3 days, sibling discount available. 07977 311478, inspirelifeandleisure@live.com www.inspirelifeandleisure.com The Little Gym Riverside West, Wandsworth SW18 1DB 2-5 January.

Adventure Camps

SPORTS Central London Golf Centre Burntwood Lane SW17 0AT 17-19 December.

Christmas Golf Activity Days Golf tuition followed by fun and informal competitions - the perfect way to entertain your kids this Christmas. 10am-2pm, £35 per day.

020 8871 2468, golf@clgc.co.uk www.clgc.co.uk

Singing & Songwriting workshop St Dionis Church, Parsons Green, Fulham,SW6 4UH Mon 17 Dec – Tues 18 Dec 2:305:30pm, For 11-14 year olds, £75 per child, for 2 afternoons 07710 023743 rowena@songacademy.co.uk www.songacademy.co.uk

Fulham FC Foundation Bishop’s Park, Stevenage Road, Fulham SW6 Dates TBC. Christmas Holiday Courses For all abilities, from beginners to regular players in a fun and challenging environment. 3-5yrs - 911am, 6-14 yrs - 9am-3pm, from £12 per day. 0870 442 5432, holidaycourses@fulhamfc.com www.fulhamfc.com/fulham-fc-

Stagecoach Theatre Arts, Battersea Honeywell School, Honeywell Road, Battersea, SW11 6EF

Stagecoach Theatre Arts

December 2012

foundation/football/holidaycourses

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The Little Gym 3-hour sessions of gymnastics , games, crafts and a whole lot of fun.

With a different theme each day. 36yrs, £35/£30.

020 8874 6567, wandsworth_fulham@thelittlegym.co.uk www.thelittlegym.co.uk Kiddikicks Across South West London Dates TBC. Christmas Holiday Sessions Kiddikicks (football 18m to 5 years) Kiddisports (multi-sport 18m to 5 years) and Ligasoccer (football Under 8’s) sessions run throughout halfterm. Or arrange a bespoke session (1 to 3 hours) for your player and their friends: pick your sport and they’ll provide the coach, equipment and place. 020 7937 7965, sarah@kiddikicks.co.uk www.kiddikicks.co.uk Menace Football Barn Elms Sports Centre SW13 0DG Kensington Prep School, Fulham SW6 5PA 13-19 December and 2-4 January.

Christmas Football Courses Making football social and giving children belief in their abilities. Dates

Ridgway Stables 93 Ridgway, Wimbledon Village SW19 4SU Dates TBC. Christmas Holiday Courses

Ridgway Stables ‘Own a Pony’ days, plus 2-hour holiday courses with riding and pony care. Children from 4yrs can try an introductory half hour lesson. Call Julia 020 8946 7400, ridgwaystables@freeuk.co.uk. www.ridgwaystables.co.uk, www.merton.gov.uk/activeplus SwimWay East Sheen, Knightsbridge, Putney and Streatham 17-21 December. Christmas Swimming Courses One-week intensive courses to improve your child’s swimming technique. 020 8871 3972, info@swimway.co.uk. www.swimway.co.uk Telford Park Tennis Club 35a Killieser Avenue, Streatham Hill, SW2 4NX Dates TBC. Hotshots Christmas Holiday Tennis Camps A series of fun, 5 day coaching sessions for all levels, ages 4-15.

11.30am-4pm Monday-Friday, no membership required. £25 per day.

020 8674 5979 / 07736 068375, coaching@telfordparktennisclub.co.uk www.telfordparktennisclub.co.uk/ holiday-camps Tennis4you Wimbledon Park Tennis Courts, Wimbledon Park, Home Park Road, SW19 7HR Dates TBC. Christmas Camps Ideal Christmas holiday fun for kids, 416 years. Call 020 8789 0482 / 07961170675, paul@tennis4you.co.uk / paul@londontennis.co.uk www.tennis4you.co.uk

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Health feature

Are you concerned about your child’s development?

Established in 1996, the Kiki’s Children’s Clinic (KCC) in SW12 has a simple aim - to help children to live their lives fully. The KCC’s international team of therapists offers multi-disciplinary paediatric physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy for babies and children in a healing and caring environment. The KCC team also offers handwriting and social skills groups as well as a hand splinting service.

The NoTube team from Graz, Austria visit the clinic twice a month to offer services to parents and professionals helping children with early eating behaviour disorders, particularly tube dependency.

The KCC team believe in early intervention, making therapy a positive experience for the child, with play and messy play incorporated into holistic treatment sessions that are continually adapted to the child's needs. The KCC team are trained in and use a variety of techniques including NeuroDevelopmental Therapy (NDT or Bobath), Sensory Integration, Kinesiotaping and Vojta Therapy.

The Kiki Children’s Clinic sees children with a wide range of conditions, from cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, autism and poor behavior and “everything” in between. A child may need treatment by more than one therapist. Clearly, having the strength to sit, stand, walk or hold things will impact the ability to speak and move and be independent – so the gross motor (PT), fine motor (OT) and speech (SLT) therapies combine can help your child each therapy supporting the others.

While many children with special needs are identified during the first 12 months, some problems are only identified at a later stage. If you are concerned about your child it is best to seek help now. It is never too early and rarely too late to start.

Physiotherapy A paediatric physiotherapist is a specialist in movement, and particularly in gross motor development and skills such as rolling, pushing up, sitting, standing, walking etc. There are numerous childhood conditions that can affect a child's body and their ability to move, whether it is congenital or acquired, severe or minor, long or short term.

Paediatric physios help children achieve optimum

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physical and mental development, aiming to help them move and move to the best of their ability – and to enjoy doing so! Typically the therapist encourages this through fun play, massage, stretching and exercises. The KCC website lists some of the concerns that may prompt you to seek a “physio-check”, a full assessment and or treatment.

frustrated, have behavioral difficulties, struggle to keep up at school or have difficulties making friends, or become passive and stop trying to communicate altogether. Speech and language therapists work on pre-verbal skills, eating, drinking and all areas of communication.

Occupational Therapy

The KCC also offers Reflex Locomotion Therapy (Vojta) that was developed by paediatric neurologist Dr. Vojta, Reflex Locomotion is used with good results with the young child whose central nervous system is most malleable and adaptable.

A disability, co-ordination problem or learning difficulty can interrupt a child's development.

Paediatric Occupational Therapists (OTs) work to help your child develop their full potential with the confidence to make choices for themselves and try new challenges. OTs see children with a wide range of difficulties and conditions and help with self-help skills, play, leisure and school life, including practical challenges such as dressing, eating, tying shoe laces, handling toys or cutlery and playing with friends. OT sessions can involve fun stuff including shaving foam, bowls of rice, computer apps and swings!

Speech and Language Therapy Communication involves a very complex set skills that most of us take for granted. Communication skills are needed in all areas of life – including family life, education, work and friendships If your child struggles to communicate they may become

Vojta Therapy

Charity and other resources The Kiki’s Children’s Clinic supports Down’s South London, a local charity helping children with Down’s syndrome and Hemi-Help a charity for those with hemiplegia with whom Kiki von Eisenhart-Goodwin created a DVD called My Moves a home exercise aid developed for children with hemiplegia and their parents.

Kiki's Children's Clinic 124 Thurleigh Road, SW12 8TU 020 7207 4234 (office/Kiki) 020 7450 1708 (appts/clinic) infoadmin@kikisclinic.com www.kikisclinic.com www.notube.com http://www.hemihelp.org.uk/

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Health feature

Kriston Intimate Training®

By Livia Nemeth, MSc, KIT® Instructor

Would your life benefit from a greater control of your bodily functions? In just 10 hours followed by 10 minutes a day you can go about your life with more confidence knowing you will never have an embarrassing moment again.

KIT® is a system that will keep your body working as it should. Now available in the UK, it is a system you can learn in your own home, either on a one to one basis or with a small group course based in Clapham.

KIT® is all about training the pelvic floor muscles and much-much more. These muscles have to be kept strong as they support the abdominal organs and contribute to continence, both anal and urinary. As humans walk on two legs, increased pressure is put on the pelvic floor muscles. In addition, unhealthy habits such as poor body posture or heavy lifting can further enhance the adverse effects. Other events, such as pregnancy, long labour and childbirth can also weaken the pelvic floor muscles, and the natural ageing process contributes to this. The weak pelvic floor is unable to fulfil its supportive function, which can lead to organ descent and prolapse, varicose veins (e.g. haemorrhoids), stress and rectal incontinence and lack of sexual pleasure.

December 2012

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How KIT® is What happens different from other during the training?

KIT® can be completed in 10 hours, the course methods? allows you to becoming familiar with the pelvic Pilates and yoga teachers instruct participants to contract their pelvic floor muscles during certain exercises. But do students really know what to clench? Do they know what they should feel if they implement the movement correctly?

During the KIT® course, we address these problems. We “isolate” the pelvic muscles and we learn what one must feel if the exercise is done correctly. The KIT® exercises also involve and train the small superficial pelvic muscles that are needed to have a better experience if you are sexually active. Anyone, male and female can benefit from the training from 18 to 80, success can be achieved regardless of age or strength!

Tools and equipments are not required for learning and practicing, women can rely on their own body to achieve great results.

floor area, the muscles and the organs of the pelvis. You will learn about conditions which are preventable through regular practice (e.g. haemorrhoids, stress incontinence). This is followed by a series of exercises.

At the end of the course, you will receive your personal KIT® training programme tailored to your individual needs, the TURBOCHARGER exercises that are meant to boost circulation in the lower abdomen and a lot of confidence in your feminine power! After 10 hours you can maintain your newly acquired ability with just 10 minutes practice per day.

•Livia Nemeth, MSc, KIT® Instructor www.intimatetraining.co.uk info@intimatetraining.co.uk 077089 42001

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Health feature Human doings or human beings?

Yes, women have the vote and legalised equality.

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

This might appear unproductive. But there is great value in stopping being a ‘human doing’ and practicing the forgotten art of simply being, if only for a few moments. Most of us, at some point in our lives, have had a standstill moment in time – maybe watching an awe-inspiring sunset, looking into your newborn’s eyes for the first time, or even hearing heartbreaking news that you know will change your life forever. In that instant, we are so immersed in the moment that time itself slows right down. Now, this is the point of mindfulness practice; to be so present that time actually stretches, a little like blue tac, opening up space in your mind. No smartphone app required. Cool, huh? (Did I mention this takes practice?)

Mindless chatter

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

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

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

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Yes, but where do I find the time?

Back in May, Cross Country Rail (www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk) commissioned a poll of 1,000 parents, 62 per cent of whom described managing their home, parenting responsibilities and longer working hours as akin to ‘one big juggling act’. Three quarters of those polled said that lack of time to themselves causes arguments with their partners, whilst one in ten get only ten minutes to themselves each day. Cross Country Rail have responded by creating a timesaving Smartphone app for booking train tickets.

But are super efficient gizmos really the answer to alleviating constant overwhelm?

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), the NHS approved treatment of choice for depression, works to change the negative thought loops which trigger emotional distress. Indeed, most of us identify so closely with our minds that we believe the stream of mindless chatter that forms the running commentary to our lives, is who we actually are. But if you listen closely, you will notice that a lot of it is, well, a load of old nonsense: Judgements, opinions, shoulds, what ifs and if onlys. Endless self-criticism, worrying about the future, pining over the past, arguing with someone in your head, wondering what the neighbours think of you in your most stressed out moments (come on, admit it, we all yell sometimes), picking over every last detail of that mortifying incident when your child projectile vomited all over that terribly nice shop assistant... Anything except relaxing into the moment that is happening right now and letting everything be exactly as it is.

Doing nothing changes everything The magic of mindfulness is that simply observing our thoughts without judgement (which really does take practice!) can, over time, actually change them – no effort required. Using will power to, for example, lose weight, rarely works, as any yoyo dieter will tell you. Rather than sergeant majoring yourself into a strict health regime (and beating yourself up when you give into temptation), in the long term it is more practical and effective to observe your behaviour and compassionately notice the deeper, subconscious thoughts and emotions driving the urge to overeat. The Buddhist psychotherapist Tara Brach, calls this approach ‘radical acceptance.’ Not necessarily easy, but it does work.

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

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

Mindfulness menu Just

like learning to ride a bike, mastering the art of mindfulness takes practice. Once you have the knack, however, you will be able to call on it whenever you have a few spare minutes (on the bus, in a waiting room, while the baby is napping).

Find a way that works for you:

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

Random thoughts will distract you time and time again. This is normal. ‘What can I make for dinner? Oh, my nose is itchy. I’ll never get the hang of this.’ You know the kind of thing. Keep bringing your attention back to the breath. If emotions arise, give them space and just let them be.

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

If you have twenty minutes: Transcendental Meditation is a popular technique that involves repeating a personalised mantra silently to yourself. To find teachers near you see: www.t-m.org.uk/

If you have forty minutes:

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

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

Further Reading:

If you have an hour:

Radical Acceptance: Embracing your life with the heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach 10 Mindful Minutes by Goldie Hawn (with Wendy Holden) Full Catastrophe Living: How to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn

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

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

December 2012

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Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Christmas Shows and Pantomimes 2012 Compiled by Joanna Parry

AMBASSADORS THEATRE

CAMBRIDGE THEATRE

LONDON PALLADIUM

West Street WC2H 9ND 08448 112334 theambassadorstheatre.co.uk 5-24 December.

LITTLE CHARLEY BEAR’S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE – Little Charley Bear from CBeebies appears live on stage for the first time in a magical Christmas adventure. Age 7+, £5-£15

Seven Dials, 32-34 Earlham Street WC2H 9HU 0844 412 4652/0844 800 1110 www.matildathemusical.com Booking to December 2013.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Roald Dahl’s magical story about a girl with extraordinary powers. £20-£65

Argyll Street W1F 7TF 020 7492 9930 reallyuseful.com To 5 Jan 2013. SCROOGE THE MUSICAL Bridging the gap between 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', Bill Kenwright's musical returns to the West End.

ARTS THEATRE

CHELSEA THEATRE

Great Newport Street WC2H 7JB 020 7836 8463 artstheatrewestend.co.uk 29 November – 6 January.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Following a sell-out season in 2011, Simon Callow stars in this acclaimed production of one of the most beloved books in the English language. £15-£40

7 World's End Place SW10 0DR 020 7352 1967 chelseatheatre.org.uk 4-24 December.

THE WAY BACK HOME Once there was a boy who found himself stuck on the moon and he was not alone… Age 7 and under, £8

ARTSDEPOT

COLOUR HOUSE THEATRE

5 Nether Street N12 0GA 020 8369 5454 artsdepot.co.uk 8 December – 6 January. THE GRUFFALO Everyone's favourite monster is back on stage in a smash hit musical of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Age 3+, £12.50

Merton Abbey Mills, Merantun Way SW19 2RD 020 8542 5511/ 07944 868385 colourhousetheatre.co.uk 24 November – 27 January.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK A wonderful musical show for the whole family.

Saturdays and Sundays, age 3+, £9-£10

Barbican Centre, Silk Street EC2Y 8DS 0845 120 7511 barbican.org.uk/theatre 15 December – 6 January.

59 MINUTES TO SAVE CHRISTMAS Everyone loves Christmas, don’t they? Well someone doesn't because things are very, very wrong…and then there is the mystery of the missing presents. £12 14 December – 19 January.

THE MASTER AND MARGARITA Complicite returns to the Barbican with Mikhail Bulgakov’s magical novel pitting the power of evil against the power of compassion. £16-£42

BATTERSEA ARTS CENTRE Lavender Hill, Battersea SW11 5TN 020 7223 2223 bac.org.uk 8 December – 13 January.

MIDNIGHT’S PUMPKIN Renowned theatre makers Kneehigh present a tipsy, tingling and foot-stomping Christmas hit. Age 6+, £15-£25

BLOOMSBURY THEATRE 15 Gordon Street WC1H 0AH 020 7388 8822 thebloomsbury.com 12-22 and 27-29 December and 7-19 January.

TOM’S MIDNIGHT GARDEN When the grandfather clock in the hallway chimes thirteen, Tom is transported to a secret garden from the past. Birmingham Stage Company’s production from the book by Philippa Pearce. Age 4+, £14.50-£19.50

BROADWAY THEATRE Catford SE6 4RU 020 8690 0002 broadwaytheatre.org.uk 15 December – 3 January.

CINDERELLA The greatest-loved panto of them all! Starring Floella Benjamin. £10 7 November – 2 December.

SPRING AWAKENING – THE MUSICAL Winner of 8 Tony Awards, a rock musical about the trials, tribulations and exhilaration of the teen years. £8-£14.50

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GARRICK THEATRE 2 Charing Cross Road WC2H 0HH 0844 482 9673 nimaxtheatres.com/garrick-theatre To 6 January.

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN Birmingham Stage Company returns to the Garrick with its entertaining adaptation of Terry Deary's books. Age 6+, from £10

GREENWICH THEATRE Croom's Hill SE10 8ES 020 8858 7755 greenwichtheatre.org.uk 22 November – 6 January.

ROBIN HOOD – A PANTOMIME ADVENTURE Fresh from the success of last year's spectacular production, Greenwich presents another allsinging, all-dancing pantomime treat. £16-£25

LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE 14 Dagmar Passage, Cross Street N1 2DN 020 7226 1787 littleangeltheatre.com 17 November – 27 January. PINOCCHIO Created by master puppet maker and director Peter O'Rourke. Age 6+, £5-£14 5 December – 27 January.

DOGS DON’T DO BALLET Biff is not like ordinary dogs. He likes moonlight.

And music. And walking on his tiptoes. You see, Biff thinks he's a ballerina… Age 2-6, £8-£10

LONDON COLISEUM St. Martin's Lane, Charing Cross WC2N 4ES 0871 911 0200 ballet.org.uk 12 December – 5 January.

THE NUTCRACKER Journey back in time to a frost-covered, gas-lit London and join Clara, her Nutcracker and the magician Drosselmeyer in this traditional festive tale for all the family. £10-£67 9-19 January. THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Kenneth MacMillan’s production of the popular classic is the perfect way to bring some sparkle into your New Year. £10-£67

Lyric Square, King Street W6 0QL 020 8741 6850 lyric.co.uk 24 November – 5 January. CINDERELLA Pantomime returns to the Lyric Hammersmith this Christmas with Cinderella, directed by Sean Holmes.

30 November – 5 January.

FATHER CHRISTMAS The first ever stage adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ favourite, in the Lyric Studio. Under 6yrs

LYRIC THEATRE 29 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 7ES 0844 482 9674 nimaxtheatres.com/lyric-theatre / roomonthebroomlive.co.uk 21 November – 13 January.

ROOM ON THE BROOM Spellbinding family show flies into the West End for an unforgettable adventure, from the creators of The Gruffalo. Age 3-8, £12.50-£15.50

NATIONAL THEATRE South Bank SE1 9PX 020 7452 3000 nationaltheatre.org.uk 7 December – 26 January.

HANSEL AND GRETEL Katie Mitchell directs the Brother’s Grimm tale in an intimate and magical production. Age 7-10

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1QG 0844 871 7646 atgtickets.com/venues/newwimbledon-theatre 7 December -13 January.

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS Includes actress Priscilla Presley making her pantomime and London stage debut as The Wicked Queen. £10-£35

O2 ARENA Peninsula Square, Greenwich SE10 0DX 020 8463 2000 www.theo2.co.uk 7 December – 5 January.

ALADDIN – A WISH COME TRUE A spin on the Aladdin story in a specially-built theatre in the O2's forecourt. Lily Savage stars in London’s biggest panto. £19.50-£49.50

PEACOCK THEATRE Portugal Street WC2A 2HT 020 7863 8198 sadlerswells.com/page/peacock-theatre 28 November – 6 January. THE SNOWMAN Birmingham Rep's much loved adaptation of Raymond Briggs' book is a Christmas institution, returning to the Peacock for its 15th year. Age 2+, £12-£32

PHOENIX THEATRE Charing Cross Road WC2H 0JP 0844 871 7629 phoenixtheatrelondon.co.uk 22 November – 26 January.

GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM Evacuated to the country in the run up to the Second World War, young William is cheered up

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BARBICAN THEATRE

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH

From p.27

All the shows, all the pantos, all the Christmas shows….

Locally, in Central London and surrounding areas. by his unlikely friendship with Tom Oakley. From the novel by Michelle Magorian. £15-£46.50

POLKA THEATRE 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB 020 8543 4888 polkatheatre.com 17 Oct – 16 Feb. TOO MANY PENGUINS? How many penguins are too many penguins? Polar bear thinks one is more than enough, thank you very much! 1-4yrs, £8-£10 23 November – 16 February.

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS When Mole abandons spring-cleaning for the delights of the riverbank, he has no idea of the adventures that lie ahead. A delightful adaptation with songs. Age 5-11, £11-£16

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Little Venice, Blomfield Road W9 2PF 07836 202 745 / 020 7249 6876 puppetbarge.com 9- 25 November. BOTTOM’S DREAM Shakespeare’ fairies and rustics will delight young and old. Age 8+, £8.50-£10 1 December – 13 January.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Charles Dickens favourite for the Christmas season. Age 5+, £8.50-£10

RICHMOND THEATRE The Green, Richmond TW9 1QJ 0844 871 7651 atgtickets.com/Richmond 7 December – 13 January. ALADDIN Another treasure filled adventure that promises to be pure panto genie-us. Rub the magic lamp, enter the cave of wonders and be transported on a flying carpet ride into the mystical world of the Far East. £10-£29.50

Christmas classic. Stunning choreography and Tchaikovsky's score combine in one of the bestloved of all ballets. 5yrs+, £5-£110 12 December – 5 January.

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS Will Tuckett's production brings all the magic of Kenneth Grahame's classic tale to the stage in the Linbury Studio Theatre. £11-24

SADLER’S WELLS Rosebery Avenue EC1R 0844 412 4300 sadlerswells.com 4 December – 26 January.

MATTHEW BOURNE’S SLEEPING BEAUTY New Adventures’ 25th birthday culminates with the premiere of Matthew Bourne’s latest reimagining of a classic. £12-£60 20-31 December. BOING! Dance theatre capturing the magic of staying up waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve. Age 3+, in Lilian Baylis Studio, £7-£12

SHAW THEATRE 100-110 Euston Road NW1 2AJ 0844 248 5075 shaw-theatre.com 6-29 December. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The classic fairytale turned into a spectacular pantomime. £19.50

SOUTHBANK CENTRE

Sloane Square SW1W 8AS 020 7565 5000 royalcourttheatre.com 6 December – 19 January.

IN THE REPUBLIC OF HAPPINESS A family Christmas is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Uncle Bob. Who is he? Why has he come? All we can be sure of is that the world will never be the same again. £12-£28

Belvedere Road SE1 8PX 020 7960 4200 / 0844 847 9944 southbankcentre.co.uk 17 December – 7 January.

SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW The clowning spectacular returns to the Royal Festival Hall with giant snowballs and indoor blizzards. Age 8+ 22 December – 6 January. CLOUD MAN A magical winter show featuring a blend of puppetry, storytelling and music. Age 4-7, in Blue Room 30 November – 2 December.

KORALL KORAL Enter a magical, shell-shaped tent for an entrancing performance of music and song for babies under 18 months. At Royal Festival Hall

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

Covent Garden WC2E 9DD 020 7304 4000 roh.org.uk 10 December - 16 January.

THE NUTCRACKER A young girl receives an enchanted nutcracker that leads her on a wonderful adventure in this

Shipwright Yard, Corner of Tooley Street and Bermondsey Street SE1 2TF 020 7407 0234 southwarkplayhouse.co.uk 5 December – 5 January.

FEATHERS IN THE SNOW A decision is made that sets off an astonishing

ROYAL COURT THEATRE

chain of events and a journey involving a talking leopard, a greedy King, a tidal wave, a Sea Witch, a devious dolphin and a trail of feathers in the snow…£10-£16

ST JAMES’ THEATRE 12 Palace Street SW1E 5JA 0844 264 2140 stjamestheatre.co.uk To 8 Dec. DADDY LONG LEGS Set in the early 1900s, a vivid account of a young orphan as she blossoms into a beautiful and vivacious woman. £25-£55 12 December – 26 January. CINDERELLA Sure to captivate audiences with its modern take on one of the best-loved fairy tales. Age 6+, £17.50-£40

TARA THEATRE ARTS 356 Garratt Lane SW18 4ES 020 8333 4457 tara-arts.com 5 December – 5 January. DICK WHITTINGTON GOES BOLLYWOOD TV’s Hardeep Singh Kohli teams up for another Indian-flavoured romp. £12.50-£16.50

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE Catherine Street WC2B 5JF 0844 412 4660 shrekthemusical.co.uk To 24 February. SHREK THE MUSICAL® Don’t miss out – it ends in February!

TRICYCLE THEATRE 269 Kilburn High Road, Kilburn NW6 7JR 020 7328 1000 tricycle.co.uk 30 November – 12 January.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS In Baghdad, a young woman starts a revolution through the power of storytelling. A punky, modern reimagining of ancient tales. Age 10+, £10-£20

UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street, Southwark SE1 2HZ 020 7645 0500 unicorntheatre.com 25 November – 13 January. THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER Set in a vibrant Tudor London, poor Tom Canty has a chance meeting with the young heir to the throne, and by pure coincidence they find they look almost identical. Age 6+, £11-£22 6 December – 3 January. IN A PICKLE Oily Cart return with a voyage of discovery, through the landscapes of Shakespeare’s imagination. Age 2-5, £10-£16 To see the full listings of Pantos throughout London go to www.familiessouthwest.co.uk

Visit 345 Nursery where “The nursery offers an exceptionally welcoming and inclusive environment” (Ofsted Outstanding Nov 2011).

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

Incorporating art, music, yoga, sport, cooking, drama and all aspects of the Early Years Curriculum.

Great outdoor space! Options include Afternoon School, Lunch Club and Early Bird Club. www.345nurseryschool.co.uk 020-8870-8441 or dixonannab@aol.com Fitzhugh Grove, Trinity Road, London SW18 3SA

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Please say you booked as you saw them in Families! Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

What’s On

What’s On

5yrs+, 12.30 and 2.30pm 27-31 Dec. Scrooge’s Grotto.

Meet old Ebenezer and share your Christmas grievances. £5 27 and 28 Dec. Ghostly Art Take 3 ghosts from Charles Dickens' story A Christmas Carol and add some imagination.

4yrs+, 12.30 and 2.30pm

Compiled by Joanna Parry

MUSEUM OF LONDON EC2

NATIONAL GALLERY WC2

Please always phone before setting out in case details have changed since press deadline or we got it wrong...

020 7001 9844 museumoflondon.org.uk 2 Dec. Characters From History – Meet a Roman Londoner Hear stories about stuffed dormice and exotic goods arriving from all over the Empire. 5yrs+, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm 8-23 Dec. Santa’s Grotto Meet Santa in his traditional Victorian grotto. £5 16 Dec. Characters From History – Meet Charles Dickens Hear about some of the plots of his most famous novels and the characters in them. 5yrs+, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm 27-31 Dec. Scrooge’s Grotto Meet old Ebenezer and share your Christmas grievances. £5 28 Dec. Christmas Story Time Enjoy a festive story with puppets, museum objects and music 28 and 29 Dec. A Christmas Carol Dickens' classic story comes to life in this familyfriendly production. 7yrs+, 1pm 30 Dec. London Bones What can we learn by studying skeletons? Meet staff from the Museum's Osteology team and discover the secrets these bones hold. 5yrs+, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm

020 7747 2885 nationalgallery.org.uk 2, 9 and 16 Dec. Family Sundays Activities designed for families to enjoy and learn together.

Magic Carpet Storytelling for children aged 2-5.

Sundays 10.30-11am and 11.30am–12pm. Fly away on the magic carpet, coming to land in front of a different painting each day

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE MUSEUM SE1 020 7620 0374 florence-nightingale.co.uk 5, 12, 19 Dec. Miss Nightingale Said...

An illustrated talk examining the incredible life and achievements of Florence Nightingale. 3pm.

HORNIMAN MUSEUM SE23 020 8699 1872 horniman.ac.uk 2 Dec. Nature Explorers: Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly Make Christmas decorations inspired by the shapes and patterns of the natural world. 3yrs+, £2, 11.30am and 2pm 8-9 Dec. Santa and Christmas Fayre Meet Santa in his magical Grotto, then browse for gifts and produce at the Fayre. 11am-5pm 1 and 8 Dec. Art Makers Have fun with art skills and exciting techniques to create something fabulous. 3yrs+, £3, 1.30pm and 2.45pm 1, 8 and 15 Dec. Family Workshops Handle real museum objects. 3yrs+

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM SE1 020 7416 5320 iwm.org.uk 1-2, 8-9, 15-16 and 27-31 Dec. Make Do And Mend Create a 'Make Do and Mend' quilt in this Christmas communal art activity

MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS E14 020 7001 9844 museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands 1 Dec. East End Gran Join Grandmother Renee for stories about growing up in the East End. 5yrs+, 1.30pm and 3.30pm 1 and 22 Dec. Festive Felt Baubles Fashion forms in felt for a fabulous festive decoration. 5yrs+, 12.30 and 2.30pm 8 Dec. Decorate Santa's Victorian Grotto Make traditional festive decorations for Santa's grotto. 3yrs+, 12.30 and 2.30pm 8-23 Dec. Santa’s Grotto Meet Santa in his traditional Victorian grotto. £5 15 Dec. Traditional Decorations, Modern Twist Make festive decorations with a difference.

Ramsden Hall, 21 Ramsden Road, London SW12 8QX Capture the excitement of learning at Oaktree Nursery School. Where children become independent, inquisitive and motivated in a happy caring environment. Incorporating art, music, yoga, sport, cooking, drama and all aspects of the Early Years Curriculum.

Ofsted Outstanding - Dec 2011 Please come and see us in action.

Annabel Dixon 020 8870 8441 dixonannab@aol.com www.oaktreenurseryschool.co.uk

December 2012

®

NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM SE10 020 8858 4422 rmg.co.uk 27-29 Dec. Family Events Find out how sailors used figureheads to bring them luck and why they played games to make the king of the sea laugh. Dates and times vary 1, 8, 15 and 29 Dec. Explore Saturdays Meet a character from the past and take part in a performance bringing maritime history to life.

12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, 6yrs+, free

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM SW7 020 7942 5000 nhm.ac.uk 10 Dec. Night Safari – Festive Freeze Batten down the hatches and wrap up warm with some of the coolest creatures in the collections.

16yrs+, 7-10pm, £28 To 6 Jan. Ice Rink Skate at London’s most enchanting ice rink for a truly magical experience this winter. £8-£13.50

SIR JOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM WC2A 020 7440 4263 soane.org 2-3 Jan. Christmas Workshops Light up the New Year making spectacular lanterns in different shapes. 7yrs+, 10.30am-3pm, £20

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD E2 020 8983 5219 museumofchildhood.org.uk Weekends in Dec and 27 Dec-6 Jan. Christmas Craft Find out how families celebrated Christmas a

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Green Shoots Day Nursery, SW8 1AR Open for 0 to 5yr olds 8am to 6pm 0207 582 3133 www.greenshootsday nursery.coop

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What’s on

᭏ ᭏ ᭏ ᭏ ᭏ ᭏ ᭏

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

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo Santa is coming! hundred years ago. Enjoy a creative re-telling of The Nutcracker, and make seasonal crackers.

10.30am-4pm 29 and 30 Dec. Christmas Fairytales Magic Lantern Show £3. Book 020 8983 5205 or mocbookings@vam.ac.uk

ELTHAM PALACE SE9

VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM SW7

HAMPTON COURT PALACE KT8

020 7942 2000 vam.ac.uk 8 Dec. Create! Fashion Festival Free event for 16-24 year olds focussing on career options in the fashion industry. 11am-4pm 29 Dec - 6 Jan. The Imagination Station Create Victorian Christmas decorations using a variety of materials. 3yrs+, 10.30am-5pm 29 Dec - 6 Jan. Pop-up Performance The dance from the renowned ballet The Nutcracker will be performed on weekends, while during the week there will be Gallery plays. 4yrs+, 11am, 1pm and 3pm

DAYS OUT IN LONDON BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN’S ZOO SW11

y

Day Nurs on er k Yu

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

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020 7924 5826 batterseaparkzoo.co.uk 8 and 9, 15-23 Dec. Santa is Coming £3.50 8-24 Dec. Christmas Stocking Trail Follow the clues on the Christmas Quiz Sheet to work out which animals have put out a stocking for Santa. 4-8yrs, £1

020 8294 2548 / 0870 333 1181 elthampalace.org.uk 9 and 16 Dec. Festive Fun Trails Bring along the whole family to crack the clues and earn your prize. 11am-4pm

0870 758 8080 hrp.org.uk 1-2 Dec. Live Tudor cookery Which dishes make a Tudor tummy rumble?

Experience real smells and sounds in Henry VIII’s Kitchens as the team of history chefs prepare a feast fit for a king 1 Dec – 13 Jan 2013. Ice Skating Celebrate 10 years of winter skating at the truly splendid setting of Henry VIII’s Tudor Palace

KENSINGTON PALACE W6 0844 482 7777 hrp.org.uk/kensingtonpalace 20 Dec. Eerie Evening Tour Hear chilling tales of mysterious sights, encounters and stories as you are guided through the shadowy State Apartments and regaled with chilling tales from the palace’s historic past. 6.45-8.15pm, £25 1 Dec – 2 Jan. Christmas at Kensington Palace. See the Palace transformed into a palacesized advent calendar for all the family, with festive favourites such as carol singing, mulled wine and mince pies

KEW GARDENS TW9 020 8332 5655 kew.org 1 Dec – 6 Jan. Kew at Christmas – Father Christmas, Christmas shopping, winter tours and a vintage carousel

MORDEN HALL PARK SM4 CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN SW3 020 7349 6453 chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk 1-2 Dec. Christmas Fair Visit London's oldest Botanic Garden to shop for fabulous products and gifts. 10am-4pm, £5, under 16s free

CUTTY SARK SE10 020 8312 6608 rmg.co.uk/cuttysark 1-2 Dec. Family Fun Weekend Get in the festive spirit with a Christmas tree decoration workshop, 11am and 2pm 27 Dec. Warm Woolly Workshops 11am and 2pm

020 8545 6850 nationaltrust.org.uk/morden-hall-park 2 Dec. Tree Dressing Day Dress the trees with your handmade crafts.

11am-3pm 1, 2, 9 and 9 Dec. Christmas Market Visit Santa’s Grotto, make Christmas cards and decorations, browse food and craft stalls and enjoy live entertainment. £7 to see Santa 27 Dec. Get Out and Play Explore the park and play giant games together. £4 per family

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Please send info for consideration to: whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk

SYON HOUSE AND GARDENS TW8

PAINSHILL PARK

020 8758 1888 syonpark.co.uk To 2 Dec. Walk in the Park in the Dark Join Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland Walk through the Gardens and Arboretum. 5-9pm, £7/£3

Painshill, Cobham, Surrey 01932 868113 painshill.co.uk 1, 2 and 8-24 Dec. Father Christmas A seasonal walk through the 18th century gardens to Grotto Island, then enter the Christmas Wishing Tent before Elves guide you into the crystal Grotto to see Santa. Booking line 01932 584284.

TOWER OF LONDON EC3 0844 482 7799 hrp.org.uk To 6 Jan. Ice Skating – Glide around the rink in the moat of one of London’s most iconic landmarks. £8.50-£13

WWT WETLANDS CENTRE SW13 020 8409 4400 wwt.org.uk/visit-us/london 8-9 Dec. Winter Wonderland Weekend Father Christmas, friendly huskies, sleigh rides, Christmas arts and crafts sessions

ZSL LONDON ZOO NW1 0844 225 1826 zsl.org 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 and 20-24 Dec. Meet Santa Don’t miss Santa in his grotto. £7, under 3s £5

OUT OF TOWN AUDLEY END HOUSE AND GARDENS Off London Road, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JF 01799 522842 / 0870 333 1181 english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/audleyend-house-and-gardens 1 and 2 Dec. A Victorian Christmas Wander around the beautifully decorated rooms and encounter costumed characters as they prepare the house for the upcoming festivities.

With Father Christmas, carol singing and a festive trail. 9.30am-4pm

BODIAM CASTLE Bodiam, Nr Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5UA 01580 830196 nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiamcastle 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 Dec. Christmas in the Castle A magical day out with a Christmas challenge trail, festive stories and Santa in his grotto. £3/£6.50, booking essential

KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY Station Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HE 01580 765155 kesr.org.uk 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 Dec. Santa Specials! See website for timings

LEEDS CASTLE Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL 01622 765400 leeds-castle.com 8-24 Dec. Christmas at Leeds Castle Experience a country house Christmas - explore the magnificent State Rooms with sumptuous decorations, sparkling lights and welcoming log fires 12-23 Dec. Christmas Past See the grounds illuminated like never before, plus stalls, street entertainment, Christmas Carols and, of course, Santa. 3.45-8pm, £20/£15 26 Dec – 1 Jan. The Winter Trail Blow away the cobwebs after Christmas and follow a trail through the grounds

NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7ZN 01590 612345 beaulieuevents.co.uk 15 Dec – 6 Jan. Christmas at Beaulieu Fun, activities and entertainment for all the family

December 2012

®

What’s on ROBIN FARQUHAR-THOMSON Wonderful Pictures of Children

robinft.co.uk 020 7350 0312 info@robinft.co.uk

DIARY DATES AND EVENTS ARTPEGGIOS ART AND MUSIC ACADEMY 198-200 Earl’s Court Road, SW5 9QF 07932 473607, artpeggios.com 8-9 Dec. Family Event With classical music all day, experience drums, guitar, piano, DJ-ing and more. 10am-6pm

HUGE SALE OF NEW AND SECOND-HAND SKI CLOTHES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN SKISUITS, JACKETS, SALOPETTES, GLOVES, SNOWBOOTS, GOGGLES, HELMETS, ETC. BIG REDUCTIONS ON LAST YEAR'S STOCK PLUS THIS YEAR’S NEW COLLECTION At 22 Northbourne Road, Clapham, SW4 7DJ

www.skiderouge.com Any enquiries ring Libby de Rougemont on

020 7720 4871 / 07939 051220 libbyderouge@hotmail.co.uk Do come and bring friends

BARBICAN CENTRE Silk Street EC2Y 8DS 0845 120 7550 barbican.org.uk 22-23 Dec. The Snowman/Peter and the Wolf Delight your family this Christmas with a double bill of classic musical stories for children, accompanied by live orchestra and narrated by Tamsin Greig. 2pm, £25/£12.50 27 Dec-1 Jan. Barbican Christmas Festival Festive music, live acts, and wonderful concerts BFI SOUTHBANK 21 Stephen Street W1T 1LN 020 7957 8986 bfi.org.uk 9 Dec. Funday Muppet Workshop Create your own Muppets Christmas cards or write a seasonal ghost story in the style of Charles Dickens. 10am, followed by a screening of The Muppet Christmas Carol at 12pm. Also screenings on 23, 29 and 30 Dec EDDIE CATZ WIMBLEDON 42 Station Road SW19 2LP 0845 201 1268 eddiecatz.com 21 Dec. Make a Bear Christmas Workshop 4-8yrs, 2.30pm 22 Dec. Christmas Disco Party!

3-10yrs, 6pm EDDIE CATZ PUTNEY First Floor, 68-70 Putney High Street SW15 1SF 0845 201 1268 eddiecatz.com 14 Dec. Christmas Pantomime – Puss in Boots 3-8yrs, 5.45pm 20 Dec. Make a Bear Christmas Workshop 4-8yrs, 10am 21 Dec. Christmas Baking Extravaganza With Cookie Crumbles. 4-8yrs, 10am 21 Dec. Christmas Toddler Cookery With Cookie Crumbles. 2-4yrs, 2.30pm EDF ENERGY LONDON EYE Westminster Bridge Road SE1 7PB 0871 781 3000 Londoneye.com To 6 Jan. Eyeskate Glide across the ice under the silhouette of an 8 page 32 iconic landmark. £7.50-£12.50

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What’s on FIRST AID FOR LIFE Balham and Westminster 020 8675 4036 firstaidforlife.org.uk 8 and 12 Dec. The Emergency Course – A 3-hour course covering care of the unconscious baby and child as well as most commonly occurring injuries and illnesses such as choking, bleeding, breaks, bleeds, burns, head injury and febrile convulsions. 9.30am-12.30pm, £60/£65.

FULHAM PALACE Bishops Avenue SW6 6EA 020 7610 7169 fulhampalace.org 9 Dec. Sleeping Beauty An enchanting story with laughter and music, ideal for young children. £10, 1pm, book via Lyric Hammersmith on 020 8741 6850 11 Dec. A Victorian Christmas A festive exploration of the Yuletide our ancestors would have known. Enjoy festive songs, a Yuletide Mummers’ Play and Christmas tale of the court of King Arthur. £10, 7pm, book via Lyric Hammersmith on 020 8741 6850 16 Dec. Festive Family Drop-in Get creative at the Jessie Mylne Education Centre, 2pm, £2, 5-12yrs HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND 2012 Hyde Park, W2 Facebook.com/winterwonderlanduk To 6 Jan.Hyde Park goes Christmassy with rides, attractions and the Magical Ice Kingdom, a spectacular ice and snow sculpture experience.

Plus, the UK’s largest outdoor Ice Rink, iconic Giant Observation Wheel and beautiful Angels Christmas Market and new Yuletide Market and Santa Land for the younger visitors. Zippos Circus makes a welcome return too WE MAKE LONDON CHRISTMAS ART AND CRAFT SHOW Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill Battersea SW11 5TN Saturday, December 1, from 11am to 5pm NCT WIMBLEDON AND WANDSWORTH CHRISTMAS PARTY Merton Hall, 76 Kingston Road, Wimbledon SW19 1LA

Nct.org.uk/branches/wimbledon-wandsworth/events 12 Dec.Celebrate Christmas with Father Christmas & lots of sparkly activities. 3-5pm, £4 per child, adults free OLYMPIA HORSE SHOW The Grand Hall, Olympia Way, Hammersmith W14 8UX 0871 230 5580 olympiahorseshow.com 17-23 Dec.An action-packed event with Olympic medal winners competing in both dressage & jumping PINXIE’S CHRISTMAS PARTY Venue TBC 07930 182 780 info@pinxiemusic.co.uk 20 and 21 Dec. 30 minutes of Pinxie Children’s Music Class, followed by a party. Dress up in a festive costume! £15 per child, £10 siblings, under 9 months free, times vary, book in advance REDI TRAINING PAEDIATRIC FIRST AID COURSES 020 7348 7117 redi-training.co.uk 12 Dec. Covers all essential topics on first aid for babies & children, with paediatric A&E nurses. At Maggie and Rose, see website for details ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH Greenwich SE10 9NF 020 8858 4422 rmg.co.uk 1-23 Dec. Christmas Stars A seasonal show looking at what the night sky has to offer over the Christmas period, including the Moon, planets, stars and constellations. 5yrs+, £6.50/£4.50, 12.30, 2 and 3.30pm 12, 14, 15 and 19 Dec. Evening with the Stars: Christmas Special After-dark experience including a show in London’s only planetarium. 7yrs+, £16, from 5.30pm 29 Dec. Saturday Space Explorers Make cardboard instruments including constellation finders, planet finders and lunar calendars. 5yrs+, free, from 2pm Throughout Dec. Meet the Neighbours Meet our neighbours in space in this entertaining interactive show, where you decide which planets to visit. 5yrs+, £6.50/£4.50 Throughout Dec. Solar System, Galaxy, Universe Exploring the scale of the Solar System, Galaxy and

Universe and how we measure it. 5yrs+, £6.50/£4.50 Throughout Dec. Space Safari Join Ted the teddy bear for live music and rhyme as he journeys throughout the solar system looking for the Great Bear in the sky. Age 7 and under, £6.50/£4.50 Throughout Dec. Sky Tonight Live A live show taking visitors on a tour of what can be seen in the night sky. 12.30, 2 and 3.30pm, 5yrs+, £6.50/£4.50 SOUTHBANK CENTRE Belvedere Road SE1 8PX 020 7960 4200 / 0844 847 9944 southbankcentre.co.uk 7-9 Dec. The Chocolate Festival Packed full of surprises, gifts and, of course, chocolate. In Southbank Centre Square To 24 Dec. Christmas Market Gifts, food and drink, plus a stall for children to make their own Christmas cards, and a pocketmoney stall To 7 Jan. Winter Festival The Southbank Centre is transformed into a festival landscape with shows for all ages, from a beat-boxing clown and comic cabaret, to candlelit classical concerts and baby opera SNAKES AND LADDERS Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 8JF 020 8847 0946 snakes-and-ladders.co.uk 21 Dec. Festive Friday Treat Festive fun with Santa’s Sleigh Trail, and get Arty Crafty with seasonal crafts THE BABY CARE COMPANY Grandison Road SW11 020 7228 1041 thebabycarecompany.co.uk 5 and 6 Dec. 2nd Baby Preparation Class – Discover the tricks of coping with 2 children and learn techniques to avoid jealousy, while maintaining that special relationship with your first child.

THE PAPERED PARLOUR 7 Prescott Place, Clapham SW4 020 7627 8703 thepaperedparlour.co.uk 9 Dec. Make a Cloak with DIYcouture A one-day workshop to focus your creativity and

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

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

• 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.

Experienced tutors welcome Tel: 020 7735 8268

07906 312541

tuesdaytutors@hotmail.co.uk tuesdaytutors.com

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Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

What’s on

Please send info for consideration to: whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk keep you on trend. Perfect for beginners as well as those with experience. 12-5pm, £77.50 WALKING WITH DINOSAURS The O2, Peninsula Square SE10 0DX 0844 875 9000 dinosaurlive.com/uk 26 Dec-6 Jan. Based on the hit BBC television series, featuring walking, roaring, and fighting dinosaurs of monstrous proportions.

WILDLIFE WATCH CLUB Wimbledon Common, Windmill Road SW19 5NR 020 8540 6154 wpcc.org.uk 2 Dec. Meet at the Information Centre near the Windmill. 10am-12pm. 8-14yrs. £1 registration fee and £2 per session.

NCT K&C's CHRISTMAS PARTY Goody bags donated by onefinestay, Santa's Grotto provided by Maggie and Rose, entertainment by Froggle Make Christmas cards with Little Art Studio.

Friday, 7 December, 10-12. Beaufort House, 354 King's Road, Chelsea SW3 5UZ £5 per family STREATHAM GREEN ARTISAN MARKET New street market on Streatham Green, corner of Babington Rd & Mitcham Lane!

16 December, 10am-3pm Farm Produce, fine foods, local Crafts Sunday www.streathamgreenam.co.uk abbevillefarmers@yahoo.co.uk CHILDREN 4 MUSIC Baden Powell Conference Centre, 65-67 Queen's Gate, SW7 5JS Children4music.org 1 Dec. Children’s Concert This initiative, run by a group of children, is holding a Christmas Concert to raise funds for Shining Light, bringing violin teaching to children in Goan slums. 5.30pm THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS FAIR Mission Hall, Parsons Green Lane SW6 1 Dec. A boutique Christmas Fair in the heart of Parson’s Green, raising money for Fulham-based

Wimbledon Village Stables Carols by Candlelight Ray’s Playhouse. Gifts, local brands and bustling gourmet food hall, plus children’s craft area. 2-8pm CHRISTMAS FAIR Streatham and Clapham High School, Abbotswood Road, Streatham, London SW16 1AW Wed 12th Dec 12 6.30 pm - 9 pm HAPPY FACES CHRISTMAS EVENT Mayoral, 58 Northcote Road, London SW11 1PA 9th December 10am – 6 pm A magical day full of entertainment for all ages: glitter tattoos, meet Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Peppa Pig and George and see Father Christmas himself. Mayoral will be offering 15% discount on their fabulous clothes for any purchases over £75 and Happy Faces will be giving away vouchers for a complimentary mini mani or glitter tattoo with any haircut. Best Christmas card competition, winner receives a free haircut.

CUPCAKE COURSE Parent & Child Festive Cupcakes.

Mon 17th Dec For 12-15 year old children accompanied by an adult. They will teach you the secret of perfect flat cupcakes and piping buttercream swirls. Make your own festive sugar decorations and winter blossoms to decorate them. 12 of your own mouthwatering cupcakes to take home, one of our most popular cake courses. All ingredients and use of tools and equipment are included in the course price. Suitable for All skill levels. At Cakes 4 Fun, Putney, London. 10am to 4pm CHICKENSHED THEATRE COMPANY Chelsea Academy, Lots Road SW10 0AB 020 8292 9222 chickenshed.org.uk 1 Dec. Christmas Tales All your favourite Tales characters bring you a sackful of silly songs, potty puppeteering and festive fun. 10 and 11.30am, £6, 0-7yrs

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HAPKIDO SELF DEFENCE classes available for children, teenagers and adults.

Dan Jun breathing, Kicks, punches, throws, joint-locks, tumbles, jumps and breakfalls.

NEW: Learn the way of the Samurai sword, children ages 9yrs and over 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 @ 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

December 2012

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Diary dates

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THE WALDORF SCHOOL OF SOUTH WEST LONDON 9 Weir Road, Balham SW12 0LT 020 8772 3504 waldorflondon.co.uk 8 Dec. School Advent Fair With Christmas market, café, craft activities and stalls. 11am-5pm WIMBLEDON VILLAGE STABLES 24 a/b High Street, SW19 5DX 020 8946 8579 wvstables.com 8 Dec. Carols by Candlelight Traditional Carol concert held in candlelight in the stable yard, with a choir, mince pies, mulled wine and a visit from Santa. 5.15pm INSTITUT FRANCAIS 17 Queensbury Place SW7 2DT 0207 871 3515 institut-francais.org.uk 1 and 2 Dec. Scrouge!

A French Christmas Carol The Exchange Theatre troupe takes you on their magical sleigh for Scrouge!, a bilingual adaptation of Dickens' story. £12/£10, 5-11yrs 1, 8 and 15 Dec. Baby and Kids French Tales Interactive games, songs and music to familiarise your little ones with French. £5/£7, 11am, 8 Dec - 0-3yrs, 1 and 15 Dec – 3-5yrs VENN STREET MARKET Clapham Common SW4 1, 8, 15, 22 Dec. Christmas Markets Fine foods and fresh produce from a variety of small British independent and artisan producers. Also handmade crafts, Christmas trees and floral decorations. 11am-4pm GROUP 64 THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Putney Arts Theatre, Ravenna Road, Putney SW15 6AW 020 8788 6943 g64.org.uk 6-9 Dec. The Snow Queen A classic tale filled with adventure and excitement for all the family. £7/£10, performance times vary NATIONAL THEATRE Cottesloe Theatre, South Bank SE1 9PX 020 7452 3000 nationaltheatre.org.uk 7 Dec – 26 Jan. Hansel and Gretel Katie Mitchell returns to stage the classic fairytale, conjuring the world of Hansel and Gretel in an intimate and magical new production, especially suitable for 7–10yrs. £12-£24

Magazine Directory

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CLUBS AND CLASSES •WHYOGA 01372 459 400 www.whyoga.com askvicky@whyoga.com Creative pregnancy yoga (7pm 8pm) and all levels yoga (8pm 9.30pm) in Balham Library and Earlsfield Library Monday and Wednesday evenings.

•YOGA MAMA 020 8789 3881 info@yogamama.co.uk UNICORN THEATRE The Putney clinic. 266 Upper 147 Tooley Street, Southwark SE1 2HZ Richmond Road.

020 7645 0500 unicorntheatre.com Mum and baby yoga classes in Putney.

14 Dec. A Right Royal Sleepover Suitable for mums with babies from Spend the night on stage at the six weeks to crawling Thursday Unicorn’s end of term Christmas 10.30am sleepover party. 8-12yrs, £50, includes your ticket to The Prince & TUITION The Pauper, a Tudor banquet with the •PRIVATE TUITION actors and a host of late activities 07906 259524 backstage before you bunk down on M.A. in ENGLISH the Tudor London set for the night QUALIFIED TEACHER PUTNEY ARTS THEATRE Putney Arts Theatre, Ravenna Road, Putney SW15 6AW 020 8788 6943 putneyartstheatre.org.uk 19-22 Dec. Jack and the Beanstalk Putney Light Operatic Society’s Pantomime with a giant beanstalk, magic beans and a boy called Jack. £15, call 07594 464 or www.ticketsource.co.uk/plos

ENHANCED CRB * Licensed to teach primary, secondary and SEN * Taught GCSE and A Level English at top schools * structuring papers in all subjects for high marks * University Entrance, 11-plus

•EXPLORE LEARNING East Sheen 020 8090 2849 and Merton 020 8540 7355.

Maths and English tuition for 5-14yrs, designed to build confidence and enjoyment of learning.

HEALTH •MOBILE SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPIST 07711 724129 www.tsportsmassage.com Theo has 20+ years’ experience of Relaxing to Deep Tissue and Sports Massage in the comfort of your home.

Business Award Winner 2012

CHILDCARE •PROBLEMS WITH YOUR KIDS? 07932 339416 Sleeping, eating, boundaries... Seeking parenting support? Contact Maya, professional Super Nanny/ troubleshooter. Over 20yrs experience, ask for my references.

Mayalazabeille13@yahoo.com

COVENT GARDEN CHRISTMAS Covent Garden Market, Covent Garden Piazza WC2E 8AA To 23 Dec. A wide range of festive treats, including the opening of a Lego advent calendar, reindeer petty and foodmarket WARNER BROS STUDIO TOUR: THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER Warner Bros Studio, Aerodrome Way, Leavesden, Watford, Herts WD25 7LS 08450 840 900 wbstudiotour.co.uk To 6 March 2013. Walk through sets including the Great Hall, Dumbledore's office, Gryffindor common room and Hagrid's hut. £28/£21

Interior & Exterior decorators, Floor Sanding, Murals, Staining, Varnishing, Maintenance work undertaken Email: rh_painter@yahoo.co.uk

07427 276649 020 8675 5270 Established 20 years

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Commercial or Private

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Classified SERVICES

PARTIES

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

www.charlietheclown.co.uk

07808 732 390 clown pirate story-teller wizard

AMITY COMPUTER SERVICES

Ly d i e C h i l d r e n’ s Pa r t i e s 0207 622 2540

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

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

Home and business computers repaired & managed.

Consultancy and tuition also available.

Phone Danny on

8944 0681 or 07961 428 596

PAINTING & DECORATING

020 8462 4646 - 07802 535695

TUITION

THEO THE MAGICIAN

Professional entertainers hosted by

Strawberry Shortcake Polly Pops Rainbow Fairy Themed parties • Balloon modelling • Dancing • Fun games • Storytelling puppets Please call Jane 07971 392815

Fun Magic for Children & Adults Free Magic Wand & Certificate for Birthday Child 07711 724129

www.magictheo.com

In SW16 Children aged 4+ Quality teaching from experienced performer and qualified teacher Angela East LRAM ARAM MSTAT Some cellos for hire eastangela@gmail.com 020 8769 4158

PIANO TUITION

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

Take exams or learn purely for pleasure.

Different styles covered.

Home visits possible.

Mark Lester MA, CT ABRSM

020 8870 7830 www.marklester.biz

Sunshine Parties 4 kids

“The Magic Circle, Equity & CRB”

MUSIC Suzuki Cello Lessons

John:- James & Lamont

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

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

E-mail: acs@amitygrove.com

Interior / Exterior Experienced, Reliable, Clean Fully Guaranteed / Insured FREE ADVICE & QUOTE

Silly Millie the Clown

Learn to massage your child

HEALTH

HOLIDAYS HOLIDAY FLAT IN PROVENCE Vaugines (Luberon), 30 min from Aix/ Marseille.

Centre of historic village, flat on the first floor, for 2 to 5 people.

babbleparade.com Hugely popular

Individual Tuition

BESPOKE PARTIES:

Public Speaking, Elocution, Comprehension, Drama Confidence Building, Speech & Interview Technique

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

Jam packed with fun activities!

Clare Price. LGSM, ALAM, SRD.

(020) 7735 3156

07794 084671

December 2012

www.speechspecialists.co.uk ®

One double bed & mezz/gallery with two small beds.

Huge living room overlooking valley. Perfect for a family.

A week in Provence is only 400 Euros, deposit 250 Euros. l.metge@hotmail.com Ring us 00 33 474 67 59 17 English spoken

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Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk