Families upon Thames Issue 103 Jul-Aug 2015

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upon Thames

July/August 2015 Issue 103

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Babysitting and Flexible Childcare S 100% DB D CHECKE RS E R A CHILDC

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TO ADVERTISE IN THIS MAGAZINE CONTACT: LINDA STONE, Editor m: 07530 283330 t: 020 8241 0423 e: editor@familiesuponthames.co.uk www.familiesuponthames.co.uk Find us and like us on Facebook Facebook.com/familiesuponthames @FamiliesuponT Now more than 6500 followers!

Don’t miss our exciting Back to School Education and Classes/ Clubs issue, out on 1 September!

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FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLBEING DE-SENSITISATION AS A TREATMENT FOR HAY FEVER

By Dr Robert Arlt, MD

London has been described as the world’s allergy capital, with over a third of people suffering with allergies.

Hay fever typically causes cold-like symptoms, such as sneezing, itchy eyes/nose

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and a blocked or runny nose. These symptoms usually start soon after being exposed to an allergen such as pollen, dust, mould or flakes of skin from certain animals.

Most treatments for hay fever are available over the counter, and include tablets, nasal sprays and inhalers including steroids.

In addition, there are obvious practical measures that families can employ to stay symptom-free: ✿ Remain indoors when pollen levels peak and when the grass is being cut ✿ Take antihistamines starting two weeks before the pollen season begins ✿ Wash/douche nasal passages with diluted salt water solution or use commercial saline sprays available from all chemists (such as Sterimar), and eye washes (such as Optrex) ✿ When travelling, make sure car windows are closed and use air conditioning to filter out pollen grains ✿ Wear protective ‘wrap around’ sunglasses to protect allergic eyes ✿ Close bedroom windows during the day to keep pollen grains out ✿ Tumble dry washing, rather than line dry ✿ Shower and wash hair in the evening to remove all pollen ✿ Change into fresh clothes on return from school or work as pollen gets trapped in clothes Desensitisation Desensitisation treatment is a way of helping you or your child develop immunity to an allergen. It typically starts with a discussion about medical history with your doctor and a skin prick or blood test. Ordinarily only a single relevant allergen is identified and this allergen is then given repeatedly as an injection or via drops (given orally) to help immunity to develop. The treatment continues over a period of three years and is highly effective. With the

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Dr Robert Arlt is a Consultant Paediatrician at +richmond practice, where an allergist will, after considering your own or your child’s history, offer allergy testing and advice about possible desensitisation treatment. For more information, visit www.richmondpractice.co.uk

WEAR A HAT FOR BRAIN TUMOUR RESEARCH Every year hundreds of schools and families from up and down the land take part in Wear a Hat Day to help fund the fight against brain tumours and aid vital research.

Wear a Hat Day is a fun way of increasing awareness and raising money for this often overlooked form of cancer. Brain tumour research receives less than 1% of national cancer research spending in the UK and yet it kills more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer. It is, of course, a cause that could not be closer to the hearts of sufferers and their families and all those touched by this devastating disease.

On Wear a Hat Day, Brain Tumour Research encourages children and parents to make donations in order to wear a hat to school, to work, at social events, or even at home. Brain Tumour Research is already anticipating and planning next year’s event

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right precautions, desensitisation is usually safe.

You may wish to consider desensitisation treatment if: ✿ Practical solutions listed above, over the counter and prescription drugs, sprays and inhalers, don’t ease symptoms ✿ Hay fever symptoms prevail for more than three seasons ✿ Sleep problems develop resulting in lethargy, poor concentration and behavioural changes ✿ A child’s or adult’s performance at school or work is impacted ✿ Allergic asthma develops

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and would like to thank the young people, teachers, assistants, admin staff and parents up and down the country who baked cakes, made and found hats – and had fun – at this year’s Wear a Hat Day. Brain Tumour Research would love to have your company again next year, so don’t forget to register at www.wearahatday.org.

July-August 2015

FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Nutrition

IS YOUR CHILD EATING ENOUGH? Eight Tips for Managing Under-Eating

By Jane Ogden

How do you know if your child is underweight? Teenagers can suddenly shoot up in height and look like bean poles, parents of fatter children may well comment that your child is too skinny, and many children go through stages of not eating much.

If your child’s BMI is below the normal for their height and/or they seem anxious around food, you may need to consult your GP. (You can check your child’s BMI at http://www.nhs. uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyweightcalculator.aspx).

However, if they seem to refuse some foods but eat lots of their favourites when you make them available, then they may just be going through a fussy stage.

If this is the case, here are some tips for getting them to eat more without turning food into an issue: Be a Good Role Model Children of all ages learn what and how much to eat from their parents. So eat healthy foods, don’t snack, don’t over eat or under eat, and make sure your child sees you

Nutrition

trying and enjoying new foods.

Eat as a Family Eating with others can take the focus away from the food and place it more on the conversation and company. Don’t make meal times a chance to nag your child about homework, delve into their private lives or argue with your partner. Create a pleasant, agenda-free time in which family members can get together to eat and chat.

Say the Right Things Comment on how lovely the food you are eating tastes but don’t refer to it as “so healthy” or “boring.” Stop eating when you are full and say “I am full now.” Don’t comment on your own body weight or connect healthy eating with weight loss by saying “I’m so fat.” Talk about food in a way that reinforces the idea of eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full, and doesn’t make body size into an issue.

Be Encouraging The odd comment such as “try and eat a few more peas” or “have a bit more of your tea or you’ll be hungry later on” are fine. But avoid

any kind of pressure, blackmail, expression of anger, upset or any kind of drama. This is likely to make your child dig in their heels.

Cook What They Like Ideally children should eat what everyone else eats. However, if your child is going through a fussy stage, you can take the pressure off and cook what you know they like for the whole family for a few days - whether its fish fingers, pizza or even the dreaded chicken nuggets! It is not great to feed your child unhealthy food, but it is far worse to make food into an issue.

Use Mindless Eating Mindless eating can lead to over-eating, but, conversely, it can be useful in encouraging children eat more. So when your child is watching television, give them a bowl of chopped up fruit or a plate of bread, or throw a tub of grapes into the back of the car. You may find they will eat them without thinking.

Use Peer Pressure Invite friends round for tea and give all the children the same food and the same amount to eat. Next time your child is invited to a friend’s house for tea, tell the friend’s parents to feed your child whatever they are feeding their own children.

Try Sideways Talking At some point it is good to have a chat to find out if something is upsetting your child.

Avoid doing this at the dinner table or in the car, as they are likely to switch off, ignore you or get cross. Try sideways talking when you are washing up, walking the dog or wandering round the shops. Alternatively, be more subtle and wait for a time when the subject can come up in a more natural way following a feature in a magazine or on the TV. Remember, most stages DO pass.

extra

Jane Ogden is a Health Psychologist and mother of two. She has recently written a book called The Good Parenting Food Guide, which is published by Wiley and available from Amazon (RRP £14.99).

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. Early Years Care and Education .

LOCAL PARENTS GIVE BRIGHT BEGINNINGS DAY NURSERIES 9.5 OUT OF 10!

By Linda Stone, Editor

With the day care sector dominated by large corporates, it’s refreshing to see independent nursery business, Bright Beginnings, flourishing in Twickenham and beyond. With two settings in central Twickenham and one in Hampton, Bright Beginnings opens a new nursery on 1 July on Twickenham Green.

Bright Beginnings has proven that independent nurseries can compete with the big guys by transforming the old Welcare building into a large, state-of-the-art setting. Laid out over two floors, with a high, vaulted ceiling upstairs, bags of light and every opportunity taken to “bring the outside in,” the nursery is lovingly designed and offers excellent facilities and resources for little people.

activities to engage children of all ages and interests. These include a beautiful sensory room for all the children and an interactive SmartBoard and light box in the pre-school section.

Owners Raj and Lucy understand exactly how to deliver the best kind of care for children. “Our constant involvement, the quality of our staff and our relationship with Among its many attractive special features them is paramount” they stress.“We are hands is a huge sandpit complete with wobbly on in our nurseries every day, solving problems bridge in the centre of the first floor. This and interacting, rather than dealing with divides the toddler and pre-school sections things remotely.” They stress the importance and grants access from both sides. There of finding staff that are passionate about are numerous resources that will be rotated childcare. “Bright Beginnings nurseries weekly in the sand area from letters and have a very low staff turnover” she explains. shapes to mini-beasts and dinosaurs.

“New staff undertake an intensive 13 week The nursery has a spacious, dedicated buggy probationary period and work an initial six room, a separate sleeping room for babies, month contract so that we can test their fit a buggy bus which is used to take children over a long period of time.” Once they find on daily or twice-daily excursions, its own the right people, the owners and their team go cook, and, crucially, a vast range of toys and the extra mile to retain them by helping them develop their careers.

All this adds up to an £1 donation to your PTA for excellent standard of every pair of care for the children at school shoes Bright Beginnings Day purchased Nurseries.

Relationships with parents are also key.

“We are responsive to ‘Shopping at ✿ An excellent range of the needs of parents, as Hopscotch is so easy, well as children” explains I can buy shoes for children’s and ladies shoes. all 3 of my children, in Lucy-Ann the Nursery less than half an hour. ’ Manager. “We take ✿ Professional fitting service, expert Mrs Clayton, their suggestions and Chessington advice in a child friendly environment. concerns seriously and act upon them.” Bright 020 89416718 Beginnings success in 107a Walton Road, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0DR this area is clear from www.hopscotchshoeboutique.co.uk the rating of 9.5+ (out Parking Opposite of 10) that it receives 6

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from parental recommendations collected by nursery web resource, daynurseries.co.uk and from the reports made by its parents.

What Parents Say

Joanna Coles says “I couldn’t recommend Bright Beginnings highly enough. Both my boys have attended the nursery since they were 1 and love it. My eldest is about to start school this year and his social, writing and reading skills have far exceeded my expectations. This is due to the dedication and enthusiasm of the staff.”

Annie Charlton agrees. “My daughter has been attending Bright Beginnings since she was 6 months old. She is now a happy and well-developed child of 3 and I feel this fantastic nursery with its great staff and management has had a hand in this.”

Sam Drew echoes the sentiments of many parents leaving their baby at a Bright Beginnings nursery. “One of the hardest things I found as a parent was returning to work and leaving my daughter in someone else’s care. When I first left her in the baby room I felt I had complete trust in the staff, I knew instantly that they would provide her with the attention and the cuddles that she needed. Cath, the room leader, and her team not only cared for her but I think more importantly, supported me at this time.”

Bright Beginnings Twickenham Green offers full day care for children ages 3 months to school age from 8am to 6pm, 51 weeks of the year, with wraparound care available from 7.30am to 6.30pm, free Pampers nappies and wipes, and free settling in sessions. It also has some sessional options for pre-school children.

For more information on Bright Beginnings Day Nurseries, visit www.brightbeginningsdaynurseries.com July-August 2015

. Early Years Care and Education .

Think Back to School Now!

BUYING THE RIGHT SHOES FOR SCHOOL

THE BEST £20 YOU’LL EVER SPEND

Children’s shoes get a lot of wear and tear at school and their feet are also growing.

Consequently, choosing a suitable pair of shoes is a ‘must.’

Here are my top tips: ⁕ Make sure the shoe does not slip off at the heel. Heel grips are not advisable as they often cause blisters. ⁕ Consider an insole for narrow feet but make sure this is added at a shoe shop to ensure the correct fitting. ⁕ Ensure feet never bulge out at the sides. If different width fittings are not available, you can trust the shoe fitter at a specialist shop to make sure you leave with a shoe that fits. ⁕ Avoid ballet pumps! They are not supportive enough to wear for long periods every day and not as hard wearing as a traditional school shoe. They have to be quite tightly fitting to begin with and the shape and style of the shoe doesn’t allow for much growing room in the toe.

If your child insists, we stock quality brands such as Geox, Startrite

What do you get when you mix large numbers of children, identical items of school uniform and lots of changing for PE and swimming?

You’ve got it – lost clothing.

Here’s why writing your child’s name in biro on school uniform labels doesn’t work: Many of your child’s clothes, identical to those of their friends, will end up at the houses of their friends. They will be washed and stored without the label being checked. Even if the label is checked, beware. No matter how indelible an ink claims to be, it will fade and become illegible!

Here’s what will make a difference: A small, button called Snappy Tag™ which has your child’s name etched on it. You can snap the tags onto soft and hard items in 30 seconds, without sewing or ironing. Names are guaranteed not to fade or wash off!

When your child’s friend’s parents are washing, turning inside out, folding and (god forbid!) ironing his or her clothes, the Snappy Tag™ can be felt on the label in a way

By Jane Attard

extra

and Ricosta which come with an elasticated strap to keep the foot in place, and are more supportive than High Street pumps. ⁕ For younger children, avoid time-consuming laces and go for Velcro or buckle fastening. ⁕ Invest in good quality, leather shoes. Avoid synthetic as these disintegrate quickly, as well as suffocating the feet and causing sweating. ⁕ If your child rides a scooter, invest in shoes with bumper toes.

These are reinforced at the front with strong rubber and stops shoes wearing out at the toe. All brands now offer a great selection.

that a piece of writing cannot.

The item of clothing is more likely to wing its way back to you.

Lecture over.

What you need is: Back to School Naming Kit in standard size with 25 tags and a Snappy Stickers Starter Pack (£20) OR bumper size with 50 tags and the Snappy Stickers Starter Pack.

To view the full Snappy Tag™ range, visit www.snappytags.co.uk

ssori Nurs e t e on

S ry ol cho

Julia ’s M

Jane Attard is the proprietor of Hopscotch Shoe Boutique at 107A Walton Road, East Molesey KT8 0DR which provides excellent customer service in a child-friendly environment. The boutique is recognised as a Centre of Excellence for children’s shoe fitting by the Children’s Foot Health register and offers high quality shoes that fit perfectly and expert advice on the correct shoes for your child.

By Sasha Welsh

Small and caring pre-school in Hampton Ages 2 to 5 Teaches Early Years Foundation Stage.

Curriculum and Montessori Method.

For a prospectus or to visit, call Julia on 020 8335 0666 / 07939 838991 or email juliasmontessori@aol.com July-August 2015

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

7

Think Back to School Now!

. Early Years Care and Education .

PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR SCHOOL

By Sarah McKinlay

If your child is starting school in September, you may be wondering how best to prepare them. Firstly, don’t worry if they can’t read a word or write their own name! The ability to interact, communicate and exercise a degree of independence is actually far more important than reading or writing skills when a child starts school. In fact, research shows a link between strong personal, social and emotional skills in Reception and higher levels of attainment in the future. So if you want to strengthen your child’s skills in these areas, here are some tips.

Independence The aim is for children to be responsible for themselves, their belongings and their actions at school. Help your child learn to get dressed, put on their coats/shoes, go to the toilet, tidy away toys and select their own activity resources.

Communication and Language Research demonstrates that competent speakers develop into competent readers and writers; without competent spoken language, learning to read and write is more difficult. Language allows children to interact with the world. Being able to communicate their message effectively is satisfying and develops their esteem and self-confidence.

Model good spoken language, with correct pronunciation of sounds, and encourage your child to speak in full sentences using an expanding vocabulary. Talk to your child about their experiences and feelings throughout the day and develop a positive ethos around the importance of communicating and expressing feelings, of any kind. This will have multiple benefits (including knowing how your child is really feeling and maintaining an open and trusting rapport), both now and in the future.

Sharing and Interaction The more opportunities your child gets to interact and learn how to share and take turns, the less of a shock it will be when she starts school! However, expect this to be an on-going process. Allow your child lots of opportunities to play with siblings and organise lots of play dates. If disagreements occur between

children, talk to them about how to resolve issues, modelling language and behaviour which gives them strategies and words to prevent or resolve disagreements in the future.

Respect for Behavioural Boundaries At school, behavioural expectations and boundaries are likely to include: ✿ Listening the first time ✿ Keeping hands/feet to themselves ✿ Sharing and taking turns ✿ Looking after things ✿ Tidying away ✿ Being kind to others You can reinforce these expectations at home by teaching children to respect themselves, their actions and the feelings of others.

Physical (Gross and Fine Motor Skills) All activities require some sort of physicality, whether it be large (gross) or small (fine) movements. Gross motor skills are developed

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when hopping, skipping, running, jumping, galloping, balancing, pedalling a bike, using a scooter, climbing, throwing, catching, and kicking a ball. Varying the speed and direction of movement activities also develops spatial awareness. Your child can have fun developing fine motor skills at home with activities such as using pegs and scissors, bead threading, button fastening, moulding play-dough, and painting.

Exploring and Investigating Often the most effective learning occurs when a child is left to his own devices, without nicely-prepared resources and prescriptive instructions about how to do something. Make a conscious effort to step back and allow your child the opportunity to use his initiative and develop his creative, imaginative and innovative skills through exploring, investigating and initiating his own learning. Children learn by exploring, trying out and adapting ideas for themselves and taking ownership. Present your child with a large cardboard box (and the opportunity to access other resources/toys). See what she does with it. In the latter stages of her ‘creation’ you may wish to step in to play too, but allow your child to initiate the direction of the play and conversation.

All the above skills can be naturally weaved into your everyday lives. Enjoy and treasure these precious last few months with your child at home, and keep the above tips in mind to promote a positive start to your child’s school life.

extra

Sarah McKinlay is a mother and school teacher with qualifications in psychology and counselling. For further professional, bespoke support and strategies to give your child a happy transition to school, visit www.bounceparental.co.uk July-August 2015

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By Dr Linda Mallory

your parents make you feel?’ I then ask parents ‘how do you want your children to feel?’ Most parents want their children to feel loved. What children tell us is that it is the small things that parents do that make them feel truly loved and loveable and that these things are the ones they remember.

Many parents feel that they are not good parents unless they are shuttling their children constantly between after-school clubs, lessons and practices. They tell me they want to give their children opportunities they did not have, in order to be happy and successful.

Unfortunately, this thinking sometimes fulfils their own needs, and not those of their children, who end up feeling anxious, stressed and tired.

Being involved in too many activities leaves children less in touch with themselves and their families. Children tell me they really want more time to ‘just play.’ What they enjoy most is having their parents do simple things with them, such as: necessarily want more time with their parents, but they did want their parents to feel less stressed and anxious. If parents are stressed and unhappy, they are less productive, less likely to fulfill their career potential and, crucially, less emotionally available for their children.

So perhaps instead of asking ‘why am I not spending enough time with my kids?’ a more useful question would be ‘how can I be less stressed and anxious?’ or ‘how can our family make the most of the time we have together?’

‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ Maya Angelou It is useful to think about what our children feel and believe about themselves when we spend time with them. In my work with families as a psychologist, I often ask children ‘how do

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Come into my bedroom at night and tuck me in/read/listen to me read ⁕ Tell me stories about when they were little ⁕ Hug and kiss me and sit and talk with me ⁕ Listen to me and make me feel understood and special ⁕ Talk about what we could do together at the weekend ⁕ At night, talk to me about anything ⁕ Let me play outside ⁕ Cuddle on the sofa and watch our favourite television programme/film together.

Children are incredibly wise and have amazing insight, which simplifies everything.

It’s really helpful to take their lead, take the pressure off ourselves and do little things to develop our relationship with them, satisfied in the knowledge that this really is ‘good enough.’

So what if work and home life was about simplifying things rather than striving for balance? How would that feel?

Dr Linda Mallory is an Educational Psychologist, parent coach and mother of UKfamilies3.pdf 1 1-6-2015 22:33:37 two boys. Feel free to get in touch with her at dr.lindamallory@thewhyparent.com or visit www.positivepsychologyforeducation.co.uk

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As a working mum, I have become increasingly uncomfortable reading articles aimed at working parents which focus on the ‘tricks and tips’ needed to spend more time with your children and have a better work/life balance. Packed with well-meaning advice and ‘life hacks,’ I am often left feeling frustrated and guilty after reading about what I ‘should’ be doing to achieve a more fulfilling balance.

I work full time, juggle three jobs, two kids and the housework, and many ‘life hacks’ feel like short term fixes. Even if I implement a ‘helpful’ tip such as writing a ‘to do’ list, or doing an online shop, this generally only lasts a couple of weeks. Then my initial feeling of good intention turns to one of dissatisfaction.

In turn, this increases my levels of guilt and stress, which my children pick up on. The focus in these articles is on ‘lack of balance’ and on ‘what we are not doing as parents’ reinforcing the belief that we are ‘not good enough.’

But what do our children think about our work/life balance and the amount of time we spend with them? In Ask the Children, American Researcher, Ellen Galinsky explores the views of working parents and their children with surprising results.

The children in Galinsky’s study did not

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Valid until 2/9/15 *Terms and conditions apply.

oNe GrEaT BiG aDVeNTuRe

LEAVE R EA LIT Y BEH IND WHEN YOU ENTER T He MYSTER ICA L WOR LD oF HOBBLEDOWN • Hobbledown is a 50-acre farm park adventure featuring towers, tunnels, mazes, aerial walkways, a daring high ropes course and a 14,000 sq ft indoor play barn

The Yucky You show 19th May - 2nd September 2015

Shows run at weekends and Bracknell school holidays.

For spring and summer events go to our website or follow us on Facebook.

• With our own Zoo Licence, we have more than 150 animals Follow us on facebook; hobbledownuk

Open 10am - 5pm every day

and twitter; @Hobbledown

Find us at:

Hobbledown Horton Lane, Epsom, Surrey KT19 8PT T: 0843 289 4979 E: thehobblers@hobbledown.com

The Look Out Discovery Centre Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW

Tel: 01344 354400

www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/be

www.facebook.com/thelookoutdiscovery

Families

In partnership with

www.hobbledown.com

33273 spectrum_FF advert FUT2015FF 87x130_1 27/05/2015 10:46 Page

A FANTASTIC FAMILY FUN DAY OUT

HOB10234_QuarterPgAd_133x91mm_FamiliesKingston.indd 1

06/02/2015 14:44

Home of Thomas & FriendsTM toys

ice skating, tenpin bowling or swimming in the leisure pool Call 01483 443322 All children under 9 must be accompanied in the water by an adult and a maximum of 2 children to each adult are allowed in the pool. Your last activity must be started by 5pm.

All activities are subject to availability.

All 3 activities for only £60.00 for a family of four

www.guildfordspectrum.co.uk

Just cut out the voucher and bring it with you on your next visit to Spectrum.

Join Thomas & FriendsTM at a heritage Railway near you.

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

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

8TH - 16TH 2015

UPGRADE OFFER

3 2 activities for the price of with this voucher

www.dayoutwiththomas.co.uk

Reader voucher

Terms & Conditions: This offer is subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Only 1 voucher per person may be redeemed against 3 activities for the price of 2.

Individual tickets available to purchase.

Offer valid until 31/12/2015 Ref: FUT2015FF

Please add postcode Day Out With ThomasTM Thomas the Tank EngineTM. Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W. Awdry. © 2015 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, Thomas & Friends and Day Out With Thomas are trademarks of Gullane (Thomas) Limited. © 2015 HIT Entertainment Limited.

July-August 2015

Plus FREE Specky fridge magnet

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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Cruise the Thames with Turk Launches! by Olivia Malaure

Take a seat on deck, sip a cold drink, and enjoy the views from a Turk Launches river cruise, perfect for resting your legs when the kids are running you ragged during the school holidays!

Kids love the adventure of being on the water, waving to passers-by, spotting wildlife and cheering on any passing boats or rowers.

Children are naturally fascinated by the lowering of the chimneys on the larger boats as they pass through the historic bridges and the mystery of going through Teddington Lock always entertains.

During the school holidays, one child goes FREE per full fare paying adult on boat trips Monday to Wednesday only (except Monday 31 August) when you quote Families magazine. So turn your adventure into a family day out by packing a picnic and relaxing riverside. The Thames’ towpaths between Richmond, Kingston and Hampton Court are great fun to explore and safe for children, who can watch passing boats and ride along

the tow path. Bikes and dogs on a lead are welcome on board all Turk Launches.

There are up to 45 boat trips running daily between Richmond, Kingston and Hampton Court. You can board at: Turks Pier near Hampton Court Bridge, Turks Pier near Kingston Bridge (at back of John Lewis) and St Helena’s Pier near Richmond Bridge.

With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, plus a helpful crew on hand to assist with pushchairs, the boats are sturdy and the river calm - so no motion sickness, just a happy, family day!

For further information, visit www.turks.co.uk

Summer at Hobbledown! by Olivia Malaure Hobbledown’s NEW Wallaby Walk Through opens this summer! For a unique experience, families can now walk through the centre of the enclosure for a rare encounter with Bennett’s Wallabies, Peacocks and Patagonian Mara. Hobbledown curator, Angela Lambert says: “Wallabies are very friendly animals. Our newest exhibit is designed to give guests a much more personal experience with the animals, allowing them to wander with the wallabies and actually get inside the enclosure rather than standing on the outside.”

To add to the excitement of the High Ropes Course and Underground Tunnels, older children (ages 7+) can now also enjoy zorbing at Hobbledown for the first time this summer.

Zorbing is fantastic fun and involves rolling (on flat ground) inside an inflatable orb made of transparent practice. It’s a unique experience and because the zorbs are cylinder shaped they are ideal for twins, siblings or friends to use together, so double the fun!

Both the Wallaby walk and zorbing are included in the normal Hobbledown admission price.

Hobbledown is an enchanting wonderland for

children of all ages in all weathers. The indoor soft play is perfect for little ones - and there’s a great cafe too – whilst, outside, the vast open space filled with unusual adventure play equipment will exhaust even the most energetic kids.

Adults and children alike can also enjoy meeting Hobbledown’s animals, including otters and meerkats!

For more information, visit www.hobbledown.com

One Child Goes FREE at Look Out Discovery Centre!

Family activities at Osterley Park & House Little Seedlings Gardening Club, 50 things activities and craft cart Every Tue, Wed & Thu throughout the school summer holidays Members and under 5s go free.

Call 020 8232 5050 for details

nationaltrust.org.uk/50things

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#50things

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© National Trust Images. Registered charity number 205846.

summer

The Look Out Discovery Centre is just a hop, skip and a jump away in Bracknell and offers a great day of science and discovery fun for families, with over 90 activities on offer.

There are great outdoor activity options, including bike and walking trails, den building, two large adventure playgrounds, and a spacious picnic area. Inside, there are a range of interactive, science exhibits catering for all ages.

This summer there’s also the Yucky You Show to enjoy, at which children ages 3+ can find out more about our bodies, like bogies, sick, scaps, spots and poo!

This Summer, ONE CHILD GOES FREE with every paying adult with the voucher on page 11.

For more information, visit www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/thelookoutdiscoverycentre July-August 2015

Celebrate the Great Outdoors at Bocketts Farm! by Olivia Malaure

With inflatable fun on large jumping pillows, playgrounds for all ages, sandpits and a maze, Bocketts Farm will keep the kids occupied for hours. And when you’re ready to join in, there are pedal go-kart tracks for ages 5+ (including adults!) and ages 3 to 5 years.

Enjoy the popular tractor and trailer ride and take in the spectacular views from the top of the farm. On clear days you can see the City of London and the London Eye, up to 22 miles away!

Prepare to get wet and wild at the Water Wars Splash Zone using a catapult to launch water filled balloons across the air. This

water game can be enjoyed individually, or in a team of up to four people and is perfect for the whole family.

On 8 and 9 August, kids can meet a little grey tractor in the live family show, Little Grey Fergie and enjoy a singalong too. There are also gorgeous piglets, cheeky goat kids and naughty lambs to see, as well as cuddles with the cute rabbits, goat milking, pig racing and pony riding.

With plenty of shady spots to enjoy a picnic or homemade food from The Old Barn Tearooms and The Cow Shed café, Bocketts Farm offers, without doubt, a superb summer day out!

Play at RHS Garden Wisley this summer, with FREE family activities every day of the holidays.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the original publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and between 22 July and 31 August you can celebrate this by disappearing into a world of wonder in the Alice in Wonderland Garden Trail. Run in a caucus race as Alice famously does – but hopefully just for fun and not in order to get dry!

There will even be a game of flamingo croquet to try.

For those feeling a little bit peckish, accept an invite to the Mad Hatter’s Picnic Tea Party running Wednesday to Sunday (and Bank Holiday Monday 31 August) from 22 July to 31 August.

Wear your most creative hat, gather your friends and join Alice and her friends for fun and entertainment. Pre-booking and additional payment is required.

Other summer events include Arts Fest on 18 and 19 July

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which brings the garden to life through live music, theatre performance, craft stands and demonstrations suitable for all ages, plus an exhilarating aerial acrobat swooping like a bird in the Glasshouse. Real birds will also be swooping on 22 and 23 August in a Birds of Prey exhibition with agility displays at 11am and 2pm.

For more information, visit www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley

Enjoy FREE RANGE FAMILY FUN at

BOCKETTS FARM PARK THIS SUMMER!

Friendly farm animals

Animal handling & goat milking

Windsor . Hampton Court . Regents Canal

Tractor rides, pony rides & pig racing

PLUS

See London and Windsor from a unique angle

Jumping pillow, panning for gold, pedal go karts, water wars & much more!

Giant indoor play barn

www.bockettsfarm.co.uk

Situated in Leatherhead, Surrey. 5 minutes from J9 M25.

# For more information and special offers please visit our website

08454 532 002 July-August 2015

FUN

Play in the Garden at RHS Garden Wisley! by Linda Stone, Editor

For more information, visit www.bockettsfarm.co.uk

river and enjoy an Why not take to the t as you paddle exciting family day ou of London? the Thames, or canals

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Summer Days Out

SPECIAL

OFFER

D AR AW WI NN ING !

£1 OFF full price farm entry per person* Valid from 1st July - 30th August 2015.

Only with this voucher (*maximum 5 people).

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

FM

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Become a Nature Explorer at WWT London Wetland Centre! by Linda Stone, Editor

Have your children ever been pond dipping? Do they know how to identify animal poo?

Have they ever spotted a water vole or an amphibian in its natural habitat?

Between 25 July and 30 August, children of all ages can discover their inner adventurer at WWT London Wetland Centre by going on an array of ‘wild’ adventures and recording them in their own Nature Explorer passport.

The Nature Explorer passport is FREE with paid admission to the Centre and young explorers can collect stickers for the activities in which they take part, and work their way towards a gold! What’s more, those that don’t finish filling in their passport during their initial visit can come back again FREE of charge and complete their mission, as long as they bring their passport back with them.

An international award-winning attraction and Site of Special Scientific

Interest, WWT London Wetland Centre is a 105 acre wetland centre in Barnes and summer is the perfect time to visit. All family members will enjoy getting up close to birds, mammals and amphibians in a safe, accessible environment and it’s a great way of getting kids interested in wildlife and encouraging them to explore the natural world and protect nature.

The Centre is home to a wide range of wildlife species and has six wildlife hides, an Observatory, an adventure

Image ©Stephen Morris

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playground and a free car park.

It’s the perfect place to enjoy the wonders of wetland wildlife and

enjoy a taste of the wild without having to get your feet muddy – unless you want to, of course!

For further information, visit www.wwt.org.uk/london

Make a Movie at Hampton Court Palace! by Linda Stone, Editor Celebrate the 500th anniversary of Hampton Court Palace this summer by giving your child the chance to create a short film there!

The Palace has teamed up with renowned animators, Aardman Animations, of Wallace & Gromit fame, to create a short film which will bring 500 years of terrific tales and fascinating history to life.

At FREE drop-in kids’

SUMMER FUN

ON THE FARM

WWW.HOUNSLOWURBANFARM.CO.UK workshops on 12 July, 2 and 9 August and every Tuesday and Wednesday during August, children ages 4 to 11 will have the chance to produce a drawing inspired by the drama, romance and intrigue of the palace, which may then be animated and included in the final film. To participate, just sign up at the Information Desk on the day.

The Palace will also host Animate the Tudors

storytelling and animation workshops for children ages 7 to 11 on 15 August between 10.30am and 1pm and 2pm and 4.30pm. At these more intensive half-day workshops, children can get a taste of the art of animation with expert facilitators and be inspired by the mighty Tudors who lived at the palace to create their very own short film about them!

Pre-booking is required.

For further information, visit www.hrp.org.uk 14

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July-August 2015

Summer Days Out

BE A NATURE EXPLORER 25 JULY – 30 AUGUST

Complete six wildlife challenges and get a sticker in your Wetland Passport for each activity!

Cut! (The film, not his head) Join our workshops and help create a unique Aardman Animations film to celebrate our 500 year anniversary. Selected dates, check moviemaker.hrp.org.uk for more information.

SOPHIE BUG HUNTER

EaEid FR ith p w ntry e

Start your adventure by visiting wwt.org.uk/london Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT, 0208 409 4400

Celebrate 500 years of drama Events daily throughout 2015

Summer Holiday Family Fun

Sponsored by

RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey. Near junction 10 of the M25.

Enjoy free* family activities every day.

Buy tickets online at rhs.org.uk/wisley *Free once in the garden. Normal garden admission applies. Activities vary daily please check the website for details RHS Registered Charity No: 222879/SC038262

July-August 2015

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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Engines Celebrates 70th Anniversary at the Watercress Line! by Olivia Malaure

Fizzling Fireboxes, Trembling Tracks and Rattle my Rods!

It’s hard to believe that everyone’s favourite little blue engine celebrates his 70th anniversary this year!

Meeting Thomas and his friends at the Watercress Line is a really special day for young children, bringing their storybook friends to life. It’s also perfect for parents and grandparents too, with many remembering the stories themselves.

From 8 to 16 August, children can see real steam engines up close, and experience the noises, smell, freedom and

motion of travelling in a steam train carriage - very different from being strapped into a car seat!

There are plenty of extra activities for kids that are included in the ticket price, such as a bouncy slide, tea cup ride, children’s entertainer and Thomas tattoos. Kids can shake hands with the Fat Controller, meet Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends, take part in Thomas-themed activities and ride the big steam trains all day! Every child receives a Thomas sticker and certificate.

For further information, visit www.watercressline.co.uk

Picnic and Performance with the National Trust! by Olivia Malaure

There’s no better way to enjoy a summer evening than with an outdoor performance!

Bring your family, friends and a picnic and enjoy The Secret Garden in the beautiful surroundings of Claremont Landscape Garden in Esher on the 18 July or a fun, musical version of Robin Hood playing over two nights at Hatchlands Park in Guildford on 4 and 5 August.

Get your baskets ready for another summer picnic at Hatchlands Park on 12 July (11am to 4pm) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sylvanian Families, including fun activities and character events. On 4, 16 and 31 August, kids ages 6+ can Have A Go at Archery, or do some bat spotting on a guided twilight walk on 13, 20 and 27 August (7.30pm to 9.30pm). There will also be art and craft, trails, games and pony rides every Friday throughout August.

At Osterley Park and House in August, kids can drop into the

Little Seedlings Gardening Club every Tuesday to enjoy digging and planting; collect a 50 Things to Do Before You’re 11¾ scrapbook, go for an adventure and pick up a sticker every Wednesday and enjoy the drop in Craft Cart every Thursday (12pm and 4pm) to make crafty bits and bobs. Not to mention letting loose in the adventure playground!

Osterley Park, Claremont Landscape Garden, Hatchlands Park and Morden Hall Park will also be taking part in a fun-filled night of camping as part of the Big Camp Weekend on Saturday 18 and 19 July. Families can camp overnight and enjoy two days of ranger-led activities, winding down with dinner and storytelling around the camp fire.

With a full programme of summer activities at all local National Trust properties, including Ham House and Polesden Lacey, you can trust the National Trust to deliver bags of fun this summer!

For further information, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Meet the Exotic Residents of Hounslow

moorescycles.co.uk

Take a stroll around the paddocks and feed the wide range of farm and other animals on the twenty nine acres that make up Hounslow Urban Farm. These include Exmoor ponies, alpacas and chipmunks and rare breeds that are in danger of extinction.

Staff at Hounslow Urban Farm are incredibly passionate about animals and convey this passion through their Animal Encounter sessions. Each

animal has a story, and kids can hear about where they come from, how they like to live and their role and importance on the planet. Children can meet farmyard favourites, as well as some slightly more exotic farm residents, including tarantulas, tortoises, lizards and snakes!

There are daily kids’ activities, as well as owl-flying displays by Ozzie the Bengalese Eagle Owl and pony rides.

For further information, visit www.hounslowurbanfarm.co.uk 16

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Enjoy a Family Kayak Tour on the Thames! by Olivia Malaure London Kayak Tours offers families the perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life for the calming waters of the River Thames and to explore nearby Windsor or Hampton Court from a completely different angle.

A Hampton Court kayak tour starts and finishes at the public slipway at the pub Ye Old Swan in Thames Ditton, before gliding past houseboats and spotting abundant wildlife, including birds and otters. From the river, you’ll see the riding school, the Royal Mews and those iconic, glittering gold gates that lead the way to Hampton Court Palace from an entirely different perspective.

Other tours include Windsor and Regents Park.

All tours are led by qualified instructors and last 60-90 minutes. They begin with

tuition and a safety brief. No experience of kayaking is necessary but children must be 9 years old or minimum 1.2m tall, accompanied by an adult, and able to swim at least 10m.“Being outdoors on the water has a surprisingly calming effect on children,” says Company Director Niamh Gillard “They also often experience a quiet exhilaration that comes from being gently nudged out of their comfort zone.”

Local mother, Sunita Shroff, who recently took her family on a London Kayak Tour, reported that it was “absolutely brilliant.”

“There were seven of us with kids of all ages, including teenagers” says Sunita.“The instructors were really fun and engaging with the kids, and reassuring to the adults, particularly as most of us had never done anything like it before!”

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For more information, visit www.londonkayaktours.co.uk

Bike Ride Away- Teach Your Child to Ride this Summer! byOlivia Malaure Learning to ride a bike is a big part of growing up and there are ways in which you can help your child accomplish this skill.

At the beginning of a child’s cycling journey, there is a range of aluminium or wooden balance bikes or scooters which will enhance a child’s ability when they move onto a bike with pedals.

A child will have a much more enjoyable learning experience if they feel in control on their bike. If you buy a bike that your child will grow into, the extra size, height and weight can be overwhelming, and may mean your child can’t ride properly or safely control it. The lighter the bike, the easier it is for a child to

move from a stationary position, manoeuvre around corners and go up and down curbs.

A bike is the right size when your child can sit on the saddle and rest the balls of both feet on the ground. They should be able to comfortably straddle the top bar with both feet flat on the ground and reach the handlebars with a slight bend in the arms when sitting on the seat. Your child should be able to grasp the handbrakes and apply enough pressure to stop the bike.

10% off Any Bike at Moore’s Cycles when you mention Families Magazine!

extra

Moore’s Cycles has stores in Teddington, Twickenham and Isleworth. It offers a great selection of quality bikes, built and checked in-store. Experienced in working with families, Moore’s Cycles can guide you in choosing the correct size and style of bike for your child. For more information, visit www.moorescycles.co.uk

w Urban Farm by Olivia Malaure

BOAT TRIPS KIDS LOVE KINGSTON, RICHmOND, HAmPTON COURT

D CHIL ONEAVELS TR Valid mon, Tues & Weds only (excl mon 31st August 2015) from mon 27th July - Weds 2nd Sept 2015 Not to be used with any other offer

FREE

FARE FULL ULT PER ING ADILIES PAY E FAm E T qUO AGAzIN m

WWW.TURKS.CO.UK | 020 8546 2434

July-August 2015

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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SUMMER CAMPS, WORKSHOPS AND COURSES DRAMA AND DANCE Contact: Valerie Weyland 01932 701910 www.stagecoach. co.uk/isleworth

Stagecoach Kew Summer Holiday Workshop

Stagecoach Hinchley Wood Just Dance

For Ages: 8-18 27 to 31 July (10am to 4.30pm.

Showtime 5.30pm on 31 July) in East Molesey A week of different dance styles culminating in a performance for family and friends. Great fun and suitable for all abilities. £145.00 for week. Siblings £80.

Popstar for a Week

For Ages: 10-18 3 to 7 August (10am to 4.30pm. Showtime 6pm on 7 August) in Thames Ditton Has your child always wanted to sing with a live band? Well now is their chance. A fun week culminating in a performance for family and friends with a live band. £160 for week.

Siblings £100.

Put on a Show

For Ages: 8-16 10 to 14 August (10am to 4.30pm. Showtime 5.30pm on 14 August) in East Molesey

A week of drama, dance and song working on a production. Costume, lights, action with a show on the Friday for family and friends. £145 for week. Siblings £80.

Contact: Melanie Edwards 01372 238238 hinchleywood@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoach.co.uk/hinchleywood

Stagecoach Isleworth Summer Holiday Workshops

For Ages: 4-6 and 5-18 3 to 7 August and 10 to 14 August (9.30am to 12.30pm Ages 4-6 and 10am to 3.30pm Ages 5-18) in Isleworth Dance, sing and act with West End professionals and then perform to friends and family at the end of the week – no experience required! £175 for week (full days) and £125 for week (half days). Sibling discounts.

NEW Saturday classes for ages 4-6 and 6-18 from 12 September!

For Ages: 5-12 27 to 31 July (9.30am to 12.30pm + 4pm to 6.30pm on Friday. Showtime 6pm on 31 July) in Kew Put on a show in a week! A fun-filled week of acting, singing and dancing with a free performance to parents and friends at the end. £135.00 for week. Siblings £95.00 Contact: Stephen or Jenny 020 8487 1456 kew@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoah.co.uk/kew

the week for Matilda. Siblings £99. £139.50 for the week for Bugsy Malone. Siblings £119.50.

Contact: Natasha 01483 235216/07802 800633 staines@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoach.co.uk/staines

Stagecoach Twickenham All Workshops in Teddington

Stagecoach Staines Matilda

Create a musical in costume on the stage at the stunning Grade 2 listed Normansfield Theatre in Langdon Park, Teddington this Summer! Meet new friends, gain confidence and become part of the Stagecoach Twickenham family. You don’t have to be a current student to attend and you can bring your friends too. Children will be caught up in the excitement and creativity of acting, singing and dancing, whilst preparing for the show they will perform at the end of the week for family and friends. £125 for week for ages 4-6. Siblings £95; £165 for week for ages 6-18 and for ages 4-6 morning and afternoon combined sessions.

Siblings £135.

Bugsy Malone

Ages: 4-6 and 6-18 27 to 31 July (9.30am to 12.30pm Ages 4-6 and 10am to 4pm Ages 6-18)

For Ages: 4-6 27 to 31 July (9.45am to 12.45pm. Showtime 12.15pm) in Ashford For Ages: 6-18 27 to 31 July (10am to 4pm with extended hours available.

Showtime 3pm on 31 July) in Ashford From the second they arrive, your children will start making friends, having fun and learning some great new skills! During their time at Stagecoach, you’ll see an increase in your child’s confidence, social awareness and fitness. All this, while they are taught singing, dance and drama. The week will culminate with a show for friends and family. A week when more than the sun will shine! £115 for

Revolting Children

Frozen Snowflakes

Ages: 4-6 27 to 31 July (9.30-12.30pm)

Bop to the Top

Ages: 6-18 3 to 7 August (10am-4.00pm)

Wonderland

Ages: 4-6 3 to 7 August (9.30-12.30pm)

Under the Sea

Ages: 4-6 3 to 7 August (1.30-4.00pm) Contact: Sarah Chitty 020 8977 0843 twickenham@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoach.co.uk/ twickenham

Summer School 2 15 Kingston

A week long summer dance course for children aged 4-16 years.

Pupils will learn street, jazz, musical theatre and hip hop styles with a show at the end of the week!

Monday 3rd - Friday 7th August 2015 4-5 years 10am-12 noon 6-16 years 10am-3pm

Prices: 4-5 years - £60 for the week, Day rate of £15 6-16 years - £120 for the week, Day rate of £30 Studio 711, Kingston College, Kingston Hall Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 2AQ @emilydynamic

/Dynamic Dance

dynamicdance100

For more information or to book a place, please contact: emily@dynamicdance.org.uk Tel: 07879 206 417. www.dynamicdance.org.uk.

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July-August 2015

SUMMER CAMPS, WORKSHOPS AND COURSES

Teddy Tennis Summer Camp

Just Imagine Ballet

Fun and exciting tennis classes for children

Twinkle Ballet 15 months 5 years old

Canbury Gardens, Kingston 27 July-21 August Mon-Fri 9am-9:45am (2-3 years) 10am-12pm (3-5 years)

-

Sparkle Ballet 6 - 11 years old

&

Dazzle Ballet 11 - 18 years old

Our pupils perform at The Royal Ballet School

Call 0845 643 1173 or email booking@teddytennis.com

07879 521 456 info@twinkletoesballet.com RICHMOND - ST MARGARETS - TWICKENHAM KEW - EAST SHEEN - TEDDINGTON

NEW - RAD Classical Program - optional exams Discounts and Promotions

Page 10 – 10% discount on Neatly Named clothes labels Page 11 – One Child Goes Free at the Look Out Discovery Centre Page 16 – 10% off any bike at Moore’s Cycles Page 17 – One Child Travels Free on Turk Launches boat trips Page 32 - £10 off your first laundry cleaning order with Zipjet

The UK's Premier Youth Football Development programme for, 7-17 years old, that offers an un-rivalled level of support, both on and off the training field.

Contact us today to book a FREE trial session for your son or daughter...

Tel: 020 3544 2284 07947 121213 Mob: Teddington & Twickenham Advert 2.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2015 10:17 Page 1

Web: coerver.co.uk/westlondon Email: westlondon@coerver.co.uk

Teddington & Twickenham

BREAKING NEWS! Stagecoach Teddington Opens at Hampton Wick Infant & Nursery School 19th September 2015

BOOK your FREE workshop session on the 12th September Why not come along and try a free sample session, meet the teachers and have some fun!

Exciting discounts for new members

HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

Why not come & join in our HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS THIS SUMMER at The Normansfield Theatre, Langdon Park, Teddington. 27th-31st July with Revolting Children and Frozen Snowflakes for 4-18 year olds. Put on a show, get creative, come and have fun singing, dancin and acting.

Bring a friend and join us today!

BOOK NOW! 0208

977 0843

www.stagecoach.co.uk/twickenham twickenham@stagecoach.co.uk July-August 2015

FREE WORKSHOP! FREE T-SHIRT when you enrol!

QUALITY TRAINING

ESTABLISHED 1988 600 SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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SUMMER CAMPS, WORKSHOPS AND COURSES DRAMA AND DANCE

Theatrebugs Summer Holiday Drama Music and Dance Workshops The Lion and the Mouse For Ages: 3.5-7* 3-7 Aug (9am–12pm) in Weybridge 10-14 August (1.30pm–4.30pm) in Cobham 27-31 Aug (9.30am to 12pm) in Richmond Poor Leo the Lion is trapped in a net! Big Strong Elephant and Crocodile try their hardest

Storytelling Adventures

For Ages: 2-8 All Workshops in Twickenham from 9.30am to 11.30am

Magic

27 to 31 July

Friendship

3 to 7 August

to rescue him but can’t! Can Squeaker the Mouse work his magic before he gets turned into Lion Lasagne for Pirate Shouty’s dinner? Five fun filled days of acting, singing, dancing, dressing up and art and craft. On day 5 you hit the stage! Cobham/ Weybridge: £120 for week. 10% sibling discount + group booking discount. (See website for T&Cs). Richmond: £134 for week. *Maximum age 6yrs Richmond and 7yrs other areas.

Contact: Cobham/Weybridge: Hannah Mason Richmond: Theatrebugs HQ Hannah Mason 01483 882244/07971 004134 hannahmason@theatrebugs.co.uk www.theatrebugs.co.uk/surrey.html Theatrebugs HQ 0800 975 5290 www.theatrebugs.co.uk/ londonandhomecounties

Animals

10 to 14 August

Heroes

17 to 21 August

Fairytales

24 to 28 August Enrol your child on these magical adventures crammed full of songs and scenes from our most beloved musicals, pop songs and films! The musical journey will see your child create puppets and other crafts based on their favourite characters, act in short scenes, and learn songs and simple dance routines, all of which will be used during an informal sharing on the final day of the course.

Each week explores a different theme, so your child can attend as many weeks as they’d like! During this 5 day course your child will develop confidence through drama games and exercises; go on an adventure through stories using storytelling, dance and song; develop their creativity through art and craft and take part in an informal sharing of work £50.75 to £145 with price dependant on date of booking.

Daily drop-in rate £14.70 to £42.

Contact: Amanda Wright 020 3222 3085 info@storytelling-adventures.com www.storytelling-adventures.com

s for 5-7 3 hour drama workshop l sessions years & LOTS of specia for 2-4 years!

Award winning drama and imagi native play classes - To book, email phylly@pyjamadrama.com or visit pyjamadrama.com/holidayfun

Step on Stage Academy of Performing Arts Summer Bug Ball Musical Theatre Workshops

For Ages: 3-8 18 to 20 August (9.30am to 1pm) in Hampton Hill Soon it will be the annual Midsummer Bug Ball in the forest and everyone is excitedly getting ready. Except for Clara the Caterpillar, who is feeling sad. She looks in the mirror and sees a very ugly bug looking back at her. Her friend Lucy the Ladybird sets out to help Clara realise she is very beautiful and will transform into so much more! Three action-packed mornings of drama, dance, music and craft. £80 for 3 day workshop.

Junior Musical Theatre Summer School

For Ages: 7-12 3 to 8 August (9.30am to 4pm) in Hampton Hill Classes in acting, dance and music and preparation for a performance of The Wizard Of Oz, which the children perform on stage at the theatre on the last day with costumes, set and live music. Also includes masterclass workshops in skills such as stage combat, or special effects make-up. £175 for 5 day workshop.

Senior Musical Theatre Summer School

For Ages: 13-18 3 to 8 August (9.30 – 5.00pm) in Hampton Hill Workshops in musical theatre performance, singing, dance, acting and technique and rehearsals for a production of the multi award winning Broadway show, 13 The Musical. Also includes masterclass workshops with leading industry professionals and talks/Q&As with professional performers, directors, writers and musicians. £199 for 5 day workshop.

Glee Week

For Ages: 7-13 10 to 15 August (9.30am to 4pm) in Hampton Singing, dancing and music exploring a wide range of performance styles and genres and creating a GLEE choir. Performance on stage on the last day. £175 for 5 day workshop.

Contact: Emma McCauley-Tinniswood 07973 900196 info@steponstageacademy.co.uk www.steponstageacademy.co.uk

Award Winning Performing Arts School

SUMMER SCHOOLS August 3rd – 20th The Wizard of Oz, 13 The Musical, Glee Week, Summer Bug Ball Twickenham, Hampton Hill & Sunbury DRAMA & MUSICAL THEATRE BALLET, TAP, MDOERN, STREET DANCE PIANO, SINGING &MUSIC THEORY LAMDA, ISTD, ABRSM EXAMS

Call Emma 07973 900196 info@steponstageacademy.co.uk www.steponstageacademy.co.uk

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www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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July-August 2015

SUMMER CAMPS, WORKSHOPS AND COURSES DRAMA AND DANCE Film and Musical Favourites and Various Dance Styles at Elizabeth James Academy’s Summer Camp in Richmond!

By Olivia Malaure The Elizabeth James Dance Academy Summer Camp is perfectly timed. When the initial excitement of the school holidays is starting to waiver, but it’s still only the middle of the long break, girls and boys from 3.5 to 11 years can burn some energy trying out various different dance styles.

“At the camp, children will dance to popular numbers from musicals and ballets, including Annie, Hairspray, Swan Lake and Matilda as well as to themes from film favourites and have an opportunity to help create props, sets and costumes” reports Principal, Suze Bailey.

Expect an action-packed timetable with dance experts teaching classical ballet, pop, street and musical theatre,

leading to an end-of-workshop performance on the final day.

Running from 3 to 8 August (9.30am to 1pm with an earlier drop off by arrangement), the camp takes place at the Vineyard Church in Richmond Hill and costs £155. There is a discounted rate of £125 for siblings.

From September, Elizabeth James Academy will be launching a new branch in East Twickenham and offering after-school classes at the Vineyard Church. In addition, Suze will be adding more street dance/pop due to high demand.

“These classes are very popular, especially with boys. In one class, we now have more boys than girls!” reports Suze proudly.

These classes are offered for three different age ranges – Lolli Pop for ages 3+, Fizz Pop for ages 4+ and Whizz Pop for ages 5+.

For more information, visit www.elizabethjamesdanceacademy.co.uk

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE Summer Dragon Fun Workshop

For Ages: 1-3 (parents & kids) or 4-10 Dates and Times: 27-29 July, 3-5 August, and 24-26 August (10am to 12pm or 2pm to 4pm) in Twickenham Summer Dragon Fun Workshop is a great opportunity for children to discover Chinese culture and language in a safe, enjoyable and structured way. With 3 fun-packed days, children will make friends, have fun and learn some new language skills, as well as developing their interest and confidence in learning Chinese. Activities include PingPong, making a zodiac wheel, watching DVD Monkey King, writing names in Chinese, using chopsticks, making dumplings and enjoying quizzes. £54 for 3 days.

Contact: Angelina 07830 676274 info@bilingualchinesemontessori.co.uk bilingualchinesemontessori.co.uk

ation to your child’s sporting life! te found a m i t l The u

HOL CAM IDAY BIRT PS & H PAR DAY TIES !

● Ball Skills & Movement Classes From 2 to Pre-School ●

Small Class Sizes ● Age Appropriate Skills & Fun Games

● Multi Sports Skills & Mini Games for Reception & Year 1 ●

Maximum Ball Time ● Teamwork Skill Development for all Ball Sports

● Sport

● Sport Academies for Age 6+ Hampton – playball.kay@gmail.com Kingston – kingston.playball@gmail.com Richmond/St Mrgts – richmond.playball@gmail.com Barnes – barnes.playball@gmail.com www.playballkids.com

July-August 2015

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

21

SUMMER CAMPS, WORKSHOPS AND COURSES DRAMA AND DANCE Just Imagine Ballet Coppélia and the Fantastic Toy Shop

Pyjama Drama Rainbows Courses For Ages: 2-5

Mog the Forgetful Cat has Kittens 29 July (2pm) in Ashtead, 31 July (2pm) in Claygate and 5 August (10.30am) in Cobham

The Witch, the Mouse and the Gingerbread House 7 August (9.45am) in Claygate, 19 August (2pm) in Ashtead and 19 August (10.30am) in Cobham

Road to Treasure Island

characters, and enjoy Piglets softplay too!

More details at www.pigletsplaycentre. co.uk. £11 per child. £20 for two children.

21 August (9.45am) in Claygate, 2 September (2pm) in Ashtead and 2 September (10.30am) in Cobham

Summer Holiday Workshops

Morning drop-off drama workshops designed to ignite the imagination, with a sharing for family at friends at the end! £20 per workshop, £32 for two workshops. (Two children for £36 per workshop, £60 for two children and two workshops) For Ages: 5-7

Gruffalo at the Dentist

28 August (2pm) in Claygate and 2 September (2pm) in Ashtead and Cobham.

Sessions for parents and children to enjoy together – no drop-off. Price £7 per single session or £22 for 4 sessions. Siblings £5 per session or £18 for 4 sessions.

King of the Castle

31 July (9.30am to 12.30pm) in Bookham and 3 August (9.30am to 12.30pm) in Walton The King of the Castle HATES to lose. If he loses a game of snap he sulks for days and you should have seen the tantrum he had when the Princess found him first in their game of hide-and-seek! So what will happen when the Queen challenges him to a race at the Royal Sport’s day?

Pyjama Drama Plus Play at Piglets!

For Ages: 2 – 5 years 28 and 30 July and 4, 6, 18, 20, 25, 27 August (2pm to 2.45pm with 1 hour play before or after class) at Piglets Play Centre, Hersham Join Pyjama Drama for a drama and imaginative play adventure based on some well-known children’s stories and

Little Bit of Magic!

24 August (9.30am to 12.30pm) in Walton and 28 August (9.30am to 12.30pm) in Bookham I had a birthday party and invited all my mates; but I did not invite the naughty witch who came on rollerskates! What havoc and magical mayhem is she about to cause? Magical chaos ensues, at what might just become the best birthday ever…

Contact: Phylly Jones 01932 807150 phylly@pyjamadrama.com www.pyjamadrama.com

Ceramics Café Kew Original Ceramics - Painted By You Studio Hours: Tues-Sat 10am-6pm Sunday 11am-6pm Closed Mon, except Bank Holidays and Half Terms www.ceramicscafe.com Tel: 020 8332 6661

1a Mortlake Terrace, Kew Green Richmond TW9 3DT

Award winning classes from newborn to 5 years

Book a FREE trial class today!

Gymboree Walton on Thames 01932 221 371

waltononthames@gymboree-uk.com

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with K on fd

2013 winner!

‘Best national pre-schooler development activity’

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020 3609 8007

surbiton@gymboree-uk.com

Gymboree St Margarets 020 8607 9995

stmargarets@gymboree-uk.com .u k

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Sensory Baby Play, Play & Learn, Music, Art & Parties!

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Gymboree Surbiton

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www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

gymboree-uk.com

For Ages: 3-10 (divided into age groups) 3 to 7 August (10am to 1pm) in Richmond 5 day summer camp with ballet and dance, art and craft, costume and make up, music and drama! With colourful props, pictures, stories, and magic dust culminating in an unforgettable costumed performance!

Camp is open to all – you don’t have to be a current pupil to join in the fun, so invite, friends, siblings and visiting family. No ballet experience necessary. Bring a packed lunch.

Contact: The Fairy Godmother or Miss Jessica, Principal info@twinkletoesballet.com www.facebook.com/pages/Twinkle-ToesBallet

Dynamic Dance

For Ages: 4-16 3-7 August (10am-12pm for 4-5years and 10am to 3pm for 6-16yrs) in Kingston A week long summer dance course at which children will learn street, Jazz, musical theatre and hip hop styles with a fantastic show at the end of the week!

Course will include specialist guest teachers and rewards each day, as well as certificates after the show, making this a brilliant week for all students. Ages 4-5: £60 for the week, £15 a day; Ages 6-16: £120 for the week, £30 per day.

Contact: Emily Stephenson 07879 206417 emily@dynamicdance.org.uk www.dynamicdance.org.uk

Danceforce Junior Summer Club

For Ages: 4-11 22 to 24 July (10am to 3pm) in Kingston Dance and drama, art and craft. Dance styles include street dance, jazz, Zumba, contemporary and ballet. £110 for week Contact: Carol Winter 02082418496 www.danceforcekingston.com

FOOTIE TOTS

Welcome to the world of fitness and football for 2.5 to 5 year olds Teaching basic ball skills, scoring lots of goals and having FUN!

FOOTIE WIZARDS For children ages 5 to 8

Hampton, Teddington, Twickenham, Richmond, Feltham and Hounslow, ALL CLASSES call 07931 707720 HELD INDOORS andy@footie-tots.co.uk FOOTBALL PARTIES AVAILABLE

Esher, Molesey, Thames Ditton, Walton, Kingston and Surbiton, call 07828 629531

July-August 2015

SUMMER CAMPS, WORKSHOPS AND COURSES BABY & CHILD DEVELOPMENT Ocean Adventure

18-21 August (2.00pm to 3.30pm)

Musical Workshop

GYMBOREE SUMMER ACTIVITIES ST MARGARETS

For Ages: 6mths-5yrs Mondays (2.30pm) for 6-16mths Thursdays (9.30am) for 16-28mths Tuesdays (9.30am) for 28mths-5yrs Music fun with baby-friendly instruments for youngest age group, expression through music for 16-28mths and exploration through singing for oldest age group. Fun Pass for £60 and attend 6 classes in a 12 week period. Open Gym Fun Pass for £45 to attend 6 sessions during the summer holidays.

Contact: Miloni Joshi 020 8607 9995 stmargarets@gymboree-uk.com www.gymboree-uk.com

SURBITON Play and Music Theatre Arts Workshops For Ages: 3-5

The Gruffalo

4 to 7 August (2.00pm to 3.30pm)

25 to 28 August (2.00pm to 3.30pm) Join Gymboree Surbiton and kick start the summer holiday in the deep dark woods, venture under the sea or enter the world of musicals! Using theatrical techniques, workshops will explore set design, singing, dancing, acting and include an amazing show at the end! £60 for one 3 day workshop, £100 for two 3 day workshops and £130 for all three 3 day workshops!

Contact: Katie Johnson 020 3609 8007 surbiton@gymboree-uk.com www.gymboree-uk.com/f/surbiton

WALTON Summer Theatre Arts Programme

For Ages: 3-5 Wednesdays from 22 July to 26 August (2.30pm to 4.30pm) or Thursdays from 23 July to 27 August (2.30pm to 4.30pm) A fun, exciting, engaging and rewarding course, in which your little ones will learn songs, dances and script, as well as making their own set and costumes and giving a final performance to grown-ups. Your little one can explore their creativity, build their confidence and make new friends (and you can have 2 hours of free time!) Gymboree membership not required.

Spaces are limited. Drop-off course and children must be fully potty-trained.

Contact: Gaz Broadway 01932 221371 waltononthames@gymboree-uk. com www.gymboree-uk.com/walton

COOKING Sassy Stirrers Summer Holiday Cooking Classes For Ages: 4-12 10.30am to 3.00pm in Thames Ditton £37.50 per child per class or £73 for two children per class

Plenty of Piping

27 July and 26 August Lots of piping … and sweet and savoury decorating! Children will pipe their own savoury lunch treat, make choux pastry, practice lots of piping skills using fancy nozzles, make and pipe their own muffins, plus enjoy party games!

Summer Fun Fair

28 July and 27 August We’re setting the kitchen up as a fun fair with an ice cream bar, healthy fun fair treats and a few fun fair games (with prizes) to

play! Learn how easy it is to make your own popsicles and fizz!

Contact: Susan Carmichael 07789 792676 info@sassystirrers.com www.sassystirrers.com

Classes at all levels RAD Ballet ISTD Modern & Tap, Tots Ballet, Adult classes, Fitsteps ‘Strictly fun’, LAMDA Drama at United Church Hall, Raleigh Rd, Richmond

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK A FREE TRIAL CLASS SEE THE WEBSITE

www.kewacademydance.co.uk or

call 01932 423456 or 07967 341117

Creative Movement & Dance from 18 Months to 3 Years

Summer Workshop

‘Junior Summer Club 22-24 July’ Reception-Y6

Danceforce School of Dancing, Kingston RAD Ballet Classes. From 18 months.

Fun, pre-school classes + RAD Ballet syllabus from Pre Primary.

ISTD Modern, Tap and Jazz. From 4 years.

ISTD grades from Pre Primary.

FREE TRIAL CLASS FOR ALL NEW CHILDREN

Adult Ballet & Tap

£5

Introductory Class

LAMDA Drama. From 4 years.

Younger children work with poems, stories and movement. Older students work towards LAMDA drama exams.

enquiries@danceforcekingston.com July-August 2015

Tippie Toes Dance Classes Fun-packed, 30 minute dance classes for girls and boys.

Children improve gross motor skills, social skills, co-ordination and rhythm, using themes and props.

Parents/carers are encouraged to stay and join in!

BOOK A FREE TRIAL CLASS Classes in Kingston and Twickenham

020 8241 8496

Call 020 8241 8496 enquiries@danceforcekingston.com www.danceforcekingston.com

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

23

SUMMER CAMPS, WORKSHOPS AND COURSES SPORT Footie Tots Winning Way Summer Camp

Coerver Summer Football Courses

For Ages: 7-16 17, 18, 19 and 21 August (9am to 3pm) in Kingston and 11, 12, 13 and 14 August (9am to 3.30pm) in Osterley Four day holiday football clinic for U8-U16 players. Each session will be based on the individual 1v1 skills of players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Angel Di Maria. Participants will also have the opportunity to use the latest football equipment and win adidas® prizes in Coerver® skill competitions. Just £16 for 6-6.5 hours of high quality, professional, technical coaching!

Contact: Amit Sohal 020 3544 2284 westlondon@coerver.co.uk www.coerver.co.uk/westlondon

Fit for Summer Holiday Camps

For Ages: 3-12 20 July to 2 September (8.30am to 5.30pm, 9.30am to 4.30pm and 9.30am to 1pm depending on age) in Twickenham, Sheen, Kew, Brentford, Barnes, Sunbury and Staines Multi-activity sports camps with a Looney-tunes theme! Kids will sweat like the Tasmanian Devil, and hop through circuits like Bugs Bunny, offering them the perfect opportunity to stay fit and healthy while enjoying, fun, energetic games each day.

Contact: 0845 456 3233 www.fitforsport.co.uk

For Ages: 4-14 All Camps in Thames Ditton 27 July to 31 July (9.30am to 12pm or 9.30am to 3.30pm – drop-off available from 8.30am) 3 Aug to 7 Aug (9.30am to 12pm or 9.30am to 3.30pm – drop-off available from 8.30am) 10 Aug to 14 Aug (9.30am to 12pm or 9.30am to 3.30pm – drop-off available from 8.30am) These very popular half and full day football camps return and are suitable for all abilities.

Fun packed days with tournaments. Early booking advised. £12 per day or £50 per week for half days and £18 per day or £75 for full days.

Contact: Andy Scates 07931 707720 andyandlucyscates@gmail.com

PK Swim School

For Ages: 3 to 15

Summer Swim Crash Course

27 July to 31 July and 3 August to 7 August (9am to 1pm) in Cobham Sign your child up for a summer crash course to improve your child’s swimming. Boost their skill set and confidence. Covers all four main strokes including diving and structured games. All students will receive a certificate at the end of the course. £70 for daily lessons for 5 days.

Contact: Paul Furness 07915 510720 info@pkswimschool.co.uk www.pkswimschool.co.uk

Springboard Swimmers Summer Crash Courses

For Ages: 3-8 27 July to 31 July, 3 August to 7 August, 10 August to 14 August, 17 August to 21 August in Teddington High quality swimming lessons in very small groups of 3 children for non-swimmers and beginners. Excellent tutors are in the water with the children. Lessons are 30 minutes long each day. £57.50 for 5 days of lessons.

Contact: Springboard Swimmers 020 8255 7455 admin@springboardswimmers.com www.springboardswimmers.com

Teddy Tennis Summer Camps

For Ages: 2-5 years In: Canbury Gardens, Kingston 27 July to 21 August (Mon to Fri 9am-9:45am: 2-3 years; 10am-12pm: 3-5 years with a 15 minute snack break at 11am) Teddy Tennis is a FUN way to encourage children to get active and learn to play tennis. It works by combining Music, Pictures and ‘Teddy Bear’ stories into a totally interactive learning adventure that children love. Teddy Tennis is featured in over 60 schools and nurseries throughout South West London. The camps will feature new, fun, enjoyable games that enable your children to learn tennis the best way possible.

Contact: Charlie 0845 643 1173/07966 005008 bookings@teddytennis.com charlie.p@teddytennis.com www.teddytennis.com

Playball Holiday Sports Camps

For Ages: 3-8 (divided into age-appropriate groups) Selected dates throughout July and August (10am to 1pm) in Hampton, Kingston and Richmond Playball Sports Camps are great fun and include a full programme of skills, games and activities for all ball sports, as well as parachute games, team building games and lots more! Small coach/pupil ratios for lots of individual attention. This is a ‘drop-and-go service.’ Children are left at the camp for the morning. £25 per morning with sibling discount available.

Contact: Kay Gillespie (Hampton) or Bonny Santangelli (Kingston and Richmond) Please book via website at www.playballkids.com

Summer Dragon Fun Workshop for Kids 4 -11 Come along and join the fun! 27-29 July 3-5, 24-26 August 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm

Discover Chinese Culture and Language, Make Dumplings, Try Calligraphy, Play Ping Pong Twickenham Create a Zodiac Wheel and Lots More!

To find out more or to book call 07830 676274 or info@bilingualchinesemontessori.co.uk www.bilingualchinesemontessori.co.uk 24

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

July-August 2015

SUMMER CAMPS, WORKSHOPS AND COURSES MULTI ACTIVITY Supercamps

For Ages: 4-14 Weekly from 20 July to 28 August in Hampton and Kingston and from 20 July to 21 August in Thames Ditton Fun, multi-activity camps from this established holiday camp provider.

Extended days available from 8am to 6pm. £45 per day or £144 per week with additional £3 per hour for extended days.

Contact: 01235 467300 www.supercamps.co.uk

MUSIC Monkey Music Summer Workshops

For Ages: 3mths to 4.5yrs 8 August (10am), 26 August (12pm) and 2 September (3pm) in Cobham Musical workshops from this award-winning provider for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers as part of the 60 Days of Summer event at the Medicine Garden.

Contact: The Medicine Garden info@themedicinegarden.com www.themedicinegarden.com

Rock and Roll Recruits Holiday Camp

For Ages: 8-11 and 12-15 27 July to 30 July (11.15am to 3.30pm) and 10 August to 13 August (11.15am to 3.30pm) in Mortlake Musical youngsters can rehearse and gig in a live band! Catering for Singers, Guitarists, Bassists, Pianists, Drummers, Percussionists, Ukele players, Sax, Trumpet and most other instruments with enough notice. Advanced level/ formal qualifications not necessary.

Students will learn from and jam with working, professional musicians with years of experience in the international live music scene and music tuition and work towards a performance for friends/ family on final day at 8pm.

All tutors are DBS checked.

Contact: Richard Coulson info@richardcoulsonmusic.com www.rockandrollrecruits.co.uk

KOOSA Kids Camps

For Ages: 4-13 20 July to 28 August in Twickenham 22 July to 28 August in Teddington 23 July to 28 August in Sheen and Whitton NEW ACTIVITIES FOR 2015! Affordable, Ofsted approved, fun and active childcare throughout the summer holidays. The standard day runs from 10am to 4pm, with extended days available from 8.15am to 6pm. Children can attend for one or more days or a full week with an 8% discount.

3rd child goes free! Holiday fun from £19.25 per day!

0845 094 2322 info@koosakids.co.uk www.koosakids.co.uk

ART AND CRAFT Ceramica Summer Art and Craft Workshops

For Ages: 7+ Tuesday to Friday between 21 July and 28 August (9.30am-12.30pm) in Claygate Come along and learn the tricks of the trade in creative workshops at this delightful ceramics painting studio.

Numerous different themes and projects to choose from with something to appeal to all tastes. £20 per session for members and £25 per session for non-members. 10% discount when booking 4 sessions.

Contact: Hannah Young 01372 462447 hannah@ceramica-claygate.co.uk www.ceramica-claygate.co.uk

Discounts and Promotions Page 2 – 10% discount on Fit for Sport Summer Camp Page 19 – Free Workshop on 12 September at Stagecoach Teddington/Twickenham

FUN FRENCH FOR LITTLE ONES 18 months – 4 years Classes in Teddington, Kingston and Thames Ditton

www.frenchtastic.co.uk 07770 938462

Book your FREE TASTER class

FREE TASTER SESSION

Page 31 – Save £50 on Explore Learning maths and English tuition

Get your kids ready for sport!

Would you like to try something different?

Why not paint your own ceramics?

At Ceramica, we guarantee great fun for all!

Our services include: Children’s birthday parties Baby foot and hand print sessions Evening sessions for adults Annual membership scheme Take home packs & gift vouchers 7 The Parade, Claygate, Esher, KT10 0PD Phone: 01372 462447 Making ceramic painting easy and fun in a creative, enjoyable environment!

www.ceramica-claygate.co.uk

Twitter: @CeramicaEsher Facebook: www.facebook.com/CeramicaClaygate

July-August 2015

• Catching and throwing • Improve movement skills • Loads of ball games • Fun for children from 18 months Thames Ditton & Surbiton call 07939 527 567 or email roz@catch-a-balls.co.uk Kington, Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington, Hampton call 020 8398 3034 or email heather @catch-a-balls.co.uk

www.catch-a-balls.co.uk www.familiesuponthames.co.uk 55mm x 90mm

25

Families Upon Thames Magazine

Classes Clubs& Activities er summ fun swimming

What to Expect When Your Child is Learning to Swim

By Olivia Malaure

Ages 0 to 4 Years

Nothing about teaching my first child to swim went ‘swimmingly.’ As a one year old, she screamed every time her face got wet in lessons and couldn’t trust that I wouldn’t let go of her. In desperation, I finally booked her on to a week-long summer holiday swimming course – and was amazed at her progress.

During the week, she swum every day, learned to trust her teacher and her own capabilities, stopped screaming and started blowing bubbles! I felt a huge relief and have taken her to weekly swimming lessons ever since. The only time we’ve missed a lesson is when I forgot her swimsuit!

I consider that my daughter and I were lucky to find a way through her swimming issues and get her comfortable in the water.

Many children are not so fortunate. Research from The Amateur Swimming Association

(ASA) suggests that currently only 55% of children can swim 25m by the time they are age 11, despite the sport being on the National Curriculum.

Swimming is an essential skill that can prevent drowning. It’s inevitable that your child will at some point play near water, and they need to learn how to swim back to a safe place if they fall in.

Even if kids start out learning to swim for safety reasons, it quickly becomes lots of fun – that’s why the word ‘splash’ is synonymous with childhood! It’s also great for fitness, strength, lung capacity, posture and relaxation.

So what should you expect your child to be able to achieve in the pool at different ages?

I spoke to some different local swimming providers about their expectations of children at different ages during the process of learning to swim.

Swimming is the perfect exercise for little ones, since water allows muscles to move freely while being supported by its buoyancy.

Melissa Holt from Water Babies also stresses the value of the skin-to-skin time between parents and babies in the water, with an experienced instructor taking responsibility and offering guidance.“This time is invaluable” says Melissa.“You really see confidence between a parent and baby develop in the water and sustain when they move onto dry land.” With careful and qualified instruction, babies as young as 3 months can learn to hold their breath on purpose. After just a term of instruction, babies as young as 4 months can hold on to and reach for the side of the pool. “This is an essential skill if a baby finds his or herself under the water in the bath or happens to fall into water” says Melissa. She also explains that up to the age of about 18 months, a properly supervised baby can be safely allowed to go under the water for short periods of up to half a minute. Up to this age a baby’s epiglottis will automatically close over their wind pipe and ensure no water goes down when they are submerged.

At around 18 months, babies start to become conscious of going underwater.

However, if you continue with regular lessons, they are unlikely to develop a fear of water and can go on to learn to swim above the water from around 2.5 years old. “I’ve known little ones of 3 and 4 who can swim 10 to 15 metres” reports Melissa.

Water Babies holds classes for children ages 0 to 4.5 years in Addlestone, Shepperton, Kingston, Chessington, Morden, Richmond and Cobham.

For more information, visit www.waterbabies.co.uk

WEEKLY

Warm pools

LOCAL

CLASSES

• Warm pools • Small classes Small classes • Dads welcome! with Water Babies, the UK’s leading baby swim school

Dads Specialising in Baby Swimming, 3 Fully qualified, world class welcome!

Pre-school Swimmers and Toddlersinstructors 3 Award-winning programme ForSpecialising more information call 0208 947 2149 in Baby Swimming, or email info@waterlifeswimschool.com

Pre-school Swimmers and Toddlers

For more information call 0208 947 2149 or email info@waterlifeswimschool.com 2015Waterlife Ad_118x70mm.indd 1 26

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

teaches babies from birth 3 Teaching you to teach your baby to swim 3 Saving lives through water confidence and safety skills To join in17/03/2015 14:15 the fun call

01932 227 428

classes held. . .

Addlestone, Shepperton, Kingston, Chessington, Morden, Richmond & Cobham

waterbabies.co.uk July-August 2015

Swimming Pool Safety!

Classes Clubs& Activities er summ fun swimming

By Lizzie Emler

Ages 4 to 6 Years If your child has any less-than-enjoyable water experience before they reach this age, it’s tempting to avoid swimming lessons altogether.

However, most children will need to face their fears during school swimming lessons, so it’s a good idea to prepare them for this whilst you can still be nearby offering reassurance. Paul Furness from PK Swim School in Cobham agrees.“The older a child gets the more difficult it is for them to learn, as they’re much more aware of their fears and process and interpret them in a different way to a younger child.”

If your child is fearful, Paul recommends you choose a swimming class where they can be part of a small group and get lots of personal attention. “It’s essential that children who lack confidence are given lots of time. Even the more confident children really benefit from an instructor’s ability to work with each child’s unique strengths in a small group” says Paul.

In this kind of environment, Paul reports that by age 6, children should be able to swim front crawl and backstroke for 25m and tread water for 10 to 20 seconds.“These are skills they need to have for their own safety” he concludes.

correct arm movement and breathing to one side during front crawl, whilst proficient swimmers start to learn to increase stamina and learn butterfly turns. They develop breathing patterns for speed, distance and leisure swimming and different strokes So how do you know if your child is making progress? “It’s important that children and parents understand that swimming levels are based entirely on ability and correct technique, and are never a reflection of their effort or potential. This means that they shouldn’t feel they have ‘failed’ if they don’t move up a level every term – that’s pretty unrealistic. The important thing is that they are likely to be much closer to achieving their goal than they were at the beginning of the term.”

Springboard Swimmers holds classes and Holiday Crash Courses for Children of all ages in Teddington and Twickenham For more information, visit www.springboardswimmers.com

PK Swim School holds classes and Holiday Crash Courses for children of all ages in Cobham For more information, visit www.pkswimschool.co.uk

Ages 6+ Years By age 6, many children will have had some experience of swimming lessons as part of the school curriculum. “At this stage children tend to fall into one of four very broad categories” outlines Karen Duane of Springboard Swimmers in Twickenham and Teddington. “They are either anxious non-swimmers, water confident non-swimmers, swimmers without technique or proficient swimmers. It’s likely that in any class in a primary school you will have some children in all four categories.” For each category, the next steps are different. For anxious non-swimmers, the focus is on becoming relaxed and confident in the water and both this group and water-confident non-swimmers need to learn to propel themselves through the water to get to the side of the pool if they fall in. Swimmers without technique concentrate on becoming streamlined with a long, straight leg kick, July-August 2015

Sadly, over the last six years, 30 children under 10 years old have drowned in holiday swimming pools while abroad.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), all of these deaths could have been prevented.

The following tips can help keep your family safe around water and on holiday. ⁕ Actively supervise all young children in and around water. ⁕ Keep a close eye on where your children are and what they are doing in the water, even if a pool has a lifeguard. When booking private property with a pool, check that it has safety fences and locking gates. ⁕ Take a first aid course. Know how to resuscitate a child and where to get help in an emergency. 112 is the common emergency telephone number that can be dialled free of charge from any fixed or mobile telephone in order to reach emergency services in numerous European countries. ⁕ Let children take swimming classes whilst on holiday. This is a great way for them to gain water confidence and learn essential water safety skills. ⁕ Remember that inflatables are not a substitute for supervision or swimming ability.

Teach your child: ⁕ Never to swim alone ⁕ Never to dive into unknown depths of water, and, if jumping, always jump feet first into water ⁕ Never to push or jump onto others in the water ⁕ How to get help in an emergency

extra

Lizzie Emler is the proprietor of Waterlife Swim School which provides baby and toddler swimming lessons in Petersham, Richmond and other venues in South London/Surrey. For further information, visit www. waterlifeswimschool. com

SPringboard SWimmerS Private swimming lessons for the summer holidays

Call us on 020 8255 7455

holiday courses for the summer holidays available

or email admin@springboardswimmers.com

www.springboardswimmers.com

If you haven’t done a holiday course before, you will be amazed at how much progress is made in only one week!

Suitable for: non-swimmers and beginners from 3 years of age, children needing stroke improvement.

Where: Stanley Primary School, Teddington.

This is an indoor, heated pool of constant 1m depth.

CoSt: £57.50 per child per week; this gives you 5 x 30 minute lessons at the same time every day of the course with the same tutor and in the same group of 3 children.

We also run term time leSSonS every day from Monday to Saturday; mornings, afternoons, after school and early evening during term time, for all ages and abilities.

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

27

what’s on DAILY DURING SUMMER HOLIDAYS

SUMMER FUN AT HOBBLEDOWN Horton Lane Epsom KT19 8PT NEW this summer is zorbing for ages 7+ and the Wallaby Walk Through. Navigate an obstacle course in the sky with High Rope Challenge, or brave the underground tunnels and secret passageways underneath the Hobbledown Village. Children can also dig for crystals in the Mining Village.

0843 289 4979 www.hobbledown.com FULL OF SPICE FESTIVAL AT KEW GARDENS Kew, TW9 3AB Time: 10am-6.30pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission Come face-to-face with some of Kew’s most popular spices at drop-in, hands-on sessions, craft workshops, and tours. Also enjoy ricksaw rides and live music.

020 8332 5655 www.kew.org SUMMER FUN AT HOUNSLOW URBAN FARM Faggs Lane, Feltham TW14 0LZ Special events all summer. Daily animal encounters, piglet racing and owl display.

020 8821 9658 www.hounslowurbanfarm.co.uk HOLIDAY FARM FUN AT BOCKETTS FARM Young St, Fetcham, KT22 9BS Children will enjoy the Animal Passport Trail as they collect stamps from around the farm. Other daily activities include pony rides, tractor rides, gold panning, animal handling, goat milking and the famous pig racing! Small Animal Village, Big Animal Barn, 2 large indoor play barns, trampolines, young driver’s area, sandpits, pedal go-karts and 2 giant jumping pillows, and summer attraction, the Water Wars Splash Zone.

01372 363764 www.bockettsfarm.co.uk CHILDREN GO FREE AT SYON PARK Brentford TW8 8JF Time: 10.30am-5.30pm Cost: Adult £12/£7 FREE admission to Garden and/or House for children up to age 16.

020 8560 0882 SUMMER FUN AT THE LOOKOUT DISCOVERY CENTRE Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell RG12 7QW

Time: 10am-5pm Cost: Family £19.45 More than 90 hands-on science and discovery activities, all waiting to be pulled, pushed or prodded.

Daily Yucky You Show at which children ages 3+ will find out more about the yucky things about our bodies like bogies, sick, scaps, spots and poo!

01344 354400 www. bracknell-forest.gov.uk/thelookoutdiscoverycentre 3-19 JUL INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL Showcases some of the best work from young artists, through dance, theatre and other art forms at venues throughout Kingston. www.iyafestival.org.uk 4 JUL 15 MINUTES OF FUN AT CHERTSEY MUSEUM 33 Windsor Street, Chertsey KT16 8AT Time: 1.30-3.30pm Cost: FREE Drop-in family craft session.

01932 565764 www.chertseymuseum.org BOLD AND BASHFUL BUG HUNT AT STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE 268 Waldegrave Road, Twickenham TW1 4ST Ages: 3+ Time: 12.30-3pm Cost: £2 Make a beautiful bug, then join the big bug hunt and discover bold and bashful mini-beasts. Booking not required.

020 8744 1241 www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk 5 JUL BURHILL WILD WEST BONANZA Burhill Primary School, New Berry Lane, Walton KT12 4HQ Time: 11am-3pm Cost: £12 for family includes 12 tokens A wild west wonderland with a Rodeo bull, cowboy sumo suits, archery, bouncy castles, inflatable helter-skelter, games, face painting, water cowboys, and stalls. www.burhill.surrey.sch.uk STEEL PANS CONCERT AT CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: From 12pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission Steel pan group ‘Pantastic’ will be performing at Claremont.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk TWICKENHAM GREEN FETE Twickenham Green TW2 5AB

STARRING

SIMON WEBBE ALISON JIEAR LEANNE JONES TAOFIQUE FOLARIN DANIEL BUCKLEY

WED 5 AUG – SUN 6 SEPT BOOK NOW 0844 482 9676 LEICESTER SQUARE

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3littlepigslive.com

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

KIDS GO FREE IN AUGUST! (Terms apply)

Time: 12-8pm Music, food and craft stalls, bouncy castles and lots of fun for the family. www.twickenhamgreen.org 5 JUL, 2 AND 31 AUG THAMES DITTON MINIATURE RAILWAY OPEN DAY Claygate Lane, Thames Ditton KT7 0LE Time: 2-5pm Cost: single rides £2, unlimited £7 The railway is open for rides and is a great place for a family picnic.

0208 398 3985 www.malden-dsme.co.uk 10-12 JUL GO FEST! IN GUILDFORD Surrey Sports Park, Richard Meyjes Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7AD Cost: Child from £20, Adult from £26, Family from £79 The UK’s family festival of sport, fitness, dance and health. You can take part in as many free coaching sessions as you like, a multitude of sports, classes, tournaments and activities, watch some fabulous displays and enter some challenging tournaments and competitions 020 8166 8840 www.gofest.co.uk 11 JUL CHERTSEY BLACK CHERRY FAIR Abbeyfields, Chertsey KT16 8AT Time: 10.30am-4.30pm Cost: FREE entry Chertsey’s annual town fair. Live music, fairground, procession and activities in the garden. www.blackcherryfair.com CLAYGATE FLOWER AND VILLAGE SHOW Claygate Recreation Ground, Church Road KT10 0JP Time: From 1.30pm Cost: Adult £5, Child £2 Under 5s FREE Tug of war competition, ferret racing, juggling and uni-cycling feats, traditional village games, children’s fancy dress plus much more. www.claygateflowershow.co.uk RUSSELL SCHOOL SUMMER FAIR Petersham Road, Petersham TW10 7AH Time: 3-7pm Cost: Adult £1 Children FREE Fair rides, stalls, family entertainment, bar and food.

11-12 JUL KINGSTON REGATTA Kingston Riverside Time: 9am-7pm Cost: FREE Contested on the river since 1857.

There are plenty of viewing points along the river. www.kingstonregatta.co.uk 12 JUL STRAWBERRY HILL MUSIC AND FUN DAY 268 Waldegrave Road, Twickenham TW1 4ST Time: 12-7pm Cost: £2 donation Live music, food, drink, craft and charity stalls, fairground and family entertainment.

020 8744 1241 www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk 17 JUL CLASSICAL BABIES CONCERT Landmark Arts Centre, Ferry Rd, Teddington TW11 9NN Time: 11am Cost: Adults £10, babies FREE ‘Summer Syncopations’ with drums, piano & vocals.

020 8977 7558 www.classicalbabies.com 18 JUL OPEN AIR THEATRE: THE SECRET GARDEN AT CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 7-9pm Cost: Adult £14, child £8, Family £40

This most enchanting story, loved by children and adults alike, will be performed by Chapterhouse Theatre. Booking required.

0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk SCAVENGER HUNT AT STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE Waldegrave Road, Twickenham TW1 4ST Ages: 3+ Time: 12.30-3pm Cost: £2 The whole family can take part and share their problem-solving skills in this fun activity. Booking not required.

020 8744 1241 18-19 JUL BIG CAMP WEEKEND AT MORDEN HALL PARK Morden Hall Rd, Morden SM4 5JD Time: 1pm-12pm Cost: Adult £25 Child £20 Two days of activities and a night of camping as part of Big Camp weekend. Booking required.

020 8545 6850 www.nationaltrust.org.uk BIG CAMP WEEKEND AT OSTERLEY PARK Jersey Road, Isleworth TW7 4RB Time: 5pm-10am Cost: Adult £30, Child £15 Two days of activities and a night of camping as part of Big Camp weekend. Booking required.

020 8232 5050 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 19 JUL KINGSTON DRAGON BOAT CHALLENGE Canbury Gardens, Kingston, T2 5AU Time: 10am-4pm Cost: FREE Hundreds of competitors battle it out on the river. Market stalls, sideshows, bouncy castles and rides for the kids. www.kingstonrotaryclub.org.uk PAINSHILL PARK POOCH DAY Portsmouth Rd, Cobham KT11 1JE Time: 11am-4pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission Amazing dog displays and performance routines with fun dog show.

01932 868 113 www.painshill.co.uk TEDDY BEAR’S PICNIC AT KEMPTON STEAM RAILWAY Snakey Lane, Feltham TW13 6XH Time: 10.30am-4pm Cost: Adult £2, Child £1, Under 5s FREE Take your teddy for a special train ride. www.hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk EVERY TUE 21 JUL–25 AUG LITTLE SEEDLINGS GARDENING CLUB AT OSTERLEY PARK Jersey Road, Isleworth TW7 4RB Time: 12-4pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission Get hands-on in this edible drop-in kids gardening session.

020 8232 5050 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 22 JUL-23 AUG BIRDS OF PREY AT RHS WISLEY Woking GU23 6QB Time: 11am and 2pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission.

A great opportunity to discover all about birds of prey, with agility displays.

0845 260 9000 www.rhs.org.uk/wisley 22 JUL-31 AUG ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND AT RHS WISLEY Woking GU23 6QB Time: 10am-6pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission For an adventure around the garden, follow the clues on the garden trail.

You can also run around in a caucus race, or try your hand at a game of flamingo croquet. From Wed to Sun (and Bank Holiday Monday 31 Aug), you can dress up and join Alice and July-August 2015

what’s on

July-August 2015

Time: 10am-1pm Cost: £2 per person Get creative in the Snuff Mill with craft activities inspired by the park and its wildlife.

020 8545 6850 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 27 JUL OPEN AIR THEATRE: THE TALES OF PETER RABBIT AT MORDEN HALL PARK Morden Hall Rd, Morden SM4 5JD Time: 3pm Cost: Adult £12, Child £8 Join Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny in the rose garden.

Booking required.

0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk MON-FRI 27JUL-28 AUG SUMMER SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AT BROOKLANDS MUSEUM Brooklands Rd, Weybridge KT13 0QN Time: 10.30am-5pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission Popular car rides, Bertie the Brooklands Bear making guest appearances, trails and family workshops.

01932 857381 www.brooklandsmuseum.com 27 JUL-19 AUG CREATE AND GROW AT SQUIRES GARDEN CENTRES Stoke Rd, Cobham KT11 3PU* Burwood Rd, Hersham KT12 4AR Woodstock Lane North, Long Ditton KT 55HN* Halliford Rd, Shepperton TW17 8SG Sixth Cross Rd, Twickenham TW2 5PA Time: 10am-4pm Cost: £5.50 Every Monday and Wednesday, take part in a craft activity or complete a trail. *only running on Mondays. www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 28 AND 30 JUL CHILDREN’S PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS AT CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG For Ages: 6-13 Time: 10am & 2pm Cost: Child £32 Bring along your camera and learn how to take professional looking shots. Booking required.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 28-31 JUL MUSEUM OF RICHMOND FAMILY WORKSHOPS Old Town Hall, Whittaker Ave, Richmond TW9 1TP Ages: 5-11 Time: 10am-12pm Cost: £4 Design a garden, or flower bouquet. Make your plants and flowers 3D! 0208 332 1141 www.museumofrichmond.com EVERY WED 29 JUL-26 AUG WILD WEDNESDAYS AT MORDEN HALL PARK Morden Hall Rd, Morden SM4 5JD For Ages: 5-11 Time: 10am-1pm Cost: Child £2 Explore the park in search of wildlife and take part in fun activities.

020 8545 6850 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 1-9 AUG CLAREMONT ON SEA ACTIVITY WEEK AT CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 10am-5.30pm Cost: Normal Admission plus charge for activities Enjoy a week of activities celebrating traditional seaside fun including a children’s trail and (Mon-Fri) craft activities pony rides and Punch & Judy shows.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 5 AUG PLAY DAY IN EAST MOLESEY Hurst Park, East Molesey KT8 9EH Time: 11am-4pm Cost: FREE Bring a picnic, some friends and enjoy a huge range of play-based activities. www.elmbridge.gov.uk 7-10 AUG OPEN AIR THEATRE: WIND IN THE WILLOWS AT MORDEN HALL PARK Morden Hall Rd, Morden SM4 5JD Time: 2pm & 5pm Cost: Adult £12, Child £8 A promenade performance in the rose garden. Booking required.

0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 8-9 AUG FERGIE THE TRACTOR AT BOCKETTS FARM Young St, Fetcham, KT22 9BS Time: 10am-5pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission Fergie, the popular live action tractor brings magic and fun to learning about life on the farm.

There will be 4 live shows running throughout the day plus all the

usual farm activities.

01372 363764 www.bockettsfarm.co.uk KINGSTON CHILDREN’S FOOD FESTIVAL Market Place, Kingston Time: 10am-5pm Cost: FREE Encourage your little foodies to join in hands-on and interactive activities. www.kingstonfoodfestival.com 8-16 AUG A DAY OUT WITH THOMAS AT WATERCRESS LINE Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9JG Cost: Adult £18, Child £12, Under 2 FREE, Family: £54 Experience unlimited rides on a real steam train. Meet and ride in Thomas the Tank Engine, shake hands with The Fat Controller and enjoy activities such as bouncy slide, tea cup ride, children’s entertainer all included in ticket price.

01962 733810 www.watercressline.co.uk 9 AUG OPEN AIR THEATRE: WIND IN THE WILLOWS AT PAINSHILL PARK Portsmouth Rd, Cobham KT11

© National Trust Images/NTPL/Paul Harris. Registered Charity Number 205846.

her friends at the Mad Hatters Tea Party.

0845 260 9000 www.rhs.org.uk/wisley EVERY WED 22 JUL–26 AUG 50 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU’RE 11¾ AT OSTERLEY PARK Jersey Road, Isleworth TW7 4RB Time: 12-4pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission Head outdoors and see how many 50 things you can complete and tick of your list - a different theme each week.

020 8232 5050 www.nationaltrust.org.uk EVERY THU 23 JUL–27 AUG CRAFT CART AT OSTERLEY PARK Jersey Road, Isleworth TW7 4RB Time: 12-4pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission Drop-in and let the little ones get creative and crafty.

020 8232 5050 www.nationaltrust.org.uk THUMBS UP IT’S THURSDAY IN KINGSTON FREE activities for children ages 2-11 throughout the town centre including storytelling, face painting, craft activities and entertainers. www.kingstonfirst.co.uk 23 JUL–5 SEP RAINFOREST OF THE SEA EXHIBITION & WORKSHOPS Kingston Museum, Wheatfield Way, KT1 2PS Time: Tue, Fri, Sat 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-7pm Cost: FREE Features stunning photographs of sea creatures in Borneo and captures the underwater wonders and the diversity of coral reefs. Every Thu & Fri there will be workshops featuring dance, storytelling and craft activities 020 8547 6463 www.kingston.gov.uk/museum 25 JUL FAMILY FUN DAY AND 1K WALK Old Deer Park Richmond TW9 1PQ Time: 10am-5pm Cost: FREE entry to Fun Day £10 for family walk (parents with children age 10 and under) Face painting, bouncy castles, pony rides, inflatable slide, stalls and BBQ. Family walk at 11.30am. www.ncca-uk.org 25 JUL-30 AUG BE A NATURE EXPLORER AT LONDON WETLAND CENTRE Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT Times: 9.30-6pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission Children can collect a passport with 8 wildlife-themed activities on it and for every challenge they complete, they’ll get a sticker. By the end of the day, they’ll be an official Nature Explorer, but, if they don’t complete, they can bring their passport back another day and enter for FREE! 0208 409 4400 www.wwt.org.uk 26 JUL HAVE A GO AT ARCHERY DAY AT CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 10.30am-4.30pm Cost: £2 plus Normal Admission Enjoy one-to-one tuition in the ancient and noble art of archery.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 22 JUL-31 AUG SUMMER HOLIDAY FUN AT HAM HOUSE Ham St, Ham TW10 7RS Time: 10am-5pm Cost: FREE with Normal Admission Art activities, storytelling (Weds) and den-building.

020 8940 1950 www.nationaltrust.org.uk EVERY THU 23 JUL-27 AUG CRAFTY THURSDAYS AT MORDEN HALL PARK Morden Hall Rd, Morden SM4 5JD

Discover fun events at a National Trust property near you this summer

summer play

Claremont Landscape Garden, Hatchlands Park, Box Hill, Polesden Lacey, Ham House, River Wey Navigations, Winkworth Arboretum, Morden Hall Park

0844 800 1895 nationaltrust.org.uk

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

29

what’s on 1JE

tree climbing, zip wire and rope Time: 3pm Cost: Adult £12, swings. Booking required.

Child £8 An open-air tale of treasure and 0800 055 6760 A hilarious adaptation which will treachery on the high seas that will www.nationaltrust.org.uk Please find below a proof of your advertisement for the take you on a journey to see the thrill adventure seekers of all ages.

Maternity, Baby & Kids 0-6 22 AUG Wild Woods. required.

Booking required.

September/October 2014 issue Booking (No. 74) of Families TVE. FAMILY FUN RACEDAY AT 01932 868 113 www.painshill.co.uk SANDOWN PARK 0844 249 1895 Cobham 12-13 AUG www.nationaltrust.org.uk Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9AJ Saturday BIG TREE CLIMBING EVENT AT Cost: Adult £16.20-£26.20, Under 30-31 AUG Please CHECK ALL INFORMATION IS CORRECT 11 July CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN 18s FREE COUNTRY SHOW AT OSTERLEY PARK Claremont Landscapeand Garden, Enjoy a day of flat racing and an Jersey Rd, Isleworth TW7 4RB Sunday especially dates, telephone numbers addresses.

Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG array of FREE kid’s entertainment, Time: 10am-5pm Cost: Adult 13 Sep Time: 10.15am-3.15pm Cost: plus Peppa Pig and George will be £7.50, Child (5-16) £3 2-4pm £18.50 plus admission making personal appearances at Birds 627586 of prey, Spanish horse display, Any changes made at this stage.

T: 01628 Cobham need to be Get up high in the trees with intervals throughout the day! art, craft, children’s entertainment Any further amendments will be charged for. 10% discount 0844 579 3012 gift and food marquees.

Village Hall E: editor@familiestveast.co.uk www.sandown.thejockeyclub.co.uk 020 8232 5050 during Lushington Drive Jul/Aug 50 All www.oakleighfairs.co.uk Saints Avenue, Maidenhead, AUG PleaseKT1 contact your 1 2LU us by return either to amend or approve 30 OPEN AIR THEATRE: TREASURE advertisement.

Berkshire, 6NA NEARLYSL6 NEW SALES ISLAND AT MORDEN HALL PARK Teddington Morden Hall Rd, Morden SM4 5JD MUM2MUM Saturday www.mum2mummarket. co.uk 11 July COBHAM 5 Sep SAT 11 JUL AND SAT 13 2-4pm SEP, 2-4PM Successful ‘business mum’ is Top Teddington Cobham Village Hall, seeking 5 working partners to work sellers Lushington Drive, KT11 Baptist Church make part-time from home, alongside & 2LU Church Road TEDDINGTON over £300! TW11 8PF without compromising family SAT 11 JUL AND SAT 5 SEP, Stalls sell 2-4pm commitments or current career.

Isleworth Teddington Baptist out weeks Church, Church Rd, TW11 If you have a supervisory, in advance. Saturday 8PF 12 Sep Book managerial, sales, marketing, ISLEWORTH 31 Oct yours SAT 12 SEP, 1-3PM recruitment or self-employed 1-3pm St John’s Centre, St John’s now! background, or you wish to develop Road TW7 6RU St John’s Time: 2pm Cost: Adult £15, Child ADVERTISEMENT PROOF £10

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an extraordinary lifestyle,

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NCT www.nct.org.uk BYFLEET SAT 5 SEP, 2.30-4PM Byfleet Village Hall, 54 High Rd, KT14 7QL

PROMOTION! SPECIAL OFFER!

Save £50 with Explore Learning Maths and English Tuition this July!

Research has revealed that two thirds of children fall behind in their studies over the summer school holidays* so that when they finally go back to school, many lack confidence and are unable to recall things they learnt in

the previous school year. Just a couple of hours a week of work can make the world of difference when September comes around.

One way of keeping children’s brains active during the summer is via Explore Learning maths and English tuition centres in Hampton, Hounslow and Walton and nationwide. What’s more, Explore is offering families joining in July the chance to save £50 registration fee!** Book your trial at www.explorelearning.co.uk or call your local centre.

*Research; COOPER, H., NYE, B., CHARLTON, K. and GREATHOUSE, S. (1996). ‘The effects of summer scores: a narrative and meta-analytic review’, Review of Educational Research, 66, 227–68. ** 1. Only applicable when joining at the full membership rate by 31/07/2015. 2. Offer may be used for more than one child from the same family and entitles new members to join without paying the registration fee.

3 Induction session must be held by the 15 August 2015. Only available at participating centres. Centres not participating: Barking, Bradford, Colchester, Hayes, Orpington, Sale, Westfield.

30

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

July-August 2015

PEPPA PIG AND GEORGE ARE COMING TO SANDOWN!

SATURday 22 August

The whole family can enjoy an afternoon of great racing and FREE kids entertainment PLUS Peppa Pig & George will be making personal appearances at intervals throughout the day!

ADMISSION FROM £16.20 | KIDS GO FREE HOSPITALITY PACKAGES AVAILABLE

GREAT HOLIDA Y FUN!

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Price illustrated is the gate price less 10% advanced booking discount Full terms and conditions apply and can be found on the website

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© ABD Ltd/Ent. One UK Ltd 2003

Maths & English tuition centre For 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities • • • •

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Hampton 0208 9797117 Hounslow 0203 5358039 Walton on Thames 01932 252033 www.explorelearning.co.uk July-August 2015

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Independent Efficacy Study by the Institute of Education at Reading University (2013). See www.explorelearning.co.uk/efficacy.

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