Families West London issue 80

ISSUE 80: July/August 2012 www.familieswest.co.uk

Cover picture: © Anthony Robling

FREE

Get ready, get set, and go…

here comes Summer 2012 Families West • PO Box 32231 • London W5 1JR • Tel: 020 8930 4707 • Fax: 0208 930 7704 • E-mail: familieswest@yahoo.co.uk

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

July/August 2012

News & Views Ealing volunteer scoop NCT Stars Award

Cover picture credited to © Anthony Robling

It's finally here! The summer of 2012 in London promises to be action-packed; with such a myriad of experiences that you need to really plan not only what you are going to do, but how you are going to fit it all in. Our pages this issue are full of activities that families can take part in and what we couldn't fit in, has been put on our website www.familieswest.co.uk Like many families, we applied for the tickets and were unsucessful; so we will be heading out to Hyde Park Live Site so we can feel the atmostphere with the crowds. This is something that your kids will be talking about when they are grown-ups so give them something to say!

Towards the end of the summer of course, we need to be thinking about back to school.

Our website will be full of useful hints and tips for setting down some important routines to make the next school year flow more smoothly for everyone. Until then, have a great summer break.

Contents News & Views Education Parenting Summer Activities: Take the family challenge FREE Summer Activities Summer Workshops What's On in West London Classifieds

3-5 6-7 8-9 10-12 14-18 18-19 20-26 27

Families West is designed by Natalie Schmidt of www.matobodesign.com and printed by Ridgeway Press, 12 Campbell Court, Bramley, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 5EG. Tel 01252 885837. Copyright Families West Magazine 2012. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owner’s risk and while every care is taken, neither Families nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families West is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers nor the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Follow us on Twitter @FamiliesWest July/August 2012

If you want to join Bumps and Babies, sessions take place on Tuesdays from 1.30 3.30pm at St Mary's Church Hall (Polygon), St Mary's Road, Ealing W5 5RH. Limited parking is available. Bring a blanket and a toy for your baby. This is open to members and non-members of the NCT. There is a suggested donation of £1.50

Help l iincrease your child’s hild’ reading di age this hi summer Fast ForWord® is a programme designed to increase your child's reading and learning ability used by the Raviv Practice. They say that on average children working with the practice leave with a 1-2 years increase in reading age in a matter of 3-4 months (working 50 minutes per day). It is a computer based programme used by children age 6 to 14+ and works on helping to improve memory, attention, processing speed and sequencing skills. This will then translate to better decoding, phonemic awareness, spelling, understanding syntax, reading fluency, improving grammar, and reading comprehension. The programme is based on over 35 years research and is used in over 40 countries. Parents are invited to a free demonstration and children can do their work at home or even on holiday (internet access needed).

For more information call Usha Patel on 07766 837 616 or e: ushapatel.raviv@gmail.com

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Mary Peters, a volunteer for the NCT Ealing Branch has been rewarded for her dedication working with local families and named a regional winner in the NCT Stars Awards. The annual awards are presented by the UK’s largest charity for parents to recognise and celebrate the efforts of its volunteers who give their time and skills to supporting mums and dads in their communities. Mary runs a regular Bumps and Babies group as well as being a breastfeeding peer supporter. In addition to her core role, she always helps out at the Nearly New Sales and volunteers for other ad hoc tasks if she can. “She often goes beyond her role, is a champion of all volunteers and a helpful team member. When new members request information or introductions, she will often contact them the same day offering her time and home for coffee and a catch-up. Mary makes a huge difference to parents by providing timely and friendly access to information and support, and she makes a massive difference to NCT by promoting the organisation and its goals whilst being a friendly and professional key first point of contact for many.”

Perform opens new schools in West London London based Perform Drama, Dance and Singing Workshops started a class in January 2000 with 3 children. They now have 4000 children attending their workshops across London and have chosen to expand more in to West London with new venues opening in Baron’s Court, Chiswick and Brook Green in September 2012. Perform uses a mix of drama, dance and singing in their classes and keep the numbers small in each lesson so that children can get lots of individual attention.

The classes are suitable for 4-8 and 8-12 year old children and their focus is entirely on The 4 C’s. Confidence, Communication, Co-ordination and Concentration.

The new classes will be in • Brook Green on Saturdays at 9.30 and 11.15 at the Masbro Children's Centre, 87 Masbro Road, London, W14 0LR • Baron’s Court on Thursdays at 4pm at St Andrew's Church Hall, 10 St Andrew's Road, Barons Court, London, W14 9SX. They will also run a Perform Plus class for 8-12 years olds at St Andrew’s Church on Thursdays at 5pm.

• Chiswick A class will be opening in Chiswick on Mondays at 4pm or 5pm at St Michael’s Hall, Elmwood Rd, W4 3DY in addition to the 4pm and 5pm class at Chiswick Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace, W4 4JN. For more information 0845 400 4000 e: enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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News & Views

Let the Sunshine in

Get your children (and yourself too) to walk barefoot this summer Have you noticed how good it feels to walk barefoot on the earth? Recent research has shown that our immune system functions best when our body has an adequate supply of electrons. Electrons are easily and naturally obtained by walking barefoot on the earth, a process known as earthing.

These electrons have antioxidant effects that protect your body from inflammation and its many well-documented health consequences. Today we often wear rubber or plastic-soled shoes which disconnect us from this energy and, of course, we no longer sleep on the ground. This disconnection from the Earth creates abnormal physiology and contributes to inflammation, pain, fatigue, stress and poor sleep. By reconnecting to the earth, these symptoms can be relieved and even eliminated. There is no research indicating that earthing will protect a person from exposure to cell phones signals, microwave radiation, or radio frequencies, but research does confirm that it reduces significantly induced body voltages generated by simple exposure to common household plugged-in electrical items (even if the appliance is off), internal wiring, and underground electrical devices. So next time you open the back door, let the children walk barefoot, as they have done throughout history, what about sitting, working, even sleeping grounded indoors?

A recent survey in the UK showed that more than half of adults in the UK did not have enough vitamin D. In the winter and spring about 1 in 6 people has a severe deficiency and about 9 in 10 adults in the UK of South Asian origin. The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are unclear and the problem can often be missed until it reaches severe levels, at which point it results in a condition known as rickets. What is also coming to light is the impact of insufficient Vitamin D goes far beyond the problem of soft bones. New research is revealing the importance of vitamin D in protecting against many health problems, and insufficient levels of vitamin D is now being closely associated with asthma in children, depression (recent research by the University of Bristol), and two senior paediatric pathologists have discovered a vitamin D deficiency in a significant number of SIDS cases. We are all capable of producing vitamin D with proper exposure to sunlight. However, most sunscreens filter out UVB light which inhibits vitamin D production. During the summer, just 15 minutes in the sun without sunscreen in the early morning and late afternoon is enough for most light-skinned individuals to create an ample supply of vitamin D, and for skin with more pigment (melanin) up to 40 minutes. Sunscreens remain essential during the sun’s peak hours for you and your children, but maybe use just what you need.

Useful websites – To read more on Vitamin D deficiency, go to: • www.wddty.com • www.webmd.boots.com • www.womentowomen.com • www.patient.co.uk

To read more on earthing, go to: • www.earthinginstitute.net • www.naturalnews.com • www.kindredcommunity.com

New party themes available with Amanda’s Action Club Amanda's Action Club have designed two brand new party formats to give older boys and girls (aged 5-12 years old) unforgettable entertainment on their big day. These are: •

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Amanda's Action Club Dance Parties, for boys and girls who want to take dancing to the next level. They have 5 top breakdancing specialists in their crew (2 of whom are performing in the Olympic ceremonies!).

They'll perform and give the children a break-dancing workshop where they'll learn a dance routine to show off to their parents at the end.

Amanda's Action Club 'Strike A Pose' Parties are for young girls you want to feel like young ladies. These 2-hour parties are hosted by beauticians who give the girls fancy nails and make-up sessions. There's also music, karaoke and dancing, followed by a red-carpet catwalk show where girls choose their favourite outfits, to wow to their parents as a big finale.

Find out more at www.amandasactionclub.co.uk

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

July/August 2012

News & Views

Parental leave plans: where do they leave you?

The Queen announced in May that her Government would propose measures “to make parental leave more flexible so both parents may share parenting responsibility and balance work and family commitments”. It was a grand announcement but little information was provided on how such measures would work in practice and what difference it would actually make to parents.

Parental leave is currently made up of several components: maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave. Maternity leave can be taken up to 52 weeks, paternity leave 2 weeks, adoption leave 52 weeks and parental leave up to 13 weeks, 26 if you have two children. The right to pay during that time differs according to each category. Under all four types, you are entitled to benefit from the same contractual rights, benefits and obligations whilst you are on leave. The only difference being that for parental leave and for part of your maternity and adoption leave you will not be paid.

So what are the proposed changes and how will it affect us?

According to the EU Parental Rights Directive, adopted in March 2010, the UK Government had to increase parental leave from three to four months by March 2012. Despite this deadline, it was recently announced that this great extension of rights will be delayed until March 2013. In practice this makes very little difference as a very high proportion of employees do not exercise their rights to take existing parental leave because it is unpaid.

July/August 2012

In addition, the Government wishes to reduce the default length of maternity leave from 26 to 18 weeks, with the remaining entitlement of up to 38 weeks able to be shared between both partners as they see fit. There would be nothing to stop parents taking their leave simultaneously, while parents could also request to take their leave in any number of blocks of any duration – although employers can refuse this. As great in theory as this proposal may be with the best of intentions in mind, it is unlikely to ever work. A recent survey concluded that only 17% of mothers thought their partner would be willing and able to take some of the shared leave in addition to their statutory two weeks’ paternity leave. Most (41%) thought they would not be able to afford it as a couple, while 14% said their partner would not want to and 28% said that it would not be practical.

What either measures do not tackle, and what was not mentioned in the Queen’s Speech, was how to implement real practical flexible working for parents to fit around their children and their childcare. Parents do not want increased leave or shared leave; they want a career that works with their children.

This may not need a great announcement but it would make a great change.

Sarah-Jane Butler, Parental Choice Limited, the one stop source for all your childcare needs. www.parentalchoice.co.uk – Helping you make the right choices for you and your family.

Swashbuckler wins his space Yourspace was delighted when Elijah, aged 10 of W4, won a place in the Families West competition, on Yourspace Project, part of their series of holiday courses for children held in Ealing W5. Elijah said, “Yourspace Project was fantastic fun... I loved it and couldn’t wait to go in every single day to work with all the other kids and teachers. I even made a new best friend!”

If your rising star would like to come to Yourspace over the summer (13th-17th August 2012) then check out www.yourspacedrama.com.

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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Education

St Augustine’s Priory welcomes a new Headteacher St Augustine’s Priory is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Sarah Raffray as Headteacher from September 2012.

Sarah Raffray comes to them from a Catholic Independent Day and Boarding School in Dorset. Sarah cites her key achievements while Deputy Head there as producing the roadmap for school improvement, and Sarah has been at the heart of strategic planning and development.

Sarah is deeply committed to the education of girls and delights in the richness found in girls’ schools. She sees them as vibrant, joyful places where learning is treasured and where girls can be intellectually ambitious. The Catholic vision for education is also central to Sarah’s work and she is excited about leading St Augustine’s into a new stage of its development. Sarah brings an enthusiasm for what is best about what is new and innovative, along with a desire to celebrate the fine heritage of the school.

The School is looking forward to welcoming her.

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

Helping children with reading with online literacy resources Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress are interactive reading and writing activities that focus on the core reading curriculum of phonics and sight words using skills and strategies essential for reading success, supporting what children learn at school. The program has 120 literacy lessons that take a child from foundation stage through to the end of Key stage 1. In addition to the lessons there is Reading Eggs World which caters for children who already know the basics of reading but who still have much to learn about reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension. Children are able to choose their own adventure from a wide range of activities including creative writing, practicing sight words, vocabulary and comprehension skills. The Reading Eggspress program contains a library with over 1000 e-books, and lessons in comprehension, spelling, vocabulary and grammar. Both the Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress programs have a comprehensive reporting system that tracks progress so that students and their parents can clearly see each child’s achievements.

Using promotional code UKS24LDW you can trial the programs for free for an extended period of 5 weeks.

Go to www.readingeggs.co.uk, register your email address and once your account has been set up you can enter the code on your parent dashboard.

July/August 2012

Education

July/August 2012

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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Parenting

By Melissa Hood

How do we respond to failure?

Perhaps education systems and modern methods of parenting don’t equip our children well for responding to failure positively. Across the world education systems with their interest in standardising and measuring have put much emphasis on tests, results, scores and achievements with the result that sometimes there has been not enough attention paid to the process of learning, creating happy, creative and thoughtful problem solvers. So much attention has been paid to achievements that to fail is no longer an option.

Anything wrong with Positive parenting?

Parents have praised their children for doing well. The focus remains on results rather than on creative thinking or new tactics tried. This creates a lot of pressure for kids – they know that winning is what counts and it makes it hard for them to fail. This creates a culture of risk adversity in academics, sport and the arts and pits children against each other rather than encouraging collaboration – who dares to fail or even to take another path if it is so important to win and there is a set way to do it?

Parents can influence matters considerably by:

Coping with

Failure It is a certainty that we all experience failure from time to time and therefore need to be able to cope with it. There are (at least) two ways of responding to failure: one is to be beaten down by it and to feel hopeless and discouraged and perhaps give up; the other is to accept that this time things didn’t go so well and determine to keep trying until you do better and hopefully learn something from the experience.

Edison found many ways not to invent the light bulb before he discovered the way that worked. “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work…”

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

▼ what we pay attention to and how we talk about success and failure. If we pay attention only to achievements children learn results-based success is all that counts. When they do not achieve the result hoped for are our children not worthwhile? When your daughter comes home from a netball match don’t let your first question be ‘did you win?’, but ‘Did you enjoy the game? Did you play your best? Were you able to set up some goals? How did the team play together?’ ▼ Giving meaningful and descriptive praise for effort, strategies, attitudes and small improvements, rather than results, to develop a growth mindset in children. “You kept on trying with these sums even though you didn’t find it easy. That’s persevering.

Your efforts have paid off – five out of six are correct.” ▼ Looking behind children’s behaviour and acknowledging their emotions to help them manage their feelings. Children who develop emotional intelligence are more resilient and pick themselves up again after set backs. ▼ Encouraging independence, especially in thinking, to build self trust. Invite and listen to kids’ ideas.

“I know we did too much for our youngest son around his A levels because we felt it was so important that he get the grades he needed for the next step in his education, his passport to successful adult life. But when he feels his parents are there to catch him he doesn’t put so much effort in himself. When we do too much of his thinking/planning/ organising he doesn’t do it himself.” Mother of 18 year old. ▼ Modelling how to handle failure well. o When you get something wrong don’t beat yourself up about it but acknowledge the mistake and why it was a mistake. o Take steps to remedy it – make amends. o Articulate what you are learning, show that you are not diminished by your failures but can profit from them.

July/August 2012

Are you collecting contraband on top of the fridge?

Example: “This morning when we were getting ready for school I yelled at you guys. We were in such a hurry and I didn’t think you were being very helpful. It’s not a good idea for me to yell at you as it doesn’t make you feel good,… or me, and it doesn’t make things go any faster. I’m sorry. I thought about it afterwards when I was calm and realised that it was because we were in a hurry and I didn’t want to be late that I shouted.

Tomorrow I am going to make sure we get started earlier and I’m going to see what I can do tonight so that there’s less to do in the morning. I think I learnt something today.”

▼ Responding encouragingly to their mistakes around school work or music practice or sport as follows: o Find something positive to comment on first. Make sure you’re acknowledging good qualities or behavioural traits such as commitment and creativity as well as being able to spell well or do fractions or dribble a ball well or play a piece fluently. o Then ask them to find something to improve, routinely.

It is a difficult task for parents but we need to allow our children to have an unpressured childhood not just for the sake of their present happiness but also to create a future generation of people who can think and are willing to embrace new ideas.

What do you do with the kid’s contraband? You know... the game you confiscate when they fight over it or the toy they wallop their brother with. Or the mobile phone they are texting on after bedtime...

Some parents have an overflowing mound of toys on top of the fridge, others hide them. Perhaps you are like me with older children who can reach above the fridge better than I can and so resort to hiding things about the house... and losing them.

Contraband can become a source of contention with older children – whose possessions are they? When they accuse you of ‘stealing’ the CD they raised the money to pay for themselves – whose is it?

To manage contraband effectively; ✔ It must be removed calmly!! Shouting & waving it in their face doesn’t enhance the message – as a minimum it makes you look slightly mad or worst, it’s scary.

Either way they probably won’t be thinking about their misdemeanour and how to behave better next time. ✔ Avoid breaking it in the process – particularly electronic equipment. Slamming down a PS3 may end up with wrangling about who gets it mended and again MAJOR DISTRACTION! (apart from the fact it will probably be you taking it for repair). Don’t leave electronics in boot of car on a freezing night either – it may fuse it entirely (been there, done that) ✔ Be clear about what the unacceptable behaviour was and ideally state what better behaviour you would like to see next time (briefly!) ✔ Only keep it for the shortest period possible. No more effective removing for a month than 3 days as leads to resentment instead for getting the message. Besides if hidden, if you are like me you will almost certainly have to spend ages looking an idiot rummaging in the back of cupboards and behind furniture searching for it. ✔ Don’t allow them to whinge or browbeat you into returning it earlier.

There are plenty of opportunities for them to learn negotiation and debating skills, just not this one. ✔ Return it with grace after time is up – no long lecture. If you must say anything – remind them of the positive behaviour you are expecting.

If however the top of your fridge is piled high and you are hunting for capacity for contraband elsewhere, perhaps it’s time to take a step back and consider a different approach. Maybe taking away toys as a consequence isn’t working and you are having to escalate to have an impact. Or perhaps you are keeping things too long. ‘Neutralising’ a toy during an argument until they agree to try a reasonable way to play together with it does not need it put away for weeks.

More importantly it might be a nudge to go back to basics. Are you looking hard enough for things to praise? Are you spending special time with your child and joining them in activities and games they like to play... just enjoying spending time together. This is often enough in itself to reduce conflict... so that toys remain toys instead of becoming contraband.

www.theparentpractice.com Say that you saw it featured in Families West Magazine

July/August 2012

Dr Clare Bailey & Dr Debbie Marsden from Parenting Matters will be running a series of evening Interactive Parenting Seminars in Chiswick in the autumn. They also run parenting courses, individual consultations held by phone or face-to-face and presentations in schools.

To find out more call 01494 677575 or go to www.parentingmatters.co.uk.

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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Summer Activities

Take the family challenge Summer 2012 is going to be all about active fun (it is the Olympics, after all) and getting out and about in the UK (which is, for all of us cash-strapped families, a lot cheaper than going abroad). So what are the best activities to enjoy en famille? Joanna Moorhead investigates

© Go Ape!

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Swing through the forest

A tree-top adventure makes for an adrenalin-charged day out with the children – and while you’re up there, you get some brilliant views as well!

Personally, I’ve never been so happy to be back on solid ground as when I got down from the terrifying heights of the forest course I tried out with my kids... but on the upside, at least I did make it down, and relying on them to help me through the most white-knuckle parts of the course went a long way in terms of family bonding!

The nearest Go Ape! Centres to West London are at Trent Park in Enfield or Black Park Country Park in Buckinghamshire. (both within an hour’s driving distance from most West London postcodes.) The over-10s Go Ape! course takes children (and their parents) through an hour long network of looping obstacles five metres above the forest floor, including the spider’s web, log balance and jungle crossing, before finishing on a tree-to-tree zipwire. (Until recently Go Ape! has been restricted to over-10s, but there’s now a new course at two of the company’s 27 centres nationwide – Thetford near Brandon, and Moors Valley Country Park near Bournemouth designed for children as young as four, although they also need to be at least a metre tall.)

Prices: Go Ape! costs £30 for adults, £20 for 10-17 year olds.

The new junior course costs £15 for any age.

For more information see www.goape.co.uk

Climb the rocks

Rock-climbing is apparently one of the fastest-growing sports in Britain, and giving it a try makes for a great family day out. Like all the best family challenges it’s about supporting one another, learning new skills, encouraging people when they need it, and celebrating new-found abilities and courage! Family climbing courses abound and most are for complete beginners and take children from about eight (although some specialise in working with younger children). Look for a course where you have a dedicated instructor: you’ll learn (amongst other things) how to belay (ie hold the ropes safely) and how to make the most of the rock’s features for your hands and feet. If you’re looking for a family challenge in a rainy period, think about climbing walls.

We have the Westway Sports Centre in W10 where you can hire an instructor for a family session. www.westwaysportscentre.org.uk/ climbing

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Ride the tracks

For a family with people who can’t get around very easily – elderly grandparents, for example, or other people with special needs – you can’t beat a trip on a steam railway. Most of these railways, preserved from Victorian times, are in areas of breathtaking natural beauty – The glorious Oxfordshire countryside whisks by if you take the Chinnor and Risborough Railway, for example. (and on 15 July, grandparents go half price.)

For more information go to www.chinnorrailway.co.uk or see www.steamrailwaylines.co.uk for the lines across the UK Say that you saw it featured in Families West Magazine

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July/August 2012

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There’s something strangely thrilling about taking a walk through a cave, into the very inside of the earth – the atmosphere is quite different from anywhere else you’ll ever go, and the memories of what you see and experience stay with you for a long time. And, of course, every child needs to understand the difference between those stalactites and stalagmites. Some of the best caves in the country are at Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, the White Scar Cave at Ingleton in Yorkshire, where you can take an 80-minute tour through some of the country’s most awesome subterranean rock formations, and Wookey Hole near Wells in Somerset, home (apparently) to the Witch of Wookey. Closer to home, try Chislehurst Caves in Kent. Not suitable, though, for a buggy or a wheelchair.

Tickets from around £15 for adults, £10 for children, depending on how extensive the caves are and how much else there is to do at the attraction.

For more information on the caves mentioned here see www.whitescarcave.co.uk; www.cheddargorge.co.uk; www.wookey.co.uk; www.chislehurst-caves.co.uk

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Summer Activities

Take an underground walk

Fly a kite

Every family has a kite or three, usually given as birthday or Christmas presents and with fiendishly difficult-looking instructions. We sometimes thought about taking our children to fly them, but something always held us back – usually doubts about how to do it, and whether the area we were planning to kite-fly in was actually big enough. But a lesson from Kevin Baker of Southern Breeze, a kite-flying operation based at Baiter Park on Poole harbour, set us straight: Kevin showed us how to make sure we were in a suitable kite-flying area (you need to use your thumb to check the height of the surrounding obstacles, to make sure they’re far enough away), and you need to give the kite a forceful yank to get it into the sky. More adventurous families can progress to kite-buggying and kite-boarding, in which you use the power of an airborne kite to propel yourself along on a vehicle on the ground.

Kite-flying tuition costs around £50 for a half-day’s family tuition.

For more information on Kevin Baker see www.sbkites. co.uk. For information on powerkiting lessons near West London see www.kitevibe.com

July/August 2012

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Go mountainbiking

Like a lot of city families we have a houseful of bikes, but we tend not to do anything more adventurous than go to friends’ houses or the local shops on them. Mountain biking is a whole different experience from a short trip down the road: we went to try it on the South Downs, where the gentle (and not-so-gentle) inclines make for great off-road cycling adventures. You don’t, of course, have to use an instructor to get to grips of mountain biking: but if you’re taking kids with you, and you want to get a real thrill out of your day (plus you won’t need to get the bikes there, because the instructor will provide them) then I recommend a course. Our teacher, Richard, gave us lots of confidence to try out manoeuvres we’d never otherwise have tried (cycling over logs, for example – and yes, it’s a lot scarier than it looks when you’re in the saddle!). He also revealed the number one rule of mountain biking, which is never look down. You have to look straight ahead, focusing on the furthest point of the trail, because if you look down you’ll change your centre of gravity and fall off. We loved our day learning to mountain bike: the children (who need to be over about seven) were a lot better than the parents, but even the parents managed things they’d never have believed they could do!

Expect to pay around £40 per person for mountain biking tuition, including bike hire.

For more information on the Surrey Hills tours see www.allbikedup.com; for details of courses near you see www.abc-of-mountainbiking.com

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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Summer Activities

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Find a geocache Geocaching is one of those things that sounds totally perplexing to anyone who’s never tried it, but is a huge hit with almost everyone who has. The idea is to find some ‘treasure’ – treasure that’s hidden in a box, and is findable using a hand-held satnav system (any will do). The treasure in question usually consists of a plastic box like a lunchbox with a whole host of miscellaneous bits and pieces in it – things like small toys, CDs, pens, anything. The rule is that when you find your treasure you’re allowed to take one thing out, and you must put one thing in – and sign the log book of course. The treasure is hidden everywhere and anywhere – in cities, in the countryside, even underwater.

For more information see www.geocaching.com

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Go canoeing

Canoeing centres up and down the Canoe centres in London: country offer equipment hire and ■ Chiswick Pier Canoe Club, instruction for families who want to W4 2UG dip their toes in the water. Your www.chiswickcanoeclub.co.uk instructor will help you learn how to paddle, how to turn and how to ■ Ealing Canoe Club, UB6 7PQ negotiate rapids – and he or she will www.ealingcanoeclub.org.uk also ensure that you’re canoeing in a ■ Edge, Progressive Paddling, suitable place, and in suitable weather, W4 3NG for the age of your children (which is www.edgepaddling.com crucial, because accidents can happen ■ The Sharks, UB6 7NP quickly in canoes). What’s especially e: admin@thesharks.org.uk lovely about canoeing is that, as well ■ Y Paddle Canoe Club, as the skills to learn, you can also WC1B 3NQ have a day out that’s close to wildlife www.ypaddle.org.uk – look out for fish, water birds and dragonflies. If you’re lucky you might even spot an otter or a water vole.

For more information see www.canoe-england.org.uk/ Hiring a canoe and instructor costs go-canoeing around £150 for half a day.

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Get into metal detection

There’s something almost absurdly exciting about setting off with a metal detector and seeing what you’re going to turn up – even though it will, in all probability, be complete rubbish.

Because there’s always that chance of finding treasure – or even, and this is almost as good, remnants of the way other people lived, in another age. To use a metal detector effectively, you need to use a sweeping motion – and it’s best to go somewhere with plenty of space, perhaps where other interesting finds have been made.

Children are just thrilled with the idea of a machine that goes bleep the whole time, and which might lead to some discovery. Another big plus is that this is an adventure anyone can enjoy – great for families with small kids in buggies or anyone in a wheelchair (though you need to chose your terrain wisely). Remember it is an offence to search the Thames foreshore without an appropriate. permit. There are different types of permit available. For more information, call Ken Jackleman on 01474 562339 For more information see www.ncmd.co.uk

July/August 2012

Summer Activities If you are looking for ideas for Summer Activities in West London, then a great place to start is our Directory and our What's On section on www.familieswest.co.uk We have a comprehensive listings of ideas of things to do to keep the whole family entertained.

ce n a D and m y G

Twisters Ealing St. John’s Church, Mattock Lane, Ealing, W13 9LA

Photography by melaniemoss.com

Twisters Acton & Chiswick September 2012 You will ďŹ nd us at: Acton Baptist We welcome Church, Church Road, children Acton, London W3 8PP of all OPEN DAY abilities FREE GYM PLAY SESSION From Toddlers to Teenagers: gers s: FRIDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 9.15-12.15 Gymnastics, Ballet, Dance Drama, ama

Drama, Street Jazz/Tap, Boys ys Street Dance and Art. For Adults: Stretch Workout and Body Blitz.

TWISTERS classes are stimulating and fun..

We are well known for our p g patience and understanding.

For more information call: Hermione on 0208 933 9997 or Louise on 0208 840 4452

Ealing and Uxbridge 0203 092 1313 or gware@littlekickers.co.uk Chiswick and Hammersmith 07792503571 or bbrownlie@littlekickers.co.uk www.littlekickers.co.uk

Email: twisters@btinternet.com

www.twisters.org.uk w

July/August 2012

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

13

Summer Activities

FREE

Summer Activities Inspired by the National Trust we at Families Magazine have taken up the challenge to find at least 50 free things for you to do with your children this summer! So whether you’re looking for days out, music, museums, markets, clubs or classes to attend or at-home fun, we’ll prove you really can get something for nothing.

At home Whether the sun is shining brightly or it is bucketing down with rain, if you want to enjoy your own home for a period of time over the summer holidays here is our list of free and fun things to do at home!

Cooking Parties!

• Fun, cooking parties • For boys and girls aged 5-16 years • Cooking classes

Give your child the best party ever! whisking, baking, giggling, rolling, making, laughing, turning, licking, joking

A great way to learn while having fun!

Call for details:

0208 876 9912 email: info@cookiecrumbles.co.uk www.cookiecrumbles.co.uk

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

1) Using a bucket of water and big (wallpaper) brushes get little ones to paint the garden fence, wall or patio. Simple and mess-free, but great fun. Or get the paints outside and try hand/foot/finger painting on the largest paper you can find – try the back of unused old wallpaper. Then get out the sprinkler hose to clean everyone off!

2) Set up a treasure hunt with clues around the house.

3) Water fight in the back garden with two teams – one guarding a base, and the others trying to get to the base and steal (their mission plans) 4) Games day – challenge the kids to get through at least 10 board games, ping pong sessions etc. in the day 5) Have a movie afternoon with popcorn and a good dvd 6) Camp out, pitch a tent in the garden, fill the paddling pool and sand pit, light the BBQ and make some fruity cocktails. Then pretend you’re in an exotic location and laugh at all the poor travellers stuck in airports or on motorways.

7) An outdoor blackboard will encourage all sorts of games and creativity. All you need is a piece of board, ideally marine plywood, cut to the size you require, and some blackboard paint, available from DIY or hardware stores.

Once painted, the board can be fixed to your house wall, fence or shed. Keep chalks in a waterproof box, ready for drawing, writing, treasure hunt maps, instructions, scoring 8) Rainy day activity? A small amount of screen time is useful for children and we know they love working and playing on the computer. The Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress programs are all about bringing out the best in each child using unique worlds of interactive reading and writing activities. Using promotional code UKS24LNW you can trial the programs for free for an extended period of 5 weeks. Simply visit www.readingeggs.co.uk, register your email address and once your account has been set up you can enter the code on your parent dashboard.

9) How about winning some free stuff? Enter our competitions on page www.familieswest.co.uk for your opportunity to win a load of free stuff to keep your summer free, free, free! We’ve got treasure hunts, theatre tickets, baby equipment and more.

July/August 2012

© Amitai Landau-Pope

Decluttering the playspace

Summer Activities As you progress through the summer of free stuff or when it is over remember to visit the National Trust’s interactive website for kids with the list of the 50 things kids should do before they are 11 ¾. Kids can log in and tick off the things as they do them. www.50things.org.uk/

FFree days out S Step Outside Guides: the little books tthat give you a big day out!

Making space for ‘at home fun’ CAN be fun in itself!

Juliet Landau-Pope is a certified coach and member of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers. Here she shares some top tips:

1. Be Positive Rather than harping on about tidiness, emphasise the desire to provide more space to play. Put on some music and talk about making room to dance. Help children to visualise direct and immediate benefits.

2. Be Purposeful Help children part from things that they no longer use by finding meaningful ways to donate. Show respect for their belongings – don’t talk about ‘chucking out’ or ‘getting rid’ of their toys. Choose a specific charity to support through donations or by doing a car boot sale.

3. Find Places Clutter often piles up because of indecision – you may not have decided where to put dressing-up clothes, for example. Ask the children to help you allocate a storage space. Then sort things and encourage them to be selective.

4. Be Particular It’s easy to become distracted so be systematic, and focus on one task at a time. Take everything off one shelf, for example and agree not to play with anything else in the room until you’ve sorted out the books into piles of what to keep and what to give away. Take it step-by-step and remind the children of your particular goals.

5. Aim for Progress rather than Perfect It can take time to sort and to decide what to reduce, reuse, recycle, donate or discard. Be realistic about what you can achieve in each session. Rather than aiming for perfection, make an effort to notice – and celebrate – the progress you’re making.

Juliet Landau-Pope offers free consultations.

Tel: 078178 33319. Website: www.jlpcoach.com July/August 2012

Step Outside Guides are a new series of beautifully illustrated little books which offer themed days out by foot and by bus, discovering fascinating places and wonderful surprises in the capital. Everything you encounter will be free-to-see, so you don’t need to spend a penny! Just pack packk up your pi picnic, icni your guide, and off you go.

The days are great for every age, and the books are specially designed so that children, from about nine years old can hold the book and take the lead. The maps are bold and easy to follow and the explanations are simple and clear. There are things to spot and questions to consider all through the book, and rest-your-Legs pages with puzzles and activities for weary moments.

Each book features an animal character, brought to life by delightful illustrations. The animal lives on the route, and acts as your escort, highlighting his Top Treasures along the way. Good picnic spots are noted, free toilets are marked and accessibility details for buggies and wheelchairs are included.

The London Treasure Trail and Down by the Thames are available from www.stepoutsideguides.com and selected museum shops and book shops at £5 each.

Libraries For when the weather is wet and/ or nasty, here’s what you can do indoors for free at a local library.

Story Lab is the 2012 national Summer Reading Challenge™ coordinated by The Reading Agency and is run in 97% of UK public libraries. With 780,000 children aged 4-11 taking part, the Summer Reading Challenge is the biggest national reading initiative. It runs in libraries throughout the summer holidays, with incentives, activities and events designed to create a real buzz around children's reading. The challenge is simple – to read six or more library books over the summer. Just head to your local library at the beginning of the summer holidays where staff will enrol your children – it's completely free of charge – and every child will receive a membership card or pack. www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk or www.facebook.com/SummerReadingChallengeUK Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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Summer Activities Walks & Bike Rides

Top tips for fun family walking: Make it an adventure: Don’t suggest ‘going for a walk’, make it an outing or adventure to somewhere like a park, a playground, woods or a pond; treat them to a picnic or take something to eat and drink along the way.

Take it nice and slow: Be prepared to go at their pace, stopping to play and look at things on the way, and to cut the walk short if they get tired. With regular walking children will build up their fitness just as an adult does but keep walks short until you know about their abilities.

Go prepared: Make sure they have comfortable clothes and shoes, and extra layers in case of rain or cold weather.

Safety First: Remember hats and sun cream, and take something for bites and stings.

Let them bring a friend, team up with another family, or join a led walk that’s suitable for families.

Get Creative: You could plan fun activities and games like a treasure hunt or I-Spy; look out for animals, birds, trees, people, buildings, colours, or collect tree seeds, leaves, shells, and small stones. Take photographs along the way they can put in a walker’s diary; get them involved in planning and running the walks, perhaps plotting the route on a map and map reading during the walk.

Walk with a dog if you have one.

Enjoy the great outdoors either locally or further afield...

© The Ramblers

Take a Walk

National Trails are long distance routes for walking, cycling and horse riding through the finest landscapes in England and Wales. Altogether, in England and Wales, there are about 2,500 miles (4,000km) of National Trail.

They have all been created by linking existing local footpaths, bridleways and minor roads and by developing new ones where there were gaps. They pass through some of the most stunning and diverse landscapes in Britain.

There is something to suit everyone, from short walks to a 630 mile adventure. www.nationaltrail.co.uk There are lots more things to do in the 'What's On' section of our website.

Go to www.familieswest.co.uk 16

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

Markets Even without cash to splash, there’s a special pleasure in checking out some of the most famous markets in the world – or perhaps just a local one? Enjoy the atmosphere, the entertainers and take a leisurely stroll just enjoying the ambiance!

Borough Market (SE1) Perfect for the family, every Thursday sees a Demonstration Kitchen between 12 – 2pm in the Jubilee Market. These sessions are free and showcase some of the produce available in the market with their resident chef, Hayley Edwards cooking up dishes inspired by seasonal produce. Hayley is on hand to give advice, tips and tricks for the Kitchen in these informal and hands on sessions. Borough Market will be opening for summer 2012 everyday throughout the Olympic and Paralympic period – Sunday to Friday 10am – 5pm and Saturdays 8am – 5pm. www.boroughmarket.org.uk

Go Sky Rides are free, community bike rides, giving you a chance to get out and explore your local area.

They’re led by a British Cycling-trained ride leader so you’re in safe hands, even if you’re a bit rusty. There are rides at four different levels from traffic-free rides in parks and on bike paths, to more challenging rides taking your cycling a bit further. For example on 22 Jul at 10am there is a Park to Park ride starting at the car park in Holland Park for adults and children aged 11+ Other rides allow for much younger children to ride or bike trailers. www.goskyride.com Sustrans offer a free information pack to discover great places to cycle near you as well as a cycling with children booklet. They also have an online mapping program to find out where to walk and cycle from your home. Just tap in your postcode and it shows you local walking and cycling routes as well as bus stops, train stations and connections to local destinations such as shops, schools and sports facilities. www.sustrans.org.uk

© Simon Rawles

Many West London councils have walks that have been mapped out for different levels of fitness and ability.

They range from short 20 minute walks around parks to a long trek that may traverse several boroughs.

Ride a bike

© Giles Barnard

The Ramblers is leading plenty of short, family friendly walks this summer that everyone is welcome to join for free.

Visit www.ramblers.org.uk/ walksfinder or for information on getting children and families walking locally try www.ramblers.org.uk/ info/paths/region/london/ londonwest.htm.

The walks by the river and the canal look especially good. You may find www.walkswithbuggies.com/GreaterLondon a better bet if you have a tiny one in tow.

July/August 2012

Portobello Road Market (W10) is one of the most famous street markets in the world. It is a popular destination for Londoners and tourists alike. Portobello Road goes straight through the heart of Notting Hill, the trendy area of London made famous by the film. Portobello Market takes up most of what is actually more properly called Portobello Road, it stretches for around two miles, although on a crowded Saturday afternoon it takes quite a while to walk from end to end.

Spitalfields (E1) London's oldest market, Spitalfields is now open every day except Monday and Saturday.

Resplendent under a Fosters & Partners-designed glass canopy, the market and shops offer cutting edge fashion and interiors, original artworks and as well as food. Spitalfields also offers regular free events, including lunchtime concerts, festivals, tango classes, fashion shows and much more.

Cabbages and Frocks Market in the cobbled yard of St Marylebone Parish Church, sells vintage clothing and delicious food. Open every Saturday from 11am-5pm, marvel at the food specialities on sale. The market supports new designers and cottage industries. There is retro and vintage clothing, homewares, cute childrens clothes, hand blown glass and jewellery by individual designers. www.cabbagesandfrocks.co.uk July/August 2012

Parks & Gardens

Summer Activities

Locally we are lucky to have a plethora of enticing green spaces with lush grass, perfumed flowers, acres of room in which to wander and most with children’s playgrounds. Visiting is FREE! Look them up on www.familiesonline.co.uk/LOCATIONS/ London-West/Directory/Parks-in-West-London and try somewhere new!

A little further afield, here are a couple of suggestions for little ones...

Aldenham Country Park (WD6) covers 175 acres of woodland, and boasts a range of nature trails for visitors to enjoy. It’s also home to ‘100 Aker Wood’, a recreation of all the features found in the Winnie the Pooh adventures. Children love the boating lake, and the rare breeds’ farm, which is home to a variety of animals such as chicks, geese, ducks, goats, guinea fowl, turkeys, lambs, cattle, sheep, and poultry. You can enjoy outdoor fitness, woodland experiences, mixed farming, pony rides, nature walks and more! www.aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk Hampstead Heath (NW3) is one of London’s most popular open spaces.

An island of beautiful countryside, the magic of Hampstead Heath lies not only in its rich wildlife and extensive sports and recreational opportunities, but also in its proximity and accessibility to millions of people. There is a zoo, an athletics track, an education centre, extensive children's facilities, three swimming ponds and a Lido. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk The Welsh Harp or Brent Reservoir (NW9) is 170 hectares of open water, marshes, and grassland. It is an attractive recreational centre, and inhabits a range of wildlife. There are two bird hides on the site, a range of nature trails, and a large space of open water. There are vast amounts of wildlife to see, which makes a lovely afternoon out. www.brent.gov.uk/pks.nsf/pages/LBB-89 Free park resources: While you are outside visiting parks, fields or other natural spaces you could be part of a fun wildflower survey. Plantlife's Bee Scene survey is free and is an easy way for children to learn about wildflowers in their local area and whether that area is good for bees. By 'planting' the findings on the Wild About Plants website, they will help create a virtual meadow of good wildflower sites across the country. A series of free guides and resources are downloadable free from: www.wildaboutplants.org.uk/beescene

London’s Royal Parks Brompton Cemetery (SW10) covers 16.5 hectares and is one of the finest cemeteries in the country. In an area with few green spaces or outdoor recreational facilities, the cemetery offers an oasis in all seasons, with paths for walkers and cyclists, and hours of diversion for historians, genealogists, naturalists and connoisseurs of memorial art and sculpture.

© Anne Marie Briscombe

Columbia Road Flower Market (E2) On Sunday the street is transformed into oasis of foliage and flowers. Everything from bedding plants to 10 foot banana trees are up for grabs. The air is intense with the scent of flowers and the chant of the barrow boys "Everthin' a fiver"? A lot of the flower sellers grow their own plants or import flowers from around the world. A beautiful day out that can cost nothing!

Kensington Gardens © Giles Barnard

Brick Lane Market (E1) The best day to visit Brick Lane market is on Sundays, though the shops and restaurants are open every day.

On Sundays the streets are lined with people hawking their second-hand wares. There are also street performers to enhance the vibrant, lively atmosphere.

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

17

Summer Activities

SUMMER WORKSHOPS A BIT OF EVERYTHING…. DAY CAMPS

Hyde Park © Indusfoto

Bushy Park (TW11) – Lying north of Hampton Court Palace, the history of the park is inextricably linked to the palace, yet it has always had its own distinct rural character. The famous Arethusa 'Diana' Fountain forms the centrepiece to the equally famous Chestnut Avenue.

Facilities in Bushy Park include a children's playground and toilets for disabled people are available.

Green Park (SW1) is a peaceful park surrounded by Constitution Hill, Piccadilly and the Broad Walk where you could fly a kite or climb a tree!

Hyde Park (W2) has a wide range of facilities. There are cafes and restaurants offering everything from ice creams and sandwiches to three course meals. There is a children's playground and the Lookout, a former police observation point which is now an education centre where children learn about nature and wildlife.

Kensington Gardens (W2) with the free Serpentine Gallery, two play-grounds and children's entertainment (thrice daily for six weeks during school summer holidays), bandstand recitals in the summer months, this park is a must! It also boasts a huge wooden pirate ship as the centrepiece of the Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground. Kids love to play, explore, dash about, and let their imaginations soar in this magical space. There is a sensory trail, tee-pees, a beach around the pirate ship and various toys and play sculptures; all set against a lush backdrop of trees and plants. There's plenty of seating so the grownups can relax too.

Regents Park (NW3) has an open air theatre (end of May to early September), bandstands (which hold a variety of lunchtime and evening concerts), puppet shows and London Zoo. Richmond Park (TW10) has a wide range of facilities on offer, including a playground at Petersham Gate and educational facilities for those with special needs at Holly Lodge.

St James’s Park (SW1) is the oldest Royal Park in London and is surrounded by three palaces. Facilities in the park include a children's playground (with toilets) and deck chairs (April-September). There is pelican feeding at 2.30pm each day.

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TWISTERS 23-27 Jul TWISTERS SUMMER SCHOOL for children aged 3+ (majority of children will be age 3-5). Sessions include Gym/Dance Drama/Art and Music. Art materials and refreshments provided. Sessions 10.30am-1pm. £90 for the week. £20 per session. Siblings deduct 10% for 2 days or more.

020 8933 9997 or 020 8840 4452 www.twisters.org.uk PICCOLO PLAYCENTRE 23 July-31 Aug For ages 3-11, 8.45am-5.45pm at Hogarth Youth Centre, W4 2JR 07525 773 659 info@piccoloplaycentre.co.uk

SCIENCE MOTHER NATURE SCIENCE 23 July-24 Aug SUMMER SCIENCE CAMP For ages 5-12, 9am-3.30pm in Ealing, Harrow, Hampstead, Northwood, Brent and other locations in North and Northwest London. Hands-on activities exploring scientific schemes and topics. Experiments to make and take home. Two programmes to choose from- “Science Olympics” and “Science Academy. Themes include-Balancing Acrobat Toys, Submarine Divers, Lava Lamps, Momentum Marble Runs, Friction Sprinters, Powerful Explosive Energy Shows, Slime, Dry Ice, Creating Crystals, Balloon Hovercrafts, Sun-printing, Kaleidoscopes, Diffraction Glasses, and Water Rocket Launching. 020 8863 8832, e:info@mnature.co.uk www.mnature.co.uk.

Group discounts available.

HOLLAND PARK ECOLOGY CENTRE 23 July-5 Sept Environmental themed, outdoor and creative activities for ages 5-12. Booking essential on 020 7938 8166 e:ecology.centre@rbkc.gov.uk www.rbkc.gov.uk/ecology

DRAMA AND MUSIC PERFORM THREE DAY WORKSHOP of drama, dance and singing for ages 4-8.

The theme this summer is The Wizard of Oz using original live music, dance and improvisation. On the final day, family and friends are all invited to a mini-performance.

Venues: 30 Jul – 3 Aug and 20 – 24 August: in NOTTING HILL at St Peter’s Hall: 2.30 – 4.30pm.

23 – 2 July: in CHISWICK at the St Michael’s Hall: 2.30 – 4.30pm.

30 July – 3 Aug and 20 – 24 August: in EALING at the St Barnabus Millennium Hall: 10am – 12noon 6 – 10 Aug: in KEW at the Kew Community Centre: 2.30 – 4.30pm.

Book on 0845 400 4000, e: enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk STAGECOACH KENSINGTON AND CHISWICK 23-26 July SUMMER WORKSHOP for ages 6-18 at Addison Primary School, Addison Gardens, London, W14. An exciting and fun packed four days of singing, dance and drama! You do not have to be a Stagecoach student and no previous experience is necessary – just lots of enthusiasm and energy. For more information, call Sara Catlin Brown on 020 8398 8106 www.stagecoach.co.uk/kensington STAGECOACH KEW 30 July-3 Aug REPUNZEL AND HER MAGIC HAIR For ages 5-12. 020 8487 1456 www.stagecoach.co.uk/kew LYRIC HAMMERSMITH All the sessions listed below are free and suitable for ages 11-19. 020 8741 6864 www.lyric.co.uk 6-10 Aug MAKING THE BAND Get a unique insight into the music industry in a 5-day bootcamp for singers, songwriters, musicians, producers and dancers.

20-24 Aug PLAY IN A WEEK Create a full scale whodunnit play in 5 days – an opportunity for performers, costume or set designers.

28-31 Aug CARNIVAL WEEK Costume and lantern making workshops, and carnival song and dance sessions.

YOURSPACE 13-17 Aug YOURSPACE HOLIDAY COURSES in drama for children and teenagers in Ealing W5. Yourspace (12-18 yrs), Yourspace too (6-11 yrs) and Yourspace tots (3-5 yrs) www.yourspacedrama.com e:info@yourspacedrama.com or call Faith Hegerty (director) on 07580 474638

Greenwich Park (SE10) is home to The Old Royal Observatory, the Observatory Planetarium (by appointment), a bandstand (Sunday concerts during summer), a children's playground and entertainment such as puppet shows and workshops.

RICHMOND THEATRE 13-17 Aug CREATIVE SUMMER SCHOOL 10am – 4pm daily for ages 12 – 16. Work with professional theatre practitioners to create your own site-specific play.

13-17 Aug PERFORMANCE SUMMER SCHOOL 9.30am – 4pm daily, for ages 8-11. Learn a variety of theatre skills, from song and dance to design, take part in a backstage tour and perform on stage.

For more details about ‘What’s On’ in our Royal Parks visit www.royalparks.org.uk

MONSTER CAT THEATRE 20 -22 Aug DRAMA WORKSHOP for ages 5-12 in Ealing. 020 8567 5276

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

July/August 2012

DANCE THE KENSINGTON BALLET SCHOOL 6-10 Aug SUMMER SCHOOL in Kensington for children aged 3 - 5 years. 9am-12 noon.Venue: Christchurch,Victoria Road, London W8 5RQ www.kensingtonballet.com DIDDIDANCE Diddi Dance are running their funky pre-school DANCE CLASSES for boys and girls aged between 18 months and 4 years throughout the summer. Classes are held in, Willesden Green, Ealing, Kensal Rise, Queens Park, Northfields, West Kensington and Notting Hill. Contact Gina to book your free trial e:gina.field@diddidance.com 07426 009 179 www.diddidance.com

ART CORNER 9 23 July onwards SUMMER ART CAMP for children 5+ Different art & craft projects to develop creativity and art skills. 10am-12noon MonFri www.corner9.com 07763 472516 FIMO CLAY Various dates in July and Sept CLAY WORKSHOPS for age 6+ in Acton.

020 8992 3767 www.funwithfimoclay.co.uk KITE STUDIOS 16-31 July ART WORKSHOPS which include painting, printmaking, construction and clay. 10.00-11.30 am for ages 4-8 and 12-4 pm for ages 8yrs + Venue: 2b Bassein Park Rd, W129RY 020 8576 6278 info@kitestudios.org

GYMNASTICS THE LITTLE GYM WANDSWORTH, FULHAM, HAMPTON AND TEDDINGTON 23 Jul-2 Sept SUMMER CAMP Three-hour OFSTED approved camps for ages 3-6 and 6-12 with games, crafts and gymnastics all based around a fun weekly theme. The older children will be able to focus on advancing their gymnastic skills. www.thelittlegym.co.uk WANDSWORTH & FULHAM 020 8874 6567 e:wandsworth_fulham@thelittlegym.co.uk HAMPTON & TEDDINGTON 020 8977 0099 e:hampton_teddington@thelittlegym.co.uk THE LITTLE GYM WESTFIELD 23 Jul-1 Sept SUMMER CAMP Themed two-hour and three-hour Camps for ages 3-8 years. Non-competitive and supervised by a high ratio of trained instructors.

020 8735 0817 e:westfield@thelittlegym.co.uk THE LITTLE GYM CHISWICK 23 Jul-31 Aug 6 weeks of OFSTED registered SUMMER CAMPS for ages 3-8 and a weekly programme of gymnastics classes for ages 4mths – 12 yrs. Olympic themed half-day camps, flexible booking for members and non-members.

SPORTS SPORT ACADEMIES 9 Jul-17 Aug Fun, safe, active and inspirational SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPORT CAMPS for 3-14yrs. Ofsted registered. Professional, CRB cleared coaches. 10% sibling discount. Separate camps for different ages - TINY TOTS SPORT ACADEMIES – multi-sport camp for 3-5s - SPORT ACADEMIES – multi-sport camp for 6-14s Venues: CHISWICK at King's House Sports Ground, Riverside Drive W4 2SH HAMPSTEAD at UCS Active, Frognal NW3 6XH HARROW at Harrow School, Garlands Lane, Harrow on the Hill HA1 3EA RICHMOND at King's House School Junior Department, 61 King's Road TW10 6EG www.sportacademies.com or call 0844 335 8217.

FIT FOR SPORT 23 July-31 Aug OFSTED Registered KIDS CAMPS. Activities include many sports, games, arts and crafts and healthy lifestyle education. For ages 3-12, standard, extended and half-day options available. 0845 456 3233* *Reduced rate number www.fitforsport.co.uk July/August 2012

Dates and Venues: 23 Jul-31 Aug at Belmont Primary School, Chiswick W4 5UL, Brentham Club Ealing W5 1NP, Kensington Leisure Centre, W11 4PQ and Trailfinders Ealing W13 0DD, 2 Jul-31 Aug at Paddington Imperial College W2 1LF

Summer Activities Facepainting fun!

LITTLE KICKERS Football skills for children aged 18 months to 7 years in Ealing and Uxbridge.

Classes take place through the summer holidays.

020 3092 1313 e:gware@littlekickers.co.uk www.littlekickers.co.uk

Little Mugs Face Painting

MI SPORTS 30 July-17 Aug MULTI-SPORTS SESSIONS from 10am-3pm www.mi-sport.co/ealing or 07894 540257

www.facebook.com/ littlemugsfacepainting

Professional face painter for any event

07946640669

COOKERY COOKIE CRUMBLES For ages 5-12 at 58 Pembroke Rd, London W8 6NX 020 8876 9912 www.cookiecrumbles.co.uk 24 July and 14 Aug AMERICAN CUPCAKES AND MILKSHAKES 2-5pm. Recipes will include red velvet, Oreo cookies and Malteser cupcakes followed by some delicious milkshakes. 5-12 yrs.

27 July OLYMPIC FUN IN THE SUN 2-5pm.

Delicious smoothies, followed by energy muffins and chocolate medals. 5-12 yrs.

3 Aug LITTLE ITALY 10am-12 noon, Focaccia, Beef Meatballs in Tomato Sauce and ice cream sundae. 4-8yrs.

3 Aug BIG ITALY 2-6pm, Lasagne, ravioli, biscotti and of course some delicious semifreddo ice cream. 9-16 yrs.

6 Aug AFTERNOON TEA 2-5pm, Scones, iced fancies, tea biscuits and more. 6-11yrs.

9/10 Aug TEENAGE SURVIVAL WORKSHOP 10.30am-4pm, Basic cookery skills for ages 13-17.

17 Aug LITTLE CHINESE BANQUET 10-12.30pm 4-8 years and 2-6pm 9-15 yrs.

Stir-fried noodles, dim sum, sweet and sour chicken and more.

21 Aug LITTLE /BIG DINNER MENU Cook and eat a 3-course meal.10am-12.3opm for 4-8yrs and 2-6pm for 9-15 yrs.

28 Aug TRULY MADLY PASTA 2-6pm, Handson pasta making as well as sauces and some delicious puddings. 5-12yrs.

30 Aug NEW YORK DINER 10am–12.30pm for 4-8 yrs and 2-6pm for 9-15 yrs. Homemade chips, burgers, New York cheese cake, gooey brownies, cinnamon swirls and tortilla crisps. 4-8 yrs.

PREPARATION FOR 11+ FLEET TUTORS 13-31 Aug If your child is sitting an entrance test for a grammar or independent school, you may need to think about using the summer holidays to get a head start on preparing for the test.

Recent results show that over 80% of students exceed their predicted scores in public exams when a reputable tuition provider is commissioned. Mylene Curtis, Managing Director of ‘Fleet Tutors’, says “parental feedback following our intensive, small group ‘11+ Examination Preparation Courses’ is overwhelmingly positive, with parents reporting excellent results and many students receiving offers from their first choice schools.”

Typically, 11+ exam preparation courses are designed for small groups of 10 and 11 year olds – with a maximum class size of 5 or 6 learners. Fleet Tutors not only uses past examination papers but has also developed its own comprehensive learning materials to support their targeted revision programmes. “We should have approached Fleet Tutors earlier! The sessions were helpful and my son has increased confidence for the exam having attended your revision course.” (Parent, Chessington, Surrey) Courses take place in Chiswick.

Call 020 8580 3911 or 0845 644 5452 or e:clientsupport@fleet-tutors.co.uk

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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© Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

What's On

Diary Dates RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW 3 - 8 Jul An idyllic setting for a day of home-grown fun. Enough ideas, plants and gardening products to tempt gardeners of all ages. Tickets £14.50-£32.50) from www.rhs.org.uk 0844 338 7505 ACTON CARNIVAL 7 Jul 12-7pm, at Acton Park. Entry £2, children under 12 free. A vibrant grassroots community festival with music, dance, performance, exhibits and food. The carnival procession leaves at 12pm travelling from Woodlands Park on Crown Street, down the High Street to the festival site in Acton Park.

TABERNACLE SCHOOL FETE 7 Jul at Avondale Park, London W11. 12-4pm, bouncy castle, stalls, International food, bric -a brac, face Painting, nails.

KENSINGTON NCT MUMS NIGHT OUT 10 Jul 8pm, at The Queen’s Head Pub, 13 Brook Green, W6 7BL – a chance to unwind, chat and make some new friends. Reservation has been made under “Miranda Thwaites”; confirm attendance on the NCT Kensington Facebook Page.

TODDLER OLYMPICS 11 Jul, 10am-12pm at Kensington Gardens. Olympic-inspired fun with Local early-years sports specialists, Active Planet.

They will be running three, 30-minute sessions of organised games for children, (suitable for children 18 months +).Plus a face-painter, singing, medals handed out. Bring along a rug and picnic lunch. Free but registration essential on www.nctkensingtonolympics.eventbrite.com BBC PROMS 13 Jul-8 Sept Classical music festival at the Royal Albert Hall. Plenty of concerts for families including the Wallace and Grommit Prom on 29 Jul. See the full list on www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2012/ categories/for-families PORTOBELLO ROAD ARTS DAY 14 Jul 1-4pm, A fun afternoon of street theatre and arts for all the family in Portobello Road, W10. Free.

THE SANDPIT 15 Jul 2.30-6pm in Holland Park.

Explore an afternoon of games and playful activity designed by a range of game designers, theatremakers and technologists. For ages 10-18.

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

FESTIVAL OF SACRED ART AND MUSIC 19-22 Jul, at St Barnabas Church, Pitshanger Lane, W5. Artists from London will exhibit work on the theme of Sacred Art, (any visual media intended to inspire, enlighten or praise spiritual values of any faith.) Events include a Champagne Reception with live jazz, a ‘Come and Sing’ daytime rehearsal and evening performance of Handel’s Messiah which will be open to all singers and an afternoon ‘mini Glyndebourne’ picnic with champagne. Details on www.barnabites.org/artsfestival BIG DANCE BUS - EALING 11 Jul 3-7pm at Haven Green, Ealing. This quirky double-decker Routemaster is a pop-up rave with music, compere and DJ. Suitable for all the family, free.

BT RIVER OF MUSIC 21 and 22 Jul The two-day celebration will feature free concerts along the banks of the river Thames, starring musical talent from Olympic countries around the world. “A World of Music in London”- Six stages will host music from the world's major continents: • Asia in Battersea Park • Africa in London Pleasure Gardens • Europe in Trafalgar Square and Somerset House • The Americas at the Tower of London • Oceania at the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich OLYMPIC TORCH PROCESSION AND TEA PARTY 26 Jul 2.30-6pm at Music House for Children, Shepherds Bush. Tea party to celebrate the Olympic torch going past the venue. Also stalls, flag making, sing-along and Olympic sports and games. £3 adult, £1 children includes tea and cakes. Book on 020 8932 2652. www.musichouseforchildren.co.uk WAKE UP THE NATION! 27 Jul. At 8am people all across the UK will ring bells for three minutes to perform artist Martin Creed’s Work No. 1197.

Hand bells, door bells, bicycle bells, church bells, school bells, last orders bells, dinner bells… where there is a bell, there can be someone to ring it! To find out how to take part, visit www.allthebells.com

NCT CHISWICK AND HAMMERSMITH NEW MUMS MEET 8 Aug 2pm, in Starbucks 376 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 5TF. Contact: Armardeep_cooner@hotmail.com NCT CHEEKY MONKEYS TEA PARY 17 Aug 12 noon in Holland Park, Ilchester Place, Kensington, W8. Play games, eat cake and meet other parents. Lots of entertainment, food stalls, goody bags and prizes to be won in the tombola.

All the money raised will go towards helping NCT to reach more parents from all backgrounds. Contact Miranda Thwaites e:nctkensington@yahoo.co.uk 0844 243 0007 02 LONDON MELA 19 Aug in Gunnersbury Park, W3, Free entry. A festival inspired by South Asian culture. Entertainment includes classical and new music, as well as street arts, dance, visual arts, a giant funfair, comedy, and food stalls offering cuisine from around the world. In 2012 the O2 London Mela celebrates its 10th birthday and the Olympics coming to London. Festival highlights include music from the Philharmonia Orchestra and a 300-person parade with giant floats and amazing costumes. www.londonmela.org PARTY ON THE PIER 19 Aug Family fun day on and off the river at Chiswick Pier starting at 11.30am. Free boat trips every 45 minutes, canoe taster sessions, stalls, BBQ, refreshments, and music. Also Amanda’s Action Club sessions, face painting, ice cream and bouncy castle. www.chiswickpier.org.uk NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 26 and 27 Aug Europe’s biggest street festival. Details on www.thenottinghillcarnival.com BOOK SWAP & STORYTELLING IN THE PARK 29 Aug 10am-12noon in Kensington Gardens. Join NCT Kensington & Chelsea for some reading fun in the park. Bring along a children’s book that you’re willing to swap (in good condition). Also Storytelling session.

Bring a rug and picnic. Free, suitable for parents with children aged 1+ www.nctkensingtonbooks.eventbrite.co.uk.

There are lots more things to do in the 'What's On' section of our website. Go to www.familieswest.co.uk July/August 2012

For children aged from 2 to 5 years. The nursery follows the Montessori method. We also offer, French, Ballet, Music, IT, Art and Drama.

Full and part time sessions are available. Qualified and experienced teachers maintain a high standard of learning and care. * Excellent academic record * Caring and nurturing environment * Happy, considerate and confident children

Tel no: 0208 579 2304 Mobile no: 07956 228 959 Email: info@stmatthewsmontessori.com Website: www.stmatthewsmontessori.com

Bilingual education since 1996 The Kensington Gardens Nursery School Bilingual Nursery School French/English Group of International nursery schools W2 SW7 SW1

Lancaster Gate • Bayswater • Notting Hill Gate Queen’s Gate Knightsbridge

All schools have native language teachers, excellent facilities and lovely outside playground/garden

• • • •

For children from 1 to 5 years old Morning and afternoon sessions Full time sessions Summer school in July and August

The Spanish Nursery School Bilingual Nursery School Spanish/English • • • •

For a brochure please call Marie-Laurence Edmonstone 020 7259 21 51 marie-laurence@edmonstone.com

For children from 1 to 5 years old Morning and afternoon sessions Full time sessions Summer school in July and August

To advertise in Families West please email adverts@familieswest.co.uk or phone 020 8930 4707 When you contact us, please say that you saw our advert in Families West!

July/August 2012

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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What's On The London 2012 Games: a summer spectacular After years of effort, dedication and anticipation, it’s nearly here! The London 2012 Games marks a defining moment for athletes of Team GB and Paralympics GB – a chance to show the world what they can do on home soil.

London 2012 will be remembered for years to come. There are all kinds of activities for the family to enjoy together. Whether you continue to follow the Olympic Flame, catch the action at a host of venues, or watch the action on big screens across the UK, there is a lot to do and see this summer.

London 2012 for free If you were not lucky enough to get Olympic or Paralympic tickets, you can still see some of the world’s top athletes in action this summer.

Some of the best open-air action is free to enjoy without tickets. Events like the marathon and road races offer the chance to see worldclass athletes in peak performances against the magnificent backdrop of the London skyline.

London 2012 on the big screen If you can’t make it to any of the regional venues, why not head to your local live site. BT London Live Hyde Park, one of the eight Royal Parks, will deliver unparalleled viewing of the Olympic Games via a series of big screens, including the largest one in the UK. The live BBC coverage will include London 2012 medal events, with cultural entertainment and live music also on offer. It will be free to access between 28 July and 11 August. (The Opening Ceremony Celebration Concert on July 27 and the Closing Ceremony Celebration Concert on August 12 will be ticketed.) There are three options for visiting • •

•

Walk in on the day from 11am.

Get a guaranteed entry ticket – up to four tickets per person will be available to be booked, in advance, for entry into BT London Live Hyde Park, before 2pm, on a specified day. There is no limit to the number of days you can guarantee your entry for. These tickets will not be available for the Opening and Closing Ceremony Celebration Concerts. Lots of activities will be on at the park including tennis, lacrosse, football, volleyball and basketball organised by Sport England.

There will be 4 giant screens to watch all the Olympic action as well as live music acts and refreshments.

The Opening and Closing Ceremony Celebration Concerts at Hyde Park on July 27 and August 12 will be ticketed.

Tickets will be available via www. btlondonlive.com

Visit www.london2012.com/ join-in for more details.

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

© Antoine Douaihy

London 2012 Festival

Opening Night in

The London 2012 Festival is the biggest festival the UK has ever seen and features 12,000 events and performances at over 900 venues featuring artists from across the world coming together in celebration of the Games. The Festival started in June and runs through to the 9th September when the Paralympic Games end and the Games are handed over to Rio.

Super Saturday

The Festival is all about getting involved – so why not bring the kids along. There are many events you can attend that are family friendly and in every corner of the UK. Visit www. London2012.com/ festival for a full list of events you can enjoy.

London 2012 Join In

The world will be watching the UK as the Opening Ceremonies announce the start of London 2012.

Get in on the action and host your own VIP screening for friends, family and neighbours.

On Saturday 4 August a massive 25 gold medals will be awarded at the London 2012 Olympic Games. What better way to celebrate the gold rush than getting your whole community fired up with a sizzling BBQ?

Whatever you do this summer, make sure you celebrate the greatest sporting event in the world and enjoy a summer like no other.

Celebrate the Games at home with friends, family and neighbours; here are some hints and tips to make your event memorable:

Free events in London Road cycling: 28 July – 1 August The Road Cycling starts at The Mall and ends at Hampton Court Palace.

Triathlon: 4 – 7 August The gruelling triathlon schedule includes swimming, cycling and running – all taking place in Hyde Park.

The Marathon: 12 August The Olympic Marathon has around 80 athletic competitors and will pass landmarks such as the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.

Key dates 27 July The Opening Ceremony

28 July The Olympic Games begin

12 August The Closing Ceremony

24 – 29 August The Paralympic Torch Relay

29 August The Paralympic Games begin

The Paralympic Torch Relay The London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay will begin in London on Friday 24 August with the lighting of England’s Flame. The UK’s other three capital cities – Greater Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh will then light a flame on each of the following days, at special Flame lighting events. Once a Flame has been lit, it will visit local community groups and key locations in and around the city.

Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony Each Flame will then be taken to Stoke Mandeville, home of the Paralympic Movement where the four flames will be combined at a Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony on 28 August to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame. There will then be a 24-hour Torch Relay from Stoke Mandeville.

Torchbearers working in teams of five will carry the Paralympic Flame to the Olympic Stadium to light the Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

July/August 2012

What's On Days out

SYON HOUSE & GARDENS London Road, Middlesex TW8 8JG 020 8758 1888 www.syonpark.co.uk

HOLLAND PARK ECOLOGY CENTRE

Open Wed, Thu, sun & Bank Hol 11am-5pm. £4/£8/£10.50 family £22. Only 10 miles from Central London. Home of The Duke of Northumberland, full of beauty and magnificence with its own wonderful parkland.

020 7938 8186 www.rbkc.gov.uk/ecology 7 July BIRD AND NATURE WALK IN HOLLAND PARK A guided nature walk around Holland Park. 9am, meet at Lord Holland’s statue www.thefriendsofhollandpark.org 020 7602 0304

To 22 Jul. EXCAVATION AND COMMUNITY DIG Training excavation which will provide two structured five-day course, (July 9-22 inclusive) for both beginners and the more experienced, covering aspects of site survey, excavation and recording. The community Dig (July 2-6) will provide opportunities for all ages to come to the site for short periods to have a taste of archaeological excavation. More info: communityarchaeology@museumoflondon.org.uk

23 Jul-5 Sept SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES Environmental themed, outdoor and creative activities for children.

26 July WILDLIFE AREA OPEN EVENING 6-8pm, Discover the plants and animals of the wildlife area and do a bit of pond-dipping. Suitable for all ages, Free, drop-in event.

31 Aug BAT WALK FOR KIDS Discover the dark, fascinating and secret world of bats by searching for them with bat detectors. 7.30-9pm, for ages 5-10. Booking essential on 020 7938 8186 e:ecology@rbkc.gov.uk

WWT WETLAND CENTRE Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT. 020 8409 4400 www.wwt.org.uk Daily 9.30am - 5pm £4.95/ £8.95, under 4s free, family £25. A spectacular 105 acre wetland landscape of lagoons, lakes and ponds which offers a safe haven for hundreds of wild bird species, dragonflies, bats and amphibians.

REGULAR EVENTS: FEED THE BIRDS with a warden at 3pm everyday, walk with a warden weekends at 12noon, GUIDE IN THE HIDE every Mon, Tues, Thurs and Sat 11am-1pm and PUSHBABIES 9.30-10.30am Tues and Thurs. £6

© WWT Wetland Centre

7 July SUMMER WILDLIFE AREA OPEN DAY Explore the normally closed wildlife area and discover its fauna and flora. 2-6pm.

ODDS FARM PARK Wooburn Common Road, Wooburn Common, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 0LX 01628 520188 www.oddsfarm.co.uk Open every day 10am-5.30pm, £9.50 adults, £8.50 children, under 2’s free. Children can get up close to whole range of rare breed farm animals as well as play in the heated barn with haybales to climb, a soft play park, indoor sandpit and games area.

Jul and Aug OLYMPIC SUMMER AT ODDS FARM PARK Extra activities include Sheep racing with a specially built mini race track with jumps and bends, eager sheep and miniature jockeys. Also, a Maize Maze, Tractor and Trailer Rides, Go Karts and furry friends in the large Undercover Animal Barns. Plus, within the Giant Indoor Playbarn, you’ll find a massive adventure play area including 4 lane Astra Slide, 2 large drop slides, a netted area with zig-zag chicanes and tunnels, and a swinging rope. Plus special Toddler and Under 5’s areas.

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN Until 15 Jul Make butterfly feeders, natural picture frames and go pond dipping.

19 and 26 Jul and 2, 9, 23 and 30 Aug BIG BAT WALK for children aged 8+ Learn about bats and see them in the reserve. (bat detectors provided) Times vary with sunset. £10. Book ahead on 020 8409 4400 21 and 22 Jul TRADITIONAL CRAFTS WEEKEND 11am-4pm, See skilled professional demonstrate their skills at making felt, stained glass, jewellery, ceramics, mosaics, spinning, weaving, knitting and much more using the raw materials provided by the wetlands. Children can have a go at some activities.

21 Jul-12 Aug WETLAND OLYMPICS Encounter some more record breaking wetland animals, weave Olympic rings and go pond dipping.

2 Aug FAMILY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY 10am-3pm. Talk and practical photography session for ages 8-16. £40 per parent and child.

10 and 17 Aug NIGHT SAFARI For children aged 7+, an exciting evening in the wild exploring animals and the elements. Make a fire, listen to stories, do pond dipping at twilight and go on a bat walk. £20 per child. Booking is essential: call 020 8409 4400.

13 Aug – 2 Sept BE A WETLAND WARDEN Join the junior wetland warden team for the day, help build animal refuges and carry out mini wildlife surveys.

July/August 2012

BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN’S ZOO Battersea Park, Chelsea Bridge Gate, London SW11 020 7924 5826 www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk 10am-4.30pm. Adult £7.95 children (2-15) £6.50 family £26. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Usual entrance fee applies for activities.

OSTERLEY PARK Jersey Road, Isleworth, Middlesex 020 8232 5050 www.nationaltrust.org.uk Opening hours: Gardens are open every day from 8am-6pm; house and café are open Weds to Sun 12.30-4.30pm. Cost: £3.80 per adult, £1.90 per child for gardens. £8.70 per adult, £4.35 per child, £21.75 family for entry to Osterley House.

A spectacular mansion surrounded by gardens, park and farmland makes this an ideal place to come with the family. Lovely place to walk followed by a cup of tea and a cake in the café.

Every Thurs in the school holidays OSTERLEY CRAFT CART 1-4pm. Trails and simple craft activities for families. Drop-in Thurs from 26 July-30 Aug 50 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU'RE 11 ¾. Outdoor themed activities for families to tie in with the National Trust '50 things to do before you're 11 ¾' campaign – see www.50things.org.uk Drop-in, for ages 3-12. 1-4pm.

29 Jul and 26 Aug FAMILY DISCOVERY DAY Art, craft and storytelling activities from 1-4.30pm.

9-12 Aug. CINEMA UNDER THE STARS Come and watch your favourite film under the stars.

KENSINGTON PALACE Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX 0844 482 7777 www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace Until 4 Nov JUBILEE: A VIEW FROM THE CROWD This new exhibition will explore Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee of 1897 from the point of view of those who celebrated it and will include a range of specially selected objects which demonstrate the wealth of different celebrations, from museum collections and private landers.

7, 8 Jul THE KENSINGTON PALACE PARTY. 12noon-5pm Hosted in the grounds, take part in Victorian country dancing, rock and roll and Morris dancing- all classes suitable for beginners.

Performances, craft activities and storytelling will also be taking place throughout the weekend.

Free, classes will be on a first come basis.

20 Jul FRIDAY LATES: VICTORIAN RULES! Exclusive activities include pop-up history talks, live music, making activities and special food and drink deals.

TOWER OF LONDON Tower Hill, London EC3 0844 482 7799 www.hrp.org.uk Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-5.30pm £10.45/£17.60/£20.90, family £55, under 5 free.

Top ten things to do with children at the Tower of London on www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/ TowerActivitiesforfamilies SPECIAL EVENT: Weekends in August and Bank Holiday Monday AN AFFAIR OF HONOUR A historical re-enactment- Swords are drawn and pistols flare as restoration rakes settle their differences 17th century-style. Goaded on

by King’s stunning mistress, Barbara Villiers and under the watchful eye of famous diarist Samuel Pepys, the duellists prepare for bloodshed.

SUMMER OPENING OF PARLIAMENT TOURS Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, St Margaret Street, Westminster, London SW1A. 0844 847 2498 29 Jul-1 Oct. TOURS take in some of the most significant Palace areas where Parliament meets and explain what Parliament is, how it works and call attention to its journey from the past to the present. £6/£10/£15 family £37 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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What's On

© HMS Belfast

EXHIBITIONS: To 16 Sept ANIMAL INSIDE OUT An anatomical safari of the natural world £6/£9, family £27 To 2 Sept SCOTT’S LAST EXPEDITION The Terra Nova expedition to Antarctica.

To 30 Sept WILD PLANET Free outdoor exhibition featuring shots from Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

INTERACTIVE FILM: WHO DO YOU THINK YOU REALLY ARE Make a virtual journey back through your evolutionary past to where extinct creatures appear to roam around you in the studio.

Everyday at 3.30pm and weekends at 11am.

SPECIAL EVENT: 1 Jul INSECT DAY Hands-on activities, crafts, Nature Live shows and bug hunts in the Wildlife Garden. 12 noon-5pm.

14 and 25 Jul ANIMAL VISION FOR FAMILIES A scientific show investigating the world only visible to certain reptiles and invertebrates.

10.30am, 11.30am and 1.30pm. Free.

HMS BELFAST Moored on the Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. The Queen's Walk, London, SE1 2JH 020 7940 6300 www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast

SCIENCE MUSEUM

Open 10am-6pm. £14 adults, children under 16 free. Launched in 1938 and served with distinction in both the Second World War and the Korean War, this is the only surviving example of the great fleets of big gun armoured warships built for the Royal Navy in the first half of the twentieth century.

Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DD 0870 870 4868 www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Open 10am-6pm daily (Until 10pm from 28 Jul-5 Aug). Free FAMILY ACTIVITIES: EVERY DAY LAUNCHPAD SCIENCE SHOWS – free interactive science gallery where you can launch a rocket, turn your head into a sound box and control a magnetic cloud. Plus science shows for ages 8-14 years old.

IMAX AND 3D EXPERIENCES - Born to be Wild 3D (U), Hubble 3D, Wild Ocean 3D, Deep Sea 3D, Sea Monsters 3D, Fly me to the Moon 3D, Space Station 3D (20 Jul-20 Aug – Batman)

GUN TURRET EXPERIENCE A chance to see what fighting at sea would have really been like.

Lights, audio, projections and movement will recreate the experience, highlighting the hectic and cramped conditions that would have seen twenty-six men in this confined space at any one time.

INTERACTIVE OPERATIONS ROOM The nerve centre and brain of the entire ship has been updated with exciting interactives – rotating radar screens and two large touch screen interactive games based on the real-life Pony Express exercise of 1961.

EXHIBITIONS: To 28 July PALACES – a participatory artwork made from thousands of milk teeth donated by children around the UK. Standing two metres high, the sculpture resembles a coral castle under water.

CODEBREAKER – ALAN TURING’S LIFE AND LEGACY Code-breaking, computing, mathematics, artificial intelligence and biology.

SUMMER OF SPORT – Mobility, speed, precision and sustainability - who needs it? Athletes and engineers. Find out how science and technology will deliver an excellent performance at the Games this summer and in future.

SIGNS, SYMBOLS AND SECRETS: An illustrated guide to alchemy.

7-8 July POINTS ON A COMPASS Drop in 11am - 12.30pm and 2 - 4pm. Find out more about the countries, cultures and journeys HMS Belfast has taken whilst in service.

Free informal event suitable for all ages but only with parental supervision.

11-19 Aug TATTOO T-SHIRTS 11am - 12.30pm and 2 - 4pm. Design your own tattoo designs on t-shirts and learn all about the traditions behind original naval tattoos. Free drop-in event suitable for all ages but only with parental supervision.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: ANTENNA LIVE SCIENCE-Volunteer to take part in cutting-edge experiments conducted by visiting scientists.

Suitable for visitors aged 7+.

Museums and Galleries

In July and Aug – EXHIBITIONS: • Will phones replace cash and cards? Turn your phone in to a ‘mobile wallet’.

• How can new technology improve mobility?

Looking at how two prosthetic legs, the Genium Bionic Prosthetic System and the running blade improve mobility for different uses.

• Can simple design give us a sustainable future?

Aerodynamic bikes and efficient stadiums.

• Will wearable sensors advance sports training?

From 20 July, seeing how scientists at Imperial College created small, smart sensors that give the low-down on health and performance without big bulky kit.

LIVE EVENTS: 14-17 Aug SUPER SPEEDY SPRINT 11am-4pm.

See what difference shoes can make to an athlete’s performance.

28-30 Aug DRUG WARS 11am-4pm. The use of illegal drugs and legitimate medicines in sports.

Other live events are planned. Look on the website for further details.

A COCKROACH TOUR OF THE MUSEUM Dress up in a cockroach costume and explore the impact on the climate of scientific and technological developments from the perspective of a cockroach. Every weekend in Aug. Book on 0870 870 4868.

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM LONDON Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ 020 7416 5320/5321 www.iwm.org.uk 10am-6pm EXHIBITIONS: A FAMILY IN WARTIME Life on the home front, during the Second World War, through the eyes of one London family. Free.

To Oct. BUILD THE TRUCE At the first Olympic Games in 776BC an ”Olympic Truce” was created in order to enable athletes from Greece’s warring cities to travel and compete in safety.

Reinstated at the 1992 Games the Olympic Truce continues to exist today. Visitors will be able to explore the concept of truce, from challenging notions about the inevitability of war, through to truce as a method of conflict resolution and what it can mean on a practical level.

FAMILY EVENTS: 21-22 Jul and 25-31 Aug BUILD THE TRUCE 11am-1pm and 2-4pm. Hear a slimy story of slugs, snails and truce time tales and do some related artwork. Free drop-in activities for all ages.

4-12 Aug 'MAKE DO AND MEND' QUILT 11am - 1pm and 2 - 4.00pm Create a 'Make Do and Mend' quilt in this communal art activity. Free drop-in activities for all ages.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM

Cromwell Road, London SW7 020 7938 9123 Info: Mon-Fri 020 7942 5000.

Sat & Sun 020 7942 5011 www.nhm.ac.uk

Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH 020 7601 5545 www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum

Mon-Sat: 10am – 5.50pm Sun 11am-5.50pm.

Free. Home to the nation’s finest collection of natural history specimens.

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

© Science Museum

WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: 11am-5pm. ACTIVITIES range from scientific specimens at special handling stations around the galleries, Explorer backpacks and natural history specimens, ranging from a shark jaw to a meteorite as old as the Earth. Science educators are there to help you with your investigations.

For ages 7+

Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Free 23 Jul-31 Aug. A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY Visit the exhibition “Gold and the Bank of England” then make a gold bar-shaped money box to take home. Enter the gold quiz competition to win prizes. There will be a special lunchtime presentations about gold in the Museum cinema at 1.15pm

July/August 2012

What's On BRITISH MUSEUM Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG 020 7323 8299 www.britishmuseum.org Free, open daily 10am-5.30p, (until 8.30 on Fridays.)

EXHIBITIONS: Until 9 Sept. THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES MEDALS The story of the production of the medals for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, from the mining of the metal to the creation of the designs. See examples of both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic victory medals, shown here publicly for the first time. Free 19 Jul-25 Nov. SHAKESPEARE STAGING THE WORLD A unique insight into the emerging role of London as a world city seen through the innovative perspective of Shakespeare’s plays.

16-18yrs £12, adults £14, under 16 free accompanied by paying adult.

WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN: 1, 21 Jul DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY DAY 11.30am-3.30pm, Choose from a menu of exciting activities to do in the Centre or in the galleries, using digital cameras, costumes and more. For age 3+, drop-in.

7 Jul, 25 Aug PASSPORT TO THE AFTERLIFE 11.30am-3.30pm, Reality trail around the Egyptian galleries.

17 and 24 Aug SHAKESPEARE IN THE SUMMER 11am-4pm, Art and storytelling workshop, all ages.

AGE 7+ WORKSHOPS: 11am and 2pm, booking advised.

8, 14, 15 Jul and 5, 12 Aug ANIMATION WORKSHOP Use video cameras and stopmotion software.

18 Aug GREEN SCREEN TIME MACHINE Use a green screen and Photoshop to create a picture of yourself interacting with Museum objects. (11.30am-3.30pm) 19 Aug MANGA COMICS Create your own Japanese manga characters and comic book.

26 Aug MUSEUM REPORTER Become a journalist for the day and follow clues around the galleries using mobile phones.

AGE 13-18 WORKSHOPS: 11am and 2.30pm, booking advised.

14 Jul CHIPTUNE MUSIC WORKSHOP 22 Jul FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY Run a photoshoot using a digital SLR using vintage clothing and handmade accessories.

29 Jul ILLUSTRATION AND PRINT Join a professional illustrator to design your own prints, both hand-drawn and using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

Details of all events on: www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/family

NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HT 020 7730 0717 www.nam.ac.uk Daily 10am-5.30pm. Free EXHIBITION: To 31 Aug. WAR HORSE: FACT & FICTION A new major hands-on exhibition exploring the true history behind the hugely popular “War Horse” novel by Michael Morpugo. Free.

NEW. JUBILEE: 60 YEARS OF THE SOVEREIGN AND HER SOLDIERS Key exhibition items include: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s original Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) uniform, Diamond Jubilee Medal, The Queen Elizabeth July/August 2012

Cross awarded to next of kin, a timetable of Princess Elizabeth’s ATS activities, 1945 and also eye-witness accounts describing The Queen’s coronation.

ACTIONS ZONES – VICTORIAN SOLDIERS ACTION ZONE Quizzes, games and hands-on activities help you learn about life as a Victorian Soldier and the part they played in the shaping of Britain’s Empire. Free, in “Changing the World Gallery”. KID’S ZONE Daily 10.10am-5.15pm.

This new children’s play area explores aspects of army life from camping to clothing and includes a dedicated soft play space for babies, plus art and crafts, dressing-up costumes, books, interactive toys and panels. Adm charge applies. www.nam.ac.uk/kids

THE NATIONAL GALLERY Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN 020 7747 2894/2885 www.nationalgallery.org.uk FAMILY ACTIVITIES: FAMILY SUNDAYS Free hands-on art workshops at 11am & 2pm every Sunday.

1 and 15 Jul JUMP FOR VICTORY Discover mythological characters, creatures and competitions and make a trophy to present at your very own games.

8 Jul RELAY MIX Experiment with the art of relay drawing - Try out different speeds, materials and shapes in collage competitions and family drawing events.

22, 29 Jul and 5 Aug BODIES IN MOTION Explore the body in motion at these clothed lifedrawing sessions. See www.nationalgallery.org.uk/ families for later dates.

Also MAGIC CARPET STORYTELLING For age 2-5, 11.30am–12 noon and 12.30–1pm. Fly away on the magic carpet, which comes to land in front of a different painting each day.

FAMILY WALK AND TALK – a themed journey through the collection where a guide will walk, talk and bring paintings alive! 12.30–1.30pm.

1 July (Greek Myths). More dates tba on www.nationalgallery.org.uk/families EXHIBITION: 11Jul-23 Sept METAMORPHOSIS: Looking at change and transformation through inspiration and sport.

Until 16 Sept TAKE ONE PICTURE: PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN INSPIRED BY VERONESE A range of creative responses to Veronese’s Family of Darius before Alexander.

SUMMER HOLIDAYS: Art Labs are new, short, focused, and experimental art sessions showing how to do specific tasks.

12-14 Aug 3D POUSSIN STUDIO SESSIONS 11am and 2pm for ages 5-11. Experiment with life drawing and mini-model making in these sessions inspired by the artist Poussin.

19-21, 26-28 Aug PARADISE FOUND + ART LABS. For all ages, drop-in 11am-3pm. Look at landscapes and create a meadow.

13 and 20 Aug TALK AND PLAY For ages 2-5 11.30am-1pm, Meet Madame de Seignelay and friends: Talk, play, sing and create.

13 Aug FREE PLAY 2-3.30pm and 27 Aug 11.30am-1pm. Independent exploration of paintings for parents and children. Drop in.

14, 21 and 28 Aug DRAWING STORIES 11.30am -12.30pm, Tell a story through art and play.

THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE 020 7306 0055 www.npg.org.uk/events Open every day 10am-6pm, (Thurs and Fri until 9pm) FAMILY EVENTS: 21 Jul and 18 Aug STORYTELLING No ticket required. Sessions last approximately 45 minutes.

For ages 3+ 10.30am and 1.30pm.

21 Jul and 18 Aug FAMILY ART WORKSHOPS Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis.

For ages 5+ Explore portraits in the Collection, followed by an art activity. 11.30am and 2.30pm.

SUMMER HOLIDAY ART WORKSHOPS: 30 Jul – 24 Aug FAMILY DROP-IN ART WORKSHOPS 11am-4pm, Take inspiration from the BP Portrait Award 2012. Workshops include animation, making 3D portraits and creating sculptures. Also Family Trail. (Also on 2 Aug, 1-4pm with BSL interpretation.)

FAMILY AUDIO GUIDE £6 for up to five audio players, £4 for two audio players (one adult and one child). Explore amazing facts and stories about people in the Collection with specially recorded tours and interactive touch-screen players. Suitable for ages 7–11.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN 020 7563 9500 www.wallacecollection.org 10am-5pm, free DAILY SELF-GUIDED ACTIVITIES include a family multimedia tour, with interactive games, free armour handling and a selection of free gallery trails. No need to book.

EVENTS FOR FAMILIES: Booking essential on 020 7563 9527 or booking@wallacecollection.org 1 July/ 5 Aug THE LITTLE DRAW 1.30-4.30pm, Free drop-in drawing workshop for all ages with artist and illustrator Anna Saunders. Learn about looking, drawing and interpretation.

23 July BUGS AND BUTTERFLIES 10.30am- 12.30pm or 2-4pm, £7 per child, ages 7+. Create your own creepy crawly or fancy butterfly window sticker with inspiration from Dutch still life paintings.

24-27 July FOUR-DAY JUNIOR SUMMER ART SCHOOL For ages 10+ 24/25 July – BE DAZZLED 10.30am-3.30pm.

Oil painting techniques. £22 per child for each two-day workshop or £40 for both workshops.

26/27 July GODS AND MONSTERS SCULPTURE WORKSHOP 10.30am-3.30pm.

Create your own god or monster using wire, mod roc and sculpt with plaster.

14/15 Aug DROP-IN ART ACTIVITIES 2-4pm, free. Follow a trail around the galleries before taking part in the art activity.

30/31 Aug QR CODE TREASURE HUNT 11am4pm, free. Use your smartphone to hunt down QR codes hidden throughout the museum. Scan them and answer their questions to win a prize.

PITZHANGER GALLERY AND HOUSE Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, Ealing, London W5 5EQ 020 8567 1227 Tue-Fri & Sun 1-5pm, Sat 11am-5pm EXHIBITION: 11 July – 2 Sept LONDON UNFURLED An exhibition of the 27ft drawings of the North and South bank of the river Thames.

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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What's On

APOLLO THEATRE – WEST END London W1D 7ES Bkg www.ticketmaster.co.uk or 0844 277 4321 GARRICK THEATRE 2 Charing Cross Road, London WC2 0HH 0844412 4662 www.barmybritainlive.com

Theatre HORRIBLE HISTORIES – BARMY BRITAIN Until 1 Sept British history is full of barmy people who did nasty things to each other. With blood, battles, murder and mayhem, explore stories from Roman, Tudor, Stuart, Georgian, Victorian and WW1 periods and find out about famous characters such as Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes, Florence Nightingale and General Earl Haig. 6yrs+ GARRICK THEATRE THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE Until 9 Sept.

This new adaptation of CS Lewis’s classic children novel by Rupert Goold will be held in a specially designed theatre tent in Kensington Gardens, and combines puppetry and hi-tech multimedia, projecting the magic of Narnia with Imax-style video backdrops. The Ultimate summer experience in the Park! THE THREESIXTY THEATRE A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Until 5 Sept Shakespeare’s enduring story of young love featuring the Open Air Theatre’s fusion of original music, movement and unique setting. REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE 1-15 Jul For ages 3+ The story tells of two cousins who visit each other, both experiencing exciting new sights and sounds. PUPPET THEATRE BARGE THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA 4 Jul - 2 Sept The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be?

What they certainly don't expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger!

Following on from the highly successful 2011 tour, the loveable tea-guzzling tiger appears in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos!

David Wood's stunning stage adaptation of Judith Kerr's picture book is fun for youngsters everywhere, and their grownups. Ages 3+. LYRIC THEATRE A WILD LIFE: AN AUDIENCE WITH STEVE BACKSHALL 8 Jul, 4pm & 7pm BAFTA winning adventurer Steve Backshall gives an illustrated talk about his worldwide expeditions, his encounters with wild wonders and the mysteries of the natural world. RICHMOND THEATRE HAIRY MACLARY AND FRIENDS 11-15 Jul “Out of the gate and off for a walk, went Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy”. Anyone with young children will recognise these immortal words instantly as the opening lines of the book Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd. Back on stage with many of the characters from the book, music, singing and several favourite stories. For ages 2-8. RIVERSIDE STUDIOS THE MAGICIAN’S DAUGHTER 14-19 Jul. Written by Michael Rosen in association with The Royal Shakespeare Company. Part of “Festival of the World” A wonderful blend of puppetry, live music and song for this captivating story of the adventures of a young girl on a magical faraway island SOUTHBANK CENTRE THE BOY WHO FELL INTO A BOOK 18-28 Jul A fantasy adventure, served up with typical Alan Ayckbourn magic and lashings of imagination. A wonderfully inventive play which emphasises the value of reading, and the power of the imagination to transport the reader to other worlds.

SOHO THEATRE SLAP DASH GALAXY 22-27 Jul Part of “Festival of the World.” Two brothers flee their home planet on a quest across the universe-an entire shadow puppet universe, made from bits of rubbish. Some parts are a bit scary for children under seven. SOUTHBANK CENTRE 26

THEATRES IN WEST LONDON

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

LYRIC THEATRE Shaftsbury Avenue, London 0844 412 4661 www.thetigerwhocametotealive.com PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Little Venice, Blomfield Road, London W9 2PF 020 7249 6876 www.puppetbarge.com REGENTS PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4NR 0844 826 4242 www.openairtheatre.org RICHMOND THEATRE The Green, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1QJ 0844 871 7651 www.ambassadortickets.com/richmond RIVERSIDE STUDIOS Crisp Road, London W6 9RL Box Office: 020 8237 1111 www.riversidestudios.co.uk SOHO THEATRE 21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE Box Office: 020 7478 0100 www.sohotheatre.com SOUTHBANK CENTRE Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX Ticket Office: 0844 875 0073 www.southbankcentre.co.uk THE THREESIXTY THEATRE Kensington Gardens (by Kensington Palace) Dial Walk, London W2 2UH. Bkg: 0844 871 7693 Info: 0844 871 7627 www.atgtickets.com UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street London SE1 2HZ 020 7645 0560 www.unicorntheatre.com WATERMANS 40 High Street, Brentford TW8 0DS 020 8232 1010 www.watermans.org.uk HANDA’S SURPRISE 17-26 Aug Part of “Festival of the World” Travel to Kenya and follow Handa as she journeys to see her best friend Akeyo, in the next village. Physical performance, puppetry, live music, song and audience participation. 2-5yrs. SOUTHBANK CENTRE NICKELODEON’S DORA THE EXPLORER LIVE! SEARCH FOR THE CITY OF LOST TOYS 28 Aug-16 Sept Dora’s fan will delight in this two act, song and dance spectacular that invites them to think, sing and play along.

The show is designed to teach kids to explore, communicate, overcome obstacles, solve puzzles and discover a diverse and exciting world..all while having lots of fun! APOLLO THEATRE ANGELINA BALLERINA – BALLET GIRLS AND HIP HOP BOYS 30 Aug – 2 Sep, Thu-Sun eves 6.30pm, Fri – Sat mats 2.30pm. Angelina Ballerina, in a new show full of singing and dancing.

Angelina and her friends think their dreams have come true when Camembert Academy wins the opportunity to dance live on the famous TV show ‘Simply Mouse Dancing’. Pre-show family activities for children on 31 Aug and 1 Sept at 10.30am and 3.30pm. RICHMOND THEATRE HOW WAS IT FOR YOU? 29 Aug – 1 Sept The Unicorn Young Company present their take on the Olympics, based on interviews with Londoners of all walks of life, from Stratford to Southwark and Tooting to Tottenham, in spectacular dance and movement pieces that let you relive the action once again. £15 adults, £10 under 21s. UNICORN THEATRE THE BEE DETECTIVE 31 Aug – 2 Sept Part of “Festival of the World” When worker bees begin to disappear Sophie will have to use all her deductive powers to solve the case and save the hive. This fun and intriguing honeybee murder mystery invites you to join the investigation and help the intrepid Sophie with her enquiries 6yrs+ SOUTHBANK CENTRE

KIDS WEEK IN THE WEST END Kids Week is the popular annual promotion that enables children aged 16 and under to go to the theatre for free when accompanied by a fullpaying adult, plus an additional 2 children can go for half price. To celebrate its 15th birthday, it will run throughout the whole of August.

Families can choose from over 35 top London shows and there will be a selection of free activities and events for children to take part in. www.kidsweek.co.uk July/August 2012

Classifieds Services

Parties

Competitions this July/August on www.familieswest.co.uk WIN... A Personalised Treasure Hunt from huntfun Go treasure hunting this summer with huntfun!

Two personalised hunts can be won!

Blueberry Playsongs Parties!

Education

Closing date 7th July.

Wonderful musical parties for 1-6 year olds.

Contact us on

020 8677 6871

WIN... A Family Ticket to Odds Farm Park 2 Family Tickets to be won, (2 adults, 2 children) Closing Date 12th July.

WIN... A Family Ticket to watch 'The Boy who Fell into a Book' WEDNESDAY 18TH – SUNDAY 29TH JULY at SOHO THEATRE 020 7478 0100 www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/ the-boy-who-fell-into-a-book Closing date 12th July

WIN... An Aquabeat MP3 Player with New Metanium Everyday One Lucky winner will win a MP3 Player worth £70. Two runners up will receive a specially designed Metanium changing bag, worth £30 each.

Closing date 1st August

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

July/August 2012