Families Hampshire West Mar/Apr 22 DIGITAL

FREE

IN THIS ISSUE

What’s On Easter Clubs & Classes Travel

March/April 2022

Familiesonline.co.uk

Familiesonline.co.uk March/April 1

CONTENTS

Welcome

Spring at Exbury Gardens

We’re really looking forward to spring here at Families and in preparation, here’s our Easter magazine. Find Easter crafts, cooking, outdoor fun and our yummiest Easter egg selection!

Get out and about with the family again.

Plan a unique UK wildlife encounter and find those lesser-visited location spots in our Travel section.

With the cost-of-living increasing, saving money is on everyone’s mind. Read our top tips in Family life section.

In this issue 3

Clubs & classes

Do you have a child starting school in September? Then you’ll want to download our free School Starters Planner taster edition.

7

What’s on

Finally, we have lots of DoodleJamz toys to give away! So make sure you apply for this squishy, squashy, sensory but messfree drawing pad for your child. And sign up at familiesmag.co.uk/go to receive every issue of this magazine free to your inbox.

20 Spring outdoors

10 Education 17 Easter

Competition winners from our November/December issue

40 Bedford Place, Southampton SO15 2DG. Tel: 023 80 226542 www.wjfrenchandson.co.uk

2 March/April

25 Health 26 Family life 28 Early years 30 Mother’s Day gifts

Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list here.

Award winning family shoe retailer

22 Travel

Get in touch

HUGE CHOICE MAXIMUM COMFORT THE BEST FIT

We are the largest independent shoe shop in Hampshire and have been providing excellent customer service for over 200 years.

Easy parking opposite the shop

Familiesonline.co.uk

CLUBS & CLASSES

Perform classes will build your child’s confidence Perform puts children’s social development at the heart of its weekly sessions for ages 4 to 7 and 7 to 12. Using performing arts-based games and inspiring activities, classes are designed to boost confidence, build concentration, develop communication skills and hone co-ordination – and are brimming with fun and laughter too.

Run by professionally trained actors, dancers and singers, classes are small to ensure individual attention, with regular progress reports provided. Free apps, music downloads and dance videos support each theme, meaning the fun continues at home! But don’t just take Perform’s word for it, see what parents say HERE.

***SPECIAL OFFER*** Perform is offering Families readers a special £40 introductory discount on bookings made by 31 March – just quote HW310322

‘The beaming smile you see when Annabelle finishes a class is so wonderful to see. She has grown in confidence and thoroughly enjoys it.’

Katie Pashley Regardless of when children join in the term, they can still take part in the end of term performance.

Classes are for all abilities; just prepare your child for the best fun of the week!

Book a no-obligation FREE trial class in Southampton, Winchester, Lymington, Romsey and Chandler’s Ford HERE, email or call 020 7255 9120.

Familiesonline.co.uk

Book Today! bit.ly/forestholidayclubs

Social Distancing Age 4+ Ofsted Registered 8.30am - 4pm Childcare Vouchers & Sibling Discount

Join us and spend time outside building dens, campfire cooking, creating woodland art, playing games, and exploring and enjoying the natural world!

Woodland Holiday Clubs Joins us at our forest school themed holiday club at Itchen Valley Country Park, Eastleigh!

www.youthoptions.co.uk

March/April 3

WHAT’S ON

Spring fun at Exbury Gardens

Easter family fun at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

There’s something for everyone at Exbury Gardens this spring when they reopen on 19 March.

Enjoy a day out at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens for all the family this spring with their Easter trail, pond dipping and other family events during the school holiday and weekends.

Kids will love the challenge of a new log trail made by gardeners from old oak, beech and Scot’s pine trees. They will be encouraged to walk from one end of the trail to the other without touching the ground, whilst learning about the different bark textures.

Open daily, get ready to play and explore! Climb the fantastic treehouse, jump across the wobbly bridge, weave through the bamboo tunnels and lift off on the super snake swing.

Exbury’s renowned steam railway will be celebrating its 21st anniversary during the year.

Search the woods for foraging pigs and spot the fish and ducks in the pond.

Visitors will receive a discount on gardens admission when they bring their canine best friends along to ‘Devoted to Dogs’ days and new nature tours will be helping everyone connect with Exbury’s varied wildlife.

Spring is the perfect time to experience spring bulbs bursting into flower; magnolias, Japanese flowering cherries, azaleas and rhododendrons in their full glory.

All this with a backdrop of spring colours as their award winning collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and magnolias reach their peak.

MORE INFO 4 March/April

There is free car parking, a gift shop, accessible pathways, two cafés, and a restaurant.

Kids under 5 go free and ages 5-16 are only £3.60 (from April 2022 to March 2023).

MORE INFO Familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

Familiesonline.co.uk

March/April 5

WHAT’S ON

Be amazed by the New Forest Wildlife Park

Enjoy motorsport from the driver’s seat

Enjoy a unique day out in the beautiful ancient woodlands of New Forest Wildlife Park where you will find over 260 animals from 40 species including many native species both past and present.

The Race Centre in Chandler’s Ford offers an awesome experience for all the family.

Watch the exotic and noisy giant otters from the Amazon, the rare and beautiful Scottish wildcat, pine martens wolves, lynx, magnificent bison to name but a few. Meet knowledgeable and friendly keepers as they feed the animals.

There are two impressive playgrounds for all ages. Enjoy a good coffee and snack, plus visit the gift shop to finish a fun and interesting visit to the New Forest Wildlife Park.

Throughout the Easter Holidays there will be an Easter egg trail around the park and keeper talks throughout the day.

MORE INFO

This Easter, The Race Centre is holding their ever-popular School Holiday Specials. The events are heavily discounted for groups with ‘drivers’ aged 8 to 17 years.

Using their Track of the Month, drivers start with an entrylevel car learning the circuit and controls. Drivers can then stick with that car, or upgrade to something more powerful and challenging. All drivers are on track together competing to be the quickest. All lap times go into a monthly leaderboard to make comparison between friends super easy. Parents are also able to join in at the discounted rate.

The Race Centre also offer exclusive venue hire for Junior Birthday Parties. Book online or call 023 8026 9927.

MORE INFO

6 March/April

Familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

Bond in Motion - No Time To Die Exhibition

Enjoy a brand new exhibition Bond in Motion – No Time To Die at Beaulieu this spring.

Featuring nine iconic vehicles, gadgets and costumes from the latest 007 film. Plus, be amongst the first to see the foldingwing glider. Get a first look at new gadgets from Q Branch, including Bond’s Q-enhanced Omega Seamaster Diver 300M watch, alongside technical plans for vehicle designs and DB5 weapons.

NEW EXHIBITION

Where marvellous days out are enjoyed together NEW FOREST HAMPSHIRE © 2021 Danjaq and MGM. NO TIME TO DIE,

BOOK NOW AT BEAULIEU.CO.UK

and related James Bond Indicia © 1962-2021 Danjaq and MGM. NO TIME TO DIE,

and related James Bond Trademarks are trademarks of Danjaq. All Rights Reserved.

MORE INFO

Super worm

Trail

m Join Superwor w ne dan br on a ail at interactive tr st re Fo t ol H e Alic

At home activities

Superh

ero headquar ters Make a superhero headquarters the creatures for in your garden

Share

your photos

#SuperwormTrail Forestry England

forestryengland.uk/ superworm

You will need: Natural items such as stones, wood, grass, leaves Coloured paper Pens/colouring pencils

Scissors A stick Tape

!

roes

erhe

st sup

How to make

Super er burrow

and all forerpower ! mask a supeyour Pick it to stick

1.

1

ing

Super

pe

feet

Su

Co m mo n

r strong

ly rs

2.

2

to

3.

3

Trail

m

the headquar

Use your scissors to cut a creature headquartersout sign from your coloured paper, and your pens decorate it using or pencils.

Tape your headquarters sign to your stick.

Find a sheltered spot in your garden natural itemsand place your pile or house in either a shape.

orm Superw activities ©2012 & TM

el

Supe

ad

Toad

fast

Call

Julia Donaldson/

4.

4

5 5.

ters

Stick your sign in the ground next headquarters,to your inviting the creatures to come inside.

Come back see if any later to creatures have moved in!

Welcom superhe e roes!

Axel Scheffl er.

Creature fact cards

Key facts

Please ©2012

& TM

recycle Julia

/ Axel

er. Licensed Scheffl

by Magic

Type of creature: Amphibian. both on land They live and in water Diet: Slugs, snails, spiders, worms, ants Lifespan: Ltd 10-12 years Pictures Light Please recycle

Donaldson

Listen out

©2012 &

TM Julia

Donaldson/

Axel Scheffl er.

Toads make a high-pitched “qwark-qwark ” sound. They are particularly noisy in spring when they return to ponds to find a mate.

land.uk

forestryeng

With fun trail pack

Find out more at: forestryengland.uk/superworm © 2012 & TM Julia Donaldson / Axel Scheffler. Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.

Familiesonline.co.uk

March/April 7

WHAT’S ON

What’s on Science meets fashion new explosive live show

Activities at SeaCity Museum this April

Grab your velour tracksuit and put on your tinted sunglasses.

Winchester Science Centre continues its celebration of 20 years of science wow by taking visitors back to the ‘stylish’ days of 2002.

Sunday 10 April, 110 years after RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton, SeaCity will host a day of activities to remember the stories and lives of those who sailed upon her.

From Sat 19 to Sun 8 May, visitors will be recruited to the Planet Protectors, a team of noughties eco-fashion warriors. Fun facts and explosive demos will bring to life how fashion can affect the climate.

Visitors can also blast off into the Solar System in the Planetarium, get hands-on with the two floors of interactive exhibits and head outside into nature in Bio:Space.

And that’s not all.... There are two brand new shows ready to blast visitors off on an adventure in the Planetarium. Head off on an outof-this-world family journey in the live show, Atmospheres. Every planet is unique, including our own.

MORE INFO 8 March/April

SeaCity Museum is in partnership with The BRICK People, a team of LEGO® builders are hosting events such as solving the “Under the Sea” anagram trail, an open build play area, and a speed building competition.

As well as lots of LEGO® building activities there will also be character led museum tours, you can take part in a family workshop and even climb Southampton’s iconic clock tower (ages 12yrs+).

There’s plenty of fun family activities to keep everyone entertained.

MORE INFO AND BOOK ACTIVITIES HERE Familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

Explore our gardens and discover another world

There is something for everyone at Exbury Open from 19th March 2022 www.exbury.co.uk

Exbury Gardens, New Forest, Hampshire, SO45 1AZ info@exbury.co.uk | 023 8089 1203

KIDS UNDER 5 GO FREE KIDS UNDER 5 GO FRE E

Award-Winning

• 14 National Plant Collections • Centenary Border, one of the longest double mixed border in the UK • pond and bog gardens • children’s play areas including tree house • events and exhibitions

Registered charity 274737

- 2021 WIN

AR

YE

GA R

H DEN OF T

E

14

R NE

GE HERITA

Home to over 600 Champion Trees and one of Europe’s largest Winter Gardens.

20

Gardens and Arboretum Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 0QA Open daily from 10am except Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Book online /HillierGardens

@HillierGardens

hants.gov.uk/hilliergardens Familiesonline.co.uk

March/April 9

EDUCATION

Is your child starting school in September?

Plan a successful start with the School Starters Planner 2022/23 What’s in the planner?

Daily planning calendar What’s coming up – month by month School contact details and login pages

The full 12 month planner covers the entire 2022/23 academic year.

Vital information you will need for school from the experts at Every Day’s a School Day

Buy it HERE

Get a 4 month taster planner for FREE

DOWNLOAD HERE

10 March/April

Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Finding or setting up a Forest School

Help, we didn’t get our school choice!

By Emma Lewry

© Coco Jones

Want a Forest School toddler group? A school offering Forest School? Find here.

Nothing in your area? Parents/ childminders can train as leaders. Find a trainer offering ongoing support on the Forest School Association (FSA) website.

In England, secondary school places are announced on 1 March. Then, during April, primary school applicants find out their designated school. Very high percentages of families receive one of their listed preferences or even their firstchoice school. But what can be done if you are unlucky?

READ MORE

Open Morning Friday 6th May Discover our remarkable School set in a stunning woodland location on the edge of the New Forest.

We offer independent day, flexi and full-time boarding, for boys and girls aged 2-13.

Booking essential – contact the School Registrar: Telephone: 01590 613303 Email: registrar@walhampton.com WALHAMPTON SCHOOL, LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE SO41 5ZG.

Familiesonline.co.uk

www.walhampton.com March/April 11

EDUCATION

Educational accessories

Great ideas to help your child learn at any age.

Apple Twist

Stimulates spatial insight, problem solving and logic. Ages 5+.

Smart Snacks Counting Cookies Engaging, imaginative & develops early maths skills at home. Ages 18mth-6yrs.

Play Plus Kids Headphones

Wireless, foldable, comfy fit and volume controls.

Ages 3-8.

Peppa Pig Wooden Clock Puzzle

Count, sort, place shapes in the correct order. Ages 3+.

National Smartmax My First Geographic Fossil Sounds and Senses Mix and match, eightDig Kit Excavate real fossils using the included paleontological tools Ages 8+.

12 March/April

piece magnetic toy for early learning. Ages 1-3.

Cargo Ship

Quality resource for literacy, numeracy and general play. Ages 3+.

GILOBABY Smart Robot Toy

Fun, interactive, introduces robotics and advanced technology.

Ages 3-9.

Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano

Toddlers can make music or play along with classics. Age 6mths-3yrs.

Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Does spelling matter?

By Jemma Zoe Smith As a dyslexic tutor, my answer does not fit squarely on one side of the fence. Spelling is a recognised core skill which helps with reading, processing and pronunciation. But should anyone be penalised for having important and novel ideas, simply because they struggle to write them down?

In UK primary schools, children are given regular spelling tests and spelling is tested at each stage of pupils’ lives. 11+ exams, SATs, GCSEs and even some job interviews require a writing task without spellcheck. So yes, spelling must matter because it is tested at so many points in the UK (although not so much in the USA). Fail to master spelling and it is harder to make it to top universities or careers.

READ MORE The Gregg Preparatory School

Reception Class Places available 2022

An independent prep school for boys and girls aged 4-11 years in the heart of the City of Southampton

Meet the Head Coffee Morning 30th March 9.30-11.30am 17-19 Winn Road Southampton SO17 1EJ Tel: 023 8055 7352 office@thegreggprep.org www.thegreggprep.org Familiesonline.co.uk

March/April 13 AdGreggPrepFamilies March2022_converted.indd 1

09/02/2022 12:41:08

EDUCATION

Games to improve visual perception

Can your child make sense of what they see? Visual perception is essential for your child’s reading, writing and movement. Here are some games that help with this important skill.

Peppa Pig Guess Who?

Paddington Spot the Difference

Wooden Pick Up Sticks

Pixy Cubes

Match It Head to Tail

Dive into Shapes!

Helping children discriminate carefully between features.

Ages 6mths-3yrs.

Encourages visual attention and sequencing and spatial relationships.

Ages 6+.

Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set Copying mazes develops visual perception skills, Ages 4+

14 March/April

A fun family game involving spotting the differences between pictures. Ages 5+.

Aids visual discrimination, visual attention and visual memory. Ages 3+.

iTrax Critical Thinking Game

Copying and building designs boosts visual perception skills.

Ages 6-10.

Encourages a focus on details, ignoring extraneous visual information. Ages 3+.

Develops visual perception skills involved in handwriting and reading. Ages 6-10.

Lets Go Code Activity Set

Hop, turn, step and move through a gross motor maze. Ages 5+.

Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Mindfulness colouring for kids

Download these mindfulness colouring sheets for kids who need some quiet, focused time to be calm or help with anxious or worried feelings.

Lion

Simple mandala

DOWNLOAD HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

Hot air balloons

Two Smoby KS Slides to give away!

Worth £77.99 each Perfect for summer fun!

APPLY HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE Familiesonline.co.uk

Magazine

T&Cs apply

March/April 15

EASTER

Top Easter craft ideas Easter brings with it some fantastic opportunities to get out the paints and craft materials and create lovely eggs, chicks, cards and bunnies!

Easter trees

Potato Easter egg stamps

Egg carton chicks

Easter bunny headband

Easter scene jar

Stitched Easter bunny card

Pompom bunny bonnet

Easter egg pinata

No sew sock bunny

16 March/April

Familiesonline.co.uk

EASTER

Easter cooking Fill the kitchen with delicious smells and make some yummy Easter treats with the kids.

Chocolate cornflake cakes

Hot cross bun trifle

Easter bunny KitKat house

Easy hot cross bun ice-cream

Easter marshmallow bubble slice

Greek Easter cookies

Chick biscuits

Choc chip hot cross buns

Lemony Easter chicks

Familiesonline.co.uk

March/April 17

EASTER

Best Easter eggs for 2022 Find it hard to choose? Here are some of the best options this Easter.

Cadbury Twirl Orange Flavoured Extra thick egg filled with Chocolate Egg You Crack Me Up Easter Egg

Lindt Milk Chocolate Egg

Comes with Lindor Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs.

fun chocolate treats.

Large chocolate orange shell and two full-sized chocolate bars.

Ferrero Rocher Milk Chocolate & Hazelnut Egg

Montezuma’s Milk Chocolate Chick with Buttons Cute clucky chick and giant buttons.

White half-eggs sandwiched with caramel-milk chocolate.

KitKat Salted Caramel Giant Egg

Thorntons White Chocolate Bunny Egg

Marigold the Duck

Chocolate egg studded with chunks of hazelnut and Ferrero chocolates.

Caramel flavour egg, with bars of KitKat Chunky Salted Caramel Fudge.

18 March/April

With white chocolate and decorated with milk chocolate.

Caramayo Chocolate Easter Sandwich

Milk chocolate with naturally coloured yellow and white speckles.

Familiesonline.co.uk

HEALTH

One snack too many?

Even if your child is a healthy weight, it’s not great if they eat little nutritious food and get most of their energy from unhealthy or sugary snacks.

Public Health England advises parents that sticking to two packaged snacks a day and keeping them each at under 100 calories (kcals) or 418 kilojoules (kJs) is really important for children.

The food label usually states how many calories are contained in 100 grams or 100 millilitres of the food or drink you are buying, so do compare the calorie content of

different products. The free NHS Food Scanner app helps you scan product barcodes to find healthier alternatives.

You’ll be surprised at how high the energy intake is for some common snacks.

Calories in popular packaged kids’ snacks Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Honey Bar Packet of Walkers Ready Salted Crisps 32.5g KitKat 2 Finger Bar Soreen malt lunchbox loaf Cheestring McVities Ginger Nut Biscuit Mini Milk Ice Cream Lolly Froot Shoot Orange Juice Drink Fruit Shoot hydro water

823kJ 706kJ 436kJ 380kJ 253kJ 196kJ 134kJ 40kJ 8kJ

or 196kcal or 169kcal or 104kcal or 90kcal or 61kcal or 47kcal or 32kcal or 10 kcal or 1.8kcal

Useful online resources Better Health – tips, tools and apps to help you improve your family’s health.

The Eatwell Guide – how much should you eat from each food group? Plus healthy snacks ideas.

BMI healthy weight calculator - calculates healthy weight.

Familiesonline.co.uk

March/April 19

SPRING OUTDOORS

Outdoor adventures Enjoy the great outdoors this spring and get the kids to try some of these great activities.

Try the string walk

Plant a tree

Join a fossil hunt

Take a family walk

Try orienteering

Make a stone cairn

Go pond dipping

Play Poohsticks

Go canoeing

20 March/April

Familiesonline.co.uk

SPRING OUTDOORS

Spring make n’dos Enjoy nature and garden-themed activities with the kids - perfect to while away some hours at the weekend or during the school holidays!

Weave a nature loom

Make a spring sensory bin

Make a garden gnome

Spot early signs of spring

Grow potatoes in a tub

Make a butterfly feeder

Make easy pine cone hedgehog

Grow microgreens

Make simple garden wind chimes

Familiesonline.co.uk

March/April 21

TRAVEL

Unique UK animal encounters Create lasting memories with a UK animal encounter. Compiled by Yonder, a new travel brand offering nature-rich stays and experiences.

Spot badgers in Dorset

Go whale watching See wild boar in the in Scotland Forest of Dean

Stay: Shepherd’s Hut, Blandford Forum

Stay: Tirlaggan Studio, Oban

Watch beavers in Cornwall

Walk alpacas in East Sussex

Stay: 2 Pencoose Barns, Truro

Herd sheep in the Lake District Stay: Winster Fields, Windermere 22 March/April

Stay: Gun Hill Cottage, Heathfield

Spy red squirrels in the Yorkshire Dales Stay: Mary’s Cottage, Hawes

Stay: Danby Lodge, Coleford

Kayak with seals in Pembrokeshire Stay: Maerdy Lodge, Haverfordwest

Spot African animals in Kent Stay: Shore, Hythe

Familiesonline.co.uk

TRAVEL

Lesser-visited UK staycation spots Avoid the crowds! Try one of these lesser-visited staycations spots put together for Families by Gabrielle Nash.

Lundy Island, Devon

Tenby, Wales

The journey to this showstopping island is an adventure!

The kids will love taking the ferry over from Ilfracombe. The name Lundy means puffin, the island’s most famous resident. Enjoy a back to nature holiday with just a handful of other inhabitants, staying in one of the historical properties. There’s even a lighthouse you can stay in!

Tenby is the perfect location for a family holiday but so often overlooked in favour of more traditional spots. Stunning sandy beaches are the major draw card but the town has a vibrant atmosphere, colourful cottages and an array of family-friendly eateries. There are also plenty of family attractions nearby.

Dungeness, Kent

Aberdeen, Scotland

Dungeness is a quiet settlement on Britain’s largest shingle beach. The well-known power station makes a great rainy-day activity and opportunity for kids to find out how electricity is generated. Surrounding it lies a beautiful nature reserve. Stay in a seaside property and take the narrow-gauge steam train out to Dymchurch and Hythe.

Perched on the east coast of Scotland, Aberdeen has a beautiful sandy beach to one side and the striking mountains, the Cairngorms to the other. Take the trail of seventeen castles you can even stay the night in one! For activities, check out the busy harbour for boat-loving kids and don’t miss the Science Centre.

Familiesonline.co.uk

March/April 23

TRAVEL

Lesser-visited UK staycation spots Avoid the crowds! Try one of these lesser-visited staycations spots put together for Families by Gabrielle Nash.

County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Bamburgh, Northumberland

In Northern Ireland’s lake district in the south-west of Northern Ireland, you’ll find beautiful accommodation options from a lodge on a private island to luxury camping. Kids will love the walk through the Marble Arch caves or enjoy taking a trip on the waterbus. A must-see is the medieval Enniskillen Castle.

Situated on a vast stretch of golden sand on the Northumberland coast, Bamburgh is a family holiday dream. The stunning Bamburgh castle sits imposingly above the beach in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Try surfing or windsurfing, or head to a local cafe for some freshly caught fish.

The Wye Valley

Cheshire

The Wye Valley is an area of outstanding natural beauty with the River Wye running through it. The area offers a great family holiday with opportunities to try wild swimming, fishing or canoeing. Whether you fancy a log cabin with a hot tub or glamping with the kids, you’ll find plenty of choice.

With some great family-friendly attractions, enjoy Cheshire’s beautiful countryside or opt for a city break in Chester. For space lovers, there’s a new visitor centre at the observatory Jodrell Bank, kids will love Chester Zoo and everyone will enjoy the Ice Cream Farm, a theme park dedicated to ice cream!

24 March/April

Familiesonline.co.uk

TRAVEL

Summer holidays in the Alps with Chilly Powder The Alps may be an obvious destination for the ski season, but how about a summer visit? Summer offers enough green space and blue skies to set you up for the year - with plenty of fresh air to enjoy.

With reasonably priced flights to Geneva, then a short drive to Morzine, there is a warm welcome waiting from Paul and Francesca Eyre from Chilly Powder. Although Morzine is most well known as a winter ski resort, most of the locals would tell you that the summer is just as amazing!

The skiing is incredible, but so are the fantastic year round activities.

Morzine is fantastic if you’re travelling with younger children as there are brilliant family friendly activities available and plenty of childcare options.

MORE INFO HERE

Two Smoby KS Slides to give away!

Worth £77.99 each Perfect for summer fun!

APPLY HERE Magazine Familiesonline.co.uk

T&Cs apply

March/April 25

FAMILY LIFE

Top green family products If you’re looking to replace existing family products with something new, then why not consider these green options?

Reusable bamboo straws

Eco-friendly backpack

Beeswax food & sandwich wraps

100% USDA certified organic with all-natural plant-based cleaning brush.

Large enough for A4 books and folders. 100% recycled polyester.

Award-winning reusable wraps. 100% organic cotton and British beeswax.

Biodegradable & recycled swim towels

Reusable snack bag

Disposable econappies

Reusable nappy

Reusable cutlery

Beeswax crayons

Quick dry towels. 100% recyclable materials and biodegradable cotton.

Award-winning, adjustable, all in one, washable and reusable.

26 March/April

Perfect alternative to single-use sandwich bags and cling film.

100% organic bamboo.

Suitable for everyday use or picnics.

Sustainable organic bamboo fibre, plant based liners. 100% compostable.

Natural beeswax crayons made with minimum of 25% beeswax.

Familiesonline.co.uk

FAMILY LIFE

Reducing the cost of family living Get a grip of finances

Make savings

Get support

Never want to miss another issue?

FREE

TAKE ME HOME

Magazine

s Magaz

30

ri

years

ud

e

o

ie

nt

il

in

Familiesonline.co.uk

SIGN UP NOW IT’S FREE

Pr

If you’re pregnant and for a year after your baby is born, you can get free NHS dental care and prescriptions.

A monthly Child benefit of £21.15 per child under 16 and £14 for each additional child may be claimable, depending on your income.

If you’re pregnant or have a child under 4, Healthy Start vouchers can be spent on essential food items.

If you regularly spend money on prescriptions, an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate can save money.

Check your entitlement to Tax-Free Childcare or Free Childcare/Early Education.

Slash £1,000+ off your yearly grocery bill by taking the Downshift Challenge.

Save on big brand disposable nappies by using comparison site BumDeal.

Get free second-hand stuff from giveaway websites Freecycle and Freegle.

Buy second-hand and get great quality for less. Try eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Market Place.

Save £££ each year (and reduce your carbon footprint) by following simple energy saving tips.

Try the Energy Efficiency Calculator for personalised advice on use and solutions.

Fa m

Take back control of family spending with free apps like Money Dashboard or Emma.

Monitor and set limits on your kids spending with apps like gohenry or the free Revolut Junior.

Don’t spend more than you earn.

MoneySavingExpert’s free The Budget Planner will help.

Don’t get caught short. Try Piggybanking. Divide money into separate pots for essential bills.

Struggling with missed bills and payments? Try prioritising and consolidating. More info at debt help tips.

Get organised with family meal planning. Save money, time and waste.

to be

P

.co.uk

familiesonline

1 May/June 202

Magazine

March/April 27

EARLY YEARS

Transitioning a toddler from cot to bed

By Charlotte Woods and Jo Taylor Amidst the 2am online searches on ‘how to help your toddler get some sleep,’ you may have wondered when the right time is for your little one to graduate from a cot to a bed.

In truth, there isn’t a one-size-fitsall answer. Do they need to use the toilet at night? Do they try to climb out of the cot? Is the cot needed for a new sibling? Or do you just feel they are emotionally and physically ready?

Once you have decided it’s time, take steps to prepare for this exciting stage of development. It’s about building up and instilling confidence in your child.

Think about sleep habits Make sure they can self-soothe and keep sleep prompts consistent eg white noise, a comforter or familiar song.

Create a safe environment Check your child’s bedroom for anything unsafe. Ensure windows can’t be opened and consider using a stairgate.

Establish a bedtime routine Maintain what works, such as a short bath, stories and cuddles – these all help to make the 28 March/April

experience more familiar.

Communicate changes positively Talk to your child in age-appropriate language and use books such as: Princess Polly’s My Big Girl Bed and Pirate Pete’s My Big Boy Bed. Prepare the sleep space Get your toddler involved. Choose bed covers together and personalise their bedframes with stickers. Think about photos of loved ones and a night light too.

Pre-empt bedtime requests Making their favourite meal before bed or introducing water in a beaker on the bedside table help with settling. If they need a nappy/ pyjama change, have everything to hand for minimum fuss.

READ MORE

Familiesonline.co.uk

EARLY YEARS

Top apps every parent needs Overwhelmed by the number of apps available in the App Store? Ari Last, founder of the Bubble app shares his recommendations. Get these on speed dial to make parenting and family life a little easier.

Mush

Find friends with kids the same age nearby.

OLIO

Allrecipes Dinner Spinner

The Wonder Weeks

Kidday

Family Locator

A week-by-week guide to Solving the endless ‘what your baby’s development – pregnancy to after can I make for dinner?’ birth. question.

Give away unwanted kids’ items to other local parents.

Store your photographs in one place. Share albums with friends/ family.

Track the location of older children/teens when out and about.

CBeebies

Bubble

Sound Sleeper

Educational games and classic cartoons for when you just need a break!

Familiesonline.co.uk

Find, book and pay local sitters/nannies recommended by friends/other local parents.

Help your baby fall asleep with this collection of calming sounds.

March/April 29

MOTHER’S DAY

Mother’s Day gifts for under £20 Dads! This one’s for you and the kids!

Mother’s Day is Sunday 27 March this year.

Patchwork Game

Pink-Champagne Truffles

Plant Mum Vase

The Naked Bee Hand & Cuticle Salve

Beenax Spiky Massage Ball Set

Calm Club Yoga Cards

Turmeric-infused Honey

Cotton Kimono Robe Wrap

A soothing two-player Made with dolomite, she game about constructing has her own removable Beautiful gift box and a patchwork quilt. £15.29 luxurious white chocolate mini-pot! £16.99 truffles. £16

Spiky massagers for A healing salve for mums arms, legs, shoulders anywhere there’s tension. who garden. £9.49 £8.99

Health conscious, handwhipped, British raw honey infused with natural turmeric. £9.95 30 March/April

A soft, elegant robe mum can feel truly spoilt in. £16.50

A card for every week of the year, teaching the basics. £10.95

Sea Salt Scented Tin Candle Hand-poured, sea salt–scented candle to transport mum to the seaside. £13.05

Familiesonline.co.uk

Receive a FREE DoodleJamz toy for your child*

Age 3+

Endless creations at their fingertips!

Draw, squish, sculpt, shape, erase and repeat with this mess-free drawing pad!

APPLY HERE *while stocks last T&Cs apply Familiesonline.co.uk

Magazine

March/April 31