IN THIS ISSUE May/June 2024 Familiesonline.co.uk Education Early Years Travel GIVEAWAYS GALORE SEE INSIDE FREE Hampshire North
Welcome
Are you ready for summer? Busy thinking about weekends away, holidays and getting active, especially in the great outdoors? We can help!
In this issue, we have some top active family adventures for you to try, as well as great ideas for the perfect weekend break and some fabulous family camping and glamping options from our friends at The Outdoor Guide.
Father’s Day takes place on Sunday 16 June and if you fancy gifting dad something different this year, why not take a look at our ideas for great subscription box gifts? There’s something for dads of all tastes!
Finally, in this issue, we have some enticing giveaways on offer. By applying, you can ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.
Clubs & classes
Education
Early years
Learn about time activity book downloadable
Kids’ party food
Active family adventures
Father’s Day surprises
The perfect weekend break
Top family camping and glamping Summer
Get in touch
Competition winners from our January/February issue
May/June 2
n’ do’s In this issue 3 5 10 12 14 16 18 19 20 22
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CONTENTS
Celebrate the Gruffalo’s birthday at Alice Holt Forest Find the missing party items, pick a present for the Gruffalo and enjoy lots more fun trail activities! Find out more: forestryengland.uk/ Grab a trail pack to get the party started. £4 Only The Gruffalo ©1999 & TM Julia Donaldson/ Axel Scheffler. Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.
Join Perform for fairytale Magic and Adventure
Perform’s confidence-building summer term classes are off to a flying start, and there’s no better time for your child to try a class.
Packed with self-esteem boosting activities, these weekly classes are the best fun of the week for every type of child. They help reticent children develop confidence in their abilities and provide an outlet for energetic children to sing, dance and make friends.
The curriculum is focused on building the 4Cs - confidence, communication, concentration and coordination - using drama games, improvisation, role-play, catchy songs and funky dances.
This summer term, ages 4-7s are entering the Fairytale Forest for an adventure based on favourite well-known stories. Ages 7-12s are blasting off on a journey with Robinson Crusoe where he gets stranded in space!
Every child is welcome to try a FREE class.
Local classes are held in these venues:
Andover Leisure Centre (Mondays)
Beggarwood Community Centre (Tuesdays)
Clift Meadow Pavilion, Bramley (Fridays)
Zebon Community Centre, Church Crookham (Mondays)
Victoria Halls, Hartley Wintney (Fridays).
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 3 CLUBS & CLASSES
Find out more and book HERE.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 4 1888 HORRIS HILL SCHOOL
FROM AGE 2 TO RISING 5 s
Nursery at Horris Hill School Newtown, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 9DJ | www.horrishill.com | 01635 40594 ReceptionFinalremainingplacesavailableforSeptember2024!
Our Nursery offers high-quality wraparound care for busy parents and is available 50 weeks of the year. Parents can expect Horris Hill’s excellence in care, provided in a modern, purpose-built facility. Girls and boys are given an abundance of opportunities to explore and develop both indoors and within our 65 acres of picturesque countryside.
Free weekly toddler sessions, every Monday during term time: www.horrishill.com/toddler
Broadening your child’s vocabulary
By Jemma Z Smith
Vocabulary development is often something that parents mention when they approach a tuition company. Unfortunately, this area of learning does not have a ‘quick fix’ solution.
Vocabulary acquirement, retention and application takes a long time. Children need to be exposed to new vocabulary several times in several different contexts in order to fully absorb it and use it in their own writing and speaking, recognise it in a range of uses and be able to adapt it (for example, adding prefixes and suffixes) when questioned in a test environment.
Vocabulary is a vital aspect of primary education, especially for pupils preparing for entrance exams. A rich vocabulary not only enhances language skills but also serves as a key tool for academic success.
Understanding words in various contexts is fundamental for primary pupils. It allows them to grasp the meanings and usage of words, which helps to improve their comprehension skills. Additionally, a strong vocabulary assists in spelling tasks, making children more aware of homophones and homographs, thus avoiding common pitfalls in their writing, particularly in time pressured test conditions. For example, in some verbal reasoning papers, they may be presented with a choice of synonyms to match together: wind, reign, meander.
In this example, wind (verb) and meander are synonyms, but the child may read it as wind - the noun - due to its position next to a word that sounds like another type of weather but is spelt differently.
READ MORE
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 5 EDUCATION
EDUCATION
Fantastic family science experiments
These experiments are great for the family to try at home and are full of learning opportunities for the kids, as well as being lots of fun.
Carbon sugar snake
Make a fiery black snake rise from the ground.
Make a barometer
Create a device for measuring air pressure.
Crystal snowflakes
Make dazzling crystal snowflakes.
Leakproof bag
Show off ‘magic skills’ and learn about polymers and friction.
Invisible ink
Be a secret agent and write invisible ink messages.
Soap powered boats
Make a simple boat which water molecules move forward.
Create a water filter
Turn dirty water clean and discuss recycling and pollution.
Fireworks in a jar
Use oil and water for an exciting display.
Singing wine glasses
Make a wine glass sing and play different notes.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 6
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 7 Independent Co-educational School for Children Aged 2 - 13 www.wellesleyprepschool.co.uk or call 01256 882 707 TO ARRANGE A TOUR PLEASE VISIT Nurturing children's curiosity, creativity and character. Formerly Daneshill School 1950 - 2023 Co-edu for Children A THROUGHOUTNURSERYINTAKETHEYEAR
Help with multiplication and division
Do your kids need a bit of help grasping the concepts of multiplication and division? Try these fun books, apps and videos, many of them free.
Division with Ibbleobble
Helps KS1 kids master division facts and basic calculations. £1.99. Apple.
Doodle Tables
Interactive app for multiplication. KS1-KS2. Android & Apple. FREE
Multiplication & division relationship
KS1 & KS2. BBC Teach. FREE
How to do division by sharing
Help your KS1 child to understand division by sharing. FREE video.
What is multiplication?
Explains how multiplication is simply repeated addition. KS1. BBC Teach. FREE
Multiplication and division
Fun activities supporting your child’s learning at home. KS2. WHSmith. £1.99.
Long Division Workbook
Extra division practice for KS2 kids. Blackwells. £3.78.
Times Table Grid
Colourful times table grid makes multiplication easier. KS2. WordUnited. FREE download.
Wipeout Wall (Multiplication & Division)
Remember multiplication and division facts. Apple & Android. £0.99.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 8 EDUCATION
Developing skills for good performance
By Gail Hugman
Many parents worry about their children underachieving or not reaching the expected level by the time they leave primary school or sit 11+ exams. But there is good news. By developing your child’s skills it may be easier to improve their performance than you think.
READ MORE
Supporting your child’s memory retention
By Erin Miller
Does your child struggle to remember things they have learnt at school? Cognitive science can help us to understand how our children’s brains work and how they will learn best, as remembering involves storing information in their long-term memory.
READ MORE
Choosing a reading book
By Zuzu Jordan
‘I don’t like reading’ are words parents dread to hear and battle to change. In such households, reading can become a nonnegotiable, timed and recorded homework chore. Yet we all strive to mould children who want to read, for pleasure. But how?
READ MORE
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 9 EDUCATION
EARLY YEARS
Storytime and nursery rhyme apps
Listening to stories and nursery rhymes is a great activity for travel and quiet time. Here are a selection of apps, many of them free.
Storytime from CBeebies
Beautiful, interactive, app-based story books. Apple & Android. FREE.
Fairy Tales –Bedtime Stories
Interactive reading app with mini games. Apple. FREE.
Dave and Ava Learn and Play
100+ popular rhymes, colourful animation and read-along lyrics. Apple & Android. Free to try.
Storyline Online Award winning. Actors read children’s books. Includes illustrations. Apple & Android. FREE.
Miximal
Animated version of flip book. Swap parts of animals around. £3.99. Apple.
Princess Fairy Tale Maker
Create fairy tales with familiar characters and pretty scenes. Apple. FREE.
Dr Seuss Treasury Kids Books
Classic collection. Great imagery. Interactive features. Apple. Free to try.
Little Fox Nursery Rhymes
A sing-along songbook, packed with interactive elements. £3.99. Apple.
Toca Tailor Fairy Tales
Create, combine, style outfits for characters in fairy tale setting. Apple. FREE.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 10
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 11 Creative Courage For Life® ASK ABOUT OUR TWO WEEK TRIAL M Y CM MY CY CMY K 07553 416347 www.vivacemusicschool.co.uk info@vivacemusicschool.co.uk FROM BIRTH TO SENIOR SCHOOL PLAYFUL, INTUITIVE MUSIC LEARNING Kodály-based music and movement classes V i v a c e Music School "Full of great ideas, confidence-building approaches and social games " FREE TASTER IN FLEET, YATELEY & FARNHAM Advertise your business in our next issue? BOOK TODAY Call Claire on 07812 218331
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 12 DOWNLOAD HERE LEARN ABOUT TIME ACTIVITY BOOK 2 Time to Eat Match the time given to the correct clock. Randy likes to eat breakfast at 8:00. Randy has a morning snack at 10:30. Randy eats lunch at 12 00. At 3:30 Randy has an afternoon snack. Randy eats dinner with his family at 6:00. What time do you eat during the day? time! 10:00 4 Matching Time Match the clock face to the analog clock. 5:00 9:45 6:30 3:15 11:30 7:45 10:00 2:00 1 Day or Night He p the animals learn a m and p m times If they shou d do the given task n the a m (morning) colour the sun If the task happens in the p m (afternoon/even ng) colour the moon Co our both f they shou d do it in the morning and afternoon/evening Each day has 24 hours in it. These 24 hours are split into two parts, with each part having 12 hours in it. The first 12 hours start at 12 o’clock midnight and end at 12 o’clock noon. We call these hours the a.m. or morning hours. The second 12 hours begin at 12 o’clock noon and end at 12 o’clock midnight. These hours are called the p.m. hours and they happen in the afternoon and evening. Craig eats breakfast. Jill goes to bed. Lenny goes to school. Jack brushes his teeth. Family eats dinner. a.m.p.m. a.m.p.m. a.m.p.m. a.m.p.m. a.m.p.m.
Developing Executive Function skills
Organisation
Card games – play card games which require organising playing cards such as Uno and Crazy 8s. Hobby collection – encourage a collecting hobby (anything from rocks to small toys), which involves sorting and resorting in categories.
Cook together – cooking teaches measuring and sorting ingredients, following directions and managing time.
Planning & problem
Strategy-based board gamestry Checkers, Battleship, Ticket to Ride or Uno.
Scavenger Hunts - derived from a series of clues with a reward at the end.
Let them plan – whether it’s a party or family activity let them decide how, what and when. Let them build – whether Jenga or a Lego tower they have to think carefully.
What is Executive Function?
Learn how it relates to selfregulation and is vital for future attainment and well-being.
Time management
Use the ding thing – timers, phone apps etc will help keep them on track.
Create charts – plans and charts help children visualise abstract concepts like time.
Time estimation games – how long does it take to get to grandmas? How much time to get to school?
Use a diary – get your child used to recording important info.
Attention
Learning a musical skill - will test selective attention and selfmonitoring.
Concentration games – like Simon Says, jigsaw puzzles, Spot the Difference promote focus. Picture copying – Get them to copy a picture in a set time.
Dancing games – Wii, Xbox or other console games require close attention to copying the dance sequence.
Activities to help Executive Function
Some activities which help children with concentration, focus, attention and sitting tolerance.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 13 PARENTING
PARTIES
Kids’ party food options
Looking for something a bit different to the traditional sandwiches and sausage rolls? All these recipes are popular with kids and easy to make.
Mini cheese & onion pasties
A classic which will go down a treat with kids.
Mini pizza quiches
Individual portions using tortilla wraps and a muffin tin.
Instant frozen berry yoghurt
Three-ingredient frozen yogurt - a lighter alternative to ice cream.
Homemade vegetable crisps
A healthy food in disguise - make without a drop of oil.
Pizza pinwheels
More healthy but yummy morsels, popular with kids.
Chocolate-chip
cookie ice-cream sandwiches
Chewy American-style biscuits filled with ice cream!
Strawberry lemonade
A healthier option than fizzy canned drinks.
Chicken lollipops
Involve your child in preparing these easy-tomake tasty morsels.
Rainbow fruit skewers
Simple, colourful and a fun way to get kids eating fruit.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 14
GIVEAWAY
4 available Worth £16.99 each
Ages 3+
Fuel your child’s passion for adventure with Tonka
Mega-Machines Dump Truck
The ultimate interactive experience for kids who love trucks APPLY
T&Cs apply
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 15
HERE
ACTIVITIES
Active adventures with the family
Here are some great activities for the family to try together. Great fun and good for everyone’s fitness.
Climbing
Challenging, exciting but safe activity. Find your local climbing wall.
Orienteering
Embrace a sense of adventure! Advice/ events at British Orienteering.
Cycling
Cycling UK has located safe traffic-free cycling routes across the UK.
Paddling
Great family activity for all ages and abilities.
Fossil hunting
UKAFH encourages all ages/abilities to take part in its event.
Strawberry picking
Find the best pick-yourown strawberry farms across the UK.
Padel ball
Fun, easy to learn form of tennis. Great for mixed ages/abilities.
Walking
National Trust family walks include natural play areas & woodland den building.
Horseriding
Go on a family group lesson at a local riding centre.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 16
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 17 GIVEAWAYS APPLY HERE Limited edition Majorettes Bumper Pack Each pack contains 13 premium toy cars including 4 limited editions T&C’s apply 3 available GIVEAWAY Worth £29.99 each Ages 3+ Tonka MegaMachines Dump Truck Giveaway Fuel your child’s passion for adventure APPLY HERE Worth £16.99 each T&C’s apply 4 available Ages 3+ Design and construct flowers with Smoby Flower Market Creations Kit T&Cs apply Smoby Flower Market Creations Kit Giveaway Ages 3+ APPLY HERE Worth £39.99
Father’s Day subscription box gifts
Want to change it up a bit and gift your dad a subscription box this year? We’ve explored some great ideas below.
Baker Boxx
For star baker dads. Simple monthly baking kits. From £10 per month.
Gadget Discovery Club
A quarterly delivery of a tech goodies box. From £69 every 3 months.
Mystery Football Shirt Box
A different, genuine, international football shirt. £30.99 per box.
Sock Geeks
Personality-matched socks in the post every month. From £6.95 per month.
Abel & Cole Monthly Cheese Club
A monthly box of specially selected, organic cheeses. From £16.50 per month.
Beer subscription
Different beers expertly selected from around the world. £27 per month.
Pact Coffee
Award-winning speciality coffees grown ethically. From £7.95 per month.
Best Seller Book Box
Send dad the most popular books every month. From £14.99 per month.
Cadbury Bar Post Box
A monthly box full of milk chocolate treats. £66 for 6 months.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 18 FATHER’S DAY
The perfect family weekend
Summer is here! Wanting to plan a weekend away? Here are some great options the whole family will love.
Bournemouth Beach Lodges
Dorset
These seaside huts will be a hit with kids.
Short Break in Thorpe Forest
Norfolk
Luxury woodland cabins in a forest setting. Family-friendly activities.
National Showcaves Centre for Wales
Sleepover and visit the mammoth dinosaur park.
Blackberry Wood Sussex
Enchanting and quirky glamping experience in the Sussex countryside.
Sleepover in Knight’s Village
Warwick Castle
Glamping, luxury lodges + hotel. A ‘must’ for fans of Horrible Histories!
House in the Clouds
Suffolk
Fantasy family accommodation with fab views.
Port Lympne Safari Park
Kent
Stay amongst the wildlife.
Stay at the Forbidden Corner
North Yorkshire
A unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises.
Glamp at the Eden Project
Cornwall
Explore this world class attraction and sleep under stars.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 19 TRAVEL
Family camping across the UK
Spark a love of the outdoors from an early age. The Outdoor Guide share some of their favourite camping and glamping choices.
Orcarber Farm, Yorkshire Dales
This is a family run site near the village of Austwick with its country pub, local shop and playing fields with tennis, bowls, football, basketball and a playground – perfect for getting active and enjoying a family break.
Charmill Cottage Campsite, West Sussex
On the edge of the South Downs National Park, this is a little gem that you’ll definitely want to revisit.
Explore and play on Wild Heart Hill, next to the site - look out for the rope swings hidden amongst the trees! Short drive to the beaches of Worthing and Littlehampton.
Love2Stay, Mid-Wales
In the heart of the rolling Welsh hills, overlooking the Severn Valley, there’s enough here to keep all the family busy! There’s a fantastic adventure play area for the children whilst adults can relax in the spa or hot tub.
Sennen Cove Club Site, Cornwall
Located on a cliff top overlooking the Atlantic, the nearby coastline offers secluded coves and sandy beaches where kids can run free.
This campsite is perfectly situated to explore Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount and St Ives.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 20
TRAVEL
Family camping across the UK
Spark a love of the outdoors from an early age. The Outdoor Guide share some of their favourite camping and glamping choices.
Loch Ness Shores Club Site, Scotland
In the heart of the Highlands and with views over Loch Ness, this is a simply stunning location. It’s the perfect place to explore the surrounding countryside or perhaps while away an hour or two looking out for the elusive Nessie!
Castlerigg Hall, Lake District
A campsite with a view and a half. Situated near the wonderful market town of Keswick, it overlooks Derwentwater and is a walkers’ paradise. On your doorstep are Blencathra, Skiddaw and Catbells if you’re looking for a challenging walk, or for a smaller fell, Latrigg is wheelchair and pushchair friendly.
Verwood Club Site, Dorset
Whether you’re looking to explore the miles of sandy beaches across Bournemouth and Poole or go and explore the New Forest National Park, this is the perfect base. There’s a great children’s playground on site and your dog is welcome too.
Love2Stay, Shropshire
What’s not to love about your stay here? It’s a luxury touring, caravan and glamping site that offers families everything they could want and more. Whether you and the kids want to go swimming, kayaking, complete an assault course or try your hand at archery, this is the place for you!
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 21 TRAVEL
Kids’ summer make n’ do projects
We’ve brought together the perfect selection of creative and outdoor projects for your child to try this summer.
DIY pavement paint
Concoct vibrant paint colours, then get painting! Easily washable.
Jellyfish suncatcher
Great summer-themed craft activity for preschoolers.
Sunshine weaving
This solstice craft can be make from recycled materials and scraps.
Sponge sailboat craft
Stay cool on a warm day with this fun, simple-tomake water activity.
Straw bubble wand
Simple to make and perfect for getting the kids outside.
Instant vanilla ice cream
Just put ingredients in a bag and shake!
Frozen paint cubes
Ice and paint are the perfect combination for a summer day.
Paper plate frisbees
Turn ordinary paper plates into frisbees and head out to the park.
Sundial
Great project for sunny days and helps learn to tell the time.
Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 22 OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
