EDITOR: Lesley Chambers 07863 790592
editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk
SALES SUPPORT: Claire Clarricoates 07812 218331 claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk
DESIGN: Rebecca Carr rebecca@familiesmagazine.co.uk
NEXT ISSUE: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Booking deadline: 30 September
Feature: Christmas activities
at editor@ familieshampshirenorth.co.uk
Happy New (school) Year! It’s an exciting and also nerve-wracking time of new beginnings. My son is starting secondary school this year, which is a big step, and like most parents, I also feel a little nervous!
We have focused largely on education in this issue, and hopefully our knowledgeable and supportive articles will help calm some of the school-based nerves and set you and your family up for a great year ahead.
We also have an interview with the wonderful Claire Freedman, whose new book Dragons Love Underpants is out in September, and plenty of local family events happening this autumn. Please get in touch if you know of any forthcoming events, as we like to include as many as possible.
Good luck with the new term, and enjoy this beautiful season!
Public libraries in Hampshire offer a treasure trove of benefits for families with children. These libraries are not just about books; they are vibrant community hubs that foster learning, creativity, and connection.
Libraries still provide free membership and free access to a vast array of books, for all ages and interests. Sharing books from an early age encourages children to develop a love for reading, which is crucial for their cognitive and emotional development. Storytime sessions and reading clubs at the library make reading a fun and social activity.
Libraries also offer lots of activities for children and families. From craft sessions to Rhymetimes, dance workshops to mindfulness, these activities stimulate curiosity and creativity in children. Hampshire Libraries also support parents with free courses like paediatric first aid, social groups for new parents and tips on developing language skills.
Libraries are equipped with digital resources and technology. Students can access computers, printers and use the free WiFi to help them develop essential digital skills in a safe environment.
Libraries also serve as inclusive spaces where families can connect with others in their community. They offer a welcoming environment for children of all backgrounds to learn and play together, fostering social skills and a sense of belonging.
In summary, Hampshire’s public libraries are invaluable resources that support children’s education, creativity, and social development, making them a must-visit for families! www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library
Horris Hill School
Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 9DJ 01635 40594 horrishill.com
Friday 20 September: Open Morning Call or book online.
St Neot’s Preparatory School
St Neot’s Road, Eversley, Hook, RG27 0PN 0118 973 2118 stneotsprep.co.uk
Friday 4 October: Open morning
Sherfield School
Sherfield-on-Loddon, Hook, RG27 0HU 01256 884 800 sherfieldschool.co.uk
Friday 20 September: For entry into year 7 2025
Thursday 26 September, 6pm: Sixth form open evening
Open days may need prebooking. Please check before visiting.
A Little Monster’s Guides are beautifully illustrated personal development picture books for kids aged 4+.
A Little Monster’s Guide to Feeling Calm will help your child to:
• Ease feelings of stress
• Recognize emotions and identify why they are feeling them
• Learn how to self-regulate and behave constructively in any situation
• Problem-solve for themselves
A Little Monster’s Guide to Feeling Confident will help your child to:
• Find out what it means to be confident
• Embrace the fact that we all learn at our own pace
• Use positive self-talk
• Not be afraid to try new things and build on mistakes
• Understand that encouraging and helping others will make them feel more self-assured
GIVEAWAY: We have one copy of each of these books to give away.
If you would like to enter, please e-mail editor@familieshampshirenoerth.co.uk by 30 September, entitling the message ‘A Little Monster’. A winner will be chosen at random and contacted soon after this date.
At Vivace Music School, children discover a love for music that lasts a lifetime! Rooted in the ingenious Kodály approach, Vivace’s birth to senior school curriculum leads children to joyfully discover their voices, grow in confidence and learn the language of music.
Music classes with a difference - little ones are immersed in imaginative songs and sensory musical play, while schoolage kids’ classes burst at the seams with fun, helping them playfully learn key skills such as playing, reading and creating music. Expert teachers love nurturing children’s musicality and creativity through games, songs and real instruments.
Now’s a great time to join - visit www.vivacemusicschool. co.uk or email info@vivacemusicschool.co.uk to book your FREE class in Fleet, Farnham or Yateley.
Kodály-based music and movement classes
FROM BIRTH
07553 416347 www.vivacemusicschool.co.uk info@vivacemusicschool co uk
The Outdoor Guide Foundation, started by Julia Bradbury and her sister Gina, launched The Waterproof and Wellies Campaign to raise funds to provide every state primary school with waterproof clothing so that every child can play outdoors in all weathers.
Recently, Challenge The Wild donated a fun family activity break in the Forest of Bowland to schools that have already received kits from the Foundation, enabling children who perhaps otherwise wouldn’t be able to take part, in activities such as rock climbing, abseiling, orienteering and hiking.
‘To witness these children and their parents embrace all that the great outdoors has to offer is why we do what we do at The Outdoor Guide. I’m eternally grateful to the support of Challenge the Wild.’ Gina Bradbury Fox
Two young ambassadors of the Foundation, Aidan and Oliver, who have each fundraised for it through their own outdoor challenges also joined the activity break to meet some of those that they have helped. www.theoutdoorguidefoundation.org
Heritage Open Days (HODs), brought to you by the National Trust, returns from 6 to 15 September for its 30th year with thousands of free events and experiences.
From historic houses to factories, museums to music halls, formal gardens to graveyards, places, spaces and communities across the country will again host hundreds of FREE events with free interactive activities for children this autumn.
These will include dressing up, craft, woodland walks and railway rides, all based around this year’s theme, Creativity Unwrapped, sharing England’s colourful history of creativity. The festival will celebrate the experts and enthusiastic amateurs whose passions and skills add something special to our daily lives.
New events will be added to the festival’s directory every day and you can find a local event by visiting www.heritageopendays.org.uk
As the buzz of the new school year begins, why not enrich your child’s after-school routine with something truly special.
Perform’s dynamic classes are expertly crafted to enhance your child’s confidence, concentration, communication, and co-ordination – skills that complement their academic journey beautifully. Sessions are packed with drama-based games and activities which allow reserved children to come out of their shell whilst energetic children have the perfect outlet to express themselves.
Parents talk about the transformative experiences their children have had with Perform:
“My son is extremely shy, socially anxious and selfconscious, but he LOVES Perform. I’m so grateful to the teacher for making my little boy feel so happy and valued!”
“The teaching team are truly amazing. They have had such a positive impact on my children’s confidence levels.”
This term, 4-7 year olds are off to Outer Space on an intergalactic adventure with the Sparkly Spaceman and the Man on the Moon! Meanwhile, 7-12 year olds will enjoy a groovy Greek extravaganza in The Hercules Beat, where Hercules gets everyone dancing to stay fit.
Classes are held in Andover, Basingstoke, Bramley, Fleet and Hartley Witney and every child is welcome to try a FREE class. To book, visit www.perform.org.uk/try
Immersed in autumn colour, families can pull on their wellies and explore The Vyne’s gardens. Longer legs can roam three circular routes through ancient woodland.
Following a successful project to conserve the Tomb Chamber’s stained glass-windows, in the house budding conservators can piece together stained glass-themed jigsaws and brainteasing puzzles in the old kitchen. In the much-loved second-hand bookshop, you can pick up bargain reads. For coffee and top-up snacks, head into the cosy Brewhouse tea-room located next to the shop.
From 26 October to 3 November, on the Halloween pumpkin trail explore the ground floor of the house open 11am-3pm in search of ten suncatchers showcasing mysterious and magical pumpkins. Outside in the gardens open 10am-5pm, you’ll find family games with a jack-o’-lantern twist such as bean bag toss and ring toss. £2 per trail sheet and prize. FREE parking, picnics welcome. National Trust members and under 5s go FREE.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne
Horris Hill School in Newbury were thrilled to hold their first STEAM Fair at the end of the summer term, celebrating STEAM subjects across the Upper School.
The school’s Year 8 cohort produced 18 fascinating and creative projects between them, linking to the fields of STEAM curriculum – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. These ranged from studies of the solar system and sports analysis to ice cream cravings, bath bombs, DIY volcanic eruptions and even how to create the chewiest chewing gum. A team of school staff were invited to serve as judges, alongside a student vote from school years 5, 6 and 7, who all had the chance to visit the Fair.
A major refurbishment of the school’s science labs in 2022 has led to a keener interest than ever in STEAM subjects within the school, and the planned development of a contemporary art department in 2025, supported by owners Forfar Education, aims to encourage passion in the subjects at Horris Hill even further. www.horrishill.com
Often families will invest in their child’s education later in life, but did you know that the first three years at school are critical for learning and development?
Research shows that 90% of a child’s brain develops by age 5 and that Reception is the year with the greatest impact on a child’s education. If you invest in their education early it will help build strong foundations and they will reap lifelong benefits.
Sherfield School’s recent assessment results show that pupils who go through their Reception perform extremely well. So, what sets them apart?
• High staff:pupil ratio means they can offer two times more qualified teacher time
• Specialist teaching and equipment
• Strong parent partnerships
• Regular trips, visits, and plenty of club options
• Excellent food
• Outstanding wrap-around care
To find out more, book onto their Open Morning on 15 November at www.sherfieldschool.co.uk/Open-events
Recent research into infant learning suggests that while human infants are perceived as significantly more helpless than their animal counterparts, this period of vulnerability is a critical time for cognitive development, akin to the initial training phases of sophisticated artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT.
This phase allows infants to absorb and process vast amounts of sensory information, laying the groundwork for advanced cognitive abilities later in life, according to a new study by Trinity College Dublin.
Infant learning begins right from birth. During this period, babies start recognising faces, sounds, and patterns. This early learning is crucial for cognitive development, and babies learn from simple activities like reading stories and playing peek-a-boo.
More info: www.tcd.ie/news_events
Children’s writing is at a ‘crisis point’ as the number enjoying it in their spare time dwindles, a report by the National Literacy Trust suggests.
The number of young people who say they enjoy writing has fallen drastically over the past 13 years, according to the National Literacy Trust research. Just 28.7% of those aged between 8 and 18 said they enjoyed writing in their free time in 2023, compared to 46.8% in 2010.
At the same time there is a decline in children’s writing attainment with only 69% of children having met the expected standard of writing in Key Stage 2 Sats in 2022, compared to 78% in 2019.
Most children (72%) enjoy writing in their free time at ages 5-8, but this steadily declines as they get older.
More info: www.literacytrust.org.uk/news
By Usha Patel
Back in 2007, a mum called Sarah told me of an incident involving her then 8-year-old son, Albi. Sarah had fainted in the bathroom of their small flat. As she was coming round, she called out for her son. He said: ‘Yes, I saw you.’ Sarah reported that Albi carried on playing without concern. Sarah was visibly upset when she recalled her son’s behaviour.
Why had Sarah’s child not been concerned about her? What was the reason Albi appeared aloof? This was not due to a lack of empathy (as his mother had assumed) but an inability to understand the behaviours of others. Albi needed something called ‘theory of mind.’
What is the theory of mind?
A theory of mind is crucial for success in everyday social interactions, understanding others and their possible mental states (happy, sad, confused, etc.). Having theory of mind shows you acknowledge that others have different beliefs, desires, intentions and emotions from your own.
The Sally-Anne Story
Children can be tested on their theory of mind with a classic test called the Sally-Anne Story, where children watch the story acted out (by a therapist) using two dolls named Sally and Anne.
‘Sally places her marble in a basket, covers the basket and leaves the room. After Sally has departed, Anne moves the marble from the basket and places it in the box.’
The child is then asked where Sally will look for the marble when she comes back? To ‘pass’ this task, the child being tested will say that Sally will look in the basket. After all, Sally would not know Anne moved the marble and would assume it was where she had left it: in the basket. The child being tested needs to show that she has understood from Sally’s perspective and taken Sally’s most probable thoughts into consideration.
Here are the stages of theory of mind in a young child: Perspective-taking
A child recognises that although they know a toy is hidden in a box, another person who was absent during the hiding will not be aware of its location.
Children must first develop their self-awareness. This enables them to be socially aware. Seeing other people’s perspectives provides a starting point for thinking like that other person.
Illustrated storybooks can help children see things from another’s perspective: ask them how the characters are feeling based on the illustrations. The child might relate that to how they feel too. The more language that is used, the greater the chance of the child learning the vocabulary of emotions and conveying feelings.
If a friend sees you place a sweet in your pocket but you secretly move it to your bag when they’re not looking, a child with theory of mind realises the friend will mistakenly believe the sweet is still in your pocket.
If a friend is crying because they dropped their ice cream, a child with theory of mind will comprehend that the friend is upset, even if that child still has their own ice cream.
Deception
If a child decides to mislead their friend by pointing in the wrong direction when asked about the location of a hidden object, a child with theory of mind will understand that the friend does not know the true location.
Understanding others’ ignorance
A child understands that they learned something new at school and also realises that their parent doesn’t know this information yet because they weren’t at school.
Predicting behaviour
A child expects a friend to look for a missing toy in the last place they left it, demonstrating an understanding of the friend’s beliefs and intentions.
Usha Patel is a neurocognitive therapist with over eighteen years of experience. Visit www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk to find out more.
By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble
Whilst studies show that children learn better when they experience failure, no parent likes seeing their child upset or disappointed. It feels right to want to keep them happy and content by taking steps to avoid anything seemingly harmful they encounter, whether that be through distraction, bargaining or even with a quick credit-card swipe.
However, whilst these quick wins feel better or even just simpler, safeguarding children from disappointment ultimately hinders them from developing resilience and confidence to progress from childhood to adolescence and in their adult life. When children are given the opportunity to struggle and sometimes fail, you are helping them develop essential social and emotional skills.
What is disappointment and failure? Disappointment is a natural response to failure. It involves the feelings of thwarted desire, loss and discouragement when children fail to fulfil their hopes and expectations or those of others. Children are going to feel disappointment when they don’t achieve their goals or believe that they have let you down.
The stigma surrounding failure is a significant issue that impacts a child’s development, confidence and willingness to take risks. Both close family and society place high expectations on children to succeed academically and socially, which can often lead to an intense fear of failure. The emphasis on continual testing in our education system reinforces a narrow definition of success and failure too. If a child does not reach certain
Strategies to combat the stigma of failure
Understand that failure is a natural part of the learning process and see failures as opportunities for learning. Praise effort and persistence rather than just results and whilst showing your child empathy, avoid offering a consolation prize. Model your own healthy perspective on disappointment and allow your children to experience it, viewing stumbling blocks as opportunities.
Managing your expectations of your children
View your child as an individual. Children develop at different rates so don’t compare or be tempted to project your own challenges onto your children - they easily pick up on your negativity. Instead, be enthusiastic and positive, offer encouragement and support. Focus on positive, realistic expectations and celebrate effort as well as achievement. Help your child devise easily-achievable goals and separate them into manageable chunks, prioritising clear and consistent communication and expectations. Above all, validate their feelings which will help them develop perspective.
benchmarks, they are often labelled a failure. This can lead to a downward spiral effect with children reducing their efforts, giving up easily and not taking risks. Children who fall into this spiral may subsequently have little confidence, self-esteem and motivation to achieve future goals.
So how do we not feel completely defeated as parents when we have to watch our child suffer?
Placating your children doesn’t allow them to understand the root causes and figure out how to not feel disappointed in the future. Rather we should let them flex their muscles and with support, encourage them to find solutions themselves. In giving our children the necessary skills to manage disappointment, it is important to validate their feelings, show empathy and be mindful of how you react towards your own disappointments.
Lisa and Catherine are co-founders of Emparenting (www.emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with the insights, skills and tools needed to nurture the development and well-being of the next generation.
According to the author Allison Armstrong, ‘many parents today try too hard to smooth away life’s rough edges in the hopes of keeping disappointment at bay. Children with no experience solving life’s little setbacks have a much harder time when they’re faced with the big ones.’ She suggests that parents should view their children’s disappointments as positive experiences that prepare them for adulthood.
‘Childhood disappointment is actually a practice lap on the course to adulthood. If you run interference whenever disappointment threatens, you’re setting kids up to run a marathon without ever letting them train for it’ Allison adds. Instead, reframe disappointment as a healthy and positive emotion that plays an essential role in children’s emotional, intellectual and social development, equipping them with resilience to meet and overcome failures in adult life. Albert Einstein said: ‘Failure is success in progress.’ It is not what we do for our children but rather how we guide them on their journey, which will make them successful, strong and confident individuals.
By Erin Miller
At this year’s Hay Festival (the UK’s most prestigious literary event), children’s literature was a hot topic for discussion. Among those commenting were respected and prolific children’s authors, including Antony Horowitz CBE, author of the Alex Rider series, who observed the diminishing quality of children’s literature over the years, stating that ‘proper stories’ are being superseded by ‘silly books.’
There is no doubt that the classics are proper stories, characterised by their originality, complexity and the fact that they have stood the test of time. However, also appearing at the Hay Festival, the current Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, claimed that today’s children would need a dictionary to read classics such as The Wind in the Willows and Treasure Island.
So, if classics are challenging, with sometimes outdated ideas (for example, around gender roles) is it desirable or necessary to get children reading them? My answer is a firm ‘yes.’
As an English teacher with over a decade of experience, I’ve seen hundreds of children connecting deeply with classic texts. I’ve also witnessed children making excellent progress in their reading skills when faced with books that might seem ‘too hard.’
Furthermore, having taught in the Far East, the Middle East and the UK, I know that many of the classics are enjoyed by children across the globe. Universal themes such as friendship touch everyone and are dealt with in the most insightful, exciting and even tragic ways in classic children’s literature.
It is recognised that reading for twenty minutes a day builds vocabulary and academic progress in all subjects. However,
this does actually depend on what your child is reading. With both complexity of plot and language, the classics certainly will ensure vocabulary expansion and provide new or challenging ideas.
In addition, a broad knowledge of classic texts will equip your child with ‘background knowledge,’ which is an essential reading skill that has been proven to compensate for a weaker reading ability.
With AI generative platforms such a ChatGPT, there is a risk that today’s children could struggle with originality and creativity.
By encouraging your child to experience the classics, they will be armed with the stories that built today’s world. They will be exposed to a wide range of ideas to interpret and fuel their ideas in their own writing.
Erin Miller is a teacher with a keen interest in how research can be used in the classroom to improve learning.
By Simone Ward
Once your baby turns one, it’s time to think about introducing snacks. Like all transitions, some toddlers are ready to jump in whilst others may need more time to adjust. They may only need one snack for a while or maybe two very light snacks.
Why snacks are important
Many kids would happily eat snacks all day and skip their main meals altogether. But while snacks can be massively appealing to kids (not always for the best of reasons), they are actually crucial.
Snacks keep kids going between meals
Toddlers have high energy needs and small tummies so they quickly burn through the foods they eat. They need an opportunity to fuel up and maintain their energy levels every two to three hours.
Snacks are essential for filling nutritional gaps
This is particularly important for kids who may not eat much at mealtimes. Kids have demanding nutritional needs but also everchanging appetites; they may eat very little at one meal or snack and lots at another or small amounts on each occasion. If they don’t eat much in one sitting, a snack a few hours later means they will not have to rely on limited eating windows to meet their nutritional needs.
How many snacks per day?
Depending on your child’s age and eating habits, two to three snacks a day is the general rule.
Sticking to a routine with food is important for kids and snacks are no exception to this. One way that you can pretty much guarantee that your toddler won’t eat much at mealtimes is to let them snack as often as they want or graze all day. It’s important to give kids enough time to build up an appetite so that they come to the table hungry. Scheduling snacks properly will support them in this. How you work snacks into your feeding routine will depend on your child and your personal circumstances; you may need to play around with timings at first until you find your sweet spot.
A great starting point is to plan snacks midway between meals or at the very least avoid serving snacks too close to meals.
Scheduling snacks has the advantage of allowing you to plan ahead and make sure everything you need for the week is on your shopping list. It also allows you to prep food like fruit and veggies ahead of time.
Younger toddlers may take time to build up to this number and all kids have differing appetites. Some children pack in a lot of food at mealtimes and will only need one snack or possibly none. This is okay too; children should never be encouraged to eat more than their bodies are telling them they need.
Be mindful that children’s fuelling needs can change over time or quite quickly, so continue to offer them the option of a snack (or snacks) in case they decide they need more food after all.
What about bedtime snacks?
These can be super helpful in ensuring that kids have had enough to eat but not all kids need or want them. Consider offering a bedtime snack if your child hasn’t eaten much of their evening meal, if bedtime is another couple of hours away or if you just feel your child would benefit from some extra nutrients or calories.
This is an edited extract from the book Feeding Toddlers by Simone Ward, published by Page Street Publishing.
For many kids, the most appealing snacks are what I call ‘crinkly bag’ snacks, usually simple carbs like crackers, dried cereal, crisps/chips etc. These foods are very convenient and absolutely can be a part of a nutritious snack but they are often low in the fat and protein needed to sustain little ones until the next meal. Also, if we reserve these foods for snack time, it creates the idea that they are special or a treat.
What often happens is that kids will happily eat less of a meal in anticipation of a specific snack food later. They may become preoccupied with these and ask for them constantly throughout the day.
It’s useful to think of all types of foods as snack food options and in turn, incorporate the ‘crinkly bag’ snacks into your kids’ main meals too. This sends kids a message that there is no food hierarchy, they can enjoy all foods together and there is no need to hold out for snack time or for a specific type of food.
By Andrew Campbell
When you think it’s time for a change in an after-school club or class for your child, whether moving from dancing to swimming or to another class offering the same activity, take into consideration both the advantages and disadvantages.
One important benefit of changing extracurricular activities is the exposure to new challenges and opportunities. Trying something new can stimulate your child’s mind and body differently, fostering more well-rounded development. For instance, if your child has been involved in dancing, switching to swimming will introduce a new set of physical demands and skills. Learning to adapt to new environments and expectations builds resilience and versatility; valuable traits that will serve children well throughout their lives.
Similarly, if your child no longer feels excited or challenged by the class they are taking but still wants to stick to the same activity, it could worth finding a new provider better suited to where they are now at.
Changing activities can also provide your child with the opportunity to make new friends. Each extracurricular environment has its unique social circle. Transitioning to a new activity introduces your child to peers they might not have met otherwise.
However, there are disadvantages. One key drawback is the potential loss of continuity with an instructor or teacher familiar with your child’s unique skills, capabilities and personality. A leader who understands your child’s strengths and weaknesses can tailor their guidance to maximise your child’s progress.
Too much of a good thing?
Scheduling after school activities for your child involves juggling various factors to ensure a balanced and enriching experience:
Cost: activities like music lessons, sports or dance can be costly. Parents need to budget carefully to avoid financial strain and assess whether the benefits justify the expense.
Loss of unstructured time: children need free play to develop creativity, problem-solving skills and social interactions. Overloading their schedule with structured activities can lead to burnout and deprive them of essential downtime.
Child’s interests and passions: engaging in activities they genuinely enjoy fosters a lifelong love for learning and personal growth. However, balance is key; too many commitments can lead to stress and fatigue.
Logistics: consider transportation and time management. Co-ordinating multiple activities may become challenging, impacting family time and routines.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a well-rounded schedule that promotes your child’s development while allowing for rest and spontaneous play.
Switching to a new class or activity means starting from scratch. Moreover, changing activities can result in the loss of the progress achieved in the current activity. Many extracurricular pursuits, such as martial arts, dance or music, have structured grading systems that mark progress. Moving to a different activity might mean giving up hard-earned advancements and starting a new grading structure from the beginning.
Maintaining established friendships within the current activity should not be underestimated either. Consistent social interactions help children build strong bonds and a sense of belonging. Switching to a new activity involves entering an unfamiliar social environment where fitting in might be challenging. The risk of not integrating well into the new group could lead to feelings of isolation or disappointment.
Ultimately, deciding to change extracurricular activities should be guided by thoroughly understanding your child’s preferences, strengths and needs. Engage in open conversations with your child about their interests and feelings regarding both the current and prospective activities.
By Ashley Lutz
Wondering where to head with the family in 2025 for your next adventure? Whether you are looking for winter sun, a bucket list holiday ticked off the list or an epic road trip, here are some top picks for families of all ages and stages.
If you’re planning a trip to the UAE you might be wondering which is better, Dubai or Abu Dhabi? Abu Dhabi is an incredibly child-friendly destination and a great choice for families looking for winter sun. Offering a more relaxing destination, better value for money, lovely beaches and plenty of kids’ activities, from famous museums and magnificent mosques to desert safaris and beautiful mangroves.
Beyond the capital, seaside destinations and major cities such as Split or Dubrovnik, Croatia can offer unique experiences to families who prefer to go off the beaten track in lesser-known but equally beautiful destinations. From quaint villages nestled in the countryside to secluded beaches tucked away from the crowds, Croatia has plenty of off-the-beaten-path experiences to offer for the perfect summer holiday.
Iceland’s incredible landscape is an endless source of wonder no matter your age and exploring it with the family will create memories that will last a lifetime. In Reykjavík and the vicinity, you’ll find restaurants, swimming pools and the largest variety of children’s activities. Hunt for the Northern lights, spot whales, watch live volcanoes and take a soak in the warm waters of the Blue Lagoon!
Whether you are thinking about a crisp winter break or a warm sunny holiday, Switzerland will leave you and the family wanting to come back for more! With so many exciting museums, snow parks and slopes, action-packed rope parks and toboggan runs, pristine lakes and rivers, the whole family will enjoy an unforgettable trip and you can explore the country from the comfort of the excellent transport system.
From discovering your favourite ride at the world’s greatest theme parks in Orlando, learning to surf in tropical Hawaiian oceans or transforming into a cowboy at one of the Wild West’s ranches, there is a perfect USA family holiday for you! There are many ways to explore the USA which can be tailor-made to create your own unique family holiday.
Gorgeous white sandy beaches, delicious cuisine, lush rainforests and ancient civilisations mean families are spoilt for choice with a holiday in Mexico. The Rivera Maya between Cancun and Tulum boasts a diverse range of fantastic family-friendly hotels, from fun-filled beach resorts to luxury tropical hideaways and with direct flights from the UK to Cancun, travelling there couldn’t be easier.
Only one hour ahead of the UK, family holidays in South Africa offer the perfect combination of wildlife, exploration and relaxation. From zipping through the treetop canopies in Tsitsikamma National Park to quality family time on the white sands of Plettenberg Bay and spotting the Big Five on safari, a once-in-a-lifetime family adventure awaits!
With a vibrant culture, distinctive cuisine and many destinations to discover, there are endless experiences that everyone can enjoy on a holiday to Sri Lanka. From the UK summer through to the winter, there is a perfect spot to enjoy beaches, culture and wildlife. Combining stunning natural landscapes and beaches with bustling cities and ancient cultural sites, Sri Lanka is a country like no other.
Ashley Lutz is a Travel Counsellor with seventeen years’ experience working with families to find inspiring holidays best suiting their wants, needs and budget. More info at www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/ashley.lutz
The Aliens Love Underpants series has always been a firm favourite with preschoolers, so here at Families we were very excited to hear that after eight years, there is a new underpants story publishing this month! Rachel Bailey talks to author Claire Freedman about her new book Dragons Love Underpants and meeting MC Grammar!
Follow on X @clairefreedman www.clairefreedman.co.uk
Is it fair to say you didn’t plan your writing career? What advice would you give to parents/children who don’t grow up with a clear idea of what they want to do once they leave school?
You are absolutely right! I didn’t plan a career in writing at all. It happened entirely by accident after I joined an evening writing class about 30 years ago. I’d always loved writing and reading and our teacher was so enthusiastic about writing, for children in particular, I was immediately hooked. I knew this was what I really wanted to do. I haven’t looked back since.
Personally, I didn’t have a very clear idea of what I wanted to do after I left school. I had a number of different jobs over the years, which, looking back on, I can see weren’t creative enough for me, even though I enjoyed them. I do think that there is a lot of pressure on young people to decide on their career so early on in life.
It’s wonderful if you know exactly what you want to do, but I think just getting out and working can also help you decide what you like and don’t like about a job. It’s all good experience, and who knows what exciting opportunities might present themselves? It has also made me appreciate just how fortunate I am to have discovered what suits me and gives me the greatest job and personal satisfaction.
I hear MC Grammar is doing a rap read –have you met him? How important do you think it is to keep looking for different ways to encourage children as readers?
I’ve not met MC Grammar but would like to. His presentation of books in rap is such a great way to attract young readers to enjoy books, especially when they might consider reading a chore. Picture books should be fun, engaging and meaningful for children. Trends seem
to change more quickly than ever and if that means thinking outside the box to encourage reading, well that has to be a good thing.
It would be sad for any child to miss out on the joy of reading because it appears boring. Picture books are so essential for new and reluctant readers – the pictures truly tell the story- and even if the child struggles with some of the words, the illustrations help the story along and make the reading experience more fun and accessible. Presentation is so important and fortunately there are always new, exciting ways to champion the love of reading.
You write the books and Ben Cort illustrates them. What’s your working relationship like? Do you ever bounce ideas off each other?
We have a really good working relationship – which is important as we have spent a lot of time together over the years, visiting festivals, book signings and events etc.
However, we don’t generally contribute much to each other’s work. I write and Ben illustrates, although of course we might comment on each other’s work
For your chance to win a copy, all you have to do is answer the question below and email your answer to editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk
What’s the name of Claire’s newest book?
A - Aliens Love Underpants
B - Dinosaurs Love Underpants
C - Dragons Love Underpants
The closing date for entries is 1 November 2024
and maybe make suggestions. I think that works well for both of us.
Do you have a favourite Underpants book or other book you have written? As fantastic as the Underpants books are, they are just a small part of your portfolio! Are you surprised by how popular they have become?
My favourite underpants book, hands down, is the first one in the series - Aliens Love Underpants! I was totally amazed by its success. I initially wrote the book as a one off, but I’ve been surprised that eight books later, the series is still going strong. I’m really excited about Dragons Love Underpants and hope it is just as successful.
Aside from Underpants books, I’ve had around 100 other picture books published. Everything from laugh-out-loud humour to soft and sleepy bedtime stories. My all time favourite would be Oliver and Patch, a story about a lonely little boy who’s moved to the city, and how he finds a little dog called Patch – just as lost as him –and a new friend. It’s beautifully illustrated by Kate Hindley.
Would you ever consider writing books for older children or do you love the freedom to create the zanier characters that perhaps writing picture books offers?
I have considered writing for older children and wouldn’t rule it out, but I feel picture books suit my style of writing and I enjoy crafting them so much. Never say never!
Indoor or Outdoors? Summer or Winter?
Outdoors. Is there an option for Spring?!
Dragons Love Underpants publishes on September 26th priced £7.99.
All listings are correct at the time of publication. Please check with the venue before you visit in case anything has changed.
Until 29 Sep
John Burningham’s Bedtime Stories: exhibition and activity trail at Mottisfont, near Romsey
A family-friendly exhibition and activity trail celebrating the wild and wonderful world of awardwinning children’s author and illustrator John Burningham. 10am – 5pm nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/ hampshire/mottisfont
7 Sep International Vulture Awareness Day at the Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover
Celebrating vultures with fantastic flying demonstrations and plenty of other vulture-themed activities throughout the day. hawk-conservancy.org
7-8 Sep
Heritage Open Days at West Berkshire Museum
Meet members from the Kennet Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers who will show you some of the traditional skills associated with the original purpose of the seventeenth century Cloth Hall. 10:30am – 3pm westberkshireheritage.org/ whats-on
7-21 Sep
Festival of Arts and Crafts at The Base, Greenham Common
Local artists will be celebrated as they display their work in the venue’s Gallery throughout the Festival, offering visitors the chance to purchase a piece of original art. cornexchangenew.com
8 and 15 Sep
Heritage Open Days at Shaw House, Newbury
Explore the house, exhibition rooms and a historic costume exhibition ‘Dressed for Shaw’ and the English Civil War arms and armoury exhibition ‘Dressed for Battle’. 11am – 4pm westberkshireheritage.org/ whats-on
12 Sep
Heritage Open Day at Gilbert White’s House and Gardens, Selborne
This year’s theme is ‘Routes –Networks – Connections’ so they will be hosting some walks this day to fit in with the theme. 10:30am – 5pm gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk
13-15 Sep
Ablaze 2024 along the Kennet and Avon Canal, Newbury
The Newbury community will promenade along the route to see 40 floating fire braziers before arriving in Victoria Park for a Fire Garden spectacle. 7:30pm –9:45pm cornexchangenew.com/ablaze
14 and 15 Sep
Clay Leaf Printing at the Corn Exchange Newbury
During this one-hour session, help create ceramic leaves for the oak tree display in the Runway Gallery. 10am / 11:30am / 1:30pm / 3pm cornexchangenew.com
15 Sep
Nick Cope: Family Music at the Corn Exchange Newbury
Singing his uniquely crafted songs while playing his guitar,
It’s trick or treat season and Winchester Science Centre is pulling out all the stops to fill this one with fiendish science fun!
Between Saturday 20 October and Monday 4 November, there’ll be all the usual Science Centre fun, plus even more to excite all ages at Science Spooktacular –and it’s all included with admission.
Don’t forget to say you saw these events listed in Families Hampshire North magazine!
Families can swap spooky scares for frightful fun on the trick or treat trail. They’ll be wowed by epic chemistry demos in the brand new free live show, Potions Science Lab. And little werewolves, witches and ghouls can show off their best moves on the dancefloor at the mini monster disco.
Visit winchestersciencecentre.org for more information and to book tickets.
accompanied by a backdrop of his beautifully animated projections, Nick reaches people’s hearts with songs of the everyday, igniting children’s imagination in an organic, educational and fun way. 11am cornexchangenew.com
15 Sep
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly at The Haymarket, Basingstoke
The world’s best-loved nursery rhyme comes to life just in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pam Adams’ best-selling book! 2:30pm anvilarts.org.uk
21-22 Sep
The Newbury Show at the Newbury Showground Berkshire’s premier agricultural celebration will be showcasing the very best of local agriculture, business, food and family. newburyshowground.co.uk
21 Sep–13 Oct (weekends only)
Tudor Rose Festival at The Harlington, Fleet
A dance festival for children and adults aged 3-21 years. tudorrosefestival.org
22 Sep
The Classic Car Show and Concert at West Green House, Hartley Witney
A family day with a ‘Best in Show’
prize and a vote for the most popular classic car. 11am–3pm westgreenhouse.co.uk
29 Sep
Bolt Round the Holt at Alice Holt Forest, Farnham
This family-friendly, traffic free cross-country running event is entirely off-road and explores this stunning forest. forestryengland.uk/forest-event/ events-alice-holt
5 Oct
Roman Family Fun Day at West Berkshire Museum
Dressed in historical costume, historical re-enactors of the Butser IX Legion will show you what life in Roman Britain was like, demonstrating skills that you can have a go at. There will be an opportunity to take part in Roman-inspired crafts as well as to complete a themed trail. 10am – 3pm westberkshireheritage.org/ whats-on
5-6 Oct
Apple Weekend at West Green House, Hartley Witney
Book the children in for THE JOHNNY APPLESEED TRAIL, with quiz sheet in hand to find the different apple trees in the garden. westgreenhouse.co.uk
Join Wellington County Park this October halfterm as they are throwing the biggest and most friendly spooktacular Hallo’Welly’ween ever, and you are all invited! .
Join in daily for a host of entertainment, perfect for children up to 8 years old. See the fantastic comedy duo PeteZa and Big Foot for the Not So Spooky show! Pop in and see Junk Jodie for recycled crafts to make and take or jump aboard a funthemed Halloween train ride. Head to the farm and meet some creepy crawlies or carve a pumpkin to take home.
There is so much to do at Welly Park this Halloween!
Visit www.wellingtoncountrypkark.co.uk for more information about all of their Halloween entertainment and to book your tickets.
5-6 Oct
Highclere History Festival –WW2 and D-Day - at Highclere Castle, Newbury
The Castle will be open to tour and explore at your leisure, should you wish, as well as enjoying reenactments from the Second World War on the Castle lawns, including activities for children. highclerecastle.co.uk
6 Oct
Family Yoga at the Corn Exchange Newbury
This gentle morning yoga class will focus on breath, flexibility, and relaxation. 11:15am–12:15pm cornexchangenew.com
12 Oct
Kathakali at Phoenix Arts Centre, Bordon
The Kala Chethana Kathakali Troupe are bringing the captivating drama, dance, costumes and music of Kerala to the South East. 6:30pm phoenixarts.co.uk
12 Oct–4 Nov
Science Spooktacular at Winchester Science Centre Trick or treat trail, mini monster disco and Potions Lab science show! wincestersciencecentre.org
13 Oct
Cirque – The Greatest Show at The Anvil, Basingstoke Welcome to a world where the very best of musical theatre showstoppers meets jaw-dropping circus spectacular, as everyone’s favourite West End songs combine with breathtaking amazing aerialists, incredible contortionists, and thrilling feats of agility and flair. 2:30pm / 6:30pm anvilarts.org.uk
19 Oct
Shoe Baby at Phoenix Arts Centre, Bordon
A fantastical sing-a-long adventure with a baby who takes to the sea, the air, the zoo all in a shoe! 11am phoenixarts.co.uk
19-27 Oct
Finkley Halloween Happenings at Finkley Down Farm, Andover Enjoy a frightfully freaky Halloween at Finkley, filled with so many special spooky sensations! finkleydownfarm.co.uk
19-31 Oct
Halloween Potions Trail with Wilma the Witch at Hinton Ampner, Alresford If you’re looking for some frightfully good family fun this half term, then come and join Wilma the Witch on her potions trail! 10am–5pm nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/ hampshire/hinton-ampner
20 Oct
Kids Pinch Pot Pumpkins at the Corn Exchange Newbury
Make and paint a decorative seasonal pinch pot pumpkin with Susie Oates from Pots of Hope. 10am–12:30pm cornexchangenew.com
20 Oct Family Tai Chi at the Corn Exchange Newbury
Come as a family for an introduction to balance, full body connection and mindfulness for you and your youngsters. 11:15am –12:15pm cornexchangenew.com
23-25 Oct
Mini Hallo’Welly’ween at Wellington Country Park, Riseley
Perfect for little ones up to the age of 4 years old. 10am–3pm wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk
25-27 Oct
The Tiger Who Came to Tea at the Corn Exchange Newbury
Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show, packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. cornexchangenew.com
26 Oct
The Tiger Who Came to Tea Pre-show Workshop at the Corn Exchange Newbury
Make your own roarsome tiger mask to wear during the show. 10am/1pm cornexchangenew.com
26 Oct–3 Nov Hallo’Welly’ween at Wellington Country Park, Riseley
This is the biggest and most friendly spooktacular Hallo’Welly’ween ever, and you’re all invited! 9:30am–4pm wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk
26 Oct–3 Nov
Halloween Half Term at Milestones Museum, Basingstoke
With eerie effects and traditional Halloween decorations, take a wicked wander through the museum’s cobbled streets - if you dare! 10am–4:45pm hampshireculture.org.uk
26 Oct–3 Nov
Halloween Pumpkin Trail at The Vyne, Sherborne St John Celebrating The Vyne’s successfully conserved stainedglass windows, explore the ground-floor of the house and locate ten vibrant suncatchers featuring all kinds of mysterious and magical pumpkins. 10am–5pm nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/ hampshire/the-vyne
27 Oct
Pumpkin Carving at 101 Arts, Newbury Pumpkins, tools and decorative materials provided and, best of all, they’ll clean up the mess! 10:30am /1pm cornexchangenew.com
27 Oct
28 Oct
LGBTQ+ Family Morning at West Berkshire Museum
Join a relaxed morning in the Museum’s Long Room, providing a safe space for local LGBTQ+ families to meet one another and be involved in a creative activity. 10:30am–12pm westberkshireheritage.org/ whats-on
28 Oct
Oldilocks and the Three Bears at Shaw House, Newbury
A wonderfully funny and warmhearted celebration of the classic story starring a naughty old lady who looks very familiar… 11am/1pm westberkshireheritage.org/ whats-on
28-29 Oct
Dear Zoo Live! At The Haymarket, Basingstoke
Help your children learn as the book leaps onto the stage and share a magical experience as the story unfolds with child-engaging puppets, music, and lots of audience interaction. anvilarts.org.uk
28 Oct–1 Nov
Create and Make at the Corn Exchange Newbury Activities include arts and crafts, drama and more! 10am–4pm cornexchangenew.com
28 Oct–1 Nov Illuminate The Base, Greenham Common Help create The Base’s annual illuminated lantern display for the festive season. 1:30pm/4:30pm cornexchangenew.com
29 Oct Arts Award in a Morning at West Berkshire Museum
Start your journey at the Corn Exchange with a drama session, then move to Newbury Library for a story-based session and on to West Berkshire Museum for a craft and museum trail. 10am–12:30pm cornexchangenew.com
29 Oct
Pinoccio Fun Day at Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Create themed crafts, join in with drama games sessions and listen to storytelling. 10:30am–2pm watermill.org.uk
29 Oct
Movie in the Hall: Hotel Transylvania 2 at Shaw House, Newbury Dracula and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half human, half vampire grandson in order to keep Mavis from leaving the hotel. 10:30am. Adults £5 Child £3. westberkshireheritage.org/ whats-on
30 Oct
Family Activity Day at Shaw House, Newbury
Using porcelain pens, decorate a ceramic pumpkin hanging decoration. 10am–3pm westberkshireheritage.org/ whats-on
30 Oct
Music Extravaganza at Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Participants will have the opportunity to sing, make music and build soundscapes with a variety of instruments and objects. 9am–4pm watermill.org.uk
30-31 Oct
BOO-tiful Halloween Fun at Whitchurch Silk Mill
You can choose to make a super spooky pencil case or tote bag using ghosts, bats, spiders and webs… the choice is yours! 11am /1pm whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk
30-31 Oct
Owl-O-Ween at the Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover Enjoy ghostly storytelling and marvel at the owls as they put on two beautiful flying displays against the backdrop of moonlit grounds. 5:30pm hawk-conservancy.org
Milkshake! Live on Holiday at The Haymarket, Basingstoke Join your favourite Milkshake! friends on holiday with Chase and Marshall from Paw Patrol, Dora, Pip, and Posy, Blue from Blues Clues and You!, Milo, Milkshake! Monkey, plus two of your Milkshake! presenters for an all-new adventure. 12pm/3:30pm anvilarts.org.uk Scan here to see all our Events!
One child goes free with this ad in September '24!
