Families Hampshire West Magazine

Issue 56 I January/ February 2017

FREE take me home

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Tutoring: what you need to know A guide to little bilingual brains How to beat the January blues What’s on in January & February

Fareham Swim School Bringing swimming lessons to the High Street

New pool opening Jan 2017 in West Street Fareham, booking lines now open

Small class sizes max 4:1 | Beautifully warm pools Teacher in the water | Specialist Baby & Preschool lessons After school swim club | Confidence building sessions 1:1 lessons available | Lessons running 7 days a week

To book your lessons for the New Year or to find out more, please get in touch

farehamswimschool.com

Tel: 01329 802208

THE ESSENTIAL LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS Call us 07789882467 to advertiseAREAS your business with us SOUTHAMPTON, THE NEW FOREST, WINCHESTER &onSURROUNDING

January/ February 2017

NURSERY, PREP & SENIOR SCHOOL CO-ED, 2–18, DAY & BOARDING

Beyond Expectations…

Wednesday 1st March 2017: EYFS Open Morning 9:00am–11:30am Tuesday 14th March 2017: Whole School Open Morning 9:00am–12:00 noon Hampshire Collegiate Prep School, Embley Park, Hampshire SO51 6ZA

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Families Hampshire West

Telephone: 01794 515737

email: hcps@hampshirecs.org.uk www.hampshirecs.org.uk

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Hampshire West www.familiesonline.co.uk Tel: 07789 882 467 Editor Rebecca Carr editor@familieshampshirewest.co.uk Advertising Claire Clarricoates claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk Online Manager Helen Clarke Winchester@familiesintheknow.co.uk

In this issue...

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News & views

Online Manager Naomi Dawson west-southampton@familiesintheknow.co.uk

6

Music lessons: why start early

8

Tutoring: what you need to know

Editorial and Design Rebecca Carr

9

How to make maths fun

10

Finding the right early years environment

12

The little guide to little bilingual brains

13

Books to inspire fussy eaters

14

How to beat the January blues

16

What’s on in January & February

Contributors: Parenting Journalist Liat Hughes Joshi Sarah Partridge from the International School of London, Surrey Next issue March/ April 2017 Booking deadline 3 February 2017 Cover image: Depositphotos

We are recruiting for an Online Area Manager In July 2016, we launched our fantastic new website this summer and we now have a vacancy for an online area manager to look after our West and East Southampton website and social media pages.

© Families Hampshire West Magazine 2017 Families Hampshire West Magazine is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families ® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Temple House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Hampshire West Magazine are fully protected by copyright and non of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

January/ February 2017

As an Area Manager you will enjoy a fun and flexible role, which fits around you and your family life, whilst affording you a great challenge – and the opportunity to make money!

The role is suitable for someone looking to gain experience in working with social media and marketing. You should be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about what’s on locally for families, interested in working flexibly from home at times that suit you, be online savvy and a regular user of Facebook and Twitter, be able to write great articles that capture the imagination of local families and have good networking and communication skills, and confidence when speaking to customers or the public.

Full training is provided and you will have access and become part of a network of 198 other Families Online area managers.

To register your interest, email rebecca@familieshampshirewest.co.uk

Call us on 07789882467 to advertise your business with us

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News

Families news

Save the date for Wear a Hat day 2017 Pencil Friday 31 March in your diary in big, bold writing because Wear A Hat Day is back for the eighth time and it will be even hattier than ever before.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Brain Tumour Research is the only national UK charity that funds sustainable research into finding a cure.

If you’re looking for a relaxing retreat in beautiful surroundings or an actionpacked fun break, this award-winning five-star holiday village has it all. Escape to Sandy Balls Holiday Village nestled in the breath-taking New Forest National Park. Feel yourself unwind with something new waiting for you every day, begin your adventure in the perfect getaway. This is the place where memories are made, friendships created and new adventures experienced by all.

Sandy Balls understand families and know that if the little ones are happy then Mums and Dads can relax, so they’ve put together all the ingredients for a perfect family holiday.

Create magical family memories in a safe environment where children can splash in the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, swing on the adventure playground zip wire, shoot at an archery session, dance at the family disco and sleep soundly in your comfortable lodge at the end of a fun packed day. In a world where we spend more time in front of TV and computer screens, at Sandy Balls everyone can be outside more than in.

And with lots of onsite activities on offer you’ll be spoilt for choice. Take the opportunity to experience nature in the forest surroundings. Join a bug hunt or woodland walk. Enjoy a football tournament or, for the adventurous, try out a laser combat game.

Whether you prefer a woodland lodge nestled in the trees or more of an adventure under canvas, Sandy Balls has the accommodation to suit you. Choose a luxury woodland lodge, a caravan holiday home, glamping in a new safari tents or a hassle-free camping pod. There is a full range of accommodation to suit all budgets. New for 2017, some Premium Lodges will feature a private hot tub to relax in at the end of an action packed day.

To find out more visit www.sandyballs.co.uk

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Stuck for ideas? Our Hatter’s Workshop online is brim-ming with inspiration including top 10 event ideas, quizzes and fundraising tips! www.wearahatday.org

The Flip Out story began in Sydney in 2012. The idea first came about whilst CEO Brent Grundy was sitting in a play centre waiting for a kids party to finish.

He looked around and noticed that much of the play centre was full of kids that were too big to enjoy the facilities and many people had nothing to do but wait.

He decided to make it his mission to create an environment that would not only entertain the kids but also parents and even the grandparents.

La Leche League Southampton Mondays 10am-12pm (term time only) St James’ Road Methodist Church St James’ Road, Shirley Southampton, SO15 5HE

Facebook “f” Logo

CMYK / .eps

Facebook “f” Logo

CMYK / .eps

www.LLLSouthampton.org.uk

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Flip Out provides awesome fun for everyone

Families Hampshire West

So Flip Out was born with the aim to give healthy and awesome fun through massive trampolines, stunt box zones, ball games and events for everyone’s enjoyment. Flip Out is also the fastest growing trampoline park in the world with 50 stores worldwide with more to follow.

Chichester Flip Out is due to open in February with Ninja Warrier, Dodgeball and much more. Follow them on social media to keep up to date with all the latest information or visit www.flipout.co.uk

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Register now and start planning your event. You’ll receive an exclusive pack of fundraising goodies – including leaflets, posters and balloons – in plenty of time for your Wear A Hat Day.

Breastfeeding Support Group

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Wear A Hat Day is the UK’s premier brain tumour research fundraising event, and is a great way to show your support and raise money for brain tumour research during a day of hat-filled fun and games.

Buy a hat, make a hat, take a photo and share it online.

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& views

Sandy Balls Holiday Village a relaxing family retreat in the New Forest

A Berry Good lunchbox addition The Berry Company, one of Europe’s fastest growing drinks brands, has launched a range of brand new kids’ products perfect for popping into lunch boxes as the kids are back at school.

Rich in vitamin C, low in sugar and not from concentrate, the range includes three variants, packed to the brim with with vitamins and bursting with flavour; Super Duper Fruit Punch, Cheeky Little Berries and Berry Good Lemonade. All are lightly sweetened with Stevia leaf extract, a South American herb.

The range contains no added sugar (at just 1.7g per 100ml, each carton contains of half the amount of sugar than other leading kids’ juice brands) and in a neatly packaged ‘box’, is the perfect size for popping into lunchboxes and jazzing up cool bags.

RRP: £2.99 pack of 4 x 180ml Cartons Stockists: Goodness Direct

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Perform Classes for the new term From January, Perform children 4-7 year olds will be heading into the Fairytale Forest for an amazing adventure. We’ve taken much-loved classic fairytales and mixed them up with the latest funky moves and grooves, and there’ll be some extraordinary characters to meet.

Children will hang out with the Funky Fairy, sleep under the incredible Dream Tree and sing the Rapunzel Rap - It’s going to be fairytale-tastic.

Our 7-12s will be joining heroic Robin Hood and his gang - The Merry Men in a feisty feud between the outlaws of Sherwood Forest Estate and the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham. With angry protests, desperation and chaos on the streets, will our hooded hero save the day and bring back power to the people? Featuring funky urban beats, an outrageously evil King John and a pumping glitterball disco finale, this modern version of Robin Hood has been specially adapted into a witty and energetic show perfect for 7–12s. local Perform Classes are available in Winchester, Southampton, Romsey and Lymington. Call 020 72559120, or visit www.perform.org.uk

NEW YEAR MADNESS READER OFFER!

All children are entitled to a no-obligation free trial session. Plus a £40 discount if signing up to a block of 10 sessions. Simply quote discount code FUNK160217 (4-7 yrs) or HOOD160217 (7-12 yrs)

Winter fun at Adventure Wonderland Struggling to keep the kids entertained this winter? Why not take a trip to award-winning family theme park Adventure Wonderland, opposite Bournemouth Airport?

The huge Aztec adventure play centre, Wild Thing, is open throughout January and February During half-term (February 11-19th) the Full Park is open featuring more than 30 rides and attractions, Cuddle Corner farmyard, the South’s largest hedge maze and you can catch fabulous shows in The Happydrome Theatre.

Call 01202 483444 or visit the website for more information adventurewonderland.co.uk

Big shows small prices

The Little House of Science for curious minds Check out the Little Discovery classes for ages six months to 24 months old. These allow babies to explore their senses with music, colours and shapes.

Little Maths, Rhythm & Shapes and Little Science are workshops that nurture curiosity while making a child’s first steps into the world of numbers and science that much easier. The Little Maths workshops, for 2 - 4 year olds builds their confidence with numbers. While the Little Science (3-7 yr) and Big Science (8-11 yr) introduces new scientific concepts through discussions and fun hands on experiments.

For more information, timetable of workshops available for holidays and upcoming terms call 0800 0921082 or 07988647173.

January/ February 2017

King Edward’s sporting achievements Year on year, the strength of hockey and rugby at King Edward’s, Southampton continues to just keep getting better and better. During the autumn term, the School claimed three county wins in just one week.

The boys’ U14 rugby side competed in the County 10s Tournament securing a final against Portsmouth Grammar School and their good form continued as they won the match 14-7 to take the title. In girls’ hockey the King Edward’s U16 side had equal success to finish as county champions in the Hampshire competition whilst, later the same week, the 1st XI girls’ team also took the crown. The U14 squad finished in second place in the county round to also qualify for the south regionals.

The girls’ 1st XI also progressed to the regional semi-finals of the National Cup. Call 02380 799216 to find out more.

Get Into London Theatre is back, and running until 10 February.

With over 50 participating productions ranging from plays and musicals to dance and opera, the scheme covers the full range of extraordinary shows on London's stages, with tickets from just £10.

For information and booking details visit www.getintolondontheatre.co.uk.

Hampshire parents invited to take part in new study Should Children use tablet devices? New research has begun to determine if technology like iPads are beneficial for children’s development. Dr Elena Hoicka, and PhD students Stephanie Powell and Burcu Soy, from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Psychology, are inviting Parents everywhere to take part in the study, by completing a survey at babylovesscience.com and repeating the survey six months later.

To advertise in our next issue call 07789 882467 or email editor@familieshampshirewest.co.uk The booking deadline is Friday 3 February

Call us on 07789882467 to advertise your business with us

5

Music lessons: why your child should start right away!

Many parents encourage their children to play a musical instrument and the younger they begin, the more they can benefit. This guide aims to assist parents unsure of why their children should begin learning an instrument and what skills are required.

Firstly, and most importantly, learning a musical instrument is hugely beneficial to your child's development. Whether they wish to be the next Chopin or Joe Satriani, the art of music can only be positive for your son or daughter as they navigate the choppy waters of adolescence.

All you need to know before your child starts to play a musical instrument‌

When should your child begin lessons?

Although some parents start their children at three, most teachers would agree that seven is ideal for several reasons; they must be able to hold the instrument, be able to grasp simple music notation and have the attention span required.

What skills are important?

Notes in music range from A to G. As long as your children know this, forwards and backwards, they can start to read and learn music!

Obviously, an idea of co-ordination is useful.

Your child will need to have an idea whether they want to play left-handed or right-handed.

This will most often be the way that feels most natural to them, but as the adult it is important to know that left-handed equipment is often not as easy to find.

What is needed?

Purchasing the instrument is the easiest way to ensure your child is going to progress as quickly as possible, however, this is not the cheapest option! It may be worth talking to local schools and clubs about hiring the equipment in the first instance, but if the student has the instrument at home, they will be far more likely to practise.

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Families Hampshire West

You can buy music books including grade books, however, most music can now be found for free or at a small cost online.

How often should they practise?

One lesson a week is ideal, so as not to over-burden the youngster. Practice really is up to the individual, but research would suggest if your child practices at least once more a week, they will improve far faster.

How does learning music benefit a young person?

Academic studies

Learning a musical instrument is proven to help your child in school-related activities.

If they are learning about beat, rhythm and rhyme, in essence, they are also learning how to divide, create fractions and recognise patterns. The art of studying music and lyrics will also help to improve a child's short-term memory and, if continued, their long-term memory too.

It is also widely believed that the scientific principles of strumming a guitar or playing a violin can aid the basic understanding of subjects such as physics. Cool, huh?

Physicality

Learning instruments such as the drums, percussion or even the double bass can help youngsters develop physically too.

Co-ordination and motor skills benefit most specifically, yet in addition, a lot of instruments are high energy, helping your child enjoy and feel the creative flow of the activity, while letting off excess energy!

Also, learning to cope with uncomfortable positions for short periods of time helps

increase ambidexterity and timing.

Patience

Your child will also learn the key components of patience and delayed gratification.

Learning to play with others at different levels is one of the key elements of contemporary music and helps increase acceptance levels in the young. In addition, some tricky instruments like the violin or piano, have a steep learning curve, so it teaches young people adult traits at an earlier age, giving them an advantage as they move through into adulthood.

Self-esteem

Self-esteem will be boosted as your child is likely to meet new people, as well as master an art form that is tricky to say the least!

Thinking about cost

A music lesson can vary quite considerably in price, ranging from ÂŁ15 up to ÂŁ40. This will depend on the quality of the teacher or location. Make sure you shop around and get the teacher that you want. In essence, you need to know what it is you want your child to gain from the experience and make sure the teacher you choose is the sort of individual your child can learn from and grow a special bond with. There would be nothing worse than spending money only for it to fail, but if you choose your instrument carefully and the teacher, the craft of learning an instrument is a gift you can give your little one that will last forever!

So hopefully it is clear to see the benefits of learning to play a music instrument. Whether an African drum or the simple recorder, the benefits of learning could be limitless!

www.familiesonline.co.uk

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Tutoring: What you need to know Find out the local going rate

Expect to pay anything between £20 and £65 an hour, depending on where you live and how in demand a particular tutor is. However, more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better.

Arrange a trial lesson

Many tutors will offer your child a trial lesson - this lets you get a feel for whether the tutor and your child gel and whether their teaching style is going to work for you both.

Get more information about tutoring www.familiesonline.co.uk/tutoring

Whether it’s to prepare for exams or improve a struggling child’s confidence, a tutor can provide a significant boost to learning. Yet finding a decent one can be a test in itself. Here’s how to find the best one for your child…

Plan ahead where possible

The best tutors may well have waiting lists, so if you know your child will need support for exams or perhaps before moving to secondary school, begin your search well in advance. In very competitive 11+ areas for example, you may have to register interest with the most in-demand tutors 18 months ahead.

Ask around

Word-of-mouth is often the most effective way to find a good tutor. Ask parents you know and trust for recommendations. For the 11+ or public exams, speak to those with kids a year or two older, who’ve been there and done that recently.

Consider agencies

If your requests for recommendations draw a blank, a well-established tutoring agency could be the answer. Reputable agencies will vet tutors’ credentials and should match you and your child to someone with a similar style. Another upside of an agency is that if your usual tutor is ill or away for

a long period, they should be able to send someone else.

Group tutoring reduces costs but probably won’t be as tailored

There are increasing numbers of tuition centres offering group classes, both independent companies and chains. These can work out cheaper per hour but your child won’t get the same one-on-one attention, and it’s vital to check that those in the group need to work on the same things at roughly the same level.

Anyone can become a tutor so do your homework

Anybody can set up as and call themselves a tutor, even if they’ve never taught anyone anything - there’s no regulation, which means checking credentials and qualifications is vital. One-on-one tutors should be Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked (formerly known as CRB checking) – if they aren’t, then be wary.

Don’t be shy about checking how they work

Ask questions even if you’ve had a recommendation from other parents - what suits their child may not suit yours. Are they a teacher/ former teacher and if so where did they work? How long have they been tutoring for and what is their track record like?

Piano Tuition Ashton Gray teaches piano and music to pupils of all levels, in a friendly and supportive environment, and with the development of all-round musicianship at his studio in Winchester (Hyde).

Beginners are particularly welcome (age 8+). ABRSM exams or lessons are available just for fun. Reasonable rates, fully CRB checked and a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.

Ashton also offers tuition in theory up to Grade 5, and also work as an accompanist.

To find out more contact Ashton ashton_gray@hotmail.co.uk call 0797 464 3697 or visit: www.pianoteacherinwinchester.co.uk

Ashton Gray

Piano and music theory teacher All ages & levels taught, beginners welcome Based in central Winchester Fully CRB checked

ashton_gray@hotmail.co.uk 0797 464 3697 www.pianoteacherinwinchester.co.uk

Professional one to one tutoring Fleet Tutors has been matching the right tutor to the education needs of students across the UK since 1977. Our network of tutors are subject specialists who tailor the teaching and learning experience to relieve any subject specific anxieties and help build your child’s confidence so they achieve a successful outcome.

For a helpful discussion about your requirements, speak to our knowledgeable tuition consultants today on 0333 920 2545.

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Families Hampshire West

Private Home Tutoring All academic subjects and key stages • 7/8/11+ • 13+/Common Entrance • GCSE/A level • University

0333 920 2458 www.fleet-tutors.co.uk

www.familiesonline.co.uk

How to make maths fun for kids Maths is one of the fundamental skills that all children need to acquire, and there are plenty of ways you can make maths fun through the use of games and maths activities at home.

Numeracy targets are fundamental to the National Curriculum and to primary school testing and that can seem as intimidating to you as to your child. But there are some simple strategies you can put in place that can make maths fun for your kids and reinforce how important those life skills are.

To find out mor e about helping your child learn visi t: www. familiesonline. co.uk/ education

The way maths is taught in schools has changed fundamentally over the past few years so, who knows? You may end up learning something new, too.

Do your homework Before you can support your child’s maths learning at home, you’ll need to find out about the way they learn maths at school. Do some homework on modern maths methods like number lines and gridding, and find out whether your child’s school offers maths support classes for parents. If not, there are some excellent resources available online like the family maths toolkit from national numeracy or the ‘Maths for Mums and Dads’ books by Mike Askew and Rob Eastaway.

Maths by stealth There are plenty of ways you can incorporate maths into everyday life, which is an excellent way of letting children know how important numeracy skills are outside of the classroom.

Next time you have a cake or a pizza, ask them to divide it into quarters or thirds or an even number of portions for the number of people eating it. Baking isn’t just a pleasurable activity to do with your kids, it’s one of the very best ways of embedding the importance of weights and measures. They’ll also need to keep an eye on the clock to know when their goodies are ready to come out of the oven. Meanwhile, every time you go to the shops, encourage them to add as they go and then make their best estimate of the final bill. From calculating the change they should receive when they buy an ice cream to keeping score in a friendly game of football, everyday maths really is everywhere!

Make tech and tables count There are numerous maths apps available for children of all ages, from simple counting games to more advanced calculations. Doodle Maths and Mr Thorne’s Maths Universe should get even committed young mathphobes practising their numeracy on their tablets and smartphones. Percy Parker Sing Your Times Tables and Squeebles Times Tables are both excellent apps for embedding times tables in young brains. Why not try singing along with Percy Parker on your next long car journey?

For older children facing their end of primary school tests, ensure that they know not just the multipliers but the divisors too, up to 12 x 12.

January/ February 2017

Try gamification

Learn with and from your children

In other words, get out some old fashioned board games. Children learn best when an activity is fun, and they’re usually unaware that they’re learning through playing games.

Dominoes is an excellent game for practising basic maths concepts, as is Snakes and Ladders. They’ll be having too much fun to notice they’re adding and subtracting and recognising basic number patterns. For older children, Monopoly introduces more sophisticated numeracy skills and Scrabble is a brilliant way to practise both numeracy and literacy. Board games are also valuable for introducing related concepts like strategy, logic and reasoning skills into the mix.

As the family maths toolkit points out, maths is not a can or cannot subject but something we can all improve, however old we are.

When your children start to bring home maths homework, take the opportunity to learn about new maths concepts from them and show them real world examples of how to put those skills into practice - by checking your shopping or phone bill. Encourage them to contextualise a newly acquired skill by putting it into practice around the home, whether it’s telling you the time their favourite TV show comes on or estimating how long their bath takes to run.

And always praise their effort rather than their talent, to reinforce the message that by working hard anyone can improve their maths skills.

Make it more formal As your children’s maths skills progress, you can begin to make their home learning more formalised. There are any number of online maths resources available and your school may encourage at-home use of a programme like Mathletics to challenge and reinforce skills learned in the classroom. These online resources usually feature progressive levels so you can easily track your child’s progress but do check before you sign up to a paid programme that it’s compatible with the National Curriculum. Although it’s easy to assume that children will prefer working on the computer, many also enjoy age-appropriate workbooks, with stickers to reward their progress.

Give your child’s maths a boost with Maths Club by post Hampshire based Maths teacher Caroline Cutress has invented a unique way of giving children extra support at home. With 15 years’ teaching experience she has created a correspondence course that is tailormade to each child, bursting with puzzles and games which gradually guide the student through a National Curriculum Maths topic. There are prizes for the best work and parents only have to commit to one month at a time and parental feedback has indicated that children really enjoy the packs and can see the improvements in their school work.

For more information contact Caroline on 023 8034 1776, email: cc@boostmaths.co.uk or visit boostmaths.co.uk

Call us on 07789882467 to advertise your business with us

9

Finding the right early years environment for your child

Parents seeking education for their young children will quickly learn about the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the UK national curriculum framework for children from birth to 5 years. Introduced in 2008 to recognise the vital importance of this developmental stage, the programme provides a research-based framework to guide early childhood professionals in the provision of consistent and high quality environments for all children in pre-school settings. It is required in all UK pre-schools and registered early years’ providers, such as playgroups and childminders.

EYFS is built around knowledge and the best way in which children grow and learn. The framework has at its heart the notion that the most effective learning takes place when children are involved in authentic play and meaningful activities through which they can make sense of the world around them by engaging, talking, thinking and interacting with other children and adults. It acknowledges and values the individuality of each child, while recognising that children need to feel safe, secure and happy in order to make friends, learn and understand the world around them.

In practical terms, this means that children will learn through play and active explorations in indoor and outdoor settings. In being encouraged to follow their interests and allowing them to be free to build on their natural curiosity, children will feel happy, safe and secure at school and have ‘ownership’ of their classroom. Working individually and with others, they will develop the capacity to work in a team, as well as creative and critical thinking skills. In contrast to traditional teacher-directed activities, children will be consulted about what they are doing and interested in; this guides adults in planning activities and themes which are motivating for the students. With selfinitiated play, students develop independence, curiosity, resilience and the ability to think and reflect on what they are doing.

But what about literacy and numeracy?

Parents may be asking questions such as: “When will my child start reading?” or making observations such as “But she can already count to 100!” All parents are concerned that their children will enjoy school, but they also want them to make good progress in their learning. The flexibility of the EYFS framework allows for all children to have their unique

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Families Hampshire West

Sarah Partridge is an Early Childhood teacher and the Early Childhood Leader for Learning at the International School of London (ISL) Surrey, based in Woking. ISL Surrey is an IB World school offering French or Spanish for beginners from age 3, plus mother tongue learning integrated into the International Primary Curriculum.

needs supported and to be challenged appropriately. The framework is structured to allow them to move through different stages at their own rate.

How should parents go about finding an early childhood provider for their children?

All EYFS settings – nursery, childminder, playgroup, pre-school or early childhood schools – are inspected by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) or by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) which is also monitored by OFSTED according to the guidelines set out by the EYFS. The most current reports for each setting can be found at reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Parents should visit the provider to see it in operation. When doing so, the following are some useful questions to ask yourself in assessing whether this is the right environment for your child: • • • • •

in support around language issues and this should be apparent. Whilst young children pick up languages quickly, research shows that the best way to provide a positive environment for learning a new language is to ensure that the child’s mother tongue has a strong foundation strong foundation of the mother tongue. A school that values and supports multilingualism will provide an environment that provides a strong base for learning languages.

There are many factors to consider in finding the right setting for your child and at times the decision making process may seem overwhelming. Given this, possibly the most important piece of advice to bear in mind is: if in doubt, ask. You can never have too much information and, moreover, a friendly, informative and enthusiastic answer from an Early Years practitioner will tell you a lot about the people working in that setting and bodes well for any future partnership with them.

How do the adults engage with the children?

How do the adults follow and build on the children’s interests?

Are the children active and engaged or rigidly controlled and directed?

Is there a range of varied and stimulating resources indoors and outdoors readily accessible to the children?

Does it feel like a safe and secure environment?

What should parents look for?

A nurturing early years’ environment will have a good ratio of adults to children. The classroom itself should have different interest areas with a wide variety of activities for exploration and an outdoors play area which is accessible. They should allow the children time to explore, knowing when to intervene, and when to provide support for developing the child’s ideas while not becoming too didactic.

Families for whom English is not the first language will also need additional settlingwww.familiesonline.co.uk

Hampshire Colleigate School

Teach your Child to Follow Directions. Practice at home by giving simple instructions such as “Please help me pick up your toys and put them away.” Encourage your child to co-operate by offering an incentive, like a sticker or a visit to the playground. An incentive helps your child understand that following directions makes other fun activities possible. If he doesn’t follow your directions, calmly explain that he won’t be able to have a sticker or go to the playground. Praise your child when he is successful.

Help your Child Master Sharing and Turn Taking. From ages 3 to 5, children tend to hoard coveted toys and objects. They are not really ready to grasp the concept of sharing yet. You can help by encouraging your little one to “take turns” with toys and praising him when he shares on his own. To help him develop the empathy that true sharing requires, state what he did and how it makes others feel, such as “Thank you for sharing. It makes your sister feel good when you share the ball.” Your child should be able to “own” special or new toys though, so keep them out of sight on play dates or in his room away from siblings.

Hone your Child’s Listening Skills. Help your preschooler hone her listening skills by asking her to wait to speak until whoever is speaking has finished. When it’s her turn to speak, thank her for being patient and a good listener. Explain that being a good listener shows respect for the speaker, whether it’s you, her sibling or her friends. If she continues to interrupt, keep reminding her that she’ll get the chance to talk. Becoming a good listener can take lots of practice!

arShi ol

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Our Nursery is brimming Open Day with healthy, Wed 1 March happy and confident children.

This reflects our fun, interactive and wholly tailored school experience that inspires creativity and passions that will stay with your child for life. HCPS sparks a real and deep love of learning so that our children feel like they can, will and want to achieve. We offer an exciting introduction to learning to ensure your child will love coming to school! From Early Years our children are encouraged to be resilient in their approach and take responsibility for their learning adventures. We give them a calm confidence and independence; the perfect learning foundations.

For details call 01794 515737 or visit www.hampshirecs.org.uk

Pre-school, whether at a nursery or within a daycare setting, offers kids experiences they may not get at home. It teaches them how to get along with others and prepares them for starting school.

Importantly, pre-school teaches kids to take turns, follow directions, tidy up, stand in line, sit in a circle, raise their hands, and use words to express themselves. If they master these social skills early, they will be well-prepared for Reception. Here are some tips to help you prepare your child for pre-school.

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Moyles Court School is Open Day keeping true Sat 4 March to its promise of making independent education affordable and accessible. The ethos of individual attention and learning, flexibility and fair rates begins in our Pre-School and we offer flexible hours from 8am to 6pm Monday-Friday. The school, set in extensive grounds within the most beautiful New Forest National Park, is flourishing under the leadership of Headmaster Mr Richard Milner-Smith. Moyles Court is a day and boarding co-ed school taking pupils from 2½ to 16 years and is located on a generous site of 14 acres near Ringwood and within the New Forest. Moyles Court School is holding an Open Morning on Saturday 4th March, 10am-12.30pm – come along and find out more.

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Preparing for pre-school

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Your local early years providers

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Wildern Opportunity Pre-School Wildern Opportunity PreSchool is a happy, inviting and stimulating early years setting situated in the heart of Hedge End Village. The Pre-School offers a fully inclusive indoor and outdoor environment where children thrive and learn through play. Their local offer provides information on how they support children with additional needs within the local area.

Wildern Opportunity Pre-School promotes a nurturing environment as reflected in their recent 2016 Ofsted report: ‘’The atmosphere is very warm and relaxed. The staff’s complete understanding to provide nurturing care shines through.’’

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The little guide to little bilingual brains Infants and young children have an impressive capacity for learning languages. They are curious, very eager to communicate and their brains are designed for fast learning. Bilingual families have an interesting opportunity of making the most of these early learning capacities in teaching their children two languages from birth. There are several interesting advantages to raising bilingual children.

Bilingualism does not cause language delays. Bilingual children usually learn two languages at the same pace as monolingual children are learning one. For example, bilinguals say their first words and start combining words into sentences at the same age as monolinguals.

Bilinguals may sometimes appear to know less words than monolinguals, but this is usually because their vocabulary is divided between two languages.

Learning two languages encourages children to think about languages. Young monolinguals might struggle to recognise that ‘caterpillar’ is a bigger word than ‘whale’ because they find it difficult to dissociate a word from its meaning. Bilingualism attracts children’s attention to language itself, making children more aware of the sounds, words and regularities in languages. This gives them a head start in school when learning phonics or grammar rules.

Bilingualism might make your child better at multi-tasking or listening to someone speaking in a noisy environment. When speaking one of their languages, bilinguals must inhibit the impulse to use words in their other language. To achieve this task, they activate parts of their brain involved in cognitive control. This extra practice at controlling their own thoughts may lead to a ‘bilingual advantage’ in certain cognitive tasks.

Mastering two languages will give children a better understanding of their family’s cultural background. The most unique aspects of a culture always risk getting lost in translation. For this reason, being bilingual helps children become ‘bicultural’, making them more aware of cultural differences and more likely to take part in two cultures.

Every family and every child is different. There are a million different ways of raising bilingual children and the most important is to find a way that feels right for your family. Here are a few tips that can help making these decisions for your family.

Maximise face-to-face communication. From the first days of life, babies love making eye contact and hearing their loved ones speak, vocalise and sing. Face-to-face communication is the motor of language learning and early experience is key. Making sure you talk to your baby as much as possible, and you involve your child in as much

12

Families Hampshire West

Dr Evelyne Mercure

conversation as possible will lead to better abilities in one, two or more languages.

Have a plan. It is important to think about what ‘bilingualism’ means for your family. Would you like your child to have a basic understanding of another language? Are you hoping for your child to be fluent in two languages? Or read and write in two different languages? Make sure you provide plenty of experience for your child to achieve each of these goals. It might be a good idea to decide on a language to be used at home. One parent may decide to use one language when addressing their child, while the other parent will use a different language. Think of the language(s) you want to use when reading to your child or singing to them. The more exposure your child will get in one language, the more fluent they are likely to become in that language.

Keep it fun. Your child’s motivation to learn each of their languages will make a huge difference to their achievement. A child may find it unpleasant if they feel constantly tested and criticised when speaking.

The main focus should be on what is being said and not how it is being said.

Find role models. One way of keeping their motivation up, may be to involve people who are not fluent in your child’s dominant language.

This may encourage them to use a language they are less comfortable in. It will also show them that this language is spoken by people other than mum and/or dad. Children will also learn a lot from other children, especially older ones. They will want to speak like them and adopt their accent and expressions. Cousins who are not fluent in your child’s dominant language, for instance, may become excellent role models and a very good source of motivation.

Offering a bilingual environment to your child is a richness they will benefit from all their life. They may not only learn two languages, but also a new way of thinking about cultural diversity. Do not be afraid of making the most of their incredible language learning abilities!

About the author Evelyne Mercure studied Speech & Language Pathologies, Neuroscience and Psychology. She is currently an ESRC fellow at UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, investigating the impact of language experience on infants’ brain and cognitive development. She is also the proud mum of three bilingual children.

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Books to inspire picky eaters Feed your fussy eater’s imagination with these clever and humorous books which will inspire even the pickiest of children to start exploring the wonderful world of food.

Good luck!

refuses to eat anything else! Well, until this grandfather plays a game with him where he must eat every vegetable he finds in the garden!

I Do Not Eat the Colour Green, by Lynne Rickards

This fun, engaging book is ideal for young fussy eaters. Showcasing the tale of Marlene McKean; this story is all about how little Marlene absolutely hates the colour green!

Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli, by Barbara Jean Hicks and Sue Hendra

In this stunning picture book the monsters insist that they don’t eat broccoli; despite the fact the tractors and rocket ships look EXACTLY like broccoli! Maybe vegetables aren’t so bad after all?

Tea Time for Pirates, by Richard Dungworth

Bread and Jam for Frances, by Russell Hoban

This lovely book tells the story of Frances who loves bread and jam so much she eats it at every single meal! At least that’s until she realises what else she’s missing...This charming tale will keep parents and kids entertained!

Packed with fantastic rhymes and funny illustrations, this book is a perfect story for picky eaters. Telling the tale of how Captain Cutlass convinces his crew that sausages, carrots, mash and peas will make them big and strong!

I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, by Lauren Child

Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr Seuss

This fantastic story teaches little ones that you never know whether you like something or not until you’ve tried it! With Dr Seuss’ unique combination of funny rhymes and cool characters, this book will be a delightful read for both adults and children.

Oliver’s Vegetables, by Vivian French

This book is aimed at parents with a picky eater at the dinner table!

This story tells the tale of young Oliver who loves chips so much that he

Little Lola is a really picky eater; she won’t eat peas, carrots, mushrooms, eggs or sausages - and most definitely NOT tomatoes! Well, until her brother Charlie explains to her that actually peas are small green drops from Greenland and carrots are orange twiglets from Jupiter - this funfilled book will keep your kids entertained and you never know; they may even start to eat their veg!

For more amazing books for your kids, visit our book club online www.familiesonline.co.uk/bookclub

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How to beat the January blues Once the excitement of Christmas is over and gone, it can often feel like a real struggle for the whole family to keep things fresh and lively at the beginning of a new year. However, there are so many opportunities for you to do things together as a family - both indoors and out - that you’ll soon banish the January blues! Here are a few ideas to keep in mind…

A family read-in When it’s blowing a gale outside, there’s no better way to spend an afternoon than snuggled up with a good book. For younger children you can encourage them to act out the story and show off your full range of funny faces and voices.

For older children, take the opportunity to discuss what they’re reading in some depth - talk about plot and characters and why they enjoy a particular type of book.

Who knows, you may even inspire them to try writing their own story!

Family Bake-Off Who doesn’t love the Great British Bake Off? Those grey January days offer the perfect opportunity to get into the kitchen and bake up a storm. Let younger children indulge in some messy play with their own bowl of cake mix or a piece of pastry - don’t get stressed about the mess but enjoy a real opportunity to spend some creative time together in the kitchen. For older children, encourage some healthy competition by going ‘full Bake off’ and seeing who can produce the best cookies or cupcakes.

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Families Hampshire West

Get creative in the garden Outdoor crafts are a wonderful way to liven up the garden for pennies, using materials you can find outdoors or simply lying around the house. It’s amazing how ice, berries and watercolours or food colourings can transform tap water into beautiful ice baubles to decorate the garden when set in interesting moulds. Or spread peanut butter all over the outside of an empty toilet roll holder or that piece of over crunchy toast, then roll in birdseed to create an instant feeder that the kids can hang near the kitchen or living room window. Add a bird book and they can pass a few hours identifying and logging the birds that come to visit.

Fun in the snow Of course, snow in January isn’t guaranteed, but if it does snow you have the ideal excuse to wrap up warm and organise snowman building contests and a monster snowball fight. Kids of all ages love playing in the snow, but have you ever played tug of war? Or tried snowball dodgeball? Once that snowman is built, try frisbeeing a hat onto his head or play a game of pin the nose on the snowman using a carrot. And everyone can join in a simple game of tag, made a little more interesting if you’re only allowed to use the footprints of the other players!

Create rock pets The best way to blow away the cobwebs during January is to take the family for a long winter walk. It’s great exercise, but it’s even more fun if you make your walk an excuse to collect items for some winter crafting.

For more ideas on keeping the kids active visit: www.familiesonli ne.co.uk/ activities

Find a talking stick Another interesting find on your walk might be a stick that transforms, with the help of some beads, feather, paint and markers into a wish stick for younger children or a talking stick for the older members of your tribe. Talking sticks have a long history in tribal cultures as a way of allowing everyone to have their say - you can only talk when holding the stick - so, for larger families, this could be an ideal way for your kids to create something that will ensure they’re heard.

Look to the heavens On a clear night, there’s nothing better than wrapping up warm and heading outside to stargaze. Download an app and see how many constellations you can find and identify. Younger children will enjoy spotting stars and older ones can test their astronomical knowledge.

Have a tech-free day Be brave and ban iPads, smartphones and games consoles for the day. Instead put out a pile of blank paper, pens and craft materials and see what your children can create. Boredom can be the best motivator for creativity.

Revive the art of den building For younger children, provide blankets, boxes and furniture indoors while encourage older children to get outdoors and get den building in the garden or the woods. Find out who’s the Bear Grylls of the family and who can create the best fantasy castle/spaceship/dragon’s belly.

Get everyone involved! www.familiesonline.co.uk

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What’s on Your guide to family events this January and February. Don’t forget to check with the venue before setting off just in case times or prices have changed since we went to print. Visit our website for inspirational ideas for fun days out near you. www.familiesonline.co.uk

Until 15 January British Art show 8 John Hansard Gallery

University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ 023 8059 2158 www.britishartshow8.com The British Art Show is a touring exhibition that provides a vital overview of the most exciting contemporary art produced in this country. The curators of British Art Show 8, Anna Colin and Lydia Yee, have selected the work of 42 artists who have made a significant contribution to contemporary art in the UK over the past five years. The result is a wide-ranging exhibition that encompasses performance, film, sculpture, installation and painting and design.

Until 8 January Fantastic Mr Fox Nuffield Theatre

University Road, Southampton, SO17 1TR www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk Mr Fox is smart, clever and rather fantastic, but he doesn’t realise how determined the farmers are to get revenge. Can he hatch a plan to save his family and friends?

Can they outrun the diggers and outsmart the farmers, and can Rabbit shut up long enough not to give the game away?

12 - 28 January Beauty and the Beast Romsey Plaza Theatre

Winchester Road, Romsey SO51 8JA A family pantomime that has something for everyone! Tickets £12 Family of four £40

12 – 15 January Aladdin The Point Eastleigh

Leigh Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9DE www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk Mountbatten Players invite you to join them for their fabulous, oriental, pantomime of Aladdin. Packed with exotic costumes, sensational special effects, lavish sets, laugh-out-loud comedy and maybe even a magic carpet. Aladdin promises to be a traditional fun-for-all-the-family pantomime. Tickets from £7.50 - £12

13 & 14 January Treasure Island Family Theatre The Berry Theatre Wildern Lane, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 4EJ 02380652333 www.theberrytheatre.co.uk 13 Jan at 7pm, 14 Jan 2pm & 6pm.

Ahoy tharr me hearties! A swashbuckling adventure with

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Families Hampshire West

wannabe buccaneer Jim Hawkins, as he alone (well, with some help) searches for the Bones family treasure on a nearly deserted, tropical paradise. Come dressed up and win a prize for being the best dressed pirate. Prize for ‘best dressed Pirate’ at each show!

14 January The Young Ones Southampton City Art Gallery

Civic Centre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO14 7LP 023 80 832277 www.southampton.gov.uk Come and be inspired by artist Jo Bressloff and the gallery’s fantastic collection. We’ll embark on all sorts of creative adventures…10.30am12.30pm / £8 pre-book

14 January Wildlife Watch Southampton Woodmill Activity Centre

Southampton, SO18 2JR www.hiwwt.org.uk Fun wildlife-themed and outdoor activities for children aged 5-15 years. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult. All sessions will be held outdoors, whatever the weather, so wrap up warm and don’t forget your wellies!

10am-12noon £4 per person

19 – 22 January Cinderella The Point Eastleigh

Leigh Road, SO50 9DE www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk Westfield Productions brings the traditional family pantomime back to The Point in this enchanting and much-loved tale. Full of toe tapping songs, magical effects and a host of pantomime jokes, Cinderella will entertain the whole family. Tickets £8.50 - £10

21 January Mini Monet Monthly Club (1 – 6 years) Southampton City Art Gallery

Civic Centre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO14 7LP 023 8083 4536 Discover the gallery’s collection and enjoy experimenting with creative processes alongside artist Barbara Touati-Evans. A squash drink is provided for each child and adults don’t have to clear up. 11am-12noon / £6 Pre-book

29 January Saturday Storytime The Berry Theatre

Wildern Lane, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 4EJ 02380652333 www.theberrytheatre.co.uk

Musical storytellers Kate the Hedgehog and Craig the Fox along with a host of woodland friends, delight families with their fantastical tales, songs and games.

10.30am. £3 Child.

25 January The Jungle Book film screening Forest Arts Centre New Milton, BH25 6DS 01425612393 The acclaimed live action version of Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale.

After a threat from the tiger Shere Khan forces him to flee the jungle, a

For a comprehensive guide to clubs and classes in South West Hampshire visit our website Our online directory covers clubs and classes in Southampton, Winchester, The New Forest, Eastleigh, Romsey, Chandler’s Ford, Ringwood, Hedge End, West End, Burseldon, Hamble, Colden Common, Sutton Scotney, Fair Oak, Totton and all the areas inbetween.

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man-cub named Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery with the help of panther, Bagheera and free spirited bear Baloo. 2pm or 7:30pm.

Adult £6 / Concession £5.

18 – 28 February February half term trail Hinton Ampner

Room on the Broom

Bramdean, nr Alresford, SO24 0LA 01962 771305 www.nationaltrust.org.uk Get outdoors and closer to nature this half term. Pick up a family trail this half term and explore the garden and parkland. Suggested donation £1 per trail (normal admission charges apply).

27 January Birmingham Royal Ballet First Steps Mayflower Theatre

Empire Lane, Southampton, SO15 1AP www.mayflower.org.uk This interactive show features ballet excerpts interspersed with scenes in which a storyteller introduces the children to the music and some famous characters. This hour-long, interactive show, specially adapted for children aged from three to seven, features ballet excerpts from Cinderella, performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s amazing dancers and orchestra, interspersed with scenes in which a storyteller introduces the children to the music and the leading characters, and shares some technical magic. This is a perfect introduction to ballet.

1pm / £10.

28 January Messy Makes Forest Arts Centre

New Milton, BH25 6DS 01425612393 Join Messy Makes, a new monthly Saturday morning session all about creative family time! Take back some quality time for your family (children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews) and work together to create some special memories and something to take home and treasure. Dress for mess! Suitable for age 3+ all children must be accompanied by a (participating) adult. 10:30am / £3 per person

28 – 29 January The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, Romsey, SO51 0QA 01794 369 317 www3.hants.gov.uk Help compile a Birdwatch survey using the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch sheets. Bring your binoculars to try and spot the many different wild birds which visit the gardens. Help to compile a birdwatch survey using the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch sheets. Free event (normal garden admission charges apply).

4 February Burglar Bill Nuffield Theatre

University Road, Southampton, SO17 1TR 023 8067 1771 www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk Capturing the spirit of the book, and with an exciting set featuring lots of windows to climb through, Burglar Bill and Burglar Betty tell this much loved story with the help of puppets, music, song and dance. Burglar Bill has delighted families for nearly forty years. Children aged three plus and their parents and grandparents will love this show! £6

January/ February 2017

20 - 25 February Room on the Broom Nuffield Theatre

Southampton, SO17 1TR nstheatres.co.uk Tall Stories’ magical musical stage adaptation of Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler flies into town!

7 February Billy Elliot the Musical Mayflower Theatre

Empire Lane, Southampton, SO15 1AP www.mayflower.org.uk Set in a small mining town in the north east of England, against the background of the 1984/85 miner’s strike, Billy Elliot is the inspirational story of a young boy’s struggle against the odds to make his dream come true. Follow Billy’s journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever. Various times. Prices range from: £22 to £65

11 February Little Bo Peep Nuffield Theatre

Join a unique opportunity to explore areas of the building that are normally out of bounds, including the old law courts, padded cells and custody suite.

10.15-11.15am 11.30am- 12.30pm.

Admission to the museum is not included. Pre-book on 023 8083 4536. £6 price is for the tour only.

18 February Walrus and Carpenter Nuffield Theatre

University Road, Southampton, , SO17 1TR www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk Take a stroll with the Walrus and Carpenter to find a picnic spot for a fantastic fishy feast!

Expect hilarity, eye-watering recitation, music and slapstick in a salty combination of theatre and haute cuisine. 11am and 2pm. £6

University Road, Southampton, SO17 1TR www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk Watch your favourite nursery rhyme come to life before your eyes in Sea Legs Puppet Theatre’s fabulous 10th Anniversary show. Featuring magnificent puppets, fantastic scenery and of course lots of music and singing in a show especially created for little peeps and their families.

11am and 2pm / £6

18 February Puppet making workshop Forest Arts Centre

11 February Wildlife Watch Feed the birds Woodmill Activity Centre

18 - 26 February Southampton Half Term Trail Itchen Valley Country Park

The Roundhouse Southampton, SO18 2JR www.hiwwt.org.uk Fun wildlife-themed and outdoor activities for children aged 5-15 years.

Under 8’s must be accompanied by an adult. All sessions will be held outdoors, whatever the weather, so wrap up warm and don’t forget your wellies. 10am – 12noon / £4 per person

12 February Beyond the Museum Police Station Tour SeaCity Museum

Havelock Road, Southampton, SO14 7FY 023 8083 4536 SeaCity Museum was once home to the main police station and law courts in Southampton and many rooms and features remain intact.

Old Milton Road, New Milton BH25 6DS, Join award-winning puppeteer and puppet maker Helen Ainsworth for some inventive puppet making. Use recycled fabric and wire to create unusual and striking glove puppets.

Open to 4 - 9 year olds (4 and 5 year olds need to be accompanied by an adult). 3:45pm / £6

Southampton, SO30 3HQ www.eastleigh.gov.uk/activities Walk through the woods to find the answers to your questions then run back for your prize. 10.30am and 3.30pm / £2 per trail pack.

18 – 26 February February half-term trail: scribbles and sketches Mottisfont

nr Romsey, SO51 0LP www.nationaltrust.org.uk Discover your inner artist with a creative activity trail inspired by the artist Rex Whistler.

Pick up a family trail and explore Mottisfont’s grounds, finding things to draw, make and do. Suggested donation £1 per trail (normal admission charges apply).

How the cat purred and how the witch grinned. As they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind. The witch and her cat are flying happily along on their broomstick when a stormy wind blows the witch’s hat, bow and wand away into the night.

A helpful dog, bird and frog find the witch’s lost things and all hop on the broom for a ride. But this broomstick’s not meant for five and – crack! - it snaps in two!

When a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poor witch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone?

Room on the Broom will make the quintessential family treat for everyone to enjoy. Suitable for Ages 3+

20 February Climb a Tree Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, Romsey, SO51 0QA www3.hants.gov.uk Reach new heights within an oak tree’s canopy using ropes, knots and karabiners. Two highly skilled and friendly instructors can help all ages (6+ years) reach new heights within an oak tree’s canopy using ropes, knots and karabiners, while being securely attached in a harness at all times. Booking is essential and the price includes garden admission.

21 February Craft session Itchen Valley Country Park Southampton, SO30 3HQ www.eastleigh.gov.uk/activities A creative session for children.

10.30am and 12.30pm £2

21 February Spring Into Science Plaza Theatre

Winchester Road, Romsey, SO51 8AA www.plazatheatre.com Ian B Dunne, the stand-up scientist returns to the Plaza for a special one off event, Spring into Science - in his spectacular and unique style. Demonstrations to make you gasp, pictures to transport the mind, specimens to catch the imagination and equipment you may never have heard of let alone seen. Putting the

Call us on 07789882467 to advertise your business with us

17

fizz into Physics, the mystery into Chemistry, the yuck into Biology and making Maths count. For all ages.

11:30am or 2pm. Family ticket £25

A creative session for children at Itchen Valley. Any time between 10.30am and 12.30pm. £2

22 February Junior Forest School for 4 - 10 years Itchen Valley Country Park

24 February Little Foresters’ Woodland Stories: One Winter’s Day Southampton Itchen Valley Country Park

22 February Little Foresters’ Woodland Stories: One Winter’s Day Itchen Valley Country Park

25 February Messy Makes Forest Arts Centre

Southampton, SO30 3HQ www.eastleigh.gov.uk/activities An outdoor Forest School session for accompanied children including campfire 10am - 12 noon. £8 per child. Booking is essential.

Southampton, SO30 3HQ www.eastleigh.gov.uk/activities An outdoor Forest School session for accompanied 2 - 5 years including campfire 10.30am to 12 noon / £5 per child. Booking is essential.

22 February Family Romans Archaeology Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, Romsey, SO51 0QA www3.hants.gov.uk Learn about Roman life in a carousel of activities.Suitable for ages 4-12 years. Booking is essential. 10am or 1:30pm / £12 per session (for 1 adult and 1 child).

22 – 23 February The BFG half term activities Forest Arts Centre

New Milton, BH25 6DS The BFG themed half term fun at Forest Arts Centre, starting with a film screening on 22nd, followed by craft activities and a disco on 23rd.

Bottle your perfect phizz wizard dream in a swizz fizzling dream lantern and more. From £2 - £5 per activity

23 February Woodland Craft session Itchen Valley Country Park Southampton, SO30 3HQ 023 8068 3790 www.eastleigh.gov.uk/activities

Southampton, SO30 3HQ www.eastleigh.gov.uk An outdoor Forest School session for accompanied 2 - 5 years including campfire. 10.30am to 12.00 noon. £5 per child. Booking is essential, call 023 8046 6091.

New Milton, BH25 6DS Join Messy Makes, a new monthly Saturday morning session all about creative family time! Dress for mess!

Suitable for age 3+ all children must be accompanied by an adult.

10:30am / £3 per person

2 – 5 March We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Theatre Royal Winchester

Jewry Street, Winchester, SO23 8SB 01962840440 www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk Join the intrepid adventurers on their quest to find a bear. Expect catchy songs, interactive scenes and plenty of hands-on adventure plus a few special surprises.

HALF TERM HOLIDAY CLUBS

20 - 24 February Super Camps Holiday Club The Westgate School Cheriton Road, Winchester Hiltingbury Junior School Hiltingbury Road, Eastleigh The ultimate in half term fun and games. Find out more and call 01235467300, email: info@ supercamps.co.uk or visit the website www.supercamps.co.uk

How to feel like a healthy-eating superstar You’re just back from the school run and the kids are already asking “What can I eat while I’m waiting for tea?” It’s when most of us grab the biscuit tin, a packet of crisps, or some kind of dried-fruit snack for them. It can feel like a challenge to worry about rustling up a healthy snack at this point in the day.

But here is a simple solution - dips!

Try these three healthy options: 1. Slice an apple from the fruit bowl and serve with a dollop of peanut, almond, or cashew-nut butter for dipping. Packed with protein, and slow-release carbs.

2. Wash and roughly chop a carrot into batons (no need to peel) and serve with a pot of hummus dip. High in protein, low in cholesterol, and great for vitamin C. 3. Wash and slice up a cucumber and serve with a side of guacamole. Tasty, rehydrating, and loaded with vitamins A, C & E. They’re simple and great when you’re short on time. If you’re children are anti-veg, a rice cake or breadstick is a good back-up plan. The other approach to help you avoid the need for after-school snacks is to opt for school dinners at lunchtime.

Now that school meals are meticulously planned against National School Food Standards, they ensure your childs energy and nutrient levels are just right, keeping them on good form, in class and at home and right through ‘til teatime.

For children in year R, 1, and 2, school meals are free. For year 3s upwards, a hot school meal costs less than a take-out coffee. Speak to your school office to sign up!

Vintage inspired high quality knitwear for the modern day baby and toddler

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Families Hampshire West

For more information call City Catering Southampton on 02380 332226. They serve 1.7m nutritious school dinners in 47 Southampton schools www.familiesonline.co.uk

FAMILY TIME AT SOUTHAMPTON’S FAVOURITE TRAMPOLINE PARK

Saturday 13 May 2017

Enjoy a fabulous day out in the countryside as we bring a taste of Hampshire to our popular Countryside Day.

20% OFF

JUMPING!

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BOOK NOW USE CODE: FAMILYTIME

OFFER ENDS 28TH FEBRUARY 2017

Buy tickets online at sparsholt.ac.uk 01962 776441

ANTELOPE PARK, BURSLEDON ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON, SO19 8NE

BOOK NOW OXYGENFREEJUMPING.CO.UK BOOKING HOTLINE 0203 846 1386

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Kitchen demos from the region’s leading chefs Tasty treats from local producers to sample and buy Hands-on activities, arena acts, music and crafts

events@sparsholt.ac.uk sparsholt.ac.uk

Sorry, no dogs with exception of recognised assistance dogs.

02/12/2016 08:42

Parents: Can your KIDS focus after lunch?

School Dinners

Boost Concentration!

Prepared to National School Food Standards, with

delicious fresh, quality ingredients, our school FREE!! n dinners give your children all the energy and e r d l i for ch tion, essential nutrients they need to stay focused p in Rece r2 and ‘on task’, right through until tea time.

Y Yr1, & PLUS!! All children in Year 2, Year 1, and Year R get a freshly cooked school dinner, every day, FREE!!

For Year 3s up, a school meal costs less than a take-out coffee!

>> Speak to your school office for a current menu and sign up!

Parents: Lower grocery bills Fewer supermarket trips Less meal planning No more lunchbox hassle At least 2 of their 5-a-day

Pupils: Exciting choices, and fun, social time with friends Nutritionally balanced meals, made with topquality ingredients, handmade by pro cooks Increased learning ability

Got questions? Call City Catering Southampton: 02380 332226. We serve 1.7m nutritious school dinners in 47 Southampton schools each year. @CityDinners January/ February 2017

Call us on 07789882467 to advertise your business with us

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Are you looking for a career with all the rewards of helping children achieve, the independence of running your own business, and all the training and support of the world’s largest supplementary education provider?

Kumon’s Maths and English Study Centres help children across the country to realise their potential and we have a number of existing and new business opportunities in your area.

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Families Hampshire West

Come to our information session on Wednesday 25 January in Bristol to find out how you could be part of our growing network. Book your place before 20 January to guarantee your place.

Call 0800 988 6576 to find out more.

Missed this date? Why not book onto our next information session instead.

www.familiesonline.co.uk