Families upon Thames May June 2014

Free

upon Thames

May/June 2014 Issue 95

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

RECRUITING NOW

Successful ‘business mum’ is seeking 5 working partners to work part-time from home, alongside & without compromising family commitments or current career.

If you have a supervisory, managerial, sales, marketing, recruitment or self-employed background, or you wish to develop an extraordinary lifestyle,

please call Diana Page

01235 533362 07747 086518

Stagecoach Theatre Arts

For 4-18 year olds at weekends and holiday workshops.

Building confidence to perform skills for life!

Chertsey - 0772 517 6102

Richmond - 020 8332 6741

Cobham - 01932 348844

Staines - 01483 235216

Hinchley Wood - 01372 238238

Twickenham - 020 8224 6905

Hounslow - 020 8873 7140

Walton - 01932 506806

Kew - 020 8487 1456

Weybridge - 01932 422664

New Malden - 020 8540 7791

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For parents/carers of kids from 0 -12 in North Surrey and the boroughs of Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow

than Less utes n i m al 30 Centr from don Lon

oNe GrEaT BiG aDVeNTuRe

LEAVE R EA LIT Y BEH IND WHEN YOU ENTER T HE MYSTER ICA L WOR LD OF HOBBLEDOWN • Hobbledown is a 50-acre farm • With our own Zoo Licence, park adventure featuring towers, we have more than 100 animals tunnels, mazes, aerial walkways, on show a daring high ropes course and • 5 minutes from Chessington a 14,000 sq ft indoor play barn Follow us on facebook; hobbledownuk

and twitter; @Hobbledown

Find us at: Hobbledown Children’s Farm Horton Lane, Epsom, Surrey KT19 8PT T: 0843 289 4979 E: thehobblers@hobbledown.com www.hobbledown.com

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t-shirt & cap or beanie for the birthday boy or girl

look out for our new and exciting summer holiday program:

classes are also held at various locations within banstead, cheam, chessington, epsom & ewell, Kingston, richmond and sutton.

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SPECIAL OFFER! PROMOTION!

Capture Some Beautiful Moments with your Family!

Families Upon Thames has teamed up with professional family photographer, Victoria Bennett of Victoria B Photography and The Lensbury, a 4 star hotel, conference centre and premium leisure club in Teddington to offer Families Upon Thames readers a truly memorable day.

Victoria produces family photos you will cherish. She will be setting up her studio in a private room at The Lensbury on Saturday, 21 June for one day only and offering some fabulous special packages. This is a unique opportunity to capture a beautiful family photograph for your wall, or some

contemporary, fun shots of your children to share with family and friends on Facebook!

After your photo shoot, enjoy FREE access to some of The Lensbury’s leisure facilities, including its newly opened soft play area, 25m indoor swimming pool and fully equipped gym. Experience the tranquillity of its beautiful waterside gardens and its delightful food and beverage areas with fantastic views of its 25 acre grounds. Go on an exclusive, personalised tour of The Lensbury and take a look at its extensive tennis and squash courts, watersports centre, spa, sauna and steam room.

About Victoria Victoria has plenty of experience of photographing children of all ages and has a knack of getting the best out of people. Her photos seem to always capture something special - a fun moment, an emotion, an

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS MAGAZINE CONTACT: LINDA STONE, Editor m: 07530 283330 t: 020 8241 0423 e: editor@familiesuponthames.co.uk www.familiesuponthames.co.uk Find us and like us on Facebook Facebook.com/familiesuponthames @FamiliesuponT Now more than 4800 followers!

Our next issue is published on 30 June and will include all the information you need to enjoy a perfect summer, as well as all our regular features!

The Offer The packages available at The Lensbury offer savings of £60-£220 each. You will need to book a time slot with Victoria for your family photo shoot. Spaces are limited.

Package A - £90 (a saving of £60) Mini photo session, including your favourite digital image (for printing yourself or sharing on Facebook) or 2 professional, lustre 10 x 8 inch prints.

Package B - £240 (a saving of £130) Photo session, including 6 digital images or a beautiful 20 x 16 inch Canvas.

Package C - £490 (a saving of £220) Photo session, including 12 digital images AND a 20 x 16 inch Canvas/Framed Photo To find out more and to book your slot, call Victoria on 07909 177049 or email info@victoriab.co.uk For further information on The Lensbury, visit www.lensbury.com

Contents Page 4

Health and Wellbeing

Page 15

Parties

Page 6

Parenting

Page 23

Property and Finance

Page 8

Early Years Care and Education

Page 24

Clubs, Classes and Activities

Page 10 Food and Nutrition

Page 29

Days Out

Page 11 Holidays

Page 30

Page 12 Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond

Summer Workshops and Camps

Page 32 What’s On

Summer holiday fun For 4—8 year olds

expression. But don’t just take our word for it, take a look at her website at www.victoriab.co.uk, where there are lots of examples of her work.

Drama courses on the magical theme of Peter Pan Throughout July and August, our five day drama, dance and singing courses will take your child on an amazing journey to Neverland.

All material is specially written and our experienced leaders will ensure all children enjoy the fun!

Call 0845 400 1284 or visit perform.org.uk/peterpan

May-June 2014

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLBEING VACCINATING YOUR CHILD AGAINST MENINGITIS B By Dr Sharoni Mahabaduge What is Meningitis B? Meningococcal meningitis B is the commonest and most aggressive type of bacterial meningitis in the UK. The protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord are infected and, left untreated, Meningitis B can causes severe brain damage, infect the blood and, in some cases, be fatal.

The symptoms usually begin suddenly and accelerate rapidly and should be treated as a medical emergency.

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In 2011-12, 613 meningitis B cases were confirmed in England and Wales and 93% of children under 5 who were diagnosed with meningitis had Meningitis B. Meningitis Symptoms These include a high fever, a rash that doesn’t disappear when pressed, lethargy, and flu-like symptoms which can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment. Even after administration of antibiotics, severe sepsis can develop rapidly and result in death.

The Vaccine In January 2013, the first ever wide-ranging meningitis B vaccine was licensed by the European Commission, after 20 years of research. The Commission judged that the vaccine, Bexsero® is safe and effective. It has been tested in clinical trials involving more than 8000 individuals and is thought to provide 73% protection against Meningitis B. Bexsero® is now available privately in the UK at a cost of £85. Approval has also recently been given for the vaccine to be provided by the NHS

to all children age 2 and under but, at the time of going to print, it is not known when this provision will start. The vaccine can be administered to infants ages two months or older, either by itself, or in combination with other childhood vaccines. Side effects may include pain, swelling or redness of the skin at the side of the injection, feeling unwell or having a headache.

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Dr Sharoni Mahabaduge is a private GP at Richmond Practice, which administers a range of childhood vaccines, including Bexsero® and chickenpox vaccine, in a child-friendly environment. It can also offer advice on other childhood diseases and vaccination schedules in different countries. For further information, visit www.richmondpractice.co.uk.

DESTROY FAT NATURALLY WITH AWARD WINNING TECHNOLOGY! By Lisa Harris

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If you are struggling with excess fat or extra inches that just don’t seem to respond to diet and exercise, you may have searched high and low for other safe and natural treatments that boost fat-reduction. However, you may not yet have heard of 3D Lipo, a revolutionary new fat-reduction treatment.

Put simply, 3D Lipo is liposuction without the surgery. It gets rid of fat in the body naturally by destroying fat cells completely, instead of merely breaking them up and releasing them into the body. It can also tighten loose skin, which can be a welcome solution after pregnancy. Heather Jones, mum in Cobham comments “I was desperate to get my tummy back after my pregnancy and 3D Lipo helped me achieve a flatter, tighter look.”

A full 3D liposuction treatment can include several individual procedures, including: Cavitation which uses ultrasonic waves to break down fat cells.

Cryolipolysis which freezes fat cells without affecting other body cells.

Radio Frequency which tightens the skin and helps the body to produces its own collagen.

Dermology which rolls the skin to reduce cellulite and improves the lymphatic system.

These procedures are available individually or as part of a broader fat-removal and contouring program. Don’t worry if any of them sound daunting! All the treatments are pain-free and conducted lying down on a treatment bed.

3D LipoLite combines a weight loss and exercise plan with 3D Lipo technology treatments which destroy fat cells, tighten skin and break down cellulite.

How Does 3D Lipolite Work?

3D LipoLite combines 3D Lipo technology treatments which destroy fat cells, tighten skin

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and break down cellulite, with a weight loss and exercise plan.

The 3D Lipo technology ensures that, alongside weight loss, certain areas of the body can be targeted for more intense fat removal, skin tightening and cellulite treatment. One of the main concerns people have when losing a lot of weight is saggy skin or overhang but one of the features of 3D Lipo is the most up-to-date skin tightening technology, which ensures optimum aesthetic outcomes.

Over the years various diets have been invented to try and deal with the problems of obesity but diets alone have all proven unsuccessful in maintaining weight loss. To ensure maintenance, a nutritionally sound, sustainable, healthy-eating plan is required, together with a safe and consistent exercise program that can be incorporated into everyday life.

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Lisa Harris is the proprietor of Lisa Harris Skin Science Clinic in Weybridge and the latest 3D Lipo technology has been exclusively awarded to her clinic. Lisa offers 3D Lipo and 3D LipoLite treatment programs with proven positive results. For further information, visit www.inspirationbeautyspa.co.uk May-June 2014

FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLBEING

SPECIAL READER OFFER! PROMOTION!

GET READY FOR SUMMER… WHY ANGER MANAGEMENT CAN MAKE YOU ANGRIER By Phil Cox Did you know that getting angry is bad for your health?

Recent research undertaken by The Harvard School of Public Health, suggests that the risk of a heart attack increases nearly five-fold in the two hours immediately after a severe bout of anger. Clearly then, it makes sense to keep your anger under control. Or does it?

Anger is a difficult emotion to understand and can be very scary to experience. We are programmed to believe we shouldn’t feel anger, let alone show it.

Consequently, when people find being angry causes them to behave in ways which are harmful or out of control, they often conclude that they need help with “anger management” or, put more simply, help to quash their angry feelings.

However, this can be counterproductive. By trying to quash our anger, we may stop recognising when and why we are feeling it, allowing it to grow and fester. Eventually though, repressed anger will find a way of being felt and expressed, and often in overwhelming and frightening ways.

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Have you ever found yourself feeling angry for no discernible reason, or to an extent that is completely out of proportion to the trigger? Or have you ever felt rage towards an inanimate object? Angry feelings will often emerge in a way that is totally unrelated to their original source. Someone who regularly experiences inappropriate anger can feel as if their lives are dictated by their terrible rages and it’s not surprising that they turn to anger management strategies. However, it’s helpful to identify the original source of our anger, which may lie in our upbringing or life experiences.

Anger is often a sign that other emotions are at play – generally ones that are less easily expressed, such as shame, sadness, or fear. These feelings can be difficult to accept, and anger may have developed as a defence against them. Whilst it can be useful to explore the source of the anger and the feelings it is masking, sometimes just acknowledging that someone has a right to feel angry, given what they’ve been through, can shift something inside them, and help them begin to understand their anger and find safe ways of expressing it.

Feel great and lose weight with the help of qualified nutritionists in the comfort of your own home!

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Pay just £149 (normal price £199), with further discounts available if you book as a couple or with a small group of friends. zest4life offers a unique opportunity to transform your health, regain your energy and lose weight. Using nutritional education and coaching, experienced and qualified nutritionists help you achieve your goals by tailoring your four-session program to your individual requirements.

The program is flexible so nutritionists come to you to fit

in with your schedule. The focus is on your health and healthy eating and not a quick-fix diet - eat real foods, no fads, no meal replacements, and certainly no calorie counting! une.

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For more information, email jacky@thenutritionmission.co.uk or call on 07769 706599 or email kathleen@kfnutritioncoaching.com or call on 07880 353964

Phil Cox is a qualified counsellor practicing in Surrey. He is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

For more information on how Phil can help, visit www.philcoxcounselling.co.uk

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May-June 2014

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5

PARENTING

Constructive Conflict: How to Argue Better Rowing parents can cause children real harm, but does this mean you should never fall out again?

With the growing stresses and strains of modern family life, disagreements and rows are inevitable. However, research conducted by relationship charity OnePlusOne has shown that parents who fail to resolve their disagreements are putting their children’s mental and physical health at risk. Frequent, unresolved, intense conflict between parents can cause insecurity in children and lead

to headaches, abdominal pains and even, in some circumstances, reduced growth.

Destructive conflict within the family home, such as sulking, walking away, slamming doors or making children the focus of an argument, also puts youngsters at greater risk of a range of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. However, Dr Catherine Houlston, co-author of the book, Parental Conflict: Outcomes and Interventions for Children and Families, says “ It’s not so much the rowing that causes the harm but seeing conflict go unresolved.”

Dr Houlston explains “If a child sees his or her parents argue and then work things out they understand it’s possible for difficult situations to be resolved and they feel more secure.”

Conversely, when an argument is unresolved, kids feel scared. They can then grow up fearing THE CHILDRENS CHARITY SHOP conflict in their own 169b HIGH STREET HAMPTON HILL TW12 1NL adult lives, which can influence their choices in relationships and the way * Good quality children’s clothes they learn to negotiate * Toys and Games (all checked and working) * Cots, buggies and equipment their needs with partners. * Maternity clothes So what is important is Come in and see us learning how to argue or call Sam on 0208 941 7552 more effectively.

Would you like to become an even better parent than you already are?

Parenting Tutor offers workshops and private coaching sessions in which you can learn how to respond to the needs of your family and avoid or manage confrontation.

One free private coaching session when you quote FUT 20!

For more information contact Alison Banks parentingtutor@gmail.com 07710 626263 www.parentingtutor.co.uk 6

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

Is All Arguing Equal?

The intensity of the conflict, the negativity expressed, the emotional tone, the behaviours parents adopt towards one another, the topic of conflict, and if and how things are resolved all influence the effect of the conflict on children. Children are particularly upset when they or issues relevant to them are the subject of an argument.

Destructive Arguing Traits These evoke negative reactions and include: Physical Aggression Children are particularly troubled by physical violence between parents and it is this behaviour that is most strongly linked to psychological adjustment problems.

Verbal Hostility When parents shout, threaten or raise their voices children may become scared, angry or sad.

Repeated verbal hostility has also been linked to psychological adjustment problems.

Non-Verbal Conflict Children can be as troubled by sulky conflicts in which parents give each other ‘the silent treatment’, as they are by overtly angry exchanges. Sulky, silent behaviour suggests to children that a disagreement will not get resolved and this leaves them worrying about what that will mean for the stability of the family.

Intense conflicts Unsurprisingly, intense or heated arguments are generally more disturbing for children than milder disputes. However, it is important to distinguish between conflicts that are merely expressive or emotional because of the character of each spouse and their relationship, and those which are wrought with feelings of contempt, scorn or criticism.

When One Partner Withdraws Children are particularly concerned when parents withdraw or walk away from an argument, possibly because they

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are sensitive to the severity of marital problems and concerned that their parents may separate.

Conflicts about THEM! Conflict is particularly distressing for children when they, or issues relevant to them, are the subject of dispute. They are also more likely to get emotionally involved because they feel responsible for, or ashamed about, what is going on.

Constructive Conflict The children of couples who continue to hold on to more positive ways of relating in the midst of heated conflicts, and who can find ways to resolve an argument, are less at risk of developing emotional or behavioural problems.

However, this ‘resolution’ must be genuine. Children are not fooled when told that things have been sorted out but their parents’ actions do not echo this.

Emerging evidence suggests that children who observe parents handling conflict well can learn behaviours that are helpful in their relationships with others.

Top Tips for Handling Conflict Better ✸ Avoid using more harmful styles of arguing, such as physical aggression, shouting, threatening, silent treatment, withdrawal or walking away. ✸ Avoid putting children in the middle of arguments where the conflict is about them, they are asked to take sides or carry messages. ✸ Stay calm. Take ‘time out’, count to 10, regulate your breathing, and listen to what your partner is saying. Focus on what you think and feel about the issue you are discussing, rather than blaming the other person. ✸ Try to resolve arguments by negotiating and problem solving, with both partners offering solutions and being prepared to compromise. ✸ Show positive affection during and after an argument.

OnePlusOne offers a free online course called How to Argue Better which helps couples improve their handling and resolution of conflict, and stop arguments from intensifying. For more information, visit www.thecoupleconnection.net/users/sign_in Parental Conflict: Outcomes and Interventions for Children and Families, the first book in the Understanding and Strengthening Relationships series is published by Policy Press in association with OnePlusOne and retails at £16.99.

May-June 2014

. Early Years Care and Education .

BACK ON TRACK The newly refurbished Kings Meadow Pre School and Nursery in Kingston re-opened its doors in April, after a fire in July 2013 put its main nursery building out of action for nine months. The fire devastated 10% of the main building and caused smoke and water damage across 90% of the entire facility.

Nestled at the end of a no-through road backing on to Kings Meadow Athletics Club, Kings Meadow is somewhat off the beaten track, and its green field site affords it regular use of the local meadow. It is also unique in owning an adjoining soft play facility which is used by children that attend the nursery, as

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By Linda Stone, Editor

well as being open to the public.

This soft play facility proved invaluable after the fire, as it enabled Kings Meadow to continue to provide quality care to its existing children in a familiar environment, whilst the main nursery underwent refurbishment.

Nine months down the track the nursery has combined its baby and toddler room, to create a large, open plan space that promotes active learning and exploration. It also has a new, bright and spacious pre-school room, with adjoining ICT Suite and the garden area has been further developed.

With the nursery open again, the soft play facility, suitable for children ages 4 and under, re-opens to the public again from May (daily from 10am to 5pm term time and school holidays) and is available for party hire at weekends.

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Parents are invited to see the refurbished setting and re-opened soft play facility at Kings Meadow. The nursery is located at 75 Hampden Road, Kingston, KT1 3HG and places are available for children 6 months to 5 years. Applications are also invited from qualified Early Years Care professionals Level 2 and above. For further information, visit www.kmpreschool.co.uk

FREE EARLY EDUCATION FOR TWO YEAR OLDS Parents with a low household income may be eligible for 15 hours of free childcare and education in a local nursery, pre-school or nursery school, children’s centre or with a registered childminder. This provision will also be available to parents claiming certain benefits, such as income support and will apply to children who are two or going to be two in the next school term.

Other criteria may also apply but families

should refer to their local authority website for specific details. Applications should also be made via this local authority.

In Surrey, you can go online and search for FEET Surrey, call 0300 200 1004 or speak to someone at your local Sure Start children’s centre or a childcare provider. In Richmond, please refer to www.richmond.gov.uk/childcare_information In Kingston, please refer to www.kingston.gov.uk. In Hounslow, please refer to www.hounslow.gov.uk

ssori Nurs e t e on

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Small and caring pre-school in Hampton Ages 2 to 5 Teaches Early Years Foundation Stage.

Curriculum and Montessori Method.

For a prospectus or to visit, call Julia on 020 8335 0666 / 07939 838991 or email juliasmontessori@aol.com 8

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

May-June 2014

. Early Years Care and Education .

GAINING INDEPENDENCE AND POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM IN THE EARLY YEARS Linda Stone, Editor, talks to Sonal Chatrath, Head of Early Years and Preps at Manor House School in Cobham

A child’s early years at school form the most exciting and challenging phase of their learning and development.

It is therefore vital that the Early Years learning environment offers the highest quality provision with a range of stimulating opportunities and activities for young children.

The Early Years is a time when the key goals for children’s learning are: ✿ Gaining independence ✿ Developing a positive self-image ✿ Developing new skills ✿ Understanding the world Sonal Chatrath says “Research has shown that the children who enjoy the most academic success later in their education are the ones who have high self-esteem, are able to work independently and have developed enthusiasm for learning. To develop these qualities, they require an Early Years environment that offers a combination of teacher-led and child-led activities, so that they have the opportunity to extend structured learning opportunities by testing out and discovering things for themselves.”

Sonal believes that Early Years students particularly benefit from access to secure outdoor spaces which encourage a range of different learning opportunities, including access to nature, as well as play equipment and the space to really run around. She adds that an holistic approach to teaching which looks at each child as an individual with different

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Manor House School is an independent day school for girls aged 2-16 set in large grounds in Little Bookham, near Cobham, in Surrey.

For further information, visit www.manorhouseschool.org

NEWLAND HOUSE COMPLETES WRAPAROUND CARE PROVISION In many families, both parents now work outside the home. In recognition of the resulting demand for before and after school childcare, Newland House School has extended its existing wraparound care provision and, in April, launched a new After School Club.

Newland House’s Breakfast Club already offers an appetising start to the school day from 7.30am every morning, with an optional As recommended by

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academic, social and emotional needs is also important in the Early Years for children to achieve their full potential.

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full cooked English breakfast. Over the last few years, the Breakfast Club has become increasingly popular with parents and pupils alike. The new After School club will offer daily care from 3.30pm to 6pm for Pre-Prep children and from 4pm to 6pm for Prep School children.

Children will have time to complete homework quietly, as well as enjoying a range of activities, including sports based games and creative and recreational pursuits.

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Newland House is an independent prep school in Twickenham for girls and boys ages 4 to 13 years. For further information, visit www.newlandhouse.net

Nursery/Pre-School in Kingston/New Malden ◆ 6mths – 5 yrs ◆ 51 weeks ◆ 7.30am to 6pm ◆ Free child places for 2yrs+* (T&C) ◆ Discount for NHS/RBK employees ◆ Soft play facilities

Watch your child’s confidence grow as they develop friendships in a happy, stimulating environment

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9

Not sure what skills and tasks are appropriate to teach your child at different ages?

Then read on!

family food&nutrition

Teaching Your Children Age-Appropriate Cooking Skills By Susan Carmichael

Toddlers can: ✸ Mix using a small mixing bowl, soft ingredients and a soft spoon.

Avoid ingredients that might be a choking hazard. ✸ Learn how to wear an apron and wash hands before cooking. ✸ Learn to stay away from hot surfaces and start to appreciate the dangers associated with “no-go”areas in the kitchen. ✸ Feel, taste and play with ingredients.

Children Age 3+ can: ✸ Use a spoon, fork, or a spatula to stir and sift dry ingredients. ✸ Learn measuring terms such as “cup,” “teaspoon,” and “tablespoon” while you measure wet and dry ingredients. ✸ Get things from the fridge and pantry. ✸ Wash fruit and vegetables. ✸ Cut soft foods with a child-proof or plastic knife. ✸ Clean up the work surface and floor - in their own fashion! ✸ Fetch cutlery and carry their own bowls and cups to the table.

Children Age 4+ can: ✸ Pour or spoon ingredients into scales and jugs.

Children Age 6+ can: ✸ Learn about knife safety and use “grown-up” knives to peel vegetables and cut ingredients.

It’s up to you to determine when your child is ready for these serious tools. ✸ Begin using hand-held electric beaters and learn new techniques like folding, with appropriate explanations about how these techniques work.

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✸ Learn how to level a measure using the straight edge of a knife and check liquid measurements at eye-level. ✸ Wipe surfaces clean using spray bottles of non-toxic cleaner. ✸ Sweep the floor. ✸ Learn how to beat or whip ingredients using a whisk or egg beater. When they stir ingredients together, teach them to scrape the sides of the bowl to incorporate everything. ✸ Learn to crack an egg into a cup.

www.watercressline.co.uk

26th May - 1st June

Meet Peppa Pig here at the Watercress Line!

It’s going to be a really exciting day out! Come and meet Peppa Pig who will be making personal appearances at various intervals on each day.

And there will be lots of piggy activities to do, including a piggy petting farm, piggy crafts and face painting too*! *small fee applies

Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies Ltd/Entertainment One UK Ltd 2003.

10

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

Happy Cooking!

Susan Carmichael is the proprietor of Sassy Stirrers Cooking Club which offers children’s cooking parties and a Saturday Cooking Club held one afternoon per month in the areas of Kingston and Esher. Sassy Stirrers also runs holiday workshops, after-school clubs and lunch time clubs in local schools. For more information, see pages 19 and 26 or visit www.sassystirrers.com.

Fuelling Your Child’s Brain for School

By Clare Jeffries

To function at its best, your child’s brain needs a balanced supply of essential healthy fats and the right kind of sugar.

To achieve this, it’s important to ensure your child eats little and often and that ‘fast release sugars’ such as sweets, biscuits, cakes, chocolate, refined, sugary cereals, white breads and very sweet yoghurts are kept to a minimum.

Too much sugar and your child may be hyperactive and struggle to concentrate. Too little and they may feel too tired or irritable to concentrate.

Balanced Breakfast is Key! It is essential for all children to start the day with a slow energy release breakfast. This is particularly important for young children whose structured learning occurs mainly during the morning. Without this, they may become very hungry or have inadequate fuel for the brain to learn effectively.

A balanced breakfast should include a mix of complex or unrefined carbohydrate (porridge, muesli, wholemeal bread or fruit)

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www.peppapig.com

Children Age 8 to 12+ can: ✸ Measure and count alone and convert metric weights to those of standard kitchen equipment. ✸ Set the oven temperature. ✸ Follow and cook a simple recipe by themselves – you just need to help with the final clean up! ✸ Wash dishes and load/unload the dishwasher.… at last! ✸ Separate an egg. Just make sure you have a few spares!

Did You Know?

One bowl of sugar-frosted cornflakes can contain nearly 4 teaspoons and protein of sugar! (eggs, baked beans, chopped nuts, seeds, full fat yoghurt or milk).

Maximise Essential Healthy Fats The brain consists of 60% fat and essential fats are vital for brain formation and communication between cells. Numerous scientific studies have linked inadequate essential fats in a child’s diet to lower IQ’s and learning or behavioral disorders.

So ensure your child regularly consumes: Oily fish (Salmon, mackerel, sardines) – with pasta, in pies or in sandwiches.

Nuts and Seeds – whole, ground and mixed in cereals, soups or casseroles, or added to home-made cakes or biscuits.

Avocado on toast or crackers or made into a dip with breadsticks.

Great Breakfast Ideas ✸ Porridge made with whole milk, with mashed banana and a tablespoon of ground almonds or flaxseed powder stirred through. ✸ Fresh fruit (banana or berries) and natural yoghurt with a little honey or maple syrup, and a sprinkle of chopped hazlenuts on top. ✸ Wholemeal toast with baked beans or scrambled eggs, or even mashed avocado. ✸ Boiled egg and soldiers.

Clare Jeffries (BSc (Hons) NT) is a Nutritional Therapist who offers home visits in Cobham, Weybridge, Walton and Esher areas. She specializes in the nutrition and health of babies, children and pregnant mothers. For more information, visit www.healthyinfluence.co.uk May-June 2014

Family Holidays

Enjoy France!

Fancy a Family Adventure?

Summer in the Alps By Linda Stone, Editor Many of us associate the French Alps with winter skiing holidays, even though we know that wonderful family holidays can also be taken in the mountains during the warmer months.

The village of Morzine is the perfect example of a location which offers a special experience for families during the summer time. Situated just on the French side of the Swiss French border and south of Lake Geneva, Morzine offers a diverse range of family activities including leisurely, tranquil and picturesque walks to other mountain villages to taste local cheeses – and local wine for parents – a breath-taking hot air balloon ride and the thrill of white-water rafting.

To top it all, a summer holiday at Morzine offers the opportunity to explore the mountain ranges much more cheaply than during the winter high season.

A summer Multi Pass costs just 1 euro a day and offers instant access to 22 lifts in the Portes du Soleil area around Morzine, 850km of walking paths and 10 mountain lakes! It also offers FREE entry to many local attractions including Aquariaz, a new water park in Avoriaz. With the new cable car, it takes just 4 minutes to get to Avoriaz from Morzine!

There is also a new cable car in Morzine taking visitors speedily up the Pleney and over to Les Gets.

To experience Morzine and surrounds at its best, consider taking the advice of Paul and Francesca Eyre at Chilly Powder. Chilly Powder is a family-friendly, home-from-home resort in Morzine where you can stay in a hotel room or large, self-catered chalet to suit your requirements. Hire a chef, if you like, or enjoy the kind of meals you only usually experience in your dreams at the restaurant Au Coin du Feu. There are early evening meals for the children and, once they are tucked up in bed, you can enjoy drinks at the bar and the jacuzzi on the terrace. There’s even a daytime crèche for the little ones.

For more information about Morzine, great local family days out and the Chilly Powder Resort, visit www.chillypowder.com www.morznet.com www.allmountainrental.co.uk

Brave enough for white water canoeing through a spectacular gorge and abseiling under a plunging waterfall? Or is your preference for sunset beach walks or bike touring coast and countryside? For either high adrenalin thrills or a lower key, relaxed holiday this summer, France offers numerous options for parents with tots to teens.

Options available include all-inclusive holidays based at a chateau in Normandy, high-octane watersports holidays on the Mediterranean coast or an adventure in the Ardeche in which the highlight is the thrilling descent of the Ardeche gorge by canoe.

If you are looking for a package with full board and activities included, consider organising your trip with Family Adventure Holidays, which offers all three of the above action-packed holidays. All activities are led by professionally-qualified English-speaking instructors and holidays also include outings and evening entertainment with camp fires, kids’ games and barbecues. There is a flexible choice of accommodation and activities and no activity is compulsory.

For further information, visit www.familyadventureholidays.com

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11

Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond

Acupuncture and its Role in Assisting Fertility, Pregnancy and Birth

By Andrea Allardyce

accurately diagnosis and treat.

Acupuncture can also be used to The ancient art of acupuncture identify and treat menstrual cycle plays an important role within and ovulation irregularities. the field of obstetrics, fertility Specifically, it can assist in regulating and gynaecology and there is the hormone and menstrual cycle, a growing body of research to raising levels of oestrogen and support its efficacy within this strengthening the surge of the field of medicine. Acupuncture hormones which ensure ovullation approaches fertility issues by and maintain the endometrium. identifying underlying causes It can also help raise levels of and attempts to rectify the progesterone after ovulation, whilst imbalances which are resulting in improving blood circulation in the a failure to conceive. uterus to increase endometrial Within a well-tested theoretical thickness ready for implantation of framework, an Acupuncturist uses a fertilised egg. traditional diagnostic skills; looking, Fertility-reducing listening, palpating and questioning, gynaecological disorders such combined with information from a as, endometriosis, polycystic Basal Body Temperature chart, the ovary syndrome and fallopian results of previous medical tests tubal blockage can also eased and knowledge of reproductive with acupuncture. A skilled physiology and pathology, to Acupuncturist will work with the patient alongside western medical diagnosis and treatment.

Once pregnant, the emphasis is on the pregnancy going full term. Whilst acupuncture cannot improve the quantity or DNA of the eggs, it can influence the nourishment and development of better quality follicles. By

improving the constitution of the would-be parents, it can also rectify imbalances which may be leading to difficulties maintaining a pregnancy, thus preventing recurrent miscarriage.

Many fertility clinics and couples undergoing Assisted Reproduction Technology are using the IVF Acupuncture Protocol administered 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer, with research showing a beneficial effect.

Acupuncture can also decrease the side effects of the hormones involved with IVF and the stress often involved in the process.

During pregnancy acupuncture is extremely effective in treating nausea and sickness and can help improve energy levels, maintain

Arnica Montana or Mountain Daisy holds a special place in the repertoire of remedies of many homeopaths.You may have used Arnica yourself as a remedy in a variety of situations, including after falls or accidents, or, if you already have children, to encourage their cuts and grazes to heal. But did you know that

However, despite her pain, she is overwhelmed by the urge to care for her new baby. During the first few hours following labour, natural, non-toxic homeopathic remedies can gently and safely address both her physical, mental and emotional symptoms, making it easier to start caring for her new born.

Arnica is the remedy of choice following childbirth. It can encourage the body to heal the pains and strains of labour and rebalance itself naturally.

It may also be useful for the following: After Pains Arnica addresses the feeling of being beaten and bruised all over and can ease the discomfort of labour after-pains.

Bruising Arnica works with the body to reduce swelling and inflammation to the perineum, and can encourage healing, even after a difficult birth.

Caesarean Section Arnica can be administered in tincture form, stirred into water, to ease post-surgical bruising and soreness.

extra

normal blood pressure, and treat backache, sciatica and pain. It is useful in preparing the body both physically and mentally for labour and can even turn a breach presentation. Many women turn to acupuncture to induce contractions and start labour in order to avoid medical induction. During labour, acupuncture can help improve the strength and frequency of contractions, mitigate some pain and calm the mother’s mind.

Andrea Allardyce Bsc Acupuncture is resident acupuncturist at Earthlife Wellbeing & Fitness, a fitness, health and wellbeing centre in Kew. Earthlife offers a range of mother and baby treatments including acupuncture, pregnancy massage, reflexology, craniosacral therapy and reiki healing, as well as classes such as pregnancy yoga, mum and baby yoga and baby massage.

For more information, visit www.earth-life.co.uk

How a Healing Herb Can Help After Birth By Kathryn Barnett

12

Arnica can help healing after childbirth?

A new mother recovering from childbirth is often in a state of shock. She has given birth to her baby, but, instead of the expected euphoria, she may feel bruised, battered and emotionally and physically wrung out. Her body has been through a tough ordeal.

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

Retained Placenta Arnica as a first aid remedy can help expel the placenta. It also assists with the healing process by helping to control bleeding, and reducing swelling at the site of the placenta.

Retention of urine Arnica can help ease soreness and pain and help return the urge to urinate.

Arnica can be taken in pill, tablet, or liquid form, regardless of whether birth was natural or assisted.

extra

Kathryn Barnett is a qualified and insured Homeopath with a special interest in mother and baby. She offers safe remedies for women, children and babies which can be useful during pregnancy, birth and post-natally and for allergies, ear infections and glue ear.

For further information, email kittibarnett3@gmail.com or call 07931 552005.

May-June 2014

Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond

Position Perfect. What’s Best for Labour and Birth? By Marley Hall The days of spending labour lying recumbent on a hospital bed with your feet in stirrups are thankfully long gone. In fact, many women these days will adopt a variety of different positions to help them cope with the various stages of labour and birth.

These positions are often instinctively adopted by women depending on their stage of labour and energy levels but it’s important to achieve a balance between being actively mobile and resting in order that labour can progress, and to ensure the maintenance of sufficient energy for the birth.

Generally though, midwives advise remaining as mobile and upright as possible during the early stages of labour, as lying horizontally can slow things down and prove more uncomfortable during long contractions.

When a woman is mainly upright during labour, gravity helps provide downward pressure from the baby’s head onto the cervix, encouraging strong contractions to push the baby down towards to birth canal.

Upright Positions include: ✸ Standing with legs hip width apart with hands on a table, wall or partner. Gently rocking hips from side to side. ✸ Sitting/bouncing on a birthing ball. ✸ Kneeling over a bed or sofa. ✸ Standing upright leaning on partner. ✸ Being in water allows for upright labour and birth positions.

Some women complain of backache during labour. This may be due to the baby’s spine being pressed against that of its mother in the womb, known as the ‘posterior position.’

Discomfort can be eased by going down on all fours and this also encourages the baby to adopt a more optimal position for the birth.

During the actual birth of a baby, a variety of positions can be adopted. Once again, the more upright positions are optimal as they ensure that the pelvic outlet is wider, the uterine muscles contract more effectively, and

extra

Marley Hall is one of the team of highly qualified, experienced midwives at Neighbourhood Midwives in South West London. Neighbourhood Midwives offers one-to-one midwifery care throughout the pregnancy, labour and postnatal period, with 24/7 access to support and advice. For further information, visit www.neighbourhoodmidwives.org.uk

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pushing efforts are easier. These positions also tend to reduce the risk of an instrumental delivery. Kneeling, squatting and going on all fours are all fantastic birthing positions. As well as all the benefits above, imagine the delight of being able to see and pick up your baby immediately after the birth!

Flat, recumbent positions should be avoided if a woman has had an epidural. Her midwife can help her adopt a semi-recumbent position or lay on her side with the use of pillows.

When birthing with an epidural in situ, the urge to push may be reduced or absent, so a more upright position can assist greatly with the descent of the baby through the pelvis.

With a ‘mobile epidural’ it is often possible to kneel or squat on the bed, allowing gravity to assist as much as possible.

Earthlife is a unique and tranquil facility in the arches of Kew Bridge, where emphasis is placed on Fitness, Health and Wellbeing.

This includes supporting women before and after pregnancy, with a variety of specially designed pregnancy treatments, fitness classes and workshops for pre and post birth.

Exercise Classes

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With NCT endorsement, this simple, yet unique hands-free drinking system is quickly becoming a hospital bag essential, proving invaluable for keeping new mothers properly hydrated during childbirth, and whilst feeding.

The award-winning Hydrant is perfect for bedridden mums-to-be suffering from debilitating pregnancy related ailments, after a Caesarian, natural birth or in recovery when soreness makes moving difficult or uncomfortable, and during breastfeeding.

The Hydrant holds a litre of water and the non-leak drinking tube can be clipped to clothing for quick and easy drinking access, when reaching for jugs and cups is tricky.

The sports-style bottle with a unique ‘bite and suck’ drinking tube in its screw top lid and clip mechanism, enables the Hydrant to attach easily to beds and chairs, giving mums instant access to fluids without having to reach out.

For more information, visit www.hydrateforhealth.co.uk To Enter: go to our website www.familiesuponthames.co.uk, click on Competitions and answer the following question: How much fluid does the Hydrant hold?

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13

Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond

Sleep Deprivation

Coping with the First Three Months

By Lyndsey Hookway

Here are ten simple strategies to help you set up some good sleep habits.

Enjoy your Baby Having your baby close actually fosters independence, not clinginess. If you meet your baby’s biological need to be close to you in the early days, you build trust and confidence.

Establish Feeding It’s much easier to create good sleep habits if feeding is working. If you are breastfeeding, allow frequent unrestricted feeding in the first two to three weeks to set up your milk supply. Feed your baby frequently in the evening (cluster feeding) regardless of how they are fed. This ‘tanks’ them up for the night. Try a dreamfeed. This is a feed which takes place in the night, whilst your baby is still half-asleep and prevents your baby waking from hunger. It also avoids programming your baby to associate waking with the “reward” of a feed.

Rocking, Feeding or Holding to Sleep If your baby needs to be rocked, fed or held to go to sleep, don’t worry, but put them down as soon as they are asleep so they don’t get used to it. If they stir when you put them down, just pat or shush them gently in their crib.

Understand What’s Normal As a general rule, babies under 3 months cannot tolerate being awake more than one to two hours. The sleep cycle of a baby is between 30 and 40 minutes. If your baby always wakes after one cycle, try going to them just before they usually wake and patting or shushing gently to help them transition gently into another sleep cycle. After about 2 weeks of this, they should be used to taking longer naps and you should be able to offer less intervention.

Introduce Background Noise Constant background noise like a fan or white noise works wonders for helping babies who

Lack of sleep: you’ve read about it, you’ve heard about it, but nothing prepares you for dealing with the exhaustion that comes with having a very young baby!

The first three months of your baby’s life is commonly known as the fourth trimester, because your newborn is adapting to life outside the womb. It’s hard for babies to make this adjustment, which is why it’s useful to adopt some strategies to help them. Don’t forget – a five hour stretch of sleep for a newborn is the equivalent of sleeping through the night, so don’t expect too much of them!

Award winning classes from newborn to 5 years

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Teach your Baby the Difference Between Day and Night Start your day at the same time every day. Pick your wake up time, and dress your baby for the day, open the curtains and don’t restrict noise.

Twelve hours later, dress your baby for bed.

Introduce a Bedtime Routine This can be very simple and include quiet playing, night clothes, song or story, massage, bath, feed, followed by bed.

Learn Your Baby’s Sleep Cues These can include yawning, rubbing their eyes, pulling their ears, fussing, and losing interest in their surroundings. Put them down at the first sign of tiredness.

If you use some of these ideas, you’ll prevent a lot of problems later and set up some early positive sleep habits!

Lyndsey Hookway is a qualified Sleep Consultant and proprietor of Little Sleepers which offers gentle and holistic family-centred sleep solutions. She conducts consultations in South West London and Surrey. For further information, visit www.littlesleepers.co.uk

Book a FREE trial class today!

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it’s

party time

Personalise Your Child’s Party!

By Olivia Malaure

If the prospect of hosting a party for thirty or more children daunts YOU as a parent, rest assured, it can be equally unnerving for your child.

Whilst some children positively relish the opportunity of a high intensity, high volume extravanganza, there is also a large number whose preference is for something more gentle.

What you have to do is work out what style of party will suit your child best.

For Super Active Children

Soft play centres make ideal party venues, with unlimited opportunity for kids to race around.

For younger children, a soft play café does the same job but in a smaller space, and with

need them to organise. You can then spend time with your child during the party if they need your comfort and attention. Try not to get frustrated if your child prefers to watch rather than participate. Trust that they are enjoying the experience in their own way.

For Shy Children

Consider keeping the guest list small and having the party at home. There are plenty of activities that that don’t require running around and loud noise. Sensory games in which children are blindfolded and have to guess what they’re touching in a bowl (i.e. jelly, spaghetti and frozen peas) work well, as do craft activities. Large scale board games that children can stand around provide simple fun, as well as old favourites like ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ and ‘pass the parcel.’

Music

age-appropriate toys and equipment.

Sports activity providers are great at getting children to actively expel their energy and you can choose a provider that offers a sport that will suit your child, whether football, tennis, or rugby. Multi-sports providers offer children the chance to try out lots of different sports.

Good entertainers will generally also offer a range of “run around” activities, followed by those which will calm children down.

For the Less Independent

Small children can get overwhelmed by large parties in unfamiliar venues. If you’re planning a big party for a pre-schooler, be prepared for them to want you. Set up as much as possible before the party starts, enlist the help of family and friends, and be specific about what you

Keep music volume at a restrained level.

A child’s hearing is still developing and background noise makes it difficult for them to hear. The acoustics in hired halls are generally poor and the background chatter of parents can make it very difficult for children to differentiate between sounds.

Food

Keep food simple and easy, and make sure there is plenty of water available. Running around in synthetic costumes is sweaty work and it’s very easy for children to become dehydrated even on a cold day. Drinking also gives high energy kids the chance to stand still for 5 seconds and regain composure!

If your child has food allergies, then consider bringing out a present for them to open instead of a cake, while you sing happy birthday.

Keep the overall sugar intake down by offering things like fake tattoos and stickers as prizes, instead of sweets.

Decorations

Behaviour

Lastly, if you have invited children that you know can be a handful then ask, in advance, that one of their parents stay so they can intervene if their child is monopolising attention. If a parent is unable to attend, ask one of your own friends to be the child’s buddy and help them manage their behaviour.

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If your child doesn’t like balloons, decorate your venue with bunting instead and use a

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The aim of the party is that the birthday child has a fabulous time with family and friends. So don’t be afraid to buck the trend and do what suits your family best.

Peppa Pig • Pirates • Princess • Harr y Potter • Lego • Dinosaurs

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15

it’s

party time

The DIY Party

By Olivia Malaure

Did you know that the average total cost of a children’s party is £300? If this makes you gulp, then, don’t worry, there are ways of reducing the spend and still making the event special.

Create a Party Box

Having a party at home and organising your own games and activities is cost-effective and relatively easy with a bit of preparation and courage!

Here are some practical ideas for a DIY Party.

Choose some “Out of the Box” DIY Party Games Children go to so many parties these days that party game favourites such as ‘pass the parcel’ and ‘musical statues’ can feel over-used. To create something more memorable, introduce different kinds of games.

This is a box of party essentials that you will need every time you have a party and which you can top up with extras to suit the theme. Fill your children with excitement when it is time to ‘bring out the party box!’

Add irresistible supplies that you find throughout the year to avoid that last minute ‘I wish I’d bought that when I saw it’ feeling. Keeping all of your party things in one place means you’ll always know where to find them, and, after each party, anything left over can go back into the box.

Here are some suggestions:

Puzzle Treasure Hunt

Use a puzzle with enough large individual pieces for all the party children. Hide the pieces and send the children off to find them. When all the pieces have been found, put the puzzle together as a group.

Older children can play the game in teams with a timer…the fastest team wins!

Challenges

Play as a competition for older children or non-competitive race for little ones. Vary the difficulty depending on age. This following example works well for kids ages 4 to 7.

Use squares of newspaper to set up three challenge stations on the floor.

Ask children to jump three times and crawl to station two. Then, dress up in items of clothing to match a theme, and head for station three.

Take a chocolate from a

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✿ Bubble Machine/ Blower and liquid ✿ Name Labels ✿ Shopping List - use this as a core list for every big party shop ✿ Reusable Table Cloths, Platters and Recyclable Tableware - this keeps parties eco-friendly and can save you money in the long run. ✿ Wipes for quick clean-up operations ✿ Bin Liners for rubbish and presents ✿ Matches ✿ And, lastly, don’t forget a KNIFE to cut the cake!

bowl. Then, return to station two, remove clothing, crawl back to station one, jump three times – and let the next team member go!

Birthday Height Chart

Imagination Play

Using a magic wand or sword, children can take it in turns to pretend to transform their friends into different creatures and characters using their own magic spell.

This variation on ‘pin the tail on the donkey,’ uses a height chart instead of a donkey! Measure the children and write their names on the chart. Then blindfold them one by one and ask them to place a coloured sticker where they guess their position is on the chart. The closest guess wins.

Pass the Parcel Challenge

This is particularly suited to larger numbers of older children. When the music stops the child who is holding the parcel and the two people beside them must complete a singing challenge before winning. For example, children must attempt to sing happy birthday in different styles of music eg rap, opera and rock, for example.

Chalk Mural

If you have a wall or garden path you’d like to see livened up, let the children express their creative side by creating a chalk mural.

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My Favourite Party

it’s

party time

By Olivia Malaure

We asked local children to tell us about their “stand-out” party experiences.

“My favourite was Jake’s party.

It was a Laser Quest party and then I went and had a sleep over at Jake’s house. My other friend Sean was there for a play date too and it was so much fun because we played ‘it’ inside the house. I enjoyed the Laser Quest because I was on Jake’s team traditional paintball parties, has and we won.” just introduced Forest Lazer

“The best party I’ve been to was at Hobbledown. I danced on a magic floor, did loads of climbing and had an awesome cake. I loved holding the animals and they made me a hat that was so lovely. I wanted to wear it all day!” Jess, Age 5

Our Recommendations: try Campaign Paintball in Cobham (www.campaignpaintball.com) which, as well as

“I’ve been to lots of amazing parties but a recent good one was a cupcake party. Firstly we made the cupcakes, following a recipe in groups of three. While cupcakes were cooking we went outside to play. We came back

Louis, Age 9

Tag Parties. These use infra-red technology to register hits on the enemy rather than paint. Perfect for children age 6+ looking for a birthday adventure!

“My best birthday when we had animals was brilliant.

They came to our house. First we did craft and decorated birdhouses, then we got to see and cuddle the animals. There was a chameleon, a bearded dragon, sugar gliders, a snake, chinchillas and we got to race tortoises at the end.”

Abbie, Age 10

Our Recommendations: Try Animal Party (www. animal-party.co.uk) who will bring a jungle-themed party with loads of animals to your home or venue. If you want animals, but not at home, head for Bockett’s Farm near Leatherhead (www.bockettsfarm.co.uk) where you can enjoy a day at the farm park, private animal handling sessions and a birthday tea!

“For my son’s 4th birthday we had a go kart party. The guys turned up early with an inflatable track and 4 karts all ready to go. We also hired a bouncy castle which entertained the kids who were waiting to take a turn on the karts. My son and his friends absolutely loved it and we would do it again. They had races and games and the best driver (the birthday boy!) got a big trophy at the end of the party.”

Sarah Dooley, Mum

Our Recommendations: Hobbledown (www.hobbledown.com) is a kids adventure park in Epsom. It offers a range of exciting party options for kids of all ages.

inside, had pizza and decorated our cupcakes. Suddenly it was time to go home! It was great because we were always busy and didn’t get bored.”

Evelyn, Age 11

Our Recommendations: Sassy Stirrers (www.sassystirrers.com) offer wonderful cooking and baking parties for kids age 5+ in SW London and Surrey.

“The best ever was a climbing party. Mags, the party leader was brilliant and taught us to limbo on the climbing wall! Afterwards, we went to a burger place for dinner and milkshakes. The waiters sang me “Happy Birthday.” It was very embarrassing, but funny.” Katie, Age 14

Our Recommendations: try High Sports Elmbridge in Walton (www. high-sports.co.uk/ sites/elmbridge/) which offer great climbing parties for novices and experienced kids alike.

from Age 6+ NEW! LAZER GAMES Our Recommendations: Kiddi Karts (www.kiddikarts.co.uk) which offers fabulous go-kart parties for ages 4 to 8 in SW London and Surrey.

A Driving Experience An ideal birthday treat

Age Group 4-8 Yrs

R GAMES • PAINTBALL & LAZE nture ve Ad st re Fo • 100 Acre Game Zones g in az Am 12 e • Explor y Supervision Da l • Expert Tuition & Al • Ages from 6+ Campaign Park / Surrey / KT11 1NH Old Lane / Cobham 01932 865 999 tball.com www.campaign-pain

PAROOTL ITERIPSS & SCH

that’s both fun & safe Available At A venue NEAR YOU

Tel: 01932 770770

Play Cafe SOFT PLAY FOR UNDER 5s Monday-Friday, 10am–3pm term time only Jumping Jacks is an indoor children’s play and activity area, for children up to 5 years old! We have a bouncy castle, ride on cars, dressing up, home corner, dinosaurs, dolls house, a separate baby area and great lunch boxes to keep your little ones happy and entertained. Meanwhile you can enjoy freshly ground coffee, a selection of teas, homemade cakes and paninis. £4 Admission Twickenham RFC Amanda: 07930 932 088

www.kiddikarts.co.uk May-June 2014

10% of f

all part y bo whe okings mentionn you Fa magazinmilies e

Priory Lane, Upper Richmond Road, Roehampton SW15 5JH

• • • • • •

www.jumping-jacks.co.uk

info@jumping-jacks.co.uk

Parkfields, South Road, Hampton TW12 3PE

Follow us on

Party Package

Rosslyn Park FC Cori: 07721 660 182

FRWIEFI E

Party Invitations Party Bags Party Food Use of all play Equipment Unlimited Drinks Birthday Cake • @10.50 per child

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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Perfect Party Bags

I recently asked my 6 year old daughter “Why do you find fart noises so funny?”

She replied, “because they come from bottoms.”

With this in mind, I wasn’t surprised when I asked local party shop, A Party Palace in East Sheen for a list of their top ten party bag fillers and discovered that the whoopee cushion was towards the top of the list!

If you can’t stand the thought

of even more plastic toot coming to rest between the cushions of your sofa, it’s time to set aside your scruples. Why? Because having attended parties as both a parent and a party entertainer I can tell you now that KIDS LOVE PARTY BAGS! ‘It’s the traditional toys and staples like tattoos and bubbles that are really popular” reports Adrienne D’Souza, proprietor of A Party Palace. “Kids always look for the sweets too! water pistols are also perennially popular because they are a fun, standalone gift that can be given instead of a party bag.”

Adrienne describes it as “a constant pleasure” to witness how excited parents are when they come in and choose the toys for their child’s party bags. “They turn into kids themselves!” she smiles.

During my visit to A Party Palace, a parent party-planner calls in to buy party bag fillers for a disco party.

Whilst there, she comes up with a totally different idea and goes home with a car full of feather boas. “I’m constantly surprised by the wonderfully spontaneous ideas parents have” comments Adrienne, who gives full credit for such creativity to her customers.

Having witnessed the episode though, I can’t help feeling that equal credit should be attributed to the great range of party gear stocked at A Party Palace and the personal service offered by Adrienne, who gives generously of her time and advice.

Whilst browsing for party bag items, my mind turns to livening up the venue for my next party.

I notice some bright, colourful, easy-to-hang paper decorations which Adrienne tells me are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. I’m also impressed by the personalised glitter balloons and cloud of helium balloons which are a magical touch guaranteed to attract a ‘wow’ of excitement. For parties at home, there are colour-in tablecloths, a perfect way to keep children busy while you bring out party food, as well as a great range of face paints and glitters that are safe and easy to remove.

After chatting to Adrienne and spending a happy hour enjoying the wonderful “emporium” atmosphere of A Party Palace, I’m suddenly distracted by the sound of my children laughing hysterically…. you’ve guessed it. They’ve found the whoopee cushions!

By Olivia Malaure

Top Ten Party Bag Fillers ✿ Punch balloons ✿ Stretchy smiley men ✿ Bubbles ✿ Whoopee Cushions ✿ Mini slinkies ✿ Bouncy balls ✿ Finger frights ✿ Tattoos ✿ Stickers ✿ Novelty pencils

For more information, visit www.apartypalace.co.uk or visit the shop at 487-493 Upper Richmond Road West, SW14 7PU

SPECIAL READER OFFER! PROMOTION Happy Potter Ceramics Offers Families Upon T-Shirt Design Special inks are used to design Thames Readers a Special Birthday Treat! t-shirts and designs are then heat

Popular ceramics café, Happy Potter (www.happypotterceramics.co.uk) in Teddington is offering your child the opportunity to celebrate their birthday at the café absolutely FREE when you book an arty party! Be THE VERY FIRST

parent to book an arty party, and your child can bring a sibling or buddy FREE too!

With its cute floral décor and shabby chic dressers filled with blank pottery just waiting to be painted, Happy Potter is the perfect setting for a creative party for children ages 5 to 12, with three styles of party available.

Choose from: Decopatch Colourful papers are used to decorate blank letters which spell your child’s name or initials and can be taken home when the party finishes.

Try something different!

Solve the crime!

Free party bags

Crime Investigation Parties Dress up in crime scene suits, follow the clues and use a variety of techniques to solve the crime… just in time for tea and cake!

printed onto fabric. No messy fabric paints, just a lovely, ready-towear printed t-shirt to wear home.

Pottery Ceramic paint is used to paint ceramics such as mugs, animals and eggs cups. Ceramics will be glazed, fired and ready to collect in 5 to 7 days.

At just £19.50 per head, Happy Potter parties include studio fees, artwork created, afternoon tea with sandwiches, crisps, sweeties and drinks; cupcakes with candles; party bags; balloons; party invitations and free drinks for parents!

Parties are run by Happy Potter staff so parents can relax with a coffee on the sofa or in the garden. All you have to do is choose the activity your child would prefer - and remember to invite the other kids!

For more information or to take advantage of this offer, contact Una Fagan on 020 8973 1468 or email info@happypotterceramics.co.uk and quote “Families.”

Dazzle and Fizz Parties Creative Parties for Active Imaginations Innovative Parties for kids aged 0-16 years

☛ Suitable for girls and boys age 7+

☛ For home or party venues www.thedetectiveproject.co.uk Call Steve on 01737 219375 / 07757 997359 steve@thedetectiveproject.co.uk

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01932 961 422/07890 665 113 info@dazzleandfizzkidsparties.co.uk www.dazzleandfizzkidsparties.co.uk May-June 2014

it’s

ART AND CRAFT

ANNIE’S ARTS SEWING PARTIES Ages: 7+ CAMPAIGN PAINTBALL Everything supplied for the birthday child Ages: 6+ for Forest Lazer and 8+ for and guest to make a fun item to take paintball home. Please call to discuss party ideas The UK’s ultimate paintball and lazer and for further information. venue, incorporating spectacular game In: Richmond and surrounding areas maps, including ‘Dodge City,’ the most Contact: Ann 07879 428172 authentic ‘Wild West’ town this side of anniesarts@outlook.com the Mississippi! Mini Paintball parties available for kids ages 8-10, with smaller CERAMICA Ages: All guns, paintballs and a shorter party Set your child’s imagination free and length. Junior Paintball parties available watch a masterpiece be created, whilst for kids ages 10-13 and 14-16. New Ceramica puts the ‘art’ into their birthday Forest Lazer parties available, similar party. Creative, fun-filled party packages to paintballing but using infra-red technology to register hits on the enemy, cater for a variety of budgets and needs.

Large parties (8 or more painters) are held rather than an actual projectile. Small, on Sundays, with a minimum charge for light weight, compact pistols and rifles up to 8 painters and a price per head that are designed for anyone aged 6+. thereafter. Bring your own party food In: Cobham and cake or arrange for a local supplier to Contact: 01932 865999 deliver to the café. www.campaign-paintball.com In: Claygate HOBBLEDOWN HIGH ROPES Contact: Hannah Young ADVENTURE AND HOBBLINGS PLAY 01372 462447 BARN PARTIES www.ceramica-claygate.co.uk Ages: For High Ropes: Min height 1.3m CERAMICS CAFÉ and maximum age 13 yrs Ages: up to 16 A High Ropes Adventure party is the ultimate way to spend an action-packed Ceramics Cafe is an ideal venue for kids parties. Party groups of any size can be birthday and perfect if your child has accommodated. Painting ceramics offers outgrown a typical kid’s party. The children opportunity for creative fun and birthday child and their friends enjoy expression. exclusive use of Hobbledown’s daring In: Kew high ropes course, as well as enjoying Contact: Joanna Wronka all of the other attractions that the 020 8332 6661 adventure farm park has to offer, plus www.ceramicscafe.com a Hobbler Party Feast in a themed party HAPPY POTTER ARTY PARTIES room. Younger children can have a Ages: All Hobblings Play Barn party, enjoying a Arty parties are great entertainment fun-packed hour in the Hobblings Play for kids of all ages. Choose between Barn and another hour in one of the themed Hobbler rooms or themed tables a Decopatch, T-Shirt Design or Pottery party, with parties including studio fees, for the party feast. artwork created, afternoon tea, cupcakes In: Epsom with candles, party bags, balloons, Contact: 0843 289 4979 party invitations and free soft drinks for www.hobbledown.com parents. Birthday child goes FREE! Special KIDDI KARTS offer for birthday child and friend/sibling Ages: 4 to 8 Kiddi Karts has the perfect ingredients to to go FREE! create memorable driving experiences for See page 18.

In: Teddington children. Safe, easy-to-operate go-karts Contact: Una Fagan are set up in a challenging inflatable circuit, all under the watchful eye of fully 020 8973 1468 trained, CRB registered staff who manage www.happypotterceramics.co.uk everything in a fun and engaging way.

In: Kingston, Teddington, Richmond, Twickenham, Chessington, Staines, GYMBOREE Walton and Leatherhead.

Ages: 1 to 5 Contact: Laura Palmer Gymboree offers Play and Learn parties 01932 770770 tailored to a theme of your choice, www.kiddikarts.co.uk

BABY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Come and Party in the Park!

whether it be princesses, pirates or Peppa Pig! Babies can enjoy their favourite songs and activities, balls, bubbles, parachutes and tunnels.

Gymboree also offers offsite Play and Learn parties at your home or in a venue of your choice, as well as Art and Craft parties for toddlers to children aged 7 years.

In: Richmond, Kingston, Hounslow areas and North and West Surrey Contact: St Margarets 020 8607 9995, Surbiton 020 8398 9360, West Byfleet 01932 353313 www.gymboree-uk.com THE LITTLE GYM Ages: 1 to 12 Fun, gymnastics-based parties in The Little Gym’s purpose-built facility. Each party is led by 2 instructors and the birthday child and their friends will have The Little Gym all to themselves to enjoy games, music and fun activities created especially for them. In the bright, cheerful surroundings, The Little Gym’s team will be on-hand to ensure parents get to sit back and relax and that the party goes like clockwork.

In: Hampton Hill Contact: Lorna Sutton 020 8977 0099 www.thelittlegym.co.uk

COOKERY

SASSY STIRRERS Ages: 5 to 12 Truly memorable cooking parties in which children are entertained with bowl-licking fun for 2 hours with very little stress for parents. Sassy Stirrers provides all the ingredients, equipment, aprons and fun! Children take home party bags loaded with their freshly baked treats and recipe cards. Very popular, so book early!

In: SW London and Surrey Contact: Susan Carmichael 07789 792676 www.sassystirrers.com

LATINO BAMBINO Ages: 2 to 7 Latino Bambino parties are unique, high-energy, physical extravaganzas involving Latin/Tropical music, dancing games, colourful props and a lot of fun. The parties get the children up and moving using maracas, pom poms, hula hoops, ribbons, scarves and more for a real FIESTA time!

In: Inside M25.

Contact: Urska Gestrin Mosquera 07961 838349 info@latinobambino.co.ukwww.latinobambino.co.uk

SPRING SPECTACULAR Bocketts Farm Park 24th May - 1st June 2014

› Birds of Prey Flying demonstrations (Tues - Fri only) › Visit the Pony Parlour › Full programme of farm activites › Indoor & outdoor play › Panning for Gold

The Perfect Place for Family Events

Open daily for breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea Contact: 01372 464999

The Pavilion Café, Claygate Recreation Ground, Church Road, Claygate, Surrey, KT10 0HQ.

May-June 2014

PERFORM Ages: 1 to 12 Perform parties are high energy, fun and totally infectious and kids just can’t resist joining in all the activities. Based around a colourful theme and involving lots of lively games, Perform uses the power of children’s imaginations to get everyone involved.

In: SW London and Surrey Contact: 0845 400 1284 www.perform.org.uk PYJAMA DRAMA PERFORMANCE AND PYJAMA DRAMA ADVENTURE PARTIES Ages: Performance Parties 5-7yrs Adventure Parties 2-5yrs Performance parties include 1 hour of interactive performance with a theme of your choice. Children become part of a pretending show and are invited on stage to take part. Suitable for a class of 30 children. Adventure parties include 45mins of action songs, gameplay and a pretending adventure that will whisk children away on a journey of the imagination! Lots of fun themes to choose from. Suitable for up to 16 children. Pyjama Drama CDs, balloons and stickers available.

In: Oxshott, Cobham, Molesey, Thames Ditton, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge (and surrounding areas and beyond) Contact: Phylly Jones 01932 807150 www.pyjamadrama.com STAGECOACH THEATRE ARTS Ages: 4 to 16 Packed full of fun, lively party entertainment including dramatic games, fabulous songs and fun for everyon, each party is specifically tailor-made for a particular age group. Whether your child wishes to be a fairy, princess, pirate or detective, there’s a Stagecoach party to suit.

DANCE

FANTASTIC FAMILY FUN THIS HALF TERM!

Available for hire for children’s parties and other catered events, functions and gatherings Canapes, bowl food, 3 course menus and curries – it’s your choice!

DRAMA AND STORYTELLING

Pop Up Restaurant Throughout the Year Contact us for Dates

NEW THIS SPRING

PEDAL GO-KARTING! PLUS A MINI’S TRACK FOR UNDER 5’s!

www.bockettsfarm.co.uk

#

SPECIAL

OFFER

D AR AW WI NN ING !

£1 off full price farm entry per person

(max 5 people) valid from 1st - 23rd May (excluding 5th May) & 2nd - 30th June 2014. Only with this voucher.

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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party directory

ACTION AND ADVENTURE

party time

it’s

party directory

party time In: Chertsey 07725 176102, Cobham 01932 348844, Hinchley Wood 01372 238238, Hounslow 0845 078 0804, Kew 020 8487 1456, New Malden 020 8540 7791, Richmond 020 8332 6741, Staines 01483 235216, Twickenham 020 8224 6905, Walton 01932 506806, Weybridge 01932 422664. www.stagecoach.co.uk STORYTELLING ADVENTURES Ages: 18mths and up.

Based on a book/film of your choosing, these party adventures truly bring stories to life. As well as being a lot of fun, the interactive workshops immerse the children in the world of the story. The parties are full of games and props which are individually designed for each party.

Using the story as inspiration, a party can include: games, bubbles, dancing, prizes, parachute fun, singing, pass the parcel, competitions, birthday gift and lots more!

In: London, Greater London and Surrey Contact: Amanda Wright 020 3222 3085 www.bridgeac.com THEATREBUGS MAGICAL PARTY PACKAGES Ages: 0 to 8.

Theatrebugs offers a full range of exciting, imaginative and affordable party packages for all ages. These now include BabyBugs parties for ages 0 to 2 years, offering a magical sensory adventure full of song, rhyme, puppets, sensory props, bouncy beats and enchanting, interactive puppets and stories! Parties for 2 to 3 year olds

introduce a story based adventure, and also include the above elements, whilst 4 to 8 year olds go on an interactive, fun-filled journey, jam packed with unique drama games, improvisation, dressing up and good old fashioned fun!

10% discount in parts of Surrey in May/June!

In: SW London and Surrey, including Kingston, Richmond, Teddington, Claygate, Oxshott, Thames Ditton, Weybridge, Cobham Contact: SW London 0800 975 5290, Surrey 01483 882244/07971 004134 www.theatrebugs.co.uk

FARM AND ANIMALS

BOCKETTS FARM Ages: All Fantastic party package includes a day at Bocketts Farm Park, birthday lunch or tea, private animal handling session, free adult entry for every two children, a Bocketts balloon and animal mask and invitations. At Bocketts, children can get up close and feed animals, as well as enjoying two large play barns, one with astroslide, a Young Tractor Drivers Zone, Pedal Go-Karting (with new Mini’s track) and Supersix trampolines. Outside there are swings, slides, climbing frames, sandpits and a maze, as well as tractor and trailer rides.

In: Leatherhead Contact: 01372 363764 www.bockettsfarm.com

GLAMOUR

LITTLE ORANGES PAMPER PARTIES Ages: 7 to 16 These parties are a real treat for young girls who can enjoy being pampered in a beautiful clinic with their friends. They can relax to the sounds of calming spa music or listen/sing to their favourite tracks whilst having a facial, nail paint and hand Would you like to try something different? massage. There is the option to have food/drink, so all Why not paint your own ceramics? that remains is for parents At Ceramica, we guarantee great fun for all! to bring the cake and relax Our services include: in our quiet room. All parties include invitations and free Children’s birthday parties goody bags.

Baby foot and hand print sessions In: Teddington Evening sessions for adults Contact: Parul Gandhi Annual membership scheme orangetreeclinic@gmail.com Take home packs & gift vouchers 020 8943 9459

7 The Parade, Claygate, Esher, KT10 0PD Phone: 01372 462447 Making ceramic painting easy and fun in a creative, enjoyable environment!

www.ceramica-claygate.co.uk

Twitter: @CeramicaEsher Facebook: www.facebook.com/CeramicaClaygate

LEISURE ATTRACTIONS

BOCKETTS FARM See Farm and Animals CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES Really Wild Birthday Parties Ages: 4-12

Meet ‘n’ greet with a selection of our Zoo animals, use of private party room, birthday lunch, Chessington party host, entry to theme park, and badge for birthday child. Optional extras include birthday cake and party bags. Minimum 15 children.

Weekends and school holidays 11am to 1pm until 2 November.

In: Chessington www.chessington.com/explore/ chessington-xtra-adventures.aspx HOBBLEDOWN See Action and Adventure LONDON MUSEUM OF WATER AND STEAM Ages: All Private room available weekends 12-2pm or 2-4pm with an hour for set up. Activities provided, if required. Access to the museum and outdoor garden throughout your visit. Bring your own party food or order from in-house caterer.

In: Kew Contact: hire@waterandsteam.org.uk 020 8568 4757

MUSIC

MONKEY MUSIC Ages: up to 4 Monkey Music’s parties are great fun for children and babies of all ages.

Each party is individually tailored to suit each separate occasion and always includes the birthday child’s favourite Monkey Music songs.

In: Kingston, Surbiton, Banstead, Claygate, Esher, Weybridge, Cobham, Hersham, Molesey, Kew, Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington, Oxshott, Leatherhead, Dorking Contact: Kingston and Surbiton 020 8224 3971, Banstead, Claygate and Esher 01932 223309, Weybridge, Cobham, Hersham and Molesey 020 8224 0096, Kew, Richmond, Twickenham and Teddington 020 8847 4031, Oxshott, Leatherhead, Dorking 01483 841303 www.monkeymusic.com TARA’S MUSIC MAGIC Ages: 0 to 5 Specially designed for 0-5 year olds including a 30-40 singing/ music session (can include ukuleles for ages 3+) with use of props and instruments, traditional nursery rhymes and original songs. All parties include ‘pass the parcel’ with a prize for everyone and may include balloon modelling, glitter tattoos and birthday tea. Party bags of Tara’s Music Magic CDs and DVD can also be provided.

In: Richmond and London-wide. Can also recommend venues.

Contact: Tara Maysey 07740 443694 www.tarasmusicmagic.com

TINY TUNES MUSIC AND DANCE FUN PARTIES Ages: 1 to 5 Make your little one’s party memorable.

Tiny Tunes provides pre-school parties full of singing, dancing and having fun! Hide under a parachute, shake the maracas, wave the scarves, chase the bubbles, swing the pom poms and meet Mr Tiny. As well as party games, kids can also get groovy to well known pop classics! You book the venue and Tiny Tunes provides the fun!.

In: London, Middlesex and Surrey Contact: Lisa Morris 07977 585020 www.tinytuneslive.com

SOFT PLAY CENTRES AND CAFES

CATERPILLARS CAFÉ PARTIES Ages: 1-9 Choose from a soft play party, a themed party, a superhero party and much more!

Or maybe your 1 year old would like to celebrate their first birthday with a Teddy Bear’s Picnic. The party coordinator will help you choose from a range of party packages and optional extras. Private party room and use of the soft play frame available.

In: The Bentall Centre, Kingston Contact: parties@caterpillarscafe.co.uk www.caterpillarscafe.co.uk JUMPING JACKS PLAY CENTRE PARTIES Ages: 0-5 Use of play equipment, party invitations, party food, unlimited drinks, birthday cake, party bags £10.50 per child. Available Monday to Friday in term time.

In: Hampton and Roehampton Contact: Amanda 07930 932088/Cori 07721 660182 www.jumping-jacks.co.uk MUMS PLAY SHOP PARTIES Ages: 1-10 Mums Play shop is a versatile brand new venue, which offers exclusive use of its extensive premises, including inside soft play frames, a vast outside play area and a bouncy castle. Disco lights also can be added. Food and drinks is included as well as birthday tablecloths and decorations.

In: Hampton Contact: Fiona Williams 020 8941 0766 fiona@mumsplayshop.co.uk www.mumsplayshop.co.uk THE PAVILION CAFÉ PARTIES Ages: All Situated in the beautiful surrounds of Claygate Recreation Ground, The Pavilion Café is a venue that is available for a wide range of events, from birthday parties to christenings and can be fully-catered by professional chefs.

In: Claygate Contact: Fanny Stocker 01372 464999

there is no excuse for a boring party Stylish themed party kits

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Fun pre-filled party bags Cool dressing-up costumes ...and all you need for your party!

5% OFF

S14 MILIE E:FA 12.2014 CODLID UNTIL 31.

The Yellow Building, Hampton Academy Hanworth Road, Hampton, TW12 3HB

0208 941 0766

www.mumsplayshop.co.uk 20

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

VA

hello@LITTLELULUBEL.COM

WWW.LITTLELULUBEL.COM

May-June 2014

party directory HOL CAM IDAY BIRT PS & H PAR DAY TIES !

fe! oundation to your child’s sporting li f e t a ltim The u

● Ball Skills & Movement Classes ●

From 2 to Pre-School.

Small Class Sizes ● Age Appropriate Skills & Fun Games

● Multi Sports Skills & Mini Games BANSTEAD AND CLAYGATE E: banstead.claygate@monkeymusic.co.uk T: 01932 223 309 KINGSTON AND SURBITON E: kingston.surbiton@monkeymusic.co.uk T: 0208 224 3971 OXSHOTT, LEATHERHEAD AND DORKING E: leatherhead.dorking@monkeymusic.co.uk T: 01483 841 303 RICHMOND, TWICKENHAM AND TEDDINGTON E: kew.teddington@monkeymusic.co.uk T: 0208 847 4031 WEYBRIDGE, COBHAM AND MOLESEY E: weybridge.cobham@monkeymusic.co.uk T: 0208 224 0096

May-June 2014

for Reception & Year 1 Maximum Ball Time ● Teamwork ● Sport Skill Development for all Ball Sports ●

● Sport Academies for Age 6+ (All major sports included) Hampton – hampton@playball.uk.com Richmond/Barnes – richmond@playball.uk.com Kingston – kingston@playball.uk.com Esher – playball.gareth@gmail.com Oxshott/Cobham – ukplayball@yahoo.co.uk www.playball.uk.com

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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In: Hampton, Teddington, Sunbury and surrounds, Oxshott/Cobham and surrounds, Esher and surrounds, Richmond, Barnes, St Margarets, Roehampton and surrounds, Kingston and surrounds.

Contact: Hampton, Teddington, Sunbury and surrounds hampton@playball. uk.com; Richmond, Barnes, St Margarets, Roehampton and surrounds richmond@playball.uk.com; Kingston and surrounds kingston@ playball.uk.com; Esher and surrounds playball.gareth@gmail.com; Oxshott and Cobham ukplayball@yahoo.co.uk www.playballuk.com READY STEADY GO KIDS Ages: 2 to 7 Ready Steady party - the healthy way!

Birthday packages include: choice of any two sports from the Ready Steady Go Kids program to be incorporated into a session of sport, fun activities and games, Ready Steady Go Kids birthday invitations provided as well as gifts for the birthday boy/girl as well as the guest!

In: Surrey and London Contact: Kathy Bees 0800 690 6591 www.rsgk.co.uk RUGBYTOTS Ages: 2 to 5 Rugbytots parties are fast-paced, fun and involve everyone. They place even greater emphasis on play and party games than Rugbytots classes. A number of package options are available and all include invitations and a unique gift for the birthday child. No rugby experience necessary!

In: SW London and Surrey Contact: Lorna Belchambers 0845 481 6444 www.rugbytots.co.uk

party directory

SPORT

CATCH-A-BALLS Ages: 18mths to 5yrs Make your child’s birthday full of fun and laughter with a Catch-a-Balls party.

See children run, jump, catch and throw using favourite games from Catch-A-Ball classes. Catch-A-Balls provides all the equipment and a coach and ensures that everyone enjoys the fun!

In: SW London and Surrey Contact: Heather 020 8398 3034 www.catch-a-balls.co.uk FOOTIE TOTS Ages: 3 to 10 Footie Tots teaches basic ball skills, scoring lots of goals and having fun on the way. For your party they will provide the coaches, trophies/medals, equipment and help with party venue selection.

In: SW London and Surrey Contact: Andy Scates 07931 707720 www.footie-tots.co.uk PLAYBALL Ages: 2 to 7 1.5 hours of fun and energetic Playball skills and games to entertain your child and their party friends.

SUPPLIES AND PARTY KITS

A PARTY PALACE A party supply shop which offers a marvellous range of children’s party bags and fillers, pinatas, themed children’s partyware featuring characters such as Fireman Sam, Thomas, Hello Kitty and Disney Princesses, as well as lots of other themes and characters.

The shop also offers a very wide selection of children’s fancy dress and balloons which can be delivered to your home.

In: East Sheen Contact: Adrienne De Souza 020 8487 8260 www.apartypalace.co.uk

FOOTIE TOTS

Welcome to the world of fitness and football for 2.5 to 5 year olds Teaching basic ball skills, scoring lots of goals and having FUN!

FOOTIE WIZARDS For children ages 5 to 8

Hampton, Teddington, Twickenham, Richmond, Feltham and Hounslow, ALL CLASSES call 07931 707720 HELD INDOORS andy@footie-tots.co.uk FOOTBALL PARTIES AVAILABLE

Esher, Molesey, Thames Ditton, Walton, Kingston and Surbiton, call 07828 629531 22

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

IBAKE Birthday party and celebration cake kits. Everything you need to create the birthday cake of your child’s dreams.

In: Nationwide Contact: Wayne Allan 07712 564981 www.ibake-cake.co.uk LITTLE LULUBEL PARTIES Ages: All Stylish themed party kits, pre-filled party bags, fun dressing-up costumes and everything you need for a great party!

In: Nationwide - online shop with products delivered to your door Contact: Natalia 020 8392 8729 www.littlelulubel.com LITTLE PARTY PACK Ages: 1-10 Little Party Pack is a complete party in a box, beautifully styled and delivered straight to your door. Its birthday party supplies are exclusive and its party ranges are designed with children in mind to offer fun, themed craft activities, adorable favours and fabulous party supplies including tableware, invites, banners and cake boxes.

In: Nationwide Contact: Claire 07595 329053 www.littlepartypack.com PACKAWAY PARTIES Ages: 1 to 8 A perfect party all boxed up and delivered straight to your door! These themed kids party hire packages contain all you need to host a unique, affordable party. Themes include Peppa Pig, Pirates, Harry Potter, Princesses, Lego, Superheroes and Dinosaurs. Each contains an easy party plan, handmade decorations, unique games, innovative props, costumes, cool crafts, music, prizes and a personalized certificate for each child - plus potions, sweet shops and more! A complete party service with invitations, filled party bags and tableware is also available.

In: Nationwide. Free delivery throughout mainland UK Contact: Liz Guest on 07739 722482 www.packawayparties.co.uk

THEMED

BEDAZZLED EVENTS AND PARTIES Ages: All A bespoke party planning service which creates unique parties for all ages, working to a budget and theme of your choice. Package might include entertainment, such as themed games, parachute, dancing, puppets, magic, balloon modelling; decoration of your venue to include large freestanding backdrops, 3D props, character cutouts, flooring, balloons, bunting, as well as incorporating the theme into your party bags, personalised invitations, sweetie tables and catering.

In: London-wide and Surrey Contact: Juliet 07964 708505 www.bedazzledevents.org.uk DAZZLE AND FIZZ PARTIES Ages: 0-16 years Exceptional entertainment for children of all ages. From unique Baby Signing Parties, to Pop Star Experience Days, Dazzle and Fizz caters for every age group with care, precision and most of all, fun!

In: Surrey, London, Berkshire, Hampshire Contact: Charlotte Brisco 01932 961422/07890 665113 www.dazzleandfizzparties.co.uk MAISY’S CHILDRENS PARTIES Ages: 0 to 8 Activities can include (but are not limited to) story-telling, musical games, puppets, parachute fun, interactive magic (the children use their imagination to make something disappear and meet the entertainer’s shy magical friends), balloon modelling (each child receives one to take home), face painting/ transfer tattoos, prizes and heaps of fun and giggles. Activities included are based on age range, amount of children and length of party!

In: Richmond, Kingston, Guildford, South West London and Surrey Contact: Ann-Marie 020 8123 6484/07779 096129 www.maisys-childrens-parties.co.uk THE DETECTIVE PROJECT CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION PARTIES Ages: 7-11 Solve a crime detective-style! The Detective Project will set up a crime scene for children in a home or party venue. Children work through a series of clues and use forensic techniques to solve the crime in time for tea! White suits and party bags included.

In: Surrey and South London Contact: Steve Sharkey 01737 219375/07757 997359 www.thedetectiveproject.co.uk WHIRLIGIG PARTIES Ages: 0-12 A refreshing mix of classic party games, imagination and fun from a premium children’s party entertainer with more than five years’ experience entertaining children on television, stage and at events. Parties can be tailored to your theme or you can trust in Whirligig’s experience to design a fun, smart, sophisticated party which is guaranteed to make your child feel special!

In: Twickenham and surrounds Contact: Jo Balaram 07939 130980 info@whirligigparties.co.uk

Do you want to make amazing and delicious Birthday or Novelty cakes?

IBake offers novelty cake kits for all occasions.

All you need to wow your loved ones with incredible cakes!

07712 564 981 hello@ibake-cake.co.uk www.ibake-cake.co.uk

May-June 2014

The Property & Finance Guide Divorce, Your Mortgage and Child Support

By David Saunders

It is estimated that 42% of marriages in the UK end in divorce. Unsurprisingly, this is probably the furthest thing from our minds when we buy our first home with our spouse. If we are sensible, we take out a Life Insurance to protect our spouse and family in case the worst should happen, but this won’t help us in the event of divorce.

When a couple who have children divorce, a Child Support arrangement is generally set up. This can be a voluntary agreement between the parents, an arrangement via the CSA/Child Maintenance Service (CMS) or a Court Order. This means that one parent generally receives child support payments for looking after the children. However, when assessing mortage affordability, individual Mortgage Lenders tend to differ in their views of how this income should be treated.

So let’s presume you are coming to the end of a very good fixed rate mortgage deal and you want

to avoid a hike to the lender’s Standard Variable Rate. You want to re-mortgage. Or your family home has been sold as a result of the divorce and you wish to take out a mortgage as a single parent, receiving Child Support. Will the Lender consider your Child Support payments as income?

Whilst there is pressure being brought to bear for mortgage lenders to standardize their view of Child Support, current positions differ considerably. Currently, of the major lenders in the UK: ✿ Two lenders do not Need help paying for school fees and class Child Support as part of a borrower’s income. holidays? Want to avoid 'rush hour' & childcare costs? Craving more family time and flexible, part-time Don’t forget hours, working from home?

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✿ Two lenders only class a percentage of Child Support income, sometimes as little as 50%, as part of the borrower’s income. ✿ Six lenders insist on a Court Order or CSA/CMS payment plan to prove Child Support income levels. ✿ Only five lenders accept child support as income without a court order or a CSA/CMS plan in place.

Conversely, the Government encourages parties to come to a private arrangement on maintenance payments. This policy is being reinforced by the CMS with plans to impose fees for both parties when its services are used. It hardly then seems fair for lenders to discriminate against applicants who do agree terms without involving

the Court or the CMS, by insisting they have a Court Order or CSA/ CMS payment.

Over the last few years, as it has become harder to borrow money, the parent who gets to keep and benefit from an existing mortgage after a divorce, definitely has an advantage in securing new borrowing, regardless of income and assets.

If you are going through a divorce, seeking Child Support and wondering how this will affect an existing or replacement mortgage, the best thing to do is seek the advice of a Regulated Independent Mortgage Advise to point you in the right direction and provide sound, unbiased advice.

extra

David Saunders is from Rosemount Wealth Management in Surrey and offers impartial advice about mortgages and mortgage-related products.

For further information, email david.saunders@rosemountfs.co.uk or visit www.rosemountfs.com

www.watercressline.co.uk

www.rosemountfs.co.uk

Wealth Management

14 & 15 JUNE 2014

We have been offering helpful and impartial advice to people all over the UK for many years and can arrange mortgages and mortgage-related insurance products.

We are based in Surrey and willing to undertake local travel.

Please contact david.saunders@rosemountfs.co.uk Or Call 01932

428925

CALL 01962 733810 TO FIND OUT MORE OR CLICKETY CLICK TO WWW.WATERCRESSLINE.CO.UK

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

May-June 2014

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

23

clubs& classes Get Active with Your Kids this Summer, activities Create your own Sports Day!

By Matthew Bees

Children in this country are less active these days than in the past and this may partly explain why child health in the UK lags behind most other European countries.

Data shows that 85% of girls and 73% of boys age 13 fail to do the recommended one hour of physical activity per day, while 25% of children ages 2 to 5 spend six hours every weekend day being inactive[ii].

Awakening a child’s natural enthusiasm for physical activity is vital and, alongside weekly sports classes and holiday sports camps, parents have a big role to play in nurturing the enjoyment of outside play in their children.

There are many ways to do this, but a fun option as summer approaches is to get together with neighbours, family and friends for a Sport’s Day. The local park or your back garden makes a great stadium and you don’t need much equipment.

With a little preparation you can host your own mini-Olympics!

Here are some suggested events: Sprints A simple favourite for most kids.

Mark the beginning and end of the track with a line and get them crouching down like “froggies” at the start. Then it’s Ready Steady Go……..

Long Jump No need to create a sand pit, just line the kids (and adults) up and get them to jump as far forward as they can. Use markers to measure the distances jumped and see if everyone can beat their personal best.

Shot Put Use bean bags for shot puts, or tennis balls for younger children.

Careful that older kids don’t hoist their balls into neighbouring gardens though! Encourage children to push from the shoulder and throw over their heads, as they would with a proper put.

24

athletics style, by reaching behind them for the baton. [ii] Children and Young People Statistics 2013. British Heart Foundation (BHF).

extra

Egg and Spoon This perennial favourite helps kids with fine motor skills and balance.

Pick up plastic picnic spoons from your local supermarket and hard boil some eggs so you don’t end up with mess everywhere!

Relay Use kitchen or toilet roll insides for batons and get younger kids to run back and forth between two lines, ‘handing over.’ Older children can run in a larger circle and ‘hand over’ in traditional

Matthew Bees is the Director of Ready Steady Go Kids UK, a multi-sport program for children between 2.5 and 6 years available in Kingston, Richmond and Chessington. For more information and to book a free trial, visit www.rsgk.co.uk Ready Steady Go Kids would love to hear your ideas for fun, active family games and see photos of your sports extravaganzas, so do email them at info@rsgk.co.uk.

Monkey Music Invites You to Celebrate it’s 21st Birthday!

This year, award-winning music franchise for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, Monkey Music, celebrates its 21st birthday, with a range of events happening throughout the year.

These include the chance to win prizes in weekly competitions, meet some of mascot Monkey’s oldest and wisest friends, support Monkey and his friends in the London Marathon, and join the ‘party of the year’ in June! There will

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

also be opportunities to fundraise for local and national charities.

The first local Monkey Music classes opened in the Richmond borough in 1988, and now run in Kew, Teddington, Richmond and Twickenham. Some of their very first customers are now heading off to university! Classes in Claygate and Banstead have also been running for over a decade, with more than 3000 little monkeys having attended.

This year sees the launch of new classes in Chessington and Esher.

In Weybridge and Cobham, Hersham, Walton and Molesey, where classes were established in 2006, almost 500 children attend Monkey Music classes

By Linda Stone, Editor

each week and classes run every day, even on Saturdays, whilst, in Kingston, Surbiton and Thames Ditton, the number of youngsters attending classes has grown by over one third in just two terms. A second morning of classes was recently launched at The Rose Theatre, enabling classes to run every weekday The newest classes in the area arrived in 2012 in Oxshott, Leatherhead and Dorking with attendance breaking Monkey Music’s records for a new area and continuing to do so.

For more information about Monkey Music’s birthday celebrations and to book a FREE class, visit www.monkeymusic.co.uk

May-June 2014

clubs& classes

Soft Play and Daily Toddler Clubs at Caterpillars Cafe!

activities

By Linda Stone, Editor

Until recently, parents taking young children shopping in central Kingston will have bemoaned the fact that there is nowhere where their kids can let of steam.

Now Caterpillars Café, which opened last August in The Bentalls Centre, offers parents a welcome respite from the complaints of children confined to car seats, buggies and high chairs – and desperate to run around!

The café has two play frames, one for children ages 0 to 2 and another for ages 3+ and is open 7 days a week. Its arrival offers parents the opportunity to plan a day which, with shopping for them and play for the kids, contains something for everyone.

Music & Tuition Centre Music Lessons for all ages in

Richmond

ritzmusic.co.uk Pre-School: Music & Play

Tara’s Music Magic

with Tara Maysey

The entrance fee entitles visitors to a 2 hour play and, on weekdays, attendance at the daily clubs on offer for children age 3 and under.

These include Mini Caterpillars, floor level play for babies, crawlers and early walkers, with age-appropriate toys, all day on Mondays and other week day afternoons after 12pm. During term time, there is also a Music Club on a Tuesday and Friday morning, Story Time on Wednesday mornings and Tots Art and Craft on Thursday mornings (ages 1 to 3 only).

“I think the beauty of our set up is that it is right there exactly when and where you need it” comments proprietor Zoe Miller.

For further information, see listings on pages 20 and 27 or visit www.caterpillarscafe. co.uk

5-10s: After-School & Holidays

Mozo Island: Music/Art

with James Tucker

Vocal Tuition & Singing Workshops

with Olga Matylda

… and plenty more including...

Rehearsal Spaces, Instrument Rental, Yoga, Community Choir, Teenage Rock Band, Ukulele & Guitar group tuition, Pilates..!

020 83321488 88 Sheen Rd, TW9 1UF richmond@ritzmusic.co.uk

Music Training for your Child’s Brain Development By Liisa Henriksson-Macaulay We all know that correct nutrition makes our children physically healthy, and that the love we give them is essential for their mental and emotional well-being. But food and love aside, what else can we give them?

Or does the education system just take care of the rest?

Parents may be surprised to discover that, contrary to popular opinion, flash cards, toddler phonics, learning chess and becoming bilingual cannot increase IQ. Music training between the ages of 0 and 7, is the only proven activity that increases a child’s intelligence IQ, memory and thinking speed - in a lasting way.

So why would it be that only music has the power to transform a child’s brain, making it the very best it can be? In a nutshell, music training activates more areas of the brain than any other activity. These include the mathematical, the social, the thinking, the emotional, the languagerelated and the movement-related parts.

95% of a child’s brain growth happens between the ages of 0 and 7. This is when the brain forms its fundamental connections.

Although music making is known to boost confidence, well-being and memory in all children, its IQ-raising power can only happen during the first years of a child’s life. Music training helps a child’s brain become more efficient, forming more neural connections within and between its various parts.

In Finland, children learn real music skills as toddlers or pre-schoolers. This may explain why Finnish children have been European leaders in maths, literacy, science and language since the first OECD international student ability (PISA) tests started 15 years ago.

By contrast, in 2013, for the first time in 15 years, the UK did not make it to the top 20 in May-June 2014

any of these core academic areas. Perhaps then it is time to abandon the idea that music is only for the special few who aspire to be professional musicians. Music training may, indeed, be THE core subject of all core subjects.

With all the studies showing that just 40 to 60 minutes a week of music training is enough Creating an environment in which your to maximize the benefits,, there is no reason 31/05/2013 child’s1 love of dance can thrive to wait until your child goes to school to helpBDA Advert_v5.indd them tap into their incredible potential. As it turns out, there IS something else parents can give to their children alongside love and food.

As Shakespeare put it “If music be the food of love, play on...”

extra

Liisa Henriksson-Macaulay is the author of The Music Miracle: The Scientific Secret to Unlocking Your Child’s Full Potential (Earnest House Publishing, 2014) and the founder of Moosicology, the children’s educational method that combines Finnish music training with latest scientific discoveries about how to use music to help children’s brain development. For more information, visit www.moosicology.com

KBS NEW MALDEN Est. 1995 Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Modern Dance classes for 2½ to 18 years in New Malden

NEW FOR NEXT TERM:

Tap and Modern for 7 to 9 years Saturday Ballet for 3/4 and 5/6 years • Free Trial Lessons • Sibling Discounts

Option to take exams in all dance styles, 100% success rate All teachers are highly qualified and RAD registered For full details:

www.kingstonballetschool.com Principal Louise Jefferson B.Phil(hons),LRAD,ARAD, AISTD

on 07909 139149

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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18:47

clubs& classes

activities

clubs, classes and activities

ART & CRAFT

ANNIE’S ARTS Ages: 7–15 Learn to hand sew, use a sewing machine, design and cut out a simple pattern. Content of class according to child’s ability. After school classes Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also some Saturdays. Children’s parties for ages 5-15 also available. Half Term Workshops for age 5-15 morning and afternoon of 29 and 30 May. In: Richmond Contact: Ann Chasler 07879 428172 anniesarts@outlook.com CERAMICA Ages: All An ideal place for a get-together, this bright, cosy, unique, ‘paint your own ceramic’ studio brings out the artist in everyone! Services include studio painting sessions, annual membership scheme, gift vouchers, baby hand and foot print sessions, birthday parties, evening painting sessions for adults, off-site functions, ‘take home’ packs and commissions.

In: Claygate Contact: Hannah Young 01372 462447 www.ceramica-claygate.co.uk CERAMICS CAFÉ KEW Ages: All Children have the opportunity to create something unique. Starting with a plain white bisque shape, they paint on their design using

Annie’s Arts

es for children Fun sewing class Richmond in 15 ages 7 to Contact Ann on 07879 428172 anniesarts@outlook.com

Scarves Balls

Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington, Whitton, Isleworth, Surbiton, Thames Ditton, Epsom, Cobham, Barnes & Weybridge.

Bubbles Parachute Bean Bags Pom Poms Shakers

Also Parties !

3mths – 5 yrs (£5 Sibling £2.50) E: info@tinytuneslive.com T: 07977 585020 www.TinyTunesLive.com

ceramic under-glazes, it is then fired in the kiln, and their piece is ready for collection within 2 to 4 days. Open Tuesday to Sunday, Mondays on Bank Holidays/half terms.

In: Kew Contact: Joanna Wronka 020 8332 6661 www.ceramicscafe.com HAPPY POTTER Ages: All After school art and craft club for children ages 6+ every Thursday. A new project each week including pottery painting, clay pot making, Decopatch, t-shirt design, soap making and sewing. Messy Play for under 4s, including a selection of poster paints, card, pipe cleaners and other crafty materials for the little ones to make lots of arty mess. Fortnightly Grown Up evening for adults to relax, enjoy some pottery painting, cakes and puddings and even a glass of wine!

This term: make your teacher an end-of-term mug or make Dad a Father’s Day Gift on 27-29 May. Enjoy half price studio fees on Monday, 5 May! In: Teddington Contact: Una Fagan 020 8973 1468 www.happypotterceramics.co.uk

BABY & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

GYMBOREE Ages: 0-5 Award winning Play and Learn, Art, Music, Sensory Play for Babies. Classes are designed by experts in early childhood development to help young children learn as they play and teach parents/carers fun and interesting ways to engage with them. Classes in West Byfleet include Theatre Arts drop-off class for 3 to 5yrs (no membership required), Saturday classes for 7-16 months and16-24 months. Friday class for 3yrs+. Classes in Surbiton include pre-school classes for 3-5yrs.

In: St Margaret’s, Surbiton, West Byfleet Contact: St Margaret’s 020 8607 9995 Surbiton 020 8398 9360 West Byfleet 01932 353313 www.gymboree-uk.com THE LITTLE GYM Ages: 4mths–12yrs Fun, gymnastics-based, non-competitive development classes, filled with movement, learning and laughter. The age-appropriate curriculum is designed to facilitate on-going skill development and maximum fun. Children progress at their own pace, developing their confidence as they develop new skills.

In: Hampton Hill Contact: Lorna Sutton 020 8977 0099 www.thelittlegym.co.uk

COOKERY

SASSY STIRRERS Ages: 4-12 Monthly Saturday Cooking Club for kids, after school and lunch time cooking classes in local schools, kids parties and 2-3 hour holiday workshops with food cooked to be taken home.

a up an Serving

We provide a fun and safe environment for preschool children to learn tennis, get actively involved and build their confidence during the early years of development.

Learn your ABCs...

Agility...

ce ten

amme for 2-5 year olds. nis progr

Learn tennis, have fun and meet new friends.

Coordination

For a free trial session: visit us at: www.topspinmonkeys.co.uk or call Andy Low on 07779 130596.

Classes in Epsom, Cobham, Weybridge and East Horsley.

26

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

DANCE

BROOKS DANCE ACADEMY – PETITE POINTES BALLET Ages: 2.5-6 A captivating introduction to classical ballet based on much loved children’s stories, such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and Jack and the Beanstalk. Familiar repetitive rhymes and creative imagery make classes easy to follow. Parents and carers are encouraged to join in to help younger children feel comfortable. RAD syllabus work interweaved through the innovative and unique curriculum.

Classes on Saturdays from 9.30am-12.30pm for ages 2.5-6yrs, including RAD Pre-Primary (4-5yrs) and RAD Primary (5-6yrs).

In: Kingston Contact: Laura Brooks 07958 530962 www.brooksdanceacademy.co.uk KBS NEW MALDEN Ages: 3+ Creates an atmosphere in which your child’s love of dance can thrive, where pupils can have fun and enjoy dance in a happy school that has excellent standards. The School offers ballet, tap and modern classes to children of all ages. New pre-primary tap for ages 4-5yrs Mondays 4-4.30pm.

In: New Malden Contact: Louise Jefferson 07909 139149 www.kingstonballetschool.com PROTEGEM DANCE SCHOOL AND YOUTH COMPANY Ages: 2 to Adult Established since 2003, classes include Ballet, Tap, Street, Boys Street, Cheer, Musical Theatre (dance, drama, singing) and 3 auditioned youth dance companies.

Children can enter IDTA dance exams. New Wednesday Street Dance classes. Next full school show this year!

In: Around Epsom and Ewell, including Bourne Hall Contact: Gemma Wenman-Ballan 01737 211109 www.protegem.co.uk

DRAMA & STORYTELLING

DRAMATIZE NEW Ages:7-14 Kids can explore techniques in Drama, Dance and Singing during a 2 hour lesson. The course will offer a wide range of exciting activities to further the confidence of each student within the arts. Each session will focus on different themes within the theatre industry, both in the spotlight and back stage.

Sessions 10am to 12 noon every Saturday during term time covering all aspects of the arts of acting, singing and dancing.

In: Ashford Park Contact: Karen Bradley 07912 183058 www.dramatize.co.uk PERFORM Ages: 3mths-12yrs A unique mix of drama, dance and singing specially formulated to bring out every child’s true potential. Classes are kept small to ensure lots of individual attention by experienced teachers. This term, children 4–8yrs dive Under the Sea into a magical world of watery adventures, meeting Dolly Dolphin, Septamus the Octopus and Smelly-Fish-Jelly-Fish. They will also learn to dance The Fishy Funk and rescue

Ceramics Café Kew Original Ceramics - Painted By You

Indoor venues in Surrey.

Balance...

In: Kingston and Esher areas Contact: Susan Carmichael 07789 792676 www.sassystirrers.com

Studio Hours: Tues-Sat 10am-6pm Sunday 11am-6pm Closed Mon, except Bank Holidays and Half Terms www.ceramicscafe.com Tel: 020 8332 6661

1a Mortlake Terrace, Kew Green Richmond TW9 3DT May-June 2014

May-June 2014

6905, Walton 01932 506806, Weybridge 01932 422664. www.stagecoach.co.uk STEP ON STAGE Ages: 3 to 21 Encourages young people to reach their maximum potential in a fun and friendly setting, through drama, music, dance and creative movement. Weekly workshops grouped by age with trained teachers, theatre practitioners and education professionals dedicated to making your child’s experience exciting and rewarding. An auditioned youth theatre allows students to also perform plays, new writing and musical theatre in local and professional theatres.

In: Hampton Hill, Twickenham Green Contact: Emma-Louise Tinniswood 020 8408 0633/07973 900196 www.steponstageacademy.co.uk

MUSIC

MONKEY MUSIC Ages: 3 mths–4.5yrs Award-winning pre-school music classes for babies and children.

Through a four stage curriculum, in age appropriate classes, children will develop a lifetime love of music. Book a FREE Class to experience all the fun yourselves!

In: Kingston and Surbiton 020 8224 3971, Banstead, Claygate and Esher 01932 223309, Weybridge, Cobham, Hersham, Walton and Molesey 020 8224 0096, Kew, Richmond, Twickenham and Teddington 020 8847 4031, Oxshott, Leatherhead and Dorking 01483 841303 020 8224 0096 www.monkeymusic.co.uk

TARA’S MUSIC MAGIC NEW Ages: 0-14 yrs Classes for various age groups at Ritz Music and Tuition Centre in Richmond. These include: Pre-School Music (ages 0-4) on Monday and Thursday mornings with props, percussion instruments, bubble machines, singing, classic nursery rhythms and some original songs. Sing, Strum & Drum Ukulele Group (ages 3-5) on Thursday afternoons. Strumming, drumming and singing. An introduction to this lovely instrument, musicality and rhythm. Pre-School Art Club (ages 1-5) on Wednesday afternoons (booking required). Painting and creativity with a weekly story and theme for inspiration. All materials provided, plus tea/coffee for grown ups! Ritz Kids Jam (ages 9-14) on alternate Friday evenings (drop in but booking required). An opportunity to play instruments in a group. Kids can bring their instruments (including voices!) and join the band! A range of different genres from rock to pop and R&B with emphasis on working as a team.

In: Richmond Contact: Tara Maysey 07740 443694 www.tarasmusicmagic.com TINY TUNES PRESCHOOL PAY AS YOU GO MUSIC AND DANCE CLASSES Ages: 3mths–5yrs Hide under the parachute, wave the pom poms, shake the maracas, dance with bubbles and sing along! As well as the all-time favourite rhymes and songs, Tiny Tunes gets the little ones dancing

activities to some of the well- known pop classics! Parties also available.

In: Richmond, Twickenham, Isleworth, Whitton, Teddington, Hampton Hill, Barnes, Thames Ditton, Surbiton, Isleworth, Whitton, Epsom, Cobham, Weybridge, Ascot and NEW in Guildford and Reigate!

Contact: Lisa Morris 07977 585020 www.tinytuneslive.com

SOFT PLAY AND PLAY CAFES

CATERPILLARS CAFÉ NEW Ages: 0-8yrs Situated on the ground floor of The Bentalls Centre, with separate soft play frames for ages 0 to 2 and 3+. Entrance fee covers 2 hour play and attendance at daily weekday clubs for children age 3 and under, including Mini Caterpillars, floor level play for babies, crawlers and early walkers, with age-appropriate toys, all day on Mondays and other week day afternoons after 12pm, plus term time only Music Club on a Tuesday and Friday morning, Story Time on Wednesday and Tots Art and Craft on Thursday (ages 1 to 3 only).

Open: 7 days a week, term time and school holidays. 9.30am to 6pm Mon-Fri, 9.00am to 6pm Sat and 11am to 5pm Sun. In: Kingston Contact: Zoe www.caterpillarscafe.co.uk info@caterpillarscafe.co.uk

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

27

clubs, classes and activities

the Lost Pearl from the scary Deep Sea Creature. FREE Trial Available!

In: East Sheen, Kew, Kingston, Isleworth, Mortlake, Richmond, Sunbury, Teddington, Twickenham.

Contact: Lucy Quick 0845 400 1284 www.perform.org.uk PYJAMA DRAMA Ages: 18mths-7yrs Ignite your child’s imagination through a unique, National Curriculum-supporting program, combining drama, movement, music and play. A different theme is explored each week through song, games, and lots of pretending! Term time classes and special holiday workshops. Clubs for 5-7yrs after school on Mondays in Molesey and on Saturdays in Walton. Nursery and school visits.

In: Ashtead, Cobham, Hersham, Molesey, Oxshott, Thames Ditton, Walton-on-Thames Contact: Phylly Jones 01932 807150 www.pyjamadrama.com STAGECOACH THEATRE ARTS Ages: 4-18 Caters for the varying needs of young performers, whether reserved or budding talents. Classes focus on singing, dancing and drama, rather than rehearsing for an end of term presentation, so that every child has a chance to shine, learn and develop.

In: Chertsey 07725 176102, Cobham 01932 348844, Hinchley Wood 01372 238238, Hounslow 020 8873 7140, Kew 020 8487 1456, New Malden 020 8540 7791, Richmond 020 8332 6741, Staines 01483 235216, Twickenham 020 8224

clubs& classes

clubs& classes

clubs, classes and activities

activities

JUMPING JACKS PLAY CAFÉ NEW Ages: 0-5 Jumping Jacks is an indoor children’s play and activity cafe with a bouncy castle, Little Tikes cars, brio, home corner and more. Serving fresh coffee, teas, sandwiches, paninis and children’s lunch boxes.

Open: 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday during term time.

In: Hampton and Roehampton Contact: Amanda or Cori 07930 932088/07721 660182 www.jumping-jacks.co.uk MUMS PLAY SHOP Ages: 0-6 (siblings up to age 8) Soft play with junior and toddler play frame, ball pool, traditional toys, ride-ons, books and outdoor garden space. Also Art and Craft room and cosy Chill Out Zone ‘The Snug’ with television. Cafe serving hot and cold home-made, healthy food. Weekly music class £8 pay-as-you-go or £72 for 12 week term with FREE one hour play after each class. School holiday activities including Cooking Club, Gardening Club and football.

Open: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm, term time and school holidays.

In: Hampton Contact: Fiona Williams 020 8941 0766 www.mumsplayshop.co.uk

SPORT

CATCH-A-BALLS Age: 18 months to school age Ball and movement skills for pre-schoolers. New classes this term in East Molesey, St Margarets and Teddington In: Kingston, Thames Ditton, Richmond, Twickenham, Claygate and Surbiton and NEW in East Molesey, St Margarets and Teddington Contact: Heather 020 8398 3034 for Kingston, Richmond, Twickenham, East Molesey, Claygate, St Margarets and Teddington and Roz on 020 8972 9223 for Surbiton and Thames Ditton. www.catch-a-balls.co.uk

COERVER COACHING FOOTBALL COACHING PERFORMANCE ACADEMY Ages: 5–16 Football fundamentals for ages 5 to 7 in First Skills program, and premier football player development program for ages 8 to 16.

In: Kingston Contact: Amit Sohal 020 3544 2284 www.coerver.co.uk/westlondon FOOTIE TOTS Ages: Footie Tots 2.5-5, Footie Wizards 5-8 An introduction to the world of fitness and football with lots of goal scoring and fun along the way! Footie Tots and Footie Wizards encourage the children to lead an active and healthy lifestyle from a young age. All classes are held indoors.

In: Hampton, Twickenham, Teddington, Richmond, Feltham, Hounslow Contact: Andy Scates 07931 707720 In: Thames Ditton, Esher, Molesey, Walton, Kingston and Surbiton Contact: 07828 629531 www.footie-tots.co.uk GBMAA MARTIAL ARTS Ages: 4-14 The Great Britain Martial Arts Academies are at the forefront of Martial Arts in the UK. Li’l Dragon programs (4-6yrs), Kids Zone (7-8yrs) and Children’s Program (9-14yrs). Children work on their own personal development through non-violent resolutions to conflict, building self-confidence and self-discipline, respecting others, setting goals and working as a team.

In: Cobham Contact: Saffron Power 0845 177 5001 www.gbacademies.co.uk PLAYBALL NEW Ages: 2–6+ Sports and movement classes.

In: Hampton, Richmond, Barnes, St Margarets, Roehampton, Kingston, Esher, Oxshott, Cobham Contact: Hampton hampton@ playball.uk.com; Richmond, Barnes, St Margarets, Roehampton richmond@playball.uk.com;

WEEKLY

LOCAL

CLASSES

Kingston kingston@playball. uk.com; Esher playball.gareth@ gmail.com; Oxshott and Cobham ukplayball@yahoo.co.uk www.playballuk.com READY STEADY GO KIDS Ages: 2-7 Physio-designed multi-sports program to develop children’s motor skills, and increase their confidence and abilities.

Five sports each term, 45 minute classes covering the fundamentals of football, tennis, basketball, hockey (Uni-hoc), golf, rugby, cricket, t-ball and athletic. New classes in Chessington! Term 4 (8 wks) begins 2 June!

Contact: Matt or Rob 0800 690 6591 In: Richmond, Kingston and NEW in Chessington!

Contact: Kathy, Matt or Rob 0800 690 6591 www.rsgk.co.uk RUGBYTOTS Ages: 2-7 A fun, enthusiastic, weekly play program based around Rugby. Rugbytots aims to use Rugby specific skills to aid the development of young children.

Not only does the program develop physical and social attributes in children, but also encourages basic rugby skills including running with the ball, kicking, catching and scoring a try. Classes are split by age group and all lead coaches are trained to a very high standard to get the best out of the children in a safe, organised and friendly environment.

In: Twickenham, Barnes, Putney, Surbiton and NEW in Kingston and Hampton Contact: Lorna Belchambers 0845 481 6444, www.rugbytots.co.uk TOP SPIN MONKEYS Ages: 2-6 This great new tennis programme provides parents/ carers and children with the opportunity to interact through learning sport skills. Its coaching develops a child’s ABCs - Agility, Balance and Co-ordination, as well as improving their speed.

Fun yet structured sessions for

2-6 year old boys and girls at selected indoor locations in Surrey.

In: Cobham, Epsom, Weybridge, West Ewell Contact: Andy 07779 130596 www.topspinmonkeys.co.uk

SWIMMING

PK SWIM SCHOOL NEW Age: 3+ Swimming lessons following the ASA National Plan for teaching.

Maximum 5 children in a group.

Half Term courses from 26-30 May! In: Cobham (Yehudi Menuhin School).

Contac: Paul Furness 07915 510720 www.pkswimschool.co.uk SPRINGBOARD SWIMMERS Age: 3+ Top quality, friendly and professional weekly swimming lessons and holiday courses suitable for non-swimmers and beginners. These courses teach children to swim well and not just pass badges. Small groups of 3 children and excellent teachers.

You will be amazed at how much progress your child will make.

Mother and Baby and Toddler groups through to teenager squads and every available ability in between. Half Term Holiday Courses from 26 to 30 May. Booking now!

In: Twickenham, Teddington, Hampton Contact: Karen Duane 020 8255 7455 www.springboardswimmers.com WATER BABIES Ages: Birth to 4.5yrs Water Babies classes progress seamlessly through the program, with children having great fun while all the time building confidence and independence in the water. Most toddlers can swim short distances by around the age of 2, and have mastered vital skills including how to turn around and hold on and, where possible, how to clamber out of the pool.

In: Addlestone, Shepperton, Twickenham, Kingston, Chessington and Morden Contact: Melissa Holt 01932 227428 www.waterbabies.co.uk

Protègèm Dance School & Company

Established 2003

COME & JOIN OUR FRIENDLY CLASSES Ballet, Tap, Street Dance, Boys Street/Break, Cheer, Musical Theatre

• Classes held in Epsom & Ewell • Full school shows in

with Water Babies, the UK’s leading baby swim school

3 Fully qualified, world class instructors 3 Award-winning programme teaches babies from birth 3 Teaching you to teach your baby to swim 3 Saving lives through water confidence and safety skills To join in the fun call

28

01932 227 428

professional theatres

classes held. . .

Addlestone, Shepperton, Twickenham, Kingston, Chessington & Morden

• Ages 2+ to Adult • IDTA Dance exams

New for 2014!

Wednesday classes @ Ruxley Church

01737 211 109 waterbabies.co.uk

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

info@protegem.co.uk www.protegem.co.uk

May-June 2014

 FUN

Chessington for Toddlers! by Olivia Malaure A recent visit with my toddler to Chessington World of Adventures Resort revealed an undiscovered secret: as well as being the ultimate thrill for school age children, Chessington is fabulous for the under 5s.

Local parents can savour this in a leisurely manner and at a reasonable cost during the off peak. A single entry pass for an adult and child under 5 is only £20 (T&Cs online), whilst, for multiple visits, an annual Pushchair Pass costs just £54 for one adult and a child up to and including 5 years, and gives access on weekdays during term time. Siblings less than 0.9 metres tall go FREE. A map of age-appropriate attractions proves perfect for those pushing strollers and chatting, and reveals 8 rides tailored specifically for under 5s, and a myriad

er

mm

su

Summer Days Out of other exciting attractions, live shows, a huge indoor soft play area, and wildlife encounters.

Our adventure starts with a wander through the SEA LIFE centre. My daughter enjoys the “touch and feel” pond and is captivated by the sharks, stingrays and fish swimming above and around her in the aquarium tunnel. Shaking hands with Captain Barnacle and Kwazii from Octonauts during a “meet and greet” session is also a highlight!

Outside, we discover AMAZU, a brand new treetop play zone in which families can follow an adventure trail amongst real life animals.

We giggle at the spider monkeys swinging effortlessly through the trees. Like the monkeys, my daughter is getting into the swing of things.

Other animal-viewing opportunities include a children’s petting zoo, Penguin Cove, Sea Lion Bay, and the amazing ZUFARI – ride into Africa, where the grace of giraffes, zebras and rhinos can be observed in their natural habitat.

Children over 1m can ride round ZUFARI in an off-road truck and for smaller visitors, such as my daughter, there’s a fantastic viewing platform.

Rides like the Carousel, Tiny Truckers, Toadies Crazy Cars, Flying Jumbos, Seastorm

and Peeking Heights Ferris Wheel ignite my daughter’s inner daredevil but I’m grateful when the woman controlling Sea Storm helpfully let us get off the ride when it proves a little too fast for my daughter’s taste.

We leave in time for school pick up, despite my daughter’s heartfelt pleas to stay.

Of course, it proves impossible to keep our adventure secret from my 6 year old but I’m pleased that now we can return on a family outing without me worrying that my toddler will be bored.

For further information, visit www.chessington.com/plan/chessington-toddlers-and-preschool.aspx

Join the Festival of Fun at Strawberry Hill House by Olivia Malaure On Sunday 1 June, families are invited to a packed day of activities at Strawberry Hill House, Horace Walpole’s fairy-tale castle in Twickenham. With FREE entry, the Festival of Fun launches Summer at Strawberry, an exciting program of workshops and activities for children running until the end of August.

The Festival of Fun offers children the

chance to interact with animals from Kidsrome Petting Zoo, dress up in historical costumes, and participate in drop-in craft activities including gilding wooden initials and making shields, crowns and tiaras. The Strawberry Storyteller promises to delight with interactive games, stories and bubbles and children are invited to bring especially-loved cuddly toys and enjoy the Teddy Bear’s Picnic. Curious kids with green fingers can create a miniature garden with a prize to be won, or explore a Mini Beast bug trail through the woods.

From 2 June to 30 August, drop-in activities and workshops will include woodland trails, Bug Hunt Bonanza, fairy stories and crafts such as apple printing and frog making, shield making and painting glass goblets. There are drop-in activities during May half term too, with kite

making, windmill and helicopter decorating and storytelling.

Strawberry Hill House is a delightful place to spend a morning or lazy summer afternoon.

Picnic under a shady tree or enjoy the café, whilst children combine creative activities with an exhausting run around the child-friendly gardens.

For more information, visit www.strawberryhillhouse. org.uk

SPringboard SWimmerS Private swimming lessons for half-term and summer holidays

Crash courses for half-term and the summer holidays available

Call us on 020 8255 7455

or email admin@springboardswimmers.com

www.springboardswimmers.com May-June 2014

If you haven’t done a crash course before, you will be amazed at how much progress is made in only one week!

Suitable for: non-swimmers and beginners from 3 years of age, children needing stroke improvement.

Where: Stanley Primary School, Teddington.

This is an indoor, heated pool of constant 1m depth.

CoSt: £57.50 per child per week; this gives you 5 x 30 minute lessons at the same time every day of the course with the same tutor and in the same group of 3 children.

We also run term time leSSonS every day from Monday to Saturday; mornings, afternoons, after school and early evening during term time, for all ages and abilities.

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

29

Camps, Courses and Workshops May Half Term and Summer Holiday Preview Camps, Courses and Workshops

ART & CRAFT

ANNIE’S ARTS SEWING WORKSHOPS For Ages: 5-12 29 and 30 May (11am to 12.45pm and 2pm to 4pm) and Thurs/ Fris during summer holidays in Richmond Learn a range of design and sewing skills from basic to more advanced. Workshops tailored to individuals.

Contact: Ann 07879 428172 anniesarts@outlook.com HAPPY POTTER HALF TERM WORKSHOPS For Ages: 5+ 27 to 29 May (11am to 12.45pm) in Teddington Make gifts and cards for Father’s Day. Design a T-Shirt or decorate some pottery. Lunch included.

Contact: Una Fagan 020 8973 1468 info@happypotterceramics.co.uk www.happypotterceramics.co.uk

DRAMA AND STORYTELLING

STORYTELLING ADVENTURES HALF TERM WORKSHOP: PEPPA ADVENTURES For Ages: 2-8 in Twickenham Each day, children will head out on a new adventure with Peppa that involves drama, song and art and craft to explore her magical world. Each child will create their own Peppa mask, props, scenery and costume to help bring Peppa’s world to life and to use during an informal sharing on the final day.

Contact: Amanda 020 3222 3085 info@bridgeac.com www.bridgeac.com

SPORT

PK SWIM SCHOOL HOLIDAY COURSES For Ages: 3+ 26 to 30 May and dates in July/ August (TBC) in Cobham New private and exclusive swim school located at the Yehudi Menuhin School. Warm, UV filtered water. Intensive crash courses with a maximum of five children in a group, the courses cover all strokes and include games. For more information, call Paul on 07915 510720 or email

Multi-Activity

KOOSA camps offer affordable, Ofsted approved, fun and active childcare for your child during May half term and throughout the summer holidays. Holiday clubs are running in Sheen, Teddington and Twickenham from 27 to 30 May and in Sheen from 24 July to 29 August, Twickenham from 21 July to 29 August and Whitton from 28 July to 29 August. The standard day runs from 10am to 4pm with extended days available from

8.15am to 6pm. Children can attend for one or more days or a full week with an 8% discount!

3rd child goes free! For further information, call 0845 094 2322, email info@koosakids.co.uk www. koosakids.co.uk

info@pkswimschool.co.uk www.pkswimschool.co.uk SPRINGBOARD SWIMMERS HOLIDAY COURSES For Ages: 3-9 Weeks of 26 May & 28 July, 4, 11, 25 August, 1 September in Teddington.

Children of ages 3 to 9 will see rapid improvement in their swimming skills.Lessons are 30 minutes long each day with no more than three children per group suitable for non-swimmers, beginners and those needing stroke improvement.

Contact: 020 8255 7455 admin@springboardswimmers www.springboardswimmers.com COERVER HALF TERM HOLIDAY FOOTBALL COURSE Ages: 8-15 30 May (9am to 3.30pm) in Kingston There’s no better way for your child to improve his or her football skills than with the innovative tecnniques which have given Coerver Football Coaching its outstanding international reputation. Each session will be based on the individual skills of players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Arjen Robben and Gareth Bale. Participants will use the latest football equipment and win adidas® prizes in Coerver® skill competitions. The high quality, professional and

technical coaching available will rapidly increase football skills.

Contact: Amit on 020 3544 2284 westlondon@coerver.co.uk www.coerver.co.uk/westlondon PLAYBALL HALF TERM AND SUMMER CAMPS Ages: 3-9 May Half Term and summer holidays (dates and times to be confirmed) in Hampton Throughout August (10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm) on dates to be confirmed in Oxshott Playball offers a multi-skill program of sports activities.

Fundamental movement skills and games which introduce jumping, throwing, rolling, hitting, catching and kicking and develop them into tennis, hockey, cricket, rugby, football, basketball, baseball, volleyball. In Oxshott, multi-sports camps for children ages 3 to 7 will be partnered with netball and hockey camps for children ages 7 to 9.

Contact: Hampton 020 8123 9190 hampton@playball.uk.com Oxshott 07984 770713 ukplayball@yahoo.co.uk READY STEADY GO KIDS MINI SUMMER TERM Ages: 2.5 to 6 Classes weekly from 28 July for 5 weeks in Richmond, Kingston and Chessington Multi-sports provider Ready Steady Go Kids has a successful,

physio-designed program which covers football, tennis, basketball, hockey (Uni-hoc), golf, rugby, cricket, t-ball and athletics. Taking a different approach to summer camps this year, Ready Steady Go Kids is introducing a 5 week Mini Term featuring one sport per week for ages 2.5 to 4 years and ages 4 to 6 years. Classes PAYG and bookable online up to the night before each class. Alternatively, book five classes for the price of four.

Contact: 0800 690 6591 info@rsgk.co.uk www.rsgk.co.uk FIT FOR SPORT HALF TERM CAMPS For Ages: 3-12 27 to 30 May (8.30am to 5.30pm, 9.30am to 4.30pm, 9.30am to 1pm depending on age) in Twickenham, Sheen, Kew, Brentford, Barnes, Sunbury, Staines Multi-activity sports camps with a variety of sports, games and activities with an additional twist – a rock n roll theme! Children can enjoy Rock Relays, Drummer Dodgeball, Crowd Surfing Springs, as well as the chance to make their own guitars, air guitar talent shows and much more. Kids will leave camp with new friends, skills and lasting memories.

Contact: 0845 456 3233 www.fitforsport.co.uk

MUSIC

MOZO ISLAND: ESCAPE TO THE BEACH CLUB For Ages: 5-10 27, 28 and 29 May in Putney and dates in July (TBC) in Richmond and Putney Sing and play sunny pop songs and try out guitars, ukulele, keyboards, recorders, drums in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Make puppets, posters, puzzles and mini-comics. Quote Families for 10% DISCOUNT Contact: James Tucker 07899 811703 mozoisland@gmail.com www.mozoislandmusicschool. blogspot.com

NOW Drama Musical ENROLLING! Theatre Piano & Singing For allDance classes April & September 2013 Award Winning Performing Arts School

SUMMER SCHOOLS & WEEKLY CLASSES April 2013 FOR 3 – 21 YEAR OLDS

Twickenham & Hampton Hill Youth Theatre & Children’s Agency Summer Schools, LAMDA, ABRSM Exams Call Emma 0208 408 0633 / 07973 900196 info@steponstageacademy.co.uk www.steponstageacademy.co.uk 30

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

May-June 2014

Camps, Courses and Workshops If your child is obsessed with technology, then a FunTech Summer Camp will turn their passive game playing into proactive and productive learning. Established in 1996, vetted by Ofsted and featured on the BBC and Channel 4, FunTech

focuses on teaching children age 7 to 17 cutting edge Tech skills and is both an exhilarating and challenging experience. The BBC described FunTech as “having a solid reputation for both using the latest technology and innovative teaching techniques.” This year, FunTech is arranging its largest program of summer camps ever in response to incredible demand. It has increased its locations throughout the south of England and camps will be available locally in Richmond.

There are 14 camps to choose from covering skills such as building and programming a robot, creating graphics and animation, advanced

IT skills, digital film making, creating online games, learning typing and keyboard skills, 3D digital modelling, coding and decoding and more.

These include Robot Programming with LEGO NXT, Java Coder, 3D Game Design, Minecraft Redstone and FunTyper® FunTech camps are amazing fun-filled learning experiences which keep children one step ahead. Taught by energetic,

Camps, Courses and Workshops

Summer Tech Camps for Kids and Teens

tech-savvy instructors they build critical 21st century skills, whilst preparing children for what 21st century industries and businesses will demand of them.

For more information, call 01628 621215, info@funtech.co.uk www.funtech.co.uk

Summer Preview DRAMA AND DANCE PYJAMA DRAMA: UP, UP AND AWAY AND ALL NIGHT PARTY For Ages: 5-7 Dates in August to be confirmed in Ashtead, Cobham, Thames Ditton and Walton Contact: Phylly 01932 807150 phylly@pyjamadrama.com www.pyjamadrama.com THEATREBUGS: SOMEBODY TO HUG For Ages: 3.5-6/7 4 to 8 August (9.30am-12.30pm) in Richmond, 11 to 15 August (9.30am-12.30pm) in Kew, 18 to 22 August (9.30am-12.30pm) in Kingston, 11 to 15 August in Claygate (9am to 12 noon) and Weybridge (1.30pm to 4.30pm) 18 to 22 August in Oxshott/ Cobham (9am to 12 noon) A voyage of discovery with Larry the Lobster and his friends. Sibling discounts (T&Cs). 20% Early Bug discount for Surrey venues.

Contact: Kew, Richmond and Kingston 0800 975 5290 enquiries@theatrebugs.co.uk Claygate, Weybridge and Oxshott/ Cobham 01483 882244/07971 004134 hannahmason@ theatrebugs.co.uk www.theatrebugs.co.uk

STAGECOACH SURBITON: PETER PAN For Ages: 4-7 28 July to 1 August in Surbiton Contact Ali on 020 8873 7140 kingston@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoach.co.uk PERFORM: PETER PAN For Ages: 4-8 28 July to 1 August in Esher and Richmond 10% Discount until 1 June!

Contact: 0845 400 1284 enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk STAGECOACH SURBITON AND HINCHLEY WOOD: JUST DANCE STREET DANCE WORKSHOP For Ages: 7/8-16 28 July to 1 August in Surbiton and East Molesey Contact: Surbiton 020 8873 7140 kingston@stagecoach.co.uk East Molesey 01372 238238 hinchleywood@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoach.co.uk STEP ON STAGE: JUNGLE BOOK For Ages: 4-8 18 to 20 August (9.30am to 12.30pm) in Hampton Hill STEP ON STAGE: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF For Ages: 7-12 4 to 9 August (9.30am to 4.00pm) in Hampton Hill

STEP ON STAGE: THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS For Ages: 13-18 4 to 9 August (9.30am to 5.00pm) in Hampton Hill

STEP ON STAGE: GLEE WEEK For Ages: 7-13 11 to 16 August (9.30am to 4.00pm) in Hampton Hill

For all Step on Stage workshops, contact Emma 07973 900196 or Charlie 07814 427274 info@steponstageacademy.co.uk www.steponstageacademy.co.uk

Sing pop songs

Jam in a band!

Escape... 1/2 or Full Day to the HalfTerm Sessions BeachClub Fun and Easy Music and Art for age 5-10 May 27-29

James Tucker 07899 811703 mozoisland blog mozoisland@gmail.com

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE

Hurlingham School Putney Monday AfterSch Club Ritz Music Richmond

Build the essential football foundations young players need.

The First Skills programme has been devised by Coerver® Coaching, “The World’s No.1 Soccer Skills Teaching Method”

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS? For more information on venues and courses visit our website

WWW.SUPERCAMPS.CO.UK or call 01235 467300

Contact us today for a FREE trial session in Kingston-upon-Thames

OVER 80 OFSTED REGISTERED VENUES WITH DBS/CRB CLEARED STAFF

40+ ACTIVITIES: SPORTS, ARTS AND CRAFTS

OPEN 8AM - 6PM MON-FRI

WE ACCEPT CHILDCARE VOUCHERS AS PAYMENT

May-June 2014

Tel: 020 3544 2284 Mob: 07947 121213

Web: coerver.co.uk/westlondon Email: westlondon@coerver.co.uk

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

31

what’s on EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

SAT 10 MAY FAMILY FUN DAY AT CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 10.30am-4.30pm Cost: Child Normal Admission A fun day for all the family in the company of a wide variety of farm animals.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/surreyevents SUN 11 MAY THE DITTONS FAIR Giggs Hill Green, Thames Ditton KT7 0BT Time: 1pm Traditional family event including sideshows, dancing, rugby, music and dog gymkhana. www.thedittonsfair.co.uk CHESTNUT SUNDAY Bushy Park, Teddington Time: 12.30pm onwards Parade from Teddington Gate, travelling down Chestnut Avenue to Diana Fountain. Marching band, vintage motorcycles and military vehicles. Fairground and stalls all day. www.fbhp.org.uk FRI 16 MAY NIGHT AT THE CHERTSEY MUSEUM 33 Windsor Street, Chertsey KT16 Time: 5-10pm Cost: FREE Family event to celebrate European Night of Museums and International Museums Day. Booking required.

01932 565764 www.chertseymuseum.org FRI 16 MAY AND 20 JUN CLASSICAL BABIES CONCERT Landmark Arts Centre, Ferry Road, Teddington TW11 9NN Time: 11-11.45am Cost: Adults £10, babies free Relax and enjoy 45 minutes of classical music by professional musicians in a comfortable and friendly environment. Soft blankets available to roll around on. Babies can make as much noise as they like!

07732 058705 www.classicalbabies.com MUSEUM MONKEYS AT CHERTSEY MUSEUM 33 Windsor Street, Chertsey KT16 8AT For Ages: under 5s Time: 9.30-11am Cost: £4.50 per child Join Charlie the Chimp for singing, stories and craft. Booking required 01932 565764 www.chertseymuseum.org SAT 17 TO SUN 18 MAY JACOBITE RE-ENACTMENT WEEKEND Claremont Landscape Garden, Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 10.30am-4.30pm Cost: Child Normal Admission Skirmishes, battles, guns, an army camp and Redcoat displays over the two days. Period actors recreate the Jacobite rebellion against the Duke of Newcastle.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/surreyevents SUN 18 MAY PEPPA’S PERFECT PLAYDATE WORKSHOP Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond TW9 1QJ For Ages: 4-7 Time: 2.30-3.30pm Cost: £5 Bring your favourite playdate friend along to take part in a very special drama and music adventure. Lots of fun with a theme of which Peppa and Pedro Pony would 32

definitely approve.

020 8332 4500 www.creativelearning.atg.co.uk

MAY HALF TERM

SAT 24 MAY TO MON 26 MAY 50 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU’RE 11¾ AT OSTERLEY PARK Jersey Road, Isleworth TW7 4RB Time: 11am- 4pm Cost: Normal Admission Generation Game Challenge your friends, family or even team up to challenge another team as Osterley launches the ‘50 things’ campaign for 2014. Take part in silly games and see how many ‘50 things’ you can tick off in one day.

020 8232 5050 www.nationaltrust.org.uk FOODIES FESTIVAL IN TWICKENHAM Marble Hill House, Richmond Rd, Twickenham TW1 2NL The UK’s largest celebration of food and drink is coming to Marble Hill House for the first time this year.

Fun for all the family and an exciting mix of food and top chefs as well as Children’s Cookery Theatre.

0870 333 1181 www.foodiesfestival.com SAT 24 MAY TO SUN 1 JUN HALF TERM AT HOBBLEDOWN Horton Lane, Horton (near Epsom), KT19 8PT Time: 9am until 7pm weekdays and 8pm weekends Cost: Adults £11.75 Children over 2 £12.75 Participate in animal related activities as part of Love Your Zoo week and meet celebrity Bill Oddie between 11.30 and 3.30 on 30 May for a Q&A, and wildlife walk teaching youngsters the importance of zoos in conservation. Plus all the usual Hobbledown fun!

0843 289 4979 www.hobbledown.com HALF TERM AT CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES Enjoy new rides including Scorpion Express, which offers surprises at every turn. Set within Mexicana’s Scorpion Valley, a land of sweeping sands and gold mines, board the old train of the Scorpion Express to cross the sands, ruins of the mines and abandoned town. Also new is the AMAZU Treetop Adventure. Play amongst real life monkeys and other amazing animals as you follow the adventure trail through the heights, with a series of exciting interactive challenges to participate in on your journey. Other attractions include Zufari: Ride into Africa, SEA LIFE Centre and much more. Enjoy Love Your Zoo week during half term, with an emphasis on Chessington’s role in conservation. www.chessington.com 50 THINGS MAY-HEM AT POLESDEN LACEY Great Bookham, near Dorking RH5 6BD Time: 11am-3.30pm Cost: Normal admission Kick start your 2014 outdoor adventure at the 50 Things Camp where you can have a go at hunting for bugs, orienteering and more.

01372 452048 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/surreyevents SPRING SPECTACULAR AT BOCKETTS FARM Young St, Fetcham KT22 9BS Cost: Adult £9, Child £9.60.

Daily bird of prey flying demonstrations and pony parlour.

Friendly animals, fun farm activities

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

and plenty of play indoors and out, including heated indoor playbarn. www.bockettsfarm.co.uk CHILDREN’S TRAIL AT CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 10am-4.30pm Cost: Child £0.50 plus normal Admission Enjoy a children’s trail around the garden.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/surreyevents ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS AT THE LONDON WETLAND CENTRE Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT Time: daily. Cost: Free with admission.

Come and see the hidden creatures of the London Wetland Centre including dragonflies and the exquisite but mysterious moths that inhabit the wetlands.

020 8409 4400 www.wwt.org.uk SUN 25 & MON 26 MAY NAPOLEONIC RE-ENACTMENT AT PAINSHILL PARK Portsmouth Road, Cobham KT11 1JE Time: 10.30am to 4pm Cost: Normal admission See cannons, rockets and firing demonstrations. Find out how Napoleonic soldiers lived by visiting the living history camp. A skirmish will take place in the afternoon as well as a drill in which children can participate. No booking required.

01932 868 113 www.painshill.co.uk MON 26 MAY SURREY COUNTY SHOW Stoke Park, Guildford GU1 1ER Time: 8am-6pm. Cost: Adult £17, Child £6 Under 5 Free, Family £40 A fantastic day out includes horse show, dog show, show jumping, tractor driving and the Surrey Food Festival. www.surreycountyshow.co.uk MON 26 TO FRI 30 MAY MAY HALF TERM FAMILY FUN AT LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 7BB Cost: Adult £15, (unlimited entry for 1 year) Children under 17 FREE Storytime 11am & 2pm Meet Ole’ Bill – the very important bus who helped Britain in the First World War. Meet Ole’ Bill’s best friend – his driver Bob, and discover the adventures they shared as they journeyed across Europe.

Make and Take Creative Workshops: 11.30am and 2.30pm Design a bus badge featuring your own cartoon driver from clay and string. www.ltmuseum.co.uk MON 26 MAY TO FRI 6 JUN PEPPA PIG AT THE WATERCRESS LINE Mid Hants Railway, Alrelsford, Hampshire, SO24 9JG For Ages: All Time: 10.50am to 4pm Cost: Adult £17, Child (2-16) £9 Under 2s Free, Family £43 Unlimited travel on the BIG steam trains up and down the line with personal appearances by Peppa Pig at various intervals each day. Visit the petting farm to tickle the piglets tummies and enjoy piggy washing!

Visit Peppa Pig model railway and enjoy Peppa Pig colouring activities, DVD shows and face painting (small fee applies). Enjoy lunch on board or at one of the picnic areas. www.watercressline.co.uk

TUE 27 MAY PETER AND THE WOLF FAMILY CONCERT Landmark Arts Centre, Ferry Road, Teddington TW11 9NN For Ages: 3+ Time: 1.30pm Cost: £5 children, £7 adults, £20 family Prokofiev’s musical story for children brought to life by Chamberhouse Winds. Meet the bird (flute), cat (clarinet), Wolf (horn), Grandpa (Bassoon) and the duck (oboe) and listen as the narrator tells the story.

020 8977 7558 www.landmarkartscentre.org TUE 27 AND THU 29 MAY HALF TERM ACTIVITIES AT CHERTSEY MUSEUM 33 Windsor Street, Chertsey KT16 8AT For Ages: 5-12 Time: 10-11am, 11.30am-12.30pm or 1-2pm Cost: £3.00 per session Create a floral display or make a bird house or money box.

Booking required.

01932 565764 www.chertseymuseum.org TUE 27 TO THU 29 MAY CHILDREN’S CRAFT WORKSHOPS AT CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 11am-1pm Cost: Child £1.50 plus normal Admission Join in the children’s craft workshops in the Thatched Cottage.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/surreyevents WED 28 MAY 50 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU’RE 11 ¾ AT OSTERLEY PARK Jersey Road, Isleworth TW7 4RB Time: 11am- 4pm Cost: Normal Admission Hold a very scary beast and experience falconry with birds from the Hawking Centre.

020 8232 5050 www.nationaltrust. org.uk FRI 30 MAY CRAFT CART AT OSTERLEY PARK Jersey Road, Isleworth TW7 4RB Cost: FREE Time: 12.30-4.30pm Drop in and get creative and crafty with a different theme each time.

020 8232 5050 www.nationaltrust.org.uk SAT 31 MAY FLOAT YOUR BOAT DAY Claremont Landscape Garden, Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 10.30-2.30pm Cost: £1.50 plus normal Admission Join the Guilford Model Yacht Club and have fun sailing miniature sailing boats on the lake.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/surreyevents SAT 31 MAY TO SUN 1 JUN LIVE GEORGIAN COOKERY AT KEW PALACE Royal Botanic Gardens, Richmond TW9 3AB Cost: Free with normal admission The Royal Kitchens at Kew will be bought back to life as the historic chefs create magnificent Georgian dishes for King George lll. Watch as the cooks muster up culinary masterpieces, using real Georgian recipes.Will the final dish be fit for the royal palette?

0844 482 7777 www.hrp.org.uk SUN 1 JUN FESTIVAL OF FUN AT STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE 268 Waldegrave Road, Twickenham TW1 4ST Time: 11am onwards Cost: FREE May-June 2014

what’s on The garden plays host to a day of family fun. Drop in and enjoy archery, join the Teddy Bear’s Picnic and meet animals from Kidsrome Petting Zoo. Refreshments available or bring a picnic. For more info, see page 29.

020 8744 1241 www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk THAMES DITTON MINIATURE RAILWAY OPEN DAY Claygate Lane, KT7 0LE Time: 1pm. Cost: Free entry.

Picnic in large grass field and ride on steam, diesel and electric scale trains.

Single ride £2.50, unlimited rides £6.50, Family £23. www.malden-dsme.co.uk THU 5, 12, 19 AND 26 JUN TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC AT CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 1-2pm Cost: Child £1 plus normal admission Bring along Teddy and a picnic, with storytelling in the Thatched Cottage.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk SAT 7 JUN 15 MINUTES OF FUN AT CHERTSEY MUSEUM 33 Windsor Street, Chertsey KT16 8AT Time: 1.30-3.30pm Cost: FREE Free drop-in family craft events.

01932 565764 chertseymuseum.org/ SUNSHINE AND RAINBOWS AT STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE 268 Waldegrave Road, Twickenham TW1 4ST Time: 12.30-3pm Cost: £2 donation per child Celebrate the best of our British weather and make your very own ‘smiling suns’ and colourful paper rainbow mobiles.

020 8744 1241 www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk SAT 7 AND SUN 8 JUN ROYAL CHOCOLATE MAKING AND TUDOR COOKERY Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey KT8 9AU See the intrepid team of history chefs prepare a feast fit for a king! Witness first-hand the elaborate process of making chocolate for the king in chocolate making demonstrations.

0844 482 7777 www.hrp.org.uk SUN 8 JUN HAVE A GO ARCHERY DAY Claremont Landscape Garden, Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 10.30am-4.30pm Cost: Normal Admission One-to-one tuition in the ancient and noble art of archery. Booking not needed.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/surreyevents SAT 14 JUN HAM FAIR Ham Common, Upper Ham Road, Richmond TW10 5LA Time: 11am-4.30pm This traditional village fair boasts a wide variety of stalls with fun and entertainment provided by local schools and other groups www.hamamenitiesgroup.org.uk SAT 14 AND SUN 15 JUN FREE ENTRY WEEKEND AT OSTERLEY Osterley Park and House, Jersey Road, Isleworth TW7 4RB Family fun with lots of activities Time: 12-5pm Cost: FREE 020 8232 5050 www.nationaltrust.org.uk WAR ON THE LINE Mid Hants Railway, Alrelsford, May-June 2014

Hampshire, SO24 9JG Time: All day Cost: Adult £18 Child £10 (2-16) Under 2s Free Family (2 adults + 2 children) £46 Commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I and experience life on a WW2 railway at this living history family event. With civilian and military re-enactors and vehicles, bomb disposal demonstrations, song, dance and merriment! www.watercressline.co.uk SUN 15 JUN FACE PAINTING AT HAM HOUSE Ham St, Ham TW10 7RS Time: 10am-5pm Cost: £3 plus admission Come along for a face paint in the below stairs rooms at Ham House 020 8940 1950 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/surreyevents 20 JUN CLASSICAL BABIES CONCERT Landmark Arts Centre, Ferry Road, Teddington TW11 9NN Time: 11-11.45am Cost: Adults £10, babies free Relax and enjoy 45 minutes of classical music by professional musicians in a comfortable and friendly environment. Soft blankets available to roll around on. Babies can make as much noise as they like!

07732 058705 WWW.CLASSICALBABIES.COM SAT 21 JUN KEW MIDSUMMER FETE Kew Green TW9 3AP Time: 11am-6pm A traditional village fete in the lovely setting of Kew Green includes vintage fairground rides, side show, dog show, tug of war, craft marquee, food and drink and live music. www.kewfete.org ARCHDEACON SUMMER FETE Archdeacon of Cambridge CE School, The Green, Twickenham TW2 5TU Time: 11.30am-3.30pm A fun filled day with rides, inflatables, stalls and wonderful food. Come and have fun in the sun at this fab fete!

07802 888263 TWICKENHAM DRAGON BOAT RACES The Embankment, Twickenham Time: 10am to 8pm A full day of activities includes Dragon Boat Races, live music, Shetland Pony rides, children’s fairground and craft, food and sweet stalls www.twickenhamalive.com SATURDAY 21ST JUNE ECHELFORD PRIMARY SCHOOL SUMMER FETE Park Road, Ashford Time: 11am to 3pm Attractions include: Traditional sideshows and stalls, beer tent, BBQ, rides and arena displays. www.echelfordprimary.co.uk pta@lumenlearningtrust.co.uk SAT 21 JUN AND SUN 22 JUN DENE RALLY Time: 10am-4pm Cost: Adult £20, Child £10 (2-16) Under 2s Free, Family (2 adults and 2 kids) £50 The 3rd annual vintage and steam rally with a fantastic line-up of over 150 vintage steam and traction engines, vintage tractors, cars, motorbikes and much more!

Lots for kids including rides, and

FATHER’S DAY

SUN 15 JUN FATHER’S DAY AT HAM HOUSE Ham St, Ham TW10 7RS Time: 10am-5pm Cost: Free for dads with children Free entry for dads when accompanied by their children 020 8940 1950 www.nationaltrust.org. uk/surreyevents FATHER’S DAY BEER FESTIVAL AT POLESDEN LACEY Great Bookham, near Dorking RH5 6BD Time: 10am-5pm Cost: Normal admission Treat Dad to his perfect day! Local brew at the Beer Festival, the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain and their fabulous vehicles and relaxing with a spot of jazz.

01372 452048 www.nationaltrust.org. uk/surreyevents FATHER’S DAY RHS GARDEN WISLEY Woking GU23 6QB Cost: Normal admission A great day out, not just for Dad,

but for all the family. Includes a survival skills challenge, building dens, construction of a mini raft and a camouflage crown.

0845 260 9000 www.rhs.org.uk FATHER’S DAY CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDEN Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 10am-6pm Cost: Free for dads with children Fathers get into the Garden free when accompanied by their children. The Surrey Classic Vehicle Club will be displaying their vintage cars by the lake.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/surreyevents FATHER’S DAY PAINSHILL PARK Portsmouth Rd, Cobham KT11 1JE Time: 10.30am-6pm Cost: Free to fathers Spend the day with your dad in the beautiful landscape.

01932 868113 www.painshill.co.uk

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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what’s on face painting (small extra charge) and a free Wild West show twice daily. Visit the rally and enjoy a ride on the Watercress Line, with a free vintage bus service between the two. Rally open 10am-4pm.

Entry to rally ground only costs £5 for adults, £3 for children and £13 for a family. www.watercressline.co.uk SAT 21 JUN TO 5 JUL IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE Old Deer Park, Richmond TW9 1PQ An amazing musical theatre experience for all the family.

Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends are all brought beautifully to life on stage. www.nightgardenlive.com TUE 24 JUN EXPECTING PARENT EVENT Mothercare Kew, Richmond Retail Park, Mortlake Road TW9 4AD Time: 6.30-10.30pm Cost: FREE Join in an exclusive parenting event and learn more about 10% discount during May/June

Mrs Jones EDUCATION

11 PLUS TUITION & Mock Exam Practice West & South West London

Y3 (pre-Plus), Y4 and Y5 (11 Plus) State Grammar and Private Schools Bursaries and Scholarships Mathematics, English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Exam Practice, Interview Technique Highly Experienced Graduate Teachers EXCELLENT RESULTS

TEL: 0208-390-6076 www.11plustuition.co.uk

Buy and Sell Maternity, Baby & Kids 0-6

hildren ds at les

Hampton The White House, TW12 3RN 17 May 2-4pm Chessington St Mary’s Centre, KT9 2DR 17 June 2-4pm Teddington Baptist Church, TW11 8PF 21 June 10.30-12.30

d m

For sale information and stall bookings visit www.mum2mummarket.co.uk

34

essential baby products and key parenting topics from in-store experts and guest professionals. www.mothercare.com SAT 28 AND SUN 29 JUN FUN AND GAMES WITH JAQUES Ham House, Ham St, Ham TW10 7RS Time: 10am-7pm Cost: Normal admission A weekend of garden games with Jaques of London, the oldest games company in the world, inventor of Ping Pong, Croquet, Happy Families, Snap and Tiddly Winks.

020 8940 1950 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/surreyevents LIVE GEORGIAN COOKERY AT KEW PALACE Royal Botanic Gardens, Richmond TW9 3AB Cost: Normal admission The Royal Kitchens at Kew will be bought back to life as the historic chefs create magnificent Georgian dishes for King George lll. Watch as the cooks muster up culinary masterpieces, using real Georgian recipes. Will the final dish be fit for the royal palette?

0844 482 7777 www.hrp.org.uk

LOCAL THEATRE GUIDE POLKA THEATRE

240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB Booking info: 020 8543 4888 www.polkatheatre.com HOW COLD MY TOES 27 MAY TO 7 JUN Pack a whole year into one enchanting 35 minutes in this exciting piece of dance theatre for the very young. For Ages: 2-5 I PEASEBLOSSOM AND I, CALIBAN 28 MAY TO 31 MAY Shakespeare’s most popular stories come to life in two fresh, fun, magical shows. Meet Peaseblossom and Caliban as they draw children into A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest.

For Ages: 8+ MOOMINSUMMER MADNESS 12 JUN TO 16 AUG Meet the Moomins and go on a summer adventure. Breathtaking puppetry, live music and humour bring Tove Jansson’s much-loved Moomins to life on stage.

For Ages: 4-8 JACK AT THE BEANSTALK CAFÉ 13 TO 14 JUN A nourishing bean-feast of stories, including The Old Woman in a Vinegar Bottle, and a sideways look at Jack and an upwardly-mobile Beanstalk.

For Ages: 3-6 SKITTERBANG ISLAND 25 JUN TO 16 AUG A heart-warming puppet opera for children. For Ages: 3-6

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

SUN 6 JUL PETERSHAM SUMMER SHOW Petersham Village Hall, Bute Avenue TW10 7AX Time: From 2.15pm Very popular Flower Show and Fete in the village hall and grounds with hundreds of entries across many classes including flowers, fruit and vegetable, cookery, art and craft. www.petershamhorticulturalsociety. org.uk

NEARLY NEW SALES NCT

KEW SAT 10 MAY 10.30am-12pm The Barn Church Kew, Atwood Ave TW9 4HF www.nct.org.uk/branches/richmond CHERTSEY 24 MAY 10.45am-12pm Chertsey Hall, Heriot Road KT16 9DR ssc.nns@gmail.com TWICKENHAM 7 JUN 10-11.30am All Hallows Church, Erncroft Way TW1 1EN twickenham.nns@hotmail.com

WATERMANS

40 High Street, Brentford TW8 0DS Box Office: 020 8232 1010 www.watermans.org.uk A (MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S) DREAM 11 MAY A newly re-worked ‘Dream,’ with puppets, music, actors and Sign Language, with a mixed cast of Deaf and Hearing performers, writers and makers.

For Ages: 4-11 SHOE BABY 25 MAY Awarded best children’s show at Brighton Festival 2006, Shoe Baby is a fantastical sing-a-long adventure with a baby who takes to the sea, the air and the zoo - all in a shoe. For Ages: 2-5

THE RIVERHOUSE ARTS CENTRE

Manor Road, Walton KT12 2PF Box Office: 01932 253354 www.riverhousebarn.co.uk LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER 17 MAY A classic Grimm’s tale of youthful adventure, magical transformations and the triumph of love.

Shadow-play, video-mixing and a relaxed story-telling style mingle with the high-octane physicality that has excited audiences around the world. For Ages: 5+ THE SNOW QUEEN 4 TO 5 JUL This heart-warming tale of loyalty and adventure, brought to you in grand theatrical style by Monkey Theatre, with young performers ages 7-11).

For Ages: 4+

RICHMOND THEATRE

The Green, Richmond TW9 1QJ Box Office: 020 8332 4500 www.atgtickets.com/richmond PEPPA PIG’S BIG SPLASH 17 TO 18 MAY Come and join Peppa and her

ESHER 8 JUN 12-2pm Claygate Day Centre, Elm Road KT10 0EH 01372 463476 BYFLEET 14 JUN 2.30-4pm Byfleet Village Hall, 54 High Road KT14 7QL nct.byfleet.nns@gogglemail.com WALTON AND HERSHAM 21 JUNE 11am-12.30pm Ashley C of E School, Ashley Road, KT12 1HX nctnearlynewsale@yahoo.co.uk

MUM2MUM

www.mum2mummarket.co.uk HAMPTON 17 MAY 2- 4pm The White House, 45 The Avenue TW12 3RN CHESSINGTON 17 JUN 2- 4pm St Mary’s Centre, Chessington, KT9 2DR TEDDINGTON 21 JUN 10.30am -12.30pm Baptist Church Teddington, Church Road, Teddington, TW11 8PF

friends for another all-singing, all-dancing adventure full of songs, games and muddy puddles! Peppa Pig returns live on stage with super cute puppets and brilliant sing-along songs in this brand new show to brighten your day.

WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD 3 TO 6 JUL A brand new stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ colourful farmyard adventure with live music, puppetry, plenty of audience participation and lots of fun.

THE ROSE THEATRE

24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1HL Box Office: 08444 821 556 www.rosetheatrekingston.org HORRIBLE HISTORIES - RUTHLESS ROMANS 20 MAY TO 24 MAY We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! So it’s time to prepare for Horrible Histories live on stage with a brand new hour-long production of Ruthless Romans.

THE GRUFFALO 27 MAY TO 1 JUN The Gruffalo is the ideal introduction to theatre for pre and primary school children and their families; with plenty of songs, laughs and fun for children.

For Ages: 3+

COLOUR HOUSE THEATRE

Merton Abbey Mills, Watermill Way SW19 2RD Booking Info: 020 8542 5511 www.colourhousetheatre.co.uk LITTLE FOLK WITH ALBO CONCERTS SAT 17 MAY & 14 JUN Concerts for children with folk songs, traditional children’s songs, American camp songs and sing-alongs. For Ages: 0-6 www.littlefolkwith albo.com May-June 2014

what’s on Animal Encounters Saturday 24 May – Sunday 1 June

Café, indoor and outdoor play areas, free parking 10 minutes by bus from Hammersmith tube W: wwt.org.uk/london

T: 020 8409 4400

Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT

Wetlands 2014 Half Term ad 85mmx130mm.indd 1

Photo: S Morris

Different animals each day, from pink elephants to mini-dragons

10/04/2014 16:31

Summer at Strawberry F E S T I VA L O F F U N 1 June from 11am Children and families can enjoy a great summer at Strawberry Hill, Horace Walpole’s castle by the Thames.

Get a taste of what’s on offer at the Festival of Fun on 1 June. Have a go at archery, bring a stuffed toy to the Teddy Bear’s picnic, and meet animals from Kidsrome Petting Zoo. Refreshments are available from our new café The Cloisters Coffee House while the gardens are perfect for picnicking.

The Festival is followed by an exciting range of workshops and drop-in activities until the end of August.

www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk Sponsored by

May-June 2014

www.familiesuponthames.co.uk

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Children aged from 4 months to 12 years learn at an age appropriate pace through our structured gymnastics based classes which grows new skills and builds confidence during each stage of their childhood. All this thi while they are just having loads of FUN with our friendly team of instructors.

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We also do fantastic birthday parties Call today for more info or to book a free introductory visit.

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Hampton & Teddington Hampton Hill  TW12 1NY 020 8977 0099 hampton_teddington@thelittlegym.co.uk

Wandsworth & Fulham Wandsworth, SW18 1DB 020 8874 6567 wandsworth_fulham@thelittlegym.co.uk

www.thelittlegym.co.uk

Families upon Thames is designed by Sarah Harmer and printed by Warners, in Lincolnshire. Copyright, Families upon Thames magazine 2014. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owner’s risk and, while every care is taken, neither Families nor its agents accept liabilty for loss or damage. Families upon Thames is part of the Families Group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under liscense. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.