Families Hereford & Worcester July/August 2019 issue 58

FR E E

TAKE

ME H

OME

Hereford & Worcester

IN THIS ISSUE

Home Education Managing learning

Summer Fun Activites for free

Self-Esteem Strategies we can use

What’s On Issue 58 July/August 2019

familiesonline.co.uk

Dear Reader

Pop Up Park Comes To Worcester

Make sure you seize the summer!

Six long weeks of school holidays beckon and you will doubtless be looking for days out with your family, things to do, clubs and classes, and all manner of activities and diversions in order to keep your little darlings happy and busy.

This summer in Worcester, join Worcester BID at Cathedral Square to relax with friends and family taking in the beautiful views of the Cathedral at the ‘Pop up Park’.

The Park will be in place from 2 July to 31 August. Families are welcomed to come and relax and join in with the free activities that the Worcester City Centre businesses have put together to keep children entertained this summer.

There's lots going on in and around our region during the holiday – be sure to check out our What's On section.

The summer kicks off on Saturday 6 July with The Hive putting on their, not to be missed and well-loved Harry Potter event.

The event will take place from 11am until 3pm and is followed by the Worcester Carnival, giving you the best seats in the house to see all the carnival floats go by.

Of course, not everything costs money so we asked the Woodland Trust for its top pick of holiday adventures to get children active outdoors and away from their screens. See page 6. Which brings me to my favourite activity idea for the holidays: having a picnic – dip inside to find some yummy recipes. See page 9.

Don’t miss the Worcester Food Festival on the 27 and 28 July, where the Pop-up Park will be hosting the ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’ with the Royal Porcelain Works, story time with The Hive and the ultimate ‘Mini Ninja Sushi School’ with Yo! Sushi. As well as lots of mouth-watering food, this year the Worcester Food Festival is handing over the kitchen to the talented Great British Bake Off chefs. Val Stones, GBBO star from 2016, will be running the junior ‘bake off competition’.

For more details, please go to www.visitworcester.co.uk.

With many of the activities during the summer you can help your child build a healthy self-esteem. Dr Elise Kearney looks at this ongoing process for you and your family. See page 10.

We will return in September with our Back To School issue.

What ever you get up to, I wish you a lovely summer.

Diane Clifford.

Editor

Help For Choosing A Family Dog

01684 770566 editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

Like us on Facebook FamiliesHandWMag

BOOK TODAY

Advertise with us and reach over 44,000 parents in the region.

Next issue September/October Booking deadline is Friday 9 August If you are considering adding a dog to your family, this is an important decision which is best not made on a whim.

Generally, children and dogs from great bonds and friendships and dogs can offer the opportunity for children to learn great life skills such as responsibility and compassion.

Don’t miss an issue! Download the latest magazine and our back catalogue at issuu www.issuu.com

But all dogs are individuals. The breed of the dog is perhaps the single most important factor you can take into account, when deciding what dog is right for your family.

Families Hereford & Worcester is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Hereford & Worcester are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Hereford & Worcester. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof..

2

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

To help families with this decision a Dog Breeder Decider tool has been created by pet food manufacturer Webbox.

The tool matches a dog breed with your family by analysing your family’s lifestyle and preferences against the personality traits, behaviours and requirements of all dog breeds.

More info: www.webbox.co.uk/dog-breed-decider

To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk

News and Views

Worcester Festival Fun

Visit Eastnor this Summer Knight’s Maze • Junior Obstacle Course • Adventure Playground Tree-Top Walkway • Woodland Play Area • Rope-Swings Tree Hunters’ Trek • Lakeside Walks • Arboretum • Tea Room Ice Cream Parlour • Gift Shop.

Buy discoun Adult £7.50 • Child £5.00 (3-15 yrs) • Family (2a+3c) £21.00 ted Online ‘Grounds Only’ prices.

PLUS, a fantastic event included in your entrance price

Sun 18th – Thu 22nd August

Pottery Workshops

Sun 25th – Mon 26th August

Bushcraft Survival The Woodvilles

Sun 28th July – Thu 1st August

Dinosaur Show

Medieval Living History Camp Tue 27th August

Sun 4th – Thu 8th August

Midlands Air Ambulance

Circus Skills

Family Fun Day

Sun 11th – Thu 15th August

Celebrate Play On Playday UK! Playday is the national day for play in the UK, and will take place this year on Wednesday 7 August.

Playday is an annual celebration of children's play with thousands of children and families playing outside at events across the UK. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of children's play and the need for quality play opportunities every day of the year.

online

Sun 21st – Thu 25th July

Make & Take

With workshops, music, crafts, quiz trails and even a village style fête, the Worcester Festival has dozens of great ways for families to spend their summer days in the city. This year's Festival kicks off on Saturday 10 August and runs right through to the August bank holiday on Monday 26 August, with events and activities happening all over the city every single day. There's a whole host of great ideas for keeping the whole family entertained, and many of the events are completely free.

For more info: www.worcesterfestival.co.uk

tickets

Knights & Princess School

Wed 28th – Thu 29th August

eastnorcastle.com

@eastnorcastle

EastnorCastle

Climbing Wall

eastnor_castle

Work from home: be the next editor of Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine Would you like the flexibility of working from home and never miss your child’s school performance or sports day again? Are you interested in running your own business and would find the support offered by a franchise helpful? Are you self-motivated and well organised?

You now have the opportunity to buy the Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine Franchise – a business which is up and running, including established client base, readership and drop points.

No previous experience needed, training is available and you will have the support of the fantastic team at Families Magazine Ltd To find out more email Diane: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

For more info: www.playday.org.uk Fancy making your own chocolates?

Chocolate Genie's workshops for children are designed to be hands on and fun, whilst acquiring basic chocolate handling skills along with tastings too. Based in Worcestershire, not far from Broadway, they will be running chocolate workshops during the school holidays for those in search of a fun activity.

They also offer chocolate making parties for any occasion and any age.

For more info www.chocolategenie.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

CHOCOLATE WORKSHOPS Adult Classes Too

School Holidays 01386 834334

www.chocolategenie.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

3

Education

Why is Home-Education

Space Chase 2019 Summer Reading Challenge The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to read six library books during the long summer holiday.

Children's reading can decline during the summer holidays if they don't have regular access to books or encouragement to read for pleasure.

This year the challenge will focus on the theme ‘Space Chase’ - an out-ofthis-world adventure inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Children are challenged to read at least six library books over the school holidays and collect rewards, such as stickers, on their way to receiving their challenge certificate and medal.

The Challenge will launch in libraries on Saturday 13 July 2019 in England and Wales.

For competitions, book recommendations and special online badges and rewards, visit: www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk Local libraries: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/libraries www.herefordshire.gov.uk/directory/12/ libraries

4

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

By Dr Alison Baverstock Schooldays are ‘the happiest days of your life’ or so the old adage goes. Whether or not this is true – and I certainly had my doubts when I was growing up – our schooldays tend to be much remembered, with those we are at school with, and small incidents that happened whilst we are there, firmly lodging in our memory.

So why then are parents in increasing numbers opting for their children not to experience school; one of the major shared experiences society offers?

In April 2018, the BBC reported that the number of children being home-educated had risen by around 40% over three years, estimating that ‘across the UK 48,000 children were being home-educated in 2016-17, up from about 34,000 in 2014-15.’ The issue is starting to attract wider attention, with politicians (both in government and opposition) considering the need for formal guidance on the rights and responsibilities of homeeducation and councils seeking more monitoring powers, and perhaps the establishment of a register of those who are home-educated.

Many people refer to the process as ‘home-schooling’ but, in general, those involved tend to prefer the term ‘home-education.’ This reflects an important principle; that homeeducation is about the whole experience of growing up and learning, not just the schooling bit. Home-educators talk enthusiastically about how every experience can be used to inform a child’s education, from weighing ingredients for cooking (maths, chemistry, nutrition) to expeditions that reinforce what has been learned (history, geography, politics). Home-educators tend to see learning as a holistic process that does not stop at the school gate.

Other reasons for choosing to home-educate emerge. There are parents who feel that large class-sizes, or the need for general class-understanding before moving on, block a more stimulating learning experience for their child. There are others whose children are dealing with complex mental health or individual learning difficulties that encourage them to think they may be more effectively educated at home. Then there are parents whose children are facing possible or actual exclusion from school who may decide to home-educate instead, as well as those who want to travel, or cater for a child’s To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk

Education

Growing in Popularity? exceptional gifts (e.g. musical, sport, acting) and so find a more mobile education helpful.

These various reasons for choosing home-education have prompted a variety of solutions, from flexischooling (some days at home, some days in school, which is increasingly permitted and can sometimes make a difference to a rural school remaining open) to local educational networks where parents share curriculum planning and teaching. According to our research, it seems that those who have transferred their children back into the school system for the final years of their education (e.g. A levels) have found that successful university applications can be made by home-educated children with fewer GCSEs, it being accepted that the home-educated are unlikely to achieve the breadth of subjects available via more traditional education routes.

However, one should not assume that home-education is the best option. That will depend on individual circumstances.

Once the decision to home-educate has been reached, a child must simply be ‘deregistered’ from school, or not enrolled if they have not yet started. However, before you start homeeducating, it is sensible to get some advice on areas your home education curriculum should seek to cover, how to turn everyday activities into optimised learning events and the how to develop social competences in children. There are many resources available such as Quizlet (www.quizlet.com/en-gb), a website that allows you to create online teaching materials and lessons and Times Education Supplement (TES) Resources (www.tes.com/teaching-resources) with 700,000 resources from diagrams to lesson and topic plans.

Don’t underestimate the amount of work home-education involves. Managing learning, whether through educational resources available to you, finding and employing tutors, arranging shared-learning sessions with other parents of home-educated children and co-ordinating overlaps, takes a lot of effort. The rewards tend to be that the educational experience can be truly tailored to the individual and the whole family is often involved in the learning in ways that can bring them together as a stronger and more involved unit. The parents we talked to had found the experience stimulating, highly involving – and above all memorable.

Dr Alison Baverstock is an academic, author and mother of four. She has recently published The Home Education Handbook (published by Piatkus at RRP £14.99) with educator Gill Hines.

Kids Stay And Eat For Free During The Summer Holidays

Named as England’s Leading Resort, The Belfry caters for all types of family stays and is close to a variety of popular family favourites which can easily be reached throughout your stay, such as Drayton Manor, Cadbury World, Twycross Zoo, as well as the National Sea Life Centre and Birmingham city centre, which is only 20 minutes away.

On-site at The Belfry you’ll find the woodland walk, playground, swimming pool and mini-golf to keep the adventurous little ones entertained. Plus, there is an on-site OFSTED registered crèche if you’re looking for some ‘me-time’. After a day of fun, you can enjoy the family Pizza Pasta restaurant before retiring back to your comfy and spacious family room. With fantastic family facilities and a stunning resort set in 550 acres of countryside – there is something to keep everyone entertained.

Kids stay and eat for free during the Summer Holidays. Visit www.TheBelfry.com or call 01675 238600.

familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

5

Free And Fun Activities In Nature This Summer

The summer holidays are starting and Families magazine asked the Woodland Trust for its top pick of holiday adventures to get children active outdoors and away from their screens!

Create a Fairy Garden Use your imagination to design a fantastic fairy garden! You can do this indoors if it’s raining.

You will need: • A container, such as a plastic box or old leave). There are lots of fun picnic ideas washing up bowl at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk • Earth • A collection of natural materials: small stones or pebbles, sticks, moss, leaves, and perhaps some small flowering plants.

Fill your container with earth (if you’re using living plants, put some stones in the bottom for drainage). Use some leafy twigs to make trees. Build a fence or little seat with sticks. You could even make a pond by sinking a plastic cup or another small container into the earth and filling it with water. You’re bound to think of lots more ideas once you get started…

Host a Teddy Bears’ Picnic This is sure to be a hit with younger children, especially if they can invite some friends from nursery. Use a teddy cookie cutter to make some little bear-shaped sandwiches. Cut out some pictures of bears and hide them in the surrounding area for kids to find (just remember to take them home with you when you 6

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

Tip: you can use the downloadable summer flowers ID sheet at www. woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedetectives/ for Embark upon a Woodland this challenge Challenge Set up challenges to complete on a day Learn to Skim Stones out in the woods and have a competition You can do this on a pond, river, or calm with your family and friends. Remember sea. Just be careful not to get too near to decide how many points each the water’s edge or make sure you don’t challenge is worth. Here are some hit any ducks – or swimmers! challenge ideas: Find some round, flat, smooth stones Climb a tree (make sure there’s an adult around though!)

Hold a stone flat between your thumb and forefinger Balance on a fallen tree trunk and walk along Get down low and throw it across the water with a spinning action. Do Find three types of flower persevere as it might take a bit of practice.

Cross a stream without getting your feet wet Try a Barefoot Walk Let the grass tickle your toes, splash Identify three different tree species through a stream, and stomp in some squidgy mud. Did you know you have Find some wild animal evidence – over 7,000 nerve endings in each foot, so tracks, a fox or rabbit hole, some fur walking barefoot is a great way to get in caught on a bush, or even some poo! touch with nature? Just make sure you To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk

Summer avoid anything sharp on the ground. Some parks and attractions have special barefoot trails, so search online for one near you.

You could even try setting up a barefoot walk in your back garden.

Go on a Butterfly Hunt Summer brings with it throngs of colourful butterflies. You will find a downloadable butterfly caterpillars ID sheet at www. woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedetectives/ which you can use to hunt fluttery butterflies in woodland clearings.

If it’s too wet to go outside, why not cheer yourself up with a gorgeous butterfly mobile instead?

You will need: • several sticks of similar length • string or wire • paper – coloured, patterned, or white if you want to colour the butterflies yourself • colouring pens, glitter (optional) • a needle and some strong thread Cross the sticks over in the middle and fasten them with string or wire to make the frame.

Fold a piece of paper in two and draw half a butterfly along the folded edge. Cut around it and open it out. Repeat for lots more butterflies. Decorate them if you wish.

Attach a thread to each butterfly using the needle and tie the other end to a stick. Hang up your mobile and admire your cloud of colourful butterflies!

The Woodland Trust charity runs its Nature Detectives family offering with lots of idea to get busy and out in nature. You can post pictures on Twitter or Instagram using #NatureDetectives too or visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ naturedetectives/ for more activity ideas.

You can also find your local Woodland Trust wood at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods

Join thousands of other people and let The Woodland Trust know what's happening to wildlife near you.

Have you seen your first butterfly or swallow of spring? Is it a good year for wild autumn fruits?

Take part in Nature's Calendar and help scientists monitor the effects of climate change on wildlife.

For more info: https://naturescalendar. woodlandtrust.org.uk/add-a-record/

familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

7

Summer

Summer Days Out: Put The Kids In Charge

There has been a lot in the press in recent months about ‘helicopter parenting’ and the fact that many parents are doing too much for their children. So how about breaking the cycle and putting the kids in charge for the day?

Claire Winter makes some suggestions.

Sometimes when we are busy we can over schedule our child’s school holidays with clubs, activities, play dates and days out. So why not counteract this by taking a step back and putting the kids in charge?

Children love independence so let each child in your family set the agenda for one day. Give them a budget and encourage them to startplanning!

Parent coach Susi Ramroop (www. susieramroop.com) says it’s important to give our kids more independence. “In an attempt to please our kids and keep them busy, we fill their schedules with activities, and run the risk of overwhelming them. Teaching them from a young age to choose a day out based on what brings the most joy exercises their decision-making muscles, and sets them up for a better future – making choices is the foundation for managing time and money effectively.”

in r 'kids re you h us on a h s e t Pleas out wi ok. ' days e bo g e r c a a h F c and r e t t i Tw tag e hash Use th sincharge. lieskid #fami 8

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

Follow these easy steps: Put One of your Children in Charge Set the agenda. Let your child know that he or she has to plan an activity that is out of the house for the day, as well as how to get there and back and where and what the family is going to eat for each meal.

Set a Budget Give your child a set cash allocation for the day. They then need to decide what to spend the budget on. The budget needs to cover the day out or activity as well as food. They might decide to buy food for a picnic, treats or eat out. Assist them to actually buy any food required.

Get Them Researching Get them to research the activity or day out they want as a starting point. Give them some tips on researching travel costs. You can assist them with this if they ask for help but try not to take over.

Advise them to pre-buy the tickets or train fares online. Depending on their age they may be able to enter credit or debit card information and manage booking systems. If not, give them some help with this. If they can stretch the budget or find free things to do, they get extra brownie points!

Let them Navigate Get them to look up the location on Googlemaps or Sat Nav if you are driving or on a map if you are walking or using public transport. They can ask you for To advertise call: 01684 770566

help if necessary. Ask them to direct you to your destination. If they make mistakes, it’s all part of the learning.

It may be Mayhem!

Remember things may not all go to plan but you can have fun, relax and enjoy not being in charge. Sometimes kids need to learn from experience that sweets for every meal is not a good idea!

Keep it Up If the experiment went well, why not introduce it as a regular feature in family life? You could have a fun day out ideas jar that everyone contributes to. The whole family can throw their ideas into a hat or jar and you pull one out every weekend.

My kids love having a Mexican, Indian or Pizza night. They plan the menu and ingredients required, then we do the shopping and cooking together. When the food is ready, we watch a film. An activity doesn’t have to be expensive or complicate. We often forget that what children actually really want is to be spending time with us, not expensive days our or material things.

Helping our children develop independence is vital. We need to give them the tools to become responsible, emotionally-intelligent adults who are capable of making their own decisions. It’s not always easy to let go but when you do it’s great to see their smiles of satisfaction when they are allowed to do things their way! familiesonline.co.uk

Simple Picnic Ideas

Summer

When the weather is good there is nothing better than a summery picnic outside, but even if it’s not perfect weather, a picnic is a way to get you in that summer mood! So why not get the whole family involved and make some tasty treats for the hamper.

By Gabrielle Nash

Fab Fruit Kebabs Pizza Roll-Ups A great alternative to the sandwich, this recipe is easy enough for even toddlers to help with and tasty enough for adults to enjoy too.

These make a colourful and enticing addition to any picnic! They are also a great way to get younger children exploring new fruits.

You will need: Pick your favourite fruits – we love grapes, strawberries, kiwi and melon.

DIY Tortilla Chips

You will need: How to make: • 1 sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry 1.Wash and chop into bite size pieces The packet you buy from the • 1 cup tomato pizza sauce (or make (taking care with size depending on age supermarket is full of salt whereas a your own with tomato passata and of child).

homemade version is super easy, loads oregano) 2. Arrange in colourful rainbows onto healthier and a great way to use up • 150g grated cheddar cheese skewers (there are some safer plastic leftover wraps.

• 1 egg, beaten skewers for younger children) and then • Additional filling options: chopped ham serve with Greek yoghurt and honey, a Around 12 will comfortably serve 4 or chicken, chopped cooked peppers and raspberry coulis or if even melted dark people. courgettes chocolate for more of a treat!

You will need: How to make: Some corn tortillas and some vegetable 1. Preheat your oven to 200c, line and oil. lightly oil a large baking tray 2. Roll out the puff pastry onto the How to make: baking tray and spread the pizza sauce on 1.Heat the oven to 200c and line a baking top. Be careful not to make the pastry tray with baking paper. Cut the tortillas too wet. Sprinkle on the cheese all over into triangles (just like the packet sized and then add additional toppings. ones) and then gently brush with oil.

3. Roll the pastry into one long roll Place on the tray, taking care not to (ideally beginning at the shorter end) and overlap them and bake for 8 minutes. you will be able to see the layers.

4. Slice carefully into 8 pieces. Lie flat on 2. When they’re out, place on a plate and the baking tray, brush with a little beaten sprinkle with a little paprika. Serve with egg and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. guacamole or hummus.

Delicious eaten hot or cold!

Follow Gabrielle Nash @thelondonishmum

Worcestershire has many beautiful parks in which to enjoy a great day out and a picnic...

Worcester Woods Country Park Morton Stanley Park Wildwood Drive, Worcester, WR5 2LG 2 Green Lane, Redditch B97 5GN 01905 766493 01386 565009 Priory Park Sanders Park Great Malvern, WR14 3DR. Kidderminster Rd, Bromsgrove B61 7JP 01527 881288 Gheluvelt Park Waterworks Road, Worcester WR1 3EX familiesonline.co.uk

Lido Park Droitwich Spa WR9 8AA Abbey Park Abbey Park, Evesham WR11 4ST 01386 47726 Abbey Park Abbey Road, Pershore WR10 1JP

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

9

Parenting

Talk, Sing And Play To Build Brains

Helping Your Child Build

Almost two thirds of parents are unaware that back and forth interaction with their child from birth can help their babies’ social, emotional and cognitive development.

A survey of more than 2,000 parents and expectant parents by the NSPCC found that 62% were unaware that moments playing, singing or telling stories can be brain-building ones.

NSPCC research has found some parents struggle with ideas about how to interact with their young child beyond eye contact and cuddling, especially in the early months when they do not receive obvious feedback from their babies.

In response, the charity is launching a campaign, ‘Look, Say, Sing, Play,’ to encourage new parents to use everyday scenarios to have more twoway interactions with their babies.

Going to the shops, having a bath, going to bed – whatever you and your baby are doing can be turned into a back-and-forth.

Parents can sign up to get weekly brain building tips that are fun and age appropriate.

Respect and approval, or ‘esteem’ for all aspects of the self are key to: psychological wellbeing; good relationship building; feeling a sense of belonging; and having the ability to be compassionate towards all living things. Healthy self-esteem allows people to face challenges in life and grow whilst people with low self-esteem tend to avoid the challenges for fear of failure or being overwhelmed.

By Dr Elise Kearney,

More info: www.nspcc.org.uk Whilst self-esteem tends to remain stable through childhood and equal for boys and girls, there is a marked decrease in selfesteem as children enter adolescence.

This decline is particularly significant for teenage girls. We know that the overall decline is due to the big developmental leap at this time. Young people are spending less time with their families and it’s a time when the approval of peers becomes a more important determinant of self-esteem than parenting.

The dramatic drop in self-esteem for girls at this time is linked to puberty and body image. Teenage girls with lower selfesteem are more vulnerable to perceptions of ideal body images 10

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

To advertise call: 01684 770566

particularly those portrayed in social and general media.

Children build self-esteem in their families. Research has shown that ‘happy parents’ or ‘care-givers’ make for ‘happy children’. There are a number of strategies we can use to build healthy self-esteem in our children and families.

Show Acceptance Showing acceptance of all family members as unique individuals supports children in listening to and being able to trust their own voice.

In Practice: Encourage children to express their own opinions and feelings about their lives. Help your child to learn that having a different opinion or feeling about something is okay. Mealtimes can be a great opportunity for this, aim to eat together as often as possible. Research shows that children who eat regular family meals together have higher vocabulary, higher self-esteem, higher academic performance and a lower risk of substance misuse.

Allow Independence Encourage all family members, regardless of age, to accomplish age appropriate tasks independently. Children and familiesonline.co.uk

Parenting

A Healthy Self-Esteem In Practice: Take 10 to 15 minutes a day with your children doing what they would like to do (within reason!). See if you can be entirely led by them for that short space of time and give your undivided attention. It doesn’t sound like long but it can be a challenge to work this into your day – have a go!

Remember to also make time for your significant other and yourself. Research shows that a happy parental relationship is strongly linked to healthy self-esteem in children.

Provide Emotional Education Support children in understanding and making space for emotions (for example ‘I wonder if that film made you feel sad?’).

This gives children a good command of emotions rather than feeling overwhelmed by them. Helping children to recognise, understand and manage feelings from an early age significantly reduces instances of depression and anxiety through the rest of adolescence.

teenagers can develop a ‘have a go attitude’ and reduce avoidance due to fear of failure.

In Practice: Involve children in household tasks even when it might mean that they take a little longer with little or nervous hands! Use this time to promote positive can do attitudes.

Create Special Time Make time for one another and demonstrate how special each family member is by listening without any distraction. Approving, responsive and nurturing parents are more likely to build high levels of self-esteem in children and in each other.

In Practice: Have a go at developing an emotional vocabulary for your family and practice commenting on feelings. Be brave, have a go and watch the positive effect it has on family members.

Remember to give lots of verbal praise for behaviour you would like to see again.

Tell them what you are happy about.

In Practice: Teach children about healthy eating and exercise and involve them in cooking and meal planning.

Planting vegetables with children (in pots if space is limited) can be a great joint activity. Put a high value on sleep in your family. Research shows that children who get enough sleep have better brain function, better focus at school, greater creativity, reduced risk of obesity and are better able to manage emotions. Explore and understand the way the media portrays body image with children, particularly girls as they approach adolescence. Remember everyone enjoys physical praise even teenagers can still enjoy a cuddle!

Make Time to Play!

Making time and space for play and having fun together boosts the whole familys self-esteem and is also key to child development.

In Practice: Take a trip to the local park together and jump on a swing. It’s easy to forget what fun that can be when you haven’t done it for a while. Take an hour after dinner to bring out a board game that the whole family can play or play hide and seek together. These things don’t have to happen every day but maybe once or twice a week would be fun.

Remember that special circumstances Love your Body (parental separation, adopted and Teach children to respect and love their fostered children, a school or house physical body from a young age. Learning move, death in the family, illness in the to be in tune with the ‘messages’ that family, learning difficulties, physical their bodies give them will empower disability etc.) make these strategies even them, particularly in a western culture more key to the healthy development of which does not always ‘esteem’ the body. self-esteem.

Dr Elise Kearney runs a clinic at The Therapies Centre, The Fold, Bransford, Worcester and can be contacted by email at elisekearney@btinternet.com or call 07713755224. Find out more about the service she offers at: www.thefold.org.uk/natural-therapy-centre/consultant-child-family-psychology/ A mother of four and Chartered Consultant Child and Family Clinical Psychologist, Dr Kearney trained as a Clinical Psychologist in Glasgow. She has over 15 years of experience working with children and families in the NHS and privately. Dr Kearney offers 1:1 assessment and treatment sessions for a variety of difficulties including; difficulties stemming from family separation, bedtime or sleep problems, feeding difficulties or “fussy eating”, dealing with anger or “temper tantrums” and separation anxiety, difficulties around potty training, sibling rivalry or difficulties with sharing, starting nursery/school and transition to high school or College/ University, anxiety, panic, phobias, low self-esteem, attachment difficulties, low mood and depression, behavioural problems, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), bereavement (this list is not exclusive).

familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

11

Clubs and Classes Cecilia Hall Dance Centre, Malvern

Fun At Summer Holiday Activity Camps

Classes for Young Children

Wednesday 4.15pm Ballet ages 6&7 years Friday 1.50pm Preschool Ballet & Dance Saturdays 9.45am Preschool Ballet 10.15am Tap & Modern 10.45am Ballet ages 4-6 years 11.15am Ballet ages 6&7 years Musical Theatre Class

Tuesdays 4.15pm Keystage 2 Many other classes available RAD Ballet ISTD Tap/Modern Telephone/text 07443 872 188 or email ceciliahalldance@live.co.uk for information and to enrol

Established 1992 Fully Qualified Instructors Specialised Classes 4 – 16 years Beginners, Intermediate & Advanced

Train with Sensei Jags Shoker, 3rd Dan

Monday: St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Droitwich Spa 6.00 – 7.00pm Wed & Fri: The Parish Centre, Barnt Green 5.30 – 6.30pm Friday: Parkside Middle School, Bromsgrove 3.40 – 4.40pm Saturday: St Peters RC First School, Bromsgrove 9.15–10.15 am Special offer 5 FREE www.kombatkids.com lessons

Call: 07730 899722 register@kombatkids.com

Children don’t need to be bored in the school holidays. Bromsgrove and Winterfold Schools offer Activity Camps for children aged 8 to 13 on their extensive sites, which include state of the art sports facilities and beautiful grounds for games and running around in.

Whether your child enjoys being creative with arts and crafts, fancies trying their hand at baking butterfly cakes, pizzas, chocolate cookies, or prefers something more energetic such as swimming, tennis, gymnastics, football, badminton, table tennis, dance, quick cricket, basketball, netball, tennis or indoor games, there is something for everyone, and what’s even better is that your child doesn’t have to attend Bromsgrove or Winterfold to join in the fun.

For more details about our Activity Camps, contact the Events team on 01527 579679 Ext 357 or email activities@bromsgrove-school.co.uk To book online visit www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/holidayclubs

Ofsted Registered Childcare For The Summer Summer has arrived! As the countdown to the end of school begins, you may be looking for ideas to make sure your children have a six weeks holiday full of fun. That is where we come in! For children aged 4 -14, Aspire Active Camps runs a whole range of sports and physical activities during the school holidays! A standard day at Active Camps is 8am – 4pm, however, we also offer Xtra time which runs from 4pm – 6pm.

Does your child want to ditch their stabilisers? Well now's their chance! This summer Aspire Active Camps are running Learn to Ride sessions. Experienced and national standard cycling instructors will support your child in improving their cycling.

12

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

Our next camps are taking place at multiple locations across the Midlands. Our Hagley camp is based at Hagley High School and will be running our Multi Sports Academy, Gym Beatz Academy and, for 12-14 year olds, Active Leaders. Running at our Bromsgrove Camp at South Bromsgrove High School will be our Multi Sports Academy and Active Leaders. Our Alvechurch camp at Alvechurch Middle School and Crown Meadow First School will have our Multi Sports Academy, Gym Beatz Academy and Active Leaders. Running at our Worcester Camp at Nunnery Wood High School will be our Multi Sports Academy, Gym Beatz Academy, Spotlight Stage School Academy and Active Leaders. Our Wombourne camp based at Wombourne Leisure Centre will be running Multi Sports Academy and Active Leaders.

If you want to join us at Active Camps or Learn to Ride, visit aspiresports.co.uk or call 0121 663 1979. For an action-packed school holiday go to www.aspire-sports.co.uk or call 0121 663 1979

To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk

Clubs and Classes Ofsted registered

Action-packed childcare this

Summer Holiday

Hagley

Hagley High School

Monday 22nd July - Friday 30th August

We accept childcare vouchers

Worcester

Nunnery Wood High School

Monday 22nd July - Friday 30th August

Wombourne

Wombourne Leisure Centre Monday 22nd July - Friday 30th August

Alvechurch

Alvechurch Middle School and Crown Meadow First School

Monday 22nd July - Friday 16th August

Bromsgrove

South Bromsgrove High School

Tuesday 23rd July - Friday 2nd August

Open from 8am-6pm

Early Bird Offer

Book before 5pm on Friday 5th July

£17 per day 8am-4pm

All Things Wild Nature Centre Station Road, Honeybourne, Near Evesham, Worcestershire. WR11 7QZ 01386 833083 www.allthingswild.co.uk

For more info visit aspire-sports.co.uk or call 0121 663 1979 Xtra Time available up to 6pm. See website for full details. Terms and conditions apply,

HOLIDAY FUN REGI

Activity Camps for children aged 8* - 13

Take part in our fun sports and activities day camps at Bromsgove and Winterfold, running daily throughout the Summer holidays

Monday 1st July Friday 23rd August

For information and to book a place, please contact activities@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

£35 per day £160 per week including a hot lunch

bromsgrove-school.co.uk

*Year 3 and above

to

01527 579679 ext 357 familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

13

What’s On

Please check with the venue in case details have changed

Severn Valley Railway: A great British summer

Upcoming Events...

• After School Summer Fun- 1/2 price.

• Summer Holiday afternoon Chill zones.

• Play Barn with Soft Play • Outdoor Picnic & Play Areas • Hay

Bale Tunnelling Pyramid

• Giant Sandpits • Zipwire • Trampolines • Egg collecting • Animal Hands On & Feeding • Tractor Trailer Ride more details on our website

www.NewbridgeFarmPark.com

Nr Ledbury, HR8 2QG

01531 670780

Local Festivals

Theatre...

Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove, B60 1AX 01527 577330, www.artrix.co.uk Family Film Matinees A family blockbuster on the big screen every single Saturday morning!

At affordable prices. Every Saturday

Malvern Theatres, Grange Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3HB. 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk Bromyard Folk Festival The Lion King Simba is born into royalty – his 5 - 8 September father Mufasa rules the Pride Lands and all who www.bromyardfolkfestival.co.uk live there, and one day it’ll all be his. But his scheming uncle Scar has other ideas. Director Jon Camper Calling Favreau brings us a live-action remake of the 23 - 25 August much loved The Lion King, starring Beyoncé, www.campercalling.com Donald Glover, and Seth Rogan.

Cheltenham Music Festival 19 July - 1 August

5 July - 14 July www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/music/

Number 8 Community Arts Centre, 8

The Cornbury Music Festival High Street, Pershore, Worcs, WR10 1BG 01386 5-7 July 555488, www.number8.org www.cornburyfestival.com Play in a Day: Time Travel Tales Join Lakefest 2018 Youth Theatre leader Jenny Northam for a time 8 - 11 August travel inspired workshop and create a play in a www.lakefest.co.uk day. 29 July

Nozstock The Courtyard, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 18 - 21 July 9JR 01432 340555, www.courtyard.org.uk www.nozstock.com

Eggs On Legs Garlic Theatre conjure a poetic,

Starry Skies Dr Seuss world full of eggcentric puppets and 31 - 4 August zany music to make you roll around with laughter. www.starry-skies.net A cracking family show bursting with wonder and

Sunshine Music Festival surprise – you will never look at an egg in the 23 - 25 August same way again. 20 JulyFARM PARKS www.uptonfestival.co.uk

The Courtyard: Eggs On Legs Commandery, 109 Sidbury, Worcester WR1 2HU 01905 361821, www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk A Medieval Celebration Enjoy Medieval living history as The Commandery transforms into St Wulstan’s hospital and opens its doors to all aspects of the building’s life between 1203 to 1485.

Experience fire power, archery, food, music and medicine, demonstrations and the dole.

25-26 August Forge Mill Needle Museum, Needle Mill Lane, Riverside, Redditch, B98 8HY, www.forgemill.org.uk Lego Day Forge Mill welcomes Brick Central – LEGO enthusiasts who will showcase their amazing work, with hands-on LEGO games and activities running all day! 28 July Wind In The Willows Join Mole, Ratty and Badger on their mad-cap adventures in this outdoor performance. 31 August Hartlebury Castle, Hartlebury, Nr Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 7XZ 01299 250416, www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk Summer Fun at Hartlebury Castle Enjoy fun craft activities over the Summer Holidays, with a different theme each week. Plus follow the Castle trail.

Themes per week: 30 July – 1 August: Under The Sea 6 – 8 August: Magic & Illusion 13 – 15 August: Discover Dinosaurs 20 – 22 August: Junk Art 27 – 29 August: Feathered Friends Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11am -4pm

Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, Foregate Street, Worcester, WR1 1DT 01905 25371, Avoncroft Museum of Historic www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk Buildings, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove B60 4JR May The Toys Be With You From a galaxy 01527 831363, www.avoncroft.org.uk far, far away comes an absolute must see for fans Family Camping Watch Avoncroft transform of Star Wars and the silver screen – one of the into a giant campsite, pitch your tent and sleep UK’s finest collections of vintage Star Wars toys under the stars! There will be crafts and treasure and original cinema posters is going on display in trails, fun family games, astronomy, entertainment, a stunning exhibition brought to you by Museums storytelling and songs round the campfire, a Worcestershire. 20 July - 14 September barbecue and more. 19 July Throughout the summer, there’s fun for Star Summer Holidays six weeks jam-packed with Wars fans of all ages! Dress up as your favourite family fun for all ages! character, enjoy interactive Star Wars inspired 22 July - 30 August games or snap yourself in our selfie spot.

Museums...

MORE

ONLINE familiesonline.co.uk

14

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk

Please mention you saw this event in Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

Malvern Spetchley Theatre: Gardens: SnowWildlife White Wednesday

Chateau Impney Hill Climb Berrington Hall, nr Leominster, HR6 0DW

Days Out... Tel: 01568 615721

What’s On

Eastnor Castle: Summer Fun Newbridge Farm Park, Little Marcle, Nr Ledbury, HR8 2QG 01531 670780, www.newbridgefarmpark.com An ideal place for you, your family and friends to enjoy a day out in the countryside. Visitors can enjoy a tractor ride, pony rides, handling the small animals and feeding the bigger animals.

Suitable for all ages. There are trampolines, giant sandpits, zip wire, indoor soft toddler play area and lots more!

Summer Holiday Afternoon Chill Zone A free, drop in session at the farm park run by a variety of local talents, including.. ‘Maker Day Fun. Local artist Hannah Day, Zsalya Yoga and more!

See website for details.

Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, HR8 1RL Brockhampton Estate, Greenfields, Bringsty, 01531 633160, www.eastnorcastle.com

Herefordshire, WR6 5TB Tel: 01885 488099 Regular attractions include Knight’s Maze and Croft Castle, Yarpole, nr Leominster, HR6 9PW adventure playground.

Tel: 01568 780246 Climbing Wall and Karts Have a go on the Croome Park, Croome D’Abitot, WR8 9DW climbing wall and race around on a pedal kart! 7 July Tel: 01905 371006 Wizardry and Magic Marvel at Magic Shows and Hanbury Hall, School Road, Hanbury, learn some secrets in the Magic Workshops! 14 July Droitwich, WR9 7EA Tel: 01527 821214 Make & Take: Air Dried Clay The Weir, Swainshill, Hereford, Herefordshire, Workshops Create an ‘air dry’ clay creation to HR4 7QF Tel:01981 590509 take home with you. 21 - 25 July Dinosaur Show Travel back in time with a lifelike walking, roaring T-Rex! 28 July - 1 August.

Circus Skils. Clown around, learn to stilt walk, All Things Wild Nature Centre, Station juggle and more 4-8 August Road, Honeybourne, Nr Evesham, WR11 7QZ Top Barn Farm Park, Holt Heath, Knights and Princesses Medieval mayhem for the 01386 833083, www.allthingswild.co.uk Worcester, WR6 6NH 01905 621954, children 11-15 August.

An all-weather attraction with a wide range of www.topbarn.co.uk Bushcraft survival Have you got what it takes to animals, a soft play area, outside play area, indoor A wide range of animals, outside play area, survive in the wild? Make a shelter, start a fire and tractors, animals encounter room, cafe, new tractor and trailer tours.. camouflage yourself. 18-22 August barefoot walk, dinosaurs, birthday parties and The Woodvilles Medieval Living History much more.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Lower Camp Join ‘The Woodvilles’ for an interactive living Passsport to Summer Travel Visit the Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcester, WR3 history show and displays with cooking, crafts and animals from around the world. Each week 8SZ 01905 754919 www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk combat. 25-26 August themed with a different country Bat and glow worm detecting Join us in 20 July -1 September Droitwich Community Woods for some family Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster Wild Explorers Holiday Club Each day fun looking for glow worms and bats. 24 July Station, Comberton Hill, Kidderminster, DY10 runs from 9am until 3pm and the price includes Woodland fun Wild fun in our woodland at 1QX 01562 757900, www.svr.co.uk all activities, lunch and snacks. £25 per child, per Lower Smite Farm. 28 August A Very British Summer! Bring out the day or £18 for siblings and annual members. bunting! There’s a wealth of good, old-fashioned Book for 1 day, a selection or all week, the fun to be had at the Severn Valley Railway during choice is yours! 32 July-30 August Worcester Festival the summer holidays!. 20 July -1 September www.worcesterfestival.co.uk 01905 611427 Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, Dozens of great ways for families to spend their Hampton Court Castle and Gardens, Burford, Oxfordshire, OX18 4JP 01993 823006, summer days in the city. 10 - 26 August.

Hope-under-Dinmore, Leominster, HR6 0PN www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

01568 797676, www.hamptoncourt.org.uk Rhino Month The keepers will be doing a daily Geopark Way Launch Event Circus Skills Workshops & Entertainment talk throughout August at 2:00pm near the Rhino Ledbury Market House, 07796 090694.

Circus skills and comedy juggling. 20 July Paddock about these magnificent animals, the Launch event for the new Geopark Way Six Horse Cavalry of Heroes Show A threats and the conservation work that is going Guidebook and a circular walk telling the story professional horse stunt display team are set to on to try and protect them for future of the stones which built the town. be full of action, exhilarating stunts, dazzling generations.

27 July 11am – 1pm costumes. 25-26 August 1-31 August Chateau Impney Hill Climb Little Owl Farm Park, Owl Hill Lane, Droitwich Spa WR9 0BN 0844 800 1895 Dunhampton, DY13 9SS 01905 620325, www.chateauimpneyhillclimb.com www.nationaltrust.org.uk www.littleowlfarmpark.co.uk See over 200 competitors strive to write their There’s plenty of family fun on offer during the A variety of animals, petting area, soft play, pedal names in a new chapter of the Chateau’s summer at National Trust places. See website for tractors, nature trail, cafe and picnic area. Plenty motorsport history by challenging one of the UK’s details. going on indoors too. most unique hill climb courses. 13-14 July

Farm Parks...

Special Events...

National Trust...

familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

15

Please mention you saw these events in Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

FAMILY

ADVE N T U R E S KIDS STAY AND EAT FOR FREE ADULTS FROM £55 PER PERSON Swimming Pool | Mini Golf Family Dining | Spacious Family Rooms Woodland Walk | Playground

01675 238 600 | www.TheBelfry.com ENGLAND’S LEADING RESORT WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 2018

16

Families Hereford & Worcester

To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk