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Check out a Heritage England site for free! Parenting
How a parent blogger became a best-selling author
Try a New Class or Club This Autumn?
Education
Tips for settling into school
My Stage School Now Have Wednesday Classes! - Page 12
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BRAND NEW WEDNESDAY SCHOOL FOR AGES 4-18 @ NAUNTON PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL BRAND NEW AGE 4-6 CLASS SATURDAYS @ ST JAMES’ PRIMARY SCHOOL
Issue 52 September/October 2019
Book now for Easter and Summer 2020 workshops before we sell out Now recruiting new students aged 4-18 from September.
familiesonline.co.uk
made at Newark Park
© National Trust 2019 . Registered charity, No. 205846. © National Trust Images \Christopher Heaney.
Autumn adventures
Is your child sitting the Gloucestershire Grammar School Entrance Examination? We provide coaching for pupils in years 4 and 5, ensuring that children are fully prepared for all aspects of the CEM test. Our small group approach is designed to increase knowledge and build confidence, allowing children to flourish and achieve their potential.
Why choose us ?
• Your child’s coach has twenty years education experience, including 14 years as a primary and secondary headteacher. • Our programme has been carefully designed to cover all aspects of the CEM test. • Each session lasts 1 hour 45 minutes. Sessions run during term time and school holidays, ensuring momentum and skills are retained. • Working in small groups ( no larger than 8) children learn and practice all elements of the CEM test. Games and traditional teaching methods are used to engage and stimulate learning. • Children take part in termly mock exams. Following this a full question level analysis is shared with parents. Enabling you to see which elements of the test your child needs to focus on and where they are succeeding. • All children are provided with practice books to use at home. • Children have access to our on line learning hub. The hub allows children to practice various aspects of the CEM test. Children build confidence and speed. Parents are then able to review progress in specific areas over time.
Visit our website to secure your child’s place for September 2019 or request a personal telephone call from our lead coach.
Pull on your wellies and head out on an exploration of the Newark Park countryside this autumn. Jump in leaf piles, splash in muddy puddles or follow our seasonal trail through the gardens.
Classes held in Woolaston, Lydney, Newnham On Severn and Gloucester
nationaltrust.org.uk/newark-park
For more information visit www.11pluscoachinggloucestershire.co.uk Or email coach@11pluscoachinggloucestershire.co.uk
Throughout October 11am-5pm
Open daily from 10am! Book online for a reduced entry price!
Spook Academy 26th October - 3rd November Learn how to be scary with lots of activities!
Spooktacular
Wild Explorers Holiday Club 28th October-1st November
Pre-payment required at the time of booking.
Wild Tots Toddler Time Thursdays 10.30am-11.30am
Term time only. Included in entry price.
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All Things Wild Nature Centre Station Road, Honeybourne, Near Evesham, Worcestershire. WR11 7QZ Tel: 01386 833083 Families Gloucestershire
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Contents
4 News
Heritage open days for Free! Sad dads
6 Education
Gloucestershire
Tips for settling into school
9
Parenting
To advertise with us and reach over 50,000 parents in the region contact Katie Azam on: 07921 338894 or email editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk
How a parent blogger became a best-selling author
10 Health
…endless ideas for families of young children in Gloucester – Cheltenham – Tewkesbury- Forest of Dean – Painswick – Stroud – Cirencester – Tetbury – And all other surrounding towns and villages throughout Gloucestershire.
ADHD – Busting myths The headlice guide
12 Classes/Clubs/Activities
Trying a new club or class
14
Whats On
16
Halloween Fun!
Your guide to what’s happening in Gloucestershire
How to make tasty Boo-meringue pops this Halloween!
To Advertise with us and reach over 40,000 parents in the region contact Katie Azam on: 07921 338894 or email editor@familiesgloucester.co.uk
Gloucestershire
Issue 52 - September/October 2019 Katie Azam, Editor t: 07921 338894 e: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk The Mini Media Company, Design Warners Midlands plc, Print Visit us at www.familiesonline.co.uk E facebook.com/familiesGloucestershire Magazine D @FamiliesGlosMag
Next Issue November / December 2019 For fireworks displays, Christmas fun and much more… 01242 378313 Families Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Gloucestershire. 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.
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Do you have any news, for our next issue? Email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk
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News
Free Family Fun with Heritage Open Days
This year, Heritage Open Days is celebrating its 25th anniversary and will be the biggest and most diverse to date. Running from 13 to 22 September, this annual celebration of England's history and culture, allows visitors FREE access to historical landmarks that are either not usually open to the public, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Nationwide there will be hundreds of FREE interactive activities for children, including dressing up, crafting, woodland walks and railway rides With a theme of ‘People Power,’ this year’s festival will offer visitors more opportunities than ever to discover the secret history of their towns, villages and countryside. Co-ordinated nationally by the National Trust with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery, the celebration brings together thousands of organisations and properties across England. For local events visit, www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Calls for Compulsory Climate Change Education in Schools A petition launched by four Oxford school girls calling for lessons on Climate Change to be made compulsory in schools has gathered over 75,000 signatures. The students are hoping to make climate change a “core part of the compulsory curriculum” to increase the next generation’s understanding of the global issue. They claim they have “barely learned about the climate crisis at school, even though it’s supposed to be part of Geography and Science.” According to the petition: “Climate change is the biggest issue of our time, and it must be a part of our education if our generation is to understand it and help us to combat its effects. That’s why we want climate change to be made a core part of the national curriculum.” More info: www.change.org
School Children to Tackle Speeding Drivers
An initiative in London is getting primary school pupils to confront speeding motorists, in a bid to enforce the 20mph speed limit near schools. The Junior Roadwatch scheme involves drivers who are caught speeding and pulled over by police officers being given the option of receiving a fixed penalty fine and points on their license, attending a speeding awareness course or being told off by children. Drivers “deemed suitable” to speak to the pupils following a police national computer check will face questions such as “are you aware of the consequences of speeding” and “why do you think the speed limit is 20mph on this road?”. Collisions are a leading cause of serious injury, disability or death of children in the UK. In 2017, 48 children died in road collisions in the UK and over 15,700 children were injured. Similar schemes are being used elsewhere, including parts of Hertfordshire, West Yorkshire and Northumberland. More info: www.tfl.gov.uk
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Families Gloucestershire
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News
Picky Eaters Still Grow Up Healthy
Qualified Childminder or Nursery May Be Better for Children Children may experience a better outcome in early years care that is provided by Ofsted registered carers or in a nursery setting than in informal care settings such as with friends or extended family, a study has suggested. Specifically, the study found that education and care with childminders at age 2 was found to have had a significant positive effect on children’s language development and behaviour at age 3. Group based settings such as nurseries and playgroups were also shown to have positive effects on children’s socioemotional development including how well they get along with other children. The Study of Early Education and Development (SEED) is conducted by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) in collaboration with the University of Oxford and is funded by the Department of Education. It is following the development of almost 6,000 children in England from ages 2 to 7. More info: www.natcen.ac.uk/our-research/research/seed
Picky eating in toddlers is a well-documented phase when children don’t want to try new foods and/or show very strong preferences. It can create much worry for parents, and has created a whole market for advice, guidance and tools to encourage young children to try lots of new tastes and textures. But researchers from the University of Bristol using data from a study of children between the ages of 7 to 17 have found that instead of being harmed by their diets, children who had been picky eaters at age 3 were growing normally as adolescents with a healthy height and weight. The -researchers claim the study & shows that even1children who 14:08 P 11455 GWR Families Mag Scream Santa_Layout 23/08/2019 are picky as pre-schoolers usually eat well enough over time to ensure they grow properly. More info: www.bristol.ac.uk/news
Steam & Scream Halloween Specials Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October 2019
Sad Dads
Join our spooky special and travel through our haunted tunnel to meet the Wicked Witch of Winchcombe for lots of scary fun! Wear your Halloween outfit and you could win a prize
It is well recognised that new and expectant mothers can experience mental health problems, but little attention has been paid to new fathers. Amidst recent research suggesting that at least 10% of new fathers suffer from depression, a new study has found new fathers can be beset by feelings of guilt and failure to live up to societal expectations to be stoic, strong and providers of support. The researchers found that fathers often interpret their struggles as a personal failure as a man and father, and refuse to regard their own problems as legitimate compared to those of their partner. This leads to reluctance in reaching out or seeking advice, further compounding any issues and making isolation a significant problem. New fathers also reported a lack of prior knowledge or awareness of the mental health challenges they could face as a result of having a baby. More info visit: www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/dads-and-partners www.familiesonline.co.uk
All Aboard The GWR Santa Specials Travel from Cheltenham Race Course or Toddington Sat 30th November and Sun 1st December, Sat 7th, Sun 8th, Sat 14th, Sun 15th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Sun 22nd, Mon 23rd & Tues 24th Dec. Advance Booking Essential
28 mile round trip through gorgeous Cotswold scenery • Travel from Cheltenham Race Course, Winchcombe, Toddington or Broadway • 693 yard tunnel at Greet • 15 arch Stanway Viaduct • Souvenir Shop • Tea Room • Heritage Trail • Small Museum • Ample free parking at Toddington and Cheltenham Race Course • Pay & Display car parking near Broadway Station
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
Do you have any news, for our next issue? Email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk
Families Gloucestershire
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Education
Is Good Grammar Important? By Andrew Campbell
Is grammar really an essential component of your child’s education or future?
The use of correct grammar is actually really important because it is the main feature within our spoken and written language that allows us to communicate thoughts and ideas clearly, and be understood. Children who don’t develop a good grasp of grammar fall back on what they intuitively know about language; as a consequence, they simply write how they speak. With good understanding of the grammatical components of language, a child is able to express themselves clearly and establish a good foundation for written documentation like school essays or job applications. Grammar rules also help children develop the habit of thinking logically and clearly. They provide the building blocks for them to expand their vocabulary, to understand and express themselves in a more interesting and complex way. The rise of social media has given rise to much short-cutting of the English language. When sending texts or messages via Facebook or WhatsApp, simple sentences or fragments of sentences are the norm. This short-cutting of language exposes children to a real risk of developing bad communication habits which could hold them back in the future. Some Tips for Helping Your Child with Grammar Bring grammar to life by asking questions to find out what your child knows about grammar. Do they know what a noun is? If not, show your child some objects. Explain that nouns are the names used for people, places and things. You can do the same with verbs by acting out some actions such as ‘jump’, ‘hop’ and ‘clap’. Do simple crosswords with your child using a dictionary to help you. The dictionary tells you what type of word you have looked up (verb, adverb, pronoun, noun etc.), and you can share this with your child. Play with punctuation. When you read, occasionally look at the
punctuation and talk about what it is telling the reader to do. Show your child how a question mark tells you to raise your voice at the end of the sentence to indicate a question being asked. Play ‘i-spy’ with the focus on looking for nouns (e.g. dad, bridge, tree, shop, apple). Tell your child that you are going to ask questions about the noun they have chosen. For example, ‘Is your noun green?’, ‘Can your noun fit in my hand?’ In this way you introduce grammatical terminology in a fun way. For Older Primary School Children: Opposites. Help your child understand antonyms (opposites) by calling out words like hot, big, slow, and get them to say the opposite. Alternatively, get your child to say words that mean the same as the ones you’re saying (synonyms). Tense tents. Help your child understand verb tenses, by drawing some ‘tense tents’ on pieces of paper. Write down some verbs in their various tenses – present (play), past (played), future (will play) and get your child to move the verbs into the correct tent. Sentence challenge. Challenge your child to write sentences of more than 25 words that only contain one verb. This helps them to understand how to control a sentence, rather than overcomplicate it. More resources at: http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zhrrd2p https://www.theschoolrun.com/best-grammar-apps-for-kids
Open Morning Saturday 5th October 2019 Prep School 10am to 12pm Senior School 9.30am to 12pm Girls and Boys from 2 to 18 year s Day • Boarding • Flexi-Boarding
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Write your own story with Wycliffe
Open Morning
Wycliffe is the perfect blend of place and culture where pupils develop and flourish in Years 9 to Sixth Form. A 5th October 2019and deed, and a pioneering spirit,Saturday independence of thought Prep School 10am 12pm Cotswold global outlook are coupled with our to beautiful Senior to 12pm location, perfect size School – where9.30am every pupil is known, celebrated and valued – and extensive facilities. and Boys from 2 to 18development year s We invest in bothGirls curriculum and staff to Day • Boarding • Flexi-Boarding ensure pupils benefit from the best teaching and learning available. A broad and balanced curriculum, combined with our state-of-the-art facilities, gives pupils plenty of opportunity to try new subjects and to realise where their interests and talents lie.
The Wycliffe experience is more than what happens in the classroom. We nurture mind, body and soul through our 27/08/2019 10:53:27 diverse extra-curricular programme. With more than 60 activities running every week of the year pupils have the opportunity to stretch that pioneering spirit and try something they may never have considered before. We inspire and educate every individual boy or girl – this is not just an acceptance of difference, but an encouragement to be individual. www.familiesonline.co.uk
Getting Your Child’s 11+ Foundations Right!
Places at Grammar and Independent schools are highly sought after in Gloucestershire and every year, the competition continues to rise. So when should I start my child’s 11+ preparation? Research shows that with the right guidance, children who start their preparation in Year 4 and 5 have ample time to make progress in their studies. This allows time to expand key skills, identify any weaker areas and tackle them directly. What can KSOL do for you and your child? We combine over 16 years of 11+ experience to create up-todate personalised online programmes which are monitored by a team of qualified and caring tutors. Every child is considered as an individual and courses are tailored to help improve particular areas of weakness. Our educational advisors are always available to offer you and your child additional support and guidance when you need it. KSOL ensure no stone is left unturned to help provide your child with the best 11+ education and you with the peace of mind that you are on the right track. See KSOL’s “Back to School” offers at www.ksol.co.uk or complete a FREE week trial today! Call us on 0121 733 6558.
Do you have any news, for our next issue? Email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk
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7
Education
Top Tips for Settling into the New School Year By Sarah West
It’s the beginning of a new school year and children up and down the country are embarking on the next (or even first) phase of their learning journey. Whether excited or nervous about what lies ahead, there is lots to think about so here are some top tips to help you start your children off on the right foot. Be Positive Children may be feeling a real mix of emotions as they begin the new school year. They may be excited about going to school or they may be sad that the long summer holidays are over. Indeed, they may feel both. Try to be sympathetic to their feelings and give them space to express them, while at the same time being positive about learning and school. Be prepared to talk about what lies ahead. It helps children feel at ease and encourages them to share their thoughts and ask questions. By showing them you are interested in their learning, you are sending a strong message about the value you place on their education and aspirations for the future. Be There for Them It’s completely normal to wonder how your child will get on at school in the coming year. Most children settle into the new school year relatively easily but it’s important to support them to be brave, try their best and help them develop the skills needed to cope with new situations and bounce back when things go wrong. Encourage your child to talk about how they are feeling. For younger children, teach them about different emotions and how to recognise how others feel too. To get the conversation started, there are lots of books you can get from the library about making friends and getting used to
a new environment. For older children, whose feelings are likely to be more complex, show them you are ready to listen and support them whenever they need you. Sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. Talk to your child about the ways they can behave when this happens, for instance, taking time out or knowing when and who to ask for help. Children cope better in different situations if they know there is support around them. Get Involved Research shows that parental participation in a child’s education has a very positive impact on children academically, emotionally and behaviourally. The good news is that there are lots of ways to get involved! Think about joining the PTA or another parent group or perhaps volunteer to help out with reading in the classroom or to accompany children on school trips. Chat with other parents at the school gate or ask your child’s teacher about what opportunities are available. As your children move through primary school, gaining independence and confidence, talking to them about their day and helping them to organise their PE kit and homework may not seem like a great contribution, but it shows your engagement and that you are there to support them. Other ways to get involved could include becoming a governor or trustee of your school, responding to surveys in which you can share your views and opinions about school policies and initiatives. You could even take part in a project or task to help improve the school grounds or a classroom. Remember learning doesn’t just happen in school. By getting your children involved in cooking, gardening, repairing and making things at home, as well as participating in a raft of other activities that you undertake in your daily lives, you are teaching them basic life skills which will stand them in good stead for the future and help them make sense of the world around them. Enjoy Yourself! Finally, schools bring communities together and provide families with the opportunity to make friends and socialise. By participating in your child’s education, no matter in what way or how much time you can devote, you will be supporting your child to achieve their potential, and most likely have some fun along the way. Sarah West is from Parentkind, an organisation which promotes parental involvement in education. For more tips on how to get involved in your child’s learning and education, visit www.parentkind.org.uk
Take advantage of Kumon’s one-week Free Trial Established for 60 years, the Kumon Maths and English Programmes enable students of all ages and abilities to develop into confident, independent learners with strong study skills.
1 - 30 SEPTEMBER Help your child to achieve beyond expectations. Book now! Bishops Cleeve and Charlton Kings Study Centres Caroline Liggett 01242 527526 Warden Hill Study Centre Freda Watson 01242 582603 Ability development for any child at any age Terms and conditions apply. Fees vary. Participating study centres only. Please refer to your local study centre. Subject to availability.
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kumon.co.uk
Kumon study equips students with core study skills that help any child to achieve beyond expectations. Your local Bishop’s Cleeve, Charlton Kings and Warden Hill study centres are offering a one-week Free Trial of the Kumon programmes between 1 September and 30 September for all new students. To take part in our Free Trial, just contact your local Instructors, Caroline Liggett at on 01242 527526 or email bishopscleeve@kumoncentre.co.uk and charltonkings@kumoncentre.co.uk. Contact Instructor, Freda Watson on 01242 582603 or email wardenhill@kumoncentre.co.uk to find out more. www.familiesonline.co.uk
Parenting
How a Parenting Blogger Became a Best-Selling Author
Gill Sims started her blog as a joke with a friend in 2016. Her posts on her Peter and Jane Facebook page soon went viral as she and, most importantly, “judgy” dog chronicled the funny and chaotic realities of parenting. She is now a bestselling author who has written three books and Peter and Jane has over 400k followers. Her first book Why Mummy Drinks was a top ten Sunday bestseller for 31 weeks. Her latest book Why Mummy doesn’t give a ***k is out now.
Claire Winter talks to Gill about her journey from blogger to best-selling author. How did it all start? I partly started the blog because I was fed up with the one-sided view many social media posts and blogs were giving about parenting. Social media often shows a very curated portrayal of family life where nothing goes wrong and everyone looks perfect. I wanted to write a humorous blog to show the “not so perfect” side of parenting where mums swear and not every day goes to plan! I shared my posts with friends and they started going viral in July. By September 2016, Harper Collins had offered me a book deal. Writing a blog post is quite different from writing 100,000 words but I got there in the end! What is the latest book about? My latest book continues the story of Ellen and her precious moppets, Peter and Jane and her on-going attempts to be the best mother she can. But she is thwarted at every turn. No matter how hard she tries. Peter and Jane don’t seem to have the memo on how to be the best children they possible can. They are just children – they cause chaos and ruin her life one way or another. They are also now older, so she is dealing with their teenage trials and tribulations.
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What would you say the biggest issue in dealing with a tweenager is? Dealing with the disdainful looks and the eye rolling and “oh mother” comments and dealing with the technology they have and not really understanding how it all works. Someone asked me on the radio this morning if I could explain Snapchat for the listeners who didn’t know what it was. I said, “I have no idea, you’ll need to find a young person to explain what it is!” Why do you think your social media posts resonate with parents so much? I guess because it is the other side of parenting. Social media has made it easier for people to show just the good bits. It is very easy to make it look like life is all pastel covered cupcakes and ‘making memories.’ Everybody has lovely days but they also have those not- so-lovely days. You may decide to do some baking and then your children smash six eggs and spill a kilo of sugar all over the kitchen floor and the dog eats it all and is horribly sick. Meanwhile, everyone else seems to be nailing it and doing better than you. It can be quite depressing; lots of people like to see that someone else is also having a rubbish day, so they know they are not the only one. When you’ve spent a fortune taking your kids on a wonderful day out to #makememories and all they want to do is go home and play Fortnite, you have to have humour. If you don’t laugh you may cry! Your books and posts are fictional but how does your family feel about them? They don’t mind, as they know my anecdotes and books are fiction. My daughter says Facebook is for old people and it’s the mum corner of the Internet. There’s nothing like children or pets to put you in your place! I once went to a book signing and most of the people who came just wanted to meet judgy dog. One lady called the organiser every day to check he was coming.
Gill Sims is the author of the successful parenting blog and Facebook site Peter and Jane, which has 400+k followers.
Do you have any news, for our next issue? Email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk
You can get her latest book Mummy doesn’t give a ***k from all good bookstores. She is also touring the UK. To find out more go to https://gillsims.com/tour
Families Gloucestershire
9
Health
Busting the Myths about ADHD By Tony Buckley
October is ADHD awareness month and Families takes up the baton to raise understanding about this debilitating condition. When you think of ADHD, what comes to mind? Screaming children. Refusal to do schoolwork. Maybe even violence. But if your child is not displaying these symptoms, could they still be suffering from ADHD? The answer is “yes.” Sensational symptoms like screaming, violence and refusal are those that provoke the most sympathy when a parent discusses their child with other parents, or the ones that look most interesting and are easiest to identify when portrayed in the media. They are real symptoms that real children with ADHD can (and often do) exhibit. But these aren’t the only symptoms someone with ADHD might have – they’re simply the symptoms that a parent or guardian are most likely to notice, as they affect people other than the person with the condition. It’s important to understand that if a child is behaving in an unfocused or hyperactive way consistently then they may have ADHD. But, not all people with ADHD are unruly and unfocused. Simply believing that they are can make it more difficult for those who display less “textbook” ADHD symptoms to get a diagnosis, as well as creating a damaging stereotype of children with the condition. So What are the Other Symptoms of ADHD? ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a condition that affects both adults and children. People with this condition will often experience symptoms such as impulsiveness, poor concentration, hyperactivity, poor organisational skills and being easily distracted. But some will experience other symptoms, either as well as or instead of these more well-known symptoms. Symptoms tend to change with age, and will be different for each person. This is especially true if their symptoms don’t match those expected and recognised by society. Many people with ADHD will reach adulthood without even realising that they have the condition. Some adults may only find out that their symptoms are ADHD-related if their own child is diagnosed with it, and some symptoms become less obvious as a child matures and enters adulthood. Many adults have no idea that their difficulty with social
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interactions or executive functions is a result of a hidden impairment, but, as parents, there are symptoms you can watch out for to find out if your child has the condition. How Can Parents Recognise Symptoms of ADHD in their Children? Children with ADHD will be impulsive. They’ll find it difficult to prioritise the various tasks and responsibilities that they need to deal with, and you may notice that their peers are more organised than they are. If a child has ADHD, you may find that they struggle to focus on the task at hand. Multi-tasking is another thing that children with ADHD tend to struggle with and this can cause child and parents significant frustration. Children with ADHD may feel under much more pressure than other children and feel that they need to be more active and work harder than others in order to keep up. Understandably this contributes significantly to their stress levels as they try to deal with all the tasks they need to complete. Children with ADHD can find it hard to cope with this degree of stress and pressure and may act this out in a variety of ways, becoming angry, emotional, withdrawn, panicky, argumentative or displaying a range of other stress-induced behaviours. Equally though, a child with ADHD may simply appear to be trying to focus very hard on their learning to get through the day and keep up with their classmates. In neither of the above cases will a child with ADHD necessarily look like a child screaming and throwing things as portrayed in the media. Where Can Parents Find Out More? For more information about ADHD, check out this helpful guide from Need2Know books at http://need2knowbooks. co.uk/product/the-essential-guide-to-adhd/ It answers essential questions and guides parents and teachers step-by-step through the actions they need to take to support a child with ADHD.
Use N2K25OFF for a 25% discount!
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Health
The Head Lice Help Guide! By Eileen Hutchinson
Primary school children are the main spreaders of head lice as they spend lots of time in close contact with one another. How these blood-sucking critters move from head to head remains a mystery to many of us, but if you understand this happens, it can help you avoid an infestation. How Lice Move From Head to Head Lice have claws at the end of their legs designed for walking through hair; they cannot fly or jump. The male lice happily stay on the scalp. After mating just once, the female louse lays up to 10 eggs daily for the rest of her 30 day life. She travels down the hair and waits with her front claws stretched out to grab any passing new hair. When a new hair passes by she will cling on, scurry up the follicle to the scalp, and start laying eggs. Transportation is as simple as that! The female louse doesn't care if your hair is curly or straight, clean or dirty. Essential oils as a repellant is another fallacy; there's no medical evidence they will prevent head lice, and a female louses genetic profile to colonise is far stronger than their dislike for any repellant. Simple Preventative and Checking Measures Keep long hair tied up in a bun plait or a ponytail at the nape of the neck for school and play dates. Use a separate brush for every member of the family. Advise children not to share brushes with friends. To check for lice, use a nit comb on wet hair coated with a small amount of clear conditioner and separate the hair into straight line sections, using clips to keep hair secure in each section. When checking, let down one section at a time, positioning the teeth of the lice comb at the top of the hair shaft at a 16degree angle out. Gently pull the comb down the length of the hair from the root to end. Wipe the nit comb on a tissue and look for lice, baby lice and eggs. www.familiesonline.co.uk
How to Recognise Lice, Baby Lice and Eggs Eggs - the brown and tan flecks, measuring around 2mm in length, are similar to the shape of a sesame seed. They are laid close to the scalp but are glued to the hair shaft so move down with the growth of the hair. So they can be found at any length of the hair. Lice - up to 4mm long and a light tan or brown in colour. Baby lice - can be tiny and may be identified on the tissue as darker specks alongside the eggs. Wet dandruff can be mistaken for eggs. The key is, it can be rubbed off. A nit egg can only be removed by sliding it down and off the hair shaft. What to Do if you Find Lice If you find evidence of a louse, you can keep on repeating this combing down in sections until the tissue is clear of specks or lice. Keep the cleared sections away from hair that has not been treated. After each section is combed, check for eggs and use a tweezer to slide eggs down the hair shaft and off the hair. Sterilise combs and put clips and bands in a plastic bag after washing. Do not use for at least three days. If using the combing method, you must comb every 3 to 4 days until the entire infestation has been removed. This can take up to a month, depending on the severity of the outbreak. It is easy to miss a louse or egg, and it is recommended you use a CE certified brand of head lice serum. Hypoallergenic and pesticide free treatments are now available which are safer and more effective than natural remedies. Eileen Hutchinson is the founder of NitNOT head lice serum treatment. For more information, visit www.nitnot.com Be aware of your reaction to your child’s head lice. If you are emotional or obviously disgusted, their lice experience will affect how likely they are to talk about other embarrassing issues in the future. If you find a louse or egg, take some time to compose yourself before explaining to your child a simple treatment is needed. If you are not worried or stressed, your child is less likely to be concerned. Remember lice are unpleasant, but harmless. If you do find it difficult to treat your child, you can always contact a clinic for advice or further treatment.
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11
Clubs, Classes & Activities
Trying a New Club or Class By Claire Winter
Whatever the age of your child, trying a new activity or sport encourages them to be more adventurous and learn new skills. The lives of children have been changed by modern technology, and we need to strongly encourage them to be more active and step away from their smartphone, Xbox, or PlayStation. Thankfully, there are a huge range of organised after-school or weekend clubs and classes for children to attend, from pottery painting to coding. Here are Families’ helpful tips for encouraging your child to try something new. Target their Interests A good starting point is to look at your child’s current interests. Their school may offer a wide range of classes and clubs from IT to sport. Additionally, local sports centres, libraries and art centres are often teeming with opportunities to join classes and clubs. So don’t be afraid to look outside the
school environment for things to do. For active kids, why not consider something more challenging, such as climbing, caving, or martial arts? Those interested in animals may find opportunities at your local zoo, petting farm or riding centre. While for the creatively inclined, investigate an art class, reading or book club or a school newspaper or blog. Understand What’s Stopping Them Many children can be apprehensive about new experiences, but if your child is consistently shying away from trying new activities, sit down with them and try to find out why. It could be a fear of not making friends, being bullied, low self-confidence about their abilities, or being in an unfamiliar environment. Once you know the cause of their anxiety, you can help address it. Tap into the Demand Factor and Co-Ordinate with Others Many children simply want to fit in, so if this is important to your child, look for new or popular activities. Try talking to other parents and see what activities their children are involved in. You could even co-ordinate for your children to participate in the activity together. Simply knowing that their friends are interested in a new club or class may mean your child will be keener to get involved. Emma, mum of an 8 year old says: “It took three years at school together before I discovered that one of my daughter’s friends attended a weekly roller-disco at our local sports centre and the opportunity to do something with her friend was enough to persuade my daughter to join in.” Highlight the Benefits Focus on the positive things your child will gain by taking part in a particular sport or activity. These could be a new social circle, certificates, medals or stickers, job or education opportunities in the future, greater confidence, getting fitter, or simply being with friends. Remember, it doesn’t matter what activity your child pursues, as long as they enjoy it.
New Classes Available
‘My Stage School’ Now have over 300 students across our Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday schools and we operate from many different venues and theatres. Their weekly classes in dance, drama and singing are exciting and varied taught by experienced and caring industry professionals. The school are always working towards a musical, show, demo, movie production or workshop every single term so parents can always enjoy watching their child in something new. The fun literally never stops Shows are structured so that every single child feature for an equal amount of time and has a substantial amount to do with equal parts and lines / solos (should they wish). Principal Ellie Marsden says, “We often have enquiries from parents about their shy child who has never done anything like this before. Those parents are often blown away when that child ends up singing solo in front of 400 people at the end of term performance.” Ellie and her team find that Children gain confidence in all areas of school life, social life, speech and physical ability, though attending My Stage School. Alongside weekly classes, they offer extra groups, troupes, private tuition, and exams, including tuition from a Disney Troupe who perform on the Disney Stage in Paris, a London troupe who perform in London theatres and another troupe who compete at local festivals. They have resident LAMDA coaches, private singing, speech and festival entry coaches, who can cater for any need. Ellie says, “We are extremely proud of everything our students and team are achieving instilling the belief that the sky really is the limit and the world is their oyster!” BRAND NEW WEDNESDAY SCHOOL OPENING AT ‘MY STAGE SCHOOL’ FOR AGES 4-18 @ NAUNTON PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL BRAND NEW AGE 4-6 CLASS OPENING 11.15AM TO 12.45PM SATURDAYS @ ST JAMES’ PRIMARY SCHOOL
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Families Gloucestershire
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Clubs, Classes & Activities
Most Parents Don’t Know
More than two thirds of parents don’t know how much exercise their child needs to do to stay healthy, new research has revealed. NHS guidelines state that children ages 5 to 18 should do an hour of physical activity every day, but 68% of UK adults didn’t know this or thought the target was lower. The survey of 2,000 adults, by YouGov for the Youth Sport Trust (YST), found that only a quarter knew the recommended exercise time for young people and on average people thought it was 46 minutes. Meanwhile, figures recently released by Sport England show only 17.5% of children are reaching the 60-minute target daily. More info: www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise
*We are limited by capacity so get in touch asap to book your FREE TRIAL. www.familiesonline.co.uk
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OL O H C STROUD STAGE S FOR AGES 4-18YRS
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✫ 100% LAMDA exam pass rate ✫ Tutors from West End Shows such as Les Miserables, The Lion King, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ✫ An independent Stage School run by industry experts ✫ Competitive fees ✫ All disciplines taught; Dance, Drama and Singing ✫ Theatre Trips with exclusive meet and greets ✫ Family run and friendly ✫ supportive environment
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✫ Founded in 2008, well established and respected
t: 0845 519 6455 e: alice@shineonstage.co.uk
HAVE FUN! • BE INSPIRED! • GROW IN CONFIDENCE!
WEEKLY PERFORMING ARTS TUITION
LEARN FROM THE BEST! • LEARN NEW SKILLS!
We regularly host VIP tutors who come to share their industry expertise; run annual events; have strong industry links and share audition info with pupils if desired. We offer group LAMDA exam coaching for seniors within Stage School hours. Solo exam coaching for all ages 7-18yrs is an additional class which runs directly before or after the Main School session (solo exams at medal level gain UCAS points that can be used towards university applications). We host a super popular, sell out summer school, where we work in a professional theatre all week, host VIP tutors and put on a full-scale show. All of this excitement is framed by a friendly, supportive vibe where every youngster is celebrated. Pastoral care is of utmost importance to us and we welcome each new pupil into the “Shine Family” where everyone looks out for each other, and strong friendships are made.
L IA E TR BL EE ILA FR VA A
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SHINE ON STAGE’s popular STAGE SCHOOL is moving to THOMAS KEBLE in Stroud every Saturday in term time from September 2019 and are thrilled to offer a FREE TRIAL to any youngster* interested in joining! Established in 2008 and independently run, Shine On Stage offers fantastic performing arts tuition to young people aged 4-18yrs. Youngsters are taught to sing, dance and act by professional performers and teachers with West End, TV and Film credits to their name. Youngsters aged 4-7yrs join the 90 minute ‘Sparkles’ class, which is a small, nurturing, foundation class where creativity and confidence is developed. Youngsters aged 7-18yrs are split across three age groups in Main School, and spend their time learning, honing new skills, building self-esteem and confidence, and supporting and being supported by new friends and teachers.
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www.shineonstage.co.uk
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Families Gloucestershire
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What’s On SEPTEMBER
1st – 8 September Art Unbound at Painswick Rococo Garden A curated exhibition of contemporary sculpture designed to complement the exquisite garden’s unique history. Painswick Rococo Garden, Painswick, Glos. GL6 6TH. 01452 813204 1st – 21st September The Moon Exhibition at the Museum of Gloucester Running until Saturday 21 September, make sure you don’t miss this wonderful exhibition at the museum, in the 50th anniversary year of the Moon landings… Museum of Gloucester, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL1 1HP 7th September The Sixteen: Choral Pilgrimage 2019 at Tewkesbury Abbey The 2019 Choral Pilgrimage brings together music past and present, highlighting The Sixteen’s choral journey over the last 40 years. Tewkesbury Abbey, Church Road, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 5RZ
22nd September Celebrate National Cupcake Week at Berkeley Castle Meet Katharine Edwards, expert cake decorator, and learn how to decorate your very own cupcake to take home – all members of the family are welcome to take part. Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, Glos. GL13 9BQ 29th September Classic Car Rally at Sudeley Castle Classic car owners and enthusiasts are in for a treat as Sudeley Castle hosts a classic car rally against the spectacular backdrop of the castle and gardens. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, Glos. GL54 5JD 28th September Bird Watch Morning at WWT Slimbridge Get to grips with bird identification with the help of an experienced reserve wardens. WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, Glos. GL2 7BT
OCTOBER 1st – 31st October Autumn Festival at Newark Park Celebrate autumn across the Newark Park gardens and countryside. With seasonal colour, recipes and displays. Newark Park, Ozleworth, Wottonunder-edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7PZ. 01453 842644
7th – 8th September Birds In The Park – Falconry Weekend at ICBP Newent This year the ICBP are combining their traditional Falconry Weekend event and last year’s Birds in the Park to create something for everyone! The International Centre for Birds of Prey, Boulsdon House, Newent, Glos. GL18 1JJ 8th September Speech House Vintage Show A great family day out in the Forest of Dean in support of local charities. Speech House Hotel, Coleford, Forest of Dean, GL16 7EL 8th September Classic Vehicle Day at GWSR Combine the scene of historic road transport with a backdrop of vintage trains and you have a very special day out. Gloucester Warwickshire Railway, The Railway, Toddington, Glos. GL54 5DT 14th September Owl Evening at Cotswold Falconry Centre This is your chance to get close to these beautiful creatures and learn more about them! Cotswold Falconry Centre, Batsford Park, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos. GL56 9AB 14th September Newent Onion Fayre 2019 The Newent Onion Fayre is a great day out for all the family with so many activities and things to see and do including the traditional onion eating contest, best onion and other competitions and even the chance to enjoy some onion soup! Newent town centre, Gloucestershire 14th – 15th September Unicorn Weekend at Cattle Country Come along and enjoy the magic at a Unicorn Weekend. Pre-book your park tickets and also your Unicorn Pony rides before we run out. Cattle Country Adventure Park, Berkeley, Glos. GL13 9EW 19th September & 10th October Meet Censorinus at Chedworth Roman Villa See the mosaic floors and state-of-the-art bath houses in the company of the man whose wealth and ambition made it all possible. Chedworth Roman Villa, Yanworth, Nr. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 3LJ 20th – 22nd September Steam Gala at Perrygrove Railway This promises to be an action-packed weekend with intensive train timetable and lots of engines in use, including a visitor or two! Perrygrove Road, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 8QB 21st September Farm Fest at St Augustines Farm Enjoy a day of fun and celebration making the most of the last of the summer down on the farm at St Augustines. St Augustines Farm, Arlingham, Gloucestershire GL2 7JN
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Families Gloucestershire
4th – 13th October Cheltenham Literature Festival 2019 Various venues in Cheltenham. A dazzling array of prize-winning novelists, agenda-setters and opinion-formers, historians, filmmakers, artists, academics, journalists, poets, musicians and comedians will come together in celebration of the spoken and written word this October for the 69th Cheltenham Literature Festival. •
Saturday 5 October 10.30am - Cressida Cowell: Dragons and Wizards - £6 ages 9+ • Sunday 6 October 10am -Parabola Arts Centre- I Believe in Unicorns - £12 for age 7+ and the whole family • Saturday 12 October 12 noon - Danny Wallace And Jamie Littler - Parabola Arts Centre - £6* Ages 9+ • Saturday 12 October 1.45pm - The Hive - The Very Hungry Caterpillar - £6* Ages 4+ • Sunday 13 October 10.30am - Tongue Fu for Kids - The Garden Theatre - £8* Ages 7+ and the whole family. Box office: 01242 850270 http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature 6th October The Forest Showcase Food Festival Showcasing creative producers from The Forest of Dean and surrounding areas alongside invited traders who have something that ‘little bit different’ to bring to the Festival. Speech House Hotel Grounds, Coleford, GL16 7EL 12th October Beaudesert Autumn Charity Fair This beautiful School in Minchinhampton invite you to join in the festivities of their Autumn Charity fair! Beaudesert Park school, Minchinhampton, Stroud, GL6 9AF 12th – 13th October Dog Swim at Cheltenham Parks Lido. Now in its 3rd year, the annual Dog Swim event returns! This is at the end of the season and following all human swimming sessions. Bring your pooch along for some fun splash time! Sandford Parks Lido, Keynsham Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7PU 19th October – 3rd November October Half Term Shriek Week at Birdland Visitors will be able to let their imagination fly away with them during October Half Term Holidays, with a special Halloween themed ‘Myths & Legends’. Birdland, Rissington Road, Bourton-on-the Water, Glos. GL54 2BN
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What’s On
26th – 27th October Steam & Scream Special Halloween event on the GWSR Join the 'Spooky Special' at either Cheltenham Racecourse or Toddington Station but hold on tight! - you never know what might happen as you make your way through the haunted Greet Tunnel on the approach to Winchcombe from Cheltenham. Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Toddington, Glos. GL54 5DT or Cheltenham Racecourse.
25th October – 3rd November Halloween Land at Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park There will be cauldrons of spooky fun to be had in the Halloween Land area during half term. Pick your own pumpkin, fresh off the farm, in the pumpkin patch*. Get crafty and decorate at the Park (they'll clean up the mess!) or take it home with you. Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park, Nr. Guiting Power, Cheltenham, Glos. GL54 5UG 26th October – 3rd November October half term at Chedworth Roman Villa Things are getting spooky at the villa this October half term. You can follow the trail, make some crafts to take home or meet Chedworth’s Romans, Chedworth Roman Villa, Yanworth, Nr. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 3LJ
26th October – 3rd November Spook Academy @ All Things Wild Nature Centre Welcome to Spook Academy and follow your timetable of Spooktacular lessons! Learn how to ride a broomstick, get creative by making potions, meet some creepy creatures and lots more! All Things Wild is a year-round family attraction, comprising of plenty of activities both indoor and outdoor, to keep all ages entertained whatever the weather! All Things Wild Nature Centre, Station Road, Honeybourne, WR11 7QZ. 01386 833083 27th - 30th October Spooktacular Half-Term Fun at Berkeley Castle All Hallows Week at Berkeley Castle with some Ghastly Goings On! There is an audience with King Henry VIII and 2 beheaded wives, as well as spooky stories and so much more! A great weekend out for all of the family. Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, Glos. GL13 9BQ
26th October – 3rd November Events, dates and times are subject to change. Please Witches, bats and eerie tales at Newark Park check with venue before visiting. There are some spooky going's on at Newark this half-term. Discover the history of the witches marks. Listen to spooky tales. Find out all For more information www.familiesonline.co.uk about the bats that call Newark house their home, and so much more!1 29/08/2019 SoL.FamiliesinGlos_EarlyBird_180x130mm_Ad-18375-AW:Layout 10:36 Pagevisit: 1 Newark Park, Ozleworth, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7PZ
30 November – 30 December 2019 “A Wonderful Experience For All Ages!”
EARLYBIRD OFFER
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SudeleyCastle.co.uk/Spectacle Book EarlyBird* online, by phone on 01242 705 555 or in person at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham Do you have any news, for our next issue? Email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk Families Gloucestershire 15 *This offer closes on 30 September 2019
Things that Go YUM in the Night! Conjure up some ghoulish AND tasty Boo-meringue Pops this Halloween! BOO-meringue Pops are tiny spectres that sit quietly in their cups until an unsuspecting little someone gets within snacking distance. Our friends at Wonderbly have come up with this fantastic spook-tastic recipe. Follow the simple steps below to make your own.
Ingredients
For the meringues
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115g caster sugar 115g icing sugar a pinch of salt 4 large egg whites, at room temperature large freezer bags greaseproof paper tiny chocolate drops a bar of milk or dark chocolate
For the cups
• paper cups • utility knife • paint • brush • Posca pen • lollipop sticks • masking tape • a sheet of tissue/crepe paper • scissors
And voilarghh! You have a shroud of supernaturally cute treats ready to surprise lots of little monsters!
Wonderbly create meaningful, magical personalized stories, which let children imagine themselves doing extraordinary things. Find out more at www.wonderbly.com