Families Oxfordshire May June 2023

Hands-on discovery at the Science Oxford Centre

Indoor and outdoor science-themed exploration for curious kids. Fun activities, Explorer Backpacks and nature trails for all to enjoy

Family Day tickets include 2 hours in the Exploration Zone and all day access to the woodland and outdoor Water Lab. Refuel in the cafe or bring a picnic! Book online for all Family Days and STEM Clubs at the Science Oxford Centre and in Abingdon

Enjoy Cogges

Dear Reader,

The sights, scents and sounds of Mother Nature are in full swing right now and there is no excuse not to get outside in the fresh air and do something as a family. This issue is packed full of ideas to get everyone outdoors, including the return of the Oxford Festival of Nature from the 22nd May to the 7th June; two weeks of events across the city of Oxford. From comedy nights to children’s night time safari’s – there is something for everyone. Check the webpage for details. www.oxfordfestivalofnature.org

Another way to get up close and personal with the countryside this spring is to visit one of the many farms across the country who will be opening their gates to welcome the public for Open Farm Sunday - a great way for children to find out more about where their food comes from and talk to the farmers who produce it.

Wise words

What's in this issue?

4. News & Views

6 Feature ‘Weaning’

7. Baby News

8. What’s On

11. Feature ‘Please listen to me’

13. Feature ‘Developing Independent learning’

14. Clubs & Classes

facebook.com/familieseastoxfordshiremag

Families Oxfordshire reaches over 40,000 readers and is available through schools, nurseries, hospitals, clubs and classes, selected shops and restaurants. If you would like copies for your establishment please let us know.

Families Oxfordshire 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 Oxfordshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Oxfordshire. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Oxfordshire its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

DON’T MISS A COPY! Receive Families Oxfordshire by post for just £9.30 for 6 issues (1 year) or £18 for 12 issues (2 years). Call or email editor@familiesOxfordshire.co.uk for a subscription form.

EDITOR: Lisa Exell 01945 861336, editor@familiesOxfordshire.co.uk

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Amanda Dawson, admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk

SOCIAL MEDIA: Amanda Dawson, admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk

DESIGN: Caroline Thompson-Heap, info@cheekymonkeydesigns.net

A FAMILY TICKET* TO SEE ZOG AT OXFORD PLAYHOUSE!

The smash-hit stage adaptation from Freckle Productions (the team behind Zog and the Flying Doctors and Stick Man) is back at Oxford Playhouse and promises to be bigger, brighter and more roar-some than ever before! With lively songs from Joe Stilgoe and directed by Emma Kilbey, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved Zog is a magical production for all ages. To be in with a chance of winning a family ticket, please visit our Facebook page @familieseastoxfordshiremag and like and share our competition post. Good luck.

@FamiliesOxonMag

Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different...C.S Lewis

News & Views

Superheroes Stay and Play and Fun Run

On Friday 26th May, at 1.30pm Visit Christ Church Cathedral School for a Superheroes stay and play session and fun run!

Founded by Henry VIII, Christ Church Cathedral School (CCCS) is a Prep School for boys aged 3 - 13, with a Co-ed Nursery. They offer boarding for Cathedral Choristers and flexi-boarding for day boys aged 8 – 13.

The Nursery is housed in a 16th century building, comprising four welcoming classrooms with a lovely garden. It’s a special place, where the children’s happiness and development are at the heart of everything. Children benefit from a seamless transition from Nursery to Pre-Prep and beyond. They pride themselves on exceptional academic and

musical achievements - over 60% of their boys achieved music scholarships and exhibitions to their chosen secondary schools in 2022. As a small school, CCCS is renowned for its small class sizes and family-oriented approach. Contact the Registrar, Mrs Laura Kemp, for more information or to arrange an individual tour on 01865 242561 or registrar@cccs.org.uk www.cccs.org.uk

Enjoy family fun at Cogges, open every day!

A great place to relax, learn and play over the long weekends and spring holidays. Meet the animals – friendly goats, ponies, chickens and rabbits – with new Cotswold Lions joining the flock. See baking on the range in the Manor House, and enjoy the warmer weather with 17 acres of open space, meadows and adventure play to explore. Stop for lunch, or bring a picnic!

Roll up, roll up! It’s the Cogges Summer Fete! Fun family games from Splat the Rat to Coconut Shy, face painting, archery and falconry displays on 17th & 18th June; a great way to celebrate Father’s Day weekend! Look out for crafty activities, interactive theatre and hands-on creative workshops coming soon. Check out what’s on: www.Cogges.org.uk

National Vegetarian Week

Reduce your meat intake to help the planet National Vegetarian Week takes place from 15th to 21st May and will highlight how switching to vegetarian meals can reduce your carbon footprint and benefit the planet.

The National Food Strategy says the UK should eat thirty percent less meat by 2030. For people who eat meat every day, this can be achieved by going meat-free on just two days a week.

Evidence shows that plant-based food is better for the planet, has far less carbon emissions than meat and for households on tight budgets it can also be a cheaper, healthier choice.

During the week, you will be able to download a FREE digital book ‘Make Meals Better by Miles’ featuring recipes from famous chefs including Deliciously Ella, Miguel Barclay, Kwoklyn Wan, Jackie Kearney and Max La Manna. More info: www.nationalvegetarianweek.org

Family fun with National Children’s Gardening Week

This summer, why not get involved in National Children’s Gardening week?

Happening from 25th May to 2nd June, in the ‘warm’ half term at the end of May, means that pretty much throughout the UK children can plant all their favourite plants with less fear of weather damage or the need for complicated protective growing.

As well as simply good outdoor fun, gardening has been shown to have many benefits to health and wellbeing including being more physically active and feeling happier and more connected with the natural world.

There are many ways to get involved with National Children’s Gardening Week from DIY activities at home, to attending an event at local garden centres. More info: www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk

Hands-on discovery with Science Oxford this spring

Be inspired by our amazing world this spring! Family Days at the Science Oxford Centre in Headington run every Saturday – get hands-on in the Exploration Zone, experiment at the outdoor Water Lab, and pick up an Explorer Backpack to investigate the woodland. You can relax and refuel in the café, or bring a picnic!

For ages 5-9 and their grown up, Nature Club is buzzing with indoor-outdoor activities for World ‘Bee Day’ in May, and the ‘Big Bug Hunt’ for National Insect Week in June. ‘Super Senses’ will be tingling at Science Club in Oxford & Abingdon, and ‘Music Makers’ create their own instruments and make some noise! Young coders take the controls at ‘Self Driving Cars’ for June’s futuristic Creative Computing Club (ages 9-12). Book ahead: scienceoxford.com

Bereavement benefits for unmarried co-habiting parents

Bereavement benefits have been extended to apply to unmarried couples with dependent children, opening up the payment to thousands more families.

From 9th February, the eligibility criteria for Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance have been extended to include co-habiting parents, not just married couples. The benefits are intended to help parents with the financial impact of losing a partner.

It means that more children who lose a parent will be equally supported, no matter the legal relationship status of their parents.

The Bereavement Support Payment of almost £10,000 will benefit unmarried parents going forward and will retrospectively apply to many unmarried parents who were bereaved between 2018 and now. To make a retrospective claim, parents must act by 9th February 2024. More info: bit.ly/BenefitsGovUK

Clean Air Day 2023

Targeting air pollution, this year Clean Air Day will be on Thursday 15th June and brings together communities, businesses, education and the health sector aiming to:

• Improve public understanding of air pollution, both indoors and outdoors

• Build awareness of how air pollution affects our health

• Explain some of the easy things we can all do to tackle air pollution to help protect the environment and our health.

There are dozens of online events all day on the Clean Air Day website aimed at individuals, schools and businesses, as well as hundreds of events around the country for everyone to join. It’s the opportunity to try something different - from travelling without a car to closing your school’s street and having a street party. More info: www.bit.ly/CleanAirDayUK

Government to expand free childcare

Free childcare for working parents in England will be expanded to cover all children under five by September 2025, the government has announced as part of a wider program to get people back in work.

THE NEW HELP FOR PARENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN STAGES.

• Eligible working parents of two-year-olds will get 15 hours of free childcare per week from April 2024

• Children between nine months and two years old will get 15 hours of free childcare from September 2024

• All eligible under-5s will get 30 hours of free childcare from September 2025. The rising cost of childcare has been widely seen as a deterrent for some parents to go back to work or work full time.

Childcare in the UK is among the most expensive in the world and the government has been under pressure to provide more help for parents. More info: bit.ly/GovChildcare

Book a FREE summer term class with Perform

Summer term is here and there’s no better time for your child to try Perform. Packed with self-esteem boosting activities, Perform weekly classes round off the academic year with a fun and relaxed focus on developing confidence, communication, coordination and concentration. Using a mix of drama, dance and singing, these high-energy classes for all abilities are designed to allow even the most reticent children to shine.

This term, 4-7s will be setting sail on the Jammy Dodger for an adventure with the

Evidence not needed for short mental health absence

Schools do not need to routinely seek medical evidence to authorise short-term pupil absences that result from mental health issues, according to new government guidance.

It comes as a report on the wellbeing of children and young people found the level of probable disorders has remained at ‘elevated’ levels since the pandemic and warned anxiousness increased in pupils of all ages last year.

In advice on dealing with absences caused by mental health issues published recently, the Department for Education (DfE) reiterated that schools are expected to ensure regular attendance. However, it added that there was no need to ‘routinely’ ask for medical evidence to support an authorised absence for mental health reasons.

In instances where children’s mental health causes them to be absent in the long-term or repeatedly, it ‘may be appropriate’ to seek medical evidence according to the guidance. More info: bit.ly/DofEAbsence

Mermaids & Pirates. Meanwhile, 7-12s will enjoy a laugh-out-loud adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in The Dream. The curriculum has an emphasis on fun with free apps and videos to watch at home.

Classes are for all abilities and every child is welcome to try a free class in West Oxford Community Centre, Oxford (Wednesdays); The Northcourt Centre, Abingdon (Saturdays and Thursdays); Didcot Methodist Church Hall (Fridays); Benson Youth Hall, Wallingford (Saturdays); Kingsmere Community Centre, Bicester (Wednesdays); Marston United Reformed Church, Oxford (Saturdays). Just visit www.perform.org.uk/try

Perform fun continues into the summer holidays with Wizard of Oz holiday courses at West Oxford Community Centre from 7th - 11th August. Don’t miss the Perform in the Park summer festival of children’s theatre, [see more on page 9.

Visit performinthepark.uk to book.

JOIN IN DURING WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK

A generation ago, seventy percent of us walked to school - now it’s less than half. So Walk to School Week was started to encourage more kids to get out of the car and walk to school. Walk to School Week is held from 15th to 19th May and is organised by the UK charity Living Streets to celebrate the health and wellbeing benefits of walking.

Families will be encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to see the big differences that can come from small stepsfrom healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates.

Free interactive wall charts and stickers are available to download. Schools can also obtain classroom packs to help teach children about the benefits of being active,with daily reward stickers and special rewards for those who travelled actively every day.

More info: www.livingstreets.org.uk/walkto-school

Families Education

Vegan and Vegetarian Weaning

Baby and Child Nutritionist, Charlotte Stirling-Reed, is now running an Online Weaning Course, a complete step-bystep guide for parents and caregivers to introduce solids to their baby. Find out more at www.srnutrition.co.uk/online-weaningcourse.

Many parents ask about raising a baby or a toddler on a vegetarian/vegan or plantbased diet. It’s become much more popular in recent years and for many reasons too. If you’re wanting to raise your little one vegan or vegetarian, please know that it’s absolutely safe and practical to do, but you will have to think about and plan meals a little more and you might need to think about supplements for your baby too.

It’s always worthwhile getting some oneto-one support if your little one is going to be having no dairy, fish or animal products, just to check that you are offering them all that they need each day.

There aren’t really any differences in the early stages of weaning when it comes to offering vegetarian or vegan diets to babies. Starting with Veg Led Weaning - which I talk about a lot on my Online Weaning Course - is the same, and a great way to start all babies on their weaning journey. After those first tastes, it’s about exploring a wide variety of other foods with your baby, gradually and

gently and this is essentially just done without the inclusion of meat and/or other animal products.

When you’re removing these foods though, it’s important to know that you DO need to replace them with foods that contain the same nutrients as the excluded food options. For example, meat and dairy foods are often a good source of:

• Iron

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Protein

• Iodine

• Vitamin B12

• Calcium

Foods that contain these are fairly easy to find though, but it’s important to offer these regularly in baby’s diet once they are established on solid foods and having three meals a day. Generally, this means offering “protein and iron rich” foods (see below) around three times a day for vegetarian and vegan children.

Foods that typically include these nutrients in varied amounts include:

• Fortified dairy alternatives - these usually/ should include iodine, B vitamins (including B12), calcium and vitamin D.

• Beans, lentils, pulses

• Ground nuts and ground seeds

• Tofu, Quorn, soya beans

• Olive oil and seed oils

If your baby is vegan, you might need to think about choosing more fortified foods and/ or having a supplement containing some of these nutrients, especially iodine, omega-3 and vitamin B12.

For more information about these foods, nutrients baby needs and everything you need to know about weaning your baby check out Charlotte’s Online Weaning Course and you can find out more information at www.srnutrition.co.uk/ online-weaning-course/

NHS to use test that prevents babies going deaf

A rapid test that can help preserve the hearing of newborn babies is set to be used by NHS hospitals.

Using a cheek swab, the test can identify in less than half an hour whether a critically ill baby admitted to intensive care has a gene change that could result in permanent hearing loss if they are treated with a common emergency antibiotic, Gentamicin.

While Gentamicin is used to safely treat approximately 100,000 babies a year, one in 500 babies carry the gene change that can lead to permanent hearing loss when given the antibiotic.

The new test means that babies found to have the genetic variant can be given an alternative antibiotic and could save the hearing of 200 babies in England every year.

The test will be trialled in a range of hospitals before it gets final approval.

More info: bit.ly/NHSBabyTest

More paid leave for parents of premature babies

Parents could take up to an extra twelve weeks of paid leave if their child is born prematurely, as part of a new law.

Both parents would qualify for one week's extra help - in addition to existing maternity and paternity leave and pay entitlements - for every seven days their baby was in neonatal care.

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill is in its final stages of becoming law.

A baby is considered to be premature if it is born before the 37th week of pregnancy and one in seven UK newborns needs to be placed in a specialist hospital unit. It is possible for a baby to survive when born at about 24 weeks of pregnancy - but the earlier it is, the more complications there could be.

More info: bit.ly/PrematurePay

New life is put into the planet with every sale

The Joolz stroller is putting the planet first with its continued efforts to make a positive impact on the environment, empowering the next generation of parents and creating a better world for their children. Through its extensive work in key areas of sustainability, the brand has succeeded in:

• Planting more than 380,000 trees in its Birth Forest initiative.

• Offering a unique 10-year transferrable warranty.

• Recycling 2.5 million plastic bottles in 2022 alone.

Proudly partnering with Tree Nation, Joolz’ Birth Forest initiative ensures with every sale of a pushchair, even more new life is put into the planet to flourish. Throughout every step of the Joolz journey, from the product creation to ongoing environmental work, giving back to the planet is at the very heart of the brand.

www.joolz.com/uk/en/about-joolz.html

The Fertility Show, 20th - 21st May 2023

The Fertility Show LIVE will be opening its doors once again at London's Olympia Exhibition Centre from the 20th - 21st May.

The Show continues to remain the UK's biggest event about fertility, showcasing the knowledge of clinicians and supporting attendees who are seeking guidance on their fertility journey, and is run in association with Fertility Network UK, the UK's leading charity relating to fertility.

It features over 70 exhibitors including UK & overseas clinics, advice groups, charities, dieticians, nutritional & lifestyle advisors, holistic therapists and more.

Visitors have the opportunity to attend over 35 live seminars presented by leading experts in a range of topics, including testing and diagnosis, choosing the right fertility clinic, new technology, egg & sperm donation and more.

The seminars are delivered by clinicians, nutritionists, counsellors, experts and Fertility Network UK Tickets are £14 for one day admission or £20 for admission on both days. Seminars and workshops cost £4. Digital only tickets can be purchased for just £10. www.fertilityshow.co.uk

What’s On

Things to do, places to go and fun to be had for kids of all ages in

Oxfordshire

Family Night Safari

WHERE: Environmental Education Centre, Sutton Courtenay

WHEN: 12th May 8.30 – 10.30pm

Learn to use bat detectors to hear bats hunting overhead and lamps to spot newts and frogs in the ponds, help our nature reserve team check the small mammal traps and have a look at the moth trap.

www.bbowt.org.uk/events

Family Fun

WHERE: Cogges Manor Farm

WHEN: May and June

Explore the grounds and say hello to the animals - goats, ponies, Cotswold sheep, chickens and rabbits – no farm ticket is needed for the café and shop. Open during bank holidays.

Prices from £6.00 under 3’s go free. www.cogges.org.uk

National Mills Weekend

WHEN: 13th -14th May

Many wind and water mills across the region are open with events and activities also taking place, refreshments often served.

www.spab.org.uk/mills/nationalmills-weekend

Nature Tots

WHERE: Environmental Education Centre, Sutton Courtenay

WHEN: 15th May, 10 – 11.30am

Join friendly Nature Tots staff and volunteers to explore the nature reserves and enjoy wildlife themed activities suitable for children aged 18 months to 4 years. £7.00 (90 minutes) www.bbowt.org.uk/events/

Oxford Festival of Nature

WHEN: 22nd May – 7th June

Learn about wildlife and nature around you during two weeks of events across the city of Oxford.

From comedy nights to children’s night time safari’s – there is something for everyone. Check Oxford Festival of Nature web page for details.

Family fun

WHERE: Greys Court, Henley

WHEN: May and June

You will find a children’s play area nestled in the woodland. Close to the tea-room and toilets, and benches to sit on while you watch the little ones play.

Entry from £6.50 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Nature Club World Bee Day

Ages 5 – 9

WHERE: Science Oxford Centre

WHEN: 20th May, 10.00 – 11.30, 12.30 – 14.00 and 15.00 – 16.30

Science Club Super

Senses Ages 5 - 9

Adventure Play

WHERE: Blenheim Palace

WHEN: May and June

Blenheim Palace adventure play is a hidden world of adventure, where mini explorers of all ages create their own exciting stories as they clamber, climb, paddle, slide, splash and zip through the exciting zones. Explore the amazing network of tunnels, bridges, cargo nets and hidden chambers. Prices from £11.50 www.blenheimpalace.com

WHEN: 13th May (Oxford) and 17th June (Abingdon), 10.00 – 11.30, 12.30 – 14.00 and 15.00 – 16.30

WHERE: Science Oxford Centre (May) and The Yang Science Centre (Abingdon)

Try out the feely boxes and bags and describe what you touch. Shake it out with noisy shakers, see optical illusions, experiment with colour vision, and taste and smell popping flavours plus much more. scienceoxford.com

01865 810000

Hey Diddle Diddle

WHERE: Oxford Playhouse

WHEN: 15th May - 10th July

A ‘hive’ of activities to learn about biodiversity and celebrate bees. Play fun bee games to learn about nature’s ecosystem, investigate plants and pollinators out in the meadow, roll your own Bee-autiful beeswax candle to take home plus much more. scienceoxford.com

01865 810000

www.oxfordfestivalofnature.org

Sing-along sessions for toddlers and their adults introduce music, dance and performance skills to early years children, to kick-start their excitement for creativity and imagination. With a new theme each week, you and your child are invited to play, laugh and learn in our fun, interactive sessions. 5 and under, £7 a session

www.oxfordplayhouse.com/whats-on 01865 305 305

Food Festival

WHERE: Blenheim Palace

WHEN: 27th - 29th May

A gastronomic weekend for great food and drink with a host of top chefs and producers. Sample delicious products from artisan bakers, craft brewers and international cuisine, plus treat yourself to some irresistible handmade sweets and ice cream. Prices from £11.50

www.blenheimpalace.com

Mushroom Kingdom Chaos Half Term Brick Building Workshop

WHERE: Various locations

WHEN: 30th – 31st May, 9.30 –11.30 and 14.30 – 16.30

Join everyone’s favourite video game character on an epic adventure through Mushroom Kingdom. There will be villains to defeat and a Princess to rescue as you build your own track, power up and navigate a fantasy world that is full of surprises.

www.masterbuildersclub.co.uk

Wildlife Garden

Open Day

WHERE: Sutton Courtenay Education Centre

WHEN: 3rd June 10am – 3pm

Celebrate the opening of the new wildlife garden with a fantastic free day out for all ages. Seed planting, minibeast hunting, trails, raffle, cake, scarecrow competition.

Suitable for all ages, FREE but BOOKING ESSENTIAL www.bbowt.org.uk/events

LEAF Open Farm Sunday

WHEN: 11th June

Find out more about where food comes from, talk to the farmers and get up close and personal with the countryside. Check ‘farmsunday’ website to find out more. FREE www.farmsunday.org

Creative Computing Club – Tech for Change

Ages 9 – 12

WHERE: Science Oxford Centre

WHEN: 17th June, 10.00 – 11.30, 12.30 – 14.00 and 15.00 – 16.30

Young programmers can tech-up and learn to code self-driving cars! Program your robot buggy to navigate roads, add turns and endpoints and listen out for ‘stop’ signals; look out for obstacles, and protect other road users along the way. 01865 810000 scienceoxford.com

Weekly Groups for Babies and Toddlers

WHERE: Wigod Way Wallingford Family Centre

WHEN: Tuesdays to Thursdays

Includes a toddler group inspired by the outdoors on Tuesdays, Baby Babble group on Wednesday mornings and a family session that’s all about play on Thursdays. Free www.wallingfordfamilycentre. com 01491 832940

The Cogges Summer Fete

WHERE: Cogges Manor Farm

WHEN: 17th - 18th June

Normal opening hours and entry. Splat the Rat to Coconut Shy, egg & spoon and sack racing, face painting, archery (Sat) and falconry (Sun) displays, tasty food and lots more!

Prices from £6.00 under 3’s go free www.cogges.org.uk

Nature Club – Big Bug Hunt (World Insect Week) – Ages 5 – 9

WHERE: Science Oxford Centre

WHEN: 24th June, 10.00, 12.30 and 15.00

Grab a sweep net and go on a hunt to discover some of the tiniest creatures in the woodland, identify a variety of amazing mini beasts found in different habitats and build insect homes in cosy spots where they might live. scienceoxford.com

01865 810000

Spring Family Days

WHERE: Science Oxford Centre, Headington

WHEN: Saturdays in May & June

Children and grown-ups alike have fun experimenting with interactive exhibits in the Exploration Zone (2 hour session) - create and test flying designs at the Air Table,build a giant magnetic ball run, and test what’s hot and what’s not with the Curious Camera. Tickets include all day access to woodland and ponds. **The ever-popular Water Lab is back with a splash from April!** From £6.00 scienceoxford.com/events 01865 810000

Summer Solstice Family Picnic and Campfire

WHERE: Sutton Courtenay Education Centre

WHEN: 21st June 5-7pm

It’s the longest day of the year! Celebrate with a wild picnic, campfire, toasted marshmallows, stories and songs.

Suitable for all ages – children must be accompanied at all times. £8 per head. Booking essential.

PERFORM in the Park

muddyfeettraining.co.uk

@muddyfeetforestschool

@MuddyFeetHQ

@FeetMuddy

Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th June

WHERE: Coram’s Fields, Bloomsbury

WHEN: 22nd July - 28th August

A magical festival of children’s theatre in the heart of London. Four fantastic musicals for children aged 2-14 plus evening events for teens. Set in a pop-up tent in Coram’s Fields WC1N 1DN, families can also enjoy the park with widelawns and wonderful play areas. Bring a picnic or enjoy the charming all-day café. Tickets start at £14.50. Visit performinthepark.uk for more information and to book tickets.

Independent Day School for Boys 3 - 13 & Girls

Come and experience an afternoon of fun! We invite you to our Stay & Play and Fun Run on Friday 26th May at 1.30 pm.

Parents will enjoy a tour of our School, while children take part in superhero fun activities. Visiting parents and children will then join Nursery and PrePrep, on Christ Church Meadow, for our Fun Run. Registration is required by Tuesday 23rd May; email: registrar@cccs.org.uk

To find out more about our lovely School or book a private tour, please contact Laura Kemp, our Registrar: registrar@cccs.org.uk

www.cccs.org.uk // 01865 242561

3 Brewer Street, Oxford OX1 1QW

Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford

Please listen to me!

By Tanith Carey

When we have non-stop days, it’s easy to lapse into ‘one-way-street parenting.’ That’s where as the more powerful grown-up, you tell your child how to behave. But parenting becomes so much easier when it’s a two-way transaction and you make a conscious effort to listen to what your child has to say as well.

As they grow, children are in a constant process of learning to recognise and describe their needs and emotions. However, with their developing vocabulary they can’t always clearly articulate their big feelings so they don’t always feel heard. Children who don’t feel heard often act out how they feel. There could be angry tantrums, strops, defiance or attention-seeking behaviour to force you to pay attention. Sadly, this behaviour has the opposite effect.

The good news is that just one simple shift can transform your relationship with your child. Next time your child explodes, understand they are struggling with giant feelings. Rather than thinking about how to discipline them, observe their behaviour with curiosity, followed by empathy.

For example, we grown-ups tend to hear repeated requests for the things kids want as whingeing or nagging. Rather than ignoring them, show them you heard them the first time by looking at them, getting down on their level if they are still little, repeating what they have just said and giving them a response that works in that moment, even if it’s an explanation for why you are saying ‘no’.

Of course, you can’t be expected to drop everything, every time or give kids whatever they want.

Keep some phrases in your back pocket like: ‘I know it’s hard to wait. I’ll be there soon,’ or ‘I heard you calling me. Give me five minutes while you finish your Lego house.’ Even if it’s not the answer they want to hear, they will ease off once they know the message has got through. Just make sure you stick to your word.

This kind of listening is not about giving in or letting them have their own way. It’s about remembering that children are on a steep learning curve towards naming and managing feelings that continues well into their teenage years.

TOP TIPS

NAME EMOTIONS: Experience shows that the more words you use to name your child’s emotions, the more accurate they will be when describing them.

BE INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY LOVE: Be curious about what your child has to say, even if you’ve heard the same dinosaur fact one hundred times. If you say: ‘Tell me more,’ your child will open up to you at other times too. If you feel yourself getting bored, go on an adventure to find new facts to fascinate them.

CALM YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM: When you feel angry or irritated when dealing with your child, whatever you are doing, take a few deep breaths to slow yourself back to empathy mode so you can listen to what they are trying to say.

LIMIT YOUR PHONE USE: Put away your phone during the special oneon-one times with your child, whether it’s bath times, mealtimes or story time. When they don’t have to compete to be heard they can relax into being with you.

For older children (ages 8 -11)

LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK: Once children can be clear about what’s bothering them, often responding with just a nod, an ‘I see’ or ‘That sounds tough’ is enough. Resist the temptation to offer judgement or criticism, even if you think it sounds constructive. It’s often what you don’t say rather than what you do which makes you the best sounding board.

SET ASIDE TIME: Spend regular unhurried time just doing the things they like to do. These ‘emotional deposits’ remind tweens that you like as well as love them and they will be more likely to listen to you at other times.

VALIDATE FEELINGS: Simply try to accept and understand how they feel, even if that feels uncomfortable for you. For example, your tween contains their behaviour all day at school. So when they come from school and moan, remember that most of the time you don’t need to do anything except listen. You could ask: ‘Do you need to vent, or do you want suggestions? Either is fine.’

Tanith Carey is co-author, with Dr Angharad Rudkin, of What’s My Child Thinking: Practical Child Psychology for Modern Parents. The book includes many topics including the best ways to communicate with children. Published by DK books and available from www.bookshop.org

At d’Overbroeck’s, our teachers get to know every student who joins us as an individual. They build a relationship of mutual respect, and work together to unlock each student’s full potential.

Find out how your child can make their mark on the world and how we’ll make every moment of their education count.

Rated Excellent by the ISI for Student Achievement and Personal Development

Contact us now to find out more and come for a tour

doverbroecks.com

Developing independent learning

It’s time for celebration when our children display independence, right from when they take their first steps on their own or ride a bike without stabilisers. These are big family moments; the child delights in their achievements and parents are proud to be part of these milestone development moments.

So what is independence?

Being independent means not needing support and becoming selfsufficient. A certain amount of independence comes naturally with age and experience; however, as adults there is plenty we can do to facilitate this growth along the way.

Returning to the example of babies taking their first steps, we tend to support them by holding their hands first and then a finger, before they try a few steps on their own. Clearing any potential dangerous items out of their way first, of course! We celebrate when they manage to walk alone and give them bundles of praise.

Helping your child to be independent with learning isn’t dissimilar to helping them walk unaided. We need to offer support, gently reduce that support and praise them for going it alone. This doesn’t mean stopping helping your child; instead it’s about nurturing an independent attitude and growth mindset. Our input will be age dependent and will need to be adapted accordingly.

Try some of these tips to help your child approach their learning with an independent attitude:

ESTABLISH A ROUTINE for starting homework. For example, for the first five minutes, your child works on their own or, in reverse, you work with them just for the first five minutes to get them started. Depending on the homework and age of the child, you could also consider helping out with every other question or section,then slowly building up the time between support periods.

GIVE THEM THREE TOKENS. They can use each token to ask for help. Once they have used up their tokens, they then have to continue working alone, trying to work things out themselves.

FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS, put a tiny mark on the page and ask your child to write up to that target before you read through it.

USE THE BBBB APPROACH. Ask your Brain, Book, Buddy before you ask the Boss (you!)

FOR ONLINE HOMEWORK, make sure that any websites or apps are saved with their passwords so they can go straight to what they need without your input.

WHEN THE HOMEWORK INVOLVES QUESTIONS, suggest they start with whichever one they can tackle independently, then come back to the questions they need help with.

ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENT THINKING so children feel comfortable expressing their own thoughts and opinions about their homework assignments. Talk with them about what they think worked well and what didn’t. Keep the dialogue about independence transparent. Maybe ask your child what they would like to be independent in and what support they will need to achieve this.

A GROWTH MINDSET is probably the most important ingredient in achieving independence. Historically intelligence was seen as something we were gifted from birth and our levels were finite. Nowadays, research shows that mindset significantly influences how we learn and

By Zuzu Jordan

achieve. A fixed mindset person may use phrases like ‘I was never good at maths’ whereas a growth mindset person says ‘I can’t do this problem YET’ and bans the word ‘can’t’ from their vocabulary altogether.

Helping your child change their inner dialogue about facing challenges can make their learning more positive and successful, at the same time encouraging other traits including resilience and persistence.

Zuzu Jordan is a Mastery for Maths specialist who has taught primary aged children for sixteen years and is interested in early years and home learning. For free homework and home learning resources, find the Facebook page Edumateuk.

INDEPENDENT THINKING

Independent thinking means not taking things at face value. Ian Gilbert from Independent Thinking (www.independentthinking. co.uk) explains it as literally coming up with your own ideas and making new connections, both incredibly useful skills. Philosophy for Children (www.p4c.com) offers helpful springboards to unlocking independent thinking, giving children permission to push back on existing ideologies and concepts. Questions to ignite creative thinking are sometimes called Thunk questions. For example, if I read a newspaper in a shop without buying it, is it considered as stealing?

What’s On

clubs and classes, something to do for everyone in

Oxfordshire

Little Explorers 2 Day Adventure (non-residential) (Reception to Year 2)

WHERE: The Oxford Boat Adventure, Dorchester on Thames, Wallingford

Spring Pop-Up

WHERE: Evenley Wood Garden (nr Brackley)

WHEN: 30th May – 2nd June 9am-4pm

Rewild your child with a day of immersive woodland fun. The day will inspire your children, as well as teach them new nature-based skills with our wonderful team of Forest Guardians. £42 per day www.muddyfeettraining.co.uk

WHEN: 29th - 30th May and 31st May - 1st June, 8.45 - 16.30

Fun adventures and challenges that not only teach children how to light fires, build simple shelters, and cook outdoors but develop resilience and flexibility, ensuring they enjoy the outdoors and discover fun in every challenge.

£160.00

www.theoxfordboatadventure. co.uk

07979 592753

The Water Adventure 2 Day (non-residential)(Years 3 to 10)

WHEN: 29th - 30th May, 8.45 - 16.30

WHERE: The Oxford Boat Adventure, Dorchester on Thames, Wallingford Children new to the Award Scheme with British Canoeing will work on their ‘Paddle Discover Award’ and those that have achieved this already will work on their ‘Paddle Explore Award’. If both awards have already been achieved, you will be put through ‘TOBA EXCEL’.

£160.00

www.theoxfordboatadventure. co.uk

07979 592753

Ultimate Survival Camp (7 - 14 years)

WHERE: Hill End Outdoor Centre, Farmoor

WHEN: 30th May - 2nd June

Go wild during the May Half Term holiday and enjoy fun and adventurous outdoor day camps. Become fully immersed in the natural environment, try survival skills, enjoy challenges and games and make new friends!

www.ultimateactivity.co.uk

Holiday Club at Evenley Wood Garden (5 + years)

WHERE: Evenley Wood Garden

WHEN: 30th May - 2nd June, 9.00 - 16.00

Rewild your child with immersive woodland fun, inspiring your children and teaching them new skills. A full day of action-packed adventure in the woods, activities include shelter building, fire skills, cooking on the fire, woodland games, and natural arts and crafts.

www.muddyfeettraining.co.uk 07778 928720

The Land Adventure 2 Day (non-residential)(Years 3 - 10)

WHERE: The Oxford Boat Adventure, Dorchester on Thames, Wallingford

WHEN: 31st May - 1st June, 8.45 - 16.30

During their 2 days on land, your children will be guided and challenged and helped to capture their imagination and creativity. Highly experienced Adventure Leaders will teach them the skills of living, surviving and thriving in the great British outdoors.

£160.00 07979 592753

www.theoxfordboatadventure. co.uk

Active Camps (3 - 14 years)

WHERE: Various locations

WHEN: May Half Term Holidays , 8.15 - 18.00

Each day will feature a range of sports, arts and crafts, team challenges, and wide span games such as capture the flag, obstacle courses, group collages and much more! www.oxfordactive.co.uk

01865 594325

Active Adventure (6 - 14 years)

Families

Tri Swim Coaching

WHERE: Various Locations

WHEN: May and June

Whether you're looking to learn to swim, improve your stroke technique or improve your race times, Tri Swim Coaching can help! Ideal for anyone wanting to enhance their skills or fitness, with expert sessions in small groups and delivered specifically to your level. www.triswimcoaching.com

PERFORM weekly drama, dance and singing classes

Mathnasium Learning Centres

WHERE: Summertown, North Oxford

Monday-Thursday & Saturday

By producing a tailor-structured learning plan for each student according to his/her knowledge and skill level, the Mathnasium Method can help children in Years 2 - 12 better understand maths and leap ahead. Try the FREE maths skills assessment/trial session. www.mathnasium.co.uk/ northoxford

01865 655968

Athletics Academy (7 - 14 years)

WHERE: Tilsley Park Sports Centre, Abingdon

WHEN: 1st - 2nd June, 8.30 - 16.30

Sessions with inspiring coaches and Dean Macey give children the opportunity to make improvements in field and track disciplines they already have skills within as well as develop skills in those they don’t, all in a fun and inspiring environment. www.ultimateactivity.co.uk

WHERE: Summer Fields School, Summertown

WHEN: May Half Term Holidays , 8.15 - 18.00

Active Adventure Camps focus on building children’s independence and relationship with nature and the great outdoors. Children will experience cooking on a campfire and introduced to basic bushcraft skills e.g. whittling and shelter building.

www.oxfordactive.

co.uk

01865 594325

If booking any courses, please mention Families Oxfordshire Magazine

WHERE: West Oxford Community Centre, Oxford: Wednesdays. The Northcourt Centre, Abingdon: Saturdays and Thursdays. Didcot Methodist Church Hall: Fridays. Benson Youth Hall, Wallingford: Saturdays. Kingsmere Community Centre, Bicester: Wednesdays. Marston United Reformed Church, Oxford: Saturdays Confidence-building drama classes for 4-7s and 7-12s. A unique mix of fun drama games, dance and singing specially designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination. To book a FREE class visit www.perform.org.uk/try enquiries@perform.org.uk

PERFORM Wizard of Oz Holiday Course (4 - 10 years)

WHERE: West Oxford Community Centre

WHEN: 7th - 11th August, 10.00 - 15.00

Group lessons from Age 4+

A fresh, new swim school with a focus on small class sizes and quality teaching resulting in fast progress. We want your child to love swimming as much as we do! We prioritise being able to save themselves at a young age above perfect swimming technique! www.triswimschool.com

There’s no place like Perform this summer. Perform are off to see the wizard this August, as they sing and dance their way down the yellow brick road in their Wizard of Oz holiday courses. With colourful costumes, uplifting songs and dazzling dancing, your child will have the best fun of the summer as they bring this story to life. 020 7255 9120 enquiries@perform. org.uk perform.org. uk/wizard

With the right materials, the right instruction, and the right support, any child can learn, enjoy and thrive in maths. Mathnasium’s bespoke Learning Plans are proven to improve grades and help children catch up and get ahead in maths. With live face-to-face tuition, either in-centre or online.