Oxfordshire

Family Night Safari

WHERE: Environmental Education Centre, Sutton Courtenay

WHEN: 12th May 8.30 – 10.30pm www.bbowt.org.uk/events

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.

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

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

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 www.masterbuildersclub.co.uk

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.

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

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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

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