IN THIS ISSUE September/October 2022 Familiesonline.co.uk HalloweenAutumnEducationfun FREE Solent East PerformAd-FamMag_QPL-Sept2022_SolentEast.qxp_Perform 24/08/2022 16:56 Page 1
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October2 Calling parents living locally! Work part time from home around your family and do something you love. Would you like to try your hand at magazine Wemarketing?mediainterestedAreayouDopublishing?youthinkcangrowbusiness?youinandarelooking for a new owner for Families Solent East CapitalMagazine.isrequired.FINDOUTMORE HERE EMAIL US
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to
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RoadEducationsafety for kids Clubs & classes What’s AutumnOntreasure hunt Family friendly autumn Autumnwalks activities Screen-freeHalloweenoutside indoor activities In this issue 191614131210984 CONTENTS Get in touch Competition winners from our May/June issue
Portsmouth High School minibuses run across the local area for an easy journey into school
9.00am to 12.30pm
Where girls learn without limits Open Morning Saturday 24 September 2022
Portsmouth High School is ambitious for every girl and an education here can be life changing. A warm welcome to visit the pre-school, prep school, senior school and sixth form to find out more. Book your place now via the school website www.portsmouthhigh.co.uk
It seems like just a moment since they were breaking up!
Welcome Can you believe the kids are back at school already?
Starting or going back to school can be challenging for children (and parents) so check out our advice on new term teething problems and inspire your kids with our great book recommendations.
Autumn is a beautiful time of year so take a look at our suggestions for activities to do with the kids outside. Enjoy our Autumn treasure hunt or try one of our family-friendly walk suggestions when half term rolls around. And, if you want to keep your kids off screens as the nights draw in, check out our half term screen-free kids’ activities too! Finally, in this issue, we have tonnes of Action Heroes sets, some fun Sneezy Panda games, Mr Frosty toys and cool Marlo & Cole t-shirts to giveaway! By applying, you’ll also ensure you continue to receive our wonderful magazine!
Holly Goldberg Sloan Age 10+ A Kind of Spark By ElleAgesMcNicoll8+ Lost By Ele AgesFountain11+ Five Ways to Make a Friend By Gillian Cross Ages 8+ The Elephant By PeterAgesCarnavas6+ Boy at the Back of the Class By Onjali Q. Rauf Ages 8+ Wonder By R. J. AgePalacio8+ Our friends at Parrot Street Book Club contribute their suggestions.
Ben
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October4 EDUCATION Chapter books that encourage kindness The MovementSoup
Age 8+ The Worries: Sohal Finds a Friend By JionAgeSheibani6+ The Elephant in the Room
By Davis
By
Familiesonline.co.uk September/October 5 EDUCATION What can parents and carers do to ensure their children, of all ages, develop great learning habits which will help them achieve their maximum potential in school and in life? It all starts with talking - and lots of it – from the very early years onward. READ MORE Why education begins at home
By John and Kyle Hattie
Most children with special educational needs (SEN) go to a mainstream school, where there are both pupils with and without SEN. So, if your child has special educational needs, what type of support can you expect from their school and how do go about getting that support? READ MORE Getting school support for a child with SEN Contributed by Contact Excellent GCSE, A Level and IB results Scholarships and bursaries available for entry into Years 5, 7, 9 and the Sixth Form FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call +44 (0)1983 617970 or visit www.rydeschool.org.uk/open-days-and-visits Queen’s Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 3BE An Island School with a GLOBAL Outlook An independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 2 ½ to 18 NEXT OPEN MORNINGS: Saturday 8 October & Saturday 4 February 10.00am to 12.30pm
The GrannyMarvellousJinksandMe
By Serena Patel, illustrated by Selom Sunu
By Polly Faber, illustrated by VulliamyClara
By Caroline Green, illustrated by Rikin Parekh
Alien in the FactoryJam
By Chrissie Sains. illustrated by Jenny Taylor Velda andAwesomesttheVikingtheVoyageofDeadlyDoom
There’s a Dog in My Brain
Panda at the Door Written and illustrated by Sarah Horne
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October6 EDUCATION
Dragon Storm By Alastair DeschampsillustratedChisholm,byEricandBenMantle
When your child is ready to move on from picture books, here are some wonderful first chapter books recommended by Parrot Street Book Club.
The Tindims of Rubbish Island By Sally illustratedGardner,byLydiaCorrey
By David MacPhail, illustrated by MorganRichard Noodle the Doodle By Jonathan Meres, illustrated by Katy Halford
Brilliant first chapter books for early readers
Morgan the Book Cat
New term teething troubles
By Liat Joshi-Hughes
The autumn term has begun and your child has returned to school. What kind of ‘teething troubles’ might you face over the next few months while your child copes with the changes that September brought with it? And how should you deal with them? My child is having trouble making friends Perhaps they’re in a different class or their closest friend has left the school and they’re struggling to adjust and find a new bestie or gang. Regardless, there are a couple of things you can do to boost your child’s friendships. Firstly, of course, talk to your child’s teacher and ask if there’s anyone they think your son or daughter might particularly gel with. Next up, invite them over for a playdate or arrange to meet them and their parent in the park. If confidence is an issue, role play approaching potential friends with your little one…take it in turns. My child can’t manage this year’s curriculum Primary school learning is much more of a double act these days, a partnership between parents and teachers. Again, go and have a chat with the teacher to try and understand your child’s level and find out what you can do to support your little one’s reading, writing or maths at home. This needn’t be anything formal, just reading a little more together or encouraging them to do some basic adding up when you’re at the shops or baking. For writing practice, could they write a post card to their grandparents or other relatives? READ MORE Make fruity, crunchy ice with Mr Frosty!
APPLY HERE for your FREET&Cstoyapply Magazine available5 Suitableforages3+
Familiesonline.co.uk September/October 7 EDUCATION
Open Morning 1 October 2022 Register westbournehouse.org/visit All I am, everything I can be For boys & girls aged 21/2–13. We provide a wider education with opportunities to explore the new and inspiring.
Children should not go out alone until they know and can use the Green Cross Code . Let your child make decisions with you, so they learn through practical action. Help your child plan safe walking routes. Encourage your child to talk about what they see on the roads and whether it’s safe.
PARENTING Road safety for kids of all ages
The number one rule is hand holding. If your child is likely to pull away use safety reins. Make sure your child walks on the INSIDE of the pavement away from traffic. Introduce Stop, Look, Listen and Think. Point out hidden entrances or driveways that cross the pavement.
The Green Cross Code Find a safe place to cross. STOP just before you get to the kerb. LOOK in all directions for approaching traffic. LISTEN for traffic approaching from all directions. THINK about whether it is safe to cross the road. Walk straight across the road. Keep LOOKING and LISTENING for traffic while crossing.
Toddlers
Ages 5-7
Learning in every sense
Never let your child go near a road alone and always hold Showhands.children how pedestrians walk safely on the pavement and vehicles use the road. Point out safer crossing places and show how to use them. Reinforce Stop, Look, Listen and Think.
Ages 7-11
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October8
This term, Perform 4-7s will venture into The Magician’s Chamber for some confidence-building fun with Merlin the Wizard whilst 7-12s will work on a funky festive performance of Ebenezer, based on the Charles Dicken’s classic, A Christmas Carol. The term runs from September to December and children are welcome to try a FREE class at any point. Book a FREE no-obligation trial class HERE. Give the autumn term a confidence boost with Perform
Familiesonline.co.uk September/October 9
Local venues in Chichester, Fareham, Petersfield, Southsea or Waterlooville.
A common struggle shared by many children as they start school or return after the summer break is a lack of confidence, and this can stop them reaching their full potential. Whether you’re looking for a confidence boost for your child or just a weekly dose of drama, dance and singing fun, Perform is back for the autumn term with two exciting productions for 4-7s and 7-12s. “Perform is not a stage school” stresses Perform Principal, Lucy Quick. “Our classes teach life skills using fun confidence-boosting drama games which results in a celebratory end of term production. The primary aim of our classes is to develop what we call the 4Cs: Confidence, Concentration, Coordination and Communication.”
More about perform HERE.
CLUBS & CLASSES
From 24-30 October, take your children on a trip back in time as they discover a world of witches, wizards, magic and mystery. With a spellbinding mix of magic, songs and dancing, Magical Merlin is a spectacular minimusical sure to enchant the whole family. Ages 4-10 at The Fortune Theatre, Covent Garden. Book tickets HERE. Magical Merlin – the perfect half-term treat
If you’re worried that your kids have spent too much time in front of the screen and have been closed off from the outside, get them in front of our floor to ceiling glass walls and remind them what the world really looks Withlike! 23 miles of views stretching in all directions, there’s just so much to discover.
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October10
MORE INFO HERE. Half term fun at Spinnaker Tower
Half term is just around the corner, have you made plans yet? Put Portsmouth on the top of your to do list and enjoy a family day out to Spinnaker Tower!
If you’re already feeling peckish, our café on the ground floor serves a child-size cooked breakfast alongside our regular full English (and vegetarian) breakfast and a range of other breakfast options, from 10am. No need to book a table, just pop in to be seated by our friendly Weteam.challenge you not to go ‘Wow’ when you step through the doors onto the view deck!
WHAT’S ON Chichester is fantastic for families Chichester Festival Theatre is a place that grown-ups and children can enjoy together. Make yourself at home in its family friendly spaces, take part in awesome activities or have a whale of a time watching a show. Don’t miss the world premiere production of The Famous Five, based on Enid Blyton’s multi-million-selling novels. This brand new musical, where the Famous Five are on a daring mission with the future of the planet at stake, is an exciting and heart-warming family treat celebrating adventure, bravery and friendship and plays from 21 October to 12 November with tickets from just £10. You can take a Christmas trip to the Wild Wood with the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre’s production of The Wind in the Willows from 17 to 31 December; more family friendly shows and events are announced in September.
MORE INFO HERE.
Familiesonline.co.uk September/October 11 WHAT’S ON Half-term fun and activities Saturday 22 – Sunday 30 October Spies & Secret Agents National Museum | Free Entry | Book Online FORT NELSON Fareham PO17 6AN Open daily 10:00 – 17:00www.royalarmouries.org 1142 FN October Half Term Families Solent East Advert (87 Spies and secret agents at Fort Nelson Fort Nelson is a great place to visit at any time of the year but around Halloween this historic Victorian fort, with its underground tunnels and secret chambers, is particularly Asatmospheric.wellasawhole museum of national treasures to explore our half term activities for families are sure to keep the kids out of mischief from Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 October. Come and have a crack at a challenging code-breaking trail and find out about spies and secret agents in the Second World War. Plus there’ll be a fun ‘find the pumpkin’ activity for our younger Admissionvisitors. to the Fort is FREE but please pre-book your visit on line to guarantee your visit. MORE INFO HERE. AFIVEFAMOUSTHENEWMUSICAL Music & Lyrics by Theo Jamieson Book by Elinor Cook Based on books by Enid Blyton Ages 7+ Enid Blyton & The Famous Five ® Hodder & Stoughton Limited 21 October – 12 November Family tickets available cft.org.uk To book a space in our next issue call Claire on 07812 218331
Get outdoors and go on a treasure hunt with your kids, finding and matching autumn treasures.
AutumnHuntTreasure
Autumn treasure hunt
Ideal for appreciating the autumn season and getting outdoors. No checking online until you get home! On the next page you’ll find pictures of eight different autumn treasures to find in the park or woodlands. Remember, the Woodland Trust has a great guide to woodlands near you. Once you’ve found them, write in the name of what you’ve found. Get your grown up to help Thenyou. take a look at the pictures in a row at the bottom. Each picture has some kind of connection to your treasures. It might be where the treasure comes from or maybe where you find it. When you’ve worked out the connection, draw a line from each of your autumn treasures to the picture at the bottom that is connected to it. And hey presto, you’re done! And hopefully you’ve found an autumn treasure you can keep or learned something you didn’t know. Have fun!
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October12
DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR KIDS HERE What am I? I am a: I am a: I am a: I am a: I am an: I am an: I am a: I am a:
Explore the National Botanic Garden of Wales or CantrefFarm.Adventure Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens Try Ripon and Fountains Abbey walk or the Lost Spa trail.
Ham House and Garden Fun walking & activities in the gardens of a seventeenth century manor in Surrey.
Sutherland’sGrove From waterfalls to forest trails, a Scottish wonderland in West Argyll.
Familiesonline.co.uk September/October 13 AUTUMN Family-friendly walks for autumn
Seven CountrySistersPark Miles of coastline in the South Downs National Park in East Sussex. Old Sarum Explore the walks around this Iron Age Hillfort in Wiltshire. Stowe countryside,Breathtakinglake and forest at Stowe in Bucks. Dogs on leads. BreconNationalBeaconsPark
An outdoor oasis in London – escape the concrete jungle!
The great British countryside is full of stunning walks. Here are nine that are suitable for the whole family. So why not make a day of it?
Tegg’s CountryNosePark Follow The Gritstone Trail from Disley to Kidsgrove, through Tegg’s Nose in Cheshire.
Morden Hall Park
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October14 AUTUMN Enjoying autumn outside Get your kids outside and engaging with nature this autumn with these great activity options. Play Pooh sticksPick your NoughtsPlaypumpkinownnaturalandCrosses Forage for edibleswild Make friends with a bug Go orienteeringfamily Play conkers Have fun stickswithMake a potionmagic
Familiesonline.co.uk September/October 15 Magazine Whatever age your children, we’d love you to tell us what’s happening in your world and about your childcare. In the autumn we’ll share parent stories about how things have changed, the different challenges and how we’re all making things work. Lot of things are changing in our lives and that includes our childcare needs and choices. Tell aboutus childcareyour Take our 5 minute survey Rising costs of living. New ways of working. Not ...theChangingChangingworking.jobs.location...listgoeson! £100£100£100£100 £100 x5 VouchersAmazon£100tobewon!
If you’re looking for something that’s Halloween-themed and easy to prepare with just one pot, this healthy pie is a perfect option. It’s a great way to get fish and hidden veg into your child’s diet too!
Halloween treats
Tuna fish pie (with pumpkin tops)
RECIPE
HALLOWEEN
These delicious hot chocolate sticks are perfect when you want a warming treat this Halloween. Kids can get creative topping them with their favourite chocolates, sprinkles or even cookies and then enjoy them by dunking in a hot cup of milk.
RECIPE
RECIPE Hot chocolate sticks Spooky crispy treats Spooky snacks
Bake these delicious Halloween recipes from Neha Gandesha @squashedpickle. Watch her videos or click for recipe and ingredients.
Making rice crispy treats is one of my favourite things to do with my son because he can do most of the job himself! It’s a fab no-bake recipe, you can use any cereal and the results are deliciously crispy and perfect for decoration.
RECIPE
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October16
My son is obsessed with anything creepy and scary and these fun and super-easy snacks are some of his favourites. Your kids will love these delicious Creepy Crumpet Pizzas, Ghostly Peppers and Witches Brooms made from Cheese Strings!
Familiesonline.co.uk September/October 17 HALLOWEEN DIY Halloween costumes If you have time, a home-made Halloween costume can be much more individual than anything shop bought. Here are some great options, complete with instructions. The BFG Spider’s web Bull in a shopchina Pumpkinpaintface PirateThe Worst pillowcaseSkeletonWitch BatgirlJackfaceSkellingtonmakeup
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October18 HALLOWEEN Halloween crafts the kids will love Time to get really spooooky…..get crafting in good time for Halloween! Paperspidersplate Pumpkin pinata Halloween bat Halloween box scene Easy paper ghostscraftGiant webs Halloween wreath Trick or bagsTreatRock Skulls
We asked Isabell Fisher, co-founder of Little Hands Learning for some easy-to-set-up activities that will appeal to little hands, eyes and brains.
Screen-free rainy day activities
Art and craft
This doesn’t need to be overly complicated. Often keeping it simple is far better than creating something elaborate. Try making a paper boat and see how far it travels or creating tealight holders out of old jam jars by gluing on pieces of tissue paper. These also make lovely homemade presents for grandparents.
This is a fun way for kids to learn about design and teamwork. All you need is a piece of paper, some pens, some counters (maybe toy figures), some dice and some rules. Involve your children in working out what the game is about, how it works and decorate your board before playing! Design a board game Hide some treasure and then create a map for your kids to follow. Make it more interesting (and last longer) by having the map lead your little pirates to different locations where each location’s ‘treasure’ is a clue to the next location. For more authenticity, scrunch up the paper and stain it with a damp teabag.
Familiesonline.co.uk September/October 19 ACTIVITIES
There are lots of easy science experiments that can be tried at home with household items and they encourage kids to ask questions, make predictions and understand the world around them. Try making a lava lamp with water, food colouring and oil in a jar. Add an effervescent tablet and watch what happens!
Easy science experiments Treasure hunt
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October20
Children love to paint and getting messy is part of the fun! BUT the idea of the mess can fill many parents with dread. Instead of using poster paint, try using watercolour paints which are easier to clean up. To change things up, get the kids painting on coffee filters, a canvas or ice cubes. Painting There’s no doubt that playdough is a versatile toy. But if the smell and texture of big-branded playdough is something you’re not keen on, there are some wonderful options for soft and scented playdough that doesn’t leave a greasy residue. Check that its been UKCA tested before buying. Playdough
Reading to your kids is great but don’t limit the experience to sitting on the sofa. If the book is set in a cave, evict the vacuum cleaner from under the stairs and issue everyone with head torches! If you’re reading a desert adventure, create a Bedouin tent using some sheets and your clothes horse.
Baking bread is also surprisingly simple and you and your children can have lots of fun creating different animals out of the dough to then bake in the oven.
We asked Isabell Fisher, co-founder of Little Hands Learning for some easy-to-set-up activities that will appeal to little hands, eyes and brains.
Baking shortbread and scones is simple enough for inexperienced bakers to try. Hopefully the end results will taste great and they will enjoy eating them too.
Boosted books
ACTIVITIES Screen-free rainy day activities
Baking
Familiesonline.co.uk September/October 21 GIVEAWAYS Unique T-shirts from Marlo & Cole! Magazine T&Cs apply FREE for your child APPLY HERE available10 2-3,Sizes3-4&4-5 Make fruity, crunchy ice with Mr Frosty! APPLY HERE for your FREET&Cstoyapply Magazine available5 Suitableforages3+ Sneezy Panda games to giveaway!Theflowersandleavesmakepandasneeze...whatcanyoudo? T&Cs applyAPPLY HERE Magazine available10 Suitable for ages 4+
Familiesonline.co.ukSeptember/October22*while stocks last T&Cs applyMagazine APPLY HERE *while stocks last Styles may vary T&Cs apply Enter the Action mini-figureGetuniverse!HeroesyourFREEsetNOW*CollectandbuildthemedworldsMix&matchbodyparts&changefacialexpressions
