FAMILIES SOLENT EAST MAY JANE 2022

EEHome FTRake Me

Solent East

IN THIS ISSUE

Summer Camps Education Kids’ Parties What’s On

Issue 99 May/June 2022

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TRAVEL

Welcome So much to look forward to in May and June, including two bank holidays, one of them extra-long! Yippee!

Warm sunny days are on the horizon so start planning some local family adventures as well as exploring the outdoors closer to home with our Adventures at Home feature.

Contact us

The long summer break is also just around the corner so take a look at our summer camp feature for some ideas on how to manage school holiday childcare, as well as giving your child some great experiences.

Editor Paul Constantine editor@familiessolenteast.co.uk 07592 370426

If you have a little one who starts school in September or a child transitioning to secondary school, now is also the time to start thinking about preparation. Find tips and advice in our Education section.

Sales Claire Clarricoates 07812 218331

Did your child miss a birthday party or two during the pandemic? If you’re searching for inspiration for a big bang occasion this year, then keep reading for this year’s hottest party trends and make it a party to remember.

Book now to be included in our July/August issue.

Finally, in this issue, we have cute and cuddly Care Bears to give away! Apply for these colourful companions for your child to fall in love with at familiesmag. co.uk/go. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine straight to your inbox with lots more content and goodies on offer.

In this issue 3.

Education

7.

Early years

8.

Summer camps

9.

Clubs & classes

10.

What’s on

12.

Parties

14.

Activities

15.

Garden time

January/February giveaway winners

Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list at https://bit.ly/compwinnersJF Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

Care and share with Care Bears Bean Plush!

Apply for a FREE Bean Plush 22cm Care Bear now* Perfect company for your child’s adventures, big or small.

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CONTENTS EDUCATION

A parent’s guide to secondary school transition

By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble

The move from primary to secondary school is a major change for children. Most see this as an exciting next stage in their school journey but, for some, the change can make them feel anxious and uncertain. And all this at an age when children are already going through many physical and emotional changes ahead of adolescence.

Bringing up children is a slow, staggered process of detachment, from the moment they learn to crawl to the moment they finally leave home. When a child starts secondary school, with a mobile phone and travel card, it’s easy to see impending adulthood in the paraphernalia of independence as the detachment process begins.

Our role is to give our children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is and wings to fly away. The roots begin to form during early years education; secondary school is the place where children start to grow their wings.

Whilst most children will have a positive secondary school start and will embrace the new experiences on offer, research has found that the shift to secondary school can be stressful for about one in four children and that nearly three quarters of parents are anxious themselves.

Our input at this stage is crucial and our role as parents is to be our child’s sounding board, establishing an open relationship in which they feel valued, respected and connected. By adopting this non-judgemental response, our children are more likely to

keep talking to us as they get older.

Finally, while we may no longer be at the school gates, our involvement continues to be crucial to both our children’s emotional wellbeing and academic success. There are still many opportunities to stay involved: by joining the PTA, becoming part of a class WhatsApp group and getting to know the school and what support it offers.

Talk to your children about their day but possibly not the moment they walk through the door - a snack and a drink often help to ease the way into a pleasant chat.

The key to a healthy ongoing relationship is to keep the communication going. Remember that you are your child’s emotional coach.

Lisa and Catherine are co-founders of Emparenting (www.emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with the insights, skills and tools needed to nurture the development and well-being of the next generation.

Before your child starts

Change and uncertainty

Exploring Recognise and talk about their primary school highlights and achievements - and things they may miss.

Find out what they are looking forward to at their new school, addressing worries and concerns.

Connecting Look at the new school website with your child and take part in any induction events.

Help your child think about how to approach new people and start conversations.

Find other children on the new school route to travel with.

Empower your child Encourage your child to take more responsibility at home to build their confidence and independence.

Support steps towards independence: allow them to walk home alone in their final term (if practical), meet a friend locally or run an errand for you.

Notice when your child does something well and praise them.

Organisation is key to success Help your child plan out their journey and do a few trial runs together.

Make sure you have all the uniform and equipment ready in time.

During times of change children will typically experience many emotions, just as adults do. Remember that change is a normal part of life and can help us develop courage, flexibility and resilience.

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So how can we help them understand and manage their feelings?

Acknowledge challenging feelings and events. help them learn that life is not perfect and that there may be hard days and difficulties. Teach them to accept these feelings knowing that this acceptance will help them to move on with the emotional strength that they will need as they mature.

Validate your child’s feelings. encourage them to process and talk to you about what is going on. Try not to dismiss their concerns and worries as trivial.

Help your child learn what they can and can’t control. we can control our goals, relationships and how we spend our time. We can’t control natural disasters, pandemics or loss.

Maintain family routines. knowing what to expect will help your child feel grounded and secure, especially during times of transition.

Families Solent East 3

EDUCATION

Lessons to learn before you’re 10

By Gail Hugman We live in a world where it’s easy to become overwhelmed. So teaching young children to make good use of their working memory, exercise self-control and get organised will really help them develop the skills they need to succeed in life.

These key skills underpin everything we do in life and it takes just a few minutes a day to boost them so your child learns more effectively and confidently. What’s more, growing these skills can be fun!

Developed by experts who understand how children’s brains develop and form, try these starter activities to set your child off on the right path.

school, your brain will remember it better if you sort the information first. You’ll be able to remember names, countries, lists, linked facts and even do magic tricks by remembering a bunch of playing cards in order - how cool is that?’

Working memory

Self-control

Play Kim’s Game.

Ask your child to tell you really quietly what colour socks they are wearing. Then ask them to tell you again as LOUDLY as possible (it may not be such fun for you, but they will love it!)

Each time they whisper or shout, give feedback to their brain by telling them ‘that’s great whispering, can it be quieter?’ or ‘excellent LOUD voice, is that the loudest you’ve got?’

To set up, gather ten objects together on a tray. Give your child one to two timed minutes to look at the objects, then cover them up. Depending on age and ability, ask them to tell, draw or write which ones they remember. As they progress, add more objects or give them less time to remember them.

There are ways help brains recall objects; the trick is to make links and spot patterns.

Give them these tips: To start with, count how many objects you’ll have to remember.

Look to see if any can be linked together, by colour or by material, such as all plastic or all wood, by shape or by use; eg knife and fork go together, tools together, toys together.

Do this exercise a few times and congratulate your child on their self-control. Tell them that taking charge from the inside is a very grown up thing to do.

Decide one thing you’d like your child to get under control. For example, it may be to resist the impulse to call out in class. Or leave their desk when they should be sitting quietly. Make it a positive.

Older children ages 7+ might be able to order the objects in a sequence or a story.

Explain to your child that you’d like them to focus on this one thing every day for a week. Remind them each day, ask how they got on and praise their progress. In this way, you’ll support their effort to control their impulses.

The more children play the game, the better they will get at recalling the objects. Why not see for yourself and play along too! Keep a tally so they can track their improvement and praise them for being clever. Explain that this is more than just a fun challenge, it’s all about teaching their brain to have a really good memory.

Gail Hugman is the bestselling author of 100 Things to Learn Before You’re 10. A children’s life coach, she owns and runs Human at Core (www.humanatcore.com), which helps parents motivate and engage their children in developing a bright future and provides science-based online personal development courses for children and parents.

You can say: ‘When your teacher shows you something in

Time management

Organisation

Organising time is a great skill, but children first need to grasp how long things actually take. Our ‘just a minute’ might take five or ten minutes and young brains may understandably be fooled into thinking only a minute has passed.

Have fun using a timer to count how many of the following things they can do in one minute: hops, writing their name neatly, reading words out loud, starting a colouring-in page.

Show them a timetable of their day with blocks of playtime in which they can plan their own fun.

Good habits created early on pay dividends in later life!

Help your child put together a homework kit so all the stationery they need is at hand before they start working.

Teach your child to get ready the night before, setting out tomorrow’s clothes and any extra kit they will need.

Time homework. If it’s supposed to be thirty minutes, don’t spend longer on it. If your child is not finishing on time, either the teacher needs to know or they need to focus more effectively.

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EDUCATION

Understanding executive function

By Usha Patel Executive functioning is a way of describing the series of mental processes that are required to complete a task.

Broadly speaking, executive function skills involve selfcontrol, working memory and flexible thinking.

Children labelled with a learning or behavioural problem will often display issues with their executive functioning, for example, in staying organised and focused. But many of the symptoms that parents may be told to medicate away are, in fact, executive functioning problems that might respond to a different kind of therapy.

These are the kids who lose the homework they stuffed into overflowing backpacks. Or the children who realise at 9pm that they need supplies for a vital project due the next day. When the tasks of daily life become unbearable, they melt down in a convulsion of emotion.

Whether the diagnosis is ADD, dyslexia or something else, these kids share a common problem: they just can’t manage the simple daily tasks that come easily to some of us.

Many children experience problems with their executive functioning, regardless of whether they have an underlying condition. Difficulty with one skill usually manifests across lots of different areas of a child’s life. For example, a child who has difficulty with time management is likely to both struggle to be on time and be unable to estimate how long a task will take.

Executive function difficulties seem pervasive but I believe it is possible to deconstruct their symptoms and pinpoint cognitive

skills that can be strengthened using the latest research. These difficulties are manageable and respond well to intervention. The first step is to observe your child and their behaviour, look for any executive functioning problems and then talk to them about their difficulties.

A child’s struggles can come from a variety of sources but these may be mysterious and frustrating for both you and your child and the source may be difficult to pinpoint. However, the chances are there is an underlying cognitive skill that needs strengthening. By understanding the root cause of the problem, you can then implement helpful therapies.

You may find it helpful to download my self-assessment that highlights behaviours associated with executive functioning problems. You can find this at https://bit.ly/exfuinfo Usha Patel is a neurocognitive therapist and expert in executive functioning, along with other special educational needs. She runs Raviv Practice London (www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk).

What is executive function?

Identifying executive function weaknesses

If you think about the structure of a large company, it’s easy to understand the term executive function. Just as the executive team of a corporation manages and co-ordinates the various departments around a common goal, your brain’s executive functions co-ordinate different cognitive abilities around your goals. You require these skills to set and achieve goals, whether modest or ambitious.

Rule out learning disorders It’s possible your child isn’t turning in homework because they don’t understand the subject and are embarrassed to ask for help. It isn’t uncommon, for example, for children gifted in the arts to have a learning disability when it comes to maths.

Society creates structures for children that mimic adulthood in part to help them develop their executive function skills. School, sport and other activities help children create and work towards goals.

Rule out emotional issues Perhaps a bully is targeting your child. Maybe they’re too anxious to read their homework out loud. Maybe they’re concerned the teacher dislikes them and will give them a bad grade. Children’s emotional pain may not make sense to us but it’s very real to them.

Here are some key areas of your child’s life where executive function can help: Paying attention in class or at home; Managing time and prioritising tasks, such as homework; Being organised and planning ahead; Remembering tasks and chores; Starting tasks and staying focused on them; Controlling emotions; Understanding both their and other’s emotions.

Understand the patterns There is an unmistakable pattern to executive function problems in children. If your child often loses their homework and their bedroom is always a mess, this may indicate problems with organising. If they can’t resist playing video games or another fun activity until homework is finished, then they may have trouble with self-control. If that’s the case, then they will probably want to eat dessert before dinner too!

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EDUCATION

Starting school?

Managing school lunches

By Emma Lewry

School lunches have come a long way since cold custard and blancmange. If your child is starting school this year and you want to prep them for the experience, here are a few things to consider.

School dining halls can be busy places and children might need to carry their food to a table. Practise at home by using a tray and some real or play food. Explain to your child that at school they might need to use a tray too.

Talk to them about what the hall might be like; lots of tables and chairs where children eat lunch together, lots of grown-ups to help and, although it might be noisy, it will be because everyone is chatting about their fun morning at school.

Will they like the food? I’ve seen with my own eyes that when there’s no pressure from adults watching their every move, children are more likely to try what their peers are eating.

Families are often surprised to hear their children have tucked into things like couscous or ragu at school when at home they would rather starve themselves than even touch a vegetable!

Very often children will eat well at school and be brave enough to try something new. If you have a child who is choosy, it can be helpful to explore different tastes at home alongside their tried and tested favourites, exposing them to more options before launching into school lunches.

It’s also useful to explain that food may look and taste different from the home version. If lasagne is their favourite and the school version is packed with veggies, it might not be what they were expecting. Show how foods can be made in different ways by trying out some new recipe variations at home to mix things up.

If you’re unsure about whether to give school lunches a go in Reception, ask the school for a menu and check which options your child might like.

All in all school lunches are a great choice, so consider taking the leap and ordering them at least for the first few weeks. I’m pretty sure you won’t look back!

Emma Lewry is an Early Years teacher, headteacher and mother of two. Emma co-owns Every Day’s a School Day (www.edasd.co.uk) which guides families through starting school with courses, groups and a school starter’s planner available from Amazon.

Four reasons to opt for school lunches

Preparing for secondary school lunches

NOT having to make a packed lunch every day!

Most secondary schools have a canteen-style lunch option often with more choices than at primary school. Prepare by exploring similar venues like cafes; ask your child to look at the options on the menu and let you know what they might choose if it was lunch at school.

They’re free for all children in Reception, Years 1 and 2 in England.

They’re healthy. The days of greasy chicken dippers and chips with every meal are long gone. School food now has to pass strict regulations which ensure healthy, nutrient-packed ingredients with a range of different fruits and vegetables included. School meal providers work extremely hard to ensure lunch options are healthy and tasty. So if healthy is what you’re after, school lunches tick the box. Choosing school lunches also means your child has a hot meal each day; this takes the pressure off needing a fancy dinner when they get home.

They’re an opportunity to try something new, including new flavours and foods which can then become tasty new favourites.

The more adventurous you are at home in the run up to starting school, the more open your child will be to new menus. Finally, you’d be surprised how unfussy they can be when they’re hungry!

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Discuss with them how to choose a good balance of foods to give them energy and fill them up. Explain how a range of foods across the week will give them a balance of nutrition. You could also practise working out how much items cost; children may have a card to use with a set amount of money for the week or a set amount each day, so budgeting is a great skill to practise.

Hopefully lunch times will be a social opportunity and your child will be able to meet up with friends to enjoy their lunch together.

Encourage them to organise who to eat lunch with in advance, especially in the first few days, so they can tackle the new system together.

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EARLY YEARS

The importance of routines for young children

By Claire Burgess

Routine is important for all of us. It provides safe, comfortable boundaries and keeps our lives on track. But it also means different things to different people and needs to fit each individual family, adjusting as children grow. Some families benefit from more structure, while others work well with more flexible routines. There is no right or wrong in a routine, other than when it doesn’t work for your children or for you!

Why do babies and children need routine?

As humans, every day of our lives is made up of various mini routines. These are the little routines which we have perfected over time and repeat daily, all of which help us to manage our day, many times without even really thinking about it.

Routine is also another word for security. By having a routine it helps our children (and us) to feel secure and we are at our best when we feel safe and secure. This is when we are able to concentrate, co-operate, negotiate, listen and ultimately learn.

Being able to tell the time gives adults the ability to develop routines but babies and young children don’t have this luxury. So they are relying on us to help them understand how their day is going to be structured.

It’s worth being aware that if this timing changes day to day, your child will be constantly unsure of what is happening next. In turn, this may lead to them displaying challenging behaviours, their eating habits fluctuating and their sleep being disturbed.

How do I keep my child on track?

It is all about watching for the signals. These can be subtle and can sometimes be easily missed; observation of your child is key.

Look for those little indicators such as wandering off around the house and not being able to focus on things, becoming clingy when they were happily playing, staring into space, getting cross, frustrated or fidgeting, upset or boisterous.

These behaviours can all be indicators that your child is feeling out of kilter and needs you to help them find the way back into their routine.

Once you have recognised this, you can put a plan into action.

Claire Burgess is a director and family consultant at Bespoke Family (www.bespokefamily.co.uk), which offers tailored support from newborns to teens.

Top tips

Making it work

Make the routine fit your family. Every family is unique and has their own way of structuring their day; what works for your friend might not work for you.

A completely rigid system leaves little room for spontaneity and can be self-defeating. Don’t be afraid to nudge your routine when the need arises.

Don’t make it too rigid. But do have two key times of the day: the time your children get up in the morning and the time they go to bed. If you aim for and stick to these two points of the day, it will help to regulate your child’s sleep hormones at night and ‘get up and go’ hormones in the morning.

For example, if lunchtime is usually 1pm on a normal day, but today you have been swimming and your little one is showing signs of being really hungry and tired, take the hint and bring lunch forward. Just half an hour might be the difference between the biggest ‘I’m hungry and tired’ meltdown and having your little one eating well and feeling happy (meaning that you are happy and relaxed as well!)

Between getting up time and bed time you should schedule regular mealtimes (and snacks dependent on the activity of the day) and possibly naps.

These focal points provide a constant structure which will give both you and your children the security and safety to approach each day with confidence.

Go for consistency. For something to become a habit it needs to be consistent. When implementing a new routine or an adjustment, it can take at least two weeks to stick, so persevere!

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The one routine that’s always worth sticking to is the fixed bedtime. Proper sleep is as important to children as a healthy diet.

While it might be tempting to keep your little one up later than normal to fit in with your own plans, sleep time is when kids grow and rest so that they are ready for everything tomorrow brings. Including naps, experts recommend up to sixteen hours’ sleep for infants and up to twelve hours per night for older children.

Families Solent East 7

SUMMER CAMPS

The lowdown on school holiday camps and workshops

By Andrew Campbell

Summer holiday camps, schools and workshops are not only an ideal way to fill in childcare gaps during the long summer break but offer the opportunity for your child to discover a new hobby or take their existing passion to a new level.

Multi-activity day camps Offering a varied daily programme of sports and creative activities, with each session lasting between 1 and 1.5 hours, multi-activity camps are ideal for children who have a range of interests or have not yet found their ‘thing.’ Some camps offer an astounding range of sports, arts and crafts, outdoor exploration, games and challenges. Generally, camps can be booked for single days, half days and full weeks, including extended hours and multi-week discounts.

Sport/single activity camps or workshops These intensely focused summer schools offer specialisation.

Think a specific sport such as football, gymnastics and cricket, one creative activity such as painting, photography and cooking, a single performing art like drama, musical theatre or dance or an area of STEM such as computer coding, robotics and game design.

Generally operating for two to five hours per day and running for just one day or as a progressive course from a few days to two weeks, these camps or workshops often cater for all ages of children and culminate in staging a performance, playing a competitive game or demonstrating a completed project.

For children who have an established interest, single activity camps or workshops offer a valuable opportunity to receive elite coaching and tuition, often from highly qualified or experienced instructors which can result in a significant boost to their existing skill level, confidence and enthusiasm in their chosen endeavour.

For a child curious about an activity, single activity camps or workshops are a great opportunity for an immersive experience which will test their interest and aptitude and for gaining an appreciation of what a regular commitment to weekly term time classes, often run by the same organisation, could offer.

For children who may struggle to find school friends who share their ‘passion,’ activity camps or workshops are a great way to meet ‘like-minded’ peers in their local area.

And for you? A patchwork of activity camps and/or workshops can be expensive but there is a distinct advantage in that they offer some mainstays of childcare across the summer that simultaneously allow your child to be doing something enjoyable, fulfilling, exciting or unique.

What to take to a camp/ workshop

Residential camps – the benefits

A refillable water bottle – there should be drinking water available but remind your child to stay hydrated during the day.

A residential summer camp may feel daunting for both parents and children but there are significant benefits in having time away from home.

For outside activities, make sure your child has sun cream already applied. Ask them to re-apply it every four hours. Ensure they have a sun hat.

Choose well-worn, weather-appropriate practical clothing and comfortable footwear. Layers are good if the weather is unpredictable. Avoid flip-flops which can cause health and safety issues.

Remember swimming costume and towel or apron/old shirt for creative activities.

Packed lunch, plus additional snacks for break times/extended hours.

Rucksack (to carry everything).

Leave mobile phones at home – they are often prohibited by camp organisers anyway.

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Acquire new life skills. Whatever the type of camp, your child will learn new life skills based on their experiences. They may discover a sport or hobby they have not considered before.

Gain more independence. From choosing what to wear, to ensuring they eat well and keep their area tidy, your child will gain a sense of independence and responsibility that can only come from being away from you.

Experience a sense of belonging and make new friends.

Having fun with peers can foster a sense of belonging. Kids bond with their teammates on tasks and feel included in the activities taking place, not to mention making new friends.

Character development. With more responsibility and freedom comes newly gained confidence which could see your child becoming better organised, making better choices and achieving more in the future.

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CLUBS & CLASSES

Gymnastics – not just flexibility and fun!

Gymnastics offers one of the most comprehensive exercise programmes available to children, incorporating strength, flexibility, speed, balance, co-ordination, power and discipline.

It’s an exciting sport and the skills learned can benefit a child’s overall development significantly.

Physical benefits: increases strength, flexibility, endurance and co-ordination. Balance is vital on apparatus such as the beam, whilst power is essential when vaulting and tumbling.

The bars and rings encourage lifting, swinging and movement of the body in new ways. Gymnastics uses so many different skills that classes can help train children for many other sports.

Cognitive effect: gymnasts visualise the skill they are learning.

So gymnastics is a great way for a child to use their brains and bodies together.

The intense movement that takes place opens up neural pathways in the brain, which can lead to increased concentration, focus and success in all areas of life.

Character building: promotes discipline, determination, courage, self-confidence and perseverance to perfect a skill and learn from mistakes.

Social benefits: listening, following directions, taking turns and respecting and encouraging others.

Smile this summer with a FREE Perform class Summer term is here and there’s no better time for your child to try a Perform class.

Packed with self-esteem boosting activities, Perform weekly classes will 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.

The curriculum has an emphasis on fun, making friends and lots of laughter plus children can enjoy bespoke apps, downloads and videos at home. Small classes ensure plenty of individual attention and each child receives a progress report every 10 weeks.

This term, 4-7s will be bringing out the super in themselves as they become Superheroes on a mission to save the world.

Meanwhile, 7-12s will enjoy red carpet glamour in Jack and the Wonderbeans.

If you think your child may benefit from Perform but are not sure if they’ll like it, you can book a free trial class at www.perform. org.uk/try. Families readers receive a special £40 discount when booking before 31st May, just quote SOL310522.

Local venues: Chichester: St Michaels Church Hall, Summersdale Road, PO19 6PN Mondays (ages 4-7) 4-5pm, (ages 7-12) 5pm.

Petersfield: Salvation Army Hall, Swan Street, GU32 3AD Mondays (ages 4-7) 4-5pm, (ages 7-12) 5pm.

Waterlooville: Merchistoun Hall, 106 Portsmouth Road, PO8 9LJ Tuesdays (ages 4-7) 4-5pm, (ages 7-12) 5pm.

Learning the FUNdamentals of Football Football fun for children aged 18 months - 8 years old.

Book your first class now!

Visit our website: www.LittleKickers.co.uk Call: 07551 664969

LittleKickers

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**Opens 23 May** Southsea: St Simons Church Hall, Waverley Road, PO5 2PW Mondays (ages 4-7) 4-5pm, (ages 7-12) 5pm.

Football fun for children Learning the FUNdamentals of football in a pressure free, fun environment for children aged 18 months to 8 years across the Portsmouth and Gosport area.

We have four different football classes each tailored to a different age group giving children a positive introduction to football with our “Play not push” ethos.

We believe football can be educational. Coached in the right way it can stimulate imagination and aid early development skills such as learning colours and numbers, following instructions and playing as a team.

To find out about their tailored football classes and the exciting badges that each child receives, email: ajane@littlekickers.co.uk or visit www.littlekickers.co.uk Families Solent East 9

WHAT’S ON

What’s on All listings are correct at the time of publication. Please check with the venue before you visit in case anything has changed.

STANSTED SUMMER JAMBOREE Calling all families! Couples - young and old! Dogs, grandparents, aunties, uncles, brothers and sisters too! Get your diaries open and ‘pencil in’ the date 2 & 3 July 2022 from 10.30am-6pm.

Join us in our second year of this highly popular family event where the House and Grounds will be thrown open to the public and visitors can enjoy a range of entertainment whilst being immersed in the History of the Estate.

Visitors to this year’s Jamboree will be treated to a host of family fun and festivities. Something for everyone, young or old. Explore the House and discover Stansted’s family history through Napoleonic re-enactments and links to the Battle of Waterloo.

The weekend features cricket matches between the Royal Lancers, I Zingari and Stansted Park’s very own team. Grab some lunch, and perhaps a glass of Pimms, from our wonderful vendors, pull up a deck chair, sit back and watch the game unfold.

Entry ticket to the show allows you to:

WEALD AND DOWNLAND www.wealddown.co.uk Museum at night 12-14 May Half term Activities 28 May Fathers Day 19 June CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE www.cft.org.uk Comedy for kids 11 June TITCHFIELD FESTIVAL THEATRE www.titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com Princess and the Pea. 30-31 May High School Musical 3-4 June THE NEW THEATRE ROYAL -SOUTHSEA www.newtheatreroyal.com

PORTSMOUTH CENTRAL LIBRARY www.librariesandarchives. portsmouth.gov.uk/publiclibrary-service Magic & Math’s Science Show, 14 May STANSTEAD PARK www.stansted-park.org.uk David Walliams – Awful Auntie, 24-25 June ALDINGBOURNE TRUST www.aldingbournetrust.org Bounce About Day, 30 May Aldingbourne Assault Course, 31 May Splash About Day, 2 June Build a Den Day, 3 June

The Tiger Who Came To Tea, 14-15 May

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Enjoy the sound of leather against willow with cricket on the iconic Mansion front setting.

Experience the thrills of battle with an army of reenactors from the Napoleonic Association.

Foot tap along to live jazz, Batala drummers and military bands amongst a host of other fabulous music.

Discover your wild side with our forest school sessions.

Test your accuracy at Archery.

Get competitive in the Hobby Horse race!

Ever fancied being in a circus? Come and try hands-on circus skills for yourself.

Learn about our forest operations and get up close to the tractors and machinery.

Get lost and found in the Stansted Yew Maze.

See Marco the Magician! Watch out he might turn you in to a frog!

Other attractions include: Hot Air Balloon Rides (weather permitting) £10 per person.

The Mansion, with its extensive Edwardian servants’ quarters and artefacts of national significance from the Battle of Waterloo.

Gain inside access to the House for just £5.

Experience life below stairs in one of Hampshire’s best preserved Servants’ Quarters and the opulence of the upstairs rooms including The Waterloo Exhibition featuring the sword that General Sir William Ponsonby used in this most famous battle!

The Stansted Park Light Railway.

TICKETS: Adult Day Ticket: £12.50 Teen Ticket (14 - 16yrs): £6 (must be accompanied by an adult) Children 13 years and under: free with an accompanying adult Weekend Special: £20 per adult Find out more at www.stanstedpark.co.uk

Magazine

10 Families Solent East

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WHAT’S ON

Half Term at Weald & Downland Living Museum For an enjoyable and captivating day in the great outdoors this half term, head to the Weald & Downland Living Museum in West Sussex.

From Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June, the Museum will be offering a wonderful array of family fun and activities with a celebratory theme to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

From helping to decorate the Museum’s bunting to creating a badge to celebrate someone or something special to you, there will be plenty of hands-on crafting to enjoy as well as opportunities to learn new skills such as making your own lavender bag or a clay medal to mark the Jubilee.

Sum CELE me BR r of

You can also deepen your knowledge of the monarchy with a fascinating trail, where you can fill in a personal fact file for each monarch along the way! Or why not make a peg-doll Queen and decorate it to depict the fashion from any era of her 70-year reign?

Adventure, exploration and learning awaits children of all ages at this wonderful open air museum.

With over 50 historic buildings, stunning woodland and plenty of opportunity to discover live demonstrations and displays that teach us about our past, it is the ideal day out for all the family.

To book tickets and find out more visit www.wealddown. co.uk

CELEBRATE THIS SUMMER AT THE MUSEUM!

ATIO NS

With special anniversaries of our collection, national festivities, a series of Historic Life Weekends, family activities and live open air theatre. Join us with friends, family, food and drink to enjoy a summer of celebration!

SEE ‘WHAT’S ON’ – BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

wealddown.co.uk

WORD SEARCH

Find the names of things that are connected with summer in the grid.

Then read the remaining unused letters in lines 4 to 6 from left to right to find a hidden message!

4 H H F I O T M P S N R E

O C M A E R C E C I T A

L B X T P S V R P C B R

I R K S L I A G I F E S

PICNIC SUNCREAM OUTDOORS

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D F L S R O O D T U O X

A T D T A D I L Q H I P

Y Y S U N C R E A M K I

A S G I Y E B K N U W C

Z M I M O R Z E T S B N

P O V E A Q X O Z W T I

4

R S O B E A C H I I I C

W Q E T U W N A J M L T

M E N I H S N U S J O V

4

SWIM BARBECUE BEACH

ICE CREAM SUNSHINE HOLIDAY

Families Solent East 11

KIDS’ PARTIES

2022 children’s party trends

By Claire Winter Many of us have missed celebrating important birthday parties and milestones with family and friends during the pandemic. With restrictions lifted and the summer months upon us, things are looking up at last!

Did someone say party? Here’s how to party like it’s 2022.

Outdoor parties

Food

The pandemic drove us outside and having a party in the garden or going to an outdoor venue still appeals to many parents. A huge outdoor picnic and good old-fashioned games like tug-of-war, quoits or skittles always go down a treat.

Pack bats and balls and you’re ready for rounders. It’s a party with no crumbs and more space to let off steam! Alternatively, parties at venues like Go Ape are an easy option and the children will love to monkey around in the trees.

Grazing platters may look fabulous but some delicious goodies in individual recyclable cardboard boxes are simple to serve, create less waste and can be eaten anywhere. A firm favourite is a cream tea in a box! You can also outsource food to a party organiser or caterer. Or, instead of having one large statement cake, why not offer a fabulous display of cupcakes and mini desserts? It will look gorgeous and the kids (and parents) will love it.

Retro gaming parties

Sleepover in style

If you have a gaming fan in the house, why not hire a gaming company to take them back to the eighties? Pac-Man and many of the old-school favourites will fascinate and intrigue them. There are also loads of great VR games that you can hire for the day too.

For an extra special sleepover if you have the garden space, consider hiring a bell tent or teepee. One for the older children - decorate with fairy lights, set up mini Bluetooth speakers and let the fun begin!

Just don’t expect too much sleeping....

Call in the experts

The party bag

A seasoned magician or entertainer will provide the fun crowd control you’re after.

Younger kids love the games, banter and dancing while you sit back watching the fun.

Give small meaningful gifts instead of plastic. It’s just not the done thing any more to fill party bags with sweets and land-filler plastic tat. A few popular (more eco-friendly) alternative ideas could be a book, a packet of wildflower seeds or a jar of make-at-home cookie mix.

12 Families Solent East

Instagrammable installations If you’re all about the ‘gram and other social media shares, you can hire amazing balloon displays, giant LED numbers and neon signs for the party.

Do be conscious of sharing pictures of your party-goers as not all parents are comfortable with their children on social

Tiby Kidz party fun across Hampshire There is nothing ordinary about a Tibykidz party! Natalie ensures every party is unique, fun, interactive and above all memorable! She is available to host parties all over Hampshire, whether its a weekend, after school party, school disco or evening disco you’re after, she’s got it covered. Head over to her website www.tibykidz. co.uk or look on Facebook/Instagram to find out why everyones raving about her!

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KIDS’ PARTIES

Win a Great British WIN! Map of Wonders Let the adventures begin!

Families has teamed up with ST&G to offer ten lucky readers their very own Great British Map of Wonders.

There are so many amazing adventure-filled things to do here in Britain, that it’s hard to take them all in without a ginormous map!

For children ages 6+, this map includes 1000 of the most fun things to do and places to visit around Britain, with great games to play, boxes to tick, notes to fill in and a huge colouring map.

Find and explore amazing animals, awesome activities, brilliant beaches, thrilling quests, super-fun festivals, funny place names and legendary places.

For more information, visit www.marvellousmaps.com

To enter, visit familiesmag.co.uk/go Closing date: 20 June. T&Cs at https://bit.ly/MapofWonders

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A bit of luxury brought to your back garden to Celebrate or Just because you deserve it.

PAUL 07592 370426 Hello@SOrelaxinghottubhire.co.uk www.SorelaxingHottubhire.co.uk

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15% Discount with this voucher Quoting Reference HOT22

Families Solent East 13

ACTIVITIES

Adventures at home

By Zoe Lake I’m a big fan of planning fun-filled family adventures at home for weekends and holidays. Here are some of our favourites, which can be easily adjusted if the weather does not behave. All the activities can be tailored to children and adults of all ages, adding a little magic to precious family time.

Garden music festival Dig out your tent, drag out your blankets and cushions, power up the radio and set up camp. Spend the day listening to music in the comfort of your own garden.

Homemade ribbon wristbands and VIP lanyards allow unlimited access to the snack cupboard, fruity mocktails and ultimately, the lavatory - without needing to queue!

Twenty four hours without electricity Challenging the family to go without electricity is great fun. Not only does it encourage you to get creative with your time, it also opens up the broader topic of eco-living and which small changes can be made at home. Activities for the day might include painting, poetry, games, bird watching, cooking over an open flame and sleeping outside.

Stargazing Our favourite way to stargaze is in an old inflatable pool, patched with duct tape and filled with duvets! It keeps the chill out whilst we snuggle down and watch for the first star to appear amidst the myths and legends. Look out for the Big Bear, the Pegasus and Draco the dragon, which snakes across our sky.

Garden fete

Mini Olympics

Wildlife hunting

Village fetes are often a washout but you can schedule yours when there’s glorious sunshine! String up your bunting, bake some scones, set up a raffle and a lucky dip (from old goody bag items), provide an (unplugged) microphone for announcements, hold a pet show, even set up a Pimms’ tent (no judgement here).

Our annual garden Olympics is one of our favourite days of the year. Open with a (tissue paper) Olympic flame and homemade hanging flags, followed by competitive rounds of egg and spoon, sack races, hula hooping, bean bag throwing and swing ball. Keep score on a chalkboard and finish with salt dough medals at an elaborate award ceremony.

Find out who you share your garden with, using a nature guide to help with identification. Or encourage a few new residents with a log pile house for insects, hanging feeders for birds, a compost heap for worms, upturned pots for frogs and a colourful flowerbed for bees and butterflies. Keep an illustrated journal of what you all see.

Family heritage

Reading nook

Spend a bit of time asking relatives about their own adventures, jotting them down as you go. If the weather is a bit rubbish, this is the perfect excuse to scour old family albums full of photos of when they were young. And if the weather is kind, ask them to take you around their old haunts, perhaps to where they grew up.

A reading nook is a wonderful place to spend a lazy afternoon. Set up a den or a teepee and make it cosy inside. Fill a basket with books and make the most of little ones curled up in your lap for story time. Or even have a go at writing your own story together.

14 Families Solent East

Zoe Lake’s book Adventures at Home (Pimpernel Press) is available at all good book shops and at www.zoe-lake.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

ACTIVITIES

Garden time

By Jo Behari Ah, the summer breeze is in the air! Looking forward to spending more time in the garden? Maybe not, if your garden is like mine and covered in green moss and winter dredge. So, it’s time to make it shine!

Pressure washing is your friend when it comes to sprucing up your garden after the winter. You can hire a pressure washer from a tool rental company for around £40 for the weekend. Or invest in one if there’s space to store it. Use the brush tool on the pressure washer to lift any green moss. Treat the areas with a disinfectant like Jeyes fluid beforehand, scrubbing them with a stiff bristled brush.

What about rust on metal furniture or BBQ’s? Most rust spots can be cleaned and treated easily by soaking them with white vinegar. Scrub the vinegar off with a stiff brush or even a light sand with sandpaper for stubborn spots. For some metals you can even use WD-40 to lift off rust but test this on a small area before treating larger spaces.

Think outside the box and bring some interesting non-plant features into your garden. Mirrors are a brilliant way to add a quirky element to your garden. Hang them from fences or trees to create a secret garden feel. Light up your entire garden with solar powered lights that can be hung from trees and bushes on fence panels or even staked into the ground.

Now the garden’s looking better - apart from the graveyard of discarded toys on the lawn. How can you get that Insta-garden feel whilst still making sure the kids have plenty of space and toys to play with?

And don’t be afraid to use old, discarded items as planters or garden features to make your garden feel that bit more characterful. For example, old tyres make great herb planters, hanging plants can be suspended from pallets and old wooden ladders look great with plants trailing on them.

Everyone knows the importance of good storage in a family home and that’s true outside as well as inside. For a multifunctional garden, storage that doubles up as furniture is a great idea. Look for garden benches that have in built storage or footrest/storage boxes. Plastic garden storage solutions don’t always look great but are functional. Get quirky and creative and use old chest of drawers or cupboards outside.

If you get the entire family involved in coming up with creative ideas, it won’t be long before your garden feels unique to you and a place you really want to spend time this summer.

Jo Behari is an entrepreneur, DIY expert and TV presenter www.jobehari.co.uk

How to bring colour into your garden

Creating a kids play area on a budget

Obviously, plants and flowers provide colour but this may only last a few months of the year.

Kids garden toys can be pricey so start by using what you already have.

Another way of introducing colour and vibrancy which will last all year is to paint fences and furniture. You can choose any colours you like from pastels to vibrant shades. Cuprinol do a great range of outdoor paints but if you are looking for something more environmentally friendly, Graphenstone paints remove CO2 from the atmosphere, so make a great eco choice.

Hang pipes, old bottles, funnels and tubes to the fence to create a water run for young kids who love water play.

Use soft furnishings like brightly coloured cushions and throws to bring in colour too. Just make sure you have a decent place to store them, so they don’t get ruined by being left out overnight.

As we all know, it generally rains plenty during a UK summer!

Invest in an outdoor rug for your seating area. This can be left out overnight and all year round and makes a great addition to any garden seating area, offering additional colour as well as pattern.

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Put two washing up bowls side by side, one containing mud and one containing water. Add a few old kitchen utensils and some plastic bowls and you have yourself a mud kitchen!

Use old wellie boots as planters so kids can look after their own plants. These are great for strawberries and small flowers.

String some old tins and pots to the fence and with an old wooden spoon let little ones bang out a tune. Paint them some fun colours to make them really bright and appealing for younger children.

Old tyres can be picked up cheaply and can be used to create an obstacle course for older kids. These are also easy to paint so another great way to bring colour into the garden.

Families Solent East 15

Southsea's best kept secret

Open Week

23rd May to 26th May 2022

9.30am or 10.45am appointments At SJC, we pride ourselves on the academic success of each individual child and our outstanding pastoral care.

We offer a rounded eduaction, providing opportunities for pupils through an innovative curriculum and extensive range of activities.

Contact the Admissions Team who will be happy to help or click on the website. call 023 9281 5118 email admissions@stjohnscollege.co.uk click www.stjohnscollege.co.uk

BE INSPIRED, CONTAC T US TODAY: PRE-SCHOOL INFANT

16 Families Solent East

www.pgs.org.uk

JUNIOR

SENIOR

info@pgs.org.uk

(023) 9236 0036

SIX TH FORM

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