Families Thames Valley West Jan/Feb 2020

H ME KE TA

EE FR E OM

Thames Valley West

IN THIS ISSUE

Cover kids winner revealed!

Early years special | New year … new you Spotlight on green businesses | 50 Winter days out BRACKNELL NORTH (WARFIELD) 01344 723123 stagecoach.co.uk/bracknellnorth HENLEY AND MARLOW 07539 753718 stagecoach.co.uk/henleyandmarlow READING CAVERSHAM 07894 951990 stagecoach.co.uk/readingcaversham READING WEST 01962 777 500 stagecoach.co.uk/readingwest BRACKNELL 01344 568658 stagecoach.co.uk/bracknell HOLIDAY HIGH WYCOMBE 07539 753718 WORKSHOP stagecoach.co.uk/highwycombe BOOKINGS OPEN READING EAST 01183 712996 stagecoach.co.uk/readingeast WOKINGHAM 01183 712998 stagecoach.co.uk/wokingham

Helping children believe they can do anything Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year-olds

Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited.

Issue 105 January/February 2020

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

...endless ideas for families of young children in Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire Families® Thames Valley West • Issue 105 • January/February 2020 Visit us at www.familiesonline.co.uk

In this issue...

4-6

News and views

8-9

Cover kids

10

Education news

11

School open days

12-13 New year new you 14

How green is your family?

15

Becoming a family of eco warriors

16

Top eco resolutions

17-20 What’s On Guide 21

Fostering self control in young children

22-23 Nanny, granny or nursery?

24

Designing a nursery for your baby

25-27 Clubs and classes directory 28-29 Book club 30

Why I want to be in the good enough parenting club

31

Kids page

Hello from the Edit or...

What a beautiful cover photo! Well done to Lucy and her family, and also a huge thank you to all our other entries. It certainly was a tough call. You can enjoy the other finalists and judge’s comments on pages 8-9.

It’s that time of year! The time when many of us make resolutions about what we are going to do differently in the weeks and months ahead. From tiny habits through to life-changing shifts in course. We thought you might value some advice from local experts who can help you find the direction you need for a happy and successful 2020.

While we’re talking self improvement, have a read of our eco resolutions. It’s one of several features in this issue about the environment, including a spotlight on some local businesses that are making a meaningful difference in this area.

Last but not least, we have focused in on early years, so if you’re looking at childcare options, designing your baby’s nursery, and trying to foster self-control in your little ones, do have a read!

Rachel.

Next issue: March/April – Easter and Spring days out Booking deadline: 1 February.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

Don’t miss these great offers • 20 FREE taster sessions at BestLife Basics, see page 8

• WIN a set of Ross Welford books See page 29.

• One FREE child with one full paying adult at The Look Out Discovery Centre, see page 18

• Introductory £40 discount on Perform classes, see page 3.

• FREE trial classes at Perform, BilinguaSing, diddi dance and Berzerk Productions, see pages 3, 25 & 27 • FREE 2 week trial with Street Feet Dance, see page 27 • A FREE 30-minute family law consultation with LGFL Ltd, see page 15 • FREE taster session at Steppin’ Out, see page 5 • diddi dance – 10 per cent off parties, see page 4

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Find us on Facebook and Instagram To advertise: If you are reading this, so are your customers! We can help you reach an audience of over 47,000 parents in Reading, Henley, Newbury, Wokingham, Bracknell and West Berkshire. Give us a call on 07968 711937 or drop us a line at editor@familiestvw.co.uk to find out how we can help support your family friendly business!

The Families team Editor: Rachel Jones Designed by: Ridgeway Press Ltd, 01256 300 420 www.ridgewaypress.co.uk

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk • Tel: 07968 711937

Families Thames Valley West • 3

News & views The Big Garden Birdwatch The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 25 to 27 January and is the largest wildlife survey in the world. The information collected helps monitor bird species in the UK, and is great fun for children.

To take part, you need to watch the birds in your garden or local park for just one hour at some point over the three days and report your results to the RSPB. You can

request a FREE Big Garden Birdwatch pack from the RSPB which includes a bird identification chart and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden.

To make it fun, challenge your children to see who can spot the most birds. Take a bike ride to a local park to look for birds, or make a day trip and spot birds in a new place.

More info at rspb.org.uk

Feel the force This Spring, The Look Out Discovery Centre is launching a new interactive workshop show.

Feel the Force encourages children to find out about forces all around them – push, pull, squeeze and jump. Running from 25 January until 15 March at weekends and in Bracknell school holidays, it promises to be a fun – and educational – experience for primary school aged children. For younger visitors, robot toddler days will be taking place on 13 and 14 January.

There are over 90 hands-on science activities at the centre – you can launch a hydrogen rocket, play with boats in the indoor stream or build a house with your friends. A new exhibit, Watch Water Freeze, encourages visitors to run the tap and then watch as the ice crystals form. Patience will be rewarded as the ice spreads!

Check out facebook.com/ thelookoutdiscovery or call 01344 354400 for more details.

diddi dance celebrates birthday with special offer diddi dance Reading & Wokingham is celebrating its sixth birthday. “I can hardly believe that it’s now six years ago that I nervously launched my first class in Woodley,” says owner, Andrea Bickford. “It’s lovely to look back and see how far we’ve come. I’m really proud of the little business I’ve built around my passion for dance.

Being able to share that enthusiasm with hundreds of local toddlers and their parents is really special!”

DO YOU NEED A WILL OR LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY? If so contact Hillhampton Wills, a local company, on 0118 984 3167 or email joanne@hillhamptonwills.com Joanne will visit you at your home.

Appointments last approximately 1 hour and can be held during the day, evening or weekend.

A Single Will costs £160, a pair of Mirror Wills £210, a single Power of Attorney £250.

For further information visit www.hillhamptonwills.com A MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL WILLWRITERS AND FULLY INSURED

4 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

The company launched in January 2014 with three classes per week. Today there are 14 weekly community classes running across Reading and Wokingham, including an intergenerational session at a local care home.

Sessions are also held in a collection of nurseries and pre-schools, which incorporate diddi dance into their EYFS curriculum; and parties are delivered all over the territory at weekends.

By exploring multiple dance styles, diddi dance is the ideal way to introduce girls and boys aged 1.5-4.5 years to the joy of dancing and to instil a love of physical activity from an early age. The classes have recently given little ones a feel for the Jive, Bollywood, Reggae, Rave and Salsa. And over the next few months, Hip Hop, Irish and Country will all be featured in the lessons.

To celebrate its birthday, diddi dance is offering a 10% discount to Families Readers who book a birthday party (suitable for 2 to 6 years) before the end of February 2020. Your child and their friends will enjoy an hour of fastpaced activities including dancing games, action songs, a host of props, bubbles, balloons and lots of fun! Please quote: ‘Families Birthday Party Offer’ when making an enquiry to: andrea.bickford@diddidance.com More info at diddidance.com

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Strictly’s Emma Barton says, “This year’s show was wonderful, such brilliant stand out performances!”

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Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk • Tel: 07968 711937

Families Thames Valley West • 5

News & views

National Storytelling Week

Perform is celebrating its 20th anniversary!

Families chatted to founder, Lucy Quick.

How did Perform start?

I was a musical theatre actress in Oliver! at the London Palladium and I loved working with children.

I had a vision for a drama school that wasn’t about talent or auditions; where performing arts would be used to develop what we now call the 4 Cs: confidence, communication, coordination and concentration.

Where is Perform at now?

Starting with two classes in 2000, we now run 472 schools across the South East and West, employ over 250 teachers and have almost 8,000 children attending weekly.

What is the secret of Perform’s success?

We put child development at the heart of everything we do.

What does the future hold?

Opening more Perform schools across the country – we’re just launching in Nottingham - and continuing our confidence crusade to help children fulfil their potential through drama, dance and singing.

What are you proudest of?

My teachers. They are the most inspirational bunch of talented and enthusiastic people you’ll ever meet.

Try a FREE no-obligation dance or drama class in Reading, Wokingham, Goring, Newbury, Crowthorne and Twyford.

Visit perform.org.uk/try to book.

Quote TVW140220 for an introductory £40 discount.

National Storytelling Week takes place from 1 to 8 February and is a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world. We are all immersed in stories — from conversations during which we re-tell events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and

More info at sfs.org.uk

New year, new you New Year is an opportunity to plan ahead for your future. You might set goals to get fit, eat a healthier diet or quit smoking. Or you may choose to look at your relationship or marriage, and ask one simple question - “Am I happy?”

If the answer is no, you are not alone. The Christmas period inevitably places already strained relationships under more pressure.

Being with your partner 24/7, excess alcohol and having spent too much may bring deep-seated resentments to the surface. That can result in things said or done that confirm your need to separate, for your own happiness and that of your family.

If your marriage really has run its course, and you want to go your separate ways, the time to act is now. Starting the process now means that it isn’t hanging over you during the early part of 2020.

Choosing to divorce is never easy, but starting to plan your divorce will make all the difference between feeling trapped and stressed, or moving forward.

Every divorce is different, so it’s vital to get sound advice from the start. Many divorce lawyers offer a

6 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

writer, a child needs firstly to be a good speaker and listener.

Above all though, storytelling is fun. Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary.

National Storytelling Week takes place in storytelling clubs, theatres, museums, schools, hospitals, spoken word venues, and care homes.

free, no obligation initial consultation, when you can talk through your situation face to face.

It’s also a good way to decide which firm might be best to help you.

This first step might be difficult, but it will give you the information and confidence to move forward to your goal of a fresh start and a new life for you and your family.

And ultimately, a new you.

Rita Gupta is a Director at LGFL Ltd, a boutique family law firm in Reading. Rita is offering qualifying readers of Families Thames Valley a free 30-minute consultation to discuss any family law issue, including divorce and separation. https://lgfamilylawyers.co.uk/free30-minute-consultation/ familiesonline.co.uk

READING

littlelearnersuk.com 07474 368173 facebook.com/LLReading

Learn to write through play with exciting mark-making and messy play classes. Fun and engaging one-hour sessions for 0-5s.

Mon, Thurs and Fri classes in Reading and Caversham, special events and birthday parties.

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Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk • Tel: 07968 711937

Families Thames Valley West • 7

Cover We received some beautiful photos for our competition to be the cover star of this issue. After a hotly contested vote on Facebook, a shortlist went through to our judge, Stephanie Cronin at Berkshire-based Summers Photography. Stephanie explains why she chose the winner – a photo of Lucy from Bracknell about to pelt her Mum with a snowball: “It is sharp, it's funny, and a good use of the camera for a blurry background. The image was very popular amongst members of the public on Facebook too.” As well as gracing our cover, Lucy’s family will also enjoy a photography course with Summers Photography, teaching them how to capture the perfect family photos.

A huge thank you to all the other entrants – we were so impressed with your photos – and to everyone who took the time to vote. Here, in all their glory, are our other finalists.

LADIES LEARNING TO LIFT

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My clients call me the belly fat buster and my solution to your problem is so easy you will be shocked by its simplicity.

I have 20 free Taster Sessions to give away this Autumn.

Don't worry if you have little ones at home — this is a kid-friendly gym.

Book your FREE Session here: https://www.bestlifebasics.co.uk/loseyourbellyfat/ Or call Marla on 01183342551

8 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

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star

Our judge...

Summers Photography is that family friend that covers all of your life events. From weddings, births, parties and events; they are integrated into families to document your lives’ most important milestones and cherished moments.

Stephanie and Steve – husband and wife team – have been trading for 17 years. That's hundreds of weddings, families and events; watching little ones grow up and new little ones arrive.

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Throughout a career that stretches nearly 20-years, Stephanie trained in teaching and taught A Level Photography in colleges and arts centres in the South East and now has her own successful training centre, The Photography Academy.

With courses for beginners, they cater to business owners who want to take their own photographs, families documenting life and holidays and retired people interested in a new hobby.

With over 18 courses available online and in-person, they have built a reputation for a straight-

forward approach to learning and supportive customer service.

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk • Tel: 07968 711937

Get in touch for further information:

info@summers-photography.co.uk summers-photography.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 9

Education news

Early years families invited to visit Crosfields Heart speaks to heart Crosfields School in Shinfield will be holding an Early Years Open Morning on Friday 28 February for parents interested in September 2020 places for the nursery and reception. Nestled within the 40-acre site is the spacious, purpose-built Crosfields Nursery which can take up to 40 girls and boys aged between 3 and 4. Following the Early Years curriculum, qualified teaching staff provide a nurturing and stimulating environment that encourages all children to flourish.

Within reception, the children embark upon a more structured academic programme for literacy and

mathematical development that forms the basis of their educational journey.

Mrs Janey McDowell, head of Pre-Prep at Crosfields says: “Our children are confident, engaged and self-motivated as our staff recognise and build upon each child’s existing understanding and experiences.” The recent ISI inspection had an outcome of ‘Excellent’, concluding that, “Academic attainment is in advance of that expected at the relevant levels of age and stage of development.”

Visit crosfields.com to register an interest in the open morning.

The Oratory School in South Oxfordshire, has launched a campaign to raise funds for bursaries, offering lifechanging opportunities to pupils. ‘Heart Speaks to Heart’ aims to increase the school’s financial commitment to bursaries and transformational bursaries by 75 per cent in five years.

Transformational bursaries – where at least 75 per cent of the annual fees are covered – support pupils who would thrive at The Oratory but whose parents do not have the financial means

to enable them to do so.

Joe Smith, Headmaster of The Oratory School, comments: “With growing pupil numbers, academic and sporting success and a continued reputation for excellence, we launch the Heart Speaks to Heart Campaign from a position of strength. We recognise and embrace the changing world around us and look forward to continuing to enrich the lives of current and future pupils.”

The Oratory Prep School joins Bellevue Education

Waverley tops prep school league tables The latest Sunday Times National Preparatory School league tables have been released, and Waverley School is celebrating another top ranking.

The Wokingham school is now placed 22nd in the UK, the best in Berkshire and 3rd in the Home Counties. The school has jumped over 20 places from its ranking last year of 48.

Rankings are based on the academic performance of the Year 6 cohort in their KS2 SATSs, with inspection reports also scrutinised. There are 2,026 prep

schools and over 18,000 junior schools in the UK. Waverley is a modern school with a combination of traditional and modern teaching methods, and maintains single form entry with 20 children in each year.

The Oratory Preparatory School (OPS) has joined Bellevue Education – a group of schools which share a vision and educational approach. The OPS – a Catholic independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 2 to 13 in South Oxfordshire – has been welcomed to the group, which has 19 schools within the UK and two in Continental Europe.

Headmaster Rob Stewart said: "I believe that this represents an amazing opportunity for the school as we enter an exciting new chapter. The vision, ethos and educational approach which are so dear to us sit brilliantly with Bellevue's approach. I believe we can look forward to an exciting future for all pupils, parents and staff."

Mark Malley, CEO of Bellevue Education, added: “From my first visit to the school I felt that the OPS would be a natural fit to the Bellevue group as both share the same values and commitments: providing an educational environment that challenges, nurtures, excites and involves every single pupil. I very much look forward to working with Rob and his dedicated team.”

Moulsford boy represents his country A Moulsford Preparatory School pupil was the first and only boy to compete for Great Britain in the recent IDO Show Dance World Championships.

The competition was held in Germany in November, and Kit in Year 8 reached the semi-finals in both duet and small group.

There were 1,855 dancers from 23 nations taking part over the six days, so

10 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

the competition was fierce. There were over 42 entries in the quarter finals and 17 went through to the semis with only six making it through to the finals.

In the end, Russia topped the Children Showdance division in front of more than 3,000 spectators with their dancers winning 14 out of 15 possible medals!

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OPEN DAYS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 OXFORDSHIRE MOULSFORD PREPARATORY SCHOOL (independent boys day & boarding school 4-13yrs) 01491 651 438, moulsford.com Open day: Fri 7 Feb (all day).

THE ORATORY SCHOOL (independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 1118) 01491 683 500, oratory.co.uk Open morning: Sat 29 Feb 9.30am12.30pm THE ORATORY PREPARATORY SCHOOL (independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 2-13), 0118 984 4511, oratoryprep.co.uk Open mornings: Wed 5, Thurs 6 and Sat 29 Feb. For more information and to book: oratoryprep.co.uk/Open-Mornings Stay and play sessions: Fri 24 Jan and Tues 25 Feb, 9.30am 11.30am.

CRANFORD HOUSE (a nonselective independent day school

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for girls aged 3 to 16 and boys aged 3 to 11) 01491 651218 cranfordhouse.net Reception open morning: Fri 24 Jan 9.30-11am Whole school open week: Mon 2 – Fri 7 Feb, 9.30am-3pm.

READING ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE (independent co-ed day school 318yrs), 0118 966 1000, sjcr.org.uk Early Years and Senior open morning: Thurs 13 Feb 10.30am SOUTH OF READING CROSFIELDS SCHOOL (independent co-ed day school 313yrs), 0118 987 1810, crosfields.com Early Years open morning: Fri 28 Feb WAVERLEY SCHOOL (independent prep school and day nursery for boys and girls 3 months -11yrs), 0118 973 1121, waverleyschool.co.uk Open morning: Fri 24 Jan 9.30am

EAGLE HOUSE SCHOOL (independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3-13 in Sandhurst), 01344 772 134, eaglehouseschool.com Open morning: Sat 29 Feb 10am HOLME GRANGE SCHOOL (independent co-ed day school 3-16yrs), 0118 978 1566, holmegrange.org Admissions Day (for families interested in a place in Year 7 and 9 in the academic year 2020/2021): Mon 20 Jan. Please contact the Registrar: registrar@holmegrange.org.

WEST BERKSHIRE BROCKHURST & MARLSTON HOUSE SCHOOL, Hermitage (independent boys (Brockhurst) and girls (Marlston House) day and boarding prep school 2 ½ -13), 01635 200 293, brockmarl.org.uk Open morning: Sat 8 Feb 10am12pm. registrar@brockmarl.org

HORRIS HILL, Newbury (boarding and day preparatory school for boys 4-13 years) 01635 40594 horrishill.com Open mornings: Fri 31 Jan and Fri 28 Feb. WOKINGHAM REDDAM HOUSE SCHOOL (independent co-ed day & boarding school 3-18yrs), 0118 974 8300, reddamhouse.org.uk Open house: Fri 31 Jan. MEADOWBROOK SCHOOL (independent co-ed primary school for ages 4 – 11), 01344 890869 meadowbrook.uk Meadowbrook School in Warfield offers tailor-made open days in the form of informal observation visits, where parents receive the undivided attention of the Head, watch real classes in action and chat naturally to children and staff.

To book your visit call: 01344 890869 or email admin@meadowbrook.uk

Please ring the school to check the Open Day or Evening is still going ahead.

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk • Tel:07968 711937

Families Thames Valley West • 11

New year… new you It’s that time of year! The time when many of us make resolutions about what we are going to do differently in the weeks and months ahead. From tiny habits through to lifechanging shifts in direction.

Are you one of those people who make your January resolutions stick? Or are you one of the great majority who let them slide all too quickly? We at Families thought our readers might value a bit of advice from some local experts who can help you find the direction you need for a happy and successful 2020.

‘Hit the pause button’

‘Get yourself a will’

Claire Brown, careers and work life balance coach

Joanne Baker, Hillhampton Wills

Top tip: Create the space and opportunity to hit the pause button.

January is an opportunity to reflect on the year just gone and decide what you would like the future to look like. Pinpoint areas of imbalance in your life and consider what works for you and what doesn’t. You can then begin to carve out an action plan in order to make a change.

Helping Mums make key decisions about their career choices after having children is a particular passion for Claire, who is based in Reading and works across the south east. “On one hand it’s a real opportunity to hit the pause button and decide what you would like your life to look like in the future, but on the other it is also a really challenging time of transition and can massively impact on your confidence,” she says.

Claire has a four-pronged approach based on establishing clarity, building confidence, learning techniques to create a calm mindset and setting out a step-by-step strategy once a direction has been agreed.

“Confidence is very often the big one when you have taken a year out of the workplace,” she says. “The challenge is to overcome a negative mindset by taking action, which is something I love to support my clients in.”

Top tip: It’s simple. Get yourself a will if you don’t already have one! It can take as little as an hour of your time, costs around £200 and can be in place within a fortnight.

We all know making a will is good sense — but we often put it off. The key is to find an expert who makes it easy and personal, and that’s where Joanne of Pangbourne-based Hillhampton Wills scores with her home visit service. Joanne studied law and worked for multi-national companies before having her own family and then taking a change of direction into will writing. She is accredited with the Institute of Professional Willwriters and works to a strict code of practice.

Perhaps most fundamentally for a young family, a will protects your children and could make life very much easier for those you choose to look after them. Says Joanne: “The benefit if you have children is that through the will, you are appointing legally responsible guardians to care for your children if both parents pass away before the children are 18. Without a will in place, your friends or family would have the stress and cost of applying for legal responsibility through a court making an already emotional time much more stressful.”

ELAINE MAYHEW LIFE COACH AND TRAINER

Helping you do more, feel better and brim with confidence.

www.elainemayhew.com elaine@elainemayhew.com 12 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

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‘Notice nature each day’

‘Try time chunking’

Sarah Salmon, Brilliant Beings

Sara Jane Ladums, Wellness & Wellies

Top tip: Take a little time each day to notice something in nature – a blade of grass, a bird singing or the air on your skin. Let the habit grow from five to ten minutes and then longer to see how much calmer you feel.

Sarah’s business is focused on children, using yoga and gentle mindful movement with breath to anchor those who sign up for her classes. She also uses sensory exercises, games, music, art, storytelling and relaxation to help youngsters experience the calming benefits of focusing their attention on now.

Sarah uses yoga to teach children body awareness and shows them how to release tension by letting it flow into the floor. She also places great emphasis on the importance of the breath and on breathing into the belly and making the out-breath longer than the in-breath. One simple technique is to suck air in quickly through a straw and then let it go slowly into your hand.

‘Set an intention’

‘Change in easy stages’

Elaine Mayhew, life coach and trainer

Flick Lucas, Ridgeway Nutrition

Top tip: Ditch traditional resolutions that are broken within a fortnight. Opt instead to set an intention eg ‘I intend to exercise twice-a-week because it makes me feel good’. Write it down because committing to paper helps.

Elaine is a great advocate of doing a mini life audit via a ‘wheel of life’. Draw a circle and divide it into eight labelled segments to represent key areas of your life. The segments might include career, healthy, money, relationships and happiness. Now score each life segment out of ten according to how satisfied you are and mark the segments accordingly with 10 on the outer edge. This clearly identifies the areas you need to work on.

“It’s really useful if you feel you need to make a change but aren’t sure where to begin,” says Elaine. “Ask yourself what you really want.

If you’ve set the same goal for the last five years and not achieved it then is it really important?”

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Top tip: Break your day down into chunks of time and create task lists.

Spend 25 minutes at a time really focussed on each task and then take a short break. It’s amazing what you can achieve if you’re not distracted.

Mortimer-based Sara Jane runs exercise classes that welcome children and also a closely supported online fitness community for busy Mums.

Users access courses ranging from yoga to abs from home and at a time of day that suits. She is a great believer in starting her own ‘time chunked’ day as early as 5am, using the time before her daughter wakes to get organised, exercise or meditate.

“It’s important to make yourself the priority,” says Sara Jane, who also offers nutritional advice and meal ideas that work for the whole family.

“Mums are very good at making sure everyone else is ok, but self care is vital and not selfish.”

Top tip: Take stock of where you are. Don’t go into the New Year setting the bar too high by cutting out lots of the things you eat in one go. Make changes in manageable chunks.

Flick operates from West Berkshire and is passionate in her belief that healthy eating doesn’t have to mean denial and that goals can be reached in a balanced and healthy way. She applies that belief not just to clients who want to lose weight but those with medical or allergy issues.

Her assessment starts with a medical history, a seven-day food diary, understanding diets they have tried previously and the foods they love and hate. Foods consumed are broken down into constituents to assess what they are over-consuming and what essentials they are short on. She then builds her plans around goals, whether personal or sporting.

From there, Flick has a good idea of which nutritional plan is the right one, ranging from a complete ‘re-boot’ to a simple ‘tune-up’. She also has specific plans for Mums-to-be and for children.

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk • Tel: 07968 711937

Families Thames Valley West • 13

How green is your family?

We are all coming under a lot of pressure right now to think about how we interact with the environment. From avoiding single-use plastics to flying less and planting trees to soak up carbon – many of us are reviewing our family’s footprints.

W

hile much of the action needed to fight climate change must, of necessity, come from governments, the experience of recent months has been that individuals ranging from David Attenborough to Greta Thunberg can move mountains when it comes to public opinion. They also inspire the rest of us to take our own action.

We have had a look around in our own area at people and businesses who are giving us more eco-friendly product options, and at those who are driving opinions.

Given her scientific background, Jenni Drever-Heaps of Reading-based The Sustainable Way was alarmed by the extent to which single-use plastics were consumed in the laboratory. From that concern, and using her science skills, she has devised her own range of eco-friendly bar soaps which she now sells through her Etsy page, as well as through craft fairs and other outlets.

“I have only been going a few months but the reaction has been very positive,” says Jenni.

“There are a lot of people looking to reduce their plastic consumption, especially those with young families who are worried about their children’s future. Reverting to bar soaps is a small step, but if we all did it, the impact on single-use plastics would be huge.”

Jenni manufactures her soaps in a dedicated room of her home, using an ancient cold process method that involves several weeks of curing and drying. Her customers’ favourite tends to be charcoal and clay swirl soap, which is not just pleasing on the eye but good for the skin. It is made using the charcoal by-product from coconut husks, making it even more ecofriendly.

A useful tip is to also invest in her drawstring soap saver bags, which are made from a sustainable material known as ramie, and have naturally anti-bacterial properties. You can use one like a loofah in the shower with your left over soap, knowing that there is zero-waste.

The world of children’s toys has long been dominated by plastics. But thanks to skilled people like Liz Pearson of Love Heartwood at Burghfield Common, there is now an opportunity to wind the clock way back to the days when wooden ones were all the rage.

Once a primary school teacher, Liz went back to university to study product design, and in her final year fell in love with wood turning.

It then took her seven years to find the money

and the space to accommodate her own lathe and to hone her skills amongst the hobbyists at the Kennet Valley Woodturning Club.

“I then set about trying to turn it into a business and started by exploring my personal values,” says Liz. “I decided I could use my knowledge of children, my product design skills and my wood turning to make wooden toys.”

The birth of her third son delayed the launch of Love Heartwood, but it is now flourishing and you can find her toys online and through some local outlets. Spinning tops and baby rattles are a favourite, inspiration for the latter coming from a son who refused a plastic one!

Liz also offers a hard-to-find repair service for wooden toys.

The drive to cut back on plastic is gaining traction right across the Thames Valley.

Thatcham & Newbury Plastic Free is typical of the cohort of action groups set up to communicate the cause to the community and has more than 3,600 Facebook group members sharing advice and ideas.

It was set up by Jenny Kirby whose passion for the cause is infectious. She says: “My advice is to make one small change at a time, whether that be buying refillable household products, using bees wax wraps instead of cling film or choosing loose rather than wrapped carrots. I would also urge people to make sure they properly understand from their local authority what can and can’t be recycled – every council is different.”

Jenny and husband Tom have gone on to set up Thatcham Refillable in response to demand to supply vegan, sustainable, ethical, biodegradable refillable household cleaning and personal washing products dispensed from 20-litre containers, which themselves are returned to the manufacturer and refilled. “We decided to set up a pop-up shop at home and had people queueing around the corner,” says Jenny, who also offers refillables through events, home deliveries and a small growing network of collection points.

Jenny and Tom are part of a wider network that includes people like Jana Little who collects large quantites of otherwise unrecyclable materials such as crisp packets at her Thatcham home and uses the money it raises from specialist recyclers to support the Canine Partners charity.

14 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

Jenni Drever-Heaps: bar soaps make sense

... some of Jenni’s popular soaps

Liz Pearson: fell in love with wood turning

... kids love Liz’s wooden toys

Jenny Kirby: passionate about plastic

familiesonline.co.uk

Top tips to turn your family into eco-warriors

By Isabel Thomas

Saving the planet is easier than you think. And the whole family can get involved! down (and take home) the strangest looking fruit and veg? No item is too blemished, big, small or gnarly – if they’re on the shelf, they’re safe to eat. Give them a home, so they don’t get thrown away – they’ll still taste delicious!

Go herbivore for a day When it comes to gobbling up resources, meaty meals are the planet’s number one enemy. Each year, 7.6 billion humans chomp their way through meat from an amazing 65 billion animals. Raising these animals – and getting them from farm to fork – puts enormous pressure on the planet’s resources and is a big source of greenhouse gases. Avoid meat (and cheese) for just one day a week, and you could make a bigger impact than taking your family car off the road for FIVE WEEKS. Do less washing up You hate it, and the planet hates it too! Happily, putting less effort into doing the dishes is a win-win situation. An average family washing up by hand uses around three sinks full of water per day – 10 per cent of all their daily water. It’s possible to use much less if you avoid wasteful habits, like running the hot tap to rinse dishes. If your family uses a dishwasher, you’ll be VERY pleased to hear they can be kinder to the planet – as long as you don’t rinse the dishes first.

Ban baths One of the top ways to cut the volume of greenhouse gases our houses belch is to reduce the amount of water we heat up at home. Skipping even one bath a week can make a BIG difference. If you already prefer showers, don’t be too smug. Fast-flowing and rainfall shower heads use up to 17 litres of water per minute, meaning that an average eight-minute shower can use almost double the energy and water of a bath! To make showers eco-friendly, get out after five minutes. familiesonline.co.uk

Lose your bottle In the minute it took you to read this far, one MILLION plastic bottles have been bought, beginning a journey that all-too-often ends in the stomachs of zooplankton, fish, albatross chicks, whales and seals.

So, what can your family do? Invest in bottles that are easy to clean and reuse. Fill up before you go out for the day, and while you’re on the move – look out for water fountains or ask at a café or restaurant. If you find yourself filling up your water bottle in a coffee shop while the adults around you clutch disposable coffee cups with disposable plastic lids, be sure to bring out your best hard stares.

Party for the planet Birthdays only come once a year, so most party goods are disposable.

Wrapping paper, cards, decorations, paper plates and napkins, plastic cups and cutlery are all designed to be used for a few hours and thrown away. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Send invitations and thank you notes by email, make your own decorations, and ban napkins – provide a bowl of soapy water and a towel instead.

Eat ugly food Shockingly, a THIRD of the food produced every year gets thrown away. The waste happens in many different places – on farms, where crops that don’t look perfect are left to rot; in supermarkets, where ‘ugly’ fruit and veg aren’t put out on display or are left on the shelves by shoppers; and in our homes, where food is forgotten at the back of the fridge until it’s too mouldy and disgusting to eat. Play this game in the supermarket – who can track

Plan a rubbish day out Imagine if your family stopped putting the bins out and stored all your rubbish at home instead. After a year, you’d be wading through more than a TONNE of packaging and food waste – the average for households in the UK. We’re lucky that our waste gets taken away every week or every fortnight – but it means we never get to see how much we really produce. So find out

where your garbage goes once you’ve waved goodbye to the bin lorry.

Many landfill and recycling sites offer free tours for individuals or groups. Once your family has seen the scale of a stinking landfill site, they’ll be inspired to reduce, reuse and recycle like never before.

Don’t rush to flush!

Around a third of the water we use at home goes straight down the toilet! Research has shown that flushing less often could reduce our water usage and bills much more quickly than turning off the tap while brushing our teeth, or even taking shorter showers.

Isabel Thomas is the author of This Book is Not Rubbish: 50 Ways to Ditch Plastic, Reduce Rubbish and Save the World, out now in paperback from Wren & Rook, price £6.99.

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Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk • Tel: 07968 711937

Families Thames Valley West • 15

Your top 8 eco-resolutions for 2020 Resolutions are on everyone’s mind at this time of year. Whether you love or loathe them, there’s no avoiding the fact that they can be a great way to kickstart the new year.

2019 was a turbulent year, which saw a significant rise in eco-activism. Greta Thunberg has inspired school strikes and protests around the world. Concentrating on consuming less and being more environmentally aware has never felt more urgent.

shopping basics. You can also try to buy from companies that use environmentally-friendly packaging. Ask for change, call out shops and restaurants that use too much plastic on social media by tagging Greenpeace and use the hashtag #pointlessplastic.

So why not make sure your list of resolutions is focused on sustainability for this year?

Install rain barrels Rain barrels are an easy way to save water.

Head to a local home improvement store or surf online stores for a rain diverter. Install to gather the rainwater from your gutter system.

You can use this water during the summer for your lawns, gardens or animals; it will also help reduce your water bill.

Take a no-waste pack Encourage the whole family to be prepared and to take a refillable water bottle, coffee cup, and canvas bag with them when they go out.

Cutting down on disposable coffee cups, plastic water bottles and bags will dramatically reduce the amount you add to landfill each week.

Skip meat one day a week Research shows the drastic effects of raising cattle and other livestock on the environment.

Raising meat consumes both water and land.

Why not start dropping meat from your family’s diet one day each week? Start with a meat-free Monday and remember every meatless meal you consume helps the environment.

Avoid plastic Plastic is terrible for our environment as it needs a huge amount of petroleum to produce it. It also never breaks down and adds to the water problem the world is currently facing. Set a goal to avoid plastic as much as possible. Buy your food in glass jars and investigate local shops that offer refill services for your

Start a compost bin Composting is a great way to reduce the amount you throw away. Composters work better in the sun as they yield the best results at high temperatures. Ensure that the compost receives heat and water and make sure to rotate the contents in the compost bin occasionally. You can fill your compost bin with lawn clippings, brown paper bags, and organic food scraps. This will help you to reduce food waste and create nutrient-rich soil that you can use in your garden.

Avoid wet wipes Wipes that are flushed away are responsible for clogging up our sewers. Even if you don’t flush them, they are another singular-use disposable that is filling up our landfills every day. If you use them to take makeup off, could you make

16 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

reusable wipes from soft cotton squares that you simply wash and reuse?

Avoid fast fashion Fast fashion is killing the planet. The resources needed to produce and dispose of all the clothing produced globally earns the fashion industry the title of the world’s number one pollutant. Start thinking about what you purchase. Can you buy second hand clothes or reduce the amount you are buying? Think about investing in a smaller capsule wardrobe, which contains interchangeable pieces instead of buying throwaway high fashion clothes.

Buy seasonal and local foods Consider your purchasing decisions around the food you buy for the family. Make it your new year’s resolution to only buy seasonal and local foods. If you can afford it, buy organic because fewer pollutants and pesticides are used in the production of organic food. Visit your local farmer’s market to buy soap, honey, and jewellery from the stallholders. Investigate the journey each food makes and buy goods with the shortest travel time. Do you really need asparagus or green beans from another continent?

If one girl protesting outside the Swedish parliament can start a global protest movement against climate change, we can all do our bit.

Small actions undertaken by large numbers of people really can make a big difference.

By Claire Winter familiesonline.co.uk

Photo: National Trust Images - James Dobson

NATIONAL TRUST BASILDON PARK, Lower Basildon, RG8 9NR, 0118 984 3040 13 Jan RANGER WALK: TREE ID, FROM ASH TO YEW Join Leo the Ranger to learn the fascinating art of how to identify trees without their leaves. 1pm, £3, book online.

15-23 Feb HALF TERM: DARCY THE DORMOUSE Darcy the dormouse has woken up too early, can you help her find her way back to bed? £2.

GREYS COURT, nr Henley-onThames. RG9 4PG, 01491 628529 24 Jan RANGER WALK: TREE ID, FROM ASH TO YEW Join Leo the Ranger to learn the fascinating art of how to identify trees without their leaves. 1pm, £3, book online.

familiesonline.co.uk

What’s On Jan/Feb 2020

MORE 9 and 10 Feb RANGER WALK: SEEING THE WOOD FOR THE TREES Join Leo the Ranger for a crash course in how Leo and his team keep the woodland healthy. 1pm, £3, book online.

15 – 23 Feb HALF TERM: BUDDING RANGER TRAIL How much do you know about trees? Find out how to identify them on the half-term trail and win a prize. £2

Enjoy delicious, fresh, local produce every second Saturday of the month. 10am-2pm 15 – 23 Feb HALF TERM: HEAD INTO SPACE Discover a world among the stars with our three orienteering trails. £3 15 – 23 Feb FAMILY COOKERY SCHOOL A hands-on experience run by our chefs in the Manor Restaurant.

1.30-3.30pm £25 Book online.

HUGHENDEN, nr High Wycombe, HP14 4LA, 01494 755573 15 – 23 Feb HALF TERM: BAT AND ROBIN Become a bird detective and take on a trail with our winged heroes, Bat and Robin. Craft activities to take home. 10am-4pm. £3

THE VYNE, Near Basingstoke, RG24 9HL, 01256 883858 6 Jan – 1 Mar 125 YEARS IN THE GARDENS On our trails for all ages, discover the conservation challenges of keeping the gardens’ history alive.

Dogs on leads welcome. 10am4pm.

WADDESDON MANOR, nr Aylesbury, HP18 0JH, 01296 820414 8 Feb ARTISAN FOOD MARKET

CLIVEDEN, Taplow, SL1 8NS, 01628 605069 From Jan 50 THINGS TO DO AT CLIVEDEN… BEFORE YOU’RE 125 ¾

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk • Tel: 07968 711937

ONLINE

Activities and challenges for familiesonline.co.uk all ages to help you get the most out of your visit to Cliveden on the 125th birthday of the National Trust.

15 – 23 Feb HALF-TERM TRAIL Fun adventure trail for children to explore the estate and create a craft to take home. 10.30am2.30pm. Child £2

ONGOING EVENTS THE LOOK OUT DISCOVERY CENTRE, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW, 01344 354 4000, bracknellforest.gov.uk/thelookoutdiscover ycentre There are over 90 hands-on science activities for children of all ages to enjoy at The Look Out Discovery Centre, including the new exhibit, Watch Water Freeze.

Run the tap and then watch as the ice crystals form. Patience will be

Families Thames Valley West • 17

What’s On Jan/Feb 2020

Until 12 Jan SLIME SHOW Why are slugs and snails so slimy?

Can you really cut, bounce and stretch slime? This show is really repulsive!

25 Jan – 15 Mar FEEL THE FORCE SHOW! Push, pull, squeeze and jump. Find out all about the forces around you in this fun interactive workshop style show.

Weekly RHYMETIME, Newbury Library, The Wharf, Newbury RG14 5AU Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1111.20am. Free songs and rhymes for under threes and their parents or carers.

Weekly TAYLOR TUGS UNDER 5S CLUB, River & Rowing Museum, Henleyon-Thames Wednesdays, term time, 1011.30am pre booked, call 01491 415605 to find out more. 3-4pm drop in, £3 per child. Enjoy fun, interactive structured sessions for you and your little one, with craft, stories and songs. Themes and activities change weekly. Age 18 months – 5 yrs Weekly IMAGINE MORE, various locations in West Berkshire, imaginemore.io Storytelling & drama, and music & movement classes for under 5s.

Classes run on Wednesdays and Thursdays in Curridge and Hungerford. To book: 07774264607

The Look Out Discovery Centre

Weekly RHYME TIME at Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, RG1 3BQ Every Monday (except bank holidays), Thursday and Saturday 10.30am-11am. No need to book, just drop in. FREE.

an exciting and fun journey each week to help develop selfconfidence, build self-esteem, build self-awareness, manage stress and anxiety, relax and improve sleep and more. For children 5 - 10 years old.

Wednesdays 4pm - 5pm.

Weekly LEGO CLUB at Winnersh Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane, Winnersh, RG41 5ND, 0118 979 7519, wokingham.gov.uk/libraries Every Thursday during term time for children aged 5-10 years. 44.45pm, 50p. Places must be booked in advance.

Weekly BABY-WEARING BOOGIE, The Corn Exchange, Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5BD, 0845 521 8218, cornexchangenew.com Wednesdays from 15 Jan. A great way to be active and have fun with your little one. Time to boogie with your baby in this fun and gentle movement class for parents/carers of babies or toddlers who can be carried in a sling, baby carrier or wrap. £4 per session. 9.45am 10.15am.

Weekly TODDLER CRAFT at Southcote Library, Southcote Lane, RG30 3BA, 0118 901 5109 A free craft session every Friday for the under 5’s from 11-11.30am Monthly NATURE EXPLORERS at The Nature Discovery Centre, Muddy Lane, Lower Way, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 3FU, 01635 874 381, bbowt.org.uk On the third Saturday of every month, a hands-on wildlife club for 5-8 year olds. Each month follows a different theme with hands-on wildlife activities, craft, stories and child-led play. 10am-12pm, £5.

Booking essential Weekly BE RELAXED RELAX KIDS, Woodley, berelaxed.co.uk Children will learn valuable skills on

• Science and Discovery Fun • Over 90 hands-on activities

OPEN

10am - 5pm every day

FAM TVWJAN20

Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW

JANUARY

11 Jan FAIRY TALES FROM NOT SO FAR AWAY: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Ascot Heath Library, Fernbank Rd, Winkfield Row, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 8LA

Bring this voucher to get one free child with one full paying adult*.

A great family day out whatever the weather!

Be Amazed...

Weekly LITTLE STARS, Bracknell library, 2 Town Square, Bracknell, RG12 1AT Numeracy and literacy from a fully qualified teacher every Monday term-time only. Wonderful learning environment and quality learning to help prepare 2-5-year olds for school. Mondays 9:30am-11am (term time only). £1.50 per child.

Book your place via the library or bracknellforest/libraries/events

Tel: 01344 354400 www.facebook.com/thelookoutdiscovery

18 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

FAMTVWJAN20

rewarded as the ice spreads! You can also launch a hydrogen rocket, play with boats in the indoor stream or build a house with your friends. Activities and exhibits are organised in ‘zones’ which correspond with what your child may be learning about in school: Forces & Movement, Body & Perception, Light & Colour, Woodland & Water and Build It where you can use the rubble chute, wheelbarrows, design a house or drive a dumper truck.

Open daily from 10am-5pm.

Special shows (see below) run at weekends and in Bracknell school holidays.

Valid until 24/05/20 *Terms and conditions apply.

Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW

Tel: 01344 354400 www.facebook.com/thelookoutdiscovery

familiesonline.co.uk

What’s On Jan/Feb 2020 Creative Eye has collaborated with the Bracknell Forest Library to bring magical and classic fairy tales to life with beautiful drama performances live at the library. 11am to 11:30am. £3 per person. Book tickets online or, if places are available, you can pay in cash on the day of the event.

13 Jan CREATIVE EXPLORER FAMILY FUN, The Corn Exchange, Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5BD, 0845 521 8218, cornexchangenew.com Open up a world of creativity and enjoy art-based adventures with your child. 11.30am - 12.30pm £6 per child. Also running on 10 Feb and 9 Mar. 13 and 14 Jan ROBOTS TODDLER DAYS, The Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW Toddler days run from 10am to 4pm and there is no need to book.

Just turn up on the day.

18 Jan FAIRY TALES FROM NOT SO FAR AWAY: SLEEPING BEAUTY, Binfield Library, Benetfeld Rd, Binfield, Bracknell RG42 4JZ Creative Eye has collaborated with the Bracknell Forest Library to bring magical and classic fairy tales to life with beautiful drama performances live at the library. 11am to 11:30am. £3 per person. Book tickets online or, if places are available, you can pay in cash on the day of the event.

Until 19 Jan THE SNOWMAN AND THE SNOWDOG, River and Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henleyon-Thames, RG9 1BF Visit the enchanting exhibition, featuring over 40 original illustrations from the film, take a Snowman selfie and get a fascinating insight into the creative process that brought The Snowman back to life for a new generation of viewers.

25 Jan MUM 2 MUM NEARLY NEW MARKET, Queen Anne’s School, Caversham, mum2mummarket.co.uk Mum2mum market hold regular nearly new baby and children's familiesonline.co.uk

markets at fantastic indoor venues.

Admission is £2 on the door for buyers - kids free. 2-4pm.

FEBRUARY

1 Feb MUM 2 MUM NEARLY NEW MARKET, Thatcham Catholic Hall, mum2mummarket.co.uk Mum2mum market hold regular nearly new baby and children's markets at fantastic indoor venues.

Admission is £2 on the door for buyers - kids free. 2-5pm.

4-9 Feb THE TEMPEST, South Hill Park, Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Ringmead, RG12 7PA, southhillpark.org.uk A crash of waves. A ship torn in two. A family broken. Set sail into the mysterious and magical world of The Tempest with South Hill Park’s retelling of Shakespeare’s famous last play. For full timings, visit southhillpark.org.uk. Tickets £22, family £15 per person (selected shows).

6 Feb BLAZE’S BUDDIES, West Berkshire Museum, The Wharf, Newbury, RG14 5AS Held in the museum’s comfortable and child-friendly learning space, Blaze’s Buddies encourages your child to take part in fun and interactive activities, including a simple craft, linked to the treasure (museum object) Blaze has found that day. 11am – 11.30am.

7 Feb-26 Apr WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 55, The Base Gallery, Greenham Business Park, RG19 6HN, thebasegreenham.co.uk Wildlife Photographer of the Year is an international showcase of the very best in nature photography.

Seen by millions of people all over the world, the images shine a spotlight on nature photography as an art form, whilst challenging us to address the big questions facing our planet.

Advance tickets: full price £9, concessions £7.50, under 16s £6, under 5s free.

Park, Ringmead, RG12 7PA, southhillpark.org.uk The classic tale re-imaged on stage for children and their grown-ups.

Welcome to the incredible story of The Little Prince. Find out how he leaves behind his own tiny asteroid and journeys through the universe, coming face to face with the baffling world of grown-ups. 7pm. £14.50, family of four £46. Book tickets online or 01344 484 123.

15 – 23 Feb BRICK WEEK, LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort For the first time, families will be welcomed to the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort for February half term to celebrate Brick Week. 20 awesome rides and attractions to enjoy and exclusive brick building activities for all the family. LEGO® Builders big and small can experience the February fun for £20pp when booking tickets online in advance.

17 Feb PUPPET THEATRE: EGGS ON LEGS, Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2DR westberkshireheritage.org/shawhouse Garlic Theatre conjure a poetic, Dr Seuss world full of eggcentric puppets and music to make you roll around with laughter. 11am – 12pm. Adult £9, child £7.

17 and 18 Feb RAPUNZEL, The Kenton Theatre, 19 New Street, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BP

Let your hair down and get tangled in a brand-new musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel!

Immersion Theatre proudly presents a witty, tongue-in-cheek retelling of the family favourite complete with a laugh out loud script, a host of catchy songs, heaps of audience interaction, and an exciting array of magical characters. Adult £12.50, child £10.50. boxoffice@kentontheatre.co.uk T: 01491 575698 17, 19 and 21 Feb MASTER BUILDERS CLUB BRICK BUILDING WORKSHOPS: SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE, masterbuildersclub.co.uk Does your child love building with LEGO® bricks? Then Master Builders Club is the place to go.

Why not drop them off for a twohour workshop with LEGO® brick building challenges and a different theme each holiday. With 1000’s of LEGO® bricks to build with, and not a computer game in sight, their imaginations can run wild. At the end of the session, the children can show you the models they have built and are presented with a themed badge to keep and collect.

Suitable for ages 5-11, £15. To book, visit masterbuildersclub.co.uk 17 Feb: Dorchester Village Hall, 9.30-11.30am, and Woodcote Village Hall, 2.30-4.30pm 19 Feb: Sonning Common Village Hall, 9.30-11.30am continued on page 20

Apollo Holiday Club FEBRUARY 2020 HALF TERM CLUB 17 – 21 February Supervised care for children age 4-12 years £19.50 for a full day, or £9.75 for half day.

Concessionary rate available and childcare vouchers accepted

Contact: 0118 916 8416 or 0118 916 8417

15 Feb THE LITTLE PRINCE, South Hill Park, Wilde Theatre, South Hill

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk • Tel: 07968 711937

Families Thames Valley West • 19

What’s On Jan/Feb 2020 all your favourite female stars in one fabulous fun-packed show.

Little Mix will cast some Black Magic and Taylor Swift will Shake It Off as four enormously talented girls bring you up close and personal with the greatest female pop performers of today.

20 Feb WINTER WILDLIFE WONDERS WARBURG NATURE RESERVE, Henley-on-Thames Wintery self-led activities where children can explore the reserve.

Wrap up warm as many of the games will be outside. Activities are aimed at 4-11 years. Younger and older siblings are welcome to accompany. 10am – 3pm. Booking essential at bbowt.org.uk. Price: £4 per child.

21 Feb: Sacred Heart Parish Hall, Henley, 2.30- 4.30pm.

17-21 Feb FEBRUARY 2020 HALF TERM CLUB, Apollo Holiday Club Supervised care for children age 412 years. £19.50 for a full day, or £9.75 for half day. Concessionary rate available and childcare vouchers accepted. Contact: 0118 916 8416 or 0118 916 8417.

18 Feb FAMILY ART WORKSHOP, West Berkshire Museum, The Wharf, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5AS There are lots of important and famous faces to be found around the museum. Join Armadillo Art Experience to learn the skills you need to draw caricature portraits of heroes and villains from across the ages. Suitable for age 7 and upwards. 10am – 12.30pm or 1.304pm. £9. Places are limited and must be booked in advance.

18 Feb POP DIVAS LIVE!, Arlington Arts Centre, Mary Hare, Newbury RG14 3BQ 01635 244246, arlingtonarts.com Get ready for the best songs from

20 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

20 Feb ZOOLAB, Bracknell Library, 2 Town Square, Bracknell, RG12 1AT Learn about Chinese New Year the ZooLab way! While we can't bring tigers and oxen into the Library, we can bring some of the Chinese calendar animals. You’ll also hear about the other ZooLab animals that did not make it across the river to be one of the select group of 12!

11am-12pm £2 per child.

23 Feb NOISE KIDS; CIRCUS CIRCUS, The Hexagon, Queens Walk, Berkshire, Reading, Reading RG1 7UA, readingarts.com/hexagon Roll up, roll up and see the amazing Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform the greatest show in Reading. Back by popular demand, the Orchestra invites you to come and experience all the magic of the circus in this fun-filled family concert. Adult £11, child £9, family of four £32. Box Office: 0118 960 6060.

23 Feb RUN FOR CHOCOLATE READING 5K FUN RUN, Prospect Park, Reading A celebration of fitness, fun and wellbeing! Participants of all ages and abilities can enjoy the benefits of exercise with chocolate treats at the finish line and a medal. 10am – 1pm.

(Details correct at time of going to press)

familiesonline.co.uk

Encouraging self-control in young children Developing self-control begins at birth and is a skill that is critical to children’s future success and overall healthy development. It enables children to cooperate with others, to cope with frustration and to resolve conflicts.

Young children learn these skills through interactions with others and guidance from parents, caregivers and early years practitioners.

Here are our top 10 tips to help young children develop self-restraint and self-regulation.

1. Be clear about expectations – set boundaries

6. Create a quiet corner where children can think

2. Change the environment – keep temptations hidden (out of sight, out of mind!)

7. Help identify feelings to prevent outbursts 8. Teach children to be patient

3. Support young children with timely reminders

9. Praise the child's efforts

4. Teach self-control through role modelling

10. Have patience too – it takes time for some children to develop self-control.

5. Play games that help young children practice self-control

Jubilee Day Nursery is an independent nursery in Padworth for children from 3 months to 5 years with an outdoor learning ethos. It also has a sister nursery, Jubilee Gems, and runs holiday clubs. jubileedaynursery.co.uk

So how do we encourage self-discipline in children at Jubilee Day Nursery?

Set clear expectations – One of the most common reasons for temper tantrums or challenging behaviour in young children is simply that they do not know what to do or expect in a given situation. Set clear boundaries and give a child advance warning before a transition – use timers, calendars, visual charts or checklists to help them understand the routine and what is happening next.

Be consistent – The more consistent you can be, the quicker a child will learn to regulate his or her own behaviour. As we consistently follow through, we model self-control for children.

Make eye contact – Make sure you establish eye contact with the child when communicating with them.

Get down to the child’s level, use

familiesonline.co.uk

appropriate words and demonstrate at the same time. By doing this, you’re teaching them the critical link between communication and focus.

Don’t overload children – It’s important to give children the time to process what has been asked of them. Give simple instructions to follow and/or a clear alternative.

Slow children down – Remember to encourage children to stop and think.

Acknowledge positive behaviour – Over time, young children will internalise the idea that we do not always have control over situations, but we can control our responses.

Be Reflective – Sometimes children learn the most through simple experiences and through honest reflections.

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk • Tel: 07968 711937

Families Thames Valley West • 21

Decisions over childcare are some of the most challenging and important that working parents have to make. Whether it’s the cost or the suitability (or lack thereof), parents often grapple with childcare dilemmas right the way through a child’s pre-school and primary school years.

Nanny, Granny

So how do you go about finding the best for you and your family, regardless of the ages of your children?

To start, be truly realistic about what the amount of childcare is that you need. It’s not just the hours you will spend actually at work.

What about your commute? Do you have early starts, late finishes or unpredictable hours? Set or varied shifts? If you’re in a relationship, do you and your partner’s hours (and work pressures) match up or are they dissimilar? Can one or both of you work flexibly?

Taking all this into consideration will help you assess the childcare options available.

Childcare options: what’s best?

One of the best ways to learn about the childcare options in your area is to speak to other local parents about their experiences and recommendations. Of course, underpinning most parents’ choice is cost. What are your earnings after tax? Do you have access to taxfree childcare? What is your budget? For average costs in your area, check out this online tool: childcare.co.uk/costs Nursery Day nurseries can care for children from when they’re young babies until school age, so once you’ve found a good one, excellent continuity is available. Nurseries vary in size and approach and it’s best to visit to truly see what they’re like. Remember: a regulator rating of Outstanding doesn’t mean the setting is right for you and your child.

Offering year-round care, nurseries can be very cost-effective (£242 per week average) especially for one child but make sure there are no surprise extras such as meals and nappies.

Nurseries will often operate long hours but these tend to be set, with little flexibility. Think about your commute to work. If you choose a nursery close to home, is it easy to continue your onward journey from there? Is there enough time between the time you leave work and the time the nursery closes for you to comfortably get there, taking account of

inevitable public transport and traffic delays?

Would it be better to choose a nursery close to work if time will be tight at the end of the day?

If it’s going to be difficult for your (or your partner) to routinely leave work at a set time, a nursery may not be the ideal option for you.

Childminder Childminders offer childcare in their home with a small number of other children, often at a similar cost to a nursery (average £221 per week), so can be a very cost-effective option.

Additionally, a childminder can offer a more flexible approach if you have irregular hours as well as offering care of your child in a home environment. They must be registered, which involves meeting numerous requirements (health and safety, development, nutrition, safeguarding etc) just like a nursery. They are also regularly monitored.

You do need to consider what happens if your childminder falls ill. Do you have a back up plan?

Contact your local authority for a list of registered childminders in your area.

times that suit you. Remember though, that there is no legal requirement to have qualifications as a nanny so it can be sensible to use a nanny agency to recruit one and undertake necessary background checks or rely only on a recommendation from someone you trust.

A nanny is particularly cost-effective if you have two or more young children, children with any additional needs or if you can set up a nanny-share with another family. Take into consideration that there are other costs involved though; the nanny’s tax and pension, in particular. To work out costs head to Nanny Tax’s online calculator nannytax.co.uk/whatwe-do/free-tools-services/salary-calculator Family If you’re lucky enough to have a family member to help with childcare then you are very fortunate as it’s known to substantially increase a woman’s chances of returning to work. It’s estimated that 40% of grandparents in the UK provide regular childcare. However, although this may look like a cheaper option, it does still require assessment. Is the family member in good health? Does he or she have other regular commitments? Who covers granny when she is ill or on holiday?

Laura and her partner have a 17 month old and only need 3 days childcare. “We both are able to work 4 days a week, so we each do 1 day’s childcare and then for the remaining 3 days we have two different childminders, one of which is flexible which can be really helpful.”

You may prefer to keep your family member as back-up childcare for when your child can’t go to nursery or school or even ask them to just do wrap-around for a shorter day at nursery, for example.

Nanny A nanny is the most expensive childcare option (average £400 per week) but arguably the most flexible. If affordable, a live out (or live in) nanny can remove the majority of logistical issues of childcare as they’ll come to your home at

After-school childcare Childcare should become easier when your child goes to school, shouldn’t it?

Unfortunately, you may still need wraparound and school holiday care and this isn’t always easy to find.

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or nursery?

By Gabrielle Nash

Claire Harding from Coram Family and Childcare says the childcare problem really doesn’t go away when children start school: “Breakfast and after school clubs aren’t always easy to find and holiday childcare can be cripplingly expensive, especially if you have more than one child and aren’t lucky enough to have a flexible employer, or relatives who can step in.”

something that continues into the school years when there are limited provisions during school holidays. It’s advisable to discuss your needs with your local Family Information Service. Ask for details of childcare options that have expertise to support children with SEND. Depending on the availability of services and your child’s needs you may want to look to a combination of specialist and mainstream care.

Options can include after-school clubs (your school or local authority will have an approved list) or you could hire a regular babysitter, or an au-pair to help with after-school activities and meals.

Visit familyandchildcaretrust.org for more information on finding suitable childcare near you.

Irene has two children, 13 and 4, and has managed full-time childcare using a variety of options. “It’s always been a challenge, first we had a nanny, then a nursery. Now they’re at school my husband and I take turns doing drop-offs in the morning and then in the afternoon we use a mixture of after-school clubs and a babysitter. It’s not easy, but feasible.”

Childcare for Special Educational Needs (or in Wales Additional Learning Needs) The childcare system is not perfect, something that parents of SEND children are acutely aware of. Many parents struggle to find both affordable and suitable childcare for their child if they have additional requirements –

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Flexible working If flexible working is something that appeals to you then consider in advance of asking for it and what might work for your career and your family. Compressed hours could mean you do 3 or 4 longer days, allowing for you or your partner to cover one or more days of childcare and save on costs. But if overrunning deadlines make rushing for childcare pick-ups a headache, maybe it’s better to do the equivalent of 3 or 4 days but spread over a week, with earlier finishes to allow for easier evenings.

Parental Choice CEO Sarah-Jane Butler is a firm advocate of flexible working but often sees parents not planning childcare that fits with their career. “One key mistake that parents make, is to make the flexible working request

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and then try to make childcare work to what they envisage that to be like. It’s advisable to sort out what childcare you want first and then make the request.”

Free childcare Despite not having the progressive approach to state funded childcare as some countries, British parents do enjoy some free childcare. In the last few years there’s been additional support for some parents from the government’s Tax Free Childcare scheme and the free childcare entitlement (for 3 and 4 year olds).

In England, if your child has additional needs or you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit you can receive 15 hours free childcare from age 2.

When your child reaches 3, everyone is entitled to 15 hours free childcare and if you’re eligible this extends to 30 hours.

While the grim reality of an inflexible childcare system can be daunting, good quality childcare plays a hugely important role in your child’s development and independence.

Need help navigating the system? Contact your local authority’s family information service.

They can help you with availability and your entitlements and they’ll also have a list of local providers from nurseries to childminders.

For more from Gabrielle Nash, follow her @TheLondonishMum

Families Thames Valley West • 23

Designing and furnishing your baby’s nursery By Christabel Majendie

T

he process of designing and furnishing the nursery for your new arrival is important. The colours and furniture you choose not only need to be practical and aesthetically pleasing but should ideally also enhance your baby’s alertness and sensitivity.

Here are seven tips to help you create the perfect, happy place for your little one.

The cot The cot is the focal point of the room and probably the most important piece of furniture you will buy, so ensure you take your time and choose wisely. Try to avoid cots with drop down sides which may act as a safety risk for infants. If you can, buy a model which has at least two mattress heights. When at its highest position, it’s easier to lay a sleeping baby down in this type of cot, without hurting your back or even worse waking up your baby! The Kidsmill Fyn crib (kidsmill.co.uk) is a beautiful contemporary cot – it is white with wooden legs, perfect for a neutral look and easy to access for putting your child down for the night.

Textiles before paint If you paint the nursery first and then choose your textiles, you run the risk of discovering that the colours clash with the paint you’ve already splashed on the walls.

Instead, choose your textiles first as paint colour

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technology will ensure you can match the walls to the colour of your textiles later on.

Decorate your ceiling As babies spend much of their time on their backs, it is important to give them something transfixing to look at. Shapes, colours and animals can work well on the nursery ceiling.

As a baby’s sight improves, they will be able to see consistently more of the ceiling, allowing them to continually discover new things.

Choosing bright colours with powerful contrasts will help the development of your baby’s brain and vision. Large simple shapes such as stars encourage memory development.

Create a sanitation station A germ-free nursery is a must! On your changing table, set up a tray equipped with antibacterial gel and tissues to prevent any contamination of surfaces. This will enable you to give the hotspot areas a good clean with anti-bacterial gel every day. For best hygiene, invest in a nappy disposal system or at least a separate hamper or bin for nappies which is emptied regularly.

Pick the right colour for the room When it comes to choosing your paint palette, it is important to take pointers from the space you are working with. Even if you like rich colours, dark hues can be too overwhelming for a small room, whereas light colours make a room appear bigger and brighter. Consider adding a bold accent wall. This can add depth to the room and make the space appear larger. If you want to create a look that lasts, you may want to think about using traditional pastel shades like a cool minty green. This can outlast your child as they get older.

Go green You can design an eco-friendly nursery that is not only beneficial for the planet but for your baby too! A good way to begin is to purchase as many organic items as possible. You may want to choose naturally hypoallergenic, organic bedding and even an organic mattress which will be preferable should your baby happen to suffer from allergies. The materials used at Natural Mat (naturalmat.co.uk) are 100% natural and from sustainable Fair-Trade sources. The Quilted Coco Mat is made with organic materials which are naturally breathable, helping to regulate air flow and body temperature whilst being hypoallergenic and anti-microbial.

Dim the lights It is a good idea to install a dimmer on any overhead lighting fixtures, especially if they hang directly over the cot. This way the light won’t be intense during night time wakings or when you are preparing your baby for sleep. It’s always handy to purchase a small night light or lamp for a cosy atmosphere as soft lighting can reduce the contrast between light and dark, prevent over-stimulation and give your baby’s undeveloped eyes a much-needed rest.

For more from sleep expert and therapist Christabel Majendie, visit naturalmat.co.uk/blog/category/baby-andchild/

Clubs and classes directory Regular clubs, classes and out of school activities give your child a chance to shine and for you to have fun together, and there really is plenty of variety to choose from. Here are a few of our favourites, for babies, toddlers and school-aged children. For more clubs and classes in your area, check out familiesonline.co.uk Developmental classes

Little Learners Reading a unique and exciting mark-making class, designed to help babies, toddlers and preschoolers learn to write through play.

Shichida UK brain-training programme, designed to bring out the genius in every child.

Activities are aimed at 0-6 year olds, and improve concentration, memory skills, general knowledge, musical ability and more. Hour-long classes take place in Reading once a week, with parents accompanying their children.

For more information and to book: shichidauk.com, contact@shichidauk.com, 07774 523660

Master Builders Club Brick Building Workshops for Children Master Builders Club is a LEGO® lover's paradise!

Our weekend and holiday workshops, after school clubs, birthday parties and nursery/primary school events are designed to provide children with an exciting and captivating experience.

Our fun workshops start with a short story which our Master Builders “bring to life” through the LEGO® models they build. We provide 1000’s of LEGO® bricks in a calm and supportive environment along with the imaginative stimulus to transform a room into a world of creativity. If you are passionate about providing engaging and stimulating play opportunities that nurture your child's mind, then Master Builders Club is for you!

To book your LEGO® fan a place or to find out more about our events then please go to: masterbuildersclub.co.uk

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Fun and engaging one-hour sessions develop pre-writing motor skills, as well physical and social skills. Each session includes messy play, paint, play dough, sand, scribbling, movement and dance – all in a safe environment.

Term-time sessions run in Reading and Caversham on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and there are also special events in the school holidays.

Little Learners also offers birthday parties. More info at littlelearnersuk.com or call Jalpa on 07474 368173.

Portuguese Language Club – offering tuition to help you talk fluently in Portuguese, but we don’t stop there. For us, it’s all about you and ensuring that you enjoy your stay with us whilst also making sure that your Portuguese language skills are vastly improved. We offer a range of services to suit all needs; including one-to-one and group lessons, in-school clubs, holiday Portuguese and GSCE and A Level tuition. Based in Tilehurst, Berkshire.

Contact Maria on 07427630331, 0118 942 4591, info@portugueselanguageclub.co.uk, portugueselanguageclub.co.uk BilinguaSing Wokingham – award-winning bilingual sensory music & movement classes with Spanish or French singing for babies (from 1 month), toddlers and pre-school children.

BilinguaSing is a unique class for parents and little ones to learn Spanish or French together in a fun and engaging way. Familiar nursery rhymes and songs are learned in both English and Spanish or French and are accompanied by a variety of fun movements and lovely props. Classes suitable for complete beginners to native speakers in Wokingham, Winnersh, Bracknell & surrounding areas. First taster class is FREE! Private sessions also available in nurseries, pre-schools and primary schools to support the EYFS, KS1 and KS2 learning objectives. Call Kate on 07810 751645, kate@bilinguasing.com, bilinguasing.com

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Gym, sport and swimming didi rugby – devised to get young children (aged 18 months to six years) active, and to teach them new skills while having fun in a safe environment. Classes running in various venues across West Berkshire and Reading. Contact donna.clark@didirugby.com to book a free taster session near you. didirugby.com Bulmershe Gymnastics Club – based at a purpose-built gym in Woodley, run gymnastics classes for all ages including Leap Frogs for walkers to five years lead by qualified coaches. bulmershegymnastics.co.uk

GR Swimming Schools – children’s swimming lessons from 3yrs in Newbury, Thatcham, & Pangbourne. Places for non-swimmers through to advanced academy levels. Also holiday crash courses in swimming, diving and coming soon SYNCHRO!! Uniquely structured lessons, following Swim England Award Scheme. 01635 34862 swimlessons.co.uk

SwimKidz - runs lessons at locations across the Thames Valley. Its innovative programme begins with babies from three months to toddlers, all the way through to pre-competitive swimming by a child’s tenth birthday. The aim is to provide fun and progressive lessons in a small group environment. Contact Caroline Bairstow, 0750 005 6623 swimkidz.co.uk

Arts, crafts & cookery

Mrs Bun the Baker award-winning, hands-on cookery classes for those aged 2 years and up.

Mrs Bun the Baker combines her knowledge and love of food with her teaching and baking skills, cooking up and creating magical moments.

Classes are held at the Cholsey Pavilion, South Oxfordshire, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Mondays for toddlers.

Monday sessions also for older Buns 6+, 11+ and 14+ perfect for DoE skills section.

Call Angie on 07870 727007 or email info@mrsbunthebaker.net

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Music & dance

Imagine More The Dance Zone

storytelling & drama and music & movement classes for under 5s, plus birthday parties, workshops, as well as nursery and preschool sessions.

a fun and friendly dance school that offers Ballroom, Latin American, Freestyle and Street dance classes for adults and children from the age of 3 in the Wokingham and Winnersh areas.

Imagine More focuses on babies to preschool children. The unique music & movement class comes alive as you explore rhythm and creative dance with instruments, props, and engaging, energetic songs!

thedancezone.co.uk, info@thedancezone.co.uk, 07789 175439.

Classes run on Thursdays in Curridge 11.15am-12pm. Each highly interactive storytelling & drama class is based around a themed story using multisensory props, drama, dance, musical instruments, songs, games and activities.

Wednesdays in Curridge 9.30-10.15am, and Thursdays @ Cobbs Play Barn 9.30-10.15am.

To book: 07774 264607 imaginemore.io

Arts in Motion School of Dance EXCITING and energetic BALLET, MODERN and TAP classes for children from 2 ½ years, held at Chieveley Village Hall and Frilsham Clubroom, West Berkshire.

Classes are FUN, challenging and build confidence; we follow the ISTD Syllabus and support students through exams.

Holiday workshops are also available. artsinmotiondance.co.uk

Starmaker Stage School – a Saturday stage school based in Woodley that offers drama, dance and singing tuition, allowing younger children to explore their creative side without pressure. The experience of performance aids with public speaking, presentation skills and self-discipline. Saturday sessions run from 9.30-11.45am (Mini Stars for 4-6 years) and 11.45am-3pm (Young Stars for 7-12 years). To book a free trial, please email Sue at stageschool@starmaker.org.uk and quote this advert.

individual and group classes run by Alexander Clarke, B.Mus (Hons), M.A. Inspiring students, fulfilling aspirations.

Learn guitar in your school or home, Inspire Guitar School is a Berkshire based music service that offers tuition in Acoustic, Classical, Electric, Bass and Ukelele.

The benefits of learning to play a musical instrument cannot be overstated. Learning to play helps with confidence, mindfulness and creativity.

Flexible style to suit the student and fulfil their aspirations.

0118 9375 9185, 07414 675 858, inspireguitar.co.uk, alex@inspireguitar.co.uk Monkey Music – fun music classes from 3months-4yrs with action songs and rhymes, music and movement, percussion instruments and musical games. Classes in Newbury, Thatcham, Mortimer, Henley and Upper Basildon. 01635 860 959, monkeymusic.co.uk

diddi dance - funky pre-school dance classes for girls and boys. Award winning, high energy sessions explore 16 different styles set to original, age-appropriate music. Classes improve gross motor skills, rhythm, coordination, confidence, creativity and social skills with dancing games, fun exercises, action songs and a host of props. Lessons are aligned to the EYFS and are structured yet relaxed.

Nursery workshops and parties too! Free trial available. Classes run every day throughout Reading & Wokingham. Call Andrea on 07719 878789, or email andrea.bickford@diddidance.com

email: membership@bulmershegymnastics.co.uk

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Clubs and classes directory Street Feet Dance® - helps children aged 3-11 to get dramatically more confident through Street Dance in Reading. Book a 2 week free trial in Caversham, Tilehurst, Woodley or Woosehill now at streetfeetdance.co.uk and discover how we have helped over 1,000 children raise their self-esteem and develop their self-belief through dance.

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Drama & theatre arts Steppin Out Stars of Tomorrow – fun, energetic classes for 3½ to 18yrs. Dance, drama and singing, tap, street dance, pop styles, musical theatre. Regular classes in Wargrave, Wokingham and Woodley, plus summer classes. Call Shelley on 07970 034 488, or email shelley@steppinoutstars.co.uk, steppinoutstars.co.uk

Stagecoach Theatre Arts School – dance, drama and singing classes for 4-18 years that build confidence and teach skills. Early Years classes for 4-6 years designed to introduce young children to the performing arts.

Local branches in Wokingham, Henley, Reading, Bracknell, Marlow and Newbury. stagecoach.co.uk

Berzerk Productions – LAMDA examination classes, unique Drama Factory workshops, musical theatre and production opportunities for 6-19 years in Tilehurst, Woodley, Spencers Wood, Caversham, Reading, Pangbourne and Woodcote. Trial class free. 07863 734 830, berzerkproductions.com

Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes – confidence building fun for 4-12s. A unique mix of drama games, dance and singing specially developed to bring out every child's true potential. Classes are kept small to ensure lots of individual attention.

Go to perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class.

Venues: Reading, Wokingham, Goring, Newbury, Crowthorne and Twyford T: 020 7255 9120 / enquiries@perform.org.uk perform.org.uk

StageAbility – after-school drama classes for kids who love to ACT! Reading, Burghfield, Tilehurst, Earley and Wokingham. Highenergy classes mean that students never get bored, can't wait to get to class and develop confidence, creativity and focus. Pay-As-YouGo option for infants and free trial class. Full listing of classes at: stageability.class4kids.co.uk , jackie@berkshire.stageability.co.uk M: 07721 565898, T: 0118 933 3791

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Families Thames Valley West • 27

Book club Rachel Bailey has been talking to Ross Welford about his best-selling novels for young readers (aged 8+) and to celebrate the publication of his newest book The Kid who came from Space, we have a full set to giveaway!

What made you swap the glamorous world of television to become a full-time writer?

It was necessity, really. TV is a tough job: it’s long hours, the pay isn’t especially good and it honestly isn’t all that glamorous! The interesting jobs began to dry up and I realised I needed a new career path…

You’ve worked on many well-known shows.

Have your days in television provided you with inspiration for any of the characters in your novels?

There’s a minor character who pops up in a few of my books called Jamie Bates. He’s a broadcast journalist who is usually fairly benign, but in my next book he’s much more vain and devious. He’s an amalgamation of several presenters I worked with!

Your first novel was Time Travelling With A Hamster and that was followed by What Not To Do If You Turn Invisible. Is there a particular superpower you wish you had?

It’s a privilege simply to meet readers. I especially like it when a teacher introduces a child saying “He/she didn’t like reading until they discovered your books…” The knowledge that I have made a difference like that is awesome: that’s a proper superpower!

Oh yes: the ability to write a full-length book once a year effortlessly. It’s not exciting like invisibility, but it’s a power that I would do almost anything to possess.

You describe yourself as a life-long magicnerd. Care to elaborate?

As well as having a talent for writing, we’ve heard you put on a pretty impressive event when you visit schools/festivals. What do you enjoy most about sharing your books with young fans?

I enjoy writing about impossible things becoming possible, and that is exactly what magic tricks do. It’s an interest I have had since I was quite small, and this year I was admitted to the Magic Circle, which was a very proud moment. I include magic in all my school and festival presentations, and the tricks all have a relevance to my books, or to reading generally.

28 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

What’s the thought behind your re-writing competition, and can anyone enter?

I had been doing an ‘improvised story’ with school and festival groups since the start, and the end results are often hilarious. But I worried that I was leaving the children with the impression that that’s how books get written!

So I stress that everything needs to be rewritten if you hope that other people will read it. I invite the students to re-write what we come up with and submit the results to my competition via my website. It has proved very popular!

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What’s your favourite childhood book/author?

Growing up I loved The Magic Faraway Tree books by Enid Blyton and loved them again when I read them aloud to my own kids. She was phenomenal: the sheer volume of her output was astonishing. There are occasional lapses of quality, but they are pretty rare and she seldom repeats herself.

Which book do you wish you had written?

I recently read The Bridge To Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. American children’s literature can sometimes come with a rather heavy-handed ‘message’ but this book, from the 1970s, packs a knockout punch with delicacy, honesty and wonderful brevity. I aspire to write like that.

from The 1,000 Year Old Boy) and a whitecoated mad professor (Dr Pretorius from The Dog Who Saved The World) Failing that, you could just let them truant for the day and say they went as Ethel from What Not To Do If You Turn Invisible….

What’s your favourite way to spend time with your family?

They are teenagers now, so I’m pathetically grateful for any scraps of time that they deign to spend with their dad. That said, Sunday lunch is always good, and beach holidays.

The Kid who came from Space is available from 9 January 2020 priced £6.99.

Visit Ross’ website: rosswelford.com

World Book Day is coming up soon. Whilst I am fully behind anything that aims to encourage a love of books, I still experience the homemade costume panic every year. Do you have any tips?

To advertise in

I love seeing kids dressed as characters from my books! I have seen someone as a hamster in a football top (Alan Shearer from Time Travelling With A Hamster); a Viking boy (Alfie

please ring 07968 711937

... have one full set of Ross’ books: Time Travelling With A Hamster, What Not To Do If You Turn Invisible, The 1,000 Year Old Boy, The Dog Who Saved the World and The Kid who came from Space

to give away to one lucky reader!

For your chance to win, all you have to do is answer the question below and email your answer to editor@familiestvw.co.uk

What is the name of Ross’ new book?

A The Child who came from Space B The Dog who Saved the World C The Kid who came from Space Closing date for entries is 28 February 2020

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Families Thames Valley West • 29

The pressure to be a perfect parent can be overwhelming; particularly when we are bombarded by picture-perfect family lives on social media. Mums who are juggling work and family life effortlessly and also find the time to bake cakes and look fabulous. Celebrities who seem to flit from the school run to photoshoots and still have time to take their kids to Judo. We don’t see the nanny, the makeup artist and the housekeeper behind the scenes. Most people don't share the messy chaos of family life on their carefully curated Instagram account.

Why I want to be in the good enough parenting club

By Claire Winter

S

o in 2020 shall we all agree to let go of the notion of being a perfect parent and instead start embracing imperfection? No one is flawless and raising kids who understand this is a positive thing. I am bringing up three teenagers and I often say to them: “I am learning how to parent just like you are learning how to grow up.”

When we strive to be perfect, we are showing our children that anything less than perfect is a failure. Making mistakes is a part of the growing up process.

Here are ten ways to be a good enough parent in 2020.

Embrace imperfection Being a parent is by far the most important and impactful relationship you can have. You will love and nurture your children throughout their childhood but they will still come back and ask your advice when they are adults. You will both make mistakes and learn to forgive each other.

Start learning to love each other's imperfections and you will build the foundations of a strong relationship for life.

Love yourself Parents love their children unconditionally, but what about themselves? Try and silence the critical voice in your mind that says negative things about what you do. Increase the positive self-talk. Talk to yourself in the same way you

would talk to your children or a close friend.

Loving yourself means acknowledging that you are trying your best and that this truly is enough.

Learn to apologise Model the behaviour you want to see from your children. Learn to apologise when you do something hurtful, make a mistake, forget to do something or lose your temper. In this way, your children will learn how to make amends and start to learn when they need to say sorry too.

Have a life of your own Having a fun life separate from your children and partner is healthy and important. Make time for things like a weekly walk, book club, art class or spending time with friends. This shows your children how to maintain their own interests, hobbies and friendships outside the family unit.

Take care of yourself Take care of yourself in mind, body and spirit.

Most parents put themselves last on the to-do list, and become resentful or unwell. Take time out for coffee, long baths, yoga or cocktails. It doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated, just something that makes you feel good.

Spend quality time with your children Make spending quality time with your children a priority. Even if it is for just 10 to 30 minutes a

30 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

day. Don't be on a phone or a gadget; be curious, ask questions, and be fully present.

Listen Children communicate many things through their behaviour and words. Listen to your children carefully by focussing all your attention on them. You may not agree with all of their feedback, but allowing them the time and space to form an opinion will help them to develop their own self-confidence.

Develop a sense of humour Your kids will love a poo joke and there will be times when you are up to your elbows in it.

Parenting is a massive rollercoaster ride and being able to see the funny side of things really helps.

Don’t sweat the small stuff The house being in a mess won’t hurt anyone!

If you do want to get on top of the housework, get the kids to help. We set a timer and all tidy up together. It’s amazing what can be achieved in a short space of time if the whole family gets involved.

Allow your children to be who they are As a parent you want to shape, influence, and expose your children to as many opportunities as possible. But our most important job as parents is to allow our children to be who they want to be. We just need to support and cheer them on from the sidelines.

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Families Thames Valley West • 31