Families Cambridgeshire

Dear Reader, Wise words

The sights, scents and sounds of Mother Nature are in full swing right now and there is no excuse not to get outside in the fresh air and do something as a family. This issue is packed full of ideas to get everyone outdoors, including the return of the annual Midsummer Fair in Cambridge on the 21st June. This ancient fair has been visiting the city’s Midsummer Common for over 800 years, making it one of the country’s oldest travelling fun fairs. Another way to get up close and personal with the countryside this spring is to visit one of the many farms across the country who will be opening their gates to welcome the public for Open Farm Sunday - a great way for children to find out more about where their food comes from and talk to the farmers who produce it.

What's in this issue?

4. News & Views

6 Feature 'Weaning'

7. Baby News

8. What's On

10. Feature 'Handwriting'

11. Feature 'Please listen to me'

12. Feature 'What is the CPA approach in maths?'

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OUR MUST SEE THIS MONTH IS...

The Cambridge Midsummer Fair on the 21st June

The Cambridge Midsummer Fair has been held since 1211 on the Cambridge Midsummer Common. Cambridge Midsummer Fair is one of the country’s oldest travelling funfairs. This year the fair will be officially opened by the Mayor on the 21st June at 6:30 pm and ends on the 25th June 10pm.There is a Cheap Night when all rides will be £1.50 excluding, Dodgems, Bomber, Bumper Boats, Bungee Trampolines. Enjoy a traditional fun fair and the very best whiteknuckle extreme rides too, plus funhouses, ghost trains and traditional fun fair food;. candyfloss, hot dogs, donuts, toffee apples and more.

13. Feature ‘Developing Independent learning’

14. Clubs & Classes

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

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

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

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

C.S Lewis

St Mary’s named in ‘World’s Leading Boarding Schools’ Top 250 list by Fortune

Prestigious independent day and boarding school, St Mary’s, has been ranked as one of the top boarding schools in the world for 2023, in a new Top 250 list published by Fortune magazine. The school was also the only Cambridge school featured in the list to achieve the highest five-star rating.

The ranking is based on thousands of recommendations made by school heads, boarding school consultants, parents, and alumni. The list consists of 250 top-rated global boarding schools, each marked with ratings of either four or five stars and aims to help families from across the world choose the very best boarding school option for their children.

Headmistress at St Mary’s School, Charlotte Avery, said: “We are incredibly proud that we’ve been recognised by Fortune as one of the top boarding schools in the world. Fortune is well known for its influential lists, and to be the only boarding school in Cambridge

to get a five-star rating is a huge accolade. Our inclusion in the Fortune list is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone that works at St Mary’s.”

The school’s first-class education offering was recently highlighted when it received the highest grade of ‘excellent’ in its Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection.

Fortune is a global leader in business journalism and a worldrenowned authority on the top companies and education institutions across the world.

To view the full list of top-rated global boarding schools, please To view the full list of top-rated global boarding schools, please visit: fortune.com/education/boarding-school-guide/leadingboarding-schools

Independent School Focus: Cambridge International School

Cambridge International School is a thriving international school for 2 - 11 year olds and a welcoming community of children, parents and staff from the local area and overseas. With a focus on pupil well-being, the school ensures that the children are learning in an unpressurised environment with a focus on them becoming confident, happy and resilient individuals.

Cambridge International School has small class sizes (maximum of 16) and has experience in teaching children from different language and cultural backgrounds. Each child has individualised targets to ensure that they are learning, aspiring and fulfilling their own academic potential.

Clean Air Day 2023

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

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

• Build awareness of how air pollution affects our health

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

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

More info: www.bit.ly/CleanAirDayUK

Family fun with National Children’s Gardening Week

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

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

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

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

Government to expand free childcare

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

THE NEW HELP FOR PARENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN STAGES.

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

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

• All eligible under-5s will get 30 hours of free childcare from September 2025.

The rising cost of childcare has been widely seen as a deterrent for some parents to go back to work or work full time.

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

Book a FREE summer term class with Perform

The school makes full use of their surrounding environment in Cherry Hinton Park and puts an emphasis on learning through being in the outdoors. They are also open to innovative approaches and are accepting students who would like to learn with them on a flexible basis. If you would like to visit the school, they have an Open Morning on Friday 12th May 9.30 am11.30 am. For further information please contact admissions@cischool.co.uk

www.cambridgeinternationalschool.co.uk 01223 416938

Bereavement benefits for unmarried co-habiting parents

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

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

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

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

National Vegetarian Week

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

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

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

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

Evidence not needed for short mental health absence

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

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

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

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

More info: bit.ly/DofEAbsence

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

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

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

Classes are for all abilities and every child is welcome to try a free class in Hills Road Sports Centre, Cambridge (Wednesdays); Newnham Croft Primary School, Newnham (Saturdays); St. Andrews Church Hall, Chesterton (Mondays); St. John’s Church Hall, Cambridge (Thursdays). Just visit www.perform.org.uk/try

Perform fun continues into the summer holidays with Wizard of Oz holiday courses at Newnham Croft Primary from 24th - 28th July. Don’t miss the Perform in the Park summer festival of children's theatre (see more on page 9). Visit performinthepark.uk to book. T: 020 7255 9120

www.enquiries@perform.org.uk

JOIN IN DURING WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK

A generation ago, seventy percent of us walked to school - now it’s less than half. So Walk to School Week was started to encourage more kids to get out of the car and walk to school. Walk to School Week is held from 15th to 19th May and is organised by the UK charity Living Streets to celebrate the health and wellbeing benefits of walking. Families will be encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to see the big differences that can come from small stepsfrom healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates. Free interactive wall charts and stickers are available to download. Schools can also obtain classroom packs to help teach children about the benefits of being active, with daily reward stickers and special rewards for those who travelled actively every day.

More info: www.livingstreets.org.uk/ walk-to-school

Vegan and Vegetarian Weaning

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

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

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

There aren’t really any differences in the early stages of weaning when it comes to offering vegetarian or vegan diets to babies.

Starting with Veg Led Weaning - which I talk about a lot on my Online Weaning Course - is the same, and a great way to start all babies on their weaning journey. After those first tastes, it’s about exploring a wide variety of other foods with your baby, gradually and

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

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

• Iron

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Protein

King's Lynn Corn Exchange

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

Foods that typically include these nutrients in varied amounts include:

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

• Beans, lentils, pulses

• Ground nuts and ground seeds

• Tofu, Quorn, soya beans

• Olive oil and seed oils

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

For more information about these foods, nutrients baby needs and everything you need to know about weaning your baby check out Charlotte’s Online Weaning

NHS to use test that prevents babies going deaf

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

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

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

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

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

More info: bit.ly/NHSBabyTest

New life is put into the planet with every sale

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

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

• Offering a unique 10-year transferrable warranty.

• Recycling 2.5 million plastic bottles in 2022 alone.

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

The Fertility Show, 20th - 21st May 2023

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

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

More paid leave for parents of premature babies

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

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

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

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

More info: bit.ly/PrematurePay

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

Visitors have the opportunity to attend over 35 live seminars presented by leading experts in a range of topics, including testing and diagnosis, choosing the right fertility clinic, new technology, egg & sperm donation and more. The seminars are delivered by clinicians, nutritionists, counsellors, experts and Fertility Network UK Tickets are £14 for one day admission or £20 for admission on both days. Seminars and workshops cost £4. Digital only tickets can be purchased for just £10. www.fertilityshow.co.uk

What’s On

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

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

WHERE: Kings Lynn Corn Exchange

WHEN: 26th - 27th May

Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award nominated smash hit show returns on tour. Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing along songs and clumsy chaos. Prices from £14. www.kingslynncornexchange. co.uk 01553 764864

Wildlife Trust Bat Safari Punting

WHERE: Scudamores, Cambridge

Church Farm

WHERE: Stow Bardolph

WHEN: May and June 10.00 - 17.00

Make friends with a wide variety of tame animals and experience all their young at close quarters throughout the season as well as enjoying their adventure playground.

www.churchfarmstowbardolph. co.uk 01366 382162

Cambridge Aqua Park

WHERE: Stretham, Ely

WHEN: May and June

For a fun family experience visit Cambridge Aqua Park, an inflatable obstacle course. Prices include the use of a lifejacket and wetsuit for free.

www.cambridgeaquapark.com

Forest School for Home Schoolers

WHERE: Nene Wetlands

WHEN: 11th May 1.30- 3.00pm

These sessions give primary aged home-schooled children the chance to learn about nature and explore the great outdoors. £6 per child www.wildlifebcn.org

WHEN: From 12th May

Spot bats as they emerge from hibernation with Wildlife Trust Bat Experts with use of specialist electronic bat detectors. Prices from £64 for a family of 3 www.scudamores.com 01223 359750

Wildlife WatchLife in the Pond

WHERE: Trumpington Meadows

27th May, 14.00 - 16.00

Grab a net to discover all the wonderful creatures who live in and around the water, create a pond-themed craft to take home, and get a free activity pack!

£7.50 per child

www.wildlifebcn.org

01487 710420

Comedy Club for Kids

WHERE: Cambridge Junction 21st May 11:30 and 2:30

It’s a comedy club, right, but for kids. Also any adults who enjoy a swear-free hour with the circuit’s best stand-ups and sketch acts. Non-patronising. Pure awesome.

Prices from £8.50

www.junction.co.uk 01223 511 511

Science on Sundays

WHERE: Cambridge Botanic Gardens

WHEN: 21st May 2:30pm

National Mills Weekend

WHEN: 13th -14th May

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

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

Bushcraft Holiday Club

WHERE: Wandlebury Country Park

WHEN: 30th, 31st May and 1st June, 8.30-4pm

DEMON DENTIST

WHERE: Cambridge Arts Theatre

WHEN: 31st May - 4th June

Join Alfie and Gabz on this fabulous adventure, as they investigate the strange events happening in their hometown. Children are leaving their teeth for the tooth fairy and waking up to find odd things under their pillows! Alfie and Gabz are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery - but no-one could have dreamed what they’ll discover when they come face to face with the demon dentist herself, in this hilarious and thrilling story. £20-£25 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Cambridge Midsummer Fair

WHERE: Midsummer Common, Cambridge

WHEN: 21st June

Held since 1211, Cambridge Midsummer Fair is one of the country’s oldest travelling funfairs. Enjoy a traditional fun fair and the very best white-knuckle rides. There’s also candyfloss, hot dogs, toffee apples and more.

Strawberry FairLove the Planet

WHERE: Midsummer Common, Cambridge

WHEN: 3rd June

LEAF Open Farm

Sunday

WHEN: 11th June

It is common knowledge that plants generate oxygen via photosynthesis. Have you ever challenged this knowledge? And, if so, how much oxygen do they generate?

Ages 12+

www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

Pop Divas Live!

WHERE: Kings Lynn Corn Exchange

The Holiday Bushcraft Club is designed for children aged 5-12 years. It is run by qualified and experienced teachers/instructors who will inspire children and share their knowledge and skills of surviving in the wild.

£40 per child

www.wildthymeandembers. co.uk

WHEN: 31st May 6pm Pop Divas Live! is the UK’s number one pop concert experience featuring tributes to all your favourite female pop stars on the same stage for the first time ever! Take a break from your mobiles and iPads and enjoy all the best acts from the social media generation live and on stage - the way it should be!

£17 www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 01553 764864

Fireman Sam

WHERE: Kings Lynn Corn Exchange

WHEN: 1st June at 3.30 pm

When all of his friends go away, Norman Price decides to find adventure in Pontypandy and become the star of a visiting circus. But with a tiger on the loose and faulty lights, the adventure soon turns to danger. Can Fireman Sam come to the rescue and save the circus?

Prices from £17. www.kingslynncornexchange. co.uk 01553 764864

Celebrate the vibrant and creative city of Cambridge at this one-day music and arts event. Enjoy an eclectic range of music and performances from well over 100 groups, both local and from further afield. FREE www.strawberry-fair.org.uk

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

The Smeds and the Smoos

WHERE: Cambridge Arts Theatre

WHEN: 20th - 24th June

A joyful tale of star-crossed aliens. Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

PYO Fruits

WHERE: Farms in Cambridgeshire

WHEN: June

Pidley Park Farm, Huntingdon and Lidgate Farm, Isleham are just two of the farms open in the region during the PYO season. Check each venue for opening times and types of fruit available.

www.pyo.co.uk

ROSES

WHERE: Chippenham Park Gardens, Newmarket

WHEN: 1st June, 10.00 - 16.00

Summer will be in full swing at Chippenham Park and there will be a beautiful display of roses, and other spectacular flowers, in bloom. Delicious home-made food and refreshments in the licensed Potting Shed Cafe.

www.chippenhamparkgardens.info

On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back? £16

www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Perform in the Park

WHERE: Coram’s Fields, Bloomsbury

WHEN: 22nd July - 28th August

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

Tickets start at £14.50.

Visit performinthepark.uk for more information and to book

If booking any days out, please mention Families Cambridgeshire Magazine

How handwriting affects self-esteem

It is known that children who have good handwriting do better in school and enjoy it more. And the opposite is also true: those who struggle with handwriting are often at a disadvantage in the high-paced classroom setting. According to the Dyspraxia Foundation, children with poor handwriting are usually aware of their difficulty and their untidy handwriting can make them feel uncomfortable and isolated. Commonly, children feel depressed and frustrated as a direct result of poor writing skills. Handwriting activates a specific part of the brain which helps establish and build the neural patterns needed for learning and memory. Studies show that children who spend time working on handwriting produce clearer and more coherent communication, along with better thought and organisation skills. As the majority of our examinations are still handwritten, handwriting forms an integral part of our education system. Students who are unable to write legibly and articulately find themselves at a severe disadvantage. Once these skills are taught there is an enormous difference in confidence and selfesteem.

With at least ten to fifteen percent of children in the classroom suffering from poor self-confidence, teachers need to watch out for early problems with their pupils’ handwriting. Simply having their writing labelled as messy or lazy by adults can contribute to a child’s low self-esteem and anxiety. This may lead children to believe that they are unintelligent and incapable of writing correctly and discourage them, continuing the downward spiral. Unfortunately, the problem of anxiety-related handwriting problems cannot simply be overcome by using a computer. As a child grows older, there will always be everyday circumstances in which handwriting is needed. Furthermore, handwriting helps the flow of ideas and thoughts in a way which keyboarding doesn’t so it is fundamental that children are taught to write legibly.

By Catherine Lobleand Lisa Wander

Although handwriting is an integral requirement of the National Curriculum, many schools are unable to dedicate the time it needs due to the huge demands of core subjects. In addition, there are many different styles and programmes being used with too many confusing elements. With the correct time and teaching, children’s handwriting can be mastered, thereby raising their confidence and self-esteem and embedding it into adulthood.

MOTOR SKILLS TO SUPPORT HANDWRITING

Essential for handwriting, motor development is divided into gross and fine motor skills. Gross skills involve large muscle movements such as crawling, walking, running and swimming. Fine motor skills require smaller muscles: grasping, object manipulation and drawing.

Well-developed gross and fine motor skills are essential to a child’s readiness to write. Early years activities prepare them for the dexterity and co-ordination they will need in the classroom and it’s never too soon to start the journey.

Practising gross motor skills is the first step towards two-handed tasks such as holding down paper with one hand while writing with the other. Fun activities teach small bodies! Examples include monkey bars, hopscotch, throwing and catching balls, dancing, running and swimming. Fine motor skills are necessary for handwriting so the child can control the pencil in forming letters and use the correct pressure on the pen and the paper. This is where hand and finger activities come in. Consider these: threading beads, cutting paper, construction play, baking, finger painting and playdough.

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

Please listen to me!

By Tanith Carey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOP TIPS

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

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

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

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

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

For older children (ages 8 -11)

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

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

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

What is the CPA approach in maths?

CPA (concrete, pictorial, abstract) is a maths teaching approach that has grown in popularity in recent years. It involves using tangible objects for children to add, subtract, multiply or divide. They then progress to using pictorial representations of the objects and ultimately, abstract symbols.

This way of learning is one of the foundations of Singaporean maths, now being adopted in the UK and also in Numberblocks.

CONCRETE

The tangible, ‘handling’ stage uses physical objects to solve problems. For example:

There are 4 buttons in the pot. Stanley has 2 buttons in his hand. How many buttons are there altogether?

In this problem, the children might first count out actual buttons before moving on to nonrelated objects such as counters to represent the buttons.

Of course, almost anything can be used to help a child master this stage from pencils to plastic pots, to counting beans and coins. You don’t need to spend money on concrete resources to support learning at home.

PICTORIAL

The next step is for learners to move on to making their own representations.

Returning to the example in the paragraph above, the buttons could be drawn as four circles on one part of the paper and two more

By Jemma Z Smith

on another part, representing the pot and the hand. Children can then count each small circle and get the same answer as they would have done with the buttons.

Building or drawing a model makes it easier for children to grasp concepts they find more difficult. This is particularly true when working with fractions. It enables learners to see how much of a ‘whole one’ has been shaded in and they can visualise the problem more clearly.

ABSTRACT

This is where children use abstract symbols to solve maths problems.

Brooke has 10 sweets and Millie has 12 sweets. How many sweets do they have altogether? Children at the abstract stage would be able to solve the problem by writing it out as 10 + 12 = 22.

Before moving onto this stage, children need a secure understanding of mathematical vocabulary; for example ‘altogether’, ‘add’ and ‘plus’ all mean that the numbers are increasing.

Although CPA has three distinct stages, it is always useful to revisit the previous stages to ensure that learners have a full grasp of each concept.

THIS IS SO DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I LEARNT MATHS: WHAT’S THE POINT?

Education methods have changed a lot since we were at school. For many adults today, classroom teaching involved having methods

Developing independent learning

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

So what is independence?

By Zuzu Jordan

drummed into us that we didn’t necessarily understand and which were promptly forgotten. Could you explain why we ‘put a zero’ in the ones column when multiplying by a tens number? Why we ‘knock on the next number’s door and borrow a 1’ when exchanging in column subtraction? How long division really works?

Using physical ‘concrete’ counters show us the mechanics behind these methods and gives children an understanding of what maths is, rather than rote learning for an exam and forgetting the learning when moving on to the next concept. The learning will stick for longer and be more beneficial to them as they progress to the next stage of their education. With CPA, maths is seen by teachers as a house or a pyramid. Without a strong understanding of the foundations, more complex topics such as algebra or percentages will be a struggle.

Jemma Z Smith is Director of The Education Hotel (www.educationhotel.co.uk)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A GROWTH MINDSET is probably the most important ingredient in achieving independence. Historically intelligence was seen as something we were gifted from birth and our levels were finite. Nowadays,

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

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

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

INDEPENDENT THINKING

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

What’s On Things to do - drama, music & sport something for everyone in Cambridgeshire

Code Ninja Camps Code Your Own Robot in Minecraft®

WHERE: Chesterton Community College, Cambridge

WHEN: 30th May - 2nd June, 12.30 - 15.30

Razzamataz Cambridge

Code Ninja Camps - Modding with Minecraft®

WHERE: Chesterton Community College, Cambridge

WHEN: 30th May - 2nd June, 9.00 - 12.00

Developed for experienced Minecraft® players, this camp teaches Ninjas how to make unique ‘mods’ creating custom tools, weapons, armour, enemies, and more! By the end of the camp, Ninjas will be able to export their mods to explore at home. www.codeninjas.co.uk/ cambridge-cam-uk

07918 296644 / 07551 755602

Through simple programming, Ninjas will apply complex computer science concepts to automate the boring parts of Minecraft® such as farming and digging, and use concepts like loops and functions to code crazy things like spawning hundreds of chickens from the sky! www.codeninjas.co.uk/ cambridge-cam-uk 07918 296644 / 07551 755602

Half Term Sailing Course

WHERE: Paxton Lakes, Little Paxton

WHEN: 30th May - 2nd June, 9.30 - 12.30 or 13.30 - 16.30

Official RYA training centre that welcomes people 8 years +, with large selection of boats and equipment available. Tuition in 4 lessons, either mornings or afternoons on 4 consecutive days.

Adult £130.00

Child (minimum age 8) £110.00 www.paxtonlakes.org.uk/index.

php/sailing-school

07736 670570 (evenings only)

Perform Wizard of Oz Holiday Course (ages 4 - 10)

WHERE: Newnham Croft Primary School

WHEN: 24th - 28th July, 10.00 - 15.00

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

WHERE: Impington Village College, Impington Performing arts training for Razz Tots (2-3yrs), Minis (4-5yrs), Juniors (6-8), Inters (9-11yrs) to Razz Seniors (12-18yrs) along with Street Dance (7-18yrs) and Acro Arts (7-18yrs), with access to talented performers through specialist workshops and classes. Small classes to nurture a child’s confidence and self-esteem, plus a lot of fun.

From £72 for 12 weeks. Free taster session available. www.cambridge.razzamataz. co.uk

01223 755113 or 07895 347239

CGA Gymnastics Satellites

WHERE: Bottisham, Cambourne, Chesterton, Ely, Impington Recreational classes follow the British Gymnastics proficiency award scheme with children grouped by age, gender & ability level. Each 1-hour session includes a 10-minute warm up, 15 minutes on floor skills and 3 x 10 minutes apparatus. From £6/hour www.cgagymnasticssatellites. co.uk

Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes

WHERE: Hills Road Sports Centre, Cambridge: Wednesdays

Newnham Croft Primary School, Newnham: Saturdays

St. Andrews Church Hall, Chesterton: Mondays

St. John’s Church Hall, Cambridge: Thursdays.

Stagecoach Performing Arts Classes

Ultimate Activity Summer Camp

WHERE: Sancton Wood Prep School

WHEN: 24th July - 25th August, 8.30 - 17.15 (Extended hours 8.00 - 18.00)

Kids can enjoy a range of over 40 sports, games and craft activities each week, led by inspiring staff in superb facilities. Take the stress out of childcare and join this outstanding school holiday club! www.ultimateactivity.co.uk

Gymnastics Academy

WHERE: North Cambridge Academy, Arbury Rd, Cambridge A series of fun classes for young children: Creepy Crawlies and Wiggly Worms (6wks to crawling); Toddling Tigers (crawling to 2yrs); Jumpy Joeys (2-3yrs), and Marvellous Monkeys (3-4yrs). Pre-book for term. From £7.30/session www.cambridgegymnastics. co.uk 07971 864653

WHERE: Chesterton Community College; Coleridge Campus, Cambridge; and Cambourne Village College, Cambourne Stagecoach aims to nurture and develop young potential through singing, acting and dance classes in Cambridge & Cambourne, stretching young imaginations and helping them to develop confidence, physical awareness, communication and articulation.

From £25.00 for two-week trial www.stagecoach.co.uk 01223 359974

If booking any clubs & classes, please mention Families Cambridgeshire Magazine

Confidence-building drama classes for 4-7s and 7-12s. A unique mix of fun drama games, dance and singing specially designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination.

To book a FREE class visit www.perform.org.uk/try enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk 020 7255 9120

Cambridge United Community Trust Football for All

WHERE: Coleridge Community College

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays

Disability sport sessions provided by Cambridge United Community Trust including Ambulant Cerebral Palsy,Downs Syndrome, Frame, Powerchair and Pan-Disability Football.

£3 per session

SIGN UP NOW FOR SPACES AVAILABLE THIS JANUARY AT CAMBRIDGE GYMNASTICS ACADEMY HEAD TO WWW.CAMBRIDGEGYMNASTICS.CO.UK/CLASS/PRE-SCHOOLTASTER-SESSIONS

West Anglian Orienteering Club

WHERE: Milton, Trumpington, Ferry Meadows

Hold regular events with courses suitable for children and newcomers, many events have Training sessions for club juniors.

Also provide two junior training nights each term.

www.waoc.org.uk/juniors

www.cuctrust.co.uk/inclusion/ disability-sport/ Rugbytots

WHERE: Various locations across Cambridgeshire

Fun, structured play sessions take children on a journey of sporting imagination whilst teaching them how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team. Suitable for ages 2 - 7.

From £9.00 per session

www.rugbytots.co.uk

HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS 2023

24th - 28th July

Summer week 1 - 7 - 15 years old

31st July - 4th August

Summer week 2 - 7 - 15 years old

14th August - 18th August

Summer week 3 - 7 - 15 years old

7th - 11th August

Summer week 3

7 - 15 years old