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February Half Term, Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village 13 – 20 February

Escape the cold this February Half Term at Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village and step inside the recently re-opened home and studios of artists Mary and G F Watts, Limnerslease.

Get crafty at The Make Space. Pick up a multi-sensory explorer kit to discover the amazing ceiling designs created by Mary. You will then make your own plaster tile,

inspired by the symbols you found.

Families can also join a special Family Tour of Limnerslease. Travel back in time to 1903 and explore the house in this fun adventure with an expert guide. Armed with a mirror and binoculars, explore the space and hear the stories that inspired the fabulous decorations. activities, collect one our free family trails from the Visitor Centre to explore the site.

It’s your last chance to see our current Historic Gallery exhibition ‘Uncommon Power’: Lucy and Catherine Madox Brown, closing 20 February. Discover more about the life and art of two Pre-Raphaelite artists. You can also see and buy beautiful contemporary artworks inspired by the Surrey landscape in Heartlands: Inspired by Our Landscape, above the shop in Watts Contemporary Gallery.

Enjoy swings and steppingstones in our Verey Playwood. Don’t forget to stop by our Tea Shop for homemade food, tea and cake. Browse our Watts Shop to take something unique home with you.

Wear A Hat Day is back!

Join thousands of school children, parents and teachers across the UK on Friday 25th March and get hatty to help find a cure for brain tumours.

This year’s unmissable fundraiser has a regal theme, celebrating the Platinum Jubilee with four new royal hat badges. It’s the perfect way to bring everyone together and enjoy hat-themed events for Brain Tumour Research.

Register today to get your FREE fundraising pack: www.wearahatday.org

If You are Feeling Anxious You are not Alone!

At the Parenting with Anxiety Project at the University of Sussex, they want to help parents and children navigate the world with confidence. It is not always easy, but they believe it is possible!

They now want to find out if families will benefit from an 8-module online course. If you would describe yourself as high in anxiety and with a child aged 2-11, they would love you to join them.

Half of the parents will do the course and the others will just answer questions. Everyone who takes part is playing an important role in helping children with anxiety.

Visit www.parentingwithanxiety. org.uk for more information.

Paint a Ceramic Bird Feeder at Squire’s

Paint a ceramic bird feeder at Squire’s Garden Centres

This February Half Term children can come to Squire’s Garden Centres and paint a ceramic bird feeder, or go on a wild bird treasure hunt around the garden centre.

Get artistic and paint a colourful design on your ceramic bird feeder. It will look beautiful hung in the garden and it will help attract birds this spring, especially if you sprinkle some bird seed inside! Book your session online now (£6 per child) at www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk.

The wild bird treasure hunt at Squire’s is free and there’s no need to book, simply turn up on the day. Children will follow a trail of bird characters around the garden centre, then answer some questions on an activity sheet which will help to spell out a magic word. Hand the completed activity sheet in to the customer information desk and receive a free sticker.

Squire’s ‘Create & Grow’ activities are on from 9.30am to 2pm on the following dates:

Monday 14 - Friday 18 February 2022 Squire’s Badshot Lea, Cobham, Frensham, Hersham, Long Ditton, Milford, Reigate, Shepperton, Stanmore, Twickenham & West Horsley

Monday 21 – Friday 25 February 2022 Squire’s Badshot Lea, Crawley, Washington & Wokingham

Parents across Surrey rise above childcare challenges during the school holidays

Ofsted-approved, SuperCamps - a national company with a local focus – is stepping up its support this year. For working parents and carers across Surrey, the challenges of school holidays are many. With Covid-19 adding to the mix, children have experienced an unusual and often disrupted school and home life balance with periods of isolation and an increase in screen time. Many community-led enrichment initiatives have had to pause or change their offer due to the ongoing pandemic, however, now more than ever, parents need childcare options and children need to play, to socialise and to thrive.

This is why safe recreational enrichment providers up and down the country are keen to reignite the power of play for children so they can have positive experiences this February half term and beyond.

As Kirsty Farrar-Hockley, Operations Manager for SuperCamps, explains: “As a former Early Years Teacher, I am a passionate advocate of learning through play. Not just to facilitate children letting off steam, it is integral to a child’s social, emotional and physical development and key to ensuring we continue to develop children’s creativity. Our fun-packed February half term camp is “The Super Games” based on the Winter Olympics and these themes change constantly throughout the year to keep things fresh and engaging. No two days are the same so those returning to camp will continue to be entertained and learn something new. We are 100% child-focused with carefully considered age-appropriate activities for every age group designed to stimulate group interaction and cater for individual interests.

“We have devoted staff, including termtime teachers, sports coaches and those holding childcare and child psychology qualifications, who are highly skilled and trained to support children with multiple needs, as well as offer additional challenges and nurture your child’s unique gifts and talents. Each camp has a Camp Manager overseeing the entire process and they are experts at tailoring inclusive activities to bring out the best in all children. Every site has Paediatric First Aiders to protect children and ensure absolute safety and care when undertaking any activity with us. Whilst at camp our children our encouraged to express themselves, reconnect with their environment and grow in confidence.”

“We’re fortunate to have the use of three fantastic host schools in Surrey and so the facilities lend themselves to the many aspects of inside and outside play we provide. However, whilst safe and age-appropriate, it will not feel like school. We pride ourselves on having a holiday-camp vibe and being a special, fun-packed place to embrace social interactions and nurture new friendships. It is a fantastic way to network with like-minded local parents and carers, and children can make new friends outside of their usual termtime friendship groups.

“Whilst fun is at the heart of everything we do, our camps step away from screens and are carefully crafted so children are suitably challenged, curious and confident with a range of activities both inside and outside no matter the weather. Whether it be a Nature Walk or a game of Capture the Flag, we know that children should be active for at least an hour a day, and we all feel better when we get enough fresh air and exercise.”

From team games to creative projects and outdoor adventures, these fun-packed multi-activity camps are teaching children essential life skills in a safe and creative environment. The variety of tasks to complete help ensure that all children find something to really enjoy as well as be encouraged to try something new. Children learn important social skills such as sharing, boundary setting and empathy from being in group settings with new people. From Godalming to Croydon and East Horsley, this fantastic resource is a must for parents and children across Surrey this February. Parents can also look ahead for 2022 and get discounts for Easter and Summer holidays, giving peace of mind and something positive and stimulating for our children to enjoy and look forward to.

To find out more about SuperCamps and what they offer in the half term holidays as well as looking ahead to camps in summer 2022 please visit their website for early-bird discounts: www.supercamps.co.uk

Choosing The Perfect First Instrument

Choosing a first instrument for your child to learn can be an important decision to make. Not only will it be the sound you’ll hear most often while they practice, it could also be an enriching hobby that your child holds for years to come. There are many things to consider when buying a new instrument. Primary Times has shared some of the top considerations that can make your instrument search a much easier and enjoyable task.

Age When thinking about the right instrument, age is a big consideration. While it is easier to learn music at a younger age, some musical instruments are better to learn when your child has developed their strength, stamina and height. Brass instruments such as the tuba, trombone and the French horn are good examples of this as they require strong lungs, strong mouth muscles, and can be heavy to hold upright.

Popularity Choosing a popular instrument such as guitar or piano could be a good idea because there tends to be more of online and tutoring resources available. Finding a teacher nearby might also be likely which will avoid any long commutes. However, the downside of choosing a popular instrument is that there will be a lot of other talented children, which might demotivate your child from performances or competitions. Some children may also be more likely to learn an instrument that their friends have seen before or also play. This could be a fun experience that allows your child to make new friends and connect with others who play the same instrument.

Interest The most important consideration to make when choosing an instrument is if your child is actually interested in it. While it’s normal for children to gain and lose interest in new hobbies, it’s crucial for your child to be enthusiastic about learning the instrument at the very beginning. The more excited a child is for the instrument, the more commitment they’ll usually give it. Try taking your child to a few music shops before purchasing anything. This will allow your child to get familiar with a wide range of instruments before buying. If your child seems indifferent to the instruments in the music shop, try finding out if your child prefers melody, harmony, or beat. These are three vital components to music that encompass various instruments. If you child enjoys the beat of music, for example, they might enjoy playing on the drums.

Financial Once your child has chosen the instrument they wish to learn, it’s a good idea to give yourself a purchasing budget. Even if your child is extremely enthusiastic and you’ve found an instrument that fits them perfectly, there is no guarantee that they will keep playing long term. Buying an inexpensive beginners instrument is the best way of not losing a lot of money if your child becomes uninterested. It’s also a good idea to ask your child’s school or local music shop if they offer any instruments to rent or practice with during term times. Try to also consider the long-term expenses of an instrument. The cost of maintenance for an instrument can soon add up. For example, stringed instruments will need their strings replacing whenever they break and Rosin is needed for a cello and violin bow. If you child takes lessons to learn their instrument, these fees will vary depending on the instrument and your location. Online lessons from platforms such as YouTube could be a good alternative to this depending on how your child learns best.

Merrist Wood College’s Annual Lambing Event

Merrist Wood College’s Annual Lambing Event, held across two days, is a celebration of nature and countryside crafts. Visitors can meet our lambs, watch countryside craft demos, visit the farm, shop for homemade gifts, handle animals and more. All tickets must be pre-booked online in advance. Throughout the year Merrist Wood College offers a variety of animal encounter activities, including Junior Keeper Days, Animal Encounter Tours, Birthday Parties, Education Tours and Meet the Meerkat Experiences. On the 2-hour Animal Encounter Tours (for ages 5+) you will learn about the different species you see, such as armadillo, forest dragons, tree frogs, a wide range of birds and reptiles plus you’ll meet the meerkats. New dates are regularly added to our website. Meet the Meerkats Experiences are available for ages 8+ at weekends and during the school holidays and can be added onto an Animal Encounter Tour.

Also on offer are Junior Animal Keeper Experiences (6-14 yrs). Join the Animal Keepers for a day looking after our amazing animal collection, visiting our different animal biomes and farm.

For all bookings visit www.merristwoodevents.co.uk. For further info call 07854 274866 or email mwevent@guildford.ac.uk