THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR LONDON FAMILIES ®
EMPOWERING GIRLS Two women changing the narrative
WINTER 2021/22 Nº 30
PANTO'S BACK London's best events for families
GIFTS GALORE Everything for the little humans in your life
W HAT’S O N E DUCATION F ASHION B OOKS A CTIVITIES
£4.99
Wonderful Winter
W E LC O M E
H
COVER IMAGE Oeuf NYC oeufnyc.com
ow do Christmas lists go in your house? When our children were younger, they’d probably have written them by the end of October. Plenty of time for them to change their minds at least three times, sending you into several spins before the big day. If you’re stuck for ideas this year, our gift guides include stocking fillers and pressies for all ages. In fact, we have over 100 ideas for smiley faces on Christmas Day. Also in this issue, we speak to two women determined to change the future for their daughters. We explore Serlina Boyd’s success with Cocoa Girl and Cocoa Boy magazines, and we speak to Jo Wimble-Groves about her newly published book Rise of the Girl. Both women have been inspired and driven by their daughters to create a better future for them. Jo Pratt brings us a delicious winter warmer, we’ve a look at family clubs in the capital as well as things to do to keep you going through December and well into 2022. As we head into a new year, we thank all our readers and supporters for their reassurance and cheer through the last two years. Top of our Christmas list this year is a happy, healthy and calmer 2022 for all.
CONTACT
44
editor@citykidsmagazine.co.uk citykidsmagazine.co.uk 07770 370 353 citykidsmagazine @citykidswest citykidsmagazine
12
To receive our newsletters, please sign up via our website citykidsmagazine.co.uk Editor & Owner Victoria Evans editor@citykidsmagazine.co.uk Advertising Sarah Dawson sarah@citykidsmagazine.co.uk
CONTENTS 04
Digital & Social Manager Jennelyn Estacio jenny.citykids@gmail.com Design Caroline Haye info@navalisdesign.com Contributors Sophie Clowes Eleonore Crompton Sharon Jones Jo Pratt Beverley Turner Rose Wyatt
04
WE LOVE
08
WHAT’S ON
12
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
16
STYLE
20
BEVERLEY TURNER
22
THE WONDER OF MUSIC
24
JO PRATT RECIPE
26
SERLINA BOYD
28 HOME 29
EDUCATION
41
BOOKS
28
44 TRIPS
16
46
THE KNOWLEDGE
50
WHO IS?
This publication may not be reproduced in whole or part by any means without prior consent of the publisher. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the content at the time of publication, the publishers shall not be held responsible in any way for any inaccuracies or omissions. The opinions of those expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or CITY KIDS LTD. © 2021 CITY KIDS LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. T 07770 370 353
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 03
we love
W E LOV E
Busy Bee Educational and fun, these ecofriendly Mini Builds are easy to make, mess-free and come in four versions, each with a fact stand: honey bee, ladybird, stag beetle and dragonfly. £9.99 buildyourownkits.com
Sleep Saviour Originally designed for adults as a sleep aid, Morphée has created My Little Morphée with 192 guided meditations and soothing journeys preparing children for bedtime and calming them during the day. It also looks rather lovely. morphee.co
Diverse Dolls Thimble & Doll make felt dolls in a range of skin tones. Simply choose your doll size, skin tone, hair colour, fabric and voilà! £45 thimbleanddoll.co.uk
04 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
W E LOV E
Wow Factor Wellies Cherry blush thermo boots by Konges Sløjd are top of our list this winter. Lined and made with natural rubber, they’re practical and super cute in one. £55 acornandpip.com
Kind Clothes
Box of Delights
With every sweatshirt sold, Kookoo But Kind plants a tree in reserves that cannot be sold, built on or chopped up. Now that’s how small changes can make a big collective difference. £40 kookoobutkind.com
Buy a one off gift box or subscribe to a box of books showing diversity in race, culture, family set up and relationships, as well as representations of disability and gender. From £19.99 littleboxofbooks.co.uk
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 05
KIDS GO FREE
Next stop, Christmas at London Transport Museum From 4 December Book at Santa Meet elp fix and h leigh! his s
2020.099_M_Christmas_Ad_City Kids_190x118mm.indd 1
Take a peek at our brand new website:
www.citykidsmagazine.co.uk
06 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
02/11/2021 14:58
Latest WHAT’S ON p.8
GIFT GUIDES p.12
STYLISH SOOTHERS Natural rubber dummies in a family of skin tone colours, born in London eswyn.co.uk CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 07
W H AT ’ S O N
December 3 to 23
from 4
from 8
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
THE GINGERBREAD CITY
PALACE OF STARDUST
The Museum of Architecture thegingerbreadcity.com
Hampton Court Palace hrp.org.uk
Journey to the past, present and future with a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ ghostly tale, set in the college’s grand Painted Hall.
Visit a futuristic edible mini city made entirely from gingerbread and sweets.
Walk the illuminated grounds on a light trail of clocks, moons, planets and sundials, inspired by the palace’s grand astronomical clock.
from 10
12
12
WOLF WITCH GIANT FAIRY
WREATH MAKING
MY CHRISTMAS ORCHESTRAL ADVENTURE
Royal Opera House roh.org.uk
Chelsea Physic Garden chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Royal Albert Hall royalalberthall.com
Watch a family opera set in an enchanted land of fairy tales.
Get in the Christmas spirit and make a winter wreath in the tranquil botanical gardens.
Zip around the world on a festive orchestral adventure.
from 16
17 & 18
until 30
CIRCUS 1903
HOWDEN CHRISTMAS RACING WEEKEND
SLEEPING BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Royal Festival Hall southbankcentre.co.uk
Ascot Racecourse ascot.co.uk
Battersea Arts Centre bac.org.uk
Travel back in time to the Golden Age of Circus, as acrobats, contortionists, high wire performers and giant puppets take to the stage.
Treat the family to a day at the races, with plenty of entertainment and activities on and off the track.
Grab your detective hat and help solve a pantomime fairy tale mystery.
Old Royal Naval College ornc.org
08 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
W H AT ’ S O N
January until 2
until 8
NEW YEAR STEAM UP
LIGHTOPIA FESTIVAL
NUTCRACKER
London Museum of Water and Steam waterandsteam.org.uk
Crystal Palace Park london.lightopiafestival.com
London Coliseum ballet.org.uk
Discover a wonderful world of pumping engines, water and steam with tours, talks and activities for all ages.
Stroll through a winter wonderland and enjoy multisensory interactive lights along the way.
Voyage to the sparkling Land of Snow and marvel at a puppet theatre come to life with the English National Ballet’s Nutcracker.
8&9
until 9
until 9
HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE
EPPING ONGAR LIGHT FANTASTIC
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME
The O2 livenation.co.uk
Ongar Station eorailway.co.uk
Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre nationaltheatre.org.uk
Expect smashing, crashing, and monster truck battles with real-life versions of the Hot Wheels toy cars.
Step back in time and ride a vintage steam train wrapped in Christmas lights.
Catch the National Theatre’s award-winning show before it tours the UK.
until 9
until 16
until 16
ILLUMINATURE
OPERATION OUCH!
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
WWT London Wetland Centre wwt.org.uk
Lyric Theatre thelyrictheatre.co.uk
Polka Theatre polkatheatre.com
Explore nature after dark on a trail that takes you through habitats of owls, geese and otters, with larger-than-life illumination of wetland wildlife.
Enter the fascinating world of biology with TV’s Dr Chris and Dr Xand in their new West End show full of crazy science experiments.
Watch a reimagining of Clement Clarke Moore’s classic poem, featuring original music and masterful puppetry.
© Laurent Liotardo
1 to 3
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 09
W H AT ’ S O N
February 4&5
until 6
7 to 11
PEPPA PIG’S BEST DAY EVER
THE RED BALLOON
HEAVEN
Richmond Theatre atgtickets.com
Puppet Theatre Barge puppetbarge.com
Little Angel Theatre littleangeltheatre.com
Have a special day out with Peppa, George and all their animal friends at this musical show.
Climb about a converted Thames barge for a marionette puppet show about a small boy’s friendship with a balloon.
Enter the surrealistic world of René Magritte with a theatre show based on the Belgian artist’s paintings.
10 to 19
12 to 20
13
ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS
EXPLORER QUEST
TOY STORY IN CONCERT
Rose Theatre rosetheatre.org
Eltham Palace english-heritage.org.uk
Eventim Apollo eventimapollo.com
Cheer for Zog, as everyone’s favourite dragon is back on stage and, this time, he has a new air-ambulance crew.
Find clues and solve puzzles along a family trail through the palace’s grounds.
Revisit the class Disney movie as The Novello Orchestra performs the score live in this partconcert part-film screening.
13
26
until 28
FUNHARMONICS SPRING CONCERT
DINO SNORES FOR KIDS
WINTER FESTIVAL
Royal Festival Hall tickets.lpo.org.uk
Natural History Museum nhm.ac.uk
Museum of the Home museumofthehome.org.uk
Introduce children to the orchestra with a relaxed interactive concert.
Set up camp and explore the museum after dark at a dinosaur-themed sleepover.
Celebrate the world’s winter holidays at the museum’s annual festival, which explores universal themes of light, kindness, warmth and colour.
10 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Excite curious kids this Christmas
For more gift ideas, go to collins.co.uk/stockingfillers
London’s Premier Hub for Children's Dentistry Going to the dentist can be intimidating for children so finding the right environment for your child’s early dental experience is so important. Toothbeary is a unique, award winning London-based dental practice designed to care specifically for children aged 0-18. Children should have their first check up by the age of one. Expert staff have created a child-friendly, playful, relaxed atmosphere incorporating the highest quality dentistry. An integral part of Toothbeary’s philosophy is the monitoring of your child’s inhibitions, anxieties and fears. In turn, this informs behaviour management approaches and identifies the most suitable treatment methods. Combining a professional, caring and individualised approach with state-of-the-art treatment ensures that your child‘s experience at Toothbeary is positive, confidence-building and offers the best provision for long-term oral health. Toothbeary, 358a Richmond Road East Twickenham, TW1 2DU 02088316870 info@toothbeary.co.uk www.toothbeary.co.uk
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 11
G I F T G U I D E B A B Y & TO D D L E R
LITTLE LIGHTS CROCODILE TABLE LIGHT £151
smallable.com
LIEWOOD BODIL PUZZLE £22
MOON PICNIC WOODEN CALENDAR £105
libertylondon.com
acornandpip.com
JELLYCAT LEFFY ELF £16.50
daisypark.co.uk
LIEWOOD COMFORTER WITH CROCODILE £15.95
DJECO STACKING CAT £13.95
NOBODINOZ VELVET PUPPET THEATER MIDNIGHT BLUE £65 smallable.com
themodernnursery.com
tickety-boo.co.uk
City Kids Christmas Guide
ERZI EXOTIC FRUITS £9
smallable.com
MAILEG DOLL HOUSE £222
KONGES SLOJD WOODEN LEMON SHAPE SORTER £33 smallable.com
JELLYCAT AMUSEABLE BOILED EGG £12.50
om
MAMATOYZ WOODEN MINI TRACTOR £21
scandiborn.co.uk
KIDS CONCEPT WOODEN GARAGE £99.90
alexandalexa.com
NT DVE OG A SE £36 D I R ITCA I ME MER DAR SU k o.u EN CAL idly.c
k
scoutandcokids.com
maiagifts.co.uk
MAILEG TEDDY £16
LO UI ST SE M R I ale IPE SO SHA T xan I dal CKS £ GER exa 22 .c
smallable.com
LIEWOOD ASTRID ABACUS TOY £37.45
scandiborn.co.uk
DAN TOY TOY BIOPLA ST TR small UCK £17 IC able
CHRISTMAS STREET FOLD-OUT SCENE BOOK £14.99
.com
BLUE PIXIE HOOD £35
rachelriley.co.uk
THE NEW SOCIETY GABRIELLE ORGANIC WOOL JUMPSUIT £89
smallable.com
BABY’S FIRST NUMBERS BOOK £4.95
PERSONALISED OAKHOUSE BOOKENDS £195
rexlondon.com
dragonsofwaltonstreet.com
nosycrow.com
VILAC MARACAS £9
smallable.com
KONGES SLØJD WOODEN BEAUTY KIT £33.95
scandiborn.co.uk 12 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
VTECH KIDI DJ MIX SET £53
THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN BY JANET AND ALLAN AHLBERG £9.55
selfridges.com
amazon.co.uk
CHRISTMAS IN 100 WORDS BOARD BOOK £6.99
RADUGA GREZ WOODEN FIR TREE £44
waterstones.com
mamaowl.net
GIFT GUIDE LITTLE KIDS
CANDY HOUSE MILK CHOCOLATE BRUSSEL SPROUTS £6.95 harveynichols.com
M E CO RO m ST 74 B ol U lym M UT eg E £ TE .co 59 RF LY m
N
E DUN IT AND ION K T O T OB TRUC -1 R S 2-IN Y CON 2.95 G £2 n.com BUG ndo rexlo
MYLEENE KLASS FOR NEXT CARDIGAN FROM £22 next.co.uk
E D M U AN ST ET CO K R AC IE T, J 0 k LD HA £9 o.u U SO i.c K ING TUT er N im PI LUD er m C
BOOKSPEED POO BINGO FOR KIDS £16.99 libertylondon.com LITTLE PEOPLE BIG DREAMS ZAHA HADID £9.99 libertylondon.com
BUILD YOUR OWN HUMAN SKELETON £30 taschen.com
THE COMPLETE FLOWER FAIRIES BY CICELY MARY BARKER £89.95 ONE THOUSAND THINGS thefoliosociety.com BY ANNA KOVECSES £12.99 waterstones.com
OUR GENERATION PINK TOY DOLL’S SCOOTER £86.95 harrods.com
BARBIE EXTRA RAINBOW FIGURE 30cm £31 argos.co.uk
MINI KYOMO SUNSET WATCH £55 andostores.com
THE ANIMALS OBSERVATORY ARTY BULL JUMPER £139 mytheresa.com
IN
MINIKANE AMIGAS LUI DOLL £35.99 cottage-toys.co.uk
BOBO CHOSES HAND KNITTED GLOVES £33 scoutandcokids.com
E DIRT BY LIT Z HOB AR £70 HWAR C C G S IN O FA ER RAC RODD lfridges.com se
DJECO MAGIC MELODY MUSICAL BOX £20.99 tickety-boo.co.uk
It’s Christmas! Time to spread a little love under that tree with presents that will give happiness for years!
U
SUNNYLIFE UNICORN SEAHORSE MINI BEACH BAT SET £19 libertylondon.com
RICCO CLASSIC BMW 507 LICENSED BATTERYPOWERED ELECTRIC RIDEON TOY CAR £320 selfridges.com
KIDS 3-PIECE DRUM KIT £80 selfridges.com
SCHWARZ DISCOVERY REMOTE CONTROL TOY DINOSAUR 56cm £26.00 selfridges.com
PRESENT BOW HAIRBAND £54 hucklebones.co.uk LE TOY VAN WOODEN DOLL’S HIGH CHAIR £40 amara.com
ACORN HAIRCLIPS £9 merimeri.co.uk
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 13
GIFT GUIDE BIG KIDS
KUHLA AMP TABLE TOP FRIDGE £11 robertdyas.co.uk MICRO CRUISER SCOOTER £134.95 micro-scooters.co.uk
MINI NOTEPAD WITH PEN £15 teddbaker.com
SMART POPCORN MAKER £109.99 wayfair.co.uk
SWEETS IN THE CITY CHRISTMAS TREATS JAR OF JOY £12.95 harveynichols.com
MAKE A STAR GARLAND KIT £24.95 libertylondon.com
FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI LIPLAY HYBRID INSTANT CAMERA WITH 2.7” LCD SCREEN & BUILT-IN FLASH, STONE WHITE £149 johnlewis.com
FROM CROOK TO COOK – THE SNOOP DOGG COOKBOOK £17.99 firebox.com
JURASSIC PARK £39.95 foliosociety.com THE FLEXITARIAN COOKBOOK BY RYLAND PETERS & SMALL £11.99 whsmith.co.uk
POP CULTURE TRIVIA QUIZ £6 oliverbonas.com
MOUTH NEON BOX LIGHT £135 redcandy.co.uk
NAILMATIC KIDS GALAXY BATH BOMB £7 selfridges.com
GOPRO HERO 9 £329.98 gopro.com
FATFACE TRIO OF CANDLES £15 fatface.com
MEADOW FLOWER PYJAMAS £80 yolke.co.uk
BOYS ORANGE BACK GRAPHIC HOODIE FROM £20 riverisland.com LONG SLEEVE CAMO GREY DRYROBE £140 dryrobe.com
CYBERJAMMIES WILLIAM GEO PRINT PYJAMAS £24 cyberjammies.co.uk
ACCESSORIZE QUILTED WEEKEND BAG £35 next.co.uk
WHITE PYRAMID HIMALAYAN SALT LAMP £17.99 curatedpieces.com TEEN SKINCARE ESSENTIALS, £42 spotsandstripes.com
14 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
CRUISER SKATEBOARD £190 conranshop.co.uk
CROCHET BUCKET HAT £12.99 zara.com
CA
RRY PIA ON FO and NO £8 LDIN G erto 9 ns.c .99 o.uk
G I F T G U I D E S TO C K I N G F I L L E R S DIPLODOCUS DINO EGG CUP £8 redcandy.co.uk
THE BOTTLED BAKING CO. SANTA’S WINTER WONDER CAKES KIT £12 johnlewis.com
KID’S CONCEPT MIKADO GAME €9 smallable.com
O UST Y FA SY B I €15 K N BA ERT GILB able.com small
WILD WONDERS WOODEN YOYO £3.95 rexlondon.com
POCKET VOLCANO £4.50 nhmshop.co.uk
CHILDREN’S PERSONALISED WOODEN BOOKMARKS £10.95 thehappygiftmakers.etsy.com
A LITTLE CAN OF CAN DO £15 positiveself.co
DOUGHNUTS SCENTED ERASERS £3.95 rexlondon.com
YORKSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LITTLE BEE HOUSE £12.50 ywtshop.org.uk
TIGER NOTEBOOK £6 itsourplanettoo.co.uk
M&
SK
IDS
CH ma RIST rks and MAS B spe A nce BY S r.co OC KS m £
5
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE WASHBAG £5 marksandspencer.com
GREENS & GREETINGS: FRECKLES THE FOX £6.99 shroot.co.uk
WOMEN OF THE WORLD DIARY AND NOTEBOOK £10.95 amnestyshop.org.uk
THE MINI BIRD PIZZA KIT £7.50 thedenkitco.com
POOPER HEROES £12.99 laurenceking.com
ROALD DAHL TOP TRUMPS £8 GALT SLIMY LAB £6.99 amazon.co.uk johnlewis.com
COLOURFUL CREATURES NAIL STICKERS £2.95 rexlondon.com RTRICERATOPS BRIXIES KIT £8 nhmshop.co.uk
IA RIV RT ME 50 A KG £7. GEE TIN ase.com h c r e pap
SENSORY DOUGH £8 organisedchaoswithkids.com
ECO WOODEN PIN BROOCHES £4.50 storigraphic.com
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 15
I £9 ST H .95 O Bir ME ke SO ns C toc KS k
It is time to get
OMIBIA DOVE RECYCLED WOOL CARDIGAN CAMEL £71 smallable.com
MAYORAL TEEN BEIGE HAT £15 childrensalon.com
STYLE
TW
Chunky!
JELLYMADE CLETO SCARF £45 alexandalexa.com
LITTLE BIRD UNISEX COLOURBLOCK JUMPER £20-£22 next.co.uk
FOREST FAIRISLE JUMPER from £36 welovefrugi.com
CHUNKY BOBBLE CARDIGAN (3mths-7yrs) £17-£19 next.co.uk
KETIKETA WOOLLEN HAND KNIT BOOTIES OCHRE £32 smallable.com
AMY JR FAIR ISLE JUMPER £55 reiss.com
BÚ
HO
CABLE ZIP NECK COSY JUMPER (3mths-7yrs) £14-£16 next.co.uk
THE STORYTELLER JUMPER £50 thefarawaygang.com
TE £4 JUM XTU 9s R ma PSU E K lla IT NIT ble .co m
FINGER IN THE NOSE VANITY MOHAIR JUMPER BEIGE £89 smallable.com
Chilly weather incoming! It’s time to layer up in cosy, textured knits that will look gorgeous and keep little ones toasty warm…
MISHA & PUFF MARIGOLD POPCORN BONNET £45 cissywears.com
MABLI MERINO WOOL BRECON PANTS £75 BÚHO KNITTED ROMPER ECRU £40 alexandalexa.com
LOUISE MISHA MYOSETTE EMBROIDERED KNITTED ROMPER £ 62 smallable.com
ELEONORE CROMPTON is a freelance journalist and co-founder of beauty reviews site @fiivebeauty 16 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
MABLI BRECON BONNET £37.50 mamaowl.net
Best Foot Forward Maison Mangostan’s footwear is influenced by art, music and multicultural heritage using eco-friendly techniques. Above all, collections are playful, fun and comfortable to wear.
maisonmangostan.com
Each pair of shoes is unique – as are the dreams and boundless imaginations of the children who wear them. CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 17
18 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
FA S H I O N
maisonmangostan.com
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 19
BEVERLEY TURNER
CRYING
R
arely are the pages of City Kids blessed with a quote from the Pope, but John Paul II was onto something when he said, “It’s better to cry than be angry, because anger hurts others, while tears flow silently through the soul and cleanse the heart.” Our relationship to the phenomenon of crying changes drastically as we grow up, but have you ever stopped to reflect on whether crying is your friend or your foe? As a baby we cry because our survival depends upon it. Without the ability to ask for a “lovely drink of milk, warmed to my favourite temperature, please” we must instead, scream the house down, (acting as an effective contraception to any passing strangers). Mothers are hard-wired to respond to our offspring’s tears. Our evolutionary instincts are so strong that lactating mums even describe an involuntary let-down of milk at the sound of another person’s baby demanding a feed! So, what happens on the journey from vocal screaming infant to stoic adult swallowing down tears in public so that we aren’t written off as a ‘wimp’ (men) or ‘hysterical’ (women)? We learn that crying is childlike, weak even. Thankfully the phrase, “Big boys / girls don’t cry” has been somewhat discredited recently as we gain better understanding of mental health and acknowledge that hiding sadness has contributed to the shocking statistic that suicide remains the biggest killer of males under 45. How we respond to our children’s tears is crucial to their healthy development. Arguably, the last ten years has seen too much guilt heaped on parents who don’t respond immediately to their child’s every 20 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
whimper – some crying helps a baby’s vocal cords to develop, and we are in danger of creating a generation of mini emperors if we leap to assuage our children’s minute-byminute trivial demands in case someone is watching and judging our ‘poor parenting.’ It might be my Northern roots, but I’m always impressed if I see a mum from the ‘Buck up, you’re fine’ school of parenting. But responding when we know their tears are genuine and valid is reassuring and provides security for children. Sometimes they need empathy: perhaps they are being left out at school and it makes them cry at bedtime (it’s often bedtime...). Empathy reflects their feelings back, “I can see this is hurtful, but I know you are strong enough to handle it. What could you do?” is very different to sympathy (which we parents often combine with a ‘I’ll fix-it’ message): “Oh sweetheart, this is awful and I will speak to the teacher.” Try it – interestingly, the first response is likely to see them take a deep breath and stop crying sooner as they build some inner self-belief and inevitable resilience. It’s the same with adults. In a therapy session, the practitioner might be immensely moved and even upset by a patient’s disclosures, but they know never to cross the space and offer a sympathetic hug. It’s unprofessional because it does not allow the person to sit with their sadness, feel it pass over them and breathe through to the other side. Author C.S. Lewis captured this sentiment beautifully when he said, “Crying is all right in its way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do.” Of course, one of parenting’s greatest challenges is to ascertain when our kids are
It’s better to cry than be angry, because anger hurts others, while tears flow silently through the soul and cleanse the heart.
crying to get their own way and when they are genuinely upset. It can feel that misreading their tears could cause a huge emotional cost. Similarly, when they’re crying hysterically because they want the latest tech, the cost is quickly on us! It’s a fine line and how we respond to these arch manipulators will depend on our emotional fortitude that day (including hormones); our own reserves of patience or whether we can actually remember if we did indeed promise them an iPad for Christmas and have now forgotten as we watch them wail on the floor of John Lewis. But Pope John Paul II was right – crying is always preferable to anger. I believe that we mothers, in particular, all too often rage against the world instead of crumpling into a snotty ball on the living room carpet as we surrender to the overwhelming nature of it all. From time to time we might all benefit from a good old sob, a deep breath and an acknowledgement of our genuine, crappy feelings. I recently asked my own 12-year-old daughter if she could sum up why she might cry. She shrugged, “So I can get my own way,” suggesting that I haven’t quite nailed the bit about identifying when kids are using tears to manipulate. But tears water our growth, even when you’re a 12-year-old working out what you can get away with. And when we cry in front of other adults, we show that we are hurt, sad and vulnerable so that the people around us can help – and we should all say Amen to that.
BEVERLEY TURNER hosts As Good As It Gets? podcast with Marina Fogle, available to download every Friday.
Life JO PRATT p.24
HOME p.28
A HEALTHY GUT Children and their families can learn about the 38 trillion microbes that call their gut home. 5yrs+ akidsco.com CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 21
A MUSICAL YOUTH PHOTO Matthew Lejune
by SOPHIE CLOWES
O
h, the wonder of music! The greatest purveyor of moods, messages and emotions, a pastime that is both passive and active, that transcends age and time, that can be a collective or solo endeavour. Music, I now see, having come very late to the party, is the most exquisite art form. A conduit of culture that rarely fails to evoke a raw reaction, it is a release from the confines of tough everyday realities and, as such, is a vital part of our human experience. It is, of course, a constant in many people’s lives and so it feels silly to say that it is something that feels new and big in our house. Music is, without doubt, good for us, and conversely, it really doesn’t matter how good we are at it in an active sense, it’s enough to know that participating in it in some form makes life better. Music is about connection to other people. It is about community and shared feelings and experiences. It is a portal into other people’s lives: their heritage, their generation, their relationships. It connects to all the other subjects – to maths, history, geography and religious studies, and to poetry, writing and language. In a school where music is given the same importance and lesson time as other non-core subjects, where it is not the preserve of the talented or the wealthy, where appreciation, enjoyment and potential are valued highly, students and therefore their families, reap the benefits for a lifetime. The human experience is not always easy,
22 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
particularly as a child when you are trying to work out who you are beyond your parents and family, when you are navigating the complexities of friendship groups and the push and pull of fitting in while carving out an individual identity. Our social conditioning is so strong that it is often difficult to see another person’s real self, says the author of Untamed, Glennon Doyle. She believes that when we create something, it makes our experience become alive. The act of putting out art, in whatever form, has a rawness and a beauty to it that enables us to show our untamed selves to others and create much deeper human connections. ‘It’s not perfect,’ she says, ‘but it’s as close as we can get.’ This has been borne out countless times with music when we see pupils self-consciously shuffle onto a school stage, making the audience nervous with their awkwardness, only to then start singing or playing and for those students to blow away any misconception that their appearance gave. Music allows children to try on different versions of themselves and to connect with their friends, making art in the process. David Bowie understood this better than anyone, ‘You make little stories up about how you feel. It’s as simple as that.’ He described glam rock as planting seeds for a new identity. ‘I think a lot of kids needed that – that sense of reinvention. Kids learned that however crazy you may think it is, there is a place for what you want to do and who you want to be.’ He said, ‘I wanted to prove
F E AT U R E
There is no place for snobbery in music
WHERE The Rhythm Studio therhythmstudio.com Music House For Children musichouseforchildren.com Song Academy songacademy.co.uk The Band Project thebandproject.co.uk Upbeat Music Courses upbeatmusiccourses.co.uk
ONLINE ukutabs.com bandlab.com GarageBand on the App store AsapSCIENCE.com Desert Island Discs Spotify.com
BOOKS Please support your local bookshop if you are buying online by using bookshop.org The Lost Pianos of Siberia by Sophy Roberts Stevie Wonder: Volume 56 Little People, Big Dreams Music Stars: Little People, Big Dreams
whistle and can barely tap in time. This does not exclude me from an appreciation of music, but it does make it absolutely astounding that my children have gravitated towards it, variously singing, playing the trumpet and the drums and dancing, specifically classical ballet. The joy that they derive from it and that I feel listening or watching them, is huge. They belong to a generation where, ‘the cool kids do music.’ Perhaps it’s always been like this. The pandemic has certainly shown the need for connection as well as entertainment. Where to start? A double bass is impractical, as are the drums or the piano if space, soundproofing and funds are at a minimum. The answer, dear wannabes, is the ukulele. The good old uke is really quite small, is easy to handle, has a lovely gentle sound which doesn’t grate, even for those with the most sensitive hearing, you can learn to play it from online tutorials, and you can sing along at the same time. It takes very little time to become really quite proficient. It can be hung on the wall in sight, which is apparently the best way to get children to practise regularly. Creativity is one of the greatest human privileges. Whether it’s knitting or throwing pots, writing, sketching, cooking or jiving, it doesn’t really matter. But it seems to me that of all the arts, music is the one that gives the most joy in the double capacity of creator and consumer. As Stevie Wonder sang in Sir Duke, ‘Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand…’ It is a safe space to explore different versions of ourselves.
@sophieellisbextor Instagram
Ruby Wax has put out a plea for instruments for a refugee camp in Athens. If you can help with art supplies or any of the following, however old, please do: 4/4 guitars, guitar strings, guitar tuners, batteries (AA) and instruments for smaller children such as glockenspiels and xylophones. No electric guitars. Please send them to Hilde Gruber, Myroforon 6, 14569 Anoixi, Attica/Greece.
the sustaining power of music.’ And in these challenging times, that is exactly what music has been. Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor and her musician husband found themselves stripped of their jobs in lockdown and so turned their kitchen into a venue for a Friday night disco each week, their five sons free to join in as Sophie dressed up in sequins, heels and glitter and sang a set online. She saw it as an uplifting relief from the frightening reality. ‘Disco,’ she said in a recent interview, ‘is so euphoric and joyful, and it’s complex. In disco you can have the most painful heartbreaking scenarios, but they’re in among something that makes you want to put your hands in the air and sing along. I think music can allow you the space to feel joy and anxiety at once.’ She mixed her own material in with that of other artists. ‘The lovely thing about choosing songs to sing is that if you can think of it, there’s a backing track for everything. Julie Andrews to Madonna to Madness to Bugsy Malone…’ And this is another revelation: there is no place for snobbery in music. There is no overlord who is the arbiter of taste and no one should ever be embarrassed about their music choices. Shows such as Strictly demonstrate how much different music means different things to different people. There is nothing like a kitchen disco or a selfcompiled Desert Island Discs to tighten bonds between family and friends as you discover through their choices what makes them tick. For many people, music is a rare place where they can see versions of themselves. For black or brown people growing up in the UK in the Eighties, the music of Bob Marley and Neneh Cherry made a generation feel seen. For those who haven’t been able to explain to their children why they just ripped their world apart through divorce, Adele has done it for you. For those who struggle to access their emotions, opera will give you a nudge. Can’t remember the periodic table or the digits of Pi? Check out the guys from AsapSCIENCE. Music is often used as therapy. It has saved and made many. For Ed Sheeran, his childhood was blighted by a stutter that he was able to overcome through rapping. When anxiety creeps in, when an emotion needs to be expressed, when you want to entertain people or soothe them, music often works. It does not discriminate. It is the gateway to so much knowledge. I cannot sing a note in tune. Even Happy Birthday is beyond my skill set! I can’t hum or
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 23
F O O D B Y J O P R AT T
Sweet and Sour Pork Meatball Traybake
O
rdering sweet and sour in a Chinese restaurant reminds me of my first Chinese food experience as a child. Now my own kids love the deep-fried pieces of pork or chicken coated in a sweet sticky sauce just as much as I do, which is great, but only as an occasional treat. That’s where this recipe comes in. I wanted to make something we could enjoy just as much but doesn’t have any guilt attached to it, and luckily it gets a huge thumbs up from us all. COOKING TIME 1 hour SERVES 4 FOR THE MEATBALLS 500g/1 lb 2 oz minced pork 60g/2 oz fresh white breadcrumbs 4 spring onions finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, grated or crushed 2 tsp grated ginger 1 tsp Chinese 5-spice seasoning 1 egg, lightly beaten flaked sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp sunflower or rapeseed oil FOR THE SAUCE 1 large onion, coarsely chopped 2 red, green, yellow or orange peppers, or 3 if they are small, cut into bite-size chunks 500ml/17 fl oz passata 250ml/9 fl oz/1 cup fresh pineapple juice 4 tbsp rice or cider vinegar 2 tbsp soy sauce 250g/9 oz pineapple, cut into chunks The Flexible Family Cookbook, Frances Lincoln jo-pratt.com - @cookwithjopratt 24 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
∙∙ Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/gas 6. ∙∙ Mix together the minced pork, breadcrumbs, spring onions, garlic, ginger, Chinese 5-spice, egg and season with salt and pepper. Shape into walnut-sized balls. ∙∙ Heat a heavy-based roasting tray over a high heat and add the oil. Fry the meatballs for a few minutes, turning occasionally for an even colour. They don’t need to be fully cooked through at this stage, just golden on the outside. Remove from the pan. ∙∙ Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion and peppers to the roasting tray, along with a drop more oil if necessary. Fry for a few minutes until they start
to take on some colour around the edges. ∙∙ Stir in the passata, pineapple juice, vinegar and soy sauce and bring to a simmer. Return the meatballs to the sauce and add the pineapple. ∙∙ Gently stir into the sauce and put the tray in the oven. Cook for 35 minutes until the sauce is rich in colour and the vegetables are tender.
FLEXIBLE... Vegetarian/vegan Tofu and Shiitake ‘Meatballs’ are a perfect alternative to the pork meatballs. Put 250g/9 oz extra-firm tofu, 100g/3½ oz shiitake mushrooms, 2 tablespoons milk (dairy or plantbased) and 2 tablespoons
ground flaxseed (as an egg replacement) in a food processor with the above quantity of breadcrumbs, spring onions (scallions), ginger, garlic, Chinese 5-spice and seasoning. Blitz well and firmly shape into walnut size balls. Fry until golden and add to the sauce for just the last 10 minutes of the oven cooking time. Flavour swap Minced chicken, turkey or beef can be used instead of pork. Get ahead The raw meatballs can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the fridge for up to 2 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before cooking.
FOOD
VEGAN-FRIENDLY SUPER SNACKS
Dine!
Kooky’s unusual range of superfruits includes freeze-dried, light and crispy jackfruit, mango and mangosteen, and gently dried, soft and chewy banana and dragon fruit. With no added sugar they’re bursting with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. iamkooky.com
KIDS’ COOKERY
RAINBOO SILICON SUCTION PLATES £18.50 boochew.com
One of our favourite food books in recent years was Lunch at 10 Pomegranate Street, so we were excited to hear about Felicita Sala’s new foodie picture book A Year in Fleurville. It’s a cookbook, a mini guide to gardening with a profile of seasonal fruit and veg and a picture book which introduces children to the ideas of community and global cultures. scribepublications.co.uk
What’s New RACHEL RILEY X ANNABEL KARMEL
SPOON COLLECTION £3.99 tinyroo.co.uk
TERRIFIC TASTES
Two powerhouses of the children’s food and fashion industries have collaborated on a range of childrenswear. The collection comprises exclusive prints from Rachel Riley, together with prints from Annabel Karmel’s best-selling book, Annabel Karmel’s New Complete Baby & Toddler Meal Planner, brought to life on a range of baby and toddler clothing and accessories. rachelriley.com annabelkarmel.com
Fresh on the scene is Oliver’s Cupboard, pushing the taste boundaries of the baby food sector. Pouches include Tom Yum, Bahia, Laksa and Korma, with vegan and meat options on offer, representing the multi-cultural diversity of people in the UK. oliverscupboard.com
RICE HUSK ECO TWO-HANDLED CUP £5.99 nuby-uk.com
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 25
S E R L I N A B OY D
“There are times I want to pinch myself ” SERLINA BOYD LAUNCHED COCOA GIRL AND COCOA BOY, THE UK’S FIRST BLACK CHILDREN’S MAGAZINES AFTER HER DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED BULLYING AT SCHOOL. HER DAUGHTER, FAITH, IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE EMPOWERING AND POSITIVE CONTENT CREATED FOR CHILDREN LIKE HER WHO HAVE BEEN MISREPRESENTED BY MAINSTREAM MEDIA. NOW SERLINA HAS WRITTEN COCOA GIRL AWESOME HAIR, A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO STYLING AFRO HAIR. CITY KIDS SPOKE TO SERLINA TO SEE WHAT DRIVES HER, HOW SHE DEALS WITH CRITICISM AND WHAT’S NEXT IN STORE FOR THE COCOA BRAND. Tell us what inspired you to write Cocoa Girl Awesome Hair? In terms of my daughter Faith I felt that I needed to do something. Growing up, I wished I had different hair and she was growing up and saying the same thing: ‘Mummy, I wish I had different hair’. That’s why it was good to do the book. Faith was really instrumental in picking the hairstyles for the book too. What is Faith’s favourite hairstyle in the book? The Feed-In Braids were the ones she picked as she used that hairstyle to give her hair a break. Because of the love of her hair, she was styling it about seven times a day. So, I told her she wouldn’t have any hair left if she kept overstyling it, and we needed to look at ways of protecting her hair. That’s when we started to discover all of these hairstyles. A lot of the styles are fun, like the Fro Hawk. It’s really for children to embrace who they are and to have fun styling their hair. That was really important for us. We love that you’ve included black hair history in the book. That was really important for us as over the years we have been told what to do with our hair, so I wanted to show how far we have come and for the future - it’s about you. At the back of the book, we have all of these children with their hair in afros to show how far we’ve come. I’m so happy that the book is here and that so many children and adults want it. 26 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Are you bringing out a version of the book for boys? I think that could happen and it’s something I would like to do eventually. How did you come up with the concept of Cocoa Girls and Cocoa Boys? My daughter was having such a hard time at school, and I was really mindful about what I was putting in front of her, whether that was books or the TV. So, during lockdown, I thought I was going to be even more on it with what she was reading and watching. We went to the supermarket, and I was going to find a magazine that was going to affirm her, as she was going through so much in terms of her confidence and how she felt about herself. The shock of going through magazine after magazine and not seeing anything relevant made me think, ‘there’s got to be something here’, and that’s how Cocoa was born. I had written a book before the magazine was created which celebrated girls like Faith which got some media attention, but not as much as the magazine. The death of George Floyd changed things and an influencer posted my book saying that if you want to teach your children about racism buy this
book. I was already working on the magazine and I thought this is the time to show the world my magazine and it went completely viral.
The shock of going through magazine after magazine and not seeing anything relevant made me think...
Did you feel that you had to bring out a version of the magazine for boys since you had one for girls? I felt that we needed something for boys, and they are different when trying to put content together. It’s been received really well, and our most popular edition so far features Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford on the front cover. How have you dealt with any criticism after calling the magazine Cocoa? Cocoa is my brand, and some may not like the name, but the majority of people love it. If there was such an issue with the name, we wouldn’t be a part of The Bug Club library and so many different schools. People are finding problems with an issue that is not really there.
You champion Black representation in the media. How did you find being in publishing which is not traditionally a diverse sector? It was very difficult. I wasn’t able to be promoted or pushed up the ladder as quickly as I wanted. So right now, I want to help children to get into publishing from a young age. That’s the goal of the magazine and to really make sure that children are exposed to this world so there is a change, because publishing is very white. You must be proud of your achievements despite the adversity you have faced? There are times I want to pinch myself. What can we expect from you next? Next is TV. We’ve been in talks for a few months now. And my charity Cocoa Dream, which will be championing and sponsoring children so that they can afford to go into private education and thrive. cocoagirl.com
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 27
HOME
Up Print by Andy Westface from £8.50 juniqe.co.uk
Space Statement Cushion with Pocket £27.50 sophieallport.com
Children’s Astronaut Science Play Rug £109 beaumonde.co.uk
Out of this
WORLD Baby Space Felt Mobile £62.90 beaumonde.co.uk
What do you do when you see a spaceman? Park man! Who wouldn’t want to park themselves in a space-themed room full of out of this world details and fun?
by ELEONORE CROMPTON
Space Rocket Storage Basket £105 beaumonde.co.uk
Space Blanket £33 sophieallport.com
Patterned single duvet cover set £19.99 www2.hm.com
Set of 3 Space Theme Raffia Toy Storage Baskets by Rice DK £165 vibranthome.co.uk
Astronaut Wooden Wall Clock £24.95 rexlondon.com
Planets Print 30cm x 40cm £15 frompea.com
Space Bound Shine Bright Magnetic Play Set £8.72 petitcollage.com
ELEONORE CROMPTON is a freelance journalist and co-founder of beauty reviews site @fiivebeauty 28 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Education SCHOOL FEES p.31
BOOKS p.41
EALING ABBEY CHOIR’S FIRST GIRLS St Benedict’s girls join for the first time in the choir’s 111-year history stbenedicts.org.uk CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 29
from 9.45am
Friday 12 th November 2021 Friday 4 th February 2022 Thursday 10 th March 2022
Boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 2-13 years
Rushmore Park, Tollard Royal, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 5QD 01725 530 124 • admissions@sandroyd.com • www.sandroyd.org
City Kids - Sandroyd - Winter 2021.indd 1
St Catherine’s Prep, Bramley GSA Day & Boarding School since 1885 | 4 - 18 years Guildford GU5 0DF | www.stcatherines.info
18/10/2021 13:35:48
Can you spot the good schools? We can.
From planning your child’s education to last minute places; from expert special needs support to family relocations. Let our Education Consultants do the hard work for you. 0203 286 6824 | consultants@goodschoolsguide.co.uk | goodschoolsguide.co.uk
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E D U C AT I O N
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY… P
WHAT WILL PRIVATE SCHOOL FEES LOOK LIKE IN A FEW YEARS’ TIME OR LONGER? IF YOU’RE HOPING TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILD PRIVATELY FOR SOME OR ALL THEIR SCHOOL YEARS, YOU’LL WANT TO KNOW WHAT LIES IN STORE. WE ASKED THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE FOR AN EXPERT VIEW.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Independent schools are expensive. Putting to one side all the optional (and not so optional) extras - music lessons, trips, uniform, sports kit etc - those parents shelling out for full fees are often paying sums well above the average UK annual income. Few families choosing independent schools can do so without a certain amount of belt tightening and penny counting. The first thing you need to know is that fees will continue to rise. As sure as death and taxes. With the exception of the last year (when Covid prompted an average increase of only 1 per cent), average fees have risen at a rate far greater than inflation - between 3 and 3.5 per cent. And with parents willing to pay them, the trend is only likely to continue. The most expensive schools - the ones with the steepest increases - are in or within touching distance of London where the big salaries and property assets help foot the bill. The ripple effect is huge, with strong fee inflation evident across the country as schools target constant improvements to buildings, facilities and equipment.
HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING?
We recently analysed independent day school fees to work out what parents can expect to pay for the duration of their child’s education. A family whose child starts school (in reception) in 2022 at the expensive end of the market in London will be looking at an eye watering bill close to £470,000 by the time that child has finished their A levels. A school which prices itself at the UK average will be considerably less, but at £270,000 it’s still a major investment. No surprise that many parents choose both sectors. Not all London schools cost the same as Wetherby Prep (£24,285) or St Paul’s Girls’ (£26,406) and if you look further afield, you will find a private school for half the price Littlegarth Prep School in Essex charges up to £11,721, Sheffield High School for Girls up to £13,626.
SO WHY PAY IT?
Demand from UK and overseas families shows that a British private school education, regardless of price, remains an attractive option. Greater resources
The first thing you need to know is that fees will continue to rise. As sure as death and taxes.
and smaller classes when compared to their state school counterparts, means that children at private schools have generally fared better with work and their mental health during the pandemic. A recent survey of visitors to The GSG website revealed that 15 per cent had already or will move their child from a state to a private school. Parents want their children to experience breadth, ambition and extracurricular - all things available in the state sector of course but traditional fortes for the independent schools where the effects of educational fads and political interference are less likely to be felt.
SET IN STONE?
So, can anything get in the way of this inexorable growth of school fees? Ralph Lucas, editor in chief of The Good Schools Guide and member of the House of Lords, believes that political forces are unlikely to alter much: ‘Conservative support for independent education wanes slowly and steadily - there’s no way you can educate CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 31
Hawkesdown House School
A Preparatory & Nursery School for boys and girls aged 2-11, Kensington W8
Where boys don’t run. They bounce.
Please contact the School Office to arrange a private tour with the Headmistress
Durston House School Where else?
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For boys 4–13 durstonhouse.org
Telephone: Village Prep advert City0207 Kids727 1/49090 page 118mm x 93mm_Village Prep ad 19/10/2021 11:11 Page 1 Email: admin@hawkesdown.co.uk www.hawkesdown.co.uk
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32 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Ofsted 2020
Register here: www.lyndhursthouse.co.uk/tour 0207 435 4936 office@lyndhursthouse.co.uk 24 Lyndhurst Gardens, Hampstead, London, NW3 5NW
Littlegarth School
three children privately on an MP’s salary but that won’t result in an existential threat to the sector any time soon.’ In contrast Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, promised an end to independent schools’ charitable status as a step towards greater equality in education. This would see them treated as businesses and mean they would have to charge VAT and pay business rates. But Lord Lucas says any such move is unlikely to have the desired effect: ‘It’s just a bone to throw to the diminished left wing of his party. If Labour got into power and enacted this change, some schools would close. Those that stayed open would do so by having clientele willing to shoulder the VAT or by cutting their outgoings so that the addition of VAT did not manifest as a huge hike on termly bill. Money coming into the Treasury as a result would quickly leave to fund state school places for the now former independent school pupils. Either way, the fees are only going up.’ Some schools are taking matters into their own hands, with an expanding portion of the independent sector doing away with traditional charitable status and instead operating ‘for profit’. Their fees are not so different from the those of the old guard
when comparing like for like and they are often able to make savings because, as part of school groups, they benefit from shared resources and economies of scale.
WHAT NEXT?
Lord Lucas would like all independent schools to work together in the event of losing charitable status in order to achieve something similar. ‘A universal threat such as VAT allows for a universal response. All schools simultaneously reducing their fees
Find out more: artsed.co.uk
means no relative disadvantage and no risk to reputation. At its heart independent education is not about fees, it’s about education. Discipline, breadth, ambition, curriculum and ethics is what parents pay for and there are plenty of examples of schools where these can be obtained for far less than £470,000.’ goodschoolsguide.co.uk Get 20% off The Good Schools Guide with CITYKIDS20.
London, W4 1LY | artsed.co.uk | @ArtsEdLondon
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 33
Why is Smaller Better?
Find out at our
Open Day Saturday 5th February 2022 10am - 12 noon 8 Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5BG 020 8579 3662 admissions@cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk
34 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Nursery & Preparatory School for boys & girls from 3 to 11 years
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THE WORLD NEEDS NEW THINKING. GET READY. COME AND SEE OUR SPACIOUS CAMPUS. We offer a world class international education that builds each child’s resilience, creativity, self-belief and knowledge. Now more than ever we ready our students for a world that demands a new kind of learning – and a new kind of citizen. • Girls and boys aged 4–18 • International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement Programme (AP) • Creative pathways in theatre, animation, visual effects and game design as part of the IB • Bursaries for students aged 11+ 13+ 16+ • Top UK and global university destinations
REGISTER ONLINE TO ARRANGE A PERSONAL VISIT OR TO BOOK ONTO OUR REGULAR OPEN DAYS: WWW.ACS-SCHOOLS.COM/OPENDAYS 52 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 35
What is your dream job? For pirouetting pilots that will take you for a spin, number crunchers that provide for the munchers and those that save pets’ lives, and then paint them,
Falcons WE ARE
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36 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Read the review at goodschoolsguide.co.uk
Rated EXCELLENT in all areas
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 29
E D U C AT I O N N E W S
HISTORIC CELEBRATIONS FOR ST CATHERINE’S St Catherine’s School in Bramley is celebrating 125 years of prep education for girls. Girls’ schools were seen as fairly radical in the 1880s when a number of prestigious schools were opened for the first time. Over that time, St Catherine’s has championed women’s roles in society and promoted the role of single-sex education. The school helped evacuees during the First and Second World Wars and there is evidence that work in girls’ schools such as St Catherine’s helped educate many women who flew unarmed aircraft, drove ambulances, served as nurses and worked behind enemy lines in the European resistance in the Special Operations Executive. Speaking of the 125th anniversary of the foundation of St Catherine’s Prep School, Naomi Bartholomew, Prep School Headmistress, reflected that, “Back in 1896, we were proud to be one of the first schools to champion primary education for girls and today we continue to lead the way. I am honoured to lead the Prep School and to see girls benefit from our world-class facilities and excellent teachers, a winning combination which enables our girls to find their strengths, realise their potential and fulfil their dreams. Nothing thrills me more than to see our girls leave St Catherine’s, able to give back not only in their selected area of specialism but also to continue to uphold and defend the importance of self-belief in young women.” stcatherines.info
FOREST SCHOOL FUN IN PUTNEY
Wild about Play, a forest school in Putney, is hosting an open day on Saturday 20 November. It’s an opportunity to meet with staff, view the facilities and understand what a forest school education entails. With birds-eye views of Putney Common and woods from their rooftop base camp at Oasis Academy, staff run their Ofstedapproved outdoor nursery all year round, after-school sessions during the school term, outdoor learning camps during school holiday breaks, and wild families sessions on select weekends. The mission is to spark, inspire and extend children’s imagination and learning at nursery and primary school age. Sessions are curated to incorporate the natural world and the EYFS curriculum
into children’s education ensuring they unleash their full potential. Children are also encouraged to explore their surroundings and spearhead their learning through a mix of fun physical, musical, artistic and also construction challenges. The calming and rich effects of nature coupled with skilled adult support provides the framework to support meaningful play, enriching learning and developing key skills such as enquiry, expression, experimentation and also teamwork. wildaboutplay.com
MATHS IN MINUTES
Cubie Education, a new maths subscription programme supporting Early Years and Key Stage 1 has launched. It is designed by teachers, who felt that the idea that children read 10-15 minutes per day could be used similarly to create a daily maths programme. The teachers behind the project felt that maths reinforcement at home was being ignored as parents were unsure of how to help support their child learning each day. The aim is to give parents the tools to make maths accessible for their children. cubie-education.com
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 37
E D U C AT I O N N E W S
PEREGRINES AND FALCONS AWARDED ‘THINKING SCHOOL’ STATUS
Peregrines Nursery and Falcons School for Girls have been awarded ‘Thinking School’ status by the Graduate School of Education at the University of Exeter. When Headmistress Sara Williams-Ryan came into post in 2018, she noticed pupils were reliant on staff to help rather than using their own initiative to solve problems and seek answers. This sparked the start of Falcons Girls’ Thinking School journey with the goal to change how pupils approached their learning. As Williams-Ryan elaborates: “This approach uses a range of tools such as Thinking Frames, the Habits of Mind, Growth Mindset and Bloom’s Taxonomy. These tools equip children with the ability to demonstrate independent and co-operative learning skills, high levels of achievement and enjoyment in learning.” The school steadily embedded the Thinking School approach across all areas of learning, led by Assistant Head James Kelly, who commented: “It has been a delight to
see the whole school, from Early Years up to Year 6, develop a range of metacognitive strategies and thinking tools to help support their learning over the last two years. From independently solving pastoral issues by being more reflective in their thoughts and actions, to showing flexible thinking and persistence when overcoming challenging tasks in lessons, our boys and girls are growing into life-long learners and leaders, ready for the demands of the fast-changing world outside.” In the accreditation report by University of Exeter’s Dr Dave Walters, Peregrines and Falcons are praised for their “full commitment to developing and embedding cognitive education throughout the school.” He describes the school as “a fine example of educational creativity where cognitive tools, strategies and resources are adapted to meet the specific needs of the entire learning community.” falconsgirls.co.uk
CHILD’S PLAY AT FALCONS NURSERY Falcons Pre-Preparatory’s head Ms Liz McLaughlin has been reflecting on a busy start to the school’s new nursery. Now welcoming girls between 2-4 years, the nursery provides a gentle start to education, with Forest School sessions and play at the heart of teaching. “Just before half-term, I was out in the playground during a learning session for our nursery students and to most observers, you would have seen a few children on balance bikes zooming around, a few other children playing on the ladder and slide, some children drawing with chalk and a few others seated on a teacher’s lap having a cuddle and eating their snack. As an educator, what I saw was a group of children gaining confidence on a resource that targeted gross motor skills (the balance bikes), a group of children learning to share and take turns (ladder and slide), a group of children beginning their literacy learning with mark making (chalk) and a group of children recharging their emotional needs (cuddles and food).”
London International Bilingual School from Nursery to Year 10
Enrolment for 2022-2023 is now open!
falconschiswick.co.uk
REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT OPEN DAYS: Fri. 3rd Dec. 2021 Sat. 8th Jan. 2022 CFBL | Collège Français Bilingue de Londres www.cfbl.org.uk | info@cfbl.org.uk 87 Holmes Road - London NW5 3AX +44 (0)20 7993 7400
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OR CONTACT US: inscriptions@cfbl.org.uk
Eaton Square Schools
Nursery & Prep Great minds set free
NEXT OPEN MORNINGS: Friday 19th November 2021 Thursday 3rd February 2022 www.eatonsquareschools.com 55-57 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PH | registrar@eatonsquareschool.com | 0207 225 3131
A HA P P Y C H I L D H O O D E N R I C H E D B Y S U S TA I NA B L E L E A R N I N G CHEPSTOW HOUSE SCHOOL AND LITTLE CHEPSTOW NURSERY
“An Outstanding School, offering a lovely, nurturing, creative, dynamic environment filled with numerous opportunities for children to learn and thrive.” – Ofsted
For boys and girls aged 2-11 years in Notting Hill. www.chepstowhouseschool.co.uk CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 39
SeaSonS ReadingS DIARY OF A CHRISTMAS ELF by Ben Miller Suitable for ages 7+
Tog has been selected as an apprentice elf in Santa’s workshop! But someone has been stealing the presents… Can Tog discover the real thief and save Christmas? The perfect stocking filler from bestselling author Ben Miller!
A NIGHT AT THE FROST FAIR by Emma Carroll, illus. by Sam Usher Suitable for ages 7+
Capture the magic of winters past with this glorious gift book. Maya travels three-hundred years back in time to the glittering Frost Fair on the banks of the frozen River Thames. Filled with music, sweet treats, warm fires and thrilling rides, this wintry story is sure to become an instant Christmas classic.
THE GOOD BEAR by Sarah Lean, illus. by Fiona Woodcock Suitable for ages 8+
When Thea travels to Norway to spend Christmas with her father, she never expects to meet a bear. He’s scared, hungry and desperately needs Thea’s help. A celebration of the unspeakable bond between humans and animals that will warm your heart and take you on an adventure you will never forget.
WHO WILL YOU MEET ON SANTA CLAUS STREET by Gareth Peter & Tim Budgen Suitable for ages 3+
Welcome to Santa Claus Street! Home to Wrapping Elf, Flapping Elf, Shhh-I-think-she’s-napping Elf, and a whole host of other loveable characters. This bonkers, rhyming picture book will make the perfect gift this Christmas.
give The gifT of a Book ThiS ChRiSTmaS Illustrations copyright © Sam Usher 2021
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Books
BOOKS
PRE SCHOOLERS
WITH CHRISTMAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, HERE’S A GREAT SELECTION OF BOOKS TO GIVE AS GIFTS FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE. By SHARON JONES
A FIELD GUIDE TO LEAFLINGS
I’M STICKING WITH YOU TOO
by Owen Churcher and Niamh Sharkey (Bonnier Books UK) £12.99
by Smriti Halls and Steve Small (Simon and Schuster) £6.99
Dive deep into the world of leaflings who are the secret guardians of the trees. The leaflings each have a role (similar to bees) and we find out how they spring into action depending on the tree. This pretty, yet informative book takes the reader on a global trip, exploring the incredible trees the world inhabits from the cherry blossom in Japan to the Scots pine in Norway. Little fingers will love lifting the flaps and finding out more surprise facts underneath.
LITTLE KIDS
SUNDAY FUN DAY by Katherine Halligan and Jesus Verona (Nosy Crow) £16.99 Stuck for weekend activities? Fear not, this excellent book which has been published in collaboration with the National Trust will inspire you throughout the year with recipes, gardening ideas, simple craft projects and fun outdoor activities. Nature is kept at the heart of this book and it is divided into seasons. The illustrations are fun and bright and there is plenty to do for all ages of children and adults alike. A perfect gift that will mean Sundays will never be boring again.
BIG KIDS
OCEANARIUM illustrated by Teagan White and written by Loveday Trinick (Big Pictures Press) £25 Make plenty of space on your book shelf or coffee table for the latest in the Welcome to the Museum series. This time we’re going around the world’s oceans and discovering what creatures lie beneath. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and range from tiny seahorses to the blue whale. Loveday Trinick is a marine biologist meaning this book is crammed full of fascinating facts, but also gets the message cross about how it’s important to conserve our oceans.
This heart-warming tale looks at friendship in a delightful and uplifting way. Bear and squirrel are a tightly knit band who get on perfectly, so when chicken wants to join in on the fun he’s swiftly told he doesn’t have the beat and that three is a crowd. Chicken heads off to find a new crowd, but can they be trusted? A brilliant rhyming story, beautifully illustrated and perfect for showing that inclusion is to be celebrated and not to be feared.
THE BOY WITH WINGS by Lenny Henry, illustrated by Kennon Farrell (Macmillan) £12.99 Meet Tunde, just an ordinary boy, until he sprouts wings at a school football match elevating him into the realms of extraordinary with just the small task of saving the Earth. No big deal. Lenny Henry has captured the perfect blend of adventure with humour in this exciting tale which features a young black boy as the protagonist. Farrell’s illustrations lend themselves well to the superhero theme and readers get a bit of a treat as this book features a bonus comic at the back created by graphic artist Mark Buckingham. Plus you can listen to The Boy With Wings playlist curated by Henry on Spotify.
THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by Minalima (Harper Design) £25 This deluxe version of the well-loved story is definitely one for the Christmas list, as it takes pop-up books to a whole new level. Follow Dorothy as she is whisked away from her life in Kansas and goes on a magical adventure to the land of Oz, meeting a whole host of characters along the way. This is the eighth book in this highly collectable series of classics which all feature interactive elements and delicate cut-outs by design powerhouse Minalima (Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima).
ABOUT SHARON JONES: Wearer of clashing clothes and rainbow hair, but don't let that put you off. I eat, sleep and breathe children's books. CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 41
Celebra ting 25+ YEA RS of Commu nity Spo rt!
TENNIS FOOTBALL NETBALL NOW BOOKING WINTER COURSES AND CAMPS!
After-School Courses Junior Camps Weekly Drills Full Adult and Junior Programmes FREE Courts for Kids Floodlit Access Open to All VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK!
www.willtowin.co.uk 42 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Explore TRIPS p.44
WHO IS? p.50
TUSCAN DREAMS Villa Lena, Tuscany, open for New Year celebrations villa-lena.it/en CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 43
TRIPS
THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS IN VAL D’ISERE There’s a whole host of new activities to try in Val D’Isère this season: ice floating, ski touring and a teen focussed ski area just for starters. The gourmands amongst you will be pleased to hear about the new Italian restaurants and there’s a special event, The Magic of Christmas, taking place from 20 to 31 December. There’ll be parades, concerts and a visit from Father Christmas.
valdisere.com
MERRY-BEL!
SNOW
CASTLE LUXURY
We’ve recently come across Le Coucou in Meribel, exclusively designed by Pierre Yovanovitch. It boosts 55 suites and rooms and two private chalets, as well as being ski in-ski out. To make things easier for guests, services include staff helping guests out of their boots in the Ski Room, a lounge boutique and fitting room with café. There’s a kids club and teens lab designed by Sophie Jacquemin, plus grown-ups can enjoy a range of cookery workshops. Add to this the two pools, a spa and the newly revamped Biancaneve Restaurant and you’ll never want to leave.
This winter, Le Coucou is also offering Christmas gift vouchers to buy the perfect gift for a loved one.
lecoucoumeribel.com
For a magical winter experience a castle fits the bill nicely. At Thornbury Castle Hotel, guests can enjoy the £15m refurbishment of dining rooms, lounges, bed chambers and the library. Steeped in history and set in 15 acres, the Tudor castle was built in 1511 during the reign of Henry VIII and was regarded as one of the grandest buildings of its time in England. It has been the home of kings, queens and dukes over the centuries before becoming a luxury hotel in 1966. Fifteen of the bedchambers and suites feature sumptuous four-poster beds, rich period detailing, with décor throughout the rooms and suites artfully recreating the Tudor style in which royalty and aristocracy would have languished, feasted and relaxed in. As well as a range of planned activities available, guests will also have a chance to explore the Castle’s Tudor gardens at leisure, enjoy a delicious cream tea served with all the trimmings, and relax in the historic lounges and historic library throughout their stay.
thornburycastle.co.uk 44 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
SUN THAI STYLE We love Thailand at City Kids – the weather, the hotels, the service and the culture are all top notch and a great place to visit with the kids. The Surin in Phuket could be a great choice for those wanting to get away this winter. The beachfront location offers two restaurants, beach dinners, poolside and bar dining. Choose from beach suites, onebedroom cottages or two-bedroom family suites. From £120 per night.
thesurinphuket.com
IBIZA CALM Wellness seekers will be delighted that Six Senses Ibiza is staying open until January. Daytime temperatures range from 15°C and up to 25°C during the winter, enabling visitors to enjoy a quieter island in relative warmth. Six Senses has one of the best wellness offerings on the Balearic Island, enabling guests to relax and switch off from the outside world. Situated on the North coast, a stay here places you in the
perfect spot for hiking, sailing and relaxing beyond the pioneering spa. Hugging the coastline of Cala Xarraca lie 116 luxurious guest accommodations, townhouses, pool suites and beachfront caves. The Six Senses farm also supplies produce to the resort’s restaurants, café and juice bar. Now you just need to get the kids to buy in…
sixsenses.com
SURF’S UP! Family Surf Co. has launched a new range of breaks in Cornwall for women who want to try surfing, dip into the saltwater lifestyle and enjoy a range of activities to boost their fitness, health and well-being. Encouraging more mums to hit the waves and harness the benefits of being by the sea, these weekends are the ideal springboard into the healthy surfing lifestyle, bringing together likeminded women to enjoy surf coaching, ocean dips, beach fitness, yoga and sensory spa experiences… There are two breaks to choose from: Blue Health Surf Breaks at the Watergate Bay Hotel to leave you feeling connected, reenergised and re-aligned and Surf Mums Weekend Break at Bedruthan Hotel made for mums who want to boost their all-round fitness and learn to surf or improve their skills. Both breaks are for weeks in May and June 2022.
familysurfco.com CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 45
THE KNOWLEDGE
1
Want a coffee while the kids are amused…tick. Long for an uninterrupted conversation with a friend…tick. Exercise class while the kids are also busy…tick. Want a quiet space to work while the kids are playing…tick.
GetSetGo!
We round-up the best family clubs and hubs in London: places to work, rest and play with facilities for all the family. MAGGIE & ROSE
The first club started in at a house in Kensington and has grown to include sites in Chiswick, Islington and mainland China. Not only are there play spaces and cosy corners to enjoy, members can also sign their kids up to creative classes and pop up events. Alongside the clubhouses are Ofstedregistered nurseries where children are encouraged to fire up their imaginations and learn at their own pace.
maggieandrose.com
46 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Created by two women with huge experience in the leisure sector, GetSetGo! in Putney has everything you need for quality family time or get-awayfrom-them-all time. Exercise classes for kids and grown-ups, swimming lessons, interactive play spaces, dance and martial arts, baby and toddler groups. Plus, a café for brunches, lunches and dinners and a quiet area for co-working. It’s not a member’s club, which means that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the club. We think it has it all!
get-set-go.com
b_together
Maggie Bolger, original co-founder of Maggie & Rose, has used all her learning to open a new kind of club in St John’s Wood. Within the four walls you’ll find a lending library, club lounge, game zone, creative studio and areas for babies and toddlers to play as well as a hide-out where children can
build their own play. There are clubs and camps in the holidays and for those who need to, there’s a workspace and meeting room and there’s flexible childcare. Finally, there’s a threebedroom apartment for stopovers and a restaurant open to all, At Feast.
b-together.com
4
JAEGO’S HOUSE
The latest family club to hit London is Jaego’s House, opening in Kensal Rise in early 2022. Featuring a jungle gym and soft play, a crèche, childminding service and a kids’ cinema, it plans to be “a place where children can let off steam, make friends and have fun”. And while the children are being looked after, parents will be able to enjoy time to themselves in an adultsonly co-working office,
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5
Cloud 12
gym, treatment room and library. There is also a restaurant and waterside café, and a fitness studio, hosting regular classes and child-friendly sessions. Kensal House Nursery is located in an adjoining building and benefits from exclusive access to Jaego’s House facilities. Memberships will be available and there will also be an affordable ‘pay and play’ option.
Nestled in Notting Hill, Cloud Twelve’s vibe is holistic. Designed following a Feng Shui philosophy, this is a wellness and lifestyle club incorporating an interactive play and learn zone for families with children, spa, luxury salon, nutritionally focused brasserie and a holistic wellness clinic. While the Kids Club is members-only, the wellness facilities and brasserie is open for non-members to explore.
cloudtwelve.co.uk
jaegoshouse.co.uk
Purple Dragon
Based in Chelsea, Purple Dragon employs Play Buddies to accompany your children through a variety of fun play activities built within the club. They can choose to cook up a storm in the Michelin Masters’ kitchen, get creative in the art studio, experiment in Simply Sensory, or journey through art history in Da
Vinci’s Workshop. There’s a music studio, packed full of instruments from around the world and there’s a swimming pool which takes babies from three months. Meanwhile, grown-ups can join in the fun, kick back and relax with friends in the library or restaurant, or catch up with some work.
purpledragonplay.com
CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 47
PODCASTS
Podcasts by SOPHIE CLOWES
NO SUCH THING AS A FISH
HOW TO OWN THE ROOM
THE ADVENTURE PODCAST
TED TALKS DAILY
An award-winning podcast from the offices of QI in which the writers of the hit BBC show discuss the best things they‘ve found out that week. Host Dan Schreiber, with James Harkin, Andrew Hunter Murray and Anna Ptaszynski unearth some extraordinary facts and talk them through with wit and wisdom.
Comedian, author and radio and TV presenter Viv Groskop talks to inspirational women about the art of public speaking. Sharing their tips and tricks of how to engage an audience, the guests offer valuable insights into how to speak so others don’t switch off.
Listen in wonder as filmmaker Matt Pycroft speaks to those at the forefront of exploration and adventure. From mountaineers to wildlife cinematographers, environmental activists to polar photographers, get up close and personal with those who live extraordinary lives.
Every weekday, TED Talks Daily brings you the latest talks in audio. Join host and journalist Elise Hu for thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable, from artificial intelligence to zoology and everything in between, given by the world’s leading thinkers and creators.
OVERHEARD AT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
SPINNING PLATES
THE MY LITTLE COCO PODCAST
IS IT NORMAL? THE PREGNANCY PODCAST WITH JESSIE WARE
Dive into one of the ‘curiously delightful’ conversations overheard at National Geographic’s headquarters, as hosts Peter Gwin and Amy Briggs follow explorers, photographers and scientists to the edges of our big, weird, beautiful world.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor, of lockdown kitchen disco fame, singer, author and mother of five boys, speaks to busy working women, who also happen to be mothers, about how they make it work. For those who feel they drop as many plates as they spin…
Join Rochelle Humes on this brand new podcast as she speaks to her guests about parenthood, what they have learnt along the way and what they are still figuring out. So far guests have included Joe Wicks and Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy.
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A new podcast that follows Jessie’s pregnancy week by week, in which she speaks to different experts to explore and reassure everybody about what is going on with our bodies and our babies during pregnancy and birth.
D I R E C TO R Y
HOLIDAY CLUBS ART & DESIGN
art, fashion and music Hammersmith
BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE bfi.org.uk 8-14yrs | Workshops Southbank
FUN WITH FIMO CLAY funwithfimoclay.co.uk Acton
LONDON ACTIVITY CAMPS londonactivitycamps.co.uk 4-14yrs | Creative, adventurous and sporting activities Hammersmith
CHISWICK THEATRE ARTS chiswicktheatrearts.com 4-14yrs | Musical theatre Chiswick
PERFORM perform.org.uk 4-12yrs | Drama, dance and singing Across London
MINIVERSITY KITE STUDIOS kitestudios.org Various ages | Arts and crafts Shepherds Bush
miniversity.com 4-12yrs | Creative learning clubs Chelsea
YOUNG FILM ACADEMY
ROLE MODELS
youngfilmacademy.co.uk 8-19yrs | 1- 4 day courses in film-making Chelsea, St John’s Wood, Wimbledon
rolemodels.me 8-12yrs | Confidence, resilience, enterprise & creativity courses plus residential at Wellington College Chelsea & Notting Hill
THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS architecture.com 7-18yrs | Design workshops W1
SUPER CAMPS supercamps.co.uk 4-12yrs Ofsted Registered, Childcare Vouchers accepted Across London
MULTIACTIVITY
THE BAND PROJECT thebandproject.co.uk 4-7 & 8-16yrs | The complete band experience Camden & Chiswick
campbeaumont.co.uk 3-16yrs | Multi-activity day camp Across London
treehouselearning.co.uk 3-10yrs+ | Forest school Ham
PERFORMING ARTS
CHISWICK COURSES
ARTS ED
chiswickcourses.co.uk 5-16yrs | Film-making, fashion, street dance, cookery, Lego & entrepreneur workshop West London
artsed.co.uk 4-17yrs | Drama, musical performances, impro & imaginative play Chiswick
ET PATATI ET PATATA
POP & STAGE SCHOOL ACADEMY
etpatatipatata.com 4-18yrs Fun French holiday day camp SW6
pssa.co.uk 4-18yrs | Themed week-long camps Chiswick
EXPLORATION SOCIETY explorationsociety.co.uk Get a group of 6 friends together to take part | Shelter building, climbing, swimming, sailing, high ropes
UNICORN THEATRE unicorntheatre.com 7-16yrs I Performance-based creative workshops Southwark
SPORT CLUB DE SPORTS clubdessports.co.uk Football, netball, tennis, cricket, gymnastics, ballet, karate, boxing Acton W3 7HB
XBAND STUDIO SCHOOL OF ROCK POP AND MORE
DUKES MEADOWS
xbandstudio.com 8-18yrs Ealing
dukesmeadows.com 5yrs+ | Golf & Tennis camps Chiswick
STEM & CODING
EALING CRICKET CLUB
firetechcamp.com 9-17yrs | Creative tech camps incl coding, electronics, games, robotics Chelsea, South Kensington, Hampstead
BLUE{shift} blueshiftcoding.com 5-12yrs | Everything from Robotics and Coding to Minecraft and Python Notting Hill & Hammersmith
premiercricketcoaching.co.uk 4-15yrs | Premier Cricket Coaching Ealing
EALING RIDING SCHOOL ealingridingschool.biz 5yrs+ | Riding & stable management days Ealing
EXCEL SPORTS CAMPS
richmondgymnastics.co.uk 5-16yrs Kew
ROCKS LANE rockslane.co.uk 4-16yrs | Multi sports and football Chiswick
SKATEBOARDING CLUB mylittleboarders.co.uk 6yrs+ Westway, Westminster Academy, Royal Oak, Camden
SPORTS GENERATION sportsgeneration.co.uk Various ages | Swimming crash courses Richmond
THE LITTLE FOXES CLUB thelittlefoxesclub.com 18mths-12yrs | Football, Tennis & Rugby Across London
THE LITTLE GYM thelittlegym.co.uk/chiswick 3-12yrs | 3 hour & all day themed camps Chiswick, Hampton & Teddington, Westfield & Wandsworth and Fulham
WESTWAY SPORTS CENTRE
excelsports.org.uk 4-12yrs Chiswick
westwaysportscentre.org.uk 4-16yrs | Tennis, football and climbing Holland Park
CYPHER
FIT FOR SPORT
TEAMSPORT
cyphercoders.com 4-14yrs | Creative & Coding camps Various locations
fitforsport.co.uk 4yrs+ Across London
team-sport.co.uk 8yrs+ | Karting Acton
HARTSWOOD TENNIS CLUB
WILL TO WIN
MAD SCIENCE madscience.org.uk 4-11yrs Various locations
hartswoodtennis.co.uk 5-15yrs | Drop-in holiday camps Chiswick
HEATHROW GYMNASTICS
SONG ACADEMY songacademy.co.uk 8-12yrs | Write, produce, perform and record a song
rigb.org.uk 7yrs+ | Various science-based workshops Mayfair
upbeatmusiccourses.co.uk 4-14yrs | sing, dance, play in a band, record CDs, write songs Parsons Green
FIRE TECH
Hounslow
RICHMOND GYMNASTICS ROYAL INSTITUTION
UPBEAT MUSIC COURSES
TREEHOUSE LEARNING CAMP BEAUMONT
English and Debating South Kensington
LET ME PLAY
MUSIC HOUSE FOR CHILDREN
RICHER EDUCATION
letmeplay.co.uk 11-19yrs | Free activities incl. dance, drama, sport, cookery,
musichouseforchildren.co.uk Various ages Shepherds Bush
richereducation.co.uk 4-14yrs | Science, engineering, mechatronics, robotics, coding,
willtowin.co.uk/junior-tennis 3-16 yrs | Week long tennis, football, netball and multi-sport camps (at selected centres). Chiswick, Lammas Park, Pitshanger Park, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park
heathrowgymnastics.org.uk 4-12yrs | All abilities CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 49
PEOPLE
who is?
JO WIMBLE-GROVES (c) @guiltymother Inst
agram
ENTREPRENEUR, BLOGGER AND AUTHOR OF RISE OF THE GIRL
Tell us why you wrote Rise of the Girl? As a mum of three and mother of a daughter, I was reading many reports in the media describing the mental health of our girls as being at a ‘crisis point’. I wanted to understand what was happening. There is no magic formula to raising strong, confident girls. However, when I considered what impact we can make when we use our own voices to share what we know, it gave me an idea for a book. Our girls go through a number of changes and challenges, and so I used my own platform to share seven empowering conversations I am having with my own daughter, Erin, who is almost twelve. How did you choose the contributors? Over the last three years, I had been considering individuals who have made an impact on me, and I gathered a list together of both men and women that I wanted to include in the book. I was so thrilled when they all said YES! Pick one piece of advice for parents raising girls (or boys for that matter)? A great piece of advice is to be an active listener. Your daughter may act like she doesn’t need you right now, but, in reality, she really needs you to be there. Many of us are never taught how to listen properly, and most of us don’t actively listen very well. We all get into bad habits but listening is a skill that can be improved all the time. Not being listened to (at any age) can really hurt us. Often listening to your daughter can be more important than her listening to you. So, if she isn’t talking yet, don’t worry and try not to lecture her too much. Give her the space and the time to talk and be ready to give her your time. It’s all girls really want and need, your time. 50 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Your Insta handle is @guiltymother – how have you dealt with mum guilt? My relationship with managing my own mum guilt is much better than it used to be! I used to refer to the relationship I had as ‘the guilt burglar’ because I could only describe it as someone who comes and steals all my good energy! I think many of us have guilt, because in many cases it means we care. What I have learnt over the years is that everything you are feeling at this moment is completely natural, valid and it is okay. What’s your day job? I am the co-owner of a global, award winning mobile tech company, Active Digital which I have run with my brother Richard for over twenty-five years. As well as this, I am a motivational speaker and take time going into schools, colleges and universities to share what I’ve learnt. And finally, I have my blog, Guilty Mother and co-own another organisation called, We are Girls in Sport to help more girls see role models in over 100 different sports. I’m always working on lots of exciting projects! Three words to describe yourself. Kind. Passionate. Driven. Tell us one thing that people don’t know about you. I was invited for tea with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street in 2018 to celebrate International Women’s Day. I couldn’t believe it when the invitation came through! Where would your favourite date night be? A lovely country hotel (with a spa and beautiful gardens). I love being in nature. Lime Wood Hotel in the New Forest would be ideal if my husband is reading this! Where’s the best place to take kids in London? We love the SEA LIFE Aquarium in London.
We have been many times. As we have a toddler who is almost two, he is just mesmerised by the entire place and says ‘Oh wow’ all the time! Where’s your happy place? At home. Last book you read? Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I loved it! Signature dish? I’m not a great cook, so one pots work for me! Chicken and chorizo stew would probably be a good signature dish for me or anything easy! I try to get inspired by my friend, Anna’s Family Kitchen as she has lots of great family recipes on her website. What would you take to a desert island? If I was being smart, I would take lots of food and drinking water and matches to light fires! What’s your proudest moment? I have many proud moments and I was blown away when I received a standing ovation at my book launch recently. This was a huge personal career highlight and a moment for me to truly recognise myself as an author. What’s next for Jo Wimble-Groves? Lots of great things to come, I hope. I’d like to publish some varied editions of Rise of the Girl alongside more motivational speaking and, perhaps, another trip to Downing Street would be nice! guiltymother.co.uk Rise of the Girl by Jo Wimble-Groves is published by DK, £14.99
St Benedict’S School a
m i n i m i s
i n c i p e
Outstanding Catholic Independent school for boys & girls aged 3 - 18
SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES ARE AVAILABLE Scholarships on offer at St Benedict’s: Academic, Art & Design, Drama, Music and Sports
View our website for a full list of our Open Events or arrange a personal visit with our Registrar, Louise Pepper, on 020 8862 2254 www.stbenedicts.org.uk stbenedictsschool
stbenedicts
stbenedictsschool
Devonshire House Preparatory School
Outstanding prep and pre-prep in Hampstead, with its own nursery
Open Mornings: Thursday 20th and Thursday 27th January 2022 To register please visit our website or contact Admissions Tel: 020 7435 1916 Email: enquiries@dhprep.co.uk Website: www.devonshirehouseschool.co.uk
