Families NW London Magazine issue 136 July Aug 2020 Leaving Lockdown

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Leaving Lockdown Find some Summer family fun while supporting local business

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ART WITH TEDDIES ONLINE

Download and print this great colouring sheet and enter our Teddies Online Music Club colouring competition!

Win a unique personalised print created by Teddies Online Music Club!

WIN!

Choose between a farmyard animal and a train scene.

Fiddle-i-fee...

Just colour or paint the great colouring sheet on this page. Then email a scan or photo of your sheet to us, together with your name, post code, child’s age and choice of print.

Closing date: 31 August 2020

www.teddiesmusicclub.co.uk 2 Summer 2020

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CONTENTS

Welcome

Contents

With six weeks of (mostly) schoolfree summer ahead of us we have put together an interactive resource of ideas and activities to make the most of your family fun time over the school break.

Whether you are continuing with home learning, camps and childcare, days out or short breaks, or things to keep the kids entertained while you squeeze in a few hours or work or ‘me-time’ – we’ve got it all here in one place!

New this issue we are able to support some of the editorial features (Mums in Lockdown) and advertisers with videos imbedded in the magazine – look out for the play button as you scroll through the pages to find out more!

2 Drawing and Colouring with Teddies Online 4-7 Learning 8-10 Early Years 12-13 Places to Go 14-19 Activities, Camps & Education 20-23 Parenting 24-26 Holidays & Staycations 27 Work

Follow us on social media

Please help us to support our local businesses featured among our pages as they come out of lockdown.

If you want to get in touch, email editor@familiesnwlondon.co.uk or call Heather on 01923 237 004.

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

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Summer 2020 3

Royal Academy of Dance registered ballet school in Stanmore

4 Summer 2020

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LEARNING

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Mini Movers

Tiny Twirlers

Diddy Dancers

Toddler Dance ages 2–3 years

Pre-Primary Ballet ages from 3 years

Primary Ballet ages from 5 years

Petite Pirouetters

Jazz Juniors

Jazz Seniors

Primary Modern ages from 4 years

Grade 1 Modern ages from 7 years

Adult Tap and Jazz

Lamda Classes

Grade 1 Ballet ages from 7 years

Tip Toe Tappers Primary / Grade 1 Tap ages from 7 years

Follow us on Selectschoolofdance Select School of Dance

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for all ages and abilities

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ages from 4 years

Reserve your place now! lauren@selectschoolofdance.com www.selectschoolofdance.com 07771 683 588

Summer 2020 5

LEARNING

Sourcing Children’s Books over Summer Our guide to finding the right books for your child at the right price.

Book Trust Great Books Guide

100 best new books for children.

The Libby App

Free ebooks and audiobooks with your library membership.

Library E-Lending Love Reading4Kids

National Shelf Service

Daily book recommendations from professional librarians.

BorrowBox App

All libraries have e-lending services. Join remotely and enjoy.

UK’s number 1 book recommendation site for children’s books.

Borrow ebooks and audiobooks free from your library.

Hive.co.uk

Oxfam Online Book Shop

World of Books

Free delivery.

UK’s largest seller of Commission paid to 1000s of new/pre-loved pre-loved books online. your local independent books and audiobooks bookshop. available online.

6 Summer 2020

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LEARNING

Preparing your Child to Start School

Return to School: How to Support your Child

Starting school for the first time is exciting - despite the pandemic. Remember that children starting school for the first time will not know that school routines are different to the past! So how can you best prepare your little one to start school?

Throughout the long, strange months of lockdown parents have provided continuity and a sense of reality for their children.

Soon it will be time to get them back to school and parents can help their children through this transition in numerous ways.

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Summer Reading Challenge 2020: Let’s Get Silly

Calling all young scientists

By Gabrielle Lawrence

By Kairen Cullen

Help us discover how babies & kids learn!

We’re recruiting infants and children from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at the Birkbeck Babylab in central London. Our prime location is easy to reach via public transport and we refund travel expenses.

Over summer, there is often a dip in children’s reading levels.

The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children aged 4-11 to read for pleasure and maintain their literacy levels. This year’s ‘Silly Squad’ theme places an emphasis on funny books.

We’re also developing online studies you can do from the comfort of your own home. Please check out our website for more details.

020 7631 6258 babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk

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Summer 2020 7

PRE-SCHOOL

Best Printable Early Years Activity Sheets Free printables to help your little one’s pre-school learning.

Learn About Numbers

Big Bird Number 6 Alphablocks A to Z Colouring Colouring

Family Card Game

Counting Sheet

Paint by Numbers

Bing Big Surprise Activities

Tracing Ace Learn to Draw

Maisy Dinner Doodle Mat

8 Summer 2020

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ING AL L L A L C F A M ILIE PER U S S

The power of family saving + investing with our super app

ROUND UP YOUR RECENT PURCHASES

TOP UP AS MUCH AND AS OFTEN AS YOU PLEASE

SEND GIFTS AND MESSAGES WITH LOVE

EARN MONEY BACK ON YOUR ONLINE SHOPPING

Click here to learn more Summer 2020 9

Please note: capital as risk. As with any investment, the value can go down as well.

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PRE SCHOOL

Nursery at Home Activities for under 5s that are easy to do at home and mirror the range of play experiences offered at nursery.

Make a Mermaid Tail

Make Sparkly Playdough

Make a Magic Garden

Make Crab Handprints

Car Name Game

Make Tractor Tyre Printing Pictures

Enjoy Songs and Action Rhymes

Make an Under the Sea Water Tray

Enjoy Dressing Up Role Play

10 Summer 2020

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PARENTING

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Summer 2020 11

PLACES TO GO

Places to Go this Summer These places are opening many outside spaces and gardens (and possibly some inside ones too). Find out what is open near you.

National Trust

Celtic Harmony Camp Prehistory Open Air Museum

English Heritage

Woodland Trust

WWT Wetland Centres

Forestry England

Zoos and Wildlife Parks

National Parks UK

Go Ape Adventures

12 Summer 2020

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PLACES TO GO

Roundhouse Overnight Stay Celtic Harmony Camp, Open Air Museum and Prehistory Centre 15 July to 29 August

Enjoy a magical family adventure sleeping overnight in your own roundhouse in a safe and stimulating outdoor setting at Celtic Harmony Camp, a hidden gem in the Hertfordshire countryside, with its thatched roundhouses located in a beautiful native woodland.

Your stay includes: • BBQ dinner with vegan and vegetarian option • Evening Activities: Bat Walk around the woods and marshmallows on the fire • Sleep in the comfort of your own roundhouse with double and single beds (up to 2 adults and 3 children)

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including all linen and towels • Continental breakfast before 9am As an outdoor venue, Celtic Harmony camp is perfect for a safe break with your family.

We have measures in place to keep your stay safe such as social distancing, limited visitor numbers, hand sanitisers and regular cleaning.

We are open for overnight stays Wednesday to Saturday from 15 July. The Overnight experience runs from 5pm to 10am the next day and is £200 including food, roundhouse accommodation and evening activities. Make your stay extra special and book a Family Day Out either the day you arrive or after your overnight stay with activities and primitive skills demos!

We are currently catering for 3 family roundhouse stays per night - so bring your friends for a special evening together. If you have a larger family group, please get in touch.

Limited spaces, pre-book your overnight adventure today, click here.

Summer 2020 13

ACTIVITIES

Live and Virtual Kids’ Summer Camps and Courses

Chelsea Young Writers

Online streamed creative writing courses. Ages 6-12.

Sparks Filmmaking Courses Action-packed online course. Ages 9-18.

Camp Beaumont Summer Camps Live multi-activity camps. Ages 3-16.

14 Summer 2020

Perform

Live 3/5 day performing arts courses. Ages 4-10.

Sophia

Online classes from Harry Potter to coding.

Ages 4-18.

Firetech Courses

Online tech for ages 9-17. 20% off with code Families20.

Elain Patrou Academy of Dance Ballet; Contemporary; Pilates in Stanmore.

Little House of Science

Online video science camps. Ages 3-11.

The Strings Club Camps

Live & online music/ craft camps. Ages 3-11. familiesonline.co.uk

ACTIVITIES

CREATE/ +YOUR SUMMER>

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July & August 2020

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— Artificial Intelligence — Python & Java Coding — Video Game Design — Digital Photography & MORE!

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20% OFF* Promo Code: FAMILIES20

*T&C’s apply

Book now Fire-Tech.com * T&C’s apply

Private Tuition

We’re ready to support you and your children!

Changes we’ve made

• Hand sanitiser on arrival and exit • Protective panels between each desk • Steam cleaning all contact points after every class • Face masks provided to every child

Stanmore familiesonline.co.uk

020 7157 9775

Ages 5 - 16

Proven Results for SATs, 7+ and 11+ Exams Free Assessment for All Children!

www.knowledgeabovestandard.co.uk Summer 2020 15

ACTIVITIES

Best Online Classes for All Ages Are your children missing their regular classes and activities?

Try these instead!

Family Dance Workshops

Teddies Music Club Online

Sadler Well’s fun family Lively music and art for dance workshops for 2 pre-schoolers. to 6 years.

Little Kickers Football for Kids

Easy, fun football classes with a warm up, games, and goals.

Book NOW!

Want to type faster?

• After School Lessons • Holiday Courses • DofE Skill Centre • New online course!

• 8 yrs. – Adult

Call or book online for all courses: www.touchtypeit.co.uk.

020 8434 7111

TypeIt!

Tutor supported online remote courses.

Ages 10- adult.

The Strings Club Ukele/guitar/violin classes for ages 3+.

FREE session!

16 Summer 2020

Funky Monkey Keyboard Classes at Home Self-guided, fun tutorials (5-8yrs).

The Little Gym at Home

Phonics with Robot

Fun, high energy and educational classes for babies to year 1.

Little STEAMers

Play-based science/ engineering classes for Fitness sessions for ages 2-4. primary and pre-school children. familiesonline.co.uk

ACTIVITIES

Win an Online Song Writing Course!

Songwriting4Kids teaches children ages 8-13 how to write songs. The selfguided instruction WIN! videos cover reading and writing music as well as basic rhythms and lyrics. Perfect for kids who are new to music as well as those who already play an instrument! First prize: Level 1 & 2 worth £135.99. Second prize: Level 1 worth £79.99.

Enter here with name & postcode by 15 August 2020.

Struggling to Get Your Child to Do Music Practice?

By Ruth Seodi

Having to constantly push your child to practise their music becomes tiresome and often leads to fall outs. Here are four ways in which you can turn practising from a chore to a pleasure for your child.

READ MORE. WATCH VIDEO.

Ten Cooking Skills for Every Child to Master T&Cs apply

There’s no doubt parents will need a bank of fresh, childfriendly activities to get through the summer holidays. Why not add cooking to the list? It’s fun, educational and most children enjoy it. Here are ten cooking skills for children to master this summer.

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Summer 2020 17

ACTIVITIES

Best Printable Primary Age Games Free printables to help your child keep busy and learning.

Battleships

Develops strategy, logical thinking and concentration.

Country Word Search

Find 20 countries amongst the letters.

Alphabet Scattegories

Find a word for each letter!

18 Summer 2020

The Mystery of the Missing Pirate Treasure

Car Bingo

Great for alphabet recognition.

Practises maths and problem solving.

Colouring Picnic

Read the sentences to colour the picture.

Premier League Football Facts

Solve the sums to complete the football facts.

ABC Trace & Colour

Trace the letter and colour in the drawing.

Harry Potter Word Scramble Figure out what Harry is saying.

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COEDUCATION

An independent 11-18 day school in Harrow, North West London.

Excellent for academic achievement.

Excellent for personal development.

ISI Inspection Report 2019

Welcoming girls for the ďŹ rst time from September 2021.

Information about Summer Open Evening and Autumn Open Day at www.johnlyon.org familiesonline.co.uk

Summer 2020 19

PARENTING

How to Motivate Your Child to do Anything There is a long summer ahead…. and for many families, this is just an extension of a long spring at home with no school attendance and precious little by way of entertainment.

Many children are fractious, bored, lonely, discontented and anxious.

It’s no wonder many are struggling to concentrate, focus and motivate themselves to do very much at all.

In order to get your child up and moving this summer and avoid a case of terminal boredom, your child needs a few projects and goals that will give them a sense of achievement and productivity.

These could be anything from practising times tables, having a day of screen free time every week, reading a book, doing some daily exercise or tidying their room.

You may even challenge them to complete some of the projects in this magazine! For little ones, some

more specific goals for positive behaviour might be appropriate.

Decide what you think might work for your child and, if they are older, discuss and agree this with them.

Consider an appropriate motivator for your child. This doesn’t have to be (and, in fact, shouldn’t always be) money and it’s best to avoid sugary treats as rewards too. But it may be that you offer to pay for something your child really needs if they achieve their goal. It’s fun to give an older child a few different projects and goals with points they can earn for each, with the aim of reaching a total number of points and a bigger reward.

Remember to give praise generously for the effort your child goes to, even if they don’t quite achieve all their goals.

You can find lots of reward ideas from simple/low cost to more involved on the next page.

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PARENTING

Rewards to Motivate Your Child Simple/Low Cost • Pick a movie – anything goes if it’s age appropriate!

• Cook their favourite dinner.

• A later bed time.

• Read an extra bed time story.

• 30 minutes of extra screen time (not appropriate if you are trying to get them off a screen!)

• One to one time with mum or dad doing exactly what they want.

• Stickers.

More Involved • A picnic in the park.

• Choosing a family activity.

• An outdoor playdate with friends.

• Time with your phone to take some photos. Then get them printed.

• Camp in the garden.

• A family sports activity • Visit the beach.

• Go for a bike family bike ride.

A safe And Loving Home

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For Every Child

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Summer 2020 21

PARENTING

Mums in Lockdown Four mums and Families magazine Editors tell us how lockdown has been for them. How have they juggled work, parenting, home schooling and life – and survived intact?

Caroline Roope is Editor of Families Solent East magazine. She lives in Hampshire with her husband and two sons. Watch Caroline’s lockdown video.

Laura Macaulay is Editor of Families North Yorkshire and Families Newcastle magazine. She is mum of two boys and lives in Yorkshire.

Watch Laura’s lockdown video.

Katy Stollery is Editor of Families Fife and Tayside in Scotland. She just started running her business at the start of lockdown! She is the mum of two girls and lives in Fife.

Watch Katy’s lockdown video.

Claire Bottomley is Editor of Families Leeds & West Yorkshire magazine. She is mum of three children ages 2 to 11 – two boys and a girl - and lives in Leeds. Watch Claire’s lockdown video.

22 Summer 2020

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PARENTING

Talking to our Children about Racism

Helping your Child Cope with Nightmares

Last month saw an unprecedented outpouring of movements throughout the world advocating an end to racial inequality. Children certainly have questions about the stories they hear, see and read, so how do we talk to them positively and openly about race? Download A Parent’s Guide to Black Lives Matter.

Many children have more underlying worries than usual right now. These are often kept at bay by the routines, occupations and pleasures of the day, only to surface at night in the form of scary nightmares.

Our friends at Fegans share their top tips for coping with your child’s nightmares.

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Summer 2020 23

HOLIDAYS

Beat the crowd staycation ideas Please check the latest Government guidance before you book.

Canal Boat Holiday

Eco-Friendly Tree House

Rustic Woodland Shack

Hobbit Inspired Pod

Explore the UK’s rivers/ Luxury woodland break canals. From £725 a in Devon. From £1,390 a week (family of 4). week.

Retro Airstream Caravan

Go retro in Suffolk.

From £66 a night (min 2-nights).

Idyllic Shepherd’s Hut

Get off the grid in Yorkshire. From £125 a night.

Pod living in Suffolk.

From £710 a week (family of 4).

Northumberland’s beaches. From £180 for 2 nights (family of 4).

Gorgeous Highland Cottage

New Forest Cottage

Stunning St Ives Hideaway

Wild Scotland! From £1,990 a week (inc daily catering).

24 Summer 2020

Forest and beach. From Secret tunnel to beach! £949 a week (July).

From £164 a night Sleeps 4. (min 3-nights). familiesonline.co.uk

HOLIDAYS

Staycation Survival Guide Check for the latest government travel advice. The rules are different in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, so make sure you check the details for the country you are visiting.

Consider insurance. New policies no longer cover coronavirus-caused cancellations. If you have pre-booked insurance or an annual policy, the FCO has currently advised against all non-essential travel, which invalidates your insurance. It seems likely that the FCO position will change with regard to those countries with which the UK establishes air bridges but check your insurance T&Cs before you book/travel.

Check the cancellation policy for any holiday you book. Will your deposit be refunded if another lockdown happens or if travel restrictions are not lifted?

Lower your expectations. There will be fewer places open and some form of social distancing is likely to still be in place.

Embrace nature and spending time with your family and think of all the money you are saving towards next year’s holiday!

Budget Staycation Ideas Lodge in the grounds of the Thomas Lord Inn, Hampshire.

Private facilities/meals to your room.

Farmstay UK 700 farms offering camping, B&B and SC. Birdholme Glamping in Notts.

Stilted safari lodges in acres of space!

Forest Holidays Log cabins/ tree houses in 10 forest locations across UK. Camp Too - retro VW campers + modern motorhomes. Various UK pick-up points.

Tent Share. Rent a tent so you don’t have to buy camping gear!

Canopy & Stars - reconnect with nature! Glamping to shepherd huts. familiesonline.co.uk

Summer 2020 25

HOLIDAYS

Family Tour of the UK No holiday? Take your family on a virtual tour of the UK’s most famous places.

Stonehenge

Roman Baths

Edinburgh Castle

Interactive 360º tour + live view from inside the monument.

Virtual ‘walkthrough’ of Bath’s Roman baths.

Stunning aerial view of the building and city.

Tower of London

Giant’s Causeway 360º tour of this spectacular landmark.

Hadrian’s Wall

A 360º view of the world’s largest Roman artefact.

Buckingham Palace

The Shard

Dover Castle

Interactive 360º tour of the building and grounds.

Tour THE most famous Royal Palace.

26 Summer 2020

View London from the tallest building in Europe.

360º tour of the castle on top of the white cliffs. familiesonline.co.uk

WORK

Avoiding Home Working Hell….

By Mandy Garner Working from home is the nirvana parents have been waiting for, right? Well, maybe, but NOT when combined with looking after children full time.

Here are some tips on successfully working from home as the school holidays and exhaustion kick in.

Manage expectations - not just those of your employer, but your own and those of your family.

Creating a routine that allows you to work can help everybody. For instance, some quiet time after lunch when your children know that you will be making phone calls.

Ask your manager if you can work around your childcare responsibilities, perhaps in the evenings or at weekends, tag teaming with your partner, if you have one. Or consider reducing your hours if this is affordable, and explore this with your employer.

As with flexible working negotiations, if you spell out the issues, explain how you are trying to tackle them and suggest potential workable solutions, managers are more likely to listen.

The right set up - it’s not just about the hours you can work.

You need the right long term setup, given fears of commuting and familiesonline.co.uk

a second wave of infection. Can your employer help with technical support and ergonomics?

It’s sensible to have a back-up if your laptop goes down or to have someone you can call with technical issues. This is far less stressful and time-consuming than trying to work things out for yourself from YouTube tutorials.

You also need the right workspace and furniture. There are reports of increased back pain as a result of people working from sofas or beds during lockdown. Ask your employer for support - it’s a health and safety issue - and for help with work-related phone/internet bills if they don’t provide phones and laptops.

READ MORE Summer 2020 27