Families Warwickshire Jan/Feb 2026

Warwickshire

IN THIS ISSUE

Early Years New Year, New You Winter What’s On Guide

Issue 87 January/February 2026

familiesonline.co.uk

There’s a Monster in Your Show 17 – 21 FEB

25 – 28 FEB

12 – 16 MAY

27 – 30 MAY

11 – 14 JUN

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CONTENTS Happy New Year!

May 2026 bring you health and happiness!

Despite it being winter, there is still plenty of fun to be had and lots to look forward to! Take a look at our Winter What’s On guide where you’ll find lots of places to go and events for the whole family to enjoy locally including ideas for February Half-Term.

We’ve also compiled our recommendations for family-friendly festivals to go to this summer.

Many of our features in this issue relate in some way to the theme of health and happiness. Our New Year, New You feature offers some big ideas on small steps you can make as New Year’s resolutions that will improve your life AND that you can actually stick to.

We focus on Early Years this issue. So, if you have a young baby or are expecting one, you’ll find advice on the importance of letting under 5s develop at their own pace, anxiety in very young children and the power of emotional connection and how to overcome your toddler’s fear of the bath.

In our Parenting feature, you’ll discover tips for lightening your own mental load this year, as well as how to recognise the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown. Whilst our Education section has great articles on the ideal window for STEM learning and preparing your child for exams.

Finally, we have three Tickit Woodland Trail Treehouses to giveaway (worth £39.99 each). Apply inside and receive our e-newsletter with more giveaways and an online version of the magazine to share with friends and family.

Contact us Claire Jones editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk 07938 657719 familieswarwickshiremag familieswarwickshiremag

In this issue 4

New Year, New You

6

Early Years

Page 13

10 Winter What’s On 13 Festivals 14 Education 18 Parenting

NEXT ISSUE: March/April 2026

BOOKING DEADLINE: Tuesday 3 February 2026

Enjoy the magazine!

Editor – Families Warwickshire & Families Birmingham

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editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk Families Warwickshire 3

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

Resolutions that stick for 2026

Anna Houston is a freelance writer specialising in parenting and women’s lifestyle

By Anna Houston

Plan with purpose A little planning goes a long way. Set aside time each Sunday to reset so you feel calmer and more in control of the week ahead.

Check the calendar, lay out uniforms and make a short to-do list.

Pair it with a cup of tea, a podcast or a face mask, so it feels like self-care. Look at the bigger picture. Break your year into quarters and plan around family milestones. Avoid starting big projects in the busiest periods. Mapping goals to life’s rhythm makes them more achievable.

Double up on healthy habits Healthy habits can make life more fun. Meet a friend for a walk and takeaway coffee instead of sitting in a café or catch up at the playground and do a few squats while pushing the children on the swing. Pair up with a friend to start a mini ‘cook-along club’ where you try a new healthy recipe each week or introduce a ‘vegetable of the week’ challenge. Pick a fruit or vegetable you don’t usually buy and find ways to add it to meals - it keeps healthy eating creative and fresh.

Greener living, simplified Going green can feel overwhelming, so make one easy sustainable swap each quarter. If you commit to changing just four things throughout the year, by the end of it your life will have improved in four tangible ways. Last year we got a built-in water filter, swapped to an eco-friendly detergent, replaced plastic bottles with stainless steel ones and started growing herbs. They’re small changes but they’ve made our home feel more aligned with the way we want to live.

4 Families Warwickshire editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Just move little and often Regular exercise is a way to care for your body and lift your mood.

Think ‘little and often’ rather than ‘all or nothing.’ Walk the school run, take the stairs or park somewhere that adds a fifteen minute walk to your destination. Consider a fold-away treadmill or exercise bike that you can use while replying to emails or watching a film. Twenty minutes of steady movement is far more realistic than a rigid gym routine - and it still counts.

Change your self-talk Healthy living starts in your head, not your kitchen. Much of how we eat, move and care for ourselves depends on how we speak to ourselves. If your inner dialogue is self-critical, it’s time to change the script. Instead of focusing on what you shouldn’t eat, think about what will make you feel energised. Swap ‘I’ve ruined it’ for ‘I enjoyed that; now I’ll make my next choice a nourishing one.’ When you stop labelling food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, you stop labelling yourself that way too and you build a healthier, more forgiving relationship with eating.

Family check-ins Life is busy and real conversation can easily go by the wayside. Eat together at least three evenings a week - no phones or screens and ask everyone to share the best and worst part of their day. It keeps family life connected. Although big days out are wonderful, small, consistent moments through the week are just as powerful.

This includes time with your partner. My spouse and I hug for twenty seconds every morning. It’s simple but effective and helps us reset and start the day as a team. familiesonline.co.uk

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU January is full of big promises to ourselves - eat better, move more, stress less. But real growth comes from small , intentional steps that last. These ideas will help you build a calmer, healthier, more balanced life beyond the New Year.

Refresh your supplements Many of us reach for multivitamins without much thought but focusing on specific nutrients can make a difference - magnesium is worth attention. Supporting muscle recovery, hormone balance and deeper sleep, it can also help ease anxiety and improve focus.

Low magnesium can show up in countless ways and many people are slightly deficient without realising. Restoring your levels can help you feel more balanced and energised. Everyone’s needs differ, so speak to a health professional if you’re unsure about changes.

The school holiday savings pot

Put a little money aside each month for school holidays so you can enjoy them with less financial stress. Many banking apps let you set up savings pots to stay organised. I have a ‘fun fund’ for my kids that covers days out, café trips and rainy-day activities. I also keep a small ‘pocket money’ pot for myself - guilt-free spending on things I truly want but would usually push to the bottom of the list. It’s a simple form of self-care that reminds me to look after myself too.

Time for fun

Set aside at least an hour each week for something that’s purely for you - a dance class, a puzzle, a walk with a podcast or a hobby you loved years ago. Treat fun as essential, not an afterthought; it recharges your patience and motivation for everything else.

familiesonline.co.uk

Lighten the load Little routines make home life feel easier. Have a two-minute tidy-up to a song with the kids before bed or wear comfy ‘house shoes’ to signal it’s time to get things done. The aim isn’t a spotless house - it’s a calmer one. Each month, clear one area - a drawer, your handbag, the car boot or your finances. Sort your purse, redeem old vouchers, cancel unused subscriptions. Decluttering little by little helps you feel lighter and more in control.

Keep a gratitude journal

Keep a notebook by your bed and write down three things you’re grateful for each night or morning. When life feels hard, it helps you notice the positives that might otherwise go unseen and shifts your focus from what’s missing to what’s working. Sometimes I just write three short sentences but it always makes me feel thankful for the life I have with my children and partner. It can also create moments of clarity about your goals, helping you see what’s genuinely important.

End the day calmly

Create a short bedtime routine just for you. We put so much effort into helping our children wind down - bath, pyjamas, story, lights out - yet rarely give ourselves the same care. Turn off screens thirty minutes before bed, wash your face, light a candle and wind down with a book, journal or quiet meditation. These small signals tell your body it’s time to rest, creating better sleep, a calmer mind and a gentler end to each day.

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk Families Warwickshire 5

EARLY YEARS

Overcoming bath refusal

By Claire Burgess What do you do when a young child who loves having a bath suddenly stops wanting to go in? As a great ‘wind down’ opportunity before bedtime, it’s natural to worry that this refusal might affect their bedtime routine. Please be reassured that some children go through this phase and it is connected to their stage of development at the time.

There are a number of reasons why your child may refuse the bath. These could include a previous experience that upset them, bath times being too long or too late, different sounds in the bathroom, a dislike of hair washing and even worries about being sucked down the plug hole!

The following successful approaches may encourage your little one back into the water again.

Make bath time fun Use toys. These could be anything from toy animals to watertight balls and glow sticks, blowing bubbles, bath crayons or bath colouring tablets.

Use a bath mat This helps your little one feels secure when sitting or standing and helps avoid slipping.

Having a bath in the day with no water Think of this as practice in adjusting to being in water. Avoid doing this at a time when your child might be tired or hungry though.

Reading books about having a bath can be helpful.

Encourage ‘sink play’ in the bathroom Fill the sink with water (possibly coloured with food colouring) and then put some toys in and around it. Use a step so your little one can reach the sink and let them play as they wish. This can emphasise the fun element of water and familiarise your child with being in the bathroom.

Let your child stand, rather than making them sit down This lets you wash your little one while they are standing and playing with toys on the edge of the bath (this is why it is important to have a bathmat to avoid slipping). It’s possible they may only be in the bath for a couple of minutes. This is absolutely fine and you can try to gradually build up the length of their bath. Hopefully, over time, they will feel confident enough to sit down.

Put on their swimming costume/trunks/armbands This adds a fun element! You could also play the Cocomelon bath song to make things even more fun. Find it on YouTube.

Claire Burgess is a director and family consultant at Bespoke Family (www.bespokefamily.co.uk), which offers tailored support from newborns to teens.

Dealing with hair washing challenges

Other reasons for bath refusal

Many infants do not enjoy having their hair washed and if your child is suddenly unwilling to have a bath, it might be because they associate it with this.

If there’s been a previous occasion when the bath water was a little too warm or too cold, this may have contributed to your little one’s bath refusal.

You could consider the following options to help move things forward:

Always fill the bath with cold water and then top up with hot to ensure it isn’t too warm. It should be around body temperature (37 degrees) and you can test it with your elbow. If you use a bath thermometer, make sure you re-test with your elbow afterwards. Never leave children unattended in or near water even when just running baths or sinks and always empty them as soon as they are no longer in use.

If you’ve previously used a shower attachment, use a jug or two of water for the hair wash instead - or vice versa!

Get your child to look up at the ceiling while you are washing their hair so that the water drains down their back and not down their face. You can also give them a dry flannel to hold over their eyes to prevent shampoo going in them and so that if any water does come down their face they are able to dry it.

Get the hair wash out of the way at the start of the bath; then your child can play and you are ending bath time on a positive note.

6 Families Warwickshire editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Young children often go through periods where they find bedtime worrying and they may associate bathing with bedtime. Having a bath at another point in the day may be helpful.

Remember also that what seems normal to adults doesn’t necessarily seem so for young children. Reassure them they won’t be sucked down the plug hole when the bath is emptied; nor encounter anything scary in the water. familiesonline.co.uk

EARLY YEARS

Early years anxiety: the power of emotional connection

By Stephanie Bradley In recent years, a quiet but powerful shift has been affecting our youngest learners. Children as young as ages 3 or 4 are increasingly showing signs of anxiety, low confidence and emotional dysregulation. These are not isolated cases and the trend is growing.

Children today are facing challenges that often seem unimaginable for their age; the emotional demands on this group of learners are mounting. The impact may be subtle at first - withdrawn behaviour, tearfulness, tummy aches, avoidance - but if left unchecked, these early warning signals can develop into entrenched emotional difficulties.

Recognising the signs of anxiety in the early years Anxiety in young children rarely announces itself clearly. It’s disguised by behaviours that might include acting up, sudden clinginess, speech regression, avoidance of group activities or difficulty settling into new situations.

These are not ‘difficult behaviours;’ they are signals of emotional struggle in children who don’t have the vocabulary to talk about or even understand their feelings. That’s where early identification and emotional teaching become crucial.

Early intervention isn’t just beneficial, it’s foundational. Emotional literacy should be treated with the same importance as learning to read or count. Waiting longer to address these challenges means working against years of deeply ingrained patterns.

The role of social emotional learning (SEL) Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has become a cornerstone of early years education for good reason. SEL promotes the development of emotional intelligence, empathy, self-awareness and the ability to self-regulate. When SEL is embedded early in the education experience and children are guided to discuss their emotions, they are more engaged, more confident and more capable of navigating daily challenges.

Why early intervention matters Research in child psychology and neuroscience tells us that early childhood is a critical period for emotional development.

It is during these early years that children begin to form ideas about self-worth, belonging, empathy and how the world feels to them.

Stephanie Bradley is an HLTA Teaching Assistant working in SEN and mainstream primary education. She has recently published a social story designed to support children’s emotional development. Have You Helped Someone Sparkle Today? is an interactive picture book for children ages 3 to 7.

Stories and discussion

Daily acts of kindness

In my experience, one of the most effective strategies for emotional support has been interactive storytelling and structured discussions. This involves choosing stories that don’t just entertain but invite children to reflect, question and personally relate.

One of the simplest yet most profound ways to promote mental and emotional wellbeing in young children is to foster kindness - daily, visible, consistent acts of it.

Stories offer a safe space to explore emotions. Through characters, children can externalise their own fears and joys.

We must create space for open-ended questions such as: ‘How do you think they felt?’ ‘What would you do?’ and ‘Why do you think she was sad?’

As a teaching assistant in both mainstream and SEN environments, I’ve seen children who had previously struggled to talk about their feelings, begin to open up when using stories designed with intentional prompts. This creates space for meaningful conversations that spark critical thinking and discussion.

Fostering emotional literacy, kindness and critical reflection are not extras; they must be taught from the early years onwards and are as crucial as phonics and numeracy. The use of language, stories and discussion has a vital role to play in the development of these skills. familiesonline.co.uk

This isn’t about the grand gestures but the small ones: helping a friend tidy up, offering comfort to someone who is sad, saying ‘thank you’ or ‘well done.’

I’ve found that when kindness becomes a classroom norm, anxiety diminishes. Children begin to look out for each other.

They feel safer, more valued, more included. And from that place of emotional safety, they are more willing to take learning risks, to participate, to grow.

Kindness, empathy and connection are not soft skills. They are essential life tools.

My experience already confirms that early emotional education changes lives. I’ve seen children who once cried every morning grow into confident classroom leaders. I’ve seen anxious children begin to open up when given safe ways to express themselves. And I’ve seen children with additional needs blossom when their feelings are acknowledged and respected.

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk Families Warwickshire 7

EARLY YEARS

Allowing your child to develop at their own pace

By Helen Zimprich Children are different - we all know that. Yet we often find ourselves comparing them. Why can my neighbour’s daughter speak so clearly at two and a half while my daughter says only a few words? Why can my friend’s son eat on his own while my son still needs my help? From potty training to dressing themselves or sleeping through the night, the comparisons never seem to end.

I’ve been there myself. I have three children and each one is unique. My daughter was independent from an early age, while my little son has always been deeply attached to me. She could dress herself and put on her shoes before pre-school; he needed me beside him until he reached age 6. At first, I thought he was doing it on purpose, to test my patience.

But during parenting training, I learned something essential: every child’s brain develops at its own pace. My daughter’s brain was ready for independence in certain areas but my son’s wasn’t yet. His need for my presence wasn’t manipulation, it was purely developmental. He simply felt safe when I was near and that safety allowed him to learn to put on his shoes.

It’s important for us parents to understand how the brain develops. It has three main parts. The right side of the brain is responsible for emotions - that’s why toddlers have such big feelings and frequent meltdowns. The left side, which handles language and logic, only begins developing around age 3 and matures much more slowly.

So when my son wanted me next to him while putting on his shoes, it didn’t make sense to my logical adult brain but it made perfect sense to his still-developing one.

As parents, we need to ask ourselves: Is my child not willing or simply not yet able? Most of the time, it’s the second one.

When we shift our perspective from frustration to understanding, everything changes. We stop expecting our children to hurry up and start meeting them where they are.

It’s worth remembering that rather than your child giving you a hard time, your child is having a hard time. It’s tough having so much to learn! And your calm, loving presence is exactly what helps them through it.

Helen Zimprich (www.helenzimprich.com) is a certified Parenting Coach who helps working mothers set healthy boundaries and supports them to create strong connections with their kids through calm, conscious parenting. Follow her on Instagram.

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When children are angry or having a meltdown, lecturing or explaining doesn’t help; their brains simply aren‘t receptive.

As parents, our task at that moment is to calm. We need to connect before we correct. That means helping our child feel safe again through a gentle tone, a soft touch or simply being present without judgement. Only when our child‘s nervous system has rebalanced - when they’re back in the ‘green zone‘ - can their brain process our words. That’s the moment when gentle guidance can be heard.

Imagine your child is eating cookies. You say ‘stop’ after the third and your child starts screaming. You stay calm, comfort your child, validate the feelings and wait until the big emotions pass. Then, when things are calm, you gently say: ‘I know how that feels. It would be so nice to eat as many cookies as we want! But if we eat too many, our tummies will start to hurt.’

Choosing connection over correction teaches our children emotional safety, empathy and self-regulation.

8 Families Warwickshire editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

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editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk Families Warwickshire 9

WHAT’S ON

Winter fun for all the family A guide to What’s On in Coventry and Warwickshire February Half-Term Fascinating Fairy Trail St. Mary’s Guildhall, Coventry 14, 15, 18 – 22 Feb Discover the Guildhall’s history, learn about its intriguing past and see what stories you might unlock.

Fantasy themed crafts and daily tours. A day out for the whole family! www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk

Zoobee's Magic Academy – A Magical Adventure!

Hatton Adventure World, Nr Warwick 14 - 22 Feb Join Zoobee for a magical experience where children can learn enchanting tricks, watch mesmerising shows, and embark on a Zoobee hunt! Your Magic Academy ticket also includes full entry to Hatton Adventure World, with all-day animal handling, falconry displays, fairground rides, soft play and Slide Mania, guinea pig village, and so much more.

Book online. www.hattonworld.com Warwick Castle Warwick 14 - 22 Feb (10:00 – 16:00) Arrows at the ready… as the Festival of Archery takes over the castle this half-term. Watch the castle’s expert archers take centre stage with live shows, daring challenges, interactive quizzes, hands-on archery sessions and a spectacular grand finale shoot-off. Plus, Zog Playland, Horrible Histories Maze, Winter Birds of Prey, The Princess Tower, Great Hall and State Rooms. www.warwick-castle.com Compton Verney Nr Warwick 14 – 22 Feb Let your imagination run wild with thousands of LEGO® bricks ready for you to build, create and reimagine.

Looking for something bigger? Try Big Blue Blocks - Build, stack, channel and connect these larger than life play blocks. Hours of fun!

FREE drop in activities with valid day ticket or membership.

Folk Art Animal Trail Inspired by the Folk Art collection, can you spot the animals hidden around the grounds and find out which artworks they represent? £3.50 per trail. www.comptonverney.org.uk Tinker | Make | Play Engineers – Old vs New Coventry Transport Museum 14, 19, 21 Feb (11:00 – 15:30) Become the next generation of inventors and get creative in this family workshop where you will playfully explore differences and similarities between old and new stuff. Drop in, included with admission to the museum. www.transport-museum.com

Lambing Live The Barn at Berryfields, Meriden See the Events Barn turned into a lambing nursery this half-term where expectant ewes are giving birth under the watchful eye of the Shepherdess and farm team. Watch lambs take their first steps and decorate a handmade lamb-shaped gingerbread biscuit. www.thebarnatberryfields.co.uk

Get Active Ackers Adventure Birmingham As the days get shorter and the chill kicks in, the ski season at Ackers is about to begin! Try Ski Lessons, Tubing and Tobogganing this winter.

Birthday Parties and Holiday Schemes available. www.ackers-adventure.co.uk Adventure Golf Stonebridge 18 holes of outdoor adventure golf with unique obstacles like waterfalls and sand traps and woodland friends who may help (or hinder) you! Open 09:00 – 21:00 daily. Party packages available. Fun for all the family! www.stonebridgeadventuregolf.co.uk Adventure Zone Rugby Soft Play centre for children aged 0-12.

Plus 10 pin bowling, darts, crazy golf, pool tables and shuffleboards in Strikes Bar. Fun for all the family! www.theadventurezone.co.uk Air Hop Trampoline Park Warwick The ultimate play experience for all ages! Open Jump, Unlimited After School Jumps, Toddler & Family Takeover, SEN Sessions and the bounciest parties in town. www.airhop.co.uk

Stratford Butterfly Farm Stratford-upon-Avon 14 - 22 Feb Families can enjoy a magical experience this valentine’s weekend of wandering together through a tropical rainforest filled with beautiful butterflies, fish-filled pools, splashing waterfalls and lush blooms - it’s the perfect place to share a moment of wonder. Discover Rainforest Realm, featuring the magnificent spectacled caiman, Minibeast Metropolis with its amazing leafcutter ant colony and enjoy daily 11:00 Meet the MiniBeast, Butterfly Lifecycle, and Pupae demonstrations. www.butterflyfarm.co.uk Ryton Pools Country Park Coventry Campfire Crumpets & Dens (Age 5+) 16 Feb (10:30, 12:30, 14:30) Family Den Building (Age 3 – 12) 18 Feb (10:30) Natural Birdfeeder making 19 Feb (10:30) Wrap up warm and join in with some outdoor fun this half-term!

Booking essential. www.countryparks.warwickshire .gov.uk/activities Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve Coventry Frosty Fairies and Wintery Wizards (Age 4+) 16 Feb (10:00 – 11:00) Teeny Tiny Den Building (Age 2-5) 16 Feb (11:15 – 12:15) Den Building (Age 4+) 18 Feb (10:00 – 11:00) Campfire Fun and Hot Chocolates (Age 4+) 18 Feb (11:15 -12:15) Wrap up warm and join in with some outdoor fun this half-term!

Booking essential. www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

10 Families Warwickshire editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Go Ape Coventry The best of high rope antics, axe throwing and mini-Land Rovers at Coombe Abbey for thrill-seeking adults and fun-seeking children.

Book online. See website for winter opening hours. www.goape.co.uk Junior Parkrun Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamington, Rugby, Coventry A FREE, fun and friendly weekly 2K event for juniors (4-14 years old) Every Sunday at 9:00. Children must be able to complete the course without an adult. www.parkrun.com

Mr Karting Warwick Junior & Family Arrive and Drive Karting plus Children’s Karting parties. Perfect for competitive kids aged 8+ (and their grown-ups!)

Open 7 days a week. www.mrkarting.co.uk National Trust Warwickshire Wrap up warm and get outdoors with the family and explore this winter at our local National Trust properties: Baddesley Clinton; Coughton Court; Packwood House; Charlecote Park; Upon House and Gardens and Farnborough Hall. See individual websites for details of half-term activites and prices. www.nationaltrust.org.uk Red Kangaroo Coventry Bounce right into RedKangaroo trampoline park! There’s so much to do alongside jumping fun to keep the kids entertained for hours! www.redkangaroo.co.uk The Wave Coventry Grab your goggles and enjoy a family day out at one of the UK’s awardwinning indoor water parks in the heart of Coventry City Centre! www.thewavecoventry.com Planet Ice Coventry Skate for fun, learn to skate, book a party or take the family to watch an Ice Hockey game and support the Coventry Blaze this Winter. See website for fixtures and booking. www.planet-ice.co.uk www.coventryblaze.co.uk Warwick Sport Climbing Centre Warwick University School age children and adults can try climbing or bouldering in Coventry.

Junior Pay & Play, Instructor led sessions plus Kids Parties. warwick.ac.uk/services/sport

Theatre Belgrade Theatre Coventry There’s a Monster in Your Show Tue 17 – Sat 21 Feb The Boy at the Back of the Class Wed 25 – Sat 28 Feb www.belgrade.co.uk

Royal Shakespeare Company Stratford-upon-Avon The BFG Until Sat 7 Feb www.rsc.org.uk

The Albany Theatre Coventry Dinosaur Adventure Live – Danger on T-Rex Mountain Sun 22 Feb www.albanytheatre.co.uk

Royal Spa Centre Leamington Spa

Rugby Theatre Rugby

Ms Rachel – Fun for Little Ones – Tribute Tour Thu 5 Mar

Aladdin Fri 24 Jan – Sun 2 Feb www.rugbytheatre.co.uk

www.royalspacentreandtownhall .co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

Days D Day ys Out O

Museums & History Mu

All Things Wild Honeybourne Ho oneybourne Interact eract with fascinating animals, animals learn from expert keepers, enjoy a ride on the Dino Train and explore the wonderful world of Dinosaurs. www.allthingswild.co.uk

Twycross Tw T ycross Zoo Atherstone With over 100 animals, The Gruffalo Discovery Land, animal experiences, nature reserves, soft play and much more! Pay for a day and visit FREE for 12 months. www.twycrosszoo.org

Ash End House Children’s Farm Tamworth Hands-on family-friendly farm. Entry includes animal feed, tractor-trailer ride, pony-sit-on and lots of animal interaction. Outdoor play areas available. Great for children parties! www.ashendchildrensfarm.co.uk

Redwings Horse Sanctuary Oxhill Home to 80 rescued horses, ponies and donkeys. Café/gift shop. FREE entry and parking, donations appreciated, adoptions welcomed.

Open Fri-Mon. www.redwings.org.uk

Astley Book Farm Bedworth The largest second-hand bookshop in the Midlands. Browse books for the whole family then grab a drink and snack in the Coffee Shop & Yurt and relax. www.astleybookfarm.com

Hatton Adventure World Nr Warwick Fantastic day out for all the family.

Come rain or shine there’s plenty to do with indoor and outdoor attractions and entertainment for all the family. www.hattonworld.com

DON’T MISS!

British Motor Museum Gaydon Explore over 400 British Britis classic cars, take part in themed tra trails, experience touch screen exhibits and a understand how a car works.

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Fun ffor allll the www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk Coventry Transport Museum Coventry Visit the largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles on the planet and learn about how Coventry changed the world through transport. www.transport-museum.com Herbert Art Gallery and Museum Coventry The perfect place to delve into Coventry’s history and engage with art and culture. PLUS visit Dippy the Diplodocus from the Natural History Museum. www.theherbert.org Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden Kenilworth Get outdoors and explore the mighty medieval keep, climb up Tudor towers, wander through a unique Elizabethan Garden and get hands on with history. www.english-heritage.org.uk Lunt Roman Fort Nr Coventry Explore the unique Roman Fortress, taking in the sites of the ramparts, the granary building and the world’s only known gyrus! Open at select dates and times during school holidays. www.luntromanfort.org MAD Museum Stratford-upon-Avon Interact with an impressive collection of eccentric and ingenious artworks, contraptions and machines at the UK’s only Mechanical Art venue.

Booking required in school holidays. www.themadmuseum.co.uk

Wolf Run Junior 2026 Get a taste of the action and enjoy wild running and obstacles at the Wolf Run Junior events in 2026.

Midland Air Museum Baginton, Nr Coventry Experience the world of aviation with over 45 aircraft on display, Vulcan guided tour and sit-in Meteor cockpit. Tea Room and FREE parking. www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk

Roman Alcester Museum Alcester Discover artifacts, learn about Roman life, and delve into the county's ancient history and find out what life was like there between 1st and 4th centuries AD. A FREE, educational and fascinating day out for all the family. www.romanalcester.org Rugby Art Gallery & Museum Rugby Town Centre FREE themed scavenger hunts throughout the building every school holiday plus low-cost activities for children of all ages to get involved in.

Open Tue – Sat. www.ragm.co.uk Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Stratford-upon-Avon Discover the fascinating stories behind the world’s greatest storyteller across his family homes. www.shakespeare.org.uk Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall Stratford-upon-Avon Visit the 600-year-old building where William Shakespeare sat in the 1570s and wrote his first works and experience Tudor school life, dress, art and stories. www.shakespearesschoolroom.org St. Mary’s Guildhall / Tales of Tea Coventry Visit this historical gem in the heart of the City. Discover its 700 year old history then visit Tales of Tea in the stunning vaulted Undercroft. www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk Warwick Castle Warwick Explore the castle towers and ramparts, grounds and gardens. With live shows, events and extraordinary entertainment for all the family.

Short-break packages available. www.warwick-castle.com

Open to 7 - 17-year-olds*, the junior course is 3km long and can be completed once or twice. It’s designed to challenge, thrill and inspire young runners and is the ultimate fun day out for friends and families. Why not get a pack together? Every 5th runner goes FREE! Book for all three seasons in one go by 30th April and receive a FREE Trilogy shirt and a 10% discount.

Spring Wolf Junior Summer Wolf Junior Autumn Wolf Junior

26 Apr 14 Jun 13 Sep

The Offchurch Bury, Warwickshire Stanford Hall, Leicestershire The Offchurch Bury, Warwickshire

& Nature Inspired Gift Shop

GD R @QFDRS QNOHB@K TSSDQEKX @Q@CHRD

*All junior wolf runners must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Open throughout the year

Wolf Run Trails 26 Apr The Offchurch Bury, Warwickshire

www.butterflyfarm.co.uk

Pure, off-road running through the stunning landscape – without the obstacles and mud pits! Perfect for families and young runners*, experienced runners or first-timers. 3k for age 7+, 5K for age 10+ and 10K for age 15+. *Ages 7 – 11 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

www.thewolfrun.com familiesonline.co.uk

01789 299 288 enquiries@butterflyfarm.co.uk V@M R DRS @MD~ SQ@SENQC-upon-Avon, CV37 7LS editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk Families Warwickshire 11

WHAT’S ON

Events Big Garden Birdwatch atch 23 – 25 Jan Play your part in the e world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Get your FREE guide online and spend an hour on one of the designated dates watching the birds on your patch and record the birds that land then tell the RSPB what you saw (submit online or by post).

Simple, fun and FREE! www.rspb.org.uk KPOP Demon Hunta'z Live Bedworth Civic Hall 31 Jan (11:00 & 15:00) High-energy, K-POP inspired tribute packed with explosive choreography, playful audience interaction, and theatrical flair.

With dance routines, freestyle moments, and even a mini catwalk competition, this 70-minute spectacle transforms the crowd into part of the show - Feel like a true Demon Hunter! www.bedworthcivichall.co.uk

Lanterns of the Wild Twycross Zoo, Atherstone Selected dates until 22 Feb 2026 A brand NEW light trail like no other transforms the Zoo after dark. Step into glowing animal worlds, explore vibrant habitats and spark your family’s sense of wonder as you explore over one mile of life-size lanterns. www.twycrosszoo.org TSG: Cinderella Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry 8 - 11 Jan Get ready for laughter, music and sparkle with a hilarious script, dazzling sets, and an incredible cast - this magical pantomime promises fun for all ages! Relaxed performance 11 Jan, 12:30. www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

The BFG Family Day Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 10 Jan (11:00 – 13:15) Enjoy a fun, accessible family day with theatre and making activities based around the RSC production of Roald Dahl’s The BFG. Join in with an interactive family workshop and go behind the scenes with a Family Unwrapped session. Children must be accompanied by an adult. £8 per child, £10 per adult. www.rsc.org.uk/events /christmas-activities

National Brick Events - Coventry Sports Connexion Leisure Club & Venue, Ryton-on Dunsmore 11 Jan A must for all LEGO lovers! See the magic of LEGO brought to life in the many brick-built displays, browse rare retired LEGO sets and minifigures and get creative in the play area where you can sit and play with hundreds and hundreds of LEGO bricks. Family tickets available. www.nationalbrickevents.co.uk /event/coventry BYOB Comedy Macready Theatre, Rugby 23 Jan (Age guidance 18+ and babies up to 15 months) Fancy an afternoon of awardwinning comedy, where you can relax and have a good laugh at the best comedians in the UK without needing childcare? There’s buggy parking, baby changing and more, so that you can take some time for yourself and just be entertained.

The bar is fully stocked and the comics don’t mind being heckled by younger guests! www.ticketsource.co.uk /rugby-arts

Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2026 Utilita Arena, Birmingham 23 – 25 Jan See your favourite celebrities, professional dancers and judges from the nation’s favourite TV show, up close and LIVE, delivering all the glitz, glamour and feel-good fun needed to banish those winter blues. Start 2026 on a front foot and book today! www.utilitaarenabham.co.uk

12 Families Warwickshire editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Enchanted Tea Room Leamington Jan/Feb - Various dates Themed character afternoon tea experiences (Princesses, K-Pop Demon Hunters, Stranger Things) and Princess Pamper Rooms parties and makeovers. Perfect for a winter treat or birthday party.

Suitable for children age 3 – 12.

Book online. www.enchantedeventsuk.com Rude Science!

Warwick Arts Centre 17 Feb (Age guidance 6+).

Brace yourselves for BBC Gastronaut Stefan Gates’ world class, revolutionary, high-tech, highly-explosive new show, packed with outrageous science stunts.

Designed to inspire kids with a lasting fascination for science. www.warwickartscentre.co.uk Unicorn Live!

Benn Hall, Rugby 20 Feb Harmony, Melody and Starlight are the best of unicorn friends… Join them as they use their magical unicorn powers to save the show and conjure up the magical fourth band member. Featuring your favourite pop and musical theatre songs, dazzling costumes, and a real unicorn called Sparkle. FREE photo opportunity with Harmony, Melody and Starlight after every performance. www.uk.patronbase.com /_BennHall/Productions

H Holmes and Watson and the C Curious Case of the Masked M Magician Macready Theatre, Rugby 21 Feb (Age guidance 6+) It’s 1906 and the Masked Magician bestrides London’s world of Magic like a colossus, UNTIL…one night, in mid-performance, he vanishes.

Dead? Kidnapped? In hiding? Can Sherlock and Watson solve the mystery or are some mysteries best left as …mysteries? 1 hour show with plenty of magic! www.ticketsource.co.uk /rugby-arts Doze under Dippy Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry 21 Feb (18:00 – 09:00) Stay overnight in the museum, snoozing under the feet of a 26foot Diplodocus! This truly unique family experience will be a night to remember full of exploration and fun-filled activities designed for children aged 6 – 11 and their grown-ups. Full timetable for sleepover online. www.theherbert.org

Tales of Acorn Wood Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry 21 - 22 Feb Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved Tales from Acorn Wood stories are brought to life on stage for the first time in an enchanting lift-the-flap experience.

Packed full of toe-tapping songs, puppetry, and all the friends from Acorn Wood, this beautiful show promises to be the perfect treat for children of all ages. www.warwickartscentre.co.uk Dinosaur Adventures Live!

The Albany Theatre, Coventry 22 Feb The Greatest Prehistoric Show on Earth! Stomp, Roar and Swish your tail as you join the intrepid rangers on their quest to save the Dinosaurs! Learn about their history and meet some of the most incredible species ever to have lived on planet Earth. An unforgettable Jurassic experience suitable for all the family. www.albanytheatre.co.uk

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FESTIVALS

Best family-friendly festivals 2026 Compiled by Andrew Campbell There’s endless fun for families to have at family-friendly festivals across the UK in 2026. Our selection of festivals below all offer a fusion of music, arts, entertainment and outdoor adventures.

The BritFest 2-5 July Ashley Hall, Altrincham, Cheshire

Designed with families in mind, activities include arts and crafts, face painting, an outdoor minicinema and classic funfair rides.

There’s also plenty of live music and entertainment suitable for all ages, plus options for camping or glamping for a full weekend adventure. www.thebritfest.co.uk

Y Not Festival 30 July-2 August Pikehall, Derbyshire

Y Not Festival is a lively music festival which offers a familyfriendly experience with plenty of activities for children. Alongside its diverse music lineup, Y Not features a dedicated Kids’ Area with arts and crafts, workshops, games and circus skills. There are also funfair rides, storytelling and interactive performances to keep younger festival-goers entertained. Families can also benefit from a dedicated camping area for a quieter night’s rest. www.ynotfestival.com

DevaFest 6-9 August Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire

DevaFest goes all out for families, especially kids, offering unlimited free fairground rides, circus skills workshops, magic shows, puppet theatre, dedicated kids’ entertainment zones, interactive storytelling sessions, arts and crafts, face painting and themed parades.

Additional highlights include family discos, character meet-and-greets and treasure hunts. With extensive outdoor play areas and a focus on safety, DevaFest provides a structured, engaging programme to keep children entertained. www.devafest.co.uk

Shindig Festival 21-24 May Charlton Park, Wiltshire

Shindig Festival is a familyfriendly event that blends music, dance and creative arts with a strong community vibe. The large kids’ area is packed with free activities from 9am to 5pm daily, including arts and crafts, circus skills, workshops, games and interactive performances. There are also family-friendly shows, plenty of space for children to play and explore and a packed programme of entertainment for all ages. www.shindigfestival.co.uk

The Long Road Festival 27-30 August Stanford Hall, Leicestershire

A family-friendly celebration of country, Americana and roots music, fusing good time country music, U.S. inspired street food and great entertainment. Kids are entertained in a dedicated area with American camp style games, kids’ tractor racing, crafting and evenings spent around open campfires listening to country music under the stars. www.thelongroad.com

The Great Estate Festival 29-31 May Scorrier Estate, Redruth, Cornwall

Known for its eclectic mix of music, art, theatre and adventure. Families will find a wealth of activities for children, including circus workshops, storytelling, arts and crafts, vintage fairground rides and interactive performances. The festival’s beautiful grounds host woodland trails, secret gardens and quirky entertainment, providing plenty of space for kids to explore and play. It’s a vibrant, welcoming festival perfect for all ages. www.greatestatefestival.co.uk

The Green Man Festival 20-23 August Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Wales

This independent music, science and arts festival nestled in the Brecon Beacons boasts plenty of large and small music venues, plus comedy, film, literature, art, science and playful mischief across dedicated zones. The festival’s Little Folk area offers hands-on workshops, nature activities, science experiments, arts and crafts and interactive performances. There are family-friendly theatre shows, storytelling sessions and dedicated play spaces designed for various age groups. www.greenman.net

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Camper Calling 28-30 August Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire

Camper Calling is a true family festival for children of all ages. Kids can dive into creative workshops, music sessions and hands-on arts and crafts. There’s a dedicated Kids Stage, circus skills, woodland walks and adventures. The festival’s safe, friendly atmosphere means families can relax and enjoy live music while little ones explore, learn and play. Adults can enjoy an eclectic music lineup with acoustic sets and emerging talents. www.campercalling.com editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk Families Warwickshire 13

EDUCATION

The ideal window for STEM learning

By Matt Newnham When children first step into school, they bring with them an unstoppable stream of curiosity. Why is the sky blue? How do birds fly? What happens if I mix these paints? For parents and teachers, it can feel relentless. Yet within those questions lies something essential. The years between ages 5 and 9 are when children form the attitudes that shape how they see the world, how they see themselves as learners and how they will approach science and maths for the rest of their lives.

Why does this matter so much? Because science and maths are not simply school subjects. They are life skills. Science teaches us to question, to seek evidence and to change our minds when evidence changes. Maths teaches us to see patterns, to plan and to reason logically.

UNESCO1 and the OECD2 have long argued that building scientific literacy early is essential for the future. The children of today will face challenges we can only guess at: climate change, new technologies and social change. A generation confident in science and maths will be better equipped to meet those challenges. It is about creating citizens who can think critically, solve problems and adapt. The habits of mind built between ages 5 and 9 will carry into adulthood.

The window of curiosity The psychologist Jean Piaget3 described children ages 5 to 9 as moving from imaginative thinking into logical thinking. At age 5, children may still believe the moon is following them home.

By age 9, they begin to understand orbits, shadows and gravity.

This shift is not just about facts. It is about the development of a way of thinking, a move from magic to mechanism, while still holding onto imagination.

Children between ages 5 and 9 are at their most curious and least self-conscious. They ask questions without worrying about being wrong. They explore without fear of failure. This is why researchers at King’s College London4 and the Institute of Education point out that attitudes to science and maths often solidify before age 10. By the end of primary school, many children have already decided whether they are ‘good at’ or ‘bad at’ these subjects.

This decision is rarely based on ability. It is based on confidence and on how those around them respond to their questions.

Children’s Booker Prize announced

Confidence $s built early Imagine a child who builds a tower of blocks. It falls. They try again. It falls again. They laugh, rebuild and eventually succeed.

They have just practised the essence of scientific thinking: test, fail, try again, succeed. If an adult scolds or rushes them, they learn frustration. If an adult celebrates their persistence, they learn resilience.

The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)5 has shown through multiple studies that early exposure to positive experiences in science and maths builds lasting confidence. The opposite is also true. A child who hears parents say: ‘I was never good at maths,’ or ‘Science is too hard,’ absorbs that belief. By age 7, those beliefs can become fixed. Yet science is creative and maths rewards persistence. Anyone can enjoy these subjects if given space to play, explore and make mistakes.

Confidence is not about getting the right answer every time. It is about believing that problems can be solved, that experiments are worth trying and that effort is valuable. Between ages 5 and 9, mistakes should be celebrated. A wrong answer is not a failure. It is a step towards understanding. When children see adults laugh at a failed experiment or cheer at a messy attempt, they learn that learning is about the journey, not just the result.

What can parents do?

The most powerful thing parents can do is show interest. A child who sees their parent curious and open to learning learns that curiosity is valuable.

Explore questions together. Instead of rushing to answer, ask: ‘What do you think?’

Use daily life. Cooking, shopping, gardening and travelling all contain maths and science.

Read stories with STEM themes. Adventure tales can deliver scientific concepts in fun ways.

Model positive talk. Replace ‘I can’t do maths’ with ‘Let’s work it out together.’

In the golden window when children decide whether they are explorers or avoiders, adults hold the power to guide them towards curiosity, confidence and joy.

Matt Newnham is an author and writer with decades of business experience. Inspired by his career in IT, he created Space Ranger Fred to make learning fun and accessible for children. For more information, visit www.spacerangerfred. com

The Booker Prize Foundation has unveiled the Children’s Booker Prize, a major new award celebrating contemporary fiction for ages 8 to 12. The first winner will be announced in February 2027.

The award attracts a £50,000 prize, equal to the adult Booker Prize and aims to inspire a new generation of readers. A shortlist of eight books will be announced in November, with at least thirty thousand copies of shortlisted and winning titles gifted to children across the UK and Ireland.

14 Families Warwickshire editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

[1] https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/how-science-can-help-createsustainable-world [2] https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pisa-2015-results-volumei_9789264266490-en.html [3] https://www.bxscience.edu/ourpages/auto/2014/11/16/50007779/ Piaget%20When%20Thinking%20Begins10272012_0000.pdf [4] https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/64130800/10_Facts_ and_Fictions.pdf [5] https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/early-learning-and-literacy/earlylearning/nsta-position-statement-early-childhood-science-education

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EDUCATION

Teatime Tasters

Thursday 22 January 2026 I 5pm – 6:30pm Experience STEM through a Story Join us for a dynamic event focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

Ideal for 6-8 year olds considering a place at the Junior School. kinghenrys.co.uk | 024 7627 1190 henrysadmissions@csfoundation.org.uk Warwick Road, Coventry CV3 6AQ

BOOK HERE:

Teatime Tasters

Tuesday 24 February 2026 | 5pm – 6:30pm Discover the World of Stories Join us for an inspiring event where children can explore storytelling, nature and art through hands-on activities.

Ideal for 7-10 year olds considering a place at Junior School. bablake.com | 024 7627 1248 bablakeadmissions@csfoundation.org.uk Coundon Road, Coventry CV1 4AU

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BOOK HERE:

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk Families Warwickshire 15

EDUCATION

Preparing your child for exams

By Gail Hugman We all went through exams to get where we are today and know that the experience can be challenging. With exam results affecting school and university choices, it is worth helping our children prepare so they get the best results.

Many parents choose to tutor their children, which can be useful if they are lacking in content or need extra practice but what else can you do to help?

Preparing yourself is as important as preparing your child!

Whether it is 7+, 11+, 13+, SATs or CATs, download an example of the exam papers from either the government website for SATs or the schools you are applying to. In this way, you and your child will know what to expect.

Your child may need to be reminded that what they’re being taught in school in English, maths and reasoning especially, is going to help them when they sit the exams, so they need to listen carefully and concentrate in lessons.

Many children also need to be told that if they don’t understand the lesson, they need to ask their teacher for help. Check your child feels confident to do that. Many don’t because they are worried about ‘what other children will say,’ so remind them that you’re there to help and can ask on their behalf.

Exams are always timed but it’s difficult for a child to know how much they can do in a certain length of time! To help them judge this more accurately, you can help them prepare by timing homework activities.

Firstly, check with your child’s teacher how long they are meant to spend on a piece of homework and give them that amount of time. If the work is not finished in that time, reflect on it with your child and ask them what they think they can do to speed up next time.

The most important thing that every parent can actually do to help their child, is to actively listen to them read at least three times each week, all the way up to 13+.

Many children become ‘free readers’ between the ages of 6 and 7 years. They are thought to be ‘good readers’ because they decode and say all the words correctly. But comprehension requires a set of skills that develop after a child has learned to decode.

Gail Hugman is the founder of Lessons Alive (www.lessonsalive.com), an organisation which helps children flourish. She’s also the author of several books, including the just-released Little Hum, a heartwarming children’s story about finding yourself, available from The Endless Bookcase at www.theendlessbookcase.com/books/little-hum

Activity to speed up your child’s work rate

Helping a dyslexic child prepare for SATs/11+

Use a two-minute timer, a picture that has lots of identical things to colour like the one above and a range of sharp colouring pencils.

A child is a good reader when they read fluently with expression (they respond to punctuation appropriately to do this), they know the main point of the text, they can infer (read between the lines), they can identify similes and metaphors and they can summarise.

Tell your child: ‘We’re going to watch as the timer runs for two minutes. When it’s finished, I’m going to ask you how many of these bugs you think you could colour in that time, with each section a different colour. There must be no white bits. Watch the timer while you think.’

When time is up, ask how many they think they can colour.

Then, you are both going to find out. Set the timer again and watch them colour. If they colour less than anticipated, ask what slowed them down. If they don’t know, make a suggestion from your observations. Was it distractions?

Choosing colours? Organisation?

Ask them if they think there is anything they can do to speed up. Try again. Often, children won’t count how many pencils they need to do the job at the start and some of the time is lost choosing.

16 Families Warwickshire editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Written comprehension requires them to read a passage in a given time (5-10 minutes), work out how the writer makes it scary/funny/sad (analyse), say what a character’s behaviour means (interpret), recognise what season it is from the description given (infer) and make a sensible suggestion for what happens next (predict).

Your dyslexic child may be allocated extra time for exams but may need help to know what to do with it. Check how much time they have been allowed with the SEND teacher and ask what help they are being given to prepare.

When listening to them read, it helps if you ask: ‘Which words make it scary/sad/funny?’ ‘Why did that boy run away?’ ‘How do you know…?’ ‘What will happen next?’

familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Independent & Selective Schools Warwickshire & West Midlands Bablake Junior Coventry www.bablake.com Teatime Taster: Tue 24 Feb 17:00 – 18:30

Arnold Lodge Leamington Spa (Ages 4-18) www.arnoldlodge.com Reception Open Morning: Fri 6 Mar 09:30 – 11:00 Bilton Grange Rugby (Ages 3-13) www.biltongrange.co.uk Open Day: Sat 28 Feb The Kingsley School Leamington Spa (Ages 3-18) www.thekingsleyschool.co.uk Senior School Taster Morning: Sat 14 Mar 08:45 – 12:45

Prep and Junior Schools Bablake Pre Prep Coventry www.bablake.com Open Morning: Tue 13 Jan 09:30 – 10:30

Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery Kenilworth www.crackleyhall.co.uk Open Morning: Sat 7 Mar 10:30 – 12:30 Crescent School Rugby www.crescentschool.co.uk Open Morning: Sat 14 Mar 10:00 – 12:00 King Henry VIII Pre-Prep Coventry www.kinghenrys.co.uk Open Morning: Thu 8 Jan 09:30 – 10:30 King Henry VIII Junior Coventry www.kinghenrys.co.uk Teatime Taster: Thu 22 Jan 17:00 – 18:30 Stratford Preparatory School Stratford-upon-Avon www.stratfordprep.co.uk The Croft Preparatory School Stratford-upon-Avon www.croftschool.co.uk Open Morning: Wed 11 Mar 10:00 – 12:00

Grammar Schools

Warwick Junior School Warwick www.warwickschool.org Warwick Preparatory School Warwick www.warwickprep.com Open Afternoon: Tue 20 Jan 14:00 – 15:00

Senior Schools Bablake Senior Coventry www.bablake.com Open Morning: Thu 26 Feb 09:30 – 11:00 King Henry VIII Senior Coventry www.kinghenrys.co.uk Open Morning: Wed 25 Feb 09:30 – 11:00 King’s High Warwick www.kingshighwarwick.co.uk Open Evening: Fri 30 Jan 16:30 – 19:00 Princethorpe College Rugby www.princethorpe.co.uk Sixth Form Taster Day: Fri 16 Jan

King Edward VI School Stratford-upon-Avon Boys only www.kes.net Stratford Girls Grammar School Stratford-upon-Avon Girls only www.sggs.org.uk See us at work (Year 6) Event: Mon 29 Jan - Afternoon session Alcester Grammar School Alcester Co-Ed www.alcestergs.co.uk Lawrence Sheriff School Rugby Boys only www.lawrencesheriffschool.net Rugby High School Rugby Girls only www.rugbyhighschool.co.uk Ashlawn School Rugby Co-Ed www.ashlawn.org.uk Haberdashers’ Adams Newport, Shropshire Co-Ed with boarding for boys www.adamsgs.uk Open Week: Mon 19 – Wed 21 Jan

Warwick Senior School Warwick www.warwickschool.org

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PARENTING

The invisible mental load and psychology of rest

By Dr Sasha Hall As a psychologist and a parent of two young children, I have seen both professionally and personally how easily the invisible mental load builds up. This load is the ongoing, often unseen mental effort required to keep family life functioning.

It includes not only the physical tasks of daily life but also the constant background thinking that ensures these tasks happen at the right time and in the right way. It is the invisible spreadsheet running quietly in the mind, updated in real time as family needs change.

For many parents (generally mothers), this mental load can feel like carrying an endless list of responsibilities in their minds. It might include planning meals, remembering school events, booking appointments, checking that uniforms are ready and ensuring everyone has what they need for the day ahead.

Alongside this are seasonal or longer-term considerations such as holidays, birthdays or preparing for school transitions. Even positive events, such as planning a family outing or helping with a costume for school, can add to the mental noise. These are all small, individual thoughts that combine into a continuous mental hum.

In homes shared with partners or older children, there can also be what psychologists call cognitive unloading, where others rely on one person to hold or manage the shared mental information. Questions such as: ‘Where are my keys?’ or ‘What are we having for dinner?’ might seem trivial, but they represent moments where someone else is temporarily renting space in a parent’s mind.

Over time, these repeated small intrusions can add to feelings of exhaustion and reduce the sense of mental clarity that is essential for wellbeing. When this happens frequently, the parent may begin to feel as though they are the project manager of the household, responsible for doing, remembering, prompting and anticipating.

Research shows that cognitive rest is just as important as physical rest. Rest is not merely the absence of doing; it is the presence of mental recovery. When we rest effectively, the brain has the opportunity to consolidate memories, regulate emotions and restore executive functioning. These are the higher-order

skills that allow us to plan, problem-solve and make decisions.

Just as muscles need recovery after exertion, our brains also need space to decompress and reorganise.

Without sufficient rest, the brain’s capacity for emotional regulation and attention control diminishes. This can lead to increased irritability, forgetfulness and a sense of being mentally overloaded. For parents, especially mothers carrying multiple invisible demands, this may mean feeling less patient with children or partners and finding it harder to remain present in moments that should bring connection and enjoyment.

The psychology of rest reminds us that rest is not indulgence but maintenance. It allows us to sustain the very skills that underpin both parenting and professional life. Creating even small opportunities for rest throughout the day can help regulate the nervous system and restore emotional balance. This might include brief moments of quiet reflection, mindful breathing or simply allowing the mind to wander without purpose.

When rest is prioritised, parents often describe feeling more grounded, more able to engage meaningfully with their children and more confident in managing the continuous mental load.

In essence, rest is not about doing less but about replenishing the mental space that allows us to think, care and respond effectively.

Recognising and sharing the invisible work that goes on in our minds is the first step toward valuing rest as a psychological necessity rather than a luxury.

Dr Sasha Hall is an HCPC-registered Senior Educational and Child Psychologist and founder of Hall & Co Educational Psychology Services (www.hallandcoeps.co.uk).

Make the invisible ‘visible’

The science of mental rest

Much of the mental load remains unseen because it is carried silently. Psychological research shows that when cognitive effort is invisible, others are less likely to appreciate its weight.

Mental rest does not always require sleep or silence.

Research into attention restoration suggests that simply engaging in gentle, absorbing activities such as walking outdoors, listening to music or spending time in nature allows the brain to recover from focused thought.

During rest, neural pathways related to creativity and problem-solving become more active. This helps restore a sense of clarity and perspective, enabling a parent to return to their daily roles with improved focus, emotional balance and a stronger sense of self.

Externalising these thoughts can help make them visible.

This might involve sharing responsibilities through open discussion, writing down tasks that occupy mental space or gently drawing attention to how much co-ordination is involved in daily life. When the invisible becomes visible, families can develop a greater appreciation of one another’s mental and emotional contributions.

18 Families Warwickshire editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

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PARENTING

Bad behaviour or something else?

By Usha Patel Generally speaking, we view parenting through the lens of our own childhood experiences. We naturally want what is best for our children and when they do not comply, it can be very confusing and frustrating. Our normal response is to try harder but really we need to dig a bit deeper and understand what is behind what looks like ‘bad behaviour.’

Tantrum or meltdown?

These are actually two different things and by recognising the difference we can truly understand what lies behind the behaviour. A tantrum is when a child is misbehaving to get their own way. A meltdown may look the same but the child is reacting to feeling overwhelmed about a situation they cannot understand or handle.

The behaviour of children having a tantrum They pay attention to what is going on and try to bargain while misbehaving. This is a strategy to get what they want. The tantrum usually subsides as soon as they receive it.

The behaviour of children having a meltdown Unlike a tantrum, children having a meltdown are not in control.

They appear panicked, wanting to escape and not responding to their environment or others around them. They can be impossible to console in this state.

Tantrums are pretty common among children of a certain age and are thankfully something they usually grow out of, though it is still okay for them to ask for help. Meltdowns require a much more understanding approach.

Understanding a child’s meltdowns Let’s look at your child’s perspective if they are prone to meltdowns. Say, for example, you are working from home and there is construction work going on outside. Imagine how you would feel if someone says: ‘I want you to ignore the distraction and carry on as normal.’ You would find it near impossible. You may be able to suppress the frustration but it has not gone away.

At some point, you will need to let off steam – in other words, have a meltdown.

So, when your child has a meltdown it is a reaction to sensory overload. Different individuals have different tolerances to sensory stimulation. While your response to the construction work may have been a normal response to a very difficult and frustrating situation, some adults and children feel exactly this way in a variety of situations that many others might find easier to tolerate.

People with a higher sensitivity to sensory overload react in a way that some might deem inappropriate or difficult to deal with.

The important thing to remember is that they are not ‘choosing’ this response and ‘behaving badly,’ they are actually just reacting in the way that their body and brains feel is necessary.

Are you receiving the right sort of help?

What about children who are having meltdowns at home even after a good day at school?

These children have been able to partially control things so far that day, so they do not appear stressed. However, once they get home, they are in a safe environment and can let go.

It can feel like no one believes you unless they see first-hand how your child behaves, which can make it challenging to ask for support.

Remember though that parenting isn’t easy and dealing with problematic behaviour can in itself be exhausting and overwhelming for YOU. It is okay to ask for help.

Usha Patel is a Neurocognitive Therapist at Raviv Practice London. For advice on any of these issues, visit www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk

Practical ways to re-establish calm

Using calm, predictable behaviour

When children are constantly overwhelmed by their environment and sensory information cannot be assimilated with any ease, it is a constant battle for them.

Acknowledging their emotions and allowing them to deal with them in a safe way is the best option. It can help settle things and re-establish calm. Try: ǚ Playing on swings, rocking chairs, trampoline ǚ Quiet time with a pet ǚ Coming home to a favourite cartoon and a snack ǚ Some time alone with you to sit quietly.

Your child’s meltdowns may make you anxious, upset or angry but this increases their dysregulated state. Think of their ‘meltdowns’ as them being ‘overloaded.’

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Adopt a calm manner; pause, give them space, talk slowly, with a modulated tone so that their sensory overload reduces.

Once calm, they may be able to explain what caused them to feel overwhelmed. Identifying meltdown triggers can help you deal with the root problems and stop overwhelm becoming a habitual and therefore far more damaging trauma response. editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk Families Warwickshire 19

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