Families West London November/December 21

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What’s on this Christmas Gift Guide Education

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...endless ideas for families of young children in

In this issue 4-5

Chiswick • Ealing • Hammersmith • Kensington • Maida Vale Notting Hill • Uxbridge

News & information

EDUCATION

From the Editors...

7 Encouraging your child to become an independent learner

@FamiliesWestLondon

8 Tutoring – getting value for money 9

BOOK CLUB

CHRISTMAS

West London

10-11 Gift guide 12-14 WHAT’S ON 15 Surviving a family Christmas

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and our festive ‘What’s On’ guide found on pages 12-14 is the perfect guide to help you plan some fun family outings in the lead up to the big day.

If like us, you feel weary at the prospect of yet more ‘stuff’ to find a home for, check out our gift guide on pages 10 -11 where we’ve pulled together the best ‘experience’ gifts to inspire a more memorable Christmas this year. There’s also a great article on p.15 on surviving a family Christmas from best-selling author of the ‘Why Mummy’ series whose latest book Why Mummy’s Sloshed, published this summer. Plus our education section looks at how to help your child become an independent learner and make tutoring more affordable. This issue’s book club interview on p.9 is with none other than Percy the Park Keeper’s Nick Butterworth. Don’t forget to enter the competition to win a copy of his new book - a perfect read for young children.

However you choose to spend it this year, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas. See you in 2022!

Anna & Rach Editors:

Next Issue:

Rachel Bailey & Anna Collins

Jan/Feb 2022

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News News&&Information Views

Facilitating open and honest conversation with our children around relationships and sex education By Saskia Boujo “But Mummy…how did the baby get into your tummy?!” The question that most parents dread hearing and delay answering! I’ve been teaching young people for over 20 years, and I’ve seen parents come up with the most creative of diversions in order to avoid having to respond to this.

Why? Our children are naturally curious, and we would usually applaud them for being so inquisitive by nature. So why do parents find answering questions in this area so challenging? A common concern is that parents feel their children are too young to learn about topics linked to sex. But research supports that when young people have early and ongoing talks, they make safer and more informed decisions in their lives.

How? The key is to be age-appropriate in the use of our language, topics and resources. Here are a few tips to try to keep an open mind, and an open door, on the topic at home: Reflect on your own sex ed: What/who helped answer your questions growing up? Consider what you had, or didn’t have, and now what you would like for your child.

welcome regardless of the topic, even if we don’t know the answer.

We are trying to build trust so that they naturally gravitate to us, rather than Google or their misinformed peers!

Find your teachable moments: The neighbour is expecting, or perhaps your pet is! Begin to ask your child what they already know and work from there onwards.

Saskia Boujo is a relationship and sex educator and mum of 3. She runs workshops for young people, teachers and parents. If you are interested in getting in touch with her, visit www.saskiaboujo.com (and use the contact form).

Opening up a range of skills to under 7s Little Kickers is the perfect introduction to sport, creating a fun yet focussed football environment helping to enable core learning skills, including; confidence, sharing, teamwork, listening and social skills.

Talk little and often: Just like when we learn to read, the sex talk Each child is given the opportunity to work within their age isn’t just one conversation around the kitchen table. It’s ongoing and ability level but taught in a group environment. Parents communication that builds on existing understanding. Before children can understand how babies are made, they need to have a tor participation in the youngest classes is an opportunity to actively p and Sex Educa assist in your child’s early education, helping them develop ionshi good grasp of how bodies work and change, as wella Re aslatof consent Saskia Boujo is hops to young physically as well as improving cognitive and social skills. They o delivers works you and boundaries. and author wh in London. If ts en par d an your have four different age groups from 18 months to 7 years all tailored people, teachers workshop for a ing ok bo in touch! to the specific needs of each age range. are interested munity, get in com Respond in a non-judgemental, affirming way: “That’s great or parenta school question!” This will reassure a child that their questions are T o find out more about their tailored football classes please contact

T SEX, BABY! LET’S TALK ABOU

at Ealing@littlekickers.co.uk please For more info

contact

mail.com saskiaboujo@g ujo.com www.saskiabo actsoflife.ed Instagram: @f

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX Saskia Boujo is a Relationship and Sex Educator and author who delivers workshops to young people, teachers and parents in London.

If you are interested in booking a workshop for your school or parent community, get in touch!

For more information please contact: Email: saskiaboujo@gmail.com www.saskiaboujo.com @factsoflife.ed 4

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News News & Information & Views

Every Child Deserves to Shine!

Shine Books are a new series of inclusive children’s books, with the dream of normalising conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD and autism through uplifting and enjoyable stories. Perfect as gifts, school resources or just some new books for your bookshelf at home, the books are filled with friendship and adventures, and a lovely underlying message to embrace our differences.

Jo North (creator and author of Shine Books) is a teacher with over 10 years’ experience, who saw a massive need for these books in society. Jo’s hope is for them to bring understanding and awareness to a range of SEN conditions, and remove the stigma that often comes with them.

The books are sensitively written and engaging with beautiful illustrations bringing the characters to life, and they highlight empathy and acceptance. Jo softly introduces how we are all individuals and that we can embrace our differences and not let them define us. The messages are simple and encouraging throughout the books, and they feel equally perfect for children who have the condition or disability, as well as for those who don’t.

What’s more, 10% of ALL sales are donated to charities relevant to each book. There are currently 6 titles in the series, although Jo has hinted there are more in the pipeline…

Quite simply, the books would be a perfect addition to any bookshelf.

Available to buy at www.shine-books.com. More information can be found @theshinebooks on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

I U G Q I N Z X X F P J Y O U L N B T A X Q N L M B F C Q L X I C E F I S H I N G E D I V H N E A N Q S J B I J A W N A S U W S N O W F L A K E T G Z N N S T N D U Y F I A D F G X O V U K Z O E R F A L D B E C W E Z E Y O W H E G N W Z I Z

How can you maximise your success from tutoring?

Extensive experience at PSJ Tuition has highlighted three tips for success that students should consider before embarking on their tuition.

1. Have a clear idea of what you want to learn and gain from tuition.

Sounds simple, but it’s vital.

2. Set goals and targets for your learning and use your tutor’s guidance to implement an appropriate learning plan to achieve them.

3. Have an inquisitive approach and don’t be afraid to ask questions!

PSJ tuition offers both face to face and online tutoring delivered by highly qualified tutors. They cover a wide range of subjects and so are sure to match a tutor to your educational needs. Their studentcentric approach means they can boast a 94% A/A* pass rate and acceptance rate to first choice UK and international universities. www.psjtuition.co.uk

Festive Fun Word search There are lots of fun and exciting things to see and do on a trip to Santa’s Lapland, can you help us find them all in this word search?

Santa, Reindeer, Snowflake, Elves, Husky, Snowmobile, Ice Fishing, Sleigh, Snow Hockey

H M S M G Z G M E I Z S Z M B O N L S A N T A O Q N K T B G C K E K T G C P M B K D A H R K T I Y E L V E S P I Y E L W E X G O Q U M Y A X Z L X E Z Y S H A K S A E F U S J E I R R O E H I H O C P B C K J H G

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Imagine seeing all these in person in snowy Lapland, to find out more visit SantasLapland.com

editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

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Mathematics and Further Mathematics Business Studies Accounting & Finance History

Education

Encouraging your child to become an independent learner

By Bradley Busch and Edward Watson As children get older and progress within the education system, how they manage their time and how efficiently and effectively they study by themselves becomes an everincreasing premium skill. So, what does academic research tell us about how parents can help facilitate this?

Let’s look at three different but related techniques.

The first is knowing that developing independent learners goes hand in hand with improving self-reflection. The more self-aware children are, the more likely that they can manage potential distractions. Self-monitoring is a skill that can be developed by encouraging students to ask themselves good questions, such as ‘how can I get better?’ and ‘where do I do my best work?’

Another way to improve independent learning is to help children become better at managing their time. Left to their own devices, people tend to procrastinate. In fact, some studies have found that seventy five per cent of students consider themselves procrastinators, with fifty per cent procrastinating regularly and to a level that is considered problematic. Research suggests that most students are poor at estimating how long a task will take to complete, as they get distracted or face unexpected obstacles along the way. This is called ‘the Planning Fallacy.’

One study found that one of the best ways to overcome the Planning Fallacy is with small, regular deadlines. This was proven to help children manage their time better and perform significantly better in their work, achieving higher grades overall.

Finally, introduce children to effective goal setting. This must include flexibility, short and long-term goals and enough challenge to maintain motivation. Goal setting allows learners to create targets that they would like to work on independently and achieve in a given time frame.

Research has found that when people wrote down their goals, they were thirty three per cent more likely to achieve them than those who kept them in their minds. Encourage children to make a to-do list so that their goals feel more concrete.

Overall, developing independent learners is easy to say but hard to do. It takes time, effort and repetition to ingrain these habits.

But if you persist, your child will reap the benefits for many years to come.

Bradley Busch and Edward Watson are the writers of the book A Parent’s Guide to The Science of Learning: 77 Studies That Every Parent Needs to Know out now in paperback, published

by Routledge, David Fulton.

A sense of purpose

Remove distractions

This is all about getting students to care about what they are doing. If they care about it, they are more invested in it and are more likely to apply themselves.

Research shows that the ability to improve concentration and attention is something that can be developed, even from a very young age. It helps to know that our ability to focus is not fixed and it can change for the better.

One study that illustrated this manipulated the environment that students were taught in. Some students were told that they had to study hard because there would be a test. Others were told that studying hard was simply what was expected of them. A third group of students were told that learning the material would really help them achieve their goals.

The result? Those who had the instruction that learning the topic would be useful to them (i.e those who were given a sense of purpose) rated the material as more important and were more likely to put more effort into it.

A sense of purpose can be encouraged in a number of ways.

Something as simple as completing the sentence ‘doing well at this will help me because…’ is a good starting point here.

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One study found that simply having your phone out, even if it is not being used, can make you perform up to twenty per cent worse in cognitive tests. Encourage learners to leave phones in another room, or at least on silent and out of sight, while they concentrate on the work in hand.

Music can be a big distraction too. Many students report listening to music when independently studying. Try discouraging this with facts: a recent study found that students who worked in silence during their study sessions performed twenty per cent better than those who worked while listening to songs that had lyrics. So, if you want to improve your child’s concentration, before any work is started, ensure that the immediate environment is clear of all potential distractions.

editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West London

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Education

Tutoring – getting value for money

By Kate Hilpern In at least one part of the country - London, not surprisingly hiring a tutor is considered pretty normal. But if children are learning well already, tutors aren’t always necessary and the best tutors will tell you exactly that.

Tuition comes into its own when you want to plug specific gaps.

For example, where a child has missed a lot of school or didn’t learn well during the pandemic lockdowns. Or if your child is preparing for a vital exam or needs a ‘top up’ when a particular topic or set of topics didn’t quite stick first time round.

Beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder when it comes to value for money in tutoring. You might want a tutor who comes with all the bells and whistles – along with rates which reflect demand and their qualifications. But, if not, there are ways to limit the cost of tutoring. You may be asked to pay for screening tests, revision sessions or holiday courses. If you don’t think your child needs them, then say so. Also ask about a reduced rate if you pay for a bunch of lessons upfront.

Online tuition Online tutoring sessions are hugely popular with children, especially teenagers. With great apps and services, even an inexperienced online tutor can now provide slick tuition. During the pandemic lockdowns, many tutors and tutor agencies moved online and you can still find sessions in pretty much any subject and at any level delivered remotely in this way.

Online tuition sessions tend to cost less than face-to-face lessons because there is no travel involved and tutors can work back-to-back sessions. However, if your child already spends all day on screens or has problems concentrating, then in-person

tuition may still be the better option.

Tuition centres These are now quite an established feature on high streets in town centres. If having your own private tutor feels a step too far, you could consider a tuition centre. Significantly cheaper than a visiting tutor or even online tuition, children learn in small groups, working through levels individually and under supervision, either with a worksheet or on a computer.

The economies of scale of this form of tuition make it more affordable for parents, albeit sessions lack the one-to-one, personalised attention which comes with the more traditional forms of tuition.

Kate Hilpern is from The Good Schools Guide, the leading impartial source of information on schools in the UK, helping parents with every aspect of choosing the best education for their children. For more information, visit www. goodschoolsguide.co.uk

R OYA L A L B E R T H A L L A N D B I R M I N G H A M R OYA L B A L L E T P R E S E N T

28 – 31 December 2021 7 PERFORMANCES ONLY

THE TIMES

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Book Club As winter rolls around again my favourite place to be is cuddled up on the sofa with a good book and a roaring fire.

The colder weather offers us the perfect excuse to cosy up with a hot chocolate and it’s the ideal time to encourage a love of reading with our children. Books make great Christmas gifts and sharing in those adventures is a great way to enjoy some peaceful family time.

This month Rachel Bailey chats to picture book legend Nick Butterworth whose brand new book A Flying Visit, is the latest in the famed Percy the Park Keeper series and Families have two hardback copies to give away!

Who first inspired your love of books?

Do you have any treasured memories of reading stories growing up?

My mum used to read bedtime stories every night without fail. I add that because she was a very busy mum, as the corner shop I grew up in was open 6am to 7pm six and a half days a week. There was always time for a story, and my gran, who lived nearby often visited and if ever I seemed at a loose end during the day, she’d say (in her northern accent), “Come on chuck, find me a book. Let’s have a story.”

Even though I grew up surrounded by stories, I was slow learning to read. My mum never gave up and read to me longer than most parents would expect to read with their children. So we read longer books together, like Alice in Wonderland, Moby Dick and Kipling’s Just So Stories. I can still hear my mum’s voice in my head as she described, “The great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever trees…” relishing every word!

Although you are best known for your Percy the Park Keeper stories, you have created many other lovable characters such as Q Pootle 5 and Albert le Blanc.

Do you have a favourite?

It depends what mood I’m in – and to some extent, how long it might be since I revisited one of my own books. If I haven’t read THUD! in a school for some time, I might flick through and come across Ralph the rather timid lion or Humphrey the crocodile with toothache, and these will be at least a temporary favourite. But then, in The Whisperer, I have a soft spot for Old Ginger Tom (I even gave him a

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guest appearance in the second Albert Le Blanc book Albert Le Blanc to the Rescue). I even like the rat character, The Whisperer himself. That’s probably a bit like actors liking to play villains!

Is it true that Percy has his own picnic spot in a real-life park?

Yes, perfectly true. Raphael Park in Romford, where I used to live, had become quite neglected and run down. It was even in danger of being sold off for development as a leisure centre. Luckily, a group of enterprising residents, formed The Friends of Raphael Park and waged a strong campaign to keep and renovate the park. When they discovered that it was in this park that I’d first had the idea for Percy the Park Keeper, it provided them with an extra reason to keep the place as a park – suddenly, it had Literary Heritage!

The park has now been beautifully spruced-up, the lake is clean, and there are more facilities, lots more planting, and a café. And Percy’s Picnic Spot, complete with carved wooden sculptures of Percy and his animal friends.

My children loved watching One Snowy Night at our local theatre. How did it feel to have your work adapted for theatre as well as animation?

It is immensely gratifying to think that enough people have responded to one of my ideas to make it viable to jump from page to stage or screen. To sit in a theatre with a large family audience all happily responding to a story that came to me one day walking in a frosty park with only our dog for company, is wonderful. Shirley Hughes once told me she had been approached by people wanting to animate one of her stories.

“You’ve had your work animated, Nick,” she said. “What’s it like? Is it beastly?!”

I told her no, but adaptations have to be accommodated for a different treatment.

It’s important to choose the right partners.

editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

Do you have any family Christmas traditions?

We do have very strong traditions at Christmas time, mainly carried on from my mum’s side of the family. Like a lot of families, on Christmas Eve, we hang up stockings and leave a glass of sherry and a mince pie for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolph near the hearth. Then we’ll have a time of carol singing by firelight, candlelight and the lights of the Christmas tree, always finishing with at least two renditions of ‘Tis Christmas Eve’, a song that goes back to my grandparents’ time, the words of which are written at the front of my book Jingle Bells.

WIN Families have two copies to give away!

For your chance to win, all you have to do is answer the question below and email your answer to editor@familieswest.co.uk Which series is A Flying Visit part of?

A Q Pootle 5 B Percy the Park Keeper C Percy the Pilot Closing date for entries is 13 Dec 2021 A Flying Visit is available from Nov 11 in hardback priced £12.99. www.percytheparkkeeper.co.uk Facebook: @officialnickbutterworth Families West London

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Christmas

The best ‘experience’ Christmas gifts for kids Sometimes experiences make more memorable Christmas gifts than toys and without huge boxes and plastic packaging in sight! Check out our Families gift guide, compiled by Claire Winter, for ideas that will inspire and excite the kids.

Brilliant for bookworms

Perfect for petrol heads

Bee friendly gift

Brave Girls’ Book Club is a book subscription box which pulls together diverse stories and powerful protagonists to empower and inspire young girls! Including two books and a forty page magazine each month, it’s suitable for readers ages 7 to 12.

Subscription for one month £17. £180 annually.

Give the gift of driving lessons with Young Driver. Children ages 10+ can learn to drive a brand new dualcontrolled Vauxhall Corsa with a fully qualified instructor. There are also lessons suitable for children ages 4 to 10. Plus kids can get behind the wheel of a luxurious Bentley, a selection of classic cars or a genuine fire engine.

Lessons from £21.99.

These gorgeous bamboo wildflower kits contain three pots ready to plant with six hundred seeds to attract bees!

Each kit contains everything you need for a blooming marvellous balcony, window box or garden table. £20.

www.youngdriver.com

www.shoppompom.com/products/ potplant

Monthly baking bonanza

PJs with superpowers

Storytelling Experience

A subscription to the Junior Baking Club from Baked In makes the ideal gift for a budding chef. Aimed at minibakers ages 5 to 11, the boxes include a selection of child-friendly, yummy fun-fuelled recipes. From £7.50 a month for an annual subscription.

A new range of pyjamas for adults and kids from Scamp & Dude, with a percentage of donations going to Young Lives vs Cancer. The Smiley PJs include a Superpower Button which offers a boost and comfort when it’s most needed! From £28.

London Dreamtime create bespoke eco-friendly, magical storytelling experiences online. Tales are told by experienced storytellers to suit the age and interests of your child.

The fun sessions are interactive and personalised with the name and location of your child. From £80 to £200.

www.bakedin.co.uk/pages/juniorbaking-club

www.scampanddude.com

www.londondreamtime.com

www.bravegirlsbookclub.com

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Christmas

CHRISTMAS

The best ‘experience’ Christmas gifts for parents If you want to avoid giving Christmas gifts that feel like just ‘more stuff’ that is not really wanted or needed, check out the Families gift guide for parents, compiled by Claire Winter, for something a little more interesting.

Best gift for romantics

Become a wine connoisseur

Festive driving experience

Curate the perfect date night at home. Box 42’s Uncharted Island box is perfect for secret Love Island fans. It’s filled with themed activities and everything you need to set the tropical mood in your own living room (including a Spotify playlist!). One-off boxes £34.99 or subscribe for £31.99 per month. www.thebox42.co.uk

Give the gift of wine knowledge with the highly-regarded Level 1 Award in Wines from WSET. It is perfect for beginners and well-suited to anyone interested in developing their wine knowledge - a great Christmas gift for any wine lover!

The Drive of a Lifetime – get behind the wheel of a single-seater race car or top of the range supercar (or three) at the UK’s only Formula 1 track! The range of Drive Silverstone gift experiences offer amazing bucket list-worthy days to suit all tastes and budgets.

www.wsetglobal.com/where-to-study

www.silverstone.co.uk/drive

Blooming monthly treats

Learn sourdough secrets

Music to my ears

Get letterbox flowers delivered every month by Bloom & Wild to brighten up the day! They have a huge range of bouquets that come ready for your giftee to curate as they wish.

Learn to bake your own delicious fresh bread in the comfort of your own home.

From baguettes to brioche, ciabatta to sourdough and more. Join these relaxed, live, online classes with The Epsom Bakehouse for some baking fun. Gift vouchers available. From £19.99.

Gift guitar lessons from Fender Play.

This legendary guitar brand has an online platform so it’s easy to nail the guitar, bass or ukulele with easy-tofollow lessons.

www.bloomandwild.com

www.theepsombakehouse.co.uk/ learn-to-bake-bread

www.fender.com/play

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editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West London

11

What’s On

All details correct at the time of going to press. Please do remember to check online for up-to-date information and remember that in most cases you will need to book.

If you’re looking for family outings, pantomimes and other ideas to keep the kids entertained and ensure a magical Christmas for everyone this year, our What’s On guide is packed full of suggestions.

November DAILY UNTIL SUNDAY NOVEMBER 14 AUTUMN TREASURE HUNT WITH PERCY THE PARK KEEPER Chiswick House and Gardens, Burlington Lane, Chiswick W4 2RP Live theatrical treasure hunt. Forest school meets puppetry, world-class theatrical storytelling and clue-based adventure in this unique, non-stop 60-minute experience.

Under 2s free. Booking essential www.experiencetheoutdoors.seetickets.com/ timeslot/autumn-treasure-hunt-with-percy-thepark-keeper DAILY UNTIL DECEMBER 31 ALICE: CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER V&A Museum, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL Take a mind-bending journey into Wonderland, exploring its origins, adaptations and reinventions over 157 years. This immersive and theatrical show charts the evolution of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland from manuscript to a global phenomenon beloved by all ages. www.vam.ac.uk/families DAILY UNTIL DECEMBER 31 THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - NEW! First Floor, Westfield London W12 7GF Immerse yourselves in a world of sweets, where sight, smell, and taste all bring this candythemed adventure to life.

Your journey will take you through a series of magical themed rooms and naturally, you’ll be able to eat your way through the experience too.

Booking essential. age 2-12 www.chocolatefactoryexperience.com UNTIL JANUARY 3 2022 STICK MAN Leicester Square Theatre, Leicester Place WC2H 7BX This award-winning production, from the team

behind Zog, Tiddler and other Terrific Tales, and Tabby McTat features a trio of top actors and is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves. www.leicestersquaretheatre.com DAILY UNTIL JANUARY 3 2022 FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE WONDER OF NATURE EXHIBITION Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD Discover where the real world and the Wizarding World intertwine and how the wonders of the natural world have inspired myths,legends and magical creatures for generations. www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/fantasticbeasts-the-wonder-of-nature.html DAILY UNTIL JANUARY 16 2022 ICE SKATING, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD Set against the backdrop of the Waterhouse building.

Daily from 11am, closed Christmas Day www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/ice-rink.html UNTIL JANUARY 2022 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS LONDON BY NIGHT BUS TOUR Depart (5pm and 7pm) from London Eye, Belvedere Road, Bus Stop 77 SE1 7GH. Depart (6pm and 8pm) from Bus Stop 3, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London SW1W 9SH Guided bus tour past the world-famous Regent Street Christmas lights and other key sights, including Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Marble Arch, The London Eye and Tower Bridge.

Exact dates TBC www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/ event/48988586-christmas-lights-bus-tour UNTIL FEBRUARY 22 2022 MARY POPPINS Prince Edward Theatre, Old Compton Street W1D 4HS www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/whats-on/marypoppins

DAILY UNTIL FEBRUARY 26 2022 ICE SKATING, CANARY WHARF Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB Covered Ice Rink under twinkling lights and the stunning back drop of canary wharf.

Tickets are only available online. Closed Christmas Day www.icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk TUESDAYS NOVEMBER 2, 16 AND 30 ADVENTURE BABIES Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD Sensory storytelling class brought to you by award-winning Adventure Babies https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/adventurebabies.html FRIDAY NOVEMBER 5 SILENT DISCO Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD DJs do battle over separate wireless channels, playing the best in pop, rock and party classics. www.nhm.ac.uk/events/silent-disco.html FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12 DINO SNORES FOR KIDS Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD Join a night of exploration and adventure among the Museum’s most incredible creatures.

This will be a sleepover you’ll never forget.

6.45pm - 10am www.nhm.ac.uk/events/dino-snores-for-kids. html FRIDAY NOV 12 TO SUNDAY JAN 30 CINDERELLA THE AWESOME TRUTH Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB www.polkatheatre.com/event/cinderella-theawesome-truth FRIDAY NOV 12 TO SUNDAY JAN 9 CHRISTMAS IN LEICESTER SQUARE www.christmasinleicestersquare.com

From Baby to Ballerina

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What’s On SUNDAY NOV 14 TO FRIDAY DEC 31 THE BOLDS Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St SE1 2HZ With live music, songs and adventures​, this brand new Christmas show revels in the joy of being anything but ordinary www.unicorntheatre.com/TheBolds WEDNESDAY NOV 17 TO SUNDAY JAN 9 CHRISTMAS AT KEW Royal Botanic gardens Kew, Richmond TW9 3AB Enter a natural world glittering with a million lights Time slots start between 4.20pm and 8pm. The Gardens close at 10pm www.christmasatkew.seetickets.com THURSDAY NOV 18 TO SUNDAY JAN 9 THE QUEEN’S HOUSE ICE RINK Queen’s House, Romney Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF Located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the grounds of the Royal Museums Greenwich with amazing views of the River Thames Daily except Christmas Day www.rmg.co.uk/queens-house/attractions/ queens-house-ice-rink THURSDAY NOV 18 TO SUNDAY JAN 9 PEPPA PIG CHRISTMAS BUS TOUR Departs from Somerset House With Christmas decorations, delicious Peppa Pig inspired Christmas treats and fun sing-alongsongs, this is the perfect way to enjoy the festive sights of London. www.b-bakery.com/london/bus-tours/peppapig-christmas

FRIDAY NOV 19 TO MONDAY JAN 3 WINTER WONDERLAND Hyde Park, London Nearest train stations Paddington, Victoria and Marylebone.

Circus, Magical Ice Kingdom, Santaland, Christmas market, shows, rides and more Advanced booking essential. Mornings are best for families. www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com FRIDAY NOV 19 TO SUNDAY JAN 2 ICE SKATING, HAMPTON COURT Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Court Way, Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU Situated in the gardens of Henry VIII’s historic home.

Daily from 10am, closed Christmas Day Advanced booking essential. www.hamptoncourtpalaceicerink.co.uk FRIDAY NOV 19 TO SUNDAY JAN 2 ALADDIN The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL Expect the usual Lyric twist on all of your favourite characters as well as live music, magic lamps, plenty of laughs and a journey to a far away land. www.lyric.co.uk/shows/aladdin-2021 WEDNESDAY NOV 24 TO FRIDAY DEC 24 RAYMOND BRIGGS’ FATHER CHRISTMAS The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL Join Santa as he awakes from a dream of sun, sea and sand only to find it is the busiest day of the year: Christmas Eve. Watch as he prepares for his Christmas deliveries, feeds his reindeer

a nd finally takes flight into the snowy night.

B ack for the show’s 10th anniversary year, Christmas isn’t Christmas without this Lyric family favourite, co-produced with the Olivier Award nominated Pins & Needles Productions. www.lyric.co.uk/shows/father-christmas-2021 FRIDAY 26 AND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27 DEPOT DISCOVERY TOURS London Transport Museum, Acton Town Depot 118-120 Museum Way, Gunnersbury Ln, W3 9BQ Learn about the history of London transport from historic vehicles, signs and maps to some unusual and unexpected items! www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/depot-tours/ depot-discovery

THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS TRADITION FOR ALL THE FAMILY

NUTC RACKE R

Children go half-price!*

When booking through London Coliseum Box Office. T&Cs apply.

16 DEC – 8 JAN ballet.org.uk/nutcracker

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editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West London

13

What’s On FRIDAY NOV 26 TO THURSDAY DEC 30 SLEEPING BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill SW11 5TN A joyful new panto-mashup mystery for families from award-winning trio Sleeping Trees. www.bac.org.uk/whats-on/sleeping-beauty-thebeast

All details correct at the time of going to press. Please do remember to check online for up-to-date information and remember that in most cases you will need to book.

FRIDAY DEC 10 TO SUNDAY JAN 2

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28 FATHER CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE London Wetland Centre Queen Elizabeth Walk SW13 9WT www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london/ whats-on/father-christmas-experience-1 SATURDAY NOV 27 TO MONDAY JAN 3 CHRISTMAS AT LONDON ZOO www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/whats-on/themagic-of-christmas

December WEDNESDAY 1 TO FRIDAY DECEMBER 24 ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common HP10 0LX Festive Fairytales with Father Christmas www.oddsfarm.co.uk/once-upon-a-christmas WEDNESDAY DEC 1 TO SUNDAY JAN 2 CHRISTMAS AT THE TOWER OF LONDON Explore spectacular displays of festive decorations and illuminated animal-themed areas across the fortress. www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/ christmas-at-the-tower-of-london SATURDAY 4 AND SUNDAY DECEMBER 5 FATHER CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE London Wetland Centre Queen Elizabeth Walk SW13 9WT www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london/ whats-on/father-christmas-experience-1 SATURDAY DEC 4 TO SUNDAY JAN 16 OPERATION OUCH The Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 7ES All-new crazy experiments and amazing facts, as the doctors explore the fascinating world of biology. Plus, they’ll share the best bits from the award-winning TV show, Operation Ouch! www.thelyrictheatre.co.uk/tickets/operationouch-live-on-stage SATURDAY DEC 4 TO SUNDAY JAN 16 THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB www.polkatheatre.com/event/the-night-beforechristmas MONDAY 6 TO SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 THE NUTCRACKER ON ICE Alexandra Palace N22 7AY www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/thenutcracker-on-ice WEDNESDAY DEC 8 TO MONDAY JAN 3 PALACE OF STARDUST Hampton Ct Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU Enchanting new light trail at Hampton Court Palace 4-8pm www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/whatson/palace-of-stardust-at-hampton-court-palace

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J ACK & THE BEANSTALK Beck Theatre, Hayes, UB3 2UE Fe-fi-fo-fum, a giant of a panto your way comes! Star of ITV’s The Chase, Anne Hegerty will be chasing Jack down the beanstalk in this year’s spectacular family pantomime, Jack & The Beanstalk. Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack as he fights to save the beautiful Princess, outwit the evil giant and win riches beyond his wildest dreams, and the hand of the girl he loves. Expect laughs, music, special effects, magic beans and bundles of audience participation in this giant of a pantomime! www.becktheatre.org.uk/Online/panto-hayesuxbridge-pantomime SATURDAY DECEMBER 11 THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL IN CONCERT Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore SW7 2AP www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2021/ the-muppet-christmas-carol-in-concert SUNDAY 12 DECEMBER MY CHRISTMAS ORCHESTRAL ADVENTURE Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore SW7 2AP www.royalalberthall.com/christmas

SATURDAY DECEMBER 18 DINO SNORES FOR KIDS Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD Join a night of exploration and adventure among the Museum’s most incredible creatures.

This will be a sleepover you’ll never forget.

6.45pm - 10am www.nhm.ac.uk/events/dino-snores-for-kids. html MON 20 AND WED DECEMBER 22 THE SANTA STEAM EXPRESS London Victoria Take a magical trip to meet Santa and his helpers on a vintage steam train departing from London Victoria. www.steamdreams.co.uk/ santasteamexpresstours.php TUESDAY 28 TO FRIDAY DECEMBER 31 THE NUTCRACKER - BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, Gore, SW7 2AP www.royalalberthall.com/christmas

Clubs and Classes HARTBEEPS A ward-winning, original, multi-sensory musical classes. Bubbles, Costumes, Massage, Sensory textures and lights, puppets and more. Classes designed for each stage of your baby’s development.

Baby bells - Newborn- sitting B eeps - Sitting - Standing H appy house - Toddlers & Siblings C lasses in: Bayswater, Maida vale, Notting hill, Shepherds bush, Mayfair and Kensington loulou@hartbeeps.com C lasses in: Ealing, Acton, Hammersmith and Chiswick k immy@hartbeeps.com w ww.hartbeeps.com

MONDAY 13 AND TUESDAY DECEMBER 14 THE SANTA STEAM EXPRESS London Victoria Take a magical trip to meet Santa and his helpers on a vintage steam train departing from London Victoria. www.steamdreams.co.uk/ santasteamexpresstours.php TUESDAY DECEMBER 14 ADVENTURE BABIES Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD Sensory storytelling class brought to you by award-winning Adventure Babies https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/adventurebabies.html TUESDAY 14 TO THURSDAY DEC 23 MARK THOMAS: AN EXTRA PLATE Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill SW11 5TN From this most unChristmassy storyteller comes Christmas tales from his life, time and family.

12+ years www.bac.org.uk/whats-on/mark-thomas-anextra-plate WEDNESDAY 15 TO FRIDAY DECEMBER 24 HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1QG www.atgtickets.com/shows/here-comes-santaclaus/studio-at-new-wimbledon-theatre THURSDAY DEC 16 TO SATURDAY JAN 8 THE NUTCRACKER - ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET London Coliseum, St. Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4ES www.ballet.org.uk/production/nutcracker

Calling all young Scientists!

Help us discover how babies & kids learn!

We’re recruiting infants from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at Birkbeck’s Babylab & ToddlerLab in central London. Our prime locations are easy to reach and we refund travel expenses. We also have online studies you can do from the comfort of home www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/online-studies

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

Families West London 01628 788058 familiesonline.co.uk

Christmas

Surviving a family Christmas

By Gill Sims We all know that the key to The Perfect Christmas with your beloved family is organisation, organisation and more organisation.

Who hasn’t read those smugly ‘helpful’ articles suggesting buying Christmas presents in the January sales, thus rendering you both organised AND thrifty and offering tips such as ‘start wrapping presents every night from mid-June on.’ The wrapping paper and tags also having been purchased on sale, obviously.

Clearly, there are people who take this advice because we ALL have That Friend who beams at you in August and asks: ‘Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?’ - as you whimper in horror that you haven’t even bought the school uniforms, let alone thought about what to get Mildly Racist Great Aunt Mildred or Uncle ‘In My Day’ John for Christmas.

I have tried to be that person though, I really have. One January, I congratulated myself on my great cleverness and economy in buying all the stocking fillers and presents for aged relatives and teachers, plus the ‘emergency presents.’ You know, the ones for those people who gleefully hand you a parcel on Christmas Eve, knowing full well that you are now panic sweating because you weren’t expecting a gift from them and have nothing to give them in return.

Come June, I then got out my carefully chosen and reduced-tofifty-pence wrapping paper with the intention of wrapping the gifts. Could I find ANY of them? Nope. They had all been put Somewhere Safe. So safe, in fact, that I didn’t find them for two years, by which time the children were too old for their presents and Auntie Susan’s bath salts had fused into a solid lump.

sanity intact as we can. The more pressure we put on ourselves to make it Perfect, the more stressed and miserable we become.

And the more we try to please everyone, the less we please anyone, least of all ourselves.

So, maybe it’s time to take a step back and simplify things.

Instead of aiming for a Perfect Christmas. Aim for a Good Enough Christmas.

Every year, more pressure is added to make Christmas magical, from Elves on Shelves to Christmas Eve boxes. But children, who are the only ones who really find Christmas magical, will be just as happy with hanging up stockings, consuming an entire selection box for breakfast, spending time with their family, playing with their presents and possibly even playing games, whether board or electronic. That’s their Happy Memories for years to come. Not the Festive Tableaus or the Perfect Christmas attempts but the relaxed and happy time they spend with us.

Gill Sims is the number 1 best-selling author of the hugely successful Why Mummy series of books. The fourth book in the series, Why Mummy’s Sloshed, published this summer, is available from www.bookshop.org.

Nothing daunted, I tried a handmade, crafty Christmas one year. I decided to make hand stamped wrapping paper (damn you, Pinterest), a ‘wonderful activity for kids.’ Oh, the happy memories we would create! Within fifteen minutes we were all crying, I was mainlining Baileys and the dog had walked through the ink pads and left inky paw prints all over the carpet.

I still have a delightful reindeer stamped on my sofa from where my son hurled a stamp at his sister for mocking his stamping abilities.

And don’t even ask about the year I arranged the presents in an adorable tableau on a vintage style wooden sledge. I was up until 3am on Christmas Eve creating this Festive Vision! And on Christmas morning, my family just looked at me as if I had lost my mind before decimating my Vision in thirty seconds flat.

It was at this point I think I realised that there is no such thing as The Perfect Christmas. The best thing we can do is make it as easy for ourselves as possible and survive it with as much

Simplifying Christmas Pick what is important to you and focus on that, whether it’s Christmas dinner or watching daft Christmas Specials on TV. You don’t have to do everything - delegate! Ask for help and get everyone involved. Even quite small children can assist with simple jobs like setting the table.

Don’t get sucked into every Christmas trend on social media. It’s not a competition and your children will survive without an Elf on the Shelf.

Remember it’s YOUR Christmas too - try to enjoy it!

See the Magic this Christmas Jumper Day! Support Save the Children and enjoy Christmas Jumper Day on 10 December with a great Craft Your Own Christmas Jumper Kit. The kit will allow you to upcycle any old jumper, using easy-to-add and easy-to-remove self-adhesive, felt, festive shapes, providing an eco-friendly way to participate this year. The kits have an RRP of £3 and are available from Save the Children charity shops and online.

Save the Children are also releasing a limited edition range of See the Magic Christmas jumpers to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Christmas Jumper Day. The jumpers are printed on one-off vintage sweaters to ensure they are sustainable.

Available from www.savethechildren.org.uk and Mary’s Living and Giving stores at £18 each.

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PICTURE CROSSWORD

Can you solve the picture clues and put them in the crossword?

4

3

5

2

1 1 2

4

3

6

5 6

9 7 8

9

10 11

8 10

11 7

Santa has lost Rudolph in the snow.

Can you help Santa find him by drawing a path to his hiding place?

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FESTIVE ANAGRAM

Can you unscramble the letters to spell out the names of five great things about Christmas?

1. D D G P N U I

2. S O R A T

Y T K E U R

3. R C A S H M S I T

4. L C O A R

I I S G N N G

5. I C E N M

E P S I

E R E T

When you’ve finished, unscramble the circled letters to spell a special message!

Answers: 1. Pudding 2. Roast turkey 3. Christmas tree 4. Carol singing 5. Mince pies. Message is: Hang up your stocking.

❆ ❆ ❆ ❆ ❆ SANTA’S MAZE