Families Dorset May/June 2022 DIGITAL

FREE

Dorset

IN THIS ISSUE

Education Places to go Kids’ parties Travel

THE BEST START Limited places in Kindergarten, Reception and Year One to start this September.

Waiting lists across other years Book a Head’s Talk & Tour via our website, if you love what you see, applications must be in by the end of June.

Talbot Heath

Independent School for Girls aged 3-18

Talbot Woods | Bournemouth | Tel: 01202 763360 | talbotheath.org | Connect with us @TalbotHeathSch | Day and boarding

May/June 2022

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Familiesonline.co.uk May/June 1

2 May/June

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CONTENTS

In this issue

Welcome

4 7 9 Warm sunny days are on the horizon so start 13 planning some family adventures in your local 14 area and exploring the great outdoors again.

15 If you are looking at planning a break but want 17 something that will truly be family-friendly, check out our ‘tried and tested’ suggestions.

18 19 If you have a little one who starts school in September, now is also the time to start thinking 20 about preparation. Find advice and resources in 21 our Education section.

So much to look forward to in May and June, including two bank holidays, one of them extralong! Yippee!

Finally, in this issue, we have lots of giveaways, including a family holiday and cuddly Care Bear companions for your child to fall in love.

Don’t forget to apply!

SIGN UP HERE to receive every issue

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Competition winners from our January/February issue Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list here.

Smoby Flextreme Discovery Sets to giveaway!

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5 available

Worth £34.99 each

APPLY HERE

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May/June 2021 familiesonline.c o.uk

Magazine

Familiesonline.co.uk

Get in touch

Turn your child’s imagination around!

IT’S FREE!

Magazine

E ME

Places to go Kids’ parties Education Summer camps Father’s Day gifts Adventures at home Win a holiday Summer food Travel Garden toys Adventures outdoors

T&Cs apply

May/June 3

PLACES TO GO

Have a fun day out at Highcliffe Castle!

Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre!

Along the visitor route, discover the story of Highcliffe Castle’s fascinating journey from a once lavish aristocrat’s home to its rescue following two devasting fires in the 1960s. Learn about the many owners who have called the Castle home.

Liberty’s Owl and Raptor Centre is located near Ringwood on the edge of the New Forest.

Families can enjoy interactive displays, an array of period dressing up clothes and a school holiday programme of trails and crafts.

Watch the Castle’s on-site conservator restoring pieces of the Castle’s medieval collection in the Stained Glass Studio or take a look at the current exhibition.

Head outdoors for some sea air, explore the hidden corners of the grounds and woodlands and enjoy outdoor theatre and swing and jazz concerts. Don’t forget to stop off at the Castle Tearooms for some refreshments.

It is home to a large collection of birds of prey, including eagles, owls and vultures and also houses a number of reptiles and other creepy crawlies, including snakes, lizards and spiders.

During a fun, exciting and educational day, observe the birds flying free and the reptiles up close and personal during various spectacular displays.

Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre also operates as a rescue centre for birds of prey that have been injured or are in need of care and rehabilitates them before releasing them back into the wild. Your entry fee will help fund this endeavour.

More information HERE

More information HERE

4 May/June

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PLACES TO GO

Enjoy The Wizard of Oz at The Regent Centre From 1 to 4 June, enjoy a brand-new, sparkling musical production of The Wizard of Oz at The Regent Centre in Christchurch.

One day, thanks to a twister of fate, Dorothy’s escapes her dreary Kansas home and is swept away to the enchanting land of Oz. Here she enjoys the crazy company of the straw-brained Scarecrow, a Tin Man who’s in need of a heart, a lovable (but cowardly) lion and the Wickedest Witch you’ve ever seen! Luckily, the good fairy Glinda is on hand to wave her wand and sprinkle some sparkle over Dorothy and her friends.

With magical music, stunning scenery, colourful costumes and incredible special effects, make sure you book your tickets HERE to this spellbinding theatrical experience for all ages.

Unique children’s birthday parties at RockReef RockReef Indoor Activity Centre, on Bournemouth Pier, is full of exciting adventure activities, including twenty eight fun-themed climbing walls, an aerial obstacle course, Pier Cave, Vertical Slide and Leap of Faith.

RockReef’s Clip ‘n Climb party includes ninety minutes activity time on all the indoor climbing challenges followed by food in the RockReef café. Add even more fun with a Combo Party, which includes a choice of HighLine or Pier Cave experiences. The birthday child receives a free Vertical Slide experience and a Clip ‘n Climb Gift Voucher.

Young adventurers can celebrate their birthday with parties from £22 per child for a minimum of eight children.

Birthday parties are popular so book by calling 01202 983983 or click HERE Familiesonline.co.uk

May/June 5

PLACES TO GO

Top tips for buying a car seat* Avoid second hand car seats -. you can’t be sure of their history.

Research and prioritise safety. All seats must pass minimum standards of safety. Some manufacturers test way beyond these standards Get independent advice from Child Seat Safety or from BCP Council Road Safety Team by emailing HERE who have IOSH accreditation or can direct you to someone experienced.

Ask for the car seat expert in store to serve you and ask about their qualifications. If they are IOSH approved in Child Seat Safety Awareness they should be able to provide an accreditation number. If they aren’t available, request an appointment.

Where possible, make sure your IOSH expert shows you how to fit the car seat. This avoids confusion and should give you confidence to fit the seat correctly.

If you’ve already bought, visit a car seat fitting clinic in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, to get your car seat checked. *Reference link

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in partnership with Child Seat Safety Ltd

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65% of all car seats are not fitted correctly

Tuesday 21 June The ARK, Poole Park – 0930-1630 Wednesday 22 June Littledown Centre, Bournemouth – 1000-1400 Thursday 23 June Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre, Christchurch 0930-1330 Wednesday 27 July The ARK, Poole Park – 1000-1600 Thursday 28 July Littledown Centre, Bournemouth 1000-1400 bit.ly/bcpcouncilchildcarseat 6 May/June

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KIDS’ PARTIES

An unforgettable party service Whether your child wants a mini-festival party, magical sleepover or something bespoke, the team at Teeparty removes the stress by providing a complete party planning and styling service, working with you to help with ideas and deliver unforgettable experiences that ooze imagination and celebrate fun. Ideas include: Bell Tents. Beautiful Bell Tents and furnishings can be styled and set up in your garden for sleepovers, movie nights or mini festivals.

Garden Party. Whether you want a small family gathering or a big marquee and stylish outside entertaining, Teeparty will transform your garden into an enchanting party venue.

Luxe Picnic. Teeparty’s unique and luxurious picnic set ups (indoors or garden) come with colours and tableware to match the theme.

For more information, call 07773 201586 or click HERE

For an amazing, adventure-filled summer...

Apply for a Map of Wonders!

EVENT PLANNERS PARTY MENU

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Magazine Familiesonline.co.uk

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@T ee p a r t y e v e nt p l a nn e r s @T ee p a r t y _ e v e nt _ p l a n ne r s

May/June 7

KIDS’ PARTIES

Party bag fillers

Want to avoid plastic tat but stuck for alternatives? Try these out for size.

Decopatch Mini Animal Kits

Make a cute animal mache shape with these gorgeous kits. £7.30

Colour-in Splat T-shirts

Doubles as a party activity! Wash and colour-in again. From £9.95

Sweetie Jewellery Activity Kit

Smiggle Party Colour Art Jar

Hello Bee Craft Kits

Pre-filled Thank You Party Cone

Make yummy jewellery & a craft jewellery box. £12.99

Art kit with rainbow markers, colouring sheets & graphite pencil. £9.20

Designed for children 3+, perfect for keeping little hands busy.

From £8

Colourful paper cones full of treats and including thank you note. £3.75

The Curious Caterpillar PreFilled Bags

Mini Sunflowers Growing Kit

Craft & Crumb Bake Kit Party Bags

Large variety of pre-filled bags for girls and boys.

From £1.90 8 May/June

Easy to grow mini sunflowers. Includes seeds, compost and activity sleeve. £6

Make, bake and decorate cookies and biscuits with these kits. From £4.50 Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Building strong relationships at Talbot Heath Talbot Heath School, named as one of the most innovative and influential UK independent schools, fosters a ‘can do’ attitude in its pupils, encouraging them to ‘think big’ while helping them to develop the self-belief and principles that will keep them grounded while they fly high.

The school’s rigorous teaching, high standards and outstanding pastoral care allow young people from ages 3 to 18 to explore and discover their passions.

Pupils at Talbot Heath know that their dreams and aspirations will only be achieved through hard work, determination and tenacity and that substance, time and effort bring the most sparkling and ambitious of plans to fruition. They understand that teamwork, kindness, compassion and selflessness will enable them to overcome adversity and build the strong relationships that will be so important in their lives.

More information HERE

Starting school in September?

Wondering how your child will manage school lunches?

Watch advice from Emma Lewry at Every Day’s a School Day

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May/June 9

School readiness checklist Download our checklist and help your child get ready to go to school.

Talk the skills through with your child and explain why they are important at school. Show them that once they can master a skill, they can colour in the smiley face!

Then help them practise.

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I am ready fo

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Colour in th when you ca e face n do this

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Do up my co at/ cardigan

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10 May/June

DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR CHILD HERE

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EDUCATION

Times tables learning resources It really is true that multiplication tables are the bedrock of maths learning. Get your child up to speed with the following resources.

Math Songs by NUMBEROCK

Numberjacks Times Table App

Times Tables Flashcards

Learn times tables by singing about them!

FREE

Times table activities based on the CBeebies show. FREE

Rapid recall practice in the 1-12 times tables.

Ages 8-11. £6.99

Colour-coded Multiplication Square

The Times Table Adventure

Times Tables Heroes Board Game

Visual aid which helps spot patterns and learn tables. FREE

Times Tables Wall Chart Download and stick up where they’ll be seen often. FREE

Familiesonline.co.uk

Ideal for children who like video games like Minecraft. FREE

10 Minutes A Day Times Tables

Book featuring 10 minute games and tests.

Maximum fun, maximum effect. £14.99

Fun multiplication board game to prepare for Year 4 tables check. £11.75

Number Rumbler Card Game A family card game which practises times tables. £7.99

May/June 11

Calling parents living in Dorset!

Would you like to try your hand at magazine publishing?

Do you think you can grow a business?

Are you interested in media and marketing?

Work part time from home around your family and do something you love.

Come and run Families Dorset magazine!

FIND OUT MORE EMAIL US NOW

Magazine 12 May/June

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SUMMER CAMPS

Summer camps checklist

To help you book a summer camp or workshop and get your child ready.

What to wear

For cool weather, warm comfortable clothes including a jacket/coat and jumper/hoodie.

For sunny weather, suitable clothes and sun hat. Apply sun cream once before your child leaves the house.

Comfortable footwear.

General questions

What to take

Swimming costume and towel.

An apron or shirt for creative activities.

Refillable water bottle Packed lunch and snacks, if needed.

Rucksack (to carry everything).

Sun cream, if required.

Childcare questions

How many children are there on a camp?

What age group will my child be in?

Can my child be in the same group as their friend/sibling?

Do I need to provide lunch and snacks?

Do you provide sun cream?

Are you registered with Ofsted?

Questions about booking and costs

Get the best out of family life!

Is wraparound care available?

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Do you accept childcare vouchers or tax-free childcare?

Pr

Can I make changes to my booking? What is the last date for changes?

Can I pay in instalments?

If there’s wraparound care, how much is it?

Will I pay extra if I’m delayed in collecting my child?

Are all activities included in the cost?

Will my child have a key worker?

IN THIS ISSUE

Activities Tips/Advice Days Out familiesonline.c o.uk

May/June 13

FATHER’S DAY

Father’s Day gift suggestions

Is it sometimes difficult to know what to buy for dad? Here are our top picks.

Dad’s Shed Slate Sign

Handcrafted natural slate sign to mark out dad’s territory. £12.99

Docking Station Help dad keep all his things together – stylishly! £27.90

Supercar Driving Day

Get day in a race car!

Circuits UK-wide. From £39

Peppa Pig: My Burgon & Ball Billionaire Gardening Gloves Shortbread Truffles Daddy Board Book

These quality gloves are For dads with a sweet great for dads with green tooth - a little decadence. fingers. £17.99 £16

Bread Baking Club Gift Subscription

Your dad could be star baker with this 3-month gift subscription. £36 14 May/June

100 Things to Do with Dad Scratch Off Bucket List Poster 100 activities! £10.99

Something for dad to read with your little one. £4.49

Personalised Socks with your Child’s Drawing

Celebrate Father’s Day and your child’s artwork. £20 Familiesonline.co.uk

ADVENTURES AT HOME

Adventures at home

I’m a big fan of planning fun-filled family adventures at home. Here’s some of our favourites from my book Adventures at Home, available here.

Garden music festival

Go without electricity

Dig out your tent, drag out your blankets and cushions, power up the radio and set up camp. Spend the day listening to music in the comfort of your own garden. Homemade ribbon wristbands and VIP lanyards allow unlimited access to the snack cupboard, fruity mocktails and ultimately, the lavatory without needing to queue!

Challenging the family to go without electricity is great fun. It encourages you to get creative with your time and introduces the broader topic of eco-living: which small changes can be made at home? Activities for the day might include painting, poetry, games, bird watching, cooking over an open flame and sleeping outside.

Stargazing

Garden fete

Our favourite way to stargaze is in an old inflatable pool, patched with duct tape and filled with duvets! It keeps the chill out whilst we snuggle down and watch for the first star to appear amidst the myths and legends.

Village fetes are often a washout but you can schedule yours in when there’s glorious sunshine!

String up your bunting, bake some scones, set up a raffle and a lucky dip (from old goody bag items), provide an (unplugged) microphone for announcements, hold a pet show, even set up a Pimms’ tent (no judgement here).

Look out for the Big Bear, the Pegasus and Draco the dragon.

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May/June 15

ADVENTURES AT HOME

Adventures at home

I’m a big fan of planning fun-filled family adventures at home. Here’s some of our favourites from my book Adventures at Home, available here.

Mini Olympics

Wildlife hunting

Our garden Olympics is an annual favourite. Open the games with a (tissue paper) Olympic flame and homemade hanging flags, followed by competitive rounds of egg and spoon, sack races, hula hooping, bean bag throwing and swing ball. Keep score on a chalkboard and finish with salt dough medals award ceremony.

Find out who you share your garden with, using a nature guide to help with identification.

Encourage some new residents with a log pile house for insects, feeders for birds, a compost heap for worms, upturned pots for frogs and a colourful flowerbed for bees and butterflies. Keep an illustrated journal of what you see.

Family heritage

Reading nook

Ask relatives about their own adventures, jotting them down as you go. If the weather is rubbish, this is the perfect excuse to scour old family albums full of photos of when they were young.

A reading nook is a wonderful place to spend a lazy afternoon.

Set up a den or a tepee, make it cosy inside and fill a basket with books.

And if the weather is kind, ask them to take you around their old haunts.

16 May/June

Make the most of little ones curled up in your lap for story time. Or even write your own story together.

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GIVEAWAYS

Win a family holiday with Away Resorts!

Win a three or four night stay for a family of up to six people at an Away Resort of your choice.

Welcome to the world of Away Resorts! Experience one of its fabulous UK locations, from countryside to coast. Fall in love with a new type of holiday - where your accommodation is off-the-scale amazing and new experiences await at every turn. A holiday to create ‘remember when we did that?’ moments that will last a lifetime.

Explore the New Forest, Hampshire, Tattershall Lakes or Boston West in Lincolnshire, Mersea Island in Essex, Barmouth Bay in Wales, Mill Rythe on Hayling Island or Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight.

APPLY HERE by 18 June 2022. T&Cs apply.

Smoby Flextreme Discovery Sets to giveaway!

Turn your child’s imagination around!

Apply for a FREE Bean Plush 22cm Care Bear* Care and share with Care Bears Bean Plush!

Worth £34.99 each 5 available

APPLY HERE Magazine Familiesonline.co.uk

APPLY HERE T&Cs apply

Magazine

*while stocks last T&Cs apply

May/June 17

FOOD

Cooling summer treats Get the kids involved in making these perfect treats for hot summer days.

Club tropicana ice cream cake

Watermelon & strawberry slushies

Vegan orange lollies

Easy strawberry ice cream

Quick banana ice cream

Fruity ice-lolly pens

Nutty caramel & choc sundaes

Frozen banana lollies

Raspberry lemonade slushies

18 May/June

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TRAVEL

Vacation staycations It’s not always easy to know whether the holiday destination you’ve found online is truly family-friendly. Families asked the experts at Tested

by Tots for their tested and rated recommendations for your next break.

Sandy Balls Holiday Village, New Forest

Excellent facilities, and service. Activities for all.

Catgill Farm, Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire

Charming and family-run On-site facilities.

Cherry Tree Farm Camping, North Devon

Sandylands Holiday Park, Ayrshire

Drayton Cottage, Isle of Wight Home from home, walk to beach, relaxing, secure garden, BBQ.

Forest Holidays, North Yorkshire

Beautiful cabins, peaceful, beach nearby.

Forest activities.

Ham Bottom, Somerset

Holiday Inn Kenilworth, Warwick

Park Plaza London Riverbank

Beautiful yet cosy.

Excellent facilities.

Self-catering lodges, with trampoline, slide, and climbing frame.

Familiesonline.co.uk

Great value & location to explore local attractions.

300m from beach, surf gear hire, food truck & more.

Features the capital’s first hotel room designed by families for families.

May/June 19

TOYS

It’s time to play outside!

If you’re looking for some entertaining garden activities for the summer, here are our recommendations.

Target Ball Game

Soft Archery Set

Wheelbarrow Set

Family garden game with giant inflatable Velcro target. All ages. £19.99

Soft, safe and durable, this set is great way for kids to discover a new hobby. Ages 8+. £39.99

Let budding gardeners develop their own green world. Ages 3+. £12

My First Giant Bubble Kit

Family Paddling Pool

Garden Tumble Tower

Youngsters will love these eco-friendly giant wooden wands.

Ages 3+. £21

Big enough for families to chill out together.

Ages 6+. £75

Great backyard game builds a tower over 3ft.

Ages 5+. £35.99

Ladybird Wheely Bug Ride-On

Wavy Kids Slide

Sandpit Picnic Table with Lid

Suitable for decking and driveways. Easy to ride!

Ages 1-3. £67.50 20 May/June

Outdoor classic offers a fast slide and 5.8ft of fun.

Ages 3+. £54.99

Keeps up to four children entertained for hours.

Ages 3+. £79.99 Familiesonline.co.uk

ADVENTURES OUTDOORS

Family adventures outdoors We asked our friends the Meek family for some top picks from their book 100 Family Adventures. Here’s what they have come up with.

Sleep on a beach

Eat nettle soup

Build a bridge

Be lulled to sleep by the sound of crashing waves.

Surprisingly fresh and light!

Kids love the excitement of building a natural structure.

Go on a scooter safari

Venture behind a waterfall Connect to the power and awe of a waterfall.

Make a rope swing

Put some ‘natural’ back into the outdoor play experience.

Go on a forest night walk

Go coasteering

Don’t go with the flow

Borrow some extra scooters explore the local area.

Children will love the excitement of the forest at night.

Familiesonline.co.uk

A nature trail along a rocky coast. Scrambling, swimming and rock hopping.

Head ‘off piste’ - follow a stream in reverse!

May/June 21

Care and share with Care Bears Bean Plush!

Apply for a FREE Bean Plush 22cm Care Bear* Perfect company for your child’s adventures APPLY HERE

*while stocks last T&Cs apply

Magazine

22 May/June

*while stocks last T&Cs apply Familiesonline.co.uk