Families Hampshire North Magazine Jan/Feb 2020

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IN THIS ISSUE

Successful ‘business mum’ is seeking 5 working partners to work part-time from home, alongside and without compromising family commitments or current career.

Top eco resolutions for 2020

If you have a supervisory, managerial, sales, marketing, recruitment or self-employed background, or you wish to develop an extraordinary lifestyle

Early years special

please call Vicki King 07501 433 922

Supporting anxious children UK short break ideas

Issue 36 January/February 2020 familiesonline.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk Families Hampshire North

In this issue 3. News & views

Hampshire North Issue 36 I Jan/Feb 2020

5. Education news

Managing Editor Rebecca Carr editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk 07789 882 467

6. Early years news

Advertising Claire Clarricoates claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk

8. Eating disorders: a father’s struggle

What’s on listings compiled by Katie O’ Brien events@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

10 UK short breaks for 2020

Cover image: ©Monsoon 2015 Printed By Holbrooks Printers Ltd

9. Using baby science to soothe your newborn 11. Kids activitiy corner 12. What’s on in January & February 15. Top eco resolutions for 2020

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© Families Hampshire North Magazine 2020 Families Hampshire North is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Hampshire North are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Hampshire North.

Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Hampshire North; our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

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7. Supporting anxious children

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News

National Storytelling week National Storytelling Week takes place from 1 to 8 February and is a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world. We are all immersed in stories from conversations during which we re-tell events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs firstly to be a good speaker and listener.

Above all though, storytelling is fun. Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds - both real and imaginary.

National Storytelling Week takes place in storytelling clubs, theatres, museums, schools, hospitals, spoken word venues, and care homes. visit www.sfs.org.uk for more information.

A new year and a new start With the New Year many of us take stock and review our lives.

Sadly for some, this can mean making a New Year’s resolution to get a divorce. If this is the case for you, your first port of call should be to get some legal advice from a family law solicitor. Phillips Solicitors will listen to your concerns and discuss your options, letting you know what your rights are, as well as those of your former partner.

Their objective is to help you as quickly and effectively as possible with the best outcomes for you and your family.

Whatever the issue you face this New Year, Phillips Solicitors can help you and your family find a way forward.

To find out more about divorce or separation legal services or to arrange a meeting with one of their divorce solicitors, call 01256 854633, or visit www.phillips-law.co.uk/family

Would you rent baby clothes?

Babies can get through an alarming number of outfits in a day, so there’s no getting away from the fact that you will need plenty of sleepsuits in different sizes, each of which will only fit for a matter of months or weeks.

So how to you avoid ending up with piles of clothes your baby has outgrown?

For more and more new parents, the answer is simple: rent.

Two UK companies have introduced an alternative which they believe solves this problem as well as being affordable and environmentally sustainable by reducing waste. The alternative also reduces time spent by parents constantly re-selling and purchasing clothes.

Families pay a monthly subscription, return outgrown clothes and then receive the next size up, in line with their baby’s growth and the changing seasons. Clothes are professionally cleaned and must pass quality control before being sent to the next renting family. For more info, visit bundlee.co.uk or www. bellesandbabes.co.uk

Call for nature hour in schools Wildlife Trusts are calling on the government for every child in the UK to spend one hour outside in nature, every day, as part of the school curriculum.

New research by The Wildlife Trusts shows outdoor play has major benefits for the development of young children including boosting confidence, better relationships with teachers and classmates and an increase in wellbeing and health.

The study examined 451 children aged 8 or 9 years old across 12 areas of England to look into the effects of regular outdoor activities on children’s wellbeing. It found that children’s wellbeing dramatically increased after they had spent time outdoors. Not only did they gain additional social benefits, but they showed high levels of enjoyment, too.

For the full report visit www.wildlifetrusts.org

Children of same ability missing out Britain’s got talent – but we’re still wasting it. That’s the main finding of a recent report by researchers from Oxford University.

Children of similar cognitive ability have very different chances of educational success; it still depends on their parents’ economic, socio-cultural and educational resources.

This contradicts a commonly held view that our education system has developed enough to give everyone a fighting chance.

Helping you and your family find the right way forward www.phillips-law.co.uk 01256 460830 legal@phillips-law.co.uk Phillips Solicitors Ltd, Town Gate, 38 London Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 7NY familiesonline.co.uk

The research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, found that only about half of the difference in educational attainment between children from advantaged and disadvantaged parental backgrounds is due to differences in their cognitive ability. The other half is due to other factors associated with their backgrounds.

Experts are now calling for government to acknowledge that formal qualifications are only one channel for upward mobility for children of disadvantaged backgrounds.

More info: www.ox.ac.uk/news Families Hampshire North 3

News

Space Explorers at Milestones Museum Blast off this February and set a course for mission control at Basingstoke’s Milestones Museum, where Space Explorers, an out of this world brick adventure will be taking budding astronauts on a journey through the solar system. Hosted in association with BRICKLIVE, creators of interactive family events and experiences for brick fans worldwide, visitors to Hampshire’s museum of living history between Saturday 15 February and Sunday 19 April can explore more than 20 space-related models meticulously created using toy bricks. Adventurers will also have the chance to complete two interactive mission trails, ride a flying saucer and get creative with a brick pit and space mosaics.

Space Explorers runs from Saturday 15 February to Sunday 19 April. Save 10% on admission when you book online. For more information and to book tickets visit www.milestonesmuseum. org.uk.

Air quality worse indoors?

A new report into the state of air pollution in UK households has found that our homes are experiencing dangerous levels of indoor air pollution.

The report commissioned by Clean Air Day found that nearly half of UK homes have high indoor air pollution as a result of dangerous levels of formaldehyde and other pollutants.

Data also shows that outdoor air pollution adds to indoor air pollution; it builds up in the home, taking longer to disperse inside than outside.

According to the British Lung Foundation children are particularly sensitive to poor indoor air quality as their lungs are proportionally larger in relation to their body weight than adults and immature immune systems mean they are less able to fight off any problems that arise from polluted indoor air.

Sources of indoor air pollution include smoking, faulty boilers, open fires, gas cookers and heaters, as well as irritant chemicals from new furniture, air fresheners and household cleaning products.

More info: www.cleanairday.org.uk and www.blf.org.uk

Vintage inspired knitwear for the modern day baby and toddler

www.etsy.com/shop/emilyandevelyn 4 Families Hampshire North

Perform is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year!

£40 Intro Discount Quote EK140220

Families recently chatted to founder, Lucy Quick.

How did Perform start?

I was a musical theatre actress in Oliver! at the London Palladium and I loved working with children. I had a vision for a drama school that wasn’t about talent or auditions; where performing arts would be used to develop what we now call the 4 Cs: confidence, communication, coordination and concentration.

Where is Perform at now?

Starting with two classes in 2000, we now run 472 schools across the South East and West, employ over 250 teachers and have almost 8000 children attending weekly.

What’s the secret of Perform’s success?

We put child development at the heart of everything we do.

What does the future hold?

Opening more Perform schools across the country - we’re just launching in Nottingham and continuing our confidence crusade to help children fulfil their potential through drama, dance and singing.

What are you most proud of?

My teachers. They are the most inspirational bunch of talented and enthusiastic people you’ll ever meet.

Try a FREE no-obligation dance or drama class in Bramley,

Basingstoke and Fleet visit www.perform.org.uk/try and don’t forget to use code EK140220 to receive a £40 introductory discount when you book.

Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes in North Hampshire Confidence building fun for 4 -12s.

A unique mix of drama games, dance and singing specially developed to bring out every child’s true potential.

Classes are kept small to ensure lots of individual attention.

Clift Meadown Pavillion Bramley, RG26 5BH Drama 4-7’s, Fri 4pm & 5pm Zebon Community Centre Fleet, GU52 0ZE Drama 4-7’s, Mon 4pm & 5pm, Tues 4pm Drama 7-12’s, Mon 5pm & Tues 5pm Hatch Warren Community Centre Basingstoke, RG22 4YF Drama 4-7’s, Tues 4pm & 5pm www.perform.org.uk/try familiesonline.co.uk

A wider education at Yateley Manor

Does your child need help with Maths?

Even though a child starting out in Nursery or Reception will follow the Early Years Curriculum, their experiences can differ hugely.

Billy told his Mum he was scared and worried about Maths; he struggled and dreaded Maths tests as he was sure he would fail.

Primarily children need to be happy and feel safe. Beyond that there are milestones for the children to meet at different ages but an education should go further and there should be no ceilings on learning. Every child is different, needing different support at different times. They have different skills and interests.

At Yateley Manor our focus is on the individual from their very first day. Opportunities build confidence. Our young children swim weekly in the school pool, visit the woodland learning area for outdoor exploration, attend ballet and modern dance classes, have French lessons and select from our numerous food counters at lunch. They have the use of the extensive grounds including fields and playgrounds. They may even like to try the climbing wall, Aeroball or outdoor stage.

To find out more about Yateley Manor, come along to their open mornings on Friday 31 January or Friday 28 February at 9.15am.

Visit www.yateleymanor.com

Ofsted ratings driving up house prices Families in England are paying a house price premium of as much as £100,000 to make sure their children live within the catchment of schools rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, new analysis suggests.

Researchers analysed the Ofsted ratings of 20,545 secondary and primary schools in England and found that average house prices often reflect the quality of the local school.

The average price of a house in England with top-rated schools nearby stands at £331,605, according to research by comparison website Confused.com. This is about £38,600 more than the average price of homes with schools rated ‘good’ by Ofsted nearby, about £78,000 more than in areas with schools that ‘require improvement’ and nearly £100,000 more than in postcodes with schools rated ‘inadequate’.

A similar study by the Department of Education found that house prices are 8% higher near the best performing primary schools.

To view the report, visit www.confused.com

Help YOUR child discover their CONFIDENCE and enjoyment in MATHS

Claim your FREE pack at

MathsClubByPost.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

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Education news

Since starting Maths Club by Post Billy’s confidence has flourished and he says he feels smarter as he gets most of his Maths correct. At parents evening the teacher commented that his engagement during lessons has improved significantly and he has a much more positive at-titude towards Maths.

His Mum, Kelly says, “He likes to receive Maths Club by Post packs and he can’t wait to get started!!”

If, like Kelly, you can see that your child worries about Maths, get a free pack from Maths Club by Post and help your child flourish too. Visit www.MathsClubByPost.co.uk for more information.

Sleep lessons for school children School children across Britain may be offered sleep lessons to help tackle the problem of insomnia in young people.

Children and young people’s sleep is being seen as an increasingly important issue.

According to the British Medical Journal, there is increasing evidence emerging that lack of sleep has a major impact on children’s mental and physical health, as well as learning. A recent study by the BMJ suggests that sleep has a greater impact on an adolescent’s mental wellbeing than bullying, physical activity and screen time.

The sleep lessons are aimed at children ages 7 to 16 years and are available as part of the PSHE curriculum. The lessons focus on giving children strategies for falling asleep and raising awareness of how sleep needs change in adolescence.

Experts say the increase in sleep problems is down to a combination of higher obesity levels, excessive use of social media before bedtime and a mental health crisis among young people.

More info: www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

Across the globe, the Kumon Maths and English Programmes advance students beyond their school level.

Contact your local Instructor for a free assessment.

Basingstoke North 01256 636233 Basingstoke South 01256 533234 kumon.co.uk Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.

Families Hampshire North 5

Early years news

Encouraging selfcontrol in young children Developing self-control begins at birth and is a skill that is critical to children’s future success and overall healthy development. It enables children to cooperate with others, to cope with frustration and to resolve conflicts. Young children learn these skills through interactions with others and guidance from parents, caregivers and early years practitioners.

Play Predictions for 2020 Early Years Specialist, Claire Russell, predicts the top five children’s play trends for the year to come.

1.

Versatile toys and play resources - As awareness steadily grows around sustainability, parents will start thinking more about how many toys their children have and how much they actually need, steering their little ones towards those resources which offer greater potential for play i.e. the more ways something can be played with the better!

2.

Making memories - Leading on from the first point, 2020 will see a greater emphasis on making those precious moments together count. Instead of buying more toys or giving actual tangible gifts, we’ll put a higher priority on spending our time and money-making magical memories.

3.

Learning about the natural world - We will continue to seek out activities that teach our children about, and encourage their curiosity in nature, giving them a greater appreciation and understanding of the world around them and an increased motivation to better look after it as they get older. Are you spotting a theme here yet?

4.

Expressing our feelings and emotions - This was one I made last year and with mental health being talked about more and more, we will in turn seek to give our children the space, tools and language required to better express their feelings and emotions.

5.

More coding and ICT - As artificial intelligence continues to gather pace with a fifth of our workforce estimated to be automated by 2030, (McKinsey Global Institute) we will be investing more in the kind of play which will help our children learn and develop the skills which will become essential components of the future workplace.

How do Jubilee Day Nursery encourage self-discipline in children?

Set clear expectations - One of the most common reasons for temper tantrums or challenging behaviour in young children is simply that they do not know what to do or expect in a given situation. Set clear boundaries and give a child advance warning before a transition - use timers, calendars, visual charts or checklists to help them understand the routine and what is happening next.

Be consistent - The more consistent you can be, the quicker a child will learn to regulate his or her own behaviour. As we consistently follow through, we model self-control for children.

Make eye contact - Make sure you establish eye contact with the child when communicating with them. Get down to the child’s level, use appropriate words and demonstrate at the same time.

By doing this, you’re teaching them the critical link between communication and focus.

Don’t overload children - It’s important to give children the time to process what has been asked of them. Give simple instructions to follow and/or a clear alternative.

Slow children down – Remember to encourage children to stop and think.

Acknowledge positive behaviour - Over time, young children will internalise the idea that we do not always have control over situations, but we can control our responses.

Be Reflective - Sometimes children learn the most through simple experiences and through honest reflections.

To find out more about Jubilee Gems Nursery call 0118 983 4018 or visit www.jubileegems.co.uk

A happy learning environment at Overton Montessori School Overton Montessori is situated in the heart of the village of Overton. They provide a fantastic Montessori educational method for 2-7 year olds, giving each child a stimulating learning environment where each child is free to explore and learn at their own individual pace or in small groups. Children have access to all areas of learning by using beautiful concrete materials.

They also provide ballet, french, sports, gardening and forest school in their outdoor classroom.

There is a high ratio of staff to children, which never exceeds 20 children in the nursery.

Their belief is to make learning a happy, fun, exciting and nurturing experience for each and every child we teach.

To book a visit please contact Sharon Jagged by calling 01256 770197

6 Families Hampshire North

As we seek to live more responsibly, parents and carers will be enlisting the help of toys and resources which support this ethos, encouraging sustainability and helping raise ethically minded children.

Future proofing our children, both emotionally and from a practical point of view, will become more important - building their resilience and preparing them for an ever-changing professional landscape which continues to be influenced by the growth of technology.

We are starting to see a backlash to consumerism, partly in line with the rise in sustainable living, and people are beginning to place more value in experiences over things. We are becoming increasingly aware that we not only need to educate our children about the importance of protecting our planet for future generations but also, ensuring our children are prepared for what the world might look like in another 10-20 years.

Claire Russell is the founder of playHOORAY! After having her son in 2014, she decided to use her teaching experience to create and share activities online inspiring other parents and practitioners working with young children. www.playhooray.co.uk

OVERTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL

An Accredited Montessori for 2-7 year olds We offer a friendly, secure and happy learning environment to nurture and protect your young learners.

Large outside garden offering a forest school environment along with Ballet, Sports, French, Cooking and Nature Walks.

CALL THE TEAM ON 01256 770 197 OR 07748 642 166 We look forward to hearing from you……

Term Time Monday - Friday 9am - 3pm St. Luke’s Hall, Winchester Street, Overton RG25 3HT

familiesonline.co.uk

Early years

Practical strategies for supporting an anxious child

By Alicia Eaton

Once they’ve finished, fold the piece of paper and put it into the Worry Box. Put the lid firmly on the box and put it away.

Once a week, sit down with your child and take out all the pieces of paper in the box and read through the worries one by one. Encourage your child to be pleasantly surprised at just how many worries took care of themselves. Remember: most of the things we worry about never happen!

Encourage an attitude of positivity Negative thinking can easily become a habit that’s hard to break.

Switching your child’s thought patterns around will help to prevent this from happening.

Encourage your child to keep a journal. This can be a physical notebook to record events or doodle in, or they can use any devices they may have for the same purpose.

We often hear that today’s children are more anxious than previous generations. Growing up in an environment with worrying news items about climate change or terrorism, an endless stream of exams and the digital nightmare of social media competitiveness all contribute to this heightened sense of anxiety. No wonder then that many of today’s parents are finding it a struggle to deal with their children’s anxieties.

But there are simple things parents can do to help. Here are some simple strategies which you can incorporate into daily life to soothe anxiety and help your children feel calmer and more at ease.

Practise breathing techniques Anxiety can lead to a shortness of breath which in turn creates a pale complexion, sweaty hands and face, tightness in the chest and even giddiness or fainting. “Take a nice deep breath” is a traditional phrase that we’re all familiar with, but taking a deep inward breath is precisely what an anxious person doesn’t need to do. Anxious feelings can be caused by having too much air trapped in the lungs, which gives the sensation of not being able to breathe properly.

Each day, ask your child to write down three positive things that happened. These can be quite simple to begin with: we had pizza for lunch or the maths teacher forgot to set homework.

If it’s easier, you can introduce this technique conversationally, either in the car or at the dinner table. Start the ball rolling by mentioning something good that happened to you that day.

Too many of us fall into the trap of only talking about the problems and difficulties that we encountered during our day.

Alicia Eaton is a children’s emotional wellbeing specialist based in London’s Harley Street and author of First Aid for your Child’s Mind available from Amazon (£12.99). For more information, visit www.aliciaeaton.co.uk

Toys and games can help children practice controlling their breathing and here are some useful ways to introduce this concept.

•

a hand-held windmill toy with sails;

•

blowing bubbles through a wand

•

blowing up balloons;

•

blowing bubbles in a drink through a straw;

•

playing blow football;

•

blowing a feather from one side of a table to the other;

•

blowing up an imaginary paper bag through a scrunched-up hand.

Not only will your child feel calmer after playing these games, but they’ll get a feel for how to control their breathing more effectively when they are feeling anxious.

Create a worry box If you have a child that’s stuck in a cycle of worrying about future events and repeatedly asking “yes, but what if…..,” it will be more helpful to restrict the amount of time given over to discussion about these worries.

Find a box. It can be an old shoebox, or a small, attractively decorated one so long as it has a lid and can be closed easily. Explain to your child that this is going to be their personal Worry Box. Put a supply of paper and felt-tips inside the box. Each time your child gets stuck in a cycle of worries, ask them to take a sheet of paper from the Worry Box and choose a coloured pen. Having a good selection of coloured pens is useful because you can ask your child what colour they think this particular worry is.

Ask them to write down or draw a picture of the worry.

familiesonline.co.uk

•

• For babies and children, 3 months to 5 years of age.

Set in over 60 acres of gardens & woodland, with a working farm.

• Forest School sessions.

• A highly skilled and caring team.

• Freshly prepared food.

• Funding available.

For more information, please visit:

jubileegems.co.uk School Road, Padworth, RG7 4JA 0118 983 4018 | info@jubileegems.co.uk Families Hampshire North 7

Parenting

Five things anorexia taught me about fatherhood

By Mark Simmonds In the spring of 2013, Emily, my daughter, then aged 17, almost died. She was suffering from anorexia nervosa, the most lethal of all mental illnesses.

Her weight had dropped to 70 pounds, and she needed a feeding tube inserted in her nose to stay alive. During the 6 year war against Ana (the name we ‘affectionately’ gave the illness), Emily had been forced to abandon her A-Levels and spent 12 months in three eating disorders clinics.

She had self-harmed, become severely depressed and threatened suicide. So, what did this challenging period teach me about being a father?

Learn the Language of Irrational

When somebody experiences serious mental illness of any kind, their brain breaks. In the same way that a person with a broken leg cannot walk, a person suffering from depression or anorexia, for example, cannot think straight. The neurotransmitters are not speaking to one another. It was no different with Emily. She forgot how to be rational, logical, sensible. But she did respond well to being listened to, empathised with, encouraged and hugged.

front of her. Ana threatened to take all that away. My wife and I realised that it was up to us to take her by the hand, look into her eyes and promise her that everything was going to be alright. We told her that the ‘real’ Emily was simply in ‘hibernation,’ enjoying a little rest, but when she emerged, life would be even brighter than it had been before.

Having suffered with mental illness myself, I also understood that Emily would find this hard to believe, but what she needed more than anything was hope, even if it was just a slither.

Be Decisive and Pro-Active

So, it’s April 2014; Emily has been ill for 18 months. We have just been told by a psychiatrist that she will need at least a 6 to 12 month stay in an eating disorder clinic. The problem is that there are no beds available anywhere in the country. I had to act. I could not afford to be indecisive. So, I telephoned every single NHS clinic in the country, pleading for a bed. I was fitting in my day job in between calls. I had become that rare breed, a multi-tasking male!

Eventually, I struck lucky. A bed became free and we were spared watching Emily not eating, withering away in front of our eyes and on the point of collapse. The moment she was admitted to Cotswold House clinic in Oxford, we experienced an overriding sense of relief.

Divide and Conquer

the illness thoroughly. I also used my management training skills and a deep understanding of mental illness to try and guide Emily out of the dark place she was in. Emily and I would sit down in the kitchen and use post-it notes, pictures and mood boards to paint a picture of what life might look like without Ana.

Replenish your Resources

I would go for a walk with the dog, religiously, every day. I would meet my friends for a pint or two in the local pub or go on a bike ride around the neighbouring villages. These were not acts of selfindulgence but absolute necessities. Mel had her own equivalent small luxuries that kept her sane. We had to look after ourselves if we were going to be able to care for our sick daughter.

Alongside Emily, we won the war against Ana. Our daughter is now 23 years old, weight restored. The neurotransmitters are talking to one another once again. She is living and working in London. We are immensely proud of her.

The one silver-lining from the Anorexia Wars is that the experience has given all of us the resilience to deal with most things that are thrown our way.

For that Ana, and that alone, I thank you.

If my wife and I had not worked closely as a team, I really don’t think that either of us would have survived the illness intact, let alone our daughter. We brought different strengths to the table. Mel was the practical one who got things done. Doctors’ visits.

Trips to clinics. Special food shops. Planning meals. I hunted down the most qualified eating disorder specialists and researched

Mark Simmonds is the author of Breakdown and Repair, a Father’s Tale of Stress and Success (Trigger, £9.99).

Encouraging a positive body image in children

By Gabrielle Nash

Provide a Picture of Hope

Emily was a kind and considerate daughter, level-headed and talented in many walks of life. She had just secured an excellent set of GCSE results and she had everything in

We live in a society dominated by images of perfected bodies, styled hair and flawless skin. It’s hard to ignore the endless stream of these on social media, television and magazines and our young children are even more vulnerable. As they learn all about the world, they’re at risk of developing a negative body image.

What might be startling is how early it can begin to develop. Between the ages of 3 and 4 a child begins forming important relationships which start influencing their image of themselves.

Constant negative messages about body ideals (weight/hair/skin) can result in negative health outcomes in a child; weight gain, binge eating and poor self-esteem, all of which can have a lasting impact. A positive body image enhances a child’s self-acceptance and self-compassion, as well as good physical health.

Signs of negative body image •

Refusing foods because “it makes me fat”

8 Families Hampshire North

•

Regularly commenting on body size or shape of others

to eat more fruit and vegetables because they’re good for me.”

•

Feeling self-conscious in certain items of clothing

•

Feeling self-conscious in PE

Intuitive eating. Katie Mcghee, a children’s nurse, recommends a promising new approach to healthy eating focussed on eating to appetite: “Intuitive eating can be an empowering strategy for children to develop trust in their bodies resulting in positive psychological outcomes including a good body image.”

If your child is showing signs of a poor body image, Dr Esther Burkitt, a developmental psychologist at the University of Chichester recommends you: “engage your child in a conversation about uniqueness and valuing difference rather than dismissing it if a child declares body dissatisfaction.”

Tips for encouraging a positive body image It is never too early or too late to start.

Remember children learn their behaviours from you so where possible adopt a positive body image towards yourself.

Model good eating behaviour. Enjoy your meals and eat a variety of food. If you’re trying to eat well, tell your child “I am trying

Be kind. Dr Victoria Cann, an expert in youth and gender from the University of East Anglia, believes we should “encourage kindness in children and to have an open heart, and to extend this kindness to themselves as well as others.”

Be media savvy. When you can, engage with your children about images or statements you know to be negative and encourage them to challenge them. e.g. complain about an advert they feel is negative.

More from Gabrielle Nash @TheLondonishmum

familiesonline.co.uk

Early Years

Using baby science to soothe your newborn

By Vanessa LoBue soothing for a newborn as well. Research has shown that infants who are carried more cry substantially less than infants who are placed in front of a mobile. And although people might tell you that too much carrying will spoil your babies, there is no evidence to support this idea. In fact, research suggests that carrying has long-term benefits for emotional health, as well as short-term benefits for sleep and reduced crying. Indeed, infants who are held and cuddled as babies are the most likely to be healthy and well-adjusted as adults; the more they are held as babies, the better they function later on.

Babies start learning before they’re born.

In the third trimester, they begin to learn about what’s most familiar to them, and develop preferences for these things, perhaps because they are comforting. For example, they develop a preference for familiar tastes and smells, like the smell of their own amniotic fluid, or flavours from their mothers’ food. Most importantly, there’s evidence that we can promote a soothing and sleep in the short-term and emotional development and even literacy skills in the long-term by leveraging the science of newborns’ love of the familiar.

One example is touch. In the third trimester, fetuses have typically grown so much that they fill up all the space that their mothers can provide for them, likely resulting in the sensation of being compressed, or tightly bound by the walls of the uterus.

The familiarity of this sensation could make swaddling—or being compressed tightly with blankets - calming, mimicking the feeling of being inside the womb.

Consistent with this idea, research suggests that babies who are swaddled sleep longer and cry less than other babies.

In the same way, skin-to-skin contact might be particularly soothing as well, as babies are used to being surrounded by the warm pressure of the sides of the womb. Like swaddling, research suggests that skin-to-skin contact is related to better sleep and reduced crying, as well as a variety of other benefits including lower stress responses, and better established breast-feeding routines. In fact, because of the benefits of skin-to-skin contact - especially for premature babies who don’t typically get held as much after birth compared to babies who are born at term - many hospitals are now promoting as much skin-to-skin contact as possible starting from birth.

Besides touch, newborns also become accustomed to rocking and swaying in the third trimester, moving with their mothers’ bodies, swaying back and forth as she walks around during the day. In fact, babies are often born with day and night mixed up, since they are used to being rocked all day long as mum walks around, and still during the night. This can mean they wake up at night when she lies down to go to sleep!

One last preference that parents can use to soothe babies is familiar sounds. By the time babies are born, most will prefer the sound of their mother’s voice to all other voices, and there is evidence that they can even learn to prefer the familiar rhythm of stories that they’ve heard over and over again while in the womb. This could make their mother’s voice, and perhaps even familiar stories or songs particularly soothing to a newborn. In fact, even though you might be embarrassed to use your best “baby talk” voice out loud, research suggests that babies love the drawn out, high pitched nature of baby-talk or what researchers call “motherese”.

The use of “motherese” has even been suggested to help babies parse their first words from a long stream of speech.

Talking to babies in general can promote language development and literacy, so talking to your baby as much as possible might not only help with soothing, but also with later communication.

Vanessa LoBue is the author of 9 Months In, 9 Months Out: A Scientist’s Tale of Pregnancy and Parenthood, recently published by Oxford University Press. She is an expert in the field of child development, particularly in infancy and she writes a monthly column for Psychology Today called The Baby Scientist.

The familiarity of the motion of walking could make both carrying and rocking

Gender reveal parties becoming popular

Next Issue March/April Holiday clubs I Education I Easter

The American trend of “gender reveal parties” to announce the sex of a baby is a growing trend in the UK. Celebrated at an earlier stage in pregnancy than a baby shower, a gender reveal party announces whether expectant parents will be giving birth to a boy or a girl.

Sometimes this will be a surprise for the couple themselves with some asking the sonographer at their 20 week scan to write down “boy” or “girl” on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope. It is then given to a friend or relative who organises the party.

Traditional ‘reveals’ include a cake with blue or pink sweets hidden inside, a pink or blue confetti-filled piñata or a guest taking off a hat to reveal a pink or blue wig. But more dramatic announcements, including fireworks are becoming more and more common. familiesonline.co.uk

Book now call 07812 218331

editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk Families Hampshire North 9

Holidays 2020

UK short break ideas for 2020 Short breaks are becoming increasingly popular with families in the UK. Budget airlines, busier lives, and the desire to see lots of different places in a shorter amount of time are just some of the reasons why families are opting for them. Apparently short breaks are also good for your mental health. Psychologists claim that people who take them are much happier than people who take long holidays. This is because people’s enjoyment and enthusiasm for their destination may start to wane after more than a week away.

Adventure Awaits Taking a break to try a new sport or have an outdoor adventure will be popular in 2020. Whether it’s spending the weekend in a cosy cottage in North Wales to go on the world’s fastest zip wire (www.zipworld.co.uk) or exploring the stunning scenery of the Pyrenees. The Adventure Creators (www.adventurecreators.co.uk) are a small, friendly tour operator that specialises in multi-activity holidays in this mountainous area. Activities include canyoning, rock climbing, mountain biking, river rafting, and high rope adventures. An in-situ holiday manager is on hand throughout your stay to answer any questions and ensure everything runs smoothly, as well as to give you recommendations for the best family-friendly restaurants in the area. Holidays are available May-September.

Unusual European City Breaks Reykjavik is a perfect place to visit with a family because it is small in size and easy to explore, with plenty of colourful buildings, interesting food and cosy cafes in which to enjoy coffee and cake. You can take day trips to explore the stunning waterfalls and hot springs of the Icelandic landscape.

Or why not visit Bari in Italy? With its host of historic buildings and winding streets, it’s fun, noisy and perfect for families that like to wander and soak up the sunshine. There are lovely beaches nearby and you can also enjoy the regular opera and ballet performances at the recently restored Teatro Petruzzelli.

Eco-Friendly Stays With awareness growing of the effect of travel on the environment, think about travelling by train, which is much greener. Amsterdam, Bruges, Bordeaux, Lyon, Strasbourg and Cologne can all be reached by rail in under 6 hours from London. Then there are eco-friendly destinations such as Slovenia (www.slovenia.info/en) where 54% of the land is under protection. It also has beautiful coastal towns to explore and activities like white water rafting and hiking to try. Half of the country is covered in forest, so it is really one of the greenest countries in the world.

10 Families Hampshire North

By Claire Winter

Waterside Breaks Beautiful Scotland is a fantastic destination all year round. The country is celebrating a year of Coasts & Waters in 2020 so there’s never been a better time to explore its beautiful rivers, lochs and coastline. You can also enjoy fantastic events as part of the celebrations, such as the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival and Scotland’s Shores at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which will feature classic film screenings and a special outdoor coastal experience.

More information at www.visitscotland.com/about/themedyears/coasts-waters. Also check out www.watersidebreaks. com which has a wealth of waterside accommodation options from riverside cottages in the Norfolk Broads, to luxury lakeside lodges in the Cotswolds to lovely seaside holiday homes.

Theme Park Fun Copenhagen has loads of fun things to do for families and is just a two-hour flight away.

It’s also home to not one, but two amusement parks.

Bakken, with its 82 year old wooden rollercoaster, is just ten minutes’ drive north of the city and is the world’s oldest amusement park, dating back to 1583. Tivoli Gardens consists of 15 acres packed with pagodas, roller coasters, and fairground rides, including the world’s tallest carousel. You could also check out Efteling: World of Wonders in Holland (www.efteling.com/en). It’s about 1.5 hours from Amsterdam and has a fun, fantasy, storybook setting and a variety of novel accommodation options. You can immerse yourself in the enchanted forest, where there are carousels and fun rides for the younger children, while thrill seekers can battle dragons on the rollercoasters.

The BIG Garden Birdwatch this January The Big Garden Birdwatch The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 25 to 27 January and is the largest wildlife survey in the world. The information collected helps monitor bird species in the UK, and is great fun for children.

To take part, you need to watch the birds in your garden or local park for just one hour at some point over the three days and report your results to the RSPB. You can request a FREE Big Garden Birdwatch pack from the RSPB which includes a bird identification chart and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden.

To make it fun, challenge your children to see who can spot the most birds. Take a bike ride to a local park to look for birds, or make a day trip out of it and spot birds in a new place. More info at www.rspb.org.uk.

familiesonline.co.uk

Kids Corner

DOT TO DOT

PICTURE CROSSWORD

Join the dots to create a creature you may see in your garden this winter!

.. .. . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . ..

31

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35 36 37

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

1

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28

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27

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46

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When you’ve finished, why not colour it in?

WINTER ❄

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FUN

Find these winter words in the grid.

Then read the remaining unused letters on the bottom three lines from left to right to find a secret message!

❄

hot chocolate ski frozen thaw ice puddle snowman robin scarf sled

❄

❄

{

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E T A L O C O H C T O H

C L N E F E B A K H U S

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familiesonline.co.uk

Y L O R R O B I N A N W

G A D D R N E N P V P I

S O S O L E T R C E U D

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C U S N O W M A N L D E

A H M G C U K T I O D L

R O A H A N O G L T L S

F H R O E M E R M S E N

O Y W Z M E P I T O T T

R E O L E O E O B H H E

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I R A U L A B C P F A R

F K V S K I R S I F I W

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Families Hampshire North 11

What’s on

What’s on in

January & February

Your essential guide to family events compiled by Katie O’Brien.

We take great care in compiling our events guide, but check with the venues before you leave home just in case times or prices have changed since we went to print.

Every Monday, Tuesday & Friday Rhymetime Andover Library Chantry Centre, SP10 1LT Come along and join in the fun with songs and rhymes for 0-4 years and their parent/carer. Every Monday at 2pm and every Tues and Fri at 11am.

Free.

Every Monday Stepping Stones Alton Maltings Alton, GU34 1DT A toddler group for 0-4’s and their carers. A place to meet new friends, relax and chat over a cup of coffee or tea, while the children play, paint and have fun in a safe and friendly environment. Every Monday (during term time only) 9.30-11.30am. Free.

Every Tuesday Homework Club Basingstoke Discovery Centre Festival Place, Basingstoke, RG21 7LS Need help with your homework?

Then bring it along to the Homework Club in the children’s library. For children aged 5-11 years, parents will need to stay in the library. Every Tuesday 4-5pm. Free.

Every Wednesday Toddler Time Andover Library Chantry Centre, SP10 1LT Listen to a story or two at a fun interactive session followed by a simple craft. Great for toddlers aged 2-5 years. Parent/carer must remain with their children. Every Wed 1111.45am. Free admission.

Every Wednesday Rhymetime Basingstoke Discovery Centre Festival Place, RG21 7LS Thirty minutes of songs, rhymes, rhythm and actions to get your little one moving and singing! For children up to pre-school and their parent/carer. 10am and 11.30am.

Free.

Every Wednesday Wonderful Wordsmiths Basingstoke Discovery Centre Festival Place, RG21 7LS A fun creative writing club for 8-13 year olds. 4-5pm. Free.

Every Friday Storytime Basingstoke Discovery Centre Festival Place, RG21 7LS Stories and songs for the under 5’s.

Parents/carers must remain in the library with their child. 10.30am. Free.

Ongoing Baby Animals & Explorers Trail Marwell Wildlife Winchester, SO21 1JH Escape the frosty weather and head into a warm paradise at Marwell Zoo’s Tropical House. Experience face-to-face encounters with a diversity of wildlife, including Rica the Linne’s two-toed sloth, mouse deer, pygmy marmosets, a host of colourful birds, butterflies and more!

6 January – 1 March 125 Years In The Gardens The Vyne Basingstoke, RG24 9HL A trail to discover the conservation challenges of keeping The Vyne garden’s history alive. There is also a family version of this trail available.

10am-4.30pm. General admission.

11 January – 2 February Microscopic Marvels Winchester Science Centre Winchester, SO21 1HZ Explore the weird and wonderful microscopic world through a fun and engaging live show and handson activities. Get hands-on with microscopes in the Invention Studio and take a tour of the unseen, from mesmerising minibeasts to everyday objects as you’ve never witnessed them before! 10am-4pm. Admission: £13.20 per person, including live science show and Invention Studio activities; Under 3’s free. Planetarium tickets sold separately.

11 January – 22 March The Needle’s Eye Whitchurch Silk Mill Whitchurch, RG28 7AL An exhibition to celebrate the excellence and diversity of stitched textiles produced by members of

the Basingstoke Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild. 10.30am-5pm.

Free with general admission price.

12 January Trainmaster Andover Picket Twenty Community Centre Andover, SP11 6TY Come and play with the handson train track, trains, fancy dress, crafts, ride on trains and more!

Two sessions: 9.50am-10.50am or 11am-12pm, or book both and play for longer for a reduced price! Children £6.50 (discounts for siblings).

17 – 26 January Winter Lights Whitchurch Silk Mill Whitchurch, RG28 7AL The Mill and its gardens will glisten and sparkle with an all new magical, after dark illuminated trail. The Mill will be transformed by spectacular installations, dazzling light artworks,

Two for the price of one entry with this voucher.

Expires 24/12/20

Home to one of Britian’s most pioneering nature writers.

Alice Holt Forest

• • • • •

Activity Centre Gruffalo Sculptures New play areas Go Ape Cafe

Explore his home and gardens and learn more about the nature on your doorstep.

Lots to do for all the family. Cafe, gift shop, and lots of events.

Selborne . HantS . GU34 3JH

forestryengland.uk

www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1159058

12 Families Hampshire North

familiesonline.co.uk dogshow-ad99x134.indd 1

06/12/2019 15:39:04

leaving the dark winter evenings aglow. 3pm-8pm. Free with general admission.

18 January – 18 April Microsculpture Willis Museum Basingstoke, RG21 7QD Combining art with science, visitors can view images up close and discover more about these fascinating creatures through their shape, colour and sculptural forms.

For families there is a fun interactive area in the gallery for your budding science enthusiasts to explore lots of bug-related fun experiments and activities. 10am-5pm. Free, donations welcome.

20 January & 17 February Wildlife Tots St. Cross Meadow Nature Reserve Winchester, SO23 9SD Fun discovery activities and games in the outdoors for pre-school children and their parents or carers.

20 Jan –The Gruffalo & 17 Feb – The Smartest Giant in Town. 10–11:30am. £5 per child.

25 January Trainmaster Whitchurch All Hallows, Whitchurch, RG28 7AS Come and play with the hands-on train track, trains, fancy dress, crafts, ride on trains and more! 1.30pm2.30pm. Children £6.50 (discounts for siblings), grown ups and babies are free, plus sibling discounts.

25 January Star in a Jar The Lights Theatre Andover, SP10 1AH A warm-hearted story, with music, that perfectly captures the friendship between two siblings; the lovely set design taking the action from park

to school, and back home. 11am. £8 per person.

26 January New Year Little Pickles Market Kempshott Village Hall Basingstoke, RG22 5HN This is a family market with nearly new tables selling baby/ children’s items. Prams, maternity items, clothes, shoes, toys, books, highchairs and much more. 1-3pm. £1 entry per adult.

28 January Kaleidoscope The Lights Theatre Andover, SP10 1AN Kaleidoscope is a brand new piece of theatre for babies aged 6 - 18 months inspired by research into how a baby’s sense of sight develops and how they instinctively begin to categorise colour. Various sessions - 9.30am, 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm.

Tickets are £12 (to include 1 adult and 1 child), £2 for additional adults.

1 & 2 February Raymond Briggs’ The Bear Theatre Royal Winchester Winchester, SO23 8SB The story of a little girl who befriends a mischievous polar bear, this playful, funny and heart-warming tale is one of imagination and growing up. Sat 1.30pm & 4pm, Sun 10.30am & 1.30pm.

8 February – 1 March Destination Space Winchester Science Centre Winchester, SO21 1HZ Embark on a mission through the galaxy with an exciting spacethemed live science show and Invention Studio activities. Learn about the current search for life on Mars, the latest space telescope

technology and discover the specially designed sites across the Earth that can launch rockets far into the cosmos. 10am-4pm. Admission: £13.20 per person, including live science show and Invention Studio activities; Under 3’s free. Planetarium tickets sold separately.

8 February Storytelling for Children Gilbert White’s House Selborne, GU34 3JH To celebrate National Storytelling Week we will be hosting a storytelling session with DD Storyteller, which includes interactive traditional tales and a chance to make a woodland animal mask. Two 1 hour sessions, 1pm and 2.30pm. Tickets are £8 per child, which includes one free accompanying adult.

14, 22, 29 February Owls by Moonlight The Hawk Conservancy Trust Andover, SP11 8DY Join the Hawk Conservancy for a spellbinding evening when you can step into the wonderful world of owls. Watch these mystical birds twist and turn through the night sky and make sure you duck as they skim silently over the top of your head. The evening will start will a delicious hot supper and a short presentation from the team to give you an insight into the conservation and research projects that are undertaken with British owls. 7pm.

Adults £35, children £21.

15 – 23 February Spring is in Sight Hinton Ampner Near Alresford, SO24 0LA Discover how plants, animals and people welcome in the new season

What’s on with this spring family trail. 10am4pm. £2 per trail sheet plus general admission.

15 February – 19 April Space Explorers – An Out Of This World Brick Adventure Milestones Museum Basingstoke, RG22 6PG Explore over 20 space-related brick models, complete two interactive mission trails, ride a flying saucer and much more! 10am-4.45pm.

Normal admission price.

15 & 16 February Snowdrop Weekend Gilbert White’s House Selborne, GU34 3JH The annual celebration of the Snowdrop! Tour times to be confirmed nearer the time. Half price admission and garden tours running throughout the weekend.

17, 18 & 19 February 8 to 12 years Cookery Course Newlyns Farm Shop, Café & Cookery School Basingstoke, RG29 1HA These courses provide budding Young Chefs with the opportunity to learn new skills which will last them a lifetime. The recipes are devised to enable them to cook with seasonal and locally sourced produce. Various sessions depending on day: 9.30am, 10am, 1.30pm. Tickets from £40 per person.

18 & 20 February Love Birds: Eggs & Nests Gilbert White’s House Selborne, GU34 3JH Look at real bird’s nests and find out about the different nesting habits of our native birds. Learn to identify

Winter Lights 17 TO 26 JANUARY 2020

Whitchurch Silk Mill and its gardens in the heart of rural Hampshire will glisten and sparkle this January with a spectacular installation featuring dazzling lights and an illuminated trail.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit WWW.WHITCHURCHSILKMILL.ORG.UK

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Hampshire North 13

What’s on

See Whitchurch Silk Mill in a new light this January The Whitchurch Silk Mill and its gardens in the heart of rural Hampshire will glisten and sparkle this January with an all new magical, after dark illuminated trail from 17-26 January. The Mill will be transformed by spectacular installations, leaving the dark winter evenings aglow. This is a first for the Mill as it features dazzling light artworks, installations and an illuminated trail.

As part of the illumination, there will be a series of events including a business networking event, artists’ development event, a health and wellbeing day and a skills project involving local young people. There will be markets and family activities over the weekends.

It will be an amazing time of year to visit the Mill as the unique facades of this weaving icon will be brought to life with colour, shape and movement, and the tree canopies and river vista will be drenched in grand illuminations reflected in the crystal clear waters of the River Test. Vintage lanterns in the Mill and light pipes on the lawn continue the surprises both inside and outside the Mill.

For more information visit www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk

Show your love for the birds at Gilbert White’s House

different eggs and find out what you can do to help our birds this Spring.

Suitable for ages 5 and up. 11am2pm. Free with normal museum entry.

18 February Make & Take Tuesday Whitchurch Silk Mill Whitchurch, RG28 7AL Drop in and make some woolly wonders! Celebrate wonderful wool with some simple crafts and fun activities to help you find out all about how a sheep’s fleece becomes a ball of wool! 10.30am-12.30pm.

Free with general admission.

19 February Love Birds: Make a Bird Nesting String Gilbert White’s House Selborne, GU34 3JH Give a little help to our feathered friends this Spring by weaving a string of natural nesting materials to hang in your garden. Learn about where native species like to nest as well as finding out the unusual and surprising nesting habits of birds around the world. Suitable for ages 5 and up. 10-11am and 1-2pm. £5 per child, accompanying adults free.

19 February Daytime Games & Fun on Skates The Harlington Fleet, GU51 4BY The Harlington have combined with ‘Disco Skate’ to bring the joy of Roller Disco to Fleet during half term.

Suitable for all ages. 2pm- 6pm. Drop in and pay £5 on the door.

20 February Gilbert White 300 Talk Series Gilbert White’s House Selborne, GU34 3JH Ronnie Davidson-Houston will talk about his collection of The Natural History of Selborne (confidently believed to be the most complete collection of its kind), which he donated to the museum in 2010.

6.30pm.

14 Families Hampshire North

20 February The Adventures of the Gingerbread Man Whitchurch Silk Mill Whitchurch, RG28 7AL A real treat for the very young as they join our hero on his adventurous journey in search of somewhere better. Suitable for children aged 2-7, accompanying adults are free. 11am12pm and 2pm-3pm. £4 per child.

20 February Half-term cookery Lainston House Winchester, S021 2LT Grab the kids and join chef Sylvain Gachot for a hands-on cookery workshop at Season Cookery School at five-star Lainston House hotel near Sparsholt this half-term.

Spend your morning creating both savoury and sweet dishes that you will enjoy for lunch in the converted well house, with a glass of wine for grown-ups. The parent and child course costs £95 for one adult and one child.

21 February Bullet Journal Workshop for Teens Chawton House Chawton, Alton, GU34 1SJ Join a hands-on workshop to learn about the bullet journal system and how it can help you stay organised and on-schedule, as well as a pathway to a more meaningful and constructive life, by using tools like indexing, list-making and future logs.

2pm-4pm. £30 per person (includes materials and refreshments).

21 February Roller Disco The Harlington Fleet, GU51 4BY The Harlington have combined with ‘Disco Skate’ to bring the joy of Roller Disco to Fleet. Suitable for all ages.6pm- 9pm. £5 (including skate hire). Purchase on the door only.

Show your love for birds this Spring by coming to one of Gilbert White’s House’s ‘Love Birds’ family activities. On Tuesday 18 and Thursday 20 February from 11am-2pm you can explore nests and eggs.

Look at real bird’s nests and find out about the different nesting habits of our native birds. Can you match the birds to their nests? Learn to identify different eggs and find out what you can do to help our birds this Spring. This activity is free with museum admission.

On Wednesday 19 February, 10-11am and 1-2pm at the Field Studies Centre, give a little help to the feathered friends by weaving a string of natural nesting materials to hang in your garden. Learn about where native species like to nest as well as finding out the unusual and surprising nesting habits of birds around the world. This activity is £5 per child with a free accompanying adult.

Both activities are suitable for ages 5+.

Visit www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk

Join in with all the fun at Alice Holt At Alice Holt Forest, explore walking and cycling trails, play areas and find magnificent wooden animal play structures as well as the ever popular Gruffalo sculptures.

Children will love the Timberline play trail and the new Dormouse Crossing and Centenary Trees play structures provide hours of play for all the family.

Join in the fun with the new Shaun the Sheep Glow Trail – available until March 2020.

Experience the forest from up high on the thrilling Go Ape Tree Top Challenge course, hire a bike or if you simply want to relax, picnic in the fresh air or enjoy lunch at the café. Why not finish your visit with a quiet stroll or bike ride in one of the more remote parts of the forest. www.forestryengland.uk

Enjoy Micro Marvels and Destination Space at Winchester Science Centre this January and February Discover Micro Marvels every weekend from 11 Jan – 2 Feb. Explore the weird and wonderful microscopic world through a fun and engaging live show and interactive activities. Plus, embark on a mission through the galaxy with an exciting space-themed live science show and Invention Studio activities with Destination Space, daily from 14 – 24 Feb and every weekend from 8 Feb – 1 March.

Admission: £13.20 per person (with GiftAid), including live science show and Invention Studio activities. Planetarium tickets sold separately.

Visit www.winchestersciencecentre.org for more details. familiesonline.co.uk

Top

Eco Resolutions for 2020

Family Life

By Claire Winter

Resolutions are on everyone’s mind at this time of year. Whether you love or loathe them, there’s no avoiding the fact that they can be a great way to kickstart the new year.

2019 was a turbulent year, which saw a significant rise in eco-activism. Greta Thunberg has inspired school strikes and protests around the world. Concentrating on consuming less and being more environmentally aware has never felt more urgent.

So why not make your sure your list of resolutions is focused on sustainability for this year?

Take a No-Waste Pack Encourage the whole family to be prepared and to take a refillable water bottle, coffee cup, and canvas bag with them when they go out. Cutting down on disposable coffee cups, plastic water bottles and bags will dramatically reduce the amount you add to landfill each week.

Skip Meat One Day a Week Research shows the drastic effects of raising cattle and other livestock on the environment. Raising meat consumes both water and land. Why not start dropping meat from your family’s diet one day each week? Start with a meat-free Monday and remember every meatless meal you consume helps the environment.

Avoid Plastic Plastic is terrible for our environment as it needs a huge amount of petroleum to produce it. It also never breaks down and adds to the water problem the world is currently facing. Set a goal to avoid plastic as much as possible. Buy your food in glass jars and investigate local shops that offer refill services for your shopping basics. You can also try to buy from companies that use environmentallyfriendly packaging. Ask for change, call out shops and restaurants that use too much plastic on social media by tagging Greenpeace and use the hashtag #pointlessplastic.

Install Rain Barrels Rain barrels are an easy way to save water. Head to a local home improvement store or surf online stores for a rain diverter. Install to gather the rainwater from your gutter system. You can use this water during the summer for your lawns, gardens or animals; it will also help reduce your water bill.

Start a Compost Bin Composting is a great way to reduce the amount you throw away. Composters work better in the sun as they yield the best results at high temperatures. Ensure that the compost receives heat and water and make sure to rotate the contents in familiesonline.co.uk

the compost bin occasionally. You can fill your compost bin with lawn clippings, brown paper bags, and organic food scraps. This will help you to reduce food waste and create nutrient-rich soil that you can use in your garden.

Avoid Wet Wipes Wipes that are flushed away are responsible for clogging up our sewers.

Even if you don’t flush them, they are another singular-use disposable that is filling up our landfills every day. If you use them to take makeup off, could you make reusable wipes from soft cotton squares that you simply wash and reuse?

Avoid Fast Fashion Fast fashion is killing the planet. The resources needed to produce and dispose of all the clothing produced globally earns the fashion industry the title of the world’s number one pollutant. Start thinking about what you purchase. Can you buy second hand clothes or reduce the amount you are buying? Think about investing in a smaller capsule wardrobe, which contains interchangeable pieces instead of buying throwaway high fashion clothes.

Buy Seasonal and Local Foods Consider your purchasing decisions around the food you buy for the family.

Make it your new year’s resolution to only buy seasonal and local foods. If you can afford it, buy organic because fewer pollutants and pesticides are used in the production of organic food. Visit your local farmer’s market to buy soap, honey, and jewellery from the stallholders. Investigate the journey each food makes and buy goods with the shortest travel time. Do you really need asparagus or green beans from another continent?

If one girl protesting outside the Swedish parliament can start a global protest movement against climate change, we can all do our bit. Small actions undertaken by large numbers of people really can make a big difference.

Families Hampshire North 15

Friday 7th February

A co-educational independent nursery and school (2 to 13 years), building confidence through opportunity

Open Mornings Friday 31st January, 9.15am Friday 28th February, 9.15am

Yateley Manor

01252 405500 registrar@yateleymanor.com www.yateleymanor.com

St Nicholas’ School fleet • hampshire

An independent day school for boys aged 3-7 and girls aged 3-16

Open Mornings Wednesday 5th February 2020 9.30am – 12.00pm

• • • • • •

Small class sizes Inspirational teachers A caring, family ethos Purpose-built facilities Outstanding results ‘Excellent’ ISI Inspection

• School buses run from Alton, Bentley, Basingstoke, Bramley, Chineham, Hook, Old Basing, Odiham, Hartley Wintney, Fleet, Farnham, Rowledge, Yateley, Camberley, Farnborough and Aldershot

Saturday 7th March 2020 10.00am - 1.00pm

Year 7 Entrance Exams 10th January 2020

T. 01252 850121 | E. registrar@st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk @stnicholasschool |

@stnicholasfleet

st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk

16 Families Hampshire North

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