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FR EE
TAKE M E
South East
HERE COMES IN THISSPRING ISSUE Easter egg hunts Holiday workshops and daycamps Cracking the sleep routine What’s on Where to go, what to see, what to do in spring
Issue 190 March April 2018
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One year, we were so clever at hiding mini Easter eggs around the house and garden that the children were still finding them at the end of May, much to their delight. Apart from their late garden treasures: “No, that’s not a creme egg filling; it’s a slug. Put it down, son...” Then there’s the year we left egg buying until the shops had sold out - disaster until hurrah and phew for the grandparents who arrived bearing gifts; thus earning themselves sticky, chocolatey kisses. Lesson learnt - we’re ahead of the game now. With clocks-forward, Mother’s Day and the Easter hols all coming up, the next few weeks are looking rather glorious. Robina Cowan, editor
IN THIS ISSUE 3
Local News and Views For Jimmy receives £5000, rugby and drama for children, and spring fundraisers
4-5
Easter Fun Holiday workshops and daycamps, egg hunts and decorating delights
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Bounce into Spring Helen Schoeb’s bursts of energy to get children moving at home
CREATIVITY IN EVERY CORNER
7
Top tips from children’s sleep guru Lisa Artis
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MARKET
ARTS&CRAFTS MARKET ANTIQUES&COLLECTABLES Nearest Station DLR Cutty Sark
Education News Maths and English support, recipes for children, champion swimmers, and teachers support technology in the classrooms
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Weekends Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
Hatch a Cracking Sleep Plan this Easter
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A Guide to International Child Relocation The legalities of moving abroad with your children when a relationship breaks down, by specialist family law solicitor Mandeep Gill
#greenwichmarket www.greenwichmarket.london
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The Book Page Justine’s Easter basket is filled with book ideas for little ones, and the grown ups who love them
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What’s New Socks that stay on, safe booster seats for cars, times tables over the tea table, and Land’s End is in Game of Thrones, right?
12-15
What’s On Our pick of the best events, shows and workshops for family days out
May-June issue out 3 May, deadline 13 April
Families South East PO Box 11591, London SE26 6WB 020 8699 7240, editor@familiesse.co.uk
www.familiesse.co.uk for back issues and our media pack
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Families South East is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families South East are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families South East. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families South East, its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.
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A CT IV IT IES FOR CH I LDR EN
LocalNews email your news to editor@familiesse.co.uk
Thanks a million, Axis Barry and Margaret Mizen, parents of Jimmy Mizen and founders of For Jimmy have received a cheque for £5,000 from Alan Curbishley, patron of the Axis Foundation, as the Foundation celebrated giving away £1 million pounds to 110 causes. 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the murder of Jimmy Mizen in Lee Green. For Jimmy, the charity set up in his name, works to create the safest places for young people to grow up in; runs three not-for-profit, fundraising Good Hope cafes; and delivers Safe Haven programmes in schools across southeast London. The Vauxhall-based Axis Foundation is the charitable arm of family-owned contractor Axis, which donates to impactful causes and charities, such as funding for hospices, scientific breakthroughs and adapted minibuses, all within the communities the company serves. www.forjimmy.org www.axisfoundation.org
The Big Breastfeeding Cafe On 15 May, breastfeeding brand Medela is bringing together mothers across the UK to host their very own Big Breastfeeding Cafe in the comfort of local coffee shops, nearby halls or their homes. Mums are encouraged to celebrate and chat all things breastfeeding, share experiences and support each other over a cuppa and a treat. Planners can receive a complete package of everything they need to host an event, including expert advice from Medela’s in-house Lactation Consultant, posters, invitations, surprise treats and some all-important tea and biscuits! To sign up, register by email to medelamums@gmail.com; and find tips and advice online at www.medela.co.uk. • Did you know that there are breastfeeding drop-in support groups and cafes across southeast London? For advice and local centres, type ‘breastfeeding support’ into the search box at www.nhs.uk; also try www.nct.org.uk and www.laleche.org.uk.
Where did our lie ins go? Nothing stops lie ins quite like having children. Not only that, they are led by our actions and language, so we also have to be super excited about spending early mornings outside in the cold (don’t worry, the weather will get better). Jane Gomez, head of Growing Awesomeness at Try Time Kids’ Rugby reminds us that: “Outdoor sport is about more than physical exercise; it builds their immune system, improves their attention span and encourages teamwork, so that means you need to be on the sidelines all year round! A wise man once said ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing’, so wrap up your kids, shove a hot water bottle down your jumper and get outside!” Try Time Kids’ Rugby trains 2-7 year-old boys and girls in fun games in Belair Park, Dulwich. Read all about it and claim a free trial online. www.trytimekidsrugby.com/dulwich
S P R I N G FU N DR A ISE R S Wear A Hat Day is nearly here
Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddle Walk
Calling all schools, parents and teachers - please get involved in Wear a Hat Day 2018. Join in the fun as schools and families across the UK help raise funds for research into brain tumours. Taking place on Thursday 29 March, this is the UK’s premier brain tumour research fundraising event. Don’t worry if you can’t make it that day just choose another! In 2017, families and schools came together alongside other organisations and communities across the UK and helped raise over £300,000 to fund the charity’s vital research. This year’s target is £600,000; enough to keep a group of researchers funded for a year. It’s very easy to register online (it works really well on mobiles too), to receive a fundraising pack, and browse for ideas and inspiration to make your event a hattastic fundraising success. Register for Wear A Hat Day 2018 today, and together we will find a cure. www.wearahatday.org
Between 23 and 29 April, nurseries, early years groups, families and children up and down the country will be taking part in Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddle Walks to raise money for Save the Children. Last year 160,000 children took part across the UK and raised an incredible £243,000 for Save the Children’s vital work, and this year the charity hopes even more people will sign up, take part and donate. Free fundraising packs are full of Peppa Pig inspired activities to help you get started, with tips for great walks indoors and out, activities to get your walkers ready for the big day, and free Peppa Pig sticker rewards for every child who complete their walk. www.savethechildren.org.uk/how-you-canhelp/events-and-fundraising/muddypuddle-walk
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The perfect start to performing arts A new term lies just around the corner and with more children attending Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools than ever before, there has never been a better time to take to the stage than now. Performing arts classes are hugely enjoyable for children of all ages and they are an excellent way to build confidence and social skills. With classes in Bexleyheath, Deptford Bridge, Dulwich and across south London, why not book a two-week trial today? Call 020 8447 4530 or visit the website. www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk
The Hospice Mini Marathon On 29 April, 1500 children will be part of a 2.62 mile sponsored run, walk or jog around Royal Greenwich Park. Taking place a week after the Virgin London Marathon, the Hospice Mini Marathon invites children to dress up in their favourite fancy dress to enjoy the brilliant experience while raising funds to help support the work of the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice. Registration at £7.50 per child includes a special Mini Marathon medal at the end, plus entry into a prize draw for children who raise over £50 in sponsorship. www.communityhospice.org.uk
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Easter Holiday Clubs and Workshops ‘FUNKY CHICKEN’ MUSIC WORKSHOPS
SPARK4KIDS EASTER CODING WORKSHOPS
9-13 April in HERNE HILL, BLACKHEATH, CLAPHAM and STREATHAM, 01732 457100, www.funkymonkey.info Funky Monkey Keyboard Classes’ one day workshops for beginners have a different theme depending on the season and are a perfect opportunity to try out the keyboard and make music the fun way. Children learn in small groups how to write and play notes C-G and try some famous tunes using electronic keyboards. It’s a wonderful, relaxed introduction to practical and theoretical music, and with games, quizzes and art activities all based around music thrown in for good measure, you’ll be amazed how much they can learn whilst having fun! £45, £35 for siblings includes all equipment and a workbook to take home.
Easter Holiday coding workshops, 020 8090 1444, www.spark4kids.com Spark4Kids run holiday workshops to introduce children to children Computer Coding, Minecraft Modding, Robotics, Games Design, Python, HTML/CSS and JavaScript in a fun, engaging environment. Ages 5-7 years, and 8+. Visit the website for more details.
UNDER 1 ROOF HOLIDAY CLUB UNDER 1 ROOF, Unit 9, The IO Centre, Skeffington Street, Royal Arsenal Riverside SE18 6SR, 020 3247 4417, www.under1roofkids.com Under 1 Roof’s holiday club takes full advantage of the centre’s sports facilities and indoor and outdoor play areas, providing safe and fun childcare during school holidays. Ages 5-11, £25 per day or £100 for a full week.
SPORTS AND DRAMA CAMP 9-12 April, JULIAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL, Wolfington Road, London SE27 0JF, 020 3691 4576, www.moving-matters.org/index.php/julianholiday-camp Moving Matters and Nutty’s Children’s Parties have joined forces again to present their unique Sports and Drama Camp this Easter. The four days will involve various sports, games, drama games, acting, arts & crafts and above all, fun! Aimed at children who love physical activity and drama, this promises to be an exciting camp with plenty of variety on offer. Ages 6-11, 8.30am-3.30pm, £27.50p per day, book first online. For more info on Nutty’s Children’s Parties, visit www.nuttyschildrensparties.co.uk.
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HOLIDAY DROP OFF 26 March - 13 April, DULWICH COLLEGE SPORTS CLUB, Pond Cottages, West Dulwich SE21 7LE, 020 3488 1410, www.holidaydropoff.com Your children will have a blast at HDO’s fantastic multi-sports camps! Children take part in a whole range of incredible indoor and outdoor sports to keep them happy and active through the school holidays, including swimming pool inflatable sessions and HDO’s amazing inflatable obstacle course. Ages 5-14, 9am-4pm with extended hours available, from £37.50 per day, sibling and full week discounts available.
INTENSIVE TOUCH TYPING School holidays and termtime classes in SYDENHAM, 020 7515 1707 or 07961 427640, www.yes-tuitionandtraining.co.uk Learn a new skill with a touch typing courses run by YES. Children find them fun, and they work - most children are tapping away proficiently in just ten hours. Sessions can be booked to fit around other holiday commitments so children can progress at their own pace.
EASTER TENNIS CAMPS 3-6 and 9-12 April in LADYWELL, www.southeastlondontennis.com Four day group activities with professional coaches in weekly blocks. Each session includes tennis coaching, games and other team events, with a mini tournament at the end of each week. Beginners and improvers welcome in age bands from 4-15 years. From £13 per day/ £45 per four day course.
SPA VALLEY RAILWAY
EASTER EGG DECORATING 31 March, GREENWICH MARKET SE10 9HZ, 020 8269 5096, www.greenwichmarketlondon.com Decorate your own chocolate Easter Eggs, shop for hot cross buns, Simnel cakes and other treats, in London’s only historic market set within a World Heritage site where you’re sure to find something different. Open 10am5.30pm Tuesdays to Sundays, with many market shops and pubs open all week.
A BIG DAY OUT WITH PETER RABBIT 30 March - 15 April, Royal Botanic Gardens, KEW, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, www.kew.org Delight at the exquisite illustrated world of Peter Rabbit set against the stunning landscape of Kew Gardens. Follow a Peter Rabbit trail to find activity pop-ups for all ages. A trip to Mr McGregor’s potting shed will encourage visitors plant their very own seeds to take home and nurture. Elsewhere, youngsters can choose which Peter Rabbit character they’d like to be for the day and make some fuzzy bunny ears to match. The Easter extravaganza will celebrate the beauty of nature at Kew and encourage visitors of all ages to explore the wonderful world of fruit, vegetables and other edible plants, whilst learning about how they are grown.
WOODLANDS FARM TRUST EASTER TRAIL 30 March, 331 Shooters Hill, Welling, Kent DA16 3RP, 020 8319 8900, www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org Follow a trail to find hidden Easter eggs and spring animals throughout the farmyard. 10am2pm drop in, £2 per child includes a chocolate egg to take home.
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LEEDS CASTLE
PETER RABBIT AT KEW
CIRCUS FUN AT EASTER AT LEEDS CASTLE
E AS T E R E VE N T S DUSTY’S GIANT DUCK HUNT
HORNIMAN EASTER FAIR
FULHAM PALACE EASTER TRAIL
25 March - 10 April, LONDON WETLAND CENTRE, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT, 020 8409 4400, www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london Some of the ducklings have gone missing can you help find them? Pick up an activity sheet and set off to find giant rubbery yellow visitors throughout the wetland centre and look out for all the babies, bugs and buds in abundance too. There are prizes and yummy treats to be won, as well as a certificate for taking part. 10am-5pm, trail £1.
31 March - 1 April, HORNIMAN MUSEUM and gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ, 020 8699 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk Enjoy the Easter weekend at the Horniman with the whole family. Follow the Easter trail, create something crafty, have your face painted and join in family activities across the Gardens. 10.30am-4.30pm, suitable for families with children aged 3+, free.
2 April, FULHAM PALACE, Bishops Avenue, Fulham SW6 6EA, 020 7736 3233, www.fulhampalace.org Search around the museum and garden for clues that will lead you to a chocolate prize. 1-3.30pm, no booking necessary, suitable for ages 2+, £3 per child.
SPA VALLEY RAILWAY 30 March - 2 April, SPA VALLEY RAILWAY, West Station, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5QY, 01892 537715, www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk Experience a steam train journey, enter the Spot the Easter Bunny Competition for the chance to win a Day Out with Thomas event, join in with the face painting and arts and crafts and explore delightful heritage stations. Family tickets £30 for unlimited travel all day.
EASTER GARDEN TRAIL 24 March - 15 April, HALL PLACE AND GARDENS, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent, DA5 1PQ, 01322 526574, www.bexleyheritagetrust.org.uk How many Spring themed children’s poems do you know? Pick up a trail sheet and find them all hidden in the gardens. 10am-4.30pm, £2.50 includes a trail sheet and a small gift at the end.
CIRCUS FUN AT LEEDS CASTLE 30 March - 2 April, LEEDS CASTLE, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL, www.leeds-castle.com Prepare to be amazed this Easter holiday as ‘Tarzanna’ presents a playful aerial theatre show, where the performers literally climb, jump and swing through the air before your eyes. A fun filled show for the whole family where children can learn circus skills throughout the day, including the trapeze and tightrope! The fun continues at the Castle until 15 April with the Easter Quest. Seek out clues hidden around the Castle grounds on a fun quest for children of all ages. Answer each of the questions and receive a chocolate treat as a reward. There is an additional £1 charge for the Easter Quest. Both events are included in the price of admission - see more in our WhatsOn pages.
NATIONAL TRUST HUNTS VARIOUS VENUES, www.nationaltrust.org.uk Run through muddy woodlands, around mystical lakes and along nature trails on a Cadbury Egg Hunt. Take a picnic and make a day of it among spring flowers. There are over 250 hunts across the country - for full venue details and dates, check the Trust website.
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F A M I LY H E A LT H
Bouncing into spring By Helen Schoeb Although spring officially starts in March, it doesn’t yet mean the end of chilly and rainy days in the good old UK. Huddling indoors, it’s likely that our children are not getting the recommended 60 minutes’ moderate to vigorous daily exercise recommended by the World Health Organisation. Fear not though as Helen Schoeb has some great ideas for encouraging indoor exercise. Helen is the founder of MyRebounder, a business built on her passion to get kids active while having fun. You can even join in as well! 1. Create your own active games - Write a list of six activities, for example, hopping, star jumps and then roll a dice. The number rolled can then correspond to one of the activities. Keep rolling the dice until all the activities have been completed. Or make a set of activity cards or a chatterbox which has activities to complete. 2. Design an obstacle course - Make a route in your home for children to complete. Use things they can go around; can go over or through. Mark some spots to complete some challenges like balancing on one leg for a period of time. You don’t need to start moving furniture around, although this will certainly make it more fun.
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3. Use indoor exercise equipment - Get bouncing and stretching with mini trampolines, resistance bands and balance balls. Or use things you already have in your house. Do you have any stairs? What about something the right size and weight for your child to lift? Be imaginative incorporating everyday objects into a mini work out. 4. Have an indoor disco - Let your children create a playlist of their favourite songs. Change the lighting if possible, draw the curtains and blinds to make it a bit darker. Do you have any props they can use aside from the obvious hairbrush to sing into? Have a family dance-off, make up routines and get other family members to vote. 5. Set up an indoor treasure hunt - You can do this against the clock which should get them moving faster. Also, when finding the clues, rather than walking around the house why not mix it up and make them crawl on their hands and knees, hop or walk around on their tip toes. Hide things at different heights to encourage them to crouch down and stretch up.
Once the sun peeps out, get out your warmest clothes, waterproofs and wellies and brave the elements for a muddy walk or a trip to the local park. Summer will be here soon...
About MyRebounder MyRebounder make mini trampolines which are specially designed for children. Extensively safety tested, they are easy to fold away and great to use indoors. For orders and information, call 020 8088 0803, email info@myrebounder.co.uk or see more online. READER OFFER: MyRebounder are offering 10% off to Families readers - simply quote ‘Families’ at the online checkout. www.myrebounder.co.uk
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F A M I LY H E A LT H
Hatch a cracking sleep plan this Easter By sleep guru Lisa Artis
The Easter break can be a perfect time to focus on improving your child or teen’s sleep habits When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, diet, exercise, a comfy bed, healthy lifestyle and a good wind-down routine all contribute - and they’re just as important for teens and youngsters as adults. What’s more, at this time of year, limiting chocolate and sweet treats before bedtime is crucial to avoid sugar rushes that can keep children wide awake. Lisa Artis is a sleep guru at The Sleep Council. She shares her wisdom with Families: Parents need to know how much sleep their child needs but youngsters also need to be taught good sleep behaviour. If a child doesn’t get enough sleep, then the parents probably aren’t either and that can cause stress for the whole family. Of course, kids love Easter for all its sweet treats. Just make sure they don’t get that sugar rush too near to bedtime otherwise they’ll find it tricky to settle. Lack of sleep is something of a national epidemic, so it is particularly important for parents to help their children establish good sleep hygiene habits at an early age - not letting them stay up too late, sleep wherever they want and demanding snacks and attention in the middle of the night. There are plenty of good reasons to invest in your child’s sleep. A decent night’s sleep will help children do better at school, allow them to react more quickly to situations, have a better developed memory, learn more effectively and solve problems. Plus, it will make them less susceptible to colds and other minor ailments, less irritable and better behaved. Sleep deprivation causes increased hyperactivity and other behavioural problems, as well as damaging physical and mental development.
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COMPLETE NATURAL HEALTHCARE
Poor sleep habits from an early age can lead to long term sleep problems. An increasing body of evidence shows the damaging effects on children and teenagers of getting less sleep than they need - from weight gain to depression, poor performance and concentration to reduced creative ability and lower immunity to diseases. This comes at a time when the pressures of the modern world are definitely leading to decreased sleep times. There are so many different factors which can affect children’s sleep so check the obvious causes first, such as room temperature, light, noise, hunger or thirst. Other influences are illness (actual or impending), changes or stress in the family. If your child is struggling to get a good night’s sleep, try following these tips for a great night at Easter - and all year round; 1. Establishing and sticking to a bedtime routine right from the start until early teens can go a long way to minimising later problems. This is normally along the lines of teatime, followed by quiet play, bath, story and then bed. Bedtime should be around the same time each evening (although on non-school nights, older children already established in a good sleep pattern may be allowed to stay up later). 2. Don’t expect children to go to sleep immediately - after all, most adults don’t and they should be allowed to read or play quietly until they drop off. It’s still promoting a relaxing environment. 3. If your child can’t sleep don’t be tempted to get them back out of bed, instead encourage them to be quiet and lie down.
5. Ensure the environment is right for sleep it should be cool, quiet, dark and free from distraction. Ideally computers, gaming machines and TVs should be banned from the bedroom. However, if that’s unlikely, limit the use of these devices in the hour just before bedtime. 6. It’s also extremely important to make sure the bed is comfortable and supportive for a growing child - many parents think nothing of spending a fortune on shoes for a child’s growing feet but scrimp on a mattress. 7. Avoid chocolate and other sugary treats and drinks too near to bedtime otherwise that sugar rush could keep children up all night! 8. Know how much sleep your child needs. As a general rule of thumb toddlers need around 12 hours of sleep a night; children aged four to six - 101⁄2-111⁄2 hours; six-12 years olds - 10 hours; and teenagers - around eight to nine hours. 9. Never send children to bed if they’ve been naughty. It’s important the bedroom is known as a place of calm and relaxation, not anxiety or upset.
About The Sleep Council The Sleep Council is a not-for-profit body that works to raise awareness of the importance of a good night’s sleep to health and wellbeing. It has produced a library of free, specialist publications including The Good-Night Guide for Children, which provides helpful advice and tips on how to improve sleep quality for tiny tots to teens. The guides are available as free downloads. www.sleepcouncil.org.uk
4. Try not to get cross with your child if they’re refusing to go to sleep. This only aggravates the situation and doesn’t aid a relaxing atmosphere.
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EDUCATION NEWS
A boost to school work Kip McGrath Forest Hill opened in May 2011 and joined the 220 Kip McGrath centres operating in the UK. The centre offers expert and professional English, reading, spelling and maths tuition by qualified teachers for children in years 1-11. The centre is run by Elias and Susanna Boudjemaa. Elias is a qualified teacher with over 20 years’ experience, who has experience with special educational needs and behavioural problems of all kinds. His vast experience as a form teacher, class teacher and director of learning enables him to rapidly pinpoint children’s areas of need and establish the most effective ways to help them succeed and thrive educationally.
Charlton school launches recipe book of lessons
Susanna has over five years’ experience working with dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD pupils. Kip Mcgrath Forest Hill is open during term times after school from Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays. Free assessments are offered to new pupils. Call 020 8291 6603 for more information or book online. www.kipmcgrath.co.uk/forest-hill
Technology is good for learning Recent research indicates that a staggering 96% of teachers believe technology has had a positive impact on the way children participate and learn in lessons, while 56% believe that pupils are more engaged when technology is used, according to a survey conducted by Smoothwall, a web filtering provider for schools. An impressive 86% of teachers also say that technology has made them perform better and prepare more varied and exciting lessons. And parents are on board too. A survey conducted by The Knowledge Academy shows that 91% of parents believe technology is making it easier
for them to be involved with their child’s education and 68% say that technology has increased their ability to help children with school work. However, there are some concerns. At least a third of teachers are worried about using technology in class because they cannot control what each child is doing while it is being used. A similar number of parents also think that children already have too much access to technology and don’t need it at school. www.smoothwall.com www.theknowledgeacademy.com
Charlton Manor school pupils are now making their favourite healthy school meals at home, thanks to a new cook book written by their headteacher and school chef. Headteacher Tim Baker and school chef Flavio Hernandez co-wrote The School Chef because pupils kept asking them how they made the dishes they enjoy so much for their school lunch. The book includes 22 recipes which are the most popular with Charlton Manor pupils, including wraps, soups, sauces, cheese whirls, orange cake and super seedy flapjacks. There are also healthy cooking tips, questions and food facts from the Charlton Manor ‘griffins’ and a foreword by celebrity chef Raymond Blanc. The School Chef costs £15. Order by emailing acoulstock@charltonmanor.greenwich.sch.uk or visit the award-winning school’s website. www.charltonmanorprimary.co.uk
Kent Swimming Individual Championships When three girls represented Bromley High School at the Kent Swimming Individual Championships in Thanet, all were delighted to bring back Silver medals. Lilly-Marie Derry (Y7), Evelyn Davis and Annabel Smith (both Y9) offered their thanks to the school’s PE department: “It was a great
experience for us all - many thanks to the PE staff and special thanks to Mrs Bernatovitch for support.” Bromley High’s next open morning is on 4 May, and there are taster events through the year. www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net
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F A M I LY H E A LT H
A guide to international child relocation By Venters Solicitors
If following a relationship breakdown you are thinking about relocating abroad with your children, you will need to be aware of the relevant legal rules. You will need specialist advice from a solicitor to help the relocation to take place smoothly. In the excitement of a move abroad, taking legal advice may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However making sure the legal boxes have been ticked will mean that there are fewer complications following the move, leaving you and your family to enjoy your new home. When do situations of child relocation arise? The desire to relocate with children often occurs in international families where one parent is from another country and wishes to return to their home country following a relationship breakdown. This commonly happens when that parent wants to be closer to their family or maybe they have a new job offer abroad. Sometimes the parent has a new partner who lives abroad or they together decide for lifestyle or other reasons that a relocation is the best thing for their new family. Can I just leave with my children if I want to relocate abroad? Relocation to outside of England and Wales requires permission of the other parent and anyone else that has parental responsibility (as indeed does a holiday unless there is a relevant Court Order already). Parental responsibility gives a person rights and responsibilities for the children which includes the right to decide whether a relocation takes place. A mother will automatically have parental responsibility. A father will also have it if he meets certain criteria. Sometimes, others may have parental responsibility too, such as grandparents. Your solicitor will check all this for you.
How do I seek permission to relocate with my children? You can seek permission directly or with the assistance of a solicitor. Seeking specialist legal advice at the earliest possible stage is sensible as your solicitor will provide you with lots of useful advice about how best to increase your chances of gaining permission. At the beginning, you may not want the other parent to know that you have a solicitor. Therefore your solicitor will guide you on how best to ask for permission yourself. It is always a good idea to get the permission in writing and your solicitor will advise you about this. Relocating with children without the necessary permission is child abduction and this is why it is really important that you have specialist legal advice early. What do I do if the other parent refuses their permission to the relocation? Unless some exceptions apply, you would need to attempt mediation with the other parent. Mediation is an alternative way of resolving a dispute without going to Court. An impartial and professionally qualified mediator will assist you to reach a mutually acceptable settlement after exploring the issues around the relocation. Your solicitor can recommend an appropriate mediator and you can continue to consult with your solicitor in between mediation sessions. If mediation is successful and you reach an agreement with the other parent then it will be possible to make that agreement legally binding so that once you have relocated, you cannot be accused of child abduction. If mediation is not successful, your solicitor will advise you about making a Court application for the Court’s permission for the relocation.
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Is my Court application to relocate with my children likely to succeed? The success of your application will depend on very thorough planning. You will need to show the Court that the relocation is in your children’s best interests. Most parents will only be considering relocating if they truly believe it is best for their children. One of the things your solicitor will do to show this to the Court is to prepare extremely detailed written evidence setting out why your relocation is important to your family, how it is in your children’s best interests and how it can work taking into account the practical factors such as the children’s development, schooling, housing needs and contact with the other parent. This is a very involved part of the legal process and you will need to work closely with your solicitor on this. What happens when I have successfully relocated with my children? You may have some things to tie up either just before you relocate or shortly after depending on what the relocation Order specifies. This might be registering the English Order in the country to which you relocate, this can be helpful for both parents. Your solicitor will help you and put you in touch with a lawyer in the other country if needed. Permission to relocate will give you peace of mind that you have legally done what is needed and so your move cannot be undone. Mandeep Gill is a specialist Family Law solicitor at Venters Solicitors who have offices in Camberwell, south London, and Reigate, Surrey. Mandeep’s particular expertise is in international children cases. She can be contacted on 01737 229610 or email mandeep.gill@venters.co.uk.
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The Bookseller Crow
is a fantastic, volume stuffed shop run by some of the most knowledgeable bookworms in the business. Call in for the feel of a real bookshop, or if you’re too busy, pick up the phone or head to their website for a fast mailorder service. Justine Crow recommends this month’s best titles. There’s nothing quite like a spring morning full of promise to enjoy a cuppa on the back step in the freshest air, only to choke on next-door’s early constitutional Silk Cut Superslim (super smoky more like). Worse, Mussolini the pug is outside barking orders at imaginary foxes and cocking his leg on his young master’s toddler slide. When I take my tea out front instead, I’m deafened by the clang of scaffolding poles, plus my view is blocked by the ginormous Chelsea tractor that the woman across the road is simply unable to park in a normal space and therefore regularly abandons halfway across our drive like the hovercraft skidding in sideways up the beach at Southsea. Time to escape... LONDON’S GREEN WALKS by David Hampshire - Survival Books rrp £9.99. ... And it has been a proper thrill to learn that publishing has also rediscovered the fresh air. This offers twenty walks in many of the city’s gardens and parks, including, it says here, some “little known pockets of peace and quiet.” Evidently nowhere near my house then. LONDON ON SEA by Sarah Guy - Ebury rrp £9.99. And if you like your oxygen seasoned with the salty zing of ozone, head for one of fifty suggestions for days out on the coast within reaching distance of town, complete with tailed routes and local history. As well as braver sorties beyond the estuary, there are some obvious favourites including Whitstable, Ramsgate and Camber. Picnicking in the dunes of the latter, I recently overheard a baffled local surveying all us trendy families make a joke about middle-class sandwiches, just as my posh friend piped up shrilly: “Beatrice! Do you want focaccia or ciabatta?” GREAT BRITISH SEASONAL WALKS Pavilion rrp £2.99. This may well be a pocketsized book bearing the National Trust brand boasting that it is ideal for “relaxed strolls and families” but there are three words in that sentence that in my personal experience I find unlikely bedfellows. Nietzsche conjectured that “all truly great thoughts are conceived by walking” but I doubt he was pulling a muddy infant out of a rabbit hole when he coined that one. My philosophy is wrap up warm, have tissues in all your pockets and no deep thinking under any circumstances.
MY RSPB NATURE CLIPBOARD by Eryl Nash - Walker rrp £9.99. Ideal for small people who ordinarily protest when told they are going on a walk, whose thumbs are more accustomed to the sofa-bound click and thrust of a console than outdoor note-taking. There are spotter sheets to fill out en route, tips on footprint trapping and bird-feeding, and a poster to record wildlife encounters. In the digital age, never under estimate the novelty value of a clipboard and biro. MY FIRST BOOK OF NATURE by Camilla de la Bedoyere - Templar rrp £12.99. Can I just say that if I had the inclination, I’d type a row of applauding hand emojis here for the author’s name alone. Then a second round of clapping for a nifty book with vivid illustrations that introduces the diversity of the natural world to the pre-schooler for whom hitherto the outdoors has meant a pushchair in the park or toddle out into the garden. No, not on the slide until it’s been wiped. Too late... NEON LEON by Jane Clarke & Britta Teckentrup - Nosy Crow rrp £6.99. While not exactly a creature you’d expect to encounter on a ramble through British woods, this is a cracking picture book that the accomplished illustrator has clearly had fun with. Being blessed with a hide the colour of a Poundland bargain sticker, our eponymous chameleon struggles to find anyone else like him. Not that we have difficulty picking him out against the jungly foliage. It also features a QR code, another modern innovation I’m not entirely sure I endorse. Yes, scanning it enables the child to listen to the story being read, but on a mobile phone? Call me an aberrant reptile but - puts on tin hat - participation in picture books should surely be in a phone free zone. Cue the fusillade of excuses... “But I’m too busy to read to them...” FROG AND BEAVER by Simon James - Walker rrp £6.99. There are NEVER enough books around by Simon James. I think he’s the most underrated, under-published of authors and I cannot imagine my offspring’s childhoods unfurling without Dear Greenpeace on a loop. The quiet tale of Max, a baby superhero learning to fly, captivated my nephew and Leon and Bob, about recognition and friendship, is a title I often recommend (though it is rarely available). Here, I love his deft drawing as he relays the travails on
the pond when the neighbourhood newbie constructs a dam that causes absolute chaos, without a scaffolding pole - or badly parked car - in sight. WE ARE NOT FROGS by Michael Morpurgo Little Gems rrp £6.99. Wonderful colour illustrations accompany this silly story from an old hand about playing long jump and getting muddy in the garden. I never tire of the Little Gems imprint from those hard-grafters at Barrington Stoke who do their level best not to leave anyone behind in the reading stakes. Never mind the garden Olympiad, give these guys a medal! WED WABBIT by Lissa Evans - David Fickling Books rrp £6.99. And while we are on the subject of encouraging primary schoolers to sit down and read, you could do a whole lot worse than park this bonkers adventure under their twitchers. Lord alone knows what the author was on but I want some. REBEL VOICES by Eve Lloyd Knight and Louise Kay Stewart - Wren & Rook rrp £12.99. With the Suffragette centenary “celebrations” - an odd term given what they went through in order to attain something that is a human right - well underway here in the UK, what of those other women across the world fighting to be heard? The timeline at the foot of their stories is an eye-opener. YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK by Jamia Wilson, illustrated by Andrea Pippins - Wide Eyed Books rrp £14.99. Another barnstormer full of role models and history makers, featuring trailblazers such as the Victorian genius composer born in Holborn but - takes a proud breath Croydon bred, Samuel Coleridge Taylor, alongside the phenomenal present-day musician, Beyoncé; from Alexandre Dumas, géant extraordinaire of French literature to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, best-selling Nigerian author and writer of one my favourite recent novels ever, Americanah; man of colour, explorer Matthew Henson first set foot in the Arctic in 1890 and more than a century later, Misty Copland is lauded as one of the finest ballerinas on the planet - and I know my pirouettes from my jétes! These are heroes for us all. In fact, that’s it. I will not be discouraged any longer. I’m going straight back out in the garden to practice my pliés. That’ll shut up the dog and give us all a bit of peace!
The Bookseller Crow, 50 Westow St. Crystal Palace, London SE19 3AF Telephone: 020 8771 8831 email: info@booksellercrow.co.uk Twitter @booksellercrow www.booksellercrow.co.uk 10 Families South East
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What’sNew No more cold feet Annoying isn’t it, when your baby kicks off just the one sock? Sock Ons solve the problem by fitting over regular socks, keeping them firmly in place no matter how hard babies kick and tug. They were designed by mother of 7, Kezi Levin, who has sold over a million pairs to date and since added baby slippers, bandana bibs, knee protectors and cute foot finder toys. Find yours at JoJo Maman Bébé, major supermarkets, independent baby shops and online. www.sockons.co.uk Grab-and-go car booster seat Smaller than an iPad, the mifold booster seat is a grab-and-go car booster seat that is 10 times smaller than standard car seats, and just as safe. Three belt guides adjust car lap belts and shoulder straps to hold children across hip bones and shoulders. Just the job for holiday car shares or unexpected journeys, it meets European regulations and UK laws, and is suitable for 4-12 year-olds, £49.95 from John Lewis and Amazon. www.mifold.com
Where are we again? They are some of the UK’s best-loved landmarks, but boggled Londoners still seem unsure about where they are. Our poor sense of geography means some of us cannot accurately pinpoint Stonehenge, do not know where to find Land’s End and erroneously think the Severn Bridge is in Scotland. According to the latest research from Marriott Hotels: • More than a quarter (27%) of people in the capital were not aware the Severn Bridge connects England and Wales - instead mistakenly believing it links Glasgow to Edinburgh, or Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight • It has stood for thousands of years, but over a third (35%) of London residents ignored where to find Stonehenge. Time for a trip to Wiltshire • Most of us remember Pudding Lane as the place where the Great Fire of London began in 1666, but for one in eight (12%) it is where the Beatles recorded their first album, while another seven per cent claimed it is the home of The Great British Bake Off • One in five (19%) could not identify Land’s End as being in Cornwall. One in twenty (5%) even thought it was a fictional location in Game of Thrones To be fair, Londoners seem all too aware of their failings, with 63 per cent admitting their geographical knowledge of the UK is ‘average at best’. Two thirds of Londoners plan to go on at least one staycation in 2018 - good luck with yours! For fun, test your knowledge online and plan to point your car in the right direction... https://discover.marriottweekends.co.uk/
Mugging up on times tables Whether you’re an eight year old facing an obligatory test or an Education Minister floored by the prospect of bringing to mind the answer to 9 x 8, this helpful Times Table mug from Mclaggan Smith could be just what you need. Made of fine bone china, £9.50. Now, how many would two cost? www.msmugs.com
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LIBRARY LION AT THE ALBANY
AMIGOS MAGIC AT THE IVY HOUSE
MARK THOMPSON’S SPECTACULAR SCIENCE SHOW
GREENWICH THEATRE
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D IARY DAT E S F OR G R OW NU PS BRING YOUR OWN BABY COMEDY
THE MOONWALK LONDON 2018
VARIOUS VENUES, www.byobcomedy.com Relax and be entertained by the funniest comedy stars in the country at a BYOB lunchtime show. The UK’s premier baby friendly comedy club provides soft flooring, toys, buggy parking and baby changing at each venue so your baby is happy too. Every month there’s a brand new line-up. Tickets from £8.
www.walkthewalk.org Sign up to join thousands of walkers on 12 May this year for Walk the Walk’s iconic challenge, walking through the streets of London at midnight wearing brightly decorated bras. This year’s theme incorporates the Wild West: grab your partner and dosey doe while raising money and awareness for breast cancer. Ages 13+, registration £49.50.
MOTHERING SUNDAY 11 March, VARIOUS VENUES The UK has been celebrating Mothering Sunday since the 1950s by giving gifts and cards to show appreciation and love for their wonderful mothers, guardians or other female relatives.
T HEAT RE SH OWS EASTER FAMILY COMEDY MAGIC SHOW 2 April, THE IVY HOUSE, 40 Stuart Road, Nunhead SE15 3BE, www.magicmindreadingandmayhem.co.uk Amigo’s Magic and Magical Theo are back with two amazing shows for Easter Monday. There’ll be mayhem, comedy, one lucky person will have their stress removed, and lots of audience participation. Great family entertainment with a free Bunny Copter for all those attending. 1-3pm and 4-6pm, doors open 30 minutes beforehand. Tickets £8 per child, adult £10, family ticket £30 for four. This sold out last year so please book early to avoid disappointment.
THE ALBANY ALBANY, Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 5AG, 020 8692 4446, www.thealbany.org.uk TIDY UP, 11 March. When it starts out ship-shape, there’s only one way for it to go. Enjoy a dance-theatre performance that gets all messed up. 1 and 3pm, ages 3+, tickets £7, families £24. THE CLOUD, 18 March. A breath-taking collaboration of physical theatre and original beats, twisted in a political story about living in the digital age. A brand new dance theatre production by young people age 11 to 16 from Love2Dance. 2 and 6pm, ages 8+, tickets £5 adults, £2 children. LEWISHAM LIVE!, 24 March. Young artists and producers from the Albany present an astonishing night of music and dance as part of Lewisham Live! - an annual festival of music and dance in Lewisham. 7.30pm, ages 12+, tickets £5 adults, £3 concs. LIBRARY LION, 25 March. Everyone knows rules have to be followed, especially in libraries. No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But what would happen if a lion came to storytime? With songs, laughter, lots of joining in, and maybe even a big furry hug. But NO ROARING! 1 and 3pm, ages 4+, tickets £7, families £24.
MORE MAGIC FOR KIDZ, 7 April. Time-travelling magicians Morgan & West’s marvellous magic show full of crazy capers for the young, old, and everyone in-between! Expect the unexpected, believe the unbelievable. 1 and 3pm, ages 5+, tickets £7, families £24. DISCO KIDS, WITCHES AND WIZARDS, 15 April. Wee witches and sapling sorcerers, grab your broomsticks and fly on down to the Albany for a magical dance party with themed video, live performance and a spell-binding soundtrack. 2-5pm, under 7s, tickets £6, families £20. GRANDAD’S ISLAND, 22 April. Syd’s favourite person in the whole wide world is Grandad and Grandad’s favourite person is Syd. Join the intrepid duo as they head off on a heart-warming adventure filled with songs, laughter and jungles that will change their lives forever. 1 and 3pm, ages 5+, tickets £7, families £24. THE TALE OF THE COCKATRICE, 29 April. Beneath an ancient priory a hideous monster awakens... Two muddle-headed storytellers use breath-taking puppetry, boisterous and beautiful live music, and general tomfoolery to create this dark, winding fable for monster lovers young and old. 1 and 3pm, ages 6+, tickets £7, families £24.
THE LITTLE MERMAID AND OTHER ‘TAILS’ Weekends 10 March - 8 April except Easter weekend, 3 and 4 April, Upstairs at the SYDENHAM CENTRE, 44a Sydenham Road SE26 5QF, www.spontaneousproductions.co.uk Three stories by Hans Christian Anderson are brought to life in an original, magical, musical production for families. With original songs by Paul Tornbohm and written and directed by Jonathan Kaufman, expect puppetry, video, a magical undersea kingdom, Hans the shopkeeper-cum-storyteller and one very unhappy opera singer! Ages 3-10, tickets £6 children, £10 adults available from Kirkdale Bookshop, 272 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 4RS.
GREENWICH THEATRE, Crooms Hill SE10 8ES, 020 8858 7755, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk RED RIDING HOOD AND THE WOLF, 18 March. Time for bed. Tuck yourself in. This is where Robyn’s story begins. How can they expect her to sleep at a time like this? She takes a book and starts to read. But she can’t relate to Red Riding Hood, sugar and spice and all things nice. There are two sides to every tale, and that is not how this one goes! What if the Big Bad Wolf wasn’t big or bad at all? What if they got it wrong? Enjoy a new spin on this classic story - about two misfits who just want to fit in. Ages 7+, tickets £8.50 children, £13.50 adults. THE SNOW BEAST, 31 March - 1 April. Does The Snow Beast really exist? Can we separate stories from fact, or do they whirl together like snowflakes in a blizzard? This brand new show is a captivating collision of storytelling, an original score and live science experiments that will inspire young audiences to engage with the beauty of the unknown and the magic of the everyday. Ages 7+, tickets £8.50 children, £13.50 adults. ME AND MY BEE, 2 April. Multi award-winning theatre company, This Egg, invites you to save the world - one bee at a time in a new comedy for children and adults alike. Plant the seed for change and join the Bee Party, before it’s too late. Ages 5+, tickets £8.50 children, £13.50 adults. GRANDAD’S ISLAND, 6-7 April. Syd’s favourite person in the whole wide world is Grandad. And Granddad’s favourite person is Sed. Benji Davies’s award-winning book is brought magically and sensitively to life in a heart-warming adventure filled with songs, laughter and jungles. Ages 5-8, tickets £8.50 children, £13.50 adults. YOU’VE GOT DRAGONS, 10 April. “Dragons come when you least expect it. You turn round... and they’re there.” Lots of people get them; bad dreams, swirly tummy, feeling prickly. And sometimes they make you feel alone. So, what can a young child with a bad case of the dragons do? With live, original music, this highly visual, sensitive production is a humorous and touching exploration of the dragons we all face. The intergenerational show features creative captioning, interwoven BSL and audio description. Tickets £8.50 children, £13.50 adults. THE SELFISH GIANT, 14 April. In a very cold, grey town, not too far from here, hidden behind a crumbling wall and a thousand signs which say ‘KEEP OUT’, lives The Selfish Giant. So selfish he shut away his garden where the children used to play and cursed the town to never ending winter. Oscar Wilde’s classic tale is reimagined for the stage in this magical adventure for the whole family by Wrongsemble. Ages 3-7, tickets £8.50 children, £13.50 adults. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY, 15 April. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly. I don’t know why she swallowed a fly... But The People’s Theatre Company do! Celebrate the 45th anniversary of Pam Adams’ best-selling book in a magical, musical show that has been written especially for grown ups to enjoy with their children. Ages 2+, tickets £8.50 children, £11 adults. WHERE’S MY IGLOO GONE? 29 April. Oolik is an ordinary girl who goes on an extraordinary journey... Sitting in her igloo, a drop of water falls on her head. Then another! Is her home melting? Join Oolik as she sets out on a musical and magical journey to find help. On her way she meets some exciting friends - including YOU! Ages 5+, tickets £11, concs £8.50.
Next Issue Out 3 May Booking deadline 13 April
Adult & Children’s Entertainer Magic, Plate Spinning Balloon Modelling Interactive Games, Karaoke, Mini Disco
Tel: 020 8480 8176
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ME & M
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ME & MY BEE
THE SELFISH GIANT
BLACKHEATH HALLS 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ, 020 8318 9758, www.blackheathhalls.com LITTLE RED ROBIN HOOD, 17 March. Robin Hood goes on a quest to take some cakes and flowers to Grandma. Will he stay on the path or will he discover the big bad wolf who looks a bit like the Sherrif of Nottingham? Garlic Theatre presents a funny, slapstick, glove puppet show with beautifully crafted puppets, clowning and gentle humour. Ages 4-8, tickets £8.50. MARK THOMPSON’S SPECTACULAR SCIENCE SHOW, 21 April. Science like you have never seen before. Explore the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins, vanishing beakers and even exploding Pringle tubes! Ages 7+, £10 children, £12.50 adults.
CHURCHILL THEATRE High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA, 020 3285 6000, www.churchilltheatre.co.uk DEAR ZOO, 19-20 March. Join Ben and his friend Sally as they wait to see what the Zoo will send when they get Ben’s letter asking for a pet. All kinds of familiar animals big and small arrive, but will they make a good pet? Well, wait and see! This production will delight all those who have read Rod Campbell’s book as it unfolds with child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction. Ages 2+, tickets £15.50. BABY BROADWAY, 23 March. Sing and dance along to songs from Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, Frozen and many more plus bubbles, marching, puppetry and dance moves in a family concert performed by West End singers. 11am, tickets £11.50, children free. CIRQUE BESERK! 28 March - 2 April. Showcasing the finest in traditional circus thrills and skills, Zippos’ Cirque Berserk! celebrates the 250th anniversary of the invention of Circus by bringing this treasured form of live entertainment bang up-to-date in a jaw-dropping spectacular created especially for the theatre. Tickets from £13. TELETUBBIES LIVE, 28+29 April. Join Tinky Winky, Laa Laa, Dipsy and Po in a theatre show created especially for your little ones. Featuring full-sized Teletubbies and all the puppetry, songs, action and sunshine you’d expect from TV’s favourite furry friends, this is the perfect show to introduce young children to the fun and magic of theatre. Tickets from £17.
PEACOCK THEATRE
PINOCCHIO
Portugal Street WC2A 2HT, 020 7863 8000, www.ballet.org.uk/myfirstballet MY FIRST BALLET: SWAN LAKE, 29 March - 7 April English National Ballet and English National Ballet School present a new version of the well-known classic, Swan Lake, as part of its My First Ballet series created especially for children as young as three. Adapted to an hour in length and with a narrator to help young audiences follow the story, this is the perfect introduction to the magic of ballet. Tickets from £10.
Until 7 April, NATIONAL THEATRE, Upper Ground, South Bank SE1 9PX, 020 7452 3000, www.nationaltheatre.org.uk On a quest to be truly alive, Pinocchio leaves Geppetto’s workshop with Jiminy Cricket in tow. Their electrifying adventure takes them from alpine forests to Pleasure Island to the bottom of the ocean. For the first time on stage, featuring unforgettable music and songs from the Walt Disney film including I’ve Got No Strings, Give a Little Whistle and When You Wish upon a Star in dazzling new arrangements, Pinocchio comes to life as never before. Tickets from £15.
WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT 4 July - 2 September, SHAFTSBURY THEATRE, 210 Shaftsbury Avenue WC2H 8DP, 0330 333 4812, www.bearhuntlive.com The smash-hit production of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt returns vividly and noisily to the West End in director Sally Cookson’s fun-filled adaptation set to Benji Bower’s versatile lively score. Join the intrepid family of adventurers and their musical dog on a quest to find a bear; as they wade through the gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the thick, oozy, squelchy mud! Expect catchy songs, interactive scenes and plenty of hands-on adventure. The production is adapted for the stage from the modern classic written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Ages 3+, tickets from £15.60.
SOUTHBANK SOUTHBANK CENTRE, Belvedere Road SE1 8XX, 0844 847 9944, www.southbankcentre.co.uk DRAGON BABIES - GAMELAN, until 16 July. Shake, rattle and gong! This fun session invites you to experience the sounds a beautiful Gamelan (Javanese orchestra) and introduce your Dragon Babies to creative musical play through singing, movement and percussion. Take off your shoes, sit on the floor and have fun! Ages 3-5 years, £5 for one child and adult.
M U SE U MS & E VEN T S GREENWICH MARKET GREENWICH MARKET SE10 9HZ, 020 8269 5096, www.greenwichmarketlondon.com Discover London’s only historic market set within a World Heritage site where you’re sure to find something different. Enjoy a relaxing day out with a great choice of take away food from the market and a range of cafes, restaurants, gastro pubs and wine bars within an easy stroll. Open 10am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Sundays, with many market shops and pubs open all week. MOTHER’S DAY, 10 March. Join a workshop to make your own Mother’s Day card. EGG DECORATING, 31 March. Decorate your own chocolate Easter Eggs, and shop for hot cross buns, Simnel cakes and other treats.
UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street SE1 2HZ, 020 7845 0580, www.unicorntheatre.com SENSACIONAL, 25 April - 1 July. A sound and light show in which the toddler audience are participants. Wearing a white suit, your child becomes part of a digital world of ladybirds, shapes, squiggles and squarks that won’t keep still, no matter how hard you try to catch them! Ages 18 months - 3 years, tickets £10 for one child and one adult. UP CLUB, Saturdays to 28 July. Join the Unicorn Play Club most Saturdays and try portrait painting, potato printing, giant rocket making and more. 12noon - 2pm, free drop in.
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LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE, 14 Dagmar Passage, Cross Street N1 2DN, 020 7226 1787, www.littleangeltheatre.com JUNK, 16 March - 29 April. Discover a story about the things we throw away. Every day, under our very eyes, in rubbish bins and recycling boxes across the country, something strange and exciting is happening. Little Angel’s puppetry production brings your milk bottles, newspapers and egg boxes to life, sharing stories through the hidden everyday magic we can easily overlook. Ages 7-12, tickets £11.50 children, £13.50 adults. THE SINGING MERMAID, until 22 April. One day, the singing mermaid is tempted away from all of her sea creature friends to join a travelling circus, but the poor mermaid was tricked and she soon longs to return to the freedom of the sea. Beautiful puppetry and music bring Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’s popular story to life. Ages 3-8, tickets £11.50 children, £13.50 adults.
THE HORNIMAN MUSEUM HORNIMAN MUSEUM and gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ, 020 8699 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk Museum open 10.30am-5.30pm daily, general admission free, charges apply for special exhibitions and the aquarium. The museum’s music gallery and hands-on base, regular weekend and holiday drop-ins and workshops allow family visitors to explore the collection through arts and crafts, music, stories and hands-on sessions. All this within 16 acres of beautiful green space which has the oldest nature trail in London, an animal corner and a Farmers’ Market every Saturday.
CROSSING BORDERS: PEOPLE AND PLACES, 10 March. Celebrate the diversity of our neighbourhood at this event organised in collaboration with local organisations who work with refugees and asylum seekers. 11am-4pm, free. YOUTH TAKEOVER FAMILY DAY, 24 March. The Horniman Youth Panel take over the museum for an exciting day of activities for families inspired by the new exhibition Colour: The Rainbow Revealed. 12-4pm, free. THE UGLY DUCKLING, 31 March and 1 April. Meet the most unlikely duckling hero and hear the story of the duck who was different. Featuring song and puppetry, The Ugly Duckling is a classic heart-warming tale for all the family, produced for the Horniman by Sandal Sticks Theatre. Ages 3+, tickets £5 children, £1 adults. COLOUR: THE RAINBOW REVEALED, until 28 October. Be dazzled by prisms showing how colours are made, peer through a giant human eyeball to find out how we see colour and discover how animals use colour to attract and hide. The exhibition is full of family-friendly displays and interactive games, a mood room and a colour cafe. Admission £7.70 adults, £4.40 children, families £18.70. WELLY WALK: SIGNS OF SPRING, 28 April. Get your wellies on and follow the Horniman Nature Trail to explore the animals, insects and plants that thrive there in spring. Have a go at sweep-netting, tree-beating and identifying what you discover. 1.45-3.30pm, ages 5+, adults £5, children £3.
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WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT
DRAGON BABIES - GAMELAN
COLOUR: THE RAINBOW REVEALED
MoreWhat’sOn BUTTERFLY HOUSE. Get up close with hundreds of beautiful butterflies in a tropical indoor garden. The specially-planted habitat is the perfect place to experience free-flying butterflies and discover amazing facts about the life-cycle and behaviour of these fascinating creatures. Adults £6, children £6, families £15. CORAL: FABRIC OF THE REEF, until 9 September. Inspired by the Horniman’s Aquarium and Natural History collection, artist Karen Dodd uses woollen fabric - dyed and sculpted, and intricately bound and stitched - to draw attention to coral and coral reefs, simultaneously celebrating their beauty and raising awareness of their vulnerability in the face of increasing environmental change.
DINOSAURS IN THE WILD Until 31 July, GREENWICH PENINSULA SE10 0PL, 0844 854 1355, www.dinosaursinthewild.com Be prepared to travel back 67 million years to see what it’s like to be really there - among some of the mightiest creatures ever to walk the earth. Dinosaurs in the Wild is a time-travelling adventure filled with amazing facts, panoramic landscape views, and ‘real’ chomping, roaring beasts such as the mighty Tyrannosaurus, Alamposaurus and Triceratops, roaming free in their natural environment. Visit the TimeBase 67 to witness scientists’ extraordinary studies of dinosaurs, their eggs, fuzzy hatchlings, juveniles and adults. Ages 5+,
LEEDS CASTLE LEEDS CASTLE, near Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL, 01622 767866, www.leeds-castle.com There are plenty of reasons to visit Leeds Castle again and again with your annual ticket from exploring the Yew Maze to conquering the Knight’s Realm and Squires’ Courtyard adventure playgrounds to daily free flying falconry displays. For Easter specials, see page 5. The grounds of the Castle will be abundant with beautiful birds to see during your visit from black swans to nuthatch to great crested grebe to name but a few. For fantastic souvenirs and delicious treats don’t forget to pop into the gift shops, cafes and Castle View Restaurant this half term. Annual tickets cost £24.90 for adults; £21.90 for seniors and visitors with disabilities (carer goes free); £16.90 for children (under 4s free). Annual tickets are valid for 12 months so you can pay once and visit all year round. For more information on Leeds Castle attractions, activities and events during 2018 visit the website.
SOUTH LONDON BOTANICAL INSTITUTE 323 South Norwood Road, Herne Hill SE24 9AQ, 020 8674 5787, www.slbi.org.uk HIDE AND SEED, 11 April. A fun day of games and activities in the beautiful garden, where children can make a piece of ephemeral art work from found and collected natural materials. 10am-12noon and 2- 4pm. £2 per child, £5 per family, book first on 020 8674 5787 or email info@slbi.org.uk. OPEN GARDEN, 22 April. Enjoy the garden and house with delicious teas and cakes and chat to the gardeners. Part of the National Gardens Scheme Open Garden. 2-7pm.
NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea SW3 4HT, 020 7730 0717, www.nam.ac.uk The National Army Museum is a leading authority on the British Army and its impact on society past and present. Through its collections the museum preserves and shares stories of ordinary people with extraordinary responsibilities; exploring the role of the army and its relevance today. Free children’s trails cover a wide range of topics and suit a variety of age groups. Open 10am 5.30pm, admission free.
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SPECIAL FORCES: IN THE SHADOWS, 17 March - 18 November. Explore the hidden world of the Special Forces in a major exhibition which presents ideas of security and secrecy through the lens of the Special Forces. Discover who these soldiers are, the skills they need, and the operations they’ve undertaken at home and abroad. Admission £8, under 12s free, children £4. SPECIAL FORCES: BREAK THE CODE, 17+18 March. To mark the opening of the new exhibition Special Forces: In the Shadows, test your thinking skills, search the museum for clues and crack the code. Will you discover the secret? 10.30am- 12.30pm and 1.30-4.30pm, free drop in. JUNGLE SURVIVAL SKILLS, 30 March - 15 April. Imagine you’re in the jungle, surrounded by tall trees, critters scuttling over the floor, and rain falling. How do you survive? Find out at this Easter holiday family activity. 10.30am- 12.30pm and 1.30-4.30pm, free drop in. PLAY BASE, daily. Whether your child wants to take on the soft play assault course, climb aboard a truck or prepare scoff in the cookhouse, Play Base lets every child shine. Ages 0-8, £4.50 per child for an hour-long session.
BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM, Threadneedle Street, London EC2R, 020 7601 5545, www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the Bank of England from its foundation in 1694 to its role today as the UK’s central bank. Examine intricately-designed banknotes, feel the weight of a genuine gold bar and see the pikes and muskets that were once used to defend the Bank. Children’s activity sheets provide fun for younger visitors. Open 10am-5pm Mondays to Fridays, admission free.
THE FOUNDLING MUSEUM 40 Brunswick Square, Camden Town WC1N 1AZ, 020 7841 3600, www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk Britain’s first home for abandoned children and London’s first public art gallery reveals the stories of the Foundling Hospital’s founder Thomas Coram, the artist William Hogarth and composer George Frideric Handel. It houses significant collections of eighteenth-century art, interiors, social history and music. Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and from 11am Sundays. Admission free for under 16s, £8.25 adults.
CHARLES DICKENS MUSEUM 48 Doughty Street WC1N 2LX, 020 7405 2127, www.dickensmuseum.com Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Sundays, admission £9 adults, £4 children. A visit to the Museum includes a free family trail for each child. Suitable for children between 4 and 12 years, the trail takes children on a journey of discovery through No. 48 Doughty Street, where Dickens once lived with his wife and young family. Exploration of the basement reveals a wonderful Victorian kitchen, full of period and replica items you can interact with. Try your hand at grinding coffee and look out for resident hedgehog, Bill Spikes! There are costumes for dressing up in both the kitchen and the attic to give a flavour of what life was like upstairs and down. There is even a beautiful Victorian toy theatre in the timeline room where you can put on your own play.
MUSEUM OF LONDON MUSEUM OF LONDON, 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN, www.museumoflondon.org.uk FATBERG, until 1 July. The Whitechapel fatberg - a sewer blockage - became an international media sensation when it was discovered in September 2017. Weighing 130 tonnes and over 250 metres long, it is one of the largest fatbergs ever found. Find out more about the challenges of curating and conserving this disgusting, fascinating and dangerous mass, and see the fatberg samples close-up - ugh! Free.
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NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM
MUSEUM SCIENCE, 11 March. Join in with British Science week at the museum, using biology, chemistry, physics and maths to reveal hidden stories from the past. 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm, limited free tickets available on the day. HORRIBLE HISTORIES, 18 March. A brand new compilation show featuring wordy Will Shakespeare, revolting Romans, crazy King Charles and more. Ages 5+, 1.30 and 4pm, free bookable tickets from 16 March.
MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS, Warehouse 1, West India Quay E14 4AL, www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands Find out more about London’s history, through displays covering events such as the Great Plague, Londoners’ jobs and occupations, and Roman life. Open daily 10am-6pm, admission free. On Sundays, museum hosts help visitors explore the galleries through fun, hands-on activities at 11am and 2pm. WAVE ME GOODBYE FAMILY DAY, 10 March. Meet celebrated author Jacqueline Wilson during this family day that explores life in London during the Second World War. Hear about the popular writer’s latest book, Wave Me Goodbye, make and pack an evacuee’s suitcase and imagine yourself living in London over 70 years ago. 11.30am, free but ticket event. A NEW LIFE, 10 March. During the Second World War, many children had to leave London for the safety of the countryside. Imagine what these children’s lives were like as you design your own suitcase and treasures to pack in this art workshop. 12noon and 2.30pm. Ages 5+, free. BENGALI SPRING FESTIVAL, 31 March and 1 April. A colourful festival weekend celebrating spring through Bengali art, culture and heritage. All ages, 12-4pm, free. LONDON JAM, 28 April. Be inspired by the Crosse and Blackwell factory which was located in nearby Bermondsey, and create your own imaginary jam recipe. 12noon and 2.30pm, free.
VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM V&A MUSEUM, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL, 020 7942 2000, www.vam.ac.uk/families Pick up a family trail from the Information Desk and explore the museum through puzzles, drawing and observation. Suitable for 7-12 year-olds. There are also hundreds of exciting hands-on exhibits containing plenty to touch and try out. Museum open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free. BACK-PACKS, Saturdays. Pick up a back pack and explore the museum with fantastic jigsaws, stories, puzzles and games. 10.30am-5pm. WINNIE-THE-POOH: EXPLORING A CLASSIC, until 8 April. Experience the timeless and universal appeal of this much-loved bear and discover the story behind the creative partnership of A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard, brought to life through sketches, letters, photographs, cartoons, ceramics and fashion. Tickets £8.
ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House, Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark, Greenwich SE10, 020 8858 4422, www.rmg.co.uk Royal Museums Greenwich holds the world’s largest maritime collection. It is housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and incorporates the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the 17th-century Queen’s House, and Cutty Sark. The Museums works to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people, and is also a major centre of education and research. On Saturdays and Sundays free performances and workshops entertain family visitors, while on Tuesdays preschoolers can make music and play with parents and carers. Open 10am-5pm daily. General admission is free; some buildings, special exhibitions and events have an admission fee. THE GREAT EXPLORER is an interactive game for families. Borrow a tablet device and set sail across The Great Map to explore distant lands and discover treasures from all around the world. Where will you visit and what will you find? Take a photo and share your adventure. 11am-4pm, free. CHARACTER ENCOUNTERS, Saturdays. Join an exciting performance and journey bringing maritime history to life. 12noon, 1, 2 and 3pm.
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BENGALI SPRING FESTIVAL
THE BRITISH MUSEUM BRITISH MUSEUM, Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG, 020 7323 8181, www.britishmuseum.org The British Museum was founded in 1753, the first national public museum in the world. Each year nearly 6 million visitors pour through the doors to see the museum’s collection of ancient and historical artefacts including the ever-popular Egyptian mummies, or to take in the latest block-buster exhibition. Open 10am-5.30pm daily, admission free, charge for some exhibitions. LIVING WITH GODS, until 8 April. Belief is a key aspect of human behaviour and this exhibition explores behaviours inherent in everything from modern urban ideas of wellness and mindfulness to pilgrimage and prayer. Exhibits include everyday objects relating to world faiths, traditional indigenous, archaeological and modern civil practices. See intriguing pieces from the end of the last Ice Age that depict beings that do not exist in nature, and familiar objects of everyday practices of all periods - including a remarkable 18th-century replica of a Hindu ceremonial chariot. Admission free for under 16s, adults £15. DIGITAL DISCOVERY CENTRE, weekends. Learn, discover and create in the Museum’s digital centre. Free activities and workshops using the latest Samsung digital equipment, enabling children to bring the world’s history and cultures to life through advanced technology.
V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green E2 9PA, 020 8983 5200, www.museumofchildhood.org.uk This gem of a museum houses dolls, dolls’ houses, puppets, teddy bears, games, childcare, clothing, furniture and art and photography. Everyday drop-in activities include storytelling, arts and crafts, and trails. There’s dressing-up, role play and an under 3’s area, an indoor sandpit, and regular special events. Open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free.
HAMPTON COURT PALACE East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU, www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace THE MAGIC GARDEN. Discover something new around every twist and turn in an immersive world populated by mythical beasts, including a 25m dragon! Take the family to become Tudor Knights, besiege the battlements, storm the Tiltyard Towers and explore a mysterious secret grotto. Included in palace admission.
ART ACTIVITIES THE WALLACE COLLECTION THE WALLACE COLLECTION, Hertford House, Manchester Square W1U 3BN, 020 7563 9500, www.wallacecollection.org The Wallace Collection displays wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess, in their main London townhouse. Family multi-media tours and trails bring the exhibits to life for younger visitors. Open 10am-5pm daily, admission free. TERRIFIC TOP HATS, 5 April. Make your very own Victorian inspired top-hat and help celebrate the bi-centenary of the birth of Sir Richard Wallace in style! 10.30am-12.30pm, free drop-in. ARMOUR HANDLING FOR FAMIILES, 11 April. Meet Curator of Arms and Armour (and real life knight!) Tobias Capwell as he introduces you to the remarkable arms and armour collected by Sir Richard Wallace. Learn all about medieval knights, battles and tournaments and get to handle and try on some real and replica pieces of armour. 11am-12noon, free.
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, St Martin’s Place WC2H 0HE, 020 7306 0055, www.npg.org.uk The gallery features thousands of portraits of the most famous people in British history, from the 16th century to the present day. Open 10am-6pm daily.
‘Ingenious’ Daily Mail
DROP IN FAMILY SUNDAYS. On the third Sunday of every month, families are invited to drop-in with children aged 3+ to take part in portrait-related events.
DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY
DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY SIR JOHN SOANE’S HOUSE SIR JOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields WC2A 3PB, 020 7440 4263, www.soane.org Sir John Soane (1753-1737) was an inveterate collector, filling every nook and cranny of his beautiful home with items that fascinated him. From fossils to classical fragments from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and from contemporary paintings to architectural models, drawings and literature, he intended that after his death both his house and its extraordinary contents should be used to educate and inspire. Free drop-in activities run on the third Saturday of every month, with activities for all ages and families can take part together from 1.30-4.40pm.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY TRAFALGAR SQUARE WC2N 5DN, 020 7747 2885, www.nationalgallery.org.uk Open daily 10am-6pm, Fridays to 9pm, admission free. With over 2,300 paintings in the collection, there are hundreds of reasons to visit the gallery, along with free hands-on art workshops and magic carpet storytellling for families at weekends and during school holidays. No need to book, but places are limited and allocated on arrival up to one hour before the start.
DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY, Gallery Road, Dulwich Village SE21 7AD, 020 8693 5254, www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Fridays, from 11am weekends and bank holidays. Admission free for accompanied children, £8 adults. Listed activities free for families with a gallery ticket or £3 per child. DAVID MILNE: MODERN PAINTING, until 7 May. The first major UK exhibition of work by David Milne (1882-1953), one of Canada’s greatest modern painters. The exhibition will feature more than 90 works in oil and watercolour, as well as photographs and drawings. Under 18s free, adults £15.50. MINI MASTERPIECES: WINDOWS AND LIGHT, 7 and 22 March. Experience the delights of the gallery’s collection with your child and then create your very own masterpiece in a practical, architectural themed session. Ages 6-24 months, from 10am and 11.30am, £12 per adult and child. DROP IN ART ACTIVITIES, 3-6 and 10-13 April. Drop in with your children and join the afternoon workshops inspired by David Milne, and make bug hotels, wreaths and suncatchers. 2-4pm. FAMILY DAY: THE GREAT OUTDOORS, 15 April. Take part in Patterns in Nature workshops, learn how to survive in nature, relax in a mindfulness workshop and listen to stories and adventures in the wilderness. 10am-5pm, £20 family tickets.
Illustrations © 1989 Helen Oxenbury from We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
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CUTTY SARK CUTTY SARK, King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT, 020 8858 2698, www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark The world famous 19th century tea clipper offers visitors four levels to explore. Take in the views from the main deck and steer at the ship’s wheel, meet the crew who worked on board, explore the various cargoes from wool to whiskey, and see how tea was loaded on board through interactive displays, props, information boards and animations. Family friendly events run at weekends and during school holidays. Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Sundays, admission £7 children, £13.50 adults, from £24 families. Bundled tickets are available with the other Royal Museum Greenwich attractions.
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