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Families SW – useful information for parents of 0-12 year olds in SW London.

November 2012

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ISSN ue 22 1 135 4-95 Est 53 19

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FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Cover picture shows: NEXT All-in-ones

• • • •

ALL the Christmas shows ALL the pantomimes Reflux, Whooping Cough, Pregnancy Could you foster a child?

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

is already here o n ear heaven Everyt th e in b hing that o is supposed t

SouthWest

Cover shows: NEXT All-in-ones

November 2012

Contents 04-05

Local news & information

08-09

Mums know best

12-13

Baby page Living with Reflux

14-15

Downtime

08-09

How to help children relax

All content ©Families 2012 www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680 Fax: 020 8696 9679 Editorial: editor@familiesmagazine.co.uk News: news@familiesmagazine.co.uk Adverts/artwork: adverts@familiesmagazine.co.uk Events, diary dates, what’s on info: whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk Next issue: December 2012 Deadline: early November •“Families® South West” heads a group of magazines. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. •There are now 40 UK local editions with a print run of more than 700,000 copies in all, in which you can advertise too. Oh, and we have a very useful website… familiesonline.co.uk • MOVING? Families® magazines can be be franchised in new areas. Read initial franchise information on the website or call. •Printed by Ridgeway Press Ltd, Basingstoke, Hants We take every care preparing this magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence. Paper used to print Families is from fully-managed sustainable sources — meaning trees which are felled are continuously replaced. Inks are soya-based, which can be re-cycled. Find us on Facebook and Twitter FamiliesSW

November 2012

18-19

Adoption and Fostering

22-25

Health feature -

28-29

Christmas Gift guide

30-31

Christmas shows and pantomimes

32-37

What’s On • • • •

38-39

NLP, hypnotherapy Physiotherapy Herbal nutrition Whooping cough Electro magnetic protection, sleep, language development

14-15

Drama Events Exhibitions & Museums Diary dates

Magazine Directory & Classified

28-29

News

Cook with ease An exciting new concept in cookery classes for 2-4 year olds launches this November. Set up by two local mums, Cookease aims to provide much more than decorating cupcakes or baking biscuits, focusing on the importance of teaching children crucial cooking skills together with a vital and early introduction to all food types, in a fun yet educational way. From delicious Parmesan Chicken Goujons to irresistible Banana Cheesecake, your child will explore new flavours and textures whilst having great fun rolling, mixing, chopping and generally making a mess! Classes are in Wandsworth Common Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.30am, 10.30am and 11.30am, with an introductory price of £10 per session for the first term, plus Families SW readers receive 10% discount. 07825 788446, info@cookease.org.uk

Tinkering with fashion

Bilingual beat Discover a new and unique French/English art and music space in SW London. Artpeggios offers something for everyone aged 8 and up, where your kids can learn, enjoy, practice, share and express their artistic and creative talents. Take a class, sign up for individual lessons, join a choir, record music or join in a holiday camp – from DJing to drama workshops and painting master classes to creating comic books, there’s sure to be something for your little brood. 198-200 Earl’s Court Road, SW5 9QF. www.artpeggios.com

A new fashion activity and brand has just been launched in SW London. Merging playtime with fashion, The Tinker's Tailor introduces children to the world of fashion design, giving them access to a unique website which allows them to design their own perfect dress. Then, following simple instructions on the website, they send their individual measurements and designs to be professionally hand-made, right here in the UK – turning your little tinker's imagination into beautiful bespoke garments for that special occasion. “Children used to grow up in home-made clothes,” says Cathy Lang, founder of The Tinker's Tailor. “Now mothers want the same quality and style, but which mother has time to sit down and make a dress for their little one? Parents can have this same creative experience with their child, but leave the sewing to The Tinker's Tailor.” Sounds like a great idea! www.thetinkerstailor.co.uk

Could it be magic now? Does your child yearn to bend it like Beckham or score a hat trick like Rooney? Magic Kids is a new club coming to Wandsworth offering football coaching sessions for boys and girls aged 18 months - 5 years. It promises to build their confidence and improve general motor skills and co-ordination while having lots of fun, so your child will be learning and developing without even knowing it. Sign up for after school or Saturday clubs across Wandsworth. info@magickids.co.uk, 07904 782398. www.magickids.co.uk

Training at the forefront of new 0-5 nanny agency…

Families South West is the biggest it has

EVER been! No other parenting magazine prints as many copies for the SW postcodes.

We now print 30,000 copies …and did you know? There are now 40 local Families® magazines around the country!

Frame their feet in time Don’t miss Baby Wednesdays at the Pottery Café – enjoy a complimentary cappuccino or tea while you print your baby's feet on pottery. And don't forget to treat yourself to a Byron Bay cookie! Booking is advisable. Battersea, Fulham and Richmond, www.pottery-café.com

After School Nannies has launched 0-5 Nannies, and can now offer daily childcare to families with pre-school aged children. Working closely with its partner, Training For Nannies, 0-5 will provide a range of courses including child development, childcare and education, paediatric first aid and child nutrition (0-5) plus health and hygiene (Level 2) and practical cookery. Elizabeth Rackow, who heads up both nanny agencies, said “our new training programme will strengthen and endorse the hands-on experience of our 0-5 nannies. Whatever stage a family is at on the preschool journey 0-5 Nannies will apply the same ethos as its sister agency to supply nannies who can literally be “in loco parentis”. www.afterschoolnannies.com 0-5@afterschoolnannies.com 020 8871 2211.

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Inclusion in these pages is always FREE: send to news@familiesmagazine.co.uk

News

Education at the Palace

Parsons Green Christmas Fair

Family favourite Fulham Palace is opening their state-of-the-art Jessie Mylne Education Centre this month, which will be used to teach Toys, Creepy Crawlies, Romans and World War II and will also house the extensive costume and handling collection. Don’t miss the many exhibitions and workshops at the palace too. www.fulhampalace.org

Don't miss the inaugural First Day of Christmas Fair, in aid of local charity Ray's Playhouse. Taking place at The Mission Hall, Parsons Green Lane, Fulham on 1 December 2-8pm, it promises to be a traditional European inspired fair, with a hand picked selection of gorgeous gift stalls and a mixture of local cottage industries and brands. Plus, there will be a bustling gourmet food hall, Christmas-themed children's craft area and on the Green itself a Santa's Grotto and hot chocolate bar. Sounds delicious!

Caesar and his consort

Singing angels A new children's choir has just started in SW London. The Fulham Children's Choir is open to boys and girls aged 6 to 13, and is held every Tuesday 5.15-6.30pm at St Peter's Church, off Filmer Road, SW6 7JS. Run by two experienced directors, the choir offers excellent musical and vocal training in a fun and vibrant atmosphere. Auditioning is not necessary and all are welcome, so come along! £30 per term, fulhamchildrenschoir@gmail.com, 020 7736 2761. www.fulhamchildrenschoir.com

Lost Theatre new drama classes Is your little one aged five to twelve and loves performing? Do they want to meet new friends with the same interests? The LOST Theatre has over 30 years experience in developing young performance talent and is now turning its hand to weekly performance tuition, with classes consisting of games, team building exercises, confidence boosting tasks and a lot of fun. From characterisation and improvisation to devising and script work, your kids are sure to love it! Ages 59 – Mondays 5-6pm; ages 9-12 – Wednesdays 67pm. 208 Wandsworth Road SW8 2JU, 0207 622 9208, info@losttheatre.co.uk. www.losttheatre.co.uk

Design and decorate Thinking about redesigning a room in your home or office? Why not create an environment that reflects your personality and improves daily life without compromising your health, style or budget? This autumn take advantage of the free consultation service offered by Décor – they’ll give you a design service with an eco-conscious approach, so you can rest easy that the materials you select are environmentally safe, promote health and well being and protect you and your family from toxins. www.decor-ltd.com

Celebrate gardening As the RHS Campaign for School Gardening celebrates its fifth anniversary, there are now over 1,300 schools in London gardening. This autumn, these schools are baking birthday cakes from produce they’ve grown themselves, as an estimated 220,000 pupils are benefitting from gardening at school. The campaign was set up by the RHS to help children learn about growing plants, healthy eating and the environment, and research also proves that gardening in schools can improve literacy and numeracy skills, as well as increasing a child’s readiness to learn and improving their self-esteem, confidence and motivation. Register at www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening

November 2012

Tigers mark their territory ZSL London Zoo is hotting up on its new £3.6m enclosure for one of the world’s most endangered animals. Tiger Territory, which will be home to critically-endangered Sumatran tigers, is taking shape, where the 186-year-old site is undergoing a massive redevelopment to make way for the 2,500sqm enclosure. The result of a large public fundraising campaign by ZSL London Zoo, Tiger Territory will give visitors the chance to get close to these incredible animals and provide a central hub for ZSL’s tiger conservation work when it opens in early 2013. www.zsl.org/tigers

Stop the bullies Find out more about Anti-Bullying Week, which takes place 19th-23rd November this year with the theme ‘We’re better without bullying’. See www.antibullyingweek.co.uk for details of anti-bullying resources, workshops and roadshows, as well as the Anti-Bullying Week competition where you can win £100's worth of prizes for you and your school.

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

November 2012

速

Mums know best Compiled by Helena Foss

The page where parents share their tips and thoughts to make life just that little bit easier ... or more fun!

Parenting: ‘ Don’t tell me I’m clever’ Now that the school year is well and truly underway, let’s remember the latest research about building confidence in young learners. According to our parenting bloggers The Parent Practice, repeatedly telling your child she is clever does not encourage her to try hard in school. Instead, it encourages a ‘fixed mindset’ which discourages trying! Research shows that praising effort and hard work is a much better self-esteem builder. It builds a ‘growth mindset’, which gives children confidence to grow, expand and take on new challenges. See the short, informative YouTube clip entitled ‘Carol Dweck, Growth Mindsets and Motivation’ to find out more. Read the whole piece online then help yourself to more tips from The Parent Practice blog on our website: www.familiessouthwest.co.uk

We absolutely love to hear what you think – your input really does make the page what it is – so please keep them coming in. Accompanying photos welcome. You can post them on our Facebook page: or email the editor editorFSW@familiesmagazine.co.uk www.facebook.com/familiesSW

Health: Sweet aroma therapy Keep those nasty cold bugs at bay by adding a few drops of essential oils to a bowl of hot water, out of reach of little hands of course. Essential oils have anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties – and make the room smell heavenly to boot. Our personal favourite air freshener is a combination of lavender, geranium and clary sage. We also love the children’s Sniffles aromatherapy blend by Special Little Products: www.speciallittleproducts.com

1. Not everyone is happy with the new drug Gardasil (which has replaced Cervarix): Lynne McTaggart, in the October issue of What Doctors Don’t Tell You, points out that Gardasil has been banned in India after an early trial reportedly led to the deaths of seven young girls with a further 120 suffering side effects. She says that the take up rate for Gardasil in America is also dropping following adverse reports, including death—see website truthaboutgardasil.org And to top it all America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has enforced stronger warnings on the vaccine’s packaging, and is investigating a new reaction known as ‘immunotoxicity’ where the whole immune system is affected. 2. None of this is mentioned on the NHS immunisation website, which says the vaccine is perfectly safe. See these websites for more information: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/HPVvaccination/Pages/Introduction.aspx and: http://immunisation.dh.gov.uk/ 3. According to Cancer Research UK website, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women under the age of 35. In the UK, 2,900 women a year are diagnosed with cervical cancer. But I read somewhere else that 90% of HPV clear up by themselves! So I can’t help but wondering if this is vaccine is really necessary? Doesn’t this remind you of this story on BBC online? “Breast cancer screening saves the lives of two women for every one patient who receives unnecessary treatment,” according to a major European review. 4. I am concerned we are not being given the full facts about Gardasil. When it comes to my children’s health I’m afraid I will not simply believe what I am told. Sent by a reader in SW17, name not supplied Read more on www.familiesonline.co.uk/HPV and let’s swap notes in the comments box underneath.

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Will you allow your daughter to receive the HPV vaccine? I’d like to share my concern: When she turns 12, my daughter will be offered the new STAR r e t HPV vaccine —against the virus which causes certain strains of cervical cancer. A bit of t le reading on the topic brought up worrying information:

Mums know best “To be loved gives you strength. To love another gives you courage.” Anon

Dorothy with dad: 'I like to see my friends on the way'

runs to s, scoots or Joshua bike fast'! is it se school 'becau

Max Thesiger and mum love walking and ch atting

Why children prefer to walk or cycle to school We really do use our cars too much and we all know the reasons why we should cut down on driving: safety, pollution, energy-consumption. We asked local children whey they prefer to walk or cycle to school. If you are unsure about cycling, borrow one from a friend or you could start by hiring a bike from www.gopedal.co.uk This family run firm in Battersea both collect and deliver. They have child bikes (from six years) helmets, child seats and child trailers for hire too. If you are unsure about navigating busy London streets, or would like your family to learn cycle safety skills, then www.cycletraining.co.uk can help. This not-for-profit organisation offers training for all ages at Clapham Common, Brockwell Park and Upper Norwood Park.

Emily, S amuel an walking to scho d Alison like sticks, climb tr ol. We collec t e friends es and meet our on our way.'

Leo Evans 'I

love my scoo

ter'

Transforming urban jungles into urban orchards From Jo Rogers, SW19 I'm involved in a local eco group called Abundance Wimbledon. I imagine it's something your readers might be interested in - it's about enjoying fruit, eating locally-grown food and reducing food waste. There are lots of fruit trees around Wimbledon, but much of the fruit falls to the ground and is wasted. We pick fruit and give the surplus to others who can use it or would appreciate some free fruit. Last year we picked over a tonne of fruit (that's 1000 kg) and made jams and chutneys, baked, preserved and froze fruit. To join email abundancewimbledon@gmail.com, or ring 020 8946 3750, AbundanceWimbledon.com A project you might like to get involved with is The London Orchard Project (see ProjectDirt.com). It is a skilled community of Londoners, who plant, care for and harvest fruit trees. This winter why not think about planting fruit trees in your back garden? Get the kids involved in choosing which fruit you'll enjoy and in the planting. Fruit-picking volunteer Vanessa Young with daughter Celeste

Together Londoners are building a greener, more sustainable city.

Home care: Banish shower grime

November 2012

“The grouting between the tiles in our bathroom was looking yellow and disgusting” says Susie Rotherham from Streatham. “I diluted some bleach in water, sprayed it on, left it for a few hours and then rinsed off. Gone! Saved me hours of the usual scrubbing with an old toothbrush. My brother, who owns a hotel, told me this. Trust me, it works.”

And finally... Reasons why it is all worth it One morning, my five-year-old, Sebastian, came running into the kitchen with important news: “Mummy! Mummy!” he panted. “Yes?” “There is a problem on the Iggy Diggy Line!” It was only when I noticed he was watching the travel updates on breakfast television that I realised he meant the Piccadilly Line. Clare Turner, mum of three from Brixton

The PRIMARY Place where children learn and have fun!

‘The Primary Place’ is a new way of providing childcare for primary aged children AFTER they leave day nursery. Wonderful workshops, homework club, nutritious food and escorted travel. Try our summer history workshops in July and August too! 1 Hide Place • London • SW1P 4NJ 020 7592 0195 • 07956 661891

THE WILLOW NURSERY 823-825 Wandsworth Road, Clapham, SW8 3JL Tel: 020 7498 0319 Est.1981 E-mail: admin@thewillownursery.co.uk Joint Heads: Caroline Henson & Virginia Bisset. Opening hours: 8.15am to 12.15pm Sessions: Mornings only Weeks open a year: Termtime Ages: Two and half to 5 years Max no. of pupils: 40. Pupil/teacher ratio: Under 3yrs: 4:1, 3-5yrs 8:1 Curriculum: Montessori and traditional methods. Activities: Art, craft, cooking, Spanish, gardening, home corner, ICT, messy play, computer club. Four specialist teachers for singing, dance, gym and cooking. Facilities: Large, bright, spacious hall and a smaller reception room. Contact: Please contact Amanda for Prospectus and to arrange a visit. The Willow is renowned for its creativity. Our aim is to create a stimulating, happy and fun environment so that the children love coming to school. We develop confidence and a keen interest to learn both independently and with individual attention.

www.thewillownursery.co.uk

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Calling all Nurseries ... Be seen in our Jan/Feb Nursery feature

Dawmouse Montessori Nursery Schools

To advertise call 020 3411 8631 or email amanda@familiesmagazine.co.uk

WWW.DAWMOUSE.COM There are now two established Montessori Nursery schools in Fulham bearing the Dawmouse name. The original Dawmouse Brunswick in Haldane Road, SW6 7EU and Dawmouse St Peter’s at St Peter’s Terrace, SW6 7JS. Both schools offer a wide range of Montessori equipment and have outdoor play areas. They will offer a safe, stimulating and active environment in which children can have fun and achieve. The broad curriculum covers all areas of the Early Learning Goals and includes science, drama, cookery and music lessons. Project work will give the children scope for creative development as well as an increased understanding of their world. We insist on our staff being Montessori trained teachers. For a prospectus and a visit to view the schools please contact : www.dawmouse.com or speak with Miss Emma 020 7381 9385

November 2012

Baby page

Living with REFLUX By Sarah Butters, editor Families Leeds

Before you have a baby, you’re told to see feeding time as a time of bonding. But for some mums, it’s anything but. We look at how living with a baby with reflux can drive you to the very brink of despair. Vicki Gilbert is a third time mum. To see pictures of her, her husband Sean and her happy smiling children in the early stages of baby Joe’s life, it’s hard to believe what was going on every time she closed the front door.

Top tips from the Magic sleep fairy • Research, research, research. Go on online forums and chat to others mums. Look at www.livingwithreflux.org or www.little refluxers.co.uk Also, join our Facebook page and get advice from other parents.

“From being a couple of weeks old, Joe would scream and scream,” Vicki remembers. “At one point, the screaming went on for 18 hours a day. He was hysterical when you laid him down for a nappy change. He screamed through every car journey. The only respite we got was a 5 hour stretch at night when he literally passed out from exhaustion. It pushed us to the end of our tethers.”

Babies get reflux because the stomach valve hasn’t developed properly. That valve keeps the food and the acid, in the stomach. When it’s not working properly and baby is full, that food and acid comes back up. Symptoms vary dependent on the child and the severity of the case, but the inconsolable crying described by Vicki is common. “Nothing worked. It was utterly heartbreaking. I remember being in my bedroom and shouting to my husband to call an ambulance. We never actually did it, but we were so near on so many occasions.” Vicki’s story is repeated on forums and in chat rooms across the internet. There are stories of families who have been driven to the brink by their babies’ suffering. Many turn to Alison ScottWright, an expert in reflux also known as The Magic Sleep Fairy. “New mothers assume that feeding their newborn will be a positive experience,” explains Alison. “Sadly this isn’t true for those whose babies suffer from reflux. Reflux can’t be cured, but it can be controlled. We have to crack the ‘reflux code’ for each baby to find out what helps relieve the individual symptoms.” Those symptoms vary. For some it’s excessive vomiting, irritability, a white coating on the tongue, excessive mucus, refusal to feed and poor sleep habits. These sleep habits are a product of the pain your child is experiencing, and it’s those habits that can remain long after the baby has outgrown the reflux. For babies with ‘silent’ reflux – that’s all the pain and irritability, without the vomiting – diagnosis is more difficult. But Alison Scott-Wright says it’s vital parents listen to even the youngest of babies. “Babies cry to communicate. If they are crying for long periods of time, then there’s something wrong and, in my experience, it’s usually a digestive issue.”

Reflux is the contents of the stomach coming back up into the gullet. The acid causes a burning sensation, which can make baby vomit, arch their back and cry inconsolably. It’s thought about half of all babies have reflux in the first 3 months of their lives to some degree, with most developing it at about 2 months. That figure reduces to 5% by the time babies are 10 months old.

• Keep a journal. Include videos of any reflux episodes by your baby and photos. Use these when visiting health care professionals.

Vicki Gilbert found support from her local GP and says without that, she’s not sure how she would have coped. He listened, explained and prescribed medication that has, after 7 months, eased Joe’s pain. Leeds based Consultant Paediatric Surgeon Emma Sidebottom says it is important to consult with your health care professionals about treatments – like products to thicken milk which helps baby keep it down, as well as acid blockers. “Some parents experiment with the hungry baby milks. These are designed to stay in the stomach for longer. But if you have a baby with reflux, milks like that will make it worse.” If you’re not getting the support you need from your GP, Emma says you can ask to be referred to your local hospital’s Paediatric Clinic. The specialists there will be able to see children at much shorter notice than waiting for a GP refererral. “Remember that 99% of babies with reflux will outgrow it completely without any treatment,” adds Emma Sidebottom. “Reflux is made better by your baby growing. The two milestones are starting on solids – which stay down better than milk – and children becoming more upright. It will get better.”

• Go to your GP and make them listen. This may mean you returning time and again. • Get someone to come along to the GP with you. If you are suffering from a lack of sleep and are emotionally charged, you may need support to get your case across. • Remember, you are your baby’s only voice. That inconsolable cry is trying to tell you something. Trust your instinct and don’t be fobbed off. • Try Cranial Osteopathy. It aims to treat the root cause, by releasing strains or imbalances in the baby that may have occurred as a result of positioning within the womb or the birth itself. Find a local Osteopath in our online Directories. • Type ‘Reflux’ in www.familiesonline.co.uk we have published several articles on the topic • Alison Scott-Wright is author of The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan and an expert in infant reflux. www.alisonscott-wright.com

Reflux – the symptoms Does your baby…. • Vomit

And it is getting better for Vicki Gilbert and 7 month old Joe. He’s on a cocktail of medication that has brought his symptoms under control. For the past month, life has been a little more normal. Like many children with reflux, he’s developed poor sleep habits but that’s a battle for later. The sleep he does take is in a cot propped up at an angle. Vicki says it’s been incredibly tough, but she hopes other parents of babies with reflux will take strength from her experience.

• Have bouts of inconsolable crying

“If your instinct tells you something is wrong, don’t listen to those who say your baby is ‘unsettled’ or ‘colicky’. Seek help from your GP. If they won’t listen, see another GP in the practice. It is NOT normal for babies to scream for hours on end.”

• Have poor sleep patterns

• Arch their back • Have frequent hiccups and excess dribble • Have a white coating on their tongue • Refuse to feed • Have excess mucus • Display signs of pain and irritability

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

The 3 Day Nanny book By Kathryn Mewes, Published by Vermillion, £12.99 Reviewed by a SW London mother of 2 children. This well written and laid out book is a dream whether you need help with sleeping, eating or behavioural issues: for parents it is a navigational gem! Whatever age and stage your children are at, this book is bursting with ways in which to smooth and sort out the various issues you may have. The 3 Day Nanny definitely helps you to help children make the right choices with its brilliant reward and consequences system for example. Whenever I have had a parenting issue, Katherine even gave me fantastic suggestions of what to say or what to do. I absolutely recommend having this fantastic book to hand to dip in and out of. The 3 Day Nanny sits well thumbed by my bedside table and I can honestly say THIS BOOK WORKS. If you’ve got kids read The 3 Day Nanny!

Top Tips for family skiing holidays

Incredible feat by Lucy of Mange Tout Local business woman Lucy Thomas, director of Mange Tout, has undertaken the monumental challenge of completing three Triathlons this year to raise money for burns charity, The Katie Piper Foundation. “I only learnt to swim properly at the start of the year, so this has proved to be a challenge indeed” says Lucy. “I started with the Thames Turbo Sprint Triathlon at Hampton Pool in May, completed the Open Water Triathlon at Eastleigh Lake on the 1st July and a challenging Chiswick 1k Open Water Swim in the Thames. My final event will be the Virgin London Olympic Triathlon (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run). I’ve been training hard and am hoping to achieve my target of raising £1,000 for The Katie Piper Foundation by the end of October”. Donations can be made at Lucy’s Just Giving page: www.Justgiving.Com/LucyThomasTriathlon

Paul and Francesca Ayres moved to Morzine 18 years ago, started a family ski company (Chilly Powder) and had 3 children. We asked them to tell us about the most important things you should consider when taking your family on a ski holiday. • Don’t rush to high altitude resorts because children can sometimes get altitude sickness. It’s also unsafe for babies under the age of 1 to go up in high cable cars because of the air pressure. • Finding a resort with an easy, short airport transfer will be a blessing! Also check that your airport transfer company is properly licensed and has the child car seats you’ll need. • While your on your transfer vehicle from the airport to your holiday accommodation, try to sit as near to the front of the bus as possible - then there’s less chance of the windy roads making your children sick. • It’s pointless wasting money on expensive ski clothes for your children they’ll only outgrow them by next year! Borrow what you can from friends or try TK Maxx. • If your children are attending ski school or childcare, make sure you sew their names in to their clothes so they don’t get mixed up with others. • If you’re taking a pushchair to use during your holiday, take one with large wheels. Standard chairs will be impossible to push in the snow but it might be that your holiday company has a stash of them for you to borrow. • Don’t forget that sun block is just as important on a winter holiday as it is in the summer. Take sun block rather than spray so that you don’t have to take your gloves off to rub it in!

Contact Vicky Barnett BA, MSc, PGCE Tel: 020 8876 2553 barnes@firstclasslearning.co.uk putney@firstclasslearning.co.uk www.firstclasslearning.co.uk

For more details about Chilly Powder see www.chillypowder.com

November 2012

Downtime

How to help children relax By Helena Foss

While many of us parents remember childhoods playing out in the woods, garden or the street, children today grow up in a very different world. The choice of digital entertainment on offer is dizzying: TV, Internet, console games, iPods and iPads not to mention mobile phones and Facebook. As magical as modern technology is, you cannot help but wonder what it is doing to young brains.

Butterfly brain Studies are now showing that more time with technology is lowering attention spans. The American psychiatry professor Dr Gary Small (author of iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind) claims that there is an actual brain gap between generations – those who have been born into technology and those who have come to learn it as adults (like me, for example, who relies on my five-year-old to work the DVD). The tendency for the technologically savvy is to skim and flit rather than focus on one thing at a time. Nevertheless, it is not all bad news. Neuroscientists have also discovered that our brains continue to develop throughout life, growing new brain cells and laying down new neural pathways the more we mentally exercise. Studies of meditators consistently show that it is possible to train the brain into a peaceful and relaxed default setting.

Mindfulness All this science can be found in the book ‘10 Mindful Minutes’ by the Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn, who set up the Hawn Foundation to promote children’s mental and emotional health. Using the latest scientific research, the foundation

has created the MindUP programme for social and emotional learning, which is used internationally and is currently being piloted in selected UK primary schools. There are a whole range of exercises in the book to help children relax, but the core principle is the practice of mindfulness (as opposed to mindlessness); being able to sit and quietly watch the breath whilst being aware of thoughts but not judging them. Simply letting everything be as it is.

Ants in their pants During her decade as a children’s entertainer in the 1990s, Marneta Viegas noticed a steady decrease in children’s ability to sit still and focus. It must be due, she says, to the ever increasing pace of modern life: “We now have electromagnetic radiation and phone masts, chemicals in junk food, stressed parents working hectic jobs and the physical onslaught of electronic and noise pollution. Our world is becoming ever more unnatural and toxic.” Having meditated with her mother since childhood, Marneta decided that this was what hyperactive children needed. “I honestly believe relaxation and meditation, done well and consistently, can sort out a myriad issues.” When Marneta started her company Relax Kids in 2002, meditations for children were eyed with

some suspicion. So she decided to base her meditations on fairy stories – and it worked. To date Marneta has trained nearly 800 Relax Kids teachers in her seven step system that gets children moving, dancing and stretching before deep breathing and lying down for a short inner journey using visualisation. “When one teacher of high spectrum autistic children in Glasgow began using our techniques, the children could barely manage a minute of lying down,” Marneta adds. “But the teacher persisted and now they go a whole twenty minutes!”

Down to earth Lorraine Murray, author of Calm Kids: Help Children Relax with Mindful Activities, has noticed that children diagnosed with ADHD tend to be ‘ungrounded’: not so present in their bodies yet overactive in their minds, sometimes to the point of being in a world of their own. She recommends grounding activities like gardening and running in nature, music with a deep steady drumbeat or imagining that they have roots sinking deep into the earth like a tree. Whilst no mindfulness, meditation or relaxation teacher professes to have a cure-all for the enormous spectrum of children’s mental and emotional needs, the evidence is clear. These practices benefit everyone.

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Downtime Try this:

THE SOUTHFIELDS SCHOOL OF BALLET

Mindful breathing

We offer imaginative Ballet and Jazz classes for children (boys & girls) from 21/2 years. The emphasis of the school is on fun, musicality and fitness, with the option to take Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) examinations.

(adapted from 10 Mindful Minutes) In a quiet room with no distractions, ask your child to sit comfortably with their hands on their laps and close their eyes (or focus on a single object like a picture or window). In a soft voice, guide them to become aware of their breath. Ask them to put their hands on their bellies and feel how it rises and falls as they breathe, or how the air feels as it comes in and out of the nose. If they fidget (which is normal) or get distracted, gently remind them to bring their attention back to their breath. Start small – just a minute or two at first, especially for younger children – and build up gradually to maybe five minutes a couple of times a day. Debrief afterwards. Talk about how mindful breathing can help them at school or other situations.

020 8683 0222 classes held in Southfields and Wimbledon

Sibling Discount Join anytime Principal: Mrs. Eliane Gerhard, BA (Hons), LRAD

Try this: Try these exercises from Relax Kids (www.relaxkids.com) Start with something active, like the Butterfly Massage below. Then you can engage their imagination with the following relaxation scripts.

Butterfly massage Try these massage strokes on your child’s back or encourage siblings to massage each other. Imagine your thumbs are a caterpillar crawling up your child’s spine. Slowly and gently walk your thumbs up to the neck and down again. Now, rub the back to warm it up. Finally practice some butterfly strokes: flutter your fingers all over the head, neck and back.

Green breaths “Lie down and put your hands on your tummy. Breathe in and out gently and feel your tummy rising and falling. Now, as you breathe in, imagine you are breathing green light. It feels very calming and peaceful. Breathe the green light out into the room. Fill the whole room with it. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.”

Melting chocolate “Imagine you are a piece of chocolate outside in the sunshine. You feel yourself melting slowly. Feel your whole body becoming relaxed and letting go as you melt and sink further into the floor.”

Relaxing on the beach “Close your eyes, be still and imagine you are lying down on the beach. Feel the warm sand underneath your body. Listen to the waves of the sea. Now, very gently you are going to relax each part of your body. Start with your feet. Let your toes completely relax and become soft. Let this feeling spread gently through your feet. Squeeze your legs and gently let them go. Feel all the tension in your legs being released as they become relaxed and soft. Squeeze the muscles in your tummy and let go completely. Stretch your back as long as you can and relax. Can you feel your back sinking into the sand? Let your shoulders and neck become soft. Feel all the tension melt away. Squeeze your arms as tight as you can and let them go. Your arms feel heavy as they sink into the sand. Squeeze your fingers into a tight fist, and now uncurl them slowly and rest them on the golden sand. Scrunch your face into a tiny ball and let go and relax. Let your head completely relax: relax your eyes, your ears, your cheeks, your forehead. Feel the warm sun on your face and body as you sink further into the powdery sand. Stay there for a few more moments, enjoying the feeling of being completely relaxed. Don’t forget: Families magazine recommends turning off your WIFI at night (and preferably avoiding it altogether) for your family’s health and wellbeing. See our campaign on Children’s Safety and ElectroMagnetic Radiation at: www.familiesonline.co.uk/radiation

November 2012

• Highly Qualified Staff • Nannies • Babysitters • Housekeepers • Cleaners frain.caringhandsservices@hotmail.co.uk www.caringhandsservices.co.uk

Resources: Relax Kids: www.relaxkids.com Transcendental Meditation in schools: www.consciousnessbasededucation.org.uk 10 Mindful Minutes by Goldie Hawn (with Wendy Holden) Calm Kids: Help Children Relax with Mindful Activities by Lorraine E Murray

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

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November 2012

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Adoption and Fostering

Could you make a difference in a child’s life? Amongst the many good deeds one can do in one’s life, there are few that will impact a child’s life like fostering. It’s sometimes all too easy to take for granted a happy and settled childhood, if you have been lucky enough to have one. Foster carers are urgently required with the time, space and energy in their lives to provide a home to someone else’s child.

Can I do it? You can foster if you are working, not working, or a full-time parent at home. Foster carers caring for children from birth to five years need to be at home on a full-time basis (one of the partners if you are a couple). If you are caring for a school age child and you work you will need to consider what arrangements you will make to take the child to and from school and to accommodate school holidays.

You can foster if: You are 21 years old or above You have the time, space and commitment You are single or with a partner You practice a religion or not You are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or heterosexual You have got your own children or not

Sophie has three children and cares for babies Sophie James had been working at a local primary school, and had given in her notice so she could become a carer. A couple of days after quitting her job she went out and bought a cot, mattress, buggy and so on – with money provided by social services. That very day a social worker called in to make a final check. “I’d have got Daniel that day, but the Olympic torch was going through Fulham... so they brought him the next day!” Sophie is a single mum, having brought up her three children – two boys and a girl, aged seven, eight and 11 – on her own after things didn’t work out with their dad. She had seen

adverts for foster carers, and felt it was something she could do. She had worked with children, she is raising three children single-handedly, and she has been studying in the evenings to successfully complete NVQs in childcare. It’s unlikely social services could have found anyone better qualified! Sophie says: “You know, even if you can help just one child it’s worth it.”

Louise looks after teenagers Louise McKenzie grew up in Sands End, Fulham. As the youngest child of an extended family, her home was always buzzing with children. “It’s the same now,” she laughed. “Having other kids coming in and out is great for the children I care for.” Now 44 and a foster carer for 12 years, Louise believes training is essential to fully understand the realities of being a foster carer.

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Adoption and Fostering It partly involves educating your own family to expect unfamiliar children to suddenly appear. Most foster children stay with Louise for a minimum of three months. The longest has been a year. Louise looked after several teenagers before a placement changed everything: After a week and a half, the 16-year-old girl revealed she was pregnant. Without intending to, Louise had become a parent & child carer, supporting the girl through her pregnancy, and being present at Queen Charlotte’s for the birth. “That drew us very close. It was a very proud moment.”

I am not sure it is for me There is financial support for foster carers, but the real reward, says Louise, is seeing young people move on from the place they are when they arrive to when they leave, and knowing that she’s made a difference. Comprehensive package of support & training are available like “Skills to foster” preparation training, a weekly fee and allowance for each child placed with you, your own supervising social worker to guide and support you, plus ongoing training and support. The opportunity to complete the QCF (formerly known as NVQ) Caring for Children and Young People qualification. She advises anyone thinking about fostering to feel they can ask any question on their mind when they are at the early application and assessment stage. “No question is silly, and you need to go in with your eyes open,” she said.

Think about adoption Every child deserves a family, and this 5th11th November sees the annual National Adoption Week. Since its launch in 1997, National Adoption Week has gone from strength to strength, reaching people across the UK wanting to know more about adoption. National Adoption Week is important in reminding people about the backgrounds of the children waiting for adoption and the difference adoption can make to a child’s life. It also attracts people wanting to find out about their own adoption or about a child they put up for adoption. Find out more at www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk

November 2012

There are different types of fostering schemes Is one of these right for you? 1.) Main-scheme / fee-paying: Fostering children from 0-18 years old from an emergency overnight stay up to two years or more. 2.) Specialist fostering: Full-time foster care to children who need more specialist care due to their additional needs. 3.) Short breaks: Part-time and respite fostering for children with disabilities, young people in specialist foster care and families that need a break. 4.) Supported lodgings: Foster care to children between 16-21years old who need support in a nurturing environment to help them develop independent living skills. 5.) Permanent fostering: A permanent arrangement for children who are unable to return to their birth families, but for whom adoption or special guardianship is not an appropriate option. 6.) Parent & child Parent & child foster carers provide a family environment of support and nurture for a young parent & their child. Parent & child foster carers help young parents to develop confidence in their parenting skills in a safe environment.

For more information visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/fostering www.rbkc.gov.uk/fostering www.westminster.gov.uk/fostering www.sutton.gov.uk or call 0800 169 3497 or email fostering@rbkc.gov.uk Facebook /adoptionandfostering All names have been changed and images used are to illustrate the story.

Green Shoots Day Nursery, SW8 1AR Open for 0 to 5yr olds 8am to 6pm 0207 582 3133 www.greenshootsday nursery.coop

“We are especially keen to hear from people who would consider looking after sibling groups, teenagers, children with disabilities and who can offer a placement to young parents and their young child.” Daniela da Costa, one of Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s Tri-borough fostering officers

Competitions To enter these fabulous competitions, go to www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/competitions Terms and Conditions apply to all our competitions.

WIN a Kindle Touch and a £10 Amazon book voucher thanks to Directline Holidays!

WIN a family ticket to see Room On The Broom live on stage in the West End!

Fantastic for anyone with a holiday planned, the Kindle Touch is small enough to fit snugly into a pocket and can hold a huge number of books.

From Wednesday 21st November till Sunday 13th January Room On The Broom is appearing at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue! www.roomonthebroomlive.co.uk To enter, go to www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/competitions Terms and Conditions apply. Closing date for the competition is 15th November 2012.

Directline Holidays’ friendly team is well accustomed to providing high quality holidays at fantastic prices, not just traditional holiday packages provided by leading tour operators but also individually designed holiday packages. www.directline-holidays.co.uk To enter, go to www.FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk/competitions Terms and Conditions apply. Closing date for the competition is 3rd December 2012.

New on familiesonline.co.uk

a Hints and tips for a happy Christmas www.familiesonline.co.uk/happyxmas

a Inexpensive craft ideas for Christmas www.familiesonline.co.uk/xmascrafts

a Computer safety and your child www.familiesonline.co.uk/kidsandcomputers

a Supporting your child through grief www.familiesonline.co.uk/grief

a Why you should eat more fat www.familiesonline.co.uk/morefat

November 2012

Health feature was chatting to a Syrian lady while visiting the Wandsworth Artist Open House in October. She was selling her paintings to raise money for her family suffering severe hardship there. “We have no idea how lucky we are”, she said “London is heaven”. And of course she is right, we have much to be thankful for. One of the joys of London is the availability of excellent health care. This includes access to excellent complementary therapies. This feature is a glimpse of the excellent therapists on our doorstep.

Creating positive change

Eczema under the microscope

How much easier would your life be if you understood yourself and those around you more easily? Being a parent can be challenging, but there are some important steps you can take to help the way you influence your child, and improve the way you relate to each other.

If your child has eczema you’ll recognise the frustration of watching them scratching reddened irritated skin and feeling powerless to help. Your GP may prescribe a steroid cream but herbal medicine and dietary changes are a good alternative, says Lucy Stephens at South Kensington’s Reva Clinic. Young mother Bonnie Craig said: ‘I didn’t like continually treating my one-year-old with steroid creams, but his face was just so raw and itchy. At the Reva Clinic he was given a herbal tea and a calendula based cream and his skin has improved dramatically.’ Lucy said: ‘Children usually respond very quickly to herbal medicine. I also give dietary and lifestyle advice – simple things so that parents feel more in control of their child’s condition.’ Call 020 7589 6414 to book an appointment or visit www.revaclinic.com

Jenny’s individually tailored and solutionfocused sessions provide parents with the help they need to increase rapport and respect, and well as motivating and building confidence in their child. Parents can also be helped to overcome their own underlying issues, build confidence, manage their emotions and overcome addictive behaviours like smoking, drinking and binge eating. • Jenny Amir - HPD, Dip CHyp, NLP MPrac, MNCH, CNHC 07979 371701 NLP Master Practitioner, NLP4Kids Practitioner & Cognitive Hypnotherapist www.childtherapylondon.nlp4kids.org www.hypnotherapytohelpyou.co.uk

Electromagnetic overload? DID YOU KNOW…that gadgets such as mobile phones and computers emit electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that can disrupt your pineal gland’s production of the sleep hormone melatonin? When you sleep, keep these objects as far away from you as possible. Phone Domes are scientifically proved to reduce EMF effect on your body according to www.totalhealthnow.co.uk Make sure your router and baby monitor is never close to any member of your family, but take even more care with your baby. See the article "Ever thought about the levels of radiation your baby is exposed to? here www.familiesonline.co.uk/radiation We have interviewed several people who are suffering from too much radiation from Wifi. The most telling interview was of a GP who couldn't find out what was wrong with a very sick child he had been seeing for several years. After many hospital visits they still were finding nothing. The GP then suggested to try and disconnect their WIFI at home, 'just to eliminate it': sceptics, the parents tried it anyway, out of despair. To their surprise it made a HUGE difference to the child who immediately started to feel good and behave normally. The child made a full recovery. More research is required to understand the effects of WIFI on our health, in the meantime let's take simple, precautions: don’t get close to the source; turn things off at night to start.

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Health feature

Speech and language development – when to seek help By Marianne Brown, speech and language therapist and owner of the Children's Therapies practice in Putney.

As a parent it’s often difficult to know when a child’s development falls within the ‘normal’ range and when there is cause for concern. Just like learning to walk, children develop the ability to communicate at different speeds, and some will encounter difficulties along the way.

What is the difference between speech & language? Speech is how we produce or articulate the sounds that form words. Language encompasses much more than speech and refers to the way we receive, understand and express information through all forms of communication – verbal and non-verbal. Although speech problems and language problems are different, they often overlap. A child with a language problem for example, may be good at pronouncing words but be unable to join more than two words together. A child whose speech may be difficult to understand may still use words and phrases to express ideas. And another child may speak clearly but have difficulty understanding instructions.

Signs there might be a problem As a very rough guide, and remembering that each child is different, your toddler should have an expressive vocabulary of around 50 words by the time they are 2 years old, and you should be able to understand about half of what they say.

November 2012

If your little one only uses certain sounds or words repeatedly, and is unable to use spoken language to communicate more than their immediate needs by this age, he or she might have speech or language problems, or a combination of both.

Stammering & lisps It’s worth mentioning stammers and lisps as these are two common speech difficulties that we see here at Children’s Therapies. To help a child with a lisp, a therapist will demonstrate the correct production of the ‘s’ and ‘z’ sounds, highlighting to the child how the tongue is hiding behind the teeth. The child is given lots of opportunities to listen to the production of the correct sounds, and then helped to produce ‘s’ and ‘z’ correctly using visual cues such as diagrams and letters. For children who stammer, the therapist will try to establish any factors that may be contributing to the problem, and work with the parent on strategies to help the child to talk more easily, including overcoming fear and anxiety.

When to get help Parents are correct in thinking that some children do naturally grow out of these speech difficulties, but unfortunately it is impossible to predict which ones. What we do know is that as with language delay, the earlier parents seek help, the more successful therapy is likely to be. We also know that children entering school with a speech or language delay are much more likely to have learning difficulties. If you are at all concerned, contact your GP, or a speech and language therapist directly. They will either be able to reassure you that everything is fine, or assess your child and work with you on strategies and techniques to help your child’s communication.

•Children’s Therapies Practice, Clinics and Putney and Clapham Common, 020 8673 7930.

Health feature

Pregnancy-related back pain and pelvic girdle pain What can be done? By Christine Julien-Laferrière Physiotherapist, member of the women’s health physiotherapy association

During their pregnancy, up to 50% of women will suffer with back pain and 1 in 5 with pelvic girdle pain (PGP). Most of the time the pain is pregnancy-related and symptoms will subside once the baby has been born. Women with a history of back pain are more likely to have persistent back pain after pregnancy.

Back pain and PGP can be a result of the many physical and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. As your baby grows, the uterus expands the weight increase and the center of gravity moves forward. The biomechanical and postural changes can cause strain on your back and joints. The hormones change, the relaxin softens the soft tissues of the pelvis to allow the delivery. This increased laxity may cause instability of the pelvis and pain while walking, rolling over bed and getting out of a chair. After your baby is born, new daily and repetitive activities as carrying, lifting and feeding can aggravate back pain. You may present with a rectus abdominis diastasis (a gap in between the abdominals), weak or tight pelvic floor muscles. Being a new mum is tiring on both physical and emotional level.

Back pain and PGP are common but not normal The days of just ‘getting on with it’ are long gone. You can be proactive to prevent and help yourself with simple general advices on posture, exercise and seek early intervention and support. Talk to your midwife, GP, a women’s health Physiotherapist or other specialised professionals! A multidisciplinary professional team, expert in ante and post-natal issues can help you with your back and PGP pain.

Physiotherapists and osteopaths will, after assessment and diagnosis, discuss a treatment program which includes soft tissue techniques and manual therapy to improve spinal and pelvic joint mobility.

Perineal massage A recent survey The Physiotherapist will also prescribe

Therapeutic Massage is a wonderful way to help aches and pains and to relax for all mothers-to-be and mothers.

The osteopath may use gentle cranio-

form of massage to help pregnant women with swollen and heavy legs and to boost the immune system.

sacral or visceral techniques to rebalance and release tensions ensuring the pelvis is moving freely to allow for the best possible delivery and recovery.

Midwife: If you suffer from pelvic girdle pain, make sure you inform your midwife who will choose the positions during labour which are not aggravating the symptoms. Acupuncture Studies have shown that acupuncture can relieve back and pelvic pain during pregnancy. It is also used for other issues as morning sickness, breech presentation, induction…

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a

Pilates is great at building core strength and to recover your figure back after baby is born! Physio for All offer all the above services for Mothers-to-be and new mothers. With over 20 years, their multidisciplinary team has helped many women with pregnancy-related back and pelvic girdle pain. They aim to make your pregnancy, the birth of your baby and the recovery a positive experience. Physio for All at Battersea, 40 Webbs Road, SW11 6SF, 020 7228 2141 Physio for All at Chelsea 222 Old Brompron Rd, SW5 0BZ, 020 7373 0050 Info@physio4all.com www.physio4all.com

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showed it reduced the risk of perineal tears and the need of an episiotomy.

specific exercises to relax or strengthen your back, abdominals and pelvic floor muscles, to improve lumbo-pelvic mobility and stability and give you tips and advice on do’s and don’ts. A postnatal pelvic floor check by a physiotherapist is recommended before starting your favorite sport, pilates or similar.

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Sophrology is a technique, which through breathing and visualisation exercises enables a mother-to-be to relax, help control pain and experience childbirth positively.

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Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Health feature

Whooping cough By Paediatric A&E nurse, R.E.D.I. Training

It starts with a dry irritating cough that turns to bouts of coughing. You can also have a runny nose, fever and sometimes vomiting after a bout of coughing. Its incubation is 7-10 days and it can last for 3 months. Whooping cough is a cyclical disease, peaking every 3-4 years, we are currently experiencing a peak, there are 3 times more cases than last year and this is the worse for 20 years and of those 235 cases are babies and sadly 10 have died. The last time rates were this high was in 1990 when there were 15,000 cases, and seven babies died. The Health Protection Agency is unclear as to why this outbreak is so severe. It is thought if they are low for several years and only a few catch the infection, everyone’s immunity goes down. So if the illness reappears – after being brought in from abroad, for example – we are far more susceptible and rates go up again.

Treatment: Antibiotics can be prescribed, if diagnosed in first 3 weeks, this can also prevent it passing onto others, but after that they are no longer effective. The key is to reduce spreading during contagious phase. Children with whooping cough should be kept away from school or nursery until they have taken antibiotics for five days. The same applies to adults returning to their workplace. Young babies may be admitted to hospital, as they are at risk of severe complications, and given antibiotics.

R.E.D.I. Training

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection (Bordetella Pertussis) of the lungs and airways that passes through droplets in the air (coughing/sneezing). The medical term for whooping cough is Pertussis, the name comes from the whooping noise made after inhaling and is sometimes called the 100 day cough.

Vaccine: Repevax has been used in the UK childhood immunisation programme since 2004, and has an excellent safety record; it is not a ‘live’ vaccine. There is a whooping cough only vaccine, it is also part of the Diphtheria/Tetanus/Petussis vaccine. You only need one dose and it can be given with the flu vaccine. It cannot cause the illness but it is enough to provoke the body’s immune system to produce antibodies to protect against it. In the UK, all pregnant women (28-38 weeks) are now being offered the vaccination, so that her antibodies against the disease are passed to the unborn child. There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine is unsafe for mother or baby if used in pregnancy. Children are vaccinated at two, three and four months of age, and again before starting school at about three years. The effectiveness of the whooping cough vaccination may fade over time meaning it is possible to develop the condition during adulthood if you were previously vaccinated. If you would like more information about First Aid courses please call 020 7348 7117 or office@redi-training.co.uk. All trainers are experienced nurses that can come to your house at a time that suits you and your family.

DISCLAIMER: This article is written as general information and does not substitute medical advice. R.E.D.I. Training Ltd is not responsible or liable for diagnosis or actions taken based on this article.

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Creating positive change - for a happier You If you are looking to resolve a problem, having the right mindset can make the difference between success or failure. My highly effective and individually tailored Cognitive Hypnotherapy & NLP sessions can help you achieve lasting positive changes to your thoughts, feelings and behaviours, in just a few sessions. For help with a wide range of issues, including: • confidence and self-esteem issues • abuse • weight loss • trauma • anxiety • relationships • stress • insomnia • anger • addictive behaviours Also providing: • smoking • Hypnosis for Childbirth sessions • alcohol dependency • NLP4Kids therapy

Jenny Amir - 07979 371701 Cognitive Hypnotherapist, NLP Master Practitioner & NLP4Kids Practitioner www.hypnotherapytohelpyou.co.uk www.childtherapylondon.nlp4kids.org

November 2012

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Pottery Painting & Craft Studio Personalised Christmas Gifts painted by You! Baubles, tree decorations & more Capture your childrens' prints on silver jewellery, Birthday parties, hen do's & Christmas do's all welcome Open Mon足Sat 10am足6pm, Sun 11am足6pm. 85 Nightingale Lane, Wandsworth SW12 8NX 020 8772 8702 www.smartypaints.co.uk

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Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

November 2012

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Christmas Shows and Pantomimes 2012 Compiled by Joanna Parry

... what a fantastic choice we have in London!

AMBASSADORS THEATRE

CAMBRIDGE THEATRE

LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE

West Street WC2H 9ND 08448 112334 theambassadorstheatre.co.uk 5-24 December. LITTLE CHARLEY BEAR’S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE – Little Charley Bear from CBeebies appears live on stage for the first time in a magical Christmas adventure. Age 7+, £5-£15

Seven Dials, 32-34 Earlham Street WC2H 9HU 0844 412 4652/0844 800 1110 www.matildathemusical.com Booking to December 2013. MATILDA THE MUSICAL The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Roald Dahl’s magical story about a girl with extraordinary powers. £20-£65

14 Dagmar Passage, Cross Street N1 2DN 020 7226 1787 littleangeltheatre.com 17 November – 27 January. PINOCCHIO Created by master puppet maker and director Peter O'Rourke. Age 6+, £5-£14 5 December – 27 January. DOGS DON’T DO BALLET Biff is not like ordinary dogs. He likes moonlight. And music. And walking on his tiptoes. You see, Biff thinks he's a ballerina… Age 2-6, £8-£10

ARTS THEATRE Great Newport Street WC2H 7JB 020 7836 8463 artstheatrewestend.co.uk 29 November – 6 January. A CHRISTMAS CAROL Following a sell-out season in 2011, Simon Callow stars in this acclaimed production of one of the most beloved books in the English language. £15-£40

CHELSEA THEATRE

ARTSDEPOT

CHURCHILL THEATRE

5 Nether Street N12 0GA 020 8369 5454 artsdepot.co.uk 8 December – 6 January. THE GRUFFALO Everyone's favourite monster is back on stage in a smash hit musical of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Age 3+, £12.50

High Street, Bromley, Kent BR1 1HA 0844 871 7620 atgtickets.com/venues/thechurchill-theatre-bromley 30 November – 6 January. PETER PAN Join the magical adventure with Peter Pan, Wendy, The Lost Boys and Tinker Bell, but watch out for the infamous Captain Hook behind you! £14-£21

BARBICAN THEATRE Barbican Centre, Silk Street EC2Y 8DS 0845 120 7511 barbican.org.uk/theatre 15 December – 6 January. 59 MINUTES TO SAVE CHRISTMAS Everyone loves Christmas, don’t they? Well someone doesn't because things are very, very wrong…and then there is the mystery of the missing presents. £12 14 December – 19 January. THE MASTER AND MARGARITA Complicite returns to the Barbican with Mikhail Bulgakov’s magical novel pitting the power of evil against the power of compassion. £16-£42

BATTERSEA ARTS CENTRE Lavender Hill, Battersea SW11 5TN 020 7223 2223 bac.org.uk 8 December – 13 January. MIDNIGHT’S PUMPKIN Renowned theatre makers Kneehigh present a tipsy, tingling and foot-stomping Christmas hit. Age 6+, £15-£25

BLOOMSBURY THEATRE 15 Gordon Street WC1H 0AH 020 7388 8822 thebloomsbury.com 12-22 and 27-29 December and 7-19 January. TOM’S MIDNIGHT GARDEN When the grandfather clock in the hallway chimes thirteen, Tom is transported to a secret garden from the past. Birmingham Stage Company’s production from the book by Philippa Pearce. Age 4+, £14.50-£19.50

BROADWAY THEATRE Catford SE6 4RU 020 8690 0002 broadwaytheatre.org.uk 15 December – 3 January. CINDERELLA The greatest-loved panto of them all! Starring Floella Benjamin. £10 7 November – 2 December. SPRING AWAKENING – THE MUSICAL Winner of 8 Tony Awards, a rock musical about the trials, tribulations and exhilaration of the teen years. £8-£14.50

7 World's End Place SW10 0DR 020 7352 1967 chelseatheatre.org.uk 4-24 December. THE WAY BACK HOME Once there was a boy who found himself stuck on the moon and he was not alone… Age 7 and under, £8

COLOUR HOUSE THEATRE Merton Abbey Mills, Merantun Way SW19 2RD 020 8542 5511/ 07944 868385 colourhousetheatre.co.uk 24 November – 27 January. JACK AND THE BEANSTALK A wonderful musical show for the whole family. Saturdays and Sundays, age 3+, £9-£10

GARRICK THEATRE 2 Charing Cross Road WC2H 0HH 0844 482 9673 nimaxtheatres.com/garrick-theatre To 6 January. HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN Birmingham Stage Company returns to the Garrick with its entertaining adaptation of Terry Deary's books. Age 6+, from £10

GREENWICH THEATRE Croom's Hill SE10 8ES 020 8858 7755 greenwichtheatre.org.uk 22 November – 6 January. ROBIN HOOD – A PANTOMIME ADVENTURE Fresh from the success of last year's spectacular production, Greenwich presents another allsinging, all-dancing pantomime treat. £16-£25

JACKSON’S LANE 269a Archway Road N6 5AA 020 8341 4421 jacksonslane.org.uk 8 December – 4 January. THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER Following the sell-out success of last year's The Enormous Turnip, Stuff & Nonsense return with their inventive charm to retell a classic children's favourite. Age 2+, £7.50-£14.50

HALF MOON YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE 43 White Horse Road E1 0ND 020 7709 8900 www.halfmoon.org.uk 22 December. BABA YAGA. When a passing Princess needs help in deepest Russia, Baba Yaga sweeps in to join the rabble rousing riot of colour, magic and intrigue. Age 3-7, £6

LONDON COLISEUM St. Martin's Lane, Charing Cross WC2N 4ES 0871 911 0200 ballet.org.uk 12 December – 5 January. THE NUTCRACKER Journey back in time to a frost-covered, gas-lit London and join Clara, her Nutcracker and the magician Drosselmeyer in this traditional festive tale for all the family. £10-£67 9-19 January. THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Kenneth MacMillan’s production of the popular classic is the perfect way to bring some sparkle into your New Year. £10-£67

LONDON PALLADIUM Argyll Street W1F 7TF 020 7492 9930 reallyuseful.com To 5 Jan 2013. SCROOGE THE MUSICAL Bridging the gap between 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', Bill Kenwright's musical returns to the West End.

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH Lyric Square, King Street W6 0QL 020 8741 6850 lyric.co.uk 24 November – 5 January. CINDERELLA Pantomime returns to the Lyric Hammersmith this Christmas with Cinderella, directed by Sean Holmes. 30 November – 5 January. FATHER CHRISTMAS The first ever stage adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ favourite, in the Lyric Studio. Under 6yrs

LYRIC THEATRE 29 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 7ES 0844 482 9674 nimaxtheatres.com/lyric-theatre / roomonthebroomlive.co.uk 21 November – 13 January. ROOM ON THE BROOM Spellbinding family show flies into the West End for an unforgettable adventure, from the creators of The Gruffalo. Age 3-8, £12.50-£15.50

NATIONAL THEATRE South Bank SE1 9PX 020 7452 3000 nationaltheatre.org.uk 7 December – 26 January. HANSEL AND GRETEL Katie Mitchell directs the Brothers Grimm tale in an intimate and magical production. Age 7-10

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1QG 0844 871 7646 atgtickets.com/venues/newwimbledon-theatre 7 December -13 January. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS Includes actress Priscilla Presley making her pantomime and London stage debut as The Wicked Queen. £10-£35

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All the shows, all the pantos, all the Christmas shows…. Locally, in Central London and surrounding areas. O2 ARENA

ROSE THEATRE

Peninsula Square, Greenwich SE10 0DX 020 8463 2000 www.theo2.co.uk 7 December – 5 January. ALADDIN – A WISH COME TRUE A spin on the Aladdin story in a specially-built theatre in the O2's forecourt. Lily Savage stars in London’s biggest panto. £19.50-£49.50

24-26 High Street, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1HL 0844 482 1556 rosetheatrekingston.org 30 November – 6 January. CINDERELLA THE MIDNIGHT PRINCESS Poor Cinderella wants to go to the ball... Who can help her? Bring the whole family to see the most magical fairy tale of them all. £8-£26

ORANGE TREE THEATRE

ROUNDHOUSE

1 Clarence Street, Richmond TW9 2SA 020 8940 3633 orangetreetheatre.co.uk 19 December – 2 February. SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE Georges Feydeau’s farce comes to the Orange Tree for the festive season, with plenty of doorslamming and confused identities.

Chalk Farm Road NW1 8EH 0844 482 8008 roundhouse.org.uk 28 November – 30 December. LEMONY SNICKET’S LATKE WHO COULDN’T STOP SCREAMING Hanukkah Latke, a potato pancake, is born screaming. Well, wouldn’t you scream if you were thrown into a pan of boiling oil? Adaptation of the Lemony Snicket story brought to life in Tall Stories' unique physical style. £8-£10

PEACOCK THEATRE Portugal Street WC2A 2HT 020 7863 8198 sadlerswells.com/page/ peacock-theatre 28 November – 6 January. THE SNOWMAN Birmingham Rep's much loved adaptation of Raymond Briggs' book is a Christmas institution, returning to the Peacock for its 15th year. Age 2+, £12-£32

PHOENIX THEATRE Charing Cross Road WC2H 0JP 0844 871 7629 phoenixtheatrelondon.co.uk 22 November – 26 January. GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM Evacuated to the country in the run up to the Second World War, young William is cheered up by his unlikely friendship with Tom Oakley. From the novel by Michelle Magorian. £15-£46.50

POLKA THEATRE 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB 020 8543 4888 polkatheatre.com 17 Oct – 16 Feb. TOO MANY PENGUINS? How many penguins are too many penguins? Polar bear thinks one is more than enough, thank you very much! 1-4yrs, £8-£10 23 November – 16 February. THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS When Mole abandons spring-cleaning for the delights of the riverbank, he has no idea of the adventures that lie ahead. A delightful adaptation with songs. Age 5-11, £11-£16

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Little Venice, Blomfield Road W9 2PF 07836 202 745 / 020 7249 6876 puppetbarge.com 9- 25 November. BOTTOM’S DREAM Shakespeare’ fairies and rustics will delight young and old. Age 8+, £8.50-£10 1 December – 13 January. A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Charles Dickens favorite for the Christmas season. Age 5+, £8.50-£10

RICHMOND THEATRE The Green, Richmond TW9 1QJ 0844 871 7651 atgtickets.com/Richmond 7 December – 13 January. ALADDIN Another treasure filled adventure that promises to be pure panto genie-us. Rub the magic lamp, enter the cave of wonders and be transported on a flying carpet ride into the mystical world of the Far East. £10-£29.50

November 2012

ROYAL COURT THEATRE Sloane Square SW1W 8AS 020 7565 5000 royalcourttheatre.com 6 December – 19 January. IN THE REPUBLIC OF HAPPINESS A family Christmas is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Uncle Bob. Who is he? Why has he come? All we can be sure of is that the world will never be the same again. £12-£28

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE Covent Garden WC2E 9DD 020 7304 4000 roh.org.uk 10 December - 16 January. THE NUTCRACKER A young girl receives an enchanted nutcracker that leads her on a wonderful adventure in this Christmas classic. Stunning choreography and Tchaikovsky's score combine in one of the bestloved of all ballets. 5yrs+, £5-£110 12 December – 5 January. THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS Will Tuckett's production brings all the magic of Kenneth Grahame's classic tale to the stage in the Linbury Studio Theatre. £11-24

SADLER’S WELLS Rosebery Avenue EC1R 0844 412 4300 sadlerswells.com 4 December – 26 January. MATTHEW BOURNE’S SLEEPING BEAUTY New Adventures’ 25th birthday culminates with the premiere of Matthew Bourne’s latest reimagining of a classic. £12-£60 20-31 December. BOING! Dance theatre capturing the magic of staying up waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve. Age 3+, in Lilian Baylis Studio, £7-£12

SHAW THEATRE 100-110 Euston Road NW1 2AJ 0844 248 5075 shaw-theatre.com 6-29 December. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The classic fairytale turned into a spectacular pantomime. £19.50

SOUTHBANK CENTRE Belvedere Road SE1 8PX 020 7960 4200 / 0844 847 9944 southbankcentre.co.uk 17 December – 7 January. SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW

The clowning spectacular returns to the Royal Festival Hall with giant snowballs and indoor blizzards. Age 8+ 22 December – 6 January. CLOUD MAN A magical winter show featuring a blend of puppetry, storytelling and music. Age 4-7, in Blue Room 30 November – 2 December. KORALL KORAL Enter a magical, shell-shaped tent for an entrancing performance of music and song for babies under 18 months. At Royal Festival Hall

SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE Shipwright Yard, Corner of Tooley Street and Bermondsey Street SE1 2TF 020 7407 0234 southwarkplayhouse.co.uk 5 December – 5 January. FEATHERS IN THE SNOW A decision is made that sets off an astonishing chain of events and a journey involving a talking leopard, a greedy King, a tidal wave, a Sea Witch, a devious dolphin and a trail of feathers in the snow…£10-£16

ST JAMES’ THEATRE 12 Palace Street SW1E 5JA 0844 264 2140 stjamestheatre.co.uk To 8 Dec. DADDY LONG LEGS Set in the early 1900s, a vivid account of a young orphan as she blossoms into a beautiful and vivacious woman. £25-£55 12 December – 26 January. CINDERELLA Sure to captivate audiences with its modern take on one of the best-loved fairy tales. Age 6+, £17.50-£40

TARA THEATRE ARTS 356 Garratt Lane SW18 4ES 020 8333 4457 tara-arts.com 5 December – 5 January. DICK WHITTINGTON GOES BOLLYWOOD TV’s Hardeep Singh Kohli teams up for another Indian-flavoured romp. £12.50-£16.50

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE Catherine Street WC2B 5JF 0844 412 4660 shrekthemusical.co.uk To 24 February. SHREK THE MUSICAL® Don’t miss out – it ends in February!

TRICYCLE THEATRE 269 Kilburn High Road, Kilburn NW6 7JR 020 7328 1000 tricycle.co.uk 30 November – 12 January. THE ARABIAN NIGHTS In Baghdad, a young woman starts a revolution through the power of storytelling. A punky, modern reimagining of ancient tales. Age 10+, £10-£20

UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street, Southwark SE1 2HZ 020 7645 0500 unicorntheatre.com 25 November – 13 January. THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER Set in a vibrant Tudor London, poor Tom Canty has a chance meeting with the young heir to the throne, and by pure coincidence they find they look almost identical. Age 6+, £11-£22 6 December – 3 January. IN A PICKLE Oily Cart return with a voyage of discovery, through the landscapes of Shakespeare’s imagination. Age 2-5, £10-£16

Please say you booked as you saw them in Families!

What’s On Compiled by Joanna Parry Please always phone before setting out in case details have changed since press deadline or we got it wrong...

DRAMA DISCOVER CHILDREN’S STORY CENTRE 383-387 High Street, Stratford E15 4QZ 020 8536 5555 discover.org.uk 29 Nov – 13 January The House Where Winter Lives Discover’s basement is transformed into a magical frozen forest in this awe-inspiring immersive show for 3-6yrs. £6-£8

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH Lyric Square, King Street W6 0QL 020 8741 6850 lyric.co.uk 10 Nov. Rapunzel & the Tower of Doom A favourite fairy tale brilliantly retold with enchanting puppets and fun storytelling. Age 4-10 17 Nov. Grimm Tales

Playful and mischievous tales including Hansel & Gretel and Ashputtel, the original Cinderella. Age 6 – 11 24 and 25 Nov. Stuck Find out if little Floyd will ever manage to get his kite unstuck. Ages 3 – 7

POLKA THEATRE 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB 020 8543 4888 polkatheatre.com To 10 Nov. Red Riding Hood Once upon a time there was a young girl who went to spend the night at Grandma’s house... and her little brother came too! A new adaptation of the children’s tale with music and songs from Julian Butler (Charlie and Lola’s Best Bestest Play). Age 4 – 7, £8-£12

SOHO THEATRE 21 Dean Street W1D 3NE 020 7478 0100 sohotheatre.com 10 Nov. Comedy Club 4 Kids Top quality comedy for children, parents and anybody who likes humour without the rude words. £10

TARA THEATRE ARTS 356 Garratt Lane, SW18 4ES 020 8333 4457 tara-arts.com 9 and 10 Nov. Handa’s Surprise Travel to Kenya and follow in Handa’s footsteps as she journeys to see Akeyo, taking 7 delicious fruits as a surprise – but 7 different animals have 7 very different ideas...With puppetry, music and song. 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm, £10/£9 24 Nov. Baba Yaga In deepest Russia in a house on chickens legs Baba Yaga rides the night skies in her mortar, sweeping away her tracks with her broom. A riot of colour, magic and European intrigue. Age 3–7, 10.30am, £10/£9

UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street, Southwark SE1 2HZ 020 7645 0500 unicorntheatre.com To 16 Nov. A Winter’s Tale A group of actors are performing The Winter’s Tale at the Unicorn. But it’s not going well. This

hilarious new play turns the world of The Winter’s Tale on its head. 7-10yrs To 13 Nov. Dr Korczak’s Example Set in the final days of an orphanage in the Jewish ghetto of Warsaw, where food is scarce, tempers rise, and everyone wants to survive. A powerful tale of Korczak’s refusal to abandon the orphanage. 11-13yrs To 11 Nov. I, Malvolio Twelfth Night re-examined in a brilliant one-man show that invites the audience to explore selfknowledge, bullying and shame through the eyes of Shakespeare’s most pent-up steward. 13+ yrs To 30 Oct – 3 Nov. The Mysterious Vanishment of Pobby and Dingan Where do you start looking for something you can’t even see? One boy’s mission to save his family unites an outback opal mining community. 9+ yrs 6-8 Nov. The Elves and The Shoemakers – Music, puppetry, physical storytelling and a sprinkling of Elf magic. Age 3-7 14-17 Nov. Burning Bird Set against the backdrop of the London riots, Burning Bird explores what it means to be young in the city. Age 14yrs + 21 Nov – 2 Dec. The Tear Thief Carol Ann Duffy’s book magically brought to life with stunning puppetry and live music. Age 4-7

NATIONAL THEATRE Cottesloe Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX 020 7452 3000 Book online at www.nationaltheatre.org.uk Hansel and Gretel Following The Cat in the Hat and Beauty and the Beast (nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Entertainment), Katie Mitchell returns to the National Theatre to stage the classic fairytale. She will once again collaborate with Lucy Kirkwood and designer Vicki Mortimer to conjure the world of Hansel and Gretel in an intimate and magical new production especially suitable for 7 – 10-year-olds. £12, £16, £24; all tickets £12 for under-18yrs

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EXHIBITIONS & MUSEUMS BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM Threadneedle Street EC2R 8AH 020 7601 5545 bankofengland.co.uk/museum 10 Nov. Lord Mayor’s Show Professional face painters will turn young visitors into characters from 'The Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame, a former Secretary of the Bank of England. 11-5pm To 10 Nov. Titanic Documents See these claims for the replacement of Bank of England notes from the relatives of victims of the disaster, on display to the public for the first time. To 10 Nov. Gold and the Bank of England An exhibition examining the part that gold has played during the Bank's long history

BRITISH MUSEUM Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG 020 7323 8299 britishmuseum.org 10 Nov. Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot Uncover fascinating facts about the man who led the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Using prints and drawings from the collection piece together the life of Guy Fawkes through drawing, crafts and reenactments. 2-7pm, Young Friends £12, guests £15, adults free 24 Nov. Kids in Museum’s Takeover Day Young Friends of the British Museum will share what they love about the Museum and what kids think of some of the world-famous objects. Free, drop in. 10am-3pm. To 25 Nov. Shakespeare Staging the World Discover the world of William Shakespeare and the emerging role of London as a global city through objects and contemporary performance. £12/£14, under 16s free. To 6 Jan. Renaissance to Goya: Prints and Drawings from Spain Bringing together for the first time prints and drawings by Spanish and European artists working in Spain from the mid-16th to mid-19th century, many of which have never been on display before. To 20 Jan. Flame and Water Pots: Prehistoric Ceramic Art from Japan A display of three pots made by the Jomon people, a culture which produced some of the oldest pottery in the world.

November 2012

CUMING MUSEUM 151 Walworth Road SE17 1RY 020 7525 2332 southwark.gov.uk/cumingmuseum To 24 Nov. Charles Dickens – A Southwark Childhood Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Dickens, exploring his experience of Southwark during 1824 when his father was imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea Prison.

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE MUSEUM 2 Lambeth Palace Road SE1 7EW 020 7620 0374 florence-nightingale.co.uk 7, 14, 21, 28 Nov. Miss Nightingale Said... An illustrated talk examining the incredible life and achievements of Florence Nightingale. 3pm

FOUNDLING MUSEUM 40 Brunswick Square, Camden Town WC1N 1AZ 020 7841 3600 foundlingmuseum.org.uk To 16 Dec. Received, a Blank Child: Dickens, Brownlow and the Foundling Hospital Exploring the facts and fictions that link the life and work of Charles Dickens and Secretary of the Foundling Hospital in the 1850s John Brownlow, while illuminating the life of the Hospital during the Victorian age.

HORNIMAN MUSEUM 100 London Rd, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ 020 8699 1872 horniman.ac.uk 25 Nov. Nzinga Dance Ensemble Concert Move your feet to rhythms from Africa and the Caribbean in this vibrant drumming and dance performance. 3-4pm, free 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 Nov. Busy Bees Lively sessions for Under 5s including stories and art and craft. 10.45am, 11.30am and 12.15pm 10, 17, 24 Nov. Hands on Family Workshops

What’s On Handle real museum objects in these popular sessions for families. 11.45am and 1pm 10, 17, 24 Nov. Art Makers Have fun with art skills and exciting techniques to create something fabulous. 1.30pm and 2.45pm 11, 18, 25 Nov. Discovery for All Drop in to explore the Hands On Base and the thousands of real objects from around the world. 2 – 3.30pm To 24 Feb 2013. 2011 British Wildlife Photography Competition Exhibition Stunning images from a jellyfish in the icy waters of Scotland to a grey seal swimming off the coast of Devon.

HUNTERIAN MUSEUM Royal College of Surgeons, 35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2A 3PE 020 7869 6560 rcseng.ac.uk/museums To 21 Dec. Anatomy of an Athlete New artworks that explore the anatomy and physiology of elite athletics. Free

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM Lambeth Road SE1 6HZ 020 7416 5320/5321 iwm.org.uk 10-11 Nov. A Poppy Field Grow your own poppy from paper and wire and plant it in the Poppy Field. 11am-5pm, free 24 Nov. Cecil Beaton: Vogue and Wartime Fashion Curator talk, from 2pm. £12/£11 To 30 Nov. War Story First-hand experiences of British service personnel currently serving in Afghanistan. To 1 Jan 2013. A Family in Wartime Experience life on the Home Front through the eyes of one London family To 1 Jan 2013. Cecil Beaton: Theatre of War A major new exhibition exploring the impact of the Second World War on photographer, designer, writer, cartoonist, diarist and socialite Cecil Beaton’s life and work. £6/£8, under 15s free

MUSEUM OF LONDON London Wall EC2Y 5HN 020 7001 9844 museumoflondon.org.uk 7 and 21 Nov. Little Moles Gallery visit Come on a journey around the galleries. 1yr+, free, book in advance, 3.30pm 11 and 25 Nov. Museum Explored Join one of the Museum's Hosts and explore the galleries through fun, hands-on activities. 11.301.30pm and 2-4pm, 5+ yrs 18 Nov. Animated animals 8 Join the digital learning team to bring some of the page 34

What’s on animals in the galleries to life. 5yrs+, free, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm 27 Nov. Under 5s story time Stories, music and fun with interactive storytelling. Free, 3.30pm

MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS West India Quay E14 4AL 020 7001 9844 museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands 8, 15, 22, 29 Nov. Under 5s story time Fun and interactive story using puppets, museum objects and music. 3pm, free 10 Nov. The legend of Moll Cutpurse Hear the legend of Moll Cutpurse, Queen of the London Jacobean underworld: pickpocket, thief, forger and highwaywoman. 5yrs+, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm, free 17 Nov. Make a winter postcard Create your own winter scene of Docklands past or present. 6yrs+, 12.30pm and 2.30pm, free 24 Nov. The River Thames Explore the history of the Thames from smelly, muddy water to its modern, working life. 3yrs+, 12.30pm and 2.30pm, free 27 Nov. Music and Movement Fun music and movement session. 1yrs+, free, book in advance, 10am

NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HT 020 7730 0717 nam.ac.uk To Jan 2013. Jubilee: 60 Years of the Sovereign and Her Soldiers A display exploring different aspects of the relationship between the Queen and her Army. To March 2013. War Horse: Fact and Fiction A major new exhibition exploring the true history behind the popular War Horse novel - exciting interactive displays, exclusive costumes and props from the Spielberg-directed film, and material from War Horse author, Michael Morpurgo and the National Theatre. Victorian Soldiers Action Zone Quizzes, games and hands-on activities help you learn about life as a Victorian Soldier and the part they played in the shaping of Britain’s Empire. Kid’s Zone A new children’s play area exploring aspects of army life from camping to clothing, with a

dedicated soft play space for babies, art and crafts and dressing-up costumes. Small fee applies

NATIONAL GALLERY Trafalgar Square WC2N 5DN 020 7747 2894/2885 nationalgallery.org.uk Every Sunday in Nov. Family Sundays Activities designed for families to enjoy and learn together. Studio Sundays are hands-on workshops that start in the Gallery, followed by a studio session (2 hours). Drawing Sundays explore National Gallery paintings as inspiration for your art (80 minutes). Magic Carpet Storytelling for children aged 2-5. Sundays 10.30-11am and 11.30am–12pm. Fly away on the magic carpet, which comes to land in front of a different painting each day. To 20 Jan 2013. Seduced By Art: Photography Past and Present View Old Master painting through a new lens with the Gallery’s first major exhibition of photography. £12/£6

NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM Park Row, Greenwich SE10 9NF 020 8858 4422 rmg.co.uk 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov. Play Tuesdays Young children can have fun with their families as they explore the Museum through music, dance and stories. 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2pm, under 5s, free 10, 17, 24 Nov. Explore Saturdays Meet a character from the past and take part in an exciting performance that will bring maritime history to life. 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, 6yrs+, free 11, 18, 25 Nov. Discover Sundays Be inspired by our maritime past and explore your personal connections to the sea. 11.30-1.30pm and 2-4pm, all ages, free 24 Nov. Diwali Celebrations Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a range of activities for all the family. Discover more about how trade by sea brought ideas, culture, language and people from Asia to Britain. 11am-5pm 9 Nov – 28 April. Ansel Adams: Photography from the Mountains to the Sea - Explore the exhibition with a free activity trail to find out more about Ansel Adams and landscape photography.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY St Martin’s Place WC2H 0HE 020 7306 0055 npg.org.uk 17 Nov. Storytelling for Families 10.30am and 1.30pm. Followed by a fun art activity.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Cromwell Road SW7 5BD 020 7942 5000 nhm.ac.uk To 3 March. Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year Revealing nature photography in its purest form, this collection of images combines the work of talented young photographers with leading lights of the profession from around the globe. Saturdays and Sundays in Nov. Hands-On Nature Visit the handling station and explore some interesting specimens with the help of specialist science educators. 2-5pm To 6 Jan. Ice Rink Skate at London’s most enchanting ice rink for a truly magical experience this winter. Tickets sell out very quickly! £8-£13.50

ORLEANS HOUSE GALLERY Riverside, Twickenham, TW1 3DJ 020 8831 6000 richmond.gov.uk/orleans_house_gallery To 18 Nov. Cutting Edge Exhibition – Design exhibition of the pick of London design graduates. In the Stables Gallery

TATE BRITAIN Millbank SW1P 4RG 020 7887 8888 tate.org.uk/britain 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 Nov. Liminal Engage with sculpture through touch, interaction and collaboration. All ages, 11am-3pm To 6 Jan. Turner Prize 2012 £10, concessions available To 13 Jan 2012. Pre-Raphaelites: Victorian Avant-Garde Combining rebellion, beauty, scientific precision and imaginative grandeur, the Pre-Raphaelites constitute Britain’s first modern art movement. £15.50/£13.50

HAPKIDO SELF DEFENCE classes available for children, teenagers and adults. Dan Jun breathing, Kicks, punches, throws, joint-locks, tumbles, jumps and breakfalls. NEW: Learn the way of the Samurai sword, children ages 9yrs and over Hapkido teaches: •Respect •Fitness •Discipline •Confidence •Control & sensitivity •Inner calm & peace •Defence •Strength & agility Instructor: Jon Bailie, 2nd Dan Qualified Hapkido Instructor and fully insured Classes available @ St Luke's Community Hall SW12, Broomwood Hall SW11, The Contact Centre SW4 and other venues

For all enquiries/bookings, please call on

07932 667 336 Private tuition/home visits also available

www.semokwan-hapkido.co.uk

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What’s on

Please send info for consideration to: whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk

TATE MODERN Bankside SE1 9TG 020 7887 8888 tate.org.uk 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 Nov. Open Studio Explore, experiment, play and create with ideas and materials from artworks in the collection. 11am-4pm, all ages Under 5s Zone A play space for under 5s, inviting children on a creative, physical and sensory exploration of themes inspired by Cubist art works. Free

display reveals that the Renaissance swordsmith relied on a unique tradition of craftsmanship dating back to the early Middle Ages.

Hampton Court, East Molesey. Surrey, KT8 9AU 0870 758 8080 hrp.org.uk From 27 Oct. Henry’s Crown A magnificent re-creation of Henry VIII’s imperial crown - an engaging and impressive finale to the current Tudor route at Hampton Court. 1-2 Dec. Live Tudor cookery Which dishes make a Tudor tummy rumble? Experience real smells and sounds in Henry VIII’s Kitchens as the team of history chefs prepare a feast fit for a king. 1 Dec – 13 Jan 2013. Ice Skating Celebrate 10 years of winter skating at the truly splendid setting of Henry VIII’s Tudor Palace

Cambridge Heath Road E2 9PA 020 8983 5200 museumofchildhood.org.uk To 9 Dec. Happy Birthday Mr Punch! As part of The Big Grin, a nationwide celebration of Mr Punch! To 14 April 2013. Modern British Childhood A major new exhibition at the Museum exploring how childhood has transformed in Britain during the period between the London Olympic Games of 1948 and 2012.

VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM

THE WALLACE COLLECTION Hertford House, Manchester Square W1U 3BN 020 7563 9500 wallacecollection.org To March 2013. Making the Renaissance Sword Featuring stages in the construction of a rapier, this

Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich SE9 5QE 020 8294 2548 / 0870 333 1181 elthampalace.org.uk 11, 18, 25 Nov. Twilight Tours As winter draws in join an exclusive twilight tour and discover the fascinating history behind the beautiful art deco interiors

HAMPTON COURT PALACE

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD

Cromwell Road SW7 2RL 020 7942 2000 vam.ac.uk 10 Nov. Set Design Create blueprint drawings and a 3D model, 24pm, 13-15yrs, £15 To 6 Jan 2013. Ballgowns: British Glamour since 1950 Over 60 ballgowns created by British fashion designers over the last 60 years. £10, concessions available To 27 Jan 2013. Hollywood Costume Gathering together over one hundred of the most iconic costumes designed for cinema characters over a century of film-making. 13 Nov – 7 April 2013. Light From the Middle East: New Photography – The first major museum exhibition of contemporary photography from and about the Middle East. Free

ELTHAM PALACE

Geffrye Museum

HMS BELFAST

Battersea Park, Chelsea Bridge Gate SW11 4NJ 020 7924 5826 batterseaparkzoo.co.uk Throughout Nov - With a zoo, animal encounters, play area and café, a visit to the world famous Battersea Park Children's Zoo is a must.

The Queen’s Walk SE1 2JH 020 7940 6300 iwm.org.uk 24-25 Nov. Slang At Sea A look at navy slang and the origin of popular phrases that link to life at sea and the importance of the navy in British history and culture. 11am and 2pm, free Gun Turret Experience - A chance to see what fighting at sea would have really been like. Interactive Operations Room Imagine what it would have been like to control HMS Belfast from the Operations room, the nerve centre and brain of the entire ship.

CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS

KENSINGTON PALACE

Clive Steps, King Charles Street, SW1A 2AQ 020 7930 6961 cwr.iwm.org.uk Extended to 2013. Undercover Life in Churchill’s Bunker Hear personal accounts of those who worked in the Cabinet War Rooms during the war. Learn what life and conditions were like underground and walk through the corridors where Churchill made history.

Kensington Gardens W6 4PX 0844 482 7777 hrp.org.uk/kensingtonpalace 9, 16 and 23 Nov. Eerie Evening Tours Experience the unique setting of Kensington Palace at night. Hear chilling tales of mysterious sights, eerie encounters and strange stories as you are guided through the shadowy State Apartments and regaled with chilling tales from the palace’s historic 8 past. 6.45-8.15pm, £25 page 36

DAYS OUT BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN’S ZOO

Tuesday Tutors • We coach children for state and independent school and entry tests: VR, NVR, English, Maths and interview preparation.

SPACES AVAILABLE FOR 2012/2013 We are an independent nursery school in the heart of Balham. We provide children with a warm and friendly environment and hold traditional values. Ages 2.6 - 5 years. "Children are happy and settled in this bright, welcoming and inclusive nursery" Ofsted January 2012

• We are also happy to offer Maths and English support for children in school, and Home Education. • NEW- a dedicated Maths tutor up to A Level available for home-visits in central London Tuesday Tutors has placed many children in top state and private schools. It is advisable to contact us early, as high demand may mean that your child will be placed on our waiting list.

Experienced tutors welcome Tel: 020 7735 8268

Please phone 0208 675 8258 with any enquiries.

November 2012

07906 312541

tuesdaytutors@hotmail.co.uk tuesdaytutors.com

What’s on 1 Dec – 2 Jan. Christmas at Kensington Palace See the Palace transformed into a palacesized advent calendar for all the family, with a surprise daily reveal and performance throughout December including festive favourites such as carol singing, mulled wine, and mince pies

To 31 Dec. Royal Beasts For 600 years, wild and exotic beasts were held captive in the Tower. Discover why they were imprisoned and experience how they would have lived at the Royal Menagerie.

DIARY DATES & EVENTS

WWT WETLANDS CENTRE

MORDEN HALL PARK

Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT 020 8409 4400 wwt.org.uk/visit-us/london 10 Nov. Life in Ponds, Pools and Ditches Talk With amateur naturalist and wildlife photographer Neil Phillips, 12.30pm, £3 11 Nov. Wildlife Photography Adventures Talk Meet two talented wildlife photographers and hear how they achieved some of their best shots. 2.30pm, £3 17 Nov. Introduction to Birdwatching A practical introductory course to help you identify different birds and understand more about them. 9.30am, £20 including breakfast 18 Nov. Felt Making Workshop Learn a new skill - and make some great Christmas gifts. 10am-4pm £45, booking essential

ALTERNATIVE LONDON BIKE TOURS Rivington Street EC2A 3BE 07899 686235 alternativeldn.co.uk Fridays and Saturdays in Nov. 2-hour and 4-hour tours of street art, history and cultures of East London. £14/£20 includes bike and helmet hire. 13+yrs, 10.30am-12.30pm, 2-6pm

Morden Hall Road, Morden SM4 5JD 020 8545 6850 nationaltrust.org.uk/morden-hall-park Explorer Packs and Trails Explorer packs are available from the second-hand bookshop (a deposit is required), containing themed activities around the park. Follow trails around the park with activities to complete.

OSTERLEY PARK AND HOUSE Jersey Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 4RB 020 8232 5050 nationaltrust.org.uk/osterley-park 28 Nov. Walking for Health Take a guided ramble to the top of Richmond Hill to see the historic view over Petersham Meadows and the river. Then descend to one of the National Trust’s jewels, magnificent Ham House. 9.45 – 11am

SUTTON HOUSE 2 & 4 Homerton High Street, Hackney E9 6JQ 020 8986 2264 suttonhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk 25 Nov. Get Cracking for Christmas Traditional Christmas activities and games. 12.304pm To end Nov. Black History Month Trail The 25th annual Black History Month aiming to promote knowledge of Black history, culture and heritage.

SYON HOUSE AND GARDENS London Road, Middlesex TW8 8JG 020 8758 1888 syonpark.co.uk 16 Nov – 2 Dec. Walk in the Park in the Dark Join Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland walk, an illuminated trail laid out through the Gardens and Arboretum of Syon. 5-9pm, £7/£3

TOWER OF LONDON Tower Hill EC3 0844 482 7799 hrp.org.uk 7, 14, 21, 28 Nov. Tower Twilight Tours Dare to take an evening tour of the Tower, taking in the gruesome sights and spooky stories which make it famous. 12yrs+, £25 17 Nov – 6 Jan. Ice Skating Glide around the rink in the moat of one of London’s most iconic landmarks. £8.50-£13

Visit 345 Nursery where “The nursery offers an exceptionally welcoming and inclusive environment” (Ofsted Outstanding Nov 2011). Where children become independent inquisitive and motivated in this rich and vibrant learning environment. Incorporating art, music, yoga, sport, cooking, drama and all aspects of the Early Years Curriculum. Great outdoor space! Options include Afternoon School, Lunch Club and Early Bird Club. www.345nurseryschool.co.uk 020-8870-8441 or dixonannab@aol.com Fitzhugh Grove, Trinity Road, London SW18 3SA

OUT OF TOWN AUDLEY END HOUSE AND GARDENS Off London Road, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JF 01799 522842 / 0870 333 1181 english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/audleyend-house-and-gardens 24 and 25 Nov. A Victorian Christmas Wander around the beautifully decorated rooms and encounter a range of costumed characters, as they prepare the house for the upcoming festivities. Meet Father Christmas, enjoy carol singing and take part in a festive trail around the house and grounds. 9.30am-4pm

LEEDS CASTLE Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL 01622 765400 leeds-castle.com 24 and 25 Nov. Christmas Gifts Fair Traditional and innovative gifts, stocking fillers.

PAINSHILL PARK Painshill, Cobham, Surrey 01932 868113 painshill.co.uk 7, 14, 21 and 28 Nov. Free Entry Come and see the beautiful autumn colour in the Painshill landscape garden, for free!

THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SHOW At Battersea Evolution, Chelsea Bridge Entrance. www.theschoolshow.com 10 & 11th November. 140 schools, including 30 London Pre-prep and nursery schools. BARBICAN CENTRE Silk Street EC2Y 8DS 0845 120 7550 barbican.org.uk To Jan 2013 - Everything Was Moving: Photography from the 60s and 70s New exhibition surveying photography from across the globe, featuring work from renowned photographers including Bruce Davidson, William Eggleston and Li Zhensheng. To 28 Feb 2013. Rain Room An astonishing installation giving visitors the chance to experience what it’s like to control the rain. 1 to 30 Nov. LONDON CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL An event that makes you wish you were young again, with opportunities galore for kids to explore, touch and see for themselves. Screenings, events and workshops bring alive the art of filmmaking in all its guises. DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY Gallery Road SE21 7AD 020 8299 8732 dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk 25 Nov. Artplay Make everything and anything from bunting to block prints and all things in between. 2 – 3.45pm EDDIE CATZ PUTNEY First Floor, 68-70 Putney High Street SW15 1SF 0845 201 1268 eddiecatz.com 23 Nov. London Mum’s Annual Christmas Party An unmissable tradition with famously rich goodie bags. Meet Father Christmas and take the priceless pictures in time to prepare your Christmas Cards. Breath-taking and super-silly children’s entertainment from Dreamcatcher

Ramsden Hall, 21 Ramsden Road, London SW12 8QX Capture the excitement of learning at Oaktree Nursery School. Where children become independent, inquisitive and motivated in a happy caring environment. Incorporating art, music, yoga, sport, cooking, drama and all aspects of the Early Years Curriculum. Ofsted Outstanding - Dec 2011 Please come and see us in action. Annabel Dixon 020 8870 8441 dixonannab@aol.com www.oaktreenurseryschool.co.uk

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

What’s on

Please send info for consideration to: whatson@familiesmagazine.co.uk Parties! £9 per child, adults £1, ages 2-8 25 Nov. Smallprint Fingerprint Jewellery Create stunning silver keepsakes with your children’s fingerprints – choose from pendants, charms, cufflinks, keyrings and more. 11am-2pm, Mums and toddlers 30 Nov. Eddie Catz Bouncy Castle at the Putney Christmas Market Join in the festive fun with the switching on of the Putney Christmas lights in front of St Mary's Church. Eddie Catz will be there with a Bouncy Castle and popcorn! 3-7pm

Interactive games, songs and music to familiarise your little ones with French. £5/£7, 11am, 17 Nov – 3-5yrs, 24 Nov - 0-3yrs 21-24 Nov. South Ken Kids Festival – The 15th annual festival devoted to children’s literature, with more than 30 events including drawing duos, workshops, talks, films, theatre, live music and book signings. INTERNATIONAL WIMBLEDON MUSIC FESTIVAL Venues in and around SW19 Wimbledonmusicfestival.co.uk 10-25 Nov. This year's festival sees some of the biggest names in classical music, plus an exciting new production of the music from the ballet Petrushka, with puppets and projects bringing the music to life for children.

᭏ ᭏ ᭏ ᭏ ᭏ ᭏ ᭏

Warm loving environment for 2+ to 5 year olds Montessori-qualified staff International atmosphere Light and airy premises Private sunny patio Fulham /Hammersmith border Please ring—

Morning sessions plus Tuesdays 1-3pm

020 7381 3511 020 7736 8729

LANDMARK ARTS CENTRE Ferry Road, Teddington TW11 9NN 020 8977 7558 landmarkartscentre.org 10 and 24 Nov. Kids Art Club – Fun workshops supervised by professional art educators including drawing, painting, relief making, printing and collage. 10am-12pm, £12, 5-11yrs LONDON DUNGEON 28-34 Tooley Street SE1 2SZ 020 7403 7221 thedungeons.com

Dulwich picture gallery EDDIE CATZ WIMBLEDON 42 Station Road SW19 2LP 0845 201 1268 eddiecatz.com 9 Nov. Smallprint Fingerprint Jewellery Create stunning silver keepsakes with your children’s fingerprints – choose from pendants, charms, cufflinks, keyrings and more. 2-5pm, Mums and toddlers THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS FAIR Mission Hall, Parsons Green Lane SW6 1 Dec. A beautiful, boutique Christmas Fair in the heart of Parson’s Green, helping to raise money for Fulham based charity Ray’s Playhouse. Gifts, local brands and bustling gourmet food hall, plus Christmas themed children’s craft area. 2-8pm FULHAM PALACE Bishops Avenue SW6 6EA 020 7610 7169 fulhampalace.org 18 Nov. Drop-in Afternoon Try on period costumes, handle museum artefacts and learn how the items would have be used at the Palace. 2pm, all ages, suggested donation £2

INSTITUT FRANCAIS 17 Queensbury Place SW7 2DT 0207 871 3515 institut-francais.org.uk 17 and 24 Nov. Baby and Kids French Tales

LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL Music and performance venues across London 0203 023 9914 Londonjazzfestival.org.uk 9-18 Nov. Now in its 20th year, the capital’s biggest pan-city music festival returns for an annual celebration of jazz, featuring international stars from all corners of the globe.

Day Nurs on er k Yu

LONDON PROPERTY MAKEOVER Saatchi Gallery, Duke Of York's HQ Kings Road SW3 07964 305196 londonpropertymakeover.com 24 Nov. Interior Design Masterclass Learn about colour theory, mixing fabrics and how to get the ‘wow’ factor. 1-4.30pm, £60 LORD MAYORS SHOW The City to Westminster lordmayorsshow.org 10 Nov. The Lord Mayors Show London celebrates an 800-year tradition in historic style with parades, festivities and fireworks. Around 6,000 people will be involved in the event alongside carriages, marching bands, floats and other vehicles, finishing spectacularly at 5pm with a gigantic fireworks display launched from a barge on the River Thames, located between Waterloo Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge. 8

HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND 2012 Hyde Park, W2 Facebook.com/winterwonderlanduk 23 Nov – 6 Jan. Hyde Park goes all Christmassy with the sparkly additions of rides, attractions and the Magical Ice Kingdom, a spectacular ice and snow sculpture experience, unique to the UK. Plus, the UK’s largest outdoor Ice Rink, iconic Giant Observation Wheel and beautiful Angels Christmas Market and new Yuletide Market and Santa Land for the younger visitors. Zippos Circus will make a welcome return too

To 4 Nov. The Trickster Giving a whole new edge to Trick or Treat, The Trickster will be making The London Dungeon his home this half-term, shocking, scaring and trick or treating visitors to London’s famously horrible, Halloween must-see attraction. £19/£13

For children (2-5) Full/part time vacancies * * * * * *

Bright well-resourced centre Pre-school education guaranteed Flexible hours/days Children in small groups Offers French, dance & swimming Positive emphasis on physical education * Very good OFSTED report

To view call 020 8675 Limited spaces

8838

Yukon Rd. Balham Hill Estate, Balham Hill, SW12 9DN

page 38

November 2012

Diary dates THE PARENT PRACTICE Chelsea, Clapham, Fulham, Putney, South Kensington, Wandsworth and Wimbledon 020 8673 3444 theparentpractice.com 6 Nov. School Matters – selecting a secondary school – 10am-12pm at Clapham Centre, 68 Thurleigh Road SW12 8UD. 8 Nov. How to be a Calmer Parent – 10am-12.30pm at Clapham Centre 13 Nov. Raising Girls – 10am-12.30pm in Putney. See website for details. All £45pp, £75 per couple. PUMP HOUSE GALLERY Battersea Park SW11 4NJ 020 8871 7572 pumphousegallery.org.uk To 25 Nov. Beauty Is The First Test Exhibition exploring the relationship between mathematics and craft. 4, 11, 18 and 15 Nov. Sunday Socials Get hands-on with craft making. 1-4pm 17 Nov. Number Narratives Numbers aren't all about maths. Drop-in and learn about alternative meanings of numbers. 11am-3pm 18 and 24 Nov. Drop in Workshops Get creative, 11am-3pm ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH Greenwich SE10 9NF 020 8858 4422 rmg.co.uk To Feb 2013. Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2012 Exhibition See the spectacular winning images from this year’s competition - from distant galaxies to our very own Milky Way and neighbouring planets, the entries reflect our enduring fascination with the night sky. 21, 23, 24 and 28 Nov. Evening with the Stars Popular after-dark experience including a show in London’s only public planetarium. 7yrs+, £16, from 5.30pm 24 Nov. Saturday Space Explorers Make simple cardboard instruments including constellation finders, planet finders and lunar calendars. 5yrs+, free, from 2pm Throughout Nov. The Universe Exposed: Photographing the Cosmos Showcasing how anyone with a digital camera can capture spectacular images of the night-sky. 5yrs+, £6.50/£4.50 Throughout Nov. Meet the Neighbours Meet our neighbours in space in this entertaining interactive show, where you decide which planets to visit. 5yrs+, £6.50/£4.50 Throughout Nov. Solar System, Galaxy, Universe Exploring the scale of the Solar

Magazine Directory

To get your business listed here go to Familiessouthwest.co.uk/magdirectory and fill in a simple form… System, Galaxy and Universe and how we measure it. 5yrs+, £6.50/£4.50 Throughout Nov. Space Safari Join Ted the teddy bear for live music and rhyme as he journeys throughout the solar system looking for the Great Bear in the sky in this show designed especially for younger children. Age 7 and under, £6.50/£4.50 SKI CLOTHING SALE 2 Northbourne Road, Clapham SW4 7DJ 07939 051220 www.skiderouge.com 7 and 8 Nov. Get everything you need for yourself and the kids for this year’s ski trip SOUTHBANK CENTRE Belvedere Road SE1 8PX 020 7960 4200 / 0844 847 9944 southbankcentre.co.uk 16 Nov – 7 Jan. Winter Festival The Southbank Centre will be transformed into a festival landscape with shows for all ages, from a beatboxing clown and darkly comic cabaret, to candlelit classical concerts and baby opera. Plus choirs singing by the river and gigs in the Royal Festival Hall foyer. 16 Nov – 24 Dec. Christmas Market Gifts, food and drink, plus a stall for children to make their own Christmas cards, and a pocketmoney stall with affordable gifts ST MARGARET’S CHRISTMAS FAIR St Margaret’s Church, Putney Park Lane SW15 17 Nov. 1.30-5pm, in support of Wandsworth Welcare and St Margaret’s Centenary Appeal WARNER BROS STUDIO TOUR: THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER Warner Bros Studio, Aerodrome Way, Leavesden, Watford, Herts WD25 7LS 08450 840 900 wbstudiotour.co.uk To 6 March 2013. Walk through sets including the Great Hall, Dumbledore's office, Gryffindor common room and Hagrid's hut. £28/£21 WIMBLEDON ART STUDIOS 10 Riverside Yard, Riverside Road SW17 0BB. 020 8947 1183 wimbledonartstudios.co.uk 22-25 Nov. Winter Open Studios Art Show 2012 London’s largest single site art studio opens its doors providing an exciting opportunity to interact with over 140 emerging and established artists, including painters, sculptors, ceramicists, jewellers and photographers. The perfect place to find that special or unusual present for friends and relatives. Free entry

CLUBS AND CLASSES

TUITION

•STUDIO FILM SCHOOL 0845 533 3763 studiofilmschool.co.uk Balham and Clapham From 10 Nov. Saturday Film Shoots Learn skills in filmmaking and drama, work with professional filmmakers, direct, shoot, perform, edit, design and more as you make your own films in creative projects each week. Age 716, 11am–1pm

PRIVATE TUITION 07906 259524 M.A. in ENGLISH QUALIFIED TEACHER ENHANCED CRB * Licensed to teach primary, secondary and SEN * Taught GCSE and A Level English at top schools * structuring papers in all subjects for high marks * University Entrance, 11-plus •EXPLORE LEARNING East Sheen 020 8090 2849 and Merton 020 8540 7355. Maths and English tuition for 5-14yrs, designed to build confidence and enjoyment of learning.

COURSES •redi-training.co.uk 020 7348 7117 14 Nov. Covers all essential topics on first aid for babies & children, with paediatric A&E nurses. At Maggie and Rose, see website for details •FIRST AID FOR LIFE 020 8675 4036 firstaidforlife.org.uk Balham and Westminster 10 and 27th Nov. The Emergency Course A course covering care of the unconscious baby and child as well as most commonly occurring injuries and illnesses such as choking, bleeding, breaks, bleeds, burns, head injury and febrile convulsions. 9.30am-12.30pm, £60/£65. •YOGABUGS 0845 899 7164, camille@yogabugs.com Ages 3-7 Imaginative, relaxing and great exercise, Mondays at St Matthews Church, Wandsworth Bridge Rd, Fulham, 4pm Thursdays at Fulham Methodist Church 3:00/3:45pm •YOGA MAMA 020 8789 3881 info@yogamama.co.uk The Putney clinic. 266 Upper Richmond Rd. Mum and baby yoga classes in Putney. Suitable for mums with babies from six weeks to crawling Thursday 10.30am •KRISTON INTIMATE TRAINING® 077089 42001 www.intimatetraining.co.uk Pelvic floor training in Clapham South 2 hour session with Livia. Boost your feminine power, never experience an embarrassing moment again. info@intimatetraining.co.uk •New classes in building better brains Usha Patel on 07766 837 616 www.integratebrain.co.uk Bal-A-Vis-X programme helps children of all ages to improve the skills that underpin effective learning: balance, auditory processing and visual tracking. A series of Balance, Auditory, Vision exercises, of varied complexity, all of which are deeply rooted in rhythm that help improve concentration and self-esteem.

HEALTH •MOBILE SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPIST 07711 724129 www.tsportsmassage.com Theo has 20+ years’ experience of Relaxing to Deep Tissue and Sports Massage in the comfort of your home. Business Award Winner 2012

CHILDCARE •PROBLEMS WITH YOUR KIDS? 07932 339416 Sleeping, eating, boundaries... Seeking parenting support? Contact Maya, professional Super Nanny/ troubleshooter. Over 20yrs experience, ask for my references. Mayalazabeille13@yahoo.com

HEALTH

VACANCY Earn Extra Money? Capital Focus Groups are looking for people to take part in Market Research and give their opinion on a variety of subjects. If you would like to earn extra cash please call Liz on 07761 128059 or e-mail e.dahlgren@btinternet.com

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Classified Sunshine Parties 4 kids

PARTIES

Professional entertainers hosted by

Strawberry Shortcake Polly Pops Rainbow Fairy Themed parties • Balloon modelling • Dancing • Fun games • Storytelling puppets Please call Jane 07971 392815

Individual Tuition Public Speaking, Elocution, Comprehension, Drama Confidence Building, Speech & Interview Technique

www.charlietheclown.co.uk

07808 732 390 clown pirate story-teller wizard

Clare Price. LGSM, ALAM, SRD.

(020) 7735 3156 www.speechspecialists.co.uk

Ly d i e C h i l d r e n’ s Pa r t i e s 0207 622 2540

The Unique Birthday Experience The theatre of Peter Pan, Superheroes, Fairies,Arabian Nights and more... In your home! Unforgettable Bilingual English/French www.lydieparties.com

babbleparade.com Hugely popular

BESPOKE PARTIES:

Silly Millie the Clown

Fairies, Pirates, Spies, Circus, You name it! Jam packed with fun activities!

Parties for 3-9 year olds Funny Magic Show, Puppet’s, Party Games, Silly Songs and Balloon Animals Call 020 7823 8329 - 07939 239397 www.sillymillietheclown.co.uk

07794 084671

THEO THE MAGICIAN

PAINTING & DECORATING Interior / Exterior Experienced, Reliable, Clean Fully Guaranteed / Insured FREE ADVICE & QUOTE John:- James & Lamont

020 8462 4646 - 07802 535695

TUITION

Learn to massage your child

Massage is relaxing and brings loving closeness. Learn simple techniques in your own home or your friend's. Hands-on parent and child workshop by qualified massage therapist and aromatherapist. Call Lorraine on 079101 14153

MUSIC Suzuki Cello Lessons

In SW16 Children aged 4+ Quality teaching from experienced performer and qualified teacher Angela East LRAM ARAM MSTAT Some cellos for hire eastangela@gmail.com 020 8769 4158

“The Magic Circle, Equity & CRB” Fun Magic for Children & Adults Free Magic Wand & Certificate for Birthday Child 07711 724129

www.magictheo.com

PIANO TUITION

Friendly, experienced and qualified teacher of children 6+ and adults. Take exams or learn purely for pleasure.

SERVICES Reliable Handyman • Garden maintenance and building work (fences, patios, sheds, etc..) • Jobs around the house (carpentry, painting, fitting furniture, etc…) • Computer maintenance (repair, teaching) £20/hour or packages possible. Call Brian: 0774 513 6424

Different styles covered. Home visits possible.

Mark Lester MA, CT ABRSM

020 8870 7830 www.marklester.biz

HOLIDAYS HOLIDAY FLAT IN PROVENCE Vaugines (Luberon), 30 min from Aix/ Marseille. Centre of historic village, flat on the first floor, for 2 to 5 people. One double bed & mezz/gallery with two small beds. Huge living room overlooking valley. Perfect for a family.

AMITY COMPUTER SERVICES Home and business computers repaired & managed. Consultancy and tuition also available. Phone Danny on

A week in Provence is only 400 Euros, deposit 250 Euros. l.metge@hotmail.com Ring us 00 33 474 67 59 17

8944 0681 or 07961 428 596 E-mail: acs@amitygrove.com

November 2012

English spoken

Tel: 020 8696 9680 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk