Families West London Magazine May- June 2016

ISSUE 107 MAY/JUNE 2016 www.familieswest.co.uk

Families West 路 PO Box 32231 路 London W5 1JR 路 Tel: 020 8930 4707 路 Email: familieswest@yahoo.co.uk

Learning through play the Little Stars way…

Little Stars is a new independent day nursery providing childcare that meets the need of each individual child and their family.

that the importance

early years in a child’s We understand of the general development cannot be over-emphasised. Little Stars Nursery 2015, providing childcare for opened on 7th September 2-5 year olds between 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

For more please information

feel free to contact us at: littlestarsnurseryw3@gmail.com Tel: 020 8896 9500 Holy Family Parish Hall · Vale Lane · London W3 0DY www.littlestarsealing.co.uk

Why not promote YOUR news in our News & Views section?

Please contact us at: editor@familieswest.co.uk 2

THE GRUFFALO ‘MOUSE’ ILLUSTRATIONS COPYRIGHT © AXEL SCHEFFLER

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

May/June 2016

news & views Super Camps The school summer holidays are a time for children to have fun whilst keeping active in body and mind. Super Camps offer a range of camps and courses for all ages, from multi-activity, bake-off, cooking, science and raw adventure to suit everyone! They have just received yet another 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating in 2016.

Camps run from 8am - 6pm for ages 4-14.

Call 01235 467300 · www.supercamps.co.uk

In this issue News & Views Parenting Parties Education Clubs & Classes Festivals What’s On in West London Classified Section

Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 10 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 19

Excellent offers to senior schools Well done to Clifton Lodge School pupils in year 6 and 8 who have received excellent senior school offers. Year 8 pupils are going to John Lyon, St James’s, St Benedict’s, Shiplake College and one pupil has gained an academic scholarship at Merchant Taylors.

Year 6 boys’ offers included City of London, Hampton, St Benedict’s and St James’s.

Girls at Clifton Lodge were offered places at Godolphin & Latymer, Notting Hill & Ealing High School, St Helen’s, St Augustine’s (including an academic scholarship), King Edwards,Prior’s Field and Radnor House. Pupils also gained places at highly selective grammar schools, one place at Tiffin, RGS High Wycombe and Herschel Grammar. Clifton Lodge internal academic scholarships have also been offered to two existing Year 6 pupils. · www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk

May/June 2016

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

3

parenting The 7 most common parenting mistakes L

ike many new parents, we assumed that we would ‘instinctively’ know how best to raise our own children, after all doesn't parenting come naturally? How wrong we were! We both had very different parenting styles and couldn’t agree on the best way to raise our children to make them responsible and self-disciplined.

We discovered that we were making plenty of mistakes without even realising it and that most people around us were also falling into the same common parenting pitfalls. In fact between the two of us, Carole and I have made every common parenting mistake on the list below (and still do from time to time!). So our objective is to help increase your awareness of the effect that such mistakes can have on your children, so that you can identify areas where you might want to improve your skills and continue along your parenting journey with a renewed sense of confidence.

Here are seven of the most common mistakes that loving parents make:

1

Over-praising and using positive reinforcement: Using phrases such as ‘good boy’ and ‘good girl’ and praising everything children do well to reinforce their good behaviour is a very common trait.

Unfortunately, using such ‘evaluative praise’ and descriptively praising every good behaviour is a form of reward that they will come to expect as motivation to want to do things in the longer-term.

2

Getting Angry and shouting: When we raise our voice or yell at our children, this puts them in ‘fight or flight’ mode - this is the body’s response to stress, which means that their logical brain shuts down and they essentially

can’t ‘hear’ us anymore. When our children are in ‘fight or flight’ mode, we can get angry at them and shout until we are ‘blue in the face’, but the message still will not get through, so all the lecturing typically done in these circumstances is a waste of energy! If they do comply with our requests, it will only be out of fear and it will have very little impact on helping to improve their behaviour in the long-term.

3

Over-protecting: in this day and age, parents are becoming more anxious and over-protecting children. By over-protecting them, we prevent them from making enough mistakes, which if handled well, are invaluable opportunities for learning.

Although protecting our children and stopping them from making mistakes may sound like a positive thing, we are in fact inadvertently denying them the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and take responsibility for their own actions. We are also preventing them from building their ‘frustration’ muscle by not allowing them to face difficult emotions such as anger and disappointment.

4

Punishing: although we must make our children accountable for their actions, there are far more effective ways of achieving this than resorting to punishment and fear tactics, particularly if the punishment is corporal. Research shows that children who are regularly punished will only comply with their parent’s instructions and requests out of fear, so the effect is only short-term.

In the long-term, punishment not only damages the relationship and connection we have with our children, but it can also cause them to become resentful towards us and increasingly aggressive, and in many cases, they will learn to lie

“All children require a more balanced and consistent approach to parenting, and all have emotional needs that is our responsibility as parents to fulfil.” as a means of avoiding any future punishment.

5

Reassuring children: it seems like a natural thing for parents to want to reassure their children, by telling them that everything is going to be okay. For example, if they happen to break their favourite toy, it’s a common reaction to want to ‘swoop in’ and try to reassure our children and ‘fix’ the problem for them, so we may say “I hate to see you so upset because you broke your favourite toy, don’t worry, I will buy you another one”. We may think that we are helping by doing this, but the reality is that we are not allowing children to deal with their feelings. Children need to be given opportunities to practice patience and get used to experiencing feelings of sadness and frustration as this will help to prepare them for the pressures of adult life.

6

Discounting children’s feelings: for example, by using phrases such as “Come on, it’s not that bad”, “Only babies cry” or “Boys don’t cry”.

Discounting our children’s emotions in this way can create serious anxiety in the long-term, because it can cause them to become unsure of themselves and distrustful of their own emotions.

7

Being a tiger parent: tiger parents tend to be pushy and have a strong focus on achievement and academics. This style of parenting has become increasingly prevalent over the last decade and some children may react positively to it and excel academically.

However, other children may end up being ‘crushed’ by it and be affected for the rest of their lives. There is a wealth of scientific research and anecdotal evidence to suggest that this can lead to serious anxiety for children and that they usually end up unhappy.

4

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

Long term effects: Whether we are too strict or too lenient, neither approach is effective for raising our children to become resilient and autonomous adults in the long-term.

If we ‘over-protect’ them, we are not allowing them to make mistakes or experience frustration and if we are being overly strict and getting angry at them, we are not modelling the fact that we can control our own emotions through our own behaviour towards them.

We may only see the effects of our mistakes later on when our children become adolescent, by which time it is much harder to repair any damage that’s already been done.

So what can we do about this?

What we must remember is that all children require a more balanced and consistent approach to parenting, and all have emotional needs that is our responsibility as parents to fulfil.

That’s why it’s so important to try to avoid these common pitfalls, in order to maximise our child’s chances of growing up to be a responsible, self-reliant and happy adult.

Written by Carole & Nadim Saad, authors of ‘Kids don’t come with a manual.’

Carole & Nadim have discovered far better alternatives to yelling/shouting, getting angry, rewarding, punishment etc. You can find more information about it all in their book; ‘Kids Don’t Come With a Manual - The Essential Guide to a Happy Family Life’ at: www.bestofparenting.com

May/June 2016

Seven party themes kids will LOVE!

parties

Parties can go with a swing if you choose a theme your little ones can have fun with. From fancy dress costumes to themed plates, cups and decorations,

By Sally J. Hall here are some great ideas for a themed children’s party.

★ 1

Pirates

Invitations: Create a treasure map by drawing a rough map of your street and put “X marks the party spot” where your house (or the party venue) is. A suitably pirate-inspired poem would be a good addition with plenty of “aaaaaahhhhhhhs!”

Wear: Encourage kids to dress as pirates and give each a bandana or eye patch to wear as they arrive.

Play: Fill a wooden chest (or cardboard box painted to look like a treasure chest) with torn up newspaper and pop in some wrapped small gifts for a lucky dip.

Eat: Give them vegetable, chicken or fish fingers and let them eat with their hands like real pirates. Jelly with pomegranate seeds or blueberries in the bottom looks like sunken treasure.

The table can be covered with a blue paper cloth and then scattered with shells, star fish and fake jewels.

Party bags: Send them home with a treasure chest party box containing a piece of cake and a fun gift like an inflatable sword or pirate stickers.

Sally J. Hall is a writer and editor who has written for all the main parenting titles as well as The Independent and The Mail. She is author of ‘Eco Baby’ and contributing author to ‘Watch My Baby Grow’ (Dorling Kindersley).

and cutting a little opening in the top to put in some treats. You could turn it into a Mickey Mouse head, a character from Cars or a simple balloon shape with some Disney characters pasted on it.

Eat: Serve drinks in mismatched teacups for an Alice in Wonderland party, make cucumber sandwiches for a Princess theme and create cupcakes in Disney cupcake cases.

Party bags: Disney bags will be great going-home gifts. Fill with a treat to eat and some play princess jewellery or stickers.

★ Superhero 3

Invitations: Create bright invitations in Superhero colours and write the child’s name on as a character - for example: “Dear SuperZac, please come to my Superhero party.”

2

Wear: If your little guests don’t have costumes, why not create simple paper or felt masks and add a badge with each child’s name and their super power on them.

Invitations: Whether your child loves Frozen, Mickey Mouse or Cars, create an invitation to your Magical Kingdom using stickers of favourite Disney characters and glitter.

Play: Create a super hero obstacle course in the garden. Kids have to crawl beneath ropes, through pop-up tunnels, in and out of boxes and over big cushions.

Wear: Most kids will have a Disney costume or two lurking in the dressing up box. Say that dressing up is optional and have a few accessories that kids without costumes could wear such as paper crowns and a sash made from coloured paper.

Eat: Make some colourful cupcakes and finish them off with cake toppers with the words “Boom!” “Pow!” and “Zap!” on them. Create food and a birthday cake in your child’s favourite character’s colours.

★ Disney

Play: Create a Disney piñata by covering a balloon with papier maché

May/June 2016

★ Tea Party 4

Invitations: Pretty florals and pastel colours are the key to this theme, so make invitations festooned with flowers cut from wrapping paper.

Wear: Ask the kids to dress up as if they are going for afternoon tea at a posh hotel. Girls can wear pretty dresses and boys can put on smart trousers and a shirt.

Play: This theme really suits all those old-fashioned party games like Pass the Parcel and Musical Chairs.

Eat: Make some dainty sandwiches with the crusts cut off, with little cakes and serve them on vintage mismatched cups and saucers. You can even buy cardboard three-tiered cake stands.

Party bags: Create some unique party bags out of old floral fabric you have lying around the house and pop in some pretty fake jewellery or unique trinkets along with a piece of cake.

H

H

Parties continue on page 6

=

=

H=

Party bags: Instead of a party bag, why not give each child a small plastic superhero toy.

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

5

parties CONTINUED

★ Jungle 5

Invitations: Make animal themed invitations; these can be as simple or artistic as you like.

Wear: Encourage the kids to come dressed as their favourite animal or bring a toy with them if they don’t want to dress up. You could also make some simple animal face masks.

Play: Have a safari game in the garden where you hide pictures of animals the kids have to spot, then to calm them down, play Sleeping Lions.

Eat: Create your own Bush Tucker Trial; long, thin sandwiches make great ‘caterpillars’ (use little pieces of chives to create legs and sliced black olives for eyes). A bowl of pasta with pesto can be called ‘slithering snakes’ and jelly masquerades as ‘slime.’

Party bags: Little bags can be filled with a piece of the cake and some jungle stickers, little rubber snakes and other animal toys.

★ Circus 6

Invitations: Why not create an invitation that looks like a big clown’s shoe? Or even go for a circus ticket theme.

H H= H

Wear: Kids can all dress as circus folk using garments they may already have at home; ballet costumes double as acrobats, riders can wear jodhpurs and all of the kids can be clowns with some face paint.

Play: Buy some clever modelling balloons and have a practice before the kids arrive. Play tumbling games and give a prize to the winner.

Eat: Think of food you find served at circuses; make popcorn in the microwave and have hotdogs and burgers in buns.

Party bags: In a circus theme party bag, pop some cute animal chocolate biscuits, balloons and a fake moustache.

★ Football

For the very best in FACE PAINTING & BALLOON MODELLING Magical Designs provides a excellent face painting and balloon modelling service in and around London. Whether your event is a small birthday party or a large corporate event Magical Designs will bring colour and joy to both young and old.

For more information please contact Susie on 07814 925 462 susiejk38@hotmail.com www.magicaldesigns.co.uk PIÑATAS London’s long established bespoke piñata maker. http://pinata.co.uk

Party Food

BETTY BLYTHE VINTAGE TEAROOM Cakes and children’s tea parties in West Kensington. www.bettyblythe.co.uk GINA’S CAKES Large cakes, cupcakes and other party supplies in W12. www.ginascakes.com

7

Invitations: Use white card and paint on black hexagons to make football shaped invitations.

STAMFORD LARDER Bespoke cakes and children’s tea parties in Hammersmith. www.stamfordlarder.com/catering/childrens-tea-parties

Wear: Ask the kids to come dressed for a game of football - they can wear their school PE kit if they don’t have a football shirt.

ELVES AND OVENS is currently taking London by storm with a new range of yummy and exciting children’s party boxes. At Elves and Ovens they take their food very seriously, and now are able to take the feeding of all of your little ones and their friends just as seriously. hungry@elvesandovens.com · 020 8961 7477

Play: If you can, ask a coach from a local five aside team to come to the party to teach the kids some new skills such as keepy-uppy. Round off with a friendly match.

HUMMINGBIRD BAKERY Buy the iconic cupcakes at the local branch on Portobello Road in Notting Hill.

Delivery to most West London postcodes. www.hummingbirdbakery.com

Eat: Use paper cloths in your favourite team’s colours, with matching napkins. Eat the kind of food you find at the football ground, such as burgers in buns and chips.

Party bags: Inside a box or bag in England or your child’s favourite team colours, pop a plastic whistle, pencils, pads and stickers.

= = H =

Party Supplies

H

=

PARTY PLUS is based 4 Acton Lane, Chiswick, London W4 5NB and also has a mail-order company www.partyplus.co.uk They have a wide range of themed party-ware available from stock including Paw Patrol, Minions, Ben and Holly, Peppa Pig, Pirate, Princesses and much more. 020 8994 1674.

6

Magical Designs

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

Let me entertain you

THE ACTION STATION Imaginative interactive storytelling parties. Choose from mermaids, funky witches and wizards, fairies or princesses, pirates, knights or cowboys, spies or drama parties. Clowns, magicians, jugglers, circus skills experts, face painters, make up artists and DJs also available. 0870 770 2705. www.theactionstation.co.uk ADAM ANTS PARTIES A party for any age. Adam Ants and his team offer high energy parties to include magic, balloon modelling, dancing, singing and puppets. Themes include disco, build-a-bear, art and Olympic sports. Face painters, small tables and chairs, and other party equipment available. Midweek discounts. 020 8959 1045. www.adamantsparties.co.uk·info@adamantsparties.co.uk AMANDA'S ACTION CLUB Amanda's Action Club runs dynamic, interactive parties for children aged 1-6.Using unique props and funky music we entertain in a physical, fun environment. info@amandasactionclub.co.uk 07855 276837. www.amandasactionclub.co.uk BLUEBERRY PLAYSONGS Live music parties for the under-5's. Guitar-accompanied singing, actions, jumping, instruments and dancing, perfect for little ones.

May/June 2016

A puppet, shaky eggs and a parachute add to the fun. info@blueberryplaysongs.co.uk · 020 8677 6871.

BOO BOO THE CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINER For lots of laughter, fun and games with mini disco, balloon modelling, juggling, magic tricks and puppet shows. He has vast experience entertaining children of all ages and is suitable for all occasions. Recommended by the Evening Standard. 07961 355269. www.mr-booboo.co.uk DIDDI DANCE Action packed, full of fun dance classes and parties held across west London. Weekly classes and various party packages available ensure your party is the talk of the tots! Contact Gina Kane on 07426 009179. gina.kane@diddidance.com · www.diddidance.com FUN WITH FIMO CLAY is a unique, creative party idea for age 6+ www.funwithfimoclay.co.uk

MOTHER NATURE SCIENCE Each party features an impressive array of spectacular science demonstrations, party games and hands on activities. Every child receives a fun and educational take-home experiment. 020 8863 8832. info@mnature.co.uk · www.mnature.co.uk

Party Venues

BRAMLEY’S BIG ADVENTURE London’s most central indoor playground host all-inclusive children’s parties from £9.50 per child. This includes 75 minutes play in the 3level play area and party meal of your choice for 45 minutes in your own private party room as well as party bags and balloons for each child to take home. Bronze, Silver, Gold, Themed or Private Hire Party Packages available.

Available: 10am-6pm Mon-Fri and 10am-6.30pm.

Sat and Sun. 136 Bramley Road, London W10 6TJ (Latimer Road tube). 020 8960 1515. www.bramleysbigadventure.com HILLINGDON OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CENTRE Raft building, kayaking, caving, archery, zip wire, giant swings and more. www.hoac.net SNAKES AND LADDERS Indoor soft play centre in Brentford. www.snakes-and-ladders.co.uk

Allsorts drama for children will be running their popular Easter drama workshops at More House School, 22 - 24 Pont Street SW1 from 5th - 7th April for ages 4 - 6 & 7- 11 from 9.30am - 3.30pm.

The children will have fun with games, prop making and working towards a show that they will perform to family and friends on the last day.

Fee £150 with a 20% sibling discount.

To book please call: 020 8969 3249 or visit: www.allsortsdrama.com KIDDIKICKS Toddler and child football themed birthday parties. 020 7937 7965. info@kiddikicks.co.uk · www.kiddikicks.co.uk PERFORM Perform Parties are high energy combining drama, dance and singing with fun games and stories.

Party leaders arrive in colourful costume and through improvisation, transport children (4-12 yrs) to a different world. Themes include The Ice Queen, Fairytale Forest, Mermaids and Pirates, Superheroes and many more.

020 7255 9120. enquiries@perform.org.uk · www.perform.org.uk/parties STAGECOACH KENSINGTON AND CHISWICK PARTIES create a wonderful world of make-believe which takes children on a roller-coaster ride through their imagination at their fabulous themed Stagecoach Parties.

Their party hosts will be in character throughout the birthday party-they will wear colourful, themed costumes, have loads of props and prizes and delight party guests with a wide range of party games, storytelling, dancing and singing. All you need to do is provide a venue, food and drink... their party hosts will do the rest. For older children, take a look at their murder mystery parties.

They also provide bespoke parties. Call Sara or Sally at on 020 8398 8106 or 020 8398 4709.

COOKIE CRUMBLES Cooking parties for ages 4-18.

020 8876 9912. www.cookiecrumbles.co.uk · info@cookiecrumbles.co.uk

May/June 2016

THE LITTLE GYM Active, themed, gymnastics-based parties for children up to age 12. Venues include Chiswick and Westfield shopping centre. www.thelittlegym.eu/uk-en/parties-camps

Local Play Centres

PICCOLO PLAY CENTRE Venue: Chiswick Book the hall or include entertainment, decoration and themed parties. http://piccoloplaycentre.co.uk/parties/ PITSHANGER PLAYCENTRE Venue: Ealing Bright room for hire with toys and playground equipment in the outside space, perfect for under 5s. Call Marion Doheny 07951 535779. · pitshangerplaycentre@live.co.uk

Local Leisure Centres

EALING: Elthorne Sports Centre Sports and Games Parties. 020 8579 3226.

Greenford Sports Centre Sports, games, bouncy castle and trampoline...UB6.

020 8575 9157.

Gurnell Leisure Centre Swimming parties W13 OAL. 020 8998 3241.

Southall Sports Centre Sports, games and trampoline parties. 020 8571 8871.

Northolt Leisure Centre Swimming parties. UB5 4AB. 020 8825 7014.

Southall Sports Centre Sports parties UB1 1DP. 020 8571 8871.

Twyford Sports Centre (Acton) Sports, games and trampoline parties. W3.

020 8993 9095.

CHISWICK Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre Swimming, sport and soft play parties TW8 0HJ. 0845 456 6675.

New Chiswick Pool Swimming parties W4 2RG. 0845 456 6675.

HAMMERSMITH Phoenix Fitness Centre and Janet Adegoke Swimming Pool Centre Sports

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

Themed party packages. W12 7DB. 020 8735 4900.

Jubilee Sports Centre Soft play parties with use of the hall. W10 4RR. 020 8960 9629.

WESTMINSTER Seymour Leisure Centre Soft play parties in the Jungle Gym and Sports parties. W1H 5TJ. www.better.org.uk/leisure/seymour-leisure-centre KENSINGTON Westway Sports Centre W10 6RP Climbing, Tennis, Football, Wallball and Fives Parties. http://sports.westway.org

Bowling Alleys

ALL STAR LANES 6 Porchester Gardens, W2 4DB. 020 7313 8363. · www.allstarlanes.co.uk QUEENS 17 Queensway, Bayswater, W2 4QP. 020 7229 0172. · www.queensiceandbowl.co.uk

Ice Skating Rinks

QUEENS 17 Queensway, Bayswater, W2 4QP. 020 7229 0172. · www.queensiceandbowl.co.uk

Big Screens

ELECTRIC CINEMA Private screening of a favourite film and refreshments. www.electriccinema.co.uk/portobello/privatehire.php SCIENCE MUSEUM Big screen IMAX movie and party afterwards. www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

Days Out Parties

BEKONSCOT MODEL VILLAGE AND RAILWAY For the little train fanatics in your life. www.bekonscot.co.uk LONDON DUNGEONS Definitely one for the older ones. www.the-dungeons.co.uk LONDON EYE Hire a private capsule. www.londoneye. com /PrivateCapsules/CreateYourOwnCapsule LONDON ZOO www.zsl.org/events/venue-hire-at-zsl -london-zoo/birthday-parties (The Bedbugs Sleepovers in July and August look like a great idea for a summer birthday treat).

ODDS FARM PARK A day at the farm with everything thrown in- all you need to do is bring the kids and the cake. Fully air-conditioned party rooms available every day for morning and afternoon parties. Wooburn Common Road, Wooburn Common High Wycombe HP10 0LX. 01628 520188. www.oddsfarm.co.uk

7

parties CONTINUED

Ten Of The Best Party Bag Fillers

Because we all know mums throw away all that plastic rubbish when their little one’s are not looking…

catch and stack them as high as they can to both their amazement and delight!

2. Backyard Science Ant Hill Making Kit £4.79 · insectlore.com

1. Animal Hand Temporary Tattoos £3.95 · Prezzybox Nowadays a temporary tattoo is part and parcel of any child’s party bag - so why not up the ante with these hand designs with a difference? Sold as a box of eight making it easy to split up and therefore super-affordable - these safe and simple to apply creations include instructions for making a number of animal characters, from a bee to a zebra or even a shark!

If you do not have too many kids to buy for, then why not get them interested in nature with their very own ant hill? Boys and girls alike will love being able to mould their very own plaster creation, before inviting the little creatures in to observe their daily activities.

4. Disney Frozen Cupcake Kit £1 · Morrisons The Frozen obsession shows no signs of abating, so rather than splash out hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of pounds on an Elsa impersonator, why not give each guest their very own cupcake making kit to take home instead?

At this price you could even add a mini whisk to complete the baking theme…

3. Catch A Bubble £3.95 · Prezzybox Why buy the kids a pot of standard bubbles when this clever invention is so much more appealing? Using them is easy: after blowing, simply wait a few seconds for the bubbles to set, before your party guests can

8

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

May/June 2016

5. In The Night Garden Water Squirters Bath Toys £10.19 · Argos These In The Night Garden favourite characters come as a set of three, which is a tad too pricey for a party bag filler - so why not split them up and add a mini bubble bath for the kids to enjoy at bath time?

7. Make Your Own Superhero Mask Kit · £2.45 Not On The High Street What kid doesn’t want to pretend to be a superhero at every available opportunity? Prepare to be the coolest mum - or dad - your little one’s guests know once you’ve gifted them this crafty role play creation, which features cut outs, jewel embellishments, glue dots and elastic to design their very own mask.

6. Julia Donaldson Picture Book Collection £11.99 The Book People We’re big fans of The Book People here at Families magazine - and at these prices it’s not hard to see why! This amazing picture book collection from every child’s favourite author, Julia Donaldson, features 10 books including The Gruffalo, A Squash and a Squeeze, The Snail and the Whale and more.

Split the bundle up and it’s just under £1.20 per book!

9. Super Hatching Dinosaur Egg £3.95 Dotcom Gift Shop Little boys and girls will love the chance to pretend to be a paleontologist with this neat idea, which sees a dinosaur egg ‘hatch’ after 72 hours’ immersion in water.

Whenever they return to the house after an outing, they’ll be desperate to see the dinosaur’s progress, with the egg starting to crack around the 12 hour mark.

10. Vegetable Seed Sticks £1.05 · Part Ark 8. Peppa Pig The Balloon Ride DVD £3 · The Works At just £3 alone this DVD is superaffordable, but when you add to the mix a ‘four for £10 package’ it’d be rude not to invest for the perfect party bag present! The kids will love it due to their favourite animated character, while their parents will be delighted at the chance of a bit of peace and quiet once it’s on!

Fancy encouraging your party guests to get a little green fingered this coming spring? These pocket-sized treats are ideal, containing seedloaded card sticks they can simply tear off and pop into compost.

With varieties including tomatoes, carrots, lettuce and more, each seed pack - if taken care of properly - will germinate to grow for later harvest.

Claire Muffett-Reece is a freelance journalist who writes on parenting, lifestyle, health and general interest. Mum to Jack, five, and Max, three, her work has been published in The Evening Standard, The Metro and Cosmopolitan, among others.

May/June 2016

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

9

education news Calling all Young Writers!

TutorMapper on the map...

Do you know a young author?

The National Young Writers’ Awards judges are looking for the best short story of under 500 words based around this years theme of ‘The Mash-Up’.

The winner of the competition will receive £500 of books for their school and a trip to Disneyland Paris!

The annual awards, run by tuition company Explore Learning, are now in their 8th year.

This year’s judge is renowned author of the Charlie and Lola series of books, Lauren Child.

To enter either pick up an entry form from your nearest Explore Learning centre or visit: www.explorelearning.co.uk/youngwriters

With exam season drawing to a close, and your household (hopefully!) returning to a state of normality, thoughts inevitably turn to the long summer holidays and time spent getting away from it all. While we all recognise the value of a much needed break, it’s important to make sure that the only ‘summer slide’ your kids end up on this holiday is the one that leads to the hotel pool.

‘Summer slide’ refers to the dip in learning that kids experience over the summer months, when they’re away from school and the routine of study. One way of avoiding the ‘slide’ is to get some additional tutoring over the summer break, so that when the holidays are over, they’ll be more than ready for learning.

TutorMapper is the place to find private tuition that works for you and your family. All of our tutors have been carefully selected by London’s finest tutoring agencies, ensuring that when you use TutorMapper, you will always find a trusted and reliable tutor that’s local to you.

So, enjoy the holidays and avoid the slide!

Max Blanshard Director + Founder · www.tutormapper.com

10

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

May/June 2016

May/June 2016

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

11

clubs & classes DANCE DANCE GALLERY Dance Gallery is Ealing’s leading dance school and specialises in modern, jazz, tap and musical theatre productions for children aged 4-18 years old. …0208 566 9672 jill@dancegallery.co.uk www.dancegallery.co.uk KENSINGTON BALLET 18 months - 2 years Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill and Fulham. …07957 650042 www.kensingtonballet.com WEST LONDON DANCE ACADEMY Become a Dance Teacher, a new concept in dance teacher training. …07771 984590 info@westlondondanceacademy.com www.westlondondanceacademy.com www.becomeadanceteacher.co.uk WEST LONDON SCHOOL OF DANCE 21/2 - 16 years …020 8743 3856 westlondondance@aol.com www.westlondonschoolofdance.co.uk DRAMA ALLSORTS DRAMA drama for children’s term time classes for ages 4 - 16 are held in SW1, W11 and NW3. To book your free trial class for the summer term please call …020 8767 5298 · 020 8969 3249 or visit: www.allsortsdrama.com Allsorts Drama · 34 Crediton Rd · London NW10 3DU

12

SPORTS

PERFORM Drama, dance and singing sessions held in various venues around London.To find a FREE trial class near you call: …0845 400 1285 www.perform.ork.uk STAGECOACH THEATRE ARTS Dance, drama and singing for 4-18 year olds. …Chiswick 020 8398 4709 …Kensington & Brook Green 020 8398 8106 …Hammersmith 020 8398 8106 …Acton 020 8819 1399 …Ealing 01494 700794 info@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoach.co.uk YOURSPACE DRAMA Saturday mornings of drama song and dance (6-16s) plus creative performing arts holiday courses 3-16s) at Easter and in August. Ealing W5. Find out more at: www.yourspacedrama.com …07580 474638 info@yourspacedrama.com FOOTBALL KIDDIKICKS Football (W2,W4,W8,W10,W11,TW8) Available for boys and girls from 18 months to age 7. …020 7937 7965 info@kiddikicks.co.uk www.kiddikicks.co.uk GYM & DANCE TWISTERS. Gymnastics, Ballet,Dance Drama Toddlers to Teenagers. …020 8933 9997 · 020 8840 4452 twisters@btinternet.com www.twisters.org.uk

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

Will To Win Junior Multi-Sports Camps, Junior Netball, Football & Tennis courses and Drop-in sessions. …Pitshanger Park 020 8991 9844 …Lammas Park, 020 8840 0888 www.willtowin.co.uk LANGUAGES Arabic for Women & Children Female teacher …07956 845053 TUTORS AND LEARNING SUPPORT EXPLORE LEARNING Maths & English Tuition Centres. 5-14 years. Free Trial session …Ealing 020 8090 8710 …Hayes 020 8561 8530 …Westfield London 020 809 01216 www.explorelearning.co.uk SUSAN DAUGHTREY EDUCATION 11+ courses in Ealing (West London) …020 3198 7772 jjacob@SDE11plus.com www.sde11plus.com/ealing FLEET TUTORS Private home tutoring. …020 8580 3911 jwww.fleet-tutors.co.uk MRS JONES 11 PLUS TUITION Mock exam practice. …020 8390 6076 www.11plustuition.co.uk VICTORIA PAGE Private tuition 21/2 - 11years. …07050 246810 VIVIEN BORNEMANN Home tuition. Art, Craft and design. All ages. …020 8932 1010

May/June 2016

festivals are FUN! Easy steps to make your kids’ first festival a breeze...

by Sally J. Hall

Packing List

Waterproofs and wellies Comfy shoes Toiletries in small packs, a hang-up sponge bag you can take to the shower. Toothbrushes and paste LOTS of changes of clothing Warm jumpers and socks

Introducing your children to all kinds of music can be a great way to give them a lifelong love of everything from folk to classical. Many of the UK’s festivals have plenty to do for the whole family and with some careful planning and by packing a few essentials, you’ll all have a great time.

Where to stay If you have (and know how to put up) a tent, this can be the most costeffective way of attending a festival, as ticket prices can be high. Check the tent before you go, to ensure it has all its poles and pins. A good ground sheet is a must, as are camp beds or self-inflating air beds. A playpen is great for babies and small children to sleep in at night and play in the day.

Alternatively, other options, from pre-erected tents to Yurts and teepees may be provided. Take a look at the festival’s website to see what’s suitable.

If you can’t face roughing it, book a local hotel or bed & breakfast. You’ll have a bolthole should the weather turn nasty and somewhere to wash properly!

Site Map Take time to orient yourself around the site, find where your favourite bands will be and most importantly, check out where the loos and showers are. These can get very busy and there are often long queues. For small kids, take a travel potty, as kids often need to ‘go’ quite suddenly.

Most festivals have a craft and activities area for kids too. Pushchairs can be tricky to use if the ground is muddy. Carriers are more portable

May/June 2016

Sun screen and hats A baby carrier Torch and batteries Phone and charger Ear defenders Toilet rolls, tissues and wipes Insect repellent First aid kit

and take up less space...

With small kids, try to camp in the family or quiet areas so that you won’t all be kept awake by people coming back to their tents (in all conditions) through the small hours.

Setting Up Car parks can be quite a way from camps, so try to ensure that all gear can be put into a couple of backpacks for you and your partner to carry - and still have a hand free for the kids. Some festivals rent a wagon to transport your stuff, which you can then use to pull the kids around in.

What to eat There are usually lots of food stalls but bear in mind they can be pricey.

If you want to do your own cooking, invest in a camp stove. Easy, one pot meals are best, like soups, stews, rice or pasta, Freeze some home made meals, then just before you leave, put them in a cool box together with drinks and milk.

Take lots of snacks too, in case cooking or queuing for meals takes longer than you think!

is charged, so if your kids do get separated, you are able to be contacted.

Dress your kids in bright clothes so you can spot them and take a photo of them each morning, so if they go wandering, you can remember how they were dressed and show others.

Don’t take valuables and keep things you can’t leave behind, such as phone, keys, your purse and credit cards, with you in a day pack all day. Never leave them in your tent.

Comfy clothes Flasks, camping cutlery and crockery Small backpacks for all, with a change of clothes, loo paper, wipes and snack in each, plus drinks Camera

Fancy Dress Many festivals now have a fancy dress parade as part of the fun, so take costumes. Some things can be made on-site at a craft stall. Face paints are great to pack, as are glow sticks and bubbles.

Safety Kids should have your name (not theirs) and number on them in case they get separated. Write it on their arm, or buy luggage tags and attach them to their clothes and bags. Talk to them about how to behave should they get lost. Make sure your phone

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

13

what’s on MUSEUMS & GALLERIES BRITISH MUSEUM WC1B 3DG www.britishmuseum.org until 14 Aug SICILY: CULTURE AND CONQUEST This exhibition tells Sicily’s

fascinating stories - from the arrival of the Greeks and their encounters with the Phoenicians and other settlers, to the extraordinary period of enlightenment under Norman rule in the 11th to 13th centuries. The art and objects they produced are some of the most beautiful and important in the history of the Mediterranean.

DIGITAL WORKSHOPS: Takes place at weekends and school holidays on a variety of themes. Free, 11am-4pm, for ages 7+ (unless stated).

See the Families West What’s on widget online for details.

WORKSHOPS: 19 May LITTLE FEET: UNDERWATER WORLD Help create an underwater world with seaweed to crawl through, fish to catch and all the colours of the sea to enjoy. 10.30am-12noon for under 5s, free, drop-in.

10 Jun LITTLE FEET: EXPLORE SICILY Set off on a journey around the island of Sicily, using your feet, hands and voices to help you explore. 10.30am-12noon for under 5s, free, drop-in.

FOUNDLING MUSEUM WC1N 1AZ www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk 28 May FAMILY WORKSHOP: POSTERS FOR THE LOST Join artist Daniel Lehan and make a ‘lost’ poster for a found object from our current exhibition.

Use text, drawing, newspaper cuttings and collage to make your poster for the Lost and Found wall. Sessions at 10.30, 11.30am, 12, 2 and 3.30pm.

Free, for age 5+ 31 May FAMILY WORKSHOP: EXTENDABLES Bring the paintings in the Foundling Museum Collection to life with artist Isobel Manning. Using card and craft tools, build an extendable 3D version of your favourite painting that you can pull out or flatten. Sessions at 10.30, 11.30am, 12, 2 and 3.30pm.

Free, for age 5+ 25 Jun FAMILY WORKSHOP: SUMMER BIRD BOXES Why do birds sing inside the Foundling Museum? Learn about Foundling Fellow Chris Watson’s sound installation Dawn Chorus and the

birds that existed at the time of the Foundling Hospital. With artist Shelly Wain, use recycled materials to make a portable bird box to take home and encourage birdsong in your own community. Sessions at 10.30, 11.30am, 12, 2 and 3.30pm. Free, for age 5+ IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM SE1 6H www.iwm.org.uk EXHIBITIONS: HOLOCAUST Film, photographs and a large number of rare artefacts document the history of the Nazi persecution of the Jews and other groups before and during the Second World War. For ages 14+ A FAMILY IN WARTIME Explores the lives of William and Alice Allpress and their ten children and what life in London was like during the war.

SECRET WAR The clandestine world of espionage, covert operations and the work of Britain’s Special Forces.

FIRST WORLD WAR Discover the story of the war - Over 1,300 objects including weapons, uniforms, diaries, letters and souvenirs, will be on display as well as a recreated trench with periscopes and a dug-out, along with a soundscape and projection will evoke what daily life was like for the troops.

Every Sat and Sun OBJECT CONVERSATION An immersive object handling session where families can explore objects from the collections and how they connect with iconic objects on display. 11am and 2pm.

1, 8, 15, 22 May, 12, 19, 26 Jun CREATIVE RESPONSE Art activities based on themes featured in atrium and galleries. Drop-in, free, for all ages.

11am - 12.30pm and 2 - 4pm.

21, 22 May INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLOCAUST This free discussion and replica object handling session is a

From Baby to Ballerina

Classes for Boys and Girls aged 21/2 to 16 years old Ballet, Pointe Work, Jazz, Tap, Annual Performances

Classes held in: Bayswater, Notting Hill Gate, Oxford Street, Shepherds Bush and South Kensington

14

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

May/June 2016

useful starting point for families with children aged 11+ who wish to learn about the Holocaust. 11.30am and 2.30pm.

28 May-5 Jun FAMILY ART WORKSHOP: DRAWING A SOMME FLIPBOOK Create your own silhouette of a British ‘Tommy’ (a soldier).

Find out about how images were made into flipbooks during the First World 11am-4pm.

30 May-3 Jun OBJECT CONVERSATIONS: THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME A special immersive object handling session linked to the Battle of the Somme. Feel the weight of a shrapnel piece from the First World War and come to grips with real First World War objects from the collections. 11am and 2pm.

25, 26 Jun LEARNING SESSION: INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST WORLD WAR A free discussion and original object handling session as a useful starting point for families who wish to learn about the First World War. For age 11+ 11am and 2pm.

21, 22 May LEARNING SESSION: INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLOCAUST This free discussion and replica object handling session is a useful starting point for families who wish to learn about the Holocaust. For age 11+ at 11.30am and 2.30pm, booking required.

NATIONAL GALLERY WC2N 5DN www.nationalgallery.org.uk Every Sun FAMILY SUNDAYS Activities designed for families to enjoy and learn together, 11am and 3pm.

MAGIC CARPET STORYTELLING For children aged 2-5. Sundays 10.3011am and 11.30am-12pm. Fly away on the magic carpet, coming to land in front of a different painting each day.

1 May FAMILY WALK AND TALK A walk around the gallery, talking about pictures to make them come alive.

DRAWING SUNDAY Explore gallery paintings as inspiration for your art.

For ages 5-11. Sundays 11am and 2pm.

Drop-in.

8 May, 12 Jun DRAWING DOGS Learn how to draw a dog from one of our paintings, and smudge, shade and make your dog so real, it jumps off the paper.

22 May X-RAY VISIONS Unearth hidden stories revealed by X-ray and draw your own imaginary discovery, STUDIO SUNDAYS are hands-on workshops that start in the Gallery, followed by a studio session (11am and 2pm).

1 May, 5 Jun FANTASY FLOWERS Discover wild colours and extraordinary shapes in our Dutch flower paintings, and create your own fantastic flower sculptures.

15 May, 19 Jun PAINTED IN STONE Be inspired by Mantegna’s Introduction of

May/June 2016

the Cult of Cybele and enjoy drawing stories in stone.

4, 11 May WELCOME WEDNESDAYS Bring paintings to life through interactive music, storytelling, art and messy play activities. Every Wednesday, 10.30 and 11.30am for walkers under age five, 1pm for sitting babies to walkers.

HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS: 30 May-2 Jun POND LIFE Immerse yourself in Monet’s Water-Lily Pond and make your own mini garden installation.

This drop-in creative workshop also includes learning about the Gallery's paintings throughout the day. Free, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm for age 2+ 30 May MESSY MONDAYS: EXPLORING THE STUDIO Drop-in session for children under 5 years. Become a mini artist by exploring materials and mark making in a tactile environment inspired by a painting. 10.30am-1pm and 1.30-3pm.

31 May TALKING TUESDAYS INVESTIGATING PAINTINGS Bringing a painting to life through singing, talking and playing. For under 5s. 10.30am-1pm and 1.30-3pm.

4 Jun FAMILY FESTIVAL A whole day of arts, crafts, storytelling, music and a big party for family members to enjoy.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY WC2H OHE www.npg.org.uk 20 Mar DROP-IN FAMILY SESSION: POETRY IN MOTION Collect stories and sounds around the Gallery, as you join a quest to create a giant moving poem.1pm for age 3+ and 3pm for age 7+ 30 May - 3 Jun CONTEMPORARY PORTRAITS A week of activities exploring how artists today find inspiration and what it means to be an artist in the twenty first century. 11am-4pm.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM SW7 5BD www.nhm.ac.uk Until 11 Sept SENSATIONAL BUTTERFLIES Watch butterflies hatch from delicate chrysalises, unfolding their wings for the first time, look for munching caterpillars hidden in the foliage and at different life stages and sizes and see butterflies feeding, pausing their flight to enjoy nectar and fruit. Plus see the world’s leading butterfly and moth collection of more than 10 million species.

Every weekend INVESTIGATE FOR FAMILIES Get a feel for how scientists work by having a go yourself. Come and explore hundreds of real nature specimens that form the evidence Museum scientists use in their daily work.

Drop-in, 11am-5pm.

Museums and Days Out listings continue on page 18

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

15

what’s on CONTINUED NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 20 May, 17 Jun DINO SNORES Ever wondered what goes on at the Natural History Museum at night?

7 - 11 years. 7pm till morning, torchlit trails through the museum, live animal shows and more. For ages 7-11.

SCIENCE MUSEUM SW7 2DD www.sciencemuseum.org.uk 14 May, 4 Jun SCIENCE NIGHT A special overnight event for 7-13 year olds featuring exciting hands-on workshops, science shows, and a sleepover at the museum.

VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM SW7 2RL www.vam.ac.uk Every Sat and 28 May-5 Jun POP UP PERFORMANCES Storytelling, interactive plays and dance. Be immersed in the dance of the robot under an amazing and unusual architectural structure. For all ages at 11am, 1 and 3pm. Free, drop in Every Sun DROP-IN DESIGN Pick up a design challenge, hunt for ideas in the galleries, then create your own. 10.30am-5pm, for age 5+ 1 May JAPAN FESTIVAL FOR FAMILIES Join in with special Children's Day celebrations. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and stories of Japan. 11am-5pm.

28 May-5 Jun IMAGINATION STATION Using fibre, create a mini canopy structure inspired by Filament Pavilion in the John Madejski Garden. 10.30am-5pm for ages 3+ Free, drop in.

28 May-5 Jun DIGITAL KIDS Create your own incredible architecture using elements of nature, technology and the world around you using digital collage. Free, drop-in for age 5+ 10.30am-5pm.

FREE ART FUN-BACK-PACKS, ACTIVITY CART AND ANIMAL BAGS Families can pick up an activity Back-Pack, get creative at Drop-in-Design or go on a gallery adventure trail. Free, drop-in. Suitable for children aged 4 to 11 Activity Cart: Fantastic hands-on art fun for children to create collages and pictures to take home.

Agent Animal bag: A sensory activity bag that has been developed especially for under 5s. Each bag contains an audio map and fabric cubes.

DAYS OUT CHISWICK HOUSE AND GARDENS W4 2QN www.chgt.org.uk 30 Jun-18 Jul GIFFORDS CIRCUS-THE PAINTED WAGON SHOW A wild west extravaganza of eyecatching acrobatics and aerialists from far and distant lands, dancing horses, bounty hunting, and gold panning all to the beat of the “Dodge City” Giffords Circus saloon band.

CUTTY SARK SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark Every weekend: CUTTY SARK CHARACTERS Come aboard to hear Cutty Sark’s incredible stories brought to life by characters from the ship’s past. Suitable for ages 3+ Every Weds TODDLER TIME Bring your little sailors along for songs, stories and playtime on board. 2-4pm for ages 4 and under.

7, 8 May FAMILY FUN WEEKEND: PUPPET PALS Lots of animals lived on board Cutty Sark- Choose your favourite and make a puppet to star in a show. 11am and 2pm for all ages.

16

Sensational Butterflies AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

7, 8 May DON’T PUT YOUR PAWS IN THE SUGAR BOWL! Join the on-board storyteller for an animal adventure. 11.30am, 12.30 and 2pm for ages 3+ 30, 31 May 1 Jun DANCING SAILORS Stamp your feet and clap your hands for a dance session and make a colourful sailor puppet to dance around the ship.

11.30am and 2pm for all ages.

2, 3 Jun STORY SHIP Help make a spectacular story ship. 11.30am and 2pm for all ages.

4, 5 June FAMILY FUN WEEKEND: COLOURFUL COCKERELS Help to celebrate Portugal Day by making your own colourful cockerel decoration to hang up at home. 11.30am and 2pm for all ages.

FULHAM PALACE SW6 6EA www.fulhampalace.org Every Mon and Tues THE PALACE EXPLORERS A weekly parent/carer and toddler sessions for children aged 2-4. £3 per child, which includes a drink and healthy snack.

2 May WILD CAPITAL ROAD SHOW Examine fascinating details of nature through microscopes and gaze into a minibeasts tank at the marquee of wildlife discovery. 1-4pm. Free.

5, 19, 22 May, 2, 16 Jun PALACE STORIES History of the palace brought to life in these tales of the characters who lived there. 2.30-3pm. Free, no booking necessary.

4 Jun LITTLE GREEN FINGERS GARDENING SESSION Learn how vegetables and flowers grow and have a go at seed sowing in the garden beds and other fun gardening activities. 10.30am-12pm.

19 Jun EDWARDIAN GARDEN PARTY The Bishops of London were well known for holding garden parties. Help to celebrate this tradition and come along for a day of family fun. Take a turn on the swing boats, have your face painted, dance along to ragtime music and take part in some garden games and craft activities. 1-4pm, free.

25 Jun YOUNG ARCHAEOLOGISTS’ CLUB: ARCHAEOLOGY ON THE FORESHORE Explore the fascinating world of archaeology through practical hands on sessions with real archaeologists. 11.15am-1pm.

HAMPTON COURT PALACE KT8 9AU www.hrp.org.uk selected Thurs and Sats in Mar TINY EXPLORERS Discover the fascinating stories of Hampton Court Palace

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

in a multi-sensory workshop which includes music, movement and messy play for 0-4yrs. Booking essential.

26 May - 2 Jun HORRIBLE HISTORIES: TERRIBLE TUDORS Find out the fate of Henry’s headless wives and his punch up with the Pope. Have a sizzling time with Queen Mary and meet the Groom of the Stool! Open air performances with grass seating.

8-23 Jun HAMPTON COURT PALACE FESTIVAL A series of open-air summer concerts in the spectacular and iconic Tudor courtyard.

HMS BELFAST SE1 2JH www.iwm.org.uk ONGOING: GUN TURRET EXPERIENCE A chance to see what fighting at sea would have really been like.

Lights, audio, projections and movement will recreate the experience, highlighting the hectic and cramped conditions that would have seen twenty-six men in this confined space at any one time.

INTERACTIVE OPERATIONS ROOM The nerve centre and brain of the entire ship which now has exciting interactives.

FREE FAMILY DROP-IN ACTIVITIES 28-31 May, 1-5, 18, 19 Jun TATTOO T - SHIRTS: DAVY JONES’S LOCKER Design a t-shirt, inspired by traditional navy tattoos, nautical superstitions and the sailor legend of Davy Jones’s Locker. Learn more about the history of navy tattoos, what the symbols mean and why as a sailor you wouldn’t want to be visiting Davy Jones’s Locker in a hurry! 11am - 12.30pm and 2 - 4pm 28-31 May BATTLE OF JUTLAND: CRACKING CODES Marking the 1916 Battle of Jutland, intercept messages, map hazards on a sea chart and make up your own secret code, learning the skills intelligence officers would have needed to locate the Imperial German Navy’s fleet in the North Sea during the First World War. 11am and 2pm, all ages.

ODDS FARM PARK HP10 0LX www.oddsfarm.co.uk A FABULOUS DAY OUT AT THE FARM! Meet the farmers and get close to the animals in the hands-on area and in the large undercover animal barns. There is a massive adventure play area with a four lane astra slide, two drop slides, a netted area with zig zag chicanes and tunnels, swinging ropes and much more. Also a special Toddler and Under 5’s areas.

May/June 2016

Brer Rabbit visits Africa AT THE PUPPET THEATRE BARGE

THEATRE, PERFORMANCES AND CONCERTS BECK THEATRE UB3 2UE www.becktheatre.org.uk 11 May STIG OF THE DUMP Barney meets Stig, a caveman and they become great friends. A timeless children’s classic which remains as charming and entertaining as ever.

31 May PONGO’S PARTY You are invited to Pongo the Pig’s birthday party-a show full of fun, songs and laughter. a huge children’s band and the town’s biggest ever game of pass the parcel. For ages 2-7.

One day Monty found a book...

MONSTERSAURUS AT THE LYRIC HAMMERSMITH

CAMBRIDGE THEATRE WC2H 9HU www.matildathemusical.com Booking until Dec 16 MATILDA THE MUSICAL The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Roald Dahl’s magical story about a girl with extraordinary powers.

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH W6 0QL www.lyric.co.uk 31 May-4 Jun MONSTERSAURUS Follow the young inventor Monty as he creates a whole world of whacky inventions and incredible monsters, but now he has made them what is he going to do with them all? thrills, spills, magic and mayhem for ages 3-7.

11 Jun-4 Sep BUGSY MALONE The critically acclaimed production is back following a sellout run last year, with electrifying choreography and featuring all the classic songs. For ages 6+ PEACOCK THEATRE WC2A 2HT www.sadlerswells.com 4-21 May ZOONATION DANCE COMPANY: INTO THE HOODS: REMIXED Set in the ‘Ruff Endz Estate,’ two lost children are tasked in finding an iPhone as white as milk, trainers as pure as gold, a hoodie as red as blood and weave as yellow as corn. They meet DJ Spinderella, wannabe singer Lil Red, vivacious rapper Rap On Zel, and budding music producer Jaxx.

An award-winning hip hop dance comedy for all the family.

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE

RICHMOND THEATRE TW9 1QJ www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/ 1 Jun NORTHERN BALLET: TORTOISE & THE HARE Bringing this much-loved Aesop’s fable to life, Tortoise and the Hare is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre.

4, 5 Jun PEPPA PIG’S SURPRISE Peppa Pig, George and their friends are back in a brand new live stage show.

It’s a lovely day and Peppa is playing outside with her friends. Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig have got a surprise for her and George - they can’t guess what it is, can you?

Enjoy fun, games and of course, surprises in this charming, colourful new show with new songs and new life size puppets.

Family Theatre and Concert listings continue on page 18

Please check before you head out to make sure that your Day’s Out event has not changed after publication of your Families West magazine...

W9 2PF www.puppetbarge.com until 15 May THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE 21 May-10 Jul BRER RABBIT VISITS AFRICA Brer Rabbit travels to Africa to visit his grandmother.

He gets himself into trouble, and all the animals of Africa, elephant, lion and tortoise alike, gather to help.

For age 3+

May/June 2016

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

17

what’s on CONTINUED SOUTHBANK CENTRE SE1 8PX www.southbankcentre.co.uk Every Fri RUG RHYMES FOR THE UNDER FIVES A short session of nursery rhymes, poems and rhyming stories, and the opportunity to look at and borrow books.

Free but booking essential.

Every Mon DRAGON BABIES Bring your little ones to shake, rattle and gong. Gamelan for ages 3-5.

Until 3 Jul THE WONDERCRUMP WORLD OF ROALD DAHL A magical and interactive journey through The Wondercrump World of Roald Dahl to discover the secrets of the writer with interactive installations to spark the imagination.

1May OAE TOTS The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s series of interactive concerts for under-6s.

10.30am and 12pm.

2-22 May SHLOMO’S BEATBOX ADVENTURE FOR KIDS Shlomo is a world record-breaking beatboxer who makes all kinds of music using just his mouth and a mic.

Join this sonic superhero and become one of his sidekicks in a world of funny sounds, brilliant noises and cool music. For all ages.

7 May, 19 Jun, 2 Jul THE SHOWSTOPPERS’ FANTASTICAL STORY FACTORY An improvised musical for age 6+ See your ideas turned into such marvellous, musical adventures on the spot, right in front of your very nose... A team of award-winning West End improvisers explore magical kingdoms as you decide what happens next.

8 May-11 Jun JAY FOREMAN’S DISGUSTING SONGS For revolting children (and other Funny Stories) age 6+ This hit children's show by the multi-awardwinning comedian features disgusting stories, revolting poems and more.

25 May PRAM JAM Singing workshop for parents and children under 5.

15 May-12 Jun THE NOISE NEXT DOOR An anarchic afternoon show for age 7+, from a sell-out improv comedy sensation.

28 May-5 Jun BRANIAC LIVE! Strap on your safety goggles-Science's most volatile live show takes you on a breathless ride through the wild world of the weird and wonderful. For age 7+ 5 Jun FUNHARMONICS FAMILY CONCERTS TELLING TALES: BOTTOM’S DREAM Lose yourself in the woods with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in this special musical version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Expect enchantment and confusion, and a bit of silliness along the way, told through a magical mix of words and music.

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE WC2B 5JF www.reallyuseful.com/theatres/theatre-royaldrury-lane Ongoing CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Roald Dahl's deliciously dark tale of young Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectioner Willy Wonka in a musical directed by Sam Mendes.

2.30pm and 7.30pm.

UNICORN THEATRE SE1 2HZ www.unicorntheatre.com 20 May-26 Jun SEPTIMUS BEAN AND HIS AMAZING MACHINE Septimus Bean has invented a

18

Family Workshops AT THE FOUNDLING MUSEUM

very great machine but is yet to work out what it is for.

With the help of the king and court, he finds out lots of things that it isn’t for and one unexpected thing that it is utterly perfect for. (11, 26 Jun Crazy Crafts with the Potty Professor).

CONCERTS AND MUSIC WORKSHOPS BACH TO BABY www.bachtobaby.com/londonnorth All concerts at 10.30am.

25 May, 22 Jun in Kensington (Christ Church, Victoria Road, W8) 14 Jun in Notting Hill (St. John's Church, Lansdowne Crescent, London W11) 13 May, 10 Jun in Hammersmith (St. Andrew's Church, Greyhound Road, W14) 27 May in Chiswick (St. Michael and All Angels, Bath Road, W4) THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL SW7 2AP www.royalalberthall.com Every Wednesday in Mar and Apr STORYTELLING AND MUSIC A live instrumental experience for babies, toddlers and their families. Outstanding musicians perform a repertoire of traditional and contemporary music.

For ages 3 months to 3 years at 10.30am.

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL SW7 2AP www.royalalberthall.com Every Wednesday in Mar and Apr STORYTELLING AND MUSIC a series of sessions for babies and toddlers, aiming to engage and encourage interaction between parents/carers and their little ones using musical instruments, singing, movement and stories. For children up to age 4.

31 May ARABIAN NIGHTS Classic tales retold with music and puppetry. Meet Sheherazade, the greatest storyteller of them all. She has a feast of adventures and fantasies to tell involving genies, villains, heroes and princesses for all ages.

Could YOU be the next publisher of Families West Magazine? Interested parties should contact us at: editor@familieswest.co.uk to discuss the possibility of taking over this well-supported, established, franchised business. Would suit a parent/parents looking to run a business from home.

May/June 2016

‘Families West’ is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company.

All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks, SL8 5TD. The contents of Families West are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. 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.’

Designed by Martin Driscoll. Email: martindriscoll@yahoo.com Printed by The MANSON Group Limited, 8 Porters Wood, Valley Road Industrial Estate, St Albans AL3 6PZ. www.mansongroup.co.uk

CLASSIFIED ADS · HOME TUITION Private English Tuition

Win one of two family tickets to Sensational Butterflies and YOUR chance to escape the city and step into a tropical butterfly house!

Families West London readers have the chance to win one of two family tickets so they can see in summer with the spectacular Sensational Butterflies at the Natural History Museum!

Come face to face with hundreds of free-flying butterflies and moths from around the world, and learn about the surprising life they lead. See their many colours as they flutter above your head. Watch as they have something to eat at the feeding station. Spot the difference between butterflies and moths. Search out a munching caterpillar, and if you are lucky you might see a butterfly emerge from a chrysalis. With more butterflies than ever before, Sensational Butterflies is fun for all the family. For more exhibition info, visit: nhm.ac.uk/sensational-butterflies

To enter please go to: www.familieswest.co.uk/competitions Competition open until 30 June 2016.

Sensational Butterflies is at the Natural History Museum until 11 September 2016.

One to one private tuition, literature and language at any level from 11+ to A2.

All sessions tailored to the student’s needs, £25 per hour.

Experienced tutor and current MA literature student with a passion for the subject.

For more information please email: danwatters13@hotmail.co.uk or call: 07879 358 009

WIN Tickets to see Tall Stories’

THE GRUFFALO LIVE in the West End! The Gruffalo is coming to the Lyric Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue from 6 July 2016. Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the party mad Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures?

After all, there's no such thing as a Gruffalo - is there? Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up and their grownups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world!

Running time 55 minutes (no interval). For bookings, please call 0330 333 4812 or book online at: www.gruffalolive.com COMPETITION: To celebrate The Gruffalo Live’s 15th birthday this May, Families West magazine has one VIP family ticket (admits 4) to be won. To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question: How many times is Mouse pictured in this issue of Families West magazine?

There are some illustrations of Mouse throughout this magazine (there’s one below to get you started). How many can you find in total? Email your answer - together with your contact details - to: familieswest@yahoo.co.uk - with ‘Gruffalo’ in the subject line, no later than Friday 4 June 2016.

Terms & Conditions: The ticket prize admits 4 (minimum 1 adult). To see Tall Stories’ The Gruffalo Live at the Lyric Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue for performances between 6-24 July 2016, and must be redeemed by 24 June 2016.

Tickets are non-transferable and hold no cash value.

THE GRUFFALO ‘MOUSE’ ILLUSTRATIONS COPYRIGHT © AXEL SCHEFFLER

May/June 2016

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

19