Families London West issue112 Jan Feb 2017

ISSUE 112 January-February 2017 www.familiesonline.co.uk

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

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Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

January-February 2017

In this issue...

NEWS & VIEWS Contents News & Views

Page 3

Nursery News & Views

Page 6

Nursery Features

Page 7

Leaving your child Home Alone Page 10 Education

Page 12

How to beat ‘The January Blues’

Page 14

Diary Dates & Holiday Workshops

Page 16

What’s On in West London

Page 18

Joanne Harris Interview

Page 23

Classified Section

Page 23

Clubs & Classes

Page 24

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Happy New Year and hope you are having a good start to 2017. Globally, it feels like such a period of uncertainty but if you are a family with young children, the world carries on and much more local concerns are paramount. We kick off the year with a magazine full of the usual, useful information that many of our readers so rely on- the issue is packed with hundreds of events and activities in your patch. We also have a nursery feature so if you are looking for great local provision, you are looking in the right place!

We will be continuing the childcare theme in our next issue so if you are working in a great nursery and you want to shout out about it, do get in touch.

Email: editor@familieswest.co.uk

Success for Stagecoach students Stagecoach Chiswick student, Daisy Morley-Fletcher has recently been playing the part of ‘Young Cosette’ in London’s West End production of ‘Les Miserables.’ Daisy has been in numerous performances and TV adverts in the last few years since she started Early Stages aged 3! Also, Amelie Catlin Brown is starring in the new Kinder Surprise advert.

Stagecoach Chiswick Performing Arts is going in to its 18th year, making it the longest standing, successful part time Performing Arts School in Chiswick. There are always lots of opportunities for Stagecoach students to perform professionally, but Principal, Sally Catlin is very keen to point out that the majority of students attend to boost confidence, have fun, learn and build the foundations of a strong, confident career, no matter what they choose to do in life. Stagecoach Performing Arts caps its numbers, to ensure every student has the same degree of support. Many students have been attending for between 10 and 14 years, and many students go on to some of the major Drama and Musical Theatre schools in the UK. More at www.stagecoach.co.uk/chiswick

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NEWS & VIEWS Language triumph at Clifton Lodge School Clifton Lodge Prep School pupils gained a fantastic set of results in the recent Northern Hemisphere Language Championships.

2 pupils obtained Gold, 5 pupils Silver and 16 pupils achieved Bronze Certificates. The pupils answered over 170,000 questions over the 10 days and achieved: Overall 10th in England 4th in their category 2nd in Latin in their category 2nd in French in their category Pupils were delighted with their success and are already looking forward to the 2017 World Language Championships.

Find out more about Clifton Lodge by contacting headmaster Dr Tony Thamia at: tony.thamia@cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk

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Maths and English tutoring The tutoring market in the UK is burgeoning. Figures published at the end of last year suggest that one in four children have sought private tuition and supplementary education to support them at school. The benefit of reinforcing lessons at school with an outside provider is that it allows parents to ensure their child is keeping up with their peers, and/or is being stretched to surpass levels in the classroom. For the first time this year, Year 11 pupils are required to resit English and maths GCSEs if they did not score a C grade, and with just 35.9% of school leavers achieving a C or above, the overall pass rate has dropped. Kumon Educational offers maths and English programmes for children of all ages and abilities. The ultimate aim is to encourage students to take learning into their own hands and develop a firm foundation in these key subjects to ensure success at school and beyond.

Visit: www.Kumon.co.uk or call 0800 854 714 to find out more.

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Dance Gallery Dance Gallery teaches students from 4 to 18 years. They run after-school classes at St Stephen’s Church, St Stephens Road, W13. Their main aim is to teach pupils that dancing is one of the finest and most fun ways of keeping fit and also through performance to give them great confidence.

They specialise in modern/jazz and tap dancing. This includes modern dance exercises put to energetic popular music together with learning dance routines that build towards performance in their bi-annual fabulous musical theatre shows at Questors Theatre in Ealing. Have a quick browse at: www.dancegallery.co.uk where you can view the timetable of classes and see some photos and video snippets of some past shows. Their next show will feature sequences from the musicals ‘Aladdin’ for the juniors and ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ for the seniors.

Contact them now to enjoy the dancing, fitness, and fabulous show experiences at Dance Gallery.

Call 020 8566 9672 or email: jill@dancegallery.co.uk for more details.

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A New Year Means a New Term of Drama, Singing and Dance in West London Now that the New Year is well and truly underway, what better way to kick-off 2017 than with drama, singing and dance classes in West London? Jigsaw has been offering weekend performing arts classes to children aged 3-18 across London and the South East for over 20 years. From musical theatre to contemporary drama and dance, the performing arts are a hugely enjoyable way for children and young adults to develop skills for life.

Jigsaw is incredibly passionate about building talent and finding success!

“At Jigsaw, we understand that attending a performing arts school for the first time can be an exciting but nervous experience. That is why we offer a two week trial, giving the student the opportunity to try Jigsaw first-hand before committing to a full term.” Visit: www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk for more information, or call 0208 4474530 to book a two week trial today.

The Frances Lundy School of Dance As well as classes in ballet, tap, modern and gymnastic aerobics, Frances Lundy School of Dance offer all their students the opportunity to be part of the competition squad.

Festivals are held during the halfterm and main holidays and children can compete in many different categories competing as a solo, duet, trio or small group. Several of the children have been selected to perform at the regional final, so far this year, and hopefully will reach the All England Finals in the Summer.

If you would like your child to be part of the squad, please contact the office on 020 8675 0433 or email: enquiries-flsd@hotmail.com January-February 2017

Is mediation right for you?

Mediation is a term often used in the family law arena. Despite the Ministry of Justice’s eagerness for the use of mediation to increase, there still seems to be a lack of understanding as to exactly what it involves.

Mediation is a means of coming to an agreement without having to issue in Court. This can take place where a couple need to agree a financial settlement or where they need to make arrangements for their children. Mediation is usually most appropriate for couples who are still on talking terms and who wish to come to an agreement with as little stress and as easily as possible.

An assessment for mediation is required before any application to the Court regarding children or finances, except in exceptional circumstances. For more information about mediation, contact Castelo Solicitors/London Mediation Office office, 8th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP or call 020 3441 5095.

Free legal advice coffee morning every Monday 10-11am.

Or free evening surgery every Wednesday 6-7pm. We specialise in Family, Wills & Probate, Employment, Immigration, Crime & Conveyancing.

Call 0203 441 5095 to book an appointment, quoting ref: CS/legaldropin. www.castelosolicitors.com

Courses for 11+ exam Back in September this year, Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for Education, laid out the Government’s plans for education. This included her pledge to expand grammar schools, allowing existing grammar schools to increase in size and new schools the right to apply to select pupils by ability.

The 11 plus has historically been the way of selecting those students most suited to an advanced academic stream.

In many countries, streaming in this way has proved to be highly successful, for example, in Singapore, and high profile gifted and talented programmes in the US. Explore Learning, which has 123 tuition centres across the UK, has a regular 11 plus course that has seen a 23% rise in attendance this year compared with 2015, showing the continual rising demand from parents. The sessions cover verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and literacy skills – whatever is appropriate for the exam. Parents receive regular feedback and children are encouraged to access specialist online practice tools for further home practise. The goal is to prepare children to achieve their potential in whichever 11 plus exam they are sitting whether that be CEM, The Kent Test, GL, Bond, Essex Consortium etc.

The Explore Learning 11 plus and Entrance Exam courses include classes taught in small groups once a week using conventional pen and paper teaching methods as well as individualised sessions focused on raising core maths and English skills delivered through cutting-edge technology. Tutors support each child’s individual needs and encourage them to work through challenging activities to stretch themselves, boost confident and eliminate anxiety for the exam. We also offer all children the opportunity to progress on to a specialist ‘Succeed in Secondary’ course which develops all the presenting, planning, debating and analysing skills that a child needs on their Secondary School journey. After all, passing the exam is just the beginning of an exciting new phase in a child’s education.

Katie Williams, Curriculum Development Manager at Explore Learning says: “I believe that children preparing for the 11 plus should enjoy the process, take pleasure in learning new skills and honing existing ones. They should develop many abilities alongside those covered in the exam so they become a well-rounded, confident 10 year old not just a child primed to pass a test. This is definitely the ethos that underpins our classes at Explore Learning.”

Spaces for the courses get snapped up quickly so for more information, and to book a free trial for your child at one of our centres, head to our website: www.explorelearning.co.uk/11-plus-exams

January-February 2017

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NURSERY NEWS & VIEWS Have you applied for your nursery place yet?

All children are entitled to a free, good quality part-time nursery place from the September, January or April following their third birthday, plus two-year-olds may also be eligible for up to 15 hours of free early education for 38 weeks of the year. The deadline for nursery places within a primary school in September 2017 is as early as 15 January in some boroughs. Contact your local council to find out more about how to apply for a place as dates vary from borough to borough.

The two branches of Playdays in West Kensington W14 were awarded the grade of ‘Outstanding’ from Ofsted within two months of each other in springtime this year. The dedication and commitment of the staff team reflects in the daily practice of the nurseries. They spend the time getting to know each child and their family, and partnership with parents is of the utmost importance. This in turn makes it possible for Playdays to plan appropriately for each child, making their time at nursery a happy and enjoyable one. Playdays West Kensington is at 13 Barton Road, W14 9HB and 45 Comeragh Road, W14 9HT. Call: 0207 386 9083 or visit: www.playdaysnurseries.co.uk

Plans are developing to transform Ark Swift Primary Academy in White City and nearby Harmony Nursery, including a brand new stateof-the-art two-form entry primary school with improved play areas, as well as expanded facilities for the Ofsted-outstanding Harmony Neighbourhood Nursery, increasing its capacity from 46 places to 75. Plus, interestingly, plans also include a new OnSide Youth Zone offering affordable activities in sports, arts, music, employability and mentoring to young people aged 8 to 19, or up to 25 for those with a disability. Find out more at: www.edcity.co.uk

Clifton Lodge School Nursery pupils have started learning French this academic year. It is being taught using a puppet called Jacques, games, songs and stories to start an early love of languages. Mrs Friel, the Deputy Head who teaches French to the children has been really impressed at how quickly they have picked it up. Some of the Nursery children even greet Mrs Friel in the morning with ‘Bonjour’! Find out more about the school by contacting headmaster Dr Tony Thamia via email: tony.thamia@cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk Rated Outstanding in 2016, the Pre-Preps (Nursery) at St Augustine’s Priory is a popular entry point for pupils. The focus throughout the year is building relationships, growing in independence and becoming independent learners.

In Pre-Preps the foundations are laid for automatic transition into Prep I (Reception) in a fun, safe and exciting learning environment. Outdoor and physical education is embedded in our daily activity. The outdoor environment provides a rich, natural space for learning and developing young minds. The Forest School and Physical Education sessions are part of our learning resources. In PE sessions they encourage children to explore a variety of movements whilst the Forest School sessions allow children to explore their natural surroundings using their senses. Morning, afternoon or full day sessions are available. School lunches are prepared and freshly cooked on the premises and offer a range of meals including a vegetarian option, salads, sandwiches, as well as desserts and fresh fruit. Lunch is eaten in the nursery under close supervision from staff.

In addition, there is a Breakfast Club serving breakfast from 8 am and an Ofsted registered After-School Club offering extended care for children until 6 pm. http://sapriory.com/pre-preps-and-preps/nursery

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January-February 2017

NURSERIES: FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

By Philippe Fraser

From parents struggling with fussy eaters, to a growing childhood obesity crisis throughout the developed world, the director of a French Bilingual Nursery in Paddington has some deceptively simply suggestions for parents.

It is well documented that some children will latch on to favourite foods, causing significant problems for their parents as well as themselves. When these foods are not presented to children, they will either refuse to eat or go hungry and this is of course very distressing for both parent and child.

Ideally, parents will try to avoid this happening by giving plenty of different foods to children. At Les Trois Oursons nursery, they try to avoid having exactly the same main course served within a 2-month period. In practice this means the nursery has to offer an almost endless variety of dishes. Of course, there are not 60 different foods readily available - so the in-house cook uses a range of different cooking and serving techniques.

Beef could be roasted, shredded, stewed, or diced and served in a mild Thai salad. Over the course of a week, there is a day with red meat, one with poultry, a vegetarian meal, then one white fish & a day with an oily fish.

Even simple foods like carrots are served in many ways, from raw sticks, to grated with lemon dressing, steamed, roasted to sautéed in olive oil. At first glance this might seem too simple

January-February 2017

a ‘solution’ but Philippe Fraser, the nursery’s director explains that children become accustomed to food being varied. This unpredictable nature of food makes it very hard for a child to latch on to a single favourite, which he or she will then only agree to eat.

The other ‘trick’ the nursery uses is to serve 4 course lunches. In the summer there is a salad starter: such as tomato & basil, cucumber in yogurt or Macedoine de legumes.

In the winter, it is soups every day.

“Children will eat far more vegetables in a soup than they would chopped up next to fillet of fish.

Serving multiple courses means each course is smaller. This means a child is not overwhelmed by being presented something new. The children know a main course will be coming shortly, yet they are hungry, so are likely to eat a little of the salad, even if they are not initially tempted by it.”

After the main course, there is a small piece of the cheese of the day, before having fresh fruit for dessert. The range of flavours allows the child to relax. If you only serve a single course which the child does not like, it creates an enormous amount of

stress for both child and the adult. If the child knows there is more food coming, then he or she can relax which in turn makes it easier to taste something new.

And, sticking to the French theme, Fraser stresses the importance of simple fruit. “Children love fruit, and eat it up with great pleasure. Serving foods like ice cream with added sugar on a regular basis gives the impression that eating refined sugar on a daily basis is normal and can be expected.” This can lead to children becoming obese when they are young, but also sets them up for a lifetime of unhealthy eating habits. But the real problem is the amount of calories a child can derive from sugar.

If a child obtains enough energy from quick fixes, then the urge to try new food is greatly reduced.”

Finally, Fraser says it is not vital that a young child finishes their plate. “Children may need to taste something many times before growing used to the flavour.

That should be sufficient – the old-school way of making children finish an entire plate of something they dislike is quite likely going to result in the child forming a very fixed opinion. Better to taste a small amount regularly in an open-minded way

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without creating too much expectation or pressure.”

“One child came to our nursery who we were told did not like cheese. Sure enough, every day when we served a new cheese, he would only taste a tiny corner of the cheese and leave the rest. Then one day we served a blue cheese, which he absolutely loved!

His mother literally did not believe us at first, but then when she offered him some the following weekend at home, he ate it all up and asked for more. This transformed his experience of cheese, and slowly he started trying and eating more of them.”

Ultimately a constant variety of fresh, organic home made style cooking is the best way to avoid obesity and to help children enjoy a wide range of foods leading to healthier children and happier mealtimes.

Philippe Fraser, Director, Les Trois Oursons, Lower Ground Floor, 170 Gloucester Terrace, London W2 6HS www.bilingualnurseries.com

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NURSERIES: DAYCARE DILEMMAS

By Lynne Murray

Day care is the fastest growing form of child care in the UK and most children experience some kind of formal non-parental care by the age of 2 years.

So what effect does day care have on the development of a child?

How can parents maximize its benefits and alleviate any difficulties arising?

Firstly, any effects of day care on a child’s development are by far outweighed by his or her family influences.

Secondly, research concludes overwhelmingly that the effects of day care are very dependent on its quality. Fortunately, in the UK this is generally good.

In settings where there is good training and pay, and a high staff-to-baby ratio, day care staff have higher morale and a strong sense of professionalism and motivation, and there is likely to be a low staff turn-over. All these things are linked to staff providing better care and having the skills to provide both good one-to-one care and to manage a group of babies.

Where day care is of a high standard, then there is no evidence of harmful effects on children’s development. Indeed, it can positively benefit language and cognitive development, as well as enhance a child’s social maturity and relationships with other children.

In spite of the potential benefits, helping a baby

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adjust to day care is not always easy. Firstly, it is quite common for babies to be upset when their parents leave them. Each baby is an individual, and some just seem to find separations, as well as changes in routine and stimulation, harder than others. Separation distress may be more marked after around 9 or 10 months old, when babies become more clearly aware of their attachment to their parents, and for this reason some parents prefer to make the transition to day care before then.

Some day care settings deal with the stress of separation by encouraging parents to stay with their baby, possibly over the course of some weeks, until the baby settles. If parents feel that their baby is particularly sensitive, and may find the transition to day care difficult, it is advisable to choose a setting which offers this option, so that the baby can become accustomed to the environment and the staff. Where this is possible, it does seem that babies are less stressed by the separation experience.

Good settings commonly help babies manage day care by building active links with home. Parents may be encouraged to bring in special toys, blankets or other ‘attachment objects’ and settings may follow the routines that parents use at home, for example, for settling to sleep. Having in place a systems, like ‘day books,’ for passing on information about important events in the baby’s life also help staff respond to each individual baby’s experience and support them sensitively.

Some parents worry that their baby will become more attached to day care staff than to them. There is no evidence of this, and

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parents are typically their baby’s strongest attachment figures.

Nevertheless, close attachments can form between babies and their day carers, especially when the carer is responsive and warm towards the baby. This quality of relationship is beneficial to the baby’s development.

Lynne Murray is Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Reading, and is also the author of The Psychology of Babies: How Relationships Support Development from Birth to Two (Constable & Robinson 2014), in which more information on day care, as well as other aspects of babies’ development, is provided.

January-February 2017

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WHEN SHOULD YOU LEAVE YOUR CHILD Over the past few years there has been huge debate around when children should be left home alone. Knowing when your growing child is responsible enough to be left alone, even for a short time, can be difficult and there is no law that governs when this might be appropriate. For parents, in the absence of any hard and fast rules, knowing when it's the right time to allow your children more responsibility can be tricky.

What the law says The Government's advice is to follow NSPCC guidelines, although you are advised never to leave your child alone when they are ‘at risk’ and you may be prosecuted for neglect if you leave an unsupervised child ‘in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.’

The NSPCC guidelines state that babies, toddlers and young children should never, under any circumstances, be left alone and that children under the age of 12 are

rarely mature enough to cope with an emergency.

Therefore they should not be left alone in the house for any length of time. Children under 16 should not be left alone over night.

Leaving a child alone in the car Children should never be left alone in the car.

Stranger danger is an ever present issue for young children - however well you teach them, young children can act quite differently when something tempting is apparently on offer.

Leaving a toddler in the car runs the risk of them wandering off into traffic or a busy car park. And no child is safe from the risk of another car crashing into yours, even when your car is stationary.

Leaving your child home alone This is far trickier to navigate as growing children begin to want their independence from their parents. The important thing to remember, in the absence of a clear legal framework, is your child’s wishes. If they simply

can't cope with being left alone then you'll need to make other arrangements. But when they reach the age of 12, you could experiment with leaving them for a short amount of time. If you do, make sure you've thoroughly discussed the kind of behaviour you expect from them - like not boiling a kettle - and that they know exactly what to do if there’s a problem. Take your mobile and make sure they have the number, plus a list of trusted adults to contact if they can't reach you. If you

Lemon Tree and St Matthew’s Montessori schools based in Ealing Broadway offering both full day care (8.00am-6.00pm) and term time (9.15am-3.15am) for children aged from 1 years to 5 years old.

We offer French, Ballet, Yoga, Drama and PE inclusive of fees.

Full and part time sessions available. Qualified and experienced teachers offer a high standard of learning, nurturing and care.

Lemon Tree Montessori: 07495 898 760 (Full Day Care) St Matthew's Montessori: 07564 834 687 (Term Time) Website: www.lemontreemontessori.com

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January-February 2017

HOME ALONE? have more than one child, make sure they're engaged in a calm activity, like watching TV or doing homework so squabbles and problems are less likely to occur.

Are they ready to be in charge?

Some children actively enjoy showing how grown up they are, but it's wise to run through a few scenarios to reassure yourself how they might genuinely cope in an emergency. Try asking them what they’d do in a power cut, or if the bathroom flooded. What if they're hungry or a stranger knocks at the door? Have the conversations for a few minutes at a time, to try and gauge how they'd react. Remember, you don't have to leave them alone at home if you don't want to, but sometimes the situation is unavoidable so you'll need to know how they might cope. By having these conversations, you can work towards a plan of action if you do need to leave your child in the house alone.

after school while you’re still at work, then work together on a checklist that covers both your concerns.

• Double check that they’re happy to be left alone: it may be that they'd feel happier if a neighbour looked in on them from time to time.

Set some ground rules: your child may be as worried as you are about the responsibility of being left in charge.

Agree what’s safe and

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Make a checklist If you and your child decide that they’re responsible enough to be left home alone, perhaps

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not safe to do: you might be happy for them to visit a friend or have a friend to visit.

Be clear that mentioning you're home alone on social media is not a cool idea.

Let them know when you'll be home: leave a number where you can be contacted, and let them know you’ll inform them if you're delayed in any way.

Check in every now and again: give them a call to check that they’re OK.

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• Put potentially dangerous objects out of harm’s way before you leave.

Knowing when the right time to leave your child alone is never easy, but through planning and good communication you can both enjoy peace of mind.

For more information about keeping your child safe visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/ wellbeing

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EDUCATION: How to make maths fun for kids The way maths is taught in schools has changed fundamentally over the past few years so, who knows? You may end up learning something new too!

Do your homework Before you can support your child's maths learning at home, you'll need to find out about the way they learn maths at school. Do some homework on modern maths methods like number lines and gridding, and find out whether your child's school offers maths support classes for parents. If not, there are some excellent resources available online like the family maths toolkit from national numeracy or the Maths for Mums and Dads books by Mike Askew and Rob Eastaway.

Maths by stealth There are plenty of ways you can incorporate maths into everyday life, which is an excellent way of letting children know how important numeracy skills are outside of the classroom. Next time you have a cake or a pizza, ask them to divide it into quarters or thirds or an even number of portions for the number of people eating it. Baking isn't just a pleasurable activity to do with your kids, it's one of the very best ways of embedding the importance of weights and measures.

They'll also need to keep an eye on the clock to know when their goodies are ready to come out of the oven.

Meanwhile, every time you go to the shops, encourage them to add as they go and then make their best estimate 12

of the final bill.

By calculating the change they should receive when they buy an ice cream to keeping score in a friendly game of football, everyday maths really is everywhere!

Make tech and tables count There are numerous maths apps available for children of all ages, from simple counting games to more advanced calculations. Doodle Maths and Mr Thorne’s Maths Universe should get even committed young mathphobes practising their numeracy on their tablets and smartphones. Percy Parker Sing Your Times Tables and Squeebles Times Tables are both excellent apps for embedding times tables in young brains. Why not try singing along with Percy Parker on your next long car journey? For older children facing their end of primary school tests, ensure that they know not just the multipliers but the divisors too, up to 12 x 12.

Try gamification In other words, get out some old fashioned board games.

Children learn best when an activity is fun, and they're usually unaware that they're learning through playing games. Dominoes is an excellent game for practising basic maths concepts, as is Snakes and Ladders. They'll

be having too much fun to notice they're adding and subtracting and recognising basic number patterns. For older children, Monopoly introduces more sophisticated numeracy skills and Scrabble is a brilliant way to practise both numeracy and literacy.

Board games are also valuable for introducing related concepts like strategy, logic and reasoning skills into the mix.

Make it more formal As your children's maths skills progress, you can begin to make their home learning more formalised. There are any number of online maths resources available and your school may encourage athome use of a programme like Mathletics to challenge and reinforce skills learned in the classroom. These online resources usually feature progressive levels so you can easily track your child's progress but do check before you sign up to a paid programme that it's compatible with the National Curriculum.

Although it's easy to assume that children will prefer working on the computer, many

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also enjoy age-appropriate workbooks, with stickers to reward their progress.

Learn with and from your children As the family maths toolkit points out, maths is not a can or cannot subject but something we can all improve, however old we are. When your children start to bring home maths homework, take the opportunity to learn about new maths concepts from them and show them real world examples of how to put those skills into practice - by checking your shopping or phone bill.

Encourage them to contextualise a newly acquired skill by putting it into practice around the home, whether it's telling you the time their favourite TV show comes on or estimating how long their bath takes to run. And always praise their effort rather than their talent, to reinforce the message that by working hard anyone can improve their maths skills.

To find out more visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/ education

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HOW TO BEAT The JANUARY BLUES Once the excitement of Christmas is over and gone, it can often feel like a real struggle for the whole family to keep things fresh and lively at the beginning of a new year. However, there are so many opportunities for you to do things together as a family - both indoors and out - that you'll soon banish the January blues!

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind‌

what they're reading in

messy play with their own

Outdoor crafts are a won-

some depth - talk about

bowl of cake mix or a

derful way to liven up the

plot and characters and

piece of pastry - don't

garden for pennies, using

why they enjoy a particu-

get stressed about the

materials you can find

A family read-in

lar type of book. Who

mess but enjoy a real

outdoors or simply lying

When it's blowing a gale

knows, you may even

opportunity to spend

around the house. It's

outside, there's no better

inspire them to try writing

some creative time

amazing how ice, berries

way to spend an after-

their own story!

together in the kitchen.

and watercolours or food

noon than snuggled up

Family Bake-off

For older children,

colourings can transform

with a good book. For

Who doesn't love the

encourage some healthy

tap water into beautiful

younger children you can

Great British Bake Off?

competition by going 'full

ice baubles to decorate

encourage them to act

Those grey January days

Bake off' and seeing who

the garden when set in

out the story and show

offer the perfect oppor-

can produce the best

interesting moulds. Or

off your full range of

tunity to get into the

cookies or cupcakes.

spread peanut butter all

funny faces and voices.

kitchen and bake up a

For older children, take

storm. Let younger

the opportunity to discuss

children indulge in some

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over the outside of an

Get creative in the garden

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empty toilet roll holder or that piece of over

January-February 2017

heading outside to

Revive the art of den building

stargaze. Download an

For younger children, pro-

wrapping up warm and

app and see how many

vide blankets, boxes and

constellations you can

furniture indoors while

find and identify. Younger

encourage older children

children will enjoy spot-

to get outdoors and get

ting stars and older ones

den building in the gar-

can test their astronomi-

den or the woods. Find

cal knowledge.

out who's the Bear Grylls of the family and who

crunchy toast, then roll in birdseed to create an

Create rock pets The best way to blow

instant feeder that the

away the cobwebs dur-

kids can hang near the

ing January is to take the

kitchen or living room

family for a long winter

window. Add a bird book

walk. It's great exercise,

and they can pass a few

but it's even more fun if

hours identifying and log-

you make your walk an

ging the birds that come to visit. Just make sure

excuse to collect items for some winter crafting.

they wrap up warm!

have a tech free day

can create the best fan-

Be brave and ban iPads,

castle/spaceship/drag-

smartphones and games

on's belly. Den building is

consoles for the day.

for everyone, so get

Instead put out a pile of

involved!

tasy

blank paper, pens and craft materials and see what your children can create. Boredom can be

For more ideas on keeping the kids active visit:

the best motivator for

www.familiesonline.co.uk/

creativity.

activities

Find a talking stick Fun in the snow

Another interesting find

Of course, snow in

on your walk might be a

January isn't guaranteed,

stick that transforms, with

but if it does snow you

the help of some beads,

have the ideal excuse to

feather, paint and

wrap up warm and

markers into a wish stick

organise snowman build-

for younger children or a

ing contests and a mon-

talking stick for the older

ster snowball fight. Kids of

members of your tribe.

all ages love playing in

Talking sticks have a long

the snow, but have you

history in tribal cultures as

ever played tug of war?

a way of allowing every-

Or tried snowball dodge-

one to have their say -

ball? Once that snow-

you can only talk when

man is built, try frisbeeing

holding the stick - so, for

a hat onto his head or

larger families, this could

play a game of pin the

be an ideal way for your

nose on the snowman

kids to create something

using a carrot. And

that will ensure they're

everyone can join in a

heard.

simple game of tag, esting if you're only

Look to the heavens

allowed to use the foot-

On a clear night, there's

prints of the other players!

nothing better than

made a little more inter-

January-February 2017

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

15

DIARY DATES & HALF TERM WORKSHOPS DIARY DATES

much more. Ages 4+, 10.30am-12pm or 1pm-2.30pm, book first.

Until 10 Feb GET INTO LONDON THEATRE

Explore the history of silk through storytelling, exploration and practical activities.

Ages 7-16, 10.30am-3pm, book first.

Workshops at Chelsea Physic Garden, SW3 4HS. www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

16 Feb UNWOVEN HISTORY,

With over 50 participating productions ranging from plays and musicals to dance and opera, the scheme covers the full range of extraordinary shows on London's stages, with tickets from just £10.

For the full list and ticket bookings, go to: www.getintolondontheatre.co.uk

NATURE WORKSHOPS IN W2 14 Feb NATURE EXPLORERSWINTER ART

7 Jan, 18 Mar NCT KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA BABY AND TODDLER FIRST AID COURSE

A fun, outdoor day of discovery with nature inspired activities for ages 8-11, 10am-3pm.

15, 16 Feb DISCOVERY DAY BRILLIANT BIRDS

One day course takes place in Kensington.

For more details email: FirstAid.KensingtonAndChelsea @nct.org.uk

With food becoming scarce towards the end of winter, give the birds a helping hand. Make bird feeders, follow the discovery trail, take part in bird watching and build a wooden bird nest box at the Education Centre in the heart of Hyde Park. Drop-in, 11am-3pm. At ISIS Education Centre, Hyde Park W2.

Call 020 7036 8040.

29 Jan CHINESE NEW YEAR It’s the Year of the Rooster. Parades, performances and fireworks will take place in Trafalgar Square and Chinatown and it is a great time to introduce your children to dim sum at many of London’s wonderful Chinese restaurants.

MUSIC WORKSHOPS IN W12

28 Feb SHROVE TUESDAY

13 Feb LITTLE BIRDSONG CONCERTS

Get tossing. Savoury and sweet ones make a great family dinner.

A live instrumental experience for babies, toddlers and their families. Outstanding musicians perform a repertoire of traditional and contemporary music from a unique programme. 10.30am for ages 3 months to 3 years.

29 Feb EALING 135 TEDDY BEAR’S PICNIC Children bring along a favourite teddy or cuddly toy and parents bring a blanket and picnic nibbles. 12:30 - 2pm at Lammas Park Playcentre. Contact Mary at: ealing135whatson@gmail.com

WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN MULTI-ACTIVITY CAMP IN W5 AND HA6 SUPER CAMPS 13-17 Feb A fun packed programme for children of all ages. Children are cared for by fully qualified and vetted staff.

Call 01235467300 or email: info@supercamps.co.uk www.supercamps.co.uk

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

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PETER PAN AT PERFORM

CRAFT ACTIVITY SESSION in W3

Make chocolates and cookies. A fun and varied day of both cooking and clay.

Call Clare McKnight on 020 8992 3767. fimofun@tiscali.co.uk www.funwithfimoclay.co.uk

Tinkerbell on a journey to the land where no one grows up. Perform's team of skilled actors, musicians and dancers will show each child how to project their voice, learn energetic dance routines and sing catchy songs in preparation for a show-stopping performance on the last day. Ages 4-7, £225 for all three days, 25% discount for siblings. 10am-3pm, at Kensington Baden Powell House, SW7 5JS and Kensington URC, W8 6BL. Call 020 7255 9120. enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk/peterpan

DRAMA, DANCE AND SINGING WORKSHOP in W8

WONDERFUL ANIMALS in SW3

13-15 Feb PETER PAN

15 Feb THE WIGGLY WILD SHOW

Fun and creative session, fully supervised and non messy! Recommended for age 6+. Workshops take place in private home in West London. All classes run from 10.15am-4.15pm.

14 Feb VALENTINE VARIATIONS

Let your children fly to Neverland for an unforgettable three-day adventure this February. With a sprinkle of fairy dust, children can join Peter, the Lost Boys and

15 February. Discover the wonderful world of animals - such as a pygmy hedgehog, giant snails, millipedes and

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

14 Feb THE LION AND THE UNICORN MUSICAL STORYTELLING A magical storytelling of The Lion and The Unicorn. Join the Prince and Princess on their historical British adventure. 10am for ages 2-4. Instrumental workshop at 11.15am recreating the story with traditional British songs.

15 Feb MUSICAL THEATRE STOMP A fantastic musical workshop with music, instruments, singing and design. 10-3pm for ages 5-11.

17 Feb HOLIDAY DROP-IN Music and Movement class for babies and toddlers. Expect more of bubbles, scarfs, dancing and magical adventures.

10am for ages 0-3. The Music House for Children. W12. www.musichouseforchildren.co.uk

WHAT’S ON LISTINGS CONTINUE ON PAGE 18

January-February 2017

January-February 2017

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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WHAT’S ON MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES BRITISH MUSEUM WC1B 3DG www.britishmuseum.org until 31 Jan CELTS-ART AND IDENTITY A vast collection of objects that provide clues to and raise questions about Celtic identity.

DIGITAL WORKSHOPS Takes place at weekends and school holidays on a variety of themes. Free, 11am-4pm, for ages 7+ (unless stated). See What’s on widget online for details.

14, 20, 26 Jan, 2, 16 Feb LITTLE FEET Digital workshops for under 5s..

FOUNDLING MUSEUM WC1N 1AZ www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk 14 Feb VICTORIAN STREET GAMES Learn about the outdoor games that children played in the nineteenth century and make your own game to take home.

Free, for age 5+ at 10.30am, 1 and 2.30pm.

Musical Storytelling 17 Feb 2017 Family Learn about musical games in this interactive storytelling workshop for families. Immerse yourself in the music and sounds of games played by children on the streets of London throughout its history. The workshop is suitable for children aged 5-10. Free for children and up to two accompanying adults. To take part, sign up on the day.

Sessions run 10:30-11:15, 11:45-12:30, 13:30-14:15 & 14:45-15:30 9 Feb BACH TO BABY An innovative classical babies’ concert created by mum and pianist, Miaomiao Yu, inspired

by Handel. 10.30-11.30am, adults £10, children free.

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM SE1 6HZ 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

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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 CONVERSATIONS New immersive object handling sessions where families can explore objects from the collectionsfeel the weight of a shrapnel piece from the First World War and come to grips with real objects. Drop-in, free, for all ages. 11am - 12.30pm and 2 - 4pm.

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 10.30-11am and 11.30am–12pm. Fly away on the magic carpet, coming to land in front of a different painting each day.

DRAWING SUNDAY Explore gallery paintings as inspiration for your art. For ages 5-11. Sundays 11am and 2pm.

Drop-in.

8, 19 Feb Jan WALKING ON CLOUDS Fly high with Tiepolo and create your own ceiling masterpiece.

5 Feb OUTRAGEOUS OUTFITS Explore the amazing clothes painted in Van Dyck’s portraits and sculpt your own style sensation.

15 Jan, 12 Feb REAL ROYAL SILVER Create your own silver on paper by transforming paint into shiny metal fit for kings and princes.

22 Jan A BRIEF GLIMPSE Learn how the Impressionists painted people and places quickly to create incredible impressions.

Every Weds 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.

28 Jan CHINESE NEW YEAR FAMILY FESTIVAL DAY Celebrate the year of the rooster by taking part in a fun day of free family activities.

HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS: 13 Feb 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.

13-16 Feb MAKE ME FLY Explore the Gallery’s fantastical flyers and sculpt your own wings to make a hero fly. For age

2+, 11am-1pm.

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

14, 16, 17 Feb ARTIST’S APPRENTICE WORKSHOP: PRE-DIGITAL PRINTING AND THE SMALL CREATURE CERTIFICATE Discover insects in the collection and join ZooLab to handle real creatures, and design a personalised certificate using classical printing methods that are over 500 years old. For ages 8-13, 11am-3pm.

16, 17 Feb DRAW FOR LIFE: PEOPLE AND POSES Celebrate the art of drawing in these workshops for 8 to 10-year-olds Work with a specialist tutor to expand your drawing skills and investigate a range of portrait paintings.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM SW7 5BD www.nhm.ac.uk 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.

13 Jan, 4 and 25 Feb 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.

20, 27 Jan, 3, 10 Feb GALLERY CHARACTER The greatest fossil hunter ever known was Mary Anning, a woman from Lyme Regis. Meet our Mary Anning gallery character and hear the stories she has to tell you about her life as a pioneering 19th century fossil hunter in Lyme Regis.

SCIENCE MUSEUM SW7 2DD www.sciencemuseum.org.uk 4 Feb 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 POP UP PERFORMANCES Storytelling, interactive plays and dance.

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. 10.30am5pm, for age 5+

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

THE BRITISH LIBRARY 11-19 Feb POP-UP PERFORMANCE Gaming jumps out of your screen and onto the stage in this interactive performance.

BSL interpretation on 16 Feb. 11am, 1 and 3pm. Free, drop in.

11-19 Feb THE IMAGINATION STATION Play with space and simple materials on a large scale and create your own monumental environments, 10.30am - 5pm. Free, drop-in, for age 3+ 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.

WALLACE COLLECTION W1U 3BN www.wallacecollection.org 8 Jan, 5 Feb THE LITTLE DRAW Free drop-in drawing workshop for all ages and abilities with artist Luisa Rivera, whose work draws on folk culture, history, and storytelling to create narratives.1:30 4:30pm, all ages.

11 Feb CHOOSE YOUR WORDS: CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP Children will look at the precious paintings and objects, and write some short pieces to enhance their vocabulary, descriptive powers and use of dialogue.

For ages 7-11.

14 Feb IN THE ROUND: INTRICATE WATERCOLOURS Learn some of the stories from Ovid’s Metamorphoses and sketch figures and classical scenes found on some of the beautiful maiolica plates before learning how to use watercolour paints to apply glazes, creating rainbow effects and fine details. Then, using all you have learnt you will produce a beautiful round watercolour painting. 10.30am3.30pm for ages 9-11.

14-16 Feb DROP-IN ART WORKSHOP: DROP-IN AND DRAW Free drop-in drawing workshop for all ages and abilities. Artist Hattie Moore will show you how to use drawing as a tool to learn more about the objects and paintings.

For all ages. 10.30am-12.30pm.

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January-February 2017

January-February 2017

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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WHAT’S ON DAYS OUT BRITISH LIBRARY NW1 2DB www.bl.u 28 Jan LIVING IN THE MAP Create a giant 3D map through sculpture, collage and drawing. Explore ideas of how we create our environment, how we navigate the world and what happens if our movements are mapped. For ages 5-11, free, drop-in. 10.30am and 1pm.

25 Feb FESTIVAL OF MAPS Drop-in activities from storytelling and interactive trails, to musical performances, art making workshops and taster sessions in BSL. Free, all ages. 12-4pm.

CHISWICK HOUSE AND GARDEN W4 2RP www.magicallantern.uk 19 Jan - 26 Feb THE MAGICAL LANTERN FESTIVAL Chiswick House Gardens will be transformed into a fairytale world of light sculptures, Chinese arts, Virtual Reality, games and food with a funfair and 600 square metre ice rink and ice bar.

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+ 1, 8 and 22 Feb TODDLER TIME Bring your little sailors along for songs, stories and playtime on board. 1011.30am for ages 4 and under.

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SPECIAL EVENTS: 4, 5 Feb CHINESE NEW YEAR Celebrate the Chinese year of the Rooster with paper-cutting workshop. Learn to fold, draw and cut out amazing shapes.

11.30am and 2pm, for all ages.

13-18 Feb STEAMFest ‘STEAM’ stands for science, technology, engineering, art and maths and this week of activities will provide creative opportunities for families to learn together about the science of sailing ships.

11.30am-3.45pm for all ages.

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.

Weekends and daily from 13-17 Feb CRAZY ENTERTAINERS Join in with the madness and mayhem of the Crazy Entertainers. With several shows daily, all the extra fun is included in entry.

Mon, Tue, Wed during term-time: TODDLER TIME Messy play, arts and crafts, music and singing at10.15 and 11.15am.

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.

22 Jan HANDS-ON ARCHAEOLOGY A rare opportunity to examine archaeological finds and learn more about the rich and varied history of this ancient site. Free, no booking necessary.

All ages, 1-3pm.

15 Feb FAMILY ACTIVITY DAY: THE VENERABLE VICTORIANS Imagine yourself as a Victorian Lady or Gent, with costumes to try on and a whole host of Victorian themed activities and take-home crafts. Free, no booking necessary.

11am-3pm.

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

THE LONDON WETLANDS CENTRE www.wwt.org.uk SW13 9WT To 28 Jan GIANT LEGO® BRICK ANIMAL TRAIL The 11 awesome LEGO models, including a kingfisher, an otter and a swan will form a trail for kids to inspire them to build a better future for nature.

11-19 Feb PUDDLE JUMPING COMPETITION Bring your wellies and wet weather gear and come and have a splashing time! Use your imagination to create the biggest, most exciting splash and throw some shapes in the air for extra style.

Until 5 Feb WEEKEND FAMILY ACTIVITIES Join Wetlands guides by the fire for some stories about nature, hear tales of wetland creatures and their amazing adventures and then make a birdfeeder from natural recycled materials.

19 Feb UDDERLY AMAZING COWS The Wetland Centre’s cows often stand out from the crowd of feathered animals on the reserve and although they aren’t

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

THE LONDON WETLANDS CENTRE wild, they play a crucial role in managing the wetlands. Learn more about their importance and what the wardens have to do to look after them.

10 - 11am and 1.30 - 2.30pm.

25 Feb-19 Mar SPRING WEEKEND FAMILY ACTIVITIES Spot the first signs of spring and see which birds have returned from their winter ‘holiday’ in warmer climates. Enjoy a pond dipping session to see what mini-beasts are about and get creative with nature crafts.

FAMILY THEATRE BECK THEATRE UB3 2UE www.becktheatre.org.uk 21, 22 Jan THE FIRST HIPPO ON THE MOON From author David Walliams; comes an explosively funny space adventure for ages 3+Two big hippos.

One enormous dream. Who can make it to the moon first? 3...2...1... BLAST OFF! Featuring puppetry, music and a giant space race to the moon.

12 Feb SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT DINOSAURS? Come and test your knowledge about dinosaurs against Ben Garrod (the TV scientist in Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur).

January-February 2017

WHY THE WHALES CAME AT THE LYRIC HAMMERSMITH An interactive show where children will be given the chance to ask questions and show off their dinosaur knowledge to the audience.

14 Feb COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS Cracking entertainment for age 6+, the best comedians from the UK and world circuit doing what they do best... but without the rude bits.

15 Feb ALICE IN WONDERLAND A musical brimming with nonsensical fun and excitement for the entire family. Also, the opportunity to meet the characters after the show.

CAMBRIDGE THEATRE WC2H 9HU www.matildathemusical.com Booking until Oct 17 MATILDA THE MUSICAL The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Roald Dahl’s magical story about a girl with extraordinary powers.

THE LILIAN BAYLISS STUDIO EC1R 4TN www.sadlerswells.com 18, 19 Feb SECOND HAND DANCEGETTING DRESSED Ever put your coat on the wrong way? Couldn’t find the arm holes in your trousers? Or just had a day where you didn’t want to wear clothes?

Second Hand Dance invites us all to be as creative as we can with the clothes we wear, tempting us to get dressed just a

little bit differently. A thought provoking, joyful and highly visual dance performances for all ages, Followed by a Stay and Play Session (no booking required).

LONDON COLISEUM WC2N 4ES www.ballet.org.uk Until 7 Jan NUTCRACKER Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker doll discover a magical world, where she battles with the Mouse King and meets a handsome stranger. As the air grows colder, Clara and her valiant Nutcracker take a hot air balloon ride across London to the glistening Land of Snow where her adventure really begins. A treat for all the family.

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH W6 0QL www.lyric.co.uk 14 Jan THE TINDERBOX A roguish soldier goes on a roller coaster adventure when he acquires a magic tinderbox which gives him the power to summon three extraordinary dogs to do his bidding. For ages 4-11.

21 Jan RAPUNZEL AND THE TOWER OF DOOM Rapunzel spends her life in a tower with a wicked old witch using her captive locks as a step ladder. What sort of damage is that going to do to your hair? For ages 4-11.

25 Jan-19 Feb ROALD DAHL’S FANTASTIC MR FOX A tale of greed, pride and the power of friendship-a huge theatrical feast with live music and songs for age 5+ 28 Jan WHY THE WHALES CAME An enchanting tale, full of fun, mystery and adventure. Gracie and Daniel are forbidden to go near the Birdman, but can they unravel his secrets and the villagers’ fears? For age 7-11.

4 Feb WOW SAID THE OWL Explore the wow-wow world of colours with a curious little owl who is determined to stay away to see what daylight brings.

For age 2-5.

11 Feb MAVIS SPARKLE With a magician for a dad and a stargazer for a mum, there’s more to Mavis than meets the eye- a cosmic show full of magic, illusion, animation and laughter.

For age 4-11.

14-18 Feb LILY AND THE LITTLE SNOW BEAR Lily loves snow! So she pops on her coat and sets off to explore.

But when she discovers a trail of soft little footprints, she’s in for a very big surprise.

For at the bottom of the garden, she finds lost little snow bear and the adventure begins. For age 311.

25 Feb MUCH ADO ABOUT PUFFIN A funny tale about a man all alone, a friendly puffin and a whole lot of fuss over nothing. For age 4-11.

wood-carved marionettes, and accompanied by specially commissioned music.

Suitable for age 3+

RICHMOND THEATRE TW9 1QJ www.atgtickets.com/Richmond 18 Feb MR BLOOM’S NURSERY LIVE Mr Bloom and his Veggies are getting the Nursery ready for a very special occasion a member of the Royal family is paying them visit! Can you lend a hand and help them get the Allotment ready in time?

ROYAL ALBERT HALL www.royalalberthall.com SW7 2AP Until 26 Feb AMALUNA Cirque du Soleil's newest touring show has never before been seen in the UK and marks Cirque du Soleil's 20th year at this stunning venue.

Tues and Weds from 17 Jan STORYTELLING AND MUSIC SESSIONS A series of sessions which encourage interaction between parents/

WHAT’S ON LISTINGS CONTINUE ON PAGE 22

Arabic for Women and Children Families welcome – Goal Oriented

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE W9 2PF www.puppetbarge.com 14 Jan-19 Mar THE RED BALLOON The story of a small boy’s friendship with a balloon and the poignancy of a child’s imagination.

Performed using long string

• Dynamic • Innovative • Effective • Native Female Teacher (& mother of 3!)

Call Reem on

07956 845 053

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

January-February 2017

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

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WHAT’S ON carers and their little ones using musical instruments, singing, movement and stories. Ages 0-4, 10am and 11.30am.

14 Feb LILY AND BEAR A truly magical tale about the give and take of friendship.

Lily and Bear play pirates, sing, and partake in all manner of bear activities, discovering the joys of sharing along the way. 11.30am and 2pm.

SADLER’S WELLS EC1R www.sadlerswells.com Until 29 Jan THE RED SHOES A beloved fairy tale of obsession, possession and one girl's dream to be the greatest dancer in the world.

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.

Until 23 Apr ADVENTURES IN MOOMINLAND Clamber through forests, huddle in caves or set sail on the high seas to try and find the Moomin family. Along the way you can learn how Tove Jansson created these unique landscapes, characters and stories, while uncovering some special original drawings.

14 Jan LEARNING THROUGH PLAY WITH LEGO A learning-through-play workshop hosted by the LEGO® team.

For age 6+ 14 Jan FLAT PACK HACK Take a simple household item and turn it into something amazing. In this workshop, we show you

CONTINUED

how to transform a simple flat pack table into a family games table for all to enjoy.

All materials are provided. For age 11+ 8, 9 Feb NEVERLAND Step into a tented den and discover a magical Neverland-inspired world. An immersive new show for children aged 1 - 3 uses beautiful 360-degree video projections, original music and performance.

11-19 Feb IMAGINE CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL The best children's theatre, literature and music, with plenty of workshops and free activities for children up to 12-years-old. Plenty of free events.

See website for details.

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE SE1 8PX www.southbankcentre.co.uk 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 24 Jan-5 Mar THE IRON MAN The Iron Man has been eating every single piece of metal in sight: tractors, old cars, fences - right down to the last rusty nail, destroying farms everywhere. The angry farmers try and trap him, but in the end it’s down to a young boy to try and tame the monster. Using paper-cut silhouettes, puppetry and stop-motion animation the world of The Iron Man is recreated for this atmostpheric performance.

30 Jan-19 Aug BABY SHOW A great first trip to theatre for the really young.

THE RED BALLOON AT THE PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Time for a walk, better wrap up warm.

Poppers, buttons, zips. Scarf, hat, mittens.

Inside out, upside down, back to front.

But it’s raining, it’s pouring and the wind is whistling through the trees...

Then, out comes the sun. Quick let’s enjoy it whilst we can! Baby Show is a sensory performance with captivating images and intriguing sounds,

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

18 Jan, 22 Feb in Kensington (Christ Church, Victoria Road, W8) 24 Jan, 14 Feb in Notting Hill (St. John's Church, Lansdowne Crescent, W11) 27 Jan, 24 Feb in Chiswick (St. Michael and All Angels, Bath Road, W4)

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

RAPUNZEL AND THE TOWER OF DOOM AT THE LYRIC HAMMERSMITH

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WC2E 9D www.roh.org.uk Last Sun of each month: FAMILY SUNDAYS Explore the Royal Opera House, its artists and the world of opera and ballet. Sundays are packed full of creative and practical activities for all the family including informal performances from Royal Ballet dancers, plus interactive

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

singing and dance activities. Ages 6+, 12-4pm, £5 adults, £3 children.

FIRST OPERA: WELCOME PERFORMANCES Welcome Performances are for families who have never been to a ballet or opera at the Royal Opera House before. You don’t need to know anything about either - just come along and give it a try. Tickets £5-£20.

BACKSTAGE TOURS The Backstage Tours include an introduction to the colourful history of the theatre, an insight into the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House and a look at aspects of current productions. Each tour is a unique experience, and may include opportunities to see The Royal Ballet in class, or the magnificent backstage technology in operation. Suitable for ages 8+ Please book first.

SOUTHBANK CENTRE SE1 8PX www.southbankcentre.co.uk Every Monday DRAGON BABIES GAMELAN Let your Dragon Babies experience the sounds of Southbank Centre's beautiful Gamelan (Javanese orchestra) through singing, movement and percussion. For ages 3-5.

15 Jan OAE TOTS: MUSICAL JOURNEYS A magical introduction to orchestra for young children.

16 Jan GONG BABIES GAMELAN FOR PARENTS AND BABIES A fun music for babies up to six months old.

January-February 2017

28 Jan-4 Feb: NATIONAL STORYTELLING WEEK To mark National Storytelling Week, international best-selling author Joanne Harris spoke to Families about life as a writer, how storytelling has evolved through social media, and gives her advice for those with a passion for writing stories.

5,10 or 15 years later. I tend to start things off and then quite often put them on the back burner for a bit, work on something else and then go back. Sometimes I just need to let it lie, do some research, or work out a plot construction.

The success of ‘Chocolat’ kick-started your career as an author - was it an easy decision to retire from teaching?

Writing is generally a job that doesn’t make a lot of money, and nearly all writers have another job. For my first three published books I was a teacher and if one of my books hadn’t been unexpectedly successful I would have stayed a teacher. When you reach a certain level of success it’s very difficult to do the two things at once, so I gave up teaching.

I thought then temporarily, and it turned out to be permanent. But it could have been so different.

You’re very active on social media, do you think this new digital age we’re living has changed the way people tell stories?

I think it’s had an impact on the whole of the book business in a lot of ways, some good, some bad. What it has done is given us more access to each other and provides a much more interactive side to telling stories. I tell my #Storytime stories on Twitter, and you really feel as if you’re talking to people, because it’s a very conversational medium, which is its charm.

How long does it usually take you to write a book?

I’m usually working on more than one thing.

Some have taken me 10 years to finish, some only one. Some I’ve started and then finished

What advice would you give to children or adults if they have a passion for writing and want to take it to the next level?

To be a professional writer you have to write, a lot, and understand that a lot of it will be bad but practice makes you better. So start

writing, and don’t worry too much about where you are heading. Also read a lot, because the more you read the more you realise how writing works and why it’s good and why it fails, and just keep improving all the time.

Do you have any new books or projects that our readers can look out for?

I’ve got an illustrated book of the Storytime stories coming out, hopefully next year, called Honeycomb. I’m also working on a sequel to The Gospel of Loki, which hopefully will come out the year after next. I’ve also got another illustrated project, which may or may not come out next year.

For more information on Joanne Harris and her work, go to: www.joanne-harris.co.uk

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January-February 2017

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