Families Cambridgeshire March-April 2015

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Cambridgeshire MARCH / APRIL 2015 ISSUE #29

EASTER CAMPS TO KEEP THEM BUSY!

CAMBRIDGE SCIENCE FESTIVAL BACK WITH A BANG!

WIN A YEAR’S SUPPLY OF BOOKS FROM THE READING CHEST

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PARENTING SPECIAL: ARE WE PUTTING OUR CHILDREN UNDER TOO MUCH PRESSURE?

DISCOVER SAILING AT PAXTON LAKES SAILING CLUB (NEAR ST NEOTS)

FULL COURSE PRICE IS £85 FOR JUNIOR OR £125 FOR ADUL S TS. EXLUSIVE FAMILIE S OFFER OF JUST £75 FOR JUNI OR £115 FOR ADUL ORS TS WHEN QUOTING CODE

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CAMBRIDGESHIRE’S FRIENDLIEST SAILING CLUB

We’re an official RYA Training Centre and welcome people of all abilities. We have a large selection of club-owned boats & equipment available.

Booking now for Easter Holiday & May Half-Term Adults £115 Children £75

All equipment included.

For more information contact Pat Overs 07812 124690 (evenings only) sailing.courses@paxtonlakes.org.uk | www. paxtonlakes.org.uk

Contents & Competitions

Dear Reader,

this year with details of what you can expect to see and when.

If you want to go on an Easter egg hunt or feed a lamb there is sure to be something near you, so take alook in the ‘What’s on’ pages 6 & 7 to find out when.

If you have an event or summer camp, club or activity that you would like listed please get in touch.

Please don’t forget to mention Families Cambridgeshire if you go to any of the events listed.

What’s in this issue?

4 News & Views 6 What’s On @familiescambs facebook.com/ CambridgeshireFamilies

DON’T MISS A COPY! Receive Families Cambridgeshire by post for just £9.30 for 6 issues (1 year) or £18 for 12 issues (2 years). Call or email editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk for a subscription form.

Winner of last month’s competition was Sarah Penny from Bottisham

Great days out and events to keep you and your family occupied this Easter holiday from lambing to Easter egg hunts.

YEAR’S SUPPLY OF BOOKS DELIVERED TO WIN!AYOUR DOOR WITH READING CHEST! ncourage children to develop their love of reading with Reading Chest, an innovative book rental service for primary-age children learning to read.

Reading Chest is a through-the-post book rental service for school approved reading scheme books aimed at children aged 4-9. For a monthly membership fee (from £9.95), children receive regular deliveries of books from Reading Chest’s extensive selection, including Bug Club, Collins Big Cat, Biff, Chip and Kipper Stories, Treetops, Project X, Rigby Star and Phonics Bug. All new members receive a book bag, a bookmark, a reward chart and stickers. Certificates are available to download from the Reading Chest website and budding literary critics can even see their own book reviews published online. To celebrate World Book Day on 5th March, Reading Chest is offering the chance to win a year’s Bronze Membership.

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN, VISIT WWW.FAMILIESCAMBRIDGESHIRE.CO.UK AND TELL US WHEN WORLD BOOK DAY IS THIS YEAR?

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Families Cambridgeshire is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West.

All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license..

We take every care preparing the magazine, but the publishers and distributers cant be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, the accuracy of the contents nor for any correspondences.

17,000 copies of Families Cambridgeshire available through schools, nurseries, hospitals, clubs and classes, selected shops and restaurants. If you would like copies for your establishment please let us know. Cover image: ©National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Spring is full of promise as we welcome the first signs of life after a long cold winter, the daffodils peek through the soil and the newborn lambs bring the fields alive.

Easter is a special time for family celebrations and days out together. Families’ favourite thing to do in Cambridge this month is the annualScience Festival running from the 9th-22nd March with close to 100 events taking place across the city. We have dedicated a whole page to the festival

9 The Science Festival This month the annual Science Festival runs from the 9th 22nd March with close to 100 events taking place across Cambridge

11 Choosing your child’s first school Linda Smith gives us her advice as Head of Pre Prep at Cambridge’s largest co-education independent school.

13 Are we putting our children under too much pressure Tanith Carey author of Taming the Tiger Parent tells us how we can recognize the potential signs and what we can do about them.

15 Easter Holiday Camps Plan some activities this Easter and keep the children busy, we have put together just a few of the activities in Cambridgeshire this Easter for inspiration.

EDITOR: Lisa Exell 01945 861336 editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk DESIGN: David Slade davidslade1@me.com

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News & views

Young Writers Award 2015

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Former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen

Wordfest

CAMBRIDGE LITERARY FESTIVAL, 14-19 APRIL 2015 The children are in for a treat at this year’s Wordfest with some of the country’s bestloved storytellers.

Headline speakers for this year’s spring festival include classic children’s writer of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, semiautobiographical When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and much-loved Mog series Judith Kerr; internationally best-selling author and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz, celebrating the 15th Anniversary of his super-spy Alex Rider series; Alice in Wonderland-themed adventures with Looking-Glass Girl’s Cathy Cassidy; former Children’s Laureate and poetperformer Michael Rosen and an exciting new panel of YA Book Prize shortlisted authors. Master of horror Chris Priestley promises an event full of thrills and chills with his re-tellings of gothic classics, whilst the Cambridge Cats Fitz and Will will be on hand to paw-print books for younger audience members!

The Children’s Programme is on the 17-19 April Box Office opens March 6th, 1pm Book Online: www.adcticketing. com or call: 01223 300085 www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com

Announcing the 5th year of the prestigious Wicked Young Writers’ Award! Get scribbling now for your chance to enter this competition, championed by Patron Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and judged by a panel including Cressida Cowell, the hugely popular author of the How to Train Your Dragon series. The competition recognizes excellence in writing, while encouraging

creativity and developing writing talent in young people aged between 5-25. “I am delighted to be asked to be a judge on the Wicked Young Writers’ Award,” said Cressida Cowell. “As an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust it is wonderful to be involved in an award which celebrates young people’s writing and creativity.”

The deadline is 18 April 2015, find out more at www.WickedYoungWriters.com

Get Reading!

This spring, delve deep into your bookshelf and read something you’ve never read before, in honour of World Book Day. Throughout March and April, schools, libraries and bookshops across the country are holding exciting events and workshops for young readers – plus you can register online for your free book token and choose from titles including Michael Morpurgo’s Best Mates and A Pirate’s Guide to Landlubbing

by Jonny Duddle. Don’t miss The Biggest Book Show on Earth at www. worldbookday.com, a series of short videos starring this year’s World Book Day authors, where you can hear them talking about their work. You can also design your very own National Book Token and have your design distributed to bookshops nationwide in time for Christmas. Competition closes 17 April 2015. It’s the biggest celebration of books across the world!

It’s also International Children’s Book Day on 2 April, the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen himself. International Children’s Book Day aims to inspire a love of reading from an early age, so check out the website to find out more about all of the events across the country (and the world!), including writing competitions and talks from famous authors and illustrators. You can also find out about a whole host of fabulous children’s books you may never have heard of at www.ibby.org wbd@education.co.uk

Looking for a New Star Pet… Oxford University Press (OUP) are currently searching for a pet to star in the artwork of a future book, the new Dr KittyCat series launched on the 5th February this year. The books, aimed at children aged five and over, combine adorable animals with medical drama. They are illustrated in with a mix of photography and hand-drawn elements, with a vintage look and feel. All the first aid referenced in the series has been checked by a trained paramedic. OUP Children’s are now 4

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looking for a gorgeous new pet to feature in Dr KittyCat and Willow the Duck, which will be published next year. The competition is open to both adults and children, and pictures of any pet, big or small, will be accepted! To enter, send a photo of your pet to tradepublicity. uk@oup.com with the subject line Dr KittyCat Competition, or tweet @OUPChildrens using the #DrKittyCat. The deadline is 30thApril 2015.

Details of the competition and t&cs are at www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk/drkittycatcomp.

News & views

UK Parents in the Dark when it comes to Baby’s Safety

20% off PO.P Originals!

WHEN YOU BUY 3 ORIGINALS ITEMS: 26TH FEB – 18TH MARCH Their latest collection sees their iconic red and navy stripes with a fun modern twist.

Featuring adorable PO.P out motifs such as lovely stars and stripy bunny’s in 100% organic cotton that can be washed at stain busting temperatures.

PO.P is also celebrating Cambridge’s Style Week, 28th February – 8th March 2015 alongside the PO.P originals campaign where they will be holding a Prize draw with a £30 PO.P voucher and a PO.P Pyjama case, plus refreshments for parents and children. If you visit on a Tuesday morning Lion Yard offers discount parking! www.polarnopyret.co.uk

A third of UK parents (32%) say they wouldn’t feel confident knowing what to do if their child was to have an emergency.

New research from The Baby Show has revealed that many parents in the UK are unaware of what to do if their child experiences a healthcare emergency.

In the study of 1,000 parents, one in four said their child experienced a healthcare emergency in the first four years of their life while a third (32%) said they wouldn’t feel confident in knowing what to do.

Most common emergencies faced by parents included problems breathing, allergic reactions to foods, seizures, bronchitis and pneumonia.

While the majority of parents said they knew how to do a meningitis check (78%) and help a choking baby (71%), 60% of parents didn’t know what to do if their baby had drunk bleach. Nearly half (43%) said they wouldn’t know how to resuscitate their baby while 46% would not know what to do if boiling water fell on them.

Tracey Taylor, a British Red Cross first aid expert says: “Having a baby is a special and exciting time for the whole family. We would like all parents, grandparents and even aunties and uncles to learn first aid so if ever faced with an emergency they’d be confident to know how to help.

Top life-saving tips from Tracey include: You don’t need a first aid kit. There are lots of everyday items that you can use in an emergency. Cold milk is great to cool a burn if you don’t have access to cold running water or frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel is ideal to sooth a bump to the head.

Burns and scalds are common in toddlers as the little explorers don’t always know what is safe to touch or not – at times we need eyes in the back of our heads! If your baby or child burns themselves, cool the burn under cold running water for at least ten minutes.

Whilst cooling get someone to call 999 for an ambulance if the burn is serious. Once the burn has been completely cooled, cover it loosely with cling film or a clean plastic bag and ensure you get your child checked out.

Febrile seizures can happen in younger children and babies when they become too hot. If your baby or child arches their back, stiffens their body and has clenched fists, are red-faced and hot to touch this may be a febrile seizure. The key thing you need to remember is to protect them from injury and reduce their temperature Download the baby and child first aid app www.redcross.org.uk Packed with useful information, animations and tips, its first aid at your fingertips.

Award winning family salon gets a makeover

If you haven’t already experienced Top To Toes’ award winning family hair and beauty salon then book in now for your own makeover in the recently refurbished salon, tastefully redesigned with a stunning new look that is young, trendy and fresh. The new salon continues to offer a welcoming atmosphere where you can relax as you enjoy the ultimate hair experience. Top To Toe is a family run business who pride themselves on customer service, with outstanding, beautiful hair treatments and services in styling and colouring.

Alongside the hair salon are the beauty rooms (also set to be refurbished later this year) offering a place to unwind, relax and be pampered by the team of beauty therapists. Top to Toe stock Clarin’s skin care and Aveda hair care products to help keep you looking and feeling great in between visits. 01945 584272 www.toptotoeltd.co.uk

Lily Cakes Online Delicious Wheat, Gluten & Dairy-free cupcakes!

Wedding Cakes & Sweet Treats!

07415 389285

Chick-Print Chic Swaddle your baby in a gorgeously soft, cotton fleece blanket, ideal for sensitive skin and now available in a pretty Easter-themed Hippychick chick-print. Choose from pink chick, blue chick or tan chick and why not add a hand embroidered message for an extra personal touch? Prices range from £23.50 for the baby size to £33.50 for the toddler size (embroidery extra). www.hippychick.com

www.lilycakes online.co.uk

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Families Fun

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Mucky Pups: Signs of Spring

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HI HT WITAD!

WHEN? 11-12th March, 10.15am -11.45am WHERE? Wicken Fen

WHEN? 20th March, 1.00pm - 3.30pm

W hat’s On

WHERE? Ferry Meadows Country Park

places Things to do, e h a d… to go, fun to b

HOW MUCH? £2 Learn how to map read with confidence and get some tips on how to navigate using a compass. Ages 12+ 01733 234193 visitor. services@neneparktrust. org.uk www.neneparktrust.org.uk

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ll ages!

Easter Trail

WHEN? 28th March – 13th April

WHEN? Throughout January and February

WHERE? Bircham Rd, King’s Lynn

HOW MUCH? Child tickets from £8. Take this advert with you for one FREE child place!

Snettisham Park is a 329 acre Working Farm. Your visit could involve many exciting adventures from seeing lambs being born, to the spectacular 45 minute deer safari where you will meet the magnificent red deer herd, you can be sure to get an amazing close encounter with the Deer all of which are more than happy to feed from your hands. You can also bottle feed lambs, collect fresh farm eggs, as well as taking a walk on one of three wonderful trails. If after all that you still have the energy try out the grass sledging! www.snettishampark.co.uk

HOW MUCH? £4.50 Seasonal fun, craft and adventure for under 5’s.

For children aged 3+. Booking essential.

0844 249 1895

Introduction to Map Reading and Navigation

Snettisham Farm Park

and the challenge is to find one to give to the Big Bunny in exchange for a chocolate surprise. www.sacrewell.org.uk

WHERE? Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough

Peter Pan

HOW MUCH? 50p Collect a trail sheet from the visitor centre and hunt for clues on a walk around Ferry Meadows.Return to the visitor centre to collect your prize.

01733 234193 visitor.services@ neneparktrust.org.uk www. neneparktrust.org.uk

WHERE? Cresset Theatre, Peterborough

WHEN? 31st March

HOW MUCH? from £13 Swashbuckling family pantomime Peter Pan, with Pirates, Indians and lots of fairy dust. ‘Boo’ the evil Captain Hook, laugh with the loveable Mr Smee and cheer with Peter Pan and Wendy. www.cresset.co.uk 01733 265705

Sooty

WHEN? 1st April

WHERE? Kings Lynn Corn Exchange HOW MUCH? from £11.00 Izzy Wizzy Lets get busy - Its The Sooty Show! Direct from Citv, Sooty heads into town in a fabulous new show to delight the whole family.

Joining the nations favourite bear will be Sweep, Soo and Sooty’s TV Partner Richard Cadel, who will be attempting to keep Sooty from getting up to mischief! Boy will he have his hands full! www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

The Addams Family WHEN? 24th - 28th March

HOW MUCH? from £15 Join Morticia, Gomez, Lurch and Uncle Fester in this magnificently macabre new musical comedy fresh from Broadway. It’s every fathers’ nightmare, Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family. vivacity-peterborough.com 01733 207 239

Easter Egg Hunt

WHEN? 28th March -12th April

WHERE? Maize Maze Skylark, March

HOW MUCH? Children £6. Save £1 if you book online.

Feed the lambs and go on an Easter Egg hunt every day then enjoy the usual fun yard activities. www.skylarkmaizemaze.co.uk

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Big Bunny Hunt

WHEN? 28th March – 12th April

WHERE? Sacrewell Farm, Peterborough Make a date with Sacrewell’s Big Bunny and find out what’s hidden in the Enchanted Wood.

To start your adventure you’ll jump on a bumpy tractor ride up to the wood where you’ll hop off to explore the woodlands. Hidden among the trees are plastic eggs

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Science Festival WHEN? 9th -22nd March

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WHERE? University of Cambridge What’s new in space? Why do coincidences happen? Can science make cyclists go faster? Why do cats make us sneeze? These are just a few of the many intriguing questions being explored at this year’s Cambridge Science Festival. Celebrating its 21st appearance this year, the Science Festival hosts over 250 thought-provoking talks, films, debates and hands-on events for everyone. For a full list of Family events visit www.familiescambridgeshire.co.uk www.cam.ac.uk/science-festival or phone: 01223 766766.

Please quote Families when booking any of these events

WHERE? Key Theatre, Peterborough

Families Fun Build a Den on the fen

WHEN? 1st April 10.30am or 2pm WHERE? Wicken Fen

HOW MUCH? £5.25 Little dens for minibeasts and big dens for you. Plus games and challenges inspired by sticks. For children aged 3-10 years. Booking essential.

0844 249 1895

Easter Egg Hunt at Bunny Land

WHEN? 3rd - 6th April

WHERE? Shepreth Wildlife Park

HOW MUCH? from £9.95 per child Visit Shepreth Wildlife Park for their annual Easter egg hunt. www.sheprethwildlifepark.co.uk

Easter Trail

WHEN? 4th - 6th April, 11- 4pm

WHERE? Peckover House & Garden HOW MUCH? £2.00 per child plus normal admission A special children’s trail for Easter, with a Cadbury chocolate egg prize!

Sponsored by Cadbury’s 01945 583463 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/peckover

Moths vs Butterflies WHEN? 4th April

WHERE? Cambridge University Botanic Garden HOW MUCH? Standard Garden admission for adults, £3 per child Who has the fuzziest body? Who has the knobbliest antennae? Who likes which plants? Discover the differences between moths and butterflies and craft your own moth or butterfly craft to take home with you. 01223 336265 www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

Dr.Seuss’s The Cat In The Hat WHEN? 6th April

WHERE? Cambridge Corn Exchange HOW MUCH? £14.50 Adults, U16 £10.50, Family Ticket £35

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Woodland Crafts

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WHEN? 26th and 28th March, 26th and 30th April, 10am - 4pm WHERE? Grimeshaw Wood, Bretton, Peterborough

HOW MUCH? FREE for Families Learn traditional skills associated with the ancient woodlands in Bretton, such as practical woodland management, wildlife surveying, woodcraft and carving, woodland history research, bush craft and take part in the kids club. matthew. robinson@pect. org.uk. www. pect.org.uk, 01733 568408 Based on the much loved book

by Dr Seuss, The Cat in the Hat is a lively and engaging first theatre experience for young children aged 3 years and above.

01223 357851 www.cornex.co.uk

Flag Fen Archaeology Park WHEN? Daily from the 5th April

WHERE? Flag Fen, The Droveway, Northey Road, Peterborough HOW MUCH? Adults £5,children £3, Families £12 Explore how the prehistoric people of the fen lived over 3000 years ago. Wander through a Bronze Age village, sit within the reconstructed roundhouses, and stand where our ancestors once stood by the ritual causeway. www.vivacity-peterborough.com 01733 313 414

Oliver lives in a workhouse with other orphaned children. When he disrupts a meal by asking for more, he is scolded horribly and then sold to a local undertaker, whose family treat Oliver really badly. Oliver’s sad story continues, but with a happy end! 01945 474447 www.anglestheatre.co.uk

Peter Pan Goes Wrong WHEN? 7th - 8th April

WHERE? Cambridge Arts Theatre

Oliver, The musical

HOW MUCH?from £15 The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society set out to present J.M. Barrie’s classic tale of Peter Pan, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong…does, as the accident prone thesps embark on a thrilling adventure to Neverland, with hilariously disastrous results.

01223 503333 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

WHERE? Angles Theatre, Wisbech

Cinderella

WHEN? 7th -11th April HOW MUCH? from £9

WHEN? Throughout April

WHERE? The Luxe Cinema, Wisbech

HOW MUCH? Family tickets from £22. Exclusive reader discounts when booking with a copy of the advert in this issue.

Visit the Luxe cinema in Wisbech with comfy sofas and armchairs, waiter service and a bar for the adults; it really is home from homewhat could be better on a cold winter’s day! 01945 588808 www.theluxecinema.co.uk

Easter Egg Hunt WHEN? Saturday 4th April

WHERE? Burwash Manor, Cambridge

HOW MUCH? £2.50 The Rocking Horse Country Toyshop at Burwash Manor has teamed up with Cambridge’s very own Chocolat Chocolat for this year’s Easter Egg hunt.

Don your wellies and solve the fun clues in the Easter egg hunt that will lead you all around the farm’s meadows, courtyards and shops to win delicious chocolatey prizes from Chocolat Chocolat. Plus Easter themed games, a fun fair, face painting, pizzas from Fired Up, and ice cream (of course!), plus donkey rides and a miniature steam train.

All profits will be donated to Tom’s Trust – a local charity providing funding to help support children suffering from brain tumours. www.burwashmanor.com

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FOR MORE FILMS AND SHOWTIMES PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE

BOX OFFICE: 01945 588808 WWW.THELUXECINEMA.COM

The Luxe offers a lounge area for pre and post-film drinks and nibbles and a waitress service in the auditorium whilst relaxing in the comfort of a two seater sofa or an armchair!

SPECIAL OFFER! HALF PRICE CHILDREN’S TICKETS WHEN BOOKING ANY KID’S FILM WITH THIS ADVERT Prices from £18 for a Family Ticket, Children (16 and under) £5, Adults £6 off-peak Alexandra Road | Wisbech | PE13 1HQ

Families Feature icking off the first week, on Monday 9 March, Cambridge Science Centre open their exhibition, Extreme Engineering. Kids and adults alike will be able to build and test their engineering ideas, get hands-on and build towers, find out how engines work and discover the secrets of circuits.

The first Science on Saturday, 14 March, is the busiest day of the Festival with close to 100 events taking place across the city. The Science Festival returns to the Corn Exchange, following last year’s roaring success. Across the city, there are a huge range of talks, exhibitions and demonstrations to choose from, including the chance to make a solar-powered car; handson biology, which involves identifying creepy crawlies; looking at your own cells under a microscope; and bottling your own genes.

Over at the Guildhall, Anglia Ruskin University are presenting more events to tantalise any budding scientist; discover the amazing tricks the brain plays with the eyes by journeying through a gallery of optical illusions; balance testing; discover how clean your hands are; and light up your blood with infrared light.

Crash, Bang, Squelch will provide a range of In addition, Airbus Defence and Space will tantalising demonstrations, including vacuum be exhibiting a working Mars rover prototype bazookas and custard fireballs, when plants called Bruno. It will move around on a simulated fight back, discover what the Universe is made Martian surface – with members of the of, and a plethora of weird and wonderful ExoMars rover team on hand. science that will have children ExoMars is the European Learn how spellbound.

Space Agency’s (ESA) the Northern Lights The Grafton Centre will flagship mission to the Red work, why birds migrate also see some of the family Planet due to launch in with the light, and how action. Science Buskers 2018. The entire Mars rover plants in the ocean store from the British Science will be manufactured and up greenhouse gases Association Cambridgeshire integrated in Stevenage UK. branch will be helping Also on display will be a model members of the public to make of the Gaia spacecraft observatory. their own cell model.

Gaia is an ESA mission launched in December The Scott Polar Institute opens its doors for 2013 and is currently cataloguing a billion stars a family day, Look into the Polar light. The day to create a 3D map of the Milky Way. is brought to the public by the British Antarctic Throughout the day, a huge favourite with Survey, Polar Museum and the Museum of children and families, Dr Peter Wothers, the Zoology. Those visiting theInstitute will be able Modern Alchemist, returns for his actionto learn how the Northern Lights work, why packed demonstration, The chemistry of Light. birds migrate with the light, and how plants Due to popular demand, Dr Wothers will also in the ocean store up a greenhouse gas. Real be repeating the demonstrations on Sunday 15 animal specimens from the Zoology Museum and Monday 16 March. will be available to touch and visitors will be able At the New Museums site, CHaOs and to find out what changes occur in polar region

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Bigger BANGS & Squishier SQUELCHES

Families and children are in for a real treat with lots more snot and ice cream, simulated surgery, and a few robots wandering around at this year’s Cambridge Science Festival. animals as the light changes with the seasons.

The Institute of Manufacturing is always a popular venue with a range of games, demos , talks and hands-on activities, such as laser lab tours, and the opportunity to make laser etched metal ID cards and a watch from scratch.

Back in the city centre, the Cambridge University Library will be hosting an event that investigates The final frontier of fiction: space exploration in popular literature. This promises to be an engaging display of science fiction books and magazines from the University Library’s vast collections. Visitors will be able to explore how the fears and fantasy of space travel have fuelled the imagination of writers throughout the 20th Century and beyond.

For the second Science on Sunday, and the final day of the Science Festival, Cambridge Biomedical Campus will be holding a day bursting with all things medical. Visitors will be able to learn about the wondrous way of cells and what can go wrong; try their hand at simulated surgery; enjoy climbing into an enormous nose, learn why and how we make snot; walk through a giant inflatable colon; and see a demo of the Da Vinci robot, which takes surgery beyond the limits of the human hand.

Dr Lucinda Spokes, Cambridge Science Festival Coordinator said: “There are just so many fantastic events for children and families to enjoy this year. I’m really looking forward to my own children coming along. They’re already getting excited!

“Our aim is to enthral and hopefully get a whole new generation interested in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine.”

For the full range of events, please visit: www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk.

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Families Education Staff are always finding new ways to capture the imagination

CHOOSING YOUR CHILD’S FIRST SCHOOL: Embracing the Transition

By Mrs Linda Smith, Head of Pre Prep at St Faith’s, Cambridge.

tarting school is always a time of great excitement and a little angst – for children, and their parents! From selecting the right school all the way through to your child being happily settled in their daily school life, many of the same principles apply wherever you decide to send them.

The growth of Cambridge’s population is having an impact on education as it is on other areas of city life. We increasingly have to disappoint enquirers, explaining that there are unfortunately no places left, and whilst that is good for us, it can be sorry news for prospective families.

We are therefore encouraging parents to start considering schooling options when their child is age two, rather than leaving it any later.

As Head of Pre Prep at Cambridge’s largest coeducation independent school, I am responsible for easing the process for parents wishing to send their children here to St Faith’s.I have met with countless parents seeking the best possible start for their children.

My advice is always to come and look around – not just at us, but at other schools as well – to get a feel for what is on offer and which school feels right for them and their child. So much of finding the right school is about experiencing

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it. We have a dedicated member of staff, Anna Cornell, who is there to support enquiring parents through the school selection, and if parents like what we provide, the admissions process as well. Tours of school during lesson times are a great way of seeing what we offer.

Once you have chosen your school you can start to prepare your child for school life. We aren’t looking for children who can already read or perform maths on demand. The best possible school preparation for any rising four year old is being able to manage their clothing, putting on their own coat, being able to eat with a knife and fork and to be able to go to the toilet independently.

We look for children who can talk to grownups and their peers. .

Ensuring talk time is part of family life and reading to your childis fundamental preparation for a good start at school and through the Pre Prep years (ages 4 – 7).

September sees shiny shoes, eager faces and inevitable trepidation. All worries are soon dispelled though as our Foundation classes operate a play-based curriculum, offering a style similar to many of our feeder nursery settings. Being at ease with your surroundings is vital for a happy start to school life, and what better place to start than in the Wild Place,

My advice is always to come and look around… get a feel for what is on offer and which school feels right for you and your child. So much of finding the right school is about experiencing it

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an intriguing secret garden for the children to discover alongside their new classmates.

Attached to our Pre Prep classrooms, is a spacious outdoor decking area –a real favourite location for many Foundation children and a marvellous facility allowing a wealth of open ended, self-initiated learning activities. The large hollow blocks are in constant demand as children build, evaluate, adjust, negotiate and act out their ideas on a grand scale. Role play and small world apparatus is plentiful and steadily replenished throughout the term. Girls and boys alike are captivated by engaging interactive sessions to introduce early phonics and Mathematics concepts, followed up by small group activities.

School visits from real professionals inspire our classes

Families Education

Learning about their surroundings in The Wild Place

School visits from ‘real’ firemen and a host of other industry professionals inspire our bustling co-education classes to enjoy learning whilst replicating their guests’ activities. As they begin to welcome their new-found independence, we encourage our children to take on further responsibilities such as raising money for charity and holding their own assemblies. Feats like these that would have seemed impossible on their first day,are now taken in the children’s stride, as they develop everyday into bold and articulate characters! After the Foundation year

at St Faith’s, the self-confidence and anticipation for the rest of school life that our children display really is wonderful for parents and teachers to see.

This will all sound very familiar to early learning professionals, but it is always amazing to see children inspired by highly dedicated teachers, carrying out carefully planned activities that capture the imagination of their classes.

Our children are nurtured and encouraged to ‘Be Their Best Selves’and I know that we expect the best from them whilst offering a wonderful

place to grow and learn. We would love to show you our school as we will be considering places for 2016 at the start of summer 2015, so please do be in touch if you would like to visit. Alternatively, our next Open Morning is 3rd October 2015. Early contact with St Faith’s ensures parents are well informed and have the opportunity to take up a place in our Foundation Year, should they choose to do so.

Please contact our Admissions Officer, Anna Cornell, at acornell@stfaiths.co.uk for any further enquires.

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Families Parenting

Are we putting our children under too much pressure?

Taming the Tiger Parent

by Author & Health Journalist Tanith Carey

nxiety, sleeplessness, depression, homework resistance and learning blocks. These are just some of the issues children can develop in today’s hot-house educational atmosphere.

Kids in the UK are currently some of the most tested on earth. But as my new book Taming the Tiger Parent shows, far from making them a generation of high-achieving, accomplished uber-children, they are actually the most worried and unhappy.

In the constant striving for league table positions, not just by schools, but also by the Education Ministers above them, one important lesson seems to have been lost: Stressed kids don’t learn.

Many parents also may not realise that some of the behavioural problems they are struggling out with at home are down to the fact that children feel judged very early, and almost continually, as they move up the education system.

How a child responds to an overly pressurised environment will vary according to many factors: their temperament, their genes, their resilience, their success at school, their personal threshold and also their relationship with in their family.

If they are affected, at first it can be hard for parents to tell the difference between what is a normal stage of childhood - and what might require some help.

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But when children do suffer the ill-effects, it’s vital that we intervene.

Studies have found that children who show signs of anxiety in primary school are more likely to develop depressions in adolescence.

RECOGNISING THE POTENTIAL SIGNS

Some of the early signs that kids feel overly pressured to achieve include: • Saying they just want to go home and play.

• Using a whispering voice in class.

• Saying they don’t deserve good marks - or pointing out how much better other children are doing and ripping up work.

• Asking to go to the toilet a lot in lessons.

• Avoiding eye contact when talking to a parent.

• Stopping enjoying activities they used to enjoy.

• Fidgeting, hair-twirling, chronic nail-biting and skin-picking.

• Showing a lower tolerance to frustration than normal; shouting without making much sense or flying off the handle.

• Having a sad look and difficulty smiling, which may be remarked on by others in the family or at school.

• Starting to express feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness.

• Experiencing chronic worry, becoming overly panicked by small things and thinking small

setbacks are the end of the world.

• Having trouble sleeping.

• Finding excuses not to go to school.

• Talking less and less to parents.

• Suffering unexplained stomach pains and tension headaches.

• Suffering physical symptoms such as mouth ulcers, cold sores, eczema orpanic and asthma attacks.

• Showing OCD-like symptoms such as frequent washing of hands, arranging possessions or developing rituals that they insist on doing.

HELP IS AT HAND! The good news is that it these symptoms can be relieved by addressing your child’s worries directly, taking steps to ease the pressure and re-calibrating your relationship. For example, one of the most distressing symptoms parents witness is kids insisting they are ‘rubbish’ at a subject or they are ‘stupid.’ That’s often because in today’s test-driven culture, youngsters often internalise the critical voices they constantly hear telling them they must do better.

Children assume that because they hear these messages inside their head they must be true. Teaching them to recognise them, and showing them how to switch them off is an important first step.

Another upsetting outcome is that because

Families Parenting your child always thinks you always expect parent you know seems to doing it and you them do better, they distance themselves. fear your child will sink without you.

They may become uncommunicative, But it’s worth it because the simple truth defensive and try and avoid you to protect is that tiger parenting can actually make kids themselves from the pain of feeling your perform worse, making kids develop anxieties disappointment. like maths anxiety and reading resistance.

At the other end of the scale, there will also Beyond that, I found that children who be the children who are so desperate are in a constant race to compare to meet the expectations placed themselves in all areas have on them they become brittle confidence, because The good news is that overly worried about tests this is not a warm and these symptoms can be and homework. They welcoming world in turn into perfectionists relieved by addressing your which to grow and who live their find out who they child’s worries directly, childhoods with the are. Instead it turns taking steps to ease the ng fear that whatever they childhood into a rati alib re-c and re ssu pre do is never going to be constant battle on all your relationship. good enough. fronts. There’s a good However your child reacts, chance you have had enough it’s important to help them too. Perhaps you are tired of realise that being good at everything is an constantly nagging and your child about impossible goal and there are lots of different school work. ways in life to excel, outside the increasingly Perhaps you have tired of the competitive narrow confines of the current concentration undercurrents with other parents at the on Maths, English and Science. school gates; the conversations which feel There are also techniques that I describe like duels; the icy smiles you have to feign as in my book for taking your relationship back humble brags about reading levels, maths to the time before the resentments and scores and music grades rain down on you defensiveness started to push you apart. like body blows. Or possibly you hate the Of course, it’s very hard to take your foot constant, overarching fear that other parents off the gas when you know that every other are working harder than you are to make their

offspring excel and get ahead of yours?

Most of all, there’s a good chance you don’t like the way being constantly measured, assessed and judged makes the children you love feel about themselves. Possibly you can’t remember the last time you saw your children truly feeling carefree. Perhaps you can’t see any other option if your child is not going to be left behind.

But there is a way out - and you can start today with your family. By making the simple decision to put your child’s well-being first, letting them play more and letting them focus on their innate talents, you will be one step closer to restoring the balance.

Furthermore you will not just start to enjoy being a parent once again, rather than a ring-master. You will also be reclaiming your child’s right to a carefree childhood, a better guarantee of success in life than any number of high-flying exam results.

TAMING THE TIGER PARENT: How to Put Your Child’s Well-being First in a Competitive World by Tanith Carey is published

by Constable/Little Brown, priced 8.99.

For more information please go to www.tanithcarey.com

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Families Activities

EASTER HOLIDAY CAMPS, WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES ACROSS CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Helping you find the cool camps and awesome activities in your area…

aster day camps and activities provide safe and secure childcare and also offer opportunities for children to learn a new skill and make new friends. Some camps offer early-bird discounts or reductions when you enrol more than one child and most camps now accept childcare vouchers. Here are just a few of the camps and workshops in Cambridgeshire this Easter. Keep an eye out for our next issue with a summer camp preview…

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SUPER CAMPS

THE PERSE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE WHEN? March 30th – April 3rd, 9am-5pm with extended care available AGES 4-14 HOW MUCH? from £36 per day and £144 a week Set in gorgeous leafy grounds, The Perse Prep school is a Cambridge jewel that allows children enjoying their holidays with Super Camps a fantastic experience outdoors and in. A daily schedule of different activities gives children the opportunity to meet new friends and learn new skills during the school holidays. Enthusiastic Super Camps staff will make sure the holidays are a treasured experience.

For more details or to book call 01235 832222 or www. supercamps.co.uk

STAGECOACH

Mini-Performers: Shipwrecked All-Star Performers: One Night Only WHEN? 30th March - 2nd April, Mini-Performers 9.45am - 2pm, All-Star Performers 10am - 4pm AGES Mini-Performers ages 4-7 HOW MUCH? Mini-Performers: £100 All-Star Performers: £120 A fun packed course for all children aged between 4 and 7 years old. The classes led by fun, energetic and DBS (formally CRB) checked teachers will work towards a performance of work on the final afternoon with lights and costumes. Children will sing, dance and act for the whole week, learn new skills, make friends and grow in confidence. The high student teacher ratio means that every child is able to reach their potential.

Children are split into age related groups and work towards a performance for family and friends on the final day of the course.

Students are taught singing, acting and dancing by friendly, professional and DBS (formally CRB) checked teachers. With set songs and dance numbers students work with our team to create their own performance. The classes are high energy and fun.

Whether you are looking to learn new skills, make friends or build confidence Stagecoach has something to offer your child. The week culminates in a performance on stage with lights and costumes. www.stagecoach.co.uk/ cambridge 01223 359974 and mention FAMILIES when booking.

BARRACUDAS ACTIVITY DAY CAMPS

HICHINGBROOKE SCHOOL, BRAMPTON ROAD, HUNTINGDON WHEN? 30th March – 10th April, 8.30am -5.30pm.

AGES 4.5 years – 16 years HOW MUCH? £39 per day/£124 a week Barracudas operate activity camps for children over the Easter and summer holidays. With action packed programmes and choice of varied activities including archery, swimming, fencing, motor sports, arts & crafts, dance & drama we have plenty to keep your children entertained!

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Families Activities

PARK KIDS CLUB

THE SPORTS CENTRE AT THE CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE WHEN? 30th March – 10th April (excluding bank holidays), 8.15am to 5.15pm HOW MUCH? £18.50 per day (£13.50 for siblings) which includes a hot lunch.

Further discounts apply if you sign up for a full week.

An affordable and local children’s Holiday Club run by the Sports Centre Team, the Kids Club guarantees your child a fun-filled, action-packed day! From invasion games, athletics and racket games to skills and drills, team games and climbing (for the older ones). Also on offer are lots of arts and crafts and a movie every lunch time.

01223 418280 or email the Sports Centre at sports.centre@camre.ac.uk

LEARN HOW TO SAIL: START SAILING RYA LEVEL 1

PAXTON LAKES, HALL RD (NEXT TO THE NATURE RESERVE) LITTLE PAXTON WHEN? 7 - 10 April, 1.30pm - 4.30pm HOW MUCH? £75 Juniors £115 Adults with the Exclusive Families discount when quoting code FCPAX An official RYA training centre that welcomes people of all ages and abilities, with a large selection of club owned boats & equipment available.

By the end of the course participants will have been introduced to the sport. They will have sailed a dinghy and learned to reach, tack, run and gybe. They will know the essentials such as rigging and rope work and how to launch and recover a dinghy.

Call 07812 124690 or email sailingcourses@paxtonlakes.org.uk

KINGS CAMPS

THE LEYS SCHOOL SPORTS CENTRE CAMBRIDGE WHEN? 17 - 19 April, 8.30am - 5.30pm AGES 5-14 years old HOW MUCH? From £84 for all 3 days With a 98% parent satisfaction score, Kings Camps offer the very best experience for your children. Kings Camps’ Team Challenge programme is specially designed to offer children a wide range of sports and activities as well as teamwork and competitions.

Working in a range of same-age and mixed-aged groups, children learn valuable life skills as well as the enjoying the high levels of excitement in a supportive, active environment.

Call 01223 798197 or email info@ kingscamps.org www.kingscamps.org

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