Families Thames Valley West January/February 22

H ME KE TA

EE FR E OM

Thames Valley West

IN THIS ISSUE

Brand new “Get Outdoors!” feature Family health • When friendships go wrong Loads of child-friendly local activities Issue 116 January/February 2022

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2 • Henley • Reading • Wokingham • Bracknell • Newbury • West Berkshire

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...endless ideas for families of young children in Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham Families® Thames Valley West • Issue 116 • January / February 2022 Visit us at www.familiesonline.co.uk

In this issue...

4-5

News and Views

6

Education News

7

Meet the Head: St. Andrew’s School Pangbourne

8

Learning to Write

9

Print Books or E-books?

10

Language features

11

When Friendships Go Wrong

12

Get Outdoors!

13

Happier Every Chapter

14-15 Clubs and Classes 16

Health features

17

Taking a Chance with Your Career Post-Covid

18

Have Your Say! & Soothing Nightmares and Night Terrors

19

Meet Mumpreneur Sarah Collison

20

Knowing Your Nursery from Your Pre-school

Edit or’s Welcome...

Happy New Year! 2022 is here, bringing with it the thrill of new possibilities to come over the next twelve months.

Rethinking your career may be a New Year’s resolution, especially as we look forward to something resembling “the old normal”. Our article on taking a chance with your career postCovid provides inspiration for those wishing to take the plunge and try something different.

Locally, we have a lively new feature: Get Outdoors! In this issue we have collaborated with fantastic local outdoor activities company, Little Muddy Boots, to give you a suggestion of a fun outdoor craft to enjoy with the children, whatever the weather. I have shared one of my favourite local “hidden gems”, and I look

forward to your recommendations for other outdoor places to visit with the family.

On that note, please get in touch with your comments for our “Have your say” section. It’s great to hear what people are up to and to gather your ideas and suggestions to share with other families in our wonderful Thames Valley West!

To “cap” it off, Wear a Hat Day is coming! This is a unique national event which unites families, communities and schools for a day of hattastic fun with the aim of raising money for Brain Tumour Research. Find out more about this and how you can join in the fun in our News and Views section.

Have a great January and February!

Lesley x.

Congratulations to Lizzie Shirley, who won tickets to Hurst Pantomime in our Nov/Dec 2021 issue!

21-23 What’s On

The Families team...

Editor: Lesley Chambers Production: Ridgeway Press 01256 300420 www.ridgewaypress.co.uk Next issue: March / April 2022 – Easter activities

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Booking deadline: 7th February 2022

To advertise: If you are reading this, so are your customers! We can help you reach an audience of over 47,000 parents in Reading, Henley, Newbury, Wokingham, Bracknell and West Berkshire. Drop us a line at editor@familiestvw.co.uk to find out how we can help support your family friendly business!

Families Thames Valley West is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Thames Valley West are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Thames Valley West. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

NEWS AND VIEWS

A Drama Class for Shy Kids…

Really? Yes, really!

If you have been told by your child’s teacher that they rarely put their hand up in class, drama could be the answer.

StageAbility helps children to build their confidence and self-esteem by teaching acting and theatre skills so that they can overcome life’s challenges, even if they are really shy.

Mrs Smith from Wokingham told us, ““My daughter has been a part of StageAbility for nearly 5 years now. She has loved the weekly classes. My family and I have loved watching her grow in confidence. StageAbility has been amazing for her to help nurture her passion for drama and it’s also given her a great network of friends.”

Classes are not performance-based; they are great fun and lots of the work is through drama games building trust and friendships.

After-school drama classes run in Wokingham, Lower Earley, Tilehurst and Burghfield Common. To book a trial class, visit https://stageability.class4kids.co.uk

COMPETITION: WIN A TERM OF DRAMA CLASSES AT STAGEABILITY! If your child is in Year 3-6, you could win them a term of drama classes!

Question: Are StageAbility drama classes performance-based?

To enter, e-mail your answer, along with your name and e-mail address to editor@familiestvw.co.uk by 28th February 2022.

All entries from new students will receive a discounted offer of classes at Stageability.

Help fund vital research by joining Wear A Hat Day! Join thousands of children, parents and teachers on Friday 25th March for Wear A Hat Day – a great way to bring people together and raise vital funds for leading charity Brain Tumour Research.

Register your school, community or family event today: www.wearahatday.org and we’ll send you a free fundraising pack!

Coming at the end of March, Brain Tumour Awareness Month, several celebrities are supporting this hattastic campaign.

The latest set of collectable Wear A Hat Day pin badges have a regal theme in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year. Order your box of badges to sell during registration!

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. This is unacceptable and Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this. Funds raised from Wear A Hat Day will help towards establishing a new Research Centre of Excellence.

Take part in National Storytelling Week National Storytelling Week takes place from 29 January to 5 February and during this period, stories will be told in schools and theatres, pubs, museums, village halls, community centres and in many other places across the UK. Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly

sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs firstly to be a good speaker and listener.

Above all though, storytelling is fun. Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting stories can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary.

To find a local event or to look through its extensive archive, visit www.sfs.org.uk

Home from Home with Chilly Powder Do you prefer winter or summer in the Alps… or both? Francesca, Paul and their three children live in Morzine in France all year round and have a good knowledge of Alpine traditions and the Morzine people.

groups in relaxing luxury, with fantastic food and outstanding facilities, with unrivalled inhouse childcare facilities. For many returning guests Chilly Powder is considered a real home from home. www.chillypowder.com

Having adapted their chalet holiday style over the years to suit the tastes of their regular guests, they offer the perfect ski and summer holidays for either families, couples or mixed

For more about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter visit www.chillypowder.com

4 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

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NEWS & VIEWS

Families Thames Valley West to Donate to The Woodland Pierce, an environmental campaigner This magazine is a wonderful local Trust with Every Issue and expert on climate change, I realised resource, and I would like it to remain relevant and positive. Amid increasing concerns about the environment and the impact of a product that uses paper, I have decided to make a donation to an environmental charity with every issue of Families Thames Valley West magazine that is printed.

My initial intention was to donate to a charity that plants trees, naively assuming that these would cancel out any trees that had been cut down.

However, after discussion with Clive

that the value of existing mature woodland, both to nature and humanity, far outweighs that of newly planted trees. I will therefore be donating to The Woodland Trust, which maintains some of the most valuable biodiversity woodlands in the U.K. and works to promote sustainable land management, whilst continuing to educate myself about conservation and environmentally-conscious actions.

Lesley Chambers, editor

Children’s Mental Health Week 2022 From 7 to 13 February, families across the UK are encouraged to take part in Children’s Mental Health Week with the theme Growing Together.

Growing Together is about growing emotionally and finding ways to help each other do the same. Challenges and setbacks can help us to grow and adapt and trying new things can help us to move beyond our comfort zone into a new realm of possibility and potential.

Run by the children’s mental health charity Place2Be, children (and adults) are being asked

to consider how they’ve grown, what they need to help them grow and how they can help others to grow too.

Around five children in every classroom have a mental health problem and many more struggle with challenges from bullying to bereavement.

Help raise funds to enable Place2Be to reach more people by organising a Dress to Express fundraiser.

Find FREE resources for parents and carers and more information at www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk

Looking for things to do in the New Year?

Welcome to Rugbytots: fun, weekly classes for children aged 2-7, themed around rugby!

Rachel Cooper has five years' experience running a franchise, and she has recently purchased East Berkshire, Reading and Henley, so new classes have arrived in Tilehurst, Caversham, Earley and Woodley, alongside the wellestablished classes in Henley, Marlow and Maidenhead.

Each class starts off with a fun warmup game, followed by passing and catching, the amazing obstacle course/relay races, kicking and one of many fun-filled Rugbytots games to

finish the class, leaving everybody on a high.

Every class has a lead coach and an assistant coach, and the classes are delivered with excitement, enthusiasm and drama, which really engages the children.

Feedback from parents all over world mirrors this comment: ‘My little one’s confidence has grown, his listening skills have improved, his behaviour has improved.”

For more information, go to: https://www.rugbytots.co.uk/ or e-mail rachelc@rugbytots.co.uk.

More risky playgrounds are better for kids The British Children's Play Survey revealed recently that British society is becoming more protective of children, at a detriment to their ability to manage risk and their overall mental and physical health.

David Ball, a professor of risk management at Middlesex University, said UK playgrounds were ‘over-sterilised.’

‘If you look at them only as a series of potential dangers, you’re missing something important’ he said.

By contrast, in Germany, playgrounds are

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being built to be dangerous, forcing children to negotiate perilous obstacles while risking injury if they fall.

According to Prof Rolf Schwarz of Karlsruhe University of Education, who works with councils and playground designers to develop challenging obstacles, 'safe' playgrounds prevent kids from learning how to handle risk in the early stages of their development.

'If we want children to be prepared for risk, we need to allow them to come into contact with risk,' said the professor.

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 5

EDUCATION NEWS

Cost of school uniform to drop The government has published legally binding guidance which means that schools in England must ensure that the cost of their school uniform is reasonable and parents get the best value for money.

From next autumn, schools will be required to remove unnecessary branded items from their uniform and allow more high-street options, like supermarket ownbrand uniform. Schools will also be required to have second-hand uniforms available, as an affordable

option which also helps the environment.

Schools will be expected to have made changes before parents buy new uniform for the new academic year in September 2022.

Research from the Department of Education in 2015 showed that parents can save almost £50 on average if they can buy all school uniform items from any store, compared to uniform which all needs to be bought from a designated shop or school.

More flexible approach to school starting age Being young in a school class puts a child at a long-term disadvantage compared to their older peers according to new research.

The study by Kings College London, found that when children are the youngest in their class, they have a greater chance of experiencing educational problems, as well as social and even emotional complications.

These findings could help parents considering when to enrol their child in school.

Senior author Professor Jonna Kuntsi said: ‘The difference between the youngest and oldest member of a class can be up to eleven months. In the early stages of childhood, this is a significant difference in terms of maturity, behaviour and cognitive abilities.’

The researchers are now calling for greater flexibility about school starting age.

More at www.kcl.ac.uk/news

Moving Forward Together: Bradfield College and St Andrew’s School Bradfield College and St Andrew’s School are excited to be entering a new era for both schools when, following over twelve months of due-diligence and talks, they joined to found the Bradfield Group on December 10th, 2021.

ELSTREE SCHOOL Saturday, 26th February from 10am to 12 noon.

This merger will enable the schools to share expertise as they build upon a common vision of an allround education through which children enjoy school, learn, grow in confidence and make a positive contribution to society.

The two schools have shared close ties since St Andrew’s was established just two miles away from Bradfield (formally St Andrew’s College, Bradfield) in 1934. Both schools enjoy beautiful locations, extensive grounds, excellent facilities, and a proud heritage. Both have generated strong momentum in recent years, establishing reputations for educational excellence within a nurturing environment characterised by family values and outstanding pastoral care.

SCHOOL OPEN DAYS

This partnership offers the schools opportunities for sharing strategic thinking and developments in teaching and learning, for enhanced curriculum and professional development, for better use and improvement of facilities, and for delivering cost efficiencies through economies of scale. It will further strengthen both schools as they look towards the future.

St Andrew’s and Bradfield will each retain their individual identity,

character and traditions, and will continue to be run on a day-to-day basis by their own leadership teams, overseen by a single, combined Governing Body and its Committees. Each school will continue to develop its own provision whilst building upon the links that exist between them. St Andrew’s will continue to feed a number of senior schools in the Berkshire area, and beyond, and Bradfield will continue to welcome pupils from a wide range of feeder schools.

6 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

KIDMORE END PRIMARY SCHOOL Final open morning for prospective parents on Thursday 6th January @ 9.30am for those interested in the 2022 reception intake (ahead of the registration deadline for 2022 entry of 15th January) MOULSFORD PREP SCHOOL Saturday 4th February, 10am - 12pm and 1 – 3pm ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE Thursday 20 January: Early Years – Year 6 Open Morning (09.30-11.00) Thursday 10 February: Years 7 – 11 Open Morning (09.30-11.15)

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Meet THE head

When did you start at St Andrew’s, and what did you do before that?

I started at St Andrew’s in September 2021, having been Deputy Head for six out of the nine years I was at Westminster Cathedral Choir School, where I was also Head of English. Prior to that, I worked in shipping in the City, trained as a teacher on the Teach First scheme, and spent four years at Edinburgh University.

How would you describe the ethos of St Andrew’s School?

St Andrew’s is a family-orientated School that nurtures children to become grounded, confident young people, who are both curious and connected to the world around them. We try and get the children to look outwards and away from themselves.

We provide an all-round education built upon academic excellence and outstanding pastoral care.

Can you tell us a little about the school’s history?

St Andrew's was founded on 11th May 1934 with two staff and eight boys, under the leadership of joint Headmasters RW Robertson Glasgow and W Ward Clarke. The

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We recently caught up with Mr Ed Graham, Head of St Andrew’s School, Pangbourne, which is an established co-educational day and boarding Prep School for children aged 3 to 13 (Nursery-Year 8), offering a rounded education in the beautiful Berkshire countryside.

School now has 307 children, with 153 boys and 154 girls. The main Victorian Gothic part of the School, ‘Buckhold’, built in 1885, was designed by acclaimed architect Alfred Waterhouse, also known for designing the Natural History Museum.

Are there any particular highlights of the school year at St Andrew’s?

We have many traditions unique to our school, but the highlights have to be celebrating St Andrew’s Day on the 30th November with Progressive Games (an afternoon of team games in mixed year groups); singing carols around the Christmas tree; Sports Day; nightorienteering; and the Dolman cross-country run around our 54 beautiful acres.

How do you involve parents and carers in children’s education?

Parents and carers are actively encouraged to get involved in their child’s education as much as possible. Aside from Parent Evenings, they are invited to music concerts, games fixtures, school productions, and book fairs. We also have our own coffee shop onsite which, when COVID allows,

parents can visit in the morning.

This is a great way for them to get to know one another and feel a part of our community. Pre-Prep also shares pupils’ work and photographs securely on a digital platform.

Does the school work with the local community in any way?

We have a thriving programme of local charity work, led by the children’s Charity Committee. This includes everything from Christmas toy collections and food bank donations; helping raise awareness through sponsorship for Newbury Riding for the Disabled, and supporting our local Children in Need action group. Our sports centre (including the swimming pool) is also used by local clubs and schools.

Do you have any specific approaches that encourage and embrace diversity?

St Andrew’s has established a RIDE (Respect, Inclusion, Diversity & Equality) committee made up of Years 7 and 8, led by our Deputy Head Pastoral, Mr Haig Howard.

The aim is to promote the issues that often divide our society,

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namely race, gender, disability, sexuality, religion, age and poverty.

Actions from this are led by the children, and they arrange for visiting speakers to come in and talk to the children.

What would you like to achieve over the next couple of years and beyond?

In December, we formed a new and exciting partnership with Bradfield College, which saw two charities merge to form the Bradfield Group. Whilst this brings opportunities for shared strategic thinking and new initiatives in teaching and learning - from enhanced curriculum to professional development - it also means we can enhance and improve our already-excellent facilities.

We are expanding our use of technology, with children in the older years using Surface Gos; and have plans to develop our boarding provision (currently space for 24 children); Nursery offering (so we can cater for wrap-around care for 3-4 year-olds); and turn our Old Hall into a state-of-the-art creative and drama space. It’s going to be a busy two years!

Families Thames Valley West • 7

EDUCATION

Fun activities to support children develop their writing skills Create obstacle courses that require a wide range of movements. Using a variety of ball sizes for challenges is a great way to get children developing their motor skills through play.

Encourage fine motor skills alongside gross motor skills; picking up small objects, building with blocks, threading beads, using pens and cutlery are all examples of fine motor skills.

Learning to write

By Catherine Lynch

Children need to develop lots of skills before they can write. The three main skills that build writing foundations are the physical ability to make marks on paper, knowing that print conveys meaning and knowing what to write.

I

n preparation, children need to develop both their gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills develop first; walking, jumping, throwing and reaching.

Fine motor skills, like picking up small objects follow. Children need to be given lots of opportunities to move their bodies and build up the muscles needed to sit in a chair, hold a pen and write.

Next, children need to know what they are going to write. Adults can support children in this stage by providing practical opportunities.

Writing shopping lists together is a great way to get children writing for a purpose.

And now to the basics of getting marks on paper. Children’s first marks on paper start with squiggles and scribbles. With practice, their marks become more controlled and they may start to ascribe meaning, for example, scribbling lines on paper and saying it is a list of their friends.

As children’s awareness of letters increases they will start to use letter shapes in their writing. Familiar letters might start appearing among their squiggles and shapes.

The next stage is using their phonetic knowledge to identify which letters to write. Phonics explain the relationship between sounds and letters. Typically children start by hearing and writing the initial sounds in words, for example ‘c’ for cat and ‘a’ for apple. As their phonic knowledge improves they will start to hear and write more sounds in words. It is common for children to reverse letters, miss out sounds and muddle up letters for the first few years that they are writing.

Provide lots of mark-making opportunities eg finger painting, drawing with chalk on the ground, using crayons, pencils and pens.

Help them get the correct pencil grip by using the ‘pinch and grip’ method.

Praise all their efforts; writing skills take time to build.

Provide opportunities for children to apply their knowledge of letter sounds, ege by writing secret words and secret sentences.

Make use of free resources available as downloads for home practice. There are many ideas for play activities, tips to get parents and children started, word tracing sheets, handwriting guides, letter formation worksheets and posters. Good resources include

www.planbee.com, www.jellyandbean.co.uk, www.teachhandwriting.co.uk and www.teachingideas.co.uk.

By the end of Year 1 children should have been taught most of the letter sounds in the English language, complete with alternative spellings and sound groupings. For example, the many ways to write the /ai/ sound in sail, crayon, lake, weigh, grey, reindeer, break and acorn.

Initially children won’t typically use the correct spelling of the sound; however, the more they read the better they will get at recognising when a spelling looks right.

Catherine Lynch is a former UK primary school teacher, now writing for PlanBee (www.planbee.com) about issues affecting teachers, schools and pupils. PlanBee has lots of completely free resources for teaching and learning for home and school.

8 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

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Print book or e-books What’s best for our children?

By Lulu Skantze

E

lectronic devices enable us to access, at the touch of a finger, millions of e-books at a lower cost and with easier storage than printed books. Most children’s books and magazines are now available in digital format too. This makes sense as many children use electronic devices at an early age. While it is important to embrace all technologies and see stories available in all formats, printed materials have an essential role in developing young readers.

Deep Reading ‘Deep reading’ is an important process which is activated when reading from paper and particularly applies when reading high-quality, long texts. Screens affect our reading processes and the more we read short texts on screen, the more our reading shifts towards skimming. Consequently, our tolerance for reading long literary texts diminishes and we lose the benefits of using the cognitive processes that deep reading involves. In addition, reading from devices involves juggling multiple distractions, such as interactive touchscreens, hyperlinks and alerts, which move our attention away from what’s being read. This adversely affects our comprehension and reading speed.

Mindful reading Printed books help children develop

the habit of reading through mindfulness. They slow us down and enable us to engage with a book with no sounds, distractions or screen glare. Reading printed books teaches us to connect with the present moment and be in the reading space, which is a wonderful thing to learn and a habit to develop that will be useful for life.

Shared reading Printed books make shared reading easier than e-books. Shared reading is incredibly important when it comes to encouraging a child to read. A book allows for more discovery and children can interact with it for longer in a more engaging way, as well as being able to colour in, draw, underline words and so on.

Reading for pleasure Studies have found that reading for pleasure plays a huge role in a child’s confidence, personal development and academic achievement. It is so important that reading for pleasure now forms part of the National Curriculum. If you read books to your children, you will engage them in a magical world of stories, adventures and fantasy. It will be a gift that lasts a lifetime.

As you read to your child, get them involved from the start. Can they guess what the story might be about from the title?

Follow each word of the story with your finger, so your child can associate the sounds they’re hearing with the letters they see.

Encourage your child to read out loud with you when reading rhymes and repetitive stories.

Ask your child to listen and repeat unfamiliar or hard-to-pronounce words. This will help their pronunciation. Talk about what the word might mean to help build their

vocabulary.

When you find a complex idea or sentence, stop and ask your child whether they understand.

Point to the illustrations, ask your child who the characters are and what happens next. This helps build anticipation and encourages participation.

When reading aloud, put lots of expression into your reading, so your child can copy what you’re doing.

When you’ve finished, ask questions about the characters and what happened to them.

Shared reading tips Sit together with your child so that your they can see the pages you’re reading.

Reading for pleasure Reading is fun, entertaining and relaxing; it also improves writing, spelling and vocabulary and increases general knowledge and understanding of other people and cultures. Here’s how you can help your child to fall in love with reading: • Make reading part of your child’s routine and life.

• Have old and new books around at home and treasure them.

• Pick books that are at the appropriate level for your child.

• Put aside quality time to read together every day, even if only for ten minutes.

• Listen attentively when your child

reads to you. Dig deep into the stories with them.

• Value the importance of books, magazines and stories. Discuss them with your child and ask why they like certain books.

• Don’t leave home without a book so that your child can read anywhere.

• Join your local library and visit it with your child so they can choose and borrow books they are interested in and discover new authors for free.

• Exchange books with friends.

• Treat your child to a magazine subscription or book vouchers for special occasions.

Lulu Skantze is co-founder of Storytime, a high-quality monthly magazine that helps to improve children's literacy - with no adverts or plastic toys, just great stories. Visit www.storytimemagazine.com

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Families Thames Valley West • 9

Language Learning for Children As a former languages teacher, language learning has always been a passion in addition to a profession, and my love of other languages and cultures has shaped my life, including living abroad and having enriching friendships with wonderful people from different parts of the world.

I have always hoped to share this passion with my children but have struggled to find opportunities for children to learn languages locally. My son had a fantastic, French-speaking childminder when he was one, and he came to understand what she said to him and spoke several French words himself, which was exciting! However, the childminder moved on to other work, and my son became half-hearted about speaking French after that.

In researching this article I spoke to several families in the Thames Valley West area, two of whom had a parent whose first language was not English. These families were bringing their children up to be bilingual (Japanese / English and Russian / English), but they were also really positive about other languages for their children: Tatiana said that her sons were learning French as well, and James said he thought children in the UK should be taught another language.

Unfortunately, my son, now nine, has lost interest in learning another language, and another mum I spoke to said of her nine-yearold, “Sadly, my daughter hasn’t been interested in learning another language.” Perhaps children just don’t see this as an interesting activity?

Nevertheless, several parents mentioned language clubs at their children’s schools

(French and Italian were cited), which were enjoyed for their fun elements, for example “an annual ‘French café’ when the teacher brings in (French) food and the pupils have to ask for it in French”.

It seems therefore that many local parents are keen for their children to learn a foreign language before secondary school but that this has to be fun and lively in order to catch the interest of children. I spoke to Cari Weston of BilinguaSing, who runs bilingual music classes from ages 0-11 in French, Spanish and Italian in the Wokingham and Bracknell area.

Cari’s classes are part of a holistic, multisensory experience, where babies and children can start to learn foreign languages in a fun and engaging way. The focus is firmly on being positive about learning languages, and she states, “As someone who studied languages, I'd always said that I didn't want to be a teacher.

However, the BilinguaSing classes are such a fun and innovative way to teach, I could see how engaged the children were and I felt I would be able to do this. I've also always loved music, singing and dancing, so this is a perfect combination for me!”

As well as the uplifting feelings experienced during the classes, Cari is enthusiastic about the wider benefits of learning languages: “It also opens children's minds up to the fact that other people are different - they eat different food, have different traditions, even celebrate Christmas differently! It gives them another perspective on the world, which I think can only benefit

Speech and Language Therapy or EAL support By Camilla Crystal Many of you will be reflecting on recent years and wondering whether we will be waving goodbye to COVID-19 this year as well as recovering from the impact of Brexit. I sincerely hope so!

In the context of health and education, Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and educators have adapted tremendously during the pandemic via video-conferencing platforms. Nevertheless, I CAN, a reputable charity, has reported that ‘up to 1.5 million children face being left behind in their speaking and understanding due to disruption caused by Covid.’ (Source: Speaking up for the Covid Generation)

• being able to say sounds in speech (except /th/ and /r/ and three-consonant combinations e.g. str)

How do you know if your child needs Speech and Language Therapy?

Once your child is in school, if they are struggling with forming friendships and understanding what is expected of them, they may be experiencing a developmental delay/disorder. Contact your SENCO, particularly if your child has problems with: • abstract ideas e.g. time • understanding or remembering instructions • organising ideas in order • understanding stories • missing out words in sentences e.g. “bird garden” instead of “a bird is in the garden”

English as an Additional Language (EAL) A pre-schooler by the age of four will be exposed to both their home language (if they’re bilingual) and their second language (at the educational setting). If your child is not acquiring vocabulary typical for their age in their first language, one needs to consider if there is a delay.

Visit the ‘progress checker’ via talkingpoint.org.uk and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/mileston es/index.html

Camilla Crystal is an Independent Speech and Language Therapist and Teacher of English as a Foreign Language. Contact: camilla@ccsandl.onmicrosoft.com or call 07581 067 499.

10 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

By Lesley Chambers, editor children in terms of developing their curiosity and empathy.”

Ricardo Barreto, who teaches Spanish and Portuguese locally, agrees: “Learning foreign languages has a very particular impact on one’s brain. It is also a powerful key that can open valuable doors in the real world, allowing purposeful interactions with other people and cultures, as well as widening one’s professional prospects.”

The message is that these skills are still relevant, still fun and still incredibly beneficial on many levels: language learning in the UK is very much alive and necessary!

If you would like to find out more about Cari’s classes, contact cari@bilinguasing.com or 07729 261018.

To enquire about private Spanish or Portuguese lessons, contact Ricardo at ricardobarreto.mflteacher@gmail.com.

Help for my child Mental Health Time to Talk Kooth Emotional Health Triage service (servicesguide.reading.gov.uk and directory.westberks.gov.uk) Legal advice and support IPSEA (ipsea.org.uk) Contact (Contact.org.uk) SaLTNHScypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk.

ASLTIP (helpwithtalking.com).

ICAN (ican.org.uk/i-cans-talking-point) afasic.org.uk Tuition Tutor Doctor (tutordoctor.co.uk)

Help for me Workingmums.co.uk climbingout.org.uk Mentalhealth.org.

Ukfrontline19.com Resources Twinkl.co.uk Chatterpack.net

familiesonline.co.uk

When friendships go wrong

By Clare Cogan

Friendships can be a challenge throughout our lives; from our own school playground days to when we’re back there as parents.

Late primary school age often brings significant shifts in friendships. If your child has been in a ‘group’ or has a ‘best friend,’ you might observe fall outs which can include exclusions from invitations and activities. These ever-shifting sands can lead to tears, sleepless nights and worries.

It’s time to help your tween navigate some of these trickier times and support them. Part of building that all-important resilience in life is to help them deal with and learn from difficult times. You are their guiding light in this regard.

Take a moment.... and a step back.

The drama itself is easy to get embroiled in, especially if you are friends with the parents whose children are involved. Despite the temptation, texting or picking up the phone to discuss the issue is not always helpful and can be counterproductive. As children start to move towards transition to secondary school, we need to give them the tools and resources to cope with friendship challenges, not always step in and sort it out ourselves.

Be aware that some of what might be happening may trigger memories of your own experiences at school which may not be directly related to your child’s issue.

This often happened with me when we had challenges with our boys and friendships. My inner lioness would spark off straight away in response to these issues based on my own childhood challenges.

Use your own experiences of difficult friendships or times when you have moved away from friends and made new ones to help your children understand that it is okay for things to change. Children love stories, no matter what age they are and yours will help them realise

they are not alone, even when it feels like they are. This sharing can carry more weight than just reassuring them that things will ‘get better.’

Know that it is not okay for your child to be on the receiving end of these remarks, even though they are difficult to challenge. They can chip away at a child’s self-esteem and confidence. Helping your

young person to become aware of this behaviour and how it can affect them can also be a powerful tool to support them in navigating tricky friendships.

Spend time helping them to think about what they value in friendship, such as honesty, kindness, trustworthiness. Talk about why others choose them to be their friend and point to what makes a good friend when times are tough.

What is a frenemy?

This is probably the most useful term I ever learnt as an adult!

A frenemy is a ‘friend’ who can flip between being kind and caring, inclusive and supportive, to being disparaging, critical and unkind. It is the friend where you never really know where you stand. If you challenge their unkindness, put downs or insults, they will usually respond with: ‘I'm just joking,’ ‘I can say that to you because you’re my friend,’ ‘You’re being over-sensitive' or other similar responses including that over-used and dishonest current cop-out: ‘It’s just banter,’ which appear to excuse their behaviour. As the saying goes, with friends like these, who needs enemies?

Clare Cogan is a teenage anxiety specialist and author who works with parents and their teens to help them understand how their mind affects their mood. More information at www.clarecogan.com

familiesonline.co.uk

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 11

GET OUTDOORS!

Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve, Lakeside, Earley, Reading, RG6 7PH Ditch the screens and get outdoors! We have some beautiful natural spaces in this area, and going for a walk with the family is a great way to spend time together.

I discovered this hidden gem during the first lockdown.

It includes a gentle – and manageable for small legs – stroll around a lake, where there are plenty of ducks and other birds to be seen, or you might like to veer off and run around in the open space of the adjoining Laurel Park.

The park is some twelve hectares in extent and is classified as a local nature reserve. It is managed on the town council’s behalf by its Park Ranger Service with the help of volunteer groups.

inspected by a Consultant Engineer once or twice each year.

The park is in several “parcels”, which are described on the various interpretation boards around the site. The lake area, between Instow Road and Lakeside, is managed under the Reservoirs Act and is

The Park Rangers in conjunction with the Earley Volunteer Group have made a tern nesting platform

which was launched and put into place behind the island on 28th January 2016.

Earley-tc.gov.uk/maiden-erleghnature-reserve

Please get in touch if you know of a local family-friendly walk: editor@familiestvw.co.uk. We’d love to share it in the magazine!

How to make a Pinecone Owl...

Little Muddy Boots run outdoor nature and gardening classes for toddlers and pre-schoolers throughout Berkshire, they also sell a series of seasonal activity cards packed full of craft and activity ideas for your little ones. Here Little Muddy Boots share instructions of how to make a pinecone owl for you to make at home.

What you need • One pinecone • Cotton wool • Two leaves • Yellow or Orange Cardboard • Two googly eyes • PVA Glue

Instructions 1. Get your pinecone and push the cotton wool into the pinecone 2. Now push the two leaves into the pinecone, one on each side to make the wings.

3. Cut a triangle out of the card and glue it on to the front of the pinecone to make the owls beak.

4. Now glue on the two googly eyes above the beak.

The Big Garden Birdwatch 2022 Get your family involved in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and help monitor bird life in the UK. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour between 28 and 30 January.

Challenge your children to see who can spot the most birds. Take a bike ride to a local park or make a day trip out of it and spot birds in a new place.

You can also watch Big Garden Birdwatch Live! on Youtube and Facebook to see what birds are being spotted across the UK with live commentary, interviews and chats with special guests and wildlife experts and the chance to ask them questions.

Register and get your FREE guide at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

5. Let it dry and fly your owl around! *Supervise activity at all times.

Also...

As an additional activity why not take a trip to your local library to find some books on owls. Little Muddy Boots recommend Owl Babies by Martin Waddell Your local woodland is a great place to find pinecones on the ground during the winter months.

Swinley Forest in Bracknell, Simon’s Wood in Finchampstead and Lily Hill Park in Bracknell are all great places to find pinecones!

Find out more about Little Muddy Boots by visiting their website www.littlemuddyboots.co.uk.

12 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

familiesonline.co.uk

Why Aiyven and Kirsten are Happier Every Chapter Sisters Aiyven (age 12) and Kirsten (age 13) both love writing stories and both published debut novels in 2020. Families talks to them to find out more about their writing and their achievements.

What made you start writing stories?

Our parents read stories to us every night when we were young, which opened up whole new worlds to us. From around the age of 4 or 5, we were folding pieces of paper into cards and writing stories inside them - and just never stopped!

What do you like best about writing stories?

The best thing is how in a few hours, a new universe can sprout out of thin air.

How many stories have you written?

A lot of our early stories were on laptops we don’t have anymore but every month we write short stories for our book subscription box.

Over time, we’ve written at least thirty stories each. That’s excluding our books.

Which is your favourite?

A: My favourite short story is Scapegoat Kid. It’s about a boy called Tom whose parents are splitting up. As the oldest of many children, he finds all of the responsibility turns to him. Tom becomes distant from the people closest to him and falls in with the wrong crowd. I feel it is one of my most powerful short stories. I think that even if people haven’t experienced the situations that occur in the story, they’d feel just as touched.

K: So far, my favourite short story is Life in the Kennel which is about a girl called Elizabeth... but not a human girl. Elizabeth is different, she has wings sprouting from her back and claws

familiesonline.co.uk

instead of feet. Because of her differences she is imprisoned in what she calls The Kennel. It was such fun to write and I almost felt like I was going through life in the kennel with Lizzie!

Do you work together on stories or write them separately?

We each write separate short stories although occasionally we’ll share ideas and give each other tips.

Do you make a plan for your stories before you write?

When we were younger, we often just typed whatever came to mind, which can result in an unusual plot and a storyline that doesn’t flow very well. Now, we plan the beginning, buildup, climax, resolution and ending. Once you have those five factors planned, it’s just a matter of connecting the dots.

Tell us about the books you have published A: My book is called Land of the Nurogons: The Zest for Quest. It tells the story of a young boy called Hayden who lives a relatively normal life, until the day he plummets through a black hole into a parallel dimension, Nurogonia. The world

is faced with the threat of being taken over by a scandalous man, and it is up to Hayden and a few of his friends to overcome him.

K: My book, Sagas of Anya, is a historical fiction novel which follows the life of a young Welsh girl. When her mother tragically dies from a long term illness and her father turns to drink as a coping mechanism, Anya is forced to move to Victorian era London. The London life isn’t all glitz and glam however, as she comes to terms with the hardships of living as a scullery maid.

Any advice for other children who’d like to start writing?

A: Manage your time as well as possible. You have plenty of time to produce a good piece of writing, no one is rushing you. Prioritise the most important things first, like getting your homework done. You’ll be happier and freer to write that way.

K: Plan or plot the rough idea in your head before jumping straight into your story. Also, I find it quite constricting to have a set title as it means your story must follow what your title is.

It will be easier once the story is finished.

Aiyven and Kirsten launched their Happier Ever Chapter monthly subscription box in November 2020, promoting reading for pleasure, literacy and diversity among their peers aged 8 to 14 (www.mbawabooks.co.uk). Each box includes two bestselling books (one being diverse), two short stories written by the girls, activity sheets and 4-6 lifestyle items. They also offer boxes for younger readers aged 4 to 7.

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 13

Clubs and classes directory Regular clubs, classes and activities give your child a chance to develop new skills and make new friends, and there is lots to choose from. For more clubs and classes in your area, check out familiesonline.co.uk.

Please get in touch if you would like to be included in our directory: editor@familiestvw.co.uk.

Developmental classes The Academy of Magic Created by Radek Hoffman, an international magician with 15 years of experience in the art of magic. The Academy of Magic shares Radek’s enthusiasm for entertainment and performance with young magicians through weekly online lessons. Fun and exciting after school clubs instil confidence, nurtures selfesteem and helps to develop children’s social skills. Visit radekhoffman.com for more information or to sign up for a free trial session. Suitable for children aged 8+.

There is a maximum of 6 children per class. We are currently looking for a private indoor, heated pool, 1 or 2 weekday mornings, for much needed community baby & toddler classes in the Newbury / Hungerford area! jo@swimlessons.co.uk www.swimlessons.co.uk Reading Swimming Club Formed in 1885, the club offers a structured learn to swim programme, squad training for all ages and competition opportunities from within the club, up through to county, regional and national level. We are keen to welcome new members of all ages and abilities. Please contact readingswimclub.org or email info@readingswimclub.org Music

Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes Confidence-building fun for 4-12s. A unique mix of drama games, dance and singing specially designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination. Classes are delivered in line with government COVID-19 guidelines. Visit perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class.

Venues: Newbury, Twyford, Caversham, Earley, Wokingham, Winnersh, Crowthorne, Henleyon-Thames and Goring.

Contact: 020 7255 9120, enquiries@perform.org.uk, perform.org.uk

Stageability Award-winning after-school drama classes for kids who love to ACT! Burghfield, Tilehurst, Lower Earley, Mortimer and Wokingham.

High-energy classes mean that students never get bored, can't wait to get to class and develop confidence, creativity and focus.

Free trial class and a Pay-As-You-Go option for infants. Ages 5+ Full listing of available classes, prices and venues at: https://stageability.class4kids.co.uk Come and join the fun!

BilinguaSing Wokingham and Bracknell French, Spanish and Italian classes from age 0-11 in the Wokingham and Bracknell area. We run fun sensory music classes for babies and toddlers with the added bonus of a second language! You don't need to know any languages to take part, but as our songs are in English as well, I guarantee you'll be singing along in no time! We offer one-off trial classes as well as bookings by the term.

We also run classes in private nurseries and lunch clubs for primary school aged children.

E: jackie@berkshire.stageability.co.uk M: 07721 565898 T: 0118 933 3791

Henley Youth Choir Non-Auditioned Youth Choir. Rehearsals every Thursday in Term Time: 5.306.15pm for Juniors (7-11yrs), 6.15-7.00pm for Seniors (12-17yrs).

Location: the D:Two Community Centre in the centre of Henley-on-Thames.

Parking nearby.

Fees are £60 for 12 rehearsals.

Please contact Cari Weston at cari@bilinguasing.com or call 07729261018 for more information

Contact Fi Harding on 07947 658252 or email fi.harding@sky.com, and come for a free trial session!

Gym, sport and swimming Drama and dance Bulmershe Gymnastics Club Based at a purpose-built gym in Woodley, run gymnastics classes for all ages including Leap Frogs for walkers to five years lead by qualified coaches. bulmershegymnastics.co.uk GR Swimming Schools Uniquely structured, safe, FUN, swimming lessons from 3 years old. Lessons include continual assessment and lane progression.

Steppin Out Stars of Tomorrow COVID secure, fun, energetic theatre classes for 3½ to 18yrs. Dance, drama, singing, tap, street dance, pop styles and musical theatre.

Regular award-winning classes in Wokingham and Woodley, plus summer schools. Call Shelley on 07970 034 488, or email shelley@steppinoutstars.co.uk, steppinoutstars.co.uk

14 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

Progress Youth Theatre Workshops for ages 7-18 involving theatre games, improvisation and skills development, leading to a stage production every year.

We are an Arts Award Supporter and also offer LAMDA courses.

Classes held at Progress Theatre, Reading.

Book a FREE taster session by emailing: youthgroup@progresstheatre.co.uk Learn more at: progresstheatre.co.uk/youth-theatre

familiesonline.co.uk

Clubs and classes news Outdoor Activities

Pregnancy

JG Dance Classes from 2.5 years to 18 years for all abilities in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Singing, Acrobatics & Drama. Twice Yearly Theatre Performances.

FREE TRIAL LESSON

Happy Births

Saturday Theatre College (Twyford) RAD Ballet, ISTD modern & Tap LAMDA singing & Drama. Grades to Vocational Exams.

Classes on Tuesday – Woodley, Wednesday-Bourne-End, Thursday – Tilehurst & Twyford, Saturday- Sonning Common, Kidmore End & Basingstoke

!

Little Muddy Boots

01491 572000 info@jgdance.co.uk WWW.JGDANCE.CO.UK

Little Muddy Boots is an established unique garden and nature club, which inspires outdoor play, hands on learning and time spent as a family making memories.

To advertise in

Termly sessions are available alongside PAYG Saturday clubs and Forest School holiday sessions.

Suitable for children aged 1 - 6 years old (siblings welcome). Little Muddy Boots is based at sites located across Berkshire.

please email editor@familiestvw.co.uk

To find out more visit www.littlemuddyboots.co.uk or email hello@littlemuddyboots.co.uk

Hypnobirthing classes, Antenatal education, Bespoke birth preparation coaching, Birth trauma recovery therapy Preparation is key when it comes to maximising the likelihood of a positive birth experience. Marvel at your body's amazing abilities, get informed about your options, learn skills to enable you to make the right choices for you, develop a practice of gorgeous relaxation techniques, and get your partner trained up to be the best support on the day. You deserve to feel confident and calm about this super exciting journey to meeting your baby.

Contact Sarah Collison on 07740349946 or email sarah.happybirths@gmail.com, and see www.happybirths.net for positive birth stories and testimonials from working with Sarah.

Happy, Confident New Year from Perform Perform, the UK’s biggest centrally-run drama school, is getting 2022 off to a flying start with a new term of classes focusing on building confidence and social skills.

How have your children adjusted after the pandemic? Many have struggled to reconnect and re-establish their old friendships and confidence. Child psychologist and author, Linda Blair, says that classes like these: “can help children recover from social isolation as they encourage communication and effective social interactions. Drama helps a child’s ability to understand and interpret things like eye contact and can help in countless other ways both socially and cognitively.”

Fortunately, Perform classes are packed with confidence-boosting drama-based games and activities, allowing every child to shine as we explore two exciting termly themes.

Children ages 4 to 7 will trek off on a jungle adventure while ages 7 to 12 enjoy a thrilling adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. What’s more, Perform’s jungle theme becomes a West End musical during February half-term, featuring a professional adult cast, stunning costumes and fabulous music. Visit junglerumble.show.

Local Perform classes available: Twyford Youth Centre, 3 Loddon Road, Twyford, RG10 9JA (Age 4-7: Saturdays at 9:30am, Wednesdays at 4pm, age 7-12: Wednesdays at 5:05pm, Saturdays at 11:15pm) St. John The Evangelist, St. John’s Road, Newbury, RG14 7PY (Age 4-7: Saturdays at 9:30am, Fridays at 4pm, age 7-12: Saturdays at 11:15am, Fridays at 5:05pm) St. Andrew’s Hall, Albert Road, Caversham, Reading, RG4 7AW (Age 4-7: Saturdays at 9:30am and 11:15am, age 7-12: Saturdays at 2pm) The Cornerstone Community Centre, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham, RG40 1UE (Age 4-7: Fridays at 4pm, Saturdays at 9:30am and 2pm, age 7-12: Fridays at 5:05pm, Saturdays at 11:15am) Winnersh Community Centre, New Road, Sindlesham, Wokingham, RG40 1XS THIS IS A NEW VENUE! (Age 4-7: Mondays at 3:45pm, age 7-12: Mondays at 4:50pm)

To book a no-obligation FREE trial, visit www.perform.org.uk/try with code TVW70222, or use code TVW70222 for a £40 discount when you book by 7th February.

familiesonline.co.uk

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

The Crowthorne Methodist Church Hall, 10 Dukes Ride, Crowthorne, RG45 6LT (Age 4-7: Fridays at 4pm, age 7-12: Fridays at 5:05pm) St. Nicolas Church Hall, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, Reading, RG6 7JN (Age 4-7: Wednesdays at 4pm, age 7-12: Wednesdays at 5:05pm) Goring Village Hall, High Street, Goring-onThames, RG8 9AG (Age 4-7: Mondays at 4pm, age 7-12: Mondays at 5:05pm) Henley Town Hall, Elizabeth Hall 2, Market Place, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2AQ (Age 4-7: Fridays at 4pm, age 7-12: Fridays at 5:05pm)

Families Thames Valley West • 15

HEALTH

Your Family Health Check List Keeping up with the routine (and non-routine) health checks and appointments for your kids can be time-consuming! Use our handy checklist to help you out.

Eye test Children should have an eye test at the age of 3 years and again just before they start school.

An optometrist will then usually recommend a yearly eye test after this.

Dental check Six monthly check-ups are recommended for children from age 1 and children should visit the dentist as soon as their first milk teeth appear.

Orthodontist Has your child’s adult teeth nearly all come through? Ask your dentist whether your child will need a referral to an orthodontist.

centre to receive their Covid vaccine if they haven’t had it at school. Flu vaccinations are available for children ages 2 to 5 and for all children from Reception to year 11.

Other services you may need

Vaccinations If you have a baby or toddler, make sure they have had all their necessary immunisations.

Children over 12 can now attend a walk-in

Podiatrist Does your child complain of pain in their heels? Kids undergoing growth spurts are especially susceptible to plantar fascilitis pain

Just one healthy thing!

Make time to meditate. Just ten minutes of meditating a day can make a huge difference. A wealth of research has shown that meditation has a positive effect on a range of stressrelated illnesses, including heart disease, cholesterol and high blood pressure. It can also help people suffering from insomnia, anxiety and depression. Check out www.insighttimer.com for hundreds of free meditations.

By Claire Winter

At this time of the year, we are bombarded with unrealistic health advice.

Give up carbs, do a HIIT workout every day, walk fifteen thousand steps.

Glamorous women and men in lycra stare at us from our social feeds, making us feel like failures before we even start a new health regime.

So how about setting yourself an easy target of changing just one thing this New Year?

Get a fitness buddy.

Accountability works. If you want to start a new fitness regime, find a friend to do it with you, says Paula Kerr from Fitter Stronger.

‘This might mean always training with a friend and not letting them down or keeping an exercise or nutrition record and sharing it with a friend or fitness professional.’ www.fitterstronger.org Have a cold shower. You may have seen many people sharing their outdoor swimming adventures during the last year. Intrigued? Start small with the Wim Hof method. The method begins with a simple breathing technique and cold showers every morning. You can then progress to cold water swimming. I've been doing this every day for five months and it has made a massive difference to my mood and quality of sleep. www.wimhofmethod.com/

Take Vitamin D. If you have never taken a supplement before, Vitamin D is highly recommended for anyone living in the Northern hemisphere because we don't get enough sunshine. Public Health England recommends every adult takes a 10-microgram supplement in Autumn and Winter and all year round if you have darker skin. It can help boost your immune system, prevent depression and strengthen your bones. You can find it at all good health food stores or online.

Try forest bathing. Get out in nature and destress in your local forest or woodland. In

16 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

starting at age eight until around age 13 for girls and age 15 for boys. A podiatrist will advise on footwear to help the problem.

Allergy clinic If your GP provides a referral, you can get tested at a specialist NHS allergy clinic. You can also get tested at a private clinic and pay for your own allergy tests. It's not recommended that you use an at-home allergy testing kit if you suspect you have an allergy.

Japan, it's called Shirrin Yoku, it's proven to help you boost your mood, health and wellbeing and it's free. Find your local forest here www.forestryengland.uk/.

Practise gratitude. ‘Gratitude is the first step to embrace our body, to shift our relationship with it, to see it as one of our best buddies. It makes a huge difference in our fitness training and the food we choose to nourish our body’ says the Body Whisperer, Vanessa Conway. Also, keeping a daily gratitude diary can make a huge difference and make you feel more optimistic about life. www.feelmovebewithvanessa.com.

Get quality sleep. Alex Cornwell, a personal trainer says: ‘It's best to accept that as a parent it may not be possible to sleep uninterrupted for eight to 9 hours a night. Instead, make sure you're getting to bed early, not scrolling through Instagram and not watching Netflix until it asks you if you're still there. These things will keep you up longer and late-night screen time is proven to reduce the overall quality of your sleep. This can be tough as a parent as you may cherish the end of the day, the ‘me time’ before bed. However, I'd encourage you to use that ‘me time’ for good and get some rest!’ www.revolution-pts.com Go veggie. For one day a week, skip meat. www.meatfreemondays.com is a good website to follow. Can you make a family favourite with a meat substitute or try a new vegetarian recipe?

familiesonline.co.uk

CAREER

Taking a chance with your career post-Covid

By Mandy Garner

Ann-Marie Murphy works as a secondary school teacher in the Midlands, but after her maternity leave she switched to part-time hours to manage childcare and her job. If the pandemic hadn’t happened, Ann-Marie would have returned to work full time when her daughter started school. As it was, a year later, ‘when she started in Year 1, I was still only working two days a week in school because the pandemic meant it wasn’t guaranteed she’d actually be there and there was also the possibility of needing to home school too,’ explains Ann-Marie.

Like many other working mothers, AnnMarie’s mental health was affected by the pandemic, with her anxiety levels increasing. As a parent, she worried about having to send her daughter to school during Covid, and, as a teacher, she worried about her own exposure to the virus. In a Working Mums (www.workingmums.co.uk) survey of one thousand three hundred working mums, thirty percent of those surveyed mentioned that worries about children’s wellbeing was one factor which contributed to the worsening of their mental health during the pandemic.

‘I work in a school of nearly two thousand children. Very few of them were willing to wear masks and social distancing didn’t exist’ reports Ann-Marie. ‘So all of that really added to a general sense of anxiety.’

Seventy percent of the survey respondents said that the anxiety about lockdowns and Covid generally affected their mental wellbeing and over sixty percent said that homeschooling and childcare also had an impact.

In the same Working Mums survey, only nineteen percent of those surveyed reported that their employer had supported them with their mental health and Ann-Marie did not feel that she was given the support she needed.

The pandemic made Ann-Marie reconsider her career.

‘I think teaching is an important job’ says Ann-Marie. ‘But, during the pandemic, schools

and teachers have not been treated well. It has made me feel like we’re not really valued and schools have been seen as a way to keep children occupied so that parents can work.’

Sadly, the Working Mums survey shows that Ann-Marie is not alone. Twenty four percent of working mothers state that they are less likely to seek a promotion than they were before Covid.

But it’s not all bad news!

Re-evaluating your career can be really beneficial.

Before Covid, Ann-Marie was running different side businesses, the most successful one being an online gifts and cards shop. During the pandemic she decided to start an additional business with her partner, as they were both working from home. The focus of the new business is on digital safeguarding for schools, which includes looking at how images and

personal data are used online and managing consent.

The pandemic has opened a new door for Ann-Marie, which might have stayed closed under different circumstances. Being exposed to circumstances where she didn’t feel safe at work and in which she felt schools and teachers were being undermined, she wanted to look at creating and building on an opportunity which gives her more freedom over how she works.

“I want to do something worthwhile which is helping, but where I’ve got more control over my own safety and my timetable. The flexibility seems more important now than ever’ says Ann-Marie.

Mandy Garner works for www.workingmums.co.uk, a website which offers employers and job seekers the chance to find home-based, part time and flexible full time jobs.

Early Years - Year 6 Join us for an Open Morning or a ‘Stay & Play’ taster session www.sjcr.org.uk /admissions familiesonline.co.uk

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 17

Have your say!

We’d love to hear from readers! Some of the things that other readers might like to hear about include • Recommendations of local things to do • Comments on the magazine • Advice for parents • Funny stories about your family Contact Families Thames Valley West via e-mail – editor@familiestvw.co.uk - and your comments may be featured in the next issue!

“I think getting kids to road test various activities and give a review [in the magazine] would give some insight for parents.”

Lorraine Birks

“My three-year-old commented the other day that her yoghurt looked like paint. When I left the room and returned a moment later she had painted one of her hands wit h it!”

Tired mum

Thames Valley West

“For years my son and I used to borrow a stack of books from the library and then take them a few doors down to a cafe, where I would read them to him while he ate jelly beans and I drank tea; we were both very chilled out!”

L, Reading

“My favourite part of the magazine is the What’s On guide – I save the magazine and refer to it for ideas of things to do with the children.” – Families reader, Berkshire

Soothing nightmares and night terrors Nightmares can be very upsetting for children but they are distinct from night terrors, which can be very alarming for their parents!

Most children grow out of night terrors and they don’t cause any long-term harm. Worried by their frequency and intensity? It’s a good idea to get medical advice, find out more at www.nhs.uk/conditions/night-terrors or speak to parenting coaches on the free helpline at www.parenting.actionforchildren.org.uk With thanks to Action for Children for this article. You can find many other useful articles on parenting at their Parent Talk site at www.parents.actionforchildren.org.uk

Preventing night terrors Establish a good bedtime routine, as follows:

What are nightmares?

Nightmares typically start between the ages of 3 and 6 years. They happen during deep sleep, usually in the early hours. Unlike night terrors, children can remember nightmares (or feeling afraid) after waking.

And night terrors?

Night terrors are common and usually pass in time. Children who have night terrors may shout, thrash around or jump out of bed. They may have their eyes open, but may not actually be awake. Unlike nightmares, children don’t have to be in a deep sleep and, in fact, night terrors can happen soon after falling asleep.

Your child may not remember night terrors in the morning.

If your child has experienced a nightmare: Show and tell them that you understand how scared or upset they feel.

Tell a soothing bedtime story or sing some favourite songs or rhymes together.

Encourage your child to cuddle a favourite soft toy.

Ask your child if they would like a gentle massage. Try stroking down your child’s arm from shoulder to hand, stroking their face or making circles on their back.

Ask them about the best part of their day or something that made them laugh.

Try mindfulness activities to soothe your child.

If your child is having a night terror: Stay calm – you may have woken abruptly and feel alarmed.

Only intervene if your child is at risk of injury - if they are running wildly or close to an area where they could hurt themselves. Talk calmly and block access to dangerous areas. Holding or restraining them may be difficult and lead to wilder behaviour.

As long as your child’s safe, don’t try to wake, comfort or talk to them. They may not recognise you and could become more distressed.

Wait for your child to calm by themselves. Then wake them and settle them back to sleep. Don’t mention the episode, as they won’t remember it.

18 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

Make sure their bedroom is a safe, relaxing space free of clutter. A blackout blind can be helpful to keep out day light. Some children may find a night light soothing.

Limit screen use. Turn screens off an hour before bed and keep screens out of the bedroom at night altogether.

Help them wind down. Preparing your child for bed can include having a bath, which should help them start to feel sleepy.

Younger children may enjoy lullabies, being read/told a story or even some colouring-in.

Older children may want to read or listen to relaxing music.

Chat together. Encourage your child to get any worries off their chest.

If night terrors tend to happen at the same time each night, try waking your child fifteen minutes before. Doing this for seven days may be enough to stop the terrors without affecting sleep quality.

Talk to your child when they are calm about anything that might be worrying them. This can help you spot any triggers.

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Meet Sarah Collison, Mumpreneur and Founder of Happy Births Many mums who have experienced a difficult birth with their first baby are left feeling disappointed or even traumatised by the experience, meaning that subsequent pregnancies are tainted with fear that the coming birth will be equally frightening.

O

ne way to take control and lessen this fear is through learning hypnobirthing techniques before the birth, including understanding what may have contributed to the previous experience in a negative way, gaining knowledge and ensuring support to plan for this birth.

Sarah Collison is the founder of Happy Births, which provides hypnobirthing classes online or in the Reading area. She talks to us about herself and her approach to having a happy birth.

Please could you tell us a little about yourself and your family.

Hi, I'm Sarah! Mum of one little superstar, Noah - in my head he's still a toddler but somehow he is now at school! We live in Reading, and because Noah is so obsessed with it, our life mainly revolves around Lego! We have a lockdown-born kitten, called Green Bean.

What does your business do, and what inspired you to start this business?

As a positive birth coach and hypnobirthing instructor, I support parents-to-be in preparing their baby’s birth to be an awesome, positive, calm and empowering experience. I also help mums (and dads) heal from their traumatic birth experiences with a very gentle, safe and effective therapy called Traumatic Birth Recovery (3 Step Rewind). After going through a huge transformation in mindset when I was pregnant thanks to a hypnobirthing course, I couldn't NOT train to share these important skills.

What do you particularly love about your work?

Joining a family on their journey and knowing the tools and techniques they’ve learnt help make their baby’s arrival calm and positive (their testimonials and birth stories speak for themselves). Over our lifetime a store of messages builds up in our subconscious that ‘birth can be painful/dangerous/is to be avoided’ – my job is to help undo that unhelpful learning and replace it with knowledge of the normal physiology of birth and the positive belief that it can (with the right tools and techniques) be a really great experience!

I love receiving news of baby’s arrival, and hearing how women and their birth partners took full control of achieving the positive birth they wanted. This is less around ‘what happens’ during birth, and more about how they felt – in control, educated, confident, and relaxed.

Dads falling asleep during my relaxations is another highlight. I take it as a compliment that (sometimes a little sceptical at first) men enjoy the relaxation parts of the class so much!

Has anything changed since you set up your business?

Yes! Like many of us, the pandemic has brought huge changes in how I work. The positives have been reaching people in need in far-flung destinations - there are some Happy Births hypno-babies in Australia thanks to the magic of Zoom!

I've also become completely addicted to training and learning more about all aspects of birth and

If you would like to appear in Families Thames Valley West magazine as a local mumpreneur, please get in touch: editor@familiestvw.co.uk.

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beyond, including labour biomechanics, matresence (the transition to motherhood), and breastfeeding.

Do you have any tips for people wishing to start their own business?

Just start! "Done is better than perfect" is a good motto to live by.

We are super fortunate locally that there are supportive networks of people at all stages of running their own business, so it's easier than you think to find friendly help in the areas you're not yet sure about.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Building in time to rest and to exercise is key for me. Running and pilates are my favourite ways to move for releasing stress and anxieties! I’m not one for traditional, at-home pampering, but I’d never say no to a professional massage or reflexology treatment – heaven!

To find out more about Happy Births: Web: www.HappyBirths.net Instagram: @HappyBirths

An Independent Prep School for Boys & Girls aged 3-13

Please visit our website to learn more or contact Kate Spooner admissions@dolphinschool.com www.dolphinschool.com 0118 934 1277 Waltham Road, Hurst, Berkshire, RG10 0FR

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 19

EARLY YEARS

Knowing your nursery from your pre-school By Andrew Campbell Is a day nursery the same as a nursery school? Is there a difference between a preschool and a playgroup? For parents of very young children, who struggle getting their heads around early years care terminology, here is Families’ helpful glossary.

Day nurseries provide childcare (usually from 3 months to 5 years) with a choice of full-time or part-time care and are usually open from 8am to 6pm for most of the year. They can be run by private individuals, local councils, community groups, Montessori organisations, commercial businesses or by employers. Day nurseries run by councils or your local community tend to be cheaper but can be difficult to get into due to long waiting lists.

Nursery schools/classes and Preschools Nursery schools, school nursery class and pre-school offer a more structured early education experience for children ages 3 to 5 years which prepares them for primary school. There are generally three types: Local authority (maintained) nursery schools/classes Maintained nursery schools and classes are associated with a primary school, run and

funded by the local authority and either attached to the primary school or in a separate building.

Most nursery schools and nursery classes offer both full and part time places and operate during term-time only.

Private nursery schools Nursery schools can also be privately run and or

20 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

may be part of a day nursery setting. A private nursery school may charge fees and have different approaches and philosophies to learning, such as Montessori. They either follow term-times or can be open for most of the year.

Independent nursery schools Some nursery schools are attached to an independent school and are usually run by private or voluntary organisation as part of the school. Some will not be registered with Ofsted but will be monitored as part of the school's inspection. Many offer extended hours allowing parents to drop off early and pick up late to fit in with their working hours.

Parent and baby/Toddler playgroups These are groups to which parents bring their children (generally ages 0 to 4) to play and are often held in venues such as church halls or community centres by volunteers or a charity. A small fee is charged for each session to cover refreshments and running costs.

Children must be under the supervision of their parent/carer at all times. These groups are not Ofsted registered.

Crèches Crèches provide ‘occasional care’ for children and are provided on particular premises. Parents will use them on an irregular basis i.e. when they go to the gym or if they’re shopping.

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What’s On January/February 2022 Rhymetime at Sonning Common Library sonningcommonprimary.co.uk/com munity/library On the first and third Mondays of the month for under 3s at 10am.

Drop in to our live music classes, meet and sing together with other toddlers and babies in bright, well-ventilated venues. Drop-in and PAYG. www.teddiesmusicclub.co.uk

Children’s storytime at Sonning Common Library sonningcommonprimary.co.uk/com munity/library Saturdays at 10am.

You can also join Teddies Online and sing with us at home!

Subscribe to get your two week free trial on our website.

ONGOING EVENTS AT LOCAL LIBRARIES Rhymetimes at Reading libraries: Battle library – Friday, 10am and 11:15am Caversham library – Tuesday, 10:15am Central library – Thursday, 10:15am and 11:15am Palmer Park library – Thursday, 10:30am

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Southcote library – Thursday, 9:30am Tilehurst library – Monday, 10:30am Whitley library – Thursday, 11am www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/librar ies/rhymetimes/ These popular, rhymetime sessions introduce babies and children to language, rhyme and taking part in a fun way. Numbers are limited, so booking is essential. Free entry.

Rhymetime at Theale Library For children aged 0-2 years.

Wednesdays, 11:00-11:30am (term time only) For more information please contact: 01189 303207 | thealelibrary@westberks.gov.uk Duplo play sessions at Theale Library for toddlers and preschoolers An informal session to have fun with Duplo. Younger siblings welcome.

Mondays 1:30pm - 3:00pm, all year round.

Wednesdays 10:45am - 12:15pm during half term and holidays.

For more information, please contact the library: 01189 303207 | thealelibrary@westberks.gov.uk

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Lego club at Burghfield Common Library Free drop-in event, all materials provided. For children over 5 years. First Friday of the month, 4:15pm – 5:30pm For more information, please contact 01189 833632 | burghfieldlibrary@westberks.gov.uk

Pop up play village January Tuesdays in Binfield, Bracknell - 3 week block booking for Tuesday 11th, 18th and Winter Wonderland on 25th January Thursdays in Earley - 3 week block booking for 13th, 20th and Winter Wonderland theme on 27th January Fridays in Harpsden, Henley - 3 week block booking for Friday 14th, 21st and Winter Wonderland theme on 28th January February Mondays in Hurst, Wokingham Tuesdays in Binfield, Bracknell Thursdays in Earley Fridays in Harpsden, Henley

Families Thames Valley West • 21

WHAT’S ON JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

JANUARY 3-16 Jan SKYSCAPE ESCAPE: PART I THE MOONSTONE DOOR AND SKYSCAPE ESCAPE: PART II THE ZEPHYR THRONE River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1BF, rrm.co.uk Escape into a world of history and fantasy with the River & Rowing Museum’s new immersive trails this winter. The Museum has partnered with an escape room designer to create a two-part adventure.

Suitable for children aged 7-11. Open from 10am – 4pm.

4-30 Jan PERCY THE PARK KEEPER TRAIL Greys Court, Henley-on-Thames RG9 4PG, nationaltrust.org.uk/greys-court Join in the fun with Percy and his animal friends and give nature a helping hand on this trail. Come along and explore the beautiful parkland of Greys Court. £2 10am – 3pm 8 Jan YOUNG RANGERS Nature Discovery Visitor Centre, Muddy Lane, Lower Way, Thatcham, RG19 3FU, bbowt.org.uk/events Wildlife and seasonal themed activities for children to explore and engage in the great outdoors! Sessions last for 2 hours and are packed full of fun games and activities to teach you all about the fantastic natural world that surrounds you. £6 2-4pm 8 Jan THATCHAM ROLLER DISCO Kennet Leisure Centre, Stoney Lane, Thatcham RG19 4LJ, ticketsource.co.uk/thatcham-youth Revolution Active will be with us again to provide skates, music and help for those who are new to skating! Admission: £5.00 per skater if booked online, £6.00 on the door, including free skate hire. First session: 5:00pm- 6:15pm, second session: 6:30pm – 7:45pm

14-16 Jan RAPUNZEL PANTOMIME Loddon Hall, Loddon Hall Road, Twyford, RG10 9JA, twyrusdrama.org.uk Rapunzel has been locked away in a tower since she was captured as a baby by an old woman. Can her magical hair help her to escape and find the Prince of her dreams? Tickets: £9/£10 14-16 Jan and 21-23 Jan SNOW WHITE & THE FOUR SWEDISH POPSTARS – PANTOMIME Shinfield Players Theatre, Whitley Wood Lane, Shinfield, Reading, RG2 9DF, shinfieldplayers.org.uk This ever-popular pantomime has a Scandinavian flavour this season. Snow White mixes it up with Swedish popstars what could go wrong?!

17 and 12 Jan NATURE TOTS Nature Discovery Visitor Centre, Muddy Lane, Lower Way, Thatcham, RG19 3FU, bbowt.org.uk/events Fun in nature, organised activities and run by a friendly welcoming face. £7 per child (supervisory adult is free) 10am / 10:30am / 11am 20-22 Jan A LAD IN THE WILD WEST – PANTOMIME Hurst Village Hall, School Road, Reading, RG10 0DR, hurstpanto.org.uk A fun-filled twist on the classic Aladdin pantomime! Swapping the Arabian desert for Texan ranches, our heroes include Jasmine, a plucky cowgirl, and her trusty steed, Flying Carpet.

Tickets from £7 29 Jan NICK COPE’S FAMILY MUSIC Corn Exchange Newbury, Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5BD, cornexchangenew.com Join Nick Cope, star of CBeebies’ Popcast, for his interactive music sessions with songs about everything from counting to how plants grow. £10 10:30am 29 Jan READING MUM2MUM MARKET Queen Anne’s School, Henley Road, Caversham, Reading, RG4 6DX Nearly new sale. Admission £2, kids’ entry free

FEBRUARY 2 Feb – 6 Mar SNOWDROP SEASON Welford Park, Welford, Newbury, RG20 8HU, welfordpark.co.uk 3 Feb BLAZE’S BUDDIES West Berkshire Museum, The Wharf, Newbury, RG14 5AS, booking.westberks.gov.uk/heritage_events

This month’s session theme is dragons and will include a short action poem about Blaze followed by a story. We will discover some fun facts about dragons and make a dragon sock puppet. We’ll end with a singalong and a hunt to find the museum dragon. Free entry 11am 3-5 Feb DRAGONS AND MYTHICAL BEASTS The Hexagon, Queens Walk, Reading, RG1 7UA, whatsonreading.com Unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Tickets £14 5 Feb YOUNG RANGERS Nature Discovery Visitor Centre, Muddy Lane, Lower Way, Thatcham, RG19 3FU, bbowt.org.uk/events Wildlife and seasonal themed activities for children to explore and engage in the great outdoors! Sessions last for 2 hours and are packed full of fun games and activities to teach you all about the fantastic natural world that surrounds you. £6 2-4pm 5 and 6 Feb MATILDA JR Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley-onThames, RG9 2BP, kentontheatre.co.uk Rebellion is nigh in Matilda JR., a gleefully witty ode to the the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! Tickets from £6 3:30pm / 5:30pm 6 Feb FAMILY PORTRAIT Corn Exchange Newbury, Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5BD, cornexchangenew.com Join artist Simon Jardine to create your own family portrait which you can be proud of! £8 10:30am / 1pm 6 Feb NEWBURY MUM2MUM MARKET Park House School, Park House School, Andover Road, Newbury, RG14 6NQ, mum2mummarket.co.uk/newbury Nearly new sale. Admission £2, kids’ entry free 12 Feb THATCHAM ROLLER DISCO Kennet Leisure Centre, Stoney Lane, Thatcham RG19 4LJ, ticketsource.co.uk/thatcham-youth Revolution Active will be with us again to provide skates, music and help for those who are new to skating! Admission: £5.00 per skater if booked online, £6.00 on the door, including free skate hire.

First session: 5:00pm- 6:15pm, second session: 6:30pm – 7:45pm 12 Feb POP DIVAS LIVE! Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell, RG12 7PA, southhillpark.org.uk Pop Divas Live! is the UK’s number one pop concert experience featuring all your favourite female pop stars on the same stage for the first time ever! £17 6pm

22 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

14 and 17 Feb NATURE TOTS Nature Discovery Visitor Centre, Muddy Lane, Lower Way, Thatcham, RG19 3FU, bbowt.org.uk/events Fun in nature, organised activities and run by a friendly welcoming face. £7 per child (supervisory adult is free) 10am / 10:30am / 11am 14-20 Feb JUNGLE RUMBLE Fortune Theatre, Russell Street, London, WC2B 5HH, atgtickets.com A sensational West End cast will bring the Jungle to life with thrilling choreography, uplifting songs and an inspirational message about working together to protect the Earth. Tickets from £18 16-19 Feb MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR. Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell, RG12 7PA, southhillpark.org.uk This story of Matilda, a girl with magical powers who dreams of a better life, and the children she inspires will have audiences cheering for the “revolting children” who plan to teach the grownups a lesson. Prices from £16 19 Feb NICK COPE’S FAMILY MUSIC Corn Exchange Newbury, Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5BD Join Nick Cope, star of CBeebies’ Popcast, for his interactive music sessions with songs about everything from counting to how plants grow. £10 10:30am 19 Feb THE DARK South Street Arts Centre, 21 South Street, Reading, RG1 4AU, whatsonreading.com Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark lives in the basement. It doesn't visit Laszlo in his room. Until one night it does . . .

Suitable for ages 5+. Tickets £9.50 11am 21 Feb THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury, RG14 2DR, booking.westberks.gov.uk/ heritage_events This is the simple story of three hungry goats and a grumpy old troll, told with a gentle ecological message. Watch out for the dance of the goats, the flying troll and loads and loads of rubbish. Suitable 3-6 years but younger and older children are welcome. Tickets £7-£9 11am / 1pm 22 Feb SMALL GROUP FAMILY ART WORKSHOP: DINOSAURS! West Berkshire Museum, The Wharf, Newbury, RG14 5AS, booking.westberks.gov.uk/heritage_events

Learn to draw some prehistoric favourites from the terrifying T-Rex to the highflying Pterodactyl whilst adding character and expression to your drawings, then use your imagination and creativity to paint the dinosaur you like the most.

Suitable for age 7+. £12 10am – 12:30pm 22 Feb SHLOMO’S BEATBOX ADVENTURE FOR KIDS South Street Arts Centre, 21 South Street, Reading, RG1 4AU, whatsonreading.com World record-breaking beatboxer SK Shlomo makes mad music with his mouth. Become one of this sonic superhero’s sidekicks in a world of funny sounds, brilliant noises and cool music, whether you’re aged 1 or 101! Tickets £12 2pm

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WHAT’S ON JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 22 and 23 Feb THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF, Norden.farm This well-known and well-loved tale has been re-heeled by Theatre of Widdershins in their own inimitable style. Beautifully crafted set and puppets, sublime music, a kaleidoscope of miniature shoes and a comic mouse make this show a magical must-see. Age guidance: 3+ years. Run time: 55 mins. £12 | £10 under 16s Family and Friends (4 people) £40 23 Feb OLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore Common, Newbury, BRK RG14 3BQ, Arlington-arts.com One winter, Oldilocks finds a teddy bear in the park and remembers a delicious bowl of porridge she tasted years ago in the woods. Something else happened but she can’t quite remember what… For ages 3-7 years.

23 Feb TWEEDY’S LOST PROPERY Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley-onThames, RG9 2BP, kentontheatre.co.uk No matter what he does, Tweedy seems to get into a mess, but to the delight of audiences of all ages he can always find a creative way to get out of it. Tickets £13 adults, £11 concessions 2pm 24 Feb THE HUG Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF, Norden.farm Based on the heart-warming and funny book The Hug by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar. Starring a Hedgehog and a Tortoise both in search of a restorative hug. £12 | £10 under 16s, Family and Friends (4 people) £40 23 Feb FAMILY ACTIVITY MORNING Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury, RG14 2DR, booking.westberks.gov.uk/heritage_events

Brilliant bunnies – bounce into Spring by decorating a ceramic bunny with two permanent markers (assorted colours), which you get to keep and take home along with your completed bunny. £2 10am / 11am 23 Feb PARTY South Street Arts Centre, 21 South Street, Reading, RG1 4AU, whatsonreading.com A quirky birthday party to remember by Half Moon Theatre for ages 2-5 years £9 11:30am / 2pm 24 Feb MUSEUM FAMILY CRAFT WORKSHOP West Berkshire Museum, The Wharf, Newbury, RG14 5AS, booking.westberks.gov.uk/heritage_events

Figure it out! – Make your own figure or person out of a variety of mainly recycled materials. Free entry 10am / 11am / 12pm 24 Feb SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT DINOSAURS...?

Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley-onThames, RG9 2BP, kentontheatre.co.uk Get ready to go on an exciting prehistoric adventure as Dr Ben Garrod explores the biggest, deadliest and

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weirdest predators that ever roamed the planet. Adults £16.50, Concessions £13.50, Family Package £54 2pm 24 Feb POP DIVAS LIVE! Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore Common, Newbury, BRK RG14 3BQ, Arlington-arts.com With dazzling choreography, state-ofthe-art videos and superb vocals, Pop Divas Live! is the perfect pop concert experience for the little divas in your life.

2pm / 6pm 25 Feb MESSY MUSEUM MORNING West Berkshire Museum, The Wharf, Newbury, RG14 5AS, booking.westberks.gov.uk/heritage_events

Dinky Dinos - Make your own colourful mini dinosaur using modelling clay and paint, which you can take home to use as an ornament. £2 10am / 11am / 12pm 25-27 Feb THE SMARTEST GIANT IN TOWN Corn Exchange Newbury, Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5BD, cornexchangenew.com George wishes he wasn’t the scruffiest giant in town. So when he sees a new shop selling giant-sized clothes, he decides it’s time for a new look: smart trousers, smart shirt, stripy tie, shiny shoes. Tickets £12.50 / £10.50 11am / 2pm 26 Feb NOISY KIDS: IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE The Hexagon, Queens Walk, Reading, RG1 7UA, whatsonreading.com This out-of-this-world concert for the whole family is packed full of music inspired by space, from thrilling classics to film music favourites. Get involved from your seat with songs and actions to join in with. Plus fancy dress is very much encouraged! 11:30am 26 Feb COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS: How does this politics thing work then?

Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley-onThames, RG9 2BP, kentontheatre.co.uk Politics is super-important and really fun if you know how. Tiernan and Tatton will show you how, in this hilarious show jam-packed with interactive games, madcap presentations, and political cats.

Tickets £15 adults / £12 concessions 2pm 26 Feb MORGAN AND WEST: UNBELIEVABLE SCIENCE! Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF, Norden.farm Science and silliness abound for ages seven to 107! Morgan & West present captivating chemistry, phenomenal physics, and bonkers biology in this fun for all the family science extravaganza! £12 | £10 under 16s, £40 Family and Friends Ticket (4 people) 11:30am / 2pm 27 Feb TWIRLYWOOS LIVE Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell, RG12 7PA, southhillpark.org.uk Join Great BigHoo, Toodloo, Chickedy, Chick and their friends as they discover the wonderful world around us! Expect mischief, music and plenty of surprises as they set sail in their big red boat. 2pm / 4:30pm

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 23

Independent, co-educational education for 3 months-11 years

Ranked no.1 primary and Prep school in the Reading and Wokingham area based on academic results

Waverley Preparatory School and Nursery

Registrations for Reception 2023 now being taken.

Limited places available for Reception 2022.

24 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

07768 708743 admissions@waverleyschool.co.uk www.waverleyschool.co.uk

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