Families West London Magazine May/June 2024

West London

We offer a full range of dental treatments for you and your family:

• Paediatric dentistry

• Specialist orthodontics for children and adults

• Cosmetic dentistry

• Implants and oral surgery

• Periodontics

• Restorative dentistry

• Endodontics

• Facial aesthetics

Families West London is part of Families Print

Editors:

Anna Collins and Rachel Bailey

01628 829761

07753 414605

editor@familieswest.co.uk

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Next issue:

July/August 2024

Circulation: 16,000

Cover image: depositphotos.com

From the editors...

We’re here as ever to keep the family fun alive! Remember to check out our What’s On columns on pages 18 and 19, where we list what you can do locally day by day. As we head through the summer term of school, we also help you plan your childrens’ holiday care! There are a variety of clubs on offer from sports to performing arts and cookery. Check out pages 16 and 17 to find out more.

Also don’t miss our Education articles including; ‘Developing skills for good school performance’ on page 9 and and tips for how to choose a reading book on page 11. Parenting can be hard, so we hope our topics on ‘Social action’ on page 13 and ‘Seven ways to help your anxious child’ on page 14 help.

We look forward to writing up our next issue which will guide you through the summer holidays!

All the best

Get ready to celebrate marmalade day with Paddington Bear!

The Paddington Bear™ Experience, an all new interactive experience inspired by the nation’s beloved bear, opens on May 31 in London’s iconic County Hall.

Visitors are invited to step into Paddington’s world and embark on an exciting immersive adventure through some of the most memorable locations from the Paddington stories. With numerous themed rooms to explore, interactive games, character interactions and lots of surprises along the way, the adventure will culminate in a very special Windsor Garden Street party where visitors will have the chance to enjoy the Marmalade Day festival. It promises to be a fun day out for fans of all ages.

2023 marked 65 years since the lovable bear was first introduced to the world by author Michael Bond. The books have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide and have led to numerous adaptations. A third film ‘Paddington in Peru’ will be released in the UK on November 8 2024.

www.paddingtonbearexperience.com

New Director of Sport appointed at Heathfield School, Ascot

Heathfield School, Ascot has appointed Ms Charlotte Baker as Director of Sport. Ms Baker joins Heathfield from Berkhamsted School, where she was Head of Lacrosse. Alongside teaching, Ms Baker is a keen sportswoman and lacrosse professional, coaching at the U18 England National Academy, as well as the Italy Lacrosse U20 National Team who are heading to the World Cup in Hong Kong this summer.

Ms Baker said, "I’m thrilled to be at Heathfield, the school has a great foundation in sports and the potential for an excellent and progressive programme. I am looking forward to developing the sports programme extensively, as well as expanding the all-round positive culture and ethos of sport and exercise for every student."

Headmistress, Sarah Rollings said, "Charlotte’s energy and passion are infectious, and it is brilliant to see how the students are grabbing the opportunities available to them. It is important that every student can access high quality sport and physical activity, wherever their passions lie."

For more information visit www.heathfieldschool.net or join their open morning on Saturday May 11.

Navigating the 'big little leap' to school

No matter how well children are prepared for school, their transition to the classroom during the first few months plays a key role in their success, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that kids who made a more successful transition in the first ten to fourteen weeks of school scored higher than others on tests of academic and social-behavioural skills at the end of the school year.

Important parts of the transition -- what the researchers called a ‘big little leap’ -- included making new friends, learning to work with others and adapting to new academic demands.

And a crucial finding was that this transition was important for all kids. ‘Transition difficulties hurt children's development, regardless of the initial readiness skills that they entered with,’ said Jing Sun, lead author of the study from Ohio State University.

More info: www.bit.ly/BigLittleLeap

Open Farm Sunday

Open Farm Sunday on 9 June provides a unique opportunity for families to explore real working farms and learn more about the countryside.

Managed by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), this annual event allows families and individuals to witness daily farm activities, engage with passionate farmers and learn about sustainable practices.

Visitors can enjoy tractor-trailer rides, farm tours, nature trails, bug hunts, and even shop at farmers’ markets. The event bridges the gap between consumers and farmers, emphasising the importance of British agriculture.

It’s an educational, community-focused day that celebrates the hard work behind our food production and offers free access to farm experiences.

To find a farm opening their gates near you, visit www.farmsunday.org

Join Perform for Fairytale Magic or an Intergalactic Adventure this summer!

Perform’s confidence-building summer term classes are off to a flying start and there’s no better time for your child to try a class. Packed with self-esteem boosting activities, these weekly classes are the best fun of the week for every type of child. They help reticent children develop confidence in their abilities and provide an outlet for energetic children to sing, dance and make friends. The curriculum is focused on building the 4Cs - confidence, communication, concentration and coordination - using drama games, improvisation, role-play, catchy songs and funky dances. This summer term, ages 4-7s are entering the Fairytale Forest for an adventure based on favourite well-known stories. Ages 7-12s are blasting off on a journey with Robinson Crusoe where he gets stranded in space!

Every child is welcome to try a FREE class and with venues in Acton, Bayswater, Brook Green, Chiswick, Ealing, Hammersmith, Kensington, Marylebone, Notting Hill, Uxbridge and Westminster, there's sure to be a class near you! To book a FREE trial class at one of the venues below visit www.perform.org.uk/try

St Matthews Church, 29 St Petersburgh Place, Bayswater, W2 4LA 4-7s Thursdays at 4pm; 7-12s Thursdays at 5.05pm

St Mary’s Acton, 1 The Mount W3 9NW 4-7s Wednesdays at 4pm; 7-12s Wednesdays at 5.05pm

Masbro Children’s Centre, 87 Masbro Rd, Brook Green W14 0LR 4-7s Saturdays at 9.30am; 7-12s Saturdays at 11.15am

St. Michael’s Hall, Elmwood Road, Chiswick W4 3DY 4-7s Sundays at 9.30am; 7-12s Sundays at 11.15am

Christ Church W4 Mission Hall, Chiswick Park W4 5ER 4-7s Tuesdays at 4pm; 7-12s Tuesdays at 5.05pm

St. Paul’s Church Hall, Ridley Ave, Ealing W13 9XW

4-7s Tuesdays at 4pm; Fridays at 3.45pm 7-12s Tuesdays at 5.05pm; Fridays at 4.45pm

St. Barnabas Millenium Hall, Pitshanger Lane, Ealing W5 1QG

4-7s Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 4pm; Saturdays at 9.30am

7-12s Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5.05pm; Saturdays at 11.15am

Holy Innocents Church, Paddenswick Rd, Hammersmith W6 0UB

4-7s Thursdays at 4pm; 7-12s Thursdays at 5.05pm

Kensington United Reformed Church, Allen St W8 6BL

4-7s Wednesdays and Fridays at 4.15pm; 7-12s Wednesdays at 5.15pm and Fridays at 5.20pm

The Advent Centre, 37 Brendan St, Marylebone W1H 5JE 4-7s Mondays at 4pm; 7-12s Mondays at 5.05pm

St. Peter’s Hall, 59a Portobello Rd, Notting Hill W11 3DB 4-7s Wednesdays at 4pm and 5.05pm; Fridays at 4pm 7-12s Fridays at 5.05pm

Christ Church Watts Hall, Redford Way, Belmont Rd UB8 1SZ 4-7s Thursdays at 4pm; 7-12s Thursdays at 5.05pm

WECH Community Centre, Selbourne House, W9 3AZ 4-7s Tuesdays at 4pm; 7-12s Tuesdays at 5.05pm

What's more, Perform Superheroes summer holiday courses are coming to Chiswick, Kensington and Notting Hill this July and August - visit www.perform.org.uk/superheroes for more info.

www.perform.org.uk/try 020

7255

9120

enquiries@perform.org.uk

A shear delight for visitors to Odds Farm Park this May half-term

There’s a woolly welcome in store for visitors to Odds Farm Park, near Beaconsfield, this May half-term (May 25–June 2).

The rare breeds farm is hosting a Half-term Hoedown where visitors can look forward to sheep shearing demonstrations, welly-wanging competitions, arts and crafts and the chance to Do-Si-Do with Farmer Oddsocks and his family in the interactive country dancing sessions.

There will also be the opportunity to meet all the new spring babies who’ve arrived on the farm including lambs, kid goats and piglets.

Louise Winslow, assistant general manager, says: “Sheep shearing is a key event in the farming calendar. We have over 140 sheep on site with shearing taking place every day of the half term holiday.”

In addition, there is also plenty of weather-proof fun in the indoor soft play barn, while outside there is the outdoor adventure play, Marmalade’s Mini Golf course, Tractor and Trailer ride, H 2 Odds water play area and Marmalade’s Mini Rovers.

www.oddsfarm.co.uk WIN

WIN a family day ticket to Odds Farm Park

Odds Farm Park are offering one lucky reader a family day pass (2 adults and 2 children) to visit the children’s activity farm.

To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous family prize worth over £75, simply answer the following question:

What is the name of the farmer who will be appearing at Odds Farm Park this May half term?

Please email your answer to editor@familieswest.co.uk quoting ‘Odds Farm Park’.

The closing date for entry is Friday May 24.

Terms and Conditions

1. Tickets redeemable until 3 September 2024. 2. Prize cannot be sold, transferred or auctioned. 3. Tickets are not valid for Odds Farm Park birthday parties or Christmas Spectacular bookings. 4. There is no alternative prize or cash alternative. 5. Travel to Odds Farm Park is not included and winners have to make their own travel arrangements when visiting. 6. Prize not valid with any other offer or promotion 7. The winning entry will be picked at random and contacted following the closing date.

Learn life skills with Stagecoach

Stagecoach Performing Arts in Chiswick, Ealing Broadway and Kensington provides down-to-earth quality training for four to eighteen year-olds in the disciplines of dance, drama and singing in a very safe and happy environment.

The skills children learn at Stagecoach are not only fun and engaging but provide them with experience and key life skills such as discipline, perseverance, resilience, adaptability and creativity. The aim is to nurture and develop young potential, stretch children’s imaginations and build on their self-esteem and confidence. The skills learnt by Stagecoach students don't disappear; they are skills for life.

The two week trial provides parents and children with an opportunity to meet the teaching team and experience what Stagecoach has to offer.

Classes are kept small and led by experienced teachers who are passionate about encouraging children to express themselves and be the best that they can be.

To find out more about a two week trial, please visit www.stagecoach.co.uk

Family fun with National Children’s Gardening Week

This summer, why not get involved in National Children’s Gardening week?

Taking place from 25 May to 2 June, in the 'warm' half term at the end of May means that pretty much throughout the UK, children can plant all their favourite plants with less fear of weather damage or the need for complicated protective growing.

As well as simply good outdoor fun, gardening has been shown to have many benefits to health and wellbeing including being more physically active and feeling happier and more connected with the natural world.

There are many ways to get involved with National Children’s Gardening Week from DIY activities at home, to attending an event at a local garden centre.

More info: www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk

Clean Air Day

Participating in National Clean Air Day on 20 June allows your family to contribute to the collective effort of improving air quality and creating a healthier environment. Here are some impactful ways to get involved:

Reduce Vehicle Emissions: Choose alternative modes of transportation such as walking, cycling, or using public transport whenever possible.

Support Clean Energy: Advocate for and support the transition to cleaner energy sources. Use energy-efficient appliances, promote renewable energy options and explore opportunities to reduce energy consumption in your home.

Plant Trees and Green Spaces: Participate in tree-planting initiatives or support organisations that focus on creating and maintaining green spaces in urban areas. Trees act as natural filters, absorbing pollutants and improving air quality.

Raise Awareness: Spread the word about National Clean Air Day through social media, local community groups and schools.

For FREE resources to help you get involved at www.bit.ly/CleanAirDayUK

Rise in measles cases prompts vaccination

A national campaign to boost uptake of a vaccine that protects against measles has been launched in England after a rise in cases of the potentially deadly disease.

Measles outbreaks have occurred around the country, including in London, with the West Midlands experiencing cases at their highest level since the mid-1990s. The situation has led the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to declare a national incident, with health experts warning further outbreaks could occur in other towns and cities unless uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine increases. Figures from NHS England suggest more than 3.4 million children under the age of 16 years are unprotected against this trio of serious and preventable diseases. The new campaign will encourage children who have not had MMR vaccinations to receive their missed doses.

More info: https://bit.ly/NHSMeasles

More info: https://bit.ly/NHSMeasles

A SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 7 TO 18

JUNIOR AND SENIOR SCHOOL OPEN EVENTS BOOK NOW

Broadening your child’s vocabulary

By Jemma Z Smith

Vocabulary development is often something that parents mention when they approach a tuition company. Unfortunately, this area of learning does not have a ‘quick fix’ solution. Vocabulary acquirement, retention and application takes a long time.

Children need to be exposed to new vocabulary several times in several different contexts in order to fully absorb it and use it in their own writing and speaking, recognise it in a range of uses and be able to adapt it (for example, adding prefixes and suffixes) when questioned in a test environment.

Vocabulary is a vital aspect of primary education, especially for pupils preparing for entrance exams. A rich vocabulary not only enhances language skills but also serves as a key tool for academic success.

Understanding words in various contexts is fundamental for primary pupils. It allows them to grasp the meanings and usage of words, which helps to improve their comprehension skills.

Additionally, a strong vocabulary assists in spelling tasks, making children more aware of homophones and homographs, thus avoiding common pitfalls in their writing, particularly in time pressured test conditions.

For example, in some verbal reasoning papers, children may be presented with a choice of synonyms to match together: wind, reign, meander. In this example, wind (verb) and meander are synonyms but the child may read it as wind - the noun - due to its position next to a word that sounds like another type of weather but is spelt differently.

Having a broad vocabulary proves invaluable when preparing for entrance exams as it enables children to infer meanings and understand the overall message of a text without constantly referring to a dictionary, which although a useful skill, can break the flow of reading.

Encouraging reading for pleasure is a powerful strategy to improve and develop children’s vocabulary. Parents should emphasise the importance of reading anything and everything, from storybooks to comic books, menus during meals and signs while out and about. Such diverse reading opportunities expose children to varied language structures and expressions, contributing significantly to the expansion of their vocabulary banks.

If you can convince them to read some of the classic works of Dickens and perhaps some JRR Tolkien, that is great but all reading material can be useful.

Jemma Z Smith is Director of The Education Hotel. For further advice, visit www.educationhotel.co.uk

Developing skills for good school performance

By Gail Hugman

Many parents worry about their children underachieving or not reaching the expected level by the time they leave primary school or sit 11+ exams but there is good news. By developing your child’s skills it may be easier to improve their performance than you might think.

Research has shown that to be our most effective as learners, we need to develop a specific set of skills known as executive function skills.

Don’t be put off by the name! You have all these skills. Some of you will be brilliant at them, others less so but you will not be a stranger to them.

We are all born with the potential to develop these skills over time but they are not specifically taught as part of the curriculum in school, even though they are critical for effective learning and for everything we do in life.

Where do you start? Self-control, focus and attention, organisation, memory (especially working memory), planning, time management, critical thinking, task initiation, perseverance and flexibility can all be taught.

As a basic minimum, when children go to school, they need to be able to control themselves, concentrate and listen. If any of these skills are weak, it is likely to be flagged up in the child’s school report.

Being able to boil an egg does not mean you can produce a gourmet meal! Likewise, being able to ‘sit up straight, look at the teacher and fold your arms,’ do not alone make you a good listener. Each skill - gourmet cooking AND listening - is a complex series of things we need to co-ordinate to accomplish a result.

By understanding the skills as a process, we can break down everything that needs to happen. For example, to be a good listener, we need to be able to stop what we’re doing, focus and make eye contact. This last may not be easy for children who are overwhelmed by eye contact, so use discretion.

Teaching concentration

Primary aged children need to feel the skill:

Fill the ice tray (or a glass) with water. Ask your child to carry it to the freezer (or across the kitchen) without spilling a drop. When you see they are completely concentrating, tell them ‘what you are now feeling is called concentration.’ This helps their brain recognise when they are doing it correctly.

Tell your child when they need to concentrate (eg when the teacher is talking) and ask how concentration went each day.

Proper listening also involves cognitive skills: to concentrate, wait, reflect, make connections with reference, take in and sort information and finally, to respond appropriately.

Can your child stop what they’re doing when they’re asked? If not, work on it for a week and tell them that’s the target. Take each part of the process and focus on it until they get it.

Stages to encourage skill development

Define what your child is aiming to achieve; Explain the benefits of growing that skill to your child; Explain the downside of not having the skill in life; Create opportunities for your child to get feedback on how they’re doing with it; Congratulate small successes! The feedback you give your child helps their brain to get it right and consolidate it.

Support your child’s independence by focusing on developing their core skills as they progress through primary school. Find ways to work together with your child to use everyday life for working on the growing skills.

Plan homework; time activities; organise spelling; and practise self-control.

Gail Hugman is proprietor of Lessons Alive (www.lessonsalive. com) and author of A Short and Simple Book for the Why’s, 100 Things to Learn before you’re 10, plus the soon to be published Making the Pennies Drop, which shows parents exactly how to teach key skills to their children.

From Baby to Ballerina

Choosing a reading book

By Zuzu Jordan

‘I don’t like reading’ are words parents dread to hear and battle to change and in such households, reading can become a non-negotiable, timed and recorded homework chore. Yet we all strive to mould children who want to read, for pleasure, which becomes increasingly difficult to achieve when we have to compete with modern devices.

So how do we encourage a love for reading and books?

It starts with knowing how to match reading material to the child. When children are given complete free rein in choosing a book, sometimes it can be overwhelming.

Forgive the cliché but they often ‘judge a book by its cover’ or pick a book they find too challenging to actually read and end up giving up on it all together. Children need just as much support in choosing a book as they do reading one.

Try some of these techniques next time they seem stuck in choosing something:

Five finger rule. Ask them to read the first page of a book. If they struggle to read more than five words on that page then the book doesn’t suit them YET!

Try different genres. Not all reading has to be fictional. Expose children to non-fiction in the form of child-friendly newspapers or information text on a subject they might be interested in.

Find an author your child likes and research other works by the same author.

Reading comprehension

Becoming a confident reader is more than just decoding words or ‘barking’ at the text. Children who can seemingly read fluently can lack understanding which may go undetected.

There are different types of questions you can ask which will help your child to develop their comprehension of what they read. For example: retrieval questions, vocabulary questions, inference questions, prediction questions, summarising questions, author choice questions and giving opinion type of questions. All these questions are worded to encourage your child to interact with the text on a deeper level.

In order to answer comprehension questions, your child needs to learn to scan a text quickly. Viewing reading passages in chunks or paragraphs will make this less overwhelming for them and looking for key words and numbers will certainly help with retrieval type questions. Most other questions require evidence and therefore actual examples from the text. When you are reading with your child, ask them for evidence of their opinions on characters, plot, setting and vocabulary.

Listen to the audio version. Listening to someone else read can motivate children to read the book themselves.

Use organisations like Book Trust and CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) which have created recommended book lists for different age groups.

Find out what they are reading in school. What other books are similar? Which other books did the same author write?

Meet the author. Getting a signed copy and meeting the author can encourage children to read. Look out for events at your local book shop.

Apply for the Blue Peter Book Badge which requires children to read a book and submit a review.

Zuzu Jordan is a Mastery for Maths specialist who has taught primary aged children for sixteen years and is interested in early years and home learning. For free homework and home learning resources, find her on Instagram at edumate_uk

Audio books

Technology has progressed so much in recent years that playing audio books for children has become easier. Although as parents we would like them to actually read the book, there are many benefits to listening to someone else reading.

Of course, children need to develop the ability to decode words and read independently with stamina. But audio books can be convenient and just as portable as the paper versions. In fact, you can carry more books in your pocket when they are in an audio format and take them anywhere: in the car, bedroom, aeroplane and even the bath!

A narrated story can increase your child’s interest in a book, particularly if different voices narrate the characters.

Audio books also help with language development as children will naturally be exposed to more vocabulary and books that they may not be able to read yet.

Reading along with the audio is a great tip! If you all listen to the same audio book, you can share the same experiences which naturally opens up dialogue.

This month at Families, Rachel Bailey talks to Abi Elphinstone about her brand-new series that launches with Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons.

@abi.elphinstone

www.abielphinstone.com

Your new character Ember Spark was inspired by someone close to home, can you tell us where the idea for the character came from?

I thought I’d seen my fair share of wildness over the years – I’ve ridden with the Kazakh Eagle Hunters in Mongolia and been a whisker away from orcas in the Arctic, but then, in 2022, I gave birth to my daughter. She has flame-red, untameable hair (there was a brush once but she hurled it off a cliff). She naps in the dog basket instead of her cot because the puppy is the only member of the family who doesn’t tell her what to do. She hates baths but loves swimming in the ice-cold North Sea. She eats sand. There was only one thing to be done with her, I thought: write her into a story. So, along came Ember Spark: a feisty, flamehaired, animal-loving girl who discovers a cave full of fantastical creatures on the east coast of Scotland and becomes an Apprentice Vet to Magical Beasts.

You recently relocated back to Scotland, where this story is also set, what preempted the move and what are you and your family enjoying about being there?

My husband and I both grew up in Scotland and the landscape there – with its silver birch forests, icy lochs and purple hills – instilled in us an indestructible sense of wonder at wild places. We lived in London for fifteen years, but we always knew we’d return to Scotland.

Covid sped up our move as we had our second child in lockdown and felt a yearning to be living in the countryside again – both in terms of having outdoor space for our kids to play but also having the wild on our doorstep to re-ignite our sense of wonder. My kids are loving swimming in the sea, pretending to be

WINBear Grylls in The Jungle Beyond (the wood outside our garden gate) and climbing fiendishly tall trees.

Ember and Arno become unlikely friends when they are both tasked with helping a series of magical creatures. Does every good hero need a sidekick?

Sidekicks enable a hero’s inner growth. I included Arno as an Apprentice Vet to Magical Beasts because I wanted to write a story about the magic that happens when two children find themselves on an adventure together. It’s a magic that says to each child: it’s worth being curious, taking risks and going the extra mile for your friends.

As Ember discovers, when life moves in a difficult direction, it’s curiosity, courage and friendship that draw you out of the darkness. So, as much as the story is about the thrill of adventures in the wild, it’s also about friendship and selfdiscovery. Without Arno, Ember would never have learnt that ‘adventures are a hundred times better when shared.’

What creatures can we expect Ember and Arno to help next?

The second book, Ember Spark and The Frost Phoenix, comes out in October and opens with a magical beast hurtling through the window of Ember’s kitchen. It’s a frost phoenix, one of the rarest and wildest of magical beasts and it’s come to fetch Ember and Arno for their biggest adventure yet. One that involves krakens and neverwhales (whales that spout diamonds from their blowholes).

Families have a copy of Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons to give away!

For your chance to win a copy, all you have to do is answer the question below and email your answer to editor@familieswest.co.uk

What’s the name of the first book in Abi’s new series?

A Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons

B Ember Spark and the Frost Phoenix

C Sparky and the Dragons

Closing date for entries is 1 July 2024

As a busy working mum, how do you like to spend your down time with your family?

We love visiting our local bookshop, Night Owl Books in East Linton. The children’s section has house martin nests in the eaves and tons of comics, which my two boys adore. I also love climbing mountains with my kids; they adore reaching the summit of North Berwick Law, because a fibreglass replica of a whale’s jawbone sits on top and sometimes, we glimpse wild ponies slinking round the side of the hill.

Exploring caves down on the beach prompted me to write about a secret cave in Ember Spark and The Thunder of Dragons. And I love reading to my kids - my three-year-old recently burst into my bedroom at 6am and said: ‘Hello. I’ve finished all of my dreams. Let’s read a book!’

With the summer holidays just around the corner, what would be your ideal day out – long walk in the countryside or sightseeing in the city?

Long walk in the countryside. My kids have forgotten how to behave in a city. When we take them into Edinburgh, they crawl under buses, lie down on zebra crossings and lick shop windows. We’re on safer ground in the countryside – so long as I remember snacks for the walk. Without them, a twenty-minute jaunt through the woods can feel like ascending Everest with three extremely stubborn sloths.

Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons publishes on May 9th priced £7.99.

Involving your kids in social action

By Anoushka Freeman

In a world where compassion and empathy are invaluable qualities, parents play a crucial role in shaping their children into responsible and caring individuals. Engaging in social action with your children helps to instil these lifelong values and more. Plus it can be a great way to spend quality family time. Here’s how you can meaningfully involve your kids in social action.

Never too young to talk

Start conversations early. While young children might not grasp complex global issues, introducing the concept of kindness, empathy and helping others sets the foundation for a compassionate mindset. Use age-appropriate language and share stories that illustrate the power of positive actions.

Maximise everyday kindness

Use everyday activities. Teach your children the significance of small acts that make a difference, like picking up litter or turning off lights. These simple actions help normalise active citizenship.

Lead by example

Children learn best through example. Showcase the values you want to instil by actively participating in social action yourself. Whether giving to a charity, helping a neighbour or volunteering your time, your actions provide a powerful model for your kids to emulate. Wherever possible, take the opportunity to include your children in the activity. For example, if you are donating to charity, explain why you chose the charity and what impact your donation may have.

Explore different ways to help

Expose your children to a variety of social action opportunities such as going on litter picks or writing to MPs about causes they care about. This not only broadens their understanding of societal needs but also allows them to discover where their passions lie in making a positive impact.

Empower children to choose

Invite your children to choose a cause that resonates with them. Support them in researching, investigating and exploring different areas of interest. This empowers them to take ownership of their social action and enhances their critical thinking skills.

Commit to it

Establish a dedicated time for social action in your family routine. This commitment can be reinforced through accountability

measures, such as creating a charity jar that accumulates funds in response to helping with chores around the house. This encourages consistency and also reinforces the value of sharing one’s time, treasure and talent to help others.

Make traditions

Incorporate social action into family traditions. Whether it’s creating Christmas shoeboxes, donating to a food bank or including a charity birthday wish list, these traditions instil a sense of purpose and giving that extends beyond individual actions.

Reflect and celebrate

Social action should not be a one-off event. Keep the conversation alive by discussing ongoing initiatives and celebrating their impact. This continuous dialogue helps children understand the long-term impact of their actions.

Spending time working towards a shared goal is a brilliant way to strengthen family connection. When that shared goal helps others, such as in the case of social action, you are also helping to nurture compassionate, responsible and socially aware individuals. These values will last for life; research shows that young people who engage in meaningful social action are twice as habitually philanthropic in later life.

So by following these practical steps, you are actively shaping the next generation of change-makers!

Anoushka Freeman represents www.superkind.org, the social action and charity platform for young people who want to be change-makers. Find free resources to help young people learn, be inspired and get empowered to make a positive difference to their communities and the world.

Seven ways to help your anxious child

By Poppy O’Neill

Seeing your child struggle with anxiety can be so difficult for parents and carers. Our instincts to protect our children kick in and while we may try to take away the source of our child’s worry, this can backfire in the long run.

Really supporting our children to understand and cope with feelings of anxiety means showing them compassion while empowering them to build resilience and it’s a tricky balance to strike! Here are some of my top tips for supporting children when they feel anxious.

Allow the feeling. Instead of trying to sweep away your child’s worries with logic or reassurance, acknowledge and show understanding for their emotions. You could say something like: ‘You’re feeling really worried, it’s so hard when you don’t know what’s going to happen next.’ When we show children that we see their emotions and we’re not upset or afraid of them, they’re reassured that they’re not alone and that emotions are not something they need to be afraid of.

Get moving. Movement, especially rhythmic movement like walking, dancing or jumping, is very powerful for calming anxiety. It soothes the parts of our brain that logic can’t reach and helps your whole body feel that bit less tense. If your child feels overwhelmed or is struggling to calm down, focus on getting their body moving first, rather than on talking it out.

Get your child to help you. Easy, low-stakes chores around the house are an excellent way to connect with your child, build their self-esteem and calm anxieties. When we have a simple, easyto-achieve task to focus on, it helps our brains let go of worries, even if just for a little while. What’s more, helping to care for our

homes increases feelings of wellbeing and belonging, which are wonderful antidotes to anxiety.

Remind them of their capabilities. Anxiety can involve picturing the worst-case scenario and it’s tempting to dismiss these thoughts in an effort to reassure our kids. However, often facing the worst-case scenario head on is much more powerful. Even if your child’s fears aren’t rational, you can still chat about a plan for the eventuality they’re picturing. Whether it’s a zombie apocalypse or getting lost in a new school, you can have a conversation about what they would do, how they could handle challenges and who they could turn to for help.

One-on-one time. Having the undivided attention of one of their parents or carers is incredibly powerful for all aspects of children’s mental health. It doesn’t need to be a grand or complicated day out; taking them along to the supermarket or asking them to help you cook dinner is just as (if not more) effective. Frequency is key, so learn to spot these little opportunities for connection throughout the week and use them for some pressure-free bonding time.

Play. Studies have found that play helps us learn how to navigate the unexpected, so the more we play, the less anxiety we feel about the world around us. Naturally, play will look different depending on the age and interests of your child, so let them take the lead. Play can be anything from making up silly songs to card games to drawing; whatever fun, pressure-free activity your child can get absorbed in is going to be a brilliant antidote to stress and anxiety.

Take a deep breath. In times of anxiety, breathing can become shallow and erratic. Deep breathing helps release tension in the body, improves mood and promotes a sense of wellbeing. Teach your child to breathe slowly and deeply and you’ll give them a valuable relaxation tool they can use whenever and wherever they need it.

Anxiety is a part of being human. The key is to help our children recognise and understand how it works for them, rather than try to do away with anxious feelings altogether. Each interaction you instigate contributes to your child’s wellbeing and relationship with you. It can be hard but by boosting our children’s resilience and trusting them to navigate difficult emotions, they learn to trust themselves.

Poppy O’Neill has written several books on mental well-being for children and adults, including the bestsellers Don’t Worry, Be Happy and You’re a Star. Her most recent book How to Support Your Anxious Child is

by Vie.

It’s time for summer camps

By Ellie Malt

I once spent a freakishly hot week in the summer holidays learning to sail near the Isle of Wight. As a tween, I was dazzled by the teenaged sailing instructors who seemed endlessly cool. I’m not saying my sailing skills were Olympian but it felt like a modern version of Swallows and Amazons. The sense of freedom and adventure was amazing. My point? Any programme run with experience and enthusiasm can be more than just a childcare solution.

Holiday camps can be daunting and my children enjoy them more if they go with a friend. Perhaps the pandemic made them cautious? Having asked around, it seems they are not the only ones.

Jenny, a mother of a 7 and 9-year-old told me: ‘My kids weren’t interested in going at all but three hours at a tennis camp turned out to be a good first step.’ Half-day camps are a great introduction to camp life.

It’s also important to think carefully before automatically sending siblings to the same camp. ‘Choose carefully!’ warned Maggie, who has two girls with very different interests. ‘I sent both of mine off to the same sports camp. At the end of the first day, one came home on top of the world, the other refused to go back.’

If it is your child’s first time at a summer camp, you can ease their worries by choosing something that really dovetails nicely with their hobbies and personality.

If you think a tech camp might hit the mark, try something with a more specialist focus on robotics, coding and inventions. Next Thing Education run programmes across the UK led

Questions to ask

Here are some important questions to ask when choosing a camp.

Is it Ofsted registered? If it runs for more than four hours in one day, Ofsted registration is compulsory.

What is the ratio of staff to children? For children ages 3 to 8, the camp should have a 1 to 8 ratio. For children ages 8+, a 1 to 10 ratio is recommended.

Ask if staff are enhanced DBS checked (Disclosure and Barring Service, formerly the Criminal Records Bureau or CRB) and who is the designated safeguarding lead.

If high-risk activities are included, double check the camp is accredited by the relevant association.

Check the instructors and staff have the relevant qualifications for the activities. Many camps employ teens who add a fun dimension but they should always be overseen by professionally qualified staff.

How does it handle medications and food allergies? What are the procedures if your child becomes ill or in an emergency? Will there always be a trained first aider on site?

by professional creators, inventors and tech enthusiasts. The children learn creative, technical and logical skills. See www.nextthing.education for details.

For outdoorsy kids, summer is the perfect opportunity to immerse them in the most inspiring local scenery.

Do you live near a woodland? Forest Schools are ideal for nature loving kids, encouraging play alongside learning bushcraft skills, all in a natural setting. You can find your nearest by looking on the database of the Forest School Association which ensures site leaders have Forest School L3 qualifications or equivalent. Visit www.forestschoolassociation.org for details.

If you are heading to the coast for a holiday or even a short break and your child can swim and enjoys being in the water, a surf school is a good option to consider. Surfing England (www.surfingengland.org) has a list of more than fifty accredited surf schools and coaches. They’ve also created the Grom Squad programme for kids to learn about protecting the environment and sea safety.

Ellie is a mum of two daughters, living in Surrey.

Budget-friendly options

If your child is under 11-years-old, you may qualify for a Tax-Free Childcare account (which you can set up on the Government Gateway website). The government contributes £2 for every £8 you put into the account. To spend the money on a summer camp you will need your unique reference number from your account.

Many camps still accept childcare vouchers. The schemes are closed to new applicants but are still valid if you joined on or before 4 October 2018.

The Summer Camps Trust (www.summercampstrust.org) charity aims to make residential summer camp as normal for UK children as it is for kids in the US. Offering access to kids from all backgrounds, their Tryout camps offer reduced rates for first timers.

The Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAF) is a government-funded holiday camp programme offering free places to any child who is eligible for free school meals. Head to your local authority website and search for HAF. Note that each area has a different name for its HAF funded programmes.

holiday clubs

With summer just around the corner, here at Families we’ve picked out a selection of local holiday clubs and workshops booking now for the May half-term and school summer holidays.

Arts Ed in Chiswick run holiday courses in Drama, Musical Theatre or Filmmaking, whether you are passionate about performing or just want to have fun in the holidays. www.artsed.co.uk

Blue Shift Coding caters for tech savvy kids from 4 to 14 years with their half-term and summer holiday offering. www.blueshiftcoding.com

Chiswick Holiday Courses for ages 6 to 16 years are running the last two weeks in July and the first two weeks in August this year. Monday to Thursday 10am-4pm with extended day options. www.chiswickcourses.co.uk

Heathfield School in Ascot has been running its own summer activities camp for over 30 years. New in 2024 are Heathfield’s ‘Academy’ options which form part of the summer camp week and are joined by the International Summer School girls. Academy options vary each week but include: Performing arts, modern dance, water sports (kayaking and SUP boarding), tennis, golf, art – fashion, textile design and illustration, horse riding and multi activities. Girls who attend the performing arts academy, put on a show for their families at the end of their course. Heathfield ensure they offer both a full range of sports and creative activities. Lunch is provided plus drinks and snacks at breaks. There is also an early drop off breakfast and late stay option for day girls. Heathfield summer camp also offers weekly boarding or a minimum of 3 nights boarding per week. Boarders enjoy a fun evening programme with the International Summer School girls; a great opportunity to make lifelong friends from overseas! Camps run Monday to Friday; from Monday July 15 to Friday August 9. For more information, email summerschool@heathfieldschool.net or visit their website www.heathfieldsummerschool.co.uk

Lagads gymnastic and circus skills camps will have children learning gymnastics, ninja skills, juggling and acro dance as well as developing their skills on the air track. Holiday camps offer professional coaching and run from 9.30am–4.30pm with half day booking options. Locations include Marylebone, Chelsea, Muswell Hill and Alexandra Palace.

www.lagad.co.uk/holiday-camps

Little Runners holiday clubs take place at Little Ealing Primary school and are open to all children. They offer a varied activities programme to keep children engaged. www.lrunners.co.uk/holiday-club

My Little Boarders is a great alternative to all the usual holiday clubs on offer. Their skateboarding club is a holiday camp for children aged 5-16 years old that aims to teach kids the basics of skateboarding, whilst allowing them to make new friends, learn skilful tricks, and maintain an interest in a type of exercise that is fun to do. Usually run from either Acton skate park or Royal oak skate park in W2. Camps are tailored to both beginners and skilled skateboarders. www.mylittleboarders.co.uk/west-london-camp-w3

Perform run weekly confidence building classes for 4 to 12 years during term time which are packed with self-esteem boosting activities to ensure the best fun of the week for every type of child. In addition, Perform Superheroes summer holiday courses are coming to Chiswick, Kensington and Notting Hill this July and August - visit www.perform.org.uk/superheroes for more info and to book.

Premier Cricket Coaching at Ealing cricket club offers an extensive schedule of cricket courses for children throughout the year. Aimed at boys and girls of all abilities, their May halfterm camp is for children between the ages of 6 to 14 years and camps will run in the summer holidays for 5 to 14 year olds. www.premiercricketcoaching.co.uk

Shooting Starz, Club Des Sports run a variety of sports camps ranging from mini skills for 3 to 5 years to football, netball and multi-sports for 5 to 13 year olds. All camps take place at their site in Acton.

www.shootingstarz.co.uk/camps/shootingstarz

Smart Raspberry cookery school’s holiday workshops are designed to inspire young cooks whilst having fun in the kitchen. Children are taught a wide range of savoury and sweet dishes and given the confidence and skills needed to produce their own delicious creations. Workshops are available for children aged 5 to 15 years at John Betts primary school in Hammersmith. www.smartraspberry.com/classes-clubs/holiday-workshops

Children and teenagers can make friends, have fun and develop some great new skills at their local Stagecoach Performing Arts Holiday Clubs and Workshops. These exciting holiday workshops are designed for 4 to 16-year-olds (split into groups by age) where they spend each day acting, dancing, singing and playing drama games with lessons delivered by industry professionals. The workshop finishes with the students joining together to perform a showcase for family and friends.

www.stagecoach.co.uk/chiswick

www.stagecoach.co.uk/ealingbroadway

www.stagecoach.co.uk/kensington

The Little Foxes Club offers holiday camps for children of all abilities aged 18 months to 14 years. Run by experienced coaches that recognise the importance of staying active, enjoying sports and developing skills with friends, activities are age appropriate and support each individual child. Booking is flexible and allows parents to book by the hour, day or week.

15 JULY TO 9 AUGUST 2024

Children must be aged 5+ years to stay for the whole day. They also run weekly classes during term-time. www.thelittlefoxesclub.com/holiday-camps

The Young Film Academy offers a range of remote (via Zoom) and in-person courses for young filmmakers and actors aged 8 to 19 years. Look out for their ‘make a film in a day’ courses as well as their Summer Residential Camps. www.youngfilmacademy.co.uk

Details correct at time of going to press (April 2024) but may be subject to change.

familieswestlondon

familieswest

West London

Follow us on social media

familieswest

SUMMER CAMP

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR FURTHER DETAILS: https://heathfieldsummerschool.co.uk/summer-camp/ OR USE THE QR CODE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW! For Girls aged 7 to

What's On Your family guide to

Email editor@familieswest.co.uk with any events.

Event times and dates do change, please try and check that an event is still going ahead before you head out.

Ongoing

Mondays during term-time

Miri Mawr Baby and Toddler Group

London Welsh School, Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain Hanwell Community Centre, Westcott Crescent W7 1PD

10am-12 noon

Parents and their babies and toddlers have an opportunity to meet and play. Children are encouraged to communicate freely in Welsh through a variety of activities such as games, story-telling, craftwork, singing and yoga.

Contact: 020 8575 0237 info@ysgolgymraegllundain.co.uk

Tuesdays during term-time

Storytime Chiswick Library

1 Duke’s Ave W4 2AB 11am. Under 5s.

Fridays during term-time

The Open Door Food and Clothing Bank St Mary's Church Hall, Brentmead Gardens, NW10 7ED

Coffee and chat for all, food and clothing if you need them. 10am-12pm.

Contact: Rae 07414 990645

Tuesdays and Fridays during term-time Toddler Group

Perivale Library Horsenden Lane South UB6 7NT

Limited off street parking.

Saturdays during term-time Toddler Group

Acton Library, Acton High St E3 6NE

First weekend of every month Family Fun Weekend

Cutty Sark, King William Walk SE10 9HT Free with entry to the ship. www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/cutty-sark/familyfun-weekend

Until Sunday November 3

Dinosaur rEvolution

Horniman Museum, 100 London Road SE23 3PQ

www.horniman.ac.uk/event/dinosaurrevolution

May

Saturday May 4

Cardboard Carnival

Lyric Hammersmith, King St W6 0QL

The magic of puppetry, theatricality of music and the creative potential of the simple cardboard box. Performances at 11am and 1pm. 4+ years.

www.lyric.co.uk/shows/cardboard-carnival

Saturday 4, 25 and Sunday May 5 and 26

Family Sword Fighting Demonstration

Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 10am.

www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on

Saturday May 4 to Sunday June 2

Suitcase Circus

Puppet Barge Rembrandt Gardens Little Venice W9 2PF

Suitcase Circus features the most unlikely of performers including the world's only acrobatic potato sack and a daredevil ski glove. 5+ years

www.puppetbarge.com/suitcase-circus-littlevenice

Saturday 4 May to Sunday July 21

The Curious Rat

Little Angel Studios, Sebbon Street N1 2EH 3-8 years.

www.littleangeltheatre.com/whats-on/thecurious-rat

Tuesday 7, 14 and Tuesday May 21

Adventure Babies

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road SW7 5BD

Sensory storytelling class designed to boost baby’s development and nurture a love for books.

www.nhm.ac.uk/events/adventure-babies

Friday 10 and Friday May 17

Rug Rhymes

Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd SE1 8XX 0-5 years. 11am.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on

Saturday May 11

Where the Lost Socks Go

Lyric Hammersmith, King St W6 0QL Performances at 11am and 1pm. 4+ years

www.lyric.co.uk/shows/where-the-lost-socksgo

Saturday 11, 18 and Sunday May 12, 19

Pea

Puppet Barge Rembrandt Gardens Little Venice W9 2PF

Join Tiffany on her quest to find the PEA and get a good night's sleep. But what is really keeping her awake? 4+ years.

www.puppetbarge.com/pea-little-venice

Monday May 13

Mini Mondays

Iver Environment Centre, Slough Road, Iver SL0 0EB

Theme: Spring Changes

Don’t forget to book car parking ticket. 10am-12pm. 2-5 years.

www.iverenvironmentcentre.org

Tuesday 14 May to Sunday June 9

The Baby Show

Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St SE1 2HZ Sensory show for 6-18 months.

www.unicorntheatre.com/events/baby-show-2

Friday May 17 to Saturday June 8

The Enormous Crocodile The Musical Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, NW1 4NU 4+ years.

www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/39926-theenormous-crocodile

Friday May 17 to Sunday June 16

Princess and the Pea Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street SE1 2HZ Expect acrobatics, clowning, and fairy-tale adventure. 2+ years.

www.unicorntheatre.com/events/the-princessand-the-pea

Saturday May 18

Jack and the Beans Talk Lyric Hammersmith, King St W6 0QL Performances at 11am and 1pm. 3-7 years.

www.lyric.co.uk/shows/jack-and-the-beanstalk

Saturday May 18 to Saturday July 27

Prince Charming Little Angel Theatre 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN

A funny and endearing musical suitable for anyone who’s ever felt a bit anxious. 6+ years.

www.littleangeltheatre.com/whats-on/princecharming

Monday May 20

Community Explorers

Iver Environment Centre, Slough Road, Iver SL0 0EB FREE session exploring the site.

Don’t forget to book car parking ticket 10am-2pm.

www.iverenvironmentcentre.org

Friday 24 and Saturday May 25

In the Night Garden Live Beck Theatre, Hayes UB3 2UE Performances at 10am, 1pm and 4pm.

www.trafalgartickets.com/beck-theatre-hayes

Saturday May 25

The Not So Big Bad Wolf

Lyric Hammersmith, King St W6 0QL Performances at 11am and 1pm. 4+ years.

www.lyric.co.uk/shows/the-not-so-big-badwolf

Saturday May 25 to Friday June 7

Half-term Hoedown

Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common HP10 0LX www.oddsfarm.co.uk

Saturday 25 and Sunday May 26

Romeo and Juliet Family Storytelling

Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Also family workshop for 5-8 years and 9-12 years at 12.30pm.

www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on

Sunday 26 and Monday May 27

Windsor at War - History Weekend

Windsor Castle, Pug Yard Learning Centre

Free with entry to the castle. 9.30am-3.30pm. www.rct.uk/whatson

Monday May 27 to Sunday June 2

In the Picture - Photography themed activities

Windsor Castle, Pug Yard Learning Centre

Free with entry to the castle. 9.30am-3.30pm. Castle closed Tuesday and Wednesdays. www.rct.uk/whatson

Tuesday 28 to Friday May 31

Young Actors Short Course

Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 10am to 1.30pm.

www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on

Tuesday May 28 to Saturday June 1

Princess Smartypants

Lyric Hammersmith, King St W6 0QL

Perfect for anyone who is fed up with traditional fairy tales and wants to see what happens when girls are in charge of the castle. Performances at 11am and 1pm. 4+ years. www.lyric.co.uk/shows/princess-smartypants

Wednesday May 29

Mouse and Majesty

Music House for Children, 310 Uxbridge Road W12 7LJ

Join mouse on an extraordinary journey to pursue his dream of having tea with the Queen! 10-11am. 2-6 years.

www.musichouseforchildren.com/whats-on

Wednesday 29 and Thursday May 30

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Family Storytelling

Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Also family workshop for 5-8 years and 9-12 years at 12.30pm.

www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on

Wednesday May 29 and Saturday June 1

Plant Sale

Iver Environment Centre, Slough Road, Iver SL0 0EB

Buy plants, cakes and honey from their own beehives.

Don’t forget to book car parking ticket. 10am-2pm.

www.iverenvironmentcentre.org

Wednesday 29 May to Sunday June 2

Mish Mash Family Trail Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road SE1 8XX 3+ years. FREE.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on

Wednesday 29 May to Sunday June 2

You Are The Sun

Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd SE1 8XX

Magical medley of nature and music in this relaxed and playful opera for babies and grown-ups. 0-2 years.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on

Friday May 31

Little Birdsong Concert Music House for Children, W12 7LJ Designed especially for babies and young children together with their families 10-11am. 6 months +.

www.musichouseforchildren.com/whats-on

Friday 31 May to Sunday June 2

Pied Piper: Hip Hop Family Musical

Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd SE1 8XX 11am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm. 6+ years.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on

Friday 31 May and Saturday June 1

Macbeth Family Storytelling

Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 11.30am and 2.30pm Sat 1. 2.30pm only Fri 31. Also family workshop for 5-8 years and 9-12 years at 12.30pm.

www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on

From Friday May 31

The Paddington Bear™ Experience

London County Hall, Belvedere Road, Southbank SE1 7GP

Multi sensory interactive adventure for all ages.

www.paddingtonbearexperience.com

June

Saturday 1 and Sunday June 2

Grand Soft Day

Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd SE1 8XX

A curious new show that celebrates the wonder of the world around us. 11.30am and 2.30pm 2-6 years.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on

Saturday 1, 15, 29 and Sunday June 2, 16, 30

Family Sword Fighting Demonstration

Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 10am.

www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on

Monday 3 and Monday June 17

Mini Mondays

Iver Environment Centre, Slough Road, Iver SL0 0EB

Theme: Butterflies.

Don’t forget to book car parking ticket. 10am-12pm. 2-5 years.

www.iverenvironmentcentre.org

Tuesday 4 and Tuesday June 18

Adventure Babies

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road SW7 5BD

Sensory storytelling class designed to boost baby’s development and nurture a love for books.

www.nhm.ac.uk/events/adventure-babies

Friday 7 and Friday June 21

Rug Rhymes

Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd SE1 8XX 0-5 years. 11am.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on

The Secret Garden at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Saturday June 15 to Saturday July 20

Saturday June 8

The Little Prince

Lyric Hammersmith, King Street W6 0QL

Performances at 11am and 1pm. 4+ years. www.lyric.co.uk/shows/the-little-prince

Saturday 8 to Sunday June 16

My Shadow and Me

Puppet Barge Rembrandt Gardens Little Venice W9 2PF

One person (and his shadow) meet and go on an imaginative, shadowy journey where creatures emerge, engage and transform 4+ years.

www.puppetbarge.com/my-shadow-and-me

Monday 10 and Monday June 24

Community Explorers

Iver Environment Centre, Slough Road, Iver SL0 0EB

FREE session exploring the site.

Don’t forget to book car parking ticket. 10am-2pm.

www.iverenvironmentcentre.org

Saturday June 15

Rubbish Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

Lyric Hammersmith, King Street W6 0QL

Clowning, slapstick and mischievous storytelling - a joyous introduction to Shakespeare. Performances at 11am and 1pm. 4+ years. www.lyric.co.uk/shows/rubbish-shakespeareromeo-and-juliet

Saturday June 15 to Saturday July 20

The Secret Garden

Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, NW1 4NU 10+ years.

www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/20928-thesecret-garden

Saturday June 29

All Hands on Deck

Iver Environment Centre, Slough Road, Iver SL0 0EB

A day of volunteering. Bring a packed lunch

Don’t forget to book car parking ticket 10am-2.30pm. 14+ (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult).

www.iverenvironmentcentre.org

Saturday 29 and Sunday June 30

Royalists and Rebels - History Weekend

Windsor Castle, Pug Yard Learning Centre FREE with entry to the castle. 9.30am-3.30pm. www.rct.uk/whatson

Don't forget to say you saw these events listed in Families West London magazine!

Eco birthday gifts

By Tamsin Ryan

At a time when we are all trying to reduce the amount of plastic we consume, it seems toymakers and our little ones are against us every step of the way, filling our homes with plastic toys and gadgets everywhere we look. Moreover, these colourful and joyous pieces of plastic often provide precious little fun before they are pushed aside for the next in line.

When the inevitable birthday party season comes along, gifting something that is a little kinder to the planet might also provide some longer lasting fun.

Garden games are a long standing favourite gift. They are great for getting kids outside and provide the opportunity for lots of family fun. Lovely wooden games such as quoits, Jenga and skittles will provide years of fun and last a lifetime.

Books are often overlooked but can be such meaningful and enjoyable gifts. Favourite stories can be read and loved again and again and then passed onto siblings, friends or the next generation. Alternatively, a book token gives children the fun of browsing a real bookshop.

No presents! If you are having a party for your child, you may just want to ask for no presents at all, if you feel your child has more than enough. Alternatively, ask everyone to bring along a book that they have enjoyed reading and then do a book swap, so everyone goes home with a gift.

Preloved gifts are also a great option. As children often outgrow their toys before they really get a chance to play with them, you can find plenty of preloved toys that are like new. You save money, kids barely know the difference between new and preloved and aren’t bothered anyway. Try nearly new sales, charity shops or school fairs. If you’re short on time, www.rumage. com can search all your favourite marketplaces for you and filter by location so you can find a seller nearby, saving on postage.

Lasting gifts. A subscription is a gift that keeps on giving, perhaps a monthly magazine or a craft box.

Non-physical gifts. Instead of stuff and more stuff, consider a fun day out or an experience that the whole family can enjoy or some dance, music or sports classes. Another idea is an annual (family) membership to a local amusement park, museum or similar, which means your gift can be enjoyed again and again throughout the year.

‘Fiver’ parties are also rising in popularity and it’s easy to see why. They reduce the pressure on parents to search for the perfect gift and also mean the birthday child can use the combined monies to buy a meaningful gift that they would really like.

For more birthday tips, read Tamsin’s blog at www.icecreamandjelly.com or check out her Instagram page @icecreamandjelly_uk

Handmade and upcycled presents add a really personal touch. You can make something bespoke that will be unique to the lucky recipient. Previously I’ve upcycled a scooter and a guitar for my daughter, which have been loved and adored.

Whatever gift you decide to go with, by consciously avoiding new plastic and making sustainable choices, your biggest gift will be to the planet - and thus the future of the birthday child. What more could they ask for?