This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Families West • PO Box 32231 • London W5 1JR • Tel: 020 8930 4707 • Fax: 0208 930 7704 • E-mail: [email protected]
2 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 2012
3July/August 2012 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR
News & Views 3-5
Education 6-7
Parenting 8-9
Summer Activities:
Take the family challenge 10-12
FREE Summer Activities 14-18
Summer Workshops 18-19
What's On in West London 20-26
Classifieds 27
Contents
www.FamiliesWest.co.uk
Families West is designed by Natalie Schmidt of www.matobodesign.com and printed by Ridgeway Press, 12 Campbell Court, Bramley, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 5EG. Tel 01252 885837. Copyright Families West Magazine 2012. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owner’s risk and while every care is taken, neither Families nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families West is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers nor the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.
4 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 2012
New
s &
Vie
ws
Have you noticed how good it feels to walk barefoot on the
earth? Recent research has shown that our immune system
functions best when our body has an adequate supply of
electrons. Electrons are easily and naturally obtained by
walking barefoot on the earth, a process known as earthing.
These electrons have antioxidant effects that protect your
body from inflammation and its many well-documented health
consequences. Today we often wear rubber or plastic-soled
shoes which disconnect us from this energy and, of course,
we no longer sleep on the ground. This disconnection from
the Earth creates abnormal physiology and contributes to
inflammation, pain, fatigue, stress and poor sleep. By
reconnecting to the earth, these symptoms can be relieved
and even eliminated. There is no research indicating that
earthing will protect a person from exposure to cell phones
signals, microwave radiation, or radio frequencies, but
research does confirm that it reduces significantly induced
body voltages generated by simple exposure to common
household plugged-in electrical items (even if the appliance is
off), internal wiring, and underground electrical devices. So
next time you open the back door, let the children walk
barefoot, as they have done throughout history, what about
sitting, working, even sleeping grounded indoors?
Get your children (and yourself too) to walk barefoot this summer
Let the Sunshine in A recent survey in the UK
showed that more than half
of adults in the UK did not
have enough vitamin D. In the
winter and spring about 1 in
6 people has a severe
deficiency and about 9 in 10 adults in the UK of South Asian
origin. The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are unclear and the
problem can often be missed until it reaches severe levels, at
which point it results in a condition known as rickets. What is
also coming to light is the impact of insufficient Vitamin D goes
far beyond the problem of soft bones. New research is revealing
the importance of vitamin D in protecting against many health
problems, and insufficient levels of vitamin D is now being closely
associated with asthma in children, depression (recent research
by the University of Bristol), and two senior paediatric
pathologists have discovered a vitamin D deficiency in a significant
number of SIDS cases. We are all capable of producing vitamin D
with proper exposure to sunlight. However, most sunscreens
filter out UVB light which inhibits vitamin D production. During
the summer, just 15 minutes in the sun without sunscreen in the
early morning and late afternoon is enough for most light-skinned
individuals to create an ample supply of vitamin D, and for skin
with more pigment (melanin) up to 40 minutes. Sunscreens
remain essential during the sun’s peak hours for you and your
children, but maybe use just what you need.
New party themes available with Amanda’s Action ClubAmanda's Action Club have designed two brand new party formats to give older boys and girls
(aged 5-12 years old) unforgettable entertainment on their big day. These are:
• Amanda's Action Club Dance Parties, for boys and girls who want to take dancing to the next level. They
have 5 top breakdancing specialists in their crew (2 of whom are performing in the Olympic ceremonies!).
They'll perform and give the children a break-dancing workshop where they'll learn a dance routine to
show off to their parents at the end.
• Amanda's Action Club 'Strike A Pose' Parties are for young girls you want to feel like young ladies. These 2-hour parties are
hosted by beauticians who give the girls fancy nails and make-up sessions. There's also music, karaoke and dancing, followed by a
red-carpet catwalk show where girls choose their favourite outfits, to wow to their parents as a big finale.
Find out more at www.amandasactionclub.co.uk
Useful websites – To read more
on Vitamin D deficiency, go to:
• www.wddty.com
• www.webmd.boots.com
• www.womentowomen.com
• www.patient.co.uk
To read more on earthing, go to:
• www.earthinginstitute.net
• www.naturalnews.com
• www.kindredcommunity.com
5July/August 2012 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR
Parental leave plans: where do they leave you?The Queen announced in May that her Government would
propose measures “to make parental leave more flexible so both
parents may share parenting responsibility and balance work and
family commitments”. It was a grand announcement but little
information was provided on how such measures would work in
practice and what difference it would actually make to parents.
Parental leave is currently made up of several components:
maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave. Maternity leave
can be taken up to 52 weeks, paternity leave 2 weeks, adoption
leave 52 weeks and parental leave up to 13 weeks, 26 if you have
two children. The right to pay during that time differs according
to each category. Under all four types, you are entitled to
benefit from the same contractual rights, benefits and obligations
whilst you are on leave. The only difference being that for
parental leave and for part of your maternity and adoption leave
you will not be paid.
So what are the proposed changes and how will it affect us? According to the EU Parental Rights Directive, adopted in March
2010, the UK Government had to increase parental leave from
three to four months by March 2012. Despite this deadline, it was
recently announced that this great extension of rights will be
delayed until March 2013. In practice this makes very little
difference as a very high proportion of employees do not exercise
their rights to take existing parental leave because it is unpaid.
News & ViewsIn addition, the Government wishes to reduce the default
length of maternity leave from 26 to 18 weeks, with the
remaining entitlement of up to 38 weeks able to be shared
between both partners as they see fit. There would be nothing
to stop parents taking their leave simultaneously, while parents
could also request to take their leave in any number of blocks
of any duration – although employers can refuse this. As great
in theory as this proposal may be with the best of intentions in
mind, it is unlikely to ever work. A recent survey concluded
that only 17% of mothers thought their partner would be
willing and able to take some of the shared leave in addition to
their statutory two weeks’ paternity leave. Most (41%) thought
they would not be able to afford it as a couple, while 14% said
their partner would not want to and 28% said that it would not
be practical.
What either measures do not tackle, and what was not
mentioned in the Queen’s Speech, was how to implement real
practical flexible working for parents to fit around their children
and their childcare. Parents do not want increased leave or
shared leave; they want a career that works with their children.
This may not need a great announcement but it would make a
great change.
Sarah-Jane Butler, Parental Choice Limited, the one stop
source for all your childcare needs. www.parentalchoice.co.uk –
Helping you make the right choices for you and your family.
Yourspace was delighted when Elijah,
aged 10 of W4, won a place in the Families
West competition, on Yourspace Project, part
of their series of holiday courses for children
held in Ealing W5. Elijah said, “Yourspace Project
was fantastic fun... I loved it and couldn’t wait to
go in every single day to work with all the other
kids and teachers. I even made a new best friend!”
If your rising star would like to come
to Yourspace over the summer
(13th-17th August 2012) then check
out www.yourspacedrama.com.
Swashbuckler wins his space
6 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 2012
Education
Helping children with reading with online literacy resources
Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress are interactive
reading and writing activities that focus on the core reading
curriculum of phonics and sight words using skills and strategies
essential for reading success, supporting what children learn at
school. The program has 120 literacy lessons that take a child
from foundation stage through to the end of Key stage 1. In
addition to the lessons there is Reading Eggs World which caters
for children who already know the basics of reading but who
still have much to learn about reading, writing, spelling, and
comprehension. Children are able to choose their own
adventure from a wide range of activities including creative
writing, practicing sight words, vocabulary and comprehension
skills. The Reading Eggspress program contains a library with
over 1000 e-books, and lessons in comprehension, spelling,
vocabulary and grammar. Both the Reading Eggs and Reading
Eggspress programs have a comprehensive reporting system that
tracks progress so that students and their parents can clearly
see each child’s achievements.
Using promotional code UKS24LDW you can trial the
programs for free for an extended period of 5 weeks.
Go to www.readingeggs.co.uk, register your email address
and once your account has been set up you can enter
the code on your parent dashboard.
St Augustine’s Priory welcomes a new HeadteacherSt Augustine’s Priory is
pleased to announce the
appointment of Mrs Sarah
Raffray as Headteacher
from September 2012.
Sarah Raffray comes to
them from a Catholic
Independent Day and Boarding School in Dorset. Sarah cites her
key achievements while Deputy Head there as producing the
roadmap for school improvement, and Sarah has been at the
heart of strategic planning and development.
Sarah is deeply committed to the education of girls and delights
in the richness found in girls’ schools. She sees them as vibrant,
joyful places where learning is treasured and where girls can be
intellectually ambitious. The Catholic vision for education is also
central to Sarah’s work and she is excited about leading St
Augustine’s into a new stage of its development. Sarah brings an
enthusiasm for what is best about what is new and innovative,
along with a desire to celebrate the fine heritage of the school.
The School is looking forward to welcoming her.
7July/August 2012 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR
Education
8 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 20128 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR
ParentingHow do we respond to failure?Perhaps education systems and modern methods of
parenting don’t equip our children well for responding to
failure positively. Across the world education systems with
their interest in standardising and measuring have put much
emphasis on tests, results, scores and achievements with the
result that sometimes there has been not enough attention
paid to the process of learning, creating happy, creative and
thoughtful problem solvers. So much attention has been paid
to achievements that to fail is no longer an option.
Anything wrong with Positive parenting? Parents have praised their children for doing well. The focus
remains on results rather than on creative thinking or new
tactics tried. This creates a lot of pressure for kids – they
know that winning is what counts and it makes it hard for
them to fail. This creates a culture of risk adversity in
academics, sport and the arts and pits children against each
other rather than encouraging collaboration – who dares to
fail or even to take another path if it is so important to win
and there is a set way to do it?
Parents can influence matters considerably by:▼ what we pay attention to and how we talk about
success and failure. If we pay attention only to
achievements children learn results-based success is all
that counts. When they do not achieve the result hoped
for are our children not worthwhile? When your
daughter comes home from a netball match don’t let
your first question be ‘did you win?’, but ‘Did you enjoy the
game? Did you play your best? Were you able to set up some
goals? How did the team play together?’
▼ Giving meaningful and descriptive praise for
effort, strategies, attitudes and small
improvements, rather than results, to develop a
growth mindset in children. “You kept on trying with these
sums even though you didn’t find it easy. That’s persevering.
Your efforts have paid off – five out of six are correct.”
▼ Looking behind children’s behaviour and
acknowledging their emotions to help them
manage their feelings. Children who develop
emotional intelligence are more resilient and pick
themselves up again after set backs.
▼ Encouraging independence, especially in thinking,
to build self trust. Invite and listen to kids’ ideas.
“I know we did too much for our youngest son around his A
levels because we felt it was so important that he get the
grades he needed for the next step in his education, his
passport to successful adult life. But when he feels his parents
are there to catch him he doesn’t put so much effort in
himself. When we do too much of his thinking/planning/
organising he doesn’t do it himself.” Mother of 18 year old.
▼ Modelling how to handle failure well.
o When you get something wrong don’t beat yourself
up about it but acknowledge the mistake and why it
was a mistake.
o Take steps to remedy it – make amends.
o Articulate what you are learning, show that you
are not diminished by your failures but can profit
from them.
Coping with Failure
By Melissa Hood
It is a certainty that we all experience failure from time to time and therefore need to be able to cope with it. There are (at least) two ways of responding to failure: one is to be beaten down by it and to feel hopeless and discouraged and perhaps give up; the other is to accept that this time things didn’t go so well and determine to keep trying until you do better and hopefully learn something from the experience. Edison found many ways not to invent the light bulb before he discovered the way that worked. “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work…”
9July/August 2012 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR
▼ Responding encouragingly to
their mistakes around school
work or music practice or sport
as follows:
o Find something positive to
comment on first. Make sure
you’re acknowledging good
qualities or behavioural traits
such as commitment and
creativity as well as being able
to spell well or do fractions or
dribble a ball well or play a
piece fluently.
o Then ask them to find
something to improve, routinely.
It is a difficult task for parents but we
need to allow our children to have an
unpressured childhood not just for the
sake of their present happiness but
also to create a future generation of
people who can think and are willing
to embrace new ideas.
www.theparentpractice.com
Are you collecting contraband on top of the fridge? What do you do with the kid’s contraband? You know... the game you confiscate when they fight over it or the toy they wallop their brother with. Or the mobile phone they are texting on after bedtime...Some parents have an overflowing mound of toys on top of the fridge,
others hide them. Perhaps you are like me with older children who can
reach above the fridge better than I can and so resort to hiding things about
the house... and losing them.
Contraband can become a source of contention with older children – whose
possessions are they? When they accuse you of ‘stealing’ the CD they raised the
money to pay for themselves – whose is it?
To manage contraband effectively;✔ It must be removed calmly!! Shouting & waving it in their face doesn’t enhance
the message – as a minimum it makes you look slightly mad or worst, it’s scary.
Either way they probably won’t be thinking about their misdemeanour and how
to behave better next time.
✔ Avoid breaking it in the process – particularly electronic equipment. Slamming down a
PS3 may end up with wrangling about who gets it mended and again MAJOR DISTRACTION!
(apart from the fact it will probably be you taking it for repair). Don’t leave electronics in
boot of car on a freezing night either – it may fuse it entirely (been there, done that)
✔ Be clear about what the unacceptable behaviour was and ideally state what
better behaviour you would like to see next time (briefly!)
✔ Only keep it for the shortest period possible. No more effective removing for
a month than 3 days as leads to resentment instead for getting the message. Besides
if hidden, if you are like me you will almost certainly have to spend ages looking an
idiot rummaging in the back of cupboards and behind furniture searching for it.
✔ Don’t allow them to whinge or browbeat you into returning it earlier.
There are plenty of opportunities for them to learn negotiation and debating
skills, just not this one.
✔ Return it with grace after time is up – no long lecture. If you must say anything –
remind them of the positive behaviour you are expecting.
If however the top of your fridge is piled high and you are hunting for capacity for
contraband elsewhere, perhaps it’s time to take a step back and consider a different
approach. Maybe taking away toys as a consequence isn’t working and you are having
to escalate to have an impact. Or perhaps you are keeping things too long. ‘Neutralising’
a toy during an argument until they agree to try a reasonable way to play together with
it does not need it put away for weeks.
More importantly it might be a nudge to go back to basics. Are you looking hard enough for
things to praise? Are you spending special time with your child and joining them in activities
and games they like to play... just enjoying spending time together. This is often enough in
itself to reduce conflict... so that toys remain toys instead of becoming contraband.
Dr Clare Bailey & Dr Debbie Marsden from Parenting Matters will be running a series of
evening Interactive Parenting Seminars in Chiswick in the autumn. They also run parenting
courses, individual consultations held by phone or face-to-face and presentations in schools.
To find out more call 01494 677575 or go to www.parentingmatters.co.uk.
Example: “This morning when we were getting ready
for school I yelled at you guys. We were in
such a hurry and I didn’t think you were
being very helpful. It’s not a good idea for me
to yell at you as it doesn’t make you feel
good,… or me, and it doesn’t make things go
any faster. I’m sorry. I thought about it
afterwards when I was calm and realised that
it was because we were in a hurry and I
didn’t want to be late that I shouted.
Tomorrow I am going to make sure we get
started earlier and I’m going to see what I
can do tonight so that there’s less to do in
the morning. I think I learnt something today.”
Say that you saw it featured
in Families West Magazine
10 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 2012
Summer 2012 is going to be all about active fun (it is the Olympics, after all) and getting out and about in the UK (which is, for all of us cash-strapped families, a lot cheaper than going abroad). So what are the best activities to enjoy en famille? Joanna Moorhead investigates
Swing through the forestSwing through the forest
A tree-top adventure makes for an adrenalin-charged day out with the
children – and while you’re up there, you get some brilliant views as well!
Personally, I’ve never been so happy to be back on solid ground as when I got
down from the terrifying heights of the forest course I tried out with my
kids... but on the upside, at least I did make it down, and relying on them to
help me through the most white-knuckle parts of the course went a long way
in terms of family bonding!
The nearest Go Ape! Centres to West London are at Trent Park in Enfield or
Black Park Country Park in Buckinghamshire. (both within an hour’s driving
distance from most West London postcodes.) The over-10s Go Ape! course
takes children (and their parents) through an hour long network of looping
obstacles five metres above the forest floor, including the spider’s web, log
balance and jungle crossing, before finishing on a tree-to-tree zipwire. (Until
recently Go Ape! has been restricted to over-10s, but there’s now a new
course at two of the company’s 27 centres nationwide – Thetford near
Brandon, and Moors Valley Country Park near Bournemouth designed for
children as young as four, although they also need to be at least a metre tall.)
Prices: Go Ape! costs £30 for adults, £20 for 10-17 year olds.
The new junior course costs £15 for any age.
For more information see www.goape.co.uk
11
Climb the rocksRock-climbing is apparently one of the
fastest-growing sports in Britain, and
giving it a try makes for a great family
day out. Like all the best family
challenges it’s about supporting one
another, learning new skills,
encouraging people when they need it,
and celebrating new-found abilities and
courage! Family climbing courses
abound and most are for complete
beginners and take children from about
eight (although some specialise in
working with younger children). Look
for a course where you have a
dedicated instructor: you’ll learn
(amongst other things) how to belay
(ie hold the ropes safely) and how to
make the most of the rock’s features
for your hands and feet. If you’re
looking for a family challenge in a rainy
period, think about climbing walls.
We have the Westway Sports Centre
in W10 where you can hire an
instructor for a family session.
www.westwaysportscentre.org.uk/
climbing
Ride the tracksFor a family with people who can’t get
From Toddlers to Teenagers: Gymnastics, Ballet, Dance Drama,
Drama, Street Jazz/Tap, Boys Street Dance and Art.
For Adults: Stretch Workout and Body Blitz.
TWISTERS classes are stimulating and fun.
We are well known for our patience and understanding.
ww
p g
ys
.
gersss::: ama
We welcome children
of all abilities
For more information call:Hermione on 0208 933 9997or Louise on 0208 840 4452
Phot
ogra
phy b
y mela
niem
oss.c
om
Twisters Ealing St. John’s Church, Mattock
Lane, Ealing, W13 9LA
Twisters Acton & Chiswick September 2012 You will fi nd us at: Acton Baptist
Church, Church Road, Acton, London W3 8PP
OPEN DAYFREE GYM PLAY SESSIONFRIDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER
9.15-12.15
Summer Activities
If you are looking for ideas for Summer Activities in West London, then a great place to start is our Directory and our What's On section on www.familieswest.co.uk
We have a comprehensive listings of ideas of things to do to keep the whole family entertained.
14 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 2012
Cooking Parties!•• Fun, cooking parties
•• For boys and girls aged 5-16 years•• Cooking classes
At homeWhether the sun is shining brightly or it is bucketing down with rain, if you want to enjoy your own home for a period of time over the summer holidays here is our list of free and fun things to do at home!
1) Using a bucket of water and big (wallpaper) brushes get little ones to paint
the garden fence, wall or patio. Simple and mess-free, but great fun. Or get the
paints outside and try hand/foot/finger painting on the largest paper you can
find – try the back of unused old wallpaper. Then get out the sprinkler hose to
clean everyone off!
2) Set up a treasure hunt with clues around the house.
3) Water fight in the back garden with two teams – one guarding a base,
and the others trying to get to the base and steal (their mission plans)
4) Games day – challenge the kids to get through at least 10 board games, ping
pong sessions etc. in the day
5) Have a movie afternoon with popcorn and a good dvd
6) Camp out, pitch a tent in the garden, fill the paddling pool and sand pit, light
the BBQ and make some fruity cocktails. Then pretend you’re in an exotic
location and laugh at all the poor travellers stuck in airports or on motorways.
7) An outdoor blackboard will encourage all sorts of games and creativity. All
you need is a piece of board, ideally marine plywood, cut to the size you
require, and some blackboard paint, available from DIY or hardware stores.
Once painted, the board can be fixed to your house wall, fence or shed. Keep
chalks in a waterproof box, ready for drawing, writing, treasure hunt maps,
instructions, scoring
8) Rainy day activity? A small amount of screen time is useful for children and
we know they love working and playing on the computer. The Reading Eggs
and Reading Eggspress programs are all about bringing out the best in each
child using unique worlds of interactive reading and writing activities. Using
promotional code UKS24LNW you can trial the programs for free for an
extended period of 5 weeks. Simply visit www.readingeggs.co.uk, register
your email address and once your account has been set up you can enter the
code on your parent dashboard.
9) How about winning some free stuff? Enter our competitions on page
www.familieswest.co.uk for your opportunity to win a load of free stuff to
Inspired by the National Trust we at Families Magazine have taken up the challenge to find at least 50 free things for you to do with your children this summer! So whether you’re looking for days out, music, museums, markets, clubs or classes to attend or at-home fun, we’ll prove you really can get something for nothing.
Summer Activities
15July/August 2012 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR
LibrariesFor when the weather is wet and/or nasty, here’s what you can do indoors for free at a local library.
Story Lab is the 2012 national Summer Reading
Challenge™ coordinated by The Reading Agency and is run
in 97% of UK public libraries. With 780,000 children aged
4-11 taking part, the Summer Reading Challenge is the
biggest national reading initiative. It runs in libraries
throughout the summer holidays, with incentives, activities
and events designed to create a real buzz around children's
reading. The challenge is simple – to read six or more library
books over the summer. Just head to your local library at
the beginning of the summer holidays where staff will enrol
your children – it's completely free of charge – and every
child will receive a membership card or pack.
www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk or
www.facebook.com/SummerReadingChallengeUK
Summer Activities
Making space for ‘at home fun’ CAN be fun in itself! Juliet Landau-Pope is a certified coach and member of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers. Here she shares some top tips:
1. Be Positive Rather than harping on about tidiness, emphasise the
desire to provide more space to play. Put on some
music and talk about making room to dance. Help
children to visualise direct and immediate benefits.
2. Be Purposeful Help children part from things that they no longer use
by finding meaningful ways to donate. Show respect for
their belongings – don’t talk about ‘chucking out’ or
‘getting rid’ of their toys. Choose a specific charity to
support through donations or by doing a car boot sale.
3. Find Places Clutter often piles up because of indecision – you may
not have decided where to put dressing-up clothes, for
example. Ask the children to help you allocate a
storage space. Then sort things and encourage them to
be selective.
4. Be Particular It’s easy to become distracted so be systematic, and
focus on one task at a time. Take everything off one
shelf, for example and agree not to play with anything
else in the room until you’ve sorted out the books
into piles of what to keep and what to give away. Take
it step-by-step and remind the children of your
particular goals.
5. Aim for Progress rather than Perfect
It can take time to sort and to decide what to reduce,
reuse, recycle, donate or discard. Be realistic about
what you can achieve in each session. Rather than
aiming for perfection, make an effort to notice – and
Free days outStep Outside Guides: the little books that give you a big day out!
Step Outside Guides are a new
series of beautifully illustrated little
books which offer themed days out
by foot and by bus, discovering
fascinating places and wonderful
surprises in the capital. Everything you
encounter will be free-to-see, so you
don’t need to spend a penny! Just
pack up your picnic, your guide, and off you go.
The days are great for every age, and the books are
specially designed so that children, from about nine years
old can hold the book and take the lead. The maps are
bold and easy to follow and the explanations are simple
and clear. There are things to spot and questions to
consider all through the book, and rest-your-Legs pages
with puzzles and activities for weary moments.
Each book features an animal character, brought to life
by delightful illustrations. The animal lives on the route,
and acts as your escort, highlighting his Top Treasures
along the way. Good picnic spots are noted, free toilets
are marked and accessibility details for buggies and
wheelchairs are included.
The London Treasure Trail and Down by the Thames are
available from www.stepoutsideguides.com and
selected museum shops and book shops at £5 each.
FFSt
pa kck up your piicni
Decluttering Decluttering the playspacethe playspace
As you progress through the
summer of free stuff or when it
is over remember to visit the
National Trust’s interactive website
for kids with the list of the 50
things kids should do before they
are 11 ¾. Kids can log in and tick
off the things as they do them.
www.50things.org.uk/
July/August 2012
16 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 2012
Ride a bike
Go Sky Rides are free, community
bike rides, giving you a chance to get
out and explore your local area.
They’re led by a British Cycling-trained
ride leader so you’re in safe hands,
even if you’re a bit rusty. There are
rides at four different levels from
traffic-free rides in parks and on bike
paths, to more challenging rides taking
your cycling a bit further. For example
on 22 Jul at 10am there is a Park to
Park ride starting at the car park in
Holland Park for adults and children
aged 11+ Other rides allow for much
younger children to ride or bike
trailers. www.goskyride.com
Sustrans offer a free information pack
to discover great places to cycle near
you as well as a cycling with children
booklet. They also have an online
mapping program to find out where to
walk and cycle from your home. Just
tap in your postcode and it shows you
local walking and cycling routes as well
as bus stops, train stations and
connections to local destinations such
as shops, schools and sports facilities.
www.sustrans.org.uk
Walks & Bike RidesEnjoy the great outdoors either locally or further afield...
Take a Walk
The Ramblers is leading plenty of
short, family friendly walks this
summer that everyone is welcome to
join for free.
Visit www.ramblers.org.uk/
walksfinder or for information on
getting children and families walking
locally try www.ramblers.org.uk/
info/paths/region/london/
londonwest.htm.
The walks by the river and the canal
look especially good. You may find
www.walkswithbuggies.com/Greater-
London a better bet if you have a tiny
one in tow.
Many West London councils have
walks that have been mapped out for
different levels of fitness and ability.
They range from short 20 minute
walks around parks to a long trek that
may traverse several boroughs.
National Trails are long distance
routes for walking, cycling and horse
riding through the finest landscapes in
England and Wales. Altogether, in
England and Wales, there are about
2,500 miles (4,000km) of National Trail.
They have all been created by linking
existing local footpaths, bridleways and
minor roads and by developing new
ones where there were gaps. They pass
through some of the most stunning
and diverse landscapes in Britain.
There is something to suit everyone,
from short walks to a 630 mile
adventure. www.nationaltrail.co.uk
There are lots more things to do in the 'What's On' section of our website.
Go to www.familieswest.co.uk
MarketsEven without cash to splash, there’s a special pleasure in checking out some of the most famous markets in the world – or perhaps just a local one? Enjoy the atmosphere, the entertainers and take a leisurely stroll just enjoying the ambiance!
Borough Market (SE1) Perfect for
the family, every Thursday sees a
Demonstration Kitchen between 12 –
2pm in the Jubilee Market. These
sessions are free and showcase some
of the produce available in the market
with their resident chef, Hayley
Edwards cooking up dishes inspired by
seasonal produce. Hayley is on hand to
give advice, tips and tricks for the
Kitchen in these informal and hands on
sessions. Borough Market will be
opening for summer 2012 everyday
throughout the Olympic and
Paralympic period – Sunday to Friday
10am – 5pm and Saturdays 8am – 5pm.
www.boroughmarket.org.uk
Top tips for fun family walking: Make it an adventure: Don’t suggest ‘going for a walk’, make it an outing
or adventure to somewhere like a park, a playground, woods or a pond; treat
them to a picnic or take something to eat and drink along the way.
Take it nice and slow: Be prepared to go at their pace, stopping to play and
look at things on the way, and to cut the walk short if they get tired. With
regular walking children will build up their fitness just as an adult does but
keep walks short until you know about their abilities.
Go prepared: Make sure they have comfortable clothes and shoes, and
extra layers in case of rain or cold weather.
Safety First: Remember hats and sun cream, and take something for bites
and stings.
Let them bring a friend, team up with another family, or join a led walk
that’s suitable for families.
Get Creative: You could plan fun activities and games like a treasure hunt or
I-Spy; look out for animals, birds, trees, people, buildings, colours, or collect
tree seeds, leaves, shells, and small stones. Take photographs along the way
they can put in a walker’s diary; get them involved in planning and running the
walks, perhaps plotting the route on a map and map reading during the walk.
Parks & GardensLocally we are lucky to have a plethora of enticing green spaces with lush grass, perfumed flowers, acres of room in which to wander and most with children’s playgrounds. Visiting is FREE! Look them up on www.familiesonline.co.uk/LOCATIONS/London-West/Directory/Parks-in-West-London and try somewhere new!
A little further afield, here are a couple of suggestions for little ones...Aldenham Country Park (WD6) covers 175 acres of woodland, and boasts a
range of nature trails for visitors to enjoy. It’s also home to ‘100 Aker Wood’, a
recreation of all the features found in the Winnie the Pooh adventures. Children
love the boating lake, and the rare breeds’ farm, which is home to a variety of
animals such as chicks, geese, ducks, goats, guinea fowl, turkeys, lambs, cattle,
sheep, and poultry. You can enjoy outdoor fitness, woodland experiences, mixed
farming, pony rides, nature walks and more! www.aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk
Hampstead Heath (NW3) is one of London’s most popular open spaces.
An island of beautiful countryside, the magic of Hampstead Heath lies not only in
its rich wildlife and extensive sports and recreational opportunities, but also in its
proximity and accessibility to millions of people. There is a zoo, an athletics track,
an education centre, extensive children's facilities, three swimming ponds and a
Lido. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
The Welsh Harp or Brent Reservoir (NW9) is 170 hectares of open water,
marshes, and grassland. It is an attractive recreational centre, and inhabits a range
of wildlife. There are two bird hides on the site, a range of nature trails, and a
large space of open water. There are vast amounts of wildlife to see, which makes
a lovely afternoon out. www.brent.gov.uk/pks.nsf/pages/LBB-89
Free park resources: While you are outside visiting parks, fields or other
natural spaces you could be part of a fun wildflower survey. Plantlife's Bee Scene
survey is free and is an easy way for children to learn about wildflowers in their
local area and whether that area is good for bees. By 'planting' the findings on
the Wild About Plants website, they will help create a virtual meadow of good
wildflower sites across the country. A series of free guides and resources are
21July/August 2012 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR
To advertise in Families West please email [email protected] or phone 020 8930 4707When you contact us, please say that you saw our advert in Families West!
For children aged from 2 to 5 years. The nursery follows the Montessori method. We also offer, French, Ballet, Music, IT, Art and Drama.
Full and part time sessions are available. Qualifi ed and experienced teachers maintain a high standard of learning and care.
* Excellent academic record* Caring and nurturing environment
* Happy, considerate and confi dent children
Tel no: 0208 579 2304 Mobile no: 07956 228 959Email: [email protected]
Website: www.stmatthewsmontessori.com
Group of International nursery schoolsW2 Lancaster Gate • Bayswater
22 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 2012
The London 2012 Games: a summer spectacular After years of effort, dedication and anticipation, it’s nearly here! The London 2012 Games marks a defining moment for athletes of Team GB and Paralympics GB – a chance to show the world what they can do on home soil.
London 2012 will be remembered for years to
come. There are all kinds of activities for the
family to enjoy together. Whether you continue
to follow the Olympic Flame, catch the action
at a host of venues, or watch the action on big
screens across the UK, there is a lot to do and
see this summer.
London 2012 for free If you were not lucky enough to get Olympic
or Paralympic tickets, you can still see some of
the world’s top athletes in action this summer.
Some of the best open-air action is free to
enjoy without tickets. Events like the marathon
and road races offer the chance to see world-
class athletes in peak performances against the
magnificent backdrop of the London skyline.
London 2012 on the big screen If you can’t make it to any of the regional
venues, why not head to your local live site. BT
London Live Hyde Park, one of the eight Royal
Parks, will deliver unparalleled viewing of the
Olympic Games via a series of big screens,
including the largest one in the UK. The live
BBC coverage will include London 2012 medal
events, with cultural entertainment and live
music also on offer. It will be free to access
between 28 July and 11 August. (The Opening
Ceremony Celebration Concert on July 27 and
the Closing Ceremony Celebration Concert on
August 12 will be ticketed.) There are three
options for visiting -
• Walk in on the day from 11am.
• Get a guaranteed entry ticket – up to four
tickets per person will be available to be
booked, in advance, for entry into BT
London Live Hyde Park, before 2pm, on a
specified day. There is no limit to the
number of days you can guarantee your
entry for. These tickets will not be
available for the Opening and Closing
Ceremony Celebration Concerts. Lots of
activities will be on at the park including
tennis, lacrosse, football, volleyball and
basketball organised by Sport England.
There will be 4 giant screens to watch all
the Olympic action as well as live music
acts and refreshments.
• The Opening and Closing Ceremony
Celebration Concerts at Hyde Park on
July 27 and August 12 will be ticketed.
Tickets will be available via www.
btlondonlive.com
Visit www.london2012.com/join-in for more details.
What's On
London 2012 Festival The London 2012 Festival is the biggest festival the UK has ever seen and features 12,000 events and performances at over 900 venues featuring artists from across the world coming together in celebration of the Games. The Festival started in June and runs through to the 9th September when the Paralympic Games end and the Games are handed over to Rio.
The Festival is all about getting involved – so why
not bring the kids along. There are many events you
can attend that are family friendly and in every
corner of the UK. Visit www. London2012.com/
festival for a full list of events you can enjoy.
London 2012 Join In Celebrate the Games at home with friends, family
and neighbours; here are some hints and tips to
make your event memorable:
Free events in London Road cycling: 28 July – 1 August The Road Cycling starts at The Mall and ends at
Hampton Court Palace.
Triathlon: 4 – 7 August The gruelling triathlon schedule includes swimming,
cycling and running – all taking place in Hyde Park.
The Marathon: 12 August The Olympic Marathon has around 80 athletic
competitors and will pass landmarks such as the
Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of
Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
The Paralympic Torch Relay The London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay will begin in London on Friday 24 August with the lighting
of England’s Flame. The UK’s other three capital cities – Greater Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh will
then light a flame on each of the following days, at special Flame lighting events. Once a Flame has
been lit, it will visit local community groups and key locations in and around the city.
Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony Each Flame will then be taken to Stoke Mandeville, home of the Paralympic Movement where the
four flames will be combined at a Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony on 28 August to create the
London 2012 Paralympic Flame. There will then be a 24-hour Torch Relay from Stoke Mandeville.
Torchbearers working in teams of five will carry the Paralympic Flame to the Olympic Stadium to
light the Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Key dates 27 July
The Opening Ceremony
28 July The Olympic Games begin
12 August The Closing Ceremony
24 – 29 August The Paralympic Torch Relay
29 AugustThe Paralympic Games begin
Opening Night in The world will be watching the UK as the Opening
Ceremonies announce the start of London 2012.
Get in on the action and host your own VIP
screening for friends, family and neighbours.
Super Saturday On Saturday 4 August a massive 25 gold medals
will be awarded at the London 2012 Olympic
Games. What better way to celebrate the gold rush
than getting your whole community fired up with a
sizzling BBQ?
Whatever you do this summer, make sure you celebrate the greatest sporting event in the world and enjoy a summer like no other.
Competitions this July/August on www.familieswest.co.uk
ClassifiedsServices
Education
Parties
Blueberry Playsongs Parties!Wonderful musical parties for 1-6 year olds.Contact us on
020 8677 6871
Specialises in nanny share positions,
either a nanny looking for a position or a family that is looking for a nanny.We also have nannies registered looking for full time, part time live in and out positions. All nannies are CRB checked.Call Alison on 0743 270 4580, [email protected], www.perfectlymatchednannies.co.uk
Childcare
WIN... An Aquabeat MP3 Player with New Metanium EverydayOne Lucky winner will win a MP3 Player worth £70. Two runners up will receive a specially designed Metanium changing bag, worth £30 each.
Closing date 1st August
WIN... A Personalised Treasure Hunt from huntfunGo treasure hunting this summer with huntfun! Two personalised hunts can be won!
Closing date 7th July.
WIN... A Family Ticket to watch 'The Boy who Fell into a Book' WEDNESDAY 18TH – SUNDAY 29TH JULY at SOHO THEATRE 020 7478 0100www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/ the-boy-who-fell-into-a-book
Closing date 12th July
WIN... A Family Ticket to Odds Farm Park
2 Family Tickets to be won, (2 adults, 2 children) Closing Date 12th July.
28 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 2012