Families London SW July-August 2017 issue 268

® South West July/August 2017

OVER 200 LOCAL EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER!

THE ULTIMATE SUMMER ISSUE Camps and workshops FREE activities Activities to do at home Exhibitions and museums 26 YEARS

REALLY USEFUL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS OF 0-12+ YEAR OLDS IN SW LONDON CHECK OUT OUR HYPER LOCAL WEBSITE ! WWW.FAMILIESONLINE.CO.UK

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Contents

Don't miss our

HUGE SUMMER HOLIDAY FEATURE! see pages 21-24

Improve your child's bike skills in your local park with Cycle Confident in Lambeth – Free – see page 24

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Local news

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Families Top Five activities this month

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Getting your child ready for nursery or playgroup

NEWS: news@familiesSW.co.uk

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Make the most of the summer with Explore Learning

ADVERTS/ARTWORK: adverts@familiesSW.co.uk

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Five most common parenting mistakes loving parents make

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Clubs and Classes news – Summer swimming

Families SW|Issue 268 ®

WEBSITE: www.familiesonline.co.uk TEL: 020 8696 9680 EDITORIAL: editor@familiesSW.co.uk

EVENTS, DIARY DATES, WHAT’S ON: whatson@familiesSW.co.uk NEXT ISSUE: September 2017 DEADLINE: Early July 2017 ISSN 1354-9553 All content ©Families SW 2017 • ‘Families SW’ London, established in 1990, is part of Families Magazines Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks, SL8 5TD. • Printed by OSC Print, Middlesex • Designed by Shirley Trimmer • We take every care preparing this magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence. • Paper used to print Families is from fully-managed sustainable sources.

17&19 SIX WEEKS OF SUMMER FUN! 21-24 Summer Activity Listings Arts & craft, music, dance, coding, SEN, Sports and more 26

FREE activities

30-31 Essential oils Should essential oils be part of your natural health toolkit? 33-39 What’s On Diary dates Events Theatre Art activities Museums & Exhibitions Special Needs Babies and toddlers

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NEWS A revolution in backpacks YUU are set to revolutionise the world of children’s backpacks by bringing together natural play and tech play. The YUUgo bag is the first of its kind and combines a GPS tracker, an App with educational games, a multitude of pockets and compartments (including a secret one!), a folddown desk, an integrated whistle in the chest strap as well as a fun-filled pack of stationery and games. Perfect to keep the little ones busy on long journeys! But they need your help: YUU is planning to bring the innovation to market through a rewards crowdfunding campaign with Indiegogo. Sign up now to be the first to receive a YUUgo at https://igg.me/at/yuu-go www.yuuworld.com

THE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE 2017 The annual Summer Reading Challenge to children is simple. During the holidays they are encouraged to read six or more books of their choice - fact books, joke books, picture books or audio books - just as long as they are borrowed from the library. There are collectable incentives and rewards, plus a certificate for every child who completes the Challenge, which is run by independent charity The Reading Agency. Children can sign up at their local library from the end of June onwards and all materials are absolutely free. The Challenge is open to all primary school children and is designed for all reading abilities. Schools work with local libraries and give out information to encourage children to take part, and most libraries run Summer Reading Challenge linked early years activity for pre-schoolers. Why not head to your local library during the summer holidays and enrol. It's completely free and any child can take part. Read more at www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

NEW DEVICE REDUCES HARMFUL MOBILE PHONE RADIATION If you are worried, like us, about the amount of radiation our bodies receive everyday, check out the device called R2L. Fitted to a mobile phone, it has been proven to reduce the amount of radiation emitted to the brain and body by a massive 70%. The device absorbs the excess radiation emitted by a mobile phone or wireless device through its antenna and converts it into direct current electricity, illuminating its LED light whilst dispersing the power safely as harmless light. www.screen2bsafe.com See our article in our April issue on the topic. You can download all our back issues on www.Familiessouthwest.co.uk

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CAN YOU VOLUNTEER? Are you a parent or a grandparent? Can you spare 2-4 hours per week? If so, you could really help to make a difference for a local family. Many parents need help, friendship and support during those early years when children are young, and Home-Start Merton are looking for local volunteers to join their visiting scheme, offering friendship, support and practical help to families with young children. Please call 020 8646 6044 or email admin@homestartmerton.org for a FREE Volunteer Course of Preparation - each course runs for 6 weeks, 2 days a week, 10am2.30pm, with the next course starting 13 September 2017. Home-Start Merton, Merton Youth Office, 21 Leyton Road SW19 1DJ, 020 8646 6044, www.homestartmerton.org They need your help – please sign up now.

July/August 2017 | 020 8696 9680 | Familiesonline.co.uk

NEWS

SCIENTISTS AND POLLINATORS WANT YOUR HELP… Imagine living in a desert with barely any food, hardly any water or any place to shelter. Unfortunately, this is exactly what it is like for the pollinating insects currently living in Britain. Loss of habitat, pesticides, and farming practices have left these insects hungry and homeless, suffering from a lack of feeding, nesting and shelter habitat. Which is why the Polli:Nation project needs your help. Now in its second year, the Polli:Nation survey is looking for families across the UK to take part in aiding research on the health and status of pollinating insects across the UK. The survey can be completed in under an hour in outdoor spaces such as gardens, school grounds, or local parks, and uploading your findings will contribute to important scientific research. So get out there now, become a citizen scientist and help the pollinators in your community. Free survey resources can be downloaded at www.opalexplorenature.org/polli-nation and results can be submitted either online or by post. The Polli:Nation project has been developed by OPAL Imperial College London, Learning Through Landscapes,The Field Studies Council, Buglife, Butterfly Conservation, Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology).

BRAND NEW EATON HOUSE THE MANOR NURSERY I love to go and visit new nurseries. It was a joy to discover the new Eaton House the Manor Nursery ON Clapham Common— no less. Housed in two large rooms in a brandnew building at the back of Eaton House The Manor School, the nursery opens up into a fantastic modern playground, which is decorated with huge concentric circles of orange, yellow, blue A ‘Wonderful, nurturing, colourful and exciting place to be!’ says Miss Roosha Sue and ochre. Miss Roosha Sue (known by all as ‘Miss Roosha’), who has been Headmistress at the school since 2004, is such an inspiration. She is clearly passionate and made sure everything is perfect for games and fun of all kinds, the key focus being to ensure the children feel happy and content in their new environment. The teachers create a warm, secure, and above all, friendly atmosphere. 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU www.eatonhouseschools.com Familiesonline.co.uk | 020 8696 9680 | July/August 2017

HOME FROM HOME STYLE NURSERY The Playroom London is a small and independent, boutique style nursery for young children minutes from Earlsfield station. With over 13 years of managing and overseeing various childcare settings, Cheryl is very passionate about helping children reaching their full potential. She spends a lot of time carefully selecting the right staff for The Playroom so that the correct friendly and nurturing environment is created. A low child-staff ratio ensures that every child gets the care and attention they deserve. The modern glass fronted building offers lots of natural light, perfect for the Playroom, which is designed to ignite your child’s imagination and love of exploration. It is a nurturing place where children feel safe and are relaxed to develop their love of learning through play. 0203 560 7186 www.theplayroomlondon.co.uk

MUSEUM OF THE FUTURE Head to the Natural History Museum this summer as it launches its transformation into a museum for the future. Diving through the heart of Hintze Hall, a gigantic blue whale skeleton will lead a cast of natural world stars, telling the dramatic story of evolution, diversity in the world today and our urgent role in the planet’s future. This real, 25.2-metre female whale skeleton will be surrounded by hundreds of new specimens across three floors, including the skeleton of an American mastodon that went extinct 13,000 years ago, and Giant Turbinaria coral collected from Shark Bay Reef more than 120 years ago. Worth a look! Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road SW7 5BD, www.nhm.ac.uk

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FAMILIES TOP FIVE

FAMILIES TOP FIVE... ENJOY AN INDIAN SUMMER

KEW SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2017

Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road SE23 3PQ www.horniman.ac.uk

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE www.kew.org

TUNNEL: THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF CROSSRAIL Museum of London Docklands, Warehouse 1, West India Quay E14 4AL www.museumoflondon.org.uk

To 3 September The last chance to catch this wonderful free exhibition, exploring the fascinating objects found along the route of the new Elizabeth line. In this family-friendly interactive exhibition, grab a microscope and discover London's past and future. Identify what was sold in Victorian glass factories by sniffing smell boxes, build a tunnel out of foam blocks and much, much more. Plus, every Wednesday - Friday in August they will be running free summer shows called Time Tunnellers, inspired by the exhibition. Prepare to go on a journey of discovery and become an archaeologist uncovering clues from London's hidden past.

GUILTY, NOT GUILTY, YOU DECIDE Lyric Hammersmith. One Lyric Square W6 0QL www.lyric.co.uk

14-15 July Terror Enter the courtroom, hear the evidence, make your judgement. A hijacked plane is heading towards a packed football stadium. Ignoring orders to the contrary a fighter pilot shoots the plane down killing 164 people to save 70,000. Put on trial and charged with murder, the fate of the pilot is in the audience’s hands. The Lyric presents the UK Premiere of Ferdinand von Schirach’s thrilling courtroom drama, a worldwide Tanya Moodie as the Presiding Judge in phenomenon stirring debate Terror at Lyric Hammersmith across the globe. Age 14+, from £15.

SHAKESPEARE'S TELLING TALES Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside SE1 9DT www.shakespearesglobe.com © Alex Harvey-Brown

28-30 July Celebrate the fun of storytelling at the Globe's family literary festival this July. From talks with leading children's authors and practical workshops, to tales told by candlelight in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, there is something for everyone. For the full line up and booking discounts, see the website, and get booking now!

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July/August 2017 | 020 8696 9680 | Familiesonline.co.uk

© Tristram Kenton

9 July – 3 September A season of events, performances and displays with colourful outdoor festivals and live performances celebrating the diversity and influence of South Asian music, from the traditional and classical to the electronic and popular. Visitors of all ages are invited to join artists to participate in music and dance, immerse themselves in storytelling, enjoy outdoor cinema and screenings, get creative through arts and crafts, and tempt their taste buds with street food inspired by the region. Includes Tamasha, an Indian Summer Garden Party for all the family, and outdoor film screenings of Slumdog Millionaire (1 August) and The Jungle Book (6 August) in partnership with The Luna Cinema. There’s even a stunning taxidermy Bengal Tiger, on loan from the Natural History Museum!

4-6 August Don your lab coat and dig out your goggles for this year’s Science Festival at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Three days of exciting activities, workshops and tours that will inspire children and adults alike, celebrating the incredible discoveries and pioneering work of Kew scientists. Visitors will be able to try out a number of hands-on experiments including extracting DNA from vegetables, analysing plant genomes and dissecting plants to find out how they work. Get to grips with microscopes and discover amazing ‘microscopic gardens’ by looking at close-up views of plants and their structures. This is definitely one not to miss.

© Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Our top five favourite picks of What’s On across the capital this July and August…

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LITTLE ANGELS NURSERY SCHOOL A Traditional Teaching Nursery - Learning through Play We are an Ofsted rated 'Good' day care nursery school. We lay the foundation of learning where your child's interests form the base to develop their full potential. Our nursery is very homely and friendly, and staff are fully qualified with many years' experience in Early Years. Open all year round 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday except bank holidays and four weeks in a year. 15 hours weekly free sessions available for 2-4yrs. Please contact our office on 020 7274 8333. info@littleangelsbrixton.co.uk www.littleangelsbrixton.co.uk 50 Gresham Road, Brixton, SW9 7NL

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EDUCATION

Eaton House The Manor’s brand new nursery

Getting your child ready for nursery or playgroup It seems like only yesterday when you wouldn’t even go for a shower without taking your baby with you and, now, in the blink of an eye, the big day has dawned. Separation can be a very difficult emotion for you and your child, bringing both positive and negative feelings of guilt, relief, lack of control and nerves. So, what steps can you take to ensure the transition from home to nursery is as smooth and stress-free as possible for all concerned?

Get comfy Being comfortable with the nursery or playgroup staff and its surroundings, prior to starting, is key to a more successful settling-in process. There will be plenty of opportunities to visit the nursery or playgroup which will help both parents and children familiarise themselves with the staff who will eventually be looking after their child and allow any issues to be discussed. Prior to starting nursery or playgroup having opportunities to take your baby to local parent and toddler groups or baby classes can help build confidence, social and cognitive skills and provide a good opportunity for your child to get use to being with lots of other children. You may also make friends with fellow parents which all helps to make you feel more comfortable.

TOP TIPS FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION 1. Plan in a few short visits to the nursery/playgroup staying with your child, then leave them for short periods, building up their trust that you’ll always return. Visits to the nursery prior to their first day will enable you both to establish a positive relationship and get to know the staff and your key worker. 2. "Make sure you talk to your child about the coming transition. Encourage and excite them about the adventure ahead. Listen and answer their fears. Visit the school, meet with their new friends, use a “have a go” attitude. Read ‘Topsy and Tim’s First Day at School’ to help understand what will happen. It’s a bonus if children can write their name, have an interest in and know sounds and count out loud to 20." ‘Miss Roosha’ Eaton House the Manor 3. Communication is key to a good childcare experience for you and your child, so don’t be afraid to ask the nursery for feedback or discuss anything you want to. No question is ever a silly question as it is important that you feel comfortable with the care your child is receiving.

Talk through what will happen

4. Talk to the nursery/playgroup if you are at a particular stage with your child like weaning, toilet training etc. They will always be happy to help and have years of experience.

Your child’s personality, his/her ability to handle change, and previous experience of being left alone with friends or family will affect how well your child handles separation. Start preparing for the big day in plenty of time by talking through what will happen at nursery or reading books designed to deal with first-day nerves.

5. If nursery or playgroup is the first time your child has experienced significant periods of separation from you, maybe help this by arranging times with relatives or friends where your child can gradually get used to time spent away from you and feel comfortable with other people.

It is paramount that each child is treated as an individual and vital that each keyworker (that is the member of staff assigned to look after your child) only has a small number of children under their care so that individual requirements and needs can be met. Equally, it allows to form a good relationship with the parents and encourage regular communication so any areas of concern can be addressed. Whether your child rushes in without a backward glance or throws themselves sobbing on the floor, be strong, be encouraging and, giving a clear message that you will be back soon, leave the room. Then go and do something for yourself!

6. "Don't forget the all important comforters. Your child's favourite blanket, cuddly teddy or fluffy bunny will have a familiar smell from home which will help soothe them during those first few important settling in weeks" Carla, The Playroom London 7. Pass on as much information as you can to the nursery about your child’s personality, likes and dislikes. Information is helpful to your child’s key worker and can help them settle your child in initially and then introduce your child to new experiences. 8. Try not to get too anxious about leaving your child or prolong the goodbyes. It can be difficult to leave while your child is crying but the nursery/playgroup will have plenty of strategies to distract your child and the staff will be happy for you to phone later on to check how your child is settling in.

Read more articles at www.familiesonline.co.uk/child/childcare-and-nurseries Familiesonline.co.uk | 020 8696 9680 | July/August 2017

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EDUCATION

Make the most of the summer with Explore Learning Explore Learning, with centres across south west London, have put together a great summer programme with creative ideas on how to keep your child’s brain active over the holidays—so they are ready to settle back into the new school year confidently!

START A BLOG Learn some new skills, as a family, by creating a blog together. Give your child a little notebook to jots ideas down whilst you are out and about, then write up what you’ve done. Take lots of pictures as these are a great tool to help children who find writing tricky. Encourage them to describe what is happening in the picture to get their creativity flowing.

HAVE A MOVIE NIGHT Research carried out by Explore Learning highlighted watching TV/films is the number one thing children wanted to do over the summer. Use this to motivate your child to read. Find a book that has been made into a film that your child wants to watch. Then plan a movie night far enough in advance so you can read the book together before enjoying the film.

SEND A POSTCARD OR AN APP POSTCARD! Let your friends and family know what you’ve been up to with a postcard. They’re only short so are a wonderful way to get a bit of writing going during the holidays. If your child is reluctant to write, then why not try a postcard app like By Post? They can take their own pictures to make into postcards and type their message.

READ, READ AND READ SOME MORE A study by OUP showed that just 10mins of shared reading a day can

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have a huge impact on children’s progress. Pop a book in your bag so you can use any opportunity to get your daily 10 mins. They will be uploading weekly activities that you can complete with your child to help keep them engaged with what they are reading. Visit explorelearning.co.uk/summer to find out more and download your first activity!

PLAY SOME GAMES There are bound to be some rainy days this summer, so use this as a chance to get out some board games. These are great for so many reasons, from developing language to improving memory skills. Need some new games? Have a scavenger hunt in local charity shops to see who in the family can find the best game.

TRY A FREE TUITION SESSION To keep your children progressing over the summer, a tuition centre is a great option. Prevent the battle ground of getting children to do work at home and get them along to a centre where there are lots of other children getting involved. Explore Learning runs maths and English sessions as well as a whole range of interactive workshops throughout the holidays to keep your child’s brain active. The best things is you can go along and try one of these for free, so get in touch today!

Centres in Fulham, Wandsworth, Brixton, East Sheen, Merton and Nine Elms. To book your free trial session, visit www.explorelearning.co.uk

July/August 2017 | 020 8696 9680 | Familiesonline.co.uk

Familiesonline.co.uk | 020 8696 9680 | July/August 2017

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Five most common parenting mistakes loving parents make By Carole & Nadim Saad

Like many new parents, we assumed that we would ‘instinctively’ know how best to raise our own children, after all doesn't parenting come naturally? How wrong we were! We both had very different parenting styles and couldn't agree on the best way to raise our children to make them responsible and self-disciplined. We discovered that we were making plenty of mistakes without even realising it and that most people around us were also falling into the same common parenting pitfalls. Our objective is to help increase your awareness of the effect that such mistakes can have on your children, so that you can identify areas where you might want to improve your skills and continue along your parenting journey with a renewed sense of confidence. 1. Over-praising and using positive reinforcement Using phrases such as ‘good boy’ and ‘good girl’ and praising everything children do well to reinforce their good behaviour is a very common trait. Unfortunately, using such ‘evaluative praise’ and descriptively praising every good behaviour is a form of reward that they will come to expect as motivation to want to do things in the longer-term. 2. Getting Angry and shouting When we raise our voice or yell at our children, this puts them in ‘fight or flight’ mode - this is the body’s response to stress, which means that their logical brain shuts down and they essentially can’t ‘hear’ us anymore. When our children are in ‘fight or flight’ mode, we can get angry at them and shout until we are ‘blue in the face’, but the message still will not get through, so all the lecturing typically done in these circumstances is a waste of energy! If they do comply with our requests, it will only be out of fear and it will have very little impact on helping to improve their behaviour in the long-term. 3. Over-protecting In this day and age, parents are becoming more anxious and overprotecting children. By over-protecting them, we prevent them from making enough mistakes, which if handled well, are invaluable opportunities for learning. Although protecting our children and stopping them from making mistakes may sound like a positive thing, we are in fact inadvertently denying them the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and take responsibility for their own actions. We are also preventing them from building their ‘frustration’ muscle by not allowing them to face difficult emotions such as anger and disappointment. Familiesonline.co.uk | 020 8696 9680 | July/August 2017

4. Reassuring children It seems like a natural thing for parents to want to reassure their children, by telling them that everything is going to be okay. For example, if they happen to break their favourite toy, it’s a common reaction to want to ‘swoop in’ and try to reassure our children and ‘fix’ the problem for them, so we may say “I hate to see you so upset because you broke your favourite toy, don’t worry, I will buy you another one”. We may think that we are helping by doing this, but the reality is that we are not allowing children to deal with their feelings. Children need to be given opportunities to practice patience and get used to experiencing feelings of sadness and frustration as this will help to prepare them for the pressures of adult life. 5. Discounting children’s feelings For example, by using phrases such as “Come on, it’s not that bad”, “Only babies cry” or “Boys don’t cry”. Discounting our children’s emotions in this way can create serious anxiety in the long-term, because it can cause them to become unsure of themselves and distrustful of their own emotions.

Long term effects: Whether we are too strict or too lenient, neither approach is effective for raising our children to become resilient and autonomous adults in the long-term. If we ‘over-protect’ them, we are not allowing them to make mistakes or experience frustration and if we are being overly strict and getting angry at them, we are not modelling the fact that we can control our own emotions through our own behaviour towards them. We may only see the effects of our mistakes later on when our children become adolescent, by which time it is much harder to repair any damage that’s already been done.

By Carole & Nadim Saad. Authors of ‘Kids don’t come with a manual’. www.bestofparenting.com 13

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CLUBS AND CLASSES LEARN TO DRAW AND PAINT WITH CONFIDENCE Many students lack confidence and say they ‘can’t draw’ or are ‘rubbish at painting’. Katherine Smith is an Oxford graduate now offering her own classes. She shows children that in making art there are no mistakes, and that there can be beauty when things have gone ‘wrong’. Previous themes include magic, dream worlds, shrinking, dragons. Formal focuses include observational drawing, tone and shade, colour, composition, exploring materials, etc. Her themed weekly art classes are Saturday afternoons from September at Holy Trinity Church in Wimbledon. “I loved the art club because we had fun! Katherine showed me to turn mistakes into something fantastic.” 6 year old, 2017 07779 100 659 www.paintwritenow.co.uk Learn to swim with Waterbabies

SUMMER SWIMMING We’re all dreaming of a long, hot summer. And, of course, a perfect summer includes lots of water fun. Your baby doesn’t need to have had their immunisations before you take to the pool, but before you go, it’s a good idea to phone ahead to check the water temperature - it should be at least 30° for a baby older than 12 weeks (or heavier than 12lbs), and above 32° if they’re younger or smaller.

Follow these tips

AL-FRESCO ROOFTOP SILENT DISCO For mums only: the ultimate sunset workout vibes, pumping tunes to super sassy choreography, head to Clapham Common Tuesday and Wednesdays evenings for an amazing al-fresco silent discos. info@funkymoves.com 07810 431 101 www.funkymoves.com

BRAND NEW SPARKS Battersea and Dulwich are set to welcome a new film company to the area. Not just any film company – this one is comprised entirely of talented youngsters. Under guidance from Sparks, a pioneering film company already established in various areas throughout London, local children can hone their creative skills as directors, camera operatives, editors, animators and more. In celebration of their launch, Sparks will be running a series of summer courses in the South West London area, where budding filmmakers will learn to shoot, crew, direct, act in and edit their own summer movie blockbusters, before celebrating at a Red Carpet Premiere at Soho’s Curzon cinema. ‘We know there is a huge amount of talent locally – we felt it was about time that we brought regular activities closer to Battersea and Dulwich,’ said director Dan Farrell. Summer Film Shoot runs various dates throughout July and August, each course is 5 days, ages 7-14. 020 7101 9329 www.sparks-ignite.com

Familiesonline.co.uk | 020 8696 9680 | July/August 2017

• Start by holding your baby upright, facing you and bouncing them around in the water, gently splashing from side to side. • Keep lots of eye contact and gentle encouragement. • You can try saying your baby’s “name, ready, go!” then wiping a palm-full of water down their face. • Let them kick their legs, and sit them on the side, gently splashing them in to the tune of ‘Humpty Dumpty’. • Take it slowly, keep the mood light, and let your baby dictate the pace and how long you spend in the water. A question we’re often asked at this time of year is whether it’s safe to take your baby in the sea. While it’s too cold and salty for babies under 6 months, your older baby or toddler will love a splash in the surf! Just remember to stay in your depth, avoid inflatables, and keep hold of your little one at all times. While you're both having a splashy time, why not keep up the momentum and think about baby swimming lessons? Not only is it one of the best things you can do to bond with your little one, it also develops learning skills, boosts confidence, improves co-ordination and enhances wellbeing. And just think of all the extra fun you'll be able to have the next time you go on holiday with your little water baby, there'll be no stopping them! Happy summer swimming! Waterbabies 020 7585 1510 www.waterbabies.co.uk

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SUMMER HOLIDAYS

SIX WEEKS OF SUMMER OF FUN We’ve put together plenty of ideas for making each day just a little more special to keep the family fun going all summer long. Most of the activities listed are suitable for children of all ages and some are completely free.

mess. Cover with a plastic cloth and leave some wall space for displaying artistic efforts. 2.

“Can’t face the mess” arty day. You have people coming for dinner later. Give the kids fat paintbrushes that you use for painting walls and a bucket of water and get them to “paint” the fence.

3.

Make playdoh. This recipe is so easy and your child can help too. Mix together and cook gently 1 cup of plain flour, 1 cup of water, 1 tbsp of cooking oil, 2 tsps of cream of tartar, half a cup of salt and one or two drops of food colouring/ flavouring (optional but mint does smell delicious). Store in an airtight bag.

4.

Make slime. Cornflour, water and food colouring/flavouring. Just glorious to run your fingers through.

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Bubbles galore. Measure out 6 cups of water, and slowly stir in 1 cup of washing up and then add 1 tbsp of glycerine. Makes great big bubbles.

6.

Gardening. One of the beautiful things about gardening for adults is the ability to create a vision in your head, plant, and then watch that vision grown into reality. There is no reason why your children can’t be a part of that process too. Help them plant some flowers or seeds and not only do you have entertainment for one day, but it’s something you can go back to and chart how they grow. It's a wonderful biology lesson for children, and they won’t even realise it!

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Camp in the garden. Put up your tent and throw the sleeping bags in for day or night time camping.

AT HOME FUN 1.

Get organised! Gather together a bucket full of arts and crafts materials. You will need good quality pens, pencils, crayons, paints, brushes, glue, cellotape and scissors plus a stack of different kinds of paper. Start collecting another box of useful odds and sods like empty cereal cartons, cotton reels, string, plastic bottles, cartons of different sizes and lolly sticks. Find a place that can withstand the inevitable

Familiesonline.co.uk | 020 8696 9680 | July/August 2017

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SUMMER HOLIDAYS 17. Bring out the board games. And introduce a new one into the mix. Learn a new card game that you can teach your child. Invent new rules to games you already know! 18. Puzzles. They seem to be a dying breed now with the invention of mobiles and tablets, but sitting down as a family and completing a jigsaw, a puzzle or a board game is a wonderful way to spend a few hours with the family. With older ones, you could have one large one on the go for a week or two. 19. Have a movie day. Stay in pyjamas, fill up a big bowl of homemade popcorn, bring the duvet downstairs and indulge. 20. Have a upside down, back-to-front day. Eat dinner at breakfast time, put your clothes on inside out, and read a book from end to beginning. 21. Print your photos. You’ve been meaning to do it for weeks/months/years. Now is the time to print some and share the memories with your little ones. 8.

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Chalk. Grabbing some chalk and scribbling on the pavements is a great way to open up their artistic side while they get some fresh air, and it can also make them think that they are playing the rebel. You’ll be safe in the knowledge that they are creating art knowing the next spot of rain will clear away the evidence. Head down to the library. Borrow the maximum number of books allowed and change books regularly. Make sure library books always go into the same box at home and keep them available at all times. Join the Summer Reading Challenge.

10. Have a makeshift writing area. Staple together some loose sheets of paper into different sized books for stories. Print out some pictures of writing in other scripts for the children to have a go at. 11. Learn a poem by heart. Help your child to learn it too. 12. Learn a new song. 13. Then make up a dance to go with it! 14. Teach your child how to thread a needle and sew a button. 15. Have try out times. Buy a vegetable or fruit your family have never eaten before and give it a whirl. A different flavour ice-cream, an unusual pizza topping works too.

22. Write a letter and post it. Your children will have probably not done this often or perhaps never. Write a proper old fashioned letter and take your little one to the post office and buy stamps, and post it. 23. Have another country day. Pick a country and find out all about it. Find it on a map, draw its flag, learn words in the language of that country and eat food from that place. 24. Do a chore. Teach your child how to do an age appropriate chore they have never done before. Sweep the floor, change the pillowcases on their bed, lay a table. 25. Introduce the kids to Wimbledon. Grab a bowl of strawberries and settle down in front of the box and explain the difference between a forehand and a backhand. 3-16 July.

NEARBY PARK FUN 26. Trip to the pond. A local pond is a great way to find wildlife that may be missing from your back garden. From frogs and tadpoles to fish swimming below, it gives little ones a taste of the outdoors in a safe environment.

27. Sports at the park. Grab a bat, ball or whatever they love and head to the nearest park. Get your friends and their families involved and make a day of it. Get involved yourself and they’ll love it even more. Use the playground equipment and plan an assault course. Twice down the slide, through the monkey bars and hop around the outside and time them. Can they beat their own time? 28. Go fly a kite. It’s an experience every child needs!

16. Scour your cookery books. Find 5 or 6 simple and healthy new recipes that you and your child can cook. Your child’s teacher will be eternally grateful that your child will have a practical understanding of measurements and simple science. 18

29. Have an outdoor treasure hunt. When we did this, I found a pack of cards that had some missing and hid them around the park. Each child had to find cards from their suit. 30. Make, pack and eat a picnic together. What a lovely summer memory you will create. July/August 2017 | 020 8696 9680 | Familiesonline.co.uk

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PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SAY WHERE YOU SAW THEM—IN “FAMILIES”

TO SEE 6 MORE PAGES OF SUMMER LISTINGS DOWNLOAD THE JUNE ISSUE FROM FAMILIESSOUTHWEST.CO.UK

We took every care in preparing these entries but sometimes events are cancelled or times changed. Please double check event with the organiser to avoid disappointment.

SUMMER LISTINGS needs your help this summer! Could you tell a real banknote from a fake? Explore the Museum, using your detective skills to solve the puzzles. Pick up some tips at the interactive talks on banknotes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1pm. 10.30am-4.30pm, free.

Compiled by Joanna Parry

EDUCATION LEADERS ARE READERS Dunraven School, Leigham Court Road, SW16 2QB 24 July to 11 August All their courses are available for ages 31⁄2 to 13 years in: • Reading Programme • Year 1- Year 5 Maths and English Programme including Creative Writing Workshop for 7+ Preparation Programme comprehensively covering Maths, verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning and English 11+ Mock and Intensive exam practice. An opportunity for children to enjoy the challenge of learning new topics or to gain an understanding of tough topics ahead of their introduction in their regular school; to cover a year's essential work in 3 weeks or to just fill in learning gaps. 9am–1pm or 9am–3.30pm 11+ Programme only

YELLOWBIRD EDUCATION Parsons Green Prep School, 1 Fulham Park Road, Fulham SW6 4LJ 020 7731 0695 / 07790 912318, hello@yellowbirdeducation.com www.yellowbirdeducation.com 18 July – 1 September Summer Creative Writing Workshops Exciting, creative workshops for Years 2-6. 10am2pm, £349 for a 4-day week, £399 for 5 days. Also, Intensive Handwriting Workshops, age 6 and up, 24-28 July and 21-25 August at Parsons Green Prep School, £499 per course.

ARTS AND CRAFTS

EDDIE CATZ SPARK4KIDS CODING WORKSHOPS Summer Holiday coding workshops, 020 80901444 www.spark4kids.com Spark4Kids holiday workshops are designed to teach Computer Coding, Minecraft Modding, Robotics, Electronics, Games Design, and Touch-typing in a fun, engaging environment. Ages 5-7 years, and 8+. See website for details.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM Bartholomew Lane, EC2R 8AH 020 7601 5545, www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum 24 July – 1 September Banknote Detectives Calling all banknote detectives; the Museum

•Putney, Wimbledon and Earlsfield First Floor, 68-70 Putney High Street SW15 1SF •42 Station Road SW19 2LP •279 Magdalen Road SW18 3NZ 0203 4755268 www.eddiecatz.com Throughout the Summer Holidays Summer Holiday Activities Across the three branches in SW London – Putney, Earlsfield and Wimbledon Colliers Wood – there will be plenty of Holiday Camps to choose from including Little Kickers Football, Animal Fun and much more. See www.eddiecatz.com for more information and to book online. Prices usually include lunch and a free play at the venue, plus Eddie Catz appears in all venues twice a day to meet and greet the children.

Familiesonline.co.uk | 020 8696 9680 | July/August 2017

Bocketts Farm a wonderful day out mindfulness and a sense of calm. A holistic and a sensory experience using sensory props, art crafts, aromatherapy and Tibetan singing bowls. SEN welcome. 10am – 1pm. £150.

PAINT WRITE NOW 07779 100 659 www.paintwritenow.co.uk For 6-11 year olds in Wimbledon with Katherine Smith, Oxford Graduate Art and Creative Writing Summer Courses Creative Writing Fantastical Creatures (9th-11th August) Under the Ground (23rd-25th August) Art Paint with Confidence (2nd, 18th August) Draw with Confidence (2nd, 17th August) Inspire children to become confident artists and writers! "My son had so much fun! He learnt new approaches to painting / drawing as well as story-telling." Elizabeth Marks

HEARTS & ARTS Battersea Scout Centre SW11 5QS info@myadkids.com 07487 735026 www.facebook.com/MeditationYogaA rtsDance 14-18 August Help children to live healthy happy lives Hearts & Arts is a new summer workshop combining the benefits of meditation, yoga and creative arts for children aged 5-11 years old. It includes fun filled dance and drama activities to encourage creativity and confidence alongside meditation and yoga practices to encourage

MUSIC AND DRAMA

ALLSORTS DRAMA More House School SW1 Notting Hill Prep School W11 020 8969 3249 www.allsortsdrama.com 17-21 and 24-28 July. Drama Workshops Popular and fun drama workshops for ages 4-6 and 7-11, dates vary depending on venue.

DANTASTIC PERFORMERS Sindbads, 82 Durham Rd, SW20 OTL 020 7018 4644 www.dantasticproductions.com/ summer 24 July – 25 August Join the Dantastic team for a fun pack musical theatre adventure! Make friends, learn new skills and build confidence through a mixture of singing, acting and dancing. At the end of the week friends and family are invited to watch each age group in a show-stopping musical performance. There will

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SUMMER LISTINGS

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SEE MORE EVENTS IN OUR ONLINE WHAT’S ON CALENDAR

24-28 July Summer Music Course Join Upbeat for a jam-packed week of musical fun including singing, dance, electric guitars and drums, songwriting, recording and performance, 10am-4pm. Courses

is a truly unforgettable experience for all involved. The five fun-filled days of dance and musical theatre ends in a costumed show for family and friends to enjoy. Ages 5-6, 7-8 and 8+, 10am-3pm, £180, 10% sibling discount.

KAREN FORBES SCHOOL OF DANCE

The Strings Club offers a range of musical experiences be different themes each week so you are welcome to join all summer. 9.30am-12.30 or 1-4pm, 4-6 and 7-12yrs.

POLKA THEATRE 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB 020 8543 4888 www.polkatheatre.com Throughout July and August Summer Holiday Workshops A range of exciting holiday workshops for budding actors, directors, designers and costume makers. Plus, a week-long Summer School and puppetry workshops. Ages, times, dates and prices vary, see website for details.

STAGECOACH FULHAM All Saints CofE Primary School, Bishops Avenue SW6 6ED 0845 2025 727 www.stagecoach.co.uk/fulham 24-28 July Summer Workshop Back by popular demand: Stagecoach Fulham’s week-long summer performing arts workshops. Over the course of five exciting actionpacked days students will experience every enthralling aspect of live theatre; casting, directing, rehearsing, and performing on stage. With musical numbers from Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Mamma Mia. Age 4-6 and 6-18, times vary depending on age. For Stagecoach Battersea, Balham, Wimbledon, Merton Park, Tooting and Mitcham, download the June issue on Familiessouthwest.co.uk

THE STRINGS CLUB SPARKS (formerly Studio Film School) Broomwood Hall School, Nightingale Lane SW12 8NR 020 7101 9329, hello@sparksignite.com www.sparks-ignite.com Dates in July and August Summer Holiday Course Fall in love with film this summer. Over 5 days in July or August, young movie makers aged 7–18 can shoot, crew, direct, act in and edit their own summer blockbuster. You’ll celebrate in style with friends and family as you tread the Red Carpet at your very own VIP Film Premiere at Soho’s Curzon Cinema. 9am-3pm daily, £265 per place, with sibling discounts available.

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Balham 0121 296 9204 thestringsclub.org/balham 24-28 July Balham Holiday Camp Looking for high-quality, fun and rewarding childcare this summer holidays? Look no further than The Strings Club and their awardwinning Ofsted-registered Holiday Camps. Each day is wonderfully different, offering your child a range of musical experiences to give them a summer to truly remember. Standard hours 9.30am-4pm, from £18.75 for a half day.

coordinated and taught by music education specialist Max Owens and a team of professional musicians and teachers. Introduce a new friend to Upbeat and receive 25% off.

DANCE SIEGERIS SCHOOL OF DANCE South Wimbledon Community Centre, 78 Victory Road SW19 1HN 07730 536499, info@siegerisdance.com www.siegerisdance.com 24-28 July and 31 July – 4 August Summer School This popular summer school will return again this year, and they hope to see you there! Their much-loved programme involves daily classes and workshops taught by industry teaching professionals in different genres. They explore choreography, music, mime, drama and making props and costumes. It

Rutlish School, Mostyn Road Entrance Mostyn Road, SW19 3LL Contact Karen Forbes on 07506 946 882 31st July to 4th August Summer School is back! Pupils will learn routines from a wide range of dance genres including jazz, modern, hip-hop, ballet and musical theatre with excerpts from Frozen, Wizard of Oz, and Hairspray. £125 for the week, for 4-11 year olds. 9am— midday.

THE KENSINGTON BALLET SCHOOL Christchurch, Victoria Road, W8 5RQ 07957 650042 kbsballet@icloud.com www.kensingtonballet.com 24–28th July or 21–25 August This year they will offer two, weeklong summer workshops during the holidays. The sessions are great fun and comprise a mixture of ballet, musical theatre, drama and other fun activities. The course will be taken by two of their senior ballerinas who are very theatrical and lovely with the children. 9am–12. For ages: 3 ½ 5 ½ years.

BE DANCE Alderbrook Primary School, Balham SW12 www.bedance.co.uk 29-30 August Mash-Up Summer Workshop

UPBEAT MUSIC Thomas’s Academy, New Kings Road, SW6 4LY 07816 901396 www.upbeatmusiccourses.co.uk

The Kensington Ballet school

July/August 2017 | 020 8696 9680 | Familiesonline.co.uk

TO SEE 6 MORE PAGES OF SUMMER LISTINGS DOWNLOAD THE JUNE ISSUE FROM FAMILIESSOUTHWEST.CO.UK

SUMMER LISTINGS Two days of dance, giving students a taste of different dance styles including Lyrical, Street, Tap and Broadway, culminating in a sharing of work at the end of day 2. Age 816, 9.45am-2pm, £75 31 August Fun and games, alongside Street, Broadway and Tap workshops, with a sharing of work at the end of the session. Age 4-7, 9.45am1pm, £35

SPORT CHELSEA FC SOCCER SCHOOL Venues across SW London 020 7957 8220 www.chelseasoccerschools.co.uk Throughout Summer Holidays London Soccer School For boys and girls aged 4-13. Times vary according to course, from £30.

SWIMMING ROCKS Info@swimmingrocks.co.uk 07557 051 904 www.swimmingrocks.co.uk Term time and holiday crash courses A premier swimming lesson provider offering private and shared lessons to babies, children and adults in 7 venues across London. Recognised as one of the leading swimming tuition companies in London, delivering progressive swimming lessons with a strong reputation based on effortless service and employing some of the most experienced swimming instructors in London. Lessons 7 days a week.

KIDDIKICKS

PLAYBALL

Across South West London 020 7937 7965, sarah@kiddikicks.co.uk www.kiddikicks.couk Throughout Summer Holidays Holiday Sessions Kiddikicks (football 18m to 5 years) Kiddisports (multi-sport 18m to 5 years) and Ligasoccer (football Under 8’s) sessions run throughout the holidays. Or arrange a bespoke session (1 to 3 hours) for your player and their friends: pick your sport and they’ll provide the coach, equipment and place.

Battersea Park / Oak Lodge School, Nightingale Lane 020 8123 2217 www.playballlondon.com 24 July – 1 September Holiday Camps High quality, ageappropriate, fun holiday activities for children aged 3-9 years. Venue varies depending on date, 10am-1pm.

LITTLE GYM Smugglers Way SW18 1DB 020 8874 6567, wandsworth_fulham@thelittlegym.eu www.wandsworthfulham.thelittlegym.eu Throughout Summer Holidays Summer Fun Don’t miss out on these ever popular camps at their Wandsworth gym. These 3-hour camps (OFSTED approved) for over 3s build new skills and develop confidence while the kids have loads of FUN. Call the team for specific timings.

MERTON ACTIVE KIDS Wimbledon Park Watersports Centre, Home Park Road SW19 7HX www.merton.gov.uk/activekids 31 July – 25 August Summer Holiday Activities A huge range of fun holiday activities including sailing, multi-water sports, horse riding, football, tennis, badminton, squash, multi-sport, song writing workshops, golf, Dramabuds workshops and much, much more. 10am-4pm, £120 for the week, age 8-16.

RUGBYTOTS Tooting, Colliers Wood, Balham, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Fulham, Putney, Barnes Classes running throughout the summer, please visit the website to find a class near you www.rugbytots.co.uk

YOUNGSTARS MULTISPORTS AND ACTIVITY CAMP Balham, Clapham, Parsons Green, Putney and Wimbledon 07749 343116, info@youngstars.co.uk www.young-stars.co.uk 24 July – 1 September Summer Holiday Camps Plenty of fun, games and excitement whilst kids are introduced to all aspects of sports in an all inclusive and non-competitive environment. 3-10 years, times and prices vary.

SWIMWAY 020 8871-3972 info@swimway.co.uk www.swimway.co.uk A series of intensive swimming course in July and August Summer holidays for children aged 3yrs – 9yrs. The lessons will be provided on a private or a semiprivate basis for half an hour each day. You can find full details of the crash courses running in Putney, East Sheen, East Sheen – Sheen Mount School (outdoor poolperfect for the summer), Kensington, Wimbledon and Balham at their website.

DAY CAMPS THE BUTTERFLY PRESCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS

Intensive swimming courses with Swimway

Familiesonline.co.uk | 020 8696 9680 | July/August 2017

32b Webbs Road SW11 6SF 020 7738 0019 www.thebutterflypreschool.co.uk 31 July-4 August, 7-10 August Fun Summer Camps Half day or full day camps, spending as much

time as possible outside, with every morning session at the park. Activities include Judy Murray's set 4 sport programme, Water Games, Orienteering, Den building, Canvas creating, Biscuit Making, Nature Hunt, T-shirt decorating, arts and crafts. 9am-1pm or 2-5pm, full day 9am5pm, from £80 for two half days up to £320 for 5 full days.

FIRST HAND EXPERIENCES Fulham Palace, Bishop’s Ave, SW6 6EA Contact@firsthandexperiences.co.uk www.firsthandexperiences.co.uk The best way to learn is through authentic, first-hand, nature-based experiences. Day camps include theme-based trips and workshop sessions. There are three options... 10th July to 1st September •Palace Pioneers (3-5yrs) Sustainable living with integrated gardening and cooking sessions, nature craft, original music, yoga and forest school play. Half day sessions for 3 - 4 year olds, full day sessions for 5 year olds. •Wild Explorers group (6-11 yrs) 3 trips per week to London’s wild green space. •Sleep away (7-14 yrs) More of the same as above but there’s a sleep away camp in Kent too!

SUPER CAMPS •Wimbledon High School, SW19 4AB. •Putney High School, SW15 6BH. •St Nicholas Prep School, SW7 1PT 01235 467300 www.supercamps.co.uk Super Camps’ fabulous new Multi-Activity programme allows children to get involved in some great activities. As well as taking part in the fun-packed programme, children are cared for by fully qualified and vetted staff to create a thoroughly enjoyable time on camp. As Ofsted noted, Super Camps runs "an excellent programme of well-planned, fun and exciting activities that contributes highly to the children’s play and learning environment". • Save 15% on all Super Camps courses with code FAMILIES17.

FLYING FANTASTIC SUMMER SCHOOL Battersea, Wimbledon, Bankside and Old Street 020 7928 2093

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SEE MORE EVENTS IN OUR ONLINE WHAT’S ON CALENDAR www.flyingfantastic.co.uk Dates vary depending on venue Circus Summer School A fun week of circus summer school for children aged 7-15, focussing on developing aerial skills in silks, rope, hoop and trapeze, as well as a range of ground based circus skills including acrobatics, handstands and hula hoop. The students have a chance to share their new skills at the end of the week with an informal showing for parents and friends. £350 with an early bird offer of £325.

BARRACUDA’S ACTIVITY DAY CAMPS •Streatham and Clapham High School •St Catherine’s School, Twickenham 0845 123 5299

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SUMMER LISTINGS

OUTDOORS BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN’S ZOO

Barracuda’s offers so many different activities www.barracudas.co.uk 17 July – 25 August Fun Day Camps With 80+ exciting activities for children aged 4.5-14 years, Barracudas offers fun and quality childcare. Dates vary depending on venue.

SUMMER CONFIDENCE & RESILIENCE COURSES 020 3637 7107 info@rolemodels.me www.rolemodels.me Role Models are running their unique Confidence & Resilience Courses for ages 8-12 in SW London from July 17–21st, August 21–25th and August 29th– September 1st (10am–3pm). The courses include team-building exercises, interview skills, debating & public speaking. They focus on developing a growth mindset and the key ‘soft’ skills required to thrive at school, at home and in life ahead. Cost is £325-£390 (+VAT).

020 7924 5826 www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk A must have thing to do this summer. Children are able to watch animals really close: otters, squirrel monkeys, capucins, hedgehogs, wallabys, large snakes and much more. Explore the large sandpit, diggers, fort, life-sized tractor and fire engine. Look up the feeding times on the website ahead of your visit. NEW: your children can experience being a Keeper, he’ll help feed, clean and care for some of the animals.

BOCKETTS FARM Young Street, Fetcham KT22 9BS 01372 363764 www.bockettsfarm.co.uk 22nd July – 3rd September A full programme of fun activities! Children will enjoy the Animal Passport Trail as they collect stamps from around the farm. Other daily activities include pony rides, tractor rides, gold panning, animal handling, goat milking and the famous pig racing. In addition, the Small Animal Village and Big Animal Barn are open where you can meet and feed all the friendly farm animals. Don’t miss the brilliant Water Wars Splash Zone, which involves launching water filled balloons at your opponent’s station – great fun for all ages! With 2 large indoor play barns, trampolines, young driver’s area, sandpits, pedal go-karts, treehouse towers and 2 giant jumping pillows, there's plenty to keep the whole family amused.

PAUSING

Role Models, confidence and resilience building

Home Farm, Elstree (within the M25) Aimee Bryan on 07711 733036 or aimee@pauseforeffect.co www.pauseforeffect.co/family Weekend of 25-27th July Pausing is like a proper, proper

break: you are outdoors all weekend, sleep in a gorgeous bell tent with a real bed and activities are laid for you and your family so your head is free of stress and worries. Tried and tested by us: we loved it!

CYCLE CONFIDENT Book online at www.cycle confident.com/sponsors/lambeth/ This summer, why not get your children into improving their bike skills in Lambeth’s beautiful parks? Courses are available for children from 5 years upwards and are free for anyone who lives or goes to school in Lambeth. Training takes place in small, friendly groups with 2 qualified instructors at a number of different locations. Whether your child is a complete beginner or looking to practice some on-road cycling, there’s a course to suit all abilities.

UBUNTU ADVENTURING www.ubuntuadv.com 9-14 July and 16-21 July Ubuntu Adventuring is a new local company offering 12-16 year olds challenging and exciting activity holidays in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park – and it all starts at Clapham Junction. From bivouacking to sea kayaking, surfing, rock climbing, abseiling and coasteering, they offer exhilarating and memorable real adventures, underpinned by the belief that experience is the best teacher— and new experiences are at the heart of character education. Chaperoned to Wales and back from Clapham Junction by qualified teachers to spend a week in a glorious coastal setting in bunkhouse lodgings, it doesn’t get much more fun.

SUMMER SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS CAMPS 020 3637 7107 info@rolemodels.me www.rolemodels.me Role Models are running their awesome SEN camps this summer for ages 6-12 with mild-moderate special needs. The camps take place at schools in Southfields, Richmond and Regent’s Park from July 24-28th, August 2125th and August 29th-September 1st (9.30am–3.30pm daily). The camps involve structured, fun activities led by experienced staff. Cost is £72/day, discounted to £60/day if the full camp is booked. Council funding is available.

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Ubuntu Adventuring, character building experiences for 12-16 yrs

July/August 2017 | 020 8696 9680 | Familiesonline.co.uk

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FREE ACTIVITIES I

SEE MORE EVENTS IN OUR ONLINE WHAT’S ON CALENDAR

There’s plenty to do in London for free! Compiled by Joanna Parry crafts and a packed programme of workshops and activities. Lots of food and drink and a heavy focus on children and families. 12-5pm, free entrance.

FULHAM PALACE

Kid’s fest at Colour House Theatre

BST HYDE PARK OPEN HOUSE 2017

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD

Parade Ground, Hyde Park, W2 2UH www.bst-hydepark.com/openhouse 3, 4, 5 and 7 July British Summer Time Hyde Park's Open House returns for a week of summer activities, with two weekends of legendary musical line-ups. Enjoy outdoor movie nights, tennis screenings live from Wimbledon, street food stalls, pop up bars, live music, and entertainment for all ages including Chicken Shed performances for children.

Cambridge Heath Road E2 9PA www.museumofchildhood.org.uk 4, 11, 18, 25 August, 1 September Summertime Story Weaving Family Days A series of fun family days, led by artists, writers and musicians, celebrating children’s literature and storytelling, inspired by the Michael Morpurgo: A Lifetime in Stories exhibition. FREE Drop-in, all ages. 4 August Folk Family Day Musical events and performances celebrating the rich heritage of English folk songs and traditions. 18 August Morpurgo’s Menagerie Enjoy a day of wildlife themed activities featuring real animals from Spitalfields City Farm.

HANOVER GATE ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND Regents Park, Chester Road NW1 4NR www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/theregents-park Throughout July and August A fantastic children’s adventure playground with a timber treehouse area for older kids, a large sandpit and plenty of equipment for younger ones, plus it is right next to the boating lake.

V&A SUMMER FESTIVAL V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road E2 9PA www.vam.ac.uk/moc 23 July The Museum's annual Summer Festival returns with a colourful mix of live entertainment. The Museum will come alive with a buzzing programme of live music, dance, walkabout acts, designer stalls, food, face paints, henna, rickshaw rides, games and lots for kids to make and do. FREE Dropin, all ages.

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LAMBETH COUNTRY SHOW Brockwell Park, Herne Hill SE24 9BJ www.lambethcountryshow.co.uk 15-16 July Enjoy two days of sheep dog and owl displays, a mini farm, home grown vegetable and flower competitions and rural retailers. Wander through the arts and culture village and refresh yourself from one of the many food and drink stalls. 12-8pm, admission free.

SUMMER SUNDAY EXTRAVAGANZA Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Road, Blackheath SE3 7SE www.mycenaehouse.co.uk 23 July A family festival of fun with live music, dance, theatre, arts and

Bishop’s Avenue SW6 6EA www.fulhampalace.org 16 July Spaddles and Sorbets A History of Ice Cream in Britain Family Workshop. Prepare to be have your taste buds tickled as television’s Annie Gray takes your family through the delightful ins and outs of ice cream through the ages. 1pm-1.45pm, £3.50, booking recommended. 5 August Vegetable Trail An Edible Adventure. Eat your way around our vibrant Walled Garden with this edible tour of our delicious produce, and see for yourself how your favourite greens grow. Free, booking essential, 11am-11.45am and 2pm-2.45pm

WRESTLE FEST/KID’S FEST Colour House Theatre, Watermill Way SW19 2RD www.colourhousetheatre.co.uk 15 July and 28 Aug Two fantastic family days out with lots of activities and workshops Includes hands-on art, crafts, pottery, cake making, music, drama and dancing, plus soft play, bouncy castle and storytelling areas with archaeological digging and face painting. Wrestling displays! The Colour House Children’s theatre will be running puppet and magic shows throughout the days and there will be visits from the animals at Dean City Farm and the local Fire Brigade. 11am–5pm

SOUTHBANK CENTRE Belvedere Road SE1 8XX www.southbankcentre.co.uk Throughout July and August Dragon Babies Let your Dragon Babies experience the sounds of Southbank Centre's beautiful Gamelan (Javanese orchestra) through singing, movement and percussion. £5 Throughout July and August Rug Rhymes. Under-fives and their carers are invited to join The Poetry Library puppets, Federico and Firebird, on their poem rug to find out.

Throughout July and August Urban Beach The beach will be back this year for friends and family to enjoy riverside views, build sandcastles and pop along for design, dance and performances at the Southbank Centre.

MORDEN HALL PARK Morden SM4 5JD www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mordenhall-park Throughout July and August Join a nature trail around the park and make some delightful crafts to take home. £4 per child, entry to Morden Hall Park is free. 11am-4pm

ROYAL SOCIETY SUMMER EXHIBITION 2017 6-9 Carlton House Terrace SW1Y 5 AG www.royalsociety.org/summer-science 4-9 July Hold a beating robotic heart in your hands, get to grips with the engineering behind bicycle chains that helped team GB’s cycling Olympians and Paralympians get their golds, and learn how we can harness digital technologies to make a difference in the mental health of the iGeneration. 6 days of free science fun for all ages.

BATTERSEA ARTS CENTRE Lavender Hill SW11 5TN www.bac.org.uk Final Saturday of the month Family Saturdays Fun, free activities for ages 0-11, including face painting, music, toy and clothes swaps, plus older children and young people can get involved in their Homegrown programme. Includes The Bee’s Knees, a magical indoor play space for ages 0-5. 10am-1.30pm, free, (The Bee’s Knees is £3 per child).

THE CREATIVITY ROOM St Barnabus Church, Clapham Common North Side SW4 9SW www.thecreativityroom.co.uk Various dates in July and August Arts and Crafts Club An exciting programme of arts and crafts for all ages up to 12. A small fee applies, but free trial sessions available. Email manager@thecreativityroom.co.uk or call 07852 336405.

July/August 2017 | 020 8696 9680 | Familiesonline.co.uk

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WIN Fa m il Co ies S m ou pe th tit W ion e st

© Lesley Cook

TICKETS TO SEE WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT AT CADOGAN HALL

TO CELEBRATE WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT’S RETURN TO CADOGAN HALL, Families South West has one family ticket (admits 4) to give away. There are bear paw prints hidden throughout this magazine. To WIN find them all and email how many you found together with your name and the subject heading BEAR HUNT FAMILIES SW COMPETITION to info@kennywax.com before 31 July 2017. T&C’s - Prize is for one family ticket (admits 4, min 1 adult) to see the London production of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt at Cadogan Hall from 4 Aug - 3 Sept. The winner will be selected by random prize draw of entries with the correct answer. Tickets are subject to availability, non-transferable and hold no cash value. Answers will not be accepted after the closing date of 31 July 2017.

The draw will take place 31 July 2017 The promotor’s decisions will be final. The Bear Paw Print image within this write up is not included in the total to count. www.cadoganhall.com

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Should essential oils be part of your natural health toolkit? By Gus Grima, Functional Health Coach and doTERRA Wellness Advocate

As a functional health coach, my mission is to empower women to look after their health in the most natural, non-toxic way possible. I love to connect the dots between symptoms and their underlying causes and help my clients understand what’s triggering their symptoms and what to do to nurture themselves back to feeling amazing again. As a mother, I want to ensure my children grow up knowing, understanding and being in tune with their bodies and having an awareness of the relationship between what they put in and on their bodies and how they’re feeling. I have spent years steadily clearing the toxins out of our home, starting with food by focusing on eating only ‘real’ wholefoods, then moving onto laundry, cleaning, skin and hair care and my make up (which I’m still working on!) What’s also important to me, is to keep the use of conventional medicine as close to nothing as possible.

WE LIVE IN A TOXIN SOUP The reason for this is that because there are now an estimated 80,000 industrial chemicals in more than 6 billion products that we are using – a lot of these are everyday products – our bodies are constantly having to deal with this onslaught – day in, day out. Our liver is responsible for detoxifying these poisonous chemicals but the average liver – even in a child - is often overworked, trying to excrete this barrage of toxins. Our gut – or gastro-intestinal tract – is one of the first places to feel the full force of this toxic soup and as our gut is the seat of a large part of our immune system, this can then trigger our immune system to become hyper-sensitized (cue skin issues like eczema, worsening hayfever, asthma, allergies, intolerances to name a few). It doesn’t stop there though, as chemicals can also disrupt our natural hormone balance, as well as affect the brain.

certainly didn’t have the potency needed for them to work properly. Ever since then, I have been using these wonderfully pure, toxin-free oils to support our wellbeing at home. Essential oils are much, much more than just a lovely smell and taste. They are the plant’s immune system and, as we are carbon-based like plants, when we use truly pure and potent oils, then we are able to take these properties into our body and utilize them (with ease) to support our own body to protect itself, heal itself and be well – not just physically but emotionally too. What I’ve experienced and learnt about these oils over the last year has impressed me more and more. I’m very passionate about sharing these oils and educating others on how to use them – especially the importance of respect and safety when it comes to diluting the oils for use on children vs adults and when and how to apply them. I run regular online classes, as well as live classes at The Living Room in SW16 for those that want to learn more about the power and versatility of these essential oils. Future topics, aside from general introduction classes, will be classes on fertility, green and clean around the home, children and pregnancy.

WHAT ESSENTIAL OILS CAN DO Up until May 2016, I had no idea that I could incorporate essential oils into my natural health toolkit… then I attended my first doTERRA essential oils class. I had used the odd essential oil in the past: lavender on my pillow to help me sleep, tea tree for cuts, thyme for colds but once I’d learnt more, I realized that the oils I’d been using were not as pure as I thought and

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For more information about oils and classes, please contact me at gus@bemarvellous.co.uk or call 07851 759654. I also post my classes on Facebook where you can find me at BeMarvellous and on my website www.bemarvellous.co.uk

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HEALTH

Gus’s recipes for using essential oils around the home:

FOR AROMA:

BEAUTY

CLEANING

Diffusing certain oils can support focus, memory and concentration, calm and soothe, or invigorate…you get to choose! This was a blend I chose for my diffuser when I had a very tight deadline ahead of me and was feeling a bit frazzled and fatigued! Whilst some oils have more physical health benefits, others are wonderfully supportive of mental and emotional wellbeing through their ability to interact with your brain’s chemistry and alter mood.

Since finding doTERRA, I now use essential oils as my moisturizer. Geranium, frankincense, lavender and fennel are all wonderful for supporting supple and glowing skin. I mix mine with an organic rosehip or jojoba carrier oil – just 1 drop of essential oil and half a teaspoon of carrier oil mixed into your hand and then spread over your face and neck. Pictured here is doTERRA’s gorgeous Immortelle anti-ageing blend which contains rare oils like rose, frankincense, sandalwood, helichrysum and myrrh.

I use soap nuts to clean my laundry and I love to sprinkle 4-5 drops of lemon on the soap nuts before they go into the washing machine. Lemon is a powerful cleansing agent and also smells glorious and fresh. I use doTERRA’s On Guard Protective Blend (along with lemon essential oil) to clean my worktops because of its many cleansing properties.

*Please note that doTERRA only guarantee their oils if ordered through an advocate, someone who is committed to supporting and educating people around the usage and safety of these oils. Those bought from online shops, and not from an advocate (and hence directly from doTERRA itself), may be adulterated.

0844 879 7189 www.likeminders.co.uk

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SEE MORE EVENTS IN OUR ONLINE WHAT’S ON CALENDAR

We take much care in preparing these What’s On pages, but please do double check with organiser before setting out as things change.

DIARY DATES SATURDAY COMMUNITY DAYS Oasis Play Nature Garden, Larkhall Lane SW4 6SP oasisplay.org.uk/come-andplay/nature-garden Saturdays in July and August A nature garden for children and their carers to enjoy together. Picnic, pond dip, garden, cook or join in with workshops teaching woodwork, gardening, bush craft skills and more. 10.30am-4pm

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WHAT’S ON

IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING THIS MONTH… AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace SE1X 9DQ www.80dayslive.com 4 August – 2 September The mysterious and fabulously wealthy Phileas Fogg wagers his life's fortune that he can circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days. Join Fogg and his loyal valet, Passepartout, as they voyage from the misty alleys of Victorian London to the exotic subcontinent and the Wild West in a race against the clock. An ensemble cast of eight plays over 125 characters in an imaginative and physically inventive high-spirited escapade including six trains, five boats, four fights, three dances, two circus acts and an elephant! Kenny Wax's production returns to the stage for a major six month tour - catch it while you can. Tickets from £17.50. This is an amazing show so don’t miss out.

CLAPHAM NCT Venues across SW12 www.nct.org.uk/branches/clapham 4, 6, 11, 18 and 27 July Antenatal refresher course. Expecting a second (or third) baby? NCT refresher courses are designed to help you build on past birth experiences and prepare you for the changing family dynamic. Booking essential. 29 and 30 July, 4 August Signature antenatal course for firsttime parents. Booking essential, cost varies, discounts available.

BALHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill SW12 9HD www.balhamcomedyfestival.com To 8 July Acts include Sara Pascoe, Ed Byrne, Mary Bourke, Kagools, Phil Nichol, Jeremy Hardy and Jason Manford. Loads of fun for all the family.

KIDS CLUB FILM Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn Street SW4 0AT www.picturehouses.com 8 July Boss Baby As any exhausted parent will tell you, a baby is the real boss of every family. This hilarious animation from DreamWorks takes that idea and toddles off fabulously somewhere kind of crazy with it. 11.45am, exclusively for children and their parents or carers.

CLAPHAM LEAF CLUB

TCH KIDS CLUB

by Venn Street Market www.vennstreetmarket.co.uk 8 July Grand Finale of Clapham Leaf Club Local primary schools show and sell their produce and recipes grown and produced from their harvest, 10am-4pm.

The Climbing Hangar, 33-35 Parsons Green Lane SW6 theclimbinghangar.com/london 15 July Sports Club Climbing session led by experienced instructors and open to all abilities. Age 7-9, 9.30am.

FIRST AID FOR LIFE www.firstaidtraininglondon.co.uk 11-13 July First Aid at work £228. 11 & 17 July Emergency First Aid at work, £96. 15 July Paediatric First Aid for nannies and au pairs, £96. Large range of course, see website.

Imperial College, Imperial College Road SW7 2AZ www.inspiredmindstutors.com 15 July An inspiring introduction to robotics for children aged 7-12. Take robots apart to learn how they work, then build and code your own. From £120, 11am-3pm.

UK AND INTERNATIONAL INTENSIVE DANCE WEEK

LONDON FIRST AID TRAINING

ROBOTICS WORKSHOP

Arts Educational School, 4 Bath Road W4 1LY www.artsed.co.uk 10-15 July A 6-day intensive dance course led by industry professionals. Includes ballet technique, jazz, commercial, and stage make up sessions. Age 11+.

Venues in Battersea SW11 www.firstaidtraininglondon.co.uk 15 July Paediatric First Aid Course Includes resuscitation procedures, drowning, chocking, shock, spinal injury, burns and scalds.

THE GLOBE FAMILY OFFER 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT Visit the exhibition desk to buy tickets every day or call 020 7902 1599 for more information. Learn about Shakespeare’s world and his plays through interactive activities and demonstrations at Shakespeare’s Globe. £10 Family tickets for a limited period. Ages 4+ to 5+

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Cromwell Road SW7 5BD www.nhm.ac.uk 12 July Investigate for Families. Get a feel for how scientists work by having a go yourself. Explore hundreds of real nature specimens that form the evidence that museum scientists use in their work. Age 311, 11am.

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Clapham Leaf Club on Venn Street market

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FIRCROFT PRIMARY SCHOOL FAIR Fircroft Primary School SW17 7PP 15 July Loads of stalls and lots of fun! 12-3pm.

MESSY TODDLERS The Bright Emporium, 103-105 St John’s Hill SW11 1SY www.thebrightemporium.com 15 July Why make a mess at home? Come to the Emporium and have all the fun with none of the tidying up. Age 0-4, 10.30-11.30am.

RHS GARDEN WISLEY Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB www.rhs.org.uk/wisley 15 – 16 July Arts Fest Live music, performances, poetry and craft stalls. 5 – 6 August Birds of Prey Meet birds of prey up close and learn all about them. Watch the birds in agility displays, 11am and 2pm. 22 July – 3 September The Famous Five On A Garden Adventure Celebrate the 75th anniversary of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five as you follow a selfguided trail and help Uncle Quentin

uncover more about the mysterious Robo Bees. Crafts, den building, garden games and storytelling. On 11 August celebrate Enid Blyton’s birthday with a themed picnic party.

WWT LONDON WETLAND CENTRE WWT London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT www.wwt.org.uk 22 July – 3 September Dusty Duck’s Wildlife Rangers Will you take up the challenge and become a Wildlife Ranger this summer? Grab a net and try pond dipping, join their warden to discover more about the wildlife, build a bug hotel or learn how to use binoculars.

FULHAM PALACE Bishop’s Avenue SW6 6EA www.fulhampalace.org 23 July Hands-on Archaeology Come along to this drop-in session for a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with some of their archaeological finds and learn more

RHS Garden Wisley about the rich and varied history of this ancient site. 1pm-3pm. 23 July Interactive Archaeology Tour As part of the Festival of Archaeology 2017, join their Community Archaeologist for this fascinating exploration of the Fulham Palace of the past. Free, booking recommended, 3pm-4pm. 26 July – 30 August Art Marquee Learn exciting new techniques from paper marbling and working with clay to puppetry and pop-ups. £3 per child, no booking necessary, 1pm-4pm.

JAZZ ON THE LAWN Fulham Palace, Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham SW6 6EA www.606club.co.uk/fulhampalace / fulhampalace.org 28-29 July Chelsea’s 606 Club presents Jazz on the Lawn, featuring RB Funkestra with Helena-May and the Emma Smith Quintet, from £10.

FAMILY SATURDAY Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill SW11 5TN www.bac.org.uk 29 July A day of fun, food and family friendly activities including face painting, storytelling, music, soft play, crafts and more. 10am-3pm.

BROCKWELL PARK COMMUNITY GREENHOUSES Brockwell Park SE24 0PA www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk 5-30 August Fun, family workshops learning all about Bees, Butterflies, Dragonflies and Herbs. Eat, make, learn and explore. 26 August Let s Go Batty! Join them for a bat

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evening and explore the garden and the park for bats. Find out more about these elusive mammals and how they live. Children aged 8+, 6pm-9.30pm.

FILM4 SUMMER SCREEN Somerset House, Strand WC2R 1LA www.somersethouse.org.uk 10-23 August Experience 14 nights of handpicked premieres, contemporary, cult and classic films presented with surround sound and state-of-theart projection onto London’s largest outdoor screen. Before each film DJs play film-inspired sets, while you tuck into the food stalls, and on selected nights there will be live introductions from familiar faces.

CLAPHAM PREGNANCY AND BABY SHOW Henry Cavendish Primary School, Hydethorpe Road, SW12 0JA www.claphambabyshow.co.uk 14 October Organised by Neighbourhood Midwives, Hello Mums and Baby Intuition. The Clapham Pregnancy and Baby Show is back with its fourth event. If you haven't heard about it before, it is a local, free event for expectant and new parents, a fantastic opportunity to come and meet lots of pregnancy, birth and baby experts all in one morning. In a relaxed and informal setting, you can meet midwives, doulas, therapists and chat 1-to-1 about their area of expertise. Their goody bags are reknowned for being really generous, book now they are limited! FREE entry.

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CAMBRIDGE THEATRE Seven Dials, 32-34 Earlham Street WC2H 9HU uk.matildathemusical.com Throughout July and August Matilda The Musical Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, Matilda revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dares to change her destiny.

CHELSEA THEATRE 7 World's End Place, King's Road SW10 0DR www.chelseatheatre.org.uk 20 August Twelfth Night Two twin siblings, Viola and Sebastian, are separated in a shipwreck and Viola takes on the appearance of a man to be accepted to work in Duke Orsino’s household. It is here that the fun begins. £10/£8

COLOUR HOUSE THEATRE Watermill Way SW19 2RD www.colourhousetheatre.co.uk 5 August T-Rextasy Unplugged The songs of Marc Bolan played acoustically and sung by Danielz (lead singer with the world’s only official tribute band to Marc Bolan and T-Rex), 7.30pm, £12

LYRIC THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ES www.lyrictheatrelondon.co.uk 5 July – 10 September What the Ladybird Heard Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ muchloved children’s book comes to life, bringing farmyard fun to the West End. A glittering tale packed full of fun, What the Ladybird Heard follows two crafty robbers, one very small ladybird and all of her farmyard friends!

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1QG atgtickets.com/venues/newwimbledon-theatre 7-8 July English National Ballet School Summer Performance. These talented young dancers will be showcasing their skills at the School’s annual Summer Performance, featuring a blend of

WHAT’S ON

classical, neo-classical and contemporary works as well as exciting new choreography from their own emerging choreographers. 25-26 August Stage Experience - Bugsy Malone Prepare to be dazzled by this mammoth production of Alan Parker’s smash hit musical . With a cast of over sixty of the country’s brightest young performers, this is Bugsy Malone as you’ve never seen it before.

Et Patati Patata French Summer camps

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OMNIBUS CLAPHAM 1 Clapham Common Northside SW4 0QW www.omnibus-clapham.org 21-30 July Edinburgh Previews. Edinburgh Fringe Festival may be the theatre event of the year but you don’t have to venture that far. Stay right here in Clapham to be a step ahead of the rest, with some of the very best previews from the most exciting theatre makers.

THE PEACOCK THEATRE WC2A 2HT sadlerswells.com/peacock-theatre 18-23 July English National Ballet – My First Ballet, Cinderella Everyone's favourite rags-to-riches story, in a beautifully adapted ballet version for children aged three upwards. Cinderella is tormented by her stepsisters and she can only dream of attending the Prince’s glamorous ball. Abandoned to an evening of drudgery, she is visited by her Fairy Godmother who transforms her into a glittering Princess who shall go to the ball.

Download our June issue from FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk for Part 1 of our summer camps and activities listing (6 pages!) floorboards, dreaming of the great outdoors. When her father Pod brings her upstairs to learn the tricks of borrowing, Arietty meets a human boy. But their friendship risks everything and the ‘human beans’ soon discover the borrowers’ secret world… From £10. This is Polka’s big summer show, so book now before tickets are snapped up. 7 July - 27 August Hatch Follow the extraordinary

journey of an egg through different sensory worlds, each bursting with a mesmerising blend of sights and sounds. Ages 2-5, £9/£12.50

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Little Venice, Blomfield Road W9 2PF www.puppetbarge.com Throughout July and August The Hare and the Tortoise And other tales from Aesop. Age 3+, £8.50/£12

PICCADILLY THEATRE 16 Denman Street W1D 7DY www.anniewestend.com Throughout July and August Annie The Musical The world’s favourite family musical makes its long-awaited return to London, starring comedy superstar Miranda Hart. Tickets are going fast so book yours now to see the comedy megastar high kicking, falling over and passing out as Miss Hannigan!

THE POLKA THEATRE 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB www.polkatheatre.com To 20 August The Borrowers Arietty has lived her whole life deep beneath the

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SADLER’S WELLS Rosebery Avenue EC1R www.sadlerswells.com 19 July – 6 August Tanguera On the sultry streets of Buenos Aires you will find the world of the Tanguera, the tango dancer, who must seduce men with her flashing legs and smouldering eyes in order to survive. It is here that the young French woman Giselle must make her way, and the dockworker Lorenzo must fight to win her love.

TARA THEATRE 356 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield SW18 4ES www.tara-arts.com 12-15 July Octopus You’re an octopus. All mixed up, like me. One leg something, and one leg something else. Octopus is an anarchic new comedy about Britishness and whether anybody knows what it is.

UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street, Southwark SE1 2HZ www.unicorntheatre.com To 9 July Double Double Act Are children and adults sometimes the same? What does adulthood really mean? And what kind of things do we both find funny? Age 6+, from £10

take you hither or thither or join the underground movement to rise against the fearsome Queen of Hearts. What a ride! Age 5-10

MUSEUMS, GALLERIES AND DAYS OUT BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM Threadneedle Street EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk 24 July – 1 September Banknote Detectives Calling all banknote detectives; the Museum needs your help this summer! Could you tell a real banknote from a fake? Explore the Museum, using your detective skills to solve the puzzles. Pick up some tips at the interactive talks on banknotes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1pm

BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN’S ZOO Battersea Park, Chelsea Bridge Gate SW11 4NJ www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk 25 July – 22 August Holiday Fun Days Includes Hedgehog Day, Snake Day, Snail Day, Big Bug Bonanza Day and much more. With arts and crafts, quizzes, stories.

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE 404 Strand, WC2R 0NH www.snarkthemusical.com 26 July - 2 September The Hunting of the Snark The impossible voyage of an improbable crew to hunt an imaginary creature is brought magically to life in a sparkling musical comedy adventure for 4 to 94 year olds. Tickets from £12.50

THE VAULTS AT WATERLOO Launcelot Street SE1 7AD www.thevaults.london/alicesadventures-underground Throughout July and August Adventures in Wonderland A magical show, pushing the boundaries of children’s theatre. Tumble down the rabbit hole in a theatrical adventure like no other, with more to explore than ever before. Meet some of Wonderland’s famous and curious inhabitants, take tea at the biggest un-birthday party with the maddest of Hatters, let the Cheshire Cat

CHARLES DICKENS MUSEUM 48 Doughty Street WC1N 2LX www.dickensmuseum.com Last Sunday of every month Highlighting the Collection Drop-in object handling sessions throughout the historic interior of 48 Doughty Street. Discover a unique set of Dickensian curiosities from a cheque signed by Dickens, to a beautiful dolls house, an engraved snuff box and even a collection of original props from The Invisible Woman.

DESIGN MUSEUM 224-238 Kensington High Street W8 6AG www.designmuseum.org Throughout July and August California While California’s midcentury modernism is well documented, this is the first exhibition to examine its current global reach. Picking up the story in the 1960s, the exhibition charts the journey from the counterculture to Silicon Valley’s tech culture.

Go and see the amazing Giant African Snail at Battersea Zoo

FOUNDLING MUSEUM 40 Brunswick Square, Camden Town WC1N 1AZ www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk To 10 September Hetty’s Hospital Inspired by Hetty Feather’s experience of the Foundling Hospital sick bay, young patients on the oncology and hematology wards at Great Ormond Street Hospital worked with artist Davina Drummond to create artworks in response to their personal experiences.

HAMPTON COURT PALACE East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace Throughout July and August The Magic Garden Discover something new around every twist and turn in an immersive world populated by mythical beasts, including a 25m dragon! Take the family to become Tudor Knights, besiege the battlements, storm the Tiltyard Towers and explore a mysterious secret grotto. Included in palace admission. Throughout July and August Encounters with the Tudors Join members of the court to explore the perils and intrigues of life as a Tudor. The cooks in Hampton Court’s historic kitchens will also be roasting meat for the king’s table. This is a lovely, live demonstration that is perfect for children, and you’ll really get a taste of what life was like at the time. 15-16 July Tudor Joust The grounds of Hampton Court will ring out with the sound of charging horses hooves and the clash of cold metal, as King Henry VIII and his court take up residence for that most Tudor of royal sports, the joust.

Recreating all the pomp and ceremony of a lavish court entertainment, visitors will be immersed into the sights, smells and sounds of the Tudor court.

HORNIMAN MUSEUM AND GARDENS 100 London Road SE23 3PQ www.horniman.ac.uk Throughout July and August The Robot Zoo How do chameleons change colour? What makes grasshoppers leap so high? Is a giant squid jet-propelled? At the Robot Zoo amazing animals are recreated in robot form to reveal their inner workings. From £4.40

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM Covent Garden Piazza WC2E 7BB www.ltmuseum.co.uk Kids go free, £17.50 for adults (£16 if booked online) Tickets allow unlimited daytime entry to all Museum galleries and temporary exhibitions for a whole year! Visit London Transport Museum this summer for a variety of fun, family-friendly activities and events including creative illustration and make-and-take workshops, storytelling and musical jamming sessions: • Illustration and story time weekend 22 and 23 July • Transport Detectives 24 July to 11 August • Be Safe Week 14 to 18 August • Junk Music 19 August to 3 September Don’t forget to go to the great All Aboard play zone.

•If you have any events for inclusion, please send to whatson@FamiliesSW.co.uk 36

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MUSEUM OF LONDON EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk Sundays in July and August Museum Explored Explore the galleries through fun, hands-on activities. 11am and 2pm. Plus, join a fun and engaging tour of the museum’s galleries, especially for families. Age 5+, 2-2.30pm Saturdays in July and August Hands-on history Hear incredible London stories as you touch and hold real museum objects. Age 5+, 2-4pm 22-23 July Archikids Family Festival Be inspired by the awesome architecture and great places of the city at this weekend extravaganza of free family activities. 11am-4pm 24 July – 31 August Roman London Storytelling Be transported back 2,000 years with these daily storytelling sessions about Ancient Roman London. 25, 27 and 29 July, then every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in August Roman London: Object Handling Get up close to Londinium at this Roman themed object handling table for families.

NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea SW3 4HT www.nam.ac.uk 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 July, 2.30pm War Paint exhibition tour A free 30-minute tour of temporary exhibition War Paint. 22 July – 3 September Construction Challenge Discover engineering techniques and have a go at a construction challenge. From the jungle to the North Pole, use a stack of wooden construction planks to create a structure that won’t topple over. FREE.

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NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM Park Row, Greenwich SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk Saturdays in July and August Character Encounters Join an exciting performance and journey bringing maritime history to life. 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm From 14 July Death in the Ice The Shocking Story of Franklin’s Final Expedition. Exploring the mysterious fate of Sir John Franklin and his crew on their final expedition – a mystery that still remains unsolved today. With over 200 objects on display, alongside finds from HMS Erebus whose resting place was only discovered in 2014 - the exhibition begins to answer questions about what may have happened to those men on their fateful journey to the Arctic all those years ago.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Cromwell Road SW7 5BD www.nhm.ac.uk Throughout July and August Wildlife Photographer of the Year Enjoy the world's best nature photography revealing the astonishing diversity of life on our planet, from urban foxes to mountain hares. Throughout July and August Sensational Butterflies Escape into the tropical butterfly house in the Museum grounds and get up close to these incredible creatures, usually found in the tropical forests of Central and South America, Africa and Asia. From £5.85

THE O2 ARENA Peninsula Square SE10 0DX www.list.co.uk/event/654902-starwars-identities-exhibition Throughout July and August Star Wars Identities Exhibition

An exhibition exploring the concept of identity through characters from the Star Wars universe. Visitors are taken on an interactive quest and leave with a personalised Star Wars character of their very own. From £10

SCIENCE MUSEUM Exhibition Road, South Kensington SW7 2DD Sciencemuseum.org.uk Throughout July and August Robots: The 500 year quest to make machines human. Discover how the history of robots has been shaped by religious belief, the industrial revolution and 20th century popular culture. Throughout July and August Wonderlab: The Statoil Gallery Don’t miss out on this fantastic new interactive gallery with live demonstrations and an Explainerled experience revealing the beauty and wonder in the science and mathematics that shape our lives. Truly fascinating! £8/£6

SOUTHBANK CENTRE

What the Ladybird heard

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Southbank SE1 9PX www.southbankcentre.co.uk To 3 September The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a truckload of Lego making its way to the South Bank. A purpose-built tent will pop-up by the London Eye this month for 'The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes', a collection of larger-thanlife sculptures of iconic comic book characters contructed entirely in Lego.

To 20 August Adventures in Moominland This brand new immersive experience explores the internationallyrecognised stories of the Moomins through the life of its author Tove Jansson. Visitors to the exhibition will travel through seven different interactive worlds that explore the inspirations behind her much-loved stories. From £12 15-16 July Africa Utopia Festival A line up of some of the most exciting musicians, artists, performers and thinkers from across Africa, with an arts and crafts marketplace and an African inspired street food market with stalls of authentic cuisine and live music.

TOWER OF LONDON St Katharine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london Throughout July and August Armoury in Action A family friendly exhibition revealing the fascinating story of arms and the armoury at the Tower. From shooting arrows and assembling firearms to brandishing swords, a thousand years of history at the Tower is brought to life in this exciting, hands-on experience.

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD Cambridge Heath Road E2 9PA www.museumofchildhood.org.uk Throughout July and August Seen But Not Heard A new photography display giving a unique voice to children in the transition

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SEE MORE EVENTS IN OUR ONLINE WHAT’S ON CALENDAR from primary to secondary education. Throughout July and August Searching for Ghosts Homes reveal much about the people who inhabit them, offering an intimate portrait of our domestic lives and bearing the traces of the people who lived in them in the past. Explore this journey of discovery, offering a glimpse into the lived experience of several generations of east Londoners From 22 July Michael Morpurgo: A Lifetime in Stories The life and exceptional writing power of one of Britain's best-loved storytellers, Michael Morpurgo, will be celebrated in a new exhibition looking at Morpurgo's life and writing process as well as the lives he has created. 23 July

Summer Festival A buzzing programme of live music, dance, walkabout acts, designer stalls, food, face paints, henna, rickshaw rides, games and lots for kids to make and do. FREE Drop-in, all ages.

BABIES AND TODDLERS

MUSEUM OF LONDON

Barnes, Chelsea, Fulham, Wandsworth www.doremibabies.co.uk Dates throughout July and August Inspirational and fun classical concerts Babies and toddlers are welcome to crawl, dance, sing, cry, nappy change and more, so you can relax and enjoy some wonderful music. £10 per adult, children free, tickets online or on the door. Dates vary depending on venue.

BABY BROADWAY www.babybroadway.co.uk Twitter: @babybroadwayuk Baby Broadway brings West End musicals to your doorstep. The whole family can sing and dance along to well-known songs from hit shows such as Mary Poppins, Grease, The Sound of Music, Frozen and many more performed by West End singers. Open to all ages from newborns to school age, tickets £10 per adult (children FREE). Concerts in Wimbledon, Balham, Earlsfield, Putney and many more locations throughout July & August.

Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/london 22 July – 3 September Dusty Duck’s Wildlife Rangers Will you take up the challenge and become a Wildlife Ranger this summer? Grab a net and try pond dipping; join our warden to discover more about the wildlife, build a bug hotel or learn how to use binoculars.

TATE BRITAIN Millbank SW1P 4RG tate.org.uk 5 August Under Fives Explore the Gallery Experiment with a range of materials while discovering exciting routes and journeys through the galleries alongside other families.

V & A MUSEUM Cromwell Road SW7 2RL www.vam.ac.uk/families Throughout July and August Family Activities Pick up a family trail from the Information Desk and explore the museum through puzzles, drawing and observation. There are also hundreds of exciting

WHAT’S ON

hands-on exhibits containing plenty to touch and try out, plus regular activities and workshops for ages 7-12. FREE

PORTRAIT GALLERY St Martin's Place WC2H 0HE www.npg.org.uk Every third Sunday Drop In Family Sundays Drop-in with children aged 3+ to take part in portrait-related events. FREE

TATE MODERN Bankside, SE1 9TG www.tate.org.uk Throughout July and August Family Friendly Art Activities A range of free arty and crafty workshops, see website for details. FREE

EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk Wednesdays in July and August Little Moles Toddlers Group and Mini Moles Babies Group Fun, hands-on, creative sessions for toddlers, parents and carers. 3.304.30pm, book in advance. Plus sensory, hands-on, play-based activities for you and your baby to enjoy together, 11am-12pm 26-30 August Use Your Nose Choose your favourite herbs and spices to create your very own herb pouch. Under 5s.

Museum of London Use your nose

MORDEN HALL PARK

FULHAM PALACE

UNICORN THEATRE

Morden Hall Road, Morden SM4 5JD www.nationaltrust.org.uk Every Monday in July and August Little Explorers Bring your little ones to enjoy crafts, outdoor activities, songs and stories. Little Explorers is a fun activity session for children aged 2-5, 10am, £2 per child, £1 siblings.

Bishop’s Avenue SW6 6EA www.fulhampalace.org Mondays and Tuesdays in July and August The Palace Explorers Join the Palace Explorers, weekly parent/carer and toddler sessions for children aged 2-4. £4 per child, which includes a drink and healthy snack, booking essential. 9.30am10.30am

147 Tooley Street SE1 2HZ www.unicorntheatre.com To 17 July Sensacional A sound and light show in which the toddler audience are participants. Wearing a white suit, your child becomes part of a digital world of ladybirds, shapes, squiggles and squarks that won't keep still, no matter how hard you try to catch them! Ages 18 months - 3 years, tickets £10 include one child and one adult. Saturdays to 31 July Up Club Join the Unicorn Play Club most Saturdays for free dropin activities from portrait painting and potato printing to giant rocket making and more. 12noon - 2pm To 19 August Baby Show This brand new show is a sensory performance with captivating images and intriguing sounds that will keep your little ones rapt. £10 per adult and child.

THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL Kensington Gore SW7 2AP www.royalalberthall.com Tuesdays and Wednesdays in July and August Storytelling and Music Sessions A series of sessions for babies and toddlers aged 0-4, to encourage interaction between parents/carers and their little ones using musical instruments, singing, movement and stories. 10am and 11.30am, £5

Familiesonline.co.uk | 020 8696 9680 | July/August 2017

© Museum of London

DO-RE-MI BABIES CONCERTS

WWT LONDON WETLANDS CENTRE

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KENSINGTON PALACE W8 4PX hrp.org.uk/kensingtonpalace Selected Wednesdays and Saturdays in July and August Tiny Explorers. Explore and play in the Palace together Discover the stories of Kensington Palace through music, movement, messy play and more. £6 per child, price includes up to two adults £5 per child for members. 10.30am – babies, 1pm – walkers, 2.30pm – walkers.

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