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London-Kent Borders ISSUE 30: March - April 2016

LONDON–KENT BORDERS

HELP YOUR CHILD ENJOY BEDTIME READING PLUS:

News & Views Education Easter Events Diary

The Great

EASTER EGG HUNT

T H E E S S E N T I A L M AG A Z I N E F O R PA R E N T S O F C H I L D R E N AG E D 0–T E E N S For families living in the Bromley & Bexley boroughs, Dartford & the surrounding areas of Kent

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Follow the trail to find the chicks and egg hidden in the museum. You can then colour in an Easter animal mask of your choice to take home. There is a chocolate egg for every child. 10:00am–5:00pm Share your experience @boemuseum Monday to Friday. @boemuseum Closed weekends and Bank Holidays. Entrance T: 020 7601 5545 in Bartholomew Lane, London EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum

KENT GRAMMAR SCHOOLS Dates: Wed 30th March 9am-1pm & Tue 31st May 9pm-4pm Where: Crofton Halls, Crofton Rd, Orpington BR6 8PR From £25 per paper including detailed feedback and free online software trial

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Families London–Kent Borders Magazine or Twitter @familieslkb

In this issue... ISSUE 30: MARCH - APRIL 2016

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04 News & Views

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06 Everyday meaningful careers 07 Education: How to boost your child’s literacy and numeracy 10 The great Easter egg hunt Keeping up the tradition with your children 1

29/09/2014 21:18 11 Pre-school Rules

Clubs and classes for pre-schoolers

12 A day at Diggerland The ultimate adventure park experience

13 Out & About C

The best of What’s On near you

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Front cover: Roma Rose Photography www.romarosephotography.co.uk

Editor: Mima Walia 020 8466 6977 07792 006546 editor@familieslondonkent.co.uk

What’s On Editor: Louise Kettlety Design: Kevin Smith

Families London-Kent Borders Magazine 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. The contents of Families London-Kent Borders Magazine are fully protected by copyright and non of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. 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.

www.familieslondonkent.co.uk MARCH - APRIL 2016

News & Views

One Day. Your Outfit.

THEIR RULES Ever wondered what it would be like to let the kids’ take control of your wardrobe? To give them complete power over your outfit selection? Well now is your chance. On 29 April 2016, the country will unite in a day of completely uncoordinated clothing chaos, with the launch of Oxfam’s exciting new fundraising event, Dressed by the Kids’ Day.

From sequin tops paired with baseball caps and cartoon socks, to your favourite suit jacket worn over that novelty neon vest from your hey-days, it’s time to embrace the unorthodox, throw open the wardrobe doors and let the little one’s loose. Parents, Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents nationwide will be wearing creative outfit concoctions to the office, on the school run or just loudly and proudly at home. What could be more fun? Dressed by the Kids’ Day promises to unite families in a day of fun interaction designed to help raise vital funds for Oxfam in their fight against world poverty. In just 15 years, extreme poverty has been halved and in 15 more years, it can be ended for good. In its inaugural year, Oxfam expect to see families across the country embrace the concept and boldly showcasing their new looks on 29 April. How wacky people choose to go with their outfit is limited only by the kids’ creativity and the outlandish items they’re able to find in the back of your wardrobe. Cue lots of giggles from the little one’s as you give them free reign to become your stylist for the day. Those embracing the opportunity and taking part in Dressed by the Kids’ Day, will support Oxfam’s fight against poverty by seeking sponsorship from friends and family.

PUTTING THE MAGIC BACK INTO THE EASTER HOLIDAYS Looking for something for your children to do this Easter? Then Super Camps daily activity camps are the perfect way to put the magic back into the school holidays. The programme is jam-packed with fun activities that will keep your children entertained for hours, and our ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating gives you the peace of mind that your children are in the best possible care. Camps include a variety of sports, games, and arts and crafts. No two days are the same and the price includes all activities. Knole Academy Bradbourne Vale Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3LE 29th March - 8th April 201 Sutton Valence Prep School Chart Sutton, Nr.Maidstone, ME17 3RF 29th March - 1st April 2016

Tim Hunter, Head of Fundraising for Oxfam, comments: “On April 29th Oxfam encourages the nation to transform its look to help transform people’s lives in our first-ever Dressed by the Kids Day fundraising initiative. This major new event is an exciting venture for Oxfam. We wanted to design a fundraising event that felt fresh and involved the whole family. It will come as no surprise that children are especially excited by Dressed by the Kids’ Day, so we can’t wait to let their imaginations and creativity run wild.”

St Stephen’s Junior School Hales Drive, Canterbury, CT2 7AD 29th March - 8th April 2016

Those that want to unite the family in something truly fun and unique are encouraged to sign-up to Dressed by the Kids’ Day via www.oxfam.com/ dressedbythekidsday [page to launch March 2016] where they will be issued an interactive fundraising pack designed for adults and children, alongside a unique text code to allow making sponsorship donations even easier.

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How to Help Your Child Enjoy Bedtime Reading BY JUSTINE CROW

We’ve all been there – it’s bedtime, everybody is tired and a little grumpy because homework, bath-time and tooth-brushing all have to happen when both the grown-ups and the children are at their weariest. So perhaps the best answer to create a calm environment after the mayhem is a good bedtime story. It’s never to early to start a bedtime story routine. Babies are soothed by the sound of your voice, so make sure you have a comfy chair in the nursery to settle down in. Soon, your baby will learn to recognise this as their bedtime story moment. When they are a bit older, reading together is not just an opportunity to bond with your child but also to help establish and maintain a good bedtime routine, which is vital in getting the kids off to sleep at a sensible hour. For older children, this is a time to explore your child’s imagination, as story time becomes a shared time of fantasy. Consistency is good and a regular treat at bedtime gives your child something to look forward to. It also does no harm at all to enforce the idea of reading as a positive thing for your child. There’s no harm in choosing your child’s favorite book for their first story time. However, ensure the end of the story is calm and soothing to help your little one drift off. As your child grows you’ll find storytime becomes longer. This is a great opportunity to encourage your child to listen for longer periods of time without interrupting. Soon you will be able to choose long stories and break them up into manageable pieces or chapters and leave another exciting instalment for the next night. As they grow older and can read by themselves, you can encourage their interest in a story by reading the first part to them at bedtime, then allow them to continue

Consistency is good and a regular treat at bedtime gives your child something to look forward to.

the story by themselves the next day. Try to find time to discuss the plot and the characters to ensure they understand what’s going on and to explain any ‘big’ words they may not have come across before; This is a great way to improve vocabulary. As the books become more difficult, you’ll find the number of illustrations also decrease. However, it’s important to recognize that images are still important to your child’s understanding and imagination. By the time your child is able to read lots of text without any help from you, it’s time to step back and allow them to read what they choose for themselves before going to sleep. Be prepared for the fact that they may have different tastes to you and their siblings. It’s still a good idea to set a time limit before lights out even now, as otherwise you might find your child still gripped by their book at midnight! Don’t abandon the idea of reading together completely; every so often, you could offer to finish a chapter for them to save their tired eyes; they’ll use that time for their own thoughts and fantasies. Bedtime stories are also great for educating your child or sharing news

with them. For example, a good story can encourage them to learn to swim or potty train and even welcome a new sibling. Many books on subjects such as these have been used by parents to get over tricky stages. Local bookshops and libraries can advise you on the best titles to choose depending on the event or situation and many online book companies categorise books by subject, so it should be quite easy to find what you need. Have a quick read through the book yourself before sharing it with your child to make sure it says what you want it to. Having time to ourselves with a great book is something that adults really appreciate and once they’ve got the hang of it, children also benefit from winding down with something to read. In the words of Dr Suess: “Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” Justine Crow is the author of The Little Book of Nits published by Bloomsbury. Parent of three, she owns her own bookshop with her partner, The Bookseller Crow on Hill, and is a qualified swimming teacher. And in what little spare time she has, she also runs gastronomic writing retreat courses in France and is the food critic of The Transmitter.

www.familieslondonkent.co.uk MARCH - APRIL 2016

Recruitment

Every day you can have a meaningful career… At Bright Horizons, their legacy is built in their commitment to keeping everyone safe and providing world-class care and education, delivered by a world-class workforce. Each day, they are trusted to care for nearly 20,000 children across more than 200 unique learning environments. With more than 6000 employees and 500 Apprentices, they are very proud to be recognised as a Great Place to Work for 10 consecutive years, to have achieved our RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) Gold Award for 4 consecutive years and our Guardian Angel Award, and to be recognised as Investors In Diversity. They are relentless in their desire to create environments where their families and colleagues feel special, unique and important. They always give their best and work together to deliver extraordinary customer service.

They are currently recruiting for experienced and passionate nursery nurses and room leaders. Interested? Please call the recruitment team on 0800 141 2909 or send your CV to Laura.ray@brighthorizons.com

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We are looking for individuals willing to work a structured plan, as a team leader. As one of our leaders, you will typically make between £800 and £2,000 + a month, flexibly, around pre-existing commitments. With varying roles and income potential on offer, you’ll get full training and support every step of the way, so no experience is necessary.

Working from home opportunity • Can you free up 10 hours per week? • Do you have a burning desire to change your current circumstances? • Are you a positive, out going person? • Are you ambitious and driven to succeed? If you can answer yes to any of these then we would really like to hear from you. For more information please contact Emma Mason on 07947 167 293 or emmamason.12@outlook.com

MARCH - APRIL 2016 www.familieslondonkent.co.uk

Education Travel

How to boost your child’s literacy and numeracy BY LIAT HUGHES JOSHI

Literacy and numeracy are central to your child’s learning in primary school and will underpin many of the subjects they’ll cover during their secondary education. They are of course crucial to later life too. Whether they’re already acing their algebra or still struggling with basic sums, here are some ideas on how to give these key skills a boost. A little extra learning at home can work wonders…but don’t go overboard! Realistically, it isn’t always possible for teaching staff in busy classrooms of 30 pupils to provide the oneon-one attention children benefit from – perhaps looking at improving handwriting or listening to reading daily. By sitting with your child and working on specific areas, you can make a huge difference to their attainment. Keep it sensible though – even just ten or fifteen minutes a day for Key Stage 1 children can have an impact, yet still leaves hours and hours for Lego building, climbing trees or playing with friends.

Find out about the methods their school uses to ensure consistency If you want to do some work at home, it will help your son or daughter greatly if the methods you use are consistent with those they’re being taught at school – otherwise you can do more harm than good by confusing them. Reading and aspects of numeracy are both typically taught quite differently to when most of us were children, so do attend any curriculum information evenings the school holds, or ask their teacher for more information about methods. Employ tech to your advantage There are some brilliant educational apps and websites out there with masses of kid appeal. Try to find ones which align with the National Curriculum (or at least use British English to avoid conflict with what’s done at school). Many of the best apps have an in-built system of rewards and some even provide parents with progress reports. [Link: https://www.familiesonline. co.uk/locations/national/educationchildcare/education-and-schools/ eight-of-the-best-educational-appsfor-primary-school-children] Encourage reading Reading opens the door to almost endless learning and enjoyment. Some children are naturally enthused by books, others need more nudging to get the reading bug. Firstly, encourage any reading at all – be it

comics, magazines, the back of the cereal packet – without worrying much about what they are reading. Also try and home in on your child’s interests and give them books that work with these – reluctant readers might gain confidence with nonfiction relating to their hobbies, or a football-mad child might enjoy some sporty tales and then decide fiction is for them. Bedtime stories are a crucial opportunity to snuggle up discussing books together. They’re still beneficial even once children can read independently - parents of older kids could take on a more challenging classic together, taking it in turns to read a page before talking about what’s going on. Incorporate ‘stealth learning’ into everyday activities Sneak some maths and literacy into their day-to-day life and you can improve their skills without it feeling like schoolwork. Adding up the cost of the shopping, dividing the bill in a restaurant, playing Monopoly or snakes and ladders, budgeting for that much-longed for Christmas present or helping with cooking are all brilliant but subtle numeracy activities. For literacy, writing shopping lists, sending a postcard or email to the grandparents, or finding a pen pal might all help. Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting journalist and the author of four books including ‘New Oldfashioned Parenting’ and ‘‎How to Unplug Your Child’ (both published by Summersdale) and Raising Children: The Primary Years (Pearson).

www.familieslondonkent.co.uk MARCH - APRIL 2016

Education

Our Most Successful Year Yet! HABE Girls Compete in the Bromley Indoor Athletics Competition

Renee, our champion shot putter. It must also be noted that three out of the six students who made up the year 7 team; Lily Walker, Kadi Bryne and Mickaela Gale, had also spent the day competing in a Bromley football tournament prior to this competition, which makes this win all the more impressive! They have now earned their place in the regional competition, not only representing the Academy but the Bromley Borough as well. The year 8 team finished a respectable 3rd place out of 8 teams with victories seen by Christine Abass-Owusu in the two lap sprint, a photo finish victory in the two lap sprint relay and a new personal best in the shot put by Lily Burns. Well done girls, a fantastic performance by all! On Wednesday 13th January our Year 7 and Year 8 students competed in the annual Bromley Indoor Athletics Competition which took place at Langley Park Girlâ€™s School. It is an event that the Academy has attended for the past four years with each year bringing more success; this year was the most successful year yet! We are proud to announce our first ever 1st place victory for our year 7 team! This was thanks to 1st places in all but one of the track events and field events including an outstanding performance by

Year 7 team: Lily WalkerFreya Graham, Katrine Raotov, Mickaela Gale, Kadi Bryne, Lily Walker and Renee BelMomodou Year 8 team: Christine Abass-Owusu, Georgia Lawrence, Lily Burns, Millie Riley, Poppy Watts, Saffron Withers Ms Halliday â€“ PE. Harris Academy Beckenham, BR3 3SJ 020 8650 8694 info@harrisbeckenham.org.uk www.harrisbeckenham.org.uk

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DEMAND FOR 11+ MOCK TESTS SOARS! Leading 11+ mock test provider, MockTestMasters.com has seen the demand for its mock tests soar in 2016. “February saw our Bexley venue filled to capacity” said Sandra Nicol , the Events Manager. “Parents are booking these tests much earlier to guarantee a place, as they are extremely popular and sell out quickly.” Our mock tests

provide a valuable platform for children to experience a formal exam setting. We also provide detailed feedback in all papers. To book, visit www.mocktestmasters.com

Inspiring tuition– free trial session! Explore Learning centres provide maths and English tuition for 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities. The centres are open 7 days a week, meaning Explore can fit into busy family life. As Explore members, children work with tutors who are great educational role models, enthusiastic about learning and fantastic motivators. Each child has an individualised learning programme, and all Explore courses map to the National Curriculum in England and the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland. Find out how your child can benefit from Explore Learning membership today. Book your free trial at www.explorelearning.co.uk.

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Easter

The Great Easter Egg Hunt

Keep up this fun tradition with your children this Easter BY SALLY J. HALL

Easter means different things to different people; for some it’s a religious celebration, for others a few days off work and the chance to meet up with friends and family for meals and outings together. But for the kids it is quite simple; it means time off school and plenty of Easter eggs! So why not organise an Easter Egg Hunt with your children and their friends? Here’s how to make this year’s Easter’s egg hunt one that will be talked about for years to come. What is an Easter Egg Hunt? If you’ve never done this before, you – and your kids – are in for a treat. The day or evening before Easter Sunday, the grown-ups go around the house and possibly the garden too, including any safe sheds or garages, hiding Easter eggs and other treats. Then the kids have to find them on Easter morning. For many parents, the planning and organising beforehand is almost as much fun as watching the kids chasing around trying to find where you have hidden the eggs. First, the shopping list • You’ll need a few eggs per child – perhaps one large one each and then several eggs of smaller sizes and colours. Look for bumper packs that will be cheaper to buy than lots of individual eggs.

don’t want to find melted chocolate later on where the kids have failed to notice those eggs under a sofa cushion! Some nice ideas to do the day before, especially if it’s raining Encourage the children to decorate the bags or bowls that they and their friends will use for collecting the eggs in. If you’re using paper bags, make potato stamps and use poster paints to stamp on bold egg or bunny shape designs, then add stickers or glitter. If you have found little wicker baskets, line them with straw or shredded paper and tie ribbons to the handles. If you’re using plastic flower pots, tie a ribbon around each and add a paper label with the child’s name on it. Where can you do an Easter Egg hunt? At home, inside the house. This is particularly good if the weather is bad and as Easter is very early this year, it may be cold or wet. Make sure you lock or mark out-of-bounds rooms that you don’t want the children in – such as the kitchen and your own bedroom. In the garden. If it’s fine, this is ideal. Don’t put the eggs out the night before though, as animals may eat them, leave this until the morning. As an extra cute idea, why not make bunny footprints near each hidden egg? Cut the shape out of a piece of card and sprinkle flour or talcum powder through the template.

DON’T FORGET! EASTER SUNDAY IS 27 MARCH

• Next, you need holders for the children to collect the eggs in. Though this could be as simple as paper bags, you could find some inexpensive baskets in a craft shop, some plastic bowls or even washed plastic flower pots. • If you don’t want the kids to overdose on sugar, a few small gifts may be nice among all the eggs. Perhaps some small books or colouring pens.

In the woods. If you live near some open space, gather the kids and their parents together and delegate one or two members of the grown-ups to keeping them amused (perhaps with an egg themed story) until the other adults have planted the eggs and clues around. Then let the little ones loose!

• The final thing you’ll need is a list of where you have hidden all the eggs. You

Some ground rules So that the children all feel they have

MARCH - APRIL 2016 www.familieslondonkent.co.uk

been treated fairly and for safety, have some rules. • When they have collected three eggs, they must come back to ‘base’ before going off again. This gives them all a chance to find plenty of eggs. • Make sure you give the kids boundaries that they must not stray outside. If they go into the garden, make sure any gates or openings to the road are guarded by an adult and unsafe sheds or outhouses are locked. If you’re in the woods or a park, place small kids with grown-ups or much older children for safety. • Children could be asked to collect different colour eggs each – you can achieve this by wrapping eggs in several different colours of tissue or wrapping paper. Alternatively, you could have different colours for very small children and make them much easier to spot but have the slightly better hidden ones nearby for older kids. • Get older children to pair up with younger ones to help them. • Don’t allow the kids to eat the eggs as they find them – they have to bring them all back to base. • Once the game is over, allow them to eat one or two and then the rest should be taken home. Make it better If you want to increase the amount of time the hunt takes up, you could have some challenges or activities along the way. For example, when they all get to a particular place, they could sit down on a picnic blanket for an Easter themed story, or play some games like “What’s The Time, Mister Wolf?” This helps to slow down the hunt and to let off steam too. A number of local attractions including National Trust and English Heritage properties have Easter Egg Hunts and activities, so check out those local to you and online www.familieslondonkent.co.uk Sally J. Hall is a writer and editor who has written for all the main parenting titles as well as The Independent and The Mail. She is author of Eco Baby and contributing author to Watch My Baby Grow (Dorling Kindersley).

Clubs & Classes

Pre-School Rules! Clubs and classes for pre-schoolers BY SALLY J. HALL

We take a look at the kinds of activities you can find near you to keep your pre-schooler amused. Swimming Learning to swim is a great and useful life skill and it seems that the younger you start, the less likely it is that your child will be nervous in water. Many local leisure centres run mother and baby swim sessions where you can start to teach your child how to gain confidence in the water. Music From nursery rhyme singalongs in the local park or café to learning a simple instrument, teaching a very young child to love music will give them a lifelong gift. Arts and Crafts There are lots of places to drop in to get involved in crafting with your kids. They can learn skills such as painting, gluing, cutting out and sticking and of course the art of adding glitter! Football and Rugby Little ones can learn how to kick and control the ball,

use gross motor skills and understand teamwork. Mini rugby is always gentle and does not involve contact and the skills and size of the pitches are suited to the kids’ ages. Look for a local club which may allow kids to go into more serious games as they grow. Gymnastics Indoor gym activities are good for rainy days and help with flexibility and strength. Look for classes suited for very young kids that show them how to roll, jump and use gym equipment in a safe and controlled environment. As they get older, they can start to take more serious classes and enroll for certificates like those run by the British Gymnastics Association (british-gymnastics.org). Theatre It’s never too early to start treading the boards and there are lots of drama and acting clubs for even quite small kids. They teach about self expression, working within a group and confidence.

families seem to cope well with two languages from a very early age. Even if you and your partner both speak English, you may want your child to learn a second language from an early age to stand them in good stead for their later education and also if you have family or a holiday home in another country. Find a small group or one-to-one sessions where your child has fun and plays games in a second language. Dance Teaching grace, strength and movement; dancing is a great form of exercise and can be enjoyed from a young age. Look for a class that is not too formal at first so that the emphasis is on play and enjoyment. If your child shows promise, they can go on to take Royal Academy of Dance certificates later on. Look for Sally J. Hall is a writer and editor who has written for all the main parenting titles as well as The Independent and The Mail. She is author of Eco Baby and contributing author to Watch My Baby Grow (Dorling Kindersley).

Languages Children from bi-lingual

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Days Out

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Many kids get excited at just the thought of passing a building site and seeing all the JCB diggers, which to them are larger than life toys!

• StackAttack • JCB Rides & Drives

Fascinated by all of the machinery, little boys (and even girls) dream of sitting inside the cabs of diggers and hope their playrooms will one day come to life. Well the dream can come true at... Diggerland! Diggerland is The Ultimate Adventure Theme Park Experience where children and adults alike can ride, drive and operate REAL diggers, dumpers and other full- size construction machinery. Located in Kent, Devon, Durham and Yorkshire, Diggerland is the perfect destination for action, fun and thrill packed family days out. Fun for all ages from 4 (subject to height restrictions) to 40-plus, Diggerland with its 18 different rides and drives and an array of additional activities is the ideal theme park for small to large groups looking for something exciting and truly unique. Get to grips with real JCBs and 180/360 excavators, take a head-reeling turn or two on the Spindizzy, rise to lofty heights and enjoy the views on the Skyshuttle, enjoy a bone-rattling off-

road ride on the Groundshuttle, or have a go on the Dodgems and Go-Karts! There are indoor and outdoor play areas, sandpits, coin operated rides and much more where younger visitors can let off steam while their parents can just sit back, relax and watch the fun… or join in! All parks boast a Diggerland Goodie Store where visitors can mark their day with a memorable souvenir as well as buy gifts, toys and other merchandise, and there are cafeterias that offer a wide selection of hot and cold snacks, meals and beverages. Picnic tables are located in the grounds for those who prefer to bring their own packed lunches. Birthday Parties Fancy an exciting children’s birthday party with a difference? Kids can be the envy of all their friends and hold their birthday party at Diggerland. Parties include unlimited rides and drives, party food, a souvenir lunchbag and a certificate to commemorate the day. Schools & Groups A day at Diggerland can boost confidence and encourage precision, concentration, coordination and skill. Children are taught to use everyday construction machinery including real diggers and dumpers in a safe environment. Diggerland offer special discounted rates for schools and groups of 10 or more guests. Discounted prebooked rates are available in advance as well as the pay on the day rate. Group visits start from £11.99pp.

MARCH - APRIL 2016 www.familieslondonkent.co.uk

• Dumper Trucks • Groundshuttle • Joyrider • Robots • Spindizzy • Mini Tractors • Buried Treasure • Dirt Diggers • Go-Karts • Safari • Skittles • Skyshuttle • Crazy Karts

PARK LOCATIONS Devon - Verbeer Manor, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 2PE Durham - Langley Park, Co. Durham, DH7 9TT Kent - Medway Valley Leisure Park, Roman Way, Strood, Kent, ME2 2NU Yorkshire - Willowbridge Lane, Castleford, West Yorkshire, WF10 5NW

PRICES Pay on the day tickets: Adults to age 65 & children over 90cm - £19.95pp OAPs over 65 (ID required) - £9.95pp Child under 90cm - Free Online prebook tickets: Adults to age 65 & children over 90cm - £16.99pp OAPs over 65 (ID required) - £7.99pp Child under 90cm - Free One carer may be admitted free of charge per full paying disabled visitor. Further details can be found the on the Diggerland website. OPEN TIMES Diggerland UK parks are open from 10am - 5pm (4pm in February) during Bank Holidays, weekends and most school holidays. Seasonal variations apply, please check the Diggerland website for park opening details/times.

Out & About Mother’s Day Weekend

Spoil mum on Mother’s Day Weekend with a memorable family day out. Treat her to a delicious meal or simply enjoy quality family time together. Children can decorate a flower pot filled with pansies to give mum on her special day in a free craft workshop and join a cupcake decorating workshop. Visit website for full details. 5 March to 6 March Hever Castle & Gardens, Hever, Nr Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7NG 01732 865224 www.hevercastle.co.uk

E V E R Y S AT Bromley parkrun

Norman Park, Hayes Lane, Bromley, BR2 9EF 0300 303 8658 www.parkrun.org.uk/bromley

Weekly free 5km timed run. Come along and join in whatever your pace! Please register before your first run. 9:00am

1 MARCH

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Churchill Theatre Bromley, High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1HA 0844 871 7620 www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph (Joe McElderry), his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours, this magical musical is full of unforgettable songs including Those Canaan Days, Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door To Me. Until 5 March Tue-Thu eve 7.30pm, Fri – Sat eve 5pm & 8pm, Wed- Thu mat 2.30pm, Sat mat 2pm / Tickets from £12

5 MARCH

Penshurst March Farmers Market Penshurst Place Estate, Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 8DG 01892 870307 www.penshurstplace.com

The Times named Penshurst Farmers’ Market in its list of top ten markets in the UK, with over 40 stalls offering the best local food and drink, the market is a must for anyone looking to

learn more about the produce of Kent, and the people who supply it.

THE BEST OF WHAT ’S ON N EAR YOU

Spoil your Mum this Mother’s Day with Afternoon Tea in the Beautiful Tudor Great Hall.

Queen Elizabeth I before her triumphant defeat of the mighty Spanish Armada!

12 noon – 2pm / £19.95 per person. Please book in advance. £10 deposit required.

Until 20 March 12.00pm - 4.00pm / The Armada Experience is included within the price of your entrance ticket. See website for details.

18 MARCH

Friday Fun - Easter Bunnies Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, Civic Centre, Mount Pleasant, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1JN 01892 554171 www.tunbridgewellsmuseum.org

Friday Fun free drop in art, craft and story telling sessions for 2-5 year olds (with an accompanying adult). They’re a great opportunity to get your little ones interested in art & culture from a young age and make them museum goes for life.

19 MARCH

NCT Nearly New Sale Christ Church Hall, Victoria Road, Erith, DA8 3AN nct.org.uk/branches/bexley-district

Top-quality baby and children’s clothes, toys and equipment at bargain prices - straight from their loving owners. 10am - 12 noon (9:45 am for members) / Entrance: £1 (in aid of NCT Charity.) Sellers: £20 per table (booked in advance)

10:30 - 11:30

18 MARCH

20 MARCH

Bromley Sport Relief Mile

9.30am - 12pm

Swimathon 2016!

5 MARCH

Erith Leisure Centre, Avenue Road, Erith, Kent, DA8 3AT 01322 350 271 my.sportrelief.com/search/event/ result?id=5338&location=da11eu

Downham Playing Fields, Glenbow Road, Bromley, BR1 4RL my.sportrelief.com/search/event/ result?id=3954&location=br1%20 4rl#event-detail

Take on a challenge, enter the Swimathon 2016 for the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games at Erith Leisure Centre. You can do your Swimathon challenge on your own, or in a team of between two and five people.

Complete the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile at Downham Playing Fields. Dust off those trainers and walk, jog or run (or hop, skip, jump) your Mile; then kick-back and enjoy the entertainment!

Until 20 March

Adult £7.00, Child £3.00, Family £17.00

Spin

Central Library, Townley Road, Bexleyheath, DA6 7HJ 020 8303 7777 arena.yourlondonlibrary.net/web/ bexley/news-and-events

Listen to rappers, poets and storytellers as they cook up wonderful ways to play with words. For 8 years and over. 11am – 12noon The event is free but numbers are limited. Get your free ticket online or ask at the library.

6 MARCH

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea in the Great Hall Hall Place and Gardens, Bourne Road, Bexley, DA5 1PQ 01322 621238 www.bexleyheritagetrust.org.uk

Adult £12.00, Concession £9.00

19 MARCH

Elizabeth I and the Armada Penshurst Place Estate, Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 8DG 01892 870307 www.penshurstplace.com

Step back in time with Aardvark productions as they transport you back to 1588, for a live re-enactment of the difficulties, luck and success that befell

20 MARCH

Sing-a-Long-a Frozen Churchill Theatre Bromley, High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1HA 0844 871 7620 www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

A full screening of Disney’s Frozen with lyrics on screen to help you sing along

The Chick & the Egg CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT

Discover the story of the chick and the egg; follow chick on a journey around Chartwell to find Bunny’s ancestors from the 1920s. The trail is inspired by the weird and wonderful images from Easter cards in the 1920s. Follow the whole route or a buggy accessible route that leads to the Kitchen Garden. Until 28 March 11am - 4pm Chartwell, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1PS 01732 868381 £2, plus normal admission charges. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell

www.familieslondonkent.co.uk MARCH - APRIL 2016

EASTER CHICK HUNT & DAFFODIL SPECTACULAR Chiddingstone Castle, Hill Hoath Road, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7AD 01892 870347 www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Visitors to Chiddingstone Castle this spring can enjoy the amazing daffodil spectacular plus children and families are invited to search for Easter chicks hiding amongst the museum’s exhibitions before asking for these to be exchanged for yummy chocolate treats! 25 March to 28 March 11am to 5pm. / Adults £9, children under 5 free, children 5 to 13 £4, families (2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and up to 3 children) £23.50

Until 1 April One hour workshops between 10am and 1pm. £6.50 to include all materials. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

30 MARCH

Marvellous Mosaic Making! Crofton Roman Villa, Crofton Road, Orpington, Kent, BR6 8AF 01689 860939 www.the-cka.fsnet.co.uk

Discover all there is to know about Roman mosaics and make your own mosaic to take home! For up to 11 year olds. No booking needed. Children to be accompanied. Sessions at 10.30am & 2.00pm. Entry £4 per child, adult carer free.

during the film. Introduced by a live host who will guide you through this interactive screening by showing you how to use your free prop bag, warm up your singing voices and teach you some dance moves with the help of the Singalonga Princesses.

27th & 28th

Ages 5+ 3.30 pm / Tickets £15.90 plus £2.85 transaction fee*

Travel on a journey back in time with Peterkin the Jester, where Roman gladiators seek new recruits and medieval knights and princesses roam. Meet Victorian toymakers and make your own toy to take home. Can your little soldiers tackle the WWII assault course or diffuse the bomb in time? Go medieval and get hands on with knights training and etiquette. Be amazed at Peterkin’s fire eating show on stilts and sing a long with the merry musicians. Absolutely no bunnies and escape the chocolate trails, with a fun packed and refreshing day of time travel for kids of all ages!

23 MARCH Hetty Feather

The Orchard Theatre, Dartford, The Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1ED 01322 220000 www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

From best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson, the tale of plucky Hetty Feather is brought thrillingly to life on stage by award winning script writer Emma Reeves (CBBC’s The Story of Tracy Beaker) and the Olivier Award nominated director Sally Cookson, whose many five star productions include Peter Pan, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and Jane Eyre. Suitable for ages 7+ Until 28 March 10:30am, 11:00 am, 3:30pm, 5:30pm / Tickets £15.00* £24.50* *A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies

24 MARCH

The Big Easter Break Penshurst Place Estate, Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 8DG 01892 870307 www.penshurstplace.com

Dive down the rabbit hole on our Easter trail as we learn about the lives of animal and plants that thrive in a life spent underground. Don’t miss Aardvark Productions on Easter Sunday and Monday too for a very silly tale about the Easter Rabbit Trails 10.30am - dusk | Crafts 12noon - 4pm | Storytelling from 2pm on the

Until 10 April

25 MARCH Children’s Festival

Dover Castle, Castle Hill, Dover, Kent, CT16 1HU www.english-heritage.org.uk

Until 28 March 10am - 5pm / Adult £18.00, Child, 5-15 years £11.80, Concession £16.10

25 MARCH Easter Quest

Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1PL 01622 765400 www.leeds-castle.com

Children of all ages will love the Alice in Wonderland themed trail that takes them across the Leeds Castle estate. An additional charge of £1 per child applies. £1 per child plus normal admission charges.

27 MARCH

Easter Holiday Family Fun Ightham Mote, Mote Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0NT 01732 810378 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

MARCH - APRIL 2016 www.familieslondonkent.co.uk

Keep the kids entertained during the holidays with a Spring Activity pack, craft activities and the chance to go wild in the natural play area. 11am - 3pm / 50p per Spring Activity pack, plus normal admission.

27 MARCH

Wildlife Easter Trail Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3DH 01732 456407 www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

Enjoy a fun family day out at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. The day’s activities will include following a wildlifethemed Easter trail with a chocolate prize at the end; face painting; and looking for the Easter Bunny! 11:00am - 4:00pm / £4

29 MARCH

Where are all the rabbits? Holiday Activity Hall Place and Gardens , Bourne Road, Bexley, DA5 1PQ 01322 621238 www.bexleyheritagetrust.org.uk

Hear the charming story of Rabbit and his adventure to find all the other bunnies at Easter. Make your own rabbit craft to take home. Until 1 April 10am & 2pm (1 hr session). / £4 children, adults free. Please Book.

29 MARCH

Children’s Printing Workshop Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3DH 01732 456407 www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

Be inspired by the birds at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and the collection in the Jeffery Harrison visitor centre and create a printed image to take home. Suitable for children aged 6-12.

2 APRIL

Penshurst April Farmers Market Penshurst Place Estate, Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 8DG 01892 870307 www.penshurstplace.com

The Times named Penshurst Farmers’ Market in its list of top ten markets in the UK, with over 40 stalls offering the best local food and drink, the market is a must for anyone looking to learn more about the produce of Kent, and the people who supply it. 9.30am - 12.00pm

3 APRIL

Heritage Transport Show Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3JF 01622 630975 www.kentshowground.co.uk/ heritage-transport-show/

On display will be approximately 500 vehicles including motorbikes, cars, tractors, commercials and many more. Highlights include the South East Bus Festival - featuring a display of approximately 100 buses and bus related trade stands, plus visitors and exhibitors can take advantage of as many free vintage bus rides around the Showground as they like. Visit website for full event details. Until 3 April

3 APRIL

Bear Behaving Badly The Orchard Theatre, Dartford, The Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1ED 01322 220000 www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

Get ready for chaos and calamity as the hilarious CBBC show Bear Behaving Badly takes to the stage in its first ever nationwide live tour.

Out & About

1:30pm, 4:30pm / Adult £16.00* Child £14.00* Family Ticket £56.00* *A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies

4 APRIL

Family Monday - Birds Knole House, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RP 01732 462100 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole

Visit Knole on Family Monday during the Easter holiday for a range of themed arts and crafts activities, suitable for ages 5-12 years. Make a parakeet collage of the birds that live in the park, listen to some local birdsong, handle a nest and create your own clay bird with googly eyes. 11am - 3pm / Normal admission charges apply.

5 APRIL

Holiday Happenings: Egg-cellent Easter Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, Civic Centre, Mount Pleasant, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1JN 01892 554171 www.tunbridgewellsmuseum.org

Free arts and crafts for all the family. Everyone will enjoy these fun Easter egg themed crafts, and they may just help you be ready for a visit from the big bunny! Sessions are run on a ‘drop in’ basis. 10.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 4pm

6 APRIL

Recycling Craft Workshop Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks,

Kent, TN13 3DH 01732 456407 www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

Using wire, plastic bottles, cartons and bags make your very own wild animal or bird. Suitable for adults and children over 5. 11:00am - 3:00pm / £5 to include all materials.

6 APRIL Sticky Frames

Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, Riverhill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RR 01732 459777 www.riverhillgardens.co.uk

Get creative and use sticks and natural objects to create fantastic frames for your favourite pictures or photos. 11am – 4pm / Normal admission

6 APRIL Kids for a Quid

Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent , TN2 5QY 01892 537715 www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk

The historic and unique 1960s diesel train is running between Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge, with all accompanied children aged 3-16 travelling for just £1. Why not Break your journey at Groombridge by bringing the bikes and combine your trip with a ride along the Forest Way from Groombridge. Alternatively enjoy a winter walk around Broadwater Warren or the many footpaths which lace the surrounding countryside. See website for times.

Until 10 April Children under 3 travel free, as do the family dog and bicycles! Adults £11 return,

10 APRIL

Friday Fun - April Showers Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, Civic Centre, Mount Pleasant, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1JN 01892 554171 www.tunbridgewellsmuseum.org

15 APRIL

Knole RSPB Walk Knole House, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RP 01732 462100 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole

Spring is a beautiful time for discovering the birds of Knole Park. Join us for a bird and birdsong day, led by the Sevenoaks RSPB group. 11am and 1.30pm. Walks will last about one hour. Free event. Please make a donation.

Spring walk

Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 8JN 01892 893820 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scotneycastle

The sweet scent of Bluebells, the dazzling white of Wood Anemones, the dance of the Orange Tip butterfly and the thrill of lambs jumping joyously in the sunshine is spring at Scotney Castle. All welcome on this fun and friendly wildlife walk. 12 - 1.30pm & 2 - 3.30pm / Free, but normal admission charges apply.

Penshurst Place Estate, Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 8DG 01892 870307 www.penshurstplace.com

Young Shoots & New Lambs Walk

11am-4:30pm / Free entry – donations welcome! The Woodlands Farm Trust, 331 Shooters Hill, Welling, DA16 3RP 020 8319 8900 www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org

23 APRIL

The Orchard Theatre, Dartford, The Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1ED 01322 220000 www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

17 APRIL

All are welcome at the Woodlands Farm Trust Lambing Day. Come and see our new-born lambs and enjoy the chance to buy quality local produce at reasonable prices, including home-made preserves, cakes and honey. Relax in our café, enjoy the treasure hunt or get involved in craft activities. All proceeds from our stalls go towards keeping Woodlands Farm here as a conservation project and valuable resource for the community. A great family day out!

1.30pm & 5pm / Tickets: £14* *A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies,

30 APRIL

My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty

Tickets; £15* - £20* U16’s £10* - £15* Family Offer £65* (For a family of 4 - Must include 1 Adult and 1 Child) *A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies,

Lambing Day

It all starts when Barney falls over the edge of an old chalk pit and tumbles through the roof of a hidden den. When he looks round he sees Stig, a caveman, with shaggy black hair and bright black eyes. This timeless children’s classic, in a clever new stage version, remains as charming and entertaining as ever.

16 APRIL

An enchanting version of the fairy tale ballet created especially for children aged three upwards.

10 APRIL

871 7620 www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

The Woodlands Farm Trust, 331 Shooters Hill, Welling, DA16 3RP 020 8319 8900 www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org

Join us for a spring walk. Wear sturdy footwear and suitable outdoor clothing. The walk includes climbing a small stile and is not suitable for buggies. In the event of bad weather the walk will be cancelled. 10am Free activity - donations welcome!

18 APRIL

Stig Of The Dump Churchill Theatre Bromley, High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1HA 0844

Weald of Kent Craft & Design Show

Discover vintage crafts, candles, handmade ornaments and beautiful jewellery, alongside skilled stone and wood craftsman for the first of 2016’s Weald of Kent Craft and Design Show. Until 2 May 10am - 5pm

30 APRIL

Flower Power Cards Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, Riverhill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RR 01732 459777 www.riverhillgardens.co.uk

Bank Holiday family fun. Use found petals to create your own beautiful greetings cards. 11am - 4pm / Normal Admission

Want more? There are just too many fun, family ideas to fit in so head online for the full list at:

Familiesonline.co.uk