Issuu

Education Getting fit with the family Go wild this Autumn Clubs and classes Out & about

n e e w o ll DARE HaDOOR MAKE YOUR OWN

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

AGaEfD 0–T E E N S 2018 kIssue u.oc45 .enSeptember/October iClnH IoL sDeR EilNim

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Bishop Challoner School Shortlands A Catholic Independent School for Girls & Boys 3 -18 Years

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In this issue...

Families Londonâ€“Kent Borders Magazine or Twitter @familieslkb

ISSUE 45: SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER 2018

6 Halloween Craft

4 Family 5 Health Getting fit with the family

12 Go wild this Autumn 13 Out & About The best of Whatâ€™s On near you this Autumn Ismini Phillips - Familys Magazine advert AW 2710914_AW.pdf

8 Education

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

is Autumn

11 Clubs & Classes Choose the right club or class for your child

6 Parenting Making a Halloween door dare 7 How thinking skills can equip your child for the future

Front cover: Bigstock Photo

Go Wild th

Editor: Mima Walia 07792 006546

editor@familieslondonkent.co.uk Design: Kevin Smith Listings Editor: Anna Blackshaw

CMY

www.familiesonline.co.uk SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018

Family News

TWO THIRDS OF CHILDREN NOT SAFE IN CARS Parents are being advised to check their children's car seats after a new study found that two in three children aren't safe while travelling.

Fruit Juice with Breakfast Places Children at Higher Risk of Obesity Children who drink fruit juice with breakfast are more likely to become overweight or obese.

The What Car? study, created in conjunction with specialist organisation Child Seat Safety found that 59% of children are sitting in car seats that have been incorrectly fitted or are inappropriate for them. The survey on 3,000 seats, with and without children in them, held at random seat-checking events throughout the UK, revealed that 36% were incorrectly fitted in the car, while 33% of those that had children in them weren’t suitable. Many of the mistakes were said to be "simple and easy to avoid," and included tightening seat belts, incorrect head restraints or harnesses being in the wrong position. In the UK, children are legally required to remain in a car seat until they are either 12 years old or at least 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. More info at www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP CLASSES REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN The internet and social media are a permanent part of modern childhood and for most children they offer huge opportunities to learn and connect, according to the Children's Commissioner for England.

A study, led by the Medical University of Vienna, revealed that children who had orange or apple juice with their breakfast were 50% more likely to be overweight, while those who drank water saw their obesity risk fall by 40%. It also found that skipping breakfast is linked to weight gain as it makes children more likely to snack during the day. The study, published at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, questioned 652 children aged 13 on their breakfast habits and, while most types of food had no clear relationship with weight, those who drank fruit juice more than three times a week were 50 per cent more likely to be overweight or obese. More info at https://eco2018.easo.org/

Only Half of Pre-School Children Being Read to Daily

However, children are now the internet’s biggest users and Anne Longfield believes they The number of toddlers being read to daily has dropped have inadequate skills to by 20% since 2013, according to recent research. negotiate their live online and are frequently The annual Understanding the Children’s Book Consumer giving away personal survey from Nielsen Book Research found that while 69% of information. pre-school children were read to daily in 2013, that figure had now dropped to just 51%. Ms Longfield recommends interventions The study found parents complained of obstacles preventing them from government to make sure children are better from reading to their children. Nearly a fifth said it was hard to find equipped to make safe and informed choices online. the energy at the end of the day, whilst 16% said their child would She recommends that children should study "digital rather do other things. One in five parents don’t feel comfortable in citizenship" to learn about their rights and responsibilities bookshops, and nearly half are overwhelmed by the online and that social media companies should rewrite choice of children’s books. their terms and conditions in far simpler language. The publisher Egmont, which co-funded the Children already learn about using the internet and staying research, said the decline correlated with an safe online at school but Ms Longfield wants to make increase of almost a fifth in the proportion of this learning part of the curriculum from age 4 with the toddlers watching online video content daily, focus on ‘digital resilience. She has produced a ‘Digital and warned that the “steep decline” in reading 5 a Day’ guide which sets out ways in which families can to young children “signalled a significant make sure time online time is productive. This guide can threat to child development, with act as a base for family agreements about internet and l potential long-term social impact.” device use during term and holiday time. More info at www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

More info at www.egmont.co.uk

Health

Want to get fit with your family? E

ncouraging your family to exercise is important in order to keep them fit and healthy and to protect them against serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and mental conditions like depression.

families need a set exercise schedule. Consider starting with two or three exercise “appointments” each week and marking these on your calendar. Make sure your children know when you’re going to exercise so they don’t make plans during those times.

Inactive children are likely to become even less active during adulthood, but you can help prevent this by making family activities and fitness a part of your child’s life at an early age.

Make it Interesting Many families want to exercise together but find that exercise can be incredibly boring. You could listen to fun music while you exercise. You could go walking – or running - in a different park or neighbourhood.

By making time to exercise together as a family, you can spend fun, quality time with your kids whilst helping them form healthy habits for life. Here are some tips for making that happen: Create a Schedule One of the biggest mistakes families make when starting an exercise programme is expecting things to just fall into place. Unfortunately, most

You could try a dancing video game. You could play a working-out video game like Pokemon Go or ‘Train like a Jedi’ play along video on www.nhs. uk/change4life. You could even sign up for a dance class together. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your exercise options. Focus on Togetherness Make sure you focus on building your relationship as you exercise. Your goal shouldn’t be to compete with one another or be better than each other. Instead, use this time to talk, share experiences and grow together as a family. Something as simple as asking your kids what made them laugh that day, or what made them sad or angry, can go a long way towards opening a good discussion. You can also allow your kids to take turns choosing what form of exercise you’ll undertake. This will make them feel included and important. More info at www.nhs.uk/changerlife/activities

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Parenting

Halloween Craft How to Make a Doorway Dare

nock, knock, Whoooo’s there… Kids love trick-or-treating - but sometimes it rains, or the neighbours pretend to be out. Here’s a crafty trick or treat game from our friends at Wonderbly that you can make and play with at home. You’ll create two doorways: one leads to a trick and the other to a treat. Will your little visitor get a chocolate or an eyeball? It’s a shifty fifty-fifty. Follow these eight simple steps to build your doorways. You will need: • 4 shoeboxes (no lids) • A utility knife • A metal ruler • Paint • Brushes • A black marker pen • 2 pieces of dark cloth • 2 large buttons, or bottletops • Cobwebs (preferably fake) or feathers • Tricks and treats

HOW TO MAKE YOUR DOORWAY DARE STEP 1

the cloth (for intrepid hands to reach through). Put these boxes to one side.

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 2 Grab some brushes and paint the boxes. Try boldly-contrasting colours for the door and brickwork. Leave your doorways to dry.

Find something lovely and something not so lovely. (Plastic spider/ strawberry lolly, lychee eyeball/ pound coin etc.) Hide the treat in one doorway and the trick in the other.

STEP 3

STEP 8

Tape the hallway boxes to the doorway boxes, so reaching through the door will lead to the sensory items.

STEP 7

Get a thick marker pen and add some details: letterbox, doorbell, house number. For a doorknob, you can sew on a button or glue on a bottle cap.

Dim the lights and invite your little trick-or-treaters to choose their fate. You can even make it a breakfast ritual in the build-up to Halloween. Ratatatat…

STEP 4

Wonderbly are creators of beautiful personalised children’s books that inspire courage, curiousity and kindness in children all over the world. A treat for any curious little mind. Find out more at www.wonderbly.com

Now take your other two boxes. Decorate the insides with fake cobwebs, feathers or other touchyfeely things. One should feel lovely, the other should feel icky! These will form the backs (or hallways) to your doors.

Take two of the shoeboxes and draw a door-shaped rectangle on each. Using the knife and ruler, cut along three sides of the door, leaving it on its hinges.

Turn your boxes around. Glue or staple a piece of cloth inside each, then cut a slit down the centre of

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

Parenting

How thinking skills can equip your child for the future By Dr David Walters

hat jobs will be available to my child when the time comes for them to enter the employment market? It’s a worry for every parent. Artificial Intelligence will ‘kill off’ five million jobs by 2020, according to some of the more alarmist headlines. While AI threatens hundreds of thousands of jobs in the retail and administration sectors, top professions such as the law and medicine are also set to be transformed by the ‘march of the robots’. So how can we help our children to future-proof their skills? In the world of education, the speed at which the robots are advancing has poured more fuel on to the debate about the value of learning by rote. Are schools, under enormous pressure from government to deliver ever-better exam grades, responding by priming a generation of students simply to remember, recall and regurgitate facts just as the need for those skills is being usurped by Siri and Alexa? Surely, if we want our children to succeed in a future where so many jobs will be dominated by automation, we should educate them with skills unique to human beings? So, what are those uniquely human skills, and where can your child learn them? What do we as a species have going for us that the computers don’t and are unlikely to for at least a while? One of our most important is cognitive – or thinking – skills. Thinking Schools, at which these higher-order skills are taught, can be found all over the world, including in Dubai, Lithuania, Norway, New Zealand, Egypt, Nigeria and Thailand. In Malaysia, the government has looked to introduce the Thinking Schools model in 10,000 public schools. In Britain, too, there is a new enthusiasm for schools where these

Thinking skills are not an education programme; they are an attitude to learning. skills form the basis of teaching. There is growing recognition that Thinking Schools drive the type of unique thinking skills and intelligent learning behaviours that we all need in an increasingly technological world. Much of education has shifted too far towards pure recall and regurgitation of fact. But thinking skills are not an education programme; they are an attitude to learning. In a Thinking School: • All members share a common language of learning; • Thinking strategies and tools are used across the curriculum and teachers and students have sound understanding of metacognition; • All students are developing and demonstrating independent and co-operative learning skills; • There are high levels of achievement and an excitement and enthusiasm for learning. Typically, in a Thinking School you will see pupils working with ‘map’-like visual tools which help children to understand their thinking processes and ultimately to create, understand, problem-solve and persist with tasks

rather than merely regurgitate answers. Recent research has shown that attending an accredited Thinking School can improve pupils’ GCSE results by as much as a grade above what they were originally predicted. Accredited Thinking Schools have been rigorously assessed by Exeter University’s Cognitive Education Development Unit to ensure that they meet strict criteria and a list of them can be found at http://socialsciences.exeter. ac.uk/education/thinkingschools/ accreditation/accreditedschools/ Should your child not be at an accredited school, you can still access the Thinking Matters approach to education used by Thinking Schools. Cog-Ignition (www. cog-ignition.com) works directly with families, and use ‘cognitive coaches’ who work one-to-one to develop the thinking skills, attitudes and interpersonal skills needed to succeed at school and far beyond. Dr David Walters is Deputy Principal of a secondary school in the South West and Honorary Fellow, Exeter University Graduate School of Education. Thinking Matters works with schools all over the country which want to become Thinking Schools. For further information, visit www.thinkingmatters.com

www.familiesonline.co.uk SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018

Education

EXPLORE LEARNING

“Her school work and self-confidence has significantly improved” Explore Learning provides maths and English tuition to children aged four to 14, with 139 centres across the country. Families caught up with an Explore Learning member to find out more about their experience. How long have you been going to Explore? Emily joined Explore Learning over 3 years ago. How has Explore helped/ what impact has Explore had? They have provided Emily with the tools to enable her to take pride in her work, whilst learning and gaining confidence. It has taught Emily how to prioritise her work whilst completing the work within the required timescales. This was a weakness of Emily’s prior to joining but is now no longer a concern to us as her parents or her school teachers. Who would you recommend Explore to? We would recommend Explore to any parent/guardian or child of any school age and of any ability. Can you tell me what you think makes Explore Learning a unique

tutoring service? They have knowledgeable members of staff/tutors who really do care about the children and their on-going learning. Explore offers great ‘staff to children’ ratios, which enables each child to be able to ask for and obtain the help where necessary. What kind of child do you think Explore Learning is for? Any kind of child would suit Explore, due the excellent members of staff, who are trained to give the children the correct level of individual learning, whilst following the National Curriculum. How do Explore tutors support your child in their sessions? The tutors always make Emily feels welcome to each and every session. They are

supportive towards Emily by being friendly, approachable and encouraging. The tutors will praise good work or any difficulties that Emily has overcome during the session. At the end of each session the tutor provides feedback to us as parents, which help us to follow Emily’s progress. How has Explore worked with you as a family/supported you as a family? Explore has provided to us as parents the reassurance of a safe and secure learning environment for our daughter. The regular parent’s meetings have provided us an opportunity to discuss Emily’s progression. There are reports produced by the team for the parent’s meeting, which demonstrate our daughter’s progress, along with her strengths and weaknesses. We are able to use this consultation time to set any new goals or targets for Emily to work towards. Get in touch with Explore Learning today by calling 033 0124 3802 to discuss your child’s need and book your free trial. Alternatively, visit explorelearning.co.uk to find your nearest centre.

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SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

S E S SION !

Rated ‘Excellent’

Education

A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING At Bishop Challoner Junior School they pride themselves on an excellent academic education within the strong Catholic ethos of the school. Pupils are challenged to do their very best in a stimulating and supportive environment. They aim to develop a lifelong love of learning in our young pupils by engaging their curiosity, encouraging them to question and allowing them to explore their own interests and independence. Their broad curriculum is based on the National Curriculum but not bound by its confines and they offer specialist teaching in many areas. Their skilled teachers are highly motivated and dedicated to the children’s education and well-being. Applications for entry at 4+ and 7+ for Autumn 2018 entry are still being accepted and they welcome enquiries from all potential pupils at all year groups. To book a tour or assessment, contact: admissions@ bishopchallonerschool.com

Caring deeply, Outstanding learning, Joining in, Looking outwards Trinity ranked 41st in the Parent Power list of Top 100 Independent Schools in the UK in 2017, making them the top ranked independent school in Croydon for the second year in a row. Beyond academic results, they are a welcoming, diverse and friendly community in which their students feel cared for and supported. Students have achieved some of the best academic results in the country, but are also actively encouraged to take up the wealth of opportunities that they offer outside the classroom. As well as traditional pursuits, including sport, music, and drama, they also offer activities including Lego robotics, bee-keeping and special effects model making. Boys are admitted from the age of 10 and we welcome girls into our Sixth Form. Students come from a wide geographical area and around half benefit from the Whitgift Foundation’s generous bursary scheme and our scholarship awards. Visit us at our Open Morning on Saturday 6th October 2018 from 9am-12pm. www.trinity-school.org

Independent Day School for Boys Co-Educational Sixth Form Shirley Park Croydon

OPEN MORNING

Saturday 6th October 2018 9am –12pm or visit us by appointment

A LEVEL CHOICES AND SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING

Monday 8th October 2018 by appointment

CARING DEEPLY • OUTSTANDING LEARNING • JOINING IN • LOOKING OUTWARDS trinity-school.org

 @TrinityCroydon © Lloyd Images

020 8656 9541

www.familiesonline.co.uk SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018

Wellbeing Education

Building a better future

A CONFIDENT START WITH JIGSAW PERFORMING ARTS A new school year is here, which means that children across London and the Home Counties are taking to the stage as Jigsaw begins an exciting new term of drama, singing and dance classes; the perfect activity to escape the cold, wet October weekends.

Building work has just been completed at Babington House School in Chislehurst adding four additional classrooms, creating space for a two form entry throughout the co-ed Preparatory School to Year 6 and additional teaching space for Sixth Form pupils. Headmaster, Tim Lello comments, “This is a really exciting time for Babington with the arrival of more new children. Our commitment to provide an academic and wellrounded education with small class sizes which is tailored to the needs of our pupils is really paying off, our pupils and parents are happy and we are achieving excellent 02651_Babington_Primary_Times_AD_Layout 1 20/06/2018 22:24 Page 1 results.” from 9am-12pm.

Our classes are designed to develop children’s confidence, focus and social skills, while having fun and making lots of new friends. With more children attending Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools than ever before, now is the time to book a two-week trial and discover these unique benefits at a school near you. For more information or to book a two-week trial, call 020 8447 4530 or visit www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk

Boosting Children’s Self-esteem and Life Skills with Perform

Page 1

Babington House School Independent Day School from 3 to 18 years Grange Drive, Chislehurst, London Borough of Bromley BR7 5ES

Open Morning Saturday, 6 October 2018 9am - 12 noon

www.bab ington

house.co m

Inspiring Teachers, Inspiring Children A common struggle shared by many children is lack of confidence. This can stop some children reaching their full potential. Perform is a unique drama school that uses drama, dance and singing to help all children achieve their true potential – even those that are shy and reserved. “Perform is NOT a stage school” stresses Perform Producer, Karen. “It teaches life skills through fun drama games and end of term shows. The real aim of the classes is to help children develop the 4Cs: Confidence, Concentration, Coordination and Communication. “Classes are small with both a Producer and a Teacher. Children are offered a free trial and the Producer spends time beforehand with each parent establishing their goals. For instance, speaking more clearly or making eye contact when introduced to someone unfamiliar.” Producers report back to parents after each class on the focus of the week and answer questions about the progress of individual children. “Shy children often come to classes clinging to their parents. I can pretty much guarantee that within 5 or 6 classes, they will run in without waving goodbye” reports Karen. For more information on your local classes, visit perform.org.uk/try

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

Clubs and Classes

Choose the Right Club or Class for your Child P

icking the right extra-curricular activities for your child can sometimes be overwhelming. There are a huge variety of sports and classes available now from coding to Mandarin, from street dance to circus skills, as well as more traditional sports. Here’s our guide on how to choose the most appropriate club or class for your child. A good place to start is to ask your child what they are interested in. It’s likely that they will enjoy the activity if they have picked it themselves. My 11 year old twin girls have tried a wide variety of classes, which they enjoyed but didn’t want to continue. When I last asked them what they wanted to do, they said they wanted to join a running club. They now train two to three times a week and compete at least once a month. It’s a big commitment for the whole family but they absolutely love it.

THINGS TO CONSIDER: Will your child enjoy the class/club? If they enjoy something, whether it’s art, football, animation or French they are likely to look forward to training with their team or attending a class every week.

Try Before You Buy Trial classes are a great way for them to experience something before you sign up for a term or group of classes. Many clubs and classes offer a free trial before you sign up. [you could add your advertisers offers here] Try a Variety Variety is the spice of life. If your schedule allows it, get your children to try a few different things on a trial basis. If they are not keen on trying something new, get them to go with a friend. Can you Commit? Some activities involve early morning practice or games at the weekend. Can your family life and schedule accommodate the commitment needed? If your child plays sport competitively, it can often mean training daily or at least three times a week. Think about Cost Some activities are more expensive than others. 1:1 tuition or private lessons are more costly, whereas classes and team

sports tend to cost less. Guiding or Scouts is an inexpensive club to join, and it’s great for team building and trying a variety of different activities. Investigate this option ahead of time though, as there can be waiting lists. How Many? How many activities are too many? This is really up to you but if you are tired of driving your children to all of their activities, it’s likely your child will be too; perhaps you are doing too much. Equally, if your children are bored at home and asking to be entertained, maybe it’s time to sign them up for something new. Again take the lead from your child. Some children thrive from lots of extra-curricular activities while others get overwhelmed and overstimulated. Listen to them and adjust their schedule accordingly. By Claire Winter

2 O sp of h 0 y ver ok ig e e s h q ar w ua s im li le ty ss on s

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OCTOBER CRASH COURSE

Lessons at Bromley High, Bickley Park and Green Street Green Adult and Child Lessons at Green Street Green Swimming is an essential life skill - so make sure you get it right!

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www.familiesonline.co.uk SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018

Out & About

Wild THIS AUTUMN! By Jo Schofield and Fiona Danks

Autumn; a time for playing in crisp, colourful leaves and raiding conker trees. A time when fields are woven with glistening spiders’ webs on misty mornings and wild food is plentiful in the hedgerows and woods. Just because summer’s over, there’s no need to abandon the great outdoors. There’s a wealth of fun activities you and your children can enjoy as the temperatures start to cool. Here are just a few ideas:

MAKE LEAF MOBILES Celebrate Autumn’s amazing colours by creating a brightly coloured mobile. You will need: twine, scissors, and a large needle. • C ollect colourful fallen leaves cones, wild nuts and seeds and a stick in the woods or the park. • Cut the twine into lengths of about 75cm/30in. • Tie a cone or an acorn to one end of each length of twine. Thread leaves and seeds along the twine. • Tie the leaf strings along a stick and hang your mobile up in the autumn sunshine.

GO WILD FORAGING Discover wild foods in hedgerows and woods; look out for nettles, blackberries, raspberries, elderberries, rosehips, hazelnuts, walnuts, crab apples and wild herbs. Gather some berries, nuts and leaves. Make sure you know what’s safe to eat though before you give your permission for your children to eat what they’ve collected!

cooking equipment eg: a griddle, frying pan and Dutch oven (a cast iron cooking pot with lid), measuring cups, knives, spoons and a mixing bowl. • M ake a safe fire in a fire pan or pit or use a barbeque. • You could bake a delicious layer pancake with different fruit in each layer, including elderberries with sloes, crab apples with rosehips, and blackberries with damsons, all cooked with a little water and sugar. Alternatively, a blackberry cake baked in a clay pot or wild herb bread cooked in a Dutch oven among the ashes. • Award prizes for taste, wild presentation and the most creative use of foraged foods!

HOLD A WILD BAKE-OFF CHALLENGE What can you make from wild foods and a few basic ingredients like flour, salt, milk, butter, sugar and eggs? You will need: basic

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

MAKE JAM WITH WILD FRUIT Collect some fruit on one of your walks and make some jam. • W eigh and wash the wild fruit and put it in a saucepan with a little water. Bring the fruit to the boil and add the same weight of sugar. Simmer for about one hour or until it

sets (does it form a jelly on a cold saucer?) Pour carefully into a warmed jar and put the lid on. Decorate a label with pictures of the fruits and invent a wild name for your jam. Cover the lid with a large leaf.

SAFETY TIPS When foraging, take care to only collect safe edible fruits and seeds Choose fruit bushes and trees away from roads. Make fires in a fire pan, a fire pit or a barbeque and always supervise children around fire and when cooking, as well as when using nightlights in lanterns and carving pumpkins

MORE ABOUT GOING WILD Jo Schofield and Fiona Danks of Going Wild are on a mission to inspire everyone to spend more time outside discovering the wonders of the natural world. Their books are packed with practical ideas to tempt children and families away from screen-based entertainment and escape into the outdoorswhere the wild world will weave its magic upon them. These autumn activities are taken from their tenth book The Wild Year Book, Things to do Outdoors through the Seasons, published by Frances Lincoln in July 2018. For more information, visit www.goingwild.net

Out & About

Out & About T H E B EST O F W H AT ’S O N N EA R YOU

ONE FESTIVAL. TWO WEEKENDS. 5,000 FREE EVENTS. For the first time ever England’s biggest festival of heritage and culture will take place across two weekends in 2018. Heritage Open Days, 6th to 9th and 13th to 16th September is an annual celebration of England's architecture and culture that allows visitors free access to historical landmarks that are either not usually open to the public, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Co-ordinated nationally by the National Trust with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery it brings together thousands of organisations and properties across England. With a theme of ‘Extraordinary Women,’ this year’s festival will offer visitors more opportunities to discover the secret history of their towns, villages and countryside. There are hundreds of activities for kids, including dressing up, woodland walks, and railway rides. Best of all, every single event is FREE! For up to date information on events taking place near you visit, www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Here's a taste of some of the activities nearby that have already registered:

8 SEPTEMBER

wonderful collections and gifts for you to browse and enjoy.

Bewl Water, Bewlbridge Lane, Lamberhurst, Kent, TN3 8JH. 01892 890 000 www.bewlwater.co.uk

10.30am - 5pm. Until 9 September

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

The 21th annual Dragon Boat Festival at Bewl Water. The Bewl Water site that looks onto the water will be full of tents and marquees with many running stalls selling cakes and other goodies, running competitions, and generally full to bursting with people in interesting and unusual fancy dress!

THURS 6TH AND THURS 13TH, 10AM - 5PM Tonbridge Castle Medieval Fair, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Tonbridge Step back in time at Tonbridge Castle's Medieval Fair! Older kids can try their hand at archery, watch recreations of knights in combat and discover the arts and crafts of the middle ages in this fun fair at the town’s castle.

7 SEPTEMBER

SAT 8TH AND SUN 9TH, 10AM - 5PM Dover Museum Family Day, Dover Society, Dover See the world's oldest known seagoing boat from the Bronze Age! Dover Museum will be putting on lots of other cross Channel themed activities, to keep everyone entertained on this special Family Day opening.

Enjoy the final Country Craft Show of the year, as the parkland welcomes carpenters, artisan producers and small businesses from across the county and further afield to gather with their

WEALD OF KENT COUNTRY CRAFT SHOW Penshurst Place Estate, Penshurst, Tonbridge, TN11 8DG. 01892 870307 www.penshurstplace.com

9 SEPTEMBER FAMILY DAY

Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA 020 3285 6000 www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

Take the whole family as the doors are opened for a funfilled day. Arts and crafts, demonstrations, games, ticket offers and a chance to tread the boards. 10am-2pm. Free entry (some events may carry a charge).

CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE COUNTRY FAIR Chiddingstone Castle, Hill Hoath Road, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7AD 01892 870347 www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Experience the traditions of the countryside in an idyllic, historic rural setting. Enjoy displays of countryside activities, shopping and refreshments. 11am - 5pm.

www.familiesonline.co.uk SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018

Out & About

ENJOY THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS

WITH BLUEWATER'S 4D GROTTO EXPERIENCE! Get ready for an exciting Christmas adventure, with tickets to Bluewater’s Santa’s Grotto now on sale. Located by the beautiful lakes at The Village, little ones will meet some of Santa’s elves on arrival and will each be given a reindeer hat to wear on their journey. They will then enjoy a magical 4D screening of the “Twas the Night Before Christmas” story in the company of the friendly elves.

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN FUN at Hever Castle this October half term Prepare to be spooked this Halloween at Hever Castle & Gardens. Listen to ghostly tales in the Ghost Catcher’s Lair, follow the pumpkin trail in the grounds and get spooked learning about the ghosts of Hever in the Castle. Create a ghost puppet in a free creepy craft workshop or decorate a ghoulish biscuit* (*small additional charge) With prizes for the scariest costumes, a visit to Hever Castle is sure to be spine-tingling fun for all the family. www.hevercastle.co.uk

As part of this special experience, children will also visit Mrs. Claus’ room for a fun craft activity, before encountering Prancer the reindeer! At the end of the experience children will have the chance to meet and chat with Santa. Each child will take home a soft toy, and a photo with Santa can be purchased upon leaving the Grotto. Tickets for Bluewater’s magical Santa's Grotto available to book now at bluewater.co.uk

NINTENDO LABO COMES TO WESTFIELD KidZania London, the indoor city run by kids at Westfield White City, and Nintendo UK, the worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment - is excited to announce a new partnership which sees the launch of a Nintendo Labo ™ Workshop experience within the city. Together with the Nintendo Switch console, the Nintendo Labo kits provide the tools and technology to make fun interactive DIY creations, play with them using the Nintendo Switch, and discover and learn how Nintendo

Switch technology shapes ideas into reality. Designed to empower and entertain kids, KidZania gives children the chance to challenge themselves and explore the world of opportunities. If your child has ever dreamt of becoming a pilot, a firefighter or the next award-winning actor, watch the excitement on their faces as they try out real life activities! The concept effectively gives them their first taste of independence and gets kids thinking about what they might want to be in the future. Book your tickets now, visit www.KidZania.co.uk

at Weald of Kent

TAKING BOOKINGS NOW FOR AUTUMN 14

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk

Out & About

18 SEPTEMBER BAT WALK

Hall Place and Gardens, Bourne Road, Bexley, DA5 1PQ. 01322 621238 www.hallplace.org.uk

Go on a dusk walk through the gardens to hear and see these nocturnal creatures. Bat detector supplied! Followed by tea and cake. Dress for the weather and for walking over uneven ground. Starts at 7pm, £10 adults, £8 for 8-16 year olds.

19 SEPTEMBER HORRIBLE HISTORIES: TERRIBLE TUDORS & AWFUL EGYPTIANS

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

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! So it’s time to prepare yourselves for two amazing shows with Horrible Histories live on stage! Until 23 September

22 SEPTEMBER A DAY OUT WITH THOMAS!

Kent & East Sussex Railway Tenterden Town Station, Station Road, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6HE. www.kesr.org.uk

Peep Peep! All aboard for a day of family fun with Thomas! Meet Thomas and The Fat Controller, take a train ride and enjoy so much more! Advance booking is recommended. Until 23 September

23 SEPTEMBER SEE THE GRUFFALO

Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3AU. 01622 763936 www.kentlife.org.uk

The Gruffalo makes a return to Kent Life following the success of his previous visit. The magical monster will be making personal appearances at 10.40am, 12pm, 1.20pm, 2.40pm & 4pm. Whilst you’re there, why not take a visit to see the resident owls and other animals that appear in The Gruffalo’s story. Join in one of the many activities and grab a bite to eat in Dotty’s tea rooms.

25 SEPTEMBER

MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA 020 3285 6000

www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – The Musical follows all of your favourite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Until 29 September

29 SEPTEMBER APPLE AND ORCHARD DAY

Ightham Mote, Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0NT. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Celebrate the bounty from the garden of England with this apple and orchard day. With apple tasting and stalls. 11am-4pm.

20 OCTOBER SPOOKY HALF TERM

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

nravel ridiculous riddles and U rambunctious rhymes during the Halloween Garden Trail, and get your spook on once again! The Old Coach House will also be opening up for creepy crafts and creations! Trails 10.30am – 6pm, Children’s crafts 12noon – 4pm. Until 28 October

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

This Halloween Half Term answer a riddle to find spooky characters around the Castle grounds and listen carefully to their tales as you will need to answer a question in order to complete your trail card and claim your chocolate reward. A fun new haunted trail will guide younger visitors through the Woodland Walk (small additional charge applies). Until 28 October

24 OCTOBER MILKSHAKE! LIVE: THE MAGIC STORY BOOK

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

Starring Milkshake! favourites Shimmer and Shine, Bob

the Builder, Little Princess, Wissper, Fireman Sam, Pip from Pip Ahoy!, Winnie and Wilbur, Milkshake’s very own Milkshake! Monkey and two Milkshake! presenters, this all singing, all dancing, musical masterpiece, will take audiences on a journey through the world’s favourite fairy tales.

THE SPOOKY MAGIC SHOW Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA 020 3285 6000 www.churchilltheatre.co.uk

Join Magic Mr Steve and his faithful friend Rufus the dog as they discover the magical mysteries in a haunted attic. With amazing magic tricks, spooky special effects and hilarious puppets The Spooky Magic Show is a Halloween themed treat for ages 4 and up. Go along in fancy dress for the chance to win a prize!

25 OCTOBER MURDER MYSTERY AT DOVER CASTLE

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

Spooky fun for the grown ups! Go along for an evening of gothic mystery, intrigue and murder. The year is 1852 and you are invited to take a seat at the dining table of the grand banquet hall in Constable’s Tower for an exclusive dinner. But the evening takes a dramatic turn when a scream is heard from within the kitchen. Now it is up to you to use your powers of deduction to solve the mysterious murder that has taken place. Until 27 October

26 OCTOBER

FRIGHT NIGHT EXPRESS! Kent & East Sussex Railway Tenterden Town Station, Station Road, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6HE. www.kesr.org.uk

Ride the Fright Night Express if you dare! Visit the railway from 5pm for a Fright Night workshop including pumpkin carving and face painting. Families are encouraged to come in fancy dress, the scarier the better! Children will receive a Munchbox during the journey.

FOREST SKILLS FOR FAMILIES - SHELTERS Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and Jeffery Harrison Visitor Centre, Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. TN13 3DH. 01622 357879. www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

In the woodland area of Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve you will learn the skills involved in building tarp shelters using a variety of knots and also have the opportunity to create a shelter made out of natural materials. Children must be accompanied by an adult (max 4 children to 1 adult). Minimum age 5 years. Booking essential, £15 per person. 1-4pm.

KENT-AMINATED Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3AU. 01622 763936 www.kentlife.org.uk

The Zombie Apocalypse is upon us, the once beautiful sites of Kent Life have been ‘Kent-aminated’. You along with your fellow survivors must gather at the Registration Point to be processed before being guided through Kent Life to the Safe Zone, the only way to survive the outbreak. Will you make it out alive? Ages 16+. Until 27 October

27 OCTOBER NOT-SO SPOOKY STORYTELLING

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

Ideal for smaller scarers, the not-so-spooky storytelling is a fantastic interactive show led by Aardvark Productions who encourage all of their audience to go dressed for the occasion in their best horror costumes! Showings at 1.30pm, 2.15pm & 3pm.

Fright Night fares: Adults and Children (3-15 inclusive) £18. Booking for Fright Night is essential.

www.familiesonline.co.uk SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018

NOV 24 – DEC 9 (WED – SUN) DEC 10 – 24 (DAILY )

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AT TTO O R SANTA’S G

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Take your little ones to see the big man himself. Book tickets today at bluewater.co.uk

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