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Issue 51 | January/February 2017 www.familiesonline.co.uk
The benefits of Mindfulness Great books to teach kids about money Box Office Guide and lots more events inside...
Beat the January blues How to make maths fun
When should you leave your child at home alone?
The essential local magazine for parents and carers www.familiesonline.co.uk | 1
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We’re seeking part-time customer service and sales agents
You might be just what we’re looking for at our Brighton contact centre! If you’re looking for a part-time job to fit around your home life, or want to get back into work now the children are older, we have a number of opportunities available. With a focus on training and support, we’ll help you build the skills you need to be successful in your new role.
Visit:
careers.domesticandgeneral.com @DandGjobs
domesticandgeneraljobs
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www.familiesonline.co.uk Inspirational ideas for fun with your family
Places to Go | Eating Out | Parties Childcare | Education | Family News Offers | Competitions
www.familiesonline.co.uk Managing Editor Mandy Earle editor@familiessussexcoast.co.uk Advertising Sales Lucy Wadsworth Next issue March/April 2017 Booking deadline 1st February 2017 Artwork deadline 6th February 2017
For distribution or advertising enquiries please call
02393 117 561 Covering: Littlehampton, Arundel, Worthing, Shoreham-by-Sea, Portslade, Brighton, Hove, Newhaven, Lewes, Eastbourne and all the places in between
Families Sussex Coast delivered directly to local parents and carers since 2007
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News and views How to make maths fun Books to help kids learn about money When should you leave your child at home alone? How to beat the January blues! What’s on guide to the best family events SPECIAL: Box Office Guide to family theatre The benefits of mindfulness in children
EDITOR’S
LETTER © Families Sussex Coast 2017. We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers, nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence. Families Sussex Coast is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.
I used to look at January and February as the worst two months of the year; bare, cold and dark, everyone has post-Christmas blues and no money. But these past few years I’ve changed my mind. Aside from the obvious fresh start that January brings, I’ve begun to enjoy the quiet calm after the tinsley storm. Everything returns to normal with a sigh, my home seems bigger and cleaner (?) and - due to that shortage of funds - we do more wholesome activities, like long beach walks, baking and arts and crafts. It also seems like a good opportunity to declutter and make space for the vast amount of new ‘things’ that have arrived! But, if January isn’t your thing, we have some great ideas for beating the blues on page 10. There’s a lot going on at the theatre too, so we have pulled together a special Box Office Guide on page 14. I’d like to say a huge thank you to all our advertisers, contributors and readers who continue to make this magazine possible. I wish you all a very happy 2017, full of good luck and good laughs. Best wishes,
Mandy x
www.familiesonline.co.uk | 3
If you have a local news item you would like to share, please email editor@familiessussexcoast.co.uk
Space to grow and wings to fly at Springfield Nursery Springfield nursery opened in 2015 and is a fantastic nursery for children aged 3 - 4 years. As part of Springfield Infant School, the nursery is open during school term times, 9am - 3pm, plus additional breakfast sessions at the beginning of the day 8am - 9am. The nursery has highly qualified practitioners with years of experience in Early Years that are committed to giving your child the best start to life. Nursery and Reception staff work together as a team to ensure there is a quality approach to early learning and care, in a bright and stimulating environment with quality resources. If you are interested in a place at Springfield Nursery for your child, please call into or phone the school office for more information.
Domestic and General announces parentfriendly part-time jobs Should you let your Domestic & General has announced child use a tablet? 12 new part-time jobs at its Brighton contact centre.
The Customer Service and Sales Agent roles within the company’s Sky Inbound department involve a mix of sales, booking customer repairs and troubleshooting. Full paid training is provided. While not exclusive to parents, with shifts Monday-Friday between 9.30am-2.30pm, the roles are well suited to mums and dads looking for work to fit around school hours. Added benefits include up to 100% off Sky packages, child-friendly company summer and Christmas parties and a whole host of health and wellbeing initiatives. Domestic & General also supports local children’s charity, Rockinghorse. For more information or to apply, visit www.careers.domesticandgeneral.com
Springfield Infant School, Sackville Road, Worthing BN14 8BQ Tel: 01903 219243 or office@springfield.w-sussex.sch.uk
You might be just what we’re looking for
If you’re looking for a part-time job to fit around your home life, we have a number of roles available. Visit: careers.domesticandgeneraljobs.com
4 | Tel: 02393 117 561 | editor@familiessussexcoast.co.uk
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A newly-launched research project aims to discover the influence technology has on children's learning, social interactions and play, from birth to 47 months - and parents are invited to join in. Dr Elena Hoicka and PhD students from the University of Sheffield's Department of Psychology are looking to discover whether technology, such as tablets, is good for children's development, bad, or a bit of both. The survey asks questions about how long children use different types of technology - such as a tablet or a television the previous day. It also asks questions about how children prefer to learn, what children understand about other people, and whether and how children engage in pretend play. Parents of children with low activities levels, such as newborns, are also invited to participate, as the researchers are interested in how technology impacts children right from the beginning. All participants will then be invited to repeat the survey six months later, which allows researchers to determine whether or not technology has had an impact. At the end of the survey, parents will receive a summary of their child's learning style, social understanding, and play. For every parent who completes the survey twice, six months apart, £2 will be donated to UNICEF. It only takes around 20-30 minutes to register and complete the survey. To sign up or read more, go to https://babylovesscience.com/ babylovesscience.com.
A beautiful retreat not too far from home If you’re looking for a relaxing retreat in beautiful surroundings or an action-packed fun break, this awardwinning five-star holiday village has it all.
‘‘This is the place where memories are made, friendships created and new adventures experienced by all!’’
Sandy Balls has been making memories for guests now for nearly 100 years! Generation after generation return to the New Forest getaway, to spend time together, relax and of course to have fun!
NEW Flip Out in
Chichester set to open February 2017
The Flip Out story began in Sydney back in 2012. The idea first came about whilst CEO Brent Grundy was sitting in a play centre waiting for a kid’s party to finish. He looked around and noticed that much of the play centre was full of kids that were too big to enjoy the facilities and that many people had nothing to do but wait. He decided to make it his mission to create an environment
Ninja Warrior course!
that would not only entertain the kids but also mum & dad… even the grandparents. So Flip Out was born. The Flip Out aim is to provide healthy & awesome fun, through massive trampolines, stunt box zones, ball games, events, and more surprises for everyone’s enjoyment. Officially the fastest growing trampoline parks in the world, Flip Out have 50 stores worldwide with more to follow. Chichester Flip Out is due to open in late February 2017. Follow them on their facebook page/twitter and Instagram accounts to keep up to speed with how things are progressing.
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Take the opportunity to experience nature in the forest surroundings. Join a bug hunt or woodland walk. Enjoy a football tournament or, for the adventurous, try out a laser combat game.
Sandy Balls has a full range of accommodation to suit your family and budget. Choose a luxury woodland lodge, a caravan holiday home, glamping in their new safari tents or a hassle-free camping pod.
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everyone can be outside more than in!
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Sandy Balls really understand families and know that if the little ones are happy then Mums and Dads can relax, so they’ve put together all the ingredients for a perfect family holiday. Create magical family memories in a safe environment where children can splash in the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, swing on the adventure playground zip wire, shoot at an archery session, dance at the family disco and sleep soundly in your comfortable lodge at the end of a fun packed day. In a world where we spend more time in front of TV and computer screens, at Sandy Balls
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Escape to Sandy Balls Holiday Village nestled in the breath-taking New Forest National Park.
New for 2017 some Premium Lodges will
feature a private hot tub to relax in at the end of an action packed day. To find out more and view a gallery of images, visit www.sandyballs.co.uk
Private schools to offer 10,000 free places to children from lower-income backgrounds
Private schools will offer to provide up to 10,000 free school places a year to children from low-income families in England. The Independent Schools Council (ISC) says if the government pays £5,550 per place – the cost of a place in the state system – the remainder of the cost will be covered by the schools. The ISC was responding to pressure from the government to do more for their state school counterparts in return for charitable status, which allows for tax breaks. The scheme, which would test some children on academic ability, would be open to primary and secondary school-age children.
www.familiesonline.co.uk | 5
How to make maths fun Maths is one of the fundamental skills that all children need to acquire, and there are plenty of ways you can make maths fun through the use of games and maths activities at home. Numeracy targets are fundamental to the National Curriculum and to primary school testing and that can seem as intimidating to you as to your child. But there are some simple strategies you can put in place that can make maths fun for your kids and reinforce how important those life skills are. The way maths is taught in schools has changed fundamentally over the past few years so, who knows? You may end up learning something new, too.
Do your homework Before you can support your child's maths learning at home, you'll need to find out about the way they learn maths at school. Do some homework on modern maths methods like number lines and gridding, and find out whether your child's school offers maths support classes for parents. If not, there are some excellent resources available online like the family maths toolkit from national numeracy or the 'Maths for Mums and Dads' books by Mike Askew and Rob Eastaway.
Maths by stealth There are plenty of ways you can incorporate maths into everyday life, which is an excellent way of letting children know how important numeracy skills are outside of the classroom. Next time you have a cake or a pizza, ask them to divide it into quarters or thirds or an even number of portions for the number of people eating it. Baking isn't just a pleasurable
activity to do with your kids, it's one of the very best ways of embedding the importance of weights and measures. They'll also need to keep an eye on the clock to know when their goodies are ready to come out of the oven. Meanwhile, every time you go to the shops, encourage them to add as they go and then make their best estimate of the final bill. From calculating the change they should receive when they buy an ice cream to keeping score in a friendly game of football, everyday maths really is everywhere!
Make tech and tables count
There are numerous maths apps available for children of all ages, from simple counting games to more advanced calculations. Doodle Maths and Mr Thorne's Maths Universe should get even committed young mathphobes practising their numeracy on their tablets and smartphones. Percy Parker Sing Your Times Tables and
6 | Tel: 02393 117 561 | editor@familiessussexcoast.co.uk
Squeebles Times Tables are both excellent apps for embedding times tables in young brains. Why not try singing along with Percy Parker on your next long car journey? For older children facing their end of primary school tests, ensure that they know not just the multipliers but the divisors too, up to 12 x 12.
Try gamification In other words, get out some old fashioned board games. Children learn best when an activity is fun, and they're usually unaware that they're learning through playing games. Dominoes is an excellent game for practising basic maths concepts, as is Snakes and Ladders. They'll be having too much fun to notice they're adding and subtracting and recognising basic number patterns. For older children, Monopoly introduces more sophisticated numeracy skills and Scrabble is a brilliant way to practise both numeracy and literacy. Board games are
also valuable for introducing related concepts like strategy, logic and reasoning skills into the mix.
Make it formal As your children's maths skills progress, you can begin to make their home learning more formalised. There are any number of online maths resources available and your school may encourage at-home use of a programme like Mathletics to challenge and reinforce skills learned in the classroom. These online resources usually feature progressive levels so you can easily track your child's progress but do check before you sign up to a paid programme that it's compatible with the National Curriculum. Although it's easy to assume that children will prefer working on the computer, many also enjoy age-appropriate workbooks, with stickers to reward their progress.
Learn with and from your children As the family maths toolkit points out, maths is not a can or cannot subject but something we can all improve, however old we are. When your children start to bring home maths homework, take the opportunity to learn about new maths concepts from them and show them real world examples of how to put those skills into practice - by checking your shopping or phone bill. Encourage them to contextualise a newly acquired skill by putting it into practice around the home, whether it's telling you the time their favourite TV show comes on or estimating how long their bath takes to run. And always praise their effort rather than their talent, to reinforce the message that by working hard anyone can improve their maths skills. To find out more about helping your child learn visit: familiesonline.co.uk/education
Books to help kids learn about money It’s not what you’ve got! By Dr Wayne W. Dyer
www.sumdog.com
‘‘My son constantly battles with his maths homework, but absolutely loves this game! He would rather play on this than the iPad, which says a lot. It is a fantastic site used in thousands of schools worldwide.’’
Editor’s Pick
‘‘Children choose from a huge range of interesting educational games - each one personalised to their own needs - and earn coins for each correct answer. With the coins, they can buy funky items for their digital room.’’
Professional one to one tutoring Fleet Tutors has been matching the right tutor to the education needs of students across the UK since 1977. Their network of tutors are subject specialists who tailor the teaching and learning experience to relieve any subject specific anxieties and help build your child’s confidence so they achieve a successful outcome. For a helpful
discussion about your requirements, speak to Fleet Tutors tuition consultants on 0333 920 2545.
Part of a series of inspirational books for kids, this one addresses the topic of money and abundance – linking it to children’s earliest thoughts and perceptions of money. This beautifully illustrated book presents concepts such as; money doesn’t have to define who you are, along with it doesn’t matter what other people have. Unlike many other books on the subject of money, this one doesn’t try to teach little ones how to spend and save, instead it provides a rather spiritual approach on the matter.
Noggin and the money By Oliver Postgate
The story of a friendly Viking, Olaf the Lofty who invents money – after all, it seems like a genius idea! However, it soon seems that money is actually more trouble than it’s worth. Packed full of beautiful illustrations this book is perfect for newly independent readers looking to learn about money.
What is money? By Claire Llewellyn This book is great for answering kid’s questions about all things money. From how to tell the difference between different notes and coins to how to get money and what to do with it. There’s also lots of notes for teachers and parents too!
Show me the money By Alvin Hall
A treasure trove full of advice for parents and kids from the finance guru Alvin Hall. This book introduces children to the concept of “money makes the world go around, only if you know how to use it”. Within minutes of reading this wonderful book your kids will be entered into the crazy world of business and economics – learning everything from the history of money to how to use it.
The story of money By Martin Jenkins
Private Home Tutoring All academic subjects and key stages • 7/8/11+ • 13+/Common Entrance • GCSE/A level • University
0333 920 2458 www.fleet-tutors.co.uk
A hilarious look on the subject of money; perfect for kids! This thought provoking tale explains that in some parts of the world money is a stone with a hole in it, a copper slab, or a string of shells. But one thing remains the same; money makes the world go around. And it doesn’t grow on trees! In this amazing book Jenkins looks at the history of money and how it came to be involved in the electronic banking which takes place today.
If you want a little more help finding books for your kids visit www.familiesonline.co.uk/Bookclub
www.familiesonline.co.uk | 7
When should you leave your child home alone? Over the past few years there has been huge debate around when children should be left home alone. Knowing when your growing child is responsible enough to be left alone, even for a short time, can be difficult and there is no law that governs when this might be appropriate. For parents, in the absence of any hard and fast rules, knowing when it's the right time to allow your children more responsibility can be tricky.
What the law says The Government's advice is to follow NSPCC guidelines, although you are advised never to leave your child alone when they are 'at risk' and you may be prosecuted for neglect if you leave an unsupervised child ‘in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.’ The NSPCC guidelines state that babies, toddlers and young children should never, under any circumstances, be left alone and that children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to cope with an emergency. Therefore they should not be left alone in the house for any length of time. Children under 16 should not be left alone overnight.
Leaving a child alone in the car Children should never be left alone in the car. Stranger danger is an ever present issue for young children - however well you teach them, young children can act quite differently when something tempting is apparently on offer. Leaving a toddler in the car runs the risk of them wandering off into traffic or a busy car park. And no child is safe from the risk of another car crashing into yours, even when your car is stationary.
Make a checklist Leaving your child home alone This is far trickier to navigate as growing children begin to want their independence from their parents. The important thing to remember, in the absence of a clear legal framework, is your child's wishes. If they simply can't cope with being left alone then you'll need to make other arrangements. But when they reach the age of 12, you could experiment with leaving them for a short amount of time. If you do, make sure you've thoroughly discussed the kind of behaviour you expect from them - like not boiling a kettle - and that they know exactly what to do if there's a problem. Take your mobile and make sure they have the number, plus a list of trusted adults to contact if they can't reach you. If you have more than one child, make sure they're engaged in a calm activity, like watching TV or doing homework so squabbles and problems are less likely to occur.
Are they ready to be in charge? Some children actively enjoy showing how grown up they are, but it's wise to run through a few scenarios to reassure yourself how they might genuinely cope in an emergency. Try asking them what they'd do in a power cut, or if the bathroom flooded. What if they're hungry or a stranger knocks at the door? Have the conversations for a few minutes at a time, to try and gauge how they'd react. Remember, you don't have to leave them alone at home if you don't want to, but sometimes the situation is unavoidable so you'll need to know how they might cope. By having these conversations, you can work towards a plan of action if you do need to leave your child in the house alone.
8 | Tel: 02393 117 561 | editor@familiessussexcoast.co.uk
If you and your child decide that they're responsible enough to be left home alone, perhaps after school while you're still at work, then work together on a checklist that covers both your concerns. Double check that they're happy to P be left alone: it may be that they'd feel
happier if a neighbour looked in on them from time to time.
Set some ground rules: your child P may be as worried as you are about the responsibility of being left in charge.
Agree what's safe and not safe to do: P you might be happy for them to visit a friend or have a friend to visit.
Be clear that mentioning you're home P alone on social media is not a cool idea. Let them know when you'll be P home: leave a number where you can be
contacted, and let them know you'll inform them if you're delayed in any way.
Check in every now and again: give P them a call to check that they're OK. Put potentially dangerous objects out P of harm's way before you leave.
Knowing when the right time to leave your child alone is never easy, but through planning and good communication you can both enjoy peace of mind.
For more information about keeping your child safe visit familiesonline.co.uk/wellbeingÂ
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Our nursery is part of Springfield School and is for children aged 3 and 4 years old.
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The nursery is situated within the school building and is part of the everyday life at the school. We have highly qualified practitioners with years of experience in Early Years that work closely with the Reception staff team to ensure there is a quality approach to early learning and care, in a bright and stimulating environment with quality resources. If you are interested please call into or phone the school office to book an appointment to see us and to request an information pack. Springfield Infant School Sackville Road, Worthing BN14 8BQ Tel Number: 01903 219243 office@springfield.w-sussex.sch.uk
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www.familiesonline.co.uk | 9
How to beat the January blues Once the excitement of Christmas is over, it can often feel like a real struggle for the whole family to keep things fresh and lively at the beginning of a new year. Here are a few ideas to banish the January blues!
A family read-in
When it's blowing a gale outside, there's no better way to spend an afternoon than snuggled up with a good book. For younger children you can encourage them to act out the story and show off your full range of funny faces and voices. For older children, take the opportunity to discuss what they're reading in some depth - talk about plot and characters and why they enjoy a particular type of book. Who knows, you may even inspire them to try writing their own story!
Family Bake-Off
Who doesn't love the Great British Bake Off? Those grey January days offer the perfect opportunity to get into the kitchen and bake up a storm. Let younger children indulge in some messy play with their own bowl of cake mix or a piece of pastry - don't get stressed about the mess but enjoy a real opportunity to spend some creative time together in the kitchen. For older children, encourage some healthy competition by going 'full Bake off' and seeing who can produce the best cookies or cupcakes.
Get creative in the garden
Outdoor crafts are a wonderful way to liven up the garden for pennies, using materials you can find outdoors or simply lying around the house. It's amazing how ice, berries and watercolours or food colourings can transform tap water into beautiful ice baubles to decorate the garden when set in interesting moulds. Or spread peanut butter all over the outside of an empty toilet roll holder or that piece of over crunchy toast, then roll in birdseed to create an instant feeder that the kids can hang near the kitchen or living room window. Add a bird book and they can pass a few hours identifying and logging the birds that come to visit. Just make sure they wrap up warm!
Fun in the snow
Of course, snow in January isn't guaranteed, but if it does snow you have the ideal excuse to wrap up warm and organise snowman building contests and a monster snowball fight. Kids of all ages love playing in the snow, but have you ever played tug of war? Or tried snowball dodgeball? Once that snowman is built, try frisbeeing a hat onto his head or play a game of pin the nose on the snowman using a carrot. And everyone can join in a simple game of tag, made a little more interesting if you're only allowed to use the footprints of the other players!
Create rock pets
The best way to blow away the cobwebs during January is to take the family for a long winter walk. It's great exercise, but it's even more fun if you make your walk an excuse to collect items for some winter crafting.
10 | Tel: 02393 117 561 | editor@familiessussexcoast.co.uk
Find a talking stick
Another interesting find on your walk might be a stick that transforms, with the help of some beads, feather, paint and markers into a wish stick for younger children or a talking stick for the older members of your tribe. Talking sticks have a long history in tribal cultures as a way of allowing everyone to have their say - you can only talk when holding the stick - so, for larger families, this could be an ideal way for your kids to create something that will ensure they're heard.
Look to the heavens
On a clear night, there's nothing better than wrapping up warm and heading outside to stargaze. Download an app and see how many constellations you can find and identify. Younger children will enjoy spotting stars and older ones can test their astronomical knowledge.
Have a tech-free day
Be brave and ban iPads, smartphones and games consoles for the day. Instead put out a pile of blank paper, pens and craft materials and see what your children can create. Boredom can be the best motivator for creativity.
Revive the art of den building
For younger children, provide blankets, boxes and furniture indoors while encourage older children to get outdoors and get den building in the garden or the woods. Find out who's the Bear Grylls of the family and who can create the best fantasy castle/spaceship/dragon's belly. Den building is for everyone, so get involved!
For more ideas on keeping the kids active visit: . familiesonline.co.uk/activities
We’ve scoured the area for the best local family events this January and February so you don’t have to! We take great care in compiling our events guide, but please do contact venues before you leave home as things can change. Spot the Until 15 January Royal Pavilion Ice Rink
Royal Pavilion, Brighton & Hove, BN1 1EE, 03000 290900 The South East’s most beautiful winter ice rink, with the former Royal pleasure palace as the backdrop and huge rink-side bar and restaurant with a 40-metre terrace. This hidden gem of a rink is beautifully lit at night and is a great choice for those who want to skate in a twinkling setting as well as sit down to eat après ice.
dot for FREE events!
Until 31 January The Great Bear
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1EE This family friendly display explores the natural history of bears and their relationship with man, including their place in mythology and fairy tale, via objects from across their collections – from a Polar Bear’s skull to historical prints and decorative items. HEV-Living-With-Birds-Nov-2016-Families-87x130-AW.indd 1
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Until 31 January Discounted admission to the Farm
Blackberry Farm, Whitesmith, BN8 6JD. 01825 872912 Until the end of January 2017, you can enter Blackberry Farm for the reduced rate of just £5 per person. Set within 18 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside in the village of Whitesmith, this family run farm is home to lots of animals and wildfowl which have been carefully chosen for their variety, character and good nature. A team of friendly and welcoming staff are always on hand to tell you all about them. There is also a large outdoor play area, ‘Clucky’s’ undercover adventure playbarn and sensory zone, farm walk, picnic area and baby area.
www.familiesonline.co.uk | 11
What’s on 4 February - 5 March Celebrity Dusty Duck Trail
WWT Arundel, Mill Road, Arundel, BN18 9PB Discover the new Celebrity Dusty Duck trail landing at Arundel this February! Dusty Duck along with 14 GIANT celebrity designed models are scheduled to land at Arundel for the month of February. Dusty is on an exciting adventure, exploring and trying new things and of course making friends along the way! The six-foot-tall Dusty, made with the kind help of the famous Aardman studios, and celebrities including Steve Backshall’s Explorer Dusty, Smarked’s (CBBC’s Sam and Mark’s) Tiger Dusty and Joanna Lumley’s Absolutely Fabulous Patsy Dusty, all form part of a specially created new trail that takes you across the whole of the stunning grounds at Arundel.
Until 27 February Worthing Ice Rink
Steyne Gardens, Worthing, BN11 3DZ Worthing Ice Rink returns with a fully covered rink to ensure fun whatever the weather. There will be special sessions during off peak times for younger children (under 4 years) to have a go when the ice is quiet.
4 - 8 January Holiday on Ice 2017 ‘Believe’ Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2GR The Brighton Centre is delighted to announce that the world-renowned show, Holiday on Ice, which has been running for over 72 years, will be returning to Brighton with a new spectacular show, BELIEVE. Various times and prices. www.brightoncentre.co.uk
7 January and 4 February Kids Run Free
Victoria Park & Playing Fields, Norfolk Street, Worthing, BN11 4BD Kids Run Free is a charity that organises fun, running based activities for children in their local parks and schools. Circuits start at 50m for the under two’s, with the longest at 250m for children aged 5 and over. First Saturday of every month. Register your child in advance at www. kidsrunfree.co.uk
14 January & 11 February Shoreham Farmers’ Market
East Street & St Mary’s Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5ZD The award winning Shoreham Farmers’ Market sells local Sussex produce and takes place every second Saturday of the month.
15 January Brighton Museum & Art Gallery Free Day
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Royal Pavilion Gardens, BN1 1EE. Join in for a new season of monthly Free Days at the museum. To help celebrate the Royal Pavilion Annual Free Day, the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery will also be free for everyone.
15 January Annual Free Day
Royal Pavilion, 4-5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE To celebrate the purchase of the Royal Pavilion by the town of Brighton in 1850, admission charges are waived one day a year. 10am–4.30pm,
21 January & 18 February Worthing Emporium Market
Montague Place, Worthing Every 3rd Saturday of the month, The Emporium brings a fresh contemporary outdoor market to the town centre offering craft, food, upcycled and vintage goodies.
12 | Tel: 02393 117 561 | editor@familiessussexcoast.co.uk
11 February Love Your Museum Discovery Day
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1EE Celebrate Valentine’s Day with free entry for everyone at Brighton Museum! Make a Valentine’s card for your loved one, enjoy the pop-up talks, discover love stories from the collections in Museum Lab, and become a Love Your Museum explorer.
11 – 19 February Living with Birds at Hever
12 February Worthing Half Marathon 2017 Worthing, 07737 335296 The event is run on fully closed roads and takes in the town before heading along the coast road. There is a Mini Mile race for children too.
Hever Castle, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7NG Hever Castle & Gardens is teaming up with the RSPB to celebrate British garden birds during the February half term holiday. Visit the historic castle to enjoy ‘Living with Birds’ a fun family event aimed at school aged children. Coinciding with National Nest Box Week, visitors can learn how to help birds nest, survive and thrive in their gardens at home. A bird box building workshop* will provide kids with the chance to contribute to the conservation effort in the UK by putting a nest box in their gardens, also providing the pleasure of observing any breeding birds that come to the garden (*additional fee).
18 February Playmakes Workshop
Brighton Dome, Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UD After the children’s theatre shows (see page 14) young audiences have the opportunity to get crafty and make a keepsake to take home. The team is on hand to lead the creativity, leaving adults free to sit back and relax. Taking place on the Mezzanine of the Café-bar. 12.30pm - 1.15pm, £5 per child.
FAMILY
19 February Art at Amberley
FUN DAYS
Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre, Station Road, Amberley, Near Arundel, BN18 9LT 01798 831370 A new event for 2017, explore a new interest or skill, or just have fun with art. Each Art at Amberley will explore a different skill. Additional costs may apply
18 - 26 February Southeast Puddle Jump Championships
Mon 20th - Fri 24th February 10am - 4pm Find out about life in Roman times! Fun for all the family! PO19 3QR 01243 785859
www.sussexpast.co.uk
WWT Arundel, Mill Road, Arundel, BN18 9PB Make a splash this half term, grab your wellies and waterproofs and join in for the Southeast Puddle Jumping Championships. Can your child produce the biggest and best splash in the special competition puddles? Efforts are judged on style, creativity, enthusiasm and size of splash. There will be a prize each day for a selected ‘super-splasher’ and the Southeast Puddle Jumping Champion will be chosen at the end of the week. The official competitions will take place at 11.30am- noon & 2.30-3 pm every day, but there will be practice zones so you can try out your techniques before the Big Splash each day. Use your imagination to impress the judges with the biggest splash. Throw some shapes in the air for extra style and points! Entry to the competition is free with paid admission to the Centre and free to WWT members. Every contestant will receive a sticker to acknowledge their puddle jumping skills.
20 – 24 February Family Fun Days
Fishbourne Roman Palace, Chichester, PO19 3QR Drop into Fishbourne Roman Palace this half-term and find out what it was like to live in Roman Times! Find out what the Romans did for us, from pottery-making to dressing up, creating mosaics to spinning and weaving - it’s all about getting handson. The activities, which run from 10am to 4pm, are included in the admission price, making it a great value family day out.
21 February Toddler Tuesday
Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre, Near Arundel, BN18 9LT A morning of activities for 0-5 years. Accompanying adults will receive a complementary hot drink voucher for the Limeburners Café.
22 February Family Activity Day
Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre, Near Arundel, BN18 9LT A day of activities for accompanied children of all ages.
23 February Mums Enterprise Roadshow
The American Express Community Stadium, Village Way, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9BL Roadshow bringing together over 40 exhibitors, 8 taster workshops, networking and a Q&A panel specifically curated for mums seeking inspiration and those wanting to start or grow a business. 9am, Free entry.
26 February Brighton Half Marathon 2017
Brighton Seafront, BN1 1NB A beautiful seafront course, amazing crowd support and one of the first half marathons on the running calendar. Starts at 9am. brightonhalfmarathon.com
www.familiesonline.co.uk | 13
Box
Office There’s lots to get excited about at the theatre this winter! Please contact the theatres Box Office for times and prices.
Devonshire Park Theatre,
Compton Street, Eastbourne, BN21 4BW Box Office 01323 412000 Until 15 January Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Mirror mirror on the wall, the perfect panto for one and all! Last chance to catch Denise Black (Emmerdale & Coronation Street) as the Wicked Queen, Eastbourne favourites Tucker and Martyn knight as Herbie the Huntsman and Dame Dotty in this family favourite!
7 - 8 February The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by author / illustrator Eric Carle has delighted generations of readers since it was first published in 1969. Now the timeless classic makes its way off the page and onto the stage. Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, the critically acclaimed production of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show’ features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets, faithfully adapting four of Eric Carle’s stories.
23 - 26 February Babe- The Sheep-Pig
The Little Pig with Big Dreams - Live On Stage! Based on the best-selling book by Dick King Smith. Meet the lovable Babe in a heart-warming tale of friendship, adventure and bravery. When Babe arrives at Hogget’s Farm he is taken in by the trusty sheep-dog Fly and discovers a talent for herding. With the help of his adopted Mum, our polite piglet soon wins over the most suspicious of sheep. But can a small pig make it in a dog’s world, and when his farmyard friends are in trouble can Babe save the day?
14 | Tel: 02393 117 561
Theatre Royal Brighton, BN1 1SD Box Office 0844 871 7650
28 – 29 January We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Michael Rosen's award winning book We're Going on a Bear Hunt is brought vividly and nosily to the stage in director Sally Cookson's fun filled adaptation set to Benji Bower's lively score.
31 January – 4 February The Twits
Directed by Max Webster, this mischievous new show promises to be just as disgusting and repulsive as earth worms disguised as spaghetti - the perfect treat for all the family.
Chichester Festival Theatre Chichester, PO19 6AP, Box Office 01243 781312 10 - 18 February Running Wild
Brighton Dome
Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UD Box Office 01273 709709 16 – 19 February Chester Tuffnut
Chester isn’t your ordinary tree mole – in fact he is one of a kind! Chester likes wearing jumpers and sitting in his armchair, but most of all he loves adventure. Told with puppets, original music and imaginative antics, this show is full of humour, thrills, spills and great escapes. You can also have your very own adventure, with the chance to meet the Woodland creatures and explore their dens after the show.
Running Wild is back and tells a fascinating story about the adventures of a little girl and a special elephant. This is a truly spectacular show based on a true story. A little girl called Lily goes on holiday to Indonesia with her mum and encounters an elephant called Oona. Their adventures begin when a tsunami hits and they have to rely on one another to survive. Suitable for children aged 8 years and over. From £10.
Box Office 01273 201801
11 February Comedy Club 4 Kids!
Join Shlomo and become one of his sidekicks in a world of funny sounds, brilliant noises and cool music, whether you’re aged 1 or 101!
A comedy club for kids (aged 6+). Also any adults who enjoy a swear-free hour with the circuit’s best stand-ups and sketch acts. Non-patronising. Pure awesome. Since 2005, the Comedy Club 4 Kids has been getting the best stand-ups and sketch acts to do their thing for an audience of children and their families.
The Old Market Hove, BN3 1AS
17 February Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids
Connaught Theatre Worthing, BN11 1LG Box Office 01903 206206
17 -19 February The First Hippo on the Moon
From Number One bestselling Children’s author David Walliams comes an explosively funny space adventure for children of 3 and up. Two big hippos. One ENORMOUS dream. Who can make it to the moon first?
4 - 5 March Monstersaurus
This brand new show from the creators of Aliens Love Underpants is monsterously good! Follow the young inventor Monty as he creates a whole world of whacky inventions and incredible monsters, but now he has made them all how is he going to get rid of them?!
The benefits of
mindfulness in children
The past two decades have seen an abundance of research, and hundreds of studies conducted, about the increasingly popular practice of mindfulness. Specific programs for businesses around the globe have been created for employees to help reduce stress, as well as aid focus and performance. But, just what is mindfulness? And does it have the same positive effect on younger children.
What is mindfulness? In short, mindfulness is a simplistic program of meditative activities. It is a simple, yet powerful observation free from criticism and is a new and improved way of seeing what is happening to us in our lives. Although very effective once learnt, mindfulness does of course not rid you of everyday problems and pressures, yet it does, however, provide you with the tools and mindset needed to handle them in a calmer way. This calmer way has been said to benefit not only your mind but also your heart and body, thus providing an improved way of life and a greater sense of clarity and focus.
How can mindfulness help young children? Extensive research has shown that mindfulness can help children between the ages of 3 and 11. If we take a look at the developmental changes that occur within children, the physical changes and events such as starting school, socialising, and simply learning about life, it makes perfect sense to equip youngsters with tools on how to deal with their emotions, and how to develop a positive outlook on life with mindfulness skills. Children can learn vital stress-relieving skills such as breathing techniques, mindful hearing and listening. If children struggle with an emotion or getting angry they can revert to mindfulness techniques to learn how to deal with, and control, those emotions.
Mindfulness and autism, ADHD and ADD The Autism Research and Treatment study undertaken by Sequeira is a piece of research that supports the notion that mindfulness meditation has a great positive effect on children with autism. To be mindful helps one keep focused in a precise moment. Taking medication for autism, ADHD or ADD does not have long-term benefits, however, mindfulness can help long term given it is practised daily and part of one's lifestyle, not only for children but also for adults.
Parents and/or carers who look after children with such disorders can often find themselves dealing with stress, so things such as meditation and mindful thinking can help reduce the effects of stress, thus enabling them to deal with situations in a calmer, more helpful way, to themselves and children. Some of those with autism suffer from psychological imbalances, such as lack of rhythm. Children who struggle with this can have difficulty when trying to balance the inner and outer world, which can result in issues with interaction or distorted relationships. One area of mindfulness that may benefit these children is Mantra Meditation. This type of meditation is all about repetition, such as repeating a sound or repeating a movement or word. It’s this calm and harmonising meditation that can help to restore the child's sense of rhythm.
Can mindfulness help your child thrive at school? It is a sad and somewhat worrying fact that more and more children are feeling the stress and pressure of school life. With a push to succeed academically, to make friends or even anxieties related to changing or starting new schools, these pressures are hard for our children.
With this in mind it is no surprise that teachers, carers and parents are looking towards proven methods of mindfulness to protect and nurture their youngsters' mental and general wellbeing. Some children find short yoga routines at the start or end of their day a great way to clear their mind and relax, as well as stay in tune with their mind and bodies. These sorts of activities are perfect for all ages, from very young children to the elderly. Children who are undertaking exams may find yoga a much-needed break from studying, as even 10 minutes’ practice can provide great clarity and help to re-focus the mind. Many practitioners are encouraging schools and parents to practise mindfulness with their children due to the plethora of proven benefits to all. For instance, Susan Kaiser Greenland has published a study named “Mindful Revolution in Education”. This informative piece goes into more detail on the ways in which mindfulness programs for children can help create a more compassionate, calmer youngster with good practices.
For more information, visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/wellbeing www.familiesonline.co.uk | 15