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IN THIS ISSUE

Places to go Kids’ parties Education

THE BEST START Limited places in Kindergarten, Reception and Year One to start this September. Waiting lists across other years Book a Head’s Talk & Tour via our website, if you love what you see, applications must be in by the end of June.

Talbot Heath

Independent School for Girls aged 3-18

Issue 23 May/June 2022

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WHAT’S ON

2 Families Dorset

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CONTENTS

Welcome So much to look forward to in May and June, including two bank holidays, one of them extra-long! Yippee!

Warm sunny days are on the horizon so start planning some local family adventures as well as exploring the outdoors closer to home with our Adventures at Home feature.

Editor Linda Stone editor@familiesdorset.co.uk 020 8241 0423 Sales Claire Clarricoates claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk 01494 689098/ 07812218331 Printed by Buxton Press Design Rebecca Carr

Book now to include your advert in our next issue

In this issue 4. 6. 8. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

Places to go Parties Education Health Parenting Food Early years

If you have a little one who starts school in September, now is also the time to start thinking about preparation. Find out how to prepare your school starter for eating school meals in our Education section. Did your child miss a birthday party or two during the pandemic? If you’re searching for inspiration for a big bang occasion this year, then keep reading for this year’s hottest party trends and make it a party to remember Finally, in this issue, we have cute and cuddly Care Bears to give away! Apply for these colourful companions for your child to fall in love with at familiesmag.co.uk/go. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine straight to your inbox with lots more content and goodies on offer. January/February competition winners

Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list at https://bit.ly/compwinnersJF

Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

Activities

To book an advert in our July/August issue call Claire on 07812 218331 EEHome FTaRke Me

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IN THIS ISSU

Easter Education Travel What’s on

OpEN DAY Are you choosing

Rothesay Rd

| Bournemo uth | Tel: 01202 763360

Issue 22 March Familiesonl

ine.co.uk

the best school

for your daughter ? Come along

Kindergarten, Pre-Prep & Junior School . Enrolling now! Friday 4th March 2022 Please secure your

/April 2022

to our

Win a Great British Map of Wonders Let the adventures begin!

WIN!

Families has teamed up with ST&G to offer ten lucky readers their very own Great British Map of Wonders.

There are so many amazing adventure-filled things to do here in Britain, that it’s hard to take them all in without a ginormous map! For children ages 6+, this map includes 1000 of the most fun things to do and places to visit around Britain, with great games to play, boxes to tick, notes to fill in and a huge colouring map. Find and explore amazing animals, awesome activities, brilliant beaches, thrilling quests, super-fun festivals, funny place names and legendary places. For more information, visit www.marvellousmaps.com

Talbot Heath

Open Day place via our website. | talbotheath Independent School for Girls .org | Connect aged 3-18 with us @TalbotHe athSch | Day and boarding

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To enter, To enter, visit visit familiesmag.co.uk/go familiesmag.co.uk/go Closing date: 20 June. T&Cs at https://bit.ly/MapofWonders Closing date: 20 June. T&Cs at https://bit.ly/MapofWonders

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PLACES TO GO

ec EEat Ch FRar Se

ild Ch

Is your child’s

in partnership with Child Seat Safety Ltd

DID YO

Pop along for a FREE independent check

car seat safe?

W KNO ?

65% of all car seats are not fitted correctly

Tuesday 21 June The ARK, Poole Park – 0930-1630 Wednesday 22 June Littledown Centre, Bournemouth – 1000-1400 Thursday 23 June Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre, Christchurch 0930-1330 Wednesday 27 July The ARK, Poole Park – 1000-1600 Thursday 28 July Littledown Centre, Bournemouth 1000-1400 bit.ly/bcpcouncilchildcarseat

Car seat safety: what is the law? You must wear a seat belt where one is fitted. The driver may be prosecuted if a child aged under 14 years doesn’t wear an appropriate seatbelt which, for children aged under 12 years and shorter than 135 centimetres in height, means the correct child restraint. A child may wear an adult seatbelt when they reach 135 centimetres in height or the age of 12 years old (whichever is reached first). Find out more at https://bit.ly/seatbeltbooklet 7 top tips before you buy** Avoid second hand car seats -. you can’t be sure of their history. Research and prioritise safety. All seats must pass minimum standards of safety. Some manufacturers test way beyond these standards. Get independent advice from Child Seat Safety (www. childseatsafety.co.uk) or from BCP Council Road Safety Team at road.safety@bcpcouncil.gov.uk who have IOSH accreditation or can direct you to someone experienced. Ask for the car seat expert in store to serve you and ask about their qualifications. If they are IOSH approved in Child Seat Safety Awareness they should be able to provide an accreditation number. If they aren’t available, request an appointment. Where possible, make sure your IOSH expert shows you how to fit the car seat. This avoids confusion and should give you confidence to fit the seat correctly. If you’ve already bought your car seat, visit one of our car seat fitting clinics in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, to get your car seat checked. Reference links www.think.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DfT_SeatBeltBooklet.pdf www.childsafety.co.uk

Care and share with Care Bears Bean Plush! Apply for a FREE Bean Plush 22cm Care Bear now* Perfect company for your child’s adventures, big or small.

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PLACES TO GO

Enjoy The Wizard of Oz at The Regent Centre

Unique kids’ birthday parties at RockReef

From 1 to 4 June, venture ‘Over the Rainbow’ with Made to Measure Productions at the Regent Centre, Christchurch and enjoy a brand-new, sparkling musical production of The Wizard of Oz

RockReef Indoor Activity Centre, located on Bournemouth Pier, is full of exciting adventure activities, including twenty eight fun-themed climbing walls, an aerial obstacle course, Pier Cave, Vertical Slide and Leap of Faith.

Dorothy dreams of a magical place far away from her dreary Kansas home and one day, thanks to a twister of fate, her imaginings becomes reality as she finds herself swept away to the enchanting land of Oz!

RockReef’s Clip ‘n Climb party includes ninety minutes activity time on all the indoor climbing challenges followed by delicious food in the RockReef café. Add even more fun with a Combo Party, which includes a choice of HighLine or Pier Cave. The birthday child receives a free Vertical Slide experience and a Clip ‘n Climb Gift Voucher as a gift.

As she dances her way down the Yellow Brick Road, she’ll enjoy the crazy company of the straw-brained Scarecrow, a Tin Man who’s in need of a heart, a lovable (but cowardly) lion and the Wickedest Witch you’ve ever seen! Luckily, the good fairy Glinda is on hand to wave her wand and sprinkle some sparkle over Dorothy and her friends. Bringing together magical music, stunning scenery, colourful costumes and incredible special effects, head down the Yellow Brick Road to Christchurch and book your tickets for this spellbinding theatrical experience for all ages.

Young adventurers can celebrate their birthday with parties from £22 per child. Parties are for a minimum of eight children and parents can watch the fun from the mezzanine above. Birthday parties are popular so make sure to book your party early to secure a date. To book, call 01202 983983.

More information and booking at www.regentcentre.co.uk

Visit www.rockreef.co.uk/birthday-parties for more information.

Enjoy Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre

Have a fun day out at Highcliffe Castle!

Liberty’s Owl and Raptor Centre is located near Ringwood on the edge of the New Forest. It is home to a large collection of birds of prey, including eagles, owls and vultures.

Along the visitor route, discover the story of Highcliffe Castle’s fascinating journey from a once lavish aristocrat’s home to its rescue following two devasting fires in the 1960s. Learn about the many owners who have called the Castle their home over the years.

The Centre also houses a number of reptiles and other creepy crawlies, including snakes, lizards and spiders in its indoor reptile house. A visit to the Centre offers a fun, exciting and educational outing for families of all ages. Observe the birds flying free and the reptiles up close and personal during various spectacular displays held throughout the day.

Enjoy activities for families; from interactive displays and an extensive array of period dressing up clothes, to a programme of trails and crafts in the school holidays. Visit the Stained Glass Studio where you can often see the Castle’s on-site conservator restoring pieces of the Castle’s medieval collection or pop in and have a look at the current exhibition.

Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre also operates as a rescue centre for birds of prey that have been injured or are in need of care and rehabilitates them before releasing them back into the wild. All medical and rehabilitation costs for the care of these wild birds are funded through entry fees from the public and from donation, meaning that your visit to the centre will help contribute to their care.

In the warmer months, head outdoors for some sea air and explore the hidden corners of the grounds and woodlands. Throughout the summer, families can enjoy a programme of outdoor theatre and swing and jazz concerts.

For more information, visit www.libertyscentre.co.uk

For more information, visit www.highcliffecastle.co.uk

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After your adventure, don’t forget to stop off at the Castle Tearooms for some light refreshments.

Families Dorset 5

KIDS’ PARTIES

Easy party hacks for parents We know life wasn’t meant to be easy but arranging a children’s party shouldn’t have to be so hard! So here are some tips from the parent Editors of Families magazines which may help you throw a reduced-stress but still brilliant celebration. Guest list Make it small! A manageable number of guests means more space and a bigger budget to make the party feel really special for the select few. Don’t feel you have to invite all the class. Our children and their friends are actually getting sick of going to birthday parties every other week! Invitations Go digital with paperless invitations. Some traditions are simply bad for the environment and can be replaced with easier, cheaper and more eco-friendly options. Food If you are catering, do as much pre-preparation as you can the day before and on the morning of the party. Go for food options that will stay fresh in the fridge and make sure you have enough fridge space available. Save time and energy by pre-scooping ice cream into a cupcake or muffin baking tray lined with cases. Then pop the whole thing in the freezer until later. Simplify the catering by buying some cardboard lunchboxes and pre-filling them with sandwiches, crisps, fruit, and other food items. Name them for each child to avoid confusion, especially if there are any allergies. Opt for simple party food. You can’t go wrong with party staples like sausage rolls, pizza, sandwiches and cocktail sausages or for

vegetarian options, try the Quorn range. Don’t forget disposable plates and cups – use paper varieties to be eco-conscious. Decorations Put confetti on the inside of balloons to create a pretty decorative effect. Personalise balloons by using stickers that spell out your child’s name. Create a funky effect with disco dance-floor balloons by inserting glow sticks in colourful balloons before blowing them up. Use streamers to act as a fringed curtain in a doorway – toddlers and pre-schoolers will love this. For an adorable baking-themed garland, thread colourful cupcake cases onto string. Make a tablecloth they can decorate using a large sheet of butcher paper. Leave out (washable) felt tips and let them release their creative genius! After the party Get a cleaner. It might be extravagant but organising a oneoff clean the day after the party is a luxury that might be worth splurging on.

EVENT PLANNERS PARTY MENU

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Outdoor Bell Tent Parties Sleepover, mini festival or garden party - whatever the occasion, our beautiful Bell Tents can be styled and setup in your garden.

An unforgettable party service Whether your child wants a mini-festival party, magical sleepover or something more bespoke, the team at Teeparty are here to take the stress away. The team works with you on ideas and delivers unforgettable experiences that ooze imagination and celebrate fun, including:

Indoor Themed Teepee Sleepovers Providing all the hire equipment you could possibly need, to transform your indoor space into a magical sleepover world.

www.tee-party.co.uk hello@tee-party.co.uk 07773 201586 / 07748 195792 Let's get social... @Teepartyeventplanners @Teeparty_event_planners

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Bell Tents. Sleepovers, movie nights or mini festivals - whatever the occasion, beautiful Bell Tents can be styled and set up in your garden with furnishings to create the style you are after. Garden Party. Let Teeparty transform your garden into an enchanting party venue! Offering a complete party planning and styling service, whether you are looking for a small family gathering or want to go big with a marquee and stylish outside entertaining, they’ll ensure it’s a party to remember. Luxe Picnic. Teeparty’s unique and luxurious picnic set ups come with colours and tableware to match the theme and can be set up indoors or in the garden. For more information, call 07773 201586 or visit www.tee-party.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

KIDS’ PARTIES

2022 children’s party trends By Claire Winter Many of us have missed celebrating important birthday parties and milestones with family and friends during the pandemic. With restrictions lifted and the summer months upon us, things are looking up at last! Did someone say party? Here’s how to party like it’s 2022.

Outdoor parties

Food

The pandemic drove us outside and having a party in the garden or going to an outdoor venue still appeals to many parents. A huge outdoor picnic and good old-fashioned games like tug-of-war, quoits or skittles always go down a treat. Pack bats and balls and you’re ready for rounders. It’s a party with no crumbs and more space to let off steam! Alternatively, parties at venues like Go Ape are an easy option and the children will love to monkey around in the trees.

Grazing platters may look fabulous but some delicious goodies in individual recyclable cardboard boxes are simple to serve, create less waste and can be eaten anywhere. A firm favourite is a cream tea in a box! You can also outsource food to a party organiser or caterer. Or, instead of having one large statement cake, why not offer a fabulous display of cupcakes and mini desserts? It will look gorgeous and the kids (and parents) will love it.

Retro gaming parties

Sleepover in style

Flower power

If you have a gaming fan in the house, why not hire a gaming company to take them back to the eighties? Pac-Man and many of the old-school favourites will fascinate and intrigue them. There are also loads of great VR games that you can hire for the day too.

For an extra special sleepover if you have the garden space, consider hiring a bell tent or teepee. One for the older children - decorate with fairy lights, set up mini Bluetooth speakers and let the fun begin! Just don’t expect too much sleeping....

Whether they are dried or fresh, flowers have made a huge comeback. Scatter rose petals on the party table or freeze them in ice cubes. Create a huge bouquet as a centrepiece or if you are going all out, hire a flower wall. Perfect for tweens!

Call in the experts

The party bag

Old-school fun

A seasoned magician or entertainer will provide the fun crowd control you’re after. Younger kids love the games, banter and dancing while you sit back watching the fun.

Give small meaningful gifts instead of plastic. It’s just not the done thing any more to fill party bags with sweets and land-filler plastic tat. A few popular (more eco-friendly) alternative ideas could be a book, a packet of wildflower seeds or a jar of make-at-home cookie mix.

Take a full-on trip down the traditional route. There’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple. Two hours of games like pass the parcel, musical statues, a treasure hunt and a spot of dancing before tea still do very nicely, thank you.

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Instagrammable installations If you’re all about the ‘gram and other social media shares, you can hire amazing balloon displays, giant LED numbers and neon signs for the party. Do be conscious of sharing pictures of your party-goers as not all parents are comfortable with their children on social media.

Families Dorset 7

EDUCATION

Lessons to learn before you’re 10 By Gail Hugman We live in a world where it’s easy to become overwhelmed. So teaching young children to make good use of their working memory, exercise self-control and get organised will really help them develop the skills they need to succeed in life. These key skills underpin everything we do in life and it takes just a few minutes a day to boost them so your child learns more effectively and confidently. What’s more, growing these skills can be fun! Developed by experts who understand how children’s brains develop and form, try these starter activities to set your child off on the right path.

school, your brain will remember it better if you sort the information first. You’ll be able to remember names, countries, lists, linked facts and even do magic tricks by remembering a bunch of playing cards in order - how cool is that?’

Working memory

Self-control

Play Kim’s Game.

Ask your child to tell you really quietly what colour socks they are wearing. Then ask them to tell you again as LOUDLY as possible (it may not be such fun for you, but they will love it!) Each time they whisper or shout, give feedback to their brain by telling them ‘that’s great whispering, can it be quieter?’ or ‘excellent LOUD voice, is that the loudest you’ve got?’

To set up, gather ten objects together on a tray. Give your child one to two timed minutes to look at the objects, then cover them up. Depending on age and ability, ask them to tell, draw or write which ones they remember. As they progress, add more objects or give them less time to remember them. There are ways help brains recall objects; the trick is to make links and spot patterns. Give them these tips: To start with, count how many objects you’ll have to remember. Look to see if any can be linked together, by colour or by material, such as all plastic or all wood, by shape or by use; eg knife and fork go together, tools together, toys together.

Do this exercise a few times and congratulate your child on their self-control. Tell them that taking charge from the inside is a very grown up thing to do. Decide one thing you’d like your child to get under control. For example, it may be to resist the impulse to call out in class. Or leave their desk when they should be sitting quietly. Make it a positive.

Older children ages 7+ might be able to order the objects in a sequence or a story.

Explain to your child that you’d like them to focus on this one thing every day for a week. Remind them each day, ask how they got on and praise their progress. In this way, you’ll support their effort to control their impulses.

The more children play the game, the better they will get at recalling the objects. Why not see for yourself and play along too! Keep a tally so they can track their improvement and praise them for being clever. Explain that this is more than just a fun challenge, it’s all about teaching their brain to have a really good memory.

Gail Hugman is the bestselling author of 100 Things to Learn Before You’re 10. A children’s life coach, she owns and runs Human at Core (www.humanatcore.com), which helps parents motivate and engage their children in developing a bright future and provides science-based online personal development courses for children and parents.

You can say: ‘When your teacher shows you something in

Time management

Organisation

Organising time is a great skill, but children first need to grasp how long things actually take. Our ‘just a minute’ might take five or ten minutes and young brains may understandably be fooled into thinking only a minute has passed. Have fun using a timer to count how many of the following things they can do in one minute: hops, writing their name neatly, reading words out loud, starting a colouring-in page. Show them a timetable of their day with blocks of playtime in which they can plan their own fun.

Good habits created early on pay dividends in later life! Help your child put together a homework kit so all the stationery they need is at hand before they start working. Teach your child to get ready the night before, setting out tomorrow’s clothes and any extra kit they will need. Time homework. If it’s supposed to be thirty minutes, don’t spend longer on it. If your child is not finishing on time, either the teacher needs to know or they need to focus more effectively.

8 Families Dorset

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Calling parents living in Dorset!

EARLY YEARS

Would you like to try your hand at magazine publishing? Do you think you can grow a business? Are you interested in media and marketing?

Work part time from home around your family and do something you love.

Come and run Families Dorset magazine! To find out more contact Linda at info@familiesmagazine.co.uk or call 020 8241 0423

Magazine Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Dorset 9

EDUCATION

Starting school? Managing school lunches By Emma Lewry

School lunches have come a long way since cold custard and blancmange. If your child is starting school this year and you want to prep them for the experience, here are a few things to consider. School dining halls can be busy places and children might need to carry their food to a table. Practise at home by using a tray and some real or play food. Explain to your child that at school they might need to use a tray too. Talk to them about what the hall might be like; lots of tables and chairs where children eat lunch together, lots of grown-ups to help and, although it might be noisy, it will be because everyone is chatting about their fun morning at school. Will they like the food? I’ve seen with my own eyes that when there’s no pressure from adults watching their every move, children are more likely to try what their peers are eating. Families are often surprised to hear their children have tucked into things like couscous or ragu at school when at home they would rather starve themselves than even touch a vegetable! Very often children will eat well at school and be brave enough to try something new. If you have a child who is choosy, it can be helpful to explore different tastes at home alongside their tried and tested favourites, exposing them to more options before launching into school lunches.

It’s also useful to explain that food may look and taste different from the home version. If lasagne is their favourite and the school version is packed with veggies, it might not be what they were expecting. Show how foods can be made in different ways by trying out some new recipe variations at home to mix things up. If you’re unsure about whether to give school lunches a go in Reception, ask the school for a menu and check which options your child might like. All in all school lunches are a great choice, so consider taking the leap and ordering them at least for the first few weeks. I’m pretty sure you won’t look back! Emma Lewry is an Early Years teacher, headteacher and mother of two. Emma co-owns Every Day’s a School Day (www.edasd.co.uk) which guides families through starting school with courses, groups and a school starter’s planner available from Amazon.

Building relationships at Talbot Heath

Preparing for secondary school lunches

Talbot Heath School, named as one of the most innovative and influential independent schools in the UK, fosters a ‘can do’ attitude in its pupils, encouraging them to think big while helping them to develop the self-belief and principles that will keep them grounded while they fly high.

Most secondary schools have a canteen-style lunch option often with more choices than at primary school. Prepare by exploring similar venues like cafes; ask your child to look at the options on the menu and let you know what they might choose if it was lunch at school.

The rigorous teaching, high standards and outstanding pastoral care at the school ensure that all the foundations are in place to allow young people from ages 3 to 18 to explore and discover their loves and passions.

Discuss with them how to choose a good balance of foods to give them energy and fill them up. Explain how a range of foods across the week will give them a balance of nutrition. You could also practise working out how much items cost; children may have a card to use with a set amount of money for the week or a set amount each day, so budgeting is a great skill to practise.

Pupils at Talbot Heath have dreams and aspirations but know that these will only be achieved through hard work, determination and tenacity. They appreciate that it is substance, time and effort that brings the most sparkling and ambitious of plans to fruition and that teamwork, kindness, compassion and selflessness will enable them to overcome adversity and build the strong relationships that will be so important in their lives, both personally and professionally.

Hopefully lunch times will be a social opportunity and your child will be able to meet up with friends to enjoy their lunch together. Encourage them to organise who to eat lunch with in advance, especially in the first few days, so they can tackle the new system together.

To find out more, visit www.talbotheath.org 10 Families Dorset

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EDUCATION

Understanding executive function By Usha Patel Executive functioning is a way of describing the series of mental processes that are required to complete a task. Broadly speaking, executive function skills involve selfcontrol, working memory and flexible thinking. Children labelled with a learning or behavioural problem will often display issues with their executive functioning, for example, in staying organised and focused. But many of the symptoms that parents may be told to medicate away are, in fact, executive functioning problems that might respond to a different kind of therapy. These are the kids who lose the homework they stuffed into overflowing backpacks. Or the children who realise at 9pm that they need supplies for a vital project due the next day. When the tasks of daily life become unbearable, they melt down in a convulsion of emotion. Whether the diagnosis is ADD, dyslexia or something else, these kids share a common problem: they just can’t manage the simple daily tasks that come easily to some of us. Many children experience problems with their executive functioning, regardless of whether they have an underlying condition. Difficulty with one skill usually manifests across lots of different areas of a child’s life. For example, a child who has difficulty with time management is likely to both struggle to be on time and be unable to estimate how long a task will take. Executive function difficulties seem pervasive but I believe it is possible to deconstruct their symptoms and pinpoint cognitive

skills that can be strengthened using the latest research. These difficulties are manageable and respond well to intervention. The first step is to observe your child and their behaviour, look for any executive functioning problems and then talk to them about their difficulties. A child’s struggles can come from a variety of sources but these may be mysterious and frustrating for both you and your child and the source may be difficult to pinpoint. However, the chances are there is an underlying cognitive skill that needs strengthening. By understanding the root cause of the problem, you can then implement helpful therapies. You may find it helpful to download my self-assessment that highlights behaviours associated with executive functioning problems. You can find this at https://bit.ly/exfuinfo Usha Patel is a neurocognitive therapist and expert in executive functioning, along with other special educational needs. She runs Raviv Practice London (www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk).

What is executive function?

Identifying executive function weaknesses

If you think about the structure of a large company, it’s easy to understand the term executive function. Just as the executive team of a corporation manages and co-ordinates the various departments around a common goal, your brain’s executive functions co-ordinate different cognitive abilities around your goals. You require these skills to set and achieve goals, whether modest or ambitious.

Rule out learning disorders It’s possible your child isn’t turning in homework because they don’t understand the subject and are embarrassed to ask for help. It isn’t uncommon, for example, for children gifted in the arts to have a learning disability when it comes to maths.

Society creates structures for children that mimic adulthood in part to help them develop their executive function skills. School, sport and other activities help children create and work towards goals.

Rule out emotional issues Perhaps a bully is targeting your child. Maybe they’re too anxious to read their homework out loud. Maybe they’re concerned the teacher dislikes them and will give them a bad grade. Children’s emotional pain may not make sense to us but it’s very real to them.

Here are some key areas of your child’s life where executive function can help: Paying attention in class or at home; Managing time and prioritising tasks, such as homework; Being organised and planning ahead; Remembering tasks and chores; Starting tasks and staying focused on them; Controlling emotions; Understanding both their and other’s emotions.

Understand the patterns There is an unmistakable pattern to executive function problems in children. If your child often loses their homework and their bedroom is always a mess, this may indicate problems with organising. If they can’t resist playing video games or another fun activity until homework is finished, then they may have trouble with self-control. If that’s the case, then they will probably want to eat dessert before dinner too!

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Families Dorset 11

TRAVEL

Vacation staycations It’s not always easy to know whether the holiday destination you’ve found online is truly as family-friendly as it claims. So, to offer you some recommendations that have been tested and rated in this regard, Families asked the experts at Tested by Tots for their suggestions for your next family break. Here’s what they’ve come up with. Sandy Balls Holiday Village, New Forest, Hampshire

Catgill Farm, Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire

Nestled in the beautiful New Forest, Sandy Balls Holiday Village by Away Resorts won the Holiday Resorts category of the Tested by Tots Staycation Awards 2021. With excellent facilities, bars and restaurants, it has activities for all ages including soft play, bike hire, archery, crafts and alpaca walks. Great location, great staff, great service and something for everyone.

This charming family-run campsite is ideally located for Bolton Abbey and local tea rooms and pubs. Choose from camping, bell tent glamping or timber pods, with an on-site coffee shop, regular shop, BBQ and fire pits (with pizza ovens) for hire, plus electric hook up and WiFi.

www.awayresorts.co.uk

www.catgillfarm.co.uk Forest Holidays, Cropton, North Yorkshire

Cherry Tree Farm Camping, Croyde, North Devon

Beautiful cabins in peaceful woodland with a beach nearby. Bookable activities include horse riding, archery, cycling and forest ranger activities. The kids will love being outdoors, whether in the forest or play area; and there’s even the option to bring the dog.

Awarded Best Campsite in the Staycation Awards 2021, this spacious site is spread over several well-kept camping fields and sits only three hundred metres from the beach. Amenities include on-site wetsuit and board hire, ice block exchange, small device charge station, showers, numerous toilets, tuck shop and even a Sri Lankan food truck.

www.forestholidays.co.uk

www.cherrytreecampingcroyde.co.uk

Sandylands Holiday Park, Ayrshire, Scotland

Drayton Cottage, Bembridge, Isle of Wight

No top picks should be without a Parkdean resort! Sandylands is in a beautiful location for outdoor exploring and comes with excellent facilities: adventure playground, indoor swimming and toddler pools, arcade and kids’ club, plus a range of organised activities. Cosy accommodation with plenty for everyone to do.

This ‘home from home’ cottage won the Best Holiday Lets category in the Staycation Awards 2021. Easy walking distance to the beach and close to local amenities, the cottage is geared for families looking to relax and explore the island. It has a secure garden with seating and BBQ and bike storage.

www.parkdeanresorts.co.uk

www.theholidaycottages.co.uk

Ham Bottom, Somerset These self-catering lodges are perfectly designed for families: open plan with big kitchen tables, en-suites to every bedroom and kitted out with children’s equipment. Each property also comes with a trampoline, slide and climbing frame, football goals, indoor heated pool, sauna, hot tub and BBQ shack. It’s a paradise for families set in beautiful countryside. www.groupstays.co.uk

Holiday Inn Kenilworth, Warwick A comfortable hotel in a great location to explore the attractions in and around Warwick. It’s great value, as are most of the Holiday Inn hotels: under 17s stay for free if in their parents’ room and up to four children can eat free if they’re under 12. Free parking and WiFi add great value to a city break. www.ihg.com/holidayinn

Tested by Tots takes the stress out of travelling with children. It recommends only products and services that it has checked out and agrees are child-friendly. All this and hints and tips on holidaying with children, including holiday packing checklists at www.testedbytots.com 12 Families Dorset

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PARENTING

Why every tween should start a business By Jemma Z Smith

As anyone who has watched the feelgood series Sweet Magnolias on Netflix will know, starting a lemonade stand in your tweens can bind friends for life. But is it seriously worth encouraging your child to start their own business or is it just a big hassle? Let’s explore the point of a child starting their own business. Why can it be useful. The first good reason is to explore an alternative career. In school we may be presented with a somewhat narrow range of career options. Starting a business can open your tween’s eyes to other careers, such as PR, web design or virtual assistant. They may not discover what they want to do until after they have left school, but, equally, trying their hand at something at a young age can give them an idea of what they enjoy and what they are good at. It can also give them a wider appreciation of what careers, roles and jobs are out there. The second benefit is that starting a business helps your tween to know their worth and to appreciate others. It can sometimes seem like being a tween is full of juxtapositions. People trust you to do more, yet you aren’t an adult. You know some things but still not as much as your parents. Starting a business allows a tween to take control but also to appreciate that they need other people’s contributions to grow and develop. This helps them to realise why companies need more than just founders and how teamwork is important in

business and the world of work. Finally, money. We all need it and as your child starts and progresses through secondary school, the list of their wants and needs can grow exponentially. Having their own source of money can be a great source of pride for many teens and tweens, whilst also reducing the pressure on you. It can also help teens and tweens put the cost of purchases into perspective. Do they really need that new video gaming console. How many hours of work will they need to put in to get it? Over the last five years I have worked with many teenage entrepreneurs. I have helped tweens and teens to set up social enterprises, sell clothing online, create photography exhibitions and more. My students have loved the experience but they have also learned valuable lessons. Jemma Zoe Smith is Director of The Education Hotel (www.educationhotel.co.uk).

Starting out

Money and time

Does your tween want to start their own business but they aren’t sure what to start with?

Starting up a business takes a lot of time!

Well Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is any business! You will need to make sure that your offspring starts small with a business that can be run from home, with little investment needed. They have time to grow to bigger and better things as they get older. Encourage your child to think of a simple, easy to run business idea. For instance, a business that designs customised trainers could be small and inexpensive if your tweens’ friends bring their cheap trainers to them to customise. On the other hand, it could be complex and expensive if your youngster wants to purchase and customise expensive branded trainers and then sell them. For more advice, suggest your tween check out the government website for advice for young entrepreneurs at https://bit.ly/ YoungEntrepreneursAdvice. Or if your child is interested in selling craft items, check out Etsy as they support tweens and teens and even have a specific teen business section at https:// etsy.me/3HXZDyN

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Depending on your tween’s business idea, you will need to help them to flesh out a business plan, arrange a way for customers to contact them and help them to navigate pricing. The amount of time needed makes it a great project to start in the school holidays. Remember that whilst tweens may need your help to set up, they should look to run the business themselves. Perhaps they could eventually hire their friends to help? You also may need to contribute a small amount of money to your tween to ensure that they can afford to develop a product or even set up a website for their new business. This can be a great lesson in financing. Perhaps you could loan the money with interest or purchase shares in their business, meaning that you would always get a proportion of their profit? There is lots that your tween can learn from just understanding this concept!

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Exploring different cultures through food By Fola Williams Food! Such an important part of life, isn’t it? Are you a family of foodies who are interested in exploring culture through food? Here are some ideas to get you started on exploring the tastes and culture of Africa.

Specialist businesses are a great way to try a delectable selection of Africaninspired condiments, food and drink. DVees www.dvees.com Providing a luxurious taste of West Africa, DVees offers carefully crafted food and drink products that either take you down memory lane or introduce the unique and vibrant flavours of West Africa to you. Their signature mocktail DVees chapman is simply to die for, with perfectly combined ingredients that bring nothing but absolute refreshment.

For a window into colourful food prep ideas, Instagram has some inspirational bloggers and creators showcasing a variety of authentic cultural dishes, as well as African lifestyle. These are some of my favourites: Yemisi @sisi_yemmie

Ronke Edoho @9jafoodie

Yemisi delights followers with incredible plating and flavour combinations, as well as general lifestyle content. You can download her menu planner to organise and simplify your life for less than £10. Even better, follow her to a local Lagosian market as she shops for ingredients on her YouTube channel.

Follow Ronke Edoho for recipes and meal inspiration. She also runs @loseitnigerian for a more healthconscious view of cooking Nigerian food.

Jollofcode @jollofcode

Ghanakitchen @ghanakitchen

For the green-fingered, follow jollofcode and see how to grow Nigerian vegetables and spices such as okra, ata rodo (scotch bonnet peppers) and garden egg, which you’ll be pleased to hear is not an actual egg but a vegetable that can be either eaten raw or used to make stew!

Zoe runs live cooking workshops on @ghanakitchen where you enjoy an immersive experience in cooking Ghanaian food. Her shop, though momentarily closed, sells amazing spice blends that provide a wholesome introduction to authentic West African flavours.

Subscribe You could also try food subscription boxes from a different culture. Cook with Pika (www.cookwithpika. co.uk) makes it super easy to cook Nigerian by including several ingredients in the right proportions as well as simple recipes and cooking instructions in their boxes. They also have delicious vegetarian alternatives to some of our traditional dishes.

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Puffpuff Ministry www.puffpuffministry.co.uk The puff puff connoisseurs make puffy dough balls aka puff puff, like doughnuts but better! With flavours and toppings such as Oreo, Kinder Bueno and Lotus Biscoff syrup, they’re the perfect snack or dessert to follow a good hearty meal. Alhaji Suya www.alhajisuya.com If you can handle the heat, the spicy meat snack known as suya, is often grilled with a blend of spices over an open fire giving it a distinct smoky flavour that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Suya can be made with different meats (beef, chicken or lamb) based on preference and is often served with a blend of dry peppers, onions and tomato slices.

Food Festivals Keep an eye for any African Food Festivals in your area. They are a great way to sample a wide variety of African food and drink as well as some music! Failing that, the world food aisle at the supermarket might just unearth some gems which can be used to cook meals following simple recipes online.

Fola Williams is proprietor of Sheni and Teni (www.sheniandteni.com) which offers diverse books, toys and games for kids. Familiesonline.co.uk

EARLY YEARS

The importance of routines for young children

By Claire Burgess

Routine is important for all of us. It provides safe, comfortable boundaries and keeps our lives on track. But it also means different things to different people and needs to fit each individual family, adjusting as children grow. Some families benefit from more structure, while others work well with more flexible routines. There is no right or wrong in a routine, other than when it doesn’t work for your children or for you! Why do babies and children need routine? As humans, every day of our lives is made up of various mini routines. These are the little routines which we have perfected over time and repeat daily, all of which help us to manage our day, many times without even really thinking about it. Routine is also another word for security. By having a routine it helps our children (and us) to feel secure and we are at our best when we feel safe and secure. This is when we are able to concentrate, co-operate, negotiate, listen and ultimately learn. Being able to tell the time gives adults the ability to develop routines but babies and young children don’t have this luxury. So they are relying on us to help them understand how their day is going to be structured. It’s worth being aware that if this timing changes day to day, your child will be constantly unsure of what is happening next. In turn, this may lead to them displaying challenging behaviours, their eating habits fluctuating and their sleep being disturbed.

How do I keep my child on track? It is all about watching for the signals. These can be subtle and can sometimes be easily missed; observation of your child is key. Look for those little indicators such as wandering off around the house and not being able to focus on things, becoming clingy when they were happily playing, staring into space, getting cross, frustrated or fidgeting, upset or boisterous. These behaviours can all be indicators that your child is feeling out of kilter and needs you to help them find the way back into their routine. Once you have recognised this, you can put a plan into action. Claire Burgess is a director and family consultant at Bespoke Family (www.bespokefamily.co.uk), which offers tailored support from newborns to teens.

Top tips

Making it work

Make the routine fit your family. Every family is unique and has their own way of structuring their day; what works for your friend might not work for you.

A completely rigid system leaves little room for spontaneity and can be self-defeating. Don’t be afraid to nudge your routine when the need arises.

Don’t make it too rigid. But do have two key times of the day: the time your children get up in the morning and the time they go to bed. If you aim for and stick to these two points of the day, it will help to regulate your child’s sleep hormones at night and ‘get up and go’ hormones in the morning.

For example, if lunchtime is usually 1pm on a normal day, but today you have been swimming and your little one is showing signs of being really hungry and tired, take the hint and bring lunch forward. Just half an hour might be the difference between the biggest ‘I’m hungry and tired’ meltdown and having your little one eating well and feeling happy (meaning that you are happy and relaxed as well!)

Between getting up time and bed time you should schedule regular mealtimes (and snacks dependent on the activity of the day) and possibly naps. These focal points provide a constant structure which will give both you and your children the security and safety to approach each day with confidence. Go for consistency. For something to become a habit it needs to be consistent. When implementing a new routine or an adjustment, it can take at least two weeks to stick, so persevere!

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The one routine that’s always worth sticking to is the fixed bedtime. Proper sleep is as important to children as a healthy diet. While it might be tempting to keep your little one up later than normal to fit in with your own plans, sleep time is when kids grow and rest so that they are ready for everything tomorrow brings. Including naps, experts recommend up to sixteen hours’ sleep for infants and up to twelve hours per night for older children.

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ACTIVITIES

Adventures at home By Zoe Lake I’m a big fan of planning fun-filled family adventures at home for weekends and holidays. Here are some of our favourites, which can be easily adjusted if the weather does not behave. All the activities can be tailored to children and adults of all ages, adding a little magic to precious family time.

Garden music festival Dig out your tent, drag out your blankets and cushions, power up the radio and set up camp. Spend the day listening to music in the comfort of your own garden. Homemade ribbon wristbands and VIP lanyards allow unlimited access to the snack cupboard, fruity mocktails and ultimately, the lavatory - without needing to queue!

Twenty four hours without electricity Challenging the family to go without electricity is great fun. Not only does it encourage you to get creative with your time, it also opens up the broader topic of eco-living and which small changes can be made at home. Activities for the day might include painting, poetry, games, bird watching, cooking over an open flame and sleeping outside.

Stargazing Our favourite way to stargaze is in an old inflatable pool, patched with duct tape and filled with duvets! It keeps the chill out whilst we snuggle down and watch for the first star to appear amidst the myths and legends. Look out for the Big Bear, the Pegasus and Draco the dragon, which snakes across our sky.

Garden fete

Mini Olympics

Wildlife hunting

Village fetes are often a washout but you can schedule yours when there’s glorious sunshine! String up your bunting, bake some scones, set up a raffle and a lucky dip (from old goody bag items), provide an (unplugged) microphone for announcements, hold a pet show, even set up a Pimms’ tent (no judgement here).

Our annual garden Olympics is one of our favourite days of the year. Open with a (tissue paper) Olympic flame and homemade hanging flags, followed by competitive rounds of egg and spoon, sack races, hula hooping, bean bag throwing and swing ball. Keep score on a chalkboard and finish with salt dough medals at an elaborate award ceremony.

Find out who you share your garden with, using a nature guide to help with identification. Or encourage a few new residents with a log pile house for insects, hanging feeders for birds, a compost heap for worms, upturned pots for frogs and a colourful flowerbed for bees and butterflies. Keep an illustrated journal of what you all see.

Family heritage

Reading nook

Spend a bit of time asking relatives about their own adventures, jotting them down as you go. If the weather is a bit rubbish, this is the perfect excuse to scour old family albums full of photos of when they were young. And if the weather is kind, ask them to take you around their old haunts, perhaps to where they grew up.

A reading nook is a wonderful place to spend a lazy afternoon. Set up a den or a teepee and make it cosy inside. Fill a basket with books and make the most of little ones curled up in your lap for story time. Or even have a go at writing your own story together.

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Zoe Lake’s book Adventures at Home (Pimpernel Press) is available at all good book shops and at www.zoe-lake.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk