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RECRUITING NOW Successful ‘business mum’ is IN THIS ISSUE seeking 5 working partners to work part-time from home, alongside and without compromising family The A-Z commitments or current career. of Easter If you have a supervisory, Awesomeness managerial, sales, marketing, recruitment or self-employed background, or you wish to develop an extraordinary lifestyle Baby traditions please call Katie Bridge around the 07909 681884 world

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Issuefamiliesonline.co.uk 69 March/April 2019 familiesonline.co.ukFamilies East Shopping whatever the weather The Belfry Shopping Centre in the heart of Redhill with a great mix of stores all under one roof.

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2 Families Surrey East familiesonline.co.uk Welcome to Issue 69

Spring is a time for big, bold colours, bouncing lambs and outdoor adventures. This Easter we have hundreds of things for families to do together, so go get lost in the splender of spring bulbs and caught in a shower of rain. I have also found some Surrey East charming baby traditions from around the world in celebration of Motherhood, and the love families share.

Hug a tree, laugh out loud and most importantly enjoy each other. Editor Tamar Pearson [email protected] Tamar Design Rebecca Carr xx Printer Print Mates

22,500 copies printed Enjoy British Science Week 45,000 readers per issue Families can enjoy wonder-full time together during Next issue May/June British Science Week 2019, which will take place from 8 to 17 March. Booking deadline 8 April Cover Image Depositphotos Science Week is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths with fascinating, entertaining and engaging activities for all ages taking place across the UK. Last year there were over 2,100 events involving almost 1 million participants.

You can also download a series of FREE activity packs at www.britishscienceweek. org filled with resources and ideas to try out at home or school, without the need for a science background or expensive equipment. To find an event close to you, visit www.sciencelive In this issue

3. News & views Music Can Improve Parent-Child Bond 5. Clubs & classes news 6. Education news New research suggests sharing music can improve parent-child relationships, especially during adolescence. 7. School open day directory Researchers found that young men and women who 8. What’s on in March & April shared musical experiences with their parents during childhood - and especially during adolescence - report 12. Baby traditions around the world having better relationships with their mums and dads as 15. A-Z of Easter awesomeness they enter young adulthood.

Families Surrey East is part of Families Print Ltd, a While shared musical experiences at all age levels were associated with better perceptions franchise company. All franchised magazines in the of parent-child relationship quality in young adulthood, the effect was most pronounced for group are independently owned and operated under shared musical experiences that took place during adolescence. licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of The authors said shared musical experiences with their children don’t have to be Families Surrey East are fully protected by copyright complicated, and can include simple activities like listening to music in the car together. and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent The research, published in the Journal of Family Communication, surveyed young adults of Families Surrey East. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Surrey about the frequency with which they engaged with their parents as children from the age of East; our distributors, the franchise company, 8, and how they perceived their relationship with their parents now. Families Print Ltd, and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence More info: www.tandfonline.com thereof.

familiesonline.co.uk Families Surrey East 3 News & Views A travel company focused on helping parents get the best family breaks during school holidays

In the UK, an average child has 12 weeks of holiday per year, which means that family holidays are almost entirely governed by this time. Booking holidays for these periods can be overwhelming, time-consuming and frustrating.

Wicango is a Surrey-based travel agent formed specifically to help parents get the best Lack of Sleep family breaks during school holidays. At Wicango, we do all the hard work for you. We ask a few questions about your family Damaging For preferences and then get to work on designing your perfect family break. Children Our promise is to present you with exciting, tailored holiday options within 48 hours of receiving an enquiry. Our researchers are all parents and well-travelled experts who go to More than a third of primary school great lengths to recommend destinations inspired by the uniqueness of each family. children are failing to get sufficient sleep, according to research by the University of Leeds. The study has linked poor sleep Get in touch and let’s get your next family adventure started. Enquire at www.wicango.com with difficulties in paying attention in class, or call our friendly team on 020 3960 7606. keeping up with school work, forgetfulness and absenteeism. Lots of fun to be had for local families as Merlin The NHS recommendation is that children of that age should get 10 hours sleep per Entertainments introduces a new Monthly night but the study discovered that out of 1,100 children ages 6 to 11, 36% were Membership getting only eight hours sleep or less on a weekday night. Merlin Entertainments has launched a new Merlin Pass Monthly Membership product, allowing customers to spread the cost of their Merlin Pass throughout the year. Monthly Just under a third of children reported that Membership is available on both Standard and Premium passes, with monthly payments worrying about school work was keeping starting from just £8.99 per person. The Merlin Annual Passes can be used at 32 of the them awake, whilst around one in six UK’s top attractions, including Alton Towers Resort, Chessington World of Adventures children reported that they found it difficult Resort, The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, SEA LIFE Aquariums and Sanctuaries around to sleep because of concerns about bullying or friendship. the UK and loads more.

The researchers identified that children For more information please visit www.merlinannualpass.co.uk/membership. who had access to technology in their bedroom were more likely to experience a shorter night’s sleep and recommended that parents consider removing Meet the newest residents at technology from their children’s bedrooms. Hobbledown More info: www.leeds.ac.uk Husband and wife conservationists, Eddie and Veronica and their 17 magnificent birds have joined the crew at Hobbledown. Founded in 1977, The Raptor Centre aims to promote understanding and care for these beautiful birds in the wild.

Birds now based at Hobbledown include Eagles, Hawks, Owls and Falcons, including an African Pygmy Falcon, which weighing in at 2oz (56g), is the smallest Bird of Prey in the world. Visitors can now enjoy flying demonstrations, informative meet and greets, and experience days with the birds. More info: www.hobbledown.com

Children Targeted by Adults on Social Media

Research released by the NSPCC has revealed that CLASSES FOR ALL!!! one in four young people have been contacted via FREE TRIAL CLASS social media by an adult they didn’t know, and a third of these were children under 13.

Principals: Miss C Walford CDE - AISTD (Dip) 2,059 children and 2,049 parents were surveyed Miss C Taylor (Dip Dance for Net Aware, the essential guide to 40 of the most Performers Course) Accredited by popular social media sites, apps and games that young people use. Council for Dance Education & Children and parents were asked if they’d seen violent, bullying or adult content on the social Training in UK networking sites and games they use – with Facebook and YouTube receiving high risk ratings across the board.

Ballet, Modern, Other sites found to be risky included Twitter and Reddit, with both rating high for Tap, Musical Theatre, inappropriate content, as well as lesser known names such as Sarahah, Episode: Choose Your Mini Movers, Drama, Story, Omegle, ROBLOX and Yubo (formerly called Yellow). Jazz Hip Hop/Commercial Jazz, Tread the Boards & Adult Classes. The NSPCC encourages parents to use Net Aware to learn about the various platforms their child may be using, together with the risk rating of each. www.facebook.com/candcdanceschool More info at www.net-aware.org.uk t: 01737 763391 e: [email protected] w: candcdanceschool.co.uk

4 Families Surrey East familiesonline.co.uk Clubs & classes news Join All Stars Football Boosts Girls Today! Confidence

All Stars Cricket is a programme New research suggests that playing aimed at children aged 5-8 years, to football can have a greater positive give them a great first experience in impact on the self-confidence of cricket. Sessions are accredited by the teenage girls than other popular England & Wales Cricket Board and sports. The study by the University of delivered nationwide at over 2,000 Birmingham for the Union of European centres. All Stars Cricket will help your child develop key skills in a fun Football Associations (UEFA), is the largest of its kind, and features and safe environment, where parents can join in too and help create data collected from 4128 girls and young women aged 13 and over in #BigMoments you’ll both treasure! Denmark, England, Germany, Spain, Poland and Turkey.

Following successful registration, All Stars Cricketers will receive a 80% of teenage girls surveyed said they felt more confident as a result brand-new kit bag full of goodies to help them get their summer of of being part of their football team, compared to 74% who played other cricket started and fully look the part when they attend their 8 weekly sports. 58% of the female footballers questioned said they had overcome sessions. This year we have a brand-new Cricket World Cup themed a lack of self-confidence as a result of playing football, compared with activity book that is full of top tips, games and, it’s a great place to keep 51% of girls who play other sports. UEFA have launched the Together those weekly stickers to celebrate your All Star’s achievements. Plus, it’s #WePlayStrong campaign, which aims to make football the number one all delivered straight to your door. participation sport for girls and women in Europe by 2022.

To find out more about how to get involved this summer, simply visit More info: www.birmingham.ac.uk/news www.allstarscricket.co.uk and get your place booked as session begin May 2019.

Perform’s Four Ways to Boost your Child’s Self-Esteem

A child’s self-esteem is influenced by feeling loved, valued and GOODBYE STRESS, HELLO FAMILY HOLIDAY! believing good things about themselves. Perform have teamed Thinking of your next family holiday but don’t know where to start? up with positive parenting expert, We’re a Surrey-based travel agent specialising in Anita Cleare, to bring Families top tips for boosting self-esteem. family breaks during school holidays.

Encourage Independence - When children do things for themselves LET US INSPIRE YOU and are praised for this, they feel proud. Teach your child to dress Visit us at https://wicango.com themselves and wash their own hair. or call our friendly team on 020 3960 7606 Use Believable Praise - It’s not believable to tell your child he did something well when he clearly didn’t. Praise concrete achievements. Saying “Well done for keeping on running” (even when he lost the race) tells your child exactly what they have done well. YMCA MERSTHAM HUB Listen to their Ideas - Expressing ideas and being listened to help children feel valued. Involve them in practical family problem-solving by asking for their input. This helps them feel they are making a PRE-SCHOOL positive contribution.

Encourage Laughter and Show you Care - Play, chat, share jokes Opening 1 April 2019 and funny stories. Laughter helps children relax and feel good about YMCA Merstham Hub Pre-School offers high quality themselves. Be affectionate. Snuggle and cuddle! Show your child they are utterly lovable exactly as they are. and affordable childcare for children aged 2-5 years, including free Early Years entitlement places. The More tips from Anita can be found at www.anitacleare.co.uk pre-school benefits from purpose-built indoor and outdoor play areas and accepts children eligible for To book a FREE confidence-building Perform drama class in East FEET funded 2 year old spaces and 30 hours funding. Surrey, visit www.perform.org.uk/try Come and meet us at Opening times A more diverse tech world for the future one of our open days (term-time only) Fire Tech is the UK’s #1 Tech Camp for 9-17 year olds. They invite young 6, 8, 18, 19, 22, 25 March Mon – Thur | 08:45–14:45 people to tackle bold, challenging tech projects and master the skills 2019 | 09:00-12:00 Fri | 08:45–11:45 that shape tomorrow. Across the 10,000 courses delivered by Fire Tech, almost a third (28%) of the students have been girls – that’s twice the T 07732 602999 | national average. But as an educator, Fire Tech believes more can be done to improve the gender balance for the future tech industry. E [email protected] www.ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk In response to the challenge, Fire Tech have launched a series of Merstham Community Hub, #AllGirls coding and robotics classes - which will be rolled out alongside 2a 2b Portland Drive, Merstham, the seasonal school holiday camps. The purpose of the #AllGirls Surrey RH1 3HY workshops is to allow young, passionate individuals to flourish and learn Registered charity no. 1075028 in an environment with like-minded peers, where they won’t have to worry about being ‘the only girl’ in the class.

Past Fire Tech Python student, Vivian, aged 14: “When I’m older I want to be a fashion designer and I want my own business. I’ll use my Python knowledge to build the back-end processes to maximise efficiency.”

More Info: www.firetechcamp.com familiesonline.co.uk Families Surrey East 5 Education news

Designing her Future at Croydon High Nurturing Maths Junior School Confidence For Year 6 SATs Croydon High girls had a taste of code breaking courtesy of Barclays and Microsoft during #DesigningHerFuture week at SATs are knocking on the door the school. Barclays demonstrated how banks use encryption for Year 6 Children. There’s to keep bank details secure, while moving money digitally all never been a time when it’s around the world. Microsoft then gave the girls a chance to try more crucial to support their encryption themselves, learning terminology such as cipher, key, confidence and prepare for the next big leap – secondary school. decrypt and encrypt before being set a challenge to decrypt messages from a spy behind enemy lines! A recent survey of parents showed that 41% of year 6 children are not getting weekly Maths homework; putting the pressure on to Microsoft worked with every girl from Year 1 – 6 on different parents to find ways to practise key skills. Confidence in Maths can coding activities. The girls impressed in every session with their be nurtured at home if children are offered targeted, appropriate and prior knowledge of Computer Science and new and challenging engaging tasks. Finding such tasks can be a real problem for most tasks and their confidence to share theories. parents.

As one visitor remarked “‘I wish I went to this school – the girls Maths Club by Post is offering an answer, with 4 fantastic puzzle have so many exciting opportunities and they seem so happy”. packs written by a specialist Maths teacher and covering all the arithmetic skills needed for year 6 SATs. Happy girls are best placed to learn – that is the Croydon High philosophy and it seems to be working. More info: www. If you would like to build your child’s confidence and help them to croydonhigh.gdst.net. experience SATs success, visit MathsClubByPost.co.uk/SATS and order your SATs Skills Success Kit today.

Nursery Children YMCA Merstham Hub Could Be Coached Pre-School for Exams YMCA East Surrey is opening a new pre-school at the Merstham In September 2017 the Community Hub on Monday 1 April Government announced that 2019. The pre-school will offer high a new assessment would be quality and affordable childcare for introduced in Reception as a children aged 2 to 5 years, including free Early Years entitlement baseline measure to track pupils’ progress during primary school. places, FEET funded 2 year old spaces and 30 hours funding. Children who start Reception in September 2020 will be the first YMCA East Surrey is a leading provider of under 5’s activities and group to take the new test. The focus of the assessment will be out of school childcare locally, with a focus on inclusivity. The on communication, language and literacy, numeracy and ‘self- pre-school will be open term-time (38 weeks per year) during the regulation.’ A recent report from an expert panel who examined following times: the proposals, concluded that the new test will not provide an Monday–Thursday from 8:45am–2.45pm and Friday from 8:45– accurate comparison between schools and that it is “flawed, 11:45am. unjustified and wholly unfit for purpose.”

Come along to one of the open mornings on 6, 8, 18, 19, 22 or 25 Additionally, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the charity the Pre- March between 9am and 12pm at Merstham Community Hub, 2a-2b school Learning Alliance, has warned that the new test risks Portland Drive, Merstham RH1 3HY. putting pressure on the youngest group of school children and would encourage the coaching of pre-schoolers to ensure they To find out more, please contact Teri Morris, Pre-school Manager, by were ‘test-ready.’ calling 07732 602999 or emailing [email protected]. More info: www.bera.ac.uk and www.pre-school.org.uk

Summer Babies Never Catch Up

Summer-borns still struggle in year 3 and 6, according to new research. Analysis of the test results of more than 1.5 million primary school pupils across England by School Dash, an education data analytics company, confirmed the disadvantage faced by summer-born children.

The research found that pupils born between April and August performed on average 7.5% behind others in reception maths tests. By year 6, summer-born pupils are on average 3.6% Thursday 25th April 9.30-11.30am behind. Children usually start school in the September after they turn 4 years, but parents of children born between 1 April 1 and 31 August can now ask to delay entry to Reception for a year.

The government has published guidance about delayed school admissions for summer born pupils which can be found at www. gov.uk/publications.

More info: www.schooldash.com

6 Families Surrey East familiesonline.co.uk Education news Spring Term Independent School Should You Help Open Day Directory with Homework? Open events require advance booking, so please When your children settle down to do homework, do you keep close call the school to check. tabs on them and routinely offer to help? Or is your approach to help? Burgh Heath, KT20 6AJ Bletchingley, RH1 4QJ Researchers from Finland Boys and girls, 2-13 yrs. Call for www.hawthorns.com have found that although most details on 01737 354119 Open Day - Thursday 14 March, homework assistance aims at www.aberdourschool.co.uk 9am helping the child, one approach is Open Day - Friday 15 March Friday 3 May, 9am much better at instilling persistence. Open Day - Friday 10 May The study looked at children aged from 8 to 11 years and found that Banstead Prep Lingfield RH7 6PH when parents offered opportunities for their child to work independently, Banstead, SM7 3RA www.lingfieldcollege.co.uk that the child demonstrated an increased ability to work persistently on www.bansteadprep.com Open Day - Saturday 16 March, his or her school assignments when tested 12 months later. However, Open Day - Friday 26 April, 10am-1pm when parents provided concrete assistance to their child, the less task- 9am, 10am, 11am persistent the child’s behaviour later became. This in turn, made parents Manor House School and offer more and more help. Belmont Prep School Nursery RH5 6LH Bookham, KT23 4EN “One possible explanation is that when a parent gives a child the www.Belmont-school.org www.manorhouseschool.org opportunity to do homework autonomously, this sends out a message Open Day - Friday 8 March, Nursery Drop-In Afternoon that they believe in their child’s skills and capabilities. This, in turn, 10.30am Monday 4 March, 1.30-3pm makes the child believe in him or herself, and in his or her skills and Open Day - Friday 26 April, Big School’ Reception Taster capabilities,” Associate Professor, Jaana Viljaranta from the University of 10.30am Afternoon - Thursday 21 March, Eastern Finland explained. 1.30-3pm Similarly, concrete homework assistance - especially if not requested by KT20 5AP Moor House a child - may send out a message that a parent doesn’t believe in their child’s ability to do their homework. www.chinthurstschool.co.uk Hurst Green, Oxted, RH8 9AQ Open Day - Thursday 21 March, www.moorhouseschool.co.uk When a parent offers the child an opportunity for autonomous working, 10.30am Open Day - Wednesday 20 the child will work persistently, which leads to better development of March, 9.45am-12.45pm skills. If, however, a parent’s homework assistance involves plenty of Open Day - Wednesday 24 April concrete help, the child will work less persistently, leading to poorer 9.45am-12.45pm development of skills.

Micklefield School It is important for parents to take their child’s needs into consideration Reigate RH2 9DU when offering homework assistance. Of course, parents should offer www.micklefieldschool.co.uk concrete help when their child clearly needs it. However, concrete help Open Day - Saturday 9 March, is not something that should be made automatically available in every 10am-12noon situation – only when needed,” Viljaranta said

Reigate St Mary’s More info at www.sciencedaily.com Croydon High School Chart Lane, Reigate RH2 7RN Old Farleigh Rd, Croydon www.reigatestmarys.org CR2 8YB Open Day - Wednesday 13 020 8260 7508 March, 10.30am-12pm How to help your child transfer to [email protected] secondary school [email protected] Royal Alexandra and Albert Independent girls’ day school School Pupils aged 3 – 18 years Reigate RH2 0TD During the months before your little one makes the big move to www.croydonhigh.gdst.net www.raa-school.co.uk secondary school, it’s recommended that you begin the following… Open Evening - Wednesday 15 Open Day - Saturday 16 March, May 9am-10.30am Ramp up responsibilities Senior school children have to be considerably more responsible for their own belongings and themselves. Whereas primary school teachers (Pre/Preps), St John’s send letters to parents, at ‘big’ school, communication on day-to-day Leatherhead, and Leatherhead, KT22 8SP issues might well be to your child only. www.downsend.co.uk www.stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk Open Day - Friday 8 March, Open Day - Friday 26 April, Begin building independence out and about 9.15am – 12pm 5-7pm Most secondary school pupils travel to school minus mum and dad, so Open Day - Saturday 27 April, get yours used to being out without you. It’ll be less daunting for them 9-10.45am if this starts on the journey to primary school, rather than being thrown Reigate RH2 7EL into travelling alone on a lesser-known route. www.dunottarschool.com Warlingham Park School Open Day - Tuesday 30 April, Warlingham CR6 9PB. Listen out for concerns 10.15am www.warlinghamparkschool.com Common concerns include getting lost around a much larger school, Open Day - Friday 10 May, dealing with the journey, making new friends and managing the 9.30am homework load.

Attend settling-in days This is an important opportunity to get to know the buildings, potential Don’t forget to say classmates and teachers and it should make the first day less you saw these open intimidating. days listed in Here are a few tips to keep in mind once your child has started Essendene Lodge School secondary school… Caterham CR3 5PB Girls and boys, 2.5-11 yrs • Expect them to be tired and emotional… 01883 348349 • Get super-organised with homework www.essendenelodge.co.uk Surrey East • Get used to knowing much less about what goes on Open Day - Thursday 25 April, 9.30am-11.30am • Be there for them

familiesonline.co.uk Families Surrey East 7 Every Mon, 1-3pm & Fri 10.30am- organic skincare aromatherapy 12.30pm skincare from Just Be Natural. FREE Food Growing Drop-in What’s on Sessions Sun 10 Mar, 11am – 3pm Carshalton Community Allotment, Celebrating World Book Day Your essential guide to family events this March & April We take great Carshalton SM5 2PW Portsmouth Road, care in compiling our events guide, but check with the venues before www.ecolocal.org.uk Cobham KT11 1JE you leave home just in case times or prices have changed since we Enjoy the outdoors, meet other www.painshill.co.uk people, learn new skills, get a bit of Join in with lots of book themed went to print. exercise and take free fresh veg home. activities including a special trail around the magical landscape garden Wed 6 Mar – Dec to discover lots of wonderful book 150 years of the Periodic Table of characters. Easter Cruises on Elements Science Museum Fri 8 & 15 Mar, 10am -11.30am & the Wey & Arun SW7 2DD 1.30-3pm www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Trails and Tales Canal, Loxwood A new display will celebrate the Gatton Park, Reigate RH2 0TW Periodic Table of Elements, opening www.gattonpark.com Special themed Easter 150 years after Dmitri Mendeleev’s Enjoy your favourite children’s stories Cruises will be running on periodic table was announced. and go for a walk around Gatton Park to bring it to life. Return to create The Wey & Arun Canal on Thu 9 – Sun 17 March artwork linked to the story. 2-4 years. Friday 19th April, Easter Science Week Sunday 21st April & Easter Monday 22nd April. Plenty of RHS Garden , Woking Wed 13 – Sub 17 Mar GU23 6QB The Wonderful World of Disney Easter characters will be on the canal to entertain you – come www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley on Ice along and join in the fun! The trips take 40 minutes and New for 2019, Wisley presents a Wembley Area depart at 11.00am, 12.00 and 2.00pm. Children will receive a science extravaganza, showcasing the www.disneyonice.co.uk chocolate gift from the Easter Bunny while adults can enjoy research of the RHS with hands on Enter a dazzling world of adventure activities, workshops and talks. at The Wonderful World of Disney On the chance to unwind and enjoy the scenery. Tickets: £10.00 Ice! Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie per person, refreshments for everyone included. Booking in Mon 11 & 18 Mar, 10am -12pm & Mouse on an inspiring walk down advance is advisable. 1-3pm memory lane in celebration of magic Little Seeds Forest School and family fun Gatton Park, Reigate RH2 0TW Bookings for all special events can be made via the Trust www.gattonpark.com Fri 15 - Sun 17 Mar website. For enquiries about private charters call the WACT Explore Cedar Wood, make woodland Branch Line Weekend Office on 01403 752403 or email [email protected]. crafts and enjoy a snack around the The Bluebell Railway, East Sussex, fire. 2-4 years. TN22 3QL www.weyandarun.co.uk www.bluebell-railway.com Sat 9 & 23 Mar, 9am – 1pm Come along for a fun-packed Wallington Farms Market weekend showcasing Bluebell EASTER HOLIDAY CAMPS Mon 8 – Thu 18 Apr Old Town Hall and Library Gardens Railway’s small locomotives and some Swim school crash courses in Woodcote Road SM6 0NB very special visitors! Stagecoach Easter Holiday Beginners and improvers classes www.ecolocal.org.uk Camps throughout the holidays. Artisan chocolate from Ildiko’s, a Tue 19 Mar Children and Teenagers can make choice of gorgeous, premium special Spring Community Free Day friends, have fun and develop some Mon 8 – Fri 12 Apr artisan organic Brazilian coffee from RHS Garden Wisley, Woking great new skills at the fabulous Dash for 5-12 years Cafezinho’s and multi award winning GU23 6QB Stagecoach Holiday Drama Clubs and Fun packed activities which www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley Workshops. can include , football, , team games, bouncy Mon 8 Apr – Fri 12 Apr castle and arts and crafts. Full and Stagecoach Coulson half days available. Hillcroft Primary School Chaldon Road, Caterham CR3 5PG Tue 15 Apr www.stagecoach.co.uk/coulsdon Trampolining Experienced coach will instruct the Tandridge Leisure Centre, Oxted children through a series of moves, RH8 9HT building stamina and confidence www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/ creating high flyers! tandridge MARCH Fri 5 Apr, 7pm – 9pm Easter Splash Dance Every weekend until Sun 28 Apr Easter themed splash disco. 8+ and daily from Sat 6 - Mon 22 Apr Science Museum Tue 9, 12.30pm – 2.30pm London SW7 2DD Mary Poppins www.sciencemuseum.org.uk A fun dram workshop for 5 – 11 year olds. Marvellous Mistakes Find out how chemistry mistakes Tue 9 Apr, 10.30am – 11.30am brought us some of the most Funny Bunnies colourful, loud and lifesaving 1-hour fun, interactive movement and inventions in our family storytelling. storytelling workshop for 2-5-year olds. Cracking Chemistry Discover the wonderful world of Tue 15 Apr, 12.30pm – 2.30pm chemistry in this explosive show, Matilda featuring experiments including A fun dram workshop for 5 – 11 year everything from party balloons to olds. cake. It’s a Chem-mystery! Complete chemical experiments to Fri 19 Apr, 2pm – 3.30pm solve a mystery and win a prize. Easter Arts and Crafts Easter themed craft session for 5 – Daily 10-year olds. Brick Wonders Horniman Museum and Gardens Mon 8 – Thu 18 Apr SE23 3PQ Swim school crash courses www.horniman.ac.uk Beginners, improvers and competent Discover amazing wonders from classes throughout the holidays. around the world made using ½million LEGO® bricks, plus de Stafford Sports interactive play areas, mini-cinema Centre,Caterham CR3 5YX, UK and more. www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/ destafford-sports-centre

8 Families Surrey East familiesonline.co.uk

2103-hever-easter-family-fun-87x130mm-Families.indd 1 08/02/2019 17:46 What’s on Look out for spring gardening gardening questions. Meet at the Sat 6 - Sun 7 Apr, 10am - 3.30pm Sat 6 Mon - 22 Apr, 10.30am–4pm inspiration and enjoy a visit to RHS wishing well in the rose garden. NAA Combat at the Castle Family trail: Dragon’s Nest Quest Garden Wisley free of charge. Arundel Castle, West Sussex Winkworth Arboretum, Godalming Wed 28 Mar – Mon 2 Apr BN18 9AB GU8 4AD Wed 20 Mar, 5.30am–8am Bunny Hunt www.arundelcastle.org www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winkworth- Sunrise spring equinox Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, See and hear how Robert de Belleme, arboretum celebration Sevenoaks TN15 0RR Earl of Arundel, trained his soldiers Embark on a daring adventure and Claremont Landscape Gardens, www.riverhillgardens.co.uk in preparation for what was to be the follow the clues to discover the KT10 9JG A family favourite at Riverhill, first siege of the castle in 1102. dragon’s nest that hides among the www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/ come and hunt for the hidden trees. NAA plus £1 per trail. place/claremont-landscape-garden bunnies amongst the blooming Sat 6 – Thu 18 Apr, 10.30am–4pm Join Jonnie, our wildlife expert on a rhododendrons and earn yourself a Spring I-spy trail Sat 6 - Mon 23 April walk exploring the first signs of spring chocolate egg reward. Claremont Landscape Garden, Easter Family Programme at Kew and celebrating the start of longer Esher KT10 9JG Kew Gardens, Richmond days. B £10 per person. Mon 1 – Tue 30 Apr www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/ www.kew.org Lord Ashcombe’s Minerals – the place/claremont-landscape-garden Loads of family activities for all ages Thu 21 Mar, 10am – 3pm gentlemen collectors and the Complete the I-spy trail by spotting during the Easter holidays, including Box Hill Ancient Woodland Walk advance of science the first signs of spring. NAA plus £1 exploring the colour spectrum and and Talk Dorking Museum & Heritage per trail. finding out what colour means to Box Hill, Tadworth KT20 7LF Centre, Dorking RH4 1BS plants. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/box-hill www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk Sat 6 Apr- Thu 18 Apr Learn to spot ancient boundary trees, The Museum’s current exhibition Sensory Nature Trail Sat 6 – Mon 29 Apr pollarded veteran trees and valuable showcases the history of and Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Easter Holidays drop-in fun coppice. Booking essential. examples from Lord Ashcombe’s Road SM4 5JD family activities stunning mineral collection. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden- RHS Garden Wisley, Woking Sat 23 Mar, 1pm – 2.30pm hall-park GU23 6QB Ruthless Romans Wed 4 Apr – Sun 8 Apr Use your senses to discover nature in www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley Bourne Hall, Ewell KT17 1UF Wizard’s Wand Workshop a whole new way. Pick yours up from Bour family along for a full day of www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/visitors/ Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, the garden centre. Easter fun at RHS Garden Wisley and whats-on Sevenoaks TN15 0RR join in with art and craft sessions and Learn what it was like to be a Roman www.riverhillgardens.co.uk Sat 6 –Thu 18 Apr, 10am–4pm garden trails. soldier and about the weapons and Get creative and design your very Family trail: Tyrannical Tudors tactics that made the Legions so own enchanting wizard wand. The Runnymede, Windsor TW20 0YU Sat 6 Apr effective and so feared. more creative and colourful the wand, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/runnymede- London Bus Museum Spring the more magical it shall be. and-ankerwycke Gathering Sat 23 Mar Find out about ruthless royals and Museum, Chemistry Festival Family Day Fri 5 Apr, 10.30am rebels in sixteenth century England. KT13 0QN Science Museum Bach to Baby Family Concert £1 per trail www.brooklandsmuseum.com London SW7 2DD St Martin of Tours, Epsom KT17 4PX The South East’s biggest and longest- www.discoversouthken.com/itinerary/ www.bachtobaby.com Sat 6 – Sun 21 Apr running bus show is back and will be chemistry-festival Bach to Baby is the acclaimed concert Children’s Easter Egg Trail a fabulous day out for families and A free chemistry-themed family series for the whole family to enjoy British Wildlife Centre Easter transport enthusiasts alike. day featuring workshops from together. Featuring outstanding www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk chemistry professionals and activities: musicians and exhilarating Children will enjoy hunting down Mon 8 – Fri 12 Apr, 11am–1pm Marvellous Mistakes, Cracking performances in inspiring venues those eggs that are hidden amongst Colourful spring crafts Chemistry and It’s a Chem-mystery! right on your doorstep. the animals. If children spot them all Claremont Landscape Garden, they’ll win a small chocolate treat. Esher KT10 9JG Sat 23 – Sun 24 Mar, 10.30am – Sat 6 Apr, 10am – 5pm And, all entries will go into a prize www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/ 5pm Godalming Spring Festival draw to win Family Membership worth place/claremont-landscape-garden Elizabeth 1 & The Armada www.godalming-tc.gov.uk/spring- up to £150, allowing a year’s unlimited Join us for easy to make creative crafts Penshurst Place & Gardens, festival visits during normal opening times. that will bring some colourful Easter Tonbridge TN11 8DG Celebrate the new season with a great fun to your home.NAA plus £1.50 www.penshurstplace.com day out in one of Surrey’s prettiest Sat 6 – Mon 22 Apr, 10.30am – per craft. Join us for the immersive Armada towns. 6pm experience and discover the life What lurks beneath the inky sea? Mon 8 – Thu 18 Apr and times of the people during Sat 6 Apr, 11am – 5pm Penshurst Place & Gardens, Easter Holiday Family Activities the Armada, and how Elizabeth I Canon fire and sea monster Tonbridge TN11 8DG , Weybridge successfully outwitted Philip II. spotting www.penshurstplace.com KT13 0QN Penshurst Place & Gardens, Across the centuries tales of beastly www.brooklandsmuseum.com Wed 27 Mar, 12pm Tonbridge TN11 8DG sea creatures and fascinating fish Take a trip in a vintage-style car Meet a Polesden Gardener www.penshurstplace.com have dominated sailing stories, and up Test Hill or along the Members’ , Nr Dorking Join Hands on History for a day of this Easter you are invited to walk Banking of the old Race Track, RH5 6BD mini-crossbows hitting as many the garden rooms and discover the courtesy of the Brooklands Volunteer www.nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden- sea monster targets as you can! mythical creatures for yourselves! Car Rides Team. Easter trails for lacey Throughout the day, you’ll also be able children, Kids Tours on Concorde This is your opportunity to meet to see a real-life cannon be fired. are back and family workshops our amazing gardeners and ask any throughout the holiday. Wiglet's Easter

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www.godstonefarm.co.uk FM/EASTER2019 www.bockettsfarm.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk Families Surrey East 9 What’s on www.ssme.co.uk Sun 21 April 12pm – 3.30pm The Surrey Society of Model Captain Blackbeard’s Close Easter Fun at the Engineers invite the public to come Encounter and enjoy rides on our steam & Penshurst Place & Gardens, Belfry Centre electric trains. Tonbridge TN11 8DG www.penshurstplace.com This Easter The Belfry Fri 19 – Mon 22 Apr, 11am – Join the captain and some of this Centre, Redhill will have huge 4.30pm crew as they tell their tale of their Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt encounter with a beastly creature and amounts of fun for all. Place, Dorking RH5 6LY the surprising turn their trip took! Don’t miss the date! www.nationaltrust.org.uk/leith-hill- place Wed 24 Apr & Wed 1 May, 10.30m Sat 2nd and Tues 5th March, Pancake Challenge for Charity. Pick up a garden themed trail from – 12.30am the house and hunt for clues around Ranger Roams The most flips in 30 seconds wins a £50 Belfry pancake the grounds. Ightham Mote, Sevenoaks hamper. Raising funds for Rotary International. TN15 0NT Fri 19 – Mon 22 Apr www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham- Spa Valley Railway Easter Special mote Saturday 6th April, Icons for Autism Day. Raising awareness Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Join the rangers for their series of for Autism month, the Belfry will be full of a range of fun Wells 5QY themed guided walks on the Ightham characters for photo opportunities. (Photo attached) www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk Mote estate. Spa Valley Railway will be operating a two train timetable over Easter, with Thu 25 Apr, 11am – 12pm & 2-3pm Saturday 20th April, Meet Peter Rabbit and receive a two steam engines and one heritage Cave Painting chocolate treat. Have a photo with this loveable character diesel in action. Bourne Hall, Ewell KT17 1UF throughout the day on the Lower Level. (Photo attached) www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk Sat 20 Apr, 11am – 3pm Discover how and why these Children’s Trust Easter Fair paintings were created. Then by A reminder that the shops in the Belfry will be shut on Easter Childrens Trust, Tadworth flickering light, try to create your Sunday (21st April). KT20 5RU own cave painting in their very own www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk ‘caves’. £5. A great day out for all the family with www.redhillbelfry.co.uk lots of ‘eggciting’ activities for the Sat 27 Apr, tours at 10am, 11am, whole family to enjoy! 1pm, 2pm Dorking South Street Caves Tours Tue 9 & 16 April Join in for a day packed with aviation Sat 20 & Sun 21 April South Street Caves, Opposite Easter Crafts antics, we’ll be serenaded by the Easter Fair Waitrose, next to War Memorial, Wine Estate, Dorking brilliant The British Airways Brass Horniman Museum and Gardens South Street RH4 2HQ RH5 6AA Band, the Joystick Club will be SE23 3PQ www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk www.denbies.co.uk/events/family- here with their flight simulator, the www.horniman.ac.uk Take a trip under the streets of events Museum’s aircraft and cockpits will be Go on our Easter trail, create Dorking to explore the famous 17th Get creative this Easter with arts and open for visitors to explore. something crafty, and enjoy century caves. Discover how they crafts activities. storytelling, face-painting and family were created and how they evolved Sat 13 & Sat 27 Apr, 9am – 1pm activities across the Gardens. Free. over the centuries. Check out the Tue 9, Wed 10 Apr & Wed 29 May, Wallington Farms Market ‘mystery chamber’ and guess what it 11am-4pm Old Town Hall and Library Gardens Sat 20 - Mon 22 Apr, 10am - was used for. Woodland Adventure in Woodcote Road SM6 0NB 4.30pm Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall www.ecolocal.org.uk A Call to Arms Sun 28 Apr, 10am – 5pm Road SM4 5JD Artisan chocolate from Ildiko’s, a Arundel Castle, West Sussex British Marques Day ww.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden-hall- choice of gorgeous, premium special BN18 9AB Brooklands Museum, Weybridge park artisan organic Brazilian coffee from www.arundelcastle.org KT13 0QN Experience life as a woodland Cafezinho’s and multi award winning A 12th century encampment is the www.brooklandsmuseum.com creature with our Ranger Team. £5 organic skincare aromatherapy wonderful setting for demonstrations Celebrate the best of British per child. skincare from Just Be Natural. of armour, combat, archery and manufacturing. Alongside Austin and falconry. Crafts include making mail Morris there will be a whole host of Wed 10 & 19 Apr Tue 16 Apr, 11am -12.30pm and armour, leather working, scribing and British-built cars, motorcycles, vans Tropical Creepy Crawly 2pm - 3.30pm cooking. and commercial vehicles.There will Roadshow Flint knapping; making Stone be action on Test Hill, club displays , Dorking Age tools Sat 20 – Mon 22 Apr around the site and traditional British RH5 6AA Bourne Hall, Ewell KT17 1UF Vineyard Chocolate Trail fare in the Café and BBQ. www.denbies.co.uk/events/family- www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking events Enjoy the opportunity to make your RH5 6AA Sun 28 Apr, 2pm – 5pm Meet Snakes, Lizards, Mini-Beasts, own authentic Stone Age tool to take www.denbies.co.uk/events/family- Bluebells Galore at Horton Frogs for an inspiring Animal home.10 years +. Booking essential. events/ Country Park Encounter. £15, payable in advance. Enjoy a trip round the vineyard in the Horton Country Park Local Nature train with an Easter egg hunt at the Reserve, Epsom KT19 8PL Thu 11 & 18 April Tue 16 – Wed 17 Apr viewpoint of the Estate. www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk Henfold Birds of Prey The Daffodil Show Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking RHS Garden Wisley, Woking RH5 6AA GU23 6QB www.denbies.co.uk/events/family- www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley events See over 120 classes of daffodils See birds of prey fly and preform showcasing the full range of these British Wildlife Centre amazing overhead tricks. Free. spring favourites. Discover how Over 40 different native wild animal species to grow and prepare daffodils for Fri 12 April competition and what the judges are l Red squirrels Sing A long Cinema looking for in a show daffodil. l Deer park Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking RH5 6AA Wed 17 April l Badger sett www.denbies.co.uk/events/family- Fancy Dress Disco l Otter ponds events Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking l A great interactive cinema experience RH5 6AA Owl display with singing and dancing www.denbies.co.uk/events/family- l Fox families events l Wildcats & more Sat 13 Apr, 11am - 12pm and Dress up and shake some moves on 1.30pm - 2.30pm the dancefloor! An Audience with Henry V111 Children’ s Bourne Hall, Ewell KT17 1UF Thu 18 Apr – Sun 29 Apr Open at weekends and Easter Trail www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk The Bluebell Festival daily during school hols SUNDA Learn about daily life in Tudor times. Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, Y 21 APRIL Discover what they wore and what Sevenoaks TN15 0RR Easter holiday: they ate and decide if you would like www.riverhillgardens.co.uk Sat 6 April - Mon 22 April to be invited to attend a banquet. Bluebell Walks, Music in the woods, Art Exhibition and 1 child FREE with this advert - save £8.50 Sat 13 Apr, 10am – 5pm Bluebell-inspired Crafts. Valid to Sun 28 April 2019 with one full paying adult - No cash alternative Spring Aviation Day - Concorde One voucher per party - No photocopies - Not to be used with other offers (FSE 03-19) 50th Anniversary Fri 19 Apr, 11am - 4pm Brooklands Museum, Weybridge Surrey S.M.E Open Day We’re on the A22, Newchapel, nr Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LF KT13 0QN SAT NAV enter Mill Lane, 01342 834658 www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk www.brooklandsmuseum.com Leatherhead

10 Families Surrey East familiesonline.co.uk What’s on Come and see the show of Bluebells the page and onto the stage in this Fri 12 Apr Sun 28 Apr 10.30am -12.30pm and other springtime flowers in the high energy re-telling of Pinocchio’s Treasure Island Caterham Cheeki Monkeys Nearly ancient woods of Horton Country extraordinary adventures. This child-friendly adaptation of New Sale Park. Meet at the Information Centre ‘Treasure Island’ is a very funny, The Arc, Caterham CR3 5XY in Horton Country Park Local Nature Wed 17 Apr high energy, big, bold and bright www.cheekimonkeys.co.uk/calendar Reserve. The Bubbleman show with crazy characters, all your Buy or sell quality, gently used babies’ From square bubbles to rocket favourite songs and a swashbuckling and children’s toys, clothes and WHAT’S ON AT THEATRE bubbles, tornado bubbles to flying sensational story on the seven seas! equipment. saucer bubbles, the Amazing Bubble The Hawth, Crawley RH10 6YZ Man conjures shrieks of laughter and NEARLY NEW SALES Mum2Mum Markets www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk gasps of amazement from all ages. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk Harlequin Theatre, Redhill RH1 1NN Sat 9 Mar, 9.45am – 11.30am Buy quality second hand and nearly Tue 19 & Wed 20 Mar www.harlequintheatre.co.uk (9.30am members entry) new baby & children’s stuff with over Room on the Broom Redhill Reigate & Horley Nearly 20 stalls, packed with bargains! Join the witch and her cat on their Thu 18 Apr New Sale mission to defeat the dragon in Tall Alice in Wonderland St Joseph’s Church Hall, Redhill Sat 6 Apr, 10am-12pm Stories’ magical, musical adaptation Harlequin Theatre, Redhill, RH1 1NN Come along and support your local BANSTEAD Mum2mum Market of Room on the Broom. Join Alice down the rabbit hole in NCT Branch and grab some real Banstead Community Hall her magical adventures through bargains and quality goods! SM7 3AJ Sat 30 Mar Wonderland in this brand-new staging WOW! It’s Night Time of Lewis Carroll’s family favourite Sat 16 Mar, 11am – 1pm Sat 27 Apr, 3pm - 5pm The curious little owl is back, and ‘Alice In Wonderland.’ Caterham & Oxted Nearly ASHSTEAD Mum2mum Market this time she’s ready to discover the New Sale Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall wonders of night-time, from the big, Dorking Halls, RH5 1SG , Oxted, RH8 0AB KT21 2BE bright moon to the bats in the sky and www.dorkinghalls.co.uk www.nct.org.uk/events/caterham- the foxes deep in the forest. But where oxted-nearly-new-sale Sun 28 Apr, 2pm - 4pm are all the other owls? When the wind Mon 25 & Tue 26 Mar The NCT Nearly New Sale is a brilliant EPSOM Mum2mum Market blows the leaves from her tree, you’ll Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom place to pick up good quality second Ruxley Church Hall KT19 0JG soon see… Join Ben and Holly, and their friends hand clothes, equipment and toys for on this exciting, enchanting and babies, children and pregnancy. Mon 1 Apr magical musical adventure packed Animalcolm full of games, songs and laughter. This Animalcolm combines physical beautiful story of elves, princesses theatre, puppetry and the company’s and childhood innocence will delight outstanding storytelling style to all the family! bring David Baddiel’s magical and wonderfully comic story to the stage. Fri 5 Apr Easter Panto - Peter Pan Sat 6 Apr Join the boy who never grows The Walrus & The Carpenter up… Peter Pan and take part in his Expect hilarity, eye-watering adventures with Wendy as they fly recitation, song and slapstick from off to Neverland and meet some Theatrerotto puppets and players in fantastical characters along the way; a salty combination of theatre and Tinker Bell, the Lost Children, Tiger haute cuisine. Lily, Nana the dog, Pirates, Smee and of course Captain Hook. Wed 10 Apr Milkshake! Live - Milkshake Tue 9 Apr Monkey’s Musical So, You Think You Know About Starring Fireman Sam, Noddy, Dinosaurs? Shimmer & Shine, Digby Dragon, Pitting the knowledge of unwitting Wissper, Nella the Princess Knight parents against their all-knowing and Floogals, alongside two kids, Dr Ben presents an interactive, Milkshake presenters, this brand-new educational and highly entertaining show has plenty of laughter, audience show using film footage from the interaction and great fun to get BBC’s ‘Planet Dinosaur’. everyone up on their feet! It’s a family show not to be missed! Leatherhead Theatre, KT22 8DN www.theleatherheadtheatre.com Epsom Playhouse, KT18 5AL www.epsomplayhouse.co.uk Sat 6 & Sun 7 Apr Charlie’s Chocolate Adventure Mon 15 Apr Join Charlie Bucket on a magical tour The Amazing Adventures of of Mr Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, Pinocchio the most magnificent in the world. Based on the fantastical children’s book, this magical story leaps off National Trust and Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts in Surrey Dates between 6 - 22 April Easter fun at Box Hill, Claremont Landscape Garden, Dapdune Wharf, Hatchlands Nower Wood Park, Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch Bowl, Morden Family Open Day Hall Park, Polesden Lacey, SundAy 28th ApriL 2019 Shalford Mill and Winkworth Join us for pond dipping, minibeast Arboretum. hunting, marshmallow toasting & more! Booking essential Call 0344 800 1895 for details surreywildlifetrust.org nationaltrust.org.uk/surrey Find us off the A24 nr Leatherhead © National Trust. The National Trust is an independent registered charity, no 205846. Photography © National Trust images/Chris Lacey familiesonline.co.uk Families Surrey East 11 EarlyMother’s years day

Here are a few of our favourite things for you and your family to do this Mothering Sunday

Mums go free at Hatchlands Painshill Park Mother’s Day Park Afternoon Tea Hatchlands Park, East Painshill Park, Cobham Clandon, Surrey GU4 7RT KT11 1JE www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ www.painshill.co.uk hatchlands-park Bring Mum for a special Mother’s Enjoy a day at Hatchlands Park. Day afternoon tea in the Stroll through the parkland, meet enchanting 18th century walled the donkeys and treat mum to garden, with seasonal flowers a home-made cake in the café. and plantings. Choose from Mums go free too. finger sandwiches, homemade mini scones with jam and clotted Mothering Sunday at cream and cakes, served with Winkworth specialty tea or coffee and a Baby Traditions Around the World Godalming GU8 4AD glass of Prosecco. Adults £18.50, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ children £8, members get extra Remember that first moment you made eye contact with your new winkworth-arboretum discount. born? The depth of love is immeasurable, yet it grows stronger as we Mums get in free when develop personal relationships with our children as we watch them and accompanied by their children. Sat 30 and Sun 31 March guide them through their journey of childhood. That love is universal, Mother’s Day Celebration so I thought to do a little bit of research into unique Baby Traditions Mothering Sunday at Whitehall Historic House Around the World…… Honeywood Museum www.sutton.gov.uk/ Honeywood Museum, librariesheritageevents Here are my 10 favourite Carshalton SM5 3NX Bring a favourite photograph of sutton.gov.uk/ you and your Mum together and Nordic and Scandinavian Countries: Babies often nap outside in the librariesheritageevents make and decorate a papercraft cold air to build their immune system. On this day we particularly photo frame to take home. For welcome mothers and their children of all ages. Free, drop in Finland: A 75 year old tradition is that a baby’s first bed is a cardboard families. Make a family fortune 30 -31 March, 11am – 4pm. box, received as a gift full of essential baby gifts. teller, look back at your childhood days and leave a memory on our A weekend for Mum Japan: After the birth of a baby, Mother and baby go to her parent’s board. Free, drop in. Penshurst Place & Gardens, house and the Mum stays in bed for 21 days. Penshurst, Tonbridge TN11 8DG Mothering Sunday Relaxer www.penshurstplace.com Pakistan: A baby’s head is shaved on the 7th day after birth. The hair is The Wey & Arun Canal Trust Visit on Saturday to create a loving weighed, and an equal amount of silver or gold is given to a charity. Boat departs from the wharf card for Mum ready for the next beside the Onslow Arms pub in day! On the Sunday you can enjoy Nigeria: The grandmother, or close family friend or relative, gives the Loxwood RH14 0RD a variety of Cream Teas in the baby it’s first bath This gesture shows the new Mum she is not alone in Treat the one you love to a Porcupine Pantry or head to the caring for the baby. Coffee and Danish Pastry Cruise Garden Restaurant for a delicious departing at 11am or perhaps one two-course carvery - the perfect Lithuania: It is popular for babies to compete in a “fastest crawler” of our Cream Tea Cruises leaving accompaniment to a stroll through competition on June 1st. at 2.15pm and 4.30pm. 90 minute the Spring Gardens. trips. £14 adults, £10 children Ecuador: When a woman goes into labor, tradition says the father Sun 24, Sat 30 & Sun 31 Mar, should give his wife a shirt that is still damp with his sweat from a long Mum Goes Free for Mother’s 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm day’s work, to give her strength in childbirth. Day Mum’s the word WWT London Wetlands Centre Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Bali: It is believed that a baby must not touch the ground for the first ww.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/ Road, Morden, London, three months of life. London SM4 5JD Treat your mum to a relaxing www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden- Guatemala: It is thought that an ice bath will keep a child fit, help them day out with a walk to watch the hall-park sleep better and cure rashes. wildlife flitting among the gardens Delight mum with a flower pot and meadows. Your mum gets decorated and planted specially China: Babies don’t wear diapers, they wear “split pants”. Pants with a free admission to the Centre when for her. £4 per child. slit/opening that exposes the baby bottom. Kids are free to “go” any- accompanied by a paying child or where, anytime just by squatting. adult. Just quote ‘Mother’s Day’ at admissions. DO YOU WANT TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS TO 40,000+ PARENTS? Families Surrey East Magazine can help promote your business to over 40,000 parents in the local area.

To be included contact: Tamar on 07947 535986 or email: [email protected]

12 Families Surrey East familiesonline.co.uk Easter fun The A – Z of Easter Awesomeness

April fools’ pranks for kids Mashed Potato Sundae Give your kids a real April fools surprise at dinner by layering mashed potato and gravy in a sundae glass and place a cherry on top.

Freeze your kid’s morning cereal Serve a bowl of your kid’s favorite cereal and watch their unsuspecting faces as they clank a spoon against the frozen milk.

Put a twist on a sunny-side-up egg A halved peach in yogurt not only looks like an egg, but also makes a delicious breakfast.

Cadbury Family fun at Hever Castle & Gardens Easter Egg Hunt www.hevercastle.co.uk

with the The Easter holidays at Hever Castle & National Gardens promises to put a spring in your step. Hunt for the colourful carrots around Trust the grounds in the fun Easter trail or spot www.nationaltrust.org.uk the bunnies in the Castle. Visitors can enjoy a dazzling display of spring blooms from Visit your closest National Trust property this daffodils to hyacinths, camellias and early Easter and take a fun filled nature challenge tulips. Explores 7-14 can explore the Tudor Best Bubbles Ever to solve the clues and win a tasty Cadbury Towers adventure playground with its own chocolate prize. NAA applies, plus a small moat, and under 7s can enjoy the natural play How to make Giant Bubbles charge to participate in the trial. area, Acorn Dell with its 2 metre high living willow structure, a giant sandpit, a mound The solution: Dissolve the ½ cup of cornstarch Polesden Lacey, RH5 6BD - Sat 6 April with tunnels to clamber in and a climbing Shalford Mill GU4 8BS Sat 20 – Mon 22 Apr into 6 cups of water. Gently stir in ½ cup of frame. Or challenge yourself in the Yew Maze dish soap ,1 tablespoon of baking powder and Box Hill, KT20 7LB Sat 6 April – Mon 22 Apr Morden Hall Park, SM4 5JD Fri 19 - Mon 22 Apr and see how long it takes you to find the way 1 tablespoon of glycerin, trying not to let foam Hatchlands Park, GU4 7RT Sat 6 – Tue 23 April out. form. Let the mix set for at least an hour, gently Winkworth Arboretum, GU8 4AD Sat 6 – Mon stirring occasionally when the cornstarch 22 Apr settles. Claremont Landscape Gardens, KT10 9JG Sat 6– Mon 22 April Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch The wand: Thread two straws through a long Bowl, GU26 6AG Fri 19 – Mon 22 Apr string (30”). Tie the ends of the string to form a large loop. Move the knot so it’s inside a straw. Take two more straws and insert them to form handles.

Use a shallow container and submerge the string and straws. Lift slowly and gently pull apart the handles until the strings are taut and then let the wind or your movement help a big bubble take shape.

This activity is so cheap and easy to do, but the results were awesome, and the kids will Go see the Beasts LOVE it. Daffodil’s of London at the Museum of London Easter Eggstravaganza www.museumoflondon.org.uk This is the Museum of London’s next major www.bockettsfarm.co.uk experience, created especially for families. The Beasts of London brings to life the histo- Friday 5 April– Tuesday 23 April ry of animals in the city told from the unique Enjoy a great family day out this Spring, as the lambing season perspective of the animals themselves. You gets into full swing! With over 350 gorgeous newborn lambs will be guided by various animal characters due and ‘Meet the Shepherd’ sessions daily, there will be through time, from the Roman era through plenty of opportunity to learn about the lambs and even watch medieval London and right up to present one being born! Children will also love to get up close to the day. Discover how animals—from lions and baby chicks, ducklings and bunnies in the Small Animal Village, in addition to goat milking, elephants, to horses, rats and pigeons—have tractor rides, pony rides and pig racing. Plus, complete the Easter stamp trail to take home a shaped the city and its beastly history. This chocolate treat, and enjoy fun live Easter shows. With plenty of play indoors and out, you can is definitely one not to be missed! 7+. From be sure of a great day out whatever the weather! 5 April.

familiesonline.co.uk Families Surrey East 13 Easter fun

Happiness in a Lose your- Hammock self in a book

Barnes children’s literature Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 May www.barneskidslitfest. org Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival Bank Holiday weekend 4-7 May www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/literaryfestival. My Shadow and Me www.puppetbarge.com

Puppet Theatre Barge, Blomfield Road (opposite 35) W9 2PF Until 14 April One person (and his shadow) meet and go on an incredible, imaginative, shadowy journey where creatures emerge, engage and transform. The show uses minimal language in combination with electronic music, a kazoo, a shaker and non- verbal voice effects. ick a Ball Little encounters between characters are K explored and tiny stories unfold. We love this truly simple, theatrical blend of amazing skill, humour and shadow magic.

Jet Pack your way through the holidays

This super-duper jetpack idea promises hours of entertainment. Try a few different combinations, so you little one has some spare for when friends come play. Nower Wood Materials - Two plastic two-litre bottles, duct Learn to Play Day

tape and paint/tin foil, scissors, tissue paper/ Family Open Day felt, ribbon, elastic and glue and a sheet of www.musicforall.org.uk/learntoplayday www.surreywildlifetrust.org card. Venues across London There will be lots of free family activities Paint both bottles or cover with tin foil. Leave Saturday 23 March -Sunday 24 March on offer - minibeast hunting, pond dipping, to dry and stick them together using duct tape. marshmallow toasting, face painting, Use either tissue paper or felt to make the fire, A free event to encourage everyone to start woodland play and more. insert and glue in the ends of the bottle. Create making music, with music shops, teachers, straps by sticking ribbon, or elastic under the venues and schools throughout London As well as a guided bluebell walk around duct tape, top and bottom. Alternatively, you partnering with leading musical instrument the more remote parts of the woodland can glue a square of hard card to the back of brands to offer thousands of FREE music to see the best of the bluebells. There is a the bottles, and thread straps through the card. lessons. Includes Croydon Music Hub, Unity morning session that runs from 10am- Centre of South London in Balham, Early Music 12.30pm and an afternoon session that Shop on Denmark Street, and Yamaha Music runs from 1.30pm -4.pm. Leatherhead London on Wardour Street. KT22 8QA.

A unique mobile minature pig party with a difference

We provide a unique, unforgettable experience where children and adults alike have an opportunity to interact with the pigs up close and personal, stroke, brush and feed them and even take them for a walk on a lead in a secure environment! Why not book your next Child’s Birthday Party, Christmas or any other Event with us?

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14 Families Surrey East familiesonline.co.uk Easter fun

Otter Spotting at the V&A Museum of Childhood British Wildlife Centre www.museumofchildhood.org.uk

www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk Until 22 April A Pirate’s Life for Me. Developed in Otters are playful, inquisitive mammals, as much at collaboration with children, the exhibition’s home in the water as they are on land. Designed for an immersive and playful set design takes its amphibious lifestyle, otters are streamlined and sinuous young visitors into an imaginary swashbuckling with long thick tails and webbed feet. With their large world of adventure and exploration where they lungs otters can stay under water for 4 minutes and swim will travel from a moody coastal inn to a tropical at speeds of 7 miles per hour. After decades of water pollution and habitat destruction, the treasure island in search of sparkling riches. otter has fought back from the verge of extinction to inhabit every English county. In the wild they are shy and elusive but at the British Wildlife Centre you can see them up close, in and out of the water - a joy to watch!

Power UP Science www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/powerup Week All kids love exploring and Science Museum trying out new things, so Saturday 6 April - Monday 22 April why not try out some science This hands-on gaming event for all ages experiments with ingredients features the very best video games and you will find at home. consoles from the past four decades. Rainbow Tower Density Project Wiglet’s Easter Materials – 1 clear beaker, 4 cups, sugar, 4 Quacky colours of food colouring, pipette /syringe. Eggstavaganza

Races Place cups on the counter and add 1 spoon of www.godstonefarm.co.uk sugar to the first, 2 into the second, 3 into the www.nationaltrust.org. third and 4 into the forth, remembering which Join Godstone Farm this Easter holiday for uk/morden-hall-park cup is which. Add 60 ml of warm water to each a full range of activities and family fun. Get cup and stir until the sugar has completely ready for cuteness overload as lambs are dissolved. Add some food colourant to each born and chicks are hatching! Get close to Morden Hall Park, SM4 5JD cup. our furry and feathered friends in scheduled Thursday 11 April & Fri 12 Apr, 11am-3pm activities throughout the day. Watch the races Borrow a rubber duck and race it down the Now comes the fun. Starting with the water and cheer on your rubber duck, help braid river in this Morden Hall Park classic. £2 per with the 4 spoons of sugar, which will have the miniature Shetland ponies and meet the duck. the greater density, gently layer the water with Farm mascots. Bubbles the bunny and Shelly either a pepet and syringe into your glass the sheep can’t wait to see you for a truly beaker. Each colour will sit on top of the one egg-citing time. The Mega Egg Dash will also with the greater density. be running over Easter weekend 19th to 22nd Remember April, with a prize every time! to Rest Young Astronomers Workshop www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory Royal Observatory Greenwich, SE10 8XJ Get hands-on in these short drop-in family workshops themed around space science and exploration, from the most recent discoveries about the Solar System to our latest Teddy Bear’s Train understanding of the wider universe. 12.45- Ride & Storytelling 4.15pm, free, age 7+. Weekends in March www.denbies.co.uk Denbies Wine Estate. Monday 8 & 15 April. Bring your favourite Teddy for a vineyard train ride and storytelling.

If you go down in the woods today You’re sure of a big surprise If you go down in the woods today You’d better go in disguise! For every bear that ever there was Will gather there for certain Because today’s the day the buZZZZZZ Teddy Bears have their picnic wwwfriendsoftheearth.uk

mbrella Bring your favourite Teddy for a vineyard Get your Bee Saver Kit and help train ride and storytelling. save the bees U

familiesonline.co.uk Families Surrey East 15 Are you StruggliNg WitH cHildcAre?

Today I wrote my first line of code…

At Croydon High Juniors Computer Science is on the curriculum from Here at Baby Steps Nannies we aim to make the search Nursery up. for a nanny as seamless and pain free as possible! Skills are taught in an age appropriate way and Computing Club is full We pride ourselves on providing a bespoke and personal service depending to capacity. The girls realise that what they learn here helps them in so many other ways, through collaboration, creativity and problem solving, on your individual requirements, whether you need a full time live in nanny developing the skills to excel wherever they find themselves. or after school help we aim to find the perfect childcare solution for you. Why not find out more about how we are inspiring every girl, every day?

if you want to know more, we are always on the end of the phone so give Call 020 8260 7508 or visit www.croydonhigh.gdst.net us a call on 0208 652 9949. Whether you are just curious as to what we do or if you want a hand with your search, we will be happy to help.

Baby Steps Nannies ltd @babystepsnanny

babystepsnanniesltd www.babystepsnannies.co.uk www.croydonhigh.gdst.net

16 Families Surrey East familiesonline.co.uk