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Easter Holiday Fun RECRUITING NOW Successful ‘business mum’ is seeking 5 working partners to work part-time from home, alongside & without at compromising family commitments or current career. If you have a supervisory, managerial, Museum! sales, marketing, recruitment or self- employed background, or you wish to develop an extraordinary lifestyle please call Diana Page WIN a Family holiday with Away Resorts 01235 533362 • 07747 086518

Issue 136 March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk

4-5 News

6-8 Early Years ...endless ideas for families of young children in 9-13 Education • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth 14 Kids Fun • Spelthorne • North Families® Upon Thames • Issue 136

contents 15 Parenting March/April 2020 • Visit us at www.familiesonline.co.uk 16-17 Easter Clubs 18-21 Clubs and Classes Listing Upon Thames 22 Book Competition

23-27 Days Out

28-31 Whats on Make sure you pick up our May/June 2020 issue To advertise in this magazine contact: Find us and like us on Facebook MIMA WALIA, Editor m: 07792 006546 for Kids Parties Facebook.com/familiesuponthames and Summer Camps SARAH HODGSON, Managing Editor e: [email protected] @FamiliesuponT Out early May DESIGN & PRINT, Ridgeway Press www.familiesonline.co.uk Now more than 8,000 followers!

5 6 WIN a Family Holiday with Away Resorts and support Wear a Hat Day - see page 5

8 13

Mindful Little Souls comes to Richmond! Mindfulness Classes for 7-11 years old 24 27 Equip your child with the life skills, backed by scientific research, and benefit from: • Increased focused and self-awareness • Increased resilience and self-worth • Reduced stress levels and anxiety • Increased compassion and kindness In a fun and interactive manner.

Classes take place on Saturdays during term time every week.

Please visit us on www.mindfullittlesouls.com or contact us for our parents information days in March’2020 or [email protected] or 07790 993013

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

Families join the Fight against Plastic Wherever you live, you and your family can make a difference to your local environment by sparing just a few hours to take part in the Great British Spring Clean from 20 March to 13 April. Run by charity Keep Britain Tidy, this initiative is the country’s biggest mass- action environmental campaign and aims to get 600,000 #LitterHeroes out and about, cleaning up the environment on their doorstep. It’s easy for families to get involved. Simply pledge to take part and either organise a litter-pick in your community or join an organised event. To find out more, join a local event, register to take part and access Maintained Schools Outperform resources including a how-to guide, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org/GBSpringClean Academies and Free Schools Maintained schools in England outperform academies and free schools in national exams taken at the end of year 6, according to figures released by the Department of Education (DfE). This data seemingly contradicts assurances given by government for several years that conversion of schools from council-maintained to academies and the opening of free schools would drive up education standards. The DfE reports says 66% of pupils in local authority-maintained schools reached the government’s expected standards in both maths and reading, whilst 65% did so in academies and free schools. In sponsored academies, only 58% of pupils reached the required national standards. Free schools also compared poorly with maintained schools, with 62% of pupils reaching the expected standards. In maths alone, 77% of free school pupils reached the expected standard, compared with 80% in maintained primaries. More at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/multi-academy- trust-performance-measures-at-key-stage-2-2018-to-2019

Fewer Toys: Better for your child?

You’ve probably suspected it – well, it may They also played with each for twice as long, now be confirmed! Children who have too thinking up more uses for each toy and many toys are more easily distracted, and do lengthening and expanding their games. not enjoy quality playtime, a new study The authors of the study conclude that parents, suggests. schools and nurseries should pack away most Researchers at the University of Toledo in Ohio, of their toys and just rotate a small number US, recruited 36 toddlers and invited them to regularly, to encourage children to become play in a room for half an hour, with either four more creative and improve their attention toys or sixteen toys. spans. They found that youngsters were far more More info: www.sciencedirect.com creative when they had fewer toys to play with.

British Science Week for the Family British Science Week is a 10-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths which takes place from 6 to 15 March. The whole family will enjoy entertaining and engaging events and activities: your child can also enter the annual poster competition and/or download a series of FREE activity packs filled with resources and ideas to try out at home or school. The good news is these activities don’t require parents to have a science background or buy any expensive equipment. To find your local event or activity, visit www.sciencelive.net. Download activity packs at www.britishscienceweek.org,

4 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk WIN a Family Holiday at News an Away Resort of your Choice*! For a chance to win this fabulous family holiday, take part in Wear a Hat on 27 March to raise money for Brain Tumour Research

Away Resorts offers family holidays at award-winning holiday parks, each superbly located and unique. Mill Rythe on Hayling Island offers a holiday jam-packed with activities from zorbing to an outdoor high ropes course, plus daytime and evening entertainment. Sandy Balls in the New Forest gets you back to nature; delve into the forest with its resident alpacas, enjoy a serene spa, fantastic on-site restaurants, and an array of activities including cycling and swimming. Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire is a water world To Enter: away. From fishing and pedalos to jet-skiing and a 1. Register for Wear a Hat Day 2020 at www.wearahatday.org and take part water aqua park, there’s fabulous on-site on 27 March. restaurants, rooftop bars, indoor/outdoor 2. Email your competition entry to [email protected] with your splashpads and activity programmes for full name and post code or enter online at https://bit.ly/2OytS6D by 30 all. April 2020. Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight Use the same email address, name and post code for both steps 1 and 2. offers the perfect balance, with T&Cs: *Excludes Mersea Island Holiday Park and Barmouth Bay Holiday Park. Prize is rolling countryside on one side and a for a seven-night stay for two adults and two children. Accommodation provided will beautiful sandy beach on the other. be of Superior or Luxury grade at Sandy Balls, Tattershall Lakes and Whitecliff Bay, and The park bustles with great on-site Ambassador at Mill Rythe, subject to availability. Prize value will be dependent on activities to keep your family busy. location and time of year chosen. More T&Cs online.

Encourage your children to eat veg? Here’s how! Parents can now access new FREE resources* to help persuade their children to eat more vegetables. These resources include 24 new eBooks which parents download from the ‘See & Eat’ website. The books are Where children become developed from research which demonstrates that showing hard-copy everything they can be picture books about vegetables to children helps to familiarise them with Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4- 18 year-olds new food and ultimately, helps them to eat a wider variety. CHERTSEY NEW MALDEN TEDDINGTON & Each ‘See & Eat’ eBook tells the farm to fork journey of a different 0772 517 6102 0208 540 7791 TWICKENHAM vegetable and can be personalised with pictures, videos and text. 0208 979 5276 COBHAM RICHMOND 07484 208274 020 8332 6741 *courtesy of the ‘See & Eat’ project, an initiative supported by the British 0808 208 5134 Nutrition Foundation STAINES 01372 238238 07802 800633

Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned To access eBooks, visit www.foodunfolded.com/seeandeat by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 5 Early Years Your baby's speech Baby talk development depends on your "baby talk" skills as well as those of your baby, says Andrew Campbell

uring the first three years of life, a baby’s brain is developing rapidly: this period Dcontains many contain critical milestones for speech development.

The first “baby talk” is non-verbal and happens soon after birth. Babies grimace, cry, and squirm to express a range of emotions and physical needs, from fear to hunger to frustration. It is important to listen to your range of consonant sounds and tones as they baby’s different cries, work out what they mean try out sounds and find their own voice. Babies and respond accordingly. may also be able to point to people, objects, More words = more talk and body parts you name for them. They The more words children hear, the more At the age of 3 months, you’ll notice your baby repeat words or sounds they hear you say, like they learn so here are some fun things to listening to your voice, watching your face as the last word in a sentence, but they often do together to encourage your baby’s you talk and turning towards other voices, leave off endings or beginnings of words. For speech and language development sounds and music. example, they may say "daw" for "dog" or "noo-noos" for "noodles”. • Chat to your baby about the things you’re Before babies start talking, they are doing, even if you think they’re boring – for gathering information. That Most babies say their first words example, “Daddy’s vacuuming the carpet to information eventually becomes sometime around their first get rid of the dust that makes you sneeze”. the foundation of the first baby “Before babies start birthday - possibly "mama" and • Repeat your baby’s attempts at words to talk. And the best way for talking, they are "dada”. Now, importantly, they encourage a two-way conversation. For parents to help their babies know what they are saying. gathering example, if she says “mama” you could say make it to those first words – They should also respond to - information. That “mama” back to her. Build on your toddler’s and thrive with language or at least understand, if not words. For example, when baby says “train,” development in the months information obey - short, one-step you say “Yes, it’s a big red train”. after – is to talk to them. eventually becomes requests like "please put that the foundation of down”. • Show interest in your baby’s babbling and In fact, your baby's speech the first baby talk” talking by smiling and looking him in the development depends greatly on Over the next six months, your eye. your "baby talk" skills as well as baby will start to use language in a • Respond to and talk about your baby’s those of your baby! more recognisable way and you may interests. For example, if your baby starts start to hear them talking. You might find that playing with a toy train, you could say At around 6 months of age, you’ll hear your initially only you and a few of your baby’s “Toot, toot”. baby begin to babble and coo, as they play favourite people can make out what they’re around with different sounds. This “baby talk” is saying though! • Read, tell stories, share songs and nursery a happy, gentle, repetitive, sing-song rhymes with your baby. vocalisation sounds similar the world over, By the age of two years, babies can string despite the language of a baby’s parents. together short phrases of two to four words, • Praise your baby’s efforts to talk. For such as "Mummy bye-bye" or "me milk”. example, if your baby points to a dog and After nine months of age, babies can say and They're learning that words mean more than names it, you could say: “Well done for understand a few basic words like "no" and objects like "cup" - they also mean abstract pointing out the dog, Georgie”. "bye-bye". They also may begin to use a wider ideas like "mine”. Infants all develop at a different pace, but if you're worried about your child's speech or Over the course of the next year, your baby’s language development, talk to your GP or vocabulary expands rapidly, and "make-believe" health visitor. If necessary, they will refer play spurs an understanding of symbolic and your child to your local speech and abstract language like "now," feelings like "sad" language therapy department. and spatial concepts like "in”.

More info: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/helping-your-childs-speech www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/learning-talk-and-communication-your-baby

6 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk Early Years Welcome to Teddington Nannies Find the best nanny, housekeeper or babysitter to eddington Nannies and Sitters is an exciting new nanny and housekeeping agency with a fresh approach which has opened its doors care for your family Tthis month in Teddington. Serving families in Teddington, Richmond, Kingston, Hampton and Twickenham, Teddington Nannies understands that choosing your new Nanny, Housekeeper or Babysitter means that person will take care of the most important people in your life: trust is absolutely vital. Using an approach which puts customer service foremost in everything they do, they will come and meet the client to discuss what really matters to them and what they really need. This ensures a successful match and helps forge strong, lasting relationships based on trust and honesty. It also ensures clients and nannies stay with them long term because they know they really care. Affiliation to the Association of Nanny Agencies ensures high standards of work are delivered and monitored to maintain best industry practice too. If you feel Teddington Nannies can help you find the best Nanny or Housekeeper be it full time or part time to really support your busy family lives then please give Helen or Emma a call or send them an email. Also, if you are an exceptional Nanny or Housekeeper and truly outstanding in what you do with fantastic references Teddington Nannies would like to hear from you - please get in touch or register your interest via the web site. www.teddingtonnanniesandsitters.com [email protected] 0208 075 5333

• Pre-school Montessori Nursery for 2 - 5 year olds • Excellent Montessori education combined with the Early Years Foundation Stage in a nurturing and stimulating environment For a prospectus or to visit call 020 8546 3442 or email us at [email protected] www.kvmontessori.co.uk | www.facebook.com/kvmontessori St John’s Church Hall, Robin Hood Lane, Kingston Vale, , SW15 3PY (Located off Kingston Hill)

familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 7 Mindfulness Mindful Little Souls comes to Richmond Mindful Little Souls is Richmond’s new provider of children’s classes dedicated to mindfulness and they will launch their first class in April 2020!

Why is it important? Practising mindfulness can positively affect all other executive functioning skills. Studies have shown that some benefits of mindfulness include: • Reduced stress levels and anxiety • Improved health and better sleep • Improved focus and awareness • Increased resilience and self-worth • Improved impulse control • Increased compassion and kindness

Curriculum section They have designed the curriculum with the aim of providing a simple but effective way for the child to add mindfulness practice into their daily routine. They have focused on both the inner and outer self in a fun and interactive manner and includes Mindfulness • Mindful senses • Body and Brain partnership to achieve ultimate focus • Self- reflection and coping skills Lessons are suitable for 7-11year olds and toolkit to help them gain self-awareness, • Gratitude and Kindness will focus on core themes such as mindful confidence, self-regulation and resilience to • Growth mindset senses, body and brain partnership, self- succeed. The earlier children develop these life Whilst the core themes underlying mindfulness reflection, coping skills, gratitude, growth skills, the more empowered they are to lead an remain the same, their curriculum also allows extraordinary and purposeful life. mind set amongst others in a fun and for a progressive differentiation in how a child Mindful Little Souls seeks to nurture and interactive manner. can build his or her bespoke coping toolkit positively impact the emotional intelligence of overtime that is unique to the child. Each class runs for 1 hour. Classes are held children by equipping them with the skills to To embed mindfulness practice into daily basis, every Saturday morning during school term gain self-awareness, confidence, self- they will be also be providing the children with time at King’s House School, 68 Kings Road, regulation and resilience to succeed in the 21st activities in the form of fun homework after Richmond TW10 6ES. century and beyond. each class and a journal for the term to Open day sessions: 6th and 13th March encourage discussion and practising with the (Fridays) from 6pm until 7.30pm and 7th and What is Mindfulness family. 14th March (Saturdays) from 10am until According to Prof John Kabat- Zinn, university 11.30am. of Massachusetts (Medical School), What to expect section Venue: Starbucks (opposite Richmond train "mindfulness is paying attention on purpose, in A child that practise mindfulness may: station), 19-22 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2NQ the present moment, non-judgementally". • Have increased ability to focus and tune out Mindfulness is learning how to clear your mind distractions Motivation and focus on the present moment. Rather than • Be better able to identify the feelings they are The system of education is systematically thinking about what happened earlier in the experiencing and respond to them putting our children under stress by focusing day or worrying about what might happen in appropriately almost entirely on academic attainment and the future, mindfulness helps you to focus on • Be able to regulate their responses to rankings. Whilst there has been an increasing the now. This is an important skill for children stressful situations trend of results and studies over recent years and young adults because it can help them to highlighting the benefits of mindfulness in the manage their emotions, improve their focus, form of decreased stress and anxiety, increased cope with stress and feel calmer. We can begin For information on class times, fees and focus, improved social skills etc, such life skills to practise mindfulness by adding many brief parents Info Days, please email us on are not being taught to children fast enough. moments of awareness into our lives on a daily [email protected] or call us on To prepare today’s children for the new global basis. 07790993013. www.mindfullittlesouls.com economy, they need to be equipped with a

8 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk EDUCATION FOCUS SPRING 2020 Assessing Choices Education Awe and Wonder at Newland House School Newland House School’s Nursery curriculum is work out how to free objects, frozen inside ice based on the Early Years Foundation Stage. balloons, using a variety of tools and This outlines how creating opportunities for discovered how penguins stay dry, using a Awe and Wonder, where children can learn waxy coating on their feathers, through wax through making, testing hypotheses, exploring, crayon drawings. predicting and discovering, are some of the The children really engaged with the topic essential ingredients of effective learning. and the fun experiments helped them to learn Topics provide plenty of novel activities to in a more natural, incidental and enjoyable widen children’s experience in this way, as well way. as extending their language skills. During their The Nursery, which opened two years ago, is Fire and Ice topic this term, Nursery pupils very popular and provides a lovely stepping learned about cause and effect by observing stone to starting school. how coloured vinegar, bubbles and fizzes when combined with bicarbonate of soda. Waldegrave Park, Twickenham TW1 4TQ They also used their problem-solving skills to 020 8865 1234

Hampton Pre-Prep & Prep Open Morning

Friday 22 May: 9.30am Headmaster’s Welcome BOOK YOUR PLACE VIA WEBSITE Hampton Prep is Part of the Hampton School Trust. IAPS Independent Day School for boys 3-11 and girls aged 3-7 years Gloucester Road, Hampton TW12 2UQ T 0208 979 1844 [email protected]

Natural Tree House Learning Families’ When you think back to your childhood what Forest School provides a readers will receive are your favourite memories of play? Building platform for their 10% off so please clubhouses in woodland areas? Climbing trees children to live those mention ‘Families10’ and making mud pies? Our fondest vivid, treasured when booking at Tree recollections of childhood play all have one moments of childhood -- House Learning thing in common - nature. Will your that free play with your children’s? friends out in a natural environment, the interaction with nature on an At Tree House Learning they create intimate scale. irreplaceable childhood memories for children. At Tree House Learning your child will engage For the past decade they have been marvelling with nature using all of their senses and come at nature, playing in the mud, birdwatching, away from our sessions with that all-important watching the seasons change, playing smile on their face. woodland games, cooking on fires and much much more. www.treehouselearning.co.uk

Shrewsbury House Pre-Preparatory School Open Morning

Friday 20 March – 9.30-11am Shrewsbury House Pre-Preparatory School is an excellent IAPS Independent school for boys and girls from age 3-7. The school will be open for you to meet teachers and staff and to get a glimpse of life at Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep. All are welcome. Register at www.shrewsburyhousepreprep.net 22 Milbourne Lane, , Surrey, KT10 9EA 01372 462781

10 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk Ham’s local Forest School

Sessions for toddling to tween all year round. Check our website for the latest term time and school holiday offerings. Readers will receive 10% off if they use ‘Families10’ voucher code when booking. www.treehouselearning.co.uk

Handwriting Tutor

3 Achieve clear and confident handwriting 3 Neat handwriting is important in Exams 3 Don't lose marks unnecessarily! Mrs. Cutler: St Margarets, TW1 T: 07521 554188 E: [email protected] BA(Hons) Languages - Professional Handwriting Analysis/Graphology - Member of the National Handwriting Association - DAB checked

familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 11 12 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk Education

Learning styles in brief

Visual Processes information using information and charts Needs images to explain concepts and ideas Prefers graphic elements over words

Auditory Learns best when information is spoken out loud Prefers to listen to lectures and discussions Processes information by talking through things

Read/Write Prefers to receive written words Enjoys reading and writing assignments How does your child Processes information by writing notes Kinesthetic learn best? Learns best through a tactile process Prefers to create concrete personal Claire Winter offers ways to identify how your child learns and experiences Processes information by recreating and suggests techniques to help with revision at home practicing

hether it be for SATs, 11+ or school around one idea, or around several topics. Verbally Explaining exams, your child is likely to need to Mind maps can enhance memory and learning Another great revision technique for auditory Wdo some preparation at home. by 15% compared to conventional study learners is to ask your child to verbally explain Of course, your child’s school may provide methods. something. They retain more information practice exam papers which are important revising this way. Ask your child questions tools but it may be that your child needs to Creating Visual Reminders about their classwork such as: “Can you tell me hone in on revising particular subjects or topics Note-taking and highlighting are mainly more about XYZ?” This will encourage your in order to complete these successfully. So reading-based learning techniques, but child to use memory recall to remember the how do you help equip a primary school child flashcards, post-it notes, and mind maps all important facts. You can also use questions to with the techniques they need to revise? take advantage of visual recognition too. If identify any gaps in their knowledge. Educators, scientists, and psychologists have your child is naturally creative, then making An excellent revision game is to make your developed different models to understand the flashcards with essential keywords or formulas child the teacher. Get them to pretend they are different ways that people learn. One popular on them can help them recall what they are in front of a class and talk about certain topics theory, the VARK model identifies four primary studying. Try sticking flashcards or post-it as if they were teaching themselves. This is a types of learners: visual, auditory, notes around the house and every time your great learning technique for primary school reading/writing and kinesthetic. Each learning child comes across one, encourage them to kids who enjoy drama and acting things out. type responds best to a different method of describe the keywords or information in more teaching. detail. Listening to a Recording or Watching a Video For example, auditory learners remember Auditory learners can record information (even information best after reciting or explaining it Organising Information in the form of songs they make up!) and listen back, while kinesthetic learners jump at the Children who learn by reading and writing will to it. Watching videos is also a good way to chance to participate in a hands-on activity. like planning their work by topic. Not only will revise. Most pupils don’t learn in just one way, so this help them access the information they often using a combination of techniques will have to learn much faster, but the act of Assembling Charts and Diagrams work best. planning can make a child feel more in charge Kinaesthetic learners learn by assembling Once you have established your child’s of their learning. Visual learners can use colour charts and creating diagrams. Flashcards can preferred learning style, you can try a variety of coded post-it notes to help remind them about also help kinaesthetic learners; if you physically these methods to help your child prepare the different topics too. turn them over and write on them, it engages successfully for exams. many different parts of the brain. Keeping Note Taking fingers busy, tracing words or tapping out Mind Mapping Taking notes on important facts from current sequences can help your child retain A mind map is a visual representation of classwork can help your child keep the knowledge too. information, introduced in an organised but essentials in mind. If your child likes writing and Using a mixture of many learning techniques innovative method. This method is great for reading, they may find this highly effective. For is the most successful way to help your child visual learners. Mind maps can be as detailed as younger children, highlighting important retain information. You will soon learn what your child likes, organising notes and information can be just as efficient. they like doing and what helps the most in their suggestions around bigger, connecting ideas, tests and exams. familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 13 Teaser Easter Amazing Anagram and Puzzling Puzzle! Challenge your brain and enjoy our Easter Teaser page – answers below each game! Kids Fun

Can you unscramble the letters to spell out the ANAGRAM names of fi ve popular book characters? 1. d i a t m l a

2. peth o rratyr

3. k t e r a c y rebae

4. f g e e l f rye g h

5. lgpicnpskipgtoo in

When you’re done, unscramble the circled letters to spell a special message!

PICTURE CROSSWORD Can you solve the picture clues and put them in the crossword? 3

1 1 4

2

235

4

5

678 6

9 7 8

9

14 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk TOP ‘Appy Kids EDUCATIONAL APPS FOR CHILDREN 10 by Claire Winter Children learn in many different ways including outside the classroom. This is where educational apps can come in very useful as the best of these engage even the most reluctant learner. As well as making learning fun, educational apps also turn screen time into a positive experience, rather than something you are constantly arguing with your children about. Here are Families’ Top Ten educational apps that will keep any child ‘appy!’

Cursive Writing Wizard Hoopa City (£3.99) By Dr. Panda Ltd (£4.99) By L’Escapadou Age 6-8 Age 6-8 This app allows children to let their imaginations With a UK-friendly cursive font, this app is ideal for run wild building cities and towns with a teaching young primary kids how to write. It’s combination of different materials. The game will based upon a tracing system and there are 50 plus boost their understanding of mechanics and animated stickers, sound effects and interactive engineering and also help them develop their games that animate letters at the end of the tracing. problem-solving skills. You can also print off writing PDFs for the kids to practice on and even import their current spelling The Human Body (£3.99) By Tinybop Inc list. Age 6-8 If you have a budding biologist or child with a ‘why’ imagination then this is the app for them. Explore Safari Tales (£2.99) By Kuato Games the human body and learn about how our amazing Age 6-8 internal organs perform. Children can develop their storytelling skills with this beautiful and fun animal-themed app. Safari Artie’s Magic Pencil (£2.99) By Minilab Ltd adventurers can explore the Savannah and learn Age 3-5 interesting facts about the five baby animals. The Boost your child’s drawing skills with this creative game is so much fun they won’t even notice that app. It shows 3-6 year olds how to draw by means they are boosting their reading and literacy skills at of an engaging game in which a monster destroys the same time. everything in its path and Artie has to rebuild the world with his magic pencil. Endless Wordplay (Free + In App Purchase) By Originator Inc. Squeebles Times Tables (£3.99) By All ages KeyStageFun This app focuses on learning simple spelling Tired of getting your child to repeat their times patterns while reinforcing letter names and sounds. tables again and again? Get these lovable Each stage is a different rhyme, with the user characters on hand to inspire your child to sit and spelling three words from the same word family. practice them. There are several games to play and Once you complete all three words, you are taken a training area that also teaches and tests maths to a sentence screen with a silly sentence and cute skills too. animation that will encourage and delight the player. It’s free to download but to play more than EduGuru Maths (£1.99) By The Game Creators three levels you have to pay £4.99. Specifically created for children ages 3-5 years, this app brings maths to life with cute animated Toca Lab: Elements (£3.99) By Toca Boca graphics which will engage them straight away. It Age 6-8 concentrates on basic maths skills, shapes, Perfect inspiration for future scientists, this funky sequences, coins and number recognition. app is a virtual chemistry set. It introduces your child to all 118 elements of the periodic table as Toddler Counting 123 – Learn to count for cool, fun characters. It also presents the concepts kids (Free) By GiggleUp Kids Apps of what happens during chemical reactions when Teach your toddler to count with this fantastic free they are warmed, cooled, combined and much app. Designed for pre-schoolers this simple game more. Your kids can indulge in exciting virtual gets them to tap and count a variety of real life experiments that won’t blow up your house!) objects.

Are there any apps that your kids love? Let us know on our Facebook or Instagram page.

familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 15 Easter Clubs Stagecoach Hinchley Wood Magic of the Musicals - Easter Workshop 2020 Dates: Monday 6th - Thursday 9th April 2020 10am-4.30pm A fun packed week of Musical Theatre learning songs and dances from some of the most popular musicals. The week culminates in a performance to family and friends on Friday 4.30pm. Come and join the fun! Ages: 6-18 years old Performance: Thursday 9th April at 16.30 Cost: £120 Siblings £80 Venue: Imber Court, Ember Lane, East , KT8 0BT www.stagecoach.co.uk/hinchleywood

Superheroes: Perform’s 3-day Easter holiday course for 4-10s Fly to Superhero School this April for an action-packed Top Secret Mission to save the world. Your child will discover their own special powers as they zoom towards a supercharged showcase for family and friends. Filled with brilliant music, funky dances and fabulous costumes, this course is a real Easter treat. Age range: 4-10 years. Dates: 6-8 April and 15-17 April. 3-day courses 10am-3pm each day. Venues: The Russell Primary School. Petersham Road, TW10 7AH Contact: T: 020 7255 9120 / [email protected] perform.org.uk/superheroes

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Just Imagine DANCE

Ballet For ALL Glimmer~Twinkle~Sparkle~Dazzle (6-17 mnths) (18 mnths-5 years) (5-10 years) (11+ years) BOOK A FREE TASTER CLASS Richmond - East Sheen - Kew - St Margarets - Twickenham - Teddington

[email protected]

16 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk Easter Clubs

Hoppy Easter Workshops at Happy Potter Drop the kids off this Easter for an exciting details of what's on each day! Weekdays range of crafts and activities! Crafts include 10.30am-12.30pm for ages 6+ with lunch Spring fabric wreaths, crochet cushions included. using giant yarn, Easter headbands and clay www.happypotterceramics.co.uk workshops! Have a look at the website for 020 8973 1468

"Unicorns & Rainbows"

Dance with the unicorns and leap over BOOK FOR 1, 2 OR ALL 3 DAYS!!! rainbows with Just Imagine!! Book Single day/s = £42per child (includes vat) Dates: Monday 6-Wednesday 8 April ALL 3 DAYS = £120 per child (includes vat) Time: 10am-1pm (bring a packed lunch) Age: 3-10 years (divided into age groups) To Book: email Where: Duke Street Church, Richmond [email protected] or Text 07813 741189 Delight in an imaginative world with favourite magical animals and enjoy ballet, art and craft activities, dress-up, music and storytelling!

Team Swim School Easter Easter Courses running in small groups in the mornings, experienced in water teachers. Great facilities, location and parking. Friendly Team Swim School is a private exclusive swim atmosphere and good results gained from the school in the heart of Surrey, offering course outstanding swim tuition in small groups and 1 to 1 s. Please email [email protected] to They′ are in an outstanding environment and enquire for lessons and times offer a state of the art swim complex, including or call Paul 07915510720. seating, cafe, as well as a homework area so all your children’s needs can be met under one roof.

Play in a Day Description

Dates: Tuesday 14th – end of the session! Let your imagination run Thursday 16th April 2020 free. Play in a Day week runs over 3 days with Ages: 4-15 each day being for a different age group from the ages of 4-15 years. And that's right they're This Easter Holidays come and join us for a completely free! completely free day of theatre as we devise our own play in just a day. Throughout the day Hook Church, Brook Road, Surbiton, KT6 5DB we’ll devise a script, create a set and rehearse www.southsidetheatre.com before performing for friends and family at the

familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 17 Clubs & Classes All Stars Cricket 2020 All Stars Cricket is a programme aimed at children aged 5-8 years old to give them a great first experience in cricket. Sessions are accredited by the England & Wales Cricket Board and delivered nationwide at over 2,000 centres.

All Stars Cricket will help your child develop key skills in a fun and safe environment where parents can join in too and help create #BigMoments you’ll both treasure! Following successful registration, All Stars Cricketers will receive a brand-new kit bag full of goodies to help them get their summer of cricket started and fully look the part when they attend their 8 weekly sessions and it’s all delivered straight to your door.

To find out more about how to get involved this summer, simply visit www.allstarscricket.co.uk and get your place booked as sessions begin May2020.

Camp Beaumont For families looking for fun educational experiences for children to take part in during half term and the school holidays, look no further than Camp Beaumont. The UK’s most experienced day camp provider which is now in its 40th year hosts a wealth of activities for three to 16-year-olds to enjoy such as zorbing, go-carting and arts and crafts as well as a range of sports including tennis, swimming and hockey. The camps are a great chance for kids to try something new and make new friends, while having lots of fun in the process. Jof Gaughan, Operations Director, said: “It’s always great to see the children having such a fun time at our camps. Whether they come for a day or the whole week, it’s nice to see them making new friends and getting stuck in with exciting activities. “Coming to camp is a great way to make the most of the holidays and ensure they are making memories to last them a lifetime.” For more information visit www.campbeaumont.co.uk

Waterlife The joys of baby swimming go beyond the first classes and can lead to a lifelong love of swimming. Waterlife swim school runs small classes in warm pools with enthusiastic, fully qualified, “in water” instructors, guiding you through a structured and progressive program from your child’s initial submersion to swimming small distances between parent and instructor. Babies are born with many different natural reflexes and having spent 9 months suspended by mum’s amniotic fluid babies will feel a natural affinity to water. We recommend starting your baby swimming around 3 months, as their natural instincts are then at their strongest. Young babies have no inherent fear of water so display more confidence and will progress steadily through the levels. Our classes are packed with activities and songs with the emphasis on swimming and water safety. From their very first lesson babies are encouraged to hold on at poolside, keeping their heads above water. With duration, costing £180.00. We offer 3 catch up classes per term, subject to improved strength & ability they are taught to turn around underwater, availability. Photographs are taken towards the end of each term for just float, safely enter & exit the pool. Our fabulous, experienced instructors £15.00 a set. remain with us for years, building strong relationships with their regular swimmers. All are fully trained, insured and DBS checked. For the most rewarding activity in which your baby can fully participate and for an investment in their future health and safety Waterlife believes We hold lessons 5 days a week across SW London & Surrey in small swimming is a must! warm private pools. Our terms are 12 weeks long, lessons 30 minutes in www.waterlifeswimschool.com

18 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk Clubs & Classes Invisible Goodness Wrapped Up in Fun Quote LUT300420 for an Perform founder, Lucy Quick tells us more. introductory £40 discount when Perform classes are a bit like a pasta sauce booked by 30th April 2020 that’s filled with hidden vegetables: kids think it’s really tasty and don’t realise that it’s full of healthy nutrition. I see our classes like this - invisible goodness wrapped up in an hour of games, role-play, dance routines and songs. The children think they’re enjoying an hour of fun but they’re also being equipped with essential confidence-building social skills.

We all want our children to be happy, feel confident enough to try new things and interact well with others. Taking part in regular drama activities encourages confident and fluent speaking, boosts reading and writing abilities and enhances coordination and spatial awareness. Rescuing a mermaid from a pirate ship might seem like just imaginative improvisation for 6 year olds, but it's teaching problem-solving and team-work too.

Early drama, dance and singing lessons focus on developing a child’s confidence and Try a FREE no-obligation drama class in changed my life and helped shape my vision social skills - not to create just another drama Kingston, Twickenham and Weybridge. Visit for Perform - to deliver classes with a specific school. www.perform.org.uk/try to book.

the way in empowering young people to use We are really excited about the year ahead in Firetech technology in a positive, creative and which we will grow our work, adding new meaningful way. courses (on subjects like Artificial Intelligence, Seven years ago, I started Fire Tech when I how to build a tech startup, and Hollywood realised that I couldn’t find a way for my kids to We are proud to announce that, from 2020, we special effects) and working in partnership with learn about tech skills, either in or out of are making them an important commitment: to international governments and leading school. I wanted to provide a place where kids evolve from a tech education company, to one corporates like Amazon to help grow the like them could get their hands dirty and that is focused on developing digital leadership impact of our work. experiment with a wide range of technology in young people across the world. To us, this concepts. means four things We’re confident that our commitment to digital • Encouraging positive, human-centred leadership sensitively reflects the changing Since then, we are proud to have established relationships with technology needs of those we educate, while retaining the ourselves as the UK’s leading provider of • Being conscious of the impact of how we fun and creative expression that has been our exciting, challenging and relevant tech use technology essence since we began, all the way back in education experiences for 6 to 17 year olds. • Harnessing tech for the good of the world, 2013. We can’t wait to see what the future of Seven years on from our first camp, the world and tech education holds. in which children learn has transformed at an • Promoting the most cutting-edge, exciting astonishing pace. Technology now offers tech to young people https://www.firetechcamp.com/ young people radically new ways to create, connect and learn. Equally, however, they now encounter challenges ranging from data privacy concerns to the rise of fake news, from inappropriate content to inappropriate relationships, and from online bullying to managing their screen time effectively.

In the face of these challenges, it’s vital that young people are able to take control of technology as creators, rather than as passive consumers.

At Fire Tech, we envisage a future where young people can harness technology as a force for good in their lives. Fire Tech continues to be ahead of the game, and that includes leading

familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 19 • Warm pools • Small classes • Dads welcome!

Specialising in Baby Swimming, Pre-school Swimmers and Toddlers Call 0208 679 4243 or email [email protected] ART & CRAFT Description: Street Dance for children Waldegrave School Price £10wk/ £120 a term mid term Fridays Ages 4-6 4.15-5.45pm Clubs & Classes enrolment welcome Waldegrave School CERAMICS CAFÉ KEW Contact: Lorraine / Lisa Fridays Ages 6-18 4.30-7.30pm you can be sure that a Water Baby is a Ages: All 0800 0236 236 Waldegrave School happy baby. Children can create something [email protected] Fridays ages 14+ 4.30-7.30pm In: Chessington, Kingston, Morden, unique. Starting with a plain white www.streetdanceacademy.co.uk Waldegrave Shepperton, Richmond, Surbiton, bisque shape, they paint on their Saturdays Ages 4-6 9-10.30/9.30- West Horsley, Woking, Godalming, design using ceramic under-glazes, it 11/10.45-12.15/ 11.15-12.45 St Cobham, Farnham, Addlestone, is then fired in the kiln, and their piece MUSIC & DRAMA Catherine’s School Cranleigh is ready for collection within 2 to 4 Saturdays Ages 4-6 9-10.30/ 9.15- Contact: Melissa Holt days. Open Tuesday to Sunday, PERFORM WEEKLY DRAMA, DANCE 10.45/ 10.45-12.15 St Marys & St Peters 01932 227 428 Mondays on Bank Holidays/half terms. AND SINGING CLASSES FOR 4-12S School, Teddington [email protected] In: Kew Perform is a unique children’s drama Saturdays Age 6-18 10-1 and 2.30- www.waterbabies.co.uk Contact: Joanna Wronka school with a special emphasis on 5.30pm St Marys & St Peters School 020 8332 6661 child development. Perform uses a Teddington WATERLIFE SWIM SCHOOL www.ceramicscafe.com mix of drama, dance and singing to Saturdays Ages 6-18 10-1 and 2.30- For Ages: 3 months -Pre school bring out every child’s full potential. 5.30pm St Catherines School Dates and Times: W/C Mon 20th HAPPY POTTER CERAMICS Run by highly experienced actor- Saturdays Ages 15+ 3.30-6.30pm St April-13th July Ages: 6+ teachers, in small groups, Perform Catherines School Location: Strathmore school, Ham Arts and crafts café for all ages classes focus on developing the 4 Cs: Description of Class/Club/Activity offering pottery painting, clay, T-shirt confidence, communication, Part time Performing Arts classes for Baby, toddler and pre-school design, mosaics, foam clay and coordination, and concentration. The children ages 4-18 offering exciting swimming decopatch. NEW: After School Art Perform curriculum ensures plenty of West End performance opportunities, Price (optional): £180 for 12 weeks Club, plus holiday workshops, baby fun, using a mix of energetic games, and learning to sing, dance and act all Contact: Lizzie Emler prints and children’s parties. Adult catchy songs and funky dances. All under one roof. A dynamic and Contact phone number and email for workshops available also. class materials are written by Perform, exciting extra curricular school club booking: 02086794243 In: Teddington with apps, music downloads and offering Creative Courage for Life! [email protected] Contact: Una 02089731468 videos for the children to play at Price: Ages 4-6 £168 (90 Minutes) ; www.waterlifeswimschool.com www.happypotterceramics.co.uk home, keeping the magic of the Ages 6+ £336 (3 hour session) classes alive. Contact Name: Sarah & Will Chitty TUITION DANCE Perform offer no-obligation FREE trial 07824 999414 sessions. 0208 979 5276 Visit www.perform.org.uk/try to book [email protected] HANDWRITING WITH MRS CUTLER JUST IMAGINE BALLET a FREE class today. [email protected] Ages: 4 to 11+ Ages: All Venues: Brentford, Esher, Kew, www.stagecoach.co.uk/teddington Achieve neat, cursive, joined-up Just Imagine Ballet is an inclusive Kingston-Upon-Thames, Richmond, www.stagecoach.co.uk/ twickenham handwriting and boost your child’s ballet and dance school for all ages Teddington, Twickenham, Walton On self-confidence with one-to-one and abilities. Just Imagine values Thames and Weybridge. SWIMMING handwriting lessons. Half term group creativity and expression and focuses Contact: courses are available for pre-school on the healing and nurturing aspects T: 020 7255 9120 / and older children. Pre-school of the creative arts. [email protected] TEAM SWIM SCHOOL children will learn to build fine motor Children can progress through four www.perform.org.uk/try Ages: 2.5yrs+ skills to improve strength and dexterity separate ballet programmes created to Swimming lessons for all abilities and in their hands and fingers. The courses be in line with their physical, STAGECOACH PERFORMING ARTS ages. Fun and engaging classes for for older children will focus on emotional and social development Ages: 4-18 non-swimmers, as well as taxing for learning how to hold a pencil and aligned with the National Fun, educational and confidence- stroke improvers. Children enjoy the correctly, letter formation, spacing and Curriculum key stages. Glimmer (0-18 boosting classes in singing, dancing whole pool, not just sectioned areas. cursive handwriting. months), Twinkle (18 months-5 years), and drama, which cater for the varying NEW: Water Polo for kids – Stage 4 In: Twickenham Sparkle (6-10 years), Dazzle (11+ needs of young performers, whether swimmers and above. Contact the Contact: Selene Cutler years). reserved or budding talents. Classes school to register interest. Small 07521 554 188 Plus: Tap, Contemporary, Street, Jazz, focus on the Performing Arts and groups, great results. Plus club swims [email protected] Character Dance, Classical RAD Ballet, having fun in a structured safe available three evenings a week. Call Boys Only Ballet, Family environment, whilst learning life skills or email to arrange a trial lesson. MRS JONES EDUCATION – 11 PLUS Dance/Homeschool Classes, Holliday to prepare them for the stage of life. In: Cobham TUITION Camps, Birthday Parties, Adult, Silver Two-week trial available. Contact: Paul Furness Ages: 8 to 11 Swans Dance (60+ years) and SHINE In: Chertsey, Cobham, Hinchley 07915510720 Mrs Jones Education aims to enable (SEN Dance classes, workshops and Wood, New Malden, Richmond, [email protected] your child to reach their full potential one2one sessions with a Dance Staines, and Weybridge www.teamswimschool.com and successfully gain a place at a Therapist). Contact: Chertsey: 0772 517 6102 good senior school where they will In: Richmond, East Twickenham, St Cobham: 020 3723 9702 WATER BABIES achieve and be happy. Learning is Margarets, Teddington, East Sheen, Hinchley Wood: 01372 238238 Ages: 0-4 structured to maintain your child’s Kew New Malden: 020 8540 7791 An incredible sensation of freedom enthusiasm and imagination and allow Contact: The Fairy Godmother or Richmond: 020 8332 6741 and empowerment. Babies have a real them to enjoy learning. In Year 4 Miss Jessica, Principal Staines: 07802 800633 affinity with water and because they’ve 07813 741189 Weybridge: 0808 208 5134 spent 9 months floating in the womb, children attend 11 Plus Foundation [email protected] www.stagecoach.co.uk being in warm water feels much more before moving onto 11 Plus www.facebook.com/JustImagineBall familiar to them than being on dry Preparation in Year 5. 11 Plus Mock etLondon STAGECOACH TWICKENHAM / land. However, this early confidence Exams are also available for both age STAGECOACH TEDDINGTON usually diminishes with time and can groups. STREET DANCE ACADEMY PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES even turn to fear. That’s one of the In: Kingston, Surbiton, Wimbledon, RICHMOND Ages: 4-18 main reasons why Water Babies South Wimbledon/Sutton, Hampton, Age: 5-16yrs in 3 squads Dates and Times: believes in starting them young. But a Richmond, Twickenham, Chiswick, Date and Time: Every Sunday AM (see Thursdays Ages 4-6 4.15-5.45pm baby never swims against their wishes, Ealing, Hounslow and Isleworth website) Waldegrave School and lots of bonding, fun and Contact: 020 8390 6076 Location: Christ School, TW10 6HW Thursdays Ages 6-18 4.30-7.30pm socialising is always incorporated so www.11plustuition.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 21 Brilliant Book Quiz! Encourage your child to have a go at our fabulous Families’ book competition Recent World Book Day activities may have inspired you and your child to focus on books and reading this Spring. Now’s the perfect time to test your knowledge!

Families has teamed up with Young Writers to bring you this amazing quiz. It’s divided into two sections for ages 4 to 7 and ages 8 to 11. Look out for the answers to the quiz in our next magazine or request them in your email We have a £50 National Book Voucher for the winner of the ages 4 to 7 category. entry. T&Cs online.

Thanks to Young Writers, we have a fantastic book bundle of 10 books for the Young Writers organise poetry and creative winner of the ages 8 to 11 category, including popular, recently published books writing competitions for children in such as You Won’t Believe This by Adam Baron, Agatha Oddly Murder at the schools. For further information, visit Museum by Lena Jones and What’s that in Dog Years? by Ben Davis. www.youngwriters.co.uk To enter the competition, just email [email protected] with your child’s name, age, your telephone number and answers to the questions in the relevant section. Closing date: 15 June 2020. Only one entry per child please!

Quiz for ages 4 to 7 Years Quiz for ages 8 to 11 Years 1. Name 3 fruits the Hungry Caterpillar ate. 1. Where do Silky, Moon Face and Saucepan Man live?

2. In the Charlie and Lola books, what is Lola’s invisible friend called? 2. How is Stanley Lambchop better known?

3. Which book series do the characters Bottomley Potts and Blitzer 3. Who is the main character in Diary of Wimpy Kid? Maloney feature? 4. Who does Barney meet when exploring an old chalk pit? 4. Which animal visits Sophie and her mummy one tea time? 5. In the book Holes, who gets sent to Camp Green 5. Who wrote Where the Wild Things Are? Lake Juvenile Detention Centre?

6. Who was the ‘Room on the Broom’ for? 6. Who wrote about characters called James, Matilda, Sophie and Charlie? 7. What is the name of the boy who builds The Snowman? 7. Which David Walliams’ book is his 8. What is the name of Biff and Chip’s dog? character Joe from?

9. Who lives in Hundred Acre Wood? 8. What are Mary Norton’s tiny characters called? 10. Aliens, pirates and dinosaurs love these… 9. Who is the main character in The Bed and 11. Who is Perfect Peter’s rather naughty brother? Breakfast Star by Jacqueline Wilson?

12. What are the names of the witch and cat 10. In which book series does Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III appear? Valerie Thomas writes about? 11. The dormouse, a gryphon, a mock turtle and a rabbit are characters from which classic children’s book?

12. Who wrote My Brother’s Famous Bottom book series?

familiesonline.co.uk Cheer on Chelsea FC Days Out Bring the family and support the Blues as they battle for the Women! league title at Kingsmeadow KT1 Chelsea FC Women are on the hunt for the Barclays Women’s Super League Trophy. With a Get Your Tickets – Bring the Family total of 12 teams in the league, the Blues are Chelsea FC Women play their home battling for first place with London rivals matches at Kingsmeadow in Kingston upon Arsenal and last season’s Women’s FA Cup Thames (KT1 3PB). winners Manchester City. Having had a fantastic start to the season, Tickets are just £1 for juniors (under-20s) winning all eight of their home league games and seniors (65s and over) while adult so far, Emma Hayes’ Chelsea side have three tickets are £9. more games left to play at Kingsmeadow this Visit chelseafc.com/womens to get your season. tickets today International superstar Sam Kerr was signed by the club in January. Named the best All fixtures dates and times are subject to change. women’s player on the planet by the Guardian Keep an eye on chelseafc.com for further fixture information. newspaper, Sam has recently returned from international duty with Australia and will be All tickets are subject to availability. All information correct at the time of print and looking to finish the season on a high by subject to change leading the team to glory in May.

Everton Women – Sunday 22 March, 2pm Brighton & Hove Albion Women – Sunday 5 Liverpool Women – Saturday 16 May, 3pm Next up at home for Chelsea is a visit from April, 2pm It could all come down to the last game of the Everton, who travel down to Kingsmeadow on Football fans from across the country and local season! Mother’s Day. community are invited to celebrate the Easter Chelsea will be looking for all three points With furry mascots Stamford and Bridget in Holidays with the Blues as they take on South against a Liverpool side that are currently fighting attendance, not to mention face painters and Coast outfit Brighton & Hove Albion. to stay in the league. prizes on offer, the whole family will enjoy the The family can enjoy the Easter Fair with fun Fans will be hoping to see Emma Hayes and community spirit and togetherness at activities and giveaways outside the ground ahead her side win the league on this day. They last lifted Kingsmeadow. of kick-off (from 12.30pm). the prestigious trophy in May 2018. Chelsea will be looking to break their own record Tickets for this match are scheduled to be Tickets for this match are scheduled to be and go for a ninth home league win in a row! available to purchase online from Monday 9 March. available to purchase from Monday 20 April.

familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 23 Days Out Easter Eggstravaganza 4th April 2020 - 19th April 2020 • LAMBING! It's the most exciting time of the year at Bocketts Farm with over 500 gorgeous new born lambs due in our Animal Discovery Barn. You may even get the chance to watch one being born! • 'Meet the Shepherd' sessions throughout the day. An opportunity to learn all about our sheep and lambs! • Don't miss the gorgeous baby chicks and ducklings in our small animal village Gruffalo Adventures 4-19 April 2020 • 'Hop to it!' and complete our fun Easter Explore Kew's deep dark wood this Easter. stamp trail with a yummy chocolate treat Join Kew Gardens on a woodland trail to find the Gruffalo this Easter. for each child! Who is hiding in Kew's deep dark wood? Unleash your inner detective to • Join Snuffles and Tiggles in the the find out what creatures live in our woodland. Easter Garden for fun live shows Gruffalo trail throughout the day! Have your face painted to become the little brown mouse, pick up your • Get creative in our Easter Craft Corner trail pack and get set for an adventure. with badges, colouring sheets and lots There will be fun for the whole family as you follow footprints, marks and more! feathers and figure out clues at stops along the trail. • End your day with a boogie in the Disco Discover the secret world of plants and animals, what marks they leave Den! behind, and how their lives are interconnected. • Enjoy a full programme of fun farm Meet your favourite Gruffalo characters on the way, and keep your eyes activities with Small Animal Encounters, peeled to spot the Gruffalo himself... Goat Milking, Tractor Rides, Pony Rides and our famous Pig Race. Habitat building workshop Open every day: 10am - 5.30pm Become a nature detective and learn about woodland plants that animals Please note our earlier opening time of use to build their homes. 9.15am over easter weekend (10th - 13th Identify the different wildlife in our Gardens and have a go at building a log april) pile house for animals to live in.

www.bockettsfarm.co.uk www.kew.org Hampton & Kempton Family festival at Camp Bestival Waterworks Railway Join Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada, Liam Payne, Friendly Fires, Sophie Ellis- Bextor, Becky Hill, Dick and Dom, Max & Harvey, Brainiac Live, The Sugarhill Gang, Sam & Mark, The Sherlocks and many more at Camp Bestival. For your next family day out, come along and discover Hampton & Kempton Taking place at the start of the school holidays (30 July- 2 Aug) at Lulworth Waterworks Railway (HKWR). Sometimes Castle, Dorset, this family adventure offers hundreds of things to see and known as the ‘secret railway’, it’s the only do from music and shows to tree-climbing, woodland workshops, spoken operational steam narrow-gauge railway word, arts, science and circus for all. of its kind within the M25 and it has a Parents are particularly spoilt at Camp Bestival; well, they do buy the fascinating heritage for you to explore. tickets! Amazing live acts and DJs, raves, discos, parties, comedy, literary Train lovers of all ages will enjoy a ride on talks, cocktails, award-winning street food, like-minded people all in a big our historic railway, and if you fancy even old field by a castle and the sea. more steam history, *Kempton Steam Museum is right next door, so you can drop by and explore after your Kick-start your summer holidays with a 4-day family festi-holiday - voted journey. Best Family Festival in the UK Festival Awards. Camp Bestival: 30 July- 2 Aug; Lulworth Castle, Dorset. There’s also a lovely picnic and play area where the kids can run around Line-up, info and tickets: campbestival.net freely and play train driver on the static play train, as well as lots of exciting monthly events taking place. The first major event is an Easter Egg Hunt on April 12th, followed by our volunteer recruitment weekend ‘Keep Calm and Volunteer’ on April 18/19, so if you’re are interested in joining the railway, come along and see what we get up to!

We offer all sorts of different volunteer opportunities, from Train Driver, Fireman or guard, to railway construction and maintenance with lots of other opportunities in between. All training is provided, and our volunteer recruitment weekend will give you a chance to have a chat and look around. You will receive a warm welcome no matter what your background or skills, especially now as HKWR has just been awarded a grant to help further restore the railway so jump on board and be part of our exciting railway team.

Check out www.hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk for further details. *Separate entrance fee for museum

24 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk Plant Sale for Wildlife – plant a garden Days Out wildlife will love

Sunday 26th April 2020, 10am – 3pm at Kilmorey Mausoleum wildlife garden. Bring wildlife back into your garden this spring! Come along to the Environment Trust Plant Sale for Wildlife and Open Day at the Grade II listed Kilmorey Mausoleum in St Margarets on Sunday 26th April. With a great selection of plants to encourage and sustain local wildlife including annuals, perennials, herbs, grasses, shrubs and many more this year’s Plant Sale promises to be the biggest yet! Whether you have a huge garden or tiny outside space, there will be plenty of bargain plants to get your backyard buzzing. Sadly, our wild animals and plants have been losing their homes over the last 50 years. (State of Nature report, 2016). But we can all play a part in helping to reverse the decline. Many of the most beautiful garden plants are attractive to wildlife and any garden, however small, can be turned into a unrestricted parking in the area all day and all proceeds will support the sanctuary. work of Environment Trust to improve, preserve and protect our local neighbourhood. A £3 entry fee (members of the Trust and kids go free) includes refreshment, a tour of the mausoleum and the wildlife garden. The first 50 275 St Margarets Road, Twickenham, TW1 1PN visitors will get a free pack of “bee friendly wildflower seeds”. Homemade For more information and to find out how you can get involved visit: cakes will be available, as well as lots of great raffle prizes. There is www.environmenttrust.org/Event/plant-sale-for-wildlife

familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 25 Easter Egg Hunts March/April 2020

FROM 28 MARCH TO 13 APRIL CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT Claremont Landscape Garden, Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 11am- 4pm Cost: Normal admission applies plus £3.50 per hunt Discover Claremont’s spring-time animals. Fun and delicious treats for all ages, every day throughout the school holiday. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremon t-landscape-garden

FROM 28 MARCH TO 13 APRIL CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT Winkworth Arboretum, Hascombe Road, Godalming GU8 4AD Time: 10am-4pm Cost: £3.50 (normal admission applies) Discover spring-time nature at Winkworth. Fun and delicious treats for all the family throughout FROM 4 TO 19 APRIL FROM 10 TO 13 APRIL FROM 11 TO 13 APRIL the school holidays. CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT CADBURY EASTER WEEKEND www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winkwort Hatchlands Park, East Clandon, National Trust Runnymede, Dapdune Wharf, Wharf Road, h-arboretum Surrey GU4 7RT Windsor Road, near Old Windsor, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4RR Time: 10am-4pm Cost: Normal Surrey, SL4 2JL Time: 11am–5pm FROM 4 TO 19 APRIL admission applies plus £3 per trail (SatNav: TW20 0AE) Cost: Normal admission plus £3 for CADBURY’S EASTER EVENT Take the nature-themed trail Time: 10.30am-4pm children’s activities Box Hill, The Old Fort, Box Hill through the parkland and claim Cost: £3.50 per trail Easter trails with Cadbury Easter Road, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7LB your chocolate prize. Take part in the Easter trail for a egg prizes. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hatchlan (car parking KT17 2LB) chocolate prize at the site of www.nationaltrust.org.uk/river- ds-park Time: 10am-3pm Cost: £3.50 politics and picnics for over 800 wey-and-godalming-navigations- Easter is a very special time at Box years. and-dapdune-wharf FROM 4 TO 19 APRIL Hill, with nature waking up www.nationaltrust.org.uk/runnyme CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT everywhere you look. Grab your de-and-ankerwycke FROM 11 TO 13 APRIL Osterley Park and House, Jersey CADBURY’S EASTER EVENT coat and wellies and explore the Road, Isleworth TW7 4RB FROM 10 TO 13 APRIL top of this iconic hill on a Cadbury Time: 10am-4pm Leith Hill Place, Leith Hill Lane , Easter Egg Hunt. Explore the gardens to find the CADBURY EASTER HUNT AT Leith Hill, Surrey, RH5 6LY (Car www.nationaltrust.org.uk/box-hill wooden Easter eggs that have MORDEN HALL PARK parking at RH5 6LU) been hidden, then collect your Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Time: 11am-4pm FROM 4 TO 19 APRIL Cadbury Chocolate prize. Booking Road, Morden SM4 5JD Cost: £3 CADBURY’S EASTER EVENT not needed, admission applies. Time: 10am-4pm Have fun with science and nature Hindhead Commons & Devil’s 020 8232 5050 Take the Easter bunny's challenge! on this interactive trail and earn a Punch Bowl, London Road, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/osterley- A favourite event where you'll chocolate prize. Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6AB park complete a trail of outdoor www.nationaltrust.org.uk/leith-hill- Time: 10am – 3pm Cost: £3.50 activities to earn your Cadbury place Easter fun and frolics for all the 10 APRIL chocolate treat. £5 per hunt - no family to enjoy. EASTER FAMILY FUN DAY AND need to book. 020 8545 6850 FROM 11 TO 13 APRIL www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hindhead CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden- CADBURY EASTER EGG TRAIL -commons-and-the-devils- Dapdune Wharf, Wharf Road, hall-park Shalford Mill, near Guildford, punch-bowl Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4RR Surrey, GU4 8BS FROM 4 TO 19 APRIL Time: 11am-5pm 11 APRIL Time: 11am-4pm CADBURY’S EASTER EVENT Cost: Normal admission plus £3 for CADBURY’S EASTER EVENT A woodland wonderland themed Frensham Little Pond, Priory Lane, children’s activities Holmwood Common, St Johns trail, with Cadbury chocolate Frensham, Surrey, GU10 3BT A day of family fun, with Easter Church, Willow Green, prizes. Normal admission applies, Time: 10am-3pm Cost: £3.50 themed races for children, mums Holmwood, RH5 4JH children’s activities £3. and dads, craft activities and the Grab your coat and wellies and Time: 1-4pm Cost: £3 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/shalford- Cadbury Easter hunt. explore the pond on a Cadbury Explore this beautiful site on a mill www.nationaltrust.org.uk/river- Easter Egg Hunt and win a treat. Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt. wey-and-godalming-navigations- www.nationaltrust.org.uk/frensham www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holmwo and-dapdune-wharf Details correct at time of going to press -little-pond od-common

26 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk Get Ready to Race this Easter at 6th – 17th April

There is a variety of speggtacular fun at Brooklands Museum over the Easter Holiday period from 6th – 17th April. Pick up your free Easter egg trail on arrival, head off around the Museum to solve the hidden clues and then head back to the Shop to claim their FREE chocolate prize.

The Museum’s long-established and hugely popular rides in vintage-style cars and on ’s iconic double- decker buses will also be operating during weekdays (except Good Friday and Easter Monday). Car rides take in the challenging summit of Test Hill and the Members’ Banking, the steepest part of the original Race Track or, for a more relaxed journey, hop on board a real double-decker bus for a bus trip through the surrounding streets. Car and bus rides* will run in the mornings and afternoons with a short break for lunch and are subject to crew and vehicle availability.

Also on the weekdays, any youngsters wanting to join the Brooklands pit crew can head over to the car workshop where they can put on overalls and discover the science behind the speed with an amazing ‘Get Ready to Race’ activity. You can build your own car with different components and try it down the specially constructed test slope to see how your design would really race.

The Concorde Experience is a half-hour virtual supersonic ‘flight’ on the Brooklands Concorde and runs every day, but on each weekday over Easter, special Kids Tours will be running twice a day. And don’t forget to explore inside the award-winning Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Flight Shed. Inside the restored WWII hangar, visitors can ‘clock in’ and don factory work coats as they begin their ‘Brooklands Apprenticeship’. A series of workshops and interactives explore some of the skills used over the 80-year history of aircraft manufacture at Brooklands. On a new mezzanine level, the story of aviation design at Brooklands is told and visitors can design their own military and civilian aircraft from different eras of aviation including those of the future. Leaving the Factory and entering the new Flight Shed visitors can see some of the Museum’s collection of complete aircraft, including opportunities to sit in the cockpits of the Hawker Hunter and Harrier, as well as displays on radar, ground-to-air radio and pioneering pilots.

The Sunbeam Café is the ideal place for refuelling and add to this a Prices: visit to the Museum Shop to pick up a souvenir and you have the Adult £17.95, Senior (65+)/Student £16.95, Child (5-16, under 5 FREE) recipe for a perfect day out come rain or shine. Normal admission £9.95, Family 1 adult & up to 3 children £29.00, Family 2 adults & up to prices apply for Easter which include all workshops and exhibition 3 children £46.95. All prices include a voluntary 10% donation. *Subject to operational and weather conditions, a minimum donation of £1 per areas. See www.brooklandsmuseum.com for more details, future passenger is requested for car and bus rides events and how to become involved in Volunteering. familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 27 What’s On - March/April 2020 MORE ONLINE: familiesonline.co.uk

DAILY about the extraordinary Marianne KEW EXPLORER LAND TRAIN North. Be inspired by the Kew, TW9 3AB adventures of this intrepid explorer Times: Every half hour between and solo world explorer. Collect 10.30am – 4.30pm one of our family learning cards Price: Adults £5; Children £2. and head off on your own Enjoy a guided tour around the adventure to see what amazing Gardens on the Kew Explorer land plants you can discover for train and learn about Kew's flora yourself. and fauna, historic buildings and 020 8332 5655 www.kew.org vital conservation work. 020 8332 5655 www.kew.org FROM 1 MARCH TO 19 APRIL WOODLAND ADVENTURE TRAIL EVERY WED MORNING National Trust Runnymede, Windsor Road, near Old Windsor, Surrey, SL4 PARENT AND BABY CINEMA AT 2JL (SatNav: TW20 0AE) WATERMANS ART CENTRE 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Time: 10am-4pm Times: 11.30am Cost: £6.50 Cost: £1 per trail Screenings of the latest films for What will you find at Runnymede? parents or carers with babies under Go and see what different wildlife one. roams freely around the 020 8232 1010 woodlands. www.watermans.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/runnyme de-and-ankerwycke EVERY WED AND WEEKEND 6 & 20 MARCH, 3 APRIL LOCOMOTIVES IN OPERATION The London Museum of Water and MUSEUM MONKEYS Steam, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, Chertsey Museum, 33 Windsor Street, TW8 0EN Chertsey KT16 8AT Enjoy a ride on the Museum Time: 9.30 to 11am MORE locomotive. Running every 15 Cost: £5.00 per child, additional minutes from 11am until 3:30, you sibling £2.50 (1-5 year olds) ONLINE can enjoy a steam powered trip Join Charlie the Chimp for singing, familiesonline.co.uk around the Museum building. stories and crafts Under 5s (must www.waterandsteam.org.uk be booked in advance by telephone or online). EVERY FRI DURING TERM TIME AND 01932 565764 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS www.chertseymuseum.org Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Road, audiences with children age 5+, Morden SM4 5JD Midnight combines beautiful SEE SAW DROP-IN SESSIONS AT Time: 10am & 2pm puppetry, music, and storytelling. ORLEANS HOUSE GALLERY 7 MARCH & 4 APRIL Riverside, Twickenham TW1 3DJ Celebrate the World Book Day at 020 8232 1010 15 MINUTES OF FUN Ages: under 5s Chertsey Museum, 33 Windsor Street, Morden Hall Park! Join the www.watermans.org.uk Time: 10.30am-12.30pm Chertsey KT16 8AT secondhand bookshop volunteers Cost: Child £6 (additional sibling Time: 1.30-3.30pm for a storytelling session. Free, 8 MARCH booking essential. £3) Free family craft activities. March: STORY CAFE - THE KISS THAT MISSED Multi-sensory sessions which Mothers' Day cards; April: Easter 020 8545 6850 Riverhouse Arts Centre, Manor Road, include music, play materials, soft Wreaths. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden- Walton KT12 2NZ play, creative activities, stories and 01932 565764 hall-park Take a cushion and cuddly toy to rhyme time in a relaxed informal www.chertseymuseum.org this creative storytelling event. environment. FROM 7 TO 15 MARCH Enjoy crafty projects, themed 020 8831 6000 FROM 7 TO 8 MARCH SCIENCE WEEK AT WISLEY activities and a tea-time treat - the www.orleanshousegallery.org RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, perfect afternoon outing for MARCH STEAM UP The London Museum of Water and Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB families with small children. EVERY SAT MORNING Steam, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, Go along to RHS Garden Wisley for 01932 254198 a week-long science extravaganza FAMILY CINEMA AT WATERMANS ART TW8 0EN www.riverhousebarn.co.uk showcasing the research of the CENTRE All available engines are in steam at 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS the Museum and this is your RHS, along with hands-on 12 MARCH activities, workshops and talks. Times: 11am Cost: £5 per person chance to see the stationary water MINI ACES UNDER 5’S CLUB Your favourite family films old and pumping engines in operation! www.rhs.org.uk Brookland’s Museum, Brooklands new, on the big screen. See Engines expected to be running Road, Weybridge KT13 0QN website for details. over the weekend are: the Easton 8 MARCH Time: 10:30am-12:15pm 020 8232 1010 and Amos engine, Waddon engine, MIDNIGHT (5+YRS) Cost: £2 per child www.watermans.org.uk Dancers End engine and Triple and 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Mini Aces club brings the Museum Bull engines. Time: 3pm to life through stories, craft, song EVERY SUNDAY www.waterandsteam.org.uk Cost: £10 (£9) and dance. Please book in advance, Midnight is a dream-like show sessions are limited to 10 children SUNDAY STORIES Kew, TW9 3AB FROM 7 TO 8 MARCH about time, the night, and max. Time: 12pm, 1pm and 2pm dreaming. And about clever cats 01932 857381 WORLD BOOK DAY: STORYTELLING AT and really silly dogs. For family www.brooklandsmuseum.com A fun-filled family session of stories THE PARK (3+)

28 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk MORE ONLINE: familiesonline.co.uk What’s On - March/April 2020

FROM 14 TO 15 & 21 TO 22 MARCH 21 MARCH (including the modern BMW) are FROM 4 TO 9 AND 14 TO 19 APRIL MUM'S THE WORD SPRING CELEBRATION: MARZANA invited to this annual event, so UGLY BUG BALL Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Road, DOLL CRAFT expect displays in all areas of the Dapdune Wharf, Wharf Road, Morden SM4 5JD Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Road, Museum site. From the oldest to Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4RR Time: 11am-4pm Morden SM4 5JD the newest, this year’s event will Time: 11am-5pm Make a gift for mum that just keeps 11am-1pm. Join us on the first day see some of the earliest examples Cost: Normal admission plus £2.50 growing. You'll get to plant up your of spring, Saturday 21st of March, nestling among hundreds of Minis for children’s activities very own flower and decorate its to make a traditional Polish doll and their variations including vans Celebrate the magnificent and pot for a present she'll never made of straw, hay, cardboard, and and pickups. 01932 857381 beautiful minibeasts that call forget! £4 per pot, no need to rags to celebrate the rebirth of life www.brooklandsmuseum.com Dapdune Wharf home. Come and book. and nature. Ages 3+. £2 per doll. dance at our daily ball (silent disco) 020 8545 6850 020 8545 6850 22 MARCH and make some new buggy friends. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden- www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden- THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE (3- Which minibeast will you come as hall-park hall-park 10YRS) to our Ugly Bug Ball? 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS www.nationaltrust.org.uk/river- 15 MARCH FROM 21 TO 22 MARCH Time: 3pm Cost: £10 (£9) wey-and-godalming-navigations- BEASTLY BELLE (4+YRS) ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY What if you discovered the secret and-dapdune-wharf 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS WEEKEND that your grouchy neighbour is Time: 3pm Kempton Steam Museum, Kempton really a wizard whose house is FROM 4 TO 19 APRIL Price: Premium tickets: £12 (£11), Park Waterworks, Snakey Lane, powered entirely by magic? With Middlesex, TW13 6XH EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA Family of 4 £44; Standard tickets: intricate puppetry, hilarious Bocketts Farm, Young St, Fetcham, £10 (£9), Family of 4 £36 See the Triple in steam both days characters and sumptuous design KT22 9BS Be charmed and surprised by a plus a fascinating exhibition of join us for a thrilling story in things Hundreds of gorgeous baby lambs, new twist on an old tale, inspired items supplied by the volunteers on might not always be quite what Meet the Shepherd sessions, Meet by the iconic era of 1920s and 30s the themes of engineering and they seem … Don’t forget that the Easter Bunny, Easter Quiz Trail cinema. Featuring a skilful mix of technology, and ride on the magic wand! 020 8232 1010 with chocolate treats, Fun Easter puppetry, film projections and an narrow-gauge railway. www.watermans.org.uk shows in the Easter Garden, Baby original musical score. www.kemptonsteam.org chicks and bunnies to meet, Spring 020 8232 1010 FROM 28 MARCH TO 19 APRIL craft making and End of day disco! FROM 21 TO 22 MARCH www.watermans.org.uk SPRING TRAIL: SENSORY SCAVENGERS 01372 363764 MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND: TEA Winkworth Arboretum, Hascombe www.bockettsfarm.co.uk 17 MARCH BLENDING Road, Godalming GU8 4AD Ham House & Garden, Ham Street, MEET ME A TREE – A VERY FIRST Time: 10am-4pm. Cost: £1 per trail FROM 4 TO 19 APRIL Ham, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7RS (normal admission applies) OPERA (0-2YRS) GRUFFALO ADVENTURES 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Time: 12-4pm Cost: £1 per tea bag Put your super senses to work and Concoct a special selection of your Kew, TW9 3AB Time: 10am, 11.30am, & 2.30pm see what you can discover in the Families are invited to play the role very own. Choose from a range of Cost: £15 (£13.50) per pair of Arboretum. of the ‘little brown mouse’ and flavours to make a signature blend. parent and child www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winkwort follow a specially curated trail to Children welcome, please Hurly Burly return with another h-arboretum track down The Gruffalo. With map supervise them during this activity. interactive musical adventure for in hand and face-painted whiskers, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ham- babies. Join them to sing with FROM 28 MARCH TO 20 APRIL children will discover the animals’ house-and-garden blackbirds, march through fallen ‘TREE TRUMPS’ TRAIL hiding spots, and interactive leaves and feel the wind on your Claremont Landscape Garden, activities at each stop will enable 22 MARCH cheeks in this multisensory journey Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9JG them to see the world from the through the year in the life of a MOTHER’S DAY Time: 10.30am - 4pm perspective of each character. Hatchlands Park, East Clandon, Surrey tree. Cost: Normal admission applies www.kew.org 020 8232 1010 GU4 7RT plus £1 per trail. Explore Claremont www.watermans.org.uk Time: 10am – 5pm. Treat your far and wide with the whole family. FROM 4 TO 19 APRIL mum to a day at Hatchlands Park. Collect fascinating facts about the 21 MARCH Mums go free. Normal admission amazing trees dotted around the EASTER WATER FUN AT THE LONDON applies. MUSEUM OF WATER & STEAM YOUNG ARCHAEOLOGISTS' CLUB garden to play 'tree trumps' at the The London Museum of Water and www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hatchlan Chertsey Museum, 33 Windsor Street, end with your friends and family. Steam, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, Chertsey KT16 8AT ds-park www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremon TW8 0EN £5.00 per child (£4.50 for t-landscape-garden Join in with Easter activities every members) 22 MARCH day at the London Museum of Most of us have had to take MOTHER’S DAY 2020 29 MARCH Water & Steam. Claremont Landscape Garden, antibiotics at some point in our DUST (4-9YRS) www.waterandsteam.org.uk lives. But how did people protect Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9JG 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Time: 10am-4pm. Free entry into themselves from horrible diseases Time: 3pm. Cost: £10 (£9) 5 APRIL like the Plague and Typhoid Claremont for mums when Dust uses exquisite poetic without them? We will look at accompanied by their children. language to explore a heartfelt LONDON BUS MUSEUM SPRING GATHERING some rather strange preventions www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremon story about love, loss, identity and Brookland’s Museum, Brooklands that were thought to help as well t-landscape-garden memory. With haunting music by Road, Weybridge KT13 0QN as some truly horrible remedies Hugo White of The Maccabees, this Time: 10am-5pm. The South East’s and cures - some good, some not 22 MARCH striking and emotional new play is a biggest, longest-running and best- so much!! For 8 to 16 year olds. BROOKLANDS MINI DAY joyous reminder about just how loved bus show is back and will be Advanced booked required. Brookland’s Museum, Brooklands playful the world can be. a fabulous day out for families and 01932 565764 Road, Weybridge KT13 0QN 020 8232 1010 www.chertseymuseum.org Time: 9am-5pm. All types of Mini www.watermans.org.uk continued on page 30 familiesonline.co.uk Email: [email protected] • Tel: 07792 006546 Families Upon Thames • 29 What’s On - March/April 2020 MORE ONLINE: familiesonline.co.uk

transport enthusiasts alike. For the 12 APR sight and sound of bird life dwelling this is a show that the whole family family, there are the bus excursions HAVE-A-GO ARCHERY in the garden. This informal walk can enjoy together. and two free circular service routes Hatchlands Park, East Clandon, Surrey will include information and 020 8232 1010 to ride, children’s activities and GU4 7RT identification points of the birds www.watermans.org.uk more. 01932 857381 Cost: Normal admission applies + seen. www.brooklandsmuseum.com £2.50 for 6 arrows. Try your hand www.rhs.org.uk EVERY SUNDAY FROM APRIL 26TH with a bow and arrow with experts TRY GEOCACHING 5 APRIL from H&H Archery. FROM 18 TO 19 APRIL Shalford Mill, near Guildford, Surrey, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hatchlan GU4 8BS PIGS & BEARS DON’T COME IN PAIRS! MODEL RAILWAYS (3-8YRS) ds-park Kempton Steam Museum, Kempton Time: 11am-4pm 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Park Waterworks, Snakey Lane, Drop in and borrow GPS devices, Time: 3pm Cost: £10 (£9) FROM 14 TO 17 APRIL Middlesex, TW13 6XH with a pre-set trail (2 mile circular If two’s company and three’s a COLOURFUL SPRING CRAFTS This is the weekend for every train walk) to find clues to the hidden crowd, then book your place now Claremont Landscape Garden, buff regardless of age, with cache at the mill. Normal for these well loved stories, retold Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9JG working and interactive displays to admission applies, £2 for trail. with puppets, original music and a Time: 11am -1pm Cost: £2 per craft entertain adults and children alike. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/shalford- perfectly petite pop up set. (normal admission applies) See the Triple in steam both days mill 020 8232 1010 Join in easy to make creative crafts and ride on the narrow-gauge www.watermans.org.uk that will bring some colourful railway. 26 APR Easter fun to your home. www.kemptonsteam.org FROM 6 TO 9 & 14 TO 17 APRIL DAWN CHORUS WALK www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremon Winkworth Arboretum, Hascombe EASTER HOLIDAY FUN: READY TO RACE t-landscape-garden Brookland’s Museum, Brooklands 19 APRIL Road, Godalming GU8 4AD FROM 16 TO 17 APRIL Road, Weybridge KT13 0QN MG AND BRITISH MARQUES DAY Time: 5.30-8am Time: 10am-5pm. This Easter get THE GREAT BIG TREE CLIMB IS BACK! Brookland’s Museum, Brooklands Cost: £18 per person your overalls on and step into one (6+ ONLY) Road, Weybridge KT13 0QN Join us as the sun rises and the Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Road, Time: 10am-5pm birds sing for an early morning of the workshops as you explore Morden SM4 5JD Celebrate the best of British guided walk in celebration of the science behind speed. There This Easter you can join instructors manufacturing at this all marque International Dawn Chorus day. will also be an Easter Egg trail, car from the Big Tree Company for an event. There will be action on Test Breakfast included. rides, pedal planes, Concorde Mini exciting tree top adventure at Hill, Cavalcade at Mercedes-Benz www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winkwort Tours and London Bus Museum will Morden Hall Park. Experts will lead be operating bus rides around the World, club displays around the site h-arboretum the session and show children and and traditional British fare in the local area. 01932 857381 adults too on how to safely climb www.brooklandsmuseum.com Café. 26 APRIL into the canopy of our tallest 01932 857381 London Plane. SPY MONKEY (4+YRS) FROM 7 TO 8 APRIL www.brooklandsmuseum.com 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS 020 8545 6850 Time: 3pm QUACKY RACES www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden- Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Road, 19 APRIL Cost: £10 (£9) hall-park Morden SM4 5JD ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD (3-11YRS) A contemporary retelling of a Time: 11am - 3pm. Borrow one of 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS classic Indian tale from the 18 APRIL the plastic ducks and race it down Time: 3pm Ramayana. Three incredible the river to see if yours will be the RSPB FAMILY BIRDWALK Cost: £10 (£9) performers use hip-hop and RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, fastest in this Morden Hall Park Family singer songwriter David Bharata Natyam dance, music and Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB classic. Booking not needed. Gibb is proud to be the driver of Time: 8.30-10am story-telling to excite and engage 020 8545 6850 the world's first bus to be powered Take an early morning walk around young audiences and adults alike. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden- by song. Guaranteed to have both RHS Garden Wisley with the North 020 8232 1010 hall-park parents and children singing along, West Surrey RSPB and discover the www.watermans.org.uk Join Whitton’s St George's Day Parade & Fun Day

Whitton’s St George's Day Come and meet special guests - Parade & Fun Day has grown a real Pearly King, Chelsea from a small community Pensioners, Stormtroopers, Disney gathering to a major event, Characters and possibly a celebrity or two - and join in the biggest drawing in people from all over street fair the borough! the borough and beyond. The focus of the parade has This year the Parade and Fun always been youth and community, Day runs from 11am to 6pm, with so they are inviting all youth and the main parade at midday. There’s community groups who wish to a street market of over 50 stalls take part to send their details for featuring community groups, inclusion in the parade. Check the schools, PTAs, gift, clothing, website for more information. jewellery and food; two stages St George's Day Parade & Fun packed full of entertainment and a Day, Whitton High Street. 11am- Punch and Judy show running 6pm: Main Parade 12noon several times throughout the day. https://www.lovewhitton.co.uk

30 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk To advertise in

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