FREE TAKE ME HOME West Kent IN THIS ISSUE What’s Ons & Festive Guide Indoor play venues Early Years & Schools Exclusive interview - Jacqueline Wilson Issue 2 November/December 2018 email: [email protected] familiesonline.co.uk WOODSIDE SCHOOL OF BALLET Our Principal Nicola Moriarty trained at the Royal Ballet School and danced professionally throughout Europe. Coming into her 20th year as a teacher. Pupils benefit from small, intimate classes and enjoy Nicola’s expert training in our airy, spacious and modern studio. • Elite Ballet School (10 hours per week, evenings/weekends) Serious Ballet hopefuls ONLY Parents of serious ballet • Associate Programme (Sundays 10am-3pm) students aged 8-15 years • Ballet Intro classes for 4-11 years please tell us about your son or daughter’s dance journey, • Baby Ballet for 1-3 years Supporting their hopes and dreams. • Training Days dance parents If appropriate a free • Intensive Courses as well as assessment may be dance available with our Principal Summer Schools • students! Nicola Moriarty. For full information about our lessons and our school in leafy West Kingsdown email us on [email protected] or call us on (01474) 852 377Facebook. “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Please visit our website at www.woodsidedanceretreat.com FREE TAKE ME HOME West Kent IN THIS ISSUE What’s Ons & Festive Guide West Kent Indoor play venues Early Years & Schools Improve Exclusive interview - Jacqueline Wilson your child’s Editor: Helen Cook For advertising, editorial and What’s Ons study skills contact [email protected] Issue 2 November/December 2018 email: [email protected] 07980118626 familiesonline.co.uk What’s Ons compiled by Kate Craggs Advertising: Amanda Biggs and Helen Cook Writers: Helen Cook & Claire Winter Kumon’s maths and English (unless otherwise stated) study programmes work to build Next issue January/February 2019 Booking deadline Dec 1. Artwork deadline Dec 8. your child’s confidence and Distributing 18,000 copies to schools, nurseries, leisure centres, play centres, theatres and more in: Sevenoaks, inspire a passion for learning. Weald, Westerham, Brasted, Sundridge, Tunbridge Wells, Pembury, Bidborough, Lamberhurst, Cranbrook, Benenden, Tonbridge, Hildenborough, Paddock Wood, Kings Hill, West To unlock your child’s potential, contact Malling, Aylesford, Maidstone, Bearsted, Rochester and your local Instructor for a free assessment. areas in between. Families West Kent is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. Sevenoaks Study Centre All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families ® is a registered trademark of Mandy Yarnold 01342 851 221 LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families West Kent are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families West Kent. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, Families West Kent and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre. accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof. 2 Families West Kent November/December 2018 www.familiesonline.co.uk West Kent Contents Page 4 Bumps and Babies Editor’s Welcome Welcome to the November/December issue of Free advice sessions and groups for Families West Kent Magazine. new parents Our magazine is published every two months and 18,000 are distributed through schools, nurseries, Page 5 Early Years leisure centres, family friendly venues and play centres in Sevenoaks, Which is best, play-based learning or Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone areas. adult-led learning? The feedback on our launch September/October issue from readers and advertisers was so good we have added 2,000 on our Pages 6 & 7 Education print run and also many new distribution points for our magazine! Latest news and views from schools We were told readers loved the What’s Ons and all the local including open days, anti-bullying week content and information - so we have a bumper local edition for and new reception tests you here including a big guide to Christmas events throughout West Kent – from markets and fairs to theatre and panto, from lights Page 8 Arts News switch-ons to Santa’s grottos. Festival of Remembrance is launched plus As a mum bringing up two children in the area I understand find out about a new ballet school the challenges winter poses for keeping little people happy and occupied, so we have compiled a Parents’ Survival Guide to indoor Page 9 Families Exclusive! activities across the area. Interview with (Dame) Jacqueline Wilson We have something useful and interesting on our pages for when kids ask the questions parents or carers of children of all ages from birth to 12, from our AND win a copy of her latest book Bumps and Babies page through to Early Years and school news. Plus we have an exclusive Families interview with famous Pages 10 Parents’ Survival Guide children’s writer Jacqueline Wilson. Where to go for fun undercover Have a lovely November and a great festive season! activities this winter Helen Our next edition will be January/February 2019 so look out for our bumper Health Pages 11-15 What’s Ons and our and Wellbeing feature and ideas on how to Beat the January Blues. Plus lots of bumper Festive Guide to Christmas interesting features, local articles and school news, What’s Ons and days out. events throughout the area To advertise in Families West Kent Magazine and reach our 40,000 readers please contact [email protected] or call 07980118626. Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Page 16 Families West Kent Directory Booking deadline Dec 1. Artwork deadline Dec 8. Useful businesses including yoga We are not only a magazine! Our busy Facebook page is regularly and massage for mums, and kids’ updated with lively stories, competitions, recipes and ideas for activities clubs and classes and weekend events in the area. Find us at @FamiliesWestKentMag And follow us on Twitter @FamWestKentMag for regular updates and information for families. WHERE CLIMBING MEETS THEME PARK Tonbridge is home to the biggest Clip n Climb in the WORLD Book your session now: www.clipnclimbtonbridge.co.uk | 01732 753330 UNIT 4 TON BUSINESS PARK, 2-8 MORLEY ROAD, TONBRIDGE, TN9 1RA WHERE CLIMBING www.familiesonline.co.uk email: [email protected] 3 MEETS THEME PARK Tonbridge is home to the biggest Clip ‘n Climb in the WORLD Book your session now www.clipnclimbtonbridge.co.uk | 01732 753330 UNIT 4 TON BUSINESS PARK, 2-8 MORLEY ROAD, TONBRIDGE, TN9 1RA BUMPS AND BABIES Expert help and support for parents Free drop in sessions with a midwife Then on Tuesday, November 6 from 10.30 to and family relationship practitioner are 11.30am, Sarah Weller of The Weller Way will available at Langton Green Pavilion Café in give a free talk on A Guide to Positive Parenting. Speldhurst near Tunbridge Wells. This aims to help parents gain an insight into Midwife, hypnotherapist and birth trauma the philosophy and research-based evidence resolution therapist Anne Bayati is available behind why a Positive Parenting approach every Wednesday from 10am to discuss any helps establish discipline that works, and how issues mums and dads may have regarding children develop emotional resilience and good birth, parenthood and beyond. self esteem. Sarah will suggest some easily Anne specialises in the psychological issues implemented tips for parents to try at home. surrounding pregnancy, birth and the postnatal Following the talk, she will then be available period. However the focus of the informal free with Anne for a parenting/postnatal wellbeing sessions are more on the mental wellbeing of drop in session and to discuss Positive Parenting. parents rather than clinical advice for mum or Some issues covered in Positive Parenting baby. include difficulties in your relationship with your Anne explained:“Having a baby brings child, negative behaviour patterns in your child with it a complete change in lifestyle for new or if you want to find a positive behavioural parents which can sometimes feel challenging management system that considers the needs The Pavilion at Langton Green Recreational and overwhelming as well as wonderful. behind the behaviours, or if your child is anxious Ground is in Speldhurst Road, Langton Green, Looking after you and how you are feeling is or stressed due to the pressures of exams. Near Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0JJ. really important and often overlooked once baby has arrived.” For more information visit FB Langton Pavilion Cafe and www.langtonpavilion.com New weekly breastfeeding and sling group for mums are available a rental service for a small fee if those going away on trips or throughout you want to take one away to try. going back to work. West Kent You can bring your own sling Hot drinks and snacks, through for help with using it or getting it plus fruit for children, will non-profit more comfortable. be offered each week. All organisation Other services: information and support is Kent Baby Maternity and nursing bra provided at this group free of Matters fittings- A local bra fitter will charge. Some additional services (contact visit each week who will work will be available at a small or details below). to find a comfortable fit for you discounted cost so that the At the before and after baby arrives. group can be sustainable beyond Sevenoaks If this service becomes busy, the first year. group, a organisers may start booking Hope Church is at Mill Lane, lactation appointments in the future.