Families West London May/June 2011

ISSUE 72: May/June 2011www.familiesonline.co.uk

FREEFREE

2 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR May – June 2011

3May – June 2011 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

News & Views 3-4Parties 6-10Become a local hero 11Health 14-15What's On 16-21Theatre 22Education 23-26Classifieds 26

Contents

www.FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West is designed by Natalie Schmidt of www.matobodesign.com and printed by Ridgeway Press, 12 Campbell Court, Bramley, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 5EG. Tel 01252 885837. Copyright Families West Magazine 2011. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owner’s risk and while every care is taken, neither Families nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families West is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers nor the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

New principal at Stagecoach Kensington Stagecoach Kensington first opened its doors seventeen years ago but has recently been taken over by new Principal, Sara Catlin Brown, who has already launched a second school to cater for the high demand for places. Sara, along with a great team of professionally trained teachers, ensures that the students receive a high standard of training in a warm and encouraging environment. The atmosphere is always fun and exciting and the children develop, not just the skills needed to pursue a career in the performing arts, but also to develop the many social skills that will help them throughout their lives. The classes run on Saturday mornings and afternoons and are held at St Barnabus and St Philips Primary School on Earls Court Road in Kensington. Children aged from 4 to 18 years old attend the classes and there are a still a few places available for the Summer Term which starts at the end of April.

To find out more contact Sara at Stagecoach Kensington on 020 8398 8106, E: [email protected], www.stagecoach.co.uk/kensington

Buddies on the net A new online resource has been set up for parents of special needs children: www.Netbuddy.org.uk provides hundreds of practical tips and simple yet ingenious solutions to everyday issues encountered by parents, carers, teachers and therapists working with learning disability. From brushing teeth to managing challenging behaviour, Netbuddy lists over 850 practical tips and suggestions from people with first-hand experience of special needs, with the tip count growing daily as more people contribute.

Get a tip, share a tip, swap ideas on the forum and join a friendly learning disability community at www.Netbuddy.org.uk.

Local shop wins award babye is delighted to have been awarded the accolade “Highly Commended Small Independent Baby Retailer 2011” in the recent Prima Baby 2011 Fashion Awards for the 2nd year running. Liz Pilgrim, owner and founder of babye said “We’re absolutely thrilled that we have been recognised yet again for what we do. We love our business, our products and the customers who continue to shop with us. It’s so nice to have the recognition for the effort we put in and a big credit to our fantastic staff ”.

This award follows yet more good news given to babye last month when the Best Of Ealing Directory awarded them Most Loved Business for having the highest number of customer testimonials. Liz said “This award is great news as we were voted for by our customers. We pride ourselves on our Customer Service and always try to go the extra mile for them; it’s really lovely to read what they have to say about us’

Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Families-West-Magazine/196557063708145

News & Views

SPID (Specially Produced Innovatively Directed)SPID (Specially Produced Innovatively Directed) runs free youth drama sessions which give young people the opportunity to work with professional actors, directors, designers, filmmakers and sound and light technicians. They meet on Tuesdays 4:30-6pm for 8–13 year olds and on Thursday 6:30-8:30pm for 13–19 year olds. The Thursday group will also have the opportunity to be part of exciting new shows and the Summer tour to venues such as the Tricycle).

Contact Nnenna on07534 928 057 / 0208 968 2961 or E:[email protected]

to find out more.

The party season is upon us and we are back with our annual party feature. We decided this year to do things a bit differently and have included details of all our party people on our website – this means you have a comprehensive list of party people in West London; not only entertainers but places to buy your party goods and a whole host of venues to choose from if you decide you can't face hosting the party at your house!

Just go to www.familieswest.co.uk and hit the directory button. Don't forget to register first as this will mean that all the information on our website will be tailored to where you live.

Cover Picture: Jigsaw Junior Retro Jersey Stripe £26Jigsaw Junior Jumpsuit £59Jigsaw Junior Dress £56Jigsaw Junior Pointelle Silk Ruffle Cardigan £26.95Jigsaw Hat £46www.jigsaw-online.com 020 8392 5603


New

s &

Vie

ws

Piccolo Play Chiswick has had a makeoverPiccolo Play Centre has recently refurbished its café area, creating a larger play space with a fun simulating environment for foundation stage children. They now also have a large bouncy castle area for active play and a blackboard hallway for drawing. They are starting work on the outside area ready for the summer, which will include a climbing frame, sandpit and pool as well as an outside bouncy castle. Piccolo hosts a number of classes for children under five, including Little Kickers football, Amanda’s Action Kids, Creative Fun Factory, Tumbletots, Baby Walk and Talk and Paint Pups classes. They have recently been nominated for a “best local activity for under 5’s” award. The playcentre is open every weekday from 9am-5pm and is located at the Hogarth Youth & Community Centre, Duke Road, Chiswick, London, W4 2JR

www.piccolocaffe.co.uk

Are you a single dad? The Kids and Me is a new adventure holiday company for single parent families, in particular single dads and their kids. From dog-sledding in the Arctic Circle to following war-time freedom trails across the Pyrenees, brand new holiday company The Kids and Me offers real-life adventures that will appeal to both dads and mums and their children. The Kids and Me focuses on a voyage of discovery together, leaving lasting memories that money just can’t buy. Founder Richard Gould, himself a single dad, launched The Kids and Me when he had to adapt from seeing his children every day to just in the holiday time and weekends – he wanted to make sure his time with the kids counted. “I have always loved the outdoors and, post divorce, found that doing activities together were a great way to connect with my children. You have a laugh whilst learning new skills and there is always something to talk about at the end of the day.”

LIGASOCCER – way to play!Kiddikicks are starting new classes in Chiswick for children aged 5-8; Ligasoccer – way to play! introduces players to formal football training and mini-sided match play alongside the fun and exciting drills Kiddikicks has pioneered. These drills increase skill levels and importantly are heaps of fun. Kiddikicks knows this twin pronged approach will keep young players participating in football for

longer while they learn how to play football. Local Ligasoccer (Under 8’s) and Kiddikicks (18m to 5 years) sessions are at Kings House Sports Ground, Riverside Drive, Chiswick, London, W4 2SH.

For more information call 020 7937 7965 or email [email protected]

www.ligasoccer.co.uk www.kiddikicks.co.uk

La Chouette La Chouette School is a new Independent Pre-Prep Bilingual School in Chiswick, West London. The school will offer children between the ages of 2 to 6:

• Combined French National and Early Years curriculums• Teaching based on bilingualism through immersion (50% of

the time in French)• An education favouring children’s personal development,

placing emphasis on their general ‘’Well being’’ • An opportunity to discover and raise awareness on important

issues such as our environment and sustainable resources.

La Chouette School follows the French National Curriculum set by the French governing body “l’Education Nationale’”. The French primary system is divided into 3 overall “cycles”: “cycle 1, cycle 2, cycle 3.

From September 2011 onwards, La Chouette School will be composed of the 4 class levels of the 1st “cycle”, that is, “pre-school” (“l’ecole maternelle”): - 1 Toute Petite Section (2-3 years old/ Nursery), - 1 Petite Section (3-4 years old/ Nursery), - 1 Moyenne Section (4-5 years old/ Reception class) - 1 Grande Section (5-6 years old/ Year 1).

La Chouette School will offer small class sizes, extra curricular activities, before and after school care facilities, and school meals.

For more information call them on 07557 029255 E: [email protected] www.lachouetteschool.co.uk

Choose from a Wilderness Experience in the Arctic Circle at Easter, an Alpine Challenge in the Alps in August or an Island Escape in Corfu in July, plus many more. The Kids and Me holidays are organised in small groups, staying in fully catered lodges where friendships will be made and sustained. “Both the parents and children on our holidays have a fantastic time,” says Richard. “The activities really build confidence in some of these children – it’s really touching to see first-hand. Dads can be dads and kids can be kids.”

www.thekidsandme.co.uk

Food for their brain New research has been released showing that a poor diet in the early years of life may have an impact on the IQ of young children. Children who eat a steady diet of fast or processed food from an early age may find it difficult to concentrate, have poor retention skills and suffer from behavioural problems. These children may have also high cholesterol levels and blood fats by the age of 8, 9 and 10, which increases the risk of obesity and other health disorders. But don’t panic – there is plenty we can do to encourage our children’s brain cells and there is sound evidence to suggest that certain foods are essential for their maintenance. Dr. Lin Day, founder of the baby development classes Baby Sensory (www.babysensory.com) suggests that we increase the following top brain foods in our children’s diets: vitamins in meat, seeds, nuts, fish, whole-grain cereals, green vegetables, fruit, eggs and milk for carrying information from one brain cell to the other; minerals in red meat, lentils, beans, nuts and seeds for making haemoglobin, used to carry oxygen in the blood to the brain and tissues; essential fatty acids in oily fish, nuts and meat for brain cell efficiency. And don’t forget exercise which actually generates new brain cells, and drinking water which increases cognitive ability and concentration. With a good night’s sleep, natural sunlight and fresh air, you can keep your child’s brain in tip-top condition.



It’s worth bearing in mind the differing needs, interests and numbers of particular age groups. Don’t feel the party has to last all afternoon – around two hours is enough, before everyone gets tired and emotional (not least the host parents). As a guide:

Bright ideas Bright ideas for Birthdaysfor Birthdaysby Robina Cowan

DID SOMEONE SAY party? Yes, I’m afraid so. One thing’s as sure as eggs is eggs – your child WILL have another birthday in the next year. It’s Families to the rescue – we’ve put on our party hats to find the best suppliers around to ensure your ‘do’ is one they’ll talk about, until at least next year...

Three year-olds need planned activities. Name badge them on arrival then capture their imagination with simple ‘circle time’ singing and clapping games, or ‘dancing’ (ie jumping up and down to music). Balloons burst and it can all end in tears – hang them high as decorations rather than introducing them as playthings. The ideal guestlist for this age is around 8-12 children in a venue where they feel familiar – usually your home (sorry about that!)

Amanda's Amanda's Action Club Action Club

A party with the action A party with the action of an Amanda session of an Amanda session

for under 6's for under 6's www.amandasactionclub.co.ukwww.amandasactionclub.co.uk

01895 62399901895 623999

Before you start

al then

The The Action StationAction Station

Storytelling Storytelling entertainmententertainment

www.theactionstation.co.ukwww.theactionstation.co.uk0870 770 27050870 770 2705

Mother Mother Nature ScienceNature Science

Hands-on educational Hands-on educational science partiesscience parties

www.mnature.co.ukwww.mnature.co.uk020 8863 8832020 8863 8832

Party Party Plus Shop Plus Shop

on Acton Lane, W4 on Acton Lane, W4 sells everything you need sells everything you need

for your child's partyfor your child's partywww.partyplus.co.ukwww.partyplus.co.uk

www.mypartyparcel.co.ukwww.mypartyparcel.co.uk020 8987 8404020 8987 8404

One and two year-olds aren’t yet ready for a big affair. Most parents opt for a family get-together or a not too big buffet with a handful of friends with similar aged children. Enjoy it while you can – it’s a doddle to organise and sociable for the adults (it has been known for babies to sleep right through while the grown ups catch up over nibbles)


Four to six year-olds enjoy joining in with traditional party games, such as Simon Says, Musical Bumps, Pass the Parcel, What’s the Time Mr Wolf, and Musical Lions (a favourite with parents, as the children have to be quiet, and still!). Allow space and time too for simply zipping around for a burst of unstructured play (which is where you’ll be thankful you blew up all those balloons). Plenty of engaging games and giggles keep things rolling, and if you’re hiring help, puppeteers, music-makers or storytellers are a good bet. A maximum of 20 guests at this age is about right

Seven to nine year-olds are ready for more concentration and involvement in the party entertainment. Most are now old enough and skilled enough for arts and crafts (making their own goodie bag filler at the same time, which is jolly handy). Alternatively, dancing, circus skills, drama or a team treasure hunt are good ways of harnessing energy – if you fail to plan they’re likely to fall back on that old favourite – “who can scream the loudest?”

Ages 10+ and this worldly-wise lot is unlikely to want Mummy and Daddy embarrassing them by donning a paper hat and insisting on joining in (save it for when they’re reaching their teens – it’ll be SO much more fun for you). They’ll be wanting to do something special, such as bowling, karting, a mini disco in the living room, or a Glee style drama and singing workshop. Alternatively, a good bet is a jaw-dropping magic show, particularly when they can ‘help’. Hopefully too, by this age they won’t harangue the magician with “I know how you did that”, as I overheard recently.

Parties toParties toRemember Remember

Traditional parties Traditional parties with gameswith games

www.partiestoremember.co.ukwww.partiestoremember.co.uk020 7249 3242020 7249 3242

CookieCookieCrumbles Crumbles

Cooking Parties for Cooking Parties for children aged 4-15children aged 4-15

www.cookiecrumbles.co.ukwww.cookiecrumbles.co.uk020 88769912020 88769912

Kiddikicks Kiddikicks Football partiesFootball parties

www.kiddikicks.co.ukwww.kiddikicks.co.uk0845 602 8276 0845 602 8276

Babble Parade Babble Parade Fileila the Fairy Fileila the Fairy

and more...and more...www.babbleparade.comwww.babbleparade.com07794 08467107794 084671

Tim Barnes Tim Barnes Amazing Amazing

magic partiesmagic parties020 8568 5706020 8568 5706

Enjoying Grandmother's footsteps; Parties To Remember


Themed partiesA great idea when your child has a particular interest, themes can be explored in many different ways. How about a drama, musical, circus or magic party, a sports party; or get crafty making bags, jewellery or cookies, or print t-shirts to match the theme.

TIP: Take the theme throughout the party – print off related pictures from the web as wall decorations, ask the guests to dress up with a prize for the best home-made hat.

Crowd control: entertainersBubbles, puppets, drama, music, ‘make’ party or magician? A good entertainer will bring your party to life and keep the children enthralled while you enjoy the fun from a safe distance. While there are parents who think nothing of timetabling two hours of games, entertaining Other People’s Children is not a breeze, which is where expert help is well worth the investment.

TIP: Children’s entertainers generally have vast experience and contacts which you can tap into. Ask them about local venues for hire, a realistic timetable and suitable prizes as well as the entertainment itself. Find out their preferred age group, and the maximum number of children they will cope with - too many and you’ll not get the best out of them. Write down everything you’ve agreed together so there is no doubt on the day.

Blueberry Blueberry Playsongs Playsongs

Musical parties Musical parties for 1-6 year oldsfor 1-6 year olds

www.blueberryplaysongs.co.ukwww.blueberryplaysongs.co.uk020 8677 6871020 8677 6871

Planning your partyPlanning your party

The The Little Gym Little Gym

Active themed Active themed gymnastics-based gymnastics-based

parties from tots to 12parties from tots to 12www.thelittlegym.co.ukwww.thelittlegym.co.uk

WestfieldWestfield020 8735 0817020 8735 0817

[email protected] [email protected]

ChiswickChiswick 020 8994 3729 020 8994 3729

[email protected]@thelittlegym.co.uk

Wandsworth & FulhamWandsworth & Fulham0208 874 65670208 874 6567

[email protected][email protected]

Hampton & TeddingtonHampton & Teddington020 8977 0099020 8977 0099


Blueberry Playsongs Parties!Wonderful musical parties for 1-6 year olds.Contact us on

020 8677 6871

Perform Perform Parties with drama, dance Parties with drama, dance

and singing with fun games, and singing with fun games, stories and improvisations, stories and improvisations,

for children 1-12 yearsfor children 1-12 yearswww.performparties.org.uk www.performparties.org.uk

0845 400 40000845 400 4000

Top tipsIt’s all in the timing: For little children, 11am-1pm or 12-2pm are best. Most of them have been up since six and they’re past their best by the afternoon. For older children a lunchtime slot or mid afternoon start will work

Liaise with parents whose children have birthdays around the same time. If you both book the same day for a party, the guest list will be tricky. Joining forces is a much better idea - you can share the costs and the hassle

Keep the food simple and don’t over cater. Most children are too excited to have a big appetite. Limit the junk food and remember some children maybe vegetarian or have a food intolerance

Sleepovers: come midnight, you’ll be regretting it... Planning ahead is KEY. Read our ‘been there, done that’ parent’s guide: go to www.familiesonline.co.uk and type ‘successful sleepovers’ into the search box.

Take them out: venuesIt might feel less imaginative than an organised bunfight at yours, but do you really have the time, energy and creativity to decorate your house as a fairy or superhero den, then clear it all up four hours later? Thought not. Happily there are plenty of places where all you have to do is pay the per-head charge and the guests will be entertained and fed, leaving you to return to your quiet, tidy house afterwards. Try child-friendly restaurants, bowling alleys, go-karting, indoor playcentres, sports clubs, the zoo, a pottery painting studio or cinema.

TIP: Book well ahead. There are only so many party groups venues can accommodate at any given time – you don’t want to be scratching around at the last minute and end up having to book ‘second best’.

Plasticine Plasticine Candles and Soup Candles and Soup Creative dance partiesCreative dance parties

www.plasticinecandleswww.plasticinecandlesandsoupdance.comandsoupdance.com

07958 207 94007958 207 940

Creative Creative Wiz Kids Wiz Kids

Organised Art and Music Organised Art and Music Parties for ages 1-12Parties for ages 1-12www.creativewizkids.comwww.creativewizkids.com

020 7794 6797020 7794 6797


Cooking Parties!•• Fun, cooking parties

•• For boys and girls aged 5-16 years•• Cooking classes

Give your child the best party ever!whisking, baking, giggling, rolling, making,

laughing, turning, licking, joking

A great way to learn while having fun!

Call for details: 0208 876 9912email: [email protected]

www.cookiecrumbles.co.uk

1. Share your party You will halve the cost and double the fun….? Getting

together with other parents may mean you can share the work and come up with ideas between you- although you may need to compromise.

2. Avoid expensive party bags Use brown paper bags or even sandwich bags filled with: • Packs of books from www.thebookpeople.co.uk can cost

less than £1 each. • A little plant pot and a packet of seeds • A pack of playing cards with instructions for playing a

simple game • Homemade playdough (bright colours with different

scents or glitter added) • Recipe card for easy biscuits with a zany shaped cookie

cutter or small jar of sprinkles • A packet of pavement chalks • A small pack of coloured or patterned paper and

instructions on how to make an origami figure

Go to www.familieswest.co.uk and click on the directory tab. You will find

a huge list of party entertainers, suppliers of party goods and party

venues in West London. Our website also has a big bank of articles giving you fabulous ideas when it is time to

organise your child’s special day.

Parties can cost a small fortune so we’ve put together a list of top tips on how to cut cost that involve a little extra effort on your part but without being a party pooper.

3. Simplify your party menu. There are always so many sandwiches left over at the

end of a party that end up in the bin!

How about a large plate of different breads and veggies that children can help themselves to and a couple of dips on each child's plate? You could do the same with fruit, marshmallows and biscuits and give each child a pot of yoghurt or chocolate.

4. Ditch the expensive decorations For the table a long roll of white paper with your child's

name in large letters will look even better if the guests are given crayons or felts to "decorate the table" while they are waiting for something to eat. This activity will also calm them down after the excitement of party games.

5. The cake You could make lots! My favourite idea for a child’s

birthday cake is to make a whole batch of fairy cakes and then put them together either in a long line like a caterpillar with a letter on each one for the child’s name and then some (enough for each guest) or to make your child’s initial. Put it on a big wooden board covered in silver foil. After singing “Happy Birthday” each guest can then just help themselves to a cake. (No mess, no need for paper napkins)

Partying with prudencePartying with prudence


Being around your children and their friends isn’t all about nap times, snacks and sorting out squabbles. It can help you learn to play and dream again. Children make you think about life long-term too, even as you answer their immediate needs.

The magic works like this. At the same time as babies give you an intensive workshop in what it’s like to live life in the slow lane – by delighting in what they are doing, how they hate to be rushed, and then suddenly, feel so hungry that only you, their carer, can help. Caring for a baby is such a small task, but it is something that links millions of us. It’s also the most important job most of us will ever have and yet we learn it as we go along. What I found striking about bringing up my two girls using green values is that a baby quickly becomes a highly motivating teacher who wants to turn you into an ideal parent. With luck, we learn the skills to be this ideal parent as we are parenting, as much by trial and error as by anticipating our baby as a toddler, teenager or a parent of their own. We imagine the world they will be growing up into and that activates us to do a bit more now in the hope of making that future a better one. It’s not the next generation’s responsibility to sort out climate change, it’s our responsibility right now.

As you walk sleepy lanes, dodge passers-by on crowded pavements or run errands allow yourself to dream how the place you live could be even better. Once you start imagining a better neighbourhood it’s amazing how fast you can be sucked into thinking which streets would benefit from a 20mph speed limit, or how a toy library could help you meet other new mums and how to link up all those barely used front gardens with keen-to-get on with it veg growers.

In some ways dreaming is a luxury task. You may not be able to dream if you’re worrying about paying your rent, redundancy or coping with a family member’s illness. But dreaming is free, can be done at any time and what you dream up for your local community is a great way of getting a new type of conversation going at a baby and toddler group if you don’t feel like talking about sleep training again.

It’s families – whatever their make-up – that raise children. This allows little ones to absorb, as if by osmosis, life skills such as home cooking, gardening, cleaning, breastfeeding, pet care, repair jobs, etc (as well as turning on the TV, where to hunt for lost trainers/keys/purse, putting out the recycling, etc). But as the well-known Nigerian proverb spells out, mum or dad can’t do it all themselves because ‘it takes a village to raise a child’.

Though few of us have an extended family living nearby, we can create a similar effect by becoming better acquainted with the people who live in our neighbourhood. They may shop at similar stores, visit the same doctor or place of worship, or simply know when the recycling is collected. That shared experience can be very powerful when it comes to making changes in your neighbourhood. It’s a glue that helps us trust each other and can inspire us to keep on doing, chatting, pestering and organising, because we know it’s making the place so much better for us – and all the kids.

Take your baby with you as you get to know your neighbourhood better. You may start by exploring, but as you find shops, new friends, activities and green spaces don’t be surprised if this knowledge inspires you to make your locale far better for a generation of little ‘uns writes Homemade Kids author Nicola Baird

For more ideas about valuing local life read Nicola Baird’s newest book, Homemade Kids: thrifty, creative and eco-friendly ways to raise

children or see her blog at www.homemadekids.co.uk.

Become a local heroBecome a local hero

Inspiration for getting active locally“I managed to help run a weekly baby and toddler group when Toby was about one and a half. It was a great way to meet people and fitted into life easily.”Gaby, 36, with Barney, 9 and Toby, 4

“Whose job is it but ours to try and make our world a better place? The local council can create a framework – they can take away the recycling, employ street cleaners or mow the grass in the park – but they’re just doing it as a job, not because they really care about my street. I can be effective because I really care. And luckily I don’t have to do it by myself.”Jo, 39, with Ben, 5, and Sally, 2

“Going around my neighbourhood with my baby makes you notice all the things that could be improved for the sake of the children – and also for all the residents and the environment. That’s why I’ve been active in the real nappy network and helped set up a transition town and plastic-bag-free local group.”

Cinzia, 34, with Elfo, 5, and Electra, 20 months

Never doubt that a small group of

thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the

only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

,,,,




Boost up your defences

Modern medicine is based on the theory that germs cause illness. But there are a significant

number of experts, scientists amongst them, who believe that germs are not the primary cause of illness. If this were true, how can we explain the fact that out of three people exposed to a respiratory germ, only one will get pneumonia, the second person will get minor cold symptoms whilst the third person remains unaffected? This is because whether or not the germ becomes disease causing is dependent on your internal body environment. Even Louis Pasteur, the father of the germ theory, recognized this when he said “The germ is nothing, the terrain everything”.

There is much you can do to improve the “terrain” and strengthen resistance. Two key areas to focus on are stimulating the flow of lymph and reducing the effects of stress.

The lymphatic system transports the army of immune cells and acts as a drainage channel for wastes and toxins. Lymph nodes are concentrated in the neck, chest and groin and when there is a lot of immune activity going on, these areas will swell. The thymus gland (at the top of the breast bone), spleen and tonsils are important lymph organs.

Many people (mistakenly!) do not think of osteopathy in relation to immune health. Osteopath Adam Beaumont explains the benefits of working on the chest area. “If the ribs are tense or restricted in movement, this affects the efficient working of the thymus gland and reduces the number of circulating immune cells to deal with the infection. The diaphragm is another key area to focus on in relation to immunity. Lymph flows through a major channel which is affected by the movement of the diaphragm. A tense diaphragm will slow the flow of lymph. Osteopathy will help loosen the muscles of the diaphragm and those between the ribs”.

Unlike the blood circulation which is constantly activated by the heart, the lymph has no pump. Lymph is dependent on physical movement for its flow. Treatments such as massage and reflexology are very helpful to stimulate the flow of lymph and the blood circulation.

Health

Natural Ways to Strengthen your Immune System

By Penny Crowther, nutritionist

Most people know that the immune system defends the body against infections, viruses, cancer cells, fungi and other parasites. What is less realised is that an unhealthy immune system speeds up the ageing process and is a major factor in fatigue, chronic inflammation (e.g. asthma, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis) and allergies. A well functioning immune system is vitally important for overall health.

As we emerge from winter into spring, the seasonal change can often bring an increased vulnerability to infections and illness. I asked experienced complementary health practitioners with an integrated approach to health and in this article they share their knowledge with you on helping to strengthen the immune system.


Homeopathy treats each individual according to his or her own pattern of symptoms. A specific remedy is applied, taking into account how the person is affected in both mind and body functions. A good homeopath will get to the root cause of the symptoms, for the particular person. A homeopath with 15 years experience, Ilana Dannheisser explains “By tapping into the specific nature, the person’s vitality increases so he or she is more able to fight off infections and disease.”

Finally, don’t forget the importance of good nutrition. Many people don’t realize that 70% of the immune system is in the gut which means that what you eat will have a powerful impact. Healthy bowel movements are essential to avoid a breeding ground of unhealthy bacteria caused by waste backing up in the intestine. Probiotics and fibre intake are important in this respect. Fibre should be the gentle soluble kind such as oats, brown rice, spelt rather than irritant wheat fibre. Too much sugar will help yeast organisms to flourish in the gut and it blocks the uptake of vitamin C, a key immune enhancing vitamin.

Nutritional therapist Penny Crowther advises “Make sure you are getting enough of the key immune nutrients that may be lacking in the average diet. Research has proved that deficiency of vitamin D, an important immune related vitamin is relatively common so make sure you eat oily fish, or take a supplement. Zinc is also vital, particularly for children and teenagers. The production and function of immune cells are dependent on adequate zinc levels and very recent research found that this mineral helped reduce the duration of a cold. Meat such as lamb and seafood are the richest sources. Lastly, check you are eating foods containing Omega 3 and 6 fats (oily fish, nuts and seeds). These fats are converted into substances which regulate immune function.”

Reflexologist Sara Wood explains “My focus is to help balance and support the vitality of the the lymphatic system, working the lymph, the spleen and the thyroid by applying pressure to specific reflex points in the foot which connect to these organs. A lymphatic massage technique that reflects the movement of the lymph through the body can also be applied as well as working on the organs of elimination such as the kidneys, liver, colon and skin through the reflexes. This helps the body clear itself of toxins and waste, allowing the immune system to work better”.

Massage therapist Clare Williams says “Massage increases the activity of white blood cells that target and destroy infectious agents and in immune deficiency it increases antibody production. With regular massage, the immune system is strengthened and it becomes more robust” .

In our 24 hour society it is hard to escape stress of one kind or another. Under immediate stress, such as, for example, having a row with your partner or children, the adrenal glands pump out adrenaline which prepares the body for what is in effect a “state of emergency”. Various physiological changes take place including increased heart rate and blood pressure. This is known as the "fight or flight" response and if it is constantly stimulated, it has a “wear and tear” effect on the immune system. With more prolonged stress, levels of cortisol start to rise which not only weakens the immune system but affects sleep and weight and contributes to bone loss and hormonal imbalance.

The field of psychoneuroimmunology is revealing links between the mind and the immune system. Worry, anxiety and negative thoughts will trigger a stress response in the same way as an actual threat. Anxiety has been shown to increase susceptibility to viral infection. Anxious people exposed to stress showed increases in infection rates from 74% to 90%, and clinical colds rose from 27% to 47%. [1]

Regular, deep relaxation is known to boost immunity. Hypnotherapist Diana Penny says “One of the most effective ways is a deep hypnotic relaxation, particularly when specifically designed to strengthen the individual’s immune function. As well as training the body to relax and restore, hypnosis also promotes a positive mental attitude and an optimistic attitude. This in turn impacts how the body fights disease.”

Massage and reflexology also help calm the nervous system. During a treatment the Reflexologist stimulates more than 7,000 nerves when touching the feet. A recent study concluded that after receiving reflexology, healthy people experienced a significant decrease in anxiety, tension and worry and an increase in wellbeing.[2]

Experienced acupuncturist Julia Davis has a keen interest in the immune system and the way stress affects our health. “Acupuncture works to restore and maintain balance in body and mind. Acupuncture can stimulate the body by treating the spleen, kidney, liver and lung channels. When balance is achieved, a person has a greater opportunity to resist illness and maintain good health”. Julia has worked with acupuncture in the NHS and private practice and uses a special no needle technique for babies and children.

[1] McEwen & Stellar, 1993 [2] MC Vicar A, et al. Evaluation of anxiety, salivary cortisol and melatonin secretion following reflexology

treatment: A pilot study in healthy individuals. Complementary Therapies in Clinical practice. 2007.

In our 24 hour society it is hard to escape stress of one kind or another. Under immediate stress, such as, for example, having a row with your

partner or children, the adrenal glands pump out adrenaline which prepares the body for what is in effect a “state of emergency”.

II

,,

hich ”.. ,,

Health


SPIRIT OF SUMMER FAIR Olympia, Hammersmith, London W14 8UX 020 7385 1200/0871 230 1089 www.spiritofsummerfair.co.uk11-14 May. 10am-6pm. Manufacturers and suppliers of home and fashion accessories, gems and jewellery, giftware, books, arts, antiques, games and toys will be displaying their best products.

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT13-15 May Hundreds of museums and galleries across the UK will be opening their doors at night for gallery gigs, twilight film screenings, theatre shows, midnight murder mysteries, all-night sleepovers, torch-lit tours and much more. www.museumsatnight.org.uk

Venues in West London include

• Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, W8: The Enchanted Palace Exhibition 13 May, 6 - 9pm. Experience the fashion, performance and dazzling spectacle of the magical Enchanted Palace exhibition after dark, when the palace doors would normally be locked and learn about the lives of the princesses who lived in the palace.

• National Gallery, London WC1: Spooky Storytelling Session 13 May, 6 - 7pm. Come dressed in your favourite costume or even pyjamas as performance storyteller Sally Pomme Clayton delights and thrills with the magic and mystery of renaissance paintings. Children 7+ and their adults

• The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, WC2: 13 May, 6 - 9pm. Explore the exhibition 'Life, Legend, Landscape: Victorian Drawings and Watercolours', enjoy Victorian parlour games and creative workshops, listen to live music from the Victorian era, talks and tours.

GET WALKING DAY 14-15 May Join one of hundreds of FREE, short, welcoming walks taking place across the country and discover just how good fresh air, freedom and physical activity can make you feel. From family-friendly trails to river rambles and seaside strolls, it doesn’t matter your age, stage or walking ability – there’s sure to be a walk that’s right for you. To find your nearest Get Walking Day walk go to: www.ramblers.org.uk/getwalking

TUDOR PULL 15 May Decked out in full regalia, crews of four row the 34-feet long 18th century-style cutters from Hampton Court Palace to the Tower of London. Each cutter is rigged with full ceremonial canopies and flags and are manned by a coxswain and a passenger underneath whose job it is to direct the boat and deliver a 'Stela' – a piece of medieval water piping made from a hollowed tree trunk – to the Governor of the Tower for safekeeping. 10.30am-4.30pm. www.traditionalrowing.com

RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW24-28 May Tickets from www.theticketfactory.com/rhs/online/

NATIONAL FAMILY WEEK 30 May-5 Jun. A week of activities, events, money saving offers and competitions aimed at the whole family. This initiative celebrates the diversity of the modern day family, championing the benefits of quality family time and encouraging a healthier and more active approach to family life. To find an event near you, check out the website www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk

OPEN GARDENS SQUARES WEEKEND 11/12 June Hundreds of garden squares will open their gates to the public. West London gardens that will have family activities running include Chiswick House Walled Garden, Walpole Park Walled Garden, William Morris Society Garden (W6) and Crescent Garden in W9. www.opensquares.org

TASTE OF LONDON16-19 June at Regent’s Park

26 June THE EALING JUNIOR MUSIC SCHOOL (EJMS) 'COME & PLAY STALL' at 'Party in The Park' in Pitshanger Park, W5. 1 - 5pm - EJMS are again throwing open their instrument cupboard and bringing it to

Party In the Park. A fantastic opportunity for children aged 3 -18 to try out different instruments from Violins, Cellos, Trumpets, French Horns through to Flutes, Clarinets, Oboes and Bassoons. Great fun for all!

What's On

EVENTS

Museums at Night: Kensington Palace – Enchanted Palace

Kew Gardens Treetop Walkway



What's On

Private Car Serviceat very reasonable rates,

in a mercedes car•• Airport trips •• Day trips

• • Shopping trips by the hour• • Out of London trips

Licensed, reliable, helpful & polite with 20 years experience

Satisfaction guaranteed

Please call Basil:07956 410 780

DAYS OUTKEW GARDENS

Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB 020 8332 5655www.kew.org E: [email protected]

9.30am-5.30pm. Adults £13.90, Concessions £11.90, Children free. Garden, cafes, and shops open everyday. Perfect for families: Climbers and Creepers Zone, Treetop Walkway, Badger Sett, Stag Beetle Loggery, Aquatic Displays and Treehouse Towers where children (from 3-11) can play on giant swings, zip wires, scramble nets and slides.

26 June SUMMER STORYTELLING SESSION at the Temple of Imagination. Listen to stories from Kew Palace and the Gardens. Drop-in, free 11.30am-noon and 1.30-2pm.

ODDS FARM PARKWooburn Common Rd, Wooburn Common,

High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 0LX 01628 520 188www.oddsfarm.co.uk

Open everyday 10am-5.30pm. £9.20 adults £8.20 children, under 2’s free. Odds Farm Park is officially recognised as an 'Approved Farm Park' by the Rare Breed Survival Trust. See chickens, cows, goats, horses, pigs, rabbits, sheep and more. Also a heated play barn and a soft play area.

GUNNERSBURY PARKPopes Lane, W3 8LQ 020 8992 2247/1612

www.hounslow.info/gunnersburyparkmuseum

The Gunnersbury Park mansions are set within a beautiful 75 hectare park which includes an Orangery, ‘Princess Amelia’s’ Bath house, Gothic Ruins and the Stables. Gunnersbury Park House (the Large Mansion) is the home of the local history museum. To the west of the mansions is a round pond and close to this a café, (open all year round), a mid-18th century Temple and Italian garden, and a large children’s play area.

HALF TERM ACTIVITIES: 1 June METAL MONSTERS A family activity for children of all ages. Create your own "metal monster" design using materials, threads, sequins and embroidery. Workshop led by members of the Isleworth and District Embroiderers' Guild and coincides with their Heavy Metal exhibition at the museum. 11am-12.30pm or 1.30-3pm. £3 per child. Call to reserve a place.

1 June TOYS AND GAMES OF THE PAST Discover the sorts of toys your great-grandparents might have played with. See original and replica toys of the past such as china dolls, teddy bears and clockwork toys. Learn some new Victorian parlour games to play with your friends! 11am-12.30pm or 1.30-3pm. Free. Drop-in.

WWT WETLAND CENTRE Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT.

020 8409 4400. www.wwt.org.uk

Daily 9.30am - 5pm £4.95/ £8.95, under 4s free, family £25.

A spectacular 105 acre wetland landscape of lagoons, lakes and ponds offers a safe haven for hundreds of wild bird species, dragonflies, bats and amphibians.

28 May-5 Jun. ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS From 10.30am, see otters, birds of prey, hedgehogs, reptiles and amphibians up close and learn about their habitats and behaviour.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION Hertford House, Manchester Square,

London W1U 3BN, 020 7563 9500/ 9551 www.wallacecollection.org

10am-5pm. Free. Family activities include:

DAILY:

- FAMILY MULTIMEDIA TOUR with interactive games. Small fee.

- FREE ARMOUR HANDLING Daily. Find out what a brigandine is and how heavy a bullet-proof breastplate really was.

- FAMILY TRAILS Themed family trails available from the information desk at the front entrance.

- THE LITTLE DRAW A drop-in art workshop on the first Sunday of every month. 1-30-4.30pm.

FAMILY EVENTS:

3 Jun. BRILLIANT BOOKMAKING 10.30am-12.15pm & 2pm-3.45pm. Free, drop-in workshop. Make your own special book, create and collect crafty things to go in it, inspired by the famous collectors of the past.

Lots more Out and About and Half Term workshops listed on our website.

Go to www.familieswest.co.uk


What's OnFAMILY WORKSHOPS Bkg essential on

020 7563 9527 or [email protected] Children must be accompanied by an adult.

1 Jun. FIGHTING FIT! NATIONAL FAMILY WEEK ARMOUR HANDLING WORKSHOP 10.30am-12.30pm or 2pm-4pm. 7yrs+. £7. Feel what it’s like to wear armour and find out how heavy, flexible and protective it really is.

2 Jun. POP UP FEAST! NATIONAL FAMILY WEEK DRAWING AND 3D WORKSHOP 10.30am-3.30pm (lunch unsupervised) 12.30pm-1.30pm. £14. 9-12yrs. Be inspired by the extraordinary painted banquet scenes to make your very own 2D/3D meal.

SOMERSET HOUSE Strand, London WC2 1LA 020 78454600,

www.somersethouse.org.uk

SATURDAYS FREE FAMILY WORKSHOPS: 2pm-3.30pm. Free Family Workshops. Collect tickets from 1pm from the information desk in the Seamen’s Hall on the day. Children 6-12yrs must be accompanied by an adult.

7 May. BLUEPRINTS Make beautiful light-sensitive images without a camera in this practical workshop exploring the pioneering discoveries of photography.

14 May. THINK INK! Create pen and ink drawings as artists of the past have done.

21 May. PLAY & DISPLAY Design a spectacular sculptural centerpiece for an open air courtyard complete with water features.

HOLIDAYS DROPS-IN 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm. Suitable for families with children of all ages, children must be accompanied by an adult. If the workshop is full, families are welcome to wait until spaces become available, and the activity lasts about half an hour.

28 May. LONDON UNDERGROUND Explore the hidden London beneath our feet; tunnels, rivers and ruined palaces, and add to a giant 3-D map of those secret spaces.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE 020 7306 0055, www.npg.org.uk/events

Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun 10am-6pm. Late opening Thu, Fri 10am-9pm.

FAMILY EVENTS: Meet in the Ondaatje Wing Main Hall

21 May. STORYTELLING FOR FAMILIES 10.30am & 1.30pm. Bring the Gallery’s portraits to life in this exciting storytelling sessions followed by a fun art activity.

21 May. FAMILY ART WORKSHOP-FRAME IT! 11.30am & 2.30pm. Explore portraits in the Collection, followed by an art activity in this enjoyable family session. Free ticket required and available one hour before the event.

HALF TERM HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES:

30 May- 3 Jun. Every Weekday 11.30am & 2.30pm. A week of workshops and activities inspired by the “Only Connect” display.

HMS BELFAST Tooley Street, London SE1 2JH 020 7403 6246

www.hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk

Open Daily 10am-5pm. £10.80/£13.50, children under 16s free.

INTERACTIVE OPERATIONS ROOM HMS Belfast could once be controlled from the Operations Room, the nerve centre and brain of the entire ship. Visitors can now imagine exactly what this would have been like as the Operations Room is updated with exciting interactives. Entry included in adm price.

28 May-5 Jun. SHIP’S CONVERSATIONS Drop-in 11am-12.30pm & 2-4pm. A look at navy slang and the origin of popular phrases that link to life at sea and the importance of the navy. Entry included in adm price.

TOWER OF LONDON Tower Hill, London EC3 0844 482 7799

www.hrp.org.uk

Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-5.30pm £10.45/£17.05/£19.80, family £55, under 5 free. Events included in adm.

EXHIBITIONS:

POWER HOUSE Discover the stories and personalities behind the major organisations of state, who took care of Royal business behind the mighty Tower walls, from 1100 to the present day, in a new permanent exhibition opening on the white Tower’s top floor.

Daily: FIT FOR A KING Discover 500 years of spectacular arms and armour worn by kings and royal princes.

From 28 May. ROYAL BEASTS For the first time visitors can experience the sights, sounds and smells of the animals that were once kept there as part of the royal menagerie

Wednesday classes – Happy Monkeys toddlers @ 2 p.m.;

Nurturing Danceways babies @ 2:45 p.m.; Kool Dancers

Afterschool Dance club for 6 - 10 year olds; Tiny Dancers 31/2 - 5 years


What's OnEXHIBITIONS & MUSEUMS

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Cromwell Road, London SW7. 020 7938 9123.

Info: Mon-Fri 020 7942 5000. Sat & Sun 020 7942 5011

www.nhm.ac.uk

Open: Mon-Sat: 10am – 5.50pm Sun: 11am-5.50pm. Free.

EXHIBITIONS:

To 4 Sept. AGE OF THE DINOSAUR Dinosaurs make a dramatic return in this summer blockbuster exhibition. Combining stunning imagery with amazing specimens and interactives, “Age of the Dinosaur” will take visitors on a journey through millions of years to life on Earth with the gargantuan reptiles.

To 25 Sept. SENSATIONAL BUTTERFLIES Experience the sensory world of butterflies, explore the five different sensory zones of sight, smell, taste hearing and touch in this new exhibition, come face to face with live butterflies in the beautiful butterfly house and learn more about the surprising life they lead.

EVENTS FOR FAMILIES: check the full listing on www.nhm.ac.uk/whats-on

Here some highlights:

Sats, Suns and School hols. HANDS-ON NATURE: DINOUSAURS 2pm-5pm. Visit the handling trolley in “Lasting Impressions” and take a closer look at some interesting specimens with the help of science educators. Free.

DAILY FAMILY ACTIVITES Younger visitors can pick up an Explorer backpack and take a mini adventure around the Museum. Don’t miss the Dippy floor puzzle, perfect for under 8’s. Complete the puzzle of the 26-metre long “diplodocus” and you’ll get a funky Dippy sticker!

INVESTIGATE CENTRE Encourages children to look closely at real objects using the many tools provided to find out more and become a scientist for the day. 11am-5pm. Mon-Fri in term time. Free.

SCIENCE MUSEUM Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD. 0870 870 4868.

www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

Open 10am-6pm. Adm is free but charges apply to some exhibitions, IMAX cinema and simulator rides

ATMOSPHERE: EXPLORING CLIMATE CHANGE This exhibition will transform the second floor of the Wellcome Wing in the Museum, making it THE destination to explore the science of climate change. Includes a 700 year-old Antarctic ice core and hopes to inform the public about Climate Science, its limitations and its history. Free.

FLY ZONE Visit the brand new Fly Zone simulator area where you take control in 360 degree flight simulators or fly with the red arrows in our sensational 3D motion effects theatre. Charges apply.

IMAX 3D Cinema. Charges apply.

LAUNCHPAD SCIENCE SHOWS Launch a rocket, turn your head into a sound box and control a magnetic cloud and play with 50 more brand new interactive exhibits demonstrating light, sound, electricity and magnetism. Free. 8-14yrs.

WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: Weekends in May and June STEAM DREAM. INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING. Sat & Sun 11.30am & 1.30pm (James Watt and our World: Ground Floor) Get your gear turning, as we find out how steam makes things move and discover the man who made the steam dream come true. Free. 7yrs and under. Weekends in May and June SPACED OUT. INTERACTIVE TOUR. Sat & Sun 3.30pm (Exploring Space, Ground floor) Discover roaring rockets, amazing astronauts, smelly space poo, and much more. 5yrs+. Free.

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ. 020 7416 5320/5321.

www.iwm.org.uk

10am-6pm.

NEW EXHIBITIONS

To 30 Oct. ONCE UPON A WARTIME: CLASSIC WAR STORIES FOR CHILDREN The exhibition delves into the pages of well-loved books, bringing five stories of war dramatically to life. Behind the scenes of the stories, see what inspired the authors to write their books, and find out about the historical context of each story through objects, photographs and films. £3.95 to £5.95, family £12.50.

To 31 Dec. WOMEN WAR ARTISTS Focusing on work by women war artists from the first World War to the Kosovo conflict as eyewitnesses, participants, commentators and as officially commissioned recorders. Free.

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM Cromwell Road, London SW7.

020 7942 2000, www.vam.ac.uk

10am-5.45pm until 10pm on Fridays. Free

BACK-PACKS Families can pick up an activity Back-Pack, get creative at Drop-in-Design or go on a gallery adventure trail.

Back-Pack adventure tours of the V&A: Packs are filled with jigsaws, stories and games to explore the collection.

ACTIVITY CART: Fantastic hands-on art fun for children to create a Samurai helmet, a silver goblet or an elephant mask to take home. FREE; drop-in. 4 to 11 yrs.

Advertise your forthcoming event in

Families West Magazine. Email: [email protected]


What's OnGEFFRYE MUSEUM 136 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London E2 8EA 020 7739 9893

www.geffrye-museum.org.uk

Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun and Bank Hol Mon 12noon-5pm. Closed Good Friday. Free.

SPECIAL EXHIBITION

To 29 Aug AT HOME IN JAPAN: BEYOND THE MINIMAL HOUSE This exhibition goes behind the doors of contemporary urban homes to find out how private lives are lived in Japan today. £3/£5, under 16’s free.

FAMILY DAYS 10.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-4pm. 5-11yrs. Free

4 Jun. FANTASTIC FANS. Decorate a fan Japanese-style to keep you cool.

YOUNG PEOPLE 2pm-4pm. 11-16yrs. Free

4 Jun. SILKY SLIPPERS. Use clay to sculpt models of Japanese slippers to decorate your home

Quizzes, activity packs and audio guides are available during holidays every Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

The MUSEUM OF LONDON and MUSEUM OF LONDON

DOCKLANDS are having family fun Victorian style

this May. Please visit the websites for full

details of children activities. www.museumoflondon.org.uk and

www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands

MUSEUM OF LONDON London Wall, EC2Y 5HN

020 7001 9844.

Open daily 10am-6pm

22 May 12.30pm-2pm and 2.30pm-4pm. A MINIATURE HOUSE Art workshops for age 5+ looking at an 18th century doll’s house that belonged to the Blackett family. Free.

28 May 12.30-2pm and 2.30-4pm. GREAT FIRE OBJECTS Discover the stories behind some of the objects that survived the Great Fire of London. 5yrs. Free.

19 Jun A FIGHT FOR FREEDOM Mary Prince's fight for freedom brought her to London where her story was used to help end slavery in the 1800s. Meet Mary and hear her story of determination, compassion and survival. 1, 2 and 3pm. 5+

MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS

West India Quay, E14 4AL 020 7001 9844.

Open daily 10am-6pm.

Sat 14 May. 12.30pm-1.30pm and 2.30pm-3.30pm. THE DOCKS OF THE ROMANS Create figures, animals, buildings and ship to add to a model of a Roman Docks scene. 4yrs. Free.

Sat 28 May. 12.30pm-1pm, 2.30pm-3pm and 3.30pm-4pm. HOW TO BE A PIRATE. Join us in this interactive drama performance to help our bungling buccaneer learn how to become a proper pirate. 4yrs. Free.

May half term holiday workshops

KITE STUDIOS ART WORKSHOP 31 May-4 June Printmaking, silk screen painting on fabric and paper, designing and stitching fabrics, and 3D drawing and construction.

10-11am for ages 4-8 and 12-4pm for ages 8-15.

Venue: 2b Bassein Park Rd, W12 9RY

020 8576 6278 E: [email protected]

FIT FOR SPORT 31 May-3 June Sports Camp for ages 3-12.

9.30am-4.30pm (Extended day available 8.30am-5.30pm).

Venues: East Acton Primary School W3, Kensington Leisure Centre W11 (age 5-12), The Brentham Club W5, Belmont Primary School W4 and Trailfinders Sports Club W13.

0845 456 3233 www.fitforsport.co.uk

CREATIVE WIZ KIDS 30 May-3 June Half term club for ages 3-9 in Hampstead. Art Projects, painting,face painting, dancing, singing and fun.

020 7794 6797 E: [email protected] www.creativewizkids.com

COOKIE CRUMBLESCookery Workshops for age 4-15.

Venue: Maggie & Rose, 58 Pembroke Rd, London W8 6NX

020 8876 9912 E: [email protected]


Theatre

RICHMOND THEATREThe Green, Richmond, TW9 1QJ.

0844 871 7651, www.ambassadortickets.com/richmond

21-25 June THE JUNGLE BOOK Rudyard Kipling's classic story about Mowgli, a young boy who is raised in the jungle by a family of wolves. When Sher Khan the tiger swears to kill the child, Baloo and Bagheera agree to take the boy to the man village for his safety. But the jungle holds dangers and surprises for them all – and Mowgli's extraordinary adventure has just begun!

PUPPET THEATRE BARGELittle Venice, Bloomfield Road, Little Venice,

London, W9 2PF, 020 7249 6876 www.puppetbarge.com

7 May-10 July Every weekend, and 28 May-5 June Daily at 3pm. May 28 to June 5 DAILY at 3pm. RED RIDING HOOD AND THE WOLF WHO TRIED TO EAT HER A re-telling of the popular story with poetry and humour, and a new twist to the tale. Presented with marionettes and shadow puppets, original music, lighting and effects. Suitable for age 4+

THE LYRIC HAMMERSMITH THEATRELyric Square, King Street, London W6 0OL.

08700 500 511. www.lyric.co.uk

Saturdays shows 11am/1pm £8 (adults), £6 (children), Family ticket £25 then “MESSY PLAY” arts and crafts activities £5,12noon & 2pm,

SPECIAL OFFER: Buy a children’s show ticket and Messy Play ticket for just £9 - Only available by calling Ticket Office.

7 May THE MOUSEHOLE CAT 11am and 1pm. Ages 4 – 7. A storm has been raging for weeks in the Cornish village of Mousehole. Everyone is hungry so old Tom the fisherman and his cat, Mowzer, bravely set out to sea to try and save the village?

14 May THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF & OTHER FURRY TAILS 11am and 1pm. Ages 3 – 7. Find out how the Three Billy Goats Gruff dealt with that troll, what happened to the Wolf and those Three Little Pigs and why was Goldilocks walking in the woods?

21 May LITTLE RUBY RED TELLS TALES 11am and 1pm / 45 mins. Ages 3 – 5. In this enchanting musical performance, Ruby set off to visit her Nan. On the way she meets the three dwarves who lived with Snow White, Cinderella with her glass slippers and a terrifying tiger. Or did she? Because Little Ruby Red likes telling tales?

28 and 29 May THE PLANET OF THE BEETLEBUNS 10am, 11am, 12, 1.30, 2.30 and 3.30pm. Ages 2– 5. Hop onto a magic carpet where crazy machines turn and magical trees blossom. A unique interactive experience that makes objects react to your every move.

4 Jun THE LITTLE RED HEN 10.30am, 12 1.30 and 3pm. Ages 2 – 5. Little Red Hen lives on a farmyard. One day she finds some grains of wheat and decides to make some bread. The kids can lend a hand to help her make the most delicious loaf.

11 Jun PETER AND THE WOLF 11am and 1pm. Ages 3 – 7. Meet the world famous characters of young Peter, his Grandfather, a cat, a duck and a quick-witted redbird. But, watch out for the big hungry wolf.

18 Jun PRINCESS AND THE PEA 11am and 1pm. Ages 2 – 5. A playful and comic adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s bedtime tale of a prince in search of a real princess, a tower of mattresses and, of course, a tiny pea.

25 and 26 Jun EGG & SPOON 10.30am, 12 and 1.30pm. Ages 6 months – 3 yrs. A multi-sensory journey through the seasons. Help make snow, blow leaves and give a tree its blossom in this interactive adventure.

Also - 29 May, 26 June FAMILY SUNDAYS Catch a show and messy play workshop, then enjoy the free all-day craft table. Grown-ups can have coffee and cake in Café Brera or on the roof garden.

UNICORN THEATRE147 Tooley Street, Southwark, London SE1 2HZ

020 7645 0560 www.unicorntheatre.com

18 – 22 May ONE LITTLE WORD Specially created for young children aged 3+ and contains only ONE spoken word. We meet

two characters who play together – exploring a new space, new objects, dressing up and taking turns -but struggles arise when one of them wants to be the ONLY Captain of the ship! A beautiful and gentle story of friendship, power struggles and the rich world of creative play.

25 – 29 May LOST AND FOUND

A heart-warming, touching tale about the friendship between a young boy and a penguin. When a confused, sad bird arrives at the door, the boy assumes that he is lost and decides to help the penguin find his way home -even if that means rowing all the way to the South Pole. For ages 3+ On 27 May, there will be three performances of a special toddler version of Lost and Found, which is tailor-made for 1-2 year olds.

31 May – 12 June THE NIGHT PIRATES Tom joins the Girl Pirates on their daring adventure across the high seas to an island where Captain Patch and his really rough, tough grown-up pirates are guarding their treasure. Can Tom and his new friends outwit the snoozing, snoring pirates and steal their booty? Puppets, song and ballet dancing pirates combine in this delightful adaptation of the much loved picture book. For ages 3+

15 – 19 June TIN SOLDIER Join the steadfast Tin Soldier and his friends on a magical, musical mysterious journey, chased by an evil goblin, threatened by a monstrous rat, swallowed by an enormous fish, as

he travels helterskelter towards his appointment with destiny. For ages 7+

WATERMANS 40 High Street Brentford, TW8 0DS

020 8232 1010

1 May LOST SOCK PRINCESS Who wants to be different? Wear odd socks, have a pet sock or wear red crown…? Meet the Lost Sock Princess! If you ever wondered why there are so many odd socks in the world, find out now and join the Lost Sock Princess on this magical adventure. Age 3+

8 May THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER There once was a remarkable tin soldier who fell in love with a beautiful paper dancer and then tumbled out of a window, so beginning a perilous journey into the unknown. Ages 3-8.

15 May FLYAWAY KATIE An inspiring flight of fancy about the power of the imagination. The birds in the picture on her wall look so colourful. If only Katie could be as bright as them. Who knows what might happen? For ages 2-6.

22 May THE WAY BACK HOME An intergalactic adventure tale about a little boy seeking adventure. He flies way up into the sky on a plane, landing on the moon where

he meets a Martian. Will he make friends and how will they get back home. For ages 3+

29 May 3 PIGS A story full of stories and songs all about pigs that will send magic tingling up the spines of piglets, sows and old boars of all ages. For ages 3+

SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBENew Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT.

Info: 020 7902 1400, bkg: 020 7401 9919/020 7087 7398. www.shakespeares-globe.org

To 2 Oct. NEW THEATRE SEASON “THE WORD OF GOD” includes Shakespeare’s All’s Well that Ends Well and Much Ado About Nothing, Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, The Globe Mysteries, a revival of Howard Brenton’s Anne Boleyn and the world premiere of The God of Soho by Chris Hannan. The theatre season is complemented by two small-scale tours of Hamlet and As You Like It. Public Booking is open.

CHILDSPLAY: Workshops for 8-11 yrs exploring the matinee play, with a visit to see some of the production. As part of the workshop, children will join the audience to watch 15mns of the play from the yard. Also includes storytelling and art activities. 4 and 25 June (Much Ado About Nothing) 1.30pm £15 Bkg: 020 7401 9919 or online.


Support for special needs children This spring Ministers have unveiled plans for the biggest overhaul of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities in 30 years.

The package of measures outlined by Children's Minister Sarah Teather includes a proposal that parents be given a wider choice of schools and, by 2014, a legal right to control the funding for their child's support. A Department for Education green paper proposes an expansion of direct payments to parents for education and health services, with parents given a personal budget to spend on services such as education at home and equipment such as laptops and wheelchairs. The green paper also proposes replacing the existing statement of special educational needs (SEN) with a single care plan covering schooling, health and social services from birth to the age of 25. “We have heard time and time again that parents are frustrated with endless delays to getting the help their child needs, and by being caught in the middle when local services don't work together,” says the Children’s Minister. “At the moment there is an appalling situation where public money is being wasted as children are growing out of equipment like wheelchairs before they even arrive. The new single assessment process will tackle this issue and mean that parents don't feel they have to push to get the services they are entitled to.”

But Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is concerned that cuts to council budgets will reduce the services available for parents to choose from. “Savage cuts are already being made to many of the specialist services teachers rely on to help them support children with special educational needs, and we are worried that local authorities will have less funding to provide community education services.”

Andy Burnham, shadow education secretary adds the green paper's aims are “hopelessly out of touch with reality. Councils are laying off the specialist teams that carry out the assessments and provide the support these children need. The green paper sets out a vision of integrated services but the Tory-led government's own health and education reforms make that harder.”

Although the number of pupils with statements has stayed “relatively stable” over time, there has been an increase in pupils with special needs but without statements – up from 10% in 1995 to 18.2% in 2010.

Say that you saw it mentioned in Families

West Magazine.

Durston School Open MorningTuesday 17 May 2011 10.15am. Meet the staff and see Durston House boys at work in:

Pre-Prep (Middleton's) (age 4-7)Junior School (Longfield) (age 7-9)Middle School (No. 12) (age 9-11)Upper School (No. 12) (age 11-13)

Please telephone the Registrar on 020 8991 6532 for details or email [email protected] – www.durstonhouse.org

Music disappears from state schools The future of music in state schools is in peril, with councils across the country laying off music teachers in a bid to reform and cut budgets.

Teachers and heads of local authority music services have already been threatened with redundancy as a result of the Coalition Government's squeeze on council spending, with at least 64 councils issuing redundancy notices to staff, according to the Incorporated Society of Musicians. Professor Sue Hallam, of London University's Institute of Education says: “Music education always suffers when there are cuts. It is seen by some as a Cinderella service – although it is not. The long-term consequences can be disastrous.” The redundancies are the beginning of an assault on music education in 2011 – later in the year £80m aimed at providing music education will cease, followed by the pulling of funding for the teaching of arts and humanities courses at university, meaning they will be solely dependent on finance from student fees. “Already you've got a shortage of primary school teachers trained in music,” says Carole Lindsay-Douglas, secretary of the School Music Association. “We're going to get to a case of the blind leading the blind.” She adds: “We're in danger of creating a divide between the state school system and the public schools, which value music very highly and teach to very high standards.”

An Education in Good Food for PupilsPupils at an Ealing school will soon be counting down the minutes to the lunch bell, as enjoying delicious, socially responsible food becomes the lesson of the day.

Clifton Lodge Preparatory School on Mattock Lane in Ealing, hopes to educate pupils on carbon footprints and where food comes from, having called in independent caterers Thomas Franks to help revamp the school lunch menu with environmentally sustainable meal options. From the Summer Term, Thomas Franks will be preparing

school lunches for the pupils, using freshly produced, regionally sourced and sustainably procured ingredients from independently owned catering suppliers.

All fruit and vegetables will focus on what is in season in the UK, not the other side of the world, to reduce its carbon footprint. Meat will come direct from regional butchers for a fresher, fuller flavour; and fish from sustainable stock.

Alan Gibson, Headmaster at Clifton Lodge, said: “We are all very excited about Thomas Franks joining us to provide our school lunches. They not only produce delicious and nutritious food but are also experts at involving pupils, through creative menu design and food awareness.”

Clifton Lodge is a preparatory school for boys and girls, aged 4 to 13, which aims to help its pupils achieve their full potential, both academically and socially.

Call to find out more: 020 8579 3662 E: [email protected]

Eaton Square School Open DayEaton Square School are having an open day for reception age entry (age 4-5) on Thursday 16th June at 9.15am. The school in Belgravia is a co-educational day school which offers nursery, pre-prepatory and preparatory education. It maintains high academic standards as well as offering a huge range of sports and excellent music facilities. Pupils are prepared for entry into selective London day schools and leading boarding schools. Recent senior schools include St Paul’s School, Eton College, Harrow School, Westminster School, Dulwich College, JAGS, St Mary’s Ascot and City of London Boys and Girls to name but a few.

Entry to the reception classes is by assessment in November of the year prior to entry. For older children there are 8+ and 11+ entry examinations. The school is entering a new phase in its development with the recent appointment of Mr S. Hepher as Headmaster, formerly the highly regarded Headmaster of Eaton House The Manor School.

To book a place call 020 7931 9469 or email [email protected] www.eatonsquareschool.com

Education News



Education



Education



Please email [email protected]

or phone 020 8930 4707

Education

Would you like to advertise in Families West?

Services

Childcare

Classifieds

A French ExchangeBy Joanna Parry

Learning a language can be the key to your child’s future, giving them an invaluable skill that will set them up for life. A French exchange can be a fun and interesting part of that learning – your child is immersed in the culture of the country, which often

proves to be the most effective way of rapidly improving language skills. “They develop greater mental agility, better communication skills and awareness of another culture,” says Annie, a mother of 3 who is a great fan of French exchanges. “Beyond the academic benefits, exchange visits are a wonderful way to develop your child’s self-confidence and inter-personal skills and for them to make new friends.”

But how easy is to organise a French exchange, and how do you start going about it? Many schools have their own exchange programmes, however more and more parents are opting to organise exchanges through a number of different companies, all of whom will help you to arrange the swap. Here is our guide to help you navigate your way through arranging an exchange, so that your child has a successful and enjoyable experience.

The basicsExchange visits are based on reciprocal hospitality – your child will stay with a French family and one of the French family’s children will stay with you. Once you register with an exchange company, they will ‘match’ you with a French family based on age, interests and family background and then discuss with you possible dates of visits. Finding dates that work for both families can be tricky, so try to be as flexible as possible. Remember, you don’t have to restrict yourselves to the summer holidays – a half term swap can be a good bet too.

An exchange should only cost you a minimal fee to arrange, and then the cost of your child’s transportation. Be aware of some of the expensive foreign language travel programmes that sometimes masquerade as exchanges.

Most companies recommend exchanging when your child is 12 or over, for a maximum of 2 weeks. However it is possible to arrange an exchange for a younger child and some sites arrange for swaps for an extended period of up to 6 months.

Most exchange companies are available to provide assistance with translation and travel advice and to generally act as a ‘go-between’ if this is needed. Although you will make your own travel arrangements, the French family is contracted to meet your child at the nearest port, railway station or airport.

When your child’s exchange comes to stay with you, enjoy taking them around your home town and seeing some of the sites you never found time to visit yourselves!

Sending your child off to live with another family can be stressful. “You need to be bold, have an open mind and be willing to trust another family with your child,” says Annie. “In return, when it is your time to host somebody else’s child, you will need to provide for them and make sure they feel equally at home. But I promise you, it’s all worth it. You will be giving your child the gift of a new language and a friend for life.”

Websiteswww.linguisticexchange.com.www.french-exchange.co.ukwww.enfamille.comwww.lingua-links.com/en/welcome.htmlwww.lingoo.eu/language-exchange-french.html

Top tips• When you’re choosing a family to exchange with, make

sure you look for a match not only with your child’s age but also their interests – shared passions are often the key to a successful exchange, whether it be football, horse riding or music. “My son went to stay with a lovely French family in August,” says Kate, mum of four. “We liked the family and the boys had similar interests, that was key!” A reputable exchange site will help you find a good match, but you can help by emailing or chatting to a number of families before confirming the exchange

• Once you have chosen a family, encourage your child to communicate in French with to their exchange by telephone or email

• Make sure your child’s health records are up to date and write a parental authorisation in case of medical emergency. If your child has to take any kind of medication, make sure everything has already been purchased and that the prescription goes with your child. Make clear notes of allergies to food or medicine

• Send your child to France with some spending money for outings and souvenirs

• Don’t forget to encourage your child to pack a camera, a notebook for writing down daily adventures and an MP3 player for the trip. A welcome present for their exchange’s family and a mini-dictionary will be useful too !

• Make sure your child has full travel insurance and an E111 form

• It may sound obvious, but don’t forget to double check their passport is still in date!

Education




Date post:	26-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	families-online
View:	219 times
Download:	2 times

Families West London May/June 2011

Documents