Families Hampshire West May/June 2024 PRINT issue

CONTENTS

OPEN MORNING

Thursday 20th June - 9.30-11.30am

Pre-Senior Baccalaureat

Small class sizes

EAL Hub

• Enrichment activities

• Nurturing environment

• EYFS Funding

• Minibus service

17-19 WINN ROAD SOUTHAMPTON SO17 1EJ registrar@thegreggschools.org www.thegreggprep.org

Caring for 2-4 year olds

7.45am to 6.00pm all year round

Good value, community childcare. All types of childcare funding, tax-free childcare and childcare vouchers accepted.

Get in contact, arrange a tour, or book your child’s space now!

enquiries@hornsdrove.uk

02380 737 207 www.hornsdrove.uk

hornsdrovehatchlings

facebook.com/hornsdrovehatchlings

© Hallett Early Years Photography

Providing the best start at Horns Drove Community Childcare

Horns Drove Community Childcare based in Rownhams, Southampton welcomes children aged 2 to 11 years from the local area and across the west side of Southampton.

The Hatchlings group looks after children from 2-4 years and was rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in December 2022. They offer a range of educational and stimulating activities to provide an enjoyable environment, whilst preparing your child for school.

Open from 7.45am to 6pm, 51 weeks a year. Parents can utilise government funding, tax-free childcare and all forms of childcare vouchers.

For more information or to arrange a tour, call 02380 737 207 or visit www.hornsdrove.uk

Booking now for September 2024 at Little Owls Woodland Pre-School

Little Owls Woodland Pre-School is nestled in its own private, self-contained woodland at Itchen Valley Country Park. The Ofsted registered Woodland Pre-School offers children over 2 years 9 months the opportunity to start their journey into education in a beautiful, outdoor setting.

Their small, highly qualified and friendly team adopts the Forest School Ethos to support fundamental first-hand experiences whilst encouraging safe risk taking. They learn through nature and unique hands-on experiences, learning skills they may not have the opportunity to learn at home or in a traditional classroom.

Little Owls Woodland Pre-School is now now taking bookings for September 2024. Contact Mariangela Bryant at mariangelabryant@youthoptions.org.uk or 01264 332188 for more info.

Enriching experiences at the Gregg Prep School

The Gregg Prep is a nurturing school where children’s talents and abilities shine through. By offering our pupils an exciting range of enrichment experiences throughout their school life, they discover where their strengths and passions lie. Each child is encouraged to flourish in their own right.

The Gregg Prep offers extensive co-curricular activities such as dance, computing, STEM, gardening and puzzle solving; pupils go on day trips that enrich their curriculum experience taking the learning beyond the classroom. The residential trips enable them to experience new adventures and learn independence and they can gain positions of responsibility in school from Year R to Year 6. Every child has a voice and every child has the opportunity to explore and engage in activities that bring out the best of themselves.

Find out more at www.thegreggprep.org

School

Open Days Summer 2024

Open days may need pre-booking. Please check before visiting.

King Edward VI School

Southampton SO15 5UQ 02380 704561

kes.school

Taster Mornings

Thu 9 May, Thu 16 May, Tue 21 May 9.45am-12.45pm

Call or book online.

Prince’s Mead School Winchester SO21 1AN 01962 888000

princesmeadschool.org.uk

Open Morning

Fri 17 May 10am

Call or book online.

St Swithun’s Winchester SO21 1HA 01962 835792

stswithuns.com

Pre-School, Pre-Prep and Prep Open Day

Fri 17 May 1.30pm

Call or book online.

Stroud School King Edward VI Prep

Romsey SO51 9ZH 01794 513231

stroud.kes.school

Contact the school to arrange a tour.

Call or book online.

The Gregg Prep School Southampton SO17 1EJ 02380 557352

thegreggprep.org

Open Morning

Thu 20 Jun 9.30-11.30am

Call or book online.

To feature your school in our next issue, call Rebecca on 07789 882467.

Open Farm Sunday

Open Farm Sunday on 9 June provides a unique opportunity for families to explore real working farms and learn more about the countryside.

Managed by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), this annual event allows families and individuals to witness daily farm activities, engage with passionate farmers and learn about sustainable practices.

Visitors can enjoy tractor-trailer rides, farm tours, nature trails, bug hunts, and even shop at farmers’ markets. The event bridges the gap between consumers and farmers, emphasising the importance of British agriculture.

It’s an educational, community-focused day that celebrates the hard work behind our food production and offers free access to farm experiences.

Find out more at www.farmsunday.org

Family fun with National Children’s Gardening Week

This summer, get involved in National Children’s Gardening week taking place from 25 May to 2 June.

As well as simply good outdoor fun, gardening has been shown to have many benefits to health and wellbeing including being more physically active and feeling happier and more connected with the natural world.

There are many ways to get involved with National Children’s Gardening Week from DIY activities at home, to attending an event at a local garden centre.

Find out more at www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk

Celebrating 100 issues of Families Hampshire West!

Families Hampshire West is celebrating - it’s our 100th issue and 17 years in print!

Our group was first founded in 1990 in London and since then has grown to be a network of over 30 magazines across the UK - all working with local communities and supporting schools, nurseries and businesses.

Since I took over the magazine in October 2011, I am very proud to have been part of the journey the magazine has taken, sharing thousands of amazing events and activities with local families.

I recently found some of our earlier cover images and thought I would share them with you.

Finally, a huge thank you to our incredible team of writers, distributors, advertisers and valued readers for supporting the magazine since we started in 2007. Here’s to another 100 issues!

Developing skills for good school performance

By Gail Hugman

Many parents worry about their children underachieving or not reaching the expected level by the time they leave primary school or sit 11+ exams but there is good news. By developing your child’s skills it may be easier to improve their performance than you might think.

Research has shown that to be our most effective as learners, we need to develop a specific set of skills known as executive function skills.

Don’t be put off by the name! You have all these skills. Some of you will be brilliant at them, others less so but you will not be a stranger to them.

We are all born with the potential to develop these skills over time but they are not specifically taught as part of the curriculum in school, even though they are critical for effective learning and for everything we do in life.

Where do you start? Self-control, focus and attention, organisation, memory (especially working memory), planning, time management, critical thinking, task initiation, perseverance and flexibility can all be taught.

As a basic minimum, when children go to school, they need to be able to control themselves, concentrate and listen. If any of these skills are weak, it is likely to be flagged up in the child’s school report.

Being able to boil an egg does not mean you can produce a gourmet meal! Likewise, being able to ‘sit up straight, look at the teacher and fold your arms,’ do not alone make you a good listener. Each skill - gourmet cooking AND listening - is a complex series of things we need to co-ordinate to accomplish a result.

By understanding the skills as a process, we can break down everything that needs to happen. For example, to be a good listener, we need to be able to stop what we’re doing, focus and make eye contact. This last may not be easy for children who are overwhelmed by eye contact, so use discretion.

Proper listening also involves cognitive skills: to concentrate, wait, reflect, make connections with reference, take in and sort

information and finally, to respond appropriately.

Can your child stop what they’re doing when they’re asked? If not, work on it for a week and tell them that’s the target. Take each part of the process and focus on it until they get it.

Teaching Concentration

Primary aged children need to feel the skill: Fill the ice tray (or a glass) with water. Ask your child to carry it to the freezer (or across the kitchen) without spilling a drop. When you see they are completely concentrating, tell them ‘what you are now feeling is called concentration.’ This helps their brain recognise when they are doing it correctly.

Stages to encourage skill development

Define what your child is aiming to achieve; Explain the benefits of growing that skill to your child; Explain the downside of not having the skill in life; Create opportunities for your child to get feedback on how they’re doing with it; Congratulate small successes! The feedback you give your child helps their brain to get it right and consolidate it.

Support your child’s independence by focusing on developing their core skills as they progress through primary school. Find ways to work together with your child to use everyday life for working on the growing skills.

Plan homework; time activities; organise spelling; and practise self-control.

Gail Hugman is proprietor of Lessons Alive (www.lessonsalive. com) and author of A Short and Simple Book for the Why’s, 100 Things to Learn before you’re 10, plus the soon to be published Making the Pennies Drop, which shows parents exactly how to teach key skills to their children.

Preparing the ground

In general, your child’s skills will naturally develop as they mature during the secondary education years but you can prepare the ground earlier. Here are some tips to help you:

Critical thinking: ask questions about what they’re doing and what they produce. Encourage discussion about what they think.

Task initiation: explain the need to get things done when you are teaching them time management.

Perseverance: point out ‘the bigger picture’ and the steps to keeping going.

Flexibility: demonstrate being adaptable to change.

Broadening your child’s vocabulary

By Jemma Z Smith

Vocabulary development is often something that parents mention when they approach a tuition company. Unfortunately, this area of learning does not have a ‘quick fix’ solution. Vocabulary acquirement, retention and application takes a long time.

Children need to be exposed to new vocabulary several times in several different contexts in order to fully absorb it and use it in their own writing and speaking, recognise it in a range of uses and be able to adapt it (for example, adding prefixes and suffixes) when questioned in a test environment.

Vocabulary is a vital aspect of primary education, especially for pupils preparing for entrance exams. A rich vocabulary not only enhances language skills but also serves as a key tool for academic success.

Understanding words in various contexts is fundamental for primary pupils. It allows them to grasp the meanings and usage of words, which helps to improve their comprehension skills.

Additionally, a strong vocabulary assists in spelling tasks, making children more aware of homophones and homographs, thus avoiding common pitfalls in their writing, particularly in time pressured test conditions.

For example, in some verbal reasoning papers, children may be presented with a choice of synonyms to match together: wind, reign, meander. In this example, wind (verb) and meander are synonyms but the child may read it as wind - the noun - due to its position next to a word that sounds like another type of weather but is spelt differently.

Having a broad vocabulary proves invaluable when preparing for entrance exams as it enables children to infer meanings and understand the overall message of a text without constantly referring to a dictionary, which although a useful skill, can break the flow of reading.

Encouraging reading for pleasure is a powerful strategy to improve and develop children’s vocabulary. Parents should emphasise the importance of reading anything and everything, from storybooks to comic books, menus during meals and signs while out and about. Such diverse reading opportunities expose children to varied language structures and expressions, contributing significantly to the expansion of their vocabulary banks.

If you can convince them to read some of the classic works of Dickens and perhaps some JRR Tolkien, that is great but all reading material can be useful.

Jemma Z Smith is Director of The Education Hotel. For further advice, visit www.educationhotel.co.uk

Top new children’s books from around the world

By Sarah Campbell

FOR AGES 5+

From bustling African cities to the Australian Outback via Asian high seas, these extraordinary stories will transport children around the world, broadening their horizons and inspiring empathy and understanding along the way. The following recommendations are for young readers ages 5 to 12.

Too Small Tola Makes It Count

by Atinuke

Tola may be small but she’s very determined! This collection of three connected, fun stories feature Tola’s life in bustling Lagos with her clever sister, speedy brother and bossy grandmummy. Discover how there really is no problem too big for Too Small Tola. Ages 5+.

The Last Mapmaker

by Christina Soontornvat

Follow Sai, a 12-year-old heroine who is seeking to chart her own destiny in a world of secrets. Taking off for a thrilling high-seas expedition, this is a vivid adventure set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world. Ages 8+.

One Chance Dance

by Efua Traor

Lagos is no place for a boy and a bush baby but things start to look up when young Jomi meets a crew of street kids and together they come up with a plan. A heart-warming story of friendship, wonder and dance set in lively Nigeria. Ages 8+.

Sona Sharma, Wish Me Luck

by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Jen Khatun

Sona Sharma lives in India with her busy family, where she learns about the ups and downs of family, friendship and life. A warm and gentle illustrated chapter book set in colourful India, packed with empathy and humour. Ages 5+.

Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun

Bear Trang

by Trang Nguyen & Jeet Zdung

Written by scientist and environmental activist Trang Nguyen, this inspirational graphic novel is based on a true story about a young conservationist who overcomes the odds to save a sun bear in Vietnam. Ages 8+.

The Boy Who Saved a Bear

by Nizrana Farook

A boy and a big, hairy bear meet, become friends and have the adventure of their lives, thwarting the plans of some very dangerous thieves. Young animal lovers will be gripped by this adventure set in a fictional Sri Lanka. Another brilliant escapade from the author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant. Ages 8+.

The Midnighters

by Hana Tooke, illustrated by Ayesha I. Rubio

A ghostly tale about two friends, one murder mystery and a world of intrigue. I love the mysterious, richly gothicinspired European setting of this entertaining and magical adventure. Find out what it takes to find the courage to be extraordinary. Ages 5+.

The Song Walker

by Zillah Bethel

A girl is found wandering through the Australian outback with mismatched shoes and a violin case. This great adventure with a twist is an extraordinary, spiritual story of friendship, discovery and courage. Ages 8+.

Momo

Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa

Sugiura

Momo just wants an ordinary life but she is half human, half Shinto goddess and evil spirits are threatening to escape and destroy humanity. A thrilling Japanese-inspired fantasy adventure full of action, adventure and even a talking fox. Ages 9+.

an online children’s bookshop

award-winning monthly book subscription for

Sarah Campbell is co-founder of Parrot Street Book Club (www.parrotstreet.com),

offering a handpicked collection of high-quality children’s chapter books, plus an

ages 5 to 14.

Involving your kids in social action

By Anoushka Freeman

In a world where compassion and empathy are invaluable qualities, parents play a crucial role in shaping their children into responsible and caring individuals. Engaging in social action with your children helps to instil these lifelong values and more. Plus it can be a great way to spend quality family time. Here’s how you can meaningfully involve your kids in social action.

Never too young to talk

Start conversations early. While young children might not grasp complex global issues, introducing the concept of kindness, empathy and helping others sets the foundation for a compassionate mindset. Use age-appropriate language and share stories that illustrate the power of positive actions.

Maximise everyday kindness

Use everyday activities. Teach your children the significance of small acts that make a difference, like picking up litter or turning off lights. These simple actions help normalise active citizenship.

Lead by example

Children learn best through example. Showcase the values you want to instil by actively participating in social action yourself. Whether giving to a charity, helping a neighbour or volunteering your time, your actions provide a powerful model for your kids to emulate. Wherever possible, take the opportunity to include your children in the activity. For example, if you are donating to charity, explain why you chose the charity and what impact your donation may have.

Explore different ways to help

Expose your children to a variety of social action opportunities such as going on litter picks or writing to MPs about causes they care about. This not only broadens their understanding of societal needs but also allows them to discover where their passions lie in making a positive impact.

Empower children to choose

Invite your children to choose a cause that resonates with them. Support them in researching, investigating and exploring different areas of interest. This empowers them to take ownership of their social action and enhances their critical thinking skills.

Commit to it

Establish a dedicated time for social action in your family routine. This commitment can be reinforced through accountability

Get inspired

10-year-old Liam Hannon’s dad set him the challenge of doing something to give back to his community. After some discussion, Liam settled on helping homeless people. He enlisted his dad to help him make and distribute sandwiches, each with a special handwritten note or drawing.

By spreading the word to friends, family and through social media, donations and offers of help poured in. The duo has gone from distributing forty bags in their first week to hundreds of bags per week!

measures, such as creating a charity jar that accumulates funds in response to helping with chores around the house. This encourages consistency and also reinforces the value of sharing one’s time, treasure and talent to help others.

Make traditions

Incorporate social action into family traditions. Whether it’s creating Christmas shoeboxes, donating to a food bank or including a charity birthday wish list, these traditions instil a sense of purpose and giving that extends beyond individual actions.

Reflect and celebrate

Social action should not be a one-off event. Keep the conversation alive by discussing ongoing initiatives and celebrating their impact. This continuous dialogue helps children understand the long-term impact of their actions.

Spending time working towards a shared goal is a brilliant way to strengthen family connection. When that shared goal helps others, such as in the case of social action, you are also helping to nurture compassionate, responsible and socially aware individuals. These values will last for life; research shows that young people who engage in meaningful social action are twice as habitually philanthropic in later life.

So by following these practical steps, you are actively shaping the next generation of change-makers!

Anoushka Freeman represents www.superkind.org, the social action and charity platform for young people who want to be change-makers. Find free resources to help young people learn, be inspired and get empowered to make a positive difference to their communities and the world.

Benefits of social action

Studies have shown that social action has a vast array of benefits for young people who take part in it. It builds empathy, resilience, leadership and teamwork. It has been linked to higher grades and lower truancy and can help hugely with employability.

Research from the Cabinet Office showed that engaging in social action lowered anxiety levels in young people by over twenty percent. It’s even been shown to chemically contribute to happiness levels through the release of endorphins – the socalled ‘helpers’ high.’

It’s time for summer camps

By Ellie Malt

I once spent a freakishly hot week in the summer holidays learning to sail near the Isle of Wight. As a tween, I was dazzled by the teenaged sailing instructors who seemed endlessly cool. I’m not saying my sailing skills were Olympian but it felt like a modern version of Swallows and Amazons. The sense of freedom and adventure was amazing. My point? Any programme run with experience and enthusiasm can be more than just a childcare solution.

Holiday camps can be daunting and my children enjoy them more if they go with a friend. Perhaps the pandemic made them cautious? Having asked around, it seems they are not the only ones.

Jenny, a mother of a 7 and 9-year-old told me: ‘My kids weren’t interested in going at all but three hours at a tennis camp turned out to be a good first step.’ Half-day camps are a great introduction to camp life.

It’s also important to think carefully before automatically sending siblings to the same camp. ‘Choose carefully!’ warned Maggie, who has two girls with very different interests. ‘I sent both of mine off to the same sports camp. At the end of the first day, one came home on top of the world, the other refused to go back.’

If it is your child’s first time at a summer camp, you can ease their worries by choosing something that really dovetails nicely with their hobbies and personality.

If you think a tech camp might hit the mark, try something with a more specialist focus on robotics, coding and inventions. Next Thing Education run programmes across the UK led by professional creators, inventors and tech enthusiasts. The children learn creative, technical and logical skills. See www.nextthing.education for details.

For outdoorsy kids, summer is the perfect opportunity to immerse them in the most inspiring local scenery.

Do you live near a woodland? Forest Schools are ideal for nature loving kids, encouraging play alongside learning bushcraft skills, all in a natural setting. You can find your nearest by looking on the database of the Forest School Association which ensures site leaders have Forest School L3 qualifications or equivalent. Visit www.forestschoolassociation.org for details.

If you are heading to the coast for a holiday or even a short break and your child can swim and enjoys being in the water, a surf school is a good option to consider. Surfing England (www.surfingengland.org) has a list of more than fifty accredited surf schools and coaches. They’ve also created the Grom Squad programme for kids to learn about protecting the environment and sea safety.

Budget-friendly options

If your child is under 11-years-old, you may qualify for a Tax-Free Childcare account (which you can set up on the Government Gateway website). The government contributes £2 for every £8 you put into the account. To spend the money on a summer camp you will need your unique reference number from your account.

Many camps still accept childcare vouchers. The schemes are closed to new applicants but are still valid if you joined on or before 4 October 2018.

The Summer Camps Trust (www.summercampstrust.org) charity aims to make residential summer camp as normal for UK children as it is for kids in the US. Offering access to kids from all backgrounds, their Tryout camps offer reduced rates for first timers.

The Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAF) is a government-funded holiday camp programme offering free places to any child who is eligible for free school meals. Head to your local authority website and search for HAF. Note that each area has a different name for its HAF funded programmes.

Classes available in Southampton and the surrounding areas.

Football fun for children aged 18 months to 7 years. To book or for more information call Hannah on 07916 854810 or hdarling@littlekickers.co.uk

What questions to ask when choosing a camp

Here are some important questions to ask when choosing a camp.

Is it Ofsted registered? If it runs for more than four hours in one day, Ofsted registration is compulsory.

What is the ratio of staff to children? For children ages 3 to 8, the camp should have a 1 to 8 ratio. For children ages 8+, a 1 to 10 ratio is recommended.

Ask if staff are enhanced DBS checked (Disclosure and Barring Service, formerly the Criminal Records Bureau or CRB) and who is the designated safeguarding lead.

If high-risk activities are included, double check the camp is accredited by the relevant association.

Check the instructors and staff have the relevant qualifications for the activities. Many camps employ teens who add a fun dimension but they should always be overseen by professionally qualified staff.

How does it handle medications and food allergies? What are the procedures if your child becomes ill or in an emergency? Will there always be a trained first aider on site?

Would you like to advertise your club or class in our next issue? BOOK TODAY

Email Rebecca for more information at rebecca@familieshampshirewest.co.uk

Summer of Design for budding graphic designers

Do you have a creative child interested in graphic design?

Graphic design is the art of using text, colours, shapes, photography and illustration in a way to communicate a message – whether it’s poster design, a PowerPoint presentation or a logo.

The self-paced six module Summer of Design course will introduce your child to many elements of graphic design. Each module we will focus on a different area of design with fun projects that include logo design, typography and coming up with colour palettes.

The online course is available from May to September and is aimed at older primary school children and teenagers (ages 10 to 17).

Find out more and book at www.summerofdesign.co.uk

BIRTHDAYS Birthday traditions

By Tamsin Ryan

The lovely thing about birthday traditions is that they don’t have to be big and expensive to be really fun and meaningful. They’re all about creating lasting memories and providing the perfect opportunity for a family photo, captured every year to see your family grow and change.

In our household, we have a ‘birthday book’ for our daughter. Every year we fill out a new page with what makes her special; from her favourite food or toy, to what she wants to be when she grows up. It’s going to make a lovely book to look back on in years to come! She also opens her presents first thing in the morning, before we’ve even got out of bed. Later, we’ll eat out with wider family members, at the favourite ‘fancy’ restaurant that we always go to for birthday celebrations.

Another great bonus of family traditions is that they can potentially replace the need for an all-singing, all-dancing birthday party. Sometimes quality time with the ones we love is more than enough and parties can take a back seat.

Here are a few fun ideas for you:

Add decorations and leave their presents at the end of your child’s bed, while they sleep. A lovely surprise when they wake!

Write your child a letter every year for their birthday, for a lovely keepsake when they are older. Or they could write something each year for a time capsule of their letters and drawings.

Write little post-it notes for the birthday child and hide them round their room, the house, in their school bag and their lunchbox.

Ask the birthday child to donate a toy of theirs to charity before they receive any new gifts. It’s a lovely way for them to acknowledge how lucky they are to receive gifts on their birthday and also clears some space to accommodate any new gifts.

Prepare a fantastic birthday breakfast feast, such as piles of pancakes covered in fruit, syrup and cream. Or maybe just start the day the best way - with birthday cake!

Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. Gifting the birthday child with these is a lovely way to celebrate a birthday in a more grounded way.

Plan a scavenger hunt around the house and garden and ask the birthday child to solve clues in order to hunt down their gifts.

Offer a ‘yes’ day, where you agree to all requests from the birthday child. You may want to have a few ‘safety’ caveats for this day, to ensure certain requests are out of bounds.

Send their birthday card in the post, even if you are all at home; it’s always fun to receive mail.

What's On Your family guide to

DIARY DATES

Ongoing

Treasure Trails

Across Hampshire treasuretrails.co.uk

A self-guided spy mission walking trail or treasure hunt inspired walk. Trails are 2 to 2.5 miles and take approximately two hours. Print a map at home or buy online.

Ongoing

‘50 Things’ Activities

The National Trust: Mottisfont, Hinton Ampner & The Vyne nationaltrust.org.uk

Why not try some of the ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ challenges? There’s something for every young explorer to do.

Ongoing

Gruffalo Party Trail

Alice Holt Forest, GU10 4LS forestryengland.uk/alice-holtforest

The interactive family trail features party-themed activities and games, along with fun facts to teach you about life in the forest for the Gruffalo and other creatures. Follow the trail to help find the missing party items. Pick up your pack for just £4, packed with fun things to do on your party adventure. 9am4pm. Ages 3-9.

Selected dates in May & Jun Trainmaster trainmaster.co.uk

Train lovers come and visit for an hour of play. Refreshments available. See online for details. 26 May Southampton

9 June Eastleigh

Until 30 Jun

Biggest Garden Explorer

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey SO51 0QA hilliergardens.org.uk

Self-guided family fun at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens. Spot the biggest and best. Look out for different

textures, colours and shapes. What can you spot in our collection at the Gardens that makes you say wow? Children must be accompanied by an adult. Normal garden admission fees apply. £1 per sheet. 10am-5pm.

Until 3 Nov

Animal Brass Rubbing Exbury Gardens, Southampton, SO45 1AZ exbury.co.uk

Grab your crayons and trail pack and set off on your Exbury adventure. Throughout the woodland gardens you can find 8 rubbings that will introduce you to some of the wildlife who live in the New Forest. Pick up your trail pack from the Visitor Entrance and follow the map to find the 8 brass rubbing posts.

MAY

Fri 3 to Sun 5 May

BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair

National Motor Museum, Beaulieu SO42 7ZN

beaulieu.co.uk/events/bbcgardeners-world-fair-spring

What better way to inspire your gardening year ahead than by joining us in May for the return of this much-loved show. Set in the beautiful grounds of Beaulieu, this Spring Fair includes Beautiful Borders and The Hillier Experience packed with planting ideas, and stunning floral displays from top nurseries. 9.30am-5pm.

Sat 4 to Mon 6 & Sat 25 to Mon 27 May

Go Nuts at Monkey World Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre, Wareham, BH20 6HH monkeyworld.org

Every child who brings an unopened bag of nuts with them will receive a FREE Monkey World badge.

All listings correct at the time of going to print. Please check with the venue before visiting to ensure events are still going ahead and the venues are open.

Sat 11 May

Pawty in the Park Chamberlayne Leisure Centre, Weston, SO19 9SJ dreamempireevents.co.uk

Family fun day and dog show. 10am-2.30pm. FREE entry. £3 entry per dog per class with proceeds being donated to Greyhound Lifeline charity.

Sat 11 May to Mon 3 Jun

Mysteries & Mayhem

Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ

winchestersciencecentre.org

Science spies and curious kids needed at Winchester Science Centre this May half term. Free Science Spy School live show and Forensics Hide and Seek activity trail as part of Mysteries & Mayhem. All visits must be booked in advance online and save 25% by booking seven or more days in advance. 9.30am-5pm.

Sun 12 May

Little Pickles Market

Totton Health & Leisure Centre, SO40 3GX littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk/ hampshire

0-5 years baby & children’s nearly new market. Buy clothes, toys, nursery furniture, baby equipment and more. 2-3.30pm. Book a seller space online.

Sun 12 May

Family Conservation Awareness Day

Buckler’s Hard, The New Forest, SO42 7XB bucklershard.co.uk

Discover how you can help to protect the environment, while you enjoy fun activities and informative displays. The Buzztastic Bee-Balancing Blundershow brings Dr Albinele and his travelling hive to the event. Learn the waggle dance, join in with sticky ball pollination and watch out for the exterminator, while you learn how important bees really are! 10am3.30pm. FREE.

Sat 18 May

BIGGER Pickles Market

Salvation Army Centre, Hedge End, SO30 2GL littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk/ hampshire

3 years to teenage nearly new market. Buy clothes, school uniform, books, games, gadgets and more. 2-3.30pm. Book a seller space online.

Sat 18 May

Southampton City Farm Spring Open Day

Southampton SO16 9FQ dreamempiremarkets.co.uk

Stalls, music, animal interactions, cafe, workshops, mascot visits. £3 entry for adults into the farm. 11am-4pm

Sat 18 May

Feastleigh Food & Drink Fiesta Wells Place, Eastleigh SO50 9FF dreamempiremarkets.co.uk Food festival and artisan market in Eastleigh Town Centre. 11am-9pm. FREE.

Sun 19 May

Little Pickles Market

Chamberlayne Leisure Centre, Weston, SO19 9SJ littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk/ hampshire

0-5 years baby and children’s nearly new market. Buy clothes, toys, nursery furniture, baby equipment and more. 2-3.30pm. Book a seller space online.

Thu 23 May Virtual Fostering Information Event

Southampton City Council southampton.gov.uk/fostering

Find out more about fostering from 6.30-8pm. Call 0800 5 191818 or email fostering@southampton.gov. uk to register.

Sat 25 May & Sat 22 Jun

Mini Monet

Southampton City Art Gallery SO14 7LY southamptoncityartgallery.com

Join artist Debra Marsh to experiment with different art styles, techniques and materials in a fun and accessible way. A great way to encourage your child’s creativity without making a mess at home. £7.50 book online. 10am. Under 7s.

Sat 25 May to Sun 2 Jun

May Half Term at Mottisfont Mottisfont, Nr Romsey, SO51 0LP nationaltrust.org.ukmottisfont

Find creative inspiration as you discover different artworks in the house and gallery, explore the gardens to find out what’s growing at this time of year, or take a walk for a closer look at the natural world. 10am-5pm. Ages 3-12.

Sun 26 May

Mayfest at the Museum

The Brickworks Museum, Swanwick, SO31 7HB thebrickworksmuseum.org

Family-friendly fun at the Brickworks Museum returns with Mayfest – a celebration of spring. Featuring a fun dog show and children’s activities, this is a great day out for all the family. Inside, the Brickworks’ machinery will be under steam and the miniature railway will be giving rides around the track. 11am-4pm.

Tue 28 to Thu 30 May

Pond Dipping

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey SO51 0QA hilliergardens.org.uk

What is lurking in the ponds? Join in for pond dipping and see what is in the education garden ponds. Can you find diving beetles, nimble pond skaters and slimy snails? All equipment is provided. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Normal garden admission fees apply. £3 per child. From 10.30am.

Tue 28 May

Outdoor Adventure Holiday Club

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey SO51 0QA hilliergardens.org.uk

Want to be an outdoor explorer? With a Forest School ethos, activities range from den building, bug hunting and scavenger hunts to tool work (using bow saws, knives, loppers etc) and more! Sessions run between 9.30am3.30pm. Booking is essential.

Thu 30 May

Teddy Bear’s Picnic Theatre Show

Hinton Ampner, near Alresford, SO24 0LA nationaltrust.org.uk/hintonampner

Join RahRah Theatre Company for a fun exciting adventure with your favourite teddy bears! Bring along your favourite bear and join us on a fun, exciting adventure to get to the picnic on time! The show incorporates, puppets, well-known songs and dancing, together with numbers, colours and shapes. 11am-12noon or 2.30-3.30pm. Ages 2-6.

Enjoy The Gruffalo Party Trail at Alice Holt Forest

The Gruffalo is celebrating his 25th birthday with a fun forest adventure at Alice Holt Forest, the Gruffalo Party Trail.

The interactive family trail features party-themed activities and games, along with fun facts to teach you about life in the forest for the Gruffalo and other creatures. Follow the trail and find the missing party items to give the Gruffalo a birthday to remember.

Pick up your pack for just £4, with fun things to do on your party adventure. Whilst you’re there, find the brand-new Gruffalo sculptures, enjoy the play areas and treat yourself to something from the popular café.

The trail is ongoing throughout the year. Find out more at www.forestryengland.uk/gruffalo-party-trail

JUNE

Sat 1 & Sun 2 Jun

Dogstival

Burley Park, BH24 4BS dogstival.co.uk

An action-packed weekend crammed full of quirky fun, features and food that has more than 10,000 dogs zooming back year after year. Tickets from £18 adults and from £10 for ages 6-16yrs, under 5s go FREE.

Sat 1 & Sun 2 Jun

Cheese & Chilli Festival

North Walls Recreation Ground, Winchester cheeseandchillifestival.com

A family show offering cheese and chilli products as well as craft and retail stands. There is a family area with wrestling, Punch and Judy, a magician, circus skills, children’s fun rides (paid for activity) and inflatables. Plus, live music, demonstrations and competitions.

Fri 7 to Sun 9 Jun

The Garden Show

Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle, PO9 6DX thegardenshows.com

Featuring specialist growers, garden related goods, artisan designs, homeware products, fashion accessories and delicious country foods. There are talks, demonstrations, activities for young and old, expert advice and a variety of music and entertainment. Book online and save 15%. 10am-5pm.

Sun 9 Jun

Little Pickles Market

Brockenhurst Village Hall, SO42 7RY littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk/ hampshire

0-5 years baby and children’s nearly new market. Buy clothes, toys, nursery furniture, baby equipment and more. 2-3.30pm. Book a seller space online.

Sun 9 Jun

Open Farm Sunday Newhouse Farm, Northington Down, SO24 9UB farmsunday.org

Explore real working farms and learn more about the countryside. Enjoy tractor-trailer rides, farm

tours, nature trails, bug hunts and even shop at farmers’ markets. 10am-3pm. FREE entry but activities may incur a charge.

Fri 14 Jun 7

Fri 5 Jul

Autism Friendly Day

Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre, Wareham, BH20 6HH monkeyworld.org

Monkey World opens an hour early at 9am, exclusively for visitors with autism and their families. Sensory trails, a calm room and drop-in room for support all ensure that Monkey World is a great day out –for all.

Sun 16 Jun

Half price for Dad’s at Exbury Exbury Gardens, Southampton, SO45 1AZ exbury.co.uk

Explore the beautiful woodland gardens and enjoy the special events being held including model railway exhibition, car show and a tree climbing competition. Half price on entry to gardens only. Steam railway can be purchased at £6.50pp. 10am-5pm.

Sun 16 Jun

50% for Dads at Monkey World

Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre, Wareham, BH20 6HH monkeyworld.org

Dad’s get 50% off entry at Monkey World on Father’s Day.

Fri 21 & 28 Jun

Great Expectations Outdoor Theatre

Hinton Ampner, SO24 0LA www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hintonampner

Quantum Theatre brings you their brand-new adaptation of Dickens’s most enduringly popular and atmospheric novel which delivers high comedy and dark drama as we follow Pip’s journey through adversity to discover the true nature of his ‘great expectations’. 7-8.30pm. Booking required.

Sun 23 Jun

BIGGER Pickles Market

Totton Health & Leisure, SO40 3GX littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk/ hampshire

3 years to teenage nearly new market. Buy clothes, school

Science spies and curious kids needed this May half-term

Find out where your curiosity will take you this May and June with the return of Mysteries & Mayhem at Winchester Science Centre.

Between Sat 11 May and Mon 3 June, including every day during May half-term, there’ll be all the usual Science Centre fun, plus even more to excite children aged five to twelve and their families.

Visitors are invited to join the Science Spy School live show and help use light to uncover the secrets contained in the mystery safe. There will be a chance for little and big scientists to put their forensic skills to the test in an indoor and outdoor Hide and Seek activity trail. Plus, there’ll be space adventures in the Planetarium, huge ‘don’t try this at home’ demos in Science Live and two floors of hands-on exhibits not to be missed.

Find out more at www.winchestersciencecentre.org

uniform, books, games, gadgets and more. 2-3.30pm. Book a seller space online.

Sun 23 Jun

Magic, Myths and Mystery

The Brickworks Museum, Swanwick, SO31 7HB thebrickworksmuseum.org

Delve into the realms of magic and mystery with this all-new event. 11am-4pm.

Sat 29 Jun

Little Pickles Market

Salvation Army Centre, Hedge End, SO30 2GL littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk/ hampshire

0-5 years baby & children’s nearly new market. Buy clothes, toys, nursery furniture, baby equipment and more. 2-3.30pm. Book a seller space online.

Sun 30 Jun

DIG!

The Arc, Winchester, SO23 8SB hampshireculture.org.uk

As the sun comes up on a new day, the garden wakes up! Enjoy a gentle first theatre experience, perfect for the very young, with music, rhythm and singing. The story brings to life a world of growing plants, busy bugs, wriggling worms and everchanging weather! Ages 6 months to 2 years.

Sun 30 June

Little Pickles Market

Applemore Health & Leisure Centre, SO45 5TN littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk/ hampshire

0-5 years baby and children’s nearly new market. Buy clothes, toys, nursery furniture, baby equipment and more. 2-3.30pm. Book a seller space online.

Fri 26 to Sun 28 Jul

The Garden Show Broadlands, Romsey, SO51 8GG thegardenshows.com

Featuring specialist growers, garden related goods, artisan designs, homeware products, fashion accessories and delicious country foods. There are talks, demonstrations, activities for young

and old, expert advice and a variety of music and entertainment. 10am-5pm.

CHILDREN’S THEATRE

Mayflower Theatre Southampton, SO15 1GE www.mayflower.org.uk/whats-on

Until Sun 12 May

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

In a brand-new production of this much-loved family favourite this ravishing award-winning musical is bursting with unforgettable songs by the Sherman Brothers including Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain, Truly Scrumptious and of course the Academy Award nominated title song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Ages 5+.

Tue 14 to Sat 18 May

Life of Pi

Life Of Pi is the hugely popular story of an epic journey of endurance and hope. Don’t miss the West End and Broadway spectacle on its first ever UK tour. Ages 10+.

Thu 23 May to Sun 16 Jun

Wicked Wicked imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. Ages 7+.

The Point, Eastleigh SO50 9DE www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk

Thu 30 May to Sun 2 Jun

Beauty and the Beast

Immerse yourself in the timeless tale of love and transformation, with stunning costumes, captivating performances and unforgettable songs.

Sat 15 Jun

Wi-Fi Wars

Wi-Fi Wars returns with the live comedy game show where you all play along! Login with your smartphone or tablet and compete

Celebrating 30 years of The Garden Show

The Garden Show is celebrating 30 years in business this year. Set up by Jane Sterck and Lizzie Dymock as a forum for small businesses, growers, designers and artisans to promote their products to a local audience.

Set over three days, from Fri 7 to Sun 9 June (10am-5pm) at Stansted Park, the show offers a great day out for the whole family, with demonstrations of willow weaving, traditional chair and trug making, forging, painting, woodturning and more. There is a giant tombola, toddler fun fair and bouncy castles, Huxley Birds of Prey, circus skills and Punch and Judy. Save 15% when you book online in advance.

There is also a Garden Show at Broadlands, Romsey from Fri 26 to Sun 28 July from 10am-5pm. Book your tickets today!

To find out more visit www.thegardenshows.com

in a range of games, puzzles and quizzes to win the show and prizes! 2pm. Ages 6+.

Sat 22 Jun

Goldilocks the Ballet

Join Goldilocks, the girl with the lovely locks and her jar of magical honey, as she befriends a family of bears and teaches everyone the value of sharing. 1pm or 3.30pm. Ages 2+.

MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton SO14 7DU www.mayflowerstudios.org.uk

Wed 29 May to Sat 1 Jun

The Lion Inside

A best-selling story about confidence, self-esteem and a shy little mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar. Ages 3+.

Sat 1 Jun

Family Fun Day

Join MAST Mayflower Studios for a family fun day with a variety of activities suitable for all ages including face painting, crafts, workshops and scratch performances. All ages.

Wed 10 to Sat 13 Jul

Guys And Dolls

Luck, love and laughter collide in the glamorous world of Guys and Dolls this summer. With colourful characters, dazzling dances and standout songs.

The Berry Theatre, Southampton, SO30 4EJ www.theberrytheatre.co.uk

Sat 11 May

Top Secret: The Magic of Science

Experience the non-stop action packed interactive magical science experiments that will capture the imagination. Top Secret is a fastmoving colourful magical science show filled with mystery, suspense and lots of mess! 2pm.

Fri 31 May

Out of the Hat

Brought to you by the makers of Shoe Baby, Flyaway Katie, Arthur’s Dream Boat, Pat-a-Cake Baby and Penguin. A story about friendship and the true magic of nature. Full to the brim with lively songs by

the talented Tom Gray of Gomez. A feast for the senses and a spectacular theatre experience for everyone! Ages 2-7.

HOLIDAY CLUBS

May to September (Online)

Summer of Graphic Design

summerofdesign.co.uk

Self-paced, six module course will introduce your child to many elements of graphic design. Each module we will focus on a different area of design with fun projects that include logo design, typography and coming up with colour palettes. Ages 10-17.

Tue 28 to Fri 31 May &

Mon 15 Jul to Thu 22 Aug

Delgado Tennis Camps

St Swithun’s School, Winchester, SO21 1HA

delgadotennis.co.uk

Holiday camps run all year round and offer flexibility with daily (half day/full day) or weekly bookings. Groups are arranged according to age and ability. Various dates available. Book online.

Summer Holidays

Ultimate Activity Camps

Twyford School, Winchester or Stroud King Edward VI School, Romsey ultimateactivity.co.uk

Outstanding activity day camps for ages 4 to 14, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, providing a full day of thrilling adventures (costs apply). From sports and survival camps to art and tech adventures, there’s something for every imagination. Your child will boost confidence, resilience, and self-esteem while having the time of their life. Childcare vouchers accepted.