Families Birmingham Magazine

10/07/2025

Summer is THE perfect time to get the kids off their phones. 😅

So.. a huge thanks to Emilia Orviss from The Good Play Guide for sharing her tips for getting kids off their screens this summer.

For more reasons to get the family out and about, see the latest issue of Families Magazine.

10/07/2025

🎸 Strum Stars is Coming to Harborne, Birmingham! 🎸

The brand-new Holiday Camp for children in Year 3 to Year 6 is making its way to Harborne this summer – and it’s already striking a chord with families!

Following a successful February launch in London, Strum Stars has been a hit with kids and parents alike – blending electric guitars, upcycling magic and body-moving sessions into one unforgettable experience. 🎶

👧 Ages: Year 3 to Year 6
📍 Location: Harborne, Birmingham
📍 Launching wc 28th July,

⭐ What’s Included:

🎸 Morning Magic: Campers learn to play songs they love – from Dua Lipa to Arctic Monkeys. Book multiple days and they’ll even take their guitar home!

🎨 Afternoon Adventures:
Jam sessions, music games & electric guitar fun
TikTok-style dance-offs & football skills
Creative art projects & eco-crafts

⚡ Every week ends with a Grand Concert and Exclusive Recording to share with family and friends.

🎉 Special Launch Offer
To celebrate the Harborne launch, 10 FREE PLACES are up for grabs this summer!
Use code SSHARB25 at checkout – but hurry, places are limited!

👉 Learn more or book now by visiting their website - [ www.thestringsclub.org ]( http://www.thestringsclub.org )

📞 For enquiries, contact the Head Office team on 0121 296 9204

09/07/2025

The summer holidays are just days away!!!!

If you have a long journey ahead of you with young children it can be a challenge.

Jemma Z Smith, Director of The Education Hotel, has been sharing her tips with Families Magazine on how to make things easier.

Do consider sharing the planning load.

If one person has handled the itinerary, packing and researching places to eat, it can be more than a little frustrating when the rest of the family don’t want to follow the schedule. Jemma recommends sharing responsibilities for holiday prep to help avoid tension arising.

08/07/2025

Kids Week performances run from Monday 21 July – Sunday 31 August.

What is Kids Week?

Every year, throughout the summer holidays, a child aged 17 or under can go to any participating show for free where tickets are available as long as they’re accompanied by a full paying adult. Adults can also buy up to two extra children’s tickets at half price and there are no booking fees.

The wide variety of shows to choose from include London musicals, plays, comedies and children’s shows.

Kids Week tickets are the perfect way to introduce your whole family to theatre – with great London shows and great value theatre tickets. We also have a programme of activities to get your kids more involved.

During Kids Week some shows will run activity sessions or interactive curtain calls so you can get even more from your theatre trip!

Find out more information Official London Theatre

07/07/2025

Travelling with children is definitely different!

This month, Janine Mergler has been dispensing some timely advice to Families Magazine on vacationing with young children.

Janine is fresh from trips to Yorkshire, Blackpool and Barcelona earlier this year with her 9 month old son.

'Travelling with child’ is never going to be as straightforward as ‘travelling pre-child’ but seeing your child experience a new culture or eating a new food offers a different form of enjoyment.

Babies bring practical concerns such as access to formula, nappies and babychange facilities.

Where to go? Parents may prefer destinations where baby essentials are readily available and accommodation with kitchen facilities.

Toddlers, on the other hand, need opportunities to play and burn off energy. Destinations with parks, soft play areas or beaches can be ideal.

Janine adds that parents should also consider the logistics of bringing a stroller and car seat, especially when flying.

Family-friendly resorts, cruises or self-catering villages like Center Parcs can provide a sense of independence for older children within a controlled environment.

For picky eaters, all-inclusive resorts or self-catering accommodation offer stress-free mealtimes.

❤️

06/07/2025

☀️ The July/August25 issue of Families Birmingham is OUT NOW! 🏖️

🎟️ Our What’s On guide is jam packed full of summer fun for all the family and includes some great ideas for the school holidays

⏸️ Discover ways to keep the kids entertained WITHOUT screens in our Summer Fun feature

📖 Don’t miss our summer reading recommendations for all ages

🍓Check out our handy guide to foraging and brighten up your picnics this summer with our healthy family food options

👶 Our parenting feature includes an Early Years guide to baby play and we ask two parents if it’s ok to just let your kids be bored sometimes? Plus find out about ‘school readiness’ if your child is starting school in September.

🆓 Enter our new giveaway for the chance to win a Start-Rite shoes voucher and a LittleLife Toddler Backpack and you'll also get access to our FREE Newsletter and digital magazine to share with your friends and family!

→ Look out for copies in your child’s book bag, school, pre-school or nursery

Enjoy!😊


https://tinyurl.com/FBJA25

04/07/2025

👏👏👏

Introducing Lucy Abraham - a mum and languages teacher - recently named one of Club Hub UK’s Top 100 Children’s Activity Providers for 2025!

BilinguaSing Birmingham South offer joyful baby, toddler and preschool classes combining music, sensory play and language learning with your choice of Spanish, French or Italian (and English too - so no prior knowledge is needed!).

With puppets, movement, parachutes, lights and bubbles, their award-winning
method supports early development and makes learning fun - for
little ones (from just 4 weeks) and their grown-ups too!

Song-filled weekly classes are available in Harborne, Bearwood and Bournville as well as in nurseries and primary schools across South Birmingham.

Visit: bilinguasing.com/find-a-class/birmingham-south/

BilinguaSing Birmingham South
Lucy At BilinguaSing


[email protected]
07539 863024

Spanish, Italian and French classes for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and primary school aged children across South Birmingham.

03/07/2025

Single-child families are on the rise.

Families UK has been looking at the advantages of family life with a single child.

Ann Magalhaes is part of The Parent Team; parenting educators offering classes, workshops teaching evidence-based parenting skills and effective support.

As a single child herself, she told us life was for the most part, uncomplicated and calm.

03/07/2025

Birmingham 11+ Mocks are holding their next mock exam on August 3rd.

A significant drop in performance between paper 1 and paper 2 can indicate exam fatigue.

11 Plus Mocks have developed mock exams designed to help children develop stamina and resilience for the real 11 plus.

You can book now at 11plusmocks.co.uk or call 01212706423

03/07/2025

Welcome to ‘Solihull Play Town’.

Play Town is a safe, creative and imagination-based role play centre in the heart of Solihull.

A bespoke and carefully designed learning space, your children can discover life as doctor, experience being a fire fighter, enjoy getting pampered in the salon, or even work as a shop assistant.

On the town green they can enjoy cooking on the BBQ, serve ice creams or have fun catching up with friends at the picnic bench.

Play town is based at the Combat Sports Centre with an onsite café with table service that you can relax in, enjoy a coffee and cake, all whilst watching your loved ones explore and play in a safe and creative environment.

There is a FREE public car park on lode lane (30 seconds walk) and a car park at the back of the building.

They also have a secure buggy park and a bike shed.

3 Vulcan Road, Solihull, B91 2JY
[email protected]

Solihull Play Town