‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ says mother of three and Queen’s Gate Junior School teacher, Yashan Dhaliwal, ‘but in London it can feel as though the village is elsewhere. International families whose roots might not yet be very deep; busy working families who might not have strong relationships with the local community; families where aunts, cousins and grandparents live outside the capital. I know from experience that life can feel very lonely for a young London mother.
‘When my youngest was a toddler, I relied on activity groups and they gave so much to me and my son. However, not all of them were the highest quality. Once you find a group that you like, where your children are happy learning new skills and—in a pleasant environment—you can share experiences with families in similar situations to yourself, it makes parenting so much more enjoyable.’
Earlier this month, Yashan organised and ran the latest ‘Super Saturday’ activity morning at the school where she works, Queen’s Gate Junior School in South Kensington. She chose to teach eager toddlers and their parents how to carve pumpkins. ‘It was very messy but so much fun! The girls and boys drew designs on paper and helped their mummies and daddies scoop out the gloopy pumpkin flesh. The parents then carved out their children’s designs. This was important: it was a collaborative activity, designed to bring families together. It was so lovely to see families engaged in a messy, happy, shared experience.’
Super Saturdays have been running at Queen’s Gate for two years and have included toddler yoga, a visit from farm animals and basket weaving. The programme this year includes a bubble show, gingerbread house making and circus skills amongst many other events. Some sessions are led by external providers and others are run in-house by staff and pupils.
What made Queen’s Gate decide to launch Super Saturdays?
‘It started as a way to engage with our local community,’ says Director of the Junior School, James Denchfield. ‘We have these lovely buildings which are busy throughout the week and we thought, why not share them with others at the weekends? Anyone is welcome and we do not charge. It is lovely to see families spending time together, making friends and inspiring young minds. Also, as a headmaster of a school like Queen’s Gate Junior School, where I see our girls benefit from such an array of opportunities throughout the week—from strings orchestras to ballet, fencing to debating, school plays at professional theatres to rowing—I recognise how fortunate our pupils are. It is satisfying to be able to offer high-quality activities and experiences to little people who do not come to the school. Our own pupils benefit, too: VI Formers welcome guests and get stuck in with the toddlers; it means a lot to our girls to feel as though they are playing an active role in community life.’
What do families gain from weekend activity workshops?
‘The support network is important,’ says Yashan. ‘But also the skills that are imparted to the little girls and boys. Parents want their children to have fun during their weekend activities, but it is also good to know that important skills are being developed. Social skills, of course, from mixing with children outside of their immediate experience, but also fine motor skills when scooping out pumpkins. As a Year 1 teacher myself (as well as a mother), I know which skills need to be practised and I used my experience as a mother and an educator to help me plan the recent Super Saturday. Cultural awareness when taking part in festive-themed events—that is also important. Children see the leaves falling off the trees and begin to understand the seasons; it is nice to reinforce this learning through celebrating seasonal events such as Halloween, Christmas, whatever it may be. And, most importantly, quality family time in a happy and welcoming environment.
‘There are many weekend workshops out there. It can be difficult to know which are likely to inspire children—and also which will be pleasant for parents to attend. We have a lovely setting here in South Kensington—right next to the museums. The buildings are airy and pleasant; we put on nice refreshments; the VI Formers are welcoming and attentive. And all of the families who come are really lovely. Also, as we are a school, we know which activities are worthwhile and which will actually appeal to children as well as honing their skills. Parents find this important: yes, we want our children to have fun, but it’s even better if there is real benefit to a child’s cognitive development.’
Queen’s Gate is an independent girls’ school in South Kensington for 4-18-year-olds. QG Super Saturdays is a free Saturday morning event series for children aged 2-7 and their families. The events take place at Queen’s Gate Junior School and details of future Super Saturdays can be found here.
