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Free Christmas activity guide Kindness advent calendar for every reader Win tickets to Peppa Pig Live at New Theatre
Margam Country Park
22 nd Nov to 23 rd Dec
Port Talbot
Issue 4 November/December 2019
4.45pm until late
email: editor@familiescardiff.co.uk
familiesonline.co.uk
Directory CLASSES & CLUBS Baby Sensory Cardiff Award-winning, sensoryrich development classes; designed to support you and your baby from birth. Regular exposure to an incredible range of sounds, smells, sights, textures, music, dance, signing and massage all help rapidly develop the brain in your baby’s first years. We’ve done the research; so you can enjoy the fun. Cardiff East classes run in Lisvane (Tues), Roath (Wed) and Whitchurch (Fri). Cardiff West classes run in Penarth (Tues) and Barry (Wed). Find out more and book at www.babysensory.com Forte School Of Music (Llandaff) Immersing little people in music has proven intellectual benefits. Best of all, it’s loads of fun! Introduce babies to new sounds; encourage tots to explore music; develop your older child’s instrumental abilities with small classes or solo tuition. Adult lessons available. Book your free taster class. t: 029 2063 1340 e: fortecardiff@fortemusic. co.uk Hartbeeps Our award-winning classes combine an original soundtrack with a colourful array of magical props and techniques, from light effects to yoga, dance to percussion, to aid speech, language, movement, relaxation, and of course, fun! Classes run in Cyncoed (Mon), Llanishen (Tues), Caerphilly (Wed), Rhiwbina (Thurs) and Llanbradach (Fri), with parties and special events taking place over weekends. For more information, contact your local Imaginator at lyndsey.stuart@hartbeeps.com, telephone 07880 333189. Search for Hartbeeps Cardiff on Facebook or visit www.hartbeeps.com
SWIMMING Cwac Cwac’s Our bilingual classes provide a fun and safe swimming experience for your little one, while also offering an introduction to the Welsh language through song and play. We offer classes for each stage of the swimming journey: Baby Ducklings (0-2 years) is a lovely bonding experience for parent and child; Little Ducklings (2-3 years) promotes independence and confidence in the water; Mighty Ducks (3-4 years) teaches enhanced swimming and safety skills. Our Sun-Fri timetable of over 50 classes takes place at the Holiday Inn, Cardiff North, CF15 7LH.
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Puddle Ducks Swimming facilitates development of crucial higher brain functions, core muscles and co-ordination. We provide fabulous, childled baby and preschool lessons from 0–4 years. Join any time; no need to wait for start of a term. Our highly trained and qualified teachers are experts at identifying children’s levels of ability and adapting activities to the individual, nurturing confidence and encouraging natural ability. Lessons at Novotel Cardiff CF10 (Mon&Fri); Maes Ebbw School NP20 (Wed); DW Fitness NP20 (Sat); Mercure Cardiff Holland House CF24 (Sun); Llanhennock Lodge NP18 (Sun). Call 07852 475906 or email southeastwales@puddleducks.com More info at www.puddleducks.com/cardiff
The Nest The Nest Birth and Baby Studio in Llanishen is a safe and judgement-free zone for new mums, and home to The Daisy Foundation’s baby massage and yoga classes, run by fully-qualified and accredited perinatal supporter Laura Livingstone. Mon 11am: baby yoga 4-8 mths; 12.20pm: baby massage/postnatal support for 0-5 mths; 1.30-3.30pm: informal drop-in coffee afternoon for mums and babies up to 2 years, £3. Tues 1pm: baby massage. Thurs: Coffee and chat with perinatal specialists; £6. 1pm: baby sensory play, story, rhyme for 8-18 mths). Book at thedaisyfoundation.com/ teacher/laura-livingstone/
PREGNANCY AND POSTNATAL
BUY AND SELL MARKETS
National Childbirth Trust (NCT) Local services www.nct.org.uk/branches/Cardiff
Kidsmarkets Nearly New Sales Buy and sell a huge selection of great quality pre-loved children’s toys, clothes and baby equipment, all at a fraction of the usual price! Thousands of items for boys and girls from 0-7 years, from woollies & wellies to buggies, cots and every toy imaginable! Bring babies in carriers if possible to avoid congestion. Secondhand Stalls £18, £1.50 entry adults, kids free! Saturday 16th November, 11am–12.30pm, Howells School, Cardiff Road, Llandaff, CF5 2YD. Free parking. www.kidsmarkets.co.uk Sunday 24th November, 11am–12.30pm, Cowbridge Comprehensive School, Aberthin Road, Cowbridge CF71 7EN. Free parking in the school.
NCT Antenatal Courses: Courses available in Newport, Caerphilly, Canton, Whitchurch, Llanishen, Roath, Penarth, Cowbridge. NCT Breastfeeding weekly drop-in support: Every Thursday 1–3pm, Ararat Centre, Plas Treoda, Whitchurch, CF14 1PT. NCT Baby Massage courses Llanishen and Penarth. NCT Bumps & Babies group facebook.com/NCTCardiff/ Maes Y Coed Community Centre, CF14 Llanhilleth Miners Institute, Abertillery NCT Prams in the park facebook.com/NCTCardiff/ Every Thursday, Terra Nova Café, Roath Park NCT Red Cross baby first aid facebook.com/NCTCardiff/ ‘Baby Massage & More’ with Miranda Webb A nurturing space to relax every Friday. A baby massage session followed by a group chat. We’ll have a topic each week related to you and your baby, great for early parenting. Each session is 2hrs and includes tea and cake. This really is baby massage and more. Suitable for babies 0 to 6mths. It’s available to book as a 6-week course (£65) or drop-in sessions (£11). Every Friday, 1-3pm at Canton Uniting Church Lounge, Cowbridge Rd East, Canton. Details and booking at www.mirandawebb.co.uk/booking.
Join our team of Roving Mums & Dads Families Cardiff & Vale is growing a team of local parents to review restaurants, activities and events around Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Interested in joining and seeing your words and experiences in print? Email editor@familiescardiff.co.uk with Roving Mums & Dads in the subject line, telling us where you live, and the ages of your children.
...of readers say they’re highly likely to respond to advertising in Families Magazine. Families Cardiff & Vale reaches 240,000 parents, grandparents and carers annually. To showcase your class, club, party, workshop, open day or event in our directory, contact editor@familiescardiff.co.uk
Cardiff & Vale
Head of sales Natasha Gudgeon natasha.gudgeon@familiespublishing.co.uk 07767 893807 Design: Sarah Harmer Contributors: Toby Buckley, Andrew Campbell, Jess Day, Gabrielle Nash, Claire Winter. Next issue: January/February 2020 Booking deadline: 1 December 2019
Distribution: Families Cardiff & Vale magazine reaches over 230,000 parents, grandparents and carers annually, throughout Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. We distribute throughout key postcodes across the boroughs, and venues including primary schools, state and private nurseries, libraries, soft play centres, leisure centres and attractions, retail outlets, coffee shops and at key family events. To enquire about becoming a distributor, or taking out a private subscription, email editor@familiescardiff.co.uk.
From the editor It probably hasn’t escaped your attention that Christmas is nearly upon us. I realised when my to-do list seemed to triple overnight! Researching and planning those great festive activities we want our kids to experience can be time consuming, and that’s why we’ve used this issue to curate some of the fabulous events taking place across Cardiff and the Vale between now and the end of the year. From the wonderful Cowbridge Reindeer Parade, to the ever-popular Winter Wonderland, and, new for 2019, the breathtakingly beautiful light show at Margam Country Park, by the fabulous team at Luminate Wales. We hope you have fun browsing this issue and filling up your Christmas calendars.
Rebecca Lewis Managing Editor
Contents
Managing editor Rebecca Lewis editor@familiescardiff.co.uk 07813 955290
In this issue 2 Directory Our clubs and classes digest 4&5 What’s on Our pick of the season 6&7 News The inside scoop on local family life 8-9 Christmas Days Out Make the most of the festive season 10 Let Toys Be Toys An expert view on gendered toys
11 Growth mindset Using psychology at home 12 Confidence after bullying Helping your child bounce back 13 Eco gift guide Christmas without plastics 14 Emma Chichester Clark We speak to the Three Monkeys illustrator 16 Kindness Advent Calendar A month of cheer with our free pull-out
Win tickets to Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever at New Theatre!
WIN
Peppa Pig, George and their friends love having fun outside, especially when it’s an adventure – with tents! And muddy puddles! Enjoy this new live stage show with a brand new story, loads of songs and heaps of fun. Families Cardiff & Vale has a family ticket for 4 people to give away to the 4pm performance on Saturday 22nd February. To be in with a chance of winning, visit our Facebook page @FamiliesCardiff and see our pinned post for entry details. Competition closes at midnight on 6 January 2020.
Families Cardiff & Vale is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Cardiff & Vale are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Cardiff & Vale. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Cardiff & Vale, its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.© Families Cardiff & Vale November/December 2019.
www.familiesonline.co.uk
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W H AT ’ S O N . N O V E M B E R & D E C E M B E R OU OO TD
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CARDIFF’S WINTER WONDERLAND City Hall Lawns 8 Nov–5 Jan
MAKING FIREWORKS Wales Millennium Centre 9 Nov, 11am–4pm
AUTUMN ART ATTACK Forest Farm 10 Nov, 1-3pm
Get your skates on down to the brand new Alpine Skate Trail through Gorsedd Gardens, where you’ll also find funfair attractions and plenty of festive cheer. Also new for 2019 is the Big Wheel. Skate from £9.
Free fun craft sessions run in Wales Millennium Centre’s foyer every Saturday afternoon. Join this one, where the whole family can help create beautiful, multi-coloured fireworks from all kinds of unusual materials.
Create a piece of Autumn art from leaves, nuts and berries to take home – autumn pictures and mobiles are favourites. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the Wardens Centre, CF14 7JJ. £1.50 per child.
www.cardiffswinterwonderland.com
www.wmc.org.uk
www.forestfarm.org.uk
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COWBRIDGE REINDEER FESTIVAL Cowbridge High Street 24 Nov, from midday
BABI COMEDI Llanover Hall Arts Centre 26 Nov, 1–3pm (ongoing)
HAY FESTIVAL WINTER WEEKEND Hay-on-Wye 28 Nov–1 Dec
The parade begins with a nativity procession by Y-Bont-Faen Primary School students, before a herd of real reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh down the high street. Afterwards you can visit the reindeer in their pens and meet Santa in his grotto.
For when the last person who had you in stitches was your obstetrician, this is grown-up comedy you can bring your under twos along to. Book via Facebook or pay on the door. Last Tues of every month. £3 per adult.
The town of books is transformed into a festive wonderland with candle-lit storytelling and family workshops. Added sparkle comes from the iconic lit-up Market Square, the home of Saturday’s food festival.
www.facebook.com/groups/60883146744
www.facebook.com/babicomedi
www.hayfestival.org
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VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS WEEKEND Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Bristol 7&8 Dec, 10am–4.30pm
ELF ME! Workshops Margam Park Weekends 7–22 Dec, +23 Dec
NATIVITY AT THE FARM Amelia Trust Farm 17 Dec, 5pm
Step back in time as Brunel’s ship is transformed into a Dickensian, winter scene complete with beautifully decorated dockyard, Victorian characters and even falling snow. Adults £17, child £10 (under 4s free), family £47.
These fun 75-minute sessions will transform budding Santa’s helpers into bona fide elves. Children (aged 3-12) £15, adults £4 (including hot drink and mince pie). Three sessions each day. Ticket includes watching Santa feed the deer.
Sing songs under the stars and watch the story of Christmas unfold in the animal centre. Come dressed as a shepherd, angel or your favourite animal. Wrap up warm and bring a night light. Booking essential. £12.50 per car.
www.ssgreatbritain.org/christmas
www.margamcountrypark.co.uk
www.ameliatrust.org.uk
We strive to make sure all information is up to date, but things can change at the last minute. Please check with the venue before you leave home.
4 Families Cardiff & Vale November/December 2019
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SECOND HAND DANCE: TOUCH Chapter, Canton 22&23 Nov
LUMINATE WALES Margam Country Park 22 Nov–23 Dec, 4.45–9.30pm daily
WORLD SNOWBALL FIGHT The Royal Mint Experience Weekends, 23 Nov–21 Dec + Mon 22
Part of Cardiff Dance Festival, this gentle performance enables 0-3-year-olds to discover the power of dance, through an interactive show. Watch, play and dance as the performers move to a live score. Adults £10, children £5.
An enchanting after-dark, mile-long light trail, set to ambient music. Travel through tunnels of light, encounter whispering fairies, and see the Citrus House light up to your touch on a keyboard. Tickets from £12/£8 for kids.
Take part in the elves’ annual championships between Mistletoe United and North Pole Town, officiated by Santa himself. Every child receives a photo and gift. Four sessions per day. Booking recommended. £7.95 per child.
www.chapter.org
www.luminatewales.com
www.royalmint.com
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RHIWBINA CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Rhiwbina 30 November, 4–6pm
TRAIN OF BRICKS Tacoma Square, Mermaid Quay 30 Nov–5 Jan, 10am–6pm daily
CAERPHILLY CHRISTMAS MARKET Caerphilly Town Centre 7 & 8 Dec
This community-run festival packs a lot into two hours. There’ll be entertainment and rides, lovely things to eat, carol singing around the tree, a DJ, Christmas stalls, and of course a special guest in the form of Santa.
Take a magical ride (and a selfie or two) on the Santa Express, a brightly coloured steam train, complete with elf driver, two carriages and carrying 24 presents–all made with nearly 300,000 LEGO® bricks.
Treat your senses to a town and Castle preparing for Christmas with delicious street food, the smell of mulled wine, exciting street theatre and over 100 food, craft and gift stalls. This magical two-day market attracts visitors far and wide.
www.facebook.com/onerhiwbina
www.mermaidquay.co.uk
www.caerphillychristmasmarket.co.uk FREE
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Cardiff & Vale
IN THIS ISSUE
New clubs & classes to try this autumn Best family events and great days out! IN THIS ISSUE ! special Behind the scenes Summer holiday t at Cardiff a brillian Castle Great ideas for school break.
2019 Issue 2 July/August
.co.uk email: editor@familiescardiff
familiesonline.co.uk Issue 3 September/October 2019
RIVER OF LIGHT LANTERN PARADE Caerphilly Town Centre 19 Dec, 6.30pm
TYî HAFAN NEW YEAR’S DAY DIP Barry Island 12.30pm, 1 Jan
This colourful, musical parade flows through the town, culminating in a fireworks finale behind the Castle. Caerphilly Leisure Centre will hold free festive lantern workshops on 14&15 Dec, 10am–5pm for all ages.
Register for this bracing event which raises funds for the children’s hospice. Donate £1 to avoid queues and receive wristband in post; £5.50 to receive a medal and help make a short life a full life. Suitable for over 5s.
www.visitcaerphilly.com/posts/lantern-parade
www.tyhafan.org/newyearsdaydip
email: editor@familiescardiff .co.uk
familiesonline.co.uk
Showcase your event in our January/February issue Booking deadline: 1st December Contact: editor@familiescardiff.co.uk
Image credits: Winter Wonderland: Vienna Ice Trail (Stdat Wien Marketing GMBH) Hay Festival (Sam Hardwick).
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NEWS
The Tiger Who Came to Tea hits the screen this Christmas
Calling all little scientists! Tiny To Tots is a group of researchers at Cardiff University dedicated to understanding how children develop cognitive and social skills–and we need your little ones to help! We are currently looking at participants in several studies, including Sentence Structure Learning, where we want to test the idea that children learn new sentence structures by making guesses about the words they expect to hear, and revising their expectations when they do not match what they hear. We will test this via a fun game where children listen to short stories and act them out by dragging and dropping pictures on a tablet. There’s also our Doll and Tablet Play Study, where we examine what happens in children’s brains when they play with dolls and tablets, both alone and with somebody. And we are still running our Mother-Infant Pacifier Study, in which we explore how dummies may help babies handle their emotions and understand the emotions of others. Little scientists, from young babies up to 11 years, who take part in our studies receive a small reward. To find out about upcoming studies, visit www.facebook.com/TinyToTots
The Tiger Who Came to Tea, the classic children’s book by Judith Kerr, will come to TV this Christmas adapted as a half-hour animated film for Channel 4. It will feature a star studded cast of voices including Benedict Cumberbatch, David Oyelowo, Tamsin Greig, David Walliams and Paul Whitehouse. The role of Sophie will be played by 7-year-old Clara Ross, who will be making her TV debut. The book tells the tale of the tiger that shows up at young Sophie’s front door and proceeds to eat the family out of house and home, even going so far as to drink all of the water out of the taps, before declaring: “Thank you for my nice tea. I think I’d better go now,” and
departing. Chloe Tucker, Commissioning Executive, Channel 4 Drama said: ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea is
a timeless classic, and we hope this film will capture the same special place in every family’s imagination watching it.’
Christmas is the perfect time to encourage performing By Suzanne Silezin, School Manager at Forte School of Music At Forte School of Music, we believe that performing is one of the joys of learning a musical instrument. Opportunities to take part in events and concerts throughout the year are readily available, with Christmas being a lovely time to entertain friends and family with a song or carol. Whilst performing in front of people can seem daunting, the benefits far outweigh any negatives, with the experience building self-esteem and increasing confidence and giving children a real sense of achievement. At Forte, our youngest students regularly play small concerts in
front of their classmates and performing becomes the ‘norm’ for them. So, when it comes to getting up on stage in a charity event or Christmas concert, it’s
just natural and they love it! So, this Christmas, we’ll be getting the carol books out nice and early and encouraging our students to ‘playup’ during the festive season!
Find out more at www.fortemusic.co.uk
Step up for safe streets UK Road Safety Week 2019, which takes place between 18 and 24 November, will encourage road users to ‘step up’ and play a part in the creation of a safe and healthy future on our roads. Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on
a British road, yet each of these tragedies is preventable. This year, the annual event will focus on how design and technology can stop human error from causing death or serious injury on the roads. Visit the link below for more information and to download your free action pack.
Visit www.roadsafetyweek.org 6 Families Cardiff & Vale November/December 2019
www.familiesonline.co.uk
NEWS
How to get a letter from Santa All children love to receive a letter addressed to them in the post, but what could be more special than a letter from Father Christmas? Here are two ways of making this happen. Royal Mail Letter to Santa For children to receive a FREE letter from Santa via the Royal Mail, children must post their letter to Santa by Friday 6 December. Envelopes must have either a first or second class stamp and be addressed to Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ. The letter must include your child’s full name and address. NSPCC Santa Letter Children can also receive a personalised reply from Santa via his elves at the NSPCC in exchange for a minimum £5 donation to the charity. The letter is ordered online and must be placed by 9 December. Find out more: www.royalmail.com/christmas/letters-to-santa and letterfromsanta.nspcc.org.uk/letter-from-santa
Congratulations to Acorns Nurseries! Acorns Nurseries were delighted to be awarded eight awards from daynurseries.co.uk. The Top 20 Nursery Awards 2019 highlight the most recommended Nurseries in each region of the UK and the Top 20 Day Nursery Groups in the UK. Acorns achieved a Top 20 Award for Large Nursery Groups in the UK, the only Welsh nursery group to do so. Peter Reynolds, Director of
Acorns Nurseries Limited, said: ‘We are flattered and proud to receive these awards as a company. They are held for the benefit of our fabulous and hardworking staff who strive and toil, rain or shine to enrich and nourish the lives of the children in our care. Well done everybody!’
For more information on Acorns Nurseries, call 029 20382009 or email info@acornsnurseries.co.uk
Dance teacher launches new venture to help families For almost two decades Hannah Pekary has been supporting families across South Wales. Whether it is as a nanny, a professional tutor or a dance instructor, Hannah has gained the trust and respect of children and adults alike. Passionate about education, Hannah is a qualified maths and English teacher who offers one-to-one tuition through her company Level Up. Her mission is to help children enjoy learning and to understand the power it has to change their lives. A dancer from the age of four, Hannah also runs the well-known
Pekary School of Dance in Cardiff, offering classes in tap, ballet, contemporary, ballroom and Latin to children from the age of 18 months upwards. Now Hannah is launching an exciting new venture aimed at families who need a little extra help in their everyday lives. Are your children fussy eaters? Is discipline a problem? Is it hard to find time to bond as a family? Loving Being You offers one-to-one and group coaching to support families and help them develop healthy habits around nutrition, behaviour and wellbeing.
For more information email hannah@pekarydance.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk
New Sleepy Tales for children Publishers Penguin Random House has collaborated with The Children’s Sleep Charity to create collections of Sleepy Tales audiobooks designed to help children relax before bedtime. For children ages 3 to 6 years, Ladybird Sleepy Tales and for children aged 7+, Puffin Sleepy Tales, these are stories with a difference. Part soundscape, part descriptive narrative, they use relaxing sounds and soothing narrators’ voices to conjure calming settings and landscapes and help children feel calm and positive at the end of the day.
email: editor@familiescardiff.co.uk
Each Sleepy Tale is 15-minutes long, and designed to become part of a child’s bedtime routine, listened to before or after reading a bedtime story. 7
CHRISTMAS DAYS OUT
Cardiff has everything you need for a perfect family Christmas It is the most wonderful time of the year, and Cardiff has everything you need for the perfect Christmas. The city showcases a wide variety of award winning events and entertainment to help your season be ‘merry and bright’. You can begin to get into the festive spirit from November 8th when Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland sets on City Hall Lawns. This year you’ll be able to skate at two attractions; the ever-popular Admiral Ice Rink, and the brand new Alpine Trail.
On November 14th see the city in full festive swing as the Christmas Market, Festive Quarter, and Santa’s Grotto all set up shop for the winter as the Christmas lights twinkle on for the first night of the yuletide season. With plenty on offer from world class shopping to Cinderella at the New Theatre, make sure you visit Cardiff this Christmas, and make memories that will last a lifetime. To find out more about what’s happening in Cardiff, check out www.visitcardiff.com/christmas
Taste Christmas in Caerphilly Caerphilly Christmas Market is a firm seasonal favourite both within Wales and beyond, and perfect for getting into the festive spirit. Delicious street food, mulled wine, exciting street theatre and over 100 food, craft and gift stalls make this a sensory treat. Complementing the market is the Farmers Market in the
Twyn Community Centre, as well as Caerphilly Craft Fair at the Cenotaph and Castle Court Craft & Food Market in Castle Court Shopping Centre. And of course, all the town’s high street and independent shops will be open for browsing too. This is a free event in the town, while normal admission charges apply to the Castle.
For further information visit www.caerphillychristmasmarket.co.uk, call The Visitor Centre – Caerphilly on 029 2088 0011, or email events@caerphilly.gov.uk.
An enchanting light trail at Margam
Luminate Wales is open 4.45pm-9.30pm nightly from 22 Nov-23 December. Tickets from £12/£8 for kids. Book at www.luminatewales.com.
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Luminate Wales at Margam Country Park is an enchanting after-dark light trail amidst the historic gardens of Margam Country Park and Castle As darkness descends, stunning lighting elements and fabulous light play, all set to ambient music, will guide you along the mesmerising mile long trail. You’ll be welcomed by Old Grandfather Tree and embark on your adventure through the first beautiful, light tunnel. Pause to play our keyboard and watch as
the Citrus House dances to your tune. Make it past the troll and you’ll be captivated by the whispers of tiny fairies. Continue your ascent to the Castle, and be amazed as the facade comes to life with a digital animation. The trail is one mile long and should take approximately 60-90 minutes to complete. Wrap up warm and bring marshmallows to toast over the fire pit. Hot food and mulled wine are available in the courtyard.
Families Cardiff & Vale has one family ticket for two adults and two children to experience Luminate Wales at Margam Park. Enter via our Facebook page @FamiliesCardiff, or by emailing your name and telephone number to editor@familiescardiff.co.uk with ‘Luminate Margam’ in the subject line. The competition closes at midday on 21 November.
8 Families Cardiff & Vale November/December 2019
www.familiesonline.co.uk
CHRISTMAS DAYS OUT
CARDIFF’S WINTER WONDERLAND BRINGS A UK FIRST FOR 2019
Advertorial
Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland opens at City Hall Lawns from 8 November 2019, unveiling its brand-new Alpine Ice Trail. This open-air ice-skating experience is 250 metres long, making it one of the longest Ice Trails in Europe and guaranteed to be the only one found in the UK this winter. Visitors can still expect its usual ice rink facility–which allows for 300 visitors on the ice during each skating session–but the Trail will enable visitors to explore the majority of the site without taking their skates off…quite literally.
The Alpine Ice Trail isn’t the only new feature you can expect at this year’s Winter Wonderland. Utilising Gorsedd Gardens, the event will have its own Christmas tree on display–decorated by local primary school, Coed Glas. The Big
Wheel is another new addition, with accessible carriages for wheelchair users. Returning favourites include the doublestorey ‘Sur La Piste’ bar and live-entertainment area. Last year, Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland– run by event specialists Sayers Events and 11th Hour–made headlines as they brought the Drop Tower to the city. This year, the Alpine Ice
Trail is expected to make headlines for the event partners again, as this unique skating facility comes to the UK for the
very first time. Looking for something similar outside Cardiff? Your nearest location would be in Vienna!
www.cardiffswinterwonderland.com Keep up with the latest Cardiff Winter Wonderland news: @Cardiffswinterwonderland19 @cardiffswinterwonderland @CardiffsWWL
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BETH SY'N DIGWYDD YM MWRDEISTREF SIROL CAERFFILI WHAT'S ON IN THE COUNTY BOROUGH OF CAERPHILLY FFAIR NADOLIG YSTRAD MYNACH 16 TACHWEDD
YSTRAD MYNACH FESTIVE FAYRE 16TH NOVEMBER
FFAIR Y GAEAF, BARGOD 23 TACHWEDD
BARGOED WINTER FAIR 23RD NOVEMBER
LLAWR SGLEFRIO IÂ BARGOD 20 - 24 TACHWEDD
BARGOED ICE RINK 20TH - 24TH NOVEMBER
FFAIR Y GAEAF, COED DUON 30 TACHWEDD
BLACKWOOD WINTER FAIR 30TH NOVEMBER
FFAIR Y GAEAF, RHISGA 30 TACHWEDD
RISCA WINTER FAIR 30TH NOVEMBER
MARCHNAD NADOLIG CAERFFILI 7 A 8 RHAGFYR
CAERPHILLY CHRISTMAS MARKET 7TH & 8TH DECEMBER
GWEITHDAI GWNEUD LLUSERNAU 14 A 15 RHAGFYR
LANTERN MAKING WORKSHOPS 14TH & 15TH DECEMBER
GORYMDAITH LUSERNAU 19 RHAGFYR
LANTERN PARADE 19TH DECEMBER
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9
PARENTING
Let’s all Let Toys Be Toys Penarth-based Mum, Jess Day of the ‘Let Toys Be Toys’ campaign explains why we should open up the toy box and let children choose their interests for themselves... Children learn through play, from jumping and climbing to stacking blocks or role playing ‘shopkeeper’ or ‘Mummies and Daddies’. Play is absolutely fundamental to children’s learning and development, and putting limits on what kind of play is permitted is simply putting limits on children’s development.
A varied ‘play diet’
Just as they need a varied, balanced diet, kids need a variety of play for balanced development. And, while a boy loving cars or a girl loving dolls is just fine, given the chance, most kids will enjoy a range. Liking sewing or colouring doesn’t rule out loving football or construction, and all of these types of play develop different skills. But toy catalogues seem stuck in a pink and blue world where boys and girls barely even appear on the same page, leave alone play together or – gasp – with the same toys. As parents, we know this simply isn’t the case. The stereotyped messages of ads and marketing have real world effects. You cannot make a child play with a toy, but you can very easily stop them, either by never offering it, or by subtle or less subtle messages that it’s ‘off limits’. Children are very attentive to social cues. They’re trying to learn how to be a grown up, and ‘Dolls are just for girls’ will be understood by a young child in just the same way as, ‘Hitting is wrong’. They don’t understand the difference between those kinds of social rules. The Let Toys Be Toys campaign asks the toy
10 Families Cardiff & Vale November/December 2019
Play matters
A sign that tells a child their choice of toy is ‘wrong’ is just plain mean. But cutting off whole areas of learning has bigger, longerterm effects. If girls aren’t offered the chance to build and construct, they miss out on spatial skills, reinforcing the stereotype that girls are weaker in technical subjects. When boys are discouraged from playing with dolls, they miss out on the chance to practise caring and small motor skills, and develop both socially and emotionally. And the skills that are practised, encouraged, praised and developed in childhood will naturally feed into the academic, personal and career choices our children make as they grow older. That’s why, as parents, it’s important to challenge stereotypes, both at home, and in the marketing that our children see in stores, catalogues and TV. Let’s give our children the widest choice of fun, and the best start in life.
Tips to help avoid stereotypes ✔ Reassure your child that they can like any colour or toy. There’s no such thing as a ‘boys’ toy’ or a ‘girls’ toy’. ✔ Offer a range of toys, books and colours, and encourage family and friends to do the same – people are often very happy to be given gift suggestions. The boy who loves trucks might love crafts or a baby doll too. ✔ When giving gifts, ideally ask for guidance about the child’s interests, but if that’s not possible, try to avoid falling back on stereotyped assumptions about what a girl or a boy will want. ✔ Support retailers who market toys inclusively. Check out our Let Toys Be Toys approved retailers at www.lettoysbetoys.org.uk/toymark www.familiesonline.co.uk
Balance For Better graphic by Hannah Garcia www.blod-design.co.uk
About Let Toys Be Toys
and publishing industries to market inclusively, and stop limiting children’s interests by promoting some toys and books as ‘for girls’ or ‘for boys’. Set up by a group of parents in 2012 to challenge the labelling of toy shelves as ‘Boys’ toys’ and ‘Girls’ toys’, we’ve largely achieved that goal in the UK. Fifteen UK retailers have changed their merchandising, and 11 publishers have pledged an end to books titled ‘for girls’ or ‘for boys’. None have changed back. (Funnily enough, shoppers are just as able to find a dolly under a sign that says ‘Dolls’ as under one saying ‘Girls’!)
PARENTING
Encouraging a growth mindset in your child By Gabrielle Nash
Children are like sponges, aren’t they? They soak up every new thing, whether it’s a specific word or the latest trend. But are they learning new things in the right way? If you’re new to the phrase ‘growth mindset’, don’t be put off. This simple concept could help both you and your child. Developed by Professor of Psychology, Carol Dweck, the ‘growth mindset’ ethos has become increasingly popular in schools globally. Dweck believes that by changing their ‘mindset’, anyone (children included) can increase their abilities and improve their intelligence solely through dedication and hard work. Many of us battle with a ‘fixed mindset.’ For example, the belief that if we aren’t naturally good at languages, that won’t change and therefore we shouldn’t bother trying to learn them. But by shifting to a ‘growth mindset,’ we can actually motivate ourselves to succeed.
Making mistakes is ok This idea is integral to developing a growth mindset. It’s natural to encounter challenges and make mistakes when learning so many new things. Failure can sometimes dent a child’s confidence, but it’s vital they learn that it’s okay to struggle, and that they can learn from mistakes in a way that helps
them become better at something. Praise effort not talent If a child does an impressive painting, instead of praising the child’s natural talent, praise the effort, process and commitment put into creating that painting. A child that is praised solely for their natural ability may not believe that to be attainable again, so may not
try. But a child who gets noticed for the effort they put in will feel able to repeat that success. Encourage your children to see the brain as a muscle And that muscle needs exercising; the more you use it, the stronger it becomes. Talk about things being learned in terms of light bulbs: each time your child learns a new skill, they turn on a new lightbulb in their brains. Each time they practice it, the light bulb gets bigger and brighter. All of which contribute to a stronger brain. Develop your own growth mindset Don’t forget, this isn’t just for children. If you’re facing a challenge, whether at home or work, try applying some of these principles to it. You might surprise yourself, while setting a great example to your kids at the same time! For more parenting tips and advice, follow Gabrielle on Instagram @londonishmum
For almost two decades Hannah Pekary has been supporting families across South Wales. Loving Being You offers one-to-one and group coaching to support families and help them develop healthy habits around nutrition, behaviour and wellbeing. Hannah is also a professional tutor and dance instructor, so whatever your needs, she can help.
Get in touch today! hannah@pekarydance.co.uk 07793 020 666 www.pekarydance.co.uk
www.familiesonline.co.uk
email: editor@familiescardiff.co.uk
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PARENTING
Kids who feel like an afterthought in their parents’ lives will find dealing with bullying and other hardships much more difficult than kids who know their parents love them unconditionally.
Rebuilding your child’s confidence after bullying
Many children need a bit of help to bolster their self-esteem and increase their confidence, especially if they’ve been having a hard time with a school bully. Some experts have suggested that ongoing bullying can be just as damaging as physical or emotional abuse in the home. It breaks children down – no matter what you might have been told about life events being “character-building,” victimisation does not strengthen most children. Negative thoughts, diminished self-worth, feelings of inadequacy and self-blame can all occur as a result of chronic victimisation, and all of these can really damage a child’s self-esteem. If your child has recently experienced bullying, give them lots of time to talk and be sure to provide support and plenty of affection. Hang a painting or a certificate on the wall and encourage friends and family to admire it as this can give a great boost. As often as you can, take the time to celebrate your child’s successes and praise their talents and unique character traits. Help Your Child to Explore Something New Encourage your child to take up a new activity. Do they appear to have a strong interest in arts and crafts? Do they have a natural gift with a musical instrument? Identify a space where they can embrace these interests, engage with new people and learn new skills. Trying something new and putting yourself out there can be difficult for children at any time, but particularly when their confidence is low after a bullying 12 Families Cardiff & Vale November/December 2019
episode. Give them lots of support to stick with it and help them to thrive in their new environment. Your child’s overall confidence will really grow when they discover and develop hidden talents. It will also give them the opportunity to make new friends who don’t know about their bullying experiences at school. The activities your child gets involved in can have a massive influence on their self esteem and confidence. It comes down to more than just having fun (though this is important too). There are loads of activities out there that will help your child to relax and re-group. Spend Time Together When it comes to building your child’s self-esteem, setting time aside to spend with them can go a long way. It strongly communicates how important they are to you. A solid relationship is also easier to build if you have this time together. Your child will face more and more challenges as they grow, and the foundation of a strong relationship with their parent will really make a difference to how they cope. Kids who feel like an
By Toby Buckley
afterthought in their parents’ lives will find dealing with bullying and other hardships much more difficult than kids who know their parents love them unconditionally. Take Up a Sport If your child isn’t pursuing a sport yet, try signing them up for one where they can quickly attain new skills, such as athletics or martial arts. Children can really benefit from regular physical activity, but many kids will feel nervous about highly competitive team games. Sports like martial arts will have the added bonus of teaching your child some self-defence skills, which will allow them to feel more able to cope with difficult situations. Of course, your child won’t be encouraged to use their new skills to beat up their bullies – but just knowing that they aren’t completely helpless can give them the confidence they need to avoid these situations in the first place. Bonding over a new common interest can also be great for your relationship with your child, so you could consider taking up a sport together.
For more information about bullying, check out Need2Know’s Essential Guide to Bullying at www.need2knowbooks.co.uk/product/the-essential-guide-to-bullying which offers some answers as to why children are bullied and how parents can prevent this from happening, as well as providing some proven methods on how to help the bullied child boost their plummeting self-esteem. Use N2K25OFF for a 25% discount at checkout. www.familiesonline.co.uk
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Eco Christmas Gift Guide With many families pledging to reduce clutter, over-consumption and plastics, we round up some of the best eco gifts for all ages... By Claire Winter
Toddlers ABC Wooden Blocks Beautifully crafted from solid rubberwood with smooth, easy-grip handles, this handpainted block set helps strengthen motor skills, develop critical thinking, pre-reading and early counting skills. £29.99 www.letoyvan.com
Babies Sophie la Girafe Comforter Gift Set Made from 100% traditional rubber, derived from the sap of the hevea tree and decorated with food grade paint, this is a charming set for a baby’s first Christmas. £29.99 www.1two.co.uk
Baby Car Seat Wrap The ladies behind Kura Organics have created this cosy organic wrap, perfect for winter car journeys. £49.99 www.kura-organics.com
Bamboo Hungry Kids Set Make dinnertime roar-some with this cute plate, bowl, and cup set made from bamboo and corn starch. Super-safe for kids and also microwave and dishwasher proof. £14.99 www.prezzybox.com
Kids
Cuddledry towels These eco-friendly bamboo towels are the brainchild of two Somerset mums. A revamp of their toddler range has seen four new characters to choose from. Available in sizes 1-3 and 3-6 years. £29.99 www.cuddledry.com
Teens
The Bear Grylls Snorkel Experience for Two Snorkel with some not-so-deadly Black Tip Reef Sharks and other marine life at Birmingham NEC. A percentage of every dive is donated to the Shark Trust to help conservation. £90 www.redletterdays.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk
My First Giant Bubble Kit You can never be too old to play with bubbles. Dr Zigs’s mixture is made from a biodegradable solution by a small, Snowdonia-based company, which even makes bubbles for dogs! £19.99 www.drzigs.com
Tepee This beautifully designed playhouse with a striking scalloped edge is made out of 100% cotton canvas and wood. Natural and chemical free, it comes with a handy cotton travel bag for transporting. £89.95 www.thelittlegreensheep.co.uk
ili Laptop stand This funky, portable laptop stand is the brainchild of engineer Celine Kerr and her husband Zeno. Made from natural, sustainable materials, its design can help improve posture. £39.99 www.ililaptopstand.com Please tell advertisers you saw them in Families Cardiff & Vale Magazine.
Moccis slippers Celebrity favourites, Moccis are ethically produced in Sweden. Hand-sewn in a huge range of designs, they’re luxuriously soft and have an invisible support strap that stops them sliding off little feet. They come in adult sizes too. From £20 www.moccis.co.uk
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BOOK CORNER
Emma Chichester Clark Rachel Bailey talks to the children’s illustrator about her new book, Three Little Monkeys Ride Again,a collaboration with Sir Quentin Blake.
Did you always know you wanted to be an illustrator and what made you choose the wonderful world of children’s books? I did always know! I began to make little books when I was five years old. I wrote stories and drew pictures – mostly of rabbits and bad foxes – and I made little books with sewn up spines. I chose children’s books because there is the opportunity to use colour and to have a series of pictures together, unlike in adult books, and it is a chance to use one’s imagination to the full.
Do you have a favourite book or character you’ve created? I am very fond of [Blue Kangaroo] because he is so kind and forgiving to Lily. He is such a loyal friend. I am also fond of Melrose and Croc – two best friends who live together, one a small green crocodile, the other a yellow dog. They have a perfect relationship, I think. Sometimes they are irritated by each other and sometimes sad, but most of the time they are happy, and they jolly each other along.
WIN
river, the dog, the Bad Hat. I love the line, the yellow, the characters – everything. I wish I could draw like that – and write like that. The books are so deceptively simple. Simplicity is the hardest thing to achieve. They are also very witty – not patronising, and made me long to go to Paris.
Your latest book is a sequel to Three Little Monkeys which Sir Quentin Blake wrote especially for you to illustrate. That’s a lot of talent in one book! What’s it like illustrating for him? It’s very frightening! Having to show him my rough ideas was one of the most daunting things ever, because I kept imagining how he would have tackled the pictures and he would have done it so much better. But it’s also been absolutely wonderful because he is the perfect children’s book writer. He is a choreographer – he knows all the moves and where things are going. He has given me such brilliant things to draw. The more you read the text, the more you find. He is a genius.
You’ve worked with a lot of great authors, do you have any stories to tell? I did work with Roald Dahl a hundred years ago. For a short time, there was an edition of James and the Giant Peach illustrated by me. (It was soon redone by Quentin.) I remember that when I sent the cover roughs to be approved by him, they came back several times as they just weren’t right. Eventually I had a message from the man himself. He said, “It’s got to look more like a BOTTOM!” So, I made it look more like a bottom.
Do you have any family Christmas traditions? We all still love finding bulging stockings full of presents at the end of our beds from Father Christmas on Christmas morning. Other than that, we do the usual things – eat too much especially. I do have a new tradition that I’m encouraging the rest of my family to take up and that is to give books for Christmas – only books. Books are the thing I like receiving best of all. Even picture books! Three Little Monkeys Ride Again is available in hardback priced £12.99. Visit Emma’s website at www.emmachichesterclark.co.uk or follow her blog: www.emmachichesterclark. blogspot.co.uk
What’s your favourite childhood book? I have always loved Madeline better than anything. I loved all the disasters – the fall into the
We have two copies of Three Little Monkeys Ride Again by Emma Chichester Clarke and Sir Quentin Blake to give away. To enter, visit our Facebook page @FamiliesCardiff or email your name and address to competitions@familiescardiff.co.uk with ‘Three Monkeys’ in the subject line. The competition closes at midnight on 13 December.
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Where little acorns grow... It has been 30 years since we opened our very first Nursery in Oakfield Street. At Acorns Nurseries Limited we have watched proudly as some of our very first ‘Little Acorns’ have grown. In fact, some of the children who started with us in the early years have returned to us as Nursery Nurses and even have their own children at Acorns. Qualified and experienced Nursery Nurses and Early Years Teachers prepare children for a lifetime of learning. Chefs provide healthy and nutritious meals, prepared and cooked daily on site. Housekeepers, Gardeners and Maintenance staff all work together within our team to ensure each of our nurseries is an environment where your children feel safe, secure and most of all happy. Each nursery offers large playrooms with designated areas for rest and active play as well as a wealth of the highest quality equipment for adventure and learning. Children enjoy the benefits of outdoor play whatever the weather and we are fortunate to have some beautiful secure gardens with covered play areas. Acorns children enjoy our Forest School sessions, making mini beast mansions, wood cookies and learning about their natural environment. Our open-door policy means that as a parent you can call in at any time to see Acorns life in action. You will be made to feel most welcome and our Managers will be happy to show you around and answer any questions you may have.
Acorns Nurseries Limited have 12 nurseries located in South Wales and Bristol. Caring for babies and children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. We are open from 7.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday, closing only on Bank Holidays. Contact Us T: 02920 382 009 F: 02920 221 044 info@acornsnurseries.co.uk
www.acornsnurseries.co.uk
An Act of Kindness for Every Day of Advent! – choose from below or make up your own 1. Smile at everyone you see today 2. Make cards for elderly people in your street 3. Tell someone the reasons you like them 4. Pick up litter in your street or local park 5. Clean up a mess you didn’t make 6. Wish a stranger a nice day 7. Help make dinner 8. Donate pocket money to charity 9. Compliment staff at a café or shop 10. Donate books, toys and clothes to charity 1 1. Volunteer at a festive community event
Zoe took biscuits to school
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12. Leave snacks on your doorstep for delivery people 13. Let somebody go ahead of you in the queue 14. Hug someone 15. Bake biscuits to take to school or work 16. Deliver notes to houses with great Christmas light displays 17. Pack away your things without being asked 18. Make someone laugh 19. Take canned food to your local food bank 20. Make a list of the things you’re thankful for 21. Leave a kind note where someone will find it 22. Send a Christmas card to someone overseas 23. Do a chore for someone else 24. Leave food out for Santa and his reindeer!
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Perform an a ct of kindness each day until Ch ristmas! Pin up the c alendar and keep a daily record of yo ur family’s good deeds .
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