Issuu

EEHome FTRake Me

IN THIS ISSUE

Clubs/Classes Education Kids’ Parties Early Years Issue 106 May/June 2022

Familiesonline.co.uk

Familiesonline.co.uk 1

Pock School OPEN DAY JUNE ad Families Mag (87x130mm) AW.pdf

CMY

CAMPS

3-12 YEARS

BOOK NOW harrogate.thelittlegym.co.uk leeds.thelittlegym.co.uk york.thelittlegym.co.uk

WIN a family holiday with Away Resorts! Win a three or four night stay for a family of up to six people in Classic accommodation at an Away Resort of your choice. Welcome to the world of Away Resorts! Experience one of its fabulous UK locations, from countryside to coast and fall in love with a new type of holiday - where your accommodation is offthe-scale amazing and new experiences await at every turn. A holiday to create ‘remember when we did that?’ moments that will last a lifetime. Jam-packed with activities, entertainment, fantastic facilities and even events, there’s something to keep every member of the family grinning from ear to ear. Explore the New Forest, Hampshire, Tattershall Lakes or Boston West in Lincolnshire, Mersea Island in Essex, Barmouth Bay in Wales, Mill Rythe on Hayling Island or Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of White. Enter at familiesmag.co.uk/go Closing date: 30 June 2022. T&Cs: Off-peak periods only, subject to availability. Holiday must be taken by 31 December 2022. Further T&Cs at https://bit.ly/ FamAwayRes

2 Families North Yorkshire

Familiesonline.co.uk

CONTENTS

Welcome So much to look forward to in May and June, including two bank holidays, one of them extra-long! Yippee! Check out our What’s On pages for plenty of fun events to take the family to.

Laura Macaulay, editor

E: editor@familiesnorthyorkshire.co.uk T: 07794 909820

The long summer break is also just around the corner so take a look at our holiday camp feature for some ideas on how to manage school holiday childcare, as well as giving your child some great experiences. We have a new feature ‘Meet your local Club/Class’ - take a look and find out more about what clubs and classes your child can join in the region.

@FamiliesNYMag

If you have a little one who starts school in September or a child transitioning to secondary school, now is also the time to start thinking about preparation. Find tips and advice in our Education section.

@FamiliesNYMag

Did your child miss a birthday party or two during the pandemic? If you’re searching for inspiration for a big bang occasion this year, then keep reading for this year’s hottest party trends and make it a party to remember. Finally, in this issue, we have cute and cuddly Care Bears to give away! Apply for these colourful companions for your child to fall in love with at familiesmag.co.uk/go. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine straight to your inbox with lots more content and goodies on offer.

@familiesnorthyorkshiremagazine

In this issue 4.

Meet the Head

Education

Early years

10.

Meet your local club/class

11.

Holiday camps

12.

What’s on

14.

Health

15.

Parties

Laura x January/February giveaway winners

Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list at https://bit.ly/ Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

Care and share with Care Bears Bean Plush! Apply for a FREE Bean Plush 22cm Care Bear now* Perfect company for your child’s adventures, big or small.

Magazine Familiesonline.co.uk

Apply at familiesmag.co.uk/go *while stocks last T&Cs apply 3

EDUCATION

Meet Dan Machin, Principal at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate

Meet

Head the

Sponsored feature

What inspired you to teach and later to become a Head? I originally studied towards a Management degree at university but in my first and second year I lived with a student teacher and the stories she came home from school with inspired me to do the same myself. We used to have a house rule when she came home that we could only speak to her once she was ready to speak to us, such are the demands of doing your teacher training, so she could never understand why I decided this was something that I wanted to do myself! Even at that early stage though, you could see what she was gaining personally from working with young people and despite the challenges, how much fun it was. In terms of becoming a Principal, going right back to my degree days I have always enjoyed leadership and management and this role allows me to play my part in supporting so many staff and students to achieve what they want to achieve – it is a fantastic job and I’d encourage more staff in schools to do the same. What do you enjoy most about being Queen Ethelburga’s Head Teacher? I enjoy working with people and seeing them develop, whether with their education or careers, has to be the most satisfying part of the role. Queen Ethelburga’s has such an aspirational group of students and staff, with such a diverse range of interests and skills, that every day brings new experiences and a lot of fun. What do you think is the hardest part of education today for pupils? Students take their education incredibly seriously and at times they can over-face themselves when managing their own expectations and the demands that come with this; our key job is to support their wellbeing and ensure they have a good balance of commitments. That said, when I consider schools twenty to thirty years ago, I really admire students today in terms of their approach to learning and their planning for the future. The challenge is convincing them to be less humble and to

realise how remarkable they are! How do you get the pupils to give back to the community? Students at Queen Ethelburga’s (and nationally) have a good understanding of the world around them and a strong moral compass in terms of social awareness. Our work is less about getting them to give back to the community and more about helping them to decide who to support next! What is something about you that nobody knows? My hobbies include a keen interest in cars, motor racing and football! Queen Ethelburga’s is a day and boarding school situated to the east of Harrogate and North of York in the Thorpe Underwood Estate. The school offers all students a vast array of opportunities, enabling them to pursue their particular interests and aspirations. At Queen Ethelburga’s, they have four individual schools, with their own heads and staff teams, small enough to maintain a family atmosphere. Chapter House caters for children aged 3 months to 10 years. King’s Magna caters for children aged 10 to 14 years. The Faculty and the College cater for children aged 14 - 19 years. To find out more, visit: www.qe.org

4 Families North Yorkshire

Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

A parent’s guide to secondary school transition

By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble

The move from primary to secondary school is a major change for children. Most see this as an exciting next stage in their school journey but, for some, the change can make them feel anxious and uncertain. And all this at an age when children are already going through many physical and emotional changes ahead of adolescence. Bringing up children is a slow, staggered process of detachment, from the moment they learn to crawl to the moment they finally leave home. When a child starts secondary school, with a mobile phone and travel card, it’s easy to see impending adulthood in the paraphernalia of independence as the detachment process begins. Our role is to give our children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is and wings to fly away. The roots begin to form during early years education; secondary school is the place where children start to grow their wings. Whilst most children will have a positive secondary school start and will embrace the new experiences on offer, research has found that the shift to secondary school can be stressful for about one in four children and that nearly three quarters of parents are anxious themselves. Our input at this stage is crucial and our role as parents is to be our child’s sounding board, establishing an open relationship in which they feel valued, respected and connected. By adopting this non-judgemental response, our children are more likely to

keep talking to us as they get older. Finally, while we may no longer be at the school gates, our involvement continues to be crucial to both our children’s emotional wellbeing and academic success. There are still many opportunities to stay involved: by joining the PTA, becoming part of a class WhatsApp group and getting to know the school and what support it offers. Talk to your children about their day but possibly not the moment they walk through the door - a snack and a drink often help to ease the way into a pleasant chat. The key to a healthy ongoing relationship is to keep the communication going. Remember that you are your child’s emotional coach. Lisa and Catherine are co-founders of Emparenting (www.emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with the insights, skills and tools needed to nurture the development and well-being of the next generation.

Before your child starts

Change and uncertainty

Exploring Recognise and talk about their primary school highlights and achievements - and things they may miss. Find out what they are looking forward to at their new school, addressing worries and concerns. Connecting Look at the new school website with your child and take part in any induction events. Help your child think about how to approach new people and start conversations. Find other children on the new school route to travel with. Empower your child Encourage your child to take more responsibility at home to build their confidence and independence. Support steps towards independence: allow them to walk home alone in their final term (if practical), meet a friend locally or run an errand for you. Notice when your child does something well and praise them. Organisation is key to success Help your child plan out their journey and do a few trial runs together. Make sure you have all the uniform and equipment ready in time. Plan a suitable space and time for daily homework.

During times of change children will typically experience many emotions, just as adults do. Remember that change is a normal part of life and can help us develop courage, flexibility and resilience.

Familiesonline.co.uk

So how can we help them understand and manage their feelings? Acknowledge challenging feelings and events. Help them learn that life is not perfect and that there may be hard days and difficulties. Teach them to accept these feelings knowing that this acceptance will help them to move on with the emotional strength that they will need as they mature. Validate your child’s feelings. Encourage them to process and talk to you about what is going on. Try not to dismiss their concerns and worries as trivial. Help your child learn what they can and can’t control. We can control our goals, relationships and how we spend our time. We can’t control natural disasters, pandemics or loss. Maintain family routines. Knowing what to expect will help your child feel grounded and secure, especially during times of transition.

EDUCATION

Starting school? Managing school lunches By Emma Lewry

School lunches have come a long way since cold custard and blancmange. If your child is starting school this year and you want to prep them for the experience, here are a few things to consider. School dining halls can be busy places and children might need to carry their food to a table. Practise at home by using a tray and some real or play food. Explain to your child that at school they might need to use a tray too. Talk to them about what the hall might be like; lots of tables and chairs where children eat lunch together, lots of grown-ups to help and, although it might be noisy, it will be because everyone is chatting about their fun morning at school. Will they like the food? I’ve seen with my own eyes that when there’s no pressure from adults watching their every move, children are more likely to try what their peers are eating. Families are often surprised to hear their children have tucked into things like couscous or ragu at school when at home they would rather starve themselves than even touch a vegetable! Very often children will eat well at school and be brave enough to try something new. If you have a child who is choosy, it can be helpful to explore different tastes at home alongside their tried and tested favourites, exposing them to more options before launching into school lunches.

It’s also useful to explain that food may look and taste different from the home version. If lasagne is their favourite and the school version is packed with veggies, it might not be what they were expecting. Show how foods can be made in different ways by trying out some new recipe variations at home to mix things up. If you’re unsure about whether to give school lunches a go in Reception, ask the school for a menu and check which options your child might like. All in all school lunches are a great choice, so consider taking the leap and ordering them at least for the first few weeks. I’m pretty sure you won’t look back! Emma Lewry is an Early Years teacher, headteacher and mother of two. Emma co-owns Every Day’s a School Day (www.edasd.co.uk) which guides families through starting school with courses, groups and a school starter’s planner available from Amazon.

Our bespoke curriculum encourages

Preparing for secondary school lunches Most secondary schools have a canteen-style lunch option often with more choices than at primary school. Prepare by exploring similar venues like cafes; ask your child to look at the options on the menu and let you know what they might choose if it was lunch at school. Discuss with them how to choose a good balance of foods to give them energy and fill them up. Explain how a range of foods across the week will give them a balance of nutrition. You could also practise working out how much items cost; children may have a card to use with a set amount of money for the week or a set amount each day, so budgeting is a great skill to practise.

Girls explore their imaginations, ask questions, experiment, take risks & draw their own conclusions. AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION FOR GIRLS AGE 3-18

6 Families North Yorkshire

Hopefully lunch times will be a social opportunity and your child will be able to meet up with friends to enjoy their lunch together. Encourage them to organise who to eat lunch with in advance, especially in the first few days, so they can tackle the new system together.

mountschoolyork.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Lessons to learn before you’re 10 By Gail Hugman We live in a world where it’s easy to become overwhelmed. So teaching young children to make good use of their working memory, exercise self-control and get organised will really help them develop the skills they need to succeed in life. These key skills underpin everything we do in life and it takes just a few minutes a day to boost them so your child learns more effectively and confidently. What’s more, growing these skills can be fun! Developed by experts who understand how children’s brains develop and form, try these starter activities to set your child off on the right path.

school, your brain will remember it better if you sort the information first. You’ll be able to remember names, countries, lists, linked facts and even do magic tricks by remembering a bunch of playing cards in order - how cool is that?’

Working memory

Self-control

Play Kim’s Game.

Ask your child to tell you really quietly what colour socks they are wearing. Then ask them to tell you again as LOUDLY as possible (it may not be such fun for you, but they will love it!) Each time they whisper or shout, give feedback to their brain by telling them ‘that’s great whispering, can it be quieter?’ or ‘excellent LOUD voice, is that the loudest you’ve got?’

To set up, gather ten objects together on a tray. Give your child one to two timed minutes to look at the objects, then cover them up. Depending on age and ability, ask them to tell, draw or write which ones they remember. As they progress, add more objects or give them less time to remember them. There are ways help brains recall objects; the trick is to make links and spot patterns. Give them these tips: To start with, count how many objects you’ll have to remember. Look to see if any can be linked together, by colour or by material, such as all plastic or all wood, by shape or by use; eg knife and fork go together, tools together, toys together.

Do this exercise a few times and congratulate your child on their self-control. Tell them that taking charge from the inside is a very grown up thing to do. Decide one thing you’d like your child to get under control. For example, it may be to resist the impulse to call out in class. Or leave their desk when they should be sitting quietly. Make it a positive.

Older children ages 7+ might be able to order the objects in a sequence or a story.

Explain to your child that you’d like them to focus on this one thing every day for a week. Remind them each day, ask how they got on and praise their progress. In this way, you’ll support their effort to control their impulses.

The more children play the game, the better they will get at recalling the objects. Why not see for yourself and play along too! Keep a tally so they can track their improvement and praise them for being clever. Explain that this is more than just a fun challenge, it’s all about teaching their brain to have a really good memory.

Gail Hugman is the bestselling author of 100 Things to Learn Before You’re 10. A children’s life coach, she owns and runs Human at Core (www.humanatcore.com), which helps parents motivate and engage their children in developing a bright future and provides science-based online personal development courses for children and parents.

You can say: ‘When your teacher shows you something in

KIDS ART CLASSES ONLINE OR IN PERSON IN YORK

TERM TIME CLASSES & HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

Time management Organising time is a great skill, but children first need to grasp how long things actually take. Our ‘just a minute’ might take five or ten minutes and young brains may understandably be fooled into thinking only a minute has passed. Have fun using a timer to count how many of the following things they can do in one minute: hops, writing their name neatly, reading words out loud, starting a colouring-in page. Show them a timetable of their day with blocks of playtime in which they can plan their own fun.

Familiesonline.co.uk

For kids ages 6-16 Adult beginner classes available too /BlankCanvasArtClub 07773 819 603 blankcanvasartclub@gmail.com blankcanvas.art.club

EARLY YEARS

Developing humour as an infant By Dr Elena Hoicka As a research team, we have always been fascinated by humour in children and so we set out to discover the types of humour that are present in early development and the ages at which different types of humour emerge. To do this, we mapped young children’s understanding of jokes for the first time using data from a new study involving nearly seven hundred children ages 0 to 47 months.1 Incredibly, we identified twenty one types of humour. Children under one year appreciated physical, visual and auditory humour. This included hide and reveal games like peekaboo, tickling, funny voices and noises. In the first year, children are learning to process sensory information, such as what things look, sound and feel like and their humour reflects this. So once they know what a voice should sound like, they notice when someone’s voice sounds strange and find it funny. One-year-olds appreciated humour that involved getting a reaction from others. This included teasing, for example, offering and withdrawing objects, scaring others and taboo topics, for instance, toilet humour. They also found it funny to act like something else, such as an animal. Interestingly, it is around the age of 1 that children start to understand other people’s minds. Their understanding and appreciation of humour reflects this. Two-year-olds’ humour reflected language development, including mislabelling (for instance, calling a duck a cow), playing with concept (for example, saying: ‘dogs say moo’) and nonsense words such as ‘moogly boo.’ They also demonstrated a mean streak as they appreciated making fun of others. As most children start to speak by the age 2, humour reflects this, showing children enjoying playing with language. Our findings

also suggest that perhaps 2-year-olds are starting to understand that other people’s feelings can be hurt too. While many parents won’t be too happy to see their children laugh at someone’s expense, this may signal that a child is understanding other people in more complex ways. Finally, 3-year-olds played with social rules, for example, saying naughty words to be funny and showing the beginnings of understanding tricks and puns. This reflects the way in which children’s understanding of language and the social world keep developing and are simultaneously reflected in their humour. Dr Elena Hoicka is an Associate Professor at the School of Education, University of Bristol. Want to participate in future research? Sign up at www.babylovesscience.com 1 ‘The Early Humor Survey (EHS): A Reliable Parent-Report Measure of Humor Development for 1- to 47-Month-Olds’ by E Hoicka et al in Behavior Research Methods.

EXCEPTIONAL CHILDCARE FOR 0-5'S Children's Corner Nursery NOW OPEN in Harrogate

Come and say hello! We're filling up fast so book a show around today Call 01423 802332 The Annexe, Central House, Harrogate HG3 1UG 8 Families North Yorkshire

harrogate@childrenscornerchildcare.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

EARLY YEARS

The importance of routines for young children

By Claire Burgess

Routine is important for all of us. It provides safe, comfortable boundaries and keeps our lives on track. But it also means different things to different people and needs to fit each individual family, adjusting as children grow. Some families benefit from more structure, while others work well with more flexible routines. There is no right or wrong in a routine, other than when it doesn’t work for your children or for you! Why do babies and children need routine? As humans, every day of our lives is made up of various mini routines. These are the little routines which we have perfected over time and repeat daily, all of which help us to manage our day, many times without even really thinking about it. Routine is also another word for security. By having a routine it helps our children (and us) to feel secure and we are at our best when we feel safe and secure. This is when we are able to concentrate, co-operate, negotiate, listen and ultimately learn. Being able to tell the time gives adults the ability to develop routines but babies and young children don’t have this luxury. So they are relying on us to help them understand how their day is going to be structured. It’s worth being aware that if this timing changes day to day, your child will be constantly unsure of what is happening next. In turn, this may lead to them displaying challenging behaviours, their eating habits fluctuating and their sleep being disturbed.

How do I keep my child on track? It is all about watching for the signals. These can be subtle and can sometimes be easily missed; observation of your child is key. Look for those little indicators such as wandering off around the house and not being able to focus on things, becoming clingy when they were happily playing, staring into space, getting cross, frustrated or fidgeting, upset or boisterous. These behaviours can all be indicators that your child is feeling out of kilter and needs you to help them find the way back into their routine. Once you have recognised this, you can put a plan into action. Claire Burgess is a director and family consultant at Bespoke Family (www.bespokefamily.co.uk), which offers tailored support from newborns to teens.

Top tips

Making it work

Make the routine fit your family. Every family is unique and has their own way of structuring their day; what works for your friend might not work for you.

A completely rigid system leaves little room for spontaneity and can be self-defeating. Don’t be afraid to nudge your routine when the need arises.

Don’t make it too rigid. But do have two key times of the day: the time your children get up in the morning and the time they go to bed. If you aim for and stick to these two points of the day, it will help to regulate your child’s sleep hormones at night and ‘get up and go’ hormones in the morning.

For example, if lunchtime is usually 1pm on a normal day, but today you have been swimming and your little one is showing signs of being really hungry and tired, take the hint and bring lunch forward. Just half an hour might be the difference between the biggest ‘I’m hungry and tired’ meltdown and having your little one eating well and feeling happy (meaning that you are happy and relaxed as well!)

Between getting up time and bed time you should schedule regular mealtimes (and snacks dependent on the activity of the day) and possibly naps. These focal points provide a constant structure which will give both you and your children the security and safety to approach each day with confidence. Go for consistency. For something to become a habit it needs to be consistent. When implementing a new routine or an adjustment, it can take at least two weeks to stick, so persevere!

Familiesonline.co.uk

The one routine that’s always worth sticking to is the fixed bedtime. Proper sleep is as important to children as a healthy diet. While it might be tempting to keep your little one up later than normal to fit in with your own plans, sleep time is when kids grow and rest so that they are ready for everything tomorrow brings. Including naps, experts recommend up to sixteen hours’ sleep for infants and up to twelve hours per night for older children.

CLUBS AND CLASSES Razzamataz, York

Razzamataz York is proud to put the welfare of its students at the heart of everything it does. Each child will receive first class tuition in a range of styles from classic West End musical theatre to funky street dance and pop singing. www.york.razzamataz.co.uk

Little Stars Swimming, Selby Little Stars Swimming is where fun learning in water begins. We are dedicated to giving you and your child the best swimming experience possible. Our small team of experienced STA instructors are qualified to teach babies through to adults and those with additional needs. The warm quiet 5mx10m pools ensure a wonderful place to learn and develop technique. www.emilyfrances.co.uk

Baby Swimmers, Area wide Baby Swimmers is a family run award-winning baby and toddler swim school that teaches babies from 6 weeks across North and West Yorkshire. We also teach older children (and even adults!) through our Swimmers Academy, whatever their ability. Baby swimming is a great way to spend quality, focussed time having lots of fun together; while the skin to skin contact is fantastic for nurturing the bond between the two of you. www.babyswimmers.co.uk

10 Families North Yorkshire

The Little Gym, York Harrogate & Leeds

Blank Canvas Art Club, York

The Little Gym For every stage of your child’s development – from 4 months to 12 years – The Little Gym offers a diverse line up of classes, camps and parties filled with movement, music, learning and laughter. Your little ones will make friends, reach developmental milestones and build self-confidence while having Serious Fun. www.thelittlegym.co.uk

Blank Canvas Art Club, York & online Do your kids love Art? Well, join the club! We have online & in person afterschool classes for kids aged 5-18 (& adults too) offering imaginative, fun two-way tuition in small classes. We teach fine art skills and techniques with a varied termly curriculum of topics.

ARTventurers - Area Wide ARTventurers classes are super colourful and jam packed with creative fun for your little ARTventurers to enjoy. www.artventurers.co.uk Baby Band - York, Wetherby, Tadcaster, Monk Fryston & Sherburn - in Elmet Come and join the baby band! With real instruments, live musicians it’s all year round fun for your child and you! Share musical experiences, be exposed to a wide variety of musical genres and learn the benefits of singing songs by heart. www.babyband.co.uk Hartbeeps - Area Wide Hartbeeps are magical, musical, imaginative classes for little ones from 3wks to pre-school age! We take a different journey every week, full of multi-sensory fun & one to one play for adults and little ones! www.hartbeeps.com Kixx - Area Wide Want to inspire your child? We provide the fun and joy of football to children. Watch them learn, grow and smile at our football academy for kids. www.kixx.org.uk Mini Athletics, Harrogate & York We enhance athleticism of 2 - 7 year olds. These skills can then be used in a wide range of sports, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. We win the gold medal for developing physical, cognitive and social skills. www.miniathletcis.com

To find out more contact Suzi at blankcanvasartclub@gmail.com and check us out on Facebook @BlankCanvasArtClub or Instagram @blankcanvas.art.club

My Baby Can Dance, York & Selby is suitable for babies (birth to age 1) and toddlers/pre schoolers (1-4). our award winning movement to music activity classes are closely linked to the early development stage. Our weekly interactive sessions combine movement, singing, instruments, numbers, colours, shapes, phonics and much more. www.mybabycandance.com Phonics with Robot Reg - York Phonics with Robot Reg provides fun, high energy classes which open a world of literacy to children and teach early phonics skills. Classes are available for ages 12 months - 4 years. www.robotreg.co.uk RugbyTots - Area Wide RugbyTots offer fun, structured play sessions taking children on a journey of sporting imagination with engaging and energetic coaches supporting them every step of the way whilst teaching how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team. www.rugbytots.co.uk Waterbabies - Area Wide Your little one is at the heart of everything we do. When they’re ready, we’re ready. Our classes have a maximum of 10 little ones, are 30 minutes long, tailored to your little one’s ability and we have manageable monthly payments to spread the cost of swimming. www.waterbabies.co.uk

Familiesonline.co.uk

HOLIDAY CAMPS

Heaps of fun at The Little Gym We were invited to experience one of the half day holiday camps for children aged 5 - 12 at the Little Gym in York. Read on to find out how we got on and what holiday camps at the Little Gyms are all about. The Little Gym, with venues in York, Harrogate and Leeds, offers the perfect solution to the ever recurring problem of what to do with the kids during the school holidays if parents are working. Camps were available throughout the Easter holidays and are also on offer during May 1/2 term and over the summer holidays. There are plenty of different options available, making it quite easy to suit parents’ needs and keep the kids smiling and happy at the same time! Choose from 3, 4, 7 or 7.5 hours of Ofsted registered camps with a breakfast and lunch club option available too. Themed sessions change each week with games and gymnastics on offer, all provided by the qualified and experienced team of instructors. Our boys attended the Vaulting Workshop where they got to develop new skills such as a squat-on-vault and a front handspring vault. Other workshops on offer catered for younger children aged 3-8 with themes such as Dinosaur Adventure and Search for the Rainbow, they really do cater for children of all ages helping them to engage in, learn and develop new gymnastics’ skills whilst also building their self-confidence. The Little Gym itself is a wonderfully bright, clean and spacious arena covered in soft flooring and filled with specialist gymnastics equipment, usable by children of all ages. Qualified instructors are there to support your child when needed or to step away if their confidence is such that they can demonstrate a skill alone.

What we really liked about the holiday club was the balance created between free play and instructor led activities. There was also the option to take some time out of the gym area and build new friendships whilst doing some crafts. Inclusivity was clearly evident with children of all ages from 5 -12 and all abilities being made to feel welcome and supported. A showcase session at the end of the holicay camp worked well to encourage children to demonstrate a new skill they’d learned or perfected whilst parents were watching on outside of the gym area. Everyone from children to adults are made to feel welcome at the Little Gym and staff are not only friendly and cheery, but genuinely interested in each individual child, which was a delight to see. If you’d like to find out more about the Little Gym, their camps, classes or parties, head to the website: www.york. thelittlegym.co.uk or find them on Facebook and Instagram. Don’t forget there are two other venues in the region: Harrogate and Leeds.

We will be producing a Mini Musical based on the musical film ‘Encanto’. Students will have the opportunity to explore commercial, musical theatre styles of dance and Pop singing. The five days will also be jam-packed with crafts, props, set design and much more! All in a safe and secure environment with fully DBS checked teachers. The week will finish with a short presentation for friends and family. So, what are you waiting for? Join us at Razzamataz York for our amazing Summer School!

Mobile 07969859895 Familiesonline.co.uk

Hollie Pickup Principal/Owner Razzamataz Theatre School Office Address 8 Houghton Lane, Sancton, York YO43 4QU

york@razzamataz.co.uk 11

WHAT’S ON If you’re looking for places to visit and things to keep the kids entertained this spring, then our What’s On guide is packed full of ideas for places to take the kids, whatever the weather, local festivals, events and shows. Ongoing Family Fun, Lotherton, Leeds Enjoy a family day out in an Edwardian country estate, hall, playgrounds, and wildlife park within expansive grounds on the outskirts of Leeds. www.museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/ lotherton Ongoing Family fun, The Web, York The Web provides unlimited fun for the whole family, from little tots to older children, whatever the weather. Online booking advised. www.webadventurepark.co.uk Ongoing Family Fun, Harewood House Harewood offers an expanse of gardens and grounds to enjoy the spring air as well as playgrounds, farm experience, bird garden and the spectacular house itself. www.harewood.org Ongoing Family Fun, Temple Newsam, Leeds Discover a working farm and historic house on a country estate surrounded by scenic parkland. Join our nature trails, perfect for walking and cycling. Take a picnic by the lakeside gardens and have some family fun in our adventure playground. Ongoing Farm fun, Monk Park Farm, Thirsk Hundreds of friendly and cute animals to meet with lots of farm-based activities for the whole family to enjoy! Ongoing Dalby Forest, Malton With so many different corners to explore, no two visits to Dalby Forest will ever be the same! 13 walking trails, 6 cycling trails, 4 running trails, visitor centre, shop, 2 play areas, Go Ape, Café, bike shop & hire, activity centre, dogs welcome. www.forestryengland.uk/dalby-forest Ongoing Fountain’s Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon Spend the whole day exploring at Fountains Abbey at Studley Royal, near Ripon. There are acres of space where little legs can explore, and imaginations can run riot. You’ll be full of beans but out of puff once you’ve found a cave by the abbey, a dark and winding tunnel and spotted some wildlife. There’s a huge play area where inquisitive little minds can be let loose to play. www.nationaltrust.org. uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royalwater-garden 12 Families North Yorkshire

Ongoing Lightwater Valley, Ripon Have a fun-filled family day out at Lightwater Valley. Booking online: https://www.lightwatervalley.co.uk/

28 May – 1 Jun Jorvik Viking Festival, York

Summer, weekly Crafty Tales, York Theatre Royal A weekly craft and storytelling session run by professional theatre makers Cassie and Janet of Story Craft Theatre. From trips to the seaside, quests into outer space, galloping through enchanted woodlands and meeting some fantastic creatures. Each session starts with big hellos, warm up games, and songs, followed by crafting altogether and then into interactive storytelling. ‘til 14 May Tulip Festival, Burnby Hall & Gardens This year, there is a cascade of colours throughout the Gardens, featuring over 15000 tulips, with 130 varieties on display, which can be seen formally displayed in tubs throughout the Gardens and in the main flower beds across the site. Wallflowers have been underplanted to provide extra colour and fragrance.

It’s back! After running the alternative ‘Online Thing’ in February half term this year, when the usual Jorvik Viking Festival takes place, the re-scheduled face to face event is here! Popular events including the living history encampment, strongest Viking competition, beast beard competition, have a go activities and 14 – 15 May traders market are all set to return, many Zog and the Flying Doctors, Harrogate of them are FREE of charge thanks to the Theatre The roar-some crew are back for a brand- support of City of York Council. The full new adventure! Most suitable for ages 3+ programme was out in April and is found here: www.jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk but all ages welcome. 28 May – 5 Jun Spring Adventure, Stockeld Park, Wetherby Roll up, roll up, the Stockeld circus is in town! Spring Day pass tickets grant you access to: Enchanted Forest; Buccaneer Boats; Farmer Foster’s Playground; Teepee Encampment Playground; Tangle 21 – 22 May The Gruffalo, Grand Opera House, York Tree Climb Playground; Woodsands’ Cove Join Mouse on a daring adventure through Playground; Spider’s Lair Playground; Magical Maze; Pedal Go Karts; Outdoor the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical musical adaptation of the classic inflatables; Cafe & outdoor catering. book by Julia Donaldson. 28 May - 5 Jun Enchanted Stories, Mother Shipton’s 27 May – 5 Jun Cave, Knaresborough York Spring Fair & Food Festival, York See giant story books and a Wonderland Racecourse of fairy-tale themed displays. Watch out Over 40 stalls of artisan food and drinks, for the pesky dragon and the Wicked street food, crafts and gifts. More than Witch of the West and the Big Bad Wolf, 15 vintage funfair rides, 5 live bands and peek into miniature fairy houses and sit a DJ across 10 evenings plus support on the Wishing Chair throne. acts. Daytime family entertainment each day from Josh Benson. Big Jubilee 30 May - 31 Aug (multiple dates) lunch celebrations on Sunday 5th June Seashore Safari, South Bay, and lighting of York’s Jubilee Beacon on Thursday 2nd June. Children aged 12 and Scarborough, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Join our Living Seas team for a guided under 12 go FREE. Tickets on sale now: tour of the rocky shore and go in search of www.ticketsource.co.uk/yorkspringfair weird and wonderful marine life within the rockpools. 21 – 22 May Festival of Dogs, Castle Howard It’s back! We will once again be hosting a celebration of all things canine with plenty to entertain all the family, and of course our four-legged visitors too!

Familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON 28 May – 5 Jun Kids Rule! Scarborough Castle Step back in time this May half term as we bring history to life at Scarborough Castle. Join us for a week of exciting family events and experience history first hand. Days out with kids have never been so rewarding. 1 Jun Storytelling, Beningborough Hall Stories Alive do exactly as they promise, expect a journey for the imagination with a new piece crafted just for Beningborough, mixing tall tales and pockets of history in with the sights and sounds you can all see around you in the garden. Drop in sessions throughout the day 10.30am – 4pm. 2 – 5 Jun The Great British Food Festival, Harewood Take a good helping of local and artisan producers, a big serving of tasty hot food vendors, add a dash of bars, a sprinkling of children’s activities, a dollop of top chef demos, stir in some competitions, with lashings of excellent live music, and mix together to make a fabulous foodie family day out! Book tickets online: www.harewood.org/whats-on/event/ great-british-food-festival/

17 – 19 Jun Dinosaur World Live, York Theatre Royal A dino-mite adventure direct from the West end! Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across unchartered territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably lifelike) dinosaurs. A special meet and greet after the show offer all brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend. Book now, before tickets become extinct!

The Magic Hatter is bringing his award-winning entertainment to the streets, with his NEW Wizard Walk of York 19 Jun Yorkshire Modified Car Show, Scampston Hall The Yorkshire Modified Car Show, one of the best car show events in Yorkshire, was established over 14 years ago. The highlight is the ‘Yorkshire Top 20’ showcar competition, displaying the top 20 cars entered from around the UK. Don’t miss the Jez Avery Stunt Show; the show features wheelies, stoppies, two-wheel driving, drifting, doughnuts and precision driving. The Driver Challenge Obstacle Course is where exhibitors compete against the clock testing their speed & precision driving. 24 – 25 Jun Zog and the Flying Doctors, York Theatre Royal The roar-some crew are back for a brandnew adventure! Most suitable for ages 3+ but all ages welcome.

11 - 24 Jun York Festival of Ideas, York York Festival of Ideas promises to spark children’s imaginations with lots of FREE and fun hands-on activities. Explore the moon, watch as York scientists dissect a zombie, get your hands dirty (literally!) as you measure how well trees take up carbon, and join us for a chocolate tasting. Come along to our Discovery Zone and Festival Family Fun Afternoon for some crafty, puzzling, scientific and historical fun - interact with robots, learn about food and climate change, immerse yourself in early prehistory, explore the brain in virtual reality, and more! Don’t miss acclaimed children’s author Michael Morpurgo as he returns to the Festival for a special evening of live music, poetry and storytelling in celebration of the natural world, taking place in the stunning atmosphere of York Minster. To find out more, check out yorkfestivalofideas.com. Familiesonline.co.uk

25 – 26 Jun Harrogate Food Festival, The Stray A celebration of international street food, local artisans mixed with live chef demos, live music and family entertainment on the Stray in Harrogate. Yorkshire Coast Beach Clean Waves of Waste Spurn National Nature Reserve, 7 May Fraisthorpe Beach, Bridlington, 7 May North Bay, Scarborough, 9 May North Beach, Bridlingon, 14 May Filey South, 15 May South Landing Flamborough, 17 May South Bay, Scarborough, 28 May Spurn National Nature Reserve, 4 Jun North beach, Bridlington, 4 Jun North Bay, Scarborough, 6 Jun www.ywt.org.uk/events

“Magic, mystery, comedy and excitement plus a dash of York’s history…the ingredients for a truly unforgettable experience for all the family!” Public tours are running on selected evenings, starting from the bottom of The Shambles opposite The Golden Fleece. Pre-booking required. Private tours are available for birthdays, school groups, brownies, cubs and more. A wonderfully whimsical tour that wizard fans will go Potty for! Wizard Wand Kits are also available, subject to availability. A handcrafted wand and instructions for seven tricks that young witches and wizards can learn at home. Plus a FREE printable certificate! To check days, times and book online visit the wizarding website at www.wizardwalkofyork.com You can also follow at www.facebook.com/ wizardwalkofyork and www. instagram.com/wizardwalkofyork for all the latest magical news, updates and special offers!

HEALTH

Keeping children’s teeth healthy By Dr Attari

Dental decay has become one of the main reasons for hospital admission among children in recent years, with forty thousand children ages 1 to 14 admitted in 2019. Many of those needed dental extractions under general anaesthetic. This isn’t surprising when around a quarter of 5-year-olds have tooth decay. But tooth decay is preventable with good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups from an early age. Children who are used to the dental setting are more at ease and find it easier to return and have their oral health monitored throughout their lives. Here are our top tips for healthy teeth: Babies Clean your baby’s mouth with a soft, clean cloth even before the baby teeth start to come through, moving to a soft finger brush or handheld brush once the teeth start to erupt. Once your baby’s teeth are coming through, don’t give them a bottle of milk before bed. Formula and, later, cow’s milk can cause dental decay if pooled around the teeth at night. Once all twenty baby teeth have erupted, teeth should be brushed, in a circular motion, on all the tooth surfaces, not forgetting the gumline. When to brush Brush teeth twice per day, ideally after breakfast and before bed but avoid brushing young children’s teeth just before bedtime – they are less likely to co-operate when tired. Toothpaste, floss and brushes Always use fluoride toothpaste. In older children, fluoride mouthwash should be used at a different time to brushing. Interdental cleaning with floss is useful where the teeth are not well-spaced. Use of electric toothbrushes should be avoided until children are around age 12. When used, the brush head should be placed at a forty-five-degree angle at the junction of gum and tooth. Hold the brush for three to five seconds on every tooth surface. Avoid using battery-operated electric toothbrushes; use

Preventing Bad Breath

rechargeable toothbrushes or stick to manual brushing. Assisting children Help your child with brushing and flossing up to the age of 9. By this age, they should have good enough manual dexterity to clean their teeth independently. After night-time brushing, avoid children snacking or drinking anything apart from water. Toothpaste should be spat out after brushing but don’t rinse mouth with water as this actually washes away the fluoride. Finally, remember, a visit to the dentist isn’t just for when you’re in pain - routine check-ups can prevent the pain occurring in the first place! Dr Attari works at Weymouth Street Paediatric Dental Care in London. For more information, visit www.wpddentistry.co.uk

Diet and oral hygiene A balanced diet is vital for a child’s oral health and it’s important to eat varied foods and minimise snacking. Sugary foods result in an acid-attack on teeth. It’s not the quantity but the frequency of eating sugar that causes decay. Remember that fruit juices and dried fruit are two of the main causes of dental decay – they are not healthier than refined sugars. Get some ideas and recommendations on snacks for kids from the NHS Change4Life website and app at www.teethteam.org. uk

Win a Great British WIN! Map of Wonders Let the adventures begin! Families has teamed up with ST&G to offer ten lucky readers their very own Great British Map of Wonders.

A combination of good oral hygiene, diet and routine dental visits from a young age can reduce the likelihood of children needing any dental treatment but can also help avoid bad breath. Other tips include: Good brushing and interdental cleaning; Tongue scrapers which can help reduce bacteria on the tongue; Probiotics which restore the balance of bacteria in the gut, combined with good oral hygiene. 14 Families North Yorkshire

There are so many amazing adventure-filled things to do here in Britain, that it’s hard to take them all in without a ginormous map! For children ages 6+, this map includes 1000 of the most fun things to do and places to visit around Britain, with great games to play, boxes to tick, notes to fill in and a huge colouring map. Find and explore amazing animals, awesome activities, brilliant beaches, thrilling quests, super-fun festivals, funny place names and legendary places. For more information, visit www.marvellousmaps.com

To enter, visit familiesmag.co.uk/go Closing date: 20 June. T&Cs at https://bit.ly/MapofWonders

Familiesonline.co.uk

KIDS’ PARTIES

2022 children’s party trends By Claire Winter Many of us have missed celebrating important birthday parties and milestones with family and friends during the pandemic. With restrictions lifted and the summer months upon us, things are looking up at last! Did someone say party? Here’s how to party like it’s 2022.

Outdoor parties

Food

The pandemic drove us outside and having a party in the garden or going to an outdoor venue still appeals to many parents. A huge outdoor picnic and good old-fashioned games like tug-of-war, quoits or skittles always go down a treat. Pack bats and balls and you’re ready for rounders. It’s a party with no crumbs and more space to let off steam! Alternatively, parties at venues like Go Ape are an easy option and the children will love to monkey around in the trees.

Grazing platters may look fabulous but some delicious goodies in individual recyclable cardboard boxes are simple to serve, create less waste and can be eaten anywhere. A firm favourite is a cream tea in a box! You can also outsource food to a party organiser or caterer. Or, instead of having one large statement cake, why not offer a fabulous display of cupcakes and mini desserts? It will look gorgeous and the kids (and parents) will love it.

Retro gaming parties

Sleepover in style

Flower power

If you have a gaming fan in the house, why not hire a gaming company to take them back to the eighties? Pac-Man and many of the old-school favourites will fascinate and intrigue them. There are also loads of great VR games that you can hire for the day too.

For an extra special sleepover if you have the garden space, consider hiring a bell tent or teepee. One for the older children - decorate with fairy lights, set up mini Bluetooth speakers and let the fun begin! Just don’t expect too much sleeping....

Whether they are dried or fresh, flowers have made a huge comeback. Scatter rose petals on the party table or freeze them in ice cubes. Create a huge bouquet as a centrepiece or if you are going all out, hire a flower wall. Perfect for tweens!

Call in the experts

The party bag

Old-school fun

A seasoned magician or entertainer will provide the fun crowd control you’re after. Younger kids love the games, banter and dancing while you sit back watching the fun.

Give small meaningful gifts instead of plastic. It’s just not the done thing any more to fill party bags with sweets and land-filler plastic tat. A few popular (more eco-friendly) alternative ideas could be a book, a packet of wildflower seeds or a jar of make-at-home cookie mix.

Take a full-on trip down the traditional route. There’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple. Two hours of games like pass the parcel, musical statues, a treasure hunt and a spot of dancing before tea still do very nicely, thank you.

Familiesonline.co.uk

Instagrammable installations If you’re all about the ‘gram and other social media shares, you can hire amazing balloon displays, giant LED numbers and neon signs for the party. Do be conscious of sharing pictures of your party-goers as not all parents are comfortable with their children on social media.

16 Families North Yorkshire

Familiesonline.co.uk