mar/apr’17
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BRACKENFIELD SCHOOL Independent Prep School for 2-11 year olds
Open Days 2017
Friday 10th March 10am - 11.30am Friday 19th May 10am - 11.30am
40th Anniversary Open Day
Saturday 20th May 10.30 - 3.00 pm
Places for Reception 2018 onwards and for Pre-Nursery & Nursery now. (2-4yrs) 128 DUCHY ROAD, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 2HE Please contact us for further information or a tour of the school t: 01423 508558 www.brackenfieldschool.co.uk
welcome Open up the world for your child with our Montessori nurseries.
Outstanding care and education to inspire and guide each individual child.
Fulford 01904 642666 Strensall 01904 490339
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Spring is almost here and to me it now feels like the New Year has actually arrived! Families are seeking outdoorsy things to do and lots of local attractions are scheduled to re-open in celebration of the new season. We have lots of ideas for the Easter holidays in our ‘What’s On’ pages and if you need more inspiration, you can look online too. Remember if you’re travelling further afield this spring, Families Online covers the whole country. Just go to www.familiesonline.co.uk and enter the area you’re visiting for lots of inspiration. This spring heralds a change for me too as I have decided now is the time to hang up my editor’s hat and move on to pastures new. The job of editor is both challenging and extremely rewarding, whilst fitting perfectly around a young family, so if editing this magazine is something you feel you could do, you can find out more on P7 of this issue.
AWARD-WINNING
In the meantime – enjoy that sunny weather and don’t eat too much chocolate…
Editor of Families VOY
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2 Families Vale of York
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The deadline for the May/June 2017 edition is early Apr 2017 Designed by: MOOIdesign Tel: 01405 869045 Printed by: Warners Midlands PLC www.warners.co.uk Front Cover: www.istockphoto.com Families Vale of York is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families ® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Vale of York are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.
Race Ahead
AGES 3-12
with reading!
Easter Camps 2017
School approved books delivered to your home.
3rd
1st 2nd
10th-13th April During the school holidays, rain or shine, The Little Gym camps provide children (ages 3-12) with a fabulous variety of fun, activity, learning and creativity.
Limited spaces available, call now to reserve your place. The Little Gym Leeds: 0113 3359915 • www.leeds.thelittlegym.eu The Little Gym Harrogate: 01423 701560 • www.harrogate.thelittlegym.eu
Book rental for young readers. www.readingchest.co.uk Families Vale of York 3
news
Three generations of family provide a unique insight into England’s largest battle Pupils at Brackenfield School in Harrogate were treated to a fascinating presentation on The Battle of Towton by three generations of the Atkin family, Howard Atkin, his son Robert Atkin and his son, Jacob who is a pupil at the school.
Does your child like programming? They’d love our holiday workshops Minecraft programming Robot wars Design a joystick game Design burglar alarms Code electronic music
The children enjoyed a superb display of drumming, weaponry and armour during the presentation. They learnt about how important battle was in The War of the Roses and how the battle ultimately led to King Edward IV coming to the throne. The Battle of Towton on 29th March 1461 was possibly the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil. The two huge armies, estimated at 65,000 men, confronted each other in the middle of a snowstorm on an open field between the villages of Towton and Saxton, near Tadcaster on Palm Sunday. Headteacher, Mrs. Sowa was delighted that the Atkin family were able to teach the children about this key battle. “It was fascinating to hear about this important battle which is right on our doorstep. To have three generations of Brackenfield family present this to the school was a really unique way of teaching the children about the battle. I would like to thank them for their enthusiasm and their time” If you are interested in finding out more, the website for Towton Battlefield Society is www.towton.org.uk and the battlefield is a great day trip.
Plus much more York, Harrogate and Ripon
ScratchMyPi 01904 848814 scratchmypi.co.uk
Easter Holidays at Super Camps Enrol your
child at Supe activities for children r Camps for the best in holiday . Their daily and weekly activity programmes are with fun activities that jam-packed will hours, and their ‘Outsta keep your children entertained for nding’ Ofsted ratings give you the peace of mind that you r children are in the bes t possible care. Prices start from £38 per day and in our region wil place at St Peter’s Sch ool in York during the Eas l be taking ter break. For more details and to book visit www.sup ercamps.co.uk
Playing outside could reduce the risk of short-sightedness in later life
Spending time outdoors as a teenager could reduce the chances of becoming short-sighted as an adult, according to a new study. The study, by researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Kings College London, looked at more than 3,000 people aged 65-plus. The researchers took blood samples, conducted eye examinations and interviewed participants to gauge their levels of exposure to sunlight since early adolescence. The results found that those with the highest exposure to sunlight in their teenage and young adult years were up to 30% less likely to become myopic or short-sighted. The paper’s senior author, Professor Astrid Fletcher, said: “We know spending time outdoors can protect against myopia but the reasons why are less clear. Our study showed that exposure to sunlight is likely to be the major factor due to stimulation of physiological factors associated with eye growth, rather than through its action on vitamin D production.”
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES for children aged 5 to 12
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4 Families Vale of York
news Explore the city this Easter and discover nine fascinating attractions crammed with a range of exhibits, workshops, activities and headline events — we’ve got this school holiday sorted!
Children and staff celebrate a milestone birthday at ‘outstanding’ Harrogate nursery An ‘outstanding’ Harrogate nursery is celebrating its 10th birthday – and is calling on its children past and present to share their memories to help mark the special milestone. Magic Tree Nursery, part of independent co-educational prep school Belmont Grosvenor, opened its doors in January 2007 to provide all-year-round childcare for the under 2s. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, children at Magic Tree benefit from its setting in 20-acres of grounds – enjoying indoor and outdoor play including the school’s woodland Forest Schools area.
leeds.gov.uk/ schoolholidays
To celebrate Magic Tree’s 10th birthday, staff cut a specially-designed cake and invited four Year 6 Belmont Grosvenor pupils – who joined Magic Tree as babies before moving onto the prep school - to mark the occasion. The day care nursery is also planning a big summer party on Saturday 17 June for current, former and potential new children to enjoy. The school is calling on families past and present to share their memories of Magic Tree Nursery during the past decade, which will form part of a birthday display. Anyone wanting more information about Magic Tree Nursery and Belmont Grosvenor School should visit the website at www.belmontgrosvenor.co.uk or any former nursery children who would like to be involved in the celebrations should contact Caroline Cook, PR manager, on cacook@belmontgrosvenor.co.uk
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04/02/2016 11:0
Families Vale of York 5
news
Music experiences for your budding rock star Nestled in the heart of The Groves, The Jam Factory has been a mainstay of the York music scene since 1997. The centre is renowned for being vibrant, unconventional and creative. As well as providing rehearsal rooms and recording studios for local bands, it hosts a Further Education college exclusively devoted to music and the arts - Access To Music. The award winning Saturday Academy and Holiday Rock experiences are tailored to cater for children aged 9-16 who already play an instrument or sing and are keen to take their passion further. It runs every week from 11am till 2pm even through the holidays, and members get to use the purpose built rooms, facilities and studios along with professional guidance and tuition. Sessions are only £8.95. The holiday courses run in Easter and Summer and are a great place to go if your child dreams of being in a band and getting on stage and performing! Kids are split into bands and with the help of professional tutors and experienced volunteers, they write and rehearse their songs, record them onto cd in the recording studio (always the favourite part of the day), have a mini photo-shoot and perform a live gig at a local theatre for their family and friends! The course lasts 3 full days and only cost £89.95 (£79.95 with discount voucher) Last year they were thrilled to have lots of successful alumni working alongside the children - so if you have a young person devoted to music, who longs to be part of the scene, look no further! www.jamfactorystudios.co.uk
Whilst there is much reported about the closure of libraries, the village of Carlton near Selby is celebrating the opening of a new community library in the local primary school. Families editor Belinda Maunsell caught up with school governor and teaching assistant Katherine Pierce who has been at the helm of the exciting new community project. In between registering new lenders at Carlton’s community library and sorting out new books, I managed to ask Katherine a few questions about the library and how the project began. “It started out as a vision for a school library,” says Katherine. “I am passionate about reading and wanted to try and share my passion with the children of our school. Despite so many reports about libraries closing, research shows that there is a clear link between independent readers who read for pleasure and academic success.” The school already has a positive partnership with the local community and as this project evolved Katherine felt that it was too good a facility not to share. “When speaking to the local community we realised that there is no access to library services in the village, even the library bus which used to visit no longer comes. It also became apparent once we had a community focus that this would allow us to tap in to other funding streams that may not otherwise be available.” Building up a library from scratch is no mean feat and Katherine and her team had to work on many different aspects of the project to ensure the library was fully equipped to serve both the school and the community as well as making it a welcoming place for visitors: “The portakabin space that we are using was being used as a store for sports/PE equipment and was not very attractive. The friends of Carlton-in-Snaith primary school helped with funds and Headteacher Jon Watson and I met with our local councilor, councilor Mike Jordan who helped point us in the direction of possible sources of funding. The Southern community engagement forum (Southern CEF) gave us some money, which bought us IT equipment, library software and blinds. “Local businesses including Drax Power, Croda and Acorns Montessori Nursery helped with funding, parents and children have made financial donations and the school and wider community have donated books. We now have around 7,000 books, including books for adults - and we haven’t had to buy any! Most recently the Carlton parish council has offered their financial support to help make the building more accessible to the wider community. I have also been lucky enough to have a really supportive head teacher who shared my vision and has backed the project fully and given me the opportunity to move the project forward.” Pupils are making full use of the library and Katherine has seen a real difference in their reading habits: “There’s a real buzz around the place and the children love the independence that the fully functioning library brings for them. They are actively using the online aspects of the software, which allows them to reserve books and submit written and video book reviews too. Many children are reading one book and have the next on reserve as they are so enthused about reading. I have had comments like ‘it smells real Mrs Pierce’ and ‘it’s like a university Mrs Pierce’!” The library is also being used by Little Monkeys – Carlton’s parent & toddler group, Carlton Playgroup and Katherine runs a toddler story time once a week too. For more information visit www.carlton-in-snaith.n-yorks.sch.uk
6 Families Vale of York
PHOTO: Local author Christina Gabbitas opening Carlton’s new community library.
Carlton-in-Snaith School opens new community library
news
Families Vale of York 7
6x3= 4x3=12
education
timestables
Hands up who got their iPhone out the last time they had to add anything up? You’re not the only one. Relying on a calculator is easy and convenient but getting to grips with maths and, in particular, times tables, is vital for children if they are to succeed at school.
How to teach your kids…easily
Helping your little ones at home and doing some extra work to ensure they feel confident in their learning can almost be as important as what they do in the classroom. It can, however, be tricky to navigate the teaching journey when you’re not actually a teacher. The thing that can really turn children off learning their times tables is the practise it will take. Mixing up the way they spend their time practising is important for sparking their interest and holding their attention. Here are some top tips to help you.
Find out what works best for your child
How and what children learn in primary school sets them up for success in secondary school. If the foundations are in place for them to be able to work out an equation like 3x6=18 without using a calculator, then they will find it easier when it comes to tackling harder arithmetic. The education curriculum changes, but at the moment, children are required to know 12x12 by the age of nine.
Pick out the patterns
What should they know?
How can you help them know it?
Buy posters of times tables or make your own; you can then stick them up throughout the house. On the wall opposite the loo, or under a magnet on the fridge, so that they are taking it in without even realising it. You can even tape it to the ceiling above their bed so that they have something to talk about with you when you’re snuggling down, instead of a bed-time story.
Start with the twos
Adding two to a previous number is something most children will find achievable in primary school and this sets up a pattern for learning about the other times tables. The 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 pattern has an easy rhythm to help children remember it.
Apply it to real life
If times tables is something your children can apply to daily life, they will show much more of an interest. Instead of testing what they know, be playful about it when you’re at the supermarket and they’re helping you with the shopping (it can happen sometimes!). If you’re buying loose fruit and veg, ask them if they know what the price would be if you bought three instead of two.
Take the fear out of We all know that the lead up to exam season can be a daunting and stressful time for child and parent. With children encountering phonics screening checks, teacher assessments and SATs by the time they reach the end of primary school, you might wonder how best to support your child through exams - and you certainly aren’t alone! In a recent, independent study by Explore Learning, while 90% of British parents said exam results are important to their child’s future, only 1 in 4 parents felt their child’s exam performance actually reflects their true ability, and 2 in 3 parents admitted that their child has suffered from exam stress.
8 Families Vale of York
3x3=
Like anything with children, once you discover what works best for them – stick to it. If your child learns best using visual aids then go down that route. If, on the other hand, listening and chanting helps them learn, then explore the different types of apps available on the iPad or computer and try downloading some of them. It may be a good idea to keep these activities supervised so that if your child does make a mistake and comes up with a wrong answer, you are on hand to explain where they may have gone wrong and encourage them to try again. Come on, admit it; everyone has a favourite times table. It’s probably your favourite because you find it the easiest to remember or you like the pattern. Picking up on things like this will make it easier for your little ones to learn. The 9 times table has one of the easiest patterns to remember because, whilst the tens go up each time, the other number just goes down; 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81 and 90.
Don’t bring your own feelings into it Teaching methods have changed a lot since us parents were learning our times tables. Your children are probably learning in a completely different way now so chances are that you may have to brush up on your arithmetic too. Ordering yourself something like Maths for Mums and Dads could help if you are feeling outside of our comfort zone when you’re topping up the teaching at home. Discovering new ways of learning can make it fun for both of you.
Build their confidence There is more to maths than arithmetic and it’s important that your little ones don’t lose interest in maths as a subject because it feels too difficult or seems too time consuming. Break down learning into bite-size chunks and make it as playful as possible. Encourage your children and praise them for trying when they do. Show them how far they have come since last week or last month and this should spur them on to keep improving.
exams in 2017
by Explore Learning
Although there is no magic formula for exam success, there are many ways to help children feel prepared and confident about assessments. Here are a few of our top tips:
Plan ahead
This is the key to kick-starting any successful exam preparation. Blocking out periods of time to ‘cram’ for an exam might save time but it won’t assist your child’s retention of information long term. Revisiting a range of subject areas in manageable, weekly chunks can be much more beneficial to supporting memory, skills, and confidence.
Find the right way for your child
It is important to understand that everyone learns and revises in their own way. Some children like to visualise their work so sticky notes around the house and visual representations might be useful, whereas others will respond better to you asking them questions and to explain a paragraph in their own words. Some children will switch on bright and early, while others will be ready to learn later on in the day. Find the learning style and pattern that works for your child, with their input, and create a plan to suit their individual need.
Positive thinking
Finally, be sure to remain positive throughout exam preparations and praise them when you see them accomplish something great: hearing things like “brilliant reading” or “you’ve done a fantastic job explaining that method to me” will undoubtedly build their self-belief.
At Explore Learning, we’re here to support both you and your child from day one. As well as tailored maths and English tuition from our expert staff, we run relevant workshops and parent information evenings for our families throughout the year so that everyone feels as confident as possible at home, especially when exams are around the corner! For more advice and top tips to support your child’s exam preparation this year, and to book your free trial at your local centre, visit our website: www.explorelearning.co.uk/blog/exam-preparation-how-to-support-your-child/
=36 2maths
=9 everyday
education
Fun & easy ways to build it into your child’s day... By Becky Nicholson Mathematical learning doesn’t have to stop when the school day ends. Maths is all around and building it into your child’s day will really help them get ahead. Here are 5 easy ways to get your little ones thinking mathematically without a single worksheet or textbook in sight!
Cooking
Cooking is a fantastic way to get your child measuring, counting and calculating. Measuring out ingredients, scaling quantities up and down, calculating costs and counting and sharing out the end products make a rich mathematical experience. Children learn about the relationships of different quantities and get comfortable with fractions, ratio and proportion. Ask your child: Can you double or halve the quantities of this recipe? We only have 200g of sugar, how many cookies can we make?
Measuring, counting and recording
Children love stopwatches and watching the seconds tick by gives them opportunities to practice counting. Measure distances and heights. Count jumping jacks, push-ups or keepy- uppys with a football. Ask your child: How far can you throw a ball? Estimate then throw and measure the distance. How many jumping jacks can you do in a minute? Try it! Can you keep batting a tennis ball in the air with your racquet? Who is the best? Can you improve?
Sales days
Whether it’s brownies, beverages or boot fairs, running a sales operation involves a lot of other skills besides making a bit of pocket money. Your child will experience profit, loss, counting and calculating by adding and subtracting coins and hopefully the odd note! Ask your child: What are the start-up costs? How much will you need to sell to recover your money? What are people willing to pay? How much profit have you made?
Building and woodworking
Any project that involves building also requires counting, adding, measuring or multiplying. Use old bits of junk from the recycling box or Lego bricks. If you fancy a bit of woodworking you can make birdhouses or desk tidies. Calculating how much wood to use involves a lot of hands-on maths and following a building guide involves visual-spatial abilities. Ask your child: How high does that little house need to be to fit your teddy bear? Can you make a square, a rectangle, other shapes? Can you follow those Lego instructions to make that model?
Board Games
Old-fashioned board games require a range of maths abilities. Connect Four and Battleships build visual-perceptual skills. Games like Nim (explained below) require logic, strategy and mathematical reasoning. Monopoly and Life require players to use their resources to reach a goal. Your child’s school or library may host a games club to encourage them to play socially with friends of their own age. Stock up on some classics and spend time playing as a family. It’s a nice change from playing on a screen! To play Nim: 1. Make a pile of seven counters or other interesting objects. This could be played outside with pebbles, sticks or shells. 2. Players take it in turn to remove either one or two counters/objects from the pile. 3. To win you need to take the last counter or counters.
About Becky and First Class Learning (FCL): This article was written by Becky
Nicholson, manager of the FCL centres in York. Becky is a fully-qualified primary school teacher and worked in schools for 14 years before moving to FCL. Becky is passionate about helping children succeed by building on their abilities and boosting their confidence. The FCL programme has been designed by educationalists with extensive experience in mainstream education. With over 250 centres in the UK FCL has a proven record of delivering quality, supplementary education to children from 4 to 16 years of age. All FCL material is produced in the UK in accordance with the National Curriculum. To find out more, call Becky on 07932751003 or visit www.firstclasslearning.co.uk/ york-south or www.firstclasslearning.co.uk/york-tadcaster-road
Families Vale of York 9
books
to help kids learn about money
Money makes the world go around, so teaching your children the subject is pretty important! Why not read a book with them to give you a helping hand with the subject matter? After all, teaching kids finance can be difficult!
Master money the millionaire by Allan Ahlberg
It’s not what you’ve got!
by Dr Wayne W. Dyer
Noggin and the money
Master Money is very, very rich! In fact this little boy is so rich that he even smells of money! By the age of four years old he’s managed to find buried treasure in his very own back garden! By the time he’s five, he’s found even more treasure in the sandpit at school – and by six he’s got his hands on more, yes more, at the beach! However, Mister Creep soon finds him…
Part of a series of inspirational books for kids, this one address the topic of money and abundance – linking it to children’s earliest thoughts and perceptions of money. This beautifully illustrated book presents concepts such as; money doesn’t have to define who you are, along with it doesn’t matter what other people have. Unlike many other books on the subject of money, this one doesn’t try to teach little ones how to spend and save, instead it provides a rather spiritual approach on the matter.
The story of a friendly Viking, Olaf the Lofty who invents money – after all, it seems like a genius idea! However, it soon seems that money is actually more trouble than it’s worth. Packed full of beautiful illustrations this book is perfect for newly independent readers looking to learn about money.
by Oliver Postgate
Top tips to help
Reluctant Readers
by Liz Walker of Reading Chest
Some children learn to read effortlessly and love every step of the journey, whilst others find it more of an uphill climb and need extra encouragement and support along the way. Here are a few tips to help reluctant readers. • Find reading material that is of interest. It’s not all about reading the book in the school bag to tick a box. Try magazines, comics, recipe books whatever works. • Make the most of reading opportunities throughout the day, e.g cereal boxes, menus, instructions. Reading for a purpose can seem more worthwhile to a reluctant reader.
What is money? by Claire Llewellyn
This book is great for answering kids’ questions about all things money. From how to tell the difference between different notes and coins to how to get money and what to do with it. There’s also lots of notes for teachers and parents too!
Show me the money
The story of money
by Alvin Hall
by Martin Jenkins
A treasure trove full of advice for parents and kids from the finance guru Alvin Hall. This book introduces children to the concept of “money makes the world go around, only if you know how to use it”. Within minutes of reading this wonderful book your kids will be entered into the crazy world of business and economics – learning everything from the history of money to how to use it.
A hilarious look on the subject of money; perfect for kids! This thought provoking tale explains that in some parts of the world money is a stone with a hole in it, a copper slab, or a string of shells. But one thing remains the same; money makes the world go around. And it doesn’t grow on trees! In this amazing book Jenkins looks at the history of money and how it came to be involved in the electronic banking which takes place today.
If you want a little more help finding books for your kids, visit www.familiesonline.co.uk/Bookclub 10 Families Vale of York
• Car journeys can be filled with reading activities, such as number plate games to help with phonics for early readers. E.g Say silly sentences based on the letters in a number plate e.g. CYT - ‘catch your tomato’ to help with initial sounds. Look for signs and place names with different letters / sounds in them. Play audio books to encourage children to engage with longer stories. • Read more as a parent. Children need reading role models. If you only read for a few minutes before going to bed, it is likely that your children never see you reading a book. • Make sure you have some reading apps easily accessible. Collins Big Cat have some brilliant free story apps. Nosy Crow is another great publisher of story apps. The ultimate challenge for reluctant readers is to get them to read for their own pleasure rather than to please parents or teachers. It is up to us to help children to develop the desire to read, not just the skills to read. For more reading advice and access to a wide selection of reading scheme books visit www.readingchest.co.uk
Stress, depression and anxiety don’t just affect adults; they can affect children, too. In fact, the Office for National Statistics claims that one in ten youngsters between the ages of five and 16 experience a mental health issue, and 4% suffer from disorders such as depression or anxiety.
It can be difficult for parents to see their child suffering from stress, depression or anxiety, especially when we tend to think of youngsters as being such happy and carefree souls. Parents may quickly blame themselves, but there may be complex factors at play contributing to the way your child feels. Often, the biggest problem is spotting the signs and symptoms of a potential problem in the first place. But, the good news is, there are plenty of solutions available to help your child overcome this issue.
Spotting the signs
As with adults, it’s normal for children to experience ups and downs in life, and how they react to certain situations can change as they develop and grow. Many children have fears or phobias, which is normal, too. But, it’s when problems start to interfere with everyday life, that you may need to consider if there’s something else going on. What is important to consider when deciding if your child may be suffering from stress, depression or anxiety is how long feelings or behaviours have been occurring, and what is usual or typical for your child. For example, it’s normal to feel sad and upset when a grandparent or pet dies, but if these feelings of sadness persist for a prolonged period, or they interfere with daily routines, this may flag up potential problems of stress, depression or anxiety. Equally, if your child is usually very sociable and enjoys play dates and sleepovers, but has started to become withdrawn and wants to be on their own, this isn’t typical of their normal behaviour, so may signal all isn’t quite well. Stress, depression or anxiety may also exist if your child loses interest in hobbies they usually enjoy. They may find it hard to concentrate at school, may avoid certain activities or may display characteristics that aren’t normal for them. A placid child may suddenly develop angry outbursts, for example, or a typically happy youngster may become tearful for no apparent reason. Some symptoms of stress, depression or anxiety may be more obvious than others. Children might start having nightmares or night terrors, or they may wet the bed. Behaviours such as hurting themselves or becoming obsessive about certain things may manifest, and some children may refuse to eat, or restrict what they eat.
Dealing with
Tackling the issue
If you suspect your child may be experiencing stress, depression or anxiety, the first step you should take is to talk to them. Try to find out why your child is behaving the way they are, or feeling the way they do. Explain to them that they haven’t done anything wrong, they aren’t alone, and that lots of people often feel the same way. There are lots of factors that may contribute to the way your child is feeling. They may be worried about exams or schoolwork, or they may be experiencing problems with other children. Bereavement and parental breakup may trigger troubled feelings, and these may not necessarily manifest immediately after a traumatic event. Sometimes, it might not always be easy to pinpoint what has caused the prolonged low mood in your child. Often, understanding the root cause or trigger can help alleviate the problem. If a child is being bullied, for instance, you can contact the relevant authorities to address the issue. If your child feels stressed because of exams, explain that it’s normal to feel anxious before a test and that other children will feel the same way, too. By showing children that it’s normal to feel symptoms of unease over situations, it can make them feel better. However, where problems persist or aren’t easy for you to tackle on your own, it’s wise to seek professional help from your GP to get a confirmed diagnosis. To the untrained eye, it’s not easy differentiating between stress, depression and anxiety, so this is where your GP comes in. There are many trained paediatric therapists who can help to ease the burden that your child may be feeling. Talking therapies, such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy, are effective at letting your child discuss their fears and concerns whilst finding strategies to help them cope or think differently about a situation. Art therapy or creating a worry box can also be cathartic for youngsters, where they express their feelings by drawing or writing them down and working with therapists to find solutions. Most of these therapies are effective in getting your child back to their old self, and only in extreme cases is medication used to tackle this issue.
stress, depression and anxiety
in children
Hosting International Students We are looking for families to host children attending boarding school in the UK when they are unable to travel home at weekends and half term holidays. In exchange for your hospitality you will receive a generous compensation package as well as the experience that hosting an international student can bring to you and your family. For further information please contact: jane@collegeguardians.co.uk www.collegeguardians.co.uk 01684 581600
Families Vale of York 11
High self-esteem is our child’s passport to happiness in adult life. That’s why it’s important to show them how to love who they are and not what they look like. In a world where the media pressurises us to constantly look good, it is easy for our children, particularly our daughters, to feel ‘not good enough’ purely based on their physical appearance.
positive body image How to help your daughter have a
As your daughter moves from Disney Princesses to becoming self-conscious about her appearance, buying her first bra, and having her first crush, how do you ensure that she appreciates her full beauty and is not unduly influenced by the shallow trappings of physical appearance?
The media shows us women who are apparently ‘beautiful’ all the time. Experienced Body Confidence Coach, Judi Craddock, has recently redefined the search for beauty as follows. “You do not become beautiful by trying to be beautiful, but by finding the beauty that is already within you, and allowing that beauty to emerge.” I whole-heartedly agree with her view that our bodies are miracles and having a negative body image means we lack gratitude for everything that our bodies are capable of doing. After all, they are the physical shell that holds everything we are.
So this is how to help your daughter like what she sees when she looks in the mirror: Celebrate her uniqueness Point out her loving qualities: her kindness, her smile, her thoughtfulness, her intelligence. You know what it is that you find beautiful about her soul. Tell her about this and tell her often. Explain that she is beautiful because she is unique – one of a kind. There is nobody else in the whole world like her and that is why she is perfect just as she is.
Notice the way you talk about your own body Use only positive language about your own body in front of your daughter and don’t put yourself down. Children don’t always listen but they are always watching. If you are unhappy with your own body, don’t express this in front of your daughter. Gently correct her if she is judgemental about her own physical appearance or that of others.
Remember that you are your child’s mirror Listening, empathising and validating your daughter’s feelings reflects back to her who she is. Doing this often will play a huge part in how she feels about herself.
Help your daughter find a positive female role model Guide her in the direction of female role models who are aligned with her values and qualities. I love Miranda Hart because I think she is a funny, intelligent and successful woman and that makes her beautiful to me, even though she is not a stereotypical beauty.
Help your daughter appreciate the miracle of her body Talk to her about the way her body magically serves her by allowing her to walk, breathe, feel, create and by the million other things she asks of it. Explain that, in return, she needs to treat it with care and respect by getting plenty of sleep, fuelling it with the right foods and treating it with tender loving care.
,,
Help Your Daughter Recognise and Appreciate True Beauty
by Lisa Parkes
She was beautiful, not like those girls in magazines. She was beautiful for the way she thought. She was beautiful for that sparkle in her eye when she spoke about something she loved. She was beautiful for her ability to make other people smile even when she was sad. No, she was not beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul. Scott Fitzgerald
,,
Lisa Parkes is a Children’s Coach based in North Surrey. She is passionate about helping children become more resilient to life and runs regular workshops for those suffering from shyness, lack of confidence or low self-esteem. For more information and for Lisa’s FREE download which shows you how to pour more love into your family, visit www.lisaparkeslifecoaching.co.uk/love
sleep The importance of
for children
adequate sleep makes a lot of sense. Whether it’s through using sleep aids or planning a meticulous routine, there are several ways to ensure your children are reaching the requisite sleep hours for their age group.
So, how can you encourage them to sleep? Essentially, fostering a good sleeping habit is much easier with young children than teenagers, who know how to fight back! Laying the right foundations when they are young, and encouraging them to see sleep as a part of healthy living should make maintaining it, even when they have discovered the joys of socialising, much more straightforward.
Limit the technology For many people, the evening routine relies on technology. Be it smartphones, tablets or television, we all, including our children, use devices to unwind with at night. However, these bits of tech are actually stimuli, which make the going to bed routine harder to implement. After dinner, try enjoying some conversation or a board game to encourage them to chat about their day and also allow the brain some allimportant decompression time. Where possible, discourage them from
having TV or gadgets in the bedroom As adults, we are more than Particularly when they are young and acquiring knowledge on at all, as these can be used as a distraction. In fact, making sure that aware of how important a everything as they begin to shape and understand the world around the bedroom is most closely associated good night’s sleep is - we them, children need a requisite Routine, routine, routine with sleep is a better way to negotiate amount of sleep to boost retaining this obstacle - which means keeping it need it for balance, mood information and help embed Whilst they try to convince themselves tidy and clutter-free. knowledge from throughout the and their parents otherwise, children stability and to enhance day. Ultimately, our brains need thrive on routine, and our brains learn The importance of light overnight to allow us to when to start shutting down and getting Whether it’s through blackout curtains brain function. And anyone rest absorb information better, and the all-important rest they need. Trying or nightlights, achieving the correct is even more important for as best you can to instil a routine of balance of light in your child’s room who has children will this preparing for and going to bed at the young minds. time every night will help your is key to ensuring consistency in their concur that getting a full So how much sleep should same sleep pattern. Invest in some heavy child, no matter what age they are. duty curtains so that whether winter or night’s sleep is essential to they be getting? This includes brushing teeth and summer, their room is dark, and use pyjamas on at a certain time, a little nightlight for a subtle glow that combat temper tantrums The NHS issues guidelines for optimum getting sleep time for different age groups which starts to surreptitiously prepare helps orientate them if they do wake up brain for sleepy time. Getting them in the night. and tiredness, which can have been collected by the Millpond the settled into a routine means preparing Children’s Sleep Clinic. These are: be traumatic for toddlers. Between the ages of 4 and 16, children the brain for its rest period. Experts from the NHS think should be sleeping through the night for 11 hours, which gradually goes that as much as we should down to about 9 at 14, with 15-minute decrements over the time space. prioritise healthy eating and Why is sleep so important? exercise, we should also We only need to look at some of the be ensuring children get poor decisions or small mistakes we have made ourselves when we are around nine hours of solid tired, and we can begin to understand the importance of sleep. How many slumber nightly, to improve times have you started something which you then struggled to finish, their learning. simply because of the impact tiredness has on judgement and motivation? When coupled with the vital rest time for busy, sponge-like brains, getting
A Ve n u e Fo r All Occa s io n s Flexible spaces for Christenings, Children’s Parties and other events large or small
Catering Services
Sports Hall
Pool
Bouncy Castle
events@ashville.co.uk
www.ashville.co.uk
Families Vale of York 13
Travelling to
france&spain Last year’s atrocities in Nice have no doubt made many families anxious about travelling to France in the near future, but the wild western coasts of France and northern Spain couldn’t be further away from the hustle and bustle of the larger Mediterranean holiday resorts. There are literally hundreds of quiet beaches, forests and islands waiting to be discovered. From the longest beach in Western Europe to its largest sand-dune, the largest forest to the most Michelin starred restaurants. This dramatic coast has more than enough to keep you coming back year after year. By using the extensive Brittany Ferries network you can explore the best the coast has to offer by travelling from Caen in northern France to Bilbao in Northern Spain in anywhere between a week and a fortnight.
14 Families Vale of York
By Paul Wojnicki
Here are some of the highlights. D-Day Beaches- most of the D-Day
Gulf of Morbihan- a real gem and one
Mont St Michel- is the second most
Glenan Islands- think Caribbean beach but with colder (okay, much colder) water. No exaggeration, the islands boast some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and there’ll only be a few yachties and day trippers sharing it with you. www.vedettes-odet. com run day trips in the warmer months from Bénodet, an hour north of the gulf, which take around an hour to reach the islands.
Beaches are great for romping on but Sword Beach is the easiest to reach, just a few minutes’ walk from the ferry port at Ouistreham. The British landed at here with a number of French commandos, who were given the honour of being in the first wave of the attack. The wide expanses of sand are great for romping on and the water shelves gently so it’s safe for the kids to paddle.
visited attraction in France after the Eiffel Tower, and rightly so. Even from a distance it is a truly spectacular sight, floating like a mirage on the sea (or mudflats). The abbey began as a humble little monastery sitting on a rocky outcrop. Over the years medieval buildings sprung up around what would eventually become the most recognisable abbey in the country. Kids will have a great time pretending to be Mike the Knight and running around the ramparts. Make sure you stay in a hotel nearby so that you can enjoy the atmosphere at night when the crowds are all gone and the streets truly feel like you’re in a bygone age.
of the most beautiful bays in Europe. There are around 42 islands, depending on the tides. Many of these stunning islands are privately owned, but two of the largest are easily accessible by a regular ferry service. Île aux Moines and Île d’Arz both boast scenic coastal walks that take in tiny beaches, secluded coves and Neolithic standing stones. Because the bay is sheltered from the open Atlantic the waters are calm and relatively warm.
The Medoc- most famous for its wines and vineyards the Medoc also boasts mile upon mile of deserted white beaches backed by huge sand dunes and pine forests that are very flat and perfect for children to cycle safely around. Soulac sur Mer is particularly nice and even in high season you’re sure to find acres of virgin sands just south of the centre, though there might be the odd surfer or two in the background when you look back at your holiday snaps afterwards. Be sure to use the ferry service between Royan and Le Verdon Sur Mer to avoid the long drive if you’re arriving from Brittany.
Dune du Pilat- the tallest sand dune
beaches below are stunning and there’s even a statue of Christ on nearby Urgill Hill and though you won’t find Sugarloaf Mountain anywhere you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Pyrenees instead.
Biarritz- it’s easy to forget that you’re in France as you walk along the sea front seeing nothing but surfers for the two miles or so along Plage de la Cote des Basques that runs toward neighbouring Spain, indeed the whole vibe here is more Californian than virtually anywhere else in Europe. There’s a large safe tidal pool that forms here to cool off if the weather becomes too hot.
Gaztelugatze (Bermeo)- imagine a section of the Great wall of China thrusting toward a 14th century chapel on an islet in the Bay of Biscay and you might just start to imagine how spectacular Gaztelugatze actually is.
in Europe measures 2.7km in length, 500m in width and 110m in height. It’s a tremendous sight and great for romping on for children of all ages.
San Sebastian- is regularly voted as having the best city beaches in Europe. Once you’ve had enough of the beach head up Mount Ulia by Funicular or in your car for stupendous views that are not dissimilar to images of Rio de Janeiro. There’s also a permanent funfair for the kids up here. The
Bilbao - is surrounded by mountains and is very close to the sea. Visual highlights include the famous transporter bridge, Mount Artxanda- which can be accessed by funicular- and the Gugenheim Museum. The museum itself might not be of interest to younger children but they’re bound to be excited by some of the interesting oddities outside- such as a giant spider and a massive floral West Highland Terrier.
Getting there: Brittany Ferries operate up to three ferries a day from Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham). One of these is an overnight service that allows you to maximise your time in France. Sailings start at £79 for a car and two adult passengers, while children under 4 travel free of charge. Brittany Ferries also operate overnight cruise ferries on five days each week from Bilbao or Santander in northern Spain to Portsmouth in the UK. One way fares, including cabin start at around £280 for a car and two adults. Under 4’s travel free of charge. Cruise ferries on both routes feature children’s entertainers, play areas and even pools on most of the Spain crossings.
Paul Wojnicki is a freelance journalist who now specialises in family and overland travel.
Families Vale of York 15
Six super tips to get your
child outdoors
this
spring
Spring is a beautiful time of year. The air is heavy with the scent of flowering daffodils and snowdrops sway gently back and forth on every verge. The sky provides a crisp blue background and the fields are green with new growth. It’s the perfect time for children! With lambs frolicking in the fields and insects buzzing in the air, there is so much to see and do and it’s important to get them outside to experience it, for both their physical health and their psychological wellbeing. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of fresh air and good, old-fashioned outdoor fun. Proven to increase children’s activity levels, alertness and general health, it’s also a great way to get their minds and their imaginations working. The trick is not to make it feel forced, but rather fun. Although there may still be a bit of a nip in the air, here are six super tips to get your little ones scrambling for the nearest door and their next adventure…
1
Take them camping
2
Studies have shown that the average child spends far too much time indoors using electronics and less and less time outside. This can constrain their natural creativity and gives them an inability to cope without constant stimulation. One great way to turn this on its head is to grab a tent and take them camping. Internet service should be naturally limited in more remote locations, but if it’s not, encourage your kids to leave their tablets and smartphones behind. Fill their days with hiking, campfires, and outdoor games and they’ll barely even notice the absence of 24/7 technology.
Do some wildlife watching
According to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children spend more than seven hours a day on electronic media. Luckily, the best antidote for gamer’s eye and texter’s thumb is a simple one: a different kind of mental and visual stimulation in the form of wildlife watching. Helping children to better appreciate the birds and beasts around them is a great way to engage their senses and educate them on the environment. If you want to make the day extra exciting, turn it into a photo safari and have them snap pictures of any animals they spot.
3
Turn detective for the day
Woodland walks are one way to get your children moving, but to make sure that they don’t get bored and try to avoid going out again in the future, turn the day into a game. Compile a list of things to find in the forest, from certain types of flowers to feathers, leaves, and even animal droppings. Get them to tick these off their list as they locate them. The more they find, the more points they get, with a small prize at the end for the victor. Such games are guaranteed to not only be fun, but also to get all of their senses switched on and their attention focused on the task at hand.
4
Collect and craft
Another idea for woodland walks is to get your children to collect items that they can later use to make crafts. Encourage them to search around for the most beautiful bits and bobs that they can find, whether these are flowers, feathers, or even pretty rocks. Once you’re at home, let them showcase their findings, and spend some time teaching them about the things they’ve discovered, such as which birds their feathers came from. Then, get out the glue and the glitter and get to work. Their imaginations should soon be working overtime.
5
Take them pony trekking
Horse riding can be an expensive hobby, but as a one-off treat, it’s a really pleasant experience for children. Helping to hone their hand-eye co-ordination, it’s almost like enjoying a Great British safari. Most centres will take you out into the wilderness, with beautiful sights to be seen and enjoyed. Depending on where you trek, you could cross everything from woods to beaches to mountains, each of them offering a unique insight into the wonders of the great outdoors. Your little ones will probably love it so much that they’ll be talking about it for weeks to come, their minds filled with the fun and the excitement that being outdoors can bring.
6
Encourage them to cloud gaze
As free as the air you breathe, cloud gazing has always been associated with daydreamers and there are worse things that your child could be. Encouraging them to pick out shapes in the sky will get their imaginations working overtime and is a truly fantastic catalyst for creativity. Afterwards, have them make stories from the images they imagined, or else paint their own cloudy pictures. As long as it gets them thinking, the day will have been a superb success.
How will you get your little ones out of the house and into the wilder world this spring? For more fun things to see and do in the great outdoors, visit www.familiesonline.co.uk
16 Families Vale of York
We’ve ordered everything according to start date – be sure to look out for all the events which run for several weeks / weekends too. And be sure to check before you set off. These were correct as we went to print but may have changed. Check if you need to book ahead too. More ‘Days Out’ can be found online at www.familiesonline.co.uk. All events are now searchable by date, venue & age range making it much easier to find all our local events at the click of your mouse.
what’s on mar/apr 2017
Until 20 Mar
15 Mar - 19 Apr
Little Cinema
Daffodil Trail
Until 24 Mar
Fashionable Yorkshire; 500 years of style
Treasurers House Take a seat for a moment to be transported to a bygone era with a unique short film detailing York’s historic past. 01904 624247 www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Wolf Hall comes to York
Barley Hall See beautiful costumes from the recent BBC series. 01904 615505 www.barleyhall.co.uk Until 26 March
Get Geocaching
Rievaulx Terrace Get outside and have a go at geocaching through the woodland. You never know what you might find. 01439 798340 www.nationaltrust.org.uk Until 31 March , Sat & Sun
Winter Abbey Tours
Fountains Abbey Knowledgeable guides bring to life the dramatic history of the beautiful Abbey. 1.30 PM to 2.30 PM 01765 608 888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk Until 16 July
Comics Unmasked
Abbey House Museum From Dan Dare to Dennis the Menace, this display explores comic strips past and present through objects & the eyes of the local comic collecting community. 0113 378 4079 www.leeds.gov.uk Until 28 Aug
For All Seasons
Leeds City Museum Explore how the world around us changes with the seasons. Closed on Monday, except for Bank Holidays. 10am 0113 378 5001 www.leeds.gov.uk/seasons
Thorp Perrow Arboretum Collect a map as you arrive, and follow Curator Faith’s Daffodil trail through the Arboretum. 01609 770255 www.thorpperrow.com 17 Mar – 31 Dec
Lotherton Hall Explore the history of fashion through the clothes and personal stories of a selection of Yorkshire women. 0113 378 2959 www.leeds.gov.uk/yorkshirestyle 18 Mar
Sights and Sounds of Ripon
Ripon Museums A free family-friendly day of activities for all ages. Experience life as an inmate with Victorian school lessons, wash day chores in the laundry & try your hand at rag rugging. Free Family & audio trails around the workhouse. 01765 690799 www.riponmuseums.co.uk 21 Mar
Spring Free Day
RHS Garden Harlow Carr Celebrate the start of Spring and explore RHS Garden Harlow Carr for free. 0845 265 8070 25 & 26 Mar
Mother’s day Trail
Brimham Rocks Get your family outdoors to celebrate this Mothers’ Day in the rocks. 01423 780 688 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 25 & 26 Mar
Mother’s Day Weekend
RHS Garden Harlow Carr Celebrate Mothers’ Day weekend at the garden. 0845 265 8070 www.rhs.org.uk
Families Vale of York 17
From 1 Apr
5 Apr
York’s Sweet Past
Eggsperiments
York Castle Museum Delve into the delicious history of some of the world’s most iconic chocolates & sweets this Easter. 01904 687687 www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk 1-23 Apr
Lindt Bunny trail
RHS Garden Harlow Carr Enjoy Easter at the garden with lots of activities from stories and Easter crafts to amazing birds of prey demonstrations, plus the delicious Lindt Bunny trail! 0845 265 8070 www.rhs.org.uk
e v i L e m i t g n Spri
1-2 Apr
Leeds Discovery Centre Take a look at the amazing eggs and egg cases from the Natural Science collection and learn all about eggs in this FREE family workshop. 0113 378 2100 www.leeds.gov.uk 8 – 23 Apr
Easter Trail
Burton Agnes Hall Children are invited to take part in an Easter trail around the magnificent grounds of the Hall. www.burtonagnes.com 8 – 23 Apr
Wizard of Oz Adventure
Mother Shipton’s Cave Help Dorothy and her friends in their quest by completing a FREE Nunnington Hall adventure sheet using your brilliant brain, huge heart, & constant gate A fun day with a literary theme that is courage. 01423 864600 www.mothershipton.co.uk rro Ha , nd ou gr ow eat Yorkshire Sh year, the event will suitable for all the family. 01439 748283 th returns to the Gr 6-24 Apr Springtime Live onday, 1st May. Now in its four pularity of the event www.nationaltrust.org.uk M po on Bank Holiday 30pm and due to the growing Giant Egg Hunt 1 – 16 Apr 4. run from 9am to available in advance. Stockeld Park will be Easter Holidays he r yea s be thi ly d an on s tickets will Find hidden eggs around the Enchanted Forest using your forest h their Abbey House Museum om from CBeebie demand is Mr Blo rdeners from the allotment, along wit map. 01937 586101 www.stockeldpark.co.uk Back by popular ga low fel of h Two weeks of fantastically creative crafts & nc bu accompanied by a to entertain the tiddlers! ren, collecting activities. Closed Mondays. 0113 230 5492 8-23 Apr ild ch nts the me by tru ed ins low musical ties in www.leeds.gov.uk ich can be fol y completing activi l be a Show trail wh Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt New for this year wil gtime Live passport, by successfull by two panto dame style rin d Sp 1 – 17 Apr Fountains Abbey stamps for their Story will be hoste ol Wo d pe am rev ol. each area, while the stumes inspired and made from wo , Cheeky little spring lambs are frolicking all around the estate. us mp Easter Holidays ca tro As to co night, then a visit woolly ladies with Find them to win a yummy chocolate prize! ation for the sky at lations and planets, or feed the Thwaite Mills Watermill cin fas a ve ha o For those wh spot the constel activities include Hen Harrier Make use of a nature pack to help you explore 01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk to st, mu a is e g. Other new ilding, the grounds or pick up an artist pack and get the cosmodom eractive story tellin ft and stick man bu 10 – 23 Apr imagination with int work demonstration, mini beast cra . Of course it wouldn’t creative. Closed Mondays ch ne craft activities, sto s and small animals to see and tou king with York Chocolate 0113 2141914 www.leeds.gov.uk Spring Trail as well as textile art hout the old favourites; chocolate ma show, donkey rides, soft Brimham Rocks wit dy e Ju Liv d 1-18 Apr an me h gti nc rin Pu be Sp g, a Follow the trail to discover a part of the site you might not have age and rope makin Story, bread, saus or activities. Easter Trail seen before. 01423 780 688 www.nationaltrust.org.uk tdo ou r. d de an un play areas Thorp Perrow Arboretum Free for age 2 and . ren ild ch £5 & s at Follow the Easter themed trail through the 10-17 Apr Prices: £10 adult be found online information can Arboretum. Trail sheet £1 per child (Standard Chocolate Week, with Chocolate Story York Tickets and more .co.uk ve entry charges apply) 01677 425323 Stockeld Park www.springtimeli www.thorpperrow.com Design, create and work alongside real Chocolatiers to learn about the history & processes used in chocolate making. 1 – 23 Apr 25 & 26 Mar 01937 586101 www.stockeldpark.co.uk
Mother’s day Treat
Nunnington Hall Spend the day together as a family while you get crafty with pottery painting before spoiling mum in the tea-room with a Mother’s day treat. 01439 748283 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 25 & 26 Mar
Medieval Falconry
Ryedale Book Festival
A Mad Hatter of an Easter
Lotherton Hall 11 & 18 Apr Over three weeks at Easter there’s a varied programme of Garden Detectives activities including daily springtime crafts, outdoor games & a RHS Garden Harlow Carr Mad Hatter’s trail to explore the house & gardens. Search for Garden Detectives on hand to welcome you and to 0113 281 3259 www.leeds.gov.uk share their themed stories at selected times throughout the day. 4 – 13 Apr 0845 265 8070 www.rhs.org.uk
Hippo Easter Holidays Nunnington Hall 12 & 19 Apr Witness spectacular aerial displays of birds of prey in flight and Leeds City Museum Craft workshops Did you know hippo bones were discovered in Armley discover how these birds were used by the nobles of the medieval in Leeds? Join Leeds City Museum for Easter Holiday RHS Garden Harlow Carr period. 01439 748283 www.nationaltrust.org.uk events based on this wonderful animal. Tues – Fri. Make your own bunny head dress to wear on your Easter adventures! 0845 265 8070 www.rhs.org.uk 26 Mar 0113 224 3732 www.leeds.gov.uk Mother’s Day
Temple Newsam Estate Plan a special day out with all the family this Mother’s Day and enjoy the delights of Temple Newsam. 0113 395 7400 www.leeds.gov.uk
Easter Egg-stravanganza Fun at Piglets Adventure Farm
26 Mar
With egg-citing activities, cute baby animals and lots of family fun, there’s plenty to see and do this Easter at Piglets Adventure Farm. From 8th – 23rd April, little egg hunters can take part in the Easter Egg Hunt. Find hidden chicks around the farm, grab an egg from each one and then receive a special treat. Other egg-citing activities include lambing live, lamb bottle feeding, baby chicks, Chicken Flappin’ and the Magic Hatter returns with his comedy magic and Springtime silliness! The fun doesn’t stop there, as all the regular activities including tractor trailer rides, bouncing pillows, animal barn and piglet maternity ward, giant sand pit will be on offer. Visitors can also take a tractor & trailer ride up to the this season’s latest addition - the NEW BALE PLAY BAAARN with
Mother’s Day
Beningbrough Hall Celebrate Mothering Sunday and make something special for the mum in your world in the popular family art workshop. 01904 472027 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 26 Mar
Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea
Ripley Castle Treat your Mother to a special gift this Mothering Sunday with Afternoon Tea. 01423 770152 www.ripleycastle.co.uk 26 Mar
Mother’s Day
Thorp Perrow Arboretum Free Tea & Cake - with entry for your lovely Mum!! 01677 425323 www.thorpperrow.com 26 Mar
Mothering Sunday
Treasurer’s House Treat your Mum to a day out at Treasurer’s House, enjoy lunch in the Below Stairs Cafe and then have a go at croquet in the garden. 01904 624247 www.nationaltrust.org.uk
18 Families Vale of York
giant drop slides, straw bale mountain, junior tractor drivers’ area, rope swing and dig’n’play. If you’re feeling peckish, there’s even a heated seating area with delicious food from the Piggy Pizza Parlour. You can also enjoy a refreshing drink and delicious snacks in the Piglets Coffee House with small soft play area. You can book discounted tickets online, go to pigletsadventurefarm.com Piglets Adventure Farm is located 15 minutes from the centre of York, on Towthorpe Moor Lane, between Strensall Road and the A64, North of York. For full information go to pigletsadventurefarm.com or call 01904 499700
14 – 23 Apr
Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt
Nunnington Hall The Nunnington scarecrows are hoping to protect the crops from cheeky Bunny who has been trying to gobble them up. 01439 748283 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 15 & 16 Apr
Easter Craft Days
Thorp Perrow Arboretum Join in with free Easter crafts sessions at any time from 11am-4pm (Standard entry charges apply) 01609 770255 www.thorpperrow.com
Easter Fun at Stockeld 8 – 24 April
As always, you can expect spectacular Easter fun at Stockeld Park. The Easter Adventure kicks off on April 8th with the Giant Egg Hunt where adventurers can follow the clues around the forest, work out the riddles and win their own egg. York Chocolate Story will be at Stockeld for a week too giving visitors a chance to learn about chocolate-making – and of course a chance to sample some of the dark stuff! There’ll be a visit from the Stockeld Park ponies so children can have the opportunity to handle them in a safe environment. Younger visitors can also enjoy Doris the Dragon’s Easter show – a fun interactive performance for all the family. With the forest to explore, the maze, roller-skating, electric scooters and indoor play, the only problem you’ll have is choosing what to do first! www.stockeldpark.co.uk
15 – 23 Apr
A Very Terry Easter
Goddards House and Garden Join in some very chocolatey fun! From chocolate trails, to blindfold taste tests and chocolate box making 01904 771930 www.nationaltrust.org.uk
table tots
www.tabletots.co.uk
March 4th ILKLEY Ilkley Grammar School 1 - 2.30 March 5th BRIGHOUSE Brighouse High School 1 - 2.30 March 11th SELBY Barlby High School 2 - 3.30 March 18th HULL Wyke College 1 - 2.30 March 19th ROTHWELL Rothwell Sports Centre 1.30 - 3.00 March 25th PONTEFRACT New college park Lane WF8 4QR 1 - 2.30 April 1st OTLEY Prince Henry’s Grammar School 2 -3.30 April 8th SHIPLEY Titus Salt School 1-2.30pm April 9th WAKEFIELD Queen Elizabeth Grammar School WF1 3QY 1 - 2.30 April 22nd BARNSLEY Horizon college 1 -2.30 April 30th HORSFORTH Leeds Trinity University 1-2.30pm 22 – 23 Apr
St George’s Weekend
Lotherton Hall Follow the Dragon Hunt Trail around the house and gardens, plus the little ones will have chance to dress up as a knight, dragon or Burton Agnes Hall Join the Easter Bunny and search for some of the many thousands princess. 0113 281 3259 www.leeds.gov.uk of chocolate Easter eggs that are hidden in the Hall’s woodland. 22 – 23 Apr www.burtonagnes.com 16 & 17 Apr
Easter Egg Hunt
Doris the Dragon Easter Show
Stockeld Park Created for children up to 10 years old, the show offers interactive fun for all the family to enjoy and is written by a former Newby Hall and Gardens Meet the Easter Bunny and his friends as you solve clues through producer of Sooty and Rainbow theatre shows. the woodland walk…there may even be chocolate at the end of it! 01937 586101 www.stockeldpark.co.uk 11am - 5pm. 0845 450 4068 www.newbyhall.com 29 Apr 16 & 17 Apr Nick Sharratt’s Big Draw-Along Junction, Goole Easter Scarecrows Join children’s writer and illustrator Nick Sharratt to find out how Nunnington Hall 14 – 17 Apr Help build more scarecrows, take part in the Easter bonnet he creates his picture books. parade, plant spring crops to take home and complete 01405763652 www.junctiongoole.co.uk Easter Weekend with Cadbury the cheeky Bunny Easter Hunt.|01439 748283 29 Apr – 1 May Beningbrough Hall Follow the trail for a chocolate bunny prize, plus egg and spoon www.nationaltrust.org.uk Food and Drink Festival races, decorate an egg competition and a chance to meet the 17 – 21 Apr Lotherton Hall Easter Bunny. 01904 472027 www.nationaltrust.org.uk Take your pick of delicious snacks, shop for local products and Stockeld Park Ponies 14 – 17 Apr produce and sample the different drinks on offer, including plenty Stockeld Park Make friends with your very own pony and spend time with them of family entertainment. Easter Family Fun 0113 281 3259 www.leeds.gov.uk this Easter. 01937 586101 www.stockeldpark.co.uk Castle Howard Fun for all the family this Easter. 01653 648 444 www.castlehoward.co.uk 14 – 17 Apr
Say hello to the Easter Bunny
RHS Garden Harlow Carr The Easter Bunny will be hopping around the garden. Look out for him on your travels and make sure you say hello! 0845 265 8070 www.rhs.org.uk 14 – 17 Apr
Easter Adventure Quest
Scarborough Castle Meet a character from the past and crack the clues as you explore. There’s a chocolate reward for successful adventurers so be sure to join in the fun. www.english-heritage.org.uk 14 – 17 Apr
Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt
Yorkshire Coast, Peakside, Ravenscar A series of clues leads you on a walk from the visitor centre, then work your way back to claim a deliciously chocolatey Cadbury prize. 01947 885900 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 14 -23 Apr
Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt
Rievaulx Terrace Join Bunny while he explores the woodland for friends hiding amongst the trees to claim your Cadbury prize. 01439 748283 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 14 – 17 Apr
Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt
Treasurer’s House Climb the stairs to follow the indoor trail for a Cadbury sweet treat 01904 624247 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 14 & 15 Apr
Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 2017
Brimham Rocks It’s time to get your kids out of the house, wrapped up warm and ready for some chocolate hunting! 01423 780688 www.nationaltrust.org.uk
16 & 17 Apr
Easter Family Fun Days
theatre 4 Mar
21 – 25 March
11 Apr
Justin’s Party
Annie - The Musical
Naomi’s Live and Scary
17 – 18 Mar
31 Mar
Naomi’s Wild and Scary
Hull City Hall Brand new show packed full of fantastic songs, dances and hilarious games guaranteed to make it THE party of the year! 01482 300300
A Pocket Full of Grimms
York Theatre Royal Featuring glorious retellings of Hansel and Gretel, Beauty and the Beast, Rumpelstiltskin and more. 01904 658162 www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk 18 Mar 2017
Goldilocks & the Three Bears
Junction, Goole Bringing this classic story to life, this is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music & theatre for the first time. 01405 763652 www.junctiongoole.co.uk 7-11 March
Annie
Howden Shire Hall Stagedoor Academy present this popular musical. The show is sure to be a sell-out, so book your tickets early at Junction Goole. 01405 763652 www.junctiongoole.co.uk
Joseph Rowntree Theatre York Musical Theatre Company bring the much loved family musical Annie to York 01904 501935 www.josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk
Dom Berry: Aaaaaaaaaagh! Dinosaurs! Junction, Goole An engaging and hilarious poetry show for children and families. 01405 763652 www.junctiongoole.co.uk 1 Apr
Circo Ridiculoso: Three Little Pigs
Junction, Goole An innovative re-telling of the classic Three Little Pigs with hilarious physical comedy, circus skills & sheer pigheadedness. 01405 763652 www.junctiongoole.co.uk 6 – 8 Apr
Peter Pan
Joseph Rowntree Theatre All the magic of the original story for children are enchantingly brought to life in this production of the timeless classic for all the family 01904 501935 www.josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk
Hull City Hall The show is suitable for children of all ages & guarantees a great time for the whole family. 01482300300 www.hullcc.gov.uk 18 Apr 2017 Harrogate Theatres Join Naomi as she recalls some of her most exciting wildlife experiences. 01423 502710 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk 20 – 22 Apr
Wow! Said The Owl
Harrogate Theatres Suitable for everyone over the age of 2 yrs, this show charms young & old alike. 01423 502710 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk 22 Apr
Cardboard Carnival by Lempen Puppet Theatre
Pocklington Arts Centre, Market Place Carnival of the Animals but not as we know it! 01759 301547 www.pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk 24 Apr
Mr Blooms Nursery Live
York Grand Opera House The popular CBeebies character Mr Bloom and his Veggies are about to embark on their first ever live theatre tour! 08448713024 www.mrbloomlive.co.uk
STOCKELD
PARK
Where magic is made & adventures
begin
The Easter Adventure Open Daily 8th - 24th April
Enjoy Active Outdoor Fun & Indoor Play
PLUS Easter Special Events including: • The Giant Egg Hunt • Chocolate week with York’s Chocolate Story • Doris the Dragon’s Easter Show • Stockeld Ponies
Monday 1st May 2017 9am - 4:30pm
at the Great Yorkshire Showground Harrogate HG2 8NZ
ALL OF THE ATTRACTIONS ARE FREE INCLUDING:
BREAD MAKING COSMODOME PUNCH & JUDY SHOW DINKY MOBILE FARM CHOCOLATE LOLLY MAKING FAIRY ENCHANTICA DONKEY RIDES
Back by
popular
from CB
demand
eebies
PLUS LOTS MORE!
* Listings correct at time of printing. E&EO. Subject to change. For a full list of daily events, visit springtimelive.co.uk
BOOK
ONLINE
Located between Harrogate & Leeds LS22 4AN
www.stockeldpark.co.uk
NOW!
TICKETS ONLY AVAILABLE IN ADVANCE
www.springtimelive.co.uk Yorkshire Agricultural Society | Registered Charity no. 513238 | Company Registration No. 1666751 | VAT Registration No. 613 0480 81
Do you have a spare room in your home? Are you caring, nurturing and supportive?
Become a Host Family for an international pupil at a local boarding school Attractive daily rates Occasional weekend and half terms only Contact Imogen to find out more on imogen@pippasguardians.co.uk or call 01684 252757
www.pippasguardians.co.uk