Families Bedfordshire Jan Feb 2018

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Bedfordshire IN THIS ISSUE

What’s on: January & February Fitness for busy parents Winter clubs & classes WIN tickets to Model Railway Exhibition

Issue 32 January/February 2018

familiesonline.co.uk

Hello!

Welcome to the January/February issue of Families Bedfordshire.

I hope you had a lovely time with your families over the festive season and wish you a very happy and prosperous new year.

The start of the new year is an exciting time for all of us, as we make plans for the year ahead and are full of optimism for what’s to come and what we want to achieve.

This issue of the magazine has a fantastic New Year, New You section with features on fitness for busy parents, as well as hair and beauty tips for mums. If your new year’s resolution is to eat more healthy food then our feature Eating to boost mood on page 11 has some great tips on food that energises the mind. Our regular What’s On section is always worth a look for ideas on keeping the family occupied as it covers many local activities, including theatre productions. We’ve got a packed news section too, and other usual features on clubs & classes, education and childcare.

I hope you enjoy reading the magazine.

Dale

What’s inside 3-4 NEWS 5-6 EDUCATION 7 CHILDCARE 8-9 NEW YEAR, NEW YOU 10 TIPS TO GET KIDS TALKING 11 MOOD BOOST WITH FOOD 12-13 CLUBS & CLASSES 14-15 WHAT’S ON

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Editor: Dale Harry dale@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk www.facebook.com/FamiliesBeds Advertising: Amanda Biggs Mob: 07835848066 Design: Sarah Harmer

Bedfordshire

Families Bedfordshire is printed by The Manson Group (01727 848440) on paper sourced from sustainable forests and the inks used are vegetable based. Distribution: we print 16,000 copies which are distributed to selected points in Bedfordshire. For further distribution information please contact the Editor.

Issue 32 January/February 2018

familiesonline.co.uk

Take the Marston Vale Line (Bedford – Bletchley) to Milton Keynes Model Rail Exhibition 2018!

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Saturday 10 February: 10– Bletchley) – (Bedford toVale Milton Keynes of 3-9 Take the4:30pm Marston Line adults s Model Rail Exhibition 2016!

(Bedford – Bletchley) to Milton Keynes kid , s ha Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Model Rail Exhibition 2016! under lf-price, 5 s g Stantonbury Arts & Leisure, Stantonbury, o free !

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Discounts on admission for Marston Vale Line ets Gro

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Free vintage shuttle bus from Milton Keynes Central Station!

Discounts on admission for Marston Vale Line passengers!

Free vintage shuttle from Keynes Central Station!

Adults: £6 (£5.50 withbus valid railMilton ticket); Discounts£3.50 on admission forvalid Marston Vale Line passengers!

Children: (£3.00 with rail ticket); Adults: £62(£5.50 valid rail£11 ticket); Families: adultswith + 3 children (£10.00 with valid rail ticket).

Children: £3.50 (£3.00 with valid rail ticket); Call 014942773759 for3 further information or visit Families: adults + children £11 (£10.00 with valid rail ticket). www.mkmrs.org.uk/exhibitions Call 01494 773759 for further information or visit www.mkmrs.org.uk/exhibitions

Adults: £7 (£6.50 with valid rail ticket) Children: £1.00

Call 01494 773759 for further information or visit www.mkmrs.org.uk/exhibitions

For further information please contact:

Stephen Sleight For further information please contact: For further information please contact: Marston Community Stephen Vale Sleight Stephen Sleight Rail Partnership Marston Vale Community Marston Vale Community Tel: 832645 Rail 01234 Partnership E-mail: stephens@bedsrcc.org.uk Tel: 01234 832645 Rail Partnership Visit our award winning website!

E-mail: stephens@bedsrcc.org.uk www.marstonvalecommunityrail.org.uk Tel: 01234 832645 Visit our award winning website! www.marstonvalecommunityrail.org.uk E-mail: stephens@bedsrcc.org.uk Visit our website! www.marstonvalecommunityrail.org.uk

Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/ Find us on Facebook! marstonvalecrp www.facebook.com/ Follow us on Twitter! marstonvalecrp @marstonvalecrp Follow us on Twitter! @marstonvalecrp

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Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/marstonvalecrp Follow us on Twitter! @marstonvalecrp

Contact: linda.stone@familiesmagazine.co.uk or call 07530 283330 for more information

Families Bedfordshire is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.

Families ® is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Bedfordshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Bedfordshire. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, Families Bedfordshire and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

2 Families Bedfordshire

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NEWS

Spin a tale during National Storytelling Week The first week of February marks National Storytelling Week, a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world.

We are all immersed in stories — from conversations retelling events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs to be a good speaker and listener first. But above all,

storytelling is fun.

Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary.

National Storytelling Week takes place in storytelling clubs, theatres, museums, schools, hospitals, spoken word venues, and care homes.

The Society for Storytelling has lots of information and offers free packs for schools to download. To find a local event or to look through its extensive archive visit www.sfs.org.uk

Maths tops popularity poll for children New research has shown that when it comes to children’s favourite subject it’s a numbers game as maths comes out on top.

A survey carried by the extra tuition provider, Explore Learning, has found that maths was the most enjoyed subject of four to 14 year olds (26%) followed by PE (20%) and art (16%). This was despite the fact that maths is also the subject that children admit to finding the most challenging, followed by English and geography.

More highlights of the survey include: ✦ The next generation may signal the end of the gender divide as seven in ten (69%) of children think boys and girls are equally good at maths

✦ Nearly two thirds (61%) think a job in maths would be exciting! ✦ 90% think being good at maths will help you get a better paid job in the future.

To inspire your aspiring mathematician there are great ideas on how to make maths fun and engage young maths minds at www.murderousmaths.co.uk

Mums want more flexible working opportunities According to a survey by Workingmums.co.uk, almost three quarters of working mums identify flexible work as being crucial to getting more women into senior roles.

The survey shows that mums feel flexible working is vital for them to manage work and family life and that 60% of those who work flexibly would like even more flexibility.

So what can individuals do to help persuade their employers to agree to them working flexibly?

Here are some tips: ➤Think through what the job requires and whether the tasks you have to perform can be done at a different location i.e from home, or at times outside of the standard working day. Take account of any additional costs or challenges this might involve and discuss them honestly. ➤Give examples of the ways in which your work can be successfully carried out under any new working pattern you are proposing, and show that it will

not harm the business. Point out any business advantages. ➤Research some case studies, ideally in your sector that shows how the work pattern you are suggesting can be mutually beneficial to you and your employer. ➤If managers are dubious, suggest a trial period. Have a compromise solution as a back-up.

For more information and flexible work opportunities, visit www.workingmums.co.uk www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

I believe in keeping an open mind Open Morning Wednesday 7th March, 10am Telephone: 01234 361918 www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk Bedford Girls’ School is part of The Harpur Trust

Families Bedfordshire 3

NEWS

Pages Play Cafe – meet, eat and play!

A new cafe in the heart of Leighton Buzzard has become the talk of town as it provides the perfect combination of food and play for young families.

Set in the green surroundings of Pages Park, Pages Play Cafe is the brainchild of two local mums Antonella Bednarek and Louise Sherwood, and opened its doors at the end of last year.

Since then it has welcomed families with tasty homemade soups, cakes, gourmet sandwiches, seasonal salads and children’s favourites such as jacket potatoes. With a

large dedicated play area full of toys, fancydress costumes, and soft-play items, little ones are kept entertained while mum and dad can catch up with friends over a latte or cappuccino.

“Being two (thirty something) mums who have both lived and worked in the local area for many years we were aware of a real gap in the market for something like this,” says Louise. “We decided to take the plunge and set up our unique play cafe, located in the park’s pavilion, that had sat a little unloved for a while. We knew we could do something special with such a fab space and bring some life back to the building at the same time.”

The two owners bring a wealth of experience to the business as Antonella’s background is in hospitality and catering, while Louise has worked in fundraising and PR. Providing good quality food, at good prices is extremely important to them, as is catering for various dietary requirements with dairy and gluten-free options available to customers on the menu.

“We have been really overwhelmed with the support we’ve received and feedback has been 100 per cent positive,” adds Antonella. “We’re attracting people from outside of town as well

Antonella and Louise

as many local people, and with the loss of Sandhills Community House last year, we are so happy to provide our cafe and play area to support lots of new mums and parents and those that have recently moved to the area.”

There are big plans for the year ahead too; opening hours have been extended, the cafe offers children’s party packages, hosts community groups, children’s entertainers have been booked, and themed days will continue to be a regular fixture.

“We hope that we always provide a friendly place for everyone to feel welcome, and that their children have a happy and safe place to play,” Louise says.

For more information on Pages Play Cafe, including opening hours and events, call 07763659207/07958278506 or visit the cafe’s Facebook page.

compe t

ition Win tickets to the Milton Keynes Model Railway Exhibition!

Families Bedfordshire magazine is giving three families (2 adults and 2 children per family) the opportunity to win tickets to the Milton Keynes Model Railway Exhibition (www.mkmrs.org.uk/exhibitions/), which will be held at Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Stantonbury Arts & Leisure, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes, MK14 6BN on Saturday 10 February (10am-4.30pm).

This year, there will be a free Routemaster bus every 30 minutes from Milton Keynes Central Station to the venue.

Jump on the train operated by London Northwestern at any of the 12 stations on the Marston Vale line and change at Bletchley station for frequent connecting trains to Milton Keynes Central.

There are lots of great days out available for Marston Vale Line passengers throughout the year – please visit www.marstonvalecommunityrail.org.uk or call 01234 832645.

Plus, entry discounts for rail passengers attending the Model Railway Exhibition.

To win a ticket for your family, simply answer the question and send it by email to editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

by Monday 29 January 2018.

Please include your name, address and phone number, along with the answer.

Wear A Hat Day for brain tumour research Why not raise money for a good cause and have fun at the sane time by participating in Wear A Hat Day – the UK’s premier brain tumour research fundraising event which takes place on Thursday 29 March.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it that day, just choose another!

Join in the fun as schools and families across the UK get involved to help raise funds for research into brain tumours.

You can register for the event by going to www. wearahatday.org and a fundraising pack will be sent to

Which Train Operating Company runs the services on the Marston Vale line? a) Southern b) Thameslink c) London Northwestern

T&Cs apply. See www.familiesonline.co.uk for details.

you. The recently updated website makes registering much faster and you can explore the Wear A Hat Day pages for ideas to make your Wear A Hat Day event a success.

Last year, families and schools came together alongside other organisations and communities across the UK and helped raise over £300,000 to fund vital research. This year the organization is targeting £600,000, which would be enough to keep a group of researchers funded for a year, working towards finding a cure.

Mummy MOT service improves women’s health

A Mummy MOT is a detailed postnatal assessment recommended for all women following the delivery of their child, whether at six weeks or many years after giving birth, which aims to address any physiological

issues that women might face.

The Mummy MOT sessions at Harpenden Physiotherapy is run by Clare Johnston, who is trained in Women’s Health Physiotherapy and has an advanced certificate in the

treatment of the pelvic floor.

The Mummy MOT will assess the strength and function of the tummy and pelvic floor muscles to help prevent long-term childbirth related complaints. It includes a

one-hour post-natal assessment, an in-depth check of a mum’s pelvic floor strength and tummy gap, as well as an evaluation of any physical problems arising from pregnancy and birth.

To find out more about Harpenden Physiotherapy call 01582 761448 or visit www.harpendenphysiotherapy.co.uk 4 Families Bedfordshire

www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

EDUCATION

Explore Learning gets behind ‘more maths for everyone!’

In November 2017, the Government released their budget which stated they were committed to investing more money for maths teaching in schools.

Whatever your political belief and aside from the debate, we can all get behind the chancellor’s sentiment of “more maths for everyone”.

Helping the next generation to master maths concepts, be confident mathematicians and proud problem solvers is our responsibility as educators and parents.

Charlotte Gater, Head of Education at Explore Learning, added: “This way we can help children to develop the skills needed, not only in so many jobs, but also to be financially healthy. Whilst listening to the budget speech, and the chancellor’s comments on how much the country spends on debt, it is clear that we need to teach children the importance of good financial management.

Charlotte has put together some top tips to help you help your children have a good understanding of budgets: ✦ Get them involved with shopping. Give them a budget to spend for the week and get them to meal plan. Encourage them to shop around different brands or supermarkets to see if they can get more for their money. ✦ Teach them about interest rates. Does your child turn to the bank of Mum and Dad to borrow money? Give them some options.

1) They can either save up their pocket money or do jobs to earn the money. 2) You will give them the money upfront, but they then have to pay you back with interest.

So, if they want £50 they have to give you £55 back over a set period of time. This way they will start to understand about the debt they could create by using loans.

✦ Learn about pay. A great activity we do with our older members at Explore Learning is to get them to research how much they would get paid for their ideal job. They then have to see how far their monthly wages would go. Looking at tax, rent, bills etc gets them

Explore Learning is award-winning maths and English tuition for children aged four to fourteen, voted number one private tuition centre in the UK! We’re confident you’ll love it so why not call to book your FREE TRIAL with your nearest centre today on 033 0124 3802 or visit www.explorelearning.co.uk.

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With a huge range of courses and programmes mapped to the school curriculum, our centres are an environment where children of all abilities thrive. Of course we believe that maths and English are extremely important, but in addition to that we are truly passionate about inspiring a generation of ‘fearless learners’; children who can excel in the classroom, be confident in exams and are ready to tackle anything their future may hold.

For more information visit

explorelearning.co.uk or call 033 0124 3802

Your nearest centres are in

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PROGRESS

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to see how much disposable income they would have! ✦ Let’s take the fear out of maths, relate it to real life situations and encourage children to get to grips with finances. More maths for everyone… yes please!

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BE EXAM READY

Is your child preparing to sit the 11 Plus, a local entrance exam, the SATs or an end of term test?

CONFIDENCE

Confidence is the first step on a child’s journey to success.

A FEARLESS FUTURE

Supporting children to succeed in school and beyond.

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www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

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Awards 2016

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EDUCATION

How parents can help children with exam pressure

By Claire Winter

need to do and devise a realistic programme of revision and work that they can realistically achieve. Remember they will need additional support from you, so make sure you can stick to what you have agreed.

Avoid distractions Children can’t multi-task; revising with an iPad, mobile phone, television or XBox means they are not fully concentrating. If you set them up to study without outside distraction from the get-go, they will hopefully continue to revise this way when they go to secondary school.

If children are taught that mistakes are opportunities to learn, rather than being made to feel bad or a ‘failure,’ they are more likely to develop a growth mindset.

Children are facing an increasing amount of pressure when it comes to exams, whether its SATs, the 11+ or school entrance exams. Here’s how parents can help their children cope with the stress.

Although SATs will eventually be phased out for younger children over the next five years, Year 2 and Year 6 pupils will still have to sit their SATs this May. Many children also have entrance exams for prep schools, private secondary schools and the 11+ to prepare for too.

Expectations are important Recent research shows that parents who place a high value on education and have high academic expectations can have a positive

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6 Families Bedfordshire

impact on children. However, with high expectations there must come a high level of support. Children who don’t get this are more likely to struggle. They also need to learn how to build up resilience. We need to teach them how to cope with the highs and lows of life, and how to handle exams.

Setbacks are not failures Children are often well aware of what their parents think about failure. If they are taught that mistakes are opportunities to learn, rather than being made to feel bad or a ‘failure,’ they are more likely to develop a growth mindset.

Using the word ‘yet’ is incredibly powerful and encourages the growth mindset. “I am not good at spelling yet.” When your child faces a setback remind them that the more they learn and try, the more their brains will grow.

Find the revision techniques that work for your child Does your child remember best by what they see or hear, or do they learn by doing?

Children may find learning easier if they know their learning style. There are lots of online quizzes, which children can do to find out whether they are visual, auditory or kinaesthetic learners. This may help them work out what revision style works best for them.

Agree on a plan Talk to your child about the schoolwork they

Take a break Make sure your children still have hobbies, see their friends and have a life away from studying, exams and schoolwork.

Educational specialist and children’s author Leysa Henderson, who taught Year 6 pupils for 15 years says: “We need to help children feel good about themselves when doing exams and not feel under pressure. I would recommend lots of creative and fun mental stimulation that isn’t necessarily exam/content focussed.

“In fact, it is important to give them space from content. Helping children to make links in life also encourages independent thinkers.

Laughter is also a fantastic stress reliever, so go out and play silly games with them. I always gave this advice to my pupils, and I always got extremely good results.”

Sleep matters Children ages 10 and 11 should be getting 9.5 hours of sleep a night, and this doesn’t really change when they become teenagers.

Make sure they get adequate sleep by taking digital distractions out of their rooms. Give them an alarm clock, so they don’t use their phone as an alarm.

Set them up for the future Remember you are setting up your children with good habits for the future. Sarah Brazenor, a tutor from Connective Learning (www.connective-learning.co.uk) says, “It’s really important as parents to help your child get through these first serious tests in the best possible way. Once they go to secondary school there will be more exams, and some schools are not very good at using motivational language, so learning coping strategies now can set them up for the future.”

Here’s some advice from local parents: Anne says, “Make it fun. No pressure, early nights in the week and treats at weekends. There’s more to life than exams.”

Mark says, “We don’t focus on academic achievement, we tell our children to put maximum effort into their studies and to do their best. We value emotional intelligence, above exam results.”

Clare says, “Support them to relax and switch off when the pressure feels intense. My son regulates by listening to a relaxation CD at bedtime to help switch off his busy brain.”

www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

CHILDCARE

Ensuring your child is happy at nursery

By Kristen Harding

The process of introducing a child to a new caring environment can throw up a number of challenges.

However, some can be prevented if your child’s nursery gets to know upfront what both you and your child need and want from the childcare arrangement.

Before a child arrives at a new nursery, nursery staff should take time to fully understand your child’s home routine. In this way, potential issues can also be nipped in the bud early.

Settling in This is a key part of the adjustment process. A change in environment can upset a child and parents are generally stressed and worried when their child is unsettled. For this reason, it’s vital that your chosen nursery takes time to help your child gently settle in. Communication between your child’s nursery and yourself is very important at this stage. You need to develop a trusting relationship with the staff and settle into the new arrangement just as much as your child does. Communicating regularly with the nursery setting can help ease your nervousness and worry.

Separation anxiety Regardless of the time taken beforehand, separation anxiety is a natural and sometimes unavoidable part of leaving a child at a nursery. Generally, separation anxiety lessens over time but you can help by ensuring that nursery staff understand as much as possible about your child’s individual needs, how they behave when they are sad, anxious or upset and what helps calm them. This will ensure that your child’s nursery cares for your child in the very best way during this difficult period. Often the anxiety of a child lessens when his nursery assigns a key worker to him, who he can form a strong bond and connection with.

Eating Meal times at nursery are important and can have a real impact on the confidence and comfort of a young child. What your child is used to at home may differ greatly from what occurs in the nursery setting, whether it’s the food eaten or the way in which meals are consumed.

When you visit your child’s

nursery, try to do so at meal time occasionally. In a good setting, you will see nursery staff leading by example, engaging children with different food choices, helping them to learn about what they are eating and introducing new foods gradually. Meal times at nursery, as at home, should be unpressurised and enjoyable.

Potty training This is another key milestone in your child’s development and reaching it may throw up stumbling blocks! Again, it is important to remember that each child is different and so will begin to learn at a different point and progress at a different speed to other children. A good nursery will ensure there’s no feeling of peer pressure between parents or children!

Don’t start potty training as your child is starting nursery. When you do decide to begin, ensure it’s not at a time of change or a stressful period at home. Share training methods with your child’s nursery to ensure consistency of approach.

Sleep It is important that home and nursery work together over nap times, as the needs of individual children differ. When a child starts at a nursery, the nursery should follow the child’s home routine before adapting it slowly to suit the nursery pattern. It’s then helpful if you try to prevent your child taking extra naps, as his

Kristen Harding is a childcare expert at Tinies Childcare UK. For more information, visit www.tinies.com www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

routine is likely to be disrupted.

If your child struggles to sleep at the nursery, a toy or blanket from home can provide comfort and help them drift off. Whilst challenges are bound to arise

during your child’s time at nursery, most particularly at the beginning, these can generally be dealt with as long as there is good communication between you and your child’s setting.

Harpers Nursery & Forest School BLUNHAM MK44 3NX

A unique learning experience for children aged from 6 months to 5 years.

Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas Limited spaces now available for 30 hours of FREE childcare

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Tel: 01767 641499 Families Bedfordshire 7

KEEPING FIT

Fitness ideas to inspire busy parents

By Claire Winter

If you are sitting around in an adult unicorn onesie, eating crumpets, and musing about the extra pounds you can’t seem to shed, now is the time to take some action. The new year is a good time to start a health regime or exercise routine.

It may be as simply as just giving up cake and walking to work, or it could be taking up boxing or giving weightlifting a go.

you can do a workout that fits in with family life. The signature workout is BoxxHIIT, which is a full body fat burning, muscle toning workout which combines intense shadow boxing with high intensity interval training. All you need is a 1kg pair of dumbbells.

Further info at www.theboxxmethod.com If you have 40 Minutes Try strength training. Hashtags like #fitisthenewthin are flooding social media platforms like Instagram. Many fitness fans are swapping high intensity workouts and cardio for weightlifting and are enjoying the benefits of strong, lean muscles. Your local gym or a personal trainer should be able to give you a routine, or you could check out your local CrossFit class.

If you have a spare 10 minutes Why not scoot to school with the kids? Having an adult scooter is a great way of keeping up with the kids, plus you’ll get home quicker. Jumping on your scooter not only saves time, scooting can also increase feelings of mental alertness and create better reaction times. Adult scooting is also a great way to build up fitness; it’s low impact and works major muscle groups. You can also burn around 300 kcals per hour. You could even use it on your commute to work!

Further info at www.micro-scooters.co.uk

Last but not least If traditional classes and workouts leave you cold, you could try something simple or fun instead.

Go walking. It’s good for the soul and so is being in nature.

If you want to switch it up, try Nordic walking with poles; you burn more calories, and it is very sociable (Further info at www.nordicwalking.co.uk).

You could also look on www.meetup.com for local groups that meet for walks.

8 Families Bedfordshire

to sign up to an expensive course to join in; there are plenty of free apps and online tutorials available too.

Further info at www.bodycoach.com

Relive your childhood and give hula-hooping a go, it’s great for thinning your waist and can be done in the comfort of your own home.

You can also attend classes across the UK. More info at www.hulafit.com Do a trampolining class.

Trampoline parks have sprung up all across the country. When you book the kids a session, don’t sit on the sidelines watching, make sure you join in too (you can always have coffee and cake afterwards!) Many trampoline parks also offer adult exercise classes too. Jumping is brilliant fun, good for your circulation

If you have 30 minutes Why not channel your inner Rocky and try a high energy boxing routine, the Boxx Method, in the comfort of your home? It’s an online platform, so

You could also try a swimming HIIT workout. Swimming is a great full body workout and gyms like Virgin Active are offering low-impact, high-intensity water-based classes. These incorporate long distance and sprint swims as well as resistance activities, a great change from just swimming lengths.

and burns more calories than most standard fitness classes.

Join a game of British Bulldog and many other fun team games at www.rabble.com.

The site aims to make fitness fun and not faddy. You can search by location and join a team near you.

Get skipping! Boxers skip for a reason. It’s a great full body workout and a great form of exercise for endurance training and conditioning. It’s low impact, and you burn more calories than running. It’s also a budget option; you can pick up a decent rope for less than £20! www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

Main picture courtesy of micro-scooters.co.uk.

If you have 20 minutes Try a HIIT workout. The bestselling Body Coach Joe Wicks espouses the benefits of short 15 to 20-minute high intensity workouts and low carb eating.

High Intensity Interval Training for the uninitiated is a timed set of exercises, which work the whole body. The idea is that you push the body hard doing the exercise for a short amount of time, followed by a short period of rest or transition. You don’t need

If you have 60 Minutes If you love to dance but your clubbing days are well and truly over, why not give Clubbercise a go? You can work out in the dark with disco lights, glowsticks and your favourite club classics.

To find your nearest teacher go to www.clubbercise.com.

BEAUTY

The busy mum’s skincare regime A good skincare regime is important if you want healthy skin

By Joanne Evans

Morning Cleanse

A morning cleanse rids oils your skin’s sebaceous glands were producing while you slept. Use a facial wash and warm water to rejuvenate your pores and give you skin the energy boost it needs. Look for ingredients such as tea tree or salicylic acid if your skin is congested.

Moisturise with SPF protection

The rush of getting your family out of the door in the morning is enough of a reason to want to skip a skincare routine. Likewise, at night you may be just too tired to bother about your skin, which can result in less than effective cleansing, if at all. A good skincare regime is important if you want your skin to remain healthy, but the good news is it needn’t waste lots of the time you don’t have!

Before embarking on a routine, take a look at the skincare products you are using and make sure their ingredients are right for your skin type. The Skin

Matters App (0.99 App Store) lets you type in ingredients and will give you a layman’s explanation about the ingredient and which skin type it suits.

Combining the need for moisture and sun protection in one cuts down on precious time it takes to apply products. A natural-looking healthy glow can be achieved with the right moisturiser and most can be worn alone or under makeup. Look for multi-tasking products such as blemish balms or tinted moisturisers such as Lycogel that covers, moisturises and treats or Murad SPF 50 that tints and protects.

Evening Cleanse

Try not to go to bed without washing your face. Even if it doesn’t look dirty, it will have picked up the dirt and grime of

the day, not to mention what is left of your make up. A cleanser will effectively remove excess oils, as well as hard to remove make up that can block pores if left on.

Exfoliate

Thankfully this step is only necessary two or three times a week and can be skipped otherwise. Exfoliation removes dry and dead cells from the surface of your skin and can also allow pores to decrease in size. It’s best to exfoliate in the evening in case your skin has some redness afterwards.

Again, you can find multitasking products such as Nip & Fab, glycolic fix pads that cleanse and exfoliate.

Use a face mask you can sleep in

Hydration and regeneration is essential in your night time formula. There are some great face masks that replenish your skin whilst you sleep, such as Liz Earle Super Hydrating Mask.

Alternatively, opt for a really hydrating facial oil such as Rose Hip Oil Healing and Repairing.

Joanne Evans is a leading facialist and ingredients specialist. For more information,visit www.skin-matters.co.uk

Healthy hair and how to easily achieve it It can be hard to find the time to look after yourself and your hair, with all the other responsibilities of being a parent, as well as the other challenges that life can throw at you. With this in mind, start the year by adopting some simple and quick methods that will help you get the best out of your hair within the limited time your busy schedule allows.

Incorporate hair nutrients into your diet

Diet is incredibly important for hair health. This is because hair is non-essential tissue, meaning your strands are the first thing your body neglects when you are not eating well. Sitting down for proper meals isn’t always possible, so when you are packing snacks or prepping a meal for your little one, throw in some hair boosting foods. If your child is old enough to eat them as well, so much the better!

By Anabel Kingsley

The most essential nutrients for hair are protein (what your hair is made of), complex carbohydrates (which provide energy to rapidly growing hair cells) and iron. Great healthy hair foods are turkey, egg, salmon, chicken or ham sandwiches and salads, fish fingers, almonds, spaghetti bolognese and hamburgers.

Moisturize while multi-tasking

To help strengthen and add shine to your hair, use a weekly preshampoo conditioning treatment, like Philip Kingsley Elasticizer.

Apply a treatment to damp hair at least 20 minutes before you shampoo, or work into your hair before bed and leave on overnight. A friend of mine uses Elasticizer before taking her kids to extra-curricular activities, and then washes her hair when she gets home, while another pops it on when she walks the dog.

Whatever works best for you – pre-shampoo treatments are great products to multi-task with!

Diet is incredibly important for hair health Care for your scalp

Scalp health is vital to hair health.

We recommend shampooing every day to every other day – after all, you take your hair and scalp to the same places you take your face and so they get just as dirty. If you don’t have time to

do this, apply an antimicrobial scalp toner or dry shampoo with scalp benefits on the days you do not shampoo. I recommend Philip Kingsley’s One More Day dry shampoo, which contains scalp soothing ingredients.

Anabel Kingsley is a trichologist at Philip Kingsley, the leading authority in hair and scalp health. For more information, visit www.philipkingsley.co.uk www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

Families Bedfordshire 9

PARENTING

How to get your child talking about their day

By Sophia Heaton

We all want to hear about our child’s day – what they did in the playground, who they sat with at lunch, whether they understood what was going on, and, most importantly, whether they had a “good” day.

So we frequently ask, “How was your day?” In response, we often get grunts and shrugged shoulders.

As an alternative we try asking, “What did you do at school today?”

This time you get the customary one-word answer: “Nothing.”

Rather than push harder for answers to your standard end-of-the-day questions, why not try some new conversation primers?

Here are some tips for getting your child to open up when they come home.

Ask open-ended questions “How was school today?” is too vague and children need more specific questions to help them recall their day. Avoid questions that can be answered in one word, especially with a “yes” or “no.” Instead, try some open-ended questions like, “Tell me about what you played at break today?” or “I wonder what you had for lunch today?”

10 Families Bedfordshire

Use their artwork to start conversations A child’s artwork can refer both to school activities or things of specific interest to your child. Take advantage of these masterpieces by asking open ended questions of your little artist and don’t forget to listen to the answers.

Showing interest in their work can increase your child’s self-esteem, as well as provide vital emotional and mental links between school and home.

Know their timetable This way you can start talking about library day, sports or art class. “What kind of books did the librarian show you today?” or “Tell me about the books that you chose?” Take the time to sit down and read the books with your child affirming their choice and encouraging them in their reading habits. Discuss what your child feels went right in the football match – or what went wrong!

Model “Sharing” about your day “I had a great day today. I talked to nanna about…” or “I met a new friend and we had coffee.” It is important to share your interests, friends, challenges and joys with your kids so they see that communication modelled for them.

Give children time to unwind Whilst it may seem your child is brushing you off, they are likely to be tired and attempting to disengage from school business. Give them a snack for an energy boost and a run in the park before you get home. They’ve been hemmed in all day by walls and instructions and need to cut loose for a bit. They’ll be more inclined to give you a glimpse of their day once they’ve been fed and exercised!

Play talking games Playing the ‘sad and glad’ game will encourage your child to talk without feeling they are being bombarded by questions.

At the dinner table everyone takes turns answering “I was glad today because…..” and

“I was sad today because…..” You can extend it to “mad” too – what made you cross.

This is a good way to open up discussions.

Give your child special one-to-one time This doesn’t mean special treats or hot chocolates but doing something together every day, just the two of you. It could be as simple as preparing a meal. These are times when easy conversations occur.

Use ‘reflective listening’ This is a way of re-framing questions into statements that invite a response and depersonalise conversations. Instead of asking “Are you worried about your test?” you could say something like “Lots of kids your age get worried about tests.” This makes it easier for your child to reply.

Be ready and available to listen When your child wants to speak, stop and listen to them. Turn off the TV or put away the phone, look up and show that you are listening fully and you value what they have to say.

Try communicating without words The best way to connect with your child may not necessarily be through talking. Talk is not how all kids express themselves: play is. Many children prefer to reconnect with a hug, by playing a game or even rough housing. Some are more physical than verbal, so you might ask them to give you thumbs up or thumbs down about their day instead of discussing it.

Avoid face-to-face Interrogations You might do better in situations where you’re not face-to-face like in the car, the dynamics are different and your child may be more inclined to open up.

Listen before you talk Let your child lead you into conversations on their own. Sometimes your child will drop hints without your asking, like “We planted seeds today!” or “Where’s the atlas? I need to find Antarctica.” These are perfect openings to talk together about their day. www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

HEALTH

Boost your mood with food!

By Christine Bailey

Many people may feel sad or down during the winter months, when the days are shorter and temperatures drop. For some people, including children, this low mood can be ongoing.

The good news is that research reveals there’s a direct link between what we eat and how we feel, so changing our diet and lifestyle can have a profound effect on our mood. Fortunately, there are many foods and nutrients that can put a smile on your face and make you and your family feel great.

Here are my recommendations for top nutrients, foods and tips to boost your mood.

Top up on Vitamin D Vitamin D is the reason we love the sunlight as this is the primary source for this essential nutrient.

During the winter months it can be difficult to get sufficient amounts, so it’s worth checking your levels (home spot skin prick tests are available online) and supplementing as needed. Aside from sunlight, you can get some vitamin D from oily fish, butter, eggs and mushrooms.

Choose healthy fats Oily fish (e.g salmon, trout, sardines, mackerel) is one of the best foods for both your mood and brain health. It’s a great source of omega 3 fats which help optimize brain function and production of neurotransmitters, including feel good serotonin. Aim for two to three portions of oily fish each week. Vegetarian sources of omega 3 fats include flaxseed, chia, pumpkin seeds and walnuts.

Get your Bs B vitamins are particularly important for brain health and mood. B12 makes you sleep better and feel more balanced. Good sources of B12 include shellfish, fish, beef, liver and eggs. Vegans should eat plenty of nutritional yeast and B12-fortified products such as dairy free milks. Folate is another mood booster as it helps

make our neurotransmitters affecting how we feel. Great sources include spinach, kale, black beans, black-eyed peas and lentils.

Yogurt and kefir Probiotic rich foods like yoghurt and kefir are “a must” for a healthy brain. Packed with beneficial bacteria, researchers have found probiotics can help fight depression and anxiety.

It is thought that bacteria may decrease inflammation in the body and increase levels of tryptophan, the amino acid needed to make serotonin.

Pump up the iron Iron is especially important for your child’s brain development. In fact, studies have shown that low iron affects cognitive function, energy levels and mood. Aim to include some lean red meat, dark chicken meat, duck, seafood, lentils and leafy greens.

Balance blood sugar with fibre Highs and lows in blood sugar through the day are a common reason for changes in mood. Small children are particularly sensitive and typically require regular meals and snacks throughout the day. To keep blood sugar balanced always include: protein, healthy fats and slow releasing carbohydrates rich in fibre at each meal. Berries, vegetables, oats, beans, nuts and seeds are useful sources of fibre.

De-stress with magnesium When we feel stressed our bodies require sufficient magnesium which is often low in our diets.

Magnesium helps you relax, helping to alleviate depression and anxiety. Find it in leafy greens, oats, salmon, beans, sunflower seeds and blackstrap molasses.

Include tryptophan rich foods Tryptophan is an amino acid found in many foods which the body uses to make serotonin.

Foods high in protein, iron, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 which are also essential nutrients required to make serotonin contain large amounts of this amino acid. Good food sources include poultry, oats, banana, salmon, sesame seeds, dairy products and red meat. The best way to boost serotonin production is to include a little carbohydrate at the same time.

So a banana with yoghurt would be a great mood boosting snack.

Exercise Getting outdoors and exercising is an effective natural way to boost mood. Exercise has been shown to increase serotonin and dopamine levels - two important neurotransmitters known to improve our sense of wellbeing.

Dark chocolate Another reason to eat a little chocolate — just make sure it’s the dark variety! There are over 300 naturally-occurring chemicals in chocolate, and some of them can affect the human brain via the release of particular neurotransmitters which affect how we think and feel. For example, phenylethylamine is sometimes called “the love drug”, because it arouses feelings similar to those that occur when one is in love. Tryptophan is also found in chocolate and causes the release of the feel good neurotransmitter serotonin.

A recent study found that eating 40g (just an ounce and a half) of dark chocolate daily for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in highly stressed, anxious individuals.

The researchers discovered that compounds in dark chocolate affected our beneficial gut bacteria which changed the metabolism of stress hormones reducing overall anxiety levels.

Christine Bailey is a nutritionist, chef and author of a new book entitled The Brain Boost Diet Plan.

The book can be purchased at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brain-Boost-Diet-Plan-optimise/dp/1848993390 www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

Families Bedfordshire 11

CLUBS & CLASSES

Winter clubs and classes With the temperature dropping and daylight hours shorter, the idea of sending your child out on to the football pitch, tennis court or athletics track is not an attractive one.

But active after-school activities offer children great developmental benefits including: Improved academic performance Research has found that children from disadvantaged background who participate in after-school clubs get better results at age 11 than their peers.

Indoor rock climbing This activity is also growing in popularity across the country with a centre likely to be very close to you.

Even the NHS recommends it as an activity that provides unique physical and mental benefits whilst at the same time catering for all ages, fitness levels and abilities.

To find a centre visit www.thebmc.co.uk.

Enhanced socialisation skills Making friends with children from outside their school allows children to broaden their social experience, whilst extra-curricular activities at school give children the chance to enjoy a different type of social experience with their school friends and other children in their class.

Better health and fitness According to the National Association of Sport and Physical Education, kids aged 5-12 should exercise for at least 60 minutes of each day, and this figure shouldn’t be ignored just because it’s cold outside.

Stress relief Exercise helps to relieve stress built up by homework, exams and peer pressures.

As parents, we are responsible for setting up opportunities for our children to keep active during winter months. So here are our ideas for keeping your restless young one on the go – and the good news is you don’t have to force them (or you!) outside: Trampoline clubs and parks These are popping up all over the country and classes are fun and social. The UK now has over 190 trampoline parks and most offer kids a safe environment to cut loose as well as lessons and classes for children from as young as toddlers upwards.

Girl guides and scouting Scouting and Girl Guides are experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity.

Why? Because they offer an antidote to the modern world with adventure being at the

heart of everything they do. From as young as 6, children can get involved in learning outdoor skills and undertaking leadership qualifications, as well as enjoying camps and residential experiences. However, waiting lists can be long so act quickly! To register interest visit www.girlguiding.org.uk or www.scouts.org.uk Ice rinks/snow slopes Local snow slopes and ice rinks are great places to get kids active during the winter and offer kids the opportunity to try tobogganing, skiing or snowboarding, or get a pair of skates on. There are indoor and outdoor rinks and centres, depending on how you feel about braving the cold or damp weather.

Indoor sports You can access indoor classes for most outdoor sports such as football, cricket and tennis at leisure centres or school recreation

halls. Likewise for toddlers and pre-schoolers, multi-sport and ball skills classes are often run inside during winter.

How many is too much?

Whilst clubs and classes are important for children, be careful how many activities you sign your child up for. Some require significant time commitment. For example, joining a swimming class can involve two or more weekly training sessions, as well as competitions.

Are you and your child up for that? What else will suffer or be sacrificed? If your child’s opportunity to have unstructured time for play will go by the wayside, then this is probably not a good thing. Children these days have much more structured lives than ever before and already often have less unstructured play time than previous generations. Research indicates that unstructured play with minimal adult supervision helps children to learn important social skills, use their imagination, concentrate and be more self-directed.

SUN 11 MARCH 10AM | THU 15 MARCH 4.30PM

Fresh air Ages 8-21 Performers & Backstage crew www.grovetheatre.co.uk/ take-part/groveproduction-project

DUNSTABLE | LU5 4GP BOX OFFICE 01582 60 20 80

12 Families Bedfordshire

If you do opt for indoor class and club options for your child during winter, try to get them some regular fresh air at weekends when time and weather permit.

Consider heading to the countryside or a beach (even at the darkest time of year), where you can breathe different air and be closer to nature. You don’t have to organise a full itinerary and it doesn’t have to cost much either. Simple games like running races on a beach or climbing a tree can be exhilarating for children after a week cooped up at school, and being outside is both refreshing and invigorating for everyone and will improve everyone’s mood! www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

CLUBS & CLASSES

Teach your kids to ride a bike in 7 easy steps Teaching your child to ride a bike has never been easier with these seven simple steps.

1

Begin with a balance bike Balance bikes are great because they have no pedals or stabilisers and are much lighter.

2

Start on flat ground Always begin to teach your child on flat ground – so at a local park or area with no traffic.

3

Teach them to use the brake At the age of two and a half to three, children are able to operate a hand brake, as long as it’s gentle enough for their fingers.

4

6

5

7

Always wear a helmet Wearing a helmet is a must.

The sooner your little one gets used to it, the better.

Get an adjustable seat Try to choose a bike that has an adjustable seat as this means the bike can be adjusted to suit their height.

Upgrade to a bigger bike When your child has developed enough skill and confidence you can transfer them to a pedal bike without stabilisers.

Look for safety add-ons A steering limiter is highly recommended as this will enable your child to keep in the right direction and prevent falls.

Boosting children’s self-esteem and life skills with Perform All children find some things difficult. Some hate speaking out in class, some struggle making friends, and others have so much energy they find it hard to concentrate.

Perform is a unique drama school that uses drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s true potential.

“Perform is NOT a stage school,” stresses Perform Producer, Karen.“It teaches life skills through fun drama games and end-of-term shows. The real aim of the eye contact when introduced to classes is to help children someone unfamiliar.” develop the 4Cs: Confidence, Producers report back to parents Concentration, Coordination and after each class on the focus of the Communication. week and answer questions about “Classes are small and have the progress of individual children. both a Producer and a Teacher.

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www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

Families Bedfordshire 13

What’s on Please always phone before setting out in case details have changed since press deadline or if we got it wrong.

Please send events to be listed to: dale@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk PERFORM WEEKLY DRAMA, DANCE AND SINGING CLASSES Wednesday 3 January – Thursday 29 March.

Confidence building fun for 4-12 year olds.

A unique mix of drama, dance and singing specially formulated to bring out every child’s true potential. Classes are kept small to ensure lots of individual attention. Perform offer no-obligation FREE trial sessions.

Sessions in Heath and Reach, and Harpenden.

For more information:

020 7255 9120 enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk

PAGES PLAY CAFE Monday-Friday. Pages Park Pavilion,

Pages Park, Leighton Buzzard.

A lovely child-friendly cafe situated in the middle of Pages Park. Parents can catch up with friends over a latte while little ones play happily in the designated play area. There are lots of toys, a dressing-up area with hats and costumes, and soft play. Postcode for nearest car park LU7 4RD – Richmond Road. Opening times vary, please call for details.

07763659207 / 07958278506 SATURDAY KIDS CLUB Saturday, throughout January and February, 10am-3.30pm. Kempston Library,

Halsey Road, Kempston, Mk42 8AU. A fun-filled session for kids with different activities each week. Arts and crafts, board games, colouring, reading, strorytelling and creative play.

01234 276453 LEGO CLUB Saturday, throughout January and February, 10.30am–12.30pm. Houghton Regis Library,

Bedford Square, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire.

Love lego? Like to create new designs and get creative? Well this free club is the perfect outlet to satisfy your needs. Great fun for little ones – and grown-ups too!

0300 3008058

INFANT AQUATICS BABY & TODDLER SWIM CLASSES Tuesdays (9.30am-12noon) at Twinwoods Adventure; and Fridays (9.30am-12noon) at Gilbert Hitchcock House, Bedford.

Playful, 30-minute sessions for babies from 6 weeks to 4 years with adult in water with child. Contact Mel, 0776 6492432

www.infantaquatics.co.uk

LEIGHTON BUZZARD NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY

The railway, which has trains departing from Pages Park, Billington Road, is one of the few surviving narrow-gauge light railways in England, and operates as a working museum. The train ride runs from Pages Park, on the south side of Leighton Buzzard, to Stonehenge Works, to the north of the town, and the return journey takes 80 minutes. Visit website for ticket prices and dates when services are running.

01525 373888 www.buzzrail.co.uk MILTON KEYNES MUSEUM

McConnell Drive, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, MK12 5EL. A place where history comes to life with amazing stories, interactive displays and eye-catching re-creations.

It’s a family-friendly experience which has something to captivate visitors of all ages.

Call 01908 316222 for more details or visit

www.miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk/ DUNSTABLE DOWNS – 50 THINGS CLUB Sunday 7 January and Sunday 4 February, 2pm-3pm.

50 things to do before you are 11¾. Various fun and educational activities for children to take part in, such as playing conkers to building a den. Meet at the entrance to the visitor’s centre. Please call to book a place.

01582 500920 PARKS AND RUN Sunday 7 January, 10am.

Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes.

Get active by taking part in monthly organised runs for all ages and abilities.

Meet in the Bradwell Abbey car park, Alston Drive, off H3 Millers Way.

FREE event.

REAL ICE SKATING Until 7 January.

Frosts Garden Centre, Newport Road, Woburn Sands.

Experience the thrill of skating outdoors at Frosts. Skating sessions last 45 minutes and the all-weather canopy will keep you dry if it should rain. There is the ice café serving hot food and drink, and parking is free. For further information and to book tickets visit

www.frostgardencentres.co.uk SUNDAY STROLL Sunday 7 January, 10.30am-12.30pm approx.

Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Rd, Marston Mortaine. Going for a gentle walk around the park is a lovely way to spend your Sunday morning. £1 fee.

01234 767037 www.marstonvale.org 14 Families Bedfordshire

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST FAMILY PANTOMIME Saturday 13 January – Sunday 21 January (on

selected dates). Luton Library Theatre, St Georges Square, Luton.

Belle has her world thrown upside down as she is held captive by the Beast when trying to help her father. Enjoy another magical adventure with the Griffin Players.

01582 878100 MUSIC AT ST MARY’S – NEW YEAR’S CONCERT Saturday 13 January, 2pm.

St Mary’s Church, Eaton Bray.

St Mary’s answer to the New Year’s Day concert from Vienna. Performed by Aylesbury Concert Band, there will be music specially chosen for the time of the year including the Blue Danube, the Radetzky March and others. Tickets are £7.50 and can be purchased by calling

01525 222283.

CINDERELLA Up to Sunday 14 January.

Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes.

Comedian and musical theatre sensation Brian Conley leads the cast in this glittering production of the most magical pantomime, Cinderella.

In this family-friendly show packed with spectacular special effects and laugh-out-loud comedy, everyone’s favourite fashion guru Gok Wan will be offering helpful style tips to The Ugly Sisters and creating the most magical ball gown in panto-land for Cinderella in his role as The Fairy Gokmother.

0844 8717652 www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes THE SNOWMAN Wednesday 17 January – Saturday 20 January.

Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes.

When a young boy’s snowman comes to life on Christmas Eve, the two set off on a nighttime quest for adventure. They meet Father Christmas, dancing penguins, reindeer and crowds of The Snowman’s friends, but will they escape evil Jack Frost and get back home for Christmas morning?

0844 8717652 www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes DUNTON COMMUNITY GARDEN COFFEE MORNING Saturday 20 January, 10.30pm – 12noon.

Dunton Community Garden, Great Close, Church Farm, Church Street, Dunton, SG18 8RR. Have a cuppa and a chat, play or have a stroll around the gardens. Seasonal garden produce, jams, chutneys and plants on sale to raise funds for the garden. For children there’s lots to explore, garden toys and drawing materials.

For information call

01767 313898

(Monday and Wednesday mornings).

www.duntongarden.org THE SNOW QUEEN Saturday 20 January, 7.30pm.

Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable.

Ballet Theatre UK’s beautiful retelling of Han Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale ballet. www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

This spectacular production follows the story of Gerda and her quest to find her friend Kay, whom the Snow Queen has placed under an evil spell!

01582 602080 www.grovetheatre.co.uk RAVER TOTS Sunday 21 January, 2pm - 4pm.

Unit Nine Studios, 9 Bridgeturn Studios, Milton Keynes.

Raver Tots is a family rave-style event where kids and grown-ups can hit the dance floor and let off some steam. DJs play drum and bass, old-school rave, house and garage, with fun activities including soft play areas, parachutes, face painting, glow sticks, ball ponds, bubbles and balloons! Music volume is set at safe levels for children.

For more information and tickets:

www.ravertots.co.uk/page/events-tickets TELETUBBIES LIVE Wednesday 31 January (10am and 1pm) and Thursday 1 February (10am and 1pm).

Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable.

See the iconic, world famous Teletubbies in their first ever theatre show created specially for little ones. Join Tinky WInky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po in a show full of love and laughter as they explore the magical world of Teletubbyland.

01582 602080 www.grovetheatre.co.uk BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY Thursday 1 February, 4pm-6pm (Thursdays).

Early Childhood Partnership course held at Pine Cones Children’s Centre, Slade Walk (off Clapham Road), Bedford, MK41 7SA. This is a five-week course for first-time expectant parents. You should be around 32 weeks pregnant before starting the course and allow six weeks before your expected date of delivery to allow time to complete the course.

For further information call

01234 341977.

PARKS AND RUN Sunday 4 February, 10am.

Linford Manor Park, Milton Keynes.

Get active by taking part in monthly organised runs for all ages and abilities. Meet at the Arts Centre Parklands, off St Leger Drive, Great Linford. FREE event.

SUNDAY STROLL Sunday 4 February, 10.30am-12.30pm approx.

Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Rd, Marston Mortaine. Going for a gentle walk around the park is a lovely way to spend your Sunday morning. £1 fee.

01234 767037 www.marstonvale.org HALF-TERM HOLIDAY THEATRE CLUB Monday 12 February – Friday 16 February (9am-3pm).

Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable.

For ages 6-14. Victorian themed, to tie in with this year’s Grove Production Project Oliver! A fun-packed week filled with lots of theatre related activities to excite, inspire and enjoy!

Activities include arts and crafts, prop making, exploring costumes, playing characters, drama, improvisation, dancing and singing.

01582 602080 www.grovetheatre.co.uk www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

BRITAIN’S GOT MAGIC Tuesday 13 February, 6pm.

Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable.

Experience the sensational magic of Britain’s Got Talent 2016 live finalist, Christian Lee and others. Featuring some of the most exciting names in magic and variety in the UK, this is a show suitable for the whole family.

01582 602080 www.grovetheatre.co.uk SECRET SNOW CABIN Tuesday 13 February, 9.45am, 11.30am and 1.45pm.

Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Rd, Marston Mortaine.

Wrap up warm to go on this outdoor adventure to the Secret Snow Cabin. Children will learn about winter wildlife along the way, then enjoy some storytelling in the cosy cabin with a hot drink and biscuit. Sessions last approximately 1hr 15mins and cost is £4.50 per child.

The Snow Queen

01234 767037 www.marstonvale.org FERDINAND (FILM) Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 February

Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, Lake Street.

Ferdinand proves you can’t judge a bull by its cover. Mistaken for a dangerous beast he is taken from his home to Spain, where he rallies a mismatched team of friends to help return him to his family. Voices come from Kate McKinnon, John Cera, David Tennant and Sally Phillips. A heart-warming animated comedy adventure based on the popular book The Story Of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson.

0300 300 8125 PADDINGTON (FILM) Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 February.

Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, Lake Street.

Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen, it's up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief.

0300 300 8125 MESSY PLAY – RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE PARTY Wednesday 14 February, 1.30pm-2.30pm.

Flitwick Scout Group, Station Road, Flitwick.

The event is suitable for children aged 6 months (or sitting unaided) to 5 years old. Everyone is welcome to join in including older siblings up to the age of 10, who can have fun in the Big Kids Create & Make corner that includes arts, crafts and junk modelling activities. With lots to explore including the Tiger Rice Tea Party, Jelly Snake Swamp, little ones can squelch, pour, mix and get messy to their heart’s content. For more information email

katrina@messarounduk.com JUNIOR ANIMAL KEEPER DAY Wednesday 14 February and Friday 16 February, 10am-3pm.

Herrings Green Activity Farm and Bird of Prey Centre, Cotton End Road, Wilstead, Bedford.

The day is for children aged 6-14 years. Under the supervision of the falconers and animal keepers, children will have the opportunity to

take part in many different activities including grooming ponies, flying owls, hawks and eagles, and tending to reptiles.

Tickets cost £24 and should be booked in advance.

01234 742362 www.birdsofpreycentre.co.uk FOX FACES – INDOOR CRAFTS Thursday 15 February, 10am, 11.15am, 1pm and 2.15pm.

Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Rd, Marston Mortaine.

Find out about fox folklore then make an eyecatching 3D mask to turn yourself into a fox, or fantasy creature. Sessions last approximately 45 minutes and cost is £3.50 per child.

01234 767037 www.marstonvale.org SING-A-LONG-A BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Thursday 15 February, 7pm.

Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable.

Celebrate the brand new adaptation of Disney’s iconic fairytale with on-screen lyrics, a host for the evening will show you how to best use your props bag and dress as your favourite character to feel part of a real fairytale.

01582 602080 www.grovetheatre.co.uk BLUNHAM BOOK SALE Saturday 24 February, 10am-3pm.

Blunham Parish Church, Blunham, MK44 3NQ. Selection of second hand/nearly new books, homemade cakes, teas and coffees, homemade soup and a raffle. All proceeds to Blunham Church Fabric Fund.

CIRQUE ENCHANTMENT Sunday 25 February, 7.30pm.

Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable.

For ages 6+.

This concert style cirque production features stunning choreography, breathtaking live vocals and mesmerizing circus performers.

With an eclectic musical soundtrack including current pop, rock and classical music; Cirque Enchantment is a magical family show that will delight you this winter.

01582 602080 www.grovetheatre.co.uk Families Bedfordshire 15

What’s on offer for Kids at Lifestyles?

A wide range of activities...

• Junior Boxfit 11-16 years old Aerobic conditioning with elements of coordination, promoting healthy muscle and bone strengthening exercises.

• Dance Fit 8-11 years & 12-16 years Aerobic to music with elements of dance routines • AquaEd Swimming Lessons for different age groups • Aqua Fun Swimming Pool Sessions (floats available) • Casual Swimming Sessions • Pool Inflatable Sessions during school holidays • Badminton Courts and Table Tennis • Trampolining • Gymnastics

Junior Fitness Membership Junior Fitness Memberships available for children over 11 £15.00 per month inclused access to junior classes, gym* and swimming pool.

LEARN TO SWIM WITH...

Lessons from 1 year+ to Adults

*Access to the centre during term times: Mon-Fri 3.30-5.30pm, Sat-Sun 9.00-5.30pm, Holidays: Every Day 9.00-5.30pm. Access at other times possible if with a parent/guardian who is also a member.

This facility is managed in Partnership with

Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Beds LU5 5PY, 01582 866 141 aquaed.houghton@sll.co.uk | Find us online www.sll.co.uk

Find us online www.sll.co.uk

@LifestylesHRLC

/LifestylesatHoughton

Dunstable Eye Centre 1 million children in the UK have undetected vision problems* Keep their eyes and vision healthy in a few simple steps: Regular eye checks – Eye exams ensure childhood conditions such as a squint, lazy eye or short sightedness are picked up early.

Eat eye-friendly foods – encourage your child to eat a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables.

Foods like tomatoes, melon, grapes alongside fish, chicken, eggs and whole grains.

Book your child’s FREE eye test today!

5A Queensway Dunstable LU5 4DW 01582 608 449

* Statistics provided by Eye Health UK. Terms and conditions apply. See in-store for details.

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