FamiliesBhamJanFeb19

Birmingham

Your essential family guide for a great start to 2019!

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Issue 49 January/February 2019

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Be a Chorister For a Day! Saturday 26 January 2019 9.30am to 4.00pm at Lichfield Cathedral School

Free workshop for boys and girls aged 7 to 11 (Year 2/3- 6) Sing choral music in Lichfield Cathedral • Vocal training Craft & sport activities • Lunch provided

lichfieldcathedralschool.com

Call 01543 306168 to book your free place The Palace, The Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 7LH

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IN THIS ISSUE… Birmingham Happy New Year, and welcome to the January-February issue of Families Birmingham Magazine.

Let’s kick-start 2019 the way we mean to go on!

You’ll find an abundance of activity ideas and education opportunities to interest your family as well as national and local parenting news. Also, take a look at the Brain Tumour Research charity article on page 4 where you are invited to get involved in their annual fundraising event, Friday 29th March.

You could help to make it the biggest, boldest and hattiest fundraiser ever! Why look anywhere else – the very best our region has to offer is all right here in Families Birmingham Magazine!

I hope 2019 brings good health, great happiness and abundant prosperity to you and your family.

Suzanne Brown Editor Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield Design: Lauren Brown Designs Print: Warners Midlands PLC, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincs, PE10 9PH

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Clubs, classes and activities

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Education

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Baby-friendly classical concerts

Hold on to your hats! Help raise funds for Brain Tumour Research: Wear a Hat Day, Friday 29th March

As a new (or maybe notso-new) parent, do you crave the stimulation of great live music you enjoyed pre-babies?

According to a 2018 study led

by Goldsmith’s University, attending a concert for just 20 minutes leads to a 21% increase in feelings of wellbeing!!

And with many parents experiencing feelings of isolation and postnatal depression, it seems all the more important that culture doesn’t stop when you start a family.

Acclaimed concert series Bach to Baby has revolutionised live classical music by welcoming parents with children of all ages to concerts featuring artists from the UK’s top orchestras in easy-to-reach, inspiring locations. Tots dance, roam about and revel in the wonder of live music, mesmerised by the fascinating instruments and exhilarating performances. Parents can relax and enjoy the music without tuts and glares from other concert-goers when baby cries or needs a feed – all with a coffee in hand!

CONCERT DATES: Sutton Coldfield - Fridays 11am: 11th Jan, 8th Feb, 8th March Solihull - Saturdays 11am: 19th Jan, 16th Feb, 16th March Bournville - Wednesdays 11am: 30th Jan, 20th Feb, 27th March

GET 10% OFF TICKETS! Use code BRUM10 online.

Offer ends 31.03.19 www.bachtobaby.com

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If you’re looking for a fun activity for the whole family, look no further than Wear A Hat Day. The annual fundraising event takes place on Friday 29th March and the Brain Tumour Research charity needs your help to make it the biggest, boldest and hattiest EVER! There are so many ways to get involved and the little ones will have so much fun, all whilst helping an important cause. From organising a hatty fashion show and making Easter bonnets, to hosting a bake sale and going on a hat-tastic walkabout, you can plan any type of event you fancy… just don’t forget your hat!

By taking part in Wear A Hat Day, you will be helping to raise vital funds for research into brain tumours. The disease is indiscriminate and it can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Register for Wear A Hat Day and your family can help change this; simply go to www.braintumourresearch.org/fundraise /wear-a-hat-day/wear-a-hat-day-registration

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The Big Garden Birdwatch 2019

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 26 to 28 January and is the largest wildlife survey in the world. The information collected helps monitor bird species in the UK, and is great fun for children.

To take part, you need to watch the birds in your garden or local park for just one hour at some point over the three days and report your results to the RSPB. You can request a FREE Big Garden Birdwatch pack from the RSPB which includes a bird identiďŹ cation chart and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden.

To make it fun, challenge your children to see who can spot the most birds. Take a bike ride to a local park to look for birds, or make a day trip out of it and spot birds in a new place. www.rspb.org.uk

A debit card app for kids gohenry is a pre-paid debit card and app that allows parents to manage their children’s pocket money whilst teaching them good money habits and giving them ďŹ nancial independence.

Parents can top up the card with a regular allowance or set tasks for their children to complete to earn extra money. Parents can decide where the card can be used (online, in-store or at cash machines) all within set spending limits. Children can set savings goals and choose how much pocket money and earned money they save.

Now gohenry has teamed up with the NSPCC to launch a new Giving function, allowing children to make a one-off or regular donation to the NSPCC (capped at 20 pence per week). www.gohenry.co.uk/why-nspcc

Hidden condition affects maths learning Many children are suffering from an undiagnosed developmental condition which affects their ability to learn maths, according to a study from Queen’s University in Belfast A team of experts carried out research on the prevalence of SpeciďŹ c Learning Disorder in Mathematics (SLDM), which is also known as dyscalculia and affects up to 6% of people.

A child with dyscalculia can have normal intelligence in every other way but struggle to do well in maths due a speciďŹ c impairment in the brain.

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Blue Planet II Live in Concert comes to Birmingham, March 2019 Bringing the wonders and mysteries of the planet’s oceans and its inhabitants to Resorts World Arena (formerly Genting Arena), Blue Planet II – Live In Concert, hosted by Anita Rani, will present a selection of incredible visuals from the BAFTA Award winning BBC1 series, highlighting the amazing natural wonders of our planet in breath-taking detail, projected on a giant state of the art 4K Ultra HD LED screen. Accompanied by the original immersive television music score by Bleeding Fingers Music, composed by Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and David Fleming, the concert will be performed live by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted by Matthew Freeman.

Rani says of Blue Planet II – Live In Concert: “The TV series was such a fantastic and enlightening show and has really empowered society to view our oceans and environment with a great deal more care. I can’t wait to stand on stage with an 80piece orchestra and huge screen showing some of that incredible Blue Planet II footage, it should be an amazing experience!�

The concert will feature exciting visuals from the show including the now infamous Tusk ďŹ sh, the Crab and Eel rock pool chase and the ‘folklore-turned-reality’ Sea Lion tuna hunt, to mention but a few. The Blue Planet II television show was the most watched TV programme of 2017 in the United Kingdom, reaching 37.6 million viewers.

Saturday 16th March – Resorts World Arena Tickets from www.AXS.com, www.eventim.co.uk, www.seetickets.com and www.blueplanet2live.co.uk

Spin a tale during National Storytelling Week The ďŹ rst week of February marks National Storytelling Week, a chance to reect on one of the oldest art forms in the world. We are all immersed in stories — from conversations during which we re-tell events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

Sunday 24 March 2019, 2.30pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham

FAMILY CONCERT

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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 ďŹ rstly to be a good speaker and listener.

To ďŹ nd a local event or to look through its extensive archive, visit www.sfs.org.uk Also check out events taking place during March in the annual Bournville BookFest. Events are also in Sutton ColdďŹ eld, Solihull and Barnt Green this year! www.bournvillebookfest.com

Age guidance: Suitable for children aged 5 – 11 Supported by

Call 0121 780 3333 or book online at cbso.co.uk/families

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A host of family favourites are heading to The REP this Spring and Summer Britain’s biggest theatre circus spectacular, Cirque Berserk! is back by popular demand during February half-term, featuring acrobats, aerialists, dancers and daredevil stuntmen.

Why creative music making is important for your child

Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat has captivated readers for years and is now making the leap from page to stage, bringing feline frivolity from 26 February – 3 March. It’s full of infectious humour that all the family can enjoy.

Bing Live! takes to the stage on 6 – 7 April for his ďŹ rst ever stage show. Full of fun, laughter and music, it’s the perfect ďŹ rst theatre trip for pre-schoolers and their families.

Now in its tenth year, In The Night Garden Live, is one of the UK’s favourite family events.

Iggle Piggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends are beautifully brought to life with fullsized characters, magical puppets and enchanting music. Catch them from 31 July – 4 August.

You may have noticed that the time set aside for music and creative arts has decreased at your child’s school over the last few years.

As the pressure to achieve good SATS grades has risen, many schools are reducing the time given to music – yet there is evidence from up and down the land that giving children access to the arts actually boosts their results, as well as making them happier and more conďŹ dent.

www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Free Creative Music Workshops For 8-18 year olds

Where music is being taught, the focus is often on learning to play an instrument. Children often don’t get the opportunity to compose their own music, yet it encourages and expands imaginations, which in turn supports learning across the board.

The good news is that, right here in Birmingham, young people aged 8-18 can take part in free composing and creative music workshops with Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.

The Music Maze group, which is open to 8-11 year olds, is led by Nancy Evans, BCMG’s Director of Learning. Nancy explains: “Our monthly Music Maze workshops are for inquisitive children who are excited about creating their own music and experimenting with sound. Everyone is welcome whether they play a musical instrument or not. As it’s all about an opportunity to get stuck in we have percussion instruments available for all. The music we create is shared at the end of the session in an informal performance for family and friends.�

To ďŹ nd out more and book your place, visit www.bcmg.org.uk

Music Maze for 8-11 year olds Book now bcmg.org.uk/music-maze

Booking Essential

Zigzag Ensemble for 12-18 year olds Book now bcmg.org.uk/zigzag-ensemble Where & When CBSO Centre, 10am-2.30pm 13 January, 10 February, 24 March

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Parenting

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Top tips to turn your family into eco-warriors in 2019

By Isabel Thomas

Saving the planet is easier than you think.

And the whole family can get involved!

Go herbivore for a day When it comes to gobbling up resources, meaty meals are the planet’s number one enemy. Each year, 7.6 billion humans chomp their way through meat from an amazing 65 billion animals. Raising these animals – and getting them from farm to fork – puts enormous pressure on the planet’s resources and is a big source of greenhouse gases. Avoid meat (and cheese) for just 1 day a week, and you could make a bigger impact than taking your family car off the road for 5 weeks!

Do less washing up You hate it, and the planet hates it too! Happily, putting less effort into doing the dishes is a win-win situation. An average family washing up by hand uses around three sinks full of water per day - 10 % of all their daily water. It’s possible to use much less if you avoid wasteful habits, like running the hot tap to rinse dishes. If your family uses a dishwasher, you’ll be very pleased to hear they can be kinder to the planet – as long as you don’t rinse the dishes first.

Lose your bottle

zooplankton, fish, albatross chicks, whales and seals. So, what can your family do? Invest in bottles that are easy to clean and reuse. Fill up before you go out for the day, and while you’re on the move – look out for water fountains or ask at a café or restaurant.

Party for the planet

In the minute it took you to read this far, one MILLION plastic bottles have been bought, beginning a journey that all-too-often ends in the stomachs of

FEBRUARY HALF TERM

Birthdays only come once a year, so most party goods are disposable.

Wrapping paper, cards, decorations, paper plates, plastic cups and cutlery are all designed to be used for a few hours and thrown away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Send invitations and thank you notes by email and make your own decorations.

Eat ugly food Shockingly, a third of the food produced every year gets thrown away. The waste happens in many different places – on farms, where crops that don’t look perfect are left to rot; in supermarkets, where ‘ugly’ fruit and veg aren’t put out on display or are left on the shelves by shoppers; and in our homes, where food is forgotten at the back of the fridge until it’s too mouldy and disgusting to eat. Play this game in the supermarket – who can track down (and take home) the strangest looking fruit and veg? No item is too blemished, big, small or gnarly – if they’re on the shelf, they’re safe to eat.

Plan a rubbish day out

Wrap up warm and join us this February half term for some Winter fun in the gardens.

We’re lucky that our waste gets taken away every week or every fortnight – but it means we never get to see how much we really produce. So find out where your garbage goes once you’ve waved goodbye to the bin lorry.

18 – 22 February 2019

Many landfill and recycling sites offer free tours for individuals or groups.

Once your family has seen the scale of a stinking landfill site, they’ll be inspired to reduce, reuse and recycle like never before. Plus your house will look really tidy in comparison!

There will be lots of fun activities for all weathers such as; Arts & Crafts, Bug Hunting and Story Trails!

Don’t rush to flush!

Around a third of the water we use at home goes straight down the toilet!

Research has shown that flushing less often could reduce our water usage and bills much more quickly than turning off the tap while brushing our teeth, or even taking shorter showers. ‘If it’s yellow, let it mellow’ is backed by science!

For more information please contact reception or visit us at;

birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/whatson

Isabel Thomas is the author of This Book is Not Rubbish: 50 Ways to Ditch Plastic, Reduce Rubbish and Save the World, out now in paperback from Wren & Rook, price £6.99.

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Your support keeps the Gardens growing AN EDUCATIONAL CHARITY

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RUSSELL NURSERY SCHOOL Children aged from 3 months to 5 years

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Best baby apps for new parents Baby apps can help you track feedings, sleep times, decipher developmental milestones and build the most beautiful selection of photos. Hopefully, they will help make a new parent’s life a little easier too!

White Noise There are lots of apps that play ‘white noise’ to help your baby go to sleep. White Noise Lite is on android and iPhone and plays ambient sounds such as waves crashing or rainfall. However, Spotify also has a great selection of white noise – so you reap the beneďŹ t of everything else Spotify has to offer too! www.tmsoft.com/white-noise

British Red Cross Baby and Child First Aid A brilliant app created by the experts at the British Red Cross to help you keep your little ones safe. Packed with videos, easy to follow advice and a test section, it offers great reassurance on a range of baby-related issues at the click of a button, enabling you to act fast. www.redcross.org.uk/ďŹ rst-aid/ďŹ rst-aid-apps

NCT Baby Change This helps you to locate changing facilities to use in your surrounding area and aims to take the stress away from being out of the house.

The app relies on parents providing feedback on changing facilities after use and adding any new locations to the map. www.nct.org.uk/parenting/nct-babychange-app

Baby Monitor 3G Allowing you to turn any connected device into a baby monitor, this app acts as a live audio and video baby monitor over Wi-Fi or mobile data and claims to have unlimited reach, working in a similar way to FaceTime or Skype. www.babymonitor3g.com

Evergreen Life

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The importance of lullabies By Laura Jane Foley Lullabies have been around for thousands of years. Musicologists believe the ďŹ rst lullabies were sung over 5000 years ago by the Babylonians. The fact that we’re still singing them today shows they certainly have longevity. Generations of parents have known that singing a lullaby to an infant has a lulling, calming effect.

Lullabies are necessarily easy to learn and sing. Infants need to recognise the familiar patterns of notes and words and parents need to be able to sing them without having any musical education or training.

Sadly, recent research has uncovered that only 38% of parents sing to their child every day. Yet singing to your baby is just as important as reading to them.

Here is my personal top 5 list of lullabies: Brahms’s Lullaby is the most famous and recognisable lullaby in the world thanks, in part, to highly successful recordings by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin Cradle Song by William Byrd is a sweet Renaissance lullaby with charming words “my sweet, little darling, my comfort and joy�. It’s a fairly short lullaby and easy to learn.

Dalmatian Cradle Song was originally a peasant’s song from Dalmatia (a region in Croatia). It’s calming and melodic.

Cradle Song or ‘Wiegenlied’ by Franz Schubert This simple lullaby uses few notes and echoes the rocking motion of lulling a baby to sleep.

A Cradle Song by Ralph Vaughan Williams has a beautiful soaring melody complemented by the words of Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge You can ďŹ nd recordings of all the above lullabies on YouTube.

Laura-Jane Foley has also recorded lesser-known lullabies, classical songs and readings for her new album Songs For My Daughter released by the Lullaby Trust and available from Amazon or iTunes price ÂŁ10.95.

This app helps you keep track of the of your child’s medical history, including vaccinations, making it accessible to you on the move and whenever it is needed. It stores information such as blood group, vaccinations, allergies, diagnostic tests and results and medications as well as growth and development data. www.evergreen-life.co.uk

Baby Tracker This helps you track feeds, whether breast, bottle or solid so you can keep an eye on when and how much your baby is eating. There are also other baby feeding apps which can track things like which breast you last fed from, pumping sessions and how much breast milk you have stored in the fridge or freezer. http://nighp.com/babytracker familiesonline.co.uk

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How to have your happiest year ever...

By Dr Andy Cope The secret to happiness turns out to be not-sosecret. Family, relationships, love, human connection that’s basically it! So here are some new quirky and fun tips taken from the science of positive psychology that will help your family towards the happiest year yet!

Get huggy Christmas and New Year is a time for family and friends and, chances are, you will have been giving and receiving more hugs than usual in the last few weeks.

So how about continuing the hugging habit all year and using this scientific fact that might just change your life: apparently, the average hug lasts 2.1 seconds. So a quick one…two… and it’s done and dusted.

However, for the love to

10 Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield

really transfer a hug has to last 7 seconds or longer. So a top hugging tip is to treat the ones you love to the full 7 seconds.

Obviously, don’t count out loud as that spoils the effect, and they might start wriggling after 4 or 5 seconds – but a 7 second hug says “I love you.” Everyone wins. Hugging releases oxytocin (a happy chemical) in you and the one you’re hugging.

Be a hygge spotter The Danes have a word – hygge (pronounced ‘hoo-ga’) – that has no direct translation in English. The closest I can give you is ‘comfort.’ For me hoo-ga is sitting by an open fire, drinking hot chocolate, while a storm rages outside. And hoo-ga is also being wrapped up snug and warmly on a snowy walk. Hoo-ga can also be sharing a tub of Quality Street while watching a family movie you’ve watched many times before.

Work out what your hoo-ga moments are, and then get good at spotting them, all year round. This is linked with mindfulness and improves your happiness by enabling you to better appreciate more wonderful moments.

Play As we grow up, we get weighed down with responsibilities and life can lose its lustre.

Stop seeing yourself as a ‘responsible adult’ and start being an ‘inspirational adult.’

Rewind to when you were age 6, a time when everything was new and exciting. Start jumping in puddles and playing on the swings… Your children will love it!

A year of experiences Get everyone in your family to write an early Christmas list for December 2019. The exact

question is this: What 20 things would you like for Christmas that are not things, toys, gifts or objects? What family experiences would you like? Share the ideas and schedule them to actually happen (where you can) in 2019.

Celebrate what hasn’t happened!

Have you ever asked yourself, what hasn’t happened that I didn’t want that I haven’t celebrated?

Feel free to read that line again. And again.

And again? Sadly, unless you’re a black belt happiness ninja this may not come naturally.

The opposite of savouring good experiences is to notice the many things that could have gone badly, but didn’t. Hence the question again - what hasn’t happened that you didn’t want that you haven’t celebrated?

Here’s my list for today (and it’s only 7am): I woke up and didn’t have toothache. My laptop isn’t broken. I haven’t got measles. My children aren’t poorly. I haven’t just stubbed my toe, we haven’t run out of Cheerios, there hasn’t been an earthquake and I haven’t been bitten by a zombie.

I mean, what a fabulous start to the day.

None of those bad things has happened! Of course, it’s hard to notice something that didn’t happen. But it’s helpful to sometimes switch your thinking to all the bad things that could have happened, but didn’t. And then celebrating the positive result.

Share it with your children and get them to think of examples. The chances are theirs will be much more creative than yours!

Dr Andy Cope is a positive psychologist and bestselling author. His latest book Diary of a Brilliant Kid is available now on Amazon. For more information, visit www.artofbrilliance.co.uk

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Do you prefer winter or summer in the Alps‌ or both?

Francesca, Paul and their three children live in Morzine in France all year round and have a good knowledge of Alpine traditions and the Morzine people. Having adapted their chalet holiday style over the years to suit the tastes of their regular guests, they offer the perfect ski and summer holidays for either families, couples or mixed groups in relaxing luxury, with fantastic food and outstanding facilities, with unrivalled in-house childcare facilities.

For many returning guests Chilly Powder is considered a real home from home.

For more about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter visit www.chillypowder.com

Five top tips for outdoor winter fun...

at Dame Elizabetth Cadbury School Woodbrooke Road, Birmingham B30 1UL

February

Half Term 18th - 22nd February Open from 8am-6pm

Although the cold, wet weather may not inspire us to go outdoors very much it's beneďŹ cial for the family's wellbeing to be outside for at least one hour a day.

Midday on a sunny day is the best time to be out as that is when the sun is at its strongest.

Here are some ideas:

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Set up a scavenger hunt, create clues for the kids to follow or get them to design one for you to follow.

Go ice skating at an outdoor rink.

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Have a winter bonďŹ re in the garden or use a ďŹ re pit or chiminea. Wrap up warm and roast some marshmallows.

Explore a nearby woodland and build a camp.

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Clubs & classes

Why ball sports are important for children...

By Andrew Campbell As children grow, learning how to play a variety of ball games is a great way of keeping fit, improving relationships and having fun.

The remarkable thing about playing a ball game - from rugby and football to cricket, netball and rounders - is that your child can run for miles without even noticing, because their mind is focused on the action and not on the physical exertion.

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Dance

– movement with purpose

By Andrew Campbell If your child is always prancing around the house practising their moves and can’t be dragged away from Strictly even if chocolate or ice cream are on offer, signing up for dance classes is a great way to tap into their enthusiasm for music and movement.

As well as being lots of fun, dance classes offer a host of other advantages:

Confidence

Physical health

If your child is shy, signing up for rugby, football or tennis classes can help bring them out of their shell and help them make new friends.

Dance improves flexibility, coordination, balance, range of motion, stamina, muscle tone, strength and posture.

Social skills

Through dance, children develop spatial awareness, become less clumsy and pay more attention to others sharing their space. They can feel more at home in their own skin.

Playing ball sports can help your child to recognise the importance of working as a team and understand what it means to be competitive. And how to lose gracefully without throwing a temper tantrum or dissolving into floods of tears!

Co-ordination and timing Whether it’s throwing, catching, dribbling, or kicking, your child will develop important hand-eye coordination and timing skills which can help in other areas of their life. Eye-tracking skills are vital to reading, hand-eye co-ordination is required for handwriting and timing is involved even when crossing the road.

Force Knowing how much strength is needed to throw or kick is not easy as you may have observed if your child has picked up a ball and tried to throw it at something recently. Ball sports teach children how to apply the right amount of force at the right time.

This helps them understand what levels of force are appropriate which can be essential in avoiding accidents.

Self-awareness

Self-expression Children struggling with language can express their feelings and creativity with immediacy in a positive way through dance and movement.

Socialisation Dance is a highly social activity. In a dance class, children learn how to work as part of a team, develop a greater sense of trust and cooperation, and make new friends.

Cognitive Development Children strengthen their cognitive abilities and memory skills through learning and remembering choreography.

Behaviour Dancing requires intense focus, discipline and co-ordination. This can have a calming effect and help children release pent-up energy.

Self-confidence

Every child is different

Dance helps build self-confidence with each new routine they practice and master.

Don’t worry if your child isn’t a natural ball sports player. Coaches are trained to help children take small steps to learn the basic skills required in most ball games and to improve their confidence.

There are a wide range of dance classes available – for both boys and girls – from pre-school ballet classes to primary ballet, tap, street dance, contemporary dance, pop dance and many more.

12 Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield

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Bach to Baby

Clubs & classes Solihull Young Dancers

Take an hour out of your day and bring your tots along to a classical concert in a welcoming, baby & child-friendly environment.

Tots dance, roam about and revel in the wonder of live music, while others stand soldier still, mesmerised by the fascinating instruments and exhilarating performances.

Successfully launched in Birmingham in 2018, Bach to Baby is back for 2019 with the following concerts: • Sutton Coldfield: Fridays 11th Jan, 8th Feb, 8th March, 11am • Solihull: Saturdays 19th Jan, 16th Feb, 16th March, 11am • Bournville: Wednesdays 30th Jan, 20th Feb, 27th March, 11am FOR 10% OFF TICKETS USE CODE BRUM10 ONLINE - ends 31.03.19; www.bachtobaby.com Image by Alejandro Tamagno info@bachtobaby.com

Rugbytots East Staffordshire and Sutton Coldfield Our fun, structured play sessions take children on a journey of sporting imagination with engaging coaches teaching them how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team. Our motto is simple; "make it more fun". We do this by delivering our specifically designed programme for each age group with energy, enthusiasm and excitement creating an atmosphere that is engaging for parents and children alike. Classes are split into 3 age groups; 2-3.5yrs, 3.5-5yrs and 5-7yrs.

FREE TASTERS AVAILABLE! Find your nearest venue at www.rugbytots.co.uk/Class/Find Contact matthew@rugbytots.co.uk | 0345 313 0803

Ballet & Tap Lessons Classes from age 2 ½ + Tel: Kate on 07722 732678 www.solihullyoungdancers.co.uk

DUBARRIE SCHOOL OF DANCE Ballet, Tap and Jazz age 2 ½ + Branches in Yardley and Solihull Telephone: 0121 448 0055 www.dubarrieschoolofdance.com

MASQUERADE MUSICAL THEATRE Youth Theatre Group, Age 5+ Garretts Green Lane, Sheldon, B26 2SA Telephone: 0121 722 3761 www.masquerademusicaltheatre.com

Drama & Imaginative Play Classes for children up to 7 yrs!

Classes held in Sutton Coldfield & Surrounding Areas Tel: 0121 314 2272 www.pyjamadrama.com helenb@pyjamadrama.com

Dizzyrs Dance

Girls play less sport than boys...

Boys spend significantly longer than girls on sporting activities.

A report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that boys spend an average of 40 minutes per day on sports activities, compared with 25 minutes a day for girls.

Varioous age ges welco e ccoome Baseed in Hiighhhggate ate, Birrmingh gham.

07773 4651192 0773 465 651192 92 www www ww.ddiz izzzyd zzyda zydance ce cers.orrg

But encouragingly, boys and girls who do participate in sport enjoy it equally, according to the study.

One way parents can change this is by setting an t particularly ti l ly example. Research shows that by being active themselves, parents, mothers, can influence their child’s activity levels.

Another way is to make it social. Research by Women in Sport shows that girls are most interested in making friends and having fun when playing sport. Seek out clubs, classes or activities that may have girls of a similar age as your daughter or encourage her to take up new classes with her existing friends.

More info: www.womeninsport.org

Martial arts for muscle and mind Martial arts training can provide positive benefits for the mental and emotional development of your child:

Need help with your child’s academic studies? We can help support you with 1 to 1 or group tuition for 11+, SATs, GCSE, and A-level preparation. 07857 929188 www.inspire-tutoring.com info@inspire-tutoring.com

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Reduces aggression: A US study found that martial arts training reduced the level of aggressive behaviour in boys.

Self-improvement: In martial arts, the focus is on selfimprovement and measuring progress against personal goals.

Respect: Martial arts demands high levels of respect from children towards other students and instructors.

More information on www.familiesonline.co.uk

ADVERTISE IN OUR NEXT ISSUE! Put your club, class or activity directly in front of 50,000 readers who all have children under 12 years old.

Call Suzanne on

07807 352087 Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield 13

Education

To advertise email: editor@familiesbirmingham.co.uk

King Solomon Business School At King Solomon International Business School students are taught a broad and balanced curriculum.

Reception aged students follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum, and the students in Years 1-6 follow the National Curriculum. In addition to the Core and Foundation subjects of the National Curriculum, students are also taught at least one Modern Foreign Language as part of their commitment to prepare them to become global citizens.

The curriculum is tailored to lay the foundation for their students to effectively progress into studying in their later years at the school.

King Solomon is rooted in the Christian tradition and is therefore committed to providing an education that seeks to build character and enable students to develop as whole, rounded and spiritual human beings. The Christian ethos provides a framework for the kind of character they want their pupils to develop. King Solomon is highly committed to ensuring that all students develop spiritually, morally, culturally, socially, emotionally, intellectually, aesthetically and physically.

King Solomon offers a broad, balanced curriculum, which is enhanced by its enrichment provision. There are lots of opportunities for students to develop their learning muscles, enhance their basic skills of communication and literacy as well as explore particular strengths and interests. www.kingsolomonibs.com

Invitation to join the heavenly voices of Lichfield Cathedral Choir Lichfield Cathedral School and Lichfield Cathedral are inviting your child to take part in a free all-day singing workshop this January. Children from across the region will be warmly welcomed to the cathedral to find out what it is like to be a chorister for a day.

More than 800 boys and girls have taken part in these special workshops, giving them the chance to sing sacred choral music.

In addition to vocal training, the day includes lunch, sport and craft activities. The workshop concludes with the children taking part in the Evensong service in Lichfield Cathedral where parents are welcome.

The singing workshop runs from 9.30am to 4.00pm and is open to girls and boys aged between 7 and 11 years. Places are free, but limited, so call 01543 306168 to register today.

The Cathedral will also be holding auditions for potential choristers on Saturday 9 February. Girls wanting to audition should be aged between 9 and 11 and currently be in Year 5 or Year 6. Boys should be aged between 7 and 9 and currently in Year 3 or Year 4. For more information about the auditions, contact the Admissions Team on 01543 306168.

Saturday 26 January, 9.30am to 4.00pm; Lichfield Cathedral, WS13 7LD; www.lichfieldcathedralschool.com

14 Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield

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Education

Pupils inspired by evening with former BBC war correspondent Kate Adie Kate Adie, one of the country's most respected and well-known broadcast journalists, recently visited Edgbaston High School for Girls, Birmingham for a very special evening.

Miss Adie became the BBC’s chief news correspondent in 1989, and has reported from war zones around the world. In front of pupils, parents and staff, Miss Adie delivered an insightful talk about her career which has spanned over four decades, reporting from danger zones and conflicts around the globe. Her address outlined some of the most dramatic points of her career, including the London Iranian Embassy siege in 1980, and her times alongside the British Army in wars far and wide.

Those students with their sights set on a career in journalism were fortunate to gain first hand advice about how to succeed in the industry, followed by a Q and A session and a book signing.

Head Girl Briony Chitty said: "Miss Adie was an excellent speaker and held the audience captive. Her talk was truly fascinating and it is amazing to think that she has done so much in her career."

The evening was an inspiration to students and parents alike, and it was fantastic to see so many turn out for this much-anticipated occasion.

This event is just one of the many opportunities open to students at Edgbaston High School, a leading independent school that offers girls an exceptional 21st century education based on traditional values. The school’s four departments Westbourne (Early Years), Preparatory, Senior and Sixth Form - are based on one site next door to the Botanical Gardens, catering for girls aged 2 ½ - 18 years.

For further information about EHS visit www.edgbastonhigh.co.uk

How to prepare for the 11 Plus in 9 months With just less than 9 months to go before the Birmingham, Walsall and Warwickshire 11 Plus Examinations here are our suggestions for how to use the remaining time effectively: 1. Regular reading Reading regularly can improve your child’s reading speed, vocabulary and comprehension skills.

2. Practice daily Your child will have the best chance for 11 Plus success if they practice daily. Regular preparation over time has been proven to help children become more consistent than those who rush preparations shortly before the exam.

3. Mock exams Sitting a series of mock exams will help monitor your child’s performance over time, highlight strengths and weaknesses, and help them practice working under time constraints.

4. Intensive courses In addition to receiving regular weekly tuition, many children attend intensive courses during the school holidays. These may make all the difference in the real 11 plus exams.

You can book at: 11 Plus Mock Exams at www.11plusmocks.co.uk 11 Plus Intensive Courses at www.11plusintensive.co.uk

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Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield 15

Education

To advertise call: 07807 352087

What to do when your child hates reading It can be difficult to motivate a child who doesn’t love to read. It may even seem impossible. But it doesn’t have to be. Before you can work on motivating your child, it helps if you understand why he or she resists reading in the first place.

Does your child fit into one of these categories?

Reading is hard!

2019 is your child’s 11+ year!

The New Year marks the perfect time to set new goals and re-organise, ready to hit the ground running with your child’s 11+ preparations. By now, they’ve had time to settle into their new classes at school and January presents the ideal opportunity to refocus and start planning for the coming year.

Children who start their 11+ preparation now are able to identify and tackle any weaker areas and steadily improve their skills. Now is also a good time to look into mock exams, so that children know what to expect when the big day finally arrives. KSOL’s experienced 11+ tutors recommend that children get plenty of practice in the best possible exam environment, as this experience will not only profile their ability but also help them to overcome any nerves.

With over ten years of experience, KSOL can help your child achieve 11+ success with personalised online 11+ tuition and authentic exam experiences. For more information about KSOL 11+ mock exams and New Year course offers, visit www.ksol.co.uk or call 0121 733 6558.

Most people don’t choose hard work as a leisure activity, and that’s true for reading too. A child who has to work at reading is not likely to find reading fun. If your child feels that reading is too much work, try to begin by identifying and addressing the areas of weakness, with his or her school, if necessary.

Reading is boring!

For some kids, reading isn’t hard, but it isn’t fun either.

But it may be that they just haven’t found reading material that interests them. So think about what your child loves to do. Does he have a hobby or special area of interest? By finding reading material that piques your child’s interest and draws them into reading, you’re giving your child a motivational boost that can propel him or her to increased enthusiasm for books.

More tips to help motivate a reluctant reader Make time for reading If you and your children have jam-packed schedules and reading is shoved between football and band practice, reading may seem like an unwelcome chore. Allow time for reading so that it can be relaxing and enjoyable.

Set aside a regular read-aloud time Reading aloud helps your child develop an interest in reading. Choose a variety of high quality literature that appeals to your child’s age and interests.

Don’t abandon read-aloud time when your child gets older—even teenagers love being read to!

Buy audiobooks for journeys These build a child’s vocabulary and enable them to experience books above their actual reading age.

Enjoy ‘Super Readable’ books Check these out at www.barringtonstoke.co.uk which specialises in breaking down the barriers that can stop children getting into reading.

Create a cosy reading nook A special reading space may help encourage your child to settle down and spend time with a good book..

Be a role model When your children observe that you love to read, they are more likely to develop a love of reading themselves. So put down your device, turn off the television and pick up a book! www.readingagency.co.uk

16 Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield

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Education

@familiesbirminghammag

Five tips for de-stressing getting to school...

Children don’t understand time in the same way as adults. This can make school mornings a stressful time of day for parents.

Here are five tips that may help make things a little easier.

1. The crucial 10 minutes Why not get up 10 minutes earlier? This will give you a chance to grab a cup of tea or coffee, have a shower and get dressed in less of a rush than usual.

Being up 10 minutes earlier also gives you a fair chance of making sure both you and your children are ready 10 minutes before you have to leave.

2. The night before The night before, do everything that can be done to prepare for the morning. Lay out the school uniform, make pack lunches, sort snacks, check all homework and sports kit are where they should be.

3. Have a checklist

CRICKET CLUB

NETBALL FOOTBALL

5. Use devices Set reminders on your phone for special tasks such as remembering to give your child signed permission slips or leaving early for a morning school club.

CODING CLUB

ART CLUB DRUM CLUB RECORDER

ORCHESTRA

CHOIR

Give kids an incentive so that if they finish their school morning routine early they are rewarded with some time for reading, a short game, or colouring in.

CONSTRUCTION CLUB

MAGICAL MATHS

COMIC CLUB

SPEECH & ELOCUTION

CHESS CLUB

Why not write a checklist for your child’s school morning routine? It could include: eating breakfast, getting dressed, brushing teeth and hair, packing lunch and water bottle, putting on shoes and coat.

4. Provide a pay off

PUZZLE CLUB

VIOLIN

BOARD GAMES CLUB

PIANO

SCHOOL COUNCIL

SINGING

GUITAR FLUTE MAD SCIENCE GYMNASTICS

FIRST AID READING CLUB

Broadening horizons Our wide range of extra curricular activities allows children to develop life skills, interests and a greater understanding of the world around them Norfolk House is a leading independent school for boys and girls aged 3-11 4 Norfolk Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3PS | Tel: 0121 454 7021 Email: info@norfolkhouseschool.co.uk| www.norfolkhouseschool.co.uk

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Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield 17

What’s on

Art Workshops Barber Institute of Fine Arts 0121 414 4414 www.barber.org.uk Weekly creative Sunday workshops for 4 – 12 year olds, monthly workshops for 13 – 15 year olds, and monthly Little Artists sessions.

Book early!

Family Activities Birmingham Botanical Gardens 0121 454 1860 www.birminghambotanicalgardens .org.uk There’s plenty to keep your family occupied: - Children’s Trails - Orienteering Trails - Family Events …and much more!

Bach to Baby Family Concerts For 10% OFF tickets use code BRUM10 online - ends 31.03.19

11 Jan, 8 Feb, 8 March (Fridays, 11am) Sutton Coldfield Holy Trinity Parish Church, B72 1TF www.bachtobaby.com/sutton-coldfield

19 Jan, 16 Feb, 16 March (Saturdays, 11am) Solihull Solihull Methodist Church, B91 1LG www.bachtobaby.com/solihull

30 Jan, 20 Feb, 27 March (Wednesdays, 11am) Bournville Friends Meeting House, B30 1JT www.bachtobaby.com/bournville

Sat 12 Jan Needle Felting Workshop The Core Theatre Courtyard Gallery, Solihull 0121 704 6962 www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk Make fabulous felt items in this fun workshop for all ages!

Quote FAMILIES BIRMINGHAM when booking!

Sun 13 Jan; Sun 10 Feb; Sun 24 March Music Maze (for 8 – 11 years); ZigZag Ensemble (for 12 – 18 years) CBSO Centre, Birmingham 0121 616 2616 www.bcmg.org.uk Monthly fun, creative, participatory workshops for children.

16 – 26 Jan The Snowman 2019 Birmingham Rep Theatre 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk The snowman and the boy set off on a night-time adventure.

Sat 19 Jan First Stages - Uncle's Story Shop Birmingham Rep Theatre 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Come to Uncle's Story Shop, full of lots of exciting objects!

24 Jan – 12 Mar

Sun 17 Feb

22 – 24 Feb

Lori Hopkins: Sourpuss MAC Birmingham 0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk Watch Sourpuss on his journey of discovery. For 3 – 8 year olds.

Twirlywoos Live!

Town Hall, Birmingham 0121 780 3333 www.thsh.co.uk The Twirlywoos welcome young fans to a theatrical adventure.

17 - 25 Feb

Sun 24 Feb

February Half Term Sarehole Mill 0121 348 8160 www.birminghammuseums.org.uk /sarehole Crafty fun each day of the half term holiday plus pancake making and guided tour.

Indie Kids Disco MAC Birmingham 0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk Perfect for children aged 4-12 years, but all ages welcome.

18 – 24 Feb Jack & the Beanstalk Sutton Coldfield Town Hall 0121 244 7475 www.townhallsuttoncoldfield.co.uk Charity panto by Jaguar.

Tickets: 0845 259 0340; jaguarpantotickets@gmail.com

19 - 24 Feb Cirque Berserk!

Birmingham Rep Theatre 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Thrilling acts and adrenaline fuelled stunt action

Wed 20 Feb Exciting Science Show The Core Theatre, Solihull 0121 704 6962 www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk A half term show full of wiz, bang and pop!

Wed 20 Feb

Bring your own baby comedy Symphony Hall, Birmingham 0121 780 3333 www.thsh.co.uk The UK’s premier baby friendly comedy club!

Animal Mania at Blakesley Hall 0121 348 8120 www.birminghammuseums.org.uk /blakesley Go along to meet lizards, snakes, chinchillas, hedgehogs, giant bunnies, tortoises and creepy crawlies!

Sat 26 Jan

20 – 21 Feb

Be a Chorister for the Day Lichfield Cathedral School 01543 306168 www.lichfieldcathedralschool.com Open to boys and girls aged 7 – 11 years. Fun, singing workshop day.

1 – 9 Feb Goldilocks and the Three Martians The Core Theatre, Solihull 0121 704 6962 www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk A space age panto!

6 – 9 Feb Cinderella Sutton Coldfield Town Hall 0121 244 7475 www.townhallsuttoncoldfield.co.uk CLOC are proud to present their 10th annual panto.

18 Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield

WOW! It's Night-time MAC Birmingham 0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk Based on book written by Tim Hopgood. Age 2 – 5 years.

Fri 22 Feb Shlomo's Beatbox Adventure for Kids MAC Birmingham 0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk Come and see Shlomo, a world record-breaking beatboxer.

Fri 22 Feb Crafty Friday Weoley Castle 0121 348 8160 www.birminghammuseums.org.uk /weoley Join in a fun filled craft afternoon!

26 Feb - 3 Mar The Cat in the Hat Birmingham Rep Theatre 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk A rollercoaster ride of havoc and mayhem!

Bookfests • Sutton Coldfield, 2 March • Solihull, 9 March • Bournville, 14 - 24 March • Barnt Green, 16 March www.bournvillebookfest.com Interactive storytelling fun at this year’s children’s book festivals for 2-12s.

Fri 8 – Sat 9 March Notelets; The Circus (for under-5s); CBSO Centre, Birmingham 0121 780 3333 www.cbso.co.uk/families A relaxed mini-concert especially devised for toddlers.

Tue 12 Mar Nest MAC Birmingham 0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk A multi-sensory experience for prewalking babies and their parents.

Sun 24 March Family Concert – Musical Mystery (age 5 – 11) Symphony Hall, Birmingham 0121 780 3333 www.cbso.co.uk/families There’s a secret hidden in Symphony Hall and we need to find it!

ALWAYS CHECK THE VENUE’S WEBSITE IN CASE OF CHANGES TO SCHEDULE.

MORE

ONLINE familiesonline.co.uk

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OPEN DAYS: Wednesday 13th February 5pm-7pm Saturday 16th February 11am-1pm

19-24 FEB

26 FEB – 3 MAR

Britain’s biggest theatre circus spectacular is back by popular demand!

Based on the much loved book by Dr Seuss, this is the purrfect treat for all the family

CIRQUE BERSERK!

THE CAT IN THE HAT

Ages 5+

Ages 4+

Family Favourites at The REP BOOK NOW 0121 236 4455 BIRMINGHAM-REP.CO.UK

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@therepbirmingham

Registered in England 295910 Charity No.223660

Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield 19

14 - 24th March, 2019 Interactive storytelling fun at Birmingham’s only dedicated children’s book festival for 2-12s Winnie and Wilbur© Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul, published by Oxford University Press ©Winnie the Witch illustrated by Korky Paul

Meet your favourite authors Discover astonishing books • Jacqueline Wilson with Nick Sharratt My Mum Tracy Beaker • Lydia Monks What the Ladybird Heard • Robin Stevens Murder Most Unladylike • James Mayhew Ella Bella Ballerina • Aardman Model-Making Workshops • Korky Paul Winnie the Witch • Catherine Doyle Stormkeeper’s Island nd ...amongst 200 amazing events! ©Aardman Animations Ltd 2019

New for 2019

SUTTON COLDFIELD

SOLIHULL

BARNT GREEN

2nd March

9th March

16th March

Book your tickets online from 25th January 2019:

www.bournvillebookfest.com