Families Vale of York July / Aug 2011

41

july/aug2011 issue

free

The useful magazine for families with young children in York, Harrogate, Tadcaster, Wetherby and Selby

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Open Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm Call 01423 541888 or visit www.henshawsacc.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 221888

t, , works of ar – sculptures en d ar G ry r Senso Explore ou d wildlife. es, birds an ur r children as water feat ial menu fo ec sp a – é af abulous C usage!

Visit our F enshaws sa H us io ages lic de e th as jects and im l wel spot the ob – l ai Tr re Treasu Enjoy our centre. k. around the en akers at wor dd hi we’ve eet our art m m – s it n U al duction ul and origin See our Pro lling beautif se – y er rs nt Nu Shop & Pla e on site. d crafts mad an t ar of pieces

Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre, 50 Bond End, Knaresborough HG5 9AL Arts & Craft Centre

Families Vale of York

Tennis Tykes advert:Layout 1

10/12/10

12:57

Page 1

welcome

It can be challenging to truly look at things from others’ points of view but we’ve had a fair bit of it to contend with in our household of late.

Teaching tennis to little ones from 2 years A fun and educational tennis play and skills programme

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Classes across North Leeds, Ilkley, Wetherby, Harrogate, Ripon and York For information call Caroline Buncall on 07843 342 662 • www.tennistykes.co.uk

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First off was ‘daddy’s broken foot’. Two months in pot after a football kick around at Fraisthorpe beach (back in the real summer -April) meant my other half was working from home (as I do) and I became the sole driver. It was only then that I truly realised how much work was involved ferrying our children around. I thought I already did most of it. Seems I was wrong. He on the other hand witnessed how hard it is to fit working at home around young children and became a dab hand at sticking the washing on whilst making phone calls – on one leg.

Then we had the arrival of my sister and niece to live with us as her family begin their re-location back to Yorkshire. My 3 year old daughter is now sharing a room with another 3 year old and the adjustment has been, at times, excruciating. We’ve had tantrums and tears, tale-telling and interrupted sleep – but we’ve also had lots of giggles and conspiracies – hiding sweeties in the bed and making dens, kisses and hugs.

We know that the summer will be bringing us lots of challenges – and fun times – and we’ll be using the What’s On Guide in this issue to help us find lots of family-friendly things to do when just getting out of the house will be a life-saver!

Whatever our age, it does us good to walk a while in someone else’s shoes – especially if it’s a single size 11 that hasn’t been worn for a couple of months.

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Editor

in this issue p3 p7 p8 p9 p10 p11 p12 p15 p23

news grown up too soon? toys competitions & giveaways ed’s reading room ask the doctor swimming what’s on for summer beta mum & grandparents’ rights

online familiesmagazine what’s • Two weeks of fun Contact us: PO Box 201, DN14 9ZW Tel: 01405 860831 editor@familiesvoy.co.uk www.familiesvoy.co.uk Front cover: M&Co www.mandco.com Circulation: 17,000 Deadline: The deadline for the Sept/Oct 2011 edition is early August 2011 Designed by: MOOIdesign Tel:01405 869045 Printed by: Warwick Printers www.warwickprinting.co.uk

14 fun things to do this summer from Joanna Moorhead

• Still stuck for holiday ideas this year?

William Gray, editor of the new website 101 Family Holidays, suggests 10 great family getaways

• Festivals Our guide to the best nationwide • Why Can’t we Love our Bodies?

Sound advice from Abi Foss

• It’s a Dad’s Life Dad-blogger Rob • Beta Mum Missed any of Jacey’s words of wisdom? Catch up online.

• Competitions Enter all our competitions online.

Copyright Families in the Vale of York July/Aug 2011. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owners’ own risk and, while every care is taken, neither Families nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families in the Vale of York is part of a group established in 1990 and headed

by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license. We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Families Vale of York

news

Record Visitor Numbers at Henshaw’s It’s not surprising that the Knaresborough-based Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre is experiencing a record number of visitors - it makes for such a fascinating day out and offers something just a little bit different!

The centre’s recently refurbished and very friendly cafe is staffed by the art makers who attend the centre and offers a range of tasty homemade food which includes fresh produce grown in the centre’s vegetable garden, and the Henshaws sausage; a sausage made from a secret recipe!

The centre provides vocational training to people with disabilities who are able to develop vocational and social skills in a range of arts and craft production units, including art, jewellery, funky bags, woodwork and horticulture. Visitors are able to visit the units and meet the art makers while they work. Many of the items produced are exhibited in the centre’s on site gallery and sold in the centre’s shop.

For families and children, there’s also a sensory garden and woodland walk to explore.

Art makers offer interesting and informative tours of the centre. These can be booked by calling 01423 541888. For more information, visit www.henshawsacc.org.uk

Dotty Bots These fabulous Dotty Bots nappies are the creation of local mum of two Rebecca Wareing who launched her children’s clothing company dotty Donkey last year.

Rebecca from Collingham near Wetherby has had her own brand of eye-catching cloth nappies manufactured which are proving a hit with parents who are concerned about the environment and want something fun and funky too.

Rebecca began researching real nappies when her youngest daughter suffered from severe nappy rash last summer.

‘Real nappies were too daunting for me when I had my first daughter but I’ve created something easy to use, affordable and above all else they go in the washing machine – not in the bin.’

The pocket nappies are made up of 3 layers and are guaranteed to be soft on baby’s bottom.

What’s more Rebecca says you only need to buy a few nappies to begin with.

‘Many parents are told they’ll have to spend a fortune when they opt for real nappies but that’s not true. Our nappies are £8.50 each – or a pack of six with 12 inserts will cost £48.

‘It is easy to spend upwards of £14.50 per week on disposable nappies, nappy sacks and baby wipes during the first 2½ years of infancy,’ says Rebecca, ‘so for the average child you are looking at spending a whopping £1,885 just to get them to potty training. You can save a small fortune by making the switch to dotty bots – and they look great too!’

Rebecca’s also thrilled to have received a ‘fabulous’ award from Mummyz Wordz and a great review – you can see it online at www.mummyzwordz.co.uk To find out more visit www.dottydonkey.co.uk where you can see Rebecca’s whole clothing range and Dotty Bots nappies.

Families Vale of York

Keep the date The next Harrogate Baby Fair and Family Day will take place at Ashville Sports Centre on Yew Tree Lane in Harrogate on Saturday 16th July from 10am until 2pm.

Entry is free, with free bouncy castle and free face painter – there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained.

With around 50 stalls you’ll find information and products for everyone from those newly pregnant right through to parents of children about to leave primary school.

Free demonstrations of children’s classes will take place throughout the day, including Tiny Talk baby signing classes, Tennis Tots, pregnancy yoga, karate and even personal training for mums and dads!

The first 200 families through the door will also receive a free goody bag, full of special offers and free samples from the likes of Hipp Organic and The Little Dish. www.harrogatebabyfair.com

Holiday Childcare Options Arranging suitable childcare during the school holidays can be a huge challenge for working parents.

Many families get a hand from grandparents and other relatives, but if you don’t have the luxury of family close by then visit Best Bear where you’ll be able to search for childcare including nannies, nurseries, pre-schools and agencies.

Best Bear was created to provide a comprehensive and quality controlled guide to childcare agencies across the UK, which helps parents make informed decisions when choosing childcare services. www.bestbear.co.uk

What’s the Right Holiday for You?

Still stuck for holiday ideas this year? Try visiting 101 holidays and having a go at their fun quiz: Singamajigs just keeps on going... www.101holidays.co.uk/where-to-go-onand growing holiday-quiz To meet the changing demands for classes Here at Families we found it spot-on at Singamajigs has introduced a new class in Kidzplay identifying what kind of holiday we liked best.

Harrogate on Tuesdays aimed at babies from six And whilst you’re there you can check out some months to two years old. of their recommendations.

‘We’re aiming this class at children who just won’t You can also read their 10 family ideas for 2011 sit still and enjoy crawling or toddling around to the on our website at www.familiesvoy.co.uk/ music,’ says class teacher and owner of Singamajigs, 101holidays where they suggest 10 great family Karen Allen. getaways, whether you’re looking for five-star luxury or travelling on a budget.

‘Our classes continue to grow at Kidzplay in Northallerton on Wednesdays too where the small and friendly groups mean the children and parents can Play all week at Crazy get to know each other with a coffee, chat and play after Tykes…

Singamajigs.’

This summer you can play all week at This term Karen’s also been busy at Sure Start Children’s Crazy Tykes for a one-off price. The Centres where she’s been invited to join different toddler and One Payment photo card enables your baby groups. child to play for a whole week for £6 ‘When mums and carers were asked what they thought of the – and there’s a discount for more than session their comments were so positive,’ says Karen. ‘They one child with two paying £11 and 3 told us classes were “very interactive, fun and different for the just £15. All you need to do is supply little ones,” and my favourite “we will definitely be singing more a photo of each child –and the tickets at home after this,” which is of course one of our main aims.’ are on sale until 31st July.

As well as offering pre-school classes, Singamajigs can offer The offer applies to any week from tailor-made traditional parties for your preschooler - at home, 23rd July till 3rd September (time in the garden or in a hall. You choose the songs, they bring restrictions may apply). the music. www.singamajigs.co.uk www.crazytykes.co.uk

Sweden’s leading children’s clothing now online in UK Swedish children’s clothing company Polarn O. Pyret makes lovely unisex clothing for children and now has a number of stores across the country. Unfortunately for us the nearest is in Manchester but the good news is you can now shop online at polarnopyret.co.uk where you’ll find tee-shits, jackets, sun hats, socks and much more. The company prides itself on clothes that don’t gender small children and can easily be handed down – you decide who wears what colour – and we think that’s a great idea!

10% discount for Families readers Families readers can take advantage of a 10% discount plus free P & P when shopping online at polarnopyret.co.uk. Just enter the code FMVOY11. Valid between 26th June & 5th September.

Jedward Are Top Of The Pops At Belmont Grosvenor They might not have won X Factor, or the Eurovision Song Contest, but Jedward are riding high at a leading North Yorkshire independent prep school!

The twin brothers, who shot to stardom during Simon Cowell’s TV talent show, have been turned into puppets by pupils at Belmont Grosvenor School in Harrogate.

With their wild blonde hair and sharp suits, John and Edward Grimes were some of the stars of a recent puppet show at the school, written entirely by the pupils.

Year 6 pupils created a wide range of marionettes as part of their DT studies.

Using wood, clay and other materials, the pupils spent time creating 20 puppets and then wrote three separate plays to show their fellow students their marionettes in action.

As well as Jedward, other puppets which took to the stage included Wallace and Gromit, Homer Simpson and Barbie. www.belmontgrosvenorschool.co.uk

UV ANGEL Slapping on the suncream can be a battle especially when children don’t understand why it’s necessary. We’ve discovered a fun range of sun jewellery from Yorkshire based UV Angel. These great products, made from sun sensitive beads, change colour to let you know that the UV you’re being exposed to could be damaging your skin.

‘The idea came after a good friend developed skin cancer,’ says Angela Thompson from UV Angel. ‘When the beads change colour, it makes you think. It reminds you that there’s UV out there and you need to protect yourself.’

‘Kids cook quickly so it’s a parent’s responsibility to protect them,’ says Angela. ‘If you have a bead on your bag or your body and you see it change colour, ask do the kids need more cream? Do we need to get out of the sun?’

Take a look at the full range of UV Angel products at www.uv-angel. com. Prices start at £2.50.

Run For All launch York Junior & Mini Run Following the highly successful Arena Group Junior Runs in Leeds and Hull, Jane Tomlinson’s Run for All are proud to announce the event will also be held in York this year.

Taking place on Sunday 31st July following the Jane Tomlinson York 10K, the FREE to enter event is the first of its kind in the UK to offer children from across the region the opportunity to participate in either a 1.5km or 2.5km course.

Setting off from Knavesmire Road, 3 to 8 years olds (accompanied by an adult) can take on the 1.5Km run as 9 to 14 year olds tackle the 2.5Km route before crossing the finish line at the York Racecourse.

To find out more go to www.runforall.com

Calling all Jo-Jinglers Past & Present Jo Jingles will be throwing a special party to say goodbye to Catherine who has been teaching classes for over ten years at the popular pre-school music group.

Local franchise owner Paula Ridley would like to invite all previous and current jinglers who have been to Catherine’s classes to a party at Boston Spa village Hall.

‘The party runs from 10am – 12pm on 16th July and will include jingling with Catherine and Big Jo, party games and food,’ says Paula, ‘and people will need to call or email me with names to book places, by Saturday 9th July.’

Could you teach Jo Jingles?

Jo Jingles are now looking to find a replacement class leader. It is anticipated that interviews will be held in September but anyone wanting further information is encouraged to get in touch with Paula now. The position is term time, school hours, initially for three morning a week with a possibility for expansion to five morning and a couple of afternoons. You can contact Paula on 01977 650455.

...it’s amazing!

Visit one of the largest mazes in the world Open daily 16th July - 4th September 2011

Plus...

Jumping Pillow Giant Slide Adventure Play Maze of Illusions Farm Animals Crowmania Ride

(new for 2011)

Café & BBQ Gift Shop

www.yorkmaze.co.uk Tel: 01904-607341

Families Vale of York

news

ht on SpotlPig laygroup Marygate

of e the lifeblood Playgroups ar me ho to e os es. Cl our communiti stable a e id ov pr ey and familiar, th n If you’re looking for something d ease childre just a little bit different for your environment an ion. We take at uc child’s birthday, we like this idea gently into ed in ate Playgroup that Julie Moxon of The Willows a look at Maryg Studio is offering.

Clifton, York.

‘Photoshoot parties are a different way hool playgroup Marygate pre-sc f. of celebrating your child’s birthday,’ says ng onto its staf ha to ren who are Julie who runs her studio from her home in knows how e group as child th to e m ca o oup chair wh le Tadcaster. ng,’ says playgr ‘We have peop king after own children alo loo eir f th af st ing e br m to sa ‘The birthday child gets a few of their friends together to have lots of fun. We get starting they have the e people or m en t’s wh ha d ‘W an them in the party mood with some music and they just enjoy dancing, jumping munity here Emma Birrell. m co of e ns se a real – whatever they want!’ them. We have !’ n’t want to leave Julie says the best shots are taken when the children least expect it and some come – they do p of their list. to children bring along props such as disco hoppers and hula hoops. with parents is n tio ica un m to provide more m Co rents’ requests pa to d ‘Kids come dressed in all sorts of different ways too,’ she tells me. ‘We’ve had day de on resp able to stay all ‘We’ve recently older girls who bring several outfits to change into, some even bring their pyjamas! dren will soon be and hil g ‘C nin a. or m m e Em hours,’ says when we provid s ay ich id Fr wh ‘Photoshoot parties last two hours and the partygoers may want to bring along as es ll we packed lunch on Mondays as m on e children bring 9a food so the session is split into two one hour sessions.’ es m Th fro s. ) ion ed id ss afternoon se (breakfast prov b ing clu t rk as wo kf r ea fo ‘After I’ve edited them each member of the party receives a disc of around 200 e br ore flexibility together with th iday provides m Fr d photos. These can then be used however they decide.’ an ay sd ur Monday, Th Julie’s parties are for children aged 2 right up to late teens. The cost for a two hour d garden space parents.’ ntastic courtyar fa a d party with the disc is: £150 and a one hour party, again with the disc, is £100. an om ro s airy follow their own With a spaciou encouraged to e ar e Check out Julie’s website for samples of photo parties at at yg ar ther each day.

M d a snack toge the children at an s ng so , www.thewillowsstudio.co.uk ies or joy st “people wishes, and en Emma, such as Julies also specialises in family, maternity, baby & toddler photography. enjoyed d themes,’ says un we ro d d an se or ba ct e ar do ‘Activities a visit from a d ha ch as ly su nt , ce bs re e clu from local who help us”. W also have visits e W ’ . n. ist re nt ild de ch e e a trip to th work with th and o came along to e requirements Enjoy-a-Ball wh all the Key Stag w llo fo , A new and exciting event is coming to Harrogate ed ct pe d qualified staff.’

‘We’re Ofsted ins this summer. Combining the best elements of experienced an e giving e all have very ov ab and Marygate ar retail ‘baby show’ events with an action packed e taster session this fre in a rt to ve ad led e tit a copy of th Everyone is en programme of fun for all the family, the Yorkshire term’s fees with lf ha st fir e th f 10% of Family Show looks like a great day out. s. copy of Familie Businesses from all over Yorkshire & beyond will be e and ion: showcasing kids’ products and services from pregnancy to school age and beyond. rds to school ag More informat from age 2 upwa er 3s, n ov re e ild th r ch You’ll be able to buy everything from nappies to school uniform, buggies to bikes. fo ke e ta Marygate places are fre so rs he uc vo t There’s also a Craft Market, plus a demonstration area allowing you to sample all sorts en accept governm of children’s activities. & Prices: es tim n 20pm Sessio The event is being run by Cari Parker of Dales Party Company, who ran lots of - 12.20pm - 3. am - 12.20pm successful smaller baby shows and felt the region needed something bigger and better; Monday - 9.20 m am – 12.20p ‘Mums and dads shouldn’t have to travel to the NEC or London to experience a Thursday - 9.20 .20pm - 12.20pm - 3.20pm 12 am 6 each 20 big event when there are so many brilliant baby and family businesses right here in Friday 9. rnoons are £9.9 e £8 each, afte ar Yorkshire’, says Cari. s ion on. £3 with ss no se g 12 Mornin group 10am ler dd to d A mum of two herself, Cari wanted to make sure that everyone was kept happy at the an nt Tuesdays - pare show, and has really gone to town with face-painting, tennis, football, bouncy castles, £1 per bies £1. ba g lin sib f, 1pm pick up) go-karts, fairground rides, chocolate making… the list goes on! bs (9am drop of clu ch lun & t Breakfas As well as all the shopping and fun, there’s a serious side too – proceeds from various , YO30 ch, Clifton, York session. activities will be supporting local charity Martin House Children’s Hospice, which cares for Methodist Chur rms. n te ifto ol Cl ho p, sc ou rk gr terminally ill children and their families.

Marygate Play n during the Yo ru s ion ss Se 7 8 02 Yorkshire Family Show is at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate on 20th & 21st 6AL. 07922 53 olplaygroup arygateprescho /M August 10am-4pm. om .c ok bo www.face

Willows party shoots

Yorkshire Family Show arrives in Harrogate

Full details at www.yorkshirefamilyshow.co.uk

Tel:01904 691698 Email:info@bbchildcareuk.com www.bb-childcare.co.uk

Nannies Maternity Practitioners Nursery Staff Babysitting Parents Helper Mobile Creches FREE REGISTRATION

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Families Vale of York

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Grown-up too soon?

Do you worry about your daughter growing up too soon? Do you want her to enjoy her childhood- but feel she is being fast-tracked by celebrity culture and the pressure to look older younger?

In her new book, Tanith tackles everything from Facebook to inappropriate fashion.

Here are some tips on how to help your daughter develop a healthy body image.

Even though a furious debate is still raging about why it’s happening and who’s to blame, so far there has been no practical help at all for parents on how to fight back against the Lolita Effect.

Instead many parents feel powerless - drowned out by the internet, retailers, the media and peer pressure Now parenting author Tanith Carey, herself the mother of two young girls, has written the first hands-on guide for parents, called: “Where Has My Little Girl Gone?”

Tanith, 44, says: “Many parents feel like there’s nothing they can do - but there really are lots of practical, realistic steps you can take to protect your girls.

“Just knowing when to say the right things at the right time can really help inoculate girls against the worst influences of the X-rated society.

“It’s also more important than ever to build your daughter’s self-esteem so she is strong enough to deal with the pressure to behave older than her years.

“Our daughters’ childhoods deserve to be safeguarded - so they can grow into the healthy, confident women they deserve to be.”

• When it comes to diet, the most important things are what we don’t say: Stop making food an ongoing topic of conversation in your household. Even if you think you are spreading healthy eating messages, you are making food a big issue. Instead without a fuss or fanfare, quietly make sure a good range of nutritious good food is available in your home.

Keep in mind that there are no “bad” foods.

What is bad is when we don’t eat them in a balanced way. The best thing you can do for your daughter is to make eating normally no big deal, just a part of life.

• Never mention the word “diet”: Overhearing endless conversation with your friends about the latest diet regime can make girls think it’s a woman’s lot to starve herself. If it’s brought up by other adults in front of your daughter, quickly and quietly change the subject.

• Get girls involved in cooking: Get girls back in touch with food and where it comes from and how it is made. Make meal-times a stress-free family occasion by focussing on companionship and conversation, not who’s eating what.

• Don’t use food to feed your emotions: Don’t express regret or guilt over food: How many of us have groaned after dinner: “I wish I hadn’t eaten that” or “I deserve some a treat after the day I’ve had.” Don’t talk about “fat days”. Stop sending the message that food is something to feel guilty about.

“Where Has My Little Girl Gone? How to Protect Your Daughter From Growing Up Too Soon” is available online and from all good book shops, priced 7.99 .

review Where has my Little Girl Gone?

By Tanith Carey (Lion Hudson £7.99 ISBN: 9780745955421 ) I devoured this book in just a day. With a three year old daughter I’m anxious to preserve her childhood for as long as I can and although I’m not easily scared, I am aware that there will come a time when outside influences will have a stronger pull than mummy.

This book is an absolute must for anyone with a daughter and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to read it if you have boys too. It’s all too easy to scaremonger – and there’s been plenty of that in the media of latebut Tanith Carey writes with clarity and intelligence to offer what all parents want – practical advice.

Tanith identifies the ‘tween years’ of 7-12 as the root of childhood where girls are starting to define themselves as separate from their parents. It is during this time that they become more curious about the world about them and form the foundations of self-image and self-esteem. She then gives us lots of sensible ways we can steer our girls in the right direction so that they don’t grow up feeling they must plaster themselves in make-up to feel good about themselves or starve themselves to be stick-thin and therefore ‘acceptable’ to their peers.

It’s not easy though – because the first step we have to take is to look very carefully at ourselves. Using expressions such as ‘having a fat day’ or constantly putting yourself down as a woman is doing just as much damage as X-rated pop videos and ‘sexy’ children’s clothes – and the government can’t legislate against that.

I particularly found the chapter about online safety useful (useful for parents of boys too) and also the great advice on how to steer girls away from too much make-up – 17 tips on just that alone.

This is a great manual for parents of girls of all ages and comes highly recommended.

Rating

★★★★★

Families Vale of York

Competitions &

giveaways

Great summer toys starting at just £3

The team at Treasures of Wetherby have been shooting darts, firing water pistols and making sand moulds as part of their research for new summer lines.

Here are just a few of Zhara’s recommendations to help keep both young and older children entertained this summer.

Sunny Patch from Melissa & Doug Melissa & Doug are well known for their wonderful quality craft lines, puzzles and role play toys, and for the first time in the UK they have launched their Sunny Patch outdoor toy range.

Favourites include the Seaside Sand Baking Set (£9.99) (young chefs will love the shell shaped measuring cups, octopus whisk & crab mixing spoon), Flex Octopus Bucket & Sieve (£9.99) and the Sea Turtle net with its sturdy handle which will be great for seaside explorers.

Bigjigs

Bigjigs are best known for their wooden toys and they’ve just launched the Gowi outdoor range.

These are great quality, vibrant colours and really well priced. This is a big range and some of our favourites include the Sand & Watermill, the Sand Loader and the Water shot (£2.99).

For older children...

Hex Bugs These micro robotic creatures are great fun and may well be one of this summer’s favourites.

Wind Designs Starting at just £3 .99, best sellers include Diabolo, Pop Shots and Helirang and new for this year the X2 water Blaster(£9.99).

Trunki We also love Trunki travel accessories which are both practical and great fun. The new Trunki Quinn has just arrived and Treasures have the Wrist Purse at the special price of £3.99. The BoostApak is another well thought out product from the makers of Trunki, this booster seat doubles as a back pack – so no more hiring booster seats when you go on holiday. Priced at £39.99, you can test one out at Treasures.

win some summer toys!

Treasures have one X2 Blaster, a Seaside baking set and Flex Octopus bucket & sieve to giveaway.

To be in the draw to win one of these fab summer toys, go to www.familiesvoy.co.uk/summertoys and enter your details. The first names out of the hat on August 5th will win. www.treasurestoys.co.uk

You name it We label it!

Lunchboxes • Water Bottles Books • Uniforms • Footwear

T: 01635 298326 www.easy2name.com

Win an Easy2Name Off to School set and 10% off Preparing for next term is made easier if you have all your children’s uniform labelled and ready to go.

Easy2Name have a wide range of labels for your child’s clothing and equipment – and you can get an extra 10% off by entering Families when placing an online order.

We have 5 Easy2Name Off to School sets to give away, each worth £17.90 and containing 30 waterproof stickers, 30 iron on name tapes, 1 set of shoe covers, 1 bag tag and 1 shoe bag.

To enter the draw just visit www.familiesvoy. co.uk/easy2name and follow the instructions there. Closing date 5th August.

Please state clearly the name of your child and whether you require the shoe bag in red or blue.

The full Easy2Name range can be seen at www.easy2name.com

giveaway

Families Vale of York

WIN Family tickets to see Peter Pan at York Theatre Royal this Summer From the team that brought you The Railway Children and The Wind in the Willows comes another family summer spectacle.

Join Wendy, John and Michael Darling as they re-count their wonderful, action-packed adventures in Never land. Stories of Lost Boys, Indians, Mermaids, and Pirates unfold before your eyes in a magical land, free from grown-up rules. This enchanting story of a the boy who refuses to grow up is given sparkle and soul in this new adaptation by Mike Kenny (The Railway Children and The Wind in the Willows) and promises to be fun for all the family. Enjoy this summer extravaganza on the newly configured ‘In The Round’ main stage as YTR present this new adaptation of a timeless classic novel.

To be in with a chance of winning a family* ticket for Peter Pan on Tue 30 Aug at 7pm all you need to do is log on to www.familiesvoy.co.uk/peterpan and follow the instructions there. (*4 tickets with a maximum of 2 adults)

giveaway

Prepare for the New Term with Candy Bows Yorkshire-based business Candy Bows is all geared up for the uniform-buying season.

‘Our back to school hair sets are proving to be as popular this year as last year,’ says owner Charlotte Mackenzie ‘and we’re working with a number of schools, both state and private, providing them with school sets that match their uniforms exactly.’

The sets which comprise of Bowtie Headband, 2 bowtie bow clips and 2 bowtie hair bobbles retail at £5.50. All the items in the set can be bought separately too.

‘The sets have actually come down in price from £6.50 last year,’ says Charlotte.’ Our costs have reduced because of popularity and we’re also extending the range over the next 8 weeks to include new styles and ginghams.’

Charlotte who began her business from home when she couldn’t find anything of good quality for her twin girls enjoys working closely with schools.

‘Our school sets can be bought by schools on a trade basis to sell at retail to make a profit. We also work with PTAs in providing them with a box of school sets free of charge. Once they are all sold they take a commission. It’s a great way for schools to raise funds.’

Charlotte is also thrilled to have exhibited Bubble London this June.

‘Bubble London is the leading trade show in Candy Bows is giving away the children’s apparel/accessories market and TWO of these gorgeous we were amongst the 200 exhibitors, which pettiskirts to two lucky included the likes of I Love Gorgeous, No Families readers.

Added Sugar & Mini A Ture.’

To enter just visit www.

As well as new products which include their familiesvoy.co.uk/pettiskirts own t-shirts, gift sets, party bag fillers, seasonal and follow the instructions there. gift sets and greetings cards with bows, Candy Full Ts & Cs are on the website.

Bows exhibited these gorgeous tulle pettiskirts.

Entries by August 10th Please.

Made for swirling, twirling and dancing and

Giveaway

fluttering about we think these are just beautiful.

Part of their new range they retail at £18.99.

Tennis Tykes the unique tennis skills and play programme for children aged from 2 years is expanding further with new York classes in Haxby on Thursdays as well as offering classes in Poppleton on Wednesdays and Fulford on Fridays. These classes are in addition to the already successful classes in Harrogate, Ripon and Wetherby.

To celebrate, Tennis Tykes is offering a fabulous prize to Families readers of a free half term of lessons for a child aged under 5 PLUS a bag of equipment including a racket, 3 balls, a Tennis Tykes bag and t-shirt.

Just find out the answer to the question below, go to www.familiesvoy.co.uk/tennistykes and follow the instructions there.

The winner will be drawn from all correct answers on August 10th.

QUESTION: At what age did Andy Murray start playing tennis?

Even if you are not successful, Tennis Tykes is also offering every reader with a pre-school age child (aged 2, 3 or 4) the opportunity to book a FREE TASTER LESSON. For further information on all the class times, call Caroline on 07843342662 or log onto www.tennistykes.co.uk

AMAZING-FACES.co.uk

face painting

For children, teenagers & adults Experienced & professional P L Insurance & CRB checked Call Jackie

0794 960 2202

competition

WIN A HALF A TERM OF FREE TENNIS TYKES LESSONS & a bag of tennis equipment to get you started.

facepaintingharrogate.com

WIN a Scoobit for your Scooter Mum Clare Hartnell came up with a great new toy when she lost two expensive scooters in the school playground.

‘When I couldn’t recognise my own kids’ scooters I got to thinking about how I could make them more identifiable.’

The result was ‘Scoobit’ an accessory for kids’ scooters and bikes for 3-8yr olds.

‘They’re a bit like Jibbitz are for Crocs,’ says Clare. ‘They’re made from silicone and there are 9 characters that strap onto the scooter or bike pole.’

‘We’re really excited because John Lewis has just re-ordered and we are now selling in 35 small independents across the country. I’ve just given up my job as an architect to concentrate on the business. There are three of us in the team - all working from home and balancing work with looking after our families.’

There’s nothing else like Scoobits on the market at the moment so Families are thrilled to have 5 to give away to lucky readers.

To be in with a chance of winning a Scoobit, go to www.familiesvoy.co.uk/scoobits and follow the instructions there. Closing date 5th August.

giveaway

Dotty donkey 55x40 08/04/2011 18:34 Page 1

Fun fashions and accessories for Babies & Toddlers.

Try our Dotty Bots reusable cloth nappies.

07576 053 503

www.dottydonkey.co.uk

Families Vale of York

ed’s reading room

Hi kids, parents, grandparents, teachers – and book lovers everywhere! I’m Ed and here is my Summer book selection for you to enjoy. The books are all available online from Ed’s Reading Room at www.edontheweb.com.

Ed’s Reading Room is an exciting free online book and story club for primary children in homes and schools. Each month, recently published books are selected as Ed’s Books of the Month for Owlets (age 5-7) and Owls (over 7s).

FOR AGES 5-7 YEARS Lulu and the Dog from the Sea

by Hilary McKay (Scholastic £4.99) ED SAYS: ‘Lulu loves animals. On holiday with her family and her cousin Mellie she becomes fascinated by a dog living on the beach.

The locals want rid of the dog but Lulu sets out to befriend him and gradually she gains his confidence. But when the grumpy cottage owner arrives and calls the dogcatchers, will Lulu and Mellie be able to save the dog from the sea? And dare Lulu dream of taking the dog from the sea home with her?

‘This is a fantastic story from a wonderful writer – perfect for early readers on their own or reading together.’

Penny Dreadful is a Magnet for Disaster by Joanna Nadin (Usborne Publishing £4.99) ED SAYS: ‘Penny somehow finds herself in near disasters following her brilliant ideas! These ideas lead Penny and her best friend Cosmo to have a close encounter with a strimmer, to find their own faithful sidekick in the form of a dog that appears to be able to speak Russian and to release a swarm of locusts just as the School Inspector arrives. Of course it’s not Penny’s fault – she’s just a magnet for disaster!

‘This super book has three hilarious adventures that will amuse boys and girls alike. Laugh out loud with Penny Dreadful and her friends.’

FOR AGES 7 YEARS PLUS

Lob by Linda Newbery (David Fickling Books £5.99)

Clifton Pre-Prep School

For boys and girls aged 3 - 8 years ‘Academically excellent’

ED SAYS: ‘Lucy and Grandpa Will spend a lot of time together in Grandpa’s garden. More than anything, Lucy hopes to meet the mysterious green man who has been an important part of Grandpa’s life.

Grandpa tells her that you have to be a very special person to see Lob. Will Lucy be one of those special people? And after something dreadful happens in Lucy’s life, what will happen to Lob? ‘This is a beautifully written magical tale enhanced by lovely illustrations.

At the end of the story the brilliantly drawn characters will stay in your own imagination. Perhaps you will see Lob in your garden.’

The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo (Egmont Books £5.99)

Building the foundation of your child’s education If you are interested in seeing our Nursery and Reception classes book an appointment during our

‘Come and Visit Us Week’ during the 10th-14th October 2011 To book an appointment please call 01904 527361 Clifton Pre-Prep School York YO30 6AB Tel: 01904 527361 enquiries@cliftonprep.sch.uk www.st-peters.york.sch.uk/clifton

Clifton Pre-Prep • St Olave’s • St Peter’s

10 Families Vale of York

ED SAYS: ‘When his secret forest kingdom is invaded by sorcerer viridees, the young Prince Timoken has to flee. Timoken embarks on a dangerous journey with a magical moon cloak for protection. He is able to talk to animals and also fly. But as Timoken and his camel Gabar search for a new kingdom to call home, they are pursued by the viridees who want the moon cloak.

‘This gripping story is a page-turner of an adventure. It is full of energy and will have you on the edge of your seat.’

You are very welcome to contact Maggie on 01753 730019 or by email at mgh@edontheweb.com about the website or about Ed on the Web Spelling Bees in schools.

Oh go on then – we’ll sneak in one video game…

Lego Pirates of the Caribbean The video game - Platform PS3

This game is aimed for children aged between 6-11 and is really challenging. It has a wide choice of characters you can play as - all from the film - including the famous Captain Jack Sparrow and the fantastic Will Turner. Tasks include sword fighting, collecting Lego studs and rescuing friends etc. I like to play as Blackbeard and Davy Jones. Once you have completed the objective at Story Level you can play it in Free Play as any character you want to be.

I highly recommend this game and would give it Reviewed by Isaac Joyce age 9.

10/10.

ask the

doctor

In the first of a new regular column, local GP Clare Spencer offers advice to parents.This time she looks at problems with bedwetting.

B

edwetting (or nocturnal enuresis) is an incredibly common problem. It can cause stress

in parents and emotional upset in children. This short article aims to tell you why bedwetting may happen, factors that may make it worse and gives an idea of treatments available. The most important message of all is that it is not the child’s fault and punishment may make the problem worse.

HOW COMMON IS BEDWETTING? I hope that I can be reassuring with figures. At 4½yrs, 1 in 5 children and at 9 yrs nearly 1 in 10 children will occasionally wet the bed.

Simple things that you can do

Minimise the angst of a wet mattress by having more than one waterproof mattress protector and a supply of sheets. Make sure that your child is actually drinking enough during the day, as dehydration can WHAT CAUSES BEDWETTING? lead to constipation. They should visit the loo 4-7 Bedwetting is the result of many factors. The child may not wake up in the night when the bladder is full as this skill takes times. If you go too frequently the bladder doesn’t get used to holding normal volumes of urine and this time to develop, as does the complex hormonal system needed to produce less urine at night. Less commonly, there may need to be addressed. Nappies and ‘lifting’ do may be problems with the bladder not storing enough urine. not change behaviour and so are not good long term This may be associated with problems of wetting during the solutions. day also. Bedwetting can run in families.

There are 3 main treatment options – reward WHAT CAN MAKE BED WETTING WORSE? systems, alarms and medication. A combination of all There are definitely factors that make bedwetting worse. three is often used.

Drinking a lot before bed at night is an obvious one, Rewards should be for agreed behaviour such as particularly fizzy drinks and those containing caffeine which having a wee before bedtime, or drinking the correct make you produce more urine. Constipation makes it worse volume of fluid. Don’t use rewards for dry nights as as the bulk can reduce the volume of urine the bladder can store. Bedwetting is worse if there are emotional problems or this is something the child cannot directly control.

Alarms are the next option. The alarm goes off when the child is unhappy or stressed. it senses wetness in the bed. The child and parents There are some illnesses that can result in bedwetting including urinary tract infections and diabetes. In these cases, then get up, go to the loo and reset it before returning to bed. This gradually improves the child’s awareness the child would often have other signs of being unwell, and of when they need to pass urine when they are the bedwetting may be new. Bedwetting may also be worse asleep. They take weeks to months to work. where there is developmental delay, learning difficulties and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Drug treatment with desmopressin works by reducing the volume of urine made overnight. A HOW CAN WE MANAGE BED WETTING? Bedwetting can be due to many factors so there are different 3 month course is usually given, then gradually withdrawn. If the bedwetting comes back, the course treatment approaches to take and it is important to persist can be repeated. if you don’t get immediate results. You should ask for help by speaking to the school nurse or GP when bedwetting If these measures do not work, you may be referred causes anxiety or other problems. There is no lower age cut to a specialist who may want to assess the underlying off to treatment. It is also important to seek medical advice if cause in more detail. They may be able to give more the bedwetting occurs out of the blue after a long period of intensive input and prescribe other medication. dryness.

Finally, remember that you may need support as well, The most important treatment is patience and love as, I stress and don’t be afraid to ask for it! again, it is not the child’s fault and they may grow out of it.

Where to find out more... www.nice.org.uk Guideline for patients - Bedwetting in children and young people The following websites all have good general information and practical tips as to what does and doesn’t work. www.patient.co.uk www.bedwetting.co.uk www.nhs.co.uk Clare Spencer is a local GP with experience in obstetrics and gynaecology. She lives near Harrogate with her husband and 3 children.

Clare juggles life working part time and being mum.

‘A quick glance in the mirror reflects back a tired unshaven man with wild hair, still wearing the t-shirt he slept in.’

Have you read our dad blog yet? You can find it at www.familiesvoy.co.uk

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Families Vale of York

11

Baby Swimmers Tracie Margo

www.babyswimmers.co.uk

01757 229880

Classes at: New Earswick, York, Archbishop Holgates School, York, Pocklington Grammar, Robert Wilkinson School, Strensall, Beckwith Health Club, Harogate

What age should my child begin swimming? Your baby can start swimming as soon as you are both are ready. We’re happy to begin teaching children between 6 - 8 weeks old. This gives parents time needed to adjust to their new arrival, allows mum time to recover from giving birth and also allows baby to gain some head control when holding him in the water.

It‘s important to make sure that the temperature is really warm, especially if your baby is under 12 weeks old. I recommend you start classes in a hydro therapy pool of at least 33 degrees if there is one available. This will ensure that you and baby have a really relaxed and enjoyable class.

Should I wait until after vaccinations? Many mums and dads are concerned as to whether they should take their babies

swimming before they have been immunised. The NHS guidelines are that it is not necessary for your baby to have had their injections but if you have any concerns check with your health visitor.

babies wanted full day care from £37.75 Our prices are

competitive

& include drinks, snacks and a healthy tea!

childrensdaynursery.co.uk

e: york@firststepsatroko.co.uk www.childrensdaynursery.co.uk Tel: 01904 693007

What should my baby wear to swim in and how should I time feeds? Your baby will need to wear 2 snugly

fitting swimming nappies, one on top of the other. You can use either 2 disposable swim nappies or 1 disposable with a neoprene nappy cover or Velcro/tie-up nappy on top. You should check there is a good seal around the waist and top of the legs, to help guard against any accidents which may contaminate the pool. There are also baby neoprene wetsuits and baby neoprene snugs available to keep your baby extra warm in the water, although these are not needed if you attend a hydro therapy pool.

Feeding

It is always a good idea to leave AT LEAST 1 hour after feeding before you bring your baby swimming, this allows time for any solids or milk to digest, as babies can sometimes have quite a workout in their class, with lots of bouncing and splishing and splashing! Remember you can always feed your baby after their swim.

Parents Say:

DAY

N U R S E R Y

the road to learning, a journey of fun!

www.munchkins-day-nursery.com

spaces available for more information

CALL 01757 638868

info@munchkins-day-nursery.com

Opening Times: 7.15am - 6.30pm

Unit 6 Brackenholme Business Park Near Selby on the A63 between hemingbrough & howden

12 Families Vale of York

‘Both myself and Daniel can’t wait for our weekly swim, it is our most enjoyable activity. We love singing and splashing in the water and it’s great to know we are also learning safety skills. I always recommended Baby Swimmers to our friends!’

Photo courtesy of Baby Swimmers Copyright of Alex Myers

All children need to learn to swim but sometimes it can be confusing trying to choose a class for your child. We’ve asked some of the area’s top swim schools for some guidelines & advice and to share some of their favourite moments.

Stella Riley 01904 607110 www.waterbabies.co.uk

Classes available locally in York, Harrogate and Ripon.

What should parents look for when choosing a swim school? It’s crucial to

know exactly what you’re signing up to and who with. Baby swimming is a safe and extremely beneficial activity – but only in the hands of a fully qualified, competent instructor.

Someone who is not only fully versed in the theory behind the practices they teach, but who is also working to a carefully devised and progressive programme.

Teachers should be well trained –Baby Swimmers instructors take 150 hours to qualify and are re-validated every 2 years.

Alan Quinn Crisford photographed by Anna Fairs for Water Babies

Water Babies

Check also that your preferred swim school is fully insured any reputable company should be happy to show you a copy of their current Public Liability insurance certificate.

A good school will have a carefully worked out programme of development, however, the emphasis should always be on you feeling like you’re evolving at your child’s own pace, and primarily both of you having fun.

What causes children to be afraid of the water and how can I help my child overcome their fears? Babies aren’t born with a fear

of water, however this anxiety can start to creep in once they’re around six months old. Simple things can cause this such as feeling too enclosed in a bath, the water temperature being too cold, loud noises at the swimming pool or even your own anxiety around water or swimming. So the sooner you get your little one used to being around or in water, either in a bath or swimming pool, the better.

It’s best to gently introduce them to warm water, in a calm, nurturing environment from as early as possible. If they don’t enjoy bath time, perhaps they don’t like the change in temperature, so first of all make sure that both the room and water are nice and warm. Try sharing a bath with them, gently lying back with them on your chest and trickling water over their tummy and limbs (but not their face at this stage).

If you show your baby that you’re really enjoying the experience, they’ll pick up on this and start enjoying it more too. And don’t forget to wrap them up in a lovely warm towel once bath time is over to keep them nice and toasty.

When you do make it to the pool, make sure your first visit is a positive, gentle introduction to this multi-sensory world. Spend time on the side getting them used to the noises, colours, splashing and general hubbub of the pool environment – these will all be much louder than at home! You do need to make sure that the water is warm enough.

When you get in the pool for the first time, smile and talk to your baby – show them that it’s all meant to be fun! It’s really important that you are calm and positive as they’ll take their cues from you. Through the session, try alternating between holding them very close, with lots of reassuring skin-to-skin contact, then at arm’s length so they can move freely and feel a bit more independent. Often as a new parent you may well be unsure of what to do, so joining a baby swimming class is a good idea.

Here you’ll also be able to socialise with other parents and babies and you’ll find there’s plenty of support for the two of you.

Splish Splosh Victoria Pettitt 0844 264 1102 www.splishsploshswimmingschool.co.uk

Classes at: The Read School, Drax, The Mount School, Archbishop Holgates, Carr Junior School, Robert Wilkinson School, St Peter’s School, Lyndhurst School & Harrogate Ladies College.

How long will it take my child to learn to swim? Each child is different and

this is the question that most parents ask. We advise parents that the swimming teacher is the best guide to this.

As a swimming teacher you will gauge from the first lessons how well the little one does in water.

You can then feedback the points that need work on, if necessary move them to a different class.

I would always recommend starting a child at an early age.The younger they are, the quicker they will learn and they are likely to pick up less bad habits than an older child.

My child can swim a couple of lengths now – why should we continue with lessons? It is always

beneficial to ensure that children continue with their swimming. We recommend continuing to Gold or Honours Level to ensure the child has got the stamina to swim different distances – it ensures correct technique in all 4 strokes. Once at this level the child is less likely to loose any of the skills of swimming in later life.

As a parent should I watch lessons and if so, from near – or afar?

We always ask parents to stay at the lessons.

We know that for children who are beginning swimming lessons this can be a nervous and daunting time.

Put yourself in your child’s shoes; being taken to a new location with a new teacher, in a new environment - wouldn’t you want your parent or guardian in sight so you knew they were close by?

Parents Say:

‘The teacher is excellent and she is very competent and sensitive to the various needs of the children in the class.’

Babies tire easily in the water, so restrict your first visit to around 20-30 minutes and make sure you have a hat and towel for afterwards.

It’s normal for them to be hungry and tired after swimming, and not unusual for them to sleep for a couple of hours as well – definitely an added bonus to a successful trip!

What sort of swim aids would you recommend? There are lots of swim aids that

can help a child gain confidence and have a lot of fun in the water, as well as help them improve their swimming.

Toys such as fish, balls or ducks are great fun to chase and catch; floats are used for aiding buoyancy and gaining water confidence. Woggles are a great buoyancy aid for learner swimmers as they are less restrictive for arm and leg movement, good for floating on and great for doing silly races!

Sinkers help children learn to put their faces under the water.

August Bank Holiday 27 th, 28 th & 29 th Open 10.30am - 5pm

www.cawoodcraftfest ival.co .uk Families Vale of York

13

TIES I V I T AC

Picture courtesy of English Heritage

Looking for a day out? Look no further! We’ve found so many great places you can visit this summer that it would be impossible to include them all.

However, we’ve chosen some of our favourites both close to home and a bit further away and have looked at budget days out as well as those where you might want to push the boat out. We’ve arranged our day trips into several price categories and based our calculations on a family of 4 with two paying children.

daytripping

FREE

You may have to pay to park, but other than that, these things are free.

NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM Arrive as close to 10am as possible Leman Road, York YO26 4XJ 0870 421 4001 www.nrm.org.uk Admission to the NRM itself is free and there’s something for everyone including a Miniature Railway (small charge applies), Play Train activities, indoor and outdoor Play ‘n Picnic areas and the Interactive Learning Area where you can do things like pull signal levers, and see how trains go round corners. Activities run all summer from 23 July – 4 September and this year they are celebrating the return of Flying Scotsman with: • Flying Scotsman-themed family fun • Daily talks • Steam rides* and miniature railway rides* • Explosive science shows • Interactive storytelling • Live theatre • Outdoor play area Admission Free for all except * where a charge applies. Flying Scotsman will be operating on the mainline from September 2011.For further details visit www.nrm.org.uk/flyingscotsman

NATIONAL COAL MINING MUSEUM FOR ENGLAND

Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton, Wakefield, WF4 4RH 01924 848806 www.ncm.org.uk Set in a rural 17-acre site, the Museum is a unique collection of buildings, displays and activities which reveal the hidden world of mining through the centuries, telling the stories of mining methods and machinery, the miners and their families.

BUDGET

Bargain days out at around a tenner.

ANIMAL WORLD AT TOO HOOTS

14 Families Vale of York

Hirst Road, Carlton, Near Goole, DN14 9PX 01405 862854 www.toohoots.co.uk Lots of animals to see & feed, toys to play on, picnic area, tearoom & garden centre.

Summer trail with fun things to find along the way. Adults £3.45, children £2.95.

Under 3s FREE. Children’s meals £1.25.

Pop in for an hour or stay all day!

as the underground tour is often fully booked by this time. Under 5s not allowed underground. Admission to the Museum, including car parking, is FREE. Open 10.00 am - 5.00 pm Until 25 Sept The Great Store Explore!

In this special exhibition you can follow the journey of some of the Museum’s fascinating objects to see how they have been collected and cared for. There will also be opportunities to go ‘Behind the Scenes at the Museum’ with tours of the stores that are usually closed to the public 2 July, 6 & 29 Aug, 3 Sept Craft and Gift Fair A range of crafts and gift ideas at a unique venue. The fair will be open from 10am until 4pm. Free admission.

GEOCACHING

Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online. There’ll almost definitely be some hidden near you – wherever you are. www.geocaching.com

THE BEACH

Okay – so if you go for one of the big resorts you’ll be hard pressed to avoid slot machines & fast food but opt for somewhere like Sandsend or Fraisthorpe (Car parking charge of £2) you’ll be away from commercial pressures.

LOTHERTON HALL

Off Collier Lane, Aberford 0113 281 3259 Open Tuesday to Sunday, March to December.

If you just pay for parking at £3.60 then you can play outside all day. Attractions include bird garden, adventure playground, gardens & grounds, shop & tea rooms. Take a picnic and games for a really cheap day out. If you want to go in the house too, you’ll still come in under budget - Adult £3.30, child £1.20 family (up to 5 people including 1 adult and 1 child) £6.50.

BOLTON ABBEY ESTATE

01756 718009 www.boltonabbey.com Discover the beauty of Wharfedale the estate is open 9.00am - dusk every day of the year. Vehicle tickets £6. Bolton Abbey is the perfect place to do as much or as little as you like. From a brisk walk across the moor, a fun day for all the family at one of our many organised events, a little retail therapy and afternoon tea with friends or a private moment of tranquillity. Admission to Bolton Abbey £6 per vehicle (includes all passengers).

TREASURE TRAILS Brilliant way to pass half a day – or more if you take a picnic. Loads to choose from including Clifford’s Tower, Rowntree Park, York Minster, Bridlington, Pocklington, Howden, Cawood and many more. Order online for £6 or download at home for £5 www.treasuretrails.co.uk/york-and-humber.

There are a total of 742 all around the country so you can take one on holiday with you too!

OVER £20

Family of 4 prices that come in at over £20 JORVIK

York 01904 543403 www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk Open 10am-5pm throughout summer. Adult £9.25, ages 5-15 £6.25 Family £26 / £29.

CASTLE HOWARD

Under £20

Activities that will cost a family of 4 £20 or less MR MOOS

Skipsea www.mrmoos.co.uk Okay – it’s not a day trip but combine it with a trip to the beach and you’ll come under budget. Delicious icecream!

CASTLE MUSEUM

York Open daily from 9.30am- 5pm Adult - £8.50, children under 16 FREE ‘Come Back For Free Tickets’ are valid for 12 months, at no extra charge, so you can return as many times as you like for a year.

BENINGBROUGH HALL & GARDENS

Beningbrough01904 472027 www.nationaltrust.org.uk Open 11.00-5.30pm every day House closed Thurs & Fri. Children will love the wilderness play area with fort and there are many family activities to enjoy. Journey through Beningbrough and explore the Artrageous spaces, the changing faces, then discover some unexpected places. Living history and family activities, plus family garden interpretation. ‘Victorian Below Stairs’ tours on Tuesdays.

Price £19 family £21 if gift aided

HESKETH FARM PARK

CRUCKLEY ANIMAL FARM Foston-on-the Wolds, Driffield 01262 488337 www.cruckley.co.uk Cruckley is a traditional family run farm, set in the heart of rural East Yorkshire, close to the Wolds. For the last 20 years our doors have been open to the public, educating school parties and providing families with hours of fun and a countryside experience which is hard to match.

Watch the daily routines of feeding the animals and milking the cows, see newborn baby animals, fluffy chicks and ducklings. Loads to keep children entertained. Open daily 10.30 – 5pm. Adult £4.30, Child £3.95. Combine with a trip to Mr Moos if you can afford a bit more as it’s fairly close by.

HONEYSUCKLE FARM

Hornsea www.honeysucklefarm.co.uk Animlas, cart rides, farm trail, milking, playbarn, fort. Enjoy ice cream made on the farm too.

Adults £3.50, Children (Age 3-15) £3.00

MOTHER SHIPTONS CAVE & THE PETRIFYING WELL Knaresborough 01423 864600 www.mothershiptonscave.com Admission prices (including all day parking): Adult £6, Children (under 4’s free) £4, Family £17 Open 10.00am -5.30pm.

Mother Shipton’s visions became known and feared throughout England, with many of them still proving uncannily accurate today.

The Cave is near to the famous, unique, geological phenomenon

Bolton Abbey York 01653 648333 www.heskethfarmpark.co.uk www.castlehoward.co.uk Animal handling, play area, straw All summer you can jump on the landmaze, pedal go-karts, sand pit, train and go wild down at the Lakeside tractor and trailer tour, pig brushing, Adventure Playground. It features 17 egg collecting and much, much high energy, confidence building pieces of more. Open 10am – 5pm Tues – equipment, and is suitable for children of all Sun. Adults £4.75, children £5.25. ages - parents included! Boat across the Great Lake to spot the wildlife living on its shores (weather permitting) and discover the out what it was like to be a monk in Medieval parkland with illustrated adventure trail.

England. Visit Fountains Mill and try your Adult £13, Child £7.50 Family £33.50 hand at the milling machine. In the abbey you can wander from room to room and find the HARLOW CARR prison cells where the monks who broke the Harrogate www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr rules were imprisoned. There’s a water garden Family trails with a different version for each and walk along the river, church, deer park season of the year, I-Spy for the under sixes and trails to follow. There’ also a children’s where the whole family can have fun spotting timber play area with rope bridges, a timber plants, insects and sights around the garden.

Explore the log maze and see if you can reach tangle and huge bucket swing, plus an area the middle where you can climb up for a great specifically for under 5s. Adult £9.00, Child £4.85, Family £23 which includes a voluntary view over the garden. Find the Log Ness 10% donation or you can pay the standard Monster, completely made from logs. Young admission prices of Adult £8.15, Child £4.40, visitors can also enjoy the children’s play area Family £20.90 and hunt out the woodland dens. Watch out for birds & squirrels in the woodland, ducks on the lake, and discover the bird hide and bird feeding station in the woodland. There’s also an observation beehive next to the study centre. Adults £7.50 (RHS members free), Children £3.00 (6-16yrs), under 6’s free.

NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY A range of single/return/one station tickets are available from the booking office at each station on the day of your travel.

Pickering-Grosmont Day Rover

Adult £16, Child £8, Over 60 £14, Family (2 Adults & up to 4 Children) £33

Pickering-Whitby Day Rover

Adult £21, Child £10.50, Over 60 £18, Family (2 Adults & up to 4 Children) £45 Under 5’s travel FREE!

FOUNTAINS ABBEY

Ripon 01765 608888 www.fountainsabbey.org.uk Loads to fill a whole day if you wish. Highlights include The Porters Lodge where you can find

The Petrifying Well, with its waters which turn items into stone!

There’s also a museum, a mile long riverside park with scenic picnic areas, woodland walk, tea rooms and gift shop, adventure playground and trail quiz.

TEMPLE NEWSAM & TEMPLE NEWSAM FARM

Leeds 0113 264 5535 www.leeds.gov.uk/templenewsam Most weekends and during school holidays activities and demonstrations will be happening around Home Farm. During the summer the farm is open from 10.00 - 5.00 Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays & occasional events. House Adult £3.70, child £2.20, Farm: £3.30 & £2.03 Combined: £6 & £3.70.

DUNCOMBE PARK

Helmsley 01439 770213 www.duncombepark.com Gardens, parkland centre, tearoom & shop & parkland walks open 11am - 5.30pm Sunday to Thursday (closed Friday and Saturday). Gardens and parkland, adults £5.00, concessions £4.50, child under 5 years FREE, child aged 5 to 16 years £3.00

CANNON HALL FARM

Cawthorne, Barnsley www.cannonhallfarm.co.uk Cannon Hall Farm is an award winning working farm set in the rolling Pennine hills. Lambs, piglets, goats, llamas, rabbits and many more animals to pet & feed. Deli, tea rooms, huge picnic area and fabulous adventure playground that’s just seen £40,000 of improvements. A great day out. Adults & Children £4.95

THE FORBIDDEN CORNER

Middleham 01969 640638 www. theforbiddencorner.co.uk The Forbidden Corner is a great place for a family visit. Visitors follow clues to find such places as the temple of the underworld, the eye of the needle, a huge pyramid made of translucent glass as well as paths and passages that lead nowhere. Admission is only by booking. Open 12 noon – 6pm Mon – Sat & 10am – 6pm Sun & bank holidays.

Adults £10, Children £8, under 4s free.

YORKSHIRE WILDLIFE PARK

Doncaster 01302 535 057 www.yorkshirewildlifepark.net Wildlife park with animals ranging from lemurs to lions. We enjoyed the meerkats and wallabies too – and the fabulous adventure playground. Indoor soft play – and café. Or take a picnic – there’s plenty of space. Don’t miss ‘Meet the Animals’ talks and feeding time. Open 10am – 5pm daily. Adults £12, Children £9

Families Vale of York

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OVER £50

VITIES I T C A

daytripping

OVER £20 continuned...

HAREWOOD HOUSE

Leeds 0113 218 1010 www.harewood.org.

A great Yorkshire family day out with all sorts of activities for family fun. There’s plenty to do, for children of all ages and for adults. Bird Garden with over 90 species of rare and exotic birds from all over the world, including penguins, flamingos and parrots. The penguins are fed every day at 2pm. Adventure Playground: slides, swings and much, much more, with different areas for different age groups. There’s also the The Geopods: A new interactive indoor play area for children. Throughout the school holidays there are craft activities for families: making African drums and masks, or creating your own penguin badges and door hangers. Most of the activities in the House are themed around the theme of the current exhibition. Adult £13, Child £6.50 Family £40

MAGNA

Rotherham www.visitmagna.co.uk Open every day 10.00am – 5.00pm throughout the holidays.

Hands-on science centre themed around earth, air, water & fire. Over 16s £9.85, children £8.05 family £32.80 (if you book online) includes annual return form.

STUMP CROSS CAVERNS

Pateley Bridge Harrogate 01756 752780 www.stumpcrosscaverns.co.uk One of Britain’s premier show caves, located in Nidderdale on the border of the Yorkshire Dales National Park offering a range of facilities for a great family day out, including a gift shop and tea room as well as the caves themselves.

Open every day from 10am - 6pm (last admission 4.45pm). Adults £7 Children (4-13) 4.50, Under 4s free.

This category inevitably falls to the theme park experience. Here’s the low-down on prices and admission criteria this year. There are substantial savings to be made at some theme parks if you book online before you go – well worth a look.

LIGHTWATER VALLEY

North Stainley Ripon 0870 458 0040 www.lightwatervalley.co.uk Open 10am – 4.30pm. Over 1.3m in height £21.45, Under 1.3m £18.95, Under 1m FREE. Book online in advance and price is £15.95 for all over 1m.

FLAMINGO LAND

Kirby Misperton 0870 7528000 www.flamingoland.co.uk Situated off the A169 Malton to Pickering road. The park is open daily from 10am. Closing times vary according to the time of season (5pm Monday-Friday, 6pm school holidays and weekends.) Adult & child 4+ £27. Age 3 & under FREE. Family ticket £95.

THE DEEP

Hull 01482 381000 www.thedeep.co.uk The Deep is one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world and home to over 3,500 fish including sharks and rays – making it the perfect family day out. Open daily 10am – 6pm Adult £9.95, Child £7.95, Under 3s FREE. Book online & save 10%. Car park £3.

WORLD OF JAMES HERRIOT

SUNDOWN ADVENTURE LAND

Near Retford 01777 248274 www. sundownadventureland.co.uk Brilliant theme park for under -10s and loads to keep you busy all day including Story Book Village, Boozy Barrel Boat Ride & a huge sandpit. Take a picnic – there’s loads of space. Open 10 – 6 every day through summer. Adults & children £10. Under 2 free.

DRAYTON MANOR THEME PARK

Tamwoth Staffordshire. www. draytonmanor.co.uk Thrill rides for adults & teens, rides for younger children & Thomas Land, Thomas & Friends Exhibition & 4-D theatre. Also 15 acres of open plan zoo with big cats, reptiles, eagles, monkeys, owls, parrots, and the children’s farm – plus an exotic creature reserve. Over 12s £32, Age 4-11 £ 25, 2-3 £3.50 Under 2 Free. Family of 4 £98. Online prices £19.95 for grandee & under 4,

Bedale 01677 422125 www.farmattraction.co.uk Small, family-run farm attraction. New play barn. Open 10am-5. Tours 11-5.

Entry £6.95.

BEAMISH, THE NORTH OF ENGLAND OPEN AIR MUSEUM

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16 Families Vale of York

Cleethorpes 01472 211511 www.pleasure-island.co.uk Open daily 10am – 5pm. Adult & over 4s £18 Family £66, 3 and under FREE (£16 & £62 if purchased online)

THE BIG SHEEP & LITTLE COW FARM ATTRACTION

Between Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne. Tel 0191 370 4000 Thirsk 01845 524234 www.beamish.org.uk www.worldofjamesherriot.org Unique tribute to vet and author Vast living and working experience of life as it was in the North of England James Herriot. Based in his in the early 1800s & 1900s. During original surgery in Thirsk, the ‘Skeldale House’ of the Herriot the summer months, a variety of fascinating, additional events are held books - it takes visitors on a in the appropriate settings of The journey back to the 1940s. An Town, Colliery Village & Pockerley interactive gallery has been Manor. There’s no extra charge for developed for children to experience science games with a these – admission is included in the veterinary twist. It sits alongside museum entry charge. In summer open every day from 10am to 5pm, displays of artefacts from the last admission at 3pm. Allow at least 5 veterinary world past and present. You’ll need between 60 hours for a summer visit. Adults £16, child (5-16 years) £10. Children under and 90 minutes to visit. Adults 5 years FREE. Families (2+2) £46 £6.55, children £5.10.

(1+2) £32.

01759 372884

PLEASURE ISLAND

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YORK MAZE Elvington Lane 01904 607341 www.yorkmaze.co.uk Follow the clues around the giant maze, climb the viewing towers and find the talking sculptures. Plus giant children’s sand and water play area, adventure climb, jumping pillow, The UK’s largest inflatable slide, farm animals, pig racing, crazy golf, maze of illusions, water wars, café, barbecue and gift shop.

New for 2011 is the Crowmania tractor trailer ride. Join the farmer on the tractor in the battle to scare away the pesky crows. Warning you met get wet on the ride! Open daily 10.00am – 6.30pm (last admission 4.30pm). Adult: £9.50, Child (3-15) £8.50, Family £34.00 16 July – 4 Sept York Maze is open daily from 10.00am – 6.30pm (last admission 4.30pm).

23 July Naked Maze Night (7.30pm – dusk) 1 Aug Yorkshire Day 6 Aug World Sweetcorn eating championships & Festival 13 Aug Fundraising Day 20 Aug Beach party & barbeque 27 Aug Torchlight Maze (open until 10.00pm) 3 Sept Canine Capers

VITIES I T C A

festivals

Forget expensive trips down south and stay in Yorkshire to experience the country’s best family festivals.

Cawood Craft Festival…

Made for Families

The Forest of Galtres Festival THE FOREST OF GALTRES FESTIVAL is returning this August Bank Holiday weekend of 26 – 28 Aug and once again the Galtres Festival of Fun will be packed with amazing things to do for families and young people.

This year’s theme will be Forests and Fables, Trees and Trolls and all sorts of creative crafts, storytelling, film-making and fun will be based around this - not just because forests are a political hot potato right now, or because it’s the International Year of the Forest, or even because trees are so important to our eco-system, but also because so much of our growing up culture is based in woodland - from The Gruffalo to Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks to Winnie the Pooh and Robin Hood....

G-FACTOR will run on the Saturday afternoon, a talent show for young people, and the winner gets (among other things) a big stage slot at the festival on Sunday. And there’s the Funky Junk Trio workshop for 8-16 year olds.

There’ll be Bollywood dancing sessions, song writing workshops, storytelling, drama games workshops, a dazzling magic workshop. On Sunday they’ll be making another film on location at Galtres Festival

with YOU as the cast. York’s Snickleways Theatre Group, will be there - performing and getting the kids involved too - and so will Wee Folk - a children’s folk group born out of the Black Swan Folk Club. So whether it’s music, theatre, dance, circus skills or film making that you’re into, Galtres will be packed with hundreds of things to do for all the family.

Combining five stages of music and cabaret, headlined by The Charlatans, the Levellers, and British Sea Power; more than 100 fine beers and ciders all from Yorkshire, excellent local produce catering, and all set in a beautiful rural setting overlooking the Vale of York.

It’s one of the best weekends of the year, and one of the best-priced too with family weekend tickets for 2 adults & 3 children (aged 5-17) costing just £180* or family day tickets £108* (under 5s free).

Camping prices start at a mere £10 for a small tent and £20 for a bigger one. It’s organic, fair trade and green, and all proceeds go to charity. Don’t miss it!

Visit one of the best family festivals in the country and get £15* off with Families FFER – Book before July 31st.

FAMILIES O The Galtres Festival is right on our doorstep and is now even better

value for money if you buy online with our special Families discount code giving you a £15 reduction on a family weekend ticket* and £5 reduction on an adult weekend ticket.

But hurry – the offer only lasts until July 31st. Use the discount code FAMILIESVOY-831 at checkout in the online shop to get your discount. Visit www.galtresfestival.org.uk for information and to book using your discount code.

Every year the Cawood Craft Festival welcomes a huge number of families to the village and this year there are even more reasons to pay the festival a visit.

Following on from their very successful debut last year, the Cawood Caravan Park will again be running a huge range of activities for children of all ages, including zorbing, trampolines, giant jenga and fairground rides.

For the first time, there’ll be a free and regular shuttle bus which will make getting around the village from one exciting event to the next, easier than ever. Animal lovers will be able to enjoy a dog show on the school playing field and use the bus to hop off at the Cawood equine centre.

As always, the festival showcases traditional arts and artisan crafts including clothes, bags, jewellery, woodwork, gifts, glasswork, tapestry, pictures and toys. And you can have your tastebuds tickled with local cheeses, honey, icecream, meat, preserves, chutneys and naughty but nice traditional sweets.

The Scarecrow trail will be back and as usual the vicarage gardens will play host to a full weekend of music, dance and drama, including rock, pop and a covers band. So after enjoying all the activities and stalls on offer, you can sit back, relax and watch the world go by whilst you enjoy a glass or two of fizz from the champagne warehouse bar.

The festival takes place from Saturday 27th August until Monday 29th August, 10.30am - 5pm each day. Adults £4 each, accompanied children under 16 go free and the car parks are free. www.cawoodcraftfestival.co.uk

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Families Vale of York

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Camps & ActivityDays

VITIES ACTI RESIDENTIAL CAMPS WILDWISE EVENTS

01803 868269, www.wildwise.co.uk

Wonderful opportunities for children on their own (supervised of course!) or some or part of the family to spend quality time together in a creative camp atmosphere in beautiful wild nature. Learn forgotten skills such as bushcraft, woodcraft, story-telling round the campfire... and get messy! All camps are in Dartington or on Dartmoor, Devon Prices from £195.

Call 01803 868269 or check out www.wildwise.co.uk

WICKEDLY WONDERFUL 07941 231168 info@wickedlywonderful.com

Throughout July & Aug sailing, pony & multi activity residential summer camps. Monday to Friday each week. For children aged 6 to 13.

Based on the south coast near Chichester. contact 07941 231 168 or see www.wickedlywonderful.com

Looking for activities over the summer?

We have the low-down on camps and clubs.

DO IT 4 REAL, YHA

Harrogate, North Leeds, and Ilkley.

The sessions will cater for children who are new to the programme and also existing Tennis Tots keen to continue their skills over the Summer Throughout Summer period. Incorporating many of the – various dates early years learning goals, the Tennis For children aged 10-19yrs. One Tots curriculum provides a unique week camps, Sun – Fri costs around experience for children to develop £279. See website for further physically, socially and emotionally details – activities include Amazing and helps provide an environment to Adventure, Performing Arts & Go get children ready for a classroom Extreme. setting. Using a structured approach to each session children learn to listen to instructions whilst having fun and learning about numbers, SPORTS & ACTIVITIES colours, shapes and letters as well TENNIS TOTS SUMMER as developing their tennis skills.

To book a place on term time SCHOOLS or Summer School classes call 07725339257 or visit the website for more info at www.tennis-tots.co.uk Summer camps, located across England and Wales. 0800 0195 115 www.doit4real.co.uk

DAY CAMPS

TENNIS TYKES HOLIDAY CLASSES

7-17yrs. Children will definitely be entertained during the school holidays, with an exhaustive range of adventure activities and special interest programmes. Choose from 6 residential adventure camps - 7 different locations and 7 different experiences. Prices around £495.

At Kidzplay, Beech Avenue HG2 8DS

9-9.45am (2-3.5 years), 10-10.45am (23.5 years), 11-11.45am (3.5-school age) Wednesdays: 27th July, 3rd August, 10th August, 17th August 2-2.45pm (2-3.5 years), 3-3.45pm (2-3.5 years), 4-4.45pm (3.5-school age)

This Summer Tennis Tots are running classes over the holiday period at different venues across

SNO!ZONE BANISHES SCHOOL HOLIDAY BOREDOM Bookings are now being taken for the summer holidays SNO!camps, at SNO!Zone which start from 25th July.

Beginners and experienced skiers or snowboarders can spend a day or a full week on the slopes and take advantage of the expert tuition on offer. And with a new lower pricing scheme, these camps provide excellent value for money whilst providing new skills and new friends.

With a full day now priced from just £45, and a full week from £170, SNO!camps provide a great way to get kids aged between 7 & 15 active during the holidays.

As part of the cost, each child will be provided with lunch and a souvenir gift. Full day camps also include a daily activity at Xscape in the afternoon, including Lazerzone, Cosmic Golf, or a trip to the cinema.

18 Families Vale of York

HARROGATE Classes & Holiday Camps for children 3-12 yrs old

During the school holidays, rain or shine, The Little Gym camps provide children with a fabulous variety of fun, activity, learning and creativity.

Themed sessions that change every week stimulate physical and motor-skill development with games and gymnastics, all in the care of qualified and dedicated team of instructors. Camps run on Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays in the morning and afternoon, each being 3 hours long. Choose as many days as you like and the days that suit your schedule, open to members and non-members. Call 01423 701560 to reserve your place – early booking recommended.

IMAGINATIVE CHILDCARE HOLIDAY FUN CLUB

For 2,3 and 4 year olds will take STRENSALL VILLAGE HALL place at the following venues are a £6 Mondays & Tuesdays Throughout August per one hour class, 3 classes for £15.

CAMP BEAUMONT, SUMMER Tuesdays 26th July, 2nd August, 9th August, 16th August RESIDENTIAL CAMPS 01603 660333, www.campbeaumont.com

THE LITTLE GYM

Harrogate – Kidzplay 11 Aug 10-11am (2-3 yr olds), 11am12noon (3.5 & 4 yr olds) 12 Aug 1-2pm (2-3 yr olds), 2-3pm (3.5 & 4 yr olds) 25 Aug 10-11am (2-3 yr olds), 11am12noon (3.5 & 4 yr olds) 26 Aug 1-2pm (2-3 yr olds), 2-3pm (3.5 & 4 yr olds)

York – The Poppleton Centre 3 Aug

10-11am (2-3 yr olds), 11am 12noon (3.5 & 4 yr olds)

5 Aug

1-2pm (2-3 yr olds), 2-3pm (3.5 & 4 yr olds)

24 Aug 1-2pm (2-3 yr olds), 2-3pm (3.5 & 4 yr olds) 26 Aug 1-2pm (2-3 yr olds), 2-3pm (3.5 & 4 yr olds)

Elena Kale, SNO!zone business development manager, said: ‘During the holidays kids tend to spend most of their time glued to the TV screen or visiting attractions which they’ve experienced over and over again. We want to banish school holiday boredom and get kids active with our cool SNO!camps. The SNO!camps are also a perfect childcare option for working parents as each day is jam-packed with activities for everyone.’

SNO!camps can be booked by the day, multiple days or a weeklong camp. For more information visit www.snozoneuk.com or call 0871 222 5671 (option 4).

There are also other holiday classes in Chapel Allerton & Ilkley.

Harrogate at Ripley Town Hall/ Ripley Tennis Court

9.30 am –11.30 am £5.00 per hour for children aged 3 to 11 years.

Art, cooking and sports sessions all with qualified and experienced childcare practitioners. Contact the agency for a booking form. www.imaginativechildcare.com 01904 407803

INTRODUCTION TO BRAZILIAN SOCCER SCHOOLS HUNTINGTON SCHOOL 1-5 AUG 1.30-4.30 EACH DAY

The holiday course is a fun introduction to Brazilian Soccer Schools and will include ball skills and manipulation, small sided matches, kick-up competitions, penalty shoot-outs and fun games to ensure the children have a great time. The cost is £12 per day or £50 for the week. Open to children aged 6 - 9 years old.

UNIVERSITY OF YORK SPORTS CENTRE Children’s Summer Activity Camp

For 5-8 year olds at a cost of £12 for Ages 8 - 14 years. Activities include: the 2 hour class or book both days football, badminton, hockey, cricket, for £20 on:athletics, netball, rounders, table tennis & trampolining, 11 Aug & 25 Aug – 1.30-3.30pm For further information please call Caroline on 07843342662 or log onto www.tennistykes.co.uk

Week 1: 25 - 29 July

BABY SWIMMERS

Week 4 15 - 19 Aug

New Earswick pool.

Classes over summer on Tuesday mornings.

Harrogate at Beckwith Health Club

Classes over summer on Friday mornings Swimming over 5 weeks £45.00

Week 2 1 - 5 Aug Week 3 8 - 12 Aug Week 5 22 - 26 Aug

A week of mornings £35, afternoons £40, all day £70. www.york.ac.uk/univ/sports 01904 433855/6 or 433858

KINGS SUMMER CAMPS YORK & HARROGATE King’s Camps provide children’s activity camps during the school holidays. The camps take place in surroundings of the best schools and universities and here in North Yorkshire you’ll find them at York College and Harrogate Ladies’ College this summer. For children aged 3+yrs and offering over 30 different sports and activities, there’s something for everyone. Priced between £79 and £150, King’s Camps are part of the King’s Foundation, a not for profit registered charity and is also a registered day-care provider. They will accept a number of childcare vouchers. www.kingscamps.org 0845 643 5273

PERFORMING ARTS & CREATIVE STAGECOACH SUMMER HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS DISNEY’S ‘CAMP ROCK’ THE MUSICAL BRIGSHAW HIGH SCHOOL 1 - 5 AUG

Stagecoach Holiday Workshops are a week long fun packed activity!

Students begin rehearsing at 10am Monday morning, and present their finished production to family and friends at 6pm on Friday.

The workshops are open to anyone, boys and girls aged 4 – 6 (Juniors) and 7-18 (seniors) regardless of experience or ability.

A show from page to stage in just five days! with over a dozen songs, including “This Is Me,” “Can’t Back Down,” “It’s On,” and “We Rock.”

Places are limited 0113 2103 505 www.stagecoach.co.uk/ leedskippaxandselby

INDIANA JONES MEETS THE MUMMY ROSSETT SCHOOL 8 – 12 AUG

A week of devised Drama, Music & Dance for ages 8-18. 10.30 – 4.30 daily. 01423 771138 to book

BARBIE HIGH DAYS & HOLIDAYS ROSSETT SCHOOL 8 – 12 AUG

A week of devised Drama, Music & Dance for ages 4-7 years 10am – 1pm daily. 01423 771138 to book

SUMMER SHAKESPEARE UPSTAGEYOUTH THEATRE, 41 MONKGATE, YORK 25 JULY – 5 AUG

For two weeks participants will have a chance to get to grips with one of the plays of William Shakespeare. It will be directed by an experienced practitioner, and will be a really exciting chance to work intensively on one of the Bard’s plays, for performance to the general public after an intensive fortnight’s work! www.upstagecentre.org.uk/upstage

HIGH LOW, QUICK, SLOW OSGODBY VILLAGE INSTITUTE 17 Aug 10 am & 11.30am

Summer holiday sessions - theme is Pirates. Cost is £4.80 per child and £3.80 for siblings. This includes a drink, sticker and certificate. Children are invited to come along dressed as pirates. For more information, or to book a place, please contact Anne 01757 611234 or Sarah 01757 707743 or visit www.highlowquickslow.co.uk

PERFORMING ARTS SUMMER SCHOOL BUTTERFLY DANCE STUDIOS Carlisle Street, Goole 1-5 & 22 – 26 Aug

9am - 4pm every day for ages 5 -16 singing, dancing & acting.

YOUNG AT ART SUMMER CAMP LOWER GALLERY, SWAN ROAD, HARROGATE

The sessions (9.45am-11.45am & 2pm-4pm) are divided into two age groups 3-8 years old and 6-11 years old. Activities are adapted accordingly for each session. For families with more than one child, it is possible to bring a younger child to an older sibling’s session on request. The sessions are two hours in length. Drinks and light snacks will be provided and dietary requests are catered for on request.

This summer the holiday sessions start the week commencing 25th July and will continue for six weeks. The cost of this camp is £60 per child (six two hour sessions) or £110 for two children and £160 for three children. Aprons and all materials will be provided.

The holiday sessions are not suitable for children under three years old. For further information, email bookings@youngatart-harrogate.co.uk or 01423 502215 www.youngatart-harrogate.co.uk

Summer Reading Challenge 2011

www.thelittlegym.co.uk

This summer, 760,000 children will join the greatest show on Earth by joining Circus Stars at their local library!

Every year, thousands of families all over the country are involved in the UK’s biggest reading event for children in libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge, coordinated by The Reading Agency. In 2011, the Challenge is called Circus Stars.

The aim of the challenge is to get children to read six books from their library during the summer holidays.

Everyone who signs up for the Summer Reading Challenge can keep track of the books they read and receive encouragement to keep reading all summer long. It’s great fun for kids and what’s more, it doesn’t cost a penny to join.

Develop your child’s skills and confidence The Little Gym is a place where children develop their co-ordination, balance, confidence, listening and social skills whilst having heaps of FUN! The Little Gym provider of the world’s leading gymnastics based programme for children aged 4 months to 12 years is available in Harrogate!

Contact us now for more information on 01423 701560. $!ŏ %00(!ŏ 5)IJŏ ..+# 0!ŏđŏāŏ . (!ŏ .'ŏđŏ ..+# 0!ŏđŏ ăŏā ĀāąĂăŏĈĀāĆćĀŏđŏ ..+# 0!Į0$!(%00(!#5)ċ +ċ1'ŏđŏ333ċ0$!(%00(!#5)ċ +ċ1' parent/child classes

preschool/ kindergarten gymnastics

primary school gymnastics

holiday camps

birthday parties

Families Vale of York

19

what’son in July/Aug ‘11

We try to be up to date but, as always, remember to check before you set off. Check too for multiple date entries where we’ve listed under the start date. We’ve marked events that run throughout summer either daily or weekly with a 2nd July

Midsummer Night’s Dream THORP PERROW Enjoy an evening of outdoor theatre with Chapterhouse Theatre Company’s superb performance of Shakespeare’s classic.

2 July 1pm – 2.30pm

Butterfly Walk NOSTELL PRIORY Meet the Parkland Ranger at front of house for a 2 mile parkland walk. Discover the range of butterflies in the park and learn how to identify them. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 01924 863892 2 - 5 July 10.30am- 4.30pm

Fairy & Goblin Trail EAST RIDDLESDEN HALL Pick up a trail enjoy activities in the garden. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 2, 3,16,17,23,24, 30 31 July

Medieval Crafts & Pastimes Rievaulx Abbey Weekend of medieval fun and games with plenty of games and toys to try. Medieval monastic crafts and discovery – from tile making, to spinning and weaving.

3 July, 10am - 4pm

Insect Festival 2011 YORKSHIRE MUSEUM & GARDENS A host of insect-themed activities with minibeast hunts, face painting, live insect displays, CSI (Crime Scene Insects), award-winnning photographic displays and much more. More information at www.insectfestival.co.uk Adult £1, Under 16s, free 01904 687687 www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk 3 July 12pm - 2pm

Children’s Art Day LOTHERTON HALL Arts and crafts.www.leeds.gov.uk/lothertonhall 5 July 10am-12pm

Little Lotherton LOTHERTON HALL Under 5s craft sessions for parents, carers and little ones. Booking is required, contact 0113 281 3259.www.leeds.gov.uk/lothertonhall 5 July 7.30pm

Open-Air Theatre – A Midsummer Night’s Dream EAST RIDDLESDEN HALL The Lord Chamberlain’s Men present one of Shakespeare’s finest comedies. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 01535 607075 5 - 9 July

The Jungle Book ALHAMBRA THEATRE BRADFORD Acclaimed production of Kipling’s timeless story.www.bradford-theatres.co.uk 01274 432000 6 July 6 - 8pm

Wildflower walk and picnic NOSTELL PRIORY Join the Parkland Ranger for a 2 mile stroll around the parkland and learn about the wildflowers and grasses in the meadows. Followed by a picnic in the park.www.nationaltrust.org.uk 01924 863892. Tickets £6 (includes picnic)

7 July 11

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Outdoor Theatre HAREWOOD HOUSE 0113 218 1000 www.harewood.org 8 July 11

Sense and Sensibility Outdoor Theatre HAREWOOD HOUSE 0113 218 1000 www.harewood.org 9 July 9am

Small Mammals Discovery Expedition NOSTELL PRIORY Join the Yorkshire wildlife trust, and go looking for the small mammals that inhabit our meadows and hedgerows. ww.nationaltrust.org.uk 01924 863892. £3 9 July 7pm

Open Air Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream FOUNTAINS ABBEY Let The Lord Chamberlain’s Men entertain you with classic Shakespeare performed in the Abbey ruins. Take a picnic and chairs and soak up the unique atmosphere. Adult £15 Child £12.

0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events 9 & 10 July

Dance Around the World EUREKA! www.eureka.org.uk 9 &10 July

The Harrogate Children’s Festival CRESCENT GARDENS IN HARROGATE New for 2011 and part of the Harrogate International Festival which includes music & literary events throughout July. Takes place in a Papakata tent and features events for all age groups, from Musical Storytime for the Under 5’s, Eureka Science Team for 5-11 year olds & Marcus Sedgwick for the over 11’s, plus much more.

9 & 10 July

Vintage Vehicle Weekend NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY A weekend combining historic trains with a number of classic and vintage vehicles on display along the railway. www.nymr.co.uk 10 July 11am - 4pm

Open Gardens Artsfest TOLLERTON Events include a Fun Dog Show and a Fun Pet Show plus 15 gardens, falconry, model steam engines, art & embroidery displays, live music and dance acts, plus a pizza oven, wine bar, face painting & children’s corner something for everyone!

12 July

TREE HUGGING THORP PERROW Help note and record all the ancient trees at Thorp Perrow for the Woodland Trusts ‘Ancient Tree Register’ - measured in ‘hugs’, help the Curator measure potential giants. Lunch in the Tearoom included. Booking essential.

12 - 14 JULY 7.30AM–7.30 PM

The Great Yorkshire Show GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOWGROUND, HARROGATE Entertainment and fun with the opportunity to see many aspects of country life and farming.

Advanced prices: £19 for adults, £18 for concessions, £9 for children (5 - 18) and £50 for families (2 adults and 3 children).

01423 541000 www.greatyorkshireshow.com

13 July, 7.30pm, entry from 6.30pm

Theatre in the Gardens YORKSHIRE MUSEUM & GARDENS Oddsocks’ Macbeth. Take your own picnics and blankets. Refreshments on sale during the evening. Adults £16 adults, children £10.

01904 687687 www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk 16 July

The Canterbury Tales – Theatre in the Garden NUNNINGTON HALL A brand new adaptation of the medieval classic with a contemporary twist by the Pantaloons Theatre company.

01439 748283. Adult £12, child £9 16 & 17 July

Go Potty!

MURTON PARK Get crafty with clay? Meet resident potter and have a go at making your own clay pot, Viking style! As usual there will be tractor rides and trains will be running throughout the day. www.murtonpark.co.uk 01904 489966 16 &17 July

Let’s Pretend: Be a WWII Evacuee LOTHERTON HALL Dress up and explore. Find out what childhood was like in 1939. www.leeds.gov.uk/lothertonhall 17 July

Playgroup Summer Fair ST EDWARD’S CHURCH, TADCASTER ROAD, YORK St Edward’s Playgroup are holding their annual summer fair in the Scout Hut. This year is extra special for the playgroup as it is their 30th anniversary. There will be a variety of stalls and activities for all to enjoy. All funds raised go towards the playgroup.

17 July 2pm – 5pm

Copt Hewick Annual Fun Day COPT HEWICK VILLAGE HALL Fun packed afternoon raising funds for the village hall. Attractions include Formula 1 car simulator, ‘Milk the Cow’ competition, licensed real ale bar, tug of war, raffle & tombola ,bouncy castle, children’s races, cake and produce stall, face painting. Competitions for children and adults; to receive an entry form and further information email copt.hewick@hotmail.co.uk 17 July 2 – 4pm

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party NOSTELL PRIORY Crazy tea party in the garden. Take your own tea or buy one from the tea room. Games activities and mad mad things to do. Fancy dress if you like. £5.50 for food ticket. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 01924 863892 20 July 6pm - 8pm

Festival of Cycling Bike Ride FOUNTAINS ABBEY www.nationaltrust.org.uk 21July - 4 Sep

Enchanted Summer Wood Trail THORP PERROW Running for the whole of the summer holidays, solve the puzzle and claim your prize.

23 July – 4 Sept

Family Trails NUNNINGTON HALL Discover the house and garden with a great family trail of clues to discover.

Information was correct as we went to press but be sure to check before you make plans as things may have changed.

20 Families Vale of York

23 July 7:30pm

27 July 11am – 2pm

Huntington’s got talent

Teddy Bears Picnic

HUNTINGTON MEMORIAL HALL The audience will choose the winners. Adults £4 children £2. For tickets & details of how to enter 07776 305 510 07790 976 561

DALBY FOREST VISITOR CENTRE If you go down to the woods today – take along a teddy and a picnic to join in with the family fun, games and crafts. £3.00 per person.

01751 472771 www.forestry.gov.uk/dalbyforest

23 July – 4 September

Wild Wild West EUREKA! Summer-long activities www.eureka.org.uk 23 July - 31 Aug 11am - 4pm, daily

Knights, Castles and Chivalry CASTLE MUSEUM Enjoy outdoor fun activities with a medieval theme & discover more about York’s medieval castle, which stood on the site where the museum stands today.www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk 23 July - 4 Sept 10.30 – 4.30

Blackbeard Pirate Challenge DIG at ST SAVIOUR’S CHURCH, ST. YORK The DIG Pirate Challenge enters the Georgian era, the Golden Age of piracy, when rogues like Blackbeard menaced shipping around the Caribbean! Do you have the skills to succeed as a pirate, and perhaps to win a family ticket to Lightwater Valley? Suitable for all.

23 July – 5 Sept 11am – 4.30pm

Summer Children’s Trail TREASURER’S HOUSE Spend time in the garden playing traditional garden games or follow the free children’s trail around the house. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 23 July – 4 Sept

Time Travellers Go Medieval CLIFFORDS TOWER How would you have fared 500 years ago? Take a trip back to medieval times to find out, with plenty of fun hands-on activities and games.

23, 24, 30, 31July & 6,7,13,14,20,21,27, 29 Aug

Gruesome Weekend & Time Travellers Go….Gruesome WHITBY ABBEY Discover the head chopping antics of King Henry VIII with light hearted performances of, “Top of the Chops!”. Take on a gruesome trail around the abbey, Plus Time Traveller activities each day.

23, 24, 30, 31July & 6,7,13,14,20,21,27, 29 Aug

Swashbuckling Pirates &Time Travellers Go Pirate Academy SCARBOROUGH CASTLE See the Pirates go head to head in a clash of cutlasses and meet the real lady Pirate, Mary Read. Plenty of hands on activities for children throughout the day.

23 July - 4 Sept 11am - 4pm

School Holiday Fun –Butterflies & Moths FOUNTAINS ABBEY Free trail and drop in self-led activities in Swanley Grange. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 25 July 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 Aug 11am-3pm

Messy Mondays BOLTON ABBEY ESTATE Drop in art and craft workshops. www.boltonabbey.com 25, 26 July, 1,2,8,9,15,16,22,23 Aug 1-3pm

Summer Artrageous!

BENINGBROUGH HALL& GARDENS Art and Craft activities for the whole family. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

27 July

Pinocchio Family Fun 12noon - 4pm Open Air Theatre – Pinocchio 6.30pm FOUNTAINS ABBEY Spend the afternoon Face-painting, storytelling, playing games and following a children’s trail based on the story of Pinocchio.

In the evening take a picnic for an evening of outdoor theatre and fun with Heartbreak Productions. Adult £12 Child £10 0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events 27 July

Nightingale Club LOTHERTON HALL Craft activities relating to the Native Americans of the Plains exhibition. Booking required.

Suitable for ages 11 to 17. www.leeds.gov.uk/lothertonhall 27 July 3,10,17,24 & 31 Aug 11am-3pm

Wild Wednesdays BOLTON ABBEY ESTATE Drop in outdoor explorer activities. www.boltonabbey.com 28 July 4, 8, 25 Aug 10am - 12pm

Storytelling and Crafts LOTHERTON HALL Take part in craft activities. www.leeds.gov.uk/lothertonhall 29 July - 3 Sept

J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan YORK THEATRE ROYAL Join Wendy, John and Michael Darling as they re-count their wonderful, action packed adventures in Neverland. See page 8 for a chance to win family tickets.

29 July, 5, 12, 19 & 26 Aug 11am-3pm

Fun Fridays BOLTON ABBEY ESTATE Family day out with large outdoor games www.boltonabbey.com 29 July 5,12,19,26 Aug , 2 Sept 1pm to 3pm

Craftiness LOTHERTON HALL Drop-in craft activities relating to different themes. www.leeds.gov.uk/lothertonhall

29 July, 3, 9 Aug & 1 Sept 11am, 1pm & 3pm

Children’s Storytelling Tours THORP PERROW Join the magical storyteller for a strange adventure through the woodland!!!

Suitable for all ages. 30 July 7. 30pm 30 July 7.30pm

Shakespeare on the Lawn -Twelfth Night NOSTELL PRIORY Another chance to picnic on the vista and see Illyria’s production of the Bard’s masterpiece. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 01924 863892 30 July 5pm

Snow White BOLTON ABBEY ESTATE Performed near the Cavendish Pavilion riverside

by Chapter House Open Air Theatre Company. Go along in fancy dress and join in with the fairytale parade during the show. www.boltonabbey.com 30 & 31 July 11am - 5pm

Get Medieval FOUNTAINS ABBEY Join costumed re-enactors around their medieval encampment. Watch and take part in activities and demonstrations based on 15th century life. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 31 July 6pm – 10.30pm

Twilight stroll for Marie Curie Nurses CASTLE HOWARD Sponsored 10k walk to help continue providing care for terminally ill patients in the area.

01904 436625 or e-mail cheryl.barrett@mariecurie.org.uk for more info 31 July

Yorkshire Day LOTHERTON HALL Celebrations and rosette-making. www.leeds.gov.uk/lothertonhall 1 August 2:00pm

Yorkshire Olympics NOSTELL PRIORY www.nationaltrust.org.uk 01924 863892 1 Aug 10am - 3pm

Hungate Open Day DIG HUNGATE Celebrate Yorkshire Day and delve into Yorkshire’s history with one of the last ever chances to visit the Hungate Dig. Recent finds will be on show, with experts on hand to interpret them. FREE 1 Aug 10.30am

Yorkshire Day EAST RIDDLESDEN HALL Celebrate all things Yorkshire. Flat caps & wellies at the ready. Yorkshire inspired activities, food and shopping. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

indoor play for a rainy day Crazy Tykes

Thorp Arch Trading Est, Thorp Arch, Wetherby 01937 541007 www.crazytykes.co.uk

Creepy Crawlies Adventure Playsite

Wigginton Road, York 01904 692221 www.creepy-crawlies.co.uk The Monkey Maze Link House, Ninelands Lane, Garforth, Leeds 0113 287 2766 Kidzplay, Beech Avenue, Harrogate 01423 816111 www.kidzplay.co.uk Treasure Island Unit 7 Becklands Close, Bar Lane, Roecliffe, Boroughbridge 01423 325575 www.treasure-island-playcentre.com

Academy Chikdcare

The Academy, Oakdale Place, Harrogate 01423 524052 www.theacademy.co.uk Wacky Warehouse Riverside Farm, Shipton Road, Skelton, York 01904 642525 Wacky Warehouse Squinting Cat, Lund House Green, Pannal Ash, Harrogate, 01423 565650 Wacky Warehouse Flying Legends, Clifton Moor Retail Park, York, 01904 693239

Winkies

Provincial Works (off The Avenue) Starbeck, Harrogate. 01423 886886 www.winkies.co.uk

The Fun Run

Unit 4a, The Grange, Rawcliffe Road, Goole. 01405 780 700 www.thefunrunltd.co.uk

what’son in July/Aug ‘11 1 Aug 11am

Yorkshire Day BENINGBROUGH HALL& GARDENS Curd Tart and Fat Rascals, Yorkshire Tea and a Yorkshire Trail! Adult £8.80, Child £4.40, Family £21 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 2 & 3 Aug

Hamlet NEWBY HALL

By Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

01423 322583 www.newbyhall.com 2 Aug - 25 Aug 11am –1pm & 2pm – 4pm *

Statues YORK ART GALLERY Be inspired by the art on display in the gallery’s major exhibition of the work of William Etty at these drop-in workshops for the whole family Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Create a ‘famous York faces’ statues and make your own little stand-up ‘statue’ out of card to take home. These will be on display at the Wild Wednesday event in York Museum Gardens on Wednesday 31 August (11am – 3pm). Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. A £1.00 charge per participant 01904 687687 www.yorkartgallery.org.uk 3 Aug

Rural Games MURTON PARK Fun day of traditional rural jollity: play at skittles, hopscotch, rat-throwing (the toy kind!) and other timeless rural games. www.murtonpark.co.uk 01904 489966 3 Aug

Teddy Bears Picnic HOTEL DU VIN, HARROGATE Party Crew hosts will be at Hotel Du Vin to provide teddy bear making, face painting and balloon modelling. Take your children along and relax whilst the kids are entertained for 2 hours.

Book in advance! 01423 856800 4 Aug 11am

Boredom Busting - Beach Party NOSTELL PRIORY Enjoy a day at the beach! ww.nationaltrust.org.uk 01924 863892 4 & 18 AUG 10AM – 3PM

BUSHCRAFT DAY CAMP DALBY FOREST VISITOR CENTRE Make use of the woodland surroundings to set up camp and learn how to survive in the wild. Aimed at ages 10 - 14. Booking required, price £10.

01751 472771 www.forestry.gov.uk/dalbyforest 5 August, 7pm, entry from 6pm

Cranford YORKSHIRE MUSEUM & GARDENS Brush off your bustle and fasten your bonnets as Chapterhouse Theatre Company invite you to the village of Cranford where a mysterious new arrival is setting hearts aflutter.

01904 687687 www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk 6 Aug 6pm

Snow White THORP PERROW Chapterhouse Theatre Company return to perform this classic fairytale. An outdoor theatre event that is sure to delight children of all ages. Bookings 01677 425323 7 Aug

Family Cycling Event CASTLE HOWARD Try out a range of different bikes and pedal powered machines! Something for everyone, toddler’s bikes, pedal powered scalextric, mega bikes (8 seaters) and many more! www.castlehoward.co.uk

22 Families Vale of York

8 Aug 1- 4pm

Family Activity Day DALBY FOREST VISITOR CENTRE Try your hand at archery and test your head for heights the 40ft log climb. Age 8+ £25.00 per person or £85.00 per family (2 adults & 2 children).

01751 472771 www.forestry.gov.uk/dalbyforest 10-14 AUG

Batman Live SHEFFIELD ARENA A unique and innovative theatrical experience that combines acrobatics, daredevil stunt work, illusions, and cutting-edge design to bring the adventures of Batman and Robin to life on stage for the first time in the characters’ history.

10 & 17 Aug

Teddy Bears Picnic MURTON PARK Take your favourite teddy, visit the Three Bears’ house to hear the story of Goldilocks, and take part in a bear hunt. www.murtonpark.co.uk 01904 489966 12 – 21 Aug

FEVA KNARESBOROUGH Ten-day festival celebrating entertainment & visual arts. Packed schedule of music, dance, street entertainment, spoken word performances, foodie feasts and art exhibitions. Programme will include favourites such as the Lions Beer Festival and Picnic in the Park alongside many new events.

Be sure to look for Amazing Faces face painting when you go. www.feva.info 13 August 7pm - 9.30pm

Open Air Theatre - Sense & Sensibility FOUNTAINS ABBEY Chapterhouse bring to life the Jane Austen classic in the romantic Abbey ruins. Bring a picnic, sit back, relax and be entertained. Adult £15, Child £12 0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events 14 Aug 11am

Summer Fun Day EAST RIDDLESDEN HALL www.nationaltrust.org.uk 14 Aug

York 100 Charity Bike ride YORK UNIVERSITY, SPORTS CENTRE Cycle 100 miles or 100K to raise money for Action Medical Research Registration fee £28.00, fundraising target: £30.00. www.action.org.uk/york_100 14 Aug

Cranford HELMSLEY CASTLE Brush off your bustle and fasten your bonnets as Chapterhouse Theatre Company invite you to the sleepy village of Cranford.01439 770442 17th Aug 11am - 4pm

Children’s Woodland/Survival Skills THORP PERROW Learn how to build shelters from materials found in the wood, light fires and learn how to survive in the great outdoors. Bookings 01677 425323 Suitable for ages 8 and above.

19 Aug 5.30pm - 7pm

Snow White Children’s Outdoor Theatre HAREWOOD HOUSE Pluck up all your courage this summer to go along and see Chapterhouse Theatre Company venture into the deepest, darkest depths of the forest. 0113 218 1000 www.harewood.org 20 Aug 7:30pm

Theatre on the Lawn - Pirates of Penzance NOSTELL PRIORY Theatrical evening with Illyria. Booking Essential. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 01924 863892

24 Aug 11am - 4pm

Children’s Raft Building Day THORP PERROW Once built, try out your raft by sailing it from one side of the lake to the other!! Bookings : 01677 425323. Suitable for ages 8 and above.

24,25,26,27,28,29 August 2011*

Waybuloo Piplings Summer Tour NOSTELL PRIORY Explore a Pipling pod, specially delivered from Nara www.nationaltrust.org.uk 01924 863892 26 – 28 Aug

The Forest Of Galtres Festival See our feature on P 17 and use your discount code online when booking.

27, 28, 29 Aug

Bank Holiday Vegetable Fun BENINGBROUGH HALL& GARDENS With Ugly Vegetable competition, vegetable catwalk and more! Adult £8.80, Child £4.40, Family £21 www.nationaltrust.org.uk 27 – 29 Aug

Cawood Craft Festival See feature on P17 28 & 29 Aug

A Medieval Bank Holiday Event CASTLE HOWARD Children’s Weekend with a medieval theme.

Horse stunt rider performance, jousting, falconry, archery and the little ones can be knights or princesses for a day! www.castlehoward.co.uk 28 & 29 Aug 10am - 5pm

Bank Holiday Family Fun Weekend HAREWOOD HOUSE Summer weekend of family fun activities.

0113 218 1000 www.harewood.org 28-29 AUG 10AM – 5PM

Bank Holiday Craft Fair DUNCOMBE PARK Contact Yorkshire Fairs on 01423 545377 www.yorkshirefairs.co.uk www.duncombepark.com 28 & 29 Aug 11am - 4pm

PIRATE’S DAY THORP PERROW Suitable for all ages.

28 & 29 Aug

Bank Holiday Special DVLR MURTON PARK Passenger trips on the Derwent Valley Light Railway, as well as tractor rides. With cowboys taking over the fort and Vikings in the village there won’t be a dull moment. www.murtonpark.co.uk 01904 489966 29 Aug

Ripley Falconry Experience RIPLEY CASTLE www.ripleycastle.co.uk 31 Aug 2pm-4pm

Teddy Bears’ Picnic FOUNTAINS ABBEY Take your Teddy Bear for a picnic and storytelling for 4-9 year olds. £1.50 per child.

Booking essential, tel: 01765 643166. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 3rd Sept

CANTERBURY TALES THORP PERROW Hilarious family entertainment. Take a chair and a picnic. Gates open at 6.00pm.

Bookings : 01677 425323

Grandparents Do They Have Rights?

by Carmelita Ardren, head of Raworths’ family law unit, Harrogate

An old Chinese proverb states that “The elders are the precious gem in the centre of the household”. Is this still relevant in most modern households where generations of families are often living not just in different homes but in different towns and different areas of the country? The proverb, however, is closer to the truth than you may think. A recent study has shown that one in three working mothers rely upon grandparents for childcare and one in four of all working families. Grandparents’ childcare contribution has been estimated by Age Concern to be worth £3.9 billion each year. So it seems bizarre that, despite grandparents having a high involvement in the upbringing of their grandchildren, in the event of parental separation they have no automatic legal rights.

In March this year, an interim report of the Family Justice Review was published which included consideration of the legal status of grandparents and how it might be legally reinforced. Research suggests that, after separation, 2.5 million grandparents don’t see their grandchildren more than once a month and half of grandparents lose touch with their grandchildren altogether. It seems a vital resource has been lost in supporting children through separation and divorce, when grandparents could provide the stability and continuity needed during a time of great uncertainty and upset.

The report recommends that the importance of grandparents should be reinforced by a ‘Parenting Agreement’. This is a voluntary document drawn up between the parents upon separation to help families focus on the children and the time that should be spent with important people in the children’s lives, including their grandparents. Such agreements would then be the foundation for future contact, and if this then breaks down they can be used as evidence in later Court Proceedings.

Whilst specifically raising the issue of time with grandparents, the proposals stop short of giving them an automatic right to make an application to the Court for an order to see their grandchildren. This still means that unless a voluntary agreement can be reached between the parents about grandparents’ involvement it can still be extremely expensive for grandparents to secure a Contact Order to see their grandchildren; if they are surviving on a pension the cost of taking Court Proceedings could be prohibitive. The proposals are still in consultation but they look likely to be approved. So what has changed?

The answer is not a great deal. The government shift towards Family Mediation is a positive step, particularly with the emphasis on time being spent with the extended family, but it must be remembered that mediation is a voluntary process and if parents have entrenched views about grandparents’ contact, Court remains the last resort.

We know that the ongoing involvement of grandparents in children’s lives can help cushion the impact of divorce or separation and the proposals recommended in the recent report give greater recognition of this.

Critics say that the recommendations have not gone far enough and the prerequisite for a grandparent to demonstrate a ‘genuine interest’ in the child’s welfare before Carmelita Ardren is permission to apply for a contact order is a partner, head of granted should be removed. However, the Raworths’ family law structure to enable a shift in the mindset of unit, Harrogate and separating parents is in place and should be a member of the welcomed.

Law Society Family Law Panel.

beta mum

I’m thinking of taking up the xylophone. On my youngest son’s ribs. At seven, he’s going through a skinny phase.

I’m very sensitive about weight issues so I wouldn’t normally say anything, but the other day he stripped off and the words came tumbling out: ‘Son, you really need to put on some weight.’

‘Yeah mum, but how?’ he replied with a shrug, ‘I can’t just swallow a brick.’

Fair point.

The biggest boy – my eldest stepson - hasn’t an ounce on him either. He came to stay for a few days recently, because his mother was tearing her hair out over his behaviour. The usual teenage stuff – girls and booze and exams.... tough stuff.

He lives 300 miles away from us, along with his two brothers, and while they come to stay regularly, the brunt of bringing them up falls squarely on his mum and stepdad.

As far as we’re concerned, we don’t get to see them enough, so when she called and said she was putting him on a train, we were thrilled.

We tried to work out what face to wear – I plumped for a contortion of delight and disapproval, with a pinch of disciplinarian thrown in. I’m sure it wasn’t pretty.

The next morning, he was hauled out of bed, handed some borrowed clothes and packed off to work with his father, still blinking and yawning.

My boyfriend’s a chef so there was no chance of slacking. His firstborn fetched, carried, washed, wiped, cleared, put away, chopped and prepped – all in the searing heat of a commercial kitchen on a hot summer’s day.

Occasionally, my stepson borrows my herbal sleeping pills. I don’t think it was an issue this time.

He was fantastic. He worked incredibly hard and endeared himself to everyone in the kitchen.

I called in to check on him and he politely made sure I knew everyone there.

At home he said please and thankyou for everything, went to bed at a reasonable hour and asked permission every time he used the phone. When he went back, he called and wrote lovely thankyou messages on our facebook walls.

The point is, as parents we sometimes repeat ourselves endlessly, to no discernable effect.

We find ourselves uttering the same words as our own mothers: ‘How many times have I told you not to...?’ ‘Can you please....?’ ‘Who has .....AGAIN?!’

Sometimes the kids go even further and tip you right over the edge, leaving you dreaming of getting a disease just serious enough for a few weeks’ gentle hospitalisation.

Sometimes I’d be willing to put up with quite a lot of treatment if it meant I got an unbroken spell of peace and quiet.

Not everyone can pack their troublesome teens off to a second home when it all gets too much but you can reassure yourself that if you did, they’d probably be just the same as my stepson. Hang on in there. You’re doing a good job, they are listening and it is worth it.

Another year and he’ll be leaving school and facing new adventures – his first steps into the adult world.

But whatever choices he makes, fate will also take a hand.

I’ve spent three years working on my business and have just taken the difficult decision to close my precious shop. I’ve juggled business meetings with homework duty. I’ve read bedtime stories and come down and put in another four hours on the laptop. I’ve organised, painted, swept, dusted and scrubbed that shop.

I’ve dreamed about what it could be and I’ve wept when it wasn’t. I’ve made great friends with customers and I’ve cried at the hurtful things people have said.

It’s incredibly hard to put an end to a dream. I’ll carry on with the personal styling and wardrobe detox aspects of the business and who knows, when the recession is over, maybe I’ll revisit it. Until then I’ll be looking for new adventures. Watch this space.

Families Vale of York

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24 Families Vale of York