Families North Yorkshire - MA24 Print

Welcome

Is there a touch of spring in the air? If not quite yet, then definitely very soon. It’s time to come out of hibernation and re-embrace the great outdoors as nature comes back to live.

To help you do that, we have some great nature activities you can use to motivate your kids to enjoy some lovely family walks! And make sure you get out your calendar, go through our What’s On section and make a plan to enjoy some of the great events and activities going on locally.

Easter is just round the corner so as well as planning egg hunts,don’t forget to cut out and keep our Easter craft so you can get have an activity for the kids to do as they get ready for the Easter bunny’s visit!

We also have some fabulous articles about education in this issue,including introducing your child to Forest School skills. Discover more about Auditory Processing Disorder and find out how to easily support your child’s learning outside of the traditional homework routine.

Finally, in this issue, we have Sea Monkeys prize bundles to giveaway! Apply for six inside. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

Carla xxx

‘Urgent action required’ as reading enjoyment falls

Children’s enjoyment of reading has fallen to a twenty year low, a national survey has revealed.

More than half of children and young people do not enjoy reading in their free time, according to a survey from the National Literacy Trust (NLT). The charity said reading enjoyment was lowest among disadvantaged children and warned that the research should serve as a ‘wake-up call.’

The charity warned: ‘Declining reading enjoyment across a growing number of children and young people must act as a wake-up call for all who support children and young people’s reading for pleasure and the many benefits it can bring.’

Researchers say that over half of children ages 8 to 18 (56.6 percent) surveyed this year do not enjoy reading in their spare time.

More info: www.bit.ly/LiteracyTrust

Book’s some of our North Yorkshire children are enjoying

Millie - 3

Finn - 2

Room on the broom (Julia Donaldson), stick man (Julia Donaldson), The lion inside (Rachel Bright) & Look inside your body, from Usborne (Louie Stowell).

The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Judith Kerr) & any Julia Donaldson books.

Maddison - 5

Any type of Princess book.

Jenson - 7

Books by Marcus Rashford, The 13 Storey Treehouse series (Andy Griffiths) & The Harry Potter series (J.K Rowling).

George - 8

The Percy Jackson series (or any by Rick Riordan), Captain underpants (Dav Pilkey), Paddington (Michael Bond), Horrible Histories (Terry Deary), Dog man (Dav Pilkey) & Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney).

Emily - 8

Mirabelle books (Harriet Muncaster) and Penny Dreadful books (Joanna Nadin).

Lucy - 8

Isadora Moon books (Harriet Muncaster) and anything by Tom Fletcher.

Tilly - 8

Daisy and the trouble with collection (Kes Gray) & The Lizzie and Lucky series (Megan Rix)

Harper - 10

Murder most unladylike series by Robin Stevens

Sophie - 11

Anything by Tom Gates, Dork Diaries series (Rachel Renee Russell), How to train your dragon (Cressida Cowell) & The wizards of Once (Cressida Cowell).

Lucas - 12

Wolf Brother (Michelle Paver) & The Harry Potter series (J.K Rowling).

York pilots new book to highlight neurodiversity and inclusion and show that different isn’t worse.

York author Ian Donaghy has written a new book to follow his previous successful title Dear Dementia (in every UK library), The Missing Peace (that was adapted to be a play at Joseph Rowntree Theatre featuring Mark Addy) and A Pocketful of Kindness all of which have been read all over the world.

‘Never Stop Drawing’ is an uplifting story about a boy called Albie who is late to speak, has difficulty reading, can’t spell, is dyslexic and who struggles to focus on things with ADHD as his mind races at 100mph.

It explores the world through a child’s eyes and highlights the strategies and tricks he uses throughout school to go unnoticed and invisible.

The book examines how Albie doesn’t fit school and school doesn’t fit him and how he needs special kind people in his life to help him do the same things differently.

This is his cradle to the grave story of overcoming the list of things ‘wrong’ with him to show people the things that are so uniquely right about him.

Albie’s unique view of the world highlights how different everybody is in their own way and that kindness, friendship and support can change lives forever.

Never Stop Drawing is available in 2 versions - Fully illustrated by Alfie Joey or completely unillustrated ‘DIY:Draw it Yourself’ so you can create a book that is unique to you.

Maddison sharing a princess book

Emily is busy reading Mirabelle while her sister Lucy enjoys Isadora Moon.

Girls and boys at The Mount Pre School begin their ‘Countdown to Reception’.

It’s an exciting time for The Mount as they prepare for their new co-education Reception class. Starting “Big” school doesn’t have to be daunting! To ease anxious jitters children joining Reception, have been invited to a series of ‘Countdown to Reception’ events – fun-filled sessions introducing pre-schoolers to the school’s vibrant “Explore, Discover, Create” curriculum.

Rachel Capper, Head of the Junior School explains, ‘The sessions involve more than just viewing a classroom or meeting a teacher, they introduce children to the activities and fun the EDC curriculum brings. We take the children to explore our forest school, conduct science experiments and unleash their creativity. We want to spark their curiosity and show them Reception is where the fun starts!’

With confident smiles and eager anticipation, these future Mount pupils are ready to embark on their exciting educational journey.

To find out more about joining the new co-ed Reception class contact admissions@mountschoolyork.co.uk / 01904 232323

Total Sports School Holiday Activities.

Looking for an egg-citing way to keep your kids entertained this Easter? Look no further! Total Sports Easter camps are the perfect blend of fun and learning, offering a wide range of activities guaranteed to delight children of all ages and interests. From egg hunts to arts and crafts, amazingly fun games, sports and outdoor adventures, Total Sports camps provide a safe and stimulating environment for kids to make new friends and create unforgettable memories. With experienced staff, dedicated to ensuring every child has a blast, you can relax knowing your little ones are in good hands. Join us for an egg-ceptional Easter experience they’ll be talking about for years to come!

With 50 activities every week and 2 choices every hour, it’s no wonder Total Sports are popular.

Several venues also have dedicated Football Camps and swimming is available where a pool is available.

Government Vouchers accepted.

Info and booking at www.totalsportslimited.co.uk

Summer in the Alps

The Alps may be an obvious destination for the ski season, but how about a summer visit? Summer offers enough green (the mountains) and blue (the sky) to set you up for the whole yearand plenty of fresh air to fill your families’ lungs.

With reasonably priced flights from London airports to Geneva then a short drive to Morzine, there is a warm welcome waiting from Paul and Francesca Eyre at Chilly Powder. With the main chalet - Au Coin du Feu - plus two chalets next door, you can organise your own meals, or join the party at ‘Au Coin du Feu’ for dinners that you usually only dream of. Family friendly early evening meals for the children and a daytime crèche for little ones not quite as active as you, with drinks in the bar for the grown ups – or in the Jacuzzi on the terrace – Paul and Francesca will make you wish that this was home!

For more about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter visit www.chillypowder.com and more about summer in Morzine visit https:// www.morzine-avoriaz. com/activites-de-pleinair-ete.html

Learning Forest School skills

By Jemma Z Smith

‘How was school today?’ a parent asked their child. ‘It was amazing: we all worked together to build a den; we played hide and seek in the woods and toasted marshmallows on a real fire!’ the child enthusiastically responded.

This was a conversation I overheard in the playground after my first Forest School session with my Year 3 class. No mention of the new method of addition that we had worked so hard on using manipulatives; no rendition of the funny poem that we had been reading in English that had us all laughing as we acted out the different verses.

Was I disappointed? Not one bit.

Learning outside the box

My class was the first class at the school to ‘do Forest School’ and they (and the adults) loved every minute of the afternoon.

Some people might question ‘losing’ an afternoon’s learning within a packed, timetabled curriculum. I’d respond that rather than loss, the experience was in fact very beneficial to helping these children, preparing them in general for life beyond education.

Teamwork, communication skills, risk analysis, trying things outside your comfort zone, resilience and independence are just a few things that my class of 7 and 8-year-olds learned that afternoon and they continued to learn and make progress in these areas throughout their time at primary school.

Trips and residential opportunities

These are a highlight of a child’s school life, allowing them to empathise with how other people live or lived, giving them a change of scenery and a change of adult teachers. Not all children learn best when sat at a table; being interactive and hands-on can have so much more impact on long-term memory and knowledge retention.

When Year 6 reduce us all to tears at their leaving assembly every July, it is the moment when someone fell out of the canoe (and got back in safely), when someone successfully abseiled or when the teacher got covered in mud (true story) at the end of the obstacle race that they want to share. These experiences teach children so much more than academic skills: they teach them life skills.

In today’s fast-paced, busy and tech-driven world, it can be difficult to take a step back and embrace what nature has to offer but it is increasingly important to do so for everyone’s well-being.

New experiences

For some children, Forest School and learning outside the classroom can seem scary and unfamiliar. They may not have as much access to the outdoor environment as previous generations and this needs to be handled sensitively. Such children can still learn the skills and also enjoy everything that the environment has to offer, when led by adults who are aware of and respond to how they are feeling in a way that helps them get the most out of the opportunity.

Making it work

Not every school has access to a forest or woodland area but they can still embrace the ethos of Forest School and it can be adapted in so many ways. You don’t have to have a real fire to sing songs in the round and you can be creative in an art or music lesson and take it outside!

Jemma Z Smith is Director of The Education Hotel. For further advice, visit www.educationhotel.co.uk

Finding your own outdoor learning

Your child’s school may not have Forest School opportunities on offer to all children but there are lots of private providers out there who run enriching after school and holiday clubs. You may even find them advertising in this magazine! Alternatively, a quick search online will usually yield a list of providers in your local area.

Even simple activities, like taking a walk in your local park, can offer outdoor learning opportunities: your kids can take note of the different leaves on the trees and research them when you get home or using an app on an adult’s phone. They can take photos of the different colours of nature at different times of year, look out for animal footprints and play ‘hide and seek’ with their friends and family - I bet the children are much better at this than the adults!

Being outdoors offers so much learning potential and like all good learning opportunities, when a child is having so much fun that they don’t realise they are learning, all the better.

Packaging learning

By Zuzu Jordan

Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote ‘tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember; involve me and I learn’ captures the essence behind true learning.

This may be why encouraging your own child to WANT to sit down to learn can feel like an impossible task at times, with parents often questioning how their child is able to sit, concentrate and learn at school.

Covid lockdowns thrust homeschooling onto families. Parents had to take on the role of teachers, experiencing the complexities surrounding learning, while children faced the need to respond differently to their parents as teachers.

Being in a classroom in a school setting, rather than at home, helps children grasp that a different set of rules apply. In fact, in schools, they conform simply because the majority do - children are excellent at policing each other!

There has been a rise in the number of families who choose to homeschool, many of whom have developed effective strategies to create a learning environment at home. Whether you want to homeschool, support homework or just nurture a love for learning, a deep dive into the working mind of a child can offer ways to package learning.

Understanding that learning is something that occurs through experiences or acquiring knowledge and skills, we can usefully engineer situations and scenarios to facilitate this. These techniques can package learning as inviting and exciting.

Use toys. This applies for children of all ages. For example, Nerf guns are great at firing at answers to times table questions or spelling. Scrabble tiles are also fantastic for practising spelling. Foam letters or numbers in the bath are fun for both spelling and maths questions.

Go into the wild. There’s so much learning to be done in the great outdoors: making rain gauges, following maps, gardening, studying wildlife and classification.

Question of the week. To encourage independent thinking, at the start of the week pose a question which doesn’t have an obvious answer. For example: ‘Who built the strongest buildings - Romans or Saxons?’ Developing curiosity in children is key to packaging learning.

Computer games. The settings and characters in welldeveloped computer games are designed to entice children. This can be good for enhancing creative writing skills.

Emailing experts. Consider setting your child up with an email address so that they can email an ‘expert” in a chosen topic to find out more. For example, if they are learning about volcanoes, they could email a vocanologist.

Book and movie comparison. Turn a movie session into a learning opportunity. Watch the film and then read the book or vice versa. Compare their similarities and differences.

Reading dogs. There’s a lot of research that suggests that children’s reading improves if they read to pets. It’s as simple as that!

Treasure hunts. Children love finding things. Plant words, numbers, sentences, objects and questions around the house and send children to find them.

Board games. A lot of learning can come out of playing board games. Create your own board game linked to your chosen topic.

Current issues - whether environmental, social or political. Find something that your child is passionate about. Write letters, research, devise fundraising events.

Zuzu Jordan is a Mastery for Maths specialist who has taught primary aged children for sixteen years and is interested in early years and home learning. For free homework and home learning resources, find the Facebook page Edumateuk.

The benefits of Lego

By Head of Chapter House and Queen’s Kindergarten, Karen Kilkenny.

There are many reasons to get children involved in Lego. It improves hand-to-eye coordination, fine motor skills and spatial awareness. Whilst following instructions, children recognise different shapes and colours and figure out where each piece fits within an overall structure. The lengthy building process of more complex structures improves patience and focus as the reward of completion is not instantaneous. In today’s environment of quick answers and on demand services, these moments of slowing down are so important in developing perseverance for learning among younger students.

This is why we host a weekly Lego Club where challenges are created to stimulate creativity, experimentation and roleplaying. Our students become miniature designers, creating and building whilst developing their problem solving and communication skills as they discuss their ideas with the group and solve the puzzles individually or as a team. They have so much fun too, which makes it great for wellbeing.

Providing a calming moment with a high-dexterity task promotes mindfulness, relaxation, and positive ways of dealing with frustration. As they tackle mistakes and achieve what they set out to, their self-confidence and independence grows. www.qe.org.

Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

By Usha Patel

Those with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) have normal hearing but constantly mishear what is said. Whilst APD is neurological in nature and may be inherited or stem from developmental problems, research shows that early childhood ear infections can be a significant contributory factor.

Children develop critical language skills between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, when the brain learns to map out and store sounds for language processing. When a child starts reacting to words with a smile or starts speaking their first words, they are effectively associating these sounds with meanings.

If a child suffers from constant middle ear infections during this critical period, the ability to process language and speech can be affected. Sounds which normally become imprinted in the brain’s memory and language centres are not properly established. The mishearing happens because the brain recognises aural information differently from what the child actually hears.

For example, when children can’t differentiate between thirteen and thirty. Whilst hearing can be perfectly normal, the brain just cannot process those sounds correctly due to their similarity. This inability of the brain to accurately process what is heard results in the Auditory Processing Disorder condition (APD).

APD is often difficult to diagnose in children as they may have other learning difficulties such as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder or dyspraxia (DCD), which may mask the condition. It also cannot be diagnosed with standard hearing tests; it requires specialist audiology testing.

Helping your child at home

Minimise background noise and speak face to face so your child can watch your lips while you talk. This gives them visual cues for how you say things;

Provide simple, short instructions. Note that children ages 2 to 4 can only hold two pieces of information in their brain at one time;

Allow extra time for your child to process information and ask what they understood;

Always ask your child to repeat mispronounced words - in a fun way;

Bedtime audio books help with following stories and engaging with auditory material;

Children are often tired at the end of the school day and it’s exhausting listening to specific information through competing background sounds;

Understand that when phonics are in place, your child may not be able to ‘blend’ sounds with ease and may need more practice;

Show your child’s school the completed questionnaire at www.bit.ly/AuditoryProcessingQ

Children with APD have also been observed to:

Have trouble paying attention to and remembering information presented orally;

Have problems carrying out multi-step directions and need more time;

Misunderstand what is said and ask for instructions to be repeated;

Have language difficulty and language delay (eg they confuse syllable sequences and have problems developing vocabulary and understanding language);

Appear to have behaviour problems, often because they are not complying with given instructions;

Have difficulties retrieving spellings because they struggle to remember the sounds.

The Raviv Practice London (www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk) offers a structured language programme for APD called Fast ForWord (FFW), a computer based learning programme based on twenty five years of research. FFW can be used anywhere in the UK. Screen your child with a FREE questionnaire at www.bit.ly/AuditoryProcessingQ

Fast ForWord

Fast ForWord integrates learning with fun, interactive computer games which continually adapt to each student’s individual learning needs. Intensive immersion for five days a week throughout the course leads to lasting learning gains in the following cognitive areas:

Memory: working, short-term and long-term memory (essential for word recognition, comprehension and remembering instructions);

Attention: the ability to focus on information and tasks and ignore distractions;

Processing speed: the rate of processing incoming information. For reading, this is how quickly one can distinguish speech sounds and identify letters and words to create meaning;

Sequencing: the ability to determine the order of letters within words or words within sentences.

Fast ForWord also helps develop reading and language skills such as phonemic awareness – assists with understanding syntax; sound-letter association – assists with comprehension; decoding – assists with grammatical structures; vocabulary – assists with passage comprehension; and spelling – assists with reading fluency.

A year of nature activities

By Catherine Hughes and Becky Goddard-Hill

The impact of nature on wellbeing is well documented and getting children outside is proven to boost both their physical and mental health. But how do you incentivise them with different, exciting, low cost and eco-friendly outdoor activities all year round? Think crafts, science experiments, scavenger hunts, beach and camping games and so much more.

Here a just few nature activities you may want to take with you to liven up your next outdoor adventures as a family.

WHAT’S IN THE BAG?

Pop an object or two in your backpack as you walk and have the rest of your group ask questions to try and guess what it is. You can tell them the first letter of the object and they get ten questions to ask about it - to which you can only answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Will they work it out or will you have to tell them? Best not to take anything too heavy or it will feel like a long walk!

MAKE A LEAF WAND

At the start of your walk find a long, slim but strong stick. As you walk, thread on the best leaves that you find. You might want to go for all large leaves or all orange leaves or maybe a mix. Encourage every member of your family to do the same – you’ll be surprised how different all your wands look. On your return, arrange your leaf wands into a vase for a beautiful display.

If you have a neighbour or older relative who doesn’t get out much, consider gifting them a leaf wand to bring a bit of nature’s treasure into their home.

LETTER OBSERVATION GAME

Each person chooses a letter from the alphabet and tries to spot things beginning with that letter, as they walk. Tally up how many you things you find and see who spots the most.

Because this can be tricky for younger children, it is fine to use descriptive words too so if you have chosen B for example, you could say ‘blue sky’ or ‘big tree.’ Or just ‘bench’ if everyone’s ready for a sit-down rest!

You may want to specify that each descriptive word can only be used once, as well as taking a notebook to keep track of your spots.

THREE FUN NATURE CHALLENGES

For each challenge, make sure you agree on a ‘base’ before you start.

Find five stones, then bring them back to base and see if you can use them to build a tower that doesn’t fall over.

Choose a marker such as a particular tree. Balance your paper cup on your head and walk to the marker, then try walking back to base without the cup falling off your head.

Find some twigs, bring them back to base and use them to form the first letter of your name (or your whole name if you want a bigger challenge).

Catherine Hughes and Becky Goddard-Hill are co-authors of A Year of Nature Walks and Games, a book packed full of ideas to keep kids entertained in the great outdoors all year long. It features crafts, science experiments, scavenger hunts, beach and camping games plus lots and lots of ideas on how to make the great outdoors inspiring. Available from good book stores and online retailers.

All listings are correct at the time of publication. Please check with the venues before you visit incase anything has changed

Viking Fun

JORVIK Viking Centre

Travel back to the year 975 AD at the JORVIK Viking Centre! A world-famous ‘must-see’ visitor attraction in the heart of York city centre.

till 21 Apr

Snooks, York’s Character Trail

York City Centre

Introducing The Snooks Trail, an exciting new sculpture trail coming to York from late February to April 2024.

Organised by Make It York in collaboration with charity partner St. Leonard’s Hospice, this trail will take you on a captivating journey through York’s historic cobbled streets and hidden gardens.

9 - 10 Mar

Mother’s Day Afternoon

Tea

Harewood House

Indulge that special someone with a delightful Mother’s Day afternoon tea experience! Treat them to a symphony of flavours with our carefully curated selection of sweet and savoury delights. Pre-booking essential

16 Mar

Let’s Get Creative - a playful drawing workshop

York Art Gallery

Join artist Ellie Robinson for a fun, relaxed, and creative environment to explore the art of drawing. Suitable for all ages and abilities.

20 Mar - 14 Apr

Easter Fun!

Thornton Hall Country Park

From Easter Toddler parties to very EGGciting EGGventures, head to Thornton Hall this Easter to check out all the fun to be had!

23

Springtime Live

Great Yorkshire

Showground, Harrogate

A fabulous fun family event which allows children to get close to farm animals from chicks to lambs, piglets to calves, goats and rare breed sheep. Once inside, all demonstrations and handson workshops are FREE. Tickets can only be booked in advance and will not be available to purchase on the gate.

23

Easter Fun!

Bolton Castle

Alfraeda the dragon has returned to her favourite castle. Having lost her egg, she needs help to find it. Can you help? The trail is free with entry, so pick up a sheet at the ticket desk, bring an adult with a mobile phone (as they will need a quick snap of you with the egg) and enjoy the lovely castle, gardens, maze and views. General admission applies.

23

Easter Egg Hunt

Fountains Abbey & Studley

Royal

Make your way along the Easter adventure trail and find activities for the whole family. Explore the beautiful gardens and historic abbey ruins of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.

Easter Holiday Fun at Harlow Carr

RHS Garden Harlow Carr

Join the giant egg hunt this Easter at RHS Garden Harlow Carr to win a chocolate prize and discover the garden in all its spring glory. Garden admission applies.

23 Mar

Studfold’s Great Easter Egg & Fairy Hunt

Studfold Farm, Harrogate Springtime Fairies arrive for Studfold’s Easter Egg Hunt! An Easter egg hunt with a difference! Studfold Adventure Trail is now the place to be if you wish to find the Nidderdale Fairies! Magical fairy doors have

Easter EGGstravaganza!

The Web Adventure Park

They are choc-o-block with fun at the Web Adventure Park during their Easter Eggstravaganza! Join them for an egg-celent day of family fun. BRAND-NEW fairground rides, the Bunny Brothers, Eggy-lympics, live Easter entertainment from Dazzling Darren, bouncing pillows, Lightyear Laser Zone, indoor and outdoor play, and more. There’s something for every age, whatever the weather.

Tour & Mini Easter Egg

Rolling

York’s Chocolate Story

Dive into the enchantment of Easter with an eggstraordinary Tour and Mini Easter Rolling experience! Uncover the captivating history of chocolate on a guided tour and finish off the adventure with an additional 15 minutes of hands-on chocolate making where you’ll roll, drip and decorate delicious easter egg truffles. The entire journey lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Book online now

The Easter Adventure Stockeld Park

Join us for endless family fun and adventures with lots of special Easter touches adding ‘eggstra’ magic to the park! Online pre-book only.

Easter Adventure Quest

Whitby Abbey

Join the adventure quest at Whitby Abbey this Easter holiday. Hunt for clues in the grounds, track down the Easter eggs and get rewarded with a tasty chocolate treat. General admission applies.

Easter Sunday Tea Train

Wensleydale Railway

Make your Easter ‘eggstra’ special onboard our Easter Sunday afternoon tea train! Book online now

TREEmendous Woodland Olympics Easter Trail

Newby Hall & Gardens

Join the fairytale folk for a family woodland adventure this Easter Sunday and Monday at Newby Hall. Fairy Enchantica, Mr Fox and their fairy folk friends are excited to welcome families for a theatrical woodland adventure bringing the woodland Olympics to life. General admission applies.

Duck Race

Hebden Bridge

It’s a Totally Quackers event! All profits go to the Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge Trust Fund (registered charity number 513898) which gives grants to local, national and international good causes.

Summer open day

Temple Newsam

You are invited to explore the house and farm for a special open day where you can Pay As You Feel. Get a taster of what Temple Newsam have on offer, from rare breed animals at Home Farm to treasured collections in the house and lots of activities and experiences for all the family.

Mum2Mum Markets

Harrogate High School, HG1 4AP

13th April: 2 - 4 pm

29th June: 2 - 4 pm

harrogate@ mum2mummarket.co.uk

Handling toddler sleep challenges

By Heidi Skudder

After the baby months of feeding, getting to grips with naps and developing a routine and then finally moving onto solids, you’d think that the first year would be the hardest when it comes to sleep right!?

Wrong! Toddlers are notorious for their sleep challenges and whilst you may have had a baby who napped well and slept through the night, it is not unusual for this all to change in their second year and beyond – welcome to toddlerhood!

Sleep for toddlers is complex. It’s not just about making sure they are well fed and awake for long enough during the day but also whether they’ve had enough of your attention to not crave it at night as well. Cue multiple visits to your bedroom once they can get out of their bed!

Nightmares

For many toddlers, imagination kicks in from around the age of two. This can bring genuine fears of the dark, monsters or anything else their little brain has convinced them is scary. This makes dropping off to sleep difficult and they may wake and need your support during the night to settle down again.

Reading comforting books together, favourite teddies or dolls and limiting TV exposure can be really useful, as can keeping a warm red or orange night light on for them.

Bedtime resistance

Another key stage in a toddler’s development arrives as they start to realise that they do, in fact, possess the language and control to be able to delay going to bed. ‘One more story, two more songs, I want milk, I need a wee’ have been commonly heard by many a toddler parent!

Whilst this is a phase and happens to the vast majority of parents, it is important to consider sticking to your boundaries during this period so that bedtime doesn’t start to become a two hour process. We speak to many parents who feel that they have lost control and that their toddler now dictates everything about their bedtime routine.

Co-sleeping

And then of course, there is the idea that maybe they just want to be close to you.

Night terrors

Common in times of change or after bouts of illness, night terrors usually occur in the earlier half of the night. Your child will appear to be but is not ACTUALLY awake. They may talk, scream, thrash around, have their eyes closed or be fixated on a point in the room.

Keep the area safe and ensure they don’t hurt themselves but try not to purposefully wake them up. The night terror will pass and they won’t remember it in the morning.

Sleeping in the same bed is considered normal in many cultures. The number of parents who are happy with this arrangement in the UK varies hugely. Whilst some are very pro co-sleeping, others prefer separate beds and the prospect of a better night’s sleep without being kicked by little limbs. When it comes to night time sleeping arrangements, it is the best approach for your family that counts.

The common theme around sleep for both for babies and toddlers is consistency and some parents struggle with this. Whether you help your toddler fall asleep or ask them to settle to sleep on their own, it is the consistency of whatever approach you take that helps sleep along.

Doing different things, at different times of night, can be really confusing for a toddler and this can lead to multiple night wakes and confusion. Your best bet? Choose one approach to sleep and stick with it. Then the whole family will get a better night’s sleep.

Heidi Skudder is a Sleep Expert and founder of Positively Parenthood (ww.positivelyparenthood.com) She is also a regular speaker at The Baby Show (www.thebabyshow.co.uk) taking place in London in March and October, Birmingham in

My Commercial Tenant has not paid rent, what can I do?

By HartLaw

A common issue for Landlords arises where the tenant of a commercial building fails to pay their rent on time, or in accordance with the provisions of the lease. This could be for any number of reasons, and it is important to understand your options and avoid falling foul of various pitfalls.

For the purposes of this article, we will focus on a situation where a landlord has decided that they want to repossess the property solely based on non-payment of rent. Other breaches will attract different rules, so be sure to check this before you take any action.

There are two main routes to forfeiture where rent has not been paid within the time limits set out within the lease; forfeiture by proceedings (which would involve issuing a Court application) and forfeiture by ‘peaceable re-entry’ (i.e. going into the property and changing the locks to recover possession). It is important to understand which route is best in your specific circumstances.

However, if the landlord is deemed to have ‘waived’ or accepted the breach at any point, which could (though not always) be the result of simply demanding or accepting future rent, the right to forfeit could be lost. So, it is imperative that the landlord has proper advice as soon as the possibility of forfeiture becomes apparent, to ensure the correct steps are taken.

Notwithstanding various commercial considerations (such as the ability to re-let the property) there can be wider issues to factor in when deciding whether to peaceably re-enter. For example, If the landlord believes it has a brand-new tenant waiting to take a lease, it is important to consider the prospects of success if the

current tenant was to make an application to the Court for ‘relief from forfeiture’ (meaning that a tenant makes an application for an order to be allowed back into occupation on payment of the arrears, interests and costs).

Sometimes, a tenant can make its application up to 6 months following forfeiture, and so care would have to be taken in deciding to re-let the property in case the tenant is allowed back in.

Generally (and sometimes automatically) the Courts will grant relief in those circumstances, and so the landlord can find themselves back at the starting point. So, if there are other breaches, it may be worth considering whether a notice under section 146 of the Law of Property Act 1925 needs to be served to protect the landlord’s position.

There are many different issues to consider in ensuring you remain compliant with your legal and contractual obligations. Our commercial and litigation departments are on hand to assist you, to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

For more information please email James Ford on james@ hartlaw.co.uk or contact 01937 547000.

Family-friendly podcasts

By Andrew Campbell

Podcasts have become a huge part of many people’s lives, offering a wide range of interesting, informative and entertaining audio which can be listened to for free at a time that suits them. This applies to children too, with many high standard podcasts available that parents will also enjoy sharing.

Podcasts are a brilliant way for kids to absorb information and can be played in the car, before bed to wind down or while doing a jigsaw or colouring.

Story Pirates Ages 5+

Stories written by children are given some polish but not too much, so they can be brought to life by adult actors, comics and musicians. Performers such as Clare Danes and Julie Andrews totally commit to the kids’ ideas which are often off the wall eg I Don’t Think So Day and The Squirrel Astronaut. www.storypirates.com

Rebel Girls Ages 5+

An offshoot of the best-selling book of the same name, this podcast is all about championing clever and tenacious women from across all areas, including the arts, civil rights and sport. Each episode is about twenty minutes long and focuses on one extraordinary woman, with the episode delivered by another extraordinary woman. Despite the gendered title, these are stories for everyone. www.rebelgirls.com/podcast

Once Upon a Time in Zombieville Ages 9-12

An award-winning, BBC sci-fi adventure podcast with funny bits! Featuring lead characters with visual impairment and dyslexia, Zombieville is for those who might struggle to read but still love a great story. With lots of action, expressive voice actors and real-life soundtracks, it’s like ‘a comic book for the ears.’ www.bit.ly/BBCZombieville

Wow in the World Ages 5-12

A goofball, award-winning science podcast that tackles serious scientific enquiries and makes learning fun, even for parents. Hosted by Mindy, a klutz with a time machine, Guy and an everexpanding cast of wacky characters, the podcast shares stories about the latest news in science, technology and innovation. Stories that give kids hope, agency and will make them say ‘WOW!’ www.bit.ly/WowInTheWorld

History Storytime for Kids Ages 5-11

Sophie (age 7) and Ellie (age 5) and their daddy tell the stories and use lots of funny sound effects. Hear amazing stories of animals in history, stirring historical stories of love and betrayal and stories of strong women and how they changed the course of events. Uniquely, it stars the charming children themselves who recount the stories with surprising fluidity and humour. www.historystorytime.com

What if World Ages 5-12

Hosted by Mr Eric who uses silly voices and crazy characters to answer a new ‘What if’ question sent in by an inquisitive child every episode. The scenarios are typically fanciful: think ‘what if everyone wore the same colour?’ or ‘what if snow got on the moon?’ These are the kind of questions that inspire the quirky stories for this imaginative podcast. www.whatifworldpodcast.com

Activity Quest Ages 5-12

A weekly podcast packed with stuff to do. Join presenters from children’s radio station, Fun Kids, as they visit locations nationwide to find out what they offer. They’ve tried everything from archery to heritage railway rides, rock-climbing to museum visits - even feeding tigers! The podcast is filled with fun ways to spend your weekend. www.bit.ly/ActivityQuest

The Week Junior Show Ages 8-14

Each week, Bex from Fun Kids is joined by members of The Week Junior team to discuss their favourite stories, debate the week’s hot topic and discover whether the Real or Rubbish? report is fake news or the real deal. Recent news topics include Do animals have imagination? Should fireworks be banned? How are headlice helping historians? www.bit.ly/WeekJunior

The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian Ages 5-8

This serialised, science-fiction story, told in fifteen to twenty minute episodes is perfect for driving around, on road trips or even at bedtime. The story centres on an 8 year old boy living on an interplanetary space station with his friends Abigail, Elias and Vale who explore the galaxy, help the occasional alien and solve mysteries. www.bit.ly/FinnCaspian

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel Ages 8-12

Award-winning, serialised mystery series (start with episode 1) with a voice cast of actual kids and a suspenseful plot, this will keep your tween hooked for hours. Listen along as 11 year old Mars Patel and his pals JP, Toothpick and Caddie set out on an audacious adventure in search of two missing friends. www.bit.ly/MarsPodcast

What’s on at the Theatre?

21 - 23 Mar

King Arthur York Theatre Royal

King Arthur knows that if he doesn’t turn things around, this civilisation will be forgotten, and be known as nothing more than a rather dull time in British history. But when three hapless squires approach him about changing that legacy… a legend is born. This hilarious retelling of the Arthurian legends, suitable for the whole family, will have audiences crying with laughter and become part of the legend themselves!

26 - 28 Mar

There’s a Monster in your show

York Theatre Royal

A group of performers are preparing to start their show, but quickly discover they are not alone on stage. Little Monster wants to be part of the fun too! With an invitation to his friends, Dragon, Alien and Unicorn to join him, you can expect comedy and chaos as they help to create a magical show, learning about the joy of books and friendship along the way.

27 - 28 Mar

Dear Zoo

Harrogate Theatre

See our characters write to the Zoo. Who will be delivered? A cheeky monkey, a jumpy frog and of course a perfect puppy.

30 Mar

Sooty - The 75th Birthday Spectacular!

Harrogate Theatre

Celebrating 75 years in show business, Sooty, Sweep and Soo are planning a birthday party and you’re all invited. However, in true Sooty style nothing goes to plan!

2 - 3 Apr

Tortoise & the Hare

York Theatre Royal

Northern Ballet return with another ballet for children. When a cheeky Hare won’t stop boasting about how fast he can run, thoughtful Tortoise decides it is time to join him in a race. No one thinks Tortoise can win, but when Hare gets distracted by games and treats, Tortoise might just surprise us all.

11 Apr

Kidz Bop - Never Stop Live Tour York Barbican

Sing and dance along with the KIDZ BOP Kids as they perform today’s biggest hits, live on stage including “As It Was,” “About That Time,” “Anti-Hero,” “Green Green Grass,” “Trustfall,” and many more. This is the ultimate pop concert for kids (and the entire family), so don’t miss out on making memories that will last a lifetime!

12 - 20 Apr

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Grand Opera House York

Packed with infectious tunes and a captivating storyline suitable for all the family. Get ready to join the ultimate dreamer, Joseph, on his incredible journey from humble shepherd to influential leader, all while enjoying dazzling sets, stunning costumes and unforgettable songs from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber including Go Go Go Joseph, Close Every Door to Me and the UK No 1 hit Any Dream Will Do

14 Apr

Shark in the Park Bridlington Spa

Timothy Pope is looking through his telescope - but wait, is that a Shark, in the Park!? From the team behind ‘The Hairy Maclary show’see all 3 of Nick Sharratt’s ‘Shark in the Park’ books live on Stage!

Be egg hunt ready with our BUN�Y Binoculars!

Hop into the Easter spirit with this delightful craft!

Unleash your little one’s creativity and recycle cardboard tubes to make bunny-shaped binoculars. Are you ready for the hunt?

Let the crafting adventure begin!

You will need:

• Loo roll tubes (x2)

• Cereal box card

• Tape

• Scissors

What to do:

• PVA glue

• Colouring materials

• Printed template (scan QR code to download)

Step 1:

Glue the two tubes together to make binoculars. Leave to dry.

Step 3:

Glue the rest of the template to cereal box card. Once dry, ask a grown up to help you cut out the nose and ears.

Step 2:

Ask a grown up to help you cut out the band from the printed template.

Step 4:

Use glue to attach the nose to one end of the binocular tubes. Leave to dry.

This activity has been provided by toucanBox (www.toucanbox.com) whose all-in-one subscription craft boxes for kids make playtime easy-peasy.

Step 5:

Colour in your band, then wrap around the binoculars and glue tab to secure.

Step 6:

Ask a grown up to help you cut a small slit for each ear, about 1cm away from the end of the tube.

Step 7:

Insert the bunny ear tabs into the slits. Fold the tabs towards you and tape to the inside of the tube.