Newcastle Gateshead In this issue Exclusive Interview with Jacqueline Wilson Weaning your baby Christmas Toy Guide Festive Events Guide
Issue 03 Nov/Dec 2018
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Hi All and a great big welcome to Winter and the Festive Season. Winter brings with it a time for rest, hibernation and quiet. Its time to think hygge – the Danish and Norwegian word for creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. We could all do with some of this as the nights get darker and the weather turns colder. But there are several holidays around the world which actually make the colder months a popular time for celebrations, festivals, parades, feasts and exchanging gifts. Diwali – the Festival of Light this year is celebrated on November 7th. It is a five day festival when houses and shops are decorated with candles and colourful lights. It is a family affair with feasts and gifts. People also create rangoli artwork which are patterns created using coloured rice or powder. May your life be as colourful, shimmering and magical as the lights of Diwali! Happy Diwali. December 6th St. Nicholas Day – in many European countries, St Nicholas Day celebrates the life of St. Nicholas of Myra, the man whose life inspired the tradition of Santa Claus. Shoes are placed outside on the eve of the 5th and a candy treat and a simple gift – like an orange appear on the morning of the 6th.
P10 Christmas
Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days each November or December, Jews light a special candle holder called a menorah to remember an ancient miracle in which one day’s worth of oil burned for eight days in the temple. December 21st The Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year. People over the world celebrate with festivals and celebrations and would light bonfires and candles to coax back the sun. Christmas – people celebrate this Christian holiday by going to church, giving gifts, and sharing the day with family. It is preceded by the season of advent. Christmas day is a public holiday all over the world and is celebrated religiously by Christians and culturally by many non-Christians.
P12 What’s on & Where @FamNGMag facebook.com/FamNGMag
Newcastle Gateshead Next issue:
Jan/Feb 2019 (New Year New You and Clubs and Classes Directory)
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16,000 copies of Families NewcastleGateshead are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Newcastle and Gateshead. If you would like free copies for your organisation, please let us know.
Contact details: Families NewcastleGateshead, Tel: 0191 6591283 / 07377 420 726 www.familiesonline.co.uk Editor:
New Year’s Eve is celebrated by many as a time to let go of the old year and start a fresh. We like to celebrate with family and friends and fireworks to let the old year out with a Bang! Whichever way you choose to celebrate we wish you and your family and friends a Merry Christmas, a Joyeux Noel, a Fröhliche Weihnachten, a Buone Feste Natalizie, a Feliz Navidad, glædelig jul, a God Jul, a Mele Kalikimaka, veselé Vánoce, veselé Vianoce, Craciun Fericit, Wesołych Świąt, a feliz Natal, Mo’adim Lesimkha, Shub Naya Baras and a Happy New Year. Best Wishes Cáit
Can you Deliver? Newcastle Gateshead
In this issue
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18 Things to do with under 5’s Summer Guide What’s on
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In this issue Making the best
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News A Daily Mile Improves Children’s Health
An initiative to get schoolchildren to walk or run a mile every day leads to significant improvements in their health, according to a study. The Daily Mile scheme was originally the brainchild of a Scottish head teacher who started it in 2012. Researchers at Stirling University compared the health of children at a primary school taking part in the scheme with those at a school that wasn’t participating.
The children wore accelerometers which recorded how much moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) they were undertaking every day, and for how long they were sedentary. Children who were doing the Daily Mile were significantly healthier than those who were not. According to the Daily Mile Foundation, more than 3,600 schools worldwide have introduced the initiative, including about 1,200 in England, 770 in Scotland, 210 in Wales, 85 in Northern Ireland and more than 100 in the Republic of Ireland. More info at www.stir.ac.uk and www.thedailymile.co.uk
Odd Socks Day for Anti-Bullying Week Anti-Bullying Week runs from 12 to 16 November 2018 and the theme this year is choosing respect over bullying. The aim of the week is to support schools to help children understand: l The definition of respect l That bullying is a behavioural choice l That we can respectfully disagree with each other i.e. we don’t have to be best friends or always agree with each other but we do have to show each other respect l That we all need to choose to respect each other, both face to face and online
Students are being encouraged to wear odd socks to school on Monday 12 November to show their support and raise money for a good cause. To get involved, visit www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
Talking to Young Children About War this Remembrance Day Remembrance Day this year will be on Sunday 11 November and will be especially significant as it will mark 100 years since the original agreement to end fighting during the First World War in 1918, also known as Armistice Day.
Accordingly, you can expect that there will be a great deal of media coverage given to this significant commemoration and your child may be prompted to ask you questions. Discussing war with children can be quite difficult. Recognising this, CBeebies has produced a short animation,
Compulsory Relationship and Sex Education
Relationship and health education will become compulsory for school children from September 2020, the Government has announced. Under the proposals, all pupils will study compulsory health education and new reformed relationship education in primary school, as well as and relationship and sex education in secondary school. Teachers will talk to primary school pupils in an age appropriate way about the features of healthy friendships, family relationships and other relationships they are
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likely to encounter. At secondary school, teachers will build on the foundation of relationships education in primary school and, at the appropriate time, extend teaching to include intimate relationships as well. At both primary and secondary, pupils will learn about staying safe online and how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully. Classes will also cover physical health, such as the importance of exercise and healthy eating, as well as the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and how it contributes towards the prevention of health problems. More information can be found under Consultations at www.gov.uk/government/ publications
simply titled ‘Poppies’ to help convey the notion of remembrance in a way that resonates with a young audience. It is a really beautiful piece to watch and would be a great way to introduce any discussion of Remembrance Day. The 2 minute film follows a bunny who starts off playing in a meadow, which
then becomes a WW1 battlefield. The film can be viewed on the CBeebies website at www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies
Can Babies Sense Stress?
Babies may not be able to convey complex emotions, but they can still feel what their mothers are feeling, at least when it comes to stress. In a recent study, 69 mothers and their babies ages 12 to 14 months had cardiovascular sensors attached to them to record heart rate. The mothers were divided into groups to perform tasks ranging from “no-stress” to “high stress.” Their babies were not with them whilst they carried out these tasks and they were reunited
ten minutes later. Researchers then examined changes in heart function. Within minutes of being reunited, Infants of mothers in the “high-stress” condition experienced matching changes in heart rate. This stress contagion effect grew stronger as time passed. “Your infant may not be able to tell you that you seem stressed or ask you what is wrong, but our work shows that, as soon as she is in your arms, she is picking up on the bodily responses accompanying your emotional state and immediately begins to feel in her own body your own negative emotion” said study researcher Sara Waters of New York University. More info, visit www.parentingscience.com
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Family Matters Weaning Your Baby By Annabel Karmel
Blending, storing, mashing and messy highchairs are all part of the exciting journey of weaning! From around 6 months, a baby’s regular milk will no longer provide them with all the nutrients they need – in particular, essential fatty acids and iron – and their stores of these start to deplete. So now is the time to begin weaning, as missing nutrients need to be provided by food. Getting Started Every baby develops at their own pace but here are few key signs that your baby is ready for weaning: Your baby: l Can hold her head steady and sit up with minimal supervision l Has developed sufficient hand-to-eye coordination to look at food, pick it up and put it in her mouth l Is showing an interest in what you are eating l Has lost the tongue-thrust reflex (automatically pushing solids out of her mouth with her tongue) and is able to swallow food
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balance of nutrients. Please don’t worry about picky eaters - we’ve all been there! Your baby may need to try a new food 10 to 15 times before they are willing to eat it.
Best First Foods First foods should be simple, easy to digest, and unlikely to provoke an allergic reaction. I would recommend starting with a single ingredient, ideally a fruit or vegetable. Root vegetables like carrots, sweet potato and butternut squash are very popular; they have a naturally sweet flavour (similar to breastmilk) and can easily be puréed to a smooth texture. Try mixing them with a little breast/formula milk to ease the transition. From 6 months, your baby will need more than just fruit and vegetables and you will need to make sure you start to introduce iron rich foods like meat, lentils, eggs and iron-enriched cereals as well as foods rich in Essential Fatty Acids from oily fish like salmon. The transition to solids is more about introducing food than giving a full meal. Your baby will still need at least 600ml of breast milk or formula each day until they are at least 12 months old when their diet is varied enough to offer the correct
Reflux and Allergies Around 50% of all babies experience some reflux during their first 3 months, but, it will prove to be a problem for only a very few and they will usually outgrow it. Gastro-oesophageal reflux can sometimes be a sign of cow’s milk protein allergy so look out for the signs and symptoms and seek advice from your doctor if you are concerned. Childhood food allergies are increasing but the actual incidence of food allergy in babies is very small - about 5 to 6%. Babies and children also tend to grow out of allergies like cow’s milk or egg allergy by ages 2 or 3. If your baby is at high risk e.g. has bad eczema, then it’s sensible to get allergy testing done just before weaning to help guide safe introduction of common allergenic foods such as milk, egg and peanut. For babies with no history then these foods should be introduced from 6 months. If your baby’s diet is restricted for any reason, it’s important to seek professional advice to ensure that they are still getting all the essential vitamins and minerals they need. Iron, Fats, Protein, Essential Fatty Acids, Carbohydrates, Zinc and Vitamin D are all essential to include in their diet from 6 months. Tackling Texture From around 6 to 9 months babies are developing quite rapidly, so introduce as many different nutritious foods, flavours and textures as possible during this time. To help them tackle texture, try finely dicing and softening small cubes of carrot or apple so their gums can squash them when they try to chew. Be careful of surprise chunks as these can really startle your baby and put them off. Making your own baby food will allow you to control the size of the lumps and in turn,
gradually increase their size. With my son Nicholas I soon realised that if I added baby pasta shapes to his favourite puree then he was more receptive because it was a flavour he was familiar with. Give rice or couscous a go too. Baby-led or Spoon-led? Whilst a high percentage of parents start out with spoon-led purees, baby-led weaning (BLW) is fast growing in popularity. The BLW philosophy is to let your baby feed herself from 6 months, missing out on purees and spoon feeding altogether. Babies can explore a variety of different tastes and textures from the beginning, helping them to eat a wide range of foods and develop good eating habits. As well as soft finger foods, you can offer a mini portion of a family meal (without the salt). Cottage pie, risotto or chicken curry are all ideal (and tasty) options. Don’t worry about how much or how little your baby eats at the beginning; as long as they are experiencing a variety of tastes/textures and eating lots of different nutritious foods then you’re on the right track! Remember that no ‘one-sizefits-all’ with weaning. Some people decide to go with one method or the other, but I’ve always believed that you don’t have to choose. At around 6 months, you have the freedom to combine an element of babyled weaning alongside spoon feeding if you feel that’s right for you and your baby. Annabel Karmel is a leading children’s cookery author and feeding expert. Her book, Weaning (DK £12.99) includes everything you need to know about traditional and babyled weaning, advice on when to start, critical nutrients, how to cater for allergies and intolerances, and more than 60 healthy and delicious recipes. Available from all good
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Family Matters Play or Structured Learning in the Early Years? By Maxine Henderson
During the den-building activity, carers were able to identify which children: l confidently led the action l preferred to watch l were interested in creating the tents and dens, l disappeared when all the building and mending was done l wanted to play in the dens when they were completed, delegating characters to each other and adding furniture to create narratives for their games.
In England, the current Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum stipulates a 50/50 balance between child-centred, play-based learning and adult-led learning. Over the years there have been individuals who question the system and look to introduce new ideas. For example Liz Truss, a past Education and Childcare Minister, championed the introduction of a French-style ‘structured learning’ approach, with a graduate-led workforce responsible for larger groups of children, and a reduced child-to-carer ratio. Whilst the benefits of a more highly qualified workforce are indisputable, there are other considerations. If teachers are responsible for larger groups then opportunities for vital play-based learning are reduced. Whilst the ‘structured learning’ model is hailed for its effectiveness in socialising children, teaching them manners, and creating a calm, organised atmosphere, it is not an environment in which young children learn best. And it definitely doesn’t encourage them to be inquisitive, selfmotivated learners. Children need to practise negotiating with each other and experience problem solving situations, without the direct supervision of an adult. If they are unable to practise these skills in free play, they become too reliant on adults to both intervene for them in social situations and to motivate and inspire them to learn.
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A great example of the benefits of play-based learning happened in one of our nursery settings recently. I observed the children carrying large construction blocks, lengths of fabric, pegs and sticky tape out of the building and realised they were busy working together to construct a range of interestingly shaped homes in the garden, entirely from their own imaginations. Some children were making signs to indicate who lived where; others were adding connecting tunnels and others still were creating places for everyone to sit and a welcoming atmosphere. It wasn’t all smooth sailing. The children often disagreed about how to construct the dwellings and tempers flared when some children “borrowed” things from one den to improve their own, but the whole process was fascinating to observe. Our carers were on hand to support the children – making sure they were safe and allowing them to negotiate between themselves. When necessary, they offered suggestions to help the children make decisions, but they provided choices rather than answers.
They also asked open questions throughout the process such as: How many pegs have you used? How is this staying up? What does your sign say? The learning that took place that afternoon was incredible – the children were self-motivated, interested in the task and invested in a positive outcome. In adult-led learning, we often meet resistance, as a child does not want to complete the task in the way that we expect. However, this leads to other teaching opportunities and is equally as important as play-based learning. The two work well in tandem, giving the children opportunities to develop core skills, find their own strengths and become wellrounded individuals. Currently observations are made about a child’s development while they play, helping carers plan structured learning activities relevant to that child’s development. These observations include the individual interests, abilities and levels of assistance required by each child. This makes it possible to organise interesting, achievable but challenging adult-led activities for each child, taking account of their preferred learning style and developmental level.
A mixture of adult-led and play-based learning is important for the development of every child. The individual child needs to learn structure and rules, and participate as part of group but they also need time to explore their own interests, likes and dislikes and see where they fit into the whole. When considering the introduction of new ways of learning for children, it’s important to consider the impact this can have on the individual development of a child, as well as the changes that will need to be made to group learning. For example, increasing the number of children each worker has in their care makes it more difficult for detailed observations to be made about each child and to organise adult-led activities which are appropriate for both the development of individual children and the group. Inevitably, this forces settings to move to a classroom-style environment in which, sadly, children lose vital free-play learning and development opportunities. Maxine Henderson is a Childcare Expert at Tinies Childcare, a leading childcare specialist with over 30 years’ experience helping families, nurseries and other childcare settings find the right childcare professionals to suit their needs. For more information, visit www.tinies.com
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Exclusive Interview Beaker’s Back! Families Magazine is lucky enough to have secured an exclusive interview with Dame Jacqueline Wilson in which our readers and their children ask her some of their most burning questions about her new book and her life as a writer.
Dame Jacqueline Wilson is arguably Britain’s favourite contemporary children’s author. She has over one hundred published books to her name, most of which deal with the often troubling and unvarnished realities of being a real-life child or parent. First published in 1991, Tracy Beaker quickly became Jacqueline’s most well-known character. Now, over a decade after her last literary appearance, the fiery, former foster-kid is back in a new book My Mum Tracy Beaker, and while she’s now mature and mother to Jess, she’s still the same Tracy readers know and love.
Why do you think Tracy is one of your most popular characters? Harbinder, age 7, Croydon I think because she’s naughty! She has reason for her bad behaviour, of course, and she’s naughty but she’s not spiteful, she’s funny. I think she’s a character that children would like as a friend - I’m not sure about adults, I think a little of her as a child goes a long way! How have you made the grown-up Tracy as appealing to children as Tracy, the child? Lily’s mum, Leeds I’ve kept her, not exactly naughty, but mischievous. She’s quite surprising - she might suddenly do something a bit mad, or a bit silly. I think being a mum has slightly changed her because she’s a very loving, caring mum, Is Tracy’s daughter the same or different to Tracy? Olivia, age 8, Aylesbury They certainly look alike, but Jess is a quieter girl, partly because she has had a much easier, more loving, caring upbringing than Tracy herself had. Jess is probably more studious, and more of a bookworm, but when push comes to shove Jess can certainly stand up for herself too. Did you and your illustrator, Nick Sharratt, disagree at all about how Tracy and her daughter should be drawn? Rosie, age 9, Twickenham I mostly leave it to him, and certainly I think he has done Jess wonderfully. He suggested that Jess might wear glasses, which I thought was a very clever touch because it gives
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them that little bit of difference, and also Jess is a total bookworm and it just looks right for her to be wearing her little glasses. I was very pleased with that addition. What’s been the highlight for you of being the Children’s Laureate? Emma’s mum, Portsmouth It gave me a chance to speak to lots of children and teachers and librarians, and the particular thing I wanted to promote was reading aloud to children. Because right from when they are one year old, any child likes to sit on a lap and hear the simplest of stories, and I also suggested that even when your child has learned to read, sometimes it’s fun to read aloud a book that they might not necessarily tackle themselves because it’s a bit difficult to get into, or the vocabulary is quite hard, but they would love to listen to the story. If they are doing colouring, or building something, or just petting the dog or whatever, or at bedtime, children do still like to be read to aloud. Your books depict real children’s real lives and challenges in a way that few others do – how do you get inside the heads of your characters? Lizzie’s mum, Glasgow Bizarrely, I can remember very vividly what it is like to be a child. I mean, ask me what happened or how I felt about something a couple of years ago and my mind is a complete blank, but ask me what I was worried about when I was nine, say, and I remember entirely. It’s just a happy trick of nature that I can take myself back.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers, young or old? Amaya’s mum, Harrow I always suggest aspiring writers read lots to enrich their imagination and increase their vocabulary and try and get into a regular writing habit. Maybe keep a diary - just so you learn to write even when you don’t feel like it! When did you first become a writer? Emily, age 10, Sevenoaks Well, by the time I was fifteen I had written what was - at least in length - a full book. It wasn’t very good though! It was about two sisters, Margot was about fifteen, the narrator, and other sister was about eighteen. They had a car and went on a drive through France and Spain and got boyfriends! It wasn’t the most inspiring work! How do you select names for your characters? Readers at the Chatterbook Group, Ringwood Library, Dorset I like to try and have slightly unusual names, and if they are pertinent to the story that pleases me - for my identical twins in my book Double Act, I had them called Ruby and Garnet because they are both red jewel stones. For The Illustrated Mum, the mother Marigold has a great passion for tattoos and has called her girls the rather outlandish names of Star and Dolphin, simply because they are very popular tattoo icons. With Tracy I wanted a quirky, bouncy modern name - and with Hetty Feather, Hetty is an oldfashioned name and Feather because she’s light as a feather! My Mum Tracy Beaker by Dame Jacqueline Wilson is out now, published by Doubleday
We have one copy to give away please email name and contact no. to competitions@familiesnewcastle.co.uk
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Education Matters Equipping our Children for a Digital Future By Casey Farquharson
Analysts Gartner have predicted that £19bn will be spent globally on educational technology by 2019. But are we sure that this will make our children better prepared to succeed in the future? Will they possess the necessary skills to thrive in an increasingly digitalised world? Coding is a key tech skill which can help prepare our children for the future. Yet, according to an article in The Guardian, over 67% of primary and secondary school teachers believe they cannot teach coding because of a lack of ‘skills and teaching tools.’ Many schools simply don’t have personnel with the required skills and understanding to teach pupils how to code. There is an urgent need for more investment in the education sector to train teachers to code; to attract more individuals to learn and teach coding; and to equip schools, both secondary and primary, with the necessary hardware However, it isn’t all about technology. Yes, we want our children to have good tech and digital skills, but character, creativity, and social skills are also vital. No
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matter how digitalised the world becomes, these three attributes of success cannot be compromised. The components of character are courage, determination, the audacity to be different, focus, and the ability to ask questions and make one’s own decisions. With creativity comes problem solving skills, innovation, critical thinking, and the ability to think outside the box. Rapport and relationship building, the ability to effectively express oneself both orally and in writing, confidence and collaboration are key components of social skills. Plying our children with tablets and other forms of tech hardware is most definitely not a sure-proof way to ensure they have these attributes. The point here is not that tablets are bad or not useful, but that they should never be utilised as a be-all and end-all. Technology should not be a foundation of learning, but rather an enabler and a catalyst. There are seven learning styles* that need to be understood and embraced if our primary-age children
are to get the most from their technology learning experiences: Aural Listeners – individuals that respond primarily to sound. Technology can be utilized to effectively engage with such individuals via the use of podcasts and audio teaching tools. Logical learners – individuals with logical and organized minds. Mind mapping technology can be effectively utilized to improve their learning experience. Physical learners – individuals who respond to words that incite feeling and activity. They like to understand what it feels like to go through the motions of what they are learning. Virtual reality technology can be utilized to optimize their learning experience. Social learners – Individuals that respond to teachers who are inquisitive and ask what they are thinking and feeling
about key topics and concepts. Search engines such as Google, Google assistant and Siri can be utilised to maximise their learning experience. Solitary listeners – individuals that are more comfortable sorting out problems on their own. Videos, online tutorials and audio learning can be utilized to optimize their learning experience. Verbal listeners – individuals who absorb information more effectively via verbal instruction. Innovative technology such as Siri, Cortana and Ok Google can be utilized to teach such individuals. Visual learners – individuals that learn more effectively with pictures and imagery. Tablets and virtual reality technology can be utilized to optimize their learning experience. It’s clear from the above that technology has the potential to be an effective enabler of specific and overall learning experiences. However, the key to its sustained effectiveness when it comes to education lies in technology being utilised in a supportive capacity, as against a leading one. If we want our children to succeed in the future, then we must protect their emotional and psychological wellbeing. It is time to take responsibility for educating children, not only on the distinct dangers of the digital world but also on the importance of the true foundations of positive selfesteem. In order for our children to prosper in the future it is absolutely vital that we improve and preserve their emotional well-being – and appropriate technology training and learning scenarios can play a part in that education. *Source: www.educationdegree.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Casey Farquharson is the founder of IDEAS Bus, an interactive educational platform (on wheels!) designed to help educators discover the latest cutting-edge learning technology and students to get hands on coding, tech and digital media experience. More info at www.theideasbus.org.uk
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Education Matters Options for Secondary School By Andrew Campbell
Not sure whether your child would do best at an academy, free school or grammar school? The terminology surrounding the different types of secondary school can be baffling. Families explains the differences between the various types of school to help you begin the journey of deciding which school would best suit your child. All schools fall into two broad categories – they are either state schools which are governmentfunded, either directly or via a local authority, and are free for all pupils, or they are independent schools charging fees. The education provided in all state schools and some independent schools is inspected and reported on by Ofsted, an independent department of government. You can find Ofsted inspection reports at www.gov.uk/government/ organisations/ofsted
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Community Schools Community schools, also known as maintained schools, are state schools controlled and run by the local authority. The local authority owns the land and buildings and determines the admission arrangements (such as a catchment area). Community schools have to follow the national curriculum and stick to national pay and conditions for teachers. Academies Academies are state secondary schools which operate outside of local authority control, receiving their funding directly from the government. These schools have more freedom and control over curriculum, school hours, term dates, and staff pay and conditions. These schools are run by an academy trust which employs the staff. Some academies have sponsors such as businesses, universities, other
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schools, faith groups or voluntary groups. Whilst academies do not have to follow the national curriculum, they must be seen to be offering a “balanced and broadly based” education and are held accountable through a legally binding ‘funding agreement’. Free Schools Free schools are a type of academy, but are entirely new schools, established where there is local parent demand, or independent schools becoming state schools for the first time. Free schools are funded directly by the government and have the same powers over their curriculum, finances and teacher recruitment as academies. Teachers, parents, existing schools, educational charities, universities, or community groups can set up free schools. Specialist Schools Specialist schools are state secondary schools that can focus on a particular subject area such technology, language, sports or arts. The schools must meet full national curriculum requirements but have a special focus on the chosen specialist area.
WWW.NEWBURNACTIVITY.CO.UK
NEAL.THOMPSONNEWBURNACTIVITY.CO.UK 0191 264 0014
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Faith Schools and Faith Academies Faith schools and faith academies are affiliated with a certain religion or religious body, such as the Church of England. Unless they are an academy, they have to teach the National Curriculum, although they can teach what they like in RE lessons. Faith academies don’t have to teach the national curriculum and have their own admissions processes. These schools may
get some of their funding from a religious organisation, which also usually owns the school buildings and the land. Anyone can apply for a place, but priority is often given to children who practise the faith of the school. Grammar Schools Grammar schools are state secondary schools that select their pupils by means of an examination taken by children at age 11, known as the “11-plus”. They are usually run by a governing body, which acts as admission authority. There are only about 163 grammar schools in England out of a total of about 3,000 state secondaries. Independent Schools Independent schools are private or public schools and charge fees to attend, rather than being funded by the government. They are governed by a board of governors. Independent schools may provide education for pupils regardless of ability, but some independent schools select students by ability, requiring them to pass an entrance examination or test. So now you have the basics, the next step on your journey is to visit the schools you are considering. Talk to the head teachers, where possible, but most importantly, talk to the pupils. Secondary school age students are more than capable of articulating what they like or dislike about their school and are likely to be more honest than almost anyone else! For more info visit www.gov. uk/ childcare-parenting / schools-education
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Clubs & Classes What Type of Activity is most Beneficial for my Child?
Parents are faced with a daunting array of extracurricular activities from which to choose appropriate classes for their children and the choices just keep getting wider! The vast majority of these activities offer many skills and benefits, as well as being enjoyable and fun. To help guide you in your decision making, Families takes a look at the benefits of some of the available options. Dance If your child is always practising their moves and can’t help getting up and moving as soon as there’s music in the air, signing up for dance classes is a great way to tap into their enthusiasm. Dance classes improve: Physical health: flexibility, coordination, balance, range of motion, stamina, muscle tone, strength and posture. Spatial and Self Awareness: feeling more at home in their own skin, becoming more agile and paying more attention to others sharing their space. Self-expression: expression of their feelings with immediacy through dance and movement. This can help children who struggle to express their feelings verbally. Socialisation: working as part of a team, developing a greater sense of trust and co-operation, and making new friends. Dance is a highly social activity. Cognitive development: improving memory skills through learning choreography. Self-confidence: which comes with each new routine they practice and master. There is a wide range of dance classes available – for both boys and girls – from pre-ballet classes and tap, street dance, contemporary, creative movement to music and more.
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Horse Riding Childhood is full of stories, songs and role-play games about horses so learning to ride can add an exciting new dimension to childhood. With horse riding comes: Responsibility: learning to look after and ride a pony instils a sense of responsibility and accountability for another animal that will be valuable as your child grows up. Stress relief: being outdoors can enhance your child’s sense of happiness and well-being. Experienced riders talk about the freedom and exhilaration of riding a horse in the great outdoors. Empathy: dealing with animals helps children understand that someone else’s needs have to be considered alongside, and sometimes before, their own. Confidence: learning to ride and care for an animal that’s twice their size can be really empowering for children. Learning life-lessons: great for instilling an attitude in children that success and rewards come from hard work. Many riding schools will take children as young as age 3 but some stipulate a minimum age of 5 or 6 years. Horse riding is usually taught in small groups (one to one is also available) to ensure each pupil receives a good level of attention.
to help children take small steps to learn the basic skills required and to improve their confidence. They don’t have to be naturals! Languages Learning another language can be exciting and empowering for children, whether to communicate with friends or family or to understand more when abroad. While English is an important language, it’s still the case that only 6% of the worlds’ population speak it as a first language - 75% don’t speak any English at all! Some benefits are: Growing kids’ brains: people who are bilingual are better at tasks that require multi-tasking and focussed attention. Brain scans show they have more grey matter in the regions of the brain involved in executive function. Boosting results in core subjects: children who have studied foreign languages
perform better in English and mathematics and SAT-verbal scores improve with the length of time students have studied a foreign language. Improving learning skills: develops the skills of memory, attention to detail, noticing, pattern-finding, creative thinking and reasoning. Ease of learning: post-puberty our aptitude for second language acquisition is reduced. Up until ages 7 or 8, children can learn to speak a second language with fluent grammar and without an accent. After this critical period the ability to master a foreign language gradually declines. Setting them up for adult life: learning a foreign language as a child means they have a lifetime to benefit from cross-cultural friendships, broad career opportunities, exciting travel adventures and deeper insights into how others see the world.
Ball Sports As children grow, learning how to play a variety of ball games is a great way of keeping fit. The remarkable thing about playing with a ball is that your child can run for miles without noticing, because their mind is focussed on the action and not the physical exertion. Some benefits are: Physical health: maintaining a healthy weight, good level of fitness and strengthening of bones and muscles. Co-ordination, timing and attention: improving all of these! Sociability: making friends, gaining confidence and improving self-esteem. Life skills: learning to handle victories and defeats, persistence, problem solving, self-discipline, leadership and working with others towards a common goal. Confidence: coaches are trained
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Christmas Winter Fun – Indoors! By Claire Winter
During the winter months, there’s no avoiding spending much more time indoors. It’s tempting to allow the kids to while away the time on devices or playing on their Xbox. But there are ways of keeping your kids off their screens and still having fun, even within the four walls of your own home. Here’s Families guide to some fun bad-weather-day activities. Make a Cardboard Town Get hold of a giant cardboard box or add lots of small ones together to make a town using large felt tips or paint. Let their imaginations run riot, and they can add cars and wooden/plastic people to make it more realistic. Set Up an Indoor Treasure Hunt Write some cryptic clues and hide
a treasure trail of items for them to find. They may want to design one for you to do too! Make Slime Batten down the hatches, get the aprons out and be prepared for a tsunami of a mess in your kitchen. This activity is satisfyingly messy and great fun. Get your children to research how to make the best slime or play-doh on YouTube (it’s for educational purposes after all).
Get Cooking If you aren’t keen on the slime idea, get the kids to cook you a meal instead. This is satisfying for them but also a treat for you (hopefully!). Suggest they plan a three-course meal for dinner. Get them to design a menu and research how to make the dishes online or refer to some recipe books. I think getting them to look in the fridge and come up with some dishes with ingredients you already have teaches them a great life skill too. A pasta sauce or an apple crumble are tasty, rewarding but simple dishes to make. If you have smaller children baking something simple like fairy cakes or biscuits would obviously be more appropriate. Play Cards Teach the kids the card games you used to play as a child. If you can’t get them interested in Patience or Gin Rummy, look up some cool card tricks for them to learn and show their friends. Make Special Cards Get out the art supplies and card and make some Christmas and birthday cards. Why don’t you get creative with Origami? My kids love making butterflies and birds and sticking them onto cards. Have a Kitchen Disco My favourite thing to do on a rainy day is to have a party in the kitchen. Choose the most appropriate room in your house
and sort a great playlist of music that will get the whole family moving. Have a ‘dance off’ with your kids. Make a Magazine Set up a news desk in the house and decide what the magazine is going to be about. Think up a great name and get someone in the “team” to design the front cover. Send out some roving reporters to write some news stories and create some fun features. The whole family can get involved! Set up a Racing Track Use masking tape to create a huge car-racing track around the house or living room, create a second track alongside it and get the toy cars out and race away! Get Active You could make an indoor obstacle course or try hula hooping or skipping in the living room. To make it more interesting, do some timed challenges. You could also create indoor hopscotch with masking tape. Try Balloon Ping Pong or Table Tennis Blow up some balloons and use some table tennis bats or make your own with some sticks and paper plates. Alternatively, if you have a table tennis set, drag out the dining table, set up the net and hold a tournament. Hours of fun!
The Empire Theatre and Cinema, Durham
Winter Wonderland at Whitehouse Farm
‘This Winter, Chapterhouse Theatre Company is delighted to be continuing its festive tradition of touring Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to theatres and stately homes across the UK, and now is your chance to win a family ticket for Friday 23rd November at 7.30pm. On Christmas Eve, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is whisked away on a journey through the past and into the future, accompanied by three ghosts determined to show him the true meaning of Christmas. This festive tale is brought alive in a traditional production complete
Make some Festive memories at Winter Wonderland for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children) with this fantastic Free Family Ticket up for Grabs. Begin your Christmas adventure by writing a letter to Santa and posting it in the North Pole Post box, meet the farm elves and Santa, walk through the winter wonderland and see Mrs Claus in the Toy Shop to collect your own personalised reply from Santa. At weekends you can enrol at Elf School and visit Mrs Claus Bakery to decorate festive biscuits. From Nov 20th – Monday 24th December. Prize does not
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with beautiful period costumes, song, dance, and a magnificent musical score. Join Chapterhouse Theatre Company and see if Scrooge’s heart will melt in time for Christmas Day… Send name and contact number to competitions@ familiesnewcastle.co.uk with header Scrooge. winner randomly drawn on 15th November.
include weekend or Christmas Eve visit to Santa – this must be booked separately. Please send your name and contact number to competitions@ familiesnewcastle.co.uk use winterwonderland as the subject and winner will be randomly chosen at noon on Sat 24th Nov.
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Christmas This Year’s Must-Have Christmas Toy Guide Every year, desperate parents exhaust themselves searching high and low for the most wanted toys on their child’s Christmas list. To avoid last minute panic and possible disappointment, the key is to do your research and start shopping early. To help you get prepared, we’ve put together a guide to Families top ten favourite Christmas toys for 2018. Dino Fingerling (£16.99) www.argos.co.uk Age: 6+. This year WowWee Toys’ popular Fingerlings are all about dinosaurs (or mythical unicorns, if you fancy something a little less fierce). The dinos respond to motion and sound and are bound to be a massive hit. LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Set (£89.99) www.amazon.co.uk Age: 9-15 Lego and Harry Potter in the same box, what’s not to love? If you’ve got a wizard-mad child at home, this 878-piece set will allow them to recreate the magic of Hogwarts. This lovely set has lots of detail that will give Harry Potter fans hours of fun.
Chow Crown Game (£24.99) www.argos.co.uk Age: 5+ A silly game for the whole family. The hat plays music, and while the beats are going, the crown spins round, and the wearer has to eat as many of the food items attached to the forks as possible. A game that’s most fun when hunger looms, you are in charge of loading the food items on to the forks. You can choose tasty treats like marshmallows and strawberries or items that might not be so palatable! Great fun for parties and sleepovers too. Pie Face Cannon (£26.99) www.amazon.co.uk Age: 5+ Pie Face continues to make the Christmas list year after year, and 2018 looks to be no different. This year you can buy a Pie Face Cannon. The cannon fires a pie every time, and it’s up to the contestant to use the red hand to stop getting “pied”. A great game to play after Christmas dinner! Pies away! The Poopsie Unicorn Surprise, £49.99 www.amazon.co.uk Age: 3+ Mums and dads across the country will be delighted to find this defecating unicorn on Christmas lists! The Poopsie Unicorn
Surprise is a ‘cute’ toy that poops out glittery slime when you feed it special unicorn food. While I can hear parents visibly groaning, this is sure to be a hit with unicorn-lovers everywhere. Plus if you are worried about getting unicorn glitter poo all over your carpet on Christmas day, never fear, the toy comes with its own potty! Densters (£19.99) www.firebox.com Age: 3+ All children love building a den! This great kit allows kids to set up their own hideaway in minutes. The set contains flexible toy monsters so you can create a magical den from everyday household items. It’s a great way to get your kids off a gadget! Mate Mini Movie Maker Kit (£14.99) www.findmeagift.co.uk Age: 8+ Create quirky little movies with your own phone and this ingenious Mini Movie Maker Kit. It includes modelling clay, modelling tools and googly eyes to make your own kooky characters, and backdrops so kids can create their own film. This is a great present or stocking filler for a budding animator or storyteller.
VTech Kiddizoom Smart Watch (£44.99) www.amazon.co.uk Age: 4+ This cool watch features a camera for photo and video taking, 3D style digital and analogue clock faces and eight great games. It also has a motion sensor for a pedometer so they can measure their steps. The watch also has a calculator, calendar, alarm, stopwatch and voice recorder. Plus the option to download more apps and games! Gravitrax (£48.29) www.amazon.co.uk Age: 8+ A cool game that encourages kids to boost their STEM skills. Use your imagination to build superb tracks and set the Gravity Spheres rolling! The game combines physics, architecture, and engineering, to engage and improve young minds. You can also buy additional packs to extend the system. A great buy for kids that love building, marble runs and Lego. My Rebounder Mini Rebounding Trampoline, £89.99 www.myrebounder.co.uk Age 4+. Classic fun, these rebounders (small trampolines) will keep kids active all year round and can be used inside and out. They help improve strength, balance, co-ordination and general fitness. They can also be folded, so they won’t take up too much room.
01207 233 733 familiesonline.co.uk
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What’s on & Where Regular What’s on Time to Get Up at Seven Stories, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Daily - until February 2019. Free with admission price. A multi sensory adventure with sensory props suitable for children aged 0-4 years and their families. Annual pass available. www.sevenstories.org.uk/ exhibitions/ttgu Were Your Wings Were....Journeys with David Almond at Seven Stories, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Daily – until 30th June 2019 Free with admission price. Exhibition delves into the writers dreamlike worlds and part of The Great Exhibition of the North. Suitable for children 7+ and their families. Annual pass available. www.sevenstories.org.uk/ exhibitions/713/where-your-wingswere-journeys-with-david-almond Storytime at Seven Stories, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle Upon Tyne. 10.30am/ 1pm/ 3.30pm daily. Free with admission. Stories by the expert Story Catchers for the whole family. All included in normal admission fee. Toddler Time Sessions at Krazy Kingdom Monday – Friday Daily 10.30 & 1.30pm - £2.85 1-4yrs Daily Toddler sessions with a different theme each day. Free for 0-6 month/ £0.50 6-12 month. www.krazykingdom.com Brunton Babies/Toddlers Group, St Aidan’s Church Community Room, Gosforth, NE3 5NF Various morning session – no booking required. A chance to meet other mums and relax, chat and watch your baby or toddler explore.
SEN/SEND Monday Community Session, The Ark, Crawcrook, NE40 3UG 1.30 – 3pm School Use Only – To Book in advance, FREE. Every Monday the Ark is available for local community groups/schools to book out privately for Free (donations accepted). Suitable for preschool to primary age. Users have included support groups for children and adults with learning difficulties, local charities and school groups for interactive R.E. lessons. www.crawcrook.org.uk or Tel. 0191 413 1339
Tuesday & Friday Inclusive Drop-In Sessions, Newburn Activity Centre, Grange Road, Newcastle, NE15 8ND 10am- 12pm. Cost is £5.00 per person, carer’s/helpers go free. Sporting activities aimed at people with disabilities including trampoline, archery (Tuesday only), cycling using our fleet of adapted bikes, New age curling, boccia, gym use (induction needed), sensory room and Interactive room. We also run a fun based outdoor football session as part of the activities (Tuesday Only). The interactive room and sensory room are available everyday but pre-booking is recommended. Tel. 0191 2640014
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www.newcastletoddlers.com or contact Ade Bilton 07742 522832
Tuesday Your Toddler Time, Baltic Centre Tuesdays 10am – 6pm - Level 2, Quay gallery FREE In this regular session, your under 5’s can explore the world around them through imaginative play in this self-led activity. Your Toddler Time explores themes of colour, sound and touch, and has been designed to support your toddler to play, make, think and do. Wonder and Wander, Baltic Centre Tuesday 11.30am - FREE Drop-in Join a member of Baltic’s Learning team for a Wonder and Wander tour where you and your toddler can discover Baltic’s current exhibitions through sensory exploration using materials, movement and sound. Meet in Quay, Level 2, to join a free sensory Wonder and Wander tour. Bravo Drama Group, The Ark, Crawcrook, NE40 3UG 10 – 10.45 am - Term Time Only – Booking is essential. Bravo is a fun, imaginative environment which uses drama, dance and more to help your children’s confidence flourish. Price includes 30 minutes of free soft play. www.bravoperformance.co.uk or call 07419141234
Wednesday Messy Play, The Ark, Crawcrook, NE40 3UG 10 – 11am Booking is required, £5 for 1st child and £4 extra siblings. Different weekly themes for kids aged 0-5 years, Tea/Coffee and juice
Friday Autism friendly soft play session, Eldon Leisure Centre, Greys Quarter, Intu Eldon Square, Newcastle, NE1 7XY 5.30pm – 7pm, tickets in advance or on the day – all tickets cost £3.50 Every Friday – no upper age limit and under 1’s free, all siblings welcome. Parents must remain in soft play area throughout the session. Tickets available in advance to avoid queues. Screened matted area and accessible toilet and changing facilities are available within soft play area. Tel. 0191 2699200 The Hub – SEN young people’s group, Barmoor Hub, Ryton. Friday 6.30pm- 8pm. 12Years – 18 years. Sport, Art and Cooking activities carried out by trained and volunteer staff. (National Lottery Funded) www.barmoorhub.weebly.com or Tel. 0191 4132053 www.facebook. com/Barmoorhub
Saturday Disability Friendly Hour Inflatable Planet, Walker Activity Dome, NE6 3BR 3pm – 4pm. Every Saturday there is reduced capacity and quiet surroundings with extra support from staff for those with disabilities to use the facilities. www.inflatableplanet.co.uk
included and an hour of soft play after. Book online or Tel. 0191 413 1339 JuniorYouth Club at Barmoor Hub, Ryton. Wednesday 6pm- 7.30pm £1 admission. Drop-in. For ages 8 – 12 years with a choice of sports, arts, crafts and tuck shop.
Thursday Messy Play, The Ark, Crawcrook, NE40 3UG 10 – 11am – as above - but Term Time Only. Different weekly themes for kids aged 0-5 years, Tea/Coffee and juice included and an hour of soft play after. Book online or tel. 0191 413 1339
Friday St Mary’s Rhymetime – under 5’s St Mary’s Heritage Centre, Oakwellgate, Gateshead, NE8 2AU 10:30 – 11:00 / £ 1.00 - per child payable at the door. Fun session of songs, rhymes, stories and musical instruments to encourage children to engage with reading from an early age. Refreshments served afterwards. www.heritage@gateshead.gov.uk / (0191) 433 4699
games, art & baby area, drinks and snacks included. Everyone welcome. No booking required. Forest Adventurers Pre-School Ryton Junior School, Ryton Sessions – Term Time Only 10:45 – 12:00 / £8.50 per session drop in Parents and pre-school children activities/outdoor fun, snacks and drinks, Block booking discount and sibling discounts available. Booking Essential for discounts. suzanne@forestadventurers.co.uk / 07711461409
Saturday Fuse Community Cinema, Prudhoe, NE42 5LJ 4pm and 7pm showings every second Saturday. Check website or social media for listings/prices and to book online or you can purchase 30 mins before each start time from the Cinema Shop. Under 12’s must be accompanied by an adult. Cinema shop prices – sweets & popcorn from £1, tea/coffee from £1, ice cream tubs from £2, bottled drinks from £1, fruit shoots 50p. Book online at www.fusecinema. co.uk or Tel. 01661 839380
Ryton Toddler Group – Term Time Only Ryton Community Infant School, Main Road, Ryton, Tyne and Wear, NE40 3AF 0191 4132776 / RytonCommunityInfantSchool@ Gateshead.gov.uk 9.30 – 11.00 / £1.00 per session Runs Weekly in Orange Class. Toys,
Childrens Film Club at Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle NE1 6QG Saturday mornings - £5.00 / person Under 12 film club, must be accompanied by an adult. See online for details and special offers in the Tyneside Bar Cafe. www.tynesidecinema.co.uk or call 0191 227 5500
SEND Play Sessions Krazy Kingdom, Annfield Plain, Co. Durham DH9 7YB 1st Tuesday of the Month. 4-6 pm or 6-8pm £5.00 per child. For children with a range of special needs and disabilities. The doors are closed to general public and on-hand SEND specialist using animals as a therapy tool. Siblings welcome. Reserve your space at info@krazykingdom.com or Tel. 01207 528899
available at reception. Relaxed story time at 10am. Social story available on the website. Please call 0300 330 1095 or visit www.sevenstories.org.uk
SNAP Session The Ark, Crawcrook, NE40 3UG 2nd Thursday of the Month. 4.30 – 6.30pm under 5’s £3.95 over 5’s £4.95. SNAP sessions are for children (and their siblings) with special needs and or disabilities. Both the soft play and sensory room are closed to general public, drinks and snacks are available to purchased and meal deals can be pre ordered up to 2pm on the day of SNAP. Suitable for preschool to primary school age. A short registration is required on 1st visit. www.crawcrook.org.uk or Tel. 0191 413 1339 Early Bird Opening Seven Stories, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ 1st Saturday of the Month. 9am – 10am - normal admission applies. For visitors on the Autism spectrum and their families. An early opening to ease your arrival and enjoy a stress free visit. No music or tannoy announcements. Sensory backpacks and ear defenders
Relaxed Screenings Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6QG Details of the current month’s relaxed screenings are available from 28th of the previous month. Anyone can attend these screenings but they are designed to cater for viewers who may be on the autistic spectrum, have other learning difficulties or experience anxiety or sensory issues. The lights are dimmed rather than turned off and the volume level is reduced. Visit site to download a Relaxed Screening Visual Story. Screenings are less restrictive of noise and movement by audience. Details available on line or at the reception. Please call 0191 227 5500 or visit www.tynesidecinema.co.uk Be Creative Autism Friendly Session, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, SouthShore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3BA. Sat 3rd Nov,/1st Dec and 5th Jan 2019, 2pm & 3pm – Free but booking essential. Baltic is working with North East Autism Society to help create a relaxed and engaging activity for families and friends on the autistic spectrum. Recommended for ages 5-13 years. Limited spaces and experienced artists include sensory elements to your session. Both adult and child must have a ticket. Tel. 0191 478 1810 or visit http://baltic.art/ familiesonline.co.uk
What’s on & Where Nov/Dec events November 8th November Ink and Drink with Tom Percival Seven Stories, Ouseburn Newcastle. 6-8pm. Tickets cost £9 per person. Booking required. Illustrator and author Tom Percival hosts an evening of doodling, scribbling and sketching! A creative workshop to inspire budding illustrators, explore how to develop your own creative skill sets and ideas and learn how to work across multiple art fields. Session is suitable for young adults/adults. No general admission is required. 10th November Story in a Suitcase at Seven Stories, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11-11:45am Tickets cost £3 per person and is suitable for children aged 4+ and their families. Meet Tom Percival, the author and illustrator of Perfectly Norman. Find out how he turned his love of drawing into a career and hear him read from his latest picture book, Ruby’s Worry. Afterwards, create your own brand new story with Tom, using a suitcase full of props for everyone to enjoy. Tom’s previous works include Goat’s Coat and Bubble Trouble. No general admission is required. 11th November Remembrance Day Various events are planned across the region check local council site for services near you. Field of Remembrance at Saltwell
Park in Gateshead, for the seventh year running there will be the opportunity to make a donation for a cross from various venues including the cafe in Saltwell Towers. Opening ceremony is 3rd November at 10.45am and the field will remain open for two weeks. 12th November Messy Play Baltic Centre, Gateshead. 10.30-11.30 am & 1pm-2pm (arrive 15 min early) Level 2 Quay gallery - £6.50 + booking fee. Booking essential – includes refreshments and ticket admits 1 adult and 1 child. This one hour session will encourage children to explore the world through messy play, sensory experiences and movement. Recommended for babies who can sit unaccompanied and preschool children. The free sensory room, green screen and den making are accessible after this session. 12th November Christmas baubles 3D, The Monday Club, The Staithes Cafe 6.30pm-8.30pm £20 pp – older children and adults. Spend an evening painting your very own Christmas themed baubles. Select 2 x 3D baubles and enjoy an evening of social pottery painting. Email info@thekilnpotterystudio.co.uk to reserve your place and £5pp deposit required.
17th November Royal Grammar School Open Day, Newcastle. 9.30am – 12.30pm Contact www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk 18th November Tales of the Tyne at Seven Stories, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 2:30-3:30pm Tickets are free, booking essential. Event suitable for young adults and adults. As the mines closed and the shipyards fell silent, the North East saw the end of a long and vibrant tradition. Where next for the communities who had grown up with the old industries woven into the fabric of their lives? David Almond’s wild and beautiful stories explore the end of the old North East, and the possibilities for new beginnings. www.sevenstories.org. uk/whats-on/events/123785/ tales-of-the-tyne 19th November Crackers about Christmas, Blaydon Library 5pm – 6pm £3 book in advance make a Christmas Kaleidoscope or an LED lit decoration. Refreshments included. 23rd November Little Piano Stories at Seven Stories, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11-11.45am £5 per person for children aged 5 and under and their families. Award winning composer and pianist Steve Luck joins us for an enchanting piano story concert perfect for little ones! Stimulate the senses and spark the imagination of parents and children alike with live piano music, story-telling and striking digital visuals. No general admission required.
Peas Vs. Penguins:
Fight for the Festive Freezer! Family:
Early Years:
Weekends at various times 24th November – 23rd December
Weekdays at 11am 20th November 21st December (Excluding Mondays) Weekends at 11am 24th November – 23rd December
Charity No: 1056812 Tel: 0300 330 1095 ext.300 See www.sevenstories.org.uk for more information
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12-16th November Anti Bullying Week Choose Respect over Bullying! Monday 12th November students are encouraged to wear odd socks to school to raise awareness and to raise money for a good cause. Check your local school or college.
@7stories @7stories @7stories
24th November - 24th December Winter Wonderland at Whitehouse Farm Centre, Morpeth. Make some Festive memories at Winter Wonderland by writing a letter to Santa and posting it in the North Pole Postbox. Weekdays meet the elves and visit Santa in his grotto (weekend visits and Christmas Eve book separate Santa Experience) and walk thought the Winter Wonderland, see the animals in their Christmas stables, ride Santa’s tractor and trailer. At weekends enrol into Elf School and make biscuits with Mrs Claus. 24th November Snug Seven Stories 11am. Tickets are £3. Session lasts 45 mins and is suitable for children aged 2+ and their families. The best feeling in the whole wide world is feeling warm and snug when it’s cold, wet and windy outside! Snuggle down in Seven Stories with your family, celebrate all the different ways we feel cosy and warm and discover how other creatures love to keep snug at this storytelling session. No visitor centre admission required.
My Daddy is a Silly Monkey Seven Stories. 2-3pm Tickets are £3. Session lasts 60 mins and is suitable for children aged 4+ and their families. How silly is your daddy - is he a hairy bear? Is your mam sometimes a naughty crocodile? How many things can they do at the same time? Can they be a twirly-whirly octopus? Join us for special storytelling, animal mask-making and plenty of silly interactive fun with your family! No general admission required. 30th November - 19th December Chopwell Wood Christmas Experience, Chopwell, Gateshead, Buy your tree and wreaths, meet Santa, eat roasted chestnuts, wander through the fairy-lit glade and support Friends of Chopwell Woods to give something back. There will be a craft marquee at weekends and local primary schools will be Carol Singing and maybe even an opening parade. Follow on Facebook to keep up to date. Open daily 8am – 8pm.
December Sat & Sun during December 1st - 23rd Winter Wonderland, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead. 10am/11.45am/2.15pm & 4.15pm £13 (admits one child and one adult) Celebrate the festive season this year in BALTIC’s Winter Woodland. Get creative making two Christmas tree decorations, yours to take home and treasure. Play with the wood elves and join in with our 12 Days of Christmas sing-along before settling down for a hot chocolate with marshmallows while the elves go about their special Christmas gift-giving. Every child will receive a gift and reindeer food to take home. Recommended for children aged 4-13. Broomhall Farm, Black Callerton, Newcastle, NE5 1NS. Open every day during December for a selection of trees, wreaths and stands, all displayed undercover. Monday 17th December Christmas Coffee Morning Chopwell Library 10am–12pm – festive quiz and refreshments. Just turn up. Tuesday 18th December Christmas Coffee Morning Blaydon Library 10am-12pm – festive quiz and refreshments. Just turn up. Santa Songs and Reindeer Rhymes at Blaydon Library 2pm – for under 5’s. Free. Just turn up. Wednesday 19th December Christmas Coffee Morning Crawcrook Library 10am-12pm – festive quiz and refreshments. Just turn up. Friday 21st December Santa Songs and Reindeer Rhymes Crawcrook Library 10am – for under 5’s. Free. Just turn up.
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Christmas Fairs Christmas Fairs 16th November – December 16th Newcastle Christmas Markets 16th - 18th November Winter Market, Whitehouse Farm Centre, Morpeth, NE61 6AW. Time: Fri 16th Nov 11am – 3pm, Sat 17th and Sun 18th 10am – 4pm. Free Entry. Local stalls, fairground rides, kids craft activities, soft play and meet the meerkats. Letter to Santa delivered by owl – pre-book online. www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk
LOCAL
FREE MARKET ENTRY *
BUSINESS STALLS NOT ON THE HIGH STREET
* main farm closed
16th - 18th November Beamish Hall, Stanley, Durham. DH9 0YB. Time: 10am-4pm. £4 admission but under 5’s FREE. With over 80 stalls of unique and original gifts from hand made jewellery, unique Christmas pet toys and treats to wood furnishings. 17th November Christmas Market, Temple Park, South Shields, NE34 8QN. Time: 1pm – 4pm.
24th November Christmas Fair, St Mary’s Heritage Centre. Time: 10am – 3.30pm with £1 payable on door including tea/coffee. Under 16’s FREE. Local stall holders will be providing a wonderful array of festive treats including cheese and chocolate, sweets and jewellery etc. with home baking and hot drinks available. Bring the children along to our drawing area and children’s craft stall. A great day to get you in the festive mood and pick up a hand crafted or unique present.
17th - 18th November St James Park Festive Fair, St James Park, Newcastle NE1 4ST. Time: 10am-5pm.
24th-25th November South Tyneside Christmas Fayre, Haven Point, South Shields, NE33 2JS. Time: 10am – 5pm & 10am – 4pm.
24th November Barmoor Hub, Ryton, NE40 3AG. Time: 10 am – 1pm. Free Admission. Ryton School Choir, Santa’s Grotto, Craft Stalls Raffle and Tombola, crafts etc.
30th November - 19th December Chopwell Wood Christmas Experience at weekends there will be a craft marquee selling festive gifts and stocking fillers. Time: 8am – 8pm daily.
St Mary’s Heritage Centre Presents
Fri 16th Nov - 11am till 3pm Sat 17th & Sun 18th Nov - 10am till 4pm Fairground Rides
Meet the Meerkats
Kids Craft Activites
Soft Play & Outdoor Play
Christmas Fair
Make Christmas gifts & decorations for our animals
Letter To Santa Delivered By Owl! Write a letter to Santa and watch one of our owls deliver it to Santa & get a personal response from Santa!
£5 per ticket (pre-book online)
St Marys Heritage Centre Saturday 24 November, 10am – 3.30pm
1st - 2nd December Jarrow Hall Festive Food and Gift Fayre – Jarrow Hall Anglo Saxon Farm, Jarrow, NE32 3DY. Time: 10am – 4pm. 2nd December The Chocolate Festival, Newcastle Civic Centre, Time: 10am, 12.15pm, 2.30pm & 4.45pm. Tickets to be booked via Eventbright. Sample a deliciously dynamic range of chocolate, speak with suppliers, purchase tasty treats for yourself or Christmas gifts for others, drop into one of our demo’s or talks from industry insiders and enjoy a chocolate cocktail or two.
Come along to St Mary’s for our annual Christmas fair and pick up a hand-crafted gift or a unique present. Local stallholders will be providing a wonderful array of festive treats including cheese and chocolate, sweets and jewellery, cards and cushions! Delicious home baking and hot drinks will be available and you can bring the children along to our drawing area and children’s craft stall. A great day for all ages to get you in the festive mood!
£1 payable on the door, includes a tea/coffee Further details: heritage@gateshead.gov.uk or 0191 433 4699
A NORTHERN STAGE PRODUCTION
TICKETS FROM £10
ERS MEMB20% SAVE
0191 230 5151 14 Families NewcastleGateshead
northernstage.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk
Festive What’s On Festive Family Events Fenwick, Newcastle. Santa on the Rooftop 3rd November - 24th December Join us on top of the store to meet Santa in his magical Cabin, help the elves in Santa’s Workshop, and stop off in Café Claus for hot drinks and snacks. Seven Stories Peas Vs. Penguins: Fight for the Festive Freezer! 24th November - 23rd December – various dates and times Join our Story Catchers for a unique live storytelling experience with games, activities and cosy family time. Suitable for the whole family. Theatre Royal Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, 27th November - 20th January A circus themed Goldilocks and the 3 bears full of laughter, dazzling special effects and magic, music and mayhem for a pantomime that is just right! Northern Stage The Three Bears at Christmas 27th November - 5th January As Christmas arrives so does Goldilocks – with live music, puppetry and a tale you thought you knew. Suitable for Families and under 5’s. A Christmas Carol 1st December - 5th January Charles Dickens classic story of ghosts, greed and goodwill. Relaxed Performances available. All welcome but great for ages 5+
Beamish Hall A Magical Christmas December 1st - 23rd An enchanted fairytale family experience for Big Believers and Young Adventurers who believe in the magic of Christmas and can help Santa thus becoming an honorary elf.
Christmas at Sage Gateshead
Tyne Theatre Cinderella 7th December - 30th December Polish those glass slippers, dust off that pumpkin and get ready to have a ball! Its the most magical pantomime of all! St Nicholas Cathedral Christmas Extravaganza 14th December 7.30 – 9.30pm A spectacular evening of Christmas music featuring the renowned choir of Newcastle Cathedral and Newcastle’s own amateur symphony orchestra. In aid of Newcastle Cathedral’s Sponsor a Choristor Fund. The Sage The Snowman with Northern Sinfonia December 22nd 2pm (relaxed) & 5pm Join the snowman on his magical journey through the winter sky featuring live orchestral music.
The Snowman in concert with Royal Northern Sinfonia 22, 23, 24 December © Snowman Enterprises Ltd. 1982, 2018
See the classic movie on the big screen, with live performance of the score by Royal Northern Sinfonia. A Christmas treat for all the family.
St Mary’s Heritage Centre Presents
visit www.sagegateshead.com or call 0191 443 4661 to book
Th e F ro g an d th e P rin ce ss :
NOVEMBER & DECEMBER SCREENINGS
The Customs House Beauty and the Beast 27th November - 5th January an enchanting pantomime with a unique Custom House twist. Santa’s Naughty Elf: Celebration of Calamity. 1st December - 24th December A pantomime for under 7’s and their families.
St Mary’s Heritage Centre brings to you a tale as old as time, performed
beautifully by the puppeteers of the Norwich Puppet Theatre. St Mary’s Heritage Centre A princess deems a Frog unworthy of being her friend, just because of what he is. In this masterful performance and Princess journey Winter Festival eventboth-FrogThe Frog from rejection to friendship and discover that deep down they are not so different after all. A happy ending to begin the festive season. and the Princess St Mary’s Heritage Centre December 22nd - 24th Saturday 22 December & Sunday 23 December, 11am & 2pm A taleMonday as24old as December, 11amtime performed beautifully by the puppeteers of the £10/£7 • 2 years and under FREE Norwich Puppet Theatre. A journey that discovers friendship and a happy ending to begin the festive season. Children 2 years and under are Free. 18
Produced by NewcastleGateshead Initiative
Playhouse, Whitley Bay Peter Pan 1st December - 5th January An action packed adventure full of special effects and a host of popular songs. Suitable for all ages.
Tickets: buy online at www.gateshead.gov.uk/whatson or 0191 433 4699
10th November
4pm
Johnny English: Strikes Again (PG)
10th November
7pm
Johnny English: Strikes Again (PG)
24th November
4pm
Bohemian Rhapsody (12A)
24th November
7pm
Bohemian Rhapsody (12A)
8th December
4pm
The Grinch (TBC)
8th December
7pm
Event Screening: Matthew Bourne's Cinderella (PG)
22nd December
4pm
Fantastic Beasts: The Grimes Of Grindlewald (TBC)
22nd December
7pm
It’s A Wonderful Life (U)
Tickets Available online at www.fusecinema.co.uk and in person 30 minutes before screenings Tel: 01661 839 380
Email: hello@fusecinema.co.uk
Within Fuse Media Centre, Moor Road, Prudhoe, NE42 5LJ Adults £7 - Concessions £6 - Children (under 12) £5 Event Screenings: Adults (16+), Children £5 Concessions are 12-15, 60+, & NUS Cardholders.
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All Aboard!