Families North Yorkshire: Nov/Dec 24 - Print

EEHome FTRake Me

The Christmas Experience at Lotherton November 25 to January 7

Issue 115 November/December 2023

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IN THIS ISSUE

Christmas Education Parenting Familiesonline.co.uk Families North Yorkshire 1

chapter house prep school

of queen ethelburga’s collegiate, york Excellent-rated, co-ed school set in 220 acres of countryside.

Students from 3 months to Year 5. Boarders from Year 3.

excellent facilities & clubs

open mornings 27th january & 9th March 2024

admissions@qe.org - 01423 333333 2 Families North Yorkshire

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CONTENTS

Welcome There’s a chill in the air, we’re edging towards winter and the Christmas season will soon be with us! Get ready to shop with inspiration for Christmas toys for the kids and family in our gift guide, which consists only of accredited toys tested by play experts and children.

Contact us Carla Finlayson, editor

In our Education feature, find out about multiple intelligences and discover the connection between growing sunflowers and maths skills. Those with little ones can also learn about how to improve their social skills and also find out why fairy tales hold such timeless appeal for children.

E: editor@familiesnorthyorkshire.co.uk T: 07734 690020 @FamiliesNYMag

If you are looking for activities to keep the family busy over the festive season then look out for our What’s on guide, full of great suggestions to help fill anything from an hour to a whole day. Maybe you are on the hunt to see if you can find the big fella himself? Why not check out our Where’s Santa? listings, you can then pay him a visit and find out if you’re on the naughty or nice list!

@FamiliesNYMag @familiesnorthyorkshiremagazine

In this issue 4. News 6. Education 8. Where’s Santa?

9. What’s on 12. Family Law 13. Shop Local 14. Gift Guide 16. Early Years 17. Parenting 19. Work

You also have the opportunity to be the lucky recipient of one of our 140 Christmas gifts for kids in this issue – make sure you apply inside and you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

Carla xxx July/August competition winners

Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list at www.bit.ly/JA23recipients

The paper used in this magazine is made with or contains forestbased materials from FSC-certified forests and its use will not have harmed forests.

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

The

Mount School York

GIRLS & BOYS

PRE-SCHOOL & RECEPTION 2024 ENROL NOW

mountschoolyork.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

Families North Yorkshire 3

NEWS

Learning Opportunities Beyond the Curriculum “It’s so important to offer learning opportunities and experiences that go beyond the standard curriculum so that students have an opportunity to thrive wherever their passions lie.” says Head of Chapter House, Karen Kilkenny.

For example, all our students in Years 1-5 study Spanish and Mandarin under the tutelage of native speakers and have weekly swimming lessons in the on-site 25m swimming pool. They partake in cooking and baking classes in a specialist food technology room and have forest school lessons taught by a qualified forest school teacher onsite in our dedicated woodland area. In addition, all pupils follow a sports programme under specialist coaches that focuses on multi-skills to keep every individual motivated and engaged in physical activity.

Our students also enjoy art, dance, expert music teaching and drama. As well as performing in school productions and nativities, pupils in Years 3-5 can perform routines at the annual Gym and Dance event to an audience of over 500. We also facilitate gifted students in exploring their talents through a variety of academic, arts and sports competitions.

To find out more about Chapter House, visit qe.org, email admissions@qe.org or phone 01423 333333.

Made Noise About Bullying - Anti-Bullying Week 2023 Anti-Bullying Week runs from Monday 13 to Friday 17 November this year, with the theme ‘Make a Noise About Bullying’.

The week will kick off with Odd Socks Day on Monday 13 November, during which adults and children wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

The theme of Make A Noise About Bullying came about following consultation with teachers and pupils by the AntiBullying Alliance which coordinates Anti-Bullying Week.

Teachers and children wanted a theme that empowered them to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes. In 2022, eighty percent of schools marked the week, reaching over 7.5 million children.

More info: www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

Are you ready to Rhumba?

Let a British Amateur Latin Dance Champion teach you to dance in just six weeks then showcase your talent to family and friends, at the glittering Strictly St Leonard’s Grand Finale on Saturday 23 March 2024.

St Leonard’s are recruiting couples now, so if you’d like to be part of a fun experience, and support a local Hospice, then have a look at the website for more information: stleonardshospice.org.uk/ how-can-you-help-us/events or call 01904 777 777. Hurry as places fill up fast!

25 Nov 2023 – 7 Jan 2024 Yorkshire's ultimate festive day out thechristmas experience.co.uk

LMG380_Lotherton_TCE2023_180x130_FamiliesNY_AW.indd 1 North Yorkshire 4 Families

13/09/2023 14:06 Familiesonline.co.uk

NEWS

Welcome to Ashville College Ashville College is a leading co-educational Independent day and Boarding School for pupils aged 2-18, that occupies 70 pristine acres in Harrogate. Whilst steeped in tradition, with buildings dating back to 1860, the campus boasts modern facilities for all pupils that include a £2m auditorium that seats up to 600 people; a £3.8m sports centre that is home to a 30-metre swimming pool, gym and fitness studios; and a recently renovated dining hall that rivals any eating experience.

Ashville prides itself on nurturing all children to afford them the best possible start in life. Parents are safe in the knowledge that Ashville provides an environment where wellbeing matters, pupils thrive in a culture of high expectations, and depart ‘future ready’ for life beyond school. Last year, for most (52%), that meant acceptance to a Russell Group University.

Visit their website for details of their upcoming Open Events - ashville.co.uk

Trial for £1 or free bus fares for young people Bus fares for children and young people are being reduced in York, in a four-month trial to support families and encourage them to choose sustainable transport.

Until January 2024, up to 3 children accompanied by a fare-paying adult will travel for free, and anyone aged from 5 to 16 will pay no more than £1 for a single fare when travelling unaccompanied by an adult on any bus journey which starts and ends within the City of York boundary.

These fare reductions are being delivered using money from the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which is funded by government and delivering projects such as fare subsidies and infrastructure improvements.

The BSIP will run up to the end of March 2025 and aims to leave a lasting legacy of high-quality bus services.

The £1 child single fare will be cheaper than the majority of single fares currently being offered, however for daily bus users, weekly or monthly child tickets will in many cases continue to offer the best value.

The discounted fares are available on all local bus services within the City of York boundary, including Park & Ride.

Dedicated school services, coach services, race day shuttle services or tour buses are not included in the offer.

Note that under 5s can already travel free of charge on the city’s local bus network.

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Less play linked to rise in mental health problems Fewer opportunities to play and roam free has led to a decline in mental health among adolescents, new research suggests.

The team behind the findings say the reduction in play stems from parents’ ‘good intentions carried too far’ as families are subject to more messages about keeping children safe and more emphasis on school achievement.

The research was carried out by three prominent specialists in child development at the University of Florida, who say that children’s worsening mental health has ‘crept up on us gradually, over decades.’

Taking part in ‘risky’ play, such as climbing high in trees and activities which encourage personal responsibility, can help to develop self-confidence and reduce the risk of future anxiety, say the study authors, but children are being given fewer opportunities to engage in these sorts of activities.

More info: www.bit.ly/FloridaUni

GIVEAWAY!

Therapeutic Fairytales Volume 2

APPLY NOW!

This is the chance for THREE lucky families to receive a complete set of three new Therapeutic Fairytales (Volume 2), which show how being in nature can support children through different feeling states including anxiety, feelings of loneliness and OCD. Animal guides lead the way, offering gentle, mindful breathing exercises to help children find stillness inside.

Beautifully illustrated and sensitively written, these books explore the anxiety and loneliness we can all feel, while offering practical, self-calming strategies that can be learnt together as a family. ‘A truly wonderful set of resources – of value to us all’ – Sarah Temple, GP and author.

For more info, visit www.bit.ly/fairytalestherapeutic For those interested in storytelling as a therapeutic, creative tool, author Pia Jones and illustrator Sarah Pimenta have also written a manual full of practical, creative exercises on how to read with children therapeutically. More at www.bit.ly/ storybookmanual

APPLY AT www.familiesmag.co.uk/go Closing date: 1 December T&Cs at www.bit.ly/fairytalestcs

Families North Yorkshire 5

EDUCATION

Understanding multiple intelligences

By Zuzu Jordan Look up the word intelligent in the thesaurus and you will find words like ‘smart’, ‘clever’ and ‘bright’. Traditionally in schools, pupils with regular high scores in academic or IQ tests are recognised as intelligent. Yet, as a society, we marvel at great artists, musicians and Olympians for their outstanding talent. How intelligence is measured is a debatable topic and leaves many people divided.

Howard Gardner (a well know theorist) proposed that there are many types of intelligences.

Logical relates to someone who can carry out mathematical problems, hypothesise and investigate scientifically.

Linguistic describes someone who is considered word smart and can easily learn languages.

Spatial refers to artists and architects who can visualise with their mind’s eye.

Kinaesthetic is being able to use the whole body or parts of the body exceptionally well, such as a dancer or athlete.

Naturalistic is the ability to identify different species and work well with all things natural.

Musical refers to someone who can perform, compose and appreciate musical patterns.

Children may show strong signs of intelligence in more than one area, perhaps with a tendency to a dominant one.

Sometimes their intelligences may shift when exposed to different experiences and activities.

Interpersonal is working effectively with people, knowing their intentions and motivations.

Intrapersonal refers to strong self-awareness and using this understanding in everyday life.

How do we support our children in harnessing their intelligences?

Not all educational establishments will fully cater for your child’s intelligences but parents can play a vital role by using some of these ideas at home: Start by observing what your child enjoys across a range of activities. What are they like outside? Do they naturally tap out rhythms in the car whilst the radio is playing?

Celebrate what they CAN do so they develop a sense of pride. Does your child know which intelligences they lean towards?

and

Learn Sing, to Dance Act

Play to their strengths. For example, if your child is spatially smart, ask them to draw what they are learning. If they show signs of naturalistic intelligence, give them sticks and other natural objects to create patterns and images.

Children are required to learn to read. Choose books that tap into their interests and intelligences.

Discuss your child’s strengths with their teachers. The more they understand your child’s leanings, the better lesson planning can involve multiple intelligences.

Play games such as Junior Scrabble, Monopoly, making sound effects in a story, charades, puppets and role play or garden activities.

Nurture their particular intelligences with after school activities/clubs.

Use online quizzes which help identify children’s intelligences.

Read books that help children understand the importance of working on their intelligences, for example You are Awesome

by Matthew Syed.

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.

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EDUCATION

Growing sunflowers and learning maths?

By Usha Patel Parents often ask me how to get their child interested in maths because ‘they just don’t get it.’ Luckily, they can give their child a lot of help at home in just a few easy steps.

Maths language It’s essential to keep maths language simple to build a strong foundation. Use words like ‘more’ for addition and ‘less’ for subtraction in everyday situations. For instance, you can introduce these concepts during meals: more roast potatoes, less sprouts! Repeatedly using these words alongside tangible materials helps children gradually grasp mathematical concepts.

Maths talk There are many words to describe each mathematical function.

When you teach your child the basic concepts of ‘more’ and ‘less,’ you are implicitly teaching them maths and how to think mathematically. By doing this, you are combining logic, sequence and memory. Having the basics in place can also allow you to introduce more words to describe the same function: ‘add,’ ‘together,’ ‘plus’ and ‘addition’ all mean the same.

Develop sequential thought processes Sequential thought processes are fundamental to understanding logical thinking. Parents can encourage these by discussing daily activities and routines with their children. By reflecting on how one event follows another, children can grasp the concept of sequencing, which is a vital skill in mathematics.

Establish logical thinking Children also need to develop logical thinking abilities. Fun activities like baking a cake or growing sunflowers can help introduce logic to young minds. These activities require following

a series of linear steps. Discussing each phase from beginning to end helps children understand the importance of logical thinking, which can extend to organising their school bags or planning for sleepovers.

Check memory Short-term memory is crucial for mathematical tasks. Insufficient working memory can hinder a child’s ability to hold and manipulate information during calculations. Playing memory games is an effective way to enhance memory capacity. For instance, counting games such as counting the number of cars on the way home can reveal memory strengths and weaknesses.

Finally, learning should be fun. When we are relaxed, we are more predisposed to absorbing what we learn. The funnier the delivery, the quicker it will stick. If your child is struggling and your efforts need to gain ground, take some steps to put the fun back into maths!

Usha Patel is a neurocognitive therapist at Raviv Practice London. If you need help to put fun into maths for your child, you can contact Usha at www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk.

S TICKET M O FR

£15

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Families North Yorkshire 7

To avoid disappointment please check with the organiser.

Santa Underground Santa Claus is coming to Caphouse! This Christmas, before Santa goes down your chimney he is going down the mine!

Travel 140m underground to join Santa in his unique and atmospheric underground grotto where he will be waiting to meet a few select children. Will the bell place you on the naughty or nice list? Good children will receive a present and certificate while naughty ones will get coal…

Hurry - tickets will sell out! ncm.org.uk General – Child £12 / Adult £10 Christmas Eve – Child £13 / Adult £11

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland

Step into the enchanting world of “The Christmas Experience” at Lotherton!

Journey to Santa’s North Pole, where you’ll be greeted by jovial elves and discover the secrets of Christmas in their bustling workshop. Make a wish at our magical wishing well before visiting Santa himself in his cozy log cabin, where a special gift awaits you. For our littlest believers, Santa’s Cabin is open for weekday visits, offering a perfect first encounter with the magic of Christmas. As well as relaxed Santa sessions for children with additional needs.

Join us in the enchanting Elf Village for arts and crafts activities in the elves’ cabins. Warm up with a hot chocolate or mulled wine in our festive yurts, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Join Mrs. Claus in the grandeur of the Hall for a heartwarming session of gingerbread decorating. Unleash your creativity and enjoy the sweet aroma of spices as you adorn your own festive treats.

Come take a stroll through the magical, interactive Festive Woodland Walk, adorned with playful Christmas installations that capture traditions past and present.

Discover the hidden gem of Fairy Dell, a secret fairy rockery that comes alive with enchanting sounds and twinkling lights as dusk falls.

Wander through the beautifully lit Lotherton Formal Gardens, and step back in time in Lotherton Hall, where you can admire the Edwardian splendour of Christmases past.

Experience the magic, the wonder, the joy of Christmas like never before at “The Christmas Experience”. Book your tickets at thechristmasexperience.co.uk and make this holiday season truly unforgettable!

88 Families FamiliesNorth NorthYorkshire Yorkshire

York’s favourite festive event , Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland, offers a magical winter experience for all ages, with a glistening outdoor ice rink, thrilling funfair, magical Santa’s Grotto and cosy alpine café The Chalet – now with a rinkside terrace! Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a visit to Santa and his elves. Follow the through the snowy enchanted woodland to find path cosy log cabin and collect a special gift. Book his now: yorkshireswinterwonderland.com

Baby Meets Santa at The Web Adventure Park

A brand-new Christmas event for 2023, Baby Meets Santa will be running on the 6th and 7th of December. With only two dates available, please pre-book tickets to avoid disappointment. This special Christmas event is perfect for babies who are too young to enjoy the rides, but still want a meeting with Father Christmas! A special event that is filled with festive spirit, ideal for a little one’s first Christmas.

Book now: webadventurepark.co.uk

Santa’s Magical Sunday Lunch Extravaganza Join The Bridge Hotel & Spa for their famous Santa Sunday lunch, this Christmas time!

A wonderful family occasion with the best of Yorkshire hospitality. A truly memorable occasion with a table magician and facepainter to entertain the family. A visit to Santa’s grotto with childrens gifts and an individual photograph to take away, will all make for a truly delightful day. £27.95 Adults / £16.00 Children / Under 3 FOC Book your space now, thebridgewetherby.co.uk The Bridge Hotel and Spa, LS22 5HS Tel: 01937 580 115

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WHAT’S ON?

What’s On? November & December

18 Nov - 31 Dec 14 Nov - 23 Dec

11 Nov - 5 Jan

17 Nov - 7 Jan

Merry Mouse and the Bedtime stories trail Danby Lodge National Park Centre Join us for our annual Merry Mouse Children’s Christmas Trail. The creatures of the wood are feeling sleepy as it is time for them to hibernate through the winter.

Help Merry Mouse discover the story that will put the woodland to sleep.

12 Nov Taster Tour at The Workhouse The Workhouse Museum, Ripon Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be poor in Victorian England?

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Christmas at Burton Agnes Hall Burton Agnes Hall The house will be decorated with original, handmade decorations, with many crafted from flowers and foliage cropped and dried from the walled garden.

17 Nov - 14 Jan Winter Illuminations Yorkshire Wildlife Park Wrap up warm and experience Yorkshire Wildlife Park after dark as you explore the magic of our illuminated enchanted realms.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland York Designer Outlet York’s favourite festive event, Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland, offers a magical winter experience for all ages, with a glistening outdoor ice rink, thrilling funfair, magical Santa’s Grotto and cosy alpine café The Chalet – now with a rinkside terrace!

18 Nov - 24 Dec Christmas Trail in the Deer Park Raby Castle, Darlington This Christmas, families can set out on a winter exploration of the Deer Park. Spot the wild herds of red and fallow deer and enjoy the magnificent views of the medieval castle

Christmas Trail at High Force High Force Waterfall, Barnard Castle Wrap up warm and enjoy a wintery walk to High Force Waterfall this December.

Collect the Christmas clues and fill in the trail sheet.

18 Nov - 8 Jan Winter Illuminations & Christmas Adventure Stockeld Park When winter arrives, Stockeld Park transforms into a mesmerising wonderland of twinkling lights and festive cheer.

Light Switch On York light switch on November 16th Ripon light switch on November 18th Skipton Light Switch on November 26th Thirsk Light switch on November 29th Wetherby light switch on November 30th Selby Market Place December 2nd

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WHAT’S ON? 25 Nov - 24 Dec 19 Nov

24 - 26 Nov Scarborough Sparkle Scarborough Open Air Theatre It’s the perfect place to get into the festive spirit this Christmas. Dust off those winter coats, grab your woolly hats and come and see what we have for you to enjoy.

Christmas at Mother Shipton’s Mother Shipton’s Cave Step into a world of magic and wonder as you enter Mother Shipton’s magical Christmas experience.

25 Nov - 24 Dec

25 Nov

The Christmas SEND Event 2023 The Web Adventure Park For unforgettable festive memories, experience an amazing Christmas day at the Web Adventure Park.

A wondrous event catered for children with SEND that includes a family audience with Father Christmas himself, a few cheeky Elves, a gift, and Father Christmas’ real reindeer, Donner, and Blitzen.

22 Nov - 30 Dec Glow - Winter Illuminations RHS Garden Harlow Carr Let it Glow! A magical evening for all the family

Christmas Chocolate Cottage Making York Cocoa Works Create your own Christmas Chocolate Cottage, the perfect festive gift, table centre piece (or treat for yourself!).

Malton’s St Clement’s Festival Malton Market Place A one day festival will be a celebration of winter, harvest, music and traditional blacksmithing.

Meet Mother Christmas Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes Come along to meet Mother Christmas, write and post your letter to Santa, have fun doing some Christmas crafting and enjoy a luxury hot chocolate at the Firebox café.

Snowman and Elf Trail Around Northallerton Organised by Love Northallerton – Northallerton BID, the annual snowman trail is back and better than ever!

2 - 16 Dec Christmas in the Courtyard Fairhursts at Berrys Cafe and Farm Shop, Swinithwaite Fairhursts will bring a Christmas market feel to Wensleydale. With stalls, fire pits and festive BBQ. 2 - 17 Dec Elf Antics Beningbrough Hall Join Father Christmas for Elf Antics with a brand new tale in the Victorian laundry.

2 - 23 Dec

The Christmas Festival 2023 The Web Adventure Park For unforgettable festive memories, enjoy a magical Christmas Experience at the Web Adventure Park. A wondrous event that includes a family audience with Father Christmas himself, a few cheeky Elves, and lots of Christmas fun.

25 Nov - 7 Jan

The Christmas Experience Lotherton Hall A magical journey through the enchanting world of Christmas. From visiting Santa in the North Pole to crafting in the Elf Village, there’s something for all the family.

30 Nov - 3 Dec The Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair The Great Yorkshire Showground Everything you could want to thrill family and friends at Christmas from sensational festive decorations; wow factor wreaths; unusual food; gorgeous gifts and stunning stocking fillers to decorative accessories for your home and garden.

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1 Dec - 31 Dec

Christmas Experience Monk Park Farm Father Christmas and his team of Farm Elves will be visiting Monk Park Farm this year to help you get into the festive spirit.

3 Dec Knaresborough Christmas Fireworks Knaresborough Market Place The big annual finale to the ever popular Knaresborough Christmas Market Weekend is a professional fireworks display over the town’s famous Viaduct and River Nidd.

Santa Sunday Lunch Carlton Towers Enjoy a three course festive Sunday Lunch in our staterooms before visiting Santa by the fireside in our Bow Drawing Room.

5 - 24 Dec Be Amazing Arts Presents: A Christmas Carol Kemps General Store, Malton Follow Dickens around Malton’s beautiful marketplace, as he tells the story and brings to life, before your eyes, the classic and loved characters of A Christmas Carol.

8 - 22 Dec Winter Wonderland Sewerby Hall and Gardens An all-new spectacular display of lights, sounds and special effects will bring the grounds to life for a great evening out this festive season.

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9 - 24 Dec Santa Specials Scarborough North Bay Railway Fun for all the family – all aboard the magical Christmas Express, immerse yourself in festive wonder as this very special train takes you on a journey to Lapland Central.

10 Dec The Snowman Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall Do not miss Raymond Briggs’ magical Christmas story, The Snowman, with live music by the Shepherd Group Brass Band.

14 - 17 Dec Illuminated Winter Wonderland Ripon Spa Gardens Enjoy lights, decorations, an alternative Christmas tree competition, Santa and sleigh.

Snow Globe in Ripon Multiple Locations, Ripon A hugely popular attraction that instantly transports you to your very own winter wonderland.

16 - 23 Dec Father Christmas Magical School of Wishes The Shambles, York Follow the twists and turns of the ancient and most magical street in York, and eventually, if you’re lucky, you’ll find the entrance to the prestigious School for Elves.

23 Dec Kids Christmas Party The Mayfield, Seamer A jolly afternoon with children’s entertainer Dave Marshall. Fun, games & prizes for your little elves!

1 Jan New Year Fireworks Reeth Green, Reeth New Year Fireworks: Family firework display on the village green. 7pm start

Theatre 9 - 11 Nov

1 - 30 Dec

9 Dec - 6 Jan

School of Rock Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York Based on the 2003 hit film, School of Rock follows Dewey Finn, a failed wannabe rock star who decides to make a bit of cash teaching at a prestigious prep school. Once there, Dewey soon discovers that his students haven’t a clue about rock and roll, and vows to mould them into a rock band to enter the Battle of the Bands competition.

Beauty and the Beast Stephen Joseph Theatre What’s in a name? It’s something you’ve got no control over really, unless you choose it yourself - and Beauty definitely DIDN’T choose hers!

Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates of the River Ouse Grand Opera House York York legend Berwick Kaler returns with all of the gang for his hilarious take on the classic story of the sailor from York who finds himself marooned on a desert island, but he’s not alone!

16 Nov Under the Little Red Moon York Theatre Royal English Touring Opera’s story for babies and their grownups begins with a red moon rising. But why is the moon red? Now it’s turned blue and it’s crying. Do the ladybirds know why? Perhaps the little pond can tell us? Or maybe the rabbits have the answer…

Harrogate High School, HG1 4AP 3rd February: 2 - 4pm 13th April: 2 - 4pm 29th June: 2 - 4pm harrogate@ mum2mummarket.co.uk

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7 Dec - 1 Jan Jack and the Beanstalk Spa Theatre, Scarborough Spa Pantomime is back with a bang this year at Scarborough Spa in the form of JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. This traditional panto is a mix of myrrh, mayhem and misunderstanding as Jack triumphs over the evil Giant Blunderbore.

8 Dec - 7 Jan

22 Nov - 14 Jan Dick Whittington Harrogate Theatre Join Dick Whittington on an adventure of a lifetime to seek his fame and fortune in London town where the streets are paved with gold!

Alongside his trusty sidekick Tammy the Cat, Dick is going to need all the help he can get if he’s going to win the day, become the Lord Mayor of London and defeat the evil King Rat! Access Performances Relaxed Performance – Thur 21 Dec at 2pm & Thur 11 Jan at 10am British Sign Language Interpreted Performance – Sat 9th Dec at 12pm & Fri 29th Dec at 2pm Audio Described Performance – Sat 9th Dec at 12pm & Fri 29th Dec at 2pm Captioned Performance – Sun 10th Dec at 12 pm & Fri 5th Jan at 7pm 27 Nov - 2 Dec

Mum2Mum Markets

WHAT’S ON?

Shrek the Musical Grand Opera House York Join Shrek and his trusty sidekick Donkey as they set out on a quest to defeat the fearsome dragon and rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona.

With a heart-warming story and a cast of unforgettable characters, this musical extravaganza is a journey you won’t want to miss.

12 - 23 Dec Thor’s Great big Adventure Stephen Joseph Theatre Thor the Walrus is off on his holidays. He’s booked a few nights down South, then a short stop in Scarborough for New Year before he heads home to the ice and snow of the North Pole.

12 - 31 Dec Hansel & Gretel Junction Goole The moon shines bright on the woodcutter’s cottage.

But times are tough and the cupboard is bare. A father makes a heartbreaking decision that leads to an epic journey for brother and sister.

13 Dec - 2 Jan

Jack and the Beanstalk York Theatre Royal Starring Nina Wadia as Fairy Sugarsnap (EastEnders, Citizen Khan, Still Open All Hours, Goodness Gracious Me), James Mackenzie as the villainous Luke Backinanger (CBBC’s adventure game show Raven and CBeebies’ Molly and Mack) and York favourite Robin Simpson (Mrs Smee in All New Adventures of Peter Pan and Manky in Cinderella), as the hilarious Dame Trott!

Access Performances Dementia Friendly Performance – Fri 22 Dec at 2:30pm Relaxed Performance – Sun 31 Dec at 11am British Sign Language Interpreted Performance – Wed 03 Jan at 1pm Audio Described Performance – Sat 6 Jan at 1pm Captioned Performance – Sat 6 Jan at 1pm

Beauty and the Beast Bridlington Spa Get ready to be spellbound with this tale as old as panto-time! When a magical sorceress transforms the handsome Count into a frightening Beast, only true love can break the spell. Join Belle and a host of largerthan-life characters for a fast-paced pantomime packed with family-fun, music, and dance. It’s going to be a BEAST! 16 - 17 Dec Elf The Musical Grand Hall, Scarborough Spa Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole, growing up believing he is an elf. When he discovers the truth, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity.

21 - 24 Dec Santa Rocks The Forum, Northallerton Santa’s busy getting ready for the annual ‘Snow Ball’ and all is going well until the wicked Jack Frost zaps the North Pole of all it’s festive cheer! Luckily Santa has a jolly plan to keep everything under control and tries to raise enough festive cheer in time for the party!

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FAMILY LAW

Holidays for Separated families

By Kate Robinson When schools break up for half terms and holidays, it’s always difficult for parents to juggle spending time with the children, work and holidays. This can be even more complicated in families where the parents no longer live together.

We have put together some simple tips which in our experience, can help to minimise last minute holiday stresses for parents.

As soon as the school term dates are released, try to share the holiday dates with your ex and make a list of dates where childcare help is needed, so this can be shared with your ex and extended family. If you can, try to share holidays and make sure that you both get chance for quality time with your children.

If your separation is still quite new, try to take comfort in knowing that you will probably feel a wide range of emotions from fear, worry, anxiety, relief and guilt when your children are with the other parent. Remember, raising children can be hard and it’s ok to need a break sometimes!

If you are going abroad (anywhere outside the UK), remember to:-

•

Contact details of the other parent

•

Divorce or marriage certificate if your surname and your child’s surname are different

•

Proof of your own relationship with your child (birth certificate or adoption certificate).

•

Try to keep healthy lines of communication open. Send pictures and videos of your children having a nice time.

Remember, if you encourage your child to communicate with the other parent when they are away with you, the chances of that same communication being reciprocated when your children are away from you is vastly increased.

•

obtain written consent from the other parent well in advance. You will need consent if both parents have Parental Responsibility and are either on the birth certificate of your child, or you were married to your ex at the time your child was born; and

If you have any concerns about holiday arrangements for your children, then take advice from an experienced family lawyer.

Here at Hartlaw we offer a free initial consultation – which means you can have a good information gathering meeting, without the worry of the cost.

•

take these important documents with you when you travel (as well as the passports!!)

•

Written consent to the trip from your ex-partner – ideally with a copy of their passport if that’s possible.

Please contact one of our expert solicitors in the family team at Hartlaw, Kate Robinson kate@hartlaw.co.uk and Katie Audsley katie@hartlaw.co.uk , or telephone our office on 01937 547000.

festive fun at york designer outlet!

skate

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SHOP LOCAL

Shop Local We are so lucky to have a wide variety of gorgeous independent shops right here in North Yorkshire. It’s very easy to buy products on impulse, so one of the many benefits of shopping locally is that it makes you more conscious of your purchasing.

Local business owners are often well informed and passionate about their products which in turn makes your purchases far more unique and personal to the receiver of these gifts. Why not support one of these local businesses this Christmastime.

The Crystal Buddha

The Crystal Buddha is an award winning independent holistic crystal shop based in Knaresborough on the High Street. Here you will find a variety of gorgeous globally inspired goodies with a selection of candles, crystals, incense, and quirky gifts.

They also have a dedicated healing space for Tarot, Reiki, and workshops and training courses.

Find out more on their social media pages or at thecrystalbuddha.com

Treasures of Wetherby

Christmas is almost here, the shelves are packed with fantastic toys and games as well as a fabulous Lego range, beautiful crafts from Djeco and the new Sylvanian Penguins are very cute.

With a game selection better than ever before, so if you want a game to get everyone laughing, quick family game at the dinner table or a brain teaser, you can find it all at Treasures.

A big part of Treasure charm is helping customers find the perfect gift, they offer a beautiful gift-wrapping service that is free and can deliver too. Toy shopping in person is so much more fun so why not pay a visit to Treasures this Christmas.

You can also shop online at treasurestoys.co.uk

Little Bird Artisan Markets

Doodlebug

Doodlebug is a family owned business in Wetherby who stock quality brands, from UK companies and beautiful handmade items ensuring that they can provide you with unique clothing, gifts and toys. They specialise in ages 0-9 years.

They also have a selection of handpicked quality pre-loved clothing. As firm believers in doing their bit for the environment, this ensures that clothing is loved again by a new family once your child outgrows them.

You can also shop online, doodlebugkids. co.uk where click and collect is available or delivery can be arranged.

Glazed and Confused Ceramics

Glazed and Confused Ceramics is a kitsch little pottery and art studio located in the heart of Tadcaster! It is a family run and female owned studio. Here you can come and relax, be yourself and learn some new skills such as wheel throwing, pottery painting, slab rolling, crafting and more!

Easingwold Sat Nov 11th - 9am - 2pm Sat Dec 9th - 9am - 2pm

They specialise in baby /furbaby prints and clay impressions, 3D castings, commission work, birthday parties and more! Why not pop in and see them!

Thirsk Sun Nov 19th - 10am - 3pm Sun Dec 17th - 10am - 3pm

Find out more on their social media pages or at glazedandconfusedceramicandartstudio. co.uk

The Yorkshire Dog Photographer

Having a professional photo shoot with your family really is the gift that keeps on giving - because these special photographs will be with you for life. Your dog is of course a huge part of family life too and memories will be made together and captured forever.

Gift vouchers are available and you can be all wrapped and ready for Christmas!

Simply visit theyorkshiredogphotographer.com

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Harewood House Christmas Market Wed Nov 8th to Sun Nov 12th - 10am till 4pm each day (ticket event and cost for tickets is £5.00)

Richmond Sun Nov 19th - 10am - 3pm Sun Dec 3rd - 10am - 3pm

Wetherby Sun Nov 19th - 10am - 3pm Sun Dec 10th - 10am - 3pm Harrogate Horticultural Sat Nov 25th & Sun Nov 26th -9am3pm Leyburn Sat Nov 25th - 9am till 3pm Ripon Sun Nov 26th - 10am till 3pm Harrogate Valley Gardens Sat Dec 2nd & Sun Dec 3rd -10am-3pm Sat Dec 9th & Sun Dec 10th -10am-3pm Sat Dec 16th & Sun Dec 17th -10am3pm Northallerton Sun Dec 10th - 10am till 4pm Families North Yorkshire 13

Christmas

Your Christmas Toy

GIFT GUIDE

Whether you’re a spontaneous shopper or a meticulous gift planner, you’ll want your choices both to hit the mark and become firm favourites. While age recommendations are useful guidelines for toy purchases, remember that not all children develop at the same rate. Do consider the child’s passions and hobbies.

Do they love dinosaurs? Are they a budding artist or passionate about science?

Once you have a clearer picture in your mind, it’s easier to get started.

For inspiration, take a look at The Good Play Guide’s (www.goodplayguide.com) top picks for the festive season. You can rest assured that these accredited products Rock Stepper - Educational have been independently tested by play experts and most importantly, by children.

Playmat

(baby & pre-school) £195

Paddington’s Campervan

Tonies Toniebox

Paddington and Bessie the Campervan are ready for an adventure. Paddington himself has a picnic hamper, blanket, cup of tea and, of course... a marmalade sandwich. Press Bessie’s grill to hear a ‘Beep Beep’ and a ‘Broom Broom,’ Paddington’s voice and fun music from the TV show. The campervan roof comes off so Paddington and his accessories can easily be packed and unpacked.

Role-play toys like this help to build vocabulary and language skills as children give the characters voices and talk about what is happening while they play.

The Toniebox is an invincible musical storybox that children control. The box comes with one character, with addons available such as Peter Rabbit, Elsa (Frozen) and James and the Giant Peach.

The figures help bring stories to life, also giving children a sense of independence as they choose which character they want to listen to and place the figure on the box. There are ‘Tonies’ that just play music and the option to record your own stories onto certain characters meaning children can listen to stories or goodnight messages from relatives who live far away.

(pre-school) £29.99

(baby to 10 years) £62.95

Cube Fun

(Ages 3-8) £14.95 Cube Fun are soft cubes with fun game instructions on each side, helping children enjoy being active and extending their vocabulary at the same time. The cubes are themed: on the Christmas cube, you can prance like a reindeer and twinkle like a star. Children enjoy playing this in a group and competing to do the best or most actions each time the cube is thrown. Great for rainy day active play.

14 14 Families FamiliesNorth NorthYorkshire Yorkshire

The Rock Stepper playmat supports early learning and development by introducing phonics, word formation and early maths skills. Shapes, letters, numbers, colours and pictures keep children of different ages engaged. Accompanying flashcards and access to an app bring another play dimension, prompting children to interact with the mat in different ways. The mat is well cushioned to avoid bumps and bruises if children take a tumble while playing. The reverse side has a stylish design on it, so you can turn it over when it’s not being played with instead of putting it away each time.

LocBloc Counting Blocks (pre-school) £20.89

This is a set of colourful building blocks in different sizes to stimulate a child’s imagination. They can use the wheel blocks to build a racing car, school bus or their own unique vehicle. Other blocks have facial expressions, so little ones can build figurines for pretend play scenarios; great for learning social-emotional skills. The sets come with play cards and stickers to develop number recognition, colour perception, counting and more.

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Christmas

Little Rebel Dolls My Ice Cream Shop Playset

(pre-school) £27.99 The My Ice Cream Shop Playset is great for imaginative role-playing and practising basic maths skills. With nine colourful flavours of ice cream scoops and three yummy toppings, little ones can assemble cones to match the play cards and practise their counting and pattern matching skills. Pretend play is a great way to develop emotional and social skills: open up the play guide to find interactive play ideas for developing skills like empathy and active listening or spin the game wheel for a fun activity.

Hey Clay

(Ages 5+) £14.99 Hey Clay mixes an engaging app and a box of air-drying clay for unlimited creativity. The cleverly thought out app gives clear step-by-step instructions on how to create a variety of models.

Children love how simple the steps are to follow and also the extra games that come with the app. Designed to boost kids’ imaginations, the vibrant and soft modelling clay is great for sensory development and play-based learning, developing fine motor skills and creativity.

Hands Up!

(Ages 7+) £16.99 Hands Up! is a reaction speed card game where you compete to be the best security guard. Lots of twists and turns along the way make this game a fun, fast-paced contest where only the quickest thinkers prosper. Thieves have made their way into the museum and are attempting a heist. As a museum security guard, your mission is to catch the thieves and stop them in their tracks but you will need to be careful to avoid triggering a false alarm. Collect the most cards to become the best security guard. Hands Up! develops reaction and perception speeds, engages working memory and encourages problem-solving skills.

Me&McQ’s

From £6.99 Me&McQ’s Pop Up greeting cards are renowned for their amazing amount of intricate detailing, believing, somewhat contrary to modern design trends, more is more, there is always another surprise waiting to be found in the world of Me&McQ. Crafted by a small team of paper engineers and illustrators, the cards, which never use glue, are laser cut, designed in the UK and hand finished, use premium quality paper and the highest quality printing inks to deliver cards that stand up & stand out, no matter where & when they are displayed.

(Ages 6+) £24.99 Little Rebels are more than just dolls, they are inspired by iconic women including Marie Curie, Malala Yousafzai and Amelia Earhart. Linked to an app, each one can teach and empower the next generation of leaders. Scanning the dolls unlock hours of fun with videos, ebooks, colouring activities, trivia and augmented reality. The range provides strong female role models for children by representing inspiring figures throughout history. The dolls also make a great tool for helping children to develop knowledge and understanding of the world around them.

Discovering Stem Astronomy: Travelling to Space

(Ages 9+) £27.99 This set will have older children occupied for hours as they learn about the mission to the moon and what it’s like to live in space, among other facts.

They then have six space-themed models to build, including a space shuttle and rocket. There is also a quiz to test the new space explorer’s knowledge and the accompanying mobile app and instruction booklet are easy to follow.

Also included in this year’s Christmas luxury collection is the perfect stocking filler, a ‘Let It Snow’ story book written by author Lauren Everdell of Ubiquitous Books.

Illustrated by artist Reuben McHugh, Let It Snow has its own Me&McQ keepsake card to match and tells the story of a proud, free-spirited cat that soon learns a life lesson from his closest friend about a warm welcome.

Giant Science Lab

(Ages 5-9) £29.99 With this science set, children take on the role of a scientist and are engaged and empowered to run their own experiments and learn about scientific concepts There is a lab coat and goggles included to help budding scientists really feel the part and make their play experiences more immersive.

The accompanying instruction booklet has very clear steps to support home science learning and encourages children to think about how they record and present their scientific findings.

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EARLY YEARS

Developing your child’s social skills Some children may find socialising more difficult than others.

If your little one struggles or seems reluctant to be with other people, they may need some support to learn social skills.

Here are some things you can do to help.

Practise talking Chat about what you are doing, seeing or feeling to help build your child’s vocabulary and exposure to conversations. Role play, games and storytelling are all good for developing language.

Model good manners, such as saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’

This will encourage children to act this way with their peers.

Listen and take turns Children learn both verbal and non-verbal skills from the people around them. Try showing them what good listening looks like through your own behaviour and using games like Simon Says.

Find ways to make taking turns fun. Choose an object and tell your family they need to be holding it when they talk. Pass it between you. If your child is a little older, take it in turns to make up funny sounds as if you are having an alien conversation.

Show the importance of body language Use eye contact and body language with your child. Experiment by asking them to talk about something while you use poor body language. This could be crossed arms, looking away, fidgeting or frowning. Ask them how your actions made them feel. Then show them attentive body language. Take it in turns.

Teach them about personal space Consider teaching your child about personal space. Ask

them to put their hands on their hips and stick their elbows out to understand their personal space. Introduce the idea of boundaries by asking first if you can come into their space for a hug.

Develop their emotional skills When you help your child understand, express and cope with emotions, it helps them recognise the emotions of others and develops empathy. Teach them to problem-solve, guiding them with questions such as ‘What could you do?’ or ‘What could you say?’ Try to avoid answering for them.

You can also talk to your child about friendships and what it is to be a good friend. If you can, arrange and support opportunities for socialising.

With thanks to Action for Children (www.actionforchildren.org. uk) for this article. For further support on child development, visit its Parent Talk website at www.parents.actionforchildren. org.uk

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PARENTING

Fairy tales as a therapeutic tool Why do fairy tales hold such timeless appeal for children?

One reason is that children live so closely to the world of metaphor. At the foundation of all cultures lie rich oral traditions of myth, folklore, legend. Magical animals and young heroes fighting larger-than-life forces all spark a child’s growing imagination. Parents and carers continue age-old storytelling traditions when they instigate shared reading experiences such as bedtime stories.

How can reading fairy tales together be therapeutic?

Fairy tales can help children make sense of the existential challenges of life. When parents and carers ask a child how their day has been, often the response is simply ‘good.’ Not all children find direct questions easy to answer. Fairy tales offer a bridge to a child’s inner world through the use of metaphor. Crucially, reading a fairy tale storybook isn’t just about words. Add pictures and the characters’ challenges and responses come to life.

A space to voice real and conflicting feelings If we break down a fairy tale, the story is usually simple. A character encounters a difficult experience, person or obstacle and is helped by a magic guide to overcome it. The hero grows through the journey. A child will naturally project their own self onto a story: ‘it’s not me, but I recognise what’s going on.’

Ironically, it’s the distance created by a fairy tale that can help children feel safe enough to express their own feelings.

to digest and recover from difficult emotions, developing a core emotional resilience.

Making sense of relationships and empathy-building The world of relationships can seem very complex to a growing child. Reflecting on a character’s feelings in a story can help a child make sense of their own. Even if most children don’t say it directly, fairy tales can help them make links to obstacles in their life.

In entering the world of fairy tales, we activate children’s imaginations, including the ability to imagine what different characters are feeling. In doing so, reading fairy tales can help build empathy and compassion over time.

Pia Jones is author of the Therapeutic Fairytales book series, illustrated by Sarah Pimenta (Routledge and CRC Press). She is also a workshop facilitator and integrative arts psychotherapist (UKCP), having trained at the Institute for Arts in Therapy & Education. www.silverowlartstherapy.com

© Sarah Pimenta

Resilience is not the absence of vulnerability, rather learning how to manage a range of feelings. When children truly feel heard and acknowledged, rather than hiding their feelings, they learn

© Sarah Pimenta

By Pia Jones

Create a safe environment for reflective reading Shared reading experiences such as bedtime stories can help children and parents/carers connect in a relaxed way, especially when separated out from literacy goals.

Tell children upfront that this is a different kind of reading experience from school, with no testing, no right or wrong.

You’ll often see them visibly relax.

Pictures can help reluctant readers to engage. Let children guide you with their interest. If they decide to stop at a page, pause and reflect with them. There’s no rush. With older children, parents/carers can ask what they think is going on for different characters. Have a conversation when children start to link stories to their own experiences; ‘Oh yes, this reminds me of…’ These links can help children build coherence in their own storytelling ability.

Exploring themes inside a story can be therapeutic for both child and carer. Through metaphor, children can explore personal feelings and make sense of challenges. This special kind of reflective reading experience can help promote trust and safety in child/carer relationships.

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SANTA’S LAPLAND

A CHRISTMAS LIKE NO OTHER

This kind of Christmas comes but once in a lifetime.

Whisk your family away to magical Lapland where you’ll meet Santa and his cheeky elves.

Call 01483 944 960 or visit SantasLapland.com Santa’s Lapland

Experience a Lapland trip you’ll treasure forever and book with a deposit from just £150pp and take advantage of our latest offers for 2024.

@santas_lapland

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Festive Fun Spot the Difference Can you help us spot 6 differences between these two festive pictures?

Join the Great Search for Santa and experience so many thrilling adventures with Santa’s Lapland.

You can experience reindeer sleigh rides, husky driven sleds, tobogganing and so much more.

No one knows how to make Christmas more magical.

Call 01483 944 960 or visit SantasLapland.com

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WORK

Are you suffering from tech stress?

By Mandy Garner I once asked my son what he thought I did for a living. ‘Stare at the computer all day and then get very cross’ he said. This is the kind of levelling comment that keeps your feet on the ground as a parent. There you are thinking you were doing something exciting that you feel passionately about and all your child sees is someone glued to the computer, getting angry because the screen has frozen and they have minus ten minutes to get everything done before school pick-up.

Tech stress has not eased over time and is something remote workers struggle with more than most, simply because there is no one else to ask for help. I long for someone to come over, press a button or two and bingo, everything works.

But, unless a digital-native child is around (and even they are often nonplussed by work-related things), the main ploy is to rely on what I loosely call workarounds: basically any strategy you can devise to do whatever it is that your computer won’t. This can result in fairly surreal situations, which, when you look back on them seem really quite amusing but at the time are definitely not.

Take the other day. I have just changed my phone. I was after a better deal, having been suckered into getting a more up-to-date iPhone but was bedazzled by the promise of 5G and a special offer. In my house mobile reception is very patchy. One minute you have bars, the next…nada.

The world of work now functions on 2FA which means it sends codes to your phone. Not if there are no bars. I have to run up into the furthest corner of daughter three’s room and dangle the phone out the window to get them. This is not what I call

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I had to go to a meeting the other day and do an online call on Zoom half an hour beforehand. As the Zoom audio doesn’t work on my laptop – no idea why – and I can’t access the Zoom app on my phone, I borrowed a laptop and headed to a quiet cafe opposite the place where my next meeting was.

Unfortunately, there was a big graduation ceremony taking place outside the cafe with groups of students and lecturers in gowns thronging the streets. Inside it was quieter and I even had a plug socket to charge the laptop. Then the cafe started playing loud classical music and it began to fill up with people. I found myself having to get very close to the computer to hear what the meeting attendees were saying. I think my colleagues must have basically been looking at my ear for most of the meeting.

Mandy Garner is editor of www.workingmums.co.uk, a job site and community for working parents. Visit the website for more working mum blogs, advice and support and to search for flexible jobs with family-friendly employers.

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I didn’t want to stay with Apple, but felt I needed to in order to keep all my photos and videos. But my phone doesn’t recognise my Apple id password. One of its robots has assigned me an icloud.com address with a password which I don’t know because I didn’t even know I had an icloud account. This means I cannot get into any app on my phone, including Zoom and WhatsApp for at least seven days. I can reset my bank password in minutes but Apple takes up to seven days because they are so security conscious. One day they will shut me out of my own (online) life.

By next week, all should be resolved... provided Apple verifies my id, although my phone informs me that my work gmail password is ‘compromised.’ The Apple man told me I should ring google for advice. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Sometimes I think maybe I struggle more with technology due to my age, conforming to all the negative stereotypes. But then I think it really isn’t an age thing. It’s more of a time thing. Time poor people need technology that works intuitively - which means modelling it on a diverse range of customers - and instantly. And they need humans, not robots, to understand their frustrations when it doesn’t.

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progress. In any event, I have since been informed that 5G makes no difference to bars. Where are your tech advisers when you need them?

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EDUCATION

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