Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine January/February 2020 issue 61

FR E E

TAKE

ME H

OME

Hereford & Worcester

IN THIS ISSUE

Education Open events

Phobias

Useful tips and advice

Short Break Ideas Family friendly

New: Kid’s Puzzles Page 6

Issue 61 January/February 2020

familiesonline.co.uk

News and Views Dear Reader Happy New Year.

The start of the new year is an exciting time for all of us, as we make plans for the year ahead and are full of optimism for what’s to come and what we can achieve.

Education is never far from a parent’s mind for long, so we showcase some of the leading independent schools in the area to help you with these important decisions.

Sleep Lessons For School Children

School children across Britain may be offered sleep lessons to help tackle the problem of insomnia in young people.

Children and young people’s sleep is being seen as an increasingly important issue.

According to the British Medical Journal, there is increasing evidence emerging that lack of sleep has a major impact on children’s mental and physical health, as well as learning. A recent study by the BMJ suggests that sleep has a greater impact on an adolescent’s mental wellbeing than bullying, physical activity and screen time.

The sleep lessons are aimed at children ages 7 to 16 years and are available as part of the PSHE curriculum. Experts say the rise in sleep problems is down to a combination of higher obesity levels, excessive use of social media before bedtime and a mental health crisis among young people.

More info visit www.pshe-association.org.uk and www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk/.

Air Quality Is Worse Indoors

If a phobia is restricting your childs day-to-day life then our feature by Dr Elise Kearney on page 10 may offer some very useful tips.

A new report into the state of air pollution in UK households has found that our homes are experiencing dangerous levels of indoor air pollution.

Of course, we all love to spend precious time with our family and what better way then with short break. See page 12 and start planning.

The report commissioned by Clean Air Day found that nearly half of UK homes have high indoor air pollution as a result of dangerous levels of formaldehyde and other pollutants.

Our regular What’s On section will help you with fun ideas locally.

Data also shows that outdoor air pollution adds to indoor air pollution; it builds up in the home, taking longer to disperse inside than outside.

I hope you enjoy reading the magazine.

Diane Clifford. Editor

07970977229 editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

BOOK TODAY

Advertise with us and reach over 44,000 parents in the region.

Next issue March/April Booking deadline is Friday 8 February Families Hereford & Worcester is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Hereford & Worcester are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Hereford & Worcester. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof..

2

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

According to the British Lung Foundation children are particularly sensitive to poor indoor air quality.

Sources of indoor air pollution include smoking, faulty boilers, open fires, gas cookers and heaters, as well as irritant chemicals from new furniture, air fresheners and household cleaning products.

More info: www.cleanairday.org.uk and www.blf.org.uk

Would You Rent Baby Clothes?

Babies can get through an alarming number of outfits in a day, so there’s no getting away from the fact that you will need plenty of sleepsuits in different sizes, each of which will only fit for a matter of months or weeks. So how to you avoid ending up with piles of clothes your baby has outgrown? For more and more new parents, the answer is simple: rent. Two UK companies have introduced an alternative which they believe solves this problem as well as being affordable and environmentally sustainable by reducing waste. Families pay a monthly subscription, return outgrown clothes and then receive the next size up, in line with their baby’s growth and the changing seasons. Clothes are professionally cleaned and must pass quality control before being sent to the next renting family.

For more info visit www.bundlee.co.uk or www.bellesandbabes.co.uk To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk

News

The King’s School Worcester Announces New Headmaster Mr Gareth Doodes has been appointed as the new Headmaster of The King’s School, Worcester.

The announcement comes following the sad loss of Matthew Armstrong in August 2019.

and Persephone, both of whom will become pupils at the school.

Gareth will join King’s in September 2020 from Dover College where he has been Headmaster for the last five years.

Previously Head of Milton Abbey in Dorset, Gareth started his career at Taunton School as a history teacher and then as a Housemaster at Oakham School. He has coached sport and has always been involved with music and drama. Gareth is also a Church of England lay minister of communion.

Hugh Carslake, the Chairman of Governors, said of Gareth’s appointment, ‘The Governors are delighted that Gareth has accepted the appointment and I very much look forward to working with him. Gareth’s passion for King’s and his strong belief in the future of King’s

were both contributing factors in his appointment’.

Gareth was educated at Eastbourne College, where he was a music scholar, and gained an MA in Modern History at the University of St Andrews. A keen cyclist and swimmer, he plays the piano and organ, and has extensive choral singing experience. He is married to Jessica, who is from Worcestershire, and they have two young children, Humphrey

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Doodes said, ‘I knew Matthew, and was deeply saddened by his loss. He gave great leadership to King’s and as his successor I want to build on his legacy, strengthening the Foundation and ensuring that King’s longterm success, growth and development continues. King’s strong community, exceptional co-curricular provision, links to the Cathedral and pursuit of academic excellence have inspired Jess and me. The affection for the school is clear from everyone I have met, and I am privileged to be leading the King’s family forward over the many years ahead.’

There will be plenty of opportunities for prospective parents to meet Mr Doodes at various events during the Spring Term, including at our forthcoming Open Mornings. www.ksw.org.uk

Meet our new Headmaster Mr Gareth Doodes

familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

3

Childcare

Choosing a Childminder - What You Need to Know Registration It’s important that you choose a registered childminder. The law states that anyone being paid (or recompensed in some way) for caring for children under the age of 8 for more than two hours a day must register with Ofsted or a Childminder Agency.

Childminders are registered to look after one or more children, to whom they are not related, on domestic premises. This is usually their own home. They sometimes work with other childminders or assistants but can work with no more than two others at any one time.

If you are a working parent, you may well consider hiring a childminder to care for your child.

By Elaine Pitteway What are the Benefits?

Good quality, home-based care from a registered childminder has many benefits.Young children and those experiencing childcare for the first time often cope better in a home environment.

Because of the high ratio of carers to children, little ones can develop a close relationship with their childminder and continue with them after school and in school holidays as they get older.

Additionally, a childminder looks after children of all ages, so siblings can be looked after together, rather than being separated into age groups.

Childminders develop close relationships with parents too, offering support for the whole family, and passing on their professional knowledge. Not only this, childminders are selfemployed and can offer a flexible service, tailoring their hours to suit you - a great help if you work irregular hours.

How Will my Children Learn with a Childminder?

Childminders get to know the children in their care very well; they can follow the child’s interests and make spontaneous decisions about the day’s activities. Children learn through real-life experiences in the childminder's own home such as cooking, stories, messy play, dressing up, gardening. In addition, they will go to the park, library and local groups as well as planned outings.

Theo’s dad says: “We felt Theo would get a stronger level of development on a one-to-one basis than he would in a larger group environment. When we met with his childminder, we understood that he’d still get that interaction with other children so we felt we were going to get the best of both worlds. The development and what he’s learnt has been phenomenal - he loves her to bits and she truly cares for him.”

4

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

Before a childminder can be registered, a full criminal records check, references, and other thorough checks are carried out to ensure medical fitness and suitability to care for other people’s children. Anyone over 16 in the childminder’s household is also checked. The childminder must also have completed Introductory Training or hold a childcare qualification which enables them to understand and implement the statutory requirements for a childminder. This includes Safeguarding, Child Development and Equality. They also need to hold a full Paediatric First Aid certificate.

Registered childminders caring for pre-school children comply with the same statutory guidance for children’s welfare, learning and development as all other early years’ settings, including day nurseries and pre-schools. If they care for children over 5 years they must comply with the Requirements of the Childcare Register just like other out-of-school settings.

Once registered, childminders are inspected by Ofsted at least once in every 4 year cycle to ensure they are providing high quality care. A grade of Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate is awarded. Full reports are published on the Ofsted website and it is very worthwhile to check these.

Childminders are also expected to continue their professional development. Many childmembers are members of Childminding UK so have access to online training and support.

Where to find a Childminder? Each Local Authority has a duty to publish details of childcare within their area, usually on their website under Families Information Service or Families Service Directory.

Word of mouth. Most good childminders don’t need to advertise – they come recommended at the school gate or on local forums.

More information on guidance and advice about expectations, what to look for, financial support and more can be found at: www.childmindinguk.com/parents

To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk

Education

RGS Worcester

The RGS Journey offers an outstanding education for boys and girls aged from 2 to 18. Whether a child begins their journey at RGS The Grange, RGS Springfield, RGS Dodderhill or RGS Worcester, they will receive the very best preparation for life

RGS The Grange is a Prep School, full of opportunities for boys and girls aged 2 - 11. Set in 50 acres with its own Astroturf and forest school, the School combines superb facilities with a caring and supportive education designed to build confidence for each child.

RGS Dodderhill is an Independent School in Droitwich for girls aged 4-16. The School provides an environment that allows girls to develop a love of learning and facilitate their development into confident young women. In addition, there is a co-educational nursery from the age of 2.

RGS Springfield RGS Springfield is the small school with a big heart, for children aged 2 - 11. Tucked away in beautiful Britannia Square, the School provides a city centre campus with a country school feel and a nurturing, supportive environment to develop every child’s all round potential.

RGS Worcester is a senior school with breath-taking facilities and opportunities for children aged 11-18 years. Pupils join from the Prep Schools and from over 40 primary schools, taking advantage of excellent transport links. With academic results that are the best in Worcester* and award-winning Careers provision ensures students are well prepared for the world beyond school. *According to The Sunday Times, Parent Power.

With a strong reputation for pastoral care, the Schools support pupils throughout all stages of their personal development, making sure that they settle in quickly and enjoy the exceptional opportunities available, both in and outside the classroom. Co-curricular provision at all four schools is superb with over 20 different sports and 80 different clubs and activities. Scholarships and Bursaries are available.

Please do come and see us at our Open Mornings or at a time convenient to you. We guarantee you a warm welcome and our pupils would be delighted to show you their school.

RGS WORCESTER

RGS DODDERHILL

18 January 2020

Upper Tything, Worcester, Worcestershire WR1 1HP | 01905 613391

RGS SPRINGFIELD

1 February 2020

25 January 2020

Open Mornings

Britannia Square, Worcester, Worcestershire WR1 3DL | 01905 24999

Dodderhill Road, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire WR9 0BE | 01905 778290

RGS THE GRANGE

8 February 2020

Grange Lane, Claines, Worcester, Worcestershire WR3 7RR | 01905 451205

New co-educational Nursery at RGS Dodderhill opening January 2020 An exciting future for the RGS Worcester Family of Schools | www.rgsw.org.uk familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

5

Education

Scholarships And Bursaries At Bromsgrove At Bromsgrove School, we believe our pupils are happiest when they are succeeding. We offer an all-round education, combining academic excellence with a richness of opportunity.

Pupils engage enthusiastically with knowledge, embrace new ideas and are intellectually stimulated. We pride ourselves on the outstanding opportunities available, both inside and outside the classroom.

The School offers a significant number of scholarships and bursaries for Year 7, 9 and 12 entry. If your child is gifted in a certain area, such as music, drama, sport, is particularly academic or generally a good all-rounder, it is worth applying for a scholarship, these are of small financial value but they can be supplemented by the generous means-tested bursaries the school offers.

The means-tested bursaries are available to enable talented boys and girls, who might not have previously been able to consider an Independent education, the chance to do so.

Contact our Admissions Coordinators on 01527 579679 or email admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk.

For more information visit: www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk

PICTURE CROSSWORD

DOT TO DOT Join the dots to create a creature you may see in your garden this winter!

. . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . ..

31

32

30

33

35 36 37

Can you solve the picture clues and put them in the crossword?

1

1

2

2

3

29

28

34

3

27

40 41 42 39

38

10

5

4

24

23

45

9

6

25

43 44

8

7

3

4

26

11

1 12

15

13

6

22

46

2

5

21

16

14

17

5

4

20

7

19

8

18

9 7

When you’ve finished, why not colour it in?

6

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

6

To advertise call: 01684 770566

8

9

familiesonline.co.uk

Education outstanding education

REGI

Founded 1553

Flair discipline academic rigour

Pupils Aged 3 - 18

Academic and Music Scholarships: 11+, 13+, 16+

Individual visits welcome

Art/Textiles, Drama and Sports Scholarships: 13+, 16+

Please contact Admissions for details 01527 579679

Generous means-tested bursaries

admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

bromsgrove-school.co.uk

Co-educational, Day & Boarding 950 pupils aged 13-18 720 pupils aged 3 - 13 Over 500 boarders from the age of 7

Welcome To Winterfold Winterfold is a wonderful and stimulating place in which to spend your childhood and your formative years of learning. Set in over forty acres of beautiful grounds with views to the Malvern Hills, the School offers excellent facilities which meet the needs of a broad and balanced curriculum. Central to the School’s ethos is the happiness of its pupils; children are nurtured to become independent, selfassured individuals,.

The family friendly feel of the School is evident as soon as you walk through the door. Talk to the children and you will discover that they love going to school and are very proud of their achievements. At a recent inspection, it was confirmed that “the School has the highest standards of Pastoral Care for its pupils.” Winterfold is a non-selective school and there are no formal entry requirements or tests. Children are accepted at any age, provided there is a place available. The School takes pride in the fact that they truly know every child and that their potential is achieved in every aspect of school life.

Children leave as well rounded individuals who have become good citizens of the future. Don’t just take our word for it, go and see for yourself. www.winterfoldhouse.co.uk. familiesonline.co.uk

THE OPEN MORNING WINTERFOLD SATURDAY 8TH FEBRUARY WAY 10.00am - 12.00pm Independent Day School for boys and girls aged 0 - 13 Small class sizes | No entrance tests or SATS

Come and see us in action

To register your interest, Call 01562 777234 www.winterfoldhouse.co.uk

Winterfold House School, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire DY10 4PW

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

7

Education

Why Thinking Should Be A Curriculum Subject Following his defeat at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, Marc Antony heard a rumour that Cleopatra had committed suicide and, in consequence, stabbed himself in the abdomen—only to discover that Cleopatra herself had been responsible for spreading the rumour. He later died in her arms.

By Dr Neel Burton ‘Fake news’ is nothing new, but in our Internet age, it has spread like a disease, swinging elections, fomenting social unrest, undermining institutions, and diverting political capital away from health, education, and good government. So how best to guard against it?

As a medical specialist, I have spent well over twenty years in formal education. With the possible exception of my one-year degree in philosophy, the emphasis of my education has been firmly and squarely on fact accumulation. Today, I have little use for most of these facts, and though I am only middle-aged, many are already out of date, or highly questionable. But what I do rely on—every day, all the time—is my faculty for critical thinking. As BF Skinner once put it: “Education is what survives when what has been learnt has been forgotten.”

But can critical thinking be taught? The answer is ‘yes’ - or, at least, the beginnings of it. So why not make more time for it and be more rigorous and systematic about its learning?

Logic is a good start, but there is much more to critical thinking than mere logic.

Educationalists often amalgamate thinking with logic. True, logic is able to provide immediate certainty and the authority and credibility that goes with that. But logic is a lot more limited than many people imagine.

Logic essentially consists of a set of operations for deriving a statement from other statements. In a sense, it merely makes explicit that which was previously implicit. It brings nothing new to the table. The conclusion flows from the premises as their inevitable consequence: 1. All birds have feathers. (Premise 1) 2. Woodpeckers are birds. (Premise 2) 3. Therefore, woodpeckers have feathers. (Conclusion) Reasoning, in contrast, is a much broader psychological activity which also involves selecting and assessing evidence, creating and testing hypotheses, weighing competing arguments, evaluating means and ends, developing and applying mental shortcuts, and so on. All this requires the use of judgement, which is why reason, unlike logic, cannot be delegated to a computer, and also why it so often fails to persuade.

Just as there is more to reason than logic, so there is more to thinking than reasoning. If school curricula make very little time for logic and reasoning, they make even less time for non-rational forms of cognition such as the emotions, intuition, and imagination.

To see the significance of non-rational forms of cognition, let’s hone in on the emotions. With the decline of religion and traditional social structures, our emotions have come to assume an increasingly dominant role in our lives. It has forever been said that we are ruled by our emotions, but this today is truer than ever. Much more than reason or tradition, it is our emotions that determine our choice of profession, partner, and politics, and our relation to money, sex, and religion.

Yet, remarkably, the emotions are utterly neglected by our system of education, leading to millions of mis-lived lives. Nothing can make us feel more alive, or more human, than our emotions, or hurt us more. To control our emotions is to control ourselves, and to control ourselves is to control our destiny. Our school curriculum needs to make more time and space for thinking. And we need to rehabilitate alternative forms of cognition, such as the emotions, intuition, and imagination, that can support, supplement, or supplant reason and return us to wholeness.

Dr Neel Burton is a leading psychiatrist and author of Hypersanity: Thinking Beyond Thinking, which is out now, priced £12.99. To find out more, visit www.neelburton.com

8

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk

Education

Discover The Magic At Abberley Hall’s Open Day Abberley Hall thrives as a happy and vibrant co-educational Prep School for children aged 2 – 13 years. Set in the heart of Worcestershire in 90 acres of woodland, the great outdoors plays a huge part in giving its pupils a breadth of education alongside academic rigour …

Gumboots to Greek.

Headmaster, Will Lockett, is immensely proud of his pupils and their achievements. “We are blessed with 90 acres, and the children make the most of this by being out and about at every opportunity, either playing in their free time, doing games or outdoor education.

Primarily a boarding school offering full and part time options, Abberley Hall welcomes day pupils who are an integral part of the school community and benefit hugely from the boarding ethos and structures that exist. Pupils at Abberley Hall are given opportunities in all areas, be it performing Arts, reconstructing a Landrover in the DT workshop, fishing in the Inkpot, beekeeping, swimming, daily sport and so much more.

Such opportunities do not get in the way of academic achievement, with 28 academic scholarships or exhibitions awarded to pupils over the last three years and a further 62 across all disciplines – Sport, Art, DT, Drama and Music. The extensive curriculum allows pupils to explore and develop as individuals, while the idyllic setting allows them the freedom of childhood.

familiesonline.co.uk

We are a happy school, where our children are comfortable in their own skins, grounded and energetic. We are a school full of ‘doers’, and I make no apologies for cramming as much as we can into every day. Every child is encouraged to find their ‘thing’ and give everything a go.

I am proud of the energy and glee all our pupils put into everything they do. As a result when pupils leave Abberley they are equipped with enthusiasm, ambition and the skills they need to succeed.”

Please join us for a visit or at our next open morning on Saturday 29 February at 10.15am. Families will meet staff and current pupils, be shown around the extensive facilities and have a sample of some of the activities we offer. To preregister please email admissions@abberleyhall.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

9

Parenting

Fear Or Phobia?

A phobia is an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal.

Phobias tend to be more pronounced than fears.

They develop when a child or adult has an exaggerated or unrealistic sense of danger about a situation or object. If a phobia becomes very severe, a person may organise their life around avoiding the thing that's causing them anxiety.

By Dr Elise Kearney What are the common symptoms of a Phobia?

A phobia is a type of anxiety. You may not experience any symptoms until you encounter the source of your phobia but in some cases, even thinking about the source of a phobia can make a person feel anxious or panicky. This is known as anticipatory anxiety. The most common phobias for children are of animals such as dogs, cats or insects.

Symptoms of a Phobia may include: • unsteadiness, dizziness and light-headedness • nausea • sweating • ‘racing’ heart or palpitations • Feeling short of breath • trembling or shaking • An upset stomach or frequently needing the toilet Types of phobia There are a wide variety of objects or situations that can lead to a phobia. On the whole phobias can be divided into two main categories: specific or simple phobias and complex phobias.

Specific or simple phobias Specific or simple phobias centre around an object, animal, situation or activity. They often develop during childhood or adolescence and may become less severe as you get older.

Common examples of simple phobias include: • animal phobias – such as dogs, spiders, snakes, mice or bees • environmental – such as heights, deep water, germs or thunder • situational phobias – such as visiting the dentist or flying • bodily phobias – such as blood, vomit or having injections

Complex phobias Complex phobias tend to be more profound than simple phobias. They usually develop during teenage years and adulthood and are often associated with a deep-rooted fear or anxiety about a situation or circumstance. The two most common complex phobias are agoraphobia and. social phobia Agoraphobia is often thought of literally as a ‘fear of open spaces’ however, that can undermine the complexity of agoraphobia. Someone with agoraphobia may feel anxious about being in a place or situation where escaping may be difficult.

The anxiety usually results in avoiding situations such as being alone, being in crowded places, such as restaurants or supermarkets and travelling on public transport.

10

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

What causes phobias?

Phobias do not have a single cause, but rather several associated factors; a phobia may be associated with a particular incident or trauma, but this is not always the case.

A phobia may be a learned response that a person develops early in life from a parent or sibling (brother or sister) who have ‘modelled’ a phobic response. We know that genetics can play a role, there is some evidence to suggest that some people are born with a tendency to be more anxious than others. Three common learning scenarios which may influence whether a child develops a phobia are: 1. Seeing other people (such as parents or friends) get very scared in a specific situation, or around an object or animal.

This is called “modelling”. When you see someone else “model” a fear reaction to certain things, you may learn to be afraid of the same thing.

2. Hearing or reading scary stories about a situation, object or animal. For example, a parent who always tells you, “dogs are dangerous”, “never approach a dog”, “beware of dogs”, teaches you that ALL dogs are dangerous, ALL of the time, which may contribute to you developing a fear or phobia of dogs.

3. Having a frightening experience with an object, animal or situation. We call this “direct conditioning”. For example, you may have been growled at or even bitten by a dog; or be swept up in wave in the sea; or have had a tree fall on your house in a bad storm. These experiences are often very scary, and some children may then feel afraid whenever they are in that situation again.

To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk

Parenting Social Phobia also known as Social Anxiety centres around feeling anxious in social situations. If you have a social phobia, you might be afraid of speaking in front of people for fear of embarrassing yourself or being embarrassed in public. In severe cases, this can prevent you from carrying out everyday activities, such as eating out or meeting friends.

Protective Factors There are many other factors that might help to protect children or adolescents from developing a phobia, even if you have had a bad experience. Support from family and friends can help a child when they have a scary experience. Some research suggests that being of an optimistic predisposition can protect you from developing a phobia.

Diagnosing phobias Phobias are not usually formally diagnosed. However, whilst most adults with a phobia are fully aware of the problem, children may be confused as to why they are particularly fearful of a specific object/animal. If you or your child have a phobia, continually trying to avoid what you're afraid of will make the phobia worse.

Treating phobias

Most phobias can be successfully treated and cured. Simple phobias can be treated through a supportive therapeutic relationship and gradual exposure to the object, animal, place or situation that causes fear and anxiety in a safe environment. This is known as ‘Desensitisation’ or ‘Exposure Therapy’.

Dr Elise Kearney runs a clinic at The Therapies Centre, The Fold, Bransford WR6 5JB and can be contacted on admin@drelisekearney.co.uk 07713755224 or find out more about the service she offers at www.thefold.org.uk A mother of four and Chartered Consultant Child and Family Psychologist, Dr Kearney trained as a Clinical Psychologist in Glasgow. She has over 20 years experience working with children and families in the NHS and privately. Dr Kearney offers 1:1 assessment and treatment sessions for a variety of difficulties including

• Difficulties stemming from family separation and blended families • Sleep difficulties Treating complex phobias can take longer but also involves the same approach; • Eating Disorders and “fussy eating” building a supportive therapeutic relationship with a therapist and using approaches • Coping with “temper tantrums” and such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This is a therapeutic model which supports behavioural difficulties children and young people in pinpointing when and where the fear is occurring, • Coming to terms with and managing understanding the anxiety reaction to the feared object and supporting children in a life after a diagnosis of ASD range of strategies to slowly get used to the ‘feared object’ by reducing the anxiety.

• Separation anxiety This type of approach can also teach children and young people valuable tools to • Difficulties around potty training, manage future anxiety more generally in their lives.

• Sibling rivalry and difficulties with sharing How common are phobias?

• Starting nursery/school and Phobias are the most common type of anxiety disorder. They can affect anyone, transition to high school or College/ regardless of age, gender and social background. Specific phobias tend to begin in University childhood between the ages of 7 to 11 years with most cases starting before age ten.

• Anxiety including panic, phobias and Approximately 5% of children and 16% of adolescents will have a specific phobia in their obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) lifetime and girls are more likely to experience a phobia than boys at a rate of 2:1.

• Low self-esteem, low mood and depression Some of the most common phobias include: • Attachment difficulties arachnophobia – fear of spiders • Bereavement claustrophobia – fear of confined spaces (this list is not exclusive). agoraphobia – fear of open spaces and public places social phobia – fear of social situations One of my favourites is ‘Brontophobia’ – fear of thunder! It conjures up images of dinosaurs noisily walking across the clouds!

How you can help your child or teenager who struggle with a phobia: Find a ‘Diaphragmatic Breathing’, ‘Progressive Muscle Relaxation’ and/or ‘Meditation’ exercise that your child feels comfortable practicing on YouTube. Never force your child to think about, look at or have contact with the feared object. Introduce them to small manageable pieces of information about the feared object by simply talking about the feared object for a set amount of time, look at cartoon pictures, read stories. Whilst taking these steps ask your child to practice the breathing and relaxation techniques until they feel completely calm. As your child becomes more confident talk together about how you might slowly approach having contact with the feared object in a safe environment. If you think your child or teenager might have a phobia, you may find the book below helpful as a support to this work. If it feels too tricky to tackle it alone, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Overcoming Your Child’s Fears and Worries: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques (Overcoming Books) Paperback – 2007 by Cathy Creswell. familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

11

Holidays

Short Break Ideas For 2020

Short breaks are becoming increasingly popular. Budget airlines, busier lives, and the desire to see lots of different places in a shorter amount of time are just some of the reasons why families are opting for them.

Apparently short breaks are also good for your mental health. Psychologists claim that people who take them are much happier than people who take long holidays. This is because people’s enjoyment and enthusiasm for their destination may start to wane after more than a week away. By Claire Winter Adventure Awaits Taking a break to try a new sport or have an outdoor.

Whether it’s spending the weekend in a cosy cottage in North Wales to go on the world’s fastest zip wire (www.zipworld. co.uk) or exploring the scenery of the Pyrenees. The Adventure Creators (www. adventurecreators.co.uk) are a small, friendly tour operator that specialises in multi-activity holidays in this mountainous area. Activities include canyoning, rock climbing, mountain biking, river rafting, and high rope adventures. An in-situ holiday manager is on hand throughout your stay to answer any questions and ensure everything runs smoothly, as well as to give you recommendations for the best family-friendly restaurants in the area. Holidays are available MaySeptember. and guided activities. Depart 29 June, 27 July or 17 August 2019. More info at www.familiesworldwide.co.uk

Unusual European City Breaks Reykjavik is a perfect place to visit with a family because it is small in size and easy to explore, with plenty of colourful buildings, interesting food and cosy cafes in which to enjoy coffee and cake.

You can take day trips to explore the stunning waterfalls and hot springs of the Icelandic landscape. Or why not visit Bari in Italy? With its host of historic buildings and winding streets, it’s fun, noisy and perfect for families that like to wander and soak up the sunshine.

There are lovely beaches nearby and you can also enjoy the regular opera and ballet performances at the recently restored Teatro Petruzzelli.

FamiliesHandWMag

12

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

Don’t forget to let us know your favourite short break destinations on our Facebook page To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk

Holidays Theme Park Fun Copenhagen has loads of fun things to do for families and is just a two-hour flight away. It’s also home to not one, but two amusement parks. Bakken, with its 82 year old wooden rollercoaster, is just ten minutes’ drive north of the city and is the world’s oldest amusement park, dating back to 1583. Tivoli Gardens consists of 15 acres packed with pagodas, roller coasters, and fairground rides, including the world’s tallest carousel. You could also check out Efteling: World of Wonders in Holland (www.efteling.com/en). It’s about 1.5 hours from Amsterdam and has a fun, fantasy, storybook setting and a variety of novel accommodation options. You can immerse yourself in the enchanted forest, where there are carousels and fun rides for the younger children, while thrill seekers can battle dragons on the rollercoasters.

Eco-Friendly Stays With awareness growing of the effect of travel on the environment, think about travelling by train, which is much greener.

Amsterdam, Bruges, Bordeaux, Lyon, Strasbourg and Cologne can all be reached by rail in under 6 hours from London. Then there are eco-friendly destinations such as Slovenia (www. slovenia.info/en) where 54% of the land is under protection. It also has beautiful coastal towns to explore and activities like white water rafting and hiking to try.

Half of the country is covered in forest, so it is really one of the greenest countries in the world.

Waterside Breaks Beautiful Scotland is a fantastic destination all year round. The country is celebrating a year of Coasts & Waters in 2020 so there’s never been a better time to explore its beautiful rivers, lochs and coastline. You can also enjoy fantastic events as part of the celebrations, such as the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival and Scotland’s Shores at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which will feature classic film screenings and a special outdoor coastal experience. More information at www.visitscotland.com/about/ themed-years/coasts-waters/. Also check out www.watersidebreaks.com which has a wealth of waterside accommodation options from riverside cottages in the Norfolk Broads, to luxury lakeside lodges in the Cotswolds to lovely seaside holiday homes.

familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

13

What’s On

Please check with the venue in case details have changed

The Big Garden Birdwatch

The Monday Night Group: Dick Whittington

Image: Grahame Madge RSPB

Theatre...

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 25 to 27 January and is the largest wildlife survey in the world. The information collected helps monitor bird species in the UK, and is great fun for children.

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

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

Celebrate The Power Of Telling Stories National Storytelling Week takes place from 1 to 8 February and is a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world. We are all immersed in stories — from conversations during which we re-tell events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs firstly to be a good speaker and listener. Above all though, storytelling is fun. Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary.

National Storytelling Week takes place in storytelling clubs, theatres, museums, schools, hospitals, spoken word venues, and care homes. www.sfs.org.uk.

14

Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

To advertise call: 01684 770566

Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove B60 1AX 01527 577330 www.artrix.co.uk What a Wonderful World Before anything new is made it must first be dreamed. From our moon-base in the Sea of Tranquility we get a great view of the earth and it’s time to make a new one just like we do every night! What shall we put in tomorrow’s world? All aboard the sleeper train as it takes you on a dream voyage.

16-17 February.

Evesham Arts Centre Victoria Avenue, Evesham, Worcs, WR114QH 01386 48883 www.eveshamartscentre.co.uk Cinderella With all of the singing and dancing, fun and antics the whole family have come to expect from a cast of 70. 22-26 January Malvern Theatres, Grange Road, Malvern, Worcs, WR14 3HB 01684 892277, www.malvern-theatres.co.uk Holes Stanley Yelnats can’t catch a break. Born into a family cursed with bad luck, it comes as no surprise when he finds himself accused of a crime he didn’t commit. This hit production is a thrilling and off-beat comedy adventure and is perfect for adults and children aged 8 and up. 4-7 March The Monday Night Group The Civic Theatre Hall, Stourport-on-Severn 07593 175776 www.mondaynightgroup.org Dick Whittington Monday Night Group and Crescents Ballet School proudly present Dick Whittington. Follow Dick Whittington's adventures with his faithful cat Tommy and all their friends as they try to twart the evil King Rat. A traditional fun family pantomime with something for everyone.

24 January to 1 February 2020 Number 8 Community Arts Centre, 8 High Street, Pershore, Worcs, WR10 1BG 01386 555488, www.number8.org The Addams Family Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, is all grown up and has a shocking secret that only Dad, Gomez, knows. She’s fallen in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family. 21-22 February familiesonline.co.uk

EXPLORER TODAY!

Please mention you saw this event in Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

Malvern The Courtyard: Theatre: Snow The Little White Prince

All Things Wild: Animal Antics

Days Out...

What’s On

The Commandery: Living History

Museums...

WORKSHOPS — TRAILS AND WALKS — QUIZZES — DINO D MORE RAFTS —ONLINE ANIMALS — INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINOSAUR All Things Wild Nature Centre, Station Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, Road, Honeybourne, Nr Evesham, WR11 7QZ Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, Worcs, B60 4JR 01386 833083, www.allthingswild.co.uk 01527 831363, www.avoncroft.org.uk Wild Winter Weekends 18-19, 25-26 Half-Term Fun Visit the historic houses and January and 1-2 February also take part in children’s trails around the familiesonline.co.uk Zoo Quest 15- 23 February museum grounds during February half-term.

An all-weather attraction with a wide range of animals, a soft play area, outside play area, indoor The Commandery, Sidbury, Worcester WR1 tractors, animals encounter room, cafe, new 2HU 01905 361821 www.worcestershire.gov.uk/ barefoot walk, dinosaurs and much more. museums/info/1/the_commandery The Palace Theatre, Alcester Street, Living History at The Commandery Redditch, B98 8AE 01527 65203, Little Owl Farm Park, Owl Hill Lane, Experience 2000 years of history come to life at www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk Dunhampton, DY13 9SS 01905 620325, Living History, The Commandery’s most Professor Pepperpot Professor Pepperpot’s www.littleowlfarmpark.co.uk anticipated event of the year. 15-16 February Family Fun Show is a mixture of Magic - Balloons A variety of animals, petting area, soft play, pedal and Slapstick fun that will be enjoyed by everyone, tractors, nature trail, cafe and picnic area.

National Trust 0844 800 1895 no matter what your age. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 15 February Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster Croome Park, Croome D’Abitot, WR8 9DW Station, Comberton Hill, Kidderminster, DY10 01905 371006 The Swan Theatre, The Moors, Worcester, 1QX 01299 403816, www.svr.co.uk Lantern Walk 2020 Walk a beautiful 1.5-mile WR1 3ED 01905 611427, Special Half-term Events The Severn Valley route around the grounds and help light up the www.worcesterlive.co.uk Railway is a 16-mile long heritage railway in the night sky. 8 February Book online The Amazing Bubble Man Louis Pearl has Midlands, running regular passenger steam trains, been thrilling audiences for over 30 years with heritage diesel trains and special events Berrington Hall, near Leominster, the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. throughout the half-term.15- 23 February Herefordshire, HR6 0DW 01568 615721 15 February .

Den building Building a den is one of the best The Curious Garden Join The MakeShift Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Lower activities on the ‘50 things to do before you’re Ensemble as they bring to life The New York Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcester, WR3 11¾’ activity list. 25 January.

Times award-winning children’s book The 8SZ 01905 754919 www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk Curious Garden, all about one boy’s quest for a Half-Term Activities Visit Lower Smite Webbs Garden Centre, Wychbold greener world... one garden at a time.

Farm for this self-guided trail around our garden, Droitwich, WR9 0DG. 01527 860000 18 February. orchard, woodland and pond to see how many www.webbsdirect.co.uk signs of spring you can spot and snap with your Story Time Entertain your children with The Courtyard, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 camera or phone..19 February stories and singing. Every Tuesday.

9JR 01432 340555, www.courtyard.org.uk The Little Prince Based on the world-famous story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince brings Protein’s award-winning mix of Book the kids in to Wild Explorers Holiday Club at All Things Wild Nature Centre, dance, humour and spoken word, inviting us to near Evesham from the 17 to 21 February. Allow the kids to let their hair down look at the world through one’s heart and to and go wild in a fantastic environment. reconnect with our inner child. 11-12 February Aladdin Aladdin, his loving mum Widow A fun, action packed holiday club includes lunch, drinks and snacks. There is lots to Twankey and Wishee Washee his idiot brother, see and do, from animal and reptile encounters to messy play and nature walks. work hard in their launderette but they have What better way for your child to spend half term, than getting some fresh air and very little to show for it. Join Aladdin and all the lots of fun! other characters as they find love, happiness and magic in our exciting adventure.

Pre-booking and pre-payment required. Book for any combination of days or all five, 19-22 February the choice is yours! Call 01386 833083 to book. www.allthingswild.co.uk

l Things Wild Nature Centre, Station Road, Honeybourne, WR11 7Q 01386 833083

www.allthingswild.co.uk

If You Do One Thing This February Half-Term...

familiesonline.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesherefordandworcs.co.uk

15

Please mention you saw these events in Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine

Established 1992 Fully Qualified Instructors Specialised Classes 4 – 16 years Beginners, Intermediate & Advanced

Train with Sensei Jags Shoker, 3rd Dan

Wild Winter Weekends

Monday: St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Droitwich Spa 6pm - 7pm Wed & Fri: The Parish Centre, Barnt Green 5.30pm – 6.30pm Friday: Parkside Middle School, Bromsgrove 3.40pm – 4.40pm Saturday: St Peters Special offer RC First School, Bromsgrove 9.15am –10.15am 5 FREE lessons www.kombatkids.com

18th/19th, 25th/26th January 1st/2nd February Complete challenges in our

ZOO QUEST

15th - 23rd February

Wild Explorers Club 17th - 21st February Must be pre-booked

Call: 07730 899722 register@kombatkids.com

All Things Wild Nature Centre, Station Road, Honeybourne.

Near Evesham, Worcestershire. Wr11 7QZ Tel: 01386 833083

Ofsted registered

Action-packed childcare this

Looking for ideas to ensure your children have a week full of fun this February half term?

February Half Term

10% OFF

WITH CODE FHW10 Offer expires at 5pm on 31st January

February Half Term Active Camps

For children aged 4 -14, Ofsted registered Aspire Active Camps is running a whole range of sports and physical activities from 17th – 21st February!

Hagley

Hagley High School

Alvechurch

Alvechurch Middle School and Crown Meadow First School

Wombourne

Wombourne Leisure Centre

Mon 17th - Fri 21st February Open from 8am-6pm

Safety is paramount and we go that extra mile as an Ofsted registered provider to give you peace of mind in knowing that your child is cared for in the best environment possible. All our child protection policies are in place and our coaches are suitably qualified in first aid and safeguarding to ensure your child’s safety at all times.

We provide fantastic early booking offers, in addition to discount offers and a loyalty scheme to our valued customers.

As we are Ofsted registered you are also able to pay via childcare vouchers.

A standard day at Active Camps is 8am – 4pm. Drop off is between 8am – 10am, plus we offer Xtra time which runs 4pm – 6pm.

For more info visit aspire-sports.co.uk or call 0121 663 1979

If you want to join us at Active Camps for an actionpacked school holiday, visit aspire-sports.co.uk or call 0121 663 1979.

See website for full details. Terms and conditions apply,

16

Families Hereford & Worcester

To advertise call: 01684 770566

familiesonline.co.uk