Families Leeds & West Yorkshire November/December 21

EEHome FTRake Me

Leeds & West Yorkshire

IN THIS ISSUE

Leeds Grand Theatre Wed 8 Dec 2021 to Sun 2 Jan 2022

Christmas What’s On Family Life Clubs & Classes Familiesonline.co.uk November/December 2021

November/December 1 familiesonline.co.uk

C IT Y VAR IETIE S MUSIC HALL PR ESENTS

BY PETER ROWE

FRI 26 NOVEMBER 2021 – SUN 9 JANUARY 2022

0113 243 0808 • leedsheritagetheatres.com 2 November/December

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CONTENTS

Welcome If you’re looking to get into the festive spirit, look no further!

After putting this issue together, I am humming Bing Crosby all the way, making lists and wondering when I can wear my Christmas jumper. Too early? Never!

We have everything you need right here to start planning, from fun-to-make Christmas decorations and teachers’ gifts to Christmas recipes, games, gifts, songs, audiobooks and ideas to keep the kids busy on Christmas Eve.

Last year’s visit to see Father Christmas

Plus, of course we are a one-stop-shop for finding out what’s on for families during November and December! See our What’s On pages (from page 33). We also have features on football classes, speech and language post pandemic, teen sleep habits and much more.

Finally, we have some great treats for you in our Christmas Gift Giveaway. Don’t forget to apply!

Have a very Merry Christmas.

In this issue Editor, Families Leeds & West Yorkshire

Get in touch Email or call 07799 667041 to book in our next issue.

Competition winners from our July/August issue. Chantal Platt, Lili Phung, Jax Blunt, Karolina Holmes and Emily Adams who received an Orchard Toys Game Bundle.

See recipients of a children’s wellbeing activity book and Readmio app.

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.

4 6 11 20 24 26 27 28 30 31 32 33

Education Clubs & Classes Christmas Christmas gift guide Local News Ladder Challenge downloadable Health Family Life Tween Early Years Christmas Recycling What’s on

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Get in touch michael@inwardrevenue.co.uk www.inward.co.uk November/December 3

EDUCATION

DIY Christmas gifts for teachers Fabulously creative and low-cost presents that will excite your kids and delight their teachers.

Make Christmas brownies in a jar

Create origami bookmarks

Make a homemade candle

Make scented soap

Bake a bird feeder

Paint a Sharpie mug

Plant a succulent mini pot

Make a rice heat bag

Create a tissue paper vase

4 November/December

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Early Years and Pre Prep

Saturday 27th November, 9.30-11.30am

‘Christmas Stay & Play’ Session

FREE EN TRY

You are invited to join us for our FREE ‘Christmas Stay and Play’ event with Santa, a giant snow

globe, walking piano and a variety of fun and

educational activities for children aged 2-7 years.

Activities include: Santa visit, arts and crafts, Christmas games, plus a giant snow globe and walking piano.

Parents are welcome to enjoy a drink and cake at our Christmas café whilst the children get into the festive spirit in our safe indoor and outdoor learning spaces with highly qualified and experienced staff.

As this is a very popular event, we encourage you to reserve your place by contacting our registrar at hthompson@huddersfield-grammar.co.uk or call the School Office on 01484 424549

The whole child is the whole point.

Royds Mount, Luck Lane, Marsh Huddersfield, HD1 4QX Familiesonline.co.uk

www.hudderfield-grammar.co.uk - Tel: 01484 424 549 e: admissions@huddersfield-grammar.co.uk Follow us on

November/December 5

EDUCATION

Things to know about class WhatsApp groups

By Claire Winter Love them or loathe them school class WhatsApp groups make it incredibly easy and quick to communicate with a community with common interests. But, as with most things, there are pros and cons!

Pros Messages from other parents act as a valuable reminder of the important that keyword will appear. things you were told in emails from your child’s school but have To respond to a specific message, forgotten. hold your finger on the screen over that message and click the Sub-groups are fabulous for backwards arrow. You’ll see the organising the dialogue and message you want to respond to mean you can easily be in touch appear in the chat box and you write with individual parents or groups your reply underneath. of parents with specific shared interests.

Getting overwhelmed by different chats in different groups? Decide Cons which groups are important and politely leave the rest.

Expect flurries of panicked, confused and last-minute threads!

Don’t use your class group like Not everybody in the class group your personal social media will always check email or previous pages and post irrelevant videos, threads. If you are getting confused photographs, memes, conspiracy yourself, always go back to the theories and articles. Or ask for official school correspondence. medical advice! This type of usage can cause tension.

Tips for using WhatsApp You can also mute notifications by To find information on a clicking the profile at the top and particularly topic quickly, press selecting mute if you don’t want to the three dots in the corner of your be constantly pinged all day. screen and click ‘search.’ Type in a keyword and messages that have 6 November/December

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BradfordGrammar.com @BradfordGrammar

A leading co-educational independent school for children aged 6 to 18

This is our ethos Make it yours Regular open events for Junior, Senior and Sixth Form

At ease with excellence Open Event Wednesday 12 January bradfordgrammar.com/signup

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November/December 7

CLUBS & CLASSES

Catalan Soccer is a game changer!

Catalan Soccer all started with a half a dozen footballs and a determination to provide excellent football training for children.

Leeds-born brothers Matthew and Ben knew what a difference goodquality tuition could make to young footballers – giving them the skills and confidence for a life-long love of the game.

Catalan developed a unique training method – Odd Sock® – for teaching children how to pass, control and shoot with both feet using different coloured socks. Giving a clear distinction between left and right feet, it accelerates motor And Catalan itself does not stop development and skills. developing. Innovative new training, such as PlayerTek GPS Combine this training style with for Foundation and Youth classes the very best coaches, inclusive sees sprint speeds and distances and small ratio groups, a safe and all measured through a personal friendly environment and its clear parent login. why the coaching programme is one of the highest-rated in the country.

For parents, as well as the traditional methods of contact – Based at Goals in Kirkstall, Catalan email and telephone, there’s an App Soccer now runs more than 80 through which you can book classes weekly classes and regular school and access information, as well as holiday camps. There are beginner, Whatsapp groups for each class to intermediate and elite groups, tots keep in touch. classes and even private one-to-one tuition - something for every age There are classes running all day on and stage!

Saturdays and every weekday after school, making it easy to find a class “There’s a professional and friendly that fits in with the family schedule. atmosphere at Catalan, we welcome Catalan’s next holiday camp will run everyone,” said Matthew. “Helping from December 20 to 23. children to gain skills and in turn confidence is really rewarding for all Find out more HERE. of us.”

8 November/December

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CLUBS & CLASSES

Promoting a positive attitude to Maths Pre-School classes Monday to Friday Call 07852 989523 email: numbertrain@hotmail.com

www.numbertrain.co.uk

Classes available in Alwoodley Horsforth Headingley Meanwood Moortown Roundhay

Enter our Christmas Gift Giveaway!

T&Cs apply Young Drivers Driving Experience

CLASSES FOR CHILDREN

Brave Girls’ Book Club

4MTHS-12YRS

JOIN US www.harrogate@thelittlegym.co.uk www.leeds@thelittlegym.co.uk www.york@thelittlegym.co.uk

Silverstone Lap of Lights Experience

Storytime magazine subscription

More gifts available

APPLY HERE Magazine

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November/December 9

“E BEST FTBA SL IN ED

S!”

Skills Classes & Holiday Camps

Kids coaching for all abies Confidence Boosting Classes After School & Weekends Full Time Professional Coaches

Safe & Friendly Environment

20th-23rd December

Our Next Camp:

Inspirational Coaching

@CatalanSoccer

Goals Leeds, Redcote Lane, Kirkstal LS42AW

Inclusive, Low Ratio Groups

5 STAR RATED “The coaches are fantastic with the kids and the facilities are brilliant.”

“The commitment and dedication they give to each and every player is second to none - I don't know how they do it!”

Give your child an uplifting & rewarding Football experience with Catalan Soccer

!

N U F ME AND JOIN E 10 November/December

GET THE APP

catalansoccer.com

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CHRISTMAS

Four fab festive days out Here is just a selection of ideas, but there are plenty more to choose from in our What’s On listings. Remember to check availability and book ahead.

The Christmas Experience at Lotherton

Beauty and the Beast, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto

Meet Santa and all his elf friends under the magical wishing tree for stories and elf tales. Gather your food for Rudolf and join Mrs Claus for Christmas crafts. Take a walk through the magical, interactive festive woodland and see the house in all its Christmas glory. From Nov 27 to Jan 2 daily.

More info and book tickets here.

City Varieties Music Hall invites you to be its guest this Christmas as Beauty and the Beast gets the Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto treatment from Nov 26 to Jan 9. Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantos mix traditional elements of audience participation and corny gags with a jukebox full of classic rock anthems and chart-toppers.

More info and book tickets here.

Christmas at Harewood

Temple Newsam Christmas

Roam 120 acres of gardens and grounds, decorated with shining lights, giant Christmas trees and marshmallow toasting firepits.

There’s a brand new Christmas Light Trail coming to Temple Newsam this year from Nov 26 to Jan 2.

Spark the kids’ imagination with Upon a Christmas Wish in the House – a stunning immersive production telling a Christmas tale like never before.

More info and book tickets here.

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Explore a magical trail, featuring spectacular light installations, and follow the Christmas trees across the house and farm. At weekends and during the school holidays enjoy family festive themed crafts and visit Santa in his workshop.

More info and book tickets here.

November/December 11

CHRISTMAS

Christmas audiobooks for the family Grab some blankets and mugs of hot chocolate and curl up to listen to these fabulous Christmas tales.

A Christmas Carol

Mog’s Christmas

A Season of Gifts

Enid Blyton’s Christmas Stories

A Boy Called Christmas

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Ages 6+ (2 hours & 44 minutes).

Ages 2+ (8 minutes).

Ages 9+ (3 hours & 50 minutes).

Ages 7+ (4 hours & 42 minutes).

Ages 9+ (4 hours & 26 minutes).

Ages 3+ (12 minutes).

Tumtum and Nutmeg’s Christmas Adventure

Mrs Claus and the Christmas Adventure

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Ages 3+ (1 hour & 26 minutes).

12 November/December

Ages 4+ (1 hour & 9 minutes).

Ages 8+ (1 hour & 26 minutes).

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CHRISTMAS

Kindle some memories this CHRISTMAS AT HAREWOOD with Upon a Christmas Wish

by Lord Whitney

+ Wrap up for a day in our magical grounds + Run and play in the Adventure Playground and Woodland Wonderland + Enjoy festive snacks + shopping Saturday 13 November 2021 to Monday 3 January 2022 harewood.org/christmas

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November/December 13

CHRISTMAS

Keeping kids busy on Christmas Eve Daytime

Evening

Bake some Christmas goodies.

Do a local Christmas light tour.

Make gingerbread, shortbread Get some fresh air and check out cookies or cakes for everyone to the neighbourhood decorations. enjoy.

Snuggle up. Have a pizza dinner, Make handmade decorations. watch a film or read a Christmas Allow the kids to decorate their story. bedrooms with bunting or paper Go carol singing. Wrap up warm chains and make some lastand treat neighbours to your minute items for the tree. angelic voices - keeping a safe Feed the birds. Hang edible distance, of course. treats or a feeder in the garden Enjoy a Christmas Eve box. so birds can have a Christmas Great for relieving restlessness, dinner too. if the budget allows. Source a Go ice-skating. Nothing more board game or jigsaw from a festive than visiting a local popcharity shop and add new PJs, up ice rink! a Christmas decoration, mug, Attend a nativity service. Local activity book and healthy snacks. churches often welcome all to Don’t forget to leave a snack theirMagazine yearly, special celebration. out Families 180x85 Sol 21/10/21.qxp_Layout 1 21/10/2021 14:34 Page 1 for Santa and his reindeers!

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27 Nov 2021 – 2 Jan 2022

Step into our new festive woodland walk.

Meet Santa, Mrs. Claus, the elves and much more.

Advance booking required.

Visit thechristmasexperience.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk

November/December 15

CHRISTMAS

Best family Christmas recipes For the best fun cooking and eating!

Kid-friendly fruit mince pies

Gingerbread men

Strawberry Santa pancakes

Snowman marshmallow pops

White Christmas crackles

Peanut butter cookie dough reindeers

Snowman pizza

Easy family Christmas nut roast

Cheese stars

16 November/December

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LEEDS FAVOURITE

JEZ EDWARDS

ANNA PHYLACTIC OHAANA GREAVES

AARON STEADMAN MISHA MALCOLM

Featuring the voice of

BRIAN BLESSED as the Genie of the Lamp

26 NOV 2021 - 9 JAN 2022

BOX OFFICE 0113 376 0318 • WWW.CARRIAGEWORKSTHEATRE.CO.UK Familiesonline.co.uk

November/December 17

CHRISTMAS

Christmas games for the family Some of the best fun at Christmas can be had playing games. Here’s our top seasonal picks.

Christmas song emoji guessing game

Christmas bingo

Outdoor Christmas scavenger hunt

Christmas charades

Christmas memory match

Christmas scent game

Candy cane fishing game

Who am I?

Pin the nose on the reindeer

18 November/December

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‘BEWITCHING. A TRIUMPH’ DAILY TELEGRAPH

MICHAEL HARRISON presents

THE TIMES

‘TRULY MAGICAL’ MAIL ON SUNDAY

WED 8 DEC 2021 – SUN 2 JAN 2022 Box Office 0113 243 0808 leedsheritagetheatres.com

I U G Q I N Z X X F P J Y O U L N B T A X Q N L M B F C Q L X I C E F I S H I N G E D I V H N E A N Q S J B I J A W N A S U W S N O W F L A K E T G Z N N S T N D U Y F I A D F G X O V U K Z O E R F A L D B E C W E Z E Y O W H E G N W Z I Z

©Disney

‘SPECTACULAR’

Festive Fun Word search There are lots of fun and exciting things to see and do on a trip to Santa’s Lapland, can you help us find them all in this word search?

Santa, Reindeer, Snowflake, Elves, Husky, Snowmobile, Ice Fishing, Sleigh, Snow Hockey

H M S M G Z G M E I Z S Z M B O N L S A N T A O Q N K T B G C K E K T G C P M B K D A H R K T I Y E L V E S P I Y E L W E X G O Q U M Y A X Z L X E Z Y S H A K S A E F U S J E I R R O E H I H O C P B C K J H G

Imagine seeing all these in person in snowy Lapland, to find out more visit SantasLapland.com DOWNLOAD WORD SEARCH

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DOWNLOAD MORE ACTIVITIES

November/December 19

CHRISTMAS

Great Christmas gifts for kids Check out our Families gift guide for ideas that will inspire and excite your child - many without lots of packaging!

Brave Girls’ Book Club subscription box

Storytime magazine subscription

Baked In Junior Baking Club subscription box

Diverse stories & powerful protagonists.

Ages 7-12. £17 per month.

For story-loving kids!

Ages 4-11. From £38.99.

Child-friendly recipes for mini-bakers. Ages 5-11.

From £7.50 per month.

Young Driver driving lessons

Scamp & Dude superpower PJs

So Slime DIY Ice Cream Factory

SnapWatch

Waboba Moon Ball

Get behind the wheel for a memorable driving experience. Ages 4+.

Snaps around the wrist and stays. Interactive, easy to use. Ages 5-12. £9.99 + p&p.

20 November/December

PJs with Superpower Button! Boosts and comforts when most needed. From £28.

Pops and bounces to 100ft!

Ages 5+.

Create three squishy slime ice creams - fluffy, icee and scented.

Ages 6+. £20.

Wildflower kit

Three bamboo pots ready to plant. Six hundred seeds to attract bees! £20.

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CHRISTMAS

Christmas gift ideas for adults Eco-friendly, no-clutter and truly memory-making. Check out the Families guide to gift experiences for parents.

Silhouette sitting with Charles Burns Virtual sitting with the famous silhouettist of Royals/celebs. From £45.

WSET Level 1 Award in Wines

Give the gift of wine knowledge! Highlyregarded award, perfect for beginners.

Box 42 Uncharted Love Island box Tropical fun. Themed activities & Spotify playlist. From £31.99 per mth.

Books that Matter Silverstone driving Bloom & Wild book box experience letterbox flowers Thought-provoking and inspiring novel, plus feminist and bookish gifts. From £17 per mth.

Epsom Bakehouse bread making Learn to bake, online classes. Baguettes to brioche. From £19.99.

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Huge range of letterbox bouquets delivered monthly for your giftee to curate.

Get behind the wheel of a single-seater race car or top of the range supercar. From £189.

Flying lesson

Fender Play guitar lessons

Learn how to pilot an aircraft in two amazing thirty minute lessons.

Legendary guitar brand with online platform.

Easy-to-follow lessons.

November/December 21

CHRISTMAS

Make your own Christmas decorations Get the whole family in the mood for Christmas with a crafty decoration-making afternoon.

Lemon star biscuits

Button snowflake

DIY wrapping paper

Sugar charms

Christmas crackers

Glue string ball

Paper snowflake wreath

Paper Christmas tree decorations

Festive pine cone mouse

22 November/December

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CHRISTMAS

For more fun near you…

Pick up your local print magazine.

Ask us where.

Enter our Christmas Gift Giveaway!

T&Cs apply

So Slime DIY Ice Cream Station

SnapWatch

Waboba Moon Ball

More gifts available

Magazine

IT’s FREE

APPLY HERE Magazine

Car booster AND pull-along case... in one!

Recyclable

3 available

Get a FREE CarGoSeat

10 litre capacity

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Magazine Familiesonline.co.uk

T&Cs apply November/December 23

LOCAL NEWS

Local news Baby Week Leeds is back!

Happy birthday to The Little Bookshop

Baby Week Leeds returns, running from Nov 15 to 21.

There’s a fantastic calendar of events to celebrate all things baby!

The Little Bookshop in Chapel Allerton turns four on Nov 6. To celebrate it is inviting customers old and new to pop along for a soft drink and piece of cake between 9-5pm, or a glass of fizz from midday. You can browse new Christmas titles and meet some local authors.

Many events and activities are free or low cost, including taster sessions with sensory, storytime, play and gymnastics for little ones. There will also be baby friendly film screenings, free first-aid training and talking sessions, as well as a Q&A session with experts for new and expectant parents.

This year the theme is Strengths and Struggles, and organisers have also co-ordinated a half-day free conference for professionals focused on maternity and experiences during COVID-19, mental health, health inequalities, early years and much more.

For more information about #BabyWeekLeeds 2021, and to book a place, CLICK HERE.

24 November/December

The independent bookshop was opened by three local mums in 2017, and has evolved from a children’s bookshop, through lockdown and increased website sales, to having a dedicated section for adults’ books too.

On Nov 19 at 4pm, Best-selling author and illustrator Rob Bidulph will be here for a book signing of Draw with Rob at Christmas and Odd Dog at Christmas. All you have to do is go along and meet Rob and buy one of the books either in the shop or via its website, and it will be kept there ready for you on the day.

CLICK HERE for more information.

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LOCAL NEWS

Families meets: Sophie Illingworth We caught up with mum-of-two Sophie, who runs Baby Sensory North Leeds…

What do you love most about your job? Who wouldn’t love chatting with parents and playing with babies all day? I get to be silly and creative and it’s a wonderful thing to help parents make memories and bond with their babies.

What advice would you give to someone starting a business?

Things will be hard at first and may take up more time than a regular job, but you can always work things to fit around your family, and when things get going it is all worthwhile.

What motivates you? Being the best! I am a pretty competitive person, so in business I want to run the best classes, that people will love. I also want to be the best Mum I can be (on the days when I get enough sleep).

What are you looking forward to?

Christmas! After not seeing my family in Spain for a few years due to the pandemic we are going to spend Christmas with them and I can’t wait. I have just had a little boy and I can’t wait until he is able to sit up and play with my older boy too!

Quick fire questions:

Box set or book? Box set, sadly I can’t remember the last time I managed to finish a whole book!

Night Out or Night In? Night Out. What advice would you give to Tea or coffee? Coffee a first-time mum? Be easy on School run or Running? I find I yourself, there’s a lot of pressure put am usually running late so tend to on new mums and it’s a hard job! combine the two most days!

Seek out help and support if you need it. We are lucky that there are so many wonderful things going on in Leeds - classes, support groups, resource libraries for slings and cloth nappies, baby film showings, meet ups and events.

What makes you angry? People who don’t need to parking in children’s bays and gendered children’s toys and clothing!

Familiesonline.co.uk

Baby Sensory North Leeds WOW Centre Alwoodley www.babysensory.com/north-leeds November/December 25

The Ladder Challenge Help your child take on a difficult challenge – one step at a time! Download this activity and instructions to get started.

The Ladder Challenge Taking on a difficult challenge – one step at a time Instructions for use We face new challenges every day, and some can seem so big that we want to run in the opposite direction to avoid them!

The best thing to do to make a challenge less scary is to break it down into steps so you can build up the confidence to tackle it.

Look at the ladder on the next page to see how a big challenge can be broken down into simple steps.

Now use the empty ladder and write the thing you find most challenging at the top.

Next, think about what smaller steps you can take to reach your goal and write them on each step – ask your grownup to help if you like.

Building up your confidence with each step will equip you with the positive mindset needed to tackle any challenge.

The Ladder Challenge is an activity for children taken from The Happy Workbook: The Feel Good Activity Book by Imogen Harrison, published by Summersdale.

Final rehearsal the night before

Practise in front of your family

Sing song loudly on s way to sc the ho in the car ol Practise front of yoin grown-upur

Read alou on your owd n

DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR KIDS HERE!

26 November/December

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Become weight neutral!

It’s all too easy to talk about food and weight with and in front of our children in a way that may foster unhelpful attitudes towards body image and nutrition.

Do you use either of the comments below or similar?

Download our chart for some suggestions for alternative ways of thinking and speaking which may help foster more nurturing, mindful, conscious and intuitive eating habits and skills.

I can’t eat dessert because I’m on a diet.

Cakes and chocolate are bad for you.

Say This Nothing!

Swap these often used for others phrases Instead of Th is

Any comment about your ow child’s weight. n or another adu lt/ I wish I was ligh All bodies are any thing that ter/heavier, had more muscl good bodies. rejects yours es… or or their body.

Being overwe ight is unheal All bodies are thy. different and worth looking after.

We have to los e weight to get I love moving happy. my body in new healthy and be and different ways. I nee d to exercise I’m not hungry more so I can for dessert rig eat treats. ht now.

I can’t eat des sert because Are you hungry I’m on a diet. in your head or in your tummy ?

You can only hav dinner. (Overr e dessert if you eat up all idin of moralising goo g hunger and fullness cue your s and d/bad/treat/hea guilt/virtue cyc lthy reinforces We can enjoy le). a cakes and cho and carrots and colate grapes and app and peppers Ca kes and chocolate le and banana are bad for you s… .

Did you know veggies can hel bodies do am azing things? p our brains and You must eat up your veggie s because the good for you. y are I’m hungry! a burger sounds nice today.

I’m going to be Let ’s get outsid bad and have a burger for lun e for some fre sh air. ch.

We need to go We’re not hav for a walk to bur ing cake right n some calorie now, we’re hav and yoghurt ins s. ing fruit We’re tead. not having cak e for snack, bec healthy. ause it’s not Our bodies are change shape amazing! They’re designed to many times as I wish I cou older. we grow up and get be big and ld lose the baby weight; boy s should strong!

Isn’t it wonde rfu kinds of faces l to have 7.5+ billion differe and bodies on nt Isn’t so-and-so the planet? (appearance really pretty, handsome, stro pra good/bad/bet ise reinforces stereotypes ng (to someone ter/worse)? and who has change d weight) However well How are you? inte will always hav ntioned… ‘weight change e praising an eat unknown impact , we cou praise’ ld ing condition or sim disorder, an underlying be health ply equating wo rth with body size.

Nothing!

With thanks to through intuit Nutriri, an organisation cre ive eating an ated by volun d movement for joy courses, teers to offer weight neutr al support, hypnotherapy 1:1 or in group s.

DOWNLOAD NOW! Familiesonline.co.uk

November/December 27

FAMILY LIFE

Living safely with a dog

Understanding under 5s

By Caroline Wilkinson

By Dr Sarah Mundy

For children, having a dog for a pet can provide so many social benefits - from having a ‘friend’ to share their worries with, to learning how to be caring and responsible. In fact, being around dogs has benefits for the whole family, with the household more likely to be physically active and suffer lower levels of stress.

One moment a young child can seem like a rational human being, the next, for no apparent reason, a little monster! How do we understand what’s going on for them?

To enjoy all the benefits, we need to ensure that children are helped to act safely around the dogs they live with. So how can we do this?

READ MORE

Our ability to understand our children, think about their feelings and experiences and hold their mental states in mind is ‘predictive of their child’s attachment relationships, ability to understand and manage their feelings and social and play skills’ (Fonagy et al, 2002).

READ MORE

Top tip for dog care Write a list of the daily jobs including feeding, providing water, grooming, providing social interaction, training and walking.

Assign a job to each family member.

It eases the load on you PLUS it gives everyone an opportunity to have a social relationship with your dog.

28 November/December

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FAMILY LIFE

Overcoming racial bullying

Moving from two incomes to one

By Tamsy Ashman

By Steve Hennessy

Studies show that, recently, racial bullying has increased in schools. A poll of one thousand children aged 6 to 15 found about thirty two percent of children had heard someone be racist at school. (The Guardian, 2020). So what can we do to overcome racial bullying?

READ MORE

Only Mums & Dads support parents to make the best decisions for their family during separation/divorce. Their inbox indicates that one of the most common anxieties for a couple separating is transitioning from a two-income to a single-income household.

READ MORE

Travelling with children with different surnames

Enter our Christmas Gift Giveaway!

By Emma Newman

T&Cs apply

So Slime DIY Ice Cream Station

Planning to head abroad this year? Are you are a parent with a different surname to your child? If so, you may be required to prove that you are your child’s legal guardian. So what documentation do you need to take when you travel?

READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk

SnapWatch

Waboba Moon Ball

More gifts available

APPLY HERE Magazine

November/December 29

TWEEN

Tween sleep habits

By Chris Skeat

It’s just as hard for tweens to get a good night’s sleep, as it is for their parents! Pre-teen/teen experts at wearetwixt offer tips on healthy sleep habits for this age group.

Children ages 10 to 12 years should get between nine hours fifteen minutes and nine hours forty five minutes of sleep a night (NHS). But, at puberty (on average, between 10-12 for girls and 12-16 for boys), children’s natural sleep patterns may start shifting.

Sleep is essential for forming and maintaining pathways in the brain that facilitate learning and create new memories but research shows we’re now having two hours less sleep a night than in the 1960s.

A key reason? The blue light from digital screens suppresses the body’s sleep hormone, melatonin, which helps us drift off.

bed the first week, building to sixty or ninety minutes.

How can bedtime routines and bedroom set ups also improve tween sleep?

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Banish the blue-light According to a BBC survey, fifty seven per cent of the UK’s children sleep with their mobile phones by their bed and forty two percent of children always keep their phones with them, never turning them off.

But a pre-bedtime screen time cutoff and no access to technology in the bedroom is crucial for a good night’s sleep.

Switch off before bedtime Fifteen to twenty minutes before 30 November/December

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EARLY YEARS

Improving your little one’s speech and language post-pandemic

By Joanne Jones Masks, social distancing, no parenting clubs or classes and no visitors to the house...that was the theme of the pandemic.

Consequently, children have had less experience of full faces, watched fewer mouths and played fewer turn-taking games such as ‘I smile, you smile’ with strangers.

Babies and toddlers acquire many of the skills involved in learning to talk from copying and reading facial expressions and copying mouth movements. So, post-pandemic, many parents report that their children are struggling to learn language or to use the words they already know in conversation.

together.

• Your child is not using ‘learned phrases’ to communicate.

• Your child is not chewing or only eating a limited diet and words are not being used.

If any of the above signs ring true for you, firstly, talk to your Health Visitor and ask about a referral to Speech Therapy.

Here are the key signs to look out for that might mean your young child would benefit from some extra Waiting times may be lengthy but help: there are things you can do to help • Your baby/toddler is not babbling your child make progress in the meantime. and making a variety of sounds.

• Your baby/toddler is not watching You are your child’s best teacher your face when you talk. and you can make up for their limited earlier experiences.

• Your baby/toddler is not developing their play abilities to Implement some of the following include a variety of skills. ideas.

• Your child is not using some words by 18 months old.

READ MORE • Your two year old is not combining two or more words Familiesonline.co.uk

November/December 31

CHRISTMAS

What can I recycle after Christmas?

Christmas trees

Christmas cards

Cut, real Christmas trees: can be recycled and councils often have a specific collection for this.

Living Christmas trees: can be replanted for use next year.

Artificial Christmas trees: CANNOT be recycled. Reuse or give away.

Save to make into gift tags.

Cut into pieces for kids’ projects.

Or recycle BUT only AFTER cutting off any glitter, ribbons, foil, plastic and other unrecyclable elements.

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MORE INFO

Wrapping paper

Decorations

Plastic based or containing foil or glitter: CANNOT be recycled.

Plastic, glitter or glass: CANNOT be recycled. Reuse or donate to charity shops if in good condition.

Natural wreaths: compost if they have no glitter.

Fairy lights: CAN be recycled at household waste recycling centres.

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Other paper: scrunch into a ball. If it stays scrunched it can probably be recycled. Remove all sticky tape and decorations first.

AND check with your council as some won’t take it.

MORE INFO 32 November/December

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WHAT’S ON

What’s on THEATRE Nov 9 to 10 Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever St George’s Hall Peppa Pig is excited to be going on a special day out – it’s going to be her best day ever!

Nov 10 to 13 Fantastic Mr Fox Carriageworks Theatre Leeds Children’s Theatre presents this Roald Dahl classic.

Nov 18 to Jan 3 Beauty and the Beast Theatre Royal Wakefield A magical family panto returns with a tale that’s as old as time itself.

soars through the skies in his quest for fortune and true love.

Nov26 to Jan 9 Beauty and the Beast: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto City Varieties Music Hall You’ll be wowed by this breath-taking production with traditional audience participation, corny gags and a jukebox full of classic rock anthems.

Dec 3 to Jan 2 Robin Hood the Pantomime Laurence Batley Theatre Ready, aim fire! A new pantomime is coming to Huddersfield.

Dec 4 to 18 The Princess and the Pea Leeds Central Library tutti frutti present a funny, original, beautiful retelling of this familiar tale. Ages 3+.

Nov 18 to Jan 22 Wendy & Peter Pan Leeds Playhouse Fly to Neverland this Christmas as Wendy takes centre stage in a magical retelling of the JM Dec 6 and 7 Barrie classic Peter Pan. Dear Santa Kings Hall Ilkley Nov 19 and 20 Stick Man Live on Stage Santa is determined to deliver the most fantastic The Victoria Theatre Christmas present to Touching, funny and Sarah, but he doesn’t get utterly original, a it right straight away! delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Dec 7 to 11 Scheffler’s Stick Man! Pinocchio by Northern Ballet Nov 26 to Jan 9 Leeds Stanley & Audrey Aladdin Burton Theatre Carriageworks Theatre An original retelling of the Follow Aladdin on the journey of a lifetime as he classic children’s story, Familiesonline.co.uk

Pinocchio is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre.

Dec 8 to Jan 2 Bednobs and Broomsticks Leeds Grand Theatre Enter a world of magic and fantasy as Disney’s classic movie makes its world premiere as an exciting new stage musical.

Dec 11 to Jan 2 Jack and the Beanstalk The Victoria Theatre Join The Victoria Theatre Halifax for the biggest panto of them all with the fabulous Jack and the Beanstalk.

Dec 11 to Jan 16 Sleeping Beauty Alhambra Theatre Billy Pearce, returns playing King Billy, joined

by TV celebrity Dr Ranj playing The Royal Doctor, overseeing medical proceedings in the Royal Household!

Dec 17 to 24 Alfie the Elf’s Christmas Rescue Lawrence Batley Theatre Join Alfie for this live, 45-minute performance as he brings his fabulous stories to life, cracks jokes and tells us all how Christmas really works in Santa’s workshop.

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WHAT’S ON

What’s on EVENTS

Whistlestop Valley and enjoy a return steam train ride to Mrs Claus’ cosy cabin. Up to age 5.

inside his cosy grotto.

Nov 27 to Jan 2 Lotherton’s Christmas Experience Selected dates from Nov New and exciting festive woodland walk. Plus 26 to Jan 2 Father Christmas in the Christmas at Temple Elf Village and more.

Newsam Booking is essential.

Enjoy a brand new after-dark illuminated Dec 3 to 23 trail through the festive Every Sat to Dec 18 Santa’s Grotto grounds and gardens!

Rory’s Tiger Club Eureka! The National Leeds City Museum Children’s Museum SEE SANTA Enjoy Rory’s Tiger Club Santa Claus is coming craft sessions for families. to town... Visit him in his Weekends from Nov 27 Free, drop in. Different snuggly Grotto at Eureka! to Dec 18, then Dec 19, themes each week. this Christmas.

20, 21, 22 and 23 Father Christmas at Until Jan 9 Dec 4 to 24 (weekends, Bolton Abbey Leeds City Museum is then daily from Dec 18) Step into the twinkling 200 Christmas village, tucked Father Christmas Comes Millennium Square to the Piece Hall away in the middle of A special exhibition celebrating the museum’s Strid Wood and see what Join this never seen before show as you are enchanting experience 200th birthday. welcomed on a magical awaits. journey of storytelling and Nove 13 to Jan 3 festive imagination. Ages Weekends from Nov 27 Harewood’s Festive 3-13. to Dec 18, then Dec 19, Season 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 Explore Lord Whitney’s Dec 12 Santa Underground fantastic Upon a The Big Leeds Santa National Coal Mining Christmas Wish Dash at Roundhay Park Museum installations. Pre-book.

The St Gemma’s Hospice Travel 140 metres Santa Dash is back and underground to join Nov 19, 20, 26, 27 and this year it’ll be held at Santa in his unique and Dec 2 to 4 atmospheric underground Roundhay Park.

Magical Christmas grotto.

Nights at Harewood Dec 4 to 24 Explore the festive season Christmas Elf Nov 27 to Dec 24 after hours, and see the Experience Christmas lights sparkle! Santa Special Whitslestop Valley, Whitslestop Valley, Kirklees Light Railway Kirklees Light Railway Nov 22 to Dec 17 Enjoy the brand new Step aboard the steamMrs Claus Christmas Christmas Elf Experience heated carriages and be Adventure at Clayton West Station. transported to the North Travel on Mrs Claus’ Pole, meet with Santa Christmas Adventure at Until Nov 14 Immense Insects Leeds City Museum Join the museum and explore its incredible insect collection like never before through macro-photography.

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