Families Cambridgeshire

F R TAKE EE ME HOM E

KD Theatre Productions Ltd in association

with present

A Socially Distanced Pantomime Extravaganza

18 DEC 2020 – 3 JAN 2021 www.kdtheatre.co.uk | 01353 725 026

Issue 61 November/December 2020

familiesonline.co.uk

Find your fearless Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year-olds

stagecoach.co.uk/cambridge 01223 359974

cambridge@stagecoach.co.uk

Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited.

Contents & Competition

Dear Reader, I love autumn! Crackling fires, family walks in the woods and the cosy glow of candlelight as the nights draw in and the days get shorter - just a few things that lockdown doesn’t change for any of us. However, as we start to think about Christmas shopping, Christmas dinner, school nativities, pantomimes and that very important visit to Father Christmas, we all have to do things a little differently this year. We have done our very best to find as many of these traditional events locally for everyone and included lots of articles to help with home schooling and mental health should your school be temporarily closed or you have to isolate at home.

So whatever your family traditions, this issue will save some precious time providing you with dates, times and locations of online or socially distanced local pantomimes, where to find Santa and y for an easy ‘Do not pra e strength Christmas lights. Hopefully we will inspire r th life, pray fo ’ you with a few gift ideas too. difficult one to endure a r o Act Have a wonderful Bruce Lee, Christmas time.

Wise words

@familiesCambMag

facebook.com/FamiliesUKCambridgeshire

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WIN

TWO TICKETS TO SEE THE (SOCIALLY DISTANCED) SANTA SHOW

Running on 5th and 6th December at The Maltings, Ely Be transported to the North Pole to meet Santa and his elves who have the important task of preparing all the presents ready for Christmas Day. You’ll also get to meet Santa’s friends Rudolph the Rapping Reindeer and Frosty the Singing Snowman!

Children will get the chance to meet Santa and receive their very own Christmas present, in a safe and socially distanced way, at the end of the performance.

This exciting, colourful, sing-along interactive show is perfect for 2-6 yr olds, their families, pre-schools and nurseries. To enter visit our Facebook page @ FamCambsMag

What's in this issue?

4. News & Views 6. Winter fun indoors 7. Baby News 8. What’s on this Christmas 9. Where to find Santa 11. Improving your child's working memory 12. Home Education Protect your child from Cyber Bullying 13. Importance of Drama 14. How Many toys does a child need?

15. Christmas Gift Guide EDITOR: Lisa Exell 01945 861336, editor@familiesCambridgeshire.co.uk ASSISTANT EDITOR: Amanda Dawson, admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk SOCIAL MEDIA: Amanda Dawson, admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk SALES: Jean Stevens, jean@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk DESIGN: Caroline Thompson-Heap, info@cheekymonkeydesigns.net 22,000 copies of Families Cambridgeshire available through schools, nurseries, hospitals, clubs and classes, selected shops and restaurants. If you would like copies for your establishment please let us know.

Families Cambridgeshire 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 Cambridgeshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Cambridgeshire.

Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Cambridgeshire its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

KD Theatre Productions Ltd Present

5th & 6th Dec 2020 Limited capacity to allow for social distancing

A BRAND NEW SHOW FOR 2020 WITH SANTA & FRIENDS | www.kdtheatre.co.uk | 01353 725 026 familiesonline.co.uk

Families Cambridgeshire 3

News & Views

National Trust to stay open for local access to parks, gardens, countryside and other outdoor sites during lockdown in England Following the Government’s announcement of a four-week lockdown in England, the National Trust has said that it intends to keep its gardens, parks and countryside sites open but it must close houses, shops and holiday accommodation in England from Thursday 5 November.

The Trust’s coast and countryside sites and carparks will remain open. It also intends to keep its gardens and parklands open with pre-booking to encourage local people to enjoy open space while adhering to the Government’s guidance and maintaining social distancing.

The charity’s Director General Hilary McGrady said: “We follow Government advice and guidance at all times, in each of the nations we serve.

“We know how important access to green space, nature and fresh air are to people, and we’ll do everything we can to provide them during the next phase. Our priorities will remain the safety and well-being of visitors, staff and volunteers.”

The Trust said, where possible, visitors would still be able to get take away food and drink and that outdoor play areas would remain open in line with Government guidance. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

New Lego Braille Bricks Launched

PERFORM returns with Covid Safe Confidence Building Fun

Families talks to Perform’s Principal, Lucy Quick.

We’ve always put children at the heart of everything we do and we're thrilled to be back in real life with classes filled with laughter, fun and confidence-boosting activities.

We’ve put enormous effort into adapting our class content to ensure that we follow the latest government health guidelines whilst making sure the children can still sing, dance, act and have the best fun of the week.

To help children get back to enjoying the things they love most, our autumn term is packed with games and activities which build confidence, boost concentration, develop communication and help coordination. We have left no stone unturned when it comes to health and safety but the children will be having so much fun that they will barely notice a difference. Whilst there won't be handholding games this term, there will be lots of eye contact, funky moves, fantastic diction and learning about how to be a great friend.

Perform runs drama classes for 4-7s and 7-12s as well as Perform At Home, our popular online classes. Book a FREE no-obligation class by visiting www.perform.org.uk/try 4 Families Cambridgeshire

Lego is launching a new version of its plastic bricks featuring braille.

The new bricks are the same shape as the regular ones, but the studs on top have been rearranged. The bricks are moulded so that the studs on top reflect individual letters and numbers in the braille alphabet while remaining fully compatible with the Lego system.

The bricks also feature a printed version of the symbol or letter.

Lego has stated that it wants to encourage blind and visually impaired children to explore new ways of learning to read and write.

With these Braille Bricks, the LEGO Foundation has created a totally new and engaging way for children with vision impairment to learn to read and write,” says David Clarke, Director of Services at the Royal National Institute of Blind People. More info:www.legofoundation.com

Childcare Costs Rise

Britain’s parents are paying 5% more for childcare for the undertwos than they were one year ago, according to a survey of childcare costs by the charity, Coram Family and Childcare.

Parents have been hit by childcare costs rising well ahead of inflation, and are paying an average of £131.61 per week, or over £6,800 per year, for a part-time nursery place.

The survey also reveals that childcare prices and availability vary significantly across the country. Not unexpectedly, the most expensive regions in the UK are London and the South East, where the cost of a part-time nursery place for a child under two is £165.47 and £144.90 per week respectively, compared to the least expensive regions which are £116.25 in the West Midlands and £113.76 in Yorkshire and Humberside.

More info: www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/

Letter from Santa

All children love to receive a letter addressed to them in the post, but what could be more special than a letter from Father Christmas?

Here are two ways of making this happen.

ROYAL MAIL LETTER TO SANTA For children to receive a FREE letter from Santa via the Royal Mail children must post their letter to Santa by Friday 11th December Envelopes must have either a first or second class stamp and be addressed

to Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ. The letter must include your child’s full name and address.

More info at www.royalmail.com/christmas/ letters-to-santa NSPCC SANTA LETTER Children can also receive a personalised reply from Santa via his elves at the NSPCC in exchange for a minimum £5 donation to the charity. The letter is ordered online and must be placed by 14th December. More info at letterfromsanta.nspcc.org.uk/letterfrom-santa familiesonline.co.uk

News & Views THE SANTA SHOW

National Tree Week

National Tree Week is the UK’s largest tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season. It runs from 28 November to 6 December.

As the biggest plants on the earth, trees give us oxygen, trap dust and absorb pollutants from the air, store carbon, stabilise soil and give life to wildlife. They also provide shade from the sun and reduce noise.

The main focus of National Tree Week is planting more trees, and there’s a lot you may be able do to help at school and in your community. If you have space, why not plant a tree in your garden?

Around the country Covid-aware tree planting events may be taking place near you offering the chance to get your hands dirty and do something for your local environment.

For your local event visit: www.treecouncil.org.uk

Road Safety Week – ‘No need to speed’

UK Road Safety Week 2020 takes place between 16 and 22 November and will encourage everyone to learn that the speed of traffic matters to their safety.

Findings released by Brake, the road safety charity, show that just a quarter of people think vehicles travel at a safe speed on the street where they live.

With someone injured on a UK road every four minutes, and vehicle speed playing a part in every crash, it’s time to come together to say that there is No Need to Speed.

To participate in Road Safety Week, register for a free action pack at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk

KD Theatre Productions are delighted to be bringing ‘The Santa Show’ to The Maltings, Ely this Christmas!

The production will export the audience to the North Pole to meet Santa and his Elves who have the very important task of preparing all the presents ready for Christmas Day. You’ll also get to meet Santa’s friends Rudolph the Rapping Reindeer and Frosty the Singing Snowman!

This exciting, colourful, sing along interactive show is perfect for 2 – 6 yr olds, their families, pre-schools and nurseries.

Children will also get the chance to meet Santa and receive their very own Christmas present, in a safe and socially distanced way, at the end of the performance.

The production runs at approximately 45 minutes long and audience members will be able to purchase tickets in bubbles of up to 6 people! KD and The Maltings will be ensuring they are following government guidelines and will have all the necessary procedures in place such as staggered arrival times, temperature checks, hand sanitising stations and deep cleans of the auditorium between each performance. Tickets available online www. kdtheatre.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01353 725 026.

Virtual School Library Launched

To help children who have fallen behind with their literacy and to safeguard children’s access to books and families’ access to literacy support in the event of future local lockdowns, the National Literacy Trust has launched a Virtual School Library.

The Virtual School Library will provide all primary school children in the UK with a free ebook or audiobook, an exclusive video and engaging activities from a different beloved children’s author or illustrator every week.

Complimenting existing school libraries, the Virtual School Library will give children access to books all year round, whether they are learning at school or at home.

In addition, the National Literacy Trust has launched a website, Words for Life, to provide families with activities to support children’s literacy at home. More info:virtualschoollibrary.org.uk

The Wizard Of Oz

The Maltings, Ely December 2020 Will pantomime return to The Maltings this Christmas? Oh yes it will!

KD Theatre Productions return to Ely this Christmas with a spectacular, socially-distanced and covid-secure production of ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’, the perfect ‘Post Lock Down Pick Up’!

Join Dorothy as she goes on a magical adventure, over the rainbow, where along the way she makes new friends with the Scarecrow who longs for a brain, the Tin Man who really wants a heart and the very cowardly Lion who is desperate to be brave and have some courage. Dorothy needs to find her way home, but it’s not going to be easy with the Wicked Witch of the West keeping a close eye on her!

Will the Great and Powerful Oz be able to help?

This larger than life, pantomimic, colourful story is packed with hilarious jokes, dazzling dance routines, glittering scenery and plenty more for all the family!

Usually over 11,000 people attend the pantomime each year, however due to social distancing and limited capacity, a total of only 4,000 tickets are available across the performances which run from the 18th December 2020 – 3rd January 2021.

As well as social distancing seating around the auditorium, audience members will have their temperatures checked and asked to sanitise their hands-on arrival. The show will run at 75 minutes with no interval (to minimise crowding) although audience members will have opportunity to purchase refreshments and merchandise before the show.

To book tickets or for more information on all the safety measures in place please visit www.kdtheatre.co.uk or call 01353 725 026.

Make, Create and Learn with NEW Magna-Tiles

A massive success in the US, with both parents and children, Magna-Tiles® 3D magnetic building tiles arrive in the UK this November.

A classic must-have childhood toy, Magna-Tiles are colourful, versatile, super high-quality magnetic tiles designed for cool learning activities. Engaging young minds through imaginative play, little ones can stack, build, and explore any way they want.

All Magna-Tiles shapes have a unique ability to always attract, even when tiles are flipped - it's the secret power of the click! That means anything children can dream and imagine, they can build!

Magna-Tiles Clear Colours 32 piece set: includes squares (2 large, 14 small) and triangles (8 equilateral, 4 right, 4 isosceles) £34.99 Stockist www.smyths.com

TURN YOUR LITTLE ONE INTO A CuddleELF THIS CHRISTMAS

JINGLE

Bells

familiesonline.co.uk

Family loved brand Cuddledry is bringing some Christmas cheer to homes all over the UK with their brand new Limited Edition bamboo ‘CuddleELF' Toddler Towel. Made with their signature blend of pure cotton and naturally soft (and sustainable) bamboo towelling, this ethically made, long lasting gift is sure to delight the little ones in your life this festive season. £37.99 from www.cuddledry.com Families Cambridgeshire 5

Families Education

Winter Fun – Indoors!

by Claire Winter

During the winter months, there’s no avoiding spending much more time indoors.

It’s tempting to allow the kids to while away the time on devices or playing on their Xbox. But there are ways of keeping your kids off their screens and still having fun, even within the four walls of your own home.

Here’s Families guide to some fun badweather-day activities.

Make a Cardboard Town Get hold of a giant cardboard box or add lots of small ones together to make a town using large felt tips or paint. Let their imaginations run riot, and they can add cars and wooden/ plastic people to make it more realistic.

Set Up an Indoor Treasure Hunt Write some cryptic clues and hide a treasure trail of items for them to find. They may want to design one for you to do too!

Make Slime Batten down the hatches, get the aprons out and be prepared for a tsunami of a mess in your kitchen. This activity is satisfyingly messy and great fun. Get your children to research how to make the best slime or play-doh on YouTube (it’s for educational purposes after all).

Get Cooking If you aren’t keen on the slime idea, get the kids to cook you a meal instead. This is satisfying for them but also a treat for you

(hopefully!). Suggest they plan a three-course meal for dinner. Get them to design a menu and research how to make the dishes online or refer to some recipe books. I think getting them to look in the fridge and come up with some dishes with ingredients you already have teaches them a great a life skill too. A pasta sauce or an apple crumble are tasty, rewarding but simple dishes to make. If you have smaller children baking something simple like fairy cakes or biscuits would obviously be more appropriate.

Play Cards Teach the kids the card games you used to play as a child. If you can’t get them interested in Patience or Gin Rummy, look up some cool card tricks for them to learn and show their friends.

Make Special Cards Get out the art supplies and card and make some Christmas and birthday cards. Why don’t you get creative with Origami? My kids love making butterflies and birds and sticking them onto cards.

“team”to design the front cover. Send out some roving reporters to write some news stories and create some fun features. The whole family can get involved!

Set up a Racing Track Use masking tape to create a huge car-racing track around the house or living room, create a second track alongside it and get the toy cars out and race away!

Get Active You could make an indoor obstacle course or try hula hooping or skipping in the living room. To make it more interesting, do some timed challenges. You could also create indoor hopscotch with masking tape.

Try Balloon Ping Pong or Table Tennis Blow up some balloons and use some table tennis bats or make your own with some sticks and paper plates. Alternatively, if you have a table tennis set, drag out the dining table, set up the net and hold a tournament. Hours of fun!

Have a Kitchen Disco My favourite thing to do on a rainy day is to have a party in the kitchen. Choose the most appropriate room in your house and sort a great playlist of music that will get the whole family moving. Have a ‘dance off’ with your kids.

Make a Magazine Set up a newsdesk in the house and decide what the magazine is going to be about. Think up a great name and get someone in the

Discover who we are...

Register your child today to sit our Year 7 Entrance Assessment Whether you are looking at Early Years, Prep School, entry into Year 7 (Senior School) or joining our 6th Form; Wisbech Grammar offers an enriched curriculum enabling children to ‘discover who they are’. We would love to welcome new families to our School and encourage you to take a virtual tour on our website or arrange a personalised visit to suit your requirements.

Discover more about our dedicated transport options, bursaries, scholarships and entry into our school by contacting our Admissions Team on 01945 586750 email admissions@wisbechgrammar.com

Families Baby News

SICK – The Battle Against HG SICK is the untold story of women who experience Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a severe and debilitating pregnancy sickness that has affected an estimated 3 million women across the world. Depicting the struggle of tens of thousands of women who are denied treatment in the UK, SICK shows the startling reality of women having to come to terms with the fact that terminating their longed-for pregnancy is their only means of escape from their torment and 9 months of hell.

The documentary will give an insight into how these potentially lethal pregnancies cause women to suffer weight and nutritional damage, mental health breakdown, hospitalization and, tragically, force around 1000 UK abortions every year, abandoning precious hopes for future children.

“Pregnancy sickness is a spectrum with Hyperemesis Gravidarum being at the extreme end of that spectrum. Whilst 80% of pregnant women will suffer with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy at the mild – moderate end of the spectrum, Hyperemesis affects 1-2% of pregnant women.

Hyperemesis itself will differ from woman to woman despite being at the end of the pregnancy sickness spectrum, some women will have milder symptoms whilst some will be severe. Symptoms include continual vomiting throughout the day (there is no such thing as just morning sickness!), and/or extreme and crippling nausea which is unrelenting, excessive saliva which cause some women to have to continually spit, sensitivity to noise, light and smells (not just bad smells anything can trigger a woman with hyperemesis). These triggers will exacerbate her symptoms making her vomit more and feel more sick.

Whether mild or severe what is very important is that a woman contacts her Doctor or her Midwife to get help. If you are losing weight, finding it difficult to go to the toilet and crucially if you are no longer able to keep food or water down, then you must get help.

Some women do not reach out for help because they have not experienced pregnancy before and are lead to believe that this is normal, other women might think that they are not being sick enough or that because they don’t have all the symptoms they can’t ask for help.

If you cannot continue with normal life because of your symptoms it is

likely that you are suffering from something more than usual pregnancy sickness.

Your health is the most important thing when it comes to Hyperemesis and your mental health can also not be ignored. Isolation, the physical feeling of being sick and not being able to go about your life as usual can all have negative affects on your mental wellbeing.

Your baby is also at risk of things like low birth weight, pre term labour and small for gestational age, but don’t be alarmed; there are many safe antiemetics and treatments like IV fluid rehydration that can help manage your symptoms and your doctor will be able to prescribe these for you.

It is very important to talk to other people who have suffered and there are numerous support groups on social media and the national Pregnancy Sickness Support Charity have a helpline number you can call as well as a peer support network.

Details of the social media support groups can be found on the Sick website www.thesickfilm.co.uk. Available on Prime Video

The Nest Best Thing!

Scandinavian brand Voksi® have created a premium baby nest offering families. Quality, comfort and breathability for their little ones while sleeping. The nest creates a safe, cosy, and comfortable environment for your baby to lie in. Its egg-shape simulates the feeling of being in the mother's womb and provides a sense of protection and warmth, great for newborns and when easing babies into a cot for the first time. Suitable from birth onwards, RRP £99.00

Fam i

NEW Stylish leopard print teether

This stylish leopard print teething ring which has been designed to support visual development in babies from around 5 months onwards, is also great to sooth those first teeth as they start to make an appearance.

5+ month plus, priced at £18.50 www.ettaloves.com/collections familiesonline.co.uk

li

LOV es ES

Bottle preparation in your sleep!

The time efficient Babybrezza Formula Pro Advanced is easy to use and works with virtually all brands of formula and bottles to create formula at the perfect temperature, in an instant. The must have parenting gadget also boasts a sleek design, to ensure it seamlessly fits into any family kitchen. It’s certainly no surprise that it is the number one best-selling formula prep appliance worldwide.

The unique patented mixing technology built into the Babybrezza® Formula Pro Advanced, automatically combines formula with water to prepare the perfect consistency for little one’s mealtimes. Saving parents up to 30 minutes a day, the digital controls and LCD screen keep it simple and straight forward – no complicated manual adjustments, the perfect temperature formula will be created at a click of a button.

RRP: £199 www. cheekyrascals.co.uk Families Cambridgeshire 7

W hat’splaOcen s to

KD Theatre Productions Ltd in association

with present

THE WIZARD OF OZ WHERE: The Maltings, Ely

WHEN: 18th December – 3rd January

Follow Dorothy and friends down the yellow brick road for a ‘socially distanced’ Christmas Adventure to the Land of Oz! Dorothy needs to find her way home, but it’s not going to be easy with the Wicked Witch of the West keeping a close eye on her!

Will the Great and Powerful Oz be able to help? From £16.50 www.kdtheatre.co.uk/

Things to do, be had go and fun to ages in for kids of all

e Cambridgeshir A Socially Distanced Pantomime Extravaganza

18 DEC 2020 – 3 JAN 2021 Ely Cathedral Virtual www.kdtheatre.co.uk | 01353 725 026 Free! VIRTUAL Mill Road Christmas Gift and Winter Fair Food Fair WHERE: Mill Road, Cambridge

WHEN: 15th November –

Race from the North Pole

WHERE: Anywhere and

everywhere!

WHEN: 21st November – 19th December Are you looking for something festive and fun to do this Christmas? If so then sign up to this great virtual Helen & Douglas House Christmas event, The Race from the North Pole and raise money to help local terminally ill children. They need your help getting Santa from the North Pole to Helen & Douglas House in time for Christmas. All you need to do is walk, cycle, scoot, hop, or skip 4, 20, 40, or 100 miles. Entry is free. racefromnorthpole. helenanddouglas.org.uk

Sledging and SnoPlay

WHERE: SnoZone, Milton Keynes WHEN: November & December

To be guaranteed a white Christmas visit the SnoZone, covered in real snow all year round, offering a world of fun!

From £2.99 www.snozoneuk.com

20th December Providing shoppers with the perfect place to buy unique Christmas gifts and goodies, the site will enable you to browse over 200 of the Cathedral’s favourite festive exhibitors from the comfort of your own home. There will be a selection of bespoke products ranging from Home Decor, Clothes & Accessories, Handmade Arts & Crafts, Beautiful Jewellery along with an array of virtual activities and performances. www.elycathedral.org/events

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity Fun Run WHERE: Anywhere and

everywhere WHEN: 22nd November at 10.30am For the award-winning run’s 10th Anniversary, Arthur Rank Hospice are calling on Cambridgeshire (and beyond!) to once again don a Santa hat, limber up and raise funds for Hospice care by taking part in Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s Festive 5K by running a 5K route of your choice!

Whether you sprint it or stroll it or somewhere-in-between it – this event is for everyone!

Adults £10; Children £5 www.arhc.org.uk/ely-festive-5k. asp

THE SOCIALLY DISTANCED SANTA SHOW WHERE: The Maltings, Ely WHEN: 5th & 6th December

Be transported to the North Pole to meet Santa and his elves who have the important task of preparing all the presents ready for Christmas Day. At the end of the performance children will have the chance to safely meet Santa and receive a present. This exciting, colourful, sing-along interactive show is perfect for 2 – 6 year olds and their families. Child (with present) £12, Adult: £8 www.kdtheatre.co.uk

8 Families Cambridgeshire

WHEN: 1st – 14th December

This year there will bean online festival featuring many of the local performers, artists, organisations and charities who would have ordinarily been at Mill Road Winter Fair. Two new community events to celebrate and showcase the diversity of Mill Road have also been organized – Mill Road Lanterns and Mill Road Trail.

FREE www.millroadwinterfair.org

Winter Craft & Gift Fair WHERE: St Neots Museum

WHEN: Tuesday – Saturday until

24th December St Neots Museum annual craft and gift fair is back and better than ever! Stop by and have a browse through the wonderful unique, handmade products created by local artists, crafters and makers.

Now’s your chance to buy something unique and to support the local community. www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk

Great Fen Festive Family Fun

WHERE: Great Fen Countryside

Crazy Cone Caper

WHERE: Cambridge University

Botanic Garden WHEN: 1 Dec - 31 Jan 2020 Something mysterious has been happening to the pine cones at the Botanic Garden – they’ve been nibbled and the seeds are missing! Take part in their family trail to work out which animal has been taking the seeds. You’ll also find out about the coolest cones in the world and how to make a pine cone owl at home.

Adults from £6.00. Children under 16 years free. www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

Peter Rabbit™ Winter Activity Trail WHERE: Wicken Fen Nature

Reserve (10am – 3pm) and Anglesey Abbey (9.30am – 2pm) WHEN: 2nd Dec – 10th January Peter Rabbit’s friends need some help finding items to see them through the winter months.

Fun for all the family, this trail is suitable for children aged 3-9 (and big children, of course!). Find each of the well-loved characters and have a go at nature-themed activities along the way.

Trail packs cost £2 per pack, plus normal admission (from £2.50) at Visitor Reception. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Centre, Ramsey Heights WHEN: 12th December from 10am Try making bird feeders to take home and hang in your gardens to help our feathered friends through the chilly months; make some lovely natural crafts and go hunting for wildlife and their tracks around the reserve. Don't miss a visit to the dens where a festive surprise may be waiting for you! Pre-booking a time slot is essential. From £5 www.wildlifebcn.org 01487 710420

Christmas Adventure Quest at Audley End WHERE: Audley End House

WHEN: 26 Dec 2020 - 3 Jan 2021

Explore and discover fun facts and untold stories in the places where history happened! Hunt for clues and QR codes which reveal quirky tales or treat yourself to a hot chocolate or mulled wine in beautiful surroundings. It’s a great way for the whole family to get out and about in Christmas week. From £12.60 www.english-heritage.org.uk/ visit/places/audley-end-houseand-gardens familiesonline.co.uk

Families What's on

On W hat’s to go to Places find Santa this Christmas in

e Cambridgeshir A Magical Family Christmas Experience

WHEN: December WHERE: Audley End Miniature

Railway The Christmas Special is the most magical, family, Christmas experience. Once checked in you will board the Santa Express where the driver will navigate you through the Estate Woodland.

You will arrive at Father Christmas’s Winter Wonderland where you and your family will meet Father Christmas himself, along with his very helpful Elves, receive a special gift and watch a Christmas dance!

Other activities include listening to tales at the talking Gingerbread House, exploring the Adventure Play area, creating your own reindeer food, writing letters to Father Christmas to post at their North Pole Post Office and finally meeting Mother Christmas for an interactive show.

Booking is required. Tickets will not be available to purchase on the day. From £9 - £20 www.audley-end-railway.co.uk

Father Christmas at Church Farm WHEN: From 3rd – 23rd

December, 10am – 5pm WHERE: Stow Bardolph, Nr Downham Market This year Christmas will be a little bit different at Church Farm, but it will also be bigger and better.

Father Christmas will be there in his woodland retreat ready to greet your children!

All Father Christmas tickets include entrance to the Farm as well as visiting Father Christmas, so you can stay all day and there will be lots of extra Christmassy things for everyone to enjoy.

All adults – £7.90 Children – £10 – £15 depending on which day you visit.

01366 382162 www. churchfarmstowbardolph.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Santa’s Grotto

WHEN: 4-6, 11-13 and

18-24 December WHERE: Dobbie's Garden Centre, Huntingdon Bring your little ones along to explore Dobbie’s Winter Wonderland in Huntingdon.

They will be welcomed by Santa and receive a special toy. You can preselect an age appropriate gift for your child on their website, however, the exact toy may vary on the day. £11.99 per child. www.events.dobbies.com

Breakfast with Santa WHEN: Saturdays from 5th

December (9.30am) and Tuesday 22nd December (10am) WHERE: Twenty Pence Garden Centre, Ely Make it a Christmas to remember and see your little one’s tuck into a breakfast with Santa. The popular family event includes a cooked breakfast and a drink for children and adults. Children will also receive a present from Santa himself. Child £10, Adult £8 www.twentypence.co.uk 01353 741024

Afternoon Tea with Santa

Virtual Father Christmas at Shepreth Wildlife Park WHEN: Weekends from 5th

December and 24 December WHERE: Shepreth Wildlife Park Santa would like to meet with you … virtually!

There are three V.I.P. Santa packages to choose from: Bronze which includes a 5 minute virtual video call with Santa; Silver which includes a 5 minute virtual video call with Santa, a £5 value pre-sent gift, a wildlife walk child pass valid until 31.03.21 and a card from Santa; or Gold which includes a 10 minute virtual video call with Santa, a £10 value pre-sent gift, a wildlife walk child pass valid until 31.03.21 and a card from Santa.

From £5.00 sheprethwildlifepark.co.uk Fre

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Fre

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In Store Santa

WHEN: Weekends from 5th December, 10am – 3pm WHERE: Scotsdales Garden Centre, Fordham Meet Santa at Scotsdales this Christmas. He will be in store greeting little ones and handing out festive treats. Free www.scotsdalegardencentre. co.uk

In Store Santa

WHEN: Sundays

from 6th December, 11am – 3pm WHERE: Scotsdales Garden Centre, Horningsea Meet Santa at Scotsdales, Horningsea this Christmas. He will be in store greeting little ones and handing out festive treats.

Free www.scotsdalegardencentre. co.uk

Frosts Garden Centre Virtual Grotto Experience WHEN: Santa Pack

and Video message delivered

by Royal Mail between 23rd November and 5th December If you can’t step outside your house this Christmas, step into the magical world of your imagination with Frosts Virtual Grotto, it’s one not to be missed.

Complete with a personalised frosty letter from the North Pole, a reindeer food kit, a personalised "nice" certificate, a chocolate treat (dairy free alternative available) and beautiful teddy bear, it is truly one of a kind.

This new exceptional experience will ensure that every child feels magical this Christmas! With a special video message from Father Christmas just for you and some sprinkles of brave, strength, and courage, you can help Santa’s reindeer fly high on Christmas Eve. £15 for first child plus £10 per additional Santa Pack www.frostsgardencentres.co.uk

All events are subject to change and cancellation in view of any future Covid-19 legislations.

All details are correct at the point of writing this article in November.

WHEN: Saturdays

from 5th December and Tuesday 22nd December at 3.30pm WHERE: Twenty Pence Garden Centre, Ely Enjoy freshly prepared afternoon tea while Santa personally visits.

Children will receive a piece of cake, a cold drink and a gift from Santa, adults will receive a scone with jam, clotted cream and a tea or coffee.

Child £10, Adult £7 www. twentypence. co.uk 01353 741024 Families Cambridgeshire 9

CORN EXCHANGE CINEMA NOW OPEN B O O K

O N L I N E :

KI N G S LY N N CO R N E XC H A N G E .CO. U K

FREE PARKING

*

Cambridge Park & Ride - taking you into the heart of Cambridge this Christmas

For more information on fares, Christmas timetables and other details, please visit www.cambridgeparkandride.info

*Parking is free for up to 18 hours.

Charges apply for longer stays.

Families Education

Improving your Child’s Working Memory Working memory is the part of the brain that stores information so it can use it again. Children use it all the time: to remember what they read in the previous paragraph of a book, when doing mental maths and to follow directions with lots of steps. The good news is that, if your child’s working memory seems poor, it can be improved with practice.

Here are some ideas that might help; ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS

To learn and remember, a child needs to fully understand a topic. By asking questions, a child actively participates in learning, ensuring that they are developing a deeper understanding of the subject.

LET YOUR CHILD BE THE TEACHER

Only when you fully understand something can you truly explain it. To check your child’s understanding, get them to tell you what they know. “Teaching you” knowledge they just learned is more likely to make it stick.

DISCUSS A TOPIC AND ASK YOUR CHILD’S OPINION

Learning is much more fun if you can discuss different topics and exchange opinions. If your child knows a discussion is on the cards, they are more likely to retain the information for at least the amount of time to answer questions about it. Once an engaging discussion has happened, they are more likely to remember the subject matter.

VISUALISATION AND FLASHCARDS

There are several ways for your child to use their visual learning skills to improve their memory. Picturing something in their mind and then describing it can help. Initially they may need to draw the picture first, before describing it, but, with practice they may no longer need to do this. Flashcards with words or pictures can also be used to practice spellings or the meanings of words.

USE THE SENSES

Your child will develop a better relationship with what they are learning if they engage with it in lots of ways. Get your child to talk, act out using props, listen to audio recordings or podcasts and read.

ENCOURAGE ACTIVE READING

Active reading involves underlining or highlighting text or making notes on stickers. This helps your child keep the information in mind. Pair with asking questions or discussing a topic as described above!

BREAK INFORMATION DOWN

Smaller amounts of information are easier to remember. Build up from there. Encourage your child to organise the information into lists with headings and use different colours to make certain parts stand out.

GAMES AND CARDS

There are lots of matching games like Memory that can help. Playing card games that require players to remember what cards have already been played are also helpful. Games like “I went to the shops and I bought….” (just google it!) where players have to remember a long list of items also work out the memory muscle.

RHYMES AND SONGS

Funny rhymes and tunes help children recall facts and figures because our brains like remembering music and patterns. That’s why television shows like Horrible Histories have transformed children’s recollection of historical facts!

CHECK OUT FACTS AND TAKE TRIPS

Look up interesting facts online or borrow books and audio visual material from the library.

Visit places that help your child understand a topic better eg an historic building or a museum. This will associate a particular topic with an interesting event in your child’s mind making it much easier to remember the learning.

Good luck and “remember” to try some of these things out with your child!

Families Education

Lockdown Again?

Education Hints And Tips

Angela Fairs, Director, Full Circle Educational Consultancy

Challenging Times

In these challenging times it is difficult to know what to do as a parent to best support your children and their learning.

As the Head of a school at the time of Covid school closures, I can safely say things have never been more challenging for schools, parents and pupils! Hopefully, the simple hints and tips below, will help should a lockdown of schools happen again.

The learning space

Try and find a designated space at home for your child’s learning.

Identify a practical area in your home which your child can use purely for learning and is separate from where they eat, sleep and socialise. This doesn’t need to be a separate room, but a designated area is key. This space should have a flat, hard surface for them to work on, be as quiet as possible, have good lighting and without any obvious distractions.

Encourage your child to see the difference between a ‘chill’ space and a ‘learning’ space. For example, if your child typically does their study in the kitchen, ensure that another area is study free so they can take a break.

The tools for the job

It’s vital with any online learning, they have a laptop or tablet, and internet that is robust and healthy! Remind your child to keep it fully charged and updated. Even if they are online, having access to pens, paper and other standard school equipment is equally important for their offline study. Try and run your child’s day like a normal school day as far as possible.

A daily routine

To aid your child’s focus, try to develop a daily routine and stick to this as consistently as possible. Approach each day as you would a normal school day. Think about: setting meal times and providing healthy

choices to fuel your child for the day, allocating time for exercise or movement (as much as can in the space that you have), and sticking to usual ‘school hours’ to guide the balance between study and relaxation time. Most schools will not timetable all day in front of the computer, so try and organise some off screen time too! Help where you can to ensure that your child is involved in projects set for them and encourage them to be as engaged with the task as possible.

The social side

Being away from their friends could be challenging. It is important to make time for your child to speak with their friends, exactly as they would at school or in the evening. This could be anything from a phone call, connecting on social media or using your school’s preferred platform for instant messaging. Whilst using social media can be a distraction during school hours, it may help to provide a much-needed feeling of normality during relaxation time.

The supportive parent

Give them a little space to solve things themselves, sometimes that’s all they need • Do offer help – but don’t be overkeen!

• If they are struggling with something suggest they try something different, or suggest they take a break • Get them up and moving frequently!

• Hopefully these times will pass quickly and we will all be a little wiser and educated!

Angela Fairs is Director of Full Circle Educational Consultancy, based in Goring, and providing strategic educational consultancy to schools and families, with a particular focus on online provision. www.fullcircle-education.co.uk

Protecting your Child from Cyberbullying Lockdown and social distancing have increased our children’s dependency on the online world. It’s been reported that 82% of parents said that their children’s screen time increased during lockdown and 30% said that their children were having an extra four hours or more of non-school related screen time per day.

Given this increase in online screen time, there is no question that bullying numbers in 2020 will be higher than in previous years.

Cyberbullying was on the rise before lock down – some reports suggest that just 20% of bullying takes place at school now. But cyberbullying incidents increased by 70% between March and April this year when lockdown was at its peak. The strain placed on mental health caused by being confined to the home for weeks at a time could have made matters worse.

One of the darker sides of the pandemic is the rise of racial cyberbullying among children.

Recent research has found that because the virus originated from Wuhan, China and has been referred to as the “Chinese virus,” bullying of children of Asian descent has increased and these children are now more likely to be victims of bullying than their 12 Families Cambridgeshire

classmates. Bullying has largely been done through private and text messaging in a ‘virtual’ environment.

To coincide with Anti-Bullying Awareness Week, which runs from 11 to 15 November, it’s a good time to think about how you can better protect your child from cyberbullying.

Prior to the pandemic parents were extremely concerned about their children’s screen time and have struggled to limit this.

The problem that has always faced parents is that they cannot always protect their children from cyberbullying, grooming and inappropriate messages online.

We enter an uncertain future with lockdown restrictions likely to continue in some form or another through the winter months. So it’s more important than ever for parents to find positive ways to curtail the ‘pandemic effect’ and limit online screen time to help avoid cyberbullying.

Protecting your Child

Have the ‘talk.’ Open the lines of communication between yourself and your child. Discuss what cyberbullying is and what to do when it happens.

Don’t be afraid to set guidelines and take

by Shelley Goffe-Caldeira control of what your children see and do online.

The applications used by schools all have tools for reporting abuse. Show your kids where to find the abuse reporting tools and how to fill in the forms.

Keep any evidence of inappropriate messages and report it to a school official ie. teacher, Head Teacher or school nurse.

Use your parental controls. Androids, Apple and Windows all have built in parental controls.

These allow parents to block inappropriate content, control access to apps, and limit screen time.

The UK government has published guidelines online titled “Coronavirus (Covid-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online” which is available to view at www.gov.uk/government/publications Another great resource is the Essential Guide to Bullying by Need2Know Books. Enter N2K1 at checkout to get a 30% discount.

If you are concerned about a child’s mental welfare or notice worrying behaviour, please seek professional advice.

For more information and advice on cyberbullying visit: www.bullying.co.uk and www.childline.org.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Families Education

THE IMPORTANCE OF DRAMA

by Alexa Brant

When choosing an after-school club or activity in which to enrol your child, it may be worth considering drama and the performing arts if you haven’t done so before. Some children seem to be natural performers, but, if you have a shy child, then the idea of sending them to drama lessons may seem absurd. However, joining a drama class doesn’t necessarily mean your child will be pushed onto a stage and expected to sing and dance and there are some significant benefits.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

A range of research studies have found that students who participate in the Arts don’t just do better in school, they perform better in areas that contribute to success outside the classroom. Not only do children active in the Arts demonstrate higher academic performance and test results, they are also more likely to participate in community service and be elected to class office.

SELF-CONFIDENCE

Aspects of performing arts, especially improvisation, helps children to understand how to appraise situations, think outside the box and be more confident going into unfamiliar situations. Students learn to trust their ideas and abilities. Confidence gained from learning performing arts skills applies to school, career and life.

EMOTIONAL OUTLET Acting and drama games allow students to express a range of emotions and encourages them to understand and deal with similar feelings they may be experiencing. Aggression and tension can be released in a safe, controlled environment – often allowing for a period of reflection afterwards.

MEMORY

Rehearsing and performing lines and movements will improve your child’s memory. Memory requires exercise, just like a muscle!

Images copyright Stagecoach.

IMAGINATION

Being creative and learning to make creative choices helps students to be better at thinking of new ideas, allowing them to view the world around them in new ways. Remember Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

EMPATHY

Understanding characters, roles and the sub-text of plays and musicals allows students to relate better to different situations, backgrounds, and cultures they encounter in real life. It encourages them to show compassion and tolerance for others.

CO-OPERATION

An effective drama programme embraces both extroverted and introverted children. Combining the creative ideas and the abilities of all participants is required for the best outcomes. This requires all those taking part to engage in discussions, feedback, rehearsing, and performance.

CONCENTRATION

Playing, practicing, and performing develops the abilities and skills necessary for children to be able to focus their minds, bodies and voices.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Performing arts improves vocal projection, articulation, tone of speech and expression. Importantly, it also develops listening and observation skills. These skills will benefit a young person throughout their life.

FUN

Drama delivers elements of play, humour, and laughter to those taking part – it improves motivation and reduces stress.

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Cambridgeshire 13

Toy Overload

How Many Toys Does a Child Need?

Toys have a way of taking over. Of course, it starts innocently enough. As a parent you love your child and you want to make them happy. But before you know it, you find yourself knee-deep in discarded Lego and naked Barbie dolls. The children are bored; the house is a mess; no one is happy!

Toys are easy to come by these days. Equally, parents who cannot spend as much time with their children as they would like may try to occupy them with new toys or assuage their guilt with gifts. We may also feel a compulsion to buy our children things to show we love them, or equally powerfully, feel a desire for our children to have more than we did.

The reality though is that most families have too many toys. And sadly, more toys actually equals less play.

by Andrew Campbell

So why is this?

Children are easily overwhelmed with choice, and a child who is unsure of what to play with often ends up playing with nothing at all.

But the problem is even more fundamental. Our obsession with flashy plastic junk has taught our children to be passive participants in play.

Instead of playing with toys, they expect to be amused by them. And they are… for about five seconds. Then it is back to the toy box.

According to a study published in the journal Infant Behaviour and Development, an environment with fewer toys is better for children.

The study observed 36 toddlers. Some were given four toys, and some sixteen. It was found that an abundance of toys actually reduced the quality of toddlers’ play. Fewer toys helped toddlers focus better and play more creatively.

And it’s not just about the quantity of toys. The quality is also factor.

Another study by the American Academy of Paediatrics found that the best toys for constructive play are non-electronic ones: the ones that are simpler and support parents and children playing, pretending, and interacting together.

More and more families are taking a ‘minimalist’ approach to toys cutting back on the clutter and focusing on quality over quantity.

With Christmas approaching, now may be a good time to consider this approach.

In the meantime, here are some tips to help you reclaim your play room or family space.

Tips for Toy Overload • •

•

•

•

•

20 toy rule: ask your child to select 20 toys to keep. Store or give away others.

Start slow: children often resist giving up toys. If the 20 toy rule doesn’t work, start with one thing first. Talk about giving/donating and generosity. Prioritise binning the plastic junk, like Happy Mealtype toys!

Start Rotating: A well-organised toy rotation reduces clutter and encourages children to play with more toys. The available toys change regularly, so there’s always something new.

Display toys: Toys that can’t be seen go unused. Instead of stuffing them into baskets and bins, organise toys into several themed areas where they are largely on display.

Request alternatives: Ask friends and family to take your child on an outing, instead of buying toys. Request that grandparents keep toys they buy at their home for when your child visits.

4 Gift Rule: Try the 4 gift rule at Christmas or birthdays. There are four categories: something they want, need, go to/experience, and read.

Instead of toys…

ONE-ON-ONE OUTINGS: your child chooses an activity to do with you like skating, dining out or bowling.

EXPERIENCES: lots of possibilities including junior zoo experience, steam train journey, , go-karting or a theme park.

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS: there are loads of great magazines for children from comics to specialist magazines covering everything from football to history. They will love regularly receiving one in the post!

MEMBERSHIPS: if there's a zoo, aquarium, museum, theatre, or music venue in your area, gift your child a membership so they can attend regularly. Some sporting clubs have special junior membership categories.

BINOCULARS OR A TELESCOPE: throw in a guide to birds, wildlife or astronomy.

SUBSCRIPTION BOXES: whether it’s cooking, gardening or craft, the monthly delivery of creative goodies will keep on giving.

CLASSES: whether it’s dance, drama, art or athletics, your child can enhance their skills doing something they love or want to learn.

A SMALL FRUIT TREE TO GROW AND NURTURE: a lovely long-term gift.

14 Families Cambridgeshire

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Gift Guide 1.

2.

ALL I WANT FOR

Sustainable Christmas Gift Guide Help save the planet this year and give the gift of a sustainable toy, which is made from renewable, natural materials and involves a manufacturing process which does not pollute the environment, release carbon or greenhouse gases, and at the end of its life, is able to biodegrade, we have put together a gift guide this year so that we can all do our bit to save the planet.

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Stockists

1. Tender Leaf Toys Kids Pull Along Shopping Trolley £55.00 Amara.com 2. Muddy Madness Wooden Mud Kitchen £149.95 Cuckooland.com 3. Pull Along Wooden Snail £30.00 www.trotters.co.uk 4. Wooden Frog Balance Game £8.99 TK Maxx.co.uk 5. Wooden Toy Food Set - Natural £26.00 Amara.com 6. Tender Leaf Toys Kids Garden Wheelbarrow Set £59.00 www.mulberrybush.co.uk 7. Cottontail Cottage £115 www.mulberrybush.co.uk 8. Tender Leaf Toys Kids Weighing Scales £23.00 acornandpip.com 9. First Class Post Office £65.00 www.gltc.co.uk 10. A Job Well Done Tool Set £40.00 www.gltc.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Families Cambridgeshire 15

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