Autumn Winter 2019 Tumble Tots Member's Handbook

Member's Handbook

Your child’s springboard to confidence!

2019/2020

In this issue Session guidelines Certificate of Insurance Class progress checklist Exclusive member offers & discounts!

www.tumbletotsmemberoffers.com

Available where books are sold and online at shop.lonelyplanet.com

Welcome WELCOME to the Tumble Tots National Club!

Be prepared for a great year filled with plenty of excitement for you and your little one!

Make sure your Tumble Tot (or Gymbob) wears their T-Shirt of Confidence to classes as all their classmates will be wearing theirs too. You will find more top tips on page 4 of this handbook.

Our specially designed, brightly coloured, wooden and foam equipment will help your child develop their physical skills of agility, balance, climbing and co-ordination. Each class is tailored to the age and stage of a child’s development which you can read more about on pages 5 – 7.

As a member there are all sorts of opportunities for them to participate in various activities that we do on top of regular classes. Don’t forget to tick these off as you go on the checklist on page 13. The tasks will be challenging but lots of fun and our fully trained staff will help to guide and encourage your child through their sessions.

We’ve teamed up with carefully selected partners to bring you fantastic offers, discounts and competitions, exclusively to our members. You will find some of these on pages 8, 9 and 10 but be sure to regularly check our Member Offers website regularly as it will be updated every month throughout the year! On the site you’ll find more great offers, competitions and the latest product news from our partners and much more: www.tumbletotsmemberoffers.com We hope you have a wonderful year and we have no doubt that your little one will enjoy being a Tumble Tot or Gymbob this year.

Tumble Tots (UK) Ltd

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Contents Session Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Objectives and Benefits 6 Months – Walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Walking – 2 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2 – 3 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3 Years - School Age . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Gymbobs (School Age – 7 Years) . . . . . . . 7 Certificate of Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Tumble Tots Member Offers . . . . . . . . . . 8 Membership Handbook Checklist . . . . . . 13 Play ideas to support schemas . . . . . . . 15 The art of crafting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Save your food from the bin! . . . . . . . . . 26 Recycling made easy . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 The hidden gem for family skiing . . . . . . . 31

Tumble Tots (UK) Ltd 49G Pipers Road, Park Farm, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0HU T: 0121 585 7003 E: info@tumbletots.com W: www.tumbletots.com

Member’s Website At www.tumbletotsmemberoffers.com you will find a selection of fantastic offers, discounts, competitions and features created to help you save money, find the latest products and services for you and your family and to provide you with further benefits of being a Tumble Tots member. We’ll be adding new content every month throughout the year, so please check back regularly so you don’t miss out!

TERMS & CONDITIONS Tumble Tots and Gymbobs are registered trademarks of Tumble Tots (UK) Ltd, 49G Pipers Road, Park Farm, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0HU Tumble Tots Members Handbook is published

by LincolnBrody Ltd, 98 Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, Essex RM11 1JS. Design Copyright © LincolnBrody Ltd, June 2019. All rights reserved.

Please

 recycle

Tumble Tots or LincolnBrody (the publisher) cannot be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of any information herein and are unable to accept and hereby expressly disclaim any liability for the consequences of any inaccuracies, errors or omissions or any implied warranty and other terms contained or related to within the editorial, offers and promotions in this publication.

Any claims which arise pursuant to the offers should be directed exclusively or pursued against the proprietor of the relevant offer.

Although every effort has been made to ensure that all information is correct at the time of going to press, prices and offers may be subject to change.

Should you have any queries in relation to any offers in this book, please contact LincolnBrody at info@lincolnbrody.co.uk

3

Session Guidelines To ensure you are at ease with the programme contents and structure, we would like to highlight a few important points:

necessary for a parent to sit in during the first few sessions.



Sessions are run by trained Leaders.

Please do not hesitate to discuss any concerns you may have about your child with the Leader or Centre Manager.

 



All staff are responsible for maintaining

safety and guiding both you and your child throughout the session.



During the 3 Years - School Age and

Gymbobs sessions, parents must remain on site at all times.

Siblings who are not participating in the

session must keep off the equipment at all times.

Parents are actively involved in the Tumble Tots 6 Months - Walking, Walking - 2 Years and 2 - 3 Years sessions. We ask that you work directly with your own child to fully understand and enjoy the benefits of the programme. You can best do this in the following ways:



Braces and jewellery should not be

worn by children whilst involved in sessions.

   

Bare feet are best for Tumble Tots.

Please ensure that suitable leg-wear is worn to allow free movement.

 

Support your child by holding the back

of his/her Tumble Tots T-Shirt.

Hair should be tied back, again for safety.

Avoid holding his/her hands as these

need to be free for climbing and to aid balance.



Children quickly gain confidence when

allowed to solve their own problems. It is vital however, that you remain alert at all times to support and encourage where necessary.



In the Tumble Tots 3 Years - School

Age and Gymbobs sessions, the children participate without an adult but on some occasions, particularly if a child is new to the class, it may be

All Tumble Tots and Gymbobs should wear their T-Shirts to sessions as this instils a real sense of being part of the Tumble Tots club.

We suggest that parents/guardians

wear comfortable clothing and footwear.

Please, do not wear high heels

or stilettos as they can damage little hands and feet as well as our equipment.



It is important to arrive on time for the start of the class as this allows your child to feel fully involved from the beginning.



Birthdays are given special attention,

so please help us to ensure your child enjoys this experience by telling the Leader when you arrive.



Please do not allow your child on the

equipment outside class times.

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Objectives & Benefits 6 Months – Walking The class offers a parent and baby an opportunity for exploratory play using our unique equipment whilst being guided and advised by specially trained staff. Through exploratory play, the class aims to assist your baby through one of their biggest stages of development.

Babies can start the class when they reach 6 months and can sit up unaided, through carefully designed equipment set ups they have the opportunity to develop the skills and strength needed to move onto each developmental stage at their own individual pace.

During the class circle times we encourage parents to join in with development exercises

which aim to build the strength of a baby’s upper and lower body strength and aids a baby’s gross motor skill development.

Walking – 2 Years Your child should be walking confidently when they start the class which aims to build upon their agility, balance, climbing and co-ordination skills. Parents and children are encouraged to work around the circuit of equipment whilst being supported and guided by trained staff.

Tumble Tots understands the importance of repetition in the learning processes of children.

The circuit of equipment allows for repetition of an activity to take place which builds upon not only a child’s learning processes but builds confidence whilst on the equipment!

During the class parents and children are encouraged to take part in carefully constructed Circle Times which aim to enhance a child’s language development through body identification rhymes and action songs. Children who attend the class also continue to build their social skills by interacting with other children in the class.

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2 – 3 Years The third class in the progressive Tumble Tots programme offers children attending a more structured play class whereby, with parental support, they make their way around activity stations focusing on continuing the development of their agility, balance, climbing and co-ordination skills. The equipment becomes more challenging with the introduction of higher pieces which aim to further a child’s gross motor skill development.

There is a bigger emphasis put on social development in the class during circle times and also train times.

Children will learn to interact with others around them and are encouraged to build their confidence whilst expressing themselves in a group environment.

3 Years – School Age The format and structure of the class follows the same pattern of the 2 – 3 Years class however, the biggest challenge and emphasis comes from children taking part in the class without the support of their parent.

The class aims to provide an opportunity for children to take part in independent learning whilst being guided and supported by trained staff members. Children are given the opportunity to listen to instructions to enable them to work around the activity stations which are still focused on building their agility, balance, climbing and co-ordination

skill set. The children are individually challenged during the class and learn to work positively with others around them.

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Gymbobs (School Age – 7 Years) Gymbobs is the pinnacle of the Tumble Tots programme where many children who have worked their way through the previous classes finish their journey!

The class starts when children begin school and finish when children reach the term of their 7th Birthday.

Gymbobs offers far more demanding challenges through the equipment that the children explore, the warm up games they are encouraged to join in with and with the relay races that conclude the class. The children who attend Gymbobs classes are given the opportunity and introduction to develop their physical literacy and to build up movement memory that can be utilised away from the class.

Certificate of Insurance This is to confirm that Tumble Tots (UK) Ltd has taken out Personal Accident Insurance for members (and non-members using the equipment for the first time) which is in respect of death, loss of limbs and /or eyes, or permanent total disablement sustained while engaged in Tumble Tots centre activities. This policy has been effected with a leading insurance group and since cover is (as with all insurance contracts) subject to policy terms and conditions, details can be provided on request.

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Tumble Tots Member Offers Once again, we’ve teamed up with a selection of terrific partners to bring you loads of fantastic offers and discounts. Every partner listed here will have their own page on our new Member Offers website and we will be adding new offers and product news throughout the year so please visit www.tumbletotsmemberoffers.com every month so you don’t miss out!

25% off EVERYTHING at Hippychick!

15% discount on first order with Polarn O. Pyret

Hippychick are proud to team up with Tumble Tots and offer their followers an exclusive 25% discount off everything at www.hippychick.com.

For over 40 years Polarn O. Pyret Kidswear have specialised in making the best possible clothes for babies and children. Look out for clever clothes that grow with your little one, organic cotton clothes that are good for the planet, outstanding highly technical outerwear and design features that make life easier for parents!

Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Excludes sale items.

Simply use code TUMBLE25 at the checkout! www.hippychick.com

Extra savings of up to £50 as a Tumble Tots member with Haven!

From cool caravans to luxury lodges, Haven have a whole host of accommodation to suit every family’s needs. Save up to an extra £50 on existing offers.

Use code TOTS19 at www.polarnopyret.co.uk

Simply call 0333 202 5248 and quote Z_TUMBLE, or visit www.haven.com/tumbletots to book your holiday and claim your discount today.

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15% discount on MadPax backpacks

Save 15% off admission prices at Diggerland

U.S. backpack brand and celeb favourtite MadPax are the perfect fusion of fashion and functionality.

These 3D inspired backpacks have all the pouches, pockets and zippered capacity that makes no concession to utility. MadPax comes in three sizes of funk, the pre-school mini backpack ‘Pint’, the ‘HalfPack’ recommended for 4-7 year olds and the ‘FullPack’ for 8 year and over.

Diggerland is the UK’s only construction theme park where guests can drive, ride, and operate real DIGGERS! With four UK theme parks & over 100 machines at each park, there really is something for everyone!

Families of up to 4 people can save 15% off admission prices at Diggerland with Tumble Tots!

Visit www.diggerland.com/tumble-tots to download your 15% discount voucher.

To redeem use code TUMBLE15 at www.madpaxworld.com

Save 10% on entry when booking online at Paradise Wildlife Park

Get a Free 50ml Bottle of AQUAINT Sanitiser Worth £2.49 with Each Purchase of My Happy Planet 100% Biodegradable Wipes

Paradise is home to over 800 exotic wild animals and boasts one of the best big cat collections in the UK, Britain’s largest anaconda as well as penguins, red pandas, lemurs, meerkats, camels, zebras and sloths.

Let the kids run wild in 5 playgrounds, including a large indoor soft play area, a paddling pool or visit one of the many shows, talks and feeds.

These 100% biodegradable, 100% home compostable and 100% plasticfree wipes are made from FSC certified wood pulp and dispersible cellulose plant fibers. They contain 99.9% purified water, Apple Fruit Extract and food grade / mild preservatives. The wipes are alcohol-free, fragrance-free, eco-friendly and the purest sustainable wipes on the market.

To redeem use code TUMBLE10 at www.pwpark.com

Use code TT001 at www.aquaint-uk.com/shop

All offers subject to change and terms and conditions may apply – please visit www.tumbletotsmemberoffers.com or partners’ websites for details

99

10% discount at JoJo Maman Bebé

15% discount on first order with Win Green

JoJo Maman Bébé is the UK’s leading mother and baby boutique brand, with stores across the country. Since 1993, we’ve been creating beautiful collections covering the period from pregnancy to pre-school, while being kind to the world around us.

Win Green believes that children should be encouraged to explore their imagination through creative play. With gorgeous designs for boys and girls, their playhouses and wigwams create a world of adventure for your little ones’ imaginations to run riot.

Visit www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk and quote TOTS92 plus free delivery on orders over £35

Use code TOTS15 at www.wingreen.co.uk

Exclusive Monthly Offers with SwimFin

20% discount on first orders with Great Little Trading Co.

SwimFin works in harmony with the body because it’s worn on the back providing total freedom around the arms allowing for a natural swimming position.

Works across all 4 swim strokes and tested to international safety standards.

We are also proud to be working with the UK’s leading water safety and drowning prevention charity the RLSS in 2019.

With a choice of 8 fantastic colours, our one size fits all! RRP £24.99 www.swimfin.co.uk

Great Little Trading Co. are an awardwinning British retailer who design and produce a unique collection of wooden toys, furniture and storage ideas for families. Voted Best Family Brand 2019, our aim is to help parents create happy, comfortable homes for their children, and to help children learn and blossom through fun, healthy play.

Use code GLTCTOTS at www.gltc.co.uk

10%* off the Baby Range with The Sensory Box Company Whether you’re looking for sensory toys to recreate sensory classes at home and on the move with your little one, or whether you’re autistic and looking for an introduction to sensory and fidget play, The Sensory Box Company have put together a range of sensory boxes with you in mind.

Visit www.tumbletotsmemberoffers.com to see the latest SwimFin monthly offer

All offers subject to change and terms and conditions may apply – please visit www.tumbletotsmemberoffers.com or partners’ websites for details

Use code TUMBLE19 at www.thesensoryboxcompany.com *Offer excludes Autism Sensory Box

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Prize Draw

Win a Frog Bike!

Frog Bikes – The Lightweight Kids’ Bike

Innovative, British bike brand, Frog Bikes, manufactures a range of Balance, Hybrid, MTB, Road and Track Bikes from superlightweight aluminium. A lightweight bike, which is correctly fitted to the child, is easier for a child to learn on, develop skills quickly and keep up with Mum and Dad. Every part of a Frog Bike is designed specifically for smaller riders, so the bike is the best fit possible and easier to handle.

Frog uses child friendly parts, such as easy to reach brake levers and gear shifters that fit smaller hands. The range of bikes suits kids ages 1 to 14+.

One lucky member can win a bike of their choice (subject to availability), available in a wide variety of bright colours and suitable for children ages 1 to 14+.

Please choose which bike you would like to win where requested on the entry form! To see the full range, visit www.frogbikes.com

For your chance to win a Frog Bike, simply enter online at www.tumbletotsmemberoffers.com/frogbikes by 31st March 2020 To enter, you must be a UK resident who is 18 years old or over at the time of entry. No purchase necessary. The winner will be the first name drawn at random. The winner will be notified no later than 5th April 2020. The judges’ decision will be final and the competition is not open to employees of LincolnBrody, Tumble Tots, Frog Bikes or their agents. We will only keep your details or share them with the prize provider if you tick ‘Yes please’ where indicated when you enter the prize draw or competition. Otherwise your details will be deleted once the winner has been notified. Please refer to the full terms and conditions at www.lincolnbrody.co.uk/competitions

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GET YOUR

10% OFF QUOTE TOTS92

Certified

Corporation

We believe in putting people and the planet above profit.

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk FREE DELIVERY

on orders over £35

Offer expires 01/10/2020. See website for offer details.

Membership Handbook Checklist To help you and your little ones get the most out of this year’s classes, we’ve compiled a handy checklist of achievements to complete for each class.

6 Months – Walking Class

3 Years – School Age & Gymbobs

■ Crawled for the first time ■ Stood up with assistance ■ Cruised with ease ■ Took their first steps ■ Walked confidently

Gained further confidence away ■ from the class environment

■ Gained independence with activities Remember what they did ■ during the class Repeat what they did during ■ the class

Walking – 2 Year

Refined individual physical skills i.e.

Climbed up the ¾ Frame and turned ■ Jumping/Hopping ■ around backwards

General Checklist

Joined in with hand/eye ■ co-ordination

■ Was a Healthy Hero in February Took part in National Children’s ■ Activities Week in October

■ ■ Joined in with both circle times Carried out a forward ■ roll over the Barrel Better foot/eye co-ordination

Dressed up for Christmas Clothes ■ Week in December

■ Received a Moving Up Award Joined in with Tumble Tots Fun ■ Adventures on Amazon Prime

2 – 3 Years Class Expressed themselves during circle ■ time

■ Actively took part in Train Times Carried out a forward roll down the ■ Large Wedge Sat and listened to the station ■ explanation Improved hand/eye/foot ■ co-ordination skills

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Education

Play Ideas to Support Schemas

By Dr. Amanda Gummer and Anna Taylor

Have you ever wondered why your baby keeps dropping things out of their high chair? Or why you have to read the same book over and over again?

It’s because their brain just loves repetition! By doing the same things over and over again, your little one is strengthening their understanding of how the world works. This is called a schema.

There are lots of different schemas and it’s likely that you’ve seen your child practising them many times before. Here are some play ideas and tips to

try out at home to support your child’s schema development.

Arts, crafts, and construction

To support your child with her connecting and positioning schemas, let them play with some good construction toys, or art and craft materials.

Letting them take the lead will mean they can experiment as much as they want to.

The connecting schema involves joining things together in some way and taking them apart again. So building and re-building a block tower or sticking pieces of paper to a picture, will be good practise for this.

The positioning schema is related to creating patterns. Using blocks that have different colours and shapes will mean your child can put them into sequences (e.g. cube/pyramid/cube). For arts and crafts, providing materials with lots of small pieces - such as beads or dry pasta - will give your child the chance to carefully arrange these materials.

Pretend play

Role-playing is hugely popular at this age and can give children opportunities to practise enclosing and transporting schemas. By setting your child up with some pretend play props, their imagination can do the rest!

The enclosing schema includes your child putting herself inside an enclosed space, or putting objects inside something. For instance, 15

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cardboard boxes could be turned into toy cars or houses, pillows and blankets can be used to make a den, and pots or bowls can be used to put play food inside.

The transporting schema involves your child moving objects around using their hands or a container. Giving them access to a toy buggy, trolley, bags, and boxes will support the transporting schema during pretend play.

Conclusion

Every child will enjoy exploring schemas in their own way and may focus on some behaviours more than others. A balanced approach to leisure time that includes creative construction, imaginative role play, and active free play will allow your child to experience a wide range of schemas and encourage healthy well-rounded development too.

Outdoor play

It might be getting wet and chilly outside, but outdoor play is important all year-round. Popping on some warm clothes and wellies means your child can get that valuable active free play whatever the weather, while supporting the orientation and trajectory schemas.

Orientation is all about looking at the world from different angles. Playgrounds have lots of opportunities to do this – climbing up high, hanging upside down from the monkey bars, or looking down through a tube slide, for example.

Trajectory refers to exploring movement. This includes your child’s own movement through space, such as running around or playing on a swing. It also covers the movement of other objects. So, you can also help develop this schema with a game of catch or football to show your child the effect of throwing, kicking and dropping a ball.

About the author – Dr. Amanda Gummer

Amanda has a PhD in neuropsychology, the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and over 20 years experience working with children and families. Widely considered as the UK’s go to expert on play, toys and child development, she combines her theoretical knowledge with a refreshingly pragmatic approach to family life, that resonates both with parents and professionals. Amanda is founder of Fundamentally Children and The Good Toy Guide.

Visit www.fundamentallychildren.com for expert advice on helping children develop skills through play and to check out The Good Toy Guide’s top Christmas picks, visit www.goodchristmasguide.com 17

Winter Activities

The Art of Crafting

Creative activities perfect for when the weather is too miserable to go out Oh yes. The dark months are looming ahead and when you have young children in your care this can be a rather tricky time. Kids bouncing of walls, muddy feet, cold hands. What to do? Fear not. We have just the thing for you!!! After some fresh air in the morning (it is always good to head out at least a little bit if you can, even if it is just to walk around the block – stretch those little legs, blow some cobwebs away), then it is time to head back indoors, warm up and get crafty!

Maggy Woodley, founder of the well-known craft website Red Ted Art, knows that craftiness can instil fear into many parents and carers, but

with the right set up and craft to hand, it can be a fun bonding session for all involved. Here, she guides you through some of her top tips for a successful craft session with little ones.

Prepare yourself (before the little ones come and join you) Preparation takes the stress out of crafting. It stops the fidgety hands, avoids the spilling of water on important documents and allows for smooth running of your craft session! Preparation does not require extensive amounts of time or work.

 SPACE: It can be a simple as clearing part of the table, so you have a good work environment. This also means, if small accidents happen with glue and water, it isn’t an instant disaster.  DRYING AREAS: Preparation, also involves making sure you have somewhere to put things, should they need to dry (away from younger siblings or naughty cats that like to sit on things).  MATERIALS: It is helpful to have everything handy to for your crafting session rather than having to interrupt what you are doing get hold of supplies. Only bring out the supplies you intend to use because your kids may get a little distracted.

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Ready? Now for some ideas!

We have three super cute crafts to share with you today that we think the little ones will love. However, the KEY THING to remember is that should your child wish to make something completely different with the materials you provided – that is totally fine! Let them explore and have fun. Don’t force any outcome onto your child. It is ALL about the process!

SNOWY OWLS

First up we have our little SNOWY OWLS!! Snowy owls are super tactile crafts to make in the winter months that are heading our way. All you need is some pine cones from a walk with your little one, some cotton wool and any bits and pieces you can get hold of for the eyes and beak – paper is fine, but googly eyes are GREAT! We have made this craft both at home and in the classroom (of 4-5yrs olds) and it went down a treat!

PAPER DOG PUPPETS

Next up, we love making paper dog puppets!

These paper puppets are super-duper easy to make – and feature in my brand new book Easy Paper Projects. In essence, you fold a piece paper 3 ways, tape it together and concertina it into a W. Then decorate to your heart’s content. Whilst we have made them into Paper Dog Puppets, they can be decorated in any way you wish! And they are perfect for a little puppet show! Check out our new book for full photo instructions!

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GINGERBREAD MAN CARDS

Finally, we love nothing better than crafting for CHRISTMAS! Making little keepsake ornaments or Christmas Cards to either give to family or cherish yourself over the years to come. One example is our fabulous little Gingerbread Man Cards. Use a gingerbread cutter to trace your shapes onto a folded piece of paper – make sure that the left hand meets the fold of the paper, so the hand stays connected! Then paint and decorate. TOO CUTE. We used sticker eyes and buttons. In our book we also give examples of how to turn the gingerbread man card into a fantastic Santa or snowman card. You can take one idea and turn it into three different designs!

So, are you ready to create some happy memories and “cozy” time with your toddler?!

I hope so.

About the author

Maggy Woodley writes at www.redtedart.com and is also on YouTube.com/redtedart.com Red Ted Art – where you will find crafts for ALL the seasons and age groups. Red Ted Art started off when Maggy’s own kids were little – 2yrs old and a baby (!) and it has come on in leaps and bounds ever since. There are lots of fantastic crafts to choose from (you will particularly love the “Preschool” tab on the top of her homepage www.redtedart.com/preschool-crafts)

You can find her new Easy Paper Projects book on Amazon, the Book Depository, or email her directly for signed copies.

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Advertorial

Choosing the Perfect Gift Shopping for the perfect gift can often seem like an almost impossible task, especially when there’s so much to choose from! Whether it’s for a son, daughter, niece, nephew or grandchild or another child in your life, here are a few top tips to help make gift buying a little easier!

Fun for all the family

Something that brings the whole family together and can be enjoyed by everyone is sure to be a big success.

Orchard Toys’ games offer fun, quick and simple gameplay, meaning they can be enjoyed by everyone - they’re perfect for little ones and great for adults to join in with too! ‘What a Performance’ is guaranteed to have the whole family laughing as players race around the board completing fun actions and challenges.

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Interests

Age Appropriate

Buying a game that is age appropriate is really key to ensure it offers repeat play value and that children are stimulated by and engaged with.

Children will get more enjoyment out of a game if it strikes the right balance between challenging yet rewarding; getting something age appropriate is the best way to ensure that this balance is met!

Orchard Toys’ products are carefully developed with educational professionals and are tried and tested in nurseries and schools to make sure that they are fun, engaging and age appropriate.

Thinking outside the box is always a good idea, but when it comes to gift giving sometimes it’s best to play it safe! Ask their parents, siblings or friends what they like to make sure you can get them something they’ll enjoy, rather than just a one-time wonder!

Orchard Toys’ products feature lots of popular themes that children will love, whether it’s on the farm, fairies and pirates or outer space, there’s a game, jigsaw or colouring book for all.

Play value

Educational

The best kind of gift is a something that will be reached for time and time again that children will never get bored of, whether it’s being crammed into a suitcase to take on holiday or whether it’s for a quick game before bed!

Games and jigsaws that offer repeat play are the best way to make sure you get value for money from your gift.

Shopping List has been a family favourite for over 20 years. Children race to collect everything on their shopping list and fill their basket in this fun memory game – the simple gameplay and timeless theme is why this game remains so popular.

With an increased focus on education by society, an educational gift will always go down well with conscientious parents. Keeping education fun is important – fun games where children don’t even realise they are learning are perfect and are guaranteed to tick boxes for both parent and child!

‘Learning Made Fun’ is at the heart of everything Orchard Toys does, whether it’s practising spelling with Magic Spelling or learning about animals of the world with Where Do I Live?

Educational games are a great way to keep little minds engaged!

To see the full range, visit www.orchardtoys.com

25

Lifestyle

Save your food from the bin!

How to cut down on food waste

For little ones and big kids alike, food can be one of the most enjoyable parts of your day. Cooking and preparing food is a great bonding experience for parents and children, and eating together is a lovely way to spend time as a family. However, the average family with children in the UK wastes £810 every year by throwing away food.

Love Food Hate Waste is encouraging people to make small but

important changes to make sure that their food is saved from the bin! For example, changing your fridge temperature can make your food last for up to three days longer. Most fridges in UK homes are set to 7°C, whereas the best temperature is 0–5°C. If you’re not sure how to check or change your fridge thermometer, no problem – visit the Love Food Hate Waste website. Their ‘Chill The Fridge Out’ tool can show you based on your fridge model how to make the switch to 0–5°C! When it comes to food prep, this is where you can have lots of fun. In UK homes we waste a lot of really common food items, such as 20 million slices of bread, 4.4 million potatoes, and

26

2.7 million carrots… every day! How can we make a change? Simple – just eat every part of the food!

Carrots and potatoes don’t need to be peeled, a good scrub will do. And as for bread, there are plenty of creative ways to use up the crusts and end slices. They make really sturdy soldiers to dunk into eggs, or brilliant bases for pizza breads – just add toppings!

The Love Food Hate Waste website has loads of great recipe ideas to get the whole family involved. From fridge cakes to delicious main meals, have a browse and find your new favourite recipe ideas to stop your precious and delicious food ending up in the bin. www.lovefoodhatewaste.com @lfhw_uk

Compleating is simple. It’s about eating the whole ingredient or food and letting no edible parts go to waste.

Getting the best value from the food you buy.

Making the most of our food’s nutrients. Saving the hassle of peeling and unlocking a whole load of flavour potential.

Compleating also reduces food waste, so the planet benefits as much as you do.

milk, and you will never notice the skins but will get all the nutritional benefits.

 Don’t fumble your crumble

No need to peel apples for this winter favourite!

Simply slice the apples thinly or into small chunks, saving time and adding colour to your crumble too.

 A crust must

Keep your favourite salsa or dipping sauce handy when you next serve pizza to ensure the kids and big kids - eat their crusts!

Here are some smart compleating hacks and tips  A new leaf of life

 Top tip

Wake up your wrinkled and wilted veg in a glass or bowl of cold water – they will be good as new in less than half an hour.

Use sprout tops (the leaves from a fresh sprout ‘tree’) as a deliciously and healthy green veg in its own right – a perfect substitute for cabbage.

 Be a smoothie

 Say cheese!

Make smooth mash with skins. Cut whole, clean potatoes into small cubes and boil for 15 minutes – mash them up with some butter and

Next time you make cauliflower cheese, include the leaves and stalk for an even tastier and more colourful meal.

 Go back to your roots

Why peel beetroots when we really don’t need to? The skins are great when roasted in oil, either whole or chopped into wedges. The leaves are also delicious raw or cooked – just like chard or spinach.

For lots more tips on using all of our food, visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/compleating 27

Lifestyle

We know recycling is a topic that many find confusing but it’s worthwhile and once you get the hang of it can be very easy

Recycling made easy If each of us re-used or recycled just one more thing each day, it would make a huge difference.

For example, recycling one bleach bottle saves enough energy to power a streetlight for 6.5 hours! You can become an even better recycler by doing the following:

1. If it’s plastic and bottle shaped, recycle it

Most of us recycle. But in the UK, we only recycle 58% of bottles at home. We can do better! Just empty, crush and replace the lids before recycling. And remember to recycle bleach and detergent bottles.

Trigger sprays can be left on cleaning bottles.

2. Remember to recycle from the bathroom

Whilst almost 90% of people in the UK claim to regularly recycle from the kitchen, only 52% say they regularly recycle from the bathroom.

It’s important to make sure we recycle here too – in fact, if everyone in the UK recycled one toothpaste box, it would save enough energy to 28

run a fridge in over 2,000 homes for a year. As well as toothpaste boxes, toilet roll tubes, aerosols, shower gel, soap, shampoo and conditioner bottles can all be recycled – but take the pump dispenser off liquid soap bottles first. For quick hacks on bathroom recycling check out: www.recyclenow.com/recycling-knowledge/ recycling-bathroom

3. Give it a quick rinse

For pots, tubs and trays, just give them a quick rinse before recycling them; remember to remove the plastic film. There’s no need to get every spot of food off, and dishwashing them is a step too far – and a waste of energy!

4. Leave the lid on

When recycling glass, empty the contents then put the lid back on – including the metal lids on jam jars and the caps on bottles. Glass reprocessors separate them and are very grateful for them too! Don’t put drinking glasses or Pyrex cookware in the recycling – these are made from different materials which can’t be recycled.

items loosely together to help them get through the sorting process without getting lost.

8. If you’re not sure, check

5. Remove food from card packaging

If you’re not sure if, how or where you can recycle an item, visit the Recycle Now Recycling Locator www.recyclenow.com – just put in your postcode and the answer will pop up.

Remove chunks of food from paper and card packaging before recycling. For example, you can put in the pizza box, just make sure that any food has been removed.

Never ever:

6. Use the scrunch test

Not sure if a piece of paper can be recycled? Try scrunching it up in your hand. If it doesn’t spring back, then it can be recycled. It’s a good test to use with wrapping paper. And if you’re recycling birthday cards, tear off any glittery bits first.

 Put a nappy in the recycling bin.

7. Give it a quick squish

Remember that by recycling, you are disposing of rubbish in the most environmentally friendly way.

We are a nation of recyclers – and we really are making a difference!

P ut medical supplies like syringes in the recycling bin. P ut your recycling in a black bag – chances are high that it will be mistaken for rubbish.

Give cans and plastic bottles a quick squish – that’ll save room in your recycling bin and make them more efficient to transport. Scrunch foil

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Happy lives here!

We want you to holiday just the way you want to, which is why we’ve developed our own exclusive resort experience alongside our range of beautiful, family friendly properties.

We hand pick every destination to meet your young family’s needs—from pool safety to playtime—and they’re fully equipped with everything you need, so you can travel light and feel at home as soon as you arrive.

Discover the Tots difference and let us help you find your perfect, fun-filled family holiday.

All private pools barriered

FREE baby and toddler kit

30 point child safety check

Call us

0800 808 5487 Browse and book at

www.totstotravel.co.uk

Tasty breakfasts

French Toast with Winter Compote

This makes a tasty winter breakfast but you could use other seasonal fruits for the compote to make this great at any time of the year.

Serve with a dollop of Suitable for the plum compote on the 10+ months side or some yoghurt and fresh fruit pieces.

PREP: 10 minutes COOK: 15–20 minutes MAKES: 4 servings FOR THE COMPOTE:  1 clove

 4 ripe plums, stoned and cut into bite-sized pieces ½ tsp ground cinnamon  1 tsp vanilla extract  3 tbsp water

FOR THE FRENCH TOAST:  2 eggs

 1 tsp vanilla extract

 pinch of ground cinnamon

 2 large slices of wholemeal bread  sunflower oil, for frying

coat both sides (you can cut the sandwich in half if it makes it easier to dip).

❶ First make the compote. Stick the clove into

the skin of one of the plum pieces so it’s easier to retrieve later, then put all the ingredients into a small pan and cook over a low heat until the fruit has softened and cooked down, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove and discard the clove.

❹ Heat a little oil in a frying pan (skillet) until hot,

then place the sandwich in the hot pan to cook until golden on one side. Flip over to cook the other side, then when golden remove from the pan. Allow to cool a little, then cut into fingers and serve.

❷ While the compote is cooking, beat the eggs in a bowl together with the vanilla and cinnamon.

Extracted from The Organix Baby & Toddler Cookbook (Ebury Press,£12.99)

❸ Spread one slice of bread with the plum

Photography by Haarala Hamilton

compote then place the other slice on top to make a sandwich. Carefully dip into the egg mixture to

Available from all major UK bookstores and online from Amazon 31

Tasty recipe

Ratatouille A versatile recipe that is great for the whole family. For toddlers and the rest of the family serve the ratatouille as a sauce over wholegrain pasta with a sprinkling of grated cheese or serve with grilled chicken and some homemade bread.

Suitable for 6+ months

PREP: 10–20 minutes COOK: 15–25 minutes MAKES: 3–4 portions  1 tbsp olive oil  1 red onion, diced  1 garlic clove, crushed ½ red (bell) pepper, diced ½ yellow (bell) pepper, diced ½ small courgette (zucchini), diced ½ aubergine (eggplant), diced  sprig of fresh thyme  1 bay leaf  2 large tomatoes, diced Remove the thyme and bay leaf before serving.

Purée the ratatouille to a suitable consistency for your little one. Once your baby is used to the texture you can mash or chop it rather than puréeing.

❹

Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the onion and garlic and cook together over a low heat for about 10 minutes until softened.

❶

❷ Add the diced pepper, courgette and aubergine with the thyme and bay leaf and leave to cook until the vegetables begin to soften.

Extracted from The Organix Baby & Toddler Cookbook (Ebury Press,£12.99) Photography by Haarala Hamilton

❸ Add the tomatoes and continue to cook until

Available from all major UK bookstores and online from Amazon

the vegetables are tender. Add a little water if the dish starts to dry out.

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Book Club

Three of the best

Illustrated books are a fantastic way to help children understand what they are reading whilst truly bringing a story to life. Here are three of our favourite titles that we are sure they will love!  Hey Grandude!

Written by Paul McCartney Illustrated by Kathryn Durst

© MPL Communications/ Mary McCartney

From the music icon Paul McCartney comes an actionpacked picture-book adventure celebrating the fun grandparents and grandchildren can have when their imaginations run wild.

Grandude is a one-of-a-kind adventurer. With his magic compass he whisks his four grandkids off on whirlwind adventures, taking them all around the globe . . . Join them as they ride flying fish, dodge stampedes, and escape avalanches!

Brought to life in a riot of colour by talented children’s illustrator Kathryn Durst, and inspired by Paul’s own experience of being a grandude (a name his grandchildren have given him), Hey Grandude! is the perfect story for little explorers.

The Wonky Donkey 

Written by Craig Smith Illustrations by Katz Cowley

Who ever heard of a honky-tonky winky wonky donkey?

Well – about three million people, in fact! The book behind the viral internet sensation of “The Scottish Granny” reading this story to her grandchild. Based on the popular song, this hilarious story will have children and adults braying with laughter.

 The Smeds and The Smoos Written by Julia Donaldson Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Soar into space with a glorious story of alien folk that’s literally out of this world! The Smeds (who are red) never mix with the Smoos (who are blue). So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love, their families don’t approve. But peace is restored and love conquers all in this irresistible tale from the creators of STICK MAN. 35

Action Songs to enjoy at home

Carry on the fun at home and practice the actions to all your favourite Tumble Tots songs and rhymes!

Visit www.tumbletots.co.uk to buy the CDs or search ‘Tumble Tots’ on Spotify, YouTube, Amazon or iTunes.

Book Club - Advertorial

Lonely Planet Kids Inspiring the next generation of explorers

Filled with magic, wonder and a globetrotting spirit of adventure, Lonely Planet Kids ignites children’s curiosity and encourages them to discover more about our fascinating planet – from wildlife, science and conservation to culture, history and more. Come explore!

 Hidden Wonders

Available November 2019, £14.99 Take a journey into the unknown and discover the planet’s wildest and most wonderful sights. Paddle through the eerie glowworm caves of New Zealand, ride with the wild horses of the Namib desert, swing off the end of the world in Ecuador, and be amazed at hundreds more wonders you never knew existed!

 Myths & Legends of the World

Available October 2019, £14.99 Get ready to travel through time with 21 dazzling stories of daring and deceit, reward and punishment. Meet gods and goddesses, serpents and clever spiders, and cavort with sea nymphs, mystical women, terrifying beasts and volcano people – as you discover different tales of how the world began.

Wild in the City 

Available November 2019, £12.99 Discover the secret lives of more than 30 extraordinary creatures that share our cities. From red foxes sneaking rides on London buses to leopards prowling the backstreets of Mumbai, explore the clever ways animals have adapted to the urban environment and how you can help protect our wild neighbours.

Begin your journey in your nearest bookstore or shop.lonelyplanet.com 37

Advertorial

Designed with joy in mind Scandinavian toy brand BRIO is dedicated to creating happy childhood memories BRIO is a toy box favourite the world over. Some 130 years on from the first BRIO toy, the company’s design team keeps its focus on creating toys that foster children’s natural development through the joy of play.

developments, addressing the environment that children see around them today. Product Design Manager, Erik Söderlind, explains; “In designing BRIO World, we have taken inspiration from the real-world children see now.

The fire station, the farm, the school – all places they may have seen or experienced – have been BRIO-fied to make them relatable and inviting to children.”

“Children’s imaginations are unlimited and so the open-ended design of the BRIO World offers unlimited possibilities too. They can arrange and rearrange their BRIO World in endless combinations, challenging themselves and making new discoveries. All the time that they are absorbed in play, they’re making exciting learnings too without realising it.”

The BRIO World includes many different experiences and scenarios to explore, connected in a playful interactive system offering children the freedom to create their adventures however they choose.

Open-ended play can unlock new discoveries

Play is an incredible thing. Not only creating opportunities of sheer joy for children, it is through this fun that children make sense of the world around them and progress through all the many stages of development. As they play, they learn and develop social and emotional skills as well as physical ones such as handeye co-ordination. The BRIO World, with its open-ended design, aims to nurture those

Bringing a new dimension to the play

The world has changed a lot since the birth of the first BRIO toys. Children are living in a digital age but the importance of play endures. Joining the BRIO World, Smart Tech adds a new dimension of play and discovery. With integrated technology, 38

Smart Tech engines interact with Smart Tech Action Tunnels and destinations creating exciting effects such as lights, sounds or movement.

“As children play with Smart Tech trains and destinations in the BRIO World, the train almost seems to come to life as it interacts with the children. They are very much in control as the unique interactivity between engine and accessories mean they must think about what they would like to happen and then experiment with their layout to make it happen. It’s not just amazing fun, they’re learning early sequencing and coding skills without even realising it.”

Play that endures through generations

Sharing the joy of the play through generations is key in BRIO’s world. All the wood in BRIO toys is traceable and sourced from responsibly managed forests, while additional, high quality materials offer the opportunity of increased functionality, longevity and play value. Designed to last the test of time, BRIO products made today are compatible with all past BRIO wooden railway products.

“No matter which BRIO toy you have today, we firmly believe it should work with the others in your family’s collection. Our world is about creating playful experiences and memories that every generation can share, today and in the future.”

“Our world is about creating playful experiences and memories that every generation can share,

Erik Söderlind is Product Design Manager at BRIO based in Malmö, Sweden

today and in the future.”

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HOLIDAYS START FROM AS LITTLE AS

£269*

FOR A 4 NIGHT STAY

OH BABY IT’S EASY! Set in 100 acres of Lancashire countryside, just 15 minutes from the bright lights of Blackpool and the beautiful coastal resort of Lytham St Annes, Ribby Hall Village makes holidaying with your little one(s) easy!

Offering unlimited pre-school activities every day of your stay and all those important essentials (cots, highchairs, stairgates, cutlery and melamine tableware in your cottage),you’ll discover a world of special holiday moments the whole family can enjoy.

To learn more about Ribby Hall Village’s baby and toddler breaks visit ribbyhall.co.uk or call 0800 107 0522

*Price based on a 4 night midweek break in a 2 bedroom self-catering cottage 16th December 2019. Subject to change and availability.

Unlimited pre-school activities available on midweek stays.

Advertorial

Five Star Family Fun Explore, discover and play the days away with toddler friendly holidays at Lancashire’s five star Ribby Hall Village

T

here’s nothing quite like the sound of your little ones enjoying themselves and whether you’re venturing out on your first family holiday or just looking for a fun-filled get away, you can be sure to make magical memories at Ribby Hall Village.

Lancashire’s only 5-star holiday village has everything young families need for a stress-free break including fully equipped self-catering cottages, activities designed specifically for preschoolers and dining options that will please even the fussiest of eaters!

Let your little adventurers explore the great outdoors on their woodland walk and discover what wildlife is living within the 100 acres of gorgeous greenery. If they’ve still got energy to spare, the Village has two indoor soft play areas, an outdoor adventure playground and a Pirate Ship play area ideal for smaller guests.

Whatever the weather, the Village’s dedicated

events team host a range of daily activities, with everything from arts and craft to sensory play.

Guests booking a 2019 mid-week break can enjoy FREE pre-school activities for 0-4 year olds including Messy Monsters, Crafty Kids, Sens-ARhyme, Dinky Dance, Family Movie Time and Teddy Bear Time to name just a few!

The Village is also home to a tropical style swimming pool complete with themed splash zone and baby slides – perfect for little swimmers.

Family changing facilities, baby and toddler swim sessions and a Fast Track Swim service during busy times help keep parents happy too.

If that wasn’t enough, you can also let the little ones go wild at Ribby Hall Village’s very own zoo!

Wild Discovery is home to a Bat House, a Farmyard, an Exotic House and a Safari Walk where you can meet the Village’s furriest residents including Capybara, Meerkats, Wallabies and Reindeer.

Nurture their curiosity with feedings, interactive experiences and talks and tours from knowledgeable keepers throughout the day. Who said learning can’t be fun?!

Make the most of this precious time together and swap the early mornings for ones you’ll want to get up for, with all this and more at Ribby Hall Village – it’s the perfect choice for parents and pre-schoolers.

To book a 2019 midweek break with FREE unlimited pre-school activities for children 0 - 4 years visit www.ribbyhall.co.uk.

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Winter Holidays

The hidden gem for family skiing

Credit: Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis-c- Andreas Kirschner

By Syra Morley

Whether you are experienced skiers or are trying it for the first time, there can be few places in the world better set up for skiing families with young children than Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis in Austria.

Family skiing at Serfaus

Less than an hour and a half’s drive from Innsbruck airport (short transfer time, tick!), the snow-sure resort is a winter paradise for children and adults of all ages. Youngsters can start finding their ski legs on the resorts, nursery slopes, the size of six football pitches. Nestling on a sunny plateau at 2,000 metres, its a safe wonderland for children aged three and up to explore while they learn to ski.

Lessons that kids will love

Credit: Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis_Auf zur Skischule (c) Tirol Werbung Robert Pupeter

The Serfaus ski school (skischule-serfaus.com/en/) has English-speaking instructors, specially trained to take the best care of little ones as they glide down easy pistes on adventure trails, through the mouth of a bear and over bumps and easy jumps that help build confidence and skill.

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Credit: serfaus-fiss-ladis-c-tirol-werbung-hans-herbig Credit: Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis -c- Skischule Fiss-Ladis

Once your children are more confident on snow, they can take an 8-seater chairlift that’s been specially designed to be safe for children.

From amateur to kamikaze!

Adult improvers will find cruisey blues and progressive reds on the slopes which are mostly above 2,000 metres, with a total of 214km to explore in the linked area of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis.

Advanced skiers will find challenges off piste from the top of many of the lifts, and on 28 black pistes such as the Kamikaze, which has a gradient of 70%!

The season always runs from the beginning of December until the end of April, with the valley runs usually open from the first until the last day of the season.

Above: Usually, children need to be lifted onto the chairlifts and must sit with adults. But in Serfaus the Familien chairlift on the improvers slope can be ridden by seven children with just one adult. How? A laser detects the height of any children and raises the travelator floor so the smallest can sit down themselves. The security bar lowers automatically, ensuring a safe ride.

Family-first ethos

Back in the 1990s, the resort management took steps to put the needs of children and their families first and foremost – and it’s been a firm favourite with Austrian and German families ever since.

Nursery slopes are right by the main lift station and its children’s restaurants, where the menu was chosen and tested by kids. There are no scary button or drag lifts here – instead there are 28 ‘magic carpet’ travellators. In fact, this type of lift was developed by the resort management and is now in use all over the world.

The ski area can be reached from the resort via the new and super-efficient Komperdell lift. Got a pushchair? No problem! There’s a priority lane for pushchairs and extra support for families with young children.

A hotel for families

At a family-friendly resort you’d expect the very best family accommodation. And it’s the 4-star Löwe & Bär Hotel (loewebaer.com), part of the 43

#KidsCanBe

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Credit: serfaus-fiss-ladis-c-andreas-kirschner

KEY POINTS WE LOVE  Fly to Innsbruck – day-time flights

 Short transfer times

 Family accommodation  Buggy hire  Kids clubs

 English widely spoken

Austrian Kinder Hotels group, that punches above its weight.

A 5-minute underground train ride from the valley station, the hotel is right opposite the Murmil Park, a nursery and sledging area that’s ideal for the under-3s.

All the rooms in the hotel are spacious suites that can sleep families of up to six. And only families with children can stay. All the rooms have at least one twin or bunk room, a lounge area, dining area and a super-king bed. The bathrooms have a shower and bath, nappy bins and stools to reach one of two basins.

have their own self-service buffet to choose from, while adults enjoy fine dining via table service.

In the lobby there’s a selection of baby food from HIPP Organics, milk formula and hot water. You can also borrow bottle warmers, potties, baby mattresses, baby monitors. And there’s no need to schlep buggies to the Alps – the hotel has a fleet of buggies with chunky snow tyres, as well as baby carriers, all free to use. (Tip: let the hotel know in advance to make sure there’s one ready for you.)

Stress-free holidays with children

The ethos of Serfaus and the Hotel Löwe & Bär is ‘children first’. There seems to be no limit to the lengths that they will go to make sure children are happy and cared for! That means that families can enjoy a stress-free holiday – and have happy memories for a long time.

Indoor pool and play areas

There’s a massive kids’ indoor playroom along with a 5-level soft play facility. A fab pool area boasts indoor and outdoor heated pools, a spectacular water slide and a family sauna. For older children, there’s a climbing wall and games room. Childcare is available free of charge from 8:30am to 9:00 pm (8:00 pm for babies).

Adults can work out in the well-equipped gym or relax in a divine thermal suite with a huge sauna, steam rooms, an ice room and an outdoor plunge pool with massage jets.

For further information visit serfaus-fiss-ladis.at/en

HOW TO GET THERE Serfaus is 92km from Innsbruck and 30km from the closest train station, Landeck-Zams.

There are scheduled winter flights to Innsbruck from most UK destinations.

Children’s menus

Breakfast is an extensive buffet with something for everyone. If your kids can be unruly at mealtimes, don’t worry – there are no child-free people at this families-only hotel! At dinner, kids

Jet2 (Birmingham, Stansted, Manchester) EasyJet (Bristol, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester), British Airways (London Heathrow).

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