What’s On?
Things to do
Competitions
SOLIHULL
MAGAZINE & WEBSITE THE GO-TO GUIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD
raring2go.co.uk
WINTER 2021
Raring2go! EDITOR’S WELCOME
Raring2go! WHAT’S ON?
Become a
New Year, New Hopes
Look out for interactive clickable content
Well here we are at the start of a new year full of hopes and expectations but we find ourselves back at home trying to balance • remote It’s FREE to join learning with our children as well as own workemail and allnewsletters of the other demands • our Monthly on our time.
with new offers and events It can all be incredibly daunting if you spend too • long Download vouchers and thinking about it but let’s hope that the light atsave the end of the tunnel keeps edging closer as we £££’s head towards Spring! • Great competitions
While there are very few attractions open or events planned over the next couple of months, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t any fun to be had with our families. I hope some of the ideas in this digital edition will take your fancy and keep everyone entertained until more of the activities we are used to are back.
Nicola, Editor
Contents Page What’s On?...................................... 6 Things to do..................................... 11
TEACHING BALLET AND TAP IN THE BOROUGH FOR OVER 40 YEARS Ballet Classes:
Let’s Dance!
Tap Classes:
Come and join the fun on Saturday mornings from 9.15am at St Helens Church, Solihull
from the age of 2½ upwards
website member
• Sign up for FREE! • Monthly email NEWSLETTERS with the latest OFFERS and EVENTS • Download VOUCHERS and save £££’s • Enter COMPETITIONS for amazing prizes!
JOIN NOW
from the age of 4 upwards
Call Kate on 07722 732 678 www.solihullyoungdancers.co.uk
“A good bookshop shows you the books that you never knew you wanted”
Virtual Bhangra Fusion dance classes
raring2go.co.uk Copyright © 2021 Mojo Publishing Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission or further information should be addressed to the publishers.
Fantastic range of books Educational, fun games and puzzles Welcoming Children’s Corner Book ordering service Book tokens sold and accepted
Competitions....................................13 Follow us on social media to keep up to date all year with your local #gotoguide for families.
Whilst the publisher makes every effort to ensure that the businesses featured in this magazine are of the highest quality, we do not guarantee the services and products from any business featured. Printed by Gemini Print. Telephone: 01273 468884 Please recycle this magazine when you are finished with it.
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raring2go.co.uk
12 Talisman Square, Kenilworth CV8 1JB Phone: 01926 855784 www.kenilworthbooks.co.uk facebook.com/KenilworthBooks @KenilworthBook
Debut CD available to download
Click here to find out more
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Garden
Birdwatch 29-31 January 2021
l l i w t a h W ee? s u yo
Bring the classroom home with five giant learning adventures in one amazing app! Designed by experienced primary educators, the Reading Eggs app includes hundreds of self-paced lessons, engaging videos and fun games for kids aged 2–13. Watch your child increase their reading and maths levels in just 15 minutes a day! Join 10 million users worldwide and start your 30-DAY FREE TRIAL today.
FREE 30-DAY TRIAL Claim your free trial now at
Join in the Big Garden Birdwatch and discover the drama on your doorstep.
readingeggs.co.uk/raring2go
To take part – and for top tips on garden birds – visit rspb.org.uk/birdwatch The RSPB is a registered charity in England and Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654. 356-0315-20-21 Starlings by Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com)
Valid for new customers only.
IA
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Raring2go! WHAT’S ON?
Raring2go! BOOK REVIEWS
Time to lose yourself in good book! 29 – 31 January
With National Reading Day on 23 January, National Storytelling week from 20 January – 6 February and then World Book Day on 4 March there are plenty of reasons to find a new book to settle down and enjoy – if you needed an excuse!
Click here to find out how to register and take part
RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK will celebrate their love of nature and unite to watch and count the nation’s garden birds over the last weekend in January for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.
The Great Dog Bottom Swap Peter Bently and Mei Matsuoka This is a great favourite of ours at Kenilworth Books, we sell huge numbers of copies because we keep recommending it! It is absolutely the silliest book ever written by an adult, and an example of childish toilet humour at its most accomplished. The story is an attempt to explain why dogs sniff each other’s bottoms; it involves all the dogs in the world going to a party for which there is No Growling Allowed, No Cocking of Legs – and they have to hang their bottoms up on the wall when they go in. The party gets a little out of hand and culminates with a huge mix up of dog bottoms. It’s a fun rhyming story, which will have children of three upwards hooting with laughter – and it is quite amusing if you are 43 too.
30 January – 6 February National Storytelling Week
Click here to find out more
Story-telling is one of the oldest, time-tested traditions of entertainment enjoyed by all, young and old, through the ages. Set up by The Society for Storytelling, National Story Telling Week celebrates this ancient tradition.
1 – 7 February Children’s Mental Health Week The week is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on children and young people’s mental health. This year’s theme is Express Yourself. Expressing yourself is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity. It is about finding a way to show who you are, and how you see the world, that can help you feel good about yourself.
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National Geographic children’s range A range of subjects for ages 6 and up. Not all people enjoy fiction. There is a huge emphasis in our education system on reading fiction over and above books about science, history or geography for example. But for a child who loves their science subjects there is no reason at all why they shouldn’t benefit from enjoying the many beautifully written and engaging books that will open up a world of interest and knowledge. The National Geographic society has a vast range of really innovative books – from the annual ‘Infopedia’ to specialist publications on animal biology and the history of inventions, there will be something to engage the interest of everyone.
Click here to find out more
raring2go.co.uk
Noughts and Crosses Malorie Blackman Young teenagers and adults will find this book both powerful and alarming. It deals with themes of racism and prejudice, division and the meaning of privilege. Sephy and Callum have been bestfriends since childhood – but they live on different sides of a huge social divide. Sephy is a Cross: she is dark skinned, beautiful and from a powerful, wealthy family. Callum is a Nought: he is pale-skinned and poor. His role is to serve the Crosses. In spite of a world that is fiercely against them, these star-crossed lovers choose each other. But that choice puts them in terrible danger! Malorie Blackman is one of the most important writers working today; and the Noughts and Crosses series was recently dramatized by the BBC. For readers aged 13 and up – but we believe that this is a book that all adults should read as well!
The Book Case Written and Illustrated by Dave Shelton St Rita’s isn’t an ordinary school. For a start it only invites exceptionally-spirited girls to be educated there, and the students can choose what lessons to go to – Chemistry is popular because there are almost always dramatic explosions! The school is also unusual in that there is a huge and hazardous hole in the floor of the dorm, the West Staircase is crumbling to bits, and a mostly-invisible beast inhabits the library. Talking of the library, one of the books is missing – as is one of the students! Can Assistant Librarian, Emily Lime, new girl Daphne (Assistant, Assistant Librarian in training) and the only boy in the school, George, solve the mystery? After dodging the terrifying Head Girl, taking advice from the gambling, cigarette-smoking R.E. Teacher, Sister Adelaide, and drugging the teacher taking their detention class, the three school-friends realise that the best course of action is to break out of school, and break into the town bank. This is a hugely fun and totally off the wall story of bookish detective work. Ages 8+.
Reviews by Tamsin Rosewell for Kenilworth Books Kenilworth Books, Talisman Square, Kenilworth CV8 1JB
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Raring2go! WHAT’S ON?
Raring2go! WHAT’S ON?
Stunning butterflies bred specially for the re-opening of Stratford Butterfly Farm!
12 February Chinese New Year
When the country emerges from lockdown, we want hundreds of stunning butterflies to emerge at the same time. Breeding the butterflies now ensures we can re-populate Click here the Farm quickly and by preparing our to find out gardens in spring it will ensure they look more stunning in the summer. Connecting with nature is beneficial to our mental health and in these uncertain and challenging times, it’s imperative we look forward to brighter days and ones filled with an abundance of butterflies and flowers!
Click here for fun family activities
Chinese New Year 2021 falls on 12 February, beginning a year of the Ox. Get involved by making decorations for your home or sharing a Chinese meal.
14 February
Click here for inspiration
Valentine’s Day While traditionally associated with romantic love, you can share Valentine’s Day with your whole family, and it provides an opportunity to teach your children about the importance of caring for others. Why not celebrate the holiday by trying out one of our craft and recipe ideas with your family. There are lots of fun ways to have some fun together at home this Valentine’s Day.
7 WAYS TO WELL-BEING IN 2021 It’s been a very long winter so far so we all need to take care of ourselves. Follow these steps to well-being with your family, to enjoy a brighter year.
16 February Shrove Tuesday Who doesn’t love Pancake Day? Time to get everyone involved in the kitchen and tuck in!
Click here for recipes
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17 February Random Acts of Kindness Day If the past year has taught us anything it is the importance of being kind and caring for the people and world around us. Why not take a moment to think about how we can make kindness the norm.
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Click here to find out more
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Take notice of the world around you Learn something new Be mindful – slow things down Get active Make Music Give something back Spend time with animals 9
Raring2go! WHAT’S ON?
Raring2go! THINGS TO DO
Click here for a full list of experiments and other resources
4 March World Book Day This year is the 24th year there’s been a World Book Day when children of all ages come together to appreciate reading. Very loudly and very happily. The main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. Dress up as your favourite characters, tell all your friends about your favourite book or maybe settle down to try reading something new!
14 March Mother’s Day
If you’re looking for inspiration for British Science Week, check out Birmingham Museum’s Thinktank Kitchen Science short videos and let your inner mad scientist run wild! You can learn how to build a space lander that can safely bring an egg back to earth and experiment with cabbage.
Click here for fun ideas
Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday? Whatever you call it in your family, the day has become a regular part of our yearly calendar of celebrations. Whether you are thinking about spoiling your own Mum or planning some quality time with your own little ones, it is always nice to plan something a little bit special for Mother’s Day.
Raring2grow! Raring2grow! is all about getting children outdoors away from the screen to ‘grow’ something and share their successes through a Facebook group.
5-14 March British Science Week British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. This year, the usual range of events won’t be taking place but there are still lots of opportunities to get involved.
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Kitchen Science with Thinktank
Click here to join the Raring2grow! Facebook group now.
This green time could be the break from remote learning they and you need every day and you never know, they might blossom into a green-fingered supremo. Joining this Raring2grow! group is open to anyone and everyone and we’d love it if when you join, you share a pic or video of one of your flower, plant, vegetable or fruit creations. Make sure you also share any top tips so that other parents and children can do the same and follow your lead. (Please ensure children are appropriately supervised when accessing social media.)
Click here to find out more
raring2go.co.uk
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Raring2go! THINGS TO DO
Grow your own fairy garden
Raring2go! COMPETITIONS
Competition Winners
Colouring sheets
Wonder Adventures Santa’s Christmas Eve Party
Click here
Rachel Pitts
Tutor in a Box
K Jennings, 11, Solihull
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Click here to enter our great competitions now
Chloe Cuzick, 7
Click here
Have fun at home
The Chocolate Shed Lucy Rimmer, 9, Balsall Common Primary School
Winter puzzle
West Midland Safari Park
Evie Bullivant, 8, Widney Manor Junior School
If you are spending time at home this Winter or need some ideas for a rainy day, how about trying one of these fun activities? Click on each of the images to find out more.
Quick Quiz
COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS: Enter the competitions online at www.raring2go.co.uk/ solihull/competitions. The winner will be the first correct entry or entries drawn at random. No cash alternative. The winner will be notified by phone or email. Full terms and conditions are available online at www.raring2go. co.uk/competition-terms.
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Recipes
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Visit raring2go.co.uk to enter lots of amazing competitions! 12
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