FamiliesBedsJanFeb2019Iss38

FRE E

TAKE M

E HOM

Bedfordshire IN THIS ISSUE Clubs & Classes Stay Healthy this winter Education Holidays with a difference Your local What's On

Issue 38 January/February 2019

email: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk Tel: 07824 377175

familiesonline.co.uk

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May this year bless you and your loved ones with amazing health, wonderful memories and prosperity. Speaking of health, do turn to pg 6 and read about our ‘Six ways to stay healthy in Winter.’

Be inspired as you plan your holidays in 2019 with reference to ‘Holidays with a difference’ (pg 12 – 13).

In our clubs & classes pages find new & enjoyable classes your children will love! Although it is cold - explore the outdoors and go out on adventures with your children with our local What’s on guide (incl. Feb Half Term activities).

contents

Happy New Year Beautiful Bedfordshire!

3-4

News

5&7

Clubs & Classes

6

Happy Healthy Families

8-9

Education

10 - 11 Early Years & Childcare 14 - 16

Michéllin To advertise in this magazine contact:

What’s On & Wear a Hat Day, 29th March 2019

Find us and folllow us on:

Michéllin Store - Editor m: 07824 377175 e: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk Sarah Harmer - Designer www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

Facebook.com/familiesbedfordshire @FamiliesBeds families_beds18

Easter edition out 4th March 2019. Booking deadline 8th Feb 2019

Harpers Nursery & Forest School BLUNHAM MK44 3NX

A unique learning experience for children aged from 6 months to 5 years.

Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas Limited spaces now available for 30 hours of FUNDED childcare

www.harpersnursery.co.uk

Tel: 01767 641499

I believe in keeping an open mind Telephone: 01234 361918 www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk Bedford Girls’ School is part of The Harpur Trust

Families Bedfordshire 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 Bedfordshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Bedfordshire. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, Families Bedfordshire and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

2 Families Bedfordshire January/February 2019

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CELEBRATIONS & NEWS Happy 50TH Birthday MILTON KEYNES MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY and Happy 25th Birthday to MONKEY MUSIC from all of us at Families Bedfordshire Magazine and wishing you many more!

The Milton Keynes Railway Society stage their annual exhibition over 2 days marking their 50th Birthday!

The Milton Keynes Model Railway Society will be staging their annual exhibition over two days to mark their 50th birthday!

The Exhibition is one of the largest in the area with over 40 fantastic working model railway layouts, a wide range of traders & refreshments.

On Saturday only, you can add more magic to your train

adventure by hopping on the Marston Vale Line (Bedford – Bletchley) for a day out with a difference and with amazing family rates! Groups of 3 - 9 adults travel for a third off with GroupSave, children (5 - 15) half price, under-fives are free! Granny & Grandad travel for half-price with a Bedfordshire Concessionary Travel Pass!

The MK Model Railway Exhibition entry fees is £7 for adults (50p off with a valid rail ticket!) and kids £1.

Opening times are 10am – 5pm (Sat) & 10am – 4:30pm (Sun).

Sat 16th – Sun 17th February at Stantonbury Leisure Centre.

Spin a Tale during National Storytelling Week National Storytelling Week which takes place from 26 January to 2 February is a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world.

We are all immersed in stories — from conversations during which we re-tell events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs firstly to be a good speaker and listener.

Above all though, storytelling is fun. Whether we are listening

Monkey Music, the multi award winning pre-school music group is launching new classes every Monday at St Andrew’s Church Hall in Biggleswade.

The classes offer a progressive 4 stage curricula where children are grouped according to age.

Catchy songs are mixed with a multitude of specialist instruments, in addition to magical props, enticing puppets, bubbles and fun activities.

The classes also support important developmental language, physical and social skills and all with the help of music! Monkey Music classes are designed to prepare children for their next musical steps, which

may include learning an instrument. Do expect fun and giggles on the way!

Monkey Music will be celebrating it’s fantastic 25th year, has a unique teaching curricula and is written by professional musicians.

To book your FREE TASTER visit: https://bit.ly/2rjxAoG or call 01462 626735. For more info visit www.monkeymusic.co.uk

The Big Garden Birdwatch The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 26 to 28 January and is the largest wildlife survey in the world. The information collected helps monitor bird species in the UK, and is great fun for children.

To take part, you need to watch the birds in your garden or local park for just one hour at some point over the three days and report your results to the RSPB.

You can request a FREE Big Garden Birdwatch pack from the RSPB which includes a bird identification chart and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden.

For more info visit www.rspb.org.uk

Are you looking to develop a career in Caregiving?

Home Instead provides care, companionship and conversation to clients who are older individuals.

Understanding the bond it takes to care for someone as if they were a member of your own family is a vital role of the Caregivers at Home Instead.

to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary.

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

Find a local event at www.sfs.org.uk & see page 15 to enter Families Beds book competitions. www.familiesonline.co.uk

NEW Monkey Music Classes in Biggleswade! Boost your child’s development with Monkey Music!

We are looking for people who are: ● Kind, compassionate and have personality ● Friendly but professional ● Great Listeners who deliver excellent care ● Passionate about making a difference in the lives of older people ● Like to spend time with older people ● Looking to pursue a career in caregiving ● Seeking development opportunities in caregiving For more info on our application process please visit: www.homeinstead.co.uk/luton-and-central-bedfordshire or contact 01582 742275

email: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk Tel: 07824 377175

Bedfordshire 3

NEWS

Rugbytots weekly classes in Bedford, Ampthill & St Neots Rugbytots take children on a journey of sporting imagination with engaging and energetic coaches supporting them every step of the way whilst teaching how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team. Rugbytots use the multiple skills of rugby to create a fun, dynamic and imaginative environment whilst developing core motor skills such as agility, balance and coordination as well as enhancing core social and physical attributes through a series of games and exercises. Weekly classes have proved to be a hit with children and parents alike. Sessions run on Saturday and Sunday mornings in Bedford, Ampthill and St Neots and midweek in surrounding areas.

Luton's football ambassadors meet Prince William

Get in touch to book a FREE taster and give Rugbytots a TRY. https://bit.ly/2Le6cSk

Mounting scientific evidence suggests that prolonged exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation has serious health effects, says The Lancet For years Families SW have been reporting their concerns about human exposure to WIFI. Relieved at last, they read an article in The Lancet, December 2018, commenting: “Evidence exists for an association between neurodevelopmental or behavioural disorders in children and exposure to wireless devices, and experimental evidence, such as the Yale finding, shows that prenatal exposure could cause structural and functional changes in the brain associated with ADHD-like behaviour. These findings deserve urgent attention.” “…Some government

health authorities have recently taken steps to reduce public exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation by regulating use of wireless devices by children and recommending preferential use of wired communication devices in general, but this ought to be a coordinated international effort.”

Do your own research, investigate the many sites that provide information like wifiinschools.org.uk, www.babysafeproject.org and others; sign petitions, fight 5G - it’s really scary and must be fought. Why wait to protect your children? We can begin to protect our families by adopting simple, preventative measures like turning our routers off at night, limiting our children’s exposure to any sort of WIFI enabled gadgets like smart phones, tablets, wireless baby monitors (yes them too) and refusing to have a smart meter installed.

To read the Lancet article visit: http://bit.ly/Lancetarticle

Graduates of Luton’s Football for Peace (FfP) programme met HRH, The Duke of Cambridge at a recent event in the Copper Box, London.

The Luton youngsters met VIP guest, Prince William, a number of high-profile professional footballers, as well as representatives from Birmingham and London who also participated in the programme.

The ambassadors worked together to organise various junior tournaments and coaching sessions for young children on the day. Afterwards they were addressed

by Prince William and presented with their graduation medals.

An Aston Villa fan, His Royal Highness spoke of what football meant to him and talked about his appreciation of how football can play a valuable role in creating a peaceful and understanding relationship.

Cllr Aslam Khan, LBC’s portfolio holder for Safer, Stronger Communities, said: “The council is tremendously proud of these youngsters. They have learned a great deal in their time and it is my firm belief that the whole town will benefit from their experiences in the past year.”

Schools that Ban Mobile Phones Improve Results Should children be allowed to take mobile phones to school?

Opinion is divided. Some advocate a complete ban because of the potential for distraction, while others promote the use of phones as a teaching tool in the classroom.

Schools in England and Scotland have complete autonomy regarding their mobile phone policy, which has resulted in large differences in the timing of the introduction of bans.

Schools that ban pupils from carrying mobile

phones show a sustained improvement in exam results, with the biggest advances coming from struggling students, according to research published by the London School of Economics.

The large-scale study found schools in Birmingham, London, Leicester and Manchester that banned mobiles enjoyed a boost in the proportion of pupils getting five good passes at GCSE, compared with schools that allowed pupils to keep their phones, even if switched off.

Visit www.Ise.ac.uk for more info 4 Families Bedfordshire January/February 2019

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CLUBS & CLASSES

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www.familiesonline.co.uk

email: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk Tel: 07824 377175

Bedfordshire 5

HAPPY HEALTHY FAMILIES

Six Ways to Stay Healthy during the Winter Months It’s tough getting you and your family through a long British winter without succumbing to illness somewhere along the way. Here are our top tips for making it through to spring without getting out the tissues!

Eat for Immunity Eat food that is rich in vitamins and minerals.

Foods high in zinc - lean meats, poultry, and baked beans can help balance your immune response. Green leafy vegetables - kale and Brussels sprouts are high in Vitamin C and will also keep you healthier.

Include warm winter soups packed full of vegetables for lunches and dinners, or fruit smoothies for breakfast (and sneak some vegetables in when you can) – this is an excellent way to ensure you are all having more than your 5 a day.

Supplement The NHS recommends that all children from the age of 6 months to 5 years are given vitamin supplements with A, C and D in them every day. Please note if your baby/child is having 500ml of formula or more, do not give them vitamin D, as formula milk is fortified with it. You may also be able to get vitamin drops for your baby if you qualify for Healthy Start. (Check eligibility at www.healthystart.nhs.uk). If you give your children a chewable supplement, make sure it is after they eat because some vitamins cannot be absorbed without food.

During Winter adults and children over 5 years should supplement with Vitamin D - many nutritional experts recommend that everyone at least try to take 10mcg of Vitamin D a day.

It’s vital to keep our muscles and bones healthy and is primarily made by our skin's reaction to the sun. During the winter months in the UK, the sun doesn’t contain enough UVB radiation to create it so we must rely on food and supplements. Vitamin D is found in meat, oily fish and eggs.

Consider supplementing with Vitamin C and Zinc to ward off colds. It’s been scientifically proven that dosing up on Zinc in the first 24 hours of getting a cold can mean a quicker recovery. If you are not sure whether to give your child vitamin supplements always take advice from a medical professional or nutritional expert.

Get Outdoors It’s thought that at least 2 million people in the UK suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which is caused by lack of sunlight and it’s recommended that you try getting out for at least an hour a day in natural daylight. Midday on a sunny day is a good time to go out as that is when the sun is at its strongest. Using a light box, exercising and talking therapy can help people afflicted

6 Families Bedfordshire January/February 2019

with SAD and if you think you or one of your family is affected, then talk to your GP. Sleep Well Ensure adults in your family are getting 8 hours of sleep every night. If you are run down through lack of sleep, you are more susceptible to illness. Getting enough sleep will boost your immune system and help you fend off any nasty colds and illnesses.

Sleep also supports healthy brain function and maintenance of your physical health. Toddlers should be getting 11 to 14 hours sleep a day, while pre-schoolers need 10-13 hours.

School age children need 9 to 11 hours and teenagers 8 to 10 hours. Make sure your offspring have time away from electronic devices before bed. Having a hot bath and reading book is a great way for all ages to wind down for a restful night’s sleep.

De-Stress Being stressed can make you more likely to catch a cold or illness because it reduces the body’s ability to fight off infection. Regular exercise helps you de-stress, unwind and get fitter, whilst meditation and Yoga can also help you unwind. There are some excellent meditation and relaxation apps available.

Headspace for kids focuses on calm, kindness and bedtime (www.headspace. com/kids). Calm (www.calm.com) also provides mindfulness and sleep stories for children of varying ages, whilst www.dreamykid.com has lots of great meditations and visualisations just for children and teens.

Wash your Hands Emphasis to all your family members the importance of washing hands regularly. Around 80% of infectious diseases are spread by touch. Make sure you explain the need to use hot water, anti-bacterial soap and wash hands for 45 seconds or longer. Teach children to rub

By Claire Winter

the backs of their palms and hands, including their thumbs!

Try Something New Don’t stay cooped up indoors, try something new as a family. Invest in wellies and wet weather gear and get exploring whatever the weather.

Outdoor Winter Fun Ideas ✱ Have a winter bonfire in the garden or use a fire pit or chiminea, wrap up warm and roast some marshmallows. ✱ Explore nearby woodlands and build a camp. ✱ Set up a scavenger hunt, create clues for the kids to follow or get them to design one for you to follow. ✱ Go ice skating at an outdoor rink. ✱ Feed the birds or go bird watching. You could even make your own birdfeeders. ✱ Go on a winter picnic. Take blankets, sandwiches and hot soup in a thermos. ✱ Make snow paint. If we’re lucky enough to get a downfall this year, you can add food colouring to a spray bottle, get out in the garden and turn the white stuff multi-coloured!

www.familiesonline.co.uk

CLUBS & CLASSES

Girls Play Less Sport than Boys

Boys spend significantly longer than girls on sporting activities.

A report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that boys spend an average of 40 minutes per day on sports activities, compared with 25 minutes a day for girls.

Encouragingly, boys and girls who do participate in sport enjoy it equally, according to the study.

One way parents can change this is by setting an example.

Research shows that by being active themselves, parents,

particularly mothers can influence their child’s activity levels.

Another way is to make it social. Research by Women in Sport shows that girls are most interested in making friends and having fun when playing sport. Seek out clubs, classes or activities that may have girls of a similar age as your daughter or encourage her to take up new classes with her existing friends (Some amazing classes to try are Tiska Karate and Rugby Tots).

Benefits of Signing with your Children Communication Babies understands words long before they can talk. Fine motor skills develop much earlier than the ability to speak. Sign language is taught alongside speech.

It’s perfectly possible for a 12-month-old baby to be able to use around 30 signs or more!

Bonding When signing with your child you are actively encouraging eye to eye contact. This is a fantastic bonding opportunity. Other members of the family begin to join in and this bonding becomes family wide.

Frustration Using sign language to communicate needs is a simple way to alleviate frustrations.

Children become frustrated when they can’t communicate.

More info: www.womeninsport.org

Why Ball Sports are Important for Children

By Andrew Campbell As children grow, learning how to play a variety of ball games is a great way of keeping fit, improving relationships and having fun.

The remarkable thing about playing a ball game - from football and rugby to cricket, netball and rounders - is that your child can run for miles without even noticing, because their mind is focused on the action and not on the physical exertion.

Confidence If your child is shy, signing up for football, rugby or tennis classes can help bring them out of their shell and help them make new friends.

Social Skills Playing ball sports can help your child to recognise the importance of working as a team and understand what it means to be competitive. And how to lose gracefully without throwing a temper tantrum or dissolving into floods of tears!

Co-ordination and Timing Whether it’s throwing, catching, dribbling, or kicking, your child will develop important handeye coordination and timing skills which can help in other areas of their life. Eye-tracking skills are vital to reading, handeye co-ordination is required www.familiesonline.co.uk

Rugby Tots Classes for handwriting and timing is involved even when crossing the road.

Force Knowing how much strength is needed to throw or kick is not easy as you may have observed if your child has picked up a ball and tried to throw it at something recently. Ball sports teach children how to apply the right amount of force at the right time. This helps them understand what levels of force are appropriate which can be essential in avoiding accidents.

Every Child is Different Don’t worry if your child isn’t a natural ball sports player.

Coaches are trained to help children take small steps to learn the basic skills required in most ball games and to improve their confidence.

By teaching them sign language, these frustrations are lightened as the child can now communicate their needs.

Speech Delay No, this is a common misconception, signing helps improve speech. Signing children speak earlier and have a greater vocabulary.

The Signing Company run classes in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. We have programmes designed for over 5mths and over 18mths.

We are also able to run sessions in Nursery / pre-school settings to teach signs to adults and children to enhance their learning journeys.

The Signing Company are also available to run workshops to teach basic BSL to staff and/or parents in settings.

If you are interested in learning to sign with your child or are a setting, then please contact Jules 07766492037 or email me at Jules@thesigningcompany.co.uk www.jules.thesigningcompany.co.uk

AS SEEN ON

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email: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk Tel: 07824 377175

Bedfordshire 7

EDUCATION

The Inside Track on Exam Preparation Claire Winter gets some advice from tutors on preparing primary school children for exams.

In the coming year, many children will be preparing for SATS, senior school entrance exams or the 11 plus. Teaching children of primary school age on how to prepare for exams is a skill they can use and refine throughout their entire education (and even in their working lives), and can help them feel less overwhelmed by the concept of being tested.

Make a Plan Once you know the date of your child’s exam, mark it on the calendar and think about what kind of preparation would be appropriate for them to do. Most exams include Maths, English and some contain elements of verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

Would worksheets from your child’s school, online resources or verbal or non-verbal reasoning practice papers be helpful? Create allocated times in the week to go over different topics, to prepare and build their confidence. Revise challenging areas they might have. Balance is so important. Encourage your child to have fun and continue with their extra-curricular activities.

Practice Lucy Parsons, author of The Ten Step Guide to Acing Every Exam You Ever Take says, “My top tip for any exam is to do past papers and to get the child taking the exam to mark their work themselves, using the mark scheme. This way they understand what the examiners are really looking for and can start to spot what's a good answer and where they will need to improve.”

Visit www.lifemoreextraordinary. com for more info. Another tip: get your child to set a timer while doing the exam, so they get used to working under time pressure.

Do your Research Keep informed on the 11 plus format that your county or area is using. Selective independent schools set their own 11 plus exams. Find out from each school what the format will be so you can tailor your child’s preparation accordingly. Often tutors local to the school you are applying for or your child’s own current school will have detailed knowledge about its entrance exam. Chris from www. roots2success-11plus.uk/ updates his website every year with the current 11 plus format for each of the 163 grammar schools in England.

Know the Syllabus Education Consultant, Paul Anderson from (www.tutordoctor. co.uk) says it vital to have in-depth knowledge about the exam.“Our

number one tip for exam success is knowing what is included in the syllabus for the particular exam you are studying for. Once you know the syllabus, you can evaluate your child’s knowledge and see where the gaps are.”

Talk about what you have Learned It’s helpful for your child to verbally recap what they have learned. Paul from Tutor Doctor says, “Do not underestimate the value of verbal revision. Just half an hour articulating what they know to teachers, friends, and family is a fantastic opportunity for children to test themselves.”

Short Sharp Bursts Make sure your child takes a break when they are doing exam preparation otherwise they can become stressed.

Primary school children may find it hard to sustain concentration for longer than 30 minutes without a break. It’s important not to schedule too many preparation sessions in one day – one or

two would be the appropriate maximum for this age group on a weekend or school holiday day, but less if they are also managing homework.

Stay Calm Encourage your child to stay calm when coping with any obstacles during their exam and to come back to any challenging questions once they have answered easier ones. Suggest that they look at the questions before they read a passage or text, so they know what to look for when they are reading the text.

Entrance and 11plus exams can be stressful for some children ensure they get enough sleep, eat well and make learning fun. Play games, colour code their work and even produce short videos about topics they find hard to learn.

Praise your child’s effort in preparing for their exam, regardless of whether they pass or do well.

Children need to understand that all you expect of them is for them to do their best.

Home Tuition – Soar to Success!

The Tutor Train runs Tuition classes across Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes. Praema, the founder of The Tutor Train has kindly shared with Families her personal insights on Home Tuition…

Over the past 5 years, the number of parents seeking a tutor has increased significantly. Fast paced lessons and rising test pressure has not gone unnoticed and many parents now use a Tutor to provide additional support.

Choosing a tutor can be a daunting task. Tutors are qualified teachers who have been selected based on their ethos to learning, subject knowledge and ability to bring learning to life. Through interviews, background checks and enhanced DBS, you can feel secure in knowing a tutor will be

8 Families Bedfordshire January/February 2019

of the highest standard.

Confidence Home tuition can significantly boost a child’s confidence as they are more likely to ask questions and share ideas. Tuition provides a safe environment.

“My daughter was finding it hard to engage at school and lacked confidence. The change in her surpassed our expectations and by the start of year one her whole attitude to learning had changed.”

Mother of a pupil at The Tutor Train - Jen, Maulden.

Attainment Tuition is beneficial for children

of all academic levels. Tutors assess your child to determine areas your child needs support in - lessons are tailored around this to meet those needs which evolve over time as your child progresses.

Learning Styles Tutors take into account children’s different learning styles when planning lessons to maximise the learning potential and enjoyment of each lesson.

Exam preparation Tutors take extra care to create the right mindset when providing exam tuition. www.familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Cyberbullying: What You Need to Know

By Claire Winter

Today’s children spend a lot of time online. How can we make sure they are safe?

According to Bullying UK’s national survey, 56% of children surveyed said they had been bullied online, and 42% felt unsafe.

Cyberbullying is defined as the use of digital technologies with an intent to offend, humiliate, threaten, harass or abuse somebody. This kind of harassment can happen anywhere your child is online, class Whatsapp groups, gaming platforms, apps, and social media.

One of the main problems with bullying online is that it can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and it can go viral very quickly. If it’s happening, children can’t escape it; we need to educate them on how to deal with it and to ensure they know to tell a trusted adult if it is happening to them.

The earlier parents start to have conversations with their kids about being online, the better. We need to guide them and teach them about responsible online activity.

Internet Matters encourages parents to talk to their children about who they want to be online with, what they share and how long they spend on the Internet.

They also advise taking an active interest in what your child is looking at and frequently check up on them. Other tips include making sure there are no phones/ devices in the bedroom at night and putting Wifi on a timer to limit the time your kids spend online.

Here are Families top tips on how to teach your children to stay safe from cyberbullying.

Don’t respond - never respond to a rude comment. Bullies only bully to get a response.

Screenshot - take a picture of the bullying behaviour, so you can report it if the behaviour escalates.

Talk about it - make sure you tell a trusted adult or friend. They can give you advice and support you if you are being bullied.

Block it - block the user who is bothering you and report it. This is important even if this person is someone you know, or a so-called ‘friend.’ www.familiesonline.co.uk

What if your Child is Cyberbullying?

Psychotherapist Alex Drummond, who is a member of the Counselling Directory says it is easy for children to distance themselves from the consequences of their actions when they are online.

Report it - if someone at school is harassing or bullying you make sure you tell a teacher. If it is a stranger or a person from out of school, make sure you tell your parents.

Be private - make sure your privacy settings are set to private so people that you don’t know can’t contact you. You wouldn’t talk to a stranger on the street, so why do it online?

You can be traced - explain that children that misbehave online by posting abuse or threats can be tracked and traced by the police without any difficulty.

Every time you visit a website or make a posting, your Internet service provider has a record of your activity. Even if you create an anonymous email address, you can still be found.

“It will be upsetting to find your child is the perpetrator of online abuse, but it’s also important for parents to see this as part of the socialisation of children, step back from the emotive aspects and deal with this calmly and thoughtfully.

Express disappointment, not anger, and ‘call-in’ rather than ‘call-out’ the behaviour, by helping the young person recognise the impact of their actions.

send or write something online you can’t get it back. Remind your children to ask themselves: would I be happy for everyone I know to see this?

If your child or someone you know is being cyberbullied make sure you get some help. Bullying UK (www. bullying.co.uk) has some great resources and a helpline at 0808 800 2222. Internet Matters (www.internetmatters. org) also has some useful tips and videos that you can share with your children.

All children will do things we disapprove of at times; our role as parents is to be patient and guide, to understand consequence, and to give them the courage to stand apart from the crowd when injustice prevails by doing what is right.”

Primary, Secondary and A - Level Home Tuition

Keep passwords safe - remind children to protect their passwords and not share them with others.

Tell them to use a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. This will mean they are less likely to be hacked.

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

Log out - if using a public computer at school, a library or even at a friend’s house, be sure to sign out of the web service you are using.

Think before you type remember the impact your words can have on others. Once you

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Bedfordshire 9

EARLY YEARS

The importance of Lullabies

By Laura Jane

Lullabies have been around for thousands of years.

Musicologists believe the first lullabies were sung over 5000 years ago by the Babylonians.

The fact that we’re still singing them today shows they certainly have longevity.

Generations of parents have known that singing a lullaby to an infant has a lulling, calming effect. Across all times and languages, lullabies have the same soothing, hypnotic qualities. These are created by the use of repeated, simple one or two syllable words and repeating musical phrases which are easy to predict.

Lullabies are necessarily easy to learn and sing. Infants need to recognise the familiar patterns of notes and words and parents need to be able to sing them without having any musical education or training.

Traditionally lullabies were passed on through the generations from parent to child. Popular lullabies have stuck in the nation’s conscience due to the advent of recording, television and radio but there are hundreds of unknown lullabies which are just as beautiful and effective.

Recent research has

uncovered that only 38% of parents sing to their child every day. Yet singing to your baby is just as important as reading to them. A singing voice has a greater calming effect than speech. Singing has positive health and emotional benefits not to mention the numerous studies which show that listening to music improves children’s intelligence.

Here is my top 5 list of lullabies to get you started: Brahms’s Lullaby Whether you know it was composed by Johannes Brahms or not, this is the tune you’ll hum if someone asks you to sing a lullaby. Composed in 1868 it is the most famous and recognisable lullaby in the world thanks, in part, to highly successful recordings by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Originally written with German words (‘Guten Abend, Gut’ Nacht’) there are several English translations.

10 Families Bedfordshire January/February 2019

Cradle Song by William Byrd I discovered this sweet Renaissance lullaby in an obscure out of print music book. I then spent several weeks tracking down the words for the missing second verse. The words are completely charming; it begins “my sweet, little darling, my comfort and joy”. It’s a fairly short lullaby and has a beautiful melody. I think it deserves to be much better known.

Dalmatian Cradle Song This traditional lullaby was originally a peasant’s song from Dalmatia (a region in Croatia).

Its lilting melody is hauntingly beautiful. This lullaby tells a simple story about a father being away at sea. The chorus begins “Hush, my babe, my little one” and the “hush” sounds like the crashing waves of the sea. It’s calming and melodic.

Cradle Song or ‘Wiegenlied’

by Franz Schubert This simple lullaby uses few notes and echoes the rocking

Foley

motion of lulling a baby to sleep. It was made famous by the superstar Italian Tenor Luciano Pavarotti who regularly sang it at his concerts. Originally written in German, several English translations are available which include these pretty lyrics: “slumber, slumber, in sweet dreams reposing.”

A Cradle Song by Ralph Vaughan Williams This beautiful lullaby is more interesting musically than the Schubert song. It has no repetition and has a range of well over an octave which is unusual as most lullabies use the same notes repeated in a limited range. The beautiful soaring melody by this twentieth century composer is complemented by the words of Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge: “Sleep sweet babe! My cares beguiling, Mother sits beside thee smiling”.

You can find recordings of all the above lullabies on YouTube.

Singing to your baby is just as important as reading to them.

A singing voice has a greater calming effect than speech. www.familiesonline.co.uk

CHILDCARE

What is Montessori Pre-school or Nursery?

Many of us are familiar with the word “Montessori” in connection with education, but what exactly is the Montessori Method and how can it benefit children?

The Montessori Method was developed 100 years ago by Dr Maria Montessori and recognizes that children want to be free to learn by themselves and will naturally do so in the right environment.

In the Montessori classroom, carefully planned activities and specialized equipment are provided for different levels of learning. A child is completely free to choose how he or she learns but you won’t generally find plastic nursery toys in a Montessori setting.

The Montessori Method is child-centered and the curriculum is designed around the specific needs and abilities of each child as an individual, which allows each to explore and learn at his or her own pace.

Children are encouraged to choose their own activities from a range of Montessori equipment and materials. Each individual piece is designed to teach a range of specific skills.

Once shown how to use a piece of equipment, a child can then experiment until he gets it right.

The equipment is specifically designed to be self-correcting which means children can learn by themselves, through their senses and at their own pace.

The equipment is then designed to provide another challenge so that learning becomes progressively more difficult, providing the opportunity for children to progress. In this way, a child’s learning experience is accelerated.

All the activities and

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Montessori equipment have precise locations on the shelves and when a child finishes an activity, he or she is encouraged to return it back to the same place. This helps children develop a sense of order and promotes self-discipline.

At a Montessori nursery, there is generally only one piece of each equipment. “When a child is using a particular piece, other children must ask permission to join in” says Sonya Kanchan-Lal, Principal of Milkshake Montessori in Whitton. “Otherwise a child

must wait until that piece of equipment becomes free. This really teaches the children about sharing. They learn that although they are industriously involved in their individual work, they are also part of a co-operative community.”

Julia Moody, Principal of Julia’s Montessori in Hampton says “One of the greatest benefits of the Montessori Method is the focus on hands-on learning. Children work on activities that teach language, mathematics, culture, creative, practical life and sensory skills giving them a broad and varied learning experience.”

“Children educated the Montessori way become great at problem solving and able to make decisions at an early age, which is a marvelous preparation for starting school” says Julia.

In an Early Years setting, children are of mixed ages, allowing the older children to mentor the younger ones and the younger children to learn from the older children. The curriculum focuses on ‘key developmental milestones’ that link in nicely with the Early Years Foundation State Curriculum.

Montessori encourages cooperative play, which enables

email: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk Tel: 07824 377175

Children learn to work on their own or as part of a group and the “prepared environment” encourages independence, confidence, concentration, self-control, a sense of order, initiative, grace, courtesy, patience, compassion, negotiation and self-esteem.

and encourages children to share and work together exploring the various areas in the Montessori classroom, whilst learning respect for one another and building a sense of community.

Whilst all children are different and no hard and fast rules can be applied, research conducted by the University of Virginia in the US has shown that children who attend Montessori nurseries or pre-schools may be better prepared for English and Math’s learning when they start school.

The research also demonstrated that these children scored higher in tests for “executive function.”

This is the ability to adapt to changing and complex problems.

Those children who attended Montessori nurseries or preschools also displayed a greater sense of justice and fairness and interacted with others in an emotional and positive way.

Choosing a pre-school or nursery setting for your child is never easy and it’s always advisable to visit and ask as many questions as possible.

No one setting or type of setting suits every child, and, ultimately, your gut instinct on a setting’s suitability is most likely to lead you to the right decision.

Bedfordshire 11

FAMILY BREAKS

Holidays with a Difference

Are you fed up with package or resort-based holidays? Why not try some of these quirky suggestions for a short break or alternative summer holiday destination, by Claire Winter.

Go on a Cretan Adventure This beautiful island is a fabulous family holiday destination with an ancient culture, excellent cuisine, and all-but-guaranteed sunshine.

Kids will love learning about the island’s past on a simulated archaeological dig and will learn to care about its future too when visiting a sea turtle nesting habitat with a local conservationist to hear about the threats these endangered species face. Other

days are spent trying diving, paddle boarding, snorkelling to shipwrecks and even Cretan dancing, all while staying in a beach-side apartment with a swimming pool.

Prices start from £899 per adult and £849 per child, including seven nights’ B&B accommodation, one lunch, one dinner, and guided activities. Depart 29 June, 27 July or 17 August 2019.

More info at www.familiesworldwide.co.uk

Try Treehouse Life The Garden Village in Slovenia is a beautiful eco-village of treehouses, glamping tents, Finnish Sauna, Massage Pavilion and a garden, which supplies the on-site restaurant with fruit and vegetables.

The tree houses are raised cabins with two levels and have indoor nets to lounge about on, kitchenettes and bathrooms.

The wooden-floor pier tents are by a stream and fishpond, while glamping tents have a mezzanine level, bathrooms, TV and hot tub. Lake Bled, which offers a vast array of activities, is just a short walk away. Treehouses are expensive in peak season (€360 a night) but tree tents which sleep four and have shared bathrooms/toilet facilities, are less at €260 a night.

More info at www.gardenvillagebled.com

Hit the Road Why not discover Europe in a camper van? The UK’s largest VW camper van hire company Campervantastic is based in Forest Hill, south-east London, just over an hour from the Channel Tunnel and south-east ferry ports. Staff are experienced in catering for a variety of European adventure tours; you could explore the Alps, cycle in the Dordogne or explore vineyards in Bordeaux.

You can hire out the relevant

equipment, such as bike racks and wine storage to suit your plans. Some of the campers have electrically powered pop-up roofs, bike racks, comfortable beds, folding picnic table, satnavs, and media ports.

They also have a Mercedes Marco Polo campervan for hire and will have the brand-new Grand California Motorhome available in the Spring of 2019. Prices start from £910 a week in July.

More info at www.campervantastic.co.uk

12 Families Bedfordshire January/February 2019

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FAMILY BREAKS

Choose Quirky Locations There are many quirky locations from castles to islands that offer accommodation in the UK and further afield. Why not experience lighthouse life in Norfolk? Boasting extensive sea and inland views, this Grade II listed former lighthouse keeper’s cottage built in 1791, offers visitors a unique coastal location adjoining Happisburgh’s working lighthouse.

Within a short drive of the Norfolk Broads, Lighthouse Cottage is ideally situated for rural, and beach walks.

Prices £1171 for seven nights’ self-catered accommodation arriving 13th July 2019. It sleeps five in two bedrooms, with two

pets welcome. Visit www.cottages. com for more info and booking.

You could also try a fantastic converted Railway Carriage in west Somerset. The carriage is 100 years old and has recently been refurbished. Once upon a time, it was a Great Western Railway camping coach. Today it sits in a quiet siding at the Blue Anchor station on the West Somerset Railway line. It is a working railway - so guests beware! But situation wise, everything is on the doorstep, and it’s a short walk to Minehead’s sand and shingle beach.

The carriage sleeps six and costs start at £715 a week in the summer.

More info at www.lovecottages.co.uk

Discover Belgium and Holland These family-friendly destinations offer clean, wide beaches and an easy journey time. They’re a short flight or a 35-minute tunnel crossing away.

Both countries are small, varied and easy to get around.

Little Clogs Holidays offer baby and toddler-friendly breaks in holiday parks

and glamping farm holidays.

Families can explore a wide range of toddler-friendly theme parks, water parks, and zoos as well as magical woodland trails, sand dunes and playgrounds on the beach.

Prices start at £818 per family for a week in the summer holidays.

More at www.little-clogs-holidays.co.uk

How about a House Swap?

A house swap can be a great way of exploring the world and cutting holiday costs. You lend your home to another family, while you live in theirs. All you have to do is buy your flights or ferry ticket. You do need to clean

and tidy your home so another family can live it. You also have to empty some cupboards and drawers for their clothes and leave a manual about the house. You can negotiate to swap cars and look after each other’s pets too.

Try Love Home Swap (www.lovehomeswap.com) or Home Exchange (www.homeexchange.com)

We asked Families readers from across the country for their holiday tips.

“We spent an amazing few days in Paris a couple of years ago. The return flights for five people from Southend were £171, we got a lovely Airbnb for £90 per night in the 16th Arrondissement, and we used a fab book called Mission Paris to see the sights. It was completely brilliant and almost cheaper than staying at home! We did similar in Barcelona the year before, and the kids completely loved it. Hiring bicycles and cycling through the old city was awesome.” Emily, Southend “The whole family went to Butlins on a toddler week. It was excellent because it was cheap! Also not too crowded, great entertainment for the kids, and as we all know, if the kids are happy, the parents are happy!” Rebecca, Maidenhead www.familiesonline.co.uk

“We drove to and stayed in a safari tent in the beautiful Ardeche region in France last year at Camping Huttopia Le Moulin Ardèche in St Martin. There was a pool and kid’s club, and the local food and wine were fabulous. Eating out was a lot less expensive than the south coast.” Jo, Marlow “We flew to Nantes from Liverpool for £360 in August and then stayed in an Airbnb with pool. Travel, accommodation, and car hire for four of us in August cost just £1500.” Hannah, Brighton “Wales is lush, and properties are so much cheaper to hire than in Devon and Cornwall.

You can do the most amazing adventure sports; beaches are clean and great for younger families and surfers!” Maria, Manchester

email: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk Tel: 07824 377175

Bedfordshire 13

What’s on

We aim for accuracy but do check with the venue before setting out in case details have changed after print Also don’t forget to tell them you saw them in Families Bedfordshire Magazine.

THEATRE GUIDE Grove Theatre Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable 01582 602080 www.grovetheatre.co.uk The Sooty Show Mon 11 February 11am & 2.30pm Direct from their hit ITV series, Sooty, Sweep & Soo and TV’s Richard Cadell this new and hilarious magic show will amaze you with impossible tricks and sidesplitting jokes, Sooty’s flying car, Soo’s singing unicorn and Sweep’s levitating sausage! Special guest’s circus star Michael Jordan & the ultraviolet specialities of Fanasie de la Nuit.

Feb Half Term Workshop: A Week at the Musicals Mon 11 – Fri 15 Feb, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm A five fun – filled days musical theatre workshop including acting, singing and dancing with specialist members of Grove Theatre’s education team. Ages 6 – 14 years.

Pop Divas Live!

Tues 12 Feb, 2pm Little Mix, four enormously talented girls will bring you close up and personal with some of the greatest female pop performers of today. With dazzling choreography and superb vocals your children will have the time of their lives!

Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre Houghton Hall Park Lake Street, LU7 1RX www.leightonbuzzardlibrarytheatre. co.uk Puss in Boots Pantomime Thu 10 Jan – Sat 26 Jan LB Drama group bring you this traditional family pantomime filled with wonder, delight, songs of old and new, audience participation and with a healthy dose of slapstick comedy to brighten the dark days of winter.

Leighton Babies: Parent & Baby screening: Only for parents with children 2 years old or under accompanying them.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Tues 15 Jan, 10:30am If your child is no more than 2 years old, you can bring them along to a safe environment, watch a film for grown ups and possibly meet

CLUBS AND CLASSES Stagecoach Expertly led singing, dancing and acting classes. 4 – 18yr olds.

Locations: Ampthill, Bedford, Dunstable & Luton and Leighton Buzzard. See page 5 for more details. www.stagecoach.co.uk Rugbytots Times and days vary in each area.

Ampthill (MK45 2NU) Bedford (MK40 4GP), Bedford (MK40 2QD) St Neots (PE19 8HN), Biggleswade (SG18 ONE), Flitwick (MK45 1TH).

Fun structured weekly rugby play session teaching how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team.

Developing and enhancing core motor skills and social and physical attributes through a series of games and exercises.

Ages: 2-7. FREE taster session available https://bit.ly/2ErBTGg 14 Families Bedfordshire January/February 2019

other parents. The sound is kept a little quieter and the lights up so you can see. Baby changing facilities and do expect some noise.

Milton Keynes Theatre 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes The Sing – a – Long – a The Greatest Showman Jan 19, 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm Singalonga Productions, producers of Singalonga Sound of Music and Singalonga Grease bring you their newest show. The Smash hit film musical that everyone can’t stop singing! With lyrics on the screen you can join in as loud as you want and, the live host will teach you a unique set of dance moves that will make the show come alive!

Quarry Theatre St Peter’s Street, Bedford, MK40 2NN. www.quarrytheatre.org.uk Robin Hood & the Revolting Peasants Fri 15 (7:30 pm) & Sat 16th Feb (2:30 pm & 7:30 pm) Odd socks Productions present this rumble in with their rumbustious new adventure of this legendary folk hero family show.

The Giant Jam Sandwich Sun 3rd Mar, 2 pm (with BSL interpreter) & 5 pm On a hot summer’s day, 4 million nosy wasps invade the quiet village of Itching Down, not minding who they sting!

Picnicker’s panic & the farm stops haymaking, until the baker has an ingenious idea. Age: 3 – 8 yrs.

Full House Theatre’s Feb Fest Locations vary in connection with Luton Culture venues Children’s Half Term Festival Mon 18 – Fri 22nd Feb Full House Theatre Company present an arts festival for children and young people jam packed with stuff to do and things to see in Luton. www.fullhouse.org.uk and www.lutonculture.com

Luton Library Theatre St George’s Square, Luton LU1 2NG www.lutonculture.com Part of Full House Theatre’s Feb Fest: Four Go Wild in Wellies Wed 20th Feb, 11.30 – 12pm & 2.30pm – 3pm A brand-new show fresh from Edinburgh Fringe. A whimsical adventure featuring bobble hats, scarves, tents that have a life of their own and lots of fun in wellies!

A playful look at how friendships are built, broken & mended. Explore joy in inventiveness and curiosity. Ages 3 – 5yrs.

Wardown House, Museum and Gallery.

Old Bedford Rd, Luton LU2 7HA. www.lutonculture.com Part of Feb Fest: Mystery and Mischief in Moomin Valley Thurs 21 Feb – 11.30 – 12.30 & 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm Based on the much – loved Moominland novels by Tove Jansson. Heart-warming show with magical puppetry, original music and interactive play. Ages: 3 – 7 Stockwood Discovery Centre London Rd, Luton LU1 4LX. www.lutonculture.com Part of Full House Feb Fest: Rabbit Girl and the Search for Wonder Mon 18th Feb, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm Join Rabbit Girl and her Dad around a campfire as they share their stories and adventures from across the world with you.

The Signing Company Times and days vary in each area.

Inspirational sign language classes for babies and toddlers.

Classes run from St. Andrew’s Rooms in Biggleswade, Lakeview Village Hall in Wixams, The Stables and Woodentops Pre- School in Potton. jules.thesigningcompany.co.uk Monkey Music Classes in Biggleswade and Stotfold Biggleswade – Every Monday at St. Andrew’s Church Hall, 45 Shortmead Street.

Stotfold – Every Thursday at Fairfield Park, Community Hall.

There are 3 classes for different age groups: High – Ho - 12 – 24 mnths, Jiggety – Jig, Rock ‘n Roll 3 –12 mnths.

Class timings vary.

Book a FREE TASTER. Email: baldock.hitchin@monkeymusic.co.uk

First Class Happy New Year from First Class Bedford!

With the new year comes new challenges, so contact First Class Bedford if you would like to see your child take on learning and win!

Bedford.town@firstclasslearning.co.uk.

01234 305762 www.familiesonline.co.uk

BOOK COMPETITION

JANUARY 27 JAN, 9 AM – 10 AM Houghton Hall Junior Park Run Have fun and join in at whatever pace on a 2 KM run for 4 –14 year olds.

Every Sunday. Free. Do Register. www.houghtonhallpark.org

FEBRUARY

♥

SAT 2ND FEB 10AM – 12PM Wacky Wheels Decorate your bike, scooter, buggy, skateboard, Segway or anything with wheels from 11am to 1pm to The Kiosk the Park in Russell Park. A judging ceremony will take place for the best dressed wheels, with a parade around the park and a litter pick afterwards. Face painting, spin art bike, and bike safety checks available.

No booking required.

Kiosk at the Park, Bedford MK40 3TP SUN 3 FEB, 10 AM – 12.30 PM Penguin crafts at Potton Library Fabulous themed craft for all the family to enjoy. Ages: 0 – 15yrs. Free event.

Clock House, Market Square, Potton, Sandy SG19 2NP

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SUN 3 FEB Race for Wildlife at RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Enjoy a 10K multi – terrain route around The Lodge Nature reserve and All help raise money to support RSPB’s important work.

Entry includes a finisher’s goody bag. www.rspb.org.uk SAT 9TH FEB, 6PM – 9PM Valentine’s Owl Evening Treat your loved one to a beautiful evening filled with majestic owls, tasty food and romantic moments. Booking required. www.birdsofpreycentre.co.uk MON 11 – FRI 15 FEB, 11AM – 3PM Awesome Archaeology Discover hidden treasures and fantastic finds as you excavate the secrets of Wrest Park.

Become a daring archaeology and get your hands dirty in a mini dig for the day. Recreate ancient faces by layering plasticine onto bones, and try out the GeoPhys kit to scan what lies under the ground. www.english-heritage.org.uk/wrestpark SAT 16TH & SUN 17TH FEB Milton Keynes Model Railway Over 40 fantastic working model railway layouts plus selection of traders.

Refreshments available.

Adults £7 (50p off with valid rail ticket!).

Kids just £1! Free Routemaster bus from Milton Keynes Central to the Exhibition.

Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Milton Keynes

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SUN 17TH FEB – 12PM, 1.30PM, 3PM, 4.30PM Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory Themed Family Tea Join in for an early Spring treat at a Wonkalicious Themed Family Tea. Delicious bakes served in the main house overlooking the lovely back lawn. Booking required.

All ages. www.moggerhangerpark.com

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In support of Storytelling Week (Jan 26 - Feb 2) Families Bedfordshire thought it would be lovely to run a book competition with some lovely books to win!

WIN! ‘The Big Dig’ by Sally Garland – Age: 6 (RRP £6.99) Best friends Tig and Tog must learn to share and work together to dig a mystery object out and their stick just isn't enough for the job! A tale of friendship, teamwork and learning to share.

To enter send your answer in to the following question: What are the names of the two main characters of the ‘The Big Dig’ book?

WIN! A copy of Tiny Towns’ ‘Let’s go outside’ – Ages: 3 – 5yrs (RRP £9.99) Watch your children light up as they read the fun rhymes of this lovely illustrated and giant-jigsaw storybook.

Each spread includes a big, easy-to-use jigsaw piece that pushes out to make a giant six-piece Tiny Town jigsaw.

To enter send your answer in to the following question: Who is the ‘Let’s go outside’ book illustrated by?

A) Tiny Town OR B) Lemon Ribbon

(Special thanks to @imaginethatbook and @willowtreebook) Please send your answer to: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk.

Entry deadline for all 3 competitions: Mon, 4th Feb 2019, 5pm.

Winners will be contacted by phone call by Michéllin Store, Families Beds Editor.

WIN! A copy of Survivors – The Empty City by Erin Hunter – Ages: 8+ (RRP £6.99) Follow the dog packs as they learn to survive in a world without human masters. 'The Empty City' begins with the Big Growl, an earthquake that leaves towns and cities in ruins and dogs without their masters. Lone Dog, Lucky must find a pack in order to survive!

To enter send your answer in to the following question: What is the name of the lone dog in the story?

A) Lucky charms B) Lucky socks C) Lucky

THE OUTDOORS OUTDOORS Discover Mill Meadow and Woodland and visit The Riverside Café The meadow changes with the season with wildflowers in the summer and resident sheep grazing in the winter. Great place for your children to let off steam, spot wildlife, beehives and follow the log path through the trees or rest and enjoy the view. Entry into the meadow and woodland is free of charge. For hungry tummies visit the Riverside Café freshly prepared meals, build your own lunchbox or child – sized breakfast. www.jordansmill.com Go Ape at Woburn Safari Park Thur 7th Feb, daily until Sun 24th Feb (Course re – opens) There is no greater rush than the great outdoors. If you or your children love adventure you will love the classic and original Go Ape experience which is a 2 – 3-hour Tree Top Adventure. Booking required. Ages 10+ www.woburnsafari.co.uk/go-ape/ Woodside Animal Farm Offers a unique day out for all of the family.

Get close to furry animals, enjoy tons of play, cozy café and local treats from the farm shop.

Trampolines, indoor play barn and more. www.woodsidefarm.co.uk Linton Zoo Winter Weekends only – 10.30 am – 4 pm until the end of March 2019.

An outdoor Zoo with an incredible variety of

animals to see ranging from big mammals (Tigers, Lions, Zebras), birds (Owls, Macaws), Tortoises, Reptiles and sculptures of dinosaurs! www.lintonzoo.com

BEFORE & AFTER/ HOLIDAY CLUBS Kids Dawn Til Dusk Provides high quality before and after school clubs as well as holiday care in Bedfordshire.

Offers a variety of entertainment from cookery, craft, construction, forest school, creative play and more. www.kidsdawntildusk.co.uk

SOFT PLAY Jungle Jim’s Playland Indoor children’s play centre for children under 3 yrs old. Open 7 days a week. Opening times vary. www.junglejimsplayland.co.uk Poppets Grove Play Barn Indoor play Barn, 0-5 years, soft play, Role play, sand pit, baby area plus coffee shop. www.oldewatermill.co.uk

email: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk Tel: 07824 377175

Bedfordshire 15

Marston Vale Community Rail P

Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership Present

Take the Marston Vale Line (Bedford - Bletchley) to Milton Keynes Model Rail Exhibition 2019!

All aboard the Gro upS ave Santa All aboard the S RaiSaturday 16th Decem l Tick

ets Great r th atKids Saturday 16 2017 es fDecember and adults on Santa o r fam are all welcome T h

ilies!Vale Line, come and ird offtrain the Marston foron Kids and adults welcome festive gon roSanta’s u 3 - 9areaall p s oenjoy: f in his grottot ultsLine, train on the MarstondVale board , Santa k comeonand a ids half Hop off r 5’s s for Chriinment o freRefreshments a Face-painter &gballoon available Entert town emodeller ! in the pr

-& balloon icein, uhisnd ford Be d Santa on board grotto Face-painter modeller e tm a s tre

Saturday 16th February 10am - 5pm Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Milton Keynes Adults £7 (50p off with valid rail ticket!)

Kids £1

Take the Marston Vale Line to Milton Keynes Central (change at Bletchley) - free vintage Routemaster bus every 30 mins to the exhibition. ★ 40+ fantastic working model railway layouts. www.mkmrs.org.uk/exhibitions or 07870 213845

Exhibition also open Sunday 17th February 10:00 – 4:30.

(No Marston Vale Line service on Sundays).

For further information Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership contact Stephen Sleight tel. 01234 832645 e-mail stephens@bedsrcc.org.uk www.marstonvalecommunityrail.org.uk

FRIDAY

29 TH MARCH #H attastic

cen Refreshments available Santa Special Times depart: Santa Special Times Marston Vale Santa trainsTicket Price Bletchley 10:01 12:01Normal & 14:01trai Marston Vale Santa trains depart: Bedford 10:55 12:55Bletchley & 14:55 - B Bletchley 10:01 12:01 & 14:01 or join at any station along the Marston Va £7.30 Bedford 10:55 12:55 & 14:55 The Santa Special takes place on the £3.65 scheduled Marst or join at any station along the Marston Vale Line!

service; unfortunately it is not possible to reserve seat Under 5s travel f The Santa Special takes place on Please the scheduled Marstonnon-folding Vale Line buggies as space is v avoid bringing Senior Saver - Be service; unfortunately it is not possible to reserve seats.

Travel Pass Holde Please avoid bringing non-folding buggies as space is very limited.

A third off for grou

Information Line: Information Line: 01234 832

01234 832marstonvalecrp 645 marstonvalecrp @marstonvalecrp

645

@marstonvalecrp

www.marstonvale