Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield Jan-Feb 2012

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JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2011 ISSUE #1 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012 ISSUE 7

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Birmingham and Solihull

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Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield Does your 7-year-old know 7,100 words?

Have a Stomp-ing half term Be our front cover star!

Children’s Behaviour 4 week course

For Happy Confident Children

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Starts 17th January 7-9.00 Birmingham Phone Ruth; 07929 047110

www.childbehaviourdirect.com

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

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Take advantage of our Free Assessment and see how Kumon can benefit your child.

To unlock your child’s potential, contact your local Instructor for a Free Assessment: Bournville 0121 441 3767

Kings Heath 0121 624 1233

Great Barr 0121 378 2130

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Handsworth Wood 0121 240 1596

Solihull Tudor Grange 0121 745 9505

0800 854 714

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Issue 7

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Contents

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

H

appy New Year - and welcome to the Jan-Feb 2012 issue of Families Birmingham and Solihull, which is celebrating the first anniversary of its launch.

Since then the magazine has grown steadily and from today we have a circulation of 20,000 copies for families throughout Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield.

Catch up with news about clubs and classes for children; find out what’s on at the theatre or discover what activities are on offer for children during half term.

Read about how your child could be the front cover model in our May magazine (see story on page 4).

Also in this issue we look at the vital importance of helping children to have a good vocabulary, and we give you the low-down on nurseries – whether you are heading back to work or just want your child to get a good nursery education.

Finally, (despite all the economic gloom) we wish all our readers a happy, and prosperous, 2012. If times have been tough and your faith in the good life is a little shaky, bear in mind that we are entering the Chinese Year of the Dragon on January 23. It is believed to be the most auspicious of signs and a symbol of success and happiness!

4

4 News

6 10

Wendy Flynn , Editor

Families Birmingham & Solihull Front page picture by photo artist Abby Wilkes.

Abby won the West Midlands Master Photographer Award for her work with children three years in a row.

She specialises in photographing children and families, creating art from life’s special moments.

Contact Abby for more information: 07966 867306. www.abbywilkes.com

Next Issue:

Advertisers: book your space now for our March/April Easter issue.

Call 0758 352 6056 or e-mail editor@familiesbirmingham.co.uk before Monday, February 6.

Design: www.MattWaltonDesign.co.uk

Printed by: Warwick Printers, Caswell Road, Leamington Spa Copyright Families Birmingham and Solihull, January 2012 We take care preparing this magazine but the publisher and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, nor for the accuracy of the contents nor its consequence.

In this Issue...

12 15

6 Clubs and

classes

10 Does your

7-yearold know 7,100 words?

12 What’s

in a nursery?

16

15 Health

18

18 What’s on

16 Parenting

Issue 7

3

Summer Fun News

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Be our front cover star!

Families magazine is teaming up with award-winning children’s photographer Abby Wilkes to give your child a chance to be our front cover model.

Up to 8 children will be randomly selected from those who apply and will be invited to take part in a photo shoot in the beautiful grounds of Baddesley Clinton National Trust property in Knowle, Solihull. The photo-shoot will take place on Saturday, March 31, and the best photograph will be selected to feature on our May front cover.

On the day of the shoot there will be free entry to Baddesley Clinton for children taking part and their parent, and you are welcome to take a picnic along and enjoy a day out rambling around this picturesque medieval moated manor house and gardens.

To apply e-mail editor@familiesbirmingham.co.uk with your contact details, and your child’s name and age before January 31. Children taking part should live in Birmingham, Solihull or Sutton Coldfield and be between the ages of 0-13. Parents need to be available to accompany their child to the photo-shoot on March 31, and they will be asked to sign a consent form for use of the pictures taken.

Chinese New Year Carnival Get ready to party! See in the Chinese Year of the Dragon (Jan 23, 2012 - Feb 9, 2013) with a Chinese New Year Carnival at the Arcadian Centre on Sunday, Jan 29.

Birmingham’s China Quarter will be awash with a sea of gold and red as the Carnival gets underway. Hurst Street and Inge Street (B5 4TE) will be closed to traffic with Chinese market stalls lining Hurst Street and children’s fairground rides on Inge Street.

The main attractions will take place at the Arcadian Centre with a programme of free events including a Chinese acrobatic display, Chinese dancing, Kung Fu displays and a traditional firecrackers display at 12.30pm.

According to legend the Dragon is the mightiest sign of the Zodiac and it is an auspicious symbol signifying success and happiness. If your baby is born in the Year of the Dragon he or she will be a natural leader, have a charismatic personality and will usually be financially successful. In these straitened times, that is surely something to celebrate.

4

Issue 7

SummerNews Fun

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Boots, bins, brooms and the kitchen sink!

For a half-term treat they won’t stop talking about, take the family to STOMP – a madcap, funny and exhilarating dance and theatrical phenomenon which has gone global since it premiered at the Edinburgh festival in 1991.

If you have never experienced STOMP then this is your chance to see why this breathtaking show thrills audiences around the world. With its unique combination of theatre, dance, comedy and percussion, eight performers use boots, bins, brooms and everything including the kitchen sink to hammer out an explosively feel-good rhythm.

Now coming of age in its 21st year it is fresher, faster and funnier than ever with brand new routines, new choreography and music. It returns to the Hippodrome on Feb14-18.

Have a laugh!

Gigglefest, the Children’s Comedy Festival, returns for its fourth year at Birmingham Children’s library. At February half term (Feb 11-18) there will be a series of free events, including wacky workshops, daft crafts and the absolute best in stand-up comedy for kids. For full programme see www.birmingham.gov.uk/whatson

The early bird saves money Getting your children looked after in the school holidays can be expensive, but parents who plan ahead for holiday camps get the best of the bargains. Last summer I booked early, took advantage of a flexible booking deal, and got a hefty discount.

This year SuperCamps, who run sports and multi activity camps in Edgbaston, are offering significant discounts for early booking. Their Early Booking Rate launches on January 3 and finishes on March 1 and you can save up to £40 per week or £8 a day per child (site dependent).

You can book all your days for Easter and summer and use the FlexiChange facility if you need to move these dates around later on.

Childcare vouchers can also be used to pay for childcare at SuperCamps as their sites are all Ofsted registered. For full details visit www.supercamps.co.uk or call 01235 832222.

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Issue 7

5

Clubs and Classes

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Little Kickers get bigger Little Kickers Solihull are getting bigger with new classes starting at Oak Cottage Primary School in Solihull and Woodrush High School in Wythall.

The fun football coaching sessions are already up and running in Knowle, Shirley, Langley School Solihull, and Hockley Heath. The two new venues will start from January and are aimed at 2.5-5 year olds.

For further information call Little Kickers on 0121 744 9730.

Sutton Coldfield

Meanwhile Little Kickers in Sutton Coldfield run classes at Coppice Primary School and Sutton Coldfield Fellowship Hall.

Head to the library for free Storytime and Rhymetime A staggering one in three children do not own a book, according to the latest research from the National Literacy Trust. That is an upward leap from one in 7 children in 2004.

We live in a digital age but reading still underpins learning. Just 7.6 per cent of pupils who have books of their own are reading below the expected level, against 19 per cent of those that do not own books, the report found.

If budgets are tight – as they are for many, don’t forget the local library. Most libraries throughout Birmingham and Solihull offer free storytime and rhymetime sessions for the under-5s. It’s a great way of helping develop vocabulary (see our story on page 10) as well as fostering a love of reading.

Check out your local library listings on www.birmingham.gov.uk/libraries and www.solihull.gov.uk/libraryevents

www.littlekickers.co.uk

Classes running in Solihull on Saturday & Sunday mornings.

New sessions in Solihull & Wythall starting January 2012.

Approved football training for kids aged 2 to 7 years

For a free trial class or information about our football parties please call

0121 744 9730

Local classes at a venue near you

Where learning’s a ball rhiggs@littlekickers.co.uk 6

Issue 7

Times table of top 100 Five Birmingham primary schools and 9 secondary were featured recently in the Sunday Times Parent Power top 100 schools table based on academic achievement.

Norfolk House School was the top performing Birmingham independent prep school ranked 54, while Ruckleigh School was the top performing independent prep school in Solihull ranked at 71. The ranking was based on numbers of New classes for September in the Sutton Coldfield area

pupils achieving level 5 in key stage 2 SATs tests between 2008-10.

State primary schools featuring in the top 100 were St Patrick’s C of E primary academy in Earlswood, Solihull; St Anne’s RC in Sutton Coldfield, and St Ambrose Barlow, C of E, in Hall Green. State schools were ranked according to number of students reaching level 4 or above in key stage 2 SATS tests between 2008-10.

The selective King Edward Independent schools and King Edward, Sutton Coldfield ,and Bishop Vessey grammar schools featured in the secondary listings.

Secondary schools were ranked according to A level performance in 2011, with A*-B grades given double weighting.

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Clubs and Classes

Dizzyrs Dance Various ages welcome Based in Highgate, Birmingham.

01527 870889 or 0773 4651192 www.dizzydancers.org

Edgbaston Watersports Adventurous Learning for all, in the Heart of Birmingham

Drawing Sundays

D

rawing is easy when you know how – and the new Drawing Sundays for children and young teens at the Barber Institute promises to give you all the tricks of the trade.

The Drawing Sunday Sessions are being held every fortnight between February and April and will teach children how to draw everything from realistic faces, figures, animals and landscapes to creative drawings entirely from their own imagination.

The young artists will get to use different materials and learn new techniques, and at the end of the course they can choose their favourite sketch to exhibit at a gallery drawing display in May. The morning session will run from 11.30am-1pm and is aimed at children 10 and under, while the 2-3pm session is for children aged 11-14.

Sessions cost £5 and must be pre-booked. Call 0121 414 2261 for more information or to book, or e-mail education@barber.org.uk.

Awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC) quality badge for adventure sports.

Follow us on

Call 0121 454 1997 for further information www.edgbastonwatersports.co.uk

h c a o c rts e heatre A g T a St

Stretch Your Child’s Imagination In Three Directions At Once The original, largest and still the best part-time performing arts schools in the world.

Nurturing and developing young peoples’ potential through dance, drama and singing.

Stagecoach Edgbaston Saturday classes at Edgbaston High School for Girls for children and young people aged 4 to 18

Call: 01926 651159 email: edgbaston@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoach.co.uk/edgbaston

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Issue 7

7

Clubs and Classes

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Young guitar players wanted for The Rock Project!

Is your child strumming a new guitar they got for Christmas? Sign them up for the Rock project in Solihull where they can learn and play in a real band at the same time.

where learning music is effortlessly combined with having a good time with your mates. And The Rock Project manager Richard Finlan is particularly keen to attract some more guitar players to the band.

Guitarists, drummers and bass players are all welcome at the two hour sessions

To find out more call Richard on 0846 226 3318.

Snap happy teens Today’s teens are snap happy, constantly taking pictures with mobile phones and sharing them on twitter and facebook.

But how many can take a really good picture?

Guitar, Bass, Drum Lessons 7-19 years Vocal lessons for over 11’s 2 Hour sessions including stage time.

CRB cleared Staff, great fun.

RockSchool grades.

Tel: 0845 226 3318 www.therockproject.com

A fun and social photo-course at MAC Arts for 13-17 year olds will teach them how.

Teens can explore the basics of photography including using camera phones, lighting, composition, and editing, as well as looking at photobookmaking and sharing images.

Half term cookery classes

Beckett Farm Cookery School will be holding half-term classes for young chefs aged 8-16. Fresh pasta ravioli, chicken casserole with home-made dumplings and lamb and mint pinwheels with potato dauphinoise are on the menu, with chocolate pudding, fruit crumble and chocolate éclairs for afters.

The classes are designed to get young people more active in the kitchen and interested in cooking with fresh ingredients and producing healthy, balanced meals. The classes cost £35 per day. All ingredients are provided and young people get to take home recipe cards and some yummy goodies. To book a place call 01564 823402, or log on to www.beckettsfarm.co.uk

Rugby-based, fun activity classes for kids aged 3 to 5 years old.

Classes starting January 2012 07807 297 511

www.rugbymonkeys.co.uk 8

Issue 7

Academic Excellence offers discount for Families readers The tutorial group Academic Excellence have been rapidly expanding their network of bases in Birmingham. Initially they ran classes in Erdington, Quinton and the Jewellery Quarter, but this year they introduced classes at Alderbrook school in Solihull and they are planning new classes for Sutton Coldfield and Dudley.

Academic Excellence offer maths, english science and languages tuition as well as 11plus training. They are currently promoting their classes with a £10 discount for Families readers for the first two months if you join before Jan 31. Mention the magazine on booking to claim the discount.

Contact: 0121 454 2858 or e-mail info@academicexcellence.org.uk

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Clubs and Classes

Club Futsal launches in Birmingham and Solihull

Club Futsal

@ Birmingham Futsal Centre Wednesdays 5pm-7pm @ Solihull College Thursdays 5pm-6pm

Regional Scout for Coventry City Football Club Paul Holmes is launching Club Futsal coaching centres in Birmingham and Solihull.

The Clubs are aimed at all children from 3-13 but those with potential will be identified and could progress from grass roots level to playing with Coventry City FC Academy.

Harry Stockdale Smith, a young player from the Kenilworth Futsal Club, has just been signed for the Academy after a six-week trial, and another from Birmingham is currently on trial.

The Sports College on Blossomfield Road is the venue for Club Futsal Solihull which will be held on Thursday evenings between 5 and 6pm, while the Birmingham Club will play at Great King Street, North, B19. Call Paul on 07745 565745 to find out more or book a place.

Young Chef Challenge

Celebrity TV chef James Martin was at Edgbaston High School recently to judge the Midlands Regional Final of the prestigious Young Chef Challenge. The school played host to eight contestants from schools across the Midlands as they attempted to create a tasty dish for two, using beef or lamb mince with a vegetable or salad accompaniment, in one hour.

On the day Year 10 pupil Elsa Court, representing EHS, created a mini meatball dish, and while she missed out on first place, her dish was Highly Commended.

All participating students received a white chef’s jacket, a signed copy of James Martin’s latest cookbook and a certificate.

FUTSAl coaching for boys & girls aged 3-13 All abilities welcome £20 per month membership

goalkeeping coaching £30 per person Wednesday 8.00pm tbc starting in Jan.

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WWW.CLUBFUTSALUK.CO.UK

Clubs & Classes Directory To advertise here call 0758 352 6056 DANCE & DRAMA

DUBARRIE SCHOOL OF DANCE Ballet, Tap and Jazz age 2 ½ + Branches in Yardley and Shirley Telephone: 0121 744 1422 www.dubarrieschoolofdance.co.uk

MASQUERADE MUSICAL THEATRE Youth Theatre Group, Age 6+ St Thomas’ Church, Garretts Green Lane, Sheldon, B26 2SA

Telephone: 0121 722 3761

PYJAMA DRAMA TIM TANDLER DRUM SCHOOL

MUSIC

Drama for creative little people, 6 months -7 years Sing, dance,City pretend, 1-to-1 drum tuition, Centre play. location Callgrades Kate on 0363 Rock School 1-8.0800 Ages542 4 upwards. or e-mail: kate@pyjamadrama.com Tel: 0121 503 5849 www.timtandlerdrumschool.co.uk

Solihull Young Dancers Ballet and Tap Dancing Classes from age 2 ½ + Tel: Kate on 07722 732678

For classes in Moseley, Hall Green & Bournville contact:

www.solihullyoungdancers.co.uk

MUSIC BIR

1-to-1 drum tuition, City Centre location M I N G H A M Rock School grades 1-8.

Ages 4 upwards.

Tel: 0121 503 5849 www.birminghamdrumschool.co.uk

PRE-SCHOOL MUSIC

BALLET

SCHOOLS

Early learning through music Baby, toddler and pre-school classes Call 0121 711 4224 for nearest class www.rhythmtime.net

Issue 7

9

Education

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Does your seven-year-old know

E

xtensive research shows that a person’s vocabulary level is the best single measure for predicting future occupational success.

The importance of vocabulary to a child’s ability to succeed in school and beyond is why English and verbal reasoning make up one half of the 11+ exams in many selective schools. Indeed, parents often find these prove to be the most difficult tests for their bright children, and it is usually for one reason only: vocabulary.

Provide opportunities for play.

Physical play teaches the vocabulary of the body, of space and of motion. Incorporate rhyme and song into physical play and vice versa. Organised games teach the vocabulary of rules and fair play. Imaginative play with toys, or home storytelling or theatrics, increases the vocabulary of general knowledge, of other times and places, and of thought and emotion.

Spend time outdoors.

• Gaps in vocabulary appear as early as age three, and widen thereafter.

Time spent with children outdoors – in varied locations and weather – can build vocabulary in nature, the physical world, commerce and society, even emotional states. Museums, parks, fields, gardens, a walk to the chemist or newsagents – can give you both time for relaxed conversation, and exposure to various new and familiar things to talk about.

• The extent of a child’s vocabulary at age five is so critical to the development of their perceiving, thinking, and understanding that it is used as a measure of these cognitive skills.

Give your children and yourself the gift of daily reading.

Research into learning vocabulary has given us some startling data:

• The top quarter of pupils know about 7,100 words by age seven, and add about three new ones each day. The bottom quarter have fewer than half as many words at that age – about 3,000; they acquire only about one word a day, so the gap continues to widen.

• Early gaps in vocabulary and in language and communication skills are seldom made up in school.

Clearly, vocabulary acquisition must start early. Parents need not invest time or money in specialist training, equipment, or software.

Indeed, some of the same research also reveals what parents can do to build vocabulary at home from an early age:

Provide a rich language environment.

The more parents talk to their children from birth to age three, the greater their children’s vocabulary, rate of vocabulary growth, and chances of success in school.

The early language environment should include teaching nursery rhymes.

Children who learn eight nursery rhymes in their first three years typically rise to the top rank of readers by age eight.

Give your child a

Give your child a GOOD START GOOD START KINGSWOOD SCHOOL

Open Morning Open Morning Wed 8th Feb Wed 8th Feb 9.00-12.00 9.00-12.00 Scholarship Scholarship Examinations E x a m i n a t i o n s ( Y 3(Y3) ) Wed 22nd Feb Wed 22nd Feb

Kingswoodschool.co.uk Kingswoodschool.co.uk 0 1 2 1 7 4 4744 7 8 8 3 7883 0121 10

Issue 7

Read to your children for as little as ten minutes a day at a regular time – more depending on the children’s attention and interest. Much of the vocabulary gap correlating to socioeconomic status can be explained by parental behaviour: fewer than half of children from low income families are read to daily at age three; four out of five of the richest families read to their children daily. Three-year-olds who are read to every day tend to become five-year-olds who flourish in school.

When reading to young children, ask them questions.

The vocabulary of most seven-year-olds is mainly oral. Most of this vocabulary is acquired at home and in the world, from being read to and from conversing with adults.

Expose children to adult conversation whenever possible.

Talk to them about events of the day and the realities of parents’ lives. Parents can increase children’s vocabularies by using less common words in helpful, instructive or explanatory ways in ordinary conversation. Such use defies the effects of poverty and is independent of the parents’ level of formal education.

Ensure your children learn how to read.

By school age, new vocabulary acquisition comes primarily from books. Children who read more have larger vocabularies. This correlation holds across a range of IQ scores and other measures of intellectual ability.

Allow your children time for quiet reading.

The amount of reading and size of vocabulary correlate to greater general knowledge. The more children read, the more they know and the better they learn. Children who read more also read more efficiently. The amount of reading done by the most reluctant reader in a year can be done by a keen reader in two days.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Janet Sherlock, BA LLb, is a mother of two and author of The Code Detective Book, soon to be on sale in bookshops. She heads the programme development team of language acquisition specialists, mathematicians and professors at Leaders are Readers.

Telephone 01992 651 300. www.leadersarereaders.co.uk

Education

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

w 7,100 words?

Give your child a

Give your child a GOOD START GOOD START KINGSWOOD SCHOOL

Open Morning Open Morning Wed 8th Feb Wed 8th Feb 9.00-12.00 9.00-12.00 Scholarship Scholarship Examinations E x a m i n a t i o n s ( Y 3(Y3) ) Wed 22nd Feb Wed 22nd Feb

Kingswoodschool.co.uk Kingswoodschool.co.uk 0 1 2 1 7 4 4744 7 8 8 3 7883 0121

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Nurseries

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

What’s in a nursery?

By

Joanna Parry

cf child first day nursery Cooks Lane B37 6NZ

Childcare and a whole lot more – drop in any time and see

3 months to five years – 0121 7788148 solihull@childfirst.co.uk www.childfirst.co.uk 12

Issue 7

Nurseries

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Kings Heath Grange Day Nursery

S

tudies have shown that children who attend nurseries can be more confident and often go on to do better at school. But nurseries come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you’re going back to work or just want your child to benefit from all that nursery has to offer, here is our guide to finding the right nursery for you.

Day nurseries Open usually 8am-6pm, day nurseries are a good option for working parents as many will take babies from 3 months. The day follows structured activities interspersed with naps, meals and outdoor play.

Day nurseries offer continuity of care and your child doesn’t have to stay all day – many day nurseries will do half days or you can collect early.

Nursery schools Nursery schools are often more formal in the way they structure sessions. They usually take children from 2.5-3 years and provide a grounding for starting school, teaching letters, shapes, numbers and sometimes even early-stage reading. Nursery schools give children the opportunity to make friends of the same age as most require children to do either 5 morning or 5 afternoon sessions, so the same children will be there every day. They are often smaller scale with a personal touch, too, but perhaps are not so convenient for working families.

• • • • •

Care in a homely setting From birth to 8 All staff CRB-checked Low staff turnover Exercise classes and sign language • Open door policy • Ofsted rating Good • Full and part time places

To visit call Amanda on

0121 444 0515

Jumping Jacks Day Nursery Kings Heath Grange Day Nursery

6 Balaclava Road, B14 7SG Tel: 0121 444 0808

23-25 Grange Road, B14 7RN Tel: 0121 444 0515

• Ages 3 months to 5 years

Nursery •classes in schools Small group sizes

The first step•inOpen ‘real’ school life, these can be excellent for children 8.00am to 6.00pm who are ready for school and structured, educational play. They are Mature ed staff convenient if•you alreadyqualifi have siblings at the school, but again sessions are often only• 3Home hours long whichmeals may not be practical. Nursery classes cooked in independent schools approved are more likely to offer full school-day sessions, • Ofsted combining education and wrap around care. If you choose a nursery • CCTV Door-entry class attached to a stateand school it’s importantsecurity to remember that a school Day Nursery • Grant Funding processed nursery place does not automatically guarantee a place in reception.

Schools

• Teachers specializing in Quality Pre-schools and playgroups Pre-School Music, Dance from & French Playgroups usually take children 2.5yrs, offering short sessions Education (subject to availability) to ‘ease’ your child out of the home and into a more sociable learning andenvironment Care where they can play, learn and have fun. Playgroups have

a varied mix of toys, games, singing, story-time, arts and crafts and usually an outdoor area. Parents are encouraged to be active members of the playgroup and their small-scale settings are less daunting for shy 19 Woodland Road, 106 Wake Green Road children. They are also excellent value for money as they tend to be notMoseley, B13 9PZ. Northfi eld, B31 2HU. for-profit and are sometimes staffed by volunteers, with parents staying Tel: 0121-475-8416 Tel: 0121-449-3673 to help out.

Montessori nurseries and Steiner schools Montessori teaching is based on a method which fosters and guides children’s in-built curiosity for learning. In a Montessori nursery it is the children themselves who choose from the range of activities offered. Using sensory materials to provide intellectual, physical and psychological stimuli, Montessori schools aim to develop the child’s whole personality.

The aim of Steiner schools is to foster imagination and creativity; they don’t introduce formal education before the age of six, concentrating on creative play rather than ‘the three Rs’.

Day Nursery Schools Quality Pre-School Education and Care • Ages 3 months to 5 years • Small group sizes • Open 8.00am to 6.00pm • Mature qualified staff • Home cooked meals • Ofsted approved 106 Wake Green Road Moseley, B13 9PZ. Tel: 0121-449-3673

• CCTV and Door-entry security • Grant Funding processed • Teachers specializing in Music, Dance & French (subject to availability) 19 Woodland Road, Northfield, B31 2HU. Tel: 0121-475-8416

Grasshoppers Day Nurseries

Loving, caring and quality childcare in homely settings

Workplace nurseries Much sought-after, workplace nurseries provide full or part-time childcare, but think about the location. If your journey to work is an hour long your toddler may not appreciate the trip home at 6pm and a nursery around the corner from home might be a better idea.

SureStart Children’s Centres A number of Centres offer affordable, flexible childcare for up to 10 hours a day. Worth considering!

Erdington - 0121 384 8096 Edgbaston - 0121 455 6026 Open 7.00am – 6.15pm Harborne - 0121 427 5040 Open 7.30am – 6.15pm Issue 7

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Nurseries

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

NURSERY GRANTS EXPLAINED Nursery fees vary greatly, depending on location, demand and what is offered. They start at around £100 a week and go up to 4 times that, but there are ways to get help with the costs:

· Nursery Education Grant - all 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free earlyeducation a week for 38 weeks of the year, and the Government has recently announced a doubling of free places available for 2-yearolds. The hours can be applied flexibly over a minimum of three days. Free early education places are available at a range of early years settings including nursery schools and classes, children’s centres, day nurseries, play groups and pre-schools and childminders. If you choose a nursery which costs more than the

funding or use the nursery for more hours the grant will be offset against your bill.

Your employer may provide subsidised onsite childcare, or offer Childcare Vouchers as a portion of your salary. Download a guide at www.childcarevouchers.co.uk or find out more about Childcare Vouchers at www.hmrc.gov.uk/ calcs/ccin.htm. Check if your nursery will accept Childcare Vouchers.

You may be able to recoup some of your childcare costs through the tax credit scheme, depending on the number of hours you work and your household income. To find out if you are eligible go to www.payingforchildcare.org.uk or www.direct.gov.uk/en/ MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits

NURSERY CHECKLIST Once you’ve found a nursery, go and have a look. Go back again if you’re still not sure. A good nursery will welcome a visit and might even let your child join in. By watching the other children you’ll get a good idea of whether it’s the right environment for your child.

How to find the right nursery – a parents’ guide: Start early! “It sounds ridiculous, but I put my bump down for nursery when I was pregnant,” says Camille, mother of one. “OK, I wasted a few registration fees, but at least I got a place at the nursery I really wanted.”

Near or far? Think about the time it takes to get to nursery. There’s a lot to be said for a nursery around the corner from home, and it helps bring down your carbon footprint.

Read the latest OFSTED report - a great way for detailed info on everything from quality of care and education to cleanliness and opportunities for play.

2008|2009

29008|2009 002|8002

RUSSELL NURSERY SCHOOL

Children aged from 3 months to 5 years.

Ofsted Outstanding

• Qualified friendly staff.

• Daily home cooking.

• Interactive Whiteboard/Table.

• CCTV cameras in every room.

• Free Grant places available for 3+

Tel: 0121 777 4902

130 Russell Rd, Hall Green, B’ham B28 8SQ

Other sites

621 Fox Hollies Road, Hall Green, Birmingham.

B28 9DW Tel: 0121 777 3778

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Issue 7

Small World Nursery, 975 Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham B28 8BG Tel: 0121 693 3071

Does the nursery have a welcoming, happy, cheerful atmosphere? Some nurseries offer cosy, home-like environments whereas others have more room to run around in. A childfriendly outdoor space can be a real draw when choosing a nursery, especially for lively boys. Also, check basic things like security, cleanliness and equipment.

“Looks aren’t everything,” says Kate, mother of 3. “If a nursery is a bit shabby it could still be fantastic in terms of quality of care. And perfect, pristine equipment is not being used!”

Watch the staff. Look at their ages – the younger staff may have energy but the older ones have experience and usually more patience. “My preference is always an ownerrun nursery,” says Marianna, mum of 2. “It’s their own business and they’ll really care about it.”

Are the carers interacting with the children or are they just chatting to each other? Look at

staff turnover and ask if the nursery ever uses agency staff.

Consider your child’s routine. “My little one sleeps 1-3pm,” says Alice, a first-time mum, “so afternoon nursery is no good for me.” Many parents also want a nursery that provides all meals – but do consider what your child is being fed and where it is cooked!

What does the nursery offer? How are the sessions structured? Look for a mix of fun along with quieter activities. Are there additional classes such as French and ballet? Do they take the older children on outings? How much is your child learning in preparation for school? Do you want them to learn letters and numbers?

“I wish someone had told me about nurseries that feed into schools,” complains Lissy. “I wanted my daughter to go to a school where she needed to pass an assessment, but the nursery I sent her to didn’t prepare her and when she was asked to write her name at the assessment she burst into tears!” 3 to 5 year olds are taught according to a framework set out by the Government’s Early Years Foundation Stage but some nurseries will go far beyond this academically. On the other hand, some parents will run a mile from a nursery that hothouses such young children.

“I wanted a nursery for Annabel where her key worker would chat to me every day and tell me what she had been up to. Some nurseries I looked around seemed too busy to do that,” says Sarah.

How flexible will the nursery be if you need to swap a day or add an afternoon? You’ll soon discover how useful this can be.

The best way to choose a nursery is gut instinct. Look at whether the children are relaxed, happy, stimulated and engaged. “If it clicks, it’s probably right,” says Jo.

Health

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Living with Reflux By

Sarah Butters

B

efore you have a baby, you’re told to see feeding time as a time of bonding. But for some mums, it’s anything but. Living with a baby with reflux can drive you to the very brink of despair.

Vicki Gilbert is a third time mum. To see pictures of her, her husband Sean and her happy smiling children in the early stages of baby Joe’s life, it’s hard to believe what was going on every time she closed the front door.

“From being a couple of weeks old, Joe would scream and scream,” Vicki remembers. “At one point, the screaming went on for 18 hours a day. He was hysterical when you laid him down for a nappy change.

He screamed through every car journey. The only respite we got was a 5 hour stretch at night when he literally passed out from exhaustion. It pushed us to the end of our tethers.”

Reflux is the contents of the stomach coming back up into the gullet.

The acid causes a burning sensation which can make baby vomit, arch their back and cry inconsolably. It’s thought about half of all babies have reflux in the first 3 months of their lives to some degree, with most developing it at about 2 months. That figure reduces to 5% by the time babies are 10 months old.

Babies get reflux because the stomach valve hasn’t developed properly. That valve keeps the food and the acid in the stomach. When it’s not working properly and baby is full, that food and acid comes back up. Symptoms vary dependent on the child and the severity of the case, but the inconsolable crying described by Vicki is common.

“Nothing worked. It was utterly heartbreaking. I remember being in my bedroom and shouting to my husband to call an ambulance. We never actually did it, but we were so near on so many occasions.”

Vicki’s story is repeated on forums and in chat rooms across the internet.

Alison Scott-Wright, an expert in reflux, says “New mothers assume that feeding their newborn will be a positive experience. Sadly this isn’t true for those whose babies suffer from reflux. Reflux can’t be cured, but it can be controlled. We have to crack the ‘reflux code’ for

each baby to find out what helps relieve the individual symptoms.”

Those symptoms vary. For some it’s excessive vomiting, irritability, a white coating on the tongue, excessive mucus, refusal to feed and poor sleep habits. These sleep habits are a product of the pain your child is experiencing, and it’s those habits that can remain long after the baby has outgrown the reflux. For babies with ‘silent’ reflux – that’s all the pain and irritability, without the vomiting – diagnosis is more difficult.

Vicki Gilbert found support from her local GP and says without that, she’s not sure how she would have coped. He listened, explained and prescribed medication that has, after 7 months, eased Joe’s pain.

Consultant Paediatric Surgeon Emma Sidebottom says it is important to consult with your health care professionals about treatments – like products to thicken milk which helps baby keep it down, as well as acid blockers.

“Some parents experiment with the hungry baby milks. These are designed to stay in the stomach for longer. But if you have a baby with reflux, milks like that will make it worse.”

If you’re not getting the support you need from your GP, Emma says you can ask to be referred to your local hospital’s Paediatric Clinic. The specialists there will be able to see children at much shorter notice than waiting for a GP referral.

“Remember that 99% of babies with reflux will outgrow it completely without any treatment,” adds Emma. “Reflux is made better by your baby growing. The two milestones are starting on solids – which stay down better than milk – and children becoming more upright. It will get better.”

Vicky adds “If your instinct tells you something is wrong, don’t listen to those who say your baby is ‘unsettled’ or ‘colicky’. Seek help from your GP. If they won’t listen, see another GP in the practice. It is NOT normal for babies to scream for hours on end.”

Alison Scott-Wright is author of The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan and an expert in infant reflux. www.alisonscott-wright.com Issue 7

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Parenting

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Building your daughter’s self esteem

I

n a recent survey almost a million teenage girls said they felt ‘worthless’. Mum of two and author of “Where Has My Little Girl Gone?” Tanith Carey looks at how we give our daughters the greatest gift of all.

When your daughter is still little, it’s easy to think that as mums we can protect them from everything – and that includes growing up too soon. It’s very tempting to think that by not dressing our little girls in T-shirts that say “Future Porn Star”, we can make sure they hold onto their innocence.

But I’ve found that sexualisation is in the air our daughters breathe - and because it’s all around us, it’s hard to stop them comparing themselves to unrealistic portrayals of women. Indeed, earlier this year a Demos reports found that by the time they are teenagers, 900,000 girls in the UK feel “worthless.” Of course, the teenage years feel like a long way off when your daughter is in nursery or primary school. But it really is never too young to start.

Of course, all parents set out with the vague aim of wanting their daughters to feel good about themselves. But it’s a question of how much priority we give this goal, amid our need to see our children get good exam results, look good - and reflect well on us. With all the academic and social success in the world, our girls will never be truly happy or successful without self-esteem.

That’s why developing healthy self-esteem should be the first and ultimate goal, not a by-product that we hope she picks up along the way. So how do we achieve it? To start with, it all seems so easy. When as a toddler, your child tells you she’s ‘a good girl’, it’s because she’s been told so by you - and the other adults raising her. But after the simplicity of those early years, self-esteem is so much more than just telling our daughters we love them. That’s the easy part.

Self-esteem in children also comes from feeling competent, capable and connected to a bigger picture. As your daughter gets older, it’s derived from knowing herself and what she is capable of. It comes from appreciating what she’s already achieved and how she has made a difference.

Of course, your daughter’s opinion of herself fluctuates all the time.

Your five-year-old may feel great about herself the day she writes her name in joined up writing, but terrible about herself the day her best friend decides she wants to spend break-time with someone else.

Beyond that, as parents we can help our girls roll with the punches

– and to develop the resilience they need to handle the ups and down of life. We can help her learn that if she falls down, she can get up again. It won’t stop your daughter from failing – but it might give her a safety net when she does.

By helping our girls to view their strengths realistically, learn new skills, and by showing her she is loved for who she is, not what she does, gradually our daughters will develop the inner core to stand firmer against the negative influences around her.

What you can do: Tell your daughter how lucky you are to have her: Say how privileged you feel to help raise her. Tell her all the ways she has changed your life for the better.

Tell her she is unique: If you tell your daughter there is only one person in the world like her, you will be telling her the truth. Don’t compare her – for good or bad - with anyone else.

Tell her you like her: Most children expect us to love them. We’re their parents – it’s our job. But “liking” is a choice. When we tell her we like our child, we are saying we like spending time with her and the person she has become.

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Issue 7

Take the time to notice: Many parents believe they are giving their girls self-esteem by constantly telling them how well they are doing at everything from getting out of bed in the morning to eating their breakfast. The problem is that after a while your daughter has heard “Well done” so many times that the words become meaningless.

Instead really take time to notice the specifics of what she is doing right. Tell her: “You’ve put all your clothes away” then tell her what’s right about it, like “Tomorrow, you’ll know where to find everything”.

By complimenting her on the fine details of what she’s done right, instead of criticising her for doing wrong, your daughter will not only know you are truly paying attention, she will also want to do it again.

Parenting

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

Parents look to improve skills If children came with an on-off button and an instruction manual, it would make life so much easier!

But they don’t.

They are all individuals and sometimes we have no idea whether we are getting it right or wrong. We all accept we need training in new skills for work, but parenting is the most important job we do and we assume we should just know how to do it.

Whereas once parenting classes were offered to parents who were really struggling, in recent years there has been a real change in emphasis as many more parents actively look to improve their parenting skills.

A private school in London introduced parenting classes and found they were very popular with their high-powered parents who were keen for guidance on issues such as bedtimes, pocket money and boundary setting. The Government is now trialling parenting classes which are being offered to all parents of children under 5 in three areas in England. The classes by parenting experts will look at communicating and listening skills, managing conflict and being firm but fair with discipline.

New Course in Birmingham Child Behaviour Direct is offering an evening course - A Parent’s Guide to Children’s Behaviour – which will run

over 4 weeks starting on Tuesday, January 17 between 7.00 and 9.00pm Parenting expert Ruth Edensor, who will lead the course says: “This course is designed for the modern parent with children between 0-16 years who wants to strengthen their parenting skills and have the kind of relationship they want with their child. If you are a parent who would like their child to be happier, more confident, successful, well behaved and reach their full potential, then this course is for you.

Come along and find out what successful parents do and what they definitely don’t do.”

The course recently won funding from the Millennium awards scheme which is helping make the course affordable for parents at £97. Parents who can’t make the evening course can access the same course on-line, or have one-to-one support. For more details or to book a place contact Ruth on 07929 047110 or e-mail Childbehaviour@hotmail.co.uk www.childbehaviourdirect.com

Turning Point Solihull Parents can also look to Turning Point Psychology who offer parents support and advice on all child-related matters. The consultants at Turning Point are all trained educational psychologists and, as well as providing an initial assessment for parents, they can work with families in their own home setting to solve problems.

The Turning Point team offers general parenting support as well as help with specific issues, for example sleeping problems, potty training, or challenging behaviour.

Turning Point can also support parents who are concerned about a child’s development and can carry out learning assessments. Contact Turning Point on 07739 322 796 or 07739 387 425.

We can provide a complete and professional service that meets all your nannying and childcare needs: As Child and Educational Psychologists we offer support in a wide range of areas including: • Developmental concernseating, sleeping, toileting • Learning assessments and profiles • Social interaction • Challenging behaviour • Parent advice and support We provide initial consultations, training and extensive work within the home.

Contact a member of the team on 07739 322 796, 07739 387 425 Email: turningpointpsychology@gmail.com

- Day nannies - Live-in nannies - Night nannies - Maternity nurses - Breast-feeding support - Babysitters - Before and after school care - Corporate and event nanny services

Simply call us on 08000 194518 or go to www.sallysnannies.co.uk Issue 7

17

What’s On THEATRE & SHOWS Jungle Book

Birmingham Stage Company’s presentation of this classic children’s tale Venue: The Old Rep Theatre, Station Street, B5 4DY Date: To Jan 28 Times: vary. Check website for details.

Tickets: Adult £18.50; £15.50; child £11 To book: 0121 245 4455

Cinderella

Pantomime with Brian Conley and Lynda Bellingham Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, B5 4TB Date: to Jan 29 Times vary; please check online.

Tickets: £13.50-£36 To book: 0844 338 5000

One Direction

The boy band – Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis – in concert Venue: NIA Date: Jan 4 Tickets: £27.50 and £19 To book: 0844 338 8000

Strictly Come Dancing Live Venue: NIA Date: Jan 20-22 Tickets: £35-£65 To book: 0844 338 8000

The Elves and the Shoemaker

Elvis Schumacher, cobbler and craftsman, has worked all his life creating the most beautiful footwear. But now he’s hit hard times…. Everyone’s buying boring shoes from the evil businessman, Bunyan Soleless. Time is running out for Elvis with one piece of leather left.

Venue: MAC Arts, Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH Date: Jan 22 Time: 11am and 2.30pm Tickets: £8 and £6 To book: 0121 446 3232

Michael Jackson Tribute Concert Live band, dance routines and all your favourite Jackson songs Venue: Solihull Arts Complex, Homer Road, B91 3RG Date: Jan 27 Time: 7.30pm Tickets: £19 To book: 0121 704 6962

Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker

A charmingly irreverent interpretation of this favourite ballet – now celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, B5 4TB Date: Feb 7-11 Time: Evenings 7.30pm; Sat matinee 2.30pm Tickets: £15.00 - £37.00 To book: 0844 338 5000

Watch the Birdy

Help egg to hatch before he ends up as an eggy breakfast for hungry wolves and eagles. A play for 3-6 year olds.

Venue: Library Theatre, Paradise Place, B3 3HQ Date: Feb 4 Time: 11.30am and 2pm Tickets: Adult £7.50; child £4.50 and babe in arms £1.50 To book: 0121 236 4455

The songs and music of Bagpuss Join original cast member Sandra Kerr for an afternoon of nostalgia and folk music from the hit show.

Please note this is a music session and does not feature Bagpuss.

Venue: MAC, Cannon Hill Park, B12 Date: Feb 5 Time: 2.30pm Tickets: £12.00 and £9.00 To book: 0121 446 3232

CBSO – Lemony Snicket Orchestral Whodunnit

A composer has been found dead and all the musicians are suspect. A family concert in which young people can enjoy a quirky introduction to the instruments of the orchestra with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Venue: Symphony Hall, Birmingham Date: Feb 5 Time: 3pm Tickets: Adults £15; children 16 and under £7.50 and any group of 4 £32.

To book: 0121 780 3333

South Pacific

Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and winner of 8 Tony Awards. Lincoln Center Theatre Production.

Venue: Alexandra Theatre, Station Street, B5 4DS Date: Feb 7-18 To book: 0844 871 3011

Olly Murs in concert Venue: LG Arena Date: Feb 10 Tickets: £30 To book: 0844 338 8000

Stomp

A dynamic half-term treat for kids of all ages with this breathtaking contemporary dance

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk show with a unique combination of theatre, dance, comedy and percussion.

Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, B5 4TB Date: Feb 14-18 Time: Evenings 7.30pm; Wed/Fri matinee at 2pm; Sat 2.30pm Tickets: £14.50 - £30.00 To book: 0844 338 5000

Little Red Riding Hood

Pantomime silliness and spooky moments create an enchanted piece of theatre for ages 4plus.

Venue: MAC arts, Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH Date: Feb 16 and 17 Time: 11am and 2.30pm Tickets: £8 and £6 To book: 0121 446 3232

Bob the Builder

Bob and Wendy are called in to help get Fixham Theatre open for a brand new show Venue: Alexandra Theatre, Station Street, B5 4DS Date: Jan 29 Time: 1pm & 3.30pm To book : 0844 871 3011

There Was An Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly

Charming tales, first class games and a feast of family fun in a show for ages 4plus Venue: Solihull Arts Complex, Homer Road, B91 3RG Date: Feb 17 Time: 2.30pm Tickets: £6 To book: 0121 704 6962

Dazzle

Venue: Solihull Arts Complex Date: Feb 23- 25 Time: 7.30pm and Sat matinee 2.30pm matinee Tickets: £12 and £8 To book: 0121 704 6962

Carousel

Spring Passions Birmingham Royal Ballet

Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome Date: Feb 29-March 3 Time: Evenings 7.30pm; Thurs matinee 2.00pm; Sat matinee 2.30pm Tickets: £15.00-£46.00. Family offer – 2 under 16’s half price with two paying adults To book: 0844 338 5000

Great Gran’s Great Adventure

Ollie’s great gran can hardly stand, but she can do something he can’t. She can swim.

There was a time she did it at the Olympic Games in London. No! Not those Olympic Games. The other ones in 1948....when the athletes had to bring their own towels! 50 minutes of exciting theatre and live music, for age 4 and up.

Venue: The Old Rep Theatre Date: March 3 Time: 11.30am and 2pm Tickets: £7.50 adults and £4.50 children To book: 0121 245 44 55

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s favourite musical, presented by Knowle Operatic Society as its 50th Anniversary performance.

Venue: Solihull Arts Complex, Homer Road, Solihull.

Date: March 5 -10 Tickets £15 or £13. Evenings 7.30pm & Sat matinee 2.30pm To book: 01564 772155

OUT & ABOUT Sunday activities at the Botanical Gardens

Eco-friendly, family craft activities with a green theme – different activity each week Venue: Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, B15 3TR Date: Every Sunday Time: 1-4pm Tickets to garden: Adults £7.50; children £4.75; under 5 free; family £22.00.

Pre School Activities

MINI MONKEYS Tuesday & Thursday

WEDNESDAY Parent & toddler group MUSIC WITH TRACEY! 10am–12noon & 1pm–3pm Music and movement – a Role play, dressing up, lively session that is bound to get your little ones up and FREE squash and biscuits for every dancing 10.45am – 11.30am child.

FRIDAY ARTS & CRAFTS-lots of messy fun 10am – 12noon

FREE

ENT

MONDARY THURS Y & DAY!*

*Term time only

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Issue 7

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk Winter guided tour of Aston Hall

Venue: Aston Hall, Trinity Road, Aston, B6 6JR Date: every wed Time: 11am Tickets: £6 per person.

No booking needed.

What’s On

George’s Marvellous Medicine

Roald Dahl’s tale of the boy who sets out to cure his grandmother’s temper and finds himself an adventure. Fizztickling family fun.

Venue: The Old Rep Theatre, Station Street, B5 4DY Date: Jan 31-Feb 11 Time: 10am and 1.30pm Mon-Fri; 2.30 and 6.30pm Sat Tickets: £18.50 adults, £15 concessions; £11 child To book: 0121 245 4455

Ten Drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci

Birmingham Museum will be the first of five museums to host this exhibition as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Related family activities to be confirmed for half-term. Check online. www. bmag.org.uk Venue: Birmingham Museum, Chamberlain Square, B3 3DH Date: Jan 13-March-25 Time: 10am-5pm (Fri from 10.30am).

Chinese New Year in Birmingham

Each year, the Chinese quarter is awash with a sea of red and gold as Birmingham celebrates Chinese New Year with an afternoon of free entertainment at the Arcadian Centre. Dragon dances, acrobatic performances, Kung Fu demonstrations and Chinese New Year songs are just some of the cultural entertainment on offer. Plus traditional firecrackers, market stalls, food and children’s rides.

Venue: Arcadian Centr Hurst Street, B5 4TD Date: Jan 29 Time:12.30-5.30pm

Gigglefest

Gigglefest returns for its fourth year.

Free events during February half term including wacky workshops, daft crafts and the absolute best in stand-up comedy for kids.

Look out for details of the full programme, coming soon!

Hobson’s choice

Venue: Centre for the Child, Central Library, Chamberlain Square, B3 3HQ Dates: Feb 11-18.

Chinese Dragons

Creative Sundays for families at the Barber.

Model a Chinese dragon from sculptors’ wax to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon Venue: Barber Institute, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TS Date: February 12 Time: 11.30am – 1pm Tickets: £5 per child, booking essential To book places or for more information phone 0121 414 2261 or 7335, or email education@barber.org.uk Suitable for children age 4–11 years.

Drawing Sundays: for Children and Young People

Drawing is easy when you know how!

Every fortnight (Feb-April) you will be shown how to draw absolutely everything; from realistic faces, figures, animals and landscapes to creative drawings from your imagination.

Venue: Barber Institute, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TS £5 per child per session, booking essential Dates: 5 and 19 February Times: 11.30am – 1pm, ages 6yrs –10 yrs;

Birmingham Royal Ballet with this story of Harry Hobson, the successful cobbler who drinks his profits, and his feisty daughter Maggie who sets up her own business.

Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, B5 4TB Date: Feb 22-25 Time: Evenings 7.30pm; Thurs matinee 2pm; Sat 2.30pm Tickets: £15 - £46.00. Family offer 2 under 16’s half price with two paying adults.

To book: 0844 338 5000

2pm – 3.30pm, ages 11yrs – 14yrs To book places or for more information phone 0121 414 2261 or 7335, or email education@barber.org.uk

Renaissance Sun-Catchers

Create a colourful sun-catcher to illuminate your windows, inspired by the brilliant colours in the Barber’s Renaissance paintings Venue: Barber Institute, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TS Sunday 26 February 11.30am – 1pm £5 per child, booking essential To book places or for more information phone 0121 414 2261 or 7335, or email education@barber.org.uk Suitable for children age 4–11 years.

Really Wild Workshops

A series of half term activities for children at Parkridge Centre, Brueton Park, Solihull Winter Dens (Feb 13) ages 4+; Kite-making (Feb 14); Teddy Bear’s picnic for tots (Feb 15) ages 2-4; Wild About Mammals (Feb 16) ages 4+; Winter Birds (Feb 17) ages 4+ Time: 10.30am-12pm Tickets: £3 per child, £4 for non WWT members. £2 per kite.

To book: 0121 704 0768.

Edgbaston Reservoir Open Day Join park rangers and find out more about this fantastic site for wildlife and join in with a range of activities suitable for all the family.

Venue: Edgbaston Reservoir, 115 Reservoir Road, Ladywood, B16 9EE Date: Feb 18 Time: 11am-3pm FREE EVENT

Families

FIRST

Our new programme of fantastic weekend and holiday workshops for children and families is out now!

First sessions: February BOOK NOW! More details: www.barber.org.uk

Issue 7

19

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk

A suspense-packed musical murder mystery!

A composer has been found dead, and all the musicians are suspects… Who do you think the culprit might be?

Join the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for this fun-packed family concert. As the case is investigated, youngsters can enjoy a quirky introduction to the instruments of the orchestra, through the words of favourite children’s writer Lemony Snicket – author of A Series of Unfortunate Events – and music of Nathaniel Stookey.

Hear this UK premiere of A Composer is Dead on Sunday 5 February at Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

But, before you find out ‘whodunnit’, violinist Catherine Arlidge will take you on a musical whistle-stop tour of the Orchestra, meeting the musicians who might be guilty of this terrible crime. You’ll be treated to some

of the music that inspired The Composer is Dead and also hear music by some composers who are very much alive, including favourite film composer John Williams.

Enjoy a free craft workshop in the foyers from 1.30pm. Why not come dressed up in a music-inspired costume?

If you are looking for an event for younger children, don’t miss CBSO Notelets – interactive mini-concerts for 3-5 year olds at CBSO Centre. The next Notelets concert takes place on Saturday 21 April 2012. Experience live music, lively presentation and plenty of participation!.

Leonardo Drawings Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci is a fascinating character for children. The way-before-his-time inventions of flying machines and tanks, his tendency to write in mirror writing, and the sheer breadth of his work – from art to engineering and science - grip children’s imaginations.

Theatre for tots

Just in time for the 2012 Olympics, Great Gran’s Games will be staged at the Old Rep theatre on March 3.

Ollie’s great Gran has broken her hip and can’t do much. She can’t run, jump, skate – in fact she can hardly stand. However she can do something Ollie can’t. She can swim. In fact, she can do it rather well.

There was a time she did it at the Olympic Games in London. No! Not those Olympic Games. The other ones in 1948… when the athletes had to bring their own towels!

Mike Kenny’s play is aimed at ages 4 and up and is a good introduction to Theatre and perfect in the run up to 2012.

Other first stage plays on the Birmingham Rep programme include Watch the Birdy at the Library Theatre in February, and Tiddler and other Terrific Tales based on the book by Julia Donaldson which will be staged in April (both aimed at ages 3plus).

Another upcoming production for little ones is a stage adaptation of Judith Kerr’s much-loved children’s tale The Tiger Who Came to Tea.  It will run for five days at the Town Hall in April.

FAMILY CONCERT: LEMONY SNICKET’S ORCHESTRAL WHODUNNIT Sunday 5 February, 3pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham Quirky introduction to the orchestra with a suspense-packed musical murder mystery.

STORYTIME NOTELETS Saturday 21 April, 11am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm CBSO Centre, Birmingham Meet all your favourite storytime characters, brought to life in this funpacked concert for 3–5 year olds and their families, performed by a miniorchestra of CBSO musicians.

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  

Tickets:

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0121 780 3333 www.cbso.co.uk

Your 9-year-old will certainly have heard of the Mona Lisa.

Now ten of Leonardo’s most important drawings will be on tour as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and will be at the Birmingham Museum from January 13 to March.25. Watch out for some family events inspired by the exhibition during half term.

Details to be confirmed. www.bmag.org.uk