Families Vale of York July / Aug 2010 by Families Magazine

july/aug2010 issue

free ®

The useful magazine for families with young children in York, Harrogate, Tadcaster, Wetherby and Selby

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Tennis Tykes is a unique tennis play and coaching programme for boys and girls from 2 years upwards.

Tennis Tykes is now in your local Harrogate area. Ask about a free trial lesson For information on term time lessons or holiday courses from 2 years upwards please contact Caroline Buncall on 07843342662/ caroline.buncall@tennistykes.co.uk ��

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Henshaws fts Arts & Cra Centrert of the At the hea munity m creative co

re stic adventu en – a fanta rd s a G ird b ry s, so re r Sen ater featu Explore ou rks of art, w o w s, re tu ulp including sc n e. lif ild u for childre w and special men a – e! g fé a sa C aws sau bulous ious Hensh Visit our Fa ic el d e th as as well bjects we’ve is available – spot the o il a Tr re su ea Enjoy our Tr d the centre. n u o ar s at work. en d hid ur art maker o t ee m – s riginal orkshop utiful and o See our W selling bea – ry e rs u N nt Shop & Pla e on site. d crafts mad an t ar f o s piece Open Daily 10am – 4pm

Call 01423 541888 or visit www.henshawsacc.org.uk

Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre, 50 Bond End, Knaresborough HG5 9AL

Yorkshire Registered Charity No. 221888

2 Families Vale of York

news

Could you run North Yorkshire Franchise?

welcome I’m clearly working too hard - I know because my osteopath told me so. I’m prescribing myself a good rest and with the temperature up to 25 degrees as I write this in the garden, I’m definitely looking forward to a long hot summer and a bit of R & R. With the long holiday stretching ahead, I can’t wait to get out and about with the kids. We’ve found so much going on this summer that we’ve increased our pages – again! And we’ve extended our online listings at www.familiesvoy.co.uk to give you even more ideas for days out, activities and camps. When you log on you’ll also find this magazine online – and don’t forget to register so that you can enter our fabulous competitions. Once you’re registered you’ll be able to access lots of useful local information too – and if you’re holidaying in the UK this year you can visit our sister magazines online find out what’s going on where you’re heading. We’re braving a UK camping holiday again this year in the Lake District with a huge group of friends so we won’t be too far home if the rain sets in - or my back gives in. I’m optimistic neither will happen. Whether you’re venturing far or staying near this year, have a wonderful and relaxing summer.

Editor

Circulation:

16,500

Deadline:

The deadline for the Sept/Oct 2010 edition is early 30th July 2010

PO Box 201, DN14 9ZW Tel: 01405 860831 editor@familiesvoy.co.uk www.familiesvoy.co.uk

Bishops Printers www. bishops.co.uk

Copyright Families in the Vale of York July/Aug 2010. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owners’ own risk and, while every care is taken, neither Families nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families in the Vale of York is part of a group established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license. We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Active Learning is a multi sports coaching company based in Yorkshire who have provided expertise to primary and secondary schools, junior sports clubs, and local community centres over the past four years. Owner Will Ryder is passionate about promoting participation in sport and physical activity: ‘It’s really important to make physical activity enjoyable and available to children of all ages, says Will. ‘Our work is focused on encouraging active lifestyles and educating children about diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, particularly with the ever-increasing obesity levels we’re seeing.’ Active learning offers a wide range of sports from the ever-popular football, tag rugby and cricket to more unusual sports such as ultimate frisbee, cheerleading, new age curling and even theatre productions & dance. ‘We deliver all this through extra curricular activities and sports holiday courses as well as offering PPA cover,’ says Will. ‘We currently work in Leeds, Wakeﬁeld, Bradford, York and Harrogate and are presently looking for someone to take over our North Yorkshire franchise (York, Harrogate & Knaresborough) as our current owner has relocated south.’ ‘It’s a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about working with children to promote a healthy lifestyle and who wants to work for themselves. The beauty of owning a franchise is that the business is already highly regarded as a market leader within sports coaching, so the owner is working with a reputable brand – and we give lots of support and advice so you’re never alone.’ Active Learning can be found at www.wractivelearning.com where you can ﬁnd out more and apply online.

Grand Opening of New Riccall Pre-school Building! Riccall Pre-school celebrated the ofﬁcial opening of their new pre-school last month amidst cake, balloons and Boxo the clown who entertained little ones and big ones alike. Riccall Pre-school has worked closely with Futurebuilders England bringing about an investment of £160k, to support the purchase of a new building on the primary school site. Tracey McWilliam, Riccall Pre-school’s Manager, is thrilled with the new premises. ‘The funding we’ve received has enabled us to develop our dream. Having our very own building is already allowing us to really expand and build on key areas and themes for the children to explore. From September, we will also be able to increase the sessions currently available and work even more closely with the foundation stage teacher at Riccall Primary School, making the transition to “big school” as seamless as possible’.

Fozzy’s now open in Market Weighton

New play cafe Fozzy’s is now open in Market Weighton, somewhere owner Dana Foster says parents can actually chat rather than run around after the kids; ‘It’s small and safe with lovely cakes and coffee. We’ve designed it for under 6s and if you come along between 9 and 11 every weekday morning the tea and coffee’s free.’ Entry for children over one is £2.50, under ones and adults are free. Call 01430 879866 for more information or visit their Facebook page for news and events.

A New Sound Generation Ex- Rossett High pupil Sofia Wilde has set up her own exciting music agency delivering quality and hassle-free music tuition in North and West Yorkshire and music events nationwide. Sofia studied popular music performance in London and after graduating started working as a professional singer regularly performing at high profile venues in London. She was also the manger at a well-established music school and since leaving the school became a presenter for online TV channel Chiswick Life TV. ‘I strongly believe that music tuition has to be high quality but also fun,’ says Sofia. ‘All our tutors are degree standard or above on their principal instrument and are interviewed, CRB and reference checked. They also have passion and enthusiasm for teaching whilst supporting pupils throughout their tuition.’ For more information call Sofia Wilde on 07789 710607 www.soundgeneration.co.uk

Families Vale of York

news

the parent business That’s A Wrapper! If you’re looking for a really special personalised treat, local businesswoman and mum Sarah Selby has just the thing. She produces personalised chocolate bar wrappers, designing and printing them and then hand wrapping them herself. ‘Before I set up my business I was a stay at home mum,’ says Sarah. ‘I live in York and was looking for some extra income and a job I could ﬁt around my children who are 3½ years and 14 months. Just before Christmas I bought a franchise and set up my business That’s A Wrapper.’ The UK manufactured Belgian chocolate comes in two different sizes – 35g and 10g. There are over 80 wrapper designs available, so there really is something for every occasion and they make ideal extra special gifts for birthdays and holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Halloween. ‘I can design a 100% bespoke wrapper personalised with text and photos on both the front and back perfect for christenings, birth announcements and weddings – and they make great ﬁllers for party bags.’ For the full range of wrappers and to order, visit www.thatsawrapper.co.uk. Or for further details or to chat about a bespoke wrapper, call Sarah on 07891 581264.

Cliffe Children & Staff Celebrate Success Cliffe preschool is soon to establish new premises following a successful application to extend their early years provision and provide new services including a breakfast and after school club. In May 2010 the preschool was awarded £49,164 from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities and later secured a further £15,000 from North Yorkshire County Council. Treasurer Claire Smith welcomed the award saying ‘This is a project that was initiated at grass roots level and will allow us to meet the needs of local families and build on the good work achieved over the years.’

Local Mum’s Heart Campaign Local mum Kerry Singleton is fighting to keep open the children’s cardiac surgery based at Leeds General Infirmary. Her daughter Sienna has undergone heart surgery there and will need more treatment again soon. ‘Hundreds of families are affected by this, says Kerry. ‘If the department closes all heart families will have to travel to either London or Newcastle for surgery causing massive implications for those who have to hold down jobs and have other children in school. The risks of a critically ill child travelling such distances are high, not to mention the costs involved and the difficulties friends and family will have being able to visit and support the family. ‘Having a child go through heart surgery is more stressful than I can explain,’ she added, ‘without the additional worry of being at a hospital at the other side of the country.’ If you’d like to lend you support to this valuable campaign, visit www.thepetitionsite.com and search for Leeds cardiac surgery where you can sign the petition online.

You name it We label it!

Lunchboxes • Water Bottles Books • Uniforms • Footwear

T: 01635 298326

www.easy2name.com

4 Families Vale of York

Baby & Child Matters Baby and Child Matters is an exciting new business created by York practitioner Denise Warren encompassing baby massage, child and parent development classes, baby signing classes and training for childcare practitioners. Denise has worked extensively in child care and is passionate about delivering a high quality service to families in the area. ‘Babies benefit hugely from early bonding through massage,’ says Denise. ‘There’s a whole host of advantages to be gained including the promotion of better sleep, boosting of the immune system and helping with skin problems – not to mention the obvious pleasure and calming effect it gives to anyone involved. We only use certified massage instructors and always demonstrate on our doll ‘Warren’ – the parent massages their baby – not us! ‘Our courses are taught over 6 weeks to give both the parent and baby time to learn and become accustomed to the massage. Each week new massage strokes are learnt, followed by a repeat demonstration of previous classes to help parents feel confident and to allow babies to get used to being massaged. Our classes are held in small groups and are baby led – it’s okay for babies to cry, need feeding and to wee and poo! The sessions are supportive so parents can stay for a drink and chat. It’s suitable from birth too – so it’s a good opportunity to get out and meet new mums in the same boat as you! ‘I can also deliver Baby Massage in the home on a one-to-one basis or with a group of friends – it’s a great way for a bunch of ante-natal mums to keep in touch and meet up regularly – parents can also receive a discount this way.’ As well as massage, Denise offers baby signing as part of her business. ‘Baby Signing Classes are great fun,’ says Denise ‘and they help babies and toddlers reduce their frustration as they learn to communicate their needs effectively. It follows that you then spend less time consoling them and more time creating a fun and stimulating environment in which they can flourish. ‘At 24 months, signing-babies were found to talk on average more like 27- or 28month-olds and they were putting together significantly longer sentences. By 36 months signing-babies on average are talking like 47-month-olds, putting them almost a full year ahead of their average age-mates. ‘Sessions have a strong focus on fun with music, actions and signs – and it really doesn’t matter if you can’t sing! Signing is a fun way of interacting with babies and toddlers, they will amaze you by how fast they learn and you will realise just how much they know long before they could ever have used speech to tell you.’ • Baby Signing classes take place at The Sports Field Pavilion, Tollerton. These are drop – in sessions and take place every Wednesday from 10 - 11am. Price £3.50 per session. • Baby Massage Classes run from 10 -11am for 6 weeks at Springhill Court, Manor Road, Easingwold. Booking is necessary as places are limited. For babies from 6 weeks old to crawling. • Visit Denise’s website www.babyandchildmatters.co.uk for lots of exciting new developments. • If you’re interested in baby massage classes or baby signing, you can contact Denise at babyandchildmatters@googlemail.com or 07545 056 248

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Stay Cool and Safe Yorkshire-based company Swimbabes has some fabulous specialist swimwear that promises to keep your kids safe and stylish this summer.Their Swimbabes and Beachbabes collections offer summer essentials for little ones including clothing, sun protection, swim aids and accessories – all perfect for a beach holiday or fun in the garden. We like this UV Swimming Top and Shorts as the fabric is SPF 50 +, so it blocks 98% of the sun’s harmful rays. The fabric has a cool feel and wicks the perspiration away from the body. Brilliant for our impending hot summer! Check out their products online at www.swimbabes.co.uk

Families Vale of York

giveaways & competitions We have some amazing giveaways and competitions and all of them can be entered online at the Families Vale of York website. You’ll be prompted to register before you enter and then you’ll also have access to the rest of Families Online. MEET JUSTIN from CBEEBIES win tickets to the

‘JUSTIN LIVE’

show in Scarborough.

We’re delighted to have teamed up with the newly opened Scarborough Open Air Theatre to offer one lucky family the chance to meet CBeebies Justin Fletcher. After Families has taken your picture with Mr Tumble, you’ll take your seats at Europe’s largest open air theatre, for what promises to be a hilarious show with the star of some of our favourite TV shows. Three runners up will also win a family ticket to the show. This is a great prize but you’re going to have to enter quickly. The show is on the Saturday 24th July at 1pm. If your entry is with us by 5pm on Monday 19th July, you’ll be just-in time (Arthur Sleep would be proud of that!).

To be in with a chance of winning, go to where you can enter online at www.familiesvoy.co.uk/justin To ﬁnd out more about the show, go to www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

Win a Labelling Set ...and 10% off even if you don’t win Labelling your child’s school ‘stuff’ for the new term couldn’t be easier with Easy2Name. They have iron on and stick on labels for everything - clothes, shoes, pencil cases, lunchboxes and more, all available online at www.easy2name. com. We have ﬁve Easy2Name Off to School sets to give away. Each set is worth £16.90 and contains 30 waterproof stickers, 30 iron on name tapes, one set of shoe covers, one bag tag and one shoe bag. Even if you are not lucky enough to win one of these great prizes you will still receive a 10% discount voucher from Easy2Name. Just enter the code ‘Families’ at the checkout.

Solving the School Holiday Clothes Crisis for Little Girls

As the school holidays approach, parents throughout the UK start to put together a schedule of activities to keep their little ones busy but what will they wear once the comfort of the daily school uniform is no more? Tori Smallwood, founder of clothing brand Kiss Katch has come up with the perfect solution: ‘I always found it difﬁcult to ﬁnd quality, fashionable and functional clothes for my daughters to play and have fun in, which is where Kiss Katch came from,’ says Tori. After researching the market she discovered a gap for comfy, practical clothing with a cool edge for little girls. ‘We’re in our second year of trading now, and have a great range of clothing perfect for sports camp or quite simply, for playing in the garden in.’ Kiss Katch are currently working with Active Learning who offer sports courses to children throughout North and West Yorkshire. Will Ryder, MD of Active Learning said: ‘Girls are often unsure what to wear to our camps and not all girls like the traditional sportswear that the big sporting brands offer. I was really impressed when I saw the range of clothes offered by Kiss Katch. It is important that children are comfortable when they are playing sport and I could see that this had really been taken into consideration when the collection was designed. ‘

win

a fabulous Kiss Katch summer outfit for your daughter and 15% off Kiss Katch online The Kiss Katch spring summer collection includes two styles of tracksuit tops, which can be put together with co-ordinating shorts, cute little sporty skirts or ¾ length tracksuit bottoms. All of these are in the softest, comﬁest terry towelling fabric and have been designed to be easy to wash and require little or no ironing. There is also a range of funky sweatshirts and warm and snugly velour hoodies and tracksuits.

How to enter Kiss Katch and Families have teamed up to offer a sporty tracksuit top, ¾ length tracksuit bottoms and co-ordinating shorts and skirt to a lucky Families reader.

How to enter

They are also offering Families customers 15% off Kiss Katch* – enter the code ‘Families’ online at www.kisskatch.co.uk

Closing date 10th Aug. Please state clearly the name of your child and whether you require the shoe bag in red or blue.

Entries by Aug 10th please

To enter the draw, visit www.familiesvoy.co.uk/easy2name2010.

To enter the competition go to www.familiesvoy.co.uk/kisskatch2010 *Valid until 31st August 2010.

6 Families Vale of York

win the ultimate family trip to Chester Zoo

including hotel accommodation The summer holidays are all about plenty of family time and building memories for the kids, so what could be better than taking them to see the REAL Lion King, Pumbaa and Timon at Chester Zoo this summer? Less than two hours drive away, it’s the perfect place for a family trip and since school’s out, why not stay overnight in Chester and ﬁt in a bit of shopping for yourself too? Chester Zoo is home to over 7000 wild and wonderful animals including some of the most endangered in the world. In fact when you visit your entrance fee will go towards conservation projects at the Zoo and around the world.

Visit real lions, meerkats and warthogs together with hundreds of other animals the whole family will find irresistible. You’ll learn lots too as regular talks are given by presenters throughout the day and when you’ve finished seeing the animals, the kids can run wild in the zoo’s themed play areas to let off steam. There’s also a Zoofari monorail which gives a giraffe’s eye view of the zoo and a waterbus to help you get around Families Vale of York has teamed up with Chester Zoo to offer a fabulous in style. prize which will see you enjoying a day at Chester Zoo followed by a stay in one of Chester Zoo is one of the UK’s biggest and best-loved attractions Chester’s 4* luxury hotels. Your ticket will include fast-track entry to the Zoo and and is really easy to reach by car or train. There’s even a free Tiger TWO nights accommodation at the Crown Plaza Hotel Chester with breakfast. bus that operates between the zoo and Chester city centre if you To find out more about the prize and to enter the competition go to fancy staying overnight and sampling some of Chester’s sights and www.familiesvoy.co.uk/chester shops.

win

a mini-break

Socatots kicks off new baby sessions!!! Socatots celebrated its third birthday earlier this year and the mix of fun games, football skills and drills and structured play continues to be a massive hit with parents and children across the region. The Socatots programme is designed for boys and girls aged between 6 months and 4 years but until now the focus of the classes running in York, Ripon, Thirsk and Selby has been with children aged 2 to 4 years. Brian MacNair the owner of Socatots and the ﬁnalist in the Most Outstanding Activity or Class Leader Award in the What’s on 4 Little One’s website awards for the last two years is delighted to introduce new sessions for babies aged 6 – 12 months and toddlers aged 12 – 24 months. The new sessions will be a mixture of music and working with beanbags, skittles, dice and a football to give children the best possible start in sport. ‘All Socatots classes are about fun and helping children to improve balance, coordination and learning to enjoy structure through playing with the football and the other equipment,’ says Brian, ‘and we’re really excited about being able to offer these classes to younger children.’ The new Socatots term starts in September and spaces are available for children aged between 6 months and 4 years. For more information contact Brian MacNair on 01765 620374, b.macnair@socatots.com or visit www.socatots.com/york&ripon

Could YOU be a coach? Brian is looking for new coaches to run Socatots sessions in York. As Brian says: ‘It’s great fun, very rewarding and every day is different!’ So if you’re brilliant with pre-school children, get in touch with Brian MacNair on 01765 620374 or email b.macnair@socatots.com

competition Win a free term at Brazilian

Soccer School and Socatots

BSS and Socatots are offering a fabulous prize to Families readers - a free term at BSS for a child aged 5 – 10 years old* and a free term at Socatots, York for a baby aged 6 -12 months*.

To ﬁnd out more and to enter the competition go to: www.familiesvoy.co.uk/socatotsbss Entries by August 10th please. * prize does not include kit.

win

5 fantastic Organised Mum Diaries to be won

We love the Organised Mum’s Life Book designed especially for busy mums. It’s a clever diary that will help you to keep on top of family life throughout the school year. Lasting for 16 months, this weekto-view diary starts in September ‘10 and goes through to December 2011 and incorporates a number of innovative features to keep you organised including tear out shopping lists, stickers to highlight important events and plenty of space for diary entries, meal plans and budgets. Add to this a portable address book section which can be moved to next year’s diary and a handy pocket for paperwork and you’ve all you need to keep your lists, notes, plans and appointments in one place. Plus this year, those clever people at Organised Mum have incorporated a birthday list page within the address book to keep birthdays of friends and family in one convenient place. With a beautifully designed cover and interior pages, Organised Mum also has a range of accessories that can be purchased to go with the Life Book including faux leather and faux suede diary covers and handy colourful page markers. Available for £12.99 from www.organisedmum.co.uk - don’t start the new school year without one!

How to enter We’ve got 5 fantastic copies of the Organised Mum diary to give away. All you need to do is visit www.familiesvoy.co.uk/organisedmum2010, enter your details online and the ﬁrst 5 randomly selected on Aug 10th will win.

Go bananas this summer! The NCT (National Childbirth Trust) the UK’s largest parenting charity is calling on parents to support them by holding a Cheeky Monkeys Tea Party between May & September to help raise funds for their Postnatal line.

Alarmingly it seems that just one dose of really bad sunburn as a child can have lasting affects on our health up to 30 or 40 years later and recent news items have reported a huge increase in the incidences of skin cancer amongst the older generation. It may seem that we’re doomed already if we ever sunbathed without sunscreen in the 70’s or 80’s (which is pretty much most of us I’m guessing) but there is plenty we can do to ensure we’re well protected from the sun and crucially that our children are too. We talked to Nicki Mayall of Arbonne cosmetics about how we can best look after our skin during the summer.

The helpline has been set up by the NCT to support parents in their early days of parenthood and is staffed by experienced NCT postnatal leaders who can listen and respond to individual concerns parents have.

‘There’s plenty in the media about how we need to wear hats & sunglasses and stay in the shade during the hottest part of the day,’ says Nicki,’ but we should make sure that we’re wearing sunscreen to protect us from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.’

As Belinda Phipps, the charity’s Chief Executive explains;

We hear about UVA and UVB – what’s that all about?

‘Life with a new baby can be an amazing experience. However, for some it can be quite a daunting whirlwind, leaving new parents feeling nervous or lacking in conﬁdence. Our new helpline will be open to all parents so they can call us and get support when they need it most.’ Their aim is to raise £50,000 this year which will be used to extend the opening hours of the helpline. Every penny you raise helps - just £50 will enable them to help 12 people cope with the challenge of becoming a new parent. The nearest Cheeky Monkey Party will be taking place locally at Fieldside Day Nursery, Great Heck, Near Selby on 4th July 10am – 2pm. But if you can’t be there – organise your own! Cheeky Monkeys Tea Parties are open to everyone and very easy to run. Your party can be small (get together with a couple of friends and families) or BIG in size (invite the WHOLE town to your party). Some ideas for your party are: have a barbeque bash, a picnic party, cream tea or a dress up themed party-but you can make your event as genuinely individual as you want. To help you get started, the NCT provides you with lots of ideas for your party such as quizzes, arts and crafts and monkey-themed games for children, or why not try a cake recipe from www.nct.org.uk/cheekymonkeys? All you need to do is: •

•

Invite all your friends and family

•

Have fun

You can contact the Cheeky Monkeys Tea Party coordinator on 020 8752 2388 or email cheekymonkeys@nct.org.uk

Jo Jingles is Here! Fun Music, Singing & Movement Classes for children aged 3 months to 5 years Develop your child’s ��Social Skills ��Conﬁdence ��Co-ordination ��Language ��Listening Skills ��Imagination Children’s Parties & Nursery Sessions also available!

For details on classes in: Wakeﬁeld (Sandal & Stanley), Pontefract, Normanton, Ackworth, Horbury/Ossett, Garforth, Sherburn in Elmet, Wetherby, Boston Spa & Harrogate Call Paula on 01977 650455 or email jojinglesleeds@yahoo.co.uk www.jojingles.com/leeds

8 Families Vale of York

The right protection

‘UVA rays are the longest rays that penetrate the surface of the skin and destroys collagen and elastin underneath the skin’s surface. These rays are present all year round and with the same intensity. They are how we get wrinkling, sagging and ageing. UVB are the rays that burn the skin and change with intensity as the seasons pass. Both rays can cause skin cancer. So you really have to look at protection very, very broadly and get broad spectrum ingredients that will protect against UVA and UVB rays.’ It would be a very foolish parent indeed who let their child play in the sun with no sun protection so what do we need to look for when we’re buying a lotion for our children? ‘Sunscreens work by either absorbing the UV rays by providing a chemical barrier to the skin or reﬂecting or scattering the UV rays away from your skin by forming a physical block. Look for protection against UVA & UVB and a SPF of at least 30. You need to be able to apply it easily too – it needs to sit on the skin and not slide off. A water-resistant formula is essential if your child is in and out of the paddling pool.’

Last year when my daughter was just 18 months old and suffered from eczema, I found she couldn’t use normal sunscreen – it brought her face out in a lumpy red rash. Is that common? ‘Yes, I hear this a lot. The barriers in the sunscreen can irritate very sensitive skin – and babies’ skin is very delicate. You’ll need to find something for sun sensitive or sun allergic skin. Our products are excellent for sensitive skin – the ABC lotion is gentle, water-resistant, provides broad-spectrum protection and is SPF 30+. It’s also quite thick so you don’t find yourself wasting it by wiping it away when you squirt too much! A friend of mine who is a pharmacist took a look at the list of ingredients in our children’s sunscreen and assured me that the main active ingredient, zinc oxide, is a really good thing because it lies on the top of the skin and can’t be absorbed. It reflects the sun’s rays and prevents irritations, reactions and rashes because it’s not absorbed into the blood stream.’ Any tips for mums & dads? ‘Yes – just because you burned as a child that’s no excuse to continue damaging your skin. Treat it with respect and you’ll not look like an old prune by the time your kids get to college. And of course your children learn by example. Look after your skin and they’ll look after theirs - long after nagging ceases to have any impact!’ To find out more about Arbonne products and business opportunities with Nicki Mayall, contact her on: 01904 744066 / 07824906248 nicola.mayall@i2i-ltd.co.uk www.arbonneinternational.co.uk

In the first of two part series, we look at how children can learn from play-based activities. This time we look at what children discover when they’re engaged in good old fashioned messy play.

The Queen of Peace Editor Belinda Maunsell visits a YogaBugs class and learns all about snowboards, relaxing and the ‘mouse’. When I arrive at YogaBugs, I’m feeling anything but peaceful after introducing the back bumper of my car to a badly placed wall. Thankfully all is soon forgotten when I’m plunged into a class of children all eagerly trying to find out who had phoned the teacher that morning. It turns out the call was from the moon and that they’d been invited there to rescue Bob and bring him back safely to Earth. They were on a mission and there was no stopping them. The teacher is Rachel Frazer and the children belong to class 1 at St Mary’s RC Primary School in Horsforth. In no time at all the children are packing their imaginary suitcases and counting down to blast off on their space adventure with Rachel at the helm guiding them through the story with dozens of yoga positions. We have dogs (a favourite), snakes, trees and who’d have thought our legs could be the levers to send the rocket into space? We become rockets, use our feet as a phone and there’s even room for a snowboard and plenty of sound effects as the story progresses. Rachel is passionate about the effects Yoga can have on children. ‘How many other activities take account of so many aspects of a child’s development?’ she asks. ‘Yoga not only stretches the body and helps children keep healthy, it stretches the mind too.’ And there’s no question about that as the children delve deeper into their story and act out the characters with enthusiasm. Rachel has been running classes for 9 months now and has groups running right across the Harrogate and Leeds area – this group are doing Yoga as part of their healthy week at school. Preschool classes and YogaBugs which is the class for children in classes R, 1 & 2 rely heavily on storytelling to take the children on adventures through the yoga poses. Classes for children aged 812 are called Yoga’d Up and are more themed – Rachel says the Olympic theme has been a popular one recently – and focus on stronger poses. These classes help and support children through a time of pre-teen change and beyond to adolescence. ‘It’s not just about exercise,’ says Rachel, ‘we can help children think about their breathing and teach relaxation and visualisation techniques which help improve their concentration, capture their imagination and help them to feel more confident.’ ‘One great pose I teach the children is called The Mouse or Child pose which they can use if they need to calm down – it’s a brilliant way of dealing with being told off! And after 40 minutes of activity, we calm down. The sight of 29 little people all silently resting with lavender pillows on their brows is one to behold and one which makes me want to get down there with them and take five minutes out of my hectic schedule and help erase the mental picture of my dented car. It impressed the children too and there was spontaneous appreciation for Rachel as the children lined up for playtime from ‘I want to do it again’, that was lovely’, and the most telling of all: ‘you’re the queen of peace.’ Rachel runs classes across the area including a preschool class at Winkies in Harrogate. To find out more and to join a class you can visit www.yogabugs.com or call 0113 250 6972. Look out for YogaBugs at Harlow Carr this summer too.

Mud, glorious mud! Our role is crucial in gently guiding and nurturing children and learning to treasure and value their uniqueness, says guest writer Mary-Jane Foster, Head of Early Years at Queen Mary’s School, Thirsk.

Children ‘bring nothing less than their whole selves’ Gone are the days when adults regarded children as empty vessels, just waiting to be filled with knowledge and skills. We know that children, whatever their age and stage, are unique little beings, with minds of their own, wanting to express ideas and develop interests special to them. We know young children are not always able to verbalise their thoughts, so our role as parents, carers and educators is to listen, observe and interact with sensitivity; to gauge and then respond to their thinking. We know children are active learners and as a recent EYE magazine said, children ‘bring nothing less than their whole selves. If only we have the willingness and the skill to look, they tell us everything; nothing is hidden.’

The messier the better! Have you ever wondered why children just love playing in soil and water to create mud? Have you noticed how consistent their interest is? Are children put off by the weather or mess? On the contrary, the messier the better! Given permission and the correct protective clothing (which is usually to keep parents happy) children seem to thrive and enter into deep-level learning and focus. Settling into the mud, carving out a little nest with your body for your body, seems to be part of that fun!

Role-play In one session at Queen Mary’s, we observed four reception-aged children in the mud, using child-size gardening equipment and taking responsibility for their play. This revealed lots of opportunities for learning. Their role-play set the scene: ‘We’re workmen in the mud’ and apart from

the endless opportunities to develop social and language skills, they faced real-life problem-solving issues that needed to be embraced in order to play, such as: • the issue of digging in squelchy, heavy mud which is physically demanding even for an adult, and leads to flicking • the lever action when digging • pouring water from a height causing splashing • the weight of mud when filling a wheelbarrow, taking account of balance • the risks involved with garden equipment • slipping on the mud • sliding into the water pool • wellies being stuck in the mud • water going over the top of their wellies These experiences led our children to solve problems amongst themselves whilst continuing to play alongside each other harmoniously as a team, at times asking someone to fetch more water or to wheel the wheelbarrow. We practitioners enhance this playbased learning by cherishing each day as being full of opportunities – respecting not only the child and his interests, but childhood itself. We can help them celebrate all the things nature provides to make being a child so very special. As Barbara Hepworth, the sculptor once said, ‘Perhaps what one wants to say is formed in childhood and the rest of one’s life is spent in trying to say it.’ Early childhood is the time to give children the opportunity to communicate everything they have stored away in their little beings through all means available to them, with gentle guidance and nurturing - and not least with mud! You can ﬁnd out more about Early Years Learning at Queen Mary’s by visiting www.queenmarys.org Families Vale of York

s n i tw Don’t say it….

Being a mother of twins can be a real rollercoaster ride, with plenty of ups and downs. Kirsty Clark shares her personal experience with Families. If you see a multiple mum trying to navigate her twin pushchair around the shops with two crying babies, do smile at her and maybe say, “Congratulations” or “What a blessing it must be to have two babies.” Then let her get on with her shopping. There is no need to quiz her about their names, weights, which was born first or which is her favourite (yes, really you get asked that!). Even if you are thinking, “Rather her than me,” refrain from saying anything. Remember she may be just happy to be out of the house. In November 2004 I found out that my second baby was actually going to be two. I have been totally amazed at the reactions, negative and positive, to my beautiful twins and their sister who was just 22 months when they arrived. Although I was thrilled with the news, I really didn’t expect how other people would react. After a straightforward birth we took our babies home to their big sister. I can’t say it wasn’t hard having two newborns with exactly the same constant needs – life was a blur. I decided to go on my first solo outing to a music club when my babies were just two weeks old. When it finished, lots of the mums came over to look at the babies and to congratulate me. I was really pleased with myself because I had managed to get all three children out of the door and taken my eldest to one of her favourite activities. As I was about to leave a woman came over and looked at them, she looked at me, sighed, “Poor you” and walked off. I felt like crying, and even now years later the incident still upsets me. From then on I got used to the negative comments: “Rather you than me” and “I’d have killed myself if I had twins”. I got used to hearing “Double trouble” or “You’ve got your hands full’. Now I wish I had a pound for every time I heard such comments! I wasn’t suffering from postnatal depression

MiM Music Multiples in Mind

Twins? Children close in age (0-4yrs)? Singing and music-making tailored to families and childminders with more than one pre-schooler Classes all-year-round, including school holidays Charge per family/group, per session Contact Katie on 07799796245 Parties and mimmusic@live.com private sessions also offered www.mimmusic.co.uk

10 Families Vale of York

and I had a great support group. But I often wondered if a twin-Mum was struggling to cope, how they would deal with such negativity? Of course don’t get me wrong, we have had lots of positive comments too. Lots of people have said they wished they had twins or how blessed we are. During the tourist season we were mini celebrities. I’ll always remember leaving my husband outside a shop with the babies and coming back to see him laughing. Some Japanese tourists had stood around the pushchair and had taken photos of them with the babies. Husband included! The most commonly asked question when you have twins is, “Are they identical?” My twins are a blue eyed, blonde haired girl and a brown eyed, brown haired boy. The fact that they are different sexes and often dressed in pink and blue is a big clue. You can’t have identical twins of different sexes. When people asked me if they were identical, I’d smile and say, “No, one has a willy!” Another reaction that I wasn’t expecting was when strangers would ask if they were IVF or natural? I think this is a highly personal question. Are IVF babies unnatural? Why would people want to know and why would they expect me an answer to such an intimate question? The fact is that many people are totally fascinated by twins, which is lovely but do just think about what you are going to say before you say it. It probably isn’t the first time the Mum has heard it that day! I love being a twin Mum and I am very proud to be one. And to prove it: I was pushing my triple buggy through town with crying babies in it. A market trader called out, “I bet you won’t be having any more.” I simply smiled and said, “If they were as lovely as these, then maybe I would.” and carried on walking with my head held high.

Cutting the cost of bringing up baby

Want to save hundreds of pounds on the cost of bringing up your baby? Then consider using Real Nappies! Karin Fothergill, a local nappy advisor, says, ‘Most parents have no idea that there is a real choice about nappies, so they end up throwing away their hard-earned cash with every dirty nappy.’ By using Real Nappies, parents will not only save money, but will halve their weekly rubbish and can actively combat their carbon footprint, reducing it by around 40%. Washable nappies are also favoured by many parents who prefer the soft, comfortable fabrics as well as the fun and functional designs. ‘There are some very some common misconceptions,’ says Karin, ‘modern reusable nappies are very easy to use and they look just like pants – no complicated folding or pins required. A biodegradable paper liner ensures that solid waste is flushed down the toilet. And there is no need for soaking or boiling, your washing machine will do all the hard work!’ At regular demonstrations, Karin exhibits a wide selection of modern real nappies and explains the different options available – from fabrics to sizes to fastenings. Those who are undecided can borrow a selection to try out at home. For more information, visit www.stratfordnappies. co.uk or contact Karin on 01759 372884 to arrange an individual or group demonstration.

Multi Tots

Multi Tots offers families in York with multiples the chance to meet up for chat, play, support and sharing all the highs and lows of mulitiples parenting. They meet every Thursday from 10 - 12 at The House, Hob Moor Children’s Centre, Green Lane, Acomb. The group is friendly, free and enjoys welcoming new families with children under 5. For further information call 07951 166 367

Multiples in Mind

After having twins nearly 10 months ago, York mum-of-three Katie Zwalf left her career in journalism and quickly discovered just how much of a challenge it can be for twin and multiple parents/carers to take part in groups and activities that parents of singletons take for granted. This gap in the market inspired a massive career change and a bid to make life a little easier for multiple mums... To say life has changed dramatically since my Using a variety of musical techniques and props, twins, Theo and Luca, arrived to join their fourour songs are tailored to two or more children. year-old sister Freya, is the understatement of The emphasis is on encouraging everyone to get the century! Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, involved. Singing is something ANY child can have could have prepared me for the shock of multiple a go at and benefit from - and mums, dads and parenting! But it wasn’t just the constant crying carers are all encouraged to join in too and no-one from every angle and back-breaking effort of is expected to hit all the right notes! Music is a comforting and breast-feeding two babies at the wonderful way to bond with your children - and, same time, but also the sad realisation that this equally importantly, for your children to bond with time round it just wasn’t practical or, more to the each other, regardless of age or ability. point, affordable, to do the activities I’d enjoyed As a mum-of-three, I know how hard it can doing with my daughter when she was a baby. sometimes be to even leave the house, so I don’t With just one pair of hands while my husband believe in tying people in to commit to whole worked, swimming was out of the question for the terms, nor do I believe it is fair to discriminate boys, and even the toddler groups I’d tried were against multiple families and childminders by often a challenge - I couldn’t even fit my double charging per child, so these sessions run on a buggy into many venues! Faced with the majority pay-as-you-go basis per family/childminder. In of parents/carers (seemingly) coping admirably addition, the classes also run throughout school with single children, at times it felt quite isolating holidays, meaning you aren’t suddenly floundering and I battled the constant guilt of worrying that around for things to keep the children busy when one child was being given more attention at the many other activities stop. expense of the other. Classes last 45 minutes and include refreshments and And that’s what inspired me to set up MiM a chance to chat and swap tips and information, They Music (Multiples in Mind) - a singing and take place on Monday mornings (10.30-11.15am) at St music group for families and childminders James the Deacon Church Hall, Woodthorpe, or on a with pre-school twins and children close in Wednesday morning (10-10.45am) at The Old School, age. Wigginton. More classes and venues are planned.

Pushy Mothers Buggy Workout

Effective, safe and speciﬁc exercise for new mums. No childcare concerns – baby comes in buggy! Weekly classes in Harrogate Contact Rachel 07796 142883 www.pushymothers.com

Parties and private sessions also offered. For further details, contact Katie on 07799 796245, email mimmusic@live.com or go to www.mimmusic.co.uk.

Insight Medical Ultrasound provides a broad range of diagnostic ultrasound scans to suit your specific needs. Prices start from £60

Gentle sleep:Layout 1

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•Down’s screening available from 11 weeks - 13 weeks 6 days. •Dating scan from 8 weeks. •Sex determination from 16 weeks. •Anatomy scan from 18 weeks. •Growth monitoring from 24 weeks. •Presentation. •3D / 4D baby scans between 24 & 34 weeks. •We also offer a broad range of routine diagnostic scans.

Scan locations: Pinfold Surgery, Methley, Leeds, LS26 9AB. Xscape, Xercise Health and Fitness, Castleford, WF10 4TA. Helping your baby or child to sleep better

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free initial telephone conversation professional support individual sleep plans workshops antenatal classes

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of what to

Can’t decide?

Pavement or patio chalking Buy extra fat chalks that don’t break easily and let them go to town.

Ahh the lazy, hazy crazy days of summer…With six whole weeks stretching ahead, we’ve come up with some fabulous ideas; some for whole days, others to fill an hour or two. We’ve ideas for special treats and free things for when you’re watching the pennies. We start with our A – Z and follow with our extensive out & about listings. Now there’s absolutely no excuse to say there’s nothing to do.

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Arts & Crafts Smarty art

are running four holiday sessions for 1-12 year olds this summer. All equipment and supplies are provided and you make the mess away from your home! Sessions on: Wed 28th/Thurs 29th July 10.3011.30 Theme: Summer Fun Wed 25th/Thurs 26th August 10.3011.30 Theme: Treasure Island Call Fiona on 01423339738 or email smartyart@live.co.uk for venues and further information. Or, if you’re feeling brave, why not try these:

Water painting Don’t laugh - this is a great one for really little ones. Buy some really BIG paintbrushes and give the children a bucket of water to ‘paint’ the fence.

Make a really big joint picture This is a good one for using up all those old felt pens, stickers, crayons and paints that you need to replace. You will need a roll of paper (both IKEA and ELC have them). Roll out an extra long bit and have a party of kids doing their bit to make a giant picture. Hang it up on the washing line.

holiday plans. Places are available in both summer term classes and holiday camps. 01423 701560 www.thelittlegym.co.uk

Body painting This is fantastically messy but do it anyway. You need the big roll of paper again and some runny paints. Now paint and print with different body parts. An art shop like Hobbycraft sells paint pads in different colours which is ideal for this.

Organise a mini sports day

Let them loose on the face paint – and if you’re really brave,

Cook up a treat

let them paint you too.

Make a cardboard castle. You’ll

You will need basic equipment like balls, tablespoons, (egg and spoon races) plastic bag ‘sacks’, scarves (to tie up legs for a three legged race), tunnel to crawl through etc, plus a pile of kids and a nice big space in the garden or in the local park. Enjoy!

Make Cookies

Perfect for a rainy day try making a truckloa at home, d of cookies. Even if you are not a baker at heart here’s a failsafe rec ipe biscuits. Don’t bake for fabulous thi that’s just too mean s as is - add chunks of chocolate, rolled oats, dried Make a recycled collage. fruits, seeds or nuts. Make double You’ll need a huge sheet of paper the quantity and ke ep it in 5cm (or smaller ones stuck together) logs rolled in non-s tick parchment then use all your old craft bits and in the freezer. Then just defrost a pieces, paints, crayons, pencils and little and slic e off discs of doug h anything from the recycling bin. as you need them! You even make ice cream could cookies with vanilla ice cream be tween two biscuits.

either need a good plan, lots of cardboard, sticky tape and patience or you can buy a kit from www. cardboardtoys.com. Alternatively visit www.familyfun.go.com where you’ll find step-by-step instructions.

Burn off some energy

225g unsalted butte r so 375g light soft brown ftened Wear them out at The Little 50g sugar ster sugar Gym’s holiday camp. Rain or 3 tspca s vanilla extract shine they provide children with a 2 lar ge eggs fabulous variety of fun activities, 400g plain flour inspiring learning and creativity. 2 level tsps bicarbon ate of soda Themed sessions change every Beat butter, vanilla week to stimulate physical and and until fluffy. Beat in eg both sugars motor skill development with gs, sift in games, gymnastics and creative flour and bicarb, and stir. Spoon tablespoon sized do workshops. Holiday camps run llops onto a greased tray and ba alongside weekly classes and kef in 170c (150c fan oven) for flexible registration is available. 12-14 mins until just starting to colou Choose as many weeks and r. days as you like to suit your

Here comes the Summer...

do this summer

Close your eyes and let your finger choose… Have a Big Lunch

This year’s big lunch is scheduled for on Sunday 18th July 2010. It’s a one-day get together with your neighbours. The idea began last year at The Eden project with the aim of bringing communities together. It can be anything from a simple lunch to a full-blown street party with DJs and a hog roast. You’ll enjoy it. Really. Food, music and laughter tastes, sounds and feels better with others. And you could even raise money for a local charity while you’re at it. Visit www.thebiglunch.com for more information and take a step towards finding out how many good, talented and interesting people there are in your neighbourhood who all feel the same way you do.

Dance and sing

Enrol your tot in a summer session with High-Low Quick-Slow who are

running holiday sessions at Osgodby village institute on Wednesday 4th August ( pirate themed session) and Wednesday 18th August (story book themed session) There’ll be singing, dancing and lots of fun! For more information, including times of available sessions, contact Anne 01757 611234 or Sarah 01757 707743. www. highlowquickslow.co.uk

Enjoyaball

Enjoy-a-Ball will be running Summer Camps in the holidays, so get your kids enrolled to burn off some energy. Each day the children will rotate through a programme playing sports and active games, arts and crafts and a quiet room with games and books. Camps run W/B 9th Aug, Monday, Thursday and Friday & W/B16th Aug, Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10.00am 2.00pm at a cost of £15 per day. To book contact Lesley Reid on 07789 861 108 or 08452 26 26 94 . Camps do fill up so don’t miss the boat!

Festivals - Get out your flares & paint your face - it’s festival season.

The Galtres Festival of Fun which has taken on a Wonderland theme for 2010 will be packed with amazing things to do for families and young people.

There’ll be Mad Hatter’s tea parties, a hall of looking glasses and dressing up clothes, giant toadstools and Alice and the White Rabbit will all be there for the weekend. There’ll also be more than 100 bands including The Lightning Seeds and The Beat, a huge beer and cider festival, and a feast of good local food too. The festival tales place over the bank holiday weekend 28 - 29 Aug at Crayke and tickets are on sale now. ‘We’re offering creative and learning experiences that reflect our wish to keep the family at the centre of our work,’ says organiser Liz Pocklington. ‘For the first time we are showcasing some super talented young musicians with an exciting mixed music programme that’s sure to inspire visitors to get involved – we’re especially excited about professional young musicians Junk Drums who are offering a workshop is for 8-16 year olds.

This year sees the 27th Cawood Craft Festival and promises to be the biggest and best one yet. Perfect for families, the festival showcases traditional arts and crafts including clothes, bags, jewellery, woodwork, gifts, glasswork, pictures and toys. Children can enjoy a steam train ride; donkey rides; bouncy castle; live music; punch and judy; stiltwalkers and children’s entertainer ‘Marvel the Great’. The Scarecrow trail will be back this year too so the kids can grab a village map and enjoy hunting down all the wacky scarecrows displayed around the village. There’ll be plenty of local food to tickle your taste buds with local cheeses, honey, ice-cream, meat, preserves and even traditional sweets. This year activities, stalls and events are spread wider than ever before as the Cawood Caravan Park will be taking part, hosting the brand new Antique Stall market area and offering a range of bar food, drink and live entertainment for the whole family. The weekend kicks off from Cawood Primary School at 11.30am on Saturday 28th August, with carnival band Battuta heading towards the Vicarage where the official opening takes place at 12 noon with Phil Bodmer from BBC Look North. The festival finishes on Monday 30th Aug and runs from 10.30 – 5pm each day. Adults £4 each, accompanied children under 16 go free. Car parking free. www.cawoodcraftfestival.co.uk

‘We’ve also got Bollywood dancing, a song writing workshop, storytelling, dressing up and of course you can catch Alice having tea.’ The Galtres Festival is supported by Welcome to Yorkshire - www.yorkshire.com. Tickets sold out last year and are expected to again this year, so get yours early - visit the website at www.galtresfestival.org.uk to buy online and find out programme details.

Families Vale of York

of what to do this summer Indoor Play

GOaaaal If your little ones are hooked with World Cup fever, Brazilian Soccer Schools have holiday courses running from 2 - 6 August at Huntington School, York. Each day sees two courses: 9.30 12.30 or 13.30 - 16.30. Cost is £12.00 per session or £50 for the 5 sessions. www.socatots.com/york&ripon

Home

Having a day in? How about…..

Making playdough

You’ll need:

1 cup salt 2 cups flour 4 tsps cream of tar tar 2 tbsps cooking oil 2 cups water Add in: food colou ring, vanilla essence, mint esse nce, or other ‘smellies’ you have lurking in your cupboard. Mix ingred ients in a saucepan. Add co louring and/or scents. Cook on me dium heat for 3-5 mins until it be comes stiff. (It will, have faith). Sto re in an airtight container in the frid ge.

Making slime with a mixture

of cornflour, water and food colouring. There is something very calming about this. Make it into a game by hiding tiny dinosaurs in.

Having a pool party On a really hot day, host a pool party. Get the water in the paddling pool early so it has time to warm up, lay out towels and get the kids involved with making smoothies complete with mini umbrellas and ice to sip by the pool. Invent cool names for your ‘mocktails’.

Cards and Board Games The

summer holidays are the time to spend long evenings playing cards - and if you teach them now, then your children will have something that that they can do without you in future. Look at ‘Green Board Games’ for something different. Their World Travel geography game is a great one just before you go on holiday! Available from www.brightminds.co.uk

14 Families Vale of York

Absolute lifesavers if we have a long spell of rain – and there are always lots of extra holiday activities going on. Try Crazy

Tykes, Thorp Arch, Kidzplay, Treasure Island & Winkies in Harrogate, Creepy Crawlies, York, The Fun Run, Goole and Treasure Island in Boroughbridge

Journeying afar?

If you’re travelling in the car try these to hold off the ‘are we there yets’

Road Side Bingo – As you

travel along search for numbers inside and outside the car – starting from one and moving up in sequence. One might be a house number; you might find two on a digital clock in the car, while three may be on a pub sign and so on! Another great game is ‘pub cricket’. You look out for pubs on your side of the car and count the legs that the pub name has and each leg is eqivalent to a run. So for example you would score 6 runs for the Dog & Duck and no runs for the Crown - gets quite exciting when you go through villages with loads of pubs in them. You also have to set ground rules for ambiguous numbers (ie the Hare & Hounds or the Coach & Horses), we just say if it’s plural then it means max 2 of each animal - so Hare & Hounds would be 12 runs and Coach & Horses would be 8 runs. Not to be played if your kids are uber-competitive as it can lead to sulking!

Knaresborough

Feva is Knaresborough’s annual

festival of entertainment and visual arts. From Friday 13 - Sunday 22 August 2 there’ll be a wonderful array of shows and events to suit all ages, all tastes and all pockets. From street theatre to open air concerts, live music to the art trail, you’ll be well and truly entertained.

Library

Keep the kids on top of their reading this summer, visit your

local library and join the Summer Reading Challenge. ‘Space Hop’ is the theme this year, with young Space Hoppers meeting Finn, Jessie, Nabil and Safiya – the crew of the Ex Libris – as they embark on their mission to set up the first lunar library. Unless the dastardly Spacekatz lead them into the nearest black hole…The challenge is simple; children read six or more books during the holidays with rewards to collect along the way, plus a certificate or medal for all who complete the Challenge. There is also an interactive website, www. spacehop.org.uk, where children can talk about their favourite books and find out about top authors and illustrators This summer French for Fidgets are running some fantastic chocolatey themed classes as part of the City of York Libraries Big Read, which this year is focusing on ‘Chocolat’ by Joanne Harris. Join them for fun French sessions with puppets, songs, games and un peu de chocolat. Sessions will take place in York on Saturday 24th July, in Acomb on Tuesday 17th and in Tang Hall on Thursday 19th August. For children aged 2-6 and their parent/ carer. You can book through your local library. Fun guaranteed. www.littlefidgets.co.uk.

Make

sandcastles No summer would be complete without a trip to the beach and we’ve so many to choose from less than a couple of hours away. To keep away from the crowds, we love Fraisthorpe Beach just south of Bridlington. Probably shouldn’t have told you that!

Nature trail

There are so many lovely places for an afternoon walk with the kids. Try Barlow Common near, Selby, St Nicholas Fields, York, Bishop Monkton Railway Cutting or Rossett Nature Reserve, Harrogate.

On yer bike

Get the bikes out – great

exercise and an opportunity to do something with your children that costs nothing and wears them out! Visit www.sustrans.org.uk for ideas

Pick your own What could be more perfect than an afternoon picking your own soft fruit? One for the basket, one for me…Try The Balloon Tree Farm Shop, Gate Helmsley, West House Farm, Birstwith, Harrogate or The Farmer’s Cart, York.

Queues

– beat them by staying home and camping out. Pitch a tent in the garden, fill the paddling pool and sand pit, light the BBQ and make some fruity cocktails. Then pretend you’re in an exotic location and laugh at all the poor travellers stuck in airports or on motorways. If the weather gets really warm, you could sleep out on the trampoline and star gaze.

R est Too much activity?

How about a quiet session painting pottery at a local ceramics café? Try Pots2Go in Harrogate for a calm afternoon of creativity.

Swim

Keep a hold on your purse strings and take advantage of free swimming at Yearsley Pool and Energise, York. It’s available to anyone under 16 and all the family can keep active and have great fun - visit www.york.gov.uk/fit for further details. The summer’s a great time to book lessons too - Swim York Swimming Lessons are available to book at Yearsley Pool and Energise throughout the summer holidays visit www.york.gov.uk/swimyork for details or call 01904 552424.

Too Hoots

Pass a couple of hours at Too Hoots in Carlton just south of Selby. There’s animal world where your little ones can see rabbits, goats, pigs, lambs, aviary birds and many more as well as an outdoor play area for the kids. Take part in the free summer trail, lunch at the café or take a picnic and stock up at the garden centre. www.toohoots.com 01405 862854

Here comes the Summer...

Usborne books

X-Factor

Usborne have a great book of experiments you can do with the kids:

Everyone loves a show! Get the kids rehearsing then let the parents form the judging panel. You can even impersonate the real TV judges!

The Big Book of Science Things to Make and Do – you can buy it from ‘The Book People’.

Local mum Andrea tried this with her 2 girls: ‘I’ve only done one so far but that was fun. We combined vinegar, washing up liquid and food colouring (you could maybe add glitter too) in a jar - ones that become more narrow at the top are best - and then add bicarb and it foams magnificently!’

Visit the York Mystery Plays

The Mystery Plays are being performed around town, on 11th and 18th of July. Twelve plays will be performed on waggons at various locations and will move through the city streets accompanied by music – not to be missed!

Wimbledon Mania Capture the spirit of Wimbledon

….Tennis Tykes is a

unique tennis play and coaching programme for boys and girls from 2-6 years providing a first fun step into tennis at various indoor venues in the Harrogate area. The sessions help develop agility, balance and co-ordination, ensure learning in key areas, e.g. taking instruction, colours, literacy and numeracy and promote social interaction with peers. Nursery rhyme music is used for warm ups, and the sessions reward achievement with stickers and sticker charts for every child. For further information, contact Caroline Buncall on 07843342662 or email her at caroline. buncall@tennistykes.co.uk/log onto www.tennistykes.co.uk.

August Bank Holiday 28th , 29th & 30th Open 10.30am - 5pm

Children & Car Park Free www.cawoodcraftfestival.co.uk

York Maze

Get lost in York Maze which this summer, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, will be cut out in the shape of a Spitfire as a tribute to ‘the few’. It’s open daily (10.00am – 6.30pm) from Saturday 17 July – Sunday 5 September. Special events: 1 Aug:

Yorkshire Day

7 Aug:

World Sweetcorn Eating Championships & Festival

14 Aug: Fundraising Day 21 Aug: Beach party & barbeque 28 Aug: Torchlight Maze (open until 10.00pm) 4 Sept: Canine Capers York Maze, Elvington Lane (B1228), York, YO19 5LT, just off the A1079 Hull Road. Tel: 01904 607341 www.yorkmaze.co.uk

THINK

BIG

The world’s greatest railway museum and York’s award-winning, must see attraction.

Zoo time Chester Zoo

is less than two hours away and perfect for a family day out. It’s open daily from 10 am and car parking is free. See P7 for information about how you can win a mini-break for the family in Chester and visit the zoo. www.chesterzoo.org

ADMISSION FREE Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ 0844 815 3139 www.nrm.org.uk

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Families Vale of York

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out&about Day’s Out Close to home BENINGBROUGH HALL& GARDENS

Beningbrough, York, YO30 1DD 01904 472027 www.beningbrough @nationaltrust.org.uk Open 11.00 - 5.30pm every day House closed Thurs & Fri. Fantastic Wilderness play area, with fort. 24 JULY 1PM - 3.30PM TREASURE TRAIL Avast! Pirates return with a fun treasure trail and games - go dressed as a pirate. FROM 26 JULY VARIOUS DATES ARTRAGEOUS IN SUMMER Celebrate the holidays with some funky art workshops. 28 - 30 AUGUST 12AM - 4PM FLIGHTS OF FANCY Three Bank Holiday events linked by flight!

BOLTON ABBEY ESTATE

Take the A59 through Harrogate towards Skipton. Turn right onto B6160, signposted Bolton Abbey at the roundabout. 01756 718009 www.boltonabbey.com Discover the beauty of Wharfedale the estate is open 9.00am - dusk every day of the year. Vehicle tickets £6.

CASTLE HOWARD

York, YO60 7DA, Tel: 01653 648333 Fax: 01653 648529 www.castlehoward.co.uk Open daily throughout the year from 10.00am (last admissions 4pm, closing at 6.30pm or dusk). ALL SUMMER Jump on the land-train and go wild down at the Lakeside Adventure Playground. It features 17 highenergy, confidence building pieces of equipment, and is suitable for children of all ages - parents included! Boat across the Great Lake to spot the wildlife living on its shores (weather permitting) and discover the parkland with illustrated adventure trail. 28TH - 30TH AUGUST WILD WEST CHILDREN’S WEEKEND The Wild West arrives at Castle Howard! Take the children in their cowboy hats or feathered headdresses and enjoy a variety of activities with a wild west flavour. Try your hand at Hoop La, Tin Can Alley , Shoot Out or Bucking Bronco at the ‘OK Corale’. There’ll be face painters, balloon modellers and an area where you can make your own ‘Most Wanted’ poster. With live country-style music & BBQ food lots of fun is guaranteed.

16 Families Vale of York

Information was correct as we went to press but be sure to check before you make plans as things may have changed.

DUNCOMBE PARK

Helmsley, York YO62 5EB Tel: 01439 770213 www.duncombepark.com Gardens, parkland centre, tearoom & shop & parkland walks open 11am - 5.30pm Sunday to Thursday (closed Friday and Saturday). 30 AUG 10AM - 5PM BANK HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR

FOUNTAINS ABBEY & STUDLEY ROYAL WATER GARDEN Near Ripon, North Yorkshire 01765 608888 www.fountainsabbey.org.uk.

10 JULY 7 PM OPEN AIR SHAKESPEARE THE TEMPEST Take a picnic and chairs and enjoy an open air performance of Shakespeare’s most poetic and magical comedy in the Abbey ruins. Adult £15, Child £12. Booking essential, tel. 0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events . 24 JULY - 31 AUG SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN GLORIOUS GLASS! 11 am - 4 pm: Free trails and drop in self-led activities in Swanley Grange. Normal admission applies. 28 JULY 12.00 NOON - 4.30 PM FAMILY FUN DAY THE SECRET GARDEN A magical afternoon for kids: face painting, games, story-telling and a family trail, all inspired by the children’s classic ‘The Secret Garden’. Normal admission applies. 6.30 PM OPEN AIR CHILDREN’S THEATRE THE SECRET GARDEN Take a picnic and chairs and enjoy following the children’s classic story of a secret garden which changes the lives of three children forever. Adult £12, Child £10. Booking essential, tel. 0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events . 31 JULY - 2 AUG 10 AM - 5 PM GET MEDIEVAL Join the costumed re-enactors around their medieval encampment. Watch and take part in activities and demonstrations based on 15th century life 14 AUG 7PM OPEN AIR THEATRE PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Take a picnic and enjoy the Jane Austen favourite, performed in the Abbey ruins. Adult £15, Child £12. Booking essential. 27 AUG 2 PM TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC AT SWANLEY GRANGE Take your Teddy Bear for a picnic and story-telling. Suitable for 4 - 9 year olds. £1.50 plus normal admission (including refreshments). Booking essential, tel. 01765 643166.

HARLOW CARR

Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 1QB www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr Normal garden entry fee: Adults £7 (RHS members free), Children £2.50 (6-16yrs), under 6’s free 9 & 10, 16& 17 JULY 10AM - 9PM 60TH ANNIVERSARY SUMMER GARDEN PARTY The Garden will be open with entertainment in the evenings. Take a picnic and watch the sun set over these beautiful surroundings. 20TH & 21ST JULY 6.30PM - 9PM A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Oddsocks players involve you in the action from the safety of your chair (or blanket). 1 AUG FOREST PARTY Enjoy music, dance and magical games in the hidden woodland! 1 - 27 AUG 10AM - 4PM THE GREAT GARDEN ADVENTURE Family fun in the summer holidays! All kids under 16 go FREE throughout August!

GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOWGROUND, HARROGATE

01423 541000 www.greatyorkshireshow.com 13 - 15 JULY 7.30AM - 7.30 PM THE GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW Entertainment and fun with the opportunity to see many aspects of country life & farming. Advanced prices: £18 for adults, £16 for concessions, £8 for children (5 - 18) and £47 for families (2 adults & 3 children).

HAREWOOD HOUSE

Harewood House Trust Ltd., Moor House, Harewood Estate, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LQ Tel: 0113 218 1010 Box Office on 0113 218 1000 www.harewood.org. 8 JULY 7.30PM - 10.00PM THE TEMPEST - OPEN AIR THEATRE 17 - 18 JULY 10.30AM - 4PM MEDIEVAL HAREWOOD WEEKEND 18 JULY PLANETARIUM STAR SHOWS Shows at 11.00am, 12 midday, 1.00pm, 2.00pm and 3.00pm. 24 JULY 5.30PM - 7.00PM JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH OPEN AIR THEATRE 29 - 30 AUG HAREWOOD FAMILY STEAM RALLY

JORVIK

Coppergate, York. 01904 543403 www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk Open 10am - 5pm throughout summer. Admission adults £8.95, ages 5 - 15 £6. Family tickets also available.

DIG HUNGATE 1 AUG 10AM - 3PM HUNGATE OPEN DAY - FREE! Find out more about the discoveries at this major archaeological excavation with archaeologists from York Archaeological Trust. Recent finds will also be on show with experts on hand to interpret. Call to book 01904 615 505

DIG

St Saviour’s Church, St. Saviourgate, York YO1 8NN 30 JULY - 1 AUG FORGOTTEN CRAFTS WITH DISMORPHIA Learn how the crafts of Viking-era York are inspiring the world of computer games.

HENSHAWS ARTS & CRAFTS CENTRE

50 Bond End, Knaresborough. 01423 541888 www.henshaws.org.uk OPEN DAILY 10AM - 4PM Lots to do including Sensory Garden, Treasure Trail & watching art makers at work. Shop & Plant Nursery, licensed café open for breakfast, lunch & snacks with special children’s menu.

CASTLE MUSEUM

Eye of York, York YO1 9RY 01904 687687 www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk Open daily from 9:30am to 5pm adults £7.50, children £4 for children under 5s FREE. ALL EVENTS ARE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. 11 JULY - 8 AUG DRINKING CHOCOLATE Find out about the long history of drinking chocolate. Sample some of the unusual flavours and explore the different ways the drink has been served and drunk. Which will you prefer? 24 JULY - 31 AUG FOOTSTEPS Step in and find out about their amazing shoe collection, from a giant’s shoe to tiny dolls’ shoes. Compare your shoes with examples from the past. Discover how shoes were made and cared for and have a go at lacing a Victorian boot. 24 JULY - 28 AUG A BODY OF EVIDENCE Can you solve the Civil War puzzle? Travel back to the Siege of York in 1644. Investigate evidence from the past and decide how best to equip your soldier for the approaching Battle of Marston Moor. 9 - 31 AUG SWEET TALK Track the story of sugar moulding from medieval sugar plate, Georgian sugar sculptures, Victorian ‘kissing comfits’ to the Love Hearts of today. Have a go at making your own sweet messages.

EASINGWOLD MAIZE MAZE

Easingwold on the A19 - at the northern roundabout on the Easingwold bypass. YO61 3NG www.easingwoldmaize.co.uk 10:30am - last entry 4:30pm £4 per person, £14 family ticket, under 3 free 24TH JULY - 6TH SEPT Fun day out for all the family. Hunt for the clues around the maze and enjoy all the FREE attractions including giant inflatable slide, gokarts, sandpit, football and animal pen:

YORKSHIRE MUSEUM & GARDENS

Museum gardens, York Open daily 10am - 5pm 01904 687687 www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk 2 - 27 AUGUST, 10AM - 12.30PM & 1.30PM - 4PM FUN IN THE LABS Drop-in practical sessions for all the family in the brand new refurbished labs! 2 - 6 AUGUST WEEK 1 THE ROMAN ARMY 9 - 13 AUGUST WEEK 2 MOSAIC MAGIC 16 - 20 AUGUST WEEK 3 DYNAMIC DINOSAURS 23 - 27 AUGUST WEEK 4 FUNKY FOSSILS 18 AUG, 11AM - 3.30PM A REALLY WILD WEDNESDAY Activities will include making jewellery, casting fossils, making mosaics, hunting mini-beasts, making a stone trough, panning for gold, Chinese writing, birdwatching, firing rockets and exploring Tudor cures and potions. 11 JULY 11AM - 3PM KITE FLYING AND DRAGON BOAT CHALLENGE Raising money for St Leonard’s Hospice races take place on the River Ouse, beside the Museum Gardens, from 10am to 3:30pm. 20 JULY BEAUTY AND THE BEAST By Chapterhouse Theatre Company. Take along a picnic and rug or lowbacked seating and enjoy the show! Grounds open 5.30pm, Performance starts 6.30pm. Tickets £11, £7 for children or £32 for a family of four are available by phoning 01904 687671, or from Visit York on 01904 550099 or See Tickets on 0871 2200260 or www.seetickets.com

MURTON PARK

Murton Lane. Murton, York. 01904 489966 or email events@murtonpark.co.uk 3 - 5 AUG 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM TEDDY BEARS PICNIC Take along your favourite teddy, enjoy craft making, games and story telling around the site. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Café facilities on site. Suitable for ages 3 - 10 years. 10,12,17,19, 24,26 AUG BE A VIKING! 11:00am - 12:30pm & 2:00pm 3:30pm Fantastic opportunity to experience life in days gone by. Try your hand at simple Viking crafts, military training (safely!) and find out what life was like in a Viking house. Costumes and materials provided. Ages 6 - 14 years 22 AUG 10:00AM - 5:00PM RURAL GAMES Have a go at some traditional games such as tug-of-war, skittles or horseshoe quoits. Burn off some steam and spend the day at your leisure. Ages 3 - 14 years 11 & 17 AUG 11:00AM - 3:00PM SCARECROW MAKING All materials are provided, suit 3 - 14 years

LOTHERTON HALL

Lotherton Lane, Aberford, Leeds LS25 3EB 0113 281 3259 House open Tues - Sat 10am - 4pm, Sun 12pm - 4pm. Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays. £2.93 adults, £1.46 concessions, 98p children. Gardens and Parks Open 8am to 8pm FREE. Adventure playground - FREE. Bird Garden Open Daily 10am to 4pm. Wonderful collection of birds - great fun for kids and FREE. Car parking £3.60 per day. 10TH JULY CHILDREN’S ART DAY Workshop for the whole family to enjoy. 1ST AUG (1PM TO 3PM) YORKSHIRE DAY Work with artist Sue Carter to make scrapbag birds. With trails and activities, Edwardian Dressing Up, Reading Corner & Brass Band 5TH, 12TH AND 19TH AUG (12NOON TO 3PM) ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP Work with an illustration artist and be inspired by all things birds!

 Introduce your child to the pleasure of water.

Have fun with your child while teaching them the basics of water confidence, safety and help their physical development. Classes run throughout the year, from the age of 6 months upwards.

01904 552424 www.york.gov.uk/swimyork

10TH AUG (10AM TO 1PM) EARLY BIRD Listen to the storyteller and join in the craft activity afterwards.

NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM

Leman Road, York YO26 4XJ 0870 421 4001 www.nrm.org.uk Admission to the NRM itself is free and there’s something for everyone including a Miniature Railway (small charge applies), Play Train activities, indoor and outdoor Play ‘n Picnic areas and the Interactive Learning Area where you can do things like pull signal levers and see how trains go round corners. 24 JULY - 5 SEPTEMBER 2010 SEASIDE FUN Get in the holiday mood with 1930s seaside-themed summer activities. A traditional seaside experience for the school holidays with costumes, giant garden games, steam rides, funfair and much more. Celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Great Western Railways which presented itself as ‘The Holiday Line’.

MOTHER SHIPTONS CAVE & THE PETRIFYING WELL Knaresborough 01423 864600 www.mothershiptonscave.com Admission Prices (including all day parking): Adult £6, Children (under 4’s free) £4, Family £17 Open 10.00am -5.30pm.

Mother Shipton’s visions became known and feared throughout England, with many of them still proving uncannily accurate today. The Cave is near to the famous, unique, geological phenomenon The Petrifying Well, with its waters which turn items into stone! There’s also a museum, a mile long riverside park with scenic picnic areas, woodland walk, tea rooms and gift shop, adventure playground and trail quiz.

Contact: Brian MacNair Tel: 01765 620374 Mob: 07811 109437 eMail: b.macnair@icfds.com Web: www.icfds.com/yorkandripon

Families Vale of York

out&about

NOSTELL PRIORY

Doncaster Road, Nostell, Wakefield 01924 863892 www.nostellpriory@nationaltrust.org.uk House & grounds open Wed - Sun inclusive. Park open all year. Times vary. Adults £7.70, Children £3.85, Family £18.50. 18 JULY 11AM - 3PM MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY Crazy tea party in the garden. 1 AUGUST 7.30PM - 10.30PM THEATRE ON THE LAWN PRIDE & PREJUDICE Outdoor theatre performed by Illyria - take a picnic. 5 AUG11.30AM - 4PM BOREDOM BUSTING BEACH PARTY 12 AUG 11.30AM - 4PM BOREDOM BUSTING ANIMAL MAGIC 19 AUGUST 11.30AM - 4PM BOREDOM BUSTING PIRATES 21 AUGUST 7.30PM - 10.30PM SHAKESPEARE ON THE LAWN: ROMEO AND JULIET Outdoor Theatre performed by Illyria. -take a picnic. 26 AUGUST 11.30AM - 4PM EVENT BOREDOM BUSTING CIRCUS

THORP PERROW

Bedale, North Yorkshire 01677 425323 www.thorpperrow.com Open from dawn to dusk all year round.Adults £6.80, Child (4-16) £3.80. 18TH JULY THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 7.00pm - Ticket only. Enjoy an evening of outdoor theatre with Chapterhouse Theatre Company 24TH JULY - 5TH SEPT ENCHANTED SUMMER WOOD TRAIL 25TH JULY 11.00AM - 4.00PM CHILDREN’S CIRCUS MAYHEM!! A great way to start the holidays, lots of fun and games for children of all ages. 21ST AUG 6.00PM BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapterhouse Theatre Company returns to perform this classic fairytale. An outdoor, picnic theatre event that is sure to delight children of all ages. Ticket only. Adults £12, Children (age 3+) £8 Family 2+2 £35.00. Bookings : 01677 425323

18 Families Vale of York

Information was correct as we went to press but be sure to check before you make plans as things may have changed.

29TH AUGUST 11.00AM - 4.00PM PIRATE’S DAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 11.00AM - 4.00PM FAIRY DAY

JINGLETOTS

Creative music and fun sessions for pre-schoolers (music, sound, craft and discovery) 12 months+ is recommended, although babies welcome to join in the fun. Siblings also welcome! First child £4 per session (sibling 12 months+ £3, under 12 months FREE) To book your place: info@jingletots.com 07736 049104 www.jingletots.com RICCALL VILLAGE INSTITUTE, STATION ROAD, RICCALL 26 JULY 10.30 - 11.15 SELBY COMMUNITY CENTRE, SCOTT ROAD, SELBY 29 JULY 10.30 - 11.15 2 SEPT 10.30 - 11.15 JINGLETOTSTEDDY BEARS PICNIC SNAITH SPORTS HALL PONTEFRACT ROAD, SNAITH, GOOLE FRIDAY 30TH JULY 11AM

OAKEN GROVE COMMUNITY CENTRE

Haxby, York. EVERY MON FROM 2ND AUG 10 10.45AM SUMMER TOTS Talking tots are running fun, interactive classes that gently boost preschool children’s communication and social skills. www.talkingtots.info

KIDZPLAY

Beech Avenue, Harrogate HG2 8DS 3,10,17,24 AUG 1.30-2.30 & 3-4PM ARTYBOBS HOLIDAY SESSIONS £6.95 per child/ £5.95 siblings. Price also includes an hour of play within the play gym.

Further Aﬁeld CRUCKLEY ANIMAL FARM

Foston-on-the Wolds, Driffield, East Yorkshire 01262 488337 www.cruckley.co.uk Watch the daily routines of feeding the animals and milking the cows, see newborn baby animals, fluffy chicks and ducklings. Loads to keep children entertained. Open daily 10.30 - 5pm. Adult £4, Child £3.75

NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY

Full timetable, operating dates and advance bookings: 01751 472508 www.nymr.co.uk A great day out - trains running daily throughout the holidays. 10-11TH JULY VINTAGE VEHICLE WEEKEND A weekend combining historic trains with a number of classic and vintage vehicles on display along the railway.

CONKERS

Rawdon Road (B586), Moira, Nr Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Derbyshire DE12 6GA 01283 216633 www.visitconkers.com This hands on experience is open all year round and is only five miles from Junction 11 on the M42. Suitable for a day out anytime of the year, fun, entertainment and discovery are all rolled into one. Children and adults can explore the interactive exhibits indoors, including a simulated tree top walk, tackle the assault course outdoors and take a ride on the steam train. Open daily from 10 am - 6pm. Adults: £7.95, Child (3 - 15): £5.95, Child under 3: Free. There is an additional charge for the indoor adventure play. Loads of activities throughout the holidays.

EAST RIDDLESDEN HALL

Bradford Road, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD20 5EL eastriddlesden@nationaltrust.org.uk 7 JULY 7.30PM - 10.30PM THE TEMPEST Outdoor Theatre performed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and suitable for all ages. 25 JULY 7.30PM - 10PM BEAUTY AND THE BEAST- OUTDOOR THEATRE 10 AUG 7PM - 9.15PM ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS 25 AUG 3PM - 7.30PM MACBETH WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE

BEAMISH, THE NORTH OF ENGLAND OPEN AIR MUSEUM Situated just off the A1M between Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne. Follow the signs from the A1M, junction 63 (Chester-le-Street exit) along the A693. Tel 0191 370 4000 www.beamish.org.uk Vast, living and working experience of life as it was in the North of England in the early 1800s and 1900s. In summer open every day from 10am to 5pm, last admission at 3pm. Allow at least 5 hours for a summer visit. Adults £16, child (5-16 years) £10. Children under 5 years FREE.During the summer months, a variety of fascinating, additional events are held in the appropriate settings of The Town, Colliery Village and Pockerley Manor. There’s no extra charge for these - admission is included in the museum entry charge.

NATIONAL COAL MINING MUSEUM FOR ENGLAND

Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton, Wakefield, WF4 4RH 01924 848806 www.ncm.org.uk Set in a rural 17-acre site, the Museum is a unique collection of buildings, displays and activities which reveal the hidden world of mining through the centuries, telling the stories of mining methods and machinery, the miners and their families. Arrive as close to 10am as possible as the underground tour is often fully booked by this time. Under 5s not allowed underground. Admission to the Museum, including car parking, is FREE. Open 10.00 am - 5.00 pm

THE FORBIDDEN CORNER

The Tupgill Park Estate, Coverdale, Middleham, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4TJ 01969 640638 www.yorkshirenet.co.uk/ theforbiddencorner The Forbidden Corner is a great place for a family visit. Visitors follow clues to find such places as the temple of the underworld, the eye of the needle, a huge pyramid made of translucent glass as well as paths and passages that lead nowhere. Admission is only by booking. Open 12 noon - 6pm Mon - Sat & 10am - 6pm Sun & bank holidays. Adults £10, Children £8, under 4s free.

THE BIG SHEEP AND LITTLE COW FARM ATTRACTION

Aiskew Watermills, Bedale, N Yorks (11miles south of Scotch Corner and 1 mile from the A1 on the A684 towards Bedale) 01677 422125 www.farmattraction.co.uk Small, family-run farm attraction. New play barn. Open 10am - 5. Entry £6.50.

EUREKA!

Discovery Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 2NE. 01422 330069 www.eureka.org.uk The standard Eureka! ticket is now an Annual Pass. The Annual Pass entitles all of the party you pay for on the day of your visit to return to Eureka! free of charge and for as many times as you like over the next 12 months. Adults*: £8.95, Children age 3+ £8.95, age 1-2: £2.95, Under 1 free, Saver Ticket (admits 5 people): £38.50. Special events and activities run every weekend and during school holidays. 9 - 11 JULY 18TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS For Eureka’s big grown-up birthday they’re hosting a proper kid’s party, with games, dancing, and of course, cake. Go dressed in your best and take part in big dances on the hour with everyone in the museum, play party games and get jumpy in the bouncy castle.

MAGNA

Tel: 01709 720002 www.visitmagna.co.uk Open every day 10.00am - 5.00pm throughout the holidays. 26 JULY - 3 SEPT MAGNA LOVES Each week Magna celebrates a different area: 26 - 30 JULY AIR 2 - 6 AUG FIRE 6 - 13TH AUG WATER 16 - 20 AUG EARTH 23 - 27 AUG OUTDOORS 31 AUG - 3 SEPT STEEL

NEWBY HALL

Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5AE 01423 322583 www.newbyhall.com Newby’s exciting adventure garden for children has been thoughtfully and safely designed for children of all ages - from the paddling pool, sandpit and swings for toddlers through to climbing frames and bridges, an aerial slide and pedalo boats for the older children. Newby’s famous miniature railway is for children and adults alike! Other attractions include the Woodland Discovery Walk, shop and plant stall, licensed garden restaurant and picnic area. Open daily through July & Aug 11am - 5.30pm. House & gardens Adults £12, children £9.50, gardens only £8.50 & £7. 24 & 25 AUG THE COMEDY OF ERRORS By Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

NUNNINGTON HALL

Nunnington, nr York, YO62 5UY 01439 748283 www.nationaltrust.org.uk Open 11 - 5 every day except Monday.Open Bank Hol Mon. Adult £6.60, child £3.30, family £16.50. 10 & 11 JULY CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG The return of the movie star car - see the original Chitty car from the film, win a ride in the car around Nunnington village and enjoy the Chitty family trail.

ORMESBY HALL

Ormesby, Middlesbrough TS7 9AS 01642 324188 www.nationaltrust.org.uk Open Sat & Sun only & Bank Hol Mon. Adults £5.10, child £3.35 Rural mansion and gardens, on the edge of Middlesborough with a Georgian stable block which is home to the Cleveland Mounted Police’s horses. Also a large model railway exhibition and large selection of homemade cakes in the tearoom! 17 JULY 7PM - 11PM 70’S SUMMER MAGIC Take your pinic, chairs and torch. Wrap up warm and party the night away. For full details of artist & prices visit www.70smagic.co.uk 10 & 24 AUG 1.30PM - 3.30PM CHILDREN’S FUN IN THE AFTERNOON Learn about lotions, potions & revolting medicines!

HESKETH FARM PARK

Bolton Abbey, Skipton,North Yorkshire,BD23 6HA www.heskethfarmpark.co.uk Animal handling, play area, straw maze, pedal go-karts, sand pit, tractor and trailer tour, pig brushing, egg collecting and much, much more. Open 10am - 5pm Tues - Sun. Adults £4, children £5.

STUMP CROSS CAVERNS

Greenhow Hill, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, HG3 5JL 01756 752780 www.stumpcrosscaverns.co.uk One of Britain’s premier show caves, located in Nidderdale on the border of the Yorkshire Dales National Park offering a range of facilities for a great family day out, including a gift shop and tea room as well as the caves themselves. Open every day from 10am - 6pm (last admission 4.45pm). Adults £6.00, Children (413) £3.95, Under 4s free.

TEMPLE NEWSAM & TEMPLE NEWSAM FARM

Reception Office, Stable Courtyard, Temple Newsam, Leeds LS15 0AD Tel: 0113 264 5535 www.leeds.gov.uk/templenewsam Most weekends and during school holidays activities and demonstrations will be happening around Home Farm. During the summer the farm is open from 10.00 - 5.00 Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays & occasional events.

THE DEEP

Hull, HU1 4DP 01482 381000 www.thedeep.co.uk Open daily 10am - 6pm Adult £9.50, Child £7.50, Under 3s FREE. 24 JULY - 5 SEPTEMBER 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA Celebrating the ultimate science fiction novel in partnership with Hull Truck Theatre. Join in with storytelling sessions and craft activities, meet the characters from the book and complete the quiz trail for your chance to win a family ticket to Hull Truck Theatre.

DALBY FOREST VISITOR CENTRE

Access is via Thornton le Dale on the A170 Helmsley to Scarborough road. 01751 472771 www.forestry.gov.uk/dalbyforest 5,7,12,14,19,21,26,28 JULY & 2,4 AUG BADGER WATCHING Join an organised watch in a purpose built enclosed hide located near Pickering. £12. 3-4 & 18-19 AUG 10AM-3PM BUSHCRAFT DAY CAMP Make use of the woodland surroundings to set up camp and learn how to survive in the wild. Aimed at ages 10 - 14. Booking required, price £25.

WORLD OF JAMES HERRIOT

23 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 1PL Tel 01845 524234 www.worldofjamesherriot.org Unique tribute to vet and author James Herriot. Based in his original surgery in Thirsk, the ‘Skeldale House’ of the Herriot books - it takes visitors on a journey back to the 1940s. An interactive gallery has been developed for children to experience science games with a veterinary twist. It sits alongside displays of artefacts from the veterinary world past and present. You’ll need between 60 and 90 minutes to visit. Adults £6, children £4.20 27, 29 JULY, 3, 10, 17 & 24 AUG SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES Drop in craft sessions 1pm-4pm. 5, 12, 19 AND 26 AUG SCIENCE LAB

Theatre YORK THEATRE ROYAL

St Leonard’s Place, York YO1 7HD. Box Office: 01904 623568 www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk 22 JULY - 21 AUG THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS This summer, nature will take over York Theatre Royal’s building as the foyer is transformed into a magical, grassy woodland. Have a picnic on the lawn before entering our newly configured auditorium in the round - as you’ve never seen it before!

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK

Cumberland Street, York. Box Office: 01904 671818 5 - 7 AUG GUYS AND DOLLS Production starring York’s most talented young performers aged 10 - 21 who have worked with a professional creative team to put this classic show together in just 13 days! 12 - 14 AUG THE GRUFFALO Magical musical adaptation of the best-selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 17 - 21 AUG GEORGE’S MARVELLOUS MEDICINE Roald Dahl’s amazing story about a young boy who makes a marvellous new medicine to cure his grandmother of her terrifying temper. HARROGATE THEATRE Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF. Box Office: 01423 502116 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk 18 JULY BUGSY MALONE Local group Future Stars School of Performing Arts, Harrogate perform the classic stage musical. 12 - 14 AUG THE BFG In this stage adaptation his magical world of giants, dreams and snozzcumbers is brought vividly to life by Harrogate Youth Theatre

ST. GEORGE’S HALL

Alhambra Theatre, Bradford www.bradford-theatres.co.uk 01274 432000 24 - 28 AUG ANNIE

THE GRAND THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE, LEEDS

46 New Briggate, Leeds. 0870 121 4901 www.leedsgrandtheatre.com 9 -10 AUG FIREMAN SAM

HULL NEW THEATRE

Kingston square, Jarratt Street, Hull, HU1 3HF 6 -10 JULY OKLAHOMA

POCKLINGTON ARTS CENTRE

Market Place, Pocklington, York YO24 2AR. Box Office: 01759 301547 www.pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk 14 JULY 7PM WIND IN THE WILLOWS 4 AUG 2PM HOW THE KOALA LEARNT TO HUG AND OTHER AUSTRALIAN FAIRY TALES

Theme Parks LIGHTWATER VALLEY

North Stainley, Ripon 0870 458 0040 www.lightwatervalley.co.uk Open 10am - 4.30pm. Over 1.3m in height £19.45, Under 1.3m £16.45, Under 1m FREE. Excellent savings to be made by booking online in advance.

FLAMINGO LAND

Kirby Misperton, Malton in North Yorkshire. 0870 7528000 www.flamingoland.co.uk Situated off the A169 Malton to Pickering road. The park is open daily from 10am. Closing times vary according to the time of season (5pm Monday-Friday, 6pm school holidays and weekends.) Adult & child 4+ £25. Age 3 & under FREE. Family ticket (any 4 paying visitors) £90.

PLEASURE ISLAND

King’s Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 0PL 01472 211511 www.pleasure-island.co.uk Open daily 10am - 5pm. Adult & child 4+ £15.50( buy online), £17.50 at the gate, 3 and under FREE

SUNDOWN ADVENTURE LAND

Trewell Road, Rampton, near Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 0HX 01777 248274 www.sundownadventureland.co.uk Brilliant theme park for under -10s and loads to keep you busy all day including Story Book Village, Boozy Barrel Boat Ride & a huge sandpit. Take a picnic - there’s loads of space. Open 10 - 6 every day through summer. Adults & children £9.50. Under 2 free.

DRAYTON MANOR THEME PARK

Tamworth, Staffordshire. www.draytonmanor.co.uk Thrill rides for adults & teens, rides for younger children & Thomas Land, Thomas & Friends Exhibition & 4-D theatre. Also 15 acres of open plan zoo with big cats, reptiles, eagles, monkeys, owls, parrots, and the children’s farm - plus an exotic creature reserve. Over 12s £28, Age 4-11 £ 24, Under 4 Free Families Vale of York

England wins the 2018 World Cup - with the help of Brazilian Soccer Skills Tennis Tykes serves up a treat for little ones As tennis fever hits the country following Wimbledon the good news is that there are lots of opportunities to play tennis locally over the summer and beyond following the launch of Tennis Tykes in Harrogate. Tennis Tykes, a unique tennis play and coaching programme for children aged 2 and over, is the innovation of Caroline Buncall who has seen the positive effects tennis has had on the physical and emotional development of young children through her sessions. ‘We initially look to develop simple ball skills and introduce mini rackets with the children hitting sponge balls off cones over low mini nets,’ says Caroline. ‘The children find it great fun with nursery rhyme music for warm ups and we discuss colours and numbers to aid their educational development. The sessions develop children’s basic co-ordination skills, gross and fine motor control, agility and balance not to mention the social advantages of interaction, confidence, language and listening skills. We reward the children’s personal achievement each week with stickers and charts for everyone with suggestions for ball practise to try at home.’

But why play tennis and what are the benefits for your child? ‘Tennis really is a great sport for all-round health,’ says Caroline. ‘The US Tennis Association recently engaged the services of a top scientist (Jack L. Groppel, PhD) who confirmed that tennis really is the healthiest activity that people can participate in and is “a sport for life.” According to Groppel many sports can promote your well being but tennis is the best in ensuring great physical, emotional and mental well being. Tennis players scored higher in vigour, optimism and self esteem while scoring lower in depression, anger, anxiety and tension than other athletes. ‘Studies also show that playing tennis requires alertness and tactical thinking and may generate new connections between nerves in the brain and so promote a lifetime of continuing development of the brain. All this, in addition to the obvious physical benefits (studies on calorific expenditure demonstrate that competitive tennis burns more calories than aerobics or cycling), show us tennis is a fantastic sport to get our children involved in. ‘Andy Murray started playing tennis at the age of 3 with his mum, so there’s no excuse not to get started at a young age. Your child may or may not be the next Murray but the science is clear: playing tennis can positively benefit your child in many ways.’ Caroline will be running different holiday camps and lessons for children from 2 – 8 years old over the summer period and will then continue with her term time weekly lessons at various indoor venues across Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon (2-6 year olds) from September. For further information on Tennis Tykes, please log onto www.tennistykes.co.uk or contact her on 07843 342 662 caroline.buncall@tennistykes.co.uk

20 Families Vale of York

Brazilian Soccer School coach Brian MacNair takes a look at the benefits for children who attend these classes. At the time of writing, England had just drawn with the United States in their first group match of the 2010 World Cup. They showed no imagination, very little skill or movement and the result and performance was very disappointing. Perhaps 2018 will be different - with the help of Brazilian Soccer Schools in York and Ripon. Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) was established in York and Ripon in 2008 and has already started to develop some fantastic young players aged 5 - 9 years old who enjoy running with the ball, not after it. The central aim of BSS is to encourage children to spend longer working with the ball practising and developing their skills. Skills from basic to complex are broken down for children to master and are then repeated individually, against defenders and eventually used in matches to the delight of watching parents. The BSS training programme works hand in hand with the BSS Skills Badge scheme. The Skills Badge will lead to the development of players who can play the game in a way that previously people would have only associated with the great Brazilians of the past. The programme incorporates tactical and physical training too, but not until we have technically competent players. Younger players under 10 don’t need to be coached how to win, they have an inner desire to win. Coaching children to be exciting players, good passers with good ball control will ultimately result in winners in the future – just look at Spain. The BSS programme is designed for players aged 5 – 16 years old. However, many of the players joining BSS in York and Ripon have graduated from Socatots so it is the perfect environment for young players to thrive. BSS in York and Ripon are starting a number of new sessions for children aged 5 – 7 and 8 – 11 years old. The sessions are perfect for inexperienced children or for children currently playing in teams who want to improve. The most talented children may also be invited to weekly Academy Sessions. The new BSS term starts in September and spaces are available. For more information contact Brian MacNair on 01765 620374, b.macnair@icfds.com or visit www.icfds.com/yorkandripon

Geocaching

By Sarah Husselmann

– A modern take on the traditional family treasure hunt

If you’re stuck in a rut during the school holidays or simply looking for a new outdoor activity for the entire family, geocaching may be just the thing. This high-tech treasure hunt using global positioning system (GPS) devices starts and concludes on the internet. For those with techie children, the use of technology alone should be enough to get them hooked.

How does it work?

Geocaching is a treasure hunting game, also referred to as a sport, where participants retrieve GPS coordinates from the internet and navigate to the outdoor location using a GPS device (Garmin, TomTom). The aim is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, and then log adventures online. Since September 2000, geocaching has grown from 75 geocaches to over 860,000 active geocaches worldwide. It is estimated that there are between 2 and 3 million active geocaching participants around the world. Use it as an excuse to visit your local park or to venture further afield and explore new areas.

How did it start?

Geocaching was made possible following a decision by the US government in May 2000, to switch off a feature that had historically degraded GPS accuracy – this meant that civilian users of GPS devices could pinpoint locations up to ten times more accurately.

The announcement caused great excitement among GPS enthusiasts. One enthusiast chose to test the accuracy by navigating to a hidden container using coordinates recorded on a GPS unit. He called the idea “The Great American GPS Stash Hunt” and posted coordinates on an internet GPS users’ group. The rules for those who found the stash were: “Take some stuff, leave some stuff.” His container was hidden in the woods near Beaver Creek, Oregon and contained a logbook, pencil, and various prize items including videos, books, software, and a slingshot. Within three days, two people had used their own GPS receivers to find the container, and shared their experiences online. Throughout the next week, others began hiding their own containers and posting coordinates. The “GPS Stash Hunt” mailing list was soon created to discuss the activity and during this time a new name was proposed: geocaching.

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Register for free at www.geocaching.com Under “Search for Geocaches” type your postcode, or town. This will display a list of caches. Click on the cache name to display; coordinates of the cache’s location, additional information about the location, difficulty rating, clues and hints. Print the page to take with you, and if you’re unfamiliar with the area pack a map just in case. Tap the coordinates into your GPS device and follow the directions until you reach “ground zero” – to geocachers this is the point where your GPS device shows that you have reached the location Look around you and if necessary use the additional clues and hints to find the cache, you will usually be looking for a small plastic weatherproof container. Be discreet – Geocaching etiquette says you shouldn’t let non-geocachers, see what you’re doing. Found it? Once you find the container, open it and enjoy your victory. All caches contain a log book but many contain prizes and other small objects. If you take something, leave something of the same value. Go home and log your visit on www.geocaching.com Didn’t find it? If you didn’t find it, go online and log that too, try again or try a different cache.

Once you’re in the swing of it, why not place your own cache? It can be very exciting for children to maintain the cache and track visits online. Further details on getting started, what GPS device to use and regular geocaching events can be found at www.geocaching.com. From toddlers to teenagers and beyond, geocaching has created a global community of treasure seekers – you probably pass a number of geocaches every day, on your way to work or on the school run, perhaps it’s time to take a look.

Trackable Items Some geocaches contain trackable items such as Geocoins and Travel Bugs. These items have a unique IDs and their location and activity is logged on www.geocaching.com. Many coins travel the world as they are passed from geocache to geocache and their online history tells an exciting story. Families Vale of York

Happy Glampers Families editor Belinda Maunsell spent a weekend experiencing the delights of glamping in Lincolnshire with her husband and 2 children, Isaac 8 and India 2½.

‘Feel it mummy, it’s still warm. I just saw it come out of the hen’s bum.’

I gingerly opened my eyes afraid of what my 8year old son may have brought into the comfort of my canvas haven. Thankfully it was an egg – but it’s not every Saturday you can say that happens. Cleary this wasn’t an ordinary Saturday morning. This was a Saturday morning at Pettywood Farm one of Feather Down Farms growing group of sites for posh camping - or ‘glamping’. We’re fairly seasoned campers and know what it’s like to try and pitch a tent at dusk with two young children in the pouring rain so when we were given the chance to try something a bit more upmarket and go glamping, we were game. What’s perfect about glamping is that the tent is already up when you arrive after a long week at work. There’s no near-divorce arguments about what goes where and vague threats about what to do with your tent pole – everything’s done for you. And when I say tent, the construction does have a canvas roof and walls, but there the similarity ends. It’s more like a cabin really, with a raised wooden floor, wood burning stove, running water, bedrooms with pine beds, fluffy duvets and a real loo – bliss! Pettywood Farm in Lincolnshire is a working farm with 350 acres of woodland and 450 of farmland - a mix of arable and livestock which includes a herd of suckler cows and sheep. It’s just 90 minutes drive from home for us – probably nearer 2 hours from York or Harrogate and located in the most beautiful open woodland just a few miles from Rutland Water. Pettywood has 7 tents in all, which was perfect. We were close enough to make friends but far enough away to be spared the snoring and nocturnal toilet visits of neighbouring families that we usually encounter under canvas. The tent itself is fully equipped to home 6 with three bedrooms; a double bed, bunk beds and best of all for Isaac - a bed in a cupboard. The kitchen had all the necessary pots and pans and a quaint coffee grinder together with one of camping’s essentials - a French press coffee pot (are we the only family who always take one of these camping?) There’s a big family table, chairs, deck chairs, outside wood burner

22 Families Vale of York

and picnic table. There’s no electricity (this is camping with a helping of nostalgia) so the ‘fridge’ is a big wooden cool box chilled with iced water bottles and lighting is courtesy of paraffin lamps and candles. We arrived after a huge pub lunch (just in case the wood burner proved too tricky) and were shown the ropes by Katy, who together with Richard and her mother-inlaw, farm here. We were the first to arrive and gradually over the next few hours our new neighbours settled in, happy to be ‘away from it all’ after battling the Friday rush hour traffic. One group of 4 families were old hands at this and had been several times before – their children were school friends and they were soon befriending our two, sharing their marshmallows and teaching Isaac how to roast them over the campfire. India soon had a new ‘bestfriend’ and barely let her out of sight all weekend. Both had far more freedom than we are prepared to let them have at home. India played in the woods with some of the younger kids – and on several occasions I found her just playing in another tent – everything was so very relaxed. Isaac learned how to build and light a real fire – a skill he’s now keen to demonstrate to anyone who shows vague interest. As well as simply having the freedom to roam, the kids’ favourite pastimes had to be their encounters with the animals. We’d read that the hens wandered in and out of the tents – and they certainly did! Our two spent hours in the hen area and India really loved playing with the rabbits even though she was on one occasion caught ‘sharing’ their carrots. Feeding the orphan lambs was great fun too and even I got a go – feeling their warm bellies full of milk as I lifted them back into their pens is a memory that will stay with me. One evening Richard lit the bread oven in the middle of the field which took a few hours to get to temperature. Then we cooked pizza – in just a couple of minutes - the oven heats up to an amazing 300 degrees! The farm has

beta mum

If the media is to be believed, British mothers are either serene domestic goddesses, who nurture their beloved and thoroughly organic offspring with angelic joy and patience (I call them Alpha Mums) or fag-smoking, Asbototing hooligans, raising an army of small hoodies on turkey twizzlers and alcopops (known to me as Omega Mums). This column is for the rest of us – those of us who try our best but never quite make it. We’re the Beta Mums.

a well equipped ‘honesty shop’ where you can buy anything you want – eggs, bacon, bread, milk – and meat, snacks – and if you’re foolish enough to forget it, chilled white wine. Everything is written on your slate and you settle up when you leave – easy. There are also games, toys and books that can be borrowed and bikes for hire if you’re feeling energetic. Or just go for a walk – maps are available that will steer you around the farm and you may even find yourselves at the Michelin starred Olive Branch pub in Clipsham for lunch as we did (but be sure to book ahead). There are warm showers and – yes – for those who really, really can’t do without – an electric point for the hair straighteners! We had the best time glamping. Of course it’s more expensive than regular camping but then it’s much more than ordinary camping. And not having to pitch or strike the tent, just for once, made it more than worth it. And did we get the stove working? Yes – easily. The wood is chopped for you, very dry and ready to collect - it does take about an hour to boil a kettle but when you get that cuppa, you really deserve it. And the eggs ‘fresh from the hen’s bum’? – Delicious!

• The Feather Down concept originated in Holland about 10 years ago and was the idea of Luite Moraal who was involved in Center Parks and Euro Disney. • The original farm in the UK was Manor Farm in Hampshire and this is their 5th season. • There are now 21 Feather Down farms in the UK and the company is adding new farms all of the time. They’ve also expanded into France, Germany and the USA. • Weekend (Friday evening to Monday morning) prices start at £275, Mid-week (4 nights) and short Mid-week (3 nights) breaks are also available from Easter to autumn half term. • Visit www.featherdown.co.uk for information on all the farms, to order a brochure and to book online.

“Mummy? In the Guinness Book of Records, it’s got the first man ever to have a baby in his tummy. I don’t know how they’re going to get that out. Through his willy? I don’t think so.”

‘Hello,’ says bored six-year-old, cheerily, ‘I haven’t seen you before.’

Thus was I woken the other morning at a squinting, blinking 6am by my younger son. I muttered something about having felt the same way about getting him out of my tummy too, but he was long gone, off to “make his own breakfast”. This turned out to be a bowl of honey, which he described as “the perfect diet”.

‘I’m fine thankyou,’ he replies, eying her critically. ‘You...’ he utters, pointing, ‘Have got very big boobies.’

He’s just turned six and is at that brilliant age when he utters hilarious comments almost constantly. The ‘constantly’ part is a problem if I’m trying to work, concentrate or just wake up, but I’m sure there are the odd five minutes when I’m the perfect, appreciative Alpha Mum. Maybe. As regular readers will know, I’m rather blunder-prone and the truth is, my son’s bright outspokenness takes the heat off my own verbal and physical clangers (although it’s at least a week now since I fell down the stairs). He played a blinder during half term, when both boys had to go to Daddy’s office for a couple of hours, as we were all out of cash and favours for childcare. ‘Daddy’ runs his own business and has recently hired a brand new female member of staff. But the team was busy, so the boys were bundled straight into the meeting room with a DVD and unsuitable snacks. The new staff member was later dispatched to said meeting room to put up some display materials for a client visit.

‘Hello,’ says new staff member, anxious to be nice to her boss’s small son, ‘How are you?’

Let’s hope he masters some better chat-up lines before he hits puberty. To be fair to him, it’s not all about boobs. It’s quite a lot about boobs, but not all. A few weeks ago, he told me he was a bit sweet on one of the girls in his class. ‘Aw, why do you like her, son?’ ‘I dunno,’ he shrugged, ‘I guess I just like people who know a lot of stuff.’ Oh the joy! My son loves her for her brains. My carefully expressed comments about not objectifying women are paying off. My angstsoaked decision to run my own business doesn’t mean they’re neglected and starved of maternal attention – no, it means they recognize that women are equal in the workplace and can be anything they want to be. I am a success. ‘Well, Mummy, I like people who know a lot of stuff... and redheads.’ PS. As I write this he’s sprawled out on the rug and has just informed me that he’s designed his ‘first’ tattoo. A blue eye with orange lines coming out of it. On his knee. Oh well, it could have been a naked redhead on his forearm I suppose. Count your blessings.

Jacey Lamerton juggles motherhood with running her own dress agency and style coaching business Get Your Frocks Off!. Some days the juggling goes better than others. Her shop sells nearly new clothes and accessories from brands including Diane von Furstenberg, Joseph, LK Bennett, Hobbs, Mulberry and many more. It’s now at 43 Goodramgate and open Mon – Sat 10 – 5.

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