Families Newcastle Gateshead issue 10 Jan/Feb 2020

IN THIS ISSUE Club/Class Directory The many benefits of Scouting New Year: New You feature

Issue 10 Jan/Feb 2020

familiesonline.co.uk

Welcome readers After all of the overindulgence that Christmas and the New Year will have undoubtedly brought you, this issue of Families magazine has just the right thing to help you keep to your New Year’s resolutions and discover a NEW YOU! Check out our New Year: New You articles along with the directory of local businesses who are there to help you along the way.

Our popular club and class directory returns and is bigger and better than ever before! Why not have a browse through and sign your child up to learn something new in 2020? Equally, you’ll find an article on Scouting: a popular and every growing British institution that gets young people outdoors in the wonderful fresh air!

We lead such busy lives, there really is never any time to browse the internet or social media to find out how to entertain the kids, but never fear, our ‘What’s On’ guide at the back of this issue has plenty listed for a whole range of family fun options.

Wishing all of our families a joyful 2020 filled with plenty of fun family moments!

Welcome

Editor, Families Newcastle Gateshead Magazine

Get in touch

E – editor@familiesnewcastle.co.uk T – 07794909820 @FamiliesNGMag

Where is Families Newcastle Gateshead?

Families Newcastle Gateshead is distributed bi-monthly throughout Newcastle & Gateshead. You can collect a FREE copy from the scores of outlets: schools, nurseries, play groups, clubs & classes, sports centres, libraries, family doctors & baby clinics and children’s shops. If you would like to stock copies please let us know. For families from birth to twelve.

Read by over 34,000 local families 6 times a year.

Circlulation: 17,000 Deadline: Deadline for Mar/Apr 20 is early Feb 20 Designed by: Anna Lawton Printed by: Warners Midlands PLC www.warners.co.uk Families Newcastle Gateshead is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Newcastle Gateshead are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Newcastle Gateshead. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

@FamiliesNGMag @familiesngmag

FAMILY

News

Sleep Lessons for School Children

National Storytelling Week Gender Reveal Parties Becoming Popular

School children across Britain may be offered sleep lessons to help tackle the problem of insomnia in young people.

National Storytelling Week takes place from 1 to 8 February and is a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world. We are all immersed in stories — from conversations during which we re-tell events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

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

Above all though, storytelling is fun. Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary.

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

To find a local event or to look through its extensive archive, visit www.sfs.org.uk 2 Families Newcastle Gateshead

Children and young people’s sleep is being seen as an increasingly important issue.

The American trend of “gender reveal parties” to announce the sex of a baby is a growing trend in the UK. Celebrated at an earlier stage in pregnancy than a baby shower, a gender reveal party announces whether expectant parents will be giving birth to a boy or a girl.

Sometimes this will be a surprise for the couple themselves with some asking the sonographer at their 20 week scan to write down “boy” or “girl” on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope. It is then given to a friend or relative who organises the party.

Traditional ‘reveals’ include a cake with blue or pink sweets hidden inside, a pink or blue confetti-filled piñata or a guest taking off a hat to reveal a pink or blue wig. But more dramatic announcements, including fireworks are becoming more and more common.

According to the British Medical Journal, there is increasing evidence emerging that lack of sleep has a major impact on children’s mental and physical health, as well as learning. A recent study by the BMJ suggests that sleep has a greater impact on an adolescent’s mental wellbeing than bullying, physical activity and screen time.

The sleep lessons are aimed at children ages 7 to 16 years and are available as part of the PSHE curriculum.

The lessons focus on giving children strategies for falling asleep and raising awareness of how sleep needs change in adolescence.

Experts say the increase in sleep problems is down to a combination of higher obesity levels, excessive use of social media before bedtime and a mental health crisis among young people More info: www.pshe-association.org.uk thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk/

www.

familiesonline.co.uk

DoThe you Bigknow Gardensomeone Birdwatch who loves to sing and act?

Established in 2007, Little Voices builds confidence and nurtures talent through inspirational education in music and drama for children aged 4-18.

With a 100% LAMDA pass rate in our centre, we work with trained singing and drama tutors in small classes and are passionate about helping all our pupils reach their full potential. Our small classes meanwe can focus on the individual child’s development, ensure everyone gets a part and provide a wonderful, caring environment where your child can make new friends and grow in confidence .

Our aim is to help every child reach their potential through inspirational education in music and drama

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 25 to 27 January and is the largest wildlife survey in the world. The information collected helps monitor bird species in the and is great fun forpressure children. to focus on the core subjects, WithUK,schools under

. To take part, you need to watch the birds in your garden or local park for just one hour at music and drama are falling off the curriculum but we know some point over the three days and report your results to the RSPB. that the skills acquired through these subjects go way beyond You can request a FREE Big Garden Birdwatch pack from the RSPB which includes a bird performance.

Ourand pupils that they transfer identification chart advicelearn to help so youmuch attract wildlife to yourcan garden. into other areas - important life skills like eye contact, posture, To make it fun, challenge your children to see who can spot the most birds. Take a bike breathing, handling anxiety and nerves, ride to a local park to look for birds, or make a dayeffectively trip out of it and spot birds in a new place. communicating with the spoken word, good diction and most More info at www.rspb.org.uk importantly, CONFIDENCE! There are 3 lessons available as well as THEATRE WEEKS workshops during school holidays:

Would You Rent Baby Clothes?

and

Mini Voices Ages 4-7: Mini Voices introduces children to the performing arts, with fun at the core of our lessons. These lessons are short to maximise concentration and learning. We also start to nurture your child’s talents and develop their communication skills.

Little Voices Ages 7-12: We also start to nurture your child’s talents and develop their communication skills. During these lessons we introduce characterisation, expression, complex scripts and working together as a cast. We really nurture their young singing voices with vocal health as a priority and fundamental acting techniques.

Babies can get through an alarming number of outfits in a day, so there’s no getting away from the fact that you will need plenty of sleepsuits in different sizes, each of which will Voices Ages is weeks. whereSowe start to avoid see the Little only fit for a 13-18: matter ofVoices months or how do you ending up with piles of clothes your baby has outgrown?

Voices training brought centre stage. Many of our Voices pupils

07916138150 Email: newcastle@littlevoices.org.uk www.littlevoices.org.uk/newcastle

2 FREE TRIAL LESSONS

Forto more and more new parents, the answer isarts simple: rent. or are able to go on further study in performing subjects Two UK companies haveskills introduced an alternative whichcareers they believe solvesand this problem transfer the valuable acquired to other paths as well as being affordable and environmentally sustainable by reducing waste. The life situations. alternative also reduces time spent by parents constantly re-selling and purchasing clothes.

As they acquire higher gradesreturn the outgrown marks often Families pay a the monthly subscription, clothesprovide and then receive the next size contribution up, in line with their baby’s growth changing seasons. Clothes are a valuable to UCAS pointsand fortheentry to college professionally cleaned and must pass quality control before being sent to the next renting andfamily. university.

For more info, visit www.bundlee.co.uk or www.bellesandbabes.co.uk

Lessons take place mid week and after school, meaning no weekend commitment encroaching on all-important family time.

If you’d like to find out what makes our award-winning lessons so amazing, please get in touch.

Ofsted Ratings Driving Up House Prices

Families in England are paying a house price premium of as much as £100,000 to make sure their children live within the catchment of schools rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, new All Little Voicessuggests.

Principals and Tutors analysis

10PA0S% S RATE

are fully enhanced DBS checked. analysedtrademark the Ofsted ratings of 20,545 secondary and primary schools in LittleResearchers Voices is a registered England found that average house prices often reflect the quality of the local school. of Little Voicesand Limited.

The average price of a house in England with top-rated schools nearby stands at

Little£331,605, Voices schools and centres according to research by comparison website Confused.com. This is about are operated a franchise, £38,600 asmore than the average price of homes with schools rated ‘good’ by Ofsted LLP ornearby, sole trader are more than in areas with schools that ‘require improvement’ and aboutand £78,000 nearly £100,000 independently ownedmore by than in postcodes with schools rated ‘inadequate’. the franchisee or individual.

A similar study by the Department of Education found that house prices are 8% higher Terms and conditions apply. near the best performing primary schools.

Prices may vary. Subject to application.

To view the report, visit www.confused.com

familiesonline.co.uk

editor@familiesnewcastle.co.uk Lessons for children 4-18

Families Newcastle Gateshead 3

FAMILY

health

The Truth About Eating Disorders

By Shelley Goffe-Caldeira

With high profile celebrities like Christopher Eccleston, Russell Brand, Demi Lovato, Paula Abdul and many more sharing their stories, it’s finally acceptable to discuss eating disorders openly. There is even an Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which, this year, runs from 2 to 8 March.

Eating disorders are not only a problem for adults; children of either gender can be affected by them. Over the last 30 to 40 years, the prevalence of eating disorders has increased to become a widespread problem across the UK and worldwide. Over 1.6 million people in the UK are estimated to be directly affected by eating disorders. Overall figures are likely to be underestimated as many children and adults with eating disorders do not always get a formal diagnosis.

What is an Eating Disorder?

An eating disorder is a serious mental health issue that involves a disordered eating behaviour which can be fatal. This can include eating too little or too much or becoming obsessed with one’s weight or shape.

Different Types of Eating Disorders

Children often first begin to show symptoms of eating disorders between the ages of 6 and 12.

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness and Anorexia Nervosa is the biggest killer.

35% to 37% of adolescent girls engage in dangerous dieting behaviours, including fasting, diet pill use, laxative abuse, and more.

In the last seven years, the amount of boys going into hospitals in the UK increased from 235 to 466.

If you think your child may be suffering from an eating disorder, it’s important to consult your GP.

How Can Parents Create A Healthy Body Image?

The modern world of social media, music videos, Netflix, and teen magazines has a great impact on how young children and teenagers see themselves. It is important to remember that parents do not cause eating disorders, but they can miss vital clues that their child has developed one.

There are several types of eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, binge-eating disorder (BED) and eating disorders not otherwise specified, known as (EDNOS) whose features closely resemble more wellknown eating disorders.

Here are simple things to help your child build a positive body image: •

Be a healthy role model and teach your children how to take care of their body through healthy eating and exercise.

Anorexia Nervosa: Young girls or boys as well as adults who have anorexia try to keep their weight as low as possible by not eating enough food or exercising too much, or both which causes illness and starvation.

•

Those going through puberty often feel very awkward in their own bodies.

It is common for girls and boys to gain weight during this time. Reinforce their individual beauty by giving compliments. Positively support their need to experiment with different styles and looks.

•

Let your children know how proud you are of them and acknowledge their achievements.

Binge eating disorder (BED): Individuals regularly lose control of eating, and eat large portions of food all at once and get uncomfortably full, and are then often upset or guilty.

•

Encourage your children to become involved in an activity such as swimming lessons, dance classes, music lessons, singing lessons – this will help bolster their sense of accomplishment.

Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED): This eating disorder is the most common and symptoms do not exactly match those of anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder. The illness is not less serious than those above but simply presents itself in a different way.

•

Spend quality time with your children and be aware of what is going on around them. What are they watching? Listening to? Are they on social media? Are they suffering any peer pressure?

Bulimia: Those who suffer sometimes lose control and eat a lot of food in a very short amount of time (binging) and are then deliberately sick, or use laxatives to stop weight gain.

Worrying Statistics Eating disorders are complex conditions that are unique to each individual but there are some surprising statistics parents need to be aware of.

4 Families Newcastle Gateshead

For information about anorexia, check out Need2Know’s Essential Guide to Anorexia at www.need2knowbooks.co.uk. Enter N2K25OFF to receive a 25% discount.

familiesonline.co.uk

Short Break Ideas for 2020

By Claire Winter

Short breaks are becoming increasingly popular with families in the UK. Budget airlines, busier lives, and the desire to see lots of different places in a shorter amount of time are just some of the reasons why families are opting for them. Apparently short breaks are also good for your mental health.

Psychologists claim that people who take them are much happier than people who take long holidays. This is because people’s enjoyment and enthusiasm for their destination may start to wane after more than a week away.

Eco-Friendly Stays

Adventure Awaits Taking a break to try a new sport or have an outdoor adventure will be popular in 2020. Whether it’s spending the weekend in a cosy cottage in North Wales to go on the world’s fastest zip wire (www. zipworld.co.uk) or exploring the stunning scenery of the Pyrenees. The Adventure Creators (www. adventurecreators.co.uk) are a small, friendly tour operator that specialises in multi-activity holidays in this mountainous area. Activities include canyoning, rock climbing, mountain biking, river rafting, and high rope adventures. An in-situ holiday manager is on hand throughout your stay to answer any questions and ensure everything runs smoothly, as well as to give you recommendations for the best family-friendly restaurants in the area. Holidays are available May-September.

Unusual European City Breaks Reykjavik is a perfect place to visit with a family because it is small in size and easy to explore, with plenty of colourful buildings, interesting food and cosy cafes in which to enjoy coffee and cake. You can take day trips to explore the stunning waterfalls and hot springs of the Icelandic landscape. Or why not visit Bari in Italy? With its host of historic buildings and winding streets, it’s fun, noisy and perfect for families that like to wander and soak up the sunshine. There are lovely beaches nearby and you can also enjoy the regular opera and ballet performances at the recently restored Teatro Petruzzelli.

familiesonline.co.uk

With awareness growing of the effect of travel on the environment, think about travelling by train, which is much greener. Amsterdam, Bruges, Bordeaux, Lyon, Strasbourg and Cologne can all be reached by rail in under 6 hours from London. Then there are eco-friendly destinations such as Slovenia (www.slovenia.info/en) where 54% of the land is under protection. It also has beautiful coastal towns to explore and activities like white water rafting and hiking to try. Half of the country is covered in forest, so it is really one of the greenest countries in the world.

Theme Park Fun Copenhagen has loads of fun things to do for families and is just a two-hour flight away. It’s also home to not one, but two amusement parks.

Bakken, with its 82 year old wooden rollercoaster, is just ten minutes’ drive north of the city and is the world’s oldest amusement park, dating back to 1583. Tivoli Gardens consists of 15 acres packed with pagodas, roller coasters, and fairground rides, including the world’s tallest carousel. You could also check out Efteling: World of Wonders in Holland (www.efteling.com/en). It’s about 1.5 hours from Amsterdam and has a fun, fantasy, storybook setting and a variety of novel accommodation options. You can immerse yourself in the enchanted forest, where there are carousels and fun rides for the younger children, while thrill seekers can battle dragons on the rollercoasters.

Don’t forget to let us know your favourite short break destinations on our Facebook page or on Instagram.

Waterside Breaks Beautiful Scotland is a fantastic destination all year round. The country is celebrating a year of Coasts & Waters in 2020 so there’s never been a better time to explore its beautiful rivers, lochs and coastline.

You can also enjoy fantastic events as part of the celebrations, such as the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival and Scotland’s Shores at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which will feature classic film screenings and a special outdoor coastal experience. More information at www.visitscotland. com/about/themed-years/coasts-waters/.

Also check out www.watersidebreaks.com which has a wealth of waterside accommodation options from riverside cottages in the Norfolk Broads, to luxury lakeside lodges in the Cotswolds to lovely seaside holiday homes.

Our next issue for Mar/Apr will feature What’s On over Easter for families.

To advertise contact Laura on editor@familiesnewcastle.co.uk or call 07794909820

Families Newcastle Gateshead 5

Clubs & classes Arts, Crafts, Creative & Technology Canny Crafty Ceramic Painting, Gosforth Specialising in Paint Your Own Pottery and craft workshops we hope to bring fun, enjoyment and a sense of achievement to both children and adults as well as the benefits that a creative activity can have on us all. info@ cannycraftynewcastle.co.uk / 0191 2845746

Fun Little Foodies, area wide Fun educational cookery classes for little chefs aged 2-12 years old. Weekly preschool, after school & holiday classes in North Tyneside, Northumberland & Newcastle.

Each class lasts an hour & includes a story, craft activity & recipe card. For more information: www.funlittlefoodies.co.uk. www.funlittlefoodies.co.uk

Inspired Pots, Hexham Our main aim is to provide a friendly & relaxed environment in which anyone, regardless of age or ability, can create their own unique work of art. This is an activity that can be truly enjoyed by all - children, teens & adults alike.

Come & view our wide range of ceramics.

There is sure to be an item or two to suit your taste. www.inspiredpots.co.uk

Turpentyne Fine Art, Gosforth Turpentyne has classes on weekdays after school and Saturdays during term time and also in the school holidays we offer week long morning and afternoon workshops. www.turpentyne.com

Performing DanceCity, Newcastle Dance City is a vibrant & friendly place where people come together to take part, enjoy, experience & talk about dance. We offer over 65 weekly classes in more than 40 different styles of dance - open to all ages & for absolute beginners as well as more experienced dancers. From contemporary to hip hop, ballet to ballroom, belly dancing to Pilates, from bumps to babies & for adults with learning disabilities - our classes are an excellent way to stay fit & healthy, learn new skills, have fun and meet new people. Visit: www.dancecity.co.uk

Drama Course, Theatre Royal Based in Newcastle, our 10-week drama & writing courses are suitable for anyone and cost £65. We have classes for all ages, all delivered from within the theatre, in one of our dedicated workshop spaces. Classes for: 5 – 7 years; 8 – 11 years and 12 – 15 years.

08448 112121 6 Families Newcastle Gateshead

Day8 Theatre School, North Shields The Youth Theatre aims to use drama, dance & singing to facilitate skills progression & an understanding of key stagecraft elements.

These fun, games-based sessions will promote team building, confidence in self-expression in addition to furthering interpersonal skills through dynamic & accessible drama work.

There are opportunities to perform at The Exchange. Free taster session and enrolment anytime throughout the year. Classes for 5 – 11 years and 11 – 18 years. 0191 258 4111

Open Stages Drama Courses, Northern Stage Weekly drama session for ages 5-7, 8-11 & 12-15 in a relaxed, no-pressure environment.

Open Stages is a great way for young people aged between 5-15, who enjoy being creative, to meet new friends, share ideas, learn new skills & have lots of fun making a performance.

0191 230 5151

Day8 Contemporary Dance N Shields FREE PLACES AVAILABLE FOR ELIGIBLE CHILDREN- PLEASE CONTACT US FOR INFORMATION. Come & join Beverley Knight our resident Choreographer for an enjoyable hour-long session where she will teach a wide variety of dance & techniques in a welcoming environment; there will be performance opportunities too. Free taster session and enrolment anytime throughout the year.

0191 258 4111

Famous 4.15 Performing Arts, Gosforth Our classes are held on Saturdays during term time at Gosforth Civic Theatre next to the Regent Centre in Gosforth. We teach singing, dancing and drama. But really, we do a lot more than that. www.famous415.co.uk

First Feet Dance, Wylam Offering classes in Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Street Dance & Musical Theatre. We are a performance-based company who offer our students unique performance opportunities. www.feet-first-dance.co.uk

Lee Brannigan Performing Arts At the Lee Brannigan Performing Arts Academy we pride ourselves on giving first class training & fun classes, for pupils to gain confidence & improve their stage ability. Classes in Musical Theatre, Ballet, Tap, Modern, Freestyle, Lyrical and Gymnastics. We take children from the age of 4+ for Dance classes and from the age of 6 -18 for Musical Theatre classes. bluebelltheatrepro@outlook.com

Razzamataz, Newcastle Razzamataz Newcastle is proud to put the welfare of its students at the heart of everything it does. Each child will receive first class tuition in a range of styles from classic West End musical theatre to funky street dance and pop singing. We pride ourselves in providing affordable part-time performing arts training for children and young people and giving them access to some of the most talented performers through specialist workshops and masterclasses. www. newcastle.razzamataz.co.uk

Pre-School ARTventurers, area wide Award winning, colourful, creative (often messy) art classes for babies, toddlers & children. Various locations. www.artventurers.co.uk

Babyballet, area wide Tots 6 – 18 mths, Tinies for 18mths – 3 yrs, Movers 3-4 yrs, Groovers 4-6 yrs & Tappers ages 3+. Classes in a wide range of locations throughout Newcastle, Gateshead and Northumberland. www.babyballet.co.uk

Baby Sensory, Northumberland From birth to 13 months, we hold separate sessions for birth to 6 months and 7 months to 13 months. The Baby Development activities stimulate the senses and help your baby develop. northumberland@babysensory.co.uk

Diddikicks, Newcastle & Gateshead

Little Voices, Newcastle Do you have a 4-16-year-old who loves to sing and act? Or who would like to boost their confidence? Here at Little Voices Newcastle, pupils make lifelong friendships, see their confidence soar, learn excellent singing and acting skills and take part in a group LAMDA exam every year, developing skills in teamwork, public speaking and performing while boosting their CV and life skills!

To book TWO taster sessions call Jenni on 07916138150 or visit www.littlevoices.org.uk/newcastle

Award winning football coaching classes for 18 months-5 years. From the moment you walk in, we’re there to guide your little one through their own Diddikicks story, helping them grow, every week, feeling an inch taller. www.diddikicks.co.uk

Gym Tots, Mowden Hall, Newton The sessions have been designed to develop children’s motor skills, agility, balance, and co-ordination. For children 18 months to 4 years. PAY AS YOU GO! £4.50 per session. dfgriffith@mowdenhall.co.uk

Jittabugs, North Tyneside Here at Jittabugs we love to move & groove, jump and jive, wiggle and jiggle & a tip tap toe, come on join the boogie, just give it a go! www.bookwhen.com/jittabugsnorthtyneside familiesonline.co.uk

Tree Tots, Bedlington

Hartbeeps, area wide The most original musical baby, toddler and pre-school classes on the planet! At Hartbeeps we put every child at the heart of our magical, musical adventures. We offer original and super fun developmental baby classes, toddler classes and pre-school classes, as well as educational sessions, pregnancy classes, stay & play with baby discos, and fabulous children’s parties. All of our classes are set to a soundtrack of original songs, remixed nursery rhymes and lullabies.

We take you and your little one on a sound journey and bring the story to life. Come and experience the amazing world of Hartbeeps with classes to complement and enhance every stage of your child’s early years - from pre-birth to school.

Our franchise runs classes in Alnwick, Ashington, Amble, Morpeth, Ashington, Bedlington, Jesmond, Heaton, Jesmond, Killingworth and Benton. We welcome new Hartbeepers throughout term, get in touch for a free taster cristina@hartbeeps.com.

Musicella, Jesmond & Gosforth A musical session, using fun, simple rhymes & songs, props & percussion. Subtly developing musical concepts from a very early age. Live singing, keyboard, Uke and guitar, limited use of recorded tracks.

07957 064746 / musicellavh@gmail.com

Music & Movement, Hexham The Hexham charity Music & Movement has been providing fun-filled educational classes for pre-school children for more than 40 years. They help to develop imagination, creativity & confidence in young children, whilst also assisting with language & movement skills & spatial awareness. The classes mix contemporary & traditional songs, some with a new slant. www.musicmovement.weebly.com

Rhythm Time, Newcastle & South Tyneside Rhythm Time offers multi-sensory music classes for little ones right from birth to 3.5 years. Our fun & stimulating classes are specially designed to help your baby or toddler’s development through a huge variety of class activities. We will stimulate all their senses while they become more social, confident and independent, meeting lots of other little ones. www.rhythmtime.net

Singing Babies, Hexham & Horsley Classes are aimed at new-born to walking age and so the songs are choreographed to entertain and catch the attention of the very young. Once your child is too old to join in at Singing Babies classes then they can graduate on to Squeaky Feet! Classes suitable up to pre-school age. www.singingbabies.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Each week we deliver Forest School sessions.

Sessions include cooking & stories around the campfire, woodland activities, mini-beasts & bug hunting, river-play & pond dipping, safe fun outdoor free play with lots of mud & much more. If you would like to go wild in the woods & make some fantastic memories with your toddlers & pre-school children, then come & join us. info@footprintsonthemoon.co.uk

Tumbletots Tumbletots is the UK’s leading national active physical play programme for children aged 6 months to 7 years. It is designed to develop your child’s skills of agility, balance, co-ordination and sense of self confidence, as well as significantly enhancing brain development. michelle.lee@tumbletots.com

Sports and Movement Lee Sterry Sports Coaching Lee Sterry’s Sports’ Coaching offers a wide range of sports coaching activities for boys & girls from the age 3 - 14 years. Lee and his staff specialise in football but also provide basic moves tuition, multi skills development, speed agility, quickness and dance. www.ls-sc.co.uk

Little Kickers, North East A national network of informal yet professionally run training classes where enthusiastic boys & girls (18 months - 7th birthday) are given a helping hand to stand on their own two feet. A fun forum to instil our growing squad with a little extra confidence, co-ordination, control and sense of camaraderie. Classes across the NE & more being added all the time. 01914066224 / jtemple@littlekickers.co.uk

Parklands Golf Junior Academy In conjunction with the Golf Foundation and England Golf we are delivering the Passport to Golf scheme for children. The golf passport is a national golf programme for young people. It includes progressive levels and targets for technique, rules and etiquette. www.parklandsgolf.co.uk / 0191 236 3322

Rugby Tots Our dynamic weekly sessions enable boys & girls aged 2-7 to develop their social & physical skills in a fun, positive environment.

We do this by delivering our specifically designed programme for each age group with energy, enthusiasm & excitement. This creates an atmosphere in the class that is totally unique and engaging for parents & children alike. Our classes are split into 3 age ranges; 2-3.5 yrs, 3.5-5 yrs & 5-7 yrs. www.rugbytots.co.uk / suzi@rugbytots.co.uk

Tynedale Tennis Club, Hexham Our members enjoy tennis at all levels, ranging from infants of 4 to super-vets of 74+. We welcome all abilities and ages whether you are new to tennis and just fancy giving it a try, or want to play social tennis occasionally, or you are a seasoned player looking for competitive tennis. Come and experience our great facilities and friendly atmosphere. info@tynedaletennisclub.co.uk

Swimming Everyone Active Swimming, Washington All of our lessons are delivered by Swim England qualified teachers. The students work towards the Swim England Award Scheme badges and certificates, collecting them at every stage. Our lessons start for children as young as 4 months old and are available for all ages. They run for 50 weeks of the year and you can join at any time. www.everyoneactive.com

Nemo Swimming, area wide We provide fun, rewarding and structured swimming classes for children aged 0-4 years old. Designed to promote safety within the water, we use games, repetition and play, to boost your child’s confidence while swimming. www.nemoswimming.co.uk

Puddleducks, area wide Our Baby & Pre-school programme is a wonderful bonding experience. Progressive lesson plans instil a water confidence and a love of swimming whilst our nurturing teachers tailor activities to your child’s abilities and needs. Taught in lovely warm pools with a maximum of ten children, our classes incorporate rhyme, music and movement based on extensive child development research. www.puddleducks.com

Swim Academy, area wide Brought to you by the experts at Puddle Ducks.

Swimming is a journey, not a destination and here at Swim Academy, we learn and have fun all the way! As experts in teaching babies, toddlers and pre-school children to swim, we have this unique insight into child development and have integrated our findings into Swim Academy, our programme for 4-10-year olds. www.puddleducks.com

SwimNE, Newcastle, North & South Tyneside Whether it’s group or private sessions, SwimNE offer a wide range of swimming lessons to children aged 4 (and in reception) and above. www.swimne.co.uk

Swimtime North East, area wide We provide a relaxed learning atmosphere and lessons that are fun, whatever age or stage our pupils are at. Classes for children aged 0 -16.

0191 501 6261

Waterbabies, area wide Do you want to take part in a class which promotes bonding between parent & baby?

Do you want to teach your child vital lifelong safety skills? Do you want to embrace the natural aquatic instincts that your baby was born with? Well then jump in - we welcome you to the magical watery world of Water Babies. Classes are for 0-4 years. www.waterbabies.co.uk Families Newcastle Gateshead 7

Don’t forget to tell advertisers you saw them in Families Magazine!

The benefits of Scouting

By Laura Macaulay

Benefits of Scouting for young people At a time when it’s hard to get our children away from their electronic gadgets and the comfort of the indoors, there’s never been a better time to enrol your son or daughter in Scouting. A great British institution, which still promotes the values of the original movement set up by Lord Baden Powell in 1908 encourages young people aged 6 -25 years old to spend time in the wonderful outdoors breathing in the fresh air, learning life skills and gaining fantastic, new life experiences along the way.

Scouting offers young people endless opportunities to learn how to be self-reliant and resilient. It isn’t just about tents and campfires anymore, (although this certainly proves to be a fun and often unique experience), young people can go abseiling, windsurfing and even travel abroad. Staying true to Scouting’s goal of helping people to ‘learn through doing’, activities offered are integral to the personal, emotional and physical development of young people and adults. So, whilst nine out of ten youth members will take part in a least one camping or hiking expedition each year, the most commonly undertaken activities involve team building and problem solving. Long-lasting social networks lead to a sense of commitment to themselves, their peers and the wider community. It is also, without a doubt, a great way for leaders of tomorrow to be born. The skills and attributes gained by participating in Scouting are in demand by many businesses and community organisations.

Being a leader: the best non-paid job in the world

Not only does Scouting offer young people endless opportunities and many benefits, it offers the same to the adult volunteers who give up their time to become a group or district leader. Families Newcastle Gateshead has heard from three Scouting leaders as to why they love being in the movement so much and its many benefits.

“Thirty years ago, in November 1988, I volunteered to open a new Beaver colony. My eldest son was just 6 years old and I was looking for him to join the Scout movement. It seemed the only option for him to join was for me to open a colony in the town. Twenty-four boys, aged 6 and 7 were invested on one evening! And that’s where my story began.

It’s amazing to think that after all this time that colony is still thriving; a fact that I am proud of. I have held a number of roles within Scouting over the last 30 years to fit in with my work and family commitments. Currently, my primary role is Assistant Group Scout Leader, although I also run one of the two Cub packs in our town. I am passionate about Scouting; it is like an enormous family. But at the heart of everything has been the extreme pleasure that I have at seeing young people thrive and develop their life skills, social skills and confidence. To me Scouting has an enormous role to play in the development of young people.

It is not for every boy or girl but hope that as many as possible will give Scouting a try at some point in their life.

However, it is not only our young people who gain so much from their involvement in the Scouting movement. I was never involved in any group, society or association when I was growing up in London. I joined Scouting at the age of 35 and have never looked back. It is clearly never too late to take on a role. I have made so many friends and have taken part in many activities that I would never have envisaged for myself. But, more than anything else, I hope that I have made a positive contribution to the lives of young people. I feel

8 Families Newcastle Gateshead

immeasurable pleasure when I meet people who say to me: “I’ll never forget when we walked up Snowdon”, or “I remember the first time I went camping and we did…”

My self-esteem and confidence have truly been boosted, mainly through seeing the enjoyment on the faces of young people, the thanks offered by their parents/ guardians and also the recognition of other members of the Scouting movement, at all levels, of my contribution. All of this I would never have dreamed of when I first began, and I never considered the positive impact that it would have on my life. I was just thinking of my son and his school friends, those 24 young Beavers 33 years ago.” Barbara Parsons “I have held various positions within the Scouting movement for over 20 years.

My main role now is that of Group Scout Leader. There are two main reasons that I remain dedicated to this fantastic movement.

The first one is that I enjoy seeing the young people learn new skills whilst thoroughly enjoying themselves, becoming more independent and becoming confident individuals.

The second reason is purely selfish – I love taking part in the activities with our young members. Bell boating, bivouacking, abseiling, climbing, caving, stand up paddle-boarding, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, snorkelling, gorge walking, sailing, coasteering, hill walking, cooking on open fires, long- distance hiking, expeditions, cycling skiing. I love it all - bring it on!” John Swift “I became involved in scouting 12 years ago when our eldest started Cubs (he turned 21 in October!) I started out as a parent helper with Scouts. I suppose I became a regular parent helper to support those leaders who were giving up their time to offer adventure and opportunity to my children; after all many hands will make lighter work. In 2011, I went into uniform as an assistant Scout Leader and then became Scout Leader in 2016.

I continue to be involved with Scouts as it gets me out and about and offers a vast change from my daytime career. I enjoy working as a team to see a project develop and evolve and it’s really rewarding to see young people developing their skills and potential, but more importantly enjoying themselves and making friends.

What do I get out of this though? It’s my hobby; I enjoy being outside and discovering interesting places that you would never come across unless involved with the movement. I have experienced some great camps and group activities, equally through Scouting I have made great friends and made many memorable moments.” Tony Walker

How old does my child have to be?

Boys and girls can join a local scouting movement. Beavers are aged 6-8; Cubs are aged 8-10 ½; Scouts are aged 10 ½ -14. Explorers are aged 14 – 18 and the Scout Network ranges from 18 to 25.

How do I sign my child up?

You can easily find your local Beaver, Cub, Scout or Explorer units by heading to https://scouts.org.uk/groups. Input your postcode and search, it’s as easy as that! Many local groups also have Facebook pages and websites, so this is a good way to find contact details easily. There is often a waiting list, so the sooner the better!

How do I become a volunteer?

It’s never been easier to join up and become a section assistant or leader. Contact your local Scouting group and just let them know that you’re interested in helping.

You won’t look back!

familiesonline.co.uk

Activities Away from School Activities that take place completely away from the school environment don’t just keep restless children busy or entertained and help working parents manage their child’s spare time, they can also offer great developmental benefits that will help them academically, physically and socially.

New Friendships Outside of the school environment, your child is likely to make friendships with children that don’t go to their school and get used to socialising with children of all ages outside the structure of the formal school day.

Improving Life and Social Skills Outside school activities provide an ideal environment in which to nurture social skills and confidence. Many extracurricular activities work to teach children the value of working as a team to achieve a mutual goal — a skill that will benefit them in their future endeavours.

Boosting Academic Performance Discovering that they have a talent can give a child a new source of confidence or a passion that translates into their engagement and behaviour at school.

For example, performing in drama club can improve confidence in speaking up in class and inspire creative writing. Playing an instrument will help children understand music lessons.

Building Self-Esteem In a busy classroom it can sometimes be hard for a child to make themselves heard. Outside of school activities will give your child the chance to build their self-esteem. Most groups or teams are more intimate than the typical classroom environment, making them less intimidating for children. Children may also be more interested than they are in their lessons and will engage more easily with the activities involved.

Sense of Commitment Students who participate in outside of school activities develop a sense of commitment to whatever they are involved in. This is because they have to commit to them and give them their all, and this commitment starts to extend to other areas of their lives.

A Brighter Future The skills and habits a child learns during his or her school years help to shape the kind of future they will lead as an adult. As a result, outside of school activities that promote everything from healthy-living habits, to leadership skills, good time-management, and better social or academic performance have plenty of advantages to offer.

Don’t Push Them Keep in mind that you shouldn’t push children to over-do it when it comes to extra activities. It’s better for your child to choose something that they really enjoy doing and stick to it, rather than attempt numerous different activities that quickly become overwhelming, and may detract from their ability to concentrate on school work. Of course, you may also have the type of child that just wants to try everything, in which case, it may be best to let them do so and try to narrow down their commitments when you see which activities they particularly favour.

More info: www.nuffieldfoundation.org/out-school-activities-and-education-gap Visit us: newcastle.razzamataz.co.uk

Positive Role Models Sports coaches, group leaders and other responsible adults who are sharing their skills provide role models and a valuable new take on the world for children.

Happier Children Outside of school activities promote emotional well-being by allowing children to work off excess energy, relax their minds, and overcome the stress associated with school life.

Chance to Shine Outside of school activities offer your child the chance to be themselves away from the influence of their school friends. Without being judged by their peers as “not cool” or “geeky” your child may thrive in developing a new outlet for creative, sporting or intellectual pursuits.

Promoting Healthy Hobbies Children with a regular activity are likely to spend less static time glued to a smartphone or screen and the interests that they develop during outside of school activities are likely to mean they spend more time practising skills and pursuing their passions.

Explore Interests and Create Broader Perspectives When children participate in multiple different activities, they get the opportunity to explore a range of interests which subsequently broaden their world view.

Time Management As children get older and move on to secondary school, being able to juggle different aspects of their lives becomes increasingly important. By attending classes, clubs or activities outside of school, your child will be taking on more responsibility for managing their schedule effectively.

familiesonline.co.uk

High quality dance, drama and singing lessons for ages 2-18 & a great place to make friends, boost confidence and have fun!

Join us at {{Newcastle College Performance Academy on Saturdays (Subject to availability - BOOKING ESSENTIAL)

Enrolling now - limited spaces available!

To secure your child’s place or for more information contact Kayleigh on 07772577855 or newcastle@razzamataz.co.uk

Families Newcastle Gateshead 9

NEW YEAR

new you

Dad bod to Dad god!

By Dan Fallon

Firstly, let’s get a few things straight. If you are expecting your dream body to be waiting at the end of a 12 week programme, then think again. If, on the other hand, you want to lead by example in your household when it comes to health and fitness, then by taking action you can really inspire your children to value their health and fitness too.

If you are a dad like me who has let the reins slip a little, or you’ve let your waistline expand without even realising it, here are my top tips to get right back on track in 2020:

Start with One Thing Be realistic. It’s unlikely you are going to get straight back into the same gym routine you had when you were 25 years old. So don’t write a great long list of health and fitness goals that within 3 weeks they will be completely unmanageable within the context of work and family life.

Instead, start with something simple. Like walking. Power walking can burn up to 350 calories per 30 minutes if you are at a good pace (13 to 14-minute mile).

Do this for 10 days and that is 1lb of body fat torched. As you build momentum in your routine, then you can start adding extras.

Bulletproof Winning the Morning Most parents are time poor. They feel guilty if they sacrifice any time with the family for anything other than work. That’s why I am a big fan of mornings.

Most people go to bed around 10pm and wake around 6.30pm. That’s 8 and half hours. Considering that evidence suggests that we can survive very well on 7 or 7 and a half hours, I think sacrificing an hour in the morning to burn some calories is a good trade off.

To make sure this actually happens, place your alarm at the other side of the room. When it goes off, get straight up and go to the bathroom to start brushing your teeth as soon as the alarm goes off. This is the art of distracting and stops the brain negotiating – no more “well, I could stay in bed for 10 more minutes.”

energy is calories – and calories mean fat. This is called Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis.

Get Support from Friends, Family and Online Communities If you are one of those characters that has every meal plan or “Get ripped in 30 days” book in Waterstones sitting on your shelf, ask yourself this question – why are you still struggling with your fitness journey?

The answer to that is accountability.

In your work and family life, you are accountable. You don’t want to let people down, and this kind of accountability is such a powerful tool for staying on track that it can become one of the most important ingredients for the long-term fitness journey.

Do Stuff to Impress your Kids I take my little girl to gymnastics every Saturday. Although I may not be the most flexible guy these days, I have stayed strong throughout the years and this means I can do pull ups, handstands and all that jazz.

My little girl loves that sort of stuff.

And let’s face it, this is the real reason why many of us start (or re-start) our fitness journey. Seeing our kids smile, being able to join in their games and leading by example are really powerful incentives for us father folk.

Dan Fallon is author of Start with ONE THING: The Dad’s no BS approach to fat loss and fitness (Rethink Press, £12.99) and founder of the Super You Project, the Dad’s online fitness community at www.facebook.com/superyouproject

Stay NEAT, Keep on your Feet Most people think fat burning happens by doing 45 minutes in the gym. The reality is that although this has huge benefits for your health, if you then sit on your backside for the rest of the day, you aren’t burning many more calories.

You know those people that never put any weight on and seem to eat what they want? Well, it’s nothing to do with their magical metabolism – the fact is they never sit still.

They are up all the time, fidgeting, cleaning, moving. This burns energy –

10 Families Newcastle Gateshead

familiesonline.co.uk

New Year: New You directory We have put together a handy little guide to help you discover the business or person who can support you in your journey to becoming the ‘New you.’ When you contact a business, please be sure to mention that you saw them in Families Newcastle Gateshead magazine.

Fitness & Diet

Mind & wellbeing

Quayside Personal Training, Newcastle Female personal trainer helping you to improve your fitness, lose weight or get a kick start back into regular exercise. For more information check out: www.quaysidepersonaltraining.com

Real Food Real Health, Newcastle Functional Nutrition with experience in helping people with a range of health issues. For more information check out: www.realfoodrealhealth. co.uk

Eve Trew School of Dance, Gateshead Dance for fitness – exercise through dance, regardless of age or ability. For more information check out: www.evetrew.com

Witness the fitness, South Shields Variety of boot camps and fitness programmes offered as well as one to one personal training and massage services. For more information check out: www.witness-the-fitness.net

Alternative therapy, health & wellness Barbara Gair Acupuncture, Newcastle Help to improve your overall health and wellbeing by restoring balance and natural energy levels to your body.

For more information check out: www. electroacupuncturenewcastle.co.uk

The Chill Room, Newcastle Relaxing therapies and treatments to help restore balance and harmony to body, mind and spirit. For more information check out: www.chill-room.com

Crystal Clear Healing, South Shields Holistic therapist. For more information check out: www.crystalclear-healing.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Mary Donne, Yorkshire, Humberside & the North East Presentation skills trainer & coach. For more information check out: www.mymjdworks.com

My Body Studios, Sunderland Pilates, Yoga, meditation, Barre & dance classes. Also offered, mindfulness & holistic body treatments and massage. For more information check out: www.mybodystudios.

Yoga Wellbeing, Gateshead, South Tyneside & Sunderland Wellbeing for all ages, shapes and sizes Yoga classes. For more information check out: www.yogawellbeing.org

Wright Acupuncture, Newcastle Relax and unwind in professional and serene rooms. Japanese technique.

For more information check out: www. wrightacupuncture.co.uk

Emergence Therapies, Gateshead Bespoke Holistic treatments within a calming, relaxing ambience. For more information check out: www.emergencetherapies.co.uk

Metaphysic Clinic, Washington Alternative and complementary therapies to maximise your health and wellbeing. For more information check out: www.metaphysic.co.uk

Back to Balance, Newcastle Health and wellness centre offering a range of Holistic therapies to help treat pain, reduce stress and find balance in your health and wellbeing. For more information check out: www.back-to-balance.co.uk

Carol Barwick Hypnotherapy, Newcastle Hypnotherapist and corporate training, coaching and meditation For more information check out: www.carolbarwick.com

Mind, Body, Coaching, Newcastle Hypnotherapy, fitness & weight loss.

For more information check out: www. mindbodycoaching.life

Heal with Suzie, Newcastle Mindfulness based therapy. For more information check out: www.healwithsusie.com

Sunderland Counselling Services, Sunderland Charity based counselling service for adults and young people. Specialists in bereavement, cancer care and sexual violence & abuse For more information check out: www. sunderlandcounselling.org.uk

Dee Thompson Life Coaching, Whitley Bay Life Coaching – change your thinking and change your life. For more information check out: www.deethompson-loa-lifecoach.uk

Next Step Psychotherapy and wellbeing, North Tyneside & Gateshead Leading provider of therapeutic interventions as well as counselling & wellbeing packages. For more information check out: www.nextstepwellbeing.co.uk Families Newcastle Gateshead 11

NEW YEAR

new you

Fostering the best start for children South Tyneside Council is committed to giving every child the best start in life.

One of the ways it does this is by encouraging people to think about becoming foster carers so that children who cannot be with their birth parents grow up in a loving and secure environment.

Foster carers are needed particularly for older children, those with special needs and for sibling groups so that families can stay together.

Some people opt to foster on a short term basis or offer respite care while others may choose to foster on a long-term basis. Whatever people choose, fostering has the power to literally transform lives.

Foster carers benefit from extensive support and training, can earn new qualifications and are rewarded financially. However most foster carers say the sense of achievement and the ability to change young lives are their primary reasons for fostering.

Foster carer Ann Shaw, 63, and her husband Bob have fostered around 70 children over the years. She said: “We really enjoy fostering. We love to give the children in our care positive experiences such as parties and holidays.”

“You get a great sense of achievement through fostering. Knowing you are giving a child stability and a taste of what life should be like just makes us happy.”

However, Ann advises people thinking about fostering to take a younger child first.

“Teenagers need more support so I would advise anyone thinking of fostering to test the water with a younger child first. It’s important to learn to crawl before you start to walk.”

Another foster carer, Jill Carr, said: “I love fostering. There are challenges but you just work through those times and there is a lot of support from the Council’s fostering service to help you deal with any issues that arise.”

The 54-year-old, who grew up with foster children, added: “The hardest part is having to say goodbye to a child. However, knowing that a child is moving on to a forever home that is right for them and seeing the happiness the child brings to adoptive families does make it easier.”

South Tyneside Council’s Children’s Services have been ranked one of the best in the country after being rated “Good” by Ofsted. Fostering services were commended for their comprehensive training and support to carers and children in placement.

The Council runs a Payment for Skills model which means foster carers are paid 12 Families Newcastle Gateshead

Cllr Moira Smith with foster carers Bob and Ann Shaw an additional fee according to their experience and qualifications in addition to the weekly allowance payments they receive.

The Council is looking for more people who can offer a stable, loving home to children – particularly those in sibling groups – who cannot be with their birth family.

Foster carers can be married or same sex couples or single but must be aged at least 25.

Councillor Moira Smith, Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “Our foster carers are as different as the children they care for. There are a lot of myths about who can foster but the reality is anyone with life skills and a big heart would be an ideal candidate for fostering.”

“We aim to give all our children the best start in life. Our foster carers play a hugely important role in transforming the lives of children who, for whatever reason, cannot be with their birth parents.”

“While fostering should not be undertaken lightly, the rewards are immense. I would encourage anyone thinking of fostering to find out the facts at one of our open evenings or call the team for more information.”

Regular open evenings for people interested in fostering are held on the last Thursday of each month at MarketPlace in South Shields, NE33 1JF from 6pm to 8pm. To find out more, visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/first4fostering or speak to a duty worker, available Monday to Friday during office hours, on 0191 423 8500. familiesonline.co.uk

NEW YEAR

new you

Your Top 8 EcoResolutions for 2020

By Claire Winter

Resolutions are on everyone’s mind at this time of year. Whether you love or loathe them, there’s no avoiding the fact that they can be a great way to kickstart the new year.

2019 was a turbulent year, which saw a significant rise in eco-activism.

Greta Thunberg has inspired school strikes and protests around the world.

Concentrating on consuming less and being more environmentally aware has never felt more urgent.

So why not make sure your list of resolutions is focused on sustainability for this year?

Take a No-Waste Pack Encourage the whole family to be prepared and to take a refillable water bottle, coffee cup, and canvas bag with them when they go out. Cutting down on disposable coffee cups, plastic water bottles and bags will dramatically reduce the amount you add to landfill each week.

Skip Meat One Day a Week Research shows the drastic effects of raising cattle and other livestock on the environment. Raising meat consumes both water and land. Why not start dropping meat from your family’s diet one day each week? Start with a meatfree Monday and remember every meatless meal you consume helps the environment.

Avoid Plastic Plastic is terrible for our environment as it needs a huge amount of petroleum to produce it. It also never breaks down and adds to the water problem the world is currently facing. Set a goal to avoid plastic as much as possible. Buy your food in glass jars and investigate local shops that offer refill services for your shopping basics. You can also try to buy from companies that use environmentallyfriendly packaging. Ask for change, call out shops and restaurants that use too much plastic on social media by tagging Greenpeace and use the hashtag #pointlessplastic.

Install Rain Barrels Rain barrels are an easy way to save water. Head to a local home improvement store or surf online stores for a rain diverter. Install to gather the rainwater from your gutter system. You can use this water during the summer for your lawns, gardens or animals; it will also help reduce your water bill.

familiesonline.co.uk

Start a Compost Bin Composting is a great way to reduce the amount you throw away. Composters work better in the sun as they yield the best results at high temperatures.

Ensure that the compost receives heat and water and make sure to rotate the contents in the compost bin occasionally. You can fill your compost bin with lawn clippings, brown paper bags, and organic food scraps. This will help you to reduce food waste and create nutrient-rich soil that you can use in your garden.

Avoid Wet Wipes Wipes that are flushed away are responsible for clogging up our sewers. Even if you don’t flush them, they are another singular-use disposable that is filling up our landfills every day. If you use them to take makeup off, could you make reusable wipes from soft cotton squares that you simply wash and reuse?

Avoid Fast Fashion Fast fashion is killing the planet. The resources needed to produce and dispose of all the clothing produced globally earns the fashion industry the title of the world’s number one pollutant. Start thinking about what you purchase. Can you buy second hand clothes or reduce the amount you are buying? Think about investing in a smaller capsule wardrobe, which contains interchangeable pieces instead of buying throwaway high fashion clothes.

Buy Seasonal and Local Foods Consider your purchasing decisions around the food you buy for the family.

Make it your new year’s resolution to only buy seasonal and local foods. If you can afford it, buy organic because fewer pollutants and pesticides are used in the production of organic food. Visit your local farmer’s market to buy soap, honey, and jewellery from the stallholders. Investigate the journey each food makes and buy goods with the shortest travel time. Do you really need asparagus or green beans from another continent?

If one girl protesting outside the Swedish parliament can start a global protest movement against climate change, we can all do our bit. Small actions undertaken by large numbers of people really can make a big difference.

Families Newcastle Gateshead 13

Please check listings with the venue before leaving the house!

What’s on?

We’ve ordered everything according to start date. The information/dates were correct at the time of going to print, but may have changed, so be sure to check before you set off. More ‘Days Out’ can be found online at www. familiesonline.co.uk and all events are searchable by date, venue & age range making it easier to find all our local events at the click of your mouse!

‘til 24 Feb – Beamish

18 Jan – Cragside

Beamish Museum’s real ice rink is the perfect festive experience for all the family! Whether you’re a novice skater or fancy yourself as an Edwardian expert, we would love to see your skills! The ice rink is at their Winter Fun Fair and is decorated in a traditional Edwardian style with festoon lighting! Buy your ice skating tickets at the main Entrance when you arrive at the museum. Ice rink tickets, including skate hire, cost £4 for children and £5 for adults, for at least a 20-minute session. Special offer: For every full paying adult, one child skates free of charge.

Join us at Cragside for a night with the stars and witness spectacular wonders as we’ll take you on a journey through space with our winter star party. This is one of the best times of the year to see star clusters, galaxies and swirling clouds where stars are born. We’ll have a colourful talk; give you chance to handle space rocks billions of years old and take you on a tour of constellations to spy wonders with telescopes. Suitable for children aged 6+. Booking essential and ticket includes soup and a hot drink, adults £15, child £7.50.

‘til 29 Mar 2020 – Discovery Museum

LEGO Adventure Robo Assault Course

Ice Skating

Brilliant Bricks

NEW! Saltwell Park, Gateshead

Junior Park Run

Junior parkrun is a collection of free, weekly, timed 2k events for children aged 4-14. Children can walk, hop, run or skip for fun! Children need to be registered for free at www.parkrun.org.uk/register. They can then attend any parkrun - just remember to bring along their printed-out barcode. Saltwell junior parkrun starts at 9.00am every Sunday from the bowling green in Saltwell park, Gateshead. More information and updates can be found on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ saltwelljuniorparkrun

‘til 23 Feb – The Word

Amazing Space

July 2019 marked 50 years since man first set foot on the Moon & this exciting new FREE exhibition explores Space fact & fiction. Step inside the astronaut spacesuit & replicate the photograph taken on the first Moon landing! Solve the Space-scene jigsaw & listen to a selection of Space-themed music. See costumes from Star Trek & Star Wars & marvel at an original Washington Post newspaper dated the day after the 1969 Moon landing, which has been signed by legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Tel 0191 4271818.

‘til 23 Feb – Life Science Centre

Ice Skating

This hugely popular outdoor ice rink is now in its 19th year. For more information & to book tickets, visit www. life.org.uk

14 Families Newcastle Gateshead

This exhibition, built by LEGO® creator Steve Mayes, highlights what the North has done for the world through 45 intricate models, using 50,000 mini bricks. See how many of these northern innovations you recognise in this 3D timeline, which features everything from the Geordie Lamp, Stephenson’s Rocket and Turbinia through to the futuristic Hyperloop. Don’t forget to look for the real-life Geordie inventions around the museum.

9 Jan – Sage, Gateshead

Baby Sinfonia

For tiny listeners our Baby Sinfonia concerts are a real treat. Classical music can have a calming effect and help babies to feel more relaxed. So, immerse yourself and your little one in 45 minutes of wonderful music played by members of Royal Northern Sinfonia in the intimate, warm surroundings of Sage Two. Bounce to the playful dance movements, relax/nap in the more serene moments or simply sit back and enjoy the music.

14 Jan & 4 Feb – Life Science Centre

Pre-School Day

These regular events, led by Life’s friendly Science Explainers, provide a delightful opportunity for young children to enjoy & explore the science centre. Each session offers a mix of classic activities, such as Piccolo Music workshops, mini-beast handling & a toddler bubble disco alongside new activities, so that every event is different. Access to our hands-on Young Explorers’ Zone and special planetarium shows for little ones are also available. Pre-school days are drop in events so you can arrive &leave when it’s convenient for you, but please be aware that spaces in Piccolo Music Workshops are limited & do tend to get booked up quickly. Perfect for ages 4 & under. For more info: www. life.org.uk/pre-school-days

Stargazing: Winter Stars

18 Jan – 2pm - Seven Stories

Get your hands on a real LEGO robot & race your way to first place! In this hands-on workshop, help LEGO super face Bricks McGee transform the Attic into an amazing robo assault course inspired by your favourite adventure stories & then put your remote-controlled robot racing skills to the test against fellow LEGO adventurers. £6pp for children aged 4+ & their families.

18 Jan – 10.15am – 11.45am - Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle

Saturday Art Classses

An inclusive art class held on the first & third Saturday of every month for 10-15-year olds. £5 per child. Book in advance at laingartgallery.org.uk.

25 – 26 Jan - All around North Tyneside

RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch

Wrap up warm and join our wardens and identify birds in the park. Help to complete the RSPB survey. FREE event. Locations: Marden Quarry, 26th Jan 10.30am – 12pm. Northumberland Park, 25 Jan 10.30am – 12pm and 26 Jan 1.30pm – 3pm.

1 Feb – St. Mary’s Heritage Centre, Gateshead

Family Funny Bones House: Gateshead Silent Film Festival

A special performance of family friendly silent comedies for younger film goers with musical accompaniment.

These delightful rib-ticklers will get your chuckle muscles going. You can buy refreshments pre-show and why not stay on after the show and purchase some fantastic food from Scream for Pizza. £5 Doors open at 10.30am, screening starts 11am, Scream for Pizza available to buy after the show. Tickets: 0191 433 4699 or buy online at www.gateshead.gov.uk/whatson familiesonline.co.uk

Theatre

2 Feb –Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Chinese New Year Celebrations

Celebrate the year of the Rat with Chinese arts and crafts, lion dances, family trails and selling stalls. FREE entry. A small charge will apply for some of the activities.

No booking required, drop in.

8 Feb – 10am – 3pm - The Botanic Garden, Durham

Tales from the Heart of Winter

Join Elizabeth Baker and Tillytoo Tales Storytelling as we celebrate National Storytelling Week with some frosty fables and snowy stories. It might be cold outside, but it’s warm in the greenhouse and Elizabeth’s stories are bound to fire your imagination. There’ll be some winter crafts too.

8 - 29 Feb – Seven Stories

Elmer and Friends

A new exhibition celebrating 30 years of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. It is the first major retrospective of children’s author & artist David Mckee’s artwork & manuscripts from the world-famous Elmer series plus other artwork from his popular stories.

15 – 23 Feb – Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

‘till 4 Jan – Northern Stage

Wolf!

Join us for a wintery adventure and find out what happens when Jack cries WOLF! Beneath the Christmassy moon, under the snowy mountains, amongst a flock of woolly sheep, Jack is bored. Bored of watching sheep, bored of counting sheep but most importantly bored of SHEEP! Down in the village just a whisper of a wolf will cause a panic... With original music, puppetry and a tale you thought you knew.

From Kitchen Zoo, the makers of The Owl and The Pussycat, The Tin Foil Astronaut and The Three Bears at Christmas. Inspired by Aesop’s fable, for ages 4 and under and their families. All performances are relaxed performances.

‘till 19 Jan – Theatre Royal, Newcastle

Beauty and the Beast

For the first time ever the spellbinding pantomime Beauty and the Beast comes to the Newcastle Theatre Royal in a spectacular and enchanting production for all the family, starring legendary Theatre Royal panto stars Danny Adams, Clive Webb and Chris Hayward. Join them on a magical adventure to help the beautiful Belle on her quest to unleash the Beauty within the Beast.

With everything you’ve come to expect from the Theatre Royal’s pantomime; spectacular special effects, hilarious comedy and a few surprises along the way, Beauty and the Beast is set the be the North East’s biggest panto ever!

Make Time for Art

18 – 22 Feb – ST Mary’s Heritage Centre, Gateshead

Half Term Graveyard Trail

Come along in the school holidays and take part in our short, fun graveyard trail. Find the pictures hiding around the graveyard to win a small prize. Free, just drop in. (closed Sunday and Monday). Further details: heritage@ gateshead.gov.uk or 0191 433 4699.

20 Feb – St. Mary’s Heritage Centre, Gateshead

Half term crafts

It’s National Love Your Pet day! Show some love to your pet and to other pets in your community by joining us for some fun crafts this half term to take home with you and vote for your fur-vorite pet! Refreshments available. £2 per child, just drop in. Further details: heritage@ gateshead.gov.uk or 0191 433 4699. familiesonline.co.uk

11 – 15 February – Empire Theatre, Sunderland

The Sound of Music

One of the greatest musicals of all time returns to the stage in this magnificent five-star production to enchant the young and the young at heart. This wonderfully lavish staging tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom at the start of WW2. The unforgettable score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on stage, including Edelweiss, My Favourite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Every Mountain, So Long Farewell and of course, the Sounds of Music.

18 – 22 Feb –Empire Theatre, Sunderland

Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours, this magical musical is full of unforgettable songs including Go, Go, Go Joseph, Any Dream Will Do, Jacob and Sons, Close Every Door to Me and many more. With additional new choreography from Gary Lloyd (Thriller Live, Heathers), Bill Kenwright’s ’Superb’, ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Brilliant’ production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkling family musical is brought to life in a colourful explosion of joy.

17 Feb – 10.30am – 12pm – Rising Sun Country Park, Benton

Den Building

Jack and the Beanstalk

Welcome to the world of fairy tales, where our poor hero Jack and his dotty mum Dame Trott are tricked into selling their beloved cow Daisy for a useless bag of beans. Laugh at silly Billy, boo and hiss the evil Fleshcreep and of course cheer-on our hero Jack as he tries to rescue his sweetheart Jill from the nasty giant’s castle in the clouds. Packed with great songs, amazing dance routines and plenty of laughter for all the family!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

We’re excited to bring you activities and workshops over February half term that explore the themes of Received Wisdom: our new exhibition which celebrates life-long creativity. We learn so much every day. What can we learn from art and the artists who make it?

For children aged 5+. £3 per child and booking is essential as this event usually sells out. Book online at www.risingsuncountrypark.eventbrite.com Wear long sleeves and trousers and sturdy footwear or wellies.

Also bring a waterproof.

‘till 4th Jan – Whitley Bay Playhouse

‘till 4th Jan – Northern Stage

The Snow Queen

Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fable is thrillingly reimagined in this spellbinding new production from the same team that brought you A Christmas Carol, James and the Giant Peach and Alice in Wonderland. When her best friend Kai disappears, the young and gutsy Gerda is sure that he has been taken by the mysterious Snow Queen. Determined to rescue her friend, she embarks on a courageous quest all alone into the icy unknown. But can Gerda rescue Kai in time to stop the Snow Queen’s plan to keep the world in eternal winter?

A thrilling festive frozen fairy tale for the whole family that you won’t want to miss this Christmas. Great for ages 5+.

20 Feb – Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle

The Sooty Show

Izzy wizzy, let’s get busy! Join Sooty for his brand-new Laugh Out Loud Magic Show! Direct from their hit ITV series, Sooty, Sweep and Soo and TV’s Richard Cadell will amaze you with impossible tricks and side-splitting jokes! Be astounded at Sooty’s flying car, Soo’s singing unicorn and Sweep’s levitating sausage! With special guests circus star Michael Jordan and the ultraviolet specialties of Fantasie de la Nuit.

A spectacular treat for the whole family – including a chance to meet Richard and Sooty after the show!

For free fun and games and tour info visit www. thesootyshow.co.uk Families Newcastle Gateshead 15

Shape a brighter future.

Open Morning Junior School and Nursery: Saturday 14th March Limited availability for September 2020.

Now taking applications for 2021.

Parents are welcome to arrange a visit to any of the Schools.

Please contact the Head of Admissions on 0191 275 0608. www.dameallans.co.uk

Keep up to date with all things Families in your local area Join our Families Newcastle Gateshead Community Chat group on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/FamiliesNGMag Topical articles / Recommendations / What’s on / Events / Chat / Sell