Families Newcastle Gateshead Mar/Apr 2020 issue 11

IN THIS ISSUE Pull Out and Keep Places to Visit in 2020 Competitions Holiday Camp Directory What’s On Easter Family Fun

Issue 11 Mar/Apr 2020

familiesonline.co.uk

Hello readers FAMILY I don’t know about you, but I am full of the joys of spring!

There’s nothing better than seeing the nights get lighter and the weather get warmer (if only a little!). One of my favourite sights whilst out walking our dog Lottie, has got to be the emerging daffodils of the season. And let’s not forget that we also have Easter to look forward to, that time when my husband and I are forced to help our boys out eating their chocolate Easter eggs as it would be totally unhealthy for them to consume ALL of them…of course!

Welcome

News

Join the Fight Against Plastic with the Great British Spring Clean

This issue includes a brand-new feature – a double page pullout and keep map for the region with our top attractions for families to visit in 2020. So, pull it out, mark off which ones you want to go to and pin it to the family notice board for easy future reference! As visiting attractions can get expensive, we’ve also included some of our favourite parks and playgrounds to visit in the region. Just look for the tree icon to find them on the map.

Wishing you and your family a happy Easter and plenty of #familyfun springtime adventures.

Editor, Families Newcastle Gateshead Magazine

Get in touch E – editor@familiesnewcastle.co.uk T – 07794909820 @FamiliesNGMag @FamiliesNGMag @familiesngmag

Wherever you live, you and your family can make a difference to your local environment by sparing just a few hours to take part in the Great British Spring Clean from 20 March to 13 April.

Run by charity Keep Britain Tidy, this initiative is the country’s biggest massaction environmental campaign and aims to get 600,000 #LitterHeroes out and about, cleaning up the environment on their doorstep.

It’s easy for families to get involved. Simply pledge to take part and either organise a litter-pick in your community or join an organised event.

what’s on?

To find out more, join a local event, register to take part and access resources including a how-to guide, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org/ GBSpringClean

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.

2 Families Newcastle Gateshead

Circlulation: 17,000 Deadline: Deadline for May/Jun 20 is early Apr 20 Designed by: Anna Lawton Printed by: William Gibbons www.williamgibbons.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.

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Participate in British Science Week

Having Fewer Toys May Be Better

Over Half of Parents Feel Lonely New research has found that over half (56%) of parents with children under the age of 5 years experience loneliness at least some of the time.

The study by the charity, Coram Family and Childcare reveals that the issue affects significantly more women than men, with twice as many mothers than fathers saying they often feel left out, as well as younger parents, with nearly 37% of parents aged 18 to 24 often feeling a lack of companionship, compared to 21% of parents aged 25 to 34.

You’ve probably suspected it – well, it may now have been confirmed! Children who have too many toys are more easily distracted, and do not enjoy quality playtime, a new study suggests.

British Science Week is a 10 day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths which takes place from 6 to 15 March.

The annual festival features fascinating, entertaining and engaging events and activities across the UK, designed to appeal to families with children of all ages.

Your child can also enter the annual poster competition and/or download a series of FREE activity packs at www. britishscienceweek.org, filled with resources and ideas to try out at home or school. The good news is these activities don’t require parents to have a science background or buy any expensive equipment.

To find your local event or activity, visit www.sciencelive. net

Researchers at the University of Toledo in Ohio, US, recruited 36 toddlers and invited them to play in a room for half an hour, with either four toys, or sixteen toys.

Loneliness is most prevalent around the birth of a baby, particularly if parents are unable to get out of the house easily and when the children are older but haven’t yet started school.

They found that youngsters were far more creative when they had fewer toys to play with. They also played with each for twice as long, thinking up more uses for each toy and lengthening and expanding their games.

Focus groups conducted by Coram Family and Childcare revealed that parents felt the best way to combat loneliness and isolation is to meet other parents by participating in activities that their child will enjoy.

The authors of the study conclude that parents, schools and nurseries should pack away most of their toys and just rotate a small number regularly, to encourage children to become more creative and improve their attention spans.

More info: www.familyandchildcaretrust.org

More info: www.sciencedirect.com

Kids’ Corner ANAGRAM Can you unscramble the letters to spell out the names of five popular book characters?

PICTURE CROSSWORD

Can you solve the picture clues and put them in the crossword?

1 3

2

1. d i a t m l a

1 3

2

4

2. p e t h o r r a t y r

4

3. k t e r a c y r e b a e

5 7

6

5

4. f g e e l f r y e g h 8

5. l g p i c n p s k i p g t o o i n

6 7

When you’re done, unscramble the circled letters to spell a special message!

The answers are: 1. Matilda 2. Harry Potter 3. Tracey Beaker 4. Greg Heffley 5. Pippi Longstocking. Message is: Happy Reading familiesonline.co.uk

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9

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editor@familiesnewcastle.co.uk

Families Newcastle Gateshead 3

Early Years: D When should my child start talking?

uring the first three years of life, a baby’s brain is developing rapidly which is why this period contains so many critical milestones for their speech development. Interestingly, much of your baby’s speech development depends on your “baby talk” skills as well as those of your baby!

The first “baby talk” is non-verbal and happens soon after birth. Babies grimace, cry, and squirm to express a range of emotions and physical needs, from fear to hunger to frustration. It is important to listen to your baby’s different cries, work out what they mean and respond accordingly.

At the age of 3 months, you’ll notice your baby listening to your voice, watching your face as you talk, and turning towards other voices, sounds and music.

Before babies start talking, they are gathering information. That information eventually becomes the foundation of the first baby talk. And the best way for parents to help their babies make it to those first words – and thrive with language development in the months after – is to talk to them.

By Andrew Campbell

At around 6 months of age, you’ll hear your baby begin to babble and coo, as they play around with different sounds. This “baby talk” is a happy, gentle, repetitive, sing-song vocalisation sounds similar the world over, despite the language of a baby’s parents.

After 9 months of age, babies can say and understand a few basic words like “no” and “bye-bye.” They also may begin to use a wider range of consonant sounds and tones as they try out sounds and find their own voice. Babies may also be able to point to people, objects, and body parts you name for them. They repeat words or sounds they hear you say, like the last word in a sentence, but they often leave off endings or beginnings of words. For example, they may say “daw” for “dog” or “noo-noo’s” for “noodles.”

Most babies say their first words sometime around their first birthday - possibly “mama” and “dada.” Now, importantly, they know what they are saying. They should also respond to -- or at least understand, if not obey - short, one-step requests like: “Please put that down.”

Over the next six months, your baby will start to use language in a more recognisable way and you may start to hear them talking. You might find that initially only you and a few of your baby’s favourite people can make out what they’re saying though! By the age of 2 years, babies can string together short phrases of two to four words, such as “Mummy bye-bye” or “me milk.” They’re learning that words mean more than objects like “cup” - they also mean abstract ideas like “mine.”

Over the course of the next year, your baby’s vocabulary expands rapidly, and “make-believe” play spurs an understanding of symbolic and abstract language like “now,” feelings like “sad,” and spatial concepts like “in.”

Ideas to Encourage Talking The more words children hear, the more they learn.

Here are some fun things to do together to encourage your baby’s speech and language development: Chat to your baby about the things you’re doing, even if you think they’re boring – for example, ‘Daddy’s vacuuming the carpet to get rid of the dust that makes you sneeze.’

Repeat your baby’s attempts at words to encourage a two-way conversation.

For example, if she says “mama” you could say “mama” back to her. Build on your toddler’s words. For example, when baby says: “train,” you say: “Yes, it’s a big red train.”

Show interest in your baby’s babbling and talking by smiling and looking him in the eye.

Respond to and talk about your baby’s interests. For example, if your baby starts playing with a toy train, you could say “Toot, toot.”

Read, tell stories, share songs and nursery rhymes with your baby.

Praise your baby’s efforts to talk. For example, if your baby points to a dog and names it, you could say: “Well done for pointing out the dog, Georgie!”

Infants all develop at a different pace, but if you’re worried about your child’s speech or language development, talk to your GP or health visitor. If necessary, they will refer your child to your local speech and language therapy department.

More info: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-andbaby/helping-your-childs-speech www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/learning-talk-andcommunication-your-baby

4 Families Newcastle Gateshead

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Clubs & classes

Little Voices All Little Voices pupils work towards a LAMDA exam every year, and for the first time ever this year our older pupils are taking a Shakespeare exam! Expect soliloquies, verse, prose, trickster fairies, mad kings and wicked witches. Watch as your child develops a real passion for Shakespeare and a love of language, and learns how accessible, relevant and not at all scary Shakespeare really can be!

LAMDA (London College of Music and Dramatic Art) exams will boost your child’s confidence and self-belief, as well as giving them valuable life skills including teamwork, public speaking and the strength to pursue life goals and dreams.

Each week at Little Voices your child will experience singing and drama, friendship building, confidence boosting as well as preparing prestigious LAMDA exams in a very small class with a team of dedicated tutors. Your child’s talent will be nurtured, and their self-esteem will be raised. They will make friends for life and be well prepared for their future. At higher grades LAMDA exams can even count as UCAS points for University Applications!

Book TWO TASTER SESSIONS here: https://www.littlevoices.org.uk/locations/newcastlefenham/newcastle/ newcastlefreetrialapplicationform or contact jenni@littlevoices.org.uk for more details EASTER 3 DAY THEATRE WORKSHOP: 6th,7th and 8th April 2020 3 dynamic days of acting, singing and dancing, learning hits from the musicals and more with a brilliant team of passionate, dedicated, caring tutors. Little Voices has a 100% Gold Star Rating from the CAA so you can be confident your child is in the safest of hands, having the most fun! Open to all children aged 4-16, contact jenni@littlevoices.org.uk to book or for more information.

SUMMER THEATRE WEEK 24th-27th August 2020 A 4-day musical theatre workshop for young people, with a fabulous sharing of work on the final day for friends and families. We run a Brilliant Buddy system, pairing up older and younger pupils for the week, so you can feel confident that your little one has someone looking out for them all week, and that your older child is enjoying having some responsibility! All our workshops are run by a brilliant team of passionate, dedicated, caring tutors. Little Voices has a 100% Gold Star Rating from the CAA so you can be confident your child is in the safest of hands, having the most fun! Open to all children aged 4-16, contact jenni@littlevoices.org.uk to book or for more information. familiesonline.co.uk

Families Newcastle Gateshead 5

Lee Sterry Sports Coaching, Football Camps

Summer Camps and Workshops Directory

Newcastle

Razzamataz Newcastle

Little Voices Newcastle

EASTER 3 DAY THEATRE WORKSHOP: 6,7 & 8 April 2020 3 dynamic days of acting, singing and dancing, learning hits from the musicals and more with a brilliant team of passionate, dedicated, caring tutors. Little Voices has a 100% Gold Star Rating from the CAA so you can be confident your child is in the safest of hands, having the most fun! Open to all children aged 4-16, contact jenni@ littlevoices.org.uk to book or for more information.

SUMMER THEATRE WEEK 24 -27 August 2020

A 4-day musical theatre workshop for young people, with a fabulous sharing of work on the final day for friends and families. We run a Brilliant Buddy system, pairing up older and younger pupils for the week, so you can feel confident their your one has someone looking out for them all week, and that your older child is enjoying having some responsibility! All our workshops are run by a brilliant team of passionate, dedicated, caring tutors.

Little Voices has a 100% Gold Star Rating from the CAA so you can be confident your child is in the safest of hands, having the most fun! Open to all children aged 4-16, contact jenni@littlevoices.org.uk to book or for more information.

ART4 Holiday Workshops

Newcastle

ART4 believes that every child is an artist and that creativity lies at the heart of everything! Run by a qualified primary art specialist, each themed workshop is thoughtfully designed to inspire your child, to encourage their creativity and fire their imaginations! ART4 offers your child the unique opportunity to explore art in a way that a traditional curriculum neglects, it gives them the chance to develop their artistic skills and expands their horizons! Set in a relaxed, fun environment, ART4 is the exciting artistic experience that will help your child to flourish and grow in confidence, it allows children to become more like themselves and less like everyone else! ART4 is passionate about bringing art to all!

Creativity is contagious! Ages 6 – 11. 9.00am – 4.00pm.

To book call: 07500 524737.

Dance City

North East

Does your child LOVE to dance? Are you looking for fun, active and educational opportunities for them during the Easter and Summer holidays? Then the Dance City holiday dance camps could be just what you need.

Whether your child already dances or is a complete beginner all they need is passion and enthusiasm to get moving. Dance camps take place in the beautiful Dance City venue in Newcastle, in professional standard dance studios and a 240-seat theatre – a safe, friendly and inspiring environment. The teaching staff are all experienced dance artists who will support your child to have the best experience – growing not only in dance skills but in confidence and social skills too. All dance camps are suitable for ages 6-16. Children will be sorted into age and skill-appropriate groups. At the end of each week family and friends can watch the performance in the Dance City theatre. Fusion! Easter 6 - 9 April, 9 – 5pm daily. Performance for family on Thursday at 3.00pm. £100 6 Families Newcastle Gateshead

Are you looking for an exciting new challenge this summer? During the week, students will experience dance, drama and singing, together with learning about theatre skills, prop making and much more. Students aged between 4-8 will attend morning sessions and older students aged 8-18 will attend all day. On the last day there will be a short performance for parents/ guardians, family and friends where the children all get a chance to shine. Many of the Summer Stage Academies are based on popular shows such as Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Frozen. Age range is flexible and early drop off is available. To find out more email Kayleigh: newcastle@razzamataz.co.uk or call 07772577855.

Foundation of Light

Sunderland

The Foundation of Light is running a wide range of fun sports activities for boys and girls throughout Sunderland over the holidays. All of its football courses run within its Player Progression Pathway, and are put in place to support the identification, development and progression of players with the potential and aspiration to play for Sunderland AFC’s Academy and Sunderland and Gateshead Girls’ Centre of Excellence.

It is holding soccer courses for kids aged 5-14 years old at the Goals Soccer Centre in Sunderland; Hetton School; Easington Colliery Primary School; Kirkby Stephen Grammar School; Seaham Leisure Centre; Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre; Stanley Community Football Centre and Beacon of Light.

Gamesweek

Newcastle

Gamesweek is a quality provider of multi - activity courses for all children in the school holidays. Emphasis is placed on enjoyment whatever their level of skill.

Exciting and fun filled activities are delivered by expert and caring staff, led by Mr Fred Dickinson who is a member of the Sports Department at Newcastle Royal Grammar School (RGS) with over 30 years of teaching experience. To find out more visit: https://www. gamesweek.co.uk/index.php

Go Gateshead

Gateshead

Want to get the kids off the couch during the school holidays? Then why not join one of GO Gateshead’s sports camps at Gateshead Leisure Centre. Perfect for children aged 8-14 years, the camps will offer a fantastic range of activities from, Clip n’ Climb to trampolining, badminton to basketball, swimming to dodgeball.

Your kids will stay active, have fun and make friends.

Getting children active is not only our passion - it’s something we’re great at too. We provide children with the opportunity to try new sports, have fun, and really make the most of the school holidays. You can trust GO Gateshead to provide a service that is enjoyable, positive and safe. Book online or call: 0191 433 5733.

Sports School

Newcastle

Sports School operates sports courses and holiday clubs during school holidays from some fantastic venues which offer some outstanding facilities and choice of sporting activities. HOW TO BOOK: call 07831 680363 or email info@sportschools.co.uk. For full details visit www.sportschools.co.uk

Lee and his staff specialise in football but also provides basic moves tuition, multi skills development, speed agility, quickness and dance. Lee’s program aims to develop a healthy lifestyle for young children in a fun environment learning locomotion skills, coordination, physical fitness and technical skills whilst also developing personal skills such as communication, confidence and team work in a safe, fun and friendly environment. Visit: www.ls-sc.co.uk

Newcastle Dance Centre Summer Schools

Newcastle

For ages 5-8 and 9-16, join us for a week of dancing and musical theatre in the school holidays. Our themed weeks are full of fun activities and culminate in a show for parents on the last day. For full details visit: www. newcastledancecentre.co.uk

Next Generation Sports Camps

Newcastle, Morpeth, Cramlington & North Shields

Next generation NE Sport Coaching camps are full of fun. We offer a variety of sports and activities, providing excellent value for money. Perfect for children aged between 4 and 11. The week involves various traditional sports such as football, tag rugby, hockey and cricket.

Our camps also contain some unusual sports including archery and volleyball. Book online with Eventbrite.

Northumbria Sport Multi-Sport Kids camp

Northumbria University

Fun and exciting sport camps during the school holidays for children aged 7-13. Camps take place at our Sport Central facility and are delivered by our Sport Development team of qualified staff and Northumbria student coaches. Our kid’s camps are a great way for your child to meet new friends, develop their sporting skills and be active during the school holidays in a fun, inclusive, and supportive environment. Kids get to try different sports and games during each day, which can include football, basketball, quick cricket, netball, dodgeball, boxing, squash, athletics, quidditch, badminton, table tennis, tag rugby, ultimate frisbee and many more. We also have swimming, which is run by fully qualified swimming coaches from Swim North East, who have been awarded Swim School of the Year in the Sport England National Awards 2018. Please email David Jones: d.r.jones@northumbria.ac.uk

NUFC Foundation Holiday Courses

Various venues in the region

Newcastle United Foundation’s Soccer Courses are a great way for children to stay active during school holidays and during term time. Open to girls and boys of all abilities aged 5 to 14, these soccer courses take place at venues across the region in every school holiday and during term time. They’re perfect for getting children away from screens and helping them learn new skills, have fun, make new friends and create new memories. For prices, times and how to book, visit https://nufoundation.org.uk/soccer-schools/holidaysoccer-schools/

Turpentyne Fine Art School Holiday Workshops

Newcastle

Treat your young artist to a 4- or 5-day workshop during the school holidays. Skills based instruction, small class sizes, and individualized curriculum to accommodate all skill levels. Through thoughtful and encouraging instruction we help our students to build artistic skills and self-confidence! Workshops often fully subscribe. Enrol now to avoid disappointment. Visit: www.turpentyne. com for more info. familiesonline.co.uk

We’ve put together this handy map that can be pulled out of the magazine and kept for use all year. We’ve marked plenty of family friendly attractions for you to visit over the course of the year, suitable for all of the family.

It can get expensive to visit attractions with the kids all of the time, so we’ve also highlighted some of our favourite parks and playgrounds too. Just look out for the tree icon on the map #freefamilyfun

Places to visit in 2020 Pull out and keep map – you can refer to it all year long!

Of course, we can’t highlight every amazing attraction available in the region, so if you’re looking for more ideas, check out our ‘What’s On’ search facility online www.familiesonline.co.uk – all you have to do is input your postcode and away you go. You can also hear about family friendly events, shows and visitor attractions including offers, deals and competition tickets on our Facebook group. If you don’t already LIKE our page, maybe now is the time to do so www.facebook. com/FamiliesNGMag Happy #familyfun times this year!

Hamsterley Forest, Bishop Auckland

Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

Classed as one of North East England’s top visitor attractions, The Bowes Museum’s impressive collections, outstanding exhibitions and romantic history invite children on a journey of wonder to educate and entertain. As well as the treasures for grown-ups – which include paintings by artists such as Canaletto and Turner, some of the best European fine and decorative arts in the UK, and an acclaimed exhibition programme – there is much to keep the children amused. Toy displays, family fun days, storytelling, themed activities, children’s workshops and museum trails add to the informative and entertaining experience. A showstopper for adults and children of all ages is the amazing Silver Swan. This life-size 240-year-old musical automaton performs every day to fascinated onlookers.

Discover our picturesque woodlands which sprawl along the sides of a stunning sheltered valley. Escape the hustle and bustle of the everyday at County Durham’s largest forest. From wildlife watching to stargazing, and adventure play for all the family to exhilarating mountain biking, there is something to keep everyone busy. If you fancy a peaceful wander through the trees, Hamsterley’s extensive network of trails and paths provides the perfect opportunity for you to explore the heart of the forest. There are 4 walking trails, 4 cycling trails, an adventure playground, Gruffalo trail, Shaun the Sheep trail, 2 horse riding trails and a café.

Get outdoors into the fresh air and have plenty of family fun at Hamsterley Forest.

Cragside Discover Cragside: extraordinary Victorian house, gardens and woodland – the wonder of its age.

Discover the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity. One of the largest rock gardens in Europe leads down to the Iron Bridge, which in turn leads to the formal garden. Children will love our adventure play area and exploring Nelly’s labyrinth, a network of paths and tunnels cut out of a vast area of rhododendron forest. Fun family events throughout the year, picnic areas and dog friendly.

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Shields Ferry Seven Stories Seven Stories is the the National Centre for Children’s Books. There is always lots to do – with unique exhibitions, engaging storytellers, visiting authors and fun activities for all ages. Start your visit with a smile with our welcoming and helpful reception team, who will tell you all about what’s going on in the building, including story times, performances and crafts.

Sensory Backpacks are available to borrow from reception.

We’re very proud of our independent bookshop, recognised

by The Bookseller’s Association as one of the best independent bookshops in the country. Visit our bookshop coffee shop at any point during your visit for a hot drink and a sweet snack, with seating facilities available for short breaks from exploring!their heart’s content.

Taking only 7 minutes to cross the River Tyne, the Shields Ferry is key to the local communities of North and South Tyneside, giving residents and visitors to the area the chance to experience life on both sides of the river. Many popular attractions, situated only minutes away from the ferry, can easily be reached on foot and/or by making a short interconnecting journey using public transport. Enjoy an adventurous family day out any time of the year on the ferry – it’s a fun and unique way to travel! Download our local visitor attractions’ guides from nexus.org.uk/ferry.

Gibside Northumberlandia

Northumberlandia is a unique piece of public art set in a 46-acre community park with free public access and 4 miles of footpaths on and around the landform.

The Visitor Centre and Café is on the right as you enter the site through the main entrance gates at Northumberlandia. It offers a range of hot drinks and snacks, a selection of NWT branded and wildlife related merchandise, as well as Trust and general visitor information. There is seating inside, and further seating is available (weather permitting) on a raised terrace outside the centre with views of the bird feeding stations. There are two accessible toilets to the rear of the Centre.

Start your family adventure at Gibside; take on the low ropes challenge, encounter Strawberry Castle play area, build a den in the woods, get messy at the Mud Kitchen and discover wildlife on our family Explorer trail.

Fun for all ages / Activities every day / Seasonal events every day in school holidays / Dog friendly

gateshead

Down at the Farm

Down at the Farm is a seasonal attraction and offers animal interaction and play in the countryside between February and October each year. It is a small family run farm which has been in the Sunderland area since 18th century.

Come to Down at the Farm this Springtime and beyond to see our newly hatched chicks, get up close to our bunnies & guinea pigs, meet and bottle feed new-born lambs as well as meet lots of farmyard animals! Lots of outdoor play areas to enjoy, tractor rides to meet the cows, real quad bikes, barrel rides plus much more.

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Druridge Bay Country Park

Rising Sun Countryside Centre

Saltwell Park

Open every weekend and school holiday. Down at the Farm, Stoneygate Lane, Houghton Le Spring. DH5 8JG.

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Exhibition Park

key: parks

down at the farm

washington wetland centre

kynren

durham cathedral

NT GIBSIDE

diggerland

Weardale Railway

hamsterley forest

Bowes Musuem

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Discovery Museum As you enter the museum, you’ll come face to face with Turbinia. Charles Parsons’ 34 metre steam powered ship that was once the fastest ship in the world and an iconic part of the history of Tyneside. Immerse yourself in the history of Newcastle focusing on the area’s maritime, scientific and technological importance to Britain and the rest of the world.

Visit with the family for hours of free fun, (suggested donation £5).

Under 7s can get hands on with how water is used in our mini River Tyne replica. Children can let their imagination run wild in our space for designing, inventing and making. There are also a huge variety of interactive displays bringing science and engineering to life.

There are special events on suitable for all of the family. Check the website for more details.

alnwick castle

3 NT cragside

spanish city 2

northumberlandia

4 seven stories

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shields ferry

newcastle upon tyne discovery bute park museum

Family Fun 2020

Washington Wetland Centre

WWT Washington Wetland Centre is a wetland nature reserve and visitor attraction on the banks of the River Wear.

Open 364 days a year, our family-friendly site offers visitors of all ages and abilities a host of unforgettable wildlife experiences and beautiful scenery, whatever the weather. Enjoy close encounters with flamboyant Chilean flamingos, cheeky short-clawed otters, plus hundreds of endangered and exotic birds from around the world. With regular fun-filled events, exciting walks and daily talks, there’s something to keep the whole family entertained!

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

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yellow ducks

amongst our weird and wonderful real-life ducks

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Why it’s Important to Teach Children to Map Read

By Alicia Eaton

In today’s technology focussed world, the ability to map read, navigate and successfully get from place to place, remains a vitally important skill to teach our children.

At its most fundamental level, map reading develops children’s spatial thinking skills, which in turn can deepen their knowledge of maths, science and technology. Spatial thinking is something we use in many everyday situations, from rearranging a bookcase, to picturing situations in our ‘mind’s eye.’ It is the fundamental architecture which underpins our lifelong problem-solving skills.

It’s also a great excuse to get outdoors into the wilds and get back to basics with your child in natural or urban surroundings.

Stanfords, the largest map supplier in the world, reports that its sales figures in the last couple of years show that demand for physical maps is not waning. It seems that, as human beings, we prefer to plan our trips with a hard copy, making notes on it and keeping it as a treasured travel memento. Most significantly, a physical map can’t run out of battery power or be without signal in your hour of need!

Endurance adventurer and Ordnance Survey Get Outside Champion, Sean Conway, who has cycled, swum and run the length of Great Britain, is a lover of physical maps and has fond memories of learning how to map read as a child: “I remember being told how contour lines worked. It became a game to try and look for the steepest section of the map, and then go and find it. If you could climb it, we would!”

Here are five top tips for firing your child’s imagination and getting them engaged with the learned skill of map reading: 1. Just as it’s important to know your left and right, it’s important to understand where north, east, south and west are on a map. You can remember them as: a. Naughty Elephants Squirt Water b. Nobody Ever Swallows Whales c. Never Eat Shredded Wheat 2. If your child is struggling to grasp contours, get them to draw concentric circles on one of their knuckles – when they raise their finger, a hill appears!

3. Make directional and geographical vocabulary part of your dialogue with your children from a very early age, and whenever you are out and about together.

4. A great way to pass the time on a long family journey is to give your child a map and ask them to tick off the key symbols on the map as they spot them – eg pub, hospital, byway, footpath, wall, farm track. This instantly turns any mundane journey into a treasure hunt!

5. Often as adults we become scared of maps because we think we won’t be able to decipher them. But just have a go, make it fun and easy going – you might just learn something yourself whilst nurturing your child’s life-long love of adventure.

Map Reading Activities to Try at Home or Away Get a map of your local area, holiday destination or grandparent’s house and get outside – open your eyes wide and take a look around!

1. What can you actually see around you? And what does it look like on your map when drawn from above?

2. Have you seen this map before? Are maps flat or three dimensional? Are there any features you can see?

3. Maps use pictures and symbols to explain features of a landscape/area rather than words. Can you locate the key? If you see a feature on the map you don’t recognise you can look it up on the key.

4. Can you decipher both the physical and human features on your map? Perhaps the park, beaches, forests and rivers or churches, factories, farms and harbours?

5. Make your own map – have a think about the important information you want to include, key physical or human features. Will you start and finish your journey in the same place?

If you get lost, your phone battery is flat or there’s no signal, you never know, some key map reading skills and abilities might just save your life.

Maps give us a wealth of information about our surroundings – they are a clever, valuable and perhaps irreplaceable 2D representation of our incredible 3D world.

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Newcastle Gateshead 11

Fabulous Families Book Quiz & Competition Encourage your child to have a go!

With World Book Day having just passed, you and your child may have been thinking quite a bit about books and reading already this Spring. So now’s the perfect time to test your knowledge!

Families has teamed up with Young Writers to bring you this amazing quiz. It’s divided into two sections for ages 4 to 7 and ages 8 to 11.

We have a £50 National Book Voucher for the winner of the ages 4 to 7 category.

Thanks to Young Writers, we have a fantastic book bundle of 10 books for the winner of the ages 8 to 11 category, including popular, recently published books such as You Won’t Believe This by Adam Baron, Agatha Oddly Murder at the Museum by Lena Jones and What’s that in Dog Years? by Ben Davis.

To enter the competition, just email info@familiesmagazine.co.uk with your child’s name, age, your telephone number and answers to the questions in the relevant section. Closing date: 15 June 2020. Only one entry per child please!

Look out for the answers to the quiz in our next magazine or request them in your email entry. Ts&Cs online.

Young Writers organise poetry and creative writing competitions for children in schools. For further information, visit www.youngwriters.co.uk

Ages 4 to 7 Years

Ages 8 to 11 Years

1. Name 3 fruits the Hungry Caterpillar ate.

1. Where do Silky, Moon Face and Saucepan Man live?

2. In the Charlie and Lola books, what is Lola’s invisible friend called?

2. How is Stanley Lambchop better known?

3. Which book series do the characters Bottomley Potts and Blitzer Maloney 3. Who is the main character in Diary of Wimpy Kid? feature?

4. Who does Barney meet when exploring an old chalk pit?

4. Which animal visits Sophie and her mummy one tea time?

5. In the book Holes, who gets sent to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention Centre?

5. Who wrote Where the Wild Things Are? 6. Who wrote about characters called James, Matilda, Sophie and Charlie?

6. Who was there ‘Room on the Broom’ for?

7. Which David Walliams’ book is his character Joe from?

7. What is the name of the boy who builds The Snowman?

8. What are Mary Norton’s tiny characters called?

8. What is the name of Biff and Chip’s dog?

9. Who is the main character in The Bed and Breakfast Star by Jacqueline Wilson 9. Who lives in Hundred Acre Wood?

10. In which book series does Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III appear?

10. Aliens, pirates and dinosaurs love these…

11. The dormouse, a gryphon, a mock turtle and a rabbit are characters from which 11. Who is Perfect Peter’s rather naughty brother? classic children’s book?

12. What are the names of the witch and cat Valerie Thomas writes about? 12. Who wrote My Brother’s Famous Bottom book series?

WIN Family Tickets to Lightwater Valley We have a set of Family Tickets on offer for this popular theme park.

With over 30 rides and attractions for all ages, Lightwater Valley in North Yorkshire is bursting with fun and adventures for the whole family.

Brave the Ultimate, the longest rollercoaster in Europe, with a ride time of nearly six minutes – and experience the sky-high thrills of Eagle’s Claw.

Younger families will love wet ‘n’ wild fun on the Wild River Rapids, and swashbuckling adventures aboard speedy Skull Rock and the tummy-tickling Flying Cutlass.

Plus enjoy jumping around on the huge Jumpin’ Jacks bouncy pillow!

For more information, visit www.lightwatervalley.co.uk TO ENTER

Email your answers to the following questions (together with your postcode) to info@familiesmagazine.co.uk no later than 30 April 2020.

✸ Tell us in 50 words (or more) why you find Families magazine a useful tool for family life?

A full day’s fun at North Yorkshire’s number 1!

✸ How likely are you to respond to a piece of advertising you see in Families? a Very likely b Possibly c Unlikely

T&Cs apply. Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. See www.lightwatervalley.co.uk for full details.

Encouraging reluctant readers

By Tom Palmer Children must read. It’s good for them!

Unfortunately, that’s the last thing a child who doesn’t like reading wants to hear.

They might think reading is boring. The might have low confidence. They might even have an unidentified issue like dyslexia. Being told that reading is good for them just makes them feel worse.

My mum knew I hated reading. The more pressure she applied the more stubborn I was about it. I reacted to the pressure by defining myself as a nonreader and once I’d told myself that, I became even more entrenched. Then my mum changed tack. She did some things which made me want to read and to eventually call myself a reader.

Forget that loving reading is good for children. Make reading relate to something they already love.

Make a list of the things your child is passionate about. Do it now. Write down the five experiences, television shows, sports, interests that enthuse them.

These are the things that are probably going to get your child into reading. For me it was football…and then football…

Start with their favourite television show. Television is seen as one of the enemies of reading. But it’s so good now, it’s sometimes hard to tear yourself away. It’s helpful then that a lot of shows have books linked to them. Search for an official book or biography of one of the main characters on the show’s website. Is there spin-off fiction? An annual? If enough people watch a show – say, like Strictly – then there’ll be a book.

Teachers and school librarians often know more about what a child might like to read than a parent. Talk to your child’s teacher or school librarian. They also know what books have worked for other children in the past. They’re experts.

Have a day out. Football. Cinema. Theme park. Zoo. Whatever you do, there will usually be books available. Gift shops at the end of museums or theme parks often have books or guides. Theatres and sports venues have programmes.

For me, it was Leeds United match day magazines, but I accept they’re not to everyone’s taste!

Who does your child admire? A dancer? A singer? A sports person? Has that person written a book? There are more and more celebrities writing books. As a non-celebrity author I hate it, but, as a parent of an impressionable child, it’s great for you. Look the celeb’s name up on Amazon and see what’s out there. If you don’t want to buy it, then head to the library.

Role models are not just famous people. Does your child have a coach, teacher, aunt or neighbour that they admire? For me it was my sister’s boyfriend: he gave me books. I read them because they were from him. Get your child’s role model to talk to them about books and recommend titles. A book from someone you look up to is more likely to get read.

You are your child’s number one role model. Let them see you reading what YOU want to read!

Don’t worry if your child doesn’t finish every book. I finish less than half the books I read. Borrow from the library and then your child can experiment without it costing money.

Books are not always best. Does your child have a favourite magazine? There are hundreds of magazines for kids available from supermarkets and high street newsagents. They cost a bit and there are far less words in them, but they’re a great way to get children reading. They’re colourful. They’re silly. They’re exciting.

Get a magazine delivered. The idea of a magazine arriving for your child (and your child alone) can be exciting for them. I had Match magazine delivered when I was a kid. I couldn’t wait for Thursdays as a result.

Tom Palmer won the Ruth Rendell Award 2019 for his outstanding contribution to raising children’s literacy levels in the UK. He is the author of 45 books for children, many about football, rugby and WW1 and 2; yet he only became a reader at age 17, thanks to his mum and what she did to engage him with reading. For more information, visit www.tompalmer. co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Families Newcastle Gateshead 13

Please check listings with the venue before leaving the house!

4 Apr – Northern Stage

4 – 19 Apr – Washington Wetlands Trust

Join Chris Bostock, The Storyteller, to hear some of the stories he has collected from all around the world. Be ready to travel to the bottom of the sea or even to the stars, to meet interesting people, wonderful animals and see extraordinary sights. Storytime is at 10.30am for children under 5 years and their grown-ups and at 1.30pm for children aged 5-9.

A gang of BIG YELLOW ducks is flocking to Washington this Easter and we need your help to track them down!

Search our site with friends and family and have fun finding them hidden amongst their real life weird and wonderful duck cousins. Pick up a trail card at admissions and make a note of their names to win a prize and find out lots of weird and wonderful facts about our real-life ducks as you go. The trail runs throughout the day and cost is included in admission, so pop down and go on an adventure! Go quackers and share a duck selfie at #easterducks

The Storyteller Chris Bostock

Threes - Three Bears, Three Billy Goats and Three Rabbits – let’s hope they don’t get into the wrong story!

Some say good things come in 3s, so will you come and help with these stories please?

And for children aged 5-9 and their grown-ups:

What’s On? Newcastle upon Tyne

‘til 29 Mar 2020 – Discovery Museum

Brilliant Bricks

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.

‘til 31 Dec 2020 – Life Science Centre

Space Zone

It’s easy to forget we live on a spinning rock that is whizzing through space. The new Space Zone brings space close to home: find out how we’re already using space technology in our everyday lives and discover how the future of space exploration is being shaped right here in the north east of England.

Highlights include: Launch your own rocket; Climb inside a mock-up model of part of the International Space Station; Operate a Mars rover from mission control; Watch shows on a digital globe displaying Earth, Moon and planetary satellite imagery; Touch a genuine Moon rock.

Plus, check out the biggest planetarium in the north of England that features a variety of shows, including a presenter-led tour of the night sky.

Around the World in 60 minutes - Could you, would you, should you fly right around the world? We’ll be taking off promptly visiting Africa, Australia and South America.

You only need to pack your imagination helmets, and you’re guaranteed to bring back wonderful stories from each continent. But can we do it in just one hour? Only time will tell.

7–9 & 14–16 Apr – Laing Art Gallery

3-day Art Academy for 7-10-year olds

Looking for a bit of artistic, creative fun for your school holidays? Then our Art Academy may be just the thing for you! Young artists will explore our portrait collection over the three days. Using painting and 3D work students will explore the costume and clothing within the portraits to inspire and design their own amazing creations and fashion designs. On the final day there will be a mini pop up exhibition to showcase the young artists’ work. Be prepared to make new friends, get messy and have fun! Book online.

10 Apr – Newcastle Racecourse

Good Friday Raceday

Enjoy the Bank Holiday with us and a day of fantastic entertainment for all the family, including dinosaur entertainments for the kids, free funfair attractions and great competition on the all-weather track to conclude the All-Weather Championships season. For the first Good Friday ever, accompanied under 18s are admitted FREE, and all funfair attractions and dinosaur entertainments will be FREE to use!

Gateshead

Saltwell Park, Gateshead

RAF Red Arrows Flight Simulator

14 Families Newcastle Gateshead

7 – 18 Apr – St. Mary’s Heritage Centre

Easter Graveyard Trail

Keep the kids entertained whilst at St Mary’s with this fun, short Easter-themed trail. 10am - 4pm. Further details: heritage@gateshead.gov.uk or 0191 433 4699.

8 Apr – Gateshead Central Library

Easter Make & Take

Drop into the gallery to take part in family art activities inspired by Easter. Make your own animal Easter cones to collect your chocolate eggs in, will you choose a chick, bunny, lamb or even a unicorn! Pay as you feel.

2pm – 4pm.

North Tyneside

4 Apr – Stephenson Railway Museum

Opening Weekend

In spring 2020, Stephenson Railway Museum will re-open following a re-development of the museum space, thanks to a grant from the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund. The museum will feature new interpretation detailing the story of the development of the railways from our region, highlighting the significant time spent here by the father of the railways, George Stephenson. The story of the Stephenson family’s time in North Tyneside is highly important to our site; the museum’s star object, the Killingworth Billy engine, was recently discovered to be the world’s third oldest surviving locomotive, as well as the oldest surviving example of a locomotive adhering to the standard gauge track implemented by Stephenson, which is still in use today.

South Tyneside & Sunderland

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 21 Feb 2021 – Discovery Museum

Discovery Museum invite you to find out what it’s like to be an RAF pilot. Experience the thrill of the cockpit and fly with the RAF’s Red Arrows as they jet over their Cyprus training base in Discovery Museum’s new flight simulator. Step inside a state-of-the-art capsule for an immersive ride with high-definition visuals, surround sound and dynamic motion. An RAF Red Arrows flyby is a fixture in the Tyneside calendar as they regularly celebrate the iconic Great North Run held between Newcastle and South Shields every year. Tickets for a time slot on the day of your visit will operate on a first come, first served basis. Tickets can be purchased from the shop on the day.

Easter Duck Quest

14 Mar & 8 Apr – Souter Lighthouse & the Leas

Seashore Safari

Join a Ranger to search the rockpools along Souter’s rocky shore. Discover salty sea creatures galore. Learn how to tell your winkles from your whelks and lots more watery wildlife facts. Meet in the foghorn field. We can provide nets and buckets but please feel free to bring your own. The rocks can be slippery so don’t forget to wear sensible footwear too! £2 Booking required, call 0191 529 0909. Suitable for children of all ages. Must be accompanied by an adult.

21 – 22 Mar – National Glass Centre, Sunderland 4 – 19 Apr - Gibside

Easter Holiday Fun

Enjoy free family fun every day of the Easter holidays at Gibside with active adventures in the gardens and woods. Normal admission and car parking charges apply.

Mother’s Day Sandcast

Create a truly unique gift for your Mum for Mother’s Day. Create a mould in sand, and then decorate using your Mum’s favourite colours. Molten glass will then be poured into your mould to create a 3D object that will last a lifetime! Maximum of 10 people per slot. Minimum age: 6 years. £17 each and booking is essential. familiesonline.co.uk

6-19 Apr – Washington Old Hall, Sunderland

Easter Holiday Family Fun

We’ve got lots of family fun activities planned for during the Easter holidays. There’ll be plenty of ways to tick off your ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4’ tasks in the Nature Nuttery. Many activities are ideal for your big and little explorers. A small charge will apply for some craft activities and admission charges apply.

8 & 15 Apr – The Word, South Shields

Roarsome Laser Cutting

This hands-on workshop will teach children how to use the laser cutters in FabLab and develop some new skills.

They’ll be able to create a dinosaur-themed door hanger, a pencil holder or laser cut individual parts and piece them together to make their own 3D dinosaur. While they wait for their creation to print, children can have a go at Quiver augmented reality where they can draw or colour in a picture and through the magic of the app, they’ll see their drawing leap off the page! The workshops will take place from 10am-12noon & 1-3pm. Age 8+. Booking required.

10 – 13 Apr – Ryhope Engine Museum

Steaming Weekend

See Ryhope Engine Museum’s huge 100 horsepower steam beam engines in action. The Museum is regarded as one of the finest industrial monuments in the North East of England and is in a Grade II (starred) listed building. As well as the beam engines, built by R & W Hawthorn, are three ‘Lancashire’ boilers of 1908, two of which are in regular use, a blacksmith’s forge, a waterwheel, numerous steam engines and pumps, waterworks accessories such as depth recorders, and many items concerned with the distribution and uses of water in home and industry. There will be a classic car rally on 12 April with over 100 classic cars on display.

Northumberland

1, 7-8, 14-15, 22, 28-29 Mar

Woodhorn Museum, Ashington

Weekends and School Holidays between 12noon 3pm, why not visit Woodhorn Museum, make a Spring wand and help cast a spell to turn Winter into Spring in this family friendly make and do inspired by our Northumberland: Magic and Myth exhibition.

22 Mar – Wallington

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea

Bring the whole family and treat that someone special to a delicious Afternoon Tea this Mothering Sunday. Make sure you explore the beautiful grounds and enjoy all that Wallington has to offer on your visit. To Book Call 01670 773606.

4 – 19 Apr – Cragside

FLOW!

Join in with fun activities exploring the power of water – follow the spring trail through the newly opened gorge, discover waterfalls, try your hand at seasonal activities or have a go at pond dipping.

4 – 19 Apr – Wallington

Easter holidays

Join us for a mini beast adventure this Easter. Meet a mini beast expert and enjoy creepy-crawly crafts.

Normal admission and car parking charges apply.

Booking is essential.

6 – 10 Apr, 13 – 17 Apr – Cherryburn

Easter at Cherryburn

Enjoy art and nature-themed activities with a seasonal twist throughout the Easter holidays. Normal admission and car parking charges apply. familiesonline.co.uk

Co. Durham area & beyond

7 – 8 Mar – Beamish Museum

Women’s Day Celebrations

Take part in International Women’s Day celebrations (7th and 8th March), learn more about the Suffragette movement and chant “Votes for Women” as you march down the 1900s Town street. For more events and information about Beamish please visit their website: www.beamish.org.uk

2 – 5 Apr – Beamish Museum

Great North Steam Fair

From spectacular steam engines and extraordinary equines to fantastic festivals and terrific traditions, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North in 2020.

All aboard for a fantastic four days of all things steam with the Great North Steam Fair. See a whole host of steam locomotives and vehicles of all shapes and sizes gathered at the museum for this amazing annual event, part of the Great North Festival of Transport.

4 – 19 Apr – Down at the Farm

Easter Fun

There’s lots to see and do & bottle feed our cute lambs, cuddle and stroke our baby rabbits, hold a fluffy chick, tractor & take a fun barrel ride. Feed our animals with the keepers and there’s an Easter rabbit hunt all holiday.

Decorate your egg on Easter Saturday and Sunday £1.50, adventure play all day. On selected days: pony rides, birds of prey shows (free), magic shows (free).

7 April – Bowes Museum

Springtime Wonder

Join us for a day of activities inspired by nature and the changing seasons. You can get creative with a range of crafts suitable for all ages.

7, 9, 14, 16, April – Bowes Museum

LEGO® We do 2 Robotics and Coding Workshop

Go wild and create an animal, a robotic mouse or a swan with our LEGO® team. Take part in a 45-minute session exploring coding and make your LEGO® model come alive. Starting promptly on the hour. To avoid disappointment, arrive early as spaces are limited to first come, first served.

11 April – Bowes Museum

Easter Eggstravaganza Family Fun Day

Come and have some cracking Easter fun and join in our egg trail, find the Easter Bunny who will give you a treat.

Watch Magic Andrew’s magic act! There’s lots going on for the whole family to enjoy!

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts Put your wellies on and follow a nature-themed trail at your favourite NT places to earn a Cadbury reward.

11-12 Apr Allen Banks – 10am – 2pm, £2.50 10-13 Apr Cherryburn – 11am – 3pm, £3 4-19 Apr Cragside – 11am – 3pm, £2.50

10-13 Apr Gibside – 10.30am – 4pm, £2.50 10-13 Apr Housesteads – 11am – 3pm, £2.50

4-19 Apr Lindisfarne Castle – times vary 13 Apr Penshaw Monument – 12 noon – 3pm, £2

10-13 Apr Souter Lighthouse & the Leas – 11– 4pm, £3 10-13 Apr Wallington – 11am – 4pm, £2.50 10-13 Apr Washington Old Hall – 11am – 4pm, £2.50

Theatre 4 & 5 Mar - Gosforth Civic Theatre

Melva

​ ELVA tells the story of a 10-year-old girl whose M struggles with anxiety, or ‘worrits’ as she knows them, keep her from leaving the house. Her Grandpa has grown so worried about her that he fakes his own disappearance in the hope that it will compel Melva to leave the house and overcome her ‘bad worrits’. What follows is a funny and poignant adventure for them both, where each learn how their ‘worrits’ affect them and new ways to tackle them separately and together. MELVA is for children aged 7-11, their teachers and their families.

It’s a boisterous, mischievous and funny story of one girl’s adventure to find out what she’s really capable of.

15 Mar – The Customs House, South Shields

Arbuthnot Super Happy Silly Mega Fun Game Show

Let the games begin! Arbuthnot and his pals are back with another fantastic gameshow! With all new crazy games for everyone to join in and play. Arbuthnot has loads prizes to give away, will you be a winner? Come along and join in the fun! Performances at 12pm & 3pm. £5 per ticket.

​8 Apr – Gosforth Civic Theatre

Andy and the Odd Socks

Fast becoming the most exciting, innovative and indemand live music act for children in the UK, Andy and the Odd Socks have played over 100 shows including festivals such as Glastonbury, Camp Bestival, Victorious, Big Feastival, Shambala, BBC Summer Social, Standon Calling and many more. Fronted by CBeebies superstar Andy Day, the London based five-piece will play live shows up and down the country to support the release of their hotly anticipated second studio album ‘Who’s in the Odd Socks?’ which is due for release on April 3 ahead of the tour. Woven into a colourful world of characters – which sees Andy rocking out as the Odd Sock’s front man, Rio from Planet Rock on guitar, mega Moxy on drums, cool Blu on bass and crazy Cousin Mac on the keys – the energetic songs hold a message of acceptance and encouragement for all those, young and old, who feel a bit like an odd sock, and will feature original songs from Andy Day’s brand-new TV Show, Andy and the Band which will debut on BBC iPlayer early next year. Ages 3+.

11-12 Apr – Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Wizard of Oz Easter Panto

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to for a fantastic all-new Easter pantomime version of The Wizard of Oz – with star cast to be announced! Join Kansas farm-girl Dorothy and her pet dog Toto on this magical adventure suitable for all ages. Watch in amazement as they are picked up by a tornado and carried off to the magical Land of Oz. With help from their new friends the Munchkins, they to travel to the Emerald City where the great Wizard of Oz lives. On their way they meet a Scarecrow who needs a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who desperately needs courage. Will the wonderful Wizard of Oz be able to help them before the Wicked Witch of the West captures them in her dungeon? Come and join in the fun over the rainbow spring 2020 as Enchanted Entertainment present a wonderful Easter pantomime version of L. Frank Baum’s much-loved fairy tale.

15 April – Northern Stage

Little Red Riding Hood Little Red Riding Hood is a kind and thoughtful little girl who loves her family. One day, on a visit to her Grandmother, she meets a very hungry wolf in the forest who just wants something to eat. But is he really such a big, bad wolf? Retelling the classic fairy-tale with a Northern Ballet twist, Little Red Riding Hood is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre. After last year’s sold out Puss in Boots and with a string of hugely successful CBeebies TV adaptations, Northern Ballet’s productions for children are not to be missed. Shows at 12.30pm & 2.30pm.

Families Newcastle Gateshead 15

Kids travel free on the Shields Ferry every weekend!

Find great things to do and places to visit in North and South Tyneside at nexus.org.uk/ferry.

*up to three kids aged 11 and under can travel free on the Shields Ferry at weekends, including bank holidays, with a fare-paying adult.

Conditions apply.

facebook.com/theshieldsferry

THE ADVENTURES OF CLARA 23 May – 1 November 2020 In 1738 Clara was the most famous rhinoceros in Europe. She travelled the world inspiring people and creating a sensation; letters, poems, songs, paintings, books and sculptures just like our very own were produced. This exhibition will tour the globe so you can see, hear, smell and discover how Clara lived and what she did. You can also find out how to help save rhinos for the future.

The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP 01833 690606

thebowesmuseum.org.uk

nexus.org.uk/ferry