Families Newcastle Gateshead Nov/Dec 2019

IN THIS ISSUE Where’s Santa directory Family Christmas Traditions Social Media Guide Nappies to no nappies

Issue 9 Nov/Dec 2019

familiesonline.co.uk

issue family 3 news 5 families recommends In this

Hello readers Welcome

It is that time of year again, when it’s cold outside and the children are already asking how many sleeps it is until Santa Clause arrives! It is probably my favourite time of the year, when you can forget all of your worries and enjoy family times.

Read our feature on Christmas family traditions to hear all about how other local families celebrate each year. Our very own Families Act of Kindness Advent calendar should also help you and your family to focus on the act of giving without spending money on lots of gifts. Check out our Christmas gift guide and where to see Santa in the region. For everything that’s on for families over the festive period, our ‘What’s On’ pages, a much-loved favourite amongst our readers, gives you plenty of options for family fun days out.

Wishing all of our readers a very merry Christmas filled with laughter and smiles galore! See you in 2020!

Editor, Families Newcastle Gateshead Magazine

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

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family christmas traditions

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gift guide

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7 where’s santa?

9 Winter Walks

11 social media

nappies to no nappies guide

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north lakes review

14 what’s on?

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 32,000 local families 6 times a year.

2 Families Newcastle Gateshead

Circlulation: 16,000 Deadline: Deadline for Jan/Feb 20 is early Dec 2019 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.

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FAMILY

News

Record Low Sudden Infant Deaths Step Up for Safe Streets

Letter from Santa All children love to receive a letter addressed to them in the post, but what could be more special than a letter from Father Christmas? Here are two ways of making this happen.

Royal Mail Letter to Santa For children to receive a FREE letter from Santa via the Royal Mail children must post their letter to Santa by Friday 6 December.

Envelopes must have either a first or second class stamp and be addressed to Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ. The letter must include your child’s full name and address. royalmail.com/christmas/letters-to-santa

NSPCC Santa Letter - Children can also receive a

personalised reply from Santa via his elves at the NSPCC in exchange for a minimum £5 donation to the charity.

The letter is ordered online and must be placed by 9 December. letterfromsanta.nspcc.org.uk/letter-from-santa

Sudden infant deaths, the syndrome in which otherwise seemingly healthy babies die unexpectedly before their first birthday, has dropped to its lowest level on record, according to a report from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Records of what used to be called ‘cot death’ began in 2004, when the rate was 0.5 deaths per 1,000 births (i.e. one in 2,000 infants). The 2017 figure is 0.27 per 1,000 births – more like one in 4,000 – meaning the figure has almost halved since the records began.

The ONS said the fall in unexplained deaths may be due to factors such as fewer expectant mothers smoking and more awareness of safer sleeping practices.

The term ‘cot death’ is no longer used, due to the suggestion that sudden infant death can only happen when a baby is in its cot. The term now used is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea Hits the Screen this Christmas

New Sleepy Tales for Children

The book publisher Penguin Random House has collaborated with The Children’s Sleep Charity to create collections of Sleepy Tales audiobooks designed to help children relax before bedtime.

For children ages 3 to 6 years, Ladybird Sleepy Tales and for children aged 7+, Puffin Sleepy Tales, they are stories with a difference. Part soundscape, part descriptive narrative, they use relaxing sounds and soothing narrators’ voices to conjure calming settings and landscapes to help children feel calm and positive at the end of the day.

Each tale is 15 minutes long and has been created to be interesting enough to hold children’s attention, but not too exciting.

Sleepy Tales are designed to become part of a child’s bedtime routine, and can be listened to before or after reading a bedtime story. Children can listen on their own, or with a parent, as a way to wind down.

More info: www.penguin.co.uk/books familiesonline.co.uk

UK Road Safety Week 2019, which takes place between 18 and 24 November, will encourage road users to ‘step up’ and play a part in the creation of a safe and healthy future on our roads.

Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on a British road, yet each of these tragedies is preventable.

This year, the annual event aims to encourage everyone to Step Up for Safe Streets and learn about, shout about and celebrate the amazing design-led solutions that can help end suffering on our roads.

The focus is on how design can stop human error from causing death or serious injury on the roads, can encourage walking and cycling, and can make sure that the air is clean.

For more information and to get your FREE Action Pack, visit www.roadsafetyweek.org

The Tiger Who Came to Tea, the classic children’s book

by Judith Kerr, will come to TV this Christmas adapted as a half-hour animated film for Channel 4.

It will feature a star studded cast of voices including Benedict Cumberbatch, David Oyelowo, Tamsin Greig, David Walliams and Paul Whitehouse.

The role of Sophie will be played by 7 year old Clara Ross, who will be making her TV debut.

For anyone that doesn’t know the book, it tells the tale of the tiger that shows up at young Sophie’s front door and proceeds to eat the family out of house and home, even going so far as to drink all of the water out of the taps, before declaring: “Thank you for my nice tea. I think I’d better go now,” and departing.

Chloe Tucker, Commissioning Executive, Channel 4 Drama said: “The Tiger Who Came to Tea is a timeless classic, and we hope this film will capture the same special place in every family’s imagination watching it.”

Want your business featured in our clubs & classes listings?

Get in touch! editor@familiesnewcastle.co.uk

Families Newcastle Gateshead 3

An Act of Kindness for Every Day of Advent!

– choose from below or make up your own 1. Smile at everyone you see today 2. Make cards for elderly people in your street 3. Tell someone the reasons you like them 4. Pick up litter in your street or local park 5. Clean up a mess you didn’t make 6. Wish a stranger a nice day 7. Help make dinner 8. Donate pocket money to charity 9. Compliment staff at a café or shop 10. Donate books, toys and clothes to charity 1 1. Volunteer at a festive community event

Zoe took biscuits to school

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12. Leave snacks on your doorstep for delivery people 13. Let somebody go ahead of you in the queue 14. Hug someone 15. Bake biscuits to take to school or work 16. Deliver notes to houses with great Christmas light displays 17. Pack away your things without being asked 18. Make someone laugh 19. Take canned food to your local food bank 20. Make a list of the things you’re thankful for 21. Leave a kind note where someone will find it 22. Send a Christmas card to someone overseas 23. Do a chore for someone else 24. Leave food out for Santa and his reindeer!

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Perform an a ct of kindness each day until Ch ristmas!

Pin up the c alendar and keep a daily record of yo ur family’s good deeds .

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ADVENT CALENDAR

Families recommends for Christmas and the winter season…

Decathlon Got a loved one in your life who enjoys running or are you thinking of putting those trainers on and pounding the pavement yourself this winter? Then look no further than Decathalon for some great running gear for the cold season. www.decathlon.co.uk

Kalenji women’s jogging Kalenji run warm long-sleeved jersey run hooded women’s dry+ zip - storm blue jacket - black £24.99 £9.99

Kalenji kiprun light men’s sleeveless running jacket £19.99

Kalenji women’s jogging Kalenji run warm+ jacket Kalenji run warm+ tights kalenji run warm – men’s running jacket men’s running trousers black £9.99 flecked grey £24.99 flecked grey £17.99

Mountain Warehouse

Here at Families Newcastle Gateshead, we cannot get enough of the Mountain Warehouse fantastic kids’ range and this year’s winter season does not disappoint! They’ve got some of the kids’ warmest winter jackets available in a range of colours and styles. Head to your local store or order online at www.mountainwarehouse.com Seasons Kids Water Resistant Padded Jacket - Now £24.99

Galaxy Kids Waterresistant Long Padded Jacket - Now £39.99

Eden Fleece Lined Kids Padded Jacket £34.99

Samuel Kids Waterresistant Parka Jacket - £29.99

ASDA Photo ASDA photo have launched this year’s Christmas gift range for those looking for that personal touch. This year make everything about Christmas truly magical and show your family and friends how much they are loved and cared about with personalised photo gifts. Ideal for all the family OR as unique stocking fillers and covering a variety of budgets too! www.asda-photo.co.uk

Hape Hape is the World’s largest producer of wooden toys, so why not take a look at their website to find out what amazing toys they have for your little ones (or big ones!) this Christmas. www.hape.com Here’s some of our favourites…

familiesonline.co.uk

Make walking even more fun with Hape’s Push Pals, a fusion of bright colours and friendly characterful motifs. £19.20

Put your best foot forward with Hape’s Little Red Rider, the quality wooden walker. £52.99

The fourwheeled Scoot Around is perfectlysized for your little one’s speedy escapades. £58.93.

Cruise around the living room, hallway or garden The Hape Balance Wonder is available to buy online for £57.49.

Moccis With fans such Victoria Beckham, Rita Ora, Sienna Miller, Claudia Schiffer, Jamie Oliver and many more, everyone is raving about Moccis! Moccis (pronounced Mock-Keys) are the first and only luxury hand sewn Swedish moccasins to bring fashion, function, and fun to adult and children’s indoor footwear worldwide.

Moccis are a hybrid of a sock and slipper in one, making them the perfect indoor footwear. They feature a soft leather sole that prevents you from slipping and falling down and are super soft and cozy, yet indestructible. Moccis are available for babies, children and adults. Prices from £25 at www.moccis.co.uk

Families Newcastle Gateshead 5

Family Christmas traditions

Every family has at least one festive tradition, so Families Newcastle Gateshead asked its readers to tell us more. Have a merry Family Christmas everyone!

Cassie Cooper, Newcastle: “We have Christmas Eve pyjama boxes with hot chocolate and treats and we sprinkle oats on the drive for the reindeer ☺️ we love to gather family for mince pies and mulled wine Christmas Eve to add to the excitement.”

Emma Lilley, Newcastle: “Hot Chocolate or festive drink to take out from Costa and then go to see Fenwick’s window.”

in our family, we spend December doing kind things for others. This has previously included (but is not limited to):

- buying umbrellas from the pound shop and handing out to random passers-by on rainy days - buying cat food and litter and toys and flea collars and donating to the Cats Protection League - filling a sturdy rucksack with thick socks, woolly hats, wet wipes, toothbrushes and pastes, non-perishable food items and hand to either a homeless person or a homeless charity

Ellen James, Whitley Bay: “I make up hedgehog Christmas hampers and travel across the region giving them out.”

- the kids go through their toys and donate unwanted ones that are still in good condition

Lauri Bowes, North Tyneside: “We all gather for a cheese board on Christmas eve (usually after the younger generation have been to the pub). Then Christmas day is present opening one present at a time going around the circle. And the most important bit is playing games. We each have to bring a game or quiz, preferably handmade rather than bought!”

- making salt dough ornaments and leaving them hung on our neighbour’s front door handles - sending Christmas cards to kids in hospital via a ‘Cards for cool kids’ group

Emma Veer, Durham: “We love to go to the Christingle service locally. To us that marks the beginning of the countdown to Christmas and it’s when we put our decorations up. “

- mince pies and baked treats for local police and fire stations on Christmas Day

Lisa-Jane Newman, Gateshead: “Xmas eve boxes with a film/book, jim jams and sweet treat for each, then we settle down for a cosy night, push the sofas together, stuff with pillows (nest) and enjoy!”

Rachel Cooper, Washington: “We have been sending the same cards to each other for the last 10 years and the children now do the same. We write a new message each year with the date. It’s lovely to see the children’s writing develop, and there are some lovely messages. The battery is still going strong in the one I give my husband! It’s sustainable, cheap and takes up very little space!

My parents used to exchange gifts with their oldest friend and each year each of them would use the same huge Selfridges bag - it went back and forth for years and years.”

Emi Lewis, Hexham: “We don’t ‘do’ Father Christmas but on Christmas Eve, everyone gets new pyjamas. We also do December Acts of Kindness.

So often the focus of this season is GETTING ALL THE PRESENTS and spending money... all about the price of things, but not the value of them. So,

- putting together mini care packages for the local women’s refuge

The joy of the season is in giving to others.

Carrie Finlayson, Chester-le-Street: “The Saturday before Christmas we all get dressed in our pyjamas, dressing gowns and slippers, get in the car once it is dark and go drive around all the local villages looking for Christmas lights.”

Margaret Wood, Newcastle: “We always give our kids a budget to choose a gift/gifts from the world vision catalogue. And last year we donated sleeping bags to KEY for homeless people.... We try to make sure Christmas isn’t all about gifts.”

Sarah Cooke, Walker: “We almost always have our main Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve. This frees up the big day for just chilling out and enjoying each other’s company, without one person missing all the action whilst slaving away over a hot cooker!”

Victoria Brown, Gateshead: “Our 3 children give each other the gifts they have chosen for each other on Christmas Eve. This way they always remember which gifts their siblings lovingly chose for them and they enjoy the act of giving as well as receiving.”

Where’s Santa?

30 Nov, 1, 7, 8, 14, 21 & 22 Dec

Beamish Hall

‘A Magical Christmas’ is an immersive theatrical experience for those who believe in the magic of Christmas. Within our Enchanted Woodland we have created a world filled with illuminations, music, interactive props, projections, and theatrical performers to lose yourself in.

Wensleydale Railway – 29 Nov – 23 Dec

The Polar Express Train Ride

Join us at The Polar Express Yorkshire for a magical Christmas Experience. We are the ONLY licensed Polar Express in Yorkshire. This Christmas experience is unlike any other. Brought to you by the organisers of the number 1 voted Polar Express in the World, Wensleydale Railway hosts The Polar Express Yorkshire new for 2019. Your journey begins just like the 2004 Motion Picture where The Polar Express will pick you up to take you to the North Pole. You will get to meet all the characters from the film including the conductor, the singing chefs, the hobo and of course the main man himself Father Christmas. You and your family, hopefully dressed in PJs, will experience a fun filled theatrical adventure as you make your way to the North Pole. Throughout your journey you will tangle with the Caribou, see the magic of the Northern Lights and have the story of The Polar Express told you by the singing Chefs. Don’t forget to have a bite of your cookie and authentic Hot Chocolate before arriving at the North Pole to meet Santa Claus. Book your tickets now! www. yorkshiredalesthepolarexpressride.com

29 Nov – 1 Dec

Durham Christmas Festival

Durham’s award-winning Traditional Christmas Festival will return with a wide range of festive entertainment for all the family in and around the World Heritage Site of the Cathedral and the Castle and throughout the City Centre. Around 300 children are expected to take part in the annual festive tradition that sees the streets lit up by lanterns carried by children - with their families - on a walk from the Market Place to Durham Cathedral. The huge, heated Craft and Gift Marquee on Palace Green will feature over 180 stalls across all three days of the event. In the Cloisters of Durham Cathedral, discover a Regional Food and Drink Producers’ Market featuring more than 30 traders. Durham Market Hall will also be open each day of the Christmas Festival, and there will be an additional Festive Market in the Market Place. In Durham Cathedral, Carols for All services take place on both Saturday and Sunday.

Weekend entertainment on Palace Green, between the Cathedral and the Castle, will include a static falconry display, storytelling, a children’s entertainer, and Father Christmas’s Festive Grotto. Additionally, there will be plenty of local entertainers and musicians throughout the city centre. The Children’s Lantern Procession takes place on 30 Nov, leaving the Market Place at 3.45pm and arriving at the Cathedral for the St Nicholas Service at 4.10pm. Lanterns can now be reserved for £6. The lanterns and battery-operated candles are yours to keep after the procession. The procession and St Nicholas Service are open to all. www.durhamchristmasfestival. com

16 Nov – 5 Jan

The Alnwick Garden

A new Winter Bumpers ice activity featuring inflatable land boats which offer a ride being described as like driving an inflatable boat on land. Minimum age 7 and a height restriction of 120cm. Those aged over 5 but under the minimum height can ride with an adult as a twosome.

Other festive events at the Alnwick attraction include a Winter Playground with real snow and an after-dark Winter Light Trail featuring sound and illumination.

Don’t forget to visit Santa whilst you’re there! www. alnwickgarden.com/families/christmas familiesonline.co.uk

Along the elf hidden pathways our interactive sets have been specially commissioned for A Magical Christmas which means that this is a unique experience not to be found anywhere else. www.beamish-hall.co.uk/magical-christmas

30 Nov, 1, 7, 8, 14, 21 & 22 Dec

Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

Make the most of winter evenings with an enchanting experience of light, colour and sound as our grounds are transformed into an illuminated world. Step through tunnels and pathways of twinkling lights and marvel as the gardens burst to life in remarkable, unexpected ways. Uncover magical secrets hidden deep within our grounds, including dancing fairies and extraordinary talking trees. Then try your luck at our fairground rides and games, enjoy warming mulled wine and tempting mince pies and browse for Christmas gifts in our shop. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/belsay-hallcastle-and-gardens

1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-23 Dec

Crook Hall

Come along to meet Father Christmas, Frosty and his Elves for a magical day with the family. Join in and play games with the Elves as well as lots of arts and crafts, meet Frosty and have a sit in Santa’s sleigh and meet the big man himself, Father Christmas!

Pre booking is essential for this event and can only be made by phoning us on 01913848028.

30 Nov, 1, 7-8, 11, 14-15, 18, 21 – 23 Dec

Gibside

Plemty of Christmas fun and frolics to enjoy over the festive period, however it is also a great place to meet Santa. Meet and greets with Father Christmas Santa at Gibside are ticketed, so it’s worth booking early. Tickets are around £10 per person, and once your little ones have put in their requests for this years’ gifts, you can wander the beautiful wintry grounds of this historic site.

There are also plenty of opportunities to feel festive with carol singing and live music at Gibside too.

7, 14, 21 & 24 Dec

Lumley Castle

Breakfast with Santa: Santa and his elves will be taking time out of their hectic schedule to call at the 14th Century castle in County Durham to meet and entertain local families who can join the cheery soul for an extrajolly breakfast. Expect magic and excitement alongside cereals, toast and fruit juice plus tea and coffee for grown-ups. Santa will be bringing along a small gift for all the nice children too. www.lumleycastle.com/events

7-8 Dec

North Shields Victorian Christmas Market

Families can enjoy the hugely popular traditional Christmas Market in the North Shields square with many characters dressed up in period costume. More than 100 stalls selling seasonal gifts and crafts while there also will be fairground rides for children; street food and traditional bandstand entertainment. The market will run from 10am until 5pm on the Saturday and 4pm on the Sunday.

22 – 24 Dec

Sage Gateshead

Screenings of classic animation The Snowman, complete with live musical accompaniment from the Royal Northern Sinfonia, have become a real Yuletide tradition for families of all ages. Year after year, tickets for the event are snapped up quicker than Santa can shoot up a chimney and it should be no different this year. There are various performances to choose from and each begins with a festive sing-along. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt features too. 90 minutes. sagegateshead.com/whats-on/rns-christmas-thesnowman

1 – 24 Dec

Santa Cruises, River Escapes

The Newcastle-Gateshead company’s River Escapes team will be launching Santa Cruises on the River Tyne.

The cruises will run for two hours and parents can enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie on arrival while young ones receive a gift bag and can take to the dance floor at an on-board Christmas disco. During the cruise, there will be party games in the upper lounge and craft activities families can take to their table. Children will receive a selection box upon disembarking and there will be another chance to see Santa as they leave. riverescapes.co.uk/christmas-2019-2

2 Nov – 24 Dec

Santa’s Rooftop Cinema, Fenwick

On arrival, you will be greeted in the Christmas Hall by one of Santa’s elves and taken in Santa’s Express Elevator to begin your magical rooftop experience.

As you complete your ascent to the rooftop, you will get the opportunity to have an ‘Elf-Over’, before being treated to Santa’s singing reindeer, followed by a visit to see where the elves park their cars. You’ll then be taken to Santa’s Cabin to meet the big man himself. You will leave through a secret door and arrive in Santa’s workshop where you can help the elves decorate delicious gingerbread biscuits. After all that festive fun you’ll take a pitstop at Club Claus – where little ones will be treated to a hot chocolate and slice of cake, while the grown-ups can take their pick from mulled wine or spiced apple juice served with a mince pie. www.fenwick.co.uk/ events/kids/santa-on-the-rooftop-newcastle

30 Nov, 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-23 Dec

Stephenson Railway Museum

Always a huge festive favourite with families, these Santa-theme train rides will be departing from North Shields at various times during the festive season.

The 3.5 mile heritage train ride along the museum’s restored urban railway will include traditional music and on-board entertainers and those aged 12 and under will receive a gift from Santa on the train. www. stephensonrailwaymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/santaspecials

23 – 24, 30 Nov, 1, 7-8, 14-15 & 22-24 Dec

Tanfield Railway, North Pole Express

A four-mile return steam train ride through some stunning countryside will give passengers the chance to see Santa Claus in his magical grotto. And those on board should keep a look out for deer and other seasonal wildlife in the picturesque Causey Valley. The world’s oldest railway, based in Gateshead and County Durham, includes a welcoming tea room which will be serving hot drinks and mince pies for adults while children can enjoy soft drinks and snacks as well as a little gift from Santa Claus. www.tanfield-railway.co.uk/ index.php?page=north-pole-express

1 Dec

Woodhorn Museum

Come to our festive family fun event and find out all the insider knowledge from the great man himself! Meet Father Christmas and find out what you should be leaving for him and the Reindeer on Christmas Eve. Or perhaps, enjoy some seasonal stories featuring classics like ‘The Snowman’ and ‘The Polar Express’. There will be lots of fun opportunities to get on Santa’s good side at Woodhorn this winter and every child will leave the experience with a lovely seasonal gift.

Families Newcastle Gateshead 7

Eco Christmas Gift Guide Babies

Baby Car Seat Wrap This stylish, organic, baby car seat wrap is the perfect present to give parents peace of mind on winter car journeys.

The ladies behind Kura Organics realised that taking their newborns out in the car was more stressful than it should be.

They found the amount of safety advice about how to dress babies for travel overwhelming, so they created this cosy wrap. Not only does it keep little ones warm and safe, it looks gorgeous too. £49.99 www.kura-organics.com

Sophie la Girafe Comforter Gift Set This charming gift set featuring an original Sophie la girafe® and comforter is a lovely gift for baby’s first Christmas. The 58-year-old icon is loved by millions and is still made using traditional methods from 100% natural rubber, derived from the sap of the hevea tree, and decorated with food grade paint. £29.99 www.1two.co.uk

Toddlers

Bamboo Hungry Kids Set Make dinnertime roarsome with this cute plate, bowl, and cup set. Dinosaur lovers will relish munching their meals from this cute, ecofriendly set. All pieces are made from plant-based materials, including bamboo and corn starch, making them fully biodegradable, and supersafe for kids. They’re also fully microwave and dishwasher proof. £14.99 www.prezzybox.com

Winter Festival Performance 2019: A Christmas GIFT

Teens

The Bear Grylls Snorkel Experience for Two

ABC Wooden Blocks A classic alphabet and numbers blocks set.

Beautifully crafted from solid rubberwood, all the edges are smooth so they are easy to handle. This chunky set features pastel designs of upper and lower case letters as well as numbers from 0 to 9. Every block is hand screen-printed, which makes each one unique. Designed to help strengthen motor skills, critical thinking, develop pre-reading and early counting skills, this is a beautiful, educational toy made out of sustainable materials that will give a toddler hours of fun. £29.99 www.letoyvan.com

Kids

My First Bubble Kit

Giant

You can never be too old to play with bubbles. Dr Zigs is made in the UK by a small, Snowdonia-based company.

The bubble mixture is fully biodegradable and palm oil and phosphate-free. It also comes in 10x concentrate to massively reduce packaging, while the 25cm wooden wands and rope used to create the bubble are made from sustainably-sourced wood and unbleached cotton. They even make bubbles for dogs! £19.99 www.drzigs.com

Tepee The Little Green Sheep Teepee is a great gift for kids with a big imagination. This beautifully designed playhouse with a striking scalloped edge is made out 100% cotton canvas and wood. This great company ensures all of their products are natural and chemical-free. Once playtime is done at home, the Teepee adventures can continue on your travels, because each one comes with a handy cotton travel bag.

In a Nutshell St Mary’s Heritage Centre is proud to present ‘In a Nutshell’, a beautifully crafted piece of theatre for children, told through exquisite puppetry.

St Mary’s Heritage Centre Saturday 21 December & Monday 23 December, 11am & 2pm Tuesday 24 December 11am £10/£7 • Ideal for children aged 3 - 6 but all children welcome Children aged under 2 go free when sitting with an adult Tickets: 0191 433 4699 or buy online at www.gateshead.gov.uk/whatson

£89.95 www. thelittlegreensheep. co.uk

Buy an experience for your teen instead of an actual gift.

The Bear Grylls Adventure at the NEC in Birmingham is an experience they will never forget. Snorkel with some not-sodeadly Black Tip Reef Sharks and other marine life protected by a see-through snorkel cage. Plus, a percentage of every dive is donated to the Shark Trust to help shark conservation. £90 www.redletterdays.co.uk

ili Laptop stand This funky, portable laptop stand is the brainchild of engineer Celine Kerr and her husband Zeno. The ili is a versatile and elegant laptop stand. It is made out of natural, sustainable materials and also helps to improve posture when working from a laptop, plus it’s light and portable. A fantastic gift for a teenager or adult, who loves to spend hours on their laptop. £39.99 www.ililaptopstand.com

Mums & Dads Blue Goose Coffee

Perfect for coffee fans, this new range of speciality, single-origin, and organic coffees in innovative plasticfree, compostable starch and wood bark capsules are perfect to go in their fancy coffee machine. Compatible with Nespresso® original coffee pod machines, these innovative capsules turn into compost within twelve weeks. The Christmas Collection includes an organic Peruvian and their new Lungo blend for those who love a splash of milk in their mug! £18.99 www.bluegoose.coffee

Pukka Herbal Tea Christmas Advent Calendar The perfect advent calendar for all tea lovers, featuring 24 of Pukka organic herbal teas.

Including winter warmers such as Original Chai, Three Ginger and Blackcurrant Beauty and best-sellers such as Turmeric Active and Night Time. Inspired by the power of plants, Pukka’s Christmas Calendar is a healthy alternative to chocolate-filled advent calendars! £9.99 www.waitrose.com

DIYogi Yoga Mat The ideal present for a yogi or yogini. The world’s first yoga mats that people can write and draw on using markers.

You can custom design your own mat or add designs before you give the gift. For every mat sold, £1 is donated to Clear Blue Sea, a not-forprofit organisation, which develops an automated solution to remove large quantities of plastic in our oceans without affecting ocean wildlife. £77 www.diyogi.com

Festival of winter walks More and more of us are facing the impact of stress, overworking and the demands of everyday life.

For example, in a 2018 poll by YouGov for the Mental Health Foundation, 74% of UK adults reported having been so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

For many people, lack of exercise, being stuck indoors due to desk-bound jobs or being disconnected from green spaces can be big factors. Such feelings often come into sharper focus during the festive season, when staying on top of all the preparations, and pressures to party and be sociable can also pile in and stress us out.

If this sounds like you, or someone you know, then here’s the ideal festive uplift gift – the Festival of Winter Walks, which will run from 20 December 2019 to 5 January 2020. It’s organised by the Ramblers, the charity which helps everyone, everywhere, enjoy walking and protects the places we all love to walk.

Ramblers groups across the UK will offer a warm welcome on hundreds of free festive walks. No matter where you live, and whether or not you’ve walked before, they’ll offer the chance to enjoy the wonderful winter landscape in good company; to relax, unwind and stress-bust, and to make new friends at a time of year when many people can feel anxious, stressed or isolated.

There will be fun winter-themed walks that the little ones will love; leisurely strolls under five miles for people new to walking; and longer walks for those that want more of a challenge. For those of you who may be short on time or want a gentler stroll, there will be Ramblers’ health walks.

Top tips (for getting into walking in winter): • Don’t worry if you’re not a seasoned walker, the Ramblers’ Festival of Winter Walks includes lots of short group walks to get you started.

familiesonline.co.uk

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Enjoy connecting with winter scenery and sounds. Have a mindful walk; slowdown from the everyday rush and really take in your surroundings – the whistling wind, or starlings migrating to the UK for winter. Why not take some photos on your phone, and share them with us – use #winterwalks and don’t forget to tag us @RamblersGB

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Take a flask of warming tea, coffee or festive, hot spiced apple juice with you. Cinnamon sticks, ginger and ‘mulling’ sachets are readily available from most supermarkets.

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For younger walkers: challenge them to find an interesting stick and become a wizard with a staff. Or find the crunchiest winter leaf, or gather pinecones, which they could paint back at home. There are lots more ideas for winter walking fun in our special Festival of Winter Walks guide: ramblers.org.uk/foww (and we can send more general ‘do’s and don’ts’).

• If you enjoy joining a Festival of Winter Walks event, why not join your nearest Ramblers group on their next walk? We have 484 walking groups across the UK, including a growing number for young walkers. You can find your nearest Ramblers group online at: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/ Local groups include: Gateshead, Hexham, Chesterle-Street, Derwentside, Sunderland, Durham, Tyneside, Ponteland, Morpeth and Northumbria.

Ramblers chief executive Vanessa Griffiths says: “The festive season can leave many people feeling anxious, stressed or left out. But it can also be a time for gift-giving, or for making new starts. I love walking at this time of year and reconnecting with the winter landscape. Last year, the Ramblers encouraged over 88,000 people to start walking or discover its many health benefits. So why not give yourself, or someone you love, the ‘uplift gift’ of joining in one of our Festival of Winter Walks across the UK?” Where to get more info: FOWW 2019 web page link: www.ramblers.org.uk Or search online for Festival 0f Winter Walks 2019 Follow the Festival of Winter Walks on Twitter: search for the hashtag #winterwalks and follow @RamblersGB

Families Newcastle Gateshead 9

FAMILY

early years

Night Time Nappies to No Nappies

By Alicia Eaton Every parent looks forward to being able to throw away night-time nappies and pull-ups for good. Try these simple steps towards reaching this milestone.

Words Work

Explain to your child that soon they’ll be able to keep themselves dry all night and won’t need nappies/pull-ups. Putting the idea into your child’s mind triggers important thinking processes necessary to become dry at night.

Regularly use phrases like: “Pretty soon, you’ll stop needing these at nighttime….”

Step by Step

Explain they will need to visit the bathroom instead. Walk through the steps they’ll take and practise this several times, telling them you will leave lights on so they can see their way easily.

Deeper Sleep

Avoid leaving night-lights on in the bedroom. A dark bedroom promotes deeper sleep patterns. This might be enough to ensure your child sleeps through without needing the toilet.

Plan Ahead

Put a date in the diary and let you child know when you will stop using nappies/ pull-ups. These actually prevent children learning how to take control because their absorbency means your child’s skin doesn’t feel wet.

Accidents

Use an absorbent bed mat in between two layers of sheets. If your child is wet, remove the top layer and use the dry bed underneath.

Declutter

Ensure the bedroom floor is clutter-free so your child can easily move around at night.

Drinks

Avoid drinks one hour before bedtime, but don’t restrict fluids during the day as this could make your child constipated - a common cause of bedwetting.

Think Food

Avoid fizzy drinks, sugary foods, milk and fruit such as strawberries, grapes and melon at night-time as these affect the bladder.

Avoid Rewards and Bribes

They are a distraction and it will be doubly disappointing for your child if they’re not successful one night. Focus your child on learning how to stay dry at night.

Keep Track

Track dry and wet nights during your training period so you can figure out what the cause of wet nights might be.

Alicia Eaton is a trained psychotherapist and author of Stop Bedwetting in Seven Days published by Practical Inspiration Publishing. For more information, visit www.stop-bed-wetting-in-7-days.com/

10 Families Newcastle Gateshead

familiesonline.co.uk

Social Media guide for parents Most parents are aware that social networking is hugely popular with children. A recent report

by Ofcom – the UK communication’s regulator – has found that despite age restrictions, half of children ages 11 and 12 have a social media profile and a growing number of children under 11 years are registering for social media accounts. What’s more, less than a third of parents who knew their child had a social media profile could correctly state the minimum age restrictions of the social networks. Social networking can be seen as being very ‘cool’ by children and they may be pressured by their friends into joining. However, there are some very real dangers: Grooming - when someone builds an online relationship with a young person and tricks them or pressures them into doing something sexual.

Access to age-inappropriate content - which can take the form of images, music or commercial advertisements.

Damage to self-worth - while social media was set up as a means of connecting with others it is now also used as a means of comparing with others and to many young people it has become a barometer of how they measure up. A preoccupation with how other people react to what they post can lead children to feel unsure about their intrinsic worth.

Cyber bullying - rife on the internet and most young people will experience it or see it at some time. It can take many forms.

Harassment - via offensive, rude, and insulting messages and abuse, or nasty or humiliating comments on post, photos and in chat rooms.

Denigration - when someone sends information about another person that is fake, damaging and untrue.

Identity theft - hacking into another person’s social network account and using the person’s identity to send or post vicious or embarrassing material to/about others.

Cyberstalking - may take the form of repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm, harassment.

To help parents protect their children, we have put together a short guide on the most popular platforms with the various age safety ratings so you can decide if your child is equipped to deal with the interactions that may arise. Keep in mind that the best online safety strategy is to talk with your children and to engage with their use of social media.

Facebook and Messenger - A social network which lets you create a page about yourself.

You can add friends, write on people’s pages, join groups, share photos and videos, and play games. Facebook Live lets you broadcast live videos of yourself using the mobile app.

Messenger allows you to instant message in group chats or one to one, using text, audio, photos or videos. You can share your live location with friends. Official age rating 13+ Instagram - A picture and video sharing app. Users can post content on their profile grid or to their stories, which last 24 hours. You can follow your friends, family, celebrities and companies on Instagram. It also has a live streaming feature. Official age rating 13+ Snapchat - This app lets you send photos, short videos or messages to your friends. Pictures and videos, known as Snaps, usually appear temporarily before disappearing, though they can be captured via screenshots. The Stories feature lets you share Snaps in a sequence for up to 24 hours. Using the Discover screen, you can watch Stories from friends, celebrities and brands. Official age rating 13+ WhatsApp - An instant messaging app which lets you send messages, images and videos in one-to-one and group chats. You can choose to share your live location for up to eight hours with one contact or a group. Official age rating 16+ TikTok - Formerly called Musical.ly, this lets you create, share and discover 15 second videos. You can use music and effects to enhance your videos. You can also browse other people’s videos and interact with them. Official age rating 13+ YouTube - YouTube lets you watch, create, share and comment on videos. You can create your own YouTube account, create a music playlist, and even your own channel, which means you’ll have a public profile. YouTube allows live streaming. Children under 13 cannot create an account and children aged 13 to 17 must have parental permission. Official age rating 13+ More info: www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/media-literacy-research/ childrens / www.net-aware.org.uk/

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Newcastle Gateshead 11

Interview with Ruby Isaacs September saw many of our local Yorkshire towns opening their doors to the world for the UCI World Cycling Championships.

Families Newcastle Gateshead had the privilege of meeting a young star in the making: Ruby Isaacs, age 11. She is TrekSegafredo’s youngest bike rider and in 2018, she was one of the stars on America’s TV show Little Big Shots.

them live far away from me. At the moment because I’m young, I do cycle for fun, but I think in a few years, I’ll be doing the races more seriously.

Are you still in Guides? I read in an article online that you didn’t have your cycling badge for Girl Guides!

So, I started riding my bike about 4 years ago when I was 7 and I just was watching people racing on the TV and thought that I would love to take on cycling. I did my first race and I loved it so much that I wanted to carry on.

Yes, I’m in Guides. I went to Brownies as my Mum is a leader and there, I did get my cycling badge. It was pretty easy, you had to ride a bike, fix a puncture and I already knew how to do that.

Then at Guides there is a new badge book and it doesn’t have a cycling badge in it. I’d really like to work towards my vlogging and photography badge.

Does anybody else in your family cycle?

How much time per week do you spend cycling?

No, it’s just me. My brother used to do some cycle races, but now he’s into Football.

Sometimes in the week, I go on my bike to a little village. There’s this bridge and a ford and I love to go through it. Sometimes I go out with my Dad or I go out on my bike and my Dad follows in the car. At the moment, I’ve mostly been on my rollers and I train on those too. I don’t ride for a club. I used to, but now I train alone.

Who gave you your love of cycling?

Who inspires you the most in your life and then in the cycling world?

The person who inspires me the most in cycling would be Lizzie Deignan and Peter Segan as he does amazing tricks. Lizzie is an amazing cyclist and she’s so fun and cool. My Gran is the one who actually taught me how to ride a bike.

What is your favourite cycling discipline and what do you love about it?

I love cycling because it’s fun and you can do so much, you can ride rollers and do some road races and you can just do so much for the one sport. There’s BMX, Mountain Biking and that’s why I love it. Through the winter I do cyclo-cross, but recently, I’ve been concentrating on the tricks. Next year, I might do some road races, I’m not too sure yet.

Do you race quite a lot or is more the tricks?

A few years ago, I used to do a lot of racing. I have been to Assen, Belgium two times. But this year, I haven’t done a lot. I want to start to do more again though as it’s fun.

You also started secondary school, how is that going?

It’s going well. It’s definitely a big change from junior school. On the first day, I got lost! But now I’m used to it and my brother goes to the same school. My favourite subjects are Art and PE. What do your school mates think of your cycling success?

My friends from Junior school have all been supportive. One of my friends has contacted me to say that she knew I was doing a show and wanted to show her support and tell me that I’d be great. All of my new friends think it’s really cool and follow me on Instagram! They say to me ‘Ruby, I did not know that you’re famous!’

Do you know what you’d like to do when you’re older and do you plan to become a professional cyclist?

When I’m older, I would love to be a professional cyclist and do races. I’ve also really wanted to do to the Olympics. I think it’s in LA in 2024 or maybe 2028, but I would love to do that.

When you’re not cycling, what do you enjoy doing?

I cycle a lot, but sometimes when I have days off, I play in the garden with my brother and play football. Sometimes I do some art at home. I don’t really go out with my friends because some of 12 Families Newcastle Gateshead

How many attempts does it take you to perfect the tricks that you perform on social media? (Ruby’s videos of her cycling on her rollers whilst throwing a frisbee to knock off a bottle cap and her video of her cycling on her rollers whilst skipping can be found on Youtube).

With the skipping, when I first learned to do it, it took 3 days to do it. I injured myself a few times, but then I still carried on. With the bottle cap challenge, I don’t really know how I did it. I got a frisbee and threw it and completely missed it, so we just kept moving it until one time I did it. That probably took me half an hour. With the skipping, I am actually the only one in the world to do it. I used to use a different skipping rope, but it always got caught. This one I have now made it really easy. Skipping is the hardest trick I’ve ever done.

Have you enjoyed the UCI World Championships so far and what else are you doing this week?

I have enjoyed it and this week on Wednesday, I’ll be watching the time trial and then in the evening I’m having a talk about women’s cycling and on Thursday I am interviewing the whole Australian team.

What advice would you give to our readers who are trying to get their child into sports?

If you’re at a young age just go and have fun. Don’t worry about winning all of the time because when you get older, you can maybe take it a bit more seriously. Go and enjoy it and have fun!

You have amazing resilience and seem to be able to just bounce back from coming off the rollers to falling off. How do you manage to keep on bouncing back and always trying again?

Well when I was doing the skipping it always used to get caught and it got a bit annoying. But I kept on trying and then when I finally did it, it was amazing. When I did it a few times, the rope would get caught in the derailer. But when I fall off, like earlier, I do just get back on. But sometimes it can be worse if I completely fall off. But it’s better to try something and fail then you know that you can do it and then carry on trying.

I love everything that you do, especially on social media, watching you on the rollers, you’re an inspiration. Your confidence is great. But mainly the fact that you keep on going and if you don’t manage to do it one time, ten times, a hundred times, then you think ‘well, I’ll just keep going,’ and I think that’s a really great message to send out to everybody. Thank you Ruby! familiesonline.co.uk

Families Newcastle Gateshead enjoy a weekend break in the North Lakes (and Lottie the dog got to go too!)

As a family, we really love visiting the Lake District, but often ignore the North Lakes for some reason. After our wonderful weekend break away to the North Lakes Hotel in Penrith, there’s no doubt that we will now mark it off as a place to return to!

Child Friendly On arrival, our two boys were pleased to see the little extra touches in the room that were just for them. Their names had been written in chocolate on plates and sachets of hot chocolate, sweets and a mini activity pack were laid out waiting for them. The bunk beds went down a treat too and let’s not forget that they also had their own fluffy hotel room dressing gowns, complete with ‘V.I. Little P’ sewn on the back. It’s these small touches that really do go a long way to making a difference and to making the little ones feel special too. And why not? The hotel has a swimming pool, Spa and gym that hotel guests can use. On a weekend, children are allowed in the pool at all times and it’s a great way to start the day with them before venturing into the outdoors to explore the stunning backdrop of the Lakes.

Dog friendly It was certainly unusual for us to visit a hotel with our four-legged friend Lottie in tow, but what a fabulous idea! The North Lakes Hotel truly cater for guests with dogs. In the room, a dog bed, bowl and treats were provided. Dogs can go in the bar and the restaurant (in the conservatory only) and are often pampered by the friendly and attentive staff. On the Saturday evening, we enjoyed a relaxing drink in the bar area with Lottie enjoying a dog bed right next to a roaring fire whilst chomping on a carrot given to her by the bar tender!

Location and things to do The location is actually one of the many benefits of the hotel, being situated just on the outskirts of the town and close enough to the major roads and motorways making it no hassle to get to in the car.

As National Trust members, we wanted to make use of our card and explore some sites that we haven’t been to before. You are spoilt for choice in this region, but we opted for Aira Force by Ullswater. Aira Force is an awesome part of nature: a full force waterfall with plenty of walks suitable for all of the family in the surrounding woodland. Close by is the lake of Ullswater, where you can enjoy boat trips and visits to local towns. We visited the town of Pooley Bridge, still suffering from the floods and bridge collapse of 2015, but very much open to the public.

Food and Drink We enjoyed an evening meal in the beautifully designed restaurant and as Lottie was resting in the room, after a long and tiring day out and about, we could sit in the main area overlooking the spectacular open fire grill. You get to watch your steak being cooked to perfection over the dancing flames; this is a fantastic idea to keep all of the family entertained while you wait! The menu is varied and caters really well for children. Our two boys opted for Toad in the Hole and fish and chips.

Meals were of a very good size and delicious too. Breakfast didn’t disappoint either with a wide selection of pastries, fruit and cereals and the all-important full English breakfast of course!

Service The staff at the hotel, from reception to the Spa and the restaurant were all very friendly and genuine. Nothing was too much trouble and they took the time to chat to all of us, the kids included, about our day and what we were enjoying the most. It was evident to us that the staff wanted all of their guests to have a lovely break, whatever the reason for their visit, and it was refreshing to see the presence of management just as much as it was the front of house staff. Thank you, North Lakes Hotel and Spa, for a perfect weekend away with our boys and dog Lottie!

We hope to come back soon.

The North Lakes Hotel and Spa have a range of rooms available for you to book, visit the website www.northlakeshotel.co.uk or call them on 01768 868111. familiesonline.co.uk

Families Newcastle Gateshead 13

Please check listings with the venue before leaving the house!

16 Nov – Exhibition Park, Newcastle

30 Nov – 23 Dec – Cragside

FREE family event. For trying something new. For cycling a mile or two. For Everyone. Come and join us at Exhibition Park for a free taster of all things cycling in Newcastle! Whether you want to ride for fun or fitness, this free monthly pop up event gives you the chance to ride a traffic free cycle circuit as many times as you want, at a pace that suits you. The event is open to all ages and abilities and the circuit is easy to ride, with volunteers on hand throughout, ensuring peace of mind and safety for all cyclists. For those wanting to take things up a gear, local ride leaders and breeze champions will be there on the day to tell you more about other cycling opportunities in Newcastle. www. letsride.co.uk

Step out of the cold and into the warmth of Father Christmas’ cosy grotto and find twinkling lights and a crackling fire. You’ll be welcomed by an elf who’ll help you make a special decoration to take home, before entering into the wondrous cavern where the jolly fellow will be waiting to meet you. Treasure a magical 5 minutes with Father Christmas where you can share with him your winter wishes, before receiving a special present from the man himself.

British Cycling Let’s Ride Pop-Up

What’s On? ‘til 31 Dec – Hatton Gallery

Art Cart

Drop-in Family Fun! Get creative with the Hatton’s Art Cart! Full of help-yourself art activities for families to do together. Free activity but donations welcome. Tel 0191 2226059.

5 Nov – Segedunum

Fireworks at the Fort

Entry to the museum and cafe is free from 4pm.

Fireworks from 6:30pm. Free, donations are welcome.

Bring your family to fireworks at the fort and see the night sky over the River Tyne light up where the iconic Swan Hunter would launch its ships. As well as the firework extravaganza, why not explore the museum exhibits or have a bite to eat in the cafe before choosing the best spot outside to watch the display at 6.30pm?

16 Nov – 24 Dec – Beamish

Christmas at Beamish

Discover the amazing seasonal sights, sounds, smells and delicious tastes of Christmas past. Experience the magic of a traditional Christmas as you join in the celebrations at 1820s Pockerley Old Hall, 1900s Town, 1900s Pit Village and 1940s Farm. Visit Father Christmas and his magnificent reindeer and enjoy our Winter Fun Fair. Meet Father Christmas in his cosy Grotto and say hello to his friendly reindeer at Pockerley Waggonway. £6 per child includes a small, traditional gift. Grotto tickets can be purchased at the entrance on the day of your visit, on a first come, first served basis.

Take to the ice on our real ice rink to perfect your skating skills. Have a go on the rides or try your hand at the sideshows.

16 – 17 Nov – Belsay Hall

Christmas Fair

Get ahead of the Christmas rush and into the festive spirit at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens this November.

Our traditional festive gift fair is a fantastic alternative to the high street with a wide variety of specialist crafts and handmade gifts for sale. You’ll be sure to find perfect presents for friends and family amongst the stalls.

16 – 17 Nov – Botanic Garden, Durham

Traditional Crafts Weekend

Silversmith Les Howe and his wife Vivienne, an artist and card designer, will be demonstrating their skills in the garden. Les takes much of his inspiration from the History of Durham, in particular St Cuthbert and the Lindisfarne Gospels. Viv works with traditional paper crafts such as embossing quilling, parchment work and many more techniques. No need to pre-book. Just turn up on the day. Running 10am-3pm each day. Normal admission charges apply. There is no additional charge to participate in this event.

14 Families Newcastle Gateshead

Meet Father Christmas

16 – 17 Nov - Souter Lighthouse, Sunderland

Christmas Craft Fair

Our ever-popular Christmas craft fair offers visitors a more relaxed way of shopping. Avoid the hassle of the high street while you browse handmade crafts, gifts, cards and jewellery. Plus, food and drink stalls and a tombola.

16 – 17 Nov & 24 Nov – 24 Dec – Red Fox Garden World, Newcastle

Narnia

There’s an even bigger and better Christmas experience at Redfox Gardenworld this year. It all starts with a train ride. Take your photo as you hop in the cab of the Christmas train. Hop on the Narnia Express! Take the (VIRTUAL) journey through the country to join Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan in the home of Professor Digory Kirke...and a magical wardrobe! Open the wardrobe doors and creep through the coats.... have fun with the treasure hunt to discover a host of characters in the wintery wonderland as you make your way to see Father Christmas and receive an early Christmas present! No booking required.

21 Nov – 5 Jan – Keel Square, Sunderland

Open Air Ice Rink

Are you ready for a real ‘ice’ time this Christmas? Then get your skates on and head down to Keel Square and our fabulous ice rink! Take to the ice from 21 November as the ice rink officially opens - giving you the chance to show off your best frosty moves and ice slides. And don’t worry about keeping the cold at bay, as the adjoining Hadrian’s Tipi will be open every day to keep you warm by their log fires.

30th Nov – 23 Dec – Stephenson Railway Museum

Santa Specials

Melt into the magic of Christmas and make memories with your loved ones on a festive heritage train ride to meet Santa Claus and his guests. Santa and his little helpers will be visiting Stephenson Railway Museum every Saturday and Sunday from 30 November up to Christmas Eve. Your visit begins with a 3.5-mile heritage train ride along our restored urban railway. Keep your eyes peeled during the journey. Who will be the first to spot Santa as he comes to greet all his visitors? Santa then makes a special visit to the train, giving out gifts to all the children on board. He’ll also be collecting last minute additions to your list which he’ll be taking back to the North Pole so his elves can get working on building those toys. As well as the train ride, don’t forget to stop by our warm and welcoming museum. Take part in the Christmas craft and trail and, of course, there are also lots of engines to see inside. Children aged 0 - 12 years receive a gift from Santa on the train. Advance booking essential.

Gosforth Civic Theatre

Having already announced and put on sale their headline Christmas show, Gosforth Civic Theatre have completed their festive programme line up with some sell out family favourites.

Jack Frost takes centre stage as the must-see event of the season in Gosforth, the eight-show run brings audiences a music filled Christmas show about friendship and the joy of joining in.

It’s a Christmas show for children and families and the perfect treat to entertain the family between Christmas and New Year. Join Jack Frost and Holly, a trumpet-playing student who welcomes Jack in from the cold, alongside live local musicians for this joyful, festive adventure! Tickets are already on sale and cost just £12 for adults and £6 for children under 14.

Alongside this special show are GCT’s sell-out festive favourites; The Family New Year’s Eve Bash returns with a second session added due to demands from previous years and is already close to selling out. It’s perfect from adults and children alike with a DJ spinning tunes for the grown-ups that the kids will also enjoy, plus crafts and snack for the smaller ones - it even includes a countdown to midnight dress rehearsal! As well as Film screenings of classic Christmas staples Arthur Christmas and Love Actually.

To complete the line-up Chalk are putting on must see screenings of Christmas short animated classic The Snowman! The screening will be preceded by crafting mini snow people, playing with snow dough, scribbling on our giant drawing floor and frolicking in the snow!

The full line up Sunday 15 December, 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm – Chalk presents The Snowman Sunday 22 December, 11am (1.30pm screening sold out) - Film Screening: Arthur Christmas Sunday 22 December, 5pm - Film Screening: Love Actually Friday 27 - Monday 30 December, 11am & 3pm and 2pm & 6pm - Jack Frost Tuesday 31 December, 12 & 5pm (Sold Out) The Family NYE Bash at GCT 2019

familiesonline.co.uk

30 Nov – The Word

Christmas Card Booth

Our very popular Christmas Card Booth is back for 2019.

Choose from a range of festive storybook backgrounds and through the magic of green screen you can appear in your own unique Christmas card. For an added bit of magic, come dressed in your Christmas jumper and Santa hats! Drop-in £5 for first Christmas card and £3 for any further copies.

30 Nov – 24 Dec – Woodhorn Musuem

Festive Tales with Father Christmas

Meet Father Christmas and find out what you should be leaving for him and the reindeer on Christmas Eve. Or perhaps, enjoy some seasonal stories featuring classics like ‘The Snowman’ and ‘The Polar Express’. There will be lots of fun opportunities to get on Santa’s good side at Woodhorn this winter and every child will leave the experience with a lovely seasonal gift.

7-22 Dec – Washington Wetlands Centre

Elf Academy

Christmas is coming and to help spread the festive cheer, our ALL NEW Elf Academy is opening its doors to young recruits. Enrol on one of our special workshops and learn everything you need to know to gain your all-important Elf Diploma, including special ‘elf & safety guidelines, the spirit of kindness, gift wrapping for beginners and essential craft skills. Our Head Elf and her assistants will guide elves-to-be in the art of creating your own personalised wooden name toggles, wooden animal pen holders and magic reindeer food to sprinkle outside your home on Christmas Eve! Training will continue as you wrap and label your donated gift (a toy or book that we ask all Elf Academy recruits to bring in with them on the day, and we then donate these gifts to a local charity). Finish the day with a special graduation ceremony where recruits will receive their elf diploma!

Then enjoy a well-earned hot drink and tasty homemade treat in our cafe!

7 – 21 Dec – The Word

Christmas Tales

Our storyteller will tell magical Christmas tales in these unique storytelling sessions as some favourite Christmas characters are projected onto the walls. Children will sing festive songs, get crafty and play Christmas games in this exciting event! Booking is essential and sessions last approximately 50 minutes.

21 – 23 Dec – Winter Wonderland, Gateshead

Santa’s Grotto

This Christmas, Ginger Parties brings you Santa’s Grotto; a one hour, fun-filled Christmas experience. A multi stage experience: first, make a Christmas craft whilst the Chief Elf and the Christmas Fairy entertain you in Santa’s toy workshop, then listen to a brand new story created by the team at Ginger Parties read

by Mrs Claus in her front room, before Santa comes to meet with the children in his magical grotto. There’ll be songs and stories and a little gift to take away this Christmas down at Santa’s Grotto. Children on the naughty list need not apply. Only children pay, ADULTS ARE FREE Various time slots are available - please visit winterwonderlandgateshead.co.uk for details.

26 Dec – Seaburn Sea Front, Sunderland

The Boxing Day Dip

The ‘Boxing Day Dip’ takes place on our wonderful coastline at Seaburn Beach and has become a part of Sunderland’s history. It is organised by Sunderland Lions Club and is an occasion for the people of the North East to dress up in all manner of fancy dress, take a dip in the North Sea, raise money for charity and blow the Christmas cobwebs away. If you want to spectate just turn up. If you want to take part contact Sunderland Lions Club who will be more than happy to advise. familiesonline.co.uk

Theatre 2 Nov – Gosforth Civic Theatre

The Body Snatcher

Something is rotten in the town of Inglenook. Sour milk, unread post, dogs howling day and night, the locals are vanishing...seemingly into thin air. As fear haunts the remaining few, a young scientist is disturbed by a noise underground. It’s the sound of terror, and it’s getting louder. The Body Snatcher is an unnerving experience inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s hair-raising horror: live action, music and storytelling combine in a tale of mystery, morality, and science unhinged. No body is safe... Suitable for ages 9+.

3 Nov – The Forum Theatre, Billingham

21 Nov – 5 Jan – The Gala Theatre, Durham

Aladdin

Streetwise young Aladdin is trying to make his town rich, by marrying a Princess. But evil baddie Abanazar is after gold and riches and world domination. Police Chief Tai Chi is hot on their heels, and even daft laundry lad Wishee Washee, bumbles himself into the Police Force.

We take in China, Egypt and Sacriston… there’s a bunch of mummies, a Genie, and in the middle of it all is crazy Widow Twanky just trying to get the wash clean! Created in the heart of Durham, Gala’s fabulous family panto has a magical mix of mayhem, live music, laughter and surprises. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without Gala’s panto family. Tickets are already selling fast, so book early to avoid disappointment.

23 Nov – 4 Jan – Northern Stage

Sing-alonga the Greatest Showman Wolf!

Singalonga Productions, producers of Singalonga Sound of Music and Singalonga GREASE brings you their newest show, the smash hit film musical that everyone can’t stop singing – The Greatest Showman! Cheer on Hugh Jackman, lust after Zac Efron and hiss Rebecca Ferguson (…or maybe not) as you experience The Greatest Showman in the greatest way possible – with lyrics on the screen so you can join in as loud as you want. Our live host will teach you a unique set of dance moves that will truly make you come alive. As they show you how to use our interactive prop bags, you also get to practice your cheers, your boos and even a few wolf whistles. Then you can sit back and relax and sing and dance along to the lyrics on screen. YOU the audience will rewrite the stars! Fancy dress is strongly encouraged and full audience participation essential.

5 Nov – Pulse (accessible theatre)

Northern Stage

In the dustbowl of 1930’s America, Patience and Bird are waiting for rain. Clanky Jane arrives with her ‘CloudO-Matic’ machine and with some crazy percussion and a bit of magic, they make the rain come. Featuring captivating visual effects, puppetry, live music and a sprinkling of water, Pulse immerses audiences into the world of Patience, Bird and Clanky Jane. Bamboozle have 25 years’ experience creating accessible theatre and will present two versions of Pulse to Northern Stage – an intimate version for audiences of 6 young people described as having profound and multiple learning disabilities and their family group, and a relaxed version open to all families. Each moment will be tailored to each child’s needs by a team of Bamboozle performers who are hugely experienced in adapting to, and interacting with, children and young people who have a variety of complex and differing needs. The show is designed to be particularly suitable for children who use a wheelchair.

Suitable for age 5+.

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.

26 Nov – 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!

27 Nov–5 Jan - Customs House, South Shields

Snow White

As part of our 25th Anniversary celebrations the Little Panto with the Big Heart presents Snow White. Come see our take on the classic fairy tale, performed for the first time since our first festive season in 1994. Prices: from £7

11 & 12 Nov – Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham

30th Nov – 4th Jan - Northern Stage

Stick Man

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+.

Touching, funny and utterly original, Freckle Productions’ delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s STICK MAN is coming to Hexham! What starts off as a morning jog becomes quite the misadventure for Stick Man: a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire! How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree? This award-winning production, from the team behind Tiddler and other Terrific Tales, Tabby McTat and Zog features a trio of top actors and is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves. All ages welcome. Running time: 60 mins (no interval).

The Snow Queen

19 – 23 Nov – Tyne Theatre & Opera House 30th Nov – 4th Jan - Whitley Bay Playhouse

Wind in the Willows

After the sell-out success of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Starlight Theatre Productions return in with Wind in the Willows! How about a riotous, rollicking romp through the Wild Wood to get your Festive season off to a cracking start? Come along to the fabulous Wind in the Willows to meet the larger-than-life Mr Toad and his friends, Ratty, Mole and Badger. The action takes place on the river bank where Ratty meets Mole and lots of other woodland, and river, creatures. Ratty has fallen out with Mr. Toad, who seems to lurch from one crackpot idea to the next, bringing mayhem along the way. He doesn’t listen to the warnings of his friends – with dire consequences.

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!

FAMILY SPECIAL TICKET DEALS AVAILABLE. Families Newcastle Gateshead 15

Cover Star Competition!

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Could your child be the next cover star of Families Newcastle Gateshead?

Reach over 32,000 parents with your photography! We are looking for a winning portrait to feature on the front cover of our January/February 2020 issue.

To enter simply send us your high resolution portrait photo and a paragraph on who’s in the shot, where it was taken, and why you think your photo should feature.

The photo must contain at least one child within a setting that corresponds with the January/February theme - think winter, snow,outdoor fun. The main subject must only cover 3/4 of the photo in height, with a clear border left around the sides to accommodate text. As high resolution as possible please! Send your entries to: editor@familiesnewcastle.co.uk with the subject ‘Cover kid’.

Entries close on Monday 2nd December at midday.

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