Families North Yorkshire Nov/Dec 2019

IN THIS ISSUE Social Media Guide Where’s Santa Directory Nappies to no nappies Christmas Cracker alternative eek Midw me ti term till are s slots able avail y Ever m ro f y a d v– 23 No c e D 4 2

MAGICAL SLEIGH RIDES TO SANTA’S WOODLAND VILLAGE Sleigh ride with Elf Airlines / Donkeys in the Stable / Santa’s Grotto / Story time with the Elves / Animal petting area / Santa’s Woodland Village / Unlock the Toyshop with your magic key / Santa’s Tepee

PIGLETS, NR YORK YO32 9ST TEL 01904 499183 PIGLETSADVENTUREFARM.COM Online Bookings Only. Limited Availability. For prices, availability and to book tickets visit pigletsadventurefarm.com

Issue 91 Nov/Dec 2019

familiesonline.co.uk

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

The

Mount School York

We know girls can

“Pupils in lessons were exuberantly confident.*” Girls at The Mount are exuberantly confident because they know they can be. We are leaders in educating girls and understanding their needs, inspiring and empowering confident young women, enabling them to believe nothing is beyond their reach.

At The Mount Junior School we are passionate about girls and their education. We have developed a curriculum designed to challenge and inspire young girls to support their natural curiosity and stimulate their creativity.

Visit us to find out what a Mount School education can do for your daughter.

www.mountschoolyork.co.uk

An exceptional education for girls age 2-18 *The Mount School York judged excellent in ISI Inspection.

Meet Santa at Summit Indoor Adventure Saturday 14th, Sunday 15th, Thursday 19th and Friday 20th December • Receive a special gift • Lunch and drink included • Includes 2 hours adventure play

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familiesonline.co.uk

Hello readers!

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. Want an alternative to the usual Christmas cracker selection? Replace the plastic rubbish, that will only end up in the world’s oceans, with some environmentally friendly alternatives. Read all about it in the article written by the owners of the wonderful Nine to Eleven – interior design store in Malton.

Editor, Families North Yorkshire Magazine

Get in touch E – editor@familiesnorthyorkshire.co.uk T – 07794909820 @FamiliesNYMag @FamiliesNYMag @Familiesnorthyorkshiremagazine

Circlulation: 20,000 Deadline: Deadline for Jan/Feb edition is early Dec 19 Designed by: Anna Lawton Printed by: Warners Midlands PLC www.warners.co.uk Families North Yorkshire 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 North Yorkshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families North Yorkshire. 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.

New Sleepy Tales for Children

FAMILY

News

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.

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.

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

Double Sisters Climate Action

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 familiesonline.co.uk

Two pairs of sisters in York have produced a stunning children’s book to support marine conservation.

Sisters Charla (13) and Katelyn (11) Banks and Morgan (13) and Lorna (11) Aitchison worked together to produce their self-published book, “Help Save The Turtles”, a charming story for 4-8 year olds which draws attention to the importance of marine conservation and reducing plastic waste in the ocean. The girls, who all attend The Mount School in York, said they’d written the book for a younger audience in the hope of encouraging children to understand they can make small changes which have a

big impact on the environment, such as reducing plastic use to help reduce ocean waste.

Charla wrote the story which Morgan illustrated while Katelyn and Lorna created the backgrounds for Morgan’s colourful graphics.

Charla and Katelyn’s mother, Tammy, said, “The girls worked so hard over the holidays to create the book. They are so passionate about climate change. They decided by writing a book aimed at 4-8 year olds they could encourage children from a young age to make small changes with a big impact. It’s a really fun book! They also raised money to gift a book to each library in the hope it’ll have a local impact. They also hope to go to schools to read the book to the children. I’m very proud of them!”

During the summer term, Charla and Morgan had taken a trip to Bridlington with The Mount’s borders for a spot of beach-cleaning. There, the girls spent two hours to clear over 400kg of flotsam and jetsam from a small stretch of beach. The Marine Conservation Society encourages schools to organise beach cleaning trips around the country and throughout the year.

Morgan and Lorna’s mother, Deborah, said, “John and I are very proud of the girls’ hard-work and attitude in seeing this to completion. They all feel passionately about making a difference to the world we live in, for their generation and generations beyond. By writing this for the 4-8 age group, they are promoting their generation’s vision of a better world.”

The girls were invited to Acomb Library to read their book for local children, enjoyed encouraging literacy among young readers.

The Mount’s Principal, Adrienne Richmond said, “I am incredibly proud of the girls for their pluck and ingenuity in creating this book and inspiring younger ones to make an impact on their world around them. Our Quaker ethos teaches girls to be confident, compassionate young women, who know they can make a difference. Katelyn has another book out which helps new starters prepare for life in primary school. This kind of initiative inspires us all. I look forward to seeing more innovative ideas brought to life in future from Charla, Morgan, Katelyn, Lorna and their friends.”

The book, which has already sold out, is now in its first reprint. Part of the income will be used to donate a copy of the book to libraries in York. “We are also raising money to help my friend buy a new disability bike, because she has outgrown her old one,” said Charla.

Tammy adds, “Please buy the book on Amazon, support the girls and inspire young children to save Tommy the turtle and his friends!”

Families North Yorkshire 3

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.

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 North Yorkshire, 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 (including one at the York’s Designer Outlet) or order online at www.mountainwarehouse.com Seasons Kids Water Resistant Padded Jacket - Now £24.99

Hape

Eden Fleece Lined Kids Padded Jacket £34.99

Galaxy Kids Waterresistant Long Padded Jacket - Now £39.99

Samuel Kids Waterresistant Parka Jacket - £29.99

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…

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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+

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

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+

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.

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+

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+

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/

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

Ellen Jane, York: “I make up hedgehog Christmas hampers and travel across Yorkshire giving them out.”

Lauri Bower, Wetherby: “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!”

Emma Van Zundert, Tadcaster: “We love to go to the Christingle service at St. Mary’s Church in Tadcaster. To us that marks the beginning of the countdown to Christmas and it’s when we put our decorations up. “ Lisa-Marie Newman, York: “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 Constable, Market Weighton: “We have been sending the same cards to each other for the last 10 year 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 Ralph, York: “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, 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 passersby 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, nonperishable food items and hand to either a homeless person or a homeless charity - the kids go through their toys and donate unwanted ones that are still in good condition - 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 - putting together mini care packages for the local women’s refuge - mince pies and baked treats for local police and fire stations on Christmas Day The joy of the season is in giving to others.

Carla Finlayson, Ulleskelf: “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 Webster, York: “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 Cooper, Boroughbridge: “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 Brett, York: “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.”

1st – 24th Dec

15, 19 & 20 Dec

Santa is flying here to see you! Let the twinkling lights draw you into the wonder of Mother Shipton’s magical memory-making Christmas experience.

Meet Santa at Summit indoor Adventure this festive season! For only £11.50 per child, you can receive lunch and a drink, 2 hours of adventure play and meet the big man himself.

Oh, and let’s not forget each child receives a special gift from Santa! Book your place now: 01757 293292.

Mother Shipton’s Cave

Where’s Santa?

29 Nov – 23 Dec

The Polar Express Train Ride at Wensleydale

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

22nd Nov – 5th Jan

Lotherton Hall’s The Christmas Experience

Get set to step into Christmas as Yorkshire family attraction, Lotherton, has revealed icy plans for its magical Christmas Experience and launched its sought-after tickets. With the region set to experience a wave of early Christmas cheer, Lotherton is skating ahead of the competition with the addition of a very special ice-rink to this year’s festive experience. Families can enjoy a festive day out like no other, embarking on adventures with fairies, elves and Santa himself. The Christmas Experience will include seasonal favourites such as the Elf Village, the Enchanted Fairy Dell, the Twelve Days of Christmas Woodland Walk, and the Christmas Courtyard. Exploring the house will transport visitors back in time, as they enjoy each room decked out in the traditional festive finery of an Edwardian Christmas.

And, of course, Santa will take up residence in his very own North Pole, where little ones can help the elves in their workshop before visiting Santa to share their festive wishes. As well as these family favourites, brand new this year will be a 596 square metre ice-rink for visitors to get their skates on and enjoy a frozen fairy-tale on the ice.

Every day 24th Nov – 24th Dec

Piglet’s Adventure Farm

For a truly unforgettable Christmas experience, visit Piglets Adventure Farm this festive season!

Fancy a ride on a magical Christmas sleigh? Then head on down to Piglets Adventure Farm where you can meet Santa in his twinkling woodland village. The children will even be given a key to his toyshop to choose their own gift. Experience daytime and evening sleigh rides.

Children can share their wishes with Santa, and they’ll be given a magic key to unlock his amazing Toy Shop and choose a perfect present from a huge selection.

Book tickets online before it’s too late! www. pigletsadventurefarm.com

The excitement begins with Santa’s jolly elves giving each child their own festive activity pack. Adults can enjoy a complimentary glass of mulled wine whilst the children are busy writing a letter to Santa and a wish to hang on the Christmas tree. Don’t forget to visit Mother Shipton’s Post Office to stamp and send off your letter to Santa!

If you are feeling creative, you can decorate a gingerbread man for an additional cost. Hot drinks and mince pies are also available. To fuel Santa’s reindeer as they fly all over the world, they will need some food.

Fill a bag with magical food to take home and scatter.

Acorn the Toy Maker will be working hard to make lots of toys for children this Christmas. Help Acorn to make some traditional wooden toys to fill up Santa’s sleigh before his Christmas Eve journey. As you venture through breath-taking surroundings, immerse yourself in Christmas wonder with Holly Berry the Storyteller who will read you an enchanting tale.

And then to the main event: Chief Elf Chestnut has the important task of warming you up before entering the stunning grotto that leads you through to meet Santa.

Receive a very special gift and have a photo taken, which will then be available to buy in the Christmas Shop alongside an array of wonderful gifts and decorations.

Tickets to see Santa can be purchased ONLINE ONLY. Mother Shipton’s will also be hosting a Champion Day on 30th November for children and adults who would prefer a quieter, more relaxed visit to Santa with no bright lights or loud noises. Places are limited, don’t miss out! Book now: mothershipton.digitickets.co.uk/ tickets

23 Nov – 24 Dec

York’s Chocolate Story

York’s Chocolate Story will deck the tours with boughs of holly! All three floors will have a festive make-over as Father Christmas himself takes up residence.

Guests will be able to meet Santa on special themed tours, in which they will complete a mission to help him save Christmas! Filled with festive fun, children will experience cracking Christmas games, discover incredible seasonal secrets, as well of course as meeting the big man – Santa himself!

1 Dec, 6-8, 13-15 and 20-24 Dec

RHS Harlow Carr

Snuggle up for a classic Christmas tale, have a singalong and a story with the man himself and if you have been very good, receive a small gift. Tickets for Stories with Santa go on sale on 16 September and must be booked in advance.

14th Nov – 6th Jan

Stockeld Park

The Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park is always wonderful. With real ice-skating, the illuminated maze and the enchanted forest, it’s a family favourite. You can book to visit Santa as well.

30 Nov – 22 Dec (selected dates)

NYMR Santa Specials

Join Santa and his special helpers on a magical adventure aboard the Santa Express, which will take you on a festive journey you won’t forget! Departing from Pickering Station, the Santa Express brings Christmas to life and gives children the chance to meet the legendary man himself on board the train. They will be able to tell him what they would like to open on Christmas morning - providing they’ve managed to keep themselves off the naughty list this year!

Summit Indoor Adventure

16 Nov – 5 Jan

Castle Howard

The house is dressed for Christmas from the end of November until the 5th of January and you can visit Santa too. We visited last year for the first time and absolutely LOVED the ‘Audience with Father Christmas.’ Tickets sell out quickly for this event, but don’t despair! Enjoy the wonder and magic of the house decorated so truly wonderfully and see Santa on the day – time slots available for booking on arrival.

6 – 8 Dec

The Magic Hatter’s Christmas Cracker

York’s festive family magic show returns for the 9th magical year, and this year is inspired by The Night Before Christmas! Special guests include Frostbite the Penguin, Aunty Madge Hatter and SANTA CLAUS himself! Shows are at Manor CE Academy in York. Tickets £9 for adults, £8 for children and a family of four £30. Festive fun for all the family, ages 3 to 103…’yule’ love it. Early booking is strongly recommended!

Click the snowman at www.magichatter.co.uk to book.

More details at www.facebook.com/magichatter

Weekends, 30 Nov – 22 Dec

Beningborough Hall

Father Christmas is making his way to Beningborough for his annual holiday. As he glides through the skies, dodging the typical British weather, disaster strikes, and his case falls off the back of his sleigh. His elves come to the rescue, finding his case and all its content.

However, his clothes need a bit of TLC, but thankfully Beningborough has some fantastic washing facilities.

Find Father Christmas in the Victorian Laundry for a brand new and unique tale for his Yorkshire guests – New for 2019.

30th Nov – 23rd Dec

City Cruises, York – regular sailings

Fancy meeting Santa on a boat? There is a reason why families return year after year to join us for our City Cruises York Santa Experience, it really is the most magical event on the River Ouse! Santa clearly works hard all year around and especially in December when he somehow manages to find the time to visit all of the especially well behaved boys and girls before Christmas and he tells us that the City Cruises York Santa Experience is the most unique venue that he visits in the city.

30th Nov – 23rd Dec

Murton Park

Visit the annual Santa Special Extravaganza at Murton Park, the Yorkshire Farming Museum. Ride on the Santa train, then take a guided tour of Santa’s village to see how the Elves are getting on at ‘Yule School’.

30th Nov, 1,7-8,14-15,21-24 Dec

William’s Den, North Cave East Yorkshire

William’s Den get festive for Christmas this year with lots of Christmas trees and pretty, twinkling lights and there’s even an ice-skating rink for plenty of family fun!

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

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

A fabulous alternative to the throw away crackers this Christmas Christmas crackers have been a firm favourite tradition since the mid-1800’s. Traditionally pulled at the Christmas dinner table or parties where the contents include a coloured paper hat, a small plastic toy or other trinket, and a joke on a small strip of paper. We are all aware of the on-going battle of non-recyclable plastic that ends up in landfill, so as we get nearer to Christmas, there has been a growing number of petitions online to ban the Christmas Cracker. We think we have found the perfect alternative to guilt free crackers this year!

Interiors at Nine to Eleven in Malton are stocking a fabulous range of eco-conscious crackers, thoughtfully designed to bring the family together not contribute to the 154 million pieces of plastic that will end up in the ocean or landfill. This range of crackers produced by Celebration Crackers are made without glitter or foiling, so they are fully recyclable and contain non-plastic contents.

This clever range of crackers include gingerbread crackers, which include gourmet cooking contents, perfect for a baker or foodie.

This colourful set make up the components of a musical xylophone, there’s also a handbells version too. Perfect to keep the kids entertained!

Pets are not forgotten and excluded from the festivities with this adorable pet cracker, which do not contain a snap to protect their ears. Each with a special toy for them to enjoy, plus a hat and a pet-themed motto. There are dog and cat themed crackers and toys available.

The Mr and Mrs Claus crackers contain racing reindeer toys which we are sure people will want to keep – they come with a racetrack so everyone can have fun, perfect for all ages.

It is Christmas tradition that we love and should be enjoyed by all members of the family, from children, to parents, to grandparents around the Christmas table, it would be a great shame to lose such a wonderful tradition.

For more details on purchasing this clever and environmentally friendly range of crackers this year, you can either visit Interiors by Nine to Eleven at their luxury showroom in Malton (9 - 11 Market Place, Malton, YO17 7LP) or email sales@ninetoeleven.co.uk.

familiesonline.co.uk

Families North Yorkshire 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

10 Families North Yorkshire

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/

familiesonline.co.uk

What is the Right? A Summary of Flexible Working Requests….

By Georgina Thomas On maternity leave and considering returning to work? Pregnant and planning for the future? Or a business owner on the other side?

You may be wondering about rights to request flexible working.

Whilst there is a legal right to request flexible working, the law does balance that right with the employer’s right to run a business.

In deciding whether to make a request, or how to respond to one, something to think about is that flexible work can take various forms outside of the typical part time model.

More creative examples include: changing working hours to fit in with, say, school hours or care arrangements; compressed hours - working your usual hours in fewer days; flexitime - fitting your working hours around agreed core times; home working part or full time; job sharing; annualised hours - working time organised around the number of hours to be worked over a year rather than over a week; term-time work.

Any employee can ask and sensible employers will want to be open to requests.

Whilst your initial reaction might be resistant, flexible working can offer benefits to both employees and employers alike.

Some employees have a specific right and route to follow (if you’ve been there over 26 weeks, it’s likely this is you). You can use this once every 12 months.

However, all employees can technically ask at any time.

Any request should be in writing (especially if you have the 26-week service) and the entire process should take no more than 3 months. Your employer must consider the request seriously and, for employees with the right to request, has only specific reasons it can use to say no, for example if it would cost more or have a detrimental impact on customer demand.

In practice, this is how employers will treat most requests, whether statutory or not, and focussing on the benefits of keeping staff and a happy workforce with a good work life balance cannot be underestimated.

If you are planning to make a request, it’s a good idea to think carefully about how this would impact on the business and have proactive solutions in place to deal with this.

Having this approach will be hugely helpful for your employer and may help your request appear more possible from the outset. Do you need to be physically present in the workplace to do your work? If not, then a case for part homeworking is more likely to succeed. The better prepared you are, the better chances there will be for a solution that is workable for all. Be open to a trial period, especially if this is a new thing for your employer.

If they agree, the outcome will be a change to your terms and conditions. If you have simply adjusted your hours, then your pay and other benefits should be the same, but pro rata if you have reduced your hours. If you have asked for more significant changes, then a change in pay and/or terms may be necessary. You can ask your employer to change your terms temporarily if you are only needing the change for a set period of time – although it will be up to them whether they agree.

If you believe that you have been unreasonably refused, or subjected to any sort of detriment as a result of asking, or if you are unsure how to respond to any such request, take legal advice as soon as you can as the consequences of not doing so can be far reaching.

Call us for a free consultation on 01904 360 295. Email Georgina at georgina@ bridgehr.co.uk

A Gentle Beginning – calm supportive parent and infant groups in York

By Dorothy Marlen

Is this what you are looking for?

If you are a mum or dad who wishes for a quiet, calm group to enjoy and find support in the early months of parenthood, and make new friends, please look no further. A Gentle Beginning is a well established parent and infant group approach to early parenting.

The groups are small – 7 parents and babies maximum and the groups are held in a beautiful quiet room. The group length is 1 ½ hours during which you receive a drink and cake/biscuits, time to get to know the other parents, ask questions and sing nursery rhymes together. Parents and their babies stay with the group until the child is walking confidently. There is the added benefit of a closed facebook page where useful articles on sleep, play, technology and other subjects are regularly offered. The groups are CALM. HOWEVER, there is so much more to these groups and this is important to know. For example, over the months of attending your weekly group you see how it is possible to create a respectful and co-operative relationship with your baby from birth, using the times of bodily care like nappy changing and feeding. You see how to slow down, to look at sleep, feeding and other questions. And just as important, you also learn about the natural movement progression in babies and the simple toys that are most appropriate. AND you won’t learn about this anywhere else in York and environs!

Week on week, we enjoy the amazing unfolding of your baby’s natural movement progression …and you learn that the more you hold back and let the baby self-initiate their own movements and play, the stronger, more graceful and more confident they become. This is an important piece of information for you as a parent, particularly when more and more children are hampered in primary school by underdeveloped motor development.

My name is Dorothy Marlen. I have trained as a Steiner early years practitioner in the Pikler approach from Hungary, as well as in counselling, post-graduate child observation and more. I run the Level 3 (Cache) EYE Diploma in Holistic Baby and Child Care and give consultancy to nurseries around the country. I have run the Gentle Beginnings groups for 10 years and have accompanied several hundred parents and babies. I know what I do is helpful.

“What a wonderful year! Thank you. Your gentle teaching has touched our lives profoundly. We will always be grateful”. Lilly and David.

Please do get in touch if you would like more information and to book your place.

Dorothy Marlen www.agentlebeginning.co.uk. dorothy@dorothymarlen.net. 01904 612683 familiesonline.co.uk

Families North Yorkshire 11

Interview with Ruby Isaacs September saw many of our local towns opening their doors to the world for the UCI World Cycling Championships. Families North Yorkshire had the privilege of meeting a young star in the making: Ruby Isaacs, age 11. She is Trek-Segafredo’s youngest bike rider and in 2018, she was one of the stars on America’s TV show Little Big Shots.

Who gave you your love of cycling?

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.

Does anybody else in your family cycle?

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

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

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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?

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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

12 Families North Yorkshire

out with my friends because some of 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!

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.

How much time per week do you spend cycling?

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.

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 North Yorkshire 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

familiesonline.co.uk

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 allimportant 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.

Families North Yorkshire 13

Please check listings with the venue before leaving the house!

What’s On? Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon & Yorkshire Dales

21 Nov– 28 Dec – RHS Harlow Carr

‘Glow’ Winter Illuminations

Enjoy an illuminated trail around the magnificent trees & shrubs as dusk falls. See the lake, Winter Walk, Streamside & Doric columns as you’ve never seen them before. Visitors can bask in the ‘glow’ of the winter illuminations three evenings a week (Thursday – Saturday) from 4.30pm – 8pm, with last admission at 7pm. Tickets are available to buy online at www.rhs.org. uk/harlowcarr or to purchase on the door.

23 Nov – Ripon Cathedral

Christmas Gift & Food Fair

Save the date to join us for the best Christmas Fair in Yorkshire, in the fantastic setting of Ripon Cathedral.

With over 100 stalls offering unique gifts and food, helping you find the perfect gift and support local, independent businesses at Christmas. Still just £3 entry. Enjoy seasonal music throughout the day, turkey sandwiches and mulled wine. Visit Santa in his grotto and other children’s activities – there is something for everyone!

23 Nov – 22 Dec (selected dates) – Fountain’s Abbey

A Festive Tale with Father Christmas

Step into the cosy reading room at Fountains Hall. For the first time Father Christmas is here to read you a festive story. Sit and listen closely to the story he has to tell and if you’ve been a really good boy or girl this year, he has a gift to give you.

30 Nov – 24 Dec – Mother Shipton’s Cave

Christmas

The excitement begins with Santa’s jolly elves giving each child their own festive activity pack. Adults can enjoy a complimentary glass of mulled wine whilst the children are busy writing a letter to Santa & a wish to hang on the Christmas tree. If you are feeling creative, you can decorate a gingerbread man for an additional cost. To fuel Santa’s reindeer as they fly all over the world, they will need some food. Fill a bag with magical food to take home & scatter. Acorn the Toymaker will be working hard to make lots of toys for children this Christmas. Help Acorn to make some traditional wooden toys to fill up Santa’s sleigh before his Christmas Eve journey. As you venture through breath-taking surroundings, immerse yourself in Christmas wonder with Holly Berry the Storyteller who will read you an enchanting tale. Chief Elf Chestnut has the important task of warming you up before entering the stunning grotto that leads you through to meet Santa. Receive a very special gift & have a photo taken, which will then be available to buy in the Christmas Shop alongside an array of wonderful gifts and decorations. Tickets only available to book ONLINE. www.mothershipton.co.uk

29 Nov – 1 Dec – Thirsk Market Place

Thirsk Christmas Fayre

Christmas is a time for celebration, shopping, relaxing and of course reflection. We could not think of a better place for you to do all of those. Come and join us with a range of stalls to see over the three days of the fayre, with different stalls each day. www.christmasinthirsk. com 14 Families North Yorkshire

8 & 15 Dec 3-3.45pm Fountain’s Abbey

Sing with us at Carols by Candlelight

This heart-warming service in the abbey cellarium has become a Christmas tradition. So much so that there’s going to be an extra service this year. Pick up a candle on your way down to the abbey and add your light to hundreds of others as we all sing carols together as part of this Christmas service. This event is incredibly popular. We recommend arriving early for a seat.

Everybody is welcome.

YORK & NORTH YORK MOORS

12 & 13 December – 7pm - York Minster

Christmas Carol Concerts

York Minster’s Christmas Carol Concerts are the most popular events in the cathedral’s calendar, with many people returning year after year to enjoy the festive tradition. The evenings feature traditional Christmas music sung by the full York Minster Choir, with the Yorkshire Volunteers Band leading the audience in Christmas carols & celebrity readers performing seasonal poetry &readings. For a full listing of services & events visit www.yorkminster.org

Dates to be released – Barley Hall

A Magical, Medieval Christmas

Nov onwards – Dalby Forest

This is your chance to discover the hidden history of the use of charms, potions & magic during Christmas celebrations in medieval York at Barley Hall.

Lul-Lul’s space ship has crash landed in the forest – will you help her get home? We’ve partnered with Aardman and Studiocanal to celebrate the release of their new film A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmegeddon. An alien space ship has crashed into Dalby Forest and Shaun the Sheep is on a mission to help the inhabitant – a lovable alien called Lu-La. Lu-La needs your help to charge her communicator so she can call home for rescue. You’ll need to hurry as Lu-La is being chased by Agent Red and her hapless helpers the Hazmats!

TADCASTER, SELBY & SURROUNDING AREAS

Shaun the Sheep Glo Trail

16 Nov – 5 Jan – Castle Howard

A Christmas Masquerade

Enjoy a truly magical day out as Castle Howard is transformed for the festive season. Experience the magnificent decorations as you journey through the House’s grand state rooms. Open fires, candle light and live music evoke all that we love about this special time of year, with the iconic 25-foot traditional Christmas tree adorned with over 3000 baubles providing a breathtaking highlight in the Great Hall. Although ‘Audience with Father Christmas’ tickets have sold out online, you can still visit Santa on the day. Every Saturday & Sunday there are Grotto slots available, no need to book weeks in advance! www.castlehoward.co.uk/whats-on/ christmas

16 Nov – 5 Jan – York Designer Outlet

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland

Home to the north of England’s largest & best-loved outdoor ice rink – The Ice Factor – with its magical setting, giant Christmas tree and rink side Alpine-themed café. With vintage funfair rides dating from as early as 1933, Santa welcoming visitors in his enchanting log cabin, live weekend entertainment and of course Christmas shopping in over 120 designer brands for up to 60% less at York Designer Outlet, Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland really does have something for everyone.

23 Nov – 24 Dec – York’s Chocolate Story

Santa’s Sweet Adventure

York’s Chocolate Story will undergo a festive make-over to welcome Father Christmas. Visitors will get a chance to meet Santa & participate in a number of special themed walks, in which they will complete a mission to help him save Christmas. On the way, visitors will learn festive facts about iconic brands & how chocolate was involved in Christmas past as well as make their own Christmas-themed lollies & watch special festive demonstrations with York’s talented chocolatiers. www. yorkschocolatestory.com

1 Dec – 21 Dec – Treasurer’s House

Father Christmas

Father Christmas has crashed into the roof again – his GPS is terrible! Don’t worry, we’ve set him up a special grotto in the attic. Grab a hard hat and head to the rooftops to listen to his stories and receive a gift.

He’s happy to welcome visitors in this most unusual of places and share his amazing adventures. Meet Father Christmas on weekends only. Suitable for age 5 years & over – you’ll need to wear one of the hard hats provided and adventure through small doors and raised ledges.

Booking ahead is recommended on 01904 624247.

14 Nov – 6 Jan – Stockeld Park

The Christmas Adventure

Entry to our Woodland Cafe, Gift & Tree shop is free during our winter season. Plus, guests can choose to buy tickets to enter our exciting Adventure Zones, including our Real Ice Rink, Nordic Ski Trail, Fun Filled Maze & Illuminated Enchanted Forest.

22 – 24 Nov – Selby Abbey

950 Illuminations

The Abbey will be illuminated over three evenings with a light work that will tell the story of the journey of a shining figure across land and water to the Abbey, as a part of the 950th anniversary of the Abbey’s foundation.

30 Nov – 10am – 5pm - Selby Market Place

Christmas Market & Light Switch on

Stalls & entertainment from local school choirs and bands throughout the day.

8 & 15 Dec – Carlton Towers

Santa Sunday Lunch

3 course festive Sunday lunch. Santa’s Grotto with free gift. £35 per adult, £18 per child.

Joon

Joon is high-street destination with a difference. It has been designed for both children and adults, so families and friends can come together in a relaxed environment. The shop has a mini play area, huge craft table and great coffee and cake.

The craft table is for all ages, with toddler crafts during term time and something for the older ones at the weekend and school holidays. In keeping with a love for creativity, Joon also has a great range of gifts that will inspire children to continue with crafting and creating at home. So whether you’re looking for a place to hang out with your little one, buy a present for an upcoming party or attend an event, Joon is a family hub where we’re sure you will love to spend time. Go to

www.joonbostonspa.co.uk for our upcoming events and workshops.

table tots

Baby & children’s indoor markets: pre-loved, nearly new sales, maternity - 10 www.tabletots.co.uk/events

Unless stated, all times are 1pm – 2.30pm 2 Nov - SELBY Barlby High School 2 – 4pm 9 Nov - HULL Wyke 6th Form College 10 Nov - MORLEY Morley Leisure Centre 16 Nov - GUISELEY Indoor Christmas Craft & Gift Fair 1 – 4pm 17 Nov - GUISELEY Guiseley Aireborough Leisure Centre 30 Nov - ROTHWELL Rothwell leisure Centre 3 – 4.30pm familiesonline.co.uk

22 Dec – 2pm Riley Smith Hall, Tadcaster

Jingle Bell Bop

It’s a family Christmas stage show, exclusively for young families with stage lead panto fun & games. Elves & fairies will greet you, there will be singing, dancing and a Santa panto on stage. It’s a party as well as a panto, so you’re encouraged to get up, dance and enjoy the festive mood.

EAST YORKSHIRE & THE COAST

5 Nov, 5pm onwards – West Park, Goole

Bonfire and Fireworks

Goole’s annual Bonfire & fireworks celebration, with funfair and food stalls. Gates open at 5pm, Fireworks from 7pm onwards. Advance tickets available from Junction Box Office up until 5pm on 5 Nov. Remaining tickets will be available to purchase on the gate at the Airmyn Road entrance to West Park from 5pm. Under 3s do not need their own ticket. Please note that there is no on-site parking available. Personal fireworks, including sparklers, will not be allowed on site due to safety concerns.

14 Nov – 23 Dec - Burton Agnes Hall

Christmas

Visit Father Christmas in his courtyard grotto, where every child will receive a special Christmas gift.

Weekends in Dec (except 1st, 28th & 29th) from 124pm. £5.00 per child; booking is not essential. Or, why not join Father Christmas, Mrs Christmas and Jingles the Magic Elf for a performance of magic and song, a special gift and photographs? Sat 7, 14 & 21, & Sun 22 Dec. Performances at 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm.

Booking essential.

23 Nov & 18 Dec – Burton Constable Hall

A Country House Christmas

A visit to this fascinating country house at Christmas is the perfect chance to lift your spirits for the festive season ahead. Meander upstairs and downstairs though 30 evocative rooms filled with fine art and furniture that will be transformed with seasonal floral displays, stunning decorations and garlands. Children can experience the magic of the Hall at its twinkling best searching for the Christmas Reindeer hidden in each room.

Summit Indoor Adventure It’s the weekend and the kids are climbing, sliding and running around and you are sat there with a cup of coffee in hand relaxed and having a good old natter with your friends.

That’s because you are at Summit Indoor Adventure, Scott Rd, Selby where kids can burn up some of the endless energy.

- 3 tiers of slides, climbing nets, swings and tunnels on Adventure Play.

- Over 20 themed Climbing Walls from a sheer rock face to a fantasy lunar landscape offering a variety of challenges.

- An Aerial Trek obstacle course that has a swing bridge, cargo nets, beams and stepping stones.

- Ten-pin bowling alleys that are fantastic for young and old alike - An Indoor Skate Park where they can show off their skate and scooter tricks. On Saturday and Sunday mornings toddlers aged 3 – 6 years old can enjoy 1 hours skate between 9am to 10am and then 2 hours play 10am to 12noon for just £6.

You can grab a bite to eat and drink whilst you are there from light bites, paninis and wraps to delicious burgers and pizzas.

For further information visit www. summitindooradventure.co.uk or call 01757 293292.

A Christmas Coral

Join us each weekend throughout December and throughout the festive period as we explore the seas of the past, present and future in our fun-packed interactive show at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

30 Nov, 1, 7-8, 14-15 & 21-22 Dec – Sledmere House, Driffield

Santa’s Grotto

Santa’s coming back to Sledmere, this year the Magical Grotto is bigger and better than ever, and we have lots more dates for you to come and visit. This years’ experience is bookable only so please make sure you book online. In small groups you’ll get to explore the Magical Grotto, enjoy some festive fun and games with the Elves, visit Santa to tell him what’s on your wish list this year and also let him know how nice you’ve been in order to be granted access into the Elves VIP Toy Store to choose your very own gift from Santa!

30 Nov, 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21-24 Dec William’s Den

The Christmas Den

Children and their families will be welcomed into The Christmas Den in small groups. They will be greeted by the cheeky elves straight from the North Pole and will learn how to become an honorary Elf. Mother Christmas can’t wait to tell her treasured Christmas stories and to share her special gingerbread. Father Christmas is looking forward to meeting our VIP guests and will help each child to build their own Christmas bear to take home!

LEEDS

8 Nov – 21 Dec – Millennium Square

Christkindlmarkt – German Christmas Market

One of the most established German markets in the UK, with traditional wooden stalls, festive greenery, Christmas carousel ride & twinkling colourful lights all creating a unique continental festive atmosphere.

Joseph Rowntree Theatre – 27 – 30 Nov

Jesus Christ Superstar

A musical phenomenon, the show follows the last week of Jesus’ life, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, and exploring the struggles and personal relationships between his followers and disciples. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the multi award-winning score includes songs such as Superstar, Everything’s Alright and I Don’t Know How to Love Him. A gritty and touching emotional rollercoaster that will leave you spellbound. Book online at www.josephrowntreetheatre. co.uk

CBeebies show at cinemas– 30 Nov, 1 Dec & then throughout Dec

Hansel & Gretal

Following a successful launch in 2018, UK audiences are invited to watch CBeebies’ theatre recording of this year’s Christmas Show: Hansel & Gretal on the big screen! This holiday season, laugh and sing along with your favourite CBeebies stars and be part of a fabulous interactive show for all the family.

York Theatre Royal - 14 Dec – 4 Jan

The Storm Whale

Noi lives with his Dad and their six cats by the sea. One winter, while his Dad was busy at work, Noi rescued a little whale that washed up on the beach during a storm. There a friendship began that changed their lives forever. The following winter Noi’s Dad takes one last trip in his fishing boat. Noi is alone once more and longs to see his friend again. He waits and watches, watches and waits … will it take another winter storm to bring them back together again? Relaxed performance 1pm, 19 Dec. Age guide 4+

Pantomimes

22 Nov – 5 Jan – Lotherton

Harrogate Theatre - 27 Nov – 19 Jan

Yorkshire’s ultimate festive day out! Enjoy a magical Twelve Days of Christmas Walk through the Captains Wood around the estate, make the turtle doves fly, walk through the five gold rings and be one of our drummers drumming! Uncover a secret fairy hideaway in our rock garden. Visit Santa in the North Pole and meet our elves helping in their workshop. Marvel in the splendour of the Edwardian House with the rooms dressed in all their festive finery. Wander down to the Elf Village where young ones can join the elves in making craft activities or listen to stories, and everyone can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or warm snack under our twinkling canopy.

NEW for 2019: Open Air Ice Skating!

Join Snow White and a host of characters for the adventure of a lifetime, as they travel through the forest to the diamond mines on a thrilling quest to defeat the spells and enchantments of the evil Queen. They’re going to need all the help they can get – both from you in the audience and the seven very special, little folk that live in the forest. Chock full of magic and sparkle, Harrogate Theatre’s pantomime is a firm festive favourite. Expect all of your favourite panto characters, spectacular scenery, sing-along songs and buffoonery aplenty. We can’t wait to see you there!

7 Dec – every weekend until Christmas

Sleeping Beauty

Snow White

The Christmas Experience

Christmas at Temple Newsam

Join us for some festive fun around the estate every weekend during December. Head to the house and delight in the splendour of our festive preparations to see how the Tudors, Georgians and Victorians celebrated Christmas. Book a time slot to visit Santa in his workshop and receive a free gift. There’s pine cone crafting in Dunstan’s Hall too. There’s wreath making and Medieval tile crafting at Home Farm. Get cosy by the open fire and enjoy some traditional Christmas crafting.

Wander through the cobbled streets and visit our farm yard friends bedding down for winter. All activities are included within the general admission price. Santa visits are extra at £5 per child (under1s are free). Please book 0113 336 7460.

Mum 2 Mum markets

Rossett Sports Centre, Harrogate 26th January 2020 2-4pm 15th March 2020 2-4pm 17th May 2020 2-4pm 5th July 2020 2-4pm September 2020 2-4pm

www.mum2mummarket.co.uk joanne@mum2mummarket.co.uk

With Christmas coming up you might also want to get a few stocking fillers in so why not buy some Summit Indoor Adventure gift vouchers from £5 per voucher?

Theatre

30 Nov – 5 Jan The Deep

York Theatre Royal - 7 Dec – 25 Jan York’s much-loved pantomime family returns with Martin Barrass, Suzy Cooper, A.J Powell and the dastardly David Leonard in a spectacular new show for the whole family. Join us again this year for what promises to be a magical Christmas treat, spinning together hilarious gags, stunning costumes, sparkling sets, thrilling choreography and foot-tapping songs. Make Sleeping Beauty a part of your festive celebrations. Book at www. yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or call Box Office 01904 623568.

Grand Opera House York - 12 Dec – 4 Jan

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Will Snow White escape the Queen’s evil magic? Will the wicked Queen get hooked up with the handsome Prince? Will Muddles ever get his magic tricks to work? Will the Seven Dwarfs ever get back home without singing that silly song? To get answers to all these questions, come along to see this exciting family pantomime, full of magic, mayhem and mirth, with terrific sets, outrageous costumes and wondrous special effects. Starring Mark Little, best baddie in Yorkshire, ‘Allo ‘Allo legend Vicki Michelle and man of comedy and magic Martin Daniels, this year’s pantomime is one not to be missed. Call the Box Office on 0844 871 3024 or book online at www.atgtickets.com/york.

22 Nov 2019–5 Jan 2020

thechristmasexperience.co.uk

Cover Star Competition!

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Could your child be the next cover star of Families North Yorkshire?

Reach over 40,000 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@familiesnorthyorkshire.co.uk with the subject ‘Cover kid’.

Entries close on Monday 2nd December at midday.