Families Northeast Magazine Jul/Aug 2022 Print

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Summer fun What’s on Top 9 museums Home working Issue 25 July/August 2022

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THE BOWES MUSEUM

18 June – 30 October Featuring work by Matt Wilcock, Winner of BBC Great Pottery Throw Down.

Join us on a dazzling journey of discovery. Take in hundreds of years of creativity with colour, from the Renaissance to the present day. Presented alongside our extraordinary collection are new technologies and artworks created by artists and colour fanatics. Soak up colour rich experiences as you adventure with us.

Barnard Castle, DL12 8NP • Open Daily 10am-5pm • FREE Entry to Café Bowes & shop • thebowesmuseum.org.uk hello@thebowesmuseum.org.uk • 01833 690606 • • #TheBowesMuseum

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CONTENTS

Welcome Contact us

Carla Finlayson & Laura Macaulay Editors E: Carla@familiesnewcastle.co.uk T: 07734 690020 @FamiliesNorthEastMag

@FamiliesNEMag

@familiesnortheastmag

The long summer holiday is nearly here, bringing with it both the prospect of holidays and fun with the family, but also, for many parents, the challenges of summer childcare arrangements and keeping the kids entertained for at least six weeks…

Well, you can rely on us to have you covered. We have loads of low-cost summer entertainment ideas in this issue, tips on piecing together the summer childcare jigsaw and top tips for enjoying the outdoors this summer! Of course, you’ll also find plenty of information about local events and activities to make the summer memorable close to home. Take a look at our Top 9 Museums to visit and our What’s On pages too.

We hate to mention the word ‘school’ at this time of year so all we will say is – September is (unfortunately) closer than you think so keep the necessary preparations in mind. In our Education section, check out the skills you can help your school starter build over the summer before the big day.

In this issue

Finally, in this issue, we have loads of cool kids’ backpacks from Grass & Air to giveaway! Apply for these handy accessories for your child at familiesmag. co.uk/go. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

4.

Childcare

5.

Health

Carla & Laura x

6.

Summer fun

10.

What’s On

12.

Education

13.

Family Law

14.

Clubs and Classes

16.

Top 9: Musuems

March/April competition winners

Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list at https://bit.ly/MArecipients Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

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www.empoweringmindtherapies.co.uk 07727 917582 corrine@empoweringmindtherapies.co.uk

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CHILDCARE

The summer holiday childcare jigsaw

By Andrew Campbell For many parents, the long summer holidays can cause a massive childcare headache requiring an enormous amount of juggling and ‘piecing it together’ and involving substantial cost. If you’re facing the school holiday childcare puzzle right now, then here are some of the pieces you might be able to fit together in your jigsaw.

Family care Family members, typically grandparents, are often more than happy to share the childcare burden and with this comes the advantage of knowing your children are with someone you all trust. Your kids will benefit by learning they don’t need you all the time and will build long-lasting bonds.

Other parents Teaming up with other parents by taking turns to care for each other’s children is a great way to spread the load. But this will require forward planning and organisation - so get in now. Try setting up a summer childcare WhatsApp group with the parents of your child’s friends.

Private nursery Many nurseries continue as normal throughout the summer but those adjoined to schools and pre-schools usually follow school term dates. Some private nurseries will take on some younger children just for the summer holidays. Contact them to enquire.

Childminders Childminders care for small groups of children of different ages in the childminder’s home. The children usually come from different families and sometimes include the childminder’s own children. If you currently use a childminder, ask about availability for summer childcare as they take holidays too.

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Nanny share A nanny share or ‘home childcarer’ is when you and another family share the costs and responsibilities of employing a nanny to look after your children in your home. Nannies can often work for two or more families, by caring for the children all at the same time or by splitting the week between them.

Holiday camps and workshops Run by private providers, these can be multi-activity day camps focussing on a variety of sport and/or creative activities or single activity camps focussed on a specific sport/creative activity.

Holiday workshops tend to take place for shorter more intense periods and, often organised by providers that also offer weekly term time classes, they offer a valuable opportunity to receive elite coaching and tuition.

Holiday play schemes Playschemes are usually for children of primary school age. Run by schools, councils, youth clubs and community groups, they provide a range of activities and typically cost around £30 a day although this can vary widely, with subsidised prices offered for low-income households.

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HEALTH

The essence of supporting our families (social, emotional and mental health) using basic Psychological Interventions Post Pandemic Empowering our Mental Wellbeing for children, young people (CYP) and families is more important now than ever before with mental health issues increasing and common amongst CYP. Our now new Post Pandemic World has impacted on the health of so many of us and especially on those who were already disadvantaged in accessing support before this.

Recent data collected by NHS Digital 2021 suggests that we now live in a country where one in every six 5–16-year-olds have a mental health problem, up a third from 2017 where 1 in 9 children and young people were estimated to have had a diagnosable mental health condition. The statistics for adolescent girls aged 17-19 are even more alarming, with one in four having a probable mental health condition in 2021. Most recent research from mental health Mind Charity in May 2022, reflects the worry of parents and grandparents about young people’s mental health.

It is now more evident than ever before that we need to get support for our families, children and young people earlier. So how can families get early intervention before they approach crisis point? How do we support children post pandemic soon enough so that this doesn’t have a profound effect on their future?

Another readily available route apart from the NHS, is from private practitioners more than ever before, who can usually see families within one week. And can support and empower your family’s wellbeing using a wide range of basic psychological interventions, complementary modalities such as: therapeutic Coaching; Cognitive Behavioural Coaching; Mindfulness, and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). You don’t need be referred prior to getting a consultation or wait on a list.

As a therapeutic coach, I can support people to reconnect to themselves by using integrative modalities, coaching techniques that help to build stronger relationships and can help you and your family thrive.

One of my favourite approaches, which I use to work with families and especially young people, is NLP. I have found this so useful, helpful and powerful, for so many issues this has had a positive impact on the lives of people that I have supported.

You learn how to understand the power of communication, changing language, which can help to change negative emotional states. This builds and supports resilience and selfconfidence, which can lead to stress free and manageable lives.

Although, seeing a private therapist incurs a financial cost the benefits can out way this in terms of quick access when you need it and a more personalised service. It’s also a flexible service and most importantly it supports issues early for SEMH needs, this makes private therapy a worthwhile investment for so many families.

Corrine owns and runs Empowering Mind Therapies Ltd., who specialise in interventions for children, young people, parents and families. Get in touch to find out more.

Corrine Oshin PGDip SEND, NLP Master Practitioner Web: www.empoweringmindtherapies.co.uk Tel: 07722917582 Email: corrine@empoweringmindtherapies.co.uk Address: Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2AH

A Summer of Play on the Plaza Every Thursday you’ll find free family events on the plaza from Bubbleology to building super structures and more.

discoverymuseum.org.uk Free entry, donations welcome.

Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle, NE1 4JA Central Station

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Families North East Magazine 5

SUMMER FUN

Enjoying the great outdoors

By Ed Bassett

The school shoes have been kicked under the bed until September, the weather’s looking promising and there’s the great outdoors to explore as a family. A recent study found that taking part in nature-based activities leads to improved mood, less anxiety and positive emotions, so let’s get out there!

Kayaking Kayaking is an exhilarating activity for families with children who are confident in water. It’s also a very versatile activity, given that you can kayak on almost any body of water, including lakes, rivers, streams or even the sea.

Encourage children to observe out loud what they can see, hear and smell around them and how it makes them feel.

Camping Camping makes the most of longer days and even a weekend spent immersed in nature is a breath of fresh air and healthy, wholesome fun for all ages.

Tuition and guided trips are widely available throughout the country for first timers.

Look up at night and marvel at the free light show on offer from various constellations, stars and planets.

Gardening Gardens are great spaces to explore sensory development.

By encouraging children to feel and understand the texture of soil, actively listen out for birds (and next door’s dog) and smell the flowers, you will improve their sensory awareness and recognition.

Better still, if you engage children in growing their own food, they naturally have a keener interest in eating it, encouraging healthy eating habits from a young age. Even city kids can watch and wonder at plants growing on a windowsill. Cress, salad leaves and tomato plants are very simple to grow and don’t require any outdoor space at all.

You’ll enjoy the slower pace, a greater connection both with nature and your family and be ready to return home feeling calmer, less anxious and less irritable.

Scavenger hunts A scavenger hunt adds an extra layer of interaction and incentive to any walk.

Set out with a list of specific animals, bugs, flowers and trees to find and challenge the kids to find the natural treasures along the way.

For younger children, ask them to spot different colours - such as looking out for red leaves, ladybirds or birds’ feathers.

Forest bathing

Foraging

Forest bathing is about being calm and quiet among trees, observing the natural environment while breathing deeply, in order to de-stress and boost wellbeing.

Nettles, elderflowers, blackberries, cherries, chestnuts and apples can all be found in woods and forests at various points throughout the summer and early autumn and can be safely foraged for all types of cooking, baking and jam-making.

This meditative practice can be beneficial both for adults and children. Find a quiet spot and start breathing deeply. Try hugging a tree. Deep breathwork balances blood pressure, boosts energy levels, improves sleep, strengthens respiratory function, supports healthy functioning of the immune system and relieves stress.

The Woodland Trust has a handy guide for what’s in season in the UK for those wanting to try their hand at foraging. (https://bit.ly/WoodlandTrustForage) Remember, while foraging in public spaces and footpaths is perfectly legal, if you’re on private land you will need the permission of the landowner.

Ed Bassett is Head of Wanderlust at Camptoo. To book a campervan for your next road trip, visit www.camptoo.co.uk

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SUMMER FUN

Three’s a crowd!

By Tori JP Entertaining three boys of different ages (12, 6 and 3) can be a challenge. I’m not a particularly crafty mum and therefore I like to get out with the kids as much as possible. Over the years, we’ve been to many indoor and outdoor venues, so I’ve learned a fair amount about what works for all three of them.

Days out that have gone well for us tend to have certain elements in common; there’s somewhere to run around (burning off some energy first!), their interest is sparked and, of course, it’s suitable for a range of ages.

Here are my favourite venue types for great days out for all ages:

and many have activities during school holidays too.

A nature trail can tick every box

The Science Museum in London or the The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester are obvious examples. If you can, look for somewhere that also has an outdoor area so you can tick the physical activity box.

Check your local National Trusts, arboretums and country parks.

We loved hunting for the Gruffalo at Queenswood Country Park in Herefordshire and exploring the deep dark wood at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire.

An activity farm The National Forest Adventure Farm in Burton on Trent was described by my husband as one of the most successful days out we’ve had as a family. The kids absolutely LOVED the potato digging event. This type of venue can also be great for wet weather days as there will often be an indoor play area and inside activities to enjoy. For a summer day, try your local fruit picking farm for guaranteed edible fun.

An interactive science museum These are generally really engaging for children of different ages

An outdoor adventure centre Something like the Habberley Trail in Kidderminster is ‘days out with the kids’ gold. Think a two mile long obstacle course with obstacles generally suitable for kids of all ages. Places like The Crocky Trail in Cheshire and Nets Adventure at Moors Valley in Dorset are also great. You also can’t beat an adventure playground or splash pad!

Don’t forget to factor in naps, snacks, spare socks and hats, porta-potties and any other contingencies you might need for a successful day out. It’s also sensible to check out parking, pushchair friendliness, baby change, available deals or discount codes in advance. As with most things, good preparation is key.

Find more from Tori JP on Instagram @girlaboutbirmingham

A love of performing can develop key skills for life Whether it be diving into their dressing up box or stepping onto the stage, performing is important to children and young people, and the benefits of this can often go unnoticed.

Performing arts can teach children and young people key skills that can be used in everyday life.

Creativity Children are naturally imaginative, and pretend play and make believe comes easily to them. Imaginative play can enable a child’s social and emotional development, helping them to form new ideas and develop resourcefulness.

Problem solving The ability to solve problems creatively within the safety of a performing arts environment can be transferred to everyday life when dealing with a variety of issues. If children feel comfortable exploring and dealing with problems in a nonlinear way, this makes them more confident overall.

Empathy Performance is a classic form of storytelling, not only for entertainment but for sharing tales and ideas. Performing in character can help children appreciate another person’s point of view. To accurately portray a character, we need to be able to step into their shoes, understand their situation and what has brought them to that situation. If a child understands a character in this way, they can apply this to everyday life, helping them to react to friends and adults and develop their social skills.

Listening The ability to listen is an important skill, especially when a child is in a new setting with new routines and expectations.

During performing arts classes children take direction from their teachers and peers. This encourages them to be receptive to others’ ideas and work collaboratively.

Confidence Building Some children are never happier than putting on a show for their family and friends, but for some standing up in front of an audience can be daunting. Performing arts are hugely beneficial to children’s confidence levels. Learning new skills, rehearsing, and performing in a safe space, with the support of expert teachers and encouragement of their peers, can prepare children to deal with situations in which they feel anxious.

At PQA we believe that our three core modules, Musical Theatre, Comedy & Drama and Film & Television, offer our students the very best mix of both performance based and technical training as well as providing them with skills for life to help them grow into well-rounded individuals.

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Families North East Magazine 7

SUMMER FUN

Low-cost summer fun

Educational

Out and about

Visit a museum. There are world-renowned museums in cities across the UK that offer free access to exhibitions year-round.

To find a museum near you, visit www.visitbritain.com

Cinema deals. Odeon cinema and Cineworld will be running kids screenings all summer, with tickets priced from £3.25. www.odeon.co.uk and www.cineworld.co.uk

Festival of Archaeology. The Council for British Archaeology has teamed up with hundreds of museums to organise more than one thousand archaeology-related events and activities all over the country. www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk

Hop on board the train. Taking the train to visit somewhere new is an adventure in itself. And it doesn’t need to cost the earth if you buy a Family and Friends Railcard. www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk

Take the summer reading challenge. The challenge, aimed at children ages 4 to 11 years, is to read six or more library books over the summer. There are stickers and other rewards available from the library. Sometimes free and always inexpensive, a local library membership will really encourage your children to dive into books, audiobooks and more. www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk 50 things to do before you’re 11¾. Get your kids closer to nature with The National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’. There’s plenty of outdoor activities to undertake during the summer, from watching the sunset to creating some wild art.

Many can be done at home and in your garden. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/50-things-to-do

Visit a pet store. Kids will enjoy seeing all the furry pets for sale including hamsters, rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs and fish.

Pet stores often run animal handling sessions and other free activities during the holidays. Find My Pet Pals workshops at www.petsathome.com Pick your own berries. Take your young ones to a pick-yourown farm to gather a heap of juicy strawberries or raspberries.

Of course, they will do plenty of eating too but, hey, it’s fruit!

Drive-in cinema. The perfect retroactivity for a balmy summer night or afternoon, why not head to an outdoor cinema? With outdoor or drive-in cinema popping up in various places throughout the UK, you might catch a family favourite or retro classic.

Toddlers

Home-based

Little fence painters. If you want less mess but just as much fun, simply give your toddler a bucket of water and a large brush or roller and let them ‘paint’ the garden fence.

Movie day. Draw the curtains, dim the lights and create a cinema experience in your living room. Get some popcorn and sweets on the go and enjoy your favourite family movies.

Chalk pavement painting. Arm your toddler with some chalks.

Big chunky ones are good but any chalks will do. Then let them draw and decorate the driveway or pavement.

Host a dance party. Invite around some of your kids’ friends, put together a new playlist and let them dance till they drop. All you’ll have to do is provide drinks and snacks!

Instant ice paints. Mix paint with water, add a lolly stick and freeze in an ice cube tray to make these incredible ice paints.

They melt as your toddler paints with them and they can play around with patterns and blend the colours. You’ll want them to do this outdoors, of course!

Draw outside. An outdoor blackboard will encourage all sorts of games and creativity. All you need is a piece of board, ideally marine plywood, cut to the size you require and some blackboard paint. Keep chalks in a waterproof box, ready for artistic inspiration.

Hula hoop obstacle course. Place hula hoops in a row along the garden. Challenge your little one to jump from one hoop to the next – forwards and backwards!

DIY drum set. Give them pots, pans and some cooking spoons to make their very own DIY drumset. They can clang and bang about as long as they like.

Nature sticky bracelets. Pop masking tape or thick duct tape round your toddler’s wrist, with the sticky side outwards. On a walk in the park (or in the garden) ask them to find leaves, seeds and flowers to stick to their bracelets.

Cook dinner on the campfire. Campfires are a great way to encourage children to learn essential outdoor skills. Even cooking on a campfire or barbeque in your garden can feel like a summer adventure.

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SUMMER FUN

Low-cost summer fun

Something different

Outdoors

Enjoy a wild swim. When it’s warm, it doesn’t get much better than taking a dip in the sea, lake or river. If you live in a big city, don’t be put off! You’ll be surprised how many wild swimming spots are nearby. www.wildswimming.co.uk

Join in National Play Day. National Play Day takes place across the country on 1 August. Children and families have the chance to play at hundreds of community events, from mass adventures in woodlands to street parties with games. Find your nearest ones at www.playday.org.uk

Let’s fish! The Canal and River Trust is running free fishing taster sessions over the holidays, with professional angling coaches on hand to teach the basics. www.canalrivertrust.org.uk Go geocaching. This is a real outdoor treasure hunting game that uses an app. You navigate to a set of GPS coordinates and try to find the treasure at that location. www.geocaching.com Borrow a doggy. Join Borrow My Doggy to let your kids bond with a dog that need some love while their owners are out at work. It’s a great way to get the kids walking in the school holidays. www.borrowmydoggy.com Free tennis coaching and court usage. You can net free tennis sessions or coaching as part of Big Tennis Weekends, organised by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), at venues across Britain. www.lta.org.uk

Go fly a kite! They’re cheap and easy to buy or you can even make your own. Read up on tips about how to fly them. www.thekitesociety.org.uk Go for a bike ride. Cycling is a great way to reconnect with nature and get off the beaten track. Take a ride on a local cycle path or if you’re a bit more ambitious, why not take a family bikepacking trip somewhere a bit further afield?

Find the Gruffalo. If your kids love Julia Donaldson, there are themed walks based on her books up and down the country to take the family to visit. Find out more details on these trails at www.forestryengland.uk/gruffalo Woodland adventure. Explore your nearest woodland and enjoy adventure play areas, natural play, off-road cycling and lots of space to create dens. Find your local wood or forest at www.forestryengland.uk

Water fun

Crafty capers

Sponge water bombs. So easy to make! Just cut sponges into strips and tie them together in the middle with string in order to make fun water soakers, perfect for little hands.

Paint some rocks. Find some smooth and fairly flat rocks and paint them in vivid summer designs. They’ll brighten up the garden, or you can use them as paperweights.

Flower soup. Give your child a basket and pick lots of flowers and petals. Then fill a bowl or tray with water. Let them pop their flowers or petals in, one at a time to see if they will sink or float.

Flower Pressing. Flower pressing is a great way to preserve and study flowers. Once the kids have pressed their flowers, they can make them into greetings cards or bookmarks.

Petal potions. Ask your child to gather leaves, seeds, petals and grass. Then give them a pestle and mortar to grind their leaves and petals in. Give them a jug of water and little jars so that they can make petal perfume or potions.

Make a sundial. Teach your kids how people used to tell the time before clocks and watches were invented. All you need is a compass to pinpoint north. Then put a stick in the ground and watch the shadow change position as the sun moves.

Pouring fun. Fill a paddling pool or large tub with water and add a selection of pouring jugs, ladles and funnels. Add some food colouring to make it extra fun.

Create pictures with melted crayons. Do something with all those broken, used-up or otherwise useless crayons. Remove any paper or plastic wrapping. Then using a hairdryer, melt the crayons onto paper or cardboard and create your very own work of art.

Sprinkler fun. Turn on the sprinkler and fill the paddling pool while your children run through the sprinkler water! Guaranteed excitement.

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Leaf and petal nature kebabs. Give your child a kebab stick and tell them to find leaves and petals to poke on the sticks to make a nature kebab.

Families North East Magazine 9

WHAT’S ON If you’re looking for places to visit and things to keep the kids entertained this summertime, then our What’s On guide is packed full of ideas for places to take the kids, whatever the weather, local festivals, events and shows.

Ongoing - Life Science Centre LEGO® creations!

Come marvel at amazing LEGO® creations! We’ve got something exciting for LEGO® lovers, with lots of clever creations built by pro LEGO® artist Steve Mayes. Our LEGO® wall in the Creativity Zone features amazing models of inventions which are sure to inspire you to get building!

Ongoing – Great North Museum Fossil Stories gallery Dive into the steamy swamps of a world millions of years older than the one we know today and discover the weird, wonderful and downright terrifying life forms that lived there.

July - September - Raby Castle Summer Trail in the Deer Park Across the summer holidays, Raby Castle’s picturesque deer park comes to life with our summer seasonal trail.

Children can enjoy exploring the ha-ha walls of the gardens and into the deer park with castle views to complete the activity. ‘til 7 Sep – Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend Story of Place - Helix Arts This exhibition, which has been produced by children from Carville Primary School, Western Community Primary School and Beacon Hill Sixth Form working with artist-in-residence Sue Loughlin, explores ways in which we gather and share stories. The artworks on display give us a window into these children’s lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. ‘til 10 Sep – Kynren An Epic Tale of England Two thousand years of history, myth and legend rush by in 90 minutes as we join young Arthur on his epic quest.

Rebellions, wars, magic, majesty, celebration and heartache are vividly brought to ground-shaking life in a dazzling outdoor-theatre spectacular.

From Boudicca’s battles with the Romans to two world wars, via Vikings, Tudors and the fate of Charles I, Kynren’s a spellbinding, family-friendly experience delivering thrills, shocks, tears, laughs, goosebumps and gasps on a truly cinematic scale. ‘til 30 October – The Bowes Museum Journey in Colour Join us on a dazzling journey of discovery.

Take in hundreds of years of creativity with colour, from the Renaissance to the present day. Presented alongside our extraordinary collection are new 10 Families North East Magazine

technologies and artworks created by artists and colour fanatics. Soak up colour rich experiences as you adventure with us.

22 - 25 Jul – Lambton Park, Chester-leStreet Little Lindi Family Festival An intimate family camp festival, Little Lindi 2022 offers a picturesque weekend full of talented artists with well-being and arts workshops including yoga, dance, drumming, learn to DJ, bushcraft, raw food, break dance and meditation.

period when comedy was uncomplicated and well, let’s say… simple, Baldwin the Fool and Godfrey Pugh never fail to delight audiences with their brilliant blend of medieval mischief and slapstick comedy. These jesters replicate entertainment as it would have been performed to the old courts of days gone by, when chivalry was the order of the day and valiant knights fought one another to defend their honour!

1 - 5 Aug – Discovery Museum Summer Science Club

22 Jul - 31 Aug – Beamish Museum Summer of Fun Every day throughout the local school holidays there will be amazing activities taking place across the museum for all the family to enjoy.

23 - 27 Jul – Alnwick Castle Wand making demonstration Witness the fine art of wand making with Master wand maker Jon Purkins.

Using traditional woodcarving tools and techniques you can marvel as pieces of wood from native English trees are transformed into wands, each with their own unique design.

23 Jul - 4 Sept – WWT Washington Junior Wetland Rangers Become a Junior Wetland Ranger this summer! Learn what it takes to care for our beautiful wetlands and help us with our daily mission to save wetland nature.

26 Jul - 30 Aug – South Shields Museum & Art Gallery Summer Activities 2022 Weekly boat-themed crafts and activities inspired by our new exhibition - Pushing the Boat Out: Shipbuilding and Ship Repair in South Tyneside.

In this five day course for young people aged 8 to 12, participants will get to work with professional science educators to take part in a series of exciting experiments. The experiments will all be focussed on science, engineering and technology themes (STEM). Have a crack at chemistry experiments, tinker with robots, devise circuits and much more!

Taking inspiration from the Discovery Museum’s collection students will get to explore and develop science skills. Book now at www.discoverymuseum.org.uk 2 Aug – Druridge Bay, Morpeth Family Minibeast Hunt Go on a minibeast hunt with the Catch My Drift team and find the bugs and insects that make East Chevington Nature Reserve their home.

28 Jul - 1 Sept – Stephenson Railway Museum Make & Take Thursdays Make Thursday a Stephenson day. Bring your youngsters down to the museum on Thursdays during the summer holidays where they can explore our wonderful collection of vintage trains. They can also try their hand at our craft activities with a different theme each week. Activities suitable for all the family.

14 Aug - Seven Stories Storyboarding Workshop with Aardman Studios An amazing chance to learn from an expert Aardman story artist! You’ll learn the basics of planning and storyboarding a story, get tips on drawing their iconic characters, create your own storyboard and see how to turn your drawings into an animatic. Suitable for ages 8+ and recommended for those with a keen interest in drawing and illustration.

Tickets: £15 per child - Booking essential

30 Jul - 3 Aug – Alnwick Castle Jesting with Zooted Experience fun filled family entertainment, suitable for aristocracy of Northumberland, with this eccentric duo’s side-splitting theatrical performance of visual and verbal comedy! Harking from a

27 - 29 Aug – Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens A Georgian Family Weekend Join us for a Georgian extravaganza of family fun from interactive plays and traditional games at Belsay Hall. Book online and save!

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WHAT’S ON

Theatre 9 Jul - Tyne Theatre & Opera House Milkshake! Monkey’s Musical Milkshake! Monkey is back and can’t wait to put on a spectacular NEW Show.

Joined by his favourite friends plus two Presenters creating a dazzling show.

12- 13 Jul – The Forum Theatre, Billingham Dinosaur World Live Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for the family.

19 - 20 Jul - Tyne Theatre & Opera House In the Night Garden Live Join Igglepiggle as he looks for his friends in the Night Garden by following their funny sounds until he finds them all!

28 Jul – Whitley Bay Playhouse Fireman Sam Saves the Circus The legendary Fireman Sam will be joining us for his brand new show.

30 Jul – Gosforth Civic Theatre The Tortoise & the Hare - A Suitcase Story We travel around with our suitcase of stories, spinning yarns and telling tales.

What will come out of the suitcase today? It’s the Tortoise and the Hare. Get ready to hop like a hare and travel like a tortoise. Who will win, slow and steady or

fast and furious? For under 6s and their families.

3 - 7 Aug – Whitley Bay Playhouse Summer Panto 2022: Beauty & the Beast Join Belle for an unmissable adventure in this beast of a Summer-time panto.

9 - 10 Aug – Alnwick Playhouse The McDougalls: Safari Adventure Come and join Max, Auntie Aggie and their best friend Morag the Rabbit as they head out on a Safari Adventure – live on stage!

10 - 11 Aug – Newcastle Theatre Royal Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever Peppa Pig is excited to be going on a special day out with George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig – it’s going to be her best day ever!

The second book in the bestselling Blazing Bottom series – with a truly explosive ending.

Perfect for fans of The Dinosaur that Pooped series.

Sir Wayne and Dragon are back!

And on yet another adventure to get Dragon’s flame round the right way...

Luckily Wayne knows JUST what to do! BUT, is doing everything in reverse ALL day long really a good idea? And when the friends start to dress as each other, swapping EVERYTHING round, what on earth might happen?!

11 Aug – Middlesbrough Theatre Awful Auntie by David Walliams Stella Saxby is left an orphan, all alone with her awful auntie. And when we say awful, we mean awful. Will she evade her menacing Aunt Alberta and saves the family home?

16 - 21 Aug – Newcastle Theatre Royal Bugsy Malone The Musical A city full of mobsters, showgirls and dreamers. The custard pies are flying.

Now, Fat Sam and his bumbling buffoons are in real trouble!

Enjoy a PGL family adventure holiday!

Step out of the day-to-day and into a family adventure on an allinclusive holiday with PGL. Let loose and get lost together on an exciting, action-packed adventure that turns the family back into a team. Whether you’re conquering the kayaks, hanging out on the high ropes or zooming down zipwires, there are plenty of goose-pimpling adventures to dive into whilst your family enjoys a PGL holiday.

You’ll be amazed by what you can all achieve when you tackle the fun challenges on offer.

Don’t miss out on PGL’s final summer sale and the chance to give your family the break they will always remember.

What’s more, you can save up to 50% off when you book a family adventure holiday or kids adventure camp this summer!

Visit https://pgl.co.uk/familymag to find out more and to book.

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Dance Around the World - Summer Dance Camp 1-5 August 9am-5pm £125

Best of the West End - Summer Dance Camp 8-12 August 9am-5pm £125

Multi-buy and sibling discounts available 0191 261 0505 dancecity.co.uk Families North East Magazine 11

EDUCATION

Preparing for school

By Emma Lewry No sooner has summer arrived than we are starting to talk about ‘starting school’ or ‘back to school’ preparation.

Uniforms line the shop rails tempting us to think about being organised and ready for school. If you’re already thinking ahead, here are some top tips for preparation.

If your child is starting school this year it can feel like a huge event with lots of pressure.

You may be aware of parents swapping notes about how ready their children are to start school. Try not to compare your child with others; each child is unique and individual in their strengths and in the areas with which they need support. Teachers are ready for this and they know how to support lots of different children in a class. In fact, the uniqueness of each child is often what they love best about the job!

When you start to think about preparing your child to begin school there are some key skills which are beneficial to practise and develop. I’m not talking about academic things; your child doesn’t need to be able to read the alphabet or do the two times table.

The three skills I recommend are building CONFIDENCE, COMMUNICATION and INDEPENDENCE.

schools want children to be working on developing those confidence, communication and independence.

It can be helpful to offer additional emotional support in the lead up to going back to school, especially if your child is moving to a new school. Talk about what will be different but also what will be the same.

These constants support many children’s need for things to feel safe and familiar. What if your child isn’t keen on talking?

Looking at pictures, reading stories and role-playing school are all great ways to initiate conversation over the summer.

Good luck with starting and going back to school!

These skills can be developed through play and fun at home, giving lots of opportunities for your little ones to try new things and offering plenty of praise and encouragement. Talking to your child and reading books about school opens up lots of valuable communication too.

Emma Lewry is an Early Years teacher, headteacher and mother of two. Emma co-owns Every Day’s a School Day (www.edasd.co.uk) which guides families through starting school with courses, groups and a school starters planner.

If your child is heading back to school and moving up a year group, many of the starting school ideas apply. At all ages,

�e hilarious new book in the bestselling series – with a truly EXPLOSIVE ending.

Illustrations © Beach, 2022

Uniform top tips

out now

12 Families North East Magazine

Be careful to check the school uniform list and stick to the items and colours listed. Schools are generally strict about their uniform and as it’s expensive, it’s not worth having to re-buy items if they are wrong.

Make a shoe fitting appointment now for the week before school starts. If it’s possible to book in with a shop local to you, this is a great idea and will ensure you don’t get left in a shoe panic two days before the start of term! You might feel happy to buy trainers in advance but buying school shoes is best left as late as possible to avoid an expensive trip at half term if your child’s feet suddenly grow.

Check out the school website and social media pages if they have them. This is a great way for you and your child to get tips on sourcing uniform, to check specific uniform requirements and to find out about ways of obtaining uniform more cheaply.

Many schools or their PTA (parent and teacher associations) will run second hand uniform sales which can be a great way to pick up some bargain items. It’s also good for the planet to reuse and re-love as much clothing as possible.

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FAMILY LAW

Taking children abroad on holiday International travel is on many people’s minds again this year now that the majority, if not all, restrictions have been lifted to many destinations abroad. Many separated parents do not realise, however, that they may need to obtain consent from the other parent before travelling. It is so important to understand where you stand legally to ensure your holiday can proceed smoothly and there are no last minute hiccups.

Understanding the legal Position If you have a Child Arrangements Order to say that your child(ren) live with you, then you are permitted to take the children out of the jurisdiction (outside of England and Wales) for up to 28 days at a time. You should, however, ensure that any planned holidays do not put you in breach of any other provisions in such an Order (such as making the children available to spend time with the other parent).

Where there is no Court Order the consent of every person with parental responsibility is required to remove the child(ren) from the jurisdiction even if only for a short holiday (to include to Scotland or Northern Ireland). A child’s mother always has parental responsibility for the child(ren) from birth. A child’s father may have parental responsibility if they are named on the child’s birth certificate, were married to the child’s mother, have a parental responsibility agreement with the child’s mother or a Court Order. A step parent or Guardian may also acquire parental responsibility if there is a parental responsibility agreement in place or a Court Order.

A parent who removes a child from the UK without such consent is effectively abducting that child, even if that child would usually live with them the majority of the same time. It perhaps goes without saying that child abduction is a criminal offence with potentially serious consequences.

Obtaining Consent Once you have identified that consent is required, it is important to communicate with the other parent early; ideally before the holiday is booked to avoid any disappointment or financial loss if the consent cannot be obtained in time. You should share full details of the proposed holiday as soon as available to include dates, travel arrangements, accommodation details, information about anyone else travelling with you and provide an emergency contact number. It is advisable to obtain the consent in writing so if you are questioned at the airport you can produce the letter confirming consent to the holiday to satisfy airport officials that

all is in order. The consent letter should include details of the holiday and the other parents/Guardian’s contact details as well as their signature. It is often helpful to also carry evidence of your relationship to the child such as their birth certificate and, if your surname is different to the child(ren)’s and has changed since their birth, proof of your name change - whether that is in the form of a marriage certificate, decree absolute or change of name deed.

If your child(ren) are going on holiday outside of England and Wales with other family members, such as grandparents or friend’s parents, you should also make sure you provide a letter of consent signed by all holding parental responsibility for the child.

It is important to also check whether your holiday destination has any specific additional rules or requirements you may be required to adhere to.

What can I do if consent is refused If consent is refused you can ask the court for permission to remove the child(ren) temporarily from the jurisdiction for the purpose of the holiday. The Court will consider what is in the child’s best interests. In the majority of cases the courts usually conclude a holiday will be a positive experience for the child(ren) and grant permission. However, it is likely permission for a holiday during school term time or to a country that the foreign office advises against travelling to would be refused. The Court would look at your existing relationship with the child(ren). If the child(ren) live with you then they will most likely happily spend two weeks away with you abroad, but if you are a parent whose child(ren) have spent no more than one night with you in recent times for example, a two week holiday, away from the other parent may not be deemed in their best interest immediately.

If you are planning an international holiday with children and want to discuss your situation in more detail, contact Emily Cannell, Partner and Head of Family at Mincoffs Solicitors, on 0191 212 7718 or email ecannell@mincoffs.co.uk.

Emily Cannell, Mincoffs Solicitors

Step out of the day-to-day and into a family adventure.

Offer valid until 17/07/22. T’s & C’s apply. Visit pgl.co.uk/familymag for details.

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PG100519.001 PGL_FAH_Families First_180mm x 85mm_AW02.indd 1

Families North East Magazine 13 06/06/2022 16:53

CLUBS & CLASSES

Meet your local Club/Class Razzamataz, Newcastle

Wilde Farm, Ponteland

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

Wilde Farm holiday club is an award winning club in Ponteland for adventurous 5-11 year olds. The children participate in a wide range of fun farm activities 9am - 5pm, MonFri in the school holidays. It is an outdoor holiday club based on a real working farm so the children get to experience first hand life on the farm and have lots of fun! www.wilde-farm.myshopify.com

www.newcastle.razzamataz.co.uk ARTventurers - Area Wide ARTventurers classes are super colourful and jam packed with creative fun for your little ARTventurers to enjoy. www.artventurers.co.uk Famous 4.15 - Newcastle Whether you’re content to sing into your hairbrush or have serious ambitions to make it in the industry, Famous 4.15 has something for you.

They offer a range of classes for children and young people who want to develop their performance skills and have a good time. www.famous415.co.uk Hartbeeps - Area Wide Hartbeeps are magical, musical, imaginative classes for little ones from 3 weeks to pre-school age! We take a different journey every week, full of multi-sensory fun & one to one play for adults and little ones! www.hartbeeps.com Little & Loud - East Boldon Little and Loud classes combine familiar songs and rhymes with new songs, percussion instruments, puppets and props, opportunities to dance and move and always end with a relaxing lullaby or two. www.littleandloudmusic.co.uk

14 Families North East Magazine

Little Kickers - Area Wide The Little Kickers programme delivers high quality football skills, combined with important pre-school learning concepts such as colour and number recognition, sharing, following instructions and using imagination. www.littlekickers.co.uk Little Learners - Area Wide We are a multi-award winning children’s activity provider which offers educational messy play for babies to preschoolers. Your child is encouraged to use hands, fingers, feet and toes to make marks which will help to strengthen their core muscles and develop their gross and fine motor skills. www.littlelearnersuk.com Puddleducks - Area Wide Our Baby & Pre-school programme is a wonderful bonding experience.

Progressive lesson plans instil a water confidence and a love of swimming whilst our nurturing teachers tailor activities to your child’s abilities and needs. Taught in lovely warm pools with a maximum of ten children, our classes incorporate rhyme, music and movement based on extensive child development research. www.puddleducks.com

Dance City, Newcastle

Dance City is a vibrant & friendly place where people come together to take part, enjoy, experience & talk about dance. We offer over 65 weekly classes in more than 40 different styles of dance - open to all ages & for absolute beginners as well as more experienced. From contemporary to hip hop, ballet to ballroom, belly dancing to Pilates, & for adults with learning disabilities our classes are a great way to stay fit & healthy, learn new skills, have fun and meet new people. www.dancecity.co.uk Rhythm Time - Area Wide Rhythm Time offer multi-sensory music classes that have been specifically written by a music teacher to enhance the development of every child. Their musical journey will begin when they are babies, and we will help them to develop their skills as they grow through to toddler and preschool level. www.rhythmtime.net RugbyTots - Area Wide RugbyTots offer fun, structured play sessions taking children on a journey of sporting imagination with engaging and energetic coaches supporting them every step of the way whilst teaching how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team. www.rugbytots.co.uk Tiny Tasters - Area Wide Through stories and songs the children build a repertoire of early cooking skills as they make, bake, create and release their inner chef! www.tiny-tasters.com Waterbabies - Area Wide Your little one is at the heart of everything we do. When they’re ready, we’re ready. Our classes have a maximum of 10 little ones, are 30 minutes long, tailored to your little one’s ability and we have manageable monthly payments to spread the cost of swimming. www.waterbabies.co.uk

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WORK

Home working in the school holidays

By Louise Goss School holidays can be one of the most challenging times for a working parent. Even with organised childcare, holiday clubs and generous offers from grandparents, there are often days when you are trying to meet deadlines while acting as a snack vending machine or being constantly pestered by demands to ‘look at me.’

Here are a few tips to help you cope with the stressors and be as productive as possible.

Prepare in advance Realistically, you probably won’t get as much done on the days your children are home. Knowing and accepting this can immediately lessen the stress and frustration. Ahead of the holidays, if you have time to prepare in advance, you’ll also ease the anxiety over how you’ll manage your workload.

If you have any big projects or deadlines looming, try to get the bulk of the work out of the way so that you’re left with the smaller tasks to complete during the holidays.

Of course, it’s not just managing your own expectations but also those of your customers, colleagues and clients. A good way to prevent misunderstandings about availability is to let clients know you won’t be available for a big order or that deadlines will need to be extended to allow for shorter working days.

You can help emphasise these boundaries for others and keep them firm for yourself by highlighting reduced office hours when you speak to colleagues and in your emails and utilising automated out-of-office email responses.

Fill their cup It can be hard to focus with a child clamouring for your attention.

But by giving your child the right kind of quality time, they are often more accepting when you need to step away to work. I often find when I am very present and engaged with my children for a short time, they are satisfied and happy to then play alone for a while, freeing me up to work in peace.

Getting them set up with a game or started with some Lego building are great ways to give them your time and then allow

you to step away.

Communication is key Communicate with your team. Be transparent about your situation and capacity. Explore flexible working options.

Setting boundaries is important when you are trying to work with other family members around.

Communicating to children and partners when you are and are not available can prevent any misunderstandings or resentment.

Younger children hear the word ‘no’ a lot, so a more positive way of asking them to be patient is to give them something to look forward to after you’ve finished your work, whether it is the collage you’ll make together or a den you’ll build.

Ask for help Don’t forget or be afraid to ask for help. We can often feel guilty or that we have failed in some way if we don’t manage everything. However, asking for help is a sensible way to relieve stress and maintain some balance.

Older children and other family members may be able to help with housework or babysitting. You could even organise a swap with a fellow working parent to look after each other’s children a couple of times a week, allowing you each to work on your childfree days.

Louise Goss is a journalist and the Founder of The Homeworker magazine (www.thehomeworker.com) which supports people who work from home and remotely.

Use your pockets of time

Skew your day

If you have flexibility and can organise your days as you need them, allocate tasks according to the different lengths of time you have available in your day. For instance, during nap time, tv time, snack time or minutes when the kids are playing a game, catch up on emails and admin.

To allow time to spend with your family as well as work, skewing your working day a little is a great way to fit in your hours.

Leave longer tasks for longer pockets of time. It can be helpful to have a list of quick jobs you can do in a spare few minutes.

I often find I can do a couple of hours in the evening or get a couple of hours done first thing because I’m not having to rush around for a school drop off.

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If you have flexible working or work for yourself, adjust your working day to start earlier or finish later.

Families North East Magazine 15

TOP 9

Museums

Here’s our round up of some of the best museum attractions to take the whole family to in our region. Each one offers a unique experience with many also catering for children of all ages. Take a look at their websites before visiting for up to date information on opening times, booking procedures and more.

Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery, Alnwick

Beamish Museum, County Durham

Bowes Museum, County Durham

Beamish is a world famous open air museum, telling the story of life in the North East of England during the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s.

Experience wonderful new galleries, interactive and fascinating exhibitions.

Enjoy acres of parkland with plenty of room for walks, picnics and games.

Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne

Great North Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne

National Glass Centre, Sunderland

The Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne sharing the story of Tyneside and its people. From the region’s shipbuilding heritage to inventions that changed the world. Innovation. Inventions. People.

The highlights of the Great North Museum include mummies from Ancient Egypt, a planetarium, a life-size replica T. rex dinosaur skeleton, a large-scale, interactive model of Hadrian’s Wall, major new displays showing the wonder and diversity of the animal and plant kingdoms, spectacular objects from the Ancient Greeks and much more!

Preston Park and Museum, Stockton on Tees

Stephenson Railway Museum, North Shields

Preston Park Museum & Grounds is a place like no other! Steeped in history, full of quirks and brimming with fun – it’s a special place for all the family to explore and make memories.

Re-live the glorious days of the steam railway. George and Robert Stephenson spent 20 years in North Tyneside developing their pioneering ideas which helped spread railways and locomotives around the world. Today our museum celebrates their achievement. A range of locomotives on display including George Stephenson’s ‘Billy.’

If you are looking for lots of fun or an informative trip then come to the Bailiffgate Museum. Located in the heart of Alnwick, the Museum has the story of the town and the region from founding to the present day.

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At the National Glass Centre you can discover how glass arrived in Britain, how it’s made and why Sunderland has such a rich glass making heritage. On your visit learn about the Anglo-Saxon abbot, Saint Benedict Biscop, who first brought glass-making to Sunderland, and Britain, back in the 7th Century AD. Biscop and his team of glaziers produced stained glass for the impressive windows at Bishopwearmouth Monastery.

Vindolanda, Hexham The Vindolanda brings you two exciting and unmissable tourist attractions dramatically exploring Roman life on the edge of the empire 2000 years ago. Come and enjoy the world famous Vindolanda Writing Tablets, live archaeology in summertime, the exclusive Eagle Eye 3D film and much more all in the heart of beautiful Northumberland National Park and central section of Hadrian’s Wall.

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