Have you had your first frost yet? Whether you are feeling winter creeping on or not, there’s no doubt it’s just around the corner. Time to get out the warm jumpers and the hot chocolate. For many, November is a busy month as we strive to get ahead of Christmas preparations. You can make an early start to Christmas shopping with our Christmas stocking fillers gift guide with all gifts under £15. You can also apply for some great gifts in our Great Christmas Toy Giveway too!
Ever wondered why your child sticks their tongue out when writing or are you in need of some ideas to motivate your tween to read a book? Then find out more in this issue’s Education feature.
We are also launching our new email newsletter in November and to celebrate we’re giving away Lego™ sets just in time for Christmas! Don’t forget to apply!
Carla xxx
Why does my child stick out his tongue when writing?
By Usha Patel
As I write this, there is a tennis match being played on television. Tennis is rarely played quietly, with players often grunting as they hit difficult return shots. This is a great example of how we link the actions of our hands and mouths when performing a task. Another example is when we get angry and clench our fists, our jaws often clench too.
This connection between hand and mouth is an automatic response that goes back to pre-birth and infancy.
Have you ever noticed how a baby opens and closes its hands when feeding? This movement of opening and closing hands is so natural that it forms part of baby sign language.
The opening and closing of the baby’s hand are part of what is called the Babkin Reflex. It is one of many Primitive Reflexes, the survival responses present before a baby is born. After the birth, they transition to movements more suited to an environment with gravity. Each reflex has a unique motor movement pattern associated with it. Babkin is linked to the mouth opening when the babies’ palms are touched.
The Babkin Reflex is a crucial part of infant development because babies first learn about the world through their mouths. They start by putting things in their mouths, a process that helps them gather sensory information about objects and their surroundings, helping them survive and thrive during infancy. Parents must be vigilant not to leave dangerous items within easy reach.
As babies mature, the Babkin Reflex recedes and the connection between hand and mouth weakens in everyday activities. Most children will begin to rely more on other sensory inputs. However, the reflex can reappear when we exert ourselves physically, such as when playing tennis or driving a car without power steering.
The Babkin Reflex doesn’t disappear; it simply lies dormant until needed, if at all.
This reflex is a foundational building block and if not properly integrated, it can hinder further development in areas such as talking, speech and language skills.
If your child sticks out their tongue while writing, it could indicate that the Babkin Reflex hasn’t been fully integrated. For some children, this behaviour is an essential part of their writing experience and they may not be able to write successfully without doing it.
While it might seem like a harmless quirk, the Babkin Reflex plays a significant role in eating, developing headturning awareness and later communication skills. When left unintegrated, children may exhibit various challenges, including holding tension in their bodies, suffering from stuttering and other speech difficulties, biting their nails, chewing pencils and craving oral stimulation.
How can the Babkin Reflex be integrated?
If a child struggles to integrate the Babkin Reflex, they may benefit from Reflex Integration Therapy, such as MNRI Reflex Integration Therapy. This can help them progress to the next stage of development.
For children transitioning from nursery to primary school, it’s critical to have their reflexes checked, as unintegrated reflexes often indicate developmental delays, particularly in speech and language skills.
Usha Patel is a neurocognitive therapist at The Raviv Practice with over eighteen years of experience. She has been offering the MNRI reflex programme to children since 2015, alongside other programmes. Visit www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk to find out more.
Keeping tweens reading
By Tanith Carey
Does it feel like you’re fighting a losing battle maintaining your tween’s interest in reading? Does your child always seem more interested in the quick fix of screens than books?
It’s understandable that parents worry. The human brain is wired for novelty and the bright lights and quick rewards of going online can feel immediately gratifying.
But it’s worth persevering. Books are a key way to help your child feel happier and less stressed. A National Literacy Trust survey found that keen readers between the age of 8 and 13 are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental well-being, compared to those who don’t engage with books at all. With books, kids learn to concentrate for longer and improve emotional intelligence as they empathise with the characters.
In a largely digital world, what’s a modern parent to do? As is often the case, part of the answer lies in taking action before your child hits tweenhood.
For ages 2 to 5, try limiting tech learning games to just ONE of your child’s many play options. Consciously cut down the digital babysitters because pre-schoolers need to develop their reading brains first.
After that, help kids become ‘bilingual.’ This means providing text both on screen AND on the printed page. Point out the difference between accessing information quickly online and deep, concentrated book-reading. Show them how to do both side by side.
As a Gestalt psychotherapist-in-training – which focuses on experience in the body – one of my favourite ways to do this is
Engaging tweens further with reading
Let them choose. While it’s tempting to encourage your children to read the classics you loved when you were little, let your child follow their own interests and get excited about a new book, whether it’s from the library or a bookshop. At the start of every school holiday, make a special visit to let your kids pick out their own. Looking forward to this trip and giving them a choice will make them more invested.
Go exploring together. Thanks to the internet, our children have never read more words or had access to more experiences. They can now browse through hundreds of websites and search any subject that interests them in seconds. In fact, research has found that the average person now reads as many as 100,000 words a day: about thirty four gigabytes a day across their various devices.
Don’t just leave them to it. Do some research to find out more about the subjects in a recent book that has interested them.
by helping children recognise how screens and books make them feel different.
As an example, help your child notice how immersive video gaming makes them feel tense and jumpy. Then notice how curling up with a good book and being able to take in information at their own pace makes them feel calmer. Role model book reading yourself and talk about how it makes YOU feel.
Make phone-free family time a treat rather than deprivation. For example, hold a phone amnesty where you ALL go to a café for a hot chocolate with your favourite books for half an hour’s reading.
When kids realise how good books can make them feel and how they bond you together, it marks the start of a life-long habit.
‘All my friends have a phone!’ is one of the 75 real world scenarios tackled in What’s my Tween Thinking? Practical Child Psychology for Modern Parents, by Tanith Carey with Dr Angharad Rudkin, published by DK books.
Tips for reading with younger children
Don’t rush them. Just because children are able to sound out words, it doesn’t mean they can understand the meaning of the whole sentence. If children don’t really get what’s happening in a book, they can get bored and turn off reading early. Resist the temptation to get caught up in the class reading race over who’s on the most advanced Biff and Chip book.
Read WITH them. Once children are able to read fairly fluently around age 7, it’s easy to assume you can leave it to them. But according to the Kids and Family Reading Report, which surveyed over one thousand parents and their children, only thirty seven percent of parents of children ages 6 to 8 still read them bedtime stories.
This is despite the fact that children miss this ‘special’ time of the day with parents and they still reap huge benefits in understanding, vocabulary and engagement. A nightly reading session also sets up reading in their minds as a regular and relaxing habit.
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How Much Does It Cost To Get Divorced?
By Katie Audsley | Hartlaw LLP
We understand that this is a really important consideration and the question that needs answering at the very first meeting. This is not an anticipated expenditure, so clarity and understanding about these costs and your options is imperative.
Divorce Procedure
The Divorce process is a set procedure that takes about 6 months from start to finish.
You can now apply for a divorce online. There is a Court fee for the applicant of £593 to issue that, although you can also apply for help with fees if you qualify. This can be done as a sole applicant or a joint application with your spouse.
If you would like a solicitor to do the application for you then they will usually do this for a fixed fee. This is normally circa £750 plus VAT for the legal costs, plus the Court fee. The total figure therefore for your legal representative to carry out the process for you including VAT and Court fees is going to be circa £1,933.
It is important to understand that this procedure is separate from and does not resolve your financial issues, and that these need to be dealt with in a different way (ideally alongside the divorce process).
Finances
If you have financial issues to resolve – such as the family home, pensions, investments and maintenance it is important to have any agreement reached documented in a financial agreement
known as a Consent Order. This is an agreement that is checked and signed off by the Court to become a Court order -to give you certainty and future peace of mind. Without this document the finances remain open and a claim could be raised at any future time.
If you are able to/have already reached agreement this can then be documented by a solicitor in an official way and become a Court order that gives you certainty and that you can rely on and refer to.
The costs of drafting this document, filing with the Court and implementation is usually around £1,000 to £2,000 plus VAT depending upon complexity but can be more. There is a court fee of £58 for the Court to approve that order.
It is more difficult to say how much the finances will cost if you are not able to reach agreement or understandably need some help and advice in getting to that point. You can then look at the options of how you might achieve that – whether it is discussing matters between you, mediation, negotiations through solicitors, collaborative resolution, arbitration or Court proceedings. Any good family lawyer should be able to breakdown the costs of each of these options from the outset and set out which option might suit your particular circumstances. This work will normally be done on the solicitor’s hourly rate, so will vary depending on which route you take.
In addition to these fees, you may require advice/input from other professionals such as a Pension on Divorce Expert (PODE), Valuer, Mortgage broker, Accountant or Divorce Coach. It can understandably feel overwhelming at this stage but it will be broken down for you so that you can make an informed decision and in the knowledge that this is an investment in your future peace of mind.
If you require any advice or assistance in relation to any aspect of family law, please do not hesitate to contact us. Dianne, Kate or Katie in our family team can provide specialist advice and offer a free initial consultation.
Please do contact a member of our family team by calling 01937 547000 or by emailing info@hartlaw.co.uk
Kate Robinson
Katie Audsley
Are you looking for a unique gift for a child under 5?
Do you remember the excitement of receiving a letter through the post as a child?
Maybe you have relatives living in different parts of the country and would like a way to still be involved with them.
Then share the excitement with our amazing Sunshine Sensory Bookworms monthly book club. Each month your child can receive a special pack addressed to them through the post. Subscriptions can be cancelled anytime so no long term commitment.
Your child will love unwrapping their brand new book each month and taking part in our fun filled activities. Then at the end of the day relax with our unique sensory story massages written exclusively for Sunshine Sensory.
The packs are themed each month so a great talking point.
Chapter House re-awarded Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM)
Chapter House Prep School of Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, between Harrogate and York, are thrilled to be recognised again for the quality of their science provision. Karen Kilkenny, Head of Chapter House and Queen’s Kindergarten said, “At Chapter House, we are dedicated to offering an outstanding STEM provision through both curriculum-based and extra-curricular activities. It’s wonderful that we have maintained our excellent standards since first being awarded the PSQM in 2018 and it is a reflection of the high standards of teaching offered within our safe, happy, and challenging school environment.”
The PSQM is an evidence-based professional development programme that develops science leadership, ensuring teachers have the knowledge, capability and support they need to transform science education and shape future generations.
Helen Sizer, PSQM Co-Director said: ‘Schools that achieve a PSQM have demonstrated a significant commitment to science leadership, teaching and learning and the profile and quality of science in each accredited school is very high. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, headteachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.” qe.org/chapter-house
EDUCATION
Letter from Santa
All children love to receive a letter addressed to them in the post. And what could be more special than a letter from Santa? Here are two ways of making this happen. Royal Mail Letter to Santa For children to receive a FREE letter from Santa via the Royal Mail children must post their letter to Santa by 30 November.
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. More info at www. 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 donation to the charity. The letter is ordered online and must be placed by 15 December. More info at https://letterfromsanta.nspcc.org.uk
Choose Respect during Anti-Bullying Week 2024
Anti-Bullying Week runs from 11 to 15 November this year, with the theme ‘Choose Respect.’
The Anti-Bullying Alliance chose this theme following consultation with teachers and pupils who wanted a theme that empowered them to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt caused by bullying.
The week will kick off with Odd Socks Day on Tuesday 12 November, during which adults and children wear odd socks to celebrate our uniqueness.
Following the success of the campaign in 2023, when eighty percent of schools marked the week, therefore reaching over 7.5 million children and young people, Anti-Bullying Week reminds everyone that we can bring an end to bullying.
More info: www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
Your Christmas stocking filler gift guide
By Sarah Lindsley
Yes, it’s that time of year again! Along with decking the halls, meal planning and panto ticket booking while the children are beside themselves with excitement, let’s not forget the presents. We are here to help! Our Christmas stocking filler gift guide offers you inspiration in the lead up to the festive season. With each gift coming in under £15 there may even be some of the Christmas budget left over to treat yourself!
H&M White Bunny
Musical Soft Toy
£12.99
From birth
This gorgeously soft and sweet bunny toy doesn’t just look cute in your baby’s nurserypull the small cord and it plays Brahms’ Lullaby. With this lovely, relaxing classical musical experience for your baby, you might even find yourself nodding off too! The bunny also has a prettily embroidered face and a very handy hook and loop-fastening hanger at the top so it can be easily attached to your baby’s cot or changing table.
Kinetic Sand Deluxe Beach Castle Play Set
£11.99
Bring the beach to your kitchen with this brilliant magically moving play sand set. Made with larger grains of natural sand, it moulds easily and never dries out. Kinetic sand is a unique sensory experience that encourages hours of independent play. Unfold the box to discover a sandy play area complete with cutting, digging and raking tools so your child can make some seriously super sandcastles. The sand sticks to itself and comes with a tray for storage so even cleaning up is easy.
From birth
A perfect first book for your baby and suitable from birth with its soft, padded pages. With simple black-and-white illustrations and a touch-and-feel experience on every page, this beautiful book is designed to capture babies’ attention and even claims to help develop their eyesight. Providing fun, multi-sensory stimulation for babies and parents to enjoy together, this is a lovely first bonding experience for you and your newborn.
Ages
Put your feet up while your toddler serves you tea and toast! This cute and compact kettle and toaster set has realistic functions and sounds that make kitchen playtime extra fun. Your little one will squeal with laughter as the toaster pops up the toast (two pieces of toy toast is included) and the light-up kettle whistles to the ‘boil’ before clicking off. Sturdy and well-made, this set will withstand multiple bangs and crashes from your mini chef.
This super cute sorting puzzle is made from FSC-certified wood and comes in a gorgeous palette of colours. The six colourful shapes fit into the corresponding slots on the wooden base, introducing your little one to both shape and colour concepts at the same time. The pieces are beautifully smooth and the perfect size for little hands. Pretty patterns make the set even more eye-catching. A great way to develop handeye coordination whilst also having fun!
Ages 8+
Hy-Pro Size 2 Skills Trainer Football £11.99
Get World Cup-ready with this brilliant skills trainer football from Hy-Pro. Perfect for any young football enthusiast who is keen to practise their ball control and core skills. The ergonomic handle is easy to hold and the handheld cord linking the PVC football can be adjusted depending on both the age and the skills being practised, whether heading, passing or shooting. No need for a large space or multiple players. Your football fan can now play football anytime, anywhere!
John Lewis Wooden Shape Puzzle £10
John Lewis Toaster & Kettle Play Set £12.50
Ladybird Baby Touch: My First Book: a black-and-white cloth book £10.99
Ages 4+
Orchard Toys Games £9.75/£12/£6
Ages 2-6
Doggy Doggy Woof Woof! is an energetic, hilarious new matching and memory game where players pair doggy heads and bodies. There are two fun ways to play - for younger and older children. Shout ‘Doggy Doggy Woof Woof,’ stand up, pretend to wag your tail and shout ‘Waggy Waggy Woof Woof!’ In Peter Rabbit™ Don’t Wake Mr. McGregor, join Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Flopsy and Mopsy and race to collect the most fruit and vegetables! But don’t wake Mr. McGregor or you’ll have to return to the start! In a festive, travel-sized Elf Lotto, collect all the cheeky elves and be the first to fill your board with matching characters.
Ages 3-6
Gamewright Sleeping Queens card game £12.99
Campbell Busy Books Busy Park Board Book £6.99
Ages 2-5
Part of the Busy Book series, Busy Park is guaranteed to be a favourite at bedtime over and over again. There’s a sweet rhyming story and colourful and engaging illustration, but it’s the interactive nature of the book with its push, pull and slide tabs that really make it stand out. You and your tot can enjoy your day out at Busy Park together: visit the playground, make the animals run and disappear and even get the sunshine to come out. Busy Park has also been endorsed and recommended by Dr Amanda Gummer’s Good Toy Guide (www.goodplayguide.com).
Crayola 24 Super Tips Washable Markers £8
Time to make your mark! Crayola’s 24 Super Tip markers are the perfect pens to get creative with, whether making big brush strokes in a favourite colouring book or creating detailed, fine lines for drawings and art projects. A win for parents too as the ink easily washes off skin and clothing, so you can let your budding artist have free rein. Good quality pens with a great range of colours.
Ages 5+
Wakey wakey! The Pancake Queen, the Ladybug Queen and some of their closest friends have fallen under a sleeping spell and it’s your job to wake them up. Sleeping Queens was invented by 6-year-old Miranda Evarts, who thought up the game one night when she couldn’t get to sleep. With beautifully illustrated cards, players are quickly immersed in a fantastical world that requires strategy, decisionmaking, arithmetic and a little bit of luck. A great way to develop memory and maths skills whilst also having fun!
Opening your child up to imaginative play and fantastic for practising fine motor skills, LEGO® offers so many options. This City Police Car set, featuring a cool police patrol car and accompanying police officer figure complete with torch and hat, will keep your child busy for hours as they zoom around the living room chasing the baddies. You can even use the LEGO® Building Instructions app to access the interactive building guide with amazing zoom and rotate viewing tools. Your kids will become master builders in no time. Ages
Usborne A Sticker Dolly Story Christmas Mystery £5.99
It’s Christmas Eve and the Christmas Dolls get a call from Mission Control: all the presents have been stolen from Santa’s workshop and one of the elves is missing! It’s now up to the Christmas Dolls – Star, Robin and Clara – to save Christmas. A Christmas special in the new Sticker Dolly fiction series, the book comes with a sheet of colourful stickers to dress the dolls and keep the daring detective in our child busy over the holidays.
Nov / Dec
What’s On?
All listings are correct at the time of publication. Please check with the venues before you visit incase anything has changed
Alice’s Christmas Wonderland
Castle Howard, York
Alice is planning a huge Christmas party, and she invites you to follow the White Rabbit through Castle Howard’s grand halls and regal rooms with each twist and turn revealing fanciful festive surprises. Don’t be late for this very important date, as you immerse yourself in a psychedelic world that will leave your smile as wide as the Cheshire Cat’s.
15 Nov - 5
Mischief at the Mansion Harewood House, Leeds
A troop of not-so-angelic cherubs have escaped from the Christmas tree and Harewood House sparkles into life with singing baubles, swirling ceilings and gossiping statues. Marvel as the House tells you festive tales of bygone times, in an unforgettable experience that will delight visitors of all ages.
The Christmas Experience
Lotherton Hall
15 Nov - 5
Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland York Designer Outlet
York’s favourite festive event is back! Presented by HARIBO, Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland, with its glistening outdoor ice rink, thrilling funfair, magical Santa’s Grotto and cosy alpine cafe, opens at York Designer Outlet on Friday 15th November 2024, offering a funfilled winter experience for all ages until Sunday 5th January 2025.
With a 30ft high sparkling Christmas tree topped with HARIBO’s Goldbear as its centrepiece, the ice rink is the largest in the North of England, and is surrounded by illuminated trees, the rink-side cafe and a viewing platform, creating the perfect festive setting.
The funfair has something for everyone – a Waltzer and Twister for the thrill-seekers, vintage Dodgems for all the family, as well as children’s rides and game stalls offering a prize every time. The Chalet café offers winter-warming food and a licensed bar, while the terrace is an ideal spot to enjoy a hot chocolate and witness all the thrills and spills of skating! Try our new outdoor German Grill - it’s sure to tickle the taste buds!
Finally, marvel at Lotherton’s Edwardian House, adorned in all its festive splendor. The Christmas Experience at Lotherton is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of the joy, wonder, and timeless traditions that make the holiday season unforgettable. Don’t miss out— book your tickets at thechristmasexperience.co.uk! 15 Nov - 5
Enjoy a snowy woodland walk and a glittering light tunnel to find Santa in his Grotto where a warm welcome and a special gift awaits.
For a festive retail experience our boutique Christmas market has 12 cabins offering gifts with a difference, while York Designer Outlet is the perfect place to tackle your Christmas shopping! Visit yorkshireswinterwonderland.com for further details.
The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail
Raby Castle, Darlington
Step into a world of wonder and magic this holiday season at The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail, this captivating trail promises an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Twinkling lights, festive decorations, and the scent of pine will transport you to a world where Christmas magic comes alive.
Winter Illuminations & Christmas Adventure
Stockeld Park
When winter arrives, Stockeld Park transforms into a mesmerising wonderland of twinkling lights and festive cheer. Meet Santa in his cosy grotto, take a spin on the ice rink, play in the playgrounds around the Enchanted Forest and explore the giant snowflake maze.
The Snowman trail Danby Lodge National Park Centre
Pick up a booklet from the visitor centre and follow the snowmen around the grounds.
Glow
RHS Garden Harlow Carr Wander the enchanting trail around the garden and see some of RHS Harlow Carr’s iconic features in a new and dazzling light. From magnificent trees bathed in brilliant colour to shimmering shrubs and water feature wow moments, there are captivating views and magical effects to discover at every turn.
Christmas at Mother Shipton’s Mother Shipton’s Cave
Step into a world of magic and wonder as you enter Mother Shipton’s magical Christmas experience.
This holiday season, Lotherton invites families to step into a world of pure enchantment with The Christmas Experience. From 23rd November the historic estate transforms into a festive wonderland that captures the true magic of Christmas. Imagine journeying to Santa’s North Pole, where playful elves greet you under a canopy of twinkling lights. In the elves’ bustling emporium, little hands can craft delightful wonders before meeting Santa in his cosy log cabin. For those with younger children, weekday visits cater to pre-schoolers, while relaxed sessions offer a welcoming atmosphere for children with additional needs.
New this year, Mrs. Claus herself has taken up residence in the enchanting Elf Village, ready to share charming tales of life at the North Pole, managing the elves, and caring for Santa’s reindeer. In the Elf Village join the elves for hands-on crafts, creating memorable keepsakes to treasure. Afterward, warm up with a hot chocolate or mulled wine in the festive yurts, or toast marshmallows around a crackling fire as the spirit of the season fills the air. The magic continues as you explore the interactive Festive Woodland Walk, where Christmas traditions come to life through playful installations. Don’t miss the hidden Fairy Dell, a secret rockery that sparkles with lights and enchanting sounds as dusk falls.
The Christmas Festival ‘24 The Web Adventure Park For unforgettable festive memories, enjoy a magical Christmas Experience at the Web Adventure Park. A wondrous event that includes a family audience with Father Christmas himself, a few cheeky Elves, and lots of Christmas fun. Check the website for event dates.
The Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair
The Great Yorkshire Showground
Everything you could want to thrill family and friends at Christmas from sensational festive decorations; wow factor wreaths; unusual food; gorgeous gifts and stunning stocking fillers to decorative accessories for your home and garden.
Scarborough Sparkle Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Scarborough’s annual magical and enchanting Christmas festival kicks off the festive season on the coast. Beginning with a lantern parade by Animated Objects, it’s the perfect event to experience the warm and fuzzy festive feeling, sample great food and drink, and get a head start on Christmas gift shopping.
Meet Mother Christmas Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes Come along to meet Mother Christmas, write and post your letter to Santa, have fun doing some Christmas crafting and enjoy a luxury hot chocolate at the Firebox café.
SEN Glow sessions
RHS Garden Harlow Carr
Come and enjoy a paired back, reduced version of Glow without the usual crowds to contend with. Dedicated session for families with neurodiversity and additional sensory needs that may get overwhelmed coming to the general sessions.
The Great Yorkshire Christmas Monk Park Farm
Start your day at Passport Control, collect your North Pole Passport and head straight to Chestnut the Elf’s Waiting Room to learn some very important information about your adventure…
Christmas at the Caverns Stump Cross Caverns
Step into a world of festive wonder at Stump Cross Caverns this holiday season. From enchanting cave adventures and intimate encounters with Santa to heartwarming cinema experiences, make your Christmas truly unforgettable.
Toddle into Christmas ‘24
The Web Adventure Park Festive Fun for Young Children: The park will be filled with Christmas cheer, offering a magical experience tailored for younger children. It’s the perfect way to create special festive memories before the school holidays begin, this magical experience is available on selected midweek dates throughout December.
Light Switch Ons
A Christmas Carol Carlton Towers
Get into the Christmas spirit with The Duke’s Theatre Company’s first indoor season: a nail-biting retelling of perhaps the most famous ghost story of all time, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. An industry leading company of five professional actors transport us to Victorian London in a new adaptation featuring original music, theatrical magic and beautiful lighting.
Winter Woodland Sewerby Hall and Gardens
An all-new spectacular display of lights, sounds and special effects will bring the grounds to life for a great evening out this festive season. This year’s Sewerby Winter Woodland event will include new light installations for 2024 including Gingerbread Lane and a light tunnel, as well as a new theme with a chance to embark on an adventure and meet a host of cheerful festive characters along the way!
Malton Christmas Festival
Malton Market Place
The huge 2 day Malton Christmas Festival is the shopping event of the year. Expect a fabulous weekend of festive fun in and around Malton’s picturesque Market Place, with delicious food and festive gift stalls, street food, live music from local brass bands and choirs and family entertainment. Malton’s shops will be packed with Christmas gift ideas too.
Santa Specials
Scarborough North Bay
Railway
Fun for all the family – all aboard the magical Jingle Belle or Flying Snowman! Immerse yourself in festive wonder as this very special train takes you on a journey to the North Yorkshire Pole.
Storytime with Father Christmas Beningbrough Hall
Join Father Christmas for one last time in the Victorian laundry before he moves to the hall next year! Hear him tell the new story of his latest laundry mishaps as he prepares for the big day ahead.
The Snowman
Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall
Do not miss Raymond Briggs’ magical Christmas story, The Snowman, with live music by the Shepherd Group Brass Band.
Santa’s Christmas Funland
Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate
A real magical experience for all of the family to enjoy hosted by Santa himself, meeting and greeting all of his visitors and making sure Mr Grinch stays on his best behaviour…
Real GIANT ice rink, Santa’s funfair rides, Candy lane sweet treats, hook a penguin or catch a snowball skilled games, The GRINCH, Segway elves, Santa’s elf panto shows, Elf craft shops and SO MUCH MORE!
The Christmas SEND Event 2024
The Web Adventure Park
For unforgettable festive memories, experience an amazing Christmas day at the Web Adventure Park. A wondrous event catered for children with SEND that includes a family audience with Father Christmas himself, a few cheeky Elves, a gift, and Father Christmas’ and real reindeer.
Enchantica’s Codebreaker’s Christmas Cedar Court Hotel, Harrogate
This year, you’re invited to join us for an ‘elf-tastic family gameshow’ of codebreaking challenges and festive fun for all to enjoy! With points to be won and prizes to be awarded, no family will leave emptyhanded!
Knaresborough Christmas Fireworks
Knaresborough Market
The big annual finale to the ever popular Knaresborough Christmas Market Weekend is a professional fireworks display over the town’s famous Viaduct and River Nidd. ahead.
Theatre
Nov - 5
Jack and the Beanstalk Bridlington Spa
With nothing but a handful of magic beans, Jack must find the courage to slay the evil giant in his quest to win the hand of the Princess and free his village of tyranny forever. With Dame Dolly and Daisy the Cow, Silly Simon and King Crumble adding plenty of comedy chaos and calamities along the way, join our hero on the most magical adventure as he climbs the beanstalk to Cloud Land!
22 - 30 Nov
Pick Me Up presents Nativity!
Grand Opera House, York
Every child in every school has one Christmas wish, to star in a Nativity, and at St Bernadette’s School they’re attempting to mount a musical version! Only trouble is teacher Mr Maddens has promised that a Hollywood producer is coming to see the show to turn it into a film. Join him, his teaching assistant, the crazy Mr Poppy, hilarious children and a whole lot of sparkle and shine as they struggle to make everyone’s Christmas wish come true.
Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York
Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole, growing up believing he is an elf. When he discovers the truth, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity.
Beauty and the Beast
Harrogate Theatre
Be our guest for a tale as old as time. When an arrogant Prince is cursed to live as a Beast in an enchanted castle, his only hope is to find true love. Will the Beast learn how to love and be loved in return? Will Belle melt the Beast’s frosty heart? Will the spell be broken before the last rose petal falls?
29 Nov - 28 Dec
Aladdin
Stephen Joseph Theatre
Everyone loves magic here –magic spells, magic shows, magic shops… everyone, that is, except Aladdin. Why? He’s rubbish at magic. Like, really, really terrible. Which wouldn’t be a problem, except his dad –before he disappeared – was the most beloved sorcerer Scarbaresia has ever known. Aladdin works in a shop selling magical merchandise and dreaming of a better life for him and his mum.
3 Dec - 5 Jan
Aladdin
Cinderella Scarborough Spa
Join Cinderella on her quest to win the heart of the dashing Prince Charming, with a little help from her best friend Buttons and the enchanting Fairy Godmother. But with her evil Ugly Sisters determined to ruin her chances and the clock about to strike midnight, will Cinders manage to win the Prince’s love before the spell runs out?
Beauty and the Beast Grand Opera House, York
Join Belle, The Beast, Fairy Bon Bon, the exuberant Polly La Plonk and her cheeky chappy son Louis La Plonk as they are transported to a cursed castle, under the spell of an evil enchantress. Can Belle see beyond the Beast and fall in love with her captor, will the Beast’s heart be melted by Belle’s beauty? Relaxed Performance – Thur 02 Jan at 2pm
Beauty & the Beast Junction Goole
York Theatre Royal Robin Simpson and Paul Hawkyard return as dame and baddie in the family pantomime, Aladdin this December. This spectacular show is guaranteed to delight the whole family, but tickets will move like flying carpets so book early for the best seats at the best prices.
Dementia Friendly Performance – Tue 17 Dec at 5:30pm
Audio Described Performance – Sat 28 Dec at 2:30pm & 7pm Captioned Performance –Sun 29 Dec at 1pm British Sign Language Interpreted Performance –Mon 30 Dec at 1pm Relaxed Performance – Fri 03 Jan at 1pm
Mother Goose
Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York
It’s market day and Mother Goose needs to make rent before the ever nasty Demon Darkheart evicts the Goose family. Meantime Jack’s exciting new addition to the farm - Priscilla the Goosehas stopped production in Jill’s hen house. Comedy, song and dance in this very silly rollicking romp of a family pantomime.
British Sign Language Interpreted & live Captioned Performance Sat07 Dec at 2pm
Meet Bella, a spirited young adventurer with a love for books and the open sea. When a storm strikes and her father’s ship is wrecked, Bella’s world is turned upside down. Amidst the chaos, an enchanted castle emerges from the depths of a forest, holding secrets and wonders beyond imagination.
British Sign Language Interpreted Performance –Mon 23 Dec at 1.30pm Relaxed Performance – Sun 29 Dec at 11am
Captain Cliff & the Seagull Squad
Stephen Joseph Theatre It’s a busy day down at Scarborough’s South Bay. The judges from Britain’s Best Beach are due to arrive any minute but, after a big rush of tourists, the bins are overflowing with rubbish. There’s litter everywhere and a pile of something sticky by the rock shop. Who can save Scarborough? It’s Captain Cliff and the Seagull Squad to the rescue! Can they clear up all the mess in time? Come and join us to find out!
Santa & the race to save Christmas
The Forum, Northallerton Christmas is fast approaching, and all is going well in Santa’s workshop as Mrs Claus and the elves busily prepare for the big night. The presents are wrapped and the reindeers have completed their training then suddenly disaster strikes! As newly qualified reindeer Rosy gets in a jolly pickle! Crisis hits the North Pole, what is Santa going to do? How will he deliver everyone’s presents?
Elf!
A Winter Wonderland
By Gemma Hunt
As the song goes: ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year….’ Whilst you may like the idea of walking in a winter wonderland, with the nights drawing in and the weather that bit chillier, the temptation to stay indoors is strong. But getting outside is so good for you and your little ones. Getting a good lungful of fresh air, embracing the nature around you, whilst getting some exercise and burning off pent up energy will do you all the world of good.
But before you open the front door and take that first step into the winter air, there are some things you may want to bear in mind!
Wrap up warm
Make sure you and your children are wrapped up nice and warm before heading out into the chilly winter air. Dressing in plenty of layers is always the best idea as they can be added or removed, depending on how your child is feeling. Don’t forget a hat to keep heads warm and a pair of gloves or mittens for chilly hands.
Waterproof and wellies
Winter walks can be mucky walks but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Get your waterproofs and wellies on and have some fun finding those muddy puddles and having a good jump around in them.
Help other children to enjoy the great outdoors
As an ambassador for The Outdoor Guide Foundation’s (TOG)
Waterproof & Wellies campaign, I’m helping to raise funds to provide all state primary schools in the country with at least ten sets of waterproof jackets, trousers and wellies so that those children who cannot afford outdoor clothes can play outside. Interested? You can support the campaign too at www.theoutdoorguidefoundation.org.
Be prepared
If spending hours outdoors sound a bit much to start with, head to a local park or woods nearby, rather than going too far afield and feeling like you have to stay a long while to justify the journey. No matter what time of year you’re off out and for what length of time, check the weather forecast so you can be prepared. Have a change of clothes, wet weather gear, a spare pair of shoes and, if you are travelling by car, some blankets in the boot for afterwards.
Get active
Whilst adding more layers is helpful when you start to feel the chill, doing some exercise will warm you up from the inside out. Whether it’s doing some star jumps, dancing around or if it’s not slippery underfoot, challenging the children to a running race. Get the heart pumping and you’ll be feeling warmer again in no time.
Snacks at the ready
Don’t forget to pack some snacks and perhaps a flask of warming hot chocolate for your outdoor adventures this winter. These can help give your little ones the energy and motivation to get outside.
Have fun!
There are loads of fun activities you can do outside in the winter time. Whether it’s building a snowman or making snow angels on a snow day, constructing a twig or fallen branch den, gathering fallen leaves, seeds and other items to make mandalas on the ground or perhaps a scavenger hunt or geocaching, you’ll be glad you did go out for that walk after all!
Gemma Hunt is a television presenter from Songs of Praise and CBeebies, proud Ambassador of The Outdoor Guide (TOG) Foundation, as well as an accomplished children’s author and Confident Communication Coach. She is available to host children’s pirate parties and live events and festivals with her one-woman pirate show. For more information, visit www.gemmahunt.com
