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March/April 2022
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Familiesonline.co.uk March/April 1
Easter Stay & Play Event OPEN
EVENT Parents and children aged 2-7 are invited to enjoy a real-life animal handling experience with both familiar and wild animals, plus an Easter Egg Hunt and a variety of fun Easter themed games and activities.
Saturday 26th March 9.30 – 11.30am Join us at our open event to find out about our nurturing learning environment and inspiring curriculum. As this is a very popular event we encourage you to reserve your place by contacting our registrar at hthompson@huddersfield-grammar.co.uk or call the School Office on 01484 424549.
The whole child is the whole point. Tel: 01484 424549 | www.huddersfield-grammar.co.uk Royds Mount, Luck Lane, Marsh, Huddersfield, HD1 4QX
2 March/April
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CONTENTS
Welcome
We’re really looking forward to spring here at Families and in preparation, here’s our Easter magazine. Find Easter crafts, cooking, outdoor fun and our yummiest Easter egg selection!
Meeting Spring Lambs at Temple Newsam Farm
Get out and about with the family again. Find out what’s on for families here in Leeds & West Yorkshire and find those lesser-visited staycation spots in our Travel section. With cost-of-living increasing, saving money on everyone’s mind. Read our top tips in Family life section. Do you have a child starting school in September? Then you’ll want to download our free School Starters Planner taster edition. Finally, we have lots of DoodleJamz toys to give away! So make sure you apply for this squishy, squashy, sensory but mess-free drawing pad for your child. And sign up at familiesmag.co.uk/go to receive every issue of this magazine free to your inbox.
Editor, Families Leeds & West Yorkshire
Email or call 07799 667041 to book in our next issue. Competition winners from our November/December issue Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list here.
by Akram Khan Company Friday 29 - Saturday 30 April A captivating production exploring the untold stories of World War I soldiers. Suitable for children aged 7+ and their families
rileytheatre.com
Riley Theatre, NSCD, 98 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4BH
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4 6 9 14 15
16 19 21 23 24 27 30 31
Spring outdoors Activities Travel News Mindfulness colouring Clubs & Classes Family life Early years Health Easter Education Mother’s Day gifts What’s on
Reviews Hub
FF 30% cOode with Y30 FAMIL © Ben Hopper, Kat Hanula & Maxime Dos
Chotto Xenos
In this issue
March/April 3
SPRING OUTDOORS
Outdoor adventures Enjoy the great outdoors this spring and get the kids to try some of these great activities.
Try the string walk
Plant a tree
Join a fossil hunt
Take a family walk
Try orienteering
Make a stone cairn
Go pond dipping
Play Poohsticks
Go canoeing
4 March/April
Familiesonline.co.uk
SPRING OUTDOORS
Spring make n’dos Enjoy nature and garden-themed activities with the kids - perfect to while away some hours at the weekend or during the school holidays!
Weave a nature loom
Make a spring sensory bin
Make a garden gnome
Spot early signs of spring
Grow potatoes in a tub
Make a butterfly feeder
Make easy pine cone hedgehog
Grow microgreens
Make simple garden wind chimes
Familiesonline.co.uk
March/April 5
ACTIVITIES
Renowned dance company brings family performance to Leeds How do you talk to your child about war and violence? Often theatre can be a useful way of introducing and dealing with these complex and ‘adult’ ideas, in a way that helps us reflect without it feeling like a ‘lesson’. One such production that deals with these ideas in a way that’s sensitive to a younger audience is Chotto Xenos by the world-renowned dance Akram Khan Company. The work, which has received five star reviews, has been designed specifically with younger audiences in mind. It follows a young man as he searches through the remnants of an old box, uncovering his grandfather’s experiences as a colonial soldier in World War 1. See Chotto Xenos by Akram Khan Company at Riley Theatre, Leeds, on April 29 and 30. Tickets can be purchased HERE. Get 30% off using the code FAMILY30
Two Smoby KS Slides to give away! Perfect for summer fun! Magazine 6 March/April
Worth £77.99 each APPLY HERE
T&Cs apply Familiesonline.co.uk
ACTIVITIES
New exhibition at the National Science and Media Museum Think like a codebreaker at a brand new exhibition! Top Secret: From Ciphers to Cyber Security is on at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford until June 5. This intriguing family exhibition explores over a century’s worth of communications intelligence and reveals some of the secrets behind cyber security in today’s digital world. Super-sleuths of all ages can put their skills to the test in the interactive puzzle zone and delve deeper into the exhibition with a family friendly activity trail. Make a day of it by having a look round the rest of the museum. Tickets to the museum and Top Secret are free but must be booked in advance HERE.
11 FEBRUARY – 5 JUNE BOOK FREE TICKETS NOW F R OM
C I P H E R S
T O
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C Y B E R S E C U R I T Y
March/April 7
A day of adventure, exploration + fun GET OUTDOORS at HAREWOOD
Scramble across the Adventure Playground, discover exotic species in the Bird Garden, find your way through the maze of the Woodland Wonderland and seek out the stepping stones in the Himalayan Garden. Where will your day take you? Registered charity in England no 517753 *Standard terms & conditions (see website) apply, day visit only; offer not valid on event days.
Pre-book your visit harewood.org
Wild about Lotherton! Sat 2 - Sun 22 April Become a little explorer and discover the wild side of Lotherton this Easter. Family trail and activity stations dotted all over the estate! Book in advance to guarantee entry. lotherton.leeds.gov.uk 8 March/April
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TRAVEL
Lesser-visited UK staycation spots Avoid the crowds! Try one of these lesser-visited staycations spots put together for Families by Gabrielle Nash.
Lundy Island, Devon
Tenby, Wales
The journey to this showstopping island is an adventure! The kids will love taking the ferry over from Ilfracombe. The name Lundy means puffin, the island’s most famous resident. Enjoy a back to nature holiday with just a handful of other inhabitants, staying in one of the historical properties. There’s even a lighthouse you can stay in!
Tenby is the perfect location for a family holiday but so often overlooked in favour of more traditional spots. Stunning sandy beaches are the major draw card but the town has a vibrant atmosphere, colourful cottages and an array of family-friendly eateries. There are also plenty of family attractions nearby.
Aberdeen, Scotland
Yorkshire Coast
Perched on the east coast of Scotland, Aberdeen has a beautiful sandy beach to one side and the striking mountains, the Cairngorms to the other. Take the trail of seventeen castles you can even stay the night in one! For activities, check out the busy harbour for boat-loving kids and don’t miss the Science Centre.
Close by but a world away from home, the beaches, villages and towns of North Yorkshire’s historic coastline make a fantastic staycation destination for families. Relax on the beach, rummage in rockpools, walk along the clifftops and much more. Self-catered holidays can be booked at the coastline’s hidden gem, Runswick Bay.
Familiesonline.co.uk
March/April 9
TRAVEL
Staycay with Away Resorts Away Resorts is a collection of naturally beautiful holiday parks, each in outstanding locations, with their own style and personality. Whether you desire coastal or country locations, full-on fun or a relaxing time with loved ones, each resort is alive with character and atmosphere, and specially crafted to suit your needs. Fall in love with a new type of holiday that puts you first, with off-the-scale amazing accommodation and new experiences at every turn. Find out more HERE.
Staycay with Away in 2022! • Outstanding locations • Unique accommodation • Exceptional entertainment and events • Activities for the big kids and the littl’uns • Dog friendly
Holidays from £167* Book now at awayresorts.co.uk or call 03333 634189 *Price based on a 2-night stay at Tattershall Lakes in Value accommodation in July, correct at time of print.
10 March/April
@AwayResortsHolidays @AwayResortsUK @AwayResortsHolidays
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TRAVEL
Summer in the Alps The Alps may be an obvious destination for the ski season, but how about a summer visit? Summer offers enough green (the mountains) and blue (the sky) to set you up for the whole year - and plenty of fresh air to fill your families’ lungs. With reasonably priced flights to Geneva, then a short drive to Morzine, there is a warm welcome waiting from Paul and Francesca Eyre at Chilly Powder. With the main chalet - Au Coin du Feu - plus two chalets next door, you can organise your own meals, or join the party at ‘Au Coin du Feu’ for dinners that you usually only dream of. Family friendly early evening meals for the children and a daytime crèche for little ones not quite as active as you, with drinks in the bar for the grown-ups – or in the Jacuzzi on the terrace – Paul and Francesca will make you wish that this was home! More about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter HERE. More about summer in Morzine HERE.
Runswick Bay Cottages
The largest selection of high quality self catering cottages in Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire. www.runswickbaycottages.co.uk stay@runswickbaycottages.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk
@StayInRunswick
07970 300068 March/April 11
Receive a FREE DoodleJamz toy for your child*
Age 3+
Endless creations at their fingertips! Draw, squish, sculpt, shape, erase and repeat with this mess-free drawing pad!
APPLY HERE *while stocks last T&Cs apply 12 March/April
Magazine
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FAMILY LIFE
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If you’re pregnant and for a year after your baby is born, you can get free NHS dental care and prescriptions. A monthly Child benefit of £21.15 per child under 16 and £14 for each additional child may be claimable, depending on your income. If you’re pregnant or have a child under 4, Healthy Start vouchers can be spent on essential food items. If you regularly spend money on prescriptions, an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate can save money. Check your entitlement to Tax-Free Childcare or Free Childcare/Early Education.
Slash £1,000+ off your yearly grocery bill by taking the Downshift Challenge. Save on big brand disposable nappies by using comparison site BumDeal. Get free second-hand stuff from giveaway websites Freecycle and Freegle. Buy second-hand and get great quality for less. Try eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Market Place. Save £££ each year (and reduce your carbon footprint) by following simple energy saving tips. Try the Energy Efficiency Calculator for personalised advice on use and solutions.
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Take back control of family spending with free apps like Money Dashboard or Emma. Monitor and set limits on your kids spending with apps like gohenry or the free Revolut Junior. Don’t spend more than you earn. MoneySavingExpert’s free The Budget Planner will help. Don’t get caught short. Try Piggybanking. Divide money into separate pots for essential bills. Struggling with missed bills and payments? Try prioritising and consolidating. More info at debt help tips. Get organised with family meal planning. Save money, time and waste.
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Magazine
March/April 13
NEWS
Leeds Young Film Festival is back!
Child Friendly Leeds celebrates 10 years!
Leeds Young Film Festival is back at the Carriageworks Theatre for Easter 2022 after two years online, with a brand new look and feel.
Child Friendly Leeds is celebrating its special birthday with events, activities throughout the year. Nominations have opened for the Child Friendly Leeds Awards 2022. It is on the lookout for truly inspiring stories about the amazing people, places and organisations that help make Leeds the best city for children and young people to grow up in. To make a nomination, visit the Child Friendly Leeds blog.
For the first time it will be joining forces with Leeds City Museum, Leeds Central Library and Leeds Art Gallery, to provide a family film experience like no other. In partnership with children’s theatre company Tutti Frutti, the festival will bring stories to life, taking you on a film-related adventure with activities that the whole family can enjoy together in the heart of the city. The festival programme will include exciting new films from around the world with action, drama and comedy suitable for children of all ages, as well as the chance to see some family favourites on the big screen.
Join the fun at Harewood House
The festival runs from April 9 to 15. The full programme will be announced mid-March with tickets on sale HERE.
The start of spring is a great time to join Harewood as a member, giving you free access to adventure playgrounds, willow mazes, bird garden, farm experience, Himalayan garden, walled garden and more.
MORE INFO.
MORE INFO HERE.
14 March/April
Familiesonline.co.uk
ACTIVITIES
Mindfulness colouring for kids
Download these mindfulness colouring sheets for kids who need some quiet, focused time to be calm or help with anxious or worried feelings.
Lion
Simple mandala
DOWNLOAD HERE
DOWNLOAD HERE
Hot air balloons
Two Smoby KS Slides to give away! Worth £77.99 each Perfect for summer fun! APPLY HERE
DOWNLOAD HERE Familiesonline.co.uk
Magazine
T&Cs apply
March/April 15
CLUBS & CLASSES
Class Review: Baby Sensory North Claire Bottomley went along to get a sense of what classes are all about… There’s a buzz about Baby Sensory - parents’ faces light up when I mention it. And when I visit the WOW centre in Alwoodley where Baby Sensory North Leeds is based, I can understand why. First, the practicalities – which for parents of babies are VERY important. It’s a dedicated space, where classes run every weekday both in the mornings and afternoons, with its own car park, easily accessed from many areas of Leeds.
play cycle, so in the middle of the session parents and babies enjoy the exploratory play area, have quiet time and chat before coming back to more activities at the end,” she added.
There is a different theme every It is also a world of sensory delights, week for the whole year. When I visit, it’s rainforest week, and after where you can relax, spend quality an hour watching happy, gurgling time with each other and enjoy babies and listening to soothing meeting other new parents. music, I certainly leave feeling relaxed….if a little nostalgic for the “Classes are specifically designed baby days! from birth, to aid your child’s development,” explained Sophie Baby Sensory offers age specific Illingworth who runs the WOW classes for older and younger centre. babies. Find out more or book HERE. “They follow your baby’s play-rest-
Baby Sensory North Leeds WOW Centre Alwoodley www.babysensory.com/north-leeds 16 March/April
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CLUBS & CLASSES
Get set for Easter Camp at Catalan Soccer If you are looking for fun, highquality childcare over the Easter holidays, Catalan Soccer Camps are a fantastic choice. Children are placed in groups carefully selected with age, size, ability and confidence in mind and they can request to be with a friend. Camps take place at Goals Kirkstall, with fantastic facilities and plenty of space to run around in the fresh air and have fun. Safeguarding is vigilant and parents can request a WhatsApp childcare update (photo, video or call) from the team. More information or book HERE. Swimmers Academy & Baby Swimmers Swimmers Academy
Beginners to advanaced, whatever their age and ability. Survival skills, stamina and stroke techniques.
Baby Swimmers
Through fun and games, see your little one progress to a confident little swimmer! Mobile Friendly 0333 335 5388 www.babyswimmers.co.uk
Promoting a positive attitude to Maths Pre-School classes Monday to Friday Call 07852 989523 email: numbertrain@hotmail.com
www.numbertrain.co.uk
Classes available in Alwoodley Horsforth Headingley Meanwood Moortown Roundhay
01943 603829 I www.clipnclimbilkley.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk
March/April 17
CLUBS & CLASSES
Take the first steps with Little Tiptoes Ballet Abigail Jones been teaching children to dance for nine years. After training and working in London, she began teaching with the Headingley Ballet School in Leeds.
She realised that although classes started from age four, there was a demand for younger ballet classes too. “That’s how Little Tiptoes Ballet began,” she said. Classes currently take place at Adel and Ireland Wood Community “I love teaching young children. Centre and at The Den in As part of my training I studied Headingley. child development, so it’s always something I’ve been interested in. More info HERE. It’s really important to have that understanding so that the classes New classes for Music are safe and engaging.” Classes are for 18 month to twoyear-olds and two to four-year-olds. They are separate classes with links up to the Headingley Ballet School. Parents can stay and watch as the children work on happy toes and grumpy toes, skipping, jumping and more. Imagination plays a strong part, with a different illustrated ballet story about Bella the Butterfly each week, which inspires some of the dancing. “My aim with Little Tiptoes Ballet is to provide really good quality childrens’ dance classes,” said Abigail, and from the sound of it, that’s exactly what she does.
18 March/April
Bugs and Number Train!
There are now even more opportunities to join in these two fantastic pre-school classes, with new Music Bugs classes starting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. More info HERE. Additional Number Train class are starting on Wednesdays. More info HERE. Familiesonline.co.uk
FAMILY LIFE
Having incredible conversations with your child By Jane Gilmour and Bettina Hohnen You: How was your day? Your Child: Fine. Want something a bit more? Timing. Try not to pounce on your child with questions straight after school or nursery. Kids often need time to decompress. Wait and read the room. Start conversations when they are rested and well fed. Setting. Many kids find face-to-face talking a bit intense. Weave your conversations into another activity eg when they are drawing.
and so on - the top of the mountain is the best, the bottom is the worst.
Expectations. Learning to communicate meaningfully together is a skill that takes time to build. Not all conversations will go smoothly Get real. Pre-teen children find but, in time, if your bids are gentle abstract concepts difficult and often and genuine, your relationship will don’t have the vocabulary to reflect thrive. their experiences. If you want to find out how your child is, draw a READ MORE mountain. Ask your child to use the mountain to show how they are Families Magazine 180x85how Sol 21/10/21.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2021 14:49 Page 1 feeling today, they feel usually
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March/April 19
FAMILY LIFE
Top green family products If you’re looking to replace existing family products with something new, then why not consider these green options?
Reusable bamboo straws
Eco-friendly backpack
Beeswax food & sandwich wraps
100% USDA certified organic with all-natural plant-based cleaning brush.
Large enough for A4 books and folders. 100% recycled polyester.
Award-winning reusable wraps. 100% organic cotton and British beeswax.
Biodegradable & recycled swim towels
Reusable snack bag
Disposable econappies
Reusable nappy
Reusable cutlery
Beeswax crayons
Quick dry towels. 100% recyclable materials and biodegradable cotton.
Award-winning, adjustable, all in one, washable and reusable. 20 March/April
Perfect alternative to single-use sandwich bags and cling film.
100% organic bamboo. Suitable for everyday use or picnics.
Sustainable organic bamboo fibre, plant based liners. 100% compostable.
Natural beeswax crayons made with minimum of 25% beeswax. Familiesonline.co.uk
EARLY YEARS
Top apps every parent needs Overwhelmed by the number of apps available in the App Store? Ari Last, founder of the Bubble app shares his recommendations. Get these on speed dial to make parenting and family life a little easier.
Mush
Find friends with kids the same age nearby.
OLIO
Allrecipes Dinner Spinner
The Wonder Weeks
Kidday
Family Locator
A week-by-week guide to Solving the endless ‘what your baby’s development – pregnancy to after can I make for dinner?’ birth. question.
Give away unwanted kids’ items to other local parents.
Store your photographs in one place. Share albums with friends/ family.
Track the location of older children/teens when out and about.
CBeebies
Bubble
Sound Sleeper
Educational games and classic cartoons for when you just need a break! Familiesonline.co.uk
Find, book and pay local sitters/nannies recommended by friends/other local parents.
Help your baby fall asleep with this collection of calming sounds. March/April 21
EARLY YEARS
Transitioning a toddler from cot to bed By Charlotte Woods and Jo Taylor Amidst the 2am online searches on ‘how to help your toddler get some sleep,’ you may have wondered when the right time is for your little one to graduate from a cot to a bed. In truth, there isn’t a one-size-fitsall answer. Do they need to use the toilet at night? Do they try to climb out of the cot? Is the cot needed for a new sibling? Or do you just feel they are emotionally and physically ready? Once you have decided it’s time, take steps to prepare for this exciting stage of development. It’s about building up and instilling confidence in your child. Think about sleep habits Make sure they can self-soothe and keep sleep prompts consistent eg white noise, a comforter or familiar song. Create a safe environment Check your child’s bedroom for anything unsafe. Ensure windows can’t be opened and consider using a stairgate. Establish a bedtime routine Maintain what works, such as a short bath, stories and cuddles – these all help to make the 22 March/April
experience more familiar. Communicate changes positively Talk to your child in age-appropriate language and use books such as: Princess Polly’s My Big Girl Bed and Pirate Pete’s My Big Boy Bed. Prepare the sleep space Get your toddler involved. Choose bed covers together and personalise their bedframes with stickers. Think about photos of loved ones and a night light too. Pre-empt bedtime requests Making their favourite meal before bed or introducing water in a beaker on the bedside table help with settling. If they need a nappy/ pyjama change, have everything to hand for minimum fuss. READ MORE
Familiesonline.co.uk
HEALTH
One snack too many? Even if your child is a healthy weight, it’s not great if they eat little nutritious food and get most of their energy from unhealthy or sugary snacks. Public Health England advises parents that sticking to two packaged snacks a day and keeping them each at under 100 calories (kcals) or 418 kilojoules (kJs) is really important for children. The food label usually states how many calories are contained in 100 grams or 100 millilitres of the food or drink you are buying, so do compare the calorie content of
different products. The free NHS Food Scanner app helps you scan product barcodes to find healthier alternatives. You’ll be surprised at how high the energy intake is for some common snacks.
Calories in popular packaged kids’ snacks Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Honey Bar Packet of Walkers Ready Salted Crisps 32.5g KitKat 2 Finger Bar Soreen malt lunchbox loaf Cheestring McVities Ginger Nut Biscuit Mini Milk Ice Cream Lolly Froot Shoot Orange Juice Drink Fruit Shoot hydro water
823kJ 706kJ 436kJ 380kJ 253kJ 196kJ 134kJ 40kJ 8kJ
or 196kcal or 169kcal or 104kcal or 90kcal or 61kcal or 47kcal or 32kcal or 10 kcal or 1.8kcal
Useful online resources Better Health – tips, tools and apps to help you improve your family’s health. The Eatwell Guide – how much should you eat from each food group? Plus healthy snacks ideas. BMI healthy weight calculator - calculates healthy weight. Familiesonline.co.uk
March/April 23
EASTER
Easter cooking Fill the kitchen with delicious smells and make some yummy Easter treats with the kids.
Chocolate cornflake cakes
Hot cross bun trifle
Easter bunny KitKat house
Easy hot cross bun ice-cream
Easter marshmallow bubble slice
Greek Easter cookies
Chick biscuits
Choc chip hot cross buns
Lemony Easter chicks
24 March/April
Familiesonline.co.uk
EASTER
Top Easter craft ideas Easter brings with it some fantastic opportunities to get out the paints and craft materials and create lovely eggs, chicks, cards and bunnies!
Easter trees
Potato Easter egg stamps
Egg carton chicks
Easter bunny headband
Easter scene jar
Stitched Easter bunny card
Pompom bunny bonnet
Easter egg pinata
No sew sock bunny
Familiesonline.co.uk
March/April 25
EASTER
Best Easter eggs for 2022 Find it hard to choose? Here are some of the best options this Easter.
Cadbury Twirl Orange Flavoured Extra thick egg filled with Chocolate Egg You Crack Me Up Easter Egg
Lindt Milk Chocolate Egg
Comes with Lindor Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs.
fun chocolate treats.
Large chocolate orange shell and two full-sized chocolate bars.
Ferrero Rocher Milk Chocolate & Hazelnut Egg
Montezuma’s Milk Chocolate Chick with Buttons Cute clucky chick and giant buttons.
White half-eggs sandwiched with caramel-milk chocolate.
KitKat Salted Caramel Giant Egg
Thorntons White Chocolate Bunny Egg
Marigold the Duck
Chocolate egg studded with chunks of hazelnut and Ferrero chocolates.
Caramel flavour egg, with bars of KitKat Chunky Salted Caramel Fudge.
26 March/April
With white chocolate and decorated with milk chocolate.
Caramayo Chocolate Easter Sandwich
Milk chocolate with naturally coloured yellow and white speckles.
Familiesonline.co.uk
Is your child starting school in September? Plan a successful start with the School Starters Planner 2022/23 What’s in the planner? Daily planning calendar What’s coming up – month by month School contact details and login pages
The full 12 month planner covers the entire 2022/23 academic year.
Vital information you will need for school from the experts at Every Day’s a School Day
Buy it HERE
Get a 4 month taster planner for FREE
DOWNLOAD HERE
Familiesonline.co.uk
March/April 27
EDUCATION
Games to improve visual perception
Can your child make sense of what they see? Visual perception is essential for your child’s reading, writing and movement. Here are some games that help with this important skill.
Peppa Pig Guess Who?
Paddington Spot the Difference
Wooden Pick Up Sticks
Pixy Cubes
Match It Head to Tail
Dive into Shapes!
Helping children discriminate carefully between features. Ages 6mths-3yrs.
Encourages visual attention and sequencing and spatial relationships. Ages 6+.
Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set Copying mazes develops visual perception skills, Ages 4+
28 March/April
A fun family game involving spotting the differences between pictures. Ages 5+.
Aids visual discrimination, visual attention and visual memory. Ages 3+.
iTrax Critical Thinking Game
Copying and building designs boosts visual perception skills. Ages 6-10.
Encourages a focus on details, ignoring extraneous visual information. Ages 3+.
Develops visual perception skills involved in handwriting and reading. Ages 6-10.
Lets Go Code Activity Set
Hop, turn, step and move through a gross motor maze. Ages 5+. Familiesonline.co.uk
EDUCATION
So you didn’t get the school place you wanted. What next? Watch advice from Emma Lewry at Every Day’s a School Day
Help, we didn’t get our school choice!
By Emma Lewry
In England, secondary school places are announced on 1 March. Then, during April, primary school applicants find out their designated school. Very high percentages of families receive one of their listed preferences or even their firstchoice school. But what can be done if you are unlucky? READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk
March/April 29
MOTHER’S DAY
Mother’s Day gifts for under £20 Dads! This one’s for you and the kids! Mother’s Day is Sunday 27 March this year.
Patchwork Game
Pink-Champagne Truffles
Plant Mum Vase
The Naked Bee Hand & Cuticle Salve
Beenax Spiky Massage Ball Set
Calm Club Yoga Cards
Turmeric-infused Honey
Cotton Kimono Robe Wrap
A soothing two-player Made with dolomite, she game about constructing has her own removable Beautiful gift box and a patchwork quilt. £15.29 luxurious white chocolate mini-pot! £16.99 truffles. £16
Spiky massagers for A healing salve for mums arms, legs, shoulders anywhere there’s tension. who garden. £9.49 £8.99
Health conscious, handwhipped, British raw honey infused with natural turmeric. £9.95 30 March/April
A soft, elegant robe mum can feel truly spoilt in. £16.50
A card for every week of the year, teaching the basics. £10.95
Sea Salt Scented Tin Candle Hand-poured, sea salt–scented candle to transport mum to the seaside. £13.05
Familiesonline.co.uk
WHAT’S ON
What’s on Before setting out please check details with the venues as they may need to be pre-booked. Exhibition: Money Talks at Leeds City Museum - until June 26 Explore the different forms money takes and the complex relationship we have had with currency over the centuries. Free. Top Secret at The National Science and Media Museum – daily until June 5 A new exhibition exploring the fascinating world of codebreaking, ciphers and secret communications. Free, booking essential. Exhibition: Curious Creatures: Victorian attitudes to animals at Abbey House Museum – until August 28 Curious Creatures explores the many ways in which the Victorians interacted with and sometimes exploited animals. Familiesonline.co.uk
The National Science and Media Museum
Exhibition: Thwaite at 30 at Thwaite Mills Watermill – until August 28 Situated in the Old Chalk Warehouse, the Thwaite at 30 display is now on view for visitors to learn all about the history of the much-loved watermill. Closed Mondays. Exhibition: Kirkstall Lives at Abbey House Museum – until December 31 Exhibition: Can Robots Care at Thackray Medical Museum – Until April 18 This playful exhibition offers
the chance to explore robots designed to care for humans. 10am to 5pm. Tiny Tetley Studio at The Tetley – Wednesday to Sunday Discover Tiny Tetley Studio, a new artistdesigned play space for children under 5. Get creative and spend time in this immersive environment, where you can touch, climb and slide! Open Wed to Sun, 10am to 5pm. Free.
Saturday Superstars: Ballet at Yorkshire Dance – Every Saturday A programme of dance classes for young people offering the chance to learn from very experienced teachers in a friendly, safe and fun environment. Games Night at The Kings Arms – March 2 & April 6 An evening of card and board games. Cards or Die will be there to teach and recommend board games from a massive selection of modern and retro games. 5-8pm. Oi Frog and Friends at Kings Hall Ilkley – March 8 & 9 Frog is looking for a place to sit, but Cat has other ideas and Dog is doing as he’s told. Little do any of them know that chaos is coming. March/April 31
WHAT’S ON
What’s on Before setting out please check details with the venues as they may need to be pre-booked. Peppa Pig’s Best Chotto Xenos at The Riley Theatre Day Ever at York Opera House – March 9 & 10 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! Explore Playtime at Harewood at The Hepworth Justin Live 2022: Wakefield – Harewood House The Big Tour! At Friday, March 18 – open every day St George’s Hall Enjoy a playful from March 26 – March 12 morning with your Explore the See CBeebies House, huge little ones and superstar and grounds, lakeside join artist Steph children’s Jefferies to explore paths, beautiful favourite Justin gardens and The Hepworth Fletcher live exotic bird species Wakefield. Free, on stage in at Harewood, just book in advance. an all-singing, Ages 1-4, 10.30am north of Leeds. all-dancing 10am to 5pm. to 12pm. extravaganza. 11am and 2.30pm. The Lion King at Family Workshop: Clay The Alhambra – Belgrave Feast at March 25 to May at The Hepworth Belgrave Music Wakefield – 28 Hall – March 12 & Set against March 27 April 9 Join artist, the majesty of Lots on for all Penny Rowe to the Serengeti ages; indie street Plains and to the explore textures food traders, art evocative rhythms and shapes market, kids’ craft of Africa, Disney’s in Hepworth’s activities and DJs. landmark musical artworks and Pizza making will redefine your make your own class for little clay sculpture. expectations of chefs with the theatre. Ages 6+. Ages 2-12. Dough Boys team Workshops 10am, 11am to 12pm, free. 12pm, 1.30pm. 32 March/April
Zog and the Flying Doctors at Leeds Playhouse – March 31 and April 1 Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling sequel this fun production is a truly modern take on the classic fairy tale. Ages 3+. 9:30am. Wild about Lotherton at Lotherton – April 2-22 Become a little explorer and discover the wild side of Lotherton this Easter. Family Trail and activity stations dotted all over the estate! Book in advance School of Rock at Leeds Grand Theatre – April 4 to 9 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End and Broadway hit musical School of Rock is coming to rock out at Leeds Grand Theatre! Age 5+. Familiesonline.co.uk
WHAT’S ON
What’s on Before setting out please check details with the venues as they may need to be pre-booked. Make your own Harewood House Time Capsule Workshop at Leeds City Museum – April 5 to 6 Make your own time capsule workshop for children aged 7-12, with artist Dianne Ireland. 9.30am and bring stories to 12.30pm. life, taking you on a film-related Family Photo adventure with Treasure Hunt at activities the The Art House – family can enjoy. April 9 Equipped with Easter Egg a disposable hunts at East camera and roll Riddlesden Hall – of 35mm film, April 9 to 24 you will venture Make your way into Wakefield to along the trail discover hidden and find naturegems and photo opportunities whilst having fun with your loved ones. Ages 4–10yrs. 10am to 1pm. Book in advance, £45. Leeds Young Film Festival at Carriageworks Theatre - April 9-15 In partnership with Tutti Frutti, the festival will Familiesonline.co.uk
inspired activities. The trail takes place on open days, 10am to 4pm. £3 per child and includes a trail map, pencil and a chocolate egg at the end.
Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show at Carriageworks Theatre – April 14 Mark Thomson’s Spectacular Science Show explores the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even howling jelly babies! Ages 5+. 3pm. Chotto Xenos by Akram Khan Company at the Riley Theatre April 29 & 30 A captivating dance production that takes young audiences back in time, exploring the often forgotten and untold stories of World War 1 colonial soldiers, in order to shine light on our present and future.
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