Issue 76 - November/ December 2016
Issue
76
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Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire's leading distribution magazine and online resource for families with 0-12's. www.familiesonline.co.uk Oxfordshire Magazine November/ December 2016
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PhotoFun We take the photos - you get to keep them capture the Christmas spirit with friends
Santa’s Jumping Join Santa and bounce your way into Christmas
Festive refreshments From mince pies to spiced lattes there’s something for everyone
New Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course opens this November!
Toddler Santa’s Grotto Sat 10th Dec Friday 23rd Dec 9am to 11am ages 0-6 year olds
Christmas Holiday Hours Our christmas holiday hours at Rush will run from Monday 12th December to Wednesday 4th January (Inclusive). Closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day
Day of Discovery
Join us for a
Saturday 5th November 10am-12pm Parents and families from Nursery to Year 6 please join us for a fun-filled morning at Cranford House School. Exciting activities will be taking place along with the opportunity to meet our own T-Rex! Places are limited so please book in advance www.cranfordhouse.net/dinoday
Moulsford, Wallingford OX10 9HT
FamiliesMagazine_87x130mm_CranfordHouseDinoDay_AW.indd 1
07/10/2016 13:16
Junior School
Stay and Play For 2 - 4 year olds Monday 14 November 9.30am - 11.00am
To book a place
www.ohsvisit.org.uk/FM
NEW Year 3 class for 2017 due to local demand 01865 318500 admissions@oxf.gdst.net www.oxfordhigh.gdst.net
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Visit our fantastic new website, set to be the UK's no.1 resource for families! www.familiesonline.co.uk
Oxfordshire Magazine Editor: Ema Murphy 01993 815966 - 07733 228 038 editor@familiesoxfordshire.co.uk www.familiesoxfordshire.co.uk Next issue: January/ February 2017 Booking deadline: 1 December 2016 Copy deadline: 7 December 2016 40,000 readers per issue Printed by Warners Design: Rebecca Carr 07789882467
Call 01993 815966 to book an ad in our January/ February Issue Disclaimer: Families Oxfordshire Magazine is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families ® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Temple House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Oxfordshire Magazine are fully protected by copyright and non of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents.
In this issue... 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
What's New & Education News Parenting: Keeping up energy levels for learning Parenting: How to choose a childminder Health: Dealing with seasonal affective disorder Clubs & classes: Benefits of learning a musical instrument Christmas: Creating a family party to remember Edible Christmas gifts Christmas:Twelve toys of Christmas! Books for Christmas What's on
*** READER GIVEAWAY *** The Working Parents’ Guide to Raising Happy and Confident Children by Nadim Saad, £11.99 www.bestofparenting.com Fast, practical advice for busy working parents who want to achieve a ‘balanced’ approach to parenting. With relationship building techniques and a 5-week programme to dramatically improve family life plus a troubleshooting guide for parental challenges! We have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader. Email editor@familiesoxfordshire.co.uk to be entered into the draw, by 1 Dec.
Big enough to challenge: small enough to care
Rye St Antony is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 3-18 (and boys 3-11). Established in 1930 as a lay Catholic foundation, the school is situated in a beautiful 12-acre location overlooking the city of Oxford.
11+ and 13+ Scholarships Closing date for applications: Friday 20 January 2017 Visitors are welcome throughout the year. Please telephone the Registrar, Fern Williams, to make an appointment.
November/ December 2016
01865 762802 Pullen’s Lane, Oxford OX3 0BY enquiries@ryestantony.co.uk www.ryestantony.co.uk
Oxfordshire Magazine
3
Families news & views
What's new?
Local dog is hero pet of Britain
A LOVING dog that has transformed the lives of its owner’s family has won a ‘golden bone’ after winning the Hero Pet category at the Amplifon Charles Holland Awards for Brave Britons. Assistance dog Mabel, from Banbury, scooped the prize in front of her 12-yearold owner Alex White and mum Michelle. Falklands hero Simon Weston presented Alex and Mabel with the award. Alex has high-functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, which can result in massive sensory overload and meant that days out and holidays were not possible for his family. All that changed when Mabel arrived. She helps him to cross roads, accompanies him on once-difficult trips to the shops and the dentist, and helps him get a good night’s sleep by making him feel safe in his room.
The ultimate in fun and games to get in the festive spirit! Whilst you plan your perfect Christmas, jingle all the way to Super Camps and let us look after the children from 15-23 December 2016. The fun will be nonstop with some great seasonal activities on our Multi-Activity course to create that Christmas buzz, at Radley College Nr Abingdon. Find out more at www. supercamps.co.uk, call 01235467300 or email info@supercamps.co.uk.
Local dad heads performing arts classes in Faringdon
Former Director of Entertainment James Barker brings 21 years of experience to a new performing arts school in Faringdon. James, who has worked in a variety of entertainment roles in his long career, is very excited to be heading the new classes for pre-schoolers to 18 year olds, from this Autumn. A local dad who lives in Faringdon with his husband and two children, James recently won Newcomer of the Year Award for Stagecoach. We’d like to give him a big well done and tell all young budding actors, singers and dancers to check out those classes! visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/faringdon or call 01367 240663.
Maths, glorious Maths!
With the National Young Mathematicians’ Award returning soon, Explore wants more children than ever to be confident and excited about maths! Here are a couple of top tips for inspiring maths at home: Bring maths to life with fun and engaging ways to learn new skills. Baking, measuring objects and budgeting at the shops are great ways for your child to be hands on with maths. Ask questions during homework time: Why? How do you know? Are you sure? The more you can challenge your child to convince you of their reasoning, the more you will build skills such as problem solving from an early age. Be sure to praise them for their efforts afterwards, too! For more advice, support, news and
views on maths, take a look at the blog www.explorelearning.co.uk/blog/category/ maths
Mums in Business
It’s your turn to recommend books! Oxford based Mum, Georgina Atwell quit a full-time job working for Apple to start up http://toppsta.com, now the UK’s number one community of parents and children reading and reviewing children’s books for ages 0 to 12. As a mum of two young children, Georgina knew just how hard it was to find good children’s books and spotted a gap in the market for an online space, where children and parents could recommend books to each other. Initially starting on Facebook in late 2014, Toppsta is now a thriving community with over 23,000 fans from across the UK. With free books to win and review, and a collection of nearly 10,000 reviews to browse, Toppsta has quickly become an essential resource for children, parents, schools and libraries. We are always looking for children to review our books. It doesn’t matter if your child is a bookworm or a reluctant reader, whether they write the review or an adult writes it for them. Come and join the Toppsta community at http://toppsta.com or find us on Facebook www.facebook. com/toppstakids
The Oxford and Cambridge Singing School Christmas Course games and exercises to improve sight reading and small The Oxford and Cambridge Singing School on 21-22 “My son loved every group vocal coaching. Families are most welcome to December, is for children aged 7-13, who love to sing. moment – he really enjoyed come and listen to a mini-concert at the end of each the range of music and he even day. Here is some feedback from our last course. Based primarily at Worcester College, in central loved the music theory and the Oxford, the school creates a fun and welcoming music history! Having that broader Visit www.oxbridgesingongschool.co.uk for more environment in which to learn beautiful music context to the music really helps details about this and other regular courses held in Oxford, Cambridge and London. and at the same time provide a background in him at school.” vocal technique, music theory and history. Email wickhamsamantha@yahoo.com or call 07867 Local parent 778326. Courses include whole-group singing, musical
feedback:
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Families news & views
Shiplake Village Nursery Rated ‘Good’
play, reading, music and movement, multicultural experiences… The list is endless!
Established in 1966, Shiplake Village Nursery offers a friendly, caring and quality pre-school (based on the Early Year Foundation Stage) for children aged 2.5 years to school age. It’s conveniently situated next to Shiplake Memorial Hall and is surrounded by open countryside.
With a team of five highly experienced and qualified staff, the nursery has recently been rated Good by Ofsted (June 2016). “All children make good progress. They develop strong literacy, and mathematical skills in readiness for the move to school.”
Its primary aim is to provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment, in which children can learn through play and positively develop their social, emotional, physical and intellectual capabilities. They offer a broad and balanced curriculum based on every child’s individual needs.
With weekly activities such as Spanish, letter of the week, drama, cookery, gardening, woodland walks, role play, painting, water
Parents and children are warmly invited to visit the nursery and to see for themselves just what a wonderful place the nursery is. Email: registrar@shiplakevillagenursery. co.uk or telephone 0118 940 4738 to book a visit.
Xmas Gift Id ea
In need of a lift or a therapeutic Xmas gift?
Look out for Santa Nottcutts Garden Centre www.notcutts.co.uk
Look no further as Woodstock therapist Louisa Cox may have the answer, with her amazing new natural lift facial massage. No need for Botox or to break the bank, with this beautiful treatment involving a sequence of massage techniques, which act as a natural facelift, with no need for surgery, helping you to look and feel younger. It’s said to increase blood circulation, stimulate the nervous system and strengthen and tone muscles and lots more!
Yarnton Nurseries www.yarntonnurseries.co.uk Hilltop Garden Centre www.hilltopgc.co.uk Oxford Bus Museum www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk Bicester Avenue Garden Centre www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk/bicester
Call Louisa at Drift Therapies on 07500 537 231 and receive it for an introductory offer of £25 or for gift vouchers.
BE GOOD AT BEING YOURSELF
ABINGDON 01865 390970 abingdon@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/abingdon
BANBURY 01908 969467 banbury@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/banbury
Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year olds, where students learn to embrace life with creativity and courage
™
Creative Courage For Life
November/ December 2016
®
OXFORD 01869 278600 oxford@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/oxford THAME & WATLINGTON 01865 763767 thame@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/thame
Stagecoach Theatre Arts Schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach is a registered trademark of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Ltd.
Millets Farm www.milletsfarmcentre.com
Oxfordshire Magazine
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Families Parenting
How to keep energy levels up for learning during the winter By Liat Hughes Joshi Even lively kids can lose their get up and go as winter draws in. Here’s how to maximise your family’s energy levels… Consider a ‘wake up gently’ alarm clock Swap the shock of sudden, loud alarms and bright lights switching on for an alarm clock that mimics sunrise by gradually increasing lighting levels. These make waking up less of a thing to dread on dark mornings.
Maximise sleep The NHS recommends 11 hours sleep for a five-year-old, reducing steadily to around 9.5 hours by the age of 11. Work back from when they need to get up to determine optimal bedtimes.
Make hearty but healthy breakfasts Swap sugar-loaded cereals for something warming and energyboosting, such as fruity porridge or scrambled eggs.
Put some lively music on! If it’s gloomy outside and everyone’s half asleep…liven things up with mood-enhancing tunes. The right music is a brilliant pick-me-up!
Walk to (and from) school If time and distance allows, leaving the car behind and walking will help ensure children are fully awake for their first lessons of the day.
Get outside at the weekends whatever the weather Whilst you may all benefit from downtime after a busy week, even an hour of fresh air and activity will do everyone good. Remember there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing – invest in decent waterproofs and wellies for everyone! Get more information about the importance of sleep from Families Online: www.familiesonline.co.uk/sleep Bare-advert-2015.pdf 1 20/10/2015 12:07
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Families Parenting
How to choose a childminder Why choose a childminder?
There are many advantages to hiring a childminder as opposed to using commercial childcare such as a nursery. One of the main reasons is consistency; it is hugely positive to have the same person look after your child. A childminder can also be flexible, particularly if parents work atypical hours. Socially there can be advantages as often there are several children, all of different ages, being looked after under the one roof, which can help to teach important skills as they interact together. For younger children, being looked after in a calm home environment can be preferable to a busy nursery, where it may be noisy and stressful.
How can you find a childminder? All childminders have to be registered and inspected by OFSTED in England or CSSIW in Wales, giving you peace of mind that they are carefully regulated. This means they are professional child carers who have undertaken training and professional development.
What qualifications to look out for
Childminders are required to follow the early years foundation stage (EYFS) which provides a structure of learning and care for children from birth to five years old. This ensures that they are trained to create a stimulating environment for your child. They will also be expected to provide toys and activities suitable for the ages being looked after. Childminders must complete first aid training and a course that covers topics such as child nutrition, food hygiene and health and safety. Some childminders also complete extra courses to extend their skills.
Find out more about your childcare options from Families Online: www.familiesonline.co.uk/ childcare
Ensure you visit the childminder’s home so you can see the kind of environment your little one will be exposed to. Ideally you should be able to visit as often as you need while you are making your decision, and ask as many questions as you like until you are satisfied.
Here is what to look out for during these initial meetings: • • • •
• • • •
Are the other children calm, safe, happy and stimulated? Do they play and talk together? Is she joining in too? Are there plenty of fun activities planned to help children learn and play? Can children plan some of these activities themselves? Are there plenty of clean toys and equipment for children to use? Are the premises clean, well-kept and safe? Is there a back garden for outside play? If not, are there park visits planned? Listen to other parents’ opinions and always follow up on the childminder’s references.
Questions to ask during the first meet. It is a good idea to have a list of questions written down for your initial meeting. Here is an idea of what is good to ask: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
How long have you been working with children? What training have you had? Are you part of a network? Do you have up-to-date first aid training? Have you got a food hygiene certificate? Why do you enjoy being with children? If there’s no outside play space, how will you make sure my child gets the chance to play outside? Where will my child rest? What food and drink do you provide? Can you describe a typical day? How do you encourage good behaviour? What is your approach to discipline? Will my child be with a regular group of children? How old are they? How will you make sure I know how my child is getting on? What hours are you open? How much do you charge? What happens when my child is sick or on holiday? What do you do in an emergency? When was your last OFSTED inspection, can I see the report?
Every childminder must be checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), along with all adult members of their family who share their home. They will have their home properly inspected by an appropriate authority, such as OFSTED.
How to make the decision
You should always meet up with a potential childminder in person (at least once) before deciding to hire their services. This is important for both parties to get to know each other and make sure it feels right for everyone. It is common to request a trial period to make sure your child is happy with them.
November/ December 2016
Oxfordshire Magazine
7
Families health
oxygen around the body – and therefore give us energy.
Feeling S.A.D?
Get up (and down) Don’t give in completely to the temptation to let them veg on the sofa. Exercise, especially outdoors, will lift their (and your!) mood and will also wear them out sufficiently to get a better night’s sleep. On that same note, don’t forget that even when you’re all worn out, a decent wind-down routine – and in particular a screen-free couple of hours before bed helps too.
How to cope with winter tiredness and seasonal affective disorder
Quick tips to combat S.A.D •
Make sure you’re getting at least 10 minutes of natural daylight every day – even on a gloomy day, it’s still bright enough to ‘reset’ your body clock and stop the wintry feeling of constant jetlag.
•
A light-up alarm clock is a gentler way to ease everyone into the day.
•
If you or your kids just can’t get moving, and are feeling weepy, think about upgrading to a fullscale ‘dawn simulator’ which radiates intense light because that is the best way of tackling Seasonal Affective Depression.
•
Make sure they’re eating properly, and in particular getting enough iron because that helps give them more energy.
•
Outdoor exercise will also help lift their mood and make them feel less sluggish.
•
Exercise (indoor or outdoor) will also help tire them out physically. Even if they already seem tired, their bodies need the workout!
•
A good bedtime routine isn’t just for toddlers – we all need to wind down before bed.
By Radhika Holmstrom
Most of us find the winter months hard to handle so, here are our tips about how to help your little ones.
outdoor light – glass filters out quite a lot of brightness. On the other hand, even on a gloomy day, 10 minutes or so of outdoor light should be enough to get you back on track.
It’s not surprising that as the year comes to an end, most children start flagging. Not only is this a monstrously long term for those of school age, but there are lots of good reasons why as the days get darker, our energies dip even if we don’t end up with full-scale Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It’s cold, dark and depressing. Add in the winter coughs and colds that lay everyone low at some point, and you’ve got a recipe for exhaustion. So what can you do?
Indoors, it may be worth getting a lightup alarm clock too, in order to ease the kids into the day rather than jerking them out of sleep and leaving them tired (and cranky) from the start. And if you feel that the kids – or you! – are constantly exhausted and weepy, think about upgrading to one of the ‘dawn simulators’ that get to the brightness of natural daylight.
Light up
It’s really tempting, at this time of year, to hit the comfort food. And certainly, kids need calories! However, don’t forget that that stodge alone won’t do it. You don’t have to go the full trendy high-protein route but do try in particular to get some iron-rich foods into them because iron helps make red blood cells, which carry
One simple thing you can do is make sure you are getting enough natural light. We need daylight to regulate our body clocks; without a shot of it in the morning, in particular, we end up feeling constantly jetlagged. And yes, it does have to be
Feed up
Radhika Holmstrom has a strong background in health journalism. She has also written for many consumer and specialist magazines. Whilst she focuses on health, parenting and learning issues, she has also written widely on environmental and ethical issues. Find brilliant brain-food breakfast ideas at Families Online: www.familiesonline. co.uk/breakfast
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Families Clubs & classes
The benefits of learning a musical instrument Learning an instrument can have benefits for your child that you may not have considered. Discover the benefits that can be gained from your little musician learning to play their favourite instrument... It makes them more intelligent, with better memories The mental and physical processes happening inside your child’s brain when they learn to play an instrument seem help them with problem solving. It’s also believed these children tend to do better in other subjects including: maths, science and learning a foreign language in particular. A 19971 study found that children who took part piano lessons performed better in spatial-temporal tests when compared to peers taking computer lessons. Music also helps with memory; singing a list is often more successful than writing it down. An improvement in social skills Playing music is a great way to make friends. Not only are children who play instruments encouraged to join groups and orchestras at school but you’ll often find them getting together outside of school hours too. Music draws children together
from different backgrounds and creates a common bond. They have improved motor skills Creating notes from an instrument, whether it’s brass, woodwind, percussion or strings, helps a child fine-tune motor skills. Minute movements of the hands and fingers are believed to help create neurological pathways in the brain. In fact, studies have suggested that playing an instrument may enhance motor skills for the player’s whole life2. A confidence boost There’s no doubt that a child who feels they can manage a task – such as performing a simple tune – is filled with confidence. As their skill improves and practice pays off, your child will see a huge confidence boost, which will help them to become a more selfassured as they grow. Persistence is taught Learning an instrument is a slow, sometimes arduous task and the traits that children must acquire are patience and the ability to practice. These skills are transferable to many other tasks they will come up against later in life.
They become creative and have a sense of achievement Once a child has mastered making sounds from their instrument, they often begin to experiment. Although they may never be an improvisational genius, this leads to creativity, which in turn creates a sense of achievement. References 1. Music training causes long-term enhancement of preschool children's spatial-temporal reasoning. Authors Rauscher FH, Shaw GL, Leving LJ, Wright EL, Dennis WR, Newcomb RL. 2. Music making as a tool for promoting brain plasticity across the life span. Authors Wan CY, Schlaug G. By Sally J Hall Sally J. Hall is a writer and editor who has written for all the main parenting titles as well as The Independent and The Mail. She is author of Eco Baby and contributing author to Watch My Baby Grow (Dorling Kindersley).
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Oxfordshire Magazine
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How to create a family Christmas party to remember By Sally J Hall The thought of planning a Christmas party for family and friends can send us into a spin – especially if you’re fitting it in around your busy work and family life. But there’s no need to get hot under the collar if you follow our tips and advice for the best party ever!
Start early
It’s never too early to start planning. Keep lists of ideas, inspirations and recipes in a note book. As the date gets nearer, hone the list down so that you know exactly what you want and need. Practice cooking any new dishes and order any hard to get items well in advance. Don’t forget to book your grocery delivery too!
Set the date – and tell people
It pays to set the date early and let others know, so send ‘save the date’ notices on Facebook and follow up with a more formal invitation – make sure you include the start and end times and details the guests need to know such as “it’s fancy dress”. Find out if there are dates your party might clash with - such as a work party, or even a birthday. You could even consider that quieter period between Christmas and New Year!
Set a budget
Costs can get out of hand, so think about ways you can cut back. Doing a shop at a budget supermarket, making food and freezing it is much more cost-effective than leaving it to the last minute and grabbing whatever you can from the ready-made aisles. 10
Make a few simple dishes ahead and get decorations and napkins from a 99p store. If you like fresh flowers, avoid red - the cost of red flowers soars at Christmas! Choose another colour or gather evergreens from the garden. Drinks can also be very expensive, so ask everyone to bring a bottle while you provide a welcome cocktail or glass of fizz – plus soft drinks for the kids of course.
Think about who to invite
Write down the names of people you’d like to invite as you think of them – you can always narrow it down later if you have too many. And think about who gets on with whom – you may decide that two parties are necessary if you have factions of your family or friends who don’t get on with each other!
Creating the mood
Think about how your home will appear to guests. Make it smell nice with flowers, coffee and scented candles (out of the reach of kids of course). Don’t forget the bathrooms – there should be toilet paper, a bin, hand soap and clean towels. Make it warm enough for comfort (but not stifling) and have a play list on your MP3 player. Just remember that everyone may be sick of Slade’s Merry Christmas Everyone by now, so perhaps go for something a little different. Frank Sinatra anyone?
Making guests feel welcome
As your guests arrive, make them feel welcome. Designate one of the kids to take coats to a bedroom, have some welcoming drinks on a tray ready to be
handed out as people arrive and make sure there are enough seats. Have some canapés prepared and some simple snacks for the children too, so that you don’t have to be in the kitchen rather than mingling with your guests. Plus it avoids any ‘hangry’ moments from the kids.
Get your house and yourself – ready
About a week before, give your home a good clean, so that on the day you can just run the hoover around quickly. Put away breakables and have a count up – do you have enough plates, cutlery and so on? Buy more or arrange to borrow some. Think about what you’re going to wear and try it on, so you’re not still in your underwear as guests are knocking at the door. On the day itself, enlist the help of your family to get everything done and don’t forget to save yourself enough time for a relaxing bath and time to get ready so you can enjoy the party too!
And finally…
If your guests will be drinking, think about how they will get home (they can of course choose designated drivers) and organise local taxis for those who would rather leave their car at home. If you have the space, you may want to offer a bed to a few people overnight. Also, think about giving them a party bag with a small bottle of mineral water and a piece of Christmas cake or a biscotti in it. They will thank you in the morning! Get more fantastic party ideas from www.familiesonline.co.uk/party
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Edible
Christmas
you can make with your kids
gifts
Christmas gifts don’t have to be expensive and you can have lots of fun making foodie gifts for your friends and family. Here are a few quick, easy and delicious ideas for you to make with your children.
To decorate; Icing sugar Water Lemon juice
Christmas cookies in a jar
This is a lovely gift as the jar can be used again and it's full of yummy, Christmassy biscuits too.
You will need 250g soft butter or margarine 140g caster sugar 1 egg 2 tsp vanilla extract 300g plain flour 1.
2.
Mini Pretzels
Embrace the inner European in you with these German snacks
You will need 3 tsp honey 1½ half packets dried yeast 800g plain flour 1½ tsp salt 6 tbsp olive oil 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6 tbsp baking powder 2 egg whites Coarse sea salt for sprinkling Red Leicester and yellow Cheddar.
Mix together one of the tablespoons full of honey with 500 ml warm water in a measuring jug and add the yeast. Stir it until the yeast has completely dissolved and becomes a little foamy. Then in a bowl, mix together the flour and the salt. Add the oil, the yeast and water mixture and the rest of the honey and work with a wooden spoon and then hands to make a dough. Now comes the fun part. Put the ball of dough onto a floured board or work surface and let the kids get kneading. It needs about ten minutes, adding a bit more flour as you go if it gets too sticky. Return the dough to the bowl and cover with a tea towel and set in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour. Take the dough out and knead all over again for five minutes this time. Then break the dough up into little balls – you should make 24. Roll each one out into a long rope, then bring the ends together and twist it twice near the top of the loop to make a pretzel shape. A little practice makes it perfect. Let them rest for 15 minutes. Next, you have to poach the pretzels – this is what gives them their fluffy inside. Put the baking soda in a large pan of water, brig to the boil, then poach each pretzel on each side for just around 15 seconds. Work in batches. Finally, lay them on a flat baking tray lined with baking parchment, brush with egg white and sprinkle with coarse salt and then bake at 450 F 220 C Gas 6 for 15 minutes.
3. 4.
Cream together the butter and sugar, then add the yolk from the egg and the vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour and keep mixing until it forms a ball of dough. Kids can do this with their hands. Roll the dough out of a floured surface and use a variety of Christmas cookie cutters to make the shapes – stars, diamonds and hearts are all good. Bake for 12-15 minutes (gas4, 190C 375 F). Once cool, mix the icing sugar with a teaspoon of lemon juice and a little water, until it is easy to pour but still thick. Use a piping bag to make decorations on each and leave to dry in a cool place. Finally, place a selection of the cookies into a Kilner jar and decorate with a Christmas ribbon, bells and a label.
Snowballs
Everyone loves chocolate and these little snowball shaped truffles are great as a Christmas themed treat.
You will need 2 tbsp double cream 200g good white chocolate, chopped 1.
Get more fantastic food ideas and recipies from families online
2.
www.familiesonline.co.uk/food/recipes
3.
November/ December 2016
¼ tsp ground cinnamon Tiny pinch of ground star anise ¼ tsp nutmeg Large Kilner jar Ribbon and decorations
½ tsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp desiccated coconut Mini cake cases
Put the chocolate pieces in a pudding basin and set it over a pan of hot water, with the double cream. Bring to a simmer and then turn the heat down low.You’ll need to supervise your child at this stage, as steam can burn. Stir with a wooden spoon until the chocolate has melted into the cream. Add the vanilla, take off the heat and chill for one hour. It should then be firm but still loose enough to work with. With a teaspoon, each take a small amount of the chocolate paste and roll it in a ball between your palms. Then roll it in the coconut and you have little snowball shaped truffles. Place each completed one inside a mini cake case. Pop some inside a jam jar to give as a gift and add little playful touches such as tiny robins and Christmas trees that you use as cake decorations. 11 11 Oxfordshire Magazine
Families Christmas
The t welve toys of Christmas
When it comes to choosing gifts for the kids at Christmas, we all want to make sure we give them something they will absolutely love. Here’s what’s on the best lists this Christmas… For baby and toddler Personalised music box, £17 Not on The High Street This is a gift that your little one can use and enjoy for years to come. Inside the wooden box is a musical mechanism that plays You Are My Sunshine and can be operated by turning the handle. Personalise it with your little one’s name and a message on the top.
Wheelybug ride-on toy £69.95 Hippychick Your toddler will love zooming around on a Wheelybug. Sturdy and comfortable, with a big handle to grasp, these can zip around in any direction and there are so many loveable characters to choose from, it’s hard to pick a favourite. Ours is the pig. Or maybe the bee. Or the ladybird… But if you buy the mouse this Christmas, the company will donate money to help the endangered dormouse.
VTech light up night light soft toy £10.99 John Lewis This sweet little character is suitable for a boy or a girl from birth and as well as being a little friend to play with, it’s a night light too. It has soft glowing lights that help your baby drift off to sleep, plus there is a white noise setting and nature sounds too.
Frugi soft toy £25 Frugi Organic kids’ clothing brand Frugi has extended its range to include soft, cuddly toys. Choose from Doodle the Crocodile, Dash the Leopard or Giggles the Giraffe. They have been loving made from velour and corduroy and this gives them lots of textures for little hands to feel.
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5-8 years
9-12 years SmartMax From £8.99 Amazon
SmartMax is an amazing range of magnetic construction toys that kids will love. Featuring magnets that can hold 60 times their own weight, your little one can have endless fun constructing different toys from this set. It allows your child to explore their creativity whilst learning about magnetism and as the sets are made from safe and high quality materials, they will last for years too.
Cosmo teepee £149 MyWeeTeePee A bit pricey but this will be the ideal location for games, dreams and dramas for years to come. Use it in the house or in the garden, take it to the park for some shade and put it in the bedroom for a quiet story corner, this teepee is made from strong wooden poles and thick, quality canvas.
Orange monster hand puppet, £19.99 Puppets By Post A favourite of our childhoods; hand puppets are making a massive comeback and this bright orange monster will be a great friend for your child to play with. He can be a friendly monster or a naughty monster, depending on what your child decides and it can help your child learn the art of drama and role play.
BeatBo £29.99 Tesco This large and friendly toy will get your little one moving and grooving. Children can press his tummy or the buttons on his feet to activate tunes and songs. He will help kids get to learn their colours, numbers and letter and they can even sing along.
Chip the robot dog, £199.99 Amazon He’s not cheap but Chip is the toy they’re all talking about this Christmas. He’s smart and does his own thing, or your child can train him using voice commands and a remote control, giving him a unique personality and he’s just like a real dog. Roll his ball and he’ll bring it back to you, pick up his front legs and he dances. You can also use an app on your smart phone or tablet.
Minions Pie Face £19.99 Toys Are Us The toy that everyone wanted last year is back – and it makes you into a Minion! Pop some whipped cream or a wet sponge on the arm (cold mashed potato’s good too), then a player puts their chin on the chin rest. Spin the dial to see how many clicks you must turn the handles by – then watch out! Unlucky players get a face full of goo!
Who Tooted £19.99 Toys R Us This is a hilarious board game for all the family to play together. With integral sounds and whoopee cushions that – um – toot for you, everyone has to guess who tooted!
Mickey Mouse Boot Toppers £7.95 Disney Store Even too kool for skool teenagers still love their soft toys, and these boot toppers are a fun way for them to embrace their love for all things Disney when out and about in autumn leaves and winter snow. Pop these knitted toppers on a pair of boots and the friendly face with pom pom ears will make everyone smile.
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INDEPENDENT TOY & BIKE SHOPS BOSWELL’S LTD 1-4 Broad Street, Oxford OX1 8RJ 01865 241244 www.boswells-online.co.uk HOYLES - Traditional games & puzzles 71 High Street, Oxford OX1 4BA 01865 203244 www.hoylesonline.com THE NURSERY SHOP 22 Stern Street, Abingdon OX14 3JP 01235 520476 www.thenurseryshop.com
Once upon a Christmas Why books make perfect presents for children By Claire Bottomley, Editor, Families Leeds Buying books for kids provide excellent Christmas gifts and children can never have too many in their collection! However, it can sometimes feel a bit of a chore when it needn’t. They don’t require batteries, they don’t need to be assembled, and they don’t mean you have to build a loft extension to accommodate them. They don’t even cause you excruciating pain when you step on them in the middle of the night. Books: what’s not to like? But it’s not just us grown-ups who appreciate the advantages of literary gifts for the wee ones.
BICESTER TOYS & THORNTONS 66-68 Sheep Street, Bicester OX26 6JW 01869 323946 www.toymaster.co.uk
They may not deliver the biggest instant wow factor when ripped from gaudy wrapping, but books are what children will return to, and lose themselves in, time after time. Watch how a person’s face lights up when they tell you about their favourite children’s book, and then decide if books are the most magical present in the world!
GILES TOYS AND CYCLES 1 Alvescot Road, Carterton OX18 3JL 01993 842396 www.gilescycles.com
And older children don’t have to be keen independent readers to appreciate the right book as a gift. If it’s well-chosen with them in mind, about something that enthuses them or captures their imagination, you’re on to a winner.
TOYS-UK 162-164 Broadway, Didcot OX11 8RJ 01235 759450 www.toys-uk.co.uk
So, if you’re thinking about buying books as gifts for your own children or others this Christmas, we’ve gathered some great recommendations. First though, a few dos and don’ts: •
Don’t worry about duplicating. Chances are, they may already have a popular, well-known book, but it is actually quite useful to have more than one copy. One for upstairs by their bed and another for downstairs in the daytime, or one to keep at a grandparent’s home.
PETTITS OF WALLINGFORD 46-50 St. Mary’s Street, OX10 0EY 01491 835253 www.pettitsofwallingford.co.uk
•
Do write in them. It’s a lovely, personal touch to write in the inside sleeve or cover of a book. “Happy Christmas 2016, with love from Aunty Emma,” is something they will look back on with fondness in years to come.
DENTONS TOY & CYCLES 1 High Street, Witney OX28 6HW 01993 704979 www.thecyclingexperts.co.uk
•
Do buy them books about something they’re interested in, especially as they get older. Books about sports, dance, Minecraft or pets are great for junior enthusiasts. Remember they don’t have to be fiction books and factual books often go down really well.
•
Don’t worry if they don’t seem to like it. It might be that they will come back to it and discover it on another day….or maybe it’s just not for them. The thought was there and we are all individuals with our own tastes and preferences – children are no different. Getting the opportunity to try a wide range of reading material is the main thing, and books can easily be passed on to another friend or relative who might like it more.
BAGATELLE TOYS 63 Bell Street, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BA 01491 576559 www.bagetelletoys.com
TEDDY BEARS 99 High Street, Witney OX28 6HY 01993 706616 www.teddybears.co.uk WALLYS TOY SHOP 96-97 High Street, Thames OX9 3EH 01844 261947 www.wallystoys.co.uk
November/ December 2016
Oxfordshire Magazine
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Families what's on
What's On
Your guide to family events this November & December Visit our website for more what’s on www.familiesonline.co.uk 1-21 Nov Hey Diddle Diddle OPH, 11 Beaumont Street, OX1 2LW oxfordplayhouse.com Let under 5’s play and sing-a-long for an enjoyable Monday morning and meet other parents. A fun, friendly and musical way to start the week for you and your child. Top Room, 10.15am-11am & 11.30am12.15. £5 1 Nov-24 Dec (Sat/Sun only) Illuminated Weekends Fairytale Farm, Chipping Norton, OX7 5QH fairytalefarm.co.uk Don't miss the Illuminated Evenings on Saturdays and Sundays and every day from 19- 24 December. The Enchanted Walk will become a magical wonderland of fairy lights, which will delight children and adults. SAVE 10% booking online and for more info. 1 Nov-31 Dec Baby Café - Breastfeeding Support Florence Park Children’s Centre Rhymers Lane, Cowley, OX4 3JZ thebabycafe.org Join a network of breastfeeding drop-in support groups at the Baby Café held on Fridays. Offering help and support to breastfeeding mums at any stage in their breastfeeding journey. Pregnant women welcome. Join lots of mums who enjoy getting and sharing breastfeeding experiences. 01865 777286. 12.30pm - 14.30pm. 1 Nov-15 Jan Islamic Art and the Supernatural Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, OX1 2PH ashmus.ox.ac.uk Over a hundred spectacular objects from Morocco to China, POWER AND PROTECTION is the first major exhibition to explore the supernatural in the art of the Islamic world. Within Islamic
societies, people of all backgrounds have engaged in fascinating and sometimes controversial practices such as the casting of horoscopes and the interpretation of omens. 3 Nov-8 Dec Play the World The Pegasus Theatre, Magdalen Rd, OX4 1RE Pegasustheatre.org.uk Join Emma Boor and a host of puppet friends in an interactive installation exploring a different world each week from farmyard to outer space! This fun, engaging session for parents and toddlers and babies is very popular. Advanced booking advised. £3. 5 Nov Oxford Roundtable Fireworks South Park, Headington Hill, Oxford oxfordfireworks.co.uk Funfair and food village, JackFM Soundstage and live music from 4.30pm. Fireworks from 6.45pm and bonfire lit afterwards. Avoid queues by purchasing tickets online from oxfordfireworks.co.uk Profits are donated to vital local charities. Under 5's free. Adult £6. Family of 4 £15 5 Nov Faringdon Annual Charity Fireworks Church Street, SN7 8AE bonfirenighttraditions.co.uk/fireworkdisplays Bonfire, fireworks set to music, funfair, hot food provided by the Scouts, sweets, glow in the dark toys, Morris Dancing with burning torches. Fireworks set off to music, then bonfire and Morris Dancing with burning torches. Stalls, food and refreshments. Free parking. 6.00pm gates open. Fireworks 7.00pm. 12 Nov Wantage Lego Morning Vale and Downland Museum, Wantage, OX12 8BL
wantagelego2.brightevent.com If you know of a child who loves lego check out this free event. Themes include Space and Star Wars. All ages. Pre booking essential online. 9.30-10.30am 13 Nov Alfie White: Space Explorer Cornerstone Arts Centre, Station Road, Didcot, OX11 7NE cornerstone-arts.org It’s 1967 and the space race is on... Alfie White is crazy about space – and his dad is training to be the first man on the moon. A cosmic tale of adventure and discovery for everyone aged five and up, by Tall Stories, the company who brought you last year’s Christmas show, 2:00pm £8/£6. Ages 5+ 14-19 Nov Oliver OPH, 11 Beaumont St, OX1 2LW oxfordplayhouse.com Consider yourself at home as Oxford Operatic Society! Oliver Twist, a young orphan in Victorian England, escapes from his orphanage to a new life in the city. But falling in with pickpocket the Artful Dodger and the manipulative Fagin offers him as much danger as it does freedom. Ages 8+ 19 Nov Song of The Sea The Beacon, Wantage, OX12 9BX beaconwantage.co.uk An Irish youth discovers that his
mute sister is a selkie who must find her voice and free supernatural creatures from the spell of a Celtic goddess (Fionnula Flanagan). Nominate for the Academy Award for Best Animated Film. 1h 34 mins. £3. 11am. 19 Nov Oxfam One World Fair 2016 Town Hall, St Aldates, OX1 1DP oxford.gov.uk/townhall Up to 50 stalls from various groups and organisations including fair trade, human rights & environmental groups with crafts, seasonal gifts, toys, and books. 10am-4.30pm. E: oxfamowf@gmail.com. £1. 20 Nov Hagbourne Christmas Gift & Craft Fair Hagbourne CofE Primary School, E Hagbourne, Didcot, OX11 9LR hagbourne.oxon.sch.uk A craft fair offering a unique range of quality hand-crafted gifts for the whole family. Plus a crafts room for the children. A lovely event to start the Christmas season. Visit Santa and enjoy the refreshments. 11:0015:30 £1. Kids free. 20 Nov & 11 Dec Cushion Concerts Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, St Hilda's College, OX4 1DY jdp.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/events Tom and his trumpet introduce children and families to different instruments and how they make music, feeding curiosity and
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AN OXFORD PLAYHOUSE PANTOMIME
Inspirational ideas for fun days out near you
25 November 2016 to 8 January 2017
Join us for a midnight coach ride through pantoland that’s filled with comedy, music and magic. No matter your age (or shoe size), we guarantee that this year’s panto is a perfect fit!
01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com
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TICKETS FROM £15
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nurturing love of music in these fun and up-close concerts. Take your own cushion! 10am, 11am & 12noon. £5 / £16 (under 1s free). 21 Nov-1 Jan Winter’s Food Store Garden Trail Oxford Botanic Garden, Rose Lane, OX1 4AZ botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk Find out how the garden provides food for animals and birds over the winter. What can be grown in the glasshouses that keeps people happy and well fed over the winter? £5, children FREE. 25-27 Nov Didcot Food Festival at Cornerstone Station Rd, OX11 7LL cornerstone-arts.org Foodies alert! Bake Off star and columnist Christine Wallace has teamed up with Didcot Events and Cornerstone to launch the town's first ever three-day food festival. Chef demo’s and lots more. £5/£3 & under 12’s free. Fri-Sat 10-5pm, 10am-4pm Sun. 25 Nov-8 Jan Cinderella OPH, 11 Beaumont Street, OX1 2LW oxfordplayhouse.com Get ready for a gigantic sprinkle of Playhouse magic this Christmas with Cinderella! There’s only one problem: Cinders’ ugly sisters and wicked step-mum make her scrape and clean all day and it’s beginning to make her feel sad. She needs backup. She needs you! When panto fun and games ensue, it’s the audience who’ll be having a ball! 26 Nov Oxford Independent Xmas Market The Old Fire Station, George Street, OX1 2AQ oldfirestation.org.uk Knock your Christmas socks right off at this year’s Independent Oxford Christmas Gift Market! Find the very best that our wonderful city’s independent businesses have to offer, across two venues, the Old Fire Station and Turl Street Kitchen. The day will also be packed with workshops and a chance to win a bumper hamper of indie goodies. 10am-5pm. E: info@oldfirestation. org.uk. 26 Nov Didcot & Oxon Toy Fair Didcot Civic Hall, Britwell Rd, OX11 7JN The event is staged four times a year and attracts many dealers offering a cross-section of toys, games, figures, models and collectables from the past 100 years. Visitors can take items to sell or to be valued by resident experts. 10am-3pm. £2.50, under 16s free. contact@retroronnie.com
Visit over 40 stall with traditional hand-crafted gifts, seasonal food, entertainment plus the town lights switched on at 6.00pm opened by a special guest. Christmas carols, refreshments and more! 26 Nov Oxford Towpath Taskforce Isis Lock, Off Rewley Road, OX1 2RE Meet other local Volunteers and learn new practical skills, hear about other opportunities or just spend a few hours outdoors improving your local waterway environment. Tasks vary from litter picking, graffiti removal, painting and other improvements. Cycling public transport advised getting there. Isis Lock is a 5-minute walk on the towpath from Hythe Bridge. Free. 07920 247877. 10am-2pm. 3 Dec Christchurch Cathedral Choir St. Aldate's, OX1 1DP chchchoir.org The choir of Christ Church Cathedral perform a Christmas themed concert with music and readings to celebrate the Christmas season with a family concert. 2:30-4:00pm. £16-£45. www.musicatoxford.com 3-4 Dec Cogges Christmas Market Cogges Manor Farm, Witney, OX28 3LA cogges.org.uk Visit Cogges Farm for the Christmas market with over 30 stalls offering hand-made gifts, rural crafts from textiles to wood, festive decor, garlands made to order as well as local food and produce. Meet Santa and take home a present. Music from local choirs. 10.30-4pm / £1. 3 Dec - 7 Jan Snow White and the Brothers Grimm North Wall Arts Centre, South Parade, OX2 7JN thenorthwall.com Enter the magical world of the Brothers Grimm where straw can be spun into gold, the moon can be kidnapped, death can be bargained with and whatever you do, don’t trust your parents. From the director of last year’s raucous Treasure Island and 2014’s freewheeling Wind in the Willows comes another eccentric Christmas treat by Creation, for all the family. £13.50 - £30 plus fee. 4 Dec Wantage Comic Con The Beacon, Wantage, OX12 9BX beaconwantage.co.uk Unite at the town's first comic convention! Calling all Super Hero wannabies whether you’re a super
fan or just looking for a fun day out, the widely known Comic con event’s happening for the first time! 10am4pm. £8/£4 8-18 Dec Oxford Christmas Market Broad St, OX1 3AS oxfordchristmasmarket.co.uk With the sound of choirs singing Christmas carols, market traders offering unusual and handmade gifts, colourful decorations brightening wooden stalls and the aroma of mulled wine and cinnamon drifting in the air - a visit to the Oxford Christmas Market is a truly magical Christmas experience. 8-31 Dec Snowflakes Burton Taylor Studio, Off Beaumont St, OX1 2LW oxfordplayhouse.com Everyone is different. Everyone is perfect. A beautiful story about new beginnings and making friends, set in the land of forests and snow... Mia has come to live with her Grandma, far away from where she was born. Cerrie Burnell is a well-loved CBeebies presenter, author and disabilities campaigner. £8/£6 10 Dec Recycled Christmas Oxford Botanic Garden, Rose Lane, OX1 4AZ botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk Visit the Botanic Garden to make festive decorations from natural and recycled materials. Take some home or add some to the beautiful Christmas tree at the garden. Drop in, for all ages, no need to book. 10.30–12.30pm. £5, children FREE with paying family member. 13-24 Dec Once Upon a Snowflake The Pegasus Theatre Liza has gone missing, and no-one knows where she can be. One thing’s for certain: those mysterious Winter Sprites have something to do with it. Appearing every winter,
these tiny elf-like creatures can be found hiding in pockets, shoes and sock drawers, watching everything and hearing everyone. But how are they connected to Liza’s disappearance? Will they help find her? And what is inside the mysterious Winter Sprite’s strange white suitcase? 50 mins. £9/£6. 3+ 13-23 Dec 30 Christmases The Old Fire Station, George St. OX1 2AQ oldfirestation.org.uk Christmas Eve, eleven years ago, was the last time we saw Dad. Oh, hello, I’m Jonny. This is my sister Rachel. And this is Paddy, who’s… always there.’ Jonny and Rachel haven’t had a good Christmas in years, but this time they’re going to get it right. Join them for a joyful, heartfelt comedy about trying to make Christmas happen – despite everything. For grown-ups. £15/£12. Times vary. 17-22 Dec Christmas Show: The Elves and the Shoemaker Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, St Hilda’s College, OX4 1DY jdp.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk A poor cobbler is down on his luck, but as Christmas draws close, a simple act of kindness inspires some magical elves to offer their services. Their amazing shoes attract customers from far and wide, earning the shoemaker fame and fortune! See more info online. 23 Dec Beauty and the Beast Christmas Pantomime The Beacon, Wantage, OX12 9BX beaconwantage.co.uk Promising to be the funniest and most spectacular pantomime yet, packed with songs, slapstick, silliness, breath taking special effects, audience participation and all the fairy-tale magic of traditional pantomime! Various times.£8.50/£32
26 Nov Xmas Market & Night of 1000 Candles St May Magdalene Church, Woodstock, OX20 1UG wutw.co.uk
November/ December 2016
Oxfordshire Magazine 15
Holiday courses for children aged 7–13 who love to sing. A unique opportunity to learn about and perform a range of classical music with a dedicated team of choral professionals. December 2016 19th & 20th 21st & 22nd 22nd & 23rd
Worcester College, Oxford St Catharine’s College, Cambridge Heath St. Baptist Church, London, NW3 IDN
www.oxbridgesingingschool.co.uk
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