FREE • SOUTH BRISTOL EDITION • ISSUE 28 • MARCH/APRIL 2016
INSIDE Happy Easter The Benefits Of Extended Learning Easter Craft Ideas Easter Recipes HEYMAG.CO.UK
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WELCOME Director Tina Veater 07834 542955 | tina@ignyte-uk.co.uk Editorial Team Tina Veater info@ignyte-uk.co.uk Advertising Team Zoe Jenkins Theresa Saadeh Carmen Goodwin 01761 410141 | info@ignyte-uk.co.uk Graphic Designer Pamela Evans Published by Ignyte Media Ltd Printed by Flying Colours Ltd, Weare, Somerset Business Address: Ignyte Media Ltd, Unit G5, Second Avenue, Westfield Industrial Estate, Radstock, BA3 4BH 01761 410141 info@ignyte-uk.co.uk While every care has been taken to ensure the data contained in the publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Ignyte do not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. Distribution: We deliver to 7,500 families through primary schools and other outlets in Keynsham and South Bristol.
Spring is finally here and we welcome the lighter nights, milder weather and beautiful flowers that brighten our days. HEY! Magazine is 10 years old this year and we are looking forward to bringing you some amazing competition prizes throughout the year to celebrate. Don’t’ miss the competition to win family tickets to Wychwood Festival, a superb event for families. Spring is one of my favourite times of year as it is the start of spending family time together in the garden and enjoying long, relaxing walks over the fields too. Taking a trip along the cycle track is also an activity that we enjoy and I am very much looking forward to feeling the sun on my face as we do this, in the months to come. Easter is also nearly upon us and as it falls early in 2016, many will have the benefit of an extended break. Take a look at our out and about pages to check out places you can visit and things you can do. Our what’s on pages are also bursting with local events for you to enjoy over the Easter holidays. Many families will be discussing the importance of children attending an outside school club or activity. These clubs help to build friendships, confidence and also exercise and knowledge. Take a look at the variety of clubs and activities on offer in this magazine. Easter can be a time of excessive chocolate consumption. Make sure that you limit the amount of chocolate you eat on a daily basis and look after your teeth every evening before bed and every morning too. Many of your friends and family would much rather receive a home made gift, than a chocolate egg. Take a look at our craft page, which is full of Easter gift ideas, which everyone will love! Also, check out our recipe pages where you can also make some beautiful Easter food and offer these as gifts too. I certainly hope the spring sun will shine soon and we can all enjoy more time in the fresh air. Have a wonderful Easter break and enjoy as much time outside as you can.
Tina
The next edition is in May 2016 & is filling fast. Hey Magazine
@hey_tweeter
www.heymag.co.uk
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BENEFITS OF EXTENDED LEARNING F
oreign language classes, sports, clay, tutoring, dance and business skills workshops - how children’s clubs aim to extend children’s education. The learning day has changed: school’s are being encouraged to offer wrap around care and this means the school day can run from 8am-6pm and pupils are encouraged to start the day with a breakfast club and finish with an after-school club. This is great news for working parents - now you can top and tail the day with good quality childcare. Another target of the extended schools programme is to help pupils improve attendance and punctuality by offering breakfast clubs. Mnay schools have been delighted with the success of the breakfast club. Schools offer a healthy breakfast and a ‘wake up and shake up’ mini-exercise circuit in the school hall with music and the children have a fantastic time. Attendance has improved, because the children want to go to the club and then they are on time to start school. Clubs and classes for school-age children are not only after school, but can run at weekends and during holidays. These clubs can encourage children to take part in a new hobby, meet new friends and extend their social network, all great skills for developing and growing each child.
FUN AND FRIENDLY
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Club membership provides an opportunity to participate in new roles. The leadership roles that are available in clubs provide a valuable experience that is not generally available to young people. Other roles, such as being a helper in a service club, a soloist in a music club, or an artist making scenery in a drama club, enable identity exploration. Not only are after-school clubs fun, but they also help boost children’s self-esteem and self-confidence. We want happy, selfconfident children because they are motivated and can achieve more. By offering after-school activities our children get the chance to succeed in a different area, then they can take success and use it to overcome barriers in the subjects they find difficult. Raising the self-esteem of children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, is a central mission of the extended schools programme, as is keeping children safe and healthy. Clubs keep the children busy and active and healthy after school. The children are safe, they are engaged in learning and they are being supervised. The clubs also give peace of mind to parents while saving parents worrying about children going home to an empty house or having to make alternative arrangements. Finally, relationships formed with adult leaders and with peers at the clubs are important. Adults and peers at these organisations can serve as models and as sources of social support, friendship, and caring. Several developmental theories point to the importance of adult mentoring for child and adolescent development. Mentoring relationships are important characteristics of clubs and youth programs. Adolescents who have an after-school relationship with a mentor are far less likely to use drugs or alcohol than adolescents who do not have such relationships. Peer relations might also benefit from participation in clubs. “Hanging out” unsupervised with peers contributes negatively to child and adolescent development. However, participation in supervised constructive activities provides adolescents with opportunities to gain social skills from positive interactions with peers. Contrary to popular belief that the nation’s youngsters are couch potatoes obsessed with television and video games, millions of children are involved in five or more hobbies or interests.
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Are you wondering how your child might benefit by joining a club? This list is simply a starting point, but it certainly gives you 10 reasons to investigate sports and other clubs in your area for your children….
1. GETTING OUT
Many children spend a lot of time in front of the TV or playing computer games. Club’s can give children an opportunity to explore more varied and healthier activities.
2. KEEPING THEM OUT OF TROUBLE
Studies show that after-school, the twilight hours are more risky to children than night-time hours. Participating in an afterschool club reduces the risk of children becoming involved in things that parents would prefer them to avoid.
3. MEETING PEOPLE AND MAKING FRIENDS
Joining a club gives children a comfortable and appropriate place to meet others with similar interests. This environment can form the basis for lifelong friendships.
6. DEVELOPING INDEPENDENCE
By participating in clubs, young children learn to exist and thrive ‘outside of their family’. Older children learn skills and values that will carry them through to their adult lives.
7. LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY Children have the opportunity to make their own decisions – they learn to lead, follow and carry their portion of responsibility.
8. CIVIC MINDEDNESS AND VALUES
Some organisations exist as service organisations. Others participate in community service as part of a larger scope of activities. Either way, children can get the chance to learn to look beyond themselves and experience how they can make a difference.
4. LEARNING NEW SKILLS
9. IMPROVING SELECTION PROSPECTS
5. LEARN TEAMWORKING
10. PLAIN OLD FASHIONED FUN
Children who participate in a variety of activities are introduced to new skills and are given a chance to develop them. As children realise they “can do” these things then their self-confidence grows. Many activities require children to work together towards achieving a common goal. Whether they are trying to win a game or complete a community service project, children learn to work as a team.
In addition to solid academies, employers and further education establishments like to see well-rounded applicants. Club participation demonstrated over a period of time will help to enhance any application. Playing a game, camping, singing -- whatever the focus, children participate because they enjoy the activities, and sometimes fun is as good a reason as any other to join a club.
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CHILDHOOD. RISKY BUSINESS? T
hrough the rose-tinted spectacles that come with a certain age, it can be tempting to look back on bygone school holidays and weekends as endless hours away from home, exploring the world like the characters of an Enid Blyton novel. Such thoughts are not mere nostalgia. It’s undoubtedly true that we once afforded our children a great deal more freedom than we do now. These days, we’re more alert than ever before to the dangers facing our children in everyday life. But in responding to this reality, have we gone a step too far in cosseting our youngsters? Kids don’t, as a rule, play outside to anything like the degree they once did. It’s true that the rise in the popularity of video games has played its part in the creation of a new way of life for children, largely spent indoors, but parental concerns are surely the dominant factor here. As parents, we often try to bubble-wrap our children in an effort to protect them from the bumps and bruises of life. Yet risks both large and small are impossible to avoid. Risk taking is essential for development, and a growing body of research suggests that overprotecting children can lead to difficulties later on when it comes to managing risk and dealing with challenges. Allowing children to take risks is, of course, not the same as compromising or endangering their welfare. The point is to encourage opportunities that let your children rise to challenges and stretch themselves in ways that may seem a little scary, but offer life-enhancing rewards in the end. Children are incredibly adaptable and even if you’ve been highly risk adverse in the past, there’s always an opportunity to help your child challenge themself and try something new. The jury is still out on whether fostering healthy risk taking in young children will prevent unhealthy risk taking in the ‘tween’ and teenage years, but it seems logical that children who in general take better risks will tend to have an easier time in adolescence. And remember that it is never too late to step out of our own comfort zones, even if that means we, as parents, need to risk a little by letting go.
Here are five pointers on helping you and your child get outside, manage risk and enjoy the wider world. 1. KNOW YOUR CHILD If your child is a natural risk taker, your role might be to rein them in and help them weigh consequences without discouraging them. If your child is risk averse, you might need to offer extra encouragement or set up situations that encouarage those boundaries to be pushed. 2. KNOW YOURSELF Take some time for self-reflection on your own risk-taking bent. Either way, you’re likely to pass your attitudes on to your children. 3. KNOW YOUR FIT Once you’ve discerned your child’s risk-taking preferences as well as your own, see how you compare. If you are a risk taker and your child is not, you are likely to feel some disappointment or frustration over your child’s approach to situations. If you are risk averse but your child lives on the edge, you might tend toward unfounded worry. Having a clear understanding of how you interact will help you better handle risky situations in the future. 4. DON’T OVERREACT If your child climbs to the top of the climbing frame, do you audibly gasp and immediately tell him or her to be careful or come down? If so, you are likely passing your anxiety onto your child. Conversely, if you heap praise on them for the smallest achievements, they won’t be left to enjoy their own sense of harder-earned accomplishments. Overreacting positively or negatively to your child’s actions can influence their future risk-taking behaviors. 5. WEIGH RISKS Our first instinct as parents is to protect our children, but when facing risk, it’s important to consider its potential payoff versus its real danger. What is the true probability that something bad will happen? The worst possible outcome of letting your child walk to school or a friend’s house would be abduction, but what are the chances this will occur? Conversely, the top two causes of death among children are traffic accidents and drowning, yet few of us would think it was reasonable to keep our children out of cars or swimming pools. If the drawbacks of an activity outweigh its benefits, you may decide it’s not worth it – and then you’ve got an obligation to step in. But if the worst thing that can happen is a skinned knee, it could well be time to ease up.
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DON’T LOSE THE KIDS K
eeping track of children at a crowded venue is a roller coaster ride and the bigger the crowds, the more loopy you’re bound to get. A parent’s biggest fear? Losing a little one in the melee. You’ll be able to breathe easy and enjoy the day if you set up family guidelines and what-if plans in advance of your trip. The age and maturity of your children will influence the amount of freedom you give them. Here are a few of her tips for keeping the family together in the bustle of crowds.
DRESS IN BRIGHT COLOURS
Neon green. Notice-me yellow. Fluorescent blue that screams, “I’m here!” Dress your kids to stand out from the crowd, instead of in typical character tees or sports jerseys. And hey, Mum and Dad: Not a bad idea to wear bright colours too.
MAKE A GAME OF IT
It’s hard for younger kids to stay with their parents when you’re someplace fabulous and there is so much to see. Telling them to ‘hold hands’ and ‘stay near’ is boring, so try turning it into a game and challenge your child to only be three giant steps away from you at all times. Or, if you have more than one child, empower one with the task of doing a head count every 15 minutes.
COACH KIDS ON AN ACTION PLAN
Discuss what to do with your child if he or she does happen to get lost in the crowd. This should include telling them to stay where they are — and never to go back to the car park to wait at the car. Instead, encourage them to “freeze and yell their parents’ names or if that doesn’t work, coach them to find another mum with a child. Statistically, that’s the safest stranger and is low risk.
TAKE A FAMILY PHOTO BEFORE YOU GO Rally everyone together once you’re all dressed and ready to leave home. Get the children to pose and make it fun. But the secret behind it is that, if you do lose them, you won’t get stuck trying to explain what they look like and what they’re wearing. You’ll have it all right there on your mobile.
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TEN TIPS FOR THE PERFECT FAMILY DAY TRIP I
t’s Spring! School is out and already the children are bored. Perhaps your ‘big’ holiday is already done and dusted, or is some way off. Either way, it’s time to think about a family day trip. And whether your trip is to a local beauty spot for a picnic or somewhere further afield, be sure to prepare thoroughly for the perfect day out.
PLAN YOUR DAY
Allowing bags of time. The greatest thing you can take – whether sightseeing or getting from A to B – is extra time. Young children love to explore and don’t care for the time pressures of travel, so you’re more likely to all retain your cool if you factor the faffing, toilet stops and, dare we say it, tantrums into your timeframe. HorseWorld Trust
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BOOK/RESEARCH AHEAD If you’re going to a special event, place or restaurant, it pays to book ahead, or check opening hours if this is more relevant. If you arrive at your destination to find you can’t get a seat, need to wait an hour for lunch, the museum is closed on Mondays, or whatever, then tempers will soon flare. And there’s nothing more demoralising than having to hit the road again with tired, hungry children melting down in the backseat. So, where you can, do your homework before you leave home…
BAG OF ESSENTIALS
For going anywhere, even on a very short trip, keep a small bag containing all your essential ‘bits’ - a couple of wipes, tissues, some kitchen towel, sun cream, anti-septic cream, plasters and any prescription medicines/inhalers etc.
INVOLVE THE KIDS
When you’re planning your trip, encourage your children to find out about where you’re going. Let everyone choose one activity, if that is viable, so it’s truly a family trip that involves everyone.
DOCUMENT YOUR TRIP
Hang on to bits and pieces from the day as keepsakes: tickets, brochures, a couple of postcards, etc. Your children can then make create a way to remember their day when they get home – and share their experience at Show & Tell at school or nursery.
LET THE KIDS TAKE SOME PHOTOS
If you have a suitable device or camera, or the kids have their own device, encourage them to take some pictures. It’s another way to get the kids more fully involved with the day, and allows them to record the trip from their perspective, which will be very different from yours!
GET ALL YOUR DUCKS (AND DUCKLINGS) IN A ROW
If you’re going on holiday with another family, make sure you discuss the basics before you go - for example what everyone wants to do, whether you’ll all stick together each day or whether you’ll spend time doing things apart, what you’ll do for meals…
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CONSIDER NEEDS OF TODDLERS AND VERY YOUNG CHILDREN
For young children, even if they are generally good walkers, it’s often a good idea to still take a buggy. It’s always useful for carrying your bags and is good if they need a rest or get tired in a restaurant.
TAKE SOME ACTIVITY STUFF
Whether it’s to cover a long wait in a café for food, or you’re trapped in a delayed train, you never know when you might need to suddenly occupy the kids. So take paper pads and crayons. A must-have for any urban trip!
TAKE HEALTHY SNACKS AND WATER
Similarly, you need to be prepared for any delays to normal mealtimes, so take plenty of healthy (ish) snacks like breadsticks, carrot sticks, grapes, raisins etc. Filling up on sweets and chocolate could mean kids are more likely to get travel sick, or get a sugar rush at an inopportune time.
H ES 20 IC R PR FO D
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! d l o s r a e y 0 1 is e in z maga
To celebrate we will be bringing you a series of amazing prizes to be won!
WIN!
Next issue... Win tickets to CAMP BESTIVAL!
Family weekend camping ticket to Wychwood Festival worth over ÂŁ350!
Over 100 bands on 4 stages, over 100 workshops for all ages, Kids Literature Festival, Comedy, Real Ale Festival, Great Food, Idyllic Camping Beneath the Prestbury Hills and much, much more!
To enter the competition simply visit www.heymag.co.uk and tell us where the Wychwood Festival is?
RECIPES
Visit our website at www.heymag.co.uk to find out how to make these Easter food ideas
Bunny breakfast
Hot cross buns
Rice Krispie Easter baskets
Marshmallow lambs
Easter salad
Fruit flowers
CHILDHOOD FRIENDSHIPS A
child’s world gets much bigger when they start school. Relationships with other people, and particularly the children in their class at school, become more important as a child explores the world with all its social complexities. Friendships are good for your school-age child’s self-esteem. When your child has good friends, he or she is likely to feel a sense of belonging and security. Friends are people your child can have fun with, and share interests with. Friendships mean your child will feel cared about, and this, in turn, helps a child feel good about themselves. When children make friends, they are developing important lifelong skills. These include getting along with other people, being independent and learning how to sort out conflicts and problems. These skills are important for your child to learn because children who get along with others are less likely to have social and emotional difficulties later in life.
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S FRIENDSHIPS Many children are more than capable of striking up friendships in the school playground, but there is much you can do to ease this process or help consolidate existing friendship bonds. If your child finds it easy to make friends and gets on well with them, then arrange playdates and sleepovers by talking to other parents. If your child finds it hard to make friends, then you’ll need to be more proactive. You could look for extracurricular activities or clubs – for example, sports, dance or art classes – to give your child opportunities to meet children with similar interests. Shier children are likely to find it much easier to make connections with others if there is an obvious area of common ground. Some schools have a buddy system, where the younger students have an older student as their buddy for the year. You could try asking your child’s older buddy for help in introducing your child to others, particularly if they have moved to a new school. Many schools have other great ways of helping children find someone to play with, so it’s worth asking your child’s teacher if you think your child needs some extra support. Having friends who don’t go to the same school can be valuable too, for example, making friends with neighbours or with extended family members can all help to boost your child’s confidence. This will especially be the case if they are having friendship troubles at school.
FRIENDSHIP TROUBLES If your child isn’t happy about going to school, or seems to be anxious in some way, this could be because they are having trouble making – or keeping – friends. Talking with your child is crucial. Talking gives you a chance to ask him or her what is going on and listen to what she or he has to say. Some children will be happy to tell a carer what is happening, others might find it hard and patience will be needed to get to the bottom of the issue. Perhaps you could encourage your child to share their worries by telling them about a friendship trouble you had as a child. The point is to underline that it is normal for even close friendships to go through tensions. If your child isn’t ready to talk, let them know that they can always come to you. It can also be useful to talk with your child’s teacher about whether the teacher has noticed anything different in class or in the playground. If you suspect your child is being bullied, or perhaps bullying others, you need to step in and help your child.
FAMILY FIRST Young children enjoy playing with their friends, but they still need their parents or carers. In fact, during the early school years, home life and family relationships are still the biggest influence on your child’s development. Good family relationships are just what your child needs to learn and grow, and weather the ups and downs of making, and sometimes, losing friends.
Craft Corner
Visit our website at www.heymag.co.uk for full instructions on how to make these crafts
Easter bunny eggs Balloon chicks Cupcake case flowers Eggbox ladybird
Bunny bunting
Bunny mask
Easter lamb
Suzie’s Diary Dear Diary, After twelve years of living in our current abode we are finally on the move! We’ve been mulling a move for yonks but couldn’t face the upheaval. With Poppy now age four though, she’s outgrowing her titchy cot room that is more cupboard than bedroom. Scarlett is filled with horror at any prospect of her little sister moving in with her, and we’re all feeling that a change could be good. So, although I love our house and our street, some extra space would be a huge relief. Things have moved fast. We’ve already had offers on our home and have had an offer accepted on a lovely house a stone’s throw away. The kids are all hugely excited and Scarlett in particular is now in overdrive with planning how her new bedroom might look. I’m trying to point out that she won’t have acres of space for her growing fashion collection. She just looks at me like I’ve grown five extra heads. Hubby is really excited too and is planning what furniture would go where, constantly measuring our beds, tables and chairs to map out what’ll fit in the new place. As for me, I can’t bear to think that far ahead. Until everyone has signed on the dotted line, I worry that something, somewhere will go wrong. A mortgage application turned down. A terrible, hitherto unknown problem revealed by the solicitors. A vital document that goes awry (that’s what happened last time we moved, causing no end of fuss and faff). Perhaps this means I’m a pessimist? Who knows? I’m not counting my Easter chickens before they’ve hatched!
Suzie xx
What’s
March 25 - 28
Cadbury Easter Egg trail at Stourhead Enjoy a new Easter trail around the garden, play giant games and of course there’ll be Cadbury chocolate eggs! 11am - 4pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead/
March 25 - May 7
Mama Mia at The Bristol Hippodrome Join the ultimate feel-good party at Mamma Mia! The world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical. Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol, BS1 4UZ. www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome/
Open March 25
Easter Trail and Crafts at Farringtons (weather permitting) Easter Trail through the Farm Park plus indoor crafts in the Playbarn throughout the holidays. 10am – 5pm every day. Closed Easter Sunday. For more information visit www.farringtons.co.uk/events
March 25 - April 10
Easter at Hestercombe Enjoy the gardens in spring…Look out for golden daffodils and drifts of snow-white blossom as spring’s flowers paint the gardens back to life. Follow our trail…Discover the blooming gardens as you follow our Easter trail and collect a yummy chocolate treat at the end. Get creative… When you finish the trail, you’ll get you own egg to decorate – colour it with bright blues, pretty pinks and garden greens. Sow a sunflower…Get green-fingered in the Courtyard and plant a sunflower to take home with you – how tall will it grow? Trail: £1 per child. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Hestercombe Gardens. www.hestercombe.com
March 25 - 30
Aquarium Eggstravaganza Discover what has recently hatched at Bristol Aquarium. Spring time means lots of baby sharks, dab, sole and many more little fish appearing! Go on an egg hunt and find out about creatures that lay thousands of eggs. Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Rd, Bristol.
March 25 - 28
Noah’s Easter Eggstravaganza Hunt down Noah’s missing Easter eggs that are hidden with the animals. Track them down and win a chocolately prize! Enjoy making some Easter themed arts and crafts. Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm,Wraxall North Somerset.
n Easter
March 25 - 28
Easter Trail Bowood House & Gardens Visit Bowood House and Gardens this Easter to take part in an Easter Trail through the beautiful grounds, ending the trail with plenty of colouring in! Show your completed activity sheet to win a prize! Enjoy Bowood’s famous adventure playground and meet the new arrivals at Tractor Ted’s Little Farm. Face painting also available! No extra charge to Bowood House and Gardens: normal admission. Bowood House & Gardens, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 0LZ United Kingdom.
March 25
Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt at Prior Park Gardens The Easter Bunny has been to Prior Park and left a stash of chocolate eggs. Follow the hunt through the garden to unlock the clues to his secret stash, and earn yourself a delicious prize. Booking not needed. Admission applies. 10:00am - 3:30pm. Ralph Allen Drive, Bath.
March 25 - 28
“Egg-citing” Easter extravaganza at Haynes International Motor Museum Hundreds of Easter treats to give away. There will be two hunts per day at 11:00am and 3:00pm, the eggs will be hidden by the Easter Bunny in Haynes Motorland (children’s play area) giving each little one the chance to “eggshaust” themselves finding lots of Easter treats. Once the hunt has finished there will be an opportunity for children to have their photos taken with the Easter Bunny.
March 25 - April 10
Easter Fairy-tale Kingdom at Wookey Hole Caves Visit the new fairy-tale grotto as well as the new caves and tunnels. A Easter treat for every child.
March 25 - April 10
Enchanted Easter at Wild Place Project Blackhorse Hill, Bristol, BS10 7TP. Enjoy the fairy door trail, fairy mud collage, magical storytelling and much, much more.
April 1
Jesters and Fools family fun day at the Bishops Palace, Wells It’s April Fools Day, get crafting in the Stable Yard Room and then follow the trail around the gardens and Palace.
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March 23
Volunteering Fair at The Park Centre, Kingswood Drop in and see us to find your perfect local volunteering opportunity. Roles start from just a couple of hours a week, so you can fit it around the rest of your commitments. As well as helping others, volunteering can help you to: Enhance your CV, skills and job opportunities. Meet new people, make new friends and improve social skills. Improve your mood and wellbeing. 1.303.30pm. The Park Centre, Kingswood.
March 25 - April 10
Hop to it this Easter at Bristol Zoo Enjoy lots of egg-tra activities with child entry at only £5 with a full paying adult.
March 26 - April 2
Much Ado About Puffin Recommended for ages 4+ and their families. Join Open Attic as they traverse stormy seas and reckless tides to bring you this funny tale about a man all alone, a friendly puffin, and a whole lot of fuss over nothing. Using skilful puppetry, beautiful music, and good old fashioned storytelling, Much Ado About Puffin is about old habits, new friendships, and stepping out into the unknown! The Wardrobe Theatre, Old Market , Bristol, BS2 0DF.
April 2
Kingswood Heritage Museum New Season Opening The Museum opens its doors for the 2016 season on Saturday 2nd April. Please note: Kingswood Heritage Museum and the Grotto will not be open during the Easter Bank Holiday 2016.
April 6
Toys and Games Activity Day at Blaise Castle School’s out and it’s time to play! Explore our collections of old toys and games, from tin soldiers to dolls houses, train sets to model farm animals. Mum and Dad will get a blast from the past with some of our board games while you have a go at making your own Victorian game to take home. 10.30-4pm. Blaise Castle House Museum, Bristol.
April 8
Easter Crafts with Rapunzel! Hop along with the kids to the Playbarn this Easter. Children’s favourite Rapunzel will be making some fun Easter crafts. 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Plus play for up to 2hrs in the Playbarn. For more information contact playbarn@farringtons.co.uk or call 01761 452266 (Opt 3).
Mid April - Mid May
Pick Your Own Tulips at Farringtons Farm From 10am every day. Tiptoe through our field of PYO Tulips. Over 50,000 beautiful blooms. Supporting 40 years of Dorothy House. For more information visit www.farringtons.co.uk/events/
April 23
Spring Handmade Craft Fair The event is a handmade craft event. There will be a tombola at the event for charity, light refreshments available. Open 1pm - 4pm. Longwell Green Community Centre, Shellards Road, Longwell Green.
April 30
HorseWorld Charity Open Day - Adopt an Animal Day This a day that is open to everyone including children and disabled (There is just one walking tour that is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggys but everything else is easily accessible). You will be able to meet many of the rescued horses that are now fit and healthy. Many are now helping children and young people by working on our Discovery Courses.There will be teas, coffees, cakes and HorseWorld merchandise available. Entry is free! Please consider popping a donation in one of the buckets towards our ongoing rescue work. Delmar Hall, Keynes Farm, Staunton Lane, Whitchurch.
May 2
Singalong with The Little Mermaid! At Farringtons Meet Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid at the Playbarn. Have your photo taken & sing along with Ariel to the hit songs from Disney’s magical musical movie! Plus play for up to 2 hours in the Playbarn. 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. For more information contact playbarn@farringtons.co.uk or call 01761 452266 (Opt 3).
May 14 - 15
Paddington Family Fun Weekend Come and see Paddington™ at intervals throughout the weekend. Plus family activities. Please note there is no parking at Bitton Station. Event signage will direct you there. A free vintage shuttle bus will operate between Fry’s and Bitton Station throughout the day. Avon Valley Railway, Bitton. www.avonvalleyrailway.org/events.
If you are organising an event you would like included in our What’s On pages
send the details to zoe@ignyte-uk.co.uk
18 | HEYMAG.CO.UK
ALL ABOUT EASTER I
t’s a fact that for many of us Easter is first and foremost about chocolate. Confectionary eggs and bunnies of every size and colour festoon the shops, while children delight in gathering in as many chocolates as they can from family members. According to some sources, over 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made each year. But dig beneath the focus on sweets and chocolate and there is a wealth of fascinating stories, customs, traditions and science (namely astronomy!) that together explain why we celebrate Easter.
RELIGION
Easter is Christianity’s most important holiday and celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead three days after he was executed. The Easter story is at the heart of Christianity. After Jesus was crucified on the Friday (now known as Good Friday), his body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a cave tomb. The tomb was guarded by Roman Soldiers and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one could steal the body. On the Sunday, Mary Magdalene, followed later by some of Jesus’ disciples visited the tomb and found that the stone had been moved, and that Jesus’ body had gone. Jesus himself was seen that day by Mary and the disciples, and for forty days afterwards by many people. His followers realised that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Christians came to call this the Resurrection. Easter is really an entire season of the Christian church year, as opposed to a single-day observance. Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter Sunday, is a time of reflection and penance and represents the 40 days that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness before starting his ministry, a time in which Christians believe he survived various temptations by the devil. The day before Lent, known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, is a last hurrah of food and fun before the fasting begins. The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week and includes Maundy Thursday, which commemorates Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. The 50-day period following Easter Sunday is called Eastertide and includes a celebration of Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Easter has been called a moveable feast because it doesn’t fall on a set date every year, as most holidays do. Instead, Christian churches in the West celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox (more info on this in the box below). Therefore, Easter is observed anywhere between March 22 and April 25 every year. Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to calculate when Easter will occur and typically celebrate the holiday a week or two after the Western churches, which follow the Gregorian calendar. Confused about different calendar types? See the box!
PAGAN ROOTS
The exact origins of the Easter bunny are clouded in mystery but one thing is certain – he is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. One theory is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from pagan tradition, specifically the festival of Eostre—a goddess of fertility
whose animal symbol was a bunny. Rabbits, known for their energetic breeding, have traditionally symbolized fertility. But the bunny is not the only animal to have an association with Easter and collecting eggs. In Switzerland, Easter eggs are delivered by a cuckoo, and by a fox in parts of Germany.
THE NAME
Similarly, the exact origins of this religious feast day’s name are unknown. Some sources claim the word Easter is derived from Eostre, as mentioned above – a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. Other accounts trace Easter to the Latin term hebdomada alba, or white week, an ancient reference to Easter week and the white clothing donned by people who were baptised during that time. Through a translation error, the term later appeared as esostarum in Old High German, which eventually became Easter in English. In Spanish, Easter is known as Pascua; in French, Paques. These words are derived from the Greek and Latin Pascha or Pasch, for Passover. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection occurred after he went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew), the Jewish festival commemorating the ancient Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. Pascha eventually came to mean Easter.
THE INDUSTRY
In addition to Easter’s religious and cultural significance, it also has a thriving commercial side, as evidenced by the mounds of chocolate eggs and rabbits that appear in our shops each year. The most popular chocolate egg worldwide is Cadbury’s Creme Egg, they first went on sale in 1971. The Bourneville factory can make 1.5 million Creme Eggs every day, 500 million are made each year with one third being exported overseas.
EQUINOX
An equinox is an astronomical event in which the plane of earth’s equator passes through the centre of the sun (in other words, the sun is exactly above the equator), which occurs twice each year, around 20 March and 23 September. On an equinox, day and night are of approximately equal duration all over the planet. The March equinox marks the moment when the Northern Hemisphere starts to tilt toward the sun, which means longer, sunnier days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox is called the vernal equinox because it signals the beginning of spring (vernal means fresh or new like the spring). The September equinox is called the autumn equinox because it marks the first day of autumn.
CALENDARS
The Gregorian Calendar, also known as the Western or Christian Calendar, is the most widely used calendar in the world today. Its predecessor, the Julian Calendar was replaced because it did not properly reflect the actual time it takes the earth to circle once around the sun, known as a tropical year.
HEYMAG.CO.UK | 19
GIVE A FESTIVAL A GO O
n the face of it, attending a festival may seem a big family no-no. The crowds, the noise, the mud; just the thought of it all maybe too much. But think again. The number of families going to festivals is up and festival organisers are keen to woo you. From play tents with face painters and childrens entertainments to child minding services, most festivals have it all. Some festivals are even primarily aimed at the family market and will put on a show that your child will never forget. Whether it’s a community festival, or a major event, you could find that it is the best way to spend a summers weekend. Just be prepared!
1. Team up with other families: Persuade other friends to come along with you too. The more people to have fun with and keep an eye on the kids. 2. Stay clean by stocking up on baby wipes and hand gels. 3. Go with the flow as routine will be put to one side. It’s a chance to do things differently and let your hair down 4. Clothes for all seasons are a good idea as you can never be sure of the weather. 5. Food and water can be expensive, so make sure you take easy to carry snacks like cereal bars and fruit. Carry a water bottle as there are normally plenty of filling stations
The 12th Annual
3rd - 5th June 2016, Cheltenham Racecourse Nominated ‘Best Family Festival’ Every Year
First Band Announcements:
The Waterboys Bill Bailey Idlewild
Peter Hook & The Light Kate Rusby Craig Charles From the Jam Justin Fletcher, Cbeebies Superstar Matt Berry & The Maypoles Keston Cobblers Club Thrill Collins Haelos Ms Dynamite Folk On Hunter & The Bear and many more! 100 artists on 4 stages, 100 workshops for all ages, plus comedy, kids literature festival, Real Ale festival, The Headphone Disco, idyllic camping beneath the Prestbury Hills plus loads more! Under 5s & Parking Free.
WWW.WYCHWOODFESTIVAL.COM
20 | HEYMAG.CO.UK
BAD MOOD BANISHERS W
e all have days when everything seems to go wrong – you run out of milk, get a parking ticket and lose your keys. Here’s how to shake off those grumps.
EAT EVERY FEW HOURS
Feel hangry? (AKA hungry and angry) Keep hunger at bay by eating the right foods every three to four hours. Look out for whole grains, fruit, vegetables and lean meats which rate low on the glycaemic index to keep your blood sugar level steady for longer.
DANCE LIKE NOBODY’S WATCHING
A five-minute dance to your favourite song, and in the comfort of your home, can instantly perk you up, plus exercise creates a rush of feel-good endorphins. Try it and be surprised how much better you feel.
SMILE Wellsway School - Chandag Road - Keynsham
Tel: 01179 161034
Get started with no joining fees
Turn that frown upside down – it tricks your body into feeling better. Smiling slows your heart rate, which in turn reduces the blood pumping through your body and lowers your feelings of stress.
FIND A SPOT BESIDE A SUNNY WINDOW Soaking up the sun releases serotonin (known as the happy hormone for its ability to lift moods) and you can still reap the benefits when there’s a window-pane between you.
WRITE LISTS
Write a list of all the things you’re grateful for in life – e.g. your health, your kids and something fun you’re doing this week. Next, write a negative list. Include things that are making you feel grumpy, like getting stuck in a traffic jam or being late for work. Read both lists carefully. You’ll find most of the problems on the negative list are actually small and insignificant. Compare it to the gratitude list, which is full of very important big things.
BREATHE DEEPLY
“Exercise makes You feel good”
Public Opening Times Mon-Fri: (Term Time) 6.30-8.30am & 4-10pm Sat: Sun: 8am-6pm 8am-8pm Mon-Fri (School Holidays) 6.30am-10pm
For five minutes, focus on breathing out for five seconds and breathing in for five seconds. When your mind starts to wander, keep pulling your mind back to your breathing. Doing it for five minutes will clear the mind and transform a grumpy mood.
CHALLENGE THE GRUMPY THOUGHTS
Is your bad mood caused by something superficial or something deeper? For example, is it because you didn’t manage to get a lunch break or is it because you dislike your job? Challenge it by asking yourself whether you really do hate your job or if you’re simply having a bad day. Research shows that a person can have 50,000 thoughts a day, so if you’re having negative thoughts, let it go – a more positive thought will be along soon.
HEYMAG.CO.UK | 21
News and Reviews LATEST SCHOOL NEWS
EVENTS
DIARY DATES
YOUR SUCCESSES
TAYLOR WIMPEY DONATION BOOSTS KEYNSHAM YOUTH CHARITY A youth charity in Keynsham is planning an inspiring outdoor activity trip for some of its youngsters following a donation from Taylor Wimpey Bristol. The leading local housebuilder, which is currently building high-quality homes at Somerdale, its new development on the outskirts of the town, donated £250 to One Community Trust, a charity that provides activities for young people. Robin Moss, Community Development Officer for One Community Trust, says: “We’re looking to run more outwardbound schemes – pursuits like caving, climbing and kayaking, for example – and we’d like to use this money to help organise a trip to the Mendip Hills, a range of limestone hills and caves just south of Bath. “We have a group of eight young people who regularly use the centre, some of whom are at risk of criminal and anti-social behaviour. We think that the young lads, who tend to come from families who don’t have much income and couldn’t arrange a trip like this themselves, could really benefit from this.
“Trips like these are very useful for things like team building – and it’s good for the youngsters to get out of the city, do some exercise and get some fresh air. It’s about showing them that there is another way of enjoying yourself rather than getting into trouble. Some local PCSOs (police community support officers) who work with us and the youngsters think it’s a great idea and we’re looking forward to it.” The charity, which was set up in February 2015, is based behind St John’s Parish Church in Keynsham, where it runs a youth and community centre from a converted old vicarage that was deemed surplus to requirements by the Church of England. Charlie Joseph, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey Bristol, says: “As a considerate, responsible local housebuilder we are committed to supporting the communities in which we build, so we were more than happy to make this donation to One Community Trust. “We hope the group enjoys a great outdoor experience and we wish the charity, which is doing very important work for young people in the Keynsham area, every success for the future.”
You could be reading YOUR advert. 01761 410141 or email
info@ignyte-uk.co.uk
HABERDASHERY HANHAM HIGH ST
SEWING ACCESSORIES KNITTING ACCESSORIES BEGINNER CROCHET WORKSHOPS BEGINNER SEWING WORKSHOPS 61b High Street, Hanham, Bristol BS15 3DG Tel: 0117 967 7214 Email: soandsew@yahoo.co.uk www.soandsewaccessories.com
22 | HEYMAG.CO.UK
GRAFFITI ARTWORK These fantastic photos show the amazing graffiti work sprayed on the walls at Whitchurch Primary School during the school holiday! The children arrived back to school after the February half term to be ‘wowed’ by the bright and striking designs! Well done to the children for inspiring them (and a few parents) and a huge well done and thank you to Mr Gough, or ‘Turoe One’ for painting them. Mr. Gough kindly worked all weekend and the results are incredible! For more of his work, please visit http://www. bristolgraffitiartist.co.uk/ where you can even commission yourself a piece! Finally, none of this would have been possible without funding from the PTA, who kindly covered the cost of the work, all helping to make Whitchurch Primary School an even better place to be!
HEYMAG.CO.UK | 23
WOW
EMAIL US YOUR WOW! PHOTOS AND DETAILS TO INFO@IGNYTE-UK.CO.UK
WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT Elliott aged 8 has been busy gaining awards including football, Race for Life, Maths and many others! Fab!
Sam aged 6 won a trophy for Football. Excellent skills Sam!
Isla aged 5 achieved ASA Stage 2 swimming award. Congratulations!
Gracie aged 9 obtained two Gymnastics awards for level 4 vault and level 5 proficiency. Fantastic!
Amelie Miller aged 8 has been awarded a certificate for Netball. Good Job!
Esmai aged 5 was awarded level 8 proficiency in gymnastics. Fabulous!
Garesmitha aged 7 was awarded for swimming 5m backstroke and obtained her ballet proficiency award. Well done!
Todd aged 7 was awarded for dancing, singing and drama. Congratulations!
Cameron aged 8 achieved two swimming awards for 200m and 400m. Great job!
Jaden aged 4 came first in a skiing race and was awarded a medal and a certificate. Good news!
Lucy aged 9 achieved her purple belt in Karate and the Beam level 2 in Gymnastics. Go Lucy!
Elise aged 9 gained awards in both Skiing and in Trampolining. Great work!
Brandon aged 10 was awarded for his improved attitude onwards learning. Well done!
Finley aged 10 was awarded the most improved writer trophy. Congratulations!
Congratulations to Henry who was awarded the school’s first Headteacher’s award for being a model pupil at High Littleton Church of England Primary School.
Individual care for individual people
Can you make a difference? • Are you looking for a new and rewarding challenge for 2016? • Able to work alternate weekends? • Do you have motorised transport? • Earn an hourly rate starting at £9.15 per hr? If you can answer “YES” to all of the above then we’d love to hear from you! Come join our team of dedicated staff supporting some of the community’s most vulnerable. No experience is necessary as we provide a full and comprehensive training programme, delivered by our in-house training department, along with continued support and guidance in the role. We are looking for friendly and caring individuals who have a strong work ethic to provide consistency of service delivery to vulnerable adults. You will be required to hold a full UK driving licence and access to motorised transport Pay rates starting at £9.15, travel time paid at £9 per hr and mileage at 40p per mile. For more information or an application pack please call 01225 789161 or apply online
www.wayaheadcare.co.uk All positions are subject to an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check. Way Ahead Care is an equal opportunities employer