may/june’16 issue70

The useful magazine for families with young

children in York, Harrogate, Tadcaster,

Wetherby and Selby

BRACKENFIELD SCHOOLHarrogate’s only

stand-alone Preparatory School for

2-11 yr olds.

OPEN MORNINGSFriday 20th May Friday 7th October • Saturday 8th October

10.00am to 11.30am

✓High academic standards✓Traditional Values ✓Warm family atmosphere

128 Duchy Road, Harrogate HG1 2HE

Please contact us for further information or a tour of the schoolT: 01423 508558 • www.brackenfieldschool.co.uk

Currently reserving our final places for Nursery and Reception 2016.

Project1_Layout 1 20/04/2015 15:50 Page 1

A strange thing has been happening in my neighbourhood and I’m sure it has been in yours too. Friends have been seen looking at their wrists intensely and pacing around a lot – sometimes round the block, sometimes on the spot. It turns out they’re counting steps and it’s all becoming very competitive.Hating to be left behind in both distance covered and in owning any fancy new gadget, I’ve now purchased a wristband to see whether I can shift my activity level one notch up from sluggish to functional and maybe one day – active?

I received plenty of advice – most of it positive. But one or two people reckoned it was just a gimmick and all I need is a bit of self-discipline. It’s funny though; I can feel myself wanting to hit my step target each day – just having that goal and a group of other people reaching theirs is spurring me on to do better. Which is surely no bad thing?

Right – I have another 3,000 steps to do before I can finish for the day - I’d better go and pace around the kitchen!

Editor of Families VOY

welcometo families

2 Families Vale of York

Families Vale of York 3

families magazine Tel: 01405 860831 editor@familiesvoy.co.uk www.familiesvoy.co.uk

Circulation: 18,000

Deadline: The deadline for the July/Aug 2016 edition is early June 2016

Designed by: MOOIdesign Tel: 01405 869045

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Families Vale of York 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, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Vale of York are fully protected by copyright and none 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 nor for any consequence.

issuep6 childcare

p10 books

p12 partiesp8

clubs & classes

p18 parenting

p21 what’s on

in this

p4 news

4 Families Vale of York

New Makeamajigs classes in HarrogateFrom the same creative brain as local pre-school music group Singamajigs, new craft class Makeamajigs is guaranteed to help your child to nurture their creativity through art.Class leader Karen Allen has just celebrated 10 years of success w i t h Singamajigs and is looking forward to bringing her new art classes to children in Harrogate. “I love to help children express their own ideas, explore with paint, and experiment through sticking and cutting,” says Karen. “Art develops physical skills, engages children’s senses and supports cognitive, social and multisensory skills.”Sessions last for 45 minutes and children can move around at their own pace. Each week there are three activities to paint, stick and make as well as a big activity to join in together.What’s more, Makeamajigs allows you to make without the mess. All the fun, creativity, resources and mess – without having to tidy up yourself!Classes take place on a Tuesday and Friday at Kidzplay (11:00am & 1:30pm) and bookings are now being taken. Classes are suitable for preschoolers from 1-4 years.Contact Karen on 01423 552918 or email info@singamajigs.co.uk for further details and to book a space. Class places are limited to 8 families.www.singamajigs.co.uk

Home visits, group bookings with friends, gift vouchers.

Learn how to relax and soothe your little ones with a loving touch. Help ease the symptoms of colic, teething, wind, and digestive problems.

Strengthen the bond with your baby.

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bumpsandbashes.comCome to one small group class or organise a private

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A fresh concert for preschool children aged 1- 4 years…Help your child to make, paint and stick.

For further details contact Karen Allen on 01423 552918 or visit www.singamajigs.co.uk Email:info@singamajigs.co.uk

Calling all aspiring young writers!Is your child excellent with words? Do they like telling stories? Or do you want to encourage their creativity? Well it’s time for them to put pen to paper because the National Young Writers’ Awards have returned for the eighth year! Judged by best-selling author of the Charlie & Lola, Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort books, Lauren Child and organised by tuition provider Explore Learning, this year’s theme is ‘The Mash-Up’ where children are asked to write a 500-word story of a ‘mash-up’ of two genres. Whether it’s an alien landing his spaceship in Victorian England or a Disney princess as a zombie slayer, there is a huge scope to let their imaginations run wild!The competition is free to enter and your child could win a fabulous family trip to Disneyland and £500-worth of books for their school. Open to children aged 14 and under, the closing date is June 7. Children can fill out an application form at their local Explore Learning Centre or enter online at www.explorelearning.co.uk/youngwriters.

Amazing “Hero’s Award” for Brackenfield School PupilBrackenfield pupil Evie Paizis aged 7 has been awarded a very special Heroes Award for fundraising for the Red Cross Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.In July of last year Evie decided she wanted to buy Christmas presents for the patients at the hospital, some of whom live in extreme poverty and have never received a gift. Evie raised a fabulous total of £210 by running a cup cake stall, a lemonade stand and selling her old toys at a boot fair. Evie then went to Cape Town with her family and purchased three huge trolley loads of toys, games and art supplies and took these presents to the hospital. Evie was presended with her special award by David Stephens for her “exceptional fundraising efforts”. She then had the opportunity to hand out the gifts, help the children open them and even spent time teaching one girl how to loom band!More information on the charity can be found at www.friendsotthechildrenshospital.org

Families Vale of York 5

Tennis TykesBecky Appleyard is now running the popular Tennis Tykes coaching classes in the Harrogate area.Becky, who lives in Harrogate with her two children Rose and Ed is LTA registered and is excited to be taking over the franchise.“Tennis is my true passion,” she says, “my family and I are keen players and regularly play at the Academy and Harlow Tennis Club.”“I currently hold classes at the Academy, Kidzplay and St Andrews Church Starbeck and coach weekly at Belmont Grosvenor Independent school, Birstwith.”The Tennis Tykes approach is a fun play based programme, which teaches tennis skills, agility, balance and coordination, social interaction as well as confidence and is open to children aged 2-8 years.Free taster sessions are available. Call Becky on 07833 90 6135 for more details or visit www.tennistykes.co.uk

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Your Local Families Team is Recruiting!Work Opportunity with Families Online in North YorkshireWe are preparing to celebrate the launch of a fantastic new website this summer. Destined to become the number one resource for local families, www.familiesonline.co.uk will soon have over 300 local sites across the UK. Like our magazines, the local sites in North Yorkshire are guaranteed to give users the very best ideas for spending time with their family locally.We have a number of highly flexible, home-based work opportunities available for Area Managers to run our local sites. As an Area Manager you will enjoy a fun and flexible role which fits around you and your family life, whilst affording you a great challenge – and the opportunity to make money! There are no set-up costs involved, you will be trained by industry experts and you will develop　valuable new skills in the digital, print and social media marketing industry.You Should Be:• Enthusiastic and knowledgeable about what’s

on locally for families• Interested in working flexibly from home at

times that suit you• Online savvy and a regular user of Facebook

and Twitter• Able to write great articles which capture the

imagination of local families• Have good networking and communication

skills, and confidence when　speaking to customers/the public

• A motivated self-starter who takes ownershipand pride in your work

To register your interest, please email linda.stone@familiesmagazine.co.uk

Book now for summer swim school!Popular local swim school Little Stars will be running 1:1 and 2:1 swimming lessons during the Summer Holidays at Cawood Park.

The sessions will take place Mon-Fri mornings between 9:10-11:10am.

To find our more or to book your child onto one of the courses call Emily on 07970 694 358 or visit www.emilyfrances.co.uk

Young Ashville Rugby Players Trained By Sports Legend Mike Catt OBEYoung rugby players from Harrogate’s Ashville Junior School had an end of term treat when a former England international led their training session.Mike Catt OBE - who was a member of the victorious England 2003 world cup squad – spent a lunchtime session putting the U11’s and U10’s well and truly through their pacesThe rugby star was at the school after one of the pupil’s grandparents successfully bid for Mr Catt’s time and expertise, and generously donated the prize to his grandson and his classmates.“All the pupils and staff from Ashville College Junior School would like to thank Mike for giving up his time to pass on his thoughts and vision on sport, ” said Duncan Archer, Ashville College’s Head of Sport Development.“Mike Catt is a rugby giant, an inspirational coach, and his training session was centred on team work and communication. He drilled it into them that without these two vital ingredients a team will never perform and ultimately win.”

Summer in the AlpsThe Alps may be an obvious destination for the ski season, but how about a summer visit? Summer offers enough green (the mountains) and blue (the sky) to set you up for the whole year - and plenty of fresh air to fill your families’ lungs.With reasonably priced flights from Manchester and Leeds-Bradford airports to Geneva then a short drive to Morzine, there is a warm welcome waiting from Paul and Francesca Eyre at Chilly Powder. With the main chalet - Au Coin du Feu - plus two chalets next door, you can organise your own meals, or join the party at ‘Au Coin du Feu’ for dinners that you usually only dream of. Family friendly early evening meals for the children and a daytime crèche for little ones not quite as active as you, with drinks in the bar for the grown ups – or in the Jacuzzi on the terrace – Paul and Francesca will make you wish that this was home!For more about Chilly Powder chalets visit www.chillypowder.com & more about summer in Morzine visit www.summer.morzine-avoriaz.com.

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Looking after your children during the summer holidays is no easy feat for any working parent, with many mums and dads resorting to booking their annual leave separately to ensure someone keeps an eye on the kids. But it doesn’t have to be that way – regardless of your budget, there are many affordable solutions to keep those wages coming in while your little ones enjoy the summer break.

RelativesYour first port of call should be looking at close family members to see if anyone could potentially help out. Your parents or in-laws are ideal, as most will revel in the chance to spoil their grandchildren with days out and endless supplies of ice cream! Bear in mind their age and don’t over-burden them if they agree to help, sticking to set times and helping with packed lunches or sending your kids with pocket money towards yet another trip to the zoo. It might be free childcare for you but that doesn’t mean it won’t cost your parents!

School mumsWhy not have a chat with other mums at the school gates to see if they can help? A win-win situation; your child gets to spend the day with one of their friends – plus you save on childcare costs! Make sure you only ask mums you feel confident leaving your child with – and who your little one feels comfortable around – and take a little gesture of thanks over at the end of the day, such as a small box of chocolates. However, most mums might instead prefer a ‘play date swap’ in return, where they look after your child one day in the week and you look after theirs another.

ChildmindersFor many working parents, childminders

are the best option over the school holidays, often sticking to the same person they normally get to do the school drop off and pick up. If you don’t have one, ask friends and other mums who they recommend, or look online for Ofsted-registered carers. A more affordable solution to higher-priced kids’ clubs, remember to ask what stipulations they have, such as you providing your child’s meals or whether you’re expected to pay if they are sick or you go away.

Holiday play schemes/summer campsOpen most kids’ school bags towards the end of term and you’ll find half a dozen leaflets offering discounted daycare for specific age groups and boasting a number of fun activities. Usually catered to fit around school hours, they are often based on themes to appeal to your youngster, with football, science, dance and drama top of the hit-list. Run privately or by your local council, this competitively priced option can be booked on a daily or weekly basis and is a fun-filled way for your little one to meet new friends and gain skills in the process.

Working from homeLast, but by no means least, is the hope your boss might be sympathetic to your situation and agree to let you work from home every now and then. Explain your childcare struggle as soon as you can, asking if a day a week might be an option over the holidays before giving them time to think about it. If they agree, make sure you complete all tasks assigned to you on time – regardless of the distractions that come with a demanding child at home! Not getting your job done at home will soon be picked up by management, meaning you’ll most definitely be refused if you ever broach the subject again!

Beg, Steal or Borrow

Worried how you’ll juggle work with childcare over

the never-ending summer holidays? Relax – there

are plenty of options to ensure you’ll still be

employed come the first week of September…

By Claire Muffett-Reece

How to organise summer holiday childcare

6 Families Vale of York

childcare

So what are the upsides?Beyond the obvious – a few hours of childcare – preschool is a great way to get your little one used to being separated from you or other carers. It could also help them become familiar with an environment that’s more like school and some of the routines and behaviours expected there, such as sharing, listening and taking turns.

How much free childcare am I entitled to? All three and four-year-olds in England receive 570 hours per year of free childcare. This can be in a preschool, nursery or with a registered childminder and is normally taken as 15 hours weekly over 38 weeks, but there’s often flexibility on this.

How can I choose the right preschool for my child? Speak to other local parents about their experiences and read Ofsted reports for the nurseries/ preschools you’re considering. Really though, there’s no substitute for taking a proper look around, meeting staff and seeing what your own impressions are.

How many hours a week? You don’t have to use up the full entitlement of 570 hours and could send your child for fewer if you think 15 hours a week is too much for them initially. Some parents find it works well to start off with just a couple of mornings weekly and build up to more (you will often be able to pay for further hours beyond the entitlement).

How can I get my child settled in?Staff will be very aware that young children may need help getting used to a new place and people and so should have some sort of settling in procedure. If you’re especially concerned, speak to them and see what their advice is – you may even be able to stay with your child during the first few visits.

Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting journalist and the author of four books including ‘New Old-fashioned Parenting’ and ‘‎How to Unplug Your Child’ (both published by Summersdale) and Raising Children: The Primary Years (Pearson).

Families Vale of York 7

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More parents than ever send their children to preschool or nursery, thanks in part to free places for three and four-year-olds, and for some two-year-olds.

Preschools – your need to know guidePreschools are about learning through play and their benefits can be significant, although there’s no obligation to sign up if you don’t think it will be right for your child. By Liat Hughes-Joshi

Discover a remarkable educationfor girls and boys from age 2 years.

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childcare

8 Families Vale of York

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIESfor children aged 5 to 12

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIESfor children aged 5 to 12

Childcare vouchers accepted T: 03444 14 13 13

Fun and active clubs EVERY SCHOOL HOLIDAY !!!!!

Venues Across York & Harrogate

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for prices and more info please visit :

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En Pointe has got it’s very own dance studios with sprung floors, mirrors and ballet barres.

En Pointe Dance Studios Unit 2, The Rose Centre, Rose Ave, York, YO26 6RU

info@enpointeyork.co.uk www.enpointeyork.co.uk

Raising the barre!

/enpointeyork

By Adrian Warner

Most parents agree that getting young children involved in sport from a young age will help them to keep fit and get into the habit of enjoying regular exercise.

Kickingoff

It’s important for children to get a flavour of a range of sports available and decide for themselves which one they prefer. Sport should always be fun, especially for small kids, so to help you decide which one to introduce your child to, here are five outdoor options they will love:

Football There are a number of clubs around the country that offer coaching during the school holidays for boys and girls aged from five to 11. These are usually a morning or afternoon class where young children are introduced to the basic skills of the sport.

Rugby Firstly, don’t panic: the first years of rugby are not about scrums, mauls and tackling and you don’t need to worry about the complicated rules of the game either. Boys and girls alike are encouraged to play a simple, non-contact game together involving tags, in which tackles are replaced by touching a player or removing a tag from their clothing. The focus here is on developing passing and running skills.

Tennis Children from three years old can learn the basic rules and skills of tennis using smaller courts and nets and with child-sized rackets. Some clubs will also have squash and badminton courts, so your child can try out a range of games with friendly coaches.

Hockey For children, the game will be much gentler than that for adults and sticks and pitches are smaller. Some clubs have a game called “Quicksticks” which is suitable from seven years, which is a four-a-side game that can be played anywhere and uses a bigger ball for safety.

Multi-Sports If you are not sure which sport to choose, look out for multi-sports sessions run by companies or local authorities where kids can try out a variety of sports such as athletics, rugby, football, netball, tennis and cricket. These are often available in the summer holidays and are a great way for kids to find out what they really like.

Adrian Warner has been a sports journalist for 30 years and has reported from 13 Olympic Games and 5 World Cups for Reuters, London’s Evening Standard and the BBC. He also lectures in Sports Journalism at the University of Bedfordshire.

How to get your little ones

involved in sports clubs and which

outdoor activities to choose from.

clubs & classes

Families Vale of York 9

Swimming Lessons• All Ages and Abilities• Group lessons• One to One Lessons• Lessons Local to you• Gift Vouchers

Call Debbie or Ray: 01757 247047 or 07768 179840

Email : Sarah.roberts@swimtime.orgLearn to swim, be safe, have fun!

www.swimtime.org

Gym Gems has been established almost three years now and head coach Lisa Davis and her team have almost 50 years of coaching experience between them.

Together with Lisa, Jenny Adams and Rebecca Shackleton run the popular gymnastics sessions for children aged 2+ at Wetherby Sports Association, close to Wetherby Pool.

“We all work at North Leeds Gymnastics Academy Community Club in the evening and we identified that there was nothing local available during the day for the under 5’s that could offer a British Gymnastics programme for learning,” says Lisa.

All three coaches are qualified with British Gymnastics in the specialist area of Pre-school, but equally as important - they love working with children.

“Gym Gems activities are designed to increase muscle strength and enhance co-ordination and agility whilst building confidence and self-esteem,” says Lisa. “Our parent and child sessions are designed for ages 2+ years although younger children can attend. Mums, dads, grandparents and nannies all mix together to join in with the activities.”

“We have lots of activities designed for this stage of development from pre-jumping to building sequences and the room is full of stimulating and vibrant learning opportunities.

“All the children are encouraged to engage in the British Gymnastics Badge scheme and challenges are marked off as children progress. Every term we introduce a new badge and ask parents or carers to work with their children to gain the award.

“From about 3 ½ years we invite children along to our independent sessions where it’s time for children to go it alone. Once children have the social skills to join us independently, we can encourage a new stage of learning. In the initial stages some parents work alongside their children to ensure they are happy but these classes are designed for our coaches to work with the children with a maximum one to six ratio.”

Gym-Gems believes encourages learning through play using large apparatus and a range of hand apparatus.

“We offer lots of activities specially designed for different stages of physical development. All our programmes provide dynamic activities including rolling, balancing, rebound and swinging, using music as encouragement.

Classes are varied but with a familiar structure so that children know what to expect.

“All our sessions start with time for exploring - we have twelve different themes so each week there is something different for the children to discover. We then come together to say hello and complete a warm up to songs. Using hand apparatus we stretch out gently and encourage children to do activities that can strengthen muscles carefully. Then we move onto an apparatus circuit whereby children are asked to try out physical challenges using star stickers as reward system. We end our sessions with a cool-down to some calming music and another piece of hand apparatus, before finishing with our magic bubbles.”

By Adrian Warner

G MnaSTicSSpotlight on….

Families editor Belinda Maunsell talks to Lisa Davis head coach of Gym Gems in Wetherby about her children’s classes.

Current Sessions:Parent & child sessions Wednesdays from 1.20pm - 2.05pm & Thursdays from 2.10pm - 2.55pmIndependent sessions Wednesdays 2.10pm - 2.55pm &

Thursdays1.20pm - 2.05pm If you’d like to try out Gym Gems with your child you

can send a contact request from their web site, www.gymgems.wix.com, email

Gym_Gems@yahoo.com or call Lisa on 07946 082801

10 Families Vale of York

The subject of death is a sensitive one and the grief caused by losing someone special, whether they are a family member, friend or pet, doesn’t discriminate between race, status, gender or age. The truth is that, whilst everybody’s personal circumstances are unique, losing a loved-one hurts. It can be hard to come to terms with, especially for young children who may not understand the concept of death.

Teaching children about these matters is something that is easy to shy away from. The fact is that, sadly, many children do experience a loss and it is important to help them during this time This can be really difficult for parents or carers if they are grieving too, so finding a way to experience and deal with the grief together can be extremely healing.

A really healthy way to do this is through reading with your little ones. Special books that deal specifically with bereavement do so in a sensitive and truthful, yet heart-warming way. Although it’s tough to face these hard moments in life, the gentle nature of these books mean that children can translate lessons learnt in the stories into their own lives, meaning they can begin to accept the death and move on.

Some of our favourite books on bereavement include stories with bright, captivating pictures (great for younger children), which give them an overall positive message to take away. These stories can be moving, so you may need a tissue.

Letting GoDiscussing bereavement with children

Tess’s Tree

by Jess M. Brallier tells a tale of how Tess’s

beloved tree must unexpectedly be cut down. The tree was a big part of Tess’s life and she wasn’t

prepared to have something she loved taken away from her

so suddenly. Little ones join Tess on her journey as she

experiences anger, reflection and eventually understanding.

Badger’s Parting Gifts

by Susan Varley explains a different kind of loss. It is heart-warming,

suitable for children of all ages and can help children with someone who will die soon, who is older or is suffering from an illness. Badger’s

friends are sad when he dies but they come to terms with this by being reminded of all the wisdom and love he gave

them when he was alive.

Always and Forever

by Alan Durant introduces Fox (the father

figure in the book) who dies, after which all the other

animals become consumed by their sorrow. They don’t know

how to go about their lives without Fox to help them, until

one day, squirrel comes to visit and reminds them of the good memories they have of

Fox, which makes the animals ultimately feel happier.

The Heart and The Bottle by Oliver Jeffers

is a book that deals with loss in an unusual way. The heroine of the story enjoys life and is

filled with wonder at everything she sees. Then one day, an event causes her to hide her

heart in a safe place to prevent it being hurt again. The little girl wonders how she will get back to the happy times she

had before.

When Your Grandparent

Dies by Victoria Ryan

Less of a novel and more of a self-help book, finds helpful

elves explaining to a child exactly what happens when an elderly relative dies. Through its discussion of the meaning and idea of death, this book

raises questions that a young child can later discuss with an

adult.

By Emily Victoria

Pitta chips and avocado dip

A lovely creamy dip with pitta chips that are a great alternative to crisps (serves 1 -2)

What you need:

1 Ripe avocado

1 tbsp Sour cream or half fat crème fraiche

2 Pinches Smoked paprika

1 Pitta bread

2 tbsp Olive Oil

What to do:

Little Bites Cookery School is for 3 -5 year olds during term time and for 5 -11 yr olds during holidays in York.

The school aims to educate and promote healthier cooking and eating in children and parents. Classes are run by a qualified Home Economist and Nutritionist, who has composed all the recipes for the classes. Ingredients are sourced locally where possible.

www.littlebitescookery.com

1. Ask a grown up to turn oven on to 170°c.

2. Ask a grown up to cut the pitta bread into half length ways.

3. Tear up the pitta bread or can use a cutter to make

shapes.

4. Brush with olive oil.

5. Bake pitta chips for 5 minutes.

6. Whilst cooking, mash up the avocado and add cream and paprika.

7. Mix well and then it is ready to serve with the pitta chips.

Best NEW Book ReleasesBy Emily Victoria

Baby & ToddlerBaby’s Very First Fingertrail Playbook Garden by Fiona Watt • Usborne, £7.99Watt contrasts fun, bright colours to stimulate the sense of even young babies with this touchy-feely board book. Inside are colourful animals and the

places where they live along with a trail that you can encourage your baby to follow with her finger. This helps develop hand-eye coordination and to learn to distinguish different textures. This is a fun book to share with babies, helping develop their interest in the world from birth through to toddler years.

3-5 yearsHow Many Legs? by Jim Field and Kes Gray • Hachette Children’s Group, £6.99The award-winning authors have teamed up again to introduce another hilarious, page-turning book sure to have both adults and children in stitches. In this humorous book little ones are given the opportunity to

count how many legs there are at the table as guests of all kinds keep turning up to tea. The funny pictures add to the charm of this witty, rhyming story.

6-8 yearsTom Gates Yes! No (Maybe...) by Liz Pichon • Scholastic, £6.99Tom Gates is back in the next instalment of Pichon’s bestselling illustrated series in this laugh-out-loud page turner. Tom is having a hard day; his mum wants him to get rid of some of his things, and if he can’t decide what to give away, she’ll do it for him. Children can join

Tom in his amusing struggles to tidy up, deal with a grumpy sister (who isn’t helping) and appease an impatient mum. A good read guaranteed.

9+Beetle Boy - The Battle of the Beetles by M.G. Leonard • Chicken House, £6.99Darkus is an instantly likable, engaging character who goes on an adventure to find and save his missing scientist dad. With the help of Baxter the beetle, this funny book tells a story of persistence, bravery and silliness. It’s great vocabulary practice for your child but

it does have a dark undertone (balanced well with humour) that is important to be aware of.

12 to teenThe Siren by Kiera Cass • HarperCollins, £7.99The prolific author of the bestselling Selection Series offers another captivating read, exploring a number of adult emotions. Kahlen is trapped in a one hundred year sentence as a solitary siren, who must not speak or interact with humans. When she meets her true love, she must struggle with the battle between the risk of following

her heart or sticking to the strict rules of secrecy in her role as a siren. All the while, she is aware that a single word uttered could be fatal.

Emily Victoria is mum to one small baby, and a journalist who writes for parenting titles and works in her spare time in broadcast media. She is founder of a startup that revolutionises the way mothers exercise with their babies - to be launched later this year.

Invitations: Pretty florals and pastel colours are the key to this theme, so make invitations festooned with flowers cut from

wrapping paper.

Wear: Ask the kids to dress up as if they are going for afternoon tea at a posh hotel. Girls can wear pretty dresses and boys can put on smart trousers and a shirt.

Play: This theme really suits all those old-fashioned party games like Pass the Parcel and Musical Chairs.

Eat: Make some dainty sandwiches with the crusts cut off, with little cakes and serve them on vintage mismatched cups and saucers. You can even buy cardboard three-tiered cake stands.

Party bags: Create some unique party bags out of old floral fabric you have lying around the house and pop in some pretty fake jewellery or unique trinkets along with a piece of cake.

7

12 Families Vale of York

By Sally J. Hall

themes kids will love

Parties can go with a swing if you choose a theme your little ones can have fun with. From fancy dress costumes to themed plates, cups and decorations, here are some great ideas for a themed children’s party.

Invitations: Create a treasure map by drawing a rough map of your street and put “X marks the party spot” where your house

(or the party venue) is. A suitably pirate-inspired poem would be a good addition with plenty of “aaaaaahhhhhhhs!”

Wear: Encourage kids to dress as pirates and give each a bandana or eye patch to wear as they arrive.

Play: Fill a wooden chest (or cardboard box painted to look like a treasure chest) with torn up newspaper and pop in some wrapped small gifts for a lucky dip.

Eat: Give them vegetable, chicken or fish fingers and let them eat with their hands like real pirates. Jelly with pomegranate seeds or blueberries in the bottom looks like sunken treasure. The table can be covered with a blue paper cloth and then scattered with shells, star fish and fake jewels.

Party bags: Send them home with a treasure chest party box containing a piece of cake and a fun gift like an inflatable sword or pirate stickers.

Invitations: Whether your child loves Frozen, Mickey Mouse or Cars, create an invitation to your Magical Kingdom using

stickers of favourite Disney characters and glitter.

Wear: Most kids will have a Disney costume or two lurking in the dressing up box. Say that dressing up is optional and have a few accessories that kids without costumes could wear such as paper crowns and a sash made from coloured paper.

Play: Create a Disney piñata by covering a balloon with papier maché and cutting a little opening in the top to put in some treats. You could turn it into a Mickey Mouse head, a character from Cars or a simple balloon shape with some Disney characters pasted on it.

Eat: Serve drinks in mismatched teacups for an Alice in Wonderland party, make cucumber sandwiches for a Princess theme and create cupcakes in Disney cupcake cases.

Party bags: Disney bags will be great going-home gifts. Fill with a treat to eat and some play princess jewellery or stickers.

Invitations: Create bright invitations in Superhero colours and write the child’s name on as a character – for example: “Dear

SuperZac, please come to my Superhero party.”

Wear: If your little guests don’t have costumes, why not create simple paper or felt masks and add a badge with each child’s name and their super power on them.

Play: Create a super hero obstacle course in the garden. Kids have to crawl beneath ropes, through pop-up tunnels, in and out of boxes and over big cushions.

Eat: Make some colourful cupcakes and finish them off with cake toppers with the words “Boom!” “Pow!” and “Zap!” on them. Create food and a birthday cake in your child’s favourite character’s colours.

Party bags: Instead of a party bag, why not give each child a small plastic superhero toy.

themes kids will love

Invitations: Make animal themed invitations; these can be as simple or artistic as you like.

Wear: Encourage the kids to come dressed as their favourite animal or bring a toy with them if they don’t want to dress up. You could also make some simple animal face masks.

Play: Have a safari game in the garden where you hide pictures of animals the kids have to spot, then to calm them down, play Sleeping Lions.

Eat: Create your own Bush Tucker Trial; long, thin sandwiches make great ‘caterpillars’ (use little pieces of chives to create legs and sliced black olives for eyes). A bowl of pasta with pesto can be called ‘slithering snakes’ and jelly masquerades as ‘slime’.

Party bags: Little bags can be filled with a piece of the cake and some jungle stickers, little rubber snakes and other animal toys.

Invitations: Why not create an invitation that looks like a big clown’s shoe? Or even go for a circus ticket theme.

Wear: Kids can all dress as circus folk using garments they may already have at home; ballet costumes double as acrobats, riders can wear jodhpurs and all of the kids can be clowns with some face paint.

Play: Buy some clever modelling balloons and have a practice before the kids arrive. Play tumbling games and give a prize to the winner.

Eat: Think of food you find served at circuses; make popcorn in the microwave and have hotdogs and burgers in buns.

Party bags: In a circus theme party bag, pop some animal chocolate biscuits, balloons and a fake moustache.

Invitations: Use white card and paint on black hexagons to make football shaped invitations.

Wear: Ask the kids to come dressed for a game of football - they can wear their school PE kit if they don’t have a football shirt.

Play: If you can, ask a coach from a local five aside team to come to the party to teach the kids some new skills such as keepy-uppy. Round off with a friendly match.

Eat: Use paper cloths in your favourite team’s colours, with matching napkins. Eat the kind of food you find at the football ground, such as burgers in buns and chips.

Party bags: Inside a box or bag in England or your child’s favourite team colours, pop a plastic whistle, pencils, pads and stickers.

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Families Vale of York 13

themes kids will love

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).

14 Families Vale of York

VenuesASHVILLE COLLEGE SPORTS CENTRE Party themes include – football, bouncy castle, pool parties, Enjoy-a-ball parties, Roller Disco parties, face painting options. They can also provide just hall hire, and can offer party food and a party coordinator. There are no age restrictions. 01423 724 812 (call after 6pm) or email parties@ashville.co.uk

CRAzY TYKES Soft play parties. 01937 541 007 www.crazytykes.co.uk

KIDzPLAY A selection of tailored parties at all 3 venues - Harrogate, Northalllerton & Boroughbridge. 01423 816111 / 01609 761596 / 01423 325575 www.kidzplay.co.uk

PARTY zONE AT THE ACADEMY, HARROGATE Soft play parties with party tea. 01423 704 051 www.theacademy.co.uk

PIGLETS Exclusivity on the farmyard trail and in the animal barn for party-goers. Parties include animal petting, tractor/trailer ride, interactive learning, birthday tea plus all usual attractions. www.pigletsfarmpark.co.uk

SELBY SUPERBOWL Bowling & Lazerzone parties. www.selby-superbowl.co.uk 01757 707074

THE WISHING WELL, SELBY Soft play parties. 08712 003 363

THE ENGINE SHED Fabulous party venue in Wetherby. Perfect for children’s parties, christenings, or special family events. 01937 588 884 www.engineshedwetherby.co.uk

WINKIES, HARROGATE Themed soft play parties. www.winkies.co.uk 01423 886 886

Creative party peopleAMAzING FACES Facepainting 0794 960 2202 www.facepaintingharrogate.comARTY ANIMALS PARTY Creative cooking and art fun combined. www.artyanimals.co.uk 0113 226 5898 / 07982 239377 BEAD Jewellery-making parties. www.beadharrogate.co.uk 01423 313 030LITTLE ALLIGATORS, HARROGATE A distinctly different choice of children’s products – brilliant for birthdays! 07595 178 763 www.littlealligators.com

LITTLE RASCALS HARROGATE Rascals Entertainment in Harrogate is a popular, award winning company, offering children’s parties, character appearances and entertainers. The list of themes it provides is endless. To name a few, there’s Dance Matt Disco, five different Star Wars themes with the latest characters, Frozen, Popstar and Pamper, Minions, Transformers, Peppa Pig, Toy Story and Paw Patrol. www.rascalsentertainment.co.uk 07855 844 265

POTS2GO Pot-painting parties. www.pots2go.co.uk 01423 524 797

peopleWe’ve found a great range of local party people.

Remember to say them you saw them in Families!

GET CREATIVE AT CLAYFEVER! Clayfever is a ceramic painting studio with a difference. Owner Jess Ryan, a former teacher, has the experience and motivation to help every individual create a perfect end product. She is keen to promote the business to those people who would benefit from the quiet relaxing atmosphere of the studio and the therapeutic benefits of ceramic painting. “In the hectic world we live in I feel it is so important to spend some quiet time doing something for ourselves. Ceramic painting has the ability to engage our brain just enough to stop it whirring but not so much that the concentration is draining. Many of my clients will while away a good few hours without realising how long they have been painting.”

Jess welcomes a whole host of people to the Studio, whether it’s for a coffee with a friend during the day whilst painting, an after school session for the kids or indeed one of the popular “prosecco and painting” evenings which are held every month. What better way than to get creative and produce an item, which can either be used around the home or given as a gift. Birthday parties are extremely popular and private bookings for cubs, brownies etc can also be arranged. Private commissions for christenings and weddings are welcome. Clayfever can be found at 30 High Street, Tadcaster. For more information call 01937 918 100 or visit the website www.clayfever.co.uk

TREASURES WISH LIST RE-VAMP! Treasures Wish List service still offers the same great benefits, but has been given a fresh new look. As before you’ll get 5% discount of all items purchased from a child’s wish list, free gift wrap and of course a great experience for the child. Creating a Wish List makes choosing the right gift for a child so much easier. “Grandparents particularly love this system,” says Treasures owner Zhara Armstrong, “and its super for relatives living a distance away.” It’s a sure-fire way of eradicating the problem of duplicated presents too! www.treasurestoys.co.uk

THE WEB ADVENTURE PARKThe Web Adventure Park has enough to keep any child occupied, with the new water play, crafty corner and role play village, animal area so even the basic party package certainly isn’t basic! But if you want to be spoilt for choice the park has a huge list of options, suitable for summer birthdays, cold weather, any age and any gender! The new crafty corner parties are great for the creative children – Teddytastic hand stuffed bears, Sand art pictures and 3D models to paint are all available! Fancy something a bit more adventurous? Wired and Summit high ropes have two party options for adrenalin seekers! Animal lovers can get up close to our furry friends and learn about their care. Pamper parties, Quad bike parties, the options are endless. Add a fantastic venue, amazing food and twelve years’ experience of delivering parties and you know you have the right formula for a memorable day – for all the right reasons! www.webadventurepark.co.uk 01904 692221

Entertainers & OrganisersBARBARA RAY presents fun packed puppet entertainment for children aged 3- 8. www.barbararay.co.uk 01302 320717

BOB’S YOUR UNCLE Magician and entertainer for children’s parties and events. 01423 340568 www.bobs-your-uncle.co.uk

BRENDINI Magical fun and entertainment for all ages, especially children. 01757 704437 www.brendinismagic.co.uk

CAREY PLANS IT Party planner - takes all the stress away from organising your do - with a range of services. Carey can find venues, investigate themes and ideas, find the perfect cake, book entertainers and much more. See our feature on P 16 & 17 www.careyplansit.co.uk 01757 322000

GO BALLISTIC MAGIC with Martin the Magician Juggling, magic and games for children of all ages. www.goballisticmagic.com 01904 613206

HENRIETTA RABBIT Children’s entertainers offering magic, jugglers, stiltwalkers, games, circus workshops, event management, balloonology, bubble machines, music, stories, crafts, giveaways & entertainment. www.henriettarabbit.co.uk 01904 345404

JEEPERS CREEPERS Children’s party magic shows www.themagicplace.co.uk 01765 604472

PROFESSOR DAN SLATER Explosive magic show, fun & games. www.dan-slater.co.uk 07816 253409

SANDRA - CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT 07709 252579 www.sandra-entertainment.co.uk

THE MAGIC HATTER Children’s entertainer & magician. www.magichatter.co.uk 0845 475 2124

UNCLE MAL AND HIS CRAzY PUPPETS Expect bright colourful props, balloon models, puppets & a live rabbit. www.magicmal.co.uk 01904 762662

Party Supplies BLUEBELL PARTY TENTS offer beautiful bell tents as the perfect venue for any occasion such as children’s parties, sleepovers, baby showers, hen parties, anniversaries, Christenings and other special celebrations. www.bluebellpartytents.co.uk or call 07809 573 687

BOUNCING AROUND Bouncy castles for hire www.bouncingaround.co.uk 0786 792 3434

CORKY’S Special gifts for tots to teens including great party bag fillers. 9 Museum Street, York, www.corkyschildrensgifts.co.uk 01904 625075

KAOS Fancy dress supplies. 3 Gillygate, York, www.kaosfancydress.co.uk 01904 630317

THE BUN BUNNY Fabulous cakes & Buns. Based in Harrogate. www.thebunbunny.co.uk 07841 755 225

THE LITTLE BALLOON COMPANY 01904 705 050 www.thelittleballooncompany.co.uk

THE RUSTIC RABBIT Family –run business The Rustic Rabbit has been trading for over 15 years. Based Grassington in the North Yorkshire Dales National Park The Rabbit, is located in The Square and stocks a wide variety of products including gifts and toys over two floors – perfect for original gift ideas. For people who live further afield The Rustic Rabbit can be found online at www.therusticrabbit.co.uk

Families Vale of York 15

Class Parties DIDDI DANCE PARTIES Pre-school dance, movement & activity parties. www.diddidance.com 07917 757 566ENJOY-A-BALL PARTIES Parties for up to 30 children aged 4 - 8 years, with lots of fun sports and games and running around. Just hire a hall, do food and provide party bags - they even provide the invites! www.enjoy-a-ball.com 07789 861108

DERWENT DANCEWORKSProvided by qualified Dance Teachers, Derwent Dance Parties are available in a range of packages. You provide the venue and any food you want to have, and they’ll bring music, dances, games, props, prizes and disco lights, as well as lots of energy and fun to make it a day to remember! Three different packages available. www.derwentdance.co.uk

EN POINTE BALLET PARTY Your child can have a ballet and dance themed party through En Pointe classical dance school. For £90 A ballet professional will come to your chosen venue and dance and entertain the children for an hour session. They bring music and props and can work with any theme such as fairies/ pirates etc. They also provide certificates & badges at the end. For more info email principal@enpointeyork.co.uk www.enpointeyork.co.uk

HIGH-LOW, QUICK-SLOW PARTIES Parties are tailored towards the age of the child & include action songs, familiar rhymes, musical instruments, simple party games, dancing & movement time. A special party balloon is given to the birthday child & every child at the party receives a sticker & certificate. Party sessions lasts approximately 50 minutes with lots of fun for both children & adults alike. Suitable for ages 1-6. www.highlowquickslow.co.uk LES GOûTERS DE MIMI Parties include 2 hours of French themed entertainment (including the tea-party), some French drinks & biscuits. Suitable for children aged 4 to 12. The games & activities are adapted to the age of the hosts & their guests. 077901 98534 www.continentalfairies.comSINGAMAJIGS bring a tailormade party for your child. With music & singing, parachute games, instruments & bubbles. www.singamajigs.co.ukTAPPY TOTS Parties for children aged 3-6 years lasting approximately 45mins. You’ll need to hire their own venue but catering can be provided alongside cake & party bags if required. www.tappytots.co.uk 01977 621 616TENNIS TOTS PARTIES Parties cater for up to 26 girls & boys aged 3-6. www.tennis-tots.co.uk

TENNIS TYKES PARTIES Tennis Tykes parties are for children celebrating their 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th birthdays. Fun packed hour of tennis activities incorporating lots of games & tennis ball skills, supervised by Becky Appleyard (LTA Reg) and other trained staff. Each child receives a gift, plus Tennis Tykes t-shirt & card for the birthday boy/girl.For further info, contact Becky 07833906135 or email becky.appleyard@tennistykes.co.uk

THE LITTLE GYM BIRTHDAY PARTIES Each party is led by 2 instructors & your children will have one hour to explore the gym where instructors will facilitate age appropriate games & physical activities. Parties are for children aged from 1 to 12 & slots are available on Sat & Sun. Call for availability on 01423 701 560. TOTAL SPORTS Total Soccer Parties - Total Sports Soccer parties include lots of fun games that are designed to improve skills inc. shooting, dribbling, passing & goalkeeping. FA qualified coaches will make sure your children & friends have a great party. Playing world cup style mini matches at the end is the perfect way to show off the skills just learnt. Total Energy Parties - Total Sports,’Energy’ parties are an action packed birthday treat for boy & girls using a mixture of activities & equipment inc. para chute games, soft balls, team games, space-hoppers & music amongst others. www.totalsportslimited.co.uk

BEULAH62 Harrogate’s community arts venue, offers a diverse range of party activities for children aged 1-11 to enjoy including, mask- and t-shirt decorating, designing bags and jewellery, making clay animals and jungle frames. Themes range from favourite TV shows, movies and themes, from Olaf and Elsa in Frozen through to Spiderman, fairies, pirates and more. All the wonderful arts and crafts children make at Beulah62 parties can be taken home afterwards. Price is £10 per child. 11 Beulah Street, Harrogate 01423 508892

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Action & ActivityBUSHBABIES BIRTHDAY PARTIESOutdoor adventure parties for ages 2-6 and 7-11. Junior parties are themed - you could hunt for the Gruffalo or search for leprechaun’s gold. Parties for older children include survival, tracking, bows & arrows and firelighting. 07788 713 393 www.bushbabies-woodlandadventures.co.uk

DIGGERLAND PARTY Birthday parties include 2 hours in the park and a 45-minute lunch. Children get personalised certificates, a balloon, and a Diggerland lunchbag. www.diggerland.com 0871 22 77 007

HARROGATE CLIMBING CENTRE PARTY Harrogate Climbing Centre is the area’s most unique leisure attraction; set in an impressive leisure complex with an on-site deli-café, it offers exciting and unusual activities that will keep your youngsters and their friends talking for weeks! They provide birthday parties for children and adults, consisting of either an hour or an hour and a half climbing (depending on the age group) with a professional instructor followed by optional party food at the Indulge cafe. Every party session focuses on getting as much climbing packed into the session as possible, and the centre’s instructors know how to deliver the right session depending on the age of the children taking part. Parties start from as little as £66 for up to 6 people, and can accommodate almost as many as you like. The activities don’t stop there, they also offer family taster sessions, after school & holiday clubs and adult beginner courses.The centre is located on the south edge of Harrogate, meaning it is easily accessed from across Yorkshire. The extensive free parking and rail links make it an ideal spot to combine a trip into Harrogate shopping or sight-seeing.Parties: Duration: 1-1½ hours climbing with a professional instructor followed by party food at the Indulge café. 01423 815024, www.harrogateclimbingcentre.com

LIVE FOR TODAY For ages 8+. With a choice of a Laser Tag Party, Bubble Football or Activity Party. www.live-for-today.com 0330 024 8676

MAKE A WISH ENTERTAINMENT Magical fairytale parties based around your favourite theme, character, hobby or activity. 0113 322 7988 www.makeawishentertainment.co.uk

PARTY WITH STAGECOACH! Stagecoach understands that with the increasing demands on parents, juggling the pressures of work and family life, time is at an essence. Stagecoach Parties provide a way to remove the stress from what should be a day of celebration for everyone, and allow you to sit back, relax whilst they do all the work! Whether your child wants to be a fairy, princess, pirate or detective, there’s a Stagecoach Party for everyone.Themed Parties for 4-10 year olds combine drama, dance and singing with a wide range of party games and storytelling all based around the chosen theme. You choose the date and the time and you can either join them at one of their party venues or they can come to a venue of your choice. For older children Murder Mystery Parties are an exciting, fun and creative event for ages 11 -16. A detective host will take care of all the entertainment, so all you need to do is send out the invitations and prepare the meal. The guests will know prior to the party what character they will be and all other information is given to them throughout the party. There are 5 different spine-tingling mysteries to solve, so for further details about Murder Mystery parties and Themed parties call 0113 2103 505 or visit www.stagecoach.co.uk

STOCKELD PARK PARTY Parties are for a minimum of 8, maximum 30 and include a day pass and pizza or sandwich box. Up to 6 parties can be held in any one day. Free adult for every 5 children booked. Party bags available too. Parties can be booked during Easter, spring and summer www.stockeldpark.co.uk

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16 Families Vale of York

*This voucher must be provided at the start of the session. Terms and Conditions apply. See website for details. Expires 30th June 2016

When organising activities/games, remember to:Think about who you’re inviting and what they like to do; for example, crafts may not be suitable for some groups of children (although my daughter and her friends really enjoy them, they are not something I would include in my son’s parties). Party entertainment depends on the age range and whether the party is mixed or single sex. You know your guests best, and need to choose games and activities to suit the children who have been invited.• Plan a mixture of activities/games in order to appeal to all

the guests. • Don’t forget to plan something that the children can do

on arrival whilst they wait for the other guests to turn up. I usually have something ready on the table if the weather is bad (colouring, word searches) or have something set up outside in the sunshine.

• Try to imagine how long each activity will take; arrival, activities/games, food, cake, etc. If you are not sure how long a particular game/activity will take, try playing it in order to give yourself a better idea of timings.

• Give children who are “out” something to do – like helping to judge, or preparing something for the next activity.

• Be flexible. If the children are enjoying a particular activity then there’s no need to stick to strict time limits. Likewise, if a game doesn’t seem to be working, it’s better to abandon it.

• Involve your child in planning their party, so that you include activities they will enjoy.

I’ve pulled together some examples of games that I have found to work with different age ranges. Some the games span age ranges, and can be adapted to suit your guests. The list is not exhaustive, but simply includes some of the most popular games and activities around at the moment. I have included a brief description of each game, but you can find out more (including rules and how to play) on my blog (www.careyplansit.me.uk).

games&ideasOne of the most daunting things about organising a party is planning enough

games and activities to keep the children busy

and happy. The more organised you are, the smoother the party will

run - so it’s best to create a rough plan that contains enough activities to fill the

entire party (don’t forget to allow time for food

and cake). Remember, it’s much better to have

prepared more activities than you find you actually

need on the day than to run short.

Ages 2-5Simple games that don’t take long to learn, often involve music and produce lots of winners appeal to this age range. They also enjoy some time for free play, so try and allow for this and make sure you have some toys that you are happy for them to play with easily accessible.

Bubbles – are very popular. You can either provide each child with a small tub or use a bubble machine – they will happily run around popping bubbles. If you are inside, set a clear area for this activity and make sure the floor stays safe.

Colouring – it’s easy to find some themed colouring pages, put a table cloth down to protect the table and put out crayons/pencils/pens.

Decorating cupcakes/biscuits – so simple but a great activity for this age range. You don’t have to have made the biscuits/cakes yourself. Just provide some icing, sprinkles/toppings and watch the children have fun. Also provides a great alternative to a party bag (they take their creations home at the end).

Dancing – many children in this age range love to dance, so just put on some music and let them enjoy themselves.

Musical statues – a simple game to organise (you just need music and enough space). Get the children who are “out” to help you spot children who move.

Duck Duck Goose – a great circle game for this age range, simple to learn and lots of fun.

Pass the parcel – an old favourite. Remember to have enough layers for everyone to win a “prize” - even if it’s just a small sweet.

Simple treasure hunts – I’ve found that these work really well, and even really young children enjoy them. If you’re worried about setting one up on your own, you can find ready made ones suitable for this age range at Quests Online or Lello and Monkey.

Hunt the Teddy – good for the younger children in this age range. You simply show them the bear you’re going to hide, make them all leave the room, hide the bear and then let them in to search for it. The child who finds the bear gets to hide it the next time.

Simon says – another old favourite. Make sure you’ve prepared a list of actions beforehand in order to avoid a lot of repetition.

By Carey McNaughton

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Families Vale of York 17

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Ages 6-9Most children in this age range enjoy races, silly games, puzzles and creative fun. The games and activities you choose need to provide them with more mental and physical challenges than those within the 2-5 age range.

Treasure hunts – a fantastic activity for this age range, and you can find a wide selection of ready made themed hunts at Quests Online.

Pass the parcel – is still popular, and can be made more fun for the older children by the addition of forfeits in each layer; for example, “hop around the circle until the music stops again”, “Say “Red Lorry Yellow Lorry” a fast as you can 10 times”, “pretend to be an animal”, “Rub your tummy and pat your head”, etc.

Crafts – a good activity if the children you’ve invited like them. You can find lots of ideas and ready prepared kits at Baker Ross. Make sure you protect your table/surfaces.

Musical statues – still very popular with children in this age range.

Pass the Balloon – a silly game that children in this age range really enjoy.

Pin the tail on the Donkey - very popular in this age range. You can easily theme it by creating a variation; for example, pin the smile on the Lego Minifigure, pin the eye patch on the pirate, or pin the tiara on the princess.

Sleeping lions – a quiet game that always gets lots of giggles in the end.

Wink murder – another good circle game.

Pinata – very easy to sort out. Make sure you allow plenty of space for the children to “swing” and collect the prizes.

The Bean Game – a silly, active game that does need a bit of space for the children to run around.

Sports day races – if you are able to have the party outside, then most children enjoy a range of silly sports day races; for example, the egg and spoon race, wheelbarrow race, three-legged race, dressing up race, or an obstacle course. It is possible to bring some of these races inside if you have enough space.

Corners – a fantastic active game that involves music and can be easily themed. You need quite a few guests to make it work well though (otherwise it is over too soon).

The Doughnut Game – a messy, silly game that is lots of fun. If you are going to play this game, remember to find out whether any of your guests have food allergies.

Ages 10-12In my experience, the pre-teen age group enjoy activities/games that are silly and highly participative. As well as the games listed below, they will often enjoy some of the games from the 6-9 age range; for example, The Doughnut Game, Wink Murder (in this age range, they often “die” quite spectacularly), Corners and the Sports Day Games/Races (the sillier the better).The Chocolate Game – this game moves quite fast, and if the doubles are coming along too often you may need to be prepared to change the rules (maybe only swapping for double 1s and double 6s) so that someone actually gets to eat some of the chocolate. If you have a large group of children, it is usually better to have two sets of dice going round the circle. Don’t forget to check food allergies.Musical Dress Up – similar to musical statues, but when the music stops everyone has to find and put on a certain piece of clothing (for example, a scarf, sunglasses, a silly hat, etc.). Make sure you hide these items in plain view, but remember to have one less than the number of people playing at each stage. Balloon Stomp – a great, noisy game that everyone enjoys (best played outside, if possible).Cotton Ball Transfer – a funny game that works well with a smaller group of guests, and also makes a great sleepover game.Gift Unwrap – this variation on pass the parcel is quite popular with this age range.Malteasers/Skittles game – another old favourite that makes everyone laugh.

Linking games to themesIf your party has a theme, if can be quite easy to link this to your games and activities by: • Using themed music.• Selecting themed crafts/colouring/

treasure hunts.• Using themed wrapping paper for pass

the parcel/gift unwrapping.• Using themed props for Corners, Pin the

… on the …, and balloon games.• Creating themed forfeits.• Changing a small part of the game/

activity; for example, you could play sleeping princesses, or have a House Elves collecting socks race.

There are loads of options for simple, fun party games that do not need a lot of preparation or props. A simple search on the internet can help you to find more ideas party games/activities and themed variations.

Carey McNaughton lives in Breighton with her other half, David, and their two children. Carey Plans It offers personal party solutions to help you create an amazing party - from advice, ideas and research through to a full party planning service. To learn more visit her website at careyplansit.co.uk, or find more ideas and advice on her blog careyplansit.me.uk.

_18 Families Vale of York

By Tanith Carey

How to teach our in the

girls strong to be

21st centuryGirls usually get off to a flying start. They talk early, are sociable from a

young age and often throw themselves into school. But somewhere around the age of nine or ten, their confidence can take a nose-dive. They become

confused by mixed messages, which tell them they can be anything, but the most important thing about them is how they look. They are baffled to be told they

should always try their best - but at the same time should not stand out too much.

Tanith Carey is the author of ‘Girls, Uninterrupted: Steps for Building Stronger girls in a Challenging World, published by Icon, £7.99.’

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This is also the age when they are also heading into their most vulnerable phase of life - their teen years – when they will be stepping through a minefield of sexual politics, played on phones and over the internet

But as the author of the new book Girls, Uninterrupted, I know that we can create a strong core of self-belief in our girls’ formative years, they will be better able to resist the pressure to behave in ways which are not always good for them later on.

My daughters are not weak and defenceless and neither are yours. But in a challenging world full of mixed signals about how they should look and who they should be, here’s FIVE ways to make girls stronger when they need it most.

START EARLY: The tween years – the ages between seven and twelve – offer a critical window when parents can help girls develop an unassailable sense of self. It’s during this period that our power to positively influence our children is also at its peak – before the inevitable separation of adolescence means

our daughters’ peers begin to drown us out. If we really work at staying connected to our girls in those years, we have a better chance of being able to guide them when things get really tough when they are teens.

KEEP TALKING: The good news is that the latest research shows the best defence against bad influences is you, the parent. One upside of the sexualised culture is that fewer topics are off-limits when we talk to our children – and in my book Girls, Uninterrupted, you will see there really are age-appropriate ways to tackle every subject, from sexting to self-harming. To help make this possible, set aside – and stick to – a regular, special time for you and your daughter to spend together. Let her decide what you do together so she feels able to relax and enjoy it. Don’t lecture, and let her bring up topics of conversations that are important to her. Resist the temptation to preach, judge or over-react, so she keeps coming back. If we really work at staying connected to our girls early on, we have a better chance of being able to guide them when things get tougher.

EXPLAIN HOW TO RECOGNISE NEGATIVE VOICES IN HER HEAD:When a girl hears a voice telling her she’s not good enough, she tends to assume it’s right. Tell her that just because she hears it, doesn’t mean she has to listen. Help her give self-critical thoughts a name so can recognise they are worries rather

than realities and that she can choose to ignore them. Show her too how to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. For example, if that inner voice tells her, ‘You can’t do this’, show her she can substitute that thought with: ‘This might be tricky, but I can learn.’

SHOW YOUR DAUGHTER HOW TO BE HER OWN BEST FRIEND: From around the age of about nine, girls can start to give themselves a very hard time for saying or doing the wrong thing. First, tell her not to be so tough on herself – and tell her how you, as an adult, have also made mistakes. By the same token, little girls are told to love their mummies, daddies, siblings and pets – yet we often forget to give our daughters permission to love themselves too. Tell her that being her own best friend doesn’t make her big-headed – it just makes means she’s looking out for herself.

TRAIN HER TO BECOME MEDIA LITERATE:In a world where a young girls will see more pictures of physical beauty in one month than we saw in a year, girls need training to process these images. In the two minutes you take to show her how a magazine photograph of an ultra-skinny perfect celebrity has been airbrushed, you have taught her not to hold herself up to an image of perfection that doesn’t exist.

__ Families Vale of York 19

Where to stayIf you have (and know how to put up) a tent, this can be the most cost-effective way of attending a festival, as ticket prices can be high. Check the tent before you go, to ensure it has all its poles and pins. A good ground sheet is a must, as are camp beds or self-inflating air beds. A playpen is great for babies and small children to sleep in at night and play in the day.

Alternatively, other options, from pre-erected tents to Yurts and teepees may be provided. Take a look at the festival’s website to see what’s suitable.

If you can’t face roughing it, book a local hotel or bed & breakfast. You’ll have a bolthole should the weather turn nasty and somewhere to wash properly!

Site MapTake time to orient yourself around the site, find where your favourite bands will be and most importantly, check out where the loos and showers are. These can get very busy and there are often long queues. For small kids, take a travel potty, as kids often need to ‘go’ quite suddenly. Most festivals have a craft and activities area for kids too.

Pushchairs can be tricky to use if the ground is muddy. Carriers are more portable and take up less space...

With small kids, try to camp in the family or quiet areas so that you won’t all be kept awake by people coming back to their tents (in all conditions) through the small hours.

Setting upCar parks can be quite a way from camps, so try to ensure that all gear can be put into a couple of backpacks for you and your partner to carry – and still have a hand free for the kids. Some

festivals rent a wagon to transport your stuff, which you can then use to pull the kids around in.

What to eatThere are usually lots of food stalls but bear in mind they can be pricey.

If you want to do your own cooking, invest in a camp stove. Easy, one pot meals are best, like soups, stews, rice or pasta, Freeze some home made meals, then just before you leave, put them in a cool box together with drinks and milk.

Take lots of snacks too, in case cooking or queuing for meals takes longer than you think!

SafetyKids should have your name (not theirs) and number on them in case they get separated. Write it on their arm, or buy luggage tags and attach them to their clothes and bags. Talk to them about how to behave should they get lost. Make sure your phone is charged, so if your kids do get separated, you are able to be contacted.

Dress your kids in bright clothes so you can spot them and take a photo of them each morning, so if they go wandering, you can remember how they were dressed and show others.

Don’t take valuables and keep things you can’t leave behind, such as phone, keys, your purse and credit cards, with you in a day pack all day. Never leave them in your tent.

Fancy dressMany festivals now have a fancy dress parade as part of the fun, so take costumes. Some things can be made on-site at a craft stall. Face paints are great to pack, as are glow sticks and bubbles.

Festivals are fun

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).

Packing listWaterproofs and wellies, comfy shoesToiletries in small packs, a hang-up sponge bag you can take to the shower. Toothbrushes and paste.Lots of changes of clothingWarm jumpers and socksSun screen and hatsA baby carrier Torch and batteriesPhone and charger Ear defenders Toilet rolls, tissues and wipesInsect repellentFirst aid kitComfy clothes Flasks, camping cutlery and crockerySmall backpacks for all, with a change of clothes, loo paper, wipes and snack in each, plus drinks. Camera

__Introducing your children to all kinds of music can be a great way to give them a lifelong love of everything from folk to classical. Many of the UK’s festivals have plenty to do for the whole family and with some careful planning and by packing a few essentials, you’ll all have a great time.

Easy steps to make your kids’ first festival a breeze

By Sally J. Hall

20 Families Vale of York

I have tried climbing once before as part of a team-building exercise so I was aware that firstly it would be a great activity to do as a family and secondly, that I was going to ache afterwards!Both proved to be true but not without a great deal of fun to go along with it.On arrival at Harrogate Climbing Centre we were checked in and asked to fill in some health and safety forms before being kitted out for our climb. I’d diligently made sure the kids had brought their trainers along but there was no need as the centre provides proper climbing shoes which really helped us once we got on the wall.

Once our harnesses were fitted we were able to lock away valuables so there was no need to worry about keeping an eye on anything but the challenge ahead! Our instructor Rich then took us into the climbing area and explained some basic rules to us before we warmed up. He invited the children to suggest some warm-up moves so India (aged 8) and Isaac (14) came up with some suitable ideas for getting our arms

and legs moving. First Rich explained how the belaying system worked. We were attached very safely to a rope being held by Rich at the bottom of the wall – acting as the belayer. This means that he held the rope securely through a belay device and fed it out or took it in as we climbed or descended. If we happened to fall, he applied friction to the rope to stop the fall. We started on our first wall, each of us trying out some deliberate ‘falling’ and abseiling to get a feel for just how safe we were

before we climbed. Both my husband and son were up the wall in no time. Isaac has climbed before on a number of occasions and even though my husband hadn’t, he knows no fear so between them they made it look a breeze! Next was my attempt and I was determined to impress the kids who hadn’t seen me climb and I’m guessing were under the impression I’d wimp out!Success! I got to the top and, although I felt out of my comfort zone, I rather enjoyed it! Next was India’s turn and she did very well climbing to just over half way. This was much higher than she’d ever managed before – mainly because although she is very agile, she’s a tiny bit worried about heights. With lots of encouragement from us, she managed to improve on her previous climbing attempt a couple of years ago.

After the ‘easy’ wall we moved to something a little more challenging, picking our routes up each wall with expert guidance from our instructor who explained that certain coloured climbing holds indicated routes of differing ability. The boys continued to make it look easy and I asked Rich if their height put them at an advantage.“You’d think so,” he told me,” as longer arms mean you can reach for more holds,” but actually once you get the hang of it, being small can have its advantages too!”Next we tried a wall with an auto-belay, which means there is no-one physically holding the rope; the machine takes up the slack as you ascend and descend safely. Finally we tried some bouldering . This is low-level climbing without harnesses or hats in a room with a padded floor. By this time I was wondering whether I’d have the strength to lift a cup of coffee to my lips after the session so I only had a quick turn at this!

Our whole visit was full of fun. Rich was clear in his instruction, told us lots about climbing and was great with both children – we always felt safe but also encouraged to push ourselves just a little bit further!Despite my middle-aged aches and pains we all agreed we’d had a great time trying out something new as a family. It was definitely good for my kids to see their mum leaving her comfort zone and trying something new, and I enjoyed taking part in something with them, rather than being a keen bystander!

If you’d like to try a family climb at Harrogate Climbing Centre, visit www.harrogateclimbingcentre.com. A one-hour session costs from £30 including all safety equipment and instruction. There are lots of classes to choose from including kids’ and teen clubs, taster sessions, holiday day camps as well as it being a great idea for a birthday party. Kids’ clubs start from £8.

FamilyclimbingFamilies Editor Belinda Maunsell and her family try a family

climbing session at Harrogate Climbing Centre.

20 Families Vale of York

may/june2016

FROM 1 MAY

Scotsman Season 2016THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUMTo mark Flying Scotsman’s eagerly anticipated return to the tracks the museum is planning a whole season of events & activities a whole season of events to celebrate the fame & celebrity of the locomotive legend. 08448 153139 www.nrm.org.uk1-10 MAY

Time Travellers TrailBENINGBROUGH HALL & GARDENSExplore the halls & gardens whilst uncovering some fabulous tales of the unexpected, as children & adults alike get taken back through time. 10.30am-5pm. 01904 472027 www.nationaltrust.org.uk2 MAY

May Day HolidayMOTHER SHIPTON’S CAVE & THE PETRIFYING WELL Make the most of the bank holiday with a wander through the park & treat the kids to a flower crown workshop. www.mothershipton.co.uk4 MAY

Little ScientistsABBEY HOUSE MUSEUMFor all curious under 5s & their carers - explore, create & have lots of science fun. 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm.0113 230 5492 www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/Abbey-House-Museum.aspx

6 MAY

Wow! I didn’t know thatFOUNTAINS ABBEY & STUDLEY ROYALJoin Mike at the Visitor Centre & enjoy a walk bursting with 101 interesting facts about the wildlife on the estate. 11.30am. 01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden13 MAY

Ripon Ghost Walk - Museums At Night SpecialRIPON MUSEUMSA Museums at Night Special of the Ripon Ghost Walk specifically aimed at children aged between 6 & 11. Accompanying adults required. www.riponmuseums.co.uk

13 MAY

Fountains Rocks! FOUNTAINS ABBEY & STUDLEY ROYALThe monks arrived at Fountains 800 years ago, but the rocks have been there longer. Find out more about the geology that shapes the scenery of the estate. The walk begins at Porter’s Lodge. 11.30am. 01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden13-15 MAY

Branch Line Steam GalaTHE NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAYTwo great weekends during for steam enthusiasts & families. 01751 472508 www.nymr.co.uk

14-15 MAYA Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine & his friendsKIRKLEES LIGHT RAILWAYKirklees Light Railway is expecting a very special Tank Engine. 10am. 01484 865727 www.kirkleeslightrailway.com28 MAYBat Detectives Nature WalkFOUNTAINS ABBEY & STUDLEY ROYALStay up late & listen out for the nocturnal nattering of these creatures of the night with Fountains bat detectors. Suitable for

children aged 5+ Booking essential. Tel: 01765 643189. 7.30pm-9.30pm /£4 01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden

28-30 MAY

May Bank Holiday WeekendMOTHER SHIPTON’S CAVE & THE PETRIFYING WELL Faerie V Goblin. Do you believe faeries are nice & goblins are horrible? As you will discover on your visit, it’s quite the opposite! Enjoy a FREE quiz trail & find the formula to reverse the spell & receive a little treat. www.mothershipton.co.uk

28 MAY-5 JUN

Fairytale Fun Week LOTHERTON HALLFollow the traditional tale trail & get lost in your imagination in Lotherton Hall’s very own fairytale. Half term will see lots on for families including storytelling, storybook crafts &

dressing up. Don’t forget the Fairytale Picnic on Thurs, June 2, 11am–3pm, take your pack lunch & join in traditional games & music in the gardens. 11am-3pm. 0113 378 2959 www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/Lotherton-Hall.aspx

28 MAY-5 JUNLabyrinth at WhitbyWHITBY ABBEY, ABBEY LANENavigate your way through the labyrinth & meet some interesting characters along the way! Take a contemplative journey around the pattern, with live actors sharing stories & gems of wisdom for anyone following the path. 01947 603568 www.english-heritage.org.uk

28 MAY-5 JUNMay Half TermHARLOW CARRHarlow Carr will be commemorating 100 years of the Cub Scouts, getting closer to nature, exploring the woodland & making the most of the outdoors. With a woodland trail, outdoor workshops & slingshot making, there’s plenty to enjoy all week. 0845 265 8070 www.rhs.org.uk

28 MAY-5 JUNMedieval Sword SchoolSCARBOROUGH CASTLECalling all junior knights! Join our medieval sword master & learn the lethal art of medieval swordsmanship. Get to grips with a range of swords & hear the crash of steel on steel. 11am - 5pm. 01723 372451 www.english-heritage.org.uk

what’son

Roll up, roll up…everyone’s going crazy for the May-Hem Circus at Piglets Adventure

Farm this May half term. With death defying stunts, upside down juggling & amazing

acrobatics, all in the giant pink big top, it’s unmissable fun for the entire family, from

28th May to 6th June.

There’s loads of family fun on the farm too with sheep shearing demos, welly wanging, new Piglet

Maternity Ward, tractor & trailer rides, bouncing pillows, petting barn, giant sand pit & more.

Plus, the fun just keeps getting better! With the opening of the brand new Truffles FarmHouse &

Barn outdoor adventure play, there’s so much more for the kids to do.

You can also enjoy refreshing drinks & delicious snacks in the new Piglets Coffee House with Piggy

Pen soft play corner.

Piglets Adventure Farm is located 15 minutes from the centre of York, on Towthorpe Moor Lane,

between Strensall Road and the A64, North of York. Open daily from 10am until 5.30pm

For full information please go to pigletsfarmpark.co.uk or call 01904499700.

We’ve ordered everything according to start date – be sure to look out for all the events which run for several weeks / weekends too. And be sure to check before you set off. These were correct as we went to print but may have changed. Check if you need to book ahead too. More ‘Days Out’ can be found online at www.familiesvoy.co.uk . All events are now searchable by date, venue & age range making it much easier to find all our local events at the click of your mouse.

May-Hem Circus at Piglets Adventure Farm

Yorkshire-based Total Sports run holiday clubs across the city & are now taking

bookings for the spring half term holiday and summer. All clubs are well-organised, planned, varied, energetic & great fun. Total Sports Holiday Camps throughout Yorkshire are split into three – TOTAL ENERGY – Arty, Craft, Sporty! & TOTAL SOCCER – the soccer academy for all abilities. In some venues there is TOTAL DANCE too!You can enrol for classes at Huntington Primary School, Manor CE School, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Rosset Secondary, Harrogate & Archbishop Holgate’s. Camps are suitable for ages 5- 11.Find out more or enrol online at www.totalsportslimited.co.uk or call 03444 14 13 13

Total Sports

FROM 28 MAYWelly WalkBOLTON ABBEY Tree climbing, tunnels slides, bridges & beams, amazing fun, forget being clean!! Follow the Welly Walk signs & enjoy a free woodland adventure trail. This is a challenging adventure & some obstacles are not suitable for all age groups. Children must be supervised at all times. www.boltonabbey.com

29-30 MAYBank Holiday ActivitiesMURTON PARKTrailblazers western re-enactment society will be in residence on the fort & Jorvikingi Viking re-enactment group will be in the village. The Svartland Vikings will be staging a market on the village. 01904 489966 www.murtonpark.co.uk

29-30 MAYCircus SkillsTHORPE PERROW Join the Rapide Brothers clowns at any time for lots of circus fun - learn how to do circus tricks & amaze the crowds! 11am-4pm. www.thorpperrow.com

30 MAY-3 JUNHero Half Term at Abbey House Museum ABBEY HOUSE MUSEUM, ABBEY WALKDuring half-term there are lots of different activities inspired by the museum’s Crime & Punishment exhibition & favourite superheroes. inc. murder mysteries, disguise making, flying, floating, science experiments & crafts. The theme changes each day so visit the website to see what’s on. 10am–12pm & 2pm–4pm.0113 230 5492 www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/Abbey-House-Museum.aspx

31 MAY-2 JUNSchool’s Out! TEMPLE NEWSAMOver half term follow the landscape journey through the house & have a go at special activities. 10.30am-4pm. 0113 336 7560 www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/Temple-Newsam.aspx

31 MAY-1 JUNPlant it, grow it, eat itFOUNTAINS ABBEY & STUDLEY ROYAL WATER GARDEN Get your gardening hands grafting this spring planting seeds in the garden. Take them home to look after & watch them grow. 11am-12.30pm & 1pm-2.30pm01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

31 MAY-3 JUNHalf Term EventsMURTON PARKThere will be a series of hands on historic activities on one of the living history sites on weekdays throughout the holidays. 01904 489966 www.murtonpark.co.uk

31 MAY-5 JUN

Garden ExplorersBRODSWORTH HALL

Find out what it takes to be a green-fingered gardener with hands on activities & a chance to explore the restored Victorian gardens. 11am-5pm. 01302 722598 www.english-heritage.org.uk

2 JUNFamily Bike RideFOUNTAINS ABBEY & STUDLEY ROYAL WATER GARDEN

Use some pedal power & enjoy a rare chance to cycle around the Water Garden at Studley Royal & the ruins of Fountains Abbey. A single circuit is approx. 2.5 miles or for little legs there’s a short cut! 6-8pm. 01765 608888www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey

3 JUN

Pond DippingFOUNTAINS ABBEY & STUDLEY ROYAL WATER GARDEN

Tadpoles, water lice, water boatmen, molluscs, pea mussels..., there’s an extraordinary world just waiting to be discovered hiding under the surface of the still ponds in the water garden. Booking Essential. 11am-3pm.01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey

4-5 JUN

Superheroes Live LIGHTWATER VALLEY

Grab your chance to demonstrate your super powerful fancy dress skills & join Lightwater Valley’s Superheroes for a day of crime fighting, villain chasing & skill showcasing. www.lightwatervalley.co.uk

7-19 JUN

York Festival of IdeasYORK UNIVERSITY

Over 100 free events to educate, entertain and inspire. This year’s theme is «Tick Tock’ & there will be opportunities to take part in storytelling, a Family Festival Fringe afternoon, Lego Memories, Zombies in York & much more. Talks, theatre, music, film & FUN guaranteed. www.yorkfestivalofideas.com

11-12 JUNE

Wistow Scarecrow FestivalWISTOW JUBILEE HALL

On both days there will be plenty to do & plenty to see. Visitors will get a route map & can answer a quiz questions on each scarecrow, so, you could even leave with a prize. For the kids will be a Bouncy Castle & period games, Coconut Shy, Hook a Duck etc. 10am - 4pm. www.wistow-village.com

STOCKELD PARK OPEN DAILY 10AM - 6PM, 28 MAY - 5 JUNEFabulous family days out this spring with active Adventure Zones within the beautiful woodland of Stockeld Park. Try the outdoor roller rink, maze, go karts or explore, climb & play in the Enchanted Forest as you discover sculptures & themed adventure playground areas. Jump & slide in the inflatable zone or drive the electric scooter trail! They also have rainy days covered with indoor play, games, crafts & creativity, so that adventures await you whatever the weather! Let your imagination guide you for truly magical adventures. 01937 586101 www.stockeldpark.co.uk

The SpringAdventure

The school summer holidays are a time for children to have fun whilst keeping active in body & mind. Super Camps give children the opportunity to do just that, with a range of camps & courses to suit everyone. Camps are full of great new activities for 2016, with a guarantee of water activities at all camps during the summer. You can also rest assured knowing that your children are receiving the best care, having received yet another ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating in 2016. Camps will be taking place in our region during the summer break at St Peter’s School, York & at King James’s School, Knaresborough. Camps include arts & crafts, food, science, multi-activity and bake-off – details below:Camps run from 8am – 6pm for ages 4-14. Call 01235 467300 or visit www.supercamps.co.uk.

Daily & Weekly CoursesMULTI-ACTIVITY - This camp includes a variety of sports, games, & arts & crafts. No two days are the same & the price includes all activities... even swimming, quad-biking & archery where facilities allow. Bookable daily & weekly.

Week long coursesRAW ADVENTURE - New theme for 2016! I’m a RAW Adventurer... Get Me In There! An opportunity for children to connect with nature & even encounter live animals.

THE GREAT SUPER CAMPS BAKE-OFF - New recipes for 2016! Children will love this week-long culinary challenge, baking new recipes & old favourites.

THE GREAT BRITISH TAKEAWAY - New course for 2016! Children will learn cooking techniques from around the world to produce healthy versions of your favourite weekend treats.

A PASSION FOR... ARTS & CRAFTS - New theme for 2016! This year, children celebrate all-natural materials with techniques that have been around since the birth of mankind. Using wood & wool, felt & feathers, children will create cloths, design clothes & stitch hand-puppets.

A PASSION FOR... SUPER SCIENCE - New course for 2016! Crazy experiments and the wonders of everyday science.

Get Ready for Summer with Super Camps

Fab family outdoor fun & indoor play. Located between Harrogate & Leeds, LS22 4AN

Spring & Summer

28 May - 5 June / 23 July - 5 SeptemberAdventures

Theatre15 MAYAn Evening of Panto!YORK THEATRE ROYALIn a ‘Parkinson-style’ Q&A they’ll talk about their careers & their long relationship with the institution that is the York Theatre Royal pantomime. This will be interspersed with video footage of panto’s past. With amusing anecdotes, backstage stories & fantastic banter, this is a one-off opportunity to see our stars without the wigs & costumes & re-live some of your favourite panto moments. 01904 623568 www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

26-28 MAYAlice in WonderlandJOSEPH ROWNTREE THEATREJoin Alice as she meets the strangest of characters in the strangest of circumstances in the family favourite by Lewis Carroll. 01904 658197 www.jrtheatre.co.uk

2 JUNStig of the DumpHELMSLEY ARTS CENTREAdapted from the children’s classic, this charming production tells the story of Barney’s secret friendship with caveman Stig. www.helmsleyarts.co.uk

3-4 JUNMister Maker LiveGRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK Join the ultimate arts & craft hero for his first ever live theatre tour. Packed full of arty adventures there’ll be a big ‘make’ to take part in, super songs to join in with, a fabulous supporting cast, & not forgetting, The Shapes. 0844 871 3024 www.theatresonline.com

4 JUNAliens Love UnderpantsHARROGATE THEATREThis zany & hilarious tale based on the best-selling children’s book is wonderfully brought to life on stage for the very first time. With stunning effects, madcap action, original music this fantastically fresh & funny production will delight the whole family. 01423 502 116 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

7-12 JUNLittle Feet FestivalYORK THEATRE ROYALYork Theatre Royal & tutti frutti are hosting their fourth Little Feet Festival of Children’s Theatre in June 2016. Little Feet completely transforms the theatre building, turning the foyer into a beautiful & imaginative play area. A special menu of festival food & free craft activities are provided, plus a host of performances, interactive experiences & workshops for babies & children of all ages & their families. Performances include The Enchanted Chalk, Don’t Dribble on the Dragon & Dinosaur Zoo. 01904 623568 www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

14-18 JUNHorrible Histories - Groovy GreeksGRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK From savage Sparta to angry Athens, discover the truth about growing up in Greece. 0844 871 3024 www.theatresonline.com

14-18 JUNHorrible Histories - Incredible InvadersGRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK The Celts are crunched when the Ruthless Romans invade Britain. Can crazy Caratacus save the nation? 0844 871 3024 www.theatresonline.com

18 JUNFreehand Puppets: Frogs & Snails & Teddy Bear TalesJUNCTIONIt’s bear’s birthday tomorrow. His head is full of excitement. How will he ever get to sleep? Bedtime stories, of course, weaving together tales of spring, summer, autumn & winter. Inventive puppetry, original music & gentle humour abound in this delightful production, specially designed for 3 to 7 year olds. Children are invited to bring a teddy bear to share the performance. 50 mins. 2pm. 01405 763 652 www.junctiongoole.co.uk

24-25 JUNEThe Little MermaidJOSEPH ROWNTREE THEATREBased upon the original tale of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, this new show features an enchanting new script, original music, a live band & lots of under the sea creatures. A magical family show suitable for all ages. 01904 658197 www.jrtheatre.co.uk

table tots www.tabletots.co.uk

Families to Families Nearly New Table Top Sales 50 + tables available for hire at each

sale on www.tabletots.co.uk Events are for Baby & Tots items up to age 10

7 May Hull, Wyke 6th Form College 8 May Cullingworth, Parkside School

14 May York Energise Leisure Centre, Acomb15 May Guiseley, Aireborough Leisure Centre

22 May Rothwell, Sports Centre29 May Rothwell Craft & Gift Fair, Sports

Centre11 June Cottingham, High School

26 June Horsforth, Leeds Trinity University

12 JUNSummer family nature walkFOUNTAINS ABBEY & STUDLEY ROYAL WATER GARDEN It’s a busy time in the garden for bees, bugs & birds & you can enjoy the fantastic colours & scents of summer as you explore with the gardeners. 2-3pm.01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

16-17 JUN

Bushcraft Weekend.MURTON PARKSee a variety of bushcraft & survival demonstrations taking place throughout the weekend. 01904 489966 www.murtonpark.co.uk

18 JUN

Pond Dipping DayFOUNTAINS ABBEY & STUDLEY ROYAL WATER GARDEN Newts, water lice, water boatmen, molluscs, pea mussels...there’s an extraordinary world just waiting to be discovered hiding under the surface of the still ponds in the water garden. Nets, identification charts & pots are provided so you can see what you might find. Pop along to the

water garden moon ponds to have a go at this drop-in session. 11am-3pm / Normal admission charges apply.01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden

18-19 JUN

Wartime Tea Party LOTHERTON HALLLotherton Hall’s annual event is back, but this time celebrating the forties over the whole weekend! Go along with your picnic & enjoy the swinging sounds & sights of the 1940s with live music, dancing, family activities & a street party. Dressing up is encouraged; prizes for the best dressed visitor. 11am-4pm.0113 378 2959 www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/Lotherton-Hall.aspx

19 JUN

Classic Cars for Father’s DayBRODSWORTH HALLThis Father’s Day, treat dad to a special day out where a beautiful collection of classic cars will be on display. Dads & car enthusiasts can learn about the various makes & models on display, with a chance to get insider knowledge from their owners too. 11am - 3pm.01302 722598 www.english-heritage.org.uk

19 JUNFather’s DayMURTON PARKVintage vehicles. 01904 489966 www.murtonpark.co.uk

19 JUN

Father’s DayTHORPE PERROW Free Tea & Cake with entry for Dad!www.thorpperrow.com

TICK TOCK7-19 June

OVER 100 FREE EVENTS TO EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN & INSPIRE

Highlights include:• Make a Lego Memory• Science out of the Lab

• York Art Gallery Storytelling • FestivalFringeFamilyFunAfternoon• Zombies in York

Talks – Exhibitions – Theatre – Music – Filmyorkfestivalofideas.com

Busy working parents can heave a sigh of relief as Ultimate Activity Camps are running their outstanding holiday activity programmes in the area for children aged 4-14 years! With over 25 years’ experience of running first-class holiday camps, Ultimate Activity Camps offer the opportunity for children to have fun, meet friends and learn new skills during the school holidays. From swimming, zorbing and tennis to archery, art and fencing, there are over 40 games, sports or creative activities on offer giving children a new experience every day.All Ultimate Activity Camps are Ofsted-registered children’s activity day camps that have been rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ and offer an exciting range of over 40 activities delivered by inspiring and enthusiastic staff. Whether children are new to holiday clubs or seasoned ‘campers’, their team will instruct and encourage children to try new activities and build self-confidence – and naturally have lots of fun!They run at some of the best schools in the country which offer first-class facilities including indoor heated pools, sports pitches, sports halls and indoor space, the perfect setting for holiday fun whether for a day or several weeks – the choice is yours (or your child’s!).Some locations also offer brilliant story-led Survival courses.To start your child’s holiday adventure, visit their website www.ultimateactivity.co.uk which explains everything about their locations, dates, activities and special offers, or you can call them on 0844 870 7077.

Ultimate Activity Camps – inspiring children every day!

www.ultimateactivity.co.uk 0844 870 7077

From swimming, zorbing and tennis to archery, art and cookery - a new experience every day!

NEW!

Book by 14 June

£20

Free trial session - book today!

www.explorelearning.co.uk

ages 5 -14

Award-winning

maths & English tuition

New skillsConfidence

Enthusiasm

York01904 406 355