hereford & worcester issue no 43 january/february 2017 www

Issue No 43January/February 2017

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Hereford & Worcester

Really useful information for parents of 0-12 year olds in Hereford & Worcester

2 Families Hereford & Worcester To advertise call: 01684 770566 January - February 2017

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Circulation: 22,000 copies of Families Hereford & Worcester are available through nurseries, pre-schools, schools, libraries, soft play centres, selected shops and other distribution points throughout the county. If you would like free copies for your organisation or if you would like to subscribe so you don’t miss an issue please contact us. Families Hereford & Worcester is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Temple House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Hereford & Worcester 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.’ Print: The Manson Group, Reynolds House, 8 Porters Wood, Valley Road Industrial Estate, St Albans. AL3 6PZ. Tel: 01727 848 440.

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Dear readers

Editor’s Letter

…and suddenly the kids are back at school! Where did the Christmas holiday go?

If you, like me, are a busy working Mum then you may be interested in our in-terview with Joanne Harris, mother and best selling author of Chocolat. Harris was born into a bilin-gual family with a French mother and a British father and her success illustrates the importance of speaking two languages at home. We discuss the practicalities of raising children to be bilingual at home in a feature in this issue.

We also take a look at the benefits of encouraging children to play a musical instrument, to learn computer coding and to enjoy the pleasures of gardening. And we have some helpful advice for those of you with younger children who are look-ing at selecting a nursery.

I would like to wish you all a happy and peaceful 2017.

Diane Clifford. Editor 01684 770566 [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter @FamiliesHW

Brain Tumour Research’s national spinnathon event is returning on Saturday 25 February. Could you lead a team? Gathering a group of friends, family or work colleagues is the most fun and easy way of taking part and raising sponsorship.

Choose a location; either approach your local gym or become the team leader at your nearest Xercise4Less - the national sponsor for On Yer Bike. Take turns, or pedal for the entire duration and you will be helping to raise funds and awareness for brain tumours! www.braintumourresearch.org/onyerbike

On Yer Bike For Brain Tumours

Would you like to advertise your

business to over 44,000 parents in our

March/April Easter issue

of Families Hereford & Worcester?

Book Today01684 770566

[email protected]

Next issue March/April. Booking Deadline 3 February

2 News & Views

4 Education

8 Ed’s Reading Room

9 Clubs And Classes

12 Mums In Business

14 Gardening

15 What’s On

In this issue You and your family can take part in this year's garden bird survey being organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). All you need to do is to count the different birds you spot in your garden over three days and record what you see. The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch takes place between 28-30 January. ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch

Big Garden Birdwatch

Supermarket ready meals are responsible for a startling decline in the cooking ability of our children, according to research. Our children's cookery skills have declined by a third in a generation thanks to these pre-packed meals, according to the study conducted for appliance manufacturer Samsung. While the same research also shows that fussy eaters are partly responsible for UK families binning up to a fifth of the food they buy each week – a huge waste.

Samsung has teamed up with 2015 Masterchef finalist Emma Spitzer to produce a free digital book with easy recipes that all kids should be able to cook for themselves by the age of 11. The list includes: omelette, spaghetti bolognese and pancakes. In the foreword to the book Spitzer writes: “As a parent, I’m always aware of what my children are eating, making sure they have a balanced diet and trying to avoid wasting too much of my weekly shop.” Download the book here: www.samsung.com/uk/pdf/easykidsrecipes/samsung-family-hub-easy-kids-recipes.pdf

Children’s Cooking Skills Impaired By Ready Meals

3January - February 2017 To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: [email protected]

News & Views

Private schools will offer to provide up to 10,000 free school places a year to children from low-income families in England.

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) says if the government pays £5,550 per place – the cost of a place in the state system – the remainder of the cost will be covered by the schools.

The ISC was responding to pressure from the government to do more for their state school counterparts in return for charitable status, which allows for tax breaks. The scheme, which would test some children on academic ability, would be open to primary and secondary school-age children.

A newly-launched research project aims to discover the influence technology has on children's learning, social interactions and play, from birth to 47 months - and parents are invited to join in. Dr Elena Hoicka and PhD students from the University of Sheffield's Department of Psychology are looking to discover whether technology, such as tablets, is good for children's development, bad, or a bit of both.

The survey asks questions about how long children use different types of technology - such as a tablet or a television the previous day. It also asks questions about how children prefer to learn, what children understand about other people, and whether and how children engage in pretend play.

Parents of children with low activities levels, such as newborns, are also invited to participate, as the researchers are interested in how technology impacts children right from the beginning. All participants will then be invited to repeat the survey six months later, which allows researchers to determine whether or not technology has had an impact.

At the end of the survey, parents will receive a summary of their child's learning style, social understanding, and play. To sign up or read more, go to: https://babylovesscience.com/babylovesscience.com.

Free Places At Private Schools

Should You Let Your Child Use A Tablet?

Dancefest’s spring term of weekly classes for all ages across Herefordshire and Worcestershire starts on Monday 9 January. Dancefest nurtures children from their first dance steps at Parents and Wobblers, through to Dance Clubs and Dancemakers, developing expressive and strong dancers, and supports young people studying dance at secondary school and college with weekly technique and creative classes.

You can find out more on their website at dancefest.co.uk or by ringing 01905 611199. Go along and try a class for yourself?

Keep Fit Dancing For All Ages

Auditions for child performers needed for two stage productions will be taking place from the end of January, according to Worcester-based All Sorts of Performing Arts Limited. All Sorts is looking for new members for forthcoming productions of The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan.

There are limited places so if your child aged from 8 years would love the opportunity to perform then find out more and get in touch with All Sorts at: www.allsortsofpa.co.uk/

All Sorts of Performing Arts is Worcester's Community Theatre and Dance School. It is operated by qualified teachers with the support of volunteers. All the staff have a passion to support students on their progression within the performing arts.

All Sorts Call For New Stars


YES. A 30% IMPROVEMENT IN MATHS. SHALL I EXPLAIN THE FIGURES?

/explorelearning@exploretutors

Our maths and English tutors are here to build confidence, and we’ve got independent research to prove the difference we make.

Explore fearless learning today by calling 030 3003 4006 to book your free trial.

explorelearning.co.uk

Explore Learning explains the importance of being fearless.

For us, a child’s educational journey goes beyond acing a quick spelling test or getting to the top of the class for a term. It is about building long-lasting confidence that takes them through their entire life, whether it is through developing a ‘have a go attitude’, or knowing it is alright to put their hand up without fear of a ‘silly’ question being mocked, or simply feeling excited about their next step.

It is about nurturing a sense of pride, and a fearless attitude to learning, so that every child can become their version of amazing.

Our incredible tutors are there to support every step of the way. Rather than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’, they will ask: “are you sure?” or “can you convince me of your answer?”, allowing children to explore and push the boundaries of their thinking each day.

To celebrate the new year and all of the potential it brings, we would like to offer you a little something to help your child along their fearless learner journey. From the 16 January until the 28 February, you will save £50 when you join any one of our maths and English tuition centres.

To find out which tuition centre is closest to where you live and to book your free trial, check out our website: explorelearning.co.uk

A Fearless Start To The Year

Independent School Open Days

Education

Abberley Hall School, Worcestershire Board and day co-ed ages 2 – 13 years Saturday 25 February, 10.30am Contact 01299 896275 www.abberleyhall.co.uk

Bredon School, Tewkesbury Board and day co-ed ages 3 – 18 years Wednesday 18 January, 10.00am-12noon Contact 01684 293156 www.bredonschool.org

Hereford Cathedral School, Hereford Day co-ed ages 3 – 18 years Friday 10 March, 9.45am (Junior School) Contact 01432 363511 www.herefordcs.com

King’s St Albans, Worcester Day co-ed ages 4 – 11 years Open Week 23 -27 January Saturday 14 January (Lego Worshop) Contact 01905 354906 King’s Senior, Worcester Day co-ed ages 11 - 18 years Saturday 21 January 9.30am-12.30pm Contact 01905 721742 www.ksw.org.uk

Malvern St James, Malvern Board and day all girls ages 4 - 18 years Wednesday 1 February Contact 01684 892288 www.malvernstjames.co.uk

RGS, Worcester Day co-ed ages 2 – 18 years Saturday 21 January (The Grange - ages 2-11) 9.30am-12.30pm Saturday 28 January (Springfield - ages 2-11) 9.00am-12.00pm Saturday 14 January (Senior) 9.00am-12.00pm Contact 01905 613391 www.rgsw.org.uk

The Downs, Malvern Board and day co-ed ages 2 – 13 years Monday 1 May, 9.30am-4.30pm Contact 01684 544 100 www.thedownsmalvern.org.uk


Education

REGIA

SCHOLA

VIGORN

IENSIS

Abberley Hall School

Let the adventure begin…

Nursery, Pre-Prep & Prep Boarding & Day School for 2-13 years

Mr Will Lockett, Headmaster e. [email protected] t. 01299 896275

Abberley Hall, Worcestershire WR6 6DD www.abberleyhall.co.uk

King’s St Alban’s caters for children aged 4 to 11 in vibrant classrooms nestled in a beautiful setting in the heart of Worcester. Children join our school at all year groups and our links with King’s Worcester allow for a seamless journey

from Reception right through their Primary years and onto King’s Senior School.

We nurture the potential of every child and ensure that all interests and talent are given space and

opportunity to grow. With wrap-around care from 8am until 6pm each day included in the fees, the benefits of a King’s education go even further.

From 23 to 27 January we invite you to join us for our Open Week. For children considering joining Years 3 to 6 we are hosting our fantastic Lego Workshop on 14 January, building a Lego city, with roads, railways, sky scrapers and maybe a football stadium or a volcano too! King’s St Alban’s could be the best decision you make for your child. Call our Registrar, Mrs Louise Robins, on 01905 354906 or email [email protected] to book a place at these events.

A Special Place To Be

Abberley Hall Pre-Prep and Nursery is a co-educational school for children aged 2 to 7. Set in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside, it stands in about 90 acres. This remarkable setting allows for a real sense of freedom and our children spend a great deal of time outdoors, whether in our Forest School, playing Games or taking part in activities.

We believe that a child’s early years at school are formative and critical to their future school career. At the Pre-Prep and Nursery we aim to provide a secure and caring environment in which every child can fulfil his or her academic, creative, physical and personal potential.

Children in the Pre-Prep and Nursery enjoy excellent resources and facilities both in areas designed specifically for them and making full use of the Prep School’s extensive facilities. Children are taught music, drama, French and PE by Prep School staff from an early age. Academic syllabuses are also coordinated between the two schools. The Pre-Prep and Prep Schools share a culture of providing a broad education from 2-13 years, giving our children a host of opportunities.

Come and visit us at our Open Day on Saturday 25 February at 10.30am. The friendly atmosphere, and the buzz of happy children working and playing will hopefully give you the feel of the school. Call our Registrar, Mrs Gill Portsmouth, on 01299 896101 or email: [email protected]

A Wonderful Adventure

6

Education

Families Hereford & Worcester To advertise call: 01684 770566 January - February 2017

Infants and young children have an impressive capacity for learning languages. They are curious, very eager to communicate and their brains are designed for fast learning. Bilingual families have an interesting opportunity of making the most of these early learning capacities in teaching their children two languages from birth. There are several interesting advantages to raising bilingual children.

Dr Evelyne Mercure

1. Bilingualism does not cause language delays. Bilingual children usually learn two languages at the same pace as monolingual children are learning one. Bilinguals may sometimes appear to know less words than monolinguals, but this is usually because their vocabulary is divided between two languages.

2. Learning two languages encourages children to think about languages. Bilingualism attracts children’s attention to language itself, making children more aware of the sounds, words and regularities in languages. This gives them a head start in school when learning phonics or grammar rules.

3. Bilingualism might make your child better at multi-tasking or listening to someone speaking in a noisy environment. When speaking one of their languages, bilinguals must inhibit the impulse to use words in their other language. To achieve this task, they activate parts of their brain involved in cognitive control. This extra practice at controlling their own thoughts may lead to a ‘bilingual advantage’ in certain cognitive tasks.

Little Bilingual Brains4. Mastering two languages will give children a better understanding of their family’s cultural background. The most unique aspects of a culture always risk getting lost in translation. For this reason, being bilingual helps children become ‘bicultural’, making them more aware of cultural differences and more likely to take part in two cultures.

Every family and every child is different. There are a million different ways of raising bilingual children and the most important is to find a way that feels right for your family. Here are a few tips that can help making these decisions.

1. Maximise face-to-face communication. From the first days of life, babies love making eye contact and hearing their loved ones speak, vocalise and sing. Face-to-face communication is the motor of language learning and early experience is key.

2. Have a plan. It is important to think about what ‘bilingualism’ means for your family. Would you like your child to have a basic understanding of another language? Are you hoping for your child to be fluent in two languages? Or read and write in two different languages? Make sure you provide plenty of experience for your child to achieve each of these goals. It might be a good idea to decide on a language to be used at home. One parent may decide to use one language when addressing their child, while the other parent will use a different language.

3. Keep it fun. Your child’s motivation to learn each of their languages will make a huge difference to their achievement. A child may find it unpleasant if they feel constantly tested and criticised when speaking. The main focus should be on what is being said and not how it is being said.

4- Find role models. One way of keeping their motivation up, may be to involve people who are not fluent in your child’s dominant language. This may encourage them to use a language they are less comfortable in. It will also

show them that this language is spoken by people other than mum and/or dad.

Children will also learn a lot from other children, especially older ones.

Offering a bilingual environment is a life long richness a child will benefit from.

They may not only learn two languages, but also a new way of thinking about cultural diversity. Make the most of their

incredible language learning abilities!

Evelyne Mercure studied Speech & Language Pathologies, Neuroscience and Psychology. She is an ESRC fellow at UCL

Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience.


Education

28 January 20179.00am - 12.00noon

01905 24999

21 January 20179.30am - 12.30pm

01905 451205

www.rgsw.org.uk

Open Days

‘Excellent in all areas’ - ISI Inspection

Choosing a Nursery can seem very hard. How do you know what will suit the needs of your child and who will you trust to look after your child in what may be their first experience of being away from you or close family members?

It is important that your child continues to thrive, flourish and develop - socially, cognitively, emotionally, physically and that they are happy to come to Nursery, have great fun learning new things and making new friends. Nursery should give your child opportunities that are not easily available at home.

Each nursery is different and all have a distinctive ethos but it helps if you know what matters to you and what you wish to develop in your child.

Things to look for when visiting a Nursery: 1. See how staff and pupils are interacting, is there lots of good talking and smiling faces? 2. Are staff playing/interacting with the children? 3. Are the children engaged and focused on what they’re doing? 4. Is the Nursery well organised? 5. Are there lots of activities and resources that children can access independently? 6. Is there some structure, for small groups to work with staff on key areas such as literacy and numeracy? 7. Can children move freely round the setting or are they in the same space all the time? 8. Is there scope for different ages to mix and mingle and to develop their social skills. 9. Can the children learn indoors and outdoors? Is there free access to an outdoor area? 10. What is the communication like between home and Nursery? Ideally there should be clear and regular communication about your child and their next steps.

At RGS, Worcester they believe a happy child is one that is well on their way to making the best possible start to their educational journey. With two nursery settings – RGS The Grange and RGS Springfield, they believe that an education from 2-18 years is invaluable and welcome you to come along to an Open Morning where they can show you. www.rgsw.org.uk

An educational journey: A time to flourish and make new friends

Which Nursery?

8

Clubs And Classes


Kids of all abilities love Swim Academy! Our expert teachers carefully nurture your child’s

confidence, developing an effortless swimming style and gaining

life-saving skills, all while having fun!

Swim Academy age 4-10Your childhas the

potential

We have the expertise

10% off first term fees

*T&Cs apply

tel: 01905 888346 visit:puddleducks.com/worcestershire [email protected]

www.allsortsofpa.co.uk • 01905 726727

Auditions In JanuaryThe Wizard of Oz & Peter Pan

New Members Welcome. 8yrs +

Brand NewMusic Classes:Guitar, Drums, Song writing and RecordingRegular ClassesCheerdance, Musical Theatre, Ballroom, Ballet, Tap, Theatre Art, Drama, Formation & Show Dance, Social Dancing and Street Tap.

Half-Term Workshop

24 Feb

FREE OPENDAYWorcester Woods

Country Park14 JanuaryNew Venue

New Classes

see website for all venues, classes and timetables

Ed’s Reading Room

Ed’s Reading Room is part of www.edontheweb.com, a DTI award-winning website. It was created by Maggie Humphreys, a teacher of more than 25 years, and Les Snowdon, who together are authors of several books on fitness walking and healthy eating. You can contact Maggie on 01753 730019 or by email at [email protected].

See Maggie’s latest ebooks at www.WalkWalk.co.uk.

Hi book lovers everywhere. Happy New Year! I’m Ed and here is my New Year book

selection of fantastic recently published books for you to enjoy. Have fun reading! www.EdontheWeb.com

FOR AGES 5-7 YEARS

Dotty Detective: The Paw Print Puzzle by Clara Vulliamy (HarperCollins £5.99) ED SAYS: ‘Dot, her best friend Beans and Dot’s dog McClusky are ready for their latest tricky case but their detective work must remain top secret. Strange noises at night are enough to convince them that

something spooky is happening but, as all super sleuths know, they must get proof and for this they need a genius plan. It’s just as well the intrepid trio love solving puzzles.’

Marge in Charge by Isla Fisher (Piccadilly Press £5.99) ED SAYS: ‘Jemima and Jake are not looking forward to meeting their new baby sitter. When they see a tiny lady with a woolly hat they are definitely not thrilled but the moment their parents leave Marge takes off her hat revealing multi-coloured hair – and a multi-coloured personality! They are enthralled when she tells them she is a duchess, she was brought up in a royal palace and has ten pets. Great fun ensues and the children can’t wait for the next time Marge is in charge!’

The Royal Rabbits of London by Santa Montefiore and Simon Sebag Montefiore (Simon & Schuster £10.99)

ED SAYS: ‘Shylo the young rabbit dreams of adventures. He wishes that instead of being

the smallest and quietest of his family he could be the cleverest and most courageous. When the opportunity arises for Shylo to go on a quest to enter the world of the royal rabbits of London and help them to defend the Queen, will he be able to summon up the courage he thinks he lacks? Can the smallest ever be the biggest in the field of heroics?

The Thornthwaite Betrayal by Gareth P Jones (Piccadilly Press £6.99)

ED SAYS: ‘Peace reigns at last between the twins Lorelli and Ovid in the remains of the burnt-out Thornthwaite Manor, but for how long? When strange goings-on begin to happen including some near-fatalities they wonder who is behind such dreadful deeds. They are not trying to harm each other so they wonder who exactly is behind the Thornthwaite betrayal? There are a few suspects!’

FOR AGES 7 YEARS PLUS

Aspire Active Camps provide sports and activity childcare during every school holiday throughout the year for children between 4-14 years old. Our number one aim is to ensure your child has fun. However, safety is paramount and as an Ofsted registered provider, we give you peace of mind in knowing that your child is cared for in the best environment possible.

To provide the greatest affordability, we have fantastic early booking offers for those booking in advance. We also offer discounts and a loyalty scheme to our valued customers. As we are Ofsted registered you are also able to pay via childcare vouchers.

This February half term we are running several Active Camps throughout the Midlands including Hagley, Bromsgrove and Alvechurch. We have a range of activities such as Multi Sports Academy, which has an exciting timetable including scooters, nerf target games and skid bikes, Football Academy, Gym Beatz and Dance & Stage Beatz. www.aspire-sports.co.uk

Half Term Childcare Will be Action Packed


Clubs And Classes

9

Established 1992Fully Qualified Instructors

Specialised Classes 4 – 16 yearsBeginners, Intermediate & Advanced

Monday: St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Droitwich Spa

5.30 – 6.30 pmTuesday: Woodrush High School,

Worcester 5.30 – 6.30 pmWed & Fri: The Parish Centre,

Barnt Green 5.30 – 6.30 pmFriday: Parkside Middle School,

Bromsgrove 3.40 – 4.40 pmSaturday: St Peters RC First School,

Bromsgrove 9.15–10.15 am

Train with Sensei Jags Shoker, 3rd Dan

www.kombatkids.com01543 473408 / 07730 899722

[email protected]

Special offer 5 FREE

lessons

Call 01684 770566 if you are interested in advertising in the

March/April Easter Issue

What is coding? Coding can be difficult to understand, as there is no limit to how advanced and detailed it is. But coding is basically what makes the programmes in computer systems and technology that we use every day. It tells our computers and smartphones what to do; from setting a spin cycle on a washing machine to sending an email on your laptop.

So why do our children need to learn to code? Teaching children coding is quickly becoming a vital part of their education, and is even now a part of the national curriculum. For children, learning at a young age will test them and encourage them to think differently in order to work around a problem. Coding is a great way for children to develop important problem-solving skills, in a way which interests and fulfils them. After learning

the basics for yourself, you will quickly recognise the similarities between learning to code and learning another language. Technology is such a vital part of our lives now, and it will only continue to develop more as time goes on. So, computer skills are a fundamental part of a child's education in order for them to continue to understand the modern world and thrive in it. With more careers available in technology than ever before, computer sciences are becoming important for job opportunities.

How can you teach coding to your child? Any child that can use a smartphone or tablet can learn some level of coding and programming. Here are a couple of ways to help your little ones: Daisy the Dinosaur app This free app is ideal for younger children and teaches them the very basics of coding while making it feel like a fun and colourful game. They quickly pick up the rules and methods, while making Daisy the dinosaur dance around on the screen. Hopscotch Created by the same people as Daisy the Dinosaur, this app is ideal for teaching yourself and your children the coding basics in a slightly more in depth way. This app has won many awards. It allows children to make and play on their own games, publishing them online for others to see as well. Code.org This website was launched in 2013 with the aim to expand access to computer science developments. The creators want to increase the diversity of programmers, and encourage young girls and underrepresented minorities to become more involved in coding. This site is brilliant for learning at home and in the classroom. For more ideas visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/education

Local Coding Club Malvern Raspberry Pi Jam Wyche Innovation Centre - third Wednesday of each month. www.wyche-innovation.com/events

Get Coding Together Computers and technology are fast taking over the modern world, and becoming an integral part of our lives. While previous generations did not have access to this technology until they grew older, nowadays computer sciences are present in children's lives from a much younger age.

• Mini Movers • Dance Clubs • Youth Dance • Contemporary • Urban Dance • Choreography • After school clubs

dancefest.co.uk 01905 611199

Weekly Dance Classes For All Ages

10

Clubs and Classes


Many parents encourage their children to play a musical instrument and the younger they begin, the more they can benefit. This guide aims to assist parents unsure of why their children should begin and what skills are required.

By Sally J Hall

Firstly, and most importantly, learning a musical instrument is hugely beneficial to your child’s development. Whether they wish to be the next Chopin or Joe Satriani, the art of music can only be positive for your son or daughter.

When should your child begin lessons? Although some parents start their children at three, most teachers would agree that seven is ideal for several reasons;

they must be able to hold the instrument, be able to grasp simple music notation and have the attention span required.

What skills are important? Notes in music range from A to G. As long as your children know this, forwards and backwards, they can start to read and learn music! Obviously, an idea of co-ordination is useful. Your child will need to have an idea whether they want to play left-handed or right-handed. This will most often be the way that feels most natural to them, but as the adult it is important to know that left-handed equipment is often not as easy to find.

What is needed? Purchasing the instrument is the easiest way to ensure your child is going to progress as quickly as possible, however, this is

It’s Time For Some Fine Tuning

How To Incorporate Music Into Your Day Tone, rhythm and pitch Babies love to listen to voices, and very early on they will recognise the tone, rhythm and pitch of a familiar voice. During their first year, children will pick up all the sounds they need to know so that they can learn and develop the ability to speak. How to incorporate music into your day 1. It is never too early to expose your child to live music. Go along to local dress rehearsals for shows and concerts and stop to watch the buskers and live bands. 2. Instead of humming the tune of your favourite nursery rhyme, use different sounds to make up the tune - this way you are allowing your child to hear single syllable and vowel sounds from their mother tongue. 3. Try to punctuate your day with familiar tunes and rhymes so that your child associates a happy routine with positive musical sounds. For example, you could sing a 'getting up and getting dressed song' and a 'getting ready for bed song'. 4. Dance and sing all the time! 5. Attend a local baby music class such as Monkey Music. 6. Have musical toys and baby friendly musical instruments around to play with. Source: Dr Carla Hannaford, Smart Moves: Why Learning is not all in your Head.

Encourage to play: learning a musical instrument is hugely beneficial to your child’s development


Clubs and Classes

Teachers required. Full training provided. Call for

Monkey Music classes are held at three venues near to you. 1. Arrow Valley Visitor Centre Batterns Drive, Redditch. B98 0LJ 2. Worcester Woods Countryside Centre Wildwood Drive, Worcester, WR5 2LG 3. Hampton Guide, Scout and Community Hall, Pershore Road, Evesham, WR11 2PQ

Monkey Music Redditch & Worcester E: [email protected] T: 01527 62378

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Creative Courage For Life

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BROMSGROVE 01926 651 [email protected]/bromsgrove

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WORCESTER 01926 [email protected]/worcester

not the cheapest option! It may be worth talking to local schools and clubs about hiring the equipment in the first instance, but if the student has the instrument at home, they will be far more likely to practise. You can buy music books including grade books, however, most music can now be found for free or at a small cost online.

How often should they practise? One lesson a week is ideal, so as not to over-burden the youngster. Practice really is up to the individual, but research would suggest if your child practices at least once more a week, they will improve far faster.

How does learning music benefit a young person? Academic studies Learning a musical instrument is proven to help your child in school-related activities. If they are learning about beat, rhythm and rhyme, in essence, they are also learning how to divide, create fractions and recognise patterns. The art of studying music and lyrics will also help to improve a child’s short-term memory and, if continued, their long-term memory too. It is also widely believed that the scientific principles of strumming a guitar or playing a violin can aid the basic understanding of subjects such as physics. Cool, huh?

Physicality Learning instruments such as the drums, percussion or even the double bass can help youngsters develop physically too. Co-ordination and motor skills benefit most specifically, yet in addition, a lot of instruments are high energy, helping your child enjoy and feel the creative flow of the activity, while letting off excess energy! Also, learning to cope with uncomfortable positions for short periods of time helps increase ambidexterity.

Patience Your child will also learn the key components of patience and delayed gratification. Learning to play with others at different levels is one of the key elements of contemporary music and helps increase acceptance levels in the young. In addition, some tricky instruments like the violin or piano, have a steep learning curve, so it teaches young people adult traits at an earlier age, giving them an advantage as they move through into adulthood.

Self-esteem Self-esteem will be boosted as your child is likely to meet new people, as well as master an art form.

Thinking about cost A music lesson can vary quite considerably in price, ranging from £15 up to £40. This will depend on the quality of the teacher or location. Make sure you shop around and get the teacher that you want. In essence, you need to know what it is you want your child to gain from the experience and make sure the teacher you choose is the sort of individual your child can learn from and grow a special bond with.

So hopefully it is clear to see the benefits of learning to play a music instrument. Whether an African drum or the simple recorder, the benefits of learning could be limitless. To find more information on music classes visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/activities


Mums In Business

To mark National Storytelling Week (30 January – 6 February), international best-selling author Joanne Harris spoke to Families about life as a writer, how storytelling has evolved through social media, and gives her advice for those with a passion for writing.

The success of Chocolat kick-started your career as an author - was it an easy decision to retire from teaching? Writing is generally a job that doesn’t make a lot of money, and nearly all writers have another job. For my first three published books I was a teacher and if one of my books hadn’t been unexpectedly successful I would have stayed a teacher. When you reach a certain level of success it is very difficult to do the two things at once, so I gave up teaching. I thought then temporarily, and it turned out to be permanent.

How did it feel when you found out that Chocolat was being made into a film? I did not believe it at first, because books get optioned all the time, but very rarely do they end up making films. I started to pay attention when they started filming, and when they invited me on set, when it was clear something was actually happening. By then it did not really have much to do with me, so I was able to enjoy it in a different way. It was very nicely done and they deserved the success it had.

Do you ever meet people and think they would make a great character in a book? I am borrowing from people all the time. It’s part of being a writer, using the experiences you have with people and

Joanne Harris: Picture courtesy of Kyte Photography

conversations; things you’ve noticed about them, and you filter them through this process. I don’t think I’ve ever actually put someone in a book, but I think we all borrow extensively from other people around us.

How long does it usually take you to write a book? I’m usually working on more than one thing. Some have taken me 10 years to finish, some only one. Some I’ve started and then finished 5,10 or 15 years later. I tend to start things off and then quite often put them on the back burner for a bit, work on something else and then go back. Sometimes I just need to let it lie, do some research, or work out a plot construction.

Author Joanne Harris Speaks to Families

Kate and Olivia at KO Sport have been providing fitness classes and personal training for the last five years. With years of experience between them they have helped countless clients reach their personal fitness goals; whether this be to lose weight, build muscle/tone up, adopt a healthier lifestyle or even compete in triathlons and other sporting events. Both business partners have been sporty all their lives; competing at a high level in athletics, running and hockey; playing in team sports such as football, touch rugby, netball and entering a variety of events such as triathlons and mud runs. They have also had periods where they've had to work hard to lose weight (post babies), battle injuries and also times where they've pushed their bodies to reach a

sporting goal. This means that they take this understanding and knowledge and apply it into their mentoring and training to tailor your personal programme.

What can you expect from your personal training? 1. Expert nutritional advice suitable for your activity levels 2. Workouts to suit your lifestyle and goals 3. Health check to include blood pressure and benchmark fitness testing 4. Regular feedback, progress tracking and goal setting

Classes cost from £4.00 - £5.00. Any further information on the class and if it is suitable for you can be found on their website at

www.kosport.co.uk or call Kate or Olivia on 01905 840 396.

Reach Your Personal Fitness Level With KO Sport

Cut out the voucher to receive your first fitness class for FREE. Spaces are limited so call first.


Mums In Business

Jayne Prichard, Lily Hartin and Fern Fellowes-Day all have something in common! They are all mums to young children (six between them) and they are also the new owners of mum2mum market franchises. Jayne (pictured top right) recently purchased Herefordshire and Lily and Fern; Worcestershire (pictured bottom right).

Jayne is starting her franchise business from scratch with mum2mum markets being new to Herefordshire. Jayne, based in Munsley near Ledbury, is mum to George (5) and Max (18 months) and also works as a part-time paediatric speech therapist. After being both a seller and buyer at mum2mum markets in other areas, Jayne decided the absence of the franchise from Herefordshire was a great opportunity for her to run her own business tailored to her family life.

Lily and Fern, who are sisters, live in Worcester. Lily is mum to Beatrice (3) and Kiefer (9 months) and Fern to Rohan (5) and Ivy (7 months). Fern runs an ecological consultancy company and Lily is a FMCG buyer. However, when the opportunity arose to purchase the Worcestershire mum2mum franchise from the previous owner, they couldn’t resist. The sisters are combining forces to expand on the success of the franchise in Worcester.

Mum2mum markets allow local Mums (and Dads!) to sell their pre-loved maternity, baby and kid’s equipment and clothes, whilst keeping 100% of profits. It is a great platform for bringing sellers and buyers together in a niche market. For more information Jayne can be contacted at: [email protected] and Lily and Fern at: [email protected]. To book a stall go to www.mum2mummarket.co.uk/book-a-stall.html

Local mum2mum

Author Joanne Harris Speaks to FamiliesYou’re very active on social media, do you think this new digital age we’re living has changed the way people tell stories? I think it’s had an impact on the whole of the book business in a lot of ways, some good, some bad. What it has done is given us more access to each other and provides a much more interactive side to telling stories. I tell my #Storytime stories on Twitter, and you really feel as if you’re talking to people, because it’s a very conversational medium, which is its charm.

It’s National Storytelling Week in January, what advice would you give to children or adults if they have a passion for writing and want to take it to the next level? To be a professional writer you have to write, a lot, and understand that a lot of it will be bad but practice makes you better. So start writing, and don’t worry too much about where you are heading. Also read a lot, because the more you read the more you realise how writing works and why it’s good and why it fails, and just keep improving all the time.

Have you faced any challenges when writing books, and what did you learn from them? It’s useful to keep an open mind. There is no way you can please everyone all the time. Learn to live with criticism even if you think it is unfair and still do what you are doing. If you are absolutely convinced that your book is a masterpiece, but people read it and think it’s rubbish, then there’s probably some truth in it. However, keep believing you can do it, and learn from mistakes, acknowledge them and move on.

Do you have any new books or projects that our readers can look out for? I’ve got an illustrated book of the Storytime stories coming out, hopefully next year, called Honeycomb. I’m also working on a sequel to The Gospel of Loki, which hopefully will come out the year after next. I’ve also got another illustrated project, which may or may not come out next year.

Favourite childhood book(s)/ author? Ray Bradbury - Something Wicked This Way Comes

Favourite character you’ve created? The villain in Gentlemen and Players

Favourite book/story you’ve written? The Gospel of Loki

Favourite writing drink and food? Tea and toast

The best thing about being an author? Spending my life doing something I love, and getting it out to people who also love it.

For more information on Joanne Harris and her work, go to www.joanne-harris.co.uk


Gardening

Gardening can be a great way to get your kids playing outside, learning about nature and engaging with the environment. From the smallest seed in a pot to growing huge sunflowers in the garden, your children will love getting their hands dirty and watching their garden grow. Here are a few creative ways to encourage your child to start gardening.

Do a treasure hunt! Every child loves hunting for treasure, and what better way to get them outside than to go on a nature hunt? You'd be surprised how many different species are in your garden - dandelions, vegetables, woodlice, earthworms. See who can find the most different animals and plants. If they don't know what it is, help them to find out on the internet. This is something you can keep up throughout the year, encouraging them to observe the changing seasons and what plants grow at different times.

Encourage your kids to take their favourite toys outside... ...and build miniature worlds for them. Help them create a race course with ramps for toy cars, a jungle for their favourite animals to hide in or a fairy-tale wood for their princess dolls. Encourage them to think about what their little world looks like, and start to name the plants with them while they play.

Grow your own dinner! There's nothing better than eating peas straight out of the pod or picking your first strawberry, and all of these can be grown in your own garden. If you're not hugely confident with gardening, cress is the best place to start, and you can grow it on your window sill. It's a great way for children to learn about how plants grow, watching seeds turn into tasty snacks. It can encourage your children to try new foods, after all - they grew it themselves, and it can add to their important 5-a-day! Some

great fruits and vegetables to grow with your little ones are carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, courgettes, salad leaves, herbs, peas and potatoes. Grandparents are great at this kind of knowledge: why not organise a trip to a garden centre with them to choose seeds and plants?

Create a wildlife garden Kids love animals, bugs and creepy crawlies, and a wildlife garden can be a great way to get them stuck into gardening. Plant flowers such as lavender, honeysuckle and verbena to encourage butterflies and bees in the summer. Maybe think about building a pond to encourage frogs, dragonflies and water boatmen, and let your children learn about the life cycle as they turn from frog spawn to tadpoles to baby frogs. Encourage them to learn about and identify the different creatures and how to attract them to your garden and make new habitats and learn where animals live, from bug barns to hedgehog houses. Great fun!

Fill your garden with colours, smells and textures Choose bright flowers like geraniums, pansies and sunflowers so your kids can enjoy making the garden more beautiful. Choose strong smelling plants like honeysuckle, or plants that make interesting noises, like bamboo rustling in the breeze. Encourage your kids to make their garden their own.

Get messy! There is something so satisfying about getting all muddy: kids can not resist it. Gardening does not have to be about neat rows of flowers. Let your kids dig ‘til their hearts' content. If they can not get enough of mess, try making bird cakes to hang from the trees. Encourage your kids to get crafty in the garden, making everything from bottle top wind chimes to lolly ice stick plant markers, so they know which plant is which. For more awesome activities visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/activities

How To Get Kids Gardening

15

What’s On

January - February 2017 To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: [email protected]

THEATREArtrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove, B60 1AX 01527 577330, www.artrix.co.uk

The Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book is getting the Oddsocks treatment! Enjoy comical adventures of Mowgli the man cub as he battles to survive and become the leader of the pack. 15 January 7.00 pm, £15.00 adult, £13.00 students & over 60s, £9.00 under 16s.

Sid’s Deep Sea Discovery Show It is raining outside but there are plenty of fun things to do inside with Sid and his dog Fuzzy. Venture into a fish tank to discover what a mermaid is doing with Sid’s TV remote control, who has her pearls and whether Sid can make friends with a dangerous shark! 12 February 2.00 pm £13.00 adult, £11.00 under 16s.

Treasure Island - Cbeebies Spot Bots This laugh a minute show is jam-packed with swashbuckling, cheering, booing, puppets, lots of colourful costumes, slapstick fun and maybe even a monkey or two. 23 February 1.00 pm £12.00 adult, £10.00 under 16s, Family ticket £40.00

Evesham Arts Centre Theatre, Victoria Avenue, Evesham, Worcs, WR11 4QH 01386 48883, www.eveshamartscentre.co.uk

Alice in Wonderland Follow Alice and the White Rabbit as they set off on a musical, colourful, topsy-turvy adventure! 25 February 4.30 pm £10.00, £8.00

Malvern Theatres, Grange Road, Malvern, Worcs, WR14 3HB 01684 892277, www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

So You Think You Know About Dinosaurs Test your knowledge against Ben Garrod (the TV scientist in ‘Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur‘). With the help of TV film footage and photos of his own palaeontological dinosaur digs, he will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about dinosaurs – and more. 21 February 2.00pm £17.36 adult, £14 under 16s.

The Monday Night Group, The Civic Theatre Hall, Stourport-on-Severn 07593 175776 www.mondaynightgroup.org

Puss In Boots Monday Night Group in association with Crescents Ballet School present this popular pantomine. The Monday Night Group is a registered charity and performs an annual pantomime donating the profits to local community groups. Last year’s 50th anniversary production of Cinderella enabled us to give away our best ever total of £25,300 to 90 local groups. This year we hope our 51st production- Puss In Boots- will do even better. 27 January - 4 February 2017 Times and prices differ so check website

Norbury Theatre, Norbury House, Friar Street, Droitwich Spa, WR9 8ED 01905 770154, www.norburytheatre.co.uk

Cinderella This imaginative new version, comes complete with all the fun of the panto! 13 - 15, 19 - 22 and 26 - 28 January 7.30 pm and 2.30 pm (Sat and Sun). £12.00/£10.00

Number 8 Community Arts Centre, 8 High Street, Pershore, Worcs, WR10 1BG 01386 555488, www.number8.org

Don’t Dribble on the Dragon Based on the fabulous book by Steven Lee and with magic designed by the legendary Paul Daniels, this spectacular musical adventure is the perfect feel good show for big-hearted adults and loving little ones alike. 21 February 2.30 pm £8.50, £7.00 under 16

Little Shop of Horrors Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Youth Section transport you back to the 1960s and downtown New York city where a nerdy florist becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers a strange and exotic plant. An edge of seat musical. Perfect half-term treat for all your little horrors! 24 February 7.00 pm – 25 February 1.30 and 7.00 pm. £12, Matinee £10 (plus 85p per ticket fee if booked online)

The Palace Theatre, Alcester Street, Redditch, B98 8AE 01527 65203, www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk

Welsh Wrestling The Top rope flying, body slamming superstars of wrestling will dazzle you and amaze you in this one night wrestling extravaganza! Some of the top wrestlers in the country will be on hand. 28 January 6.30 pm £13.00, £10.00.

The Chris & Pui Show Incy Wincy, Twinkle, Old MacDonald, Humpty, Granny Humpty and many more of your favourite Chris & Pui characters will be dropping in along with the toys – Tom, Momo, Teddington, Stuffy and Miss Mouse. Bring your character toy along too. 22 February 11.00am and 2.00pm. £13.00, £11.00.

The Swan Theatre, The Moors, Worcester, WR1 3ED 01905 611427, www.worcesterlive.co.uk

Mother Goose The familiar tale of Priscilla and her golden eggs bringing fortune and downfall to Mother Goose is brought to life by the Kays panto cast and chorus. Great all round family entertainment with dancers from Harlequin Stage School will dispel any January blues. 26 January - 5 February Various times. £11.00

Uncle Bert’s Cow STAC presents children’s theatre. Does the horse that P.C. Bracket has found have anything to do with Uncle Bert’s missing cow? Major Disaster the bionic detective and his assistant Katy Holmes help to sort things out and try to stop Boris Badenough causing too much confusion. 4 February 10.30am and 11.45am. £2.25.

The Courtyard, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JR 01432 340555, www.courtyard.org.uk

Oddly A fun tale based on the much-loved children’s book written by author Joyce Dunbar. Norwich Puppet Theatre’s adaptation visually reimagines the story with a magical mix of puppetry, visual tricks, masks and original music. 21 January 11.00am £6.00. Courtyard Family Saturdays Pre-Activity from 10.30am: Wooden spoon puppet making.

The Snow Baby Beautiful tabletop puppetry, imaginative storytelling and music to give you goosebumps. Be swept away by Tomasin’s first solo

show, a gentle piece exploring family, love, and loss, with lots of music, confetti and funny bits for the whole family to enjoy! 18 February 11.00am £6.00. Courtyard Family Saturdays Pre-Activity 10.30am: Create a jam jar snow globe.

The Market Theatre, Market Street, Ledbury, HR8 2AQ www.themarkettheatre.com

Cinderella The popular tale of Cinderella has been brought to new, magical life by Paul Reakes. Whilst poor Cinderella is being forced to carry out the every wish of her cruel stepmother and ugly stepsisters, Mattie and Hattie, Prince Charming has left to travel the world and the land of Pantomania is governed by the selfish Duke of Verucca. 19 - 28 January 7.30 pm and 2.30 pm (Sat and Sun) £10.00, £6.00 child

MUSEUMS

Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, Worcs, B60 4JR 01527 831363, www.avoncroft.org.uk

Half Term Activities Construct And Create Come build with us and get involved with all our construction activities 21 -26 February

EVENTS

National Trust 0844 800 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk Croome Park, Croome D’Abitot, WR8 9DW Tel: 01905 371006

Panorama Tower Open Day Enjoy 360 degree views from the balcony of the Panorama Tower. Take a walk through the parkland to the building, or drive and then take a short walk to the building. 19 and 22 January 11.00am-2.00pm £1.50 per trail

Berrington Hall, near Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0DW Tel: 01568 615721

Look! Berrington In The Garden Trail Find out how the Georgian children played in the Berrington gardens. See if you can complete all of the clues so you can ‘wear the garden’ just like the Georgians did. 11-19 February 10.00am-4.00pm.

NEARLY NEW SALESHereford Leisure Centre, Homer Road, Hereford HR4 9JD [email protected]

Mum2Mum Market Hereford Over 25 stalls under one roof. Buy nearly new baby and children’s clothes, used toys and baby equipment at bargain prices, 28 January 10.30am - 12.30pm

RGS The Grange, Grange Lane, Claines, Worcester WR3 7RR [email protected]

Mum2Mum Market Worcester Over 25 stalls under one roof. Buy nearly new baby and children’s clothes, used toys and baby equipment at bargain prices 29 January 10.00am - 12.00pm

Construct& Create

Come build with usand get involved

with all ourconstruction

activities!

Museum

The Museum is 2 miles southof Bromsgrove off the A38

Sat Nav postcode - B60 4JR

FEB HALF TERMTues 21st Feb - Sun 26th Feb


Please mention you saw this event in Families Hereford & Worcester magazine

Construct& Create

Come build with usand get involved

with all ourconstruction

activities!

Museum

The Museum is 2 miles southof Bromsgrove off the A38

Sat Nav postcode - B60 4JR

FEB HALF TERMTues 21st Feb - Sun 26th Feb

Ofstedregistered

For more info visit aspire-sports.co.uk or call 0121 663 1979

Lots of activities and sportsto choose from

Choice of venues

£75DAYSFOR5

Monday 20th - Friday 24th FebruaryOpen from 8am - 6pm

AlvechurchAlvechurch Middle School andCrown Meadow First School

HagleyHagley High School

BromsgroveNorth Bromsgrove High School

Bookbefore 3rd

February and take advantage of our

Early birdo� ers!

We accept childcare vouchers

NewStandard

Hours8am - 4pm

Action-packedchildcare thisFebruaryHalf Term

hereford & worcester issue no 43 january/february 2017 www

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