Pull out and Keep Places to Visit in 2020 Competitions Holiday Camp Directory What’S on Easter Family Fun

IN THIS ISSUE Pull Out and Keep Places to Visit in 2020 Competitions Holiday Camp Directory What’s On Easter Family Fun

Issue 11 Mar/Apr 2020 familiesonline.co.uk Hello readers

FAMILY News I don’t know about you, but I am full of the joys of spring! There’s nothing better than seeing the nights get lighter and the weather get warmer (if only a little!). One of my favourite sights whilst out walking our dog Lottie, has got to be the emerging daffodils of the season. And let’s not forget that we also have Join the Fight Against Plastic with Easter to look forward to, that time when my husband and I are forced to help our boys out eating their chocolate Easter eggs the Great British Spring Clean as it would be totally unhealthy for them to consume ALL of Welcomethem…of course! This issue includes a brand-new feature – a double page pull- out and keep map for the region with our top attractions for families to visit in 2020. So, pull it out, mark off which ones you want to go to and pin it to the family notice board for easy future reference! As visiting attractions can get expensive, we’ve also included some of our favourite parks and playgrounds to visit in the region. Just look for the tree icon to find them on the map. Wishing you and your family a happy Easter and plenty of #familyfun springtime adventures.

Editor, Families Newcastle Gateshead Magazine

Get in touch Wherever you live, you and your family can make a difference to your local environment by sparing just a few hours to take part in the Great British E – [email protected] Spring Clean from 20 March to 13 April. T – 07794909820 Run by charity Keep Britain Tidy, this initiative is the country’s biggest mass- action environmental campaign and aims to get 600,000 #LitterHeroes out @FamiliesNGMag and about, cleaning up the environment on their doorstep. @FamiliesNGMag It’s easy for families to get involved. Simply pledge to take part and either organise a litter-pick in your community or join an organised event. @familiesngmag To find out more, join a local event, register to take part and access resources including a how-to guide, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org/ GBSpringClean what’s on?

Where is Families Newcastle Gateshead? Families Newcastle Gateshead is distributed bi-monthly Circlulation: 17,000 throughout Newcastle & Deadline: Deadline for May/Jun 20 is early Apr 20 Gateshead. You can collect a Designed by: Anna Lawton FREE copy from the scores of Printed by: William Gibbons www.williamgibbons.co.uk outlets: schools, nurseries, play groups, clubs & classes, sports Families Newcastle Gateshead is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised centres, libraries, family doctors magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered & baby clinics and children’s trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 shops. If you would like to stock 5TD. The contents of Families Newcastle Gateshead are fully protected by copyright and none of copies please let us know. For the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families families from birth to twelve. Newcastle Gateshead. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise Read by over 34,000 local company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of families 6 times a year. advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

2 Families Newcastle Gateshead familiesonline.co.uk Participate in British Over Half of Parents Having Fewer Toys Science Week Feel Lonely May Be Better New research has found that over half (56%) of parents with children under the age of 5 years experience loneliness at least some of the time. The study by the charity, Coram Family and Childcare reveals that the issue affects significantly more women than men, with twice as many mothers than fathers saying they often feel left out, as well as younger parents, with nearly 37% of parents aged 18 to 24 often feeling a lack of companionship, compared to 21% of parents aged 25 to 34.

You’ve probably suspected it – well, it may now have been confirmed! Children who have too many toys are more easily distracted, and do not enjoy quality playtime, a new British Science Week is a 10 day celebration of science, study suggests. technology, engineering and maths which takes place from 6 to 15 March. Researchers at the University of Toledo in Ohio, US, recruited 36 toddlers and invited them to play in a room for The annual festival features fascinating, entertaining and half an hour, with either four toys, or sixteen toys. engaging events and activities across the UK, designed to Loneliness is most prevalent around the birth of a baby, appeal to families with children of all ages. They found that youngsters were far more creative when particularly if parents are unable to get out of the house they had fewer toys to play with. They also played with Your child can also enter the annual poster competition easily and when the children are older but haven’t yet each for twice as long, thinking up more uses for each toy and/or download a series of FREE activity packs at www. started school. and lengthening and expanding their games. britishscienceweek.org, filled with resources and ideas to Focus groups conducted by Coram Family and Childcare try out at home or school. The good news is these activities The authors of the study conclude that parents, schools revealed that parents felt the best way to combat loneliness and nurseries should pack away most of their toys and just don’t require parents to have a science background or buy and isolation is to meet other parents by participating in any expensive equipment. rotate a small number regularly, to encourage children to activities that their child will enjoy. become more creative and improve their attention spans. To find your local event or activity, visit www.sciencelive. More info: www.familyandchildcaretrust.org net More info: www.sciencedirect.com Kids’ Corner PICTURE CROSSWORD ANAGRAM Can you solve the picture clues and put them Can you unscramble the letters to in the crossword? 1 spell out the names of ﬁ ve popular 3 book characters? 2

1. diatmla 1 3 4 2

2. pethorratyr 4

3. kteracyrebae 5 6

7 5

4. fgeelfryegh

5. lgpicnpskipgtooin 6 7

9 9 When you’re done, unscramble the circled letters to spell a special message!

4. Greg He ey 5. Pippi Longstocking. Message is: Happy Reading Happy is: Message Longstocking. Pippi 5. ey He Greg 4. [email protected] The answers are: 1. Matilda 2. Harry Potter 3. Tracey Beaker Beaker Tracey 3. Potter Harry 2. Matilda 1. are: answers The

familiesonline.co.uk Families Newcastle Gateshead 3 uring the first three years of life, a baby’s brain is developing rapidly which is why this period contains so many critical milestones for their speech development. Interestingly, much of your baby’s speech development Early Years: Ddepends on your “baby talk” skills as well as those of your baby! The first “baby talk” is non-verbal and happens soon after birth. Babies grimace, cry, and squirm to express a range of emotions and physical needs, from fear to When hunger to frustration. It is important to listen to your baby’s different cries, work out what they mean and respond accordingly. At the age of 3 months, you’ll notice your baby listening to your voice, watching should my your face as you talk, and turning towards other voices, sounds and music. Before babies start talking, they are gathering information. That information eventually becomes the foundation of the first baby talk. And the best way for parents to help their babies make it to those first words – and thrive with child start language development in the months after – is to talk to them. At around 6 months of age, you’ll hear your baby begin to babble and coo, as they play around with different sounds. This “baby talk” is a happy, gentle, talking? repetitive, sing-song vocalisation sounds similar the world over, despite the language of a baby’s parents. By Andrew Campbell After 9 months of age, babies can say and understand a few basic words like “no” and “bye-bye.” They also may begin to use a wider range of consonant sounds and tones as they try out sounds and find their own voice. Babies may also be able to point to people, objects, and body parts you name for them. They repeat words or sounds they hear you say, like the last word in a sentence, but they often leave off endings or beginnings of words. For example, they may say “daw” for “dog” or “noo-noo’s” for “noodles.” Most babies say their first words sometime around their first birthday - possibly “mama” and “dada.” Now, importantly, they know what they are saying. They should also respond to -- or at least understand, if not obey - short, one-step requests like: “Please put that down.” Over the next six months, your baby will start to use language in a more recognisable way and you may start to hear them talking. You might find that initially only you and a few of your baby’s favourite people can make out what they’re saying though! By the age of 2 years, babies can string together short phrases of two to four words, such as “Mummy bye-bye” or “me milk.” They’re learning that words mean more than objects like “cup” - they also mean abstract ideas like “mine.” Over the course of the next year, your baby’s vocabulary expands rapidly, and “make-believe” play spurs an understanding of symbolic and abstract language like “now,” feelings like “sad,” and spatial concepts like “in.” Ideas to Encourage Talking The more words children hear, the more they learn. Here are some fun things to do together to encourage your baby’s speech and language development: Chat to your baby about the things you’re doing, even if you think they’re boring – for example, ‘Daddy’s vacuuming the carpet to get rid of the dust that makes you sneeze.’ Repeat your baby’s attempts at words to encourage a two-way conversation. For example, if she says “mama” you could say “mama” back to her. Build on your toddler’s words. For example, when baby says: “train,” you say: “Yes, it’s a big red train.” Show interest in your baby’s babbling and talking by smiling and looking him in the eye. Respond to and talk about your baby’s interests. For example, if your baby starts playing with a toy train, you could say “Toot, toot.” Read, tell stories, share songs and nursery rhymes with your baby. Praise your baby’s efforts to talk. For example, if your baby points to a dog and names it, you could say: “Well done for pointing out the dog, Georgie!” Infants all develop at a different pace, but if you’re worried about your child’s speech or language development, talk to your GP or health visitor. If necessary, they will refer your child to your local speech and language therapy department. More info: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and- baby/helping-your-childs-speech www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/learning-talk-and- communication-your-baby

4 Families Newcastle Gateshead familiesonline.co.uk Clubs & classes

Little Voices

All Little Voices pupils work towards a LAMDA exam every year, and for the first time ever this year our older pupils are taking a Shakespeare exam! Expect soliloquies, verse, prose, trickster fairies, mad kings and wicked witches. Watch as your child develops a real passion for Shakespeare and a love of language, and learns how accessible, relevant and not at all scary Shakespeare really can be! LAMDA (London College of Music and Dramatic Art) exams will boost your child’s confidence and self-belief, as well as giving them valuable life skills including teamwork, public speaking and the strength to pursue life goals and dreams. Each week at Little Voices your child will experience singing and drama, friendship building, confidence boosting as well as preparing prestigious LAMDA exams in a very small class with a team of dedicated tutors. Your child’s talent will be nurtured, and their self-esteem will be raised. They will make friends for life and be well prepared for their future. At higher grades LAMDA exams can even count as UCAS points for University Applications! Book TWO TASTER SESSIONS here: https://www.littlevoices.org.uk/locations/newcastlefenham/newcastle/ newcastlefreetrialapplicationform or contact [email protected] for more details EASTER 3 DAY THEATRE WORKSHOP: 6th,7th and 8th April 2020 3 dynamic days of acting, singing and dancing, learning hits from the musicals and more with a brilliant team of passionate, dedicated, caring tutors. Little Voices has a 100% Gold Star Rating from the CAA so you can be confident your child is in the safest of hands, having the most fun! Open to all children aged 4-16, contact [email protected] to book or for more information. SUMMER THEATRE WEEK 24th-27th August 2020 A 4-day musical theatre workshop for young people, with a fabulous sharing of work on the final day for friends and families. We run a Brilliant Buddy system, pairing up older and younger pupils for the week, so you can feel confident that your little one has someone looking out for them all week, and that your older child is enjoying having some responsibility! All our workshops are run by a brilliant team of passionate, dedicated, caring tutors. Little Voices has a 100% Gold Star Rating from the CAA so you can be confident your child is in the safest of hands, having the most fun! Open to all children aged 4-16, contact [email protected] to book or for more information.

familiesonline.co.uk Families Newcastle Gateshead 5 Lee Sterry Sports Coaching, Summer Camps Football Camps and Workshops Newcastle Lee and his staff specialise in football but also provides Directory basic moves tuition, multi skills development, speed agility, quickness and dance. Lee’s program aims to develop a healthy lifestyle for young children in a fun environment learning locomotion skills, coordination, Razzamataz Newcastle physical fitness and technical skills whilst also Are you looking for an exciting new challenge this developing personal skills such as communication, summer? During the week, students will experience confidence and team work in a safe, fun and friendly dance, drama and singing, together with learning about environment. Visit: www.ls-sc.co.uk theatre skills, prop making and much more. Students aged between 4-8 will attend morning sessions and Newcastle Dance Centre Summer older students aged 8-18 will attend all day. On the last day there will be a short performance for parents/ Schools Little Voices Newcastle guardians, family and friends where the children all get a Newcastle EASTER 3 DAY THEATRE WORKSHOP: chance to shine. Many of the Summer Stage Academies For ages 5-8 and 9-16, join us for a week of dancing 6,7 & 8 April 2020 are based on popular shows such as Matilda, Charlie and musical theatre in the school holidays. Our themed and the Chocolate Factory and Frozen. Age range is weeks are full of fun activities and culminate in a show 3 dynamic days of acting, singing and dancing, learning flexible and early drop off is available. To find out more hits from the musicals and more with a brilliant team of for parents on the last day. For full details visit: www. email Kayleigh: [email protected] or call newcastledancecentre.co.uk passionate, dedicated, caring tutors. Little Voices has 07772577855. a 100% Gold Star Rating from the CAA so you can be confident your child is in the safest of hands, having the Next Generation Sports Camps most fun! Open to all children aged 4-16, contact jenni@ Foundation of Light Newcastle, Morpeth, Cramlington & North littlevoices.org.uk to book or for more information. Sunderland Shields SUMMER THEATRE WEEK The Foundation of Light is running a wide range of fun Next generation NE Sport Coaching camps are full of 24 -27 August 2020 sports activities for boys and girls throughout Sunderland fun. We offer a variety of sports and activities, providing A 4-day musical theatre workshop for young people, with over the holidays. All of its football courses run within excellent value for money. Perfect for children aged a fabulous sharing of work on the final day for friends its Player Progression Pathway, and are put in place to between 4 and 11. The week involves various traditional and families. We run a Brilliant Buddy system, pairing support the identification, development and progression sports such as football, tag rugby, hockey and cricket. up older and younger pupils for the week, so you can of players with the potential and aspiration to play Our camps also contain some unusual sports including feel confident their your one has someone looking out for Sunderland AFC’s Academy and Sunderland and archery and volleyball. Book online with Eventbrite. for them all week, and that your older child is enjoying Gateshead Girls’ Centre of Excellence. having some responsibility! All our workshops are run by It is holding soccer courses for kids aged 5-14 years a brilliant team of passionate, dedicated, caring tutors. Northumbria Sport Multi-Sport Kids old at the Goals Soccer Centre in Sunderland; Hetton Little Voices has a 100% Gold Star Rating from the CAA camp School; Easington Colliery Primary School; Kirkby so you can be confident your child is in the safest of Stephen Grammar School; Seaham Leisure Centre; Northumbria University hands, having the most fun! Open to all children aged Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre; Stanley Community Fun and exciting sport camps during the school 4-16, contact [email protected] to book or for Football Centre and Beacon of Light. holidays for children aged 7-13. Camps take place at more information. our Sport Central facility and are delivered by our Sport Gamesweek Development team of qualified staff and Northumbria ART4 Holiday Workshops student coaches. Our kid’s camps are a great way for Newcastle your child to meet new friends, develop their sporting Newcastle Gamesweek is a quality provider of multi - activity skills and be active during the school holidays in a ART4 believes that every child is an artist and that courses for all children in the school holidays. Emphasis fun, inclusive, and supportive environment. Kids get creativity lies at the heart of everything! Run by a is placed on enjoyment whatever their level of skill. to try different sports and games during each day, qualified primary art specialist, each themed workshop is Exciting and fun filled activities are delivered by expert which can include football, basketball, quick cricket, thoughtfully designed to inspire your child, to encourage and caring staff, led by Mr Fred Dickinson who is netball, dodgeball, boxing, squash, athletics, quidditch, their creativity and fire their imaginations! ART4 offers a member of the Sports Department at Newcastle badminton, table tennis, tag rugby, ultimate frisbee and your child the unique opportunity to explore art in a way Royal Grammar School (RGS) with over 30 years of many more. We also have swimming, which is run by that a traditional curriculum neglects, it gives them the teaching experience. To find out more visit: https://www. fully qualified swimming coaches from Swim North East, chance to develop their artistic skills and expands their gamesweek.co.uk/index.php who have been awarded Swim School of the Year in horizons! Set in a relaxed, fun environment, ART4 is the Sport England National Awards 2018. Please email the exciting artistic experience that will help your child David Jones: [email protected] to flourish and grow in confidence, it allows children to Go Gateshead become more like themselves and less like everyone else! ART4 is passionate about bringing art to all! Gateshead NUFC Foundation Holiday Courses Creativity is contagious! Ages 6 – 11. 9.00am – 4.00pm. Want to get the kids off the couch during the school Various venues in the region To book call: 07500 524737. holidays? Then why not join one of GO Gateshead’s Newcastle United Foundation’s Soccer Courses are sports camps at Gateshead Leisure Centre. Perfect for a great way for children to stay active during school Dance City children aged 8-14 years, the camps will offer a fantastic holidays and during term time. Open to girls and boys range of activities from, Clip n’ Climb to trampolining, of all abilities aged 5 to 14, these soccer courses take North East badminton to basketball, swimming to dodgeball. place at venues across the region in every school Does your child LOVE to dance? Are you looking for Your kids will stay active, have fun and make friends. holiday and during term time. They’re perfect for getting fun, active and educational opportunities for them during Getting children active is not only our passion - it’s children away from screens and helping them learn the Easter and Summer holidays? Then the Dance something we’re great at too. We provide children with new skills, have fun, make new friends and create new City holiday dance camps could be just what you need. the opportunity to try new sports, have fun, and really memories. For prices, times and how to book, visit Whether your child already dances or is a complete make the most of the school holidays. You can trust https://nufoundation.org.uk/soccer-schools/holiday- beginner all they need is passion and enthusiasm to GO Gateshead to provide a service that is enjoyable, soccer-schools/ get moving. Dance camps take place in the beautiful positive and safe. Book online or call: 0191 433 5733. Dance City venue in Newcastle, in professional standard dance studios and a 240-seat theatre – a safe, friendly Turpentyne Fine Art School Holiday and inspiring environment. The teaching staff are all Sports School Workshops experienced dance artists who will support your child to Newcastle Newcastle have the best experience – growing not only in dance Treat your young artist to a 4- or 5-day workshop during skills but in confidence and social skills too. All dance Sports School operates sports courses and holiday the school holidays. Skills based instruction, small class camps are suitable for ages 6-16. Children will be sorted clubs during school holidays from some fantastic venues sizes, and individualized curriculum to accommodate into age and skill-appropriate groups. At the end of each which offer some outstanding facilities and choice of all skill levels. Through thoughtful and encouraging week family and friends can watch the performance sporting activities. HOW TO BOOK: call 07831 680363 instruction we help our students to build artistic skills and in the Dance City theatre. Fusion! Easter 6 - 9 April, or email [email protected]. For full details visit self-confidence! Workshops often fully subscribe. Enrol 9 – 5pm daily. Performance for family on Thursday at www.sportschools.co.uk now to avoid disappointment. Visit: www.turpentyne. 3.00pm. £100 com for more info.

6 Families Newcastle Gateshead familiesonline.co.uk We’ve put together this handy map that can be pulled out of the magazine and kept for use all year. We’ve marked plenty of family friendly attractions for you to visit over the course of the year, suitable for all of the family. It can get expensive to visit attractions with the kids all of the time, so we’ve also highlighted some of our favourite parks and playgrounds too. Just look out for the tree icon on the map #freefamilyfun Of course, we can’t highlight every amazing attraction available in the region, so if you’re looking for more ideas, check out our ‘What’s On’ search facility online www.familiesonline.co.uk – all you have to do is input your postcode and away you go. You can also hear about family friendly events, shows and visitor attractions including offers, deals and competition tickets on our Facebook group. If you don’t already LIKE our Places to visit in 2020 page, maybe now is the time to do so www.facebook. com/FamiliesNGMag Happy #familyfun times this year! Pull out and keep map – you can refer to it all year long!

Hamsterley Forest, Bishop Auckland Discover our picturesque woodlands which sprawl along the sides of a stunning sheltered valley. Escape the hustle and Cragside Bowes Museum, bustle of the everyday at County Durham’s largest forest. From Barnard Castle wildlife watching to stargazing, and adventure play for all the Discover Cragside: Classed as one of North East England’s family to exhilarating mountain biking, there is something to an extraordinary top visitor attractions, The Bowes Museum’s keep everyone busy. If you fancy a peaceful wander through Victorian house, impressive collections, outstanding exhibitions the trees, Hamsterley’s extensive network of trails and paths gardens and and romantic history invite children on a journey of provides the perfect opportunity for you to explore the heart of woodland – the wonder to educate and entertain. As well as the treasures for the forest. There are 4 walking trails, wonder of its age. grown-ups – which include paintings by artists such as Canaletto 4 cycling trails, an adventure Discover the first house and Turner, some of the best European fine and decorative arts playground, Gruffalo trail, in the world to be lit by in the UK, and an acclaimed exhibition programme – there is Shaun the Sheep trail, 2 hydroelectricity. One of much to keep the children amused. Toy displays, family fun days, horse riding trails and a café. the largest rock gardens storytelling, themed activities, children’s workshops and museum Get outdoors into the fresh in Europe leads down to the trails add to the informative and entertaining experience. A air and have plenty of family Iron Bridge, which in turn leads showstopper for adults and children of all ages is the fun at Hamsterley Forest. to the formal garden. Children will amazing Silver Swan. This life-size 240-year-old love our adventure play area and musical automaton performs every day to exploring Nelly’s labyrinth, a network fascinated onlookers. of paths and tunnels cut out of a vast area of rhododendron forest. Fun family events throughout the year, picnic areas and dog friendly. Shields Ferry Taking only 7 minutes to cross the Seven Stories River Tyne, the Shields Ferry is key to Seven Stories is the the the local communities of North and South National Centre for Children’s Tyneside, giving residents and visitors to the Books. There is always lots area the chance to experience life on both sides of the to do – with unique exhibitions, river. Many popular attractions, situated only minutes away engaging storytellers, visiting authors from the ferry, can easily be reached on foot and/or by making and fun activities for all ages. Start your a short interconnecting journey using public transport. Enjoy an visit with a smile with our welcoming and helpful adventurous family day out any time of the year on the ferry – it’s a reception team, who will tell you all about what’s going on in fun and unique way to travel! Download our local visitor attractions’ the building, including story times, performances and crafts. guides from nexus.org.uk/ferry. Sensory Backpacks are available to borrow from reception. We’re very proud of our independent bookshop, recognised by The Bookseller’s Association as one of the best independent bookshops in the country. Visit our bookshop coffee shop at any point Gibside during your visit for a hot drink and a Start your family sweet snack, with seating facilities Northumberlandia adventure at Gibside; available for short breaks from take on the low ropes exploring!their heart’s content. Northumberlandia is a unique challenge, encounter Strawberry piece of public art set in a Castle play area, build a den in the 46-acre community park with woods, get messy at the Mud Kitchen free public access and 4 miles of and discover wildlife on our family footpaths on and around the landform. Explorer trail. The Visitor Centre and Café is on the right as Fun for all ages / Activities every day you enter the site through the main entrance gates at / Seasonal events every day in school Northumberlandia. It offers a range of hot drinks and snacks, holidays / Dog friendly a selection of NWT branded and wildlife related merchandise, as well as Trust and general visitor information. There is seating inside, and further seating is available (weather permitting) on a raised terrace outside the centre with views of the bird feeding stations. There are two accessible toilets to the rear of the Centre. alnwick castle

Family Fun 2020

3 NT cragside

northumberlandia

Washington Wetland Centre WWT Washington Wetland Centre is a wetland nature reserve and visitor attraction on the banks of the River Wear. Open 364 days a year, our family-friendly site offers visitors of all ages and abilities a host of unforgettable wildlife experiences and 4 spanish beautiful scenery, whatever the weather. Enjoy close encounters with flamboyant Chilean flamingos, cheeky short-clawed otters, city plus hundreds of endangered and exotic birds from around the 2 world. With regular fun-filled events, exciting walks and seven stories daily talks, there’s something to keep the whole family entertained! newcastle upon tyne

shields discovery bute park 1 ferry museum gateshead

NT GIBSIDE washington Down at the Farm wetland centre Down at the Farm is a seasonal attraction and offers animal interaction and play in the countryside between February and October each year. It is a small family run farm which has been in the Sunderland area since 18th century. Come to Down at the Farm this Springtime and beyond to see our newly hatched chicks, get up diggerland close to our bunnies & guinea pigs, meet and bottle feed new-born lambs as well as meet lots of farmyard animals! Lots of outdoor play areas to enjoy, tractor rides to meet the cows, real durham down at quad bikes, barrel rides plus much more. cathedral the farm Open every weekend and school holiday. Down Weardale at the Farm, Stoneygate Lane, Houghton Le Railway Spring. DH5 8JG.

kynren hamsterley forest

key: parks

1 Saltwell Park Bowes Musuem 2 Rising Sun Countryside Centre

3 Druridge Bay Country Park

4 Exhibition Park alnwick castle

Family Fun 2020

Discovery Museum As you enter the museum, you’ll come face to face with Turbinia. Charles Parsons’ 34 metre steam powered ship that was once the fastest ship in the world and an iconic part 3 of the history of Tyneside. Immerse yourself in the history of Newcastle focusing on the NT cragside area’s maritime, scientific and technological importance to Britain and the rest of the world. Visit with the family for hours of free fun, (suggested donation £5). Under 7s can get hands on with how water is used in our mini River Tyne replica. Children can let their imagination run wild in our space for designing, inventing and making. There are also a huge variety of interactive displays northumberlandia bringing science and engineering to life. There are special events on suitable for all of the family. Check the website for more details. Washington Wetland Centre WWT Washington Wetland Centre is a wetland nature reserve and visitor attraction on the banks of the River Wear. Open 364 days a year, our family-friendly site offers visitors of all ages and abilities a host of unforgettable wildlife experiences and 4 spanish beautiful scenery, whatever the weather. Enjoy close encounters with flamboyant Chilean flamingos, cheeky short-clawed otters, city plus hundreds of endangered and exotic birds from around the 2 world. With regular fun-filled events, exciting walks and seven stories daily talks, there’s something to keep the whole family entertained! newcastle upon tyne

shields discovery bute park 1 ferry museum gateshead

NT GIBSIDE washington wetland centre

diggerland

durham down at cathedral the farm Weardale Railway

kynren hamsterley forest

key: parks

1 Saltwell Park Bowes Musuem 2 Rising Sun Countryside Centre

3 Druridge Bay Country Park

4 Exhibition Park Keep up to date with all things Families in your local area Join our Families Newcastle Gateshead Community Chat group on Facebook!

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Search for yellow ducks amongst our weird and wonderful real-life ducks

Search WWT Washington Why it’s Important to Teach Children to Map Read By Alicia Eaton

In today’s technology focussed world, the ability to map read, navigate and successfully get from place to place, remains a vitally important skill to teach our children. At its most fundamental level, map reading develops children’s spatial thinking skills, which in turn can deepen their knowledge of maths, science and technology. Spatial thinking is something we use in many everyday situations, from rearranging a bookcase, to picturing situations in our ‘mind’s eye.’ It is the fundamental architecture which underpins our lifelong problem-solving skills. It’s also a great excuse to get outdoors into the wilds and get back to basics with your child in natural or urban surroundings. Stanfords, the largest map supplier in the world, reports that its sales figures in the last couple of years show that demand for physical maps is not waning. It seems that, as human beings, we prefer to plan our trips with a hard copy, making notes on it and keeping it as a treasured travel memento. Most significantly, a physical map can’t run out of battery power or be without signal in your hour of need! Endurance adventurer and Ordnance Survey Get Outside Champion, Sean Conway, who has cycled, swum and run the length of Great Britain, is a lover of physical maps and has fond memories of learning how to map read as a child: “I remember being told how contour lines worked. It became a game to try and look for the steepest section of the map, and then go and find it. If you could climb it, we would!” Here are five top tips for firing your child’s imagination and getting them engaged with the learned skill of map reading: 1. Just as it’s important to know your left and right, it’s important to understand where north, east, south and west are on a map. You can remember them as: a. Naughty Elephants Squirt Water b. Nobody Ever Swallows Whales c. Never Eat Shredded Wheat 2. If your child is struggling to grasp contours, get them to draw concentric circles on one of their knuckles – when they raise their finger, a hill appears! 3. Make directional and geographical vocabulary part of your dialogue with your children from a very early age, and whenever you are out and about together. 4. A great way to pass the time on a long family journey is to give your child a map and ask them to tick off the key symbols on the map as they spot them – eg pub, hospital, byway, footpath, wall, farm track. This instantly turns any mundane journey into a treasure hunt! 5. Often as adults we become scared of maps because we think we won’t be able to decipher them. But just have a go, make it fun and easy going – you might just learn something yourself whilst nurturing your child’s life-long love of adventure. Map Reading Activities to Try at Home or Away Get a map of your local area, holiday destination or grandparent’s house and get outside – open your eyes wide and take a look around! 1. What can you actually see around you? And what does it look like on your map when drawn from above? 2. Have you seen this map before? Are maps flat or three dimensional? Are there any features you can see? 3. Maps use pictures and symbols to explain features of a landscape/area rather than words. Can you locate the key? If you see a feature on the map you don’t recognise you can look it up on the key. 4. Can you decipher both the physical and human features on your map? Perhaps the park, beaches, forests and rivers or churches, factories, farms and harbours? 5. Make your own map – have a think about the important information you want to include, key physical or human features. Will you start and finish your journey in the same place? If you get lost, your phone battery is flat or there’s no signal, you never know, some key map reading skills and abilities might just save your life. Maps give us a wealth of information about our surroundings – they are a clever, valuable and perhaps irreplaceable 2D representation of our incredible 3D world.

familiesonline.co.uk Families Newcastle Gateshead 11 Fabulous Families Book Quiz & Competition Encourage your child to have a go! With World Book Day having just passed, you and your child may have been thinking quite a bit about books and reading already this Spring. So now’s the perfect time to test your knowledge! Families has teamed up with Young Writers to bring you this amazing quiz. It’s divided into two sections for ages 4 to 7 and ages 8 to 11. We have a £50 National Book Voucher for the winner of the ages 4 to 7 category. Thanks to Young Writers, we have a fantastic book bundle of 10 books for the winner of the ages 8 to 11 category, including popular, recently published books such as You Won’t Believe This by Adam Baron, Agatha Oddly Murder at the Museum by Lena Jones and What’s that in Dog Years? by Ben Davis. To enter the competition, just email [email protected] with your child’s name, age, your telephone number and answers to the questions in the relevant section. Closing date: 15 June 2020. Only one entry per child please! Look out for the answers to the quiz in our next magazine or request them in your email entry. Ts&Cs online. Young Writers organise poetry and creative writing competitions for children in schools. For further information, visit www.youngwriters.co.uk Ages 4 to 7 Years Ages 8 to 11 Years 1. Name 3 fruits the Hungry Caterpillar ate. 1. Where do Silky, Moon Face and Saucepan Man live? 2. In the Charlie and Lola books, what is Lola’s invisible friend called? 2. How is Stanley Lambchop better known? 3. Which book series do the characters Bottomley Potts and Blitzer Maloney 3. Who is the main character in Diary of Wimpy Kid? feature? 4. Who does Barney meet when exploring an old chalk pit? 4. Which animal visits Sophie and her mummy one tea time? 5. In the book Holes, who gets sent to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention Centre? 5. Who wrote Where the Wild Things Are? 6. Who wrote about characters called James, Matilda, Sophie and Charlie? 6. Who was there ‘Room on the Broom’ for? 7. Which David Walliams’ book is his character Joe from? 7. What is the name of the boy who builds The Snowman? 8. What are Mary Norton’s tiny characters called? 8. What is the name of Biff and Chip’s dog? 9. Who is the main character in The Bed and Breakfast Star by Jacqueline Wilson 9. Who lives in Hundred Acre Wood? 10. In which book series does Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III appear? 10. Aliens, pirates and dinosaurs love these… 11. The dormouse, a gryphon, a mock turtle and a rabbit are characters from which 11. Who is Perfect Peter’s rather naughty brother? classic children’s book? 12. What are the names of the witch and cat Valerie Thomas writes about? 12. Who wrote My Brother’s Famous Bottom book series?

WIN Family Tickets to Lightwater Valley We have a set of Family Tickets on o er for this popular theme park.

With over 30 rides and attractions for all ages, Lightwater Valley in North Yorkshire is bursting with fun and adventures for the whole family. Brave the Ultimate, the longest rollercoaster in Europe, with a ride time of nearly six minutes – and experience the sky-high thrills of Eagle’s Claw. Younger families will love wet ‘n’ wild fun on the Wild River Rapids, and swashbuckling adventures aboard speedy Skull Rock and the A full day’s tummy-tickling Flying Cutlass. fun at North Plus enjoy jumping around on the huge Jumpin’ Jacks bouncy pillow! Yorkshire’s number 1! For more information, visit www.lightwatervalley.co.uk

TO ENTER Email your answers 3 Tell us in 50 words 3 How likely are you to respond to a to the following questions (together (or more) why you piece of advertising you see in Families? with your postcode) to ﬁ nd Families magazine a Very likely [email protected] a useful tool for b Possibly no later than 30 April 2020. family life? c Unlikely

T&Cs apply. Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be used in conjunction with any other o er. See www.lightwatervalley.co.uk for full details. Encouraging reluctant readers By Tom Palmer

Children must read. It’s good for them! Unfortunately, that’s the last thing a child who doesn’t like reading wants to hear. They might think reading is boring. The might have low confidence. They might even have an unidentified issue like dyslexia. Being told that reading is good for them just makes them feel worse. My mum knew I hated reading. The more pressure she applied the more stubborn I was about it. I reacted to the pressure by defining myself as a non- reader and once I’d told myself that, I became even more entrenched. Then my mum changed tack. She did some things which made me want to read and to eventually call myself a reader. Forget that loving reading is good for children. Make reading relate to something they already love. Make a list of the things your child is passionate about. Do it now. Write down the five experiences, television shows, sports, interests that enthuse them. These are the things that are probably going to get your child into reading. For me it was football…and then football… Start with their favourite television show. Television is seen as one of the enemies of reading. But it’s so good now, it’s sometimes hard to tear yourself away. It’s helpful then that a lot of shows have books linked to them. Search for an official book or biography of one of the main characters on the show’s website. Is there spin-off fiction? An annual? If enough people watch a show – say, like Strictly – then there’ll be a book. Teachers and school librarians often know more about what a child might like to read than a parent. Talk to your child’s teacher or school librarian. They also know what books have worked for other children in the past. They’re experts. Have a day out. Football. Cinema. Theme park. Zoo. Whatever you do, there will usually be books available. Gift shops at the end of museums or theme parks often have books or guides. Theatres and sports venues have programmes. For me, it was Leeds United match day magazines, but I accept they’re not to everyone’s taste! Who does your child admire? A dancer? A singer? A sports person? Has that person written a book? There are more and more celebrities writing books. As a non-celebrity author I hate it, but, as a parent of an impressionable child, it’s great for you. Look the celeb’s name up on Amazon and see what’s out there. If you don’t want to buy it, then head to the library. Role models are not just famous people. Does your child have a coach, teacher, aunt or neighbour that they admire? For me it was my sister’s boyfriend: he gave me books. I read them because they were from him. Get your child’s role model to talk to them about books and recommend titles. A book from someone you look up to is more likely to get read. You are your child’s number one role model. Let them see you reading what YOU want to read! Don’t worry if your child doesn’t finish every book. I finish less than half the books I read. Borrow from the library and then your child can experiment without it costing money. Books are not always best. Does your child have a favourite magazine? There are hundreds of magazines for kids available from supermarkets and high street newsagents. They cost a bit and there are far less words in them, but they’re a great way to get children reading. They’re colourful. They’re silly. They’re exciting. Get a magazine delivered. The idea of a magazine arriving for your child (and your child alone) can be exciting for them. I had Match magazine delivered when I was a kid. I couldn’t wait for Thursdays as a result. Tom Palmer won the Ruth Rendell Award 2019 for his outstanding contribution to raising children’s literacy levels in the UK. He is the author of 45 books for children, many about football, rugby and WW1 and 2; yet he only became a reader at age 17, thanks to his mum and what she did to engage him with reading. For more information, visit www.tompalmer. co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk Families Newcastle Gateshead 13 Please check listings with the venue before leaving the house!

4 Apr – Northern Stage 4 – 19 Apr – Washington Wetlands Trust The Storyteller Chris Bostock Easter Duck Quest Join Chris Bostock, The Storyteller, to hear some of the A gang of BIG YELLOW ducks is flocking to Washington stories he has collected from all around the world. Be this Easter and we need your help to track them down! ready to travel to the bottom of the sea or even to the Search our site with friends and family and have stars, to meet interesting people, wonderful animals fun finding them hidden amongst their real life weird and see extraordinary sights. Storytime is at 10.30am and wonderful duck cousins. Pick up a trail card at for children under 5 years and their grown-ups and at admissions and make a note of their names to win a 1.30pm for children aged 5-9. prize and find out lots of weird and wonderful facts about our real-life ducks as you go. The trail runs throughout Threes - Three Bears, Three Billy Goats and Three the day and cost is included in admission, so pop down Rabbits – let’s hope they don’t get into the wrong story! and go on an adventure! Go quackers and share a duck Some say good things come in 3s, so will you come and selfie at #easterducks help with these stories please? And for children aged 5-9 and their grown-ups: 7 – 18 Apr – St. Mary’s Heritage Centre Around the World in 60 minutes - Could you, would you, should you fly right around the world? We’ll be taking Easter Graveyard Trail off promptly visiting Africa, Australia and South America. Keep the kids entertained whilst at St Mary’s with this You only need to pack your imagination helmets, and fun, short Easter-themed trail. 10am - 4pm. Further you’re guaranteed to bring back wonderful stories from details: [email protected] or 0191 433 4699. each continent. But can we do it in just one hour? Only time will tell. 8 Apr – Gateshead Central Library What’s Easter Make & Take 7–9 & 14–16 Apr – Laing Art Gallery Drop into the gallery to take part in family art activities 3-day Art Academy for 7-10-year olds inspired by Easter. Make your own animal Easter cones Looking for a bit of artistic, creative fun for your school to collect your chocolate eggs in, will you choose a On? holidays? Then our Art Academy may be just the thing chick, bunny, lamb or even a unicorn! Pay as you feel. for you! Young artists will explore our portrait collection 2pm – 4pm. over the three days. Using painting and 3D work Newcastle upon Tyne students will explore the costume and clothing within North Tyneside the portraits to inspire and design their own amazing ‘til 29 Mar 2020 – Discovery Museum creations and fashion designs. On the final day there 4 Apr – Stephenson Railway Museum will be a mini pop up exhibition to showcase the young Brilliant Bricks artists’ work. Be prepared to make new friends, get Opening Weekend This exhibition, built by LEGO® creator Steve Mayes, messy and have fun! Book online. In spring 2020, Stephenson Railway Museum will highlights what the North has done for the world through re-open following a re-development of the museum 45 intricate models, using 50,000 mini bricks. See how space, thanks to a grant from the DCMS/Wolfson many of these northern innovations you recognise in this 10 Apr – Newcastle Racecourse Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund. The 3D timeline, which features everything from the Geordie Good Friday Raceday museum will feature new interpretation detailing the Lamp, Stephenson’s Rocket and Turbinia through to the Enjoy the Bank Holiday with us and a day of fantastic story of the development of the railways from our region, futuristic Hyperloop. Don’t forget to look for the real-life entertainment for all the family, including dinosaur highlighting the significant time spent here by the father Geordie inventions around the museum. entertainments for the kids, free funfair attractions and of the railways, George Stephenson. The story of the great competition on the all-weather track to conclude Stephenson family’s time in North Tyneside is highly the All-Weather Championships season. For the important to our site; the museum’s star object, the ‘til 31 Dec 2020 – Life Science Centre first Good Friday ever, accompanied under 18s are Killingworth Billy engine, was recently discovered to be Space Zone admitted FREE, and all funfair attractions and dinosaur the world’s third oldest surviving locomotive, as well as entertainments will be FREE to use! the oldest surviving example of a locomotive adhering to It’s easy to forget we live on a spinning rock that is the standard gauge track implemented by Stephenson, whizzing through space. The new Space Zone brings Gateshead which is still in use today. space close to home: find out how we’re already using space technology in our everyday lives and discover South Tyneside & Sunderland how the future of space exploration is being shaped right Saltwell Park, Gateshead here in the north east of England. Junior Park Run Highlights include: Launch your own rocket; Climb inside Junior parkrun is a collection of free, weekly, timed 2k a mock-up model of part of the International Space events for children aged 4-14. Children can walk, hop, Station; Operate a Mars rover from mission control; run or skip for fun! Children need to be registered for Watch shows on a digital globe displaying Earth, Moon free at www.parkrun.org.uk/register. They can then and planetary satellite imagery; Touch a genuine Moon attend any parkrun - just remember to bring along their rock. printed-out barcode. Saltwell junior parkrun starts at 14 Mar & 8 Apr – Souter Lighthouse & the Leas 9.00am every Sunday from the bowling green in Saltwell Seashore Safari Plus, check out the biggest planetarium in the north of park, Gateshead. More information and updates can Join a Ranger to search the rockpools along Souter’s England that features a variety of shows, including a be found on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ presenter-led tour of the night sky. rocky shore. Discover salty sea creatures galore. Learn saltwelljuniorparkrun how to tell your winkles from your whelks and lots more watery wildlife facts. Meet in the foghorn field. We can ‘til 21 Feb 2021 – Discovery Museum provide nets and buckets but please feel free to bring your own. The rocks can be slippery so don’t forget to RAF Red Arrows Flight Simulator wear sensible footwear too! £2 Booking required, call Discovery Museum invite you to find out what it’s like 0191 529 0909. Suitable for children of all ages. Must be to be an RAF pilot. Experience the thrill of the cockpit accompanied by an adult. and fly with the RAF’s Red Arrows as they jet over their Cyprus training base in Discovery Museum’s new flight simulator. Step inside a state-of-the-art capsule for an 21 – 22 Mar – National Glass Centre, Sunderland immersive ride with high-definition visuals, surround Mother’s Day Sandcast sound and dynamic motion. An RAF Red Arrows flyby 4 – 19 Apr - Gibside is a fixture in the Tyneside calendar as they regularly Create a truly unique gift for your Mum for Mother’s celebrate the iconic Great North Run held between Easter Holiday Fun Day. Create a mould in sand, and then decorate using Newcastle and South Shields every year. Tickets for a Enjoy free family fun every day of the Easter holidays your Mum’s favourite colours. Molten glass will then be time slot on the day of your visit will operate on a first at Gibside with active adventures in the gardens and poured into your mould to create a 3D object that will last come, first served basis. Tickets can be purchased from woods. Normal admission and car parking charges a lifetime! Maximum of 10 people per slot. Minimum age: the shop on the day. apply. 6 years. £17 each and booking is essential.

14 Families Newcastle Gateshead familiesonline.co.uk Co. Durham area & beyond 6-19 Apr – Washington Old Hall, Sunderland Theatre Easter Holiday Family Fun 7 – 8 Mar – Beamish Museum We’ve got lots of family fun activities planned for during Women’s Day Celebrations 4 & 5 Mar - Gosforth Civic Theatre the Easter holidays. There’ll be plenty of ways to tick off Take part in International Women’s Day celebrations Melva your ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4’ tasks in the (7th and 8th March), learn more about the Suffragette Nature Nuttery. Many activities are ideal for your big and movement and chant “Votes for Women” as you march MELVA tells the story of a 10-year-old girl whose struggles with anxiety, or ‘worrits’ as she knows them, little explorers. A small charge will apply for some craft down the 1900s Town street. For more events and activities and admission charges apply. keep her from leaving the house. Her Grandpa has information about Beamish please visit their website: grown so worried about her that he fakes his own www.beamish.org.uk disappearance in the hope that it will compel Melva to 8 & 15 Apr – The Word, South Shields leave the house and overcome her ‘bad worrits’. What follows is a funny and poignant adventure for them both, Roarsome Laser Cutting 2 – 5 Apr – Beamish Museum where each learn how their ‘worrits’ affect them and new This hands-on workshop will teach children how to use Great North Steam Fair ways to tackle them separately and together. MELVA is the laser cutters in FabLab and develop some new skills. for children aged 7-11, their teachers and their families. From spectacular steam engines and extraordinary It’s a boisterous, mischievous and funny story of one They’ll be able to create a dinosaur-themed door hanger, equines to fantastic festivals and terrific traditions, girl’s adventure to find out what she’s really capable of. a pencil holder or laser cut individual parts and piece there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Beamish, The them together to make their own 3D dinosaur. While they Living Museum of the North in 2020. wait for their creation to print, children can have a go at 15 Mar – The Customs House, South Shields Quiver augmented reality where they can draw or colour All aboard for a fantastic four days of all things steam in a picture and through the magic of the app, they’ll see with the Great North Steam Fair. See a whole host of Arbuthnot Super Happy Silly Mega their drawing leap off the page! The workshops will take steam locomotives and vehicles of all shapes and sizes Fun Game Show place from 10am-12noon & 1-3pm. Age 8+. Booking gathered at the museum for this amazing annual event, Let the games begin! Arbuthnot and his pals are back required. part of the Great North Festival of Transport. with another fantastic gameshow! With all new crazy games for everyone to join in and play. Arbuthnot has loads prizes to give away, will you be a winner? Come 10 – 13 Apr – Ryhope Engine Museum 4 – 19 Apr – Down at the Farm along and join in the fun! Performances at 12pm & 3pm. Steaming Weekend £5 per ticket. See Ryhope Engine Museum’s huge 100 horsepower Easter Fun There’s lots to see and do & bottle feed our cute lambs, steam beam engines in action. The Museum is regarded 8 Apr – Gosforth Civic Theatre as one of the finest industrial monuments in the North cuddle and stroke our baby rabbits, hold a fluffy chick, East of England and is in a Grade II (starred) listed tractor & take a fun barrel ride. Feed our animals with Andy and the Odd Socks building. As well as the beam engines, built by R & the keepers and there’s an Easter rabbit hunt all holiday. Decorate your egg on Easter Saturday and Sunday Fast becoming the most exciting, innovative and in- W Hawthorn, are three ‘Lancashire’ boilers of 1908, demand live music act for children in the UK, Andy and two of which are in regular use, a blacksmith’s forge, £1.50, adventure play all day. On selected days: pony the Odd Socks have played over 100 shows including a waterwheel, numerous steam engines and pumps, rides, birds of prey shows (free), magic shows (free). festivals such as Glastonbury, Camp Bestival, Victorious, waterworks accessories such as depth recorders, and Big Feastival, Shambala, BBC Summer Social, Standon many items concerned with the distribution and uses of 7 April – Bowes Museum Calling and many more. Fronted by CBeebies superstar water in home and industry. There will be a classic car Andy Day, the London based five-piece will play live Springtime Wonder shows up and down the country to support the release rally on 12 April with over 100 classic cars on display. of their hotly anticipated second studio album ‘Who’s Join us for a day of activities inspired by nature and the in the Odd Socks?’ which is due for release on April Northumberland changing seasons. You can get creative with a range of 3 ahead of the tour. Woven into a colourful world of crafts suitable for all ages. characters – which sees Andy rocking out as the Odd Sock’s front man, Rio from Planet Rock on guitar, mega 1, 7-8, 14-15, 22, 28-29 Mar Moxy on drums, cool Blu on bass and crazy Cousin Woodhorn Museum, Ashington 7, 9, 14, 16, April – Bowes Museum Mac on the keys – the energetic songs hold a message LEGO® We do 2 Robotics and of acceptance and encouragement for all those, young Weekends and School Holidays between 12noon - and old, who feel a bit like an odd sock, and will feature 3pm, why not visit Woodhorn Museum, make a Spring Coding Workshop original songs from Andy Day’s brand-new TV Show, wand and help cast a spell to turn Winter into Spring Go wild and create an animal, a robotic mouse or a Andy and the Band which will debut on BBC iPlayer early next year. Ages 3+. in this family friendly make and do inspired by our swan with our LEGO® team. Take part in a 45-minute Northumberland: Magic and Myth exhibition. session exploring coding and make your LEGO® model come alive. Starting promptly on the hour. To avoid 11-12 Apr – Tyne Theatre & Opera House 22 Mar – Wallington disappointment, arrive early as spaces are limited to first Wizard of Oz Easter Panto come, first served. Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Follow the Yellow Brick Road to for a fantastic all-new Bring the whole family and treat that someone special to Easter pantomime version of The Wizard of Oz – with a delicious Afternoon Tea this Mothering Sunday. Make 11 April – Bowes Museum star cast to be announced! Join Kansas farm-girl Dorothy sure you explore the beautiful grounds and enjoy all that and her pet dog Toto on this magical adventure suitable Easter Eggstravaganza Family for all ages. Watch in amazement as they are picked up Wallington has to offer on your visit. To Book Call 01670 Fun Day by a tornado and carried off to the magical Land of Oz. 773606. Come and have some cracking Easter fun and join in our With help from their new friends the Munchkins, they to travel to the Emerald City where the great Wizard of Oz egg trail, find the Easter Bunny who will give you a treat. lives. On their way they meet a Scarecrow who needs 4 – 19 Apr – Cragside Watch Magic Andrew’s magic act! There’s lots going on a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly FLOW! for the whole family to enjoy! Lion who desperately needs courage. Will the wonderful Wizard of Oz be able to help them before the Wicked Join in with fun activities exploring the power of water – Witch of the West captures them in her dungeon? Come follow the spring trail through the newly opened gorge, and join in the fun over the rainbow spring 2020 as discover waterfalls, try your hand at seasonal activities Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts Enchanted Entertainment present a wonderful Easter or have a go at pond dipping. pantomime version of L. Frank Baum’s much-loved fairy Put your wellies on and follow a nature-themed trail at tale. your favourite NT places to earn a Cadbury reward. 4 – 19 Apr – Wallington 11-12 Apr Allen Banks – 10am – 2pm, £2.50 15 April – Northern Stage Easter holidays 10-13 Apr Cherryburn – 11am – 3pm, £3 Little Red Riding Hood Join us for a mini beast adventure this Easter. Meet a mini beast expert and enjoy creepy-crawly crafts. 4-19 Apr Cragside – 11am – 3pm, £2.50 Little Red Riding Hood is a kind and thoughtful little Normal admission and car parking charges apply. girl who loves her family. One day, on a visit to her 10-13 Apr Gibside – 10.30am – 4pm, £2.50 Grandmother, she meets a very hungry wolf in the Booking is essential. 10-13 Apr Housesteads – 11am – 3pm, £2.50 forest who just wants something to eat. But is he really such a big, bad wolf? Retelling the classic fairy-tale 6 – 10 Apr, 13 – 17 Apr – Cherryburn 4-19 Apr Lindisfarne Castle – times vary with a Northern Ballet twist, Little Red Riding Hood 13 Apr Penshaw Monument – 12 noon – 3pm, £2 is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy Easter at Cherryburn live ballet, music and theatre. After last year’s sold out Enjoy art and nature-themed activities with a seasonal 10-13 Apr Souter Lighthouse & the Leas – 11– 4pm, £3 Puss in Boots and with a string of hugely successful CBeebies TV adaptations, Northern Ballet’s productions twist throughout the Easter holidays. Normal admission 10-13 Apr Wallington – 11am – 4pm, £2.50 for children are not to be missed. Shows at 12.30pm & and car parking charges apply. 10-13 Apr Washington Old Hall – 11am – 4pm, £2.50 2.30pm. familiesonline.co.uk Families Newcastle Gateshead 15 Kids travel free on the Shields Ferry every weekend!

Find great things to do and places to visit in North and South Tyneside at nexus.org.uk/ferry.

*up to three kids aged 11 and under can travel free on the Shields Ferry at weekends, including bank holidays, with a fare-paying adult. Conditions apply.

facebook.com/theshieldsferry nexus.org.uk/ferry

THE ADVENTURES OF CLARA 23 May – 1 November 2020

In 1738 Clara was the most famous rhinoceros in Europe. She travelled the world inspiring people and creating a sensation; letters, poems, songs, paintings, books and sculptures just like our very own were produced. This exhibition will tour the globe so you can see, hear, smell and discover how Clara lived and what she did. You can also find out how to help save rhinos for the future.

The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP

01833 690606 thebowesmuseum.org.uk