NOV DE C 2016 ISS UE 49 LEEDS’ FAVOURITE PARENTING MAGAZINE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Pantomimes & Where’s Santa? TTicketsi ck ets fromfrom £10 FrFrii 2 DDecec – SSatat 7 JJanan tio na ed’ Trraditionaadi Le Pantomim LLeeds’eed s’ Favourite JEZ Children’sThe Dress Wardrobe Agency • Shadwell, Leeds EDWA RDS Winner o f Britai n’s G ot T al ent Sell with us, Buy from us JA I 07799 41 46 23 • [email protected] McDOWA LL @Thewardrobeshadwell Ca rriagew orks T heatr e, T he El ectr ic P ress, Millennium S quare, L eeds, L S2 3 AD SAT 2 6 N OV 2 016 – S UN 8 J AN 201 7 Wr itten by PE TER R OWE Directed by MAT T A STON Design ed b y JUDITH CR OFT Musi cal D ir ector GR EG P ALMER Ligh ting D esign er JASO N S ALVI N Ch oreog rapher SAMAN THA S PENCER-LAN E Casting by DE BBIE O ’BRI EN Recommended f or a ges 3 + FAY RE Festive fun at Foun tains Abbey & Studl ey Roy al Join u s fo r a g rea t da y fo r a ll t he f amily! Meet Father Christmas and Cat Hcr RagI hSoTusMe f AarmS see the abbey illuminated. SATURDAY 10am - 4pm Get crafty in the workshop or RD TH head out exploring the estate. 3 1 0 DEC EM BER ARRIVES 1 1am Call 01765 608888 for details #nationa ltrust nationaltrust.org.uk/fountainsabbey © N ational Tr ust 2 01 6. Th e N ational Tr ust i s a n inde pende nt registered c harity, n umber 2 05 846. P hotography © N ational & Tr ust I mages\Ch ris L acey. christmas gifts, decor ations, car olsS, fAestiNve tTreAa ts.. Our cover photograph of Welcome Back… Alexa the fairy and Benjamin elf was taken in the grounds of When it comes to child rearing, it is always Cookridge Hall Health & Fitness. useful to defer to someone older and The winner of our competition wiser. And who is older and wiser than for a VIP visit to Stockeld Park Father Christmas? and sleigh ride with Santa was The more I reflect, the more I realise Lyndsey Crowley. Congratulations that the old man, with his hundreds of to her and thank you to all who entered. years of experience dealing with millions of children, has absolutely got it down to a fine art. Think about it; he’s the ultimate parenting guru. He’s a man with a plan who has won the unquestioning adoration of all children every - Contents … where. And they all want to be good for him. Here are just three 4 – 5 News golden rules we can all learn from the big man in red: Rule One: Create a routine, and stick to it. You’ve got to hand it to 8 – 9 Buy the Book him, everyone knows where they are with Santa. His routine is like Your guide to buying children’s books as gifts clockwork and we’re all the happier for it. this Christmas Rule Two: Be consistent. Above all, it’s important to be fair and treat all children equally, at all times. 12 Santa Claus is Coming to Town Rule Three: No negotiating. Do not make eye contact, or preferably any When and where to find him direct contact whatsoever, when discussing children’s desires, thoughts and opinions (love the ‘write me a letter’ tack here – genius). 14 Have you made a will? Expert advice from Helen Gott of Emsleys Having said this, there are elements of Father Christmas’s modus operandi that all of us busy stressed-out parents probably recognise. 15 Gift Guide Essentially, his survival guide is based on threats and bribery. Oh, and Make it personal with Christmas presents when the going gets tough for him, a steady stream of alcohol… 16 – 19 What’s On? Cheers everybody, Happy Christmas! Our ultimate guide to everything that’s happening for families over the festive season Claire Bottomley Like us on Facebook CONTACT US: www.familiesonline.co.uk Follow us on Twitter 07799 667 041 • [email protected] CI RCULATION: We distribute 19,000 copies of the magazine free of charge through schools, nurseries, playgroups, clubs and classes, selected retail outlets Families Leeds Ltd is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in and sports centres. Read by more than 45,000 parents. If you would the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families ® is a registered trademark like copies for your establishment please let us know. of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Leeds Ltd are fully protected by copyright and non of the editorial or DESIGNED BY: photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take JUSTIN LEEMING • 07745 038 005 • www.jgl-design.co.uk every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for PRINTED BY: the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence. CHARLESWORTH PRESS, Wakefield • www.charlesworth.com Next to Moortown Primary School Come and join us for the best day ever , at our visonary nursery . With inspiring Lov ing C arreoo amn s dan dS audpve nrtbu roE uds uocutatidooorsn , our learned & dedicated team look forward to welcoming you! The Old Chapel, Shadwell Lane, Leeds. LS17 6DR 07766 808 257 [email protected] t: e: www .yorkshiremontessorinursery .co.uk 3 FAMILIES NEWS Try an Arty Animals Workshop Wondering how to keep the children Stick with occupied over the Bike Helmets Christmas holidays? Arty Animals could A study of bike helmet use has found that be the answer. wearing a bicycle crash helmet reduces the It will be hosting risk of a serious head injury by 70% – and Christmas arts, craft and cooking workshops the risk of a fatal head ni jury by 65%. from Monday, December 19 to Thursday, The same study also said that neck December 22 from 10am – 3pm. injuries are not caused by, or made worse The company, based in Horsforth, has been by, wearing helmets, as some previous providing fun-filled and imaginative workshops studies had claimed. and birthday parties for more than 10 years. Statisticians Prudence Creighton and Jake Children have enjoyed learning how to make Olivier from Australia’s University of New bread, lemon cheesecake with frosted grapes, South Wales took data from 40 studies to sticky toffee pudding, homemade burgers, come up with their findings and presented crow’s feet pie and much more. their results at Safety 2016 in Finland. They’ve also used an array of art materials to create Garbage Guzzlers, Computer Mice, Harry Potter Sorting Hats and other masterpieces. The children will be treated to a magical Arty Animals has now started to provide Show You Care experience with entertainment, walk-about cookery workshops to children, teenagers and with a Toy Donation characters and refreshments, all culminating adults, as well as a new sewing classes for over in a visit to Santa’s workshop where they 11s, making denim handbags. Birthday parties Make a difference to a child in care this will meet the man himself and get to choose are designed especially for the individual child, Christmas – by donating a present to the a toy from the grotto. whatever their favourite theme may be. The Kirkstall Abbey Toy Appeal. For more information, contact Kathryn There are toy donation boxes in Abbey on 0113 2265 898 or 0798 2239 377 , House Museum, Kirkstall Abbey Visitor Centre, visit www.artyanimals.co.uk or email Smyths Toys at Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Park [email protected] . and the Holiday Inn hotel near the Royal Armouries Museum. The appeal is for donations of new packaged Allergy Support toys, but it is also taking monetary donations that will be used to buy any extra toys needed The Leeds Allergy Support Group will be to make sure every child gets a present. holding its next meeting on Saturday, A very special day is planned on December November 19 from 2pm – 3.30pm at 12, when children from local care homes and Meanwood Valley Urban Farm. foster homes will be taken to Kirkstall Abbey Children’s Allergy Nurse Specialist from where they will find it transformed into a Leeds General Infirmary, Brenda DeWitt, winter wonderland with Santa’s grotto at will be giving an ‘Ask the Nurse’ session. the heart of it. A CHRISTMAS ARTS, CRAFT AND COOKING WORKSHOPS 19th – 22nd December from 10am – 3pm Gingerbread House Make a stunning table decoration using Christmas Town theme with S hop, C afe & P etr ol S tation foliage, baubles and festive trimmings Freshly pr epar ed food daily • Separate bab y ar ea Priv ate P arties cater ed for (centr e closed for par ties) Christmas Workshops are £30 for the day and includes Lunch and all Drinks Un it 2 • So uth V iew Busi ness P ark • Guise ley Lee ds LS20 9PP (st raight o n p ast Ar gos, we'r e 3r d o n l eft) Please call Kathryn on: 01943 870 189 (0113) 2265 898 or 0798 2239 377 www .t um bletownad ventur ep lay.co.uk www.artyanimals.co.uk • [email protected] 4 Families News New Christmas Festive Food & Fun Attraction Launched at Crag House Farm at Lotherton Hall Families can find a magical new Christmas attraction at Lotherton Hall this year.