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inthisissue
50 • November/December 2010
Visit us now at www. familiestvw.co.uk
4 News & Views
9 Education News
10 Dyslexia
Common myths and how to recognise it
12 Busy Babes
Baby signing plus what’s new
14 Early Years Activities
Clubs and classes for babies and the under 5’s
18 Hamleys Christmas
Gift Guide
Recommended toys for all ages
20 Local Shopping
Find shopping heaven close to home
22 Festive Crafts
24 Christmas Family
Theatre
Pantomimes, carol concerts, family shows
26 Diary Dates
29 Where’s Santa
Some local venues where you can visit Santa
30 Competitions
Winter Wonderland, Odds Farm Park,
Nirvana Spa, The Little Print Co.
Next issue: January/February 2011
Featuring: New Year, New You
Pregnancy & Birth
Editorial and booking deadline: 1 December
To advertise in Families, call 0118 954 6893 or email adverts@familiestvw.co.uk
To have copies of Families delivered FREE to your nursery, school, club or group, please email
editor@familiestvw.co.uk
Designed by Graphic Resolutions 01438 871 600. Printed by Warners Midlands PLC 01778
391 000, www.warners.co.uk. Copyright Families Thames Valley West October 2010.
Families Thames Valley West is part of a group, established in 1990 and headed by Families
South West London. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and
operated under licence. We take care in preparing this magazine
but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for
the claims of the advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents
nor for Fam-TVWest_QPL-Ad_WE2010.qxd:Perform any consequence.
1/10/10 17:34 Page 1
Our front cover photography is courtesy of
Room Seven, www.roomseven.com
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and competitions
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Editor’s Letter
Welcome to our Christmas edition which has plenty inside to
help you celebrate the festive season. Stuck for present
ideas? We’ve turned to the best – Hamleys no less – to
provide inspiration. Turn to page 18 for their recommended
toys for all ages, and don’t miss our fantastic competition to
win £250 in Hamleys vouchers on page 21. Looking to book
tickets for a pantomime? We’ve got all the local show and
concert details, plus lots of other holiday activities. And
children, make sure you’re being very, very good as we’ve
discovered some local venues where Santa himself may be
spotted – find them on page 28.
Dyslexia Awareness Week runs from 1-7 November and
aims to increase understanding of this surprisingly common
difficulty. Turn to page 10 to learn more. And we haven’t
forgotten the little ones with the second part of our children’s
clubs & classes directory which concentrates on the Under 5s.
Find out more about baby signing and a whole host of other
activities in our early years feature.
Wishing all our readers, advertisers and distributors a very
Merry Christmas! See you in 2011.
Karen and Jane
2 FOR 1 at Eddie Catz Playcentre, Newbury – page 15
WIN Artemis, The Talent Stop and Baby College courses – page 17
WIN £250 of Hamleys vouchers – page 21
SAVE 10% at Shirleyz in Holme Grange Craft Village – page 21
15% OFF online at The Great Little Trading Co. – page 21
WIN tickets to Winter Wonderland and Odds Farm Park – page 30
WIN Celestial spa products from Nirvana – page 30
WIN a fingerprint charm from The Little Print Co. – page 30
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Visit See us us now now at www. www.familiestvw.co.uk familiestvw.co.uk
Thames Valley West
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