In The Know: Cool Things For Parents & Kids
Jim's Spectacular Christmas by Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson has joined forces with the illustrator of The Gruffalo for a heart-warming festive story about the V&A’s resident pooch. It tells the story of Jim, the beloved dog of Sir Henry Cole who created the first ever Christmas card. Jim is always getting himself into trouble – or being mistaken for a mop, caterpillar or even a hairy mushroom! When he’s given the task of delivering a Christmas card to a very special recipient, he rises to the occasion and heads on an epic adventure.
Visit Waterstones.com
Baboodle
Baboodle is the UK’s first baby equipment subscription service, offering parents access to the best baby products – from prams and cots to electric pumps and sterilisers. Browse the selection of essentials, then choose a delivery day for your items to arrive. After this, a monthly payment will be taken until you return your items. Once your baby has outgrown them, you can swap items as and when needed. Current brands include Bugaboo, Elvie, Snoo, Egg, Medela and BabyBjörn, to name a few, meaning you can rent some of the best baby products on the market without having to invest. First-time parents can also download Baboodle’s check list to make sure they have the essentials before the baby arrives.
Visit Baboodle.co.uk
Matilda The Musical
Directed by Matthew Warchus, who’s also behind the West End musical, this new film adapts Roald Dahl’s classic for the big screen, with new music by Tim Minchin. Matilda Wormwood (Alisha Weir) is a little girl with big curiosity, a sharp mind and a vivid imagination – and the worst parents in the world. While her mum and dad (Andrea Riseborough and Stephen Graham) love trashy TV and dodgy money-making schemes, she loves to lose herself in the pages of her beloved books. On meeting her inspirational teacher, Miss Honey (Lashana Lynch), Matilda is encouraged and begins conjuring her own fantastical tales. Excited to attend Crunchem Hall, Matilda is surprised to find the school is an ominous and oppressive place led by the huge and villainous Miss Trunchbull (Emma Thompson). Filled with an overwhelming sense of justice, Matilda dares to take a stand for what is right and teach Trunchbull a lesson she won’t forget…
In cinemas from 25th November
Visit Picturehouse.com
Tiny Hox
The Hoxton has created a family package for guests travelling with little ones. The hotel group has partnered with French retailer Smallable to offer kids a fun sleepover experience. Any parent travelling with children to any Hoxton around the world will receive a welcome pack filled with child-friendly amenities, including a bag with fun activities, a crib, family-friendly bathrooms with a changing table, a free Little’uns breakfast bag, and a neighbourhood map of the local area. You can also request extras like bottle warmers, nappies and family games to play in your room. If you stay at one of the above hotels by Sunday 4th December, you can book a Smallable-curated room which includes toys, loungers, books and other fun essentials to keep the kids happy.
Visit TheHoxton.com
The Gingerbread City
More than 100 architects, designers and engineers have come together to create a miniature city made out of gingerbread at the Museum of Architecture. The exhibition features five tiny biscuit cities that represent different climate zones: polar, continental, temperate, dry and tropical, with the aim to make visitors think about climate change and how our cities need to adapt. Over the next few weeks, children of all ages can take part in a series of workshops to learn how to construct and decorate their very own gingerbread house. Tickets start from £8.50; workshops start from £40.
6-7 Motcomb Street, Belgravia, SW1X 8JU
Visit TheGingerbreadCity.com
Anya’s Grotto
Anya Hindmarch’s fun Belgravia store has been transformed into a winter wonderland where little ones can visit Father Christmas’ grotto. Book a 30-minute time slot to wonder through the immersive grotto experience which ends with a story read by Father Christmas himself. A lovely activity to enjoy over the holidays, the grotto will be in place until Christmas Eve. Tickets cost £45 for one adult and one child.
The Village Hall, 11 Pont Street, Belgravia, SW1X 9EH
Visit AnyaHindmarch.com
Little Red Robin Hood at Battersea Arts Centre
Little Red Robin Hood is a new mash-up panto from Battersea Arts Centre, with original songs, live music and audience interaction. Disaster has struck in Nottingham as the wicked sheriff has captured the famous outlaw Robin Hood. Who will stand up for the townspeople now? Surely not a tiny girl in a red riding hood? Sometimes, the true hero is the person you least expect, as Red Riding Hood heads into the forest to defeat the Sheriff, find her Grandma and discover her destiny. Tickets start from £6.
Lavender Hill, Battersea, SW11 5TN; 6th December-8th January
Visit BAC.org.uk
Mamamade
Making healthy and tasty meals for children can be time consuming, so if you need a helping hand in the kitchen, Mamamade is the name to know. Created by a mum who struggled to keep up with mealtimes, Mamamade is a delivery service offering plant-based meals made from organic ingredients. This month, there are five new toddler-friendly meals to choose from, including a veggie-packed sweet potato and pinto bean chilli, macaronic cheese, courgette and lentil Bolognese, and a mild cauliflower and coconut curry. All meals are nutritionist-approved and designed with growth and development in mind – even for the fussiest of eaters. There are also over 40 other recipes on the site for babies to five-year-olds.
Visit MamaMadeFood.com
American Vintage
American Vintage has launched its first children’s wear collection. The AW22 edit is full of unisex clothing in the brand’s cool, all-American style, including mix-and-match pieces for kids and adults. The collection was made with the intention of passing pieces down to brothers and sisters and everything is made to last in soft and comfortable fabrics. Available for three- to 11-year-olds, the collection includes t-shirts, jeans, sweatshirts, jumpers, and matching tracksuits. We’ve got our eye on the wool joggers and jumpers, plus the knitted hats in a range of fun colours.
Shangri-La, The Shard x Plaay x Make-A-Wish International
Shangri-La, The Shard has partnered with Plaay toys to create a range of bespoke wooden animals to raise funds for children’s charity Make-A-Wish, which gifts life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. Available to buy at Shangri-La hotels around the world, parents can buy a wooden tiger inspired by the hotel’s Asian heritage and the Lunar Year of The Tiger (which symbolises bravery). Next year is the Lunar Year of the Rabbit, so there will be a special wooden rabbit available in January, too –100% of the profits will be donated to charity.
Visit Shangri-La.com
Calm x Roald Dahl
Sleep and meditation app Calm has created a new series of sleep stories with the Roald Dahl Story Company. If your little one struggles to fall asleep, the new series includes an original ‘Charlie and the Dream Factory’ story, narrated by actor Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians). Next month, Killing Eve actress Kirby Howell will be joining Miss Honey and Miss Trunchbull in a special Matilda sleep story. Other children’s characters on the app include Peppa Pig and Minions.
Visit Calm.com
Ascot Christmas Family Racing Weekend
Ascot is always a fun day out, but if you want to get the kids involved, the racing ground is hosting a festive family weekend on Saturday 17th December. This year’s theme is ‘Nutcracker Christmas’ and to celebrate Ascot’s ‘Jump Season’, gates open from 10.45am when visitors can watch a series of races at the enclosures. Off the track, there’s plenty to keep the family entertained, including fairground rides, festive arts and crafts, pony rides, face painting and carol singing. Little ones can also look out for reindeer and settle down for stories with Mrs Claus. Tickets start from £27.
High Street, Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, SL5 7JX
Visit Ascot.com
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