What's Good To Do Newsletter - Issue 22 - March 2014

What’s Good To Do Newsletter

Issue 22: March 2014

www.whatsgoodtodo.com

[email protected]

0161 787 8550

Welcome to the March edition of the

What’s Good To Do newsletter

Well we are in to a new month yet again, they seem to be flying past (as least for me anyway).

This month we have some great competitions for you on our website including tickets to this

year’s Wychwood Festival: The Ultimate Family Festival (worth £290), merchandise from The

Book Thief (in cinemas now) and Rio 2 (in cinemas 4 April), a family ticket to see Hetty Feather

Live on Stage at the Rose Theatre Kingston (based on the book by Jacqueline Wilson) and lot’s

more. Plus we still have our usual Days Out Ideas, What’s On, Featured Review and Article and

our popular Discount Codes.

30 March also brings us Mother’s Day (Mothering Sunday) - a day to pamper your mum and

celebrate everything that she does for the family. But before that sees Pancake Day also known

as Shrove Tuesday (Tuesday 4 March) - although traditionally linked to the Christian calendar

and the last day before Lent (which begins on Ash Wednesday) it is now celebrated by

Christians, non-Christians and non-religious families, so whatever your beliefs get ready to

start cooking those pancakes, I for one love them!

But today (1 March) is St David’s Day - a day to celebrate the patron saint of Wales - so if you

are out celebrating this weekend we hope that you enjoy it and stay safe.

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Offer an exclusive discount/offer to our membership card holders and receive a FREE Standard

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What's Good To Do Membership Card.

Receive a free standard listing on our website for as

long as you are running the offer/discount. If you would like to upgrade to a Featured

or Sponsored Listing you just need to pay the difference.

There is no charge unless you decide to buy a different type listing to the one given

free. For more details email [email protected]

Our March newsletter

is sponsored by:

www.magicfairywings.com

Educational toys, wooden toys,

musical instruments, clothing and lots

more...

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BABY GOODS · TOYS · HAIR ACCESSORIES & JEWELLERY

CAR SEATS · STROLLERS · PERSONALISED BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

INVITES AND THANK YOU NOTES · PERSONALISED GIFTS

AND MUCH MORE!


Get 10% off all orders by using discount code WGTD10 at checkout

Alphabet Art Puzzle From Acrobatic Alligator all the way to Zigzag Zebra, this colourful wooden alphabet puzzle has beautifully detailed pictures. When the piece is removed, a full colour illustra-tion with a matching image helps children find every letter its home. Dimensions: 0.51" x 11.8" x 15.6" Suitable age: 3 years +

Only £9.99

Alphabet Express 10 Foot Floor Puzzle Climb aboard the Alphabet Express with 26 zany animals for letter and puzzle fun! Over 10 feet (3 metres) long when complete, it features 27 extra-thick pieces with an Easy-Clean surface to keep them looking like new. Dimensions: 6.5" L x 120" W Suitable age: 3 years +

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Alphabet Nesting Blocks Brightly coloured animals and familiar objects illustrate the letters of the alphabet on these cardboard blocks. Nested, the ten vibrant blocks fit into the included carrying case. Stacked, they form a tower nearly three feet high! Size: 5.75x5.75x5.75" (Packaged) Suitable age: 2 years +

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Teach your children the

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Featured Review

InnoTab 3

www.vtechuk.com Reviewed by Pete Murphy

Our four-year-old daughter is

already completely au fait with

both our smartphones and

laptops... in fact, it's hard to prise

them from her when she's in the

middle of playing her apps! When

she saw the Innotab3 being advertised before Christmas she was

hooked on the idea of having her own tablet - and so were we! No

more shelling out for cracked phone screens and unwanted in-app

purchases!

The tablet itself is very sturdy, and we were delighted that it was so

robust as we were sure it was bound to meet with the floor at some

point after it came out of the box! There was a bit of a hissyfit when

she had to wait for us to hook the Innotab up to the laptop in order to

download content, but once that was sorted she was off and running! I

understand that it's for kids, but we were all a little frustrated at first

that things were quite slow-moving - it does take a little while to move

from one icon to another, but it was a short-lived complaint and she

soon got into the swing of things.

Watching her playing with it, she found it easy to navigate and to get

the hang of the games. As she is in her first year in primary school and

learning to read & write, I find that it's a great tool to supplement her

weekly homework and has definitely helped her schoolwork over the

last couple of months. The camera is a big winner with her. She loves

being able to take whatever pictures she wants without having to

constantly ask us for permission! She also loves being able to listen to

her own music on the tablet... no more One Direction on mammy &

daddy's phones! She has a birthday coming up, so we'll be asking

relatives and friends to buy some of the cartridges for her - she's a big

Disney Princess fan, so both they and the Sofia the First software are

top of her list!

The only drawback that we can see is that batteries run down

incredibly quickly when using the tablet. Having it plugged in with an

AC adapter was the only way to keep it up and running when at home,

but with a trip away coming up shortly, I can see myself getting the

rechargeable battery pack to have to hand for when we lose power!

The Innotab3 is a great tablet for my daughter's age, but I could see

older children maybe finding it a bit slow/not advanced enough for

them, Overall, it's a great, child-friendly tablet and a fantastic

educational tool for kids in this age group!

Rating: 4/5

RRP: £69.99

Available to buy from www.vtechuk.com

To read more of our reviews visit the Reviews & Articles section of our

website. We have reviews on baby products, attractions, restaurants,

theatre shows, DVD’s, Books and lots more.

If you are a business with a product or venue that you would like us to

review and possibly feature here as well as on our website (we have

over 2 million hits per month) please email

[email protected] for details.

Keep up to date by visiting us of Facebook and Twitter.




Featured Article Tablets, Smartphones

and Technology, good

or bad for children?

Written by David Savage

With lots more households now

having tablets and smartphones and children using them from a

younger age, are these good or bad for children’s

development? My 2 year old niece thinks every screen is a

touch screen and is constantly swiping her finger across the

screen on the phone, tablet, PC monitor and at times the TV

screen. My tablet can even connect to my TV screen so

whatever I see on the tablet screen is displayed on the much

larger TV screen.

I think that used correctly and limiting the time that children

can use the devices are a great idea but still need to used

alongside traditional things like books, toys and outdoor play

rather than replacing them.

There are some great educational apps to download that not

only teach children but keep their attention and interest so I

think that they should be used more in schools as a teaching aid

not something to replace the teacher. Used correctly and under

supervision they are a great learning aid.

The same applies to home life, limit the amount of use and used

under parent’s supervision as well as other forms of play and

entertainment and they are a great idea.

Used incorrectly and without supervision or used purely to keep

a child quiet is a bad idea as this could lead them to spending

too much time in a computer generated environment.

As our world now is more and more reliant on technology and

computers in one form or another children need to be taught

them from an early age. So I think that teaching children to use

tablets and smartphones under strict supervision in an excellent

idea and will do no harm to a child as long as they participate in

other child activities such as going out to play, reading books

and imaginative and creative play with toys and crafts. If just

left to their own devices with the technology you run the risk of

them not developing the social and people skills they will need

in later life.

I have seen a potty for toilet training with a tablet attached that

I thought was a terrible idea as using a tablet when doing even

the most basic of functions seems somewhat wrong. There has

to be some sort of limitations on when children (or adults for

that matter) are using technology.

So, I for one, am in favour of children using technology as long

as it is with other forms of play and education. They can benefit

a child’s learning and give them computer skills they will need

in their working lives.

If you would like to write an article to feature here please email

[email protected] with details (please note that we

do not use pay for any articles used).









Hauck Fun for Kids are sponsors of www.whatsgoodtodo.com

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Hauck Sit n Relax RRP £119.99 Available in Zoo, Bear and Butterfly Hauck Sit ‘n Relax will care for your baby from birth through to toddler years. The Sit’n Relax is a very practical high chair combination with a baby and a high chair attachment. The snuggly baby attachment can be used from birth. The innovative design of this unique combination highchair enables you to adjust height so baby can be at eye level by your side or at the table. You can recline the back rest of the baby attachment until the lying position is reached by using only one hand. This way, your child will lie comfortably in its baby attachment. A sweet mobile promotes the motor skills of your baby. It can be swung aside or removed completely. Once your baby can sit unaided, use the high chair attachment. The

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Theatre Land Hetty Feather Rose Theatre Kingston 5-19 April 2014 www.rosetheatrekingston.org

Rose Theatre Kingston, Kenny Wax and William Archer in association with Novel Theatre present Hetty Feather. Adapted for the stage by Emma Reeves. Directed by Sally Cookson

"The most compelling tale Wilson has ever told" The Times

Roll up and join Hetty on her escape from the Foundling Hospital. Tremble as she faces Matron Stinking Bottomly. Thrill as she discovers the squirrel house and Tanglefields Travelling Circus. Gasp as she endures a night locked in the attic. Quake as she braves the scary streets of Victorian London and cheer as she overcomes all in her search to find her real mother and a true family of her own. From best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson, the tale of plucky Hetty Feather is brought thrillingly to life on stage for the Rose Theatre by award winning script writer Emma Reeves (CBBC’s The Story of Tracy Beaker) and the Olivier Award Nominated Director Sally Cookson,

whose many five star productions include Peter Pan, We're Going on a Bearhunt and Stick Man. With live music, circus skills and a huge heart, Hetty Feather is a terrific adventure story – the perfect Easter treat for the whole family.

Tickets cost from £5 to £23.50 (plus booking fee) Box Office: 08444 821 556

www.rosetheatrekingston.org Age guidance 7+

COMPETITION TIME: Win a FAMILY TICKET to see Hetty Feather at the Rose Theatre Kingston. Prize is valid for all Mon – Fri

performances between 5 - 19 April 2014. Family ticket consists of x4 tickets with a minimum of one adult and one child. Subject

to availability. Prize is as stated and cannot be transferred or exchanged. No cash alternative will be offered.

For your chance to enter all you have to do is visit our website and answer the multiple choice question. Ends 23/03/2014

www.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/view/hetty_feather_competition



http://www.rosetheatrekingston.org

What’s Good To Do Newsletter What’s On in

March 2014




Perform Show 7-9 March Olympia, London Tickets £6 to £17.50

PERFORM 2014 is the UK’s biggest dedicated annual event for people looking to carve out a career in the performing arts. Taking place from 7th to 9th March 2014, this year’s event will be its biggest yet. www.performshow.co.uk

The Broadway Divas 16 March, 7.30pm Grove Theatre, Dunstable Tickets £14 These three beautiful leading ladies from the West End and touring musicals bring a real touch of style

with The Broadway Divas in Concert. With over 50 wonderful songs from Broadway musicals, these ladies have wowed audiences in theatre and concert venues all over the country. www.grovetheatre.co.uk

These may also interest you:

Mayor of Luton’s Hat Fashion Show, Luton - 14 March

Surfin’ USA, Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage - 9 March

Watford Wedding Show, Watford - 2 March

Cheltenham Festival 2014 11-14 March The 2014 Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday 11th March. A fantastic day out at the races.

www.cheltenhamfestival.net



What’s Good To Do Newsletter Days Out Ideas




Twinlakes Theme Park Twinlakes Park has endless adventures of family fun packed with variety, adventure and fun for every member of your family. Twinlakes is The East Midland’s No.1 all action, family tourist attraction, providing great days out,

where the fun never stops! Tickets cost from £6.25 to £10.99 (online price until 14 March) For more information/tickets visit www.twinlakespark.co.uk

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Portsmouth Historic Dockyard features the brand new Mary Rose Museum and world famous ships HMS Victory and HMS Warrior (1860), Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a great day out for all the family with 800 years

of history! Tickets for ALL attractions cost from £24.25 to £72 (valid for 1 year unlimited). For more information visit www.historicdockyard.co.uk

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Manchester has over 2 million

LEGO bricks under 1 roof with 4D cinema, Kingdom Quest laser ride, Merlin’s Apprentice, LEGO City: Forest Pursuit Driving School and more! Tickets cost from £9.95 to £12 (online price) To book tickets visit www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk

SEALIFE The Trafford Centre, Manchester

SEALIFE Manchester will transport you into an amazing underwater world. Come nose-to-nose with

sharks and prepare for astonishingly close views of everything from humble clownfish and seahorses

to graceful rays. To get any closer you’d have to get wet!!

Tickets cost from £8.25 (if booked online) with under 2’s FREE.

Book online (save up to 50%) at www.visitsealife.com

The London Time Bus Tour

The London Time Tour Bus is London’s only alternative sightseeing bus tour. Join one of Professor Quantum’s guided sightseeing tours aboard the time travelling bus as you are

shown around the city sharing an amazing knowledge of the past (and the future!). Ideal for a fun day out sightseeing in London for all the family and suitable for all ages. For more information/tickets visit www.timetour.co.uk

Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo is home to the UK's only giant pandas and koala’s and more than 1000 other amazing animals. Edinburgh Zoo offers an amazing day out for all the family.

Tickets cost from £11.50 to £59.95 (online prices) For more information/tickets visit www.edinburghzoo.org.uk

Wheelgate Theme Park Wheelgate Park is an amazing family focused All-Weather park near Mansfield set in 30 acres of beautiful countryside near Sherwood Forest,

packed full of thrilling attractions and massive indoor action! Tickets cost from £5.50 to £9 (online price until 14 March) For more information/tickets visit www.wheelgatepark.com




Sponsored by www.thecreationstation.co.uk

Competition Time




If you would like to run a competition on our website please email [email protected] with details

Terms and Conditions: Only one member of each household may enter each competition in any given month.

By entering any of our competitions you agree that your first name and town will be posted on our website in the event that you are a winner.

We reserve the right to amend the end date of any competition.

Your personal details are only used for the purposes of sending out any prize you may win.

The judges decision is final.

Prizes are as specified and cannot be exchanged for cash or an alternative prize.

Some prizes may be sent direct from sponsors and we cannot be held liable for any prizes that are not claimed/lost.

Only fully completed entries via our Competition Entry Form will be accepted, all others will be deleted.

No bulk entries or entries from third parties and/or automated services will be accepted.

Wychwood Festival Tickets

1 lucky winner can win a weekend pass for 2 adults

and 2 children (10 and under) worth £290!

Runs 1-31 March 2014

Good luck to everybody that enters!

CobWebKnits Handmade Hat

1 lucky winner can win

a Handmade Knitted Hat with

it’s co-ordinating bodysuit

from our friends at

CobWebKnits.


We have some great competitions for March 2014!

For your chance to win some great prizes visit:

www.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/view/competitions

Plus many more on our website… including tickets to ABBA Tribute Night, Michael Buble Tribute Night, Michael

Jackson Tribute Night, The Good Retreat Guide 6th Edition, Valley of the Eagles DVD and a Hetty Feather Live on Stage

family ticket. So keep checking our website throughout the month!

Rio 2 Film Merchandise

3 lucky winners can each

win a very nice bundle of

film merchandise from

the upcoming cinema

release Rio 2!


Tractor Ted Activity Book

5 lucky winners can each

win a Tractor Ted’s Activity

Book 2: Easter Edition and

Pencil Case.




http://www.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/view/competitions




Discount Codes Buyahipflask.com is a specialist hip flask store. We have one of the largest ranges of hip flasks available (we think it might be the biggest, but we don't like to brag!). The majority of our flasks are hand made from Pewter in Sheffield. Get a 10% discount when using code W G T D 1 0 a t c h e c k o u t o n www.buyahipflask.com

Offer expires: 31/12/14

MagicFairyWings www.magicfairywings.com Kidorable and Bugzz children's clothing and accessories, Bigjigs Wooden

Toys including train sets and accessories, wooden musical toys, Melissa & Doug, party bags and party bag items plus lots more. Get a 10% discount when using code WGTD10 at checkout on www.magicfairywings.com!


Buyakilt.com is an online Scottish Highland dress retailer. We offer an extensive range of kilts, kilt outfits and kilt accessories, as well as some Scottish gifts. Get a 10% discount when using code W G T D 1 0 a t c h e c k o u t o n www.buyakilt.com


Buyaquaich.com is a specialist quaich store. We have one of the largest ranges of quaichs available (we think it might be the biggest, but we don't like to brag!). The majority of our quaichs are hand made from Pewter in Sheffield, England.

Get a 10% discount when using code WGTD10 at checkout on www.buyaquaich.com


Buyatankard.com is a specialist tankard store. We have one of the largest ranges of tankards available (we think it might be the biggest, but we don't like to brag!). Almost all of our tankards are hand made from Pewter in Sheffield, England. Get a 10% discount when using code WGTD10 at checkout on www.buyatankard.com


ADD YOUR OFFER

OR DISCOUNT HERE

email [email protected]

Here are some of the discount codes and offers that can be found on our website.

To see all of our latest discount codes and offer visit www.whatsgoodtodo.com

If you have a discount code or offer that you would like to see here and on our website email [email protected]



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with Children’s

Fun Time www.whatsgoodtodo.com have teamed up with www.twinkl.co.uk to bring you fun time and educational resources for your children. Twinkl is

a primary resources website aimed at nursery nurses, teachers and parents designed to enhance children's learning experiences and save time

on preparing resources so staff and parents can get on with what they do best - nurturing the children in their care.

This and thousands more FREE resources can be found on www.twinkl.co.uk. Sign up to the

Twinkl Gold or Platinum Subscription (£24.95/£39.95) per year and get access to even more.

Print this onto some card, get an adult to cut it out for you, colour it in and present to your

mother on Mother’s Day (30 March). She will be extremely happy!

You can find other versions of this card on www.twinkl.co.uk



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We currently have 2 quarterly magazines covering Manchester and London/Bedfordshire/

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magazines are distributed in schools, doctor surgeries, libraries, tourist offices and many other

places in the areas that they cover. We can even add your A5 flyers into our magazines at £30

per 1000 (you will need to provide the flyer).

You too could run your own What’s Good To Do magazine in your area on a licence basis

subject to availability. Email [email protected] for details.


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BABY GOODS · TOYS · HAIR ACCESSORIES & JEWELLERY ·

PERSONALISED BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS, INVITES AND

THANK YOU NOTES · PERSONALISED GIFTS·

AND MUCH MORE!

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Magazines



with prices from £18 for an eighth of a A5 page. At these rate can you afford not to? Our FREE

magazines are distributed in schools, doctor surgeries, libraries, tourist offices and many other

places in the areas that they cover. We can even add your A5 flyers into our magazines at £30

per 1000 (you will need to provide the flyer).


subject to availability. Email [email protected] for details.


Product/Venue Reviews

Would you like more exposure for

your product or venue?

We can review your product or venue and feature in our

magazine, on our website or Facebook page.

Competitions

Maybe you would like to get your

product/venue known by running a

competition on our website or in one of our magazines.

This is a great way to get your product or venue known.

For more information or to book your advert space please email

[email protected] for details or download our Media Pack from

www.whatsgoodtodo.com/files/WGTDmediapack.pdf







Magazines



with prices starting from £10 for an eighth of a A5 page. At these rates can you afford not to?

Our FREE magazines are distributed in schools, doctor surgeries, libraries, tourist offices and

many other places in the areas that they cover. We can even add your A5 flyers into our

magazines at £30 per 1000 (you will need to provide the flyer).


subject to availability.

Website

Why not add your business or event to our searchable listings or have a banner on our Homepage. Our searchable listings cost from as little as £10 per year! Another great

option could be one of our £10 or larger £30 per month home page banner advert spaces.

Want more exposure and a FREE searchable listing on our website?

If you provide an offer or discount for our Membership Card we give you a FREE Standard Listing for as long as your offer is ‘LIVE’. You also have the

option of paying the difference to upgrade to a sponsored listing.

Newsletter

Our newsletter is emailed out on 1st of every month to subscribers as well as being downloaded from our website

and being viewed online from our Facebook and Twitter pages. For a small fee of £5 your business/product/venue

can have an advert in this newsletter plus 2 mentions on our Facebook page (subject to space and approval).

Email [email protected] for details.

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Documents

What's Good To Do Newsletter - Issue 22 - March 2014