Open exclusively to families who have spent time on Ward 35, the Tiny Lives ‘Meet, Chat, Learn’ sessions are a great way to meet other neonatal families, learn new skills and spend some bonding time with your little one. Our groups and classes are organised and funded by Tiny Lives and provided by our approved delivery partners, so they are always free-of-charge to Ward 35 parents.
Swipe on the images to see all classes available this term!
Beyond Birth is a mindful early parenting class that uses a combination of mindfulness, relaxation, wellbeing journaling and other therapeutic techniques over 6 weeks. They are designed to be gentle, calm and nurturing for you and your baby (from 0 – 12 Months).
More info and booking info here.
Baby Yoga and Massage is a relaxed and fun environment for you and your baby. The class incorporates music, song and sensory props, as well as traditional yoga poses too! Classes show the correct use of massage to develop circulatory and breathing rhythms, introduce easy tummy time, develop muscle strength and flexibility.
More info and booking info here.
The Bubbles Groups are support and developmental groups facilitated by the Newcastle Community Nursing Team and Newcastle 0-19 Service. They’re supported by Tiny Lives and host weekly and fortnightly face-to-face baby and parents sessions for parents whose babies have been discharged from the Neonatal Unit at the RVI.
More info and booking info here.
M+Ms focuses on learning through play with sing-a-long songs, props, activities and music. There is bubbles, ribbons, sensory materials, mirrors, musical instruments, play parachutes and much more. Each week has a theme such as Garden, Space and Under the sea.
More info and booking info here.
Our Art and Creative Play sessions aim to nurture and develop a child’s creativity by providing them with the opportunities, guidance, inspiration and materials to explore, experiment and express themselves through a range of colourful art, creative and sensory activities. These sessions are open to babies aged 6 months (corrected) to 2 years.
More info and booking info here.
Our Stay and Play sessions provide an opportunity to meet other parents who are going through a similar experience, Tiny Lives staff and our Peer Supporters in a relaxed and friendly environment while your little ones play.
More info and booking info here.
Details of each class can be found below, but don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions, just email us here.
Beyond Birth Wellbeing Course
Beyond Birth is the award winning Mindful Early Parenting course delivered by Katy, the founder of Birthscapes. Beyond Birth guides you to explore your identity as a parent, and to connect with yourself, your baby and your loved ones.
Sessions will be held at Kingston Park Community Centre and will use a combination of mindfulness, relaxation, wellbeing journaling and other therapeutic techniques over 6 weeks. They are designed to be gentle, calm and nurturing for you and your baby (from 0 – 12 Months). We recommend that you attend all sessions in order to get the most out of them for you and your baby.
Other parents have said:
‘I feel like the course enabled me to process our journey that little bit more’
‘Dedicating time every week to reflect has been really beneficial’
Sessions are 10.30am – 12.30pm on the following dates :
Click here to book!
Baby Yoga and Massage
Held by Kalma Life Gateshead, Baby Yoga and Massage is a relaxed and fun environment. Sessions introduce you and your baby to massage, and yoga inspired stretches through music, song and rhyme along with lots of sensory props over 6 weeks. Classes show the correct use of massage to develop circulatory and breathing rhythms, introduce easy tummy time, develop muscle strength and flexibility. Baby massage has many benefits such as helping with colic, digestion and sleeping.
Classes are held at the Community Hub Metrocentre (Green Mall) and are open to babies 6 weeks (corrected) to 18 months. We recommend that you attend all sessions in order to get the most out of them for you and your baby.
Other parents have said:
‘The class…has been a support network, a distraction, a place to vent to worries and problems, a place to laugh and relax and a place to teach my baby new fun things’
‘Our physiotherapist told us they never would have guessed our baby was born as early…because of her core strength and put this down to us regularly attending baby yoga!’
Sessions are from 10am – 11.15am and 11.15 – 12.20 (age depending) on the following dates:
Tuesday 14th November
Tuesday 21st November
Tuesday 28th November
Tuesday 5th December
Tuesday 12th December
The groups provide a small, fun, friendly session in a safe and stimulating environment to encourage your child’s development through play, sensory exploration, song and music time.
Bubbles North is run weekly by the Newcastle Community Nursing team and 0-19 Service. For any parent whose had a baby on Ward 35 at the RVI for a maximum of 10 parents and babies.
Sessions run every Wednesday from 1pm – 3pm at Fawdon Children’s Centre, NE3 2SN.
Wednesday 6th December
Wednesday 13th December (Being held at Owl Tree Cafe)
Wednesday 20th December
Click here to book
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Bubbles East is run twice a month by Newcastle 0-19 Service for Newcastle parents only, a maximum of 6 parents and babies per session – Booking for this group is done through the Single Point of Access Number – 0191 2823319.
Sessions run Mondays 10 -12 at the St Martins Centre
Music, Movement and Sensory (M+Ms).
Held by The Baby Hub Gateshead, M+Ms is an award winning class that focuses on learning through play with sing-a-long songs, props, activities and music. There will be bubbles, ribbons, sensory materials, mirrors, musical instruments, play parachutes and much more. Each week there will be a theme such as Garden, Space and Under the sea.
Classes are held at Raven Valley Gym Club (Gateshead) and are open to babies 6 weeks (corrected) to 2 years. We recommend that you attend all sessions in order to get the most out of them for you and your baby.
Other parents have said:
‘The movement classes with Lucy have been an absolute lifeline…Lucy makes me feel so welcome and I’ve started to make friends in the class too which is a huge step…’
‘The classes have been a real highlight of my maternity leave…so thoughtfully structured and fun. I’ve made a network of new friends who understand everything we’ve all gone through…’
Sessions are 1pm – 2pm on the following dates:
Thursday 9th November
Thursday 16th November
Thursday 23rd November
Thursday 30th November
Thursday 7th December
Thursday 14th December
Art and Creative Play
Held by ARTventurers, these award winning sessions aim to nurture and develop a child’s creativity by providing them with the opportunities, guidance, inspiration and materials to explore, experiment and express themselves through a range of colourful art, creative and sensory activities. These sessions are open to babies aged 6 months (corrected) to 2 years.
For the first time, Tiny Lives are funding a class in two locations; 11.30am – 12.30pm at Great Park Community Centre, and 1pm – 2pm at Blaydon Youth & Community Centre. Please choose only one of the available classes to attend for the 6 week course. We recommend that you attend all sessions in order to get the most out of them for you and your baby.
Other parents have said:
‘These sessions have given me the confidence to try new and messy things’
‘Messy play gave my baby a lot of confidence’
Dates of sessions:
Dates:
Great Park
Friday 10th November
Friday 17th November
Friday 1st December
Friday 8th December
Friday 15th December
Blaydon
Friday 10th November
Friday 17th November
Friday 24th November
Friday 8th December
Friday 15th December
Friday 22nd December
Stay and Play
Our Stay and Play sessions provide an opportunity to meet other parents who are going through a similar experience as well as Tiny Lives staff and our Peer Supporters in a relaxed and friendly environment while your little ones play. Places are limited to 10 families (up to 2 adults, one baby or multiples). Sessions are either held at Little Pioneers Nursery (Co-op Childcare Newburn) or The Alan Shearer Activity Centre.
The Hydro Therapy Pool is available for 2 families per session at The Alan Shearer Activity Centre.
Dates of next session:
Please be assured that all classes have had vigorous risk assessments. Risk assessments are available upon request.