Families North London May/June 22 PRINT

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IN THIS ISSUE Party like it’s 2022!

WIN! A Cybex Avi stroller – great for running WIN! Outdoor Swimming London Adventures at Home SIX pages of What’s On PLUS Jubilee events

Issue 154 May/June 2022 familiesonline.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk 1

BROOMFIELD SCHOOL

A LOCAL SCHOOL FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

THINKING OF JOINING US IN SEPTEMBER 2023?

Visit www.broomfield.enfield.sch.uk for all the information you need to help you make your decision Follow us on our social media channels for regular updates on school life

@broomfield_sch

broomfield Sch Enfield

New Headteacher for September 2022!

Barnet Cub Scouts paddle out on a raft they have built. “It’s so rewarding to see young people grow in confidence,” said Barnet District Scout Commissioner Tracey Smith. “We really need more adult volunteers to help more young people have great adventures,” said Tracey. “There is training and support every step of the way,” she added. Find out more at barnetscoutgrowth@gmail.com or from Tracey on 07534 748402.

Contents May June 2022 Issue 154

Families North London Magazine

5

How to talk to kids about Ukraine

12 Party like it’s 2022!

6

What infants find funny and why

Editor: Amanda

7

Meet the Head – The Cavendish School’s Taryn Lombard

14 Adventures at home 14 Choosing a summer workshop

Greenley

T: 07359 133954 E: editor@familiesnorthlondon.co.uk Families North London is part of Families print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The content of Famileis North London are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photogrpahic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent from Families North London. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families North London, our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing can not be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

8

Skills to learn before you’re 10

10 Author Nicola Skinner on her new book, Giant 11 Preparing your child for secondary school

16 WIN! A CYBEX Avi running stroller 16 WIN! A copy of Outdoor Swimming London 17 SIX pages of What’s On for families Plus Jubilee events!

23 Classifieds

Advertise in our next issue. Contact us on 07359 133 954. editor@familiesnorthlondon.co.uk

Follow us on social media and stay up to date, informed and entertained.

Tweet us on Find us on @familiesnorthlondon @FamiliesNthLon

Include us on @familiesnorthlondon

Welcome May is here, there are hints of the summer to come and I, for one, can’t wait to make the most of getting out and about.

As we look forward to the long summer evenings and warmer weather, check out our great competitions to get you out and get active. We have a CYBEX Avi running stroller to give away and three copies of Outdoor Swimming London from Wild Things Publishing - both on page 16. Find out what’s on trend for children’s parties. And we have SIX pages of What’s On. Look out for Platinum Jubilee events – sure to create great “I was there” memories for your children.

familiesonline.co.uk

Don’t forget, there’s lots more interactive content including craft ideas and recipes in the interactive version of our magazine.

Sign up to receive every issue straight to your inbox at families.mag.co.uk/go Enjoy!

Amanda 3

News & Views

It’s good to share In the age of waste and, for many of us, too much clutter, it’s great to hear that the Under-5’s Toy Library at Highgate Library has expanded its range of toys.

Walk in aid of cancer support Sign up now for Enfield’s Biggest Night Hike

The toy library has a wide range of toys for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers and runs on Thursday mornings, termtime from 10am to 11.30am. Toys can be borrowed with an ordinary library card, free of charge.

“My son loves coming to the toy library,” said one father of a three-year-old. “Returning toys and choosing something new is part of the fun and it’s lovely to meet other children to share the joy. The magnetic toys are his current favourite.”

Find the toy library on Thursday mornings, term-time 10am-11.30am, at Highgate Library, Chester Road, N19 5DH.

Finish the story...

Does your child love to write? Check out the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition which aims to encourage writers of the future. Find the story starter at the address below and finish. Entrants should be under 19. The closing date is May 22. https://branfordboaseaward.org.uk/hbwc

Tuition offer A tuition centre is offering a free trial lesson and five per cent discount to new enrolments.

Axis Tuition Centre director Hakan Gokce said: “We offer affordable supplementary education to primary and secondary pupils in Hendon, North Finchley, Southgate and Ponders End. Our small group sessions have proved to make a significant improvement in school attainment and exam results.”

Axis offers booster courses during the school holidays too.

To claim your free trial lesson and 5% discount for new enrolments, call 020 7607 9330 or visit www.tuitioncentres.org

Calling all young Scientists!

Help us discover how babies & kids learn!

We’re recruiting infants from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at Birkbeck’s Babylab & ToddlerLab in central London. Our prime locations are easy to reach and we refund travel expenses. We also have online studies you can do from the comfort of home www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/online-studies

020 3926 1207 babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk 4

Families North London

Superheroes step out: join the hike On Friday May 20 at 7.30pm, join hundreds of people walking The Nightingale Cancer Support Centre’s Night Hike.

Meeting outside the Enfield Civic Centre from 6.30pm, there will be a welcome reception to get the party started, with goody bags, worth £20, and a fun warm up to get ready for the 10K or 15K walk.

You can help Nightingale Cancer Support to be there for the 1 in 2 people diagnosed with cancer as well as their family and friends.

You can walk the Night Hike at your own pace, with who you like and dressed how you like - though organisers suggest dressed to party! Children over 12 and well-behaved dogs on leads are permitted to join the walk. You can walk in memory of someone you love, for someone who has cancer, to support all those touched cancer or for yourself.

“Please, sign up today, because you can’t run from cancer, but together we can walk for it,” said Nightingale Cancer Support’s Lucy. www.nightingalesupport.org.uk/nighthike

Draw to win The Cartoon Museum is looking for the next big comic artist. The Alison Brown Young Comics Maestro Award 2022 competition is open until May 30 and the winning comic strip will be chosen by judges from The Beano, The Phoenix and The Cartoon Museum. The top prize is £200. Runners up receive £50. Entrants must be 18 or under. www.cartoonmuseum.org/events/the-alison-brownyoung-comics-maestro-award-2022-competition

Want to work a few days a month?

Have your own car?

We need people to help distribute Families North London to schools, nurseries and other locations Get in touch and find out more: editor@familiesnorthlondon.co.uk

Health

War and conflict: how to talk to your child about it The news about Ukraine has been across TV, radio, online and social media, so it’s incredibly difficult for our children not to see and be affected by it.

Sophia Ziff and Gemma Arnold, from Toddlers, Teens and Between, offer their top tips for parents when discussing the war in Ukraine with children.

• Decide what you want your child to know ahead of talking to them, depending on their age.

• Discuss it in simple facts with honest replies - but not intense details. Encourage lots of talk about feelings.

Help find donors and delete blood cancer Esha loves dressing up as a princess, and dreams of being a queen one day.

For a while, that dream was taken away. At just fouryears-old, Esha was diagnosed with leukaemia – she’s one of over 600 children in the UK diagnosed with blood cancer every year.

Esha went from enjoying her childhood – drawing, dancing, playing and pretending to be a princess – to spending much of her time on hospital wards. She needed a blood stem cell transplant from a stranger to survive. Finding her match wasn’t easy. Working with DKMS, in the course of searching for her own lifesaver, Esha’s family registered thousands more blood stem cell donors.

Now she’s back to doing what she loves best – playing at princesses – and can’t wait to grow up to be a queen.

It cost £40 to register Esha’s lifesaver. DKMS is appealing so that more people with blood cancer can dream of a future.

Learn more and donate at www.dkms.org.uk/princess

• Many children are likely to have experienced fear about the pandemic. That fear might be exacerbated. Mention the pandemic and reassure them that they are safe.

• If they are concerned about families and children’s safety, acknowledge that they are thinking about someone else and being very thoughtful.

• Explain that as adults, sometimes even we don't have the answers as to why this war is happening but talk about the logistics of it - that parents of the Ukrainian children are doing their best to keep the children safe by moving them to a different country so that they can live and play in a safer environment.

• If your child has worries, encourage them to talk regularly and maybe create a worry journal, allowing an outlet for their fears.

• Clear up any misconceptions and discuss trustworthy sources of information.

• Always label the emotions that you see rising in your child and reassure them that talking is always the right thing to do rather than holding on to a worry alone.

• Discuss whether your child would like to get involved in voluntary support for the refugees and how you as a family might do that. Offer them two choices of support.

• Return to a calming task or activity together.

Sophia Ziff and Gemma Arnold, set up Toddlers Teens and Between during the first lockdown, to give parents support, guidance and essential tools to help address their children’s behaviour, mental health and wellbeing. They offer a Younger Years course and bespoke 1-1 troubleshooting guidance sessions for parents of children up to age 18. www.toddlersteensandbetween.com familiesonline.co.uk

CHILDCARE VOUCHERS ACCEPTED

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5

Early years

Joking builds the parent-child bond Researchers find 21 types of humour present in early childhood As a research team, we have always been fascinated by humour in children and so we set out to discover the types of humour present in early development and the ages at which different types of humour emerge. We mapped young children’s understanding of jokes for the first time using data from a new study* involving nearly 700 children aged 0 to 47 months.

Incredibly, we identified 21 types of humour. Children under one year appreciated hide and reveal games like peekaboo, tickling, funny voices and noises. In the first year, children are learning to understand what things look, sound and feel like so once they know what a voice should sound like, they notice when someone’s voice sounds strange and find it funny.

Around the age of one, children start to understand other people’s minds, so one-year-olds appreciated humour that involved getting a reaction from others, including teasing, offering and withdrawing objects, scaring others and taboo

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topics, such as toilet humour. They also found it funny to act like something else, such as an animal.

Two-year-olds’ humour reflected language development, including mislabelling, calling a duck a cow, playing with concept, saying: “dogs say moo”, and nonsense words such as “moogly boo”. They appreciated making fun of others but our findings also suggest two-year-olds are starting to understand that other people’s feelings can be hurt too.

Three-year-olds are developing their understanding of language and the social world. They played with social rules, saying naughty words to be funny and showing the beginnings of understanding tricks and puns.

How joking builds bonds In the research, we saw that parents smiled more when joking with their toddlers and made more eye contact.

Parents often expressed jokes like a question: “The ducks say moo?” Then often explained what they did wrong: “Ducks don’t say moo! They say quack!”. In response, children smiled and laughed, made eye contact and copied the jokes.

So, when you joke with your child, make sure you smile, laugh, make eye contact and even explain your jokes.

Joking creates a positive, social experience with your child that allows you to bond.

Dr Elena Hoicka is an Associate Professor at the School of Education, University of Bristol. Want to participate in future research? Sign up at www.babylovesscience.com * The Early Humor Survey (EHS): A Reliable Parent-Report Measure of Humor Development for 1- to 47-Month-Olds’ by E Hoicka et al in Behavior Research Methods.

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Education

Taryn Lombard

d

The Cavendish School Families North London was invited to The Cavendish School to meet Headteacher Taryn Lombard. The school’s ethos of empowering girls to navigate decisions and support each other’s achievements while aspiring to achieve, is evident in every classroom. Taryn’s passion to give staff the same opportunity creates a dynamic learning atmosphere.

How would the children from The Cavendish School describe you?

I hope I would see words such as curious and fun - a balance between being firm and fair but really seeing a sense of humour.

What was it about the school that made you want to apply for the position at The Cavendish School?

Without a doubt, the fact that it is an all-girls school, inclusive and a charity.

On my first visit, it was very clear that it has a real electric feel to it. It was buzzing with laughter and noise, excitement and enthusiasm – and that was just the staff.

Why all-girls? While there are great coed schools, I do firmly feel we live in a world built for men so, if we have the opportunity to do all we can to prepare girls to be resilient, confident and to go out and contribute to the world, why would we not do that?

They’re on their own unique adventure and how exciting is it to be part of that? We aim to be unapologetically ambitious for each and every one of our girls.

What are you most proud of since joining The Cavendish School as Headteacher? When we came out of lockdown, I looked at Regent’s Park and thought, “we could use that space”. We redesigned the curriculum for lockdown so why not do the same coming out of lockdown? Our staff spent a whole day designing a programme called Out There. I am very proud to see people really excited about their jobs and that comes from giving them a sense of independence and responsibility, in the same way I do with the children.

What are your most useful and useless skills? There are so many things that I’m not good at but it’s okay to make mistakes. What’s important in girls’ education is facing obstacles and building resilience. It’s important to be prepared to make mistakes.

What inspired you to become a teacher, and later a headteacher? I loved being at school and being part of the energy of the school. That definitely motivated me to want to go on and make a difference in the lives of others. I always wanted to be part of the conversation. I loved sport and I think that’s where learning to lead came from.

Netflix or Kindle? Neither really. I enjoy a paperback. I love the process of feeling paper under my fingers and turning the page to find the delights of what’s to come.

How do you think a head can make a real difference to an individual pupil? By knowing them. My whole approach with each of the girls is to build around the individual so I spend a lot of time talking to them and creating opportunities for each individual.

What do you like doing in your free time? I really love to cook Lebanese food - anything that’s full of colour and fresh ingredients. Cooking is my way of putting effort into something and showing gratitude – to friends or family. Gratitude is a big thing for me. It

“My whole approach with each of the girls is to build around the individual” is the greatest way of building positive relationships, but it has to be authentic.

In what ways do you encourage older pupils to lead and inspire younger children? This is something that our girls do brilliantly. We see relationships develop through our peer-reading scheme, house system and school council. It’s so aspirational for the younger years to see that and to look ahead to want to lead change across the school. If they really want to make a difference, they have to positively impact the lives of others.

I do feel like I’m the luckiest head in the world in so many ways.

To find out more about The Cavendish School, 31 Inverness Street, NW1 7HB, and to book a visit contact 020 7485 1958. Email admissions@cavendish-school.co.uk | www.cavendishschool.co.uk SPONSORED FEATURE familiesonline.co.uk

7

Education

Lessons to learn before you’re 10 Switched on skills: games can boost working memory We live in a world where it’s easy to become overwhelmed.

Making good use of working memory, exercising selfcontrol and being organised will help children develop skills to learn effectively and confidently. Here are some activities to boost these skills.

Working memory Play Kim’s Game: gather ten objects on a tray, give your child one to two timed minutes to look, then cover and ask which ones they remember. As they progress, add more objects or give less time to remember.

The skill is in making links and spotting patterns. Give them these tips: -Count how many objects you have to remember.

-See if any can be linked, by colour, material, shape or use knife and fork go together, tools together, toys together.

-Children age 7+ might be able to order the objects in a sequence or a story.

not be such fun for you, but they will love it. Congratulate your child on their self-control. Tell them that taking charge from the inside is a very grown up thing to do.

Decide one thing you’d like your child to control. It may be to resist the impulse to call out in class, or leave their desk when they should sit. Make it a positive. Focus on it for a week. Each day, ask how they got on and praise progress.

Organisation Set up good habits by helping your child put together a homework kit so everything they need is at hand before they start. Teaching your child to get clothes and kit ready the night before school will pay dividends in later life.

Gail Hugman is the bestselling author of 100 Things to Learn Before You’re 10. She owns and runs Human at Core (www.humanatcore.com), which helps parents motivate and engage their children and provides science-based online development courses for children and parents.

Self-control Ask your child to tell you really quietly what colour socks they are wearing. Then again as LOUDLY as possible - it may

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9

Education

“I had ideas before… It was now or never” Million-word gap Young children whose parents read them five books a day start school having heard about 1.4million more words than kids who were never read to, a new study found.

With the summer holidays looming, now is a great time to start thinking about holiday reads.

Families’ own Rachel Bailey, met author Nicola Skinner whose new book Giant is touted as her most brilliant yet.

What made you take the leap from journalism to becoming a published author?

One day I was in the garden with my daughter and I had the first beginnings of a story - that turned out to be Bloom. I started, slowly, to write it down and explore it, and I made many mistakes along the way. I’d had ideas before, and abandoned them. What was different with Bloom was that I was two years away from my 40th birthday, and there was a voice telling me: “It’s now or never.” Because I’d wanted to be a writer since I was a child. So basically – a deadline!

Do you have a favourite heroine in particular from books you enjoyed reading as a child?

I really, really loved Harriet in Louise Fitzhugh’s Harriet the Spy. I thought she was just wonderful – curious about the world, fiercely independent, very strong, but capable of making mistakes, and feeling loss, too.

Your heroine in Storm is “born raging”. What inspired you to write her story?

The thing about Frankie, my heroine in Storm, is that I don’t think she’s any different to any other 11-year-old girl in real life. She has moods and hormones and occasionally rails against the injustices of her life, and I think that’s incredibly

This “million-word gap” could help explain differences in vocabulary and reading development among young children, according to researchers at Ohio State University, reported in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Families spoke to Alesha Dublin, Early Years Lead at Hendon Prep School, who emphasised the importance of developing pre-reading skills, and what parents can do at home to help.

“It is vital that children are encouraged to talk about what you are reading,” said Alesha. “By asking and answering questions and sharing ideas, children will begin to extend their vocabulary, they will also develop comprehension and an understanding of characters, events, and settings in the stories. Children thrive on repetition and when they say “again, again” we must encourage them. By providing children with a language-rich environment, full of inclusive stories, we enable them to develop a life-long love of reading and learning.”

Hendon Prep is an independent school and, independently rated, outstanding preschool in north London for boys and girls from 3-11 years old. To find out more contact admissions@hendonprep.co.uk or call 020 8203 7727.

common. But I don’t often see that sort of child on the page.

After becoming a mother, I became aware of how much parents try to control their children’s emotions. I wanted to explore a child who had emotions which are difficult to control, can be messy, spill out into the world, and show how wonderful and beautiful that can occasionally be, because there can be real strength there.

What’s your favourite way to spend time with your family?

I love doing anything and everything – being cosy at home, or seeing friends, or doing something adventurous, like kayaking and swimming in a river. To be honest, it just depends on how much sleep I’ve managed to get in the night before!

Giant is available from June 23 in hardback priced £12.99. www.nicola-skinner.com

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Donate now Help more princesses like Esha grow up to be queens More than 600 children are diagnosed with blood cancer every year in the UK. For many, their best chance of survival is a blood stem cell transplant from a stranger. Will you help more children to find their lifesaver by donating to DKMS? Donate now at dkms.org.uk/princess or scan the code.

DKMS is the trading name of DKMS Foundation, a registered charity in England and Wales (1150056) and Scotland (SC046917). DKMS is a limited company registered in England and Wales (08151279).

10

Families North London

Education

How to cope with moving up to secondary Most children see the move from primary to secondary school as an exciting next stage but for one in four the change can be stressful.

They can feel anxious and uncertain when they are already going through many physical and emotional changes.

Our input at this stage is crucial and our role as parents is to be our child’s sounding board, establishing an open relationship in which children feel valued, respected and connected. By adopting a non-judgemental response, our children are more likely to keep talking to us as they get older.

Before your child starts: Exploring Recognise and talk about their primary school highlights - and things they may miss.

Find out what they are looking forward to at their new school, addressing worries and concerns.

Connecting Look at the new school website with your child and take part in any induction events. Help your child think about how to approach new people and start conversations.

Empower your child Encourage your child to take more responsibility at home to build their confidence and independence.

Allow them to walk home alone in their final term, if practical, meet a friend locally or run an errand for you.

familiesonline.co.uk

Tips to help kids understand and manage feelings During times of change children will experience many emotions, just as adults do.

Teach them to accept there may be difficulties: it will help them to move on with the emotional strength they will need as they mature.

Validate your child’s feelings: encourage them to process and talk to you about what is going on. Try not to dismiss their concerns as trivial.

Help your child learn what they can and can’t control: we can control our goals, relationships and how we spend our time. We can’t control natural disasters, pandemics or loss.

Maintain family routines: it will help your child feel grounded and secure.

Lisa and Catherine are co-founders of Emparenting, supporting children, parents and families with the insights, skills and tools needed to nurture the development and well-being of the next generation. www.emparenting.co.uk

11

Celebrate

Did somebody How to party like it’s 2022

Summer in the Alps The Alps may be an obvious destination for the ski season, but how about a summer visit? Summer offers enough green, the mountains, and blue, the sky, to set you up for the whole year - and plenty of fresh air to fill your families’ lungs.

With reasonably priced flights from London airports to Geneva then a short drive to Morzine, there is a warm welcome waiting from Paul and Francesca Eyre at Chilly Powder. With the main chalet - Au Coin du Feu - plus two chalets next door, you can organise your own meals, or join the party at ‘Au Coin du Feu’ for dinners that you usually only dream of. Family friendly early evening meals for the children and a daytime crèche for little ones not quite as active as you, with drinks in the bar for the grown ups – or in the Jacuzzi on the terrace – Paul and Francesca will make you wish that this was home!

For more about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter visit www.chillypowder.com. For more about summer in Morzine visit https://www.morzine-avoriaz. com/activites-de-plein-air-ete.html

"I saw you in Families magazine and..."

Would life be better with a befriending volunteer?

A charity that provides an inclusive community hub in Haringey is re-starting its family befriending scheme.

Markfield, in Tottenham, which creates a space for play, information and support, is looking for volunteer befrienders to support disabled people and their families - and families that would benefit from a befriender.

Befrienders are trained volunteers who spend two hours a week with a family to provide play at home, help families to get out and about to local parks, a listening ear and a nonjudgemental approach.

If you think your family would benefit from a befriending volunteer, or to become a volunteer, please contact Riccarda, the Volunteer Coordinator.

Email volunteer@markfield.org.uk or call 07542590698.

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Families North London

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Outdoor parties and venues

Who doesn’t love a party with no crumbs and space to let off steam? A huge outdoor picnic and good old-fashioned games like tug-of-war, quoits or skittles always go down a treat. Pack bats and balls and you’re ready for rounders.

Cafe N-Sun, N3 (https://nsun.co.uk), can be hired as a space for parties. Theatres such as Chickenshed, N14, and artsdepot, N12, offer a party package after shows. Little Angel Theatre, N1, offers party packages including a puppet circus, and entertainer.

Retro gaming parties

If you have a gaming fan, why not hire a gaming company to take them back to the 80s? Pac-Man and old-school favourites will fascinate and intrigue them. There are also loads of great VR games that you can hire for the day too.

Instagrammable installations

If you’re all about the ’gram and other social media shares, you can hire amazing balloon displays, giant LED numbers and neon signs for the party. Do be conscious of sharing pictures of your party-goers as not all parents are comfortable with their children on social media.

Old-school fun

Take a full-on trip down the traditional route. There’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple. Two hours of games like pass the parcel, musical statues, a treasure hunt and a spot of dancing before tea still do very nicely, thank you.

Sleepover in Style

For an extra special sleepover, if you have the garden space, consider hiring a bell tent or teepee. One for the older children - decorate with fairy lights, set up mini Bluetooth speakers and let the fun begin. Just don’t expect too much sleeping.

Call in the experts

A seasoned magician or entertainer will provide the fun crowd control you’re after. Younger kids love the games, banter and dancing while you sit back watching the fun.

Check out Little Supernovas for parties with imaginative storytelling and drama (www.littlesupernovas.com/parties).

ody say

party?

By Claire Winter

Celebrate

A pony at your party If a unicorn is the heart’s desire of your princess, or your cowboy needs a mustang, ALittlePonyParty can make their dreams come true.

With six years’ experience, ALittlePonyParty can bring ponies to your garden at home, or to a party venue.

“We can include games and rosettes, and can dress the ponies up for a theme.

Besides unicorns and cowboys, we do great circus parties, Easter bunny parties, Halloween and Christmas reindeer parties,” said the ponies’ owner Angela Ryan.

Funky: dance party magic from The Jam London The Jam London is a bespoke dance party company bringing unforgettable events to North London.

“Our parties are designed to be fun for everyone,” said The Jam London’s founder Jocelyn Prah.

Their parties are led by top industry professionals and offer a range of options to suit you and your child’s preferences.

“Whether it’s a birthday party or simply summer fun, our tailor-made service ensures events are a raving success,” she added. (www.thejamlondon.com enquiries@thejamlondon.com).

Children can ride the ponies, led in hand by skilled equestrians. Helmets are provided. Ponies are kept within an enclosed paddock and are fully insured so can go to council property and commercial premises.

“For a wedding or other family gathering, we can decorate the ponies especially for the occasion and keep the children entertained for hours,” Angela added.

Besides parties, the ponies are a hit at school fetes and community festivals. “It’s our mission to give children in north London the chance to ride a pony,” said Angela. www.alittleponyparty.co.uk Facebook @ALittlePonyParty

Special touches

These make a party super memorable. ALittlePonyParty can provide extra-special guests (www.alittleponyparty.co.uk Facebook @ALittlePonyParty). Set up a popcorn bar, keep it simple with stone-painting, or go wild with balloons. Flowers have made a huge comeback, dried or fresh. Scatter rose petals on the party table, create a huge bouquet centrepiece or go all out with a flower wall. Perfect for tweens.

Food

Grazing platters may look fabulous but some delicious goodies in individual recyclable cardboard boxes are simple to serve and can be eaten anywhere. A firm favourite is a cream tea in a box! Or, instead of having one large statement cake, a fabulous display of cupcakes and mini desserts will look gorgeous and the kids - and parents - will love it.

The party bag

Give small meaningful gifts instead of sweets and land-filler plastic - go eco-friendly with a book, a packet of wildflower seeds or a jar of make-at-home cookie mix. Check out Bags Wonder Full, started in north London by two mums.

“Between us, we have mixed race, gender, neuro-diverse families, and were fed up with the stereotypical products we were forcing on our kids,” said Sarah Russell. There are themed, readymade bags or create-your-own options, and alternatives too. Sustainability is the watchword, with inspired, unique gifts (https://bagswonderfull.com).

Enjoy every moment

Don’t let hosting a birthday party be a chore. Set a budget and decide on the number of guests you can cope with.

Your child will appreciate the effort you make for their special day. Ultimately it’s about making memories, not how much money you spend. familiesonline.co.uk

Unique adventures Little Supernovas’ unique action adventures can be brought to you for a fun-filled party! Let your child’s imagination explode as they travel to mystical lands, boogie with baboons, trick dragons, tickle an octopus or even blast off into space - wherever their imaginations go.

Little Supernovas can tailor an adventure to your child’s wishes and theme and include all their favourite magical characters and stories.

“Our parties incorporate action storytelling, music, props, drama, movement and plenty of giggles,” said co-founder Brooke.

“Thanks so much... she had a fantastic day and you were a hit with her and all her friends...The way you were able to grab (and keep) the attention of 16 five-year-olds was seriously impressive!” — Parent NW To enquire or book for your party email: hello@littlesupernovas.com. www.littlesupernovas.com/parties 13

Summer Time

Adventures at home

By Zoe Lake

Find the perfect holiday camp

I’m a big fan of planning fun-filled family adventures at home. Here are some of our favourites, which can be easily adjusted if the weather does not behave. Activities can be tailored to children and adults of all ages, adding a little magic to precious family time.

Summer holiday camps, schools and workshops are not only an ideal way to fill childcare gaps during the long summer holiday but offer the opportunity for your child to discover a new hobby or take their existing passion to a new level.

Garden music festival

Multi-activity day camps

Dig out your tent, drag out your blankets and cushions, power up the radio and set up camp. Spend the day listening to music in the comfort of your own garden. Homemade ribbon wristbands and VIP lanyards allow unlimited access to the snack cupboard, fruity mocktails and ultimately, the lavatory - without needing to queue!

Stargazing

Our favourite way to stargaze is in an old inflatable pool, patched with duct tape and filled with duvets! It keeps the chill out while you snuggle down and watch for the first star to appear amid the myths and legends. Check out kenpress.com for monthly charts of things to look for in the night sky.

Twenty four hours without electricity

Challenging the family to go without electricity not only encourages you to get creative with your time, it opens up the broader topic of eco-living and small changes that can be made at home. Activities could include painting, poetry, games or bird watching.

Garden fete

Schedule yours for glorious sunshine!

String up bunting, bake some scones, set up a raffle and a lucky dip from old goody bag items, provide an unplugged microphone for announcements, hold a pet show, even set up a Pimms’ tent no judgement here.

Mini Olympics

Our annual garden Olympics is one of our favourite days of the year. Open the games with a tissue paper Olympic flame and homemade flags, followed by competitive egg and spoon, sack races, hula hooping, bean bag throwing and swing ball. Keep score on a chalkboard and finish with salt dough medals at an elaborate awards ceremony.

Wildlife hunting

Find out who you share your garden with, using a nature guide to help with identification. Or encourage a few new residents with a log pile, hanging bird feeders, a compost heap for worms, upturned pots for frogs and a colourful flowerbed for bees and butterflies. Keep an illustrated journal of what you all see.

Family heritage

Spend time asking relatives about their own adventures and jot them down as you go.

If the weather is rubbish, this is the perfect excuse to scour old family albums.

Zoe Lake’s book Adventures at Home (Pimpernel Press) is available at all good book shops and www.zoe-lake.co.uk 14

Families North London

Offering a varied daily programme of sports and creative activities with each session lasting between 1 and 1 ½ hours, multi-activity camps are ideal for children who have a range of interests or have not yet found their “thing”. Some camps offer an astounding combination of sports, arts and crafts, outdoor exploration, games and challenges. Generally, camps can be booked for single days, half days and full weeks, including extended hours and multi-week discounts.

Sport/single activity camps or workshops These intensely focused summer schools will specialise in a specific sport such as football, gymnastics and cricket, in just one creative activity such as painting, photography and cooking, in a single performing art like drama, musical theatre or dance, or in an area of STEM such as computer coding, robotics and game design.

Generally operating for two to five hours per day and running for just one day or as a progressive course from a few days to two weeks, these courses often cater for all ages of children and

Perform will have them Hooked

Inspire your child’s imagination this summer with a unique drama, dance and singing holiday course. In July or August, your 4 to 10-year-old can fly away to Neverland with Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and friends on an unforgettable confidence-building adventure.

With a sprinkle of Perform fairy dust, a team of skilled actors, musicians and dancers will ensure your child enjoys every minute as they work towards a showstopping performance to delight family and friends.

“Freyja got so much out of those three days; it’s given her a lot of confidence in her ability to join in, make new friends and perform songs and dances. We were so proud of her.” - Emma Robinson, parent.

Venues and dates: East Finchley August 8-12, Hampstead Garden Suburb July 25-29, Highbury July 25-29 & August 2226, Highgate August 15-19, Muswell Hill August 22-26, Primrose Hill August 8-12 & August 15-19, St John’s Wood July 25-29 & August 22-26, Tufnell Park August 8-12, West Hampstead August 1-5. www.perform.org.uk/peterpan Try it free. Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes for 4-7s and 7-12s run throughout the summer term and, with over 300 classes running each week, there’s sure to be a class near you. Visit www.perform.org.uk/try to book a free trial session.

T: 020 7255 9120 / enquiries@perform.org.uk

Summer Time

All aboard Stagecoach It’s that time of year again.

School’s nearly out for Summer!

culminate in staging a performance, playing a competitive game or demonstrating a completed project.

For children who have an established interest, they offer a valuable opportunity to receive elite coaching and tuition, often from highly qualified or experienced instructors giving a significant boost to their skill level, confidence and enthusiasm.

For a child curious about the activity, they are a great opportunity for an immersive experience which will test their interest and aptitude and for gaining an appreciation of what a regular commitment to weekly term time classes, often run by the same organisation, could offer.

For children who may struggle to find school friends who share their “passion”, activity camps or workshops are a great way to meet like-minded peers in their local area.

And for you? A patchwork of activity camps and or workshops across the summer can be expensive but there is a distinct advantage in that they offer some mainstays of childcare across the summer that simultaneously allow your child to be doing something enjoyable, fulfilling, exciting or unique.

Why Summer School?

Children and teenagers can make friends, have fun and develop some great new skills at the fabulous Stagecoach Summer Camp. Inspired by the rise of Latino-themed musicals such as Encanto, Coco (for 6-11yrs) and In the Heights and West Side Story (for 11+), Stagecoach will showcase performers at the end of the week.

“Our talented tutors ensure every child has a week they will remember, full of smiles and joy, as they develop their performance skills and make new friends,” said Stagecoach’s Odette Garvey. “We look forward to seeing you there! Hasta la Vista Baby!”

“Come and join in the fun with singing, drama and dancing by booking today,” said Odette. Spaces are limited.

Childcare vouchers accepted. www.stagecoach.co.uk/highgate

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As the learning gaps created by lockdown become more obvious, one summer school provider is looking to help children who are behind on their learning outcomes.

Ant Learning, previously Clarssroom, an extra tuition provider in Southgate, has come up with a blend of structured learning and afternoon playtime activities which is sure to be a hit with parents and children.

Summer school places are available from August 1 to 19 for children age 3½ to 11 years offering booster learning in reading, maths, English and intensive entrance exam preparation to build confidence, close any gaps, and accelerate progress in key topics. In the afternoon, children enjoy activities such as arts, crafts, musical theatre, team sports and free play.

Ant Learning founder Lara Okpor said: “I’m very keen for children to walk away with skills and experience that will take them forward in their learning.” Her Saturday and Summer schools have helped children from state and private schools to boost their learning.

To find out more, visit antlearning.co.uk/summerschool familiesonline.co.uk

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Summer Time

WIN! Outdoor Swimming London Swim under the open sky Outdoor swimming, and especially wild swimming, surged in popularity during the pandemic.

With health benefits claimed to Include better circulation, a boost to the immune system, stress relief and increased libido, it’s no wonder.

WIN!

A CYBEX Avi running stroller

Freedom to run

We’ve teamed up with Wild Things Publishing to give Families North London readers the chance to find the best spots by winning a copy of Outdoor Swimming London, by north London’s own John Weller and Lola Culsán. It has 140 of the best wild swims and lidos within easy reach of the capital.

It reveals hidden rivers and wooded lakes. Besides going wild, it showcases Art Deco lidos and hotel pools, plus locations with organised swims, all within an hour of London on public transport – perfect for those who love to swim under the open sky. Discover secret islands and beaches on the Thames, swim in a turquoise blue lagoon hidden in woods and enjoy poolside cocktails and sushi.

The guide includes directions and GPS coordinates.

We have three copies to give away.

For a chance to win one, go to bit.ly/compsFNL See T+Cs at bit.ly/BOOKcompTCs. Competition closes June 30.

Need the freedom to get out and exercise but have a little one? No problem with a CYBEX sports stroller.

Families North London has teamed up with the global baby brand to offer readers the chance to win a CYBEX Avi lightweight running stroller. It is part of an innovative collection of sports products from CYBEX, which is renowned for its award-winning car seats.

The revolutionary collection features the CYBEX Zeno, a 4-in1 running, cycling and cross-country skiing multisport stroller.

Suitable from six months to about four years (22kg), the Zeno features innovative “hands-free” technology, to give parents a natural running experience, or opt for the conventional and smooth “push” mode with 20” rear wheels and suspension providing excellent performance. Active parents can convert the Zeno into a bike trailer for smooth rides and road trips or even enjoy a cross-country ski trail in the crisp, winter snow.

“We were excited to develop a series of products that would inspire active parents to be free for their sporting activities.”

Part of the new sports collection, the CYBEX Avi is the ultimate, lightweight running machine for keen runners requiring performance excellence from their stroller. The light, aluminium frame, air-filled tyres and rear suspension make for a smooth run every time. The Avi features easy, one-hand steering and is specially designed for running in the city, countryside, park and by the sea.

“As a team of former athletes and parents, we were excited to develop a series of products that would inspire active parents to be free for their sporting activities, resulting in healthier, happier lives for the entire family,” said professional athlete and CYBEX founder Martin Pos. For more information visit: https://cybex-online.com/en-en/ sport-overview

We have one CYBEX Avi to be won.

For a chance to win, go to bit.ly/compsFNL. See T+Cs at bit.ly/CYBEXcompTCs. Competition closes June 30.

16

Families North London

Whats On?

To have your event listed on these pages email the details to editor@familiesnorthlondon.co.uk Disclaimer: We aim to be as accurate as possible, but these listings are compiled several weeks beforehand and may be subject to change. Please check before setting out.

What’s On Family Theatre Until June 26 Pinocchio Step inside Gepetto’s workshop, hear the tale and watch as Pinocchio is carved on stage.

5-11s. Various times/prices. Little Angel Theatre, Dagmar Passage N1 2EH. www.littleangeltheatre.com Every Friday Planet Play Until July 15. Magical, interactive, sensory show with songs, music and movement for 0-3s. 10am & 11.30am. Adults £7.50, children & babies free, must book. Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk Every Saturday Tales from the Shed Until July 16. Vibrant, inclusive, informal and educational show.

Suitable for 0-6s. 10am & 11.30am. Adults & children £7.

Under 6mths free, must book.

Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk May 7 The Tigon and the Liger – Yoga Style Cat On The Mat Yoga and Tales From The Shed adapt Keilly Swift’s stories into an adventure with puppetry, music and yoga.

Interactive and sensory-based workshop. 0-7s. 1.30pm. Adults & children £6. Under 6mths free, must book. Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk Bug Ball It’s Spring – time for the annual bug ball, but we have to find the bugs first to get our invitations.

Bring your magnifying glasses.

0-3s. Join Little Supernovas and Onceupona at 10am & 11.30am.

From £9.50. Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End, N8 8PL. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk May 8 Little Grimm Tales What if wishes were granted?

What If magic were real? Head into the woods for a stunning adaptation of favourite tales.

Suitable for 3+. 11am & 2pm.

From £9. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk May 11 Kinder This joyful and poignant tale of one small Czech-Jewish girl’s escape on a Kindertransport familiesonline.co.uk

train, looks at how tiny acts of kindness can change a person’s life. 11-16s. Various times. Adult £13.50, child £11.50. Little Angel Studios, Sebbon St, N1 2DN www.littleangeltheatre.com May 14 The Wind in the Willows (The True Story by Rat and Toad) Ratty is staging a one-rat show of his life. Unfortunately Toad is not content to remain off-stage!

Sometimes manic, sometimes moving, based on the classic.

11am, 1pm. £8. Lyric, W6 0QL www.lyric.co.uk The Little Red Hen The Puppetellers interactive storytelling, song and live music.

11am 0-3s 20min show and 20min guided sensory exploration. 2pm 2-5s 45-min show.

Adults £8.50, children £7. Pickled Pepper Books, Enfield, EN2 6SN. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk May 15 Roald Dahl & the Imagination Seekers All around the world, Roald Dahl’s words are disappearing.

Only a secret organisation can stop it and they need your help.

Suitable for 6-11s. 11am & 2pm.

From £9. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk

Good to be Back!

Dance, drama and musical theatre. Non-professional showcase from Lemon Jelly Arts. 3.30pm. £12.50, concs £8. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk Emoji Fest Ballet, tap, jazz, street dance and contemporary dances themed around emojis. Non-professional showcase by Dance Wright

May 26 Bring Your Own Baby Comedy Show For 18+ and babies under 15m.

12noon, £12. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk May 27 Tottenham Hotspur: The Glory, Glory Days With legends Pat Jennings, Alan Mullery, Martin Chivers and Phil Beal. See archive video and meet the Spurs heroes. Limited VIP tickets available. Hosted

by Paul Coyte. 11+. 7.30pm.

Stalls £40, Gallery £35, VIP £70.

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Superheroes, Orphans & Origins:

May 19 Oddly Moving: ATLAS Three-woman show, part circus, part theatre. Boisterous re-telling of the legend of Atlas looking at how we each bear our personal burdens, joys and regrets – and what happens if we let go. 12+ 7.30pm. From £12. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk

125 years in comics Until 28 August 2022

May 21 I Spy With My Little Eye It’s Molly and Bingo the puppy’s 6th birthday party, but Molly’s presents go missing. Can you save the day? 2+. 11am, 1pm. £8.

Lyric, W6 0QL www.lyric.co.uk May 21-31 I Want My Hat Back Trilogy A bear has lost his hat. A fish has stolen a hat. And two turtles have found a hat. Based on Jon Klassen’s classic books. With Ian Nicholson and Sam Wilde. 3-6s.

Various times/prices. Little Angel Studios, Sebbon St, N1 2DN www.littleangeltheatre.com

Barnet. 11am & 3pm. Stalls £15, gallery £13. Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk

Discover our free family workshops Free for under 21s Book online with code ENTRYFAM to receive 10% off admission foundlingmuseum.org.uk

New York World’s Fair Comics, Vol. 1 #2, Jack Burnley & ™ DC. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

Zenobia, 2016 Morten Dürr and Lars Horneman

WHAT’S ON!

a family secret. Aidy and her granny embark on an adventure that turns their world upside down. Stunning aerial theatre display. 3-8s. From £9. Accompanying workshop on May 21.

See Events. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk

May 22 Aidy the Awesome Aidy is a normal 8-year-old or so she thinks until she discovers 17

Whats On? Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk May 27-29 Anne of Green Gables Ballet of the classic tale about an orphan adopted by mistake by an elderly brother and sister wanting boy to help on the farm. Ideal for 5-14s, by London Children’s Ballet. Various times.

From £18. Peacock Theatre, WC2A 2HT. www.sadlerswells.com May 28 TogetherFest 2022 Celebration of creativity and community where local artists and groups perform on the Community Stage. Join workshops, classes, games, crafts and more. All ages. 11am-4pm. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk Catch That Beast The Royal Society of Beastologists have one mission – track down mythical beasts. Deliciously silly. 5+. 11am, 1pm. £8.

Lyric, W6 0QL www.lyric.co.uk May 28 Dame Dolly Does Interactive wacky panto fun.

3-10s. 10am, 11.30am, 3pm.

Child £9.50, Adult £11. Pickled Pepper Books, Enfield, EN2 6SN. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk May28-June 1 The Gruffalo Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical adaptation. Monstrous fun. 3+.

Various times. From £9. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk May 29 Baby Gospel Uplifting baby-friendly concert of soul, Motown and gospel with London’s CK Gospel Choir.

The whole family can sing and clap along to hits by Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Adele, Jackie Wilson, Pharrell and more, as well as traditional Gospel songs & nursery rhymes. 0-6 years. £7, free to babies under 6m. Must book. Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk Bookniks Festival Tatty Bumpkin’s Yoga and Storytelling Adventure 10am, 2-7s, £7.

Listening Lounge bring your headphones and plug in to listen to inspiring audio for kids of all ages. From 10am. Free Crafternoon from 10am to 4pm. For 3-8s and their families.

Free K’mo B’bayit Shavuot. Learn about holiday customs, while enjoying Israeli music, songs and games at a singing extravaganza for Israeli families and for those who want to sing in Hebrew.

18

Families North London

11am. Family of 2-4 £10, family of 5+ £12.

Paddington Bear’s First Concert 11am. 3+. £10.

Infinite Jest’s Drama Workshop 11.30am. 7+. £7.

The Chocolate King Chocolate Workshop 12noon, 1.30pm. 5-9s. £7 A Best Friend for Bear 1pm. 3+. £7.

Gender Swapped Fairy Tales 1.30pm. 7+. £7 Refugee Stories. Russel Dean and Onjali Q Rauf talk about giving a voice to refugee children.

3pm. 8+. £7.

Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventures for Kids 5pm. All ages. £15.

Book three for £15, except Shlomo.

JW3 community centre, NW3 6ET www.jw3.org.uk May 29-June 1 Finger Sports Immersive exhibition of hilarious games based on favourite sports – from finger football to finger hockey, to celebrate the release of artist Anna Bruder’s latest book Finger Sports. All ages. Free. 10am-4pm. Apthorp Gallery, artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk May 30-31 Jurassic Live Adventure with dinosaur rangers through the Jurassic zoo in this thrilling, fun, educational and interactive show. A lucky few may get to feed the dinosaurs.

Various times. 2+. £20-£13.

Babes in arms free. Hackney Empire, E8 1EL www.hackneyempire.co.uk May 31 – June 4 Duckie Reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, set in an animal circus. 11am, 1pm. £10. Lyric, W6 0QL www.lyric.co.uk June 2 The Little Mix Show Tribute show bringing the full pop concert experience, plus dance competitions and giveaways.

Suitable for kids, tweens, teens and adults alike. £17. 6.30pm.

Wyllyotts Centre, Potters Bar, EN6 2HZ. www.tickets.wyllyottstheatre. co.uk June 4 Happy & Glorious Patriotic and nostalgic afternoon with over 60 marvellous songs from Neil Sands and his West End Cast, to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, ending with a spectacular flag-waving finale. 2pm. £16.

Wyllyotts Centre, Potters Bar, EN6 2HZ. www.tickets.wyllyottstheatre. co.uk

June 5 Milkshake! Monkey’s Musical Featuring Paddington, Daisy & Ollie. Milo, Noddy, Pip and Posy, Blue’s Clues & You! and of course Milkshake! in a spectacular new show. 12noon, 4pm. From £16.50. Babes in arms under 12m free. Hackney Empire, E8 1EL www.hackneyempire.co.uk Lily and Bear Picture book adaptation with songs and music, animation and puppets to tell a magical tale about the give and take of friendship. 18m-6. 11am, 2pm.

From £9. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk June 11 The Little Red Hen The Puppetellers interactive storytelling involves puppetry, song and live music. 11am 20min show and 20mins guided sensory exploration 0-3s. 2pm 2-5s 45-min performance. Adults £8.50, children £7. Pickled Pepper Books, Enfield, EN2 6SN. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk June 12 The Great Big Story Mix Up This is the show that YOU make up with Roustabout Theatre’s improvised play. Watch your wild and wonderful ideas brought to life in never-before-seen fairy tales and other nonsense. 3+.

11am, 2pm. From £9. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk June 14-18 The Crucible Arthur Miller’s tale of power and persecution performed by Scottish Ballet. 12+. Various times. From £15. Sadler’s Wells, EC1R 4TN www.sadlerswells.com June 16-18 Aladdin A musical for all the family with great show tunes. A nonprofessional production by RARE Youth Theatre Productions.

Various times. £17.50-£19.50.

Wyllyotts Centre, Potters Bar, EN6 2HZ. www.tickets.wyllyottstheatre. co.uk June 18-19 Him & Me Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice. Dance, song, lighthearted fun and a world-class cast of dancers. Sat 7.30pm. Sun 2pm BSL. From £18. Peacock Theatre, WC2A 2HT. www.sadlerswells.com June 18, 25 & July 2 Rainforest Trek Bring your welly boots and your backpacks and join Little Supernovas and Onceupona as they spot animals and help save the rainforest. 2.30pm. 0-3s. Adult £8.50, child £7. Pickled Pepper

Books, Enfield, EN2 6SN. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk

Rainforest trek: bring your boots June 19 A Midsummer Musical Evening Chickenshed’s Community Choir is joined by a special guest, youth band and the wider Chickenshed community for a musical extravaganza. 8+. 7pm.

Stalls £15, gallery £12, concs £13. Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk June 26-27 Eli and the Golem A Jewish refugee anxiously awaits his child’s arrival on a Kindertransport at Liverpool St Station, early 1939. As he waits, he tells his own story. A tale of love, betrayal and vital decisions, with puppetry and unexpected humour. Various times. 10+. £15, group of 4 £45. JW3 community centre, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk July 7 Happy & Glorious Patriotic and nostalgic afternoon with over 60 marvellous songs from Neil Sands and his West End Cast, to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, ending with a spectacular flagwaving finale. £16.50. Millfield Theatre, N18 1PJ. www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk July 9 Baby Barrier Reef Sensory adventure under the sea with Little Supernovas & Onceupona. 0-3s. 10am & 11.30am. Child £9.50, adult £11.

Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End, N8 8PL. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk July 10 Influencer Hip-hop spectacular with 200 children telling the story of a young girl exploring how social media influences young people’s self-esteem. Non-professional showcase from Streetz Ahead.

1pm & 5pm. £12, concs £10.

Millfield Theatre, N18 1PJ. www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk July 12-August 28 101 Dalmations Packed with puppetry and brilliant songs. 4+ only. Signed, described, captioned and relaxed performances. From £25. Regents Park Open Air Theatre. NW1 4NU. www.openairtheatre.com

Whats On? Good to know Dawnosaurs Relaxed early morning visits for children with neurodiverse conditions. Sign up for email on event dates. Free. Must book.

Natural History Museum, SW7 5HD www.nhm.ac.uk Relaxed Mondays Drop-in workshops for people 5-25 with autism spectrum conditions or sensory processing differences. Various dates. Free. Must book. The Cartoon Museum, W1A 3AE. www.cartoonmuseum.org Morning Stars Planetarium Show developed specifically for children with ASD. Check website for upcoming dates. Royal Observatory, SE10 8XJ www.rmg.co.uk

Ongoing Mac’s Indoor and Outdoor Trails Family discovery trails at Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, NW3. Family Events have been on hold, but check out www. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/ places/kenwood/families/ The 100 Story hotel New play exhibit running alongside permanent play spaces to fire up children’s imaginations.

Discover Children’s Story Centre, Stratford, E15 4QZ. https://discover.org.uk Forty Hall, Enfield, EN2 Features interactive children’s exhibition about the lives of children who may have lived and worked there. Free. Or help Rip the dog find his bones and win a small prize – £2.50. Open 11am4pm Thurs to Sun. www.fortyhallestate.co.uk RAF Museum Family trails, interactive exhibits in RAF: First To The Future – Free entry. And paid-for exhibits, 4D theatre, flight simulator and Spitfire Experience. Open every day. 10am-5pm. Free. Must book. Parking charge. RAF Museum. NW9 5LL. www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london Grant Museum of Zoology Get to know your dodo from your quagga. Tues-Fri 1pm-5pm.

Sat 11am-5pm. Free, no booking required. UCL, University St WC1E 6DE. ucl.ac.uk/culture/grant-museum-zoology Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology Amazing artefacts tell the stories familiesonline.co.uk

of ordinary people from Ancient Egypt and Sudan. Tues-Fri 1pm5pm. Sat 11am-5pm. Free, no booking required. UCL, Malet Place WC1 6BT. ucl.ac.uk/culture/petrie-museum

HHHHH

‘AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT’ Scotsman

Bring Your Baby Pub Quiz & Walks Various dates, venues throughout North London. www.bringyourbaby.org Ted’s Space Adventures Planetarium show, under 7s.

11.30am, 2.30pm. Also Meet The Neighbours, 7+. 12.30pm.

Starstruck, 7+, 3.30pm. The Sky Tonight, 7+, 1.30pm (may change), 4.30pm. Weekends and school holidays. Adults £10, child £5. Student & under 25 £6.50. Booking advised. Royal Observatory, SE10 8XJ www.rmg.co.uk Every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday Dad’s drop-in group T on The Green, Bruce Castle Park, N17 8NJ. Sat 12-1.30pm, Tues and Thurs 3.30pm-5pm.

Free children’s refreshments. tonthegreen.co.uk Tuesdays and Fridays in termtime Singing and Story Sessions For under-5s. Various times.

London Transport Museum, WC2E 7BB. ltmuseum.co.uk Until May 15 UNIQLO Tate: Make Studio Free drop-in workshops for families to rip, snip, stick and cut, to create something inspired by what’s on display.

Families with under-5s on Weds. All welcome Sat-Sun. Except school hols when other workshops may be running. Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG. tate.org.uk Until May 28 Spring Showcase Designers, makers, artists and craftspeople local to Barnet showcase jewellery, accessories, ceramics, textiles and visual arts.

Selected works on display and on sale. Free. Exhibition Wall, artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk Until Jun 5 The Laughter Lab Join a mass experiment to explore the psychology behind cartoon humour. Check website for workshops. Closed Mondays.

Free. Must book. The Cartoon Museum, W1A 3AE. www.cartoonmuseum.org Wildlife Photographer of the Year 100 powerful photographs tell the story of a planet under pressure. Paid for exhibit. Museum free, must book. Natural History

The Gruffalo © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 1999 – Macmillan Children’s Books

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Whats On? Museum, SW7 5HD www.nhm.ac.uk

child £5. National Maritime Museum, SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk

Ancient Greeks: Science and Wisdom Exhibition. Free, must book.

Science Museum, SW7 2DD www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Until Jun 11 The 1920s: Beyond the Roar Experience what life was really like 100 years ago. Free. Check opening days. The National Archives, TW9 4DU www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Sundays Until July 17 Sunday Shed Stand-alone workshops, including elements of dance, drama, music and art. Booking recommended. Little Spark! for 5-7s. 9.30-11am. £8. Spark! for 8-11s. 11.15am-12.45pm. £8.

See website for longer projects.

Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk

Making Masks: Aztecs Design and print your own Aztec mask. Free. Drop-in. 10am-4pm.

Check specific days. Museum entry free. Must book. British Museum, WC1E 7JW. www.britishmuseum.org Until Jun 18 Minecraft Masterpieces: Stonehenge Explore Stonehenge though Minecraft. Free. Drop-in. Check specific days. Museum entry free. Must book. British Museum, WC1E 7JW. www.britishmuseum.org Until Jun 19 Kyosai: The Israel Goldman Collection Discover the work of Japan’s master painter, Kawanabe Kyosai, whose art continues to influence numerous styles including manga. Paid entry. Royal Academy of Arts, W1J 0BD. www.royalacademy.org.uk Until Jun 25 Impossible Images: Ancient Egypt Create an Egypt-themed photo with green screen magic. Free.

Drop in. Check specific days.

Museum entry free. Must book.

British Museum, WC1E 7JW. www.britishmuseum.org Until July 15 Small is Beautful See more than 130 miniature artworks. Adult £16, child 6-12 £11.50. Closed Mondays. 79-85 Old Brompton Rd, SW7 3JS. https://smallisbeautifulart.com Until July 17 The World of Stonehenge Paid entry. British Museum, WC1E 7JW. www.britishmuseum.org Until Aug Football: Designing the Beautiful Game Discover how design innovation has been used to push the game to new limits. Adults from £16.80, child £8.25. Family ticket from £27. Must book. Design Museum, W8 6AG. designmuseum.org Until Aug 7 Astronomy Photographer of the Year Daily. Adults £10, concs £6.50, 20

Families North London

Until Sept 4 John Burningham: An Illustrated Life Discover the wild, wonderful, irreverent work of the author and illustrator of children’s books. Free. Weds-Fri & Sun. Burgh House, NW3 1LT. https://burghhouse. museumssites.com

Until August 28 Superheroes, Orphans & Origins: 125 years in comics Enter into the world of superheroes and comics at the Foundling Museum, Bloomsbury, with their exhibition and family events.

Superman. Batman. Spider-Man. Black Panther. X-Men. Have you ever noticed they are all foundlings, orphans, adoptees, and foster children? The superheroes’ early life experiences impact on the stance they take over good and evil in their comic lives. Look beyond the traditional ‘superhero’ story in this exhibition exploring comics, graphic novels from around the globe. There are also characters from early newspaper comic strips, Japanese Manga and contemporary graphic novels, with examples of international comics rarely exhibited in the UK. As well as three new artistic commissions by comic artists Asia Alfasi, Bex Glendining and Woodrow Phoenix.

It’s time to discover the back stories ... of the legends you know and love.

Find out more and book your tickets at foundlingmuseum. org.uk.

And super news … under 21s go free!

40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk Until Aug 29 Rooted Being Reflect on our relationship with plants and fungi. Runs alongside permanent exhibitions Being Human and Medicine Man. Free.

The Wellcome Collection, NW1 2BE. https://wellcomecollection.org Until Sept Our Future Planet Exhibition exploring carboncapture tech. Free. Must book.

Science Museum, SW7 2DD www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

Until Jan 1 Sorting Britain: The Power of Postcodes Discover the ground-breaking technology that changed the post forever. Plus ride the Mail Rail, or book a tunnel walk. The Postal Museum WC1X 0DA. postalmuseum.org Until Jan 8 Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature Discover Potter’s life as a scientist and conservationist in this family-friendly exhibition.

See workshop on May 29. Adult £14, under-11s free. V&A, SW7 2RL. www.vam.ac.uk Sundays Family Art & Craft Art, crafts and poetry led-workshops, Suitable for 4-12s, must be accompanied. Little explorer gallery with interactives and dress-up. Free. Plus has a Mystery Manor Trail with sticker booklet for £1, and a Tree Trail.

Bruce Castle Museum N17 8NU. bit.ly/brucecastle Crafternoon Until July 17, except June 5. For 3-8s and their families. 2pm4.30pm. Free. Drop in. JW3 community centre, NW3 6ET www.jw3.org.uk

May May 7 Nearly New Sale Grab a bargain at the NCT’s nearly new sale offering topquality baby clothes and equipment, direct from their owners. 10am-12noon. £2 entry.

Highlands School, 148 World’s End Lane, N21 1QQ. www.nct.org.uk/events/enfield/ enfield-nearly-new-sale-7thmay-2022 Nearly New Sale Top-quality baby and children’s clothes sold by mums to mums at a fraction of the high street price at Mum2MumMarket.

John Burningham: Burgh House until Sept 4 Parents with outgrown goods can sell and keep 100 per cent of the proceeds. 10am-12noon.

St Stephens Church Hall, Park Avenue, EN1 2BA. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk May 8 Paw Patrol Chase and Marshall appear at Epping Ongar Railway. Adult £18, child £10. Under-3s free.

Check times and recommended travel arrangements. eorailway.co.uk May 11-15 Photo London 2022 Leading international photo fair.

Adult £29, concs £19, under-13 free. Somerset House, WC2R 1LA. www.somersethouse.org.uk From May 13 Weird Sensations Feels Good: The World of ASMR Explore the emerging world of creativity triggered through this sound phenomenon. Adults from £9.50. Family from £21.

Must book. See 11-14s workshop on June 1. Design Museum, W8 6AG. designmuseum.org May 14 Author events A Little Bit of Hush. Storytime with author Jane Porter, and activity session. 11.30am.

The Spectacular Suit. It’s almost Frankie’s birthday and all of her dresses feel wrong.

Can she find the outfit of her dreams? Storytime with author Kat Patrick. 2.30pm. 2-7s. Either session: £12.99 includes book.

Sibling ticket £5, redeemable against books on the day. Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End, N8 8PL. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk May 14 Five Minutes Peace Storytelling with craft. 10am, 3.30pm, 4pm. 18m-7s. £5 redeemable against book. Pickled Pepper Books, Enfield, EN2 6SN. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk

Whats On? May 19-25 The Oak Collection Private collection featuring over 100 of the finest watches in the world. Free. Design Museum, W8 6AG. designmuseum.org

Peppa and George Pig Epping Ongar Railway. Adult £18, child £10. Under-3s free. Check various times and recommended travel arrangements. eorailway.co.uk From May 25 Cancer Revolution: Science and Hope. Free. Must book.

Science Museum, SW7 2DD www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

May 20 Night Hike For Nightingale Cancer Support Centre. Find a warm welcome, a warm-up and a goody bag at Enfield Civic Centre, EN1 3XA, from 6.30pm. Hike sets off at 7.30pm for a 10k or 15k walk around beautiful Enfield borough. Register to take part. www.nightingalesupport.org. uk/nighthike May 21 Platinum Jubilee Fayre Pimms, jazz band, Morris dancing, dog show, soft play.

Proceeds to Darlands Nature Reserve and North London Hospice. From 12noon. Totteridge Green, N20.

May 21 Superpowering Girls and their Grannies For girls 4-8 and their granny or grandmother-figure to spend quality time together discovering their inner superheroes.

Create your own superhero and adventure, design and decorate your superhero mask and leave feeling AWESOME. £6.

Both need to book. 2pm, 4pm.

Accompanying show on May 22.

See Family Theatre. Arts Depot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk The Itch!

Youth Theatre Taster Day for 1217s to create innovative theatre through workshop activities and games in an inclusive environment. 1pm-5pm. £20.

Chicken Shed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk Spot the Dog Storytelling with crafts and games. 10am, 11.30am, 2pm, 3.30pm. 18m-7s. Adults free, child £5, redeemable against a book. Pickled Pepper Books, Enfield, EN2 6SN. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk May 22 Spring Family Disco Boogie With Ilana Banana. 11am. Adult £3. Child £7, siblings under 6m free. With craft, soft play and games. JW3 community centre, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk familiesonline.co.uk

May 25-29 Vibrant Reflections Art exhibition of Rina Bakis’s colourful abstract and figurative paintings and Nadia Arditti’s bronze sculptures. Free. WedsFri & Sun. Burgh House, NW3 1LT. https://burghhouse. museumssites.com May 27-Jan 8 The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Activities, experiences and exhibition to mark the Queen’s connection with the armed services. Imperial War Museum, SE1 6HZ. https://www.iwm.org.uk/ May 28 Elmer Storytelling with crafts and games. 10am, 11.30am, 2pm, 3.30pm. 18m-7s. Adults free, child £5, redeemable against a book. Pickled Pepper Books, Enfield, EN2 6SN. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk May 28-June 5 Story Seekers: Chocolate Edition Find out what the classic chocolate bar can teach us about life in World War II in this special chocolate-themed Story Seekers adventure. Free.

Plus on May 29&30 We Were There: gain first-hand insight into the impact of war from eyewitnesses. Imperial War Museum, se1 6HZ. www.iwm.org.uk May 28-June 5 Family Mission: D-Day Edition Grab a kit bag and travel back to D-Day in 1944. Find hidden messages, discover ship life and crack morse code, all while learning about the biggest invasion in history. Plus Sea Legs: interactive activity about life on board. May 31 We Were There. HMS Belfast, SE1 2JH. www.iwm.org.uk May 29 Make it Clay: Microworlds Create in clay and explore small details in nature from the collection. 2hr workshop.

10.30am-4pm. £10. Must book.

Museum entry free. V&A, SW7 2RL. www.vam.ac.uk

May 30-June 5 Royal Jubilee Trail And activities. Capel Manor Gardens. Adult £8, concs £7, child £5, under-2s free. Family £25.

Capel Manor Gardens, Enfield, EN1 4RQ. www.capelmanorgardens.co.uk

Design Museum, W8 6AG. designmuseum.org

May 30, June 1 & June 3 Move The Ship Turn the capstan, move the top yard and load the cargo. Expect a call of “All hands on deck!” at 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm.

Free with entry. Part of a weeklong programme of interactive activities, including a flagsignalling drop-in workshop.

Plus Meet the crew. Cutty Sark, SE10 9HT. www.rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark

June 2-3 Holiday to Space Join Ted for a morning of fun including Planetarium show.

4-7s. Child £5. 10.30am, 12 noon.

Royal Observatory, SE10 8XJ www.rmg.co.uk

May 31 Design a Sustainable Shoebox City Become a climate champion for the day and learn more about design, architecture and tackling climate change. 11-14s workshop. 10am-4pm. £75.

Design Museum, W8 6AG. designmuseum.org May 31 & June 29 Tots at the Docks Free monthly play sessions for 1-4s. 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm.

Free. Drop in. Museum entry Free. Can book. Museum of London Docklands, E14 4AL. www.museumoflondon.org.uk May 31-June 1 Out of This World: Moons Ask all your burning space questions in an interactive Planetarium show and morning of fun. 7+. Child £5. 10.30am, 12noon. Royal Observatory, SE10 8XJ www.rmg.co.uk May 31-June 2 Toy Stories Behind the scenes family-friendly tour of toys and games and their unique stories. 6+. Adult £6, child £4. 10.30pm, 3pm.

Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre. SE3 9QS. www.rmg.co.uk

June June 1-Sept 18 Superbloom Spectacular floral display in the moat, in tribute to the Jubilee.

Includes a fun, family-friendly slide into the moat. Various ticket types/prices. Viewing from path above moat is free but must be booked. Tower of London, EC3N 4AB www.hrp.org.uk June 1 Produce Your Own ASMR Soundscape Experiment with sounds, record them and find out how the body is affected by sound. 1114s workshop. 10am-4pm. £75.

June 2 Jubilee Fun Day Entertainment, food stalls, funfair & fireworks. 2pm-10pm. Golders Hill Park, NW3.

June 2-4 Hendon Pageant Jubilee celebrations, vintage fairground, living history & storytelling, bandstand, aircraft access. 10am-4pm. Charges for some activities. Entry free.

Must book. Parking charge. RAF Museum. NW9 5LL. www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london June 3 Drop in Design: Theatrical Paper Fashion Design and make paper accessories and clothing inspired by the Fashioning Masculinities exhibition. 45min workshop. Free. Drop in. 11am, 12noon, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm. Entry free. V&A, SW7 2RL. www.vam.ac.uk June 4 People Need Parks/ Youth Festival In celebration of the Jubilee weekend there will be free activities, Tai Chi, fencing, archery and performances as well as paid attractions. Say hello to A Little Pony Party whose ponies will be giving rides.

Inflatables, stalls and more. 1pm to 6pm. Lordship Rec, N17 6NU. www.get.active@haringey.gov.uk June 4 Zog Storytelling with crafts and games. 10am, 11.30am, 2pm, 3.30pm. 18m-7s. Adults free, child £5, redeemable against a book. Pickled Pepper Books, Enfield, EN2 6SN. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk June 5 Big Jubilee Bring & Share Lunch. 12noon-4pm. Free.

Duckett’s Common. N15 3DZ. https://enjoywoodgreen.co.uk/ event-pro/queens-platinum-jubilee-big-lunch/ June 8-19 Landscape Unlocked Belinda King’s landscapes that sing with colour. Free. Weds-Fri & Sun. Burgh House, NW3 1LT. https://burghhouse. museumssites.com June 10-Aug 19 Vision & Virtuosity

by Tiffany & Co See jewels, craftsmanship and 21

Whats On? Find more Platinum Jubilee activities at: https://platinumjubilee.gov.uk]

Looking ahead…

See FAB entries: Red Bull Soapbox Race July 3 creativity in this exhibition marking the jeweller’s 150th anniversary in London. Free.

Booking advised. Saatchi Gallery, SW3 4RY. www.saatchigallery.com June 11 The Highway Rat Storytelling with crafts and games. 10am, 3.30pm, 4pm.

18m-7s. Adults free, child £5, redeemable against a book.

Pickled Pepper Books, Enfield, EN2 6SN. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk June 12 Heavy Horse and Country Show Including talks at the mini zoo and fun dog show – enter your dog on the day (extra fee). Adult £10, child 3-15 £6, under 2s free, family 2 adults 3 children £30.

Capel Manor Gardens, Enfield, EN1 4RQ. www.capelmanorgardens.co.uk June 18 Nearly New Sale Top-quality baby and children’s clothes sold by mums to mums at a fraction of the high street price. Parents sell and keep 100 per cent of the proceeds. 10am12noon. St Stephens Church Hall, Park Avenue, EN1 2BA. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk June 21-Aug 21 Summer Exhibition Eclectic, innovative art exhibition, ideal for introducing children to art. Paid entry. Royal Academy of Arts, W1J 0BD. www.royalacademy.org.uk June 25-Aug 26 Earth Photo 2022 Shortlisted entrants in the society’s international photographic competition, great for sparking conversations about our world and its inhabitants. Mon-Fri. Free. Royal Geographical Society, SW7 2AR. www.rgs.org July 1-2 East Barnet Festival Music, dance, food and craft stalls, children’s activities, funfair and dog show. Classic cars on Sunday. Free. Oakhill Park, East Barnet, EN4. www.eastbarnetfestival.co.uk 22

Families North London

July 3 Red Bull Soapbox Race Alexandra Palace, N22 7AY. www.alexandrapalace.com Music on the Lawn A variety of performers create a day of live music. Food and craft stalls, children’s activities and bouncy castle. Profits to conservation on the Forty Hall Estate. £10 until June 1, then £15. Accompanied children under 15 free. 11am-6pm. Forty Hall Estate, EN2 9HA. www.fortyhallestate.co.uk July 4-Aug 31 Beach Club with Chloe Crafts, singing and yoga.

Accompanied 0-4s. Mons and Weds. 2pm. Free. Drop in. JW3 community centre, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk July 10 Summer Family Disco Boogie With Ilana Banana. 11am. Adult £3, child £7, siblings under 6m free. Craft, soft play, games. JW3 community centre, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk July 16 The Girl Who Noticed Everything – author event Uplifting story about curiosity and caring. Storytime with author Jane Porter, and activity session.

2.30am. 2-7s. £12.99 includes book. Sibling ticket £5, redeemable against books on the day.

Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End, N8 8PL. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk July 16 Nearly New Sale Top-quality baby and children’s clothes sold by mums to mums at a fraction of the high street price.

Parents with outgrown goods can sell and keep 100 per cent of the proceeds. 10am-12noon. St Stephens Church Hall, Park Avenue, EN1 2BA. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk July 18 The Itch!

Youth Theatre Taster Day for 1217s to create innovative theatre through workshop activities and games in an inclusive environment. 1pm-5pm. £20. Chicken Shed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk

July 21-31 Pirates Set your compass and weigh anchor for an immersive family dining experience with acrobatic performance and swashbuckling sword fights while you eat. All ages. £25, £30. Various times. artsdepot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk July 23-24 Barnet Summertime!

Two-day music festival with some of the UK’s best tribute acts, favourite DJs, local heroes and emerging talent. Limited early bird tickets. 12noon-8pm.

Barnet Playing Fields, EN5. www.seetickets.com/event/ barnet-summertime/barnetplaying-fields/2312289 July 27 Hasbro Stars Live It’s the greatest talent show ever – Ben & Holly, PJ Masks, My Little Pony, Mr & Mrs Potato Head and even Mr Monopoly.

Promises fun, laughter and lots of singing and dancing.

10.30am, 1.30pm. 4.30pm.

Adults £17, children £16, family £62. Millfield Theatre, N18 1PJ. www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk July 28 Ministry of Science Live!

Explosive science show, looking at scientists, engineers and inventors who shaped the modern world. 2.30pm & 6.30pm. Adults £17, children £16, family £62. Millfield Theatre, N18 1PJ. www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk July 28-Aug 1 Midsuer Mechanicals Promises a hilarious new followup to the play-within-a-play from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Suitable for all. Various prices/times. Under 3s free. Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, SE1 9DT www.shakespearesglobe.com July 29-30 Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever Various times/prices. Hackney Empire, E8 1EL www.hackneyempire.co.uk July 31 & Aug 14 Tales Big Day Out Tales From The Shed takes over Chickenshed in a two-hour event with song, dance, action and workshops. Various times.

0-7s. £10, free under 12mths.

Discount for multiple bookings.

Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk July 31-Aug 14 Children’s Festival of Fun

Two weeks of events including Storyworld Yoga, Sing Sign, Sound Adventures and more.

Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk Aug 3-13 Cinderella in Boots Chickenshed sprinkles its magic on the tale to create a unique modern twist in its first Summer pantomime. 3+. Various dates, times. £8, babies under 12m free. Chickenshed, N14 4PE. www.chickenshed.org.uk Aug Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday Sarah and Duck plan the ultimate circus soiree to help Scarf Lady celebrate her birthday. With a host of favourite friends The Ribbon Sisters, The Shallots, Flamingo & John and Umbrella.

Aug 10-11 Wyllyotts Centre, EN6 2HZ. www.tickets.wyllyottstheatre. co.uk Aug 18-21 Leicester Square Theatre, WC2H 7BX. www.leicestersquaretheatre. com Aug 16-Sept 4 The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show Four of Eric Carle’s stories are brought to life using 75 puppets.

1+. Various times. From £15.

Lyric, W6 0QL www.lyric.co.uk

… and further afield June 1-5 Jubilee Joust 11am, 1.30pm, 4pm. Free with admission. Hampton Court Palace, KT8 9AU. www.hrp.org.uk June 22 to 24 The Big Bang Fair Huge hands-on festival of science for children, schools and families. NEC Birmingham. thebigbang.org.uk These venues often have holiday family events No details as we went to press.

Check out: Pollocks Toy Museum, W1, pollockstoymuseum.co.uk Little Angel Theatre littleangeltheatre.com The Cartoon Museum cartoonmuseum.org Dugdale Centre dugdalecentre.co.uk Bank of England Museum, bankofengland.co.uk Design Museum, designmuseum.org The National Gallery, nationalgallery.org.uk

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