Families Hertfordshire Magazine Sep/Oct 2019 by Families Magazine

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Issue 88 Sept/Oct 2019 familiesonline.co.uk

IN THIS ISSUE

What’s On Education Halloween Food!

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FOR THE LITTLE ONES

NEW PLACES TO STAY, PLAY & RELAX

Bring your kids along for a fun filled adventure at our new kids free play in the heart of The Marlowes Shopping Centre, Hemel Hempstead. PLUS find out more about our upgraded family facilities & free kids events. Visit themarlowes.co.uk for more details.

Saturday 28 September 9.30am

open morning Independent day and boarding school for girls and boys, aged 3 to 18.

Where enjoyment creates achievement

Families Herts

+44 (0) 1462 650947 admissions@stchris.co.uk stchris.co.uk

Herts

Hello!

will give you (and your child) a few ideas.

Welcome to the September/ October edition of Families Hertfordshire Magazine.

I’ve extended the magazine to 24 pages this issue and I hope you enjoy reading some of the fab content we have, including a feature on ADHD, how to choose the right school for your child, and an interview with a parent blogger who became a best-selling author.

I do hope you had a good summer and spent lots of quality time with your loved ones. Autumn is now upon us and it is the time of year when your child may want to try a different afterschool activity, or try something for the ﬁrst time. In this issue you’ll ﬁnd two really useful guides which

In this issue: News & Views 4-7 Education 8-10 Health 11 Clubs and classes 14-16 Halloween 18 What’s On 19-23

from community groups, events organisers, small businesses, and established businesses that are interested in exploring marketing opportunities with Families Herts. Do get in touch if you’d like to discuss this further. I hope you enjoy reading the magazine!

Don’t forget to review the What’s On section too, which lists half -term activities and the best local Halloween attractions and events. Finally, I’m always keen to hear Tel: 07958284983 Email: editor@familiesherts.co.uk Web: www.familiesonline.co.uk Editor: Dale Harry Design: 45 Degrees Design & Print Listings editor: Karen Porter

Dale

Cover image: Marks and Spencer

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Independent Day School for girls 4 - 16 years

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• We have a high repeat booking rate, so advertising with us works

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Day Nursery & Pre-School for girls and boys from 6 months

Get hands on in Henry Moore’s landscape... Halloween Half Term Wednesday 30 October to Friday 1 November 11am - 3pm Find out more at henry-moore.org

Abbot’s Hill is a happy and thriving community in which pupils are encouraged to aim high, to grasp opportunities, enjoy learning and to make lasting friendships.

Prep School Working Open Event Friday 20 September, 9.30am See our Day Nursery, Pre-School and Prep School in action. Please contact the Registrar on 01442 839169 or visit our website to book your place.

Whole School Open Day Saturday 28 September, 2pm-4pm Last tours begin at 3.30pm. No booking is required. Bunkers Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP3 8RP E: registrar@abbotshill.herts.sch.uk www.abbotshill.herts.sch.uk

HENRY MOORE STUDIOS & GARDENS Perry Green, Herts, SG10 6EE

Families Hertfordshire (FH) is part of the 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 FH is fully protected by copyright. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Print Ltd and FH cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

News & Views

Inspire a love of learning Halloween at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens

The Family Learning Festival which runs from 19 October to 3 November is a national celebration to inspire a love of learning in family life. Organisations across the UK, including schools, libraries, museums, children centres and galleries will be staging a range of FREE creative family learning activities. This year’s Festival theme is ‘Future Families’ and organisers will be holding activities to encourage families to become earthy explorers, digital discoverers or wellbeing warriors! Organisers of the festival, the lifelong learning charity, Campaign for Learning, believes learning that takes place in the family and home should be valued as much as learning that takes place in school classrooms and formal education. The family is where we learn important life skills and positive attitudes to learning, which enable us to become conﬁdent, motivated lifelong learners. To ﬁnd a local event, visit www.familylearningfestival.com

If you are pregnant or a parent/carer of a child under 19 your local family centre would love to meet you. What happens at a family centre? Hertfordshire’s Family Centre Service brings children’s centres, health visiting and school nursing together to provide a joined up service for children, young people and their families from pregnancy through to when a child reaches 19, offering a range of activities and services to help them grow and develop.

Why should you register your family? • By registering with a family centre you and your child/children can have fun, meet new people and learn together through activities. • If you need help and support, the family centre will try and give you what you need.

The Henry Moore Studios & Gardens has lined up three special days of family activities this October Half Term. Drop into the art workshop and try out some of Henry Moore’s favourite drawing techniques – including wax resist drawing and brusho ink effects – to create Halloween and ﬁrework-themed pictures. Make your own spooky spiders and enter a competition for the scariest Halloween mask. Explore Henry Moore’s studios and acres of sculpture gardens where there are over 20 of the artist’s famous bronze sculptures on display. Outside in the Gardens, see how many apples from the orchard you can catch in apple bobbing, and keep your eyes peeled on the I-Spy Moore trail. The fun and games take place 30 October to 1 November (11am – 3pm) and activities are suitable for all ages. For full details, admission fees, and a timetable of activities see www.henry-moore.org/whats-on/henry moore-studios-and-gardens. The Henry Moore Studios & Gardens is located in Perry Green, postcode SG10 6EE.

School children to tackle speeding drivers An initiative in London is getting primary school pupils to confront speeding motorists, in a bid to enforce the 20mph speed limit near schools. The Junior Roadwatch scheme involves drivers who are caught speeding and pulled over by police officers being given the option of receiving a ﬁxed penalty ﬁne and points on their license, attending a speeding awareness course or being told off by children. Drivers “deemed suitable” to speak to the pupils following a police national computer check will face questions such as, “Are you aware of the consequences of speeding?” and “Why do you think the speed limit is 20mph on this road?”. Collisions are a leading cause of serious injury, disability or death of children in the UK. In 2017, 48 children died in road collisions in the UK and over 15,700 children were injured. Similar schemes are being used elsewhere, including parts of Hertfordshire.

• To give you the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of the family centre and help shape the services on offer. For more information and to register visit

www.hertsfamilycentres.org

Visit www.tﬂ.gov.uk for more information. 4

Families Herts

News & Views

Sing, dance and act with Perform drama school Most parents don’t know More than two thirds of parents don’t know how much exercise their child needs to do to stay healthy, new research has revealed. NHS guidelines state that children ages 5 to 18 should do an hour of physical activity every day, but 68% of UK adults didn’t know this or thought the target was lower. The survey of 2,000 adults, by YouGov for the Youth Sport Trust (YST), found that only a quarter knew the recommended exercise time for young people and on average people thought it was 46 minutes. Meanwhile, ﬁgures recently released by Sport England show only 17.5% of children are reaching the 60-minute target daily. More info: www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise

Low take-up of free childcare Government figures show that far fewer families than expected are using the taxfree childcare offer. According to figures released by HMRC, just 91,000 parents accessed the offer by December 2018, far below the 415,000 the government had budgeted for. This number represents just 5% of the 2 million families the government estimated would be eligible for the scheme when it was first launched. The tax-free childcare scheme is a replacement for the previous childcare voucher system, which closed to new entrants from October 2018. Ongoing technical difficulties, the complexity of the system and low awareness have been attributed as causes for the poor response by families. The government has said it is running a national communications campaign to raise awareness and encourage more parents to apply. familiesonline.co.uk

Perform is a unique children’s drama school for 4-12-yearolds with a special emphasis on child development. Using a mix of drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s full potential, the classes are high energy and captivating. Perform is run in small groups by experienced actor-teachers, and classes focus on developing the 4 Cs: conﬁdence, communication, coordination, and concentration. The curriculum ensures plenty of fun, using a mix of games, catchy songs and funky dances. All class materials are written by Perform, with apps, music downloads and videos for the children to play at home, keeping the magic of the classes alive. Perform offer no-obligation FREE trial sessions.

Visit www.perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class today or call 020 7255 9120. Venues in: Bishops Stortford, Broxbourne, Harpenden, Hertford, Hitchin, Potters Bar, Radlett, St Albans, and Welwyn Garden City.

New Dads suffer mental health problems It is well recognised that new and expectant mothers can experience mental health problems, but little attention has been paid to new fathers. Amidst recent research suggesting that at least 10% of new fathers suffer from depression, a new study has found new fathers can be beset by feelings of guilt and failure to live up to societal expectations to be stoic, strong and providers of support. The researchers found that fathers often interpret their struggles as a personal failure as a man and father, and refuse to regard their own problems as legitimate compared

to those of their partner. This leads to reluctance in reaching out or seeking advice, further compounding any issues and making isolation a signiﬁcant problem. New fathers also reported a lack of prior knowledge or awareness of the mental health challenges they could face as a result of having a baby. For more information on this topic, visit: www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/ dads-and-partners

Outstanding, Gentle, Calm, Fun, Inspirational, Professional

07795 510 130 info@artisans.uk.com www.artisans.uk.com 5

News & Views

Halloween fun and games at Mead Open Farm Fang-tastic Halloween fun with Lord Vampyre If you fancy celebrating Halloween in style this year, why not take the children on a day trip to LEGOLAND Windsor? This autumn, the spooktacular Brick or Treat season, hosted by Lord Vampyre (pictured) returns with a Halloween party like no other. Little ones are invited to get stuck into a host of spooky LEGO activities throughout the resort with rides, shows and attractions to enjoy, and the chance to join Lord Vampyre and his monster friends at the topsy-turvy new Haunted House Monster Party ride. On 19-20 and 25-26 October and 1-2 November, the skies will light up with a truly spectacular 3D ﬁreworks display After the ﬁrework fun is over, families can ride LEGOLAND’s famous attractions after dusk!

Get set for stacks of spooky fun for the whole family at Mead Open Farm’s Freaky FunFest this October! Children can adventure through five incredible Halloween attractions, all undercover. Help Little Red Riding Hood find her way to Grandma’s house in Scary Tales, meet gruesome ghosts and ghouls in the Haunted Hotel, brave the terrific twists and turns of Mr Topper’s Twister and for those seeking milder spooks, take a seat on the Tiny Terrors Tractor Ride with lots of little boos for toddlers. Plus, for a small extra charge, pick your own perfect pumpkin and carve a funny face at the new Pumpkin Patch! There are new shows to discover too – gasp at Ghost Stories with Penelope Picklepan and be sure to join in fearsome fun at the daily Halloween fancy dress competition. Mead Open Farm also has plenty more adventure with a full timetable of daily activities. The Halloween adventures take place 21 October to 1 November. Mead Open Farm is just south of Leighton Buzzard. For more information, ticket prices, and to plan your day out, visit www.meadopenfarm.co.uk

For more information and ticket prices, visit www.legoland.co.uk.

Take a step back in time with Heritage Open Days This year Heritage Open Days is celebrating its 25th anniversary and will be the biggest and most diverse to date. Running from 13 to 22 September, this annual celebration of England’s history and culture, allows visitors FREE access to historical landmarks that are either not usually open to the public, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Nationwide there will be hundreds of interactive activities for children, including dressing up, crafting, woodland walks and railway rides. With a theme of ‘People Power’, this year’s festival will offer visitors more opportunities than ever to discover the secret history of their towns, villages and countryside. Co-ordinated nationally by the National Trust with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery, the celebration brings together thousands of organisations and properties across England.

COME ALONG AND JOIN US ON THE FARM, WE’RE OPEN UNTIL NOVEMBER 4TH JUST £3.50 PER CHILD £6.00 PER ADULT UNDER 3’S ARE FREE / FREE PARKING

WWW.HATFIELDPARKFARM.CO.UK

For local events visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk 6

Families Herts

News & Views

Calls for compulsory Climate Change education in schools A petition launched by four Oxford school girls calling for lessons on Climate Change to be made compulsory in schools has gathered over 75,000 signatures. The students are hoping to make climate change a “core part of the compulsory curriculum” to increase the next generation’s understanding of the global issue. They claim they have “barely learned

Picky eaters still grow up healthy Picky eating in toddlers is a welldocumented phase when children don’t want to try new foods and/or show very strong preferences. It can create much worry for parents, and has created a whole market for advice, guidance and tools to encourage young children to try lots of new tastes and textures. But researchers from the University of Bristol using data from a study of children between the ages of 7 to 17 have found that instead of being harmed by their diets, children who had been picky eaters at age 3 were growing normally as adolescents with a healthy height and weight. The researchers claim the study shows that even children who are picky as pre-schoolers usually eat well enough over time to ensure they grow properly.

about the climate crisis at school, even though it’s supposed to be part of Geography and Science”. According to the petition: “Climate change is the biggest issue of our time, and it must be a part of our education if our generation is to understand it and help us to combat its effects. That’s why we want climate change to be made a core part of the national curriculum.”

Join the magical world of Monkey Music classes Over 170 talented Monkey Music teachers share their love of music with more than 20,000 families every week. Monkey Music, known as the leading light in pre-school music classes, is an award-winning group for children aged 3 months to 4 years, and runs every week in Baldock, Biggleswade, Hitchin, Knebworth, Letchworth, Stevenage, Stotfold, and Welwyn.

For more on this topic go to www.bristol.ac.uk/news

Monkey Music has a unique teaching curricula, which has been written by professional musicians. It offers a progressive four-stage curricula where children are grouped according to age. Catchy songs are mixed with specialist instruments, magical props, enticing puppets, bubbles and fun engaging activities. The classes are not just about music but support important developmental language, physical and social skills. The classes are designed to prepare children for their next musical steps, which may include learning an instrument. Do expect fun and giggles on the way, and the ﬁrst session is FREE! For more information on local classes go to https://bit.ly/2KaaXhF or call 01462 626735.

ST ALBANS INCLUSION ADVOCACY SERVICE PARENTS – TEENAGERS – YOUNG PEOPLE

Do you sometimes feel Isolated - overwhelmed - not sure which way to turn >V\SK `V\ ILULÄ[ MYVT A friendly listening ear – extra support or advice supported signposting to services >L JHU OLSW MHJL [V MHJL WOVUL Z\WWVY[ The Civic Centre Hub, room 2, Mon 10 – 4 & Weds 10 – 2 Telephone 01992 638000 ias@hertfordshireppp.co.uk www.hertfordshireppp.co.uk

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Education

How to choose the right school for your child

By Claire Winter

Choosing schools is one of the most important decisions we make as parents – this article highlights some of the things we should consider Whether it's for primary or secondary school, in the next few months the majority of parents have to make big decisions about what school preferences to shortlist for their child. But, don’t panic! Families has asked parents across the UK to give their top tips on how to make the right choices.

What type of school? Do you want to choose a fee-paying or state school? Day or boarding? Singlesex or co-ed? What sort of school will suit your child? There are lots of factors to consider when you start looking at prospective schools. Mandy says: “Our son is really sensitive, and we felt a busy state school would not suit his character at all. We were lucky his grandparents offered to help with the school fees, so we chose a local independent school that didn’t have an entrance exam. He loves it.”

Do your research If you are looking at state schools, ﬁnd out what catchment area you are in. Your local LEA website can help with this. If you feel you might be on the edge of a catchment area, it’s worth 8

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asking your local authority or the school whether children where you live have been offered places in previous years. Linda says: “When we filled in our preference list for primary school, we already knew we might not get our first or second choice because the local authority had told us we were on the edge of the catchment area. This was really helpful because we made sure that we were slap bang in the middle of the catchment for our third and fourth choices.” Make sure you research the admissions policy for all schools in which you are interested, state or independent, primary or secondary. Many primary schools have a siblingsfirst policy whilst schools that are affiliated to a church may have special requirements related to your family religion. You need to know whether you fulfil the entry requirements.

Many independent schools have entrance exams. Similarly, if you live in a grammar school area you need to ﬁnd out if you are in catchment for the school and when the 11+ examinations take place.

Visit the school It is vital that you visit all the schools you are interested in. Independent school open days are widely publicised and it’s worth visiting them at least a year before you need to apply in order to come up with an initial shortlist. You can then visit again closer to the time of making your applications. Pay attention to the attitude of the school at open days. You want the school to be friendly and welcoming to you at this time. Lisa says: “I attended an open day at the school which was our ﬁrst choice for primary because it is an Outstanding

‘Make sure you research the admissions policy for all schools in which you are interested’

Education school with a very good reputation. But I found the attitude of the school towards parents really off-putting. Basically we were told at the open day that they wouldn’t be answering any questions about the school until we got offered a place. Needless to say, I scratched them off our list!” It’s very helpful to book an appointment to see the school during the working day. This way you get to see how the pupils interact with the teachers and you can see if the school will really suit your child.

‘Head teachers make a speech at Open Days and these are well worth listening to’

What is the Head Teacher like? Most Head Teachers make a speech at their school Open Days and these are well worth listening to. The Head is responsible for the ethos and vision of a school and is also a key decision maker. She or he are also responsible for employing key staff responsible for both teaching and pastoral care and so his attitude and outlook are likely to trickle down throughout the school and be very influential overall Isobel says: “We put a lot of weight on what the Head Master/Head Mistress was like. They really drive the culture of a school. Next up was the kids. Watching them interact with each other and their teachers. That was a real eye-opener in some classrooms! We chose our primary school because when the Head Master asked a question they all put their hands up. He picked a girl to answer but got her name slightly wrong. She was confident to correct him, politely, before answering the question. That stood out for me as both respectful and confident – two characteristics I'd want my children to have."

Think about logistics How far away is the school? If you work, do they have a good breakfast club and after-school care? Can your child get to school by bus or a coach or can they walk to school? Will you have to drive them? “I wanted my daughter to go to a school she could walk to,” says Amanda. “She could have travelled further by bus to a school with better results, but I loved the small size of our closest school and the emphasis they put on play.”

Will the school suit your child? Some children may have special needs or ﬁnd large, noisy schools scary; some may need to be challenged whilst others will do better in a school which is a bit more laid back. Think about what type of environment your child needs to thrive. An academic school or a school that is smaller and friendly? Do they need additional support and can the school provide it? Do they need an organised and more structured day? Or are they more creative and require a school that focuses more on art and creative pursuits? Does your child have any friends going to that school?

Anna Louise wanted a friendly school for her daughter. “When it came to senior school, we visited the most academically successful school but found it very corporate. Then we went to a less academically successful school, but all of us loved its warmth and friendly atmosphere, so we chose it. Four years later, we have no regrets because the pastoral care has been superb. My daughter has been diagnosed with autism and anxiety, and the school has been wonderfully supportive.”

Making the decision Don’t be swayed by the opinions of other parents: you know what is best for your child. Choosing a school is down to individual choice and, once you’ve done the research and homework, remember to listen to your heart, as well as your head and, of course, prioritise your child’s wellbeing ﬁrst and foremost. If your child is old enough, make sure you include them in the process of choosing a school. Let them look around the schools with you and ask them what they think. Talk with them about the decision-making process and make the decision with them. Then trust that you have all made the right choice and that all will work out for the best.

familiesonline.co.uk

Education

What makes St Christopher School stand out from the rest? St Chris is an independent school based in Letchworth Garden City for girls and boys aged 3-18. For more than 100 years the school has been a pioneering voice in the world of education, embracing new ideas based on sound educational principles. St Chris has also established a reputation as ‘not your typical independent school.’ And there is a reason for this. At St Chris, pupil happiness is achieved when an individual is fulﬁlled – day-to-day

enjoyment creates the achievement, and the achievement, the enjoyment. Those who would otherwise be good students do even better at St Chris, and in more dimensions than they would ever have expected. If you would like to know more about St Christopher’s approach, and what your child is capable of when they get their deepest needs met ﬁrst, why not go along to one of the open days? The ﬁrst open day (morning) takes place on Saturday 28 September, from 9.30am.

For more information visit www.stchris.co.uk or call 01462 650947.

Teachers ‘As good as tests’ at predicting success Sats are no better than teachers at predicting pupil’s GCSE and A-Level results, a study has found. The study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, found teacher assessments at age 7, 11 and 14 were just as effective as using Sats results to predict pupils’ subsequent exam success. Researchers say their findings question whether the benefits of standardised exams outweigh the costs. A lead researcher Dr Kaili Rimfeld, from the King’s College London, said: “We have shown for the first time that teacher assessments predict GCSE and A-level results just as well as earlier exam scores. “The fact that exam scores correlate so highly with the teacher 10

Families Herts

assessments raises questions about the value of the testing culture that characterises compulsory education in the UK. ” Co-researcher Dr Margherita Malanchini, from the IoPPN and the University of Texas at Austin, adds: “While testing can stimulate both pupils and teachers to focus their efforts, high-stakes exams may shift the educational experience away from learning towards exam performance. For these reasons, we suggest that teacher assessments could be relied on for monitoring progress, instead of exam scores, in particular during earlier school years.” For more information on this subject go to www.kcl.ac.uk/news

A thriving and happy school Abbot’s Hill is a happy, dynamic and thriving school offering an all-round education for girls aged 4-16 years. Its Day Nursery and Pre-School caters for girls and boys from 6 months and the historic campus offers modern facilities in a magniﬁcent country setting. Based on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead, Abbot’s Hill has a strong record of academic success. Throughout the school, pupils are taught in small classes in which excellent teaching and personalised support ensure that everyone is inspired to exceed their potential. The broad curriculum is enhanced by a wide range of trips and activities for all ages. Abbot’s Hill prides itself on its pastoral care. In such a nurturing environment, pupils naturally grow in conﬁdence, are happy to embrace new challenges and eagerly take on increasing responsibilities. Pupils leave the school fully equipped to take on the challenges and opportunities life has to offer. The excellent GCSE results are testament to the ethos – that at Abbot’s Hill, your daughter will achieve her best because she is happy. To experience Abbot’s Hill, go along to one of the open events. For more information, call 01442 240333 or visit www.abbotshill.herts.sch.uk To advertise your school, business, charity, class or club on these pages, call 07958284983, and reach over 45,000 readers.

Health

Busting the myths about ADHD By Tony Buckley

October is ADHD awareness month and families takes up the baton to raise understanding about this debilitating condition When you think of ADHD, what comes to mind? Screaming children. Refusal to do schoolwork. Maybe even violence. But if your child is not displaying these symptoms, could they still be suffering from ADHD? The answer is “yes”. Sensational symptoms like screaming, violence and refusal are those that provoke the most sympathy when a parent discusses their child with other parents, or the ones that look most interesting and are easiest to identify when portrayed in the media. They are real symptoms that real children with ADHD can (and often do) exhibit. But these aren’t the only symptoms someone with ADHD might have – they’re simply the symptoms that a parent or guardian are most likely to notice, as they affect people other than the person with the condition. It’s important to understand that if a child is behaving in an unfocused or hyperactive way consistently then they may have ADHD. But, not all people with ADHD are unruly and unfocused. Simply believing that they are can make it more difficult for those who display less “textbook” ADHD symptoms to get a diagnosis, as well as creating a damaging stereotype of children with the condition.

So what are the other symptoms of ADHD? ADHD, or attention deﬁcit hyperactivity disorder, is a condition that affects both adults and children. People with this condition will often experience symptoms such as impulsiveness, poor concentration, hyperactivity, poor organisational skills and being easily distracted. But some will experience other symptoms, either as well as or

instead of these more well-known symptoms. Symptoms tend to change with age, and will be different for each person. This is especially true if their symptoms don’t match those expected and recognised by society. Many people with ADHD will reach adulthood without even realising that they have the condition. Some adults may only ﬁnd out that their symptoms are ADHDrelated if their own child is diagnosed with it, and some symptoms become less obvious as a child matures and enters adulthood. Many adults have no idea that their difficulty with social interactions or executive functions is a result of a hidden impairment, but, as parents, there are symptoms you can watch out for to ﬁnd out if your child has the condition.

How can parents recognise symptoms of ADHD in their children? Children with ADHD will be impulsive. They’ll find it difficult to prioritise the various tasks and responsibilities that they need to deal with, and you may notice that their peers are more organised than they are. If a child has ADHD, you may find that they struggle to focus on the task at hand. Multi-tasking is another thing that children with ADHD tend to struggle with and this can cause child and parents significant frustration. Children with ADHD may feel under much more pressure than other children and feel that they need to be more active and work harder than others in

‘ADHD symptoms will be different for each person, and change with age’ familiesonline.co.uk

order to keep up. Understandably this contributes signiﬁcantly to their stress levels as they try to deal with all the tasks they need to complete. Children with ADHD can ﬁnd it hard to cope with this degree of stress and pressure and may act this out in a variety of ways, becoming angry, emotional, withdrawn, panicky, argumentative or displaying a range of other stress-induced behaviours. Equally though, a child with ADHD may simply appear to be trying to focus very hard on their learning to get through the day and keep up with their classmates. In neither of the above cases will a child with ADHD necessarily look like a child screaming and throwing things as portrayed in the media.

Where can parents ﬁnd out more? For more information about ADHD, check out The Essential Guide to ADHD on Need2Know books at http://need2knowbooks.co.uk. It answers essential questions and guides parents and teachers, step-by-step, through the actions they need to take to support a child with ADHD. Use N2K25OFF for a 25% discount!

Childcare

It’s time for nursery or pre-school All you need to know for this next big step in your child’s learning Many children are left at nursery as babies, around the time when separation anxiety kicks in and both parents and children feel bereft. However, a few weeks on, the tears turn to smiles and both parties relax into their new routine. But what happens if you have chosen alternative childcare or stayed at home with your little one? At the age of two or three, depending on your circumstances, your child will be entitled to some free hours of childcare each week. Who wouldn’t want to make use of this? As with babies, starting a new nursery or pre-school can be unsettling for both child and parent, but with good transition plans, you will both adjust more quickly than you expect.

Use your settling-in days

Choosing the right environment

This is one of our key pieces of advice. It may feel easier to sneak away while your child is distracted but imagine how they feel when they turn around to show you what they are doing, and you aren’t there. If they haven’t been left before they may feel abandoned and worry that you aren’t coming back. So, actively say goodbye. Give cuddles and kisses and let them know when you will return. There may still be tears while you make your guilt-ridden escape, but when they see you come to collect them, they quickly learn that you always come back.

By now you will probably have an idea of what kind of child you have. Are they aged two and already counting to one hundred or are they happier covering themselves in mud and running amok in the garden? There will be a setting just right for their style of learning through play. Because this is what it is… their ﬁrst official step into education and learning. Some pre-schools are academic-focussed, and the room settings will reﬂect this, while others will look very much like a playgroup. Visit and choose the one in which you both feel most comfortable. Remember, your child will be restricted to a classroom environment from age 4 to 18, so it is okay to think play rather than lessons!

Make sure you negotiate settling-in sessions. You won’t be a high-maintenance parent for requesting as many sessions as you need. The setting staff would much rather have a happy child on day one than one who is unsettled and not having fun.

‘Make sure you negotiate settling-in sessions’ The importance of goodbyes

Involve them in the preparation Let them choose new shoes and bag. If they need a uniform, get them to try it on. This helps them feel excited. Buy a new lunchbox together if they need one. Chat about what you will put in it and choose some snacks.

Get them a place

Play dates

In pockets of the UK, supply for funded childcare is outweighed by demand and waiting lists can be long. Apply and secure your place as soon as you can.

Are there friends who will be going to the same nursery? Invite them over for a play or meet in the park so your children can get to know each other. Play dates are also a great time for parents to share worries. You will find you aren’t the only one dreading the first drop off morning. Why not arrange a coffee or chat on that first day?

How will your child transition? Who knows?! Many of our top tips are the same for a toddler/ pre-schooler as they are for babies.

Live it at home Make sure you talk to your child about their day. Look for positives when there are tears or make them laugh by asking silly questions. Display their artwork so they develop a sense of pride in what they are achieving. Some kids run into nursery without looking back, while other parents feel like a tree trunk with a little person attached. Whichever way it is for you, there is no right or wrong. Every child is a small human reacting to a new environment and experience and we need to respect their feelings. One thing is for sure though, they will deﬁnitely have a blast! Parental Choice are childcare experts with a team that can help you ﬁnd your ideal nursery setting locally to you. For more information, visit www.parentalchoice.co.uk 12

Families Herts

“Little Steps, Large Leaps” • Children’s Food Trust and Soil Association approved meals • Part time and full time sessions available • Funded sessions available • Individual Learning Programmes

• Regular Trips and Outings • Extra Curricular programmes such as: • Cook & Grow, Early Language Programme, Magical Maths, • Lets Get Physical, Stork to Walk

Hitchin: 01462 450354 Hitchin@toadhall-nursery.co.uk

Watford: 01923 254637 watford@toadhall-nursery.co.uk

SWIMMING LESSONS

• Platinum Award for First Aid Training • Nappies, Creams and sun creams all included • Strong belief in outdoor learning opportunities

Berkhamsted: 01442 871777 Berkhamsted@toadhall-nursery.co.uk

SPACES AVAILABLE NOW!

DON’T PANIC, WE’VE GOT THIS Enrol today at www.everyoneactive.com/swim-lessons familiesonline.co.uk

Clubs & Classes

Trying a new club or class

By Claire Winter

Whatever the age of your child, trying a new activity or sport encourages them to be more adventurous and learn new skills For parents of under 5s, classes and clubs can enrich a child’s day, giving them the chance to experience many different environments and activities. Vitally, these activities also provide social stimulation for parents too. Meanwhile, the lives of older children have been changed by modern technology, and we need to strongly encourage them to be more active and step away from their smartphone, Xbox, or PlayStation. Thankfully, there are a huge range of organised after-school or weekend clubs and classes for children to attend, from pottery painting to coding. Here are Families’ helpful tips for encouraging your child to try something new.

Understand what’s stopping them

Target their interests

Tap into the demand factor and co-ordinate with others

A good starting point is to look at your child’s current interests. Their school may offer a wide range of classes and clubs from music to sport. Additionally, local sports centres, libraries and art centres are often teeming with opportunities to join classes and clubs. So don’t be afraid to look outside the school environment for things to do. For active kids, why not consider something more challenging, such as climbing, caving, or martial arts? Those interested in animals may ﬁnd opportunities at your local zoo, petting farm or riding centre. While for the creatively inclined, investigate an art class, reading or book club or a school newspaper or blog. While it’s a little more difficult to assess the interests of pre-schoolers or toddlers, most enjoy sing and rhyme classes or activities that involve physical activity, like preschool gymnastics or football.

Many children can be apprehensive about new experiences, but if your child is consistently shying away from trying new activities, sit down with them and try to ﬁnd out why. It could be a fear of not making friends, being bullied, low self-conﬁdence about their abilities, or being in an unfamiliar environment. Once you know the cause of their anxiety, you can help address it. If your toddler or pre-schooler is reluctant to join in a class, participate in the activity alongside them. It takes preschoolers time to get used to a new environment. Once they get used to the situation they will join in with gusto.

Many children simply want to ﬁt in, so if this is important to your child, look for new or popular activities. Try talking to other parents and see what activities their children are involved in. You could even co-ordinate for your children to participate in the activity together. Emma, mum of an 8 year old says: “It took three years at school together before I discovered that one of my daughter’s friends attended a weekly roller-disco at our local sports centre and the opportunity to do something with her friend was enough to persuade my daughter to join in.” You could also introduce a reluctant child to an activity their sibling does, or for younger children nervous about being alone, you can attend the ﬁrst session with them. For pre-school and toddler classes, co-ordinating with other parents in your network can feel more important than whether you feel your child will particularly enjoy an activity. Structured activities can keep your little one occupied for a while and give you a welcome chance to make friends with other parents who have children at the same age and stage.

Highlight the benefits Focus on the positive things your child will gain by taking part in a particular sport or activity. These could be a new social circle, certificates, medals or stickers, job or education opportunities in the future, greater confidence, getting fitter, or simply being with friends. After-school and weekend clubs and classes are a great way for your child to stay active and learn new things. Remember, it doesn’t matter what activity your child pursues, as long as they enjoy it. 14

Families Herts

Clubs & Classes

The beneﬁts of swimming with Everyone Active Learning to swim is a vital life skill which every child should experience. Swimming lessons teach children independence and give a sense of accomplishment as they feel themselves improving. Swimming offers a whole-body workout like no other, helping children to keep active whilst having fun. Notably, learning to swim also gives children the ability to get themselves out of potentially dangerous situations, enabling them to fully enjoy trips to the seaside and beach holidays. Everyone Active’s award-winning learn to swim programme offers lessons for all ages of swimmers, from

child classes starting at 4 months, right through to adult classes and are available at over 120 sites. All swimming teachers are Swim England level 2 (or equivalent) qualiﬁed. All stages are progressive and continually assessed, initially developing water conﬁdence and then teaching children to swim. As they improve, this distance is increased and all strokes are introduced. Children also have the opportunity to develop water safety skills and other aquatic disciplines such as Rookie Lifeguard, synchronised swimming, diving and water polo.

A conﬁdent start with Jigsaw Performing Arts A new school year is upon us – time to try something for the weekend? Jigsaw’s dance, singing and drama weekend classes for 3-18-year-olds are designed to develop children’s conﬁdence, self-expression, focus and social skills, while having fun and making lots of new friends.

Improving your child’s concentration

Parents share in the excitement of their children’s progress with regular presentations, shows and reports from a team of highly experienced teachers. For more information or to book a two-week trial, search for the nearest school on www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk or call 020 8447 4530.

Concentration is a vital life skill which develops from birth. Linked closely to brain development, it improves alongside a child’s memory and ability to organise their thoughts. Perform parenting expert and child psychologist, Dr Claire Halsey, offers her tips.

Set up for success: Reduce big distractions: television, music and screen time make it difficult to listen and concentrate, so limit these to set times.

Make it fun: Make activities fun as your child is more likely to pay attention.

Keep practising: Games and activities can build concentration. Choose turn-taking games like Snap or Picture Dominoes or those with simple instructions. Praise the good stuff: Praise your child when they focus rather than highlighting when they don’t, e.g “Well done for sticking with that puzzle.” Seek advice: A small number of children have difficulty paying attention no matter how hard they try. Ask your child’s teacher for suggestions. If you’re still concerned, see your GP. More from Dr Claire Halsey at www.clairehalsey.com. Perform offers concentration-boosting drama classes in Bishops Stortford, Broxbourne, Harpenden, Hertford, Hitchin, Potters Bar, Radlett, St Albans and Welwyn Garden City. Try a FREE no-obligation class at www.perform.org.uk/try familiesonline.co.uk

Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools

dr ama singing dance Schools in:

Broxbourne Potters Bar St Albans Stevenage Ware Harlow AND MORE!

3–18 years TWO WEEK TRIAL AVAILABLE. BOOK NOW!

T: 020 8447 4530 W: Jigsaw-arts.co.uk 15

Clubs & Classes

Winter clubs and classes for your kids Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the winter months stop you from being active With the nights soon to close in and temperatures drop, the idea of sending your child out on to the football pitch, tennis court or athletics track is not an attractive one. But active afterschool activities offer children great developmental beneďŹ ts including:

Indoor sports

You can access indoor classes for most outdoors sports such as football, cricket and tennis at leisure centres or school recreation halls. Likewise for toddlers and pre-schoolers, multi-sport and ball skills classes are often run inside during winter.

Improved academic performance Research has found that children from disadvantaged background who participate in after-school clubs get better results at age 11 than their peers. Enhanced socialisation skills.

Better health and ďŹ tness According to the National Association of Sport and Physical Education, kids aged 5-12 should exercise for at least 60 minutes of each day, and this ďŹ gure shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be ignored just because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold outside.

Stress relief Exercise helps to relieve stress built up by homework, exams and peer pressures. As parents, we are responsible for setting up opportunities for our children to keep active during winter months. So here are our ideas for keeping your restless young-one on the go â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the good news is you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to force them (or you!) outside:

Trampoline clubs and parks These are popping up all over the country and classes are fun and social. The UK now has over 190 trampoline parks and most offer kids a safe environment to cut loose as well as lessons and classes.

How many is too much? Indoor rock climbing This activity is also growing in popularity across the country with a centre likely to be very close to you. Even the NHS recommends it as an activity that provides unique physical and mental beneďŹ ts whilst at the same time catering for all ages, ďŹ tness levels and abilities.

Girl Guides and Scouting Scouting and Girl Guides are experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity. Why? Because they offer an antidote to the modern world with adventure being at the heart of everything they do. Children can get involved in learning outdoor skills and undertaking leadership qualiďŹ cations, as well as enjoying camps and residential experiences.

Ice rinks/snow slopes Local snow slopes and ice rinks are great places to get kids active during the winter and offer tobogganing, skiing or snowboarding, as well as general skating. There are indoor and outdoor rinks and centres.

Whilst clubs and classes are important for children, be careful how many activities you sign your child up for. Some require signiďŹ cant time commitment. For example, joining a swimming class can involve two or more weekly training sessions, as well as competitions. Are you and your child up for that? What else will suffer or be sacriďŹ ced? If your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opportunity to have unstructured time for play will go by the wayside, then this is probably not a good thing.

Fresh air If you do opt for indoor class and club options for your child during winter, try to get them some regular fresh air at weekends when time and weather permit. Consider heading to the countryside or a beach (even at the darkest time of year), where you can breathe different air and be closer to nature. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to organise a full itinerary and it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to cost much either. Simple games like running races on a beach or climbing a tree can be exhilarating for children after a week cooped up at school, and being outside is both refreshing and invigorating for everyone.

Open School Holidays

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Parenting

How a parenting blogger became a best-selling author Claire Winter talks to Gill Sims about her journey from blogger to best-selling author Gill Sims started her blog as a joke with a friend in 2016. Her posts on her Peter and Jane Facebook page soon went viral as she and, most importantly, “judgy” dog chronicled the funny and chaotic realities of parenting. She is now a bestselling author who has written three books and Peter and Jane has over 400k followers. Her ﬁrst book Why Mummy Drinks was a top ten Sunday bestseller for 31 weeks. Her latest book Why Mummy doesn’t give a ***k is out now.

How did it all start? I partly started the blog because I was fed up with the one-sided view many social media posts and blogs were giving about parenting. Social media often shows a very curated portrayal of family life where nothing goes wrong and everyone looks perfect. I wanted to write a humorous blog to show the “not so perfect” side of parenting where mums swear and not every day goes to plan! I shared my posts with friends and they started going viral in July. By September 2016, Harper Collins had offered me a book deal.

What is the latest book about? My latest book continues the story of Ellen and her precious moppets, Peter and Jane and her on-going attempts to be the best mother she can. But she is thwarted at every turn. No matter how hard she tries. Peter and Jane don’t familiesonline.co.uk

seem to have the memo on how to be the best children they possibly can. They are just children – they cause chaos and ruin her life one way or another. They are also now older, so she is dealing with their teenage trials and tribulations.

What would you say the biggest issue in dealing with a tweenager is? Dealing with the disdainful looks and the eye rolling and “oh mother” comments and dealing with the technology they have and not really understanding how it all works. Someone asked me on the radio this morning if I could explain Snapchat for the listeners who didn’t know what it was. I said, “I have no idea, you’ll need to ﬁnd a young person to explain what it is!”

Why do you think your social media posts resonate with parents so much? I guess because it is the other side of parenting. Social media has made it easier for people to show just the good bits. It is very easy to make it look like life is all pastel covered cupcakes and ‘making memories.’ Everybody has lovely days but they also have those not- so-lovely days. You may decide to do some baking and then your children smash six eggs and spill a kilo

of sugar all over the kitchen ﬂoor and the dog eats it all and is horribly sick. Meanwhile, everyone else seems to be nailing it and doing better than you. It can be quite depressing; lots of people like to see that someone else is also having a rubbish day, so they know they are not the only one.

Your books and posts are ﬁctional but how does your family feel about them? They don’t mind, as they know my anecdotes and books are ﬁction. My daughter says Facebook is for old people and it’s the mum corner of the Internet. There’s nothing like children or pets to put you in your place!

Gill Sims is the author of the successful parenting blog and Facebook site Peter and Jane, which has 400+k followers. You can ca get her latest lat book Mummy M doesn’t give gi a ***k from fr all good bookstores. b She is also touring the t UK. To ﬁnd out o more go to https://gillsims. h com/tour/

Halloween H

Things that go YUM in the night! C Conjure up some ghoulish AND tasty Boo-meringue Pops this Halloween! BOO-meringue Pops are tiny spectres that sit quietly in their cups until an unsuspecting little someone gets within snacking distance. Our friends at Wonderbly have come up with this fantastic spook-tastic recipe.

Follow the simpl e step s below to your o make wn...

Ingredients:

Let’s make BOO-meringue Pops:

For the meringues

1. Keeping little ﬁngers safe, cut the bottom out of your paper cups with the utility knife. Preheat the oven to 100°C or gas mark ¼. Put the caster sugar into one bowl and sift the icing sugar into another (and be careful not to sneeze!)

115G Caster Sugar 115G Icing Sugar A Pinch Of Salt 4 Large Egg Whites, At Room Temperature Large Freezer Bags Greaseproof Paper Tiny Chocolate Drops A Bar of Milk or Dark Chocolate

For the cups Paper Cups Utility Knife Paint Brush Posca Pen Lollipop Sticks Masking Tape A Sheet Of Tissue/Crepe Paper Scissors

FIG 1

FIG 2

2. Put the egg whites into a large bowl with a pinch of salt and use the electric whisk on medium power until the mixture forms soft peaks. Whisk on high power, adding 1 tbsp of caster sugar at a time until you’ve used it all. Fold in the icing sugar. By now the mixture should be glossy with scared-stiff peaks. (If you want to keep the meringue really white, you can add ½ tsp lemon juice and bake on a lower temperature for longer.) FIG 1

FIG 3

FIG 4

Wonderbly create meaningful, magical personalized stories, which let children imagine themselves doing extraordinary things. Find out more at www.wonderbly.com

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3. Put your freezer bag into a glass and fold the edges over the sides. Spoon in your meringue. Take the bag out, twist the top shut and snip off the bottom corner. Make sure you hold the bag gently so the ghosts don’t escape! Put a sheet of greaseproof paper on a baking tray and place the cardboard circles (aka the cut-out cup bottoms) on the tray. Pipe a ghost onto each, add chocdrop eyes and pop in the oven for 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hours. FIG 2 4. When your ghosts are cooked and cooled, melt the chocolate (in a bowl) over a saucepan of boiling water. Using a toothpick or similar, give your ghouls some mouths, eyebrows, whatever you fancy! FIG 3

FIG 5

FIG 6

Now for the cups… 1. Place your cup upside down on the crepe/tissue paper and draw a circle about 1cm wider than the rim. Cut out the circle and make small criss-cross slits in the centre of the crepe paper. Paint your cups a deep dark colour. When they’re dry, draw on some cobwebs or other creepy patterns. FIG 4 4. Take your ghosts on their cardboard circles and tape the lollipop sticks to the cardboard. Pop your ghostson-sticks into their cups from above. (Tell them to prepare their scary face…) Glue the edges of your tissue circles to the inside rim of the cups. FIG 5 5. And voilarghh! You have a shroud of supernaturally cute treats ready to surprise lots of little monsters! FIG 6

We take great care in compiling our events guide, but check with the venues before you leave home just in case times or prices have changed since we went to print.

SHOWS 96 SHENLEY ROAD Borehamwood, WD6 1EB 01442 454000 www.96shenleyroad.co.uk The Captain Calamity: Adventures on Dragon Island 29 Oct – 11am & 2pm Meet the inhabitants of Dragon Island - including geckos, giant snails, fruit bats and tarantulas. But why is the Island on the brink of extinction? This show aims to educate children on how we can preserve our planet and its creatures. Cost: £8 THE OLD TOWN HALL High Street, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3AE 01442 228090 www.oldtownhall.co.uk Christopher’s Caterpillars 21 Sep – 2.30pm Bright and beautiful tale of minibeasts and mystery! Ages 2-7. Cost: £7.50 Once Upon A Time 1 Oct – 8pm Comedy fairy tale adventure bursting with physical comedy, absurd jokes and magical illusion. Ages 7+. Cost: £14.50. Concs £12.50 Hansel and Gretel 19 Oct – 2.30pm Colourful retelling of the classic fairy tale with knockyour-socks-off puppetry. Ages 3+. Cost: £7.50 BROADWAY THEATRE Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3DD 01462 681088 www.broadway-letchworth. com The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show 13 Oct – 1 & 3.30pm The timeless classic has made its way off the page and onto the stage. Cost: £14. Concs £12. Family £48 Monstersaurus 29 Oct – 3pm 30 Oct – 11am & 2pm Energetic show full of thrills, spills, magic and mayhem. With original music and audience participation! Ages 3+. Cost: £15. Concs £13. Family £52

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THE ALBAN ARENA Civic Centre, St Albans, AL1 3LD 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk Tabby McTat 19 Oct – 1.30 & 4pm 20 Oct – 11am & 2pm From the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Heartwarming tale of friendship and loyalty. Cost: £13 Milkshake Live! - Milkshake Monkey’s Musical 24 Oct – 12 & 3.30pm Learn songs and dances with your favourite Milkshake friends, and watch as the music, lights, costumes and stage come together. Cost: £16. Under 16s £14.50 GORDON CRAIG THEATRE Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk Robots Live 28 Sep – 3 & 6pm 29 Sep – 12 & 3.30pm Machines from TV’s Robot Wars ﬁght it out live! Cost: £17.50. Under 16s £16.50. Family £55 The Nutcracker 18 Oct – 2.30 & 7.30pm Russian State Ballet. With live orchestra. Cost: Matinee £31. Eve £38. Concs £2 off. Under 16s £24 Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever 26 & 27 Oct – 10am, 1 & 4pm New live show full of songs, games and laughter. Cost: £17/£19. Under 16s £15/£17. Family £62

Tabby McTat 27 Sep – 1.30pm (School show, may become available to the public) 28 & 29 Sep – 11am & 2pm From the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Cost: £14 Glastonbabies: Ibizababies 2019 28 & 29 Sep – 10.30am & 12.30pm Interactive show for under 6s and their families. Children will be up dancing and taking part. Adults encouraged to join in too! Cost: £7. Babes in Arms under 18 mths free 3 Little Pig Tails 28 Sep – 11am & 1pm Ages 3-7. Funny and interactive version of the classic three little pigs story, set in Paris. Ask questions and look at the puppets after the show. Cost: £9 Rumpelstiltskin & The Snail of Destiny 29 Sep – 11am & 1pm Theatre of Widdershins production for ages 4-11. Poor Polly Buckwheat, the Miller’s daughter, is in a bit of

What’s On a pickle! If she doesn’t turn a roomful of straw into gold by morning, the greedy King will turn a bit nasty. But should she accept the kind help of an eccentric dwarf? Cost: £9 Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors 17 Oct – 7pm 18 Oct – 10.30am (school show, any available seats will be released to the public 1 month before) 19 Oct – 7pm 20 Oct – 11am Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians 17 Oct – 1.30pm (school show, any available seats will be released to the public 1 month before) 18 Oct – 7pm 19 Oct – 2.30pm 20 Oct – 3pm Using actors and groundbreaking 3D special effects, historical ﬁgures and events come alive on stage and hover at your ﬁngertips! Ages 5+. Cost: £17.50. Under 14s £13.50. Family £58. Book Awful Egyptians and Terrible Tudors together for 10% off

HERTFORD THEATRE The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS 01992 531500 www.hertfordtheatre.com Close Up Magic 21 Sep & 19 Oct – 8pm Intimate evening of magic, trickery and sleight of hand with 3 different magicians each show. Ages 10+. Cost: £17.50 How Does This Politics Thing Work Then? 28 & 29 Sep – 4pm Politics is boring. Politics is complicated. Politics is for adults. Rubbish! Politics is actually super important and can be made really fun, if you know how. Ages 6+. Cost: £9 19

What’s On Oi Frog & Friends! 26 Oct – 11am & 3pm 27 Oct – 11am, 1pm & 3pm Adapted from the bestselling books. Ages 3-6. Cost: £13. Babes in Arms tickets (under 18 mths) free THE RADLETT CENTRE 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291 www.radlettcentre.co.uk Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show 21 Sep – 11am & 2pm Explore the strange and magical properties of matter! Cost: £12. Under 16s £10 The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show 4 Oct – 1.30 & 4pm 5 Oct – 10.30am & 1.30pm Features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets, faithfully adapting 4 of Eric Carle’s stories. Ages 2+. Cost: £14. Under 16s £13. Family £52 The Nutcracker 26 Oct – 2 & 5pm Vienna Festival Ballet. Cost: £22. Concs £20 Emily Rising 30 Oct – 11am & 2pm Ages 7+. Emily wakes up to ﬁnd that her feet can’t touch the ground. No one can understand why and her adventure is just beginning. Cost: £12 THE SPOTLIGHT High Street, Hoddesdon, EN11 8BE 01992 441946 www.broxbourne.gov.uk/ thespotlight

Big Fish, Little Fish Family Rave 12 Oct Theme: Mythical Beasts. Dragons, unicorns and phoenixes assemble! Relive your clubbing glory years. Kids can make myth-themed accessories then dance under glitter cannons, bubbles and a giant parachute. Cost: £10. Child £7 We Love Little Mix The Ultimate Little Mix Experience 28 Oct – 6pm Tribute act. Cost: £16 RHODES BISHOPS STORTFORD 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200 www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk The Tempest 10 Sep – 7pm Join this all-female troupe for a bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Expect riotous amounts of energy, chaos and laughter! Cost: £17.50. Concs £11.50 Sid’s Time to Play 21 Sep – 1.30pm Live games show featuring Sid from CBeebies Let’s Play. 45 mins plus meet and greet. Cost: £14.50. Concs £12.50. Family £50 Dear Zoo 19 Oct – 1.30 & 3.30pm 20 Oct – 11am & 2pm The timeless children’s book on stage, with childengaging puppets, music and audience interaction.

Ages 2+. Cost: £14. Family £51 Peace At Last 28 Oct – 2pm Based on Jill Murphy’s much-loved picture book. Performed in a new composition for 3 singers, with harp and woodwind. Ages 3-5. Cost: £10. Child £9.50. Family £32 Michael Morpurgo’s - I Believe in Unicorns 29 Oct – 2pm Intimate show set in a library full of books that hold more than stories within their pages. Performance includes a book swap - bring along a children’s book to swap (ages 6+). Cost: £14. Family £52 THE SANDPIT THEATRE The Ridgeway, St Albans, AL4 9NX 01727 799565 www.sandpittheatre.co.uk Goldilocks and the Three Bears Plus 29 Oct – 11.30am Comical story retold through a 6ft tall book complete with pop ups and props coming out of the book! Cost: £6. Concs £4 A Dragon’s Tale 31 Oct – 11am & 2pm Magical storytelling show based on the legend of the Lambton Worm. Exciting mix of puppets and music for ages 4+. Create a dragon puppet after the show (extra £1). Cost: £6. Concs £4

CAMPS, CLASSES & COURSES PERFORM Venues across Herts (including Bishops Stortford, Broxbourne, Harpenden Hertford, Hitchin, Potters Bar, Radlett, St Albans, Welwyn Garden City) 020 7255 9120 enquiries@ perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk Weekly drama, dance and singing classes. Conﬁdence-building fun for ages 4-12. . No obligation FREE trial sessions. MONKEY MUSIC Baldock, Hitchin & Welwyn 01462 626735 Baldock.hitchin@

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monkeymusic.co.uk www.monkeymusic.co.uk Age speciﬁc classes for babies of 3 months to rising 4 years. Baldock Community Centre: Fri Biggleswade, St Andrew’s Church Hall: Mon Knebworth, The Parish Centre: Mon Letchworth, The Mrs Howard Memorial Hall: Weds Stevenage, 360 Play (Free play too!): Tues Stotfold/Hitchin, Fairﬁeld Park Community Centre: Thurs Welwyn, First Scout Hut: Tues GORDON CRAIG THEATRE DRAMA CAMP Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk 28 Oct-1 Nov – 10am4pm (Fri 9am-12noon, performance 11am) Wicked themed. Ages 6-12. Drama, music, singing, dance and visual art activities. Devise and write a script. Perform for family & friends at the end of the week. Cost: £120 per week. Siblings & Drama Academy students £105 KOOL KIDZ CAMPS Sandridge Primary School, Woodcock Hill, Sandridge, St Albans, AL4 9EB 0845 603 2858 www.koolkidzgroup.co.uk 28 Oct-1 Nov Multi activity camp for ages 4-12. Art, sport and fun. Extended days available. Halloween party on Weds. Cost: From £17 for half day HORIZON SPORTS Harwood Hill School, Harwood Close, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 7AG www.horizonsportsltd.co.uk 28-31 Oct Half term camp for ages 5-12. Cost (early bird prices): Half day £9. Full day: £15.50. Extended day £20.50 COOKERYEATERY www.cookeryeatery.co.uk Holiday cookery camps featuring unique food

We take great care in compiling our events guide, but check with the venues before you leave home just in case times or prices have changed since we went to print.

adventures every day! Hitchin 28, 29 & 30 Oct Ages 4-11. Cost: £40 per day The Vege Centre, St. Christopher School, Letchworth, SG6 3JZ 31 Oct & 1 Nov Ages 8-16. Cost: £50 per day AFTERSKOOLERZ HOLIDAY CLUB Homerswood Primary School, Kirklands, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 7RF 07794 726687 www.afterskoolerz.co.uk 28 Oct-1 Nov Ages 4-11. Halloween arts & crafts; pumpkin hunt; Mummy race; fancy dress party; monster cooking and more! Cost: 8am-6.15pm £24. Half day (am or pm) £12. 8.45am-3.15pm £16 KIDZ KLUB HOLIDAY CLUB The John Warner Sports Centre, Stanstead Road, Hoddesdon, EN11 0QG 01992 445375 www.broxbourne.gov.uk/kidzklub 28 Oct-1 Nov Ofsted registered. For ages 4-12. Cost: £25.50 per day (or £21.50 advance). Half day £12.25. Early drop off & late pick up available LEARN TO CYCLE 01462 474838 www.activenorthherts.co.uk Balance Ability Course 1.15-1.45pm Christchurch, Hitchin Every Fri 20 Sep-25 Oct Baldock Community Centre Every Thurs 7 Nov-12 Dec Helps children (3+) gain conﬁdence and learn basic cycling skills, enabling a smoother transition to pedal bikes. Booking essential, bike and helmet required. Cost: £35 per child per 6-week course Learn to Cycle Lesson Avenue Park, Baldock

Music for under 5’s St Albans Come & participate in our unique blend of songs, rhymes, music & drama 07933 153054 abiticktock@yahoo.co.uk www.ticktockmusic.co.uk “Tick Tock is brilliant, the highlight of my children’s week” familiesonline.co.uk

What’s On

12 Sep Priory Gardens, Royston 28 Sep 1hr slots 9am-3.30pm Cost: £15 Cycle Conﬁdence Course King George V Playing Fields, Hitchin 28 Oct-1 Nov – 10am-12pm Cost: £35

www.redbournclassics.co.uk Redbourn Classics Motor Show & Village Fete 7 Sept – 12-5pm Classic vehicles. Live music and family entertainment. Go karts and children’s rides. BBQ and bar. Suggested donation: Adult £2. Family £5. Proceeds to local charities

DAISY BAKE Station Approach, Knebworth, SG3 6AT www.daisybake.co.uk

HARPENDEN PUBLIC HALLS Southdown Road, Harpenden, AL5 1PD 01582 767525 www.harpendenpublichallsco.uk Raver Tots 8 Sep – 3-5pm Family rave where kids and grownups hit the dance ﬂoor together! Cost (early bird): Adult (12+) £15. Child £10. Plus booking fee

Toddler Cooking Classes Every Tues, Weds, Thurs & Fri (term time) from 10 Sep A fun-ﬁlled hour of cooking and baking with your little ones (2 ½ to 4 yrs). With arts & crafts while the goodies are baking! Cost: £8 per session POLARIS WILDERNESS ADVENTURE Private woodland, Bayford SG13 8PH 07971 289604 www.polarisbushcraft.co.uk Family Bushcraft & Survival Weekend 25-27 Oct Fire lighting. Build a shelter. Source drinking water. Learn about the plants, trees and animals around you. Cost: £245 per adult & child. Adult & 2 children £295. Family of four £345 HERTS YOUNG MARINERS BASE Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, EN8 9AJ • 01992 628403 www.hymb.com 28 Oct-1 Nov Taster sessions for ages 8-17 in caving; climbing; sailing; kayaking; canoeing; raft building; bell boating; fencing, orienteering and archery. Cost: £10 a session. Full week £110 NCT BABY AND CHILD FIRST AID COURSES St Albans Fire Station, 153 London Road, St Albans, AL1 1TQ www.nct.org.uk/branches/st-albansand-district 21 Sep & 12 Oct – 10am-12.30pm or 1.30-4pm Build your conﬁdence as a parent/carer in dealing with emergency situations. Cost: £35 each or £60 per couple

PLACES TO GO REDBOURN COMMON Redbourn, AL3 7BU

PANSHANGER PARK Thieves Lane, Hertford, SG14 2WN www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk Going Batty 13 Sep – 7-9.30pm 20-min talk followed by a walk using bat detectors to listen out for these magical mammals. Free. Suggested donation £5 per person HERTFORD CASTLE Castle Street, Hertford, SG14 1HR 01992 552885 www.hertford.gov.uk Heritage Day 15 Sept – 12-4pm Medieval encampment, Viking battles, falconry displays, archery workshops and more. FREE, donations welcome HEARTWOOD FOREST Sandridge, AL4 9DQ www.downthewoods.org Forest School Stay & Play 9, 16, 23 & 30 Sep – 10am-12noon Games, activities and natural crafts for under 5s. Cost: £5 + VAT per child. Siblings under 18 mths free HENRY MOORE STUDIOS & GARDEN SG10 6EE www.henry-moore.org Halloween Activities 30 Oct – 1 Nov (11am-3pm) Drop into the art workshop and try out some of Henry Moore’s favourite drawing techniques – including wax resist drawing and brusho ink effects – to create Halloween and ﬁreworkthemed pictures. Make your own spooky spiders and enter a competition for the scariest Halloween mask.

Event, class or club to publicise? Secure your space on these pages with an ‘Enhanced’ yellow-box listing (booking includes social media promotion). Email editor@familiesherts.co.uk for more info. 21

What’s On HARPENDEN COMMON AL5 1QH www.harpenden.gov.uk Land Art 28 Sep – 2-4pm Come as a family and create art from items you can find in Brickle Dells. FREE ST PAUL’S WALDEN BURY Whitwell, Hitchin, SG4 8BP www.downthewoods.org Family Volunteer Days 21 Sep & 19 Oct Help grow and harvest food for the food banks, learn some skills and play in the beautiful walled garden. FREE FIR AND POND WOODS Coopers Lane Road, Potters Bar, EN6 4DG www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk Woodland Walk 29 Sep – 2.30-4.30pm Explore this little-known nature reserve with an expert tree identification guide. Free. Suggested donation £5 per person COURTYARD ARTS / HI-JINKS FESTIVAL Millbridge Rooms, The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PX www.courtyardarts.org.uk 28 Sep. Drop in 9.30am-3pm Tabby McTat Craft Sessions Have a PURRRfectly happy time making creative crafts! FREE. Donations welcome HATFIELD HOUSE Hatfield, AL9 5HX www.hatfield-house.co.uk CJ’s Birds of Prey Display & Flying Experience (Farm) 8 Sep - 11am-4pm Owls, hawks, falcons and an eagle. Cost: Normal farm admission applies. £6. Child £3.50. Under 3s free. Flying experience additional £5 Meet The Six Wives Of Henry VIII 29 Sep – 8am-5pm (Stable Yard) Find out what it was like to be married to one of history’s most infamous kings. Mucky Pup Fun Run 5 Oct – 9.30am-4pm (Hatfield Park) Family charity fun run (or walk!). Take on the two-mile course as a dog and human team, a dog and family team, or on your own/in a group without a dog. Cost: £20 (£10 if raise sponsorship money). Dogs & under 12s free Willow 10k 6 Oct (Hatfield Park) Annual race for beginners and experienced runners alike. Includes 5K and Junior 1K routes, plus a Tiny Tots Scamper. Cost: 10k £22.50, 15-17 yrs £12.50. 5k £15, 11-17 yrs £7.50. 1k (14 & under only) £5 22

Families Herts

BROADWAY STUDIO & GALLERY 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3EW 01462 476110 www.broadway-letchworth.com Family Arts Studio Drop in 10am-1pm 8 Sep: Watercolour & Wax 13 Oct: Creepy Creatures Hands-on craft activities led by professional artists, inspired by artworks in the Broadway Gallery. Ages 3+. FREE SHEPRETH WILDLIFE PARK Station Road, Shepreth, SG8 6PZ 01763 262226 www.sheprethwildlifepark.co.uk Red Panda Day 14 Sep – 10am-4pm Fun games, presentations, entertainers and special guests. Cost: Normal admission applies. Tesco vouchers not valid on event days HIGHFIELD PARK TRUST 01727 847242 www.highﬁeldparktrust.co.uk Bat Night Visitor Centre, Hill End Lane, St Albans, AL4 0RA 13 Sep – 7.15-8.30pm Following a short talk, search for bats with the parks’ bat detectors. Must book. Cost: £4 Apple Day Highﬁeld Park Centre, Russet Drive, St. Albans, AL4 0DB 6 Oct – 2-4pm Listen to a local band whilst indulging in homemade cake or play apple-based games such as apple bobbing and hunt the apple. FREE entry Bug Hunt Visitor Centre, Hill End Lane, St Albans, AL4 0RA 30 Oct – 10.30am-12.30pm Find wooden bugs hidden around the park and answer questions on the creepy habits of insects to win a prize. Ages 5-10. Cost: £3 TEWIN ORCHARD & HOPKYNS WOOD Upper Green Road, Tewin, AL6 0LZ www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk Apple Day 6 Oct - 12-4pm A celebration of all things apple! Includes children’s activities. FREE SHENLEY PARK Radlett Lane, Shenley, WD7 9DW www.shenleypark.co.uk Apple Day 20 Oct – 12-5pm

Unusual varieties of apple and juice to try and buy. Apple games, craft and produce stalls. Cost: Adult £3. Child £1. Under 3s free ST ALBANS CATHEDRAL AL1 1BY 01727 860780 www.stalbanscathedral.org Space Voyage 28 Oct-1 Nov Spectacular space-themed son-etlumiere in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing, illuminating the exterior and interior of the Cathedral. Cost (early booking rate): £6. Under 16s £4. Family of 5 £20 WARE TOWN QUAY Burgage Lane, Ware, SG12 9XD www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk Bats from the Boat River Cruise 30 Oct – 4.30-6.30pm Discover bats on this special sunset cruise along the River Lea. Cost: £15. Under 16s £8 SPOOKTACULAR Heritage Close, High Street St Albans, AL3 4EB www.enjoystalbans.com 31 Oct Facepainting, spooky characters, crafts, superheros and more! FREE HERTFORD MUSEUM 19 Bull Plain, Hertford, SG14 1DT 01992 582686 www.hertfordmuseum.org The Chief, The Missionary, His Wife & Her Brother Tues-Sat 10am-5pm until 2 Nov Exhibition. Discover the amazing father of the museum’s founders and their fascinating lives amongst the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, North Japan. FREE. Donations welcome Stay & Play 7 Sep & 5 Oct. Drop in 10am-4.30pm Play with traditional toys and get hands on with a family craft activity. FREE. Donations welcome Stores Open Day The Seed Warehouse, The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PX 14 Sep. Drop in 11am-3pm Go behind the scenes and discover how the Museum stores and cares for its vast and varied collection. With free family crafts. FREE. Donations welcome Half Term Activities 29-31 Oct. Drop in 10.30am-3.30pm (last entry 3pm) Family-friendly craft activities. Cost: £2.50 per child

We take great care in compiling our events guide, but check with the venues before you leave home just in case times or prices have changed since we went to print.

LOWEWOOD MUSEUM High Street, Hoddesdon, EN11 8BH 01992 445596 www.broxbourne.gov.uk

Toddler Thursdays 19 Sep & 24 Oct – 10-11am Fun, friendly session, helping your child develop school-ready skills through rhymes, stories and craft. Ages 2-4 (with adult, up to 2 toddlers per adult). Book in advance. Cost: £2 per child per session James Ward: The Great Animal Painter of his Time 21 Sep-25 Jan. Wed, Thus & Fri 10am4pm. Sat 10am-5pm Exhibition celebrating artist James Ward RA, commemorating 250 years since his birth. Featuring loans from the Tate and the Fitzwilliam Museum. Launch event on 21 Sep (11am – 4pm) includes animal-themed family activities. FREE Family Fun: Horse Craft 31 Oct. Drop in 12-3pm Fun family art & craft activities. Most suitable for ages 5-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: £2 per child BRITISH SCHOOLS MUSEUM 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin, SG4 9TS 01462 420144 www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk Dancing for Fun 29 Oct – 10am-12noon Maypole dancing and English country dancing for children aged 6+. Adult must stay. Book in advance. Cost: £3 per child. Includes light refreshments Rats, Bats and Cats Halloween Fun Day 31 Oct – 10am-12noon & 1-3pm Frighteningly fun crafty day for ages 4-11. Adult must stay. Booking recommended. Cost: £5 per child. Includes drink & biscuit PARADISE WILDLIFE PARK White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne, EN10 7QA 01992 470490 www.pwpark.com Cost (online price): £20.21. Child £17.86. Senior £16.92. Disabled incl carer £15.98. Under 2s free Grandparents Day 6 Oct Grandparents receive free entry with 1 familiesonline.co.uk

full paying child. Reptile Weekend 12 & 13 Oct Howl-o-ween 19 Oct-3 Nov Free wolf masks and pumpkin carving for children. Get up close with creepy crawly animals. Ghostly shows and games. Wolf Weekend 19 & 20 Oct WILLOWS ACTIVITY FARM Coursers Road, London Colney, St Albans, AL2 1BB 0870 129 9718 www.willowsactivityfarm.com Potato Shindig! 2-29 Sep Harvest your free bag of potatoes. Plus tattie-tastic potato arts & crafts! Pumpkin Festival 19 Oct-4 Nov Prizes for the best Halloween -themed fancy dress and for the best carved pumpkin in the Carving Cavern. Arts & crafts, Pumpkin Olympics, magic shows and all your Willows favourites. Cost (online price): Adult £18. Child £19. Senior £17. Disabled £11.50. Under 2s free THE MUSEUM STORTFORD Rhodes Arts Complex, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710 200 www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk Children’s Craft 26 Oct. Drop in 11am-3pm Celebrate 250 years of the Stort Navigation by creating a historic scene of your own. FREE Halloween Trail 28 Oct-2 Nov Under 10s. A ghostly group of Halloween horrors have taken up residence! Track them down and discover a hidden word. FREE Half Term Children’s Crafts 29-31 Oct. Drop in 11am-3pm Halloween doesn’t need to be scary! Create a fantastical fairy tale mask. FREE KNEBWORTH HOUSE SG3 6PY Pumpkin Trail and Treats 26-29 Oct – 12-4pm Games, activities, storytelling and fun competitions. Children can bring a pumpkin they’ve pre-decorated – daily prize for the best. Visitors encouraged to wear fancy dress (adults too!) Cost: Adult £3.75. Child £7.50. Nonparticipating under 3s free CAMPUS WEST Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6BX www.campuswest.co.uk

What’s On

Soft Play City Every day Baby, toddler and junior zones for ages 0-8. Café. Create & Play paper crafting sessions on Tues, Thurs & Fri 10.30am2pm (free with entry). Cost: Free-£5.75 (free Zebra Card gives up to 50% discount) Roller City Open Sat & Sun, 3 sessions a day. Every day in Oct half term Hertfordshire’s only purpose-built & award-winning roller skating rink. Under 10s must be with adult. Cost: £6.25-8.65 (free Zebra Card gives 15% discount) NCT BUMPS & BABIES Place House Hall, Bluecoat Yard, Ware, SG12 9HL Weds – 10-11am Coffee mornings for parents, parentsto-be and babies under 2 yrs. With free drop-in feeding support run by breastfeeding counsellor. Suggested donation £1.50 per family

NEARLY NEW SALES (Baby & Children’s Goods) NCT www.nct.org.uk/branches Presdales School, Hoe Lane, Ware, SG12 9NX 14 Sep – 11am-1pm (10.30am for NCT members) Kingshott School, Stevenage Road, Hitchin, SG4 7JX 28 Sep – 10am-12noon (10am for NCT mbrs) £1 entry (in aid of NCT charity) Onslow St. Audrey’s School, Old Rectory Drive, Hatﬁeld, AL10 8AB nns.welhat@nct.org.uk Facebook: @nctwelhat 12 Oct – 12.30-2pm (12noon NCT members) High quality, low cost clothes, shoes, prams, equipment, books, toys and games. Parking and light refreshments available. Debit/credit cards accepted. Bring your own bags! Admission £1 per adult CHEEKIMONKEYS www.cheekimonkeys.co.uk Ludwick Family Club, Hall Grove, Welwyn Garden City AL7 4PH 21 Sep – 11am-1pm FREE entry 23

Herts

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Ed Byrne- If I’m Honest…. Fri 11th Oct 8pm Tickets: £26 Hilarious brand-new masterclass in observational comedy!

Sing-A-Long-A The Greatest Showman Sat 19th Oct 2pm Tickets: £17, £13 child Sing along to the smash hit ﬁlm musical. A live host will guide you through your goody props bag. Fancy dress is encouraged!

A Tribute to Ariana Grande & JoJo Tues 29th Oct 6pm Tickets: £16 Tribute to these global popstars. Half term treat for the children!