Families Hertfordshire November/December 2021

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Herts

IN THIS ISSUE

Christmas Education Family life

November/December 2021

Familiesonline.co.uk

Familiesonline.co.uk November/December 1

Frosty Footsteps in Hatfield Park

It is not time to hibernate yet!

Enjoy an adventure in Hatfield Park.

Please visit the Hatfield Park website to find out more about what is taking place over Christmas, from wreath making to carol services there is a lot going on for all of the family.

For further details on tickets and opening times please visit www.hatfield-house.co.uk 2 November/December Familiesonline.co.uk

CONTENTS

Contact Us

Welcome

Tel: 07958284983 Editor: Dale Harry Email: editor@familiesherts.co.uk Web: www.familiesonline.co.uk

It’s time to start planning for Christmas!

/FamiliesHerts

In This Issue 4 11 12 18 19 21 21

Education Tween Christmas Part 1 Early Years Ladder Challenge Family Life Christmas Part 2

We have everything you need right here, from fun-tomake Christmas decorations and teachers’ gifts to Christmas recipes, games, gifts, songs, audiobooks and ideas to keep the kids busy on Christmas Eve.

We have some great treats for you in our Christmas Gift Giveaway too.

Don’t forget to apply! And sign up at familiesmag.co.uk/ go to receive every issue of this magazine free to your inbox.

Dale Find childcare in Hertfordshire

To find an Ofsted registered childcare provider near you and to enquire about spaces visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/childcaredirectory

Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

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Scan the QR code to find out more Familiesonline.co.uk

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In partnership with

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/fosterfamilies @hertfordshirefostering

@HCCFosterAdopt

November/December 3

EDUCATION

Finding the right tutor for your child

By Kate Hilpern Here’s some ideas of where to start.

Word of mouth. Asking around is the most effective and popular way to source good tutors. Parents whose children have just done the relevant exam, if that’s what you’re preparing for, are often the best source.

Your child’s school. Talk to your child’s teachers. They may be happy to help out a little outside school or know of other people who tutor.

Tutor agencies. While you are not getting a tutor recommended to you by someone you know, you can pick the one who seems most compatible and switch if it doesn’t work out.

Website agencies. Parents can interview or chat with as many potential tutors as they like before agreeing to start tutoring. Be aware, however, that there may be little support if things go wrong.

What questions should you ask a prospective tutor?

What is your educational background? Particularly in the subject they are teaching.

How much tutoring experience do you have? Are they fully up to date with the current curriculum?

4 November/December

How will you tell if you’re suited to tutoring my child? Do they adapt to children who might be very shy or boisterous?

What are your tutoring methods?

Is the work all done in the session?

Will there be additional homework?

What is your success rate? If they tutor for specific exams, do they achieve consistently good results?

What hours are you available and where do you tutor?

How long do you expect the tutoring to last? Do they teach fixed blocks or until everyone agrees the child is ready to ‘go solo?’

What are your fees? Any additional costs? Terms and conditions? Are materials and textbooks included?

What happens if either of you have to cancel a session?

Can you provide references and DBS records?

Kate Hilpern is from The Good Schools Guide, the leading impartial source of information on schools in the UK, helping parents with every aspect of choosing the best education for their children.

Familiesonline.co.uk

START YOUR RMS JOURNEY Register online at www.rmsforgirls.com before 3rd December 2021 Call the Admissions Department for further information about joining RMS for Girls.

RMS for Girls, Rickmansworth Park, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 4HF admissions@rmsforgirls.com | 01923 725354 | www.rmsforgirls.com | @rmsforgirls boarding and day school for girls aged 2 - 18

Sponsored Feature l i f e at

STANBOROUGH SECONDARY SCHOOL

Stanborough is a co-educational Independent Christian School, unique in its diverse pupil intake and personalised approach to teaching

ADMISSIONS OPEN 2021 Enrol now www.spsch.org ~ 01923 673268

They appreciate the school’s family atmosphere, and the wealth that lies in its' happy and well-balanced pupils.

including disadvantaged students and those with Specific Educational Needs. Many of our students arrive at Stanborough school below national expectation and leave having made outstanding progress – allowing for excellent GCSE results.

Small classes and excellent pastoral care enable us to challenge and support each individual in their learning and in building good interpersonal skills.

Our values of Excellence, Respect, Courage and Resilience enables young people to grow in confidence and their appreciation of each other.

Academic rigour is foundational for us at Stanborough. However, we are passionate about far more than this. We enjoy seeing young people understand their value, learn to honour and encourage others and contribute to the wider school community. Parents who choose to send their children to Stanborough recognise the school’s commitment to academic excellence, and value the school’s belief in intelligent moral values, and its outstanding pastoral care.

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Our philosophy, epitomised in our motto “God is the Master of our School”, has shaped many generations of families educated at Stanborough since 1919.

The school’s Christian roots make it welcoming to pupils of all faiths and backgrounds, from every corner of the world.

Kaz James Headteacher

Meet the Headteacher sessions every Tuesday at 9:30am.

Book here: www.spsch.org/meet-the-headteacher-2021

95%

Support towards tuition fees Small classes (9:1)

of our students achieved grade 4 in 5 or more of their GCSE's. We also achieved outstanding progress from entry to exit.

Boarding School

Family Atmosphere

Inclusive

Whilst our school is large enough to have some top-class facilities, we are sufficiently small for everyone to flourish as part of one big family.

We strongly support the principles of inclusion by ensuring that all children in the school – whatever their ability or disability, race, gender, or religion – are offered the same opportunities.

Approach

Stanborough School Stanborough Park, Watford

info@spsch.org 01923 673268

Hertfordshire, WD25 9JT United Kingdom

www.spsch.org

WHY STANBOROUGH?

We

teach a broad and balanced curriculum, catered to meet the needs of students from all backgrounds,

November/December 5

LOCKERS PARK

Body THERAPY

HYPERBARI C OXYGEN HYP

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HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment which enhances the body’s natural healing process by inhalation of 100% oxygen in a total body chamber, where atmospheric pressure is increased and controlled.

Positive effects of application: Helps boost immune system - Helps reduce inflammation - Positive impact to mental & physical wellbeing - Supports the body to detoxify - Enhances sport performance.

Some conditions supported are: ADD/ADHD, Alzheimer/Dementia, Anxiety/Depression, Helps healing process, Injury recovery, Pre/post-surgery recovery, Eczema/Psoriasis, Eye sight, Stroke, Heart attack, boost immune system, Lung conditions, Support cancer therapy and many more.....

TEMPLE Clinic Ellen House, 63 London Road, St. Albans Hertfordshire. AL1 1L J Phone No. 07889 759677 Email. bdytherapyhbot@hotmail.com

www.bdytherapy.co.uk

Join a Stay & Play Session Children and their parents are welcome to join a fun lesson and play time in our Pre-Prep and meet our Reception Teacher and Headmaster.

Regular Stay & Play Sessions throughout the year.

Visit lockerspark.co.uk to book.

Excellent results | Enthusiasm for life A purposefully small prep school for boys aged 4-13 | Boxmoor, Hertfordshire

The Owl Hut provides magical bespoke sleepover tents for boys and girls in the Hertfordshire area.

Currently offering 6 main themes, and special extras including personalised bottles, PJs, eye masks and themed party bags to complete a scintillating sleepover experience.

Contact: 07581216915, theowlhut@hotmail.com or via Facebook @theowlhutltd

ALL STAFF DBS CHECKED

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OPEN THIS HALF TERM AND ALL SUMMER Qualified & Experienced Staff Great Indoor & outdoor space Fun activities and crafts Non stop games and sports For all 4-11 year olds COVID secure bubbles Come and join the fun!

Tel: 07913 323608 replay5905@ntlworld.com 6 November/December

Now taking registrations

Sleepover Party Time!

Fun is an essential ingredient in all our nurseries where the care and education opportunities for each and every child are as extraordinary as our colleagues who provide them.

FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OPEN 7.30AM TO 6.30PM

T: 01707 392999 E: hertfordbarns.nursery@childbase.com Hertford Barns Day Nursery, Cole Green, Hertford, SG14 2NL T: 01582 792060 E: nurseryonthegreen.redbourn@childbase.com Nursery on the Green, South Common, Redbourn, Hertfordshire, AL3 7NG

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU www.childbasepartnership.com

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EDUCATION

Encouraging your child to become an independent learner

By Bradley Busch and Edward Watson As children get older and progress within the education system, how they manage their time and how efficiently and effectively they study independently becomes an ever-increasing premium skill. So, what does academic research tell us about how parents can help facilitate this?

Let’s look at three different but related techniques.

Introduce learners to effective goal setting. This must include Improving self-reflection. The more flexibility, short and long-term goals and enough challenge to maintain self-aware learners are, the more motivation. likely they are to manage potential distractions. Self-monitoring is READ MORE a skill that can be developed by encouraging children to ask themselves good questions, such as ‘how can I get better?’ and ‘where do I do my best work?’

Better time management. Left to their own devices, people tend to procrastinate. Some studies have found that seventy five per cent of students consider themselves procrastinators, with fifty per cent procrastinating regularly and to a level that is considered problematic.

Research suggests that most students are poor at estimating how long a task will take to complete, as they get distracted or face unexpected obstacles along the way. This is called ‘The Planning Fallacy.’ Find out more here.

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November/December 7

EDUCATION

DIY Christmas gifts for teachers Fabulously creative and low-cost presents that will excite your kids and delight their teachers.

Make Christmas brownies in a jar

Create origami bookmarks

Make a homemade candle

Make scented soap

Bake a bird feeder

Paint a Sharpie mug

Plant a succulent mini pot

Make a rice heat bag

Create a tissue paper vase

8 November/December

Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

What homework should my child get?

By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble Here’s our rough guide.

Reception. Formal homework is rarely set. However, children are likely to bring home first reading books. Listening to your child read is invaluable.

Years 1 and 2. One or two literacy or numeracy tasks weekly. Children should spend no longer than thirty minutes on each task. Daily reading with your child is essential.

Years 3 and 4. Most schools set two homework activities per week of up to forty five minutes each, typically, one literacy and one numeracy.

Years 5 and 6. Two or three pieces of homework weekly totalling approximately two hours per week, in preparation for SATs and transition to secondary school.

Top tips for homework support A quiet, designated homework area where everything they need is accessible.

A regular study time. Avoid late in the day. Encourage regular breaks.

Eliminate distractions. Ensure screens are off and out of reach.

Start with the hardest work first.

Then the rest of the work will feel easier!

Praise work and effort to encourage a positive response to homework.

Teach by example. Work at the same time in the same space, if possible.

Accept help, when needed, from YouTube videos, websites like Khan Academy or even tutors.

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Lisa and Catherine are cofounders of EmParenting, which works with schools and parents to strengthen children’s core qualities like kindness and offers insights and tools to nurture their development and wellbeing.

Enter our Christmas Gift Giveaway!

T&Cs apply Young Drivers Driving Experience

Silverstone Lap of Lights Experience

Brave Girls’ Book Club

Storytime magazine subscription

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November/December 9

EDUCATION

Things to know about class WhatsApp groups

By Claire Winter Love them or loathe them school class WhatsApp groups make it incredibly easy and quick to communicate with a community with common interests. But, as with most things, there are pros and cons!

Pros Messages from other parents act as a valuable reminder of the important that keyword will appear. things you were told in emails from your child’s school but have To respond to a specific message, forgotten. hold your finger on the screen over that message and click the Sub-groups are fabulous for backwards arrow. You’ll see the organising the dialogue and message you want to respond to mean you can easily be in touch appear in the chat box and you write with individual parents or groups your reply underneath. of parents with specific shared interests.

Getting overwhelmed by different chats in different groups? Decide Cons which groups are important and politely leave the rest.

Expect flurries of panicked, confused and last-minute threads!

Don’t use your class group like Not everybody in the class group your personal social media will always check email or previous pages and post irrelevant videos, threads. If you are getting confused photographs, memes, conspiracy yourself, always go back to the theories and articles. Or ask for official school correspondence. medical advice! This type of usage can cause tension.

Tips for using WhatsApp You can also mute notifications by To find information on a clicking the profile at the top and particularly topic quickly, press selecting mute if you don’t want to the three dots in the corner of your be constantly pinged all day. screen and click ‘search.’ Type in a keyword and messages that have 10 November/December

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TWEEN

Tween sleep habits

By Chris Skeat

It’s just as hard for tweens to get a good night’s sleep, as it is for their parents! Pre-teen/teen experts at wearetwixt offer tips on healthy sleep habits for this age group.

Children ages 10 to 12 years should get between nine hours fifteen minutes and nine hours forty five minutes of sleep a night (NHS). But, at puberty (on average, between 10-12 for girls and 12-16 for boys), children’s natural sleep patterns may start shifting.

Sleep is essential for forming and maintaining pathways in the brain that facilitate learning and create new memories but research shows we’re now having two hours less sleep a night than in the 1960s.

A key reason? The blue light from digital screens suppresses the body’s sleep hormone, melatonin, which helps us drift off.

bed the first week, building to sixty or ninety minutes.

How can bedtime routines and bedroom set ups also improve tween sleep?

READ MORE

Banish the blue-light According to a BBC survey, fifty seven per cent of the UK’s children sleep with their mobile phones by their bed and forty two percent of children always keep their phones with them, never turning them off.

But a pre-bedtime screen time cutoff and no access to technology in the bedroom is crucial for a good night’s sleep.

Switch off before bedtime Fifteen to twenty minutes before Familiesonline.co.uk

November/December 11

CHRISTMAS

Great Christmas gifts for kids Check out our Families gift guide for ideas that will inspire and excite your child - many without lots of packaging!

Brave Girls’ Book Club subscription box

Storytime magazine subscription

Baked In Junior Baking Club subscription box

Diverse stories & powerful protagonists.

Ages 7-12. £17 per month.

For story-loving kids!

Ages 4-11. From £38.99.

Child-friendly recipes for mini-bakers. Ages 5-11.

From £7.50 per month.

Young Driver driving lessons

Scamp & Dude superpower PJs

So Slime DIY Ice Cream Factory

Get behind the wheel for a memorable driving experience. Ages 4+.

PJs with Superpower Button! Boosts and comforts when most needed. From £28.

Keep active with XMOVE If you’re looking for a smartwatch that encourages kids to stay active then XMOVE from Xplora should certainly be on your shortlist.

12 November/December

Create three squishy slime ice creams - fluffy, icee and scented.

Ages 6+. £20.

The watch can measure a user’s heart rate, the duration and quality of sleep, and has a tailored sports mode which monitors activity during exercise.

It’s packed with great features and is available in black, petrol, grey and pink from Currys and the Xplora website (£49.99, www.myxplora.co.uk).

Familiesonline.co.uk

R-EA

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a full day out of festive family fun

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£

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P RICE

For full details, dates, prices and to book visit

willowsactivityfarm.com Willows Activity Farm, Coursers Road, London Colney, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0PF (Programme subject to change).

St Albans J22 M25

© Frederick Warne & Co. Limited and Silvergate PPL Limited 2021. All rights reserved. PB01827

CHRISTMAS

Christmas gift ideas for adults Eco-friendly, no-clutter and truly memory-making. Check out the Families guide to gift experiences for parents.

Silhouette sitting with Charles Burns Virtual sitting with the famous silhouettist of Royals/celebs. From £45.

WSET Level 1 Award in Wines

Give the gift of wine knowledge! Highlyregarded award, perfect for beginners.

Box 42 Uncharted Love Island box Tropical fun. Themed activities & Spotify playlist. From £31.99 per mth.

Books that Matter Silverstone driving Bloom & Wild book box experience letterbox flowers Thought-provoking and inspiring novel, plus feminist and bookish gifts. From £17 per mth.

Epsom Bakehouse bread making Learn to bake, online classes. Baguettes to brioche. From £19.99.

14 November/December

Huge range of letterbox bouquets delivered monthly for your giftee to curate.

Get behind the wheel of a single-seater race car or top of the range supercar. From £189.

Flying lesson

Fender Play guitar lessons

Learn how to pilot an aircraft in two amazing thirty minute lessons.

Legendary guitar brand with online platform.

Easy-to-follow lessons.

Familiesonline.co.uk

CHRISTMAS

Christmas audiobooks for the family Grab some blankets and mugs of hot chocolate and curl up to listen to these fabulous Christmas tales.

A Christmas Carol

Mog’s Christmas

A Season of Gifts

Enid Blyton’s Christmas Stories

A Boy Called Christmas

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Ages 6+ (2 hours & 44 minutes).

Ages 2+ (8 minutes).

Ages 9+ (3 hours & 50 minutes).

Ages 7+ (4 hours & 42 minutes).

Ages 9+ (4 hours & 26 minutes).

Ages 3+ (12 minutes).

Tumtum and Nutmeg’s Christmas Adventure

Mrs Claus and the Christmas Adventure

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Ages 3+ (1 hour & 26 minutes).

Familiesonline.co.uk

Ages 4+ (1 hour & 9 minutes).

Ages 8+ (1 hour & 26 minutes).

November/December 15

CHRISTMAS

Keeping kids busy on Christmas Eve Daytime

Evening

Bake some Christmas goodies.

Make gingerbread, shortbread cookies or cakes for everyone to enjoy.

Make handmade decorations.

Allow the kids to decorate their bedrooms with bunting or paper chains and make some lastminute items for the tree.

Feed the birds. Hang edible treats or a feeder in the garden so birds can have a Christmas dinner too.

Go ice-skating. Nothing more festive than visiting a local popup ice rink!

Attend a nativity service. Local churches often welcome all to their yearly, special celebration.

Do a local Christmas light tour.

Get some fresh air and check out the neighbourhood decorations.

Snuggle up. Have a pizza dinner, watch a film or read a Christmas story.

Go carol singing. Wrap up warm and treat neighbours to your angelic voices - keeping a safe distance, of course.

Enjoy a Christmas Eve box.

Great for relieving restlessness, if the budget allows. Source a board game or jigsaw from a charity shop and add new PJs, a Christmas decoration, mug, activity book and healthy snacks.

Don’t forget to leave a snack out for Santa and his reindeers!

Make wildlife-friendly reindeer food!

Make a great snack to help Santa’s reindeers keep going on Christmas Eve. It’s good for other wildlife too!

Check out this great reindeer food recipe from the RSPCA. READ MORE

16 November/December

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CHRISTMAS

Best family Christmas recipes For the best fun cooking and eating!

Kid-friendly fruit mince pies

Gingerbread men

Strawberry Santa pancakes

Snowman marshmallow pops

White Christmas crackles

Peanut butter cookie dough reindeers

Snowman pizza

Easy family Christmas nut roast

Cheese stars

Familiesonline.co.uk

November/December 17

EARLY YEARS

Improving your little one’s speech and language post-pandemic

By Joanne Jones Masks, social distancing, no parenting clubs or classes and no visitors to the house...that was the theme of the pandemic.

Consequently, children have had less experience of full faces, watched fewer mouths and played fewer turn-taking games such as ‘I smile, you smile’ with strangers.

Babies and toddlers acquire many of the skills involved in learning to talk from copying and reading facial expressions and copying mouth movements. So, post-pandemic, many parents report that their children are struggling to learn language or to use the words they already know in conversation.

together.

• Your child is not using ‘learned phrases’ to communicate.

• Your child is not chewing or only eating a limited diet and words are not being used.

If any of the above signs ring true for you, firstly, talk to your Health Visitor and ask about a referral to Speech Therapy.

Here are the key signs to look out for that might mean your young child would benefit from some extra Waiting times may be lengthy but help: there are things you can do to help • Your baby/toddler is not babbling your child make progress in the meantime. and making a variety of sounds.

• Your baby/toddler is not watching You are your child’s best teacher your face when you talk. and you can make up for their limited earlier experiences.

• Your baby/toddler is not developing their play abilities to Implement some of the following include a variety of skills. ideas.

• Your child is not using some words by 18 months old.

READ MORE • Your two year old is not combining two or more words 18 November/December

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EARLY YEARS

The Ladder Challenge

Help your child take on a difficult challenge – one step at a time! Download this activity and instructions to get started.

The Ladder Challenge Taking on a difficult challenge – one step at a time Instructions for use We face new challenges every day, and some can seem so big that we want to run in the opposite direction to avoid them!

The best thing to do to make a challenge less scary is to break it down into steps so you can build up the confidence to tackle it.

Look at the ladder on the next page to see how a big challenge can be broken down into simple steps.

Now use the empty ladder and write the thing you find most challenging at the top.

Next, think about what smaller steps you can take to reach your goal and write them on each step – ask your grownup to help if you like.

Building up your confidence with each step will equip you with the positive mindset needed to tackle any challenge.

The Ladder Challenge is an activity for children taken from The Happy Workbook: The Feel Good Activity Book by Imogen Harrison, published by Summersdale.

Final rehearsal the night before

Practise in front of your family

Sing song loudly on s way to sc the ho in the car ol Practise front of yoin grown-upur

Read alou on your owd n

DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR KIDS HERE!

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November/December 19

FAMILY LIFE

Become weight neutral!

It’s all too easy to talk about food and weight with and in front of our children in a way that may foster unhelpful attitudes towards body image and nutrition.

Do you use either of the comments below or similar?

Download our chart for some suggestions for alternative ways of thinking and speaking which may help foster more nurturing, mindful, conscious and intuitive eating habits and skills.

I can’t eat dessert because I’m on a diet.

Cakes and chocolate are bad for you.

Say This Nothing!

Swap these often used for others phrases Instead of Th is

Any comment about your ow child’s weight. n or another adu lt/ I wish I was ligh any thing that ter/heavier, had more muscl good bodies. rejects yours es…or or their body.

Being overwe ight is unheal All bodies are thy. different and worth looking after.

We have to los e weight to get I love moving happy. my body in new healthy and be and different ways. I nee d to exercise I’m not hungry more so I can for dessert rig eat treats. ht now.

I can’t eat des sert because Are you hungry I’m on a diet. in your head or in your tummy ?

You can only hav dinner. (Overr e dessert if you eat up all idin of moralising goo g hunger and fullness cue your s and d/bad/treat/hea guilt/virtue cyc lthy reinforces We can enjoy le). a cakes and cho and carrots and colate and pep pers grapes and app Cakes and cho le and banana colate are bad s… for you.

Did you know veggies can hel bodies do am azing things? p our brains and You must eat up your veggie s because the good for you. y are I’m hungry! a burger sounds nice today.

I’m going to be Let ’s get outsid bad and have a burger for lun e for some fre sh air. ch.

We need to go We’re not hav for a walk to bur ing n some calorie and yoghurt ins cake right now, we’re hav s. ing fruit We’re tead. not having cak e for snack, bec healthy. ause it’s not Our bodies are am azing! They’re change shape designed to many times as I wish I cou older. we grow up and get be big and ld lose the baby weight; boy s should strong!

Isn’t it wonde rfu kinds of faces l to have 7.5+ billion differe and bodies on nt Isn’t so-and-so the planet? (appearance really pretty, handsome, stro pra good/bad/bet ise reinforces stereotypes ng (to someone ter/worse)? and who has change d weight) However well How are you? inte will always hav ntioned… ‘weight change e praising an eat unknown impact , we cou praise’ ld ing condition or sim disorder, an underlying be health ply equating wo rth with body size.

Nothing!

All bodies are

With thanks to through intuit Nutriri, an organisation cre ive eating an ated by volun d movement for joy courses, teers to offer weight neutr al support, hypnotherapy 1:1 or in group s.

DOWNLOAD NOW! 20 November/December

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FAMILY LIFE

Living safely with a dog

Understanding under 5s

By Caroline Wilkinson

By Dr Sarah Mundy

For children, having a dog for a pet can provide so many social benefits - from having a ‘friend’ to share their worries with, to learning how to be caring and responsible. In fact, being around dogs has benefits for the whole family, with the household more likely to be physically active and suffer lower levels of stress.

One moment a young child can seem like a rational human being, the next, for no apparent reason, a little monster! How do we understand what’s going on for them?

To enjoy all the benefits, we need to ensure that children are helped to act safely around the dogs they live with. So how can we do this?

READ MORE

Our ability to understand our children, think about their feelings and experiences and hold their mental states in mind is ‘predictive of their child’s attachment relationships, ability to understand and manage their feelings and social and play skills’ (Fonagy et al, 2002).

READ MORE

Top tip for dog care Write a list of the daily jobs including feeding, providing water, grooming, providing social interaction, training and walking.

Assign a job to each family member.

It eases the load on you PLUS it gives everyone an opportunity to have a social relationship with your dog.

Familiesonline.co.uk

November/December 21

FAMILY LIFE

Overcoming racial bullying

Moving from two incomes to one

By Tamsy Ashman

By Steve Hennessy

Studies show that, recently, racial bullying has increased in schools. A poll of one thousand children aged 6 to 15 found about thirty two percent of children had heard someone be racist at school. (The Guardian, 2020). So what can we do to overcome racial bullying?

READ MORE

Only Mums & Dads support parents to make the best decisions for their family during separation/divorce. Their inbox indicates that one of the most common anxieties for a couple separating is transitioning from a two-income to a single-income household.

READ MORE

Travelling with children with different surnames

Enter our Christmas Gift Giveaway!

By Emma Newman

T&Cs apply

So Slime DIY Ice Cream Station

Planning to head abroad this year? Are you are a parent with a different surname to your child? If so, you may be required to prove that you are your child’s legal guardian. So what documentation do you need to take when you travel?

READ MORE 22 November/December

SnapWatch

Waboba Moon Ball

More gifts available

APPLY HERE Magazine

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CHRISTMAS

Make your own Christmas decorations Get the whole family in the mood for Christmas with a crafty decoration-making afternoon.

Lemon star biscuits

Button snowflake

DIY wrapping paper

Sugar charms

Christmas crackers

Glue string ball

Paper snowflake wreath

Paper Christmas tree decorations

Festive pine cone mouse

Familiesonline.co.uk

November/December 23

CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS

Christmas song sing-along Tunes to get the whole family busting their lungs and up and dancing!

Santa Shark

Underneath the tree

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer

Last Christmas

Frosty the Snowman

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

All I Want for Christmas is You

Merry Christmas Everybody

24 November/December

Familiesonline.co.uk

CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS

Christmas games for the family Some of the best fun at Christmas can be had playing games. Here’s our top seasonal picks.

Christmas song emoji guessing game

Christmas bingo

Outdoor Christmas scavenger hunt

Christmas charades

Christmas memory match

Christmas scent game

Candy cane fishing game

Who am I?

Pin the nose on the reindeer

Familiesonline.co.uk

November/December 25

CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS

What can I recycle after Christmas?

Christmas trees

Christmas cards

Cut, real Christmas trees: can be recycled and councils often have a specific collection for this.

Living Christmas trees: can be replanted for use next year.

Artificial Christmas trees: CANNOT be recycled. Reuse or give away.

Save to make into gift tags.

Cut into pieces for kids’ projects.

Or recycle BUT only AFTER cutting off any glitter, ribbons, foil, plastic and other unrecyclable elements.

MORE INFO

MORE INFO

Wrapping paper

Decorations

Plastic based or containing foil or glitter: CANNOT be recycled.

Plastic, glitter or glass: CANNOT be recycled. Reuse or donate to charity shops if in good condition.

Natural wreaths: compost if they have no glitter.

Fairy lights: CAN be recycled at household waste recycling centres.

MORE INFO

Other paper: scrunch into a ball. If it stays scrunched it can probably be recycled. Remove all sticky tape and decorations first.

AND check with your council as some won’t take it.

MORE INFO 26 November/December

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Enter our Christmas Gift Giveaway!

More details in the Gift Guide T&Cs apply

Young Drivers Driving Experience

Brave Girls’ Book Club 10 boxes available

2 le availab

Storytime magazine subscription

Silverstone Lap of Lights Experience

10 annual subscriptions available

SnapWatch

3 available

Familiesonline.co.uk

3 available

Waboba Moon Ball

5 available

APPLY HERE

So Slime DIY Ice Cream Station

3 available

November/December 27

Get a FREE CarGoSeat Car booster AND pull along case... in one!

Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools

dr ama singing dance H H E A L TF E T Y A S D AN OP OUR TITY R O PRI

School in:

Hemel EW VENUE! Hempstead N

Saturday Mornings at Adeyfield Academy 3–18 years

3 available

Other venues in Broxbourne, Harlow Potters Bar, St Albans Ware, Watford and many more...

T&Cs apply

APPLY HERE

TWO WEEK TRIAL AVAILABLE. BOOK NOW!

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Find your nearest school at: Jigsaw-arts.co.uk

Classes specifically for those with suspected or diagnosed additional needs

Imagine & Move Sensory movement classes using props, music and danceǦbased activities to improve social interaction and expand a child’s imagination. Suitable for children who need to improve their social skills and awareness of self and others. Age guidance 3-6. £4

Magic Movers

Creative dance classes using activities and routines to explore different dance styles and expand children’s confidence in performing. Perfect for those who love to dance and express themselves!

Age guidance 7+. £6.50 Hitchin Branch: Wednesdays Hertford Branch: Thursdays Westmill Community Centre Pioneer Hall (Zoo Café) John Barker Place, Hitchin, SG5 2PG Ware Road, Hertford, SG13 7DZ Imagine & Move: 4:00Ǧ4:30pm Imagine & Move: 3:45Ǧ4:15pm Magic Movers: 4:45Ǧ5:45pm Magic Movers: 4:15Ǧ5:00pm

info.imaginationarts@yahoo.com | 07394 934911 28 November/December

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