Families Hertfordshire July/August 2023 Print

Tel: 07958284983

Editor: Dale Harry

Email: editor@familiesherts.co.uk

Web: www.familiesonline.co.uk

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Hello!

Summer is finally here! And if you haven’t started planning fun things to do during the long summer school holidays, now is your chance.

We have loads of fabulous ‘boredom busting’ ideas for projects to keep the kids busy – many are low cost, free, educational – or even explore ways in which your kids can use technology constructively!

On page 6 we’ve got a feature on how to avoid kids experiencing the summer brain drain, and tips on ways to keep them mentally active. Getting involved in the fun, annual Summer Reading Challenge with libraries is one way of doing that.

Do an old fashioned day out this summer with a trip to the beach. Our feature on page 10 explores some of the best in the UK.

Meanwhile, there’s loads of inspiration for family fun on your doorstep this summer in our What’s On guide. It’s time to get out and about!

We have another Orchard Toys game giveaway. Apply at familiesmag.co.uk/go for the new bundles, and you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

Dale

Summer holiday and term-time fun with Perform

Perform are ensuring a fun-packed July and August with their Wizard of Oz drama, dance and singing holiday courses plus their first ever festival of children’s theatre, Perform in the Park (see listing on page 12).

Children can sing and dance down the yellow brick road with the Wizard of Oz. With colourful costumes, uplifting songs and dazzling dancing, children ages 4 to 10 will have fun as they bring this story to life. These five-day courses run across July and August from 10am to 3pm. Book online at perform.org.uk/wizard (St Albans). Perform’s term time classes are back in September and there’s no better time for your child to give Perform a try. Packed with self-esteem boosting activities, Perform’s weekly classes get the academic year off to a flying start with a fun and relaxed focus on developing confidence, communication, co-ordination and concentration.

Using a mix of drama, dance and singing, classes are designed to allow even the most reticent children to shine.

To try a free class in Broxbourne, Harpenden, Hertford, Hitchin, Knebworth, Letchworth, Radlett, Royston, St Albans, or Welwyn Garden City go to twww.perform.org.uk/try

Celtic Harmony nominated for awards

Celtic Harmony Camp, the outdoor prehistory settlement, has been nominated for two prestigious awards: the Best Education/ Learning Team of the Year at the School Travel awards, and the Best Family Attraction at the Muddy Stiletto Awards 2023.

‘We’re delighted to have been nominated for these awards. It is wonderful for all the hard work of our education team, volunteers and supporters to be recognised,’ said Clare Holt, CEO of Celtic Harmony.

The School Travel award recognises a team of people at attractions and providers who have pulled out all the stops to ensure school groups have memorable experiences. Wellrespected website Muddy Stiletto said the standard of entries was exceptionally high. If you’re interested in escaping to another time and a slower more natural pace with your family, then you’ll want to check out the Family Prehistory Adventure at Celtic Harmony Camp, and other experiences it has to offer - celticharmony.org/daysout.

Exciting line-up for Standon Calling festival

Hertfordshire’s much-loved family festival returns this summer and has a programme of events that will delight – live music, performances, entertainment shows and more.

Set in beautiful Hertfordshire countryside this family-friendly music and arts extravaganza takes place 20-23 July with an enviable line up of artists.

The stage will be lit up by Years & Years, Self Esteem, Bloc Party and The Human League, alongside Anastacia, Confidence Man, Dylan, Squid, Katy B, KT Tunstall, Melanie C, Bob Vylan, Sad Night Dynamite, Lynks, and others.

Festival veterans, The Flying Seagull Project, a joyous troupe of circus performers are set to spread love, light and laughter to the animated crowd, as they deliver a programme jam-packed with exciting theatre productions, circus skills workshops, comedy shows especially for children. Kids Rave On will also be bringing a family-friendly rave experience and The Hip-Hop Academy will be on the scene for tweens and teens, offering workshops in street dance, graffiti, beat box, live beat production, lyric writing, DJ Skills and junk bling. Guest talks and workshops on body positivity, singing and poetry will also feature.

TV comedy double act Dick and Dom are back again battling it out behind the decks, and the popular dog show returns for a second year.

There’s lots more going on at the Standon Calling festival. For full line up and tickets go to standon-calling.com

The value of performing arts

The performing arts is a wide and vibrant industry including theatre, music, dance, film making and more. With its many facets, performing arts can open up a world of possibility for young people to develop and grow in an environment that is safe and supportive.

Be Confident: Confidence is fundamental to a young person’s development; it enables them to try new things and succeed and fail in a safe environment. Performing arts helps young people build confidence as they practice routines, perform in front of fellow students, family and friends, and receive and act on feedback.

Be Creative: Whether learning a dance routine, acting in a play, or pitching a film idea, the performing arts gives young people an opportunity to use their imagination and express themselves. Flexing their creative muscles allows young people to think outside the box and find creative solutions to problems they encounter.

Be Connected: There are very few industries that rely on teamwork as much as the performing arts. Whether they are rehearsing, performing, or filming, performing arts allows young

people to connect with others who share their passion.

The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts believes that performing arts can have a huge, positive impact on the lives of young people. Every week, students learn new skills and make new friends though three core modules; Comedy & Drama, Film & Television and Musical Theatre. Through the ethos of ‘Be Yourself, Be Amazing’ students have the confidence to put themselves out there, the creativity to think differently and the community to feel supported whilst doing so.

For more info visit: www.pqacademy.com

Exciting stories at the Festival of Archaeology

The UK’s biggest archaeological event, the Festival of Archaeology will be running from 15 to 30 July and this year’s theme is Archaeology and Creativity.

Archaeology is about storytelling and archaeologists use creative practices such as art, music, creative writing, poetry and theatre to bring to life the material we uncover and the stories of the places and people around us. Through nationwide digital and onsite events, archaeological experts will help families discover how their local landscape has changed and shaped to become what it is now, as well as discover exciting stories about their local community. Join educational guided walks, listen to talks, get involved with exciting archaeological excavations, or join digitally online through social media and discover more about your local area.

For more info visit: www.archaeologyuk.org/festival.html

Would

Bill’s St Albans has just turned 10, and to celebrate they’re offering a family meal for 4 people (worth £100)!

A lot can happen in 10 years, and today Bill’s (which was born out of a small greengrocery in Lewes, East Sussex), vows to keep it colourful day in, day out. Bringing something to the table for everyone, whether it’s all-day brunch (available every day) for those brunch enthusiasts, to daily bottomless pancakes (available between 3-5pm), or seasonal specials and set menu

dinners for those wanting to try something new.

Also at Bill’s, you can enjoy dog-friendly dining and happy hour in the sun sitting on the terrace. Not forgetting the little ones, kids can get creative with their food with a pancake parlour between 3-5pm, or enjoy a delicious two course kids’ meal with their grown-ups.

HOW TO ENTER

To be in with a chance of winning the family meal, just answer the following question correctly:

Q: How old has Bill’s St Albans turned this year?

Email your answer, nae and contact details to edior@familiesherts. co.uk. Closing date is 16 August. Terms and conditions at bit. ly/434N6UO.

We are currently recruiting hosts who can offer a spare bedroom, three meals per day and the required lessons and activities.

in touch to find

out

Preventing summer brain drain

By Jemma Z Smith

Summer holidays are fabulous but all too often the return to school in September can come as a bit of a shock to the system. How do you spell that word again? What’s that fractions rule? The feeling of forgetting everything is really common (for adults too!).

Here are some fun activities you can do over the long summer break to keep everyone’s minds in tip top condition and just as sharp as in term time.

Times table bingo

This can be a really good way of practising your times tables. There are lots of free and downloadable resources out there but essentially all you need is paper, pencils and perhaps a times table square that you can refer to.

While you’re in the maths zone, try making up dice games. For example, start with three or more dice and set challenges: can you roll a number higher than… an even number, a prime number or a number in a certain times table. The possibilities are endless. Assign points to the winner and make it as competitive as you wish!

Kim’s game

This is a popular memory game that you can play anywhere. Find ten objects and place them on a tray or picnic blanket. Everyone has a good look, then all but one person closes their eyes and an item is silently removed. Can the kids remember what has been taken? For variation, cover the tray and everyone has to try to remember the whole list of ten objects.

Story stones

This is a lovely, artistic way of keeping the kids’ imaginations and creativity firing. Firstly, you need to go on a walk and find some smooth pebbles suitable for painting on. The idea is then that each stone is used to paint a different section of a story. Acrylic paint or permanent markers are the best to decorate stones. The kids can even act out the story later.

Lights, camera, action!

Feeling dramatic? Encourage the kids to become a news broadcaster for the day! They can take on the role of a character and choose something that they want to talk about. Will it be scary or funny? Who will be the interviewee, the director, camera person and lighting technician? Then, of course, they will need to prepare a timed script and practise speaking clearly in front of an attentive audience.

Combining activities

Turn a long walk into a treasure hunt. There are lots of downloadable online activities or you could make your own. Ideas include finding items which begin with a certain letter, a particular shape or colour.

Rainy days call for some baking – and some maths too! Can your child work out the correct ingredient amounts for a delicious recipe? How much more is needed to halve or double the number of buns?

Going on holiday? There are always lots of anagrams, sudoku puzzles and crosswords which will make long car journeys go much more quickly. These can be especially helpful for 11+ practice as they help to build up a rich vocabulary, help with verbal reasoning type activities and keep maths skills strong. Don’t forget board games. Counting steps on a board, rolling doubles, working with money in Monopoly and keeping score all keep children’s maths brains sharp. Filling a Scrabble board exercises word skills. Just make sure you have some good snacks at the ready to keep everyone happy when the competition gets fierce!

The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children ages 4 to 11 to read six library books during the long summer holiday and collect rewards, such as stickers, on their way to receiving their Challenge certificate and medal.

The theme for this year is Ready, Set, Read! and the Challenge is being delivered in partnership with national children’s charity The Youth Sport Trust and public libraries.

This year, the Challenge aims to keep children’s minds and bodies active over the summer break, empowering young people to forge new connections with others and unleash the power of play, sport and physical activity through reading.

Children can sign up for free with a library card at any Hertfordshire library. Last year Hertfordshire Libraries had over 16,000 children take part in the challenge, which continues through to September.

Jemma Z Smith is Director of The Education Hotel, www.educationhotel.co.uk

Visual processing: what parents need to know

By Usha Patel

‘My son’s Educational Psychologist Report revealed he has visual processing problems. I am so confused because I take him to the optician regularly and they never mentioned any problems.’

Parents are often baffled when they learn things are not as they seem where their child’s eyes are concerned. Opticians will check your child’s eye health and how well their eyes work in terms of taking in visual data – and maybe prescribe glasses –but this is only half the story. The other half of how vision works is how our brains interpret what we see.

What is visual processing and how does it affect learning?

Visual processing is an umbrella term for several activities that our eyes and brain must perform together. The success of these activities is fundamental to learning as they affect reading, copying and understanding what is being read.

The brain, the eyes and their muscles all need to work together. An optician does not test for this, so it may be that visual processing problems come to light in other ways. As parents, there are many indicators you can look for.

If your child cannot move their eyes smoothly across a horizontal line of a script when reading or vertically when calculating column sums, it could be that they have a tracking difficulty.

If your child cannot successfully move and focus from one word onto the next, this could be a fixation issue. They may re-read, go back or skip forward when reading a sentence.

If both eyes do not work well as a team to form one picture, then your child may have binocular visual difficulties; often these children see double.

If your child has difficulties throwing and catching a ball, these are also related to reading tasks. The eyes need to converge on one focal point when the ball comes nearer and then diverge as it moves away. Convergence is also needed for close reading and for the ability to hold that position when reading over a longer period. Divergence is needed when reading from the whiteboard; both are needed if they are copying from the board.

Those children with a poor field of vision can only focus on one item at a time and may find it a challenge to see a line of text. In play situations, they also may not notice who is around them.

If your child continues to confuse letters such as ‘b’ and ‘d’ or misreads words such as ‘spot’ and ‘stop’ beyond the developmental phase (after age 6), then this would be considered visual-perceptual difficulties.

Undetected visual processing difficulties can hinder learning by slowing down how quickly visual information is absorbed and understood. Parents with children with special education needs (SEN) can learn a lot by watching their child read.

What help is available?

Infinity-Walk and Primitive Reflex Integration Therapy can help children with one or a number of those problems mentioned above.

It takes around six weeks to stop children from reversing their letters; once they are sure of the letter direction they can read with less difficulty.

Using one-to-one therapy combined with tried and tested phonics programmes, such as Alpha to Omega helps make changes to how children process visual information in as a little as twelve weeks.

Usha Patel is a neurocognitive therapist at Raviv Practice London. For more information, including about Infinity-Walk and Primitive Reflex Integration Therapy, visit www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk

Duck or Rabbit?

There are several famous and fascinating examples of visual processing which you may have seen already. The duck which can also be seen as a rabbit is one example of this (see above). Another example is the young woman who is also an old woman. It might take you a minute to see both images. Our brain can interpret the lines of an image differently, depending on how you focus your attention, and this is your brain using visual processing to make sense of what you see.

Visual processing problems

Look out for:

Tracking problems, resulting in slow reading speed. Difficulties throwing and catching a ball.

Feeling tired or exhausted when reading and even falling asleep because the eye muscles cannot hold that position for long periods.

Reading one or two words at a time and not easily linking the words to form a flowing sentence.

Being unsure of what sound letters need to produce because your child sees them in reverse or out of sequence.

What the new childcare proposals mean for you

By Anna Letouze

There was good news for parents in this year’s Spring Budget when it was announced that the government will be extending funded childcare. This funding extension will mean that by September 2025 working parents of children over nine months and up to five years will be entitled to thirty hours free childcare per week.

As any working parent knows, paying for childcare before the existing funding for three-year-olds kicks in can be financially crippling. That the government acknowledges this struggle is a big step forward for families.

This policy has the power to help more parents back to work and improve the quality of family life with increased income. However, it’s important to acknowledge that when you look more closely at the policy, there is a risk that it could potentially exacerbate existing issues in the childcare system.

Unfortunately, the childcare system has not received full government funding to support the ‘free’ childcare places for children ages 2 to 4 that it introduced some years ago. In response, nurseries have had no option but to increase fees to meet the shortfall, resulting in the cost of childcare increasing for many parents.

Simultaneously, the running costs for childcare providers have skyrocketed and they have been closing en masse; over five thousand in the past year alone.

Again, funding for the government’s ambitious new plans for children ages 1 and 2 is estimated by the CBI to be half of what it will cost to implement, which will likely result in more closures, more competition and higher fees. Currently, the maths just doesn’t add up.

From April 2024, all 2-year-olds will be eligible for fifteen hours of free childcare. From 2025, children aged nine months and above will be eligible for thirty free hours

The reason for the delay is that the dwindling number of providers couldn’t cope with a sudden increase in demand. Even with the longer lead time, many providers still won’t be

able to afford to offer the required places. This may leave some parents in the same situation of not being able to access their entitlement.

If your child is going to be eligible for free hours under the proposed changes, get ahead now and check with your local providers to ask whether they are going to be offering free hours for 2-year-olds. If they are, you may need to put your child on a waiting list because, as things stand, there may be a lot of competition for places.

In the meantime, there are other things you can do to lighten the load. First, make sure you’re claiming all the benefits you’re eligible for. If you are a working parent and not currently claiming financial support, start with the government’s online benefits calculator at www.gov.uk.

It’s also worth researching any other sources of support you may be able to access. The Cost of Living Support on the Working Families website (www.workingfamilies.org.uk) is a good start point.

You could also consider requesting flexible working. Everyone has the right to make a request once in a role for twenty-six weeks.

Currently employers are not obliged to consider it, so prepare the groundwork to put forward a strong case. Head to the Working Families website for advice and free resources on the best way to make a request.

Anna Letouze writes on behalf of Working Families (www.workingfamilies.org.uk), the UK’s national charity for working parents and carers.

Flexible Working Bill

Flex is becoming an everyday part of our working lives and the upcoming Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill will facilitate flex for many more parents and carers who need it.

If it is passed later this year, the bill will make requesting flexible working a right from day one, permit two requests a year, reduce the processing time, remove the requirement to explain how a proposed arrangement will work and require a consultation between employee and employer should the request be rejected.

Find your flex

Flex comes in all shapes and sizes. Hybrid or remote working, reduced or compressed hours, changing start and finish times, flexitime, job share; the list goes on.

If we start thinking of roles as comprising different tasks there is often an element of flexibility in when and how we can complete those tasks.

There’s no one way to work flexibly; instead, it is best achieved with a solution that is tailored both to your needs and the needs of your employer.

Explore top family beaches in UK

By Andrew Campbell

Pack the buckets, spades and picnic gear and head to one of these gorgeous beaches for an old-fashioned family day out. Each of the beaches in our list received a 2022 Blue Flag Award, international recognition of excellent water quality and safety and have seasonal lifeguard services alongside parking, toilets and food outlets.

Woolacombe, North Devon

The three mile sandy beach is popular with families looking for a traditional seaside experience. There’s a surf school, kayaking, kitesurfing and walking trails. Rockpools, burrows, a fun theme park, ice-cream kiosks, eateries and public toilets are nearby. Three large car parks offer space for three thousand cars.

A Victorian seaside resort with an iconic pier and a mix of sand and shingle, the town maintains much of its original charm. Popular activities include building sandcastles, swimming, water sports and rock pooling at low tide. Beach facilities include toilets, shops, food stands and a cliff top car park with beach access.

Cromer, Norfolk Scarborough North Bay, Yorkshire

Despite its popularity, this quintessential British seaside resort has retained much of its charm. The North Bay beach is quieter than neighbouring South Bay. The long, sandy beach is backed by sea defences, an esplanade, hills and cliffs. Brightly coloured beach huts are available to hire with crazy golf, surfing and toilets on offer. Parking is a short walk from the beach.

Burntisland Beach, Fife

Southwold, Suffolk

With its colourful beach huts, pier, lighthouse, model boating pond, shingle beach and beach groynes, Southwold offers plenty of old-fashioned seaside charm. The recently refurbished pier has loads of attractions and amenities including toilets. The beach is a quick walk to the town centre and a short promenade to the harbour area. A large car park is nearby.

Llangrannog Beach, Wales

A family-friendly ‘village beach,’ this sheltered sandy bay offers a great selection of traditional pub food, cafes or homemade ice cream at the beach cafe. As well as being ideal for all the usual seaside activities, the beach is popular for water sports, including surfing and for viewing dolphins out at sea. Parking and ‘park and ride’ available and toilets in the village.

St Ives, Cornwall

St Ives boasts six sandy beaches close to its bustling centre but Porthmeor is arguably the premier for older children who can enjoy the waves, alongside a beachside cafe and toilets. For younger children, Porthgwidden offers a sheltered sun trap with calmer waters, cafe and toilets but has no lifeguard service. Limited parking is available for both. Consider parking in St Erth and taking the short and spectacular train ride to St Ives.

Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire

A traditional seaside holiday resort with long, firm, flat golden sand beaches and donkey rides, funfair, paddle boating, crazy golf, bicycle hire and more. Events are held regularly on the beach, including sandcastle contests, fireworks, bike racing and illuminations switch-on. The promenade has cafés, toilets and beach supplies. Car park runs parallel to the beach.

The stretch of sand and rock beach overlooking the Firth of Forth has loads to appeal to families. When you tire of sandcastle building, there are rockpools to explore; and a short stroll away, the Seaside Park has crazy golf, bouncy castle and an annual summer fairground. Amenities include toilets and picnic tables, with parking for five hundred cars.

Cool stuff for kids to do this summer

Have fun on a budget

Summer is the perfect season to enjoy the great outdoors.

However, it can be a challenge to find fun and affordable activities. Luckily, there are some options that won’t break the bank.

Check out local summer events, starting with our What’s On pages.

There are often free or low cost events held by local councils that can be both informative and entertaining, plus free-toenter festivals and museums.

Embrace the digital world

Have a garden campout

Pitch a tent in your garden and plan to spend the night under the stars with lots of pillows, story books, torches and snacks. Kids will love the sense of freedom, you’ll save money and it’s not far to ‘go home’ if they change their minds!

Have a day at the beach

Kids can enjoy building sandcastles, paddling in the sea and exploring rock pools. Getting there can be cheaper with a railcard or a coach. You can make it all part of the adventure.

Are you looking for some fun and interactive ways to keep your kids entertained while also embracing the digital world? There are lots of options to choose from; just remember to set a timer and stick to it.

For starters, look for coding games or apps that can teach the basics of programming. Or try language learning. Duolingo (www.duolingo.com) has launched two new apps for children; Duolingo ABC for learning to read and Duolingo Kids which teaches Spanish, French and English. Both are free.

Another engaging activity for kids is creating their own videos. With the rise of YouTube and social media, they can use their creativity to make their own videos and share them with friends. By supervising where they post their videos, this activity can also be a lesson in online safety.

Finally, for those who love gaming, there are plenty of cool options. From Minecraft to Roblox, these games encourage kids to use their imaginations in creating their own worlds and adventures. Plus they boost their problem-solving skills.

Get smarter

One great educational activity for the summer is to start a mini garden. Kids can learn about the science of plants and how to care for them while getting their hands dirty in the process. They can plant vegetables, herbs or flowers and watch them grow throughout the summer.

Plan a day out to a local museum or science park. Many of these venues offer summer activities specifically for kids, where they can learn about history, science and art. These programmes often include hands-on activities and experiments that make learning fun and engaging.

Another cost-free activity is to visit your local library. Many branches have free activity sessions for young children, including this year’s rewards-packed Summer Reading Challenge (www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk).

Plan a fun rainy-day quiz to test their powers of observation. For example: how many windows do we have in our home, what is next door’s dog called, which duvet is on your bed this week, what day do the binmen come? Ask them to set a quiz for you as well!

Play on a shoestring

Playday is the national day for play in the UK and will take place this year on Wednesday, 2 August.

Playday is an annual celebration of children’s play with thousands of children and families playing outside at events across the UK. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of play in children’s lives and the need for quality play opportunities every day of the year.

This year’s theme focuses on the everyday low-cost or no-cost play adventures that children can enjoy at home, in settings and in our communities.

Play opportunities don’t need to involve expensive activities, costly toys or trips to far-off destinations. It is often the simplest ideas, the free and found opportunities, which offer the most fun and are the most developmentally beneficial for children and young people.

Find a nearby Playday event by visiting www.playday.org.uk

What’s On

Places to Go

Pick your Own at Graveley Fruit Farm – daily Hitchin, SG4 7EH www.graveleystrawberries.co.uk

Pick your own fruit and enjoy the play area, café, go-karts, crazy golf and jumping pillow. Tractor and trailer rides are available most weekends.

Willows Activity Farm

St Albans, AL4 0PF 0333 3312060 www. willowsactivityfarm.com

The daily programme includes adventure play, funfair, tractor rides, farm animals, indoor soft play and more.

M Festival at The Marlborough Science Academy – 1 July St Albans, AL1 2QA www.mfestival.co.uk

As well as great live music, there’ll be food, drink and family activities including fun-fair, soft-play zone, climbing wall, circus workshop and more! 1pm to 11pm.

Splodgers Arts and Crafts at Hatfield House – Wednesdays Hatfield, AL9 5NF timeforsplodgers@gmail.com

Arts, crafts and messy-play sessions for under 5s. 10am10.50am and 11am-11.50am. £5.50 per child. £3.50 sibling.

Summer Museum Trail at South Mill Arts – to 31 Aug

Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200 www.southmillarts. co.uk

Be a museum explorer and pick up your free trail sheets. Aimed at children aged 5 to 10. FREE.

Toddler Tuesday: Summer

Sunshine at Hertford Museum

– 4 July

Hertford, SG14 1DT www.hertfordmuseum.org

Crafts, singing, stories and fun for the Under 4s, booking essential. £4 per child, includes a drink and snack. 10.30am to 11.45am.

Story Time at South Mill Arts – 5 July

Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200 www.southmillarts.co.uk

Enjoy a story, songs and some colouring or craft. FREE, Drop-in. 10am.

Highland Gathering at Rothamsted Park – 9 July

Harpenden, AL5 2LX www.harpenden.gov.uk

Enjoy traditional Scottish Highland games, marching pipe bands, dancing, stage performances, arena displays and children’s activities. 11am to 4.30pm.

STANDON CALLING

Standon, SG11 1EE www.standon-calling.com

21-24 Jul

The biggest music festival in the Herts calendar! Entertainment for all ages including Dick & Dom, The Flying Seagull Project, outdoor swimming pool and dog show. Mortimer Nannies are on hand to ensure the ultimate family festival experience. Comedy, and incredible music from Years & Years, Self Esteem, Bloc Party and The Human League, alongside Anastacia, Katy B, KT Tunstall, Melanie C, Sad Night Dynamite, Lynks, Groove Armada, The Cuban Brothers and others. See website for tickets and further details.

Museum Minis at St Albans

Museum and Gallery – 10 July and 14 Aug

St Albans, AL1 3DH 01727 864 511 www. stalbansmuseums.org.uk

Classic Ibiza – 19 Aug

Hatfield House, AL9 5NB www.classicibiza.co.uk

An open-air celebration of White Isle-inspired house music, reinvented by the Urban Soul Orchestra, live vocalists and headline DJs. Starts with a chillout set where you can enjoy your picnics, or dance along as the sun fades. One classic dance track will follow another in a magical, alfresco celebration, with accompanying lasers.

Enjoy a story, craft activities and a museum hunt, inspired by a popular story. Suitable for ages 2-4 years. 1pm-2pm and 2pm3pm. £5 per child.

Great British Food Festival at Knebworth House – 15 and 16 July

Stevenage, SG1 2AX 01438 812661 www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com/ knebworth

Expect amazing artisan producers, scrumptious street food, brilliant bars and live entertainment.

Celtic Harmony Brickenden Lane, Brickenden, SG13 8NY

www.celticharmony.org

Family Prehistory Adventure

21 July – 6 Aug

Escape the everyday on a Family Prehistory Adventure, a 2-night 3-day getaway available from Tuesday to Thursday or Friday to Sunday from 21 July to 4 August. Sleep in your own roundhouse with all modern comforts and relax as a chef prepares all your meals. Enjoy activities such as pottery and archery, then in the evening watch the sun set behind the roundhouses.

Community Fete at Kinsbourne

Common – 15 July Harpenden, AL5 3QE

www.harpenden.gov.uk

Barbeque, afternoon tea, bar selling fizz and local beers, cakes, beat the goalie, toys, games and more! 12pm to 3pm.

Family Arts at The Broadway Gallery – 15 July and 12 August Letchworth www.broadway-gallery.com

Take the little ones along on the second Saturday of each month for fun family workshops led by local creatives. 10am-11am and 1pm-2pm.

Folk by the Oak at Hatfield Park – 16 July

Hatfield, AL9 5NQ www.folkbytheoak.com

All the fun of a festival without the need to camp, particularly convenient for families with young children.

Summer Evenings at the Zoo at Paradise Wildlife Park – 21 July to 19 August

Broxbourne, EN10 7QA 01992 470490 www.pwpark.com

A memorable night of live acoustic music, wildlife stilt walkers, walking hedges, drummers, drink vendors, food trucks and more. Every Friday and Saturday. 6.30pm to 9.30pm.

East Herts Miniature Railway

Summer Gala at Van Hage Garden Centre – 22 and 23 July Great Amwell, SG12 9RP www.ehmr.org.uk

Rides are £1 each and money raised goes to charity at this volunteer run family event.

Teddy Bears Picnic at Hertford Castle – 23 July

Hertford, SG14 1PX www.hertford.gov.uk

Pack your picnic basket and

bring along your favourite teddy for a day of fun and adventure at Hertford Castle. 12pm to 4pm.

Miniature Garden Workshop at Standalone Farm – 24 to 28 July

Letchworth Garden City, SG6 4JN www.standalonefarm.com

Little ones will fill a tray with items from the garden to create their own mini garden to take home and proudly nurture. Suitable for ages 4+.

Relax Like Victorians at South Mill Arts – 25 to 27 July

Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG www.southmillarts.co.uk

Experience life as a Victorian. Dress up for a photo, try out the original 3D viewers and make a spinning picture toy. Drop in between 10am and 2pm. £1 per child.

Family Fun Activities at Hertford Museum – 25 July to 24 August (Tues, Weds, Thurs only)

Hertford, SG14 1DT www.hertfordmuseum.org

Drop in and take part in arts and crafts at the museum this summer. £3.50 per child. All ages welcome.

Hatfield Community Fair in Hatfield Town Centre – 27 July Hatfield, AL10 0JJ https://one.welhat.gov.uk/events

Meet and find out about various organisations offering services across the borough and enjoy free activities and entertainment for everyone. FREE, 11am to 4pm.

Perform in the Park – 22 July to 28 August

A magical festival of children’s theatre in the heart of London. Four fantastic musicals for children aged 2-14, plus evening events for teens.

Set in a pop-up tent in Coram’s Fields WC1N 1DN, families can also enjoy the park with widel awns and wonderful play areas. Bring a picnic or enjoy the charming all-day café.

Tickets start at £14.50. Visit performinthepark.uk for more information and to book tickets.

Tots Tales at Verulamium Museum

St Albans, AL3 4SW

www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

Enjoy a story, craft activities and a museum hunt, inspired by a popular story. For ages 2 - 4 years, 10.30am-11.30am and 1.15pm-2.15pm. £5 per child.

compiling

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

Farmers Market at Little Hadham

Primary School – 29 July and 26 August

Little Hadham, SG11 2DX www.littlehadhamfarmersmarket. co.uk

Promoting the best of local produce. 9am to 11.30am.

Harpenden Farmers Market –30 July and 27 August

Harpenden, AL5 2RU www.enjoystalbans.com/listing/ farmers-market/

Expect to find local specialities, mouth-watering cheeses, seasonal fruit and vegetables, top quality meat, freshly baked cakes, locally hand-crafted goods and more. 10am to 2pm.

The Wizard of Oz at Hatfield House – 31 July Hatfield, AL9 5ER 01707 287000 www.hatfield-house. co.uk

Immersion Theatre presents a fantastic treat for all the family, with lashings of audience participation. 1.30pm to 4pm.

Creepy Critters at Standalone Farm – 31 July to 4 August

Letchworth Garden City, SG6 4JN 01462 686775 www.standalonefarm.com

Get up close to some creepy crawlies and amazing wildlife. Suitable for ages 5 years +.

Story Time - Mr Bear takes his family on holiday at South Mill Arts – 2 August

Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200 www.southmillarts.co.uk

Storytime at the Museum. Enjoy a story, songs and some colouring or craft. FREE, Drop-in. 10am.

Teddy Bears Picnic at Rothamsted Park – 2 August Harpenden, AL5 2LX www.harpenden.gov.uk

Expect soft play, face painting, circus skills, arts and crafts and Harpenden’s very own Teddy Bears’ Hospital. FREE, 11am to 2pm.

YOGA

Arty Mornings at Artskool –every Tuesday in August Welwyn Village, AL6 9ER

www.artskool-kids.com

An exciting Arty morning with structured art activities including drawing, painting, clay modelling and fun games. £16 per child or 2 for £30. Ages 4-11 years. 10am to 12pm.

Outdoor Performance of Alice in Wonderland at Shaw’s Corner –6 August Welwyn, AL6 9BX 01438 821968

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

A production full of fun and laughter and bound to make even the smallest member of your family not want to leave Wonderland! 5pm to 6.30pm.

Space Dome at Standalone Farm – 7 to 11 August

Letchworth Garden City, SG6 4JN 01462 686775

www.standalonefarm.com

Enter the dome and take an up-close educational voyage into space, where little ones will learn about the universe. Suitable for ages 4-7 years.

Big Wild Sleepout at RSPB Rye Meads – 11 and 19 August Ware, SG12 8JS www.rspb.org.uk

The Big Wild Sleep Out is a unique opportunity for families to spend a night out in the wild!

Forest School at Standalone Farm – 14 to 18 August

Letchworth Garden City, SG6 4JN 01462 686775

www.standalonefarm.com

A one-hour session of fun-filled forest activities, including making mini animal dens, story time, creating your own clay hedgehog and a safari in the woods. Suitable for 3 years +

Open Air Cinema: Sing 2 and Maverick at Hertford Castle – 18 August Hertford, SG14 1PX www.hertford.gov.uk

Safe and comfortable setting for children over 5 to practice yoga, mindfulness & meditation. Children have fun learning about themselves, and build confidence as they go.

Based in Hertfordshire

One-to-ones

Workshops and events

Mindfulness in schools

Weekly classes

Two films are scheduled: a daytime showing, perfect for the family, and then an evening showing, perfect for a gathering of friends or a special date night. 2pm – Sing 2. 7pm - Top Gun: Maverick.

John Lawson’s Circus at Van Hage Garden Centre –19 to 28 August

Great Amwell, SG12 9RP

www.johnlawsonscircus.co.uk

This enthralling fun-filled show is a great family experience not to be missed. 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

The Jungle Book Show at Standalone Farm –21 to 25 August

Letchworth Garden City, SG6 4JN 01462 686775

www.standalonefarm.com

Jellyfish Theatre’s take on the classic story of Mowgli and how he grows up in the jungle befriending animals.

Play Like a Victorian at South Mill Arts – 22 to 24 August Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200

www.southmillarts.co.uk

Try out Victorian toys and make some for yourself. Drop in between 10am and 2pm. £1 per child.

The Wizard of Oz Garden Theatre at Knebworth House – 24 August

Stevenage, SG1 2AX 01438 812661

www.knebworthhouse.com

A magical family show guaranteed to have you in stitches, performed in the open-air on the Sunken Lawn. Picnics, chairs and blankets are welcome. 5.15pm to 8pm.

Summer Fun-fair at Harpenden

Common – 24 to 28 August Harpenden, AL5 2JF

www.harpenden.gov.uk

Join the fun on Harpenden Common with the return of exciting rides and fairground stalls. 1pm to 9pm.

Music in the Park at Rothamsted Park – 26 August

Harpenden, AL5 2LX

www.harpenden.gov.uk

Enjoy an afternoon of fantastic music. Bring your picnic and deck chairs or make the most of the delicious food and drink stalls. FREE. 12pm to 4pm.

Classic Motor Show at Knebworth House – 27 to 28 August

Stevenage, SG1 2AX 01438 812661

www.knebworthhouse.com

Hundreds of classic and collectable vehicles, plus children’s entertainment, live music, hot food, and shopping stalls.

Summer Family Entertainment at Campus West

Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6BX

www.campuswest.co.uk

Discover Welwyn Garden City’s premier family entertainment destination at Campus West throughout July and August. Enjoy movies, soft play, roller skating, bouncy castles, and Humphrey’s café lounge. Sign-up for Zebra Discount and enjoy up to 50% off.

Theatre

KT Academy’s Summer Showcase at Sandpit Theatre –1 July St Albans, AL4 9NX 0113 2243732

www.sandpittheatre.co.uk

With a variety of styles and skills, the children of KT Academy have put on a fantastic showcase for you all to enjoy! 12.15pm.

Encore - Sting Performing Arts at South Mill Arts – 1 July

Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200

www.southmillarts.co.uk

A production from Sting students. Expect a showcase full of dance, drama, singing and musical theatre numbers from the best loved musicals. 12.30pm and 4.30pm.

NCH Presents: Return to the Stage at Gordon Craig Theatre

– 2 July

Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200

www.gordon-craig.co.uk

North Central Herts School of Dance presents this entertaining variety show packed with ballet, tap, modern, jazz, street dance and more. 1pm and 5pm.

Supreme Dance at Sandpit Theatre – 2 July

St Albans, AL4 9NX 0113 2243732

www.sandpittheatre.co.uk

Students of Supreme Dance present an unforgettable evening of mesmerizing dances. 2pm and 6pm.

Iconic’s Greatest Show at Wyllyotts Theatre – 2 July

Potters Bar, EN6 2HN 01707 645005

www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk

A modern twist of the P. T. Barnum story including pop songs and street dance, as well as those well-known musical theatre numbers. 4.30pm.

Matilda Jr at The Radlett Centre

– 2 and 3 July

Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291

www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Candice Conway Theatre School presents Matilda Jr – The Musical.

St Michael’s Folk Evening at St Michael’s Village – 5 July St Albans, AL3 4SH

www.stmichaelsfolkevening.otg. uk

Bellringers, Morris dancers, Maypole dancing and a ukulele band will entertain and the fun continues with live music, food and drink. 7.15pm.

Molly Vickers School of Dance Summer Showcase at Gordon Craig Theatre – 6 and 7 July

Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200

www.gordon-craig.co.uk

Big hits from musicals such as: Hairspray, Copacabana, Mary Poppins, Jersey Boys and Matilda! 7pm.

Helen O’Grady Drama Academy

Showcase at Gordon Craig Theatre – 8 to 15 July

Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200

www.gordon-craig.co.uk

Nine separate, fabulous showcases from children aged 4 to 18.

Honk! at Sandpit Theatre – 9 July

St Albans, AL4 9NX 0113 2243732

www.sandpittheatre.co.uk

Honk! is a delightful adaptation of a beloved fable, The Ugly Duckling. 1pm and 6pm.

The Snail and the Whale at The Radlett Centre – 10 and 11 July Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291 www.radlettcentre.co.uk

A play with music inspired by the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Olaf Falafal’s Super Stupid Show at Old Town Hall – 15 July Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3AE www.oldtownhall.co.uk

Join comedian and children’s author Olaf Falafel for an hour of kid’s comedy. 11.30am and 2pm. Ages 4+.

KBD Dance Summer Show at South Mill Arts – 15 and 16 July Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200

www.southmillarts.co.uk

The students of KBD Dance will be showcasing a range of dance styles including commercial, contemporary, jazz, lyrical and heels.

The Great British Dance off at Sandpit Theatre – 16 July St Albans, AL4 9NX 0113 2243732

www.sandpittheatre.co.uk

AG Dance presents their annual Showcase. Enjoy a variety of dances performed to songs made popular by top British artists. 12.30pm.

Identity Dance: Shine Bright

Like a Diamond at Gordon Craig Theatre – 16 July

Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, SG1 1LZ

01438 363200

www.gordon-craig.co.uk

Students will be performing a mix of styles including ballet, tap, street dance and modern jazz. 2.30pm.

Danceworks: Let’s Dance at Gordon Craig Theatre – 23 July

Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, SG1 1LZ

01438 363200

www.gordon-craig.co.uk

Inspired by Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes and featuring glorious costumes, amazing dancing and stunning video projections, this exquisite classical ballet is loved by adults and kids alike. 7.30pm.

Summertime Radlett at Phillimore Recreation Ground – 31 July and 21 August

Gills Hill, WD7 8AL

www.parkevents.co.uk

Inflatables, soft play, bubble display, food & drink, sports games as well as shows from Captain Calamity and Jolly Jodie. 10.30am to 1.40pm, FREE.

Milkshake Live at The Radlett

Centre – 2 August

Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291

www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Milkshake Monkey is back and can’t wait to put on a spectacular new show, joined by some of his favourite Milkshake friends. 11am and 2.30pm.

Top Secret: The Magic of Science at The Radlett Centre –4 August

Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291

www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Hold on to your seats as the Radlett Centre is transformed into a real-life science laboratory and lots of unbelievable “how did they do that!” moments. 2pm.

The Tiger who Came to Tea at The Radlett Centre – 7 to 9 August

Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291

www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award nominated smash hit show, The Tiger Who Came to Tea returns on tour.

Fireman Sam at Wyllyotts Theatre – 17 August

Potters Bar, EN6 2HN 01707 645005

www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk

Join Sam and the gang for an all singing, dancing, action packed show. You can become a firefighter cadet and then watch the magic of the circus. 12pm.

Fun in the Park at Various Locations – 21 to 23 August www.parkevents.com

Oakmere Park, Potters Bar –21 August Meadow Park, Borehamwood22 August

King George Rec, Bushey –23 August

A day of inflatables and games. Suitable for children aged 2+. 12pm to 4pm, FREE.

Sarah and Duck’s Big Top Birthday at The Radlett Centre –23 August

Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291

www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Packed full of puppetry, storytelling and music, for the whole family! 1.30pm and 4pm.

Pop Princesses at The Radlett Centre – 25 August

Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291

www.radlettcentre.co.uk

This is the children’s pop concert with a big difference. A musical spectacular starring four fabulous fairy tale princesses who just love to sing! 2pm.

Cirque - The Greatest Show at Gordon Craig Theatre – 30 and 31 August

Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200

www.gordon-craig.co.uk

Featuring showstoppers from everyone’s favourite West End hits, combined with breath-taking, amazing aerialists, incredible contortionists and more. Fun for all the family.

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain at South Mill Arts – 30 and 31 August

Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200

www.southmillarts.co.uk

Barmy Britain is back with the hit West End show, full of crazy new characters and rude new rulers from Britain’s barmy past! 1.30pm and 4.30pm.

Clubs, Classes

Gymboree

St Albans, 01727 831551

www.gymbo.co.uk

Offering sensory classes for babies, baby massage courses, play and learn classes for little ones on the move, plus art, music, messy play and theatre arts for ages up to 5 years old.

Penny Waterman School of Dance St Albans, 01727 858632

www.pennywaterman.com

Classes designed to help develop children’s physical skills, stamina, creativity, expression and musicality.

Andy Nugent’s Academy of Martial Arts

Stevenage, 07709279481

www.andynugent.com

From 5 years old. Martial arts and education in many other aspects of life.

Little Voices Performing Arts

Kings Langley, Welwyn

www.littlevoices.org.uk

Fun and inspiring drama and singing lessons for children aged 4 to 18 years.

Mini Mozart

Datchworth, Harpenden, Hertford, Hitchin, St Albans, Welwyn, 0207 1931983

www.minimozart.com

Fun, interactive music classes for babies and toddlers featuring professional musicians. Ages 0-4 years.

Mini Athletics

Cheshunt, Hatfield, Hertford, St Albans, Welwyn.

www.miniathletics.com

A fun way to get children aged from walkers to 5 years active and help with their early learning development.

Finding Voices

Harpenden, St Albans 07900 301375

www.findingvoices.co.uk

Speech and drama classes for the budding actor and those just wanting to gain confidence in speaking. 6 to 18 years.

Baby Ballers

Bishops Stortford, CM23 5LH 07596345275

www.babyballers.com

Football and child development sporting activities for girls and boys. Ages from 16 months to 5 years.

Holiday Clubs

Junior Fitness Summer Camp at Healthy U Gym – Monday, Wednesday and Friday during school holidays

www.healthyugym.com

Monday: St Alberts the Great Primary School, Hemel Hempstead HP3 8DW

Wednesday & Friday: Healthy U Ladies Gym, Hemel Hempstead HP3 8EN

Monday - Girls Football, Wednesday - Jump Juniors, Friday - Multi-sports.  Ages 7-15 years. £25 per day. 10am to 3pm.

Holiday Art Camp at ArtShed –24 July to 18 August

St Albans and Harpenden www.shedloadsoffun.com

Book one or more days of fun holiday camps with a different drawing and painting project each day. Ages 6 to 13.

Musical Theatre Workshop at The Radlett Centre – 24 to 28 July and 14 to 18 August

Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 857 546 www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Join professional actors, directors and musical directors for some theatre fun based on a well-known musical. Ages 8-18 years. 9.30am-

Camp Beaumont – 24 July to 25 August

Berkhamsted, St Albans, Elstree 01603 851000

www.campbeaumont.co.uk

The multi-activity holiday day camps provide fun-filled, exhilarating experiences for 3–16-year-olds.

FunFest Holiday Camp – 24 July to 25 August

St Albans 07767 877198 Harpenden 01582 369000 www.fun-fest.co.uk

An exciting range of holiday club activities, with sessions ranging from Mission Impossible and Sports Action to Cupcake Heaven and Crafty Creations.

Re:play Holiday Club – 24 July to 25 August St Albans 07913 323608 Replay5905@ntlworld.com Lots of fun activities and crafts, indoor and outdoor space. Ages 4 – 11.

Happy Days Holiday Club – 24 July to 25 August

Stevenage 07883 511319

Providing a friendly, fun and safe environment together with highquality childcare for all pupils aged 3-13. 8am to 6pm.

Premier Education Holiday camps – 24 July to 25 August Bushey, Cheshunt, Hitchin, St

Welwyn. www.premier-education.com/ holiday-camps

Get kids active, introduce new and exciting activities and create a fun-filled experience they will remember forever.

Rising Stars Wrap Around Holiday Clubs - 24 July to 25 August Hitchin, Stevenage, Stortford and Welwyn 01462 790152

www.risingstars-wraparound.co.uk Activities include trampolining, inflatables, team games and gymnastics as well as creative activities.

SuperCamps Holiday Club24 July to 25 August

Hertford, Hitchin and Rickmansworth 01235 467300

www.supercamps.co.uk

Fun and diverse indoor and outdoor activities for children aged 4 to 14.

Mad Science Holiday Camp –24 July to 25 August

Hemel Hempstead, Hitchin, St Albans, Welwyn, AL8 6JZ www.madscience.org

Campers will build, discover, learn and play with gooey potions, messages written in secret code, robots, rockets, catapults & more.

Summer Workshops at Trestle School of Drama – 31 July to 4

August

St Albans, AL4 0JQ

Two-week workshops of exciting drama and games. Myths of the Sea for Ages 11 – 14 and Pirates of the Seven Seas for Ages 5 – 10. 9am to 4pm each day.

Other Listings

NCT Events – www.nct.org.uk

NCT Royston and Villages

Breastfeeding Drop In – 7, 14 and 21 July

56 High Street, Royston, SG8 9AW

Offering evidence-based, parentcentred and non-judgemental support with feeding your baby. 10am to 12pm.

NCT North Herts Baby First Aid Course – 30 July

111 Walsworth Road, Hitchin, SG4 9SP

This 2-hour baby first aid course covers CPR, choking, bumps, burns, bleeding, febrile seizures, meningitis and sepsis awareness. 10am to 12pm.

Becoming Dad - Creswick Family Centre – 15 July Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4FL Email: fathers@oneymca.org

Becoming Dad is an inclusive workshop for new and expectant fathers to help them to connect with and understand their babies’ needs. 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Fireman Sam – Saves the Circus

Thurs 17th Aug 12pm & 3.30pm

Tickets: £18, £17 child, Family of 4 £66

Join Sam, Penny, Elvis, Station Officer Steele and Norman in an all singing, dancing, action packed show.

SIX: Teen Edition

Thurs 24th Aug – Sat 26th Aug 7pm

Sat Mat 3pm • Tickets: £15

This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over. This is a non-professional production by ELODS.

Priscilla Queen of the Disaster

Thurs 5th Oct 7.30pm • Tickets: £15

A heart-wrenching, side-splitting, laugh-and-crya-minute, one-woman comedy/drama show. An incredibly honest and frank true story about the realities of parenting, all told by mother and natural storyteller, Susie.