Families Hertfordshire March/April 2024 Print

Hello!

Is there a touch of spring in the air? If not quite yet, then definitely very soon. It’s time to come out of hibernation and re-embrace the great outdoors as nature comes back to live.

To help you do that, we have some fabulous walks from our friends at The Outdoor Guide (www.theoutdoorguide.co.uk) as well as some great nature activities you can use to motivate your kids to enjoy walking! And make sure you get out your calendar, go through our What’s On section and make a plan to enjoy some of the great events and activities going on locally, including some fun Easter events.

We also have some fabulous articles about education in this issue, including how to help your child develop a positive attitude to learning. Discover more about Auditory Processing Disorder. And, no longer a child but not yet a teenager, our parenting feature looks at facing tween challenges.

Finally, in this issue, we have Sea Monkeys prize bundles to giveaway!

Apply for six inside. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

Dale

Editor: Dale Harry Tel: 07958284983

Email: editor@familiesherts.co.uk

Web: www.familiesonline.co.uk

/FamiliesHerts

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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Call Dale Harry on 07958284983

The all new Hertfordshire Zoo

Family activities at Chiltern Open Air Museum

This Easter there is lots to do at Chiltern Open Air Museum. A new willow sculpture trail highlights the animals and nature on site from the sheepdog working the flock of sheep, the heron looking for his lunch in the pond, to the deer exploring the woodland.

There is a new immersive exhibition showing a collection of 3D images captured on site. An Easter trail exploring different types of bird eggs will also help keep the kids entertained.

Chiltern Open Air Museum in Buckinghamshire, is an outdoor museum with a collection of historic buildings spanning 2000 years of history offering a captivating journey through time. From ancient structures to more recent additions, each building tells a unique story, contributing to the museum’s rich tapestry of history.

A fabulous day out that has something for the whole family. Visit www.coam.org.uk for full details.

New Code Ninjas centre opening locally

Code Ninjas – the people bringing computer coding to the kids – are launching a new centre at The Marlowes in Hemel Hempstead.

Code Ninjas is an exciting and innovative tech club that equips kids with vital computer science skills. Kids build their creativity, resilience, and problem-solving in a safe, collaborative and fun environment.

Digital technology is driving extraordinary global changes that some are calling the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The proven, proprietary curriculum from Code Ninjas has been developed by their US Education team in partnership with Microsoft®. This same curriculum is delivered in over 400 Code Ninjas locations from California to Borehamwood, Welwyn… and now Hemel Hempstead! Visit www.codeninjas.co.uk for more information.

It’s ‘Time’ for British Science Week

British Science Week is a ten day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths which takes place from 8 to 17 March and will mark its 30th anniversary. This year’s theme is ‘Time.’ Time is key to so many discoveries in science, technology, engineering and maths. From evolution, to lifecycles and computer chips, the understanding and measurement of time is important for the development of scientific learning and innovation. During British Science week, fantastic events and activities takie place across the UK on a huge range of topics at a wide range of venues, including community groups, cultural centres and museums.

In addition, a range of FREE activity packs (including Early Years and Primary) and other resources can be downloaded for fun activities at home.

To find a local event and download an activity pack, visit www.britishscienceweek.org

WIN a family ticket to the Easter Dragon Quest at Celtic Harmony Camp

Two lucky families have the chance to grab a free family ticket to the Easter Dragon Quest!

This four-day event challenges the family to find dragon eggs hidden around the magical woodland of Celtic Harmony Camp in Brickendon, near Hertford.

After this fiery twist on the traditional Easter egg hunt, visitors will also have the chance to make their own clay dragon Easter egg, weave a Brighid’s Eye and listen to Celtic stories around the fire, and much more!

With a cafe on site offering hot food and alcoholic beverages, the Easter Dragon Quest is the perfect way to re-wild the family this Easter break, with everything you need for a fun and memorable day out. Running from 8th12th April during the Easter holidays. More information at www.celticharmony.org/easter-days-out

To be in with a chance of winning one of 2 family tickets (up to 5 people per family ticket, worth up to £187) to Easter Dragon Quest at Celtic Harmony Camp enter your details online at https://bit.ly/2yOamhB. Closing date March 28th, 2024. T&Cs at bit.ly/42KPUIq.

Classic Ibiza supporting Herts Young Homeless

The team at Classic Ibiza continue to do their bit for local charities, and will once again be raising funds for Herts Young Homeless (hyh) at Hatfield House on Saturday 17 August.

The 2023 tour raised a total of £21,000 for charity, with over £2,300 of this going to hyh. This year they hope to raise even more money by giving concert-goers the opportunity to make a voluntary donation when they purchase their tickets from the website.

Classic Ibiza is an open-air celebration of White Isleinspired house music, reinvented by a 32-piece Urban Soul Orchestra, headline DJs and live vocalists.

Herts Young Homeless work with 16-24 year olds who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness and those aged 10-15 whose families are at risk of relationship breakdown. Their services empower young people to be able to deal with the difficult situations in their lives.

information about Classic Ibiza.

David Evans Photography

Is it ever okay to… shout at your child?

By Ellie Malt

Parenting norms change over time. For example, in 2024 most parents would agree that hitting your child is unacceptable. Has shouting gone the same way? Or is it okay to express your frustration by raising your voice? If you shout but wish you didn’t, here are some tips to help you keep your cool. But first, two different mums share their perspectives.

‘It’s perfectly normal and natural to shout sometimes’

‘Shouting is something I want to avoid as much as possible’

Sometimes I shout at my children and I really think it’s okay. My child is growing up in a world where people shout and pretending that the world is one long festival of peace will only set them up for a shock. Once they start work as an adult, they are unlikely to avoid ever being shouted at. Even in school, they will get shouted at. I remember a PE teacher who just couldn’t hide his frustration when I forgot my PE kit. The shouting was upsetting but even the calmest adults have limits to their patience and children need to understand that they can survive and thrive in a word where that happens.

Faced with the typical toddler’s stream of daily questions, along with the sleep deprivation that comes with parenting, who isn’t going to find their patience strained? It’s perfectly normal and natural to shout sometimes. Not every parent can maintain a supernatural level of calm and sometimes shouting is an expression of how much they care. Shouting at your child when they are about to step out into a busy road could save their life. But even less black and white situations might call for some way to release your frustration and personally I think it’s better than falling back on other less honest ways of venting your emotions like sarcasm, sulking or passive aggression.

Jade, mum of two girls, from Wiltshire

Staying calm

Pausing is key. No matter how frustrated, it’s preferable to resist responding at all until your emotional storm has calmed.

Counting and breathing techniques are tried and tested ways to create an immediate pause in the conversation and slow down the release of cortisol and adrenalin.

It’s important to notice and learn the physical sensations that signal that you are losing your temper. As you get better at this you will get better at stepping back earlier in the process.

When I shout, it feels like a failure and I always regret it afterwards. For me, that’s all the evidence I need that shouting is something to avoid as much as possible. I also don’t like it when my children shout and always pull them up for doing it. But I can hardly expect them to learn to stay calm if I’m not setting an example.

I’ve tried to get better at keeping my emotions under control by breathing and counting. I believe this has helped the whole family to stay calm and keep talking until we reach common ground, instead of raising our voices. More than that, it helps me to slow down and wait for longer while my children figure out what it is they really want to say. I listen for longer without interrupting to try and understand what it is they are really trying to tell me. If they shout, it’s not my job to shout back at them; I see it as my chance to show them there is a better way. I want my kids to respect me, not do as they are told because they are scared of me.

At the end of the day, if we’ve got to boiling point, taking some time out away from each other seems like a preferable option to just standing there, shouting our heads off at each other.

Sue, mum of three, from Nottingham

Where to get help

From dancing to puppetry with soft toys, Hand in Hand Parenting (www.handinhandparenting.org) offers tonnes of ideas for diffusing moments of tension and anger with younger children.

Meditation is one of the few activities proven to reduce the reactivity of the brain to stress, if practised consistently over a period of time. Headspace (www.headspace.com) has meditations designed specifically for parents.

The Calm and Confident Parenting Club (Facebook @calmparent) offers video tutorials including a two minute technique for releasing tension: https://vimeo. com/800838958

Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

By Usha Patel

Those with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) have normal hearing but constantly mishear what is said. Whilst APD is neurological in nature and may be inherited or stem from developmental problems, research shows that early childhood ear infections can be a significant contributory factor.

Children develop critical language skills between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, when the brain learns to map out and store sounds for language processing. When a child starts reacting to words with a smile or starts speaking their first words, they are effectively associating these sounds with meanings.

If a child suffers from constant middle ear infections during this critical period, the ability to process language and speech can be affected. Sounds which normally become imprinted in the brain’s memory and language centres are not properly established. The mishearing happens because the brain recognises aural information differently from what the child actually hears.

For example, when children can’t differentiate between thirteen and thirty. Whilst hearing can be perfectly normal, the brain just cannot process those sounds correctly due to their similarity. This inability of the brain to accurately process what is heard results in the Auditory Processing Disorder condition (APD).

APD is often difficult to diagnose in children as they may have other learning difficulties such as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder or dyspraxia (DCD), which may mask the condition. It also cannot be diagnosed with standard hearing tests; it requires specialist audiology testing.

Helping your child at home

Minimise background noise and speak face to face so your child can watch your lips while you talk. This gives them visual cues for how you say things;

Provide simple, short instructions. Note that children ages 2 to 4 can only hold two pieces of information in their brain at one time;

Allow extra time for your child to process information and ask what they understood;

Always ask your child to repeat mispronounced words - in a fun way;

Bedtime audio books help with following stories and engaging with auditory material;

Children are often tired at the end of the school day and it’s exhausting listening to specific information through competing background sounds;

Understand that when phonics are in place, your child may not be able to ‘blend’ sounds with ease and may need more practice;

Show your child’s school the completed questionnaire at www.bit.ly/AuditoryProcessingQ

Children with APD have also been observed to:

Have trouble paying attention to and remembering information presented orally;

Have problems carrying out multi-step directions and need more time;

Misunderstand what is said and ask for instructions to be repeated;

Have language difficulty and language delay (eg they confuse syllable sequences and have problems developing vocabulary and understanding language);

Appear to have behaviour problems, often because they are not complying with given instructions;

Have difficulties retrieving spellings because they struggle to remember the sounds.

The Raviv Practice London (www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk) offers a structured language programme for APD called Fast ForWord (FFW), a computer based learning programme based on twenty five years of research. FFW can be used anywhere in the UK. Screen your child with a FREE questionnaire at www.bit.ly/AuditoryProcessingQ

Fast ForWord

Fast ForWord integrates learning with fun, interactive computer games which continually adapt to each student’s individual learning needs. Intensive immersion for five days a week throughout the course leads to lasting learning gains in the following cognitive areas:

Memory: working, short-term and long-term memory (essential for word recognition, comprehension and remembering instructions);

Attention: the ability to focus on information and tasks and ignore distractions;

Processing speed: the rate of processing incoming information. For reading, this is how quickly one can distinguish speech sounds and identify letters and words to create meaning;

Sequencing: the ability to determine the order of letters within words or words within sentences.

Fast ForWord also helps develop reading and language skills such as phonemic awareness – assists with understanding syntax; sound-letter association – assists with comprehension; decoding – assists with grammatical structures; vocabulary – assists with passage comprehension; and spelling – assists with reading fluency.

Packaging learning

By Zuzu Jordan

Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote ‘tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember; involve me and I learn’ captures the essence behind true learning.

This may be why encouraging your own child to WANT to sit down to learn can feel like an impossible task at times, with parents often questioning how their child is able to sit, concentrate and learn at school.

Covid lockdowns thrust homeschooling onto families. Parents had to take on the role of teachers, experiencing the complexities surrounding learning, while children faced the need to respond differently to their parents as teachers.

Being in a classroom in a school setting, rather than at home, helps children grasp that a different set of rules apply. In fact, in schools, they conform simply because the majority do - children are excellent at policing each other!

There has been a rise in the number of families who choose to homeschool, many of whom have developed effective strategies to create a learning environment at home. Whether you want to homeschool, support homework or just nurture a love for learning, a deep dive into the working mind of a child can offer ways to package learning.

Understanding that learning is something that occurs through experiences or acquiring knowledge and skills, we can usefully engineer situations and scenarios to facilitate this. These techniques can package learning as inviting and exciting.

Use toys. This applies for children of all ages. For example, Nerf guns are great at firing at answers to times table questions or spelling. Scrabble tiles are also fantastic for practising spelling. Foam letters or numbers in the bath are fun for both spelling and maths questions.

Go into the wild. There’s so much learning to be done in the great outdoors: making rain gauges, following maps, gardening, studying wildlife and classification.

Question of the week. To encourage independent thinking, at the start of the week pose a question which doesn’t have an obvious answer. For example: ‘Who built the strongest buildings - Romans or Saxons?’ Developing curiosity in children is key to packaging learning.

Celebrating achievements

This is the fun, rewarding and essential part of parenting, increasing self-esteem and motivating children to keep learning. Try these:

The Tate Modern allows children to upload their own artwork for display in the online gallery (www.tate.org.uk/kids).

Some maths apps have pre-made certificates. For example, Whiterose 1 Minute Maths App (www.whiteroseeducation. com/1-minute-maths)

Blue Peter Badges are fantastic way to celebrate children’s work. There are a number of badges your child can apply for and they even get your child into some attractions for free!

Computer games. The settings and characters in welldeveloped computer games are designed to entice children. This can be good for enhancing creative writing skills.

Emailing experts. Consider setting your child up with an email address so that they can email an ‘expert” in a chosen topic to find out more. For example, if they are learning about volcanoes, they could email a vocanologist.

Book and movie comparison. Turn a movie session into a learning opportunity. Watch the film and then read the book or vice versa. Compare their similarities and differences.

Reading dogs. There’s a lot of research that suggests that children’s reading improves if they read to pets. It’s as simple as that!

Treasure hunts. Children love finding things. Plant words, numbers, sentences, objects and questions around the house and send children to find them.

Board games. A lot of learning can come out of playing board games. Create your own board game linked to your chosen topic.

Current issues - whether environmental, social or political. Find something that your child is passionate about. Write letters, research, devise fundraising events.

Zuzu Jordan is a Mastery for Maths specialist who has taught primary aged children for sixteen years and is interested in early years and home learning. For free homework and home learning resources, find the Facebook page Edumateuk.

Cross curricular learning

Cross curricular learning links subjects together, allowing children to find patterns and connections, thus developing and deepening their knowledge of a subject. For example, writing a diary entry in the role of someone in Ancient Roman times embraces English and history and is therefore a cross curricular activity.

This type of learning helps enforce key knowledge and make subjects meaningful. Cross curricular links are particularly important in maths as they provide context for their mathematical problems.

Developing a positive attitude towards learning

By Gail Hugman

No matter how skilled or knowledgeable a person might be, their attitude may well be the deciding factor in their future success, both personal and professional. Recent neuroscience has discovered the crucial role a positive attitude plays in the learning process, particularly during the primary years.

The second a child is born, their brain, with roughly eighty six billion neurons or nerve cells, ‘hits the ground running’ making connections through senses and experience. Everything a young child does, feels, hears and sees creates pathways between these nerve cells, building a reference bank of experience.

In the first three years, the connections the brain makes have risen to one thousand trillion. This is an automatic process. Ninety percent of brain development is complete by the time a child is 5 years old.

Although there is a default setting for the brain to function whether we engage or not, when it comes to learning, children who are actively engaged in the learning process are going to be far more effective and therefore, higher achieving than their peers who are simply ‘going through the motions’ of learning. The child who loves practising the guitar is going to progress more quickly than the child who battles with you or resents practising!

The reason for this is that as we grow, the brain takes its lead from what we do repeatedly. Where we make a conscious decision to put effort is where the brain will focus connections.

Children who enjoy what they’re doing, who love learning and who have a positive attitude, actively engage. Active engagement creates the signal for the connections the brain makes to be ‘cemented’ in myelin, a coating of fat and protein which make them ‘automatic.’ This is how learning is assimilated and habits are created.

The brain doesn’t know whether what a child is doing is good or not, it just takes its lead from repetitious behaviour and feedback from their surroundings, in this case, parents and teachers. The more positive a child’s attitude, the more positive the connections and growth they make, which can lead to excellence in performance.

Gail Hugman is a teaching and learning expert at Lessons Alive (www.lessonsalive.com) and author of 100 Things to Learn Before You’re 10, plus the soon to be published Making the Pennies Drop – Helping your Child Build Skills. Available from Amazon.

Blooming marvellous spring walks

There’s nothing better than a walk outdoors in the springtime. It’s when the world is starting to awaken from its winter slumber and colour starts to reappear amongst the flora that surrounds you. The Outdoor Guide (www.theoutdoorguide.co.uk) has selected for Families some of its favourite walks from across the UK - walks that make a springtime stroll a perfect family outing.

Springtastic Walk, Walsingham, Norfolk

This is a magical walk in the heart of Norfolk and perfect for springtime. From the snowdrops in February through to the bluebells in May, this walk offers enchanting sights and is loved by children and adults alike! www.bit.ly/walsinghamW

Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire

This is a lovely walk any time of the year but especially in the spring when the garden is ablaze with rhododendrons, magnolias, azaleas and camellias, underplanted with bluebells.

www.bit.ly/colbyG

Ambleside to Grasmere Coffin, Lake District

This lovely walk, at just over six kilometres, offers some great views out across Rydal Water. Take in sights of Rydal Mount, former home of William Wordsworth, as you approach Rydal Water. It’s worth taking a moment to stop here to admire the gardens and their celebrated carpet of golden daffodils.

www.bit.ly/amblesideC

Brownsea Island, Dorset

Located in the middle of Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island is famed for being the home of the Scout Movement. But did you also know that in the 1920s it was also home to a thriving daffodil industry? In the spring, you’ll still see many of these flowers, as a reminder of days gone by. Brownsea Island reopens to visitors in mid March after a winter break and is a wonderful destination for a day of exploring!

www.bit.ly/brownseaD

Redwood Grove & The Spinney, Coombe Country Park, Coventry

This walk is perfect for the springtime as everything comes to life in both the formal gardens and in the wilder spaces. The walk is just under two kilometres in length and is suitable for all the family, including the dog (signs show where dogs needs to be kept on the lead and where they can run free).

www.bit.ly/redwoodS

Dartmoor Moorland Walk, Devon

With over four hundred miles of public rights of way, Dartmoor has a great selection of walks for all the family. This one, at just over ten kilometres, is a great walk for families with older children, that takes in some of the most magnificent corners of the rugged landscape on offer. The trail runs through Holwell Lawn which, during the spring, is carpeted with beautiful bluebells.

www.bit.ly/dartmoorM

This is a walk that really must be undertaken in the spring (especially late March into early April). It’s in the beautiful valley of Farndale in the North York Moors National Park and, as the name suggests, will take you through areas full of beautiful wild daffodils.

www.bit.ly/farndaleD

The Knock, Crieff, Perthshire

As you head up The Knock, you’ll be walking through woodland in an area that is rich in important native species, including yellow pimpernel, wood sorrel and barren strawberry tormentil so do keep the family to the path to help protect what is growing around you.

www.bit.ly/crieffK

The Outdoor Guide (www.theoutdoorguide.co.uk) showcases brilliant, tried-and-tested Ordnance Survey mapped walks for all ages, including a section specially for families. Its foundation (www.theoutdoorguidefoundation.org) aims to make the outdoors accessible to all children via the Waterproof and Wellies project.

Farndale Daffodil Walk, Yorkshire

© The Outdoor Guide

© The Outdoor Guide

© The Outdoor Guide

© Holly Barber

© Holly Brega

© Studio 21 Crieff Hydro

© Jonny Gios

© Nick Fewings

Handling toddler sleep challenges

By Heidi Skudder

After the baby months of feeding, getting to grips with naps and developing a routine and then finally moving onto solids, you’d think that the first year would be the hardest when it comes to sleep right!?

Wrong! Toddlers are notorious for their sleep challenges and whilst you may have had a baby who napped well and slept through the night, it is not unusual for this all to change in their second year and beyond – welcome to toddlerhood!

Sleep for toddlers is complex. It’s not just about making sure they are well fed and awake for long enough during the day but also whether they’ve had enough of your attention to not crave it at night as well. Cue multiple visits to your bedroom once they can get out of their bed!

Nightmares

For many toddlers, imagination kicks in from around the age of two. This can bring genuine fears of the dark, monsters or anything else their little brain has convinced them is scary. This makes dropping off to sleep difficult and they may wake and need your support during the night to settle down again.

Reading comforting books together, favourite teddies or dolls and limiting TV exposure can be really useful, as can keeping a warm red or orange night light on for them.

Bedtime resistance

Another key stage in a toddler’s development arrives as they start to realise that they do, in fact, possess the language and control to be able to delay going to bed. ‘One more story, two more songs, I want milk, I need a wee’ have been commonly heard by many a toddler parent!

Whilst this is a phase and happens to the vast majority of parents, it is important to consider sticking to your boundaries during this period so that bedtime doesn’t start to become a two hour process. We speak to many parents who feel that they have lost control and that their toddler now dictates everything about their bedtime routine.

Co-sleeping

And then of course, there is the idea that maybe they just want to be close to you.

Sleeping in the same bed is considered normal in many cultures. The number of parents who are happy with this arrangement

Night terrors

Common in times of change or after bouts of illness, night terrors usually occur in the earlier half of the night. Your child will appear to be but is not ACTUALLY awake. They may talk, scream, thrash around, have their eyes closed or be fixated on a point in the room.

Keep the area safe and ensure they don’t hurt themselves but try not to purposefully wake them up. The night terror will pass and they won’t remember it in the morning.

in the UK varies hugely. Whilst some are very pro co-sleeping, others prefer separate beds and the prospect of a better night’s sleep without being kicked by little limbs. When it comes to night time sleeping arrangements, it is the best approach for your family that counts.

The common theme around sleep for both for babies and toddlers is consistency and some parents struggle with this. Whether you help your toddler fall asleep or ask them to settle to sleep on their own, it is the consistency of whatever approach you take that helps sleep along.

Doing different things, at different times of night, can be really confusing for a toddler and this can lead to multiple night wakes and confusion. Your best bet? Choose one approach to sleep and stick with it. Then the whole family will get a better night’s sleep.

Heidi Skudder is a Sleep Expert and founder of Positively Parenthood (ww.positivelyparenthood.com) She is also a regular speaker at The Baby Show (www.thebabyshow.co.uk) taking place in London in March and October, Birmingham in May and Manchester in June.

Facing tween challenges

By Tanith Carey

No longer a child but not yet a teenager; 8-to-12-year-olds change quickly.

The result is that parents face lots of shifts, including their tween wanting more privacy and independence. None of these will feel as daunting once you know the developmental reasons and see the world through your tween’s eyes. Take this common real-life scenario:

Your tween says: ‘Dad said I could’. Scenario: Your partner goes against your rules and lets your tween play video games on a school night, sparking a row when you get home.

What your tween’s thinking: ‘I’ve worked out that dad is laxer about gaming, so I’m taking advantage. I know mum will be angry but for now, all I care about is more screentime. However, when my parents disagree, I feel I’m to blame. When they contradict each other, it makes me feel unsafe and like the grown-ups don’t have a clue.’

What you might be thinking: If you’ve worked hard to maintain this boundary, you may conclude that your partner doesn’t respect how hard it is to stick to these rules. You may also be angry that being so lax will mean your tween will now want to play video games every school night, making your job harder. You may also resent your child for taking advantage.

How you could respond: Before saying anything, take a few deep breaths to help you calm down. Once you feel ready, speak to your co-parent out of your child’s earshot and agree on a united front to jointly give notice to your child that it’s time

Keep Out

Scenario: Your tween has put a sign on the door saying: Keep out!

What your tween’s thinking: ‘My room is no longer just a place to sleep and keep my toys. Now I want more time to think, I want it to be my kingdom where I can have privacy and also use it to show off some of my developing interests.’

What you might be thinking: You may struggle to take this new boundary seriously and worry the sign is going to be a red flag to any siblings who will see it as a challenge.

How you could respond: Tweens are using ‘magical thinking’: a belief that if they think something, it will happen and the sign really will stop people coming in without permission.

As far as possible, respect their wishes and start knocking if they ask you to. See it as part of their personal development and how they choose to decorate their door as a guide to their developing interests.

to wind down their game. Update your child: ‘Sometimes Dad and I do things differently but now we both agree it’s bedtime.’ After your tween is asleep, keep talking to your co-parent. Keep an open mind, rather than going on the attack. For instance, is gaming their way of connecting and having fun with your child? Could there be slightly different rules on the nights when they are in charge?

Keep in mind too that parenting is about teamwork, which requires different strengths. The most important thing is that you both stay consistent to what you each decide and don’t undermine each other in front of your child.

Tanith Carey is co-author with Dr Angharad Rudkin of a new handbook for tween parents What’s my Tween Thinking? Practical Child Psychology for Modern Parents, available now from www.bookshop.org

All my friends have a phone

Scenario: Your tween pleads for a smartphone because ‘all their friends’ have one.

What’s your tween’s thinking: ‘Not all my friends do but I’ll tell my parents that anyway so they’ll think they’re being unfair.’

What you might be thinking: While you may believe they’re too young to have access to such a vast online world, their request may tap into your fears they’ll get left out by their peers.

How you could respond: Acknowledge their wish and explain that you understand while standing firm: ‘I know a phone would make you feel grown-up but I want you to grow up experiencing life in the real world first.’

As your child gets older, you could also compromise by letting them use an old family phone or tablet that you ALL access and only in the common areas of your home, after homework. Never in bedrooms. Make it a rule your child can only post to closed groups of school friends and family, not in public forums.

What’s On

for all the family

If you would like to feature a listing in a future issue email editor@familiesherts.co.uk

Don’t forget to sign up for our digital magazine for more interactive content at

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.

Places to Go

Royston Library

Royston

Bookstart Storytime

Every Friday at 2pm. Suitable for 2-5 year-olds. Listen to a story and have fun with a colouring activity. Baby Rhyme Time

A family event that is fun for all. Every Wednesday at 10.15am and again at 11.15am.

National Brick Event – 3 Mar

Hemel Hempstead

A dedicated LEGO event for fans. Activities for children include a LEGO play area where you can sit and play with hundreds of LEGO bricks. Takes place at Everyone Active, Park Road. Visit eventbrite. co.uk for tickets and information.

Spring Craft Fair at Mudlarks Cafe – 3 Mar

Hertford

www.mudlarksgarden.org.uk

Celebrate and shop local at Mudlarks Cafe. A fair with local artists and artisan crafters displaying their crafts. See handmade jewellery, ceramics, glass, and more, at this free familyfriendly event.

Art in Martins Craft Session for children – 6 Mar

Royston

A fun 60-minute session full of arts and crafts for all the family to enjoy! Takes place at Market Hill Rooms.

Minis at St Albans Museum –8 Mar

St Albans

www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

These fun one-hour long sessions include a story and craft activity as well as a museum treasure hunt looking for objects or characters from the story.

Hitchin Children’s Book Festival – 9 Mar

Hitchin

www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk

Talks by children’s authors, story-telling sessions, craft activities, face painting, and a wonderful finale performance by the children’s choir of Stagecoach Performing Arts.

Family Saturdays at Stevenage Museum – 9 Mar and 20 Apr

Stevenage

www.stevenage.gov.uk/stevenagemuseum

Free drop-in family craft activities at Stevenage Museum 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm.

Imajica: Family Wellbeing Fun –17 Mar

Baldock

www.bahc.co.uk

Skills to help you look after your health and wellbeing. Includes a sound bath experience. Suitable for those with sensory processing conditions and are neurodivergent.

Harpenden Sustainability Market - 17 Mar

Harpenden

A range of eco providers and sustainable food stalls, interiors, fashion, repair and reuse and more! Takes place on Harpenden Common.

Creative Chefs Fun with Food for Under 5s – 20 Mar

Royston

A 45-minute interactive, fun, hands-on cooking session for children under 5 with their adult at Heritage Hall.

Easter Funfair on Harpenden Common – 28 Mar to 1 Apr

Harpenden

An exciting Bank Holiday funfair on Harpenden Common with a variety of rides and fairground stalls.

Easter Egg Hunt on Harpenden Common – 29 Mar

Harpenden

The Easter Bunny has been busy on Harpenden Common. Come along to enjoy hunting and more from 11am-4pm.

Easter Fun Day at Ware Priory –30 Mar

Ware

https://waretowncouncil.gov. uk/school-holiday-activities/ FREE children’s Easter activities 1.30pm-3.15pm. Join in the chocolate Easter egg hunt for under 8s in the Priory gardens, and impress the judges in an egg decorating competition for all ages at Fletcher’s Lea.

The Hertfordshire Family

Easter Festival 2024 – 30 and 31 Mar

St Albans

Enjoy some quality time with your family! With shows, music, rides, amazing street food and a whole load of exciting attractions! Takes place at the Hertfordshire County Showground.

Easter At Knebworth House, Gardens & Park – 29 Mar to 1 Apr

Stevenage

www.knebworthhouse.com

This Easter why not take part in the trail; find Easter characters around the gardens to solve the word jumble and win a prize at the end.

Easter egg hunt at Shaw’s Corner - 29 Mar to 1 Apr

Near Welwyn

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Find nature-inspired activities for the whole family. Prices are £3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and chocolate egg. Prebooking essential.

Children’s Superhero Trail – 29 Mar to 14 Apr

Hertford

www.hertford.gov.uk

Follow the trail map and discover the knitted characters hiding in shops and shop windows across Hertford Town Centre. Locate the clues for a chance to win a £30 gift voucher to spend at a local retailer!

House and home at Royston Museum – 29 Mar to 14 Apr

Royston

www.roystonmuseum.org.uk

Discover what helps make a house a home. With fun crafts, hands-on activities and an amazing, new interactive family show to enjoy.

Lambing Live at Fox Holes Farm – 29 Mar to 14 Apr

Hertford

www.foxholesfarm.com

A fun and educational event for all the family. Whilst the lambs are being born, you can also have fun feeding the ewes (mummy sheep) and getting up close.

Easter Funfair on Harpenden

Common 28 Mar – 1 Apr

Harpenden

This exciting funfair returns to Harpenden Common with lots to enjoy over the Easter weekend .

Hertford Museum

Hertford

www.hertfordmuseum.org.uk

Toddler Tuesday: Transport – 5 Mar

Crafts, singing, stories and fun for the Under 4s. £4.50 per child, includes a drink and a snack. Booking Essential! 10.30am-11.45am. Book at www.ticketsource.co.uk

Chiltern Open Air Museum

Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire coam.org.uk

Easter Weekend Fun – 29 Mar to 1 Apr

Family activities, storytelling and pony rides.

Terrific Tuesday – 2 Apr

Easter themed family crafts and clay modelling.

Terrific Tuesday – 9 Apr

Earth Day themed family crafts and clay modelling.

St George and the Dragon – 20 & 21 Apr

Mounted re-enactment of the George and the Dragon story. May Day Merriment – 5 & 6 May Experience dancing and music Elizabethan-style.

Xplorer Orienteering –3 and 10 Apr

Welwyn Garden City

www.one.welhat.gov.uk

Xplorer is an orienteering activity to bring the whole family along to! A free event to attend.

Harpenden Sustainability Market - 17 Mar

Harpenden

A range of eco providers and sustainable food stalls, interiors, fashion, repair and reuse and more! It’s a fantastic market and takes place on Harpenden Common.

Creatures of the Night at Panshanger Park – 5 and 8 Apr Hertford

www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Come along to Panshanger Park and see what creatures

WHAT’S ON

come out as twilight beckons. Listening for bats and owls and learning the tricks to their superb hearing. Suitable for ages 7 and over.

Children’s Craft Café – Easter Holiday Workshops – 8 Apr Ware

www.southernmaltings.co.uk

A selection of craft activities this Easter week. Suitable for ages 3 to 7. £3 per child. Children under 1 are free.

Family Willow Weaving –9 Apr

Hertford

Have a go at creating your own willow crown or ring and decorate with natural materials, at Panshanger Park. Suitable for children aged 5 and over.

HArts Fest 2024 at Hertford Castle – 13 Apr

Hertford

www.hertfordcastle.co.uk

From music, dance and drama to craft and mindfulness, Hertford Castle will host a range of art and cultural based activities, suitable for both adults and children.

40th Years: Anniversary Fayre at Royston Museum – 28 Apr Royston

www.roystonmuseum.org.uk

Come and celebrate Royston Museum 40th anniversary. With fun for the whole family and free to enter, what’s not to like!

Clubs, Classes & Camps

Tots Tales at Verulamium –22 Mar

St Albans

www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

In March it’s How to Catch a Rainbow. Freya loves rainbows and she wishes she had one of her very own, so she decides to become a Rainbow Hunter! £6.50 per child. Book in advance.

Toddler Gymnastics

Royston Leisure Centre

Royston

www.sll.co.uk/royston-leisurecentre/

Toddler Gymnastics sessions are 45 minutes. Mondays and Fridays; 9:30am-10:15pm. Parent-led sessions are suitable for walking to age 3.

Easter Holiday Art Camps in St Albans

www.shedloadsoffun.com

Fun art camps for 6-13 (5 year olds at organiser’s discretion) in the school holidays. Children attend for a day or more and learn to draw and then paint a different project each day in either watercolours or acrylics on canvas. At the end of the day children get to take home their very own masterpiece! As well as step-by-step instruction, there’s plenty of time for play and making friends too! Classes take place 2nd–5th April and 8th–12th April at St Peter’s School. £38 per day with option of early drop-off/late pick-up.

Easter Holiday Art Camps in Harpenden

www.shedloadsoffun.com

Fun art camps for 6-13 (5 year olds at organiser’s discretion) in the school holidays. Children attend for a day or more and learn to draw and then paint a different project each day in either watercolours or acrylics on canvas. At the end of the day children get to take home their very own masterpiece! As well as step-by-step instruction, there’s plenty of time for play and making friends too! Classes take place 2nd–5th April and 8th–12th April at Roundwood Primary School. £38 per day with option of early drop-off/late pick-up.

Little Foxes Music Makers

Toddler Group

Royston

Parent and Toddler Music Group. Develop social skills and have fun. For children 18 months to 3 years. Tuesdays as Market Hill Rooms, Fish Hill.

Tots Tales at Verulamium –22 Mar

St Albans

www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

SuperCamps - 25 Mar to 19 Apr

Venues across Hertfordshire www.supercamps.co.uk

SuperCamps Easter multi-activity day camps deliver a wide range of fun activities to keep kids aged 4-12 entertained during the school holidays.

Monkey Music

Harpenden, St Albans 01753 889481

www.monkeymusic.co.uk

Music classes for babies and toddlers. This supportive and nurturing environment while hosting interactive musical experiences. harpenden. stalbans@monkeymusic.co.uk

Imagination Dance

Hitchin, Hertford

07394 934911

www.imaginationarts.co.uk

With a range of sensory and creative dance classes specifically aimed at those with suspected or diagnosed additional needs. A magic movers class for age 7+ to express themselves in dance. Call for more information or email info. imaginationarts@yahoo.com

Tick Tock Music - St Albans, St Michaels Church Hall

These wonderful music classes for children aged 6 months to 5 years old, take place every Thursday at 10.15am. There is a different performance each week and children are encouraged to participate in singing, actions, role-play and song identification. Live accompaniment is provided throughout and the songs are linked with fun play acting scenes full of colourful costumes, props and puppets. Tick Tock facilitates the development of musicality, imagination, vocabulary, confidence, number, letter and theme recognition and appreciation of performance in a lively social environment. £8 for 1 child, £5.00 sibling over 1, £3.50 sibling over 6 months.

Rapunzel Easter Holiday Club – 8 to 10 Apr

St Albans

www.perform.org.uk

A three day course, bringing the fairytale of Rapunzel to life in a song and dance adventure filled with fun and laughter. Learning songs, acting out scenes and playing games. Ending with a magical performance for family and friends.

build molecules from sweets and pay top trumps with the elements. Open to children aged 5-11. 10am-3pm.

Mini Masterclass:

Understanding the World – 18 & 25 Apr and 2, 9, 16, 23 May Ware

www.southernmaltings.co.uk

New classes to help your child to develop and increase their confidence in these engaging and active lessons about the beauty of our world.

Theatres

The Alban Arena

St Albans

01727 844488

www.alban-arena.co.uk

30 Mar

Fireman Sam The Great Camping Adventure

It’s up to Fireman Sam to save the day and ensure everyone is safe on their camping adventure. A spectacular show for all the family to enjoy.

3 April

The Little Mermaid

Make a splash and join Ariel; her father, King of the Seven Seas; Ursula, the evil sea witch, and a whole host of fabulous characters in this brand-new adaptation.

Sadler’s Wells, Peacock

Theatre

West End

www.sadlerswells.com

4 - 13 Apr

My First Ballet: Swan Lake

A specially adapted version of the world’s most famous ballet for children aged three upwards. 24 – 27 Apr

The Sleeping Beauty Sprinkling ballet magic on this favourite childhood story and its cast of familiar characters.

Gordon Craig Theatre

Stevenage

01438 363200

www.gordon-craig.co.uk

29 Mar - 1 Apr

Rapunzel: A Tangled Hairy-tale

An enchanting family Easter show like no other! This is a hilarious and heartwarming experience for all ages. A world of fun, laughter, and magic. Show starts at 1.30pm and 4.30pm.

4 Apr

Rude Science Live

trusted, influential, visible 07958284983

In March it’s How to Catch a Rainbow. Freya loves rainbows and she wishes she had one of her very own, so she decides to become a Rainbow Hunter! £6.50 per child. Book in advance.

Easter Holiday Science Camp – 8 to 12 Apr

Bishop’s Stortford, Hertford, St Albans

www.fabscience.co.uk

Create your own chemical reactions, make fizzy explosions,

The naughtiest, funniest, most revolting science show in the world. Science stunts and spectacular experiments. An educational science extravaganza.

5 Apr

Pop Princesses

A magical show where beautiful

princesses become pop stars!

With top pop hits from artists such as Little Mix, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor and Miley Cyrus.

South Mill Arts

Bishop’s Stortford 01279 710 200

www.southmillarts.co.uk

2 Apr

The Little Mermaid: An Underwater Musical Adventure

With sparkling scenery, beautiful costumes and an exciting opportunity to meet the characters after the show!

Wyllyotts Theatre

Potters Bar

01707 645005

www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk

4-6 Apr

Sleeping Beauty

A classic fairy tale that tells the story of a beautiful princess who falls under a curse from an evil fairy. Will true love’s kiss awaken the princess, and will the kingdom be saved.

12-13 Apr

School of Rock Musical

This is a non-professional production performed by S & S Youth Productions. Prices from £13.50.

14 Apr

The Amazing Bubbleman

From square bubbles, bubbles

inside bubbles, giant bubbles, bubble volcanoes, tornados and trampolines to people inside bubbles, the Amazing Bubble Man is back! Show starts from 2pm.

The Eric Morecambe Centre Harpenden 01582 767525

www.the-emc.co.uk

25 Mar

Spot’s Birthday Party

Spot is having a very special birthday party and you’re invited! With party hats, songs, dancing and lots of interactive party games. Suitable for ages 2 plus.

30 Mar

There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly

The world’s best loved nonsense rhyme brought to life with a delicious blend of live action, puppetry and animation. Aged 3 and up.

2 Apr

The Amazing Bubble Man

Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences around the world for over 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. Now he takes to the stage to mesmerise us all.

The Old Town Hall

Hemel Hempstead 01442 228091

www.oldtownhall.co.uk

9 Mar

The Instrumentals

A new children’s theatre show for ages 4+. Story and inspiration from the African-Caribbean diaspora. It’s full of uplifting original music with soulful sounds and seventies grooves. Duration 45 minutes.

13 Apr

The Three Bears

Bring your bears for an adventure in the woods, with original music, puppets and a magical take on a traditional story. Children aged 6 and under.

20 Apr

Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show

Explore the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even howling jelly babies! 75 minutes approx. Age 5 and up.

The Radlett Centre Radlett

01923 859 291

www.radlettcentre.co.uk

2–3 Apr

Spot’s Birthday Party

Join Steve the monkey, Tom the Crocodile and Helen the Hippo to say a big happy birthday to Spot! An interactive and accessible show suitable for ages 2+.

6 Apr

WHAT’S ON

The Amazing Bubble Man

This show will delight young and older audiences. 11.30am and 2.00pm.

7 Apr Pop Princesses

A magical show where the beautiful princesses go on a new adventure. A children’s pop concert with a big difference.

13 Apr

Alice in Wonderland

Follow Alice and the White Rabbit as they set off on a colourful, topsy-turvy adventure and meet Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire cat and the Mad Hatter.

25-27 Apr

Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book

Come and delve into a range of books with Charlie Cook, brought to life with puppetry and enchanting songs. A charming musical for ages 3 to 8 years.

The Spotlight

Hoddesdon

01992 441946

www.thespotlightvenue.com

28 Mar – 10 Apr

Puss in Boots

Music, dance, comedy and audience participation, Puss in Boots will be your purr-fect treat for Easter celebrations. Age 2+. 90 minutes including interval.

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