Families Hertfordshire July/August 2021 by Families Magazine

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July/August 2021

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Familiesonline.co.uk July/August 1

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CONTENTS

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

In This Issue 4 News 5 Herts Summer Camp 7 Early Years 8 Education 10 Boredom Busters 13 Holidays 33 What’s On

Welcome Get planning for the long summer holidays! We know how challenging it can be to keep the kids entertained, so we’ve got dozens of ideas for you in our three part, six page summer boredom busters special. Plus fun activities that will keep little brains learning throughout the break too. If you’re dreading spending the entire summer cooking meals for the family, worry not. We have some great suggestions for tasty summer lunches, food ideas for when you are away from your own kitchen and healthy yogurt ice lollies to make with the kids. You can also apply for a free children’s wellbeing activity book by signing up to receive our magazine in this issue. Signed up already? We have a free gifts for subscribers too. Have a happy summer!

Dale Competition Winners from our March/April issue Congratulations to Kate Petitclerc from Poole in Dorset whose family won a Smoby Playhouse in our March/April issue. 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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July/August 3

News & Views

Be creative and have fun at Polly Pots Studio!

A new familyrun arts and crafts studio has opened in Hoddesdon and is providing hours of fun for children and parents alike. If your little one enjoys fabric painting, ceramic painting, card making and decoupage then Polly Pots Studio is the place be. READ MORE COME & JOIN US IN OUR AWESOME

ARTS & CRAFTS STUDIO.

Polly Pots is a family-run arts and crafts studio located on the 100 acres estate in Hoddesdon. We’re all about giving kids (and adults, too) the space to be creative and have fun in a friendly environment. All art supplies are provided e.g. paints, brushes. Even better, you get to leave the mess with us! We offer: Ceramic painting Fabric painting Card making Decoupage Kids birthday parties (get in touch to find out more!) For our opening times, please visit our website: www.pollypotsstudios.com If you'd like to make a booking, contact us on: email: pollypotsstudios@gmail.com telephone number: 01992 926245

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Performing arts can help your child prepare for the new school year The new school year is a great time to consider new activities for your child. Often gone unnoticed, the skills learnt in performing arts can be hugely beneficial to children as they navigate their way in a new school year. Empathy One challenge children face when they return to school in September is changes to friendship groups. Empathy is a particularly important characteristic to help overcome this and is a skill taught when training in the performing arts. To portray a character in a play we need to be able to step into their shoes and understand their situation; if a child learns to understand a character in this way, they can also apply this to everyday life, helping them to react to their peers and develop their social skills. READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk

News & Views

Herts children set for a HAPpy summer! The summer holidays are looking brighter for children and young people in Hertfordshire thanks to an exciting Department for Education funded partnership. From 26 July through to 27 August, Hertfordshire County Council, Herts Sports Partnership and Hertfordshire Community Foundation will once again join forces to offer thousands of free, weekday places at holiday camps. READ MORE

Tips for summer sleeping! Natalie Graham is a baby and child sleep consultant, mother of two, and lives with her family in Royston. Here, Natalie provides some tips and advice on how to help your little one sleep this summer: ‘It’s common for sleep to be disrupted in the summer. If your child takes longer to fall asleep or wakes early, try not to worry, as there are things that you can implement that can help make things better. READ MORE

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Baby and Child Sleep Consultant 0-6yrs Everyone's happier and healthier when they get the sleep they need - that includes you AND your child! As a qualified baby and child sleep consultant, I'm here to restore the sleep through a bespoke plan and daily support. I will give YOU the confidence to navigate your child's sleep long term. Getting better sleep doesn't mean using Cry It Out, it's about gentle and responsive techniques that are right for YOUR family.

Get in touch for a FREE 15 minute discovery call to see how I can help. www.nataliesleepconsultant.com 07939596823 contact@nataliesleepconsultant.com July/August 5

News & Views

Calling all reading heroes Wild World Heroes Summer Reading Challenge 2021 launched in Hertfordshire libraries on 10 July. Young readers are invited to take on the free reading challenge and join the six Wild World Heroes in the fictional town of ‘Wilderville’! READ MORE

Standon Calling back with a bang Promising a weekend escape perfect for the whole family, Standon Calling is once again delivering big with an unrivalled assortment for all ages – as the great summer festival experience returns in stunning fashion. Across the festival site there’s fun and adventure to be had by all. READ MORE

Summer fun for 3-16 year olds at Camp Beaumont Fill the school holidays with confidence boosting adventures for your child. Camp Beaumont has been bringing joy to lots of children and young people since 1980. They guarantee that every child will have the time of their life at their summer camp where they’re running a choice of 30 activities per age group, from clay-making to tennis! The camps take place at St Albans Girls School and Queenswood School, Hatfield, as well as other outstanding school sites in London and the surrounding counties. For more information, visit campbeaumont.co.uk or call 01603 851 000 SAVE 10% when you quote FAMILIES21 and book by 1 August 2021.

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Early Years

Baby and toddler meal planning By Annabel Karmel As with all things parenting-related, feeling prepared when feeding little ones is key. So here are some factors to consider when encouraging your little one to be an adventurous eater.

That’s why research suggests that these more bitter and sour green veggies should be introduced from the first few weeks of weaning and beyond, alongside sweeter root veggies. If introduced early in your baby’s weaning journey, and with repeated exposure, it’s likely they’ll be more receptive to these foods, setting them up well for the future. So your main take-away here is to offer your baby a wide variety of single first foods – sweet root veggies and the more bitter green ones. Finger foods Don’t delay in offering finger foods to your baby at around 6 months old. They are ideal for introducing different textures. Handing over the reins to your baby will allow them to work out how to get food to their mouth, break pieces off and chew. And don’t worry, even if your baby doesn’t have teeth yet, they’ll use their powerful gums for this! Whilst finger foods are an essential element of baby-led weaning, I also recommend that they are offered alongside spoon-feeding.

Fending off fussy eating Parents are essential in encouraging our children to adopt a healthy balanced diet. Yet it’s so easy to feel frustrated and powerless when your little one refuses to eat certain foods. Here are some of my top tips for getting the good stuff into them! Blend in veggies. If a child simply refuses to eat their veggies (particularly the gruesome greens), try out recipes which blend in veg, such as a tomato and vegetable-based sauce for pasta, or mashed potato combined with grated carrot. Make food look good. Make mini portions in ramekins, or serve-up chicken and colourful veggies on straws. You could even give your children the cooked ingredients to thread onto the straw themselves. Hide your frustrations. And praise liberally when they eat well or try something new. Focusing on the positives will make mealtimes less stressful. Lead the charge! Try new foods yourself. This gives little ones an opportunity to ask questions and learn about what you’re eating. You never know, they might even want to try it! Familiesonline.co.uk

Window of opportunity Between 8 and 10 months, the window of opportunity to help your baby explore a whole variety of foods remains wide open. Around the 8 month mark is the perfect time to experiment with everyday spices and herbs like garlic, basil, oregano, dill, rosemary and even a mild curry powder. You’ll want to start introducing babies to more family meals, so this helps the transition. Start introducing small portions of your meals, adapted and chopped or mashed to the right consistency. Keep a close eye on ingredients. For example, make sure there’s no added salt or sugar in your baby’s portion. Annabel Karmel celebrates the 30th anniversary of her number one bestselling weaning cookbook with a NEW fully updated and extended edition of Baby & Toddler Meal Planner. Filled with over 200 quick, easy and healthy recipes for weaning and beyond, essential advice, simple meal planners and pull-out guide, this book gives your baby the best start. More info at www.annabelkarmel.com

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First foods Those all-important nutrient-dense bitter veggies such as broccoli and spinach are a world apart from the sweetness of breast or formula with which your baby is familiar. So it may take a little perseverance to get them to accept these flavours.

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July/August 7

Education

Mind the gap: why Summer learning is important By Andrew Campbell Parents face a confusing dilemma this summer holidays with seemingly conflicting opinions being offered on how children should occupy the long summer break. It is widely acknowledged that children experienced significant setbacks to their educational progress as a result of the pandemic and Ofsted has published a series of reports detailing the impact of school closures. Children hardest hit by the Covid restrictions regressed during the pandemic, with some who were potty-trained pre-lockdown reverting to nappies and dummies, and others forgetting basic numbers. Older children lost physical fitness as well as reading and writing skills with the impact worse for disadvantaged children. In addition to a ‘Covid attainment gap,’ children now face the prospect of a further loss of knowledge and academic skills during the summer holidays. Longstanding research has established that most children experience a ‘summer learning loss’ when they return to school after the long break. Sometimes referred to as the ‘summer brain drain’, summer learning loss is defined as a loss of knowledge and academic skills over the long summer period. A systematic review of thirty nine studies found summer learning loss equalled about one month of classroom learning, and students tended to regress more in maths skills compared to reading skills. So there seems to be a compelling case for parents to take action to prevent their child suffering a major setback to their

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educational and emotional development as a result of the combined effects of Covid and the long summer break. On the other hand, there is a persuasive stance being advocated by child development experts who say that children need a ‘summer of play’ to recover from the stress of lockdown and a year of Covid upheaval. A group of academics calling themselves PlayFirstUK have warned that intensive ‘catch-up’ plans, intended to help children make up lost ground, could end up worsening children’s mental health and wellbeing and have a negative effect on learning in the long term. Whilst there is understandable concern about children’s education, they will not learn effectively if their mental health is poor. Social interaction, play, physical activity and good mental health need to come first, according to PlayFirstUK. But is it really such a stark choice between a ‘summer of fun’ and a ‘summer of catch up?’ Not if you can make learning a fun part of your child’s summer.

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Fun number activities Lemonade stand. Team up with a local charity to raise money. Younger kids can measure ingredients and count money. Older kids can set a price by working out the cost per serving and setting a profit margin. A council permit may be required. Go to the summer sales. Take your young one to the summer sales and ask them to work out the savings. For example, if £25 item has fifty percent off, how much does it cost? Set them a budget so they have to monitor money spent and money remaining. Bob the builder time. Embark on a construction project. Whether it’s a bird house or a treasure box, children will have to use a range of maths skills to get the job done. Gather and sort rocks. Starting a rock collection will introduce your child to geology AND reinforce basic maths skill. They can classify rocks by grouping them – large or small, smooth, jagged or speckled etc. Older children can go one step further and speculate on how the rock was formed.

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Education

Stepping up to secondary school By Clare Cogan The summer term is drawing to a close and our year six children are preparing for their transition to secondary school. This can be a challenging time, even without the disruptions of the past year. Common worries and concerns can include the increase in independence your child will be expected to have, whether they will be with their friends, and even how they will find their way around a much bigger school. It’s likely that your child’s current school will be helping them prepare for these challenges, but there are some things you can also do to help your child’s transition go as smoothly as possible for them (and you)! Children’s can feel anxious without realising and sometimes hold these feelings inside. Rather than asking if they are worried about anything, talk to them about change being exciting but scary too. Explain that this is because their brain needs to get used to a new place and way of doing things when it was very comfortable with the old way. Talking about their feelings, using an example of how you or an older sibling felt in their shoes, can help them feel confident that they have the resources to manage and that feeling anxious is okay. Friendships can be a challenge when moving to secondary school. You’re likely to see your child’s friendships transition and change and this can be hard for parents, especially as we won’t necessarily know their new friends. This is part of their increasing independence as they move into the teen years. Parents and carers are ideally placed to help navigate the move to secondary school. Practical preparations, as well as

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conversations which help your child remember times when they may have felt nervous before and managed it well, can also help them see that they can feel anxious but still have a good experience. There will be tough times ahead, but also fun times too as you watch your child grow in independence and confidence and find their feet. Try to keep your own focus on the opportunities rather than the challenges and help your child face any potential issues by equipping them with the understanding of what they can do to build resourcefulness and resilience. Remember that it can take your child a while to settle in at their new school and that the school is there to deal with concerns. Encourage your child to take worries or issues to their form teacher in the first instance. Many issues can be easily resolved in this way. Clare Cogan is a Teenage Anxiety Specialist who works with parents and their teens to help them understand how their mind affects their mood. More information at www.clarecogan.com

BARCLAY ACADEMY OPEN DAYS Book your visit today at www.barclay.futureacademies.org

Year 6/7 Transition Tuesday 21st September | 8:40 am Wednesday 22nd September | 8:40 am Thursday 23rd September | 5:00 pm Sixth Form Thursday 11th November | 5:00 pm BARCLAY ACADEMY, WALKERN ROAD, STEVENAGE, HERTS SG1 3RB T: 01438 232221

July/August 9

BOREDOM BUSTERS

Top ideas to entertain the family this Summer By Claire Winter Keep the family busy all summer long! Outdoors Find the Gruffalo. For Julia Donaldson fans, enjoy a themed family walk based on her books up and down the country. Trail details. Get appy. Get reluctant kids excited about walking with a brilliant app, Caper. Download and receive a call from Captain Redtail who needs help locating a crashed spaceship. New hobbies Explore geocaching. Join the world’s largest treasure hunt! Download the official Geocaching app, create an account and unlock the location of thousands of caches (i.e. the treasure) that other hunters have left for you to discover. Get green-fingered. Plant a veggie grow bag. You don’t need any more space than a window-box, or a tiny space in your garden. Kids will love deciding what to grow and charting its progress.

10 July/August

Boredom busters Rough and tumble. Play fighting is a great way to let off steam. Stuff some pillows up a pair of dad-size T-shirts to set up a ‘sumo wrestle.’ Make the rules of play fighting clear, otherwise the session might descend into chaos and tears. Eat a rainbow. Of course, we’re not talking about vegetables! Have fun with edible food colouring and let your kids paint and then eat rainbow toast. You could also make rainbow cake! Products at Cake Craft World. Free Get wild. Join the Summer Reading Challenge, Wild World Heroes, at your local library or online. Libraries have teamed up with WWF to create a nature-themed challenge. Go fly a kite! They’re cheap and easy to buy, or you can even make your own. Tips on kite flying.

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BOREDOM BUSTERS

Top ideas to entertain the family this Summer Bucket list Flying high. Perfect for thrill seekers, try indoor skydiving and soar like a bird in a super-smooth, super-fast and super-cool wind tunnel. Suitable for kids aged 3+. Locations in Manchester, Milton Keynes and Basingstoke.

balloons and play-doh for kids, baby raves are a great way for the whole family to dance the day away. Big Fish Little Fish has events coming up in London, Liverpool and Norwich.

Wild swimming. Nothing beats swimming in nature (as long as the weather Take to the skies. co-operates). You could try wild For a really special treat, book a paddling if you have little ones! hot air balloon flight for the family. Ideas of where to go to find wild Suitable for children who are 7+ and water near you. at least 4ft 6in (1.4m) tall. Must also be accompanied by a responsible adult. MORE FUN IDEAS Learning ideas Letter fishing. This is a fun game for pre-schoolers. Grab yourself some magnetic letters from the fridge, some string, a pencil and a paperclip. Make a DIY fishing rod so your little one can fish for letters. Family history. How about finding out a bit more about your past and making a family tree? Get your kids to do some research about their grandparents and distant relatives. Check out Ancestry and Find My Past. Unusual Baby raves. With reasonable DJ bills for parents and bubble machines, giant Familiesonline.co.uk

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Magazine July/August 11

HOLIDAYS

Baby and Toddler Travel Essentials We asked our friends at NapNapUK for their top product picks to make travelling with your little one easier this summer.

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HOLIDAYS

Fun travel activities for kids By Jemma Zoe Smith At long last, we’re able to go on holiday with the kids. But before the fun can begin, there’s the journey to deal with. Don’t despair! These activities will help keep your kids occupied and your sanity intact. What can you spot? Get your kids to spot cars/lorries from different countries. Younger children can spot cars or lorries of different colours. Books like the i-Spy series or Usborne Minis are great for primary school children. They can tick off what they see as they travel, whether that’s wildlife, birds or trees. ‘Person Do Thing’ The challenge is to describe a complex idea (eg ‘glasses’) in just thirty six simple words (eg person, see, thing, use, good, bad, yes, no). See beginner’s version. Road trip bingo Download/create bingo cards. Different ages can work at different difficulty levels; your toddler might need to spot a cow or a caravan, while an older child might need to spot an Eddie Stobart lorry. Audiobooks If your child suffers from car sickness, audiobooks are an alternative. Give the kids a shortlist to choose from, and let them rule out options so the final choice is something everyone’s happy with. Familiesonline.co.uk

Colour with water Colouring books can be difficult in the car but water colouring books let your child colour with a messfree, reusable, water-filled pen. Galt Toys has a good range. READ MORE

Support your child! Receive a FREE children’s activity book when you sign up to our magazine*

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Magazine July/August 13

HEALTH

Improve your child’s mental health Using proven cognitive-behavioural therapy methods along with fun and engaging activities, these peer-reviewed children’s wellbeing activity books, published by Summersdale, have been approved by a children’s mental health practitioner. Aimed at children ages 7 to 11, because much happens during these years that can impact a child’s sense of self-worth, the books can help

establish how your child is feeling and offer ways to improve their confidence and self-esteem and lower their anxiety levels. Children are guided through the activities and, with the help of a friendly character, supported to navigate their inner world. These great practical guides are also interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents. For more details an purchase d ,c on the bo lick ok image.

Emotional well-being for new mums

Getting kids to talk feelings

By Marie Louise

By Esther Marshall

Baby brain. Baby blues. Postnatal depression. Add Covid 19 into the mix and it’s not surprising that pregnant women and new mothers are more anxious than ever before. Are you prepared for the effect that pregnancy and new motherhood can have on your emotional well-being?

It’s not always easy to get children to open up.

READ MORE 14 July/August

Author of the Sophie Says children’s book series, Esther Marshall, shares with us her five top tips for helping children feel safe and comfortable enough to start talking about the difficult stuff. READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk

HEALTH

Family Couch to 5K (ish) By Andrew Campbell During the pandemic, lots of people chose running as their ‘exercise of the day’ and experienced a significant boost to their health and wellbeing as a result. The NHS ‘Couch to 5K’ programme allowed many to gradually build up their endurance until they were able to run a five kilometre course. So, is it time for the whole family to get in on the act? Is it realistic or advisable to expect children to run such a distance? Government guidelines stipulate that children ages 5 to 18 should accumulate an average of at least sixty minutes of physical activity per day across a week. Such activity can include running. However, it isn’t appropriate to expect children as young as age 5 to run continuously for five kilometres. As, they get older, however, it’s certainly possible to entice your child to extend their ability to run. Encouragement and fun will be the key to keeping them on board. Kids love a big occasion, so join a family fun run event or take the whole family to your local parkrun, where children are welcome to join their parents on a five kilometre course through parkland or open space. Don’t feel you need to run the whole course – starting small is best and you don’t want to push your child beyond what they are comfortable with. Try alternating running and walking and praise their effort. Familiesonline.co.uk

Alternatively, make your ‘family run’ a scavenger hunt with prizes. Or use the Couch to 5K plan to develop your own week by week plan to work towards running a shorter distance as a family.

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APPLY HERE July/August 15

HEALTH

The Worry Cabinet

Download this activity, complete with instructions, to help your child deal with their worries. The Worry Cabinet is an activity for children taken from The Worry Workbook: The Worry Warriors Activity Book published by Summersdale.

The Worry Cabinet

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Things yo u can’t co ntrol Once yo u you can’ have finished th t control e worry ca - lik a news pr ogramm e thunderstorm binet, try getting e. rid s or som ething yo of the worries See if yo that u have he u ard abou control. O can compile a lis t on t nc fro e m your w you realis easier to or e ry th stop wor rying ab at these things ar drawers of the th out them in e gs ou t of your yo . hands, it u can’t becomes The Wor ry The Wor Cabinet is an ac ry by Imogen Workbook: Th tivity for children eW ta Harrison , publishe orry Warriors A ken from ct d by Sum mersdale.ivity Book

DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR CHILD NOW!

16 July/August

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TWEEN

Screen time (out?) By Chris Skeat

Most of us old enough to have tweens in the house, will remember the mantra from our childhoods that ‘watching too much television will make your eyes go square.’ Now the choice of screens and screen activities to be glued to is significantly wider with everything from Fortnite to TikTok competing for attention. But are beneficial for their children’s just how detrimental is this to the development, how do we maintain overall well-being of tweens and a healthy balance? are there any significant lasting effects? WeareTwixt, offers parenting support for tweens/teens. We asked The British Psychological them for their thoughts. Society warns that ‘too much screen time can unintentionally READ MORE cause permanent damage to stilldeveloping brains.’ It also advises that when using screens ‘the For What’s On ability to focus, to concentrate… to sense other people’s attitudes and near you, pick up communicate with them, to build a large vocabulary… are harmed.’ your local print

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With new research suggesting that four in five parents think gadgets

Let’s also not forget that it’s valuable for today’s generation to be ‘tech savvy’ when it comes to the workplace.

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Magazine

However there are some pluses. Screens can be social, interactive and provide escapism. They can be an opportunity to connect with friends and family members; they can, at times offer a welcome break and respite from the challenges and anxiety of modern day living.

IT’s FREE!

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Magazine July/August 17

SUMMER FUN

Beach games and activities Bored of building sandcastles? Try these other great ideas to keep the kids entertained at the beach.

Beach treasure hunt You’ll need to give each child a bucket to collect treasure in for starters. Then they’ll need a list (words or pictures depending on their age). You can ask them to Running and jumping look for lots of different treasures like certain colour shells, different Sharks and minnows Play with a group of children. All you shapes of stone, a bird’s feather, need is something to mark out a big seaweed, driftwood. circle or square in the sand – and Throwing and catching children with plenty of energy! READ MORE Spiral stones Use a spade, piece of driftwood or Water bucket relay even sharp rock to draw a spiral in You can play this with two players the sand with a small circle in the or more. Each player will need a middle. The idea of the game is that bucket or container, as well as a children take it in turns to throw spoon, cup, or large shell to carry pebbles in the direction of the spiral. water in. A bit like darts, the closest to the READ MORE circle centre wins the round. Thinking and exploring Sand skeeball For this game, you’ll just need Outdoor noughts and crosses flat sand and a small spade or This game is perfect for dialling something to dig small holes with. down the pace a notch or two and goes down well if you’re feeling a bit READ MORE lazy! You’ll need something sharpish to draw the grid in the sand and then you’re ready to go.

18 July/August

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FOOD

Annabel Karmel’s easy toddler meals Enjoy these toddler meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, specially curated for Families by baby weaning and toddler food expert, Annabel Karmel.

Apple cinnamon sultana pancakes

Chicken apple balls

Dippy eggs and crumpet fingers

Sweetcorn and tomato rainbow fritters

Courgetti tomato sauce

Cheese and cherry tomato muffins

Mini fish pie

Spinach frittata

Mini cottage pie

Familiesonline.co.uk

July/August 19

FOOD

Tasty summer lunch ideas

Without too much time spent in the kitchen, you can keep the kids full of yummy, nutritious food. And involve them with the preparation, of course!

Ham and pineapple pizza muffins

Easy veggie fried rice

Salmon and cucumber sandwich

Egg mayonnaise pitta pockets

Scrambled egg, tomato and sweetcorn on toast

Tuna pasta salad

Chicken pasta salad

Beans, mushrooms and tomatoes on toast

Tomato and bacon muffins

20 July/August

Familiesonline.co.uk

FOOD

Away from home? Simple meal ideas Cooking in a kitchen with more limited facilities than usual or on a BBQ? Find inspiration here.

Rainbow pizzas

Fish finger butty with lemony mayo

Tuna rice salad

Anytime eggs & potatoes

Campfire doughnuts

Cowboy chicken & bean stew

Traffic light chicken shish kebabs

Campfire nachos

Marshmallow & strawberry kebabs

Familiesonline.co.uk

July/August 21

FOOD

DIY coconut, vanilla and blueberry yogurt ice lollies Emily Leary, multi-award-winning food, lifestyle and parenting writer, presenter and photographer and author of A Mummy Too shares her yummy fruit and yogurt lolly recipe - the perfect healthy summer cooler!

Equipment Chopping board * Kitchen knife * Weighing scales * Jug blender * Four lolly moulds with sticks * Spoon

Prep Time: 15 mins Freezing time: 8 hrs Servings: 4

Step 1

Pulse the blueberries, vanilla yogurt and coconut milk in blender.

Step 2

Continue pulsing until ‘smashed’ but not completely blended.

Step 3

Carefully spoon the yogurt mix into four lolly moulds.

Ingredients

90g blueberries 100ml coconut milk 100g vanilla yogurt

Step 4

Place a lolly stick into each cup. Freeze for a minimum of 8 hours.

Families Special Offer! 50% discount on RocketLearn summer school RocketLearn is holding a two week online Summer School for children ages 7 to 13. Aimed at keeping children learning over the Summer in a light, fun manner, the online sessions, accessible whenever, will cover maths, English, daily PE challenges and well-being sessions. The academic enrichment sessions will include challenges in coding, esports and teamwork among others. Maths sessions have three levels for different age groups, focusing on topics covered throughout the year in school, whilst English will be about fostering a love of reading – complete with suggested reading lists for children. The School is priced £50 for two weeks. Families readers can register for a 50% discount if they enter the code FAMILIES2021 HERE. 22 July/August

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FAMILY LIFE

Talking about racial stereotypes By Bilkis Miah With Black Lives Matter still on everyone’s minds, many questions have come to the fore about how we can challenge racial stereotypes and help our children thrive, regardless of their race. As parents and communities become more reflective, here are some tips to help you and your little one identify and talk about race. How do children learn racial bias? Children learn about racial bias from a young age, often from their surroundings and the people they come into contact with. This could be at school or at home. As early as 6 months, a baby’s brain can notice race-based differences. Between ages 2 to 4, children can begin to internalise racial bias.

This is an important time to work to unpick these beliefs. So what can I do? Plenty! Including talking to your children about race and the existence of racial bias, confronting your own bias and encouraging kids to challenge the stereotypes and bias they see. You can also give your children access to lots of different types of role models and expose them to many people from different cultures from a young age.

By age 12, many children become set in their beliefs and embedded in their views about racial stereotypes. READ MORE

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FAMILY LIFE

Is a vegan diet ‘safe’ for children?

Managing your child’s moods

By Louise Palmer-Masterton

By Louise Baty

When it comes to a child’s diet, balanced nutrition is important. It’s obvious that fifteen packets of beef and onion crisps for dinner means you’ve lost your way. But how do you know what constitutes a balanced plantbased diet for your family?

Dreaming of lazy beach days? Picnics in the sunshine? You’re not alone. It’s understandable to hold high hopes for this particular summer. But what if family days out are marred by the darkening of your child’s mood or their public outbursts of emotion? What can you do? READ MORE

Why doesn’t my ex want to see our children?

While supporting parents with legal aspects of their divorce and separation, Only Mums & Dads are contacted regularly by parents concerned that their ex-partner does not want to be involved with their children. This concern is usually accompanied by much emotion and sadness. So how can this be handled? READ MORE 24 July/August

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FAMILY LIFE

Taking the inside out this summer By Claire Winter The time spent in our gardens during the pandemic last summer opened many of our eyes to the potential of having a lovely space outside to eat, entertain and hang out in. No doubt it’s also left many of us focused on improving the outdoor space we actually have. So how can you make the most of your garden or outdoor area this summer? There are three important factors to consider when creating an inviting outdoor space for your family: Comfort. If you can make a space for comfy outdoor seating, the outdoor space can become a second lounge for the summer. Suitability for children. It’s worth considering whether you can create separate ‘zones’ for children and adults. Weather proofing. You can never

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rely on the British weather so this is a vital consideration if you don’t want rain and chilliness to ruin your plans. Firstly, comfort. This really is a priority; outside will never be as appealing as inside unless you think carefully about how to re-create the wonderful relaxed-feeling you have inside in your outdoor space. READ MORE

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SUMMER LEARNING

Fun educational apps for all ages Make screen time learning time with our top picks.

Khan Academy

Fish School

Think!Think!

Free app with high quality/creative early learning activities. Ages 2-7.

Learn basic ABCs & 123s with fun fish pals. Ages 3+.

Engaging mini game. Develops lateral thinking and spatial reasoning. Ages 7+.

LEGO DUPLO World

DIY.org

Teach your monster to read

Free-play and goaloriented mini games. Ages 2-5.

Virtual treasure trove of craft, activity and practical activities. Ages 5+.

Engaging way for kids to learn phonics and reading. Ages 4+.

ScratchJr

The Human Body

Marvel Hero Tales

Introduces coding with interactive stories and games. Ages 5-7. 26 July/August

Brilliant interactive app about the human body. Ages 7+.

Beat the villains & learn language skills. Ages 7-11.

Familiesonline.co.uk

SUMMER LEARNING

Back to school Get organised now! Don’t end the summer holidays with a frantic last-minute rush! Manage a successful and stressfree return to the classroom. Get organised early.

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May/June 2021 familiesonline.c o.uk

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Stationery Check out supermarket kits. Buy plenty of spares!

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Labelling Label everything. Choose your preferred labels and start early to avoid late nights!

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Uniforms & sports kit Do the summer sales. Check out second hand options or unbranded supermarket alternatives.

Never want to miss another issue?

School shoes Visit a shoe fitter. Shop before the last minute rush.

After school activities Take advantage of early bird/free taster sessions.

Haircut Phone early to get an appointment close to start of term.

Book after school care All schools are required to provide access to wraparound childcare but it’s popular, so book early.

Fa m

Doctors/Dentist/ Optician Get done at beginning of holidays.

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Magazine Familiesonline.co.uk

July/August 27

SUMMER LEARNING

Audiobooks for family road trips Great audio entertainment for the whole family to while away the traffic jams!

Ladybird Classics: The Complete Audio Collection Ages 3+. 10 hours 45 mins.

Matilda

Ages 7+. 4 hours 18 mins.

The World’s Worst Teachers Ages 8+. 4 hours 6 mins.

28 July/August

Finn Family Moomintroll

Ages 5+. 3 hours 33 mins.

Winnie-the-Pooh: The Complete BBC Collection Ages 4+. 3 hours 42 mins.

The Complete Chronicles of Narnia

How to Train Your Dragon

His Dark Materials: Northern Lights

Wolf Boy Book 1

Ages 7+. 15 hours 7 mins.

Ages 9+. 10 hours 45 mins.

Ages 7+. 3 hours 29 mins.

Ages 9+. 6 hours 25 mins.

Familiesonline.co.uk

SUMMER LEARNING

Seven steps to a book-filled summer Start small. For reluctant readers, start with magazines, comics or graphic novels. Let them choose. Children need to feel they are in charge of selection – as long as it’s age-appropriate. Join the Summer Reading Challenge. Your child will need to read six or more books during the holidays. Rewards include stickers and small prizes. Audiobooks improve literacy skills and whet appetites for more stories. Summer Book Club. Encourage your child to start a Book Club with friends. Then host a playdate with snacks and chats about their

favourite/least favourite parts. Keep it handy. Wherever you go this summer make sure you have reading material to hand. Make it a routine. Try to schedule regular daily ‘downtime’ for reading. Pick up a book at the same time as your child, so you can be a reading role model.

Children’s books with sound effects App from Readmio Watch how it works!

Familiesonline.co.uk

July/August 29

SUMMER LEARNING

Free printable activity sheets for all ages

My Daddies! colouring sheets

Tad activity sheets

Hungry Caterpillar activity sheets

Ladybird bumper activity pack

Pirate Stew activity pack

Building a Home activity sheets

50 Things to do before you’re 11 ¾ activity pack

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Hard Luck activity sheets

Swallows & Amazon activity sheets

30 July/August

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SUMMER LEARNING

Make ‘n’ do learning activities for under 5s Keep your little ones busy and engaged all summer long.

Bottle bowling

Enormous crocodile word game

Water boats

Touch and feel board

Ocean life zip lock sensory bag

Homemade potato stamps

Three Little Pigs masks

Farm tuff tray

DIY toilet roll poppers

Familiesonline.co.uk

July/August 31

BOREDOM BUSTERS

Make ‘n’ do learning projects for primary school kids Keep ‘em busy on those dull or rainy days this summer.

Recycled marble run

Water rocket

Water balloon piñata

Tin can stilts

Fruit & vegetable art

Vinegar volcano

DIY articulated hand

Rusty Rivets robot

DIY Luna Love Lovegood glasses

32 July/August

Familiesonline.co.uk

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

CAMPS, COURSES, CLASSES CAMP BEAUMONT St Albans Girls School and Queenswood School campbeaumont.co.uk Summer fun for 3-16 year olds Camp Beaumont has been bringing joy to lots of children and young people since 1980. Children will have the time of their lives at the summer camp, which has a choice of over 30 activities per age group, from tennis to rocket building! The camps take place at St Albans Girls School and Queenswood School, Hatfield, as well as other outstanding school sites in London and the surrounding counties. SAVE 10% when your quote FAMILIES21 and book by 1st August 2021. For more information, visit campbeaumont.co.uk TWISTED CHEER AND DANCE Unit 4, 28 Rucklers Lane, Kings Langley, WD4 8AU www.twistedcheeranddance. co.uk Fun cheerleading classes where you can learn to jump,

stunt, tumble and dance! Various classes thoughout the week across the age-groups (starting aged 4). For more information email: info@ twistedcheeranddance.co.uk RE:PLAY HOLIDAY CLUB St Albans Fun activities and crafts for half term and throughout summer for children aged 4-11. Indoor and outdoor facilities. Call 07913 323608 for more information. HAPpy HOLIDAY ACTIVITY CAMPS From 26 July through to 27 August, Hertfordshire County Council, Herts Sports Partnership and Hertfordshire Community Foundation will once again join forces to offer thousands of free, weekday places at holiday camps throughout Hertfordshire under the name ‘HAPpy’. The programme is open to all children and young people aged 5 to 16 and free to those who are in receipt of benefitsrelated free school meals. To book a place for your child, please ask your school for your unique HAPpy Booking Code before visiting www. sportinherts.org.uk/hafhappy

PAULINE QUIRKE ACADEMY pqacademy.com Act, dance, sing and make films! The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts provides outstanding performing arts tuition every weekend for children and young people aged 4-18 years old. Book a free taster session by visiting pqacademy.com

TRESTLE SCHOOL OF DRAMA Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive St Albans, AL4 0JQ www.trestle.org.uk/whatson 2–6 August (10am to 3 pm) Trestle will be running two unique summer holiday programmes jam-packed full of drama and games for ages 4-7 and 8-14. Each day the participants will learn new skills from Trestle-trained specialists and explore the theme to create their own story to share at the end of the week. Cost: £100 per child. More info at: takingpart@trestle.org.uk or call 01727 850950 Time Telescope Ever wanted to explore time? Who would you want

What’s On

to meet? From Romans of the past to robots of the future, join Trestle as we look through time, meeting people from the past and future bringing them to the present day. For ages 4 – 7. Lost in Time What would you do if you had unlimited time? Where would you go and what would you see? Join Trestle for a week of time travel as we use drama games, exercises and techniques to bring the past alive and travel into the future! The week will end in a mind-bending performance in the green space at Trestle Arts Base. For ages 8-14. ST ALBANS MUSEUM AND GALLERY Town Hall, St Peter’s Street, St Albans, AL1 3DH www.stalbansmuseums.org. uk/whats-on/ 14 August (from 11am) Trestle Mask Workshops Join Trestle Theatre Company for a playful workshop exploring their marvellous masks. Create your own characters and learn about mask technique through fun games and

Fill the school holidays with confidence-boosting adventures for your child

SwheAn VE 10% you quote FAMILIES21

and book by 1st August 2021.

BOOK NOW 01603 851 000

www.campbeaumont.co.uk/summer Terms and conditions apply, visit campbeaumont.co.uk for details

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What’s On exercises. Workshops are in small groups for 1.5 hours in the following age ranges: 11am-12.30pm (ages 8-11); 1pm-2.30pm (11-14); 3pm-4.30pm (14-18). The activity will take place in the Learning Studio which is on the ground floor and wheelchair accessible. Cost: £10. HERTFORD MUSEUM 18 Bull Plain, Hertford, SG14 1DT www.hertfordmuseum.org. uk Tiger Tales 27 July (10.30am-12) Crafts, singing, stories and fun for Under 4s! £6.50 per table: one adult and up to two children. This includes refreshments for children and their accompanying adult. Spaces limited for social distancing. Book in advance. What’s Under My Garden? 29 July (10.30am-11.30am and 2pm-3pm) Become an archaeologist and excavate layers of history in our blanket dig before creating your own layered garden model to take home. What will you find under your garden? Age 6+ (child will need to be dropped off, due to lack of space). Cost: £6 per child. Book in advance. Butterflies and Bugs 3 August (10.30am-12) Crafts, singing, stories and fun for Under 4s! £6.50 per table: one adult and up to two children. This includes refreshments for children and their accompanying adult. Spaces limited for social distancing. Book in advance. Build a Bug Hotel 5 August (10.30am-11.30am and 2pm-3pm) Join a bug hunt through the museum garden before designing and building your own bug hotel to take home. What bugs will you find? Age 6+ (child will need to be dropped off, due to lack of space). Cost: £6 per child. Book in advance. Create a Tudor Knot Garden 12 August (10.30am-11.30am and 2pm-3pm) Explore the beautiful knot garden and learn about the history of this style before 34 July/August

has to offer. Tickets must be booked in advance. Visit the website, call 01992 470 490 or email info@pwpark.com for more information.

designing and creating your own model knot garden to take home. Are you ready to become a Tudor garden designer? Age 6+ (child will need to be dropped off, due to lack of space). Spaces limited for social distancing. Book in advance. Woof! Woof! 17 August (10.30am-12.00) Crafts, singing, stories and fun for the Under 4s! Build an Eco Home 19 August (10.30am-11.30am and 2pm-3pm) Learn about how people have built their houses around the world by looking at photographs from the museum’s collection before designing your own house from recycled and organic materials to take home. How can we live more green? Age 6+ (child will need to be dropped off, due to lack of space). Spaces limited for social distancing. Book in advance. Monkey Madness 24 August (10.30am-12.00) Crafts, singing, stories and fun for the Under 4s! British Wildlife: Art and Adaptation 26 August (10.30am11.30am and 2pm-3pm) Meet and learn about animals from the museum’s taxidermy collection and let them inspire you to create your own work of wild art. How can you be inspired by our national wildlife? Age 6+ (child will need to be dropped off, due to lack of space). Spaces limited for social distancing. Book in advance.

PLACES TO GO HATFIELD HOUSE Hatfield Park, Hatfield, AL9 5NB www.hatfield-house.co.uk Tudor Legacies 1 August Henry VIII, his wives and children: Come and meet the personalities behind the portraits as all six wives regale you with their own individual experiences within a royal court full of scandal, intrigue and beheadings. An engaging and educational experience enjoyed by children, and their parents!

Immersion Theatre: The Jungle Book 2-3 August Filled with original music, audience interaction, and the chance to meet the characters after the show, join Mowgli and his friends, Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther, on a madcap jungle adventure as they meet and attempt to outwit a slithering snake, some cheeky monkeys, and the fierce tiger, Shere Khan! Cost: adult (£17.60), child (£11), family of 4 (£43.20). Immersion Theatre: The Three Musketeers 9-10 August Follow the young D’Artagnan as he travels to Paris to join the legendary Musketeers in a thrilling production brimming with excitement, danger, comedy, and bags of audience interaction. Will our heroes thwart the scheming Cardinal Richelieu and the deadly Milady de Winter? Will they retrieve the Queen’s jewels and restore her honour before it’s too late? Cost: adult (£17.60), child (£11), family of 4 (£43.20). ROCKIN’ ROMANS MINI ADVENTURE GOLF Verulamium Park, St Albans, AL3 4SN www.rockinromans.com Roman-themed 9-hole adventure golf and trampolines! Entertainment for all age groups. Golf: adults £5, OAPs and U16 £4, group of four £15. Trampolines: £3 (minimum 10 minutes). Party hire available. For more info email rockinromansgolf@ gmail.com PARADISE WILDLIFE PARK White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne,EN10 7QA www.pwpark.com Paradise Wildlife Park reopened in April and visitors have once again been flocking to the park to enjoy the amazing animal attractions and activities it

WILLOWS ACTIVITY FARM Coursers Road, London Colney, St Albans, AL2 1BB 0870 129 9718 www.willowsactivityfarm. com Lots of farmyard fun and games, including sheep shearing weekends. All tickets must be pre-booked online. CELTIC HARMONY Brickendon Lane, Brickendon, SG13 8NY celticharmony.org Summer Days Out With its thatched roundhouses and native woodland, Celtic Harmony is a place like no other. Enjoy a family day out in a unique outdoor setting at Celtic Harmony Camp, a small open-air museum, with located in beautiful native woodland. POLLY POTS STUDIO A new family-run arts and crafts studio has opened in Hoddesdon and is providing hours of fun for children and parents alike. If your little one enjoys fabric painting, ceramic painting, card making and decoupage then Polly Pots Studio is the place be. All equipment is provided on your visit. For opening times and costs, visit the Polly Pots Studio website at www. pollypotsstudios.com (birthday party groups also catered for).

ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS Hemel Hempstead www.dacorum.gov.uk/ adventureplaygrounds Open access play facilities delivering quality play provision and equipment, such as tubular slides, trampolines, multi play units, swings, mini splash areas, 3G Astro turf pitch, and an indoor cabin comprising of pool tables, table tennis tables, computers, games consoles, art and crafts area, kitchen and shop. Free of charge except for hot food and snack, which are all subsidised. Children under 8 years must be accompanied by an adult.

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HARPENDON JIGSAW FESTIVAL High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden, AL5 2RU www.harpendenjigsawfestival. co.uk 9-10 July Hundreds of completed jigsaw puzzles will be on show forming a dazzling visual display. As individual jigsaws are sold, others are put in their place! Puzzles for both adults and children. SUMMER SEASIDE, HITCHIN Market Place, Hitchin 3-26 August Hitchin will have its very own seaside in the town centre for families to soak up the sun and sand this summer. For three weeks, the Market Place will transform into a beach with a huge sand pit in the centre, surrounded by deck chairs, stalls for coffee and food and music. FREE

GENERAL DISCOVER HEDGEHOGS Hornbeam Hedgehog Sanctuary, Batford, Harpenden, AL5 13 July (2-3pm) www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Learn basic hedgehog facts - where they live, what they eat, the problems facing hedgehogs and why they’re in decline. Receive practical advice about how to help hedgehogs in your garden. Find out about basic hedgehog care and handling. This workshop is aimed at families, with the suggested age of children between 6-16. TOTFEST Hertfordshire County Showground, Dunstable Road, St Albans, AL3 7PT 7 August (12pm-5pm) www.totfestfestival.com TOTFEST is aimed at children aged 6 months to 5 years. Families can expect a day packed with preschool fun! There’s giant canvas painting, a baby rave, bubbleologists, crazy golf, drama workshops, story time sessions, a tots race track, miniature fairground, bounceland and live shows. Expect over 50 sessions, shows and activities scheduled to keep your little ones entertained all afternoon. CLASSIC IBIZA Hatfield House, Great North Rd, AL9 5HX

21 August www.classicibiza.co.uk Get a taste of the Balearics when Classic Ibiza comes to Hatfield House this summer! This is house and dance music done the Urban Soul Orchestra way! Headline DJs and globally renowned vocalists bring the party to Hatfield House. There will be a range of food stalls serving delicious food but you can bring your own, or maybe have a picnic on the grounds before the show begins! Visit the classic Ibiza websites for tickets. STANDON CALLING Standon Lordship, SG11 1EE 22-25 July www.standon-calling.com A fun-filled weekend escape for all the family. Take a laugh-out-loud trip through history with the theatrical delights of Horrible Histories Live or groove away to the incredible Dick & Dom DJ Battle. Try your hand at Magical Madness, Rock Your Socks Off in a unique Drum Competition, throw yourselves into The Wig ‘n’ Bowtie Parade Of Fools or enjoy the Big And

What’s On Bonkers Balloons and Big Top Workshops. There is lots to do for the younger ones too, with an Under 5s zone and more. Headliners for the festival are Bastille, Primal Scream and Craig David! TEDDY BEARS PICNIC Lydekker Park, Harpenden, AL5 2UQ www.harpenden.gov.uk 4 August The park comes alive with teddy bears and their small owners! This funfilled day offers a variety of free activities such as face painting, a bouncy castle, soft play and a Teddy Bear Hospital! Families will also be entertained with shows from Funnybones Music and Showtime Circus! Suitable for ages up to 10. Cost: FREE. CHURCH FARM ARDELEY Ardeley, Nr Stevenage, SG2 7AH churchfarmardeley.co.uk Church Farm Ardeley is open every day this Summer for you to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and enjoy the gorgeous countryside. Summer is a really special time on our farm, join in the

AS SUMMER APPROACHES AND THE COUNTRY OPENS UP AGAIN, SO DO OUR SHOPS, GROUNDS, GARDENS AND THE MILLIONS OF FLOWERS WITHIN. Look forward to savouring the sights, sounds and scents of summer, right on your doorstep. Book your tickets now. We can’t wait to welcome you. WHERE THE CITY ENDS & THE COUNTRY BEGINS

WWW.HATFIELD-HOUSE.CO.UK

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July/August 35

What’s On

fun where you can meet and feed all the animals and their newborns, and take part in real farm experiences such as egg collecting, apple picking and bottle feeding the goats (subject to availability). Explore the Woodland Fairy Trail, hunt for fairy doors and houses in the woods and around the fields, solve the fairy riddles and more. Call 01438 861 447 more information. BEEZEE BODIES HEALTH PROGRAMME beezeebodies.com BeeZee Bodies has designed a range of healthy lifestyle programmes to suit everybody. The courses are run by qualified nutritionists and wellbeing co-ordinators, who will work with you to make healthier habits for the long term. And the best part? All BeeZee Bodies courses are free for families in Hertfordshire. Book in for a 1-1 with the dedicated wellbeing team who will offer support

and advice to kickstart your journey to a healthy lifestyle. Or join our HENRY programme (if you live in Hertsmere, Dacorum, St Albans and Harpenden and Watford and Three Rivers) to get that extra support for your little ones (0-5 years) to create healthy habits and discuss topics such as nutrition, emotional wellbeing, parenting skills and getting more active. This is an 8-week course running from 12 July to 30 August. For more information call 01707248648. TREASURE TRAILS treasuretrails.co.uk There’s no better time to step outside and rediscover Hertfordshire with Treasure Trails – the perfect solution to safe, socially-distanced outdoor entertainment. These themed self-guided walking trail booklets (£9.99 each) take explorers on a circular outdoor route of approximately two miles. En route, you have the added challenge of working together to hunt down clues and solve a puzzling detective mystery, treasure hunt, or spy mission. Trails in Bishop’s Stortford, Buntingford, Hitchin, Hertford, St Albans, Ware. treasuretrails.co.uk

Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools

dr ama singing dance H H E A L TF E T Y A S AND OP OUR TITY R O I R P

School in:

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Saturday Mornings at Adeyfield Academy 3–18 years Other venues in Broxbourne, Harlow Potters Bar, St Albans Ware, Watford and many more...

TWO WEEK TRIAL AVAILABLE. BOOK NOW!

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

ENTER OUR MAGICAL WORLD OF MYTHS AND LEGENDS

13 Aug – 5 Sep

Book Tickets Today! openairtheatre.com/dragons

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This Summer This Summer Summer things are looking much happier

Hertfordshire’s Hertfordshire’s Hertfordshire’s Holiday Activity Programme Holiday Holiday Activity Activity Programme Programme

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things thingsare arelooking lookingmuch muchhappier happier

Monday Monday26 26July Julyto toFriday Friday 27 August Monday 26 July to Friday27 27August August

HAPpy HAPpy Holidays Holidays are are here! HAPpy arehere! here! Hertfordshire HertfordshireCounty CountyCouncil Councilhas hasjoined joinedforces forceswith withHerts HertsSports SportsPartnership Partnership Hertfordshire County Council has joined forces with Herts Sports Partnership and andHertfordshire HertfordshireCommunity CommunityFoundation Foundationtotoorganise organisean anexciting excitingprogramme programme and Hertfordshire Community Foundation to organise an exciting programme ofoffun funactivities, activities,healthy healthymeals mealsand andmore morefor forchildren childrenaged aged55toto16 16during duringthe the of fun activities, healthy meals and more for children aged 5 to 16 during the Summer SummerHolidays! Holidays! Summer Holidays! Thousands Thousandsofoffree freeweekday weekdayspaces spacesare areavailable availableatatholiday holidaycamps campshappening happening Thousands of free weekday spaces are available at holiday camps happening across acrossthe thecounty countyfor forchildren childrenon onbenefits benefitsrelated relatedfree freeschool schoolmeals. meals.These Thesecan can across the county for children on benefits related free school meals. These be bebooked bookedthrough throughthe theHAPpy HAPpyHoliday HolidayActivity ActivityFinder Finderfrom fromMonday Monday55July. July. can be booked through the HAPpy Holiday Activity Finder from Monday 5 July. Your Yourschool schoolwill willhave havesent sentyou youyour yourHAPpy HAPpyBooking BookingCode, Code,which whichyou youneed need Your school will have sentspeak you your HAPpy Booking Code, whichit.it. you need totoaccess access bookings. bookings. Please Please speak totothem them ififyou you have havenot notreceived received to access bookings. Please speak to them if you have not received it. InInaddition, addition,we wehave havea ahuge hugevariety varietyofofonline onlineideas ideasfor forsimple simpleactivities activitiesthat that In addition, weyour have a huge variety ofthe online ideas for simple activities will will help helpkeep keep your family family moving moving for for the recommended recommended 60 60minutes minutes each eachthat and and will help keep your family moving for the recommended 60 minutes each and every every day! day! every day!

Got Gotyour yourcode? code?Now Nowbook bookyour youractivity activityat: at: Got your code? Now book your activity at: sportinherts.org.uk/hafhappy sportinherts.org.uk/hafhappy

sportinherts.org.uk/hafhappy

ininpartnership partnershipwith: with:

in partnership with: Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Community Community Foundation Foundation

Families Hertfordshire July/August 2021

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Herts Summer Camp