News & ViewsEducation
Supporting highly able children at home
By Erin Miller
As a teacher, the most common question parents ask is: “How can I support my child’s learning at home?” All parents ask this, whether their child is struggling or flourishing.
Many schools do an excellent job in supporting their highly able children to build on their talents but, realistically, a highly able child will have a thirst for knowledge that must be fostered at home as well as in school. What to do at home is as much about creating the right atmosphere as it is finding enrichment activities for your child. I believe this is threefold. Firstly, be a home which is open to intellectual curiosity If your child expresses an interest in something, ask more questions and allow yourself to be guided by their interest through your choices in media, outings and family activities. Secondly, be a household which visibly values education. For example, having books on display in your home communicates that you value reading. This can be achieved easily and cheaply through visits to libraries and charity shops.
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, support your child to become an independent learner. Parents of highly able children often say their child is bored or under-stimulated at school. Relative to age, children need to understand that they also have a responsibility for their learning. They should have routines and practices to turn to if they finish their work first or want to pursue an interest. For example, always having a book or knowing where to find extension tasks or activities.
Since the Young Gifted and Talented Programme closed in 2010, there has been no official, national terminology to describe the most able students. As a result, the definition and identification of "highly able" varies from school to school. This definition is likely to be kept in-house, and rightly so, as making this label known to children can put pressure on them and impact students who do not receive such a label. So be cautious about discussing it with your child, if at all.
Resources for highly able primary learners
National Geographic Kids: humanities, natural sciences, games, videos, articles. www.natgeokids.com/uk
Epic Reads: hosts reading challenges for book-hungry children. www.epicreads.com
Primary Homework Help: wide range of resources aligned with the primary curriculum. www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk
NASA's Climate Kids: games, videos, activities about climate science. www.climatekids.nasa.gov
Aquila: a subscription magazine aimed at highly able children. www.aquila.co.uk
www.code.org: helps children learn how to code.
⏺ Erin Miller is a teacher with a keen interest in how research can be used in the classroom to improve learning.
KEEN London is looking for fun-loving, energetic individuals to become Volunteer Coaches!
Coaches help children with a range of physical and non-visible disabilities to enjoy games, activities and trips while boosting their confidence. Bring your empathy, patience, and energy to our Hackney, Lambeth, or Wembley services for laughter-filled Saturdays. This is your chance to make a real difference while having loads of fun! For more information and to apply, visit keenlondon.org
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It seems as though some of the theatres that serve this patch of London are pulling out all the stops to keep us entertained this winter. Find quirky, scientific and joyous events in our What's On round-up. If you can't get out – or perhaps have to work at home and wrangle children during hols – we have some great ideas for keeping them active and occupied on p12. Meanwhile, we can all dream of summer. Our article on family-friendly festivals rounds up our top picks.
Childcare roll-out
Top family-friendly festivals 2025 12 How to keep kids active indoors 13 SEVEN pages of What's On in North London 19 Purple Pages Directory?
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Three rules for a peaceful household
By Paul Dix
Ask your children what the rules are in your home and you may get a variety of strange responses: “Cleaning my room?” or “Is it not calling Granny 'skibidi bruv'” or even “There ARE rules?” In other words, the rules in your head are likely to be very different from the ones in theirs.
Teaching your household’s rules once and never referring to them again by name is common. However, just because you've taught these rules doesn't mean your child has learned them – ask any teacher. With a lack of clarity around the boundaries, many children become focused on trying not to upset the adults. This encourages the wrong behaviours –sneakiness, secretiveness and trying to hide things. Nothing positive is learned here. It is difficult to have a trusting relationship if one side can't be open.
Some homes have rules for every situation. For screens, for travelling on the bus, for where the toothpaste lives. There are so many that nobody can keep track of them. They are quickly forgotten and children don't have the consistency they need. Your child needs rules to feel safe. You need rules to stay sane. But you only need three and they must be simple. Three rules that can be used in a thousand different situations. Three pegs that you can constantly and consistently use to hang behaviour on – positive and negative. Every time you talk to your child about their behaviour, refer to one of your rules. Each time you celebrate fantastic behaviour, refer back to one of the rules.
I use Ready, Respectful, Safe. A lot of schools do the same. You might prefer Kind, Caring and Cooperative. The words
that you choose are not magic – you just need single word rules that can easily be integrated into every conversation about behaviour. Don't be tempted to negotiate rules with your child. You are the adult so you get to decide the rules. A lengthy negotiation won't give you better rules. It might just overcomplicate what needs to be perfectly simple.
Now set about your work. Make sure your child knows what Safe means when crossing the road and when they are online. Show them what Ready looks like before school and at night before bed. Teach them that Respect matters as much when talking to granny as it does to people you have only just met. Celebrate their great moments with equal emphasis on the rules: "Love how safely you were carrying that," "Thank you for being ready. It makes everything so much easier," and "I've noticed how respectful you have been talking to granny today. Also that you thanked her for the money."
Three rules are a solid foundation on which to build a new approach to behaviour in your home, one that is consistently safe, with boundaries that are central to guiding your child and your response to their behaviour. With real clarity around expectations, the rules in their heads will be the same as in yours.
A good sign? You might want to cover your fridge in groovy posters with the new rules, paint them as a bedroom wall mural or even tattoo them on yourself. Any of these would be most entertaining but won't do anything to help your child know and understand them. Instead of redecorating, simply make sure that the rules fall from the mouth of every adult, every time. When your child says to you: "ALL RIGHT, enough, I know the rules!!" that is a good sign.
⏺ Paul Dix is a specialist in children's behaviour and the author of When the Parents Change, Everything Changes: Seismic Shifts in Children's Behaviour, available from www.bookshop.org
Effective learning habits of smart
By Bradley Busch
Want to raise a high-flying child? Here's how to encourage the good learning habits that "smart kids" demonstrate that will set your child up for life. Believe they can improve. Kids can believe they have a fixed amount of intelligence, which can lead to a defeatist attitude towards schoolwork. They might say: "I know I can’t do this, so there’s no point trying." These children often give up on challenging tasks and reject feedback. Other children believe they can improve. They might say: "I find maths difficult so I’m going to try even harder." These kids have a growth mindset, believing they can improve by working hard and learning from their mistakes. This makes them better learners.
Try this: Praise your child’s effort, not achievement. Try: "I’m pleased with how hard you worked on your writing. What do you think would make it even better?"
Don’t compare. Smart children are more likely to focus on their own achievements and not compare their performance to others. This self-referencing leads to greater motivation and confidence. It’s the difference between saying: "I know I’m good at ten-pin bowling because I always win," and "I know I’m good at ten-pin bowling because I used to get 90 points and now I get 110."
Try this: "Your handwriting is really improving. Now try focusing on making your letters all the same size." Don’t say: "Why can’t you write as neatly as your sister?"
Ask for help. In late primary school, children can become reluctant to ask for help because they think it’s a sign of
weakness. But one of the hallmarks of a resilient learner is that they ask for assistance if a task is proving difficult.
Try this: Explain to your child that asking for help is the sign of a mature learner. If they’re having trouble with homework, encourage them to seek an explanation from the teacher.
Learn from feedback. Can your child absorb the teacher’s comments and guidance for improvement? Many students see feedback as criticism and are less likely to take it on board. Try this: Rather than asking "Is this okay?" – a question that leads to them accepting work that doesn’t live up to their ability – suggest that your child asks: "How can I improve this?" Children whose parents have high expectations for them do better at school.
Understand the purpose of work. If children understand why they’re doing a task or how it will help, they are more engaged and make more effort.
Try this: A good teacher prefaces a task by explaining why their pupils are doing it. For example, "this will help you understand what we’ll cover in science tomorrow." Help your child understand the purpose of their homework and why it’s been set. Is it a mock paper to help them do better in their SATs, for instance?
Recognise that procrastination isn’t helpful. Children often procrastinate because they don’t know where to start, the work looks too difficult or they don’t think they can finish it in one go. But once they start, they often realise it’s not as daunting as they thought.
Try this: Set a timer for ten minutes. Encourage your child to start the task, with the promise that they can stop when the
smart kids
bell sounds. Often they’ll want to carry on, as the brain doesn’t like leaving things unfinished.
⏺ Bradley Busch is a Chartered Psychologist and author of Release Your Inner Drive: Everything you Need to Know About How to Get Good at Stuff, available from www.bookshop.org
Relaxation and self-care
Being sleep-deprived has a noticeable impact on children’s academic achievement. Sleep is closely linked to children’s learning, memory and emotional control and children who regularly get a good night’s sleep tend to raise their results by one grade per subject in exams. Try this: Enforce a screentime ban an hour before bedtime and ensure tablets, phone and laptops are not in their room overnight. Using screens before bed could result in your child losing an hour of sleep per night.
Contrary to appearances, smart kids are not the ones who put hours into every homework task and stop going to their after-school clubs to revise for exams. Instead they balance their workload with extracurricular activities, seeing friends or just relaxing at home. Physical activity and social contact are linked to mental and physical wellbeing, which has a knock-on effect on their schoolwork. Try this: Make time to go to the park or for a family walk or run. Leading by example is important if your child is going to achieve a good work/life balance.
Our bespoke nurseries in Camden each offering something a bit different. Woodentots is r un from the hear t for families that would like their children to experience something special.
Our bespoke nurseries in Camden each offer something a bit different. Woodentots is run from the heart for families that would like their children to experience something special.
You are war mly invited to come and visit www.woodentots.co.uk
You are warmly invited to come and visit www.woodentots.co.uk
Our blended approach to the whole child Montessori, Waldorf, Forest School, Reg gio
Our blended approach cares for the whole child Montessori, Waldorf, Forest School, Reggio
Both ter m time and day care options!
Both term time and day care options!
News & ViewsEducation
The new childcare offering
By Purnima Tanuku
New childcare support is currently being rolled out by the Government. But what is being offered?
It is being delivered in stages, building on the 30 hours of funded childcare already available for children age three and four. However, the new offer is still only available to families where parents are working at least 16 hours a week.
The roll out has reached the stage of offering: 15 hours funded childcare a week for children age two 15 funded hours for children age nine months+
This will be increased to 30 hours funded childcare for all children under age five from September 2025.
Check if you can claim at www.gov.uk/check-eligible-freechildcare-if-youre-working
This funded childcare still involves costs for parents. The Government only pays for the actual childcare sessions. It does not include any meals, snacks, consumables or additional activities, so families can expect charges for these.
The funded hours are only during term time. Most parents work all year round so providers may “stretch” these hours across the year, reducing the hours per week.
Depending on the length of your sessions, you will need to pay for any additional hours you need at the nursery’s usual fee. Funded hours have never covered the actual costs of delivering high-quality early education and care.
Families might struggle to find places. Following years of underfunding and rising costs, hundreds of nurseries are closing and thousands of qualified practitioners and childminders are seeking better paid jobs. The pressure is clearest in areas where nurseries depend on funded hours and less on parent fees, creating childcare deserts.
With the doubling of funded hours, the DfE estimates that 70,000 new places, needing an additional 35,000 staff will be required by September 2025.
Minimum staff to child ratios in England for children age two are now one adult to five children. Looking after five twoyear-olds is stressful and many providers prefer to work with smaller groups.
Ahead of September, speak to your choice of childcare provider as early as possible to try to secure a place – especially if you live in an area of high demand such as the city centre.
⏺ Purnima Tanuku OBE is Chief Executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) (www.nda.org.uk), a charity with a mission to see children and families to thrive through access to high-quality early education and care.
Reception
Naturally better
What does the best start in education look like?
Access to wildlife and nature, plastic-free, a beautiful garden to free flow into, an environment where adults foster confidence, independence, creativity and resilience? Even being supported by adults who can draw on a range of approaches to find the best way to support a child as they explore a rich environment to become school-ready.
Sound idyllic? Woodentots, which has Nature Nurseries in Camden and Kentish Town, draws on Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio and Forest School practices to create just that.
Founder Paula Woodman said: “Our child-led play gives children the freedom to explore the world using their senses and stimulates their innate creativity while learning to manage risk.
“Our nurturing teachers keenly observe so that they can build on a child’s individual curiosity and support them in a responsive rather than a reactive way.”
And that’s not all. Woodentots recognises that what will serve children well in the future are soft skills, and builds foundations for those too.
“We hope to help children understand empathy and be able to fully express their emotions,” said Paula, who was named Montessorian of the Year 2017. No wonder one parent described it as "heaven for children". www.woodentots.co.uk
020 8444 9435 - admin@nlcolourstrings.co.uk
Try a free confidenceboosting class this spring
Perform classes use drama, dance and singing to develop the 4 Cs - confidence, communication, coordination, and concentration – combining learning with fun.
This term, Perform 4-7s are on a sparkling underwater adventure Under the Sea while 7-12s work on a thrilling adaptation of a classic fairytale, in Bluebeard’s Bride. Imaginations will soar as children work towards a magical performance for family and friends.
All abilities welcome. Just come ready to have the best fun of the week! For a free trial class visit www.perform.org.uk/try
Venues: N1, N2, N3 NEW, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N10, N11, N12, N14, N16, N19 NEW, N20, N21, N22, EN5, NW1, NW2, NW3, NW5, NW6, NW7, NW8, NW11, EC1R, EC1Y
020 7255 9120 ✉ enquiries@perform.org.uk
Step through the wardrobe with Perform
A drama, dance and singing adventure for 4-10s awaits this February half-term in a holiday course based on The Lion, the Witch & the Wardobe. With a magical final performance for family and friends, it’s the perfect half-term treat. Visit www.perform.org.uk/lion
Dates: Feb 17-19. Time: 10am to 3pm.
Venues: Highbury, St John's Wood, Muswell Hill
020 7255 9120 ✉ enquiries@perform.org.uk
Hosting and teaching international students: a rewarding experience
Hosting students on a language homestay is an enriching experience for both student and host.
Students can learn the language in an authentic environment, as they engage in real-life conversations, gain cultural insights, and practise in natural contexts such as family meals, social interactions, and activities. For hosts, it is a chance to share language and culture in a meaningful way, foster cross-cultural understanding and create lasting international friendships.
Top family-friendly
Compiled by Andrew Campbell
Discover the ultimate family-friendly festivals across the UK in 2025, where music, arts and outdoor adventures come alive for all ages. Discover unique experiences ensuring memorable moments and endless fun for families in vibrant, engaging and often idyllic settings.
Camp Kindling Sevenoaks, Kent 15-18 Aug
A magical, intimate, family retreat in an ancient forest, featuring over 100 activities. Children can enjoy thrilling adventures like water slides, zip lines and rock climbing, while adults take in live music, theatre and comedy performances. Pre-bookable activities ensure no lost time and there are no hidden costs.
www.campkindling.co.uk
Bearded Theory Catton Park, Derbyshire 21-25 May
Sensational live performances for adults across multiple stages. Award-winning children's offering includes fun educational classes, a Toddler Tent with soft play, a pop-up library, poetry tent and creative workshops such as puppet-making, kids' chill-out area, face painting, circus activities and a talent show. NEW: Kids Rave On, with club lighting and DJ performances. Evening highlights include LED light shows and performance by the unique DOGSHOW. www.beardedtheory.co.uk
Elderflower Fields Ashdown Forest, Sussex 23-24 May
Delightful family-friendly event offering a weekend filled with music, sports, nature exploration and arts. Tailored for young families, highlights of this intimate festival include Dragonfly Hill for lively performances and Leapfrog Lawns for crafts and games. www.south.elderflowerfields.co.uk
2-4 May
Influent specialises in offering full-immersion homestay language programmes for children, teenagers, adults and professionals alike. Homestays vary in duration, generally ranging from one to three weeks, and typically include private tuition sessions, full-board accommodation and optional activities.
Hosting provides a flexible way of earning income from the comfort of your home. As a freelancer, you decide when to work and whom to host, allowing for a worklife balance. It also allows you to establish meaningful connections with people from around the globe!
Thinking of becoming a host teacher with Influent?
Visit: www.influentme.com/become-a-host-family
Immersive three-day music event, and winner of Best Family Festival 2022, with all profits supporting children’s cancer research. Over 100 acts from international acts to new performers. Offers activities for all ages, including fairground rides, comedy tent and axe-throwing www.teddyrocks.co.uk
Festival of Sport Packington Estate, Warks 1-4 Aug
An exciting weekend filled with diverse sports activities for children age five to 17. Featuring expert coaching and interactions with sporting legends, kids can explore rugby, hockey, cricket and much more. Provides a unique opportunity for children to learn, play and be inspired by sports heroes. www.festivalofsportuk.com
Teddy Rocks Charisworth Farm, Blandford, Dorset
festivals for 2025
Latitude Henham Park, Suffolk 24-27 July Award-winning Latitude is among the biggest of the familyfriendly festivals with a huge array of activities for both children and parents. It’s a proper pop festival in the beautiful grounds of Henham Park with a stunning Kids’ Area. Expect fire shows, pizza-making, traditional woodland crafts and exciting science experiments, a more relaxed but packed programme in the Enchanted Garden and an Inbetweeners Teen Area. www.latitudefestival.com
The
Big Retreat Pembrokeshire, Wales, 23-25 May
The festival celebrates wellbeing and adventure with yoga, fitness and live music. It offers diverse children's activities, including storytelling, discos, water slides, circus toys and bushcraft workshops for survival skills and nature exploration. Families can enjoy a creative and inspirational atmosphere filled with arts, crafts, singing, dancing and wellbeing classes – an inclusive experience in which they can have fun, enjoy and learn together. www.thebigretreatfestival.com
Camp Severn Kids Festival West Mid Showground, Shropshire 25-27 July
Camp Severn (top right) offers an all-inclusive adventure for children age three to 13. This family-friendly event is packed
Ballroom & Latin Dance Classes
Want your child to learn those Strictly Come Dancing moves?
We encourage creativity, individuality and self-expression
with interactive workshops, outdoor games and themed events such as Space Camp, with Star Wars characters, singing princesses and inflatables. The festival also features engaging science workshops, blending fun and education. With camping options available, families can immerse themselves in the festival atmosphere, enjoying a hassle-free experience where all activities are included in the ticket price. www.kids-events.co.uk
Parenting
Ways to keep kids active INDOORS
By Ellie Malt
Ah, winter. The season of... cabin fever? Yes, keeping children off screens is challenging. Well, challenge accepted! Read on for ways to keep them moving indoors.
Blanket fort extravaganza
Let’s start with a classic: building a den. BUT we’re not talking about a tiny tent in the corner of the living room. Oh no. We’re going mega. Take every blanket, sheet and cushion you can find and transform your living room into a fortress. Once built, challenge your kids to make a pillow obstacle course inside
Mission impossible
Place a prize in the middle of the room. Then tie string so it criss-crosses the room at different heights and angles. T hese are your invisible lasers. One child wears a blindfold. The second child instructs them on how to navigate the maze without touching the string to get the prize. They must return through the " lasers" to win. Better still, get them to build it.
Kitchen disco
Who doesn’t love a dance-off? Turn up the tunes and let your kitchen become a mini nightclub. Throw in some lights and you’ve got your own kitchen disco. Not only will this burn off
Would you like to host and teach English to a foreign student in your home ?
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some energy but it’s also a perfect opportunity for you to introduce your kids to your OG dance moves.
Tabletop showdown
Got a kitchen table? You’ve got a ping pong table in the making! Grab some makeshift paddles – books work – a lightweight ball, or use a scrunched paper ball, and let the games begin. You can use paper plates and a balloon for a slower version. Change things up: tape empty boxes to the table ends to make goals and use straws to blow the balls.
Stairway cardio
If you have stairs, build some stamina and get a cardio workout going Set challenges such as "How many times can you go up and down in two minutes?", "Can you beat your score by the end of the week?" or climb a landmark. Tower Bridge has 206 steps, Big Ben 334 steps. Keep a chart and make it a challenge for the whole family. Older kids could be encouraged to do a sponsored or timed stair marathon.
Find the key
Hide clues around the house that lead to a key to access a final reward. Each clue can come with a mental puzzle or code to solve, look online for inspiration. Use physical challenges too such as "Stand on one leg for ten seconds before winning the next clue. For older children you may want to theme this as an escape room.
French skipping
All you need is a long piece of elastic to create a loop. Two people stand in the loop with the elastic stretched around their ankles, while others jump in and out following a rhythm and a pattern. With every successful turn, the loop is raised further up the legs.
Race across the living room
Everyone has ten minutes to find as many boxes and bits of junk as possible. Then they have one hour to build a vehicle. Each child will get to test their creation by attaching it to their body and taking part in a kneeling race. They must stay inside the vehicle and cannot hold it with hands, arms or feet. Depending on their age, you could add an obstacle or two. Points can be applied for style, originality, moving parts etc.
Indoor agility course
Create an indoor agility course for either your children or pets. Using masking tape, you can create an agility ladder across the floor and a makeshift balance beam. Everyday objects can become a series of jumps. Boxes taped together make great tunnels. Let your kids complete the circuit and try to beat their personal best.
WHAT’S ON!
To have your event listed on these pages email the details to editor@ familiesnorthlondon.co.uk
Disclaimer: We aim to be as accurate as possible, but these listings are compiled several weeks beforehand and may be subject to change. Please check before setting out.
SEND sessions Some venues run sessions for children with special needs. See our page at www.bit.ly/FNLsend
Family Theatre
Ongoing
Tales from the Shed Saturdays
Jan 25-Mar 1. Vibrant, inclusive, informal and educational show. 10am & 11.30am. Chickenshed, N14 4PE. 0-6. Adults & children £7. Under 6m free, must book. www.chickenshed.org.uk
Interactive Storytelling Tuesdays. Various times. The Woodman N6 5UA, 0-5. From £8.50 parent & child. www.littlesupernovas.com
Planet Play Fridays
Jan 24-Feb 28, Interactive, sensory show. 10am. Some 11.30am shows. 0-3. Chickenshed, N14 4P. Adults £10, toddlers/babies free, must have ticket. www.chickenshed.org.uk
Until
The Singing Mermaid Until Jan 26
Musical adventure of a mermaid tricked into joining a travelling circus. Will she ever escape and who will help her? 3-8. Various times, dates. Little Angel Theatre, Dagmar Passage N1 2DN. Adult £17, child £15. 4.45pm performances £12. www.littleangeltheatre.com
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Until Feb 2 8+, 2hrs 30. The Other Palace, SW1E 5JA. From £26 https://theotherpalace.co.uk
Day by Day
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: A Family Concert Adventure
18 Jan 3pm. A musical adventure through the seasons for all the family. 4+ Kings Place, N1 9GE. £20, child £15, plus fees. www.kingsplace.co.uk
Town Mouse & Country Mouse
19 Jan 11am, 2pm. Two friends embark on an amazing journey and discover that sometimes new can be exciting and different can be good. 3-7
artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £12.75 www.artsdepot.co.uk
The Little Mermaid 23-25 Jan
Shows at 11am, 4pm on 25 Jan. Pantomime presented by the staff of PwC. Peacock Theatre, WC2A 2HT. From £28, u16 £14. www.sadlerswells.com
Out of the Box
26 Jan 11am, 2pm. Family-friendly comedy show packed with surprises. Jacksons Lane, N6 5AA. £14. www.jacksonslane.org.uk
The Little Prince 26 Jan 11am, 2pm. With puppetry and original music, the boy who fell to earth teaches his friend the Aviator about love, life and real happiness. 5+ artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £12.75. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Pig Heart Boy
26 Jan-22 Feb
Based on the novel by Malorie Blackman. Cameron, 13, wants to be normal – but he needs a heart transplant and must choose how far he’ll go to get his life back. 9-13. Unicorn Theatre, SE1 2HZ. From £10.50, child from £6.50. www.unicorntheatre.com
February
A Squash and a Squeeze 1 Feb -27 Apr
Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler. 3-8 Little Angel Studios, Sebbon St, N1 2EH. (See online for Family Workshops, 5, 6 April.) Adult £15, child £13, 4.45pm shows £10. Previews 1
& 2 Feb £8. www.littleangeltheatre.com
Comedy Club 4 Kids
2 Feb, 16 Mar
3pm. Like a comedy club, but without the rude bits. 6+. Park Theatre, N4 3JP. From £15 plus fee. https://parktheatre.co.uk
Megson Family Folk Show
2 Feb
11am, 2pm. Fun folk music. 0-8 artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £12.75. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Soft or Spiky?
3 Feb
10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm. A playful discovery of shapes, sounds and textures for babies, 25mins, plus stay and play. 6-18ms. artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £8. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Home Song
7 Feb
Various times. Multi-sensory show, puppets, interactive soundscapes and a capella singing. 30 mins plus play time. 6-18ms. Unicorn Theatre, SE1 2HZ. Adult & baby from £15. www.unicorntheatre.com
Frog & The Princess (and Other Stories)
9 Feb
11am, 2pm. What if wishes were granted? Adaptation of Grimm’s magical tales, with puppets and original music. Jacksons Lane, N6 5AA. £14. www.jacksonslane.org.uk
Crafty Fools: Adventures in Science
9 Feb 11am, 2pm. Join “The Magical Mr
What's On
West” on an incredible adventure into the world of science. 6+. artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £12.75. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Room on the Broom 12-13 Feb
10.30am, 4.30pm. Jump aboard the broom with the witch and her cat in this fun adaptation of the popular book. 3+. artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £12.75. www.artsdepot.co.uk
The Very Hungry Caterpillar how 15-20 Feb
Various times. Eric Carle's timeless stories leap from the page to the stage in this delightful show featuring a menagerie of 75 loveable puppets. 50mins. 1+. artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £14. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Little Angel Theatre’s Miniature Travelling Circus
15 Feb-19 Apr
Various times/days. Roll up! Take your seats for the smallest circus in town. 2-5. Little Angel Theatre, Dagmar Passage N1 2DN. Adult £15, child £13, all 4.45pm shows £10. www.littleangeltheatre.com
Megson Family Folk Show
16 Feb
11.45am. A fun folk music.0-8 Kings Place, N1 9GE. £13, child £11, plus fees. www.kingsplace.co.uk
The Wonderland Garden
16 Feb
11am, 1pm, 3pm. Journey through the changing seasons, blending live
music and theatre. 0-6. Jacksons Lane, N6 5AA. £14. www.jacksonslane.org.uk
Trash!
18 Feb-1 Mar
7.30pm. Matinees 2.30pm on 19, 22, 25, 26 Feb & 1 Mar. A fun, musical family show with high-voltage percussion, comic performances and more hi-vis jackets than bin day. Peacock Theatre, WC2A 2HT. From £18, child £9, plus £4 per booking. www.sadlerswells.com
Circus Cabaret for Kids
18-22 Feb
11am, 2pm. Acrobatics, j aerial feats, mind-bending juggling, and tricksters who walk on their hands. Packed with surprises and laughs. Jacksons Lane, N6 5AA. £15. www.jacksonslane.org.uk
Prancer The Dancer
19 Feb
11am, 2pm. A journey in dance to find confidence, travel through time, and revolutionise the world though the power of dance – with a smash hit disco party soundtrack. 2+. The Place, WC1H 9PY. £10. https://theplace.org.uk
So Unfair! 20 Feb 11am, 2pm. Interactive science demo – with a twist. How can we make things more fair? And what could go wrong if we don’t? 7-10 artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £12.75. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Bird Boy 20-22 Feb
11.30am, 6pm. Energetic all-ages dance, exploring the chaotic and vivid inner world of someone who doesn’t fit in, with a highly physical performance. See video trailer online. 40mins, 7+, Sadlers Wells East, Stratford, E20 2AR. From £15. www.sadlerswells.com
Early Weaves 22 Feb
10.30am, 12.30pm. Dance. Willow and Weave embark on a journey of building trust. Aimed at early years. 55mins in stay and play. 2+. The Place, WC1H 9PY. £14, child £10. https://theplace.org.uk
Shoemaker
23 Feb
1pm, 3.30pm. An explosive hip hop theatre modern take on The Elves and the Shoemaker. As a family struggling to save their shoe-making business, the youngest son, recently diagnosed with ADHD, is torn between his vibrant imagination and the demands of factory life. Explores neurodiversity, identity, and the challenges of family life. Millfield Theatre, N18 1PJ. £6 www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk
The Brick People 23 Feb 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm, 4pm. Freeflow Lego workshops. 1hr. 3-12. artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £6. www.artsdepot.co.uk
The Littlest Yak 2 Mar 11am, 2pm. Musical adaptation of the award-winning children’s book, with puppets, catchy tunes and an uplifting tale. Jacksons Lane, N6 5AA. £14. www.jacksonslane.org.uk
Four Seasons 2 Mar
11.30am, 2.30pm. Magical gardeners create a celebration of the wonder and weirdness of nature and our place within it, with puppets, physical theatre and clowning. 3-7 artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £12.75. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Soft or Spiky?
3, 4 Mar
Various times. Playful discovery of shapes, sounds and textures for 6-18m. 25mins and stay and play after. Grand Junction, W2 5TF. Various prices, inc pay what you can. https://grandjunction.org.uk
The Detective Dog
8 Mar-9 Mar 11am, 2pm. Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie’s well-loved story.
When the books at the school have disappeared one morning, Detective Dog Nell is ready to sniff out the culprit. Jacksons Lane, N6 5AA. £15. www.jacksonslane.org.uk
Creation – The Bubble Show 9 Mar
2pm. Journey through the origins of Bubbleland, brought to life in a dazzling display of soap and water. 3-12. artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £14. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Bing’s Birthday 15-16 Mar
Various times. Join Bing and his friends Sula, Pando, Coco, Amma and Flop as they get ready to celebrate his special day. 2+. artsdepot, N12 0GA. From £12. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Mess 16 Mar
11am, 2pm. Join Princess Olive on a quest to find the Tidy Up Troll. 2+. Jacksons Lane, N6 5AA. £14. www.jacksonslane.org.uk
Events
Ongoing
Starting Jan
Coding Club
New. Tottenham Community Sports Centre, N17 8AD. See online for details. 8-15. Free. Adult volunteers needed. www.breadlinelondon.co.uk
Bring Your Baby Pub Quiz & Walks
Various dates. Venues throughout North London. www.bringyourbaby.org
Monster Funfair
Play exhibit, 0-8, running alongside permanent play spaces, 0-11. Often has hol events. Book. Discover Children’s Story Centre, E5 4QZ. www.discover.org.uk
Family Sundays
10am, 3pm. Informal performances, interactive singing or dance, theatrecraft, and upcycling activities, designed for 3-10 but all welcome. 2hr 30mins. Gets booked up. If interested, get on mailing list. Royal Ballet and Opera, WC2E 9DD. www.rbo.org.uk
Guildhall Family Activities
2nd Sunday of the month and hols 11am-4pm. Plus story corner, costumes and building bricks available. Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Amphitheatre, EC2V 5AE. Free, best to book. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/events/ second-saturday
Wonderful Wildlife Weekends
Every other Sunday
12 & 26 Jan, 9 & 23 Feb, 23 Mar. 1pm-3pm. Camley Street Natural Park, N1C 4PW.
12 & 26 Jan, 9 & 23 Feb, 9 & 23 Mar. 1pm-3pm. Woodberry Wetlands, N16 5HQ.
5 & 19 Jan, 2 & 16 Feb. 2, 16 & 30 Mar. 1pm-3pm. Walthamstow Wetlands, N17 9NH.
All ages. Drop in. Free, donations welcome www.wildlondon.org.uk
Junior Park Run 2km
Sundays
9am. Fun family runs. Enfield Town Park, EN2 6TJ, Lordship Rec Ground, N17 6BQ, Priory Park N8
8LN, Caledonian Park N7, Highbury Fields N5, Friary Park N12 9PQ, London Fields, E8 3EU, Leyton Jubilee Park, E10 7BL, Paddington Rec W9 1PF, Queen’s Park NW 6SG, Furzefield Leisure Centre EN6 3BW, Cheshunt Park EN7 6QD. 4-14 Free, register. www.parkrun.org.uk
Crafternoons
Sundays
Check dates online. 2pm-4pm. JW3, Finchley Road, NW3. 3-8s and their families. Free, drop-in. www.jw3.org.uk
Sats & Suns
Character Encounters – Sats. Join an exciting performance and see maritime history brought to life. Various times.
Discover Sundays – term-time. Creative activities. Drop-in. Plus hands-on galleries and trails. Has holiday activities.
National Maritime Museum, SE10 9NF. All ages, Free. www.rmg.co.uk
Play Studio
Weekends, Fridays and holidays
Families can play, make and create together. Plus Story Space (weekends, Thurs and hols) and Tate Draw, every day. Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG. All ages, Free. www.tate.org.uk
Cutty Sark Family Fun
Weekends and Fri-Mon in hols
Meet the cast of colourful characters from the ship’s past. Talk to the captain, chat with the cooks, even take a tour with Nannie, the figurehead. Follow a free family trail and discover what life was like on board as a 19th century sailor and
join in musical storytelling sessions inspired by Cutty Sark’s crew. Cutty Sark, SE10 9HT. www.rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark
Ted’s Space Adventure Weekends and holidays Planetarium show, u7. 11.30am, weekends and school hols. Check website for The Sky Tonight, 7+, Starstruck 7+, and other shows, including, 8 March, 10.30am, South Asian Astronomy: Holi, 7+. Plus see Earth From Space through a satellite lens, inc with ticket. Booking advised. Adult £12, child £6. Royal Observatory, SE10 8XJ www.rmg.co.uk
Library Club Tuesdays in term time
With reading corner and diverse book-pairing service. 0-13. 3.305.30pm. Hackney Showroom, N4 2BN. Free, drop-in. www.hackneyshowroom.com
Buggy Fit In The Park
Tuesdays
10am. Meet at Broadwater’s Children’s Centre, N17 6HE, for a buggy walk around Lordship Rec supported by Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. For parents/carers children in buggies. Free. www.tottenhamhotspur.com/theclub/passionate-about-tottenham/ our-work
Soft Play Disco Wednesdays term-time Hang-out for babies, toddlers and their adults, with soft play and music. 10-10.45am for pre-walkers 11am-noon 1-2s on the move. Book. Hackney Showroom, N4 2BN www.hackneyshowroom.com/ easy-rollerz
Until...
Until Jan 25
Virtual Worlds: Corals at the Grant Museum
Virtual reality experience to learn about coral. During Museum opening hours: Tues-Fri 1pm-5pm. Sat 11am-5pm. Rec 6+ but open to all. Drop-in. Free www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/whats-on/ virtual-worlds-corals-grantmuseum
Power Up
Booking until Feb 14
Consoles and games from the past five decades. 5+. Must book. Science Museum, SW7 2DD. £12, Annual pass £18. www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
Barbie: The Exhibition
Until Feb 23
Discover rare, unique and innovative dolls dating from 1959 to the present day and see the evolution of one of the world’s most famous dolls. Design Museum, W8 6AG. Adult from £14.38, 6-15 from £7.19. www.designmuseum.org
The World of Tim Burton Until April 21
Explore remarkable creations and key collaborations with designers. Booking recommended. Design Museum, W8 6AG. From £19.69, 6-15 from £9.85. www.designmuseum.org
Anthony McCall Solid Light Until Apr 27
Step inside sculptures of light. £10, u12 free. (Make it a day outcombine it with a free Tate Modern Family Tour. Check online for
dates.) Tate Modern, E1 9TG www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024
Until Jun 29
Natural History Museum, SW7 5HD. (Plus: Guided Tour, various dates £30, £25. And: Downloadable/ Printable Activity Trail – a great tool for helping you to engage the children). Adult from £15.50, 4-16 from £9.25. Fam discounts. www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/ wildlife-photographer-of-the-year. html
Electric Dreams: Art and Technology Before the Internet Until Jun 1
Work from the early innovators of optical, kinetic, programmed or digital art. Features colourful & interactive. Tate Modern, SE1 9TG. £22, child £5, u12 free. www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
Until Jul
Astronomy Photographer of the Year Exhibition. National Maritime Museum, SE10 9NF. Currently free. www.rmg.co.uk
The Future of Money
Until Sep
Can the tooth fairy go cashless? Are cryptoassets money? Who decides how we pay? How will the Bank of England futureproof the economy? Has holiday activities. Bank of England, museum entrance on Bartholomew Lane, EC2R 8AH. Open Mon-Fri. Free. www.bankofengland.co.uk/ museum
Visions of Nature
Whether it’s somersaulting into a future Olympics or learning an important life skill, there is always a Better lesson and course that will help your child achieve their goals. Discover lessons and courses available at a Better leisure centre near you in Hackney by visiting better.org.uk/lessons
What's On
Booking until Jun 30
Mixed reality peak into the future to see how our actions can make a better world for wildlife. 8+. Natural History Museum, SW7 5HD. £9.95. www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/ visions-of-nature.html
Day by day
January
Contemporary paintings fom the Lingnan School 8 Jan-3 Feb. Children will love to pick out their favourites. Paintings of animals, birds, and fish among the subjects. Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, N6 5HG. Gallery open Thurs to Tues 12-4pm. Weds 11am-3pm. Except private events. Check website. Free. www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk
Early Years Studio 15 Jan, Animals & Wildlife 9 Feb, Paint: Experiment with paint. 10-11.30am, 12-1.30pm, 2-3.30pm. U5. Royal Academy of Arts, W1J 0BD. Free, drop-in www.royalacademy.org.uk
Here We Are 17, 18 & 20 Jan
Various times. Storytime and crafts based on the book by Oliver Jeffers. 18m-7. Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End, N8 8PL. £5, redeemable against books in store on the day. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk
3D Stopmotion Animation 18 Jan 10.30, 2pm. 2hrs. Plan a short sequence, devise sets and create shots. All levels and abilities. 7-14 and their adults. Masterclass with Chocolate Films. Young V&A, E2 9PA. £25 www.vam.ac.uk/young
Museum of London Family Walks 18, 25 Jan: Great Fire of London 25 Jan: Roman London 10.30am. 1hr. 5-11. Check back for later dates. £10, child £8. www.londonmuseum.org.uk/ whats-on
Family Workshop: P-P-P-Penguins 18, 19 Jan 10am, 11.30am. Make a cute sock penguin to celebrate Penguin Awareness Day. 3-6. Little Angel Studios, Sebbon St, N1 2EH. £9.50. www.littleangeltheatre.com
Sunday Funday 19 Jan, 23 Feb
Workshops with activities related to the history of Lauderdale House. 4-10. 11am. N6 5HG. Free, drop in. www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/ whats-on/sunday-fun-day
Clay Baby Print Workshop 20 & 27 Jan or 3 & 10 Feb
Two-part artist-led workshop to capture your baby’s hand and footprints in clay, and return to paint them. Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End, N8 8PL. £50. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk
REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground 21 Jan-1
Part installation, part adventure playground. 6m-11, in separated play sessions. Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX. Book early, dynamic pricing. (Part of Imagine Festival. See other events from 18 Feb.) From £7.50, £3.50 booking fee. www.southbankcentre.co.uk
Storytelling & Music for 0-4s 22, 23, 29, 30 Jan, 5, 6, 12, 13, 20, 26 Feb 10am, 11am, 12pm. With musical instruments, singing, movement and stories. Royal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP. Child £6, or £1 subsidised. www.royalalberthall.com
Lunar New Year 24, 25 & 27 Jan
Various times. Storytime and crafts. 18m-7. Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End, N8 8PL. £5, redeemable against books in store on the day. www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk
Burns Family Ceilidh
25 Jan
3-5pm. A fun afternoon of music and plenty of dancing. Grand Junction, W2 5TF. £12, 2-16s £6. https://grandjunction.org.uk
Make It: Fashion
25 Jan, 15 & 22 Feb 10.30am, rec 5-7. 1pm rec 8-10, 3pm rec 11-13. 90mins. Explore what it means to be a designer and design your own fashion prints, inspired by the Naomi exhibition. V&A, SW7 2RL. Booking essential. £20. www.vam.ac.uk
February
How to Kill an Asteroid 1 Feb
2pm. There are about 25,000 “city-killer” asteroids in near-Earth orbit, but we haven’t found them all yet! Join award-winning science journalist Robin George Andrews as he explores the development of the technology that makes it possible to deflect an asteroid away from Earth. U13. The Royal Institution, W1S 4BS. £16, child £10. www.rigb.org
Orchids
1 Feb-2 Mar
Peruvian Orchid spectacular. Included with entry to gardens. Book time slot for Orchids. (Also Expressions in Blue, hand-thrown and painted monumental porcelain, in Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, included in entry). Kew Gardens, TW9 3AE. Various prices, concs for u29. Book online for best price. www.kew.org
Depot Family Tours
1 & 19 Feb, 8 Mar
Various times. 1hr. Uncover the stories of some of the very special vehicles in the bus and train shed, aimed at families with children 5-9 1hr. London Transport Museum. Acton Depot. W3 9BQ. £12, child £6 www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/ family-events/depot-family-tours
Nearly New Sale
8 Feb
Top-quality baby and children’s clothes sold by mums to mums at a fraction of the high street price. Parents with outgrown goods can sell and keep 100 per cent of the proceeds. 10am-12noon. St Stephens Church Hall, Park Avenue, EN1 2BA. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk
Crafting with Colours & Screening
8 Feb, 22 Mar
11am, 1pm, 3pm. 60mins. Make and dance inspired by the Naomi exhibition, mindfulness, and fashion. Play with light and colour. For families, 5+. V&A, SW7 2RL. Drop in, free. Limited capacity. Allow time to queue. www.vam.ac.uk
The Moonwalkers: A Journey
with Tom Hanks
14 Feb-22 Feb
Family-friendly immersive telling of the story of the Apollo missions to the moon, and the Artemis mission. Will please families and space buffs too. There is one very loud noise as Apollo 11 takes off. All ages From £25, child from £15. U3 free. Dynamic pricing. Book early. Lightroom, N1C 4DY www.lightroom.uk
Crafting the Silk Road
Feb 15
11.30am-4.30pm. Learn about the history of weaving and make your own Silk Roads-inspired weave. 14+. Created with adult audience in mind. British Museum, WC1E 7JW. Drop in, free. www.britishmuseum.org
Making Egypt
15 Feb-2 Nov
Exhibition exploring ancient Egypt's creativity and how it continues to influence art, design and popular culture. Young V&A, E2 9PA. £10 www.vam.ac.uk/young
Behind the Poster
15-20 Feb
15-19 Feb The Artist’s Studio: Design and print your own London Transport poster. 7+
15-19 Feb Layers of London Art: Build an artwork of London in layers of colour and shape. 5+ 20-23 Feb Strike a Pose: Discover how characters from LT posters, people and animals, express emotion. Drama and dance. u5
15-23 Feb Framing London Transport: Compose the perfect poster. All ages London Transport Museum. The
Piazza, WC2E 7BB. Free with admission. www.ltmuseum.co.uk
STEM week 15-23 Feb
15-18 Feb, 11am, 2pm, mathsthemed Bubble Show 4-10
Adults require ticket too, £6.50. 20-23 Feb, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, Laser Tag sessions. 8+, £6.50, Adults won’t require ticket & must stay with children.
17-10 Feb, 11am 1pm, 2.30pm, Airfix Make-and-Take Workshops, 7+, £5.
19-21 Feb, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, Paper Airplane Designing Contest 4+. £3.
Entry free. Must book. Parking charge. RAF Museum. NW9 5LL www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london
Colonel Blood and the Theft of the Crown Jewels 15-23 Feb 11am, 1pm, 3pm. Family-friendly costumed performance. All ages. Tower of London, EC3N 4AB. Inc in admission. www.hrp.org.uk
Family Storytelling 15, 17 Feb. Macbeth. 5-12 and their families.
16 Feb. Twelfth Night. 5-12 and their families.
18 Feb. The Comedy of Errors, 5-12 and their families.
19 Feb. The Tempest, 5-12 and their families.
12.30pm, 3pm. Shakespeare’s Globe, SE1 9DT. £15 www.shakespearesglobe.com
Family Workshops 15, 17, 20, 21, 22 Feb. Macbeth, 5-8 and their families. 11am, 1.30pm.
16 Feb. Twelfth Night, 5-8, and their grown-ups. 11am, 1.30pm.
16 Feb. Twelfth Night, 9-12 and their grown-ups. 11am, 1.30pm.
18 Feb. The Comedy of Errors, 5-8 and their grown-ups. 11am, 1.30pm.
18 Feb. The Comedy of Errors, 9-12 and their grown-ups. 11am, 1.30pm.
19 Feb. The Tempest, 5-8 and their grown-ups. 11am, 1.30pm.
19 Feb. The Tempest, 9-12 and their grown-ups. 11am, 1.30pm. (Also booking for Easter.) Shakespeare’s Globe, SE1 9DT. £10. www.shakespearesglobe.com
SOIL activities
17-21 Feb
17 & 20 Feb DIY Seed Bombs, 11am-6pm. Make a seed bomb to plant wildflowers wherever you are. All ages. Drop-in. Free with admission.
18 Feb The Gardening Drawing Club, from 11am. 5+ and their adults. Must book free ticket.
19 Feb The Language of Landscapes with Conscious Landscape, 11am, 3pm. Interactive workshop: lie down, observe and listen to the voice of the land. Book, adult £5, child £3.75.
21 Feb Tales from Below: Storytelling, Science and Seed Sowing, 11am, 1pm. 5-11. Book, adult £5, child £3.75.
Part of exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet. Somerset House, WC2R 1LA. £18.50, 6-11 £10. www.somersethouse.org.uk
Family Chocolate Making Workshop 17, 19 Feb
1pm. Design your own chocolate treats and learn about the cacao
plant. Includes entry to garden. £20, child £15. 5+. Chelsea Physic Garden, SW3 4HS. £20, child £15. www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Nature Discovery & Storytime 17 Feb
10.30-11.30am Nature Storytime. Aimed at u6, but all welcome. 1-3pm. Nature Discovery. Children of all ages and carers. Camley Street Natural Park, N1C 4PW. All ages. Drop in. Free, donations welcome.
www.wildlondon.org.uk
T Rex Show with Teach Rex 17-21 Feb
10..30am, 1pm, 3.30pm. Interactive, prehistoric journey. Show 1hr, then 30m photo opp. 3+ to adult. Check website for other half-term activities and object-handling. Natural History Museum, SW7 5HD. £12. www.nhm.ac.uk
Design Camps 17-20 Feb
Inspired by the World of Tim Burton exhibition see “Until, April 21”.
17 Feb: Stop Motion Animation, 8-11. Digital Character Design, 11-14
18 Feb: Architecture and Worldbuilding, 8-11. Coding and Interactive Storytelling, 11-14
19 Feb: Coding and Interactive Storytelling, 8-11. Architecture and Worldbuilding, 11-14
20 Feb: Strange Designs, 8-11 Stop Motion Animation, 11-14 Design Museum, W8 6AG. Camps approx 6hrs. £74, Early bird £67 until Jan 27. www.designmuseum.org
What's On
Imagine Festival
Booking fee £3.50, book early to avoid dynamic pricing
18 Feb, 10am, 1.30m. 2hrs. Afro Dance: Learn some new moves with dance duo HomeBros. 5-11 Drop-in, free.
18-23 Feb, 10.30am-4pm approx. Giant Chalkboard: make your mark. 3+. Drop-in, free.
18 Feb, 10.45am Poetry Adventures with Kate Wakeling: playful interactive poetry workshop. 1hr. 6-11. Adult and child £10.
18 Feb, 11am Mini Architects: be inspired by iconic architecture. 45mins. 3-5. £8.
18 Feb, 11.30am, 1.30pm Writing Workshop with Lisa Williamson author of Bigg School. 1hr. 9-11 £10.
18 Feb, 1pm Supertato Party, with Sue Hendra. Enjoy stories, silliness and the chance to make your own veggie superhero to take home. 45mins. 3-5. £8.
18-23 Feb, Various times. There’s a Bear on my Chair. Stage-adaptation of Ross Collins’ much-loved book. 1hr. 2-7. £14.
18 Feb, 3pm Jodie Lancet-Grant: The Wild West Twins. Saddle up for a rip-roaring event in celebration of our differences, featuring interactive storytelling and Wild West-themed games. 45mins. 3-5. £8.
18-22 Feb 3.30pm The Meditation Station: recharge and resettle after an exciting day. 30mins. 5+. Free. No book.
19-22 Feb, Various time slots. Great Big Tiny World: settle in among hundreds of real plants and sense the environment come to life around you. 45mins. 0-12m. Adult and baby £20. 19 Feb, 10.30am, 1.30pm Singing
All Over The World: different choirs throughout the day. 5+ Drop-in, free.
19-23 Feb, 10.30am A Message
For The Future: a meditative installation of pop-up gig-theatre performances. 0-3. Pay what you can, no fees.
19-20 Feb, various times. The Colour of Dinosaurs: rip-roaring, prehistoric science pop gig for curious humans. 6-11. £14.
19-23 Feb, various times. Imagine Artist Studio x WOM Collective: street art masterclass. 1hr. 7-11. Pay what you can, no fees.
19 Feb, 11am, 1.30pm Mapping Magical Lands: interactive writing and reading workshop with Eric Huang. 1hr. 6-8, older siblings and friends welcome. £10.
20 Feb, 10.30am Ballet Besties. Principal Ballerina Yasmine Naghdi shares her debut children’s book series. 50mins. 7-9. £8.
20 Feb 10.30am, 1.30pm When Stories Come Alive: hear incredible storytellers. 2hrs. Drop in, free.
20 Feb, 1pm Grimwood Party with Nadia Shireen: Sharpen your pencils and prepare to laugh your head off. 1hr. 7-9. £8.
20 Feb, 3pm Darryl Gadzekpo & Ella Phillips: Plant to Platehow to grow mighty ingredients, then transform them into feasts. 1hr. 7-9. £14.
21 Feb, 10.30am, 1.30pm Big Laughs for Little Bellies: with comedian and magician Ada Campe and friends. 2hrs. 5+ Drop-in, free.
21 Feb, 11.30am, 1.30pm Worlds of Words: Translation and Drawing Workshop, explore poems and stories from around the world. 1hr. 9-11. £10.
21, 22 Feb, 2.30pm, 6.30pm Roll-
Opening Season
ercoaster: Pop-punk juggling. 1hr. 7+. £14.
22 Feb, 10.30am, 1.30pm Zoo Nation’s Hip-Hop: Dance workshops and performances in various styles influenced by hip-hop. 2 hrs. 5-11. Free, drop-in
22 Feb, 10.30am A Morning with Dav Pilkey and Dog Man. 1hr, 7+ £12.
22 Feb, 1.30pm An Afternoon with Draw with Rob. 1hr. 5+. £12.
23 Feb, 10.30am, 1.30pm Prancer the Dancer’s DanceDanceDiscoParty FunShow, 2hrs. 4+. Drop in, free.
23 Feb, 10.45am Dr Ronx: How to Save A Life. 50mins. 6+. £10.
23 Feb 1pm, 3.15pm CBeebies
Wildlife Jamboree: Join CBeebies friends and animals to celebrate the natural world with the BBC Concert Orchestra. 1hr 15. 2+. £12.
23 Feb, 1.30pm Lunchtime with the Lollies Awards. Promises lots of laughs from winners of The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2024. 50mins. 6+. £10.
23 Feb, 3.30pm History’s Most Epic Fibs. Comedian and writer Athena Kugblenu separates history fact from fiction. 50mins. 6+. £10.
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX. www.southbankcentre.co.uk
Family Soap Making Workshop
18 Feb
1pm. Make your own soap and learn about the awesome plants we used to create it. Includes entry to garden. 5+. Chelsea Physic Garden, SW3 4HS. £20, child £15.
www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Time Travel Club: Building London
18 Feb
Holiday Clubs
Moss Hall Playcentre
Team games, model making, den building, bake offs, park trips and more fun days at our high-quality, affordable camps for 4 to 11s. Flexible childcare where everyone is supported. In Moss Hall Infant School, N12 8PE. Tax-free/ Childcare Vouchers accepted. 07731669002. ✉ enquiries@ mosshallplaycentre.co.uk www.mosshallplaycentre.co.uk
After School Education
Hillgate Tutors
We support from age 5 to university, understanding your child’s needs and matching them with one of our highly-qualified passionate educators who will create a tailored learning plan. Hillgate Tutors listen, guide, encourage and monitor your child to help them achieve their absolute best. Tutoring at your home or online. 07748 956581 to discuss. www.hillgatetutors.co.uk
saw you in Families
Music Tuition
Colourstrings
Kindergartens for a brilliant start and long-term success in music!
Stratford sadlerswells.com/east Emma Martin / United
10.30am, 1.30pm. Explore iconic landmarks of London through original drawings and plans from the collection. Uncover what the city looks like today, then craft your own building to help create a giant map of London. 8-11. (Also, Time Travel Craft Club, all ages, £2, on same day). The National Archives, TW9 4DU. Must book for child. Can book one free sibling with each ticket, £5. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Family Nature Discovery & Storytime 18 Feb
Birdboy
10.30-11.30am Nature Storytime Aimed at u6, but all welcome. 1-3pm. Nature Discovery. Children of all ages and carers. Walthamstow Wetlands, N17 9NH. Drop in. Free, donations welcome www.wildlondon.org.uk
National Gallery Half-term 18 Feb 12pm, 2pm Family Lute Tour: a musical adventure bringing paintings to life through tales and tunes. Spaces limited. Wristbands given from 11am in Central Hall. Rec 5+. Free. 18, 19 & 20 Feb 11am, 1pm Decoding Pictures: Learn fun tips and tricks to unlock secrets hidden in plain sight. 5-13. Spaces limited. First come. Wristbands given from 10.30am in Central Hall. Free 19, 20 Feb 12pm, 2pm The Sound of Paintings: Discover sound in pictures and create your own. Families, all ages. Spaces limited. Wristbands given from 11am in Central Hall. Free
Develop your child’s musical talent in Kodalybased music kindergartens and instrumental programmes 6ms to 6yrs, and avoid waits for our NL Conservatoire instrumental programme for 5-19s. Muswell Hill, Highgate, Islington, Bounds Green, Hendon, Call 020 8444 9435 for a trial of 3 discounted lessons or email admin@nlcolourstrings.co.uk www.nlcolourstrings.co.uk
Robert Young – I am a fun, energetic pianist, keyboardist, violinist and singer based in Northwest London offering a range of interactive lessons. I teach the piano and violin and I offer the opportunity to master a popular instrument. There are face-to-face lessons available. 07950015269 to discuss. ✉robert@young1.org http://robert.young1.org
Performing Arts
Perform Classes
Confidence building weekly drama, dance and singing classes for 4-7s and 7-12s. Classes are designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination. Visit www.perform. org.uk/try to book a FREE class. Venues: N1, N2, N3 NEW, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N10, N11, N12, N14, N16, N19 NEW N20, N21, N22, EN5, NW1, NW2, NW3, NW5, NW6, NW7, NW8, NW11, EC1R, EC1Y
Half-term holiday clubs: Highbury, St John's Wood, Muswell Hill. Feb 17-19, for 4-10s. 10am-3pm. www.perform.org.uk/lion 020 7255 9120 ✉enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk
Stage Academy
Puss in Boots Nursery
College Francais Bilingue de Londres
Purple Pages
Hyland House School
At Stage Academy, kids learn to communicate, articulate, and connect, mastering moves, perfecting lines and hitting notes, building resilience, tackling challenges and growing stronger – skills that last a lifetime. Let them sing. Let them dance. Let them act. Learn to shine with Stage Academy this year! Classes in N1, N3, N6, N8, N12, NW6 & HA7 for 4-18s. 100% LAMDA pass rate. Book a fee trial today. Plus we can bring our Stage Academy magic to your party with innovative Stage Parties for all ages. Let us take care of everything, leaving you to enjoy the party. stageacademy.co.uk
Live 4 Dancing Ballroom
We are London’s premier dance school for Ballroom. Parents see the difference in their child’s dancing in just 4 weeks! Our Ballroom dance classes offer excellence in Ballroom dance training. They promote improved coordination, correct posture, strength, flexibility, improved self-confidence and body image, teamwork, and discipline. Students can take exams assessed by world-leading body the IDTA, and sparkle on stage in performances. 07990 842796 ✉info@live4dancing.co.uk www.live4dancing.co.uk
Moving Waves
Our happy, nurturing environment and forest school for children aged 2-4 is nestled on the south west tip of Hampstead Heath. We are Ofsted Outstanding for 8 years. Our dedicated team Is passionate about early years education but don’t take our word for it, or Ofsted’s. See our testimonials and join our Open Mornings on Fridays. To book email amelia@pussinbootsnursery.co.uk 0207 267 2181 www.pussinbootsnursery.co.uk
Nursery Places Available
Based in the heart of London, CFBL provides exceptional English-French bilingual education to girls and boys aged 3 to 15. Bilingual education equips students with the soft skills and global mindset that will prepare them for the workplace of the future. Our students grow into ambitious, confident and wellrounded individuals, and their educational attainment opens doors to prestigious universities
Childbase Nurseries
Nursery Places
Our nurseries provide outstanding care and education for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, with days packed full of activities designed in line with EYFS principles and implemented by highly-trained and knowledgeable staff. Children have daily access to outdoor space. Open 7.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Fully inclusive service. https://childbasepartnership.com
King Alfred School
A Christian, independent school, we empower our 2 to 11s to aim high and dream big. Our children are achieving excellence. Our Early Years is Ofsted-graded Outstanding. 1-6 are graded Good. Contact us to arrange a visit. Please contact us for more information or to arrange a visit. Hyland House School is at 97 Holcombe Road, Tottenham, London, N17 9AB. 020 8520 4186 ✉info@ hylandhouseschool.org www. hylandhouseschool.org
Channing School
We know that each child is unique and has their own set of strengths and areas to develop. Our child-centred approach allows us to foster joy and understanding of the learning process. We have instituted child-friendly, rigourous and informal testing. We celebrate commitment, curiousity, courage and compassion, to create the foundations for happy, successful and fulfilling lives. We are rated excellent in all areas. www.kingalfred.org.uk
Palmers Green High School
Channing is a happy, purposeful place of intellectual enquiry and personal discovery for girls aged 4 to 18. While we enjoy the benefits of our location in Highgate, we are not what you might expect from a North London girls’ school. “Girls Enjoying Success” is shorthand for the unique educational philosophy that we offer. Find out more about our approach on our website. www.channing.co.uk
Family Wellbeing
We run a variety of dance and drama classes such as: Street Dance, Break Dance, Ballet, Tap Dance, Musical Theatre, Contemporary Dance and Commercial Dance in North London, for 3-17s. Based in Haringey (N15) and Archway (N19), we also run after-school clubs at primary schools. Our confidence-building classes focus on learning and developing skills through creativity and having fun. We believe that the practice of any art form is a powerful and therapeutic tool for any person's development. www.movingwaves.org
The London Mets baseball club is an allvolunteer organisation located in Finsbury Park. We welcome boys and girls aged 5-15 of all experience levels in a family-oriented, player-focused environment. Our highly dedicated coaches provide a good mix of fundamental training and game experience. Please join us for a free taster session to discover the club and the beautiful game of baseball. 07752013587 www.londonmets.org/youth London Mets
Schools & Nurseries
The World of Woodentots
BY NICOLA LORENZ MANASSEH
Please call 020 8447 1914 or email woodlands.barnet@childbase.com
We look forward to hearing from you
An independent Day School and Pre-school in North London for girls and boys aged 3 -11 years, rated 'Excellent in all areas' by the ISI. We are an inclusive, friendly, family-feel school nurturing excellence in a diverse culture, developing the potential in every child. To find out more contact admissions@ hendonprep.co.uk or call 020 8203 7727.
Woodentots
Create the best start and a magical childhood with Woodentots, a collective of bespoke nature nurseries embedding the rich pickings of Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio and Forest School. With over 33 years experience, nature and creativity are at the core of our child-led approach. Find our nurseries in NW1 and NW5. ✉ woodentotsmontessori@gmail. com www.woodentots.co.uk
At Palmers Green High School, we specialise in educating girls aged 4-16. PGHS is a very special "through-school" where pupils progress in a familiar setting and benefit from seamless transitions across the key stages. Our class sizes and exceptional pastoral care offer a level of personal attention that is unrivalled, and which allows every pupil to be their individual, authentic self. We challenge and guide our pupils to achieve their full potential within our warm and friendly school environment. www.pghs.co.uk
My French Physio
We are a team of physiotherapists, osteopaths and midwife, each highly specialised in their fields. My French Physio combines our expertise, in women’s health, babies and children, osteopathy, sport physio and post-surgery recovery, to provide you with a comprehensive approach adapted to your needs. Based in Camden Town, we offer home visits. 07491 987919 https://myfrenchphysio.london
For over a decade, our five multilingual nurseries in Angel (formerly Mars Montessori), Crouch Hill, Paddington (formerly Les Trois Oursons), Tufnell Park and West Hampstead, have provided exceptional childcare in a nurturing environment. In addition to our focus on French and English, our Mandarin programme introduces children to the beauty and richness of Mandarin Chinese. Our children enjoy a perfectlybalanced 4-course menu, organic wherever possible. www.lpe.uk
Providing a sense of belonging to each and every girl, St Mary’s offers an outstanding and inspirational education to girls aged 2 ½ to 11 years. Rated in the Top 5 UK Prep Schools in the Catholic Good Schools Guide 2024. Excellent 11+ results and offers to leading senior schools. We are proud of our 150-year history and traditional ethos, whilst remaining a leader in innovative Prep education. Our spacious facilities, including the Global Learning Centre, house a robotics and engineering lab, and our wonderful virtual reality room. Visitors always welcome. ✉ admissions@stmh.co.uk. www.stmh.co.uk
Influent
Would you like to host and teach English to a foreign student in your home? We are recruiting hosts who can offer a spare bedroom, 3 meals per day and the required lessons and activities. You choose when and who to host. Payment from £500 to £800 per week. Find out more host@influentme.com www.influentme.com
Would you like to host and teach English to a foreign student in your home ?
We are currently recruiting hosts who can offer a spare bedroom, 3 meals per day and the required lessons and activities
Tiny Talk – Learn to communicate with your baby before they can speak, at an award-winning TinyTalk baby signing class. Interactive music class and sensory activities, plus time for a cuppa. www.TinyTalk.co.uk/zahrak Baby, Toddler,
St Mary's School Hampstead
Les Petites Etoiles
Hendon Prep
(Plus play The Keeper of Paintings and the Palette of Perception. immersive experience exploring the gallery via mobile device for 7-11.) The National Gallery, WC2N 5DN. www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Half-term at NAM
18-21 Feb
18, 20 Feb 11am, 12pm, 1pm ZooLab: Amazing Animals. Meet some real-life experts in adapting to the dark. 45mins. Collect a free ticket at the Welcome Desk. 5+ 18-21 Feb, 10.30am, 1.45pm
Soldier Silhouettes: Explore light, dark and glowing material. 5+ 2hrs. Drop-in, free. 19, 21, 22 Feb 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.15pm Marching Orders: Duty in the Dark 5+. Drop-in, free. National Army Museum, SW3 4HT. Closed Mons. Entry free. www.nam.ac.uk
Science & Snacks: Escaping the Enemy 19 Feb
6pm. 1 hr. Discussion. Why is there so much plant diversity in the
tropics. Learn about the role of insects, pathogens and other natural enemies. Young people 13+. The Royal Institution, W1S 4BS. £10. www.rigb.org
Fuel The Future
20 Feb
2pm. Explore chemistry and fuels from the past, present and future. u13. The Royal Institution, W1S 4BS. £16, child £10. www.rigb.org
Family Nature Discovery & Storytime 20 Feb
10.30-11.30am Nature Storytime Aimed at u6, but all welcome. 1pm-3pm. Nature Discovery. Children of all ages and carers. Woodberry Wetlands, N16 5HQ. Drop in. Free, donations welcome www.wildlondon.org.uk
Time Travel Club: Fantastical Fairytales Storytelling 20 Feb 10.30am, 1.30pm. Imaginative and interactive storytelling, and see a real archive document too. 5-7. (Also, Time Travel Craft Club, all ages, £2, on same day). The National Archives, TW9 4DU. Must book for child. Can book one free sibling with each ticket, £5. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Family Fun Day: Food, Glorious Food! 22 Feb
11am-4pm. Activities and science run relating to the Christmas Lectures 2024. U13 and their families. Books up quickly. The Royal Institution, W1S 4BS. £16, child £10. www.rigb.org
Family Studio: Trash to Treasure 23 Feb 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm. Weave with recycled materials. Drop-in. Firstserved. For families with children of all ages. Royal Academy of Arts, W1J 0BD. Free www.royalacademy.org.uk
DNA Time Travel 1 Mar
Learn how DNA can teach us a lot about the humans who came before us. u13. The Royal Institution, W1S 4BS. £16, child £10. www.rigb.org
Looking ahead...
Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank: Macbeth 13 Mar-20 April
Fast-paced 90-minute version created especially for young people. Shakespeare’s Globe, SE1 9DT. £75-£5. U18 half-price seated. www.shakespearesglobe.com
My First Swan Lake 16-27 Apr
Specially adapted for aged three up with a narrator to help follow the story, a shortened version of Tchaikovsky’s wonderful music and beautiful dancing by students from English National Ballet School. Peacock Theatre, WC2A 2HT. £12.00, plus family ticket offer. www.sadlerswells.com
England Women v India at Lord's 19 July
Make Lord’s your family destination this summer when England’s Wonder Women face India for a One Day International. Enjoy a full day of world-class cricket, plus plenty of activities to take advantage of, from face-painting and cricketing games to family friendly stands and extra facilities. Save on tickets with a fantastic Family Offer – Buy two adult tickets and receive two under 16 tickets for free. lords.org/women
...and further afield
Observatory Open Evening 17 Jan, 7 Feb, 7 Mar Demos, talks, planetarium and more. Bayfordbury Observatory, SG13 8LD. £15, u13 £8, u3 free. Book www.herts.ac.uk/bayfordbury/ bayfordbury-observatory/visit-bayfordbury-observatory
