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In this issue:
From your Editor… We're ready to party. If you are too, Sally J Hall has some fun theme ideas for your event. If you have creative flair you’ll run with her ideas and if you want initial inspiration, look no further. With better weather on the horizon it's a good time to introduce children to outdoor sport. Sports Journalist, Adrian Warner, presents some of the options. If you are concerned about the so-called ‘summer slide’, Brain Training, by Liat Hughes Joshi has some fun common sense ideas to keep children’s brain cells busy. Our half term What's On listing is fulsome and there are more events on line at www.familiesherts.co.uk. Lastly, enter the competition for a chance to win a family ticket to Willows Farm Village, where children will have a magical experience in the brand new Peter Rabbit Playground.
Where are we? Baldock, Bishops Stortford, Borehamwood, Chorleywood, Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Hitchin, Kings Langley, Knebworth, Letchworth, Radlett, St Albans, Stevenage, Ware, Welwyn GC. Pick it up from cafes, playgroups, nurseries, schools, activity groups, selected shops, surgeries, leisure centres and libraries. Email or call to request copies for your venue.
Shelley Families Herts, PO Box 434, Pinner, HA5 9AH Tel: 020 8428 6384 editor@familiesherts.co.uk www.familiesherts.co.uk
News & Views: 4 Parties: 6 Competition: 9 Education: 10 Clubs & Classes: 12 Half Term What’s On: 13 Next Issue: July/August 2016 Copy deadline: 3rd June
Image credit: ©lotosfoto1 www.depositphotos.com
Next issue:
SUMMER SPECIAL To advertise your summer camp or activity call 020 8428 6384 or email editor@familiesherts.co.uk
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News & Views Calling all Young Writers! Is your child excellent with words? Do they like telling stories? Or do you want to encourage their creativity? If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above, then it is time for them to put pen to paper. The National Young Writers’ Awards judges are looking for the best short story of under 500 words based around this year’s theme of ‘The Mash-Up’. The winner of the competition will receive £500 worth of books for their school and a trip to Disneyland Paris! The annual awards, run by tuition company Explore Learning, are now in their 8th year. This year’s judge is renowned author of the Charlie and Lola series of books, Lauren Child. To find out more and to enter, either pick up a form from your nearest Explore Learning centre or visit www.explorelearning.co.uk/ youngwriters
Monkey Music Monkey Music, Harpenden and St Albans, have announced two new venues in St Albans for the Summer term: Thursdays at Trestle Arts Base, and Fridays at Homewood Road United Reformed Church. Both venues have free parking and there is a lovely café at Trestle Arts Base. Monkey Music classes are tailor-made for children and families. The 30-minute sessions captivate children with a combination of catchy music, songs, percussion instruments, visual props and high energy. There is plenty of opportunity for children to get handson making music and exploring their own learning. Adults attending Monkey Music often say that the sessions are a family highlight for their babies and children and for them too! To find out more or book a free class go to www.monkeymusic.co.uk, email harpenden.stalbans@monkeymusic.co.uk or call 01582 620446
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Be a Museum Explorer! The ‘Museum Explorer Passport’ is back across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex, with 40 museums taking part. In Hertfordshire, museums taking part are British Schools Museum (Hitchin), Lowewood Museum (Hoddesdon), Mill Green Museum and Mill (Hatfield), Royston Museum, St Albans Museums Service, Watford Museum and Welwyn Roman Baths. The scheme encourages children to explore the collections within the museums and beyond. Pick up a free passport from your local participating museum. Children will get a passport stamp at every museum they visit. For every exciting ‘mission’ they complete they will get a special sticker. The passports can be used from May and throughout the summer holidays. Find out more at www.museumexplorerpassport.com
Centre 4 Excellence
Happy Birthday Ma’am
Does your child mispronounce words, often ask you to repeat things or struggles to focus when there is background noise? Perhaps they find it difficult to follow more than two instructions or have problems spelling or reading. These could be signs of a condition called Auditory Processing Disorder, sometimes mistaken for Dyslexia, ADD and ADHD or ASD. The sound training programmes offered by Centre 4 Excellence help to improve auditory skills and the main cognitive skills essential for learning: memory, processing, sequencing, attention and focus. Children’s reading skills can leap one to two years after three months of work. At Centre 4 Excellence they believe every child can unlock their potential. To contact call Florence 07919 067343 or email c4x.info@gmail.com
Her Majesty the Queen’s actual 90th birthday was on April 21st and her official birthday is usually celebrated in June at The Trooping of the Colour. Of course this year is special as it is Her Majesty’s 90th. So, as she ends her 9th decade and enters her 10th, how will you celebrate? Street Parties are a traditional way of communities celebrating significant events and to help you organise, Oakman Inns and Dr Rob Schafer have launched www.ourstreetparty.org. Street parties are a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your neighbours and for children to play together in their traffic free street. To find out more, sign up for a free information pack or join a meeting go to www.ourstreetparty.org or call 01442 332 603.
Join our Family! Work with Families Online in Herts We are preparing to celebrate the launch of a fantastic new website this summer. Destined to become the number 1 resource for local families, www.familiesonline.co.uk will soon have over 300 local sites across the UK. Like our magazines, the local sites in Herts are guaranteed to give users the very best ideas for spending time with their family locally. We have a number of home-based work opportunities available for Area Managers to run our local sites. As an Area Manager you will enjoy a fun and flexible role which fits around you and your family life, whilst affording you a great challenge – and the opportunity to make money! There are no set up costs involved, you will be trained by industry experts and you will develop valuable new skills in the digital, print
and social media marketing industry. To register your interest, please email: editor@familiesherts.co.uk
Snappy Tag™ makes labelling clothes painless Labelling clothes was a time-consuming chore, until Snappy Tag TM, the one-click labelling system, came along. Forget sewing or ironing on adhesive labels. Snappy Tags look like small buttons and are very simple to use. The names are laser etched onto the Snappy Tags and are guaranteed not to fade or wash off. Families asked 11-year-old, Isaac, to try them out when he had to label his clothes for Scout camp! Isaac’s verdict: “I was fed up when my mum told me I’d have to label my own gear
because I thought this would mean sewing or ironing! In the package there was a Snappy Tag applicator, tags with my name on and tag backs. The instructions were really clear - it literally only took me 30 seconds to work them out. Also, you can remove the tags with the applicator once you’ve outgrown the clothes, and then re-use the same tag on another item – you’ll need to buy more backs. I’d highly recommend Snappy Tag – and so would my mum – because she HATES sewing and ironing even more than I do!”
Find out more and buy Snappy Tags at www.snappytags.co.uk
The Sky’s the Limitless Limitless Academy of Performing Arts is a new part-time theatre school in Stevenage. The talent behind Limitless is three friends who are also professional actors: Ruth Burton, Peter Hepplethwaite and Peter McNally. To support the local community and to make professional performance education accessible to all youngsters, they are offering two full scholarships per term for disadvantaged students. The three have big dreams for Limitless, Peter says: “The fun for us comes from the work, and this is what we hope to nurture in our students: pride in what they do, a sense of achievement, the glow of creating something of their own. What we offer reaches beyond the drama, dance or
singing studio. We want to nurture talents and enthusiasm so that, whatever their end goal, they really can be Limitless.” Find out more at www.limitlessacademyarts.com or call 01438213064
Holiday Fun at Re:Play in St Albans Re:Play are open every school holiday and will be running throughout the summer. Re:play has been established since 2005 and they pride themselves on providing a safe, stimulating and fun place for children. They have lots of activities going on including: arts & crafts, team games, sports, imaginative areas, den building and competitions. In addition to the regular daily activities there are special outings and workshops. Indoors there is a wide range of toys and equipment. The amazing outdoor facilities have tennis courts, playing fields and a park! Re:Play maintain a strict adult to child ratios and places are limited. Parents have total flexibility, choosing half days, full days or extended days, as they require. Places must be booked in advance. The Re:Play staff team are highly experienced, qualified and thoroughly vetted. Re:Play also provide Breakfast and After School Clubs to five St Albans schools. Contact Re:Play on 07913 323608 or email replay5905@ntlworld.com
Hertford Museum Celebrates Oak Apple Day Most of us have probably not heard of Oak Apple Day but it used to be a national holiday held annually on the 29th May. It was declared a public holiday by Parliament in 1660 as a special day to celebrate the restoration of the monarchy. It was also known as Shick Shack Day, Oak and Nettle Day and, outlandishly, as Pinch-bum Day! The latter name arose when people who omitted to wear an oak leaf were liable to be pinched. Oak Apple Day was abolished in 1859 but this year it is being celebrated at Hertford Museum on 28th May from 10.30am-3.30pm. It’s free and you can drop in any time to meet the re-enactors, join in free craft activities and lots more. Please note: no pinching allowed! Find out more at www.hertfordmuseum.org
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Parties
Seven party themes kids will love By Sally J. Hall
Parties can go with a swing if you choose a theme that your little ones can have fun with.
Pirates Invitations: Create a treasure map with “X marks the party spot” and a pirate poem with plenty of “aaaaaahhhhhhhs!” Wear: Dress as a pirate and make eye patches to wear. Play: Fill a wooden chest with torn up newspaper and pop in some lucky dip gifts. Eat: Give them chicken, vegetable or fish fingers and let them eat with their hands and make jelly with pomegranate seeds in it to look like sunken treasure.
Disney Invitations: Use stickers of Disney characters and glitter. Wear: Offer accessories such as paper crowns and a sash made from coloured paper. Old net curtains make good veils. Play: Create a Disney piñata by covering a balloon with papier maché and turn it into a Mickey Mouse head. Eat: Serve drinks in plastic goblets for a castle theme and make cucumber sandwiches for Princes and Princesses.
Superhero Invitations: On Superhero coloured invitations, write: “Dear SuperZac, please come to my Superhero party.” Wear: Make simple masks for each child and a badge with their name and super power. You can also make capes from plastic tablecloths. Play: Create a super hero obstacle course from ropes, pop-up tunnels, boxes and cushions, then have a quiz about superhero powers.
Invitations: Make animal themed invitations; these can be as simple or artistic as you like. Wear: Come as your favourite animal or get your guests to bring an animal toy. Play: Have a Safari game in the garden where you hide pictures of animals which the kids have to spot, then play Sleeping Lions. Eat: Create a Bush Tucker Trial with the use of jungle themed plates and cups.
Circus Invitations: Create a big, red clown’s shoe or circus ticket as the invitation. Wear: Dress as circus folk; ballet costumes double as acrobats, riders can wear jodhpurs and boots and all the kids can be clowns with some face paint. Play: Buy modelling balloons and then play some tumbling games. Eat: Make popcorn, have hotdogs and burgers, and don’t forget the ketchup and mild mustard.
Football Invitations: Make football shaped invitations.
Eat: Add cake toppers with “Boom!” “Pow!” and “Zap!” on them to cupcakes.
Wear: Whether it’s their school PE kit or a duplicate of their favourite team’s uniform, ask the kids to dress for a game of football.
Tea Party
Play: Ask a coach from a local team to teach skills such as keepy-uppy.
Invitations: Make invitations festooned with flowers from wrapping paper and doilies.
Eat: Use paper cloths in your team’s colours with matching napkins. Eat football groundstyle food such as burgers and chips.
Wear: Make accessories such as fascinators or hats and bow ties. Play: This theme really suits all those oldfashioned party games like Pass the Parcel and Musical Chairs. Eat: Tea can be a traditional one with little sandwiches and dainty cakes. Look for cardboard tiered cake stands and use pretty cloths and bunting.
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Jungle
Sally J. Hall is a writer and editor who has written for all the main parenting titles as well as The Independent and The Mail. She is author of Eco Baby and contributing author to Watch My Baby Grow (Dorling Kindersley).
Your business or service could advertise here. call 020 8428 6384 or email editor@familiesherts.co.uk
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Parties Singing Starlets Singing Starlets provide party entertainment for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. A finalist in the Netmums Party entertainer awards, they have also received glowing reviews from parents, nurseries, children's centres and even Ofsted. At
Celtic Harmony: Indoor Archery Parties! Come and celebrate your birthday with a two hour Archery Party at The Archery Barn! Your party will be led by experienced Celtic Harmony Archery Instructors so you can experience the thrill of pulling back a bow and shooting an arrow into the target! Then put these new skills to the test in a friendly Archery competition with your friends, shooting at 3D Targets. Celtic Harmony holds the Adventure Mark for the high standard of Archery tuition. Organise your Indoor Archery Party today and take a look at the video online at celticharmony.org/archery or give our friendly admin team a call on 01438 718543 or go to www.celticharmony.org
Kool Kidz Parties A Kool Kidz’ party goes with a swing from beginning to end. Choose from: Traditional (3 years +), Sports (relay races, football, unihockey, team-games), Themed (a twist on the traditional party; superheros, fairies and more), Disco (with lights, snow machine and games, dancing competitions and prizes), Pedal Go Kart (races, timed laps, games with a medal for the birthday child). Two hour parties with a break for food followed by more fun. One hour after school parties also available. 01582 723449 www.koolkidzgroup.co.uk
a Singing Starlets party an entertainer will provide up to two hours of fun during which children will sing and dance, make music, do action songs, play musical instruments, meet puppet friends, pop bubbles, have fun with a parachute and play traditional party games. Subscribe to the Singing Starlets YouTube Channel to see them in action. To find out more call Terri on 07803 907136, email singingstarlets@ gmail.com or visit www.singingstarlets. co.uk
Debutots Parties are an Adventure Debutots Adventure Story Parties for 1–7 year olds use original stories, games, imaginary characters and places for an unforgettable treat. Create a personal package for your child from a favourite story, character or animal, or choose from one of their original party themes. Fun, informal and relaxed, with minimum hype and volume. Find or more from Laura on 01707 861437 or email laura@debutots.co.uk
Adam Ants Adam Ants provide costumed entertainers for either one or two hours. Parties include music, dancing, games, magic tricks, balloon modelling and puppetry. Older children will enjoy a disco party with games and prizes. Try a teddy making party or a sports party complete with medals and trophies. Tables and chair, face painters, bouncy castles available for hire. 020 8959 1045 www.adamantsparties.co.uk
Hatfield Park Farm Parties Looking for a venue for a children’s birthday party? The Kid’s Cabin, an outdoor shelter, is available to hire for do-ityourself parties at Hatfield Park Farm. Take your own food and party decorations to personalise the Kid’s Cabin for your child’s special celebration. In your private enclosed area right at the centre of the Farm there is plenty of indoor and outdoor space for
Cinnamon Square
party games. Plus, you will all be able to enjoy the Farm, Bloody Hollow Children’s Play Area, Goat Pass and a tractor and trailer ride. The Kid’s Cabin is available for £100 (including VAT) a day (11am to 4pm) and includes up to 30 children and 10 adults. Additional adults are charged at £5 per person and children, aged 3-15 years are £2.50 each. To find out more email info@ hatfieldparkfarm.co.uk or visit www.hatfieldparkfarm.co.uk
Cinnamon Square bakery café in Rickmansworth hosts unique baking parties for 5s and over. Parties include baking and fun experiments like discovering why and how bread rises. Older children (9+) can choose from a Cupcake or Chocolate Making party. Buy KiddieKraft baking kits for a party bag alternative; personalised free and delivered nationally from £4.95 each for orders of 15 and over. To find out more call 01923 778353 or go to www.cinnamonsquare.com
Little Cookies Cooking parties for children of all ages. 3-9 year olds make their own birthday tea and those aged 10+ can host a three course dinner party! Little Cookies offers lots of menu options. They provide all the ingredients, equipment and know how. Most allergies catered for. 01727 839444 / www.little-cookies.co.uk
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Competition For more information about Willows Activity Farm and the Peter Rabbit Adventure Playground visit www.willowsactivityfarm.com, follow @WillowsFarm on Twitter or use the hashtags #Beatrix150 and #IMetPeter for all the latest updates.
Win a family day out
To enter this competition go to www.familiesherts.co.uk Closing date: 26th June
at the brand new Peter Rabbit™ Adventure Playground Willows Activity Farm in St. Albans now includes the brand new, one of a kind, Peter Rabbit Adventure Playground for children to explore. To celebrate, Willows are offering four
lucky Families Herts readers the chance to win a day out to meet Peter Rabbit and his friends! This extensive new attraction at Willows Activity Farm has been designed to engage young imaginations and stimulate curiosity and physical activity. It is bound to be loved by children and their grown-ups who will all be thrilled at meeting Peter Rabbit and Lily Bobtail as they have fun in the new playground. The new area features ten activities themed around the world-famous and much-loved stars of the animated CBeebies series, including the Peter Rabbit Secret Treehouse, built around a 100-year-old ash tree, and the Benjamin Bunny Treetop Adventure, where children can climb and play. Children will discover acres of adventure based on their favourite characters; the Mrs Tiggy-Winkle Kitchen (with real pots and pans), the Jemima Puddle-Duck Coop and the Jeremy Fisher Musical Pond. Little visitors can wend their way through the Garden Maze and explore the Mr. McGregor Shed After all the adventures there’s delicious food to be enjoyed at the Peter Rabbit Burrow Café. This exciting new play attraction opens in the 150th anniversary year of the birth of Beatrix Potter, author of the original Peter Rabbit™ books. Willows Activity Farm is offering four families the chance to win a family day pass (admits four).
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Education
Brain Training How to keep your child’s brain ticking over the summer holidays By Liat Hughes Joshi The summer holidays are a well-earned break but such a lengthy spell away from school means learning can slip back, with children often forgetting core skills they previously learnt. The good news though is there are fun ways to prevent this so-called ‘summer slide’, whilst still leaving masses of time for relaxing and playing.
The Summer Reading Challenge This runs in UK libraries and is designed to encourage children’s reading through the holidays. Those who finish six books over the six-week period receive rewards and a certificate and it’s completely free! http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk
Send postcards Kids can share holiday news with grandparents or friends via a postcard and practise their writing. Younger ones can practice letter formation, whilst older children could incorporate stronger vocabulary.
Break out the board games Many board games incorporate maths. Practise counting with Kerplunk and Snakes and Ladders, or for junior school kids, Monopoly involves money, addition, subtraction and multiplication.
Keep a holiday scrapbook Get them started with keeping a record of their most exciting moments of the summer. Even a word or sentence under a picture or stuck-in memento is a great start.
Add learning to everyday activities Daily life is full of educational opportunities. It might be weighing and measuring ingredients when baking cakes or budgeting in the toy shop.
Begin a blog Tap into their interests and suggest they blog about them – it could be sports-related, about cooking or outings they’ve been on.
Ready, get set, go for some Olympic learning Capitalise on Olympic interest by suggesting reading the sports section of the paper or setting up a medal winners’ league table by country.
Work on non-academic skills that are useful too Improving their swimming, doing their shoelaces up, or getting used to becoming a shade more independent by, say, walking to post a letter or to the corner shop, are all worthwhile ideas.
Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting journalist and the author of four books including 'New Old-fashioned Parenting' and 'How to Unplug Your Child' (both published by Summersdale) and 'Raising Children: The Primary Years (Pearson)'.
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These Streets are made for Walking Walk to School Week organised by charity, Living Streets, is 16-20 May. The week is a drive to get children walking to school to improve fitness levels and well-being. The theme this year is ‘Strider’s Walk in the Wild’ with the walking habits and natural environments of different animals being explored each day. Tuesday 17 May is ‘Happy Shoesday’ when children and their teachers can donate £1 to wear their ‘happiest’ shoes for the day. The money raised will help to support the work that Living Streets do with schools, disability groups and local communities as well as the campaigning work they do to make Britain’s streets safer for all. Find out more at www.livingstreets.org.uk
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Clubs & Classes
Kicking off How to get your little ones involved in sports clubs and which outdoor activities to choose from. By Adrian Warner Most parents agree that getting young children involved in sport from a young age will help them to keep fit and get into the habit of enjoying regular exercise. Sport can also help kids learn important life lessons such as how to deal with winning and losing. It also encourages them to make friends and learn how to be part of a team. Outdoor sports are a great way for children to get some fresh air and have fun with their friends. But how do you choose which sport is right for your child? It’s important for children to get a flavour of a range of sports available and decide for themselves which one they prefer. Sport should always be fun, especially for small kids, so to help you decide which one to introduce your child to, here are five outdoor options they will love:
1. Football - There are a number of clubs around the country that offer coaching during the school holidays for boys and girls aged from five to 11. These are usually a morning or afternoon class where young children are introduced to the basic skills of the sport. 2. Rugby – Firstly, don’t panic: the first years of rugby are not about scrums, mauls and tackling and you don’t need to worry about the complicated rules of the game either. Boys and girls alike are encouraged to play a simple, non-contact game together involving tags, in which tackles are replaced by touching a player or removing a tag from their clothing. The focus here is on developing passing and running skills. 3. Tennis – Children from three years old can learn the basic rules and skills of tennis using smaller courts and nets and with child-sized rackets. Some clubs will also have squash and badminton courts, so your child can try out a range of games with friendly coaches.
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4. Hockey – For children, the game will be much gentler than that for adults and sticks and pitches are smaller. Some clubs have a game called “Quicksticks” which is suitable from seven years, which is a four-aside game that can be played anywhere and uses a bigger ball for safety. 5. Multi-Sports – If you are not sure which sport to choose, look out for multi-sports sessions run by companies or local authorities where kids can try out a variety of sports such as athletics, rugby, football, netball, tennis and cricket. These are often available in the summer holidays and are a great way for kids to find out what they really like.
Adrian Warner has been a sports journalist for 30 years and has reported from 13 Olympic Games and 5 World Cups for Reuters, London’s Evening Standard and the BBC. He also lectures in Sports Journalism at the University of Bedfordshire.
What’s On at Half Term Theatre GORDON CRAIG THEATRE Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk Peter Pan 26-28 May - 7.30pm A musical adaption of the timeless tale by JM Barrie. Cost: £17. £15.50. £14
HERTFORD THEATRE The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS 01992 531500 www.hertfordtheatre.com Pinocchio 28 May - 5pm Ballet Theatre UK: Follow Pinocchio, the cheeky puppet, on his epic quest to prove that dreams really do come true. Ages 4+. Cost: £18. Conc. £15 Bear Behaving Badly 29 May - 1.30pm & 4.30pm Chaos and hilarity in this fun production that educates children about healthy eating and being active. Ages 4+. Cost: £15. Conc £13. Family £52
THE ABBEY THEATRE Westminster Lodge, Holywell Hill, St Albans, AL1 2DL 01727 847472 www.abbeytheatre.org.uk Let Us Entertain You 28 May A special fund raiser for Macmillan. Organised by 14 year old Elouise. The day will include: Children's Fun Musical Workshops Dinky Dancers (21 mths to 4 yrs) - 10.30-11.30am Fun dances with ribbons and feathers. A parent must stay. Musical Theatre (8-12 yrs) 11.45am-12.45pm Cheerleading (6-12 yrs) 1-2pm Musical Theatre and Cheerleading will end with a short performance at the end. Parents can re-join the session. Sessions: £10 per child Musical Variety Show 3pm, 7.30pm Enjoy over 15 acts from 1940s nostalgia to current pop plus dance and comedy sketches. Cost: £12.50. Under 12s £10. Proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support
THE RADLETT CENTRE 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291 www.radlettcentre.co.uk
The Sorcerer's Apprentice 3 Jun - 11.30am, 1.30pm Music, puppetry, storytelling in a toy shop setting filled with magical surprises! Ages 3-7. Cost: £9
THE RHODES ARTS COMPLEX & BISHOPS STORTFORD MUSEUM 1-3 South Road, Bishops Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 651746 www.rhodesbishopsstortford. org.uk The Curious Adventures of Pinocchio 31 May – 12noon, 2pm Patrick Lynch from CBeebies presents the story of Pinocchio. Who nose? He might even become a real boy. Ages 4+. Cost: £8. Conc £6. Family £24
THE SANDPIT THEATRE Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, St. Albans, AL4 9NX 01727 799565 www.sandpittheatre.co.uk MapDance 2016: 10 Year Anniversary Tour 10 May – 7.30pm An evening of dance works performed by the University of Chichester’s MA dance company. Age 7 +. Cost: £7 Junior Recital Evening 18 May - 6pm An evening of musical talents from students aged 11–14. Suitable for all ages. Cost: £3 / £2 A Midsummer Night’s Dream 8, 9 Jun - 7pm One of Shakespeare’s much loved tales about fairies, enchanted forests and adventures of young lovers. One for all the family Cost: £5 / £3 Fame! The Musical 18 Jun – 2.30pm, 6.30pm Spotlight Youth Theatre present Fame!, the world famous musical following students at the New York School of Performing Arts. Suitable for teens. Cost: £12 / £9.50
WYLLYOTTS THEATRE Wyllyotts Place, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 2HN 01707 645005 www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk Great children's films scheduled during halfterm: Kung Fu Panda 3 (PG), Zootropolis (PG), The Jungle Book (PG) Plus, some great comedy for grown-ups. See advert on this page.
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What's On at Half Term Museum Events CHILTERN OPEN AIR MUSEUM Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks HP8 4AB 01494 871117 www.coam.org.uk Daily 10am-5pm (last entry 3.30pm) £10. Conc £9. 4-16 yrs £6.50. Under 4s free. Family discounts available. Special event prices may vary Enchanted Museum (Museums at Night) 14 May – 4-8.30pm Families can enjoy storytelling in the museum’s historic buildings, lit up by candle, lantern and firelight. Fancy dress competition with prizes. Advance booking advised. Roman Gladiators 29-30 May Meet costumed re-enactors & learn about life in Britain in the 1st century AD. Medieval Life 11-12 Jun Life in 15th century England. What did people wear, what was it like to wear a knight’s helmet, what did people eat? Working Heavy Horse Show 19 Jun Arena events and parades. Demonstrations of traditional farm work. Meet a variety of working horses.
HERTFORD MUSEUM 18 Bull Plain, Hertford, SG14 1DT 01992 582686 www.hertfordmuseum.org Oak Apple Day 28 May - 10.30am-3.30pm Meet re-enactors, free craft activities. Drop in. Donations welcome Half Term Crafts 31 May-2 June 10.30am-3.30pm (last entry 3pm) Make crafts inspired by nature. Drop in. Cost: £1.50 per child
LOWEWOOD MUSEUM High Street, Hoddesdon, EN11 8BH 01992 445596 www.broxbourne.gov.uk Family Fun 2 Jun - 12-3pm Make a witch pet. Cost: £1 per child
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MILL GREEN MILL & MUSEUM Bush Hall Lane, Mill Green, Hatfield, AL9 5PD 01707 357850 www.welhat.gov.uk Dinosaurs! 31 May-2 Jun Dinosaur-themed holiday activities. Contact museum for times and costs
ROYSTON & DISTRICT MUSEUM & ART GALLERY 5 Lower King Street, Royston, SG8 5AL www.roystonmuseum.org.uk Crafty Kids 1, 4 Jun - 10.30am-12noon Craft activities for ages 4+ based around the museum's collections. Cost: £2 per child Toddler Music & Dance Workshop 3 Jun - 10.30-11.30am For under 5s with parents/carers. Book in advance.
ST ALBANS CATHEDRAL The Abbey, Sumpter Yard, St Albans, AL1 1BY 01727 860780 www.stalbanscathedral.org Family Discovery Morning 2 Jun - 10am-12.30pm Learn all about the history of pilgrimage with a fun trail to follow. Ages 3-11 (adult must stay). Arrive before 11.30am to complete all the activities
VERULAMIUM MUSEUM St Michael's Street, St Albans, AL3 4SW 01727 751810 www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk Meet Queen Boudicca 28 May - 2-4.30pm Meet the lady herself and hear her story. Adult to stay with child. Cost: Free. Museum entry charge for non-residents Viking Invaders 31 May - 10.30am-12.30pm, 2-4pm Discover some fascinating facts about the Norse invaders and make a Viking ship. Ages 6-11. Book in advance. Cost: £6 (£5 for Young Friends) Viking Homes 1 Jun - 10.30am-12.30pm, 2-4pm Make a model of a Viking home. Ages 6-11. Book in advance. Cost: £6 (£5 for Young Friends)
Crafty Capers 2 Jun - 2-4pm Craft activities with a Roman theme. Ages 3-11 (with adult). Drop-in. Cost: £1 (Plus museum entry charge for non-residents)
WELWYN ROMAN BATHS Welwyn Bypass, Welwyn, AL6 9FG www.welhat.gov.uk Gladiator Fridge Magnets 30 May – 2-4pm Create a fierce gladiator magnet to guard the contents of your fridge! Cost: £3 per child.
Camps & Courses BERKHAMSTED BASECAMP 01442 358115 enquiries@ berkhamstedbasecamp.co.uk www.berkhamstedbasecamp.co.uk BaseCamp 1-3 Jun - 9.30am-4.30pm. Additional hours available. Holiday activities designed to develop children's sporting, artistic and social skills. Ages 3-5 or 5-11. Venue: Berkhamsted School, Doctor's Common Road, Berkhamsted, HP4 3DW Cost: £32 per day Tennis & Racquets Camp 31 May-3 Jun - 9am-4pm. Additional hours also available A chance for youngsters to improve their tennis and eye hand co-ordination while having fun. Other racquet sports included: table tennis, badminton, touch tennis. Players are grouped by age and ability to ensure a great experience. Ages 4-14 years. Venue: Langley Tennis Club, High Woodhall Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8RW Cost: Day £40. Week £160. Additional hours extra.
CELTIC HARMONY Brickendon Lane, Brickendon nr Hertford, SG13 8NY 01438 718543 www.celticharmony.org Discover Archery Course 1, 2, 3 – Jun – 10am-12noon, 12noon-2pm Experience the thrill of pulling back a bow and shooting an arrow into the target. Take part as a family or watch your children learn a new sport. Learn
the basics and develop technique as you are taught by experienced Archery Instructors. Suitable for ages 7 years plus and adults. Held in the Archer Barn Archery Big Weekend 5 Jun - 10.30am-1.30pm Go along and try your hand at archery as part of the Archery GB Big Weekend. Held at the Celtic Harmony Archery club set in a beautiful woodland location. Expert instruction to help you hit the targets as you progress around the course that has 18 targets. No need to book, just turn up and have a go. Cost: £2 for 6 arrows
GOSLING SPORTS PARK Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6XE 01707 331056 www.goslingsports.co.uk Go Kids Camp 31 May-3 Jun - 9am-4pm. Multi-sport camps for ages 4-16. Sports include Football, Skiing, Trampolining, Golf, Netball, Fencing & Dodgeball. Early and late clubs available Cost: £25 per day (£20 members)
HERTS YOUNG MARINERS BASE 231 Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, EN8 9AJ 01992 628403, www.hymb.com Half-Term Activities 31 May-3 June Kayaking, archery, canoeing, climbing, stand up paddle boarding, fencing, caving, raft building. No experience necessary. Cost: £15 per session. £120 for the week
KOOL KIDZ CAMPS Sandridge Primary School Woodcock Hill, Sandridge, St Albans, AL4 9EB www.koolkidzgroup.co.uk 31 May-3 June Multi activity camp for ages 4-12. Days are jam packed with fun and activities to suit all. Half or full days.
RE:PLAY HOLIDAY CLUB 07913 323608 replay5905@ntlworld.com 31 May-1 June A long established holiday and after school club for children aged from 4-11 years. Re:play is open during every school holiday and offers activities, outings and fun for kids and flexibility for parents. Read more on page 5.
Fun Days Out CELTIC HARMONY Brickendon Lane, Brickendon nr Hertford, SG13 8NY 01438 718543 www.celticharmony.org Live Like a Celt 29-31 May Explore ancient Britain. Make bannock bread from grain to loaf, join in Celtic workshops, warrior training, meet the owls and go back to the time of heroes and giants with the storyteller. Cost: £15. Lunch extra £5. Under 3s free
GOSLING HIGHLAND GAMES Gosling Sports Park Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6XE 01707 331056 www.goslinghighlandgames.com 29 May - 9am-5pm Scottish-themed family fun day. Pipe bands, highland dancing, traditional heavy athletics event with hammer throw, caber toss and putting the stone. Plus, junior version of the athletics in which all are welcome to enter!
HARPENDEN FUNFAIR Harpenden Common, St Albans Road, Harpenden, AL5 1DT www.harpenden.gov.uk 27-30 May Roll up, roll up for all the fun of the fair.
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY SHOW The Showground, Dunstable Road, Redbourn, AL3 7PT 01582 792626 www.hertsshow.com 28-29 May - 8.30am-5.30pm Agricultural show and family entertainment. Arena displays. National Festival Circus. Cost: Ticket valid for 1 day. Advance purchase 20% discount. On the Day: £18.50. 5-15yrs £9. Under 5s free. Family £46. Senior £16.50. Free car park.
HATFIELD PARK FARM Hatfield House Hatfield, AL9 5NQ 01707 287101 www.hatfieldparkfarm.co.uk Open Tues-Sun and Bank Holiday
Mons -10am-5.30pm, Last entry 4.30pm. All the fun of the farm. Entry includes a free tractor and trailer ride (when running) and entry to Bloody Hollow play area. The miniature train ride incurs an additional charge. Cost: Adults £5, Children £2.50, under 3yrs free. Entrance to Bloody Hollow only £1 pp aged 3 and up.
KNEBWORTH HOUSE Knebworth Park, Knebworth, SG3 6PY 01438 812661 www.knebworthhouse.com Adventure Playground and Dinosaur Trail 28 May- 5 Jun – 11am-5pm Summer jousting for Fathers’ Day 19 Jun - 12.30pm, 2.30pm Treat Dad to a great day out! The Knights of Arkley will be jousting in front of the House. Knights on war horses gallop at full tilt across the arena and demonstrate their skills in hand to hand combat to the delight of the crowds. Cost: Jousting - £34 Family (4 persons). Gardens, Dino Trail, Playground - £9.50 Adult, Sen, Child. Supplement of £3.50 to include the house.
PARADISE WILDLIFE PARK White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne, EN10 7QA 01992 470490 www.pwpark.com Otter Weekend 28-29 May Fun and games for all whilst raising awareness and funds for conservation charities. Cost: £17 2-15 yrs, Senior £14. Disabled/Carer £10. Discount with online booking.
GUNPOWDER MILLS Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 1JY 01992 707370 www.royalgunpowdermills.com £9.75. Concs £8.75. Child £7.75. Under 3s free. Family tickets available. Heritage Steam Weekend 14-15 May Find out about Victorian and Edwardian steam traction engine builders. Plus, a ‘Thomas’ land train, a 7 ¼” railway ride. Wild West Weekend 28-30 May Living history in an authentic western town plus re-enactors stage a shoot-out on Sun and Mon.
Spy Kids Half Term 31 May-5 Jun Break codes, go undercover, foil espionage & reveal doubleagents! There’ll be missions to complete all week.
ST ALBANS STEAM AND COUNTRY SHOW Oaklands College (St Albans Campus), Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL4 0JA www.hertssteam.org 4-5 Jun - Opens 10am. Steam engines, vintage vehicles and tractors, fairground, stalls, refreshments. Steam engine parade at 2pm Cost: £6. Senior £5. Child £3. Family £15
SHEPRETH WILDLIFE PARK Station Road, Shepreth, Nr Royston, SG8 6PZ 01763 262226 www.sheprethwildlifepark.co.uk Love Your Zoo Day 30 May Learn about the role zoos play in conservation. Activities throughout the day. Cost: Normal admission applies. (Tesco vouchers not accepted on event days).
WILLOWS ACTIVITY FARM Coursers Road, London Colney, St Albans, AL2 1BB 08701 299718 www.willowsactivityfarm.com Spring Special 28 May-5 Jun - 10am-5.30pm Sheep shearing, sheep racing and acres of springtime fun. Make sure to visit the new Peter Rabbit playground. Enter the competition to win a Family Ticket to Willows Activity Farm on page 9.
Festivals & Fetes HARPENDEN CARNIVAL Harpenden Common, St Albans Road, Harpenden, AL5 1DT www.harpenden.gov.uk 11 Jun - 12-5pm All the usual carnival fun plus some exciting new family attractions. Incorporating celebrations for the Queen's 90th birthday.
WHITWELL STEAM AND COUNTRY FAIR Mansell's End Farm, Bury Lane, Codicote, SG4 8XY www.whitwellsteam.com 11-12 Jun - 10am-5pm Funfair. Steam engines, classic cars, tractors. Dog and Shire horse displays. Craft stalls. Cost: £7. Child £4. Family £18
SUMMER FAYRE Oaklands College, Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL4 0JA www.oaklands.ac.uk 12 Jun - 11am-5pm Fun Fair, inflatables, craft stalls, music, equestrian and falconry displays, fashion show, competitions. Sheep shearing, tractor rides, pony rides. Meet the pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, alpaca, wallabies and emus. Free entry & parking
BUNTINGFORD CARNIVAL High Street, Buntingford, SG9 9AD www.buntingfordcivic.org.uk 18 June The theme for this year is Animal Antics.
ALBAN STREET FESTIVAL St Peter's Street, in, St Albans, AL3 5DJ www.enjoystalbans.com 19 Jun - 12-6pm Live music, dancers, street performers, face painters, inflatable football pitch, food, entertainment.
SHENLEY VILLAGE FETE Harris Lane Playing Field, Harris Lane, Shenley, WD7 9EG www.shenleyvillage.org 19 Jun – 12.30pm Arena displays, stalls, games.
COTTERED VILLAGE FESTIVAL Cottered Village Hall, in, Cottered, SG9 9QR www.buntingfordcivic.org.uk 26 Jun - 11am ‘til late afternoon Events include: dog show, vintage vehicles, car boot sale. Local gardens will be open to visitors and there will be various displays taking place in the arena adjacent to the Village Hall.
Go to www.familiesherts.co.uk For more What’s On events. Remember to check with event or venue in case details have changed.
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