Families NW London Magazine May-June 2022 issue 148

EEHome FTRake Me IN THIS ISSUE

Education What’s On Early Years Summer Camps

Issue 148 May/June 2022 Familiesonline.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk Families North West London 1

CONTENTS

CONTACT US: EDITOR:

Heather Waddington T: 01923 237 004 E: Editor@FamiliesNWLondon.co.uk P.O. Box 2378, Watford WD18 1RF LISTINGS AND FEATURES EDITOR:

IN THIS ISSUE: 3 4 6 8 10 11 12

News Education Clubs & Classes Directory Early Years Parenting Summer Camps What’s On Cover image:

Anna Blackshaw E: Listings@FamiliesNWLondon.co.uk WWW.FAMILIESNWLONDON.CO.UK www.facebook.com/FamiliesNWLondon @FamiliesNWLon @Families_nwlondon_mag Readership of over 60,000 local parents, carers and teachers every issue. Published six times a year. For families from birth to twelve.

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Families North West London Magazine is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company.

All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families NW London Magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families North West London Magazine. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families North West London Magazine, its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

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Families North West London Magazine is distributed bi-monthly throughout north west London. An area bordered by the A40 to the south, by the A5/M1 to the east and out towards the M25 in the north and west.

You can collect a copy FREE from scores of outlets: schools, nurseries, play groups, clubs and classes, sports centres, children’s libraries, family doctors and baby clinics, theatres, your local council offices and children’s shops. If you would like to stock copies to give to parents, please let us know.

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NEWS

A SUPER new Exhibition at the Foundling Museum Enter into the world of superheroes and comics at the Foundling Museum, Bloomsbury, with their exhibition and family events.

Free trial for Colindale Kids!

A tuition centre is calling for eligible pupils in Colindale to take up places at its free Summer Holiday Activity and Food Programme at its Hendon Centre.

Axis Tuition Centres is calling for those who receive free school meals to come forward - and is offering all pupils a free trial lesson and five per cent discount for new enrolments.

“We offer affordable supplementary education to primary and secondary pupils in Hendon, North Finchley, Southgate and Ponders End,” said Axis director Hakan Gokce. “Our small group sessions have proved to make a significant improvement in school attainment and exam results.”

“Our experienced, DBS-checked teachers teach live lessons using unique resources, and student progress is checked regularly,” said Hakan.

Claim your free trial lesson and 5% discount for new enrolments. Call 020 7607 9330 or visit www.tuitioncentres. org

Superman. Batman. Spider-Man. Black Panther. X-Men. Have you ever noticed they are all foundlings, orphans, adoptees, and foster children?

The superheroes’ early life experiences impact on the stance they take over good and evil in their comic lives.

Look beyond the traditional ‘superhero’ story in this exhibition exploring comics, graphic novels from around the globe.

There are also characters from early newspaper comic strips, Japanese Manga and contemporary graphic novels, with examples of international comics rarely exhibited in the UK. As well as three new artistic commissions by comic artists Asia Alfasi, Bex Glendining and Woodrow Phoenix.

It’s time to discover the back stories ... of the legends you know and love. And super news … under 21s go free! 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk

Make Manners fun!

Children’s author and mum of two, Kate Wogan, launched the latest book in the Uh Oh Milo! Collection; Uh Oh Milo! The Tantrum Trolls.

Illustrated by Helen Faulkner, the book follows the adventures of Milo, his sister Mary and their magical Granny as they meet the Tantrum Trolls and learn that words can be more powerful than screaming and shouting.

To mark the 120th anniversary of The Tale of Peter Rabbit Yoto, the audio platform for kids behind the critically acclaimed and award-winning Yoto Player, and newly launched Yoto Mini, has collaborated with Penguin Audio to bring the much-loved Beatrix Potter titles to the Yoto platform.

The new release will bring a total of 23 classic stories to its extensive audio content library, voiced by a star-studded line-up of narrators, including Olivia Colman, David Tennant, Tom Hardy, Joanna Lumley and Matt Baker. Titles include: The Tale of Peter Rabbit & Friends, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny & Friends and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck & Friends.

The full range of cards can be purchased as part of the Beatrix Potter Classics collection priced at £29.99, whilst The Tale of Peter Rabbit & Friends can be purchased separately for £8.99. https://uk.yotoplay.com

Each picture-book in the Uh Oh Milo! series is designed to ‘make manners fun’. The educational but fun filled stories are aimed at children aged 5 and under. The collection is a great way to engage children in the joy of reading and introduces important topics that open up new conversations for adults and children.

RRP £7.99, from https://uhohmilo.com where you can also buy the other books in the range.

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EDUCATION

Lessons to learn before you’re 10

By Gail Hugman Self-control Ask your child to tell you really quietly what colour socks they are wearing. Then ask them to tell you again as LOUDLY as possible (it may not be such fun for you, but they will love it!)

Each time they whisper or shout, give feedback to their brain by telling them ‘that’s great whispering, can it be quieter?’ or ‘excellent LOUD voice, is that the loudest you’ve got?’

Do this exercise a few times and congratulate your child on their selfcontrol. Tell them that taking charge from the inside is a very grown up thing to do.

We live in a world where it’s easy to become overwhelmed. So teaching young children to make good use of their working memory, exercise selfcontrol and get organised will really help them develop the skills they need to succeed in life.

These key skills underpin everything we do in life and it takes just a few minutes a day to boost them so your child learns more effectively and confidently. What’s more, growing these skills can be fun!

Developed by experts who understand how children’s brains develop and form, try these starter activities to set your child off on the right path.

Working memory Play Kim’s Game.

To set up, gather ten objects together on a tray. Give your child one to two timed minutes to look at the objects, then cover them up. Depending on age and ability, ask them to tell, draw or write which ones they remember. As they progress, add more objects or give them less time to remember them.

There are ways help brains recall objects;

the trick is to make links and spot patterns.

Give them these tips: To start with, count how many objects you’ll have to remember.

Look to see if any can be linked together, by colour or by material, such as all plastic or all wood, by shape or by use; eg knife and fork go together, tools together, toys together.

Older children ages 7+ might be able to order the objects in a sequence or a story.

The more children play the game, the better they will get at recalling the objects. Why not see for yourself and play along too! Keep a tally so they can track their improvement and praise them for being clever. Explain that this is more than just a fun challenge, it’s all about teaching their brain to have a really good memory.

Decide one thing you’d like your child to get under control. For example, it may be to resist the impulse to call out in class.

Or leave their desk when they should be sitting quietly. Make it a positive.

Explain to your child that you’d like them to focus on this one thing every day for a week. Remind them each day, ask how they got on and praise their progress.

In this way, you’ll support their effort to control their impulses.

Gail Hugman is the bestselling author of 100 Things to Learn Before You’re 10. A children’s life coach, she owns and runs Human at Core (www.humanatcore. com), which helps parents motivate and engage their children in developing a bright future and provides sciencebased online personal development courses for children and parents.

You can say: ‘When your teacher shows you something in school, your brain will remember it better if you sort the information first. You’ll be able to remember names, countries, lists, linked facts and even do magic tricks by remembering a bunch of playing cards in order - how cool is that?’

Time management Organising time is a great skill, but children first need to grasp how long things actually take.

Our ‘just a minute’ might take five or ten minutes and young brains may understandably be fooled into thinking only a minute has passed.

www.northlondongrammar.com

Outstanding quality of teaching, with access to state of the art technology, focusing on a broad and balanced curriculum.

Book a Private Tour Visit our website For more information, contact us at: info@northlondongrammar.com or call us at: 0208 205 0052

4 Families North West London

An Inclusive environment, where all of our students are valued, safe and happy.

Wide variety of school trips, extra curricular activities and opportunities to ensure maximum personal and professional development.

Have fun using a timer to count how many of the following things they can do in one minute: hops, writing their name neatly, reading words out loud, starting a colouring-in page.

Show them a timetable of their day with blocks of playtime in which they can plan their own fun.

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EDUCATION

A parent’s guide to secondary school transition

By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble

The move from primary to secondary school is a major change for children. Most see this as an exciting next stage in their school journey but, for some, the change can make them feel anxious and uncertain. And all this at an age when children are already going through many physical and emotional changes ahead of adolescence.

Bringing up children is a slow, staggered process of detachment, from the moment they learn to crawl to the moment they finally leave home. When a child starts secondary school, with a mobile phone and travel card, it’s easy to see impending adulthood in the paraphernalia of independence as the detachment process begins.

Our role is to give our children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is and wings to fly away. The roots begin to form during early years education; secondary school is the place where children start to grow their wings.

keep talking to us as they get older.

Finally, while we may no longer be at the school gates, our involvement continues to be crucial to both our children’s emotional wellbeing and academic success. There are still many opportunities to stay involved: by joining the PTA, becoming part of a class WhatsApp group and getting to know the school and what support it offers.

Talk to your children about their day but possibly not the moment they walk through the door - a snack and a drink often help to ease the way into a pleasant chat.

Whilst most children will have a positive secondary school start and will embrace the new experiences on offer, research has found that the shift to secondary school can be stressful for about one in four children and that nearly three quarters of parents are anxious themselves.

The key to a healthy ongoing relationship is to keep the communication going. Remember that you are your child’s emotional coach.

Lisa and Catherine are co-founders of Emparenting (www.emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with the insights, skills and tools needed to nurture the development and well-being Advert_v01.pdf of the next generation.

A78137_Reddiford_General 2 07/01/2022

Our input at this stage is crucial and our role as parents is to be our child’s sounding board, establishing an open relationship in which they feel valued, respected and connected. By adopting this non-judgemental response, our children are more likely to

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REDDIFORD SCHOOL Long Established Reputation for Academic Excellence Limited places available in our Early Years & Certain Year Groups

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An independent day school for boys and girls aged 2 years 9 months to 11

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5th IN THE TOP 100 INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

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(Sunday Times)

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Academically selective 100% excellence in all areas - Independent Schools Inspectorate Children prepared for Independent / Grammar Schools’ entrance exams Academic excellence in a warm and caring environment Outstanding staff / pupil ratio across all year groups

To visit the school, please contact:

The Admissions Secretary, Reddiford School, 38 Cecil Park, Pinner, Middx, HA5 5HH. Tel: 020 8866 0660 • Email: admissions@reddiford.org.uk

Established. 1913

www.reddiford.co.uk Registered Charity Number: 312641 Familiesonline.co.uk

Families North West London 5

LOCAL CLUBS & CLASSES

ACTIVITY CENTRES Ninja Warrior Watford (WD25) www.ninjawarrioruk.co.uk/watford Our Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Park is a supervised activity and fitness venue inspired by ITV’s hit programme Ninja Warrior UK! A great place for supervised family activities and for keeping fit, we welcome you on your Ninja journey. No charge for spectators to come and watch your Ninjas from our Café area and treat yourself to our full range of hot and cold food plus a wide selection of drinks!

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS Harrow Woodcraft Folk www.woodcraft.org.uk Join our Elfin group (6 to 9 years). Meeting in Central Harrow. Tuesday evenings (term time): 6:30-8pm.

Email harrowwoodcraftfolk@yahoo.co.uk for more details.

Holidaytime After school club is part of Activetime Children’s Activities Limited (HA1) www.activetimedaynursery.co.uk Pick up from four local schools at the end of the school day, then take the children back to the club for a snack and the daily activity. Open Mon-Fri 3-6pm at The Cadet Centre, Harrow, HA1 2QA. Call 07575801623, email holidays@activetime.co.uk Willesden and Brent Chess Club (NW2) www.willesdenchess.wordpress.com Provides social chess for players of levels, set up Club competitions and tutor juniors. For the more competitive player they enter teams into local leagues and refer members to our county team. At Cricklewood Library, 152 Olive Road, NW2 6UY. Call Anthony on 07974 238357, email fulton790@aol.com

CODING Code Ninjas www.codeninjas.co.uk Kids learn to code in a fun, safe, and inspiring learning environment, with a game-based curriculum that they love. Parents love it too, because their kids make real progress and gain valuable skills while having a great time. Everyone wins at Code Ninjas!

DiscoG Coding Academy (HA3) www.discogcodingacademy.com Run weekly term-time classes and holiday courses and workshops for students aged 6 to 18. Join in to learn Computer Science, Coding, Robotics, AI and Machine Learning. Summer courses from 4 July to 2 September. Contact Gerard & Kat on 07767300940. info@discogcodingacademy.com Little Coders www.littlecodersclub.co.uk Coding class for children aged 4 to 6 years. Develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication.

ARTS AND CRAFTS Blank Canvas Art Club www.Facebook.com/BlankCanvasArtClub Online, fine art classes for kids and adults from 6-106 teaching skills & techniques whilst encouraging

imagination and finding your own style whatever your experience. Weekday afterschool kids classes. Adults evening or daytime classes suitable for beginners or refreshers. Email Suzi blankcanvasartclub@gmail.com Stitch Club (HA5) www.stitch.club Dressmaking, Stitch Clubs, Parties and Workshops for children, young people and adults in Central Pinner. A safe space to bring your ideas to life. Email sam@stitch.club for more details.

EDUCATION SUPPORT Brain Train Tuition Centre (HA2) English and Maths Tuition For Ages 5 to 16 years.

Brain Train Tuition will help to improve your child’s academic and social skills, as well as building their confidence and a belief in their ability to succeed. braintraintuition@gmail.com, call 0208 426 84250.

Free Readers (various) www.freereaders.co.uk At Free Readers, your child’s academic success is their utmost priority. They help children of year groups and individual needs, from ages 3 to 11. They offer your child enrichment or extra help in Reading, Maths and English, homework and test preparation.

Individual teaching and attention in small groups is the preferred way to help children on their journey to freedom. They encourage them how to learn, enabling them to reach their full potential.

Integratedbrain - Improve Co-ordination for learning! (UB5) www.integratedbrain.co.uk Activities to help those with poor co-ordination, dyspraxia, dyslexia or fine motor difficulties. Small groups of 4/5 children working to develop better allround motor integration. Call Usha Patel 07766 837 616 or email ushapatel.raviv@gmail.com

DANCE Street Dance Academy (various) www.streetdanceacademy.co.uk Teach children aged 5-18 yrs every weekend during school term time, with clubs in and around London, Hertfordshire and Surrey. Street Dance Academy also teach Adult Street Dance and Zumba Classes in Twickenham every Wednesday. Call 0800 0236 236 Elina Patrou Academy of Dance www.elinapatrouacademyofdance.com (formerly The Van Niekerk Academy) (HA7) Ballet classes to develop poise, technique and expression through dance, for boys and girls aged 3-16 years with Royal Academy of Dance examinations.

Online private ballet lessons available. Email elinapatrouacademyofdance@gmail.com or call 07555 861561.

FIRST AID MCS Training (HA1, HA5) Paediatric First Aid Course. Accepted for full and voluntary Ofsted Registration. Certificate valid for 3 yrs. Call Margaret 07814 191 395 or email mcstraining@hotmail.co.uk

HEALTH AND WELLBEING Etiquette and Emotions Certified coach, offering ‘Modern Youth Etiquette’ workshops to elevate your 6-12 year olds confidence and social persona. Also offer ‘Emotional Intelligence’ courses to develop children’s selfawareness and social skills. Call 07736 297029 or email info@etiquetteandemotions.com for further information.

Knowledge Above Standard (HA7) www.knowledgeabovestandard.co.uk Maths, English, Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, 7+, 11+ 13+ exam preparation. (07985 588 085) Little Big Leaders (HA8 & WD23) www.littlebigleaders.com Maths/English or Phonics & Writing for 3.5 to 11 year-olds at our Saturday School, Summer School and Winter School. Tutors support and challenge pupils to improve their learning and have a track record in enabling pupils to demonstrate progress in their mainstream setting and/or in 5+, 7+ and 11+ examinations. Childcare vouchers accepted. Free trial lessons. Call 020 3637 6266 for more details.

The Learning Wheel (Eastcote) www.thelearningwheel.co.uk Maths and English tuition classes which target identified needs to improve achievement levels.

They set goals for your child, monitor progress and provide regular progress reports. Cater for all levels from Reception to Year 11.

Raviv Practice London (UB5) www.ravpracticelondon.co.uk Catch up reading course. Improve reading age by 1 year in 3 months of home-based work. The computer interventions is similar to having a tutor in your home with daily monitoring and feedback. Usha Patel on 07766 837 6168 info@ravivpracticelondon. co.uk (registered therapist).

World of Children’s Yoga www.worldofchildrensyoga.com Empowering Children and Families to Live in Joy and Thrive. In Harrow, Watford, Northwood and surrounding areas.

Classes & Workshops: Yoga in Education Nurseries, Primary and Secondary Schools Weekend - Children’s, Family, Mum and Daughter Yoga.

WOCY Weekend Power Mornings: 30 minute bite-size classes to share short yoga sequences you and your family can practise every day for Better sleep, Strengthening, Flexibility, Confidence and more.

Call anjli@worldofchildrensyoga.com or call 07784 370034 for more information. www.facebook.com/worldofchildrensyoga

Calling all young Scientists!

Help us discover how babies & kids learn!

We’re recruiting infants from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at Birkbeck’s Babylab & ToddlerLab in central London. Our prime locations are easy to reach and we refund travel expenses. We also have online studies you can do from the comfort of home www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/online-studies

020 3926 1207 babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk 6 Families North West London

Coding class for children aged 4 to 6 years old Develop Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication

Email: hello@bakedbyTerri.com FB & IG: @bakedbyTerri www.bakedbyTerri.com

BOOK NOW AT

WWW.LITTLECODERSCLUB.CO.UK

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LOCAL CLUBS & CLASSES

LANGUAGES AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT Baby Lab (WC1E) www.Cbcd.bbk.ac.uk Have fun for free with your baby making discoveries about brain development at the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development. Birkbeck College, Malet St, London. Travel expenses refunded. Call 020 7631 6258.

Phonics with Robot Reg (various) https://robotreg.co.uk Provide fun, high energy classes which teach early phonics skills to children ages 1 to 4 years.

A Phonics with Robot Reg class is fun, varied and educational, and the best part is that children don’t even realise that they are learning.

MUSIC & MOVEMENT Colourstrings (various) www.nlcolourstrings.co.uk Music Kindergartens for babies, toddler, and children up to 6 yrs with small, age-related classes.

Classes are enjoyable and inspire learning, developing inner hearing and core music skills. Call 020 8444 9435, email admin@nlcolourstrings.co.uk Gymboree Play & Music Watford https://gymbo.co.uk/locations/watford Offer sensory classes for babies, art and music classes, as well as Play & Learn classes for little ones who are on the move. They also offer a range of fabulously fun birthday parties, with zero clean up for you. They’re based upstairs in the Atria shopping centre at the top of the Queens Car Park, near the Management Centre.

Monkey Music (Various) www.monkeymusic.co.uk Award-winning Monkey Music, trusted by parents since 1992, introduces babies and young children aged 3 months to 4 years to music with a unique four-stage curriculum specifically tailored to each age group. Classes are run 6 days a week, at venues in Uxbridge, Eastcote, Northwood, Ickenham, Harrow, Stanmore and Watford. Call 020 8427 6595.

SIGN LANGUAGE Sing and Sign (Various) www.singandsign.com Fun classes combining the benefits of baby signing with music to develop language, memory and attention skills. For babies 6 to 30 months. Email info@singandsign.co.uk for more information.

SPORTS AND EXERCISE TISKA Karate www.tiskakarate-harrow.co.uk/ www.tiskakaratenorthwood.co.uk/ www.tiskakarate-wembley.co.uk Learn the fascinating art of Karate. Classes held weekly in Harrow, Northwood and Wembley.

Families welcome, minimum age 4 yrs. 4 week free trial (07739 572487) patel.karate@icloud.com.

Watford Cycle Hub www.watfordcyclehub.org.uk Offering cycle repair services, maintenance courses and cycle training. They also accept your old bikes and recycle them, salvaging what they can; in turn the also sell affordable reconditioned bikes and bike parts. They also offer advice and information about cycling and bikes, including local cycle routes and maps, news about locally led rides and cycling opportunities.

SWIMMIMG

PQA (Pauline Quirk Academy) (various) www.pqacademy.com PQA provides outstanding performing arts tuition for 4 to 18 years. Each week students rotate through specialist sessions in Musical Theatre, Comedy and Drama and Film and TV taught by leading industry professionals. PQA is enrolling for Septembe. Book a free taster session at your local Academy.

P.S Theatre (WD18/HP5) www.pstheatre.co.uk P.S Theatre is an independent, local drama school.

With three stages to choose from, there is a place for everyone. A place to make dreams come true! Ages 4 to 18. Email: jen@pstheatre.co.uk for more details.

Sharpe Academy of Theatre Arts (HA5, HA6) www.SharpeAcademy.co.uk Performance based theatre school for children aged 3-18 with venues based in Hatch End and Northwood. Weekly classes in Musical Theatre, Ballet, Tap, Modern, LAMDA and Acrobatics.

Aqua Vie www.Aqua-vie.com Regular after school weekly Tues, Wed and Sunday classes in Bushey during term times. Spaces for new babies, toddlers and adults on Tues and Wed. Learn mindful effortless swimming in a calm environment in warm water. Use less effort, swim further and experience the joy of water. Email office@aqua-vie. com or call 01923 245 773 or 07814 987 153.

Stagecoach (Various) www.stagecoach.co.uk Training in three disciplines: drama, dance and singing. Great for building confidence, making new friends and beginning to hone talent and enthusiasm for performing, or being coaxed out of their shell by having fun! Call Harrow 020 3504 0100, Harrow on the Hill & Sudbury Hill 01923 248 294, Stanmore & Harrow Weald 020 3504 2154, Watford 01727 768 738, Queen’s Park 020 7723 5861 or Northwood 01442 263 599.

THEATRE AND PERFORMING ARTS

YOGA & MASSAGE

Perform www.perform.org.uk Try some free weekly fun this summer term Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes for 4-7s and 7-12s run throughout the summer term and, with over 300 classes running each week, there’s sure to be a class near you.

Classes in Watford, Bushey, Harrow, Eastcote, Pinner, Northwood, Stanmore, Kensal Rise and Ickenham, PLUS new classes starting in Ruislip, Cricklewood and Acton!

Visit www.perform.org.uk/try to book a free trial session. Call 020 7255 9120 or email enquiries@perform.org.uk for more information.

Please say you have seen these listings in

Kids Yoga with Yana (Watford) www.facebook.com/kidsyogawithyana Yana is a qualified Kids Yoga teacher with a passion for empowering children to be the best version of themselves through fun yoga and mindfulness practice.

MD Massage Therapies www.mdmassagetherapies.co.uk Massage has many health benefits - it helps to reduce pain, anxiety and fatigue, helps with repetitive injuries, increases range of motion, relieves stress and much more! Gift vouchers available. Introductory 20% off first treatment. Email info@mdmassagetherapies.co.uk, call 07950 846748 or book online.

CLASSES FOR GROWNUPS Woodcarving (Iver) A small group who would welcome new members.

Drop in for a chat! Meet Monday mornings 9.30am12.30pm at Evreham Centre. Email Iver.webb1959@ btinternet.com.

ERS BEGINN FFER O L SPECIA

S 4 W EEK FREE Classes held Every Thursday at 5.00pm

Preston Park Primary School, College Road, Wembley, HA9 8RJ

Every Saturday at 9.00am Harrow High School, Gayton Road, Harrow, HA1 2JG

Every Saturday at 2.00pm

For more information please contact us on

07739572487

patel.karate@icloud.com

St Helens School Green Lane, Northwood, HA6 1AF

www.tiskakarate-harrow.co.uk www.tiskakarate-nortwood.co.uk www.tiskakarate-wembley.co.uk

ALL OUR INSTRUCTORS HAVE ENHANCED DISCLOSURE AND BARRING CERTIFICATES

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EARLY YEARS

Developing humour as an infant

By Dr Elena Hoicka As a research team, we have always been fascinated by humour in children and so we set out to discover the types of humour that are present in early development and the ages at which different types of humour emerge. To do this, we mapped young children’s understanding of jokes for the first time using data from a new study involving nearly seven hundred children ages 0 to 47 months.1 Incredibly, we identified twenty one types of humour. Children under one year appreciated physical, visual and auditory humour. This included hide and reveal games like peekaboo, tickling, funny voices and noises. In the first year, children are learning to process sensory information, such as what things look, sound and feel like and their humour reflects this. So once they know what a voice should sound like, they notice when someone’s voice sounds strange and find it funny.

One-year-olds appreciated humour that involved getting a reaction from others. This included teasing, for example, offering and withdrawing objects, scaring others and taboo topics, for instance, toilet humour. They also found it funny to act like something else, such as an animal. Interestingly, it is around the age of 1 that children start to understand other people’s minds.

Their understanding and appreciation of humour reflects this.

Two-year-olds’ humour reflected language development, including mislabelling (for instance, calling a duck a cow), playing with concept (for example, saying: ‘dogs say moo’) and nonsense words such as ‘moogly boo.’ They also demonstrated a mean streak as they appreciated making fun of others. As most children start to speak by the age 2, humour reflects this, showing children enjoying playing with language. Our findings also suggest that perhaps 2-year-olds are starting to understand that other people’s feelings can be hurt too. While many parents won’t be too happy to see their children laugh at someone’s expense, this may signal that a child is understanding other people in more complex ways.

Finally, 3-year-olds played with social rules, for example, saying naughty words to be funny and showing the beginnings of understanding tricks and puns. This reflects the way in which children’s understanding of language and the social world keep developing and are simultaneously reflected in their humour.

Dr Elena Hoicka is an Associate Professor at the School of Education, University of Bristol.

Want to participate in future research? Sign up at www.babylovesscience.com 1 ‘The Early Humor Survey (EHS): A Reliable Parent-Report Measure of Humor Development for 1- to 47-Month-Olds’ by E Hoicka et al in Behavior Research Methods.

When to expect humour in your child Some parents reported that their children appreciated humour as early as 1 month old and produced humour as early as 4 months old! But this wasn’t typical. Our research estimated that fifty percent of children appreciate humour by 2 months old and produce humour by 11 months old but that means fifty percent of children don’t appreciate humour until 3 months old or later and don’t produce humour until 12 months old or later.

You can start looking for humour in your child’s first year but don’t worry if it doesn’t happen as early as you expect. Every child is different and some may understand different types of humour earlier and other types later. For instance, a very verbally precocious 1-year-old might understand mislabelling jokes earlier than expected, whereas a child who has just started speaking at 2 years may understand this joke type later.

Remember, joking isn’t a race, it’s about having a positive, social experience with your child that allows you to bond and enjoy a joke together.

Holiday clubs, Breakfast & After school club for children ages 3-11 years

8 Families North West London

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EARLY YEARS

The importance of routines for young children

By Claire Burgess

Routine is important for all of us. It provides safe, comfortable boundaries and keeps our lives on track. But it also means different things to different people and needs to fit each individual family, adjusting as children grow. Some families benefit from more structure, while others work well with more flexible routines. There is no right or wrong in a routine, other than when it doesn’t work for your children or for you!

Why do babies and children need routine?

As humans, every day of our lives is made up of various mini routines. These are the little routines which we have perfected over time and repeat daily, all of which help us to manage our day, many times without even really thinking about it.

Once you have recognised this, you can put a plan into action.

Claire Burgess is a director and family consultant at Bespoke Family (www.bespokefamily.co.uk), which offers tailored support from newborns to teens.

Routine is also another word for security. By having a routine it helps our children (and us) to feel secure and we are at our best when we feel safe and secure. This is when we are able to concentrate, co-operate, negotiate, listen and ultimately learn.

Being able to tell the time gives adults the ability to develop routines but babies and young children don’t have this luxury. So they are relying on us to help them understand how their day is going to be structured.

It’s worth being aware that if this timing changes day to day, your child will be constantly unsure of what is happening next. In turn, this may lead to them displaying challenging behaviours, their eating habits fluctuating and their sleep being disturbed.

How do I keep my child on track?

It is all about watching for the signals. These can be subtle and can sometimes be easily missed; observation of your child is key.

Look for those little indicators such as wandering off around the house and not being able to focus on things, becoming clingy when they were happily playing, staring into space, getting cross, frustrated or fidgeting, upset or boisterous.

These behaviours can all be indicators that your child is feeling out of kilter and needs you to help them find the way back into their routine.

Making it work A completely rigid system leaves little room for spontaneity and can be self-defeating. Don’t be afraid to nudge your routine when the need arises.

Top tips Make the routine fit your family. Every family is unique and has their own way of structuring their day; what works for your friend might not work for you.

Don’t make it too rigid. But do have two key times of the day: the time your children get up in the morning and the time they go to bed. If you aim for and stick to these two points of the day, it will help to regulate your child’s sleep hormones at night and ‘get up and go’ hormones in the morning.

Between getting up time and bed time you should schedule regular mealtimes (and snacks dependent on the activity of the day) and possibly naps.

These focal points provide a constant structure which will give both you and your children the security and safety to approach each day with confidence.

Go for consistency. For something to become a habit it needs to be consistent. When implementing a new routine or an adjustment, it can take at least two weeks to stick, so persevere!

For example, if lunchtime is usually 1pm on a normal day, but today you have been swimming and your little one is showing signs of being really hungry and tired, take the hint and bring lunch forward. Just half an hour might be the difference between the biggest ‘I’m hungry and tired’ meltdown and having your little one eating well and feeling happy (meaning that you are happy and relaxed as well!)

The one routine that’s always worth sticking to is the fixed bedtime. Proper sleep is as important to children as a healthy diet.

While it might be tempting to keep your little one up later than normal to fit in with your own plans, sleep time is when kids grow and rest so that they are ready for everything tomorrow brings. Including naps, experts recommend up to sixteen hours’ sleep for infants and up to twelve hours per night for older children.

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PARENTING business and the world of work.

Finally, money. We all need it and as your child starts and progresses through secondary school, the list of their wants and needs can grow exponentially.

Having their own source of money can be a great source of pride for many teens and tweens, whilst also reducing the pressure on you. It can also help teens and tweens put the cost of purchases into perspective. Do they really need that new video gaming console. How many hours of work will they need to put in to get it?

Why every tween should start a business

By Jemma Z Smith

As anyone who has watched the feelgood series Sweet Magnolias on Netflix will know, starting a lemonade stand in your tweens can bind friends for life. But is it seriously worth encouraging your child to start their own business or is it just a big hassle?

Let’s explore the point of a child starting their own business.

Why can it be useful. The first good reason is to explore an alternative career. In school we may be presented with a somewhat narrow range of career options.

Starting a business can open your tween’s eyes to other careers, such as PR, web design or virtual assistant. They may not discover what they want to do until after they have left school, but, equally, trying their hand at something at a young age can give them an idea of what they enjoy and what they are good at. It can also give them a wider appreciation of what careers, roles and jobs are out there.

Over the last five years I have worked with many teenage entrepreneurs. I have helped tweens and teens to set up social enterprises, sell clothing online, create photography exhibitions and more. My students have loved the experience but they have also learned valuable lessons.

Jemma Zoe Smith is Director of The Education Hotel (www.educationhotel.co.uk).

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The second benefit is that starting a business helps your tween to know their worth and to appreciate others. It can sometimes seem like being a tween is full of juxtapositions. People trust you to do more, yet you aren’t an adult. You know some things but still not as much as your parents.

Starting a business allows a tween to take control but also to appreciate that they need other people’s contributions to grow and develop. This helps them to realise why companies need more than just founders and how teamwork is important in

Money and time

Starting out

Starting up a business takes a lot of time!

Does your tween want to start their own business but they aren’t sure what to start with?

Depending on your tween’s business idea, you will need to help them to flesh out a business plan, arrange a way for customers to contact them and help them to navigate pricing. The amount of time needed makes it a great project to start in the school holidays.

Well Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is any business!

You will need to make sure that your offspring starts small with a business that can be run from home, with little investment needed. They have time to grow to bigger and better things as they get older.

Remember that whilst tweens may need your help to set up, they should look to run the business themselves. Perhaps they could eventually hire their friends to help?

Encourage your child to think of a simple, easy to run business idea. For instance, a business that designs customised trainers could be small and inexpensive if your tweens’ friends bring their cheap trainers to them to customise. On the other hand, it could be complex and expensive if your youngster wants to purchase and customise expensive branded trainers and then sell them.

You also may need to contribute a small amount of money to your tween to ensure that they can afford to develop a product or even set up a website for their new business. This can be a great lesson in financing. Perhaps you could loan the money with interest or purchase shares in their business, meaning that you would always get a proportion of their profit?

There is lots that your tween can learn from just understanding this concept!

10 Families North West London

For more advice, suggest your tween check out the government website for advice for young entrepreneurs at https://bit.ly/ YoungEntrepreneursAdvice. Or if your child is interested in selling craft items, check out Etsy as they support tweens and teens and even have a specific teen business section at https:// etsy.me/3HXZDyN Familiesonline.co.uk

SUMMER CAMPS

Summer camps Perform’s Peter Pan summer courses for 4 -10s Inspire your child’s imagination this summer with a unique drama, dance and singing holiday course.

In August, your 4-10 year old can fly away to Neverland with Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and friends on an unforgettable confidence-building adventure. With a sprinkle of Perform fairy dust, a team of skilled actors, musicians and dancers will ensure your child enjoys every minute as they work towards a show-stopping performance to delight family and friends.

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Venues and dates: Eastcote Methodist Church from 8 to 12 August. and St Mark’s Church, Kensal Rise from 15 to 19 August.

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Camp Beaumont Day Camps With the school holidays just around the corner, Camp Beaumont, the UK’s most experienced day camp provider, is on hand to provide your child with a fun-filled adventure.

With over 50 activities each week, activities range from Aqua Olympics to Movie Maker to Superhero Academy, and each activity programme is tailored by age group.

Camp Beaumont’s award-winning multi-activity adventure camps take place every school holiday, including May half-term and summer. Over 40 camp venues across London and the Home Counties, including Harrow, Watford, Mill Hill and Northwood.

To book, visit www.campbeaumont.co.uk or call 01604 851 0000.

Tiska Karate Hold a Karate Camp during some of the School Holidays. These days consist of games and challenges, which helps develop Team Work and Communication skills, plus a focus on a specific element of Karate. Medals for the winning team, plus much more. www.tiskakarate-millhill.co.uk

Free Readers Summer Learning Camp Free Readers offer a range of subjects to suit the needs of your child and the goals you have for them. Small group classes with individual attention, for children aged 3 to 11. Learning to read and write, 11+ and 7+ exam prep, postpandemic catch up and more. 25 July to 12 August in Edgware, 1 to 19 August in Northwood. Early bird rates available if booked before 31 May 2022. www.freereaders.co.uk/our-courses/summer-school

DiscoG Coding Academy DiscoG Coding Academy run weekly term-time classes and holiday courses and workshops for students aged 6-18. Learn Computer Science, Coding, Robotics, AI and Machine Learning. Summer courses from 4 July–2 September. Contact Gerard & Kat on 07767300940 or email info@discogcodingacademy.com Familiesonline.co.uk

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What's On

listings for all the family

Compiled by Anna Blackshaw

To promote your local event, coffee morning, nearly new sale, parenting courses or community group in the next What’s On listing. Email Listings@FamiliesNWLondon.co.uk.

Listings in this section are FREE for most non-commercial ventures. Please check details of the events before setting off in case anything has changed since going to print.

www.FamiliesOnline.co.uk for all our local weekly regular events.

it's updated every day!

Many activities and events require advance booking.

Please check the website in the listing to confirm terms and conditions for attending before heading out.

Sat 7 May - Personal Touch (NW1) ‘Personal Touch’ is a chance for you to reflect on your personal relationship with touch, via a series of events and activities that you can engage with in the building and online. ‘Personal Touch’ is part of ‘Feeling Our Way’, a programme of in-person and online encounters and content co-curated by Touretteshero.

‘Personal Touch’ centres the experiences of disabled and neurodivergent people. Takes place at the Wellcome Collection. www.wellcomecollection.org/ events/Yjm3IBEAACIAd_pL Sat 7 May - South West Herts 40th annual Model Railway Exhibition (WD23) 40th Annual Model Railway exhibition which will be held at Queens School, Bushey from 10am-4.30pm. There will be something for the whole family including the opportunity to drive

model trains and to purchase those essential items for your own collection. 14 traders and preservation societies also invited. www.southwesthertsmrs.org.uk Sat 7 May - Family Workshop: Rebuilding the Library (NW1) Join artists Judith Brocklehurst and Damien Robinson to create your own print-based building inspired by the shapes and textures of the British Library. In this workshop, especially designed for Deaf families, you will explore how different spaces make us feel using print block techniques to create personalised paper buildings. www.bl.uk/events Sat 7 May & Sat 18 Jun - SENsory Sailors (SE10) Families with children with special educational needs and disabilities (under 13 years) are invited to a monthly session at the National Maritime Museum. Explore the collection, enjoy the opportunity

to be creative together as a family, and meet other local families.

11am-12.30pm. Free, pre-booking required. www.rmg.co.uk

aged 5–15 and their siblings. All tickets need to be pre-booked. www.bl.uk/events/relaxed-earlyopening-for-families-may-2022

Sat 7–Sun 8 May - Maypole Dancing (HP8) A living tradition comes to Chiltern Open Air Museum. Have a go at some Maypole Dancing, chat to the may team and learn about the different dance traditions that they use in their shows. There will be demonstrations with a showcase event and come and try sessions. www.coam.org.uk/events/ maypole-dancing

Mon 9 May - Anger Management for Parents of Teens (HA1/ online) It can be satisfying seeing our teens grow into wonderful young adults although this does not come, for most, without challenges. This 2 hour workshop will explore when the needs of parents and teenagers do not match, look at increasing our understanding of anger and share tips and strategies on how to manage difficult often challenging, destructive behaviours and extreme emotions; helping to create a more cooperative, happy cohesive household. Venue or online TBC. To book call 0208 863 7319 or 07498881496 or email: info@hopeharrow.org.uk

Sun 8 May - Relaxed Early Opening for Families at The British Library (NW1) An event for families with children on the autism spectrum and other sensory needs. Enjoy the Library free from the hustle and bustle of the general public. 9-11am.

This event is free and suitable for parents and carers with children

Platinum Jubilee

Celebration Day

Family Fun Day

Saturday 4th June 11am-4pm

FREE ENTRY Book online in advance to receive a special jubilee gift

No Parking - please use Public Transport Book now at www.harrowarts.com Harrow Arts Centre, 171 Uxbridge Road, HA5 4EA 12 Families North West London

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WHAT’S ON Wed 11–Tue 24 May - Harrow Art Society Summer Exhibition (HA5) Harrow Art Society’s Summer exhibition includes over 100 paintings, collages and sculptures from members of the society, through all price ranges, plus prints and greetings cards to buy. Go and visit and enjoy the talent of local artists! Available to view from Mon-Fri 10am-5pm & Sun 10am-4pm, no booking needed. www.harrowarts.com/ whats-on/event/harrow-artsociety-summer-exhibition

Sat 21 May – Big Dance (WD17) Run by dancers, for dancers, JiveSwing.Com and Watford Council are curating an exciting day in Watford, featuring an array of live performances, to promote dance and celebrate as many diverse styles as possible, with classes, shows on a professional stage with people of every age, background and abilities, from all over the UK. 12-6pm at Watford Town centre event space. www.watfordbigevents.co.uk/ big-dance

Sat 14 May - Roman London Family Walk (EC2Y) Go back 2,000 years and walk the streets of Roman Londinium!

Visit the remains of the Roman city wall, the location of a long lost fort and Londinium’s hidden amphitheatre, where brave gladiators and nimble acrobats entertained the raucous crowds, on this interactive tour for families, organised by the Museum of London. www.museumoflondon. org.uk/museum-london/eventdetail?id=127209

Sat 21 May - Superpowering Girls and their Grannies Workshop (N12) Spend some quality time with your granny discovering your inner superheroes at Artsdepot!

You’ll spend time with The Gramophones Theatre Company, designing and decorating your own superhero masks to take home, and creating your own superhero adventure stories together. www.artsdepot.co.uk/familyevents/superpowering-girls-andtheir-grannies-workshop

Sat 14-Sun 15 May - Outdoor Theatre (HP8) Book tickets to performances of The Wind in the Willows at 11am and The Importance of Being Ernest at 3pm, both at Chiltern Open Air Museum. These are outdoor performances and will happen in both rain or shine! You will need to take your own picnic blankets and/or camping chairs.

Take away refreshments available at the Museum’s Village Kitchen. www.coam.org.uk/events/ outdoor-theatre Sat 14–Sun 15 May - Summer Steam Up at the London Museum of Water & Steam (TW8) Discover the fascinating world of water and steam at the Summer Steam Up! Learn about the history of the Kew Bridge Waterworks and marvel at the amazing pumping engines that helped make London the city it is today. Plus, see a unique collection of engines in steam.

10am-4pm. www.waterandsteam. org.uk/event/summer-steamup-2022/2022-05-14/ Sun 15 May - Family Workshop: Seed Paper Flowers (HA2) In this playful workshop at Headstone Manor Museum you’ll learn simple paper making using household materials which can be embellished with flowers and seeds. The resulting papers are biodegradable and can be sculpted and planted to promote garden biodiversity. 11am & 1.30pm www.headstonemanor.org/ events/family-workshop-seedpaper-flowers Wed 18 May - Race for Life (HP18) Join Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life and run 5K in the beautiful grounds at Waddesdon Manor.

You don’t have to be sporty to take part. All you need to do is go to the Race for Life website, sign up and then have fun raising money in whatever way you like. www.raceforlife.org or www. waddesdon.org.uk/whats-on/ race-for-life

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Sat 21 May-Sun 5 Jun - Jubilation 2022 (W11) The Museum of Brands in London’s Notting Hill will put on a fascinating new display celebrating over 200 years of Royal inspired packaging and Jubilee souvenirs. Alongside the visual displays, families can get involved by making their own Jubilee themed bunting and crown and enjoy two new Jubilee trails for children and adults which highlight some of the fascinating Royal highlights of the Museum’s collection. www.museumofbrands.com/ jubilee Sat 21 May–Sun 4 Sep - The Humour of William Heath Robinson (HA5) The 31 May 2022 will be the 150th anniversary of the birth of William Heath Robinson. He was trained as an artist at the Royal Academy Schools, he was a great illustrator and a highly accomplished painter in watercolours, but it is as a humorous artist that he is best known. To mark this anniversary, The Heath Robinson Museum will be exhibiting a selection of his cartoons representing the wide range of his subjects and spanning his humorous output from 1905 to 1943. www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org Sat 21 May–Sun 18 Sep - Food Forever (TW9) Food; we love it and we can’t live without it. But the world is changing, and so is what we eat.

Step into the future of food at Kew Gardens and discover how food can help transform our planet for good. Alongside the immersive art installations and brand-new trail around the Gardens, there will be a whole host of talks, films, and after hours events. www.kew.org/kew-gardens/ whats-on/food-forever Mon 23 May - On-line Workshop –Setting Limits and Boundaries (online) A workshop for all parents of children aged 3 -11. Topics include: Effective boundary setting, Positive communication,

Eliminating power struggles, Effective rewards and consequences. 7-9pm. To book a place call 0208 863 7319 or 07498881496 or email: info@ hopeharrow.org.uk

seekers fight for the entertainment of the crowds and the Emperor.

Who will live, and who will die: you decide! www.coam.org.uk/events/ roman-gladiators

Sat 28 May - Build a World: Terrarium Workshop (HA5) Get together as a family and create your own ‘little world’ by building a terrarium that you can keep and care for at Harrow Arts Centre. You will be able to choose from an assortment of plants and decorative elements to create your desired mini-landscape. Your terrarium can be as simple or as complex as desired. Ages 5+. www.harrowarts.com/whats-on/ event/build-a-world-terrariumworkshop

Sat 28 May–Fri 3 Jun - Trains, Trains, Trains (TW8) All aboard! Next stop is half term fun at the London Museum of Water & Steam! Go along every day for wonderful train themed activities including storytelling, crafts, model railways. 10am-4pm. www.waterandsteam.org. uk/event/trains-trainstrains-2022/2022-05-28

Sat 28 May - TogetherFest 2022 (N12) TogetherFest is artsdepot’s annual celebration of creativity and community. Watch local artists and groups perform on the Community Stage, join workshops and classes, and explore the venue – games, performances, arts and crafts and many more activities await! www.artsdepot.co.uk/festival/ togetherfest-2022 Sat 28-Sun 29 May - Roman Gladiators (HP8) If you’re looking for a great educational and fun family day out this May half-term then go along to Chiltern Open Air Museum and see Roman Gladiators battle!

Watch provincial gladiators in action as a team of criminals, barbarians and other prisoners of war, disgraced soldiers and thrill

Sat 28 May–Fri 3 Jun - Half-Term Workshops at The Foundling Museum (WC1N) Creative and fun half term workshops at the Foundling Museum, including storytelling, comic strip illustrations, puppet making and the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk/ event/half-term-workshops Sat 28 May–Sun 5 Jun – Zoobilee at ZSL London Zoo (NW1) Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style, with Zoobilee at ZSL London Zoo. Packed with family-friendly activities – not to mention getting up close to over 15,000 animals! With animal talks, face painting, quizzes and trails, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained. www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/ whats-on/zoobilee-at-londonzoo

Where buildings come alive through history

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ROMAN GLADIATORS 28 - 29 MAY

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Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire Just off junction 17 of the M25 Families North West London 13

WHAT’S ON Sat 28 May–Sun 5 Jun - HalfTerm at Waddesdon Manor (HP18) Get outdoors, explore the grounds and then refuel with a delicious family picnic! Book your Birds and Beasts trail for an extra fun activity this half-term and enter a immersive world of music and light as Colourscape returns!

10am-5pm. www.waddesdon.org.uk/whatson/may-half-term Sat 28 May–Sun 5 Jun – Colourscape (HP18) An extraordinary experience of colour and light lands again on the Waddesdon Manor lawns. A specially-designed Colourscape with long sensational views will be installed on the Aviary glade.

Immerse yourself in an endless labyrinth of intense light, colour, space and music in 56 interlinked chambers. 10.30am-4.30pm. www.waddesdon.org.uk/whatson/colourscape Sat 28 May–Sun 5 Jun - Survival Week (SW13) Create some magical memories this half-term and take part in Survival Week activities at The London Wetland Centre. Enjoy a fun and creative outdoor experience, meet a stunning array of thriving wildlife, and tackle a range of special hands-on activities. www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/london Sat 28 May–Sun 5 Jun - Zoobilee at Whipsnade Zoo (LU6) Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style. Packed with family-friendly activities including crafts and animal talks, the whole family will enjoy a day of celebration – not to mention discovering over 10,000 animals! www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnadezoo/whats-on/zoobilee-atwhipsnade-zoo Sat 28 May–Tue 7 Jun - Harrow Goes Platinum (HA5) To mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, Headstone Manor & Museum are launching a special exhibition at Harrow Arts Centre. This family friendly exhibition will look closely through the Museum’s own collections at Jubilees over the years from the 1800s to today, drawing upon Harrow specific events and memories from the local community. www.harrowarts. com/whats-on/event/harrowgoes-platinum Sat 28 May–Tue 7 Jun - Platinum Jubilee Young Artist Exhibition (HA5) In celebration of this year’s Platinum Jubilee, go along to Harrow Arts Centre and view their display of royal-themed artwork from young artists aged 4-16 in and around Harrow! The exhibition will comprise all entries of the Jubilee Young Artist Competition, and will explore colour, media and composition with a touch of royal flair! www.harrowarts. com/whats-on/event/platinumjubilee-young-artist-competition Sun 29 May-Wed 1 Jun - Finger Sports (N12) Step into an illustrated world and wriggle, skip and twirl your fingers 14 Families North West London

and storytelling. 11am-3pm. www.waterandsteam.org.uk/ event/jubilee-garden-party-2022 Sat 4 Jun - Platinum Jubilee Celebration Day (HA5) A family day of FREE activities and entertainment to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee weekend. You can expect fantastic family theatre, a royal puppetry performance, free workshops, craft and food stalls, music and more! 11am-4pm www.harrowarts.com/whatson/event/platinum-jubileecelebration-day

Roman Gladiators at Chiltern Open Air Museum on Sat 28-Sun 29 May in an array of hilarious games based on your favourite sports.

From finger football to finger wrestling, from finger hockey to finger racing, nothing gets fingers on the GO like Anna Bruder! www.artsdepot.co.uk/familymay-half-term-exhibition/fingersports Mon 30 May–Fri 3 Jun - All Hands-on Deck: School holidays at Cutty Sark (SE10) Head on board for a week of sailor fun. Find out what it’s really like to sail a ship in new interactive activities on Main Deck, watch characters from the ship’s past as they tell tales of life on board or take part in a drop-in workshop where you can learn all about communication and celebration with a Signal Flag activity. www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/cuttysark/all-hands-on-deck-mayhalf-term-cutty-sark Tue 31 May - SEN Mask Making Workshop (HA5) Harrow Arts Centre are delighted to welcome back Herts Inclusive Theatre (HIT) for a marvellous morning of Mask Making fun! HIT use the arts and wellbeing practices to build confidence, develop skills and give participants and their families memorable, enjoyable life experiences where everyone is encouraged, valued, supported and has their part to play. For families with SEN children ages 5-12. www.harrowarts.com/ whats-on/event/learn-harrowmask-making-workshop Tue 31 May - A 150th birthday Celebration of Gadgets, Games and General Mayhem (HA5) In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the “Gadget King” Heath Robinson’s birth, the Heath Robinson Museum is hosting a birthday ‘party’ for families and children. This will be a whacky fair, where art meets science, with an exhibition of Heath Robinson’s best humorous work, a display of Meccano models, art & design activities alongside all sorts of zany engineering challenges.

12-4pm. www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org Tue 31 May - Terrific Tuesday (HP8) The Chiltern Open Air Museum’s Learning Team have created themed crafts and activities for

this May/June half-term. www.coam.org.uk/events/halfterm-activities Tue 31 May–Thu 2 Jun - Toy Stories (SE10) Go behind the scenes at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre this May half term to discover a wide range of toys and their unique stories. On this family friendly tour, you will discover a variety of toys and games, from a dominoes set made from bone to a toy pig that survived the sinking of the Titanic. www.rmg.co.uk Tue 31 May–Fri 3 Jun - Royal Rations (SW3) Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and decorate your own handmade biscuit to take home at the National Army Museum. Once iced and decorated, the biscuit is yours to enjoy! Drop in between 11am and 1pm. www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/royalrations Wed 1 Jun - Mosaic Making Workshop (HA5) Create a mosaic with guidance from experienced mosaic artists at Harrow Arts Centre. This is a unique mosaic workshop to encourage creative comfort and mindful flow moments. Working with beautiful patterns, colours and intention, Art4Space will teach you an array of techniques to help you create your own beautiful piece. The artists will bring all tools and a wonderful selection of materials to use so you can take your creation home to keep. www.harrowarts.com/ whats-on/event/learn-harrowmosaic-making-workshop Thu 2-Fri 3 Jun - Jubilee Celebration (HP8) Jeep, Jump, Jive will be creating a party atmosphere with popular 1940s music playing from their US Army Air Force Jeep at Chiltern Open Air Museum. There will be Lindy Hop social dancing andfun classes for all ages. www.coam.org.uk/events/ jubilee-celebration Fri 3 Jun - Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Garden Party (TW8) Head along to the London Museum of Water & Steam to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a garden party!

Take a picnic and join in with scavenger hunts, natural crafts,

Sat 4 Jun - Watford’s Big Centenary Celebration (WD18) As part of Watford Borough Council’s Centenary celebrations, a fun-filled day of music and dance will take place starting off in the morning with a Parade through the High Street leading to the bandstand in Cassiobury Park where an afternoon of dance performances will take place. From 6pm the main stage in Cassiobury will host a variety of music and performances including a very special guest to end the festivities. 11am to 9pm. www.watfordbigevents. co.uk/watfords-big-centenarycelebration Sat 4–Sun 5 Jun - Family Fun Weekend (SE10) Head on board Cutty Sark for a weekend of sailor fun. Listen to sea shanties on the tween deck, watch characters from the ship’s past as they tell tales of life on board or take part in a drop-in workshop where you can learn sailor skills and crafts using materials available to the crew at the time. www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/cuttysark/family-fun-weekend Sun 5 Jun - Jubilee Picnic (SW13) Head along to London Wetland Centre for an epic outdoors picnic! There will be an enormous picnic area set up to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. Go and join in anytime between 12 noon-3 pm. www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/london/whats-on/ jubilee-picnic Fri 10 Jun – Market Lates (WD17) Late opening of Watford Market, from 5.30 to 10pm. The event will include craft beer, a prosecco bar and delicious street food from around the globe to help bring the Market to life, by night. www.watfordmarket.co.uk/ events Sat 11 Jun - Watford Lions Abbots Langley Carnival and Procession (WD5) The 40th year of this annual and well attended Carnival and Procession organised by Watford Lions Club, taking place at Manor House Grounds in Abbots Langley.

Arena entertainments, funfair, foods and drinks and stalls. The Procession begins at 12pm and will arrive around one hour later at the Carnival location. Carnival ends at 5pm. Free. www.watfordlions.org.uk

Familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON Sat 11 Jun - World Oceans Day (SE10) Ready to explore the ocean?

Dive into the National Maritime Museum this June for a fabulous celebration of our blue planet.

Meet scientists, explorers and conservationists, get stuck into a range of family-friendly workshops and performances, and discover rarely seen treasures from the National Maritime Museum’s collection. 10am-4pm. www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/ national-maritime-museum/ world-oceans-day-2022 Sun 12 & Sun 19 Jun - Giant Puppet Making Workshop (HA5) Come together and join your community to craft a giant puppet!

Shaping spikes, colouring scales, it’s up to YOU how this creature turns out. Everyone is welcome, young and old, by yourself or with the family. Please note these workshops are appropriate for ages 8+ and children must be accompanied by an adult. The puppet you have helped created will be included in a special ‘Balkan Music & Giant Puppetry Parade’ in Harrow town centre on 25th June. www.harrowarts.com/ whats-on/event/giant-puppetmaking-workshop Mon 13 Jun - Teddy Bears Picnic (HA2) If you go down to Headstone Manor Museum today, you’re sure of a big surprise! Take along your favourite teddy and join in for a fun day of singing and crafts. Under 5’s. 11am-3pm. www. headstonemanor.org/events/

teddy-bears-picnic Thu 16-Fri 17 Jun - The Teapot Prince (HP18) This summer see The Teapot Prince, a lost 18th-century ballet, performed in the fairy-tale grounds of Waddesdon before exploring the Manor after-hours.

See it performed against the fairy-tale backdrop of Waddesdon Manor this summer. www.waddesdon.org.uk/whatson/the-teapot-prince

join them at Waddesdon Manor this summer for the sparkling comedy, As You Like It. With a history stretching back to William Shakespeare himself, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men present this great play as the playwright first saw it performed – in the open air, by an all-male cast and with Elizabethan costumes, music and dance. www.waddesdon.org.uk/whatson/as-you-like-it

Sun 19 Jun - Father’s Day Medieval Jousting (SG1) The turrets and towers of Knebworth House will provide a spectacular backdrop to the costumed Knights on majestic warhorses galloping at full tilt across the arena in a fantastic display of horsemanship. There are two scheduled jousting displays at 12pm and 2.30pm (dependent on weather). www.knebworthhouse.com/ events/fathers-day-medievaljousting

Sat 25 Jun – Watford Philharmonic Society presents Midsummer Magic (WD23) This concert will be a suitably frothy mix of music for a summer’s evening. From Rutter’s quirky Birthday Madrigals, via Les Miserables, to the effervescent fun of Mama Mia! At The Grand Hall in The Bushey Arena from 7pm. www.watfordphilharmonic.co.uk

Sun 19 Jun - Family Workshop: MacIntosh Stained-Glass Windows (HA2) Get creative designing stainedglass windows inspired by art nouveau and C.R. MacIntosh, or in fact any design you like! 11am, 12:30pm & 2pm. www.headstonemanor.org/ events Thu 23 Jun - As You Like It (HP18) One of the UK’s finest touring theatre companies, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, invite you to

Sat 25–Sun 26 Jun - Barnes Children’s Literature Festival (SW13) London’s largest children’s books event returns to the London Wetland Centre, with more than 100 fun family-friendly readings, workshops and performances around Barnes for book fans of all ages. Liz Pichon, the superstar creator of the Tom Gates series, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize winner Rob Biddulph and Festival favourite, Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler lead the line up. www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/london/whats-on/ barnes-childrens-literaturefestival

Sun 26 Jun - Live Opera (HP8) A magical evening of opera, performed by world class singers and a mini orchestra at Chiltern Open Air Musuem. Follow four characters’ journeys through a kaleidoscope of arias, duets, and ensembles in this entertaining evening of opera and musicals, performed by four world-class singers and five fine chamber musicians. www.coam.org.uk/events/ evening-opera-chiltern-open-airmuseum Thu 30 Jun–Fri 22 Jul - Twilight at London Zoo: Adults-Only Late Opening (NW1) This summer, ZSL London Zoo are staying open later just for adults. From 6-10pm on Thursday and Fridays, adults-only Twilight tickets (18+) are the perfect opportunity to explore the wonderful wildlife at the Zoo and find out what our animals get up to when the crowds have gone home. www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/ whats-on/twilight-opening-foradults-only

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Theatre, Workshops and More!

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