IN THIS ISSUE Education Clubs & Classes Halloween Events Coping with Tantrums Panto Preview What’s On
Issue 76 Sept/Oct 2017
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From your Editor… Once more we have come full circle and we are at the start of a new school year. Talking of ‘new’, I hope that you like our new front cover look? My daughter, unfortunately, whose age six script has graced the front cover for nigh on 12 years, is disappointed that her claim to fame has ended! Things, however, move on, including her - to university! Children grow and families change and one of the biggest changes for a child is the transition from primary to secondary school. Our Education article looks at ways to help your child deal with the move into secondary school. Autumn is the time of year when your child may want to try a different after school activity or try something for the first time. Our short guide aims to give you a few ideas. If you have a toddler, read the Parenting section and discover how to cope with the inevitable tantrums. Finally, the What’s On section lists half term activities and places to visit. Plus, we highlight the best local Halloween attractions and events. Enjoy the fruits of Autumn.
Shelley
In this issue: News & Views: 4 Education: 6 Clubs & Classes: 10 Parenting: 12 What’s On: 13 Next Issue: No 77 – Nov/Dec Copy Deadline: 6th October Image credit: © belchonock
Find us in: Baldock, 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. 020 8428 6384 editor@familiesherts.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk
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News & Views Paradise Wildlife Park Paradise Wildlife Park, voted Hertfordshire’s number one outdoor attraction by Trip Advisor, is set in the beautiful Broxbourne Woods in the heart of the Hertfordshire countryside. Paradise is home to over 500 exotic wild animals including the largest collection of small Monkeys in the UK and the largest Anaconda. Paradise is also the only zoo in the UK to home five big cat breeds, with White Lions, Tigers, Snow Leopards, Jaguars and a White Tiger. Check out one of Animal Shows in the Jungle Theatre or have a game of On Safari Adventure Golf, ride the Woodland Railway or let the kids run wild in 3 adventure playgrounds, Tumble Jungle and Paradise Lagoon.
The Park is easily reachable from most Hertfordshire locations and is just off the M25. If arriving by train, the Park runs a station car service to and from Broxbourne station for £3.
October Half Term with the Little Diggers! The SandPit Theatre has plenty of fun to keep little ones entertained in October half term with its ‘Little Diggers’ scheme! It begins with spooky fun to celebrate Halloween in ‘Fairytales Gone Bad: Grannylocks and The Monstrous Duckling’, This show reveals the true stories behind the happy endings you remember! This will be followed later in the week by ‘Hansel & Gretel’ presented by much loved local company, Booster Cushion Theatre, with the aid of a 6ft book. The week will be rounded off with a screening of ‘Chicken Run’, a funny family classic about farm chickens that dream of freedom. Little Diggers is the The SandPit Theatre’s children’s programme, providing quality, affordable entertainment for the local area. Book your tickets at www.sandpittheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01727 799565.
Are your kids having too much salt? Official guidelines have advised that children aged between one and three should have no more than 2g of salt per day. According to new research by Kiddyum (of 2,000 parents of children aged one to four), a staggering 84% of parents are not aware of how much salt their child should be having. Meanwhile, 64% of parents also said that they trust food that’s marketed for children to be low in salt, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. The research highlighted that: A portion of spaghetti hoops with two slices of toast can be 117% of a child’s daily amount of salt. Of six prepared savoury meals for children, half of them contained one third of a child’s daily allowance of salt, while one contained 99% of the maximum serving of salt. Chloe Joyner, a Nutritionist for Kiddyum commented: “It’s really important that young children have a low salt diet and it’s something a lot of parents are concerned about. It can be tricky for parents to know if a food is high in salt or whether a product contains added salt because sometimes it is hidden in the ingredients, or labels and tables can be misleading.”
Being a parent could help you live longer Having children could improve your chances of living longer, a new study has found. The research, from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, used national registry data to analyse the mortality rates of nearly 1.5 million Swedes aged between 60 and 100. It found that those with children tended to live longer than those without. The study also found that men benefited more from being parents than women when it came to longevity, despite the fact that women had a longer average lifespan overall. At age 60 fathers had a life expectancy of a further 20.2 years, compared to 18.4 years for men without children. 60 year old mothers could expect to live for another 24.6 years compared to 23.1 years for childless women. The researchers suggest that one reason
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for the findings could be that children are able to provide better care, emotional support and argue for better treatment for their aging parents. Another factor could be that parents tend to live healthier lifestyles than those without children. Research co-author Karin Modig said: “In terms of all other causes that would affect your death risk in these old ages, having a child is not among the greatest ones. But it is still a 1.5% difference [for 90-year-old men] which is still substantial.”
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Register for Wear A Hat Day 2018 and start planning your event! Wear A Hat Day is the UK’s premier brain tumour research fundraising event. It takes place on Thursday 29th March 2018. March is also UK Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Schools and families across the country get involved to help raise funds for research into brain tumors’. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer… yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. It is unacceptable that so many families are touched by this dreadful illness. Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK that is purely dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours. Taking part can be as simple as putting on a hat and donating on the day, but most families like to create entertaining fundraising events. Many schools for example have inventive hat competitions, parades and fashion shows to raise funds. On average, organisations raise £250, with smaller ones raising about £50 and some over £2,000! Whatever target you set aim to smash it!
For more information, event ideas and fundraising tips go to www.wearahatday.org. Register now on www.wearahatday.org and start planning your hattastic event. Your fundraising pack will be sent out in early 2018 and will include leaflets, posters, balloons, wristbands and badges to help promote your event and reach your fundraising target.
Home from Home with Chilly Powder Do you prefer winter or summer in the Alps… or both? Francesca, Paul and their three children live in Morzine in France all year round and have a good knowledge of Alpine traditions and the Morzine people. Having adapted their chalet holiday style over the years to suit the tastes of their regular guests, they offer the perfect ski and summer holidays for either families, couples or mixed groups in relaxing luxury, with fantastic food and outstanding facilities, with unrivalled in-house childcare facilities. For many returning guests Chilly Powder is considered a real home from home. Find out more about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter at www.chillypowder.com
The Marlowes Shopping Centre in Hemel Hempstead to be transformed Capital & Regional, the owner of The Marlowes in Hemel, has submitted a planning application to Dacorum Borough Council for a £13 million reconfiguration of The Marlowes. Currently, The Marlowes houses 100 shops and attracts 6.5 million visitors every year. The new plans will include a nine-screen cinema, a range of family-friendly restaurants, new retailers and a renovated interior to create a community focal point. Gareth Holland, Retail Asset Manager at Capital & Regional, commented: “The planning application … represents a very strong vote of confidence in both The Marlowes and Hemel. We were delighted by the extremely positive reaction we received when we presented the proposals to the public”. The proposals mark the beginning of a period of change within Hemel. The Marlowes is set to become the primary retail and leisure area within
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the town. The proposals will provide more choice and enhanced facilities for the local community, helping to drive further investment into the town, while strengthening Hemel’s day and evening economy.
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Education
Making the transition to secondary school How much to help and how much to let go By Linda Stone
Parental anxiety is normal at the time your child moves from primary to secondary school. During the primary school years, it is fairly easy to support your child at school. You will probably know their teacher, other members of staff and parents, as well as being familiar with school policies and routines. Losing the control this familiarity offers is as daunting for parents as it is for children and you may wonder how best to continue to support your child effectively. You may also worry specifically about your child’s ability to cope with the new environment and, crucially, whether he or she will make friends. Attending secondary school IS a big leap up for a child – the children are older and bigger and it is challenging for children to get used to moving from classroom to classroom for different specialist lessons in a building which is usually much larger than primary school. They will be treated by teachers and staff as much more independent individuals, expected to remember more complex school routines, and given less assistance managing them. There are also a lot of new names and faces to get to know. Never fear though – your child may be more ready for this than you expect and your anxieties may be eased by adopting strategies that help with the transition.
Here are some tips and tools which should help you prepare for and manage the early months... Before the transition: Shield your child from your anxiety. They can make this transition. Critically, they need to know that you believe in them and in their ability to deal with difficulties and challenges. If your child will walk to school or travel independently on public transport, practice the new journey. Start by travelling together but without interaction. Then move to simply following behind your child. Finally, let him do it alone and meet him there. Travel at busy times. Allow your child to make mistakes and find solutions. This equips him with the skills to handle the unexpected, like bus detours and road closures.
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After the transition: Be There. Make sure a parent or trusted carer is available before and after school, to provide food, notice if your child comes in late, listen to their successes and concerns and be aware of subtle changes in mood; someone to empathise and with whom to discuss problems. Watch and listen, help out if asked but don’t take over. Become an Enabler rather than a Fixer. Support the development of friendships. Mixing socially and establishing secure friendships is of great importance to older children and they need to do this whilst still young enough to turn to you for support when they make mistakes. Gradually, they will learn to make informed choices about friends. It’s appropriate for this age group to have access to a basic mobile phone and computer to communicate with friends but the dangers of social networking should be discussed and boundaries agreed. Support organisation and routines. Create 'To Do' lists or 'Timetables' for the fridge. Agree places to keep bags, kit and books. Label uniform and valuables. Establish
routines so that they can get to school punctually. Don’t expect too much too soon, many won’t crack this for years! Understand what homework they have and know when it has been completed and handed in. Agree a routine that will help your child to complete and hand in all homework on time, without devoting too much time to one piece and little or nothing to others. However, remember it is their homework not yours; help, encourage, motivate but accept their best. Schedule time to relax. Your child will be exhausted by the effort of holding it all together. Tears are likely over the most trivial things and they may regress and demand more care. Trust that they can cope and make sure there is time for sleep, friends, homework, more sleep, watching TV, playing computer games and yet more sleep! Avoid weekend breaks and reduce extra-curricular commitments to the minimum. Now is not the time for your child to begin new activities or classes. And lastly, schedule time to relax yourself! All will eventually be well.
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Education
How Explore Learning Helps My Family Shenley parent, Deborah Lack, tells us how Explore Learning in Borehamwood helps her children keep up to speed with the school curriculum.
Deborah with Dylan and Devon
How long have your children been attending Explore Learning?
What do you like about Explore’s approach to learning?
My sons, Dylan, (10) and Devon, (8) have both been attending for 2 years.
The work is self-guided on a computer with headsets to help concentration and a tutor for each group of 6 children. As they work through their programme, it automatically identifies where they are struggling, e.g. worded maths problems, and introduces more of these types of questions.
Why did you decide to become a member of Explore? They were doing okay at school but I wanted them to develop more confidence with their learning, but without pressure or homework. How has Explore helped and what impact has Explore had? Explore delivers so much more than I was expecting! We now have total peace of mind that the boys are meeting all the age-appropriate learning goals of the school curriculum and getting extra practice with the areas of maths and English that they personally find difficult.
What does your child enjoy about their sessions at Explore Learning? The reward scheme! A personalised magnet moves along the achievement board towards their individual goals. When they achieve them, there is a certificate and a ceremony and they are cheered on by the whole centre!
What makes Explore Learning a unique tutoring service?
How often do they attend the centre?
I can measure their progress against the school curriculum as we go through the school year, rather than finding out too late that they are struggling with a particular aspect.
Twice a week for an hour and 15 minutes each time - either after school or at the weekend and even during school holidays.
How do they achieve this? They are assessed when they join against the goals of the school curriculum and their weaker areas highlighted. Explore then develops a personalised work programme and goals for each child for the next 6 weeks. At the end of this time, you see your child’s progress and scores against the goals and you make decisions about learning targets for the next 6 weeks. It’s a brilliant system because it adapts all the time to where you child is at!
What kind of child do you think Explore Learning is for? It’s not just for children who need extra help or confidence. It also runs groups for children with accelerated learning, 11+ tuition and secondary school transition groups. To book your free trial or to find out more call 030 3003 4006 or visit explorelearning.co.uk.
St Albans High School Prep The Prep School at St Albans High School for Girls, based in Wheathampstead village just a few miles from St Albans, offers a broad and rich curriculum which gives girls strong foundations and harnesses their natural curiosity. With 18 acres of field and woodland, the Prep School is an exciting place to grow and learn. Every child has the opportunity to get muddy in the outdoors, to play, to develop her passion for learning and to have fun. Girls learn French and Mandarin to help prepare them for a global workplace, as well as essential skills in IT, maths and English. Students enjoy learning science outdoors, as well as in the school’s purpose built lab. The girls embrace challenges and their enthusiasm for learning is impressive – the school moves ahead of national expectations. A rich extra-curricular programme of over 50 clubs and activities each week encourages girls to find their passion in music, sports or the creative arts. Find out more and book your visit at www.stahs.org.uk 8
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St Francis’ College The new Prep VI trip to Holland was hugely successful this summer. The girls travelled by coach across Belgium into Holland where they visited the Anne Frank House and were immensely moved by Anne's story. The girls enjoyed the Nemo museum and the tulips in Keukenhof. The most fun seems to have been at bedtimes! And, the ‘Mrs Day’ song – don’t ask? St. Francis’ College, Letchworth is a day and boarding school for girls aged between three and 18 years old. Girls aged three to 11 years old are pupils in the Prep Department and have their own dedicated area of the school, but are very much part of the whole St. Francis’ Community. St. Francis’ College is known for being warm and welcoming, where the staff are committed and dedicated to the well-being and intellectual development of all the girls. Attend an open day or arrange a visit to find out more about how St Francis’ College will help your daughter achieve her potential. Find out more at www.st-francis.herts.sch.uk or call 01462 670 511. See advert on page 7.
Abbot’s Hill School Pupils and staff at Abbot’s Hill School in Hemel Hempstead are celebrating after receiving a prestigious Artsmark Award. The school has been awarded Platinum Status – this is the highest level of award and recognises excellence in the provision of arts and cultural education and experience. Artsmark is Arts Council England’s award for schools that champion the arts and strive for excellence. It celebrates schools that embrace the arts across the curriculum, as well as helping schools to provide a fantastic cultural education and unlock youthful potential. The Artsmark Levelling Panel awarded Abbot’s Hill School a Platinum Level Award in July, highlighting that the range of facilities and practices available to pupils was a particular strength, as well as the school’s aspiration for excellence in all areas. To find out more call 01442 240333 or visit www.abbotshill.herts.sch.uk.
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Clubs & Classes A parent’s guide to clubs and classes There are a huge range of clubs and classes on offer, here are a few to consider. Rugby Rugby is an excellent way to increase fitness. Children will learn team work and social skills; to accept losing with good grace and to bond with their team when they win. They will build confidence and self-esteem and learn to respect others.
Drama Drama is popular with children and helps young people release their creativity and allows their imaginations take flight. Children will have fun as they develop their sense of 'self' and build their confidence. For some, drama can be a way to overcome shyness. It can also be a springboard towards involvement in other performance arts.
Sports for ADHD ADHD can make it hard for children to engage in organised activities and team sports. Not all sports are suitable for children with ADHD traits, and not all coaches and supervisors are understanding about the difficulties these children face. There are sports programmes specifically designed for children with ADHD that will help them to participate in team sports. These offer children with ADHD an opportunity to have fun and get fit as they develop new skills.
Tick Tock Music Tick Tock (for ages six months to five years) present a different performance each week and encourage their young audiences to join in the singing, actions and role-play. The children enjoy the rhymes and songs and will learn voice control, new vocabulary, number recognition and pre-reading skills all in a fun way. Even the quietest child will go home and sing the songs with confidence. Live keyboard accompanies the songs and activities which are linked by amusing playacting scenes. These stimulating sessions are led by professional actors and singers who use colourful props and there are percussion instruments for children to play. Sessions last between 45 to 60 minutes. See advert on page 2. To find out more call 07933 153054 or visit www.ticktockmusic.co.uk
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Brownies and Cubs Joining the Brownies or Cubs offers the opportunity for your child to experience the outdoors, to help in their community and to engage and socialise with others. Studies show that having been a Brownie, Cub, Guide or Scout can lead to better mental health in later life. Children will be able to get involved in a wide range of group and individual activities and are encouraged to achieve and learn through working towards gaining their activity badges.
Trampolining Trampolining is popular and it's also a fun way to get fit. Learning different moves on the trampoline, under supervision, can be a way into gymnastics and other athletics activities too.
Music Learning to play an instrument and creating music will nurture your child’s artistic talents. As well as experiencing the joys of music children will develop the qualities of patience and discipline along with improved coordination.
Baby and Toddler Sensory Classes These classes allow very young children to explore a multi-sensory environment with a parent or carer. They provide organised activities for parent and child to enjoy
together and the freedom to explore. Your child will experience physical activity while they learn to make friends and have fun.
Martial arts Martial arts will help increase confidence, as well as developing fitness, discipline, patience and self-control. Taught responsibly, selfdefence benefits children enormously. For more information about clubs and classes, visit www.familiesonline.co.uk
The Perfect Weekend Activity This Autumn A new school year is here, which means that children across London and the Home Counties are taking to the stage as Jigsaw begins an exciting new term of drama, singing and dance classes; the perfect activity to escape the cold, wet October weekends. Performing arts classes are an excellent way to build confidence and social skills and are lots of fun. For more information or to book a two-week trial, visit www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk or call 020 8447 4530. See the advert on page 2
Best is Busy This year has been Best's most successful ever: award winning shows, acclaimed outdoor productions, packed holiday courses and students accepted into four of the leading drama schools. The autumn First Class sessions, for ages rising four to six years, will be themed around 'Trolls', whilst Best's musical theatre students will be devising a series of fast and frantic pantomimes in 'Panto2Go'. Best School of Acting's Foundation and Intermediate groups have Christmas performances and TheBYTE, Best's youth theatre group, has again been selected to be in the National Theatre's ‘Connections’
programme. A few spaces are still available in most groups. To find out more call 01727 759634, email bestarts@aol.com or visit www.besttheatrearts.com.
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Centre 4 Excellence
Who can benefit from the programmes?
Centre 4 Excellence provide specialist sound training programmes that can be helpful for all children but which are especially useful for children with specific learning difficulties. What are Sound Training Programmes? We learn to read, write and spell from the sounds that we hear. Learning becomes difficult when the brain has problems translating what it hears. Sound Training Programmes help to retrain the brain to improve auditory and sensory processing. Who created the programmes? The programmes are based on years of research in neuroscience and the way the brain learns. They have been devised by a team of neurologists; experts in the field of brain plasticity, communication, speech and language, audiology and physiotherapy.
They are suitable for all children aged from five to 16 years. They will benefit children who have reading, spelling and writing difficulties, attention and focusing issues, working memory issues as well as children diagnosed with autism, ADHD, auditory processing difficulties, developmental delay or dyslexia. How can it help my child? By training the brain to hear and interpret sounds correctly it can help to improve: speech and language; hearing with background noises; following multiple instructions; hearing the tonality of sounds; phonological awareness; making eye contact; listening skills; behaviour and receptive language. See advert on page 2. To find out more contact Florence on 07919 067343
Happy Birthday Stagecoach!
Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes
This year Stagecoach Performing Arts is proud to celebrate 30 years of inspiring children in the performing arts with a host of exciting partnerships and events planned. Each week local children and young people aged four to six and six to 18 years learn skills in singing, acting and dance. Small classes led by inspiring professional arts practitioners ensure students love their time at Stagecoach and make good progress. Students are encouraged to find their creative courage to embrace life and make the most of their talents and opportunities. Schools pride themselves on providing a safe, secure environment where every student is nurtured to become more self-assured, expressive, confident and imaginative. Students also work towards shows and performances, exploring all aspects of the performing arts in their classes. Stagecoach runs a successful talent agency for those who wish to audition for professional work, a range of holiday workshops, optional performing arts qualifications and is proud of its partnerships with organisations including RADA, LAMDA, Disney, RUG, Rock School and Trinity. See the advert on page 1 for your nearest class or visit www.stagecoach.co.uk for more information.
Perform is a unique children’s drama school that has a special emphasis on child development. Perform uses a mix of drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s full potential. Run by highly experienced actorteachers, in small groups, Perform classes focus on developing the 4 Cs: Confidence, Communication, Coordination, and Concentration. The perform curriculum ensures plenty of fun, using a mix of energetic games, catchy songs and funky dances. All class materials are written by Perform, with apps, CDs and videos that the children can play at home to keep the magic alive. Each term sees a brand-new theme to keep imaginations buzzing. This autumn, four to sevens will be venturing Under the Sea on a colourful aquatic adventure while seven to 12s will be working rocktastic fairytale adaptation, Cinderella Rocks. See advert on page 1. Perform offer no-obligation FREE trial sessions for newcomers.
Communication Corner Communication Corner is run by Hertfordshire Speech and Language Therapy Practice, a team of experienced Therapists working together to support families who have members with specific needs. They can help with social communication difficulties (from age eight to adult); complex special needs (children); Signa-long training for children with parents or just parents; speech and language disorders or delays (children); Auditory Processing Disorder (children). They also provide one to one and group sessions for children, training for parents and Skype sessions for older children. From September they are introducing sessions to help you acquire the skills to get the best out of your children. You will learn how to enhance your child’s attention, listening, speech and understanding of
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Visit www.perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class today. Term dates: 2nd September - 17th December For your nearest class go to the listings on page 15. Call 020 7255 9120 or email enquiries@perform.org.uk or visit www.perform.org.uk/try
language. Through songs, stories, games and signing and opportunities to practice, you’ll go home with the tools you need. The one-hour sessions will be run four times each week. See advert on page 2. To find out more call 07815 889938 or email c.kendall@ashmead.org 11
Parenting
How to cope with toddler tantrums they eventually will) then you can talk. Nothing you say during the tantrum will help if anything, it will make the situation worse.
Keep calm and breathe Even though you may want to lay next to your child and kick and scream alongside them, if you bite your tongue and remain authoritative rather than stressed, then your child will be more likely to calm quicker. Patience is needed, as children often throw tantrums because they see that as effective communication and know no other ways to communicate. It takes time and practice until they realise it is not.
Distraction
When your child is in the middle of a tantrum, it can be very hard to stop yourself from joining in! Every toddler will throw a tantrum at some stage of their life, but do not fear, there is a solution to the tantrum episodes and ways to prevent them from happening again. Ignorance is bliss You should respond to a tantrum, but not react. When a child is in a full blown screaming tantrum, they have exploded with emotions, and there is no way of dragging them back to reality... yet. Ride the tantrum wave, and when they calm down (which
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A brilliant weapon in the parenting toolbox! Try and distract them before they descend into utter madness. Use humour to distract tricky situations, such as silly songs, laughing or even tickles. Children have a pretty short attention span which proves useful when you need to distract!
Recognise the signs The good old saying "prevention is better than cure" is apparent here. Although we can't always predict what will cause a tantrum, we can try and avoid it a second time around, or be prepared for heightened emotions such as hunger and tiredness that can lead to a tantrum. Why not make a note of the cause of the tantrum and hopefully try and avoid it next time?
The 'calm corner' Admittedly you may want to sit in this corner yourself when you think it's too much to handle, but it's for the little ones! If your child is having a meltdown at home, create a quiet corner such as the bottom step of the stairs,
or the corner of the hallway. Whilst they are there, don't give them a lot of attention and make sure they don't have access to their favourite toys, books, or fun distractions - we don't need them wanting to return to the calm corner!
Do not give into ‘I want it all' style tantrums One of the most common tantrums in the book. If your toddler is having a strop because you’re not allowing them to steal a toy off another toddler, or because of the chocolate you refused to give them, or even the toy they aren't allowed to currently play with... do not give in! If you do, they catch on very quickly that throwing a tantrum means they get their own way, crafty little ones! It's hard to stay strong, but it will be worth the investment in the future.
The limited words tantrum There's a lot of frustration with trying to communicate but only having a word bank of around 100 words. These tantrums can be helped with your assistance. Help your toddler explain and understand their feelings. Try to guess what they're experiencing and ask them "are you sleepy?" or "are you sad because that's not your toy?" This gives them a chance to think about their feelings and eventually express them in a different way.
Compromise Tantrums in toddlers are often caused by a feeling of "no control". Your toddler is desperate for a little control over their life, so try and keep the balance by giving them a choice within a choice. Instead of saying "you need to hold my hand when crossing roads", say, "would you like to hold mummy/daddy's hand or the pram when crossing the road?� That way they think they're getting a choice, but you're still getting the desired outcome. Win-win!
Praise the good Reinforce and praise good behaviour. Try making a star chart, and if they hit a target of stars in the week, give a reward. This helps your child realise there is a certain type of behaviour that leads to great results, hopefully teaching them to avoid tantrums as no stars are awarded to screaming toddlers!
Tantrums aren't forever, but hopefully these tips will make them a little easier! For more advice on tantrums, visit www.familiesonline.co.uk
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What’s On Shows 96 SHENLEY ROAD Borehamwood, WD6 1EB 01442 454000 www.96shenleyroad.co.uk Dogs Don’t Do Ballet 1 Oct – 11.30am & 2.30pm From the bestselling children's book. With music & handcrafted puppets. Ages 3+. Cost: £10 Little Red Robin Hood 22 Oct – 11am A merry mix up in the forest! Puppet theatre for ages 3-8. Cost: £7 THE ALBAN ARENA Civic Centre, St Albans, AL1 3LD 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk Milkshake! Live: The Magic Story Book 23 Oct – 12 & 3.30pm Starring Milkshake! favourites including Bob the Builder, Little Princess, Noddy & Fireman Sam. Cost: £15. Under 16s £13.50. Family £52 GORDON CRAIG THEATRE Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk The Gruffalo Live 28 Sep-1 Oct Magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book for ages 3+. Cost: £12 Robots Live 7 & 8 Oct Machines from TV's Robot Wars fight it out live! Cost: £16. Under 16s £14. Family £50 Dick and Dom Live 24 Oct – 1 & 5pm Madcap challenges & audience participation. Cost: £13. Under 16s £11. Family £41 HERTFORD THEATRE The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS 01992 531500 www.hertfordtheatre.com
Create Your Own Story Book 30 Sept – 12.30pm Interactive session with local author Alice Hemmings. Ages 6+ (younger children interested in writing may enjoy too). Animalthemed, bring your favourite cuddly for inspiration! Cost: £2 (materials supplied) Gardener Jack and the Green Beanstalk 30 Sept – 12.15 & 3.15pm Ages 2-7. Glastonbabies’ interactive version of Jack and the Beanstalk featuring 8 action songs & games, live music & a 4m high beanstalk. Cost: £9 Glastonbabies: The Crazy Creatures Show 1 Oct – 12.15 & 2.15pm Interactive music jam for ages 2-7. Cost: £9 Storyteller, Storyteller 1 Oct – 11am & 1pm What happens when two children’s storytellers arrive at the same place at the same time to tell their stories? A feast of clowning, physical silliness & magical non-verbal storytelling. For ages 3-6 and their families. Cost: £9 Sleeping Beauty 7 Oct – 5pm Vienna Festival Ballet. Cost: £20. Concs £18. Family £72 Hairy Maclary & Friends 22 Oct – 1.30 & 3.30pm With music, singing & your favourite Hairy Maclary characters from the books. Cost: £12. Family £44 THE RADLETT CENTRE 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291 www.radlettcentre.co.uk Don't Dribble On The Dragon 9 Sept – 2pm Musical adventure about growing up & the importance of family. Based on the book by Steven Lee with magic designed by Paul Daniels. Cost: £10. Family £36
Stick Man 9 Sept – 1 & 3pm 10 Sept – 11am & 1pm Ages 3+. Delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s book. Cost: £13. Family £48
The Sooty Show 23 Sept – 11am & 2.30pm Ages 3+. Izzy wizzy let's get busy! Magic, music, mayhem & audience participation. Plus a chance to meet Sooty & Richard after the show. Cost: £12. Family £40
The Tiger Who Came To Tea 30 Sept & 1 Oct – 11am & 2pm The classic tale of teatime mayhem. Cost: £13.50. Family £46
The Tiger Who Came To Tea 19 & 20 Oct – 1.30 & 4.30pm The classic tale of teatime mayhem. Cost: £12.50. Family £42
familiesonline.co.uk
The Little Mix Experience 24 Oct – 6pm Tribute show. Cost: £14 Lost and Found 26 & 27 Oct – 11.30am & 2pm With puppetry & music, based on the bestselling picture book. Cost: £10 The Nutcracker 28 Oct – 2.30pm Vienna Festival Ballet. Cost: £19.50. Concs £16.50 The Night Pirates 31 Oct – 1.30pm 1 Nov – 10.30am & 4.30pm From the best-selling children’s book, the tale of a group of little girl pirates who descend on a young boy called Tom at bedtime. Ages 3+. Cost: £12.50 THE SPOTLIGHT High Street, Hoddesdon, EN11 8BE 01992 441946 www.broxbourne.gov.uk/ thespotlight Mister Maker & The Shapes Live! 24 Sept – 1 & 4pm CBeebies' Mister Maker in his live theatre tour. Cost: £14.50. Child £11. Babes in Arms (under 1) £5. Family £47 Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave 21 Oct – 2-4pm Multi-sensory dancefloor experience. DJs, club lighting, glowsticks, bubbles, glitter cannon, balloons & giant parachute. Kids craft activities too! Cost: £9. Child £6. Pre-walking infants free but need a ticket The Little Mix Experience 28 Oct – 2.30pm Tribute band. Cost: £14 RHODES BISHOPS STORTFORD 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 07903 192094 www.rhodesbishopsstortford. org.uk The Hunting of the Snark 6 Oct – 4.30pm Musical comedy adventure for 4 to 94-year-olds, based on Lewis Carroll’s classic poem. Cost: £15. Concs £13. Family £52
Morgan & West: More Magic for Kids! 25 Oct – 2pm Time-travelling magicians Morgan & West’s marvellous magic show aimed at ages 5+. Cost: £10. Concs £8 THE SANDPIT THEATRE The Ridgeway, St Albans, AL4 9NX 01727 799565 www.sandpittheatre.co.uk According to Arthur 30 Sept – 11.30am & 2.30pm Children’s show bursting with poetry, puppetry, live music & imagination. Cost: £8. Concs £6 Fairytales Gone Bad: Grannylocks / The Monstrous Duckling 23 Oct – 11.30am & 2pm Performance poet Joseph Coelho unravels familiar fairytales to create fresh contemporary classics in an enchanting performance for young & old alike. Cost: £8. Concs £6 Hansel & Gretel 27 Oct – 2pm Hansel and Gretel have been turned into oven gloves and don’t know what to do! They decide to go on a journey around the world looking for food & friends. Cost: £6. Concs £4
Holiday Camps & Courses BERKHAMSTED BASECAMP All camps take place in Berkhamsted www.berkhamstedbasecamp. co.uk 23 Oct-3 Nov See website for full details.
Hoot Owl: Master of Disguise 24 Oct – 11am Original songs, colourful puppets, animation & hilarity in this inventive new show. Cost: £10. Concs £8. Family £32
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What’s On HERTS YOUNG MARINERS BASE Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, EN8 9AJ 01992 628403 www.hymb.com 23-27 Oct Caving; climbing; sailing; kayaking; canoeing; raft building; bushcraft; fencing & archery. Cost: £15 a session. Full week £120 KOOL KIDZ CAMPS Sandridge Primary School, Woodcock Hill, Sandridge, St Albans, AL4 9EB 0845 603 2858 www.koolkidzgroup.co.uk 23-27 Oct Multi activity camp for ages 4-12. Art, sport & fun. Extended days available. Cost: From £17 for half day
Places To Go
HIGHFIELD PARK
PANSHANGER PARK
Charters Health Club, 59 Russet Drive, St Albans, AL4 0DB 01727 847242 www.highfieldparktrust.co.uk
Nr Welwyn, SG14 2WN 01727 858901 www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk
Apple Day 8 Oct – 2-4pm SHENLEY PARK Radlett Lane, Shenley, WD7 9DW www.shenleypark.co.uk Apple Day 15 Oct – 12-6pm TEWIN ORCHARD Tewin Cricket Club, Upper Green, AL6 0LX www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk Apple Day 8 Oct – 12-4.30pm Includes children's activities & scavenger hunt. FREE PRYOR'S WOOD
BROADWAY STUDIO & GALLERY
Stevenage, SG2 7QQ www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk
2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3EW 01462 681088 www.broadway-letchworth.com
Family Tree Safari 15 Oct – 10am-12noon Tree identification & minibeast hunt aimed at families. FREE, donations appreciated
Family Arts Studio 10 Sept & 8 Oct – 10am-1pm Hands-on craft activities led by professional artists, inspired by artworks in the Broadway Gallery. No booking required. Open to all, but aimed at accompanied children aged 3-10. FREE HERTFORD CASTLE Castle Street, Hertford, SG14 1HR 01992 552885 www.hertford.gov.uk Heritage Day 10 Sept – 12-4pm Explore the Castle. Plus falconry and medieval battles & encampment on the lawn. FREE, charity donations welcome REDBOURN COMMON Redbourn, AL3 7BU www.facebook.com/ RedbournClassics Redbourn Classics Motor Show 16 Sept – 12-6pm Classic vehicle show & village fête in aid of local charities. Free entry
14 Families Herts
HEMEL OLD TOWN High St, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3AF Halloween Party 29 Oct – 3-7.45pm Entertainment, street performers, fairground rides & a firework finale. Free entry
Nature Tots Each Weds 13 Sept-18 Oct –1011.30am Forest School activity programme for ages 3-5 (with parent/carer). Booking essential. Cost: £24 (for 6 sessions) Little Creepy Crawlies! 25 Oct – 10am-12noon or 1-3pm Celebrate woodland creatures such as bats, owls, toads & spiders with fun creepy crafts. Ages 2-7 (with adult). Booking essential. Cost: £6 per child per session
5 Lower King Street, Royston, SG8 5AL 01763 242587 www.roystonmuseum.org.uk Knit & Giggle 2 Sept – 2-4pm Return of the weekly knitting group for ages 5-10. FREE Toddler Music & Dance 15 & 25 Sept, 13 & 30 Oct 10.30-11.30am Toddler music & dance workshop themed around the museum’s collections. Booking essential. FREE Historical Crafty Kids: What Royston Did in WW1 16 Sept Ages 4-11. Cost: £3 per child
Wild Kids Adventure Day: Halloween Special! 27 Oct – 10am-3pm Design & build a spooky woodland trail, traps & haunted house! Plus games, crafts, free play-time in the woods and, weather permitting, a campfire too. Ages 8-13; adults can stay or drop off. Ages 6-7 welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Book in advance. Cost: £15 per child
Vintage Toys & Games 23 Sept – Drop-in 10.30am-12noon 4-11 years. Test out some vintage toys & make retro toys to take home. Cost: £2 per child
CHURCH FARM, ARDELEY
LOWEWOOD MUSEUM High Street, Hoddesdon, EN11 8BH 01992 445596 www.broxbourne.gov.uk
Half Term Halloween Fun Pumpkin trails, spooky egg collecting & scary trailer ride.Cost: TBC, see website
Family Fun: Halloween Paper Pumpkin Lanterns 26 Oct. Drop in 12-3pm Fun crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: £1.50 per child
ROYSTON MUSEUM
Wild Families: Halloween Special 26 Oct – 10am-12pm or 1-3pm Ages 4-11 (with adult). Whittle a wand, make a magic potion & carve a pumpkin. Plus campfire & snacks (weather permitting). Book in advance. Cost: £7 per child (includes pumpkin)
Stevenage, SG2 7AH www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk
Toddler Thursdays 28 Sept & 19 Oct – 10-11am or 11am-12noon Learn a nursery rhyme, share a story & make a craft. Ages 2-4 (with adult). Book in advance. Cost: £1.50 per child per session
Halloween Event 31 Oct – 5-7pm
MILL GREEN MUSEUM & MILL Mill Green, Hatfield, AL9 5PD 01707 357850 www.welhat.gov.uk/museum Toddler Workshop 19 Oct – 10-11.30am Cost: £3 per toddler (includes entrance to mill/museum) Half Term Art & Craft Workshops 24, 25 & 26 Oct – 10am, 11.15am, 1.15pm & 2.30pm Ages 4+. Cost: £3.50 per child per session
Exhibition Launch: Middle Schools Art Exhibition Changes 23 Sept – 10.30am-12noon (Exhibition runs until mid Oct) FREE
Lego League Robots 30 Sept – 10am-4pm See the Robots in action and have a go at Lego-themed activities. FREE Exhibition Launch: Traditional Tales – Royston & District Folklore 14 Oct – 10.30am-12noon Folklore-themed craft activities, storytelling & Morris Dancing. Free admission. Craft activities £3 per child Crafty Kids: Folklore Fun 25 & 26 Oct. Drop-in 10.30am-12noon Ages 4-11. Cost: £3 per child Room On The Broom 28 Oct – 10.30am-12noon Ages 4-11. Join storyteller Alex Jones for Halloween-themed tales & craft activities. Cost: £3 per child ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1JY 01992 707370 www.royalgunpowdermills.com 21-29 Oct
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Spooktacular half-term fun. Fantastic experiments in the Mad Lab! Normal admission (special event prices may differ): £10.50. Concs £8. Child £8.50. Under 3s free. Family tickets available SHEPRETH WILDLIFE PARK Station Road, Shepreth, SG8 6PZ www.sheprethwildlifepark.co.uk Red Panda Day 16 Sept Panda talks, face-painting, bug handling, panda feeds & the chance to get up close to some more familiar species too! Halloween Week 23-27 Oct Carve a pumpkin. Head to the Bat Cave & watch as the bats swoop just centimetres from your head! Cost: Normal admission applies. Tesco vouchers not valid on event days
7 Oct – 11am-1pm (10.30am for NCT members) Stanborough School, Lemsford Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6YR 8 Oct – 1.30-3pm (1pm for NCT members) Entrance: £1
Dance 6-12s - Sat 2pm
GORDON CRAIG THEATRE
Drama 4-7s – Sat 9.30am, 11.15am, Tues 4pm
www.gordon-craig.co.uk
Baby & Child First Aid Courses Fire Station Community Meeting Room, 153 London Road, St Albans, AL1 1TQ 9 Sept or 7 Oct 10am-12.30pm or 1.30-4pm 2.5-hour course suitable for parents, expectant parents & carers. Babies up to 6 months may attend with adults. Cost: £30. Couple £55. (Limited number of concessionary places at £12)
Drama 4-7s - Tues 4pm, 5pm Hertford Mill Mead School, Port Vale, SG14 3AA
Firework Displays
Coursers Road, London Colney, St Albans, AL2 1BB 0870 129 9718 www.willowsactivityfarm.com Potato Shindig! 4-24 Sept Harvest your own Picasso potatoes & create messy masterpieces with potato prints. Pumpkin Festival 21-29 Oct Pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Pumpkin carving, arts & crafts, Pumpkin Olympics and Pumpkin Show.
Tring Park Cricket Club, London Road, Tring, HP23 6HA www.tringfireworks.co.uk 4 Nov – Gates 5.30pm Tickets on sale from 23 Sept. VERULAMIUM PARK St Albans, AL3 4SW www.alban-arena.co.uk 4 Nov – Gates 6pm. Display 7.30pm Cost: £8.25. Under 16 £4.25 (incl £1.25 online commission)
Clubs & Classes
LEE VALLEY PARK FARMS Stubbins Hall Lane, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2EF 01992 210193 www.lvfarms.co.uk Daily 10am-5pm Grandparents' Day 1 Oct Mischief and Mayhem 21-29 Oct Half term Halloween event. Cost: Standard admission £9. Under 2s free NCT EVENTS
PERFORM 020 7255 9120 www.perform.org.uk Drama and dance for ages 4-7s and 7-12s Bishops Stortford Summercroft Primary School, Plaw Hatch Lane, CM23 5BJ Drama 4-7s - Mon 4pm Drama 7-12s - Mon 5pm Bushey Bushey Country Club, Bushey Centre, WD23 1TT
www.nct.org.uk/branches
Drama 4-7s – Fri 4pm, 5pm, Wed 4pm
Nearly New Sales Preloved parent, children & baby goods. Presdales School, Hoe Lane, Ware, SG12 9NX
Drama 7-12s - Wed 5pm Harpenden Harpenden United Reformed Church, Vaughan Road, AL5 4ED
familiesonline.co.uk
Drama 4-7s – Sat 9.30am, 11.15am Hitchin Church House Hall, Church Yard, SG5 1HP Drama 4-7s – Wed 4pm Drama 7-12s - Wed 5pm Radlett Christ Church Vision Hall, Watling Street, WD7 7JJ Drama 4-7s – Wed 4pm, 5pm Sawbridgworth Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall, The Fourbury, CM21 9BD Drama 4-7s – Thur 4pm
TRING FESTIVAL OF FIRE WILLOWS ACTIVITY FARM
Drama 7-12s - Tues 5pm Hemel Hempstead Apsley Community Centre, London Road, HP39SB
Drama 7-12s - Thur 5pm St Albans Fleetville Junior School, 228, Hatfield Road, AL1 4LW Drama 4-7s – Sat 9.30am, 11.15am Drama 7-12s - Sat 2pm United Reformed Church Homewood Road, Homewood Road, AL1 4BH
Jack and the Beanstalk 1 Dec - 28 Jan HARPENDEN PUBLIC HALLS www.harpendenpublichalls.co.uk Dick Whittington 9-22 Dec HAWTHORNE THEATRE www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk Beauty and the Beast 9-31 Dec HERTFORD THEATRE www.hertfordtheatre.com Rapunzel 2 Dec -1 Jan RHODES THEATRE www.rhodesbishopsstortford. org.uk Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs 9 Dec-6 Jan THE ALBAN ARENA www.alban-arena.co.uk Aladdin 7 Dec - 7 Jan THE SPOTLIGHT
Drama 4-7s –Wed 4pm
www.broxbourne.gov.uk
Drama 7-12s - Wed 5pm Trinity United Reform Church,1, Beaconsfield Road, AL1 3RD
Snow White 13-30 Dec
Drama 4-7s – Fri 4pm
WATERSMEET
Drama 7-12s - Fri 5pm Welwyn Garden City Applecroft School, Applecroft Road, AL8 6JZ
www.watersmeet.co.uk
Drama 4-7s – Sat 2.30pm WGC Quaker Meeting House, AL8 6SP Drama 4-7s – Wed 4pm Drama 7-12s - Wed 5pm
Panto Preview
Beauty and the Beast 7-31 Dec WATFORD PA LACE THEATRE www.watfordpalacetheatre. co.uk Aladdin 1–30 Dec WYLLYOTTS THEATRE www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk Cinderella 13-31 Dec
BARN THEATRE www.barntheatre.co.uk Narnia the Musical 16–31 Dec
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What’s On
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