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Issue 147 March/April 2022 Familiesonline.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk Families North West London 1

A78137_Reddiford_General Advert_v01.pdf CONTENTS

07/01/2022

REDDIFORD SCHOOL Long Established Reputation for Academic Excellence

11:23

Holland House School

Limited places available in our Early Years & Certain Year Groups

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

5th IN THE TOP 100 INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

(Sunday Times)

CMY

• • • • •

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

run by the team behind

THE HALL SCHOOL, NORTHWOOD

An independent, non-denominational school in NW London, for boys and girls from 4 to 11 years.

Registration for Reception (Sept 2023 entry) is open Private School Tours available Please contact the Registrar on 020 8958 6979 or email admissions@hollandhouse.org.uk HHS encourages independence, individuality and creativity, whilst providing a robust, quality education. Our pupils are encouraged to aspire and achieve across the curriculum in a caring community which fast becomes, and remains, a family.

www.hollandhouse.org.uk

OPEN MORNING Friday 20th May 2022, 9.30–11.00am

Pre-Preparatory School & Nursery

for boys & girls aged 3 months to 7 years Term time only OR all year round provision Small ability grouped classes Enthusiastic, dedicated staff Caring, family atmosphere Vouchers & Free Entitlement Preparation for entrance tests 10% Scholarships / bursaries Excellent academic results 7+ exam tutoring

Email us to arrange a visit info@roxethmead.com

25 Middle Road, Harrow on the Hill, HA2 0HW

www.roxethmead.com 2 Families North West London

Email: registrar@orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk Tel: 020 8869 7600 South Hill Avenue, Harrow, HA1 3NU @orleyfarm

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CONTENTS

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: 4 7 8 10 12 14

Education Early Years Clubs & Classes Directory Parenting What’s On Children’s Theatre

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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EDUCATION

Help, we didn’t get our first choice school!

By Emma Lewry

School allocation day is almost upon us. In England, secondary school places are announced on 1 March. Then, during April, those who have applied for a primary school place will find out their designated school. Thankfully, almost ninety two percent of families are given their first-choice primary school and ninety eight percent get one of their listed preferences. In secondary, ninety six percent of students get one of their listed schools. But what about those who do not get their first choice or even any preferences? How can you deal with the fallout from not getting a choice you planned for? Here are three suggestions:

STANBOROUGH SECONDARY SCHOOL

Frequently Asked Questions

Stanborough Park Secondary School is a co-educational independent Christian School, for pupils aged 11-16, located in Watford, Hertfordshire

What is the average class size at Stanborough? We have small classes (ratio of 1:8 on average), allowing us to give tailored and precise help where this is required. This allows us fast-track learning as well as a more nurturing and supported approach for all.

Do students perform well academically? Alongside our able students, we also have pupils who arrive at Stanborough below national expectation and leave having made excellent progress – allowing for excellent GCSE results. Last year, 95% of our students achieved grade 4 or higher in 5 or more of their GCSE’s including Maths and English.

Does Stanborough School have an educational philosophy? We develop the whole child, make children feel safe and put the child at the forefront of everything we do. Our philosophy, epitomised in our motto (God is the Master of our School), has shaped many generations of families educated at Stanborough since 1919. Our values of excellence, respect, courage, resilience, helpfulness and integrity enable our children to grow in confidence, and to better appreciate each other.

Give the allocated option a chance

My child has special needs. Do you offer extra support to the students?

If you do not know much about the school, get nosey on their website and give them a call see if you can visit. In many cases, second or third choice allocations turn out to be brilliant and families are really pleased with the decision. Give the school a chance, it might work for you!

We believe that an individualised and inclusive support infrastructure including regular contact with parents is essential for helping students reach their full potential. We teach a personalised curriculum catered to meet the needs of students of all backgrounds, including disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs.

Manage disappointment

We provide choice, diversity, and excellence to our students. In many cases, the prestige and world-wide fame of a private institution attracts international interest, meaning classrooms become multi-national spaces in which students interact with children from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Sometimes the biggest issue is managing the disappointment you and your child might feel. Look after yourself and take some time to be sad, angry and frustrated; these are important and valid feelings. Communicating positively with your child is important if you can, so they don’t feel nervous about their new school. Get on the waiting lists Plenty changes between the spring and September and there is still a good chance you can get a space at your first choice school or another you feel happier about. Depending on your local authority procedures, you may automatically go on a waiting list or you may need to request this with your local authority or directly with the school. If you are still feeling unsure about the school options, there is time to look at other schools and request a change. Both starting school and moving to secondary are big events and you need to feel as happy about them as you can. There are also options to appeal; although this can be challenging, it may be worth a shot. Again, your local authority website should explain the appeals process. Emma Lewry is an Early Years teacher, former Headteacher and mum to two little girls. Emma co-owns Every Day’s a School Day (www.edasd.co.uk/links) which supports families to prepare for starting school through groups, courses and a school starters planner available from Amazon. 4 Families North West London

How diverse is your school?

Does Stanborough schools run entrance exams? As an inclusive school our entrance exams do not determine whether a child is accepted or not. These tests are used to identify gaps in learning. If the family has the right principles, they will be welcome into our family.

What is Stanborough School’s admission process? You will first meet the Head teacher (meetings take place every Tuesday) who will take you on a tour of the school. You will then be invited to attend an optional taster day to get a deeper insight into what makes us so unique. Your child will sit an assessment to determine their academic ability, followed by an interview with the Head teacher.

Where can I find more information about Stanborough School? At www.spsch.org you can find out more information about our ethos, the admission process, the curriculum offered, tuition fees charged and the latest news and events. A prospectus is also available for download on the website. Feel free to book a meeting with our head teacher, to gain a better understanding of our vision and what makes us unique: www.spsch.org/meet-the-headteacher-2021

Stanborough School Stanborough Park, Watford Hertfordshire, WD25 9JT United Kingdom

+44 (0) 1923 673268 info@spsch.org www.spsch.org

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EDUCATION

Tidy bedrooms and school performance By Usha Patel The instruction ‘Tidy your room!’ is the bane of most children’s lives. But there’s so much more to keeping bedrooms tidy than maintaining a positive environment. In fact, the very act of regular tidying can actually help children in other areas of their life too, including at school. It’s all part of building certain processes and routines that are important to their overall development. Nurturing a sense of tidiness By the age of four, children can usually hold just one notion in their active memory, for instance, immediate instructions such as picking up certain toys or doing one tidying job. Young children often struggle with being given too much to do all at once simply because their active memory is quickly drained. However, by the time they are sixteen, they can hold six or even seven notions in their active memory at a time. If you want your child to more easily absorb a sequence of instructions, you can try habit stacking, with tidying their bedroom a perfect example of how to nurture it. Habit stacking is achieved by linking an existing habit with a new one you want to create. How a tidy bedroom can help with working memory How easily can your child find something in their bedroom? To recall where a particular item is, children first need to retrieve the information from their long-term memory storage and bring it forward to their active thinking. The more items they have to put away, the more working memory is used to remember where each one is located.

Working memory is a critical cognitive function for everyday activities from learning to reading, remembering spellings, maths and mathematical tasks. By encouraging your child to start small and create the tidying habit and then retrieve the items, you are exercising that same part of the brain. It’s impossible to overstate just how important working memory is in every aspect of your child’s life. In fact, Dr Tracy Packiam Alloway, award-winning psychologist who has conducted extensive research on memory and the brain, states it is a more significant indicator of academic success than IQ. So, there’s no need to feel like you are being a nag when you ask your child to tidy their room; it really is good for them. There’s a direct line from toybox to brainbox - just don’t expect them to thank you for it yet! Usha Patel (www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk) is a neurocognitive therapist and an expert in special educational needs.

Habit stacking to improve bedroom tidying

Tips for improving tidying and working memory

Beds take up a large portion of any bedroom and having a madeup bed can contribute to a ninety percent tidier room if your child’s room is small. Using a habit stack to instruct your child to make their bed could be worded like this:

Introduce and start using habit stacking from a young age.

‘After your feet touch the floor in the morning, plump up your pillow and pull the cover straight to make your bed. After making your bed, head straight to the bathroom’. A room tidying habit stack might sound like this: ‘Pick up your cars and put them in the blue crate. Then sit your soft toys next to each other on the shelf.’ Habit stacking becomes a routine that can be easily adapted and made more complex with age. It creates a series of sequential steps that leave no gaps for distraction. Importantly, it does not drain active memory. If you want to find out more, Habit Stacking creator Dr BJ Fogg’s book Tiny Habits is an excellent guide to the science of behaviour change.

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Celebrate the implementation of each new habit with plenty of praise and encouragement. Comment on how much better your child’s room looks and how pleased you are with their efforts; Dr BJ Fogg says happiness helps behaviour change! Creating and ingraining a new habit usually takes around twenty one days. Once the habit is in place, add another and keep going. Gradually build the chain of habits to achieve the right result. Exercise your four-year-old child’s working memory by asking them to retrieve one item. Build up to four items by age nine and seven by age sixteen. Every child develops at their own pace, bear this in mind and support or reduce when needed at every stage. When you deem them old enough, explain the science behind what they are learning and how clever they are making their brains! Families North West London 5

EDUCATION

How important is spelling?

By Jemma Zoe Smith

written down for fear of over-zealous correction. We might be missing out on some amazing works - after all, Jane Austen is known for spelling scissors as ‘scissars’ and sofa as ‘sopha’. And her novels are considered literary classics! So does spelling matter? Sort of. But it shouldn’t get in the way of encouraging children to write. My solution? Spend longer on proof-reading, a skill that can help beyond the classroom. And, on that note, I’m off to proof-read this article. Jemma Zoe Smith is Director of The Education Hotel (www.educationhotel.co.uk).

At a time when autocorrect is everywhere and very few situations call for handwriting, the question being debated is: does spelling matter? As a dyslexic tutor, my answer does not fit squarely on one side of the fence. Spelling is a recognised core skill which helps with reading, processing and pronunciation. That said, should anyone be penalised for having important and novel ideas, simply because they struggle to write them down? In UK primary schools, children are given regular spelling tests and spelling is tested at each stage of pupils’ lives. 11+ exams, SATs, GCSEs and even some job interviews require a writing task without spellcheck. So yes, spelling must matter because it is tested at so many points in the UK (although not so much in the USA). Fail to master spelling and it is harder to make it to top universities or careers. Indeed, poor spelling skills can also impede you in love! In 2016, a survey of over five thousand people on online dating site Match.com found that over a third judged whether a potential date was suitable by their grasp of grammar. Poor spelling can also impact business ratings, with a BBC article in 2011 stating that ‘a single spelling mistake can cut online sales in half.’ While spell checking tools can be used, they raise a new issue. When spell check corrects a word, it can also change the word to one different than intended, creating hundreds of ‘funniest autocorrect’ articles online but also leaving governments red faced as ‘peace’ turns to ‘peach’ in press releases. But let’s not come down too hard on spelling lest it discourage children from writing. I have seen students go from enthusiastic to disengaged learners after seeing their work returned with red rings around the misspelled words. For many, their ideas for stories, articles and debates stay locked in their heads, never

Learning to proofread While grammar and autocorrect tools can support writing, I believe there is a missing skill: proofreading. Something that I often work on with students is ‘hearing their inside voice’ reading their work. Being able to spot mistakes can help students to notice patterns in their own writing, identify grammar errors and lead them to understand hidden meanings in texts. The process of proofreading encourages children to slow down and consider making changes to their work, such as upgrading a word like ‘big’ to ‘enormous,’ allowing them to explore and use more advanced vocabulary. To produce crisp, clear copy, proofreading is the final part of the writing process and is as important as creating and revising text. Proofreading is a skill that many of us will need in the world of work, when sending emails and writing presentations. For the best, proof reading can be a job in its own right. To practise proofreading, try www.twinkl.co.uk for age-banded proofreading packs and worksheets www.portlandproof.com for free online games.

www.northlondongrammar.com

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

Open Morning Wednesday 12th January 30 March 2022 2022 10am to- 12:30pm 9.30am 12.30pm

Book Online For more information, contact us at: info@northlondongrammar.com or call us at: 0208 205 0052

6 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.

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EARLY YEARS Against this background of safety and security, your child can become more comfortable making suggestions and changing things, allowing their understanding of situations to develop. They’re the boss, they call the shots and decide how a situation goes. From this place of safety, they revisit difficult experiences without feeling vulnerable or uncertain. In role playing and playing out different scenarios with them, your child comes to know you as someone who can understand and relate to their experience. They feel steady and secure.

Play for nurturing emotional intelligence

Dr Anne Lane is a clinical psychologist and author. Her new book Nurture Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence: 5 Steps to Help Your Child Cope with Big Emotions and Build Resilience is out now.

By Dr Anne Lane When my daughter was in her first year at nursery her favourite game was pretending to say goodbye to me. ‘Bye Mama, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later.’ ‘Oh no! You’re not going...’ I’d say after her, ‘I don’t want you to go!’ The more I sighed ‘Don’t go,’ the more she’d giggle and run off. Thus reassured, we were ready for our day. Little moments of play like this helped my daughter process her separation from me at nursery from a space of safety and connection.

Top tips for playing

For a child, life can be full of emotional demands; from the strains of separation from you, to new friendships, periods of uncertainty and family changes.

When you play with your child, focus less on conversation and more on acting things out and exploring. This focus away from language allows your child to relax and connect.

As a parent and psychologist, one of the most effective and fun ways I have found to help children navigate experiences and the difficult emotions that come with these is through this process of play. Simple, giggly, repetitive play helps children develop a resilience and familiarity with situations which can dispel tension and anxiety.

Follow the laughter. When your child is laughing they are releasing fear and tension, enveloped in happiness with you. Silliness, smiles and laughter are great indicators that play is working.

So how does play work? Play is serious work for your child. The process of role-playing real scenarios allows them to reflect on their reactions and beliefs about a situation. They can steady their emotions and become more nuanced and agile in their reactions. The most important aspect of play is that it feels safe. In the real world, things are unpredictable. People can be abrupt and cross and make your child feel vulnerable and uncertain. But in the world of play, they get to switch things around and feel empowered. They can explore and try different things. The play scenario can be ridiculous, funny, amusing - tense and tight emotions soften and ease.

Let your child take the lead. If you can, get down to their level. Prioritise your child feeling in control. If your child seems uncertain or pulls back then slow down, change things around. Let them be the boss. Be careful with tickling. Although a lot of children love tickling, the feeling of being tickled can be overwhelming and intense. Instead prioritise play which creates real engagement and collaboration, as well as laughter. Play doesn’t have to be big, take long or be over-planned. Make it spontaneous and funny. Some of my children’s favourite games can involve me simply looking surprised or pretending to sleep on the sofa!

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

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Families North West London 7

LOCAL CLUBS & CLASSES

ACTIVITY CENTRES Ninja Warrior Watford (WD25) 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 + treat yourself to our full range of hot and cold food plus a wide selection of drinks! https://ninjawarrioruk.co.uk/watford

AFTER SCHOOL CLUB/ EDUCATION SUPPORT Academic Tuition from Little Big Leaders (HA8 & WD23) in Maths/English or Phonics & Writing for 3.5 to 11 year olds at our Little Big Leaders Saturday School, Summer School and Winter School, in our 8th year of success. 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 or visit www.littlebigleaders.com Ace Tutors Maths online tuition in small groups on Zoom – no need to travel anywhere. Qualified teacher with 31yrs experience. Senior Examiner at A-Level. Affordable but effective help for your children. All abilities years 7 to 13. Free no-obligation trial lesson. Call, Text, WhatsApp 07737 853527 Vijay Bhuchar, BSc, BA, PGCE www.acetutors.com Brain Train Tuition Centre (HA2) English & Maths Tuition For Ages 5 – 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, 0208 426 84250. Code Ninjas 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! www.codeninjas.co.uk DiscoG Coding Classes and Camps Weekly Coding Programme teaches Primary and Secondary School children the basics of coding. Using the Python Programming Language and the Raspberry Pi 3 your child will create fun and engaging gadgets that spring to life with lights and sensors, and prototyping devices that will ‘amaze and inspire’. Tailored courses written to support the National Curriculum for GCSE and A Levels. Adult courses are also available. (Gerard on 07767 300940) info@discogcodingacademy.com www. discogcodingacademy.com

8 Families North West London

Free Readers (various) At Free Readers, your child’s academic success is our utmost priority. We help children of year groups and individual needs, from ages 3 to 11. We offer your child enrichment or extra help in Reading, Maths and English, homework and test preparation. Individual teaching and attention in small groups is our preferred way to help our children on the journey to freedom. We encourage them as they learn how to learn, enabling them to reach their full potential. www.freereaders.co.uk Holidaytime After school club is part of Activetime Children’s Activities limited (HA1) Pick’s up from four local school’s at the end of the school day, then take the children back to the club for a snack and the daily activity. They are open Monday- Friday 3pm-6pm The Cadet Centre, Elmgrove Road, Harrow, HA1 2QA. Nicole 07575801623 holidays@activetime.co.uk www. activetimedaynursery.co.uk Integratedbrain - Improve Co-ordination for learning! (UB5) Activities to help those with poor co-ordination, dyspraxia, dyslexia or fine motor difficulties. Small groups of 4/5 children working to develop better all-round motor integration. Usha Patel 07766 837 616 ushapatel.raviv@gmail.com www.integratedbrain.co.uk Knowledge Above Standard (HA7) Maths, English, Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, 7+, 11+ 13+ exam preparation. (07985 588 085) www.knowledgeabovestandard.co.uk Little Big Leaders (HA8 & WD23) in Maths/ English or Phonics & Writing for 3.5 to 11 yearolds 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. 020 3637 6266 www.littlebigleaders. com Little Coders - Coding class for children aged 4 to 6 years old. Develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication. www. littlecodersclub.co.uk The Learning Wheel (Eastcote) 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. www.thelearningwheel.co.uk Raviv Practice London (UB5) 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) .

Willesden and Brent Chess Club (NW2) Provide 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 Cricklewood NW2 6UY. Contact Anthony Fulton 07974238357 fulton790@aol.com www.willesdenchess.wordpress.com

ARTS AND CRAFTS Blank Canvas Art Club 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 are suitable for beginners or refreshers.Contact Suzi at blankcanvasartclub@gmail. com www.Facebook.com/BlankCanvasArtClub Insta @blankcanvas.art.club Stitch Club (HA5) Dressmaking, Stitch Clubs, Parties and Workshops for children, young people and adults in Central Pinner. A safe space to bring your ideas to life. www.stitch.club sam@stitch.club

DANCE Street Dance Academy (various) 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 Classes and Zumba Classes in Twickenham every Wednesday. 0800 0236 236 www.streetdanceacademy.co.uk Elina Patrou Academy of Dance (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 also. www.elinapatrouacademyofdance. com, elinapatrouacademyofdance@gmail.com 07555861561.

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

HEALTH AND WELLBEING Etiquette and Emotions I am a certified coach, offering ‘Modern Youth Etiquette’ workshops to elevate your 6-12 year olds confidence and social persona. I also offer ‘Emotional Intelligence’ courses to develop children’s self-awareness and social skills. Contact for further information info@etiquetteandemotions.com 07736 297029

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LOCAL CLUBS & CLASSES

LANGUAGES AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT Baby Lab (WC1E) Have fun for free with your baby making discoveries about brain development at the Centre for Brain & Cognitive Development. Birkbeck College, Malet St, London. Travel expenses refunded. 020 7631 6258. www. Cbcd.bbk.ac.uk Phonics with Robot Reg (various) provide fun, high energy classes which teach early phonics skills to children aged 1-4 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. https://robotreg.co.uk

MUSIC & MOVEMENT Colourstrings (various) 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. 020 8444 9435. www.nlcolourstrings. co.uk. admin@nlcolourstrings.co.uk Gymboree Play & Music 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. https://gymbo.co.uk/locations/watford Monkey Music 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. 020 8427 6595. www.monkeymusic.co.uk

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

SPORTS AND EXERCISE TISKA Karate - 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, www.tiskakarate-harrow.co.uk / www. tiskakarate-northwood.co.uk / www.tiskakaratewembley.co.uk

Watford Cycle Hub 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. www.watfordcyclehub.org.uk

SWIMMIMG Aqua Vie are doing regular after school weekly Tues, Wed and Sunday Classes in Bushey during term times. Spaces for New babies, toddlers & 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. office@aqua-vie.com. 01923 245 773/ 07814 987 153 www.Aqua-vie.com

THEATRE AND PERFORMING ARTS Perform confidence-boosting weekly classes (various) Confidence building fun for 4-7s and 7-12s. A unique mix of drama, games, dance and singing specially designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination. Visit www. perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class. Use code LNW310322 for a £40 discount when you book before 31 March 2022. Venues: at Bushey, Eastcote, Harrow, Ickenham, Kensal Rise, Northwood, Pinner Stanmore and Watford, plus new classes starting in Cricklewood on 5 May. Call 020 7255 9120, enquiries@perform.org.uk or www.perform.org.uk PQA (Pauline Quirk Academy) (various) provides outstanding performing arts tuition for 4 – 18 year old’s. Each week students rotate through specialist sessions in Musical Theatre, Comedy & Drama and Film & TV taught by leading industry professionals. PQA is enrolling for September! Book a free taster session at your local Academy www.pqacademy.com P.S Theatre (WD18/HP5) 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: 4-18. Email: jen@ pstheatre.co.uk. www.pstheatre.co.uk Sharpe Academy of Theatre Arts (HA5, HA6) 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. www.SharpeAcademy.co.uk Stagecoach (Various) 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! (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 Northwood 01442 263 599 www.stagecoach.co.uk

YOGA & MASSAGE Kids Yoga with Yana (Watford) 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. www.facebook.com/kidsyogawithyana MD Massage Therapies - 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. Book online at www.mdmassagetherapies.co.uk info@ mdmassagetherapies.co.uk, 07950 846748

CLASSES FOR GROWNUPS Woodcarving (Iver) A small group who would welcome new members. Drop in for a chat! Meet Monday mornings 9.30am-12.30pm at Evreham Centre. Email Iver.webb1959@btinternet.com

World of Children’s Yoga 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 *Launching January 2022- 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. Anjli 07784 370034, anjli@worldofchildrensyoga. com, www.worldofchildrensyoga.com. www.facebook.com/worldofchildrensyoga

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Families North West London 9

PARENTING

Tackling childhood fears By Tanith Carey

During the pandemic, levels of anxiety among adults have risen sharply and some of this worry has been contagious for kids. So how do we help children manage their own feelings when the world feels uncertain for grown-ups too? Firstly, remember that children take their cues from you. This means noticing when you feel overwhelmed. Visualise a sliding scale in your mind with notches from one to ten. When the scale starts to move towards seven or eight, take deliberate steps to process your own worries, maybe talking them through with another adult, so you can stay calm and rational around your child. You may be concerned that this is hiding your worries from your child. Don’t be. It’s putting on your own oxygen mask so you can reassure them they are safe within the world of their home. If your child seems worried by something about Covid they have heard outside the home, ask what they’ve heard. From around age 4 or 5, young children engage in ‘magical thinking’ in which they believe they are the centre of the world. In order to try and make sense of how the world works, they also tend to link events that aren’t linked, meaning that they often leap to the wrong conclusions. If a grandparent gets Covid, they may for example, assume it’s down to them not washing their hands when they come home from school. Asking your children about their fears allows you to tackle their concerns directly. You can help them feel more in control by telling them they are part of a big team winning the war on the virus and helping by wearing masks and washing their hands. Explain: ‘Lots of people have caught this germ, but for most, it’s been like a really bad cold.’ Talk too about how clever scientists have come up with vaccines and millions of grown-ups, from health care staff to

teachers, are still working hard to look after them. Help them get the virus in perspective too. Explain that there are good germs in our bodies as well as bad ones, how their immune system works and how to look after it.

process the death of a loved one through tangible ways of mourning. Going through family photos, making a keepsake box, releasing a balloon with the person’s name on or planting a tree can all be helpful.

While young children tend not to worry about death as something that happens to them, they may worry about who will look after them if you or your co-parent dies. If this is a concern that surfaces, tell your child that everyone dies eventually but you don’t expect it to happen for a long time and by then they will be grownup.

Tanith Carey is author of What’s My Child Thinking: Practical Child Psychology for Modern Parents with clinical child psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin, published by DK books.

Facing and talking about their fears doesn’t mean they will become persistent. In fact, they are more likely to keep coming back when children feel alone with them, not heard or unable to express them. If you do lose a loved one, give clear, open honest answers because younger children don’t understand death is final. Avoid phrases such as ‘gone to sleep’ or ‘we’ve lost them.’ Explain simply the reason that their loved one is no longer here is that their body stopped working. Sometimes kids can find it easier to

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

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PARENTING

Top apps every parent needs By Ari Last It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of apps available in the App Store and give up before you’ve even started looking for something. When it comes to parenting though, getting good apps on speed dial can really save time if you’re looking to keep the children entertained, connect with other like-minded parents, research childcare options or seek guidance on how to make family life just that little bit easier. Here are some recommendations:

Allrecipes Dinner Spinner https://dish.allrecipes.com/ mobile-apps A handy bank of recipes and cooking inspiration which keeps solving the ‘what can I make for dinner?’ question and keeps little bellies satisfied every evening. The Wonder Weeks www.bit.ly/WonderWeeksApp A week-by-week guide to your baby’s development from pregnancy to after birth, showing how you can support and stimulate your little one. Sound Sleeper www.soundsleeperapp.com Help your baby get off to sleep with this app’s collection of calming sounds.

Kidday www.kidday.com The easiest way to store your child’s photographs in one place, as well as share albums with friends and family. Family Locator https://family-locator.com When older children or teenagers are out and about, keep track of their location with this app which keeps your family secure and connected, for extra peace of mind. CBeebies www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies This staple app on any parent’s phone or tablet offers both educational games as well as classic cartoons for when you just need a break!

Lodge at

Bubble www.joinbubble.com The UK’s biggest ondemand childcare platform, with over 100,000 users and 5-star Trustpilot rating. Find, book and pay local sitters or nannies who come recommended from their friends and other parents in their area. OLIO www.olioex.com Here you can give away unwanted kids’ items to those in the local area, allowing you to help out a neighbour and reduce waste. You can also use the app to look for anything you might happen to need and save some pennies.

Ari Last is a parenting guru and founder of childcare app Bubble. www.joinbubble.com

Pre-school operated by Old Macdonalds Day Nursery, open 8am – 6pm for 2 – 5 year olds Anouska’s Lodge is an exciting new addition to the Anouska’s family. Situated within the grounds of The Grove, the lodge has access to a range of outdoor spaces including the adventure park, musical trail and forest school area, all of which enable us to create an outstanding and enriching learning environment. With only 16 places available at any one time, we do have limited availability so recommend booking early! Please note - fully funded free spaces are available for 3 - 5 year olds, subject to availability. To arrange a viewing or to enquire about availability, please call Anouska’s Lodge on 01923 296047 or email anouskas-lodge@ oldmacdonaldsdaynursery.co.uk.

01923 296047 • anouskas-lodge@oldmacdonaldsdaynursery.co.uk • The Grove, Chandlers Cross, Hertfordshire, WD3 4TG

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Families North West London 11

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. Fri 4 Mar – Thu 6 Oct - Don’t Ask The Dragon (WC1N) Don’t Ask The Dragon is the story of a little boy called Alem who goes on an adventure. Find out more about the collaborative process of creating this delightful picture book through a display of original drawings, sketches and ideas at The Foundling Museum. www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk Wed 16 Mar - Tiny Troopers: Music (SW3) Take your little ones to the toddlers’ sessions at the National Army Museum, perfect for ages 2 to 4. Sing, play and create with your little one at these fun, sensory sessions. Why not follow your session with a visit to the Museum’s fun and engaging soft play experience, Play Base. Book online. www.nam.ac.uk Sat 19 Mar – Trinity Orchestra Concert (HA1) This will be a very special concert for Trinity Orchestra, as it marks the return to their home of forty-one years, Trinity Church, Harrow. In addition, they will be welcoming back, for a guest appearance as conductor, one of their former Musical Directors, Ronald Corp, who is Musical Director of The London Chorus, New London Children’s Choir and Highgate Choral Society. 7.30pm at Trinity Church, Hindes Road, Harrow HA1 1RX. www.trinityorchestra.org.uk Sat 19 Mar - LGBTQ+ Family Network (SE10) A safe space for local LGBTQ+ families to meet one another, get involved in creative activities for all ages and explore the stories within the collection at the National Maritime Museum. Visit between 10am-12pm and join in with artist-led activities inspired by Greenwich, the maritime world, and LGBTQ+ histories. www.rmg.co.uk Sat 19 Mar - Roman London Family Walk (EC2Y) Join the Host at the Museum of London on a journey through the streets of old Londinium. 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. Ages 5+. www.museumoflondon.org.uk Sat 19 – Sun 20 Mar - The London Festival of Railway Modelling (N22) Taking place in the Great Hall at Alexandra Palace. Expect 40 working layouts handpicked by the Model Railway Club, layouts based on UK regions, Europe, China and the USA, and all major gauges and scales catered for. More than 100 quality traders and societies as well as leading retailers & specialist manufacturers. www.alexandrapalace.com Sat 19 – Sun 20 Mar - Spring Steam Up at the London Museum of Water & Steam (TW8) Discover the fascinating world of water. Learn about the history of the Kew Bridge Waterworks and marvel at the amazing 12 Families North West London

pumping engines that helped make London the city it is today. Plus, see some of the unique collection of engines in steam. www.waterandsteam.org.uk Sun 20 Mar - Family Workshop: Passover Plates (HA2) Discussing Moses and the Exodus story, create a spinning plate symbolising the 10 plagues used to free the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery. At Headstone Manor & Museum at 11am, 12:30pm & 2pm. www.headstonemanor.org Sun 27 Mar - Family Concert (NW6) Join Bach to Baby at Emmanuel Church in West Hampstead for a specially designed programme of classical music for the whole family to enjoy together. 3pm, doors open 15 minutes before the concert starts. www.bachtobaby.com Thu 31 Mar - Philharmonia at the Movies: ET the Extra-Terrestrial (SE1) Director Steven Spielberg’s heartwarming masterpiece is one of the brightest stars in motion picture history: settle in to see it accompanied by a live score at The Southbank Centre. www.southbankcentre.co.uk Fri 1 Apr – Market Lates (WD18) Head along to Watford Market between 5.30pm 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. Visitors will be able to enjoy the special ambience of market dining and be treated to a menu of fresh dishes plus drinks in the covered casual dining space www.watfordmarket.co.uk Fri 1 Apr – Sun 28 Aug - Superheroes, Orphans & Origins: 125 years in comics (WC1N) Head to the Foundling Museum and enter into the world of superheroes in this first major exhibition to explore the representation of foundlings, orphans, adoptees, and foster children in comics, graphic novels and sequential art from around the globe. Looking beyond the traditional ‘superhero’ genre the exhibition also includes characters from early newspaper comic strips, Japanese Manga and contemporary graphic novel protagonists. www.foundlingmuseum. org.uk Sat 2 Apr - Northwood Craft Market (HA6) Taking place at Methodist Church Hall, Northwood from 10am-2pm, there will be a variety of handmade crafts to browse & buy. It’s the perfect place to find original gifts, or a treat for yourself. www.northwoodcraftmarket.co.uk Sat 2 – Sun 3 Apr - Family Fun Weekend (SE10) Join in for another weekend filled with exciting activities for all the family. Meet characters from Cutty Sark’s past, sing along with traditional sea shanties, and find out what’s taking place under the hull. Storytelling that transports you to a different world, creative sailor workshops that teach skills and crafts using materials available or a life size immersive board game. www.rmg.co.uk

Sat 2 – Tue 19 Apr - Power Up (SW7) This hands-on, fully interactive gaming event at the Science Museum features the very best video games and consoles from the past five decades. From Pong to Pacman and Minecraft to Mario, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a retro games fan, a serious gamer or just want to beat your family at Mario Kart. Ages 5+. www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

Sat 2 – Sun 17 Apr - Gnome Trail (HA2) Can you find those pesky gnomes hidden around Headstone Manor? Find them all and solve their puzzle to earn a prize! www.headstonemanor.org Sat 2 – Mon 18 Apr - Jurassic Encounter (WD17) Jurassic Encounter is a must-see family event, an interactive installation of 50 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs from the Jurassic, Triassic and Cretaceous periods. Each dinosaur has robotic moving body parts and jaws opening wide, with realistic roaring sound effects. Making for a truly awesome walk-through experience! www.jurassicencounters.uk

Mon 4 – Fri 15 Apr – Wat’s On (various) Bowerbirdy, together with Watford Borough Council are hosting a range of free, fun and challenging activities during the Easter school holidays for children and young people aged from 5 to 15. All activities must be pre booked in advance. https://watson. events

Sat 2 – Mon 18 Apr - Easter Duck Trail (SW13) Can you ‘quack the case’ this Easter and find the bright yellow ducks hiding around WWT London? Pick up a trail card and crack the clues to find the bright yellow, cheeky ducks that are hiding around the wetlands. You’ll need all your special detective skills to track them. www.wwt.org.uk

Thu 7 Apr - Around the World: Safari Drama Workshop (HA5) An Easter Holiday Workshop for ages 6-12 at Harrow Arts Centre. Around the World: Safari takes participants on a journey through the Amazonian rainforests, the endless plains of the Sahara desert, and the depths of the deep blue ocean. www.harrowarts.com

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What’s On Sat 9 – Sun 10 Apr - Living History Festival (HP8) Telling the story of the British soldier of the past 200 years, from the Napoleonic Wars through to the Modern Day, the event at Chiltern Open Air Museum will bring together thirteen premier living history groups for an action packed weekend. www.coam.org.uk Sun 10 Apr - Family Workshop: Gnome Doors (HA2) There are Gnomes about at Headstone Manor, where do you think they live? Go and make a miniature front door and imagine who lives behind it. 11am, 12:30pm & 2pm. Ages 5+. www.headstonemanor.org Sun 10 Apr - Hop to it - Easter Trail (N3) Hop-on down to Stephens House and Gardens for their egg-citing Easter Trail. Follow the clues and claim your prize and enter your map into the draw to win tickets for Peter Rabbit in the Bothy Garden this Summer. Booking essential. 1-3pm. www.stephenshouseandgardens.com Mon 11 – Wed 13 Apr - The Secret Garden: Perform’s Easter courses for 4 -10s (HA5) This Easter, join Perform and enter the mysterious world of Misselthwaite Manor. Discover the excitement of reawakening a long abandoned garden in their drama, dance and singing holiday courses based on The Secret Garden. Packed with adventure, these three-day courses are designed to nurture the creativity, confidence and communication skills of 4–10 year olds, ending with a fantastic show on the last day. From 10am to 3pm each day at Eastcote Methodist Church. Call 020 7255 9120. www.perform.org.uk Tue 12 & 19 Apr – Terrific Tuesdays at Chiltern Open Air Museum (HP8) On every Bucks school holiday Tuesday throughout the Museum’s open season the

Museum’s Education team have created special themed family activities, games and crafts all for the standard admission price! 11am–3.30pm. www.coam.org.uk Thu 14 Apr - Adventures in the Animal Kingdom Workshop (HA5) . This workshop at Harrow Arts Centre will follow the structure of the musical Birdie’s Adventures in the Animal Kingdom and take the participants on a journey through the play’s locations. Ages 6-10. The Backstage Cafe will be open. www.harrowarts.com Fri 15 – Mon 18 Apr - Easter Adventure Quest At Kenwood (NW3) Head along to Kenwood House for a cracking adventure quest this Easter. Explore the site to hunt for clues and challenges, and discover traditional Easter games. Track down the Easter eggs and you’ll be rewarded with a chocolate treat and an adventurer’s certificate. www.english-heritage.org.uk Fri 15 – Mon 18 Apr - Easter Weekend at Chiltern Open Air Museum (HP8) Head along and explore the historic buildings and learn about some Easter traditions, take part in the Easter trail and see the baby lambs. www.coam.org.uk Fri 15 – Mon 18 Apr - Easter Trail (SG1) Follow the Easter Trail around Knebworth Gardens to gather all the Easter clues and solve the word jumble. There will also be a craft activity available between 12pm and 3pm. www.knebworthhouse.com Sat 16 Apr – Easter Funny Bunny Trail (HA5) The Easter Bunny’s children have all eaten way too much chocolate and have gone berserk all over Pinner Memorial Park. Help find all the silly bunnies and answer the quiz questions to receive a little Easter prize. 11am and 2:30pm. www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org

Inspiring Easter adventures your child won’t want to miss BOOK NOW

Mon 18 Apr - The Masked Singer Live (HA9) Your favourite characters are brought to life on OVO Arena Wembley’s stage. With different mystery celebrities unmasked at the end of every performance, you are guaranteed to be in for a surprise. www.wembleypark.com Sun 24 Apr - Family Workshop: Colourful Quilling (HA2) Learn the relaxing art of quilling and create a beautiful flower from recycled papers at Headstone Manor & Museum at 11am, 12:30pm & 2pm. Ages 5+. www.headstonemanor.org Sun 24 Apr - Easter Holiday Family Concert (NW6) Go and join Bach to Baby this Easter for a specially designed programme of classical music for the whole family to enjoy together. 3pm at Emmanuel Church in West Hampstead. www.bachtobaby.com Wed 27 Apr - Wembley Park Antiques Market (HA9) Taking over a brand-new location in the neighbourhood, Wembley Park Antiques Market is turning Green Parking in Canada Gardens into a retro dream, bringing the most exciting traders together. Free entry. www.wembleypark.com Sat 30 Apr – Mon 2 May - Hertfordshire Garden Show (SG1) Head along to Knebworth House for the Hertfordshire Garden Show. There will be a wide variety of goods on display and for sale. www.knebworthhouse.com Sat 30 April – Tues 3 May – Art Show at Mill Hill (NW7) Milldon Art Society are holding an Exhibition of over 150 paintings. Take the family or friends along to see the paintings…..pictures of animals, landscapes, local scenes, abstract and more. www.milldonartsociety.org.uk

Sun 1 – Mon 2 May - Elizabethan May Day Bank Holiday Event (HP8) Experience traditional Elizabethan May Day merriment with dancing and music at Chiltern Open Air Museum. There will be a display of fire power, featuring the black powder weapons of the day, and there will be a fine display of swordsmanship. www.coam.org.uk Half Term Holiday Camps (Various) With half-term just around the corner, and the dilemma of childcare approaching, Camp Beaumont, the UK’s most experienced day camp provider, is on hand to provide your child with a fun-filled adventure at locations across London. With over 50 activities each week, not only can your child sharpen up their social skills, but they can pursue new interests, develop new talents and unleash their creative side. Activities range from Aqua Olympics to Movie Maker to Superhero Academy, and each activity programme is tailored by age group, including a nursery-style Playtime Programme for 3-4 year olds, a unique Magic Programme for 5-7 year olds, a thrilling Active Programme for 8 to 11 year olds and an exclusive club style Teens Programme for 12-16 year olds. Camp Beaumont’s award-winning multiactivity Easter camps take place from 28th March to 22nd April 2022. Childcare vouchers are accepted and all bookings are flexible with their COVID flexible booking promise. If there are any changes to the government guidance you can change the date hassle-free or receive a full refund. To book call 01604 851 0000 or visit www.campbeaumont.co.uk

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CHILDREN’S What’s On THEATRE

What's On The Alban Arena Civic Centre, St Albans 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk

Children’s Theatre Dinosaur Adventure Live at the Beck Theatre

Wed 6 Apr - Rapunzel A tangled musical adventure! Let your hair down in a brand new adaptation of the popular fairy tale ‘RAPUNZEL’. This production promises to be a theatrical treat for audiences of all ages, featuring a witty script, original music and some songs you may already know.

Wed 6 – Sun 10 Apr - Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Get ready for one of the world’s great adventures, brought to you by the same production team as the Compass pantomimes! Join Alice and drop down the rabbit hole to a magical place in Wonderland. Keep your head firmly on your shoulders and stay on the good side of the Queen of Hearts, plus attend a tea party that would make anyone go mad.

Sat 9 Apr - Fireman Sam Join Sam, Penny, Elvis, Station Officer Steele and Norman in an all singing, dancing, action-packed show. Sun 17 Apr - The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Take a trip down the proverbial rabbit hole with Brother Wolf’s groundbreaking production of one of the most beloved stories of all time. Fantastical and utterly bonkers, “The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” is a mind-bending new twist on Lewis Carroll’s immortal classic. Ages 8+. Artsdepot 5 Nether Street, North Finchley, N12 020 8369 5454 www.artsdepot.co.uk Sun 13 Mar - The Elves and the Shoemaker Inspired by the exquisite Ladybird Book, which all parents will remember, Theatre of Widdershins brings you another classic fable using magical puppets, intricate design, original music and the simplest of dialogue. Ages 3+. Sun 20 Mar - Jabala and the Jinn A story of a little girl’s encounter with a very cheeky Jinn. Using physical theatre, original music and vivid design, this new play by award-winning writer Asif Khan is a funny and endearing story for the whole family. Ages 5-11 years. Sun 27 Mar - Party Afonso wants to go to his best friend’s birthday party, but where is his invitation - has it been lost in the post, or maybe he wasn’t even invited? When it finally arrives the excitement and nerves become too much to handle. Heartfelt, provocative and full of quirky humour, Party features striking, colourful designs and a glorious contemporary soundtrack. Ages 2-5 years. Sat 2 Apr - Tue 5 Apr - The Smartest Giant in Town A musical adaptation of the bestselling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. This heart-warming tale about friendship and helping those in need is brought to life in a musical, puppet-filled adventure. Ages 2-8 years. Sat 9 Apr - Tom Brace: Embrace the Impossible! Tom Brace loved his childhood. Roald Dahl, Cluedo and one film in particular from 1985… Join him for a hilarious evening of 1.21 gigawatts of magic as he showcases his unique, incredible and totally pointless abilities in a new show inspired by his past! Ages 8+. Sun 10 Apr - SLIME Slugs are gross, they’re covered in slime and they have terrible taste in music. Things get sticky. Enter the undergrowth to SQUISH, SQUELCH and PLAY your way through this hilarious, surreal show for kids aged 2-5 and their families, told with a 14 Families North West London

Compass Theatre Glebe Avenue, Ickenham UB10 01895 673 0200 www.hillingdontheatres.uk

handful of words and lots of SLIME. Tue 12 Apr - Sat 16 Apr - Oi Frog & Friends! Join FROG, CAT and DOG in this Olivier Award nominated action-packed stage adaptation of Kes Gray and Jim Field’s bestselling books. Expect songs, puppets, laughs and more rhymes than you can shake a chime at. Ages 3+. Sun 24 Apr - Vixen The award-winning Travelling Light presents Vixen, an original story by Matt Grinter about a young girl who is turning into a fox. Expect to see beauty hidden in unremarkable places, friendships that don’t follow the rules, the things that unite us and a girl aching to belong.Ages 7+.

You can also expect bubbles, puppetry, dance moves and lots of audience interaction. All ages. Sat 9 - Thu 14 Apr - Easter Tales Join us for some egg-stra special Easter fun. Held in our large Rayne Theatre, our Tales from the Shed team will get the audience involved - meet some new characters and join in with the singing, dancing. There’s plenty of fun to be had by all. Ages 0-6yrs. Thu 14 Apr - Easter Planet Play Recommended for very young children, join the Tales team for a fun and interactive sensory session with an egg-stra special Easter theme. Ages: 0-3yrs.

Harrow Arts Centre Hatch End HA5 0208 416 8989 www.harrowarts.com Tue 5 Apr - Captain Calamity: Adventures on Dragon Island In this brand new family adventure show aimed at kids of all ages, Guinness World Record Breaking Captain Calamity and Animal Expert, Ranger Stu team up to rescue Dragon Island from extinction. Meet some amazing creatures that are inhabitants of the awesome Dragon Island. But why is the Island on the brink of extinction and how can Ranger Stu, Captain Calamity and Crew save the day? This incredible 55 minute show aims to educate children on the real steps we can all make to preserve our wonderful planet and the creatures within.

The Beck Theatre Grange Road, Hayes. 020 8561 8371 www.becktheatre.org.uk Sun 13 Mar - The Wind in the Willows Pack your picnics and join Ratty, Mole, Badger, and the fantastically irrepressible Toad as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime culminating in a colourful battle to save Toad Hall from the mischievous weasels! A TOAD-ally terrific treat whether you’re 4 or 104! Mon 4 Apr - Dinosaur Adventure Live 65 million years in the making… Are you ready for the adventure? Join the intrepid Dinosaur Adventurers as they journey to a world of living, breathing, life-like dinosaurs. This awe-inspiring show captivates both young and young at heart, immersing audiences in an enthralling and realistic world of dinosaurs. Sun 10 Apr - The Wizard Of Oz Join Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the cowardly Lion as they journey on a pantofilled adventure through Oz to meet the legendary Wizard and defeat the Wicked Witch of the West. Sat 23 Apr - Sooty & Sweep Direct from their hit ITV series, Sooty, Sweep and Soo and TV’s Richard Cadell will amaze you with impossible tricks and sidesplitting jokes! Be astounded at Sooty’s flying car, Soo’s singing unicorn and Sweep’s levitating sausage. Chickenshed Chase Side Southgate N14. 020 8292 9222 www.chickenshed.org.uk Fri 1 Apr - Baby Broadway Family Concert Enjoy well-known musical numbers from your favourite shows and films, all performed by amazing West End singers.

Theatre, Workshops and More! From Just £3

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Children’s Theatre Wed 13 Apr - Birdie’s Adventures in the Animal Kingdom Birdie’s Adventures in the Animal Kingdom is a fun and engaging musical with an important message. Join 10 year old Londoner Birdie and her sidekick Robin as they fly around the world on a mission to save their fellow animals and to find a new protector. From Holly the Polar Bear to Shelly the Turtle, the animals need our help. Who will be the new protector and will they get there in time? Ages 6-10. Little Angel Theatre 14 Dagmar Passage, Cross St, N1 020 7226 1787 www.littleangeltheatre.com Until Sat 16 Apr - Handa’s Surprise Handa’s Surprise is back once more to the Little Angel Theatre. A blend of physical performance, puppetry, live music and song combine to create an intimate, magical production with audience participation. Go and share in the magical tangerine surprise! Ages 2–5 years. Until Sun 24 Apr - The Singing Mermaid Through beautiful puppetry and performance, and with music by Barb Jungr, Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’s enormously popular story, The Singing Mermaid, is brought to life. Ages 3-8. Wed 20 Apr–Sun 1 May - JINA and the STEM SISTERS Join lost budding scientist Jina on her adventure home, empowered by some of history’s super-STEM women. This new multi-media musical puppet show is based on the discoveries and stories of historical STEM women who fought against the odds to pursue their flair for scientific enquiry. Ages 7+.

Pump House Lower Watford High Street, WD17 01923 241 362 www.pumphouse.info Wed 30 – Thu 31 Mar - Jungle Book Kids The jungle is jumpin’ with a jazzy beat in Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS. Adapted from the classic Disney animated film, Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids features a host of colorful characters and your favourite songs from the movie. Puppet Theatre Barge Little Venice W9 020 7249 6876 www.puppetbarge.com Sat 26 Mar – Sun 24 Apr - The Three Pigs plus Captain Grimey The Three Little Pigs and is a lively show that breathes new life into these wellknown characters. Enjoy this humorous morality tale.Ages 3+. The Radlett Centre 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, WD7 01923 859291 www.radlettcentre.co.uk Sat 9 Apr – Marvels Of Mystery Four of The Magic Circle’s star magicians join forces and take you on a magical journey in MARVELS OF MYSTERY, a new magic show for the whole family featuring marvellous magic, wonderful illusions, laughs, gasps, and stunning sleight of hand sorcery. Tue 12 – Wed 13 Apr - Wind In The Willows Pack your picnics and join Ratty, Mole, Badger, and the fantastically irrepressible Toad as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime culminating in a colourful battle to save Toad Hall from the mischievous weasels! A TOAD-ally terrific treat whether you’re 4 or 104!

Sat 30 Apr – Sun 1 May - Wizard Of Oz This spectacular, pantomimic, colourful story is packed with hilarious jokes, dazzling dance routines, glittering scenery and plenty more for all the family, plus at the end of the show you will have a chance to meet the larger than life characters! Sadler’s Wells Theatre London, EC1R 4TN www.sadlerswells.com Thu 7 Apr - Let’s All Dance: Teddy Bear’s Picnic A super treat for young audiences. Combining classical ballet, physical theatre, gorgeous visuals and crystal-clear story telling, this fresh, innovative dance company pitches another production perfectly to engage and enthral all children, including those with special needs. Ages 0-8. Fri 15 – Sat 16 Apr – balletLORENT: The Lost Happy Endings What happens when the Happy Endings are stolen? Deep in the forest lives Jub, a magical girl with six fingers on each hand. Jub’s job is to guard the Happy Endings to stories and fairytales. But one day an otherworldly Witch steals them, and at bedtime the stories are destroyed. Ages 5+.

home and family, and the power of stories to transform our view of the world. Ages 7+. Fri 11 Mar – Sun 17 Apr - Wild Adapted from the glorious picture book by artist Emily Hughes, this energetic story, told with atmospheric sound, movement and puppetry, celebrates the free spirit in all of us. Ages 2-6 years. Watersmeet High St, Rickmansworth WD3 01923 711 063 www.watersmeet.co.uk Sun 3 Apr - Exciting Science This brand new, exciting & educational show will amaze and astound all ages from 4 years & upwards, as we put the “Exciting” back into “Science”. (See what we did there!) With ‘Fun & Fact’ filled experiments, watch in amazement as we recreate a volcanic eruption; turn a vacuum cleaner into a missile launcher or take aim at you with our smoke blaster! Watford Palace Theatre Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 01923 225 671 www. watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Unicorn Theatre 147 Tooley Street, SE1. 020 7645 0560 www.unicorntheatre.com

Mon 11 Apr - Pop Princesses A magical show where beautiful Princesses become Pop Stars! A musical spectacular starring four fabulous fairy tale princesses who just love to sing! Come and join the fun!

Sun 6 Mar – Sat 16 Apr - Gulliver’s Travels This perfect family Easter show is an adventure-filled modern adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s surreal masterpiece. Gulliver’s fantastical imaginings are vividly brought to life using video camera, intricate table-top sets and projection alongside live performance in this playful, funny and highly inventive show that uses Swift’s biting satire to explore reality and escapism,

Tue 12 Apr - Morgan & West: Unbelievable Science Morgan & West present captivating chemistry, phenomenal physics, and bonkers biology in this fun for all the family science extravaganza! Expect explosive thrills, chemical spills and a risk assessment that gives their stage manager chills, all backed up by the daring duo’s trademark wit, charm. Ages 7+.

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KIDS GOICE* HALF PR * Mon-Thurs, excl Band AA. Subject to availability. Offers may be withdrawn at any time.

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