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IN THIS ISSUE

What’s On in May & June Ayot St Lawrence Art Show

Time to party!

Summer camps

Issue 86 May/June 2019

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Families Herts

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In this issue: Proud supporter of the

Ayot St Lawrence Art Show

Hello!

Welcome to the May/June issue of Families Hertfordshire Magazine – my second issue since taking over as editor in January.

Having worked for regional newspapers earlier in my career I value the part that local events play in bringing people together and building stronger communities, so I’m delighted to give my support to two really exciting events taking place over the coming weeks.

The annual Ayot St Lawrence Art Show has been attracting art lovers for many years and proudly celebrates its 45th year. In addition to the art on display, there are a host of activities that children can get involved in too so it makes the perfect family day out (turn to page 5 for more details).

The impact of climate change and valuing sustainable living are topics that we should all try to keep at the forefront of our minds as we go about our daily lives, and the St Albans Sustainability Festival is doing its best to ensure we do just that with numerous events taking place across the town, Harpenden and the villages. There’s lots to see and do! Turn to page 4 for more information.

In this issue I’d also like to thank all the readers who took part in the Families readership survey: we had such a great response and feedback has shown that the magazine is highly valued by families and businesses alike. More about this on page 6.

If you’re stuck for ideas on what type of birthday party to hold for your child take a look at our feature on pages 8-9, and don’t forgot to browse What’s On for planning those weekend and May Half Term activities.

I hope you enjoy reading the magazine!

Dale

News & Views 4-6 Technology 7 Children’s Parties 8-9 Education 11 Summer Camps 14-15 What’s On 16-19 Tel: 07958284983 Email: editor@familiesherts.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk Editor: Dale Harry Design: Christina Billingham Listings editor: Karen Porter Facebook: FamiliesHerts

Twitter: @FamiliesHerts

Market your business with Families Herts • We reach over 45,000 engaged readers each issue • Distribute from schools, tuition centres, leisure attractions and more • We have a high repeat booking rate, so advertising with us works trusted, influential, visible 07958284983

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Marlow Bournenor End,for Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Herts are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Herts. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

News & Views First climate change teachers to be taught in the UK

Teachers across the country have the opportunity to become the first climate change teachers accredited by the UN. This one of a kind climate change education programme will use innovative learning technology so teachers can learn at home or on the go. The aim is to make sure teachers can help protect the climate by educating their students with the latest data and information on climate change, sustainability, and the green economy.

Education provider YPO sponsors this FREE, global education programme. All you have to do is sign up to Harwood Education’s UN CC: Learn Teacher Academy.

The course, which takes just 8 hours to complete, explores the science that supports the existence and effects of climate change on children, cities, human health, and gender.

If you work in a school or want to get your child’s school involved go to www.unccteacheracademy.com

The St Albans District Sustainability Festival The three-week award winning St Albans Sustainability Festival returns for 2019 with over 100 events to enjoy across St Albans, Harpenden and the villages.

There is something for everyone whatever your age or interests, many events are free, and all are about the environment and sustainable living.

Some of the exciting events include familyfriendly walks, picnics, craft sessions, a community sports day, river dipping and adventure play.

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Families Herts

Playpark Project Rothamsted needs your support The community of Harpenden and the surrounding areas has come together to raise money for the regeneration of the play area in Rothamsted Park.

The once popular play area is now in very poor condition and sadly near the end of its life, but the Playpark Action Rothamsted Committee was up last year with the aim of making the playpark a modern and welcoming place to visit again, and it has made great progress.

With the designs for the new playpark voted for by the public, and agreed upon, the challenge now for PARC is to raise funds which will see those design plans become a physical reality.

The committed team behind PARC work closely with St Albans City and District Council and aim to: ‘Raise sufficient funds to create a new and inclusive flagship play area for Harpenden and surrounding towns and villages; a place where friends and families can come together and spend quality time.’

A number of fundraising events, in which all areas of the community are invited to participate, will be announced soon.

There is a talk on sustainable fashion, an introduction to green investment and a sustainable-themed pub quiz.

Visit the Market Takeover on Sunday 19 May when St Albans city centre will be filled from 11am – 5pm with stalls, music, food and activities all aimed at helping residents reduce their carbon footprint.

Thousands of children across the district will be involved in the Sustainability Festival as schools, Scouts, Guides and other youth groups join in on the action.

The festival takes place 11 May – 1 June.

For more details and full programme of events visit www.sustainablestalbans.org

If you are interested in supporting PARC on the project or would like to donate contact emailparc@gmail.com or visit www.parkaid.org

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Art Show celebrates its 45th birthday!

Now in its 45th year the very popular Ayot St Lawrence Art Show is set to be the best yet as a new art and craft tent has been introduced alongside the main exhibition, which will offer opportunities for all ages to try watercolour, pastel relief, lino print and make handmade crafts.

‘The Show is a real gem and gets more and more popular every year,’ says Art Show committee member, Kitty Turner. ‘We are hugely grateful to our loyal supporters but wanted to mark the anniversary by introducing the Art Show to a wider audience through a range of fun art-related activities.’

‘The Show is a real gem and gets more and more popular every year’ The main exhibition will once again showcase a wide range of artists displaying a variety of styles including oil, water colour and acrylic.

In addition to the framed art available for sale, there is a much soughtafter selection of unframed art, and a variety of art-based greetings cards designed by the artists.

There is a treasure hunt to enjoy too, and you can reward your efforts with a trip to the tea tent, or why not head off to The Brocket Arms, supporters of the Art Show, who will be hosting a BBQ as part of their annual food and drink festival.

The Show began life in 1974 as a means of raising money for conservation projects to maintain and protect the fabric of St Lawrence Church, and this continues today.

The Ayot St Lawrence Art Show takes place 15 – 17 June at the Palladian Church.

Families Hertfordshire Magazine is a proud supporter of the Ayot St Lawrence Art Show 2019.

For more information visit www.ayotartshow.co.uk.

Lack of sleep damaging for children More than a third of primary school children are failing to get sufficient sleep, according to research by the University of Leeds.

The study has linked poor sleep with difficulties in paying attention in class, keeping up with school work, forgetfulness and absenteeism.

The NHS recommendation is that children of that age should get 10 hours sleep per night but the study discovered that out of 1,100 children aged 6 to 11, 36% were getting only eight hours sleep or less on a weekday night.

Just under a third of children reported that worrying about school work was keeping them awake, whilst around one in six children reported that they found it difficult to sleep because of concerns about bullying or friendship.

The researchers identified that children who had access to technology in their bedroom were more likely to experience a shorter night’s sleep and recommended that parents consider removing technology from their children’s bedrooms.

For more information on this topic go to: www.leeds.ac.uk

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News & Views

It’s official!

Our readers prefer Families Magazine to the internet!

Last year, we conducted a survey across the UK asking readers to tell us what they find useful about our magazine and how likely they would be to respond to advertising in it.

We were delighted to receive almost 500 responses and by the wonderful feedback you gave us.

More than 70% of our readers said they were highly likely to respond to advertising in our magazine or had already done so. That’s fabulous news for our advertisers and for our readers, because it means we can carry on making the magazine better and better!

A whopping 79% of readers told us that they use the magazine to research ideas for local family activities or classes and clubs for children and an equally impressive 74% said they use it to plan family life.

Many of you also told us that you find it easier to plan family activities and entertainment using Families Magazine than using the internet! You told us that using the internet to research and plan can be time consuming and confusing, involving lots of trawling online for useful information. A common complaint seems to be the ‘endless trawling’ that digital research involves.

A typical response came from a reader from Knebworth who says: ‘I am always looking for special outings to do with my granddaughter so I find this magazine very useful and informative. What I like about it is that it is ‘local’... whilst I know you can look online I often see something and then forget about it, and then can’t find it again online. This magazine allows me to constantly refer back which is perfect when you start getting more

forgetful... nanas are allowed to be right? I would act on an advert I saw in the magazine too.’

A reader in Manchester told us: ‘In this time of social media it is great to have a magazine you can pick up and physically flick through rather than having to fight through hundreds of emails and pop-up adverts for individual offers.’

We were also really happy that large numbers of you reported that Families Magazine makes your lives easier and less stressful and saves you time.

Thank you to everyone that volunteered their comments.

If you are interested in taking part in one of our Reader Forums, please email info@familiesmagazine. co.uk. *Readers names have not been quoted for privacy reasons

Enjoy an adventure at the Museums at Night Festival Families can explore art, history and heritage after dark with the Museums at Night bi-annual nationwide festival which runs across a wide range of venues from 15 to 18 May. Every year in both May and October, museums, heritage sites and historic properties, as well as smaller cultural venues throw open their doors after hours to showcase their treasures in unexpected ways.

Discover new exhibitions, take torch lit tours, enjoy live music in historic surroundings, and engage in a range of free and ticketed night-time activities.

Knebworth House has a Ghost Tour and Bat Walk. There will be a unique opportunity to tour the House at night and hear the tales of the incidents that remain unexplained.

As well as the tour featuring ghost stories, The Herts and Middlesex Bat Group will give a talk and have specialist equipment to help detect the resident bats. The event takes place on the 16 and 17 May. Tickets cost £23 per person and includes soup, sandwich and hot drinks. Pre-booking is essential.

To find your local events, visit www.museumsatnight.org.uk 6

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Technology What can you do as a parent?

Be observant Is your child suffering from mood swings, changes in sleep patterns, trouble concentrating, being secretive or spending more time online than offline? Do you have the feeling that your child would rather disappear into the online universe than reside in the real world with friends and family?

These are warning signs that should not be ignored.

Lead by example

FOMO and low self esteem Is fixation with the digital world impacting on our relationships and wellbeing?

By Soren Kenner and Imran Rashid

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bsorption into our own private screen Online tribalism universe is pulling us all further and For many youngsters being part of the group further apart. Look at how our gait and gaining social acceptance weighs heavily; has changed: ten years ago people walking so heavily, in fact, that young people often down the street were upright and orientated organise in what can only be described as outwards. Today they are slouched forward ‘online tribes’ – groups that have internal looking into the smartphone they hold in front ranks and hierarchies (often governed by how of them. At the playground, parents stare many likes or how much attention you get). into their phones while children’s calls for This behaviour is not particularly healthy – attention go unheeded. examples are rampant of young people being Studies have shown that the hormone scared of missing out on anything (also known oxytocin which helps facilitate human bonding as FOMO). The UK Medical Examiner recently and closeness (among other things) tend to reported that as many as one youngster out of drop in both parents and children when they five wakes up during the night to check their ignore each other in favour of the tantalising social media feed. online universe.

There is a clear correlation between teens Another study that tracked thousands of (especially girls) that use social media people over many years, found a sharp drop extensively and issues that range from off in their level of empathy over the last ten stress to anxiety, lowered self-esteem and years. Coincidence? Maybe not. even lowered empathy. For girls especially What it is inside those social media groupings screens that is so magic can be harsh – many of ‘1 in every 5 children wake and powerful that it groups promote compels your attention up in the middle of night to these unrealistic ideas of what away from where you check social media‘ you should look like – are? The answer is mostly ideals that most people ‘smoke and mirrors’ – cannot live up to. you are being elegantly However, not manipulated by very everyone gets hit by savvy marketeers every possible sideusing what is known effect or even any as ‘addictive design’ at all. And the good to keep your attention news is that making a riveted – fixating your change from unhealthy attention and reselling online habits to it to advertisers is how healthier ones is pretty they make their living. straightforward.

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Be here, now, in the present and interact with your children. Show interest in what they do, ask questions, do things with them. Talk about issues in an open and non-confrontational manner. Getting your kids to talk about what they feel and experience builds trust and will make them more likely to listen to your suggestions and advice.

Make their phones less addictive Get your children to turn off notifications on their phones and in their social media feeds.

This way the pull of the phone or tablets reduces and children have an easier time pulling away as needed.

Put screentime on a schedule Make an online schedule with your kids – set the parameters for usage clearly and stick to what you have agreed.

Introduce alternatives Try out some of the many good alternatives to being online. Play board games, solve puzzles, read a book, draw, learn to play the piano. The real gold here is doing these activities together.

Yes, children are at risk but there is plenty you can do about it. It requires being observant and takes discipline on your part but you can save your kids from smartphone burnout – and also get to spend more quality time with them.

Soren Kenner and Imran Rashid (GP) have researched and written extensively on the risk factors associated with excessive use of smartphones and social media.

Their book Offline: Free your Mind from Smartphone and Social Media Stress is on Amazon and in bookstores now.

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Parties

It’s party time!

Planning your child’s birthday can involve deepbreathing and military-style planning. This annual event has kids jumping for joy but many parents breaking out into a cold sweat. Claire Winter takes a look at some different party ideas to inspire (you).

Perform Parties

Themed Parties Magical forest and flower-themed parties are great fun to host if you like being creative. A perennial favourite is also a superhero party. It ticks a lot of boxes and offers great fancy dress options for boys and girls. There are also loads of great decorations you can make, or buy if you don’t have the time!

Another popular party is a Harry Potter party. You can make up lots of magical games to recreate a mini Hogwarts at home. You could also try something a bit different like a Mexican themed party. Decorate the house with cacti, serve guacamole and dips, hit a Piñata and have plenty of themed games.

Art Parties If your child loves making things, an arts and crafts party is the perfect choice for them. You can go to pottery centres, art studios or get a party provider to come to your house to host a craft party. You can do a huge variety of things like mosaics, pottery, painting and jewellery making.

Your potential Picassos will also get to take their masterpiece home instead of a party bag.

Remember not to stress too much! Your child will remember your efforts whether you hire a circus performer and a bouncy castle; host a fun party at home or organise a trip out the cinema or a trampoline park. Enjoy it and embrace the mayhem; they grow up quickly!

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Perform parties are high energy, fun and totally infectious. Based around a colourful theme, Perform’s enthusiastic party leaders use a magical mix of songs, games and laughter guaranteed to ensure every child is part of an enthralling adventure. From the moment the lively leaders walk in the door, they'll give your child and friends the best birthday party they've ever had.

Whether your child wants to be a sensational superhero, a shimmering princess or a wise wizard, they'll be sure to have a brilliant time.

‘As Hugo went to sleep, he asked if that superhero could come back for his party next year because she was so amazing!’ Jessica Cuatrecasas (previous party booker) Themes include: Superheroes, Mermaids and Pirates, Pirates and Princesses, Fairytale Forest, Knights and Princesses, Puppy Patrol, Popstarz, Moana, Ghost Hunters, Alice in Wonderland, Outer Space, Secret Spies,T he Ice Queen, Dinosaurs, The Magician's Chamber, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Beauty & the Beast and Trolls.

To find out more or book a party call 0207 255 9120 or visit performparties.co.uk

Food Parties Kids love food, so why not theme your party around it? A pizza making party is always a winner. You can go to your favourite pizza restaurant or hold a DIY party at home. Cupcake decorating parties also go down well and the guests can take home the tasty treat instead of a party bag. How about a doughnut themed party? They are even trending on Pinterest! Why not set up a Doughnut Wall covered in a variety of doughnuts? You could even attempt a DIY version. Rickmansworth based Cinnamon Square also put on amazing baking parties and workshops (see box on page 9).

You could also serve food that has a surprise element to it. A cake that is full of sweets when you cut it. Ice cream cones filled with savoury fillings. You could also mix up healthy food with treats, such as marshmallows and fruit kebabs or tortilla chips with hummus and crudités. Number cakes decorated with fruit, meringues, and flowers are also all the rage. They make a great centrepiece on a party table.

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Get your party jumping at Jump In Let Jump In take the strain of organising your child’s next birthday party. Other than ensuring that the children turn up there’s not much else required so it couldn’t be easier! The invitations, food and drink are all supplied. Your party child and their guests will have the run of their own dedicated party area and a special host who will make sure the party really keeps jumping.

Jump In Trampoline Parks offer an exciting jump experience for kids and adults. The parks include drop slides, tumble tracks, dodgeball courts, trapeze swings, rope ladders, giant air bag, performance trampolines, balance beams and more.

There are two locations; one at Elstree and the other in Enfield.

Check out the fitness classes, toddler mornings and after-school sessions, available weekly at both venues.

Parties start from only £150.

Book and find out more at www.gojumpin.com or call 01926 356290.

Parties at Home If you want to host a party at home, think about hiring a company to help. You can even get specialists to come in and set up a sleepover these days. They will put up tents in your garden or your home, and some even supply breakfast on a tray!

Or host a science party where someone comes in to do experiments and make goo with the children. They’ll even clean up afterwards. There are also gaming party providers who bring all the entertainment to you.

If you prefer a more traditional party, why not hire an entertainer like a magician or clown?

Active Parties According to Pinterest, searches for scavenger parties are up by 302%.

These are similar to treasure hunts and start with a list of things to find (or do) and a time limit. But there is no set path as players scavenge around and search for all of the items on the list. The player or team who finds everything on the list first or finds the most items before the time is up wins. These parties can be great fun and relatively inexpensive – you could hold one in your garden or a local park or wood.

You can also do a whole variety of different activities at your local leisure centre. They often offer a variety of swimming, inflatable and sports parties. Why not pick a sport your child loves? You could also check out your local trampoline park to see what party packages they offer. Other easy activity parties include paintballing, bowling, laser quest and go-karting.

Cinnamon Square Parties Through a range of parties and workshops, Cinnamon Square has been teaching children to bake for over 13 years.

During the classic baking party, suitable for 5 years and upwards, children make bread, pizza, cookies and their own birthday cake.

The newest hands-on baking party involves making scones, finger buns, pizza and a birthday cake.

Cupcake and chocolate making parties are also available for children 9 years and over and there are workshops and special classes for adults and children to attend together, run during the school holidays.

For more details about this award-winning Rickmansworth bakery, and dates, visit www.cinnamonsquare.com or call 01923 778353.

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Early years Wait for the tantrum to stop Losing your temper or shouting back won’t end the tantrum. Ignore the looks you get from people around you and concentrate on staying calm.

Aggression Tugging hair, kicking, biting and hitting are ways your child can express themself and try to exert control over their immediate environment.

Talk to them

Tantrums: Toddlers behaving badly

By Max Walker

Raising a toddler can be one of the most challenging stages of your life as a parent.

Many of toddler behaviours can feel extreme, if not downright wicked. But take heart. Tantrums, hitting, biting, throwing things, screaming and other such behaviours are normal for children between the ages of 1 and 4 years. Here are a few tips on how to manage some of these difficult behaviours.

Tantrums Don’t panic Sometimes you may worry that you are raising a tyrant. But at this age it is unlikely that your child is throwing a fit to be manipulative. It is more likely that your child is trying to express themselves and finding it difficult. They feel frustrated, and the frustration is expressed as a tantrum.

Find out why?

Your child may be tired or hungry; in which case the solution is simple.

They could be feeling frustrated or jealous of another child. They may need time, attention and love, even though they're not being very loveable.

Find a distraction Children have short attention spans. Giving them something else in place of what they can’t have or starting a new activity can move your child through their frustration.

Don’t give in If you say yes to end the tantrum, that won’t help in the long term. If you’ve said no, stick to your guns otherwise your child may start to think tantrums can get them what they want.

Children often go through phases of being upset or insecure and express their feelings by being aggressive. Finding out what’s worrying them is the first step in being able to help.

Don’t retaliate physically This could make your child think it’s acceptable to do this. Instead, make it clear that what they’re doing hurts and you won’t allow it.

Show it doesn’t work One of the key ways to suppress your child’s aggression is to demonstrate that it will get them nowhere. For example, if your child pulls a playmate’s hair to get a toy, hand the toy back to the friend as you explain to your child ‘We don’t pull hair.’

Interrupt the behaviour When you catch your child with a fistful of hair, gently disentangle him, then grasp their hand and hold it while you say: ‘We don't pull hair.

Pulling hair hurts.’

Time out in a quiet spot Place your child in a boring place. Wait for them to calm down. When your child has calmed down, discuss the reason for the timeout and why the behaviour was unacceptable.

Whining An irritating blend of talking and crying. However, whining is often the only way that toddlers can express themselves when they’re tired, cranky, hungry or uncomfortable. That’s why it’s up to you to help them communicate in an acceptable manner.

Define it Point out the whining when you hear it and ask your child to use their regular voice instead. Let them know how it sounds to you (without making fun). Explain that whining sounds unpleasant and makes people stop listening.

Acknowledge your child’s need for attention Toddlers often resort to whining when they’ve tried and failed to get your ear. Try getting down to their level to make eye contact and ask them to tell you what they want without whining.

Avoid triggers Don’t take your hungry toddler somewhere without taking some healthy snacks, or better still feed them before you go. Similarly, avoid taking them on errands if they are due for a nap.

For more advice on difficult toddler behaviour, visit www.familylives.org.uk

Low take-up of free childcare Government figures show that far fewer families than expected are using the tax-free childcare offer.

According to figures released by HMRC, just 91,000 parents accessed the offer by December 2018, far below the 415,000 the government had budgeted for.

This number represents just 5% of the 2 million families the government estimated would be eligible for the scheme when it was first launched.

The tax-free childcare scheme is a replacement for the previous childcare voucher system, which closed to new entrants from October 2018.

Ongoing technical difficulties, the complexity of the system and low awareness have been attributed as causes for the poor response by families.

10 Families Herts

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Education

Preparing our children for the world of work

By Gabrielle Nash

I

t is exciting when your child heads off to school for the first time.

What will their first day be like? What will spark their interest? The goal of school is to give your child the necessary tools and skills to enter our grown-up world and ultimately find a job. But what kind of job will that be?

The world of work is undergoing a transformation and future careers will look very different to the those of today. Many of the jobs our children will do don’t currently exist, just as the top ten jobs in 2011 didn’t exist in 2004. As new technologies explode onto the scene, new job opportunities are created. According to Randstad, it is estimated that today’s students will have 10 to 14 jobs before their 38th birthday!

What type of jobs?

Just as our parents had never heard of job titles like ‘social media manager’ or ‘app developer’ neither can we as parents fathom what our children might grow up to do. Predicting what jobs will be in demand is difficult. They could perhaps include biomedical engineers creating artificial organs; interpreters (a growth industry despite automated translation tools becoming popular); or new healthcare roles looking after our increasing number of over-65s. All of these industries we know have a future.

Naturally our images of the future workplace are dominated by artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, but experts believe that the future of AI is not to replace humans but to change what humans are capable of.

Interactive Scientific, a British software company, believes that we can teach children key skills like good communication, persistence and problem solving, all before knowing what future technologies will look like. These skills will be vital for our children to navigate an unpredictable jobs market.

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Interpersonal and communication skills are vital, because the .human factor in a job will still be valuable.

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The ability to adapt is crucial. One set of skills will not last 20 years, so teaching a child to be resilient and comfortable with change will help them to continuously learn and evolve.

So if your child seems like they’re not excelling in traditional measures of excellence, don’t panic Instead focus on developing their other skills and exploring all pathways. A child who is behind on maths and English might, in fact, have fantastic potential people skills. If they’re empathetic and kind, or adaptable and able to find solutions, that could take them further than their academic ability and give them the foundation to tackle a myriad of roles in the future.

For more from Gabrielle Nash, read her blog @londonishmum

What can you do to prepare your child?

However good an education your child is receiving, there are very few establishments with a futureproof curriculum, one that can wholly offer the development of skills needed for getting a job in 15 to 20 years’ time.

This is perhaps why more and more emphasis could be placed on vocational education, as a university degree will no longer guarantee a job.

Whilst, as parents, we might think that giving our kids a head start with coding, for example, will equip them with the kind of skills they will need for the future, this is surprisingly not the case. Gaining complex skills like coding is not necessarily the recipe for success (partly because machines will do that very well); instead it’s more personal or ‘soft’ skills that will help our children excel. The key things to remember?

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11

Clubs & classes

How to encourage a love of music in your child

By Jon Flinn

L

isten to the stories of successful young musicians today and they will tell you that they got involved with classical music, in large part, because they were exposed to it from an early age.

It sounds obvious doesn’t it? Yet no two musical ‘journeys’ are the same and there are many different starting points.

Cellist and former BBC Young Musician of the Year, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, says that it was experiencing live music that really spurred him on (though having five equally talented siblings learning music must have helped too!)

For 10 year old multi-instrumentalist, Nathan-Asher Oriakhi, it was watching the

drummer in his local church band every week and finally being allowed to sit next to him. Adrianna Forbes-Dorant first became aware of classical music because Classic FM was always on the radio at home.

The reality, of course, is that most musicians are unlikely to even remember their first exposure to music because, as the evidence clearly shows, the process of responding to music starts before we are even born. After just 25 weeks a foetus has a functioning auditory system and can respond to sound, for example, by jumping or kicking in response to a very loud noise.

The parent’s role So how do you as parents or parents-to-be nurture your child’s relationship with music?

The British Association for Early Childhood Education has done some great work in this area, showing how parental support for their child’s musical development is underpinned by two simple but vital principles: positive relationships and enabling environments.

Beyond giving warmth and love, relationships which encourage a child’s musical development are sensitive and responsive to the child’s needs, feelings and interests. For example, giving them access to variety of music to hear and play but acknowledging the child’s own tastes. They’re also about supporting the child’s own efforts to express themselves, and being consistent in setting clear boundaries.

Creating enabling environments is about making sure that your child – whatever age – has access to appropriate stimulating resources which are relevant to a range of children’s cultures and communities, has rich opportunities to learn through play and playful teaching and is free to take risks and explore through music.

There are dozens of great tips on their website (www.early-education. org.uk) – everything from copying children’s vocalisations to show that you hear and value them to using recording devices and creating ‘treasure baskets’ with items that the youngest babies can shake, scrunch or tap.

Start them young When it comes to developing your children’s relationship with music, you can’t start early enough – which is why it’s such great news that, when it comes into effect in 2020, the new National Plan for Music Education will lower the age of children targeted from the current 5/6 years to nursery age.

It’s also why the national Music Commission (www.musiccommission. org.uk) focusses, in part, on the role that parents (whether they are musical or not) can play in their children’s learning. The Learn Music London (www.learnmusic.london) resource can also help parents in London find teachers and local support.

There’s lots that government and agencies like ABRSM can do to help support children to learn to develop their musical skills, but nothing is more important to a child’s musical development than the support of their parents.

The ABRSM is the world’s leading provider of music exams and an organisation which has spent 130 years inspiring the musical achievement of young people.

It is currently looking for music learners ages 7 to 18 and their parents from a wide range of backgrounds to take part in a series of online discussions, polls and surveys.

If you are interested, register online at www.abrsm.org/parentslearners.

12 Families Herts

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Parenting

Supporting children to reach their full potential

By Dr Kathy Weston

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very loving parent wants their children to aim high and fulfil their great potential. It can be frustrating for some parents to witness their bright child struggle to focus on their academic work or show any ambition when it comes to nurturing their obvious talents in sport, music or art. We all want to do everything we can to support our children to be the best that they can be.

So what should you do to help your children reach for the stars?...

Always put their mental health and wellbeing first

Help your child to record their progress

By nurturing our children’s self-esteem and paying attention their wellbeing and mental health, we lay the foundations from which they can thrive emotionally and even academically. There is strong evidence that children who are happy at home are more resilient, popular and engaged with learning at school.

Whatever your child aims for, ensure that you help them chart how far they have come.

Perhaps they want to be top of the class in their weekly spelling test. Help them build a strategy to improve, but as they progress and improve their score, encourage them to reflect on how they got there. How did you do it? What was different this time? Reflection builds resilience.

Adopt an authoritative parenting style Research suggests that children who are brought up by loving, warm and engaged parents are more likely to be academically successful and even take part in less risky behaviours as they grow older. Being authoritative means that we need to set routines, rules and expectations for our children. In this way, they experience stability and consistency; the most important qualities of a positive home environment.

Model the aspiration Don’t expect your children to aim high, if you don’t. Share your own goals and dreams with them and importantly, talk about how you might achieve them. If you want to start a business, share your vision and your strategy for making it happen. Aim as a family to constantly set and revise goals. Share both the strategies and the challenges that will need to be overcome when you are striving to succeed.

Teach your child that ‘failing’ is part of learning Repetitive mistakes are part and parcel of the daily experience of inventors, scientists and anyone brilliant involved in producing new ideas and innovations. By teaching our children that failure is part and parcel of learning, we give them the chance to truly thrive academically. What matters is how we respond to setbacks. Can we grow, learn, develop and do better next time?

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Watch your language!

As parents, we can easily damage our children’s fragile sense of self through our words and actions. As far as possible, we must take care to use language steeped in positivity.

It is can be incredibly motivating for children to hear a parent nudge them towards working things out for themselves, praising them for their behaviour, or their general attitude and efforts. Praise the behaviour and mind-set you wish to see, when you see it. In this way, children are more motivated to keep their great attitude up.

Be positive, but not prescriptive about their futures Children don’t need to be able to tell adults what they will be when they grow up. Who can possibly tell? As parents, we need to focus on talking about how positive the future will be and equipping our children to be ready for anything. Focussing on their general resilience, outlook and sense of optimism for life gives them a psychological foundation for a great future. Attuning to and respecting what makes your particular child ‘tick,’ is key to unlocking their natural motivation to succeed. Allow them to choose what interests them and follow that.

Dr Kathy Weston is one of the nation’s leading motivational speakers on the topics of parenting, family life and education.

Read more about her work at www.drkathyweston.com

13

Summer camps

Summer Holiday camps and courses guide Summer camps are great fun and beneficial to your child in many different ways

By Andrew Campbell

T

he long summer holiday break is a great opportunity for children to take part in organised activities, play schemes, workshops or day camps either within their local area on a daily or weekly basis or, increasingly, attend an American-style residential summer Camp.

Here’s our guide to some of the options available, together with some advice on how to choose the right summer activity for your child.

Residential camps These are independent holidays for unaccompanied children aged from 7 years and above. Children are supervised round the clock in a secure residential environment such as a boarding school. Group leaders usually take care of children’s pastoral and welfare needs whilst instructors provide a programme of activities. Camps can offer specialist courses or a multi-activity programme. Unlike American summer camps, which due to longer school breaks and less holiday leave for working parents often provide a home-from-home experience, residential camps in the UK usually involve just a 7 day break. However, if your budget can be stretched there are a large number of residential camps operating throughout Europe and North America which can offer your child additional cultural and linguist experiences.

Multi-activity day camps These are non-residential full-day camps running in your local area.

They are for unaccompanied children from 3 years and above which usually run from Monday to Friday, offering a varied programme of

sports or creative activities throughout the day. Typically multi-activity day camps involve 4 to 6 activities per day, with each activity session lasting between 1 and 1 ½ hours. Often the sessions focus on ‘tasters’ or introductions to a range of activities such as performing arts and outdoor adventure.

Generally, children can attend for as many days as they wish, with a price discount for a full week’s attendance. Day camp arrival and departure times vary but the day usually starts between 9am and 10am and ends between 4 and 5pm. Many camps offer early drop off and late pick up options.

Sports/activity courses or workshops Specialising in a specific sport or activity such as performing arts or art and craft, these courses are usually for children of 7 years and above.

They generally operate for 2 to 3 hours per day, running for just one day or as a progressive course over 4 to 5 days. Sports courses are often led by qualified instructors/coaches or by local authority sports/leisure centres, specialist swim centres or riding schools. National governing body awards can sometimes be achieved. Performing arts workshops tend to be run by performing arts schools who also offer term time classes for children.

Holiday play schemes These offer non-residential full or part-day supervised childcare for unaccompanied children from age 3 and above but are usually run by voluntary organisations or local authorities. Activities at play schemes may be specific, such as sports or art and craft, or involve a range of different activities. Many play schemes run off-site trips to attractions such as museums or parks. In the main, they are provided for children living in the catchment area of the venue.

Will I be able to use childcare vouchers or claim tax credits?

You may be able to claim tax credits to help pay for your child's summer activities. If you pay for them to attend and if the activity provider is registered and regulated then you can claim as you would for an after-school club or childminder.

Parents enrolled in the childcare voucher scheme can also use their vouchers to subsidise the cost of summer childcare options including camps and courses. However, the provider must be registered and be prepared to accept vouchers. To check what help you could get with childcare costs, visit www.gov.uk/childcare-calculator

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The benefits of summer camps and workshops Physical activity Much of a child’s time at school is spent sitting behind a desk so spending the day running around, swimming, hiking, or playing sport gives children a great chance to get moving.

Develop talents and skills At some camps, children may be given the opportunity to learn skills and take part in activities they have not encountered before. Learning archery, painting or lacrosse may help children discover talents and interests they didn’t know they had.

Building confidence Discovering these new talents and developing new skills will, in turn, help children to grow in confidence and self-esteem.

Leaving technology behind As fantastic as it is that we live in a world filled with TVs, mobile phones, lap tops and other devices, it is always great to encourage children to get outside for a good old-fashioned kick about and run around.

Enjoying the outdoors Climbing trees, changing a bike wheel, or building an outdoor camp can help ensure your child does not miss out on the learning benefits to be gained from the great outdoors and enjoy adventures they would not otherwise experience.

Offering role models

Engaging with children from different schools, different areas and ultimately different backgrounds, is a great way to build social skills and to make new friends.

Often the instructors on summer camps provide a rare opportunity for a child to interact with an adult who is not part of the family unit or teacher. Their leader should be trained to care for them, offer them support and advice when needed, and always be there for them throughout their attendance.

Developing independence

Playing!

Sometimes giving children the freedom to make decisions and plan their own time is a fantastic way for them to learn to be independent.

At summer camps children have the chance to just be children, away from the pressures of school, social media and the commercial world.

Learning social skills

How safe will your child be?

Most summer camps and courses are regulated by various independent bodies, or in some instances by government inspectorates such as Ofsted which monitors safety standards. Levels of inspection vary according to the type of course or camp.

Day camps and play schemes offering full day care programmes for children under the age of 8 are legally required to register with their local authority. Registered providers are subject to inspection by government inspectorates such as Ofsted.

Sports/activity courses will not generally be registered with the local authority unless they provide tuition for under 8s. Horse riding centres are legally required to register with their local authority though.

Adventure activities run by any commercial organisation providing specific adventure activities (certain watersports, climbing, trekking and caving activities) are legally required to obtain a licence from the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA). This body inspects and monitors safety standards. Information on these inspections is available to the public from the AALA. www.hse.gov.uk/aala Residential camps are not subject to legal registration unless they operate specific adventure activities or provide courses for under 8s.

Providers who are members of the British Activity Providers Association (BAPA) are subject to an independent inspection scheme covering site safety, activity standards, staff qualifications and training, health and safety and emergency procedures. For more information, visit www. thebapa.org.uk Police checks All registered day camps and plays schemes are required to get checks on specific staff. In England and Wales this is done via the Disclosure and Barring Service, and in Scotland via Disclosure Scotland. It is worth checking with the provider to see what their policy is in this area.

Staff qualifications You may also want to check on staff qualifications. Most sports governing bodies have an official coaching scheme for instructors or leaders at various levels. It is a good idea to ask for further information on staff qualifications if the organisation does not explain its policy in its promotional material or on its website. familiesonline.co.uk

15

What’s On Fun Days, Fetes & Festivals LEMSFORD FETE St John's C of E School, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 7TR www.lemsfordfete.co.uk 6 May – 12-4pm A true English country fete experience including maypole dancing, coconut shy, live music & Pimms tent.

Cost: £2. Senior £1. Under 16s free.

Free parking BRAMBLETON MODEL RAILWAY OPEN DAY Highfield Oval, Ambrose Lane, Harpenden www.brambleton.org.uk 11 May – 2-5.30pm One of the country's largest outdoor model railways in action.

Cost: £2.50. Child £1.50 ST ALBANS AND DISTRICT SUSTAINABILITY FESTIVAL 11 May – 1 June The three-week award-winning St Albans Sustainability Festival returns for 2019 with over 100 events to enjoy across St Albans, Harpenden and the villages. Many of the events are FREE and family friendly. The festival goes from strength to strength every year, so why not go along and be a part of it!

For more information visit www.sustainablestalbans.org.

ST PAUL'S WALDEN BURY Hitchin, SG4 8BP, www.downthewoods.org Teddy Bears Picnic 18 May – 11-1pm In the walled garden. Games, activities & cooking on the open fire. Bring a bear, picnic & a blanket! Book online.

Cost: £5 per child. Adults free HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY SHOW The Showground, Dunstable Road, Redbourn, AL3 7PT 01582 792626, www.hertsshow.com 25 & 26 May Agricultural show, family entertainment & arena displays.

Cost (advance price till 10 May): £18. Concs £16. Child £8. Family £44. Under 5s free TOTFEST 2019!

Hitchin Priory, Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, SG5 2DL, www.pinkbearevents.com 26 May – 12-5pm Family festival aimed at ages 6 mths to 5 yrs.

Cost: £12.80. 6-11 mths £10.65.

0-5 mths free ST ALBANS STEAM AND COUNTRY SHOW Oaklands College (Smallford Campus), off Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL4 OJA 07425 695534, www.hertssteam.co.uk 1-2 Jun. Opens 10am. Parade 2pm Steam engines, vintage vehicles, classic cars & more.

Cost: £8. Senior £7. Under 16s £5. Family £20

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HERTFORD CASTLE

ARMED FORCES DAY 2019

Castle Street, Hertford, SG14 1HR 01992 552885, www.hertfordcarnival.org.uk Fun Day 2 Jun – 12-5pm Live entertainment. Over 50 stands. Castle open to explore.

FREE entry Cars At The Castle 23 Jun – 12-4pm Up to 60 modern & vintage cars. Food stalls.

Live music. Castle open to explore.

FREE. Donations welcome

www.armedforcesday.org.uk 29 Jun Show your support for local veterans & serving members of the Armed Forces.

Broadway Gardens, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3TA 10am-4pm Cadet challenges, military bands & vehicles, food & craft stalls, classic cars & more.

High Street, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3AQ 11am-3pm Entertainment, adventure equipment for children & stalls.

FREE

HARPENDEN CARNIVAL Harpenden Common, AL5 1DT www.harpendencarnival.com 8 Jun – 12-6pm Get Active theme. Includes arena entertainment, dog show, craft stalls, inflatables & children’s activities.

FREE entry, some activities chargeable WHITWELL STEAM AND COUNTRY FAIR Mansell's End Farm, Bury Lane, Codicote, SG4 8XY 07484 327312, www.whitwellsteam.com 8 & 9 Jun – 10am-5pm Steam engines & classic vehicles.

Cost: £10. Child £6. Senior £8. Family £28.

Advance booking 15% discount ST ALBANS HALF MARATHON Verulamium Park www.stalbanshalfmarathon.co.uk 9 Jun Enjoy the atmosphere at this event for all the family. Includes run, walk & wheelchair half marathons; 5K and 1.5K fun run. Enter online.

Cost: Various TRIANGLE COMMUNITY GARDEN Ransom's Recreation Ground, off Grove Road, Hitchin, SG5 www.trianglegarden.org Open Day and Fun Dog Show 9 Jun – 12-4.30pm Outdoor activities, stalls & entertainment for everyone. FREE. Entry to Dog Show £2 APPLECROFT SCHOOL SUMMER FETE Applecroft Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6JZ, 01707 323758 www.applecroft.herts.sch.uk/pta 23 Jun – 11am-3pm Stalls, games, bouncy castle, live entertainment, BBQ, licensed bar.

Cost: £1 entry. Child/Senior free ALBAN STREET FESTIVAL St Peter's Street, St Albans, AL1 3JE www.enjoystalbans.com 23 Jun Street food & drink, theatre performance, live music & more. Most activities FREE MILL MEAD SCHOOL SUMMER FETE Port Vale, Hertford, SG14 3AA 29 Jun – 12-3pm Stalls & activities. Huge inflatable obstacle course, live music, bar & BBQ. Cost: £1 entry. Children free

Camps & Courses BARRACUDAS ACTIVITY DAY CAMP Hemel Hempstead School, Sherrardswood School, Welwyn, & Haileybury, Hertford.

01480467567 Holiday entertainment with a brilliant programme of over 80 amazing activities.

Cost: £40/day PERFORM St Albans 020 7255 9120 / enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk/wizard Wizard of Oz Sing and dance your way down the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz holiday courses. With colourful costumes, uplifting songs and dazzling dancing, your child will have the best fun of the summer as Perform bring this story to life. Across July and August; three, four and five-day courses.

10am to 3pm each day (for children aged 4-10).

TRESTLE ARTS BASE Russet Drive, St Albans, AL4 0JQ 01727 850950, www.trestle.org.uk Puppets and Play May Day 30 May – 10am-3pm Ages 4-7. Create your own puppets and bring them to life in a drama sharing at the end of the day.

Cost: £35, includes materials. Early drop off (from 9am) £5 HORIZON SPORTS Harwood Hill School, Harwood Close, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 7AG www.horizonsportsltd.co.uk 28-31 May Half term camp for ages 5-12.

Cost (early bird prices): Half day £9. Full day: £15.50. Extended day £20.50 GORDON CRAIG THEATRE Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200, www.gordon-craig.co.uk The Lion King Themed Drama Camp 28-31 May Ages 6-12. Explore drama, music, singing, dance & visual art activities. Write a script.

Perform for family & friends at the end of the week.

Cost: £105. Siblings & Drama Academy students £90 familiesonline.co.uk

COOKERYEATERY

HEALTHY U GYM

TRESTLE ARTS BASE

www.cookeryeatery.co.uk Holiday cookery camps featuring unique food adventures every day!

Learning Kitchen, Hitchin, SG5 1HF 28 & 29 May Ages 4-11.

Cost: £40 per day The Vege Centre, St. Christopher School, Letchworth, SG6 3JZ 30 & 31 May Ages 8-16.

Cost: £50 per day

1-4 Kimps Way, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8EN 01442 769071 www.healthyugym.com Kids Fitness (ages 6-10) Mondays-Thursdays Fitness activities & games.

Learn about nutrition & how the body works. Cost: £4.50 an hour

Russet Drive, St Albans, AL4 0JQ 01727 850950 www.trestle.org.uk Ensonglopedia of Animals 26 May – 2.30pm New show for ages 5+ from award-winning John Hinton.

Follow-up to the hit show Ensonglopedia of Science.

Cost: £12. Concs £10. Family £40

KOOL KIDZ CAMPS Sandridge Primary School, Woodcock Hill, Sandridge, St Albans, AL4 9EB 0845 603 2858 www.koolkidzgroup.co.uk 28-31 May Ages 4-12. Half or full days.

Cost: See website BERKHAMSTED BASECAMP All camps take place in Berkhamsted www.berkhamstedbasecamp. co.uk 29-31 May – 9.30am-4.30pm Multi activity camps for ages 3-11.

Cost: See website LETCHWORTH PARISH HALL Broadway, SG6 3PQ www.activenorthherts.co.uk Balance-Ability Course 25 May-29 Jun – 12.15-12.45pm 6 week balance-bike course.

Learn basic cycling skills to enable a smoother transition to pedal bikes. Ages 3+. Balance bikes & helmets not provided (pedals can be removed from pedal bikes at the session).

Cost: £35 ST PAUL’S WALDEN BURY Hitchin, SG4 8BP www.downthewoods.org Fun With Fire 22 Jun – 10am-12pm In the walled garden. Cook & learn different ways to light a fire. Ages 7+ (with or without accompanying adult).

Book online.

Cost: Child £18. Adults free DAISY BAKE Station Approach, Knebworth, SG3 6AT www.daisybake.co.uk Every Tues-Fri in term time Children’s cooking classes for all ages. Details online.

Cost: £8

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Shows GORDON CRAIG THEATRE Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 2 May – 1 & 4.30pm 23 May – 10am & 1pm The award-winning television animation live on stage.

Cost: from £13 BROADWAY THEATRE Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3DD 01462 681088 www.broadway-letchworth.com The Amazing Adventures of Pinocchio 4 May – 2pm Ages 3+. High energy musical for the whole family, no strings attached!

Cost: £14. Concs £12. Family £48 Alice In Wonderland 29 May – 2 & 6pm Ages 5+. This exciting and playful take on the tale features a professional cast, catchy new songs & lots of humour for the whole family.

Cost: £15. Concs £13. Family £54

HERTFORD THEATRE The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS 01992 531500 www.hertfordtheatre.com Morgan & West’s Utterly Spiffing Spectacular Magic Show for Kids (And Childish Grown-ups!)

5 May – 2pm The time travelling magicians present a jaw dropping extravaganza! Most suited to ages 5+.

Cost: £15. Family £56 Morgan and West: Unbelievable Science Show for Kids (work in progress) 9 & 10 May – 7pm Interactive family science show for ages 7+ where real experiments take place before your eyes.

Cost: £10

Alice in Wonderland 31 May – 2pm New staging of Lewis Carroll’s family favourite.

Ages 5+.

Cost: £15. Family £56 ZOG 11 Jun – 4.30pm 12 Jun – 11am & 4.30pm Magical adaptation of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s book, featuring live musicians.

Ages 3-8.

Cost: £15.50. Child £13.50.

Chores 16 Jun – 2.30pm Award-winning comedy circus show. Death-defying stunts the whole family will love!

Cost: £15. Family £56 The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show 29 Jun – 1 & 3pm 30 Jun – 11am & 2pm Features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets, faithfully adapting 4 of Eric Carle’s stories.

Most suitable for ages 18mths to 6yrs.

Cost: £15. Family £56. Babes in Arms under 18 mths free

WHAT'S ON EDITOR families.herts.listings@gmail.com

SHENLEY PARK Walled Garden Amphitheatre, Radlett Lane, Shenley, WD7 9DW www.shenleypark.co.uk Gangsta Granny 2 Jun – 5pm Outdoor production of the David Walliams book. Most suitable for 7 yrs+.

23 Jun – 3pm Wind in the Willows Outdoor theatre.

Cost: See website. All children must be with a paying adult THE ALBAN ARENA Civic Centre, St Albans, AL1 3LD 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk In The Night Garden 19 Jun – 1 & 4pm 20 Jun – 10am & 1pm See your favourite characters brought to life with full-size costumes, magical puppets & enchanting music.

Cost: £15, £17 17

What’s On THE OLD TOWN HALL THEATRE High Street, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3AE 01442 228091 www.oldtownhall.co.uk Javier Jarquin: Card Ninja 14 May – 7pm Using genuine playing cards, comedian Javier Jarquin dazzles audiences with displays of decks as weapons. Ages 6+.

Cost: £12. Concs £9. Dacorum Card £7.50 Bird's Nest Billy 25 May – 2.30pm A magical bird chirps out of Billy’s big, curly, bird’s nest hair and grants him 3 wishes.

Ages 3-7.

Cost: £7.50. Dacorum Card £6 Yellow is the Colour of Sunshine 15 Jun – 11am & 2.30pm A new play told in words, sign, colours, music & movement about feelings, emotions, empathy & how we communicate. Ages 3+.

Cost: £7.50. Dacorum Card £6 THE RADLETT CENTRE 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291 www.radlettcentre.co.uk The Tiger Who Came to Tea 9 May – 1.30 & 4.30pm 10 May – 10.30am & 1.30pm Based on the bestselling picture book by Judith Kerr. Ages 3+.

Cost: £14. Family £50 The Wizard of Oz 31 May – 3 & 6.30pm 1 Jun – 11am & 3pm Spring pantomime adaptation of the classic story for all the family.

Cost: £16. Under 16 £14 Milkshake! Live - Milkshake Monkey's Musical 15 Jun – 11am & 2.30pm Learn songs & dances with your favourite Milkshake friends. Starring Fireman Sam, Noddy, Shimmer & Shine, Digby Dragon, Wissper, Nella the Princess Knight and the Floogals.

Cost: £16. Babes in Arms £3 ZOG 18 Jun – 4.30pm 19 Jun – 10.30am & 1.30pm Magical adaptation of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s book, featuring live musicians.

Ages 3-7.

Cost: £15.50. Under 16 £13.50.

Babes in Arms £3 RHODES BISHOPS STORTFORD 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200 www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk An Elephant In The Garden 25 May – 3pm Lizzie, her mother and an elephant from the zoo, flee the Allied fire-bombing at the end of WW2. Adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s novel. Ages 8+.

Cost: £14.50. Concs £11.50. Family £50 The Wizard of Oz 27 May – 2 & 6pm A spectacular professional spring pantomime.

Cost: £16.50. Concs £14.50. Family £58

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Ministry of Science 25 Jun – 6pm Not your ordinary science show – it comes with a bang, a whoosh, and a hovercraft built on stage!

Cost: £15.50. Concs £13.50 WYLLYOTTS THEATRE Wyllyotts Place, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 2HN 01707 645005 www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk 19 May – 11am & 2.30pm The Sooty Show 2019 Izzy Wizzy let’s get busy! Includes a chance to meet Richard & Sooty after the show.

Cost: £13. Child £11. Family £42

Museum & Art Activities HENRY MOORE STUDIOS & GARDENS Perry Green, SG10 6EE www.henry-moore.org/visit Weds-Sun & Bank Hols. 11am-5pm See the clay models indoors, then explore Moore’s sculptures themselves in 70 acres of open grounds - plenty of room to run around and let off steam.

Cost: £12.70. Concs £11.30. 5-18 yrs £6.80.

Family £32.70 Under 5 free Colour and Collage 29 May – 12-4pm After a look at Moore’s original artworks in the exhibition, drop into the family workshop and take a line for a walk, creating a picture from an unbroken line. Add texture with collage and finish by creating a personal, stylish artist’s signature.

Cost: Included in admission AYOT ST LAWRENCE ART SHOW Palladian Church, Ayot St Lawrence www.ayotartshow.co.uk 15 – 17 June.10am-5pm The long-running and popular Ayot St Lawrence Art Show celebrates its 45th year – and is bigger and better! Explore the art exhibition set in the beautiful Palladian Church of Ayot St Lawrence village. There are lots of fun activities for the children too, including a treasure hunt, and the first 50 visitors to the Craft Tent each day receives a free gift. This is an event not to be missed!

HERTFORD MUSEUM 18 Bull Plain, Hertford, SG14 1DT 01992 582686 www.hertfordmuseum.org Stay & Play 5 May & 1 Jun. Drop in 10am-4.30pm Play with some traditional toys. Get hands on with a family craft activity.

FREE. Donations welcome Museums at Night 18 May – 7-9pm Live music in the garden (weather permitting) or inside. Licensed bar.

FREE. Donations welcome Half Term Activities 28-30 May. Drop in 10.30am-3.30pm (last entry 3pm) Family friendly craft activities.

Cost: £2 per child

RHODES BISHOPS STORTFORD 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200 www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk Museums at Night 17 May – 7-8.30pm Night time trail.

FREE International Museum Day 18 May. Drop in 11.30am- 3pm Be a curator for the day! Take a close up look at some of the museum objects and carry out your own research around the museum to see where they fit in history. Ages 5+.

FREE BROADWAY STUDIO & GALLERY 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3EW 01462 681088 www.broadway-letchworth.com Family Arts Studio: Reuse & Recycle 9 Jun. Drop in 10am-1pm Hands-on craft activities led by professional artists, inspired by artworks in the Broadway Gallery.

FREE LOWEWOOD MUSEUM High Street, Hoddesdon, EN11 8BH 01992 445596 www.broxbourne.gov.uk Toddler Thursdays 16 May & 20 Jun – 10-11am or 11am-12noon Learn a nursery rhyme, share a story & make a craft. Ages 2-4 (with adult). Book in advance.

Cost: £2 Family Fun 30 May. Drop in 12-3pm Make a rocket! Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Cost: £2 per child STEVENAGE MUSEUM St George’s Way, SG1 1XX 01438 218881 www.stevenage.gov.uk/museum Under 5s 16 May – 1.30-2.30pm Stories, games and art & craft fun.

Cost: £2 Family Saturdays 25 May – 2-3pm Play the greatest games of all time! Whether you’re a hard-hearted Roman, a tired Tudor or a stubborn Stuart, there’ll be a game that lifts your spirits.

BRITISH SCHOOLS MUSEUM Queen Street, Hitchin, SG4 9TS 01462 420144 www.britishschoolsmuseum.co.uk Victorian Lessons 2 Jun – 2.30 or 3.30pm Booking essential.

Cost: Included in Museum admission.

Adult: £5.50. Child: £3. Under 5s free CHILTERN OPEN AIR MUSEUM Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, HP8 4AB www.coam.org.uk

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May Day Merriment 5 & 6 May Experience traditional Elizabethan May Day dancing and merriment. Watch displays of fire power and swordsmanship.

Roman Gladiators 26 & 27 May Watch Roman Gladiators battle – who will live, and who will die: you decide!

Outdoor Theatre: The Tempest 6.30pm 2 June The Handlebards all female troupe’s hilarious outdoor theatre performance of The Tempest.

Mindful Mondays 6pm 3, 10, 17 & 24 June Take part in a range of mindful activities and forgotten skills.

Bushcraft Weekend 22 & 23 June Discover more about essential bushcraft skills and ancient survival techniques.

Animals & Nature HERTFORD HEATH Hertford, SG13 7PW www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk Hunting for Dragons!

9 May – 8-10am A morning walk searching for

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amphibians & reptiles including slow worms, grass snakes & the rare great crested newt.

Cost: Free. Suggested donation £5 (Members £3) RYE MEADS NATURE RESERVE Rye Road, Stanstead Abbotts, SG12 8JS, www.rspb.org.uk Rye Meadlings 6 & 20 May & 3 & 17 Jun – 10.30am-12pm Outdoor hands-on sessions encouraging child-led exploration & natural play. Aimed at 18 mths to under 5 yrs. Booking essential.

Cost: £6 per child (RSPB Members £5). Parking charge for non-members (first session free parking) HATFIELD PARK FARM Hatfield Park, Hatfield, AL9 5NB www.hatfieldparkfarm.co.uk A fabulous day out guaranteed, no matter what the weather.

Farm animals, tractor rides, and play area. Season-tickets now available, for unlimited visits!

One adult, one child tickets costs just £40; one adult, up to two children £65; two adults, up to one child £70; two adults, up to two children £80. See website for more details.

STANDALONE FARM Wilbury Road, Letchworth, SG6 4JN www.standalonefarm.com May Day Morris Dancers 6 May Watch local Morris dancers and enjoy Maypole dancing activities!

Cost: Included in farm admission WILLOWS ACTIVITY FARM Coursers Road, London Colney, St Albans, AL2 1BB, 0870 129 9718 www.willowsactivityfarm.com Spring Special 25 May-2 Jun – 10am-5.30pm Live sheep shearing and acres of springtime fun. Cost: See website KNEBWORTH HOUSE Knebworth, SG3 6PY 01438 812661 www.knebworthhouse.com Cost: £10 per person. Includes Park, Gardens & Adventure Playground. House extra. Under 3s free. 10% discount online DogFest 11 & 12 May – 9.30am-5pm Join special guests Professor Noel Fitzpatrick & Clare Balding to celebrate all things canine.

Fun dog show, activities, entertainment & Kids’ Area.

Cost: From £11.24. Under 6 free

Dino Adventure 27 May – 11am-5pm 72 life-sized dinosaurs & prehistoric creatures. Hunt for fossils at the Dino Dig. Handson experiences with real snakes, lizards & tortoises.

Cost: Included in admission.

Trail sheet £1 Father’s Day Medieval Jousting 16 Jun – approx 12.30 & 2.30pm Costumed knights on majestic warhorses. Fantastic display of horsemanship & hand to hand combat. Try archery too (£2).

Cost: Included in admission Peppa Pig and George 23 Jun Appearances in the Park at intervals 10am-2pm.

Cost: Included in admission HORNBEAM WOOD HEDGEHOG SANCTUARY Common Lane, Harpenden www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk Discover Hedgehogs 29 May & 19 Jun – 2-3pm Learn about the fascinating lives of hedgehogs and get up close to a rescue hog. Family event, ages 6+. Children must be with a paying adult.

Cost: £8. Child £6

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