Author Joanne Harris Speaks to Families
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2 From your Editor… In this issue: Happy New Year and welcome to our first issue of 2017. A New Year brings new possibilities, although as the new year always starts News & Views: 4 during deepest darkest winter it’s hard to see them. So, what’s needed is a bit of positive thinking; at Families Herts we like (as the song says) to “always look on Nursery & Early Years: 6 the bright side of life.” That is something that comes naturally to youngsters and so we are kicking Health & Well Being: 9 off 2017 with our Nursery & Early Years feature that looks at how day care affects little ones. What’s On: 10 The start of the year is always a time when people think about experimenting with something different to improve health and wellbeing and in this issue, we National Story Telling Week: 12 look at the benefits of mindfulness for children. We are delighted to have an interview with Joanne Harris, the renowned Education: 13 author of ‘Chocolat’ and other wonderful stories, talking about what inspires and motivates her to write. Next Issue: March/April We hope you enjoy this issue and we will be springing back again in March. Copy Deadline: 3rd February Image credit: © michaeljung Where are we? Baldock, Bishops Stortford, Borehamwood, Chorleywood, Harpenden, Shelley Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Hitchin, Kings Langley, Knebworth, Letchworth, Radlett, St Albans, Stevenage, Ware, Welwyn GC. Families Herts, PO Box 434, Pick it up from cafes, playgroups, nurseries, Pinner, HA5 9AH schools, activity groups, selected shops, Tel: 020 8428 6384 surgeries, leisure centres and libraries. Email [email protected] or call to request copies for your venue. www.familiesonline.co.uk Say you saw it in 3 News & Views Perform X Star Wars Makes Sense Perform X dance classes in Harpenden for 6-12 year olds are high-energy weekly sessions that will boost children’s coordination and concentration. They will get fit, develop physical skills and have fun. The unique Perform X classes use original street and hip-hop music and are based around a specially designed curriculum which includes energetic games, physical improvisations and exhilarating moves guaranteed to speed up young hearts. All class materials are produced by Perform and at the end of each term, more or book a free trial by calling there's a performance of a choreographed 020 7255 9120 or visiting piece to a specially written track. Find out www.perform.org.uk/x Neil Ellis, from Elstree is a Star Wars fan and a concept model maker for Lucasfilm. He has collected together 150 autographs of the cast and crew from the Star Wars film franchise Wear A Hat Day - Save the date and created a unique book. The signatures include those of Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Pencil Friday 31st March in your diary because J.J Abrams, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. The Wear A Hat Day is back for the eighth time book is displayed in a spectacular ‘Millennium and it will be even hattier than ever. Falcon’ themed bronze-cast that Neil Brain tumours kill more children and adults has designed. under the age of 40 than any other cancer… Neil plans to give his book away in a prize yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer draw to raise funds for Sense, the national research has been allocated to this devastating charity for the deafblind This is an unmissable disease. Brain Tumour Research is the only opportunity for all Star Wars fan and anyone national UK charity that funds sustainable who wants to support Sense. For a chance to research into finding a cure. win this amazing prize all you need to do is Wear A Hat Day is the UK’s premier brain to make a minimum donation of £5 to Sense tumour research fundraising event, and is a through Neil’s fundraising page at www. great way to show your support and raise justgiving.com/fundraising/Autograph-Book. money for brain tumour research during a The lucky winner will be randomly selected on day of hat-filled fun and games. Buy a hat, Star Wars Day (4th May). make a hat, take a photo and share it online All the autographs and other #HATTASTIC fascinating facts can be viewed at Get started by registering online to receive a theartoftheforceawakens.blogspot.co.uk pack of fundraising goodies including leaflets, Workshop at www.wearahatday.org - it's To find out more about Sense go to posters and balloons. Check out the Hatter’s brim-ming with ideas. www.sense.org.uk Stargazing at Bayfordbury Observatory Free places at Have you ever wondered what is inside a black hole? How today’s giant telescopes actually private schools? work? What space travel will look like over Private schools will offer to provide up the next 100 years? to 10,000 free school places a year to If the answer is yes to any of those children from low-income families questions, then go along and join in England. Astronomers, scientists and students from the The Independent Schools Council (ISC) University of Hertfordshire at the Bayfordbury (www.isc.co.uk) says if the government Observatory near Hertford. It is open to the pays £5,550 per place – the cost of a place general public for a series of special events up in the state system – the remainder of the until March. cost will be covered by the schools. From December to March, people can visit The ISC was responding to pressure the Observatory and see how the telescopes from the government to do more for their work, watch planetarium shows and take part state school counterparts in return for in lab and computer activities suited to all charitable status, which allows for tax ages. There are also themed open evenings breaks. The scheme, which would test that will focus on specific areas of stargazing some children on academic ability, would and space exploration. be open to primary and secondary school- Find out more at star.herts.ac.uk/ age children. bayfordbury 4 School Secretary receives The British Empire Medal Did you know that six Hertfordshire people charities and the community. were amongst the 312 who were awarded The Countess of Verulam, Her Majesty’s the British Empire Medal, in the Queen’s 90th Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, undertook birthday honours list? the investiture in the Council Chamber, with These medallists were invited to attend a the Vice Lord Lieutenant, Richard Beazley, presentation at County Hall in October 2016. introducing each medallist and outlining Diana Burdett, school secretary at The Grove their achievements. Following this everybody Image courtesy of Julie Tese Infant and Nursery School, Harpenden, was adjourned to the ballroom for a reception, decorated for services to education within her where medallists and their guests were made local community. The other recipients were to feel very special in the company of Deputy The medallists are now looking forward to a honoured for work with: the homeless, an Lieutenants, administrative staff, county and reunion at a Buckingham Palace garden party overseas project, swimming for the disabled, local dignitaries, and a team of cadets. in 2017. Jigsaw Performing Arts: Bradley the Bus Should you let your are you the missing piece? child use a tablet? A new research project aims to discover the influence technology has on children's learning, social interactions and play, from birth to 47 months - and parents are invited to join in. Dr Elena Hoicka from the University of Sheffield's Department of Psychology wants to find out whether technology is good for children's development, bad, or a bit of both. The survey asks questions about how long children use different types of technology. It also asks about how children prefer to learn, Jigsaw has been offering weekend performing what they understand about other people, and arts classes to children aged 3-18 across how children engage in pretend play. London, Hertfordshire and the South East Bradley the Bus is a story about a lively All participants will be invited to repeat the for over 20 years. From musical theatre London bus that goes on an adventure to survey six months later so that the researchers to contemporary drama and dance, the find missing pieces of a magic puzzle. Bradley can determine if technology has had an impact performing arts are a hugely enjoyable way the Bus travels across the globe in search for or not. for children and young adults to develop skills the missing pieces learning about different After the six months, parents will receive a for life. cultures on his way. Written and illustrated summary of their child's learning style, social At Jigsaw, they understand that attending by Inderjit Puaar, the book takes children on a understanding, and play. £2 will be donated a performing arts school for the first time fascinating journey and teaches them about to UNICEF for each parent who completes the can be an exciting but nervous experience. different modes of transport, countries and second survey. That is why they offer a two week trial before cultures. The book also features road safety Find out more at babylovesscience.com. committing to a full term. Book a free trial to advice and is endorsed by Transport for find out if you’re the missing piece. Find out London. more or book a two week trial at www.jigsaw- Inderjit was inspired to create her book by arts.co.uk or call 0208 447 4530. her two young sons who sparked her interest in children books and also by her experiences of taking part in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic games.