Swing Into Spring
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IN THIS ISSUE Swing into Spring Spring Time Fun Spring What's On Easter Eggstravaganzas Win a Family Cinema Ticket Issue 79 Mar/Apr 2018 familiesonline.co.uk 2 Families Herts familiesonline.co.uk From your Editor… In this issue: It’s spring again! A time to expect longer, dryer, warmer, sunnier days; all of which are likely to tempt us back outdoors. News & Views: 4 If you are looking for ideas of places to go and things to do as the weather warms-up, then check out our Spring Time Fun and Spring What’s On sections for plenty of inspiration. Education: 6 We also have a great competition to win a family cinema ticket to Hertford Theatre’s Easter film programme. The competition closes on 25th March so make sure you Spring Time Fun: 8 enter soon. If your kids love to get into the kitchen and do a bit of baking (you may not be so keen!) Competition: 8 there’s a tasty recipe for cute little Easter Nest Cakes from the Beverley Glock Cooker School. Spring What’s On: 10 We also have an interesting article by Dr Robert Titzer about the long-term benefits that can accrue when children learn language and maths skills at an early age. Enjoy the early spring and Easter break. Next Issue: 80 - May/June Copy Deadline: 6th April Shelley Image credit: © sunemotion Find us in: Baldock, Borehamwood, Chorleywood, Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Hitchin, Kings Langley, Knebworth, Letchworth, Radlett, St Albans, Stevenage, Ware, Welwyn GC. Pick it up from cafes, playgroups, nurseries, schools, activity groups, selected shops, surgeries, leisure centres and libraries. Email or call to request copies for your venue. 020 8428 6384 [email protected] www.familiesonline.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk 3 News & Views Research Confirms New Dads Mental Health Concerns A new poll reveals almost 40% of men Concern about their partner is another worry experience anxieties after having children. for new fathers. The NCT found that almost The research released by the Priory Group of three quarters (73%) of dads were worried Harley Street, London also claims to show about their partner’s mental health. that thousands of men experience anxiety – For more information visit www.nct.org.uk/ and in some cases depression - as they enter dads-PND or www.priorygroup.com New attraction at fatherhood. One in five men believed they were actually Paradise Wildlife Park suffering from Paternal Post Natal Depression, although only 2% were officially diagnosed. This Easter visitors to Paradise Wildlife Park This accords with earlier research by the will be able to meet some life-size animatronic parenting charity the NCT, which showed Dinosaurs at the incredible ‘World of around 1 in 3 new fathers are concerned about Dinosaurs’ attraction. It will be one of the UK’s their mental health. biggest and most spectacular animatronic The increased pressures of fatherhood, dinosaur attractions, set in acres of natural more financial responsibility, changes in woodland. It will feature thirty life-size, relationships and lifestyle, combined with a moving and roaring dinosaurs – a real thrill for lack of sleep and an increased workload at any dinosaur adventurer! home, may all affect a new dad’s Paradise Wildlife Park is home to over 800 mental wellbeing. animals and is the only zoo in the UK to home five different big cat species. They also look after one of the largest collections of small monkeys in the UK as well as the largest Anaconda. Visitors to the park can choose Laws on Smacking from twenty different animal talks, feeds and shows daily. Changing Book tickets online and use code TREX10 to get 10% off entry. See advert on page 2. Find out more at www.pwpark.com New laws are coming into force in the UK relating to smacking children. Currently, it is legal for a parent or carer to smack their own child but only when it amounts to ‘reasonable punishment’, as Children’s Authors Top laid down in the Children Act 2004. What is defined as ‘reasonable punishment’ is a grey the Pops in Libraries area as it is not set out in the law and depends on each individual case. The kids are taking over the libraries! Seven However, changes are planned in the children’s authors - Julia Donaldson, Daisy Scottish and Welsh legal systems which Meadows, Roderick Hunt, Francesca Simon, will ban the smacking of children under any Adam Blade, Jacqueline Wilson and Roald circumstances. Dahl – are among the top 10 most borrowed This means England will be the only country authors in UK libraries, according to figures 73 Questions a Day! in Britain where parents will still be able to from annual data released by the British So What’s the Problem? legally smack their children. Library. In England it will remain illegal for teachers, David Walliams’ popularity continues to soar nursery staff or care workers to smack a child. and he’s now the nineteenth most borrowed British children aged 1 to 6 ask an average 73 Privately hired carers such as nannies and author, up from forty first place in 2014-15. questions every day ... half of which parents babysitters may smack, but only if permission Jeff Kinney does not make it into the top ten struggle to answer, according to a recent has been given by the child’s parents. authors but his Diary of a Wimpy Kid series study conducted by One Poll. For more information visit is clearly a big hit with kids with eight titles Children are at their most inquisitive at 4 www.childlawadvice.org.uk in the series featuring in the top 10 most years old and boys and girls tend to be just as borrowed children’s fiction titles. curious as each other. For parents looking for something for their Almost a third of parents in the study find ‘reluctant reader,’ this library data provides a this constant barrage of questions exhausting, helpful guide to what other children love. lasting as it often does from the time children For more details on most borrowed wake until they drop off to sleep at night. children’s authors and titles visit Almost half of the parents interviewed admit www.bl.uk/plr. that they struggle to find an answer 50% of the time, turning to Google for help, whilst nearly one third confessed to making up answers on the spot. Fathers field the most questions but mothers still deal with an average of 413 per week. To help parents deal with some of their children’s more challenging questions, Tots Town at Argos has teamed up with child psychologist Dr. Sam Wass and created a series of videos which can be found on YouTube. 4 Families Herts familiesonline.co.uk All Stars Cricket All Stars Cricket is a new initiative from the England and Wales Cricket Board aimed at providing children aged five to eight with a great first experience in cricket. The national curriculum of fun cricket activities and games provides children with the basic movement skills to begin a lifelong love of physical activity. The programme includes the 8 week All Stars Cricket programme (1 x hour session per week) and a pack containing a bat, ball, rucksack, cap and t shirt (personalised with their name). The pack also includes an Activity book with weekly challenges. The programme is delivered by trained volunteers who deliver game- based activities that teach cricket skills like catching, throwing and hitting a moving ball plus social skills. Held at accredited cricket clubs these courses are a perfect way for children to learn about cricket and make friends in safe environment. The course costs RRP £40 (price may vary) and clubs will be encouraged to deliver their programmes from May 11th through to July. For more information or to register for a summer of #BigMoments please visit allstarscricket.co.uk Free residential camps for children with health challenges Over The Wall is a national charity providing free therapeutic activity camps for children aged 8-17 affected by serious illness and their families. The camps boost the children’s confidence and resilience as they build a support network of friends facing similar struggles. Over The Wall presents children with the opportunity to experience the fun of camp through activities such as kayaking, fishing, climbing, swimming, dancing, taking part in challenge courses, archery, arts and crafts, talent shows, discos and more. Camps will to take place in locations across the UK from April to October. Each camp will have an onsite medical environment staffed by medical professionals. Children with illnesses such as cancer and leukaemia, blood disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, skin conditions, multiple severe allergies, heart conditions, kidney disease, neurological disorders and other conditions can apply. Camps are also offered to siblings affected by health challenges. Over The Wall will be recruiting for volunteers for its camps, as well as nurses, doctors and paramedics. If you want to help call 02392 477110. To find out more visit www.otw.org.uk familiesonline.co.uk 5 Education How Early Learning Can Predict a Child’s Success By Dr Robert Titzer You may be surprised to learn that the long term effects of children learning language and maths skills at an early age is one of the greatest predictors of their financial success as adults. How can this be possible you may ask? With the many confounding variables such as a child’s IQ, formal education and socio-demographic background, it’s hard to believe that early reading or maths skills can be one of the most important factors associated with doing well as an adult.