IN THIS ISSUE New Year, New You Making Maths Fun Keeping Kids Safe Online Parties Childcare Half-term What's On Issue 78 Jan/Feb 2018 familiesonline.co.uk 2 Families Herts familiesonline.co.uk In this issue: From your Editor… News & Views: 4 It is a little sad when the Christmas and New Year celebrations come to an end, the festive lights are switched off and the high streets of Hertfordshire return to business as Education: 6 usual. Let’s not to get too maudlin though, because there are lots of great things to look forward to, not least of which is another six issues of Families Herts magazine. Parenting: 8 There is a lot on offer in our first magazine of the year. After the seasonal excesses, we think about health and exercise and Claire Winter suggests some clever ways that busy parents can fit in some keep fit. Parties: 9 As the digital world continues to encroach into our lives, Carolyn Bunting, CEO of Internet Matters, explains the measures that the government are taking that will help us Childcare: 10 to keep our children safe in the digital world. Education is never far from a parent’s mind for long. Author of the series, ‘Murderous New Year, New You: 11 Maths’, Kjartan Poskitt, shares his ingenious tricks to make maths fun for kids (and parents too!). At some point in the year you will be either arranging your own child’s birthday party New Year Book Reviews: 12 or your child will be a party guest. Andrew Campbell, has a nifty guide to birthday party etiquette so you won’t make any birthday blunders. What’s On: 13 Here’s to a happy 2018. Next Issue: No 79 – Mar/Apr Shelley Copy Deadline: 2nd February Image credit: © serrnovik 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 Do you want to be your own boss? Families Herts is looking for an enthusiastic new owner. After thirteen happy years running the magazine, it is time to move on to new projects. As a Families Magazine Editor, you will have a respected brand behind you along with a supportive franchisor. You will be working independently but not alone because you will be part of a group of other friendly and supportive Editors. Running your own Families National Storytelling magazine is hard work, challenging and very rewarding. You will need to be self-motivated Week and able to manage your time effectively to fit in business and family commitments. The first week of February marks National Experience of sales especially selling print Storytelling Week, a chance to reflect on one advertising would be helpful. There is plenty of the oldest art forms in the world. of the opportunity to learn new skills and Speech and language therapists believe that training will be provided. storytelling is vital for children’s academic Give Shelley a call to find out more success as it promotes narrative skills and on 020 8428 6384. strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs to be a good speaker and listener first. But above all, storytelling is fun. National Storytelling Week takes place in storytelling clubs, theatres, museums, schools, hospitals, spoken word venues, and care homes. Centre 4 To find a local event or to look through its Excellence extensive archive visit www.sfs.org.uk Centre 4 Excellence provide specialist sound Half Term at The training programmes that can be helpful for all children, but which are especially useful for Sandpit Theatre with children with specific learning difficulties. What are Sound Training Programmes? the Little Diggers! We learn to read, write and spell from the sounds that we hear. Learning becomes If you are looking for some half term fun, look Mental Health Dance difficult when the brain has problems no further! We have plenty of activities as translating what it hears. Sound Training part of our ‘Little Diggers ‘ scheme, aimed at Challenge Visits Programmes help to retrain the brain to 3-7yr olds. On Friday 16th February, we have improve auditory and sensory processing. a visit from Red Riding Hood with Booster Herts Schools Who created the programmes? Cushion Theatre, where tradition is left far The programmes are based on years of behind in favour of a fast, funny show that TV presenter Chrissy Boodram, recently took research in neuroscience and the way the uses lots of slapstick and child participation. her #MHDChallenge (Mental Health Dance brain learns. They have been devised by a On Saturday we then have a film screening of Challenge) to two Hertfordshire primary team of neurologists; experts in the field of the classic ‘Toy Story’, with tickets at only £2 schools with an interest in mental wellbeing. brain plasticity, communication, speech and including a free juice carton, it’s the perfect Pupils from St Andrews CofE VC Primary language, audiology and physiotherapy. saturday morning treat. in Stanstead Abbotts and Brookmans Park Who can benefit from the programmes? To finish off our fantastic half term fun, Primary, Hatfield had fun taking part posted They are suitable for all children aged from Rhubarb Theatre company bring their their performances social media. five to 16 years. They will benefit children who incredible production of ‘Sidney’s Shed’ to Kat Shaw, who teaches mindfulness and have reading, spelling and writing difficulties, theatre. Join Sidney and the bravest little girl art at Brookmans Park said: “With the hectic attention and focusing issues, working in Windy-on-the-hill as they take a time- pace of life at school and home, I am seeing memory issues as well as children diagnosed travelling journey to dig up the past and an increasing number of pupils suffer with with autism, ADHD, auditory processing weed out the bullies! Bursting with historical anxiety, worry and stress, and it is not getting difficulties, developmental delay or dyslexia. hilarity, songs, music and prize-winning any better. This is why we’re focusing on the How can it help my child? By training the cabbages, Sidney’s Shed is Rhubarb Theatre’s mental wellbeing of all of our children.” brain to hear and interpret sounds correctly new show for gardeners and adventurers of all Shirley Arnold, headteacher at St Andrew’s, it can help to improve: speech and language; ages. Make sure you get your tickets, and we said: “It was also an opportunity to reach hearing with background noises; following look forward to seeing you in half term! out to the parents and to further include multiple instructions; hearing the tonality Little Diggers is the The SandPit Theatre’s them in experiencing school life. " The of sounds; phonological awareness; making children’s programme, providing quality, #MHDChallenge was launched on the Chrissy eye contact; listening skills; behaviour and affordable entertainment for the local area. B Show on mytv Sky 203, the UK’s only TV receptive language. Tickets for all performances can be booked chat show dedicated to promoting good To find out more call Florence on www.sandpittheatre.vo.uk or via our Box mental health. on 07919 067343 Office on 01727 799565. 4 Families Herts familiesonline.co.uk Wear A Hat Day is Less Than Three Months Away! Mums Want More Flexible We need you to get involved in Wear A Working Opportunities Hat Day – the UK’s premier brain tumour research fundraising According to a survey by Workingmums.co.uk, event. almost three quarters of working mums In 2018, it takes identify flexible work as being crucial to place on Thursday getting more women into senior roles. 29th March. Don't The survey shows that mums feel flexible worry if you can't working is vital for them to manage work and make it that day, just family life and that 60% of those who work choose another! Join flexibly would like even more flexibility. in the fun as schools So, what can individuals do to help persuade and families across their employers to agree to them the UK get involved to help raise funds for working flexibly? research into brain tumours. Here are some tips: “Wear A Hat Day is a perfect opportunity to Think through what the job requires and bring the whole school together and support whether the tasks you have to perform can this game-changing charity.” – Mr Dan Gross, be done at a different location ie from home, Deputy Head Curriculum, Beachborough or at times outside of the standard working School. day. Take account of any additional costs or So, register today and we will send you a challenges this might involve and discuss them fundraising pack as soon as we can in January. honestly. Our new website makes registering much Give examples of the ways in which your faster and you can explore our all-new Wear A work can be successfully carried out under any Hat Day pages for ideas to make your Wear A new working pattern you are proposing, and Hat Day event a fantastic success! show that it will not harm the business. Point In 2017, families and schools came out any business advantages. together alongside other organisations and Research some case studies, ideally in your communities across the UK and helped raise sector that shows how the work pattern you over £300,000 to fund our vital research.