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It may not yet feel like summer is on it's way (come on sun and warmth), but it is! So it is definitely time to get out and about and blow off the winter cobwebs.
There are so many fantastic events to keep you and your kids entertained over Easter. Ashridge, Butterfly World, Tring Natural History Museum, Wrest Park, Willows Farm, Mead Open Farm, Woburn, Stockwood Discovery Centre, Inn on the Park and Dunstable Downs all have various Easter activities and special events going on over the Easter weekend and holidays. Or perhaps for something a little different you may try a Day out with Thomas at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, a medieval re-enactment at Aldenham Country Park or Jousting at Knebworth! All these events and more are listed on our Events page. Take a look, there really is something for everyone.
Then, when Easter is over, the combined Harpenden Carnival and Discovery Day on Saturday 6th June promises to be bigger and better than ever to celebrate the Carnival's 50th Anniversary. The parade will be back and it is definitely a day not to be missed! And if that's not enough we will then be treated to Larks in the Parks at Batford Springs on 28 June, the Highland Gathering on 12 July and Classics on the Common on 22 July. The kids can't possibly complain they are bored with all that going on!
Happy Easter!
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the bluebells are coming!
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Fingertips Forest school is not just about having fun, but is also about teaching our children to care for the environment and the world we live in.
At the end of January we began to see the odd shoot coming up through the fallen leaves in the forest. Recognising these to be the common bluebell we talked to the children about bluebells, how they are a protected species and how important they are to our environment. Britain has approximately 65 percent of the world’s bluebell population and the carpeted woodlands only occur in northern Europe. We asked the children how they thought we could look after them and we had a number of great ideas:
‘don’t pick them’,
‘don’t tread on them’,
‘put sticks around them so children don’t stand on them’.
As the bluebells became more prominent we decided it was time to move away from our base camp. The children helped deconstruct our shelters so that other children wouldn’t want to play in them and tread on the bluebells and we moved into a clearing in the lower part of the woods. We used the wood from the shelters to put around the paths to encourage people to stick to the paths.
This kind of activity gives children a sense of pride helping to look after the flowers and doesn’t just stop at Forest School. One parent told us that she was out walking with her children in the woods and her son told her off - ‘don’t tread on the bluebells, they are protected’.
The bluebells will probably be out towards the end of April and through May.
Fingertips Creative Arts Preschool runs Forest School sessions and also runs Forest School during school holidays.
Contact: info@fingertipspreschool.co.uk
Telephone: 01582764391
Web: www.fingertipspreschool.co.uk
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ASK THE EXPERT!
We’ve been approached recently by local parents who wanted our opinion on whether extending was the best plan when compared to moving.
What are the considerations for extending?
Adding space can add value but it could be a severely limiting factor when you come to sell if it is not carefully planned. The final result will need to be a design that is in keeping with the property and its surroundings. The cost of extending can also run into tens of thousands and you will need to consider the costs of architects, structural engineers, planning permission, builders and much more before you even get off the ground.
What are the considerations when moving?
With moving, property is valued by comparing similar sold properties in the area, along with square footage. But beware! Being more expensive than other houses on your street can be a turn-off to potential buyers and can price you out of the market completely. Moving costs might run up a mildly eye-watering bill, but if your plans aren’t yet concrete moving might be the right solution. This is an affluent area so prices will remain buoyant as property is constantly in demand.
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Let hour hands give you your hours back...
Another family meal-time to sort? Piles of paperwork towering ever higher? Holidays to book, your child’s birthday party to throw or perhaps it’s a jumble of daily errands that, with a new baby in tow, you’re just too tired to face? That ‘to do’ list isn’t getting any shorter so let Hour Hands help you trim it down and give you your precious time back.
Beyond the rapid swirl of family life perhaps your business needs help with marketing, project management or accounting, and you don’t want the headache of hiring or using an agency? Let Hour Hands give you some time back to concentrate on your clients.
Hour Hands was set up by Christine Frith and Liz Goscomb to allow people leading busy lives – particularly mums! - to regain some free time. Both have had to balance the demands of successful careers with small children and the upkeep of a home and family. They are only too aware of how full life can be, how many day-to-day jobs remain unfinished and how little ‘me’ time is left over. And so the seed for the idea behind Hour Hands has been sown – when the pressure builds and things get a tad too stressful, Hour Hands is now on hand to help.
Hour Hands offers a full and comprehensive list of personal and professional services - just check the website www.hourhands.co.uk for more details. If you need help on a regular or ad hoc basis just get in touch. Make Hour Hands your essential ‘to do’!
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spring clean your life
With Spring now here, many of us will be thinking about clearing out, cleaning up and generally getting our life in order. Now is a great time to think about all the things that you’ve put off or haven’t got round to, and first up is having an up to date Will.
Where there’s a Will, there’s a way
Too many people in the UK don’t have a Will – in fact 2 out of 3. And there are almost as many excuses for not writing one as there are really good reasons for making it your top priority.
Many of us mistakenly believe that if we don’t have a Will, our spouse will automatically inherit. If you aren’t married, your partner receives nothing unless you have a Will. Making a Will is the only way to guarantee that your family is supported financially and provided for in the way you want.
If you already have a Will, you need to review it regularly. Your life is always changing and so should your Will. Whether it’s buying a new home, getting married, having children or getting divorced, it’s important to check your Will regularly to make sure it reflects these changes.
Please visit our website to read the full article.
Debenhams Ottaway
T: 01727 837161
E: lawyers@debenhamsottaway.co.uk
W: debenhamsottaway.co.uk
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Crafty Cooks
Crafty Cooks is a pre-school cookery club aimed at making cooking fun and to encourage children to try new foods. We are starting a weekly class in Harpenden after Easter. It will take place on a Wednesday morning at 10am at Kinsbourne Common Hall. The class is designed for children aged 2.5 upwards and we make, bake and take home a variety of sweet and savoury recipes.
To book a place, please email julie@craftycooks.co.uk
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the gift of education
What would your child want for passing their exams? Money? A computer? When we asked students at our primary school in Uganda, they replied: “A mattress”.
Why? Because with a mattress they won’t have to sleep on the hard floor when they leave home for secondary school. And if they sleep, they’ll learn.
A mattress costs £12. Could you help give a Ugandan child a better future?
For more information visit www.hsoa.org.uk or email enquiries@hsoa.org.uk.
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Win a signed copy of sam walker's new book - "waiting for a voice"!
Local author, Sam Walker, has recently published a book about her and her family's experience of verbal dyspraxia.
You may or may not have heard of verbal dyspraxia. It is a motor speech sound system disorder, which means that children with this type of speech disorder have difficulty making and co-ordinating the precise movements of the mouth, lips and jaw to enable clear speech production.
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Local mum, Sam Walker, had never heard of this disorder until her son, Monty, was diagnosed with it at the age of 3. She now blogs about her and her family's experiences, and has also just had a book published!
Sam is a true inspiration and you can follow her blog here.
We are lucky enough to have a signed copy of Sam's book to give away. All you need to do is email us at bookcomp@mumsguideto.co.uk with your name and telephone number. Entries will close at midnight on 24th April 2015 and a winner will be selected at random. Full terms and conditions can be viewed here.
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Did you know that 40% of two year olds in England are entitled to 570 hours free early education?
Part-time attendance at high quality part-time pre-school provision is related to better intellectual development. If you boost children’s confidence and social skills it gives them a better foundation for success at school. It is the social skills and improved motivation that lead to lower levels of special education and school failure and higher educational achievement. Often this educational success is followed by increased success in employment, social integration and possibly reduced criminality.
Currently in Hertfordshire 37% of eligible children are not taking up their free pre-school places, often because parents aren’t aware that they are entitled to them.
There are many reasons why children can be eligible, including an income under £16,190 per year, fostered or adopted children and children with a current statement of special educational needs or an education and health plan.
It is really easy to check your eligibility, just go to www.hertsdirect.org/audience/parents and enter your NI insurance number. The same link has lots more information about early years provision and support.
If you need any further information please contact us at Harpenden Children’s Centre on 01582713872.
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time for a change?
Spring is the perfect time to spring clean all aspects of your life, and who can resist when the sun starts shining?! It's said that a change is as good as a rest, so if you feel you're in a routine rut hopefully we can help!
Do you do the same things with your little ones all the time? Want to try something different? Our new Under 5's Drop-Ins Page may be the place to start. No need to plan and book ahead - simply choose a new activity and turn up! Or maybe your older kids fancy a new activity in the open air now summer is nearly here - our Activities & Clubs page really does have something for everyone. Have a browse and discover some of the more unusual activities available in the area.
If it's you that wants a change with no kids in tow, perhaps it's time to look at the Interests & Hobbies page for inspiration or Fitness Clubs & Classes if you want to add a spring to your step!
Whatever you decide, we hope you enjoy the change and have a fantastic Spring!
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Alison, Angela, Carol & Katie
The Mum's guide to Harpenden Team
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