On the Go Kids card

As a parent we all know how expensive kids activities can be and any savings are a bonus. So 2 mums put their heads together to find a way to help other parents save money on day to day activities - the result is the On the Go Kids card.

On the Go Kids is a discount card for local family activities/days out/classes and services.

The card costs just £15 for a year & covers the whole family (that works out at just £1.25 per month) and the wide range of discounts (except for a few introductory offers) can be used over and over again - all for the one fixed price.

 There are some fantastic savings available and card holders can save their initial outlay of £15 over and over again during the course of a year. We have Party Entertainers, Pottery Painting, Adventure Golf, Parties, Football Classes and Coaching, Farms/Parks, Restaurants & more.  Local businesses are joining all the time.

Visit their website for more details

www.onthegokids.co.uk

Chickenshed - Tales Big Day Out

Tales Big Day Out

Spring is here so Chickenshed are here to entertain outside!

Tales Big Day Out promised to be great fun for all the family and especially for children under 6 years old. This is a like a mini festival for kids with lots on interactive fun. Whether you are a Tale’s fan or even if you have no experience of this Tales world, we are sure it’s a great pick for you and your little people.

Children will be able to enjoy the fun performance of Tales from the Shed, along with having the opportunity of joining in with their amazing workshop. After all this fun entertainment, everyone will come together for a huge Tales extravaganza in the amphitheatre outside.

Chickenshed are often joined by special guests so do visit their website for any updates.

You’ll also be happy to know that if the weather does not hold out then all activities and performances will be moved indoors.

This event is being held on Saturday 16^th April. They have two time slots: 10.00am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 5.00pm.

This event is suitable for ages 0-6 years.

Tickets are £8.00 (free for babies under 1 years)

Link below for tickets!

http://goo.gl/L2KCqB

Chickenshed is a child-friendly theatre based in Southgate, north London. They hold events and activities throughout the year, ideal for the whole family. Visit our Tot Friendly website or Chickenshed’s website for any upcoming events for you and your little ones.

credit Enfield Independent

By Tasarla Hufford

The Gibberd Garden

Occasionally I come across something that I have mixed feelings about sharing and, The Gibberd Garden is one of those beautiful places that I want to keep close to my chest - but that just wouldn’t be fair...

Situated on the outskirts of Harlow in Essex is The Gibberd Garden, it is peaceful and beautiful on so many levels. Created by Sir Frederick Gibberd, an avid gardener who also happened to be the planner of Harlow new town, it occupies around seven acres. Sir Frederick never had a master plan for the garden but had lots of mini ideas, if they worked all well and good, if they didn’t he would try something else. In his own words 'Garden design is an art of space, like architecture and town design. The space, to be a recognisable design, must be contained and the plants and walls containing it then become parts of adjacent spaces. The garden has thus become a series of rooms, each with its own character, from small intimate spaces to large enclosed prospects.' If you visit the garden you will clearly understand this philosophy.

Sir Frederick began filling the garden and grounds in 1972 till his death in 1984: it is now home to some eighty sculptures, ceramic pots and architectural salvage. Each ‘room’ of the garden offers something different: from the avenue of lime trees and lawns just made for rolling down, to the castle and draw bridge!

Parents of adventurous toddlers should note that it has a few concrete paths and steps dotted around that are old and uneven. The castle is made of large concrete steps and the water brook is quiet well hidden so you can come across water without too much warning but it is a wonderful place to explore, so please don’t let that put you off!

Freddie absolutely loved every minute of our visit: he really enjoyed exploring what was around the next corner. We went with friends and the boys played knights in the Castle, rolled down the wonderful lawns and searched for treasure (sculptures and salvage). The old tree swing located on the top of a hill was my favourite, it is placed perfectly giving you the illusion that you are about to take off over the fields; it took me right back to my childhood.

It was a chilly day when we visited and we finished with a hot chocolate and cake in the small tea rooms. Can’t wait to see how the garden looks in the summer!!!

The Gibberd Garden has very limited opening times check their website for up to date timings. Usually open Wednesday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays - but seasonal. There are odd events throughout the year too.

http://www.thegibberdgarden.co.uk

Toddler lunch at the Hertford Methodist Church, Ware Road, Hertford

Had a lovely lunch today with Freddie’s little friend April in the Hertford Methodist Church.

Recently refurbished it is clean and fairly spacious (although Kate, Freddie, April and I were almost 50% of the head count, the rest was mainly staff, and so it could feel a little more cramped with more customers).

Covent Garden soup and bread, jacket potatoes, homemade cakes and coffee are on offer as well as a baby frappuccino (or whatever they are called – will get back to you on that one!). Don't forget a little packed lunch if your tot won't entertain the menu... There are a couple of highchairs and a selection of toddler toys and books to keep the tots amused oooh and  baby changing facilities too. The staff were very friendly and there was a real community feel.

All in all nice little place to park yourselves for a snack or just a coffee (just be aware if the sun is shining it could get a little warm as the whole frontage is glass and I didn’t notice any air conditioning – Freddie was a little red when we left – removable layers might be the answer). Would be good if they offered sandwiches as well...

We gave it a ‘toddler friendly’ thumbs up.

The Bug and The Butterfly

A charming little production about an insect falling in love with a butterfly for toddlers.

This was little Freddie’s first ever theatre production and he was transfixed for the whole time. At just 30 minutes it had been especially adapted for toddlers from 18 months and it worked! The production fuses dance, music with English and Spanish text. The kids seemed to enjoy it but it perhaps lacked some of the cheesier elements of a children’s production. In a sense it was quite grown-up in style (so appealed to us parents too), being quite arty and clever in its delivery.

It was also our first visit to the Arts Depot and the small theatre this production was performed in is a perfect size for little people with only a few rows of seats. There is a little cafe and soft play area keeping the little ones entertained before the theatre doors open! The Arts Depot have regular productions for under 5s as do other theatres around the UK. If you want to visit a show take a look at what's on in the theatre section on Tot Friendly and remember we add new shows on a regular basis. Panto list coming soon!

From Pinky and Perky to Postman Pat - Hertford Museum

Children’s TV Characters 1950-1990

This charming little exhibition at the recently restored Hertford Museum is packed full of memorabilia. Adults will love it because of the warm memories the items bring back to mind (the 1970s were my childhood- Bagpuss & Mr Benn). Children & Toddlers will enjoy it too with plenty of “real-life” characters from Basil Brush to Paddington Bear and the Wombles (the exhibits also includes the largest Pokemon collection newly listed in the Guinness Book of Records).

It’s a small exhibition, so perfect to soak up half an hour one rainy day on from now until Saturday 8th January - visit the website for details

What to do on a wet and cold Sunday with a toddler?

Museum of London Docklands and Baby Loves Disco!


Yesterday we were pleased to have planned a good day out which didn’t depend on what the weather decided to throw at us! We filled the slow cooker with beef, vegetables, herbs spices etc plugged it in and off we went...



Freddie hiding in Sailortown

 Our first stop was Museum of London Docklands (it took about 40 mins to get there from Hertford just enough time for Freddie to have his little toddler nap). The museum itself is free but it did cost £5 to park. We began our journey in the Mudlarks section, a great little set up for children. Freddie is only 17 months and so didn’t really understand what was on offer but had fun all the same.

There is a soft play area for toddlers under a meter tall and there are lots of hands-on activities for older children. To reduce overcrowding entry is via ticket only (sessions are about 40 mins) and are collected (for free) at the front desk as you enter the museum. Once your session is over, you are free to grab another ticket (space permitting) or as we did, enjoy the rest of the museum. There are some great things to see and Freddie enjoyed all three floors (and behaved!).

We all particularly enjoyed Sailortown, a life size reconstruction of streets around Wapping from the 1840s 50s. Stepping through the doors you are transported back 150 years to the dark, winding streets. ‘The gallery attempts to recreate the contemporary description of the area: “both foul and picturesque” – the area was a maze of streets, lanes and alleys catering to the men ashore from vessels from all over the world.’ MOLD

There are baby changing facilities (although the one on the main floor was locked, apparently due to the nappy bin being too full!). The whole museum is fully accessible and we had a lovely snack in the museum restaurant which has highchairs for little ones. There is a children’s menu on offer @ £4.95 a pop but this is free with an adult paying guest ordering from the main menu.

Following lunch we headed for a totally different vibe to Baby Loves Disco. Usually £9 for all walking humans we were lucky enough to get a complimentary family pass.

The music was a great selection of 70s and 80s disco, which I defy anyone not to tap their toes too! Freddie enjoyed it watch him here - sorry side ways on! There was, as you would expect, a DJ and dance floor with good acoustics and a few bubbles thrown in. A nice touch was the chill out area with soft lighting and plenty of toys, books, cushions etc to keep babies, toddlers and beyond amused, as well as free drink and food for the kids. The whole event lasts for 3 hours and so makes the £9 per head not sound too bad...

An ideal place to go with a group of friends where you can let off some steam on the dance floor with your little ones, or sit on the periphery and catch up while the children tire themselves out...

Go Freddie! First club and you managed to get on the guest list!!!!

Tired out by the days excitement Freddie had a little cat nap on the way home and we were greeted with the smell of our dinner as we walked into the house, whoever said rain stops play!?

Duxford Museum - great for young children!

My little chap can’t contain his excitement when he sees an aeroplane flying high in the sky, with an excited pointed finger he grunts and squeals and is in toddler heaven. What better place to visit then I thought, than Duxford Museum on America Day. It didn’t disappoint obviously with planes galore and to feed his boyish addictions there were cars too – he also loves wheels and makes ridiculous brrrrr brrr sounds even when he sees a wheelbarrow at the allotment! There was a delebelela (dog in toddler talk) display and birdman showed off his skills with his owls and hawks – so all in all my 15 month little chap had fun. If you haven’t paid Duxford a visit it’s a must to put on your list of things to do, even if only to marvel at the grounded planes and tanks and enjoy the vast space – great toddler and kiddie energy buster!


If you want to visit on display day check out their website for details of what’s coming up or keep visiting the Tot Friendly calendar.

West Wittering Beach - West Sussex - perfect for toddlers!

Last week we decided to take a last minute break in the UK and leave Hertfordshire and London behind! We were fortunate to know a couple who had just renovated their lovely barn in West Sussex and were happy to rent it out to us at short notice. Located in West Sussex we were unsure what we were heading for as neither of us (hubby or I) had ever been here for a holiday. We were pleasantly surprised; the beach at West Wittering was absolutely amazing! Perfect bucket and spade sand with a safe sloping beach front ideal for toddlers and small children. Little Freddie’s first visit to the seaside in the UK was a great experience, he delighted at the waves and dug furiously with his spade, although at 15 months he didn’t really understand the sand castle business! West Wittering beach is large and sandy and so doesn’t feel ridiculously busy, dogs are allowed on certain areas and it is also a Blue Flag beach. A lovely seaside town called Bosham is also worth a visit, and at high has some of its road covered by the sea.

Willows Farm Village

Willows Farm Village - Hertfordshire
This may go down as the discovery of the year for us. We’ve lived in Hertfordshire for years and can't believe we’ve only just come across this fabulous farming complex which ticks all the boxes for an ideal family day-out. In fact it is much more than just a farm. Animals yes but also play areas (swings, trampolines, bouncy castles, huge slides, go-carts), kids shows for all ages, tractor rides and an intelligently designed maize set in the corn fields. The whole centre is sympathetically designed within the natural environment of Willow Farm and there are plenty of kid orientated shops as well as a farm shop and restaurant.
Freddie loved the pigs!

Royston Kite Festival 2010

What a good old British day out at Royston Kite festival we had. £1.00 entry (all to charity) to see some spectacular kiting displays. Most memorable was the one man handling of three separate kites flown to match music- we were mesmerised by the elegant formations. We’ll certainly go back next year but make sure we take a picnic and spend the whole day as there is plenty of other stuff to see- fire engines, market stalls, carousels, hot air balloons........

Hertford to Ware pushchair friendly river walk

Early this morning before I began Freddie duty I headed out on my bike. I cycled from Hertford to Ware and back along the river (not a long distance ride I know but I had little time!). Lots of new families with their babies; rabbits, ducks, geese swans and other birds enjoyed the sunshine. The rivers and narrow boats looked extra special in the early morning light shame I didn’t have a camera... The blue sky reflecting on the water and the abundance of wildlife was fantastic I only wish Freddie had been there to see it!
If you want to take a walk and feed the ducks etc the whole path along the river is pushchair friendly and Hartham park has a great play area to finish a satisfying walk.

For a variety of Pushchair friendly walks visit Walks with buggies