Hatfield House - great for little explorers wanting to let off steam!

Hatfield House has so far missed my days out radar, not sure why as we only live a few miles away but it just never occurred to me, which is strange as we are explorers  by nature!

A friend suggested we take our little ones (ages 2x 2yrs and one 5 year old) and I was pleasantly surprised. We only touched the surface visiting the Farm, Bloody Hollow Adventure Playground and retail area so will be back for a longer visit but here is what we thought...

Bloody Hollow Adventure Playground

The Bloody Hollow Adventure Playground is a fantastic play area with castle, rope bridges, zip slide, swings and more. Probably not great for little ones just learning to toddle but if you have a sturdy-on-their-feet 2+ year-old who enjoys climbing and running they will have a blast. The whole area is fully enclosed but beware: there are very steep banks (which actually adds to the whole experience- although I think castles were usually built on hills!)

Hatfield Park Farm

Large farm with a variety of animals to feed. Freddie especially loved the pigs as they made such a squealing noise when we walked past them. There are sandpits dotted around with great little diggers, the kids played there for ages! We were also lucky enough to see the lambs being fed.

The Stable Yard

The Stable Yard offers a variety of independent retailers: one is a lovely old fashioned toy shop, where Freddie spent his £1 with ease. You will also find the Coach House Restaurant here which offers a nice selection of food and drink. There is currently a FREE HOT DRINK offer- just visit the Hatfield House website here and print off the voucher (offer valid until 15^th July). There are often free events for children here too, we made Easter baskets, rabbits and chicks.

As I said we only touched the surface, there is so much more to explore and we will definitely be back! Entrance to the Farm and Bloody Hollow costs £4.50 for adults and £2 for children 3+. Visit the website for full prices (Free entry to Stable Yard).
Website; www.hatfield-house.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.

Ideas of things to do in January with your tots

I have compiled a short list of activities I think would generate some interest from our little chap in January. From museum visits, to days out in the wetlands there is something for everyone! For more information visit the 'January Picks' guide here' All of the activities are suitable for families with pre-school children (babies and under 5s! including a special cinema screening for families with children under 1 year old. As always all are in Hertfordshire and London.

If you have any ideas you would like to share just drop me an email... :)

Happy New Year!

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Hertford Museum Discovery Bags for under 5s

The Hertford Museum is looking for local families to trial their new discovery bags for under 5s. If you are interested in attending the next free session at the museum please contact Eleanor Payne on 01992 582686. Free trial session takes place on 27th January and includes refreshments - booking is essential!
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Hertford Christmas Gala 2010

We visited the Hertford Christmas Gala last night and as we approached Fore Street it was nice to feel a little buzz coming from the town. Unfortunately there were very few market stalls with the 'token flashing light gadget stalls' almost over shadowing but those that were there were worth visiting. The big boys M&S were offering mulled wine and mince pies and local businesses included Foxholes Farm, a stall selling children's wooden toys and a nice little silver jewellery stall Jemima's Jewels run by a Hertford mum. You can find her on Bishops Stortford market on Saturday's or soon to be on line at http://www.jemimasjewels.com/.

The kids really enjoyed the festivities and games taking place on the stage and this years Hertford theatre panto characters introduced themselves to the crowds, much to little Freddie's terror, he really doesn't seem to like people dressed in wild outfits!

Hertford went without a Christmas gala in 2009 due to the credit crunch as local shops and groups did not have the funds needed, 2010 at least was heading in the right direction, fingers crossed that 2011 will be even bigger and better!

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

Messy play for toddlers using a salad spinner!

This is ingenious! Freddie and I went to our first ever Messy Play session this week, in Brickendon Herts. What great fun, although he didn’t seem to understand why some of the other little people didn’t like water splashed in their faces! There were lots of messy things to do, obvious ones modelling clay, water, colouring etc. There were two not so obvious activities: a strange mixture of what can only be described as cornflakes, cocoa flakes and baked beans mmm... but my favourite by far was the ingenious re invention of the basic salad spinner! Cover a paper plate with your favourite colour paint, pop it in the spinner, cover and spin... this was the result!

And a very very happy Freddie kept going back to do more! Now proudly centre stage on our conservatory wall with enough to send to Granny and Grand pop and Great Nan!

Messy play is a great way for your toddler to make a mess somewhere else - visit the Tot Friendly calendar for activites near you.

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!

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