THOUSANDS OF TODDLERS STEP OUT FOR BARNARDO’S – Is your toddler getting involved?!

Thousands of mums, dads and tots across the country are gearing up to take part in Barnardo’s Big Toddle 2011, the UK’s number one, national fundraising event for under-fives that last year saw more than half a million Toddlers taking part.

This years launch event held in Battersea Park Children’s Zoo saw hundreds of toddlers stepping out to complete a sponsored walk for the UK’s largest children’s charity Barnardo’s.

Actress and celebrity mum Natalie Cassidy kick started the event with baby daughter Eliza.

“We have had such fun today at the launch of Barnardo’s Big Toddle! It’s been incredible to see so many toddlers put their best foot forward to raise money for less fortunate children – those who Barnardo’s works with.
“I have to say the sight of hundreds of toddlers dressed in safari gear was just unforgettable! I had to explain to Eliza that the animals in the zoo were real – she thought they were all children in fancy dress!”



Singer of R&B band Damage Jade Jones is hoping to attend his local Toddle with three-year-old son Beau, sometime during the summer months. Jade says:

“As a dad myself, I know kids love the whole Toddle experience – getting sponsored by family and friends, doing the walk in fancy dress, getting a medal at the end... It’s a brilliant event and a great way to teach youngsters that there are other children out there who need our help.”

Barnardo's Big Toddle events take place throughout the summer months, and funds collected will support vital services provided by the UK’s largest children’s charity. These include projects for children with physical and learning disabilities, autism and behavioural problems.

This years theme is ‘safari’ so there is really something for everyone!

If you would like to get involved why not:

• Hold a toddle at your local nursery, playgroup, pre-school

• Join in one of Barnardo’s organised events taking part this summer throughout the UK

• Host your own Toddle and maybe a party! With friends at the park or back garden

For more information either email me or visit the Barnardo’s website here.

If you are holding an event we would love to hear from you, we can add it to our Tot Friendly Calendar too. Tweet

Barnardo’s works with more than 100,000 children, young people and their families in 415 specialised projects in communities across the UK.

We believe in the potential in every child and young person, no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Wewill support them, stand up for them and bring out the best in each and every child.

Images: Matilda Egere Cooper

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!

And the first prize for Toy of the Year 2010 goes to...

The good old fashioned box!

When the heavens opened in August I was a little stuck for ideas to do with young Freddie. Usually we are out and about in all weathers but if you can remember there was a day when it was particularly bad and the little chap was particularly energetic!

I remembered the box I had saved from one of Freddie's birthday presents flat packed in the shed for such a day. It is now November and the said box is still going strong, a little ugly (not very artistic I know) but daily play den to Freddie and our dog Millie (peeking out of the window) as well as puppet theatre, car track and garage.

Winner of the best free toy award so far this year and the cheapest!


It would be great to hear your ‘toy of the year’ stories. Free box to the best one! Tweet

Festive Season 2010 Pantomime Guide

I have set up a new page for the 2010 Festive season. Just click on the tab above or here for a list of this year’s pantomimes in Hertfordshire and London. Father Christmas and Tot Friendly ice rinks coming very soon!

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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!?

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.

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........

Baby Sensory Classes in Ware

Freddie and I have been going to Hanna's Baby Sensory classes in Ware for a couple of months now and he adores them! The whole hour flies by and Freddie has a wonderfully long nap in the afternoon... Enough time to put a dent in my long list of to do jobs!

Each session starts with the familiar 'say hello' song that all the babies adore followed by a few interactive games with stimulating items. This week among other things, each baby had a helium filled balloon (all perfectly controled!) attached to their wrist by a hair band and bell, and to the music bounced the balloon around. Freddie enjoyed this so much that he held onto his balloon throughout the next stage, free time, where there are lots of fun toys for you and your baby to play with and explore while socialising with other mums and tots.

Freddie and Louis decided to have a snack in the pool!

Finally the classes end as they begin with another interactive session of balloons, bubbles, balls and lights. Some manage to last the distance while others begin to doze during the final 'say goodbye' song...

We attend the class in Ware run by Hannah, but if you visit the Baby Sensory website there are other classes all over the UK.

If you are looking for a good hour’s entertainment for your little one that is not only fun but also very stimulating then this is for you. Hannah is happy for everyone to have a free trial, not surprising as I am sure everyone returns!

Today, not all of us were hampered by the snow, thankfully I wasn’t the only one who turned up – thanks for the push guys!!!