Families Cheshire Issue 59 May/June 2019

Cheshire In this issue: Toddlers behaving badly Why turn to tutors?

It’s party time!

Issue 59 May/June 19

familiesonline.co.uk

News It’s Official!

Our readers prefer Families Magazine to the internet! for useful information.

A common complaint seems to be the “endless trawling” that digital research involves.

A reader in Middlewich says “I find Families magazine a useful tool as it lists activities in several areas around Cheshire and in date order. I can plan ahead on days I know we are available to take a trip out. It Last year, we conducted a means I don’t have to trawl the survey across the UK asking internet for things to do locally, readers to tell us what they it’s all there and easy to find. “ find useful about our magazine Readers also told us that and how likely they would be they really value having a to respond to advertising in it. physical magazine in their We were delighted to receive hands in which all the almost 500 responses and by information relevant to family the wonderful feedback you life has already been collated gave us. and is presented to them in an More than 70% of our readers easy-to-digest format. said they were highly likely to A typical response came respond to advertising in our from a reader in Manchester magazine or had already done who says: “In this time of social so. That’s fabulous news for our media it is great to have a advertisers and for our readers, magazine you can pick up and because it means we can carry physically flick through rather on making the than having to magazine better fight through of and better! hundreds of readers told us e-mails and pop A whopping that they use 79% of readers up adverts for the magazine to individual offers.” told us that they use the magazine research ideas We were also to research ideas for local family really happy that for local family large numbers of activities or activities or classes and clubs you reported that classes and clubs for children Families for children and Magazine makes an equally impressive 74% said your lives easier and less they use it to plan family life. stressful and saves you time.

Many of you also told us that Thank you to everyone that you find easier to plan family volunteered their comments. activities and entertainment If you are interested in taking using Families Magazine than part in one of our Reader using the internet! You told us Forums, please email that using the internet to info@familiesmagazine.co.uk research and plan can be time with your name, phone number consuming and confusing, and post code. *Readers names have not been quoted involving lots of trawling online

Family events at National Mills Weekend 2018

On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May, more than 300 windmills and watermills will open their doors to the public as part of National Mills Weekend, taking place across the UK. This annual festival celebrates our milling heritage and is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to get inside their local windmill or watermill and

explore the industrial history on their doorstep.

Mills participating in the weekend will hold a range of special events and familyfriendly activities and will include many that are not normally open to the public.

Until the advent of the steam engine, wind and watermills provided the only source of power for many different processes - from making flour, paper, cloth to hammering metal and extracting oils.

During National Mills Weekend, families can explore mills that produced, or still produce these products.

To find a mill open in your local area, visit www.nationalmillsweekend.co.uk

Family fun with National Children’s Gardening Week

“79%

”

This summer, why not get involved in National Children’s Gardening week?

Happening from 25 May to 2 June, this week-long event sees garden centres around the country providing activities and resources that offer parents a great opportunity to get

children outside enjoying nature, plants and wildlife.

Gardening can play a huge part in a child’s health and wellbeing with over 1.5 million children gardening at school in the UK. As well as simply good outdoor fun, school gardening has been shown to have many benefits to health and wellbeing.

These include being more physically active and feeling happier and more connected with the natural world.

There are many ways to get involved with National Children’s Gardening Week from DIY activities at home to attending an event at a garden centre. Visit www.childrensgardeningweek. co.uk for DIY project ideas and details of local events.

for privacy reasons

Next issue: July/August 2019 Circulation: 30,000 copies of Families Cheshire are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Cheshire. If you would like free copies for your organisation, please let us know.

Contact details: Families Cheshire, 3 Hall Hill, Bollington SK10 5ED Tel: 01625 801 801 www.familiesonline.co.uk Editors: Jayne Keep & Caryl Hall Editorial: editor@familiescheshire.co.uk 2 Families Cheshire

Advertising/artwork: advertising@familiescheshire.co.uk Events, diary dates, what’s on: events@familiescheshire.co.uk Cover Photography: Deposit Photos www.depositphotos.com Design: WITH Creative, Congleton. www.withcreative.co.uk Print: Warwick Printers, Caswell Road Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV31 1QD Tel: 01926 883355 www.warwickprinting.co.uk

Families Cheshire is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Cheshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families

Cheshire. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but but Families Cheshire, its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof. @FamiliesChesMag facebook.com/FamiliesCheshire

familiesonline.co.uk

News The perfect summer ice cream stop

You’ll be deliciously spoilt for choice at Backford Belles’ ice cream farm this summer!

With over 20 flavours plus a small range of dairy free sorbets and ice creams, as well as hot drinks on offer in their family friendly café, you can also choose your preferred cone

type and topping – or try out a milkshake using any of the flavours on display instead!

It’s the perfect venue for the whole family with a climbing frame, swings and toy tractors for the kids and calves, chickens and ducks to say hello to!

Later on in the summer, the maize will be tall enough for their annual “maze” which is fun and free for all to wander or run around.

Backford Belles is easily reachable if you’re local, out for a drive, visiting Cheshire Oaks or Chester Zoo – so you’re guaranteed happy faces and some of the best ice cream around! www.backfordbelles.com

Macclesfield Festival is back

Book your tickets now for the third Macclesfield Festival - bigger and better than ever with a fantastic all-star

line-up, plenty of great activities for adults and kids, live music stages, dance tents, market stalls, hot and cold food stands and much, much more!

Taking place at Macclesfield RUFC on Saturday 20 July, tickets are on sale now at www.macclesfieldfestival.co.uk

Are you feeling lucky?!

WIN a family break at The Belfry Hotel & Resort this Summer!

Named as England’s Leading Resort, The Belfry Hotel & Resort caters for all types of family stays, from family holidays and weekend breaks to day trips. Now you have the chance to experience it for yourself.

Enter now and win a family break at The Belfry for 2 adults and 2 children, including an overnight stay in a Signature Family Room, a full English breakfast, a round on the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course, access to a wide range of kids activities, a meal at Roccas Pizza Pasta Restaurant and tickets to Twycross Zoo. You can also make the most of the stunning grounds by exploring the interactive Woodland Walk. Discover the bug hotel and hedgehog house, spot plenty of wildlife and enjoy the kids playground.

The Belfry is close to a variety of popular family favourites which can easily be

reached throughout your stay, such as Drayton Manor, Cadbury World, Ash End House Farm, Kingsbury Water Park, Middleton Lakes as well as the National Sea Life Centre and Birmingham city centre, which is only 20 minutes away.

For further information, visit www.TheBelfry.com The Belfry Hotel & Resort is situated at Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, B76 9PR To Enter: visit http://bit.ly/BelfryC Closing Date: 17 June 2019 For full T&Cs, see entry form online.

Foster Care Fortnight - you can make a difference

Foster Care Fortnight™ runs from 13 to 26 May and is the UK’s biggest foster carer awareness raising campaign, delivered by leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network.

The campaign showcases the commitment, passion and dedication of foster carers. It demonstrates that ‘foster care transforms lives’ - not just the lives of the young people who are fostered, but also those of foster carers and their families and friends.

Undoubtedly fostering is challenging but there are tremendous

familiesonline.co.uk

rewards including making a positive difference to a vulnerable child or young person, opportunities to expand skills through training courses, the chance to develop relationships that can last a lifetime and generous financial incentives. The satisfaction and pride in helping a young person with difficulties develop into a rounded individual is the ultimate reward for the majority of foster carers.

For more information, visit www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/ ouldyoufoster

Families Cheshire 3

News Enjoy an adventure at the Museums at Night festival

Families can explore art, history and heritage after dark with the Museums at Night bi-annual nationwide festival which runs across a wide range of venues from 15 to 18 May.

Every year in both May and October, museums, heritage sites and historic properties, as well as smaller cultural venues throw open their doors after hours to showcase their treasures in unexpected ways.

Discover new exhibitions, take torch lit tours, enjoy live music in historic surroundings, and engage in a range of free and ticketed night-time activities.

To find your local events, visit www.museumsatnight.org.uk

Noodle Performance Arts is coming to Wilmslow!

Offering ‘kid friendly dance and drama classes at parent friendly prices’ the company currently runs sessions in Northwich, Hale and Altrincham and is expanding into Wilmslow in September!

Bookings are now open for term time Performing Arts classes for 3 years+ at St Chad’s Parish Church in Handforth on Tuesday evenings with plans to include ballet and dance classes too.

4 Families Cheshire

Can’t wait ‘til then? The Noodle fun doesn’t stop over the Summer holidays…

• Noodle Summer Camp (Northwich) 19 - 22 August – 4 days of theatre training ending in a devised performance!

• The ever-popular Musical Theatre workshops are at Altrincham FC! • Look out for Noodle in your local library as part of the Summer Reading Challenge!

See what they do or to book a free taster for your budding performer at www.noodleperformancearts. com/knutsford, find them on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter (@NoodleCheshire) or call them on 07769 155591.

Get your garden buzzing this summer Join in the campaign to get the UK’s gardens buzzing this summer with Hozelock’s Plant a Pot campaign.

By pledging to plant a bee-friendly plant you can be part of a mission to help save Britain’s bees.

Bees are disappearing at an alarming rate and having no bees would mean virtually no flowers, no gardens and very little food.

By planting a container with bee-friendly plants, bulbs or seeds, and keeping it watered and healthy throughout the foraging season, you can have a huge impact on the availability of bee food throughout the year.

What’s more, if you visit www.plantapot.info and pledge to plant a pot you can be in the running to win £5,000 of prizes as well as monthly gift vouchers.

Half term holiday fun!

Half term has come around quickly again… are you thinking about how to keep the kids busy?

Well Brio has got plenty to keep them active and entertained for all ages!

Soft play for the under 3’s with the super popular Topsy Tumbles sessions – toys, games and bouncy castle, what’s not to love?! Make a splash with an under 16’s free swim session or a get Wet ‘n’ Wild with the giant pool inflatable.

Brio can even keep their minds busy by learning something new with their intro courses; rookie

lifeguarding, synchronised swimming, water polo, trampolining + MORE! But it’s not all about activities, they’ll also entertain you and make you laugh with their Little Mermaid family musical at Northwich Memorial Court. Join the Little Mermaid on an underwater adventure to help her find her feet and guard her lovely voice, with showings 28 and 29 May! Don’t miss out on all Brio has to offer this half term! www.brioleisure.org

familiesonline.co.uk

Education News Why are parents turning to tutoring?

Around a quarter of children in the UK are being tutored.

Claire Winter looks at why one in four families are seeking extra help outside of the classroom.

Parents often get extra tuition for their children to prepare them for important entrance exams or the 11+. They also get them to help boost their child’s skills in a subject in which they aren’t doing well or to help them excel in a subject, so they can impress the schools to which they are applying.

Modern technology means kids can be tutored virtually via Skype or Zoom and it’s big business. It’s estimated that we spend £2 billion a year on private tutoring, which makes us one of the top spenders on tuition in the world.

Many parents believe that tutoring can be an amazing resource that gives children extra confidence, reassurance and skills to stop them feeling overwhelmed by the pressures

of schoolwork. Others argue that extra tutoring creates more pressure on children. Many children are busy already with lots of extra-curricular activities and homework.

Ex-teacher Victoria Kennedy, who is now a confidence and image coach (www. thefairyclothesmother.com) takes the view that tutoring needs careful management to ensure it doesn’t result have a negative impact on a child. She says: “When I worked as a teacher in Hampshire and London, I found that children with extra pressure and expectations from parents struggled with failure, needed more encouragement and guidance to complete tasks and often suffered from a sense of overwhelm.”

The education charity the Sutton Trust acknowledges the importance of tutoring but worries that extra tuition is causing the educational gap to widen between children from affluent economic backgrounds and those from poorer economic backgrounds.

For example, around 40% of children are receiving help in London compared to around 25% in the rest of the country.

Sir Peter Lampl, chair of the Sutton Trust, says: “Private tuition is widespread and increasingly so. Nearly half of teachers have tutored and a quarter of teenagers have been tutored.

But with costs of at least £25 per session, many cannot afford to benefit from this extra support, which exacerbates education inequalities.”

“The Trust is recommending

that the government introduce a means-tested voucher scheme to enable lower-income families to provide tuition for their children.”

CEO and founder of the charity, Action Tutoring, Susannah Hardyman, also highlights the importance of tutoring. “We know tutoring works to improve grades and this impact is not limited to young people from high-income backgrounds either.

In the UK today nearly a third of all pupils are classified as disadvantaged and less than half of this group, 48%, will meet national standards in their SATs at Year 6, compared to 67% of their more privileged peers. On joining secondary school, it’s much harder for these pupils to catch up and by the end of Year 11, they are, on average, 12 months behind. As more and more young people access private tutors, the gap in attainment between disadvantaged young people and their peers will grow. Our charity uses the power of volunteer tutors to bridge the gap and ensure tutoring support can be accessed by every pupil who needs it, not just those who can afford it.”

The option for all children to have access to tutoring whatever their economic status needs to explored at Government level too. My children attend a secondary school where gaps in knowledge are quickly identified, and pupils are asked to attend booster sessions before and after school so that they can catch up. Not all schools can offer this and long term, it is a situation that needs to be addressed.

Maths anxiety affecting young children

Children as young as eight can feel fear, rage and despair as a result of “maths anxiety”, a condition which can severely disrupt their performance.

Researchers at Cambridge

familiesonline.co.uk

University recently surveyed 2,700 primary and secondary students and found that a feeling that maths was more difficult than other subjects often contributed to maths anxiety and loss of confidence.

Researchers say maths anxiety should be treated as a “real concern” because children suffering from it do not fulfil their true maths ability and can find themselves locked in a vicious circle; suffering from anxiety

which harms their maths performance, which in turn leads to increased anxiety. Even children who have normal competency levels in maths may avoid it because they feel anxious.

Key triggers for anxiety include poor marks, test pressures, teasing by fellow pupils and a confusing mix ofteaching methods, the study found.

More info at www.cam.ac.uk/ research/news

Families® Magazine spoke to parents about the pros and cons of tutoring.

Gill says: “We hired a tutor for our daughter in Year 5 to help her prepare for the 11+. She is bright but has an August birthday. We felt she needed to be taught technique and get lots of practice as she would be so young when she took the exam. I think tutoring can be a positive thing at junior school age; it can shore up work done in class. Know what your goal is when you hire a tutor, finding the right one is crucial.”

Mark says: “Our son has always struggled with maths.

Having a weekly tutor has meant he is confident in the subject and hopefully will go to secondary school at the same level as his peers.”

While Jennifer says: “I don’t think my child needs a tutor, she spends enough time learning at school. I want after school to be for fun activities, homework, and chilling out!”

Academic performance is important to Judith. “We want our son to get into a good Prep school, and the entrance exams are very competitive. Tutoring will ensure he gets the best chance to go to the school of our choice.”

Sarah says, “We hired an 11+ tutor for our eldest child because it is so hard to get into our local grammar schools. Most parents in our area invest in tutors, so we felt we had to do the same.”

Kumon’s unique programmes complement the school curriculum and cater for your child’s individual needs, allowing them to study at a rate that is just right for them. Find out how Kumon study could help your child to achieve beyond expectations with our two-week FREE TRIAL! Available from 21 May to 15 June 2019. Contact Sarah at the Kumon Nantwich Study Centre on 07814 002678.

Families Cheshire 5

Education Header Demystifying Phonics

By Andrew Campbell

Parents play a very important role in helping children learn to read. But teaching methods have changed since most parents were at school and if you want to assist your children, it’s important to understand how they are taught.

What is phonics?

Phonics is used in all schools in the UK as the main first method for children to learn to read and write.

It is all about sounds. There are 44 sounds in English, which are put together to form words. These small units of sound are called ‘phonemes.’

Some sounds are represented by one letter, like ‘t’, and some by two or more, like ‘ck’ in truck and ‘air’ in chair. The letter, or the combination of letters are called ‘graphemes.’

Children are taught the sounds first, then how to match them to letter(s), and finally how to use the letter(s) and sounds to read and spell.

How is phonics taught?

The most widely used approach in UK schools is called ‘synthetic phonics’ in which the phonemes (sounds) associated with particular graphemes (letter or letters) are pronounced in isolation and blended together (synthesised).

The 44 sounds (phonemes), and the way they are written down, are taught individually.

The first sounds to be taught are usually s, a, t, p, i, n. This is because once children know each of those letter sounds, they can then be arranged into a variety of different words (eg: sat, tip, pin, nip, tan, tin, sip).

In a phonics lesson, a teacher will introduce a new sound and its letter or letters, spelling them out. Then, they will use the sound in a word, clearly pronouncing the sound. Pupils will practise repeating this sound back to the

teacher; the children may also do an action to help them remember.

The teacher will also show pupils how to ‘blend’ or sound out words, using the new sound. For example, the word ‘lock’ when spoken has three sounds.

Children are taught to say the sounds separately then blend them together: ‘l-o-ck’, ‘lock.’

Once children are aware of the sounds of English and how spoken words are built from these sounds, they can learn the ways each sound is usually written, as a letter, or group of letters.

They can then apply this knowledge to help break down written words and read them one sound at a time. Then blend these sounds together into the full spoken word.

How can you help?

Sounding out words is at the heart of phonics and helping your child with this at home is simple. Try introducing sounds one at a time.

Phoneme cards are useful (downloadable, printable resources can be found at www.phonicsplay.co.uk. Show a letter card to your child and say the sound. Ask your child to say it as well. This will help build a link between the letter and its sound.

You can go on to help your child blend the sounds by saying each of the sounds in the word and then pushing them together to say the word.

Using the sounds to write is achieved by helping your child to work out the individual sounds in a word and matching these sounds to the letters. Say a word and ask your child to break it down into its individual sounds.

For example big, b i g.

When reading to your child, practise by encouraging them to point to each letter and say the sound out loud. Then your child can read these words by blending the separate sounds together.

What makes phonics tricky?

The English language is a bit more complicated than most languages. Having been invaded so many times throughout its history, it is a rich mixture of languages. For instance the word ‘fern’ comes from the Anglo-Saxons and the first sound is spelt ‘f’. Whereas the word ‘phone’ comes from Greek and the same sound is spelt ‘ph.’ Tricky words need to be learnt by sight, rather than sound.

Helpful resources There are a large number of apps available including Jolly Phonics and Teach Your Monster to Read. The BBC Skillwise Phonics Tool allows you to hear sounds of English in five different accents and discover the correspondence between sounds and letters.

First climate change teachers to be taught in the UK

Teachers across the country have the opportunity to become the first climate change teachers accredited by the UN. This one of a kind climate change education programme will use innovative learning technology so teachers can learn at home or on the go. The aim is to make sure teachers

6 Families Cheshire

can help protect the climate by educating their students with the latest data and information on climate change, sustainability, and the green economy.

Education provider YPO sponsors this FREE, global education programme. All you have to do is sign up to Harwood Education’s UN CC: Learn Teacher Academy.

The course, which takes just 8 hours to complete, explores the science that supports the existence and effects of Climate Change on children, cities, human health, and gender.

If you work in a school or want to get your child’s school involved go to www.unccteacheracademy.com to find out more.

familiesonline.co.uk

Education

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Cheshire 7

Parties Party, party, party! where someone comes in to do experiments and make goo with the children. They’ll even clean up afterwards. There are also gaming party providers who bring all the entertainment to you. If you prefer a more traditional party, why not hire an entertainer like a magician or clown?

Planning your child’s birthday can involve deep-breathing and military-style planning.

This annual event has kids jumping for joy but many parents breaking out into a cold sweat. Claire Winter takes a look at some different party ideas to inspire you.

Food parties Kids love food, so why not theme your party around it? A pizza making party is always winner. You can go to your favourite pizza restaurant or hold a DIY party at home.

Cupcake decorating parties also go down well and the guests can take home the tasty treat instead of a party bag.

How about a doughnut themed party? They are even trending on Pinterest! Why not set up a Doughnut Wall covered in a variety of doughnuts? You could even attempt a DIY version.

8 Families Cheshire

You could also serve food that has a surprise element to it. A cake that is full of sweets when you cut it. Ice cream cones filled with savoury fillings. You could also mix up healthy food with treats, such as marshmallows and fruit kebabs or tortilla chips with hummus and crudités.

Number cakes decorated with fruit, meringues, and flowers are also all the rage. They make a great centrepiece on a party table.

Active parties According to Pinterest, searches for scavenger parties are up by 302%. These are similar to treasure hunts and start with a list of things to find (or do) and a time limit. But there is no set path as players scavenge around and search for all of the items on the list.

The player or team who finds everything on the list first or finds the most items before the time is up wins. These parties

can be great fun and relatively inexpensive - you could hold one in your garden or a local park or wood.

You can also do a whole variety of different activities at your local leisure centre. They often offer a variety of swimming, inflatable and sports parties. Why not pick a sport your child loves? You could also check out your local trampoline park to see what party packages they offer.

Other easy activity parties include paintballing, bowling, laser quest and go-karting.

Parties at home If you want to host a party at home, think about hiring a company to help. You can even get specialists to come in and set up a sleepover these days.

They will put up tents in your garden or your home, and some even supply breakfast on a tray!

Or host a science party

Themed parties Magical forest and flowerthemed parties are great fun to host if you like being creative.

A perennial favourite is also a superhero party. It ticks a lot of boxes and offers great fancy dress options for boys and girls.

There are also loads of great decorations you can make, or buy if you don’t have the time!

Another popular party is a Harry Potter party. You can make up lots of magical games to recreate a mini Hogwarts at home. You could also try something a bit different like a Mexican themed party. Decorate the house with cacti, serve guacamole and dips, hit a Piñata and have plenty of themed games.

Art parties If your child loves making things, an arts and crafts party is the perfect choice for them.

You can go to pottery centres, art studios or get a party provider to come to your house to host a craft party. You can do a huge variety of things like mosaics, pottery, painting and jewellery making. Your potential Picassos will also get to take their masterpiece home instead of a party bag.

Remember not to stress too much! Your child will remember your efforts whether you hire a circus performer and a bouncy castle; host a fun party at home or organise a trip out the cinema or a trampoline park.

Enjoy it and embrace the mayhem; they grow up quickly!

familiesonline.co.uk

Parties It’s all in the detail

A new twist on a traditional sleepover is to have gorgeous A-frame tents set up in your home. Perfectly Pitched Parties, based in Bollington Cheshire, take all the worry out of planning a sleepover.

Arriving on the day of the party, they provide all the bedding, mattresses, standing trays, lanterns and co-ordinated

It’s party time!

accessories. Each child has their own beautifully-styled tent totally hassle-free.

Perfectly Pitched Parties have helped create fabulous memories for over 200 children with 5* reviews on Facebook.

To arrange your own bespoke sleepover visit Perfectly Pitched Parties on social media, www.

Did you know Noodle Performance Arts don’t just offer great dance & drama classes?

They offer fabulous kid’s parties too!

Choose from a range of pirates, princesses and superheroes or take your pick of your favourite themes from the Greatest Showman to Harry Potter, Star Wars and more!

Maybe you’d prefer a Street Dance, Ballet, mini disco or Pop Noodle party (perfect for little divas!) or perhaps your child has their own idea?

Noodle’s hosts are professional performers, DBS checked and full of fun…ready to entertain your guests and make your little one’s big day extra special!

Packages range from 30-minute character appearances to 2 hour parties so there’s something for every budget. Their characters love to appear at events too so bear them in mind for your school fair, kids club or Family Funday!

See what they do at www. noodleperformancearts.com/ parties/ or contact cat@noodleperformancearts.com for packages, prices and availability.

perfectlypitchedparties. co.uk or call on 07904 702768.

Advertise in Families Cheshire

Call Jayne on: 01625 801801 or email advertising@ familiescheshire. co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Cheshire 9

Parents’ place Everyday ways to teach your child to be kind

By Angela Cox

We know that our children absorb information like sponges and this includes mimicking the behaviours and actions of others. So how do we prioritise kindness and teach our children ways to tune into their natural empathy and consider the feelings of others?

Be a role model Don’t let your child hear you saying unkind words. You might be in a supermarket and passing comment about a stranger’s outfit for example or criticising a poor driver on the dual carriage way. Your child will hear your comments and believe it is acceptable to copy this. Make a conscious effort to say positive and kind things.

Fingers on lips A lovely rule to teach children is the adage ‘if you don’t have something nice to say, it’s better to say nothing at all.’ I encourage my children to place an index finger onto their lips which provides a physical barrier to

Toddlers behaving badly

By Max Walker

Raising a toddler can be one of the most challenging stages of your life as a parent.

Many toddler behaviours can feel extreme, if not downright wicked. But take heart. Tantrums, hitting, biting, throwing things, screaming and other such behaviours are normal for children between the ages of 1 and 4 years.

Here are a few tips on how to manage some of these difficult behaviours.

Tantrums

Don’t panic Sometimes you may worry that you are raising a tyrant. But at this age it is unlikely that your child is throwing a fit to be manipulative. It is more likely that your child is trying to express themselves and finding it difficult. They feel frustrated, and the frustration is expressed as a tantrum.

10 Families Cheshire

Find out why Your child may be tired or hungry; in which case the solution is simple. They could be feeling frustrated or jealous of another child. They may need time, attention and love, even though they’re not being very loveable.

Find a distraction Children have short attention spans. Giving them something else in place of what they can’t have or starting a new activity can move your child through their frustration.

Don’t give in If you say yes to end the tantrum, that won’t help in the long term. If you’ve said no, stick to your guns otherwise your child may start to think tantrums can get them what they want. In the same way, don’t bribe them with sweets or treats.

stop unkind words. They always giggle at this. Talks to them about the impact unkind words have on others before and discuss how good it feels to say kind things.

Gratitude Practice gratitude as a family.

Ask your child to think of one non-material thing they are grateful for and why. It might be that they were able to play football in the park after school or that the sun was shining.

Include yourself in the activity and give reasons you are thankful too. Gratitude is linked to increased happiness and a happy home is a kinder one.

Saying thank you Motivate your child to send handwritten notes or cards when s/he receives a gift or goes to friend’s house for dinner. Encouraging children to thank people for the nice things that they do develops a kind nature and grateful heart.

Being kind feels good. It helps children focus on the positive and develop strong relationships with others. A smile goes a long way too.

Angela Cox is an inspiring mindset-mentor and creator of The Happy Path Journal (£10.99) a book for 6 to 10 year olds which helps them learn self-care. For more information, visit www.angela-cox.co.uk

Wait for the tantrum to stop Losing your temper or shouting back won’t end the tantrum. Ignore the looks you get from people around you and concentrate on staying calm.

timeout for every year of your child’s age. When your child has calmed down, discuss the reason for the timeout and why the behaviour was unacceptable.

Aggression

Whining

Tugging hair, kicking, biting and hitting are ways your child can express themself and try to exert control over their immediate environment.

Talk to them Children often go through phases of being upset or insecure and express their feelings by being aggressive. Finding out what’s worrying them is the first step in being able to help.

Don’t retaliate physically This could make your child think it’s acceptable to do this. Instead, make it clear that what they’re doing hurts and you won’t allow it.

Show it doesn’t work One of the key ways to suppress your child’s aggression is to demonstrate that it will get them nowhere. For example, if your child pulls a playmates hair to get a toy, hand the toy back to the friend as you explain to your child “We don’t pull hair.”

Interrupt the behaviour When you catch your child with a fistful of hair, gently disentangle him, then grasp his hand and hold it while you say: “We don’t pull hair. Pulling hair hurts.”

Time out in a quiet spot Place your child in a boring place.

Wait for them to calm down.

Consider giving one minute of

An irritating blend of talking and crying – a child’s whining has the ability to make almost any parent get angry or give in. However, whining is often the only way that toddlers can express themselves when they’re tired, cranky, hungry or uncomfortable. That’s why it’s up to you to help them communicate in an acceptable manner.

Define it Point out the whining when you hear it and ask your child to use their regular voice instead. Let them know how it sounds to you (without making fun). Explain that whining sounds unpleasant and makes people stop listening.

Acknowledge your child’s need for attention Toddlers often resort to whining when they’ve tried and failed to get your ear. Try getting down to their level to make eye contact and ask them to tell you what they want without whining.

Avoid triggers Don’t take your hungry toddler somewhere without taking some healthy snacks, or better still feed them before you go. Similarly, avoid taking them on errands if they are due for a nap.

For more advice on difficult toddler behaviour, visit www.familylives.org.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Parents’ place FOMO and low self esteem

experience builds trust and will make them more likely to listen to your suggestions and advice.

By Soren Kenner and Imran Rashid that it compels your attention away from where you are? The answer is mostly “smoke and mirrors” – you are being elegantly manipulated by very savvy marketeers using what is known as “addictive design” to keep your attention riveted – fixating your attention and reselling it to advertisers is how they make their living.

Absorption into our own private screen universe is pulling us all further and further apart. Look at how our gait has changed: ten years ago people walking down the street were upright and orientated outwards.

Today they are slouched forward looking into the smartphone they hold in front of them. At the playground, parents stare into their phones while children’s calls for attention go unheeded.

Studies have shown that the hormone oxytocin which helps facilitate human bonding and closeness (among other things) tend to drop in both parents and children when they ignore each other in favour of the tantalising online universe. Another study that tracked thousands of people over many years, found a sharp drop off in their level of empathy over the last ten years. Coincidence? Maybe not.

What is it inside those screens that is so magic and powerful

Online tribalism For many youngsters being part of the group and gaining social acceptance weighs heavily; so heavily, in fact, that young people often organise in what can only be described as “online tribes” – groups that have internal ranks and hierarchies (often governed by how many likes or how much attention you get). This behaviour is not particularly healthy – examples are rampant of young people being scared of missing out on anything (also known as FOMO). The UK Medical Examiner recently reported that as many as one youngster out of five wakes up during the night to check their social media feed.

There is a clear correlation between teens (especially girls) that use social media extensively and issues that range from stress to anxiety, lowered self-esteem

and even lowered empathy. For girls especially social media groupings can be harsh – many of these groups promote unrealistic ideas of what you should look like – ideals that most people cannot live up to.

However, not everyone gets hit by every possible side-effect or even any at all. And the good news is that making a change from unhealthy online habits to healthier ones is pretty straightforward.

What can you do as a parent?

Be observant Is your child suffering from mood swings, changes in sleep patterns, trouble concentrating, being secretive or spending more time online than offline? Do you have the feeling that your child would rather disappear into the online universe than reside in the real world with friends and family? These are warning signs that should not be ignored.

Lead by example Be here, now, in the present and interact with your children.

Show interest in what they do, ask questions, do things with them. Talk about issues in an open and non-confrontational manner. Getting your kids to talk about what they feel and

Make their phones less addictive Get your children to turn off notifications on their phones and in their social media feeds. This way the pull of the phone or tablets reduces and children have an easier time pulling away as needed.

Put screentime on a schedule Make an online schedule with your kids – set the parameters for usage clearly and stick to what you have agreed.

Introduce alternatives Try out some of the many good alternatives to being online. Play board games, solve puzzles, read a book, draw, learn to play the piano. The real gold here is doing these activities together.

Yes, children are at risk but there is plenty you can do about it. It requires being observant and takes discipline on your part but you can save your kids from smartphone burnout – and also get to spend more quality time with them.

Soren Kenner and Imran Rashid (GP) have researched and written extensively on the risk factors associated with excessive use of smartphones and social media. Their book Offline: Free your Mind from Smartphone and Social Media Stress is on Amazon and in bookstores now.

Families needs YOU! Cheshire

Cheshire In this issue: Make the best of Open Days

Cheshire

Foraging with kids Is your child sport ready?

In this issue: Times tables tips & tricks Family friendly working Mother’s Day after loss

In this issue: Easter fun!

Is Shared Parental Leave for you?

Finding the right childcare provider

Issue 55 Sep/Oct 2018

familiesonline.co.uk

Issue 58 Mar/Apr 19

Issue 52 Mar/Apr

2018

familiesonline.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Looking for a new opportunity and love Families Cheshire?

Then why not consider becoming the new editor of this fabulous publication!

A Families franchise offers you a reputable, trusted and ethical brand, as well as access to constant advice,

familiesonline.co.uk

encouragement and support from both head office and a community of over 40 Editors countrywide. The role is so varied – everything from writing and editing to selling ad space and invoicing – so it gives you a huge skills base to take forward into other roles in the future. Boring? No. Challenging? Yes. Rewarding? Definitely!

We’re looking for someone to nurture and enjoy the opportunity as much as we have since we first launched in 2009, so if that’s you, then please get in touch! editor@familiescheshire.co.uk

Families Cheshire 11

Parents’ place Kids and phobias

It’s normal for children to have fears, but they can become problematic if they stop them from leading a normal life. Claire Winter looks at what to do when a fear becomes a phobia.

What is a phobia?

According to the NHS, a phobia is an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal. It’s much stronger than a normal fear about a test at school or thunder clap. Children with a phobia feel the fear every time they see or experience the thing they are scared of and will often go to extreme lengths to avoid it.

The symptoms of phobias For adults, phobias are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations, nausea, chest pains, difficulty in breathing, dizziness, and sweating.

Some children may also

experience these symptoms, but they are more likely to cry, shout, scream or run away from what they are scared of. A phobia may start as mild nervousness at a certain situation and develop to full-scale panic attacks and avoidance.

Phobias aren’t just severe anxiety; the anxiety is turned into a phobia by avoidance. A phobia can often follow a period of stress and can be quite distressing for a child.

Natalie Costa (www. powerthoughts.co.uk), a coach who supports children with their emotional and mental wellbeing, encourages parents to be careful about how they react to their children’s fears. “Being mindful as parents/caregivers about how we respond to fears and phobias is important. Most phobias are learned and we model them when we are younger. As adults, watching our

words, what we say and how we behave in front of our children can have a big impact.”

She also discourages avoidance.

“Often, we may want to avoid further distressing our children, so we avoid discussing an upsetting event (for example, going for an injection/fear of needles). However, if we can encourage our children to talk through the scenario, from beginning to end, asking them how they felt, what happened, and acknowledging the scary feelings, we can then draw attention to the fact that they made it through and survived to tell the tale. This helps them make sense of the event; they know their feelings matter, but it also highlights their strength, placing emphasis on the fact that they made it through versus focussing on the ‘scary thing.’

Parent, Amanda Ross, says that, for her daughter, it was vital not to avoid the feared situation. “Our 8 year old started to be phobic about dogs after a stray approached her aggressively.

She’d always been nervous of them but, after that, the fear seemed to get worse, until she would cry if she even saw a dog in the distance. To help her, we would drive to the park and sit in the car and watch the dogs. We talked about what the dogs were doing and thinking and even gave them funny voices. When she made sense of how the dogs behaved, she got more

Thinking about going vegan or vegetarian?

Following a vegan or vegetarian diet is becoming increasingly common in the UK. People are making this choice for a variety of ethical, environmental or health reasons.

But is it safe for children?

Yes is the answer, according NHS guidelines. As long as they

12 Families Cheshire

get all the nutrients they need.

However, parents do need to be well-informed to ensure to ensure their children do not suffer nutrient deficiencies, inadequate energy or faltering growth. So what are some of the issues to be aware of?

Children need protein to grow and develop. If you’re avoiding meat or fish (vegetarian) or any food from animals (vegan), they will need good protein substitutes. These include eggs, dairy products such as milk and cheese, soya products, pulses and beans, nuts and seeds.

If a child is getting protein from just one type of bean, the

particular bean may not provide every amino acid they need, so there has to be a good balance of pulses. In other words, a child who only eats chicken will get all the amino acids – but a child who only eats one type of bean may not.

Another issue is energy intake.

Children need lots of energy to fuel healthy growth and development. Vegetarian and vegan foods can be higher in fibre and lower in calories than a diet that includes meat. This can mean that children get full up before they've eaten enough calories and nutrients. As children typically don’t eat a lot,

comfortable. Gradually she agreed to go to places where dogs would be on leads, and then off leads. She’s miles better now.”

Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist, Nick Davies says: “A childhood phobia is created when a young person experiences something that overwhelms them and they have no coping mechanism for it, and it becomes a traumatic event.

Their brain creates a ‘generalisation’ for the event so each time they are reminded of it i.e. see another spider or dog they go into panic mode as their brain thinks they are in severe danger.

Nick has developed a treatment called the BLAST® Technique which assists with phobias and anxiety. He also teaches the “Tapping” protocol which may help a child old enough to do it. To find out more about the technique go to www.blast-technique.com.

Often phobias can be overcome with support, and sometimes children grow out of them. Simple phobias are often treated with gradual exposure to the object, place or thing a child is scared of. More complex phobias often benefit from talking therapies like counselling, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy.

If you are at all concerned about your child, do take them to see their GP or a healthcare professional.

getting enough calories in them can be difficult. Include energy and nutrient-dense foods like nut butters, hummus, seeds and vegetable oils in their diets.

It is especially important that children following vegetarian or vegan diets eat a wide variety of different foods from each food group to ensure they get a good balance of nutrients.

Consider supplements.

According to the NHS, vitamin drops are particularly important for vegetarian and vegan children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. In particular, they may need vitamin B12 supplement.

For more information visit www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well

familiesonline.co.uk

What’s on Daily in May & June

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Percy The Park Keeper – One Springy Day 10.30m – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Join Percy the Park Keeper and his woodland friends on the first of four seasonal activity trails across the year. Based on the new book ‘One Springy Day’ by Nick Butterworth. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Weekends in May & June Dunham Massey, Altrincham Music In The Garden 12 – 3pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Live music in the garden. Dig out your picnic blanket, top up your glass and let the music carry you away! www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Sat 4 May

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Make and Take 1 – 3pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Making sessions where you can make one for Quarry Bank and one to take home. Something different every month, from creative crafts to seasonal decorations to fat cakes for garden birds. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

13 familiesonline.co.uk Families Cheshire

Sat 4 & Sun 5 May

Lyme Park, Disley Regency Military Weekend 10.30am – 5pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Come and meet the soldiers, officers, surgeon, musicians and women of the 33rd Regiment as they make up camp for the weekend at Lyme. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Sat 4 – Mon 6 May

Lyme Park, Disley Kites at The Cage 12 – 4pm / All ages / Free event, normal admission applies. Bring your own kite to show off your skills. Tick off one of your ‘50 Things to do Before you’re 11¾ ‘ in this mass kite flying event. Kites also be available to buy. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events East Lancs Railway, Bury A day out with Thomas 9am – 4pm / All ages / Booking essential.

The Little Blue Engine will be steaming along his own private section of track and hauling passengers at regular intervals throughout the weekend. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire May Day Celebrations 11am – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission. Discover the smells, sights and sounds of May Day and enjoy the festivities. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Mon 6 & Mon 27 May

Parrs Wood High School, Didsbury M20 5PG Multi-Activity Children’s Fun Days 10am – 5pm / £9.50 per child, Adults & Under 3s free. Go karts, Body Zorbing, Battlefield Live, Disk Golf, Indoor & Outdoor Sporting Activities, Magic Shows, Giant Obstacle course, Arts & Crafts stalls, Inflatables, Food and Drink stalls and more! Stay as long as you want – entrance fee covers all activities. www.manchesterfundays.com

Sat 11 May

Tatton Park, Knutsford Incredible, Edible Adventures 10 – 11am & 11.20 – 12.20pm / Ages 4 – 7 / £12 (includes park entry, 1 child & 1 adult). Join The Mini Makery for a hands on workshop, where grown ups and children will get to sculpt, craft and create with delicious, nutritious foods. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sun 12 May

Bramall Hall, Stockport Autism Early Bird 10 – 11.30am / All ages / Free with advance booking. An early opening for families and adults with autism and other sensory processing conditions who would prefer a quieter time to visit. Staff are on hand to help. Ssensory sacks, trails and activity hampers available. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Helly Hansen Watersports Centre, Salford Quays The Salford Dragon Boat Festival 10am www.sdbf.co.uk Tegg’s Nose Country Park Come and Try It Day 10am – 4pm / All ages / £18pp, booking essential. Try Climbing, Abseiling (age 8+), Archery and Buschraft. www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Mon 13 May

Grosvenor Museum, Chester Museum Explorers 9.50 – 11am / Ages 2 – 4 / £2. Explore nature’s changing seasons and discover lots of exciting things from the past through play, crafts, stories and songs. www.events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk Francis House Children’s Hospice, Manchester Open Day 10am – 4pm. Come along for a fascinating and informative tour of Francis House and Francis Lodge and see how your donations help to support hundreds of families from across Greater Manchester. www.francishouse.org.uk

Fri 17 & Sat 18 May

The Park, Ryleys Lane, Alderley Edge May Fair 2019 Village parade, arena events, live music, funfair, games, space experiences, artisan market stalls, freshly cooked food, licensed bar. Free entry. www.alderleyedgefair.org

Families Cheshire 13

What’s on Sat 18 & Sun 19 May

Tatton Park, Knutsford The Tatton Park Country Fair 10am – 5pm / All ages / Tickets available on the gate. A family Country Fair something for everyone. Equestrienne Horse Stunt Team Wild West Show, birds of prey flying displays, terrier racing, children’s entertainer Mario Magic, the goat show including bottle feeding lambs and kids, children’s petting pens and much more! www.tattonpark.org.uk

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go To include your upcoming event in our listings, email events@familiescheshire.co.uk or upload your event listing to our website - www.familiesonline.co.uk

Sat 25 May – Sun 2 June Little Moreton Hall, Congleton The Cheesy Tudors 11am – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Get your body Tudor ready with some foodie activities.

Have a go at churning butter and making cheese – it’s not as easy as you think! www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Blakemere Village, Northwich Bubble Rush 5km of lovely, bubbly fun helping to raise funds for St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice. www.bubble-rush.co.uk

Lion Salt Works, Northwich Salt Sunday, A Celebration of Salt 12.30 – 5pm / All ages / £3. A family-friendly mix of interactive art, salt-making, music, science demos, talks and performances. www.events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

Fri 24 – Mon 27 May

Arley Hall, Northwich Geronimo Festival 2019 The largest children’s festival in the UK with 100s of activities for children up to age 12. www.geronimofest.com

Sat 25 & 26 May

Tatton Park, Knutsford Sheep Shearing at the Farm 12 – 5pm / All ages / Normal admission applies. Watch the sheep being sheared ready for the start of summer. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sat 25 – Mon 27 May

Lion Salt Works, Northwich Bank Holiday Bonanza 11am – 5pm / All ages / Family festival and fun day with outdoor stage, live music, children’s activities, stalls, refreshments, hot food and much more. www.events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

14 Families Cheshire

Bramall Hall, Stockport Knight’s Quest Trail 1 – 4pm / Age 6+ / £1.50 per child Are you brave enough to train to be a Knight? Take part in our quest and pass a series of challenges to begin your apprenticeship. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Mon 27 – Fri 31 May

Sun 19 May

Reaseheath College, Cheshire Family Festival 10am – 5pm / All ages. All of the campus will be open with an exciting range of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. www.reaseheath.ac.uk

Mon 27 & Tues 28 May, Thurs 30 & Fri 31 May Sat 1 & Sun 2 June

Across Cheshire Amazed by Science The Cheshire-wide festival focusing on science, technology, engineering and maths. Locations include Chester Zoo, Chester Town Square, Catalyst (Widnes), Golden Square Shopping Centre (Warrington), Lion Salt Works (Northwich), Anderton Boat Lift (Northwich), Crewe Library, Tatton Park and Jodrell Bank. www.amazedbyscience.co.uk

Sat 25 May – Thurs 13 June Hare Hill, Alderley Edge Wind in the Willows Trail 10.30am – 4.30pm / £1 per child Follow the adventures of Ratty, Mole, Toad and Badger this summer with an interactive, illustrated Wind in the Willows trail. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Sun 26 May

Oulten Park, Little Budworth Family Fun Day 9am – 5pm. Supercar rides, huge supercar displays, classic race car demos, Transformer robots and vehicles, a massive funfair, an inflatable assault course, mini monster trucks, live music throughout the day, a huge artisan market and more. oultenpark.msv.com

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Right To Play Around The World 11am – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Discover the different ways children find to play wherever they live with activities and games.. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Mon 27 May – Fri 7 June

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Nature Detectives 11am - 3pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. A family friendly wildlife survey to help us find out about all the weird and wonderful birds, beasties, bugs and plants that make their homes at Dunham Massey. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Tues 28 May

Grosvenor Museum, Chester Silly Storybooks 12.30 – 2.30pm / £2, drop in. David Ferry makes surreal books by sticking pictures from one type of book onto the pages of another. Come and make your own little book filled with pictures you’ve chosen and cut out of magazines, and write a story to go with the pictures. www.events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk Hat Works Museum, Stockport Make a Pirate Hat 1 – 3pm / All ages / £3.50pp. Yo ho ho.

Make yourself a pirate hat and eye patch and get ready to sail the high seas. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Tatton Park, Knutsford Chocolate Making: Flowers 10am, 12pm & 2pm / Age 4+ / £15 (includes park entry and materials) An hour and a half of chocolate fun including creating and decorating a flower chocolate lollipop. Learn about where chocolate comes from & about how chocolate would have been enjoyed at Tatton Park. Taste a variety of chocolate flavours. Wrap your produce to take home. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Tues 28 & Wed 29 May

Lion Salt Works, Northwich Amazed by Science 10.30am & 2pm / All ages / £2 per child, drop in Embrace your inner Mad Scientist! Excitement, intrigue and lots of fascinating experiments guaranteed! www.events. westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

Wed 29 May

Tatton Park, Knutsford The Tatton Teddy Hunt 10.30am and 1pm / Ages 3 – 5 / £12 (includes park entry), booking essential.

Tatton’s mischevious teddy bears are playing hide and seek in the Gardens!

Can you help us find them all so that they can join in our themed story and rhyme time? www.tattonpark.org.uk Hat Works Museum, Stockport Top Hat Toddlers 10.30am – 12.30pm / Age 2 – 5 / £3.50pp A stay and play session with a range of activities linked to the museum. www.stockport.gov.uk/events Tatton Park, Knutsford Meet The Victorians 10.30am – 12.30pm / Age 7 – 11 / £12 (includes park entry), booking essential Step back in time and experience the harsh reality of life below stairs. Assist Lord Egerton’s servants in cleaning and preparing the house for a very important royal visit. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sun 26 & Mon 27 May

Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield Classic Car Show 10am – 4pm / Adult £8, Child £3 (7 – 14), under 7s free. www.classicshows.org

familiesonline.co.uk

What’s on Walton Hall & Gardens, Warrington Gangsta Granny 6pm / Age 7+ / Tickets from £10 An exciting outdoor adaptation of David Walliams’ best seller. www.warrington.gov.uk/events

Wed 29 & Thurs 30 May Waver Hall Museum, Northwich Pop Bottle Rockets 10am – 4pm / £2 per child, drop in. Make a rocket to launch in the museum grounds. www.events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

Thurs 30 May

Grosvenor Museum, Chester Cupcakes!

12.30 – 2.30pm / £2, drop in. Inspired by the cakes in David Ferry’s book Cake Walking in Scotland, decorate – and eat!

– some cupcakes. www.events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk Tatton Park, Knutsford Meet The Tudors 10.30am – 12.30pm / Age 7 – 11 / £12 (includes park entry), booking essential Step back in time at Tatton Old Hall and meet our fascinating Tudor residents.

Learn all about what life was like in Tudor times through a range of engaging hands on activities. www.tattonpark.org.uk Hat Works Museum, Stockport Quilling Workshop 1 – 3pm / All ages / £3.50pp. Learn how to quill (rolling paper into tight shapes) and then create a design on a card to take home. www.stockport.gov.uk/events East Lancs Railway, Bury Wizard Academy Age 5+, booking essential. An interactive adventure will see you and your family join quirky costumed characters on a steam train ride, during which you will take part in themed activities and complete the story. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Fri 31 May

Dunham Massey, Cheshire BioBlitz 11am – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Guided walks, pond dipping and plenty of opportunities to get close to nature and learn some new skills. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

familiesonline.co.uk

Sat 1 & Sun 2 June

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Teddy Bears Picnic 11am – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Bring your favourite teddy and a scrummy picnic for an unBEARlievably PAWsome afternoon of games, music and teddy bear fun! www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events Tatton Park, Knutsford Classic Car Spectacular 9.30am – 4pm / All ages Around 2,000 classic and performance cars are on display including nearly eighty of Britain’s top classic and performance car clubs and all the classics of yesteryear. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Fri 7 June

Grosvenor Museum, Chester ‘Quiet’ Afternoons 3 – 4.30pm / All ages / £2, drop in For those who enjoy a ‘quieter’ visit to the museum, including people living with autism, their families and carers.

Themed, with hands-on activities to engage all ages and abilities. www.events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

Sun 9 June

Borrow Pit Meadows, Alsager Family Bushcraft Day 9.30am – 4.30pm / All ages / Booking & advance payment essential A fascinating and packed day for all the family to learn bushcraft skills. www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Wed 12 June

Wed 12 – Sun 16 June

Bolesworth Castle The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show Top class competition and loads for all the family to enjoy. www.bolesworthinternational.com

Wed 12 - Sun 30 June

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Percy The Park Keeper – Treasure Hunt 10.30am – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies Join Percy the Park Keeper and his animal friends on this nature inspired trail around the garden to discover nature’s treasure. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Tues 18 & Wed 19 June Cheshire Showground, WA6 0JF Royal Cheshire Show Fun and farming in Cheshire. www.royalcheshireshow.org

Sat 22 June

Calvary Church, Macclesfield Summer Fayre / Car Boot 10am – 2pm. Outdoor car boot sale, indoor table top sales, loads of free kids activities, music, food, bouncy castles, tombola’s, bottle bola, cakes, arts ‘n’ craft stalls plus more. www.calvarychurchmacclesfield.org.uk

Sat 15 June

Poynton Park Party In The Park 2019 A musical event for the whole family. www.poyntonrotary.co.uk

Sat 15 & Sun 16 June

Tatton Park, Knutsford Dog Fest All ages / Free for under 6’s and dogs The UK’s Ultimate Summer Festival for Dogs! Join hundreds of dog lovers for a fun-filled weekend, alongside special guests Professor Noel Fitzpatrick and Clare Balding! Try your paw at a variety of have-a-go activities, watch back-to-back arena displays, shop the latest goodies and learn something new, whether it’s about your dog’s health or a new trick! www.dog-fest.co.uk

Sat 29 & Sun 30 June

Arley Hall and Gardens, Cheshire The Little Welly Goes Wild A day at jam-packed full of fun, adventure and memories in the making!

A 3km course with over 30 big obstacles – involving water, foam and of course MUD! Also a festival field full of activities, music, live entertainment and seriously yummy refreshments! www.thelittlewelly.co.uk

Riverside Park Ranger Centre, Macclesfield Countryside Taster Day 11am – 3pm / All ages / £2pp, booking essential.

Outdoor excitement and challenge for ALL people with disabilities.

Activities such as archery, climbing and crafts suitable for all abilities. www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Windgather Rocks, Kettleshulme Introduction to Climbing 7 – 9pm / Age 9+ / £15, booking essential.

A chance to experience the thrills of climbing in this introductory climbing session with Moorland Adventure. www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Families Cheshire 15