Families Manchester Magazine Issue 74 Mar-Apr 2019

Manchester

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

Discover an altogether more individual approach to early learning.

Early Years Open Day 28th March, 9.30am-12pm

Issue 74 Mar/Apr 2019

Tel: 0161 794 1463 bridgewater-school.co.uk

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News Rochdale Food and Drink Festival

Rochdale’s the place to be on Saturday 16 March in celebration of all things edible and drinkable! Head to the Town Hall from 11am – 8pm where you’ll find fabulous foodie entertainment for all the family. Entry is free, and there are some free activities, but charges apply for demonstrations and shows.

Star chefs will be cooking live in the indoor Festival Kitchen, and the outdoor food and drink

village will have a covered seating area as well as a Victorian carousel ride. There will also be children’s entertainment on the indoor Family Stage.

CBeebies’ Mr Bloom will entertain youngsters aged 1-6 at 11.30am and 1.30pm – tickets cost £4 and £5 respectively. His stage show includes the familiar songs, stories and games from his popular television series.

Adults can enjoy demonstrations from Masterchef finalist Dean Edwards, BBC Fusion chef Aazam Ahmad, local star chef Andrew Nutter as well as Local chefs Austin Hopley from award winning pub The Baum and Adolfus Lewis from The Hare on the Hill.

Midnight Walk for St Ann’s Hospice

St Ann’s Hospice’s flagship fundraiser event, the Manchester Midnight Walk, is back for 2019.

The streets of Manchester will be a hive of activity on Friday 26 April, as thousands of local people – and bees – take on the 10km moonlit sponsored walk for the charity.

This year organisers are encouraging as many people as possible to embrace its Manchester bee theme.

Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, explained: Next issue: May/June 2019 Circulation: 30,000 copies of Families Manchester are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Greater Manchester. If you would like free copies for your organisation, please let us know.

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

“The Manchester Midnight Walk has pulled in crowds every year since it began. Every year, many participants come along in fancy dress, and we’re encouraging that again this year too with the bee theme.

“The Midnight Walk is famous for its yellow and black colours, so it seems fitting to have as many bees as possible buzzing around the city centre to raise money for our patients. Don’t worry if fancy dress isn’t your thing though, please do still come and join us – we’d love to see you there.”

Walkers will enjoy the late night party atmosphere, with entertainment from 9pm and the walk starting at midnight.

The route starts and finishes at Manchester Cathedral, passing many of the city’s landmarks on route.

Book now at www.mmwalk.org.uk or call 0161 4983631.

Advertising/artwork: advertising@familiesmanchester.co.uk Events, diary dates, what’s on: events@familiesmanchester.co.uk Cover Photography: Bridgewater School www.bridgewaterschool.co.uk 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

Rewind North’s legendary line-up

Following the festival’s massive 10th anniversary celebration last year, Rewind North returns to Capesthorne Hall in Macclesfield this year from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 August with a legendary line-up including Thin Lizzy and Gloria Gaynor as headline acts. Organisers promise to take Rewind to new heights this year with their most musically diverse line-up yet – plus added entertainment including a jam-packed comedy programme and family activities.

Rewind is famed for its fun family atmosphere and this year the festival will be rolling out its most comprehensive entertainment line up yet.

There’s something for all ages.

In the kid’s area, Ziggy’s will be hosting circus skills workshops, family sports days and giant bubble parties. Over the coming months, Rewind will unveiling their full comedy and entertainment line up and family festival programme.

Tickets are on sale now from www.rewindfestival.com

Easter at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House

Take part in Servant school, Easter crafts and family activities in the beautifully restored home of Manchester’s most famous Victorian author.

Sunday 7 April Make Victorian-style Easter cards to give to family and friends.

Wednesday 10 April, 1-3pm Servant School – come along Families Manchester 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 Manchester are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Manchester

and meet the household servants, Hearn and Margaret.

Take on some light servant duties and earn your Servant School Certificate!

Wednesday April 17, 1-3pm Make Victorian-style Easter cards to give to family and friends.

Sunday April 21 (Easter Sunday), 11am – 4pm Take part in the Easter Egg trail throughout the House, and help to decorate the Easter Tree.

Dressing up, activity baskets and the Cranford the Cat trail are also available. Free parking for up to 3 hours on the road next to the house. Tea Room open selling a selection of drinks and cakes.

Tickets £4/£5 (under 16s free) £1 for the craft activity. No need to book. www.elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Manchester, 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. @FamiliesMancMag www.facebook.com/FamiliesManchester

Families Manchester 2

News Enjoy British Science Week

Families can enjoy wonderful time together during British Science Week 2019 which takes place from 8 to 17 March.

Science Week is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths with fascinating, entertaining and engaging activities for all ages taking place across the UK. Last year there were over 2,100 events involving almost 1 million participants.

You can also download a series of FREE activity packs at www. britishscienceweek.org filled with resources and ideas to try out at home or school, without the need for a science background or expensive equipment.

To find an event close to you, visit www.sciencelive.net

Family Safety Week

Accidents are the biggest killer of children and young people with at least one child under 5 killed each week.

Every year, over 2 million children under the age of 15 have an accident in and around the home which takes

them to A&E and half of the under 5s visiting do so as a result of a preventable accident.

Family Safety Week, which starts on 1 April, is run by the RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) to help raise awareness of the “simple things you can do to stop your child becoming an accident statistic.”

RoSPA provides free resources and advice to help families keep children safe in their homes. Its free Keeping Kids Safe packs also enable schools, nurseries, playgroups and children’s centres to hold child safety session for parents.

More info: www.rospa.com

Bank holiday family fun days

Are you feeling lucky?!

WIN a family ticket to Treetop in Heaton Park, Manchester!

If you’re looking for something different to do with the family this Spring, then Treetop Manchester is well worth a visit for an adventurous day out in the trees. You can choose between the amazing Treetop Trek or brilliantly fun, Treetop Nets.

Treetop Trek is a spectacular high ropes adventure where you will weave through the tree canopy across jaw-dropping aerial obstacles and thrilling zip lines. The Mini Trek starts at age 5 with no height restrictions.

Treetop Nets are giant bouncy nets suspended high up in the trees where you can bounce below the tree canopy on huge treetop trampolines and netted walkways with slides, ball parks and treehouses to enjoy. Suitable from age 3 upwards, it’s fantastic fun for all ages.

It’s also a fantastic party venue with a free covered picnic area for all parties.

Book online at www.treetoptrek.co.uk or www.treetopnets.co.uk

Families needs a new editor!

We’ve got a Family Ticket (for up to 5 people) to give away to this fabulous experience! To enter, simply email your name and phone number to caryl@ familiesmanchester.co.uk with the word TREETOP in the title.

The competition closes Sunday 31 March and the ticket is valid until 30 May 2019. Good luck!

Manchester Manchester

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Fun Easte y Win a Famil Treetop Trek

In this issue: School’s out!

Great Summer guide to holiday and events clubs inside Coping with a “Tweenager”

Parental Is Shared you?

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WIN in our 2 fabulou competitionss

In this issue:

Redmox Leisure is holding its fabulous Multi-Activity Children’s Fun Days again this year at Parrs Wood High School, Didsbury on the following dates: Easter Monday – 22 April May Bank Holiday – 6 May May Bank Holiday – 27 May For just £9.50 per child (adults and under 3s free), you

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can stay as long as you want and enjoy all the activities on offer – like Go karts, Body Zorbing, Battlefield Live, Disc Golf, Indoor & Outdoor Sporting Activities, Magic Shows, Giant Obstacle course, Arts & Crafts stalls and Inflatables. Food and Drink stalls will also be available.

Opening times are 10am – 5pm. www.manchesterfundays.com

Love Families Manchester?

Looking for a new opportunity? Then you may like to consider becoming the new editor of this fabulous publication! Jayne and Caryl have been publishing this magazine since 2011 and have now made the decision to move onto new things.

We’re looking for someone to nurture and enjoy it as much as we have, so if that’s you then please get in touch!

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

Independent or State education?

Help your child cope with stress Talking about the loss of a loved one

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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. Challenging?

Yes. Rewarding? Definitely!

If you’re interested, please email editor@familiesmanchester.co.uk for more info.

Families Manchester 3

Education Homework tips for learning a language

Developing individuals, achieving together

Finding the perfect learning environment for your child is as much about instinct as educational accomplishment.

When you find the right school it just instinctively feels right, which is exactly the way you’ll feel when you experience the friendly and nurturing atmosphere of Bridgewater Preparatory Department.

Bridgewater School provides independent education for boys and girls aged 3-18 years in an inspirational setting that is inclusive, stimulating, supportive and totally focused on helping

your child to be everything they can be.

They’re proud of their family ethos, their consistently outstanding results and their forward-thinking academic environment. But most of all, they’re proud to be part of each child’s individual journey.

Ever since the school’s inception in 1950, Bridgewater’s family ethos has ensured that every child is known and recognised throughout their own unique learning journey.

The result is a vibrant community where children can flourish, learning together and achieving together, as they each follow their own path towards fulfilling their individual potential.

To experience the school for yourself, please call 0161 794 1463 or email admin@bwslive. co.uk to arrange your Personal Taster Session.

Bridgewater School, Drywood Hall, Worsley Road, Worsley M28 2WQ www.bridgewater-school.co.uk

When your child reaches secondary school, they often have to learn multiple languages in their first year. Experienced language teacher, Emily Lusty and founder of The Language Gap, has some tips on how to learn languages successfully at home.

• Homework for modern languages should be based around work completed in lessons, for consolidation, not primary learning.

• Written work needs to be marked carefully and students need to be given time to make corrections and learn from their mistakes.

Many teachers no longer have time to do this.

• Online vocabulary apps such

as Vocab Express and Memrise are brilliant tools for learning at home if you choose exam-specific vocabulary. It’s essential that students and teachers track their scores to make sure that the learning is useful.

• Popular language app Duolinguo is good preparation for going abroad but does not prepare for GCSE specific vocabulary and skills.

• Five minutes a day, three times a week is better for vocabulary learning than a 15 minute session; the human brain learns by repetition, so make the most of it.

• For a laugh, Lyrics Training (www.lyricstraining.com) is a great way to get into the language.

• For reluctant learners, why not change the commentary on FIFA or other computer games to the target language?

The Language Gap is a company specialising in tailor made overseas language learning experiences. To find out more go to www.thelanguagegap.org.uk

Your individual journey starts here.

Early Years Open Day 28th March, 9.30am-12pm

“I am constantly amazed by what they have learnt at such an early age. The quality of teaching and learning is superb.”

Parent testimonial.

At Bridgewater School we like to give young individuals an early idea of how inspiring and enjoyable school life can be. Join us on 28th March when you can speak to our wonderfully committed teaching staff about your child’s individual learning journey.

Call 0161 794 1463 or email admin@bwslive.co.uk to register your interest.

• Exceptional staff to pupil ratios

• Individualised attention

• Exciting programme of activities

• Bespoke EYFS facilities

• Consistently rated as ISI ‘Outstanding’

• Flexible wraparound care provision

4 Families Manchester

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Education 60 seconds with a KSOL 11 plus tutor and run 11+ mock exams throughout the year to help benchmark ability and to familiarise children with: l the format of the exam paper l the style of questions and content l the live exam environment

Paul, Senior KSOL 11 plus tutor

What is the 11 plus?

The 11 plus is a highly competitive set of entrance exams taken by children at the start of Year 6, when applying to a grammar or independent school.

What’s in the 11 plus exam?

Trafford 11+ exams include multiple choice question papers with timed sections in Verbal, Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) and Mathematical Skills. The exam board most widely used to administer the 11+ exam in Trafford is CEM. However, GL Assessment also produces papers for a select few Trafford grammar schools.

How can parents prepare children for the 11 plus?

KSOL provide online 11+ courses

Why should children sit 11 plus mock exams?

We don’t want children to become nervous by the atmosphere in the real exam, so it’s important for them to experience this formal setting in order to build confidence.

Sitting mock exams also enables parents to benchmark their child’s ability and work on any weak areas. Whether this is a particular 11 plus topic, exam technique or poor time management, identifying and tackling these areas will boost a child’s performance on the day.

KSOL are award-winning 11 plus specialists with over 11 years of experience. Upcoming 11+ mock exam dates include 24th March, 18 May and 13 July. Call the team on 0161 327 2003 or visit www.ksol.co.uk to book mock exams and discover KSOL 11 plus online tuition for children in Year 4 and Year 5.

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Improving the number foundations of pre-schoolers

A leading child psychologist from Kingston University has produced a series of number games for nurseries and parents which are proven to boost the confidence and ability of pre-school children in maths in just 5 weeks.

Dr Jo Van Herwegen created the games based on her research into the Approximate Number System (ANS), a mechanism used by the brain to differentiate between groups that have more or fewer items in them without counting. The ANS games are based on two foundations - estimation and matching approximate large amounts.

“The activities we’ve developed

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are fun, rather than formal lesson plans, but they’re based on scientific evidence about the cornerstones of mathematical learning and how to nurture this in young children.”

“It’s all about the child knowing which number is larger and which is smaller, but not to the exact number” DrVan Herwegen explained.

Her research showed that playing these specially-designed games for 10 minutes a day for 5 weeks improved young children’s number foundations, the essential building blocks needed for mathematics.

This improvement was still apparent 6 months later, when the children had started formal education.

To download the free games, visit www.kingston.acc.uk/research/ research-showcase/researchcase-studies

Did your child get their reception place?

We currently have reception places available for September 2019. For more information please call 0161 624 4497 or email us for further details.

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Families Manchester 5

Education Does homework work?

By Claire Winter

Does the word ‘homework’ fill you with dread or do you think it is an important aspect of your child’s education? How much time do you spend supervising your child’s homework? What is it actually teaching your child?

Is it really necessary or should schools just scrap it altogether?

In the UK, the government says it’s up to individual head teachers in primary schools to decide whether to set homework or not. It. In 1997, 6 out of 10 primary schools were setting homework.

Just two years later, 90% of schools were setting it and it seems that the majority of schools have continued this trend.

A recent report by the BBC highlighted that only 11% of parents in Britain are spending an hour a day helping their children with homework. While in other countries, like India, 64% of parents are spending an hour a day on this activity.

Whilst many people think children at primary school are too young to do homework, education specialist Melanie Harwood (www.harwoodeducation.com) believes homework is vital for developing learning skills. It helps children: • develop a sense of their own self-worth and individual learning styles.

• become confident working things out in their own space without the constraints of being “watched over” by a teacher, their parents or peers.

• develop critical thinking and

puzzle solving skills, which will serve them well in life and further education.

• develop a deeper understanding of a particular point within a task or specific item of learning, by completing further work on it at home.

Melanie adds: “Learning to work on one’s own and time management are important life skills. This is what will separate many learners from the rest of the pack. Being able to focus on a task and having the self-motivation to complete it is extremely important when working both in a team and on your own.”

Ex-teacher Hannah Deane who now runs a social media marketing business from home (www.littleshout.org) says setting homework at a primary level has always been a contentious issue amongst many teachers.

“In my experience, if you get a group of teachers in a room, (without the presence of an Ofsted inspector or anyone who has power over their career!), they usually agree that before senior school, homework is surplus to a child’s educational needs.”

“Learning spellings and reading

at home can be beneficial, but the constant flow of worksheets, practice SATs papers, and ‘homework’ seem to be little more than a box-ticking exercise.

Homework at primary level has no proven track record of enhancing a child’s education. Let them play and learn through an unstructured activity. Once they reach senior school, their levels of concentration and capacity have increased to allow them to continue with formal learning outside the school day.”

A recent report about homework by the Teaching Schools Council says that homework set at primary school should have a clear purpose.

The report states that schools should explain to pupils and parents why they are setting it, and the teachers should let pupils know how well they have done.

While the jury is still out on whether homework is a good thing for primary school children, it is clear that schools need to do more to help parents and pupils understand exactly what the benefits of the homework they’re setting are, as well as making it achievable for all involved including parents!

STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL An independent school for girls and boys from 3-18 years

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Junior School and Pre-Reception Open Morning Saturday 11th May 2019, 10am - 12pm Come and spend a day in the Senior School Year 5 Taster Days 15th May, 22nd May and 11th June To book call 0161 419 2408 School Day Tours Available Extensive school bus routes including Sale, Altrincham and Hale

Inspiring your child Tel: 0161 456 9000 6 Families Manchester

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Education Times tables tips and tricks

In 2020, it becomes compulsory for all Year 4 students to undergo a new times table test and this is likely to put additional pressure on parents to help their children get to grips with their times tables.

Children’s inability to instantly recall times tables and manage simple multiplication is a recurring theme of mathematics teaching reported by teachers in primary schools. These skills need to be embedded by Year 4 in order to prepare for the maths teaching for the next two years. At secondary school, lack of basic numeracy, including not knowing their multiplication tables really well, can lead to an inability to grasp new concepts and really slow children’s mathematical progress.

While it may seem tedious to practise times tables with your child, by ensuring your child is confident with times tables you

will be equipping them with essential tools for success in maths.

Getting familiar with multiplication concepts

The first step with multiplication is to make sure your child understands what multiplication really means. In other words, they need to understand that 4 x 3 is the same as 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 and be confident with such number sequences.

The rule of commutativity

Show your child that each answer repeats, so, technically, they only have to learn half of the tables.

In other words, 4 x 5 is the same as 5 x 4. The rule of commutativity helps them understand that they know more than they might think.

Point out patterns

It doesn’t all have to be memorised by rote. There are clues and helpful hints that can be learned.

• For example, 2x is just doubling the number. This is the same as adding the number to itself: 2 x 2 = 4, 2 x 3 = 6, 2 x 4 = 8 etc. So, the pattern is 2, 4, 6, 8 etc. And once these are remembered then the rule of commutativity above means they also know 3 x 2, 4 x 2 etc.

• 9× has a pattern too: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90.

Notice how the tens (first digits in every number) go up by one and the units (second digits) go down.

• All the multiples of ten end in zero.

• All the multiples of 5 end in either 5 or 0 and are half as large as the multiples of ten. (10 x 5=50 which is half of 10 x 10 = 100).

• Any number x 0 is always 0.

No matter what.

• The answers to the 4 times table are double the answers to the 2 times table. For example, 3 × 4 = 12 is the same as 3 × 2 × 2. Likewise, the answers to the 8 times table are double the answers to the 4 times table. For example, 5 × 8 = 40 is the same as 5 × 4 × 2.

• Learning the 11 times table is actually easy up to the number 9. It is simply doubling the appearance of the number you wish to multiply by. For example, 2 x 11 = 22, 3 x 11 = 33, 4 x 11 = 44 and so on.

Teach the tricks

The great thing with times tables is that there are many tricks that

can help your child memorise them more easily. Let’s take a look at a couple of tricks: 2 times tables: Double it! Two times a number simply means add the number twice. 6 x 2 is actually 6 + 6 and 8 x 2 is the same as 8 + 8.

4 times tables: Double the number you are multiplying, then double it again! It is simply a matter of doubling the number, then doubling the answer. For example, 4 x 5 is 5 + 5 = 10 and then 10 + 10 = 20. 4 x 5 is 20.

12 times table is 10x plus 2x.

For example: 10 x 4 = 40, then add 2 x 4 = 8

Drilling

Some drilling is inevitable. Drilling should be done once the child is familiar with their tables or at least a set of numbers. Drilling should be started in order and once you feel they are getting there you can mix it all up. They may hesitate at the beginning but the more you drill the more the times tables will be embedded into their memories.

Everyone’s different

Some children like to learn by rote; for others it doesn’t work at all. To support their learning, work out what will make times tables stick in your child’s mind, whether that’s singing them, putting them into practice with puzzles, playing games with them or writing them out.

Good luck!

A more diverse tech world for the future Fire Tech is the UK’s #1 Tech Camp for 9-17 year olds. They invite young people to tackle bold, challenging tech projects and master the skills that shape tomorrow.

Across the 10,000 courses delivered by Fire Tech, almost a third (28%) of the students have been girls – that’s twice the national average. But as an educator, Fire Tech believes more can be done to improve the gender balance for the future tech industry.

In response to the challenge, Fire Tech have launched a series of #AllGirls coding and robotics

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classes - which will be rolled out alongside the seasonal school holiday camps. The purpose of the #AllGirls workshops is to allow young, passionate individuals to flourish and learn in an environment with like-minded peers where they won’t have to worry about being ‘the only girl’ in the class.

Past Fire Tech Python student, Vivian, aged 14: “When I’m older I want to be a fashion designer and I want my own business. I’ll use my Python knowledge to build the back-end processes to maximise efficiency.” www.firetechcamp.com

Families Manchester 7

Parents’ place Finding more family friendly work

By Mandy Garner

Flexible working is one of the top three benefits that today’s jobseekers look for – particularly if they are parents. Meanwhile, employers are being encouraged to publish their parental leave policies and increasing numbers of employers are offering family friendly parental leave policies, from carer’s leave to the ability to buy extra holiday.

It’s not just women who want family friendly working.

Workingmums.co.uk’s recent survey of dads shows 73% say they are considering seeking flexible working. The truth is that modern family life requires flexibility and employers who don’t offer it will lose out.

Employers also need to do more than offer flexible working policies; they need to back this up with a culture that normalises different ways of working.

Otherwise employees often feel side-lined or end up working overtime because expectations are not reduced in line with hours.

When flexible working policies and the right culture work together, great opportunities arise.

Samantha Hamilton-Davies is a Senior Associate [Due Diligence] in the homeworking legal team of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, based in Manchester. Samantha works four days a week from home and has been promoted since joining the homeworking team. In her previous role Samantha had faced a long commute. She says that without her homeworking role she might have eventually left the legal profession.

Claire Brown left a ‘million miles an hour’ job in the City and is now working part time as Internal Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility [CSR] Manager at Carpetright.

The post means she can use her skills and experience in a senior role AND still has enough time for her family and voluntary job running her village’s residents association.

Such cases are not confined to the big corporates. SMEs like IT firm, Hireserve, has grown by employing experienced professionals on flexible hours. Their hours have increased as their families and the firm has grown.

So how do you land this kind of job? The answer is research and being clear about what you want and why it is good for your employer.

Research the best family-friendly employers. Don’t just look at their policies - everyone can look good on paper, but read what others say about them; talk, if possible, to people who work there; find out what the companies offer beyond the statutory requirements; and look at whether they are shouting out about it on their careers page or LinkedIn. Does it matter to them? Do they really get it?

It’s not just the provision of a flexible role that matters. It is about the employers’ overall attitude to flexible workers. Line managers’ attitudes, in particular, are crucial to ensuring flexible working doesn’t mean career stagnation.

With regard to clarity, it is best to be upfront about what you need and to put a business case for why it is in both your interests and that of your potential employer.

What do they get by allowing

you flexi hours? What do you bring to the organisation that they need? Remember not to downplay or apologise for skills gained outside the workplace.

When Visa in Europe was advertising the post of Director of Talent, mum-of-four Pippa Edwards, who was a Talent Manager, expressed her interest but told her manager that she didn’t want to work full time. He said: “Have you considered a job share?” “In that one sentence everything changed for me,” says Pippa. “I started to believe I could have my cake and eat it.”

Pippa now job shares with mum-of-three Vicki Mawson, former Talent Acquisition Director at L’Oréal. Both women think the company has benefited from the job share, getting a depth of expertise that one person alone would not provide.

“Before I thought that I would have to make a choice between working part time and having a career” states Pippa. I had come to accept that that was the reality, but my boss showed me that I could have both and that was so powerful. So many women should have that opportunity and not have to make that choice.”

Mandy Garner is Editor of www.workingmums.co.uk, which links top family-friendly employers with female professionals and highlights examples of best practice to encourage greater innovation across sectors. They have just launched a partner website for dads at www.workingdads.co.uk

Nats Mascots & Balloons Mascots / Balloons / Pop corn Candy floss / Hot dogs / Ice cones Contact Natalie on: 07805 336 183

Natalie Ward

8 Families Manchester

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Parents’ place How to celebrate Mother’s Day after losing a baby

By Petra Boynton

Mother’s Day is supposed to be a time for happy families and honouring all that mums do.

But it can be a bittersweet time if you’ve lost a baby recently or in the past.

Grief can leave you feeling isolated and lonely, and you may feel you have to hide this from others, particularly if your friends or relatives have been awkward or unsympathetic about your loss(es). Perhaps you’re under pressure to keep up a ‘perfect mum’ persona that leaves no room for feelings of anger or frustration about your loss. Or you may simply be unsure how to mark the day.

At a time of year where you’re expected to be around children and celebrate motherhood you

may struggle if you are missing a baby you lost, or are navigating family gatherings where you might feel envious of those who have children. You may want to take pride in being a mum while still find it difficult to adjust to not having a particular baby (or babies) with you.

While it’s not often talked about, it isn’t unusual for mums or their wider families to find Mother’s Day a tricky time – particularly if it’s your first anniversary following bereavement. Your partner may feel the same way, but say nothing – particularly on a day that’s supposed to be about the person who carried their babies.

Similarly, young children may not be so aware of your losses but can still can be affected by grief; while older children may be struggling but unsure how to ask for help. Everyone in the family may have different ways of coping and managing their emotions and reactions and this can be tricky especially if what one family member wants to do conflicts with someone else’s needs.

There is no straightforward journey through the grieving process and there’s no set time by which you’ll feel better.

Instead there will always be good and bad days. This can mean Mother’s Day can either

Help! I’ve lost my child….

No words can describe the panic that a parent feels when their child disappears from sight in a crowded place. It can happen in a heartbeat and at airports, stations, leisure attractions, museums and beaches, crowds go with the territory which means it’s more difficult spotting your child if you get separated.

Here are some things you can do to help: Bright clothing Dress your children brightly – those dressed in colourful, distinctive clothes and accessories can be more quickly spotted in a crowd.

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“What if” preparations If your child is old enough, discuss what to do if they get separated.

Tell them to seek help from people like staff in a supermarket, a lifeguard, a police or security officer or a mother with young children. Agree an obvious meet up point if they are old enough to find a pre-determined landmark, or instruct them to stay put if they are younger (under 8).

Take a photo Have a recent digital photo of your child on your smart phone or camera. Even better, take a picture of your child wearing that day’s outfit before you head out.

Establishing new traditions after loss

Petra Boynton is the author of Coping With Pregnancy Loss, published by Routledge, RRP £11.99. Get 20% off the book with the code CWL20. Other sources of support can be found at www.copingwithpregnancyloss .com/support

You may want to pick a meaningful place to visit like a walk in peaceful surroundings, a beautiful beach, or somewhere you feel happy.

Not everyone wants to celebrate after loss. That might mean doing very little to mark Mother’s Day; you may want to spend the time quietly or on a retreat with other parents who’ve experienced similar loss.

Alternatively, your preferred Mother’s Day treat might be something that’s focussed on your living children or those of other relatives or friends, whilst still remembering any babies not with you.

Meaningful dates can be good times to make memorials – these could include planting a tree, creating a memory box or scrap book, or joining an online memorial page.

If your baby has a grave to visit, spending some time there on Mother’s Day either alone or with family members can feel important and meaningful. You may want to take flowers orothermementoes.

You might ask for donations to a baby loss charity, made in the name of all your children or that of the baby (or babies) you’ve lost.

Teach essential details Help a child learn their name and address and your name and phone number, so that they can give the details to an authoritative person. If they’re very young, try teaching them your number through rhyme or learning by rote and repetition.

Consider ID cards or tagging Safety ID cards with essential information can be attached to bags and clothes or worn around the neck with a lanyard.

For waterproofing, you can buy small capsule-like containers worn like a necklace. You can also now obtain quite powerful, wearable GPS trackers for kids.

Baby and toddler harnesses Even if you don’t like seeing little

ones constrained, sometimes the security offered by reins and harnesses can help you all relax.

These days you can buy really cute reins attached to furry belts and backpacks that your little one will be happy to wear.

Stay calm If your child disappears, try to stay calm (easier said than done!). You’ll be able to think and communicate more clearly, helping you and others find your child quickly.

Call 999 The police advise calling 999 and reporting a child missing as soon as you have concerns for their safety.

For more info, visit www.safekids.co.uk

become a powerful time for remembrance, or a trigger for distress. You have permission to mark the day in whatever way you wish – it’s worth noting that you may not end up managing Mother’s Day in the way you anticipated.

It’s absolutely fine to tell others how you are doing, how you wish to treat Mother’s Day and how you’d like them to support you. This may include asking them not to make a big deal of the day or to join in celebrations that honour the memory of the baby (or babies) that aren’t with you. It’s your day, so you get to define, change and mark it in whatever way works best for you.

Support groups are a good place to connect with other people who have experienced losses. In the run up to Mother’s Day and during the day itself, making use of online forums, groups on Facebook, charity helplines or email advice services can be very reassuring if you need support.

Families Manchester 9

Parents’ place Raising a supported child

By Pam Rowe

It can be hard to know what to do to ensure your child feels well-loved and supported. Here are my thoughts on helping your child to become the adult you know they can be:

Always show love When I first had my son, I remember feeling overwhelmed by his total dependency on me.

This innocent baby was reliant on me for his survival. Our children rely on our love too and we need to show them we love them. Throughout my son’s life I told him I loved him all the time. Now he regularly says this to me and I think it is likely that he will be comfortable telling his wife or partner and children the same.

Lead by example – be the person you want your child to be If you want your child to be

honest, show him how, by being honest yourself. If you lose your temper and lose control, think about what this teaches your child. Talk and read to your child about the importance of morals and values, being kind and caring, sharing, handling dilemmas and expressing their feelings but make sure you positively demonstrate these in your own behaviour.

Reinforce positive behaviour Whatever you reward will be reinforced as important and will stick. Decide what is important and reward it with words that make your children

Music can improve parent-child bond New research suggests sharing music can improve parent-child relationships, especially during adolescence.

Researchers found that young men and women who shared musical experiences with their parents during childhood - and especially during adolescence

- report having better relationships with their mums and dads as they enter young adulthood.

While shared musical experiences at all age levels were associated with better perceptions of parent-child relationship quality in young adulthood, the effect was most

pronounced for shared musical experiences that took place during adolescence.

The authors said shared musical experiences with their children don’t have to be complicated, and can include simple activities like listening to music in the car together.

feel your praise.

Take care of yourself Parents who are physically and emotionally healthy are more likely to raise happy children.

Take care to eat and rest well, find time for relaxation and share your feelings with an appropriate adult in a place where you feel supported and loved.

Pam Rowe has 30 years’ experience working as a social worker and in Children’s Services. Her memoir, Clear Water, is out now and is available from Amazon.

The research, published in the Journal of Family Communication surveyed young adults about the frequency with which they engaged with their parents as children from the age of 8 and how they perceived their relationship with their parents now.

More info: www.tandfonline.com

JOIN NOW, PAY NO JOINING FEE AND GET FIRST FULL MONTH FREE* Visit www.everyoneactive.com/join using the code NJF100PM Offer valid until 31/03/2019. UK bank holders only, 16+. Direct debit membership. Must pay 1 month in advance, this will be used to cover your final month.

Participating centres only. Must cancel by 20th of month in order for the DD payment to stop on the 1st of the following month. Remainder of current month to be paid pro-rata. Not available to existing members. See www.everyoneactive.com/wythenshaweterms for full terms.

Forum Leisure, Forum Centre, Simonsway, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 5RX www.facebook.com/eaWythenshawe

13813_Families Manchester HP Spring Edition.indd 1 10 Families Manchester

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31/01/2019 15:15 familiesonline.co.uk

Parents’ place At what age can children be home alone?

Parents often wonder when it is safe to leave a child unsupervised at home. The law does not specify an age at which a child can legally be “home alone.” However, parents commit an offence if leaving the child unsupervised at home puts him or her at risk.

Given that maturity and understanding at specific ages differs from child to child, there is no set age at which leaving a child home alone would be risk free.

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The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has published a guide “Is My Child Ready to Be Left Alone?” This states that: l children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time l children under 16 shouldn’t be left alone overnight l babies, toddlers and young children should never be left alone More info at www.nspcc.org.uk

Lack of sleep damaging for children

More than a third of primary school children are failing to get sufficient sleep, according to research by the University of Leeds.

The study has linked poor sleep with difficulties in paying attention in class, keeping up with school work, forgetfulness and absenteeism.

The NHS recommendation is that children of that age should get 10 hours sleep per night but the study discovered that out of 1,100 children ages 6 to 11, 36% were getting only eight hours sleep or less on a weekday night.

Just under a third of children reported that worrying about school work was keeping them awake, whilst around one in six children reported that they found it difficult to sleep because of concerns about bullying or friendship.

The researchers identified that children who had access to technology in their bedroom were more likely to experience a shorter night’s sleep and recommended that parents consider removing technology from their children’s bedrooms.

More info: www.leeds.ac.uk

Families Manchester 11

Clubs & classes Join All Stars Cricket today!

All Stars Cricket is a programme aimed at children aged 5-8 years old to give them a great first experience in cricket. Sessions are accredited by the England & Wales Cricket Board and delivered nationwide at over 2,000 centres. All Stars Cricket will help your child

cricket started and fully look the part when they attend their 8 weekly sessions. This year, there’s a brand-new Cricket World Cup themed activity book that is full of top tips, games and, it’s a great place to keep those weekly stickers to celebrate your All

Star’s achievements. Plus, it’s all delivered straight to your door.

To find out more about how to get involved this summer, simply visit www.allstarscricket.co.uk and get your place booked as sessions begin May 2019.

develop key skills in a fun and safe environment where parents can join in too and help create #BigMoments you’ll both treasure!

Following successful registration, All Stars Cricketers will receive a brand-new kit bag full of goodies to help them get their summer of

Manchester Musical Youth advert

12 Families Manchester

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Childcare Cooking classes for your child?

Clubs & classes

By Andrew Campbell

For many adults, cooking can feel like a mundane chore, but for children cooking is anything but. Most children love to be let loose in the kitchen and enrolling your child in cookery classes or a cooking club will not only be great fun for them but also help them acquire important developmental skills. Most importantly, either now or at some point in the future, you may get a break from cooking as your children take to the kitchen themselves!

If you need any further persuading, check out the important skills cooking classes will teach your child: Fine motor skills Mixing the ingredients, rolling the dough and using cooking implements are great ways to enhance fine motor strength and control.

Maths skills Cooking involves measurement such as cups, teaspoons and tablespoons and the need to

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understand fractions, addition and subtraction.

Comprehension Reading and understanding step-by-step directions, adding ingredients in sequence, and techniques like folding and blending, all test your child’s comprehension skills.

Scientific concepts Cooking involves plenty of science.

Children learn what happens when certain ingredients are mixed together as well as what happens when the measurements are incorrect.

Focus and attention When cooking, children need to stay focused and pay attention to detail or the recipe will not be completed correctly. Children learn quickly that they have to pay attention if they want to eat that brownie or biscuit at the end!

Adventurous healthy eaters Learning to cook introduces children to new tastes and textures that they haven’t tried before which means they will be more likely to experiment with

eating new foods. They also learn which foods are healthy and which are not.

Self esteem When a child is able to successfully complete a recipe and make something edible, they feel a sense of pride and confidence. As they become more experienced cooks, they become more independent, which boosts their selfconfidence even further.

Life skills Cooking is a skill that is essential for adulthood. Children can learn from an early age how to make their own sandwiches, pour milk or heat something in the microwave.

As they do this, they learn not to touch a hot stove and how to use a knife correctly. Older children can learn to cook meals for themselves and the family. This sets them on the road to being responsible, independent individuals.

Families Manchester 13

What’s on Every day in Mar & Apr

Lyme Park, Disley The Lost Words 10.30am-5pm / Suitable for children / Assistance dogs welcome. Explore Lyme to seek out words like these that are disappearing from children’s vocabulary. Pick up your Lyme dictionary and investigate the garden to discover words from Robert McFarlane and Jackie Morris’ spell book brought to life. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme

Every Thurs in Mar & Apr Touchstones, Rochdale Tiny Touchstones 10.15am-12.15pm / Suitable for ages 0-5 / £2 per session. Creative drop in sessions using a range of exciting and open ended objects to stimulate the senses for babies and inspire imaginative play for the under 5s. New themes each week inspired by the world and art around us. www.link4life.org

Every Fri in Mar & Apr

The Lowry - Studio 2 Under 5s First Steps 10am & 11am / £3.50 or £2.50 for Salford Residents / Ages 2½-4½. Weekly dance workshops for children aged under 5 and their families. Wriggle, jiggle and jump as we explore stories, rhythm and music through our bodies.

Everyone welcome! www.thelowry.com

11am-4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Discover the springtime rituals of Dunham’s servants as you journey through the servants quarters. Find out about spring cleaning then and now and have a go yourself. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ dunham-massey

Thurs 7 & 21 Mar

Bramall Hall, Bramhall Sensory Stories 11-11.45am / Suitable for babies not walking / £6 per child. Storytelling designed to engage all your baby’s senses followed by a play session in our Tudor themed discovery stations. www.stockport.gov.uk

Thurs 7 Mar & Thurs 4 Apr

John Rylands Library, Manchester Toddler Tales 11-11.45am / 5yrs and under / free, drop in. Find a cosy corner, pull up a cushion and listen to fun stories. Join in playtime, creating a story world of your own. www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Fri 8 Mar

Every Sat in Mar & Apr

Hat Works Museum, Stockport Messy Milliners 11-11.45am / Babies & early walkers / £4 per baby, booking essential. An exciting messy play session with a different theme each time and lots of sensory development for baby. www.stockport.gov.uk

Every Sun in Mar & Apr

Z-Arts, Hulme Stripey Honey... is very yummy 6.30pm / 5+ years / Child £6.30, Adult £9.45. Adventure into the forests of the Sundarbans, the land between India and Bangladesh, as Mashi takes you on a playful journey into the jungle to discover how the tigers and honey bees struggle for survival. www.z-arts.org

Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Outdoor Art Club 10.30am-12pm / Free, drop in. Play based sessions designed especially for little explorers set in the beautiful park. Try mud painting, water play, den building, bug hunting and lots more led by artists and forest school practitioners. www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Art Sundays 11am-3pm / Free, drop in. Explore our exhibitions then join us in the Learning Studio and make your own art piece in response to your favourite works. Use a range of playful materials as well as our Art Challenge Cards and get creating. Suitable for the whole family. www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

Fri 1 - Fri 29 Mar, Tues 23 - Tues 30 Apr

Dunham Massey Percy The Park Keeper – One Springy Day 10.30am-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 SpringyDay’ byNick Butterworth. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ dunham-massey

Sat 2 Mar

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Make and Take 1-3pm / All ages / Free, usual admission applies. Give us a helping hand at making sessions where you can make one for Quarry Bank and one for you to take home. Something different every month, from creative crafts to seasonal decorations to fat cakes for garden birds. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ quarrybank

Sun 2 - Wed 20 Mar Dunham Massey Servants in Springtime

14 Families Manchester

Sat 9 Mar

Waterside, Sale The Gingerbread Man 11am & 2.30pm / Ages 3-10 / £10. Come and see the adventure of the deliciously smelling Gingerbread Man who finds his feet fast and sets off on the journey of a lifetime! www.watersidearts.org

Sat 9 & Sun 10 Mar

Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, Cheshire British Science Week - Under 7s - Get Set, Blast Off! 1pm / 7 and under / free with general admission. Join in a fun-filled rocket trip into space, exploring the Solar System and playing lots of games along the way. www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Fri 15 - Sun 17 Mar

Event City, Manchester The Baby and Toddler Show Over 150 top brands and unique products at the best prices alongside expert advice to give new and expectant parents in the North West everything you need to give your baby the best start. www.eventcity.co.uk

Sat 16 Mar

Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale Rochdale Food and Drink Festival 11am-8pm / free entry / suitable for all ages. Star chefs cooking live, food and drink village, workshops, music, bars, stalls and family entertainment in the spectacular setting of Rochdale Town Hall. www.rochdale.go.uk

Sat 16 & Sun 17 Mar

Tatton Park, Knutsford Secret Science Lab Week at the Farm Free, normal admission & opening times apply. Can you find the Secret Science Lab? Help us carry out experiments and solve puzzles that will help you discover more about the journey from field to fork. In honour of British Science Week. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sun 17 Mar

Tatton Park, Knutsford Adopt a Farm Animal Day Free, normal admission & opening times apply. Come along to the farm and meet our special, rare breed animals which are up for adoption. Choose from Prancer the Reindeer, Blossom the Clydesdale Horse, Tamzin the Tamworth Pig and Frosty the Donkey. www.tattonpark.org.uk Z-Arts, Hulme Z Access - A world inside a book: Gruffalos, Dragons and other creatures Various times, 50mins duration / 0-8 years / £6-£9. Enter the cosy sitting room of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book and settle down for a story. But look more closely – what’s that you can see on the bookshelf? Specifically designed and created for children and families with SEN and additional requirements.

Four Go Wild in Wellies Various times, 25 mins duration / 3-5 years and those with learning difficulties / £5-£6. A playful look at the joy of inventiveness and curiosity, the negotiation of social structures, and how friendships are built, broken and mended as play emerges from interaction with each other and with the world around them. www.z-arts.org

Thurs 21 Mar

The Stockport Plaza, Stockport The Greatest Showman, Singalong 7pm / Cert PG / Fancy Dress Encouraged Our live host will teach you a unique set of dance moves that will truly make you come alive. As they show how to use our interactive fun bags, you also get to practice your cheers, your boos and even a few wolf whistles Then you can sit back and relax and sing and dance along to the lyrics on screen. YOU the audience will rewrite the stars! www.stockportplaza.co.uk

Sat 23 Mar

Z-Arts, Hulme OKS Solent Dis-Glo 2.30pm / 4+ years / £6.50, pre-walkers go free. Join us for a neon filled knees-up with your nippers as we welcome your family into our community. www.z-arts.org

Sat 23 Mar & Sat 27 Apr Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Have A Go Nature Explorers 1-3pm / All ages / Free, usual admission Every month in Spring you can have a go at a wild outdoor activity at Quarry Bank. From pond-dipping to wild art, there’s always a new adventure to enjoy. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ quarrybank

Sun 24 Mar

Brookside Garden Centre, Poynton Miniature Railway Grand Reopening 11am-4pm / FREE, bring a friend / Donations welcome on the day to The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Train rides, live jazz band performances,

vintage fun fair rides, and lots of train fun will all be available for one day FREE of charge! Look out for the newest addition to our railway and it’s first journey on the tracks!! www.klondyke.co.uk

Tues 26 - Sat 30 Mar

The Stockport Plaza, Stockport Oliver!

Based on the novel by Charles Dickens, this show will delight audiences with its outstanding musical numbers, Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, As Long As He Needs Me and Reviewing The Situation. www.stockportplaza.co.uk

Thurs 28 Mar

Bredbury Library, Stockport Autism Friendly Library Session 2-5pm / All ages / Free. Monthly, dedicated session for people with, or who have an interest in, autism. Join the library and find out about the services on offer in a modern public library. Interactive ‘bag book’ story sessions. www.stockport.gov.uk

Fri 29 Mar

Hat Works Museum, Stockport Mad Hatters Arts and Crafts 10am-12pm / Age 2-5 / £5, booking essential. An arts and crafts session with the emphasis on fun, age ability appropriate skills development. Dress to get messy! www.stockport.gov.uk Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, Cheshire Family Stargazing night 6-9pm / Families with children aged 7-11 / £9.50pp. Enjoy a journey around space in our inflatable Planetarium, be surprised by the exciting experiments in our science show and get hands-on with telescopes and binoculars as you learn to navigate the night sky (and observing once it gets dark, weather permitting). www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Fri 29 & Sat 30 Mar

Z-Arts, Hulme Big Up! Various times, 50 mins duration / 3-6 years / £6-£9. Big Up! is perfect for little people who want to be Big, and Big people who just might have forgotten how to play. What happens when a Beatboxer, a Singer and a Puppeteer arrive on stage but nothing is ready for them? No set, no instruments, no puppets. No rules. www.z-arts.org

Sat 30 Mar

Hat Works Museum, Stockport Early Bird Session 10-11.30am / All ages / £2 for craft activity, booking advisable. For families who would benefit from visiting the museum at a quiet time. Explore the gallery and factory floor or spend some time creating something in our craft workshop. www.stockport.gov.uk

Sat 30 Mar - Mon 22 April Dunham Massey Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt - One Springy Day 10.30am - 4pm / All ages / £2.50 per child. Complete the trail around the park, garden and house (open days only) to receive a scrummy chocolate prize! www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ dunham-massey

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What’s on

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 6 Apr

Dunham Massey Special Guided Walk - Family Wildlife 11am-1pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Discover Dunham’s deer and other wildlife on an accessible walk around the park. Meet at the Clock Tower at 11am. The walk lasts approximately two hours at a gentle pace. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ dunham-massey

Sun 7 Apr

Tabley House, Knutsford Tabley Races First Race 1pm. A great day out for all the family in the grounds of Cheshire’s only 18th Century Palladian Country House. www.tableyraces.co.uk

Sun 7 & Wed 17 Apr

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester Easter Cards 1-3pm / £4/£5 (under 16s free), £1 for craft activity. Make Victorian-style Easter cards to give to family and friends. www.elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk

Sat 6 - Sun 14 Apr

Tatton Park, Knutsford Lambing Week at the Farm 12-5pm / Child £5, Adult £7, normal admission also applies. Will you be lucky enough to see our lambs being born? Informative talks on the imminent signs of lambing by the farm staff. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sat 6 - Thurs 18 Apr

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Spring Holidays - Right to Play 11am-4pm / All ages / Free, usual admission applies. In the past, children at Quarry Bank didn’t always have the right to play. This spring holiday, we’re playing in the great outdoors and finding out why play matters. Join in with nature-themed adventures in the garden and woods. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarrybank

Sat 6 - Sun 28 Apr

Lyme Park, Disley Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 10.30am 5pm / All ages / £2.50 per child. Explore the garden at Lyme and take the whole family on a nature adventure. Complete the trail to receive a chocolate prize. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme

Sat 6 - Tues 30 Apr

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Rights of the Child 10.30am-5pm / All ages / Free, usual admission applies. In this new exhibition, explore the experiences of the hundreds of children who worked at Quarry Bank and discover how children’s rights have changed over time. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ quarrybank

Mon 8 - Fri 18 Apr

Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre Easter Holidays - Meet The Expert 1pm, weekdays / Age 10+ / free with general admission.

Here’s your chance to meet one of our resident science and astronomy experts. You’ll learn all about their work, plus have the chance to ask the space questions you’ve always wanted to ask! www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Mon 8 - Tue 22 Apr

Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre Easter Holidays - Get Set, Blast Off! Various Times / 7 and under / free with general admission.

Join in a fun-filled rocket trip into space, exploring the Solar System and playing lots of games along the way.

Easter Holidays - Science Show: It’s elemental!

Various Times / 7+ / free with general admission. Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table. Be surprised and excited by the elements you encounter every day in our Science Show, which takes you from the Big Bang to life on Earth via an exploding star or two! www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Wed 10 Apr

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester Servant School 1-3pm / £4/£5 (under 16s free) Meet the household servants, Hearn and Margaret. Take on some light servant duties and earn your Servant School Certificate! www.elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk

Thurs 11 Apr

East Lancs Railway, Bury Wizard Academy 10am & 12.45pm / Age 5+ / Child £9.50 Adult £14.

This 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 12 Apr

Walkden Library, Salford Goldilocks and the Three Bears Plus...

11am & 2pm / All ages / £4. If you go down to the woods today, you will be in for a very BIG surprise as everything is in disguise and the story goes into the skies with this comical show based on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Told through a 6ft tall book with 2ft pop ups! www.visitsalford.info

Sat 13 & Sun 14 Apr

Fri 19 Apr

Walton Gardens, Warrington Cheshire Food Festival 10am-5pm / All ages A family friendly atmosphere with lots to see and do including live music on the band stand and the fantastic petting zoo, kids’ corner and crazy golf all being open. Also, plenty of stalls selling all types of food, from Thai, to Traditional hog roast! www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

The Venue, Delph, Saddleworth OL3 5DF Easter Eggstravaganza 11am – 3pm / All ages / Free entry. Easter Egg Hunt, Name the Teddy Bear, Sand Art, Sweet Cones, Toys, Free Face Painting, Refreshments (free squash and cookies for children), Raffles, gift & craft stalls, Nails glitter tattoo and braiding and lots more. All raffle proceeds will be donated in treats for children in hospital. 07967 979914 / Vicky.mistry@hotmail.com

Mon 15 - Mon 22 Apr

Reddish Vale Farm, Stockport The Easter Egg Hunt Will you be lucky enough to find a golden egg? Plenty of Easter and animal related events happening throughout the week, on various days, including, pony grooming, arts and crafts, small animal handling, face painting, tractor train rides, Easter bunny meetings and of course the Easter egg hunt! www.reddishvalefarm.co.uk

Thurs 18 Apr

Fri 19 & Sat 20 Apr

East Lancs Railway, Bury Dinky Dinosaur Adventure 10am & 12.45pm / Age 5+ / Child £9.50 Adult £14 This interactive experience will see you and your family join colourful costumed characters and their baby dinosaurs on a steam train ride, during which you will complete a host of dino-themed activities. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Thurs 18 - Mon 22 Apr

The Stockport Plaza, Stockport Beauty and The Beast With an all-star cast including Channel 5 Milkshake’s Kiera-Nicole Brennan as the beautiful Belle. Get ready to go on an adventure and follow Belle as she falls in love with the most unexpected of Princes with Andrew Geater as the Beast. www.stockportplaza.co.uk

Fri 19 Apr

Waterside, Sale Dear Zoo Various Times / Ages 3+ / £14 Child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction. www.watersidearts.org

Fri 19 - Mon 22 Apr

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 10.30am-4pm / All ages / £2.50 per child . Follow the springtime nature trail around the gardens at Quarry Bank to get your Easter chocolate treat. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarrybank

Sun 21 Apr

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester Easter Egg Trail 11am-4pm / / £4/£5 (under 16s free) Take part in the Easter Egg trail throughout the House, and help to decorate the Easter Tree. www.elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk

Mon 22 Apr & Mon 6 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, Disc 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

River Irwell, New Bailey Manchester Duck Race 11am-4pm, race at 2pm / free to attend, ducks from £1. Enter by yourself, as a family, with friends or with your workplace and be part of this sensational event. We’d also love you to come to watch the races and spend the day amongst all the duck themed family activities. All proceeds go to support children following a Brainwave Programme. www.brainwave.org.uk Easter at

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester

Mon 8 – Fri 12 Apr

University of Manchester FireTech Camp Age 9 – 17. Build, code and create at the UK’s 1 Tech Camp! Courses included Junior Inventor, Creative Digital Design, Teen Coding with Python, Video Game Design and MORE!. Childcare vouchers accepted and scholarships are available. www.fire-tech.com

Sundays & Wednesdays 7-21 April, 1-3pm

Dressing up and Victorian cleaning duties with Housekeeper Anne Hearn and her new recruit at Servant School. Plus a Victorian Easter egg trail and craft activities. Only £1 for under 16s.

For more information go to elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester, M13 9LW. 0161 273 2215

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Families Manchester 15

What’s on

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DATES

April 8-12th LOCATION

The University of Manchester (M13)

BUILD+ _CODE CREATE_

Friday 26th April 2019

UK’S #1

B e e p a r t of i t

TECH CAMP FOR 9-17 YEAR OLDS

10km sponsored walk in aid of St Ann’s Hospice starting and finishing at the iconic Manchester Cathedral

£20 OFF*

Join us and make a real difference to the lives of local patients and their loved ones.

Sign up now at www.mmwalk.org.uk or call 0161 498 3631.

Registered charity number 258085 Spring19.pdf Families Manchester

COURSES

— Junior Inventor (NEW) — Creative Digital Design — Teen Coding with Python — Video Game Design & MORE!

1

Promo Code FAMCR

20/02/2019

18:36

Childcare vouchers accepted.

Scholarships available.

Book now at fire-tech.com *T&Cs apply

E TURR ADTHVEEHN IGH T EES IN

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015394 47186

@treetopmanchester 16 Families Manchester

familiesonline.co.uk