Families Manchester Issue 77 Sept/Oct 2019

Manchester

In this issue: Does my baby or toddler have ADHD? Is good grammar important?

Trying a new club or class

Issue 77 September/October 2019

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Education Reduction in school breaks ‘unhealthy’

School break times are much shorter than they were two decades ago meaning children are missing out on valuable opportunities to make friends and develop social skills and exercise, according to research by the Nuffield Foundation.

The study looked at how school breaks have changed over 25 years comparing data from over 1,000 primary and secondary schools.

It found that despite the length of the school day remaining much the same, break times are being squeezed even further with potential serious implications for children’s well-being and development.

Afternoon breaks have been virtually eliminated; they are now only available to 15% of primary school children and 1% of secondary schools. There is also a clear trend to shorter lunch breaks with reported lunchtimes of 35 minutes or less.

According to the authors, break times are important for children to get physical exercise – a particular concern given the rise in obesity, and to develop important social skills that are not learned in school lessons.

More info: www.nuffieldfoundation.org

Getting your child’s 11+ foundations right!

R

Places at Grammar and Independent schools are highly sought after in Trafford and every year the competition continues to rise.

So when should I start my child’s 11+ preparation?

Research shows that with the right guidance, children who start their preparation in Year 4 and 5 have ample time to make progress in their studies.

This allows time to expand key skills, identify any weaker areas and tackle them directly.

What can KSOL do for you and your child?

They combine over 16 years of 11+ experience to create up-to-date personalised online programmes which are monitored by a team of qualified and caring tutors. Every child is considered as an individual and courses are tailored to help improve particular areas of weakness.

Their educational advisors are always available to offer you and your child additional support and guidance when you need it. KSOL ensure no stone is left unturned to help provide your child with the best 11+ education and you with the peace of mind that you are on the right track.

See KSOL’s “Back to School” offers at www.ksol.co.uk or complete a FREE week trial today!

Call them on 0161 327 2003.

Withington pupils shine with outstanding results

Withington Girls’ School recorded exceptional A-Level and GCSE results this year with particular success among its pupils in achieving the very top grades; 31% of A-level subject grades were passed at A*, while 55% of GCSE results were achieved at Grade 9 or A*.

There were many impressive facts and figures: 13 A-Level students achieved a clean

sweep of three or more A*s, and nearly half earned at least three A* to A grades. In GCSEs, 15 pupils attained a clean sweep of Grade 9s, while 48 (59%) earned Grades 7 or above in all their subjects, equating to A* to A in the pre-reformed grading system. One quarter of girls who received public exam results this year - and five of the 13 going on to Oxbridge - have been

Next issue: November/December 2019

Advertising/artwork: advertising@familiesmanchester.co.uk

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 2 Families Manchester

Events, diary dates, what’s on: events@familiesmanchester.co.uk Cover Photography: Bridgewater School www.bridgewater-school.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

Withington pupils since their Junior School years (from Year 3).

“There’s no doubt that Withington girls do exceptionally well in public exams, and year after year we are thrilled to celebrate with them the fruits of their hard work on results days,” says Headmistress, Mrs Sarah Haslam. “Not as widely known, perhaps, are their accomplishments beyond the academic aspects of school life.

Nine members of this year’s GCSE cohort, for example, contributed to Withington winning two ISNC national netball titles when they played as U13s and U15s, and earned Bronze medals as U16s in the prestigious National Schools Netball Competition in 2019.

“Our pupils achieve

distinctions in Music and Drama exams, DofE awards – 16 Golds among our 2019 leavers and 30 Silver awards completed by our Year 11s – and they compete enthusiastically and with a large degree of success in extracurricular activities such as Young Enterprise, Model United Nations, Olympiads and Art competitions.

“We have so many reasons to feel proud of our Withington girls, not least of all their willingness to devote time and energy in support of both local community and school partnerships and international causes.”

Open Days for entry to Withington Girls’ School will be held on Thursday 7th November and Saturday 9th November – see www.wgs.org for more details on 2020 Admissions.

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

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

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Education

“A friendly, caring environment in which each girl can feel confident and flourish�

OPEN DAYS Junior School For girls aged 7-11

Senior School For girls aged 11-16

Sixth Form For girls aged 16+

Thursday 7th November 4.30pm to 6.30pm Saturday 9th November 10.00am to 12noon An Open Evening for Sixth Form students will be held on Thursday 17th October, from 6.00-8.00pm

To arrange a tour call 0161 249 3371 Wellington Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6BL

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Means -tested bursaries available from Year 5 upwards

22/08/2019 13:20 Families Manchester 3

Education Header Inspiring individuals

In a world where everybody is unique, what matters is giving every young person the time and space to become the true individual we know they can be.

That is why, as a familyfocused school providing independent education for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 years, nurturing individuality lies at the heart of everything Bridgewater School does.

Ever since the school’s inception in 1950, their family ethos has ensured that each

young person is treated very much as an individual.

Although the scale and academic stature of the school have grown alongside their buildings and facilities, they are still small enough to know each young person by name and develop a true understanding of their specific needs and abilities.

The result is a vibrant community where children can flourish, thrive and travel, learning together and achieving together.

If you would like to see for yourself why children are so happy at Bridgewater, please join them for their Whole School Open Day taking place on Saturday 2 November, 10am to 2pm. They would be delighted to meet you and show you all the uniquely individual features which set the school apart.

To register your interest please call 0161 794 1463 or email admin@bwslive.co.uk today. www.bridgewater-school.co.uk

School children to tackle speeding drivers

An initiative in London is getting primary school pupils to confront speeding motorists, in a bid to enforce the 20mph speed limit near schools.

The Junior Roadwatch scheme involves drivers who are caught speeding and pulled over by police officers being given the option of receiving a fixed penalty fine and points on their license, attending a speeding awareness course or being told off by children.

Drivers “deemed suitable” to speak to the pupils following a

police national computer check will face questions such as “are you aware of the consequences of speeding” and “why do you think the speed limit is 20mph on this road?”.

Collisions are a leading cause of serious injury, disability or death of children in the UK. In 2017, 48 children died in road collisions in the UK and over 15,700 children were injured.

Similar schemes are being used elsewhere, including parts of Hertfordshire, West Yorkshire and Northumberland.

More info: www.tfl.gov.uk

Your individual journey starts here.

Open Day Saturday 2nd November, 10am – 2pm

Whether your child joins us at the very start of their learning journey or is ready to take the next step towards achieving their full potential, we believe that having their personal interests and abilities carefully nurtured here at Bridgewater School will provide the perfect launchpad for a successful future.

Please join us on Saturday 2nd November for our Whole School Open Day and experience a more individual approach to your child’s education.

Drywood Hall, Worsley, Manchester M28 2WQ

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

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06/08/2019 15:42 familiesonline.co.uk

Education The key components of a mentally healthy school

By Dr Margot Sutherland

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least one specific emotionallyavailable adult and knowing when/where to find that adult can effectively bring down stress levels in pupils. Staff in mentally healthy schools would be trained to adjust their expectations and actions around vulnerable children to match their developmental capabilities and experience of traumatic events.

This would include removing vulnerable children in a kind, non-judgmental way from difficult situations.

A policy around testing and exam stress Mentally healthy schools would help pupils understand that their self-worth is not solely defined by tests and exams.

Finally, if schools are to become mentally healthy places, the value of wellbeing has to start at the very top, with organisations like the Department For Education and Ofsted balancing the scales

between outcomes and emotional wellbeing. There must be national recognition of the importance of monitoring wellbeing in schools, and the wellbeing of staff and pupils must be a key performance indicator for schools.

Dr Margot Sunderland is a child psychologist, psychotherapist, neuroscience expert, award-winning author and the Director of Education and Training at The Centre for Child Mental Health, a non-profit organisation that provides mental health training in schools and Co- Director of Trauma Informed Schools UK. For further information visit: www.childmentalhealthcentre.org. * Green paper entitled Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision **When the Adults Change, Everything Changes Paul Dix 2017

lifestyle

Health and safety policies cover children’s bodies in schools – so why do they not exist for children’s minds and brains too?

Neuroscience research is now sufficiently advanced that we have all the evidence we need on the adult-child relationship experiences that cause and heal mental health problems.

Painful life experiences predominantly cause mental ill-health – especially when a child is not helped to process and make sense of what has happened.

One of the biggest public health studies of our time, The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE Study), found that adverse childhood experiences are a leading determinant of all major mental and physical illnesses in the West.

These experiences include childhood events like living with parental separation/divorce, suffering a major loss, witnessing domestic violence and living with a parent who has addiction issues or mental health problems.

The more adverse childhood experiences a child has without an emotionally available adult to help, the more vulnerable they are to developing mental health problems. These adverse experiences also trigger toxic stress, which negatively affects the developing brain, immune system and endocrine system.

However, a Government Green Paper* published in December 2017 makes the point that appropriately trained and supported school staff can achieve comparable results to trained therapists in helping children with anxiety, conduct disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, caused

by adverse childhood experiences.

So toxic levels of stress in a child can be reduced if a child’s school environment can offer such resources.

So how can schools provide these resources and help reduce the toxic stress of vulnerable pupils?

The answer is by introducing a whole-school mentally healthy culture.

What would a mentally healthy school look like?

A school in which children feel listened to and understood at every level, and are encouraged to engage in conversation with empathic adults about their mental state as well as being taught to label their feelings. A mentally healthy school would validate the feelings underneath a child’s behaviour and give children and parents information about the causes and diagnoses of mental health symptoms as well as working with them to relieve these.

A relationship policy for staff A mentally-healthy school would have a policy that ensures school staff consistently engage with children in an open, warm and respectful manner. It might include policies like ’meet and greet.’ Meet and greet in primary schools involves the teacher addressing each child individually by name, with a warm open expression at the school entrance. This intervention calms children and has also been found to dramatically increase attendance figures.** Practices that reduce stress levels of vulnerable pupils Many children arrive at school in an emotional state not conducive to learning.

There are a number of research-backed practices designed to reduce stress levels in vulnerable children, best implemented at the beginning of the school day. These include time with animals, time outside, sensory play, mindfulness, Tai chi and accompanied drumming. A mentally-healthy school would make these practices available.

School staff that are ‘emotionally-available adults’ Having daily, easy access to at

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Families Manchester 5

Education Header Is good grammar important?

By Andrew Campbell

When you went to school, it’s possible you didn’t get much grammar instruction and as a result didn’t absorb its importance.

Alternatively, you may have had grammar drummed into you again and again, using a prescriptive rule-based approach which didn’t create an understanding of its significance or purpose.

Either way, you may feel that you don’t know much about grammar and may wonder if it is really an essential component of your child’s education or future.

The truth is that the use of correct grammar is important because it is the main feature within both our spoken and written communication that allows us to communicate our thoughts and ideas clearly and be understood.

6 Families Manchester

Using incorrect grammar can lead to meaningless sentences and unclear messages, which in turn can lead to misinterpretation or misunderstanding. Even something as simple as a misplaced comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence. For example: “Let’s eat Grandpa.” versus “Let’s eat, Grandpa.”

Children who don’t develop a good grasp of grammar fall back on what they intuitively know about language; as a consequence they simply write like they speak. Whereas with a good understanding of the different grammatical components of language, a

child is able to express themselves clearly and establish good foundation skills for written documentation like school essays, job applications and creative writing in later years.

Grammar rules also help children develop the habit of thinking logically and clearly.

They provide the building blocks for them to expand their vocabulary and understand and express themselves in longer, more interesting and more complex ways. When children increase their language complexity (with word endings, or longer/more complex sentences), they can express and understand more complicated ideas.

The rise of social media as a dominant form of communication amongst young people has given rise to much short-cutting of the English language. When sending texts or messages via Facebook or WhatsApp, simple sentences or fragments of sentences are the norm and it is unnecessary to use grammar. This shortcutting of language exposes children to a real risk of developing bad communication habits which could hold them back in the future.

Some tips for helping your child with grammar

Bring grammar to life by asking questions to find out what your child knows about grammar. Do they know what a noun is? If not, show your child some objects. Explain that nouns are the names used for people, places and things. You can do the same with verbs by acting out some actions such as ‘jump’, ‘hop’ and ‘clap’.

Do simple crosswords with your child using a dictionary to help you. The dictionary tells you what type of word you have looked up (verb, adverb, pronoun, noun etc.), and you can share this with your child.

Play with punctuation. When you read, occasionally look at the punctuation and talk about

what it is telling the reader to do. Show your child how a question mark tells you to raise your voice at the end of the sentence to indicate a question being asked.

Play ‘I-spy’ with the focus on looking for nouns (e.g. dad, bridge, tree, shop, apple). Tell your child that you are going to ask questions about the noun they have chosen. For example, ‘Is your noun green?’, ‘Can your noun fit in my hand?’ In this way you introduce grammatical terminology in a fun way.

Model. When your child says something that is grammatically incorrect, model to them the correct way of saying it.

For older primary school children:

Opposites. Help your child understand antonyms (opposites) by calling out words like hot, big, slow, and getting them to shout out the opposite.

Alternatively, get your child to shout words that mean the same as the ones you’re calling out (synonyms).

Tense tents. Help your child understand verb tenses, by drawing some ‘tense tents’ on pieces of paper. Write down some verbs in their various tenses – present (play), past (played), future (will play) and get your child to move the verbs into the correct tent.

Sentence Challenge.

Challenge your child to write sentences of more than 25 words that only contain one verb. This helps them to understand how to control a sentence, rather than overcomplicate it.

More resources at:

www.learnenglishkids.britishcouncil. org/grammar-vocabulary www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/ zhrrd2p www.theschoolrun.com/best-grammar-apps-for-kids

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Education Become part of the Hulme Family

Open Evening 2019 Friday 27th September, 4-7 pm

Call: 0161 624 4497 | Email: admissions@ohgs.co.uk | Visit: www.ohgs.co.uk | Nurturing potential since 1611 | Chamber Road, Oldham, OL8 4BX

Education All Round OHGS AD - FAMILIES PENNINE 180H X 130WMM, NO BLEED, CMYK, FONTS EMBEDDED COPY DATE: 09/08/2019

Bolton School

BOLTON SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Saturday 12 October, 9.30am-1.00pm

Call 01204 840201 to discuss enrolling your child in our co-ed Nursery or Infant School or in one of our single-sex Junior or Senior Schools.

www.boltonschool.org/families

Bolton School is the TES' Independent School of the Year 2019.

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Families Manchester 7

Clubs & classes Trying a new club or class

By Claire Winter

Whatever the age of your child, trying a new activity or sport encourages them to be more adventurous and learn new skills.

For parents of under 5s, classes and clubs can enrich a child’s day, giving them the chance to experience many different environments and activities. Vitally, these activities also provide social stimulation for parents too.

Meanwhile, the lives of older children have been changed by modern technology, and we need to strongly encourage them to be more active and step away from their smartphone, Xbox, or PlayStation. Thankfully, there are a huge range of organised after-school or weekend clubs and classes for children to attend, from pottery painting to coding.

Here are Families’ helpful tips for encouraging your child to try something new.

Target their interests A good starting point is to look at your child’s current interests. Their school may offer a wide range of classes and clubs from IT to sport.

Additionally, local sports centres, libraries and art centres are often teeming with opportunities to join classes and clubs. So don’t be afraid to look outside the school environment for things to do.

For active kids, why not consider something more challenging, such as climbing, caving, or martial arts? Those

8 Families Manchester

interested in animals may find opportunities at your local zoo, petting farm or riding centre.

While for the creatively inclined, investigate an art class, reading or book club or a school newspaper or blog.

While it’s a little more difficult to assess the interests of pre-schoolers or toddlers, most enjoy sing and rhyme classes or activities that involve physical activity, like pre-school gymnastics or football.

look for new or popular activities.

Try talking to other parents and see what activities their children are involved in. You could even co-ordinate for your children to participate in the activity together. Simply knowing that their friends are interested in a new club or class may mean your child will be keener to get involved.

Emma, mum of an 8 year old says: “It took three years at school together before I discovered that one of my daughter’s friends attended a weekly roller-disco at our local sports centre and the opportunity to do something with her friend was enough to persuade my daughter to join in.”

You could also introduce a reluctant child to an activity their sibling does, or for younger children nervous about being alone, you can attend the first session with them.

For pre-school and toddler classes, co-ordinating with other

parents in your network can feel more important than whether you feel your child will particularly enjoy an activity. Structured activities can keep your little one occupied for a while and give you a welcome chance to make friends with other parents who have children at the same age and stage.

Highlight the benefits Focus on the positive things your child will gain by taking part in a particular sport or activity. These could be a new social circle, certificates, medals or stickers, job or education opportunities in the future, greater confidence, getting fitter, or simply being with friends.

After-school and weekend clubs and classes are a great way for your child to stay active and learn new things. Remember, it doesn’t matter what activity your child pursues, as long as they enjoy it.

Understand what’s stopping them Many children can be apprehensive about new experiences, but if your child is consistently shying away from trying new activities, sit down with them and try to find out why. It could be a fear of not making friends, being bullied, low self-confidence about their abilities, or being in an unfamiliar environment. Once you know the cause of their anxiety, you can help address it.

If your toddler or pre-schooler is reluctant to join in a class, participate in the activity alongside them. It takes pre-schoolers time to get used to a new environment.

Once they get used to the situation they will join in with gusto. I still have fond memories of my shy, twin girls dancing and singing at their first music class!

Tap into the demand factor and co-ordinate with others Many children simply want to fit in, so if this is important to your child,

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Clubs & classes Active girls are happy girls

A new report has found that girls that are physically active are happier and more resilient than those who are not.

The findings are drawn from of a survey from more than 25,700 primary and secondary aged children by the national children’s charity, the Youth Sport Trust.

More active girls showed higher levels of the qualities associated

with wellbeing which are self-belief, confidence, resilience, happiness and empathy. The largest difference was seen in girls’ resilience. 77% of more active girls said they were resilient compared to 46% of less active girls. It also found that more active girls were happier with 75% stating so compared to 55% of less active girls.

Ali Oliver, the Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust says: “We owe every girl the opportunity to become a confident mover, find a sport or activity that she enjoys, and through that experience improved physical health and emotional wellbeing.”

More info: www.youthsporttrust.org/ girls-active

How much exercise?

More than two thirds of parents don’t know how much exercise their child needs to do to stay healthy, new research has revealed.

NHS guidelines state that children ages 5 to 18 should do

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an hour of physical activity every day, but 68% of UK adults didn’t know this or thought the target was lower.

The survey of 2,000 adults,

by YouGov for the Youth Sport Trust (YST), found that only a quarter knew the recommended exercise time for young people and on average people thought it was 46 minutes.

Meanwhile, figures recently released by Sport England show only 17.5% of children are reaching the 60-minute target daily.

More info: www.nhs.uk/ live-well/exercise

New Tennis Tykes classes at state-of-the-art venues!

With busy classes already running across Cheshire and South Manchester, Tennis Tykes is delighted to announce a partnership with the Total Fitness and Nuffield Health Clubs.

This means that a number of the pre-school age classes for 2 to 4 year olds in Hale, Didsbury and Wilmslow will now take place at these state of the art clubs from September with additional classes for primary school age children over the age of 4, also being added to the timetable.

These are in addition to the successful classes also running in Bramhall, Prestbury, Handforth and West Heaton.

Programme founder Caroline Buncall says, “There’s a fun, play based approach to the classes, with each session teaching and developing agility, balance and co-ordination as children learn tennis groundstrokes, volleys and serves. Older children also enjoy the mini tennis matches, as well!”

The Tennis Tykes teaching programme is unique – every child over the age of 2 uses rackets and hits over the net during each lesson and is also given a Tennis Tykes sticker book which charts their achievements.

So, when the weather turns cold and wintry this Autumn why not sign up your child to the fantastic Tennis Tykes classes at one of their state-of-the-art indoor venues?

For further information, please call Caroline Buncall on 07843 342662, email her at caroline. buncall@tennistykes.co.uk or visit www.tennistykes.co.uk

Families Manchester 9

Parents’ place Does my baby or toddler have ADHD?

By Toby Buckley

October is ADHD awareness month and Families takes up the baton to raise understanding about this debilitating condition.

Inattention, poor impulse control and hyperactivity are some of the key characteristics that define the behavioural disorder, ADHD. When your child is just a baby or toddler, the difficult behaviours associated with ADHD may slowly become apparent. Many children with ADHD will have been particularly hard to put down to sleep as infants, so you may well find yourself pacing around the house with them in the middle of the night to no avail.

Nursing for long periods in the middle of the night can be particularly challenging with a baby with ADHD, who might sleep for a short while then wake up screaming and crying demanding full attention. In addition, nightmares may wake them back up pretty quickly even if you do manage to get them to sleep.

During the first year of life, around one fifth of all babies will show signs of “regulatory issues” such as sleeping issues, difficulty feeding and persistent crying.

However, by the time they reach pre-school, most of these infants will have adjusted and their transient symptoms will disappear.

In research1 into infant regulatory problems, 22 studies of 1,935 children were analysed.

Babies with multiple regulatory issues were covered in five of these studies, excessive crying in ten, sleeping problems in four and feeding issues in three.

10 Families Manchester

The study concluded that infants who experienced problems in several categories were at the highest risk of developing behavioural problems. Temper tantrums and ADHD were the most common behavioural problems to develop.

Tantrums Problems with temperament are particularly common in infants with ADHD. From rocking in their cribs or baby chairs to thumping one or both of their feet, a baby with ADHD may engage in a variety of troubling behaviours.

However, many of the symptoms of ADHD in babies closely resemble the behaviour of any other happy, healthy baby, so they can go unnoticed. It is only when the problems continue after other babies have grown out of them that the issue becomes apparent.

It can take a strict eye to figure out whether or not a baby is having difficulty remembering things. One issue can be food: does your infant tend to put food in their mouth but forget to chew or swallow? Do they start crying for attention in the middle of a game, seemingly forgetting that they were playing?

These might be indicators of ADHD. Can toddlers be diagnosed with ADHD? There is evidence that toddlers are being diagnosed and treated for ADHD. The National Institute for health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines state that “ADHD should be considered in all age groups, with symptom criteria adjusted for age-appropriate changes in behaviour.”

ADHD that’s visible in toddlerhood can be associated with a number of causes and risk factors, including: • Genes • Low birth-weight, especially when caused by premature birth • Central nervous system problems at critical moments during development • Mother using drugs, alcohol, or smoking during pregnancy, or exposure to environmental toxins during pregnancy • ADHD also has a number of early indicators, according to some studies. Your child will not necessarily have ADHD if they have some of these signs and symptoms, but they may be worth taking into consideration • Delay in motor development, speech, and language. Speech development delays at 9 months old were present in a third of children with ADHD, according to one study. At 18 months old, two thirds exhibited delayed speech and language.

• Slowed rate of head growth • Issues with behaviour As soon as they reach 3 years of age, certain researchers have suggested that a child can reliably be diagnosed with ADHD through evaluations.

Where can I find out more?

For more information about ADHD, check out this helpful guide from Need2Know books at www.need2knowbooks.co.uk/ product/the-essential-guideto-adhd/ It answers essential questions and guides parents and teachers step-by-step through the actions they need to take to support a child with ADHD. Use N2K25OFF for a 25% discount.

Sources 1 Archive of Disease in Childhood

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A world of weight loss without dieting

Parents’ place

Would your child like a magical pen-pal?

Meet Banjo Robinson, a globe-trotting cat, who sends children personalised letters twice a month from places as far away as the Taj Mahal in India, the Great Wall of China and Antarctica.

The new subscription service makes writing fun for 5 to 8-year olds, with 90% of children writing back to Banjo and posting their reply under the sofa before they go to bed. The letters are then whisked away by local cats via

Claire Armitage, who tried to lose weight for almost ten years, lost 2st in six months after she couldn’t fit in a fairground ride. Now she’s using her success to shape a whole new career helping other people change their lives and achieve their weight loss dreams too.

New mum Claire struggled with her weight for years. “I came across as confident and happy, never letting on that my weight bothered me but I was always worried about it; it

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‘Cat Mail’ and delivered to Banjo who takes time to reply to every letter, twice a month. Every letter is personalised with details about the child’s interests, and parents can also add a PS message to the end of the next letter, allowing them to partake in the make-believe. Parents waging the eternal battle to persuade their children to write more will be glad to have a new feline ally to improve literacy levels. Find out more at: banjorobinson.com

was a constant worry that lived with me every day.”

Claire now feels healthier, happier and has more energy for her son. She feels good in her own skin and is excited to continue not only her own journey but help and support others with their own.

Join Claire at the Group Relaunch at St John’s Parish Centre, Chorlton-cum-Hardy M21 9DX on Thursday 19 September – or call her on 07823 357764.

Families Manchester 11

Parents’ place Why daylight is essential for children’s health

By Andrew Campbell

Modern children are spending more time indoors than previous generations. An extensive survey in 2016 found that three quarters of UK children spend less time outside than prison inmates and a fifth do not play outside at all on an average day. A report by Natural England concluded that 12% of children in the UK had not been to a park or natural environment at all in the preceding year.

Spending less time outside restricts children’s access to natural light and this can have an impact on their health.

Short-sightedness Babies are born longsighted, with a short eyeball that grows as their bodies do. A healthy eye stops growing when it reaches its optimum shape, but it struggles to do this without access to good quality light, which is only available outdoors.

Our eyes are very good at tricking us into believing that our indoor environments are well lit, but even a brightly lit room cannot match the levels of outdoor light, even on a cloudy day outside.

Without the correct daylight cues, the eyeball can grow too

long, making the child shortsighted, at which point, they will need lenses or surgery to correct their vision. The NHS advises that ensuring your child regularly spends time playing outside may help reduce the risk of becoming short-sighted.

The sunshine vitamin Sunlight helps children produce adequate levels of vitamin D, protecting them from poor bone health, cardiovascular disease and reduced muscle function. The NHS recommends that babies and children aged under 5 years should be given vitamin D supplements even if they do get out in the sun and everyone else should consider daily Vitamin D supplements, especially from October to early March.

SAD Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a specific type of depression thought to affect around 2 million people in the UK, including children. SAD is thought to be related to lack of daylight exposure and the

effect that this has on some of the brain’s chemicals and hormones. The exact nature of this effect is not fully understood, but one theory is that light stimulates the part of the brain called the hypothalamus which controls mood, appetite and sleep. In some people insufficient sunlight results in a disruption of these processes.

Typical symptoms include lack of energy and motivation, sleep problems, feeling depressed or anxious and poor concentration.

Making small changes, such as giving your children more access to daylight, even when it’s cloudy, and encouraging regular physical activity, will set them up for a much healthier future.

Getting your children to go out and play is an essential component of their long-term health.

For more info visit:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/ seasonal-affective-disorder-sad www.nhs.uk/conditions/ short-sightedness www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/ how-to-get-vitamin-d-from-sunlight

Looking for a holiday club?

BOSH runs multi-activity holiday clubs for 3 – 11 year olds during all school holidays (except for the Christmas Break), usually based on the school holiday dates of St. Hilda’s Primary School (Stretford).

BOSH is OFSTED registered and has been running for 22 years!

Their experienced Play Workers will facilitate lots of outdoor play including the usual sports and games (e.g. football, rounders, playground games)

but also trampolining in the summer holidays, den building and lots of free play – even the odd water fight! They have lots of toys and games for free play – children enjoy dressing up, playing in tents and lots of arts and crafts and they can bake, make and sew. Bosh provides all the fun your child needs in a safe, stimulating and playful environment.

See www.boshonline.co.uk for more info and to book.

www.boshonline.co.uk

12 Families Manchester

familiesonline.co.uk

What’s on Are you feeling lucky?!

WIN a Family Ticket to Quirki by Cirque Surreal!

Quirki by Cirque Surreal comes to Manchester’s intu Trafford Centre for a strictly limited season this October half-term, from Friday 18 October to Saturday 2 November.

‘A Night at the Museum’ meets contemporary circus in this big top spectacular. Audiences will be transported from the heart of Mexico, to unexplored worlds of fantasy, where strange creatures from supernatural realms illuminate and come to life in spellbinding set-pieces of physical improbabilities. Electrifying thrill acts including a giant space wheel and motorcycle thunderdome are given an ultra-modern twist by some of the greatest circus artistes from around the globe, woven together with surreal comedy from Chico Rico, in an unforgettable show for the whole family.

Cirque Surreal leaves behind out-dated big top traditions through its dramatic internationally-renowned contemporary interpretation of ‘circus’.

It has toured extensively around the Far and Middle East, and continues to evolve with unique staging, innovative sensory concepts and dynamic artistes, providing the benchmark for other modern circus productions.

Show times vary. For more information and to book visit cirquesurreal.com or call 0871 705 0099. Discounted

Fri 6 – Sun 8 Sept

Stockport Town Centre Stockport Food and Drink Festival 10am – 10pm / All ages / Free A 3 day festival of food and drink with over 70 traders. Plus a live Cookery Theatre on Saturday with TV chef Simon Rimmer. Mr Bloom and his vegetables will be around on Sunday to thrill the youngsters with their show. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Fri 6 – Sun 8 Sept

Southport Beach Southport Airshow The number one family day out in the North West. A packed flying schedule and with the RAF 100 we have a fitting tribute with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Bristol Blenheim and Spitfires flying over the weekend. www.visitliverpool.com

Sat 7 Sept

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Edible Art Family Craft Various times from 12pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies Rediscover words that are being lost in children’s language that are used to describe the natural world. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events Eccles Community Fire Station Open Day 10am – 2pm / All ages / Free, donations welcome. Visit your local station to see our fire and rescue appliances up close and personal,

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Sat 14 Sept & Sat 19 Oct Lyme Park, Disley Lyme Experience Walk 11am – 1.30pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies A 3½ mile walk around Lyme’s stunning estate.. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Sat 14 Sept

family tickets available. Box Office open on-site at Peel 7 Car Park, Regent Crescent from Friday 11 October, 11am to 8.30pm daily.

To be in with a chance of winning a Family Ticket, simply send an email with your name and phone number to caryl@familiesmanchester.co.uk with the word Quirki as the subject.

The Family ticket is worth £110, and is eligible for any QUIRKI by Cirque Surreal performance at the intu Trafford Centre, valid for either two adults and two children or one adult and three children. The competition closes Monday 30 September.

Terms & conditions: The children must be aged 16 or younger. Winners must confirm their chosen performance time at least two weeks in advance. Tickets subject to availability. Seats are not numbered, it is first-come-first-served in the section tickets are valid. Management cannot be held responsible for unseen eventualities. Tickets will be available to pick up from the on-site Box Office only, on the date of the chosen performance. Full T&Cs at cirquesurreal.com.

watch a variety of demonstrations, meet our firefighters and have the opportunity to ask them questions! www.manchesterfire.gov.uk

Sun 8 Sept

Lyme Park, Disley Lyme Bark 11am – 3pm / Free, normal admission applies. Our annual celebration of all things canine! A fun dog show, agility and more, dog-themed gifts and treats and meet our ranger team and Lyme dogwalking ambassadors. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Thurs 12 Sept

Marple Library, Stockport Roald Dahl’s The Twits presented by John Kirk 4 – 5pm / Age 6+ / Free, booking essential. A 40 minute presentation by the fantastic performance storyteller John Kirk contains twits being vile to each other! Please note that John uses water and water pistols during this performance. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Fri 13 Sept

Hat Works, Stockport Messy Milliners 11 – 11.45am / Babies & early walkers / £4. An exciting and innovative messy play session with a different hatting theme each month. Lots of sensory development for baby. Dress for mess!

Booking essential – 0161 474 2399 www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Manchester Central Library The Ministry of Lost and Found 11am / All ages / Free drop in event The Ministry of Lost and Found is a secret department protecting the most curious and precious objects ever lost or found. Join Frankie and all our Ministry friends for quests, adventures, fun and games for one day only. www.z-arts.org/events Dunham Massey, Altrincham Heritage Open Day: Explore Dunham Massey 10.30am – 5pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Celebrate the autumn season and all its colours, tastes, smells and sounds at Dunham Massey. Families can pick up a Percy the Park Keeper activity trail to find out about the autumnal habitats of Dunham’s woodland animals and birds. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events The Lowry (Quays Theatre) Basil Brush’s Family Fun Show Britain’s most loveable fox takes you on a journey of laughs, storytelling and song in show for all the family specially written for the live stage and packed with fun and excitement.

Come join in the mayhem! www.thelowry.com

Sat 14 & Sun 15 Sept

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Heritage Open Day: Rights to Access 10.30am – 5pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Step back in time to discover the paths that two hundred years ago, you may not have had the right to take. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events Chester Zoo Wildlife Connections Festival 12 – 5pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Two jam-packed days with amazing activities that will have you enthralled by the wildlife found right on our doorstep, all set in our stunning Nature Reserve. www.chesterzoo.org/events Tatton Park Harvest Festival at the Farm 12 – 5pm / Normal Park and Farm admission applies. Join in with the Farm’s very own harvest festival. See the steam engine running, have a go at scarecrow making and spinning.

Make your own corn doll and woodturning demos. Harvest Blessing at 2pm with Preston Brook brass band. Please feel free to bring your own pets to be blessed. www.tatton.org.uk

Sat 21 Sept

Lyme Park, Disley Heritage Open Day 10.30am – 5pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Craft activities and games throughout the day. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Sat 21 & Sun 22 Sept

Arley Hall and Gardens, Northwich The Great British Food Festival 10am – 5pm / All ages / £9 per adult Cookery demos , the Men v Food challenges, live music, children’s cookery lessons, giant bubbles and circus skills! IA fabulous day out for the whole family, including the dog! www.arleyhallandgardens.com

Thurs 26 Sept – Mon 7 Oct

Manchester City Centre Manchester Food and Drink Festival This well-established nationally acclaimed event sees its 22nd annual take-over of the City. www.foodanddrinkfestival.com

Thurs 26 Sept

Bramall babies sensory stories under 5’s activities 11am / New born – non walking babies / £5 per baby. A sensory story and play session. Booking essential. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Fri 27 Sept

Hat Works, Stockport Mad Hatters art and crafts club An action packed session of arts and crafts with the emphasis on fun and age ability appropriate crafts.

Booking essential on 0161 474 2399.

10am – 12pm: 2 - 5 years / £6 per child 2 – 3pm: babies & early walkers / £4 per child. www.stockport.gov.uk/events Oldham Hulme Grammar School Open Evening 4 - 7pm 0161 625 4497 / www.ohgs.co.uk

Fri 27 – Sun 29 Sept

Event City, Manchester The Baby and Toddler Show All the amazing shopping and expert advice new and expectant parents need to give their baby the best start! www.babyandtoddlershow.co.uk

Sat 28 Sept

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Taste the Estate Guided Walk 11am – 2pm / All ages / £6.50 Adult, £3.25 Child. Treat your taste buds on this autumnal guided walk as you discover some of the various food and drink producers on the wider Dunham Massey estate. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events Z-Arts, Hulme Little Monster Various Times / Ages 3-5 years Created by the award-winning team behind acclaimed early years hit Twinkle Twinkle, this heartwarming new puppetry treat will entrance young and old with visual invention, magical music and some loveable puppet monsters. www.z-arts.org Hat Works, Stockport Autism early bird 10 – 11.30am / All ages / £3 per craft activity. An opportunity for families with autism and other sensory processing conditions to come and have a go at different crafts in a quiet space. Experienced staff will be on hand to help with the activities. There is also the chance to explore the museum whilst it’s not too busy.

Booking is essential on 0161 474 2399. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Families Manchester 13

What’s on Sun 29 Sept

Manchester Monastery, Gorton Happy Sundaze 2 – 4pm / All ages / £7.50, pre walkers go free. Conker Crew will be bringing fabulous family forest school fun, plus we have our resident DJ rocking the nave, the OKS two channel family Silent Disco, resident facepainters and of course our Make, Do and Mess creativity arts and crafts zone where you will be able to make some shakers for the main music event! ourkids.social/events The Lowry (The Studio) Jack and The Beanstalk Fee Fi Fo Fum! It’s a giant of a show, we’d love you to come!. This classic fairytale now gets the Lyngo treatment so expect lots of surprises and beautiful images as Patrick Lynch (from Cbeebies) tells the gripping story of Jack who sells his cow for 5 magic beans and finds himself in the land above the clouds.

It’s a show for the over 3’s (and their giants) with something for everyone – enormous shoes, tiny houses, showers of silver and gold and a big, leafy explosion! www.thelowry.com Bramall Hall 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 you. We have sensory sacks, trails and activity hampers available. Book on 0161 474 2020. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Sat 5 & Sun 6 Oct

East Lancs Railway, Bury A Day out with Thomas 9am – 4pm / All ages / Children £12, Adult £19.50, booking essential Join Thomas, the number one blue engine, at the East Lancashire Railway for a train ride unlike any other. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Sun 6 Oct

Tatton Park Apple Day 10am – 6pm / Normal admission applies.

A scrumptious Sunday at the Farm and in the Gardens to celebrate the wonderful apple with games and children’s activities. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Wed 9 – Sun 13 Oct

Manchester Arena Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic Grab your Mickey ears and get ready for the ultimate Disney experience. Be charmed by a cast of over 50 unforgettable Disney characters, with Mouse-ter of Ceremonies Mickey Mouse, the spirited Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and many of the Disney Princesses including Jasmine, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Snow White and Tiana. www.manchester-arena.com

Sat 12 Oct

Bolton School Open Morning 9.30am - 1pm 01204 840201 / www.boltonschool.org/families

14 Families Manchester

Sun 13 Oct

Mon 21 Oct – Fri 1 Nov

Tatton Park FungalPunk Dave’s Fungus Foray 10am – 1pm / All ages / £10pp, booking essential. Join fungus expert Fungal Punk Dave and a Tatton Ranger, on a guided walk of Tatton’s Parkland.

Dogs welcome, bring a packed lunch and dress for the outdoors. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Mon 21 Oct – Sun 3 Nov

The Heatons Sports Club, Stockport Heart of the Heatons – Make, Do and Bop 2 – 3.30pm / All ages / £6, pre walkers go free. A family silent disco as part of Heart of the Heaton’s closing party. ourkids.social/events

Fri 18 Oct – Sat 2 Nov

Trafford Centre Quirki! By Cirque Surrreal ‘A Night at the Museum’ meets contemporary circus in this big top spectacular. Discounted family tickets available. 0871 705 0099 / www.cirquesurreal.com

Sat 19 Oct – Fri 1 Nov

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal October Half Term: People? Pah, Profit!

11am – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Discover how mill work impacted the human body. How did the apprentices feel after a long day at the mill? What did working 12 hours a day really do to your body?

Crafts, science experiments and interactive activities that will bring all of the aches, pains and injuries of 18th Century mill work to life. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Sat 19 Oct – Thurs 7 Nov Lyme Park, Disley Autumn Woodlands Trail 10.30am – 4.30pm / Dogs welcome/ £2 per trail booklet. Pick up your trail booklet and adventure through Lyme’s woodlands to discover the fairy tales and folklore of our trees. Wear weather suitable clothes and shoes for a walk. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Sun 20 Oct

The Lowry (The Studio) Pulse Patience and Bird are waiting for rain in the dry, dusty heat of the American Dust Bowl. Clanky Jane arrives with her ‘Cloud-O-Matic’ machine, but will some crazy percussion and a bit of magic make the rain come? Featuring captivating visual effects, puppetry, live music and a sprinkling of water, Pulse will immerse you into the world of Patience, Bird and Clanky Jane.

Bamboozle bring two versions of Pulse to The Lowry – an intimate version for audiences of 6 children and young people described as having profound and multiple learning disabilities (11am and 12.30pm) and a relaxed version open to all (3pm). www.thelowry.com

Mon 21 – Fri 25 Oct

Dunham Massey, Altrincham The Lost Words: Told in Gold Various Times / All ages. Robert McFarlane and Jackie Morris’ spellbook, The Lost Words, is brought to life in this imaginative family theatre performance. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Jodrell Bank, Cheshire October Half Term – Meet the Experts 1pm Weekdays only / All ages / Free with general admission. Meet one of our residents 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.jodrellbank.net Jodrell Bank, Cheshire October Half Term – Planet Hunters Various times / Age 7+ / Free with general admission. Join the search for another planet like the Earth in our brand new science show. Fun-filled and fact-packed, our shows include interactive demonstrations and live experiments –perfect for all the family! www.jodrellbank.net

Thurs 24 Oct

Staircase House, Stockport Crime and Punishment 11am – 12pm / Age 7+ / £3. Discover gruesome deeds and how the guilty were punished. An interactive child friendly family event. www.stockport.gov.uk/events Touchstones, Rochdale Creepy Creature Catchers 11 – 11.30am / All ages / £4, adults free Learn all about the magical creatures of Rochdale as you explore troll nests and search for goblins with your own goblin seeking goggles and magic wand.Oh, and who dares to enter the Enchanted Forest? Be careful though, you may turn into a Creepy Creature! www.link4life.org

Fri 25 Oct

The Lowry (Lyric Theatre) Justin Live CBeebies superstar and children’s favourite Justin Fletcher live on stage in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza. Justin Live is a fun show for all the family packed full of popular interactive song and dance routines, comedy, and some custard pies too! www.thelowry.com

Fri 25 – Sun 27 Oct

The Lowry (Quays Theatre) Dear Zoo This production will delight all those who have read the book (both young and old) as it unfolds with childengaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction. For age 2+ www.thelowry.com

Sat 26 & Sun 27 Oct

Bolton Steam Museum Steam Weekend 10am – 4pm / Free (donations welcome).

The largest collection of working mill steam engines the UK – most will be running in steam this weekend. www.nmes.org Tatton Park The Christmas Gifts Fair 10.30am – 5pm / normal Park entry applies, free entry to fair. An early chance to look for those special Christmas gifts for all the family. www.countrywide-events.co.uk

Tatton Park Family ‘Pick a Pumpkin’.

10.45am – 12pm / Age 5+ / £12 (includes park and farm entry), booking essential Choose your own pumpkin, fresh from the field, then head to the Clydesdale Barn for a refreshing pumpkin juice and a yummy pumpkin muffin and learn how to create a warming pumpkin soup. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sat 26 – Thurs 31 Oct

Tatton Park Haunted Hallowe’en at the Old Hall Huddle together for spine-tingling tales and harmless hauntings with Old Hall souls, brought to life in ancient grounds. Creep through atmospheric woodland and the Medieval Old Hall on a theatrical journey before you get the chance to work your magic in a ghoulish workshop. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Mon 28 – Thurs 31 Oct

Tatton Park The Pumpkin Patch 12 – 5pm / All ages / £10pp (includes farm and park entry). Come down to the Farm to meet all your Farmyard favourites and then head off in search of the perfect pumpkin. Booking essential. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Tues 29 Oct

Stockport Guild Hall, Stockport Hocus Pocus Family Halloween Party 2 – 4pm / All ages / Child £10, Adult £5. A spooktacular Family Halloween party. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Thurs 31 Oct

East Lancs Railway, Bury Halloween Ghost Trains 5 – 11pm. Climb aboard the spooktacular steam train for a terrifying trip to Rawtenstall and back. Enjoy a host of hauntingly hilarious tricks and treats, rub shoulders with ghouls and ghosts and show off your best fancy dress.

You can even start at Bury Transport Museum’s Creepy Craft Workshop to get set for the scare! www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Sat 2 Nov

Bridgewater School, Worsley Whole School Open Day 10am – 2pm. Come and see all the uniquely individual features which set our school apart. To register your interest please call 0161 794 1463 or email admin@bwslive.co.uk. www.bridgewater-school.co.uk

Sun 3 Nov

Tatton Park Farm Adoption Day at the Farm 11am – 4pm / Normal admission applies. Meet our special, rare breed animals which are up for adoption.

When you choose one to adopt, you get an adoption pack, plus free entry on adoption days to visit and check the progress of your special animal. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Thurs 7 & Sat 9 Nov

Withington Girls’ School Whole School Open Day 7 Nov: 4.30 – 6.30pm 9 Nov: 10am – 12 noon Please register your interest by calling 0161 249 3371. www.wgs.org

familiesonline.co.uk

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

familiesonline.co.uk

What’s on

Families Manchester 15

Kids adVentures

Prestwich, Radcliffe & Salford Childcare with an outdoor ethos 0-5 years Family feel nurseries Full time pre-school forest school Holiday clubs 4-12 years No deposit and no hidden fees Government funded places available

www.kidsadventures.org.uk