Families Manchester January-February 2019

Manchester

In this issue: What to do if your child self-harms Best baby apps for new parents Make 2019 your happiest year EVER

Issue 73 Jan/Feb 2018

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News The Big Garden Birdwatch

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 26 to 28 January and is the largest wildlife survey in the world. The information collected helps monitor bird species in the UK, and is great fun for children.

Next issue: March/April 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

To take part, you need to watch the birds in your garden or local park for just one hour at some point over the three days and report your results to the RSPB. You can request a FREE Big Garden Birdwatch pack from the RSPB which includes a bird identification chart and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden.

To make it fun, challenge your children to see who can spot the most birds. Take a bike ride to a local park to look for birds, or make a day trip out of it and spot birds in a new place.

More info at www.rspb.org.uk

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

Kids debit card and app teaches value of money and giving

gohenry is a pre-paid debit card and app that allows parents to manage their children’s pocket money whilst teaching them good money habits and giving them financial independence.

Parents can top up the card with a regular allowance or set

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

tasks for their children to complete to earn extra money.

Parents can decide where the card can be used (online, in-store or at cash machines) all within set spending limits.

Children can set savings goals and choose how much pocket money and earned money they save.

Now gohenry has teamed up with the NSPCC to launch a new Giving function, allowing children to make a one-off or regular donation to the NSPCC (capped at 20 pence per week).

More info visit www.gohenry.co.uk/why-nspcc

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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News Wear A Hat Day 2019

If you’re looking for a fun activity for the whole family, look no further than Wear A Hat Day. The annual fundraising event takes place on Friday 29 March 2019 and the Brain Tumour Research charity needs your help to make it the biggest, boldest and hattiest EVER! There are so many ways to get involved and the little ones will have so much fun, all whilst

helping an important cause.

From organising a hatty fashion show and making Easter bonnets, to hosting a bake sale and going on a hat-tastic walkabout, you can plan any type of event you fancy… just don’t forget your hat!

By taking part in Wear A Hat Day, you will be helping to raise vital funds for research into brain tumours. The disease is indiscriminate and it can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Register for Wear A Hat Day and your family can help change this; simply go to www.braintumourresearch.org/ fundraise/wear-a-hat-day/ wear-a-hat-day-registration

Spin a tale during National Storytelling Week

The first week of February marks National Storytelling Week, a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world.

We are all immersed in stories — from conversations during which we re-tell events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success

as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs firstly to be a good speaker and listener.

Above all though, storytelling is fun. Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary.

National Storytelling Week takes place in storytelling clubs, theatres, museums, schools, hospitals, spoken word venues, and care homes.

To find a local event or to look through its extensive archive, visit www.sfs.org.uk

Healthy drinks with kids’ meals The Oral Health Foundation is calling for the introduction of healthy drinks as the standard drink option served with children’s meals in restaurants.

This follows a pioneering law passed in California, which will see milk (and a non-dairy alternative) and water being advertised and served as primary drink choices with kids’ meals in restaurants.

According to the OHF, around

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one in four children age 5 years in the UK have tooth decay and new government data shows a rise in the number of 5 to 9 year olds admitted to hospital for tooth decay for the second year running.

The charity believes rolling out a similar initiative in the UK will help combat the health effects and tooth decay caused by sugary drinks every year.

More info at www.dentalhealth.org

Is your tot a Tennis Tyke?

Tennis Tykes for tots is currently running a number of exciting classes across South Manchester and Cheshire. These classes provide children with a fun first step into tennis; • developing their agility, balance and co-ordination; • aiding learning in key areas; e.g. taking instruction, learning about colours, literacy and numeracy • encouraging and rewarding achievement with stickers and sticker charts for every child; and

New Year’s opportunity with Families!

• encouraging social interaction with their peers.

The government has, in recent years, issued guidelines, recommending that children under 5 participate in at least 3 hours of physical activity per day and that exercise of this kind not only promotes physical health but also improves academic performance.

So, when the wintry weather makes it harder to play outside, Tennis Tykes classes provide a great opportunity not only to “get physical”, but also to provide so much more for your tot. Why not give them a try in 2019?

Visit www.tennistykes.co.uk, call 07843342662 or email caroline.buncall@tennistykes.co.uk for more information.

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Is 2019 the year for you to finally achieve that work/ life balance and work for yourself? Then you may like to consider becoming the new owner/editor of the fabulous, established Families Manchester magazine!

A Families franchise offers you a reputable, trusted and ethical brand, access to constant advice and support from head office, as well as encouragement from a friendly and supportive community of over 40 Editors countrywide.

The role is varied: writing, editing, proofreading, assisting with design and print, selling the ad space as well as working

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through invoices and accounts and it will give you a huge skills base to take forward into other roles in the future.

It’s challenging, but really rewarding.

Jayne and Caryl have been running Families Manchester since 2011 and have now made the decision to move on to pastures new. We’re wanting to pass the reins over to someone who will nurture and enjoy it as much as we have – and if that’s you, then please get in touch! editor@familiesmanchester.co.uk

Families Manchester 3

Education Top tips for de-stressing term time routines

Outstanding

By LindaIndependent Stone Education for boys and girls aged 4 to 16

coffee, have a shower and get dressed in less of a rush than usual.

Being up 10 minutes earlier does, in theory, also give you a fair chance of making sure both you and your children are ready 10 minutes before you have to leave! This will give you time to gather your thoughts and make Performing School sure you have everything. No After Top the long school holidays at GCSE in Cheshire in the summer, I guiltily look more (or perhaps just less) rushing forward to getting our daughter out of the door and rushing back and by default, our family, “back to pick up forgotten items!

EYFS Bright Beginnings Day into routine.” I suspect I’m not Tip Two: Have a checklist 18th January 2019, 9am Either write an actual checklist alone. Once I’m deep into term cransleyschool.com time again though, I find myself for your child’s school morning wishing the “routine” was a8 (61.8), and EBaccroutine, or just verbally repeat * Grade 4+ in English and Maths (100%), Attainment (50%) - DfE Performance Tables 2017 little less demanding, easier to the jobs they are expected to do cope with and didn’t involve until they remember them. A the brains of my husband and I checklist could include: eating being packed full of “Don’t breakfast, getting dressed, forgets…” and “Remember…” – brushing teeth and hair, packing often communicated between lunch and water bottle, putting us last thing at night when, of on shoes and coat. It’s good to course, they are most likely to be have a plan of their weekly school forgotten and unremembered… routine somewhere handy too so Having chatted with other parents, that you know when school library I know we are not alone in this books are due back, which day is experience. So, here are some tips swimming or games and so on. from my parent network for making Tip Three: Use devices the all-important “stress points” of Set reminders on your phone for the term time week – before school, special tasks such as after school, weekend – a little easier. remembering to give your child signed permission slips or leaving Before school early for a school club. Think Tip One: The crucial 10 minutes about an alarm for children who Experiment with getting up 10 struggle to wake up. Set a timer minutes earlier. This may give you for tasks such as 15 minutes to a chance to grab a cup of tea or eat breakfast or 5 minutes for

4 Families Manchester

showering, so that you can keep your children on schedule.

The night before Tip One: Get the homework done It’s SO easy to let your child leave it until they are too tired to do it. So beware the pleas to do homework after dinner. This is always a disaster for us as it leaves our daughter “tired but wired” and often in bed later than is ideal or struggling to switch off and go to sleep. It also means we’re more tired too. It definitely works for us to give our daughter 30 minutes of wind down time when she gets home, but then, homework is ON! Tip Two: Do preparation with your child before bed Retrieve the items of uniform strewn around the house – your child will need to help you find items that are hidden behind the couch or the curtains! Put dirty items in the laundry and lay out the remainder for the next day. Check all homework and sports kit are bagged up for the next morning.

Make showers/baths and hair washes part of the night time routine, rather than obstacles to overcome in the morning.

It works to make sure you get a really good chat in with your child before they get into bed – otherwise, in my experience, they will delay going to sleep until said chat has been had!

Tip Three: Build in quiet time Our daughter seems to need at least an hour of “unwind” time after dinner, if she’s to go to bed and to sleep quickly. She would

like to dress up, dance, sing, watch screens, and research online. Instead, we have a compulsory half hour (minimum) of quiet activity e.g. reading to herself or drawing.

Tip Four: Do your prep Make packed lunches, sort snacks, fill in permission slips, ensure you’ve written in your child’s homework or reading diary, if they have these.

At weekends Tip One: Don’t over schedule Having too much scheduled activity at the weekend often means our daughter doesn’t get to catch her breath and replenish her energy before Monday. Try to make sure there’s chill time for everyone.

Tip Two: Get the homework done Part 2 In my experience, like toothache, the longer you leave it, the worse it gets! Don’t let homework hang over the heads of the family all weekend. Try dividing the work into two parts and schedule one just after breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday.

Tip Three: Plan the schedule As a family, we chat about the week ahead at dinner on Sunday evening. We check email from our daughter’s school to see what’s happening in the coming week, and make sure we annotate details of extra sport/music practices, Book Club books, late finishes, early starts etc. on our calendar.

Good luck!

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Education The toxic school run

Children in the UK are being forced to breathe dangerous levels of toxic air on their way to and from school and whilst in the playground, according to new research.

A study by Unicef and Queen Mary University in London reveals that young children are absorbing a disproportionate amount of tiny black carbon particles during the school day with potentially devastating health consequences.

Exposure to the these particles, which can penetrate deep into the lungs, bloodstream and even the brain, stunt lung and brain growth and cause long term breathing conditions, is generally higher at school than when children are at home.

Unicef UK estimates that one in three children are growing up in places in the UK with unsafe levels of particulate pollution. It is calling on the government to take urgent action to protect children from toxic air before irreversible damage is done to their health and their futures.

More info at www.unicef.org. uk/clean-air-child-health-airpollution

Schools that ban mobile phones improve results

Should children be allowed to take mobile phones to school?

Opinion is divided. Some advocate a complete ban because of the potential for distraction, while others promote the use of phones as a teaching tool in the classroom.

Schools in England and Scotland have complete autonomy regarding

Hidden condition affects maths learning Many children are suffering from an undiagnosed developmental condition which affects their ability to learn maths, according to a study from Queen’s University in Belfast.

A team of experts carried out

research on the prevalence of Specific Learning Disorder in mathematics (SLDM), which is also known as dyscalculia and affects up to 6% of people.

A child with dyscalculia can have normal intelligence in every other

way but struggle to do well in maths due a specific impairment in the brain.

The researchers studied the mathematics performance of 2,421 primary school children over a number of school years. The study showed that, in almost all cases,

their mobile phone policy, which has resulted in large differences in the timing of the introduction of bans.

Schools that ban pupils from carrying mobile phones show a sustained improvement in exam results, with the biggest advances coming from struggling students, according to research published by the London School of Economics.

The large-scale study found schools in Birmingham, London, Leicester and Manchester that banned mobiles enjoyed a boost in the proportion of pupils getting five good passes at GCSE, compared with schools that allowed pupils to keep their phones, even if switched off. More info at www.lse.ac.uk children who appeared to have dyscalculia are not being diagnosed, meaning that, in the view of the researchers, children with persistent, serious difficulties with mathematics, unlike children with dyslexia, do not receive specialist support.

More info at www.nuffieldfoundation.org/news

A preparation for life

Infants at Bolton School enjoy a wide range of exciting activities.

Bolton School has just become Independent School of the Year (Independent School Parent Magazine Awards).

The school is renowned for its academic excellence and students leave with outstanding exam results which allow them to attend top universities, enjoy amazing careers and lead fulfilled lives. However, much of their success is built on the foundations that are put in place when they attend the co-educational Nursery and Infant School and the Junior Girls’ or Junior Boys’ Schools.

Early Years’ Foundation Stage (0-5 Years) and Infant School (4-7 Years) Bolton School’s EYFS was recently described as “outstanding” in all aspects of its provision. The report

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covered the Nursery, Nursery Class for 3 and 4 year olds, the Infant School (Beech House) and Kidzone, their wraparound childcare club. It is highly unusual for a school to be found to be outstanding in all categories.

Junior Girls’ School and Junior Boys’ School (7-11 Years) After three years at the Infant School, many children progress into the single-sex Junior Schools.

Here they are supported, challenged and nurtured as they focus on their studies whilst undertaking an incredible range of extra-curricular activities that help develop the whole child.

Open Event Parents and children are invited to the Infant and Junior Schools’ Open Evening on Thursday 25 April, 4.30 - 6.30pm.

For further information: Nursery and Nursery Class for 3 and 4 Year Olds: 01204 432144 Infant School: 01204 434759 Junior Girls’ School: 01204 434761 Junior Boys’ School: 01204 434735

Families Manchester 5

Childcare What is a Montessori Pre-school or Nursery?

Many of us are familiar with the word “Montessori” in connection with education, but what exactly is the Montessori Method and how can it benefit children?

The Montessori Method was developed 100 years ago by Dr Maria Montessori and recognises that children will naturally learn by themselves given the right environment. In the Montessori classroom, carefully planned activities and specialised

6 Families Manchester

equipment are provided for different levels of learning. A child is free to choose how he or she learns but within this carefully prepared environment designed to meet each child’s physical and emotional needs and feed their inquisitive minds. Teachers are highly trained and hold a great understanding and respect for each child, delivering the right information, at the right time.

The younger children develop focus, motor skills, methodical

habits and a sense of achievement by mastering physical tasks such as sweeping, scrubbing, polishing and pouring. Sequencing, sorting, and problem solving are made enjoyable with blocks, models and puzzles. The basics of mathematics begin with beads and cards and counters whilst language skills improve with movable alphabets and language cards.

Music and art play an equally important role in daily activities, and children investigate the habits of plants and animals in the cultural areas. Older children then progress to more complex maths, history, science and language with age-appropriate tools and materials. Throughout all levels, the child is guided to be orderly and tidy, and to help keep the classroom a good place for themselves and their classmates to enjoy.

Each individual piece is designed to teach a range of specific skills. Once shown how to use a piece of equipment, a child can then experiment until they get it right. The equipment is specifically designed to be self-correcting which means children can learn by themselves, through their senses and at their own pace. Then, the equipment is designed to provide another challenge so that learning becomes progressively more difficult, providing the opportunity for children to progress. In this way, a child’s learning experience is accelerated.

Whilst all children are different and no hard and fast rules can be applied, research conducted by the University of Virginia in the US has shown that children who attend Montessori nurseries or pre-schools may be better prepared for English and Maths learning when they start school. The research also demonstrated that these children scored higher in tests for “executive function.” This is the ability to adapt to changing and complex problems. Those children who attended Montessori nurseries or preschools also displayed a greater sense of justice and fairness and interacted with others in an emotional positive way.

Melanie Hallam, Director of Alderley Day Nursery says “One of the greatest benefits of the Montessori approach is learning by doing. Children are always using hands on equipment and are given the time to learn at their own pace, repeating activities over and over at their own will until they are confident in their ability, and before looking for the next challenge.”

“When delivered correctly, the whole approach encourages independence, confidence, concentration, self-control, a sense of order, initiative, grace, courtesy, patience, compassion, negotiation and self-esteem, putting children in a great position when starting their school career.”

At Alderley Day Nursery, Montessori is embedded not just in the pre-school classroom, but throughout the whole nursery.

Melanie explains, “when planning the nursery some 11 years ago, I was absolutely definite about following the Montessori approach which research continues to prove as a superior learning philosophy, but whereas traditionally Montessori caters for pre-school children working to a more formal school timetable, I wanted to make it accessible to all families and all age groups by implementing Montessori in a full daycare setting, opening all year round to meet the requirements of working parents as well.”

“Although the Montessori early years curriculum is designed for children from the age of 2.5 up to 6 years old, Dr Maria Montessori wrote much about the development of young babies, even prenatally, and it is this information that we have examined to assist us when preparing our baby and toddler environments and continue to refer to throughout our practice.”

Choosing a pre-school or nursery setting for your child is never easy and it’s always advisable to visit and ask as many questions as possible. No one setting or type of setting will suits every family, and ultimately, your gut instinct on a setting’s suitability is most likely to lead you to the right decision!

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Childcare An Inspector Calls!

The role of an Ofsted Inspector in assessing a nursery setting

Whilst there are lots of important considerations when choosing a nursery or pre-school for your child, it’s unlikely you’ll make a final choice without at least a cursory glance at the setting’s Ofsted report.

The acronym is one used frequently by parents but how many of us actually know what the acronym Ofsted stands for or how a nursery or pre-school gets its Ofsted rating? Sangeeta Gardiner has been an Inspector for The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) since it was set up in 1992 and has conducted well over 150 inspections of nurseries, pre-schools, and child-minders.

Becoming and remaining an inspector requires rigorous,

ongoing training and examinations, meaning that Ofsted Inspectors are very knowledgeable.

One of the key things an Inspector examines is how a setting safeguards the children in its care.

Inspectors check to make sure safeguarding policies are implemented, that staff have the relevant legal background checks, and have been properly recruited. “I’ll ask staff members how they got their jobs” reports Sangeeta. “Being a friend of a friend is simply not good enough. I also probe more deeply if I discover staff members have moved around a lot.”

Checking safeguarding arrangements also involves monitoring how children enter

Childcare and leave the setting and what provisions there are for visitors.

“It’s also important that children are being taught how to keep themselves safe” comments Sangeeta. “For example, they need to know that it’s dangerous to walk while holding a pair of scissors.” Changes in the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) framework place more emphasis on the importance of a child’s emotional security, so Inspectors also observe how confident and secure children feel in their environment and in their interactions with others.

Early Year’s Education is all about learning through play but the word “teaching” is still used in the EYFS framework. Staff “teach” children about their world by asking them open ended questions.

“I observe the language teachers use and how they’re interacting with a child” says Sangeeta.” I’ll ask staff why they have chosen a particular activity and how it contributes to a child’s learning.“ Ofsted Inspectors also observe children and then question the Key Person responsible for those children about them. “If a child is upset, the Key Person should be able to tell me about the child’s circumstances, for instance, if they are new to the setting” says Sangeeta. “There should also be information about a child’s development, and planning for a child’s next steps.”

So what happens if there are issues with teaching methods?

A lot depends on whether the

majority of staff are working positively, and, where there are staff who are performing less well, that the manager of the setting recognises this. “Part of the inspection is a joint observation with the manager” says Sangeeta. ”If a staff member has set up an activity that hasn’t worked well and the manager isn’t aware of this, that needs to be addressed.

However, if the manager is aware and can support a staff member to improve their skills, then this provides good evidence that the nursery is working well towards improving its provision.”

Sangeeta owns two settings in Greater London. How does she ensure they meet Ofsted’s high standards in her setting?

Good communication and reflective practice are vital. As a team, each setting regularly fills out a self-evaluation form, so that everybody involved can reflect on what works and what doesn’t, and a clear direction can be formulated. Sangeeta is always aware of what is happening at each nursery, but also stresses that the quality of her managers and teachers is exceptional. “The managers of my settings are experienced and well-established members of the team, and have known many of the children and their families for a number of years.”

You can find Ofsted Reports for settings in your local area at www.reports.ofsted.gov.uk

Little Spuds now open!

Little Spuds Day Nursery opened in September 2018 to all babies and toddlers of Timperley, Brooklands, Baguley, Wythenshawe and surrounding areas.

Little Spuds is owned by local parents Rebecca and Jason Murrell. They have two children of their own and understand the search for the perfect nursery setting.

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“We believe that parents are looking for a ‘friendly and safe’ atmosphere for their child, whilst also wanting a stimulating environment that will prepare their child for the exciting journey into school.”

The nursery is dedicated to providing the safest learning and nurturing environment within a very friendly and social atmosphere. Little Spuds Day

Nursery offers care from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday all year round for children aged 3 months to 5 years (school age).

0161 973 7386 / www. littlespudsdaynursery. co.uk

Families Manchester 7

Clubs & classes Choose the right club or class for your child

Baby & Infant Yoga in The Heatons, Stockport

By Claire Winter

Picking the right extracurricular activities for your child can sometimes be overwhelming. There are a huge variety of sports and classes available now from coding to Mandarin, from street dance to circus skills, as well as more traditional sports. Here’s our guide on how to choose the most appropriate club or class for your child.

A good place to start is to ask your child what they are interested in. It’s likely that they will enjoy the activity if they have picked it themselves. My 11-year-old twin girls have tried a wide variety of classes, which they enjoyed but didn’t want to continue. When I last asked them what they wanted to do, they said they wanted to join a running club. They now train two to three times a week and compete at least once a month. It’s a big commitment for the whole family but they absolutely love it.

Things to consider: Will your child enjoy the class/ club? If they enjoy something, whether it’s art, football, animation or French they are likely to look forward to training with their team or attending a class every week.

Try before you buy Trial classes are a great way for them to experience something before you sign up for a term or group of classes. Many clubs and classes offer a free trial before you sign up.

Try a variety Variety is the spice

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of life. If your schedule allows it, get your children to try a few different things on a trial basis. If they are not keen on trying something new, get them to go with a friend.

Can you commit? Some activities involve early morning practice or games at the weekend. Can your family life and schedule accommodate the commitment needed? If your child plays sport competitively, it can often mean training daily or at least three times a week.

Think about cost Some activities are more expensive than others. 1:1 tuition or private lessons are more costly, whereas classes and team sports tend to cost less. Guiding or Scouts is an inexpensive club to join, and it’s great for team building and trying a variety of different activities. Investigate this option ahead of time though, as there can be waiting lists.

How many? How many activities are too many? This is really up to you but if you are tired of driving your children to all of their activities, it’s likely your child will be too; perhaps you are doing too much. Equally, if your children are bored at home and asking to be entertained, maybe it’s time to sign them up for something new.

Again, take the lead from your child. Some children thrive from lots of extra-curricular activities while others get overwhelmed and over-stimulated. Listen to them and adjust their schedule accordingly.

Chrissy is a mother of one 18-year-old, but auntie to many!

Suffering from post-natal depression, she initially found it hard to bond with her son after he was born, and now realises how much easier those first few weeks could have been if she’d known about baby massage.

Chrissy is a natural healer, level 3 massage therapist and Angelic reiki master and loves how her course now helps friends and families build their bond with their babies.

What are some of the benefits?

• Bonding and attachment building • Trust building • Encourages reflexes • Relieves muscular tension, constipation, teething & colic pain • Encourages relaxation • Reduces the need to cry Fully certified and insured, Chrissy can’t wait to help you too! Call her for more info: 07761 917300, email patienceholistics@gmail. com or visit babymassagebypatienceholistics.co.uk

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Clubs & classes Bloom – nurturing little ones from birth to beyond Little Monkeys Club Increase your child’s confidence, co-ordination and fitness through a fun variety of climbing equipment, soft play, shapes, music and movement (including badge scheme) for children walking to 5 years.

Tuesday mornings at Brabyns Recreation Centre, Marple Bridge. Call Karen 07986 182884 or visit www.littlemonkeysclub.co.uk.

Bloom provides highly interactive multi sensory classes for babies from 0-14 months.

Classes are well researched and packed full of activities in a bright sensory rich atmosphere where baby can experience new textures, sights and sounds to promote development and wellbeing whilst strengthening the bond between parent and baby.

“I’ve been taking my daughter to Bloom since she was tiny and

we have both enjoyed our time there! I’ve watched her develop so much in the classes thanks to the dedication of the team – such a wonderful sensory experience for her! Thank you!”

Danielle, Dec 2018 Classes are available across Greater Manchester and Tameside.

To find your nearest class visit www.bloomwellbeing.co.uk or find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bloomclasses

Advertise in Families Manchester Call Jayne on: 01625 801801 or email advertising@ familiesmanchester.co.uk

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Families Manchester 9

Parents’ place How to have your happiest year ever

By Dr Andy Cope

Be a Hygge spotter The Danes have a word – hygee (pronounced ‘hoo-ga’) – that has no direct translation in English.

The closest I can give you is ‘comfort.’ For me hoo-ga is sitting by an open fire, drinking hot chocolate, while a storm rages outside. And hoo-ga also being wrapped up snug and warmly on a snowy walk.

Hoo-ga is also sharing a tub of Quality Street while watching a family movie you’ve watched many times before. Work out what your hoo-ga moments are, and then get good at spotting them, all year round.

This is linked with mindfulness and improves your happiness by enabling you to better appreciate more wonderful moments.

The secret to happiness turns out to be not-so-secret. Family.

Relationships, love, human connection - that’s basically it!

So here are some quirky and fun tips taken from the science of positive psychology that will help your family towards the happiest year yet!

Get huggy Christmas and New Year is a time for family and friends and, chances are, you will have been giving and receiving more hugs than usual in the last few weeks.

So how about continuing the hugging habit all year and using this scientific fact that might

just change your life: apparently, the average hug lasts 2.1 seconds.

So a quick one…two… and it’s done and dusted. However, for the love to really transfer a hug has to last 7 seconds or longer.

So a top hugging tip is to treat the ones you love to the full 7 seconds. Obviously, don’t count out loud as that spoils the effect, and they might start wriggling after 4 or 5 seconds – but a 7 second hug says “I love you.” Everyone wins.

Hugging releases oxytocin (a happy chemical) in you and the one you’re hugging.

Play As we grow up, we get weighed down with responsibilities and life can lose its lustre. Stop seeing yourself as a ‘responsible adult’ and start being an ‘inspirational adult.’ Rewind to when you were age 6, a time when everything was new and exciting. Start jumping in puddles and playing on the swings… your children will love it!

A year of experiences Get everyone in your family to write an early Christmas list for December 2019. The exact question is this: What 20 things

would you would like for Christmas? that aren’t things. Share the ideas and schedule them to actually happen (where you can) in 2019.

Celebrate what hasn’t happened Have you ever asked yourself, what hasn’t happened that I didn’t want that I haven’t celebrated?

Feel free to read that line again. And again. And again?

Sadly, unless you’re a black belt happiness ninja your children don’t sit in a maths lesson thinking how lucky they are to have a nice school and a wonderful teacher.

They curse because they have to remember stuff. And when you’re stuck in traffic you don’t sit there marvelling at the sunglasses compartment and cup holders, you mutter and swear under your breath at the delay.

The opposite of savouring good experiences is to notice the many things that could have gone badly, but didn’t. Hence the question again - what hasn’t happened that you didn’t want that you haven’t celebrated?

Here’s my list for today (and it’s only 7am): I woke up and didn’t have toothache. My laptop isn’t broken. I haven’t got measles. My children aren’t poorly. I haven’t just stubbed my toe, we haven’t run out of Cheerios, there hasn’t been an earthquake and I haven’t been bitten by a zombie.

I mean, what a fabulous start to the day. None of those bad things has happened!

Of course, it’s hard to notice something that didn’t happen.

But it’s helpful to sometimes switch your thinking to all the bad things that could have happened, but didn’t. And then celebrating the positive result.

Share it with your children and get them to think of examples.

The chances are theirs will be much more creative than yours!

Dr Andy Cope is a positive psychologist and bestselling author. His latest book Diary of a Brilliant Kid is available now on Amazon. For more information, visit www.artofbrilliance.co.uk

10 Families Manchester

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Parents’ place Where there’s a will there’s a way Encouraging girls to play more sport As a recent survey finds almost two thirds of UK adults don’t have a written will in place, Ashleigh Kelly from Slater Heelis solicitors explains just how important one can be.

Nearly two thirds of adults in the UK have not prepared a will.

This means that on death the strict laws of intestacy would govern who can deal with the administration of their Estate and who will receive their assets.

Among over-55s, 42 percent don’t have a will, a survey of 2,000 people survey by Macmillan Cancer Support revealed.

Being organised with the writing of your will is the only way to guarantee your assets go where you want them to go following your death.

Many people find they first require a will writing service when they make a significant purchase such as buying their first house or

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starting their own business; alternatively, it may be when you get married or start a family.

If you and your partner are a cohabiting couple and don’t have a will in place, should something happen, the survivor has very limited legal rights to the other’s estate upon death.

What to do?

A specialist wills and probate solicitor can work closely with you to draft a watertight document that is directly in line with your personal circumstances and priorities.

In circumstances where there are a range of beneficiaries and trusts, or provisions that need to be made for children from a previous relationship, speaking with an experienced solicitor is strongly advised.

Slater Heelis provides a high quality will writing service, making certain that you can be safe in the knowledge that your bequests are being taken care of by people you trust.

To speak with a member of their team call 0161 927 3131 or visit www.slaterheelis.co.uk.

By Andrew Campbell Boys spend significantly longer than girls enjoying sporting activities. A report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that boys spend an average of 40 minutes per day on sports activities, compared with 25 minutes a day for girls.

Encouragingly though, the study also shows that boys and girls who do participate in sport enjoy it equally.

So given the obvious health, wellbeing and sheer fun-factor of sport, how can parents get their girls participating in more sporting activities?

Set an example It’s time to get up off the couch!

Don’t expect your daughter to develop a sudden interest in sport, if you’re not setting an example yourself. A jog around a local park or an organised family park run is a great start. Go ice skating, find a local climbing wall or even head for a roller disco!

Make it social Research by Women in Sport

shows that girls are most interested in making friends and having fun when playing sport.

Seek out clubs, classes or activities that may have girls of a similar age as your daughter or encourage her to take up new classes with her existing friends.

Be sensitive Research by the Youth Sport Trust and Women in Sport found that a lack of confidence can stop girls from playing sport. A quarter of girls said they felt insecure, hated other people watching them and didn’t feel confident with the way their bodies looked.

Involve your daughter in choosing both the activity and the gear and clothes that go with it. These will boost her confidence when getting started.

Offer plenty of options Your daughter may not like traditional sports or team games but may thrive at sports like trampolining, gymnastics or martial arts. More info at www.womeninsport.org

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Parents’ place The rise of self-harming: what can be done?

Expert advice from leading psychiatrist Dr Maite Ferrin

Depression and self-harm are growing concerns for parents of adolescents, particularly teenaged girls. According to findings in a recent study by the Children’s Society, nearly a quarter of 14-year-old girls may have self-harmed in the last year.

As your child approaches adolescence, it’s advisable to watch out for signs of stress and anxiety because it is these that can give rise to self-harming behaviour in the teenage years.

Self-harm is an adaptive coping mechanism to deal with any stressor in life. Stressors may include social media pressure, bullying, issues concerning sexuality, school pressure or problems within the home or social environment, to name a few. However, self-harming may also reflect a more impairing psychological condition such as anxiety, depression or PTSD. It’s important that a correct diagnosis is made and effective and adequate treatment is obtained from a medical expert specialising in this field. If, at any stage, you have reason to believe your child is self-harming, do seek medical support immediately.

There are many reasons that may contribute towards a child self-harming including an attempt to alleviate emotional

12 Families Manchester

pain that cannot be expressed verbally, self-punishment, an attempt to relieve feelings of shame or guilt, an attempt to stop feeling numb, the communication of psychological anxiety, a cry for help or an act to seek attention. The reason your child is self-harming may be one of the above or a complex combination of many different reasons.

Many young people who self-harm use more than one method of self-injury. Some self-harm regularly, whilst others do it more sporadically.

Self-harming can take many different forms with some of the most common methods including superficial cutting, punching or hitting oneself, scratching or ripping the skin, an intentional drug overdose and even hair pulling. Various forms of self-harm may be habit-forming and it’s important that steps are taken to reduce occurrences of the behaviour before the problem escalates.

If your child is self-harming, it’s vital that they have someone to talk to who will value them and listen to them, helping to minimise their self-injurious behaviour and improve their happiness.

If your child is self-harming: Approach gently The majority of young people who are self-harming feel ashamed of their behaviour. An initial soft, empathetic approach is recommended, as they may worry about you judging them negatively.

Listen Young people who self-harm often feel invisible, unheard and misunderstood. Try to create a safe space in which they can freely discuss their problems without interruption, so that they are more inclined to open up and talk discuss their problems.

Use empathic language Use simple empathic responses to what your child is saying.

Phrases such as “Sounds like things have been quite tough for you,” “I can see how this would be very challenging,” “I understand how difficult this must be for you” can be useful.

It’s also vital to offer your child some hope and support e.g.

“Thank you for sharing this with me. Let’s think about how we can make you feel better.”

Remain calm Getting upset, uptight or emotional (despite the fact that you will be feeling this way) may cause your child to close up and refrain from talking.

Validate and acknowledge your child’s emotions and struggles - share any relevant and relatable experiences of your own.

If your child does not want to talk – don’t put overwhelming pressure on them as this could escalate problems.

Avoid punishing the self-harming act or imply that their feelings aren’t important - this may deepen their feelings of guilt or shame.

Focus on the underlying struggles of the child rather than the actual act of selfharming – remember that the self-harm is a consequence and often a coping mechanism, so you need to address the causes and not the symptom.

Encourage healthy ways of coping with stress – exercise, meditation, deep breathing reading or art are all destressors. You can help your child find a coping mechanism that suits them.

Reinforce your child’s strengths – sometimes it’s all too easy to focus on the negatives rather than embracing and celebrating your child’s positive attributes.

Don’t expect a quick fix for the self-harming behaviour - it can take a long time to break a habit or change mindset. Be patient.

Accept that you cannot solve this problem alone – seek support from school counsellors, medical professionals and people that have shared a similar experience. There are lots of online resources that also provide great information.

Allow your child time to learn alternative coping mechanisms to replace the self-harm behaviours.

Dr Maite Ferrin is a Consultant Psychiatrist at Re:Cognition Health, a brain and mind clinic with a specialist Children’s and Young Peoples Service which diagnoses and treats a wide range of mental health conditions.

For more information, visit www.recognitionhealth.com

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Parents’ place Best baby apps for new parents reassurance on a range of baby-related issues at the click of a button, enabling you to act fast. More info www.redcross. org.uk/first-aid/first-aid-apps

A new baby can cause untold disruption to routine and life in general. This is where the right apps can come into their own and make life a little bit easier.

The following apps can help you track feedings, sleep times, decipher developmental milestones and build the most beautiful selection of photos.

White Noise There are lots of apps that play ‘white noise’ to help your baby go to sleep. White Noise Lite is on android and iPhone and

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plays ambient sounds such as waves crashing or rainfall.

However, Spotify also has a great selection of white noise – and you reap the benefit of everything else Spotify has to offer. More info at www.tmsoft.com/white-noise British Red Cross Baby and Child First Aid A brilliant app created by the experts at the British Red Cross to help you keep your little ones safe. Packed with videos, easy to follow advice and a test section, it offers great

NCT Baby Change This helps you to locate changing facilities to use in your surrounding area and aims to take the stress away from being out of the house. The app relies on parents providing feedback on changing facilities after use and adding any new locations to the map. More info at www.nct.org.uk/parenting/ nct-babychange-app Baby Monitor 3G Allowing you to turn any connected device into a baby monitor, this app acts as a live audio and video baby monitor over Wi-Fi or mobile data and claims to have unlimited reach, working in a similar way to FaceTime or Skype. More info at www.babymonitor3g.com

Evergreen Life This app helps you keep track of the of your child’s medical history, including vaccinations, making it accessible to you on the move and whenever it is needed. It stores information such as blood group, vaccinations, allergies, diagnostic tests and results and medications as well as growth and development data.

More info at www.evergreen-life.co.uk Baby Tracker This helps you track feeds, whether breast, bottle or solid so you can keep an eye on when and how much your baby is eating. There are also other baby feeding apps which can track things like which breast you last fed from, pumping sessions and how much breast milk you have stored in the fridge or freezer. www.nighp.com/babytracker

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Parents’ place Coping with winter blues

Most of us hate grey, cold winter days and feeling dispirited by them is quite normal. Just as it is natural for us to feel more energised and happy when the sun is shining and the weather is warm, research has shown that many of us feel miserable and lethargic, with a tendency to eat and sleep more in winter.

But, for around 7% of the population, the shorter days of winter can trigger the onset of a more serious form of recurring winter depression.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs regularly on a seasonal basis; usually in winter. It is twice

as likely to affect women as men.

Symptoms of SAD SAD is characterised by a low mood (depression). Other symptoms include low selfesteem and self-confidence, a loss of pleasure in usual activities, loss of hope for the future, marked lethargy, feelings of guilt and social withdrawal.

Unlike non-seasonal depression, SAD sufferers are more likely to sleep excessively rather than have disrupted sleep patterns. People experiencing SAD tend to eat more rather than less, usually craving carbohydrate-rich, and sweet foods, which can result in weight gain in many sufferers.

Road safety for children

SAD symptoms generally begin as the days start to get shorter in the autumn. Many sufferers cite the clocks going back in October as being the start of their symptoms. November through to February are the worst months for most and for the majority, symptoms start to improve by spring time, and may even disappear completely over summer.

SAD is believed to be triggered largely by lack of exposure to natural sunlight. Here’s what you can do to relieve symptoms: Keep active Research suggests that a daily walk is helpful in beating the winter blues. As well as exposing you to natural daylight, exercise also boosts energy levels and the immune system.

Get outside Get as much natural daylight as possible, especially at midday and on bright days. If you are at home with pre-schoolers, head to the park. If you are working, go for a walk or eat lunch on a park bench.

Try to plan some outdoor activities with the family at the weekends too.

Keep warm Being cold makes you more depressed and staying warm can reduce psychological distress, such as the winter blues, by half.

Keep warm with hot drinks and food, layered clothing and efficient heating in living areas.

Eat healthily A healthy diet boosts your mood, provides energy and prevents weight gain. Try not to give in to a sweet tooth as putting on weight will have an impact on your self-esteem and confidence.

Lighten up Make your home environment as light and airy as possible and sit near windows when you’re indoors. Light therapy is also a popular treatment for SAD. This consists of sitting in front of a light source that is much more powerful than ordinary domestic or office lighting.

Take a winter holiday If you can afford it and it fits in with your children’s school holidays, going away somewhere sunny in the winter months will provide some respite from the SAD symptoms. Unfortunately, this will only last while you are away and the symptoms are likely to return once you are back home.

Talk it through Talking treatments such as counselling, psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help you cope with SAD symptoms. Contact your local GP for further information.

More info: www.nhs.uk/ conditions/seasonal-affectivedisorder-sad

they need to make so many judgements.

close to the edge of the kerb. This means they are safe to take their time looking around for traffic.

Look and listen Teach your child to look all around to see if any traffic is coming and check that drivers can see them. Point out that they need to listen carefully for traffic too because sometimes you can hear traffic it before you see it.

If traffic is coming, let it pass Children find it hard to judge the distance and speed of vehicles. Tell them that it is always better to take their time and wait for all traffic to pass, rather than rushing to cross – even if they are feeling impatient or running late!

When it’s safe, go straight across the road - but do not run Encourage your child to keep looking and listening as they cross.

More info at www.think.gov.uk

The Green Cross Code: Stop, Look, Listen and Think!

Your child may already be familiar with the Green Cross Code from school, but it’s up to you to reinforce it. Give them time and space to practise it, even if it means walking a few yards behind them.

Road accidents are a major cause of death and injury among the young, with the risk rising as children reach secondary school age and have more independence.

Danger from traffic is also a big factor dictating whether children and young people are safe to

14 Families Manchester

walk and cycle to school, to the park or to see friends, and therefore can impede their ability to be healthy and socially active.

Whatever your child’s age, road safety is one of the most important lessons they’ll learn but it can take years before they are fully competent as

Here are some basics: Find the safest place to cross Encourage your child to look out for safe crossing spots eg. pedestrian crossings, islands and subways. Aim for them to cross at a spot where they can see clearly in all directions and where they can be seen, so not between parked cars.

Stop just before reaching the kerb Teach your child to position themselves so they’re not too

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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

Daily throughout Jan & Feb

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Winter Park Walk 1.30 - 2.30pm / All ages / Free (normal admission applies). Join our Park Guides on a wintery walk around the park and find out about what makes Dunham special this season.

Meet at the clock tower. Dogs on leads and children welcome. Dress warmly. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ dunham-massey

Daily until Tues 26 Feb

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Winter Woollies Family Trail 10.30am - 3.30pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Oh no! The Finch Family have missed their flight south and are stuck in England during the winter frost and snow. Can you help them find their winter woollies to try and help keep them warm?

Keep an eye out for the birds’ tiny hats, scarves, jumpers and mittens which are lost amongst the trees and bushes as you explore the gardens. Spot some ‘Feathery Facts’ along the way to learn more about birds and their habitats. Pick up a trail from the garden kiosk. Complete the trail and collect a prize at the end! www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ dunham-massey

Sundays in Jan & Feb

Salford Museum & Art Gallery Mr Tomlinson’s Sweet Shop 12.30 - 3.30pm / Free (donations welcome). Visit Mr Tomlinson’s shop on the recreated Victorian street and pick up some sweet treats!

0161 778 0800 / www.salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk

Wednesdays in Jan & Feb Ordsall Hall, Salford Once Upon a Time 9.45am / £1 per child / Babies and Toddlers. Listen to wonderful stories together, have fun singing songs and rhymes, make simple crafts to take home, and play with our toys and instruments! 0161 872 0251 / www.salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk

Fri 4 – Sun 13 Jan

Pyramid & Parr Hall, Warrington Robin Hood & The Babes in the Wood Brighten up January with an after Christmas family trip to the Panto! www.pyramidparrhall.com

Sat 12 & Sun 13 Jan

The Lowry, Salford Bing Live!

Join Bing, Sula, Coco and Pando as they find out how to tell stories by pretending, dressing-up and singing songs. Flop and Amma are there to help, but in this magical world of make-believe things don’t always go according to plan… www.thelowry.com

Sun 13 Jan

Tatton Park, Knutsford Winter Wildfowl Watch 11am - 1pm / Free but usual admission charges to Tatton Park apply. Join members of the local Knutsford Ornithological Society and a Tatton Ranger at the ‘Allen Bird Hide’ for a drop-in session looking at winter wildfowl on the meres. Have a go with a telescope or ask the experts. All donations welcome (to help cover the cost of bird feed for the year).

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Thurs 17 & 31 Jan, Thurs 14 Feb

Lyme Park, Disley Wildlings at Lyme Park 11am - 12.30pm / Free event , but normal admittance applies/ Booking essential Wildlings is a play group with a twist with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust! Come along and try new things outdoors.

You could swing in a hammock, get mucky making a mud pie and sing songs around the campfire, all in our exciting outdoor classroom. All sessions include juice and snacks for children. We play whatever the weather so please make sure you’re all dressed suitably. 07538 967518

Thurs 17 – Sun 20 Jan

Event City, Manchester The Caravan & Motorhome Show Thurs/Fri 10am - 6pm. Sat 9.30am - 6pm. Sun 9.30am - 5pm. Standard advance ticket £8.50. On the door £9.95.

The North’s largest outdoor leisure show for caravan, motorhome and camping fans, will be pitching up at Manchester’s EventCity, offering a wide range of inspiring ideas for lovers of the great outdoors. The Camping and Caravanning Club has teamed up with top manufacturer Peg Pergo, to build three mini caravans based on the Swift Basecamp model. Hitched to a 2-seater electronic off-road vehicle, kids aged 3-10 can take a spin around a specially created track to have a go manoeuvring their own caravan. 0844 873 7349

Sat 19 Jan & Sat 16 Feb Fri 11 – Sun 20 Jan

Waterside, Sale Sale Nomads: Aladdin £14 Full price / £12 Concession / £44 Family Ticket. Sale Nomads return with their annual pantomime, this year... Aladdin! Flying carpets, disappearing genies, hilarious jokes and fantastic songs! Great family entertainment. Two for One tickets available on 11,16 and 17 Jan. www.watersidearts.org familiesonline.co.uk

Waterside, Sale ComedySportz for Tots 3pm / £5 Full price / £3 Concession / Under 6s. A show aimed at kids aged six and under from the team behind ComedySportz. Each show promises plenty of BIG laughs for little kids and a great opportunity to let their imaginations run wild.

ComedySportz 6.30pm / £7 Full price / £5 Concession / Ages 7+. You’ve seen football. You’ve seen tennis. But have you seen Comedy as a sport? Then you don’t want to

miss this all ages, all action, all improvised competitive comedy show! www.watersidearts.org

Sun 20 Jan

Hat Works Museum, Stockport Super Sunday: Pirates Ahoy!

11am - 4pm /£2pp, under 4’s free / Suitable for all ages. Our fun filled, action packed family fun day makes a welcome return. Take part in our treasure hunt, make a pirate hat, listen to tales of adventure and take our pirate test. Come in your best pirate outfit. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Fri 25 Jan

Tatton Park, Knutsford Little Red Hen makes a Pizza 10 - 11.30am / £18 per ticket (Includes 1 adult, 1 child and park entry) / Booking essential. Join us on the Farm for our interactive ‘Little Red Hen Makes A Pizza’ session, which teaches children the origin of ingredients for pizza from farm to fork. We’ll be going right back to basics as we get the children to create their own ‘flour’ using a pestle and mortar, before helping them to prepare a pizza to take home and cook.

07976 619648 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Fri 25 Jan & Fri 22 Feb

Hat Works Museum, Stockport Mad Hatters Arts and Crafts club 10am - 12pm / £5 per child / Ages 2-5, booking essential. An action-packed session of arts and crafts with the emphasis on fun and age ability appropriate crafts. Dress to get messy.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Sat 26 Jan

Lyme Park, Disley Night Run – Experience Lyme in a new light 4.30 - 8.30pm. Explorer route open to all ages, Adventurer route Age 10+. Dogs welcome. Prices £7 - £14.

Taking part in our Night Run is a great way to get a little fitter during the winter months at the same time as helping us care for the deer in the park and the trails that you’re running on. So, as you look after you, you’ll be looking after nature too. Choose from the 3km Explorer or the 7km Adventurer routes and have fun at your own pace on our traffic free trails. Don’t forget your head torch!

0344 249 1895 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme Z-Arts, Hulme 5 More Minutes Showings at 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm / £6 - £9 / Ages 3 - 6. A funny and magical show about bedtime for children and their grown-ups, exploring the fun, frustration and fantasy that can be had in that magical time between awake and asleep. Real world play will blur with the magic of dreams as we all try to settle down and finally get ready to say goodnight and go to sleep… unless that is, we can have 5 More Minutes!? www.z-arts.org

Waterside, Sale Family Rave 11am / £4 Full price / £1 under 12months / 90mims plus interval.

The ultimate family party returns with all your fave 90s and noughties tracks. www.watersidearts.org

Sun 27 Jan

Marple Memorial Park Treatots Market 1.30 – 3.30pm. £1.50pp admission, under 16’s free.

Local Nearly New Baby & Kids Sale.

Do you plan to declutter after Christmas? Or are you looking for some great deals on kids toys, clothes, maternity wear and accessories for your little one, but don’t want to pay retail prices? Come and join us at Treatots Market! 07905 901716 / info@treatotsmarket.co.uk

The Lowry, Salford Mimi and The Mountain Dragon With lively original songs, atmospheric storytelling and magical puppets Mimi and the Mountain Dragon is an exciting new show about friendship, courage and adventure for anyone who loves snow, dragons and stories.

For age 3+. www.thelowry.com

Sat 27 & Sun 28 Jan

Wildlife Garden, Chester Zoo The Great Bird Watch 10am – 12pm. Free session but normal zoo admission applies. Join our Zoo Ranger team as we find out which of our feathered friends are visiting the zoo and the nature reserve at this time of year. Learn how to bird watch, practice your bird identification skills and make bird feeders to put in your garden. www.chesterzoo.org

Fri 1 Feb

Bramall Hall, Stockport Bramall Hall Dragon Club 10am - 12pm / £8 per child / Ages 2-5.

An exciting developmental discovery session for children aged 2 to 5 years with a different theme each month.

There are stories, exploration and lots of play designed to fully engage children.

No under 2’s except babes in arms with older siblings. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Sun 3 Feb

The Lowry, Salford Curiouser Incorporating animated hand-drawn projection, dance, sound, text and interactive digital objects, Curiouser immerses and surrounds the audience to create an intimate yet spectacular experience. A show that invites you to be curious about what it might mean to be big and small. For ages 4+. www.thelowry.com

Families Manchester 15

What’s on

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

Fri 15 – Mon 18 Feb

Thurs 7 – Sun 10 Feb

Various locations, Manchester Chinese New Year From Chinese food markets to family Chinese craft activities, pop into Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year! www.visitmanchester.com

The Lowry, Salford Twirlywoos Live From the producers of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Sarah and Duck Live on Stage comes another enchanting show for young audiences. Expect mischief, music and plenty of surprises as they share the delight of discovery. With beautifully inventive puppetry the show promises a cast full of all your favourite characters from the hit TV show. www.thelowry.com

The Lowry, Salford The Noise Next Door All At Sea The Noise Next Door are swinging back into action with an epic new show that’s fun for the whole family! Join our crazy crew for an adventure on the high seas as we need your help to chase down the fearsome Captain Bloodbeard.

With mermaids, magic, sea-shanties and swords, this anarchic afternoon with the quickest wits in comedy is one you’ll treasure forever. www.thelowry.com

Sat 16 Feb

Wed 20 Feb

Bramall Hall, Stockport Discovery Tour 1.30 – 2.45pm. Children £3 Adults £5, suitable for families with children aged 5 and over. Booking essential.

What was it like to live in the Hall in the past? Find out about the families who lived here and decide if you would have enjoyed being a Tudor or a Victorian.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk/events Elizabeth Gaskells House, Manchester Family Crafts for half term 1 – 3pm. Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is open for half term fun and family crafts on Wednesday! Come and join in the fun to keep your little ones entertained this holiday www.elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk

Gallery Oldham, Oldham Lantern Making Workshops 10am - 4pm / Free, just drop in.

Take part in the Illuminate festival and join us for free family lantern making workshops throughout February 2019.

0161 770 3070

Thurs 21 Feb Mon 18 – Fri 22 Feb

Sat 9 & Sat 16 Feb Wed 20 & Thurs 21 Feb Gallery Oldham, Oldham Lantern Making Workshops 10am - 4pm / Free, just drop in.

Take part in the Illuminate festival and join us for free family lantern making workshops throughout February 2019.

0161 770 3070

Sat 9 & Sun 10 Feb

Z-Arts, Hulme A world inside a Book Launch event Various times showings / £12 / Ages 0-8 years. Join us for the grand opening of the UK’s first 3D, technicolour exhibition of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler stories! www.z-arts.org

Sat 9 – Sun 24 Feb

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Make a Bird Feeder 12 – 3pm / All ages / Free event (normal admission applies).

Encourage birds to your garden over winter by making your own bird feeder to take home! Find out some ‘Feathery Facts’ about birds and their habitats. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ dunham-massey

Mon 11 Feb

Waterside, Sale Jack and The Beanstalk 1.30pm / £9 Full price / £7 Concessions.

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. www.watersidearts.org

16 Families Manchester

Sat 16 – Fri 22 Feb

Jodrell Bank, Macclesfield Half Term: Get Set, Blast Off! 10am - 5pm / Suitable for Under 7s / Free with general admission.

Join us on a fun-filled rocket trip into space, exploring the solar system and playing lots of games along the way. www.jodrellbank.net

Sat 16 – Sun 24 Feb

Tatton Park, Knutsford Scarecrow Festival Visit the Scarecrow Festival in the Gardens. Over 30 scarecrows will be resident in the Gardens - will you find them all?

01625 374400 / www.tattonpark.org.uk Chatsworth House, Bakewell Half term in the Farmyard and Playground A chance for the young ones to run off some steam in the beautiful surroundings this half term.

01246 565300 / www.chatsworth.org

Sun 17 Feb

Waterside, Sale There was an old lady who swallowed a fly!

2.30pm / £11 Adult / £9 Child / Suitable for ages 2 and over / 70mins duration. From the creators of Don’t Dribble On The Dragon, this magical show has been written especially for grown ups to enjoy with their children, so come and relive the delights of this most charming of tales complete with a feast of sing along songs, colourful animal characters and heart warming family fun. www.watersidearts.org

Z-Arts, Hulme The Snail and The Whale- Slime Making Workshops 10am each day, £5, suitable for ages 5 and over. Let’s get gooey!

Join us for a fun-filled workshop where you can make your own ‘snail’s trail’ of gloopy, stretchy, messy slime. Inspired by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved tale, The Snail and the Whale. www.z-arts.org

Tues 19 Feb

Bramall Hall, Stockport Play Station Past Free with standard admission, suitable for families. The Romans played Latrunculi, the Anglo Saxons liked a game of Hnefatafl. The Tudors like Nine Men’s Morris and the Victorian’s loved mechanical toys. Come and play and find out all about toys and games in the past. www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Bramall Hall, Stockport The Beasts of Bramall 11am - 12pm / £3.50 per child / Ages 3-6, Booking essential. Bramall Hall is full of images of all sorts of strange animals. Listen to stories about these animals as we look for the beasts and help us to find the friendly Red Dragon of Bramall Hall. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Sat 23 Feb

Z-Arts, Hulme OverThe Moon £6 - £9 / Ages 0 – 2 years. An interactive musical adventure that offers a calm, playful and creative first opera experience for babies and toddlers, weaving together gentle classical music with familiar nursery rhymes and games. Join the three live musicians for musical tickling, stretching, chomping and stamping as we journey together through the day: waking, eating, playing and sleeping. After the performance there is a play session for everyone to enjoy. www.z-arts.org

Tues 19 – Thurs 21 Feb

Hat Works Museum, Stockport Craft Works 2 – 4pm. £3 per activity, suitable for ages 5 and over. Booking is essential. A variety of crafts will be available for you to have a go at, including card making, decoupage and printing. All activities will be available every day.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk/events The Lowry, Salford Elmer The Patchwork Elephant Suitable for ages 4 and above.

Incorporating animated hand-drawn projection, dance, sound, text and interactive digital objects, Curiouser immerses and surrounds the audience to create an intimate yet spectacular experience. A show that invites you to be curious about what it might mean to be big and small. www.thelowry.com

Touchstones, Rochdale Elmpenny’s Museum 11am – 1pm / £3 / Under 5s, Booking essential. Multisensory theatre for under 5’s and their families. Poor Elmpeny has lost his most favourite treasures from his museum. Will you join him on an epic quest through wind, water and the woods to help find them?

01706 924928 / www.link4life.org

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