Families Cheshire November/December 2022 Print

Buxton Press

Some of you love it and others find it overwhelming….we think you all know what

Yes, the festive season is just round the corner and it’s not too soon to start planning. Start with our gift guide in this issue. If you fancy a

the

city break before Christmas – which could also double as a

– then investigate some of the cities that put on the best

up to the big day.

As things get increasingly busy, it’s important that you don’t burn out before

arrives. Take a look at our tips for lightening your load in the run up.

Meanwhile, life ticks on. You may be choosing your child’s first school, musing on your child’s future education or trying to work through the day while your children keep you awake at night. If you are pre-occupied with any of these things, this issue offers something very relevant for you.

Finally, especially for you, we have Christmas gifts for kids and adults, as well as tonnes of Weebles to giveaway! Apply for these adorable wiggly, wobbly minitoys at familiesmag.co.uk/go. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

Editor, Families Cheshire

July/August competition winners

Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list at https://bit.ly/JArecipients

Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

Rebecca Carr

Choosing the right primary school

By Gabrielle Nash

If your child turns four this academic year, they’ll be starting Reception next September and now’s the time to make their primary school application. Exciting times!

Your child’s primary school and its community becomes a large part of your family’s life, so feeling happy about the choice is very important. Depending on where you live you might have just one, two or maybe three schools to apply to. Or there may be numerous schools if you live in a city. So how do you go about knowing which will be a good fit for you and your child?

The catchment area

School catchment area is a key admission criterion for schools. This is generally based on the furthest distance that a pupil was admitted to the school the previous year but boundaries can be extended or shrink, according to the variables of each intake year. For example, one year there may be a larger cohort of siblings or looked-after children taking priority or it may be a year with a high birth rate, so the map alone does not guarantee your top choice.

You can check each school’s catchment area through your local authority to establish whether you’re likely to fall within it. Think carefully before aiming for a school for which you’re not in the catchment area. You don’t want to waste one of your choices.

Consider your working week. If you’re commuting to work, how will you do that after school drop-off? Is there a train or bus nearby or space to park your car?

A good fit

Every school is organised and managed differently, so you’ll need to do some research to see what each school offers and what matters most to you. When you’re shortlisting schools, it’s important to visit to get a feel for each one. Go armed with lists of questions and an open mind.

Each school will have its own personality but so does your child. Are they loud or reserved? Smaller schools with just one-form entry might suit a quieter child. If your child has any special educational needs, you’ll want to know the school caters well for them.

Extras

What wrap-around care does the school offer? If it doesn’t suit your needs, are there sufficient alternative options? Find out which secondary schools pupils go on to and see how that impacts on your thought process. For example, if a high proportion of the pupils go to the best local secondary school, then that’s a plus.

Top tips

Ofsted inspectors give ratings in their report: outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate. The Ofsted report also gives feedback on how different groups of children fare and the school’s strengths and weaknesses. While an Ofsted report is important, do not base your decision solely upon it.

Reach out to school parents on social media to get a range of opinions. See how they align with yours.

Go through the application procedure on your local authority’s website so you’re fully aware of the process.

Faith schools are an attractive option in many areas but it’s likely you’ll need to complete an additional form outlining your family’s religious practices.

When you are allocated your child’s school place in the spring, you can consider appealing the decision if you’re unhappy with the outcome. There are no guarantees the position will change though.

If you have a summer-born child, you may be able to defer their school start. You’ll need to approach your local authority.

Top resources

Find and compare schools in England at www.gov.uk/schoolperformance-tables

Get to grips with your child’s move into full-time education, with the Good Schools Guide (www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk) and The School Run (www.theschoolrun.com)

Understand the school’s catchment area with the interactive tool at The School Guide (www.schoolguide.co.uk)

If you’re a parent of a child with additional needs, seek further specialist advice at My Family Needs (www.myfamilyneeds. co.uk)

Reach out to other parents for parent-focussed tips on how to choose a school. Local Facebook groups are useful but so are resources that host forums where you can contact other parents eg www.mumsnet.com and www.netmums.com

For when the day finally arrives, there are some super resources for starting primary school at BBC Bitesize (www.bbc.co.uk/ bitesize) and Family Lives (www.familylives.org.uk).

Educating for the future

By Louise Livingston

Children are often asked what they want to be when they grow up. From farmers to flight attendants, astronauts to doctors, the answers are always a mix of familiar careers. But astonishingly, over two thirds of children joining primary school this September will end up in jobs that don’t yet exist. Think back thirty years - there were no social media managers or Bitcoin traders!

Today’s workplace is rapidly changing. As Richard Riley, former Secretary of Education, said:

‘We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.’

It’s a challenge and mainstream education will be required to adjust. Is an education system that focuses mainly on teaching children academic subjects outdated? Focusing on tests and exam results will not deliver for a future which will need creative, flexible problem-solvers who can collaborate.

The visionary educational pioneer, Maria Montessori, recognised this when she wrote,

‘Education must no longer be mostly imparting knowledge but must take a new path, seeking the release of human potentialities.’

In Montessori education, children are guided by a teacher trained in child observation and development. Classrooms provide open-ended, hands-on activities where children choose tasks appropriate to their stage of development.

With activities so targeted to each child’s individual needs and interests, children are engaged and motivated to concentrate, persevere and develop self-discipline. In addition, the activities are designed to encourage children to think flexibly and come up with creative solutions. In the early years, this may simply be how to unbuckle their shoes or share a snack. Later, it may be an exploration of the Jurassic period or a novel approach to solving quadratic equations.

Mixed-age classes with children aged up to three years apart is another key feature of Montessori education. Younger children learn from older role models and older children benefit from the experience too. In this mini community, children share resources, put things away ready for someone else after they have used them and help each other. This fosters social collaboration and builds emotional intelligence.

Louise Livingston has over thirty years’ experience in education and a background in educational neuroscience. She is Head of Training at the Maria Montessori Institute (www.mariamontessori.org), which offers Montessori teacher training, online short courses and the Maria Montessori School for ages 2 to 12 in London.

Bursaries available at Abbey Gate

Abbey Gate College is an independent school for pupils ages 4 to 18 years, located in the historic Saighton Grange near Chester and Aldford village. Nestled in twenty acres of beautiful grounds, the school offers modern facilities in a stunning location.

Means-tested bursaries are available, enabling deserving children to access and benefit from an Abbey Gate College education. Contact the Admissions Team for further details.

The College is a unique, inspiring and memorable place to learn and grow, where the caring and committed teaching and support staff do everything that they can to help all children fulfil their potential, try new things, take risks and be creative. It offers a safe and friendly school community, within which each child’s individual interests, passions and strengths are nurtured and developed.

Visit www.abbeygatecollege.co.uk for more information or email admissions@abbeygatecollege.co.uk

Stockport Grammar gold medallist inspires

2022 Commonwealth gold medallist hockey player and former Stockport Grammar pupil, Holly Hunt, returned to SGS to inspire the next generation of hockey players.

Holly played hockey for SGS and was part of the team that won the Girls’ Under 18 National Schools’ Championships in 2015.

This summer, Holly played for England in the Commonwealth Games, scoring the opening goal in the match against Australia. The win gave England their first Commonwealth Games hockey gold.

Holly led training sessions for the Senior First Team and the U13s at SGS, imparting some of her tips for improving their skills and answering questions about the sport and her life beyond SGS.

Holly said: ‘I had such a lovely time visiting Stockport Grammar. It was amazing to go back to the place where I first learnt how to play hockey and see lots of familiar staff faces. We had a great time on the pitch with the Senior First team and the U13s and I loved meeting such enthusiastic hockey players!’

More info at www.stockportgrammar.co.uk

Queen’s launches The Saturday Series

The Queen’s School in Chester is delighted to launch a brand new two year transition programme for girls in Years 4, 5 and 6.

The Saturday Series will deliver fun and engaging sessions across the academic year and will involve a termly themed event covering a range of subjects and activities. The aim of the sessions is to ensure that those girls considering The Queen’s School make the move from primary to senior school smoothly and happily.

The programme will ensure pupils become familiar with The Queen’s Senior School well ahead of time, make friends and meet teachers so by the time they join Year 7 they have already spent lots of time at the school and are feeling excited, secure and prepared for the next stage of their education.

Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. For further information and booking, visit www.thequeensschool.co.uk/Saturday-Series

Why should my child aim for university?

Your child is probably still at primary school or may not even have started school yet but, at some point during their education, the question of whether or not they will go to university will doubtless come up.

Deciding whether to go to university or not depends on the career your child wants to pursue but not every student that embarks upon a university course is dead set on a specific career.

The good news is that all university courses equip students with transferable skills that benefit their careers. Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh believes that whatever the course, a university education will equip your child with these skills. Here they explore why the key skills learnt at university can make a student more employable.

Teamwork

Group projects undertaken at university are valuable because teamwork is an essential skill that’s required in almost any job you can think of. Even if your child pursues a career that involves a lot of individual work, like becoming an author or photographer, they will still need teamwork skills.

Through team activities at university, students learn how to work with a variety of other people. In our lives and careers, many of us might have experienced group work with someone who does not pull their weight or someone who wants total control.

Knowing how to deal with these issues professionally will be vital for your child’s future career. They will also gain valuable experience in supporting others, as well as collaborating with other people to come up with new ideas.

Planning and organisation skills

Alongside time management, the ability to plan out their workload and organise tasks and events will be useful for your child in any number of employment roles. If they choose to undertake a degree that is very practical, they will have a lot of opportunities to hone these skills in scenarios that will present themselves in the world of work. If they are considering a more theory-based degree, they will learn how to plan tasks that require a lot of work hours, like their dissertation.

Time management

Two of the greatest skills learned at university are how to manage time effectively and how to work to both long and short-term deadlines.

Coursework projects, like essay submissions and a dissertation, tend to be medium-to-long-term projects and your child will likely be juggling multiple projects simultaneously.

Additionally, your child might have practical work to complete or a presentation to create and present in a lecture.

Managing multiple projects that have different requirements and deadlines helps them learn to prioritise, which is key to time management.

Outside of their studies, there are other opportunities to hone these skills at university too, like volunteering. Student Volunteering Week, which usually happens during February, gives students an amazing opportunity to take part in organised volunteering projects.

Volunteering doesn’t have to be limited to one week each year either. Most universities have partnerships with charities and businesses, offering volunteering opportunities year-round.

This could involve organising fundraising events for a chosen charity, providing support during an event, or even getting out on the streets to raise awareness or money. All these events can help students enhance their planning and organisational skills, as well as many others.

When the time comes, whether your child has a dream career carved out in their head or they are still pondering their options, going to university can equip them with skills that are valuable in any job role.

One of the key benefits of university is the transferable skills it delivers; these can make a young person more employable, whichever degree they have studied.

In fact, transferable skills are key to your child’s future at work. Their ability to problem-solve, be creative, resilient and adaptable and willing to lead, will contribute massively to any job in any industry.

That’s why, these days, employers consider transferable skills to be a priority when evaluating potential candidates for positions. According to Barclays, three quarters of employers prioritise these above or equal to technical skills when recruiting new employees.

Leadership

From lectures and group projects to practical work and extra-curricular activities, the learning methods of university help students learn some of the key elements of leadership.

For instance, your child might assume the leadership role in a group project, which will help build critical delegation skills.

Some courses lend themselves particularly to the development of leadership skills and even teach them as part of the curriculum, like a business management degree.

Students learn about different areas of business and explore specific pathways including accounting, marketing, finance and economics.

Giant panto adventure with Brio Entertainment!

Brio Entertainment is bringing back the magic this December with two fantastic family shows!

At Northwich Memorial Court between 5 and 31 December, families can catch Jack and the Beanstalk, whilst at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall, the amazing Beauty and the Beast takes over the stage between 16 and 24 December. With both shows boasting a super cast line-up, these pantomimes are guaranteed to be packed full of fun! For show times and tickets, visit www.brioentertaiment.org or call 0333 666 3366.

Struggling to keep the little ones active? Grab a Take 5 pass. For just £15, juniors can choose five activities for as little as £3 each when you pay upfront, including swim, off-peak racquet sports, gym workouts (12+) and fitness classes (14+). Adults can also enjoy five activities across five weeks for just £25.

For more information, visit your local centre today or visit www.brioleisure.org/take5. T&Cs apply.

Sleeping Beauty at Buxton Opera House

From Saturday 10 December to Sunday 1 January, families can enjoy the very best of panto as Sleeping Beauty takes to the stage at the Buxton Opera House.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, Princess Beauty is about to celebrate her 18th birthday. The King has banned all spinning wheels from the kingdom but will this save the princess from the curse of the evil fairy?

Join a brilliant cast and the handsome Prince as they try to end Sleeping Beauty’s one-hundred-year slumber! Add in sidesplitting comedy, colourful dance routines and a scary dragon and you’ve got all the essential ingredients for an unforgettable Christmas pantomime.

Starring Buxton’s favourite Dame, James Holmes, back for another hilarious year as Carabossy, alongside Matthew Jay Ryan as Jock! Tickets from £18.50.

For more information and booking, call 01298 72190 or visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

Classic pantomime at The Grange Theatre

Running from 10 December to 1 January, KD Theatre Productions brings the delightful pantomime, Sleeping Beauty to The Grange Theatre in Northwich this Christmas and it’s guaranteed to enchant and delight children and adults alike.

Princess Aurora is so lovely she’s sure to win the hearts of both young and old! But, when the evil witch Carabosse causes her to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an enchanted sleep, she cannot be awoken.

Will Prince Lancelot be able to wake her? Will Aurora’s endearing Nurse O’Dear ever find love? And will Aurora’s best friend, Presto finally get the court jester job he craves?

With a dazzling and exciting blend of music, quality professional performers, stunning sets, lavish costumes and bags of comedy, The Grange Theatre is truly the home of family pantomime in Northwich this Christmas.

For more info and booking, visit www.thegrangetheatre.com

Spectacular Snow Queen at The Storyhouse

This festive season, take the family on an adventure to the mystical, frozen north at The Storyhouse in Chester!

Playing from 10 December to 15 January, The Snow Queen is an unforgettable tale that celebrates the power of both family and friendship.

Join little Gerda on her epic journey through the seasons to save her best friend, Cei, from the icy clutches of The Snow Queen. On her way, she’ll meet pouting princes and tap-dancing reindeers in The Storyhouse’s most spectacular Christmas show ever, a classic for all ages.

What’s more, to help out families during these tricky times, The Storyhouse has made The Snow Queen its most affordable Christmas show ever. For many performances, all seats are £18 for members. Plus member discounts have been increased up to 20% for this Christmas only!

For more info and booking, visit www.thestoryhouse.com

Lightening the mental load this Christmas

By Chloe Lowe

Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for parents. The pressure to create the perfect experience for everyone builds into a behemoth balancing on a plate of mince pies, threatening to crumble at any minute.

The upward comparison with Insta-perfect mums and crafting geniuses, let alone the constant narrative in the press, on television and on social media, means the mental load reaches an all-time high during the festive season and it’s well documented that mums bear the heaviest burden.

The sheer volume of things to think about and do can quickly lead to high-stress, low mood and burnout and not enjoying a minute of Christmas.

It’s very British to need to present the perfect picture. But when you realise that you can’t control everything, including the actions of your extended family or your delivery man, it can be truly liberating!

How to create your ‘perfectly imperfect’ Christmas

Here’s a few tips on how to manage the mental load this Christmas and feel good about it too.

Grab a pen and paper and write a list of the top three things that mean the most to you this Christmas.

Focus on those first. Doing a few things well will feel so much better than spreading yourself too thin and doing lots of things, just ‘ok’.

Ask for and accept help - it’s a sign of strength, not a weakness.

Slow down to speed up. Running on caffeine at one hundred miles per hour is detrimental to your mind and body. Slowing down and taking some deep breaths or even indulging in a Christmas movie, will help you reset, re-energise and get some headspace.

Ask yourself what your children really want and need this Christmas and focus on that rather than succumbing to the pressure to spoil them or compete with peers.

Reduce your time on social media. It’s amazing how many hours you’ll get back.

Avoid too many excesses. Don’t deprive yourself of a glass of fizz and a few mince pies but counter them with a family walk in the fresh air or a healthy breakfast or lunch.

And don’t forget to give yourself the gift of self-care so that you can enjoy Christmas too.

Chloe Lowe is founder of @parentlistapp (www.parentlist. app), the app for busy parents who want to find joy in parenting.

Choosing and caring for your Christmas tree

We all want a fabulous Christmas tree that lasts as long as possible. Here are some tips for selecting and maintaining your tree.

How do I select a tree that’s the correct height for my room?

Measure the distance between your ceiling and floor, which gives you the vertical height limit. Take a note of the height of your tree stand. Deduct the height of the stand from your vertical height limit and you have the maximum possible height of tree that your room can accommodate. Take these measurements with you. Doing this preparation will ensure you don’t end up coming home with a tree that is too tall.

Is my tree fresh and how long will it last?

A healthy tree will have bright and shiny needles, not dry and dull. If you spot any grey sections, that’s a sign of dehydration which means that the tree is not that fresh.

If the tree is fresh, the needles should not break easily and should be hard to pull off. If the trunk is sticky and there is any sap residue, the tree is fresh. Also, the tree should be heavy, which means it is freshly cut and still contains all its water.

Which trees typically survive longest?

Choose Douglas or Nordmann Firs as the best options. If cared for well, they can last for about six weeks before withering, offering the best longevity throughout the Christmas season.

Lower the temperature in the room where you put up your tree, as this really slows down the drying process and keeps your tree fresher for longer.

What are the best watering tricks?

Your tree will need one litre of water per three cm of the stem diameter. That means a fresh cut tree can consume four to five litres a day. Watering is critical, especially for Norway Spruce trees.

Check the water level daily and never let it go below the tree’s base. Without water at the tree’s base, the tree will dry out within a week. The temperature of the water is not that important and no, you can’t overwater your tree, it will absorb only as much as it wants.

How to give a fading Christmas tree new life

Give your tree a good trim which will reduce the number of water-requiring branches. Keep the room as cool as possible and move your tree to the darkest place of the room.

Families would like to thank Fantastic Services (www.fantasticservices. com) for this article.

What’s On

All listings are correct at the time of publication. Please check with the venue before you visit in case anything has changed.

Fri 11 Nov-Fri 23 Dec

The Lanterns 2022, Chester Zoo Indulge in spectacle and magic at Chester Zoo. Discover a Norwegian fairy-tale land, a Japanese inspired garden, an array of glowing animals and guess who? Father Christmas will be there, along with his reindeers and delicious festive treats to spread some Christmas cheer! www.chesterzoo.org

Thu 24 Nov

12 Days of Christmas Parade, Bridge Street, Chester

It’s the season to be jolly…Chester city centre is hosting its 12 Days of Christmas parade, starting at Bridge Street - full of spectacular music, lights and even snow!

www.visitcheshire.com/whats-on

Thu 24 Nov-Sat 24 Dec

Walton Gardens Winter Light Trail, Higher Walton, Warrington Indulge yourself and your family with wonder and delight this Christmas with an eye-catching, illuminated trail at Walton Gardens. Come and be part of Luminate Cheshire at Walton Gardens. Book in advance. www.luminate.live/walton

Fri 25 Nov-Sat 31 Dec

Christmas at Delamere Forest, Northwich

Have a magical time this Christmas as you explore a captivating after-dark illuminated path through a festive forest. Traverse glittering tunnels of light and trees dressed up in jewel-like colour and much else besides. Trail entry time slots available. www.forestryengland.uk/ christmas-at-delamere

Fri 25 Nov-Sun 1 Jan Christmas at the Magical Woodland at Blakemere Village

A truly magical start to the Christmas celebrations for all the family. The event takes place in over fifteen acres of woodland and incorporates cutting edge lighting and sound to bring a touch of wonder and magic.

www.magicalwoodland.com

Fri 26 Nov-Sat 24 Dec

Christmas at the Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall, Chester

Get festive this Christmas at the Ice Cream Farm in Chester. From breakfast with Santa to making cookies with Mrs Claus or a visit to Santa grotto with his festive elves where each child will receive a very special gift.

www.theicecreamfarm.co.uk

Fri 2 Dec-Fri 23 Dec

BeWILDerwood Cheshire

If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise…. BeWILDerwood Cheshire is hosting its first festive event this season! With sparkly lights

and a panto trail, discover these wonderfully wonky woods that are transformed for Christmas. Featuring a mini pantomime. Tickets £15.50. Book in advance. www.cheshire.bewilderwood. co.uk

Sun 4 Dec Hallé Family Christmas Concert at The Bridgewater Hall Father Christmas has lost his map on a practice run of his delivery route! Thankfully the Hallé Family have found it but they need your help to return it to him ahead of the big day. With this all singing and dancing concert with a full symphony orchestra, can you help to save Christmas?

www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Thu 29 Dec-Fri 30 Dec

Twixmas at Gulliver’s World Twixmas experiences are back this season. Enjoy brilliant rides, attractions, a North Pole Express experience and panto shows for all the family.

www.gulliversworldresort.co.uk

Thu 25 Nov-Sat 24 Dec

Santa’s Enchanted Grotto, Chester’s Grosvenor Shopping Centre

Immerse yourself in a Narniainspired experience to meet Santa and receive a Christmas gift. Also featuring snow elves and other enchanted characters.

www.thegrosvenorcentre.co.uk

Sun 27 Nov-Sat 24 Dec

Brunch with Santa, Chester Cathedral

Enjoy a very special Sunday brunch. £15 an adult, £10 per child, including that special gift from Santa.

www.chestercathedral.com

Sat 3 Dec

The Snowman™ Tour, Chester Cathedral

Something magical is happening this Christmas… the classic family-favourite The Snowman™ , accompanied by live orchestra. Alongside this, enjoy Shaun The Sheep – The Flight Before Christmas with live orchestra for the very first time!

www.chestercathedral.com

Sun 4 Dec

Santa Sunday Lunch, The Mere Resort

Join Santa and his festive elves for a truly magical experience, featuring live entertainment, children’s face painting and a three-course ‘merry’ Sunday lunch, including, of course, a special gift from Santa. www.themereresort.co.uk

Sun 4 Dec, 11 & 18 Dec

Sunday Lunches with Santa, Inglewood Manor Inglewood Manor is bringing festive cheer this season with their Sunday lunches with Santa. £15 per child with a present for every child included. £29.95 per adult.

www.inglewoodmanor.co.uk

Sat 10 Dec- Sat 17 Dec

Santa Special Cruise, Chester Boat

All aboard! Set sail with Santa this Christmas on a family-friendly cruise. Children will have the chance to meet Santa and the Chester Boat elves and enjoy an array of festive fun activities. www.chesterboat.co.uk

Sun 11-Sun 18 Dec

Festive Afternoon Tea with Santa, The Mere Resort Tuck into a festive afternoon tea over the holiday season with Santa. Nothing quite says Christmas like sandwiches, scones, a range of festive themed sweet treats and a special gift from the man himself. www.themereresort.co.uk

Sat 24 Dec

Santa Send-off, Gulliver’s World Give a final farewell to Santa on Christmas Eve as he prepares his journey across the globe. Don’t forget to enjoy the festive rides and attractions too! www.gulliversworldresort.co.uk

Sat 12 & Sun 13 Nov Festive Winter Fair at Victoria Baths, Manchester’s Water Palace

A magical experience awaits you. The fair aims to spread festive cheer this season by showcasing the best makers from Manchester. A truly festive market to browse for all your Christmas essentials. www.victoriabaths.org.uk

Fri 18 Nov-Wed 21 Dec

Chester Christmas Market 10th Anniversary Chester Christmas market is back this holiday season! A great opportunity to explore over seventy stalls surrounding the iconic sparkling tree in the heart of the city centre. www.visitcheshire.com

Fri 18 Nov-Wed 21 Dec

Chester Christmas Market, Northgate Street, Chester Shop for Christmas and soak up some festive cheer. Open from Sunday to Wednesday 10.30 am-6.30 pm and Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10.30am to 8pm. www.facebook.com/ ChesterChristmasMarket

Sat 3 Dec

Christmas Craft and Flea Fair at Manchester Cathedral

Making a comeback this season is Craft & Flea, showcasing the absolute best of the city’s local produce makers, street food and flea market stalls and offering a wide range of vintage and collectables. 10am-4pm. £2 entry. Under 12s are free. www.manchestercathedral.org

Sat 3 Dec

Parkgate & Neston Christmas Market at Moorside Lane, Parkgate

You’ll be captivated by the sights, sounds and smells of this market, brought to you by The Handcrafted Market. With tempting seasonal treats and delightful Christmas gifts, this authentic artisan market has something to offer every visitor. www.facebook.com/ thehandcraftedmarketuk

Sun 20 Nov

The Naughty Fox at The Lowry, Salford

Join Splash and TaWit TaWoo as they teach The Naughty Fox a particularly important lesson: that it’s better to share. Puppetry, music and lights - perfect for your little ones. From £9.50. www.thelowry.com

Mon 21-Tue 22 Nov

Tales from Acorn Wood, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

Favourite stories by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The stories are brought to life on stage for the very first time in this delightful experience. A brilliant show from the team that brought you Dear Zoo Live and Dear Santa. 21 Nov 4pm. 22 Nov 10.30am, 1.30pm.Tickets £15 children, £17 adults, £12 schools & groups.

www.crewelyceum.co.uk

WHERE TO SEE SANTA

GIFTS

THEATRE

PANTOS

Wed 30 Nov & 1, 2, 3, 4 Dec

The Demon Dentist, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

An entertaining and exhilarating story by David Walliams-“it’s hilarious, jaw-dropping fun”. From the West End producers of David Walliams’ own Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, both nominated for an Olivier Award. www.crewelyceum.co.uk

Mon 5-Sat 31 Dec

Jack and the Beanstalk at Northwich Memorial Court, Cheshire

Anton Benson Productions return with the ‘giant’ of a pantomime you’ve all ‘bean’ waiting for. Join celebrity headliners, Su Pollard and Mark Labbett, along with Northwich Legends, Ryan Greaves, Steve Moorewood and Georgie Jackson that is full of Fee Fi Fo Fun! www.brioentertainment.org

Wed 7 Dec-Sun 8 Jan Room on the Broom at The Lowry, Salford

Iggety ziggety zaggety zoom! This Olivier Award nominated show is a treat for everyone ages 3 years and up. Fly with the witch and her cat in Tall Stories funfilled adaptation of Room on the Broom, the best-selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. www.thelowry.com

Thu 8 Dec-Sun 8 Jan Cinderella at The Plaza, Stockport’s Super Cinema and Variety Theatre

You shall go to the ball! Christmas pantomime featuring Cheryl Ferguson, who starred in Eastenders and Phil Mealey known for his starring roles in Early Doors and The Royle Family. A treat for all to enjoy. www.stockportplaza.co.uk

Fri 9 Dec-Sun 15 Jan

The Snow Queen, Storyhouse Theatre, Chester Take your family on a mystical and magical adventure with The Snow Queen! Join Gerda on her epic quest to save her friend from the clutches of the Snow Queen. An unforgettable, spectacular tale for all ages and The Storyhouse’s most spectacular show ever.

Tickets from £18. www.thestoryhouse.com

Sat 10 Dec-Sat 31 Dec

The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan at Opera House, Manchester Tick tock, tick tock. Don’t let time fly away, rather get your tickets for a magical adventure to Neverneverland to join Peter Pan and his gang. www.atgtickets.com

Sat 10 Dec-Sun 1 Jan Sleeping Beauty at Buxton Opera House

Join the Prince on his quest to rescue the Princess and vanquish the Wicked Witch. An unforgettable Christmas pantomime with a brilliant cast. Princess Beauty is about to celebrate her 18th birthday. The King has banned all spinning wheels from the kingdom but will this save the princess from the curse of the evil fairy? www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

Sleeping Beauty at The Grange Theatre, Northwich

When the evil witch Carabosse causes Princess Aurora to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an enchanted sleep, she cannot be awoken. Can anybody break the spell? With dazzling and exciting blend of music, quality professional performers, stunning sets, lavish costumes and bags of comedy. www.thegrangetheatre.com

Wed 14 Dec-Sun 8 Jan Claus The Musical at The Lowry, Salford

From the writer of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz comes Claus The Musical. Based on the beloved children’s book The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, by L. Frank Baum, this brand-new musical is a heart-warming story for the whole family. www.thelowry.com

Fri 16-Wed 21 Dec Santa Saves Christmas, The Brindley Theatre

Including Jack, Dasher the Reindeer and Pompom the Penguin in this musical interactive quest to help Santa save Christmas! Enjoy singing festive songs The Twelve Days of Christmas, Jingle Bells, Silent Night and many more!

Tickets £14.

www.thebrindley.org.uk

Fri 16-Sat 24 Dec Beauty and the Beast at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall Belle lives a quiet life in the Kingdom of Ooh La La but she yearns for adventure! Claire Sweeney plays The Enchantress in this ‘tale as old as pantomime’, full of stunning sets, colourful costumes, trademark laugh out loud script full of song, dance, hilarious one-liners and some legendary slapstick sketches! www.brioentertainment.org

Fri 16 Dec-Sun 8 Jan Aladdin at Crewe Lyceum Theatre

Full of laughs and fabulous musical numbers, Aladdin, stars Louie Spence as the Spirit of the Ring, Jamie Kenna (Coronation Street) as Abanazar, Kiera-Nicole (Milkshake) as Jasmine and returning for his sixth year, Crewe’s treasured dame, Malcolm Lord as Widow Twankey! It’s going to be ‘genie’us’!

www.crewelyceum.co.uk

Tue 20 Dec

Horrible Histories, Horrible Christmas at The Bridgewater Hall

Characters from the past come to life to join forces to save Christmas in a horrible history hair-raising extravaganza for all ages. Book in advance. www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Wed 21 Dec

The Muppet Christmas Carol at The Bridgewater Hall

The Muppet Christmas Carol (definitely not a humbug). Join the muppets in this classic Charles Dickens tale of a Christmas Carol. Three ghosts try to save a miserable, old Ebenezer Scrooge, the erstwhile Gonzo. Rizzo the Rat narrates the story along with other muppet friends along the way.

www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Thu 22 Dec-Sat 31 Dec

Little Penguin’s First Christmas at The Lowry, Salford

A treat for little ones ages 0 to 3 with Little Penguin’s First Christmas. From the successful company that brought Snowbabies and Aleen’a Garden, it’s filled with puppetry, original music and sensory delights to capture their imagination.

www.thelowry.com

Cheshire Magazine

Buxton Opera House presents

Paul Kerryson

Sponsored by

Buxton’s favourite Dame James Holmes as Carabossy

Matthew Jay Ryanas Jock

Christmas fairs

Don’t forget to say you saw these in Families

Cheshire

Barekind Bamboo Socks

These jolly Bamboo socks are great stocking fillers that save endangered animals too. Bright and colourful, they will brighten up your children’s feet, while 10% of the profits are donated to help save the animal on the sock. £7.50.

www.barekind.co.uk

By Claire Winter

Christmas GIFT GUIDE

Spread a bit of festive joy by being good both to your family and the planet this year. These gorgeous gifts for kids and adults will make everyone’s day without costing the earth.

Elf Letters

We’re all for an advent calendar that encourages children to read! This one has daily, personalised Elf letters directly from a North Pole Elf. Read the stories every day to find out what happens in the North Pole as Santa and the elves get ready for Christmas. £25.99.

www.elfforchristmas.co.uk

Nature Curious Subscription Boxes

Buttercup’s Nature Curious activity subscription boxes encourage children to explore the British wildlife on our doorsteps. Their eco-packaged worksheets and nature prints with augmented reality are designed and printed in the UK. £20 per month with bonus access to an online community.

www.buttercuplearning.com

Families has an annual subscription to give away! Apply at familiesmag.co.uk/go

Kabode Alphabet Children’s Bedding

This gorgeous natural children’s bedding from Kabode is designed to inspire big dreams. The Alphabet collection makes it fun for your child to learn their ABCs and the playful design is decorated with colourful letters. Made from 100% certified organic cotton. £44.95.

www.kabode.co.uk

Play Kits Subscription Boxes

The Play Kits imaginative subscription boxes help parents make the most of playtime and support pre-school brain development. Created with leading child development experts, these are built to last and are made with sustainable wood, organic cotton, non-toxic paint and baby-safe plastics.

£80.

Bake at Home Gingerbread People

Cake or Death’s Bake At Home Gingerbread People make the perfect gift for little bakers. Delivered through your letterbox, each kit comes complete with delicious ready-made gingerbread dough, a cutter and recipe card. £15.

www.cakeordeath.co.uk

Giveaway

JOGB Luxury Candle

A JOGB luxury candle is a lovely treat for someone who has everything (else)! They are artisan-made, eco-friendly candles, made using 100% natural luxury fragrances from quality essential oils. Available in three gorgeous fragrances: Relaxing SLOJO, Uplifting GOJO and Sensual MOJO. £65.

www.jogbliving.com

DIY Lip Tint or Cheek Balm Kit

Let the makeup lover in your life design their own allnatural lip tints or cheek balms. These DIY kits have gorgeous ingredients and are plastic-free. £19.99.

www.acalaonline.com

Families has three kits to give away! Apply at familiesmag.co.uk/go

Target Wool Blanket

Warm up with the Tartan Blanket Co.’s recycled wool blankets which are as good for you as they are for the planet. They are made from a mix of at least 70% recycled wool and preloved, recycled fibres. Available in a range of beautiful designs and colours. £65.

www.tartanblanketco.com

Cashmere Fingerless Gloves

These super-cosy, one-size cashmere fingerless gloves by Nearly New Cashmere Co. are made from discarded cashmere jumpers. As an added benefit they’re long enough to keep wrists warm too. A gorgeous festive gift. £24.

www.nearlynewcashmere.co.uk

Halo Water Bottle

Perfect for fitness fanatics, Halo insulated bottles are compact and lightweight. Designed to be incredibly handbag (and even coat pocket)friendly, Halo is a bottle you will never leave at home, making hydrating on the move that little bit easier. From £22.

www.halobottle.com

Crossover Bag

This quirky crossover bag is made in Portugal using superior quality cork. It is a 100% natural raw material harvested every nine years from the cork oaks. Its 100% biodegradability and its high quality make it one of the most sustainable and durable materials available today. Vegan, waterproof and extremely light. £59.99.

www.primaberry.com

Sleepless in ….wherever…

By Shyamantha Asokan

How do you juggle work and home when your kids won’t sleep?

It’s 4.30am and I’m sleeping across the bottom end of my bed. I’m all crunched up so my feet don’t dangle off the edge, with no pillow and my duvet at a weird angle. I doubt this even counts as sleep – but I’ll take whatever I can get.

So how did I get here?

My three-year-old daughter and my fifteen-month-old son are just emerging from a month of back-to-back nursery illnesses, which has thrown their sleep right off course. Although, even in normal circumstances, neither of them is great at sleeping when they should or where they should. They certainly don’t sleep like the children in all the parenting books I’ve read (seriously, who are those children?).

Here’s a typical night in our house at the moment…

• 8pm: Both kids go to sleep in their bedrooms.

• 11pm: My son wakes and will only go back to sleep in our bed. Husband goes to sofa.

• 1am: My daughter wakes and goes to sleep on the sofa with my husband.

• 2am onwards: My son wakes one or two more times and I cuddle him back to sleep with varying degrees of success. Sometimes it takes an hour.

• 6am: The kids are up for the day.

Sometimes my son falls asleep on my lap and I have to shuffle him onto our mattress at a diagonal angle, in order not to wake him, leaving me just the bottom strip of the bed to sleep on.

Sometimes he falls asleep on my arm and I have to ‘ninja slide’ it out from under him when he’s in a deep-sleep phase. The whole thing is absurd.

Writing emails in my mind

Of course, I still need to go to work – and working while sleepdeprived is brutal.

Madonna and Margaret Thatcher, two under-slept women who were big in the 1980s, both seemed to equate a lack of rest with a passion for their job. This is questionable for a million reasons. Tracy Emin, big in the 1990s, perhaps more sensibly described her insomnia as ‘crippling.’

In any case, I just turn out to be a rubbish version of my usual self. My eyes burn as I read research reports, concentrating is hard and pretending not to be tired is tiring.

In meetings, part of me is listening to what everyone is saying but part of me is just thinking about how well-slept they all look. If you’ve had a meeting with me recently and you thought I was a bit distracted, it’s because I was thinking about how great the skin under your eyes looks.

Overnight, when I’m woken by the kids, I struggle to go back to sleep as work-thoughts pop up and race around my head. I lie at the bottom of the bed and write emails in my mind. Meanwhile my son snuffles and snores like a contented little sea-lion, in his rightful place at the centre of the only double bed in the house.

I was, of course, working when I was on maternity leave last year – looking after children and running a house is a job. But I was surrounded by other women with young children, in a blearyeyed ecosystem where everyone was tired. The professional

‘back-to-work’

world feels very different. Arianna Huffington has said that sleep is a feminist issue, as women get far less of it than men.

But, in the midst of it all, there are suddenly moments of pure rest.

There are endless parenting books that tell you not to cosleep with your children but in my family’s case it’s a balm for everyone involved. At the weekend I have afternoon naps with my daughter and her truly innocent sleep, the kind that only a child can have, calms me until I drop off too.

Shyamantha Asokan is a Midlands-based journalist and mother of two. This blog is part of a series called The Chaos Train, a record of daily life when you have a career and preschool children.

With thanks to www.workingmums.co.uk who host her blog online. Find part time, home based and flexible full-time jobs plus advice for working mums on its site.

Festive family city breaks

By Vicky Bradley

It’s the MOST wonderful time … of the year! It sure is! And what better way to experience Christmas with little ones than on a city break? Our friends at Tested by Tots have identified some of the most family-friendly UK cities in which to experience the full magic of Christmas.

Glasgow holds all the festive fairs that you would expect from a city but it also offers a range of theatre and entertainment for little ones. From a variety of pantos to Children’s Classic Concerts such as The Night Before Christmas, there is plenty to keep you entertained.

https://bit.ly/glasgownightbeforexmas

Kidderminster

Travel by Santa Trains (www.svr.co.uk/ events/santatrains22) from Kidderminster to Arley to see your favourite characters in pantomime. Twenty minutes away, Bodenham Arboretum’s (www.bodenhamarboretum.co.uk) live nativity play is superb.

Nottingham

Nottingham’s festive markets offer something for everyone, from retro style to a sparkling Winter Wonderland!

Trinity Square is a city highlight and last year it contained a specially constructed Christmas village which offered visitors the chance to relax with hot chocolates in a number of igloo-style domes. A unique experience!

https://bit.ly/nottswinterwonderland

Durham

A beautiful, picturesque city that truly embraces the spirit of Christmas. Alongside its regular markets, the city holds an annual Christmas Festival. This year’s Festival will run from 2 to 4 December. In addition, Durham will be full of festive music, seasonal storytelling, Carols in the Cathedral, a children’s Lantern Procession and so much more.

https://bit.ly/durxmasfestival

www.allevents.in/kidderminster/ christmas

Norwich

Perhaps not the first destination that comes to mind when you think about Christmas but Norwich has lots of festive charm, including the most anticipated Christmas attraction in the UK - The Tunnel of Light! As one of the largest of its kind in Europe, the Tunnel of Light consists of more than fifty seven thousand LED bulbs and over five and a half miles of cabling!

https://bit.ly/norwichxmas

Cardiff

Why not celebrate Christmas with a trip to a festive castle? Cardiff Castle has a fantastic Christmas festival with incredible shows such as Santa’s Wish, Castellana and The Nutcracker, all performed in the round. Plus, there’s the usual spectacular Christmas Market and Winter Wonderland.

https://bit.ly/cardiffcastlexmas

Tested by Tots checks out and recommends only products and services that are genuinely child-friendly. For hints and tips on holidaying with children, including holiday packing checklists, go to www.testedbytots.com

Belfast

This city goes big when it comes to Christmas with light shows, displays, markets and a Georgian experience. The kids won’t believe their eyes!

https://bit.ly/xmasbel

Winchester

Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas Market is widely recognised across Europe and is inspired by German Christmas markets. The Cathedral is at the heart of the city’s festivities, lighting up in celebration with Christmas services and other festive activities that carry on into the New Year.

https://bit.ly/wincxmasmarket

Exeter

Exeter city comes alive this time of year with an ice rink and Winter Wonderland plus the usual carol concerts and pantomimes. Drive twenty minutes and you’ll also find Pennywell Farm (www.pennywellfarm.co.uk) which boasts one of the best live nativity and Christmas experiences in Devon.

https://bit.ly/xmasinex

Glasgow

Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market

Norwich Cardiff

Belfast

Glasgow