Families Manchester Issue 37 Jan-Feb 2013

@FamiliesManch

Edition 37 • Jan/Feb 2013

The local magazine for families with children 0-12 years

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ÂŽ MANCH E S T E R In this issue >Is a nursery right for your child? >Gluten Sensitivity and Coeliac Disease >How to have your best family holiday ever

Covering: Altrincham, Trafford, Salford, Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Didsbury, Stockport, Cheadle, Bramhall, and surrounding areas.

Welcome Voting now open for Tommy's Baby-friendly Awards

Happy New Year!

Did you know that 2013 is the first year to be denoted by four different digits in 26 years? The last one was 1987 – in that glorious era of big hair, shoulder pads and legwarmers, with a touch of blue eye shadow thrown in for good measure.

For the 18th year running, baby charity Tommy’s is calling on parents across the UK to recognise the babyfriendly organisations committed to making their lives easier, for the Baby-friendly awards 2013!

This year Tommy’s has partnered with parenting club Bounty who will be generously donating £1 to Tommy’s for every vote cast. Each voter will also be in with a chance of winning a fantastic Peppa Pig Theme Park Mega Prize, including an exclusive breakfast meet and greet with Peppa Pig and George!

Sadly pregnancy complications – such as premature birth, miscarriage and

Get crafty and support disabled children

In celebration of this fact, we’ve come up with four New Year’s resolutions that we’re determined to stick to.

1. Make more time for ourselves 3. Make more time for ourselves

2. Make more time for ourselves 4. Make more time for ourselves

Yes, that’s right. With the frantic pace of life and all the challenges that it throws at us, this year is going to be about US. But while we’re thinking about us, we’ll also be reflecting on how incredibly lucky we are to have such wonderful families, amazing friends and to live in such a beautiful county. And that big hair is a thing of the past (sadly, permanently for our husbands).

We hope that 2013 is a wonderful one for you and your family, and that you too have the supportive network you need around you for any of life’s little challenges.

Onwards and upwards!

Caryl Hall

Jayne Keep

Leading children’s disability charity Newlife Foundation is calling on all crafters to help support disabled and terminally ill children around the UK. Whatever your craft, getting involved is simple. Either make something and sell it at local sales and donate the proceeds to Newlife or donate your handcrafted goods and they’ll sell it for you. Alternatively spread the word or simply donate cash.

Newlife guarantees that 100 per cent of all funds received will directly help disabled children through its national Nurse Helpline, equipment grants and emergency loan services, investment in medical research and campaigning activity with central and local government.

In this issue 02: 02: 04: 08:

Welcome News Health & Safety

Travel

Next issue: March/April 2013 Circulation: 25,000 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.

Contact details: Families Manchester, PO Box 581, Macclesfield, SK10 9FN Tel: 01625 801 801 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk

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Nurseries Education news Parents' place What's on

Design: Paul Wilson Graphic Design, Tel: 07743 111 694, www.withpaul.co.uk Print: Bishops Printers, Walton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 1TR Tel: 023 9233 4900 www.bishops.co.uk Families Manchester is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license.

We take every care preparing the magazine, but the Editorial: editor@familiesmanchester.co.uk publishers and distributors can’t be held Advertising/artwork: advertising@familiesmanchester.co.uk responsible for the claims of advertisers, the Events, diary dates, out & about: accuracy of the contents nor for any consequences. events@familiesmanchester.co.uk Cover photograph: Supplied by Bridgewater School, Manchester

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stillbirth – are more common than people think.

In recognition of this, the awards ceremony also strives to recognise some exceptional people with its seven very special awards: the Courage, Champion Children, Hero, Miracle Unit, Angel and – new for 2013 – the Super Sibling and First Hug Awards.

To vote, visit www.bounty.com/ tommys-awards2013 between 7 January and 18 February 2013.

Winners of each category are announced at a glittering ceremony in London, in March.

National Storytelling Week Storytelling can be found enriching lives everywhere: from nurseries and schools to support groups and theatrical performances.

The 13th Annual National Storytelling Week takes place 26 January – 2 February 2013, encouraging all areas of the community to take part in creating and enjoying storytelling, this most ancient of communicative arts. National Storytelling week has an audience of around 17,000 people, so get involved in workshops, performances and events across the country. www.sfs.org.uk/ national-storytelling-week

Here are some examples of what your support can buy: £100 – sensory equipment for children with autism or visual impairment £500 – Specialist car seat £1,000 – Lightweight wheelchair £1,500 – Specialist buggy £2,000 – Medical bed £5,000 – Specialist communication aid Newlife has funded £8.2million of disability equipment for more than 5,400 under-19s and supports end-of-life children by prompt provision of specialist equipment. This year, the charity invested £1.5million into the opening of the Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

To join Newlife in saying ‘yes’ to supporting disabled children please contact Vicky Jones or Anna Szymczak on 01543 468 888 or email getcrafty@newlifecharity.co.uk. www.newlifecharity.co.uk

News NCT Trafford – support from blue (line) to two Having a baby is a lifechanging experience, and NCT Trafford is there to offer support along the way. As the UK’s largest parents’ charity, they’re known not only for their antenatal courses, but also for offering a great way to help you stock up for your new arrival, socialise and gain first aid skills.

Nearly New Sales are a great place to buy quality baby and children's clothing, toys and nursery equipment at a fraction of the high street costs. Meanwhile, growing families can make extra cash and clear space selling pre-loved children's gear. NCT Trafford will sell goods for you, taking a 30% commission for the charity or a lesser commission of 25% if you help at the sale. Their next sale takes place on Saturday 16 March at Sale Grammar School, and registration opens online on 1 February. Doors will open at

10am for NCT members with valid card and 10.30am for the general public. Pushchairs will be allowed in from 11am.

Entry costs just £1.

Knowing what to do in an emergency makes confident parents and is the aim of their new NCT Baby First Aid courses. A partnership with the British Red Cross, the £25 courses generally include how to treat an unconscious baby or child, choking, bleeding, burns and raised temperatures.

Register online for their 28 January (7-9pm) course in Altrincham or for weekend classes on 23 February in Hale.

They’d also love to see you and your bump/baby or toddler at their socials aimed at combating parent isolation, with weekly playgroup and coffee meets in Sale and Urmston and their monthly Pudding Club evening. Find out more at: www.nct.org.uk/branches/mancheste r-trafford

RSPB ‘reconnects’ kids to nature

With more than 50% of the world’s population now living in cities, there is growing concern that generations of children with little or no contact with the natural world pose one of the biggest threats to the future of the UK’s natural environment.

Now, the RSPB is unveiling a revolutionary approach to reconnect children aged 8-12 with the natural world and wildlife, exploring their empathy for

creatures, responsibility for nature, enjoyment of nature experiences and sense of ‘one-ness’ with nature. “Without the opportunity and encouragement to get outdoors and connect with nature, children are missing out on so many benefits that previous generations have enjoyed, and it’s putting the future of our wildlife and natural environment at risk,” says RSPB’s Chief Executive, Dr Mike Clarke. Rachel Bragg from the University of Essex adds, “It’s vital we understand how a child’s experience of nature influences their feelings of connection to the natural world as this will affect future behaviour towards the environment.” Check your family’s level of connection to nature in a simple questionnaire at www.rspb.org.uk/getoutdoors.

www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 3

Health and safety Addictive, unwholesome and everywhere: The toxic truth about sugar in our children’s diet

By Elisabeth Dolton five to ten-year-olds. Added sugar is now found in almost all processed foods and not just obviously sweet foods – glucosefructose syrup is found in everyday products, such as cereal, salad dressing and sausages, making it easy to send our children over the recommended limit, sometimes with just one product.

Increasing addiction

So, you sent your child off to school this morning on a full bowl of cereal and some fresh orange juice. Thinking this is a good start to the day, you may have already given them over half their recommended daily allowance of sugar. This scenario is common across many families. Over the past 10 years the use of sugar in foods has undergone a transformation, resulting in us potentially providing a diet for our children that contains much more sugar than their bodies can cope with.

Moreover, recent research has been looking into a worrying trend that the more sugar we eat, the more we want, and concluding that the addictive nature of sugar for our children is much higher than previously thought. Added sugar dulls the brain’s mechanism that tells you to stop eating, by reducing activity in the brain’s anorexigenic oxytocin system that gives the body the ‘full’ feeling. Without this, our appetite becomes insatiable, making it very easy to overeat.

The dangers A silent revolution Essentially, the mass development of a cheap, highly sweet, glucose-fructose syrup, produced from surplus corn, started in the 70’s, and was soon pumped into every conceivable food: pizza, coleslaw, meat. It provides a "just baked" sheen on bread and cakes, makes everything sweeter, and helps to keep foods moist so extends shelf life from days to years. At the same time, low fat foods were being embraced by dieters, so as fat was taken out of foods, sugar replaced it to maintain taste.

Unsurprisingly, sugar consumption has trebled worldwide over the last 50 years, and this purified sugar (known as ‘added’ sugar) is now an alarmingly major part of the Western diet. As a result, the amount of sugar going into our bodies has been silently revolutionised.

Unavoidable UK guidelines recommend that added sugars shouldn’t make up more than around 50g a day, equivalent to ten teaspoons of sugar for adults and nine for

“Sugar is ubiquitous, and the problem with refined sugar as opposed to natural sugar,” says Tracey Harper, Nutritional Therapist, “is that this sugar is an empty food with the goodness stripped away, so when eaten it actually robs the body of vital nutrients, resulting in a depleted immune system.” She goes on to explain that sugar feeds bad bacteria in the gut, the gut lining becomes exposed, so toxins can enter the blood stream, causing allergens to develop as well as other auto-immune deficiencies. Studies

confirm this, showing that excess sugars cause a 50% drop in the ability of white blood cells to fight off bacteria.

The growing problem of obesity in the UK with 31% of children now classified as overweight and the rising incidence of Type 2 diabetes, once associated with elderly people, also points to the overconsumption of sugar in our children’s daily diet. Excess sugar rots teeth and let’s not forget, poor memory, low moods and depression have all been linked to the over-consumption of sugar. The recognisable 'sugar high' you get after eating sugar resulting in more energy and improved mood is temporary. After some time, the body crashes, energy levels plummet, leaving lethargy and tiredness.

Further effects can include hyperactivity in children, crankiness and eczema.

So, as we scratch our heads on how to get our kids to eat less sweets and exercise more, perhaps we also need to start looking more closely at what we are putting on their plates at meal and snack times.

Check these out:

Reducing added sugar in your family’s diet

Further information

1.5l bottle of Volvic Touch of Fruit Lemon and Lime – 16 ½ teaspoons of sugar McDonald’s milkshake – 16 teaspoons Orangina 500ml – 13 teaspoons Tesco Pure Orange Juice Smooth, 250ml – 6 teaspoons Dolmio Bolognese sauce, 500g – 6 teaspoons Walls soft scoop vanilla ice cream, 200ml – 4 ½ teaspoons Serving of Kellogg’s Frosties – 4 teaspoons Two McVities Jaffa Cakes – 3 teaspoons Muller Light Strawberry yoghurt, 175g – 2 ½ teaspoons (Source: Dailymail.co.uk)

• Remember, natural sugars are good – soak apricots, whizz them in a blender, and use that to sweeten foods • Ensure every meal includes protein • Have vegetables or salad with pasta or pizza, so your child is getting everything for the body to function properly • Eat from scratch. Eat real food not processed food – porridge with a dash of honey has everything a young child needs to start off the day • Make your own pasta sauce, stuffed with lots of pureed vegetables (carrots, peppers, greens). Make a large batch then freeze small portions • Make smoothies using a hand blender and a jug. Add in a vegetable, e.g. avocado and strawberry. Cheaper and as good as any supermarket brand • Children eat what is there. Keep sugary snacks and junk food out of the house; instead offer oat biscuits, hummus, chopped vegetables, Whole Earth peanut butter

Thanks to Tracey Harper for her contribution to the article and great tips for reducing sugar in children’s diet – www.traceyharpernutrition.co.uk / info@traceyharpernutrition.co.uk

How to spot a high sugar food Look for ‘Total sugars’ on the label which include natural and added sugar A food with less than 5g ‘total sugars’ per 100g is classified as low, more than 15g per 100g is high

4 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester

www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/pages/sugars.aspx www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/pages/food-labelling.aspx www.bbc.co.uk/health www.myhealthnewsdaily.com www.telegraph.co.uk/health/dietandfitness www.nhs.uk/change4life www.hungryforchange.tv/sugar-is-a-drug (Jamie Oliver’s TED Award speech)

Health and safety

Wireless technology: can you feel the force?

Image: © Tatyana Gladskih - Fotolia.com

By Helena Foss

Can you remember a life before mobiles and texting? I often let my five-year-old son play games on my mobile. That’s normal, isn’t it? There is wifi in most schools and there are phone masts on top of the tower block where my son’s school friend lives. In the past, community activists campaigned against such things. Today, they are simply part of the landscape. But surely this technology wouldn’t be allowed if it wasn’t proven to be safe, would it?

As the more powerful G4 network is being rolled out across the nation, I think it’s wise to at least question the safety of wireless technology. Especially in light of the recent roll call of unethical activity in once trusted institutions: banking (once a paragon of respectability); Sir Jimmy Savile (OBE no less); BBC management; abuse in care homes; corporate tax avoidance (one rule for the rich, another for the poor); Rupert Murdoch’s News International debacle; and prestigious medical journals losing credibility due to industry funding that skews research in drug corporations’ favour.

An ex-editor of a reputable medical journal has estimated that this accounts for at least two thirds of trials published in major journals. (http://bit.ly/QuPaRg) Blimey! Is nothing sacred anymore?

Here is a little basic info Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is basically microwave radiation. Small doses, of course, will not kill you. (In fact, I would say microwave ovens are lifesaving at stress o’clock when the kids

are famished and you resort to heating up a frozen ready meal!) But do we want this kind of invisible energy in our homes all the time? WiFi and cordless phones, we often forget, are all EMR-emitting devices too.

The fact is that telecommunications industry-funded research says that EMR poses less danger than independent scientists say it does. Plus, the effects of EMR on children, whose skulls are thinner and whose brains are still developing, is still not fully researched or understood. In 2011, the World Health Organisation classified EMR from mobile phones as “possibly carcinogenic” and, according to a Daily Telegraph report in October 2012, a link between heavy mobile use (up to six hours a working day over 12 years) and brain tumours, was upheld in an Italian court (an employee was suing his employer). The Telegraph has also reported a link found with hyperactivity and poor memory in adult offspring of pregnant mice exposed to cellphone radiation by researchers at Yale University.

OK, so let’s not panic – but let’s not ignore the issue either. Whilst the scientific debate continues, when it comes to erring on the side of precaution, I’m with Edmund Burke who said: “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” It’s like insurance, you don’t need it till you find it’s too late.

Simple tips to keep your family safe (just in case it isn’t) • Always turn your wifi router off at night (just a switch).

• Never put your mobile close to your baby’s head, nor let them use it as a toy. Think twice about whether your cordless baby monitor is necessary or place it as far as possible from baby.

These devices also emit EMR; they work with Wifi after all.

• Carry your phone in your bag, not your pocket. Manufacturer’s small print warns users to keep mobiles away from the body, even though advertising campaigns show the opposite.

• The NHS advises children and teenagers to text or make short, essential calls only. The further away from the body/ears the better.

• Do not let your teenager sleep next to their phone at night (and especially not keep it under their pillow for secret texting). (See the NHS leaflet on www.familiesonline.co.uk/radiation).

• Do not use your phone as an alarm clock next to your head.

• Go back to a corded phone. No re-wiring is required, simply buy two Ethernet boxes to plug in computers and laptops to your regular electricity socket. Radiation from cordless (DECT) phones is intense, and in some cases higher than a mobile phone (models/devices vary in intensity, check SAR levels).

• Get informed. We’ve collated lots of useful websites, articles, reports, videos etc. here: www.familiesonline.co.uk/radiation

Further Information A comprehensive report on controversies in current EMR research: http://archive.radiationresearch.org/ pdfs/15reasons.asp

www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 5

Health and safety Gluten Sensitivity and Coeliac Disease – is your child affected?

MovoBright: All Round Safety For Road Users Reviewed by Jayne Keep In the last issue of Families Manchester, we told you about the MovoBright high visibility safety device.

Since then, we’ve tried it out ourselves, and were amazed by the intensity of light emitted from this small, lightweight stick.

To see it shine, you have to be behind the light source that is reflecting back, so we tested it out on the roads. My daughter Lily rode out on her pony wearing it hanging off the rear strap of her riding hat. I walked behind so I could see the view the drivers were getting as their headlights hit the MovoBright. Lily found it comfortable to wear as it was so lightweight (just 22 grams) and flexible that she barely noticed it. The light can hit the MovoBright from any angle as it emits light around a full 360 degrees.

It’s the brightest, non-powered safety device available. Because the MovoBright is a simple clip on stick it can be used in a wide variety of ways: hanging from a bicycle, off a dog’s collar, from a belt loop, a rucksack, a saddle, the back of a hat…. the options are so varied. The key is to think about where the light from a car will hit. I think if you are on the road on horseback, running or cycling, it’s a great additional safety aid to complement other

hi-vis items. If you’re walking along the paths to school or out with the dog you could use this on its own. It’s a brilliant, innovative safety product that will be well used by our family in a variety of ways.

Special offer for Families Manchester readers.

Help ensure your family members are visible from all around, whether on bikes or on foot. For a 15% discount, make sure you go to www.movobright.co.uk/families

You can also watch video demonstrations and listen to others’ reactions.

6 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester

The prevalence of Coeliac Disease has increased five-fold overall since 1974(1). Yet testing for the condition has been plagued with difficulties and inaccuracies, especially in children.

Nutritionist Christine Bailey, who specialises in digestive disorders and allergies in children, discusses new tests available and the signs and symptoms to look out for.

Coeliac Disease (CD) is one of the most common lifelong diseases in both Europe and the US(2). Its prevalence is estimated at around 1% of the population(3).

This equates to approximately 3 million Americans and 620 000 people in the UK. The problem is that it is seriously underdiagnosed especially in children.

Approximately 78% of sufferers don’t realise they have the disease – in fact only 10-20% have been diagnosed(4). What is also shocking is that there has been an increase in its prevalence over the last 50 years – one study suggested CD has increased by up to 400%(5) (elevated Tissue Transglutaminase TTG antibodies).

While classic symptoms include diarrhoea, intestinal bloating and stomach cramps the majority of people including children do not experience any digestive symptoms, making detection harder. Left untreated, it can lead to the malabsorption of nutrients, damage to the small intestine and other medical complications.

Coeliac Disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, which is found in certain foods (wheat, barley and rye).

It is a lifelong condition and requires the complete avoidance of all foods and drinks containing gluten. If your child has coeliac disease, eating gluten will cause a reaction in their bodies that damages or destroys the villi (small projections in the intestines that help us absorb nutrients). When this occurs, the surface of the small intestine is flattened and a child's body can't absorb vitamins and nutrients from food.

You’re not necessarily born with coeliac disease; although the condition is linked to certain genetic markers,

there is normally an environmental trigger that causes the immune system to lose tolerance to gluten.

For children it can be particularly difficult to diagnose – classic blood tests are accurate only when the villi are severely damaged and in children this may not have occurred. However, if left undiagnosed it can lead to development of other autoimmune conditions as well as affecting the growth and development and overall health later in life.

If there is a family history of autoimmune conditions and/or coeliac disease, then it is recommended you get your child tested. Until recently this would involve a standard blood test from the GP to look for a range of antibodies. (e.g IgA anti-gliadin antibodies, IgG anti-gliadin antibodies, IgA anti-endomysial antibodies, Tissue transglutaminase antibody and total IgA antibodies). If positive, an Intestinal biopsy is often performed. The trouble is that these are not particularly accurate(6) and blood tests can be distressing for children. Thankfully there are new private laboratory tests, involving saliva collection. This is not only sensitive and accurate but also easier to undertake for young children.

There are also more comprehensive blood tests, which are available privately for older children. Even if your child does not appear to be showing any symptoms (see list alongside), if you have a family history of coeliac disease it is recommended you get your children tested for the genetic markers (HLA DQ2/8). This blood test will identify whether or not your child has the genetic markers that make it more likely they will develop the disease if they continue to eat gluten. Ask your practitioner or qualified nutritionist for the most appropriate tests for your family.

Health and safety Signs and Symptoms Because symptoms in children are often subtle and mimic other intestinal diseases, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome or lactose intolerance, the disease is often difficult to diagnose. Some children experience symptoms the first time they are exposed to gluten, while others develop symptoms later in life.

Typical symptoms include: • Diarrhoea, constipation • Abdominal pain • Poor appetite • A bloated or painful belly, gas, flatulence • Weight loss or difficulty gaining weight These symptoms can begin during infancy (between 6 and 24 months), after the child begins to eat gluten-containing foods.

Additional symptoms, which may develop later, include: • Slowed growth, failure to thrive • Iron deficiency anaemia, fatigue, low energy • Skin rash – dermatitis herpetiformis • Tooth enamel changes • Bone thinning • Joint aches and pains • Headaches • Mouth ulcers • Mood changes, depression • Delay in menstruation If your child is diagnosed with coeliac disease it is important they receive nutritional advice to help with planning a gluten free diet, ensuring they are optimally nourished and also to ensure their gut heals.

In many cases nutritional supplements will be recommended. While there are obvious sources of gluten such as breads, pastas, flours, cereals, cakes and biscuits, it is often used as an ingredient in many favourite foods such as fish fingers, sausages, gravies, sauces and soy sauce.

Working with a qualified nutritionist can help you plan a healthy gluten free diet.

However in some cases simply removing gluten may not be sufficient, as many children with Coeliac Disease also react to other foods such as dairy, so additional testing and support may be needed.

For further information about testing, nutritional support, cookery days and recipes contact Christine Bailey. www.advancenutrition.co.uk References All reference information (1) – (6) is available online: www.familiesonline.co.uk

Living with Coeliac Disease – Mel’s story Melanie Toms’ daughter and husband were both diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2006. She shares her experience with us.

Eleanor was six and John was 38, although they had probably been poorly for a few years. Eleanor had a little pot belly, very pale coloured stools, was extremely irritable and had no energy at all. She caught a cold and ended up in hospital a few weeks before Christmas 2005 as I was so concerned about her lack of energy. My mother-in-law suggested we have her tested for CD as her oldest daughter had been diagnosed with it at age 2, back in the 60’s (when it was very rare).

When we had a follow up appointment in January and I asked for the result of the CD blood test, the hospital admitted they forgot to do it so they had to take more blood (very distressing) and try again. We found out in February that the blood had tested positive so she had to carry on eating gluten (not nice having to keep poisoning your child) in preparation for an endoscopy in the April.

Meanwhile, John had been extremely unwell for over a year, was having to do 24-hour urine samples and stool examinations and then we really panicked when Carcinoid Syndrome was discussed (a slow growing tumour on the liver). He had to go into hospital to have radioactive fluids injected into him so that his movements could be monitored over the next few days.

All this was happening while we took Eleanor to Staffordshire Hospital for her endoscopy, and it was during our discussion with Eleanor’s consultant, after she had learned about John’s symptoms, that she said the most fantastic thing in the world: “I think you might be suffering from Coeliac Disease too.” We looked at each other and it all fell into place. We went home, John rang the doctors to arrange a blood test and then he made an appointment to have an endoscopy.

So now I’ve got two Coeliac’s to feed and no idea where to start. Although elated that John didn’t have cancer, the whole prospect of feeding them decent food seemed daunting and eating out felt like a thing of the past!!

I did loads of research; the internet was a god send. I joined Coeliac UK and as part of the membership we got a copy of their ‘Food & Drink Directory’ which is invaluable and I never go shopping or on holiday without it. The time consuming part is the trial and error of trying lots of

different products to find a replacement for bread, pasta, biscuits and cakes.

Fortunately I like cooking and baking, so I get gluten-free flour on prescription and make my own pancakes, breads (rolls, naan, pitta), yorkshire puddings, cakes and biscuits. It really is worth baking fresh although the quality of bought products is improving every year. When my sister-inlaw was a child, the gluten free bread came in a tin, was like cardboard and could only be digested as toast! Now it can easily be used to make sandwiches and even I occasionally eat it. I make a point of buying new things all the time for them both to try as product recipes change, and I also shop in three or four different supermarkets as their “free from” ranges are all very different. The important part is to understand which base ingredients can contain gluten as a lot of professionals in the catering industry are very ignorant as to what gluten is (the protein in wheat, rye and barley). Foods as diverse as ice cream, chocolate and ketchup can contain gluten so you need to be on your guard all the time. In restaurants, waiters often make all the right noises when you explain the situation – but then offer bread with the soup! It’s very worrying.

Both John and Eleanor dealt with their new diet brilliantly. John’s always been easy to feed and with research, I learnt to just adapt all my recipes by changing one or two ingredients. It is actually a much healthier diet as convenience food isn’t an option and the fresher the better. The only thing John really missed was his Real Ale so he switched to Cider.

Eleanor’s favourite was Spaghetti Bolognaise although the hardest job was finding decent spaghetti. I still hate cooking spaghetti as it sticks together like glue and has to be carefully tended in the pan. Birthday Parties can be tricky, so I used to speak to the mum in advance and send Eleanor with an appropriate packed party lunch so that she didn’t feel left out.

The mums were also incredibly supportive and really made an effort to buy gluten free food for her. Every so often Eleanor will have a little moan, but to be able to deal with a disease by diet alone and not medication is fantastic.

Lower speed limits key to kids’ health More than half of parents believe lower speed limits would allow their kids to walk, cycle and play outside more often, according to a survey carried out for charity Sustrans.

The survey revealed 54% of parents thought their kids would be more physically active if speed limits were lowered, with 49% identifying busy and dangerous roads as the main reason their children don’t walk or cycle to school. Sustrans’ Free Range Kids campaign is calling for a national 20mph speed limit in residential areas to help tackle the UK’s growing obesity epidemic – a call backed by Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation. “It’s a tragedy that so many of our children are failing to meet recommended physical activity levels but little wonder when parents don’t feel that their local streets are safe,” says Sustrans’ Chief Executive Malcolm Shepherd. “We urgently need to make our neighbourhoods safer if we’re to get kids active by walking and cycling to school and playing outdoors.

Parents want to see safer streets – the Government must change the standard speed limit to 20mph on the streets where we live, work and play.”

Essential Baby Care Guide Babies may not come with a manual, but the new Essential Baby Care Guide available from the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), is the next best thing. Packed with parenting advice on Feeding, Care and development, Sleeping and First aid and accident prevention, the DVD set (4 DVDs) costs £35 from CAPT’s online store - www.capt.org.uk/shop.

Or individual DVDs can be purchased for just £10 each.

www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 7

Image: Ski Famille

Travel

How to have your best family holiday ever Joanna Moorhead, who has been planning her family’s holidays for the last 20 years, shares her insider tips to help you plan for a holiday to remember in 2013 Fantastic family holidays don’t just happen. They’re crafted, often by hours of work from one or both parents, who spend endless amounts of time planning, plotting, budgeting and making sure safety nets are in place to stop hiccups becoming disasters. Of course everyone loves spontaneity – but for spontaneous decision to be possible, especially where a family with children are concerned, a framework has to be in place...and getting that framework right is the backbone of every holiday.

So how do you do it? Here are our top ten pointers.

1. Don’t cut corners. To get the right holiday, you may have to spend a long time on research. Don’t begrudge this time, and don’t expect the perfect holiday to fall into your lap without it: after your mortgage, your car and (if you’re paying them) your child’s school or university costs, the money you spend on your holiday is your biggest outlay. So doing the homework matters. Start with a list of what sort of holiday you’re looking for – the location you’re after, what facilities you need close by, what sort of accommodation you need, how far it needs to be from the airport, and so on. Give yourself parameters, and then get googling.

Keep a list of possible resorts/villas/hotels; whittle it down to a shortlist; and then make a decision.

2. Don’t expect a bargain. After two decades of planning holidays for my family (my children are aged between ten and 20), I’m sure of one thing: where school holidays are concerned, bargains are as rare as hen’s teeth. Far better to start from the premise that you’ll get what you pay for. Look for the best deal, the best quality that you can possibly afford: but if somewhere seems a lot cheaper than other places, scrutinise it very carefully indeed.

3. Space is crucial. You know those places that say ‘sleeps 4/6’ and turn out, on closer inspection, to have a pull-down bed in the sitting room?

Avoid them (at full capacity) like the plague. Squeezing as many people as possible in is fine for students, less good for grown-ups. You want a bit of luxury on holiday – and space is luxurious.

4. Location, location, location. Just as when you’re buying a house, this is your number one priority. Some of the villas I’ve looked at for my family’s holiday this year are twice the price of others, simply because of where they are. And guess what: I can understand why. On holiday I want a great view and shops and restaurants we can walk to.

If you’ve got younger children, a beach within walking distance may be your number one location priority. Know what you need, and don’t settle for less.

5. Friends matter, so think very carefully about who to holiday with. However close you are, nothing scratches away at a friendship’s weakest points as much as sharing two weeks together.

You think you know that couple, and you think you like their kids? Take it from me, you’re going to know a lot more about them, and you may have totally reassessed their kids, by the flight home.

6. Be honest about the sort of experience you want. Holidays aren’t times to be aspirational, or eyeing up the Joneses, or following the in-crowd.

They’re about being honest about how you’d really love to spend a fortnight with your family – and who cares what anyone else might think. You don’t need anyone else’s approval, or envy, for the holiday you choose: what this is about is working out what’s right for your family, and making it happen.

7. Once you’re there, alternate busy days with quiet ones. Even if you’re a busy, boisterous, action-packed family, everyone needs some downtime. The easiest, simplest way to make sure

8 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester

you get both busy days and more relaxed ones is simply to alternate them. If you went to a water park yesterday, relax by the pool today. If you went fell-walking yesterday, read a book and have a cream tea today. Overloading is the enemy of a good holiday.

8. Don’t over-plan: have ideas, but leave space to be open to what you find when you get there. It’s well worth doing some research about the area you’ll be staying in – essential, in fact – but it’s a mistake to plan every dot and comma of your stay before you even touch down.

You want to explore, to discover, to be surprised, to make friends – and all these things will only happen if you’ve left the space for them to unfold. So, for as much knowledge as you’ve learned beforehand, always be flexible about what you’re going to find out, and want to do, when you actually get there.

9. Embrace change: as your family grows up, be ready to move on to new destinations and new experiences. For three years running my family had wonderful holidays in a hilltop villa in inland, northern Mallorca. It was perfect for us: but by the third year it was obvious my older daughters needed something more: shops, places to hang out, a beach they could walk to. I was desperately unhappy about giving up the villa: but guess what?

The following year I found somewhere even better.

10. Set boundaries. It might be a holiday, but rules ensure everyone – especially the parents – get a break.

If your children are younger, those rules might be about bedtime (you need some time with your partner, so letting your kids stay up all evening might not be the best move), or about time for the children to go to the crèche; if your children are older, the rules might be about sharing the washing up, or about how much contact you need to have with them through the day. But put your rules in place, because then everyone can relax and have what they came to do: have a wonderful fortnight away.

Travel

Check this out!

Arctic Force Crossbow fires snowballs up to 60ft away, faster than your opponents can run! The powerful crossbow is fired holding onto the handle at arm’s length with an easy to pull mechanism that blasts snowballs with awesome speed. Cool or what?

For ages 8+, RRP £29.99. www.firebox.com

Where to go...the Alps The Alps are much too good to save for your skiing holidays – in fact, those who’ve tried the area summer and winter often say summer is the best time to be there. For a wonderful family Alpine holiday, you’ll be hard-pressed to improve on the Chilly Powder formula – choose from a luxurious hotel or a villa, all set in a biscuit-tin picture-perfect location, complete with in-chalet childcare and – for the foodies – an inchalet chef. Sports on offer include white water rafting, rock-climbing, trekking, tennis and summer tobogganing (which is one of the most fun summer sports I’ve ever tried, and kids adore it). Prices vary depending on what sort of package you’re after, but as a for-instance, Chalet des Amis (three bedrooms; sleeps up to eight) is £1,200 in the midsummer.

More information at www.chillypowder.com

Where to go...north Devon Devon is one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations, and for good reason: wonderful beaches, plenty to do (even in the rain), beautiful scenery and a wide choice of where to stay. Libbear Barton, a country estate on the north side of the county, hits just the right note of luxury (beamed cottages that are beautifully laid out and furnished) and has everything on hand, from stairgates to babysitters, for the hard-pressed family. There’s an indoor pool, games room, play areas inside and out, fishing lake and woods – all on a rolling, 40-acre estate, and with the sea a half hour’s drive away. Perfect for big families or families holidaying together – the farmhouse sleeps up to 14. Prices vary, but for example Moley’s Place, sleeping eight in four bedrooms, costs around £1,700 a week in high summer.

More information at www.libbearbarton.co.uk

Ski with an independent tour operator Established 21 years ago, Ski Famille offers families a range of handpicked properties in France and Austria. All chalet holidays include 5 days of free childcare and all properties are ski in/ski out or very close to the piste.

Chris Thompson, managing director says: "the business has a high rate of repeat business and the majority of new guests choose Ski Famille as the result of a personal recommendation.” The Ski Famille office team are all keen skiers or boarders with young children of their own so they know how to ensure families book the right holiday for their needs.

More information at www.skifamille.co.uk

Stay on a Farm Farm Stay UK is a farmers cooperative that celebrates its 30th birthday next year. All its members are working farms, small holders or rural enterprises and they offer holiday accommodation ranging from B&B in a farmhouse to self-catering in converted barns and even a converted pig sty. Many also run traditional campsites. Chief Executive Andy Woodward says “In the last few years many of our members have begun to offer alternative accommodation such as pods, wigwams and shepherds huts.

Facilities at each site will differ with some being part of an established campsite, and others are part of a smaller venue.”

For more details visit www.Farmstay.co.uk and if you are interested in staying in a pod, wigwam or shepherds hut search for “alternative & camping” in the “accommodation type” field.

www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 9

Nurseries Is a nursery right for your child (and you)?

By Joanna Moorhead

Nurseries aren't the cheapest form of childcare – according to the latest figures, the average weekly cost of a nursery place for a child under two for 25 hours is £103.19. But prices vary dramatically, and in some areas nurseries charge as much as £15,000 a year for 25 hours' care a week.

Is a nursery the right choice for you?

How to reduce nursery costs

Studies show, though, that attending nursery can increase a child's confidence, because it involves mixing with adults, and other children, from outside the family group. It gives children social skills, and experience from an early age of an environment outside the home. The nursery 'key worker' scheme, under which each child is allocated a special member of staff with whom they can bond, helps provide security.

Healthy food and menus are another big plus of nursery provision: staff work hard to ensure children are given a balanced diet. And as your child gets older, play and learning opportunities will be targeted appropriately: staff are trained in what young children can do when, and will be conscious of a child's likely interests and potential.

Nurseries work best for parents who have regular working hours, because it's difficult or impossible for staff to deal with erratic patterns of collection and drop-off: nurseries often open early in the morning and some close late in the evening, but they are not as flexible as, say, a nanny or a childminder.

On the other hand, they have the big advantage that only very, very rarely will they be closed at short notice – so they're more reliable than one carer who may be ill or have to cope with a sudden family emergency.

They may be prohibitively expensive if you have more than one child, although many nurseries do offer a sibling reduction. But if you can fit around its opening hours, if your budget stretches to the fees, and if you like the idea of a social environment and a place with plenty of activities and trained carers, a nursery could be the place for your child and for you.

The government is currently considering cutting staff-to-child ratios in nurseries as a way of reducing what many see as unsustainable prices - but the move is controversial, and organisations such as the Preschool Learning Alliance is warning such a change could risk children's safety and well-being. Under current regulations, there must be one staff member for every three under-twos, and one for every four children aged two and three.

Most nurseries provide funded places for three and four year olds under the government Free Early Education scheme, which will start from the beginning of the term (1 September, 1 January or 1 April) after your child’s third birthday. If your child is younger, check whether your employer can offer help towards your nursery costs through the childcare voucher scheme. Under this, money is taken out of your pay packet before deductions, giving you savings on tax and National Insurance – in return, you are given a voucher or e-voucher that you forward to your nursery, and the amount is deducted from your bill. So it's a way of getting more childcare for your money – though it requires your employer's co-operation.

How to choose the right nursery Start your nursery search well ahead of the time when you're actually going to need to leave your child: the more confident you are of the choices you make, the happier you'll be when it comes to the day you have to head back to the office.

Ask around so you get other parents' views on what nurseries are like in your

10 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester

area. Make a shortlist of ones that might work for you (remember to take geography into account: how easy will it be for you and/or your partner to do the drop off/collect?) and don't hesitate to ask to visit a second time.

Make sure you read the most recent Ofsted inspection report for the nurseries you are considering, and ask whether they have any awards of excellence. Be guided by your instincts when looking at a nursery: it may seem a cliché to say do the children look happy, but it is an important barometer of whether a nursery is good. Be aware of the quality of both indoor and outdoor play areas: are the spaces pleasant, bright, welcoming, and do they seem safe? Ask about meals, how the food is prepared, and what time meals are served. Are you able to provide input for your child's food – suggestions for what s/he would like to eat, or recipes?

What kinds of snacks are provided and how often are they available?

Watch the children while they're playing, and pay attention to how much they're interacting with the staff. How do the staff come across – do they seem happy, relaxed, fun to be around? Do you feel comfortable talking to them? Do they seem interested in your child and his/her likes/dislikes and interests?

Ask about organised play sessions – weekly music groups, perhaps, or storytelling. Are there trips to the library, and to the park? How are these organised, and how often do they take place?

Make sure you understand what the nursery charges, how payment is made, and exactly what the fees include (for example, do they cover meals, nappies, outings). How many weeks a year is the nursery open? How are parents involved in the nursery, and are there opportunities for parents to meet up?

Is all well when I'm not there?

Some nurseries have webcams which allow parents to see live images of their child at play from their desk at work. But while some parents welcome this idea, others are sceptical – they say they want their child's nursery to know they trust its workers, and worry that they'll be seen as a way of spying on care workers. Others say they like the idea of watching their child at play so much that they'd spend too much time doing it – and wouldn't ever get any work done!

As your child

is settling into nursery, trust your instincts about how well it's going. You know your child better than anyone else, so if your hunch is that your child is happy and contented, that's almost certainly the case. Remember that in the early days, he or she will probably get more tired than usual – nursery is a big change, emotionally as well as physically. Both your child and you need time to adjust to the new set-up.

Try not to drag out your goodbyes: leaving your child will be difficult, especially at first, but keeping it brief will help you both. Remember that your child may cry every day when you drop them off (and so might you!) for quite a while; this is a normal part of getting used to this big change in your lives. Cope with it by emphasising the positives: think about why you're working (to make money and provide a better standard of living; to ensure you have an interesting life, and income, in the longer term) and how much your child will benefit from a wider social network.

Troubleshooting Fingers crossed, you'll never have a problem with a nursery your child attends.

But what happens when there IS an issue?

As every working parent knows, nothing undermines your ability to work more than a nagging suspicion that your child isn't happy, or isn't being looked after as well as possible or even – worst scenario of all – isn't safe.

If you have any worries at all about your child's nursery you must resolve them, and as quickly as possible. So as soon as something strikes you as 'not right', talk to the nursery manager or your allocated member of staff – many niggles are simply down to a lack of communication. Explain what's up, and the chances are you'll never have to mention it again, and things will all be smoothed over.

But if you're not satisfied that all is well, put your concern in writing to the nursery manager. All nurseries should have a protocol for dealing with complaints – ask to see this if it's not spelled out in the nursery handbook.

Nurseries A Quick Reference Guide to Childcare Vouchers What are childcare vouchers?

Where can I use them?

A special government scheme operated through employers that allow you to pay for childcare from your pre-tax salary and National Insurance income.

They can be used for registered and regulated nurseries, playgroups, nannies, childminders and holiday playschemes like Super Camps.

Ask your employer if they run a childcare voucher scheme themselves; they might use a voucher company to do it for them. Voucher companies include: Busy Bees, Computershare, Edenred, Kiddivouchers, and many more.

Who can use them?

Parents with children aged up to 15 years.

If each parent works, they can both claim for childcare vouchers, so there’ll be twice as many to use.

Why should I bother?

You can save over £1000 a year. A basic rate taxpayer can pay for up to £243 of childcare with vouchers each month.

How can I get vouchers?

Employers can either give you vouchers in addition to your normal salary as a perk, or they may ask you to sign up for a “salary sacrifice” scheme in which part of your pay is turned into vouchers.

MoneySavingExpert.com offers the following example to explain this: You give up £1000 of salary (but after tax and National Insurance that’s only worth £700ish in your pocket).

In return, you get £1000 of vouchers (so you’re £300 per £1000 better off).

The vouchers aren’t specific to each child and can be banked until needed. So if you need to use more of them to cover the school holidays, you can store them up.

What if my employer doesn’t run a voucher scheme?

Don’t be afraid to ask them to start one. It needn’t cost them anything – and in fact they’ll save money as they won’t have to pay National Insurance on wages you use for vouchers. If you are self-employed, ask your accountant as you too are entitled to childcare vouchers.

What’s the catch?

For most people there isn’t one! If you claim Child Tax Credits, using childcare vouchers may affect the amount you receive – so it’s worth checking if you’ll be better off with the HMRC’s online calculator. www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/ccin.htm

Children explore the meaning of giving Holyrood Day Nurseries have made “A Children’s Promise to learn about Social Responsibility” through their early years childcare & education.

Every day, staff at the 17 nurseries across Greater Manchester encourage the children to consider how the small things they do make a difference to others in their community. To explore the meaning of giving at Christmas all the nurseries took part in a food drive to collect donations for the FareShare charity. Each of the nurseries filled crates full of hot drinks, sugar, jam and

How do I pay by childcare vouchers?

Once you have signed up to your company’s scheme, their voucher administrator/company will set you up with an account. Your vouchers will go into your account, like a bank balance, at the end of the month when you get paid.

Log into your account at the end of the month to check your voucher balance. If you need to make any payments to your registered nursery/nanny/childcare provider you can authorise and make payments like a bank transfer. If you’re saving them up, they can sit in your account until they’re needed (although do check for expiry dates).

Make sure that the voucher company has your childcare provider listed as one of your chosen recipients.

At the other end of the chain, once the childcare provider has the information to link the payment to you, your child and your booking, they’ll receive the vouchers as payment.

This article was supplied provided by Super Camps Ltd, the UK’s largest provider of holiday childcare – with over 80 OFSTED registered venues with CRB cleared staff, offering 40+ activities, sports and arts & crafts.

As Super Camps is an Ofsted registered provider, those parents who qualify for Family Tax Credits can claim back up to 80% of the cost of their booking. For more information visit www.hmrc.co.uk/taxcredits.

01235 832222 / www.supercamps.co.uk

Busy Bees for charity This winter Dame Kelly Holmes met with children, parents and staff from Busy Bees Nurseries to receive a giant cheque for a whopping £53,373.62!

Over 136 days, 136 Busy Bees nurseries and 11,500 children raised this considerable amount for The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, a charity giving disadvantaged children the chance to realise their dreams through the inspirational guidance of Paralympic, Olympic, World and Commonwealth champions. This year Busy Bees created a programme called the Golden Mile in order to promote healthy living and raise awareness of their fund-raising initiative, as well as making the Olympics relevant to their children.

“Busy Bee”, armed with a childfriendly torch, made his way around 136 Busy Bees Nurseries across the UK and the children between them walked over 20,000 miles to raise money and help inspire a new generation. “I can’t thank Busy Bees enough for all their support and commitment to my charity,” said Dame Kelly Holmes. “To raise over £53,000 is an unbelievable achievement and it will make such a difference to our work supporting more young people.”

Busybees.golden-mile.org / www.dkhlegacytrust.org

® MANCH E S T E R

soups which were gratefully collected

by Seb, their FareShare representative, ready to be handed out to those in need over the following weeks. The children really enjoyed sorting out the food and thinking about how they would be helping other people in their community and the nurseries hope that all their donations made a difference to someone.

To find out more about how the nurseries have been learning about giving, visit their charitable activities facebook page www.facebook.com/BNG.fundraising. www.bertramnurserygroup.com

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www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 11

Nurseries Nursery scoops prestigious award

Hale Day Nursery & Nursery School of Bankhall Lane, Hale, Cheshire, has won the Nursery Outdoor Learning Environment 2012 category in the national NMT Nursery Awards 2012.

The nursery was also a top five finalist in the Nursery Indoor Learning Environment category.

Rachael Lyons, Manager of Hale Day Nursery, said: “To be considered by childcare experts to have the best outdoor learning environment in the country is national recognition for the quality of the childcare provision by Hale Day Nursery and the Elmscot Group. Our team feel very proud of

what they have achieved and of what we are able to offer the wonderful and rewarding children who spend time with us every day. We aim to offer families a happy homely environment that stimulates and nurtures, allowing children to learn and develop with confidence.”

The judges stated, “We have chosen Hale because by using a combination of natural and man-made resources they have created an enriching and stimulating outdoor environment. It’s clearly all about the children, of all ages, every day, supported by passionate staff and a strong partnership with parents – no forest school needed!!”

Winners of the NMT Nursery Awards 2012 were presented with their trophies by Dominic Holland at the high profile Gala Night held in November at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel in London, attended by 600 guests.

Contact the nursery on 0161 980 7019, or visit www.elmscot.co.uk for more info.

The beginning of a new journey for you and your child

By John Warren, Early Years Manager at kidsunlimited nurseries Starting at a nursery or child-minder can be the most traumatic time for any parent or child as it is often the first time they have ever been apart for long periods and their emotional attachment to each other is very strong. However, with the right preparation and support it can be a positive experience.

So what makes a good settling in process at a nursery or child-minder?

Is it one that lasts thirty seconds and your child is ripped from you like a plaster from a wound? Is it one that lasts ten weeks and however much your workplace calls you and tells you that you must attend now, you tell them “no my child is almost settled, just a few more weeks?”.

Well the answer is that there is no definitive answer; what is important is that you and your child are offered a bespoke settling in process that suits your needs.

• Communication between you and your child carer is just as important.

Knowing that they are honest about your child’s settling in session will be reassuring and help to relieve any anxiety that you may have.

• There may be some tears (from both of you!), but this is not unusual and the person who is caring for your child will inform you of how your child has been when you return. Knowing that you can trust this person is important, to relieve that anxiety.

“For parents, particularly mothers, the Key Person Approach ensures that parents have the opportunity to build a relationship with ‘someone’ rather than ‘all of them’ working in the nursery.”

(Efler, Goldschmied, Selleck, 2003)

So how can this be achieved?

1. Good preparation Provide the childcare setting with as much information as possible on what makes your child settled and happy.

• Key times • Likes & dislikes • Comforter • Food or dietary needs 2. Good communication “Parents are the most important people in their children's lives; it is from parents that children learn the most particularly in the early months and years. The closer links between parents and nursery the more effective that learning becomes.”(Ball, 1994) This quote sums up how important the role of the parental communication is at the settle and all points throughout the child’s education. If the people who are caring for your child know as much about them as you do, the transition to childcare life will be a smooth one and will set a good foundation for life.

• Ask questions. There is no such thing as a silly question • If something is not working well during the settle session, speak to your carer.

It is essential for the child carer to get the settle session right for you and your child. This will avoid unnecessary changes and support consistency.

12 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester

So what will a good child carer offer you?

• • • •

Time Reassurance Support Communication

What your ‘Settle’ session with your new child carer might look like: As a rule of thumb a settle will be carried out over three visits, but this is not set in stone. Each setting will tailor the settling in period to suit you and your child.

• Visit 1: The parent stays with the child and meets the key worker and staff in the room. This is the time to get to know each other.

• Visit 2: The child visits their home base room for 1 hour on their own.

• Visit 3: The child visits their home base room for 2 hours on their own, perhaps including a mealtime Staff and your key person will then review the settling in with you to decide the next steps for your child. For the majority of families and children, it’s full steam ahead after these three visits, so Good Luck!

Education news Chess is back!

Chess is making a dramatic comeback in primary schools, 30 years after it all but disappeared from the state school scene.

In the past two years, a total of 175 schools, including those serving some of the most deprived areas of the country, have reintroduced the game to the curriculum. Now the charity behind its revival, Chess in Schools and Communities, is optimistic the take-up will spread to 1,000 state schools within the next three years. CSC is pushing for all primary school children in the country to have the chance to learn how to play chess, and has already taught over 6,000 children in schools, as well as providing schools with chess sets, a chess curriculum and

Sign up for Climate Change Week

a weekly visit from a chess trainer.

Academics are agreed the game is a major stimulant for improving pupils’ concentration and believe it can also be used in other subject areas, such as maths, to improve skills. It is easy to see why heads are keen to encourage it – a report by Chessmaster Jerry Myers on why it should be encouraged in schools says, “We believe it directly contributes to academic performance.

Chess makes children smarter.” www.chessinschools.co.uk

From primary to academy 400 primary schools judged to be among the weakest in England and Wales are set to become academies, the Prime Minister announced.

David Cameron plans to pair these schools with sponsors, taking them out of

the control of their local authorities in a drive to improve education in the poorestperforming schools. “The driving mission for this government is to build an aspiration nation, where we unlock and unleash the promise in all our people,” he

Britain’s biggest climate change campaign runs from 4–10 March this year, inspiring a new wave of action to create a sustainable future.

Culminating in a week of activities, Climate Week showcases real, practical solutions to combat climate change from every sector of society, with half a million people attending over 3,000 events run by schools, businesses, charities and councils. You can help accelerate action on climate change by making Climate

Week happen where you are – register your school for the Climate Week Challenge, take part in Climate Week Swap, which highlights the positive impact that swapping clothes, books, toys and DVDs can have on our environment, or indulge in some culinary delights in Climate Week Cuisine and eat a low carbon meal by using up leftovers or cooking food made from local ingredients.

Find out more about Climate Week at www.climateweek.com.

said. “A first-class education system is absolutely central to that vision. Time and time again we have seen how academies, with their freedom to innovate, inspire and raise standards are fuelling aspirations and helping to spread success. So now we want to go further, faster, with 400 more

under-performing primary schools paired up with a sponsor and either open or well on their way to becoming an academy by the end of next year." At the time of the previous general election there were 203 academies, all secondary schools. There are now 2,456, with 823 more in the pipeline.

www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 13

Education news Withington girls – balanced, happy and confident

Withington Girls’ School owes its ethos of excellence to the vision of its nineteenth century Founders who wanted the same educational opportunities available for their daughters as was already available to their sons.

In keeping with their wishes, the School has remained relatively small.

With around 550 girls in the senior school, Withington is large enough to offer a wide range of subject choices and activities. At the same time, it is small enough that every girl can be individually known and supported by their strong pastoral team.

Pupils are all extremely academically able girls drawn from all backgrounds, cultures, faiths and traditions; bursaries are available (according to need) to support one-in-six of the Senior School pupils.

Through expert teaching and a varied

extra-curricular programme, girls are successfully prepared for higher education, the world of work and adult life in general.

Students’ examination results consistently place them amongst the very top schools nationally, and the Sutton Trust has placed Withington second nationally in terms of the students’ transition to the 30 most selective universities in the country.

The entrance examinations for entry to the School in September 2013 are on the following dates: • Senior School Entrance Examination – Monday 14th January 2013 • Junior School Entrance Examination – Saturday 19th January 2013 Applications can be taken right up to the day of the Examinations but of course the earlier they receive applications, the better it is for them to plan the day.

0161 224 1077 / www.withington.manchester.sch.uk

Mindfulness for four year olds

By Robert McNeill – Head teacher, St James Junior School, Stockport Management gurus often extol the benefits of mindfulness practice to ward off the apparent stresses of modern society, but are such practices really necessary, or indeed appropriate, for the under five year olds?

We believe so. At St James Junior

School, our Reception and Nursery children have the opportunity of a quiet time at regular points in the day. Children and staff sit in a steady, balanced position on a chair, become aware of their body and their surroundings and enjoy, for a minute or so, the rest that it brings.

Admittedly, young children don’t find sitting still easy at first, but after a very few weeks of practice they begin to “let go” and enjoy. This has some startling benefits. It allows the children to regain their balance and focus well in the next activity with subsequent improvement in behaviour and in learning capabilities.

However, staff do need to “let go” as well; otherwise the children will simply pick up the wrong practice. Children are very “cute” and will see through, “Do as I say but not as I do”. Everyone, staff and children, benefit from these regular short opportunities to “be present” and enjoy the peace of the moment.

“Taster” days and day-time visits to see the school in action are welcomed.

Simply call to arrange.

0161 480 4586 / www.stjamesschool.org.uk

14 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester

A great alternative to day nurseries Bridgewater School offers a secure, warm, safe, caring and stimulating environment where enjoyment and fun are key to successful learning.

Children are encouraged to play, grow and develop through a structured preschool curriculum. Parents can be satisfied with the knowledge their children will be taught by staff that are highly qualified and carefully selected for their special skills, experience and expertise in this area.

Their EYFS Department provides a spacious, work and play environment for the Kindergarten and Reception classes

and they deliver outstanding childcare provision, which offers your child the best start in life. Children gain a full and positive experience of school, as they make the transition from the Early Years Department to Key Stage 1 and beyond.

“The overall effectiveness of the Early Years Foundation Stage provision is outstanding” Inspection Report – ISI – May 2011 For more information please visit www.Bridgewater-school.co.uk or call 0161 794 1463 to arrange a personal tour. Nursery Education Grants are available for qualifying 3 and 4 year olds.

Telling the time is child’s play Telling the time is a life skill that every child must master but which disappointingly comes with a lengthy learning process, often 6 months or longer.

Many teachers feel it to be one of the most frustrating subjects to teach, and parents too will know how illogical learning to tell the time can seem to a child.

So it’s a relief to discover a new child friendly method has arrived, accessible to everyone. Still the best kept secret in education, ‘Aramazu’ is now beginning to work its way into homes and classrooms across the country.

In a recent home trial, 85% of the children learned in one week, 50% in one hour. So Aramazu is doing what it says on the tin (today the tin is a website) www.aramazu.com – the quickest and easiest way ever to learn to tell the time. Currently, Aramazu has two entry levels, counting to 12 or counting to 60.

The learning process is delivered through illustrated stories, a three book pack for younger children and a fast track book for those counting to 60. These

can be purchased with a clock and a watch if wanted through the website shop, which also offers online versions.

Teachers have their own dedicated website section where they can trial and subscribe to Aramazu’s online resource library, allowing the material to be displayed on the classroom interactive whiteboard.

It may have taken 300 years, but at last help is at hand to learn to tell the time!

Education news

www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 15

Parents’ place Wrap up warm this winter Products tested by Jayne Keep As we face regular below-freezing temperatures, we can either choose to stay home and avoid the chill, or we can wrap everyone up and face some outdoor Winter fun. In our house an outdoor life doesn’t stop for the weather, so I have wrapped the gang up in some fab clothes from Polarn O. Pyret, a Swedish brand that is perfect for a stylish life out in the cold. Here are two of my favourite buys for the Winter …..

Child Puffa Jacket RRP £65 Lily (6) has been sporting this coat throughout December and loves it. It’s so cosy, she has often refused to wear a jumper underneath as she’s so toasty in there! Filled with a down-like fibre, the coat is lightweight and still easy to move in. It’s great for extreme weathers, it keeps out the rain, snow and wind, even at the hems and cuffs as these are adjustable for a snug fit. It features the trademark Polarn O.Pyret thumb grips on the cuffs which are very popular with my kids and keep little hands that bit more snug.

Padded Child Winter Trousers RRP £65 Izzy (4) has never been a fan of the cold weather so these trousers have been fab for both her and me; they’ve kept her so snug that she doesn’t mind my request for “just another 10 minutes’ run for the dogs” before we go home for hot chocolate!

Although these are intended for the snow, we have used them through the whole of December just to keep warm. They kept out the wind and rain a treat, plus Izzy found the extra padding really cosy. The trousers are very thick yet not bulky as they are filled with a flexible material that gives kids great mobility. Braces at the top and foot straps at the bottom keep any draughts well and truly out.

For more details about these products and others in the Polarn O.Pyret range visit www.polarnopyret.co.uk

New Parent Pack launched Media Smart launches a new guide for parents to help them educate children about the commercial nature of the online world.

Children may encounter all sorts of digital advertising on the internet, from search engine results to advergames, and this pack, developed primarily for parents of 6-11 year olds and backed by the Minister for Children and Families, Edward Timpson, provides tips to help parents explain the intent of online advertising to children. “Parents know best how to bring up their children but they expect businesses to act responsibly in supporting them to do so,” says Timpson. “The Parent Information Pack is an excellent example of how the

advertising and marketing industry is taking its responsibilities seriously. As a father myself, I see this as a welcome step in equipping parents with the relevant information to help them educate their children in an increasingly digital world.” Download the free Media Smart Digital parent pack at www.mediasmart.org.uk.

16 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester

Fed up of juggling motherhood, work commitments and personal commitments? Go for it – join the business Mums!

Start the New Year as you mean to go on – less work, less stress, more exercise, more support and more quality time with your children.

Work for yourself and run your own successful franchise business with Kiddikicks toddler and child footballthemed and football skills classes, sporty merchandise and cool clothing.

Be the Manager or the Coach; if you have a sporty, supervisory, managerial,

sales, marketing, recruitment or selfemployed background and would like to work from home, Kiddikicks could be the best New Year’s resolution you make and keep.

Call them on 020 7937 7965, email sarah@kiddikicks.co.uk or visit www.kiddikicks.co.uk.

Quote “Families” in your enquiry for a 5% discount.

Work Life Balance opportunity Pink Spaghetti was started by two busy Cheshire mums in September 2009 when they spotted a gap in the market for an affordable PA service that could support busy professional people who were trying to juggle running a home and small businesses around a family.

Pink Spaghetti is a PA service that sells people time. A shortage of time in the home means things end up on to do lists for weeks, if not months. A lack of time for small businesses means projects never get moved forward because people only have time to concentrate on the day to day jobs.

Vicky Matthews said: “We decided to offer a non-subscription, use it as and when service that people could dip in and out of when they needed us. Our feelings were right, and from when we started in 2009, our business has grown and grown, with over 90% of our business coming from word of mouth.”

In September 2012 they launched their first two franchisees and they are now looking to roll this model out further to offer professional mums the option of being their own boss and buying into a business that has a proven track record, a strong brand, experience, and has demonstrated steady growth since it started in 2009.

Caroline said “We feel that growing Pink Spaghetti through franchising will ensure that the very high levels of customer service we pride ourselves on are maintained, as only business owners can be guaranteed to offer this.”

A Pink Spaghetti franchise will allow you to build a business around your family, providing you with the perfect work life balance. You can choose your working hours and the model allows for your own business to grow as your children grow up.

This franchise is designed to be a second income, usually for someone who has come from a good career before children, and now wants a challenge and an income but also time to spend with their family.

For further information visit www.pink-spaghetti.co.uk

Parents’ place Five things you need to know about the changes to child benefit 1.Child Benefit is not being stopped for high earners. Anyone receiving Child Benefit, regardless of their income, is entitled to carry on receiving it. But from 7 January 2013, high earners may have to pay a tax charge on any Child Benefit payments they or their partner receive. This applies whether they’re married or not.

2. The tax charge increases in line with your income. For every £100 of income you or your partner have between £50,000 and £60,000, there is a tax charge of 1% of your total Child Benefit. Once your annual income is £60,000 or more, the tax charge is equal to the Child Benefit payments.

It’s the higher earner who pays the tax.

3. Your income is based on your adjusted net income. Even if you or your partner have an income of £50,000 a year or more, you may find that the tax charge doesn’t apply. This is because the tax charge is based on your adjusted net income. This is your income less any payments you make to a pension scheme, donations to charity through Gift Aid and reductions due to membership of salary sacrifice schemes (such as childcare vouchers and the cycle to work scheme).

You could even consider increasing payments to your pension, for example, to bring your annual adjusted net income down.

4. You can choose to keep or stop receiving Child Benefit. If you or your partner’s adjusted net income is over £60,000, it could make sense to stop receiving Child Benefit as the tax charge will wipe out any financial gain to you and you won’t have to complete a tax return. But if you don’t know exactly how much your income will be, or you’re under the £60,000 threshold, it’s best to carry on getting it.

5. If you decide to keep Child Benefit, you’ll have to do a tax return. If either you or your partner has an adjusted net income of £50,000 or more then the highest earner must complete a tax return, declaring the Child Benefit as income. It’s that person’s responsibility to make sure they’re registered for self-assessment by 6 October 2013 or they’ll face a penalty. They then have until 31 October 2013 to file their return with HMRC (or 31 January 2014 if filing online).

This information was provided to Families

by MoneyVista; a free online service that provides access to financial experts. By entering your information, Money Vista works out what tax and national insurance you pay, your projected state pension and what your savings, investments and property might be worth in the future. Joining all these elements together lets you see the impact on your overall plan of financial decisions you are considering. See www.moneyvista.com

Pregancy Massage Massage at any time is a wonderful experience and has many health benefits, but during pregnancy, massage can be especially beneficial to both mother and baby.

Karen Stepanova from Eternity Spa in Sale has over 17 years’ experience working as a massage and spa therapist and has always loved working with mums-to-be, adapting massage techniques in order to give the best possible treatment to her clients.

Massage during pregnancy can help to reduce swelling in the hands, feet and ankles. It has been found to reduce sciatic pain which is common as the baby grows, it will ease discomforts in the lower back, neck, calf muscles and even help to tone the muscles.

Massage will also help with relaxation which in turn can aide better sleep. Blood and lymph flow will be increased which can help with the reduction of swelling and as the blood flow is increased it will deliver fresh nutrients and oxygen to the mother and baby.

Endorphins are the body’s natural painkiller and as a result of massage will be released in the body creating a sense of wellbeing. The list of benefits is endless and they are all good!

It is advisable to have a pregnancy massage after the first trimester to ensure mum and baby are both happy and well, and it is essential that the products used are safe for both too. Only 100% Certified Organic oils that have been given the thumbs up for mums-to-be are used at Eternity Spa, and their Pregnancy Pampering treatment is a wonderful and relaxing treat for anyone in the second and third trimester.

Special offer for Families readers: take the advert at the top of this page with you to receive 20% off the price of your first Pregnancy Pampering Massage.

0161 9692040 / www.eternity-spa.co.uk

www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 17

Parents’ place A Confident Career Change

By Sheila Bayliss, Lollipop Coaching

A career change can seem daunting, especially if you don’t have a clue what job you do want to do! Fears of failing don’t help, and you might think that to find the courage to go for it, you’ll have to do things you find scary. But there is another way. My clients achieve their dreams in a way that seems effortless, despite the self-doubt that is only natural when changing career.

The key to such transformation is creating a compelling vision of what you really want to do. With this foundation in place, confidence can appear like magic as you get carried along by the momentum of your vision. Starting with

small steps, you will soon surprise yourself at the things you’re doing – you just won’t be able to help yourself moving towards what you want.

You can start to do this even if you don’t know what career you want to change to – in fact, it’s an effective way to start finding out what that new direction could be.

Here are some tips to help you create your vision.

• Give yourself permission to dream big here – put aside ifs and buts, and don’t worry how you would do it. What if you could have anything you want in your working life, how would it be?

• What is really important to you – flexible hours? being outdoors? helping people?

• If you change career, what would be possible for you and your family?

• What feeling do you want your work to give you - calmness, excitement, contribution?

• Imagine yourself in your future ‘happy job’. What are you doing, seeing, hearing?

• What do you love learning about in TV programmes or magazines?

• Convert those things you don’t want into how you would like it to be instead.

• Remember, this is your dream – noone else’s. It doesn’t matter if you think it doesn’t sound ‘impressive’ by other people’s standards.

• To increase your commitment, imagine yourself 5 years in the future, assuming that you haven’t changed anything. What does that feel like?

• If you have a lack of confidence around particular issues, it can also be useful to access your Future Self. This is the self who did make the change – what advice would she give you now?

Sheila Bayliss coaches working mums who want to reduce stress or change career – for more info email sheila@lollipopcoaching.com

It’s what you’ve always wanted “What I always wanted” is an online shop set up in May 2012, selling the products of young British gift and homeware designers. The company prides itself on selling artisan handmade designer ranges, many of which are ‘one off’ designs and are made from locally sourced materials or can be personalised for that individual touch.

The company’s ethos is to support new small businesses, many of whom are young mums from the North West, who are passionate to develop their own creative brands, whilst promoting the ‘buy handmade’ ‘buy British’ campaigns.

This is a fantastic site for busy mums on the go. Have a browse through the extensive ranges of jewellery and other beautiful gifts and homewares for birthday, Valentine’s, anniversary or new baby. It’s great if you’re buying for that

18 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester

person who already has everything, and you want a truly special gift to show you care.

The pictured appliquéd personalised cushion featuring your own pet, makes an extra special gift for any horse, dog or cat lover. Each one is a unique design, so you can give this gift, safe in the knowledge that no one else will have one the same.

The shop also has a gorgeous range of soft furnishings to bring new life to your room.

Deborah, co-owner of What I Always Wanted, said: “We are really excited to have launched our new company. We love tracking down beautiful products made by independent designers and hope our customers will love them too!”

So, put your feet up, get yourself a nice cup of tea, dip in and take a look! www.whatialwayswanted.com

Parents’ place

Savvy Food Shopping – or How To Cut Your Food Bill!

With food prices rising and incomes stagnating, many families are looking to cut their food bill but still eat well this New Year. Menus4Mums, the online family meal planners, have these 5 tips to help us do just that.

Tip 1: Meal Plan: Start by writing a plan of what your family will eat for the week, allowing for absences, extra guests, or when you’ll need a quick meal. Plan a suitable meal for each day, ensuring that you have a good balance of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables. Think about what needs using up in your freezer or fridge. Then use this to draw up your shopping list.

Tip 2: Stick To Your List!

When at the shops, stick to your shopping list! Try not to be tempted by extra items, and when you get to the checkout put back anything that’s slipped in (we often save a fiver each time we do this!). Don’t shop when you’re hungry – or you’ll end up with a trolley full of junk! If you’re easily tempted, why not give online grocery shopping a go, preferably looking for slots with no delivery charges.

Tip 3: Watch The Deals!

Check the maths on deals – some savings are only worth a few pence, and some aren’t savings at all. Only buy Buy One Get One Free items if you know you will use them both. Fresh meat can be frozen for later, but think if you’ll really use up BOGOFs on fruit.

Tip 4: Try Discount Supermarkets: An easy way to lower your food bill is to try the discount supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl. Menus4Mums investigated these for members in 2012 and were very impressed. Some products came with the Good Housekeeping Institute seal of approval, whilst some fruit and vegetables

were organic. Price-wise, most products came out about 30% cheaper than the standard supermarket own-brand equivalent, making a great saving on weekly grocery bills.

Tip 5: Shop Elsewhere: Try buying your meat at your local butcher – you’ll be impressed by the quality, and you can buy exactly the quantity you want, saving money and waste. Seasonal fruit and vegetables are often cheaper at your local market or farm shop. And if you run out of milk mid-week, pop in to your local corner shop rather than your supermarket. That way you’ll just buy the milk rather than spend an extra £20 on items you didn’t know you needed.

Why not see if you can shave £20 off your shopping bill this week? Over a month that is £80 saved, and £960 over a year……. And if you need any help or inspiration for meal planning, do check Menus4Mums out. They help busy parents ditch the takeaways and ready meals and serve up tasty, healthy food for their families, saving them time and money in the kitchen. Visit www.menus4mums.co.uk for more information and to download a FREE one week sample meal plan.

Leading Nanny agency throughout Cheshire and North West • A range of full and part-time childcare services including, nannies, live in/out, babysitting, maternity nannies, emergency care, mothers help, housekeepers & special needs nannies.

• All candidates are thoroughly vetted, interviewed and reference checked • Home visits, to enable us to fully understand your requirements

Tel: 01925 768188 or 07766 290802 Email: support@nannyplus.co.uk www.nannyplus.co.uk

Achieving the difference...

ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? One Families reader can win a 6 month membership to Menus4Mums, which includes a new meal plan each week for dinners the whole family will enjoy, together with recipe cards and a handy shopping list broken down into supermarket aisles. The meals take advantage of supermarket special offers to keep grocery bills down.

To enter, just go to www.familiesmanchester.co.uk.

Competition closes Thursday 28 February.

www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 19

What’s on

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go

Activities Every Mon in Jan & Feb Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Toddlertastic 10.30 – 11.30am / 11.30am – 12.30pm, Free, for under 5s and their grown-ups.

Booking essential. Creative adventure sessions in drama, art, music or dance.

0161 275 7450 / www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

Every Wed in Jan & Feb

A grand day out: National Railway Museum, York

By Caryl Hall While we love Manchester and all its history and attractions, we recently headed further afield to visit the National Railway Museum in York.

Fully expecting to be bored witless by my better half and my sons ogling at bits of machinery, I found myself captivated by the collection of over 100 locomotives and other items that tell the railway story from the early 19th century to the modern day. There’s a fantastic display of royal ‘Palaces on Wheels’, from the opulent carriages of Queen Victoria to the armour-plated war transport of George VI, as well as The Flying Scotsman Story, and you can climb aboard the Japanese Bullet Train (Shinkansen) that was built in 1976, and travelled at a top speed of 130 miles per hour.

Children (and adults) will love the miniature 7¼" gauge train in the South Yard, and there’s a great play area beside it where the younger ones can work off some energy.

Fill those rumbling tummies at one of two restaurants, both offering a quality selection of food and drink, and take an exhilarating trip in the simulator, with a choice of rides including a Kiddie Rollercoaster and a Space Shuttle Mission. Probably best to do this before the food! My six year old declared that “the incinerator” was the best part of the day for him!

There’s so much to do at the museum, you may well run out of time to sample the other attractions in the historic city of York – but try if you can. Just a 10 minute walk (or catch a ride on the museum’s land train) will get you into the heart of the city where you can ride The Wheel of York, take a wander down The Shambles and marvel at the beauty of the York Minster. The best resource for more kiddie-friendly activities in the area is our sister publication Families Vale of York – www.familiesvoy.co.uk.

For more information on the National Railway Museum, go to www.nrm.org.uk

Wheel of York

York Minster

The Shambles

Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Art Baby 10.15 – 11.15am / 11.30am – 12.30pm, Free, for babies and their grown-ups.

Booking essential. Creative sensory, discovery and play sessions accompanied by a musician. Especially designed for babies before they learn to walk.

0161 275 7450 / www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

Every Sun in Jan & Feb Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Colourful Sundays 1.30 – 3.30pm, All Ages, Free, no booking required.

Join friends, family and an artist for fun drop-in creative workshops. There are new arty adventures to take part in every week.

0161 275 7450 / www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

Fri 11 Jan Manchester Art Gallery Mini Art Club 10.15 – 11.15am / 11.30am – 12.30pm, Free Creative play for 2 – 5 year olds and their grown ups. Please call one week in advance to reserve your place.

0161 235 8888 / www.manchestergalleries.org

Imperial War Museum, North Hotspots 2.30pm, Free. Creative session using a range of art and craft materials to help you make your own unique souvenir to take home and keep. www.iwm.org.uk

Fri 18 Jan The Lowry Under 5s Doodle Tots 10 – 10.45am, 11.15 – 12pm Age 2½ – 4½, £3.50 Paint, stick and make your works of art in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Don’t worry, aprons are provided!

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Sat 19 Jan Imperial War Museum, North Open Studio: Shaping Up 11am – 12.30pm and 3pm – 4.30pm, Free. Exploring the Holocaust Memorial Day theme of ‘Communities Together’, this special session follows the tale of a group of shapes who discover how much better things can be when we all get along. This family friendly session also includes a creative activity themed to shapes and patterns. www.iwm.org.uk Manchester Cathedral Be a Chorister for a Day Ages 7 – 11, Free. Children must be accompanied. Limited places, booking essential. Choral evensong at 3.30pm, sung with the Cathedral Choir.

0161 8332220 ex 238 / www.manchestercathedral.org

Manchester Art Gallery Imagine 12 – 4pm, Free Experiment and play with the material of the month – Paper.

0161 235 8888 / www.manchestergalleries.org

Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Classical Guitar Weekend Arts Award Discover – 9.30am, Age 7+, £5.

Children under 14 must be accompanied.

Stringalong – 10.30am, Age 5+, £5.

Learn to make your very own guitar, try playing a simple song, and take it home to keep practising!

0844 907 9000 / www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Sat 12 & 26 Jan

Sat 19 & Sun 20 Jan

The Lowry Saturday Playhouse 11am – 12.30pm, Age 5 – 11, £3.50 12 Jan: Shazam! Alakazam! Celebrate The Arabian Nights by creating a magical giant pop-up book.

26 Jan: Circus Mobiles – The Moscow State Circus is in town, so to celebrate we’ll be use paper and add some glitz to cut, stick and create fantastic circus mobiles!

East Lancashire Railway Winter Steam Gala This popular steam event features an all steam timetable running locomotives from the ELR home fleet as well as a selection of guest loco’s from further afield!

0161 764 7790 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Sat 12 & Sun 13 Jan

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

20 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester

Sun 13, 20 & 27 Jan

What’s on Tues 29 Jan

Sun 3 Feb

People’s History Museum, Manchester Mr Ordinary’s Prize 11am – 12pm, £1 per child, adults free, Suitable for under 5s, Booking advised Fun interactive story session with puppets, song, dance and a craft activity. Someone has stolen Mr Ordinary’s Thinking and Doing! What will he do without them?

Join in the adventure as Mr Ordinary and his friends try to get them back.

0161 838 9190 / www.phm.org.uk

Kingsway School (Lower site), Cheadle SK8 1NP Kids Car Boot & Swap Shop 10am – 12pm, Pitch costs £15 www.kidscarbootandswapshop.co.uk Saddleworth School, Oldham OL3 6BU Kids Car Boot & Swap Shop 10am – 12pm, Pitch costs £15 www.kidscarbootandswapshop.co.uk

Tues 12 – Thurs 14 & Tues 19 – Thurs 21 Feb The Lowry Half Term Little Actors 11am – 12.20pm, Age 5 – 11, £3.50 An energetic, interactive drama session playing games, creating magical worlds and mythical characters from some of your favourite stories. This half term we will explore Aladdin’s cave, the land of Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel’s Tall Tower.

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Thurs 7 Feb Fri 1 Feb The Lowry Under 5s Tiny Tots Tales 10 – 10.45am, 11.15 – 12pm Age 2½ – 4½, £3.50 A magical journey through books and stories to explore mythical worlds and meet some interesting characters along the way. Explore imaginary worlds through sound, movement, rhyme and song.

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Fri 1 Feb & Fri 1 Mar Manchester Art Gallery Baby Art Club 10.15 – 11am / 11.30 – 12.15pm / 1.15 – 2pm / 2.30 – 3.15 pm, Free Use all your senses to explore our artist's space. For babies who aren't walking yet, with an adult carer. Limited places available, please book one week in advance.

0161 235 8888 / www.manchestergalleries.org

Mon 18 – Fri 22 Feb

Stockport Air Raid Shelters Children’s Explorer Tours 6.45 – 8pm. Age 7+, Adult £3.95, Child £3, Booking essential. Brave the darkened tunnels as you go back in time and experience the life of a child during the war. Children must be accompanied.

0161 474 1940 / www.stockport.gov.uk/airraidshelters

Sat 2 & 16 Feb The Lowry Saturday Playhouse 2 Feb: Pop Star Looks – Design your own Pop Star look based on Peter Blake’s work in our fabulous Pop Art Exhibition.

16 Feb: Pop Art Pop Stars! Make and paint a life size pop art pop star you!

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Sat 2 Feb Manchester Art Gallery Family Art Club 1 – 3pm, Free. Create together in our special artist led workshops for 6 – 11s.

No need to book, but sign-in starts at 12.30pm.

0161 235 8888 / www.manchestergalleries.org

Tues 12 & Thurs 14 Feb Hatworks, Stockport Creative Recycling 10.3am – 12pm and 1 – 2.30pm Ages 5 – 11, £3.50, Booking essential Visit the Redesigning Fashion exhibition for inspiration to make something new and exciting out of recycled materials.

0161 474 2400 / www.stockport.gov.uk/hatworks

Fri 8 Feb Manchester Art Gallery Mini Art Club 10.15 – 11.15am / 11.30am – 12.30pm, Free Make friends, make noise, make a mess in our art club specially for 2 – 5s. Join our artists to explore paper in our special sensory sessions. Please call one week in advance to reserve your place.

0161 235 8888 / www.manchestergalleries.org

Sat 2 Feb Jodrell Bank Star Party – Mars Rover Challenge 6pm, Adult £15, Child (7 – 14) £12 Do you have what it takes to create and land a Rover? With Stargazing, fun activities and dinner included. www.jodrellbank.net/families

Tatton Park Scarecrow Festival Visit Tatton's Scarecrow Festival in the Gardens and at the Farm. Over 30 scarecrows will be resident in the Gardens. Find the farmyard scarecrows and have a go at making your own.

Closed Mon 18 Feb. Normal admission costs and park entry charges apply.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Chinese New Year

11am – 3pm, Standard museum entry price plus £1 per child. Create a working windmill, perfect for a blustery February day!

0161 764 7790 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

The Lowry Half Term Little Artists: Aladdin's Cave 11am – 12.20pm. Age 5 – 11, £3.50 A colourful art and craft workshop inspired by the fantastic tale Aladdin. There’s a choice of creative activities to try – from making your own treasure box to decorating a magic lamp and even weaving a mini flying carpet!

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Fri 15 February

Tues 19 Feb

The Lowry Under 5s Doodle Tots 10 – 10.45am, 11.15 – 12pm Age 2½ – 4½, £3.50 Paint, stick and make your works of art in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Don’t worry, aprons are provided!

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

People’s History Museum, Manchester Pauly’s War: Growing Up & the Manchester Blitz

Wed 13 Feb East Lancashire Railway Children’s Craft Workshop – Wonderful Windmills

Sun 10 Feb Manchester Art Gallery Chinese New Year 12 – 4pm, Free. Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy Chinese New Year! Join the celebrations as we mark the beginning of the Year of the Snake with our neighbours in Manchester’s Chinese community.

0161 235 8888 / www.manchestergalleries.org

Sat 16 – Sat 23 Feb Touchstones, Rochdale Holiday Quiz 10am – 5pm. Drop in.

Complete the quiz and get the chance to be entered into the free prize draw.

01706 924492 / www.link4life.org/touchstones

Sat 16 – Sun 24 Feb Mon 11 – Fri 15 Feb The Lowry Half Term Little Artists: Puppet Masters!

11am – 12.20pm, Age 5 – 11, £3.50 Be inspired by the characters and ornate artwork of the stories of the Arabian Nights and Aladdin and make beautiful shadow puppets out of cardboard, coloured acetate, lace and feathers. Take your puppets home and re-tell the tales!

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal All the colours of the rainbow 12 – 4pm, Normal admission applies, 50p per trail. Have a go at tie-dye samples at the drop-in activity in the Mill and chase the colours through the Mill with our family trail.

01625 527468 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarrybank-mill

People’s History Museum, Manchester Demon Drink? Craft Table 10am – 5pm, Free, Drop in, suitable for all ages. Become the King or Queen of Temperance and make your own Temperance Crown to take home with you at our craft table inspired by our fab changing exhibition, Demon Drink?

Temperance and the Working Class.

0161 838 9190 / www.phm.org.uk

1.15 – 2pm, Free, Age 7+, no booking required. Meet Pauly, a young girl growing up in Manchester during World War II, and see archive film and specially commissioned animation. Stay around until 2.30pm and meet evacuee Terry Perkins and find out about the effect the Blitz had on him as a child.

0161 838 9190 / www.phm.org.uk Touchstones, Rochdale Bugs, Beasties and Beautiful Blooms 10.30am – 1.30pm, Age 5 – 12, Drop in.

Children must be accompanied.

All things bright, beautiful, wriggling, buzzing and hovering will be the focus of this exciting workshop based on what you might find alive in the garden. Come along and help artist Cat Jessop create a giant garden mural made up from all the handmade flowers and bugs you will make in this fun session.

01706 924492 / www.link4life.org/touchstones

www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 21

What’s on

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go

Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Arty Picnics 11.30am – 1pm Bring your lunch and get creative whilst having a very special picnic at the Gallery.

0161 275 7450 / www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

Thurs 21 Feb

Sun 20 Jan

Tatton Park Bird Brained 10am – 12 noon, Age 8+, £9, Booking essential. Calling all young ornithologists!

Build a bird box to put up in your garden.

Help our feathered friends by making some natural bird-feeders to take home and bring your binoculars to explore the birdlife.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Manchester Art Gallery Family Art Club 1 – 3pm, Free. Create together in our special artist led workshops for 6-11s. No need to book, but sign-in starts at 12.30pm.

Middleton Arena Cinderella…ella…ella Presented by J Star dance Academy. The Prestwich and Whitefield Academies join together for what will be an amazing Pantomime.

0161 773 7000 / www.jstar-academy.co.uk

Fri 22 Feb

0161 235 8888 / www.manchestergalleries.org

Tues 19 & Wed 20 Feb Tatton Park Deer Feed and Trailer Ride Age 4+, Adult £6, Child £4 per child (Includes park entry), Booking essential Take a trailer ride with the rangers to watch the daily deer feed. Get a close look at hundreds of deer feeding in their beautiful natural setting.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Tues 19, Thurs 21 & Fri 22 Feb Manchester Art Gallery The Blow up Lab 1 – 3pm, Free Enlarge your world! Tiny details become enormously important as you use microscopes and scanners to make art and experiment in our oversized projection space. Led by artist Harriet Hall and inspired by the work of Cornelia Parker that features in our Focal Points exhibition. No need to book but sign in starts at 12.30pm.

0161 235 8888 / www.manchestergalleries.org

Wed 20 Feb People’s History Museum, Manchester Stunning Sashes 1.30 – 3.30pm, Free, Age 5+, no booking required. Be inspired by the beautiful sashes in our Demon Drink? exhibition and create your own to wear on a march through the museum.

0161 838 9190 / www.phm.org.uk Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Colour Workshop 12.30 – 1.30pm, 1.30 – 2.30pm, 2.30 – 3.30pm, Child £3.

Print your own colourful bag.

01625 527468 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarrybank-mill

Wed 20 & Fri 22 Feb Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Artists' Skills 1 – 3pm. Come and experiment with materials to create a 3D landscape inspired

by John Piper: The Mountains of Wales.

0161 275 7450 / www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

Touchstones, Rochdale Construct a Sculpture 10.30am – 12 noon, Age 5 – 12, Booking essential. Children must be accompanied.

Inspired by Matthew Houlding’s sculptures on display in the Art Gallery, make your own colourful sculpture to take away.

01706 924492 / www.link4life.org/touchstones

Sat 23 & Sun 24 Feb East Lancashire Railway Steam Weekend and Transport Collectors and Modellers Fair

Sat 2 Mar

Sun 3 Mar Kingsway School (Lower site), Cheadle SK8 1NP

Kids Car Boot & Swap Shop 10am – 12pm, Pitch costs £15 www.kidscarbootandswapshop.co.uk Saddleworth School, Oldham OL3 6BU Kids Car Boot & Swap Shop 10am – 12pm, Pitch costs £15 www.kidscarbootandswapshop.co.uk

Fri 8 Mar

An all steam passenger service starring stunningly restored locomotives from the ELR home fleet alongside guest locomotives.

Pick up a Day Rover ticket to get unlimited travel all day and free entrance into the Transport Collectors and Modellers Fair at Bury Transport Museum. Browse stalls of memorabilia, books and models.

0161 764 7790 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Manchester Art Gallery Mini Art Club 10.15 – 11.15am / 11.30am – 12.30pm, Free Make friends, make noise, make a mess in our art club specially for 2 – 5s. Join our artists to explore paper in our special sensory sessions. Please call one week in advance to reserve your place.

0161 235 8888 / www.manchestergalleries.org

Tues 26 Feb

FAMILY SHOWS

People’s History Museum, Manchester Beeing Special 11am – 12pm, £1 per child, adults free, Suitable for under 5s, Booking advised.

Meet Little Bee, the bee who wants to be different. Join in the busy bee dance, search for flowers in the museum and follow Little Bee’s adventure to find out how he becomes the hero of Victorian Manchester. Fun interactive story session with puppets, song, dance and a craft activity.

0161 838 9190 / www.phm.org.uk

Fri 1 Mar The Lowry Under 5s Tiny Tots Tales 10 – 10.45am, 11.15 – 12pm Age 2½ – 4½, £3.50. A magical journey through books and stories to explore mythical worlds and meet some interesting characters along the way.

Explore imaginary worlds through sound, movement, rhyme and song.

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

22 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester

Fri 11 – Sun 20 Jan Waterside Arts Centre, Sale Jack & The Beanstalk Sale Nomads Theatre Club’s traditional family panto. 2 for 1 tickets on selected shows 0161 912 5616 / www.watersideartscentre.co.uk

Wed 23 Jan The Lowry The Tempest Shakespeare 4 Kidz presents The Tempest – a mystical, magical, mysterious, musical romantic comedy of revenge, a father’s love for his daughter and the misuse of power.

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Sat 26 Jan The Met, Bury The Nightingale Imagine you could have anything you wanted... the best that money can buy.

Unfortunately for the little King, he already has that, and he still feels something's missing. That is, until he is enchanted by the most beautiful sound in the world and finds friendship in the most unexpected place. A sweet, funny and beautiful show for families based on the story by Hans Christian Anderson, brought to you by Horse and Bamboo Theatre Company. For ages 4+ 0161 761 2216 / www.themet.biz

Tues 15 – Thurs 17 Jan Manchester Opera House Moscow City Ballet's Swan Lake Moscow City Ballet is currently at its outstanding artistic best – winning new invitations to perform internationally. This is the signature piece of their entire repertoire. The orchestra, choreography, interpretation, beauty and outstanding virtuoso performance repeatedly win rave reviews.

0844 871 7660 / www.manchestertheatres.com

Thurs 24 – Sun 27 Jan The Lowry The Moscow State Circus – Babushkin Sekret A mammoth cast of Russia's greatest and most talented circus artistes combine contemporary and classical circus to present breath-taking acts.

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

What’s on Sat 26 & Sun 27 Jan

Sat 16 Feb

Sat 9 Mar

Manchester Arena The X Factor Live 0844 847 8000 / www.men-arena.com

The Lowry Guinness World Records: Officially Amazing Science Live!

The Met, Bury There's a Monster in my Piano

Thurs 31 Jan & Fri 1 Feb Manchester Arena Strictly Come Dancing – The Live Tour 0844 847 8000 / www.men-arena.com

Fri 8 Feb Stockport Plaza Dance Extravaganza The very best in live stage entertainment…. a perfect family show for all ages!

0161 477 7779 / www.stockportplaza.co.uk

For the first time ever, direct from its London HQ, Guinness World Records arrives on stage with its officially amazing, recordbreaking, science mad, all new live show.

Join our Official Guinness World Records Adjudicator and team of presenters in genuine audience record attempts; unleash your inner skills, understand the world we live in and see if you too can be a record breaker!

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

What do you do when you hear a strange munching noise inside a piano? Call the Piano Doctor of course! He might be able to help with his bag full of ears and his collection of weird and wonderful tools. But when he looks inside the musical notes are packing their bags and running away. What are they scared of and who is hammering at the keys? Garlic Theatre delight children and adults with this offbeat jazzy tale. Puppet theatre for all ages over 4.

0161 761 2216 / www.themet.biz

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

Sun 17 Feb The Lowry Why The Lion Danced All the excitement, colour and sounds of the Chinese New Year are brought to you in this inventive production featuring live music, song and dance by Yellow Earth, the award winning British East Asian Theatre Company. Suitable for ages 5+.

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Tues 12 Feb The Met, Bury How To Catch A Star Once there was a boy and the boy loved stars very much. Every night he watched stars from his bedroom window and wished he had one of his own. One day, he decided he would try to catch a star... but first he had to think of a plan... Blunderbus is proud to present this funny, gentle retelling of Oliver Jeffers' bewitching story brought to life with a blend of music, puppetry and storytelling. For small people aged 3-7, and grown-up stargazers!

0161 761 2216 / www.themet.biz

Mon 18 – Sat 23 Feb Z-arts, Manchester Les Misérables – School Edition National award-winning Musical Youth UK will be bringing the world’s longest running musical to life with their Manchester hub’s spellbinding debut, featuring a cast of 60 of the Northwest’s most talented 11-19 year old performers www.musicalyouthuk.org / www.z-arts.org

Wed 13 Feb The Met, Bury Unmythable Set sail with Jason and the Argonauts as he takes you on his greatest mission: the quest to bring back the Golden Fleece. Along the way they narrate, sing and clown their way through all the Greek myths you've ever heard of, and some you never knew existed.

0161 761 2216 / www.themet.biz

Thurs 14 Feb The Met, Bury The Elephant Bridesmaid A magical musical about weddings and wombats and the loveliest elephant the world has ever known. For ages 4 – 104.

As an extra treat, popular children's author Steven Lee will be available to sign copies of his book How The Koala Learnt To Hug and Other Australian Fairytales which will be on sale at a specially reduced rate after the show.

0161 761 2216 / www.themet.biz

Tues 26 Feb Manchester Opera House Yamato Drummers Yamato are master performers. They take the ancient art of taiko drumming and bring it bang up-to-date in an exhilarating display of expertise and athleticism that has thrilled audiences worldwide.

0844 871 7660 / www.manchestertheatres.com

Tue 5 March - Sat 9 March The Lowry Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors & Vile Victorians We all want to meet people from history – the trouble is everyone is dead! Using actors and ground-breaking 3D special effects, these two astounding shows are guaranteed to thrill as historical figures and events come alive on stage and hover at your fingertips.

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | Families Manchester 23