FamiliesManchesterMJ23 PRINT

Kids Planet Day Nurseries in Manchester

Kids Planet Day Nurseries provide quality, child-centred care and learning for children 0-5 years, and our nurseries are ‘All-inclusive’ which means:

We include all nappies, baby formula and baby wipes in our fees, so all you have to do is arrive at nursery with your little one and we’ll provide the rest!

Kids Planet - Working together to inspire your world.

Find your nearest nursery:

www.kidsplanetdaynurseries.co.uk

Editor Karen Sykes editor@familiesmanchester.co.uk 01706 671664

Families Manchester and Cheshire is available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout the region. If you would like free copies for your organisation, please get in touch.

Welcome

There are a lot of opportunities for early summer fun over the next couple of months with the Coronation of King Charles III and the half term break at the end of May.

Now the weather is getting better and the evenings longer, the garden and outdoor spaces beckon and you can get the kids outside to play. We’ve provided a selection of outdoor toy ideas that will help keep them busy.

If you are planning travel with extended family, check out our tips for holidaying with grandparents and, whilst looking forward to the months to come, it’s the perfect time to think about booking your child into a summer day camp or workshop – the long summer holidays will be here before you know it!

Swimming is the only sport your child can undertake that might save their life. But how can you best support them while they are learning to swim and avoid stopping their swimming lessons too soon? Find out in our article.

camps

This product is made of material from well-managed, FSC®-certified forests and other controlled sources.

Look out for our Orchard Toy game giveaway – we have loads of Little Shopping Lotto games on offer! Perfect for your kids to take away on a holiday, weekend away or just while on the move. Apply inside and you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

Karen Editor, Families Manchester

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

STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL

An independent school for children ages 3-18 years

Assistance with fees available at 11+ and 16+ (means tested), academic and music scholarships

Senior School Taster Days for Year 5 children

Junior, Senior and Sixth Form school day tours

• Outstanding academic results

• Teaching that stretches and stimulates

• A friendly and caring environment

• Excellent facilities

• Over 200 extra-curricular activities

• Extensive school bus routes including Sale, Altrincham and Hale

Tel: 0161 456 9000

Stockport Grammar audiences voyage to Ancient Greece

Stockport Grammar audiences stepped back in time to Ancient Greece to watch a spectacular production of Dido and Aeneas. The production was created collaboratively between the Music, Dance and Classics departments.

Based on Virgil’s poem, the Aeneid, which was written in the first century BC., the play follows the tragic love story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan Prince Aeneas. Composer Purcell set the fourth book of the epic poem to music in the 17th century. Chamber Choir and orchestra expertly brought Purcell’s compositions to life and the school’s dancers interpreted the story with expressive choreography. Drama students also created three exclusive scenes which portrayed the thoughts of Dido throughout the play.

Director of Music, Mr Dow said: ‘All the pupils involved should be immensely proud. I thought the whole thing was incredibly beautiful and it was so lovely to see musicians, dancers, actors and lighting experts all working so well together to produce such a wonderful performance.’

Find out more at www.stockportgrammar.co.uk

Win a family holiday with Away Resorts!

Win a four night stay for a family of up to six people at an Away Resorts location of your choice.

Experience one of Away Resorts’ fabulous UK locations, from countryside to coast, all within areas of natural beauty and close to places of interest. Your accommodation will be off-the-scale amazing and new experiences await at every turn. Jam-packed with activities, entertainment, fantastic facilities and even events, every member of the family will be grinning from ear to ear.

Explore The New Forest in Hampshire, Tattershall Lakes, Appletree or Cleethorpes Pearl in Lincolnshire, Mersea Island in Essex or Golden Sands in North Wales – or perhaps somewhere else will take your fancy. Full list of locations at www.awayresorts.co.uk/ parks.

Enter at familiesmag.co.uk/go by 30 June 2023

T&Cs: Off-peak periods only, subject to availability. Travel, meals and additional activities are not included. Excludes Boston West, Clumber, East Fleet Farm, Gara Rock, Kenwick, Piperdam and Woodland Lakes. Prize must be taken by 31 May 2024. Full T&Cs at https://bit.ly/FamAwayRes23

New Affordable Foot Care Service

How handwriting affects self-esteem

By Catherine Loble and Lisa Wander

It is known that children who have good handwriting do better in school and enjoy it more. And the opposite is also true: those who struggle with handwriting are often at a disadvantage in the high-paced classroom setting. According to the Dyspraxia Foundation, children with poor handwriting are usually aware of their difficulty and their untidy handwriting can make them feel uncomfortable and isolated. Commonly, children feel depressed and frustrated as a direct result of poor writing skills.

Handwriting activates a specific part of the brain which helps establish and build the neural patterns needed for learning and memory. Studies show that children who spend time working on handwriting produce clearer and more coherent communication, along with better thought and organisation skills.

As the majority of our examinations are still handwritten, handwriting forms an integral part of our education system. Students who are unable to write legibly and articulately find themselves at a severe disadvantage. Once these skills are taught there is an enormous difference in confidence and selfesteem.

With at least ten to fifteen percent of children in the classroom suffering from poor self-confidence, teachers need watch out for early problems with their pupils’ handwriting. Simply having their writing labelled as messy or lazy by adults can contribute to a child’s low self-esteem and anxiety. This may lead children to believe that they are unintelligent and incapable of writing correctly and discourage them, continuing the downward spiral.

Unfortunately, the problem of anxiety-related handwriting problems cannot simply be overcome by using a computer. As a child grows older, there will always be everyday circumstances in which handwriting is needed. Furthermore, handwriting helps the flow of ideas and thoughts in a way which keyboarding doesn’t, so it is fundamental that children are taught to write legibly.

Although handwriting is an integral requirement of the National Curriculum, many schools are unable to dedicate to it the time required due to the huge demand of core subjects. In addition, there are many different styles and programmes being used with too many confusing elements.

With the correct time and teaching, children can master handwriting, thereby raising their confidence and self-esteem and embedding it into adulthood.

Catherine and Lisa are co-founders of Emparenting (www.emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with insights, skills and tools to nurture the development and well-being of the next generation.

Motor skills to support handwriting

Essential for handwriting, motor development is divided into gross and fine motor skills. Gross skills involve large muscle movements such as crawling, walking, running and swimming. Fine motor skills require smaller muscles: grasping, object manipulation and drawing.

Well-developed gross and fine motor skills are essential to a child’s readiness to write. Early years activities prepare them for the dexterity and co-ordination they will need in the classroom and it’s never too soon to start the journey.

Practising gross motor skills is the first step towards two-handed tasks such as holding down paper with one hand while writing with the other. Fun activities teach small bodies! Examples include monkey bars, hopscotch, throwing and catching balls, dancing, running and swimming.

Fine motor skills are necessary for handwriting so a child can control the pencil in forming letters and use the correct pressure on the pen and the paper. This is where hand and finger activities come in. Consider these: threading beads, cutting paper, construction play, baking, finger painting and playdough.

The seven stages of handwriting

Handwriting requirements are part of the statutory assessments for Writing at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2.

Young children move through a series of stages as they are learning to write. These reflect a child’s growing knowledge of the conventions of literacy, including letters, sounds and spacing of words within sentences:

Pre-writing - gross and fine motor movements; Pencil grip and posture; Lower case cursive letter formation; Upper case (capital) letter formation; Joining letters together; Refining letter positioning and spacing; Fluency and speed.

It should be noted that although these are the National Curriculum requirements, very few schools include regular handwriting as part of the curriculum. Supporting your child’s handwriting at home will give their skills and confidence a big boost that they will take with them into the classroom.

What is the CPA approach in maths?

By Jemma Z Smith

CPA (concrete, pictorial, abstract) is a maths teaching approach that has grown in popularity in recent years. It involves using tangible objects for children to add, subtract, multiply or divide. They then progress to using pictorial representations of the objects and ultimately, abstract symbols. This way of learning is one of the foundations of Singaporean maths, now being adopted in the UK.

Concrete

The tangible, ‘handling’ stage uses physical objects to solve problems. For example:

There are four buttons in the pot. Stanley has two buttons in his hand. How many buttons are there altogether?

In this problem, the children might first count out actual buttons before moving on to non-related objects such as counters to represent the buttons. Of course, almost anything can be used to help a child master this stage from pencils to plastic pots, to counting beans and coins. You don’t need to spend money on concrete resources to support learning at home.

Pictorial

Next, learners move on to making their own representations. Returning to the example in the paragraph above, the buttons could be drawn as four circles on one part of the paper and two more on another part, representing the pot and the hand. Children can then count each small circle and get the same answer as they would have done with the buttons.

Building or drawing a model makes it easier for children to grasp

more difficult concepts, particularly when working with fractions. It enables learners to see how much of a ‘whole one’ has been shaded in and visualise the problem more clearly.

Abstract

This is where children use abstract symbols to solve maths problems.

Brooke has ten sweets and Millie has twelve sweets. How many sweets do they have altogether?

Children at the abstract stage would be able to solve the problem by writing it out as 10 + 12 = 22.

Before moving onto this stage, children need a secure understanding of mathematical vocabulary; eg ‘altogether’, ‘add’ and ‘plus’ all mean that the numbers are increasing.

Although CPA has three distinct stages, it is always useful to revisit the previous stages to ensure that learners have a full grasp of each concept.

Jemma Z Smith is Director of The Education Hotel (www.educationhotel.co.uk)

Why is CPA maths helpful for children?

Education methods have changed a lot since we were at school. For many adults today, classroom teaching involved having methods drummed into us that we didn’t necessarily understand and which were promptly forgotten. Could you explain why we ‘put a zero’ in the ones column when multiplying by a tens number? Why we ‘knock on the next number’s door and borrow a 1’ when exchanging in column subtraction? How long division really works?

Using physical ‘concrete’ counters show us the mechanics behind these methods and gives children an understanding of what maths is, rather than rote learning for an exam and forgetting the learning when moving on to the next concept. The learning will stick for longer and be more beneficial to them as they progress to the next stage of their education.

With CPA, maths is seen by teachers as a house or a pyramid. Without a strong understanding of the foundations, more complex topics such as algebra or percentages will be a struggle.

What if my Year 6 child still uses props for maths?

Should you be concerned? The answer is that the use of concrete and pictorial resources is not only for very young children or children who find new concepts tricky.

While running a SATs booster class, I used the bar model, a way of visualising addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using blocks, with a group of Year 6 children. They had to work out how much of one type of liquid was used in a ratio word problem. The lightbulb moments started to happen: what a privilege to witness!

Once learners understand the mechanics of problems, they can apply their knowledge from the concrete and pictorial stages into the abstract final answer and, if they are really secure, even teach it to someone else as well, demonstrating true mastery of the concept.

So no, parents shouldn’t be concerned if their children are still using props. They are using them to their advantage and building a solid base of understanding that will see them through into later years.

How playgrounds benefit your child

As a parent or carer of young children, you’ve no doubt spent many hours sitting or standing in a playground watching your child play or pushing them on a swing. As well as being great for getting kids playing outside, playgrounds also have a range of developmental benefits - not just physical and social but cognitive and emotional too.

Unexpected physical benefits

Playgrounds provide children with the opportunity to develop their complete physical selves:

Swings and climbing frames develop advanced balancing skills and improve their equilibrium for surer footedness.

Climbing and running benefit muscle development and weight management.

Exposing children to daylight helps stabilise their circadian rhythms which can improve sleep patterns.

Playing outside exposes youngsters to more organic bacteria and microbes, which can help build a more robust immune system and an advanced microbiome.

The emotional and cognitive benefits

Anxiety, self-esteem and introversion are all common issues faced by children. A playground gives them a safe space in which to confront those feelings without judgement or expectation.

They can choose to play with the other kids in the castle or observe and learn how they can socialise before taking the first brave steps. Similarly, they can play by themselves on the swings

or slides to reduce their anxiety as they don’t need any help from others to accomplish that (though the kit is designed to encourage engagement and communication). Finally, they can give their self-esteem a boost by being brave enough to try a new piece of equipment or by making a new friend.

The playground gives them options. They don’t have to do anything they don’t want to but if they choose to act, it’s almost certain they will experience a benefit.

Playground play is also great for developing problem-solving skills, increasing creativity and encouraging critical thinking. Do too many children want to play in the castle? They can work together to create a game and solve the problem. Does everyone want to go on the slide? Well, they can queue and wait their turn, right?

Family Corner (www.familycorner.co.uk) is the family arm of the Early Years Alliance (www.eyalliance.org.uk). The charity provides expert-written articles on all aspects of child development including health, behaviour, communication and fun activities.

Social and educational benefits of playgrounds

When your child is new to a setting or you’re on holiday and want your kids to make new friends quickly, you encourage them to visit the playground, right? This is because playgrounds are designed to encourage engagement and collaboration and to facilitate independent play.

For example, the castle and climbing frames result in children making up imaginative role-play games together where the setting becomes a fantasy world. Competition often breaks out on the swings to see who can go the highest and kids also take turns on the slide and wait patiently for the next go. They need a buddy to sit on the other end of the seesaw. Before they know it, they have a new friend.

As for the educational benefits of playgrounds, it’s all about learning to be brave and patient and experiencing things like excitement, fear and nervousness for the first time. Many play parks also have pieces of kit specifically designed for educational purposes like big magnifiers, storybook corners and sensory play kits.

Looking for a way to keep your child’s brain engaged while having fun? Look no further than Brainy Play!

Our out-of-the-box thinking toys and scientific sets are made from sustainable wood, ensuring that your child can enjoy hours of play whilst also learning about the world around them. Take the fun outdoors with our petanque and mud kitchens, perfect for inspiring creativity and exploration. With Brainy Play, your child will have a blast while developing valuable skills and discovering their potential. These toys are perfect for keeping, as they’re made to last a lifetime.

Give your child the gift of learning through play with Brainy Play.

info@brainyplay.co.uk www.brainyplay.co.uk

Please listen to me!

By Tanith Carey

When we have non-stop days, it’s easy to lapse into ‘one-waystreet parenting.’ That’s where as the more powerful grownup, you tell your child how to behave. But parenting becomes so much easier when it’s a two-way transaction and you make a conscious effort to listen to what your child has to say as well.

As they grow, children are in a constant process of learning to recognise and describe their needs and emotions. However, with their developing vocabulary they can’t always clearly articulate their big feelings so they don’t always feel heard.

Children who don’t feel heard often act out how they feel. There could be angry tantrums, strops, defiance or attention-seeking behaviour to force you to pay attention. Sadly, this behaviour has the opposite effect.

The good news is that just one simple shift can transform your relationship with your child. Next time your child explodes, understand they are struggling with giant feelings. Rather than thinking about how to discipline them, observe their behaviour with curiosity, followed by empathy.

For example, we grown-ups tend to hear repeated requests for the things kids want as whingeing or nagging. Rather than ignoring them, show them you heard them the first time by looking at them, getting down on their level if they are still little, repeating what they have just said and giving them a response that works in that moment, even if it’s an explanation for why you are saying ‘no’.

Of course, you can’t be expected to drop everything, every time or give kids whatever they want.

Keep some phrases in your back pocket like: ‘I know it’s hard to

wait. I’ll be there soon,’ or ‘I heard you calling me. Give me five minutes while you finish your Lego house.’ Even if it’s not the answer they want to hear, they will ease off once they know the message has got through. Just make sure you stick to your word. This kind of listening is not about giving in or letting them have their own way. It’s about remembering that children are on a steep learning curve towards naming and managing feelings that continues well into their teenage years.

Tanith Carey is co-author, with Dr Angharad Rudkin, of What’s My Child Thinking: Practical Child Psychology for Modern Parents. The book includes many topics including the best ways to communicate with children. Published by DK books and available from www.bookshop.org

For children ages 4–7

Name emotions: Experience shows that the more words you use to name their emotions, the more accurate children will be when describing them.

Be interested in what they love: Be curious about what your child has to say, even if you’ve heard the same dinosaur fact one hundred times. If you say: ‘Tell me more,’ your child will open up to you at other times too. If you feel yourself getting bored, go on an adventure to find new facts to fascinate them.

Calm your nervous system: When you feel angry or irritated when dealing with your child, whatever you are doing, take a few deep breaths to slow yourself back to empathy mode so you can listen to what they are trying to say.

Limit your phone use: Put away your phone during the special one-on-one times with your child, whether it’s bath times, mealtimes or story time. When they don’t have to compete to be heard they can relax into being with you.

For children ages 8 -11

Listen more than you talk: Once children can be clear about what’s bothering them, often responding with just a nod, an ‘I see’ or ‘That sounds tough’ is enough. Resist the temptation to offer judgement or criticism, even if you think it sounds constructive. It’s often what you don’t say rather than what you do which makes you the best sounding board.

Set aside time: Spend regular unhurried time just doing the things they like to do. These ‘emotional deposits’ remind tweens that you like as well as love them and they will be more likely to listen to you at other times.

Validate feelings: Simply try to accept and understand how they feel, even if that feels uncomfortable for you. For example, your tween contains their behaviour all day at school. So when they come from school and moan, remember that most of the time you don’t need to do anything except listen. You could ask: ‘Do you need to vent, or do you want suggestions? Either is fine.’

Helping children find their autistic identity

By Rebecca Duffus

When a young person gets a diagnosis of autism, it does not always come with the opportunity to explore their personal autistic identity. Research shows that having a positive understanding of this is an indicator of higher self-esteem and wellbeing as an adult. Thankfully, with the right knowledge and tools, parents can initiate important conversations and support their child’s journey.

So often, autistic young people are told to stop their repetitive physical movements, taught neurotypical social skills and even disciplined purely because of their autistic behaviours. Yet we need to be actively promoting autistic pride and creating communities in which autistic youngsters can understand their strengths and have their needs catered for.

It is important that young autistic people gain a sense of their own unique story and understand feelings of difference and what difference means to them. It helps if they can also learn from the role modelling of other autistic individuals.

Giving children space and time to explore and embrace their autistic identity, in a way that is positive and empowering, is essential for their sense of self and belonging. Here are a few ideas:

Highlight differences in a positive way in everyday life. For example, apples and oranges, pens and pencils, different roles within a sports team. Each share similarities and differences and are equally good and valid. Use these examples to explain the concept of neurodiversity: how some people’s brains simply work differently.

Use visuals to explore autism characteristics and what your child’s unique autistic identity looks like. For example, show pictures related to sensory differences to prompt discussions around over-reactivity and under-reactivity to different senses. The Autism, Identity and Me Workbook (AIM) includes a range of visual prompts and space to personalise each section, so the book becomes truly theirs.

Help them develop a diary or workbook in which they can reflect on their identity. Consider buying personalised notebooks or help them to set up their own system for processing information on an ongoing basis. This could be recording voice notes, videos or typing into a document.

Explore accounts from other autistic individuals, particularly those your child has something in common with, so that they feel represented.

Develop an ‘Autism Identity Statement’ together which your child can use to explain to others what autism means to them.

Continue the conversation and not always verbally: use links, articles and videos. If appropriate for your child’s age, encourage them to watch or follow autism advocates such as The Aspie World, Purple Ella and Chloe Hayden.

For parents, Chris Packham’s recent Inside Our Autistic Minds, available on iPlayer, is an illuminating and informative insight into the minds of young autistic adults.

Follow their lead. You want to develop your child’s autistic pride but it is very important to respect their communication preferences. Do they want to share their Autism Identity Statement with other family members and friends or just with specific people?

Rebecca Duffus is an Advisory Teacher working with students and educators in mainstream and specialist schools, plus local council and education services.

She has created Autism, Identity and Me (AIM) personalised workbooks for young people, with an accompanying guidebook for parents. Together they help autistic young people establish and reflect upon their own unique story. Order from https://bit.ly/AIMbook

The neurodiversity pencil case

Featured in the AIM workbooks, this analogy can help with understanding difference. Sometimes people feel different from everyone else. Imagine a neurodivergent person is a pen within a classroom where the neurotypical pupils are pencils. They might feel like the only pen.

Both the pens and pencils are good at what they do. The neurodivergent people may be different from the neurotypical people but they all share similarities. They are not the only pen…. about one in seven people are neurodivergent!

Create an Autism Identity Statement

Your child can choose who they talk to about autism and what they say but it can help if they have a set phrase to explain what autism means to them. This statement is liable to change over time as they develop their understanding of their autistic identity. Try:

I’m really good at...

I sometimes find it harder to...

When I feel stressed it helps me to...

My superpowers are...

Happy holidays with grandparents

By Ellie Malt

There is nothing quite like a holiday spent with grandparents to create surprising and special memories that will last a lifetime. Who knows what we will all discover along the way? Will granny get the hang of TikTok? Maybe the kids will find out what a ‘real’ camera looks like or perhaps we’ll all just learn more about each other. The most important thing though is to have fun and enjoy spending time together. Here are some ways to make it happen:

Choose flexible accommodation

Are you thinking about a villa, apartment or hotel? Small or big resort? Grandparents may not want to spend all their time with the grandchildren and vice-versa so some degree of separate space might be a wise idea. You should also consider access; somewhere with lots of steps neither suits buggies nor anyone who is a bit wobbly on their feet.

Plan together

Involve everyone in the planning by asking for their input and ideas. They’ll appreciate the opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge. Sure, there’ll be compromises along the way but sharing the planning helps set expectations and ensures everyone feels more involved in the holiday.

Eating together

If you are self-catering, who will shop, cook and wash up? Are other options available? It’s worth thinking ahead about fussy eaters, as well as people who need to eat dinner earlier or get up late for breakfast. Planning now can save a lot of awkward negotiation when you’re there.

Make activities age-appropriate

Choose some ideas that will suit everyone’s interests and abilities. A water park might be the best day ever for the kids, while exploring the nearby town or drinking rum cocktails at the beach might be more appealing to parents and grandparents. If you have something special in mind that works for everyone, it might be worth choosing your holiday destination around it.

Sharing the kids

With more adults around, child-free date nights or even days out may be possible but don’t assume this will just happen. Discuss expectations around this. And if the grandparents are left in charge for a few hours, accept that their style may not match your own exactly - it’s their holiday too. Rather than setting rigid ground rules and let them do it their own way; after all, you didn’t turn out so badly!

‘Yes, we did it!’

Plan an adventure day; take a scenic hike or cycle ride or perhaps a kayak. Trying something new is all part of a holiday. If you choose carefully, even with different physical abilities and interests, it can work for everyone. Building in an element of challenge and heading out of your comfort zone together can create a sense of shared purpose and provide a real highlight.

Quiet time

It’s important that everyone is able to have some alone time during the holiday so think about the possibility of me-time for each person. Not everyone feels social all the time so consider the needs of the introverts in the group. Expectations and excitement may run high ahead of the holiday so talking to your kids about quiet-time or afternoon siestas before you go can help things run more smoothly.

Take photos

Document your holiday; everyone can get involved in this. Remember photos weren’t always just for posting on social media! Maybe you can create a photobook or even go old school and frame some group shots. It will give everyone something to look back on in the years to come and help keep those memories alive.

A confident return to work

By Lucy Baker

Having time away from work and being a ‘mummy’ takes some adjustment at first; but before you know it, you’re in the thick of motherhood and busy with your baby. After a few weeks, the idea of work becomes a distant memory and parenting routines become your new norm.

Fast forward a few months (or even years) and the time comes to face going back to work. This can conjure up all sorts of different emotions, including lack of confidence and doubts about your workplace ability. Mixed feelings are completely normal and with a bit of work on your self-belief and confidence you will be good to go when the time comes.

Here are some ways to boost your confidence ahead of your return to work:

Share your feelings. Try to avoid putting on a brave face to please people around you. If you are struggling, talk about it. You will be surprised how receptive your family and friends are when faced with the truth.

Be kind to yourself. Accepting that life has changed is a biggy. Life is definitely different now you are a parent but it doesn’t mean to say that it is either better or worse - just different. Let’s face it, you’ve had a baby so you can achieve anything!

Explore negative thought work. This involves being aware of negative thoughts and replacing them with positive selfstatements.

Sow Awesome – May Half Term

Sat 27 May – Sun 4 Jun

Our gardens are bursting with lifethere’s no better time to learn how to grow your own. Discover how fun and easy it is to plant and harvest vegetables and learn more about where our food comes from, as a family. Your visit supports our work as a charity.

Support network. It’s important to have a robust support network around you before and when you return to work. While it isn’t always easy (due to lack of family nearby, expensive childcare costs), knowing there are people you can rely on if you need them will help you feel better. Asking for help is key and although it might feel hard to do, if help has been offered, do take it.

Dress the part. This doesn’t have to mean brand new clothes and shiny new handbags; there are decent bargains to be found in charity shops and no one will know! Give yourself time in the morning for skincare, make-up and groomed hair so you look and feel the part.

Read your CV and update it. Seeing the facts down on paper really does help.

Lucy Baker is a self-employed mother of three and founder of coaching business, She Coaches Confidence. Read more at www.shecoachesconfidence.com

The benefits of summer camps

By Andrew Campbell

Summer day camps provide fun, safe and nurturing spaces for children. Not just useful childcare for working parents, there are many benefits for children too. Consider these:

Learning new skills

Summer camps offer a variety of activities that allow children to explore new interests and develop talents they didn’t know they had or take an existing talent to a new level.

Promoting physical activity

Many day camps provide a wide range of physical activities including sports, outdoor activities and games. This helps to promote a healthy lifestyle and develop a lifelong love of physical activity.

Developing independence and self-confidence

Being in a setting that isn’t home or school and where there are no parents can give children a sense of independence. They learn how to take care of themselves, make their own decisions and solve problems on their own.

Taking on new challenges and trying new things gives them confidence in their abilities.

Fostering creativity

Creative juices flow when children experience theatre arts, dance, music, writing, arts and crafts. These all help to stimulate their imagination and expressive thinking.

Leaving technology behind

As fantastic as the online world can be, it is always great to expose children to the joys of a good old-fashioned kick about

and team games in the fresh air. Who knows, they may even enjoy it MORE than gazing at a screen!

Building social skills

In a whole new supervised peer group, children learn to work together, communicate effectively and develop a sense of community.

There’s much to be gained too if they are learning and playing alongside children from different backgrounds, cultures or abilities from their usual circles, as this is an opportunity to appreciate difference. Kids will also build friendships outside their established school network.

Enjoying the outdoors

Climbing trees, changing a bike wheel or building an outdoor camp can give your child a whole new set of skills while enjoying adventures they might not otherwise experience.

Nurturing leadership and teamwork

By encouraging teamwork, co-operation, empathy and selfconfidence, summer day camps will help your child develop emotional intelligence.

How safe will your child be? Holiday camps and the law

Ofsted registration

While most childcare services have to be registered with Ofsted, holiday clubs are often exempt so you need to check.

If there isn’t an Ofsted report, you may want to ask what policies are in place to ensure children’s safety, such as safeguarding procedures, health and safety procedures, food handling, staff to child ratios and public liability insurance.

Staff qualifications

All staff and frequent volunteers at a holiday club must have enhanced DBS checks. Ofsted registered holiday camps will be required to have staff with training in first aid, safeguarding and if applicable, food handling. It is no longer a requirement for outof-school club staff to hold a formal qualification. However, many providers will be required to have qualified staff to get childcare insurance.

Check the website or make enquiries.

What can you do if a holiday camp is cancelled? You should get a refund but the terms of the booking may exclude refunds for cancellations for reasons beyond the camp’s control.

Can you get a refund if your child refuses to go to the camp?

If the holiday camp doesn’t live up to expectations, getting a refund maybe difficult. Try talking to the manager.

Can you get a refund or partial refund if your child is absent due to sickness?

This will depend on the terms of the booking.

What should you do if your child is injured at a holiday camp?

If the camp is Ofsted registered, you could report the incident and you may be able to get a refund. In a more serious case, you may want to seek legal advice.

Are holiday camps obliged to accept children with special needs?

Holiday camps must ensure that there is full inclusion and make the necessary reasonable adjustments to accommodate each child’s needs.

Support your child with swimming

According to Swim England, nearly two thirds of parents and guardians of children ages 7 to 11 haven’t been swimming with their children in more than a month. They’re missing out: regular family swims can be enjoyed whatever the weather and help children develop their swimming ability more quickly.

If you’re booking your child in for swimming lessons, here’s how Swim England recommends supporting them:

Lessons are fun. Learning how to swim should be fun, so check with the lesson provider that games and activities are regularly included within their programme of teaching.

Timing is key. Book lessons for a time that is easy to fit around your family commitments.

Pay attention. If you are poolside during lessons, be ready to give your child a wave and lots of encouragement. Putting away your mobile will help your child understand that these lessons are important.

Celebrate their swimming milestones. Rewarding children keeps them motivated to improve in their lessons. Swim England’s Learn to Swim Awards and app give children regular celebrations of their swimming milestones.

Regular reports. Parents should expect regular updates either through reports or verbal feedback. If your child is struggling in lessons, talk to the swimming teacher and ask what you can do to help encourage them. If they haven’t started swimming lessons yet, visit the pool before lessons to get your child used to the environment.

Don’t end lessons too early. Water competency is often misinterpreted by parents and guardians as child being able to jump into a swimming pool and being able to put their face in the water. The reality is very different.

Learning to jump into a swimming pool is an important safety skill that is often achieved in the early stages of your child’s learning to swim journey. It is a skill which mimics the motion of falling into water and teaches swimmers to get themselves safely to the side without panicking.

However, there are many other water safety and survival skills that a child needs to learn before they are safe in water, such as floating and treading water.

So don’t be tempted to stop your child’s lessons before they are competent swimmers and have achieved Swim England’s minimum water competency standards. For further information, visit www.swimming.org

When is my child water competent?

Swim England’s minimum water competency standards offer a clear set of skills that should be achieved before a child stops swimming lessons. The four competencies are:

• Perform a star float for at least sixty seconds;

• Tread water for at least thirty seconds;

• Have experience of swimming in clothing;

• Swim at least one hundred metres with ease and without stopping.

Research in September 2021 highlighted that more than three million 7 to 11 year old children were not achieving this standard, with just four percent of the age group being classed as ‘water competent.’ Swim England strongly recommends that where possible, parents and carers keep children in swimming lessons until they have completed Learn to Swim Stages 1 to 7 as a minimum. By this point children will have achieved all four of the minimum standards for water competency and will be much safer if they get into trouble.

See more at https://bit.ly/SwimPathway

The safest swimwear colours for your child

Adult supervision is crucial to keeping young people safe in, on and around the water but have you ever thought about whether the colour of your child’s swimwear could make a difference in preventing drowning? If the worst did happen, being able to quickly find a child in the water could save vital seconds and be the difference between a fatal and non-fatal incident.

Swimwear colour makes a huge difference to whether a child can be seen even on the surface of the water, let alone if they are underwater. The colour of the bottom of the pool will make a difference but when buying your child’s swimwear, think bright, neon, contrasting colours which are always easiest to see in a swimming pool.

For swimming in an outdoor setting, the results are the same. The caveat for this is that open water settings, such as beaches and rivers, also come with various hidden dangers such as tides and currents to consider before allowing your child to swim.

What's On

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

12-15 May

Segway Experience

Tatton Park

Try a Segway experience, environmentally friendly, fun-filled machines create a fantastic day out. 9am–6pm. £20-£30 pp Book your tickets. segwayevents. co.uk/locations/manchestertatton-park

Sat 13 May

Family Bushcraft Day

Valley Farm CIC, Ashton under Lyne

A fun packed day immersed in nature. Fire lighting, shelter building, campfire cooking and more. 9:30am-4pm. Valleyfarmowl.co.uk/events

Paddington Bear Family Fun Day

East Lancs Railway, Bury

Come and see Paddington and make sure you get a photo with him! There are more family activities including fun fair rides, face painting and craft activities. Complete your day out with a ride with one of the heritage steam or diesel trains. General Admission tickets must be purchased online. eastlancsrailway.org.uk/eventsactivities/paddington-bearfamily-fun-day

13 & 14 May

Bluey & Bingo Meet & Greet

Cockfields Farm, Ashton under Lyne

Bluey and Bingo are back! Join them on the Farm for a special meet and greet session with your favourite characters. Its all included in your farm admission. Just choose the time slot to meet the characters and you can arrive from 10am to join in all the fun on the farm. cockfields.co.uk/events/blueybingo-meet-greet

21 May

The Wizarding Adventure

East Lancs Railway

During this magical interactive experience you’ll take lessons in the basics of broomsticks, practice your potion making, be instructed in incantations and learn to tattle and talk with a tawny owl. A perfect adventure for ages 5–12. Find out more and book online. eastlancsrailway.org.uk/ events-activities/the-wizardingadventure

26-29 May

Flower Festival

Manchester City Centre

With fabulous floral installations, outdoor dining, live music and entertainment, you’re in for a bloomin’ amazing long weekend in Manchester city centre. mcrflowerfest.com

26 May-6 June

Whit Funfair

Heaton Park

There will be a fabulous selection of family rides and attractions to suit all the family. Open from 12pm to 8pm. For more information visit J W Shaws Facebook page. facebook.com/ jwshawamusements

Sat 27 May–Sun 4 June

May Half Term: Sow Awesome

RHS Garden Bridgewater

The garden is literally bursting with life so there’s no better time to learn how to grow your own! Discover how fun and easy it is to plant and harvest vegetables and learn more about where our food comes from, as a family. rhs.org.uk/gardens/bridgewater/ whats-on/half-term-atbridgewater

Early summer fun at RHS Garden Bridgewater

Explore 154 acres of glorious gardens set in Salford’s historic landscape at RHS Garden Bridgewater. Step inside the Paradise Garden and admire the awe-inspiring blend of Mediterranean and Asiatic planting. Marvel at the Weston Walled Garden, one of the largest Victorian walled gardens in the UK. Discover abundant crops growing in the Kitchen Garden, relax and indulge your senses in the Community Wellbeing Garden or follow the winding paths of the Chinese Streamside Garden. And for the youngsters, exploring the Woodland Play area is a must.

More info at www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/bridgewater

Sun 28 May

Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish

The Lowry, Salford Man’s dream to reach the stars leaves the world in ruins and disturbs the sleeping dinosaurs. Will they wake up and save planet Earth? thelowry.com/whats-on/ dinosaurs-and-all-that-rubbish

28-29 May

Steaming Days

Bolton Steam Museum

No admission fee, donation only. nmes.org

29 May-4 June

Camelot comes to Cockfields Cockfields Farm, Ashton under Lyne

Join this brand new event when Camelot come to the Farm. There are real dragons, a Knight School, Sword in the Stone, Whirlin the Wizards Workshop, Pester the Jester Workshops, Knights Duel, Hobby Horse Races and lots lots more! For a very special early bird offer check the website. cockfields.co.uk

1 June

The Wizarding Adventure

East Lancs Railway

During this magical interactive experience you’ll take lessons in the basics of broomsticks, practice your potion making, be instructed in incantations and learn to tattle and talk with a tawny owl. A perfect adventure for ages 5–12. Find out more and book online. eastlancsrailway.org.uk/ events-activities/the-wizardingadventure

3-4 June

We Invented The Weekend

Festival

MediaCity

We Invented the Weekend promises to be a colourful, exciting weekend of music, theatre, sport, workshops, dancing, laughs, and more to celebrate the joy of free time, with 150,000 people anticipated to attend over the two dates. mediacityuk.co.uk/events/weinvented-the-weekend-festival-2

3-5 June

The Snail and The Whale

The Lowry, Salford

Join an adventurous young girl and her seafaring father as they reimagine the story of a tiny snail’s incredible trip around the world, inspired by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved picture book. thelowry.com/whats-on/thesnail-and-the-whale

7-11 June

Festival of Libraries Manchester

The festival, which is supported by Arts Council England, will feature a vibrant programme that highlights the library network’s full offer, across wellbeing, culture and creativity, digital and information, and of course, reading. manchestercityofliterature.com/ project/manchester-librariesfestival

18 June

Trafford Live!

Trafford Town Hall/Emirates Old Trafford Fan Village

Visitors will be able to experience a range of events, activities and displays which will all be designed to showcase the borough’s sports, history and culture offering, with a bit of everything for both the young and old to enjoy.

Sun 25 June

Saddleworth Summer Show

Well-i-hole Farm, Greenfield Stalls, a laser maze, dog show, rides and lots more! saddleworthshow.com

Sun 9 July

Horrible Histories

The Plaza, Stockport

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! So BARMY BRITAIN is back with the hit West End show, full of crazy new characters and rude new rulers from Britain’s barmy past! It’s history with the nasty bits left in! stockportplaza.co.uk/whats-on/ horrible-histories-barmy-britain

A cat-tastic interactive experience

Grab your Cat Passport and join Gabby on an a-meowzing adventure with GABBY ON THE GO, a new cat-tastic experience full of fun FREE activities inspired by the popular animated television series, now streaming on Netflix. Travelling to six different locations across the UK every Saturday and Sunday from 13 May until 18 June, GABBY ON THE GO brings DreamWorks Animation’s beloved series to life, inviting fans to jump inside Gabby’s fantastical, animated world filled with adorable cat characters. Take part in an array of creative and interactive activities.

More info at www.gabbysdollhouse.com/gabbyonthego

Best outdoor toys for summer 2023

Ah summertime! The days are longer, the weather is warmer and we have more opportunities to head outside into the fresh air. We asked our friends at The Good Play Guide (www.goodplayguide.com) to recommend a range of top toys and activities that will provide hours of entertainment. Different toys develop different skills through play and these are broken into four key categories to inspire you: Active, Nature & Discovery, Arty and Educational.

Educational

Waterwall

For a splashtastic time, look no further than the Waterwall for hours of fun. Perfect for long summer days in the garden, your child will love designing a pathway for the water to successfully run through the tubes. They may not succeed straight away but the fun is in the trying! RRP £99.99.

Paint Pop Face Paint Sticks

Face painting is made easier with Paint Pop Face Paints. The silky-smooth paint is inside the stick; simply twist and you’re ready to paint! You can enjoy super-clean, messfree and convenient creative fun when at home or out and about on your travels. Each set includes twelve bright, vibrant colours for greater creativity. RRP £9.99.

Gazillion Bubbles Giant Power Wand

Sometimes it’s the simplest things in life that are the most fun. Kids and grown-ups will love the giant bubbles that whoosh out at the touch of a button. Great for an active summer afternoon in the garden or for entertaining children at a birthday party, this is sure to be a big hit. RRP £12.

Xootz Bubble-GoScooter

The Xootz Bubble-Go Scooter is a three-wheeled scooter that blows bubbles as you ride, cleverly combining two popular children’s pastimes in one. With its wide footplate and sturdy three-wheeled style, younger riders will find it a breeze to use and will be the envy of their friends as they ride a scooter while blowing bubbles out behind them. RRP £49.99.

Nature & Discovery

GALT Travel Activity Case

This set contains four books of educational travel activities that will keep children occupied on journeys, as well as during downtime or on a rainy day. The fun, mess-free activities include puzzles, word searches, dotto-dots, stickers and colouring, getting the brain whirring as children indulge their language skills, dexterity and creativity. RRP £12.99.

River Rock Paint Kit

Rock painting is a fun activity for kids that can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors. With fifteen smooth river rocks to paint, plus a full complement of art supplies, kids can create decorative stones to tell stories with or showcase in your home or garden, proudly displaying their artistic imagination. RRP £19.99.

Geosafari® JR.

Kidnoculars® Extreme™

Magnify nature with these 3x no-focus binoculars and built-in microphone - they are the perfect tool to encourage children to engage with and learn about nature. Looking and listening to their surroundings teaches kids observation skills and promotes the learning of new vocabulary centred around nature. RRP £26.50.

Flower Growing Garden Kit

This flower garden kit makes it easy for children to plant, decorate and watch their very own garden grow beautiful cosmos, nasturtium and zinnia flowers. This is a great way to introduce children to the excitement and reward of watching their very own flowers grow. RRP £24.99.