Little Tigers Free digital magazine for parents, grandparents and carers in Cheshire and South Manchester
ONLINE KIDS
ACTIVITIES DOWNLOAD FREE
COLOURINGS
HELP, SUPPORT & THE HEALING POWER OF TREES
FESTIVE EVENTS (SOCIALLY DISTANCED) ISSUE 78 • FREE • CHRISTMAS 2020
“the business of childhood is best conducted in the outdoors�
Children are practical learners, responding best to practical experiences. Doing is learning - the Montessori way. MEAB Accredited
) 01625 860660 8 www.alderleydaynursery.com Alderley Day Nursery, Congleton Road, Nether Alderley, SK10 4TD www.facebook.com/alderleydaynursery www.instagram.com/alderleydaynursery/
Christmas 2020
Contents
Pages 5 — 11
Page 15
Page 17
Page 4: Editor’s Letter Pages 5 — 11: Festive Events (Socially Distanced) Some places are running socially distanced, covid secure events for families. Including outdoor walking trails illuminated with bright lights and Santa waving from afar, and smaller than usual Christmas markets. Pages 12, 14 & 16: Colouring Pages If you download this issue of Little Tigers (it’s free) you can print off three Christmas themed colouring pages for children. Page 13: The Healing Power of Trees In these weird and troubled times, connecting with nature can be soothing. Page 15: Online Boredom Busters for Children Click on the links and go straight to our pick of websites with excellent online resources to help keep children entertained over the holidays. Page 17: Are You Struggling? Sometimes we all need a little help. If you are struggling in this toughest of years, there are people out there waiting to listen and support you.
CLICK ON A LINK AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE WEBSITE
Editor’s Letter Dear Reader, This year has been difficult for many of us, for lots of different reasons. Being at home is likely to be the main focus for most families this Christmas, although we have found some (mainly outdoor) family-friendly seasonal events, and listed them on these pages. You can download this issue of the magazine until mid-January, so we have included three Christmas colourings that you can print and give to your children to keep them occupied, for a short time at least. Thank you for reading Little Tigers. I wish you and your family and friends the best of health, happiness, healing and hope in 2021. Alison Stodolnic Editor
WELCOME Little Tigers was founded in 2001. It is a free digital magazine for parents, carers and grandparents of children aged 0–12 in Cheshire and South Manchester. We strive to be helpful, positive, supportive, inclusive, authentic and friendly. Our aim is to give information and ideas to our readers, and support charities, social enterprises, community groups, family-friendly places and arts organisations. EDITORIAL Editorial by Alison Stodolnic. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed information, advertising and images for this issue. CONTACT Editor: Alison Stodolnic Email: editor@littletigers.co.uk Telephone: 07392 33 85 86
ONLINE Website: www.littletigers.co.uk E-Reader: www.issuu.com/littletigersmag Facebook: www.facebook.com/littletigersmag
© Little Tigers Magazine 2020. Nothing may be reproduced without permission. We try our best to be accurate but accept no liability for any errors or omissions.
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FESTIVE EVENTS (SOCIALLY DISTANCED) There are a few festive events this year for families, with social distancing and other covid safety measures in place. Please check the websites or social media pages before setting out, as details can change. Some events require you to pre-book your tickets (and a few are already selling out fast). Stay safe. LIGHTOPIA FESTIVAL Until 10 January Outdoor interactive and immersive lantern festival, with light installations and laser water-show. There are also refreshments available in the food court. Heaton Park, Manchester www.lightopiafestival.com TREACLE MARKET 5, 12, 19 & 20 December Temporarily renamed Tiny Treacle, there will be four smaller Christmas markets this year instead of one big one, with a good crop of food, vintage and craft stalls. Most of the vendors also sell their goods online on the Treacle website. Market Place, Macclesfield www.treaclemarket.co.uk SLEEPING BEAUTY 24 December – 10 January A single act Christmas pantomime, one of the few live theatre events going ahead this year. Socially distanced seating for households or bubbles of two to six people. There is a ‘relaxed’ performance on 6 January (where sound and light levels are lower), ideal for children or their accompanying adult with an autism spectrum condition or learning disability, or families with very young children. Opera House Manchester www.atgtickets.com
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FESTIVE EVENTS (SOCIALLY DISTANCED) CONTINUED ... MAGICAL WOODLAND AT CHRISTMAS Until 31 December An outdoor walking experience through a 15-acre woodland, with a festive Christmas themed sound and light show – hot drinks and refreshments are available. Cheshire Outdoors, Blakemere Village www.magicalwoodland.com/christmas DRIVE-THRU CHRISTMAS Until 31 December A drive through winter wonderland – stay in your car and see Santa, reindeers and elves, Christmas trees and decorations. Oldham Road, Manchester www.drive-thruchristmas.co.uk CHRISTMAS AT DUNHAM MASSEY Until 10 January Stunning brightly lit outdoor Christmas trail of lights, baubles and stars, with classic Christmas music playing as you marvel at the spectacle. There is a Peter Rabbit adventure activity trail for kids too. Dunham Massey, Altrincham www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey THE LANTERNS AT CHESTER ZOO The zoo is transformed into a dramatic winter wonderland, with bright lanterns, costumed characters and Christmas scenes. See website for full details. Chester Zoo www.chesterzoo.org A COUNTRY HOUSE CHRISTMAS Fridays to Tuesdays until 5 January A selection of Christmas themed rooms, with a Peter Rabbit themed winter activity trail for children until 10 January. Lyme Park, Disley, Stockport www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme
FESTIVE EVENTS CONTINUED ... MANCHESTER MINI MARKETS Piccadilly Gardens daily until 23 December St Ann’s Square 9 – 13 & 16 – 20 Dec Independent makers and market traders will be setting up their stalls in smaller numbers (on rotation) in Manchester city centre, in a scaled down version of the usual Christmas markets. Open 10.30am to 7pm, featuring food, gifts and crafts. Manchester City Centre HOLLY’S FESTIVE FEAST Until 3 January An outdoor family Christmas trail through the gardens at Tatton Park, solving puzzles. Tatton Park, Knutsford www.tattonpark.org.uk ANDERTON BOAT LIFT Weekends until 20 December Free Christmas celebrations. Post a letter to Santa, play Christmas bingo as you explore the grounds, decorate the tree with a Christmas wish. Craft sessions in outdoor pods (pre-book), refreshments. Anderton Boat Lift, Northwich CHRISTMAS CRACKER TRAIL 14 – 20 December Spot the 9 Christmas Cracker stickers in some of Knutsford’s shop windows. Post your competition entry form at designated drop-off points in town. Knutsford WINTER WONDERLAND WALK OF LIGHT Until 4 January Festive woodland wonderland of decorations and lights fundraising for Broad Oak Primary School, with activity sheets. Suggested donation £1. Stenner Woods, Didsbury www.broadoak.manchester.sch.uk/news QUARRY BANK CHRISTMAS TRAIL 12 – 13, 19 – 20 & 21 – 23 December Festive trail through the grounds, eat a gingerbread man, post a letter to Santa. Peter Rabbit winter activity trail with characters, clues and puzzles. Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, Wilmslow www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank
THE HEALING POWER OF TREES Trees heal us in a medicinal sense – many common pharmaceutical products come from tree bark and leaves – but increasingly people are recognising that they can help us psychologically too. Being in a green space and reconnecting with nature can be deeply soothing in these weird and troubled times. It can help us to breathe more deeply, think more clearly, feel less stressed. In Japan shinrin-yoku means forest bathing – the practice of walking amongst trees, smelling them, touching them, sitting down and leaning against them, feeling a sense of their age and wisdom. Japanese scientists say that forest bathing can help to lower our heart rates and blood pressure, as well as boost our immune systems and feelings of wellbeing. Science aside, simply going out for a woodland walk can give us a little time and space to think through our feelings, regain some perspective on our troubles, and help us feel calmer. In the Tatton Park garden there is even an outdoor area dedicated to forest bathing, the Pinetum, where you can sit and marvel at the towering pine trees overhead. As well as going for a walk, there are other ways to become more connected with nature. Perhaps you can join a community garden group in the spring, or volunteer for a conservation project? Plant a few seeds and start planning for your garden or window box when springtime comes around.
ONLINE BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS Hugs and huge sympathy to all you parents and carers who have been trying to keep your kids entertained and absorbed at home since March. Here are few website suggestions that might come in handy over the Christmas holidays. SESAME STREET This magical brand has been delivering love and educational entertainment to children for over 50 years. Dig into the website to find videos, activities and all sort of fun goodies to download. www.sesamestreet.org NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS Calling all adventurers and animal lovers! The National Geographic website dedicated to kids is bursting with games, information and competitions, and in the ‘primary resources’ section there are free activity packs to download. www.natgeokids.com COSMIC KIDS YOGA AND MINDFULNESS Cosmic Kids offers yoga and mindfulness videos for children, helping them with their physical and mental health. There’s a free two-week trial on offer. www.cosmickids.com SEVEN EPISODES OF HUMBUG Wrongsemble and Waterside Arts Centre present festive entertainment sessions for young children, to be viewed online at home. A £10 family ticket gives you access to all seven episodes until 31 December, with a ‘fact file’ posted to your home. www.watersidearts.org/whats-on/2889-humbug BBC CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS RECIPES The BBC good food Christmas For Kids Recipes section has plenty of ideas to whet the appetite and mess up the kitchen, from Christmas truffles to marshmallow snowmen. Okay the chances of getting them to look this beautiful are slim – but it’s the taking part that counts.
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/christmas-kids-recipes
ARE YOU STRUGGLING? HELP AND SUPPORT 2020 has been an incredibly tough year for most parents, carers, teachers and grandparents of young children. Here are a few ideas for staying connected, keeping calm, asking for mental health help and getting through to the other side.
HELPLINES There is a PARENTS HELPLINE (which you can access by phone, webchat or email) on Young Minds, if you are a parent in need of help. www.youngminds.org.uk If you need help or support, you can call THE SAMARITANS free any time of the day or night on 116 123. www.samaritans.org There is a free and confidential helpline and webchat on CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), which is mainly focused on mental health and preventing male suicide. www.thecalmzone.net MIND is an excellent mental health charity, with lots of resources and information about getting support. www.mind.org.uk
TALK TO YOUR GP There are therapies and medications available on the NHS. As well as oneto-one counselling services (which are in high demand), there are some online mental health programmes that you might find helpful. Talk to your GP and ask for help.
LISTEN AND CONNECT If you’re feeling isolated, lonely and disconnected, listening to people talking on the radio can be a great comfort. The BBC SOUNDS app is a treasure trove of talk shows in a range of genres including life stories, drama, documentaries, wellbeing, gardening and history. You can search by musical genre too. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds The two leading meditation apps HEADSPACE and CALM can help you reduce your stress and anxiety levels – the more you practice your meditation, the easier it gets. www.headspace.com www.calm.com Spotify has loads of PODCASTS and there are a bunch of free podcast apps available too. TED TALKS on YouTube are superb. The unscripted storytelling performances on THE MOTH are entertaining and inspiring. www.themoth.org
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