Families Cheshire Issue 49 Sept/Oct 2017

Cheshire In this issue: What to expect from the first month of school How to cope with tantrums A parent’s guide to clubs & classes

Issue 49 Sept/Oct 2017

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News The downside of social media

Researchers from the University of Sheffield have found that children who spend more time on social media feel less happy in most aspects of their lives.

The study found that spending just one hour a day on social networks reduces the chances of a child being completely happy about their life by around 14%.

That was three times higher than the estimated adverse effect of coming from a singleparent household and greater than the negative impact of

playing truant.

Kids who spent more time on social media reported being less happy about school, their appearance and their family, although they did feel happier about their friendships.

Researcher Philip Powell said: “The problem with making comparisons in online media is that people tend to portray themselves in an idealised state. There is evidence that people think other people are happier than them after interacting with them online because we tend to post videos and chat that presents this positive image.”

He also suggested that spending longer on social media could also expose young people to a greater risk of cyber-bullying.

Fidget spinners – a hidden hazard

Fidget spinners aren’t quite old hat yet, and doctors have raised concerns about cheap spinners with LED lights powered by small ‘button’ batteries, where the battery compartment is easily accessible to children. If swallowed, those button batteries may cause serious injuries.

Next issue: November/December 2017 Circulation: 25,000 copies of Families Cheshire are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Cheshire. If you would like free copies for your organisation, please let us know.

Contact details: Families Cheshire, 3 Hall Hill, Bollington SK10 5ED Tel: 01625 801 801 www.familiesonline.co.uk Editorial: editor@familiescheshire.co.uk

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Lithium button batteries can be particularly dangerous as they are larger in diameter than other types and more powerful.

If ingested, they may get lodged in a child’s oesophagus (food pipe) and can cause serious internal burns within hours or even death within days.

The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) encourages all parents to be vigilant. Spinners bought from reputable retailers should comply with safety regulations – with the battery compartment safely secured with a small screw, or needing two independent or simultaneous movements to open it.

But cheap light-up toys bought online or from markets, discount stores or pop-up shops may not comply with safety regulations.

Advertising/artwork: advertising@familiescheshire.co.uk Events, diary dates, what’s on: events@familiescheshire.co.uk Cover Photography: Playground Portraits, 07941 567062 / www.playgroundportraits.co.uk Design: WITH Creative, Congleton. www.withcreative.co.uk Print: Bishops Printers, Walton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 1TR Tel: 023 9233 4900 www.bishops.co.uk

Register for Wear A Hat Day 2018 and start planning!

Wear A Hat Day is the UK’s premier brain tumour research fundraising event, and next year it’s taking place on Thursday 29 March 2018.

March is also UK Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Schools and families across the country get involved to help raise funds for research into brain tumours.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer… yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

Too much salt?

Official guidelines have advised that children aged between 1 and 3 should have no more than 2g of salt per day.

According to new research by Kiddyum (of 2,000 parents of children aged 1-4), a staggering 84% of parents are not aware of how much salt their child should be having.

Meanwhile, 64% of parents also said that they trust food that’s marketed for children to be low in salt, but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Families Cheshire is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Cheshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Cheshire. Every care is taken in

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK that is purely dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours.

Taking part can be as simple as putting on a hat and donating on the day, but most families like to create entertaining fundraising events. Many schools for example have inventive hat competitions, parades and fashion shows and raise hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

On average, organisations raise £250, with small ones £50 and some raising more than £2,000! Whatever target you set yourselves aim to smash it!!

Register now on www.wearahatday.org and start planning your hattastic fundraising event.

More information, event ideas and fundraising tips can be found online: www.wearahatday.org.

The research therefore highlighted the following shocking revelations: A portion of spaghetti hoops with two slices of toast can be 117% of a child’s daily amount of salt!

While out of six prepared savoury meals for children, half of them contained one third of a child’s daily allowance of salt, while one contained 99% of the maximum serving of salt.

Chloe Joyner, a Nutritionist for Kiddyum commented: “It’s really important that young children have a low salt diet and naturally it’s something a lot of parents are concerned about. But it can be tricky for parents to know if a food is high in salt or whether a product contains added salt because sometimes it is hidden in the ingredients, or labels and tables can be misleading.” the preparation of this magazine, but but Families Cheshire, our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

@FamiliesChesMag facebook.com/FamiliesCheshire

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News The joy of bedtime stories

Reading plays a huge part in a child’s development, and bedtime stories are integral to inspiring a lifelong love of reading and learning.

Book People are running their fabulous Bedtime Story Competition again this year, with the theme of “friendship”.

Entries are invited across 3 age categories with the winner in each receiving £250 of books from Book

People for themselves and their schools.

From these three winners, one lucky winner will be chosen to win a publishing contract with Little Tiger who will help them bring their story to life. Illustrator Alison Brown will create stunning artwork to accompany the text, and the book will be published in 2018 and sold exclusively at TheBookPeople.co.uk.

The competition is open to any child aged between 5 and 11, living in the UK and head judge Claudia Winkleman will choose the winners!

For full information, go to www.thebookpeople.co.uk.

Chinese State Circus at Tatton Park

The internationally acclaimed Chinese State Circus brings its spectacular new production “Dynasty” to Tatton Park this September.

It’s unlike any circus you’ve seen before – with 30 worldclass Chinese acrobats, aerial artistes, and jugglers interacting with the superhuman physical skills and dexterity of the masters of martial arts - the legendary

Shaolin Warriors.

There’s nonstop action from start to awesome finale as thrill follows thrill. It’s a show with no gimmicks, no fakes, no retakes, and quite simply incomparable.

With afternoon and evening shows available from Wednesday 27 September until Sunday 1 October, tickets range in price from £10 to £34. Book online at www.chinesestatecircus.com or call 0844 4155228.

Spooktacular and Elfish fun at Stockley!

There’s some fabulous good fun coming up at Stockley Farm!

Spooktacular Fun On The Farm takes place from Friday 20 – Sunday 29 October and promises to be fiendishly good fun for all the family!

• Head in to the haunted house and play ‘trick or treat’ with the Wicked Witch • Take part in the fancy dress competition for your chance to win a prize • Carve your own petrifying pumpkin and let them clear up the mess! (additional charge and only while stocks last) • Cuddle the small pets • Take your place on the Trick or Treat Trail Children up to age 12 can also join in the Evening Spooktaculars on Friday 27, Saturday 28, Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 October from 5 – 7.30pm. These are frighteningly fun, guided 2½ familiesonline.co.uk

hrs experiences round the farm, including a devilishly delicious dinner!

And book your space now for Stockley Farm Park’s Exciting Elf Adventure! 2½ hours of magical fun to get the whole family into the festive spirit! Taking place every weekend from Saturday 2 – Sunday 24 December and evenings from Thursday 21 – Saturday 23 December, each experience includes: • A festive brunch or dinner • Helping the elves perform the panto • Making a Christmas decoration • Visiting Father Christmas in his Grotto and receiving an early gift!

• Meeting the friendly farm animals • Plus much more!

Elf adventures must be pre-booked online, so make sure you don’t miss out! For more info head to www.stockleyfarmpark.co.uk Families Cheshire 3

Education What to expect from your child’s first month at school

By Caroline Roope

Last September, I was one of thousands of parents across the country waving their reception child off at the school gates.

The beginning of the journey started in April with that all important offer. A summer of anticipation followed, with trips to buy school uniform, name writing practice, playing ‘schools’ and making the most of those final flexible days before we were tied into the daily routine of school runs and living a life that revolved around 9am until 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Everything was building up to that point, but I hadn’t really considered beyond that, and how much school life would impact on us as a family. That first month at school left me feeling surprised, bewildered, proud, frustrated, and a whole host of other emotions – and I am in no doubt that my 4-year-old was probably experiencing something similar to me daily.

It helps to be aware of the 4 Families Cheshire

possible challenges of having a new school starter, so that you are best armed to get through that first four weeks together unscathed!

Don’t feel guilty if you experience a sense of relief on that first day Not all mums will be reaching for the tissues at the first drop off. For many mum’s (and this was me) there’s a sense of relief that the hectic toddler years are over and life becomes a bit more structured. Local mum Katie explains “I just felt relieved as my daughter was so ready for school…I could start reclaiming some of my grown-up time and return to work.” Blubbing is not compulsory and no one will judge you if you skip back to your car!

Give after-school activities a miss It may be tempting to extend

the school day with a few stimulating after-school clubs but mum Jenny explains “Rebecca was so tired and grumpy after school in Reception year that she just didn’t have the stamina to do anything after school except sit and watch TV – after school clubs would have been a complete waste of money for us!”. If they’re keen to do more, wait until the spring or summer term when they will be accustomed to the demands of the school day.

Take snacks with you in the afternoon Mum Amy has this tip – “preempt any school run whinging with a snack for the journey home!” You will be amazed how hungry they are when they come out of school (to the point where you question whether the school gave them any lunch…)

YOUR homework will be…

Aaah yes, the class mascot – good old Dingle the Dog. Dingle comes with his own bag, instructions and a ‘diary’ in which YOU will have to write exactly what Dingle has got up to that weekend at your house, and provide photographic evidence. Looking through the diary and seeing Dingle on a skiing trip and at horse-riding lessons will make you cringe as you glue in a picture of Dingle watching TV or playing on the iPad (oh the shame….!)

You will be asked to part with money on a weekly basis keep a spare change pot Dad of two girls, Steve, has this practical tip to share – “you’ll never know when you need a bit of spare change to send in to school – for cake sales, raffle tickets, PTA donations, sponsored spells – it doesn’t have to be loads but it’s useful to have say £5 in spare change that you can dip into at short notice”. Or you could be like me and be looking down the back of the sofa at 8.30am for 50p on mufti-day…..

Buy more uniform that you think you’ll need They will lose some uniform, and they will also come home covered in unidentifiable stains that will see you putting an entire outfit straight in the washing bin after only one wear. “You’ll be amazed by the amount of stuff they come home covered in…” explains Amelia, “…it might be a good idea to pick up some secondhand uniform for spares otherwise it can get really expensive.”

You will never feel prouder… …than when they learn to write their name, read something independently or cross the finish line at sports day – erm… has anyone got a tissue??!

For more information about starting school, visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Education Outstanding education in Alderley Edge

The Ryleys School is an outstanding, caring and nurturing Preparatory School in Alderley Edge for girls and boys aged 2-11 years.

Children are taught by subject specialist teachers right from the start and there are a number of specialist classrooms including a science lab, a woodwork room and a bright and creative art room.

Their superb sporting facilities, including an outdoor heated swimming pool, an Astroturf pitch, 8 football and

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rugby pitches and several flood-lit hockey pitches, also give children an excellent foundation in the sports. Over 50 extra-curricular clubs are also on offer.

100% of their Year 6 children are awarded places at a school of their choice, moving on to the region’s top independent secondary schools including Manchester Grammar School, the Trafford Grammar Schools and Withington School for Girls.

Assisted Places are available for parents who are looking to give their child the very best start in life but may not be able to meet the full fee requirements.

Book a tour and find out more by calling 01625 583241 or emailing reception@ theryleys.com www.theryleys.com

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Education How children learn new things

By Anna Wright

Every parent anticipates and remembers their little one’s first steps. All those baby milestones – rolling, sitting up, waving, crawling, talking – are eagerly aided and encouraged. But what happens when your child gets a little bit older?

“We talk about specific windows for learning some of those early skills, but every age is a window of opportunity for engaging children, showing an interest, exposing them to a wide variety of experiences,” says consultant clinical psychologist Emma Citron, who specialises in children and adolescents. “The approaches might change but children don’t stop needing that input once they reach school age.”

The science bit So what’s going on in there?

Learning any new skill means building connections between brain cells called neural pathways. Like branches on a tree – and fed by the information around them in numerous different ways – more advanced skills stem from the fundamentals already in place. Not everyone learns in the same way, so the neural pathways for mastering the same skills can take different routes, but the more they are used, the stronger they get.

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Similarly, circuits that aren’t used will weaken until eventually they no longer exist.

“Physically, emotionally, socially, in every way the development process is ongoing,” Emma emphasises.

“Even a child of 9 or 10 would potentially need remedial parenting or therapy if for whatever reason they were suddenly not enabled to develop.”

“I don’t want to” The brain circuits for the most critical activities, such as breathing, are already developed at birth. Those for the next wave of core skills – moving, eating and communicating – happen instinctively within roughly the same time frame for all babies because they are at some level essential for survival.

When it comes to later skills, whether it’s swimming, riding a bike, playing chess or singing, there is no inherent drive to learn so the motivation has to come from elsewhere. What that is will depend on each child’s own personality, abilities, confidence and interests, friends and support, access, and understanding of benefits in the longer term.

“You still have a teaching role but it’s more complicated

as children get older. You need to communicate effectively, listen and have mutual trust to find the approach that works for them,” says Emma. “But whatever suits their style of learning, the same basic dos and don’ts apply…”

Create the right environment Remember how involved you were when your baby was trying to balance blocks in a tower or put together their first jigsaw pieces? “A young child needs to be in a caring, stimulated environment, where you are making eye contact, playing, giving your attention and time, and being patient,” Emma points out. The same applies when that child is attempting to master a new skill a few years down the line.

And as parents we learn pretty quickly not to introduce anything new or challenging if it’s nap or feeding time. “That hasn’t changed. If your child has switched off because they’re tired, overloaded, working hard at school all day and being shunted from A to B to C after school, they’re not going to be ripe for learning much of anything.”

Have fun!

Compare your time in the classroom with your children’s now, particularly at primary school, and we all recognise that professional teaching methods have changed dramatically.

“Gone are the days when you’d expect children to just ingest information,” Emma states. “It’s not all a top-down process. We know that most children learn best by being given the resources and space to work things out for themselves, with support there when it is wanted – not by being micromanaged by a so-called tiger parent!

“If it’s all seeming like a chore, something’s gone wrong.

Your primary goal has to be raising well-balanced individuals who want to engage with the world with curiosity and fun.”

Fail together Those neural pathways strengthen with use so practice really does make perfect. As beneficial as passing on your tips for the skills you do have and letting children see what can be achieved, is showing that you’re not afraid to fail – and keep trying – when it’s something you can’t do. Make sure there are activities in the mix that are new to you, too – and if your child is sometimes the faster learner, they will gain confidence from that boost.

Be the best model Children will still learn – whether you want them to or not – by copying you. Of course it’s more subtle than the baby mirroring your actions, and the circle of people they will emulate in some way gets larger as they get older, taking in teachers, friends, public figures and others, but your own influences through your attitude and behaviours remains absolutely pivotal (whatever your independent pre-teen might like you to believe!).

“Do practise what you preach. It’s a very easy thing to say but one that many don’t actually do,” Emma warns.

Don’t say you can’t without trying, don’t fall back on the same automatic excuses, don’t go in with a negative mindset or be overly self-critical, but – most importantly – embrace and share a positive, open-minded, approach to everyday life.

The brain circuits children are forming are powered by everything they are experiencing around them. It is their senses – the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and sensations – and their feelings and emotions that release the neurotransmitters (the chemicals in the brain) to ‘flick the switch’ on their new skills.

“Imbue your children with curiosity and passion by showing the same to them,” Emma says. “Everything else stems from this.”

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Education Exceptional education now easier to reach

The Queen’s School in Chester is introducing new bus routes for families living around Warrington and West Kirby.

From September, three minibuses will pick-up and drop off at West Kirby, Thurstaston, Heswall, Willaston, Puddington, Ledsham and Great Sutton. And a Warrington route will start at Appleton, as well as servicing Frodsham and Helsby.

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The Queen’s School caters for girls aged 4 – 18, boasting excellent academic results and a nurturing yet challenging environment which inspires each individual girl to achieve her full potential.

The Lower School is holding an Open Morning on Saturday 4 November, and for older pupils, the Senior School’s Open Morning will be held on Saturday 14 October and the Sixth Form Open Evening on Thursday 19 October. The school offers bursaries, and entrance exams take place on Monday 15 January 2018.

For more information about the school, please contact Admissions Officer Jane Taylor of 01244 312078 or email admissions@ thequeensschool.co.uk. www.thequeensschool.co.uk

Families Cheshire 7

Education Bring back the good old days What do you remember from your school days? Probably the playground, your best friend, and lots of running and jumping. It might be the 1970’s style curtains in the school hall, or the bench where you sat with your friends at break time.

Two local family photographers are leading a revolution to get school photos that show just that.

When chatting with others at the school gates a few years ago, mums Aurelie and Ellie noticed

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that some parents weren’t enthusiastic about studio-style school photography. Parents said they wanted something showing the nostalgia of childhood. Thus an idea emerged, and Aurelie & Ellie started Playground Portraits – offering a new style of school photography to show the true personality of your child, as you would see them every day at school.

Aurelie and Ellie are two family photographers with successful businesses. They first met in 2015

when Aurelie moved over from Australia to live in Marple.

Meeting in photography forums online Ellie suggested meeting up, never thinking that a new business would come of it!

They don’t use a studio but instead shoot in the school playground, capturing children when relaxed and playing. Portraits are unposed and natural, using the play equipment, benches and parts of the playground that are part of their everyday life.

These small details can be etched in our memories forever and that’s

the nostalgia that parents love.

As we all know, education budgets are being cut and schools are struggling. So as well as offering their new style of photography, Playground Portraits also gives each school’s PTA a profit share to bring a little bonus something for the kids later in the school year.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Playground Portraits, or would like to discuss them coming to your school, email info@playgroundportraits.co.uk or call 07941 567062. www.playgroundportraits.co.uk

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Education High performance for all

By Wendy Berliner

With the children back to school, or just starting school, you could be forgiven for thinking you are handing them over to the professionals and your job is just to make sure they get enough good food, rest and enjoyment so that they flourish in class.

Perhaps you think your teaching job is limited to hearing the little ones read while you make sure the bigger ones do their homework.

But it’s more than that. What parents do at home educationally can make the difference between whether their children succeed at school or not.

The latest research from education and neuroscience proves how malleable the brain is, how learning potential can grow, how IQ isn’t fixed – it can go up if you invest in it, and it can probably go down if you don’t.

The truth is that there is more room at the top of the class than we thought and the vast majority of children could deliver performance at school more commonly associated with the gifted and talented. The key is developing the right learning attributes and attitudes such as curiosity, persistence and hard work. But with children spending as little as 15% of their time in class, life at home with parents familiesonline.co.uk

has to be at the heart of this development.

In our new book Great Minds and How to Grow Them, Professor Deborah Eyre, a lifetime specialist in advanced learning, and myself, an education journalist who has taken a special interest in why some children from similar backgrounds do badly at school whilst others don’t, have looked at the research in detail and come up with guidance any parent can use at home, fitting it seamlessly and easily into normal daily life.

What follows are eight ideas you can use at home. They come from Deborah’s High Performance Learning system which is being introduced in schools in the UK and abroad and is detailed for parents in Great Minds and How to Grow Them. You will be among the first to try them.

How to create a high performing child: 1. Cultivate confidence and resilience – if a child thinks they can, they keep trying. It’s the ones that think they can’t who fall behind – the ones who say ‘I’m rubbish at this’. Don’t sort everything out for them – and

that includes tying their shoelaces as much as it does doing their homework. And model the behaviour – don’t give up too easily on things in your life.

Key words: How could you do this? Have you done anything similar before? What did you do then? ‘I know you can. I know it’s hard to do now but I know you can learn how to do this in time if you work at it.’

2. Develop critical or logical thinking: The ability to deduct, hypothesise, reason and seek evidence is probably the charac¬teristic most associated with academic success.

Keywords: ‘Why do you think. . . (bread goes mouldy, babies cry, leaves fall when autumn comes, people disagree about climate change?)’ ‘I wonder if that happened because of this?’ ‘How could I find out the truth about that?’

3. Encourage them to monitor their progress – very important to the high performer is knowing how they are doing, knowing they are on track with their homework for example, knowing they need to put more effort into improving certain things.

Key words: ‘What do you need to be able to do this?

How can you check you’re on track? How can you tell whether you are doing it right?

4. Encourage open mindedness – being open to new ideas is the hallmark of an advanced learner. Start with being open minded yourself so you model what it’s like to be receptive of ideas that differ from your own.

Keywords: ‘That’s different from us, isn’t that interesting?’

‘I never thought of it like that, but that is such a good approach.’

5. Practice – it’s the only way to get good at something.

Make sure it is regular, deliberate and planned, working towards achievable incremental goals and you practise what you can’t do until you can do it well.

Key words: ‘You are really good at that now, what’s the next step up from (playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on your recorder, writing a story of 100 words/ swimming a width of the pool?)’

Great Minds and How to Grow Them by Wendy Berliner and Deborah Eyre. For a 20% discount and free delivery of the book use webcode: GMGT230 on www.routledge.com Reader offer open till 31 December 2017.

Families Cheshire 9

Parties Fancy a ‘splashing’ pool party?

Why not do something different and celebrate this year’s birthday with a big splash! Brio Leisure offers great value packages and promises to keep everyone

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entertained for hours - making hosting your party a stressfree enjoyable experience!

Each of their 6 pools offer something different to make it truly unique to your celebration.

Why not try out canoeing at Northgate Arena, or take on the huge inflatable assault course in Winsford Lifestyle Centre and Ellesmere Port Sports Village, or race down the flume at Northwich Memorial Court. You can even choose to fuel the fun with their catering options at some centres! www.brioleisure.org/party

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Parties 8 popular kids party themes

There are few things that kids enjoy more than their birthday party, but as a parent, it can be difficult to know how to meet their expectations. Whether you’re trying to think of an original party idea, or are determined to keep up with the Joneses, here are eight popular kids party themes that are great for the little ones (and plenty of fun for you, too!).

Princess A classic for little ones everywhere, the princess themed party is as popular with adults as it is with children. Big dresses, fancy shoes, beautifully quaffed hair, and tiaras. You can really go all out with this theme and get creative: turn a big chair into an elaborate throne, get a red carpet, and don’t forget the royal party favours child-sized clutches and dress-shaped bags make great goody bags! An elaborate princess castle cake is also a must-have for this theme.

Pirates Kids absolutely love a good pirate party to make them go “arghhhh”. Party invitations can be really creative too! Simply

make your own treasure map with “X marks the spot” and a pirate poem for good measure – you’ll even have the parents laughing! Get the little ones to dress up as a pirate or their favourite character from a pirate film; Tinkerbell anyone?!

Superhero Superhero-themed parties are becoming increasingly gender-friendly, with plenty of popular female superheroes evening the odd. Whether it’s Batman or Cat Woman, Superman or Supergirl, Green Lantern or Wonder Woman, Thor or Harley Quinn, there are superheroes galore to choose from. Always popular for fancy dress parties, this is perhaps the easiest choice to go for when picking a theme because there are so many costumes, decorations, and gift options available. You can focus on your child’s favourite superhero, or make it a medley with a bunch of different ones.

Disney A tried and tested classic theme is Disney. There are literally hundreds of Disney characters to choose

from and, much like superheroes, this theme lends itself to either single character or film focus, or an array of all the different Disney darlings. It’s also a great theme to choose for parties with both boys and girls in attendance.

Keep an eye out for good deals when looking for party favours, as there is a lot of unofficial Disney merchandise available that won’t break the bank!

Alice in Wonderland If you’re looking for something a little more unusual, or you have a bookworm to impress, an Alice in Wonderland themed party is guaranteed to please. With so many wonderful characters to dress up as and the lure of a Mad Hatter tea party, the clothes and food attend to themselves.

If you want to go all out, set up a croquet game and get some inflatable flamingos! A prerequisite for this one is a whole lot of unusual fun, and little signs saying ‘Eat Me’ and ‘Drink Me’ on all food and beverages (though you might want to skip the hookahs!).

Witches and Wizards The rise of Harry Potter has popularised witches and wizards to the point that most magical themed parties are now specifically Harry Potter affairs. If you have a Potter-addict on your hands, this is definitely a good way to go, but don’t shy away from this theme if your children aren’t mad about the Potterverse.

There’s great fun to be had with witches and wizards, from

Gandalf to Glinda, and Merlin to Witchfire. Wands, cauldrons, capes, and broomsticks are all must-haves. If you are going down the Harry Potter route, stage your own game of Quidditch - if not, magical duels, broomstick races and, of course, an actual magician will go down a storm!

Cookery Another unusual theme to try out is cookery parties. If your kids enjoy baking, making pizza, or even trying their hand at something a little more complicated, this is for them.

There are plenty of restaurants and cafes that will host children’s parties and teach the kids to cook. If not, you can get them all floppy hats, aprons, and rolling pins, and stage your own Master Chef tournament at home!

Animals While children may disagree on whether superheroes or witches and wizards are best, there are few who don’t enjoy animals.

Animal-themed parties are incredibly simple to do, but so much fun. You can take the kids to an animal park, farm, or the zoo, have them dress up as their favourite animals, or even get a petting zoo to come to your house! Face painting is a great activity with this theme, as there are so many wonderful designs to choose from. Why not try a niche of the theme, like big cats or wolves, and book an experience day at a special nature reserve?

Fabulous parties and toddler riding sessions at My Little Pony Parties My Little Pony Parties is a great way for your children to celebrate their birthdays with their friends. The miniature ponies are very special and so sweet with the children.

Brush and decorate them with bows and ribbons, paint their hooves with glitter, complete an energetic obstacle course (leading the minis) and of course, everybody gets a ride on the fabulous little riding ponies.

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They also offer one to one toddler sessions where mums and little ones can get up close and personal with these beautiful gentle miniature horses. You’ll find your child’s confidence grows in minutes!

Or your child can try a fun, age appropriate riding session through the pastures and a little river, then round a little obstacle course so they learn to steer and get their confidence!

If the weather’s bad, there are indoor facilities for activities and riding games.

Riding costs £20 for half an hour, Toddler sessions are £15 for 30 mins or £20 for the session plus a short ride.

For all activity and party information, call 07832 127 433 or visit www.mylittleponyparties.com

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Parents’ place Header Back to school … back to work?

Waving your kids off at the school gate in their shiny shoes or dropping your little one off at nursery perhaps for the very first time brings mixed emotions.

As a mum, you may yourself be returning to work after having had a career break.

There are many stages in life and in our careers, particularly for women who create a career and then take a break to have a family. Whatever the length of the break, unfortunately many women can face challenges when looking to return to work. Some quickly feel detached and lose their self-confidence. Some are concerned that their skills are now rusty and question their value in the workplace. Some want flexibility so they can enjoy meaningful work whilst being present for their family.

Are you thinking about how you will juggle your career with motherhood? Are you considering

your next career move? Would you benefit from a clear sense of direction, some support and a confidenceboosttomakeithappen?

Don’t forget you will have fine-tuned many relevant skills in your time away from the workplace, such as organisation and multi-tasking. It doesn’t have to be career versus family!

Coaching can help you to prepare your return to work or to find something more fulfilling.

Oriel understands first-hand what it is like to have taken a career break. As a qualified career coach for mums, she can help you to overcome any obstacles you face so that you can confidently move forward and enjoy life, work and play.

To book your FREE 30 minute consultation or just to find out more information, please call 07960 855646 or e-mail oriel@orielcoaching.co.uk. www.orielcoaching.co.uk

Home from Home with Chilly Powder Do you prefer winter or summer in the Alps… or both? Francesca, Paul and their three children live in Morzine in France all year round and have a good knowledge of Alpine traditions and the Morzine people.

Having adapted their chalet holiday style over the years to suit the tastes of their regular guests, they offer the perfect ski and summer holidays for either families, couples or mixed groups in relaxing luxury, with fantastic food and outstanding facilities, with unrivalled in-house childcare facilities. For many returning guests Chilly Powder is considered a real home from home. For more about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter visit www.chillypowder.com 12 Families Cheshire

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Parents’ place Header How to cope with toddler tantrums

When your child is in the middle of a tantrum, it can be very hard to stop yourself from joining in! But there is a solution and ways to prevent them from happening again.

Ignorance is bliss Respond but don’t react. When a child is in a full blown screaming tantrum, there is no way of dragging them back to reality... yet. Ride it out, and when they calm down (they will!) then you can talk. Nothing you say during the tantrum will help - if anything, it will make the situation worse.

Keep calm and breathe Bite your tongue and remain authoritative rather than stressed, which will likely calm

your child quicker. Be patient; children often throw tantrums because they see that as effective communication and know no other ways to communicate. It takes time and practice until they realise it is not!

Distraction A brilliant weapon in the parenting toolbox! Use humour to distract tricky situations, such as silly songs, laughing, or even tickles. Children have a pretty short attention span which proves useful when you need to distract!

Recognise the signs Although we can’t always predict what will cause a tantrum, we can try and avoid it a second time around, or be prepared for heightened emotions such as hunger and tiredness that can lead to a tantrum.

The “calm corner” If your child is having a meltdown at home, create a quiet corner such as the bottom

step of the stairs, or the corner of the hallway. Whilst they are there, don’t give them a lot of attention and make sure they don’t have access to their favourite toys, books, or fun distractions - we don’t need them wanting to return to the calm corner!

Don’t give into ‘I want it all’ style tantrums If your toddler is having a strop because you’re not allowing them to steal a toy off another toddler, or because of the chocolate you refused to give them... don’t give in! If you do, they catch on very quickly that throwing a tantrum means they get their own way! It’s hard to stay strong, but it will be worth it in future.

The limited words tantrum There’s a lot of frustration with trying to communicate but only having a word bank of around 100 words. Help your toddler by trying to guess what they’re experiencing and ask them “are

you sleepy?” or “are you sad because that’s not your toy?”

This gives them a chance to think about their feelings and eventually express them in a different way.

Compromise Your toddler is desperate for a little control over their life, so try and keep the balance by giving them a choice within a choice.

Instead of saying “you need to hold my hand when crossing roads”, say, “would you like to hold mummy’s/daddy’s hand or the pram when crossing the road?” That way they think they’re getting a choice, but you’re still getting the desired outcome.

Praise the good Reinforce and praise good behaviour. Try making a star chart, and if they hit a target of stars in the week, give a reward.

This helps your child realise there is a certain type of behaviour that leads to great results.

For more advice on tantrums, visit www.familiesonline.co.uk

Choose well to get well Did you know that GPs spend around 20 per cent of their time with patients who could have managed their own symptoms or been looked after by other parts of the NHS? Did you know that more than one in 10 people visiting A&E at Macclesfield Hospital are sent home with advice and information only, suggesting they did not need to be there?

For the NHS to work well and for people to get the care they need, it is important that GPs have enough time for patients who are seriously ill or have urgent needs. It is also important that A&E is only used by people with life-threatening injuries or illnesses.

For these reasons, NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group provides information to help people choose the right service at the right time so they get better quickly without putting unnecessary pressure on urgent and emergency care.

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Self-care is the best option for: • coughs, colds and sore throats • upset stomachs • general aches and pains • flu.

Call NHS 111 if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation. You can also call NHS 111 if you’re not sure which NHS service you need.

Think Pharmacy! – Your community pharmacy can: • provide health advice and medicines for various conditions • help you decide what medicines to keep at home to manage common ailments • offer confidential advice on health concerns without an appointment.

NHS 111 is staffed by fully-trained advisers, supported by experienced nurses and paramedics. They will ask you questions to assess your symptoms, then give you the healthcare advice you need or direct you straightaway to the local service that can help you best. There is also an out-of-hours GP service, late-night pharmacies, community nursing and the emergency dentist.

NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk offers Call your local GP practice – lots of great advice on self-care options • when you feel you need to speak to a and gives 24/7 access to expert doctor or nurse about an illness that support. If you visit NHS Choices, take isn’t life threatening a look at the Interactive First Aid kit at • If the surgery’s closed, call NHS 111. www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/990.aspx.

Depending on your symptoms, your NHS 111 advisor might refer you to the GP out-of-hours service.

To contact the emergency dentist, call 0161 476 9651. An advisor will ask you about your symptoms and then refer you for the right treatment.

Call 999 or visit A&E if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. Examples of life-threatening emergencies include: • loss of consciousness • persistent, severe chest pain • breathing difficulties • severe bleeding that cannot be stopped • the person you are calling for is in an acute confused state or has fits that are not stopping.

For lots more information on choosing the right service at the right time, visit www.easterncheshireccg.nhs.uk and select the “Choose Well’” button on the home page.

Families Cheshire 13

Clubs & classes A parent’s guide to clubs and classes Sports for ADHD ADHD can make it difficult for some children to engage in organised activities and team sports. Not all sports are well suited to children with ADHD traits, and not all coaches and supervisors are understanding about the difficulties associated with the condition. There are programs specifically designed for children with ADHD, using sports that are well suited to the different challenges posed by those with the condition. They help them to participate in team sports, making it a fun experience and a great opportunity for exercise, learning, and development.

Clubs and classes are a great way to continue your child’s development, as well as allow them to have fun, get exercise, socialise with others, and take part in activities they might not have the chance to at home. There are a huge range of different clubs and classes on offer, and while they may be better suited for some children than others, all of them are designed to be fun and useful for developing vital skills for your children.

Here are just a few of the clubs and classes on offer, and some of the benefits they can bring. Take a look at the list to find out which ones are best suited for your little one.

Rugby Rugby isn’t just for boys – it’s for

14 Families Cheshire

girls too. Rugby is a great way for children to have fun and get exercise while learning to work and function as part of a team.

Your children can learn a wide variety of skills from the sport, including respect, winning and losing, and working together. All of these come together to make a great, enjoyable experience.

Drama Drama is always hugely popular with children and really helps younger people release their creative thoughts and let their imagination run wild. Always fun and engaging, it’s also a great way to help children develop their own sense of self, confidence and self-esteem – even shy children love taking part. It can also be a great way to develop an interest in other forms of art.

Rainbows / Brownies Joining Rainbows / Brownies is a great way to get your child to experience the outdoors and engage and socialise with others. Studies have shown that scouting organisations help children with their mental health in later life, and with the huge range of activities on offer and great fun ways to learn, you’ll be sure to get your children off to a good start.

Beavers / Cubs Beavers and Cubs are a great way to keep restless young minds and bodies active as they learn about and participate in a huge variety of different activities. As well as learning skills, it’s also a great way to get your child to exercise and work with others.

Trampolining Trampolining is always popular among children, but it’s also a great fun way to get exercise.

Under supervision, and learning different moves on the trampoline, it can be the perfect way to get into gymnastics and other athletics too - as well as being healthy and fun in its own right.

Music Music classes will help your child to develop their artistic talents by exploring how to create music and learning an instrument. As well as the joys of music, it’s also a great way to learn other related abilities – like patience, discipline, and social and physical skills.

Baby and Toddler Physical Sensory Classes Great for very young children, this class allows you to explore a multi-sensory environment with your child, with organised activities in place for you to enjoy as well as the freedom to explore.

In the play area, your child can benefit from physical activity, learn to make friends with others, and have plenty of fun while doing so.

Martial arts Martial arts are a great way to help develop confidence in children, as well as learning values like discipline and patience.

Teaching responsible selfdefence helps to benefit children enormously, and it’s a great and fun way to get exercise too.

Whichever class you choose, all of the above have great benefits for all kinds of children.

As well as being open and beneficial, they’re all designed to be as fun as possible and to get children active and working with each other.

For more information about clubs and classes, visit www.familiesonline.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Clubs & classes Loving music right from the start!

Bursting with live music, blending awesome instruments, groovy new songs and superb classics, Little Notes sessions become 40 magical minutes in your busy week.

With puppets, percussion and other stimuli, music is brought to life for your child. As we move through the topics and special pieces, you will experience a variety of musical styles, with your lead musician and their

beautiful instruments at the heart of every class. Our classes create a nurturing environment for your child, where children experience relaxing to music, taking turns and even tidying away! Music helps develop self-expression and language skills. So, we love to sing our hearts out and respond to a huge variety of music. Our musicians are brilliant at encouraging children to explore music creatively. With Little Notes, children love music right from the start.

Classes in Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Cheadle suitable from Birth to School.

To find out more, contact Sarah: 01625 326623 / macclesfield@littlenotes.co.uk / www.littlenotes.co.uk/ macclesfield

Autumn Cricket Coaching

Cheshire Cricket Board welcomes boys and girls of all abilities aged 7 to 15 to their popular Autumn Coaching Courses at seven different venues across the County. Staffed by professional ECB Level 3 coaches, these courses feature a dynamic blend of skills, drills and indoor matches. An actionpacked five week course not to be missed! Visit www.cheshirecricketboard. co.uk for more details.

And all…that…

Razzamataz!

Looking for new classes that your little ones can get involved in this school year?

Look no further!

Razzamataz Theatre Schools offer exceptional training in dance, drama and singing with exciting opportunities to perform. They believe that every student should have the opportunity to be energetic, gain confidence, make friends and have fun!

Razzamataz Chester has a FREE taster day on Saturday 16 September, so if you’re aged 4 - 18 and want to get involved in performing arts in a funky, fresh and vibrant atmosphere, Razzamataz is the place for you!

They pride themselves on the quality and affordability of their tuition, and offer an amazing 50% sibling discount on your second child or your third child goes free!!

For more info, contact Chloe on 07514 624222, or email chester@razzamataz.co.uk www.chester.razzamataz.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Families Cheshire 15

Clubs & classes Pregancy and Baby Yoga in Macclesfield

Saffron Harrison is a yoga teacher offering Dru Prenatal Yoga classes, preparing your body and mind for the changes it will go through during pregnancy, labour and beyond.

Safe for any stage of pregnancy, classes stretch and strengthen muscles throughout the body including your core muscles and pelvic floor, enhancing the optimal foetal position which can lead to a shorter labour. In addition, they help with common problems during pregnancy such as back ache, and the yoga

postures help to balance hormones and emotions, which help you stay calm and in control.

Relaxation and breathing techniques will help you and your body through labour.

Saffron also holds Baby Yoga classes, which follow on perfectly from the antenatal classes.

You can exercise your baby to improve digestion and sleep, as well as strengthen your baby’s body, improve blood flow, tone muscles, enhance flexibility and stimulate senses.

It’s a great bonding and confidence building session!

Pregnancy Yoga sessions are held on Monday and Tuesday evenings and Baby Yoga classes on Tuesday and Friday mornings. £48 for a 6 week course, and one-to-one sessions are available on request.

01625 432997 / www.saffronsyoga.co.uk

Rugbytots is taking Cheshire by storm!

Rugbytots is an innovative Rugby play programme for children aged two to seven The classes are designed to build Teamwork, Confidence and social skills with the fun, structured play sessions taking children on a journey of sporting imagination, with engaging and energetic coaches supporting them every step of the way. Of course, they also teach the children how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team! Along the way children will encounter shapes, colours and numbers during play.

Their motto is simple; “make it more fun”. They do this by delivering a specifically designed programme for each age group with energy, enthusiasm and excitement. This creates an atmosphere in the class that is totally unique and engaging for parents and children alike.

Classes are age group specific, tailored to 2 - 3½ yrs, 3 - 5 and 5 - 7 year olds.

To find out where all the classes are in your area or to book an introductory session visit www.rugbytots.co.uk, email alick@rugbytots.co.uk or call 0345 313 6720.

Get the learning bug

Learning Bugs offers reading, writing and phonics classes for babies and children aged 0-7 in Northwich, Knutsford and Warrington.

Their programmes have been developed by an experienced primary school teacher, and each class centres on their Learning Bugs characters, stories and rhymes which guide the children through their wonderful journey of learning to read and write.

Each class is activity based and uses messy play, fine and

16 Families Cheshire

gross motor skill activities, music and movement, stories, rhyme, oral blending and segmenting, alliteration and sound recognition to help support your child on their learning journey.

Choose from three classes; Little Writers, Little Phonics Bugs and Phonics Bugs, all of which are tailored to suit the different developmental stages of the early years and through into primary school support.

For more information, call Jade on 07960 459437. www.learningbugs.co.uk

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These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go To include your upcoming event in our listings, email events@familiescheshire.co.uk or upload your event listing to our website - www.familiesonline.co.uk

condition for babies and children up to age 6. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk

Fri 8 Sept

The Old Sunday School, Macclesfield Cartoon Club with Marc Makes Comics 1.30 – 3.30pm / Age 5+ / £5, booking essential. Create your own comic with Marc Jackson! All materials included. yowsa@marcmakescomics.co.uk / www.facebook.com/marcmakescomics

Fri 8 – Sun 10 Sept

Mottram St Andrew The Rum 100 Festival £15 per day, under 12s free Family friendly festival with food, prosecco bar, rum experience, 3 bars, 3 stages and lots for the kids to do.

Including a classical workshop with the residential festival orchestra during the day. Art workshops, fancy dress. Camping tickets available. www.therum100.com

Sat 9 Sept

St Michael’s Church, Chester Chester History & Heritage Open Day 11am – 4pm / Free, drop-in. Visit the medieval St Michael’s Church, which was rebuilt in 1849-51 by Chester architect James Harrison. Features include the 15th-century carved oak chancel ceiling and Victorian stained glass. Family and local history service, and local history exhibitions include a ‘Then & Now’ look at Northgate Street. Brass rubbings available. www.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk Sandbach Town Centre Sandbach Day of Dance 10.30am – 3pm / Free. Traditional Morris Dancing with teams from around the country. Try it out yourself at St Mary’s Church 11.30am – 12.15pm and 1.30 – 2.15pm. Refreshments throughout the day in the church hall.

Chester Fire Station Open Day 11am – 4pm www.cheshirefire.gov.uk

Sat 9 & Sun 10 Sept

Harbutt’s Field, Middlewich Roman Festival 11am – 5pm / Free. Activities and re-enactment , hosted by Legio VIII Augusta MGV Roman Living History Society. www.middlewich.org.uk Murgatroyd’s Brine Pump CW10 0JG Open Day 1 – 4pm / Free. Explore the story of salt from the Iron Age to the Industrial Revolution. www.middlewich.org.uk

Sun 10 Sept

Sun 10 Sept & Sun 15 Oct Hazel Grove High School SK7 5JA Mum2mum market 2.30 – 4.30pm / £2 entry, children free Top quality, pre-loved goods in great condition for babies and children up to age 6. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk

Fri 15 – Sun 17 Sept

Chester Zoo Wildlife Connections Festival Free entry to festival, normal admission applies. Fabulous fun to celebrate our incredible local wildlife with plenty of amazing activities for you to get involved in. Make clay hedgehogs, bird feeders and bug homes that you can take home to help wildlife in your own garden. Take part in the Bee Bonanza game or see if you can make it round the Hedgehog Maze before taking a well-deserved rest in our chill-out zone. www.chesterzoo.org

Sat 16 Sept

Cremorne Gardens, Ellesmere Merefest 11am – late / Adult £3, Child 2, Family £8 Live bands, food, farmers market, craft stalls, plenty of family friendly outdoor activities. www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/ merefest Upton by Chester Pavilion Fun Day 12 – 4pm. An afternoon of fun and games for the community with plenty of entertainment for kids and parents.

Heaton Park, Manchester The Gauntlet Games and Event Festival An hilarious and fun interactive obstacle course. Race 5k or 10k through Gladiator zones to succeed! Get your family and friends to join you afterwards at the free event Family Festival that includes a Kids Zone. www.thegauntletgames.co.uk

Sat 16 & Sun 17 Sept

Tatton Park, Knutsford Harvest Festival at the Farm 12 – 5pm / Normal entry applies. See the steam engine running, have a go at scarecrow making and spinning.

Make your own corn doll, sheep racing and woodturning demos. Harvest Blessing at 2pm with Preston Brook brass band - bring your own pets to be blessed. 01625 374400 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Senior Citizen Hall, Macclesfield SK11 6UR Mum2mum market 2.30 – 4.30pm / £2 entry, children free. Top quality, pre-loved goods in great condition for babies and children up to age 6. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk Chester Racecourse Chester Comic Con 11am (Early Bird tickets from 10am) /All ages / £10.50 (Early Bird), £8.50 (11am), age 8 & under go free with adult ticket.

Guest talks, signings & photos, Traders, Artist sketches and signings, Cosplay competition, loads of entertainment, Star Wars spectacular, Jedi School, Fairground, Retro Gaming Arcade, Star Cars and more! Under 13s must be accompanied. www.chestercomiccon.co.uk Wilmslow Leisure Centre Cheshire Children’s Market 10 – 11.30am / £1 entry, children free Grab yourself a bargain with tables full of gently used baby and children goodies, while also visiting local baby & children businesses. Table hire starts at £15 (prebooking essential), and sellers get to keep 100% of their proceeds. If you like, you can donate any unsold goods to the Children’s Society at the end of the sale. www.facebook.com/ cheshirechildrensmarket Tegg’s Nose Country Park Dog Behaviour Clinic with Vic Barlow, the Dogfather 12am – 12.30pm / Free, booking essential A short outdoor behaviour class, showing how to transfer good obedience work into the real world as well as essential techniques for dealing with livestock encountered during walks in the countryside. Option of a short paid (£10) ‘one to one’ session after. 01625 374833 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Rossmill, Hale Barns Wild Food Walkabout 2 – 3.30pm / Age 6+ (accompanied) / £4 (under 16s free), booking essential Look for fruits, seeds and flowers that can be found easily in the garden or in the countryside. 01625 374790 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers CheadleHulmeMethodistChurchSK87AL Mum2mum market 1.30 – 3.30pm / £2 entry, children free Top quality, pre-loved goods in great condition for babies and children up to age 6. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk

Thurs 28 Sept – Mon 9 Oct

Albert Square, Manchester Manchester Food & Drink Festival The UK’s largest urban food and drink festival – with the hub in Albert Square, but events across the city. www.foodanddrinkfestival.com

Sat 30 Sept

Congleton Fire Station Open Day 11am – 3pm www.cheshirefire.gov.uk

Sat 30 Sept – Sun 1 Oct

Event City, Manchester The Family Pet Show 9.30am – 5pm. The only indoor Pet Show where you can actually bring your pet! With zones for all types of pets and four arenas where you can watch, learn, play and even have a go. www.thefamilypetshow.co.uk Kenyon Hall Farm, Warrington Craft & Fun Fair 10am – 4pm. Artisan craft, vintage and food stalls, hog roast, funfair, donkey rides, and other fun family activities. www.kenyonhall.co.uk

Sat 30 Sept – Sun 7 Jan 2018

Event City, Manchester Dinosaurs in the wild Climb aboard the time machine to see and feel what it was really like to be there, in the late cretaceous, 67 million years ago. A unique, immersive live adventure that combines theatre, theme park fun and the very latest scientific research. www.dinosaursinthewild.com

Sun 1 Oct

The Birdcage, Manchester Animal Fantastical 2 – 4.30pm, booking highly recommended Family fun for the post-rave generation of parents – brought to you by Big Fish, Little Fish. Multi-sensory dancefloor with glitter cannons, bubbles, giant balloons and parachute dance finale. Craft tables, play area with tents and tunnels and baby chillout space, free transfer tattoos and glowsticks, licensed bar, face painting, cakes and sweet treats stall. www.bigfishlittlefishevents.co.uk

Tues 3 Oct

Astbury Mere Country Park, Congleton Pram Fit Taster Class 10 – 11am / Free, booking essential. A fantastic way to get back in shape after the birth of your child, with personal trainer Kelly Morley. 07803 245590 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

The Acacia Suite, Willaston CW5 7ER Mum2mum market 2 – 4pm / £2 entry, children free. Top quality, pre-loved goods in great condition for babies and children up to age 6. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk

NT Yard, Alderley Edge Down the Mines!

7 – 9.30pm / Age 6+ / £7.50, booking essential. Join Derbyshire Caving Club for a trip down the old copper mines of Alderley Edge. 01625 374833 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Fri 22 – Sun 24 Sept

Wed 27 Sept – Sun 1 Oct

Bramall Hall Family Tour £3 (under 5s free), plus normal admission Take a fun tour of Bramall Hall to find out all about the lives of the people who used to live there. There will be plenty of opportunities to get ‘hands on’ as you go around the Hall. Limited places. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Sun 17 Sept & Sun 15 Oct

The Wonder Inn, Manchester Happy Sunnydaze Family Festival 2 – 4.30pm / all ages A fun afternoon of family delights with music and messy fun. www.ourkids.social

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Sun 24 Sept

Arley Hall, Northwich The Great British Food Festival 10am – 4pm / Adult £7, Child (5-16) £5, under 5s free. 80 artisan stalls as well as tasty hot food vendors, chefs demonstrations and live music. Admission includes entry to the gardens at Arley with upgrades to visit the Hall. www.arleyhallandgardens.com

Tegg’s Nose Country Park Come and Try It Day 10am – 4pm / All ages / £18, booking essential. Join Moorland Adventure, to try Climbing, Abseiling (age 8+), Archery and Orienteering. 01625 573615 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Birchwood Leisure, Warrington WA3 7PQ Mum2mum market 11am – 1pm / £2 entry, children free Top quality, pre-loved goods in great

What’s on

Event City, Manchester The Baby & Toddler Show 10am – 4pm Fri, 10am – 5pm Sat & Sun The UK’s biggest baby and toddler show with all the amazing shopping and expert advice new and expectant parents need to give their baby the best start! www.babyandtoddlershow.co.uk

Tatton Park, Knutsford Chinese State Circus 30 world-class Chinese acrobats, aerial artistes, and jugglers interact with the super-human physical skills and dexterity of the masters of martial arts - the legendary Shaolin Warriors. www.chinesestatecircus.com

Wed 4 Oct & Wed 1 Nov

Families Cheshire 17

What’s on Fri 6 Oct

Bramall Hall Dragon Club 10am – 12pm / Ages 2 – 5 / £7, booking essential. An exciting developmental discovery session with stories, play and exploration, linked to Bramall Hall and Park. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Sat 7 Oct

Bramall Hall Early Birds for Families with Autism 10 – 11.30am / Free, booking essential An opportunity to explore the Hall before general opening times. Enjoy family trails and activities. 0161 474 2020 / www.stockport.gov.uk King’s School, Macclesfield Whole School Open Day 10am - 1pm. Meet staff and pupils, have your questions answered, see the facilities and hear from the Headmaster and Principals. No booking required. Cumberland Street site (SK10 1DA) for the Senior Boys’ Division and Sixth Form, or Fence Avenue site (SK10 1LS) for the Infants & Juniors or Senior Girls’ Division.

01625 260000 / www.kingsmac.co.uk

Sat 7 & Sun 8 Oct

Beeston Castle Autumn Fair 11am – 4pm. Falconry displays, music, foraging, local craftsmen, wildlife groups, and a dog show, as well as a chance to explore the castle’s 4,000 year history and 40 acres of woodland park. www.english-heritage.org.uk East Lancashire Railway, Bury Day out with Thomas™ 9.45am – 3.45pm, booking essential Ride on Thomas, Meet The Fat Controller and friends, Performances

by Rusty and Dusty, Sodor’s cheeky station sweepers, unlimited travel on Steam and Diesel trains, Thomas Themed Activities in the Imagination Station, Re-enactments of classic Thomas stories, Magic Shows, Circus Workshops and Face Painting. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Sun 8 Oct

Tatton Park, Knutsford Apple Day Gardens 10am-6pm; Farm 12pm-5pm / Normal entry applies. A scrumptious Sunday at the Farm and in the

Gardens to celebrate the wonderful apple. Games and children’s activities.

01625 374400 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Thurs 12 Oct

Bramall Hall Bramall Babies – Sensory Stories 11.30am – 12.15pm / £6 (2 free accompanying adults), booking essential. A sensory story and play session. Listen to tales of Billy the Bear, Dottie the Dizzy Dragon or hear a surprise story! Suitable for babies not yet walking 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Sat 14 Oct

Tegg’s Nose Country Park Fungal Foray 1 – 3pm / All ages / £4 (under 16s free), booking essential. A short 3.5km (2 mile) stroll around the park to discover the fascinating species of fungi that grow in the park with local experts from the North West Fungus Group.

Please note this walk is not intended to be a fungal forage and no species can be collected for consumption.

01625 374833/ www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Memorial Court, Northwich Northwich Comic Con 10am – 4pm. Get your geek on with a world of family fun from TV, Movies and Comics. Displays, photo opportunities, stalls, guest signings and talks. www.facebook.com/ northwichcomiccon

Tues 17 & Wed 25 Oct

Tatton Park, Knutsford Autumn Deer Walk 4 – 6pm / Age 8+ / £10, booking essential. Join the Rangers for guided walks of the autumn parkland and witness the drama of the rut.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Fri 20 – Sat 28 Oct

Bramall Hall The Witch’s Potion Trail 1 – 4pm / Ages 3 – 12 / £1 per child, normal admission applies for adults Toe of Bat, Pixie Wings, Dragons Blood and smelly things all mixed up but some forgotten… Help the witch find the ingredients for her malodorous mixture. If successful you might receive one of her terrifying treats! www.stockport.gov.uk

Fri 20 – Sun 29 Oct

Stockley Farm Park Spooktacular Fun On The Farm Normal opening times and prices apply. Haunted house, play ‘trick or treat’ with the Wicked Witch, fancy dress competition, pumpkin carving (additional charge), Trick or Treat trail as well as normal farm activities. www.stockleyfarm.co.uk

Sat 21 – Sun 29 Oct

Tatton Park, Knutsford A Hidden Halloween Normal opening times and admission applies. Secret Hauntings at the Old Hall, “I Spy”…. In the Mansion, Mystery Maze at the Farm and Spooks in the Secret Garden. 01625 374400 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sat 21 – Tues 31 Oct

Chester Zoo The Enchantment of Chester Zoo Free event, normal entry applies Full of adventure, acrobatics, music and discovery. And you’ll learn lots about some of your favourite animals along the way. It’s a perfect half term treat with a sprinkle Halloween sorcery. Lovingly created by Wild Rumpus and most suitable for families with children aged 3+ but enjoyable for all. www.chesterzoo.org

Sat 21 Oct – Fri 5 Nov

Tegg’s Nose Country Park Halloween Trail 9am – 5pm / all ages / 50p. Some spooky visitors are visiting the park this half-term! Can you explore the park and find them all? Buy a map from the Tegg’s Nose Tea Room for 50p, and get searching around the top of the park. Each map entitles you to 50p discount off one hot drink from Tegg’s Nose Tea Room when you’ve finished. 01625 374833 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve Halloween Trail 9am – 4pm / All ages / Free. Some spooky visitors are visiting the Nature Reserve this half-term! Pick up a map from the visitor centre and get searching for them around the park. 01477 534115 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Blakemere Village, Northwich Zombie Pirate Treasure Trail 10am – 5pm / £2 per trail Follow the spook trail to discover the hidden items left there by the zombie pirates many years ago. Activity prize for each trail completed. 01606 883261 / www.blakemerevillage.com Beeston Castle Autumn Adventures 11am – 4pm. Set out on an autumn adventure to find your inspiration from the scarecrows hidden throughout Beeston’s 40 acre woodland park, before getting creative by making your own. www.english-heritage.org.uk

Mon 23 Oct

Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve Woodland Wizards 10am – 12pm / Ages 5 – 10 (accompanied) / £6.50 per child, booking essential. Setout on a woodland quest with Nature Stuff.

Look for Dragon footprints and Dragon eggs and help make magic potions and a giant fire breathing dragon! Booking and payment in advance is essential.

07870804413 / www.naturestuff.co.uk

18 Families Cheshire

Tues 24 Oct

Bramall Hall Patterns and Printing 1 – 4pm / All ages / £3, drop in. Be inspired by the patterns and shapes in the Hall and sketch a design to create a press print to take home. Places are limited. www.stockport.gov.uk

Tues 24 & Wed 25 Oct

Tegg’s Nose Country Park Tales of Terror - The Festival of Fear 7 – 9pm / Age 8+ (accompanied) / £10pp (£35 for family of 4), booking essential. A family night of phantom fun with ghoulish games, ghastly goings on and a torchlight walk in the park. The night will end with a hot drink and a spooky snack...if you survive that long. Dress to impress for the Creepy Catwalk (Trophy for best fancy dress). 07870804413 / www.naturestuff.co.uk NT Yard, Alderley Edge Spooky Trip Down the Mines!!!

7 – 9.30pm / Age 6+ (accompanied) / £7.50, booking essential. Join Derbyshire Caving Club for a Halloween tour of underground Alderley Edge and hear some of the stories of real people who lived worked and DIED there.

01625 374833 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Wed 25 Oct

Pool Dale National Trust Car Park, Bickerton SY14 8LN Bickerton Hill from Ice Age to Iron Age 2 – 4.30pm / Age 7+ (accompanied) / Adult £5, Under 16’s £3, booking essential. A guided walk with a difference. Examine replica artefacts and find out what sort of clothing a Palaeolithic hunter- gatherer might have worn. 01270 686071 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Thurs 26 Oct

Riverside Park Ranger Centre, Macclesfield Autumn Activities 1 – 3pm / Aged 5 – 10 (accompanied) / £4 per child, booking essential. A hands-on workshop to make Autumn and Halloween themed crafts with natural materials. 01625 374790 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Bramall Hall Screen Printing Workshop 10am – 12pm & 1 – 4pm / Age 8+ / £5 (includes bag), booking essential. Use the Hall for inspiration and create a cool design to screen print onto a cloth bag. www.stockport.gov.uk

Thurs 26 – Sat 28 Oct

East Lancashire Railway, Bury Halloween Ghost Trains & Creepy Craft Workshops.

Free museum entry, craft workshops £1. Calling all goblins and ghouls, are you brave enough to take a ride on the East Lancashire Railway’s Halloween Ghost Trains? Climb on board alongside hilarious haunters, madcap monsters and giggling ghosts on this spectrally spook-tacular steam train ride! Make your own monster or magic up a creepy mask at the workshop before hopping on board your spook-filled steam train. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go To include your upcoming event in our listings, email events@familiescheshire.co.uk or upload your event listing to our website - www.familiesonline.co.uk

Thurs 26 Oct & 2 Nov

Sun 29 Oct

Fri 27 Oct

Mon 30 & Tues 31 Oct

Fri 27, Sat 28, Mon 30 & Tues 31 Oct

Thurs 2 Nov

Jodrell Bank Family Stargazing Night 6.30 – ­ 9.30pm / £8. Learn how to navigate the skies and locate the stars using a variety of tools from planispheres to telescopes. A series of short talks and demonstrations throughout the evening and an opportunity to view the moon in close detail. www.jodrellbank.net Bramall Hall Stained Glass Window Workshop 1 – 2pm & 3 – 4pm / Age 5+ / £3, drop in Look at the coloured glass in the windows in the Hall then make one of your own designs using coloured plastic and card.

Places limited. www.stockport.gov.uk

Stockley Farm Park Evening Spooktacular 5 – 7.30pm / Age 12 & under / £11.95 A frighteningly fun, guided 2½ hrs experiences round the farm, including a devilishly delicious dinner! www.stockleyfarm.co.uk

Sat 28 Oct

Wythenshawe Cricket & Sports Club Halloween Family Fright Night!

6pm / Free entry. Disco, Pumpkin Trail Of Terror, Prize for best costume.

Scary Food Available from the bar. www.pitchero.com/clubs/wythenshawecc Haydock Park Racecourse Glow In The Park The ultimate night time neon 5km fun event for families. www.glowinthepark.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

What’s on

Riverside Park Ranger Centre, Macclesfield Halloween Happenings 5.30 – 7pm / Ages 6 – 10 / £4 per child, booking essential. Bring pumpkin, knife and nightlight to craft a lantern for a spooky walk down the Park. Spooky dress optional. 01625 374790 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers St Mary’s Creative Space, Chester Chester Wizard School 1 – 2.30pm & 4 – 5.30pm / Age 6+ Join Professor Listworth and his team to learn spells, make potions, practice duelling and meet some magical creatures in this spellbindingly immersive experience. chesterwizardschool@gmail.com King’s School, Macclesfield Infant & Junior Taster Afternoon 1.15pm. Children can join classes from Y1 - Y6 and experience learning on a normal school day, and parents can tour the site and speak to staff about the curriculum and all opportunities on offer.

01625 260000 / www.kingsmac.co.uk

Sat 4 & Sun 5 Nov

Tatton Park, Knutsford Christmas Gift Fair 10.30am – 5pm / Normal admission applies, free entry to fair Gifts for all the family and ideas for presents not usually found in high street shops.

01530 834056 / www.countrywide-events.co.uk

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