Families Cheshire Issue 51 Jan-Feb 2018

Cheshire

In this issue: Making maths fun!

Winter clubs & classes A safer digital world

Issue 51 Jan/Feb 2018

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News Geronimo Festival - the hottest ticket in every kid’s calendar

This ultimate kids’ festival, and a must-go event, is delighted to be returning in May 2018 to Arley Hall and Gardens in Cheshire. Referred to as ‘Glastonbury for kids’, the likes of Justin Fletcher, Mr Bloom and Cook and Line have all headlined the main stage in the past.

Don’t miss out on early bird tickets on sale now! Geronimo loves savvy festival goers, so book early before the price increase and take advantage of early bird discounts with a huge saving on the gate price! All Early Bird tickets are eligible for FREE funfair wristbands which give you 5 free rides with a 1 day ticket, 10 free rides with a 2 day

ticket and unlimited rides for the 4 day tickets!

Geronimo has everything your family needs with a jam-packed schedule of performances from the country’s best children’s entertainers, 2 circuses, zip lines, a full-scale showground arena with activities including jousting tournaments and motorcycle stunt displays, a Victorian funfair and much more!

Camping and glamping is available at Arley Hall so why not make it a mini-vacation!

There’s even a magnificent spa including a free crèche/ kids club for spa users.

Tickets are available NOW via the only official ticket partner www.ticketline.com (all under 2’s, carers and senior citizens go free). www.geronimofest.com

Spin a Tale during National Storytelling Week The first week of February marks National Storytelling Week, a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world. We are all immersed in stories — from conversations retelling events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs to be a good speaker and listener first. But above all, storytelling is fun.

Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary.

National Storytelling Week takes place in storytelling clubs, theatres, museums, schools, hospitals, spoken word venues, and care homes.

The Society for Storytelling has lots of information as “the home of UK oral storytelling” and offers free packs for schools to download. To find a local event or to look through its extensive archive visit www.sfs.org.uk

Next issue: March/April 2018

Advertising/artwork: advertising@familiescheshire.co.uk

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 Editors: Jayne Keep & Caryl Hall Editorial: editor@familiescheshire.co.uk 2 Families Cheshire

Events, diary dates, what’s on: events@familiescheshire.co.uk Cover Photography: www.depositphotos.com 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

A fabulous day out for all the family

Discover the BIGGEST choice anywhere in the North at The Caravan & Motorhome Show held at Manchester’s EventCity from 18 – 21 January 2018.

With over 200 exhibitors including leading manufacturers, the region’s premier dealerships and more launches than ever before, The Caravan & Motorhome Show is not to be missed! With so many products on offer it’s the perfect opportunity to compare layouts, interiors and specifications and to take advantage of some superb show-only discounts.

Plus, with the biggest ever selection of accessories, you can kit yourself out with all the essentials.

In a world-first, kids will have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a tow car

and caravan and have a go for themselves! Peg Perego have handbuilt three incredible mini caravans, based on the Swift Basecamp, so kids aged from 3-10 can take a spin around the track and manoeuvre their caravan, just like mum and dad!

There’s also free manoeuvring tuition for grownups as well as expert cooks and TV personalities on the Food & Travel stage, including Wildlife TV Presenter Steve Leonard and TV Presenter Monty Halls, who will be preparing their favourite delicacies for you to enjoy while sharing stories from their holiday adventures.

The Caravan & Motorhome Show is a great value day out for the whole family with FREE car parking, FREE entry for under 16’s, FREE show guide and FREE entry to the co-located event, Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show!

Book your discounted tickets by 9pm on 17 January for only £8.00 (£9.95 on the door) by visiting www.CaravanShows.com or call 0844 873 7349 and quote BT1.

Best ever trampolining results for King’s!

The King’s School in Macclesfield is now widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading schools for trampoline excellence, with an amazing 59 young athletes from Year 1 through to the Lower Sixth taking part in the recent North West Regional finals.

A total of 16 teams King’s teams entered with 13 of those teams qualifying for the North of Britain Championships, alongside 14 individuals. Young star Charlie Burrows-Jarvis, just

five years old, was the youngest child to take part in the competition since it started over 50 years ago, with his team coming first.

Eight teams won their categories and five came second, all qualifying to represent King’s in the North of Britain Championships in February. Coach Rachael Burrows is exceptionally proud of the team’s exemplary behaviour and phenomenal results. Well done to all!

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

the preparation of this magazine, but but Families Cheshire, its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and LCMB Ltd 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 Lack of sleep damaging for children

More than a third of primary school children are failing to get sufficient sleep, according to new research.

The study has linked poor sleep with difficulties in paying attention in class, keeping up with school work, forgetfulness and absenteeism.

The research, carried out by the University of Leeds has shown that despite the NHS recommendation of 10 hours, 36 per cent of primary age children get eight hours of sleep or less

per night. Even more worryingly, 15 per cent get less than seven hours.

The researchers found links between poor sleep and children having access to mobile phones or computer devices in their bedrooms. They said parents should consider removing technology from their children’s bedrooms. The researchers further claim that where parents are able to encourage children to not have technology in the bedroom at all, sleep outcomes are much better.

Other factors contributing to poor sleep were poor parental sleep patterns and lack of routine.

More information on the study can be found at www.leeds.ac.uk

MaccFest returns for 2018

After the success of the first festival in 2017, MaccFest has confirmed it’s returning to MRUFC on 21 July 2018.

It’s a great day out for all the family with live music, kids’ stages, funfairs, dance tents and more.

Acts confirmed so far are Happy Mondays, Shola Ama, The Virginmarys & Manchester Ska

Give yourself a boost!

Start the New Year as you mean to go on, feel fit and fabulous all year round by

getting two months FREE on an Annual Membership at Brio!

Give yourself the boost you need after a busy Christmas of buying for everyone else, treat yourself to a year of a happier, healthier you.

Those New Year’s resolutions won’t sort themselves out! www.brioleisure.org

We’re looking for media sales people to join the Families northern editions sales team.

If you have a strong sales background and are looking for part time, flexible work from your own home, then get in touch! Experience of media sales is ideal, but not essential.

For more info, call Jayne on 07960 274739 or email jayne@familiescheshire.co.uk

Family and toddler group for children with additional needs

The Russett School in Weaverham, Northwich hosts a Family & Toddler Group on Tuesdays for children aged 6 months – 3 years with additional needs.

There are 2 sessions: 9.30 – 11.30am and 1 – 2.30pm.

Specialist staff ensure lots of fun, concentrating on communication skills through speech and

language structured activities, and also team up with others, such as Jo Jingles, Baby Yoga and Rhythm Time for taster sessions.

And keep a look out for their one off special sessions that happen throughout the year, including some messy play and sensory play.

You can find out more by following them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/the russettschool, calling them on 01606 853005 orvisiting the website www.therussettlearningtrust.co.uk.

They’re looking forward to seeing you!

Foundation, and early bird tickets are now available from Macclesfield Visitor Information Centre, as well as online at www.macclesfieldfestival.co.uk.

You can also follow them on facebook to make sure you’re one of the first to hear about new acts as they’re announced. www.facebook.com/macfest

ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY?!

WIN a new Freedome Toddler Party and bounce into 2018!

Freedome Trampoline Park, situated next to Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, has just launched their brand new toddler party packages for pocket sized bouncers and is giving you the chance to win an exclusive party for 10, worth over £100!

The ultimate venue to throw your party, Freedome’s new Tots Party Package is available to book on weekdays between 9am and 1pm during term time. The package, which has been specially designed for children aged two to five, includes 60 minutes jump time, a t-shirt for the birthday boy or girl,

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a choice of mini hotdogs or scrumptious sandwiches and a family return pass so the fun can continue long after the party ends.

Your exclusive toddler party package will also include a dedicated planner exclusive for each event and a VIP host who will be on hand at times during the party to cater to everyone’s needs. Unlimited fruit flavoured squash or slush and water will also be provided for all children in the party, as well as jump socks.

For your chance to win a Freedome Toddler Party for 10 people, just send your telephone number and the answer to the question alongside in an email to

caryl@familiescheshire.co.uk with the word BOUNCE as the subject: What time do Freedome Toddler Parties take place? a) 10am – 2pm b) 9am – 1pm c) 1pm – 5pm For more info, visit www.freedomeparks. com or www.facebook.com/ freedomeparks. Good luck!

Families Cheshire 3

Education Making maths fun

By Kjartan Poskitt

I always say that maths is like broccoli. You either like it or hate it, but you have to have some because it’s good for you. Now I’ll tell you a secret. I do not like broccoli, but I do find it helps to have a bit of brown sauce on it! Similarly, maths becomes more exciting when it’s spiced up a little.

The Table Attack Game cards face-up. Players must Try to play this game multiply the numbers on the with your children regularly cards together, and the first in short bursts of about 10 person to shout the right answer minutes. You need two or more wins a point. Make sure you are people and a pack of playing cards. multiplying and not adding! (So, if you Remove the jacks, queens and kings see 5 and 1, the answer is five not six.) from the pack and put them back in Now make it more exciting! the box. Now take the aces, twos, fives Without looking, pick a couple of the and tens from the pack, and just one power cards and slip them in with the joker. The aces count as one and the joker others, then play again. Once you’ve got counts as zero. Put the other cards aside used to the extra cards, keep adding a for a moment. We’ll call these the few more power cards until you have power cards. all the cards in play.

Shuffle the 17 normal cards This is a fabulous, quick fire then put the pack face down. way to get your children Two players each take to firm up on their a card from the top times tables. without looking and then together they turn their Throw three dice, but don’t let anyone else see how they land. Tell everybody what the three numbers add to, and also what they multiply to make. Who can work out the numbers on the dice?

So, for example, if the three dice add to 9 and multiply to make 12, what are the three numbers?

Answer: 1, 2, 6.

It’s important that your children are comfortable enough with simple sums that they don’t have to rely on a calculator – that’s like using arm bands for swimming! If they can develop an instinct for numbers, simple sums become much easier. The secret is to spend some time playing around with numbers and getting to know them.

Here are a few little facts, games and tricks to share with your children to help them see that numbers have quirky behaviours and make fun patterns.

I hope some of these things help.

And just to make you feel better, while you’re practising your numbers, I’m going to go off and eat some broccoli!

The Dice Challenge

Trick 2 Trick 3

Trick 1

If you write out the digits 1 2 3 4, you can turn them into 12 = 3 x 4. You can also do this with 5 6 7 8 because 56 = 7 x 8.

The numbers in the 3 times table have a special trick, because if you add the digits together, the answer will always divide by 3. For instance 8 x 3 =24, and 2 + 4 = 6 which divides by 3. You can use this to test if any number divides by 3. Let’s test 71865. 7+1+8+6+5 = 27 which divides by 3, so 71865 also divides by 3.

Pick any three consecutive numbers (e.g. 4, 5, 6).

Multiply the smallest by the biggest, and then add one. (So here we get 4 x 6 =24, then 24 + 1 = 25). The answer is always the same as the middle number squared … i.e. times by itself. (Here we get 5 x 5 = 25 YAY!) This works with any three consecutive numbers, so let’s try 7, 8, 9.

7 x 9 = 63, then 63 + 1= 64 and that’s the same as 8 x 8!

Trick 4

Prime numbers are numbers which will only divide by themselves and 1.

For example, 7 is a prime number because nothing else divides into it; 8 is not a prime number because 4 x 2 = 8.

Place seven playing cards in a pile face down with the bottom card as a joker.

Choose a magic number less than 7. (Let’s say you choose 4). One by one slide a card off the top and put it back on the bottom. When you get to the 4th card, turn it face up and then put it to the bottom of the pack.

Keep doing this, turning every 4th card face up. The last card to be turned over will be the joker! Try this trick again picking a different magic number – e.g. 5. It will always work! What’s more you can have any prime number of cards, so try the trick with 5, 11, 13 or even 17 cards! The magic number can be any number smaller than the number of cards.

Kjartan Poskitt is author of the series of books Murderous Maths, published by Scholastic. He is also the Ambassador for the National Young Mathematicians’ Awards, the only team maths competition for primary schools in the country, run by Explore Learning in collaboration with the NRICH project at the University of Cambridge.

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Education Ofsted survey reveals communication a concern

In a 2017 Ofsted survey, over 300,000 parents completed a questionnaire about their child’s schooling.

The responses showed that the most significant concerns that parents had were about receiving valuable information from the school about a child’s progress (15% felt that they did not).

Communication between parent and school continued to be an issue, as 14% of parents did not feel that the

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school responded well when they raised a concern.

Furthermore, 14% of parents felt the homework their children received was not appropriate for their age, and 13% did not feel that their child’s school was well managed.

The survey was conducted

by Parent View, an online questionnaire that allows parents and carers to give their views about their child’s school at any time. It is also the main mechanism for parents to give their views about their child’s school to inspectors at the time of a school inspection.

The questionnaire can be accessed directly from the Parent View site at parentview.ofsted.gov.uk and further analysis of this and other Ofsted reports visit theknowledgeacademy.com

Maths tops popularity poll for children the fact that maths is also the subject that children admit to finding the most challenging, followed by English and geography.

New research has shown that when it comes to children’s favourite subject it’s a numbers game as maths comes out on top.

A survey carried by the extra tuition provider, Explore Learning has found that maths was the most enjoyed subject of four to 14 year olds (26%) followed by PE (20%) and art (16%). This was despite

More highlights of the survey include: • The next generation may signal the end of the gender divide as seven in ten (69%) of children think boys and girls are equally good at maths • Nearly two thirds (61%) think a job in maths would be exciting!

• 90% think being good at maths will help you get a better paid job in the future To inspire your aspiring mathematician there are great ideas on how to make maths fun and engage young maths minds at www.murderousmaths.co.uk

Families Cheshire 5

Clubs & classes Winter clubs and classes

With the nights closing in and the temperature dropping, the idea of sending your child out on to the football pitch, tennis court or athletics track is not an attractive one. But active after school activities offer children great developmental benefits including:

Improved academic performance Research has found that children from disadvantaged backgrounds who participate in after-school clubs get better results at age 11 than their peers.

Enhanced socialisation skills Making friends with children from outside their school allows children to broaden their social experience, whilst extra-curricular activities at school give children the chance to enjoy a different type of social experience with their school friends and other children in their class.

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Better health and fitness According to the National Association of Sport and Physical Education, kids aged 5-12 should exercise for at least 60 minutes of each day, and this figure shouldn’t be ignored just because it’s cold outside.

Stress relief Exercise helps to relieve stress built up by homework, exams and peer pressures.

As parents, we are responsible for setting up opportunities for our children to keep active during winter months. So here are our ideas for keeping your restless young one on the go – and the good news is you don’t have to force them (or you!) outside: Trampoline clubs and parks These are popping up all over the country and classes are fun and social. The UK now has over 190 trampoline parks and most offer kids a safe environment to cut loose as well lessons and classes for children from as young as toddlers upwards.

Indoor rock climbing This activity is also growing in popularity across the country with a centre likely to be very close to you. Even the NHS recommends it as an activity

that provides unique physical and mental benefits whilst at the same time catering for all ages, fitness levels and abilities.

Girl guides and scouting Scouting and Girl Guides are experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity. Why? Because they offer an antidote to the modern world with adventure being at the heart of everything they do. From as young as 6, children can get involved in learning outdoor skills and undertaking leadership qualifications, as well as enjoying camps and residential experiences.

However, waiting lists can be long so act quickly! To register interest visit www.girlguiding.org.uk or www.scouts.org.uk

Ice rinks/snow slopes Local snow slopes and ice rinks are great places to get kids active during the winter and offer kids the opportunity to try tobogganing, skiing or snowboarding, or get a pair of skates on. There are indoor and outdoor rinks and centres, depending on how you feel about braving the cold or damp weather.

Indoor sports You can access indoor classes for most outdoors sports such as football, cricket and tennis at leisure centres or school recreation halls. Likewise for toddlers and pre-schoolers, multi-sport and ball skills classes are often run inside during winter.

How many is too much?

Whilst clubs and classes are important for children, be careful how many activities you sign your child up for. Some require significant time commitment. For example, joining a swimming class can involve two or more weekly training sessions, as well as competitions. Are you and your child up for that? What else will suffer or be sacrificed? If your child’s opportunity to have unstructured time for play will go by the wayside, then this is probably not a good thing. Children these days have much more structured lives than ever before and already often have less unstructured play time than previous generations. Research indicates that unstructured play with minimal adult supervision helps children to learn important social skills, use their imagination, concentrate and be more self-directed.

Fresh air If you do opt for indoor class and club options for your child during winter, try to get them some regular fresh air at weekends when time and weather permit.

Consider heading to the countryside or a beach (even at the darkest time of year), where you can breathe different air and be closer to nature. You don’t have to organise a full itinerary and it doesn’t have to cost much either. Simple games like running races on a beach or climbing a tree can be exhilarating for children after a week cooped up at school, and being outside is both refreshing and invigorating for everyone and will improve everyone’s mood!

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Clubs & classes Places now available at Minerva Youth Theatre If your child’s New Year’s Resolution is to start a drama class, then Chesterbased charity Minerva Arts has places available in its youth theatres.

Each group performs at least two public shows per year and works with a range of scripted projects and those devised by the young people themselves, meaning that each project is entirely unique.

Minerva is all about providing young people with access to the cutting edge of performance

and art, because they believe that young people deserve the best. Their Youth Theatres develop high quality performance work that has the young people at the centre building self-esteem, creative expression and transferable skills along the way.

Minerva Youth Theatre runs three groups: Chester Seniors (for ages 11 and above), Chester 711 (for 7 – 11 year olds) and there is a group in Malpas (for 8 – 13 year olds).

For more information call Hollie on 07787 747870 or email youththeatre@ minervaarts.com www.minervaarts.com

Stagecoach: Creative courage for life Stagecoach Theatre Arts School has been running for over 25 years and is the most popular and well established part time theatre arts school in Chester! Besides their main school they also do lots of other exciting things… …They provide the children’s cast for Bill Kenwright professional productions in the North-West such as ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’, ‘Evita’, ‘Scrooge’, ‘Whistle Down The Wind’ and many more! They have just confirmed that their students will be appearing in EVITA and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat again

next year. They also have their own agency which enables many of their students to work professionally on stage and screen!

Every child that attends Stagecoach Chester is special, whether they are there to tread the boards or to build their confidence. Stagecoach has capped class sizes to ensure that every child receives enough individual attention by their exceptional, experienced and professionally trained staff.

Stagecoach Chester teaches skills for life and not just for the stage!

Call them now to book your place!

01244 316187 / www.stagecoach.co.uk/chester

Summer Holiday Performing Arts Workshops Action packed and fun filled with a fully costumed show on the last day! For more details please visit:

01244 316187 www.stagecoach.co.uk/chester

And Other Excerpts By Roald Dahl

7-18 Years Kumon study helps children of any age and any ability to shine. We aim to give our students the tools they need to enjoy learning. Our programmes establish strong foundations in maths and English, helping your child to feel confident enough to tackle challenging work. Call Sarah at the Kumon Nantwich Study Centre on 01270 780810 or email Nantwich@ KumonCentre.co.uk to find out about our two-week FREE TRIAL running during February, and book your child’s place.

30 July - 3 August 2018

7-18 Years 6-10 August OR 13-17 August 2018

IRCUS 4 ½ -7 Years 6-10 August OR 13-17 August 2018

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Families Cheshire 7

Parties Header Good Party Etiquette?

Is there such a thing?

By Andrew Campbell

Whether you are throwing a party for your child or sending them off to their friend’s birthday celebration, finding your way around the do’s and don’ts of children’s birthday parties has become akin to navigating a war zone. Here we tackle a few of the thorny issues that seem to crop up every year.

Who gets invited?

Your child has already been to three parties this year where the entire class was invited.

But the thought of 30 small people bouncing off walls makes you break out in sweat.

Remember “entire class” parties are your choice – you don’t have to give them just to keep other parents happy. The reality is that children WILL be happy with a small gathering so long as it feels special to them. Give invites to just their best friends and family and you’ll find the whole experience a whole lot easier.

Be subtle about invitations Who is and isn’t invited to a party is guaranteed to cause playground ructions, so be tactful. Unless you’re inviting the whole class, don’t start handing invitations out as the kids are lining up to go into school; you may end up being called in by the teacher who spent the first class consoling those not on the list.

Be sure to RSVP Planning a children’s party is stressful enough without having to chase people who haven’t replied. Replying promptly will earn you lots of gold stars with the party child’s parents, so just do it. And whatever you do, do NOT turn up on the day without RSVPing.

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Check before you take siblings Don’t assume no one will mind if a younger or older sibling tags along. When the entertainer has a strict limit on numbers and the party parents have worked out exactly how many fairy cakes they need, added extras can cause a real headache. So make sure you check beforehand.

Presents definitely required As adults we may think that when it comes to parties, presence is better than presents.

But as far as kids are concerned, it’s all about the gifts. Yes, we know the birthday girl doesn’t NEED another cheap and nasty Disney figurine that’ll last about 10 minutes, but turn up emptyhanded at your peril.

Party bags – really?

All kids love to leave events with mementoes but if you really don’t fancy party bags, then why not have a piñata instead? Buy some cute but cheap paper bags, and then the children can stuff them with whatever they grabbed from the piñata themselves.

Give a contact number Before you hotfoot it out of the door, make sure the party host has your contact number. If your child starts throwing up over their playmates and you’re incommunicado then you can bet they won’t be invited next year. And if you’re the host, make sure you get phone details from all parents or you may be stuck with overwrought Olivia for a LOT longer than you bargained for.

Thank-you notes?

This is obviously a personal choice but it’s a nice thing to do with your child once the chaos of their birthday has faded. Taking some quiet time to remember what gifts your child received and who came to the party can be a really fun activity and assures your child doesn’t take the whole experience for granted. familiesonline.co.uk

Parties Hiring a venue for your child’s party

By Andrew Campbell

There are obvious disadvantages to hosting your child’s birthday party at your home. Breakages and damage, cramped play or entertainment space, space for limited number of guests, inadequate toilet facilities – all these things can make hiring a venue an attractive proposition, despite the additional cost.

Ifyou’re not holding your party at an all inclusive venue, here are some things to consider: Venues can be in demand. Start checking availability at least four months in advance.

What is the venue’s capacity?

Make sure it’s able to accommodate all your child’s friends and, if appropriate, their parents too. Venues have different capacities depending on whether guests will be seated or standing, or both. Take into account the space needed for any entertainment. A bouncy castle, for example, will

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take up loads of space.

How child-friendly is your venue?

Are there lots of steps for young children (and grandparents!) to manage? Can you keep children in the designated party area or is the rest of the venue easily accessible?

Is there space for all the activities? If you’re having an entertainer, think about where the children will sit and how much space that will take up. If you’re having a disco you’ll need to give the children plenty of space to dance, far away from all the food and tables!

How much is the deposit? And what is the cancellation policy?

You never know if a last minute illness could strike!

What’s included in the hire price? Most venues have table and chairs included in the hire price but it’s important to check.

What are the kitchen facilities like? Is there space to prepare/ lay out food? Are cups provided for tea and coffee. Paper plates? What do you need to supply yourselves?

Will the venue allow you to hire a DJ or entertainment?

Can you decorate the room?

Some venues prefer you not to hang decorations, or have certain restrictions.

What time can you get in to set up? Make sure you are clear on what time you will be allowed to access the venue

and let your entertainers know.

You also need to know what time you’ll need to finish up and work out whether this gives you enough time to clear up.

Is there sufficient/safe parking or drop off and collection facilities?

When you do book a venue, make sure you get a contact name and confirm the details, preferably in writing. The last thing you want is a double booking on party day!

Families Cheshire 9

Parents’ place Ensuring your child is happy at nursery

By Kristen Harding

The process of introducing a child to a new, caring environment can throw up a number of challenges. However, some can be prevented if your child’s nursery gets to know upfront what both you and your child need and want from the childcare arrangement.

Before a child arrives at a new nursery, nursery staff should take time to fully understand your child’s home routine. In

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this way, potential issues can also be nipped in the bud early.

Settling In This is a key part of the adjustment process. A change in environment can upset a child and parents are generally stressed and worried when their child is unsettled. For this reason, it’s vital that your chosen nursery takes time to help your child gently settle in.

Communication between your

child’s nursery and yourself is very important at this stage.

You need to develop a trusting relationship with the staff and settle into the new arrangement just as much as your child does.

In fact, it’s often parents that have most difficulty leaving a child behind in a new setting!

However, communicating regularly and in as much detail as you need with the nursery setting can help ease your nervousness and worry. In turn, any insecurity your child is feeling will also lessen.

Separation Anxiety Regardless of the time taken beforehand, separation anxiety is a natural and sometimes unavoidable part of leaving a child at a nursery. Generally, separation anxiety lessens over time but you can help by ensuring that nursery staff understand as much as possible about your child’s individual needs, how they behave when they are sad, anxious or upset and what helps calm them. This will ensure that your child’s nursery cares for your child in the very best way during this difficult period.

Often the anxiety of a child lessens when his nursery assigns a key worker to him. By identifying one particular carer who is going to form a strong bond and connection with your child, he will have the stability of knowing there is an individual there that he can rely on.

Eating Meal times at nursery are important and can have a real impact on the confidence and comfort of a young child. What your child is used to at home may differ greatly from what occurs in the nursery setting, whether it’s the food eaten or the way in which meals are consumed.

When you visit your child’s nursery, try to do so at meal time occasionally. In a good setting, you will see nursery staff leading by example, engaging children with different food choices, helping them to learn about what they are eating and introducing new foods gradually. Meal times at nursery, as at home, should be unpressurised and enjoyable.

Potty Training This is another key milestone in your child’s development and reaching it may throw up stumbling blocks! Again, it is important to remember that each child is different and so will begin to learn at a different point and progress at a different speed from other children. A good nursery will ensure there’s no feeling of peer pressure between parents or children! Don’t start potty training as your child is starting nursery. When you do decide to begin, ensure it’s not at a time of change or a stressful period at home. Share training methods with your child’s nursery to ensure consistency of approach.

For instance, do you want nursery staff to ask your child if he would like to go or do you want them to sit him on the potty at specific times of day?

Sleep It is important that home and nursery work together over nap times, as the needs of individual children differ. When a child starts at a nursery, the nursery should follow the child’s home routine before adapting it slowly to suit the nursery pattern. It’s then helpful if you try to prevent your child taking extra naps, as his routine is likely to be disrupted. If your child struggles to sleep at the nursery, a toy or blanket from home can provide comfort and help them drift off.

Whilst challenges are bound to arise during your child’s time at nursery, most particularly at the beginning, these can generally be dealt with as long as there is good communication between you and your child’s setting.

Kristen Harding is a childcare expert at Tinies Childcare UK. For more information, visit www.tinies.com

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Parents’ place Make a New Year’s resolution to do something amazing with your spare time…volunteer for Home-Start!

Just a couple of hours each week can make a massive difference to a family experiencing difficulties such as postnatal illness, a child’s disability, family breakdown, isolation, bereavement and multiple births. As one of the UKs leading family charities, Home-Start trains volunteers, usually parents themselves, to lend this crucial support.

This might be in the form of an extra pair of hands, a companion to support parents

to leave the house with their children, encouragement to attend activities, or emotional support to help parents cope with the challenges of raising children. Time and time again, this friendship, practical and emotional support has helped families get back on track just when they’ve needed it.

And it’s not only the families that benefit: volunteering can help you to make new friends, improve your self-confidence, personal and social skills and enhance your CV.

If you’ve got parenting experience, a caring and friendly personality and have an interest in working with young families (age 5yrs and under) please get in touch – HomeStart would love to hear from you.

Home-Start covers Alderley Edge, Alsager, Chester, Congleton, Crewe, Handforth, Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Middlewich, Nantwich, Northwich, Poynton, Prestbury, Sandbach, Wilmslow, Winsford and surrounding areas.

Their next two volunteer preparation courses are: Macclesfield every Friday from 2 February 2018 to 16 March 2018, 9.30am to 2.30pm (with a break for half-term on Friday 23 February).

Winsford every Thursday from 25 January 2018 to 8 March 2018, 9.30am to 2.30pm (with a break for half-term on Thursday 22 February).

Mums want more flexible Could you be part of the working opportunities Families family?

According to a survey by Workingmums.co.uk, almost three quarters of working mums identify flexible work as being crucial to getting more women into senior roles.

The survey shows that mums feel flexible working is vital for them to manage work and family life and that 60% of those who work flexibly would like even more flexibility.

So, what can individuals do to help persuade their employers to agree to them working flexibly?

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Here are some tips: • Think through what the job requires and whether the tasks you have to perform can be done at a different location i.e. from home, or at times outside of the standard working day. Take account of any additional costs or challenges this might involve and discuss them honestly.

• Give examples of the ways in which your work can be successfully carried out under any new working pattern you are proposing, and show that it will not harm the business. Point out any business advantages.

• Research some case studies, ideally in your sector that shows how the work pattern you are suggesting can be mutually beneficial to you and your employer.

• If managers are dubious, suggest a trial period.

• Have a compromise solution as a back-up.

For more information and flexible work opportunities, visit www.workingmums.co.uk

Do you want to work flexibly from home, creating the ideal work/life/parenting mix? Fancy having the opportunity to review family friendly children’s shows, activities and events?

A Families franchise is stimulating and rewarding; the opportunity to build a business asset which is saleable in future. You receive business support, full training and all the benefits of marketing a brandleading publication. Franchises are available in the North of England – so get in touch – and spread the word far and wide!

We’re also looking for media sales people to join the northern edition sales team. So, if you’re not interested in owning your own business, but have a strong sales background and still fancy being part of the team, working flexibly part time from home, then we want to hear from you too! Call Jayne on 07960 274739 or email jayne@familiescheshire.co.uk to find out more!

Families Cheshire 11

Parents’ place Making the digital world safer for our children

By Carolyn Bunting, CEO of Internet Matters

Late last year was marked by a landmark moment.

Internet safety reached the top of the news agenda when the Government outlined its plans to make Britain the “safest place to be online.”

Following the rapid development of the “open and free” digital world, the Culture Secretary, Karen Bradley revealed that although she felt the internet was a huge force for good, “it has also caused undeniable suffering and can be an especially harmful place for children and vulnerable people. Behaviour that is unacceptable in real life must also be unacceptable on a computer screen.”

Among the Government’s forthcoming measures will be: • A voluntary levy on internet companies, such as Google and Facebook, to be used to target issues such as cyberbullying, online abuse and children being exposed to pornography on the internet.

• A social media code of practice intended to boost efforts to remove or address bullying, intimidating or humiliating online content.

• An annual internet safety transparency report undertaken by social media 12 Families Cheshire

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organisations which would show progress on addressing abusive and harmful content and conduct.

Supporting tech and digital startups to build internet safety into their products from the beginning.

New compulsory school subjects to provide online safety education.

Encouraging social media companies to offer safety advice and tools to parents and build safety messages into online platforms.

Streamlining and targeting education and advice on online safety for parents in the same way that other risks, like road safety, are tackled starting from when children are born.

Urging organisations that are collecting data from children and young people to publish how they intend to use it, so that children can understand where exactly their information is going and how it is intended to be used.

A new requirement that privacy notices setting out how an organisation plans to use personal data it collects are written in a clear, plain way that is understandable, even to a child.

The Government intends to target new parents at NCT courses, Sure Start Centres, nurseries, pharmacies and via Facebook itself. This should mean that there is less reason for parents to fear technology and they should feel more comfortable in allowing their children to use it to explore, communicate and learn.

It also intends that digital literacy should form part of the lessons in which children have traditionally learned about sex and relationships, and not part of IT classes.

The aim here is to encourage children to recognise internet safety as a social issue; it’s part of life and it’s part of growing up.

Although all of the measures are voluntary, the Government has not ruled out legislating if companies refuse to take part.

For further information about topical issues affecting parents and children in the digital world and how to keep your children safe online, visit www.internetmatters.org

Five steps to ensure your child is staying safe online Ask your child what they are doing online. It’s important you understand what websites, apps, and social media platforms they are using.

Check their privacy settings.

Make sure they know how to make their profiles ‘private’ so they are not sharing personal information to strangers.

Facebook has a Privacy Healthcheck feature.

Make sure they know when and how to report and block any malicious or inappropriate messages or posts.

Check your parental controls on your home broadband and safety filters that block inappropriate content across any devices.

Talk to your children about the risks they may be exposed to and how to deal with them, such as cyberbullying and grooming, and ensure they feel able to raise with you anything they see which is upsetting.

For more information and step-by-step guidance, visit internetmatters.org

Shocking statistics about infant colic revealed

A survey conducted on behalf of Infacol, surveyed over 4,000 parents about the effectiveness of simethicone in treating infant colic. Simeticone drops, such as Infacol can be added to breast or bottle milk to aid digestion and release any bubbles of trapped air in the baby’s digestive system.

The survey found that the vast majority of parents (63%) diagnosed infant colic themselves by associating the typical

symptoms like squirming and excessive crying (more than 3 hours a day). Almost all of the respondents (93.2%) considered the use of simethicone oral suspension either totally resolved or had an impact on the signs of infant colic. And a further 81.2% reported an improvement in the baby’s sleeping patterns during the course of the treatment and an improvement in their own sleeping patterns and stress levels. Infant colic affects 1 in 5 babies in the UK, yet 1 in 3 new mums admit that they don’t know what it is.

The NHS urges concerned parents to speak to a GP or pharmacist before trying Simethicone drops. Support groups, such as Cry-sis, can also offer help and advice on 0845 122 8669 from 9am-10pm, seven days a week. familiesonline.co.uk

Parents’ place A gift of presence

For many people, mindfulness is unknown. So, what is mindfulness? What benefits does it bring? What impact can it have on family life?

The Mindful Living Show will be coming to Manchester, on 2nd - 3rd February 2018, to give you answers to these questions and offer learnings on parenting, encouraging your children to flourish, their mental wellbeing and education.

With exclusive content for both beginners and experienced practitioners, the unique event looks at how mindfulness can benefit every aspect of your life, health and wellbeing through live practice, study,

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fun and relaxation. The all-inclusive ticket price will give you access to over 70 expert talks across a huge variety of themes, in a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere. The event also offers a range of creative and physical arts and meditative practices, plus a range of relaxing and uplifting products and services.

This unique show will allow you to meet others in this community, pick up tips from the experts or simply be introduced totheartandscience of mindfulness and meditation. To find out more information about our features and speakers, please visit www.mindfullivingshow.com

Families Cheshire 13

What’s on Daily in Jan & Feb

Speke Hall, Merseyside Wildlife and Wellies The Hall is wrapped up for winter but there’s still plenty to explore at Speke!

Whether you’re 6 or 60, Pop on your wellies, pick up a Wildlife and Wellies activity booklet and start exploring the outdoors. The booklet will guide you around the grounds and help you spot wellies, explore the woods and discover nature over the winter months. It’s ideal for little legs! With a hedge maze, two play areas, the fantastic Childe of Hale play trail and acres of woodland and gardens to explore, it’s the perfect place to let off some steam. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ speke-hall-garden-and-estate

Saturdays in Jan & Feb The Lowry, Salford Lookout, it’s Saturday Playhouse 11am / Ages 5 – 11 / Free. A weekly art activity for children and their families in the dedicated Lookout space.

Something different each week.

0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

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

Tues 8 Jan & Fri 9 Feb

Bramall Hall, Stockport Sensory stories 11.30am – 12.15pm / £6 per child (max 2 adults free). An exciting story and play session for babies who are not yet walking. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Tues 9 Jan, 23 Jan & 6 Feb Manchester Museum Baby Explorers 10.30 – 11.15am & 11.30am – 12.15pm / Free, booking advised a week in advance. An interactive story and sensory play session for babies who are not yet walking and their parents, grandparents and carers.

Musical Baby Explorers 1 – 1.45pm / Free, booking advised a week in advance. Live music and songs, supported by a range of playful sensory resources for babies to explore. 0161 275 2648 / www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Tuesdays in Jan & Feb

Congleton Library Storytime 10.30 – 11am / Under 5s / Free. Listen to lovely stories and sing along to rhymes. A great opportunity to meet other children and learn to love reading. www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/libraries

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Fri 12 – Sun 21 Jan

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale Sale Nomads: Puss In Boots The annual Sale pantomime – fabulous family entertainment! 0161 912 5616 / www.watersideartscntre.co.uk

Fri 12 Jan & Fri 9 Feb

Hat Works, Stockport Messy Milliners 11 – 11.45am / £5 per baby (max 2 adults free), booking essential.

An exciting and innovative messy play session with a hatting theme. Suitable for babies and early walkers.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Sat 13 Jan & Sat 10 Feb Manchester Museum Autism Friendly Early Opening 9.15 – 10.30am / Ages 5 – 16 and families / Free, drop in. Activities take place before the Museum opens to the general public and there will be a quiet room available too. A different gallery will be open at each early opening.

0161 275 2648 / www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Sat 20 Jan

Manchester Museum Big Saturday: Art & Me 11am – 4pm / Free, drop in. A day of family activities inspired by Reena Saini Kallat’s stunning new solo exhibition, that explores ideas of identity, memory, history and the natural world. 0161 275 2648 / www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Sat 20 & 27 Jan

Tatton Park, Knutsford Make a Scarecrow 10.30am – 12pm or 1.30 – 3pm / Age 6+ / £12pp. Design your own scarecrow… you bring the creativity and we will supply the rest! All scarecrows created will be on public display in the Gardens, as part of the Scarecrow Festival in February.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sat 20 Jan & Sat 10 Feb Waterside Arts Centre, Sale Comedysportz 4 Tots 3pm / Under 6s / £5. A highly interactive show full of improvised games with plenty of physicality, stories, songs, silly noises and big laughs.

Comedysportz. Age 7+ / 6.30pm / £7 Fast, feel good and always unpredictably funny. 0161 912 5616 / www.watersideartscntre.co.uk

Sun 21 Jan

Tatton Park, Knutsford Winter Birdwatch 11am – 1pm / All ages / Free (donations welcome) – normal park entry applies.

A drop-in session looking at winter wildfowl on the meres. Have a go with a telescope or ask the experts. All donations welcome to help cover the cost of bird feed for the year.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

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What’s on

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

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale Bear & Butterfly 11.30am & 2pm / Age 4 – 7 / £9 (£4.50 Family Club). A charming tale of changing friendship with puppetry, live music and beautiful storytelling .

0161 912 5616 / www.watersideartscntre.co.uk

Fri 26 Jan & Fri 23 Feb

Hat Works, Stockport Mad Hatters art and crafts club Ages 2 – 5 years: 10am – 12pm / £7 (max 2 adults free) Babies & early walkers: 2 – 3pm / £5 (mas 2 adults free). An action packed session of arts and crafts with the emphasis on fun and age and ability appropriate crafts. Booking essential.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk Manchester Museum Magic Carpet Jan: Ancient Egypt Feb: The Porridge Pot 10.30 – 11.30am / Free, book a week in advance. An interactive, creative, story making and activity session for active toddlers, parents, grandparents and carers. Younger siblings welcome.

0161 275 2648 / www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Sat 27 Jan

Nantwich Town Centre The Battle of Nantwich The annual re-enactment of the Battle of Nantwich 1644. www.battleofnantwich.co.uk

Thurs 1 Feb & Thurs 1 Mar John Rylands Library, Manchester Toddler tales 11 – 11.45am / Under 5s / Free, drop in Find a cosy corner, pull up a cushion and listen to fun stories. Join in playtime, creating a story world of your own. www.library.manchester.ac.uk

Fri 2 Feb & Fri 2 Mar

Bramall Hall, Stockport Dragon Club 10am – 12pm / Ages 2 – 5 / £7 per child (max 2 adults free), booking essential.

An exciting developmental discovery session with stories, play and exploration in the Hall and park. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Sat & Sun in Feb

Beeston Castle, Beeston Dark Skies 5 – 9pm (hour slots) / Age 8+ / normal admission applies. Experience the starry night skies at Beeston Castle this February as expert astronomers reveal their stargazing secrets. www.english-heritage.org.uk

Sat 3 & Sun 4 Feb

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale Tom Thumb 11.30am (Sun) & 2.30pm (Sat & Sun) / Age 3+ / £9 (£4.50 Family Club) Performed entirely on and under a kitchen table, it’s a show full of magic with feathery spinning birds, a flying house and a portable forest.

0161 912 5616 / www.watersideartscntre.co.uk

Tues 13 Feb

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale The Chit Chat Chalk Show 11.30am & 2pm / Ages 3 – 8 / £9 (£4.50 Family Club). A magical chalky adventure with dances, draws & giggles.

0161 912 5616 / www.watersideartscntre.co.uk

Thurs 15 Feb

East Lancashire Railway Wizard Academy Age 5+ / Child: £8.50 / Adult £13, booking essential. An interactive quest which will see you and your family join colourful and quirky costumed characters on a steam train ride, and take part in a host of entertaining activities. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Fri 16 Feb

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale Spark The Goblin Wizard 11am & 2.30pm / Age 5+ / £9 (£4.50 Family Club). With lyrics, laughs and lots of joining in, poet Dommy B needs your help to save the day!

0161 912 5616 / www.watersideartscntre.co.uk

Sat 17 Feb

Hat Works, Stockport Family Tour 11am – 12.30pm / Age 5+ / Child £5, Adult £2 (under 5s free), booking essential. Find out all about Stockport and its famous hats on this fun tour.

Try your hand at making a piece of felt and see if you would have made it as a hatter. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk Manchester Art Gallery Open Doors 9.15am – 12.15pm / Ages 5 – 16 / Free, drop in. A series of creative, sensory activities especially aimed at autistic children. Different themes and ideas each month. 0161 235 8869 / www.manchesterartgallery.org

Manchester Museum Big Saturday 10am – 4pm / All ages / Free, drop in Creative activities for all of the family inspired by our collections.

0161 275 2648 / www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Sat 17 – Sun 25 Feb

Chatsworth House, Bakewell Half term in the farmyard and playground A chance for the young ones to run off some steam in beautiful surroundings during half term. 01246 565300 / www.chatsworth.org

Sat 17 – Sun 25 Feb

Staircase House, Stockport Half term museum crafty makes 10am – 5pm / Age 3+ / £1 per activity bag. Pick up a craft bags and find everything you need to make something crafty linked to the galleries. Examples can be found in the museum’s browse area. www.stockport.gov.uk

Sun 18 Feb

Bramall Hall. Stockport Early bird opening for families with autism 10 – 11.30am / All ages / Free when booked. An opportunity to explore the Hall before it opens to the public.

Discovery packs, sensory sacks, trails and activity hampers available.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk Crewe Lyceum Theatre Black Magic – The Little Mix Show An exciting high-energy pop concert theatre show suitable for all ages featuring hits from Little Mix’s first album right up their current smash hits. www.littlemixshow.com

Mon 19 Feb

Bramall Hall, Stockport Tudor Day Ages 8 – 12 / £15 per child, booking essential.

Spend the day at Bramall Hall taking part in the kind of activities the Tudors might have enjoyed.

Crafts and games galore as you explore the house ‘out of hours’.

Children to be left in the care of the museum.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Staircase House, Stockport Visits for families with autism 10am – 12pm / All ages / Free (£1 activity craft bag). The opportunity to explore Stockport Museum on a Monday while it is quiet and closed to the public. Suitable for families with autistic children.www. stockport.gov.uk

Mon 19 – Fri 23 Feb

Beeston Castle, Beeston Nature Craft 10.30am – 3.30pm / All ages / Normal admission applies. Family fun with hands-on craft activities and the chance to build your very own den in Beeston’s 40 acre woodland park. www.english-heritage.org.uk Manchester Museum Feb Half Term Activities 11am – 4pm / All ages / Free, drop in Be inspired by the museum’s collections through a variety of creative hands on activities.

0161 275 2648 / www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Tues 20 Feb

Storyhouse Theatre, Chester Captain Flinn & the Pirate Dinosaurs 2: The Magic Cutlass 1.30pm / Age 3+. There’s piratical fun aplenty when Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs sail in to Storyhouse this Spring. Join Flinn, Pearl and Tom on their adventure in a world of devious dinosaurs, deep sea dangers and smelly sausages!

Based on the best-selling children’s books. www.storyhouse.com Staircase House, Stockport Disgusting Days tour 10.30am – 12pm / All ages / £3.

Discover disgusting habits, tales and stories about life in the House.

Craft activity included. www.stockport.gov.uk

Tues 20 & Wed 21 Feb

Tatton Park, Knutsford Deer Feed and Trailer Ride 9.30 – 10.30am / Age 4+ / £10pp, booking essential. Take a trailer ride with the Rangers to watch the daily deer feed. Get a close look at hundreds of deer feeding in their beautiful natural setting.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sat 3 Feb

Hat Works, Stockport Early bird opening and craft session for families with autism 10 – 11.30am / All ages / £3 per person for craft. An opportunity for families with autism to come and have a go at different crafts in a quiet space. Experienced staff will be on hand to help with the activities, which include felt making, printing and batik. There is also the opportunity to explore the museum whilst it is not too busy.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

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Families Cheshire 15

What’s on Tues 20 – Thurs 22 Feb

Bramall Hall February Half Term Fun 1 – 3pm / All ages / £3, drop in.

Have a go at different crafts: printing, clay modelling and stained glass making. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk Hat Works, Stockport February Half Term Fun 1 – 3pm / All ages / £3, drop in Try a different craft each day: decoupage, printing & felt making.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Tues 20 - Sun 24 Feb

The Lowry, Salford George’s Marvellous Medicine Roald Dahl’s classic tale on stage!

0843 208 6010 www.thelowry.com/family

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 22 Feb

Staircase House, Stockport Let’s do magic 10.30am – 12pm & 2 – 3.30pm / Age 5+ / £6 (1 free adult) An extravaganza of magic using everyday objects. Find out the secrets of magic and learn a trick or two yourself to surprise your friends.

0161 474 4444 / www.stockport.gov.uk East Lancashire Railway Princess Academy Age 5+ / Child: £8.50 / Adult £13, booking essential. An interactive quest which will see you and your family join colourful and quirky costumed characters on a steam train ride, and take part in a host of entertaining activities. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Wed 21 Feb

Air Raid Shelters, Stockport Children’s explorer tours 6.45 – 8.15pm / Age 7+ / Child £4, Adult £3, booking essential Brave the darkened tunnels to go back in time and experience life as a child during World War Two. 0161 474 1940 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Wed 21 – Sat 24 Feb

Manchester Art Gallery Creative family workshops 1pm – 3pm / All ages / Free, drop in February half term workshops for families. www.manchesterartgallery.org

16 Families Cheshire

Fri 23 Feb

Bramall Hall, Stockport The Beasts of Bramall Hall 1 – 2pm / Ages 3 – 6 / £5 per child (1 free adult), booking essential.

A magical tour of the Hall with stories about the beasts that live here. Hunt for the Red Dragon of Bramall Hall.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Tatton Park, Knutsford Toys Through Time 10.30am – 12pm & 1 – 2.30pm / Ages 3 – 5 (max 1 adult per chld) / £10 per child (adult free). Discover the toys that children played with in the past. Learn about how they work, what they are made from and how toys have changed over time.

A special opportunity to play and explore, ending with a competitive group game and a story.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sat 24 Feb

Bramall Hall, Stockport Family Tour 1 – 2pm / Age 4+ / Child: £4, Adult: normal admission (under 4s free) Find out lots of interesting facts about Bramall Hall. Who lived there? What did they eat? Where did they go to the toilet? What horrible illnesses did they have?

No booking required – first come, first served.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Sat 3 Mar

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale Monstersaurus 11,30am & 2.30pm / Age 3+ / £12 (£4.50 Family Club). A brand new show from the creators of Aliens Love Underpants. Full of energy, thrills, spills, magic and mayhem.

0161 912 5616 / www.watersideartscntre.co.uk

Sun 4 Mar

The Lowry, Salford Leaf 11am, 1pm & 3pm / Age 3+ The perfect introduction to theatre for the very young. Dates Running: 04/03/2018 - 04/03/2018 Venue: The Aldridge Studio Ages: 3+ 0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

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