Families Cheshire Jan-Feb 2013

FREEEdition 21 • Jan/Feb 2013 The local magazine for families with children 0-12 years

Covering: Poynton, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Knutsford, Prestbury, Macclesfield, Congleton, Holmes Chapel, Sandbach, Northwich, Winsford, Crewe, Nantwich, Tarporley, Waverton, Chester and surrounding areas

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In this issue>Is a nursery right for your child?

>Gluten Sensitivity and Coeliac Disease

>How to have your best family holiday ever

2 Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk

Next issue:March/April 2013

Circulation: 25,000 copies of Families Cheshire areavailable through nurseries, schools, libraries, selectedshops and other points throughout Cheshire. If youwould like free copies for your organisation, please let us know.

Contact details: Families Cheshire, PO Box 581, Macclesfield, SK10 9FNTel: 01625 801 801 www.familiescheshire.co.uk

Editorial: [email protected]/artwork: [email protected], diary dates, out & about:[email protected]

Cover photograph by: Paul Moffat Photography, BollingtonTel: 01625 576 586, www.moff.co.uk

Design: Paul Wilson Graphic Design, Congleton.Tel: 07743 111 694, www.withpaul.co.uk

Print: Bishops Printers, Walton Road, Portsmouth,Hampshire PO6 1TR Tel: 023 9233 4900 www.bishops.co.uk

Families Cheshire is part of the Families group, establishedin 1990 and headed by Families South West. Allfranchised magazines in the group are independentlyowned and operated under license.

We take every care preparing the magazine, but thepublishers and distributors can’t be held responsiblefor the claims of advertisers, the accuracy of thecontents nor for any consequences.

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Leading children’s disability charityNewlife Foundation is calling on allcrafters to help support disabled andterminally ill children around the UK.

Whatever your craft, getting involved issimple. Either make something and sell itat local sales and donate the proceeds toNewlife or donate your handcrafted goodsand they’ll sell it for you. Alternatively

spread the word or simply donate cash. Newlife guarantees that 100 per cent

of all funds received will directly helpdisabled children in your area.

Newlife has already funded£8.2million of disability equipment formore than 5,400 under-19s and supportsend-of-life children by prompt provisionof specialist equipment.

For further details, please contactVicky Jones or Anna Szymczak on 01543 468 888 or [email protected].

Get crafty and support disabled children

Scamps Day Nursery, located withinMacclesfield’s South Park, has becomethe first nursery in the area to be judgedto be Outstanding in every categoryduring its recent OFSTED inspection.

Owner/manager Deborah Baines was aprimary school teacher and early yearsspecialist for over 15 years prior to takingover Scamps last October and isdelighted with the accolade. “Our aim atScamps is to ensure every child leaves uswith a positive “I Can” attitude and isready to excel at primary school.

We ensure that every day is filled withexciting activities and positive challenges.”

OFSTED clearly agrees, with theirinspection report stating that “Childrenare immensely happy”, “staff are alwayseager to praise and encourageachievements”,” children are extremelywell behaved as they are always busydoing interesting and inspiring activities”,“children thrive and make excellentprogress in their learning anddevelopment” and “children achieveexcellent results”.

Macclesfield Nursery awarded highest accolade

For the 18th year running, babycharity Tommy’s is calling on parentsacross the UK to recognise the baby-friendly organisations committed tomaking their lives easier, for theBaby-friendly awards 2013!

This year Tommy’s has partnered withparenting club Bounty who will begenerously donating £1 to Tommy’s forevery vote cast. Each voter will also be inwith a chance of winning a fantastic

Voting now open for Tommy’s Baby-friendly Awards

Peppa Pig Theme ParkMega Prize, including anexclusive breakfast meetand greet with Peppa Pigand George!

To vote, visitwww.bounty.com/tommys-awards2013between 7 January and 18 February2013. Winners of each category areannounced at a glittering ceremony inLondon, in March.

Happy New Year! Did you know that 2013 is the first year to be denoted by four different digits in 26 years?

The last one was 1987 – in that glorious era of big hair, shoulder pads and legwarmers,with a touch of blue eye shadow thrown in for good measure.

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

1.Make more time for ourselves 2.Make more time for ourselves3.Make more time for ourselves 4.Make more time for ourselves

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

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

Onwards and upwards!

In this issue02: Welcome03: News04: Education news09: Health & Safety12: Nurseries15: Parents' place18: Travel20: What's on

Jayne Keep Caryl Hall

News

3www.familiescheshire.co.uk | Families Cheshire

Have you tried the new CupcakeBoutique of Prestbury yet? Located inthe old Post Office building in PrestburyVillage, it’s the perfect spot for teaand a chat – and an almost-looks-toogood-to-eat cupcake.

Children are very welcome (there’s a littletable with a few books and toys to entertainthem), but it’s a grown-up tea shop,tastefully decorated and staffed by friendlylocals. Owner and local mum Sam Bray

opened her doors in the autumn, and it’sproving a popular addition to the village. Of course, there are also other mouth-wateringly tempting treats on offer apart fromcupcakes, including Snugbury’s Ice Cream.

Pop in, or book a larger table for your own teaparty – Sam will make sure it’s extra specialfor you. Or book a cupcake decorating partyand see if your cakes can look as good asSam’s! Open Monday to Saturday 9am – 5pm, and Sunday 10am – 4pm. 01625 827641 /

[email protected]

A cuppa and a cake

As the weather turns wintery and anew year begins, parents and thosein charge of child care for the under 5swill have in mind recent governmentadvice, that children should beparticipating in at least 3 hours ofphysical activity a day.

This advice comes amid growing concernabout levels of childhood obesity and newresearch linking a lack of physical activity withpoor brain development and social interaction.

The good news is that even over thewinter months, Tennis Tykes classes providea great opportunity to “get physical” andalso provide so much more as well, withthe classes following the Early YearsFoundation Stage learning goals. Thechildren have fun and at the same timethe programme increases their confidence,significantly improves their all roundpersonal, social and emotional development,their language, literacy, problem solving

and numeracy skills as well as achievingso much with their physicaldevelopment..............so why not giveTennis Tykes a try this January by takingup a FREE TASTER LESSON?

Call Caroline Buncall on 07843342662 or [email protected]

Franchise for sale in SouthManchester & Cheshire

Looking for a new career in 2012 and to runyour own business with support andtraining provided and low start up costs?Then Tennis Tykes may be for you.Whether you are a mum/dad/keen tennisplayer/ex business owner/employee orsports coach, they’d love to hear from you.

Get your child physically active in 2013with the Tennis Tykes programme

Storytelling can be found enrichinglives everywhere: from nurseries andschools to support groups andtheatrical performances. The 13th Annual National Storytelling Weektakes place 26 January – 2 February 2013,encouraging all areas of the community to

National Storytelling Weektake part in creating and enjoying storytelling,this most ancient of communicative arts.National Storytelling week has an audienceof around 17,000 people, so get involvedin workshops, performances and eventsacross the country. www.sfs.org.uk/national-

storytelling-week

Education news

The Queen’s School in Chester isholding entry assessments on Monday14th January 2013 for those girlswanting to start in Reception, KeyStage Two and the Senior School. The Lower School can now offer manymore places at KS2 entry as they haveextended to meet demand. Girls aretaught in small teaching groups and cannow benefit from a new drama studio,music practice rooms, library, a suite ofiPads and IT facilities as well as the on-site swimming pool, extensive

grounds and their very own school chickens!The Senior School is celebrating the best A-level results in Cheshire and anincrease in the number of A* grades atGCSE. The school was ranked the best inChester, Wirral and North Wales by theSunday Times League Table in November2012 and girls travel from across theNorth West to attend. More information isavailable from the school websitewww.queens.cheshire.sch.uk or fromJane Taylor on 01244 312078 [email protected]

A warm welcome at The Queen’s SchoolPupils with Headmistress, Sarah Clark (centre left) and Felicity Taylor, Headmistress of Queen’s Lower School (centre right).

Fifteen year old Stockport GrammarSchool pupil, Paige Bagley of Mottramraised over £600 for Cancer ResearchUK when she organised an EquestrianShow at her family’s farm.

Paige’s younger sister Toni also helpedwith the organisation, as did fellow SGSpupils Faye Holleworth, Thea Hudson,Elizabeth Worthington and Sarah Gaskin.Around 60 people came along on the day,

with half of those competing. Raffle prizeswere donated by local businesses and foodwas provided free of charge by Tesco. Anadded bonus for Paige was that some of herriding pupils actually won some of thecompetitions on the day.

Paige told us “It was a fantastic day. I’mreally grateful for all the support and am justso pleased to be able to give this amount ofmoney to such an important cause”.

Pupils support Cancer Research


Education news

Telling the time is a life skill thatevery child must master but whichdisappointingly comes with alengthy learning process, often 6months or longer.

Many teachers feel it to be one of the most frustrating subjects to teach,and parents too will know how illogicallearning to tell the time can seem toa child.So it’s a relief to discover a new

child friendly method has arrived,accessible to everyone. Still the bestkept secret in education, ‘Aramazu’ is now beginning to work its way intohomes and classrooms across thecountry.

In a recent home trial, 85% of thechildren learned in one week, 50% inone hour. So Aramazu is doing what itsays on the tin (today the tin is awebsite) www.aramazu.com – thequickest and easiest way ever to learn to tell the time. Currently, Aramazu hastwo entry levels, counting to 12 orcounting to 60.

The learning process is deliveredthrough illustrated stories, a three bookpack for younger children and a fasttrack book for those counting to 60.These can be purchased with a clockand a watch if wanted through thewebsite shop, which also offers onlineversions.

Teachers have their own dedicatedwebsite section where they can trial andsubscribe to Aramazu’s online resourcelibrary, allowing the material to bedisplayed on the classroom interactivewhiteboard.

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

Terra Nova is an independent dayand boarding school nestled in astunning location in rural Cheshire,that offers the highest quality ofeducation, building firm andbalanced foundations for childrenaged three to 13.

The School setting is peaceful, but ashort journey from Manchester,Liverpool and Chester.

Personal, creative and physicaldevelopment are closely bound withacademic success, and children haveaccess to a myriad of extra curricularactivities, forming an integral part of the

Year 3 pupils from Vernon Primary Schoolrecently visited Bramall Hall as part oftheir ‘Grand Designs’ topic. They learntabout the history of the Hall and how itwas built using sticks and clay – even

getting a chance to try someconstruction for themselves. They alsocarried out observational drawings ofdisplayed artwork.

The children really got into role by dressingup in Tudor clothes for the day and enjoyedinterviewing a ‘servant’ who worked in the Hall.

Year 3 teacher Mrs Mowat said, “The visithelped the children to appreciate some practicalaspects of their curriculum topics, includinghistory, art and design. The staff at the Hallparticularly commented on how engagedand well-behaved the children were duringtheir activities throughout the day. I amextremely proud of them all and they are acredit to our school.”

Grand Designs forVernon pupils

From primary to academy

The door is always open at Terra Nova

400 primary schools judged to beamong the weakest in England andWales are set to become academies,the Prime Minister announced.

David Cameron plans to pair theseschools with sponsors, taking them out ofthe control of their local authorities in adrive to improve education in the poorest-performing schools. “The driving missionfor this government is to build anaspiration nation, where we unlock andunleash the promise in all our people,” he

said. “A first-class education system isabsolutely central to that vision. Timeand time again we have seen howacademies, with their freedom toinnovate, inspire and raise standards arefuelling aspirations and helping to spreadsuccess. So now we want to go further,faster, with 400 more under-performingprimary schools paired up with a sponsorand either open or well on their way tobecoming an academy by the end of nextyear." At the time of the previous generalelection there were 203 academies, allsecondary schools. There are now 2,456,with 823 more in the pipeline.

Telling the time ischild’s play

school’s stimulating, forward-thinkingapproach. Experienced teachers alsoprovide the best in pastoral care, whichensures that all the children’s personalneeds are met.

The best way to experience theSchool is to go for a visit, meet theHeadmaster and his wife, and tour theSchool with the pupils. Their next OpenMorning takes place on Saturday 9March 2013 from 10am – 12.30pm. Ifyou would like to arrange a visit pleasecontact the Headmaster's PA, MelanieMachin, on 01477 571261.www.terranovaschool.co.uk


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Education news

www.familiescheshire.co.uk | Families Cheshire

Education news


The King’s School in Macclesfield isdelighted with the new independentreviews of the school that have justbeen published by The GoodSchools Guide.

Following a day-long visit to the schoolback in the autumn, the new reviews of King’sare now available online. King’s Directorof External relations, Caroline Johnson says:“Most parents looking for a school fortheir child will want to seek impartial advice,and one of the UK’s most respected sourcesof independent information is The GoodSchools Guide. We are delighted with thereviews, which capture exactly what isspecial about King’s and what sets us apartfrom other schools.”

The GS Guide describes King’s as an“Interesting marriage of traditional values

with progressive educationalapproaches.” In particular, the Infant &Junior School review says: “Achieves wellabove national average in reading, writingand maths at key stages 1 and 2. Happy,lively children. Spacious, well-resourcedclassrooms. Charming play area for EYFSand extensive grounds overlooking thehills with its own outdoor classroom – awildlife study area. Strong sport andmaintains a full and balanced curriculum.”

To read the full reviews, please visitwww.kingsmac.co.uk and click on TheGood Schools Guide logo.

King’s recommended byThe Good Schools Guide

Chess is making a dramaticcomeback in primary schools, 30years after it all but disappearedfrom the state school scene.

In the past two years, a total of 175schools, including those serving someof the most deprived areas of thecountry, have reintroduced the game tothe curriculum. Now the charity behindits revival, Chess in Schools andCommunities, is optimistic the take-upwill spread to 1,000 state schoolswithin the next three years. CSC ispushing for all primary school childrenin the country to have the chance tolearn how to play chess, and hasalready taught over 6,000 children inschools, as well as providing schoolswith chess sets, a chess curriculum and

This past autumn, Ofsted issued new guidelinesin regards to e-safety provisions in schools.

From now on Ofsted will be concerned about howeach school protects and educates its staff andstudents in their use of technology, plus ensuringthere is support in place should any issues arise.Although many schools might already have existingpolicies in place, others will need to revise theirpriorities to include this immediately. E-safety isconstantly changing but by empowering both studentsand teachers with enough know-how to identify onlinerisks, we can make sure children, even at an early age,can protect themselves from abuse, cyberbullying andother internet threats throughout their school life andinto adulthood.

a weekly visit from a chess trainer.Academics are agreed the game is amajor stimulant for improving pupils’concentration and believe it can also beused in other subject areas, such asmaths, to improve skills. It is easy tosee why heads are keen to encourageit – a report by Chessmaster JerryMyers on why it should be encouragedin schools says, “We believe it directlycontributes to academic performance.Chess makes children smarter.”www.chessinschools.co.uk

Chess is back!

Is your school ready?

Addictive, unwholesome and everywhere: The toxic truth about sugar in our children’s dietBy Elisabeth Dolton

A silent revolutionEssentially, the mass development of acheap, highly sweet, glucose-fructosesyrup, produced from surplus corn, startedin the 70’s, and was soon pumped intoevery conceivable food: pizza, coleslaw,meat. It provides a "just baked" sheen onbread and cakes, makes everything sweeter,and helps to keep foods moist so extendsshelf life from days to years. At the sametime, low fat foods were being embracedby dieters, so as fat was taken out offoods, sugar replaced it to maintain taste.

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

UnavoidableUK guidelines recommend that addedsugars shouldn’t make up more thanaround 50g a day, equivalent to tenteaspoons of sugar for adults and nine for

five to ten-year-olds. Added sugar is nowfound in almost all processed foods andnot just obviously sweet foods – glucose-fructose syrup is found in everydayproducts, such as cereal, salad dressingand sausages, making it easy to send ourchildren over the recommended limit,sometimes with just one product.

Increasing addictionMoreover, recent research has beenlooking into a worrying trend that themore sugar we eat, the more we want,and concluding that the addictive natureof sugar for our children is much higherthan previously thought. Added sugardulls the brain’s mechanism that tells youto stop eating, by reducing activity in thebrain’s anorexigenic oxytocin system thatgives the body the ‘full’ feeling. Withoutthis, our appetite becomes insatiable,making it very easy to overeat.

The dangers“Sugar is ubiquitous, and the problemwith refined sugar as opposed to naturalsugar,” says Tracey Harper, NutritionalTherapist, “is that this sugar is an emptyfood with the goodness stripped away, sowhen eaten it actually robs the body ofvital nutrients, resulting in a depletedimmune system.” She goes on to explainthat sugar feeds bad bacteria in the gut,the gut lining becomes exposed, sotoxins can enter the blood stream,causing allergens to develop as well asother auto-immune deficiencies. Studies

confirm this, showing that excess sugarscause a 50% drop in the ability of whiteblood cells to fight off bacteria.

The growing problem of obesity in theUK with 31% of children now classified asoverweight and the rising incidence ofType 2 diabetes, once associated with theelderly, also points to the overconsumptionof sugar in our children’s daily diet.Excess sugar rots teeth and let’s notforget, poor memory, low moods anddepression have all been linked to theover-consumption of sugar. Therecognisable 'sugar high' you get aftereating sugar resulting in more energy andimproved mood is temporary. After sometime, the body crashes, energy levelsplummet, leaving lethargy and tiredness.Further effects can include hyperactivityin children, crankiness and eczema.

So, as we scratch our heads on howto get our kids to eat less sweets andexercise more, perhaps we also need tostart looking more closely at what weare putting on their plates at meal andsnack times.

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

Health and safety

Check these out:1.5l bottle of Volvic Touch of Fruit Lemon and Lime – 16 ½teaspoons of sugarMcDonald’s milkshake – 16 teaspoonsOrangina 500ml – 13 teaspoonsTesco Pure Orange Juice Smooth, 250ml - 6 teaspoonsDolmio Bolognese sauce, 500g – 6 teaspoonsWalls soft scoop vanilla ice cream, 200ml – 4 ½ teaspoonsServing of Kellogg’s Frosties – 4 teaspoonsTwo McVities Jaffa Cakes – 3 teaspoonsMuller Light Strawberry yoghurt, 175g – 2 ½ teaspoons(Source: Dailymail.co.uk)

How to spot a high sugar foodLook for ‘Total sugars’ on the label which include natural andadded sugarA food with less than 5g ‘total sugars’ per 100g is classified aslow, more than 15g per 100g is high

Reducing added sugar in your family’s diet• Remember, natural sugars are good – soak apricots,

whizz them in a blender, and use that to sweeten foods• Ensure every meal includes protein • Have vegetables or salad with pasta or pizza, so your child

is getting everything for the body to function properly• Eat from scratch. Eat real food not processed food – porridge

with a dash of honey has everything a young child needsto start off the day

• Make your own pasta sauce, stuffed with lots of pureedvegetables (carrots, peppers, greens). Make a large batchthen freeze small portions

• Make smoothies using a hand blender and a jug. Add in avegetable, e.g. avocado and strawberry. Cheaper and asgood as any supermarket brand

• Children eat what is there. Keep sugary snacks and junkfood out of the house; instead offer oat biscuits, hummus,chopped vegetables, Whole Earth peanut butter

Further informationThanks to Tracey Harper for her contribution to the article andgreat tips for reducing sugar in children’s diet –www.traceyharpernutrition.co.uk /[email protected]

www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/pages/sugars.aspx

www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/pages/food-labelling.aspx

www.bbc.co.uk/health

www.myhealthnewsdaily.com

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/dietandfitness

www.nhs.uk/change4life

www.hungryforchange.tv/sugar-is-a-drug (Jamie Oliver’s TED Award speech)


10

Health and safety

. Special offer for Families Cheshire readers.Help ensure your family members arevisible from all around, whether onbikes or on foot. For a 15% discount,make sure you go towww.movobright.co.uk/familiesYou can also watch videodemonstrations and listen to others’reactions.

A new three dimensional highvisibility safety device that reflects an intense light from 360° all around is being hailed as a road safety first by Rossendale based creators Ahead Solutions (UK) Ltd.

MovoBright is a soft, flexible,cylindrical design which helps increasedrivers’ awareness – from any angle – byreflecting an intense column of ‘moving’light over great distances.

The registered design gives a newalternative to existing hi-viz productsavailable for children, cyclists,pedestrians, equestrians and vulnerableroad users. When the 22 gramMovoBright is clipped to bike saddlerails, rucksacks or apparel, it reflects abright shaft of white light back to itssource, whilst a gentle random swingingmotion commands new awareness

MovoBright: All Round Safety For Road Users

Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk

Gluten Sensitivity and Coeliac Disease – is your child affected?The prevalence of Coeliac Diseasehas increased five-fold overall since1974(1). Yet testing for the conditionhas been plagued with difficulties andinaccuracies, especially in children.Nutritionist Christine Bailey, whospecialises in digestive disordersand allergies in children, discussesnew tests available and the signs andsymptoms to look out for.

Coeliac Disease (CD) is one of themost common lifelong diseases in bothEurope and the US(2). Its prevalence isestimated at around 1% of the population(3).This equates to approximately 3 millionAmericans and 620 000 people in the UK.The problem is that it is seriously under-diagnosed especially in children.Approximately 78% of sufferers don’trealise they have the disease – in fact only10-20% have been diagnosed(4). What isalso shocking is that there has been anincrease in its prevalence over the last 50years – one study suggested CD hasincreased by up to 400%(5) (elevatedTissue Transglutaminase TTG antibodies).While classic symptoms include diarrhoea,intestinal bloating and stomach crampsthe majority of people including childrendo not experience any digestive symptoms,making detection harder. Left untreated, itcan lead to the malabsorption of nutrients,damage to the small intestine and othermedical complications.

Coeliac Disease is an autoimmunecondition triggered by gluten, which isfound in certain foods (wheat, barley and rye).It is a lifelong condition and requires thecomplete avoidance of all foods and drinkscontaining gluten. If your child hascoeliac disease, eating gluten willcause a reaction in their bodies thatdamages or destroys the villi (smallprojections in the intestines thathelp us absorb nutrients). Whenthis occurs, the surface of thesmall intestine is flattened anda child's body can't absorbvitamins and nutrients fromfood.

You’re not necessarilyborn with coeliacdisease; although thecondition is linked tocertain genetic markers,

there is normally an environmental triggerthat causes the immune system to losetolerance to gluten.

For children it can be particularlydifficult to diagnose – classic blood testsare accurate only when the villi areseverely damaged and in children thismay not have occurred. However, if leftundiagnosed it can lead to developmentof other autoimmune conditions as wellas affecting the growth and developmentand overall health later in life.

If there is a family history ofautoimmune conditions and/or coeliacdisease, then it is recommended you getyour child tested. Until recently thiswould involve a standard blood test fromthe GP to look for a range of antibodies.

(e.g IgA anti-gliadin antibodies, IgGanti-gliadin antibodies, IgA anti-endomysialantibodies, Tissue transglutaminaseantibody and total IgA antibodies). Ifpositive, an Intestinal biopsy is oftenperformed. The trouble is that these arenot particularly accurate(6) and blood testscan be distressing for children. Thankfullythere are new private laboratory tests,involving saliva collection. This is notonly sensitive and accurate but alsoeasier to undertake for young children.There are also more comprehensive bloodtests, which are available privately forolder children. Even if your child does notappear to be showing any symptoms (seelist alongside), if you have a familyhistory of coeliac disease it isrecommended you get your childrentested for the genetic markers (HLADQ2/8). This blood test will identify

whether or not yourchild has thegenetic markersthat make itmore likely theywill develop thedisease if they

continue to eatgluten. Ask yourpractitioner orqualifiednutritionist for themost appropriatetests for yourfamily.


Lower speedlimits key tokids’ healthMore than half of parents believelower speed limits would allowtheir kids to walk, cycle and playoutside more often, according to a survey carried out for charitySustrans.

The survey revealed 54% of parentsthought their kids would be morephysically active if speed limits werelowered, with 49% identifying busy and dangerous roads as the mainreason their children don’t walk orcycle to school. Sustrans’ Free RangeKids campaign is calling for a national20mph speed limit in residential areasto help tackle the UK’s growing obesityepidemic – a call backed by Dr MikeKnapton, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation. “It’s atragedy that so many of our childrenare failing to meet recommendedphysical activity levels but littlewonder when parents don’t feel thattheir local streets are safe,” saysSustrans’ Chief Executive MalcolmShepherd. “We urgently need to makeour neighbourhoods safer if we’re toget kids active by walking and cyclingto school and playing outdoors.Parents want to see safer streets – theGovernment must change the standardspeed limit to 20mph on the streetswhere we live, work and play.”

Essential BabyCare GuideBabies may not come with a manual,but the new Essential Baby Care Guideavailable from the Child AccidentPrevention Trust (CAPT), is the nextbest thing. Packed with parentingadvice on Feeding, Care anddevelopment, Sleeping and First aidand accident prevention, the DVD set(4 DVDs) costs £35 from CAPT’sonline store – www.capt.org.uk/shop.Or individual DVDs can be purchasedfor just £10 each.

Health and safety

Signs and SymptomsBecause symptoms in children are

often subtle and mimic other intestinaldiseases, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome orlactose intolerance, the disease is oftendifficult to diagnose. Some childrenexperience symptoms the first time theyare exposed to gluten, while othersdevelop symptoms later in life.

Typical symptoms include:• Diarrhoea, constipation• Abdominal pain• Poor appetite• A bloated or painful belly, gas,

flatulence• Weight loss or difficulty gaining weight

These symptoms can begin during infancy(between 6 and 24 months), after thechild begins to eat gluten-containing foods.

Additional symptoms, which maydevelop later, include:• Slowed growth, failure to thrive• Iron deficiency anaemia, fatigue, low

energy • Skin rash – dermatitis herpetiformis• Tooth enamel changes• Bone thinning• Joint aches and pains• Headaches• Mouth ulcers• Mood changes, depression• Delay in menstruation

If your child is diagnosed with coeliacdisease it is important they receivenutritional advice to help with planning agluten free diet, ensuring they are optimallynourished and also to ensure their gut heals.In many cases nutritional supplementswill be recommended. While there areobvious sources of gluten such as breads,pastas, flours, cereals, cakes and biscuits, itis often used as an ingredient in manyfavourite foods such as fish fingers,sausages, gravies, sauces and soy sauce.Working with a qualified nutritionist canhelp you plan a healthy gluten free diet.However in some cases simply removinggluten may not be sufficient, as manychildren with Coeliac Disease also reactto other foods such as dairy, so additionaltesting and support may be needed.

For further information about testing,nutritional support, cookery days andrecipes contact Christine Bailey.www.advancenutrition.co.uk

ReferencesAll reference information (1) – (6) is availableonline: www.familiesonline.co.uk

Eleanor was six and John was 38, althoughthey had probably been poorly for a fewyears. Eleanor had a little pot belly, verypale coloured stools, was extremelyirritable and had no energy at all. Shecaught a cold and ended up in hospital afew weeks before Christmas 2005 as I wasso concerned about her lack of energy. Mymother-in-law suggested we have hertested for CD as her oldest daughter hadbeen diagnosed with it at age 2, back inthe 60’s (when it was very rare).

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

Meanwhile, John had been extremelyunwell for over a year, was having to do24-hour urine samples and stoolexaminations and then we really panickedwhen Carcinoid Syndrome was discussed(a slow growing tumour on the liver). Hehad to go into hospital to have radioactivefluids injected into him so that his movementscould be monitored over the next few days.

All this was happening while we tookEleanor to Staffordshire Hospital for herendoscopy, and it was during our discussionwith Eleanor’s consultant, after she hadlearned about John’s symptoms, that shesaid the most fantastic thing in the world:“I think you might be suffering fromCoeliac Disease too.” We looked at eachother and it all fell into place. We wenthome, John rang the doctors to arrange ablood test and then he made anappointment to have an endoscopy.

So now I’ve got two Coeliac’s to feedand no idea where to start. Althoughelated that John didn’t have cancer, thewhole prospect of feeding them decentfood seemed daunting and eating out feltlike a thing of the past!!

I did loads of research; the internet wasa god send. I joined Coeliac UK and aspart of the membership we got a copy oftheir ‘Food & Drink Directory’ which isinvaluable and I never go shopping or onholiday without it. The time consumingpart is the trial and error of trying lots of

different products to find a replacementfor bread, pasta, biscuits and cakes.Fortunately I like cooking and baking, so Iget gluten-free flour on prescription andmake my own pancakes, breads (rolls,naan, pitta), yorkshire puddings, cakesand biscuits. It really is worth baking freshalthough the quality of bought products isimproving every year. When my sister-in-law was a child, the gluten free breadcame in a tin, was like cardboard andcould only be digested as toast! Now itcan easily be used to make sandwichesand even I occasionally eat it. I make apoint of buying new things all the time forthem both to try as product recipeschange, and I also shop in three or fourdifferent supermarkets as their “free from”ranges are all very different. Theimportant part is to understand whichbase ingredients can contain gluten as alot of professionals in the cateringindustry are very ignorant as to whatgluten is (the protein in wheat, rye andbarley). Foods as diverse as ice cream,chocolate and ketchup can contain glutenso you need to be on your guard all thetime. In restaurants, waiters often make allthe right noises when you explain thesituation – but then offer bread with thesoup! It’s very worrying.

Both John and Eleanor dealt with theirnew diet brilliantly. John’s always beeneasy to feed and with research, I learnt tojust adapt all my recipes by changing oneor two ingredients. It is actually a muchhealthier diet as convenience food isn’t anoption and the fresher the better. The onlything John really missed was his Real Aleso he switched to Cider.

Eleanor’s favourite was SpaghettiBolognaise although the hardest job wasfinding decent spaghetti. I still hatecooking spaghetti as it sticks together likeglue and has to be carefully tended in thepan. Birthday Parties can be tricky, so Iused to speak to the mum in advance andsend Eleanor with an appropriate packedparty lunch so that she didn’t feel left out.The mums were also incrediblysupportive and really made an effort tobuy gluten free food for her. Every sooften Eleanor will have a little moan, butto be able to deal with a disease by dietalone and not medication is fantastic.

Living with Coeliac Disease – Mel’s storyMelanie Toms’ daughter and husband were bothdiagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2006. Sheshares her experience with us.


Nurseries

Is a nursery the right choice for you?Studies show, though, that attending nurserycan increase a child's confidence, becauseit involves mixing with adults, and otherchildren, from outside the family group. Itgives children social skills, and experiencefrom an early age of an environment outsidethe home. The nursery 'key worker' scheme,under which each child is allocated aspecial member of staff with whom theycan bond, helps provide security.

Healthy food and menus are anotherbig plus of nursery provision: staff workhard to ensure children are given a balanceddiet. And as your child gets older, playand learning opportunities will be targetedappropriately: staff are trained in what youngchildren can do when, and will be consciousof a child's likely interests and potential.

Nurseries work best for parents whohave regular working hours, because it'sdifficult or impossible for staff to deal witherratic patterns of collection and drop-off:nurseries often open early in the morning andsome close late in the evening, but they are notas flexible as, say, a nanny or a childminder.On the other hand, they have the bigadvantage that only very, very rarely will theybe closed at short notice – so they're morereliable than one carer who may be ill orhave to cope with a sudden family emergency.

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

How to reduce nursery costsThe government is currently consideringcutting staff-to-child ratios in nurseries asa way of reducing what many see asunsustainable prices – but the move iscontroversial, and organisations such asthe Preschool Learning Alliance is warningsuch a change could risk children's safetyand well-being. Under current regulations,there must be one staff member for everythree under-twos, and one for every fourchildren aged two and three.

Most nurseries provide funded placesfor three and four year olds under thegovernment Free Early Education scheme,which will start from the beginning of theterm (1 September, 1 January or 1 April)after your child’s third birthday. If your childis younger, check whether your employercan offer help towards your nursery coststhrough the childcare voucher scheme. Underthis, money is taken out of your pay packetbefore deductions, giving you savings ontax and National Insurance – in return, youare given a voucher or e-voucher that youforward to your nursery, and the amount isdeducted from your bill. So it's a way ofgetting more childcare for your money –though it requires your employer's co-operation.

How to choose the right nurseryStart your nursery search well ahead ofthe time when you're actually going to needto leave your child: the more confidentyou are of the choices you make, thehappier you'll be when it comes to theday you have to head back to the office.Ask around so you get other parents'views on what nurseries are like in your

area. Make a shortlist of ones that mightwork for you (remember to takegeography into account: how easy will itbe for you and/or your partner to do thedrop off/collect?) and don't hesitate to askto visit a second time.

Make sure you read the most recentOfsted inspection report for the nurseriesyou are considering, and ask whether theyhave any awards of excellence. Be guidedby your instincts when looking at anursery: it may seem a cliché to say dothe children look happy, but it is animportant barometer of whether a nurseryis good. Be aware of the quality of bothindoor and outdoor play areas: are thespaces pleasant, bright, welcoming, anddo they seem safe? Ask about meals, howthe food is prepared, and what time mealsare served. Are you able to provide inputfor your child's food – suggestions forwhat s/he would like to eat, or recipes?What kinds of snacks are provided andhow often are they available?

Watch the children while they'replaying, and pay attention to how muchthey're interacting with the staff. How dothe staff come across – do they seemhappy, relaxed, fun to be around? Do youfeel comfortable talking to them? Do theyseem interested in your child and his/herlikes/dislikes and interests?

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

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

Is all well when I'm not there?Some nurseries have webcams whichallow parents to see live images of theirchild at play from their desk at work. Butwhile some parents welcome this idea,others are sceptical – they say they wanttheir child's nursery to know they trust itsworkers, and worry that they'll be seen asa way of spying on careworkers. Others say theylike the idea of watchingtheir child at play somuch that they'd spendtoo much time doingit – and wouldn'tever get any workdone!

As your child

is settling into nursery, trust your instinctsabout how well it's going. You know yourchild better than anyone else, so if yourhunch is that your child is happy andcontented, that's almost certainly thecase. Remember that in the early days, heor she will probably get more tired thanusual – nursery is a big change,emotionally as well as physically. Bothyour child and you need time to adjust tothe new set-up.

Try not to drag out your goodbyes:leaving your child will be difficult,especially at first, but keeping it brief willhelp you both. Remember that your childmay cry every day when you drop themoff (and so might you!) for quite a while;this is a normal part of getting used tothis big change in your lives. Cope with itby emphasising the positives: think aboutwhy you're working (to make money andprovide a better standard of living; toensure you have an interesting life, andincome, in the longer term) and howmuch your child will benefit from a widersocial network.

TroubleshootingFingers crossed, you'll never have aproblem with a nursery your child attends.But what happens when there IS an issue?As every working parent knows, nothingundermines your ability to work morethan a nagging suspicion that your childisn't happy, or isn't being looked after aswell as possible or even – worst scenarioof all – isn't safe.

If you have any worries at all aboutyour child's nursery you must resolvethem, and as quickly as possible. So assoon as something strikes you as 'notright', talk to the nursery manager or yourallocated member of staff – many nigglesare simply down to a lack ofcommunication. Explain what's up, andthe chances are you'll never have tomention it again, and things will all besmoothed over.

But if you're not satisfied that all iswell, put your concern in writing to thenursery manager. All nurseries shouldhave a protocol for dealing withcomplaints – ask to see this if it's notspelled out in the nursery handbook.

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

Is a nursery right foryour child (and you)?By Joanna Moorhead


Nurseries

Busy Bees for charityThis winter Dame Kelly Holmesmet with children, parents andstaff from Busy Bees Nurseries toreceive a giant cheque for awhopping £53,373.62!

Over 136 days, 136 Busy Beesnurseries and 11,500 children raisedthis considerable amount for TheDame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, acharity giving disadvantaged childrenthe chance to realise their dreamsthrough the inspirational guidance ofParalympic, Olympic, World andCommonwealth champions. This yearBusy Bees created a programmecalled the Golden Mile in order topromote healthy living and raiseawareness of their fund-raising

As testament to its outstandingpractice, Scamps Day Nursery inMacclesfield is one of only two daynurseries, along with Rope Greennursery in Crewe selected byCheshire East Local Authority to leadthe new early language developmentprogramme for 0-3 year olds.

The aim of the scheme is to acceleratethe development of babies and toddlers’speech, language and communication,by utilising the latest techniques andunderstanding the processes of pre-verbal and early verbal development.

Scamps will be sharing its bestpractice with other nurseries andworking with them to improve their

early language development initiativesby focusing on the following key areas:- • Consider how babies and toddlers learn• Understand the relationship between

play, cognition and languagedevelopment

• Identify the stages of play developmentand its links with language acquisition

• Be able to use a range of strategiesto support all children’scommunication development

• Gain ideas for activities that candevelop language and play withinan everyday play environment

• Consider the role of the environmentin supporting speech, languageand communication development

Owner and manager of ScampsDay Nursery Deborah Bainescommented: “As a primary schoolteacher for over 15 years, I understandthe real and significant benefits thatinitiatives like the Early LanguageDevelopment Programme can bringto children and the positive impact itcan have on their lives. At Scamps weare proud to be selected to lead thescheme and help other settings improvetheir practice in this critical area.”01625 611 222 /

www.scampsdaynursery.com

initiative, as well as making theOlympics relevant to their children.“Busy Bee”, armed with a child-friendly torch, made his way around136 Busy Bees Nurseries across theUK and the children between themwalked over 20,000 miles to raisemoney and help inspire a newgeneration. “I can’t thank Busy Beesenough for all their support andcommitment to my charity,” saidDame Kelly Holmes. “To raise over£53,000 is an unbelievableachievement and it will make such adifference to our work supportingmore young people.”Busybees.golden-mile.org /www.dkhlegacytrust.org

Scamps Day Nursery leads the new Early Language Development Programme

Established in April 1992, SteppingStones Montessori is just coming tothe end of their 20th year celebrations.Thanks to their team of dedicatedstaff who are committed to providinghigh quality childcare for childrenaged 2 – 5 years, the nursery hasgrown from strength to strength.

The essence of Montessori educationis that every child in their care is treatedwith respect, listened to and givenfreedom to explore within the limits of acarefully prepared environment. Thechildren develop at their own pace andwork through the Montessori materialsas well as following the principles of theEYFS in this small family orientatednursery near the centre of Macclesfield.

From 2013, they are approved toprovide funded places for eligible 2year olds as well as the free 15 hoursthey already provide for all 3 and 4year olds. Plus they will be continuingtheir 20th Anniversary offer for alimited time in 2013 where all newadmissions are entitled to a 50%discount on the first month’schildcare fees.

And, to claim two free taster sessions,simply call 01625 619687 or [email protected] quote ‘Families Cheshire’. You canalso find them on Facebook –www.facebook.com/steppingstones.montessorinurserywww.steppingstonesmontessori.co.uk

Stepping Stones Montessori is 20!

Nurseries


So what makes a good settlingin process at a nursery orchild-minder?

Is it one that lasts thirty seconds andyour child is ripped from you like a plasterfrom a wound? Is it one that lasts tenweeks and however much your workplace calls you and tells you that you mustattend now, you tell them “no my child isalmost settled, just a few more weeks?”. Well the answer is that there is no definitiveanswer; what is important is that you andyour child are offered a bespoke settlingin process that suits your needs.

So how can this be achieved?1. Good preparation

Provide the childcare setting with asmuch information as possible on whatmakes your child settled and happy.• Key times• Likes & dislikes• Comforter • Food or dietary needs

2. Good communication“Parents are the most important people intheir children's lives; it is from parents thatchildren learn the most particularly inthe early months and years. The closerlinks between parents and nursery the moreeffective that learning becomes.”(Ball, 1994)

This quote sums up how important therole of the parental communication isat the settle and all points throughoutthe child’s education. If the people whoare caring for your child know as muchabout them as you do, the transition tochildcare life will be a smooth one andwill set a good foundation for life.

• Ask questions. There is no such thingas a silly question

• If something is not working well duringthe settle session, speak to your carer.It is essential for the child carer to getthe settle session right for you andyour child. This will avoid unnecessarychanges and support consistency.

• Communication between you and your child carer is just as important.Knowing that they are honest aboutyour child’s settling in session will bereassuring and help to relieve anyanxiety that you may have.

• There may be some tears (from both ofyou!), but this is not unusual and theperson who is caring for your child willinform you of how your child has beenwhen you return. Knowing that you cantrust this person is important, to relievethat anxiety.

“For parents, particularly mothers, theKey Person Approach ensures thatparents have the opportunity to build arelationship with ‘someone’ rather than‘all of them’ working in the nursery.”(Efler, Goldschmied, Selleck, 2003)

So what will a good child careroffer you?• Time• Reassurance• Support• Communication

What your ‘Settle’ session with yournew child carer might look like:As a rule of thumb a settle will be carriedout over three visits, but this is not set instone. Each setting will tailor the settlingin period to suit you and your child.• Visit 1: The parent stays with the child

and meets the key worker and staff inthe room. This is the time to get toknow each other.

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

• Visit 3: The child visits their homebase room for 2 hours on their own,perhaps including a mealtime

Staff and your key person will thenreview the settling in with you to decide thenext steps for your child. For the majority offamilies and children, it’s full steam aheadafter these three visits, so Good Luck!

The beginning of a newjourney for you and your childBy John Warren, Early Years Manager atkidsunlimited nurseriesStarting at a nursery or child-minder can be the most traumatic time for any parent or child as it is often the first time they have ever been apart for longperiods and their emotional attachment to each other is very strong. However, withthe right preparation and support it can be a positive experience.

Just the spot for your Little Munchkin

Little Munchkins is a small and homely,OFSTED registered nursery in Northwich.

It offers quality childcare for just 39children who enjoy lovely outdoor gardenfacilities, a clean and stimulatingenvironment and freshly prepared nutritiousfood (rated food hygiene 5 for 2012).The dedicated, experienced and qualifiedstaff team work to the EYFS standardsthroughout the Nursery and operate anopen-door policy, so you can just pop in

to see them in progress – no need tomake an appointment. Individual dietaryneeds are catered for, and flexibleplacements are offered for professionalworking mums and dads.And, from January 2013, they are

offering breakfast, after school andholiday club facilities. For more details,call Vickii on 01606 76644.

5 Darwin Street, Northwich, CW8 1BT /[email protected]


“What I always wanted” is an onlineshop set up in May 2012, selling theproducts of young British gift andhomeware designers. The companyprides itself on selling artisanhandmade designer ranges, many ofwhich are ‘one off’ designs and aremade from locally sourced materialsor can be personalised for thatindividual touch.

The company’s ethos is to supportnew small businesses, many of whom areyoung mums from the North West, who

are passionate to develop their owncreative brands, whilst promoting the ‘buyhandmade’ ‘buy British’ campaigns.

This is a fantastic site for busy mumson the go. Have a browse through theextensive ranges of jewellery and otherbeautiful gifts and homewares for birthday,Valentine’s, anniversary or new baby. It’sgreat if you’re buying for that person whoalready has everything, and you want atruly special gift to show you care.

The pictured appliquéd personalisedcushion featuring your own pet, makes anextra special gift for any horse, dog or catlover. Each one is a unique design, so you cangive this gift, safe in the knowledge that noone else will have one the same. Theshop also has a gorgeous range of softfurnishings to bring new life to your room.

Deborah, co-owner of What I AlwaysWanted, said: “We are really excited tohave launched our new company. We lovetracking down beautiful products made byindependent designers and hope ourcustomers will love them too!”

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

It’s what you’ve always wanted

There are too many health & fitnesschoices out there at the moment.You can go for a run outside, playZumba on your games console orjust race around after the kids all day.

You can join a small gym, a big gym,an expensive gym or a cheap gym.Some gyms boast the most modern ofmodern equipment, while some claimto have the most. Some gyms areindependent, some part of a biggerchain, some are run by the local counciland some gyms even have awards. Sohow do you decide where to go to helpyou maintain those ever elusive NewYear’s resolutions?

For 35 years, we have been quietlygetting on with the business ofproviding the best for Bollington; so

much so that the fact that we are still anot-for- profit organisation has beenforgotten by some. Although there areother centres in and around the village,none are run in this unique way.

Bollington Health & Leisure is aregistered charity. That means all themoney we make is reinvested in ourfriendly, helpful staff and superb facilities,ensuring the people of Bollington havethe very best leisure facilities right ontheir doorstep. We are not just for you,but for the community too.

So remember, when making thosehealth & fitness choices you can alsosupport the local community – if youjoin our gym, the benefit is all yours.01625 574774 /

www.bollingtonleisure.co.uk

Choose health & leisure, not profitsBy Steven Hurst, Centre Manager, Bollington Health & Leisure Tel: 01925 768188 or 07766 290802

Email: [email protected]

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

• All candidates are thoroughly vetted, interviewed and reference checked

• Home visits, to enable us to fully understand your requirements

Leading Nanny agency throughout Cheshire and North West

Achieving the difference...

Parents’ place

16

Parents’ place

As we face regular below-freezing temperatures, we can either choose to stayhome and avoid the chill, or we can wrap everyone up and face some outdoorWinter fun. In our house an outdoor life doesn’t stop for the weather, so I havewrapped the gang up in some fab clothes from Polarn O. Pyret, a Swedishbrand that is perfect for a stylish life out in the cold. Here are two of myfavourite buys for the Winter ….

Wrap up warm this winterProducts tested by Jayne Keep

Child Puffa Jacket RRP £65Lily (6) has been sporting this coat throughoutDecember and loves it. It’s so cosy, she has oftenrefused to wear a jumper underneath as she’s sotoasty in there! Filled with a down-like fibre, thecoat is lightweight and still easy to move in. It’sgreat for extreme weathers, it keeps out the rain,snow and wind, even at the hems and cuffs as theseare adjustable for a snug fit. It features thetrademark Polarn O.Pyret thumb grips on the cuffswhich are very popular with my kids and keep littlehands that bit more snug.

Padded Child Winter Trousers RRP £65Izzy (4) has never been a fan of the cold weather sothese trousers have been fab for both her and me;they’ve kept her so snug that she doesn’t mind myrequest for “just another 10 minutes’ run for thedogs” before we go home for hot chocolate!Although these are intended for the snow, we haveused them through the whole of December just tokeep warm. They kept out the wind and rain a treat,plus Izzy found the extra padding really cosy. Thetrousers are very thick yet not bulky as they arefilled with a flexible material that gives kids greatmobility. Braces at the top and foot straps at thebottom keep any draughts well and truly out.

For more details about these products and others inthe Polarn O.Pyret range visitwww.polarnopyret.co.uk

Media Smart launches a new guidefor parents to help them educatechildren about the commercial natureof the online world.

Children may encounter all sorts ofdigital advertising on the internet, fromsearch engine results to advergames, andthis pack, developed primarily for parentsof 6-11 year olds and backed by theMinister for Children and Families,Edward Timpson, provides tips to helpparents explain the intent of onlineadvertising to children. “Parents knowbest how to bring up their children butthey expect businesses to act responsiblyin supporting them to do so,” saysTimpson. “The Parent Information Pack isan excellent example of how the

advertising and marketing industry istaking its responsibilities seriously. As afather myself, I see this as a welcomestep in equipping parents with therelevant information to help them educatetheir children in an increasingly digitalworld.” Download the free Media SmartDigital parent pack atwww.mediasmart.org.uk.

New Parent Pack launched

Baby massage has been practicedfor centuries in many cultures topromote health and wellbeing. Themany benefits of massage includerelief from common baby ailmentssuch as wind, teething and congestion,stimulating development of thenervous system and strengtheningthe immune system as well asrelaxation for deeper sleep andbonding between parent and baby.

Shelly Daniels is a qualified andinsured Baby Massage instructor whoalso holds Early Years Professional Statusand an enhanced CRB check. She’llprovide a private class in your own hometailored to your baby – either as a one toone, or in a small group of friends.

Classes cover full Baby Massage, orspecific sessions such as colic relief. Herflexible sessions include weekends andevenings, and costs include Blossom &Berry massage oil, a massage guide andinstructor travel within South Cheshire.

For more information, contact Shellyon 07952 384751 or via email:[email protected]

Baby Massage

Start the New Year as you mean togo on – less work, less stress, moreexercise, more support and morequality time with your children.

Work for yourself and run your ownsuccessful franchise business withKiddikicks toddler and child football-themed and football skills classes,sporty merchandise and cool clothing.

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

sales, marketing, recruitment or self-employed background and would like towork from home, Kiddikicks could bethe best New Year’s resolution you makeand keep.

Call them on 020 7937 7965, [email protected] or visitwww.kiddikicks.co.uk.

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

Fed up of jugglingmotherhood, workcommitments andpersonal commitments?Go for it – join thebusiness Mums!

Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk


Parents’ place

With food prices rising and incomesstagnating, many families are lookingto cut their food bill but still eat wellthis New Year. Menus4Mums, theonline family meal planners, havethese 5 tips to help us do just that.

Tip 1: Meal Plan:Start by writing a plan of what your familywill eat for the week, allowing forabsences, extra guests, or when you’llneed a quick meal. Plan a suitable mealfor each day, ensuring that you have agood balance of protein, carbohydratesand vegetables. Think about what needsusing up in your freezer or fridge. Then usethis to draw up your shopping list.Tip 2: Stick To Your List! When at the shops, stick to your shoppinglist! Try not to be tempted by extra items,and when you get to the checkout putback anything that’s slipped in (we oftensave a fiver each time we do this!). Don’tshop when you’re hungry – or you’ll endup with a trolley full of junk! If you’reeasily tempted, why not give onlinegrocery shopping a go, preferably lookingfor slots with no delivery charges.Tip 3: Watch The Deals!Check the maths on deals – somesavings are only worth a few pence, andsome aren’t savings at all. Only buy BuyOne Get One Free items if you know youwill use them both. Fresh meat can befrozen for later, but think if you’ll reallyuse up BOGOFs on fruit.Tip 4: Try Discount Supermarkets:An easy way to lower your food bill is totry the discount supermarkets such asAldi and Lidl. Menus4Mums investigatedthese for members in 2012 and were veryimpressed. Some products came withthe Good Housekeeping Institute seal ofapproval, whilst some fruit and vegetables

were organic. Price-wise, most productscame out about 30% cheaper than thestandard supermarket own-brandequivalent, making a great saving onweekly grocery bills.Tip 5: Shop Elsewhere:Try buying your meat at your local butcher– you’ll be impressed by the quality, andyou can buy exactly the quantity youwant, saving money and waste. Seasonalfruit and vegetables are often cheaper atyour local market or farm shop. And ifyou run out of milk mid-week, pop in toyour local corner shop rather than yoursupermarket. That way you’ll just buy themilk rather than spend an extra £20 onitems you didn’t know you needed.

Why not see if you can shave £20 offyour shopping bill this week? Over amonth that is £80 saved, and £960 over ayear……. And if you need any help orinspiration for meal planning, do checkMenus4Mums out. They help busy parentsditch the takeaways and ready meals andserve up tasty, healthy food for their families,saving them time and money in thekitchen. Visit www.menus4mums.co.ukfor more information and to download aFREE one week sample meal plan.

ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY?One Families reader can win a 6 monthmembership to Menus4Mums, whichincludes a new meal plan each week fordinners the whole family will enjoy,together with recipe cards and a handyshopping list broken down intosupermarket aisles. The meals takeadvantage of supermarket special offersto keep grocery bills down.

To enter, just go towww.familiescheshire.co.uk.Competition closes Thursday 28 February.

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

1.Child Benefit is not beingstopped for high earners. Anyonereceiving Child Benefit, regardless oftheir income, is entitled to carry onreceiving it. But from 7 January 2013,high earners may have to pay a taxcharge on any Child Benefit paymentsthey or their partner receive. Thisapplies whether they’re married or not.

2. The tax charge increases in linewith your income. For every £100 ofincome you or your partner havebetween £50,000 and £60,000, thereis a tax charge of 1% of your total ChildBenefit. Once your annual income is£60,000 or more, the tax charge isequal to the Child Benefit payments.It’s the higher earner who pays the tax.

3. Your income is based onyour adjusted net income. Evenif you or your partner have anincome of £50,000 a year or more,you may find that the tax chargedoesn’t apply. This is because thetax charge is based on youradjusted net income. This is yourincome less any payments youmake to a pension scheme,donations to charity through GiftAid and reductions due tomembership of salary sacrificeschemes (such as childcarevouchers and the cycle to workscheme). You could even considerincreasing payments to your pension,for example, to bring your annualadjusted net income down.

4. You can choose to keep or stopreceiving Child Benefit. If you oryour partner’s adjusted net income isover £60,000, it could make sense tostop receiving Child Benefit as the taxcharge will wipe out any financial gainto you and you won’t have to completea tax return. But if you don’t knowexactly how much your income willbe, or you’re under the £60,000threshold, it’s best to carry on getting it.

5. If you decide to keep ChildBenefit, you’ll have to do a taxreturn. If either you or your partnerhas an adjusted net income of£50,000 or more then the highestearner must complete a tax return,declaring the Child Benefit asincome. It’s that person’sresponsibility to make sure they’re

Five things you need to know about thechanges to child benefit

registered for self-assessment by 6October 2013 or they’ll face a penalty.They then have until 31 October 2013 tofile their return with HMRC (or 31January 2014 if filing online).

This information was provided to Familiesby MoneyVista; a free online service thatprovides access to financial experts. Byentering your information, Money Vistaworks out what tax and national insuranceyou pay, your projected state pension andwhat your savings, investments andproperty might be worth in the future.Joining all these elements together letsyou see the impact on your overall plan offinancial decisions you are considering.See www.moneyvista.com

Check out the new gift sets from

banana lane, to get free delivery

just enter FREEPP at checkout.


Travel

How to have your best family holiday everJoanna Moorhead, who has been planning her family’s holidays for the last 20 years, sharesher insider tips to help you plan for a holiday to remember in 2013

1. Don’t cut corners. To get the rightholiday, you may have to spend a longtime on research. Don’t begrudge thistime, and don’t expect the perfectholiday to fall into your lap without it:after your mortgage, your car and (ifyou’re paying them) your child’sschool or university costs, the moneyyou spend on your holiday is yourbiggest outlay. So doing the homeworkmatters. Start with a list of what sort ofholiday you’re looking for – the locationyou’re after, what facilities you needclose by, what sort of accommodationyou need, how far it needs to be fromthe airport, and so on. Give yourselfparameters, and then get googling.Keep a list of possibleresorts/villas/hotels; whittle it down toa shortlist; and then make a decision.

2. Don’t expect a bargain. After twodecades of planning holidays for myfamily (my children are aged betweenten and 20), I’m sure of one thing: whereschool holidays are concerned, bargainsare as rare as hen’s teeth. Far better tostart from the premise that you’ll getwhat you pay for. Look for the best deal,the best quality that you can possiblyafford: but if somewhere seems a lotcheaper than other places, scrutiniseit very carefully indeed.

3. Space is crucial. You know thoseplaces that say ‘sleeps 4/6’ and turnout, on closer inspection, to have apull-down bed in the sitting room?Avoid them (at full capacity) like theplague. Squeezing as many people aspossible in is fine for students, lessgood for grown-ups. You want a bit ofluxury on holiday – and space is luxurious.

4. Location, location, location. Justas when you’re buying a house, this isyour number one priority. Some of thevillas I’ve looked at for my family’sholiday this year are twice the price ofothers, simply because of where theyare. And guess what: I can understandwhy. On holiday I want a great view andshops and restaurants we can walk to.If you’ve got younger children, a beachwithin walking distance may be yournumber one location priority. Knowwhat you need, and don’t settle for less.

5. Friends matter, so think very carefullyabout who to holiday with. Howeverclose you are, nothing scratches awayat a friendship’s weakest points asmuch as sharing two weeks together.You think you know that couple, andyou think you like their kids? Take itfrom me, you’re going to know a lot moreabout them, and you may have totallyreassessed their kids, by the flight home.

6. Be honest about the sort ofexperience you want. Holidays aren’ttimes to be aspirational, or eyeing upthe Joneses, or following the in-crowd.They’re about being honest about howyou’d really love to spend a fortnightwith your family – and who cares whatanyone else might think. You don’tneed anyone else’s approval, or envy,for the holiday you choose: what thisis about is working out what’s right foryour family, and making it happen.

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

you get both busy days andmore relaxed ones is simplyto alternate them. If you wentto a water park yesterday,relax by the pool today. If youwent fell-walking yesterday,read a book and have a cream teatoday. Overloading is the enemy ofa good holiday.

8. Don’t over-plan: have ideas, butleave space to be open to what youfind when you get there. It’s wellworth doing some research aboutthe area you’ll be staying in –essential, in fact – but it’s a mistaketo plan every dot and comma of yourstay before you even touch down.You want to explore, to discover, tobe surprised, to make friends – andall these things will only happen ifyou’ve left the space for them tounfold. So, for as much knowledgeas you’ve learned beforehand,always be flexible about what you’regoing to find out, and want to do,when you actually get there.

9. Embrace change: as your familygrows up, be ready to move on tonew destinations and newexperiences. For three yearsrunning my family had wonderfulholidays in a hilltop villa in inland,northern Mallorca. It was perfect forus: but by the third year it wasobvious my older daughters neededsomething more: shops, places tohang out, a beach they could walkto. I was desperately unhappy aboutgiving up the villa: but guess what?The following year I foundsomewhere even better.

Fantastic family holidays don’t just happen. They’re crafted, often by hours of work from one or both parents, who spendendless amounts of time planning, plotting, budgeting and making sure safety nets are in place to stop hiccups becomingdisasters. Of course everyone loves spontaneity – but for spontaneous decision to be possible, especially where a family withchildren are concerned, a framework has to be in place...and getting that framework right is the backbone of every holiday.

10. Set boundaries. It might be aholiday, but rules ensure everyone –especially the parents – get a break.If your children are younger, thoserules might be about bedtime (youneed some time with your partner, soletting your kids stay up all eveningmight not be the best move), or abouttime for the children to go to thecrèche; if your children are older, therules might be about sharing thewashing up, or about how muchcontact you need to have with themthrough the day. But put your rules inplace, because then everyone canrelax and have what they came to do:have a wonderful fortnight away.

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

Image: Ski Famille

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www.familiescheshire.co.uk | Families Cheshire

Where to go...the AlpsThe Alps are much too good to save foryour skiing holidays – in fact, thosewho’ve tried the area summer and winteroften say summer is the best time to bethere. For a wonderful family Alpineholiday, you’ll be hard-pressed toimprove on the Chilly Powder formula –choose from a luxurious hotel or a villa,all set in a biscuit-tin picture-perfectlocation, complete with in-chaletchildcare and – for the foodies – an in-chalet chef. Sports on offer include whitewater rafting, rock-climbing, trekking,tennis and summer tobogganing (whichis one of the most fun summer sports I’veever tried, and kids adore it). Prices varydepending on what sort of package you’reafter, but as a for-instance, Chalet desAmis (three bedrooms; sleeps up toeight) is £1,200 in the midsummer.More information atwww.chillypowder.com

Where to go...north DevonDevon is one of the UK’s most popularholiday destinations, and for good reason:wonderful beaches, plenty to do (even inthe rain), beautiful scenery and a widechoice of where to stay. Libbear Barton, acountry estate on the north side of thecounty, hits just the right note of luxury(beamed cottages that are beautifully laidout and furnished) and has everything onhand, from stairgates to babysitters, forthe hard-pressed family. There’s an indoorpool, games room, play areas inside andout, fishing lake and woods – all on arolling, 40-acre estate, and with the sea ahalf hour’s drive away. Perfect for bigfamilies or families holidaying together –the farmhouse sleeps up to 14. Pricesvary, but for example Moley’s Place,sleeping eight in four bedrooms, costsaround £1,700 a week in high summer.More information atwww.libbearbarton.co.uk

Ski with an independent tour operator Established 21 years ago, Ski Familleoffers families a range of handpickedproperties in France and Austria. Allchalet holidays include 5 days of freechildcare and all properties are skiin/ski out or very close to the piste.Chris Thompson, managing directorsays: "the business has a high rate ofrepeat business and the majority of newguests choose Ski Famille as the resultof a personal recommendation.” TheSki Famille office team are all keenskiers or boarders with young childrenof their own so they know how toensure families book the rightholiday for their needs.More information atwww.skifamille.co.uk

Stay on a Farm Farm Stay UK is a farmers cooperativethat celebrates its 30th birthday nextyear. All its members are working farms,small holders or rural enterprises andthey offer holiday accommodationranging from B&B in a farmhouse to self-catering in converted barns and even a converted pig sty. Many also runtraditional campsites. Chief ExecutiveAndy Woodward says “In the last fewyears many of our members have begunto offer alternative accommodation suchas pods, wigwams and shepherds huts.Facilities at each site will differ with somebeing part of an established campsite,and others are part of a smaller venue.”For more details visitwww.Farmstay.co.uk and if you areinterested in staying in a pod, wigwam orshepherds hut search for “alternative &camping” in the “accommodation type” field.

Check this out! Arctic Force Crossbow fires snowballsup to 60ft away, faster than youropponents can run! The powerfulcrossbow is fired holding onto thehandle at arm’s length with an easy topull mechanism that blasts snowballswith awesome speed. Cool or what?For ages 8+, RRP £29.99.www.firebox.com


What’s on

A grand day out: NationalRailway Museum, YorkBy Caryl Hall

While we love Cheshire and all itshistory and attractions, we recentlyheaded further afield to visit theNational Railway Museum in York.

Fully expecting to be bored witless bymy better half and my sons ogling atbits of machinery, I found myself captivatedby the collection of over 100 locomotivesand other items that tell the railway storyfrom the early 19th century to the modernday. There’s a fantastic display of royal‘Palaces on Wheels’, from the opulentcarriages of Queen Victoria to thearmour-plated war transport of GeorgeVI, as well as The Flying ScotsmanStory, and you can climb aboard theJapanese Bullet Train (Shinkansen) thatwas built in 1976, and travelled at a topspeed of 130 miles per hour.

Children (and adults) will love theminiature 7¼" gauge train in the SouthYard, and there’s a great play areabeside it where the younger ones canwork off some energy.

Fill those rumbling tummies at oneof two restaurants, both offering aquality selection of food and drink, andtake an exhilarating trip in the simulator,with a choice of rides including a KiddieRollercoaster and a Space ShuttleMission. Probably best to do this beforethe food! My six year old declared that “theincinerator” was the best part of the dayfor him!

There’s so much to do at the museum,you may well run out of time to samplethe other attractions in the historic cityof York – but try if you can. Just a 10minute walk (or catch a ride on themuseum’s land train) will get you into theheart of the city where you can ride TheWheel of York, take a wander down TheShambles and marvel at the beauty ofthe York Minster. The best resource formore kiddie-friendly activities in the areais our sister publication Families Vale ofYork – www.familiesvoy.co.uk.

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

Fri 18 JanThe LowryUnder 5s Doodle Tots10 – 10.45am, 11.15 – 12pmAge 2½ – 4½, £3.50Paint, stick and make your works of art ina friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Don’tworry, aprons are provided!0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Sat 19 JanImperial War Museum, NorthOpen Studio: Shaping Up 11am – 12.30pm and 3pm – 4.30pm, FreeExploring the Holocaust Memorial Daytheme of ‘Communities Together’, thisspecial session follows the tale of a groupof shapes who discover how much betterthings can be when we all get along. Thisfamily friendly session also includes acreative activity themed to shapes and patterns.www.iwm.org.uk

Sat 26 JanNantwich Town CentreThe Battle of NantwichThe annual re-enactment of the Battle ofNantwich 1644. Admission to Mill Islandfor those that want to get even closer tothe action will be £1 Children, £3 Adults,£5 Family ticket (2 adults, 2 children).There is a host of free street entertainmentthroughout the town.www.battleofnantwich.co.uk

Tues 29 JanPeople’s History Museum, ManchesterMr Ordinary’s Prize11am – 12pm, £1 per child, adults free,Suitable for under 5s, Booking advisedFun interactive story session withpuppets, song, dance and a craft activity.Someone has stolen Mr Ordinary’sThinking and Doing! What will he dowithout them? Join in the adventure as MrOrdinary and his friends try to get them back.0161 838 9190 / www.phm.org.uk

Fri 1 FebThe LowryUnder 5s Tiny Tots Tales10 – 10.45am, 11.15 – 12pmAge 2½ – 4½, £3.50A magical journey through books andstories to explore mythical worlds andmeet some interesting characters alongthe way. Explore imaginary worlds throughsound, movement, rhyme and song.0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

ActivitiesFri 11 JanManchester Art GalleryMini Art Club10.15 – 11.15am / 11.30am – 12.30pm, FreeCreative play for 2 – 5 year olds and theirgrown ups. Please call one week inadvance to reserve your place.0161 235 8888 /www.manchestergalleries.org

Every Sat & Sun in JanTrentham Gardens, Stoke on TrentIce Rink11am – 4pm, Age 5+Adult £8.50, Child (5-15) £6.75,Spectator £3.50A real ice rink in a beautiful lakesidesetting. Hot and cold drinks and snacksare available at the rink side. Prices arefor 45 min sessions, and include boothire and entry to the gardens. Childrenage 5 – 8 must be accompanied on theice, ages 9 – 15 must be supervised.Booking advisable.01782 646646 / www.trentham.co.uk

Sat 12 & Sun 13 JanManchester Art GalleryImagine12 – 4pm, Free. Experiment and play withthe material of the month - Paper. 0161 235 8888 /www.manchestergalleries.org

Sat 12 & 26 JanThe LowrySaturday Playhouse 11am – 12.30pm, Age 5 – 11, £3.5012 Jan: Shazam! Alakazam! CelebrateThe Arabian Nights by creating a magicalgiant pop-up book. 26 Jan: Circus Mobiles - The MoscowState Circus is in town, so to celebratewe’ll be use paper and add some glitz tocut, stick and create fantastic circus mobiles!0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Sun 13, 20 & 27 JanImperial War Museum, NorthHotspots2.30pm, Free. Creative session using arange of art and craft materials to helpyou make your own unique souvenir totake home and keep.www.iwm.org.uk

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

Saturday Playhouse

he Battle of Nantwich

Wheel of York

York Minster

The Shambles


What’s onFri 1 Feb & Fri 1 MarManchester Art GalleryBaby Art Club10.15 – 11am / 11.30 – 12.15pm / 1.15 – 2pm / 2.30 – 3.15 pm, FreeUse all your senses to explore our artist'sspace. For babies who aren't walking yet,with an adult carer. Limited placesavailable, please book one week in advance.0161 235 8888 /www.manchestergalleries.org

Every Sat & Sun in Feb andMon 18 - Sun 24 FebTrentham Gardens, Stoke on TrentIce Rink11am – 4pm, Age 5+Adult £8.50, Child (5-15) £6.75,Spectator £3.50A real ice rink in a beautiful lakesidesetting. Hot and cold drinks and snacksare available at the rink side. Prices arefor 45 min sessions, and include boothire and entry to the gardens. Childrenages 5 – 8 must be accompanied on theice, ages 9 – 15 must be supervised.Booking advisable.01782 646646 / www.trentham.co.uk

Sat 2 Feb – Sun 10 MarRode Hall and Gardens, Scholar GreenSnowdrop walks12 – 4pm (closed Mondays)01270 873237 / www.rodehall.co.uk

Sat 2 & 16 FebThe LowrySaturday Playhouse 2 Feb: Pop Star Looks - Design your ownPop Star look based on Peter Blake’s workin our fabulous Pop Art Exhibition.16 Feb: Pop Art Pop Stars! Make andpaint a life size pop art pop star you!0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Sat 2 FebManchester Art GalleryFamily Art Club1 – 3pm, FreeCreate together in our special artist ledworkshops for 6 – 11s. No need to book,but sign-in starts at 12.30pm.0161 235 8888 /www.manchestergalleries.org

Jodrell BankStar Party – Mars Rover Challenge6pm, Adult £15, Child (7 – 14) £12 Do you have what it takes to create andland a Rover? With Stargazing, funactivities and dinner included.www.jodrellbank.net/families

Sun 3 FebKingsway School (Lower site),Cheadle SK8 1NPKids Car Boot & Swap Shop10am – 12pm, Pitch costs £15www.kidscarbootandswapshop.co.uk

Thurs 7 FebStockport Air Raid SheltersChildren’s Explorer Tours6.45 – 8pmAge 7+, Adult £3.95, Child £3, Bookingessential. Brave the darkened tunnels asyou go back in time and experience thelife of a child during the war. Childrenmust be accompanied.0161 474 1940 /www.stockport.gov.uk/airraidshelters

Fri 8 FebManchester Art GalleryMini Art Club10.15 – 11.15am / 11.30am – 12.30pm,FreeMake friends, make noise, make a messin our art club specially for 2 – 5s. Joinour artists to explore paper in our specialsensory sessions. Please call one week inadvance to reserve your place.0161 235 8888 /www.manchestergalleries.org

Sun 10 FebManchester Art GalleryChinese New Year12 – 4pm, Free. Kung Hei Fat Choi!Happy Chinese New Year! Join thecelebrations as we mark the beginning ofthe Year of the Snake with our neighboursin Manchester's Chinese community.0161 235 8888 /www.manchestergalleries.org

Mon 11 – Fri 15 FebThe LowryHalf Term Little Artists: Puppet Masters!11am – 12.20pm, Age 5 – 11, £3.50Be inspired by the characters andornate artwork of the stories of theArabian Nights and Aladdin and

make beautiful shadow puppets out of cardboard, coloured acetate, laceand feathers. Take your puppets homeand re-tell the tales!0843 208 6000 /www.thelowry.com

Tues 12 – Thurs 14 & Tues 19 – Thurs 21 FebThe LowryHalf Term Little Actors11am – 12.20pm. Age 5 – 11, £3.50An energetic, interactive drama sessionplaying games, creating magical worldsand mythical characters from some ofyour favourite stories. This half term wewill explore Aladdin’s cave, the land ofSleeping Beauty and Rapunzel’s Tall Tower.0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Tues 12 & Thurs 14 FebHatworks, StockportCreative Recycling10.3am – 12pm and 1 – 2.30pmAges 5 – 11, £3.50, Booking essentialVisit the Redesigning Fashion exhibitionfor inspiration to make something newand exciting out of recycled materials.0161 474 2400 /www.stockport.gov.uk/hatworks

Fri 15 February The LowryUnder 5s Doodle Tots10 – 10.45am, 11.15 – 12pm. Age 2½ – 4½,£3.50. Paint, stick and make your worksof art in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.Don’t worry, aprons are provided!0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Sat 16 – Sun 24 Feb People’s History Museum, ManchesterDemon Drink? Craft Table10am – 5pm, Free, Drop in, suitable forall ages. Become the King or Queen ofTemperance and make your ownTemperance Crown to take home with youat our craft table inspired by our fabchanging exhibition, Demon Drink?Temperance and the Working Class.0161 838 9190 / www.phm.org.uk

Tatton ParkScarecrow FestivalVisit Tatton's Scarecrow Festival in the Gardensand at the Farm. Over 30 scarecrows will beresident in the Gardens. Find the farmyardscarecrows and have a go at making yourown. Closed Mon 18 Feb. Normal admissioncosts and park entry charges apply.01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Mon 18 – Fri 22 FebQuarry Bank Mill, StyalAll the colours of the rainbow12 – 4pm, Normal admission applies, 50pper trail. Have a go at tie-dye samples atthe drop-in activity in the Mill and chase thecolours through the Mill with our family trail. 01625 527468 /www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank-mill

The LowryHalf Term Little Artists: Aladdin's CaveA colourful art and craft workshopinspired by the fantastic tale Aladdin.There’s a choice of creative activities totry – from making your own treasure boxto decorating a magic lamp and evenweaving a mini flying carpet!11am – 12.20pmAge 5 – 11, £3.500843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Tues 19 FebPeople’s History Museum, ManchesterPauly’s War: Growing Up & theManchester Blitz1.15 – 2pm, Free, Age 7+, no bookingrequiredMeet Pauly, a young girl growing up inManchester during World War II, and seearchive film and specially commissionedanimation. Stay around until 2.30pm andmeet evacuee Terry Perkins and find outabout the effect the Blitz had on him as achild.0161 838 9190 / www.phm.org.uk

Tues 19 & Wed 20 FebTatton ParkDeer Feed and Trailer Ride Age 4+, Adult £6, Child £4 per child(Includes park entry), Booking essentialTake a trailer ride with the rangers towatch the daily deer feed. Get a closelook at hundreds of deer feeding in theirbeautiful natural setting. 01625 374428 /www.tattonpark.org.uk

Tues 19, Thurs 21 & Fri 22 FebManchester Art GalleryThe Blow up Lab1 – 3pm, Free. Enlarge your world! Tinydetails become enormously importantas you use microscopes and scannersto make art and experiment in ouroversized projection space. Led byartist Harriet Hall and inspired by thework of Cornelia Parker that features inour Focal Points exhibition. No need tobook but sign in starts at 12.30pm.0161 235 8888 /www.manchestergalleries.org

Trentham Ice Rink

Chinese New Year

Snowdrop walks


What’s onWed 20 FebPeople’s History Museum, ManchesterStunning Sashes1.30 – 3.30pm, Free, Age 5+, no bookingrequired. Be inspired by the beautiful sashesin our Demon Drink? exhibition and create yourown to wear on a march through the museum.0161 838 9190 / www.phm.org.uk

Quarry Bank Mill, StyalColour Workshop12.30 – 1.30pm, 1.30 – 2.30pm, 2.30 – 3.30pm.Child £3 Print your own colourful bag.01625 527468 /www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank-mill

Thurs 21 FebTatton ParkBird Brained 10am - 12 noon, Age 8+, £9, Bookingessential. Calling all young ornithologists!Build a bird box to put up in your garden.Help our feathered friends by makingsome natural bird-feeders to take home andbring your binoculars to explore the birdlife. 01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Tues 26 FebPeople’s History Museum, ManchesterBeeing Special11am – 12pm, £1 per child, adults free,Suitable for under 5s, Booking advised.Meet Little Bee, the bee who wants to bedifferent. Join in the busy bee dance,search for flowers in the museum andfollow Little Bee’s adventure to find outhow he becomes the hero of VictorianManchester. Fun interactive story sessionwith puppets, song, dance and a craft activity.0161 838 9190 / www.phm.org.uk

Fri 1 MarThe LowryUnder 5s Tiny Tots Tales10 – 10.45am, 11.15 – 12pm. Age 2½ –4½, £3.50. A magical journey through booksand stories to explore mythical worlds andmeet some interesting characters along theway. Explore imaginary worlds through sound,movement, rhyme and song.0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Sat 2 MarManchester Art GalleryFamily Art Club1 – 3pm, Free. Create together in ourspecial artist led workshops for 6-11s. Noneed to book, but sign-in starts at 12.30pm.0161 235 8888 /www.manchestergalleries.org

Sun 3 MarKingsway School (Lower site),Cheadle SK8 1NPKids Car Boot & Swap Shop10am – 12pm, Pitch costs £15www.kidscarbootandswapshop.co.uk

Fri 8 MarManchester Art GalleryMini Art Club10.15 – 11.15am / 11.30am – 12.30pm,Free. Make friends, make noise, make amess in our art club specially for 2 – 5s.Join our artists to explore paper in ourspecial sensory sessions. Please call oneweek in advance to reserve your place.0161 235 8888 /www.manchestergalleries.org

FAMILY SHOWSFri 11 – Sun 20 JanWaterside Arts Centre, SaleJack & The BeanstalkSale Nomads Theatre Club’s traditionalfamily panto. 2 for 1 tickets on selected shows0161 912 5616 /www.watersideartscentre.co.uk

Sat 12 – Sat 19 JanDaneside Theatre, CongletonSleeping BeautyPresented by Congleton Pantomime.01260 271095 /www.danesidetheatre.co.uk

Tues 15 – Thus 17 JanManchester Opera HouseMoscow City Ballet's Swan LakeMoscow City Ballet is currently at itsoutstanding artistic best – winning newinvitations to perform internationally. This istheir signature piece of their entire repertoire.The orchestra, choreography, interpretation,beauty and outstanding virtuosoperformance repeatedly win rave reviews.0844 871 7660 /www.manchestertheatres.com

Wed 16 – Sat 19 JanThe Grange Theatre, HartfordOliver!This classic musical is brought to you bythe Knutsford Musical Theatre Company.01565 634551 / www.kmtc.org.uk

Thurs 17 – Sun 20 JanThe Little Theatre, KnutsfordBilly Bun and the Four WishesThe Kingdom of Harmonia is preparing foran historic jubilee event. But, will the evilsorceress and her subterranean goblinarmy spoil the celebrations? Why are BillyBun and his donkey, Peat, journeying throughthe faerie forest to the Place of Harmony?01565 633000 /www.knutsfordlittletheatre.com

Mon 21 – Sat 26 JanMADS Theatre, MacclesfieldDick WhittingtonA classic panto presented by theaward winning Macclesfield MajesticTheatre Group.07875 149943 / www.mmtg.co.uk

Wed 23 JanThe LowryThe TempestShakespeare 4 Kidz presents The Tempest– a mystical, magical, mysterious,musical romantic comedy of revenge, afather’s love for his daughter and themisuse of power.0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Thurs 24 - Sun 27 JanThe LowryThe Moscow State Circus - BabushkinSekret

A mammoth cast of Russia's greatest andmost talented circus artistes combinecontemporary and classical circus topresent breath-taking acts.0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Sat 26 & Sun 27 JanManchester ArenaThe X Factor Live0844 847 8000 / www.men-arena.com

Mon 28 JanBuxton Opera HouseFarm BoyThe compelling sequel to the award-winning War Horse is a moving accountof the changing face of the Englishcountryside and a beautifully-craftedreminder that stories really can reach outacross the generations. Recommendedfor families and children aged 7+0845 127 2190 /www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

Thurs 31 Jan & Fri 1 FebManchester ArenaStrictly Come Dancing – The Live Tour0844 847 8000 / www.men-arena.com

Fri 8 FebStockport PlazaDance ExtravaganzaThe very best in live stageentertainment…. a perfect family showfor all ages!0161 477 7779 /www.stockportplaza.co.uk

Sun 10 FebPavilion Arts Centre Studio, BuxtonThe NightingaleThis age old story from Hans ChristianAndersen is brought to you by Horse +Bamboo and told through a mesmerisingblend of masks, puppetry, animation,vivid performance and original music.Suitable for ages 4+0845 127 2190 /www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

Sat 16 FebThe LowryGuinness World Records: OfficiallyAmazing Science Live!For the first time ever, direct from itsLondon HQ, Guinness World Recordsarrives on stage with its officiallyamazing, record-breaking, science mad,all new live show. Join our OfficialGuinness World Records Adjudicatorand team of presenters in genuineaudience record attempts; unleash yourinner skills, understand the world welive in and see if you too can be arecord breaker!0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

Sun 17 FebThe LowryWhy The Lion DancedAll the excitement, colour and sounds ofthe Chinese New Year are brought toyou in this inventive productionfeaturing live music, song and dance byYellow Earth, the award winning BritishEast Asian Theatre Company. Suitablefor ages 5+.0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

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


What’s on

Tues 26 FebManchester Opera HouseYamato DrummersYamato are master performers. They takethe ancient art of taiko drumming andbring it bang up-to-date in an exhilaratingdisplay of expertise and athleticism thathas thrilled audiences worldwide.0844 871 7660 /www.manchestertheatres.com

Sat 2 MarPavilion Arts Centre Studio, BuxtonThe Elephant BridesmaidA magical musical about weddings andwombats and the loveliest elephant theworld has ever known. For ages 4 – 104.0845 127 2190 /www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

Tue 5 March - Sat 9 MarchThe LowryHorrible Histories - Terrible Tudors &Vile VictoriansWe all want to meet people from history– the trouble is everyone is dead! Usingactors and ground-breaking 3D specialeffects, these two astounding shows areguaranteed to thrill as historical figuresand events come alive on stage andhover at your fingertips.0843 208 6000 / www.thelowry.com

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Families Cheshire Jan-Feb 2013