Monday 29 June 2015

A visit to my local children's centre

My youngest, Oscar (Oz), will be two next month and  recently with less work commitment I've been venturing out with him to visit friends and family.
Today how ever I decided to visit my local children's centre. These are located nationwide and offer a free service that includes stay and play sessions with snack time for 0-5 years (and 0-11 years in the school holidays), breastfeeding work shops, weigh in sessions, advice work shops, first aid work shops and much much more! 

Nantwich & Rural Children's centre. Source cheshireeast.gov.uk

I honestly only really went to a children's centre properly with my first born for regular weigh in sessions and then with Oscar for weigh ins too, I never thought about anything else they offered until now. 

A post came up on my Facebook with activities for July/August for my local centre and I shared it. One of the mums from school noticed and cut a long story short we have now booked in for a day trip to Llandudno together with our kids which will be great fun. 
Whilst I was at the centre booking for the trip I had a tour and was really impressed. They had a fab sensory room for babies and lots of toys for the older ones to play with, was spacious and seemed really popular with the staff being really approachable, so I made a vow is return with Oscar.

Today we went to the stay and play session which runs from 9:15 til 11:00 AM, I invited my sister along with her daughter who is the same age as Oscar as I felt she'd enjoy it too and I wasn't wrong! They were shy at first but once introduced to a few toys they were both well away and enjoying themselves. Oscar who normally doesn't like to share was happy to have another boy sit and play with him. We spent the first hour or so with the trains and then outside where there was a hut, a play trough with diggers in and what I think was rice crispies and also a few ride on toys.

Outside play area. Source chesireeast.gov.uk

 Next was snack time, the children were sat at small tables with bowls of food to pick. They were given grapes, cheese cubes, bread sticks, bananas, apple pieces, oranges and a cup of water or milk. Oscar sat down nicely and really enjoyed all of the snacks, he sipped his water and was really good throughout. After they'd finished we all helped tidy up and went through to the sensory room for a story and then we sang a few songs. Oscar didn't really enjoy this part though, he just wanted the toys.

I'd really recommend all mums and dads visit a children centre at least once, if you don't like it then fair enough but I know I get cabin fever just from spending a day at home, I'm always needing to do something and it normally has to be out of the house. Not only that but it gave me a chance to meet other mums, to socialise and for Oscar to play with children of his own age. He gets shy easily so I feel taking him along to these sessions not only helps him build confidence but will hopefully also help prepare him for when he eventually attends preschool. I also found that he really enjoyed the huge array of toys (what child wouldn't!) and they have a messy substation too, I know sometimes it's not always possible to get out paints and other messy items for toddlers at home as it usually ends up all over so it gives them a chance to get mucky but without the worry for mum and dads of how much mess and how to clean it as its all in one place and the lovely ladies are on hand to help with the cleaning!

Check out your local children's centre, they're free and you'll be surprised at what they offer for parents and children.


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