Yesterday I took my three year old to Ordsall Hall in Salford. It's a former stately home dating back to Tudor times. After some restoration work, it's been re-opened to the public and also receives visits from schools as well as hosting public events.
Story-Time
If the above makes me sound like one of those pushy parents who force-feeds their kids schooling in an effort to turn them into child-prodigies, let me explain.
On Wednesday, they run a story/play-time session for kids and my particular kid loves it. The sessions take place in the Great Chamber. According to the website, this was where 'the lady of the house would pass on valuable skills to her daughters'. Yesterday it was where my son publicly demonstrated his new-found fondness for shouting out 'willy' and 'poo'. Things have gone downhill over the years.
Anyway, I wanted to mention activities for pre-school children as I think they're very good for them.
In the last few years, my wife and I have taken our son to loads of these sessions. They have helped turn a shy child, who recoiled when he walked into a room of more than three people, into a kid who relishes shouting (what for him are) obscenities in front of a crowd. Okay, so maybe that isn't the best way of selling it.
I have seen how groups such as this help kids in the following ways:
Socialising
My son interacts a lot better now whenever he meets someone new. As an only child he wouldn't have had a regular opportunity to do this. A lot of parents I've spoken to about this say the same.
Develop initiative
These sessions usually provide the opportunity for unstructured play where the child is given free reign to play how they choose. Sounds simple but this is great for allowing them to develop independence and initiative.
Access to equipment
Not every child will be lucky enough to have a sandpit/trike/swing at home.
Access to support
The SureStart centre we took our boy to provided information and contact for speech therapy when we had concerns about his speech development. A lot better than taking him to the local park and hoping to strike up a conversation with a passing Speech Therapist.
SureStarts do a lot of great work and provide a wide range of support for families.
They're cheap
This is appreciated more by the parents but it still counts. They might ask for a contribution but it's usually voluntary and still works out a lot cheaper than the vast majority of activities for kids out there.
Meet other parents/carers
Yes, another benefit for the parents but if you're at home with a baby/toddler all day a bit of adult conversation is welcome.
If you have young kids I would urge you to check out community groups. There are lots of benefits and they always have lots of fun.
For those local to Swinton and surrounding areas, I may do a little run-down of the ones we took our son to past and present.
Thursday 31 July 2014
Thursday 24 July 2014
Why Your Kids Shouldn't Develop Their OWN Interests
Before I became a dad, I remember thinking that I wouldn't be the sort of parent that forces their kids to become carbon copies of them. It's almost as if they had kids just so there were more versions of them running around the place. How vain and self-absorbed would you have to be?
Taking Your Baby To The Match
One of the ways parents may do this is by foisting their own interests on their offspring. I mentioned my interest in rugby league in the previous post. At matches I have seen many babies cradled lovingly in their father's arms crying imploringly while he yells obscenities at the referee.
I happen to think a stadium full of sports fans is not the best place for a baby. But when you are ensuring he/she carries on the family legacy of fandom, it is never too early to swaddle them in the club's colours and take them along to the match. I used to think this form of parenting was misguided and a bit sad in a way. Now, I sort of understand.
Out Of My Depth
My three year old is developing an avid interest in machinery. He is fascinated particularly by lawnmowers. He constantly asks me questions about how engines work. His questions are very rudimentary at the moment but I am already stretched to the limit when answering.
Soon, my son will think I am stupid when I am stumped by his enquiries. How can a grown-up not know about engines, he will think. Because I have never bothered to find out. Because I am not the slightest bit interested.
Already he is developing his own interests. They are different to mine. This is slightly worrying for two reasons:
Finding Their Own Way...Despite The Risk
At this point I recall my sporty dad, eyes glazed over as he sat through an interminable carol concert waiting to hear me pluck 'In The Bleak Midwinter' alongside my fellow guitar-novices back when I was 11. His body remains bereft of musical bones but he was enthusiastic that I try everything. Every involvement I had with sport was initiated by me, not him.
I want my son to find his own way. I don't want him to be a carbon copy of me. I wouldn't wish that on anyone! But it would be nice if our interests overlap at least a bit. I'd watch him as Danny in Grease but I'd like to be able to talk about the Salford game in the bar afterwards!
Taking Your Baby To The Match
One of the ways parents may do this is by foisting their own interests on their offspring. I mentioned my interest in rugby league in the previous post. At matches I have seen many babies cradled lovingly in their father's arms crying imploringly while he yells obscenities at the referee.
I happen to think a stadium full of sports fans is not the best place for a baby. But when you are ensuring he/she carries on the family legacy of fandom, it is never too early to swaddle them in the club's colours and take them along to the match. I used to think this form of parenting was misguided and a bit sad in a way. Now, I sort of understand.
Out Of My Depth
My three year old is developing an avid interest in machinery. He is fascinated particularly by lawnmowers. He constantly asks me questions about how engines work. His questions are very rudimentary at the moment but I am already stretched to the limit when answering.
Soon, my son will think I am stupid when I am stumped by his enquiries. How can a grown-up not know about engines, he will think. Because I have never bothered to find out. Because I am not the slightest bit interested.
Already he is developing his own interests. They are different to mine. This is slightly worrying for two reasons:
- How can we bond as father and son? He will want to be shown how to strip an engine (is that even the phrase?!) and I won't be able to show him. He will feel he lacks a strong father figure in his life and we will drift apart.
- Even if we get round the whole engine problem, what other interests could he develop that vary wildly from my own? What nightmare performance would I have to sit through? Please God, don't let him be into musicals!
Finding Their Own Way...Despite The Risk
At this point I recall my sporty dad, eyes glazed over as he sat through an interminable carol concert waiting to hear me pluck 'In The Bleak Midwinter' alongside my fellow guitar-novices back when I was 11. His body remains bereft of musical bones but he was enthusiastic that I try everything. Every involvement I had with sport was initiated by me, not him.
I want my son to find his own way. I don't want him to be a carbon copy of me. I wouldn't wish that on anyone! But it would be nice if our interests overlap at least a bit. I'd watch him as Danny in Grease but I'd like to be able to talk about the Salford game in the bar afterwards!
Friday 18 July 2014
Why I Want My Son To Be A Salford Fan
I'll start with a confession. Though a Swinton resident, I'm not actually a Salford Reds fan (or a Swinton one for that matter).
In rugby league terms, I'm used to being a traitor though. I was born in Warrington but thanks to my Uncle's influence, I grew up and remain a Wigan fan.
On the whole, I've been very lucky. As a kid I got to enjoy many trips to Wembley to see my heroes hoist the Challenge Cup. I saw world class players grace my team's pitch.
Fans of other clubs experienced far less of this as a result of Wigan's sheer dominance of the game. Especially before Super League came along.
No Mates
As an 'out of towner' though, I feel I missed out on the more social benefits to the game. On the first game of one season, the lad who sat with his family in front of us at Central Park was absent. "Where's the lad?" the guy sitting next to them asked. "He's standing with his mates" his mum replied.
Such an experience was denied to me. My mates were bouncing and chanting on the terraces at Wilderspool and although I like to see Warrington do well now, I didn't then.
My Wigan fan uncle nurses a profound hatred for the Wolves and I shared this at the time. Plus, I didn't fancy being outed as a Wigan fan at 'the zoo'.
Next Season
I'm going to take my boy along to his first game next season. But it probably won't be at Wigan.
I'd like him to follow Salford and I'd be prepared to take him to the A J Bell rather than the DW if he does take an interest in the game (it's only fleeting at the moment so we'll see).
He'll be schooled in Wigan history though and he will be taken to some games at the DW but I'd like him to rise above the parochial hatred of other clubs and gain an overall appreciation of the game.
A preference for Salford is looking the more likely. At a recent family fun day at Swinton town hall he was given a Salford flag by the lads on the Reds' stall. His local club is therefore the clear front runner.
I'll just have to keep my mouth shut when Wigan roll into town.
In rugby league terms, I'm used to being a traitor though. I was born in Warrington but thanks to my Uncle's influence, I grew up and remain a Wigan fan.
On the whole, I've been very lucky. As a kid I got to enjoy many trips to Wembley to see my heroes hoist the Challenge Cup. I saw world class players grace my team's pitch.
Fans of other clubs experienced far less of this as a result of Wigan's sheer dominance of the game. Especially before Super League came along.
No Mates
As an 'out of towner' though, I feel I missed out on the more social benefits to the game. On the first game of one season, the lad who sat with his family in front of us at Central Park was absent. "Where's the lad?" the guy sitting next to them asked. "He's standing with his mates" his mum replied.
Such an experience was denied to me. My mates were bouncing and chanting on the terraces at Wilderspool and although I like to see Warrington do well now, I didn't then.
My Wigan fan uncle nurses a profound hatred for the Wolves and I shared this at the time. Plus, I didn't fancy being outed as a Wigan fan at 'the zoo'.
Next Season
I'm going to take my boy along to his first game next season. But it probably won't be at Wigan.
I'd like him to follow Salford and I'd be prepared to take him to the A J Bell rather than the DW if he does take an interest in the game (it's only fleeting at the moment so we'll see).
He'll be schooled in Wigan history though and he will be taken to some games at the DW but I'd like him to rise above the parochial hatred of other clubs and gain an overall appreciation of the game.
A preference for Salford is looking the more likely. At a recent family fun day at Swinton town hall he was given a Salford flag by the lads on the Reds' stall. His local club is therefore the clear front runner.
I'll just have to keep my mouth shut when Wigan roll into town.
Friday 11 July 2014
Festival Fun
I took my son to the Monton Festival last weekend. The weather held out and the place was bathed in sunshine after the rain the day before threatened a washout.
"A Dear-Do"
He was a bit nervous about the rides but I bribed him with an ice-cream and he found the courage to jump on. In the ice-cream queue, a mum in front of me observed "it's a dear do!"
At least it's not every week and I only have the one child to buy ice-creams and fairground rides for!
Overall though, I think it's great that events such as this are accessible to the local community so you don't always have to travel miles out of town for them.
Local Clubs
And it showed the variety of clubs and societies that are on the doorstep, most of which I wasn't previously aware of.
One such club was Worsley Diving Club. My son's favourite part of the day was sitting in the speedboat they had on show. He carried on talking about it for the rest of the weekend.
And that was the one part of the festival that I didn't have to pay for!
"A Dear-Do"
He was a bit nervous about the rides but I bribed him with an ice-cream and he found the courage to jump on. In the ice-cream queue, a mum in front of me observed "it's a dear do!"
At least it's not every week and I only have the one child to buy ice-creams and fairground rides for!
Overall though, I think it's great that events such as this are accessible to the local community so you don't always have to travel miles out of town for them.
Local Clubs
And it showed the variety of clubs and societies that are on the doorstep, most of which I wasn't previously aware of.
One such club was Worsley Diving Club. My son's favourite part of the day was sitting in the speedboat they had on show. He carried on talking about it for the rest of the weekend.
And that was the one part of the festival that I didn't have to pay for!
Friday 4 July 2014
We're Not On The Same Page
Following on from the last post, he is getting himself upstairs when we tell him to.
Although I made a big show to him about banning him from stories before going upstairs for a bath etc I walked in the living room the next day to see the boy in stitches at his mum's humorous reading of one of his favourites.
Ironic how it was books that showed how we weren't on the same page.
Bath/Shower/Bath/Shower
But now he's found another opportunity to be difficult.
He told us the other night that he wanted a shower. So we did that for a couple of nights, and it was all good.
On a couple of occasions though, I've got him under the shower and he's announced that he wanted a bath despite having chosen the shower.
And when I ran the bath and got him in it, he's changed his mind again.
At that point I've told him it's too late. He's made his choice. He has to live with the consequences of his actions. Just like we all do. "You wanted a shower? Well I want to be watching the World Cup mate, but here we are".
Although I made a big show to him about banning him from stories before going upstairs for a bath etc I walked in the living room the next day to see the boy in stitches at his mum's humorous reading of one of his favourites.
Ironic how it was books that showed how we weren't on the same page.
Bath/Shower/Bath/Shower
But now he's found another opportunity to be difficult.
He told us the other night that he wanted a shower. So we did that for a couple of nights, and it was all good.
On a couple of occasions though, I've got him under the shower and he's announced that he wanted a bath despite having chosen the shower.
And when I ran the bath and got him in it, he's changed his mind again.
At that point I've told him it's too late. He's made his choice. He has to live with the consequences of his actions. Just like we all do. "You wanted a shower? Well I want to be watching the World Cup mate, but here we are".
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