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More about Activities and Classes
We love activities for our children! There are so many benefits for both you and your children and you can start from when
they are babies and continue up to school age and beyond.
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One of the main reasons many parents go to activities is the chance for you and your children to socialise with other
local parents and children. It's never too early to start!
With all activities and classes we advise calling beforehand to check times and costs. Some activities have a waiting
list or require advance payment so, again, worth checking! Also ask if you can come along to try the class before
committing to a number of sessions.
We hope this gives you a feel for the different activities available. If you'd like to ask a question about a
particular type of activity please visit our forum. Have fun!
Academic Classes
Usually from pre-school age up, these classes introduce early academic subjects like maths and reading in a fun way to keep little ones interested.
Antenatal classes and courses
Before your baby even arrives there are a huge choice of classes and courses to help your physical and emotional
well-being during pregnancy.
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To keep active you could try aquanatal classes or pregnancy yoga. And to help understand
the changes to your body during pregnancy and get all the facts about labour and breastfeeding you can contact your
health visitor or the NCT. And there are now courses you can attend that focus on the emotional journey to parenthood.
Baby & Toddler Group
A great all round activity that helps you also meet parents in the local area. Often run by volunteers and held in church halls
and other community buildings. They are also very good value and are sometimes free. Refreshments are usually provided. They usually
provide a good assortment of toys and have other activities such as painting or craft available. Expect to finish with some songs!
Children's Yoga
Older children can learn basic yoga techniques to focus and stimulate your children. Yoga can improve concentration levels,
better sleep patterns, greater self-esteem, and a stronger immune system.
Cookery
A great way for your little one to learn about food and the joy of cooking - and of course eating! Introduce difference
ingredients and simple cooking techniques in a fun way and no clearing up. For slightly older children (3years +)
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Dance is a wonderful way to introduce your babies and children to physical activity, whilst promoting good manners,
behaviour, discipline and self respect..Your child will learn basic skills such as balance, agility,coordination and
rhythm whilst increasing their self-confidence and having lots of fun!
Post-natal classes are social, welcoming and lots of fun so you can meet new friends and introduce your baby to the
joys of song and dance whilst stimulating their senses and exploring their movement ability.It's never to early to get
started as you can both benefit greatly from these interactive classes.
For toddlers and pre-schoolers, classes are designed to incorporate an excellent mixture of education and enjoyment.
Developing their movement and agility skills further, children are encouraged to express themselves with self-belief and
imagination within a safe, caring and fun environment.
Classes are equally suitable for boys and girls as both can benefit enormously from dance and movement.Boys love to
dance and have fun just as much as the girls!
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French and other languages
We're told that the younger you learn a language the better and languages will now be part of the primary school curriculum.
Some classes start as young as 2 and 1/2 years and include action songs and games to make learning fun!
Gymnastics
Gymnastics and movement classes for little ones often feature soft play equipment, climbing apparatus and structured
games and activities. There are even classes for tiny babies which feature sensory exploration and gentle movement designed
to stimulate baby in new ways. Some classes are offered in community venues and others take place in dedicated gymnastic
centres.
Horse Riding
Usually from 3+, and a good riding school will help build riding confidence and respect for the horses.
Library Activities
These are usual free sessions and introduce your children to books
with the aid of songs and actions.
Messy Play/Art & Crafts
Get messy and get someone else to clear it up! Obvious benefits here! Most classes are set up in community buildings
and offer a variety of activities from painting, glueing, play dough, water play and sand play. Some classes have a weekly
theme so there is a focus on what you are doing. Check if aprons are provided.
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Movement
Movement is often incorporated into other classes. Music classes can have an element of dancing or action songs and pre-school gymnastic classes can incorporate dancing and action activities.
Pre-schools/Play Groups
As forerunners to "big school" these groups help your child's transition to school. Often held in community building, you can
usually leave your child for around 3 hours in the care of OFSTED registered groups. A lot of pre-schools and play groups are
charities so you could even get involved on the committee with fundraising and supporting the day-to-day running. (WO4LO founder,
Sam Willoughby, does this and learnt a lot about early years education of her daughter)
Postnatal
It's important to take time for you after your baby is born and one of the ways to do this is by attending postnatal exercise.
You do need to ensure that your Doctor has agreed you are physically ready to start exercising again but the postnatal exercises
will help ensure you don't over do it! There are even classes available that you can do with your baby and your pushchair!
Pottery Painting
Pottery Painting combines fun with a making a lovely present for family members! You can start with doing baby handprints and
footprints on plates and then let older children just have fun painting a piece of art! You will treasure these items forever!
Most studios cater for very young children and often provide refreshments aswell.
Soft Play/Activity Centres
A good place to burn off some energy! Soft play Centres or Activities Centres are usually at a permanent location and cater for a
wide age group with specific area for young children. They have a range of climbing equipment, slides, ball pens and may also have play
houses. Usually they have a café for you to relax in!
Sport and Fitness
There is a wider range of general sport and fitness classes than ever before including aerobics classes and introduction to sports of all kinds. Encourages an interest in physical activity at an early age and develops fitness and co-ordination.
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A child is never too young for stories. Bringing a story to life through imaginative play develops a young baby's
language, concentration and listening skills. As their personalities start to blossom, stories will fire their imagination
and inspire their pretend play. Exploring a story through dramatic play at preschool and school age allows children to
problem solve, cooperate and most importantly, in this multimedia day and age, play in a safe, fictional world with their
peers.
For generations children learned about their world through oral storytelling, but it isn't just a thing of the past.
Taking part in a storytelling or dramatic play session will delight your child and inspire you... that's not a buggy you're
pushing... It's a magic carpet!
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Swimming
Introduce your baby or children to swimming at an early age. Swimming
classes will start to introduce water safety and build confidence. Some classes even offer underwater photography which will capture a truly unique moment in your baby's development!
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