Food, families and fun have been the themes of our summer sessions for 0-5 year olds and their families in Sure Start Centres around Manchester. Our fantastic facilitator Tilda tells us a bit more about what’s been happening.

Every morning during the holidays, I’ve been leading activities and play to encourage healthy eating and lifestyle and to avoid holiday isolation. With snacks to start including fruit and popcorn, the children can pick, chop, prep and eat with the help of their parents/carers.

We then head outside (weather permitting) for story-time, dance and drama games. Kitchen Disco by Clare Foges and Al Murphy has been a particular favourite and families have been getting quite noisy with drums and shakers to go along with the story.

We’ve also created our very own ‘wake & shake’ disco, which includes musical statues, the hokey-cokey and the bean game (“Jelly bean!” “Beans in a tin!” “Jumping beans!”). The Penguin Song is my personal favourite as you get to see the adults’ very best penguin impressions!

Families then enjoy some foody arts and craft activities and we have some more story-time (often The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle or Spaghetti with the Yeti by Charlotte and Adam Guillain). Everyone then sits down to a healthy veggie picnic together and the day ends with the ‘Cauliflower’s Fluffy’ song and a cool-down yoga session.

It’s been an absolute pleasure to see the same families returning, hearing that activities and games have continued at home, and seeing children and adults growing in confidence together.

Tilda O’Grady – Freelance Arts Facilitator

To find out more about our Outreach activities or to discuss the possibility of taking some sessions to your local community venue, please contact our Outreach Officer Yemi, yemi@z-arts.org.