UNDER 5s ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT ACROSS MANCHESTER
Looking for fun, free or low-cost ways to keep your little one active and engaged?
Manchester is packed with exciting opportunities for families with children aged 0–5 to move, play and explore together.
From toddler-friendly cycling sessions and buggy-friendly walking routes to BMX, park play sessions and early years running events, there’s something for every family.
Whether you’re discovering your local green space, joining a parent-and-child class, or simply getting outdoors for a stroll, our activities are designed to support physical development, spark curiosity and encourage healthy habits from the very start.
Head to the tabs below to find out what’s happening near you and start your active family journey today!
- Balance bike and mini BMX sessions at the National Cycling Centre – Use this link for more information
- Station South cycling café in Levenshulme offers free bike hire (balance bikes and children’s bikes) with a colourful outside learn to ride area available, access to the Fallowfield Loop and family led rides throughout the year – Use this link for more information:
- Wythenshawe Forum active play sessions offer trikes and balance bikes for under 5s (Weds, 10-11am)
- Pedal Parties provide traffic-free environments for children to develop their skills on bikes and are a fun way for the whole family to ride together in a safe place, held monthly at Alexandra Park and Wythenshawe Park – Use this link for more information
- Simply Cycling provide all-ability cycling sessions provide a variety of adapted bikes so everyone can enjoy riding, held at Boggart Hole Clough and Wythenshawe Park (and Longford Park in Trafford) – Use this link for more information
Manchester Parks offer trails in the school holidays at a number of their parks.
- Love Exploring is a free app which features a number of Manchester’s parks, providing themed guides and trails – Use this link for more information
PARKRUN
Junior Parkrun is a free weekly 2km community event (suitable for age 4 – 14 years) which you can walk, jog, run on a Sunday at 9am. Held at:
- Alexandra Park – Use this link for more information
- Platt Fields Park – Use this link for more information
BETTER UK MANCHESTER
Swimbies – Tots Swimming – All Pools across the City – Our children and baby swimming lessons span from 3 months to school age. Our swim programme (called SWIMBiES) is the perfect way to help your child build confidence in the water that lasts a lifetime.
Click this link to learn more and book.
Funetics – Athletics – Manchester Regional Arena – Funetics is a programme which provides athletics sessions to help 4-11 year old children learn, develop and practise running, jumping and throwing skills all year round, for a healthy and confident future. Helping children to have fun whilst getting active, funetics provides a safe, fun and nurturing environment for children to develop fundamental movement skills and confidence to help support them in different sports in the future. Funetics reflects the requirements of the National Curriculum Key Stage 1 and 2 to inspire all young pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sports and other physically demanding activities.
Click this link to learn more and book.
Mini Ballers – Basketball – Belle Vue and Abraham Moss – Introduction to basketball for 4 -7 year olds. It is played on small courts with smaller nets. Working on balance, ball control and basic shooting.
Click this link to learn more and book.
Tots Tennis – Tennis – Manchester Tennis and Football Centre – Introduction to tennis for 3 and 5 year olds. It is played on small courts with soft balls. Working on balance, awareness and hitting the ball over the net in some capacity.
Click this link to learn more and book.
Discover – Gymnastics – Moss Side – Our Rise gymnastic lessons take place every Wednesday and Sunday in our small hall. During our sessions we use a variety of equipment including the balance beam, a matted out section where functional skills can be taught and practiced, a horizontal bar and much more.
Click this link to learn more and book.
Balance Bikes – Cycling – National Cycling Centre and Platt Fields – It’s never too early to get the little ones introduced to this fantastic sport and get them on their way to being able to ride. We start our programmes from age 2 with our Balance Bike sessions.
Click this link to learn more and book.
Aqua play – Arcadia Leisure Centre
Click this link to learn more and book.
Free Swimming for under 5s – All Pools – Manchester residents aged five and under can swim for free during family fun swims, swim for all sessions & swim for women and children sessions.
Click this link to learn more and book.
Teddy Sports World – Hough End – Teddy Sports World is our brand new multisports course for boys and girls aged 2 to 4. They learn the basics of tennis, cricket and football using stories, characters, and games.
Click this link to learn more and book.
Soft play – North City – Our soft play is the perfect place for kids to have a whole heap of fun, whatever the weather! Climb, crawl and slide in our feature packed soft play area with tunnels, slides and a variety of obstacles. Our bright and friendly soft play area has a section for under 3s so babies and toddlers can explore, create, play and get active in a safe environment.
Click this link to learn more and book.
Soft play birthday parties – North City – You can also book the soft play area at North City for birthday parties.
Click this link to learn more and book.
EVERYONE ACTIVE – WYTHENSHAWE FORUM
Active Antz
Designed to give you and your child time to play and learn from each other, Active Antz encourages you and your child to try a variety of activities each week. These range from exploring soft play shapes to jumping on bouncy castles, singing, crafts and much more. Wear suitable clothing but shoes are not needed. The session is supervised but it is not a led session and parents are required to take part and supervise their child.
Aqua Natal
Innovative Good boost technology will be used to support pregnant mothers to access aquatic antenatal classes through individually tailored exercises delivered on tablets.
Pre/Post Natal Activities
Are you planning, expecting or have just given birth to a baby? Then these sessions are for you. Wythenshawe Forum provide specialist training and appropriate exercise programmes to care for women just like you. Before undertaking a post natal exercise programme please consult your doctor or midwife.
Sure Start Children’s Centres are places where children under 5 years old and their families can access a wide range of support services and information including early education, childcare, health and family support.
Family Outreach Workers in the centres can support families who need additional help.
Information about each centre, including What’s On Guides can be found via this link.
Baby moves
Your baby’s favourite playmate is you – so try to spend time playing with your baby every day. Did you know that playing actually requires a lot of your baby’s brain and muscle power?
It helps develop their social, intellectual, language and problem-solving skills – and is one of the main ways they learn about the world.
Playtime activities and bonding with your toddler
The playtime activities you do with your toddler are really important for their emotional and physical development.
They also help you to build a strong and connected relationship with them.
Have a look at these ideas for activities you can do together.
Tiny Happy People
The BBC’s Tiny Happy People website offers simple tips and activities to boost your child’s language skills from pregnancy to early years.
Being active is crucial for children aged 0-5 years, laying the foundation for a healthy and happy life. Here’s why it’s so important:
- Physical Development:
- Activity helps build strong muscles and bones.
- It improves coordination, balance, and motor skills like crawling, walking, running, and jumping.
- It supports healthy growth and weight.
- Cognitive Development:
- Active play stimulates brain development, enhancing learning and problem-solving skills.
- It improves attention span and concentration.
- It fosters creativity and imagination.
- Social and Emotional Development:
- Playing with others helps children learn to share, take turns, and cooperate.
- It builds confidence and self-esteem.
- It helps children express their emotions and develop social skills.
- Health Benefits:
- Regular activity reduces the risk of childhood obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
- It strengthens the immune system.
- It promotes better sleep.
How to Encourage Activity:
- Infants (0-1 year): Encourage tummy time, reaching for toys, and crawling.
- Toddlers (1-3 years): Provide opportunities for walking, running, climbing, and dancing.
- Preschoolers (3-5 years): Encourage active play like running, jumping, skipping, and playing games.
- Make it fun: Choose activities that your child enjoys.
- Be a role model: Children are more likely to be active if they see their parents and caregivers being active.
- Limit screen time: Encourage active play over sedentary activities.
- Create a safe environment: Ensure that your child has a safe place to play and explore.
By prioritising physical activity, you’re giving your child a healthy start to a lifetime of well-being.
- It is recommended to wait until 6 months to commence solids with your baby, try to wait until they are at least 17 weeks old and can sit supported with good head control
- If your baby is having 500ml of formula milk they do not yet need to have a multivitamin, breastfed babies require a vitamin D supplement every day that should continue throughout weaning
- Introduce green vegetables and savoury flavours as early as possible to prevent fussy eating. Soft boiled broccoli makes an excellent finger food
- Initial weaning foods tend to be fruits and vegetables that don’t have a lot of energy in them, so try to keep your baby’s milk intake the same by offering a few tastes of food 1-2 times a day when they aren’t tired, hungry or upset. Remember the first experiences of food should be kept as positive as possible
- Try to eat as a family, young children learn by copying and will follow your lead. You will often find that appetite increases once starting nursery
- Stay calm! Try to keep mealtimes a positive experience to spend time with your baby. Making positive eating noises can help to encourage them to eat – ‘yum!’
- Don’t worry if most of it ends up on your baby’s face (and the floor!) to start with, the early weeks of weaning are all about exploring tastes and textures. Try to resist the urge to wipe their face too often and let them explore at their own pace
- Praise your baby for all interaction with food (licking, sniffing, touching, tasting) and try to ignore any negative behaviour at the table
- Keep mealtimes to 20 minutes or less, even if they haven’t finished their meal – this prevents meals becoming stressful for both you and your baby
- When they get a little older, involving children at mealtimes – even if simply putting the cutlery on the table or stirring the meal – can encourage a positive relationship with food and a healthy appetite
- Always put vegetables on your child’s plate. Even if they do not always eat them, repeated exposed can encourage them to eventually try them
- No force feeding – this can cause a feeding aversion
Physical Activity Guidelines: Pregnancy and After Childbirth
- Physical activity for pregnant women – Use this link for more information
- Physical activity for women after childbirth (birth to 12 months) – Use this link for more information
- Early Years Information – Use this link for more information
