Nanny Diaries: a 'precious little space' that is perfect for Wigan children to play
In this week’s Nanny Diaries, Emma Appleton recommends a play centre for children near Wigan.
I always like to let you know places I take the children, because these days we have so many places available to take our babies, but there never seems to be anywhere when you’re looking, does there?
But there is one place that always seems to be able to accommodate my last minute plans - and that is Little Lane Play Space in Appley Bridge.
Found on the spookily named Skull House Lane, Little Lane is anything but scary!
It can be tricky to find however, but if you pop over to their Instagram page there’s a helpful “how to find us” video pinned.
Little Lane’s tag line is “play-coffee-connect” which is this precious little space summed up in a nutshell!
It’s great value too. Little Lane is very reasonably priced.
Made up of two floors of role play, a sensory room, a gated baby area and a snack bar, you’ll find plenty to entertain a little person while you enjoy a coffee or two!
Upstairs, the role play area is truly magical. There’s a cafe, a hairdressers, a “house” with a kitchen and a dressing up rack. All beautiful quality toys and spotlessly clean.
There’s no soft play - this isn’t a run, slide and jump sort of place, it’s a space where children can sit and play, letting imaginations run instead and, as they say, connect with each other.
There’s so much learning to be had in quiet, independent play. It is VITAL to children and developing brains.
I’ve talked before about the importance of role play to build social and emotional development, to support language and communication. It helps children understand the world they live in.
Quiet and contemplative play boosts creativity and imagination, strengthens focus and problem solving skills.
Sitting playing independently builds confidence in children.
A child finds their interests and strengths while being allowed to play alone and uninterrupted.
Children need time to play alone. They develop a way to process feelings by acting out scenarios and learn how to calm themselves. They learn how to manage being bored!
That said, children still need to be supervised here!
But there is nothing stopping you taking a step back, sitting down and having a cup of tea and a chat to a fellow parent or grandparent, letting Little Lane Play Space take the strain!