Youngsters got crafty at a St Helens shopping centre, making their own fairytale characters at a family arts workshop.
The sessions are part of a summer of fun at the town’s Church Square Shopping Centre, with events every Tuesday until the end of August
The first Shopper Whopper Kids Club arts and crafts session was set around a fairytale theme and encouraged youngsters to get busy with the glitter, glue, paint and fabrics to create their very own wooden spoon character.
One little girl delighted to get stuck in was five-year-old Kasia Hopwood from Parr, who had popped in to Church Square with her mum Michelle Dearden.
“We just came in for a bit of shopping,” said Michelle. “Kasia saw this was on and she’s been loving it. She likes all crafty things and she’s made a Little Red Riding Hood with a wooden spoon.
“It’s great that they have things like this on as it gives the kids a break from the shopping and stops the mums from stressing out too!
“We’ve seen the list of the other events and there’s a mermaid themed one later on so I think we’ll probably be back for that.”
Another family outing that was delighted to join the free activity session was Clair Owen with her nine-year-old daughter Jade and son Lewis, aged eight, plus her sister Dannika, aged 11, brother Patrick, aged nine and two-year-old nephew Connor.
With a crowd of youngsters to entertain, Clair was happy to find a craft session to keep them occupied.
She said: “We just came in to town to bring the kids out for a bit really, to keep them occupied. I’m already exhausted from trying to keep them entertained and I’ve just found out I’m pregnant too.
“As soon as they saw the arts and crafts they wanted to have a go and it’s good to have something like this on.”
Shopping Centre manager Steve Brogan said: “The first family fun session seems to have gone really well and has been very popular.
“If we can help keep the younger family members entertained over the summer holidays then that’s an important part of our role in the community and it means we get to have a bit of fun at the same time.”
Claire Bentham was another mum pleased to have found a way of keeping her two daughters, 10-year-old Caitlin and Erin, aged six, busy during a shopping trip to the mall.
She said: “We are going to Lanzarote tomorrow so just needed a few bits of last minute shopping – treats for on the plane really – and saw this event was on.
“The girls are loving it: Erin has made a Goldilocks wooden spoon and Caitlin helped her. They enjoy this kind of thing at home so they think it’s great.
“We will definitely be checking to see what else is on once we get back as it’s good to know these things are here for when the weather isn’t so great. The way they have set it all up and organised has been very good.”
Shopper Whopper Kids Club will be running five more free kids events, every Tuesday throughout the holidays.
August 2: Join in the fun by decorating ceramic beach hut coin banks
August 9: Create a circus mask and decorate rubber ducks as well as joining in a game of hook-a-duck
August 16: Join royalty by decorating either a princess mask and wand, or a knight mask and sword
August 23: Make mermaid peg dolls and decorate treasure boxes with stickers and feathers
August 30: Get ready to return to school by personalising a wooden pencil case or drawstring bag.
More details about Church Square Shopping Centre and the Shopper Whopper Kid’s Club at churchsquaresthelens.co.uk
Shopper Whopper meets Nevaeh-Rose Lennon (4) and sister, Kaytlin-Ruby Lennon (6) from St Helens
Shopper Whopper meets Nayo Virasamy (6) from St Helen
Erin Bentham (6) and sister Caitlin Bentham (10) from St Helens
Connor Owen (2) from St Helens
Jade Owen (6), Patrick Andrews (9) and Dannika Andrews (11) from St Helens
Kasia Hopwood (6) and mum, Michelle, from St Helens
