What's on for toddlers

Guide to services and activities for families in Bolton

July - August 2026

Stay and Play

Stay and play with your child 0 - 5 years with free activities that include messy, sensory and free play - indoor and outdoor. Free drop in - term time only. 
* Delivered by Bolton Toy Library
** Delivered by Bolton Wanderers in the Community (BWITC)
*** Delivered by The Hub at Westhoughton

Chat, Play, Read

An interactive group for families with children aged from 12 months. Enjoy songs, stories, sensory play, and craft activities to help build your child’s communication, language, and literacy skills. These sessions are run by Family Hub Practitioners. Groups will not run between 24-28 Aug.

Family Fun Time

A drop-in group for families with children of all ages. Read, play, craft and connect in our indoor and outdoor spaces, with free snacks and the opportunity to chat with a Family Hub Practitioner. *Groups will not run between 24-28 August.

Flowhesion Parents and Tots 

Stay and play groups for parents with children aged 0 - 4 years. Bilingual practitioners will be present for those non-English speaking parents with South Asian ethnic backgrounds. Sessions organised by The Flowhesion Foundation. Term time only.

For more information contact Aisha Khan by phone 07878 989613 or email: aisha.khan@flowhesionfoundation.org.uk

Early Years Sing and Play

Families with children from 18 months to 4 years, come along and enjoy a free interactive music session with Bolton Music Service. Term time only.

SEND Stay and Play 

For families with children aged 0-5 years with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). No diagnosis necessary. Dress for mess! Singing fun, dancing, and sensory play.
Sessions facilitated by *Moo Music and **@SugarLumps.

Contact the family hub for more information.

Details of other SEND Play and Stay, as well as information to support families can be found on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities page.

Shake, Rattle and Roll

A fun and active music and movement session for 0-5s. 

Little Bats Stay and Play

Stay and play the forest school way. A 10 week course to build confidence for your tot to play in nature. Outdoor sessions for 1 - 5 years. Advanced booking required. To book, visit www.littlebatslearning.org/sessions/ or call 07818 925678. Term time only. 
Contact for details about activities over the school holidays.

Nature Club for Tots

A fun drop-in for 1 – 3 year olds. For more information, contact The Lancashire Wildlife Trust on 07740 419183 or email rireland@lancswt.org.uk. Term time only.

18-Month Developmental Check for Children in Bolton

Public Health Nursing and Bolton Start Well are launching a development check for all 18-month-old children in Bolton that don’t already have support from their Public Health Nursing team.

Currently, all babies and young children are offered a wellbeing check by the Public Health Nursing Service (Health Visitors) at 9 months and 2 years plus. We are pleased to let you know that we are now able to offer an additional check at 18-months for all children not currently receiving this.

The 18-month-old development check will:

• Follow on from your child’s 9 to 12-month check.
• Be carried out by a qualified Early Years Practitioner with a wealth of experience in child development and supporting families. 
• Take place in your home (unless this is not convenient for you).

It is an opportunity to review with you, your child’s:

• Social, emotional, and behavioural development.
• Communication and language development.
• General development.
• Any other concerns you may have.

The development check will be shared with your specialist Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor).

You’ll receive an invitation to take up the offer of an 18-month-old development check from a Start Well Early Years Practitioner by letter or telephone from the dates above.

This check is being completed in line with what other Local Authorities in Greater Manchester currently offer.