Mums Matter – Week 6: Glitter, Giggles, and Gentle Connection

The Mums Matter - Nature & Wellbeing Programme, delivered by Time to Connect CIC in partnership with Forest Frontiers and supported by Bolton CVS, reached its sixth week this winter - and with the forest ground slick with rain, it was the perfect time for another indoor creative session.

This week, it was the turn of the 2–4s group, and the theme was art therapy and festive crafting. The session was led by the talented Alison, whose calm energy and creative warmth set the tone for a morning full of glue, glitter, giggles, and gentle connection.

A cosy welcome from the cold

As the mums and children arrived, the space was warm and glowing with winter light. Tables and mats were spread with colourful materials - twine, paper, paints, glitter, pinecones, and little pots of “pixie dust.”

“It was lovely to see the mums meet up again,” Jan said. “They were welcomed with tea, coffee, and chocolate biscuits, while the kids had juice and treats - a simple start that made everyone feel comfortable and at ease.”

There was laughter, chatter, and the comforting hum of community — a stark contrast to the icy drizzle falling outside.

“It started off with gentle winter sunshine,” Jan recalled, “but ended pitch black and rainy - very Boltony weather! Still, everyone left happy, with something beautiful to take home.”

From shyness to sparkle

At first, some of the children clung to their mums, shy and quiet, taking in the busy tables and shiny craft materials. But within minutes, the room was buzzing with activity.

Alison’s calm and patient guidance helped everyone settle into the creative flow. She invited the children to explore textures, colours, and shapes freely, supporting them as they found confidence in their own way.

“At the beginning, the kids looked quite shy,” Jan shared. “But slowly they unfurled - each one concentrating deeply and ending up with a finished piece that was really high quality.”

By the end of the session, even the quietest children were proudly showing off their creations, grinning from ear to ear.

Art therapy in motion

This week’s theme - art therapy - focused on giving mums and children the freedom to create, play, and express themselves.

The activity was beautifully seasonal: making reindeer, robins, and festive gift tags using natural and recycled materials. There were twigs from the forest, googly eyes, tiny bells, ink pads, and finger paints.

Children could decorate stones, cards, or paper, turning each piece into something personal - a keepsake, a gift, or a handmade decoration.

“There was glitter and twine and twigs from outside,” Jan said. “Everything was so beautifully put together - it was a treasure trove of possibilities.”

Alison encouraged the children to make their own choices - to decide which colours to use, what materials to combine, and who their creations were for.

Some proudly made cards for mums, dads, or grandparents, while others simply painted for the joy of it.

“The kids were counting how many things they needed, choosing letters, and expanding their vocabulary as they chatted,” Jan observed. “It was lovely to see how the session naturally built literacy and numeracy into play.”

Moments of independence and teamwork

Throughout the morning, the room was alive with movement and conversation.

Children worked with incredible focus - carefully pressing their fingerprints into the ink pads, counting twigs for reindeer legs, or balancing little red noses on their Rudolf creations.

Mums offered gentle support when needed, but were also encouraged to step back, allowing their children to take the lead.

“Each child was supported when needed,” Jan said. “They were given time to make their own choices and express their creativity. It was such a positive balance between independence and teamwork.”

There was also a clear development in motor skills - from the broad strokes of painting to the delicate fine motor coordination of gluing tiny parts together.

“It was fascinating to see how the different age ranges managed those fiddly details,” Jan added. “They all found their own way - and that’s what made it so special.”

A safe, warm space to play and grow

As the crafts took shape, the room filled with happy energy. Some children stayed focused at the tables, while others used their space to run around, play, and explore.

“They had so much energy to burn off when they first came in,” Jan said with a smile. “It was nice to see them able to expend that safely - running around with the sound bouncing off the walls. It’s a bit noisier than the forest, but it was perfect for them!”

The indoor environment provided a different kind of freedom - warm, bright, and buzzing with life.

By the second half of the session, Sam from Forest Frontiers helped transition the children into games and movement. When attention started to wander, she gathered them for lively rounds of the Big Bad Wolf game, and set out giant chalks and rolls of paper for open drawing and mark-making.

“Sam was amazing,” Jan said. “She brought the group back together with play - there was chalking, talking, laughter, and even a little teepee for the children to turn into a den. It was fantastic.”

Crafting connection - for children and mums

While the children painted, glittered, and giggled, the mums had their own moments of calm and reflection.

Seated together on the floor, they chatted between helping hands, shared supplies, and offered quiet reassurance to one another.

“You could really sense the emotional awareness in the room,” Jan noted. “Even when the mums weren’t talking, they were tuned in to each other - offering smiles, small gestures, and understanding.”

The crafts themselves became conversation starters - with mums comparing designs, swapping tips, and admiring their children’s creativity.

One mum commented that the session had given her “great ideas for craft work to do at home” - exactly the kind of ripple effect Mums Matter hopes to inspire.

For others, it was a chance to switch off from the week’s pressures and reconnect with the joy of creating.

“The mums really enjoyed it too,” Jan said. “There were some lovely quiet moments where they just got lost in the process - it gave them that little bit of time out, even with their children right beside them.”

More than crafts - learning through creativity

Beyond the paint and glitter, the session carried subtle layers of learning.

• Literacy & numeracy emerged naturally as the children talked about colours, counted materials, and named shapes.

• Motor skills developed through fine movements like threading twine and pressing tiny decorations into place.

• Social and emotional development blossomed as children shared materials, took turns, and proudly showed their finished work.

“The art therapy approach brought so much together — creativity, communication, and calm,” Jan reflected. “It really showed how learning happens best when it feels like play.”

A smaller group, a stronger connection

This week’s group was smaller than usual, but that only added to the sense of intimacy and connection.

“There were just a handful of mums this time,” Jan said. “It felt different to the larger Dads Matter sessions, but in a lovely way. It gave everyone time to talk, share, and support each other.”

The smaller size also allowed Alison and Sam to give each child and mum individual attention - helping with crafts, celebrating achievements, and keeping the atmosphere warm and inclusive.

As the session ended, families gathered their finished reindeer and robin crafts - little works of art to gift or keep as festive memories.

“Everybody went off happy,” Jan said. “It was a lovely, gentle session — full of sparkle, creativity, and connection.”

Looking ahead

Next week, the Mums Matter programme returns outdoors for more exploration and wild play. But for this moment - as rain poured outside and the day faded into early darkness - the art therapy session offered exactly what was needed: warmth, light, and togetherness.

It was a reminder that wellbeing isn’t just about stillness or silence - it’s about shared experiences, self-expression, and the joy of seeing both mums and children thrive side by side.

“It was just a really nice session,” Jan said. “Full of creativity, support, and understanding - everything Mums Matter is about.”