Category: Dragons & Dinosaurs

Wild family days out

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The Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Falconry Centre, Sheffield
It’s all about Dinosaurs this half term so bring the kids along for a week of prehistoric fun! Meet the fearsome T-Rex, play dinosaur games and take a tractor ride while you look out for an escaped dinosaur!

Legoland, Windsor
With 12 themed lands to explore from Ninjago to Lego city, Legoland is a day out all the family will enjoy! From the Dragon roller coaster to the Atlantis underwater submarine voyage there are so many rides and rollercoasters for the light- hearted and the thrill-seekers amongst the family! For the star wars fans, there is a very impressive miniland model display recreating seven famous scenes from the movies!

Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle offers a great day out for all visitors. You’ll see shows, demonstrations, hear stories and be able to walk around the stunning grounds. Visit Merlin: The Dragon Tower, based on the popular TV show; it is a wonderfully interactive experience where you will join Merlin on his quest and speak to The Great Dragon himself. If you are feeling brave, head down to the Castle Dungeon and learn of the darkest, bloodiest history of the castle. This Half term the kids can get lost in the horrible histories maze, watch the spectacular birds of prey take to the skies and learn what it take to be a brave knight!

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
There’s so much to see and do at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with indoor and outdoor activities suitable for the whole family. Learn about the Royal Navy as it is today and get an insight into what the future holds. Step on board historic ships that changed the world such as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860. Don’t miss the new‐look Mary Rose museum, which gives insight into Tudor life. Could you make it in the Royal Navy by taking on the physical challenges at the high tech Action Stations indoor attraction? Test your skills as a helicopter pilot, scale the tallest indoor climbing wall and make your way through the Ninja Force assault course. Younger children under 1.2m will love the Sky Tykes area—a low rope assault course with bridges and beams for them to tackle!

The Eden Project, Cornwall
Eden Project is a living theatre of people and plants. It is set in a breathtaking location and provides an unforgettable experience for all. There are two enormous geodesic conservatories located in a 50 metre deep crater: the Rainforest Biome and the Mediterranean Biome. During half term from 10-18 February- there will be some great activities for children including the Schnookle Quest in the rainforest where you can go on an exciting quest to find your own schnookle coin and go on a journey along a timeline of civilisations. You can also take part in an archaeological dig.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
There is so much for families to see at this iconic you will be spoilt for choice! Visit The Great Hall, The Royal Palace and even take a look at the magnificent Crown Jewels. Experience the roar of the One o’clock Gun and discover the Prisons of War. Inside the castle there is The National War Museum, which has 400 years of Scottish history waiting to be discovered.

Dinomania

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Here is a list of some great easy party ideas and games for kids to help get you started on your hunt for a fun dinosaur birthday party!

Dinosaur Party Invitations

Send an invitation as a memo – with the objective being “an official dinosaur expedition”.

Make kid party invitations by covering a card with dinosaur tracks (use stamps and let the birthday boy/girl help make them!).

Think jungle – overgrown, greens, browns and the like. For kid party decorations, the more over the top, the better!

Make some dinosaur tracks with chalk or out of cardboard (for an indoor party.)

Dinosaur Party Games

Here are some fun kid party games, adapted for a dinosaur theme:

Dinosaur Egg Crazy Catch – You’ll need a ball for every two kids and a bunch of crazy stuff! Pretend the balls are dinosaur eggs and have the kids divide into pairs (these will be your teams. Have the teams play catch with the ball, but they can’t catch with their hands. Have them use nets, hats, etc.

Parachute – If you have a parachute make use of it . (If you don’t have one, you can always use a bed sheet.) For a dinosaur party, let the kids bounce inflatable balls (dinosaur eggs) or dinosaur stuffed animals on top of parachutes and to make it go up and down.

Dinosaur Dig – If you have a sandpit available, hide “dinosaur bones” related objects in the sand and let the kids hunt for them. For example, at a Princess party, you could hide plastic jewels. Don’t have a sandpit? Fill a tub with sand or rice. You might want to limit the number of items each child can find (such as three). If you have a large number of children let them take turns, just a few at a time, or set up this game as a “station” to be done when other “stations” are being played, such as some Target Games.

Dinosaur Hunt – Hide toy dinosaurs around the garden and go on a dinosaur hunt!

Dinosaur Party Cakes

Often used for kids party cakes, make a basic cake and use toy dinosaurs on top to make a scene.

Jurasic days out

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Get your little ones interested in Dinosaurs. Have fun with the whole family and explore dinosaurs galore at these brilliant dinosaur attractions across the country!

The Dinosaur Park; Tenby, Wales

Follow the trail and spot over 30 dinosaurs waiting for you – be sure to tiptoe past the spitting Dilophosaurus or you might get wet! The Information Centre is the place to learn some interesting dino facts plus you can also explore the indoor and outdoor adventure play areas!

Dino Park, Dumfries

Discover the giants who roamed the planet 150 million years ago! Dig for fossils, hear stories, find out facts and take a journey through a dinosaur mine!

The Dinosaur Museum; Dorchester, Dorset

Discover real fossils, dinosaur bones and life size models at this hands on museum. Are your little ones brave enough to touch the T-Rex?!

Dinosaurland Fossil Museum; Lyme Regis, Dorset

This museum is run by Palaeontologist Steve Davies and is a private collection. The museum contains over 10,000 specimens including some of the best fossils to be found on display. Top off your visit with a walk along the beach at Lyme Regis which is a fantastic place for children to search for fossils to take home!

West Midland Safari and Leisure Park

Little dinos will LOVE West Midland Safari Park’s latest addition… the amazing Land of the Living Dinosaurs! Come and see the UK’s largest collection of animatronic dinosaurs to learn all about these fascinating creatures. You’ll get to learn all about the Permian, Triassic, Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods… making this not only a fun but educational day out too! Plus, new is the latest dino addition, the Spinosaurus! Scientists believe it was the largest dinosaur to ever roam the earth so go along to the Land of the Living Dinosaurs to learn all about it!

The Lost Kingdom at Paultons Park; Romsey, Hampshire

Brand new to Paultons Park, The Lost Kingdom is a Jurassic adventure full of realistic dinosaurs in all shapes and sizes! You can even get up close to a ‘living’ animatronic dinosaur! There are also two exhilarating rollercoasters, a dinosaur adventure play area where you can dig for fossils, and a 4×4 jeep safari dinosaur expedition!

Torquay’s Dinosaur World; Torquay, Devon

With lots of hands on exhibits for you to touch (are you brave enough to grab the Triceratops by the horns?!) plus full sized and scale models of dinosaurs, this is a great place to learn about these prehistoric creatures and see incredible fossils.

 

Dinosaur hunting

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Do you have a little explorer or budding palaeontologist? Let them explore dinosaurs galore at these brilliant dinosaur attractions across the country!

West Midland Safari and Leisure Park

Little dinos will LOVE West Midland Safari Park’s latest addition… the amazing Land of the Living Dinosaurs! Come and see the UK’s largest collection of animatronic dinosaurs to learn all about these fascinating creatures. You’ll get to learn all about the Permian, Triassic, Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods… making this not only a fun but educational day out too! Plus, new is the latest dino addition, the Spinosaurus! Scientists believe it was the largest dinosaur to ever roam the earth so go along to the Land of the Living Dinosaurs to learn all about it!

The Lost Kingdom at Paultons Park; Romsey, Hampshire

Brand new to Paultons Park, The Lost Kingdom is a Jurassic adventure full of realistic dinosaurs in all shapes and sizes! You can even get up close to a ‘living’ animatronic dinosaur! There are also two exhilarating rollercoasters, a dinosaur adventure play area where you can dig for fossils, and a 4×4 jeep safari dinosaur expedition!

Torquay’s Dinosaur World; Torquay, Devon

With lots of hands on exhibits for you to touch (are you brave enough to grab the Triceratops by the horns?!) plus full sized and scale models of dinosaurs, this is a great place to learn about these prehistoric creatures and see incredible fossils.

Dinosaurs! The Next Adventure; Chester Zoo, Cheshire, 28th May – 4th September

Due to popular demand, Gigantosaurus and his dino pals have come stomping back to Chester Zoo after four years away! Take a trip to the Jurassic age where you can walk amongst the predators, but don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled!

Dinosaur Adventure; Lenwade, Norfolk

Follow the dinosaur trail and see which amazing prehistoric creatures you can spot hiding amongst the trees! Then enjoy a whole range of family fun from the indoor play area to the Raptor Races go-kart circuit!

The Dinosaur Park; Tenby, Wales

Follow the trail and spot over 30 dinosaurs waiting for you – be sure to tiptoe past the spitting Dilosophaur or you might get wet! The Information Centre is the place to learn some interesting dino facts plus you can also explore the indoor and outdoor adventure play areas!

Dino Park, Dumfries

Discover the giants who roamed the planet 150 million years ago! Dig for fossils, hear stories, find out facts and take a journey through a dinosaur mine!

The Dinosaur Museum; Dorchester, Dorset

Discover real fossils, dinosaur bones and life size models at this hands on museum. Are your little ones brave enough to touch the T-Rex?!

Dinosaur land Fossil Museum; Lyme Regis, Dorset

This museum is run by Palaeontologist Steve Davies and is a private collection. The museum contains over 10,000 specimens including some of the best fossils to be found on display. Top off your visit with a walk along the beach at Lyme Regis which is a fantastic place for children to search for fossils to take home!

Dinostar; Hull, Humberside

Kids will love this extremely hands-on museum where they will be able to touch dinosaur bones! Don’t miss the unique dinosaur sound box and the Tyrannosaurus rex skull as well as dinosaurs you can even smell!

Oxford University Museum of Natural History; Oxford

The footprints on the front lawn hint to what you may find inside….a fantastic display of dinosaurs, including species from the UK and across the world! Even better – there is no entry charge so it’s free to wander round at your own leisure!

The Natural History Museum; London

This free museum is definitely worth a visit either if you live in London, or are visiting! Don’t miss the ‘Red Zone’ where you will learn about the history of the Earth and discover dinosaur footprints, fossils, life sized models and much more!

Manchester Museum; Manchester

Spot the terrific dinosaur Stan, the T-Rex plus a large collection of fantastic fossils all on display in the Fossils Gallery.

Dinosaur Isle; Sandown, Isle of Wight

An interactive museum where children can learn about these creatures from the past, featuring bones and fossils from the local area and beyond.

National Museum Cardiff; Wales

Learn about the evolution of Wales, with rocks, fossils, bones and skeletons to amaze you, plus impressive dinosaur footprints…all with free entry!

How to raise a helpful child

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Lead by Example

If you want a child to do something, it helps to have them witness you doing it as well as the result that came from it. Whenever you’re finished with a project, clean up your mess.

When finished eating, take your plate, utensils, and glass to the sink. Organize your things so that you know where they are when you need them.

Children see this and are more likely to also clean up after themselves.  If you’re leaving a mess everywhere then they will have a harder time understanding why cleaning up is important.

Label the Positive

Notice the times that they do something helpful and praise them, telling them they’re a good helper.

When we use character traits like “good helper” or “very helpful”, over time children begin to make that part of their personality.  The more you label them as being a helper, the more they will believe it to be true.

Delegate and Praise

Give them tasks throughout the day to practice their helpful skills. The more they practice, the better they’ll learn.  And every time they do something helpful, praise them.

Make it Fun

For younger kids, singing the clean-up song is a huge help in picking up toys, but even as they get older it’s fun to add any songs and even a little dance to the process of cleaning up. Counting helps too. Count toys picked up, cutlery put away, and the number of pens and crayons you find.

Fit for all Ages

It’s easier to raise a helpful child earlier in development than later, but it is possible to teach older children to be helpful. All of the same tips apply with a slightly different approach.

As they get older you can explain things more. Explain why you need help, why it’s important for them to take more responsibility, how important it is to work together, and that every person finds their own rhythm when it comes to cleaning, organizing, and helping others, but the end result is the same. Taking care of your things, taking care of shared items, and treating others the way you want to be treated.

Raising a helpful child can be a truly daunting challenge at times. Especially if it seems like one more item to add to the never-ending to-do list. But it doesn’t have to be a frustrating endeavour.

By leading by example, staying positive, and having fun, it is possible to turn the most stubborn mess maker into a happy, helpful partner. One step at a time. One day at a time.

More great family places this summer

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Enjoy LEGOLAND Windsor

Stacks of fun awaits at LEGOLAND, with the emphasis very much on letting children enjoy themselves. It’s dedicated to kids aged 3-12 years, and is a very unique experience where imagination knows no bounds. Get drenched on the Pirate Falls, travel through the depths of the LEGOLAND castle and find the force in the Star Wars Miniland Experience. More fun than you can ever imagine having with large, colourful blocks. You can even stay at the hotel.

Explore Jorvik Viking

Stroll through reconstructed Viking-Age streets at the dedicated Viking centre in York. The experience presents life as it was for the Vikings, complete with 1,000-year-old houses revealed beneath your feet and objects taken from excavations brought before your eyes. Adult tickets: £10.25 Children’s tickets (5-15): £7.25 

Go wild at Longleat safari

Pack up the car and prepare to be amazed as the big cats, zebras, rhinos and meddling monkeys cross your path, all in the UK. Longleat is the UK’s most popular safari park, and it’s easy to see why with its incredible crop of animals. Book ahead for one of the park’s newest features, hand-feeding giraffes in the African Village Adult tickets: £28 Children’s tickets (3-14years): £20.35

See a show at the Minack Theatre 

The Minack Theatre is the most famous open-air theatre in Britain. A beautiful theatre carved into the granite cliffs of Porthcurno in Cornwall, you can’t fail to be impressed with its magnificent views and structure, or by the seriously impressive shows it puts on during spring and summer, including storytelling and family specific performances. While you’re in the area, take a trip to Land’s End so your kids can tell their friends that they went to the end of the earth.

Go wild at the National History Museum

Packed to the rafters with dinosaur bones, fascinating fossils and interactive games, London’s Natural History Museum is a must-visit attraction for every child. They will marvel as they stride under the giant T-Rex on arrival and be blown away by the models and characters they will meet along the way. Better still, it’s free!

Take launch at the National Space Centre

The most frequently asked question about space travel is ‘how do you go to the toilet in space?’ Find the answer, and so much more with a visit to the National Space Centre in Leicester. See roaring rockets, shining stars and actual moon rock at this out of this world attraction. Adult tickets: £13 Children’s tickets (5-16): £11 

Be bookworms at Seven Stories

Seven Stories in Newcastle celebrates the wonderful world of children’s books, in a seven storey building no less. See original artwork and manuscripts, settle down to book readings for different ages and see fancy dress and props from different books all under one roof. Adult tickets: £7.70 Children’s tickets (4-16): £6.60