Author: kiddy@admin

Kids Event Entertainment

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Children’s party entertainment is something that many parents lose sleep over. Where do you find something that will keep your kids busy and engaged for the whole duration of the party, and something that they haven’t already seen before?

It’s a challenge most parents would gladly forgo, so Kiddy Zone is here to help. We have some fun ideas for party games, party entertainers and some great ideas of children’s birthday parties that are new and different.

From balloon modellers to magicians, street dancers to caricaturists and even green screen photography entertainments, plus a whole series of indoor and outdoor games which include:

Indoor -Dance Machines, Photo Booths, Table Football, Air Hockey and Skittles.

Outdoor – Funfair Stalls, Connect 4, Kerplunk, Table Football and Giant Scalextrics.

All performers you hire should be CRB checked (a necessary precaution these days), and each should be assessed for the quality of their performance, both by you and by the harshest critics of all, the audience. So, if you’re looking for children’s birthday party entertainment ideas take note of the right things to check for.

Blackgang Chine

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Unlike many theme parks, Blackgang Chine doesn’t have many rides but what it does have is far more important – the tools to spark children’s imagination and the room to let them run, play and explore.

You can catch a 40 minute ferry journey aboard Wightlink Ferries from Lymington to Yarmouth which you will see the kids exploring the ship and standing outside to watch as you cross the Solent.

Blackgang Chine is a short 20 minute drive from the Port. When you arrive you will see a giant stood outside surrounded by cannons, perfect for excited kids. You can park  up in the free car park and head inside.

The first thing you see after the admission gates is Restricted Area 5 and if your kids are dinosaur mad children they will not be able to wait to ignore the “warning signs” and see what they can see………they won’t be disappointed!

Huge, animatronic dinosaurs fill the enclosure with life-like sounds which allow you to imagine what life might have been like when they roamed the earth. Favourites include the Argentinosaurus, which is bigger than a double decker bus and the biggest animatronic T-Rex in the country. The ground actually shook when he roared!

As you come out of the enclosure you will find some giant insects to wonder at, walk past and explored the Crooked House before finding the jewel in Blackgang Chine’s crown – the all new Underwater Kingdom.

Proceed through a magical underwater cave which will take you to an incredible coral reef.  Your kids will love being under the sea and you will hear instructions from an animatronic crab to help him find his family who had wandered off.

You will discover an abandoned sunken shipwreck to explore and the most amazing array of colourful, larger than life animatronic sea creatures as you venture further into the deep. On the final part of your journey your kids will find the biggest mammal of them all impressively floating above our heads, moving its tail as if it were swimming.

There are so many other areas to explore. The pirates in Pirate Cove, complete with pirate ships to climb and water pistols to fire. Sheriff in Cowboy Town where you can stop a bank robbery, put the kids in jail and ride a stagecoach.

You can also play a real life game of Snakes and Ladders up and down a huge wooden play frame complete with stairs and long winding slides to whizz down.

For children that do like to experience thrills, there is also the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster, Waterforce slide and the teacups to ride.

Blackgang Chine is the UK’s oldest theme park and is 174 years old this year. Their very first exhibit was a huge fin whale which is still on display to this day and I urge you to go and see this magnificent beasts skeleton which you can actually walk through.

If you are visiting with young children please be aware that the park is very hilly, although completely accessible for buggies or wheelchairs. There are plenty of toilet and baby changing facilities available as well as food stands throughout the park and the large Chine café by the entrance which serve the most amazing fish finger sandwiches!!

Gruffalo spotting

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Why not set off to find Julia Donaldson’s & Axel Scheffler’s famous spined monster.

The Gruffalo Spotters Trails are available at various Forestry Commission parks over the UK. They consist of an interactive walk which begins by downloading the Gruffalo Spotters App at home – we can’t recommend that enough, as phone signals are patchy enough in the forest without having to rely on some serious 4G power. You can still do the trail without the app.

Simply  follow clues throughout the forest, tracking down signs of the characters from The Gruffalo At each spot where you find one of the characters, there’s a round marker which you point your camera at and the app brings the characters to life as well as large clues and info boards. There’s plenty of other interactive things to do along the way too.

Aside from the stunning views across Exeter, the track, which is suitable for cyclists too, has various spots where you can hide out in fun woodland dens, make your own dens, photo spots and a large wooden xylophone. The kids were so engrossed with getting stuck into all the little extras along the way that we had to keep reminding them to search for the Gruffalo clues!

There’s a whole Julia Donaldson thing going on at Haldon Forest Park and you’ll also get to see Stick Man  at the beginning of the trail!

It should take around 2 hours walking around, stopping for clues, joining in with the extra interactive children’s activities, picnicking and having a spot of fun in the park. Although on a warmer, less windy day, we’re sure you’d get a good 3-4 hours at least.

You can also purchase activity packs from the cafe as well to enhance your Gruffalo spotting fun. But if you’re looking for a day out on a shoestring they’re not essential. It’s just as much fun going home and re reading the book to remind you of the day though!

The Rock to Padstow ferry

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The ferry from Rock to Padstow runs roughly every 20 minutes and takes 5-10 minutes to do the journey. The views are great and kids love the experience.

Go window shopping

Padstow is home to a lot of clothes shops like Joules, Seasalt and White Stuff but the chances are your kids won’t be a massive fan of those. Kids will really enjoy having a look into the windows of the places they will find interesting, asking about the different fish for sale in the fishmongers, looking at the huge paintings inside a gallery There’s also plenty of boats in the harbour and it’s fun to look at their names and where they are from or hunting for the biggest boat

Go to a food market

There is great little food and craft market near to the main car park in Padstow. Go and check out some local food the kids will love having little bits to try.

Go on a sea cruise

Boats like the Jubilee Queen run hour long cruises from Padstow that give you and the kids a chance to see some of the fabulous wildlife around Cornwall which can include dolphins, seals or even basking sharks.

Eat some chips

The Rick Stein Café is in the centre of town and is one of the most kid friendly cafes with crayons and colouring sheets on hand as well as food kids would actually eat which is pretty much unheard of.

Have a run around on the beach

There are several beaches in Padstow or if you’ve taken the ferry over then the beach at

Rock is great for playing on too. Perfect for kicking a ball about on, flying a kite or getting busy with a bucket and spade.

Getting a family dog

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So you’re thinking of adding a dog to the family? We all know that it’s a big responsibility. Knowing is one thing; however, the day to day reality can be trickier than you may imagine.

Like most responsibility, becoming a dog owner is a huge undertaking that is sometimes massively underestimated

  1. Dogs don’t like being alone.

So, unless you’re self-employed or have time-generous friends and family, be prepared to spend lots of money on a dog walker.

  1. Dogs always like walking; but mostly kids don’t.

Your vision: come Saturday mornings, the family will take long, leisurely walks with the pooch, on which the rosy-cheeked kids, liberated from their screens, will get tons of fresh air and exercise, right?

Sorry, You may love walking but kids? They can be surprisingly lazy when they want to be. The reality: kids sometimes whinge after 14 steps have even been taken – they also fall over. It’s not always the joyous situation you may have envisaged

  1. Days-out aren’t always suitable for doggies.

You would imagine that your dog would always accompany you on days out – and often they can. But it can get embarrassing when he’s running off with your kids sandwich. Fact is, sometimes its a less stressful day when the dog is at home.

  1. Picking up poo will be a big part of your life.

It’s an everyday part of dog ownership that cannot be avoided. Many people  have singled out this as the reason they don’t get a dog. But it isn’t that bad. Just like your kids when they were young you get used to wiping their little pooey bottoms, but then the thought of changing another kid’s turns your stomach? Same thing. You own dog will become a no big deal part of your life. Ask me to pick up another dog’s poop? Yuk!!

  1. It’s the next biggest responsibility to having a kid.

You don’t get a break from being a doggy parent – they need your time, care and attention, just like a child. And that is draining, especially when you already have little humans to look after. But you know what? Unlike kids, they don’t answer back, they sleep through pretty much straight away, they eat what you give them…

Weird and wonderful attractions

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Mann Cat Sanctuary, Isle of Man

Visit an attraction where the cats are in charge. At Mann Cat Sanctuary, hundreds of fluffy felines and purr-fect pals roam freely across seven acres. With so much space the cats get to choose where they live, which encourages natural behaviour. Come with your family to say hello, and as entry is free the sanctuary asks for food donations instead. Top tip: You’ll be the most popular human around if you bring some cat treats for tea.

Grimm & Co, Rotherham

Hop on your brooms and put down your potions, Grimm & Co in Rotherham is open for business. Founded in 1148 by Master Graham Grimm, this apothecary has been and will always be the spot for magical beings. Come and join in with writing workshops, or learn about hexes and magical accessories. Make sure to check out the Library of Forgotten Books, where your little one can take a book home for free.

The Kinema in the Woods, Lincolnshire

If the usual trip to the cinema involves your kids pulling on your sleeve to take them to the bathroom, or constant pleading to buy them popcorn, Kinema in the Woods is the cinema that your family needs. It is a picturesque picture house tucked away in the Lincolnshire countryside, and is one of the only cinemas that still provides an interval; perfect for minimising your chances of missing the most important part of the film.

Plantasia, Swansea

It’s not often that you find an attraction this proud of its plants, but at Plantasia, they’re definitely the star of the show. Visit a rainforest in the middle of a city and discover a hothouse overflowing with exotic wildlife. This is an attraction where the plants and habitats take centre stage, but if you look closely you’ll find plenty of animals too.

Mother Shipton’s Cave, York

Discover how the waterfall at Mother Shipton’s Cave turns anything it touches into stone. This attraction has amazed visitors since 1630, and is a fantastic day out for the whole family. See for yourselves the teddy bears that have gradually turned to stone beneath the waterfall.

The Gnome Reserve, Devon

Wander through four enchanted acres at The Gnome Reserve whilst wearing your very own gnome hats. Deep in the mystical woods you’ll find an enormous collection of gnomes and pixies in some enchanting scenarios. They’ll be hiding along the pathway, and peeking behind the trees, but can your kids spot all of them?

Some old cinema classics

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Looking for some new ways to entertain the children? How about introducing the kids to some old classics….

The Goonies

This is a film loved in equal measure by us adults, the teen and the little ones. If you have not seen it before, it is about a group of childhood friends who discover an old Spanish map that leads them on an adventure to unearth the long-lost fortune of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th-century pirate.

During the entire adventure, they are chased by a family of criminals, who also want the treasure for themselves, whilst holding the scary (but ultimately friendly) giant called Sloth captive. Be aware: this film does contain some mild swearing.

The Wizard of Oz

“We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz”

Dorothy is stuck on a farm in dreary, sepia-toned Kansas dreams of a more exciting life somewhere over the proverbial rainbow; she gets her wish and then some when a tornado deposits the Midwesterner and her little dog, Toto, too, into a Technicolor wonderland.

Not only are the tunes catchy and the characters loveable (mostly), the story has the fantastic message that you can go out and see the world, have adventures, make new pals and experience life at its most grand, but in the end, there’s no place like home, and no one quite like your family and friends!

Matilda

Based on Roald Dahl’s book of the same name, it is the fabulous story of Matilda Wormwood, a wonderful little girl, who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher, Miss Honey, vs. her exceptionally horrible and ignorant parents and the most sadistic school principal imaginable The Trunchbull.

It is a real feel-good film which sees Matilda become a tough, smart cookie who kicks butt through it all, eventually outsmarting all of those bad eggs — a true tale of triumph your kids will totally adore and may even encourage the kids that “sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty” (only in a good way, of course!)

The Lion King

The Lion King tells the story of Simba, a young lion who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands; however, after Simba’s uncle Scar (Mufasa’s jealous younger brother), murders Mufasa, Simba is manipulated into thinking he was responsible and flees into exile. Upon maturation living with Timon (a meerkat) and Pumbaa (the slightly smelly Warthog), Simba is given some valuable perspective from his childhood friend, Nala, and his shaman, Rafiki, before returning to challenge Scar to end his tyranny and take his place in the Circle of Life as the rightful King.

Trolls

Want a film that literally makes you want to get up and dance? Trolls is the one for you and possibly our favourite recent kids’ film.

The Trolls are small creatures who live in an almost perpetual state of happiness, singing, dancing and hugging all day long until the Bergens invade Troll Village. Poppy, the happiest Troll ever born, and her friend, grumpy and pessimistic Branch set off on a journey to rescue their friends, partnered by an incredible music score that has you singing and dancing along.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

The film tells the story of Charlie Bucket who finds a Golden Ticket in a bar of Wonka’s Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight and gets to visit Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with four other children from around the world. They get to meet the weird and wonderful Oompa Loompas who sing their catchy song whenever a ticket holder disobeys Wonka and gets into a spot of trouble. A fun film with a great moral to the story.

Night at the Museum

Based around a Night watchman who starts work at a museum of natural history. He makes a startling discovery, that thanks to the unleashing of an ancient Egyptian curse, the museum’s animals, birds, bugs and other exhibits spring to life after the building closes.

The film is packed full of laugh-out-loud moments and actually makes visiting a museum seem cool to the kids. The two sequels; Battle of the Smithsonian and Secret of the Tomb are well worth watching

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tells the story of two children, Jeremy and Jemima Potts. They live with their widowed father, inventor Caractacus Potts. Using a few odds and ends, plus a great deal of hard work and imagination, Potts buys and converts an old wrecked car into a shiny new contraption which is affectionately named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. While on a seaside picnic with the children and the object of his affections, Truly Scrumptious, Potts weaves a story about the magical powers of the car and they get whisked off on a magical adventure to Vulgaria.

It is here where the children are captured by the terrifying Child Catcher. Aided by the village toymaker and all the children who have escaped capture by hiding in an underground cave, Potts and Truly masquerade as life-sized puppets and gain entry to the Baron’s birthday party to rescue them. They all live happily ever after, of course!

Mrs Doubtfire

When a finalized divorce leaves funny-guy Daniel Hillard without custody of his kids, he devises a quirky plan to spend time with them anyway – disguised as their nanny! My family loved following the story of Mrs. Doubtfire, a “Scottish Nanny” as he/she bonds with his kids, fools his ex-wife and terrorizes her new boyfriend.

The Railway Children

The story concerns a family who move from London to “The Three Chimneys”, a house near the railway in Yorkshire, after the father, who works at the Foreign Office, is imprisoned after being falsely accused of spying. The kids are soon drawn to the railway at the bottom of the garden, and all kinds of adventures.

Go to the cinema

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5 tips for taking your kid to the cinema for the first time:

Make sure your child is ready

A cinema can be a strange environment for a child, firstly it’s dark, can get very noisy and the screen is much larger than normal but it can be great children’s entertainment. If your child is sensitive to loud noises or is anxious about the dark, it’s probably best to wait until they are a little older as you don’t want them feeling uncomfortable from the start.

Pick the right film

Even when you follow the guidelines when it comes to age-appropriate films, it’s still a good idea to have a read of the general storyline before going to watch. You want their first film to be something gentle and heartwarming with enough of an engaging storyline that is easy for young children to follow

Have plenty of snacks and water

Even if you do decide to pick up some popcorn for yourself or older child before going into the cinema, do still make sure you have plenty of healthy snacks and water in your bag as these are key for helping to keep your kids sitting in their seats. These come in especially handy if you hit a slow part of the film and they are starting to lose interest. Another tip is you could also encourage your children to watch the whole film with the promise of something nice afterwards, such as a hot chocolate or ice-cream, sometimes a little bit of bribery in these circumstances can really help!

Pick an aisle seat

As adults we usually opt for the middle of the row to be as central to the film as possible, don’t make that mistake with your kids. You want to be as close to the aisle as you can should they need to go to the toilet or are just getting to unsettled and need to stand or have a quick 5-minute walk. That way you cause as little disruption to the rest of the cinema-goers and you can get in and out of your seat quickly.

Don’t be embarrassed to leave

If your child is really not enjoying themselves, is distressed, unengaged or you feel the film is unsuitable than don’t feel bad or embarrassed to leave, you certainly won’t be the first parent to do so and it’s better than putting the rest of the cinema goers through constant crying and upset. Also, all your child may need is to have a quick walk to the bathroom or just a bit of fresh air and may want to return to the film. If you do have to leave don’t make your child feel bad, its a bit of a trial and error when it comes to these things so you want to keep it a positive experience. If it does go well and they are not too sugar-high from snacks you could celebrate with an ice-cream or something fun.

If things don’t go right the first time, don’t panic! There are so many factors that go into a good cinema trip and you can always just wait another month or so and try again. Look out for special toddler-friendly screenings too, or special cinema events designed to help introduce children to the cinema – Peppa Pig’s My First Cinema Experience is a great example

Amazing Museums

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There are loads of mind-bending UK museums just waiting to be explored, with all sorts to expand little minds. Think living museums. Check out some best museums in the UK for kids and plan your next educational outing, rainy or otherwise.

National Space Centre, Leicestershire

Suit up and step into the unknown, at the National Space Centre, which has one of the best planetariums in the UK. Six interactive galleries take you on a quest through the museum’s lunar base, past alien autopsies (eek!) and on a wild ride into the solar system aboard 3D simulators. Your mission will then lead you right up to the iconic rocket tower; at 42m high, it’s a spectacle and houses actual spacecrafts and moon rock, as well as the Apollo Lunar Lander. It’s the perfect day out for anyone who ever dreamt of becoming an astronaut.

Best for: Watching a 360º show in Sir Patrick Moore’s Planetarium – one of the largest in the UK!

The Story Museum, Oxfordshire

Bookworms are always welcome at The Story Museum. This hidden gem is home to literature’s most beloved characters, and their worlds are recreated in incredible detail. Drop down a rabbit hole and take a seat at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, or push through the back of the wardrobe and into the snowy woods of Narnia. Kids can even dress up, choose a crazy title and take their rightful place on a gilded throne. If you’ve ever had trouble getting your kids to pick up a book, this UK museum is the ultimate antidote.

Best for: Dressing up! The red carpet and throne really let kids play the part.

Roman Baths and Museum, Somerset

Bathtime with kids can be a challenge, but not at the Roman Baths and Museum! They’ll be desperate for a dunk when they see what their ancestors built with a grand temple and bathing complex, as well as natural springs and freezing plunge pools. While you won’t actually get in, Roman characters will guide you around the museum with insider tales of this ancient spot. Just don’t miss one of the amazing reconstructions where life way back when is recreated with projections, CGI and soundscapes.

Best for: Making history lessons fun – little centurions will love this slice of the ancient world.

Black Country Living Museum, West Midlands

Time travel is real – almost – at the Black Country Living Museum. This living museum opens a door to the last century of industrial history with proper period shops and costumed characters, a smithy, and even an old-timey fairground. You could hitch a ride on a vintage tram or take part in Edwardian school lessons – that is before tucking into a portion of 1930s fish and chips. Live demonstrations and the fact that this is one of the largest open-air museums in the UK make it totally immersive.

Best for: Costumed characters: the resident cast do a fantastic job.

York’s Chocolate Story, North Yorkshire

One word: chocolate! With the promise of interactive confectionary making, guided tours and plenty of samples, who could resist a visit to York’s Chocolate Story? It brings a whole new twist to your typical museum with tasty treats in place of fossils and parchment. In fact, the city of York was built on the sweet stuff so you’ll learn all about its 300-year history and how it’s made, while saving time for a family fondue at the end of your visit.

Best for: Tucking into the exhibits! Chocoholics will be very happy.

Go wild in London

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Despite all the noise and never ending traffic the capital city has a lot of outdoor wild spaces for children to explore and what is best is a lot of these spaces are completely free making them the perfect stop when your in the city on a budget this summer. So pack a picnic and waterproofs and get ready to go wild in London.

Regents Park

Did you know there was an allotment space ready to explore and open to the public right in the heart of London? Well Regents Park Allotment Garden is perfect for curious little ones who are interested in where their veggies come from. Another favourite is the Wildlife garden which has a wild flower meadow and is a great place for a bug hunt. You can also take in all the colours and beauty of the rose garden in Queen Mary’s Garden which has the largest collection of roses in London

Kentish Town City Farm

A city farm that is completely free to the public and inspires children and adults to get up close with a variety of farm animals and nature. The four acre site also has a wildlife pond and community gardens plus a farm kitchen where kids can learn to cook. This city farm is a charity run organisation and offers a lot for the local community and with over 50 animals to get up close and personal too as well as many other events going on you can easily spend a couple of wild, fun and free hours here

Kensington Gardens

If your looking for a truly magical play park that inspires imagination than the huge wooden pirate ship at the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is amazing and follows on from the famous Peter Pan stories. The ship sits among a sea of sand and also has a sensory trail and teepees and play sculptures. You can also go on a hunt to find the bronze Peter Pan sculptured their is also the stunning Italian gardens and also an allotment gardens to explore

Wildlife Garden at The Natural History Museum

The Natural history museum is great for a rainy day (well any day for that matter) but besides the dinosaurs inside there is something wonderful to be found outside and that is the Wildlife Garden. It’s home to thousands of British floral and fauna and is a great place for spotting different kids and birds and bugs including the robins, wrens and blackbirds who are building their nests or the frogs and frogspawn.

Canal side Walk

If your looking for a quite and peaceful walk and seeing London from a different perspective than an early morning wander along the Regents Canal is a great way for kids to see the waterways and wildlife that lives along them. We recommend starting around Little Venice and walking to Camden which takes around 1-2 hrs. Children will really enjoy spotting all the colourful houseboats and you keep your eyes open as you pass the London Zoo as you maybe able to spy a few animals.