Category: Activities

Places to take the kids on February half term

Posted on by

Meadow Keeper’s Cottage, near Rye, East Sussex

Set on a 40-acre farm, between two wildflower meadows, this idyllic little holiday home is the perfect base for a taste of country life – children can become junior farmers, helping out at animal feeding time.

The “cottage” itself looks like it’s been lifted straight from a children’s storybook and put on wheels. Hand-made by a local craftsman, it’s as cute as can be with flowers in boxes under blue-framed windows, a wooden door and wood-burner indoors to keep you toasty.

Not one for a large family or older kids but perfect for young ones, with a double bed and two singles that double up as benches, a fold-away dining table between them and indoor cooking area. The loo and (wood-fired) shower are outside.

The wide stretches of beach at Camber Sands are only nine miles away and Bodiam castle, which also looks like it’s been lifted from a fairytale with its crenellated towers and drawbridge.

• £660 for six nights from 10-16 February (sleeps four),

Walking in the Lake District

If you’ve got kids who need to burn off energy every day, how about a dedicated walking holiday? This group trip features a choice of three child-friendly walks a day ranging from an easy option at six miles to a full 13-mile hike. In the evenings, activities are geared towards children; there’s also a games room.

The four-day trip, departing 13 February, costs £279 per adult (saving £50), with children (aged 11 to 17 and sharing with an adult) paying £194 each (under-11s go free), including full-board at the company’s Derwent Bank Country House on the shores of Derwentwater through HF Holidays.

A cottage in Wales

Wayside, Near Dolgellau, Snowdonia

Sheepskin, which specialises in luxury homes – the majority of which are in Wales, is offering 10% off its larger properties this half-term, including Wayside, near Dolgellau in Snowdonia, a charming cottage with an open-plan living area and cosy sofas around a wood-burning stove, looking out over a valley of fields and forests. It sleeps six and costs £1,328 for the half-term holiday (including the 10% discount), arriving on 10 February.

Alternatively, Bantwen, a traditional cottage in Carmarthenshire, is on offer through Under the Thatch; it sleeps six and costs just £224 for four nights starting 13 February.

Easter holidays fun for families

Posted on by

Entertaining the children during the Easter break is not always the easiest thing to do. If you are at home this Easter, you may want some tips on things the children can do that will keep them occupied and having fun.  Our ideas will not break the bank and are a great alternative for indoor fun especially if the weather is not in your favour.

Use up odd socks by making an Easter bunny sock puppet.  Use buttons or cut out pieces of paper or card for eyes and a nose and hey presto!  You have all you need to create your own Easter bunny puppet show.

Make Easter cards.  You can use scraps of paper, old birthday and Christmas cards, magazines etc.

Memory Minute – Place ten small household items on a tray or table, cover with a tea-towel.  For example, a button, keys, a cotton bud, a fork etc.  Show the items for about thirty seconds then re-cover.  Each child has a minute to write down as many items as they can.  Smaller children can reel them off and you can write them for them.  The best memory wins.

Egg Collage – give each child a piece of paper and draw a big egg shape outline on it.  With a pot of paste and scraps of material or ribbon they can make their own creative picture.  For ribbon scraps raid your wardrobe and snip off all those ribbon hangers in the shoulders of tops and jumpers that often don’t seem to serve a purpose and usually end up getting in the way.  Have a small prize for the best one or the best one in each age group so everyone gets to be a winner.

Mini egg challenge – Make up a small race track or obstacle course on the floor or table.  Give each child four chocolate mini eggs of the same colour and a straw.  Let each one have a turn at blowing down the straw to guide each egg in turn to the end of the course.  You could use your watch to time how long it takes for all their eggs to get “home”.  To make it even more of a challenge you could tie their hands behind their backs with a scarf so they are not tempted to use them to cheat.

Easter decorations – Use paints or felt tips to decorate some eggs (you can use hard boiled or blow some if you prefer).  To do these, make small holes each end and then blow the contents into a bowl – you can use this for scrambled eggs or omelettes for tea.  As it’s a good idea to rinse the eggs out and leave them to dry you might like to do this the day before the planned activity.  Keep the egg box to stand them in and it’s also useful to put them in when they are drying off after being decorated.  Suggest faces with glasses, hair, beards, etc. or zigzag patterns or just let the children’s imaginations run riot.  When they’re done they can be used on a plate as a decoration – perhaps with a couple of chicks on top (these are really cheap to buy in card shops or similar or make your own with yellow wool) or you could get a small twiggy branch from the garden or elsewhere and stand it in a vase and hang your eggs on with cotton or ribbon.

Budget school holiday ideas

Posted on by

Knowing how to keep children amused through the school holidays can sometimes be daunting for parents, especially when things cost so much. Family Lives have come up with some top tips to help take some of the stress out of it, and keep everyone happy without needing to spend a fortune.

Going out and about

During the school holidays, there may be lots going on in your local area that your family can enjoy, often for free. Check the websites of your local council and tourist information centres for local days out, or scan the local papers and community centres to see what’s going on in your area. Visit your local library and look for adverts of events. Many libraries hold events such as story time, and arts and crafts days. Libraries are also a great source of activity in themselves, with plenty of books and computers to keep children busy, plus they often have storytime for toddlers and

parents.

  • Check to see if your local council swimming pool offers free or reduced-fee entrance in the school holidays.

  • Museums and galleries often have new exhibitions and events running in the summer. Many art galleries put on special events for children and families – this could be just the thing to stimulate your child’s artistic streak.

  • Check out your local leisure centre – there are plenty of children’s sports and activities they can participate in.

  • Staying at home

Of course, on some days, you will find yourselves stuck at home, but that doesn’t mean anyone has to be bored. You could take the opportunity to spend some time sharing a favourite game or story with your children or, if you want some more inspiration, try some of these activities for kids.

  • Arrange a movie day – choose a couple of favourite films, get some popcorn and put your feet up with the kids.

  • Get cooking – pick a recipe with the kids, go shopping for ingredients and cook something together that you can enjoy eating afterwards. Depending on your child’s age and interest, this could be anything from a simple sponge cake to a mushroom stroganoff! Dig out the puzzles, games and books and give them a go. Some good old-fashioned entertainment can be really fun.

Have a look in your cupboards and play dress up with your old clothes. Sort through your clothes together and recycle the ones that you never wear and the stuff your little one’s grown out of.

Encourage the kids to put on a play or a magic show. They could even use the dress up clothes and props from around the house. If you have a camera, you can even film it, for great memories.

Build a den with the kids – if the weather is ok, you could even risk doing this outside! All you need is some boxes or sofa cushions, a few blankets, and a bit of imagination.

 

Create a scrapbook together using photos from your family album, or torn from magazines.

The great outdoors (and the garden!)

Sunny days are great for simple activities like picnics and ball games. This can be done as close to home as in the back garden!

 

  • Organise a treasure hunt around your home and garden with clues and treats for the children to find

  • Hold your own mini Olympics with games that require little equipment… a sack race with pillowcases, a tug of war with a dressing gown belt! Use your imagination.

  • If outside is dry, wrap up and go to the park or a nice walk somewhere quiet with the children with a flask of hot chocolate – sure to go down a treat!

  • If you have a tent, you could arrange a camping trip in your garden with the children for one night!

  • Kites are great if it is a windy day and they can be bought from bargain shops very cheaply

    Making your own fun

Be creative – make things together like greeting cards or use beads to make some jewellery.

  • Have an arts and craft day and get some canvas and paints, they can be bought in bargain shops for as little as a pound and use paints or crayons and the kids can hang up their creations in their rooms.

  • Make a list of your favourite childhood games – old favourites such as hopscotch, putting on a show or marbles won’t cost the earth and your children will enjoy you reminiscing!

  • In the evenings get the kids to design a game that you can make the next day – give them ideas to keep it simple such as a paper boat race in the paddling pool or homemade skittles using a tennis ball and empty toilet rolls.

  • Have you ever thought about Origami? All you need is paper and instructions which can be found online, will keeps kids amused and they will learn a new skill

Don’t try and fill every minute of every day. Encourage your children’s imagination and independence – let them play in their rooms or the garden.

Bluestone for kids

Posted on by
Things to do

 

Breathe in, take a look around and get to know your surroundings. Get familiar with your habitat; 500 acres of rambling woodland to scramble, climb and run through lush green grass, skim stones across clear blue lakes and explore Britain’s only Coastal National Park.

If forest bathing isn’t your thing then The Blue Lagoon should fulfill any mermaid’s requirements. Completely heated by a Biomass fuel system, we’re determined that having an amazing time shouldn’t cost the earth.

We can’t guarantee the weather, so if grey clouds threaten there’s also the Adventure Centre, where you can get a taste for climbing trees and making dens, indoors. Here you can go truly wild.

Or if you want to relax opt out of the world for a day. The Well Spa uses traditional, natural ingredients in its massages and treatments; here you can meander from roof top hydrotherapy pool to any one of the 6 thermal spa rooms with different temperatures and focuses, depending on what your body needs to rebalance itself.

Go wild. Get messy. Try something new.

During your stay at Bluestone you’ll be spoilt for choice with things to do! With a range of activities for kids for the smallest adventurers, to the most seasoned, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Find out what’s on offer and start planning your holiday filled with free range fun!

Adventures

Whether you’re an outdoor adrenaline chaser, a fanatic foodie or a wound up workaholic in need of some winding down, you’ll find your perfect adventure on a Bluestone holiday.

Bluestone Rangers

When your kids become Bluestone Rangers, it’s Famous Five adventures all the way. Build dens, explore, look for bugs, get muddy: it’s all about free range fun. Set them free to learn, have fun and go exploring the natural world, indoors or out.

Splash About

Being by the sea we love the water here at Bluestone and you’ll be able to dive straight into fun on your holiday right here. Our subtropical Blue Lagoon is free for guests to enjoy during your stay, zoom the flumes, jump the waves and have a great time! Our Lake is also home to great water sports from kayaking to coracle racing, bring the whole family together and take part in the raft building challenges!

If you are for some well earned relaxation during your break then we have you covered. With a luxurious Spa on resort specialising in ESPA treatments and acres of forest space for long walks with nature you’ll be spoilt for choice. Take the days as they come, relax, unwind and try life at a leisurely Pembrokeshire pace for a change!

Where to take the kids for half term

Posted on by
Wondering how to entertain kids on a budget during half term? If you’re strapped for ideas for half-term family activities, never fear.
Take a free event.
 
Have a look at Free-events and wherecanwego for more children’s events going on in your area over the course of the week.
Watch a film
For a lazy start to the day, Vue cinemas host Mini Mornings every morning during the holidays. Both adult and child tickets are £2.49 for selected movies, so you could release your inner child for very little expense.
 
Odeon offers something very similar with Odeon Kids. Kids and adults can go every morning during the school holidays at a slightly higher ticket price of £2.50.
 
Cineworld also does Movie for Juniors where you and the kids can get in for a tiny £2 each (3D £3.50).
Go bowling
Head over to your local Tenpin from Monday to Friday and get a cracking School’s Out deal. If you go before 5pm, kids can get one game of bowling and a burger meal for £8.49 and adults can get the same for £10.99. Deals vary between bowling alleys so check the Tenpin website before you go.
Learn a new skill
There’s everything from free scales and fins pet workshops at Pets at Home stores to spooky shadows workshops at the National Gallery.
 
Hobbycraft also runs free workshops for kids in some of its 81 UK stores over the weekends and during half term. Check if your local store is running one.
 
Alternatively stay in and pass on your own skills (think instruments, drawing, cooking) to the kids.
Get sporty
If the weather holds up, get them outside for a bit of a kickabout. Find out where to get free holiday football coaching at various skill centres throughout England.
 
Or if the kids prefer a spot of tennis, clubs up and down the UK offer free weekly tennis coaching lessons in public parks and free ‘walk on and play’ in certain courts.
 
The National Trust has a number of cycle routes for families too as well as some great walks including walks for little legs so that the young ones don’t get too tired.
 
Councils across the UK offer free swim programmes for certain residents, so check out your local council’s website to see if you or your children are eligible.
Soak up some culture
There are free museums up and down the country just waiting to be explored, and many of them host special events for children during the break.
 
If you’re in or around London, there’s plenty of theatre to keep children entertained too. For example, if you go and see Let’s Fly at the Little Angel Theatre you can get tickets for £10 for adults or £8 for children.
You can bag more free tickets, money off and cheap meals by visiting Groupon, Wowcher, VoucherCodes and Voucher Cloud.
Eat out on the cheap
You can guarantee that there’ll be some great offers available for families over the half term.
You can find a load on websites like VoucherCodes. Or if you have a craving for a roast dinner, find your nearest Crown Carvery. If you order a meal on any Sunday (or bank holiday Monday) any child under 10 will get their meal for free!
Get creative at home
You don’t have to go on a grand adventure to have a memorable day with the family. Find something you can all do together like play a game or do a project which the whole family can get involved in.
It can be as simple as grabbing some old scraps and getting crafty. There are thousands of projects available online, including ones that can be made using household junk. If it’s not raining, put together a scavenger hunt in the garden using small knick knacks or wrapped chocolates. Don’t worry if it is, just take the hunt indoors.
 
There are also some wacky experiments you can do at home like creating your own tornado, fashioning a soap sculpture or growing edible crystals. You don’t even have to leave the kitchen.
 
And if all else fails, raid the linen cupboard and make a giant blanket fort.

Deerpark adventure

Posted on by

What is it? A four-day break in a log cabin on Cornwall’s south-west coast.

Where? A Deer Park in Cornwall but other Forest Holiday Cabin locations include the Forest of Dean; Keldy on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park; Cropton in North Yorkshire; Argyll on the shores of Loch Lomond and Strathyre close to Callander, both in Scotland.

Description: Take advantage of all that nature has to offer. Funnily enough, the kids won’t miss their computers, their Wii or cable telly one single bit.

Regular Ranger activities include ‘Forest Survival’, ‘Amazing Animals’, ’Woodland Discovery’ and ‘Rove with the Ranger’. Other children’s activities available were rock climbing, archery and canoeing.

At Deerpark, evening entertainment is a little different and consists of Ranger activities like ‘Duskwatch’ and ‘Night Vision’, which involve looking for bats, deer, moths and owls sometimes using nighttime vision equipment.

There’s no childcare onsite.

This is more of an activity holiday than a pampering opportunity. Even though it’s nowhere near as basic as staying in a tent, if you want a sauna, whirlpool and whole range of beauty treatments, you’d better look elsewhere.

Local activities: There are several pretty towns nearby which are worth a visit. The Eden Project is just down the road and there are plenty of other exciting possibilities such as a high zip wire ride, animal farms and a monkey sanctuary.

  • There is no mobile phone reception onsite.

  • Make the most of the Ranger activities and the bike hire. Kids will love these.

Getting There: From London to the site, in Liskeard, Cornwall,  takes about five hours and 15 minutes. Prices range from £12 per person per night, and there are late booking offers as well as advanced booking offers available in all sites.

Save money this holiday season

Posted on by

Research shows that more than four in ten (41%) British parents have had to forgo a family get away during school holidays due to price hikes making it unaffordable.

New research reveals that more than seven in ten Brits (73%) don’t think it’s right that parents are charged a premium for going on holiday during school holidays and more than nine in ten (92%) believe something needs to be done to ensure this does not continue.

But if parents planning a trip for the family stick to the rules and book their family get away for October half term, what practical advice is there to ensure they are getting the best value for money and protecting themselves from hidden costs?

To help parents navigate this potential minefield, I offer the following tips:

  1. Start the research for your intended destination early – what kind of experience do you want for you and your family? When researching you should remember that many resorts and destinations in October are already operating on a reduced capacity mode. Whatever the brochure states, follow it up with a call to the hotel or destination and check to see if facilities are open.

  2. If you are going all-inclusive, make sure it really is all-inclusive. Make sure you know what’s included so you can budget correctly. Don’t forget to check your terms and conditions and ensure you know what protection you have.

  3. Before you click to pay for your holiday, check for any other ‘extra’ charges such as credit card charges. Make sure you are satisfied that you are only paying what you want to pay.

  4. Once you have clicked to go, take out that all-important travel insurance and also get your European Health Insurance Card if travelling in Europe – shop around, do not just buy the cheapest policy. Never leave home without it.

  5. Don’t buy your foreign currency at the airport. Shop around before you travel and be ready to buy the best rate you can get. Make sure you understand the cost of using your credit card abroad and watch out for those ‘extra’ costs if you use your card!

Brilliant LEGOLAND

Posted on by

The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort has formally invited the mini monarchs and their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to lend their royal seal of approval by staying at the premium castle-themed family hotel at their earliest convenience, once it opens its doors on 1 July 2017.

Situated right on the edge of the theme park next to the existing LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel, the new Castle Hotel will have 61 magical rooms. Families can choose between two imaginatively themed room types – Knights and Wizards – and enjoy the leisure and entertainment facilities at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel plus special benefits including early entry to the park, free refillable drink vessels, unique LEGO gifts and collectables.

Colourful LEGO touches and models large and small will feature throughout from the hotel’s astonishing lobby dominated by a giant LEGO Wizard unleashing LEGO magic from his wand, to the à la carte Tournament Tavern Restaurant, indoor Jester’s Play area and outdoor children’s Playground.

There are plenty of other websites offering great deals for LEGOLAND short breaks. Some offer 1 day free.  Your family will certainly enjoy LEGOLAND as there is something for everyone to enjoy…

Days out with the kids by train

Posted on by

To help out ideas-strapped parents, Family & Friends Railcard, which saves a third off most adult rail fares and 60% off kids’ fares, has compiled five quick and easy ideas to make the most of the autumn break with a fun day out for all the family.

Forests

Want to relax and enjoy the crackling of red and gold leaves rustling beneath your feet? The UK has a wealth of forests and woodlands. Just an hour and a half from London the New Forest is a fantastic family friendly option that won’t break the bank.

Theatre

From the best of Disney to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, the West End offers something for everyone. It’s a step up from your local theatre, offering faultless timing in dance moves and incredible voices – a perfect way to spend a chilly autumn evening. You can even get up to 60% off theatre tickets with your Railcard.

Hit the slopes

Start the ski season early by heading to one of the UK’s indoor slopes. From family ski sessions to sledging and snowboarding there’s loads on offer for families of all ages. Based in Hemel Hempstead, The Snow Centre is Britain’s newest indoor ski centre and caters for kids as young as four.

Museums

When the weather offers blustery winds and rainy skies, why not spend the day exploring a museum. Liverpool’s World Museum is one that will excite both the kids and adults with rocket rides through space and journey’s to the bottom of the sea.

Blackpool Illuminations

Stuck with what to do with your weekend? Plan a day trip to Blackpool and watch the flamboyant Blackpool Illuminations dazzle and light up the entire promenade. Switch on from early September until November for spectacular views, which the whole family can enjoy.

Family & Friends Railcard

For just £30 a year, the Family & Friends Railcard provides a third off most adult rail fares and 60% off kids fares. On average, Railcard users save £130 annually, making it worth over four times as much as it costs. Plus, in addition to saving on travel costs, the Family & Friends Railcard offers discounts on theatre tickets and days out.

Ballerina film

Posted on by

The Royal Academy of Dance have partnered with new film Ballerina, in cinemas on 19th December, and are celebrating the release of the enchanting new film by launching a nationwide series of Ballerina classes to inspire children to get involved in dance through acting, storytelling and characterisation.

Ballerina follows young orphan Felicie, who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer in Paris. With the help of her best friend Victor, Felicie must learn from her mistakes and fight like she never has before, but learns that nothing is impossible when it comes to achieving one’s dreams.

The Royal Academy of Dance’s Ballerina-inspired classes are available exclusively from RAD registered teachers and will explore the themes of friendship and never giving up on your dreams, as inspired by characters in the film. The classes also explore French culture through music and imagery and introduce young dancers to classical ballet repertoire. From acting out Felicie and Victor’s chores at the orphanage to imagining dancing on stage at the Paris Opera Ballet, children will be taken on a creative journey through movement and dance to realise Felicie’s dream of becoming a ballet dancer.

Children’s Storytelling is a wonderful way to inspire children about the world of dance. The Royal Academy of Dance are delighted to be partnering with Ballerina to take children on a dancing journey with Felicie and Victor in a series of nationwide classes.

The classes, which will run through January, will be available for children aged 4–7 and 8–13 across the country. Further details about upcoming Ballerina classes can be found here: Ballerina Classes

Watch the Ballerina trailer at Facebook Ballerina Film UK Trailer