Category: Children

Budget toddler parties

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Let us help you find budget-friendly alternatives to an over the top toddler birthday party..

  1. Dance

Toddlers love to dance and parents love to watch. Hire a Children’s Musician for a birthday celebration that will keep a smile on everyone’s face! Since it’s a Dance Party and the centre of the party is music, you don’t really need a theme. Go to your local party shop, grab some brightly-coloured party supplies and arrange them on a white table cloth to bring it all together. Give your cake a musical theme and congratulations, This party is a success!

  1. Sensory Party

If your tiny guests are in the early stages of exploring, consider throwing a fun party centered around helping them explore. Find large, shallow clear boxes at your local diy shop. Fill them with different textures and colours, such as shaving cream, sand, water, marbles…anything you can think of. Place them in an area that will be easy to clean, hand out plastic art jackets and let them go to town.

  1. Princess and Superhero Parties

There is no doubt that you have glass slippers or capes haunting your dreams right now. That is one of the many perks of toddler parenting. Even though you’re well aware that they may not remember their early years, you still want to make their birthday special. Cut your budget by making your own crafts!

  1. Circus Party

Even without elephants or acrobats, you can still bring the circus to your garden! Think small-scale entertainment and keep decorations simple with a red, white, and yellow theme. Frost your cupcakes with red and white icing and arrange them into coordinating stripes, then top them off with tiny yellow flags made from toothpicks and card stock. Create your own Puppet Show stage using cardboard boxes and paint. There will be so much to do that toddlers can run free and have a good time! Hire a Face Painter or a friendly Clown.

No matter what your budget is, it is always possible to have an extra special fun party. With a little hard work and some creativity, use your budget savvy to make the best party of the year and still have enough leftover to treat yourself. You’ll need it! Make your  kid’s birthday one you will all remember and include some birthday traditions.

A Square World

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Full House Theatre will stage dance theatre performance: A Square World this February for school children and families – for free.

A Square World is an honest, touching and quirky story of three friends and what happens when an unexpected change leaves one of them left out in the cold.

Together they decide to redefine the rules of the square world in which they live and soon discover their lives won’t be square ever again! This non-verbal story uses simple design and object manipulation to create an imaginative world where anything can happen.

This endearing and funny performance looks at the unfairness of being left out in a world designed for everyone else but yourself.

A Square Worlds has been funded by Arts Council England through the strategic touring project From Stumbling Blocks to Stepping Stones, headed up by Full house Theatre in partnership with Luton Culture. The project aims to enable more school children, young people and their families to see more quality family theatre in venues across the UK – including The Civic, Barnsley. Selected Barnsley schools will also be given the opportunity to have the piece performed in their school halls.

The Civic, Barnsley are offering Barnsley families the opportunity to see this high quality, fun and entertaining dance performance for free in Barnsley Central library on 15th February at 11:30am and 2:30pm. Barnsley will be the first stop in a wider UK community tour that will move on to Leighton Buzzard and Thurrock before touring schools throughout Bedfordshire with schools performances also scheduled for Bury St Edmunds, Barnsley and Thurrock.

Let it go…

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A Frozen Birthday Party is what most little girls want at the moment and were are here to help with inspiration on how to decorate your home or children’s party venue to make it that extra bit special.

Costumed characters are always great fun, these characters call also entertain the children whilst you get on organising the food.

Make sure you have tablecloths that look ‘Frozen’ for example you could have silver foil laid out with blue plates and don’t forget to have plenty of ice in jugs for decoration to really make it look authentic, or if your budget allows why not hire an Ice Sculpture for your centrepiece.

If you know of any singers in the family or friends, then they could sing a few ‘Frozen songs’ but if you don’t then why not hire a solo singer preferably one that can be Elsa or Ana for a few hours.

It’s all about the ‘wow’ factor when your little girl walks into the venue you’ve booked, she and her friends want to be transported into the world of ‘Frozen’.

Fairy lights can transform any dull church hall into something magical if it’s done in the right way. Battery powered tea lights are also very effective and safer!!

Tissue paper pompoms, honeycomb balls and paper rosettes also offer a great cost-effective solution to decorating any space. They pack the wow factor without much effort or cost.

Why not hire or make a Sledge where a photo opportunity would be great keepsake for all your guests.

​Another cool idea is to use white Christmas lights you may already have at home to create the “Frozen” atmosphere. And don’t forget the cute goodie bags or packaging to match your theme!”

Winter fun

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A winter weekend doesn’t need to be boring.  There are always some fun things to do with children, bowling, castles and crafts, there’s so much to explore!!

1.Find Wonderfully Wintery Spiderwebs

Go outdoors and find a frosty spiders web… then have a go at making your own using PVA glue and silver glitter!

2. Make Your Own Puppet Show

Why not have a go at making your very own puppet theatre? Better yet, use up your leftover Christmas cardboard to get super crafty and creative!

3. Make a Bird Feeder

Create a bird feeder using an empty yoghurt pot, lard and birdseed, and then take pictures of the birds as they feed in your garden!

4. Make Your Own Puzzle

Create your own puzzles for some family fun! Stick a family photo, or a child drawn picture, to card and cut it into shapes.

5. Go Bowling

As  a much loved and traditional family activity, bowling is the perfect place for some lighthearted competitive fun!

6. Explore a Castle

Go to a castle and be a knight. Don’t forget to make a shield out of card and foil before you go!

7. Create Shell Pictures

Collect shells and create fun pictures on the beach, or in the forest with stones and twigs!

Places to eat with kids

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Hangar Number 4, Warrington

This restaurant is all aviation themed! It’s actually located inside an old railway arch and has part of a plane inside! Your food is delivered on an airline trolley and kids meals are even served on airline trays. We hear that the food is really tasty!

Rainforest Café, London

Enjoy a meal at this restaurant surrounded by the rainforest and some really wild creatures. The sights and sounds of the rainforest make you feel as if you’re in the Amazon -there’s moving animatronic animals, waterfalls and the occasional thunderstorm! You can tuck into a huge range of international cuisine.

Inamo, London

At this Japanese themed restaurant you can order your food from the interactive menu that’s projected onto your table! Kids can enjoy a delicious bento box and during the summer holidays there are sushi making classes that they can join

The Library Restaurant, Norwich

This superb restaurant is located in Norwich old library. The dramatic interior has booked lined walls, lots of original features and lots of squishy sofas. You can enjoy a feast of brasserie style meals, whilst admiring the beautiful surroundings

Ed’s Diner, Countrywide

Experience what American diners would have been like in the 1950s in one of these funky restaurants. Settle yourselves into one of the booths and enjoy the retro atmosphere, complete with the 1950’s music playing from a jukebox. Pick from a range of retro burger kids meals and wash them down with a milkshake made with real ice cream.

Simple kids party games

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Throwing a kids’ birthday party? We’ve rounded up some classic kids party games and given them a twist to make them even more fun!

Kids party game trends come and go, but if you ask us, the traditional ones never go out of style. Whether it’s running around outside playing sardines, bashing a pinata to reveal the stash of Haribo hidden inside, or dressing up in costumes and singing their heart out on a couple of plastic microphones, we defy you to find any kids that won’t get on board with at least a handful of these activities.

All of these game ideas require minimal set up, and you won’t have to break the bank to buy expensive prizes or treats. There’s something for all ages – we’ve road-tested these on quite a few mini masterminds, and found that most of them go down just as well with 13 years olds as they do with 3 year olds too!

And the best thing? You probably played these kids party games as a child, so after a quick jog of the memory, you’ll be fully equipped to lead a round of musical bumps and bob for apples with the best of them. Who knows, maybe the other mums and dads will even join in and wander down memory lane as well?

You’ve got enough to be thinking about when it comes to party planning, with the cake, the invites and the party bags, to name just a few, so let us take the hard work out of the games.

 

Here are some of the best cheap, easy and fun kids party game options we know… now the only decision will be whittling it down to your favourites!

Family days out in the South West

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Here we’ve rounded-up our top 10 favourite fun things to do in South West England with the family….

  1. Avon Valley Adventure Wildlife Park, Bristol

Come rain or shine, this adventure park is sure to hit the spot. With a range of children’s activities, from paddle-boarding, archery, a maze, trampolines, quad bikes, fishing and so much more you’ll have to keep coming back just to make sure you’ve tried everything! With rare and exotic animals as well as a falconry display, great days out have never been more effortless!

Best for: Choice

  1. Head4Heights, Cirencester

For those with a brave streak, check out this amazing adventure centre. Climb the totem-pole and freefall to the ground, or attempt the stairway to heaven and make the leap of faith back down to earth. Not for the small of heart, this day will have your children feeling like a true Indiana Jones. Test your limits on this adrenaline and fun-fuelled day suitable from age 5 and upward.

Best for: Thrills!

  1. Eden Project, St Austell

The Eden Project is an absolute must if you’re in the area. With huge iconic greenhouses and thousands of species of plants there is so much to see and do. Find out who WEEE Man is, take a picture with the giant bee, walk in the rainforest and ride England’s longest zip wire. This will be a day out with nature like no other. Make sure you book online for a 10% discount.

Best for: Making fun and education go together

Magicland, Cirencester

Gloucestershire’s largest indoor soft play area is perfect for younger children. Your kids can let off steam in the huge structure, while a cannon shoots foam balls around! With ball-rivers, zip slides, log ramps and a football pitch there’s plenty of space for everyone. Under 4’s and under 18 months also have special play areas. Once they’re all tired out, put them in Story Corner with interactive screens.

They also run regular special events so double check before you go!

Best for: Little ones

 

Entertain the kids when its raining

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It seems as soon as we get excited about the sunshine and make ‘outdoorsy’ plans, the rain clouds arrive! If you’re left wondering what on earth to do with the kids, we’ve come up with some great games fun to play in the comfort of your own home to keep kids of all ages entertained.

Play ‘Sardines’ – a twist on the traditional hide and seek

You’ll need at least four players for this game with one person hiding and the other players searching for the hider. When a player finds their friend hiding, they then need to hide with that player staying where they are until another player finds them and so on. The fun will continue until the last person finds everyone at which point everyone will be squashed like – sardines!

Board games

No one can get board of board games, ditch electronic games and play with traditional board games. Snakes and Ladders, Guess Who, Monopoly…which games keep your kids entertained?

Indoor bowling

This game provides hours of fun for children (and adults) and can even be as competitive as you like You can either buy an indoor bowling set or use empty water bottles set up in a line and a soft ball. Don’t forget – place some tape as a starting line so avoid any cheating!

Dressing up stories

Get the kids using their imaginations and write a story – it could simply be their favourite fairy tale changed! They then have to act out their stories complete with costumes and props. Of course, you’ll need to put your acting skills to the test and join in with them!

Alphabet fishing

A fun and easy way to develop letter recognition and early reading skills, and even better it’s perfect for those rainy days! All you need are some magnetic letters, sticks or chopsticks, string, and paper clips. Tie the paper clips to your string and then tie (or glue) your string to your stick. Pour the magnetic letters into a big bowl…and let the children start fishing! The ‘catch of the day’ is the kids need to make words with the letters they hook out

Build a den

Drape blankets and sheets over chairs to make a cosy den for the kids. They can read books, play games and even nap (if you’re lucky!) however the challenge may be coaxing them out of their secret fort at teatime!

It seems as soon as we get excited about the sunshine and make ‘outdoorsy’ plans, the rain clouds arrive! If you’re left wondering what on earth to do with the kids, we’ve come up with some great games fun to play in the comfort of your own home to keep kids of all ages entertained.

Family days out in Liverpool

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If you’re looking for some fun and fab days out in Liverpool, look no further! We’ve pulled together this handy list full of great attractions and activities that all of the family will love, whether you’ve got a budding artist, little bookworm or explorers in town.

Liverpool Central Library

This imposing historic building has been thoroughly modernised and is a fantastic place to bring the family! There is a children’s room where you will find brightly coloured interiors with lots of books and hidey holes. There are excellent facilities including an Xbox 360, computers, iPads and lots more.

Walker Art Gallery

Walker Art Gallery is a great place to bring the family on a day out! They offer an array of activities including the Big Art for Little Artists gallery, which can be found on the ground floor. There are often events and workshops taking place, which kids can get involved in.

Liverpool World Heritage Site

The port area of Liverpool is listed as a World Heritage Site, which stretches along the waterfront. In the Pier Head area you’ll find the grand historic buildings of The Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool building. There’s also the modern building of the Museum of Liverpool (free entry) and the chance to watch narrow boats pass through the Canal Link. You will also find the modern district, Mann Island, where there are restaurants galleries and cafes.  

Merseyside Maritime Museum

Merseyside Maritime Museum is a fantastic day out with the family! Here you’ll find a fascinating array of different exhibitions displaying Liverpool’s maritime history. There will always be lots to see and do as they regularly have children’s activities and workshops for families to enjoy. There’s also a ‘Sea Urchins’ play area for kids under the age of 8!

The World Museum

The World Museum has world-class shows and displays, including the Planetarium and Aquarium to the fascinating Clore Natural History Centre. You will find lots of exciting objects including Egyptian mummies, Samurai armour, casts of dinosaur bones, meteorites and many more treasures. Throughout the year they have many family events and many different temporary exhibitions so keep an eye on their regularly updated calendar!

Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool has many exhibitions displaying various artists and their work. There is a lot to offer visiting families, including events and workshops! You can make your way around the gallery at your own pace and start wherever you want.

Family days out in the Capital

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London offers an incredible amount of free attractions and things to do. Most museums and art galleries are free, London’s street markets are a must even if you don’t plan to do any shopping, and many London neighbourhoods are perfect for a stroll and a great day out with the family.

The British Museum

For a fascinating day out, the family will love The British Museum where you’ll see displays on different aspects of art, culture and history! It is great for school kids and could even help with their school projects! A real highlight for the for the children include seeing the famous mummies from Ancient Egypt and the Rosetta Stone!

Imperial War Museum

Bring the family here to learn about all aspects of war from seeing how families lived and coped during the war to tanks and Spitfires. There are sections on trench warfare, the Blitz, rationing and a whole section dedicated to the secrets of war.

The National Gallery

This gallery is home to one of the greatest collections of Western European art in the world so you will definitely be guaranteed a fascinating day out. Catering brilliantly for family visits, you can take part in a Walk & Talk where an expert will take you through the museum bringing the paintings alive which will keep the kids attention. There are a host of family tours and also workshops and activities throughout the year. The National Portrait Gallery, on nearby St. Martin’s Place, is also free!

Science Museum

This museum is a definite hit with children (and adults) of all ages and it’s definitely clear to see why! You’ll get to explore space and see a piece of the moon, and get your adrenaline pumping in the flight simulator. Especially created for the younger visitors, a visit to The Garden is a must and will give them the opportunity to explore light and sound, as well as water and construction.

The Tate Britain and Tate Modern

The Tate Britain in Pimlico houses a prestigious collection of British art from the 16th century to the present day. Its modern sister, the Tate Modern, is completely different with collections of 20th and 21st century art. Both galleries are extremely family friendly, and to make your visit even more fun there are apps which you can download and activities to do as you make your way around.

Horniman Museum & Gardens

This family friendly fun anthropological museum is set in a 16 acre landscaped garden which you can explore, and has extensive collections of natural history as well as a magical aquarium. Other highlights include the Animal Walk where you can see alpacas, sheep, goats, rabbits and much more up close.

Grant Museum of Zoology

The Grant Museum of Zoology is a fascinating place to visit if you enjoy natural history. There are large collections of around 68,000 skeletons, mounted animals and specimens preserved in fluid which include extinct species such as the Tasmanian Tiger, the Quagga, and the Dodo.

London’s Street Markets

Even if you are not planning on doing any shopping, London’s street markets are great for wandering and seeing the huge selection of goods on offer. Visit the Borough Market and browse through high quality local and international foods, or go to Camden where the covered Camden Lock market is surrounded by street stalls, shops, cafes and bars. There are numerous markets all over the city selling everything from antiques through to delicious foods!

London’s Parks

London’s green parks are the heart of the city on sunny days, locals come to their beloved parks to have a coffee in the morning or a sandwich at lunch time, to read a book, to meet friends, to fly a kite, play with the kids, picnic or just to hang out on a nice afternoon. Hyde Park, St James Park, Green Park and Regent Park are the most central of London’s parks, but there are many more on our website including Crystal Palace Park which is home to 33 Victorian dinosaurs!

Urban Farms

In and around London there are a number of farms that you can visit for free. You can meet an array of different animals, learn all about where your food comes from and enjoy being outdoors. Farms you can visit include Surrey Docks Farm, Spitalfields City Farm, Vauxhall City Farm, and there are many more on our website too.

Diana Memorial Playground

The children will love this outdoor adventure playground which was built in memorial to the late Diana Princess of Wales and was inspired by the stories of Peter Pan. The centrepiece is a magnificent and fun wooden pirate ship. There’s also a sensory trail, teepees, a beach around the ship and a selection of sculptures and toys to keep the children occupied.

V&A  Museum of Childhood

The exhibitions within the Museum of Childhood will most certainly intrigue the children but will also take the grown ups on a trip down memory lane! With artefacts dating from the 1600’s to the present day there is so much to see from photography to fashion and childhood. There are also plenty of fun children’s activities organised just for the little ones including art activities and getting messy in the sandpit!