Category: Ideas

Exploring Bristol with older kids

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There’s plenty to keep young kids occupied in Bristol, from At-Bristol to SS Great Britain, but what did we do with a teen and a tween in tow?

Cabot tower

Built in the 1890s to commemorate the journey of John Cabot from Bristol to Canada the tower is free to visit. There’s a 360 degree panoramic view from the top although getting there may involve a squeeze. The spiral stairs are pretty narrow and things get interesting when you meet someone coming the opposite direction!

Giant’s cave, Clifton Observatory

Clifton Observatory is home to two attractions, a Camera Obscura and Giant’s Cave.  There is a touch of make believe about the tale, the steps lead out onto a platform with an impressive view of the gorge and bridge. 

 

Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol

On the far side there’s a small visitor centre. Kids can play with a weighing machine that tells you how many of yourself can stand on the bridge without it collapsing. Quite a few fortunately!

 

Banksy art, Bristol

But there’s a lot more to Bristol than Banksy. Starting from City Hall and going through the city centre to Stokes Croft you can learn about the techniques used, artist backgrounds and the meaning behind some of the pieces.

 

Bristol street art

Depending on your point of view, our final destination, Stokes Croft, is either full of drug dens and brothels, bohemian and edgy or gentrified and expensive to live in. Whatever your thoughts there’s definitely lots of street art to see.

St Nicholas Market

Leaving street art tour head back to the city centre via the indoor St Nicholas Market. The market has the usual clothing and knick-knack stalls but what sets it apart are the food outlets. With options from all over the world it wouldn’t look out of place in Borough Market. 

 

3yr old Birthday Party ideas

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At the age of 3, little girls are walking, talking and steadily developing their own personalities. When planning a party for 3-year-olds, keep their interests and cognitive abilities in mind. For example, while it would be appropriate to plan a children’s birthday party around the birthday girl’s favourite Cbeebies character.

Many little girls are into princesses, so consider throwing a fun princess party for the 3-year-old girl in your life. Ask the guests to dress in princess costumes or have costumes on hand for them to change into when they arrive. You could also give each girl a tiara as she arrives at the party. Play games with a princess theme, such as Pin the Tiara on the Princess, serve a cake shaped like a princess’s tiara and screen a movie that has a princess as a main character. The little girls will enjoy feeling like they are princesses for a day.

Bouncy Castle Party
● Although some people might think that little girls are delicate, they still like to play. Consider throwing a bouncy castle party for the 3-year-old in your life. Hire bouncy castles from a local party supplier. The little girls will be able to jump on the castle all afternoon and have fun being active.
Water and Sand

● When you are throwing a birthday party for a 3-year-old girl in the summertime, consider planning it outdoors to take advantage of the warm weather. Purchase several children’s pools and set them up in your garden. Fill several pools with water and some with sand. Ask the party guests to dress in their bathing suits and let them play in the sand and water. Place some water toys in the pools, such as floating ducks, and some buckets and spades in the sand pools. The children can move back and forth between the water and sand to feel like they are spending a day at the beach.

Arts and Crafts

● Many little girls enjoy creating things, so consider throwing an arts and crafts party for the 3-year-old girl. Plan a few arts and crafts activities that all the little girls will be able to handle. For example, pass out small clay pots and let the girls paint them with designs of their choice. Once the pots are dry, help them plant flowers in their pots. You could also give each little girl a T-shirt and help her decorate the shirt with paints, beads, sequins and other embellishments. Fun for all the family to enjoy.

Games for a boys 10th Birthday

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Boys around the age of 10 are sometimes difficult to entertain because they are no longer “little kids” and they aren’t yet teenagers either. If you want to throw a fun kids birthday party for a 10-year-old boy, plan some activities that are suitable to this age group. By engaging the kids who come to the party, you will make the experience fun for everyone, including the birthday boy.

Backwards Relay; This activity gives your partygoers a chance to race each other in a non-typical relay game. Set up two obstacle courses before the game. Draw a starting line on the ground with spray paint. Place cones in a line extending from the starting point, being sure to leave about three feet of space between the cones. Use at least 10 cones for each line. Divide the kids into two teams.

Explain to the teams that each runner must race through the cones, alternating in and out of the cones in a zigzag fashion, until he reaches the last cone. When he circles the last cone, he must go back through the cones in the same manner until he comes back to the starting line. Upon crossing the starting line at the end of the course, he tags the next person in line to go. The catch is that everyone must complete the course by running or walking backward. If a cone is knocked over, the person must start over. The first team who moves all of its players through the course successfully, wins.

Mummy Wrap Race; This game works especially well for birthday parties that fall close to Halloween. Divide your party goers into groups of two to four people. Give each group a few rolls of toilet paper.

Instruct the teams to choose one person to be the “mummy.” When you give the signal to begin, the teams race to see which can wrap its mummy from head to toe within a certain time limit. Give the groups three to five minutes to wrap their mummies. When the time is up, let the birthday boy choose which team’s mummy is most thoroughly wrapped.

Gummy Worm Bobbing; This game offers a chilly twist on the traditional bobbing-for-apples activity. Fill a metal tub or similar container with water and ice.

Sprinkle in a pack of gummy worms. Have the boys take turns sticking their heads into the icy water to grab a gummy worm with their mouths. Make sure the water isn’t too deep, since the gummy worms will sink to the bottom of the container. You can turn this into a competition by giving each player 30 seconds to see how many worms he can retrieve. The player who gets the most worms wins.

Birthday Parties for 13yr olds

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Children’s Birthday parties are fun at any age, but selecting a theme for a tween can present an interesting challenge. Children this age are no longer interested in “little kid” stuff, and yet they still might enjoy some young activities like going to the zoo and watching cartoons. Planning a 13-year-old’s birthday party should include age-appropriate things that are enjoyable and fun to do.

Sleepover Parties; Having friends sleep over is a fun way to spend a birthday, and you can help make the night extra special by selecting activities that you know your 13-year-old child is going to love. Make it a movie night by renting films. For snacks, order pizza, or cheeseburgers and hot dogs. You could also make a sundae bar for the kids to dress up their ice cream treats with a variety of sauces, sprinkles and other toppings. Other activities may include board games and rounds of karaoke.

Roller disco Parties; Roller disco parties can accommodate both large and small groups. Many rinks offer special birthday party packages that include group discounts for pizza, drinks and skate rental. Many skating birthday parties also feature games on skates, like a limbo contest and a variation of musical chairs in which participants must skate to a particular area of the rink when the music stops playing. For those who do not like to skate, many rinks also have an arcade. These parties allow your birthday kid to skate and socialize with friends in a fun and safe environment.

Shopping Centre Scavenger Hunt; For a 13-year-old girl’s party, choose activities that you know she and her friends would enjoy. For example, you can set up a scavenger hunt at a local shopping centre. Some items to include on the hunt list might be a picture of a woman in red heels, a receipt for one pound and a stranger’s autograph. Make sure each team has an adult supervisor as a safety precaution.

Sports Parties; If your 13-year-old likes to play sports, consider centering the theme around a favoured sport. You can take the group to a party at a local sports centre. There, your child and friends will be able to play basketball, tennis and other indoor sports. Some sports centres also include a pool. Another sports theme involves taking your tween and a friend to watch their favourite team play. These fun sports event is sure to be something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.

Party ideas for 6yr olds

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Around the age of 6 is when kids start to reveal their true personalities. They absorb so much information, are super opinionated and they know what they want. It’s usually the year they transition into Reception and go from being a “baby” to a little person with attitude. When it’s time to celebrate their birthday, now is when you can include them in the party plans to make their sixth birthday party one they will talk about for years.

PJ parties
● Pajama parties for children at this age are full of energy and fun and you’re likely to be worn out after a night of rambunctious 6-year-olds. Invite a few friends from your child’s class over for a sleepover. Set up plenty of arts and crafts activities for the kids to move from station to station as they are likely to bore easily. Use one station for colouring and creating, another for watching a show or movie and another for something active like pavement chalk writing, blowing bubbles or making water balloons.

Talent Show
● Host a talent show for the kids to showcase their favourite talents. No matter if it’s singing, dancing or creating a masterpiece, allow each kid a chance in the spotlight. End your talent portion by bringing out the ice cream and cake and allow everyone to salute the birthday boy or girl before the party ends.

Pizza Party
● Celebrate the birthday at school by offering to bring in pizza for your child’s classroom. Replacing ham and cheese sandwiches with pizza will make you the superhero of the day, and your child will enjoy the excitement of having you appear for lunch. Bring balloons and a cake to accompany your special visit. Use this in-class party to kick start the birthday bash over the weekend.

Summer Outdoor Party Ideas

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For summer birthdays or just a fun get-together, kids love a good party! Why not take advantage of the (hopefully) summer weather and have the party outside? Get going with these 4 fun kids party ideas for outside!

1. Kids Olympics Party
Cabin fever may be setting in after all the April showers and being stuck in school, so get the kids outside and burn off some energy! Tap into their competitive side and set up a Kids Olympics party! “Active” is the name of the game with this theme. Discus throws (using Frisbees), obstacle courses, balance beams, or hula hoop contests are great choices for a Kids Olympics Party. You can also encourage teamwork with relay races. At the end of the party, give away small prizes or even have a medal ceremony to bring the festivities to a close!

2. Just Add Water Party
Looking for a way to cool off in the summer heat? Just add water! Have your guests bring their swimsuits, towels, and sunscreen for a day of fun in the sun. Activities like Slip n’ Slides or sprinklers are easy ways to add a little H2O to your outdoor party. Water games are always a great addition to outdoor kids party ideas. If all else fails, pass out squirt guns or water balloons and let the battle begin!

3. Animal Party
While we’re all fans of furry creatures, sometimes the thought of having them inside is a little daunting. That’s why animals are the perfect addition to an outdoor party! Does your kid dream of riding a pony or holding a hedgehog? An animal party can deliver! Most petting zoos or pony parties only need a small amount of space outside, like your garden. Reptile shows are great for Jurassic Park or jungle-themed parties. The animals are usually enough to hold the kids’ attention, but animal games can be just as fun!

4. Outdoor Movie Night Party
Would you like to give your kid a drive-in movie party under the stars? Bring it to your Garden! Your kids and their friends of all ages will love being able to pile onto blankets in the grass and watch a family-friendly film. Rent an outdoor movie screen or make your own by stringing up a white painter’s canvas. Set up a movie snack bar with popcorn and classic sweet choices. Set up tin buckets filled with ice and bottles of pop to bring out the nostalgic vibe. Outdoor kids party ideas don’t have to be complicated; sometimes it’s just about spending time together!

May the Force be with you

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Now that the Force has awakened, no doubt you have a kid in your life begging for a Star Wars children’s birthday party! We have some great ideas to help you throw the ultimate kids party.

Spacey Decorations

Luckily, recreating “space” isn’t too complicated! Use a black tablecloth or sheet and splatter with white paint to add a galactic feel. Hang it up as a backdrop for food/cake table or for a photo booth! Lay out black plates, cups, and cutlery, and blue and black balloon bouquets as centrepieces. There are tons of resources for printable garlands.

Finally, try gathering some white paper lanterns and using gray paint to create the Death Star ship.

Food and Drink
You can get really creative with the snacks at your Star Wars party, and this is a great opportunity to use puns. (Even if the kids don’t appreciate them, it’s fun!) Party foods like Obi Wan Kabobies, Yoda Soda, and Padawan Popcorn are all great choices. Use your clever wit and put your own sci-fi twists on old party favourites.

As for your Star Wars birthday cake, you can have one made by the pros with expert detail or you can take the DIY approach. If you opt for making your own, there are some pretty simple designs that the amateur baker can try, like this awesome BB8 cake. Cupcakes are also a great option, and you can include multiple Star Wars characters.

There are a lot of kid-friendly games that you can incorporate into a Star Wars birthday party. Create lightsabers out of pool noodles! Set up target practice with Nerf guns to take out the toilet-paper roll Stormtroopers. Add some “Jedi Training” with a galactic bean bag toss and a “laser” obstacle course made out of streamers. Or, Pin the Bun on Princess Leia, anyone?

Perfect family walks

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Ham House and Garden

Dogs are welcome to enjoy, with their families, a delightful stroll around the grounds. Every canine visitor receives a tasty bone!

St James’ Park, London
If you are in the capital for why not take a walk around St James’ Park? It’s officially the warmest place in the UK with an average temperature of 11.43°C. You can also take a nice route starting from the park, then walk down through The Mall, along Victoria Embankment and return via Birdcage Walk and Buckingham Palace.

Mottisfont Abbey and Gardens, Hampshire
Get outdoors exploring the grounds of this fantastic house and grounds on an interactive trail. There are lots of fun activities for the kids and family days out to enjoy along the way including bowling.

New Forest National Park, Hampshire
The New Forest has many, many walks, where the family can explore the stunning landscape. There are a range of different routes that you can choose from that vary in length and difficulty. The children can try to spot some adorable New Forest ponies, cattle and donkeys that live there. An especially lovely walk is the one from Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard and back, a nice gentle walk that follows the Beaulieu River.

Formby Red Squirrel Walk, Liverpool
This easy walking trail will suit all the family as the woodlands are home to the red squirrel, hopefully you will get to see one or two!

Leeds Castle, Kent
Head to Leeds Castle which all the family can enjoy! Follow a special trail answering questions about wildlife and nature, and all completed trails are entered into a draw with a chance to win a prize!

Indoor fun for kids

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Deep Sea World, Fife, Scotland
What better way to beat the rain than to take the kids underwater at Scotland’s Deep Sea World. The kids will enjoy exploring over 100 meters of incredible creatures including starfish, catfish and even eels!

The Beatles Story, Liverpool
Young or old, everyone knows The Beatles! Take an incredible journey through the history of four Liverpudlian lads who shot to fame in the early 60’s. Complete with an audio guide, see the story unfold as you wander around replicas of Mathew Street and The Cavern. The exhibition is split across two sites and the Fab4D theatre at the Pier Head venue is a must for groovy families ‐ meet magical characters who bring The Beatles’ well-loved hits to life with cutting edge technology

KidZania, London
Children can let their imaginations run wild as they test the out real jobs in this mini city, such as being a pilot, firefighter, radio presenter, banker, police officer and many more! After all that work they can use their hard earned ‘KidZos’ to buy themselves some treats!

Winchester Science Centre, Winchester, Hampshire
Winchester Science Centre is fun for all the family with 100 hands-on science exhibits for you to discover. The planetarium has shows that run almost everyday, you can get sucked into a black hole, travel through the Solar System or even explore the human body!

Thinktank Science Museum, Birmingham
Inquisitive young minds can discover the past, investigate the present and find the future. Don’t miss visiting the Planetarium that shows fantastic tours of the night sky and takes you on a trip around our vast solar system.

Are we there yet?

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Here are some games and things to do to keep your kids entertained on those boring long car drives…

1. Play bingo. Make a list or a picture list of things kids may see on the journey. As they spot each item on the list, they can cross it off!

2. Pack a loom band bracelet making kit and the kids will be kept busy twisting away!

3. Get the kids to find all the numbers up to 10 on number plates and for older children get them to find all the letters of the alphabet.

4. Car colour spotting: choose a colour each, then count how many cars of that colour you see!

5. Take along an activity and games book, such as one of these activity books that have 100 things for little children to do.

6. Play the ‘Name Five Game’. One person chooses a theme, such as ‘animals’, and the other person needs to name five things in that category.

7. Get one of these I-spy books! Inside there are lots of things for kids to spot on a long road trip… and they get points for everything they see!

8. Play A-Z I spy. Try to find something you can see out of the window for each letter of the alphabet. This simple and fun game may also help kids who suffer from travel sickness.

9. Play the ‘What do you like best’ game. Ask one person ‘what do you like best, chocolate or strawberry ice cream?’ Once they have answered they ask you a different question back.

10. Make up a story. One person needs to start the story with a single sentence and then the next person continues the story with their own sentence, etc.