Imaginative days out in the summer

Oxygen Free Jumping, Various Locations

Kids will be jumping for joy after a visit to this brilliant indoor trampoline park! They’ll get to bounce sky high in open jump sessions and burn off lots of excess energy.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth

Come and learn all about the Royal Navy as it is today and get an insight into what the future holds! Step on board historic ships such as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860. You won’t want to miss the new‐look Mary Rose museum, which gives insight into Tudor life!

KidZania, Shepherd’s Bush, London
Kids can let their imaginations run wild at KidZania 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!

Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, Warminster

There is so much to see and do at this amazing safari and adventure park! Take a ride on the wild side with their Safari Drive, as well as walk with penguins, visit the meerkats and hop on a cruise to see the gorillas on Gorilla Island. You’ll be given the chance to feed some Rainbow Lorikeets, deer and even giraffes

AirSpace Trampoline Park, Glasgow/ Wolverhampton

Spend a session bouncing, flipping and jumping at Air Space! This brand new attraction has over 100 interconnected trampolines all waiting for you to spring about on. As well as freestyle sessions you can join in with games such as dodgeball, football and basketball – just bouncier

GoApe! Various Locations

Swing, zip, balance and jump your way through the trees on the Tree Top Adventure courses, suspended high above the forest floor. Younger adventurers will love Tree Top Junior, a lower and easier version and great children’s entertainment for a fun day out.

See the sights on the water or on land

Circular Cruise

Enjoy a fantastic one hour return cruise along the River Thames hop on at either Westminster Pier, Embankment Pier, Festival Pier, Bankside Pier or St Katharine’s Pier. Once the boat reaches St Katharine’s it will return directly to Westminster Pier without stopping. Every cruise has full live audio commentary throughout the journey. If you choose to stay on the boat, the cruise lasts for 1 h

Thames River Services

What better way to explore London than with a relaxing return Thames River cruise? Take the family on a fun cruise from Westminster Pier to Greenwich Pier and back. On the luxurious, 2 hour round cruise from Westminster Pier to Greenwich you will see fantastic landmarks such as: Cutty Sark, The O2 Arena, Tower Bridge, The Shard, HMS Belfast and many more

City Cruises

Enjoy a fabulous all-day hop on, hop off cruise along the River Thames London offering you unlimited access to the majestic River Thames for 24 hours, allowing you the freedom to hop off and enjoy some sites and then hop back on at a time convenient to you to continue your cruise. Cruises depart every 30 minutes and you can hop on, or off, at and of the 4 piers: Westminster, London Eye, Tower of London and Greenwich

West Norwood Cemetery Catacombs, London

To those who are super brave, explore this catacomb which is located below West Norwood Cemetery. This catacomb was opened in 1837 and has 95 vaults with a capacity of around 3,500 coffins. Advance booking needed

London Dungeon

Explore some gruesome horrible history in this fantastic attraction, where you will see, hear, smell and feel your way through historic London! You’ll enter the Gatehouse where you will meet The Executioner and discover the grisly fate of William Wallace. Walk through the old streets of London and run from the Great Fire! Great for older kids entertainment.

Egyptian Party

If your child is into ancient History, then maybe an Egyptian party would be just the thing;
You could ask the kids to come dressed as an Egyptian (not only would it be great fun but also very educational)

There could be lots of crafty making (seeing as the Egyptians love to build things) why not have a Pyramid building competition which cardboard recycling could be put to very good use. All you need is glue, glitter pens and the children’s imagination to build an amazing Pyramid!!

GAMES;

Mummy wrap game;
Divide the kids into 3 teams and had them wrap one person as a mummy. Best wrap in 5 minutes’ win. You will need lots of toilet tissue, try and buy the more expensive stuff as the cheap tissue will rip easily.

Next game is a scavenger hunt. Divided into teams and give them hieroglyphic clues which they have
to translate. There are a lot of websites that give ways to translate hieroglyphics, but not all of them use the same letter-to-hieroglyphic translations. Tell the children that archaeologists weren’t always given complete information!

The first clue will lead them to an archaeological dig site (the sandbox). They have to dig up a ring, necklace, gold coins, and their next clue. Use a cardboard pyramid to give instructions.

The second clue will take them to buckets that they had no idea what was inside. There were all sorts of horrible feeling things inside for example, Jelly, baked beans and custard and they had to dig deep to get their clues!!

The third clue will take them to the River Nile. Planks can be laid out in the garden and pretend water was underneath them. The idea is that they balance and don’t fall. At the end of the Nile is a crocodile’s nest. Kids have to get to the crocodile’s nest for their next clue.

Final stop is Tutankhamun’s tomb, for their prize there will be sweets and prizes all stuffed into a treasure chest. Great fun!!!

FOOD;
Sandwiches and crisps, ice cream scooped into bowls, so you just to bring it out from the freezer. Oh and of course a Pyramid Cake!!!

Remember to ‘walk like an Egyptian’!!

Monsters Inc Party ideas

Does your child love Monsters Inc? Why not have a fun party based on Mike Wysocki!!

INVITATIONS:
Invitations can be bought as there are lots of shops from the Monsters Inc film, but invitations can be downloaded from the internet of ‘Mike Wysocki’ and stick them onto card. The invitations could say ‘You’re invited to a party for Sam’s 5th birthday’ it also has to have important information like: Date, Time, Place and RSVP info.

DECORATIONS:
You could put a sign outside your front door with a Monster’s Inc poster saying ‘Welcome to the Monster Party’ Inside you can have your table decorated with Monster Inc tablecloth, plates and cups. To add a bit of personalisation you could have a seating plan with guests names and everyone has the surname Wysocki, or their favourite character from the film. And don’t forget the green balloons!!

PARTY BAGS:
Since Mike is the comedian of Monsters Inc. buy joke books to fill the bags. Also bubbles for younger brothers and sisters at the party. To the books & the bubbles, tie suckers and a tag that says thank you for coming to my MONSTER of a party with a Mike clipart. Use round suckers and glue a lime green circle & big wiggly eye to them to look like Mike.

FOOD:
Simple and easy party food for kids, like pizzas, popcorn, jelly and sandwiches, put a little green food dye on to make them more monstrous!! For dessert, served choc chip ice cream with a Mike cake. Use plain lime green plates, napkins, cups, etc. Great fun for all the kids.

Birthday History

It is quite interesting to study the history of Birthday celebrations. Earliest history of birthday can be traced before the rise of Christianity where celebrations began to ward off evil spirits!! If this surprises you, read on for more interesting facts and gradual progress of birthday celebrations in history.

Early man did not know how to calculate dates so they were not able to pay attention to the anniversary of important events like birthdays. Gradually, human beings began to understand lunar cycles and they developed calendars accordingly. This made it easy for them to calculate the date of birth and celebrate the occasion.

Historians are certain that birthday celebrations are being held for quite sometimes but there are few records for the same. Documented descriptions of Birthday celebrations are available only for kings, high-ranking nobility and those who held high positions in the society. In the beginning common men and especially children were unable to celebrate the birthdays. Scholars believe that this difference existed because only the nobility was wealthy enough to throw birthday parties and was considered important enough to be written about.

Popular Birthday Celebrations in History
Best known birthday in the history is that of Jesus Christ. For nearly 2000 years since the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, Christians have been honoring the day as Christmas.
About 4,000 years ago King Pharaoh used to celebrate his birthday by giving a feast to his court followers.

King Herod is said to have celebrated his birthday by treating lords, high captains and special friends with a special supper party in Galilee.
Some of the popular Birthday traditions and symbols that we see today originated hundreds of years ago. Some believe the tradition of Birthday cake was started by early Greeks who used to take round or moon shaped cake to temple of Artemis – the Goddess of Moon. Others believe the custom of Birthday cake initiated in Germany where people used to make bread in the shape of baby Jesus swaddling cloth.

The popular custom of lighting candles on cake is said to have originated because Greeks used to light candles on the cake taken to Artemis to make it glow like a moon. Some though believe that custom originated because of a religious belief that gods lived in the sky and lighted candles helped to send a signal or prayers to the god. Germans are said to have placed a big candle in the centre of the cake to symbolize ‘the light of life’. Even today people make silent wishes as they blow out candles. It is believed that blowing out all candles in one breath brings good luck.

Clapping games

Clapping games have been a popular form of children’s parties for generations. Musical elements, such as melody, rhythm, meter and timbre, abound in children’s play. In some cases, these help to regulate the game but are secondary to its overall goal, such as the rhythmic chanting of counting out, or the song accompanying ball-bouncing or skipping.

In other cases, though, a musical performance is the aim of the game, such as a song and dance routine, or a hand-clapping game. It is this very performance aspect, with its accompanying physical, musical and verbal challenges, which makes such games appealing, and it seems that their popularity has been increasing from the mid-20th century on.

Clapping games are often played in pairs, although formations involving more players also take place. They are generally done on the spot, have a well-defined beginning and end, and emphasise rhythm, beat and coordination. The performers are very focused on their partners, striving to synchronise their movements with each other and with the song that accompanies the game.

‘A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea’ also illustrates the multimodal nature of clapping games, and the many ways in which they combine, for example, words, music, gesture, touch, and gaze.

In the UK ‘A Sailor Went to Sea’ is often one of the first games to be learnt. It can be clapped very simply using a ‘pat-a-cake’ style of clapping in which the thrice-repeated ‘sea, sea, sea’ coincides with three upright-handed claps with a partner (as in a ‘High 10’ gesture). Having mastered this, the challenge can be extended by replacing the patting with a gesture in which the hand taps three times against the player’s own forehead (in the manner of a salute).

Traditional Game for kids

The ‘National Day of Play’ is on Wednesday 7 August 2019 and occurs once a year to celebrate the importance of play in children’s lives.

We want to bring these games back into fashion and tell our children how much fun we had with these classics games that are perfect for any children’s birthday party.

1. Mud pies, mud gardens, mud everything
It’s amazing how many mums and dads used the word “mud” to refer to a game they played when they were younger – it certainly was a key component of our childhoods.
Being outside in the summer meant mud pies, ladybird homes and simply playing in the soil… and didn’t involve a single smartphone.

2. Cat’s Cradle
The piece of string that made a brilliant stocking filler and with which you could waste hours simply making the same patterns with a friend? Cat’s cradle is a game where two people pass the “cradle” made from string back and forth between their fingers to make shapes and catch each other out.

3. Dens
Making dens in the field, and anywhere else you could find suitable materials
Den making involves gathering absolutely everything you can from around your house, including blankets, duvets, pillows and cushions to make a hideout in the living room.

4. Making perfumes in jam jars
Making perfume in jam jars was all about going outside to find rose petals and simply mixing them with water, as well as adding a drop of two of washing up liquid to make the colour even nicer.

5. Marbles
When was the last time you saw a marble? The tiny glass balls provided us with hours of fun coming up with endless games using them. The classic game you play with these balls involves shooting 11 marbles into a circle and knocking other ones out of the ring.

6. What’s the time Mr Wolf?
You simply take small steps towards a “wolf” who is stood with his back to you, – the number of steps you take depends on the time he shouts out, before he would turn around and chase you. The screams you made when the wolf ran towards you was the best part of the game. As you frantically ran away so as not to be caught.

7. The floor is lava!
It sounds a lot more daring than it is. The idea is that you can’t walk on the carpet or you will melt (obviously).You get around this by getting as many sofa cushions, blankets and anything else you can find, to put on the floor and walk over it to get to the other side of the room. Simple. Easy. Fun.

8. Sardines or hide-and-seek
Hide-and-seek is great fun, especially when you don’t get found within the first five seconds. But another similar game that proved popular with our parenting community is sardines.

It’s like hide-and-seek but only one person hides and all the others must find them, hiding with them when they do. The hiding place obviously becomes hugely cramped (like sardines) and the last person to find the group is a loser.

A trip to the theatre

Let’s go to the theatre, what shall we see?

Peter Rabbit
Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
Based on the original tales of Beatrix Potter, this fab stage show is not to be missed! Witness the magic of Peter Rabbit and his friends as they come to life as beautifully handcrafted puppets. Watch out for Mr Mcgregor or do the laundry with Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and shake your tail along to 14 live songs that will have all the family grinning from ear to ear.

School of Rock
Gillian Lynne Theatre, London
Based on the hit movie this feel-good musical will have you rockin’ in your seats! The show follows Dewey Finn, a failed rock star who poses as a supply teacher at a prep school where he turns the A-grade kids into rock kids! Will they make it to Battle of the Bands without the headmistress finding out?

Disney’s Aladdin
Prince Edward Theatre, London
Hold on to your magic carpets, Disney’s Aladdin has flown into London’s West End for an unforgettable family extravaganza! With a fabulous cast, impressive costumes and breathtaking special effects, you’ll be taken to a whole new world with the theatre adaptation of this epic Disney film!

Horrible Histories, Barmy Britain Part 4
Apollo Theatre, London
Tickets from £20
After 7 years in the West End, Barmy Britain is back for part 4! Learn about Britain’s horrible history in this hilarious family show at the Apollo Theatre in London. BOOK HERE

Beasts of London
Museum of London
The Museum of London presents ‘Beasts of London’ an experience by the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The Journey begins before London was created and you’ll be guided through to the present day by the animals themselves. Hear the fascinating story of the capital as they highlight iconic moments including the arrival of the Romans and the Plague!

The Gruffalo
Lyric Theatre, London
Oh help, oh no, it’s a Gruffalo! Join mouse on his adventure through the deep dark wood in this musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s classic book! There will be fun, songs and lots of laughs guaranteed for children over 3! (We are pretty sure the grown-ups will love it too!)

Elmer- The Patchwork Elephant
Spiegeltent, London
This year we celebrate 30 years of Elmer! The Patchwork Elephant show is a celebration of individuality and laughter! This colourful show features 21 amazing puppets and tells the tale of Elmer, an elephant who was born to stand out!

Monstersaurus
The Belly, London
From the creators of ‘Aliens love underpants’ comes this brand new show! Follow young inventor, Monty, who creates a whole world of inventions including some scary monster friends! This energetic show comes with lots of fun for all the family, magic and mayhem and opportunities for the audience to get involved!

Ideas for some sweet days out

Cadbury Easter Egg Trails, Nationwide, FREE!

Find 250 Cadbury Easter Egg trails across the UK at National Trust and National Trust for Scotland properties. Each child gets a Trail Journal containing clues that they need to solve to become an Eggsplorer. Once all the clues have been solved they are rewarded with a Cadburys treat! Yum!

Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium, Devon

This award-winning chocolate shop and museum has a collection of chocolate memorabilia, giant Easter eggs and lots more for you to drool over. Once you have looked through the museum you can purchase some tasty treats in the shop.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tours, London

Take a tour around London on one of many chocolate tours, Each tour showcases a different story if chocolate in a beautiful area. Stroll through the streets to beautiful boutiques with lots of sharing and tasting along the way! They also offer dairy-free, gluten-free options!

Oban Chocolate Company

Oban Chocolates are all handmade and you can watch the processes in the café through a viewing window. Production times do vary, but generally, the chocolates are made late morning and early afternoon, apart from on Sundays.
Click here for more information

Cadbury World, Birmingham

Discover the history behind your favourite chocolate treats and explore the magic of how they are created. The fabulous, state of the art, Purple Planet offers visitors the chance to grow their own cocoa bean and experience chocolate rain. With so many amazing things to discover, including an adventure play area and the world’s biggest Cadbury shop, this is one delicious day out not to be missed!

Smart Sightseeing

Sightseeing in London is so much fun to do with a smart App..

Vox City is a flexible self-guided sightseeing and tour app that enables you to explore London at your own pace. Perfect when you have kids in tow!

Simply select the city sights you would like to see then follow the app. Once downloaded over Wifi the app works using GPS so no data connection is required. It even works if you decide to take a taxi or bus! The app can even lead you to Wi-Fi hotspots and photo opportunity hotspots.

How to use the VOX City app:

Download the ‘VOX City’ App to your smartphone from The Google Play Store or App Store. (This will need to be done over Wifi.) Then login by scanning your QR code! (This can be found on your confirmation email)

Select your City (London) and then choose your language! There are 6 languages to choose from which include; English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Mandarin. Then click ‘download’

Your map will download to the app and now you are ready for your self-guided tour around London! Enjoy the sights and keep the kids entertained, there’s lots to do for the whole family!