Category: Ideas

Perfect Planetariums

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Get ready to reach for the stars, as we share the eight best fun planetariums in the UK. Great family days out. Which one will you be heading to first?

Winchester Science Centre

Lie back and enjoy the 360° show taking place right above your head, as the huge domed screen at Winchester Science Centre places you right in the heart of the action. There are both pre-recorded films and live presenter-led shows each day, where you can be completely immersed in a wide range of topics, from blasting off into space, to tours of the night sky. With plenty more to explore too, and lots of hands-on activities, this is a great day out for the whole family!

National Space Centre, Leicester

Your journey into space starts here, as the National Space Centre in Leicester is home to six interactive galleries, the iconic Rocket Tower and the UK’s largest planetarium! In the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium, named after the prominent astronomer, journey through time and space in We Are Stars, or take a Tour of the Night Sky, all from the comfort of your seat! This award-winning attraction also regularly hosts some exciting events, so be sure to check those out for your visit

Planetarium at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London

Pay a visit to the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the prime meridian of the world, the Royal Observatory in Greenwich! Stand on the iconic meridian line with one foot in the west and one in the east, marvel at the seventh biggest telescope in the world and see the clocks that changed the world, all before taking a tour of the universe from London’s only planetarium. With a range of shows for the whole family, fly into the heart of the sun, see the birth of a star or land on Mars in the impressive dome.

Thinktank, Birmingham

You’ll need your thinking caps on for a visit to Thinktank, Birmingham’s science museum. Guaranteed to have your brain buzzing with curiosity across 200 hands-on displays, don’t miss the planetarium on Level 3 for just £1.50 on top of your ticket price. With a range of shows and special events throughout the year, it’s a great way to see the magic of space from here in the UK.

Armagh Planetarium, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Pay a visit to Ireland’s leading centre for astronomical education and uncover a whole host of space secrets at Armagh Planetarium. Learn about the cosmos through interactive displays and catch up with the latest space news in real time, plus design, build and launch your own rocket in the exciting crafts zone. With lots of shows suitable for family audiences, as well as some with age restrictions, the digital theatre is the ultimate planetarium experience.

We The Curious (formerly At-Bristol), Bristol

Curiosity is key at this recently relaunched attraction, which is also home to the UK’s first 3D planetarium. Experience what it’s like to have planets, stars and galaxies all within reach at We The Curious, as you sit back and enjoy this stunning immersive experience. Elsewhere in the attraction, let your curiosity run free through a range of fun and hands-on displays, it’s the perfect family escape.

What to do this Easter

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Easter comes packed with chocolate, egg hunts and adorable animals. That all sounds pretty magical to us! It’s a time when we can finally shake off those winter chills and head outside again, especially when the Easter school holidays start. To help enjoy this wonderful time of year, we’ve rounded up the key dates, along with the best children’s activities for the easter holidays.

When are the Easter school holidays in 2018?

The holidays unsurprisingly fall around the Easter weekend. We’ve put the different dates for each country below.

England

26th March – 23rd April

Scotland

19th March – 13th April

Wales

26th March – 16th April

Northern Ireland

29th March – 6th April

These dates are an outline of the school holidays across the UK – please check with your specific school to get exact days for your school.

Top Easter activities and days out

Top of your list of fun things to do in the Easter holidays is to throw your wellies on and get out to your local farm park. Seeing furry, fuzzy and indeed feathered friends is always a treat at any point of the year but it’s around this time that loads of newborn babies are taking their first steps. Lambing in particular is always popular and loads of farm parks let families get up close and cuddly.

Equally, if the weather isn’t playing ball, don’t worry: the Easter school holidays were pretty much made for getting covered in glitter and glue with egg experiments, crafting bonnets and your very own Easter basket. Getting crafty with kids is a fantastic way to fill a day and there are more than a few pottery painting cafes who’d be happy to help with your festive creations.

Top Places to go this Easter

There’s plenty of places open over the Easter weekend: we’ve pulled together a few of our favourite days out so take a look and start filling your calendar:

Mead Open Farm – Introduce your tribe to some of the cutest creatures out there, including bunnies, chicks, ponies and more. Feed the goats, watch the sheep race and then let loose in the play areas – including a high ropes course for the most adventurous! It’s more than just a fabulous farm.

Charlecote Park – To take part in the national Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt in 2018 you could turn up and pretty much any National Trust site, but we really like Charlecote Park for an afternoon with the kids. It’s a treasure of a stately home which has been in the same family for 900 years. Adults can get their dose of culture and beautiful scenery while helping kids unravel egg hunt clues for a chocolatey prize.

Cadbury World One word: chocolate! Go to the source with a few hours of indulgence and enjoy rides, characters and history to boot. Take a peek behind the scenes in the factory to see where your favourites are made – taking advantage of some samples along the way, of course!

Mella Mella’s Pottery Cafe – Get crafty this season at this place of pottery. Kids can be “experimental” with colour, paint, glitter and clay and you don’t have to clean up. Result. Plus, you’ll have a new piece of art for pride of place on the mantelpiece.

Pennywell Farm – ‘Tis the season for meeting cute and cuddly animals, and what could be more adorable than the miniature Pennywell Pigs?! That’s not all this day out has to offer though, the action packed scheduled includes multiple shows, family-friendly go kart racing, train riding and ferret encounters – to name just a few things!

Try a trip to Bristol

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Home of Wallace and Gromit, hot air balloon fiestas and the place where Ribena was supposedly invented, Bristol is one of the UK’s most-loved cities. Named the best place to live in the UK in 2017, it’s award-winning mix of culture, community spirit and redevelopment means there’s plenty to discover, even for the smallest of explorers.

Bristol Aquarium

On one of Bristol’s many rainy days, Bristol Aquarium is a great destination for all the family and great entertainment for children of all ages. Children will enjoy spotting the fish they know such as Nemo (clown fish) as well as learning about new ones and conservation. Keep a look out for the giant octopus!

We the Curious

We The Curious is a fantastic fun day out filled with numerous science exhibits that will have those curious kids asking all sorts of questions. Fortunately, the Science Team are there to help. It also has the UK’s only 3D planetarium, which toddlers will love!

SS Great Britain

Our kids love exploring below deck on the various levels and seeing the displays of how the passengers lived on the ship. And if it is a sunny day there is nowhere better to enjoy it than up on the deck, which also has some great views across to Clifton. The tickets also allow unlimited visits for a year, so it can work out as great value if you live locally!

Ferry Ride

Little ones will really enjoy a tour of the harbour on one of the ferry boats, thanks to Bristol Ferry Boat Co. What better way to see the sights? You may even see an otter!

The Matthew

Keeping with the nautical theme (well it is Bristol after all), children of all ages will love channelling their inner sailor/pirate with a trip on the historic ship, The Matthew.

Bristol Museum

The dinosaurs & taxidermy animal exhibits at Bristol Museum never fail to amaze kids, whilst there is a small soft play/learning area on the ground floor for the littlest ones. There is also a brilliant cafe and regularly changing exhibits.

M Shed

Bristol’s newer museum focuses on the history of Bristol. Kids will enjoy the interactive displays at M Shed, especially the vintage bus. Another place with a great cafe, but also right next to the many cafes at Wapping Wharf.

Brandon Hill Park

If you are around the Park Street or Clifton areas then it’s well worth a visit to Brandon Hill Park. There is a playground at the bottom of the hill and Cabot Tower at the top. For those with a head for heights, there are great views across Bristol from the top of the tower and fun to be had counting the many winding steps.  It’s a great spot for a picnic or an ice-cream (a van can normally found there).

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Finally, a trip to walk across Brunel’s famous Clifton Suspension Bridge and take in the views is surely an essential part of Bristol. There is a playground and plenty of green spaces nearby to burn off some energy before visiting one of the many cafes in Clifton Village.

Help your kids be helpful

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Lead by Example

If you want a child to do something, it helps to have them witness you doing it as well as the result that came from it. Whenever you’re finished with a project, clean up your mess.

When finished eating, take your plate, utensils, and glass to the sink. Organize your things so that you know where they are when you need them.

Children see this and are more likely to also clean up after themselves.  If you’re leaving a mess everywhere then they will have a harder time understanding why cleaning up is important.

Label the Positive

Notice the times that they do something helpful and praise them, telling them they’re a good helper.

When we use character traits like “good helper” or “very helpful”, over time children begin to make that part of their personality.  The more you label them as being a helper, the more they will believe it to be true.

Delegate and Praise

Give them tasks throughout the day to practice their helpful skills. The more they practice, the better they’ll learn.  And every time they do something helpful, praise them.

Make it Fun

For younger kids, singing the clean-up song is a huge help in picking up toys, but even as they get older it’s fun to add any songs and even a little dance to the process of cleaning up. Counting helps too. Count toys picked up, cutlery put away, and the number of pens and crayons you find.

Fit for all Ages

It’s easier to raise a helpful kid earlier in development than later, but it is possible to teach older children to be helpful. All of the same tips apply with a slightly different approach.

As they get older you can explain things more. Explain why you need help, why it’s important for them to take more responsibility, how important it is to work together, and that every person finds their own rhythm when it comes to cleaning, organizing, and helping others, but the end result is the same. Taking care of your things, taking care of shared items, and treating others the way you want to be treated.

Raising a helpful kid can be a truly daunting challenge at times. Especially if it seems like one more item to add to the never-ending to-do list. But it doesn’t have to be a frustrating endeavour.

By leading by example, staying positive, and having fun with your children, it is possible to turn the most stubborn mess maker into a happy, helpful partner. One step at a time. One day at a time.

Shopping with your kids

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As you’re shopping let your kids help you pick out fruit and veggies in the produce department, have fun counting the number of apples they add to the bag, the different colours of peppers to choose from, and the funny names of the melons.

Before going into the store tell your kids exactly what you expect from them.

Expect that they:

  • will stay nearby and not run through the store
  • will try to be aware of other people and not get in their way
  • will not throw a fit if they don’t get something
  • will be helpful and participate in the process.
  • Before we step foot in the store, remind them of my expectations.

Make A List

Go armed in the supermarket with clipboards, paper, and pencils, ready to check off each and everything on your lists.

  • Giving them a fun tasks keeps them engaged in the shopping experience.
  • Make Kids Your Helper
  • Continually engaging the children in the shopping process.

Not only does this keep them from getting bored and restless, it also teaches them how to shop.

If you use these new tools, most of the time you will actually enjoy your shopping trips together.  It’s not always perfect and there will be times when you have a rough day, but that’s life?

Days out by rail

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To help out with ideas for 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 Easter break.

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 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.

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.

 

Ski with your kids

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Parents with young children can enjoy guilt-free skiing while kids have lots of fun in dedicated playrooms and out in the snow.

Until now parents with young kids have had to sacrifice their winter holidays or feel guilty about leaving their young ones at home.  Tots To Travel have responded to the gap in the market and come up with a solution that will also allow for families to invest in future family ski holidays too.

Hand selected by Tots to Travel, all child-friendly ski chalets and resorts have dedicated childcare, specially-designed chalets with high-quality catering, as well as the Tots To Travel Baby and Toddler

Essential Kit Guarantee.

What a Tots To Travel ski holiday includes:

  • À la carte childcare in your own chalet (additional cost)
  • Flights and transfers
  • Daily filling breakfast
  • Homemade purees and Hipp Organic baby food for babies and toddlers
  • Afternoon tea, coffee and cakes when you return from the slopes
  • Children’s two-course High Tea seven nights a week
  • Aperitif with canapés, six nights a week
  • A delicious three-course meal for adults, including wine, six nights a week

Seasoned skiers will know that a ski holiday is a little different to other holidays. However, a lot of parents may feel that they become inaccessible with little ones. Tots To Travel, craft family holidays by parents for parents. We understand that parents of young families need a holiday to get quality family time and to reconnect.

About Tots To Travel:

Tots To Travel’s mission is to select the very best and most suitable baby and toddler friendly and resort accommodation, then craft an experience that is exclusively available for Tots To Travel families.

This experience includes barrier pools, an Essential Kit Guarantee and outstanding levels of customer service, giving families the very best chance of a blissful  fun family holiday.

Little Ballerinas

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If your little lady or man hasn’t seen the film ‘Ballerina’ yet it 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 and have 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.

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

The classes, which will run and 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

To find out more about upcoming events, visit Royal Academy of Dance Events

Have a Skylanders party

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Get ready to choose your elemental category and become a brand new playable character when you have your Skylanders party!

In order to throw the best children’s party possible, you need to plan appropriately! One of the most important planning decisions to make is where your children’s party venue will be. Your home, your garden, or a hall would all be great places to host your fun Skylanders themed party. No matter where you choose here are some ideas that will go well at your party:

  • Your Playstation, Xbox, or Wii along with your Skylanders figurines so that your guests can play their favourite video game during the party

  • Skylanders plush characters

  • Skylanders masks

  • Printed badges of the eight elements so that your party guests can wear their favourite

  • Skylanders costumes so that your guests can dress up as their favourite character

Skylanders Party Decorating & Food Ideas

  • Decorate your home with Skylanders figures.

  • Bring the Skylanders to you! Create your own using brown string and brow, golden, and green tissue paper that you can cut into leaves. These can be hung anywhere around your party venue.

  • Bake your kids favourite type of cake and put Skylanders figures on top.

  • For the undead among you, create some Skylanders Undead Bone Pretzels! Simple poke a piece of popcorn on each end of a skinny pretzel stick and dip in melted white chocolate until set.

  • For a healthy snack, buy some watermelon–after all, it heals and rejuvenates the Skylanders, so it’s the perfect way to give your kids a boost of energy!

  • Sheep are included in every Skylanders game, so make sure you include them at your party with these Skylanders Sheep Cupcakes! Ice cupcakes with white icing and cover with mini marshmallow use a chocolate donut hole for the head and give it eye with icing.

Make sure you let your guests know how much you appreciate them coming by giving them each a Skylanders goody bag at the end of your party! Things to include are:

  • Skylanders stickers

  • Skylanders 3D rubbers

  • Skylanders character masks

In addition to these items, you can include in your goody bag, such as lollipops, space putty, glow sticks, and bubbles to make your guests feel really special. With all of these options, you can mix and match until you create your perfect and unique goody bag for you guests. The possibilities for your Skylander favours are endless!

Pokemon party

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Do your kids love to follow the adventures of Pikachu and Ash? Maybe they love to watch the TV show, play the video game, or trade the cards? Then throw them a unique party with Pokemon Party Ideas! We have ideas for everything from invitations to activities that will make it as easy as possible to plan the perfect children’s party

Your first decision will be where to host your Pokemon Party. If you host the party at your own home, you can be a little more creative with decorations, activities, and food that fit your theme. However, many choose to host the party in a different location, such as a restaurant or recreation center. For a Pokemon Party, you may want to base your location on your child’s favourite Pokemon product. If he or she loves the video game, hold the party at an arcade. If your child is more into the movie, attending the movie theatre or renting a projector and watching the movie outdoors might be more fun.

Basic party supplies include tableware, such as plates, napkins, cups, and cutlery, as well as a tablecloth, streamers, and balloons. You can stick with the basics, or add other items to fit your theme. For example, for a Pokemon Party, you may also want to consider renting or purchasing the following:

  • Pokemon Trading Cards
  • Pokemon DVD, Video Game, or Board Game
  • Pokemon Masks

Put a smile on the kids faces by sending them home with party favours that fit your theme. You could give one large favour, such as a Pokemon DVD or game, a Pokemon backpack, or movie tickets; or combine smaller favours such as wristbands, sweets, stickers, and Pokemon cards in a nice favour bag.