Tag: best

A ‘girly’ sleepover party

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Girls just love to make things with their friends and that’s when lasting friendships are made. Get creative and make something really fun so your friends can remember your sleepover party for many months to come!

T-shirt painting is always a popular fun kids crafts activity and a great idea for a sleepover. Give them a blank white t-shirt and a bunch of fabric pens and paints, some sparkly bits and pieces to stick on and see what new fashion they can design. They can really let their imagination go wild with fabric painting.

Having a ‘girlie night in’ means only one thing- time to get your nails painted, create hairstyles, have fun putting on each other’s make-up and get all dressed up ready to show off your artistic expression ‘designed by yourself’ new T-Shirt.

Why not make your own Pizza? The kids will really enjoy making the pizza dough and then add lots of great toppings e.g. tomato, ham, pepper, pineapple, pepperoni, olives and lots of cheese. Children love to eat their own homemade dinner.

Every girl loves chocolate so why not melt some chocolate and get the kids cutting up lots of different fruits and dipping them in some scrummy melted chocolate!!

Get cosy, grab your sleeping bags and pillows, get comfy in your pj’s or onesies and settle down in front of the TV to watch a great movie for a little quiet time and don’t forget your popcorn!

A crafty Birthday Party for girls

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Are you looking for an activity for a girls birthday party? How about some cool jewellery making, girls of all ages love designing and making their own fun bracelets, necklaces and keyrings. A great way to get all the family involved too.

Just pick the bead mixes that you fancy and mix and match together. You will be amazed at the results from the children.

You could put out a fun choice of beads in different bowls on your party table for the kids to see, e.g. large wooden multi-coloured beads, alphabet beads, stripy beads, heart beads and lovely heart, star and flower silver charms. The kids will mix and match to their heart’s content. Add some simple knots here and there for an extra funky look. Little tip, give the kids a wooden peg each to put on one end of the cord whilst they are threading on beads so that they don’t drop and lose any.

Elastic work well with kids, they are easy to tie knots in, not like some cords which can be stiff. Fitting bracelets on children’s wrists is also easier with elastic. Make sure they double knot at the end.

Beads are an idea for lots of craft activities, not just for jewellery making:
String up some alphabet beads on cord or ribbon and tie as a tassel on a book spine or as a bookmark.

Decorate a photo frame with mixed colourful beads using PVA glue
Dangle some beads on a split ring for a Key Ring idea
Personalise your PE Kit Bag or Pencil Case by stitching on some alphabet beads

We recommend the following quantities needed for children’s jewellery making:
Bracelet – 0.5m per child
Necklace – 1m per child
Key Rings – 0.5m per child

Most of all it will keep the children happy for hours and of course they will always have a keepsake to remind them of their crafty party.

Have a fun time!

Classic party games for older kids

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Duck, Duck, Goose
This classic kids game is perfect fun for any children’s party. Gather your guests to sit in a circle and let the birthday child begin as the ‘Goose’. They walk around the circle tapping each child on the head, saying ‘duck’ with each tap. When they are ready to choose the next person to be Goose, they say ‘goose’ when tapping that person on the head. That child gets up and chases the birthday child around the circle. If the new Goose does not tag the birthday child before they make it all the way around the circle and sit in the open spot, then the new Goose becomes ‘it’. If the new Goose tags the birthday child, then the birthday child remains ‘it’ for the next round and the game continues.

Musical Chairs or Cushions
Set up chairs or cushions in 2 rows back to back. Put out one less chair/cushion than there are children. Start playing the music and ask the children to walk all around the chairs/cushions until the music stops. When the music stops, the children must each sit on a chair/cushion. The child without a chair/cushion is ‘out’. You might like to have a bowl of sweets to offer to each child that is ‘out’ so they don’t feel too humiliated – but don’t make it so tempting that everybody wants to be ‘out’! Then remove another chair/cushion. If there is ever a tie, don’t spend ages making a decision, just replay that round.

Hot Potato
Sit the kids in a circle and choose one to sit out wearing a blindfold. Begin by passing a potato around the circle, while the ‘blind’ child stands to one side. Everyone must accept the potato, and may not hold it longer than a second. At any point the ‘blind’ child can yell, ‘Hot Potato’, and whoever has the potato is out (Think about using that invaluable bowl of sweets again!) Continue to play until there is only one person left, and they are the winner. A really good variation is to follow the theme of your party. Use an appropriate item to pass around the circle instead of a potato.

Great tips for visiting DisneyLand

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Baby/Child Switch

If there is a particular ride in the Disneyland Park or Walt Disney Studios that isn’t suitable for the little ones but you want to ride then you can use a Disney service called ‘Baby Switch’. This free service means that one adult can enjoy the ride whilst the other watches the children and then the second adult can ‘switch’ and ride without having to join the queue again.

Single Rider

Another great way to skip the queues on some of the rides that your kids can’t go on is to use ‘Single Rider’. This is another free service and means that you line up in a separate queue (which is much quicker usually) and you are slotted onto the ride when a single space becomes available.

Pack Snacks

When kids are hungry they want food straight away, so we suggest taking lots of their favourite pre-packed snacks with you to eat whilst queuing for rides, waiting for shows and for those emergency ‘I’m Hungry’ moments without spending extra cash in the park shops!

Eat at different times

We highly recommend eating at slightly different times to when you normally would in order to save waiting for a table. For example, enjoy an early lunch at 11.30am and an early dinner at 4.45pm. By choosing these times you will miss the rush and can enjoy a more relaxed dining experience.

Use Fastpass

Fastpass is a brilliant way to beat the queues at some of the most popular rides, our top tip is to get your Fastpass and then have a look around a few of the other rides in the same land which have shorter queue times or perhaps meet a character or two! Rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Autopia are great ones to head for with children as they have a quicker turnaround of customers, so the queues are quite often quicker.

Take a different route to everyone else

When you enter the park most people head straight down Main Street and then turn left into Frontierland, why not turn right and visit Discoveryland first followed by Fantasyland.

Bluestone wales

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Bluestone Wales has 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, if you are determined that having an amazing time shouldn’t cost the earth.

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.

During your stay at Bluestone you’ll be spoilt for choice with things to do! With a range of children’s activities for even 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!

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.

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.

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

Experience some me time. 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!

Different Birthday Party ideas

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Looking for a children’s birthday party with a difference that won’t break the bank? Here’s our roundup of some amazing attractions and venues from across the UK that are sure to provide lots of lovely memories of their big day!

Farmer Palmers Farm Park, Poole, Dorset
£14.95 per family
This lovely farm offers so much fun for little (and big!) animal lovers alike. You’ll get to see live milking demos, pig races, have a go on a bouncy castle and more! Tickets include one child, two adults, food and drink, a tractor ride and full use of the park… which would normally retail at £35 each!

AMF Bowling, Various Locations
From £7.99 per child
What could beat a round of bowling for a fun, competitive and much loved classic kids birthday party? Fab food is all included in the price too!

Go Ape, Various Locations
From £17 per child
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.

Adventure Wonderland, Christchurch, Dorset
Various Price Packages Available
With over 30 fab rides and attractions, Adventure Wonderland offers lots of fun for everyone! Battle it out on the Battle Boats (be prepared to get wet!), go on the Dragon’s Drop Megaslide or even go see some adorable animals in the Cuddle Corner Farm.

Mattel Play! Albert Dock, Liverpool
£15 per child
With over 13,000 square feet of themed exciting entertainment, including well known characters such as Thomas and Friends, Fireman Sam and Bob the Builder, kids will love exploring this amazing play centre! Yummy party food is included.

The Rainforest Cafe, Piccadilly Circus, London
£15.50 per child
Bringing together the fascinating sights and sounds of the jungle, this fab cafe is the perfect place for a wildlife mad partygoer! See the animals brought to life, experience thunderstorms and, of course, eat lots of super yummy food too!

Go Air Trampoline Park, Ty-glas Avenue, Cardiff
£16 per person
With 60 minutes of pure trampolining fun in their open space, 40 minutes in their dedicated special party room, socks, invites AND food (you’ll get either a choice of Papa John’s pizza or a delicious deli sandwich), Go Air is the place to take your active little ones looking to blow off some steam on their big day!

Funky Monkeys, Cityside, Belfast
From £8 per child
With jungle themed play rooms, an interactive kitchen area, car track with crazy coupe cars and more, Funky Monkeys will not disappoint and is sure to provide lots of fun on your little monkeys big day! There’s a range of party options available to suit all needs, so be sure to check out their website!

Waterworld, Newquay, Cornwall
From £17.99 per person
With a 6 lane 25m pool, tropical fun pool, 2 water flumes, cannons, tippers and a snake fountain, this is the perfect place to host your pool mad little ones party! Prices include unlimited pool use, small buffet package, free return for the birthday child, 50% off future visits for all guests and more!

Sea Life Centre, Great Yarmouth, Norwich
From £10.50 per child
Sea Life is fab for aquatic mad little ones! Price includes entrance to the centre, a dedicated VIP tour by one of the crew, hot meal, free local annual pass for the birthday child, free downloadable invites and more!

Where kids can eat for FREE

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Gordon Ramsay Restaurants
There are several Gordon Ramsay’s Restaurants which offer Kids Eat Free for every adult main course ordered, including Maze Grill Mayfair, Bread Street Kitchen and The Narrow in London. Giraffe World Kitchen

Countrywide
From Monday to Sunday, all day long, kids eat free with every main meal purchased! All you need to do is simply download and print your voucher from their website.

Damon’s Restaurant
Kids under 12 years old can enjoy a free main course from the kids menu which available from Monday to Saturday 12-6pm at Damon’s restaurant.

Coal Grill and Bar
Kids aged 10 and under can enjoy a free meal from Coal Kids Menu per adult spending £10 or more, available from Monday to Friday 12-5pm.

Morrisons
Morrisons offers one free kids meal (for under 16 years old) with any adult hot meal (over £4.50) from 3pm every day.

ASDA
Kids can eat free on weekdays after 3.30pm for every adult meal purchased worth £4.

The Real Greek
The Real Greek offers free kids meal on Sundays for every £10 spend by an adult.

Tiny Knights

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Warwick Castle launches ‘Tiny Knights’ sleepovers designed for families with active toddlers and preschoolers. Over two full days of fun, little knights and princesses can discover first-hand more than 1,100 years of history and enjoy craft, songs and story-time as part of an enchanting stay in the mediaeval-themed Knight’s Village, located within a woodland glade in the Castle grounds.

With family-friendly accommodation in a cosy Knight’s Village Woodland Lodge, the package also includes two days’ priority entry to Warwick Castle with VIP access; a hearty breakfast for all the family in the Mediaeval Banquet Hall; two-hour playtime in the Tiny Knight’s Club, exclusive to Knight’s Village guests; and car parking.

Keeping young, enquiring minds and hands busy can be a challenge, but not at Warwick Castle. Easy to explore on foot, the Castle and grounds offer plenty to excite the imagination and retain the attention of the most active and curious little guests: the Horrible Histories Maze, complete with a Viking ship; the Pageant Playground; birds of prey swooping overhead in the Flight of the Eagles Show; and the ever-so-slightly spooky Bear Tower. During their stay, young guests will encounter memorable characters from history, experts at ensuring children of all ages enjoy stories from the Castle’s past. To run off some of that boundless energy, explore the Castle grounds and gardens, in full spring bloom, and home to the Castle’s famous peacocks.

Historical quests completed, families can return to Knight’s Village where their little ones can enjoy a free two-hour playtime in the Tiny Knight’s Club. Hosted by the Castle jester, it’s a hands-on play experience with children’s crafts, songs and storytelling.

Then, after a fun-packed day, it’s time to retire to a Woodland Lodge to drift off to well-earned sleep in either a travel cot (provided on request) or their own bedroom – adorned with a fun mediaeval-themed mural featuring the Castle. Whilst the kids sleep soundly, parents can relax in front of the TV or enjoy river and woodland views from their private terrace.

About Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is easily accessible from Junction 15 of the M40, just 40 minutes from Birmingham and 1 hour 40 minutes from London. Warwick Castle is easy to reach by train from London Marylebone in only 86 minutes. The Castle, set in 64 acres of grounds designed by Capability Brown, rests on the banks of the River Avon at the heart of historic Warwick.

Kids love Ice Cream

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The Ice Cream Farm, Cheshire

If you’re looking for the ultimate ice cream themed day out, then look no further than The Ice Cream Farm in Cheshire in the North West. Home to the ‘World’s Largest Purpose Built Ice Cream Parlour’, it’s not only bursting with award-winning flavours made on site, but also a range of themed activities for children to turn a tasty treat into an action-packed day out.

The farm is FREE for the whole family, including Daisy’s Garden, the parlour and the farmyard animals, but with a range of low-cost activities to try you can mix and match to find all the perfect ingredients for your visit. Head to Honeycomb Canyon, Europe’s largest indoor sand and water play area, practice your putting on the Strawberry Falls adventure golf course or race to the finish at Silvercone – the themed go kart track!

Churchfields Farmhouse Ice Cream Cafe, Droitwich

Family comes first at Churchfields Farmhouse Ice Cream Cafe, with the farm having been in the family for over 100 years. Fast-forward to today and this tasty treat is a local favourite for the DOWTK team! Home to an outdoor play area and an indoor play barn with activities for the kids, the ice cream is the star of the show with more than 36 flavours in stock at any one time. With classic combinations and some more unusual flavours too, the staff are more than happy to let you sample as many as you like before taking the plunge. If you’re visiting in a big group, or for a special occasion, be sure to book a farm tour too, giving you the chance to see the cows and find out just how the ice cream is made!

Bluebell Dairy, Derby

With a host of awards under its belt, Bluebell Dairy is a fab ice cream farm that’s a real Derbyshire gem. All 25 flavours are made using fresh milk and cream from the cows living on the farm, then lovingly made in small batches for a more intense flavour! For a full family day out, this ice cream farm is also home to Bluebells Play Park, filled with fun including climbing frames, swings, a sandpit and a toddler tractors course! At the Animal Patch, a farmyard full of animals awaits with feeding and petting sessions every morning, plus seasonal events always mean there’s something new to explore.

Solley’s Ice Cream Parlour, Kent

Combining the beautiful Kent countryside with tasty ice cream, a visit to Solley’s Ice Cream Parlour is the ideal summer day out. New for 2018 are hop-on hop-off tractor rides, marked farm trails and walking routes, giving you the chance to explore the countryside in style. Whilst there are no animals to see here, the ice cream is made on the farm using fresh milk from neighbouring farms, so you can rest assured it comes with the local seal of approval.

Superhero Parties

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Superhero Party Invitations

Send a “Top Secret” memo, telling them they have been selected to become a new superhero, and will need to report for training.

If you’re in a hurry, try online invitations.

Kids Birthday Party Decorations

Include decorations on your list for planning your kids party ideas. Decorations can really set the mood and make any a little more festive.

Anything to do with a superhero! Batman, Superman, The Incredible Hulk, Spiderman, Ironman and so on. Mix and match items from each of the great Superheroes.

Print images of well-known villains (find them online) and hang them up as “wanted” posters.

Obstacle Training Course – Some ideas for your obstacle course include:

Crawling through a secret tunnel or cave (use a play tunnel, large cardboard box, or table covered with a sheet, and hang streamers over the entrance and exit)

Paint some cereal boxes grey and set them up to jump over (leaping tall buildings in a single bound). If cereal boxes are too tall, choose something else appropriate in size.

Do a forward roll or other great move to show your agility

Walking on a “tightrope” – actually a line drawn in chalk or done in tape on the ground – to show balance.

Jumping through windows (a hula hoop held up)

At the end have a baby doll or stuffed toy that needs to be picked up and brought back to safety.

A Test of Speed – Divide players into teams for some relay races to show their speed!

Spiderman’s Web – Have pictures of villains posted in an area and give each guest a can of silly string so they cover villains with their “webs”.

Musical Superheros – Play a version of musical chairs, but instead of having chairs, have coloured sheets of paper on the floor. If a person isn’t able to land on a coloured sheet, then they are out that turn – let them control the music for that next round, before returning to the game.

Drench the Villain – Make some drawings of villains using waterproof markers. Have the kids throw water balloons at the villains and eventually the villain drawings will “run.”

Kryptonite Hunt – Before the party spray paint some large rocks in a fluorescent green colour. Just before the hunt have a helper hide the “kryptonite” rocks and announce a hunt for them. Give the players plastic bags to pick up the kryptonite and bring to you (so they don’t have to touch it with their hands, or else their superpowers might be destroyed!)

Superhero Children’s Party Favours a/k/a Superhero Training Graduation;

A superhero cape (presented at the end of training) and a mask
Comic books
Colouring books
Small action figures
Trading Cards