Tag: best

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.

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.

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!”

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.

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

 

For kids who love books

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Regardless of your child’s reading ability or age, these wonderfully wordy days out are a fun way to get children excited about books and the wonderful imaginative world of stories!

Working Class Movement Library; Manchester

The Working Class Movement Library in Manchester is an amazing place to discover real stories about the extraordinary people who fought to have their voices heard. Explore books, archives, photographs, poetry, posters, journals, reports and so much more in this wonderful library.

Seven Stories Centre; Newcastle Upon Tyne

Seven Stories is built to inspire children through reading and stories. They will love exploring their imaginations through workshops, the many libraries and a literary adventure playground

Library of Birmingham; Birmingham

This huge, modern building is home to over 400,000 books available to be read by the public, as well as a studio theatre, rooftop gardens, an outdoor Amphitheatre and a panoramic viewing gallery. Children will love exploring the children’s zones, listening to story telling sessions and getting involved in kids’ activities!

The Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre; Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire

Located in the very place that Roald Dahl lived and wrote is the wonderful Roald Dahl museum! Aimed at children aged between 6 and 12, it features galleries, a story centre and loads of interactive displays all around this much loved children’s author.

Liverpool Central Library; Liverpool

Inside this very large, historic building is a modern discovery that the whole family will love! Inside the children’s room you will find brightly coloured interiors brimming with books and nooks to read in. There is even an Xbox 360, computers, iPad and more technology available to the public!

The Story Museum; Oxford, Oxfordshire

Children will love getting lost in the wonderful world of stories in this unusual but amazing museum that is specifically centred around stories! Perfect for kids of all ages and reading abilities, and of course adults too!

The British Library; London

The British Library is a great place to lose a few hours. Find endless knowledge and stories in so many different formats including print, digital, manuscripts, journals, newspapers, magazines and so much more!

Discover Children’s Story Centre; London

Explore the indoor story trail and discover a magical adventure, or let off some steam in the story garden where kids will love discovering giant musical instruments, a spacecraft and a monster’s tongue! There’s so much fun to be had at Discover Children’s Story Centre with a sprinkling of imagination.

Winter family fun

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  1. Go outdoors and find a frosty spider’s web (then make your own using PVA glue and silver glitter)
  2. Make a puppet theatre using leftover Christmas cardboard, then create a puppet show
  3. Create a bird feeder using a pine cone, lard and bird seed then take pictures of the birds as they feed in your garden!
  4. Create your own puzzles. Stick a family photo, or a child drawn picture to card and cut it into shapes
  5. Go bowling, it’s a great fun indoor activity that the whole family can enjoy!
  6. 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 a campfire and toast some marshmallows
  8. Collect shells and create fun pictures on the beach, or in the forest with stones and twigs.
  9. Teach your child to thread or sew, for younger children use cardboard with holes punched in it and string as thread.
  10. Go on a scavenger hunt. Give children photos of things to find or set up written clues to help older children find items outside.
  11. Visit a pottery café and create your very own masterpiece.

 

Shopping and soft play

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The majority of large shopping centres now have that sanctuary of cushions, nets and multi coloured balls, the playcentre! Here are five of the best, picked due to their size and proximity to the largest numbers of Mums and Dads in need of a little retail therapy!

KidZania London; Westfield, London

Have your kids ever dreamt of becoming a pilot, a firefighter, or the next award-winning singer? Kidzania is a child-size city inside the shopping centre! With over 60 real life role-play activities in the bank, on stage or fighting crime on the streets as a police officer! KidZania is a real-life role play experience for 4-14-year olds, blending learning and reality with children’s entertainment.

Bluewater; Greenhithe, Kent

With various play areas to choose from; Bluewater is the perfect hangout for you, your friends and your family whilst letting your little monsters have some serious fun! Check out the Pirate Cove Adventure Park with caves, cascading waterfalls, pedalos and two 18-hole adventure golf courses! Children and parents alike can enjoy these fun outdoor spaces complete with sandpits, climbing equipment and picnic areas!

Bullring Shopping Centre; Birmingham

Teenie Weenies at the Bullring offer two dedicated multi-tiered soft play areas, allowing children to play in a fun exciting environment! For the older kids why not check out the Junior Frame. With children’s activities designed to stimulate and challenge children including; a spider’s web, ball pits, zip wires, rope bridges, and a variety of slides. For the little ones the Toddlers Frame provides younger children the chance to play and have fun with mum and dad.

Trafford Centre; Manchester

Approximately five miles west of Manchester city centre, the Trafford Centre is hard to miss! Here the soft play area is designed for kids under 10, and includes a huge ball pool, slides, climbing nets, tube crawls, rope swings etc. For children under 6 there is the Little Tikes play area. Not enough? Then how about the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, SEA LIFE and Paradise Island Adventure Golf. Plus, the ODEON cinema shows a range of family films and host ODEON Kids film screenings on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Intu Metrocentre; Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

The outdoor play area at intu Metrocentre Qube is designed to provide challenging fun for children from 3-10 years old. With a fireman’s pole, climbing walls, and dance chimes there are plenty of activities to keep little ones entertained and give mums and dads a rest!

Indoor activity

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You won’t get bored with all of this indoor fun that’s waiting for you!

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.

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

Harry Potter party theme

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Transform your child and his or her guests from Muggles to wizards with our Harry Potter Party Ideas! We have some fun suggestions for everything from invitations to children’s activities that will ensure a mystical birthday bash no one will forget!

Harry Potter Party Planning & Invitations

In addition to basic magical party supplies, like plates, cups, napkins, and decorations, you may want to consider purchasing, borrowing or renting the following items for your Harry Potter party:

 

 

Invitations are an important part of your planning because they give the first impression of your children’s party to your guests. If you have the time to make your own invitations, here are a few ideas to consider for your Harry Potter Birthday party:

 

  • Fold a piece of cardstock in half to create a top-fold card. If you are artistic, draw the Hogwarts crest on the front. Underneath the crest, write, “You are Invited…”

  • Punch a hole in the corner of a card-style invitation and attach it to a magic wand. Ask your guests to bring their wand with them to the party.

  • Create a top-fold card and divide the front of the card into four squares. Write one of the Hogwarts house names in each square (i.e. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff).

 

When it comes to food, your guests would most likely be perfectly happy with pizza or hotdogs. However, if you would like to include some Harry Potter themed snacks, consider these ideas:

 

  • Serve “magic potion”. Freeze cranberry and grape juice in ice cube trays before the party. Serve a colourless soda at the party, such as ginger ale or lemon-lime. Let your guests select their ice cubes, which will “magically” change the colour of their drinks.

  • There are a number of treats from the Harry Potter stories that are made from everyday products, such as ginger Beer, Choco Balls (chocolate covered strawberry mousse balls), Fizzing sherbet lemons, Rock Cakes (randomly shaped cakes with raisins), chocolate eclairs, and licorice wands.

    Harry Potter Party favours

Put a smile on your kids’ faces by sending them home with party favours that fit your theme. You could give one large favour, such as one of the Harry Potter novels or movie tickets; or combine smaller favours such as:

 

  • A magic wand

  • A book of magic tricks

  • Harry Potter stickers, pencils and stationery items

  • Plastic Harry Potter glasses