Tag: children

Movie star Birthday Party ideas

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This party are for girls (or boys) that would just love to be in the movies, a great children’s party theme…

INVITATIONS:
For the invitation, buy some really good stationery, and cut it into a star shape. Then, punch holes in it about every inch or so and thread gold or silver ribbon through the holes. Then in calligraphy write “you are cordially invited to spend (date) at the Oscars. Please arrive at (address) at approximately (time). To make your final reservation, please reply to the home of (child’s name) at (number).

ACTIVITIES:
The main activity of the children’s birthday party is to ‘make the movie’, but before that, get all the actresses ‘ready’ by sending them to the ‘spa’. You could have a different room in the house for different spa treats to do, one could be in the birthday girl’s bedroom and the spare room, could be home too the nail and hair salon.

Your Birthday girl’s bedroom could be a dressing room, where there could be all kinds of dress up clothes that the girls could choose from. After all the girls finished at the spa, make the movie.

Before the party, write a simple script based on a movie, “the Princess Diaries”, where a normal teenage girl finds out she is a princess. Hand out these scripts, and each girl will be giving a part and five minutes to look it over quickly. Then you can film it. Afterwards, show it to the girls on video and they will be really proud of their acting skills.

Then, you can hand out the Oscars. Cut trophies out beforehand of cardboard and paint them with each girl’s name on it. For the ceremony, you can have categories. Some of the categories were best script remembered, funniest costume, etc. Call each girl up individually to receive her award. Then nobody gets left out.

FOOD:
Have table settings that make it look like a posh restaurant. For each girl’s plate, a typed name card, a folded cloth napkin with a napkin ring, and real silverware instead of plastic.

PARTY BAGS
When the girls were watching a movie, make copies of the video you made. Give these out to the guests along with a bottle of nail polish.

History of Hopscotch

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It is believed that the Hopscotch was first recorded back in 1677. However, there are many theories to how the popular playground game came about. Some say the Romans invented the game in order to train their army, whilst others claim that it was the Chinese who first played it.

Today, hopscotch is recognised in UK kids playgrounds as a simple game that can be enjoyed solo or in a group. A stone is thrown into one of the square number spaces for the child to go and pick it up by hopping through the boxes. This physical game allows children to practice balance and improve their motor skills.

However, hopscotch is played around the world in many variations. The French version, Escargot (also meaning ‘snail’) is a spiral design with no ‘end’ – just like a snail shell.
New Yorkers have a similar version to ours, but is known as Potsie and is drawn out using preformed cracks in sidewalks.

In India, hopscotch is known as Stapu or Kith-Kith and is played similar to in England. However, it may also be recognised as Ekhat-Dukhat, but only features two squares.

Germany, Switzerland and Austria know the game as Himmel und Hölle (Heaven and Hell). The space before the first number is called Erde (Earth) whilst Hell is the second to last square as the last square is heaven with the aim of the game is to not land on hell.

Hopscotch is still a popular children’s party game and they are a popular design element for schoolyards and look great on either black or coloured cork surfacing.

Explore the Holidays

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The days are getting longer, the theme parks are re-opening and warmer weather is hopefully on the way, making it a great time of year to get exploring. Plus, with the Easter holidays just around the corner too, adventure most certainly awaits.

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Buckinghamshire

Situated in the village that the famous author lived in and wrote for 36 years, you can explore 40 interactive displays bringing his enchanting stories to life. On selected dates this month, kids can make heads for Hornswogglers, create Boggled Box Beasts and fly a Kicksy Kite – it’s a truly gloriumptious day out for the whole family.

Tim Peak’s Spacecraft at Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Rewind back to June 2016 and you might just remember Tim Peake returning back to Earth following his space mission, and now you can see his space capsule up close at the Museum of Science and Industry! Landing in Manchester, you’ll be able to take a closer look at the Soyuz TMA-19M, complete with scorch marks from its re-entry through the atmosphere. With 15-minute presentations, every weekend, the out of this world adventure takes place here.

Lambing season at Umberslade Farm Park, Warwickshire

Head to your local farm park this month, and chances are you’ll come face to face with some very cute newborn animals, and Umberslade Farm Park is certainly the place to do just that. Kids can meet the new lambs and even have the chance to help with the bottle-feeds. As a real working farm, there’s always something new and exciting to see too, and don’t miss the tractor and trailer ride for a fun tour of the site.

Exhibitions at the V&A Museum, London

There’s always some kind of exhibition in London, as the Victoria and Albert Museum showcases the finest children’s exhibitions. Whether you’re bringing a young child or older ones, there’s something to entertain all ages.

Spring blossoms

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As Spring arrives pretty blossoms begin to bloom, so come and see them in all their glory…

RHS Wisley, Woking
There is always plenty to look at when you visit these beautiful gardens including spring blossom! Families can follow fun trails and join in with the great children’s activities on offer too.

The Blossom Trail, Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire
Follow a 45-mile wonderful journey through beautiful countryside and quaint villages lined with pretty cherry and apple blossom trees. This region has been famous for its fruit growing since medieval times.

National Botanic Garden of Wales, Carmarthen
These gardens are a great place to bring the family to see the very beautiful Japanese blossom in the Japanese Gardens. There are flower meadows and lakes to explore set in over 500 acres of parkland.

Cherry Blossom in Abundance, Kew Gardens, London

Kew is always a beautiful place to visit but when the blossom trees are in full flower it is extra special! Find the prettiest ones just behind the rose garden at the back of the palm house.

Kyoto Garden – Holland Park, London
The arrival of blossom in Japan is nothing less than magical and is widely celebrated. The Japanese Kyoto Gardens will offer a little taste of this far away country and is home to koi carp and very pretty cherry blossom in a very peaceful setting.

Acorn Bank, Cumbria
These beautiful grounds, house and gardens are a tranquil haven that have an industrial past. The gardens are well known for their orchards with and in the spring you can see carpets of snowdrops, daffodils and pretty fruit blossom. Wander along to find the restored watermill and look out for wildlife in the woods.

St Andrew Square, Edinburgh
Take some time out in this lovely city to visit this tranquil square in the heart of Edinburgh and see the cherry blossoms in the spring sunshine.

The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland
This garden is a magical place to bring a family and has sky walkways and rope bridges to explore. Visit the Cherry Orchard which promises to be a sea of pink and entice the kids to make cherry blossom snow angels amongst the fallen petals!

Kingston Lacy, Dorset.
The enigmatic gardens of this stately home spring into life with gorgeous cherry blossom in the Japanese Garden and white apple blossom in the Kitchen Garden and orchards so a family walk is guaranteed to offer a lovely day out for everyone!

Greenwich Park, London
This park was once the hunting ground for Henry VIII and is London’s oldest enclosed Royal Park. Behind the cricket pitch lies a stunning pink candy floss arch that will bring a happy smile to anyone’s face!

Head to Portsmouth to see the Mary Rose

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The fascinating Mary Rose Museum! The ship was raised from the seabed in 1982 and can now be found in Portsmouth.

1. Discover England in 1545
The Mary Rose is a time capsule, preserving life in Tudor England. Explore objects recovered from Henry VIII’s flagship and discover what life was like in 1545. There’s a common misconception that the Mary Rose sank on her maiden voyage, but she was a successful warship for Henry VIII for almost the entire duration of his reign. A visit here is an educational and fun day out for all the family!

2. See the Mary Rose come to life!
An amazing light show brings the ship to life. Experience life on board, through both war and peace!

3. Explore life as a Tudor
No matter what your age, you’re bound to love the dressing up area. Why not see how you would look sat on the throne? There are also Tudor craft activities available for children too!

4. Download fun activities
There is a whole range of maps, worksheets and models available to download. You can continue the fun after your visit too!

Ideas for kids Spring fun

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BeWILDerwood

For an amazing day out in Norfolk, not far from Norwich, visit the enchanted, award-winning Curious Treehouse Adventure Park, BeWILDerwood. Take lazy boat rides across The Scary Lake, cross jungle bridges, visit tree-houses, whizz down The Wobbly Wires, get befuddled in the marvellous Muddle Maze, build dens with bracken and sticks and dress up and join in with the enchanting daily storytelling.

This is a world with more than a little sprinkling of fairy dust; enough for the whole family! It’s also a great place for children to have the best birthday party ever in the woods.

Bodmin and Wenford railway

Discover the excitement and nostalgia of steam travel with a journey back in time on the Bodmin and Wenford railway, Cornwall’s only full size railway still operated by steam locomotives. Relax in style and enjoy a leisurely 13-mile round trip, through beautiful countryside, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone age, as the era of a Cornish branch line in the 1950s reveals itself during the course of your journey.

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo.

There’s a world of enjoyment at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo. From feeding the farm animals, saying hello to our parrots or spying on the meerkats in the secret lookout, children will have hours of fun. With monkeys, snakes, pigs, donkeys, ring tailed lemurs, rabbits, emu, chipmunks, coati, wallabies and chickens, plus a fun-packed adventure playground with a real tractor and fire engine, it’s a great family day out.

The Zoo is offering new Keeper, Mini and Junior Keeper Experiences for children and adults. The kids will love being able to find out more about their favourite animals and what it’s like to feed and care for them. Sessions last from 1.5 to 2.5 hours, there are a variety of Keeper Experiences available, and children must be accompanied by an adult, who goes free of charge.

Top tips for family trips

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Making sure a family day out goes smoothly and everyone has a day to remember… for all the right reasons!

Plan ahea
Plan your journey to avoid the stresses of getting lost on route with excitable children in tow! It also helps to pack the bag you’re taking the night before to stop the morning scramble.

Pack some spare clothes
No matter how old your children are take spare clothes with you, then they can relax and get messy or wet even if it wasn’t in the plan. I take a unisex variety so that it doesn’t matter who ends up wearing them!

Snacks to the rescue!
You can never take too many snacks! Keep separate snack boxes/ bags for each child to avoid arguments! Even better if they can pop them in their own backpack.

Money Money Money
Take loose change with you, especially £1 coins and keep it handy. Many attractions have ‘extra’ activities you can do such as; feeding animals or rides and often this costs £1 or so, plus there might be parking charges.

Prepare the children
Keep behaviour on track by preparing your children for the frustrations they may experience during the day. For example ‘sometimes we will have to queue up’ or ‘you will need to stay quiet when we go in…..area’.

Take wellies/walking shoes
Some places might get muddy when it has rained and no one wants to get their shoes caked in mud. Also, take plastic bags to put the wellies in after so you can keep the car clean!

Plan for any ‘boring bits’
Have some games in mind encase the kids get a little bored. Make a bingo list or treasure hunt, if you are in a museum or gallery they might have a trail for you to follow or even activity packs, ask at reception when you arrive.

Sun protection
With the weather always being changeable it is a good idea to always carry sun cream, sunglasses and sun hats.

Keep a basic makeup set/ hairbrush in the car for the days when it was easier just to get everyone out of the house before making yourself look presentable!

Try KidZania London

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With the weather being unpredictable in the UK, that doesn’t have to stop you this half term! KidZania London is a mini-city that kids can explore for themselves. They can try their hand at being a firefighter, fashionista, and even flying a Starship model through the Atlas Star System!

1. New: Starlink Space Station
Pilots will learn how to build their own modular Starship model before embarking on a journey through the Atlas Star System, testing and navigating their ship with Nintendo Switch. Kids will learn lots about the solar system as they adventure through space!

2. Nintendo Labo Workshop
Kids can use the Nintendo Labo kits to create their own RC car. They can take their decorated car home with them after the session. This is then used with the Nintendo Switch consoles to bring the games to life! Discover other models too including a fishing rod, piano, and even a robot!

3. Shop till you drop in Westfield London!
If your kids are 8 years or older, they can explore KidZania independently and you can enjoy 4 hours of shopping!

4. Adults can enjoy the fun too!
KidZania is so cool that Mum’s and Dad’s will want to get stuck in too! Although most of KidZania’s activities are especially for kids where adults can supervise through the viewing windows, There are a few activities where adults can join in too! Grown-ups will love the Alder Hey Hospital A&E, TV Studio, Stadium, City Tour Bus and British Airways aviation academy! Go on, you know you want to!

What have you been up to? We’d really love to know! Someone else might love it, and really want a go! If you’ve got ideas, suggestions or reviews, you can shout all about it on whatever channel you choose!

Birthday Party Themes

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Themed birthday parties give the kids a chance to dress up whilst also giving you a great topic for which to base your decorations, food and entertainment around.

Circus
Having a circus themed kids party can be a great way to give the children a chance to learn a few new skills whilst they are having fun. They could have a go at learning to juggle, or messing around like their favourite clown. The circus is not just about clowns with their red noses and big shoes though, and so the children have plenty of options when it comes to fancy dress. There’s the ring announcer, the gymnasts, the lion tamer and the strong man; to name just a few.

Wizards and Witches
This theme has always been a firm favourite, particularly at Halloween, but has grown in popularity since the rise of a certain boy wizard. Your little guests can dress as their favourite character from the film franchise or as a wizard or witch from their own imagination. The beauty with this theme is that it doesn’t take much to transform an ordinary child into a wizarding genius; just a hat and wand in most case

Pirates and Princesses;
This has to be one of the most popular children’s party themes and always goes down well with the little ones. It’s so easy to pull off as well and you can make it as minimal or as full on as you like. Pirates can either turn up fully decked out in attire or with a simple eye patch. The girls will also be really excited about being able to don their favourite dresses, adorn themselves with a tiara and greet their royal subjects!

Space
Space is a great theme for both boys and girls as it really allows the children to let their imagination run away with them. Will they come dressed as a strange alien from the planet Zog, or will they arrive in a spacesuit ready for their latest adventure into the unknown voids of the galaxy. You could even ask half of your guests to dress as aliens and the other half as astronauts and then use these teams within your entertainment.

Food could include various twists on party classics, such as ‘asteroids’ instead of meatballs and ‘moon rocks’ in place of chicken nuggets. The venue could also be decorated to look like a strange planet with stars, moons and spaceships on the ceiling.

School holiday ideas

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Knowing how to keep children amused through the school holidays can sometimes be daunting for parents, especially when things cost so much. Here are some top tips to help take some of the stress out of it, and keep everyone happy without needing to spend a fortune.

Going out and about
During the school holidays, there may be lots going on in your local area that your family can enjoy, often for free. Check the websites of your local council and tourist information centres for local days out, or scan the local papers and community centres to see what’s going on in your area. Visit your local library and look for adverts of events. Many libraries hold events such as story time, and arts and crafts days. Libraries are also a great source of activity in themselves, with plenty of books and computers to keep children busy, plus they often have storytime for toddlers and parents.

Check to see if your local council swimming pool offers free or reduced-fee entrance in the school holidays. Museums and galleries often have new exhibitions and events running in the summer. Many art galleries put on special events for children and families – this could be just the thing to stimulate your child’s artistic streak. Check out your local leisure centre – there are plenty of children’s sports and activities they can participate in.

Staying at home
Of course, on some days, you will find yourselves stuck at home, but that doesn’t mean anyone has to be bored. You could take the opportunity to spend some time sharing a favourite game or story with your children or, if you want some more inspiration, try some of these activities. Arrange a movie day – choose a couple of favourite films, get some popcorn and put your feet up with the kids.

Get cooking – pick a recipe with the kids, go shopping for ingredients and cook something together that you can enjoy eating afterwards. Depending on your child’s age and interest, this could be anything from a simple sponge cake to a mushroom stroganoff! Dig out the puzzles, games and books and give them a go. Some good old-fashioned children’s entertainment can be really fun.

Have a look in your cupboards and play dress up with your old clothes. Sort through your clothes together and recycle the ones that you never wear and the stuff your little one’s grown out of.

Encourage the kids to put on a play or a magic show. They could even use the dress up clothes and props from around the house. If you have a camera, you can even film it, for great memories. Build a den with the kids – if the weather is ok, you could even risk doing this outside! All you need is some boxes or sofa cushions, a few blankets, and a bit of imagination.

Create a scrapbook together using photos from your family album, or torn from magazines.
The great outdoors (and the garden!)

Sunny days are great for simple activities like picnics and ball games. This can be done as close to home as in the back garden!

Don’t try and fill every minute of every day. Encourage your children’s imagination and independence – let them play in their rooms or the garden.