Tag: ideas

Don’t overthink a children’s party

Posted on by

If you are organising a celebration for your child’s birthday here are some things you may want to avoid.

Inviting Too Many Guests
Whilst it’s often a good idea to invite everyone in your child’s class, to avoid anyone feeling like they have been left out, this will ultimately depend on the space you have available and the amount of other parents you have managed to rope into helping you out. If the party is going to be staged in a small room or you only have limited help available, it may be wise to restrict the number of little guests so that things are a bit more manageable on the day.

Trying to Do Everything Yourself
Although you will be proud of the party you have planned, there is a danger that doing everything yourself will make it a much more stressful process. This is especially true on the day. After you have put in all the effort prior to the occasion, why not take some time to relax during the actual event?

Eating too early
One of the most anticipated and important parts of any kid’s birthday party is the food, but if you offer this up too early then you could struggle to regain order. Instead, it is a good idea to build up to the food and have it near the end of the event. This way if anyone spills anything down them they haven’t got to sit through the rest of the party in dirty clothes, and you won’t have to try and get them settled again before they go home to their parents.

Ignoring The Wishes of Your Child
There is little point in wasting money on expensive decorations and gourmet food if all they would like is a few balloons and their favourite snacks. It’s always a good idea to ask them their preferences for the party – maybe give them 3 or 4 suggestions to choose from so it helps with the decision making process, and then you can guarantee they are going to love whatever you plan for them.

More importantly, it also means you’ve involved them in the process and it makes them feel much more like it’s their party. Try to avoid going to the other extreme though and allowing your child to have all the say.

Games for long journeys

Posted on by

The following children’s fun and games are great fun and you can always adapt them to suit your family. Most of them require very few props and rely mainly on imagination. Some may not be appropriate for car journeys as they could be too distracting for the driver but there are plenty to choose from.

Talk to the animal
Nominate a player to be an animal character for the first round. The other players have to ask questions until they guess what the animal is. The first one to correctly guess the animal gets to go next.

I went to the shop and bought…
Each player has to choose something they had bought at the shops. The first player starts by only reciting what she or he has bought. The next player then has to recite what the previous player bought, as well as add something new to the list.

The player who forgets an item is out of the game, whilst the rest battles on, till there is eventually only one shopper left!

Two facts and a fib
Each player gets a chance to make three statements – two which are true and one that is false. The other players have to try and guess which statement is the lie – number one, two three, by indicating the number with their fingers.

Word association
One player says a word and the other player responds with the first word that comes into their head. The quicker you play, the funnier it gets.

Buzz words
Children need to be quiet to listen for words in this game. Choose a word and listen out for it on the radio or announcements. As soon as a player hears the word they shout ‘buzz’! Children can also look out for buzz words on road signs or advertising boards.

Road cricket
Each child chooses a colour – all oncoming cars in their colour passing you on the road counts as a run. All children nominate one colour to be bowled out by, for example, if a white car comes along you are bowled out and the next player gets a turn at the road wicket.

Broken telephone
One player starts by whispering a message, only once, to the next player. This player then whispers to the next player and so it goes on until the last player who has to say it out loud to the group!

Maps
Children can use maps to trace out their journeys or one player can have look at the map and then choose a town on the map. The other players can then have a look at the map and take turns to guess the secret destination.

October half term ideas

Posted on by

Looking for children’s entertainment on a budget during October half term? If you’re strapped for ideas for half-term family activities, never fear.

Take a free event.
Have a look at Free-events, search the web for more events going on in your area over the course of the week.

Watch a film;
For a lazy start to the day, Vue cinemas host Mini Mornings every morning during the holidays. Both adult and child tickets are £2.49 for selected movies, so you could release your inner child for very little expense.

Odeon offers something very similar with Odeon Kids. Kids and adults can go every morning during the school holidays at a slightly higher ticket price of £2.50.
Cineworld also does Movie for Juniors where you and the kids can get in for a tiny £2 each (3D £3.50).

Go bowling;
Head over to your local Tenpin from Monday to Friday and get a cracking School’s Out deal. If you go before 5pm, kids can get one game of bowling and a burger meal for £8.49 and adults can get the same for £10.99. Deals vary between bowling alleys so check the Tenpin website before you go.

Learn a new skill;
There’s everything from free scales and fins pet workshops at Pets at Home stores to spooky shadows workshops at the National Gallery.

Hobbycraft;
Runs a free workshops for kids in some of its 81 UK stores over the weekends and during half term. Check if your local store is running one.

Alternatively stay in and pass on your own skills (think instruments, drawing, cooking) to the kids.
Get sporty If the weather holds up, get them outside for a bit of a kickabout. Find out where to get free holiday football coaching at various skill centres throughout England.

Ideas for Kids Summer holidays

Posted on by

Visit a theme park
The summer holidays is the perfect time to plan a visit to one of the best theme parks in the UK.

Go to a safari park
See wild animals roaming from the comfort of your own car, thanks to our safari parks UK guide.

Find your local beach
Feel the sand between your toes, build a sandcastle or paddle in the sea at one of the best beaches in England.

Play in the park
There’s loads to explore at your local park, from climbing frames to minibeast hunting. Don’t miss our tips for encouraging your kids to explore more.

Visit an ice cream farm
Days out don’t come much tastier! Find an ice cream farm near you now.

Complete a maize maze
See if you can find your way to the middle (and back out again!) at a maize maze near you.

Have a BBQ at home (probably in the rain!)
Summer and BBQs go hand in hand and we’d never let a little rain ruin our chance to cook al fresco! It’s one of our favourite things to do in the summer holidays.

Get crafty
With just a few supplies, you can make lots of kid-friendly arts and crafts this summer, without needing Pinterest-worthy skills. We’ve got loads of arts and crafts for kids on the blog, including toddler crafts, pom pom crafts, pottery painting and more.

Learn a new skill
Think about how much you could learn in six weeks! Pick up the basics of a new language, learn how to read a map, try a bushcraft survival skills workshop or even learn how to ski at an indoor slope!

Go on a family bike ride
Explore on two wheels this summer (don’t forget stabilisers for younger riders!) with our list of 5 traffic-free family bike rides.

Join the painted rocks craze
Brighten up your local walking route, by creating and hiding some painted rocks. Start by reading our ultimate guide to painted rocks!

Go to the cinema
The Incredibles 2 is top of our must-see list this summer, see our full list of new kids’ films you have to watch in 2018.

Go swimming
Pack your goggles and your cossies and make a splash this summer. For sunny days, find an outdoor swimming pool near you.

Dinomania

Posted on by

Here is a list of some great easy party ideas and games for kids to help get you started on your hunt for a fun dinosaur birthday party!

Dinosaur Party Invitations

Send an invitation as a memo – with the objective being “an official dinosaur expedition”.

Make kid party invitations by covering a card with dinosaur tracks (use stamps and let the birthday boy/girl help make them!).

Think jungle – overgrown, greens, browns and the like. For kid party decorations, the more over the top, the better!

Make some dinosaur tracks with chalk or out of cardboard (for an indoor party.)

Dinosaur Party Games

Here are some fun kid party games, adapted for a dinosaur theme:

Dinosaur Egg Crazy Catch – You’ll need a ball for every two kids and a bunch of crazy stuff! Pretend the balls are dinosaur eggs and have the kids divide into pairs (these will be your teams. Have the teams play catch with the ball, but they can’t catch with their hands. Have them use nets, hats, etc.

Parachute – If you have a parachute make use of it . (If you don’t have one, you can always use a bed sheet.) For a dinosaur party, let the kids bounce inflatable balls (dinosaur eggs) or dinosaur stuffed animals on top of parachutes and to make it go up and down.

Dinosaur Dig – If you have a sandpit available, hide “dinosaur bones” related objects in the sand and let the kids hunt for them. For example, at a Princess party, you could hide plastic jewels. Don’t have a sandpit? Fill a tub with sand or rice. You might want to limit the number of items each child can find (such as three). If you have a large number of children let them take turns, just a few at a time, or set up this game as a “station” to be done when other “stations” are being played, such as some Target Games.

Dinosaur Hunt – Hide toy dinosaurs around the garden and go on a dinosaur hunt!

Dinosaur Party Cakes

Often used for kids party cakes, make a basic cake and use toy dinosaurs on top to make a scene.

Fairy Parties

Posted on by

Many ideas on this list come from what little girls love to do – play dressup, and use their imagination!

Fairy parties can also be about fairies in general, follow a garden theme, or be about a specific fairy, such as Tinkerbell or one of the Barbie Fairytopia fairies.

Here are some fun, general, kids party activities that you can do for any of these different type of fairy themes!

It is always a good idea to have something for your little guests to do when they get to the party, because there is about a 10 minute time span where people are arriving and you will want to have everyone occupied from the moment they get there. Have a helper, either another adult or an older child, help with these activities to free you up to answer the door.

As guests arrive for the party, give them a “fairy makeover”. Nail polish, body glitter, glitter hairspray. You can add a tulle skirt, crown and wings if you wish.

Earning their Fairy Wings
One option on the wings is to wait to pass out the wings till the end of your party.
If you do this, you can set up the games as “tasks” to complete so each child “earns” their fairy wings.

Centreing a party around “earning” something can give you a wealth of activities!

How about your fairies-in-training trying some of these activities?
Speed Test: Have a race or a relay race to see who can zip among the flowers the fastest.
Magical Hunt: Arrange a treasure hunt where everyone must find 3 beautiful coloured jewels.
Show of Bravery: How about winning a battle against a villian? It is always a good idea to be able to stand up for yourself and your fellow fairies

Because fairies love to live in gardens, you can incorporate some of the ideas from a garden party into your theme! One good idea would be to hit a flower or butterfly pinata.

Garden family days out

Posted on by

Kew Gardens, London

Kew Gardens is a great day out where you’ll be dazzled by colour displays of plants and flowers. Explore glasshouses, landscapes and 250 years of history at the world’s most famous garden. With ever-changing exhibits, there will always be something new to discover and lovely events to attend throughout the year.

Savill Garden, Windsor

Savill Garden is a tranquil place to discover rare plants from around the world. The 35 acres of interconnected gardens include the Hidden Gardens, the Summer Gardens, Spring Wood, Autumn Wood, Winter Beds and so on. You can download the Savill Garden map and find out other interesting activities you can do with the kids.

Furzey Gardens, Lyndhurst

These magical gardens are hiding over 30 fairy doors for you to hunt out as you make your way around. You will also find a variety of tree houses, lookout towers and an adventure playground. Plus, on the 31st of May they have a Bug Barn event for children to plant a sunflower seed and paint their own flower pot to take home!

Trentham Gardens, Stoke on Trent

Take a stroll around these award winning gardens no matter the time of year and you will find stunning flowers and plants. Children will enjoy the superb adventure playground and spotting the fairies along the fairy trail. Visit on Sunday 12th of June and you can also watch an open air theatre production of Alice in Wonderland!

The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland

Throughout the year the gardens are full of life and colour, there’s also a giant treehouse that the kids will love exploring, it’s one of the largest in the world! Plus, from the 24th of May until the 5th of September (on weekends and school holidays) you can take part in the Fairy Tale Trail – dressing up is encouraged!

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall

The Lost Gardens of Heligan cover over 200 acres. You can walk through the jungle where there are tropical trees, colourful plants and vibrant foliage creating an exotic oasis; it’s hard to believe you’re still in Cornwall!

Bowood, Wiltshire

In the gardens at Bowood you will find gorgeous flowers and landscaped parkland, if you wander around the gardens you will also find a waterfall, grottos and a hermits cave. Bowood is also home to Tractor Ted and over the bank holiday weekend this May Bowood will be hosting Tractor Ted’s Big Machines Weekend with machinery displays, tractor rides, a bouncy castle and games for kids.

Picton Castle and Gardens, Pembrokeshire

The gardens at Picton Castle are great for everyone to explore, with stunning and unusual plants, woodlands and lakes. There’s also a woodland trail to follow and an adventure playground for the kids.

Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury

This arboretum is well known for its internationally renowned tree collection. All year round you can take one of the many walks to see the stunning collection, plus the kids can enjoy the different play zones and interactive quizzes around the arboretum.

Logan Botanical Gardens, near Port Logan

These beautiful gardens are a must if you’re in the area! You can see a range of exotic and rare plants that burst into life in spring and summer creating a tropical paradise.

Breathe in the sea air

Posted on by

Camber Sands, East Sussex
At just over an hour away from St. Pancras International and offering a five mile stretch of unspoiled sands and grass fringed dunes, Camber Sands is the perfect quick escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you’re after a challenge and the chance to learn a new skill, why not try kite surfing lessons? If you get permission in advance from Rother Council you can bring along your own BBQ, or pop into the The Gallivant restaurant behind the dunes which serves up locally sourced meat and fish dishes.

Canvey Island, Sussex
Located in the Thames Estuary just off the coast of Essex, this lovely beach offers views of Kent coast and of ships heading towards the Thames. Kids will love the separate tidal pool that overlooks the sea! Stop by the renovated 1930’s Labworth Cafe for a bite to eat and their amusement arcade for some seaside fun.

Botany Bay, Kent
This Blue Flag beach offers amazing views of the white cliffs and impressive chalk stacks! When the tide is out, it’s perfect for fossil hunting and rock pool exploring. There are kiosks on site selling ice creams, or you can pay a visit to nearby cafes offering hot food and drinks. Dogs are not permitted on this beach from 10am to 6pm from May 1st until 30th September.

Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
This beach, located in the lovely traditional seaside town of Walton, is known more commonly for it’s pier (the second largest in the country!), yacht club and marina. Pay a visit to The Naze for panoramic views on the beach and for its art gallery and tea room. Walk along this Site of Special Scientific Interest to discover some fascinating wildlife and fossils within the Red Flag cliffs.

Mersea, Essex
At eight miles square and a causeway to venture through, getting to Mersea Beach is a fun family adventure in itself! With nearby shops, restaurants and guesthouses, this beach is buzzing with fun activity to keep your children occupied. Go crabbing on a pontoon, take a fun boat tour around the island or pay a visit to the famous Company Shed restaurant!

Margate Beach
Margate Beach, located in Thanet alongside Broadstairs and Ramsgate, is only a 90 minute journey away from St. Pancras International via high speed rail. With 7 Blue Flag beaches and 3 Seaside Awards, Thanet offers some of the best beaches… without the need to pack an overnight bag! Come along to surf, swim and sail, or explore some rock pools and cycle along the glorious shoreline.

National Trust days out

Posted on by

Hinton Ampner – Alresford

With a beautifully crafted manor house, set amongst a stunning garden, this is the perfect setting for a wonderful family day out. Stop for afternoon tea in the lovely little tea room and don’t miss the 19th century pear and apple trees in the walled-garden. The grounds offer the perfect location for a picturesque picnic!

Mottisfont Abbey & Garden – Romsey

This stunning house and gallery is surrounded by picturesque riverside gardens, the historic house is full of beauty from paintings, photographs and interior design. There is a lovely wild play area for kids and great trails to follow making this a special place for a day out with family and friends.

Smallhythe Place – Kent

Smallhythe Place is a sixteenth century building, that was once a Tudor harbour master’s house. It was also home to Victorian actress, Ellen Terry and is now a museum of memorabilia. There are many events, which take place in the Barn Theatre and the cottage garden contains roses, an orchard and spring garden.

Studland Bay – Swanage

Visit this popular beach to take in the beautiful Purbeck coastline with views of Old Harry Rocks and the Isle of Wight, discover dragons and take the dune trail challenge! There’s no shortage of water sports to get involved in, making this the perfect day out for families!   

Morden Hall Park

Morden Hall Park offers you and your family that perfect getaway from the hustle & bustle with 125 acres of gorgeous parkland, meadows, wetlands and waterways. There are temporary exhibitions held so you will always find something new to discover.  

Ham House & Garden

Filled with history and atmosphere, Ham House & Gardens is a great place to bring the family. This 17th century house is located on the banks of the River Thames and has a fabulous collection of textiles, furniture and paintings, some dating back almost 400 years. The garden is set out beautifully and offers a fantastic selection of plants and flowers to discover. You can also follow a family trail that will help you explore the house and there are children’s trails to entertain the kids in the gardens.

Osterley Park and House

Have fun and get active with friends and family by trying out lots of free sports and activities within the beautiful surroundings of Osterley Park! You can also explore the middle lake on a canoe, test your cycling skills around a portable BMX track and more!

Sutton House and Breaker’s Yard

Bring the family to here to see this house built in 1535 and retains much of the atmosphere of a Tudor home. See the ornate carved fireplaces and windows and Each room has something for visitors to get their hands on and get a feel for how a prominent Tudor family lived, ate and played. There are action packed family days held here throughout the year.

Out of this world

Posted on by

Planetariums are great fun for kids and here are some the most out of this world spots to explore!

Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium, Hampshire

Winchester Science Museum at you could hold a meteorite and moon rock, launch your own rocket or catch a show in the planetarium. A perfect way for little ones to learn about the stars. .

Southend Planetarium, Essex

Enjoy fascinating live talks and learn all about the night sky including the solar system and astronomy with shows which are suitable for ages 7+.

Armagh Planetarium, Northern Ireland

Kids (and adults) will  learn about our exploding universe during this fun family space adventure. .

Royal Observatory, London

Visit the home of the world famous Greenwich Mean Time, and London’s only planetarium! Enjoy shows as well as seeing the fascinating collections of timekeeping instruments. Stand either side of the Meridian line which divides eastern and western hemispheres.

At-Bristol Science Centre; Bristol

You are guaranteed a unique day out full of fun and discovery aimed at people of all ages. Enjoy  ‘Destination Space’ and ‘Winter Stargazing’. .

Liverpool Planetarium, World Museum Liverpool

Suitable for all the family, this fantastic planetarium offers free admission. you will take off on a magical journey through space. Be sure to check out ‘The Night Sky’ show!