Tag: organise

Is your kid football crazy?

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If you have budding little footballer in the making and are looking for a fab fun day out, then this handy list will give you lots of inspiration! From museums, stadium tours to dining experience, there’s bound to be something for all of the family to enjoy… whether they’re a fan or not!

London Stadium Tours, London

Take a fun and memorable self‐guided audio tour around the home to West Ham United! You’ll get to experience what it’s like to walk through the ‘tunnel’, check out the changing rooms and explore the stands. There are plenty of photo opportunities and at the end of the tour you will get a free personalised certificate too!

National Football Museum, Manchester

This is the perfect day out for all of your aspiring mini footballers! You’ll get to learn all about the history of the beautiful game and see the many collections displaying famous kits, trophies and invaluable archives.

Museum and Stadium Tour, Old Trafford Manchester

For the little Red Devil in your family, treat them to an unforgettable day out at the Manchester United Museum and Tour! Within the museum are various trophies won by the club and displays depicting the club’s most famous achievements and individuals. The Stadium tour offers visitors a chance to get a glimpse of the view from The Alex Ferguson Stand and then head down into the dressing room. Stop for a spot of lunch in the unique Red Cafe, making this the perfect day out.

Cafe Football Stratford London & Old Trafford Manchester

Owned by Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, this cafe is the ultimate destination for both football fanatics and foodies! Enjoy a relaxed dining experience which is influenced by the spirit of football. They also have fun kids menu which includes a visit to the sweet shop or ice cream parlour.

Scottish Football Museum, Glasgow

On your visit to this fascinating museum, you’ll learn the history of the beautiful game in Scotland. There are over 14 galleries and 2500 objects for you to see, with collections including The Scottish FA Collection and The Hampden Park Collection!

A1 Football Factory, Knottingley

This amazing indoor football facility offers an artificial all weather 3G surface, making it perfect whatever the weather! It’s a fantastic place to hold a football or rugby birthday party, with party food, medals, games and even a bouncy castle included!

Wembley Stadium Tour, London

Bring the family here to relive some of the greatest moments of sporting and music history. You can go behind the scenes see the historic changing rooms, take a seat in Roy Hodgson’s hot-seat in the press room, experience walking through the Players Tunnel, climb the 107 trophy winner’s step and sit in the Royal Box. Tour takes 75 minutes.

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Tour, London

If you are a family of ‘Gooners’ or simply love the beautiful game, this is the place for you! The self-guided tour offers you the chance to follow in your hero’s’ footsteps as you explore the changing rooms, then walk through the tunnel and take in the atmosphere of the crowd. You can also test your knowledge against an Arsenal expert.

Chelsea FC Stadium Tours and Museum, London

The stadium tours and museum at Stamford Bridge will be an unmissable experience for football lovers of all ages, especially for the Blues fans! The an hour-long guided tour will give you access to areas normally reserved for the players and officials, including the home and away dressing rooms, press room, the tunnel and  dug-out areas.

Winter walks

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These Winter day walks will make everyone feel good!

Mottisfont Abbey and Gardens, Hampshire

Wrap up warm and get outdoors to work off all that festive food exploring the grounds of this fantastic house and grounds on an interactive trail. There are lots of fun children’s activities and family days out to enjoy along the way including ‘brussel sprout bowling’!

Ham House and Garden

Dogs are welcome for 12 days from Boxing Day to enjoy, with their families, a delightful stroll around the grounds. Every canine visitor receives a tasty bone!

St James’ Park, London

If you are in the capital for Christmas why not take a walk around St James’ Park? It’s officially the warmest place in the UK with an average temperature of 11.43°C. You can also take a nice route starting from the park, then walk down through The Mall, along Victoria Embankment and return via Birdcage Walk and Buckingham Palace.  

New Forest National Park, Hampshire

The New Forest has many, many walks, where the family can explore the stunning landscape. There are a range of different routes that you can choose from that vary in length and difficulty. The children can try to spot some  adorable New Forest ponies, cattle and donkeys that live there. An especially lovely walk  is the one from Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard and back, a nice gentle walk that follows the Beaulieu River.

Leeds Castle, Kent

Head to Leeds Castle between Christmas and New Year for a fun post Christmas walk which all the family can enjoy! Follow a special trail answering questions about wildlife and nature, and all completed trails are entered into a draw with a chance to win a prize!  

Windermere, Cumbria

The Lake District offers an incredible number of different walks from multi-day hikes to walks suitable for pushchairs. The walk that I have found below is an easy walk for the family to try and takes in some of the beautiful scenery around Lake Windermere.  

Formby Red Squirrel Walk, Liverpool

This easy walking trail will suit all the family this Boxing Day and as the woodlands are home to the red squirrel, hopefully you will get to see one or two!  

Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey

Bring family and friends to Winkworth for a beautiful guided Boxing Day walk surrounded by nature, even the kids will be exploring all day!  

Knole Historic Home and Garden, Sevenoaks, Kent

The day after Christmas Day everyone deserves some fresh air including the dog so walk off some of those calories in a guided walk of this beautiful park.

The circle of life

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If your kid can’t stop singing “Hakuna Matata” then it may be time to invite your favourite little animals over for a royal children’s birthday celebration! Below are some ideas for you to pounce on including suggestions for Lion King invitations, decorations, food, favours and free games.

Lion King Party Planning & Invitations

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

 

  • The Lion King on DVD or Blu-Ray

  • The Lion King stuffed animals

  • Animal costumes such as our lion headband.

  • A petting zoo

  • An animal shaped pinata

 

If personalised invitations just aren’t your cup of tea, you can invite your favourite little animals to join your pride for the day with creative handmade invitations! Here are some Lion King invitation ideas you can make yourself or with the help of the kids.

 

  • Record a video of your child singing one of the songs from the Lion King. At the end of the song your child can say “please come to my Lion King party” along with the date and time. Copy the video onto a CD and mail to each guest.

  • Mail each invitation with a small Lion King figure or a CD of songs from the movie.

  • Dress your child in a Simba or Nala costume and take a photo. Upload the photo to your computer to make an invitation by using photo software. On the front of the invitation you can add the words “I Just Can’t Wait to Turn 5!”

    Lion King Party Decorations & Food

Turn your home into a jungle fit for a king with the following Lion King decoration ideas.

 

  • Play music from the movie in the background to add ambiance.

  • To create a jungle canopy, hang a lot of green, lime green and brown crepe paper streamers from the ceiling.

  • Use silk potted plants and flowers to decorate the floor and table of your Lion King party.

  • Place Lion King figurines and stuffed animals around the room.

  • Draw Simba on brown craft paper to hang around the room. You can use the symbol Rafiki draws on the tree as your example.

 

In addition to pizza, chicken fingers, hamburgers or hotdogs, you can add some Lion King themed food into the mix. Here are some fun food suggestions that will tame your ravenous lion cubs.

Lion King Party favours

Thank your guests with roaring party favours! Some of the favours can include:

 

  • Mini stuffed animals

  • Animal wind-up toys

  • Jungle animal stickers and temporary tattoos

  • Fun-shaped sweets

Get your skates on

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Ice skating is a perfect winter day out; the whole family can get involved and it helps everyone get into the festive spirit. With so many magical outdoor ice skating rinks, which one will you choose?

Natural History Museum, London

26th October – 7th January

Skate beneath frosted trees and fairy lights at the Natural History Museum, London. Head to the capital this Christmas and skate in front of a pretty impressive background. With skate aids for kids, plus a stunning tree to skate around, it’s the ideal place to kickstart that festive feeling.

 

M&D’s, Motherwell

18th November – 7th January

Skate at one of Scotland’s most well-known theme parks at M&D’s on Ice. Just because the roller coasters are closed it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. This is the perfect location if your kids get bored easily, as there is a great Santa’s grotto for you to visit. If you’re still looking for a Santa’s Grotto near you we’ve got you covered!

Best for: Those looking to tick off children’s Ice skating and Santa’s Grotto in one go.

 

Life Science Centre, Newcastle

11th November – 18th February

Feel alive at the Life Science Centre, Newcastle. Fly around on an ice rink beside a modern science museum for kids. The centre says there’s no need to book if you’re a group of ten and under, so make your way to the centre and put on a pair of boots. If you’re a regular skater you should make the most of the 10 skates for the price of 5 deal.

 

Bath On Ice, Royal Victoria Park

17th November – 2nd January

If you’re yet to find your feet on the ice, why not hire your own ice marshall at Royal Victoria Park? They will come at an extra cost, but it will be worth it when you see how happy your kids will be when they’ve finally cracked it. For a cheaper alternative skate aids are available too, and to make things even more exciting an extension was approved for this year, so the ice rink is bigger and better than ever before!

Best for: Those who skate more like Bambi than Torvill and Dean.

 

Royal Pavilion, Brighton

4th November – 14th January

Skate by the sea at the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink in Brighton. As well as an enormous ice rink for adults there is a smaller rink for the not-so-confident skaters. The outdoor ice rink has off-peak prices just after school time, so this will be perfect for those looking for an after school fun treat.

 

Get some exercise with the kids

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If you’re looking for fun ways to get your little ones active, as well as cram in a little cardio yourself, have a go at some of the following ideas!

Music Motivation

If you’re looking for a fun way to get your kids active and ready for school in record time, why not throw on an upbeat playlist that they love and see if they can get ready before the songs are over. Shameless dancing around the kitchen is optional.

Gardening with Kids

Prepping the garden for spring and summer is the perfect (yet deceiving) way to get your little ones eager to move. Get them weeding, plant potting and watering flowers to give them some TV free time.

Weekly Sports Night

This one is great for getting the family together and being active. Whether its children’s activities like football in the park, bike riding or going for a swim, there’s lots of options available to keep things interesting each week!

Make Household Chores Fun

Whilst it’s easy for the kids to dismiss chores as boring, why not try and turn them into a fun game to get them moving? Challenging them to see how many toys they can put away in a minute might be all it takes to get them running around the house!

Sneak in More Steps

This one is a super easy way to make sure you’re moving as much as possible. There’s lots of ways to sneak in some more steps, from parking the car a few roads away, taking the stairs instead of the lift and more.

Take a Daily Walk With Kids

Taking a walk everyday is a great way to get your little ones into an exercise routine, which can be both active and educational. See if you can get them naming what wildlife and flowers they can spot on their travels! It doesn’t have to be far, as there’s sure to be something interesting at every corner.

 

Cheap ways to entertain the kids

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On half term holidays, you’ll probably hear your kids utter these words: “I’m bored.” Rather than let them turn on the TV or play video games, try any of these free or cheap ways to entertain them.

  • Plant a garden.  Kids love planting seeds in the spring and watching them grow through the summer.

  • Have a water balloon fight. Let the kids toss water balloons at each other or you.

  • Go bowling.

  • Watch birds. Go into the garden and try to identify as many birds as possible.

  • Create a water park in the garden.  Fill the a paddling  pool, and let the kids have fun cooling off on a hot day.

  • Take a bubble bath outside. If the kids are tiring of the paddling pool, make it fun again by filling it with bubbles — and throwing small toys in for them to find under all the foam.

  • Visit the public library. Public libraries often offer free summer reading programs that include workshops, movies, children’s theatre, puppet shows and more.

  • Start a book club. Create a summer reading list for your kids, then discuss the books after they read them. Invite their friends to participate, too.

  • Listen to a concert in park. Many cities have free summer concert series during the day or evening.

 

Planning the perfect party food

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Are you about to have a party for your kids special day? Are you busy, frantically planning for all eventualities? It has probably not escaped your attention, but the party menu can be a vital and often time consuming component in any children’s Birthday party.

First check for possible food allergies

Planning the food for any party can often be a challenge, as one has to always think about the dietary requirements of other kids. It’s quite possible that you will have some children with allergies or intolerances. Often the parents will have told you if this is the case but it is worth checking yourself to be sure. (maybe ask parents to mention this on your party invites)

If you do have certain allergies or dietary requirements to cater for then you may want to ensure the food for that child is on a separate plate so it makes life easier for them and also doesn’t run the risk of contamination of their food with things they can’t have e.g. for nut allergies.

Planning the party ‘menu’

Children are the most honest of guests. – If they don’t like something they won’t eat it. Some children won’t like ham, others won’t like tuna – so put on an even spread of sandwiches with a variety of fillings, so you aren’t left with some kids that don’t want to eat anything grand then go home hungry.

Trying to trick your own children into eating fruit and vegetables may be a constant battle at the best of times, but in a party scenario it could prove even harder. And it is a party after all so perhaps now isn’t the best time to worry too much about healthy eating.

Keeping the kids sweet!

There seems to be a law of balances involved at every stage of the menu planning process. On the one hand, too much sugar can turn your party into mayhem, whereas on the other, too little could make your food too boring.

Aiming at the middle is the way forward. Cake, crisps and jelly are the traditional vouch-safes; but you could also consider throwing in some chocolate-dipped fruit or fruit juice for good measure.

What to drink?

If presented with a choice, children will almost always opt for the sugariest option. Preparing drinks on a tray before-hand and distributing them as a matter of course can help deal with this issue. You could even try distributing glasses of milk, should the sugar intake be reaching dizzying levels. But to make life easier we’d suggest juice boxes as they’re nice and easy to put on the table, reduce spillages and are easy to throw away.

 

Themes for Your Kid’s Party

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The chances are that your child and their invited guests will already be pretty excited about the prospect of a party, but if you really want to get them looking forward to the day itself then adding a theme could do the trick. A themed children’s party gives the kids a chance to dress up whilst also giving you a great topic for which to base your decorations, food and entertainment around.

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.

Circus

Having a circus themed party for kids 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 fooling around like their favourite clown. The circus is not just about the guy with the red nose 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.

At the circus, tomatoes can easily be renamed as ‘clown’s noses’ (you might even persuade a child to eat one when they would otherwise turn their nose away to a vegetable!) and similarly, cheese puffs can be transformed into ‘juggling balls’. To really add that finishing touch, why not turn your venue into a Big Top with some multi-coloured fabric.

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

 

Fun days out for free!

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East London’s Docklands

The East London’s neighbourhood that is now called Docklands was once the location for one of the world’s busiest ports. A quick walk around this area and you will see the transformation that has happened, there are riverside cafes, shops and restaurants, and you can walk to Canary Wharf from Tower Bridge along the Thames Path, or continue further towards Greenwich.

Urban Farms

In and around London there are a number of farms that you can visit for free. You can meet an array of different animals, learn all about where your food comes from and enjoy being outdoors. Farms you can visit include Surrey Docks Farm, Spitalfields City Farm, Vauxhall City Farm, and there are many more on our website too.

Geffrye Museum

Bring the children here to learn about how homes and gardens have changed over the last 400 years through exciting displays and interaction. Walk through period rooms from the 17th to 20th Centuries and learn how designs have adapted to the modern living of today. Check the website before you visit as they hold fab workshops for children which include rhyme time, craft, baking and storytelling!

Diana Memorial Playground

The kids will love this fun outdoor adventure playground which was built in memorial to the late Diana Princess of Wales and was inspired by the stories of Peter Pan. The centrepiece is a magnificent and fun wooden pirate ship. There’s also a sensory trail, teepees, a beach around the ship and a selection of sculptures and toys to keep the children occupied.

Ragged School Museum

Visit the Ragged School Museum to step back in time and experience life as a Victorian. There’s a Victorian classroom workshop that has been restored as if it were the 1870’s and is equipped with authentic school desks, blackboards, easels, writing slates and even dunce hats! There’s also lots of information on housing, education and work in the East End from the 1800’s to 1900.

Coram’s Fields

One of the most child friendly spaces in central London! You can only get through the gate if you have a child under 16 with you! At the park you will find a giant sandpit, an array of climbing frames to suit all ages, wheeled toys that can be borrowed, plus a city farm, all set within a walled garden!

National Maritime Museum

Visit the world’s largest maritime museum which is filled to the brim with stories of adventure at sea. At the centre of the National Maritime museum there’s ‘The Giant Map’ which is a space where you can delve a little deeper into the collections or join in with activities and events. There are a number of fun games for the family to play including building bridges across continents.

V&A  Museum of Childhood

The exhibitions within the Museum of Childhood will most certainly intrigue the children but will also take the grown ups on a trip down memory lane! With artefacts dating from the 1600’s to the present day there is so much to see from photography to fashion and childhood. There are also plenty of activities organised just for the little ones including art activities and getting messy in the sandpit!

 

Bank Holiday ideas

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One of the top times for the family to do something together is a Bank Holiday.  Many parents are on holiday or at least a day off.  But rather than just visit the family or hit the shops, what other things could you do with the kids to make for a memorable bank holiday? Heres some children’s entertainment ideas to make it fun.

London

Madame Tussauds is one of the most famous waxworks museums in the world . Over the last 87 years, Queen Elizabeth II has had 23 wax portraits done and the museum is holding an exhibition of all of them at one including a recreation of her coronation crown and a dress made with 53,000 Swarovski crystals.

England

For a typically strange English tradition, check out the football on the river at Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds.  It involves two teams playing football knee deep in the River Windrush with hundreds of spectators lining the river banks.  The event has happened every bank holiday for the last century – though no-one really knows why!

The Newlyn Fish Festival in Cornwall is a chance to sample some of the freshest and tastiest seafood straight from the boat.  The kids will love to see the catch come in and may find a new food favourite.  There are also cooking demonstrations and workshops as well as local craft stalls, live music and even a chance to get up close to one of the sea rescue helicopters.

Mathew Street Music Festival is known as the biggest festival of its kind in Europe and is free of charge. Little known acts travel from 30 countries around the world to delight listeners as well as tribute brands from the Beatles to modern groups.

Scotland & Northern Ireland

Another free festival can be found in Edinburgh with the Festival Fringe.  This is the biggest art festival in the world with everything from comedy and dance to theatre and live music on offer.  It only runs until the beginning of September so the Bank Holiday is a perfect time to catch it.

Wales

Of all the Bank Holiday events to witness, the World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells is perhaps the strangest.  Competitors travel from around the world to dress up in snorkelling gear and fight their way up the muddy river to glory.  Spectators are encouraged to come in fancy dress to add to the mad nature of the day and can even have a go at the sport if they bring their gear.

Cardiff Harbour Festival and is the finale of the free Cardiff Festival that runs all summer.  Listen to sea shanties while trying the very fresh seafood on offer as well as exploring the tall ships docked in the harbour.  The British Fishcraft Championships are taking place as well as a display by the Breitling Wing Walkers, fairground rides and a fancy dress competition for the kids

Ghost hunting is a popular pastime today and Raglan Castle is a great candidate for a resident spook.  The Haunted Histories tour and takes in one of the finest late medieval fortresses in the country.  The tour is definitely aimed at the kids with stories of the past and a few scares along the way.

If you like the water and a little bit of a challenge, why not try canoeing on the River Wye?  Han-on-Wye is the starting point where canoes can be hired, even strapping two together to make a family canoe.  Then off downstream with Wales to the left and England to the right for a full day or half-day trip.  When you get to the other end, enjoy a picnic and then get a lift back to your starting point as part of the package.