Tag: family

Free attractions to keep your children entertained

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Sometimes the holidays can be a very expensive undertaking and cash can be a bit strapped.  But the good news is that this doesn’t mean you are stuck in the house because there are hundreds of fantastic free attractions and entertainment for families and children around the country. Here we look at the top free visitor attractions.

British Museum

The British Museum is located in the Bloomsbury area of London and has over 8 million works from all around the world and from the earliest periods of history.  It first opened in 1759 and covers human history, art and culture.

National Gallery

The National Gallery is in Trafalgar Square in London and has over 2,300 paintings from as early as the 13th century within its collection.  Some of the most important pieces on show include the Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern is Britain’s national modern art gallery, based in Bankside in London.  It is a former power station that holds art dating from 1900 to modern times.  As well as permanent exhibits, the gallery also has changing temporary exhibitions.

Natural History Museum

The National History Museum, London, is concerned with the history of life on earth and has over 80 million items from botany, mineralogy and zoology.  It is also a centre specialising in identification and conversation and even has items collected by Charles Darwin.

Brighton Pier

Brighton Pier opened in 1899 and has recently undergone major refurbishment to make it once more a top free attraction.  There are rides and attractions as well as eating places and even its own radio station so something for all ages.

Victoria & Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum is the largest museum of decorative arts and design in the world with a permanent collection of over 4 million items.  It was founded in 1852 and named for Queen Victoria and her consort, Albert and is based in the Brompton district of London.

Science Museum

The Science Museum is found on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, London and has a collection of over 300,000 items ranging from the oldest steam locomotive to the first jet engine and the first typewriter.  It also has a special medical exhibit on the fourth floor.

A guide to family surfing

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When someone starts talking about surfing, the mind turns to California or Hawaii with huge waves and plenty of sunshine.  But the truth is, here in the UK we have some excellent spots for a surfing family fun day out and the weather does cooperate sometimes – but even when it doesn’t this can be a good thing!

The Equipment – Boards and Wetsuits

The first and most crucial part of your surfing equipment is the surfboard.  There are three main types of board but only two of these are suitable for beginners.  Foam boards tend to be the most forgiving and are ideal to learn the basics such as standing up.  Most surfing experts will recommend a pop out board for beginners.  These are made from plastic and come in many shapes and sizes – when it comes to selecting your first one, make sure you go big.  The bigger the board, the more volume it has to help surfers stabilise so boards that are 8-9 feet for an adult beginner are ideal.  Smaller boards may look cool under the arm but are harder to paddle and there’s less chance you will catch a wave with one.

The wetsuit is the next crucial piece of equipment when surfing in UK waters if you want to retain feeling to your extremities.  Getting the correct fit of wetsuit is very important and seeking out a local supplier is the best bet – get expert advice to make sure you get the right wetsuit for everyone is the best idea and saves money as it ensures you get the right suit from the start.

Other important start up equipment includes a leash or leg rope is also useful to have as this attaches from the board to your ankle and means you don’t lose your board when you fall off.   Wax is also useful to have if you are aiming to spend any time on the board and ignore all those ideas that it goes on the bottom of the board to make it go faster.  The idea of wax is to go on the top of the board for traction.  Select a wax designed for cool or cold waters so that it responds correctly to the British seas.

Preparing to Surf – the Weather and the Tides

Once you have your equipment, then you are ready to surf, right?  Wrong because the next step is to understand a little about waves, wind and tides as well as selecting where is the right place to go and start.

All beaches have waves but some will be delicate and dainty and others will be huge and monstrous.  The weather has a big impact on the type of waves that hit the beach and a windy day might sound great but is better for kite flying than surfing.  Understanding the tide at the beach you have chosen will also help, particularly if there are areas of rocks that need to be avoided.  Most beaches will have signs on them with relevant information on it as well as on websites and the Met Office are always good for an idea on weather conditions.

When choosing a beach also factor in the safety aspect.  Look for beaches that have lifeguard cover in case anything goes wrong and even better, if there is a surf school based there you can either join in or at least know it is good spot to try out.  The RNLI also work hard keeping an eye on everyone in the water and their website lists all beaches that have their lifeguards on them.

Where can you learn to surf?

If you really aren’t certain that you or the kids will take to surfing, then getting a few surfing lessons can be a great option.  There are hundreds of surf schools around the country and most will include the basic equipment needed to start out so people don’t need to spend money on equipment until they have tried the sport.  Basic surfing skills can be learnt in as little as a day but a series of lessons will allow a fuller sense of the sport and let kids see if it is ‘the one’ for them.

If jumping into the sea to try out surfing is a little intimidating for anyone, then there are also a few indoor surf centres around located across the UK.  If you live in Wales or planning to visit Wales during the Summer Holidays you could consider the Cardiff International White Water centre, which has a special surf machine for complete beginners to try as well as experienced surfers to practise when the weather is bad. Indoor Surfing can also be carried out at the LC at Swansea.

Lake surfing is a modern creation and a great example is Surf Snowdonia, a fresh water lagoon the length of six football pitches with a two-metre-high barrelling wave running from the centre to the ends. A great place to learn to Surf if you are a little intimidated by the Sea!

Popular Surf Beaches

Whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales there are plenty of beaches where you can go Surfing. The most popular Surf Beaches are;

Longsands Bay, Tynemouth

Ideal for beginner to expert level, the best swell direction is coming from the northeast.  There are lifeguards on duty in summer and both lessons and board hire can be arranged at the beach.

Saltburn-on-Sea, North Yorkshire

Good for intermediates but also fine for beginners, the surf is generally fairly mellow either side of the pier and there are excellent reefs as well.

Newgale, Pembrokeshire

Fine for beginners but intermediate onwards only in big swells.  There is a surf shop on the beach offering equipment hire and lessons as well as daily surf reports and there are rarely crowd problems here.

Watergate Bay, Cornwall

Suitable for beginners through to experts, the beach has been created as a ‘ski resort on the beach’ with surfing just one of the lessons on offer.  It has been the premier water sports spot in Cornwall since the 1960s so can get a little crowded.

Pease Bay, Borders

Great for beginners and one of the new hotspots of surfing in Scotland.  There are good breaks and a lovely beach as well as challenges for more experienced surfing.  There is also a surf shop offering hire and lessons nearby.

Tips

There is a certain etiquette when surfing and it is important to learn this before starting on the waves to avoid offending anyone.  Many beaches will even post a list of what is expected from those using the beach and while they are mostly common sense, knowing who has right of way is a good one to get to know!

School Holiday changes

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It can be hard to keep track of everything as a parent whilst trying to plan activities with the kids so here is a roundup of the big recent stories.

Lincolnshire breaks the mould

Two schools in Lincolnshire have become the first to change from the traditional summer term.  White’s Wood and Mercer’s Wood Primary Academies in Gainsborough have confirmed that when the school term ended last week, their children would have a four-week holiday instead of the normal six weeks.  Their opinion is that this will both help with learning and allow parents to take their kids on holidays during off-peak times.

The government welcomes the change and said it was aiming for all schools to be able to set their own term dates in the near future.  This is also a move to help combat the fining of parents for removing children during term time.  The kids will return to class on 19th August and will have two extra weeks added to terms in September and November as well as in May. 

Easter holiday clash

Parents in Dacorum, Hertfordshire, are facing a complex Easter holiday schedule after many of the secondary schools elected to split up the traditional Easter holidays.  Their plan would involve a long weekend for Easter then returning to school for four days before then having two weeks off.  But it seems that the primary schools in the area, despite being in favour of the change, didn’t put it into place.

What this means for parents is that if they have a child in both primary and secondary schools, they will be facing a different holiday period for each with only a week overlapping.  The schools normally get together each year to organise holidays under the new county council model but somewhere the communications broke down and now parents will find themselves in a potentially awkward position over time off at Easter. 

No fines for Carmarthenshire parents

Good news for parents of kids in Carmarthenshire schools after the council announced that next year there would be no fines for taking kids out on pre-booked holidays.  The move comes after the announcement of new school holidays and terms times from the Welsh Government that were in conflict for those already published by the schools in the area.  The mix up included October half term being a week earlier and the return from the Christmas break also being a week earlier.  Even the January 2017 term will be slightly different.

The confusion led to the county council saying that pupils would not be fined for not attending school for holidays booked in those times, when the parents thought the kids were due to be on holiday.  However, the move has yet to be signed off by the government in Cardiff so parents are advised to speak to the school directly if holidays are being affected.

Inset days used to save parents money

A school in Newport has come up with a new way to help ease the pain of parents wanting to take their kids on holiday but finding that peak times are too expensive.  Eveswell Primary School have said they will use their five teacher training days all together at the end of the Whitsun half term in June 2016 to allow parents to make use of cheaper holidays

Unusual UK days out for the family

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A La Ronde

A La Ronde is a historic house with a difference – well a few of them actually.  The house is found near Lympstone in Devon and is now owned by the National Trust.  It was built in the 18th century for a pair of spinster cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter and has sixteen sides to it.  It also has unusual diamond shaped windows and a shell gallery that contains nearly 25,000 shells collected by the two women across their lives.  There are also extensive gardens to explore that are grade II listed in their own right.

Brimham Rocks

One look at Brimham Rocks and you feel like you want to keep out of the way in case it falls off but being that the rock has been balanced there for a very long time, it is highly unlikely.  The rocks are found on Brimham Moor in north Yorkshire and were caused by the water and wind erosion to create strange and unlikely shapes.

Chislehurst Caves

Chislehurst Caves is a popular tourist attraction during the day, 22 miles of tunnel under the south-eastern suburbs of London.  While called caves they are manmade and parts date back as early as the 1250s.  For a family day out idea that’s a little different, there is now the chance to stay with night in the caves, said to be so haunted that only one person has managed to complete the challenge.  From druids to smugglers and murderers, the caves are filled with the spirits of the deceased and the challenge of staying with them for a night isn’t to be undertaken by those of a nervous disposition.

Creekside Discovery Centre

The Creekside Discovery Centre is located in one of the most famous beach combing spots in the UK, the Thames estuary.  It holds a variety of sights from wildlife to the remains that travel down the river from the urban areas such as London.  Each day when the tide goes out the area can be combed for interesting sights and for unusual walks.  The centre can provide waders, waterproofs and walking sticks to help enjoy the experience to the full.

Forbidden Corner

The Forbidden Corner is an attraction with a difference a short distance from Middleham in North Yorkshire.   The site is home to a unique labyrinth including chambers, tunnels and follies as well as plenty of surprises.  Brave the temple of the underworld or conquer the tricky paths around the massive glass pyramid while admiring the amazing statues that line the way to help and hinder.  The park started out as a fir tree wood back in 1979 with features being added over the years to make a fascinating and challenging place to visit.

Gnome Magic

The gnome has been the standard for garden decorations for generations but at Gnome Magic in Colchester, Essex, there are enough of them to enchant or spook even the hardiest garden.  In fact, there are 800 of the little characters dotted amongst the plants on the site to make for a walk in the park with a difference.  There is even a gnome painting facility as well as tea rooms to relax after the walk, or de-stress if all those little eyes were a bit too creepy!

The best ice-cream parlours

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When the sun comes out and the day is warm, there is nothing more enjoyable than an ice cream or a sorbet.  Ice cream is available everywhere these days from the traditional ice cream van to the supermarket.  But if you want something a little special, then visiting an ice cream parlour is the perfect idea for a children’s fun day out.  And the UK has some of the best going ice cream parlours going.

Minghella’s, Isle of Wight

Minghella’s is a family run business that has been making their ice creams and sorbets for over 60 years.  They price themselves on the award winning quality of what they make and their new, innovative flavours.  They produce only the highest quality yet have managed to make over 200 different flavours, meaning no visitor will ever be lacking for choice in what to buy.  Their ranges are all made with fresh milk and cream from local farms along with natural ingredients meaning they are suitable for vegetarians and mostly for gluten-free.  As well as ice cream, they stock fruit sorbets, exclusive sorbets and even cocktail sorbets for the adults with a splash of complementing alcohol in them.  A visit can also include seeing the factory where everything is made and taking home something special.

Roskilly’s, Cornwall

Roskilly’s is an organic farm on the south tip of Cornwall that has been working on ice creams and other dairy products for over 60 years.  They started out producing clotted cream in the 1960s and added ice cream to their range in the late 1980s.  They opened their ice cream parlour over twenty years ago and have continued to add new products to their range since.  As well as ice creams, they make fudge and yoghurts, all from the Jersey cows that call the farm home.  Their range of ice creams only use natural ingredients such as fruits and nuts and they even condense their own milk for the products.  The farm also has a shop to pick up a few treasures to take home with you after you have finished sampling the ice cream.

Treleavens, Cornwall

Treleavens are proud that their ice creams and sorbets have won more awards that any other Cornish producer and their range is comprehensive, stocking over 90 different flavours.  They have been producing artisan ice creams and sorbets for fifteen years and most of the production is carried out by hand.  This makes for denser products that taste different to machine-made ice cream and are made using only the best natural ingredients, most of which are locally sourced.  Their ranges include those suitable for diabetics as well as for fans of chocolate or fruit and even a few for the adults with real alcohol in.

Mr B’s, Cornwall

Mr B’s make artisan ice creams every day of the week to ensure the best quality, freshest products no matter when you visit.  Formed in 2004, the idea was born when the owners realised there was an ever increasing demand for good quality ice cream.  They use a combination of the best locally sourced ingredients with the finest Italian produce to make ice creams, sorbets and other treats of superb quality.  Their ranges start at traditional flavours such as vanilla and strawberry then continue into modern combinations, including triple chocolate chunk with fudge.  There are also plenty of refreshing sorbets such as red grape or kiwi flavoured.  And the toppings mean you can have the perfect dessert with fresh sauces on offer as well as other desserts, smoothies and even milkshakes.

Otter Valley Dairy, Devon

Otter Valley Dairy is located in the beautiful Otter Valley and is a family run business producing ice creams, sorbets and frozen yoghurts.  They are inspired by traditional Italian Gelato to produce a vast range of flavours from traditional vanilla to lemon and lime meringue flavoured.  They even produce ice cream cakes, ideal for special events that feature ice cream and whipping cream in a mouth-watering dessert.  The dairy has won a number of local and national awards since they were founded in 2010 and make use of the best fresh ingredients.  The milk used comes from the dairy itself so can become ‘cow to cone’ in a single day.

Boho Gelato, Brighton

Boho Gelato offers a range of ice creams and desserts with an interesting story behind them.  The company is part of Fareshare, a food waste charity that sees waste items from warehouses such as biscuits, maple syrup and juices reused into the ice cream that is then sold to the public.  They also use ingredients from other restaurants around Brighton to make a range of unique flavours.  These range from Battenberg flavour to a tipsy mojito and apple.

Billy-Bob’s Parlour, Yorkshire

Billy-Bob’s Parlour is part of the Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Farm and offers a range of homemade ice creams in a vintage 1950s American-style diner.  Music from the time, leather booths and even an Airstream around the corner serving coffee makes for a unique venue and the range of ice creams is suitably dazzling.  From traditional flavours to modern innovations such as Yorkshire rhubarb or liquorice and blackcurrant there is something for all tastes.  There is also an adventure playground for the kids to run off all that ice cream on the site!

S Luca, Musselburgh

S Luca have been making ice cream since 1908 in the seaside town of Musselburgh and recently added a second café in Edinburgh, serving their quality ice creams and desserts.  The root of the business came when Luca Scappaticco and his wife Anastasia arrived from Cassino in Italy in the late 1800s and learned to be a pastry chef.  He later added how to make ice creams from a Swiss chef and soon opened his own business.  Many years later, the family still run the business and offer the tastiest desserts to the town.  Their cakes are all made from the ice cream and include a lemon sorbet slice and a traditional Neapolitan cake with its three flavours in one.  There are also cakes to order for special occasions.

Take the kids to a working farm

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Whether you are from the town, city or a rural village, one of the most popular attractions to visit this year continues to be a working farm.  The combination of cute animals, recognisable farm residents and play features means there is something for kids of all ages, even if the best part is the donkey ride!  Here we look at some of the best around the country.

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is a great combination of farm animals and exotic zoo animals with the added benefit of play areas for the kids and even the chance of taking up the keeper experiences.  It is notable for having the largest elephant habitat in the UK as well as primates, reptiles and birds.  There are also plenty of familiar farmyard animals including cattle, donkeys, goats, sheep and horses.

Folly Farm, Narbeth

Folly Farm has been voted the best family attraction in Wales a number of times and is a good balance of farmyard animals, exotic animals, adventure playgrounds and even some exhilarating rides.  It is found near Tenby in Pembrokeshire and has six different zones to explore.  There is also the only giraffe in Wales to see as well as vintage fairground rides for the younger visitors.

Warren Mill Farm, Cowbridge

Just outside the village of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan is Warren Mills Farm.  The farm covers some 10 acres and is home to animals such as rare breed sheep, ponies, llamas and alpacas and even wallabies.  Cute guinea pigs are available for a cuddle and even Red Squirrels can be seen.  For those who like a spot of angling, there is also a fishery on the site.

Cefn Mably Farm Park, Cardiff

Cefn Mably Farm Park is just a 15-minute drive from the centre of Cardiff and is a great place to visit no matter what the weather.  As well as the farm animals to see there is a touch and hold area and a conservation area with ponds.  If the weather turns bad, there is 600 square feet of heated barn play area and another large undercover area as well.

Vauxhall City Farm, London

Finding a farm inside London is a little unusual but this is what is offered by the Vauxhall City Farm.  The farm offers a range of animals from the tiny mice to rabbits and geese right up to sheep, cows and even three alpacas called Tom, Ben and Jerry.  The farm is free to visit and works with local schools to help provide a glimpse of the countryside to city kids.

Bocketts Farm, Leatherhead

Bocketts Farm is near Leatherhead, Surrey and is a great combination of play areas and animals, both inside and outside to avoid weather problems.  Kids can watch a pig race, ride a pony or take a trip on the tractor as well as feeding many of the animals and have a cuddle with one of the cute rabbits.  The farm is a working farm so there are often baby animals to see as well while the play areas including two indoor play barns and a kids outdoor adventure trail.

Cotswold Farm Park, Cheltenham

The Cotswold children’s Farm Park is near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and has over 50 breeds of animal living within its boundaries.  These include cattle, goats, pigs, sheep and horses and also many rare breeds.  It is run by Adam Henson, famous for his work on the BBC’s Countryfile program.

Wellsfield Farm Park, Stirling

Just two miles from Stirling is Wellsfield Farm Park, offering animals and play area for kids of all ages, as well as those with special needs.  There are play areas for different ages and indoor ones as well as outdoors.  Kids can enjoy pony rides as well as a bird hide, mini beast zone and even a nature trail to spot some of the local wildlife in their natural environment.  After the animal spotting, there is also an assault course to use the last of their energy.

East Links Farm, Dunbar

East Links Farm is near Dunbar in East Lothian and allows kids to get up close with a number of different animals as well handling some in the small animal barn.  The farm has various paddocks to explore as well as a four level Fortress play area, go-karts and a ball blast arena.  Bigger kids can try the climbing wall while the little ones can make use of the soft play area and the pedal tractors.  There is also a train safari to tour the site and animals to see including cattle, sheep, pigs, deer, rhea and even wallabies.

Briarlands Farm, Stirling

Briarlands Farm is near Blair Drummond, Stirling and is a great outdoor attraction to occupy the kids.  There are plenty of chances to feed the animals that live on the farm as well as a toddler trike track and play frames as well as jumping pillows and even a tractor go kart area.  Bigger kids can try the zip wire and the mazes while there is a craft area for when the weather turns nasty.

Acorn Farm, Kirkby

Acorn Farm is near Kirkby, Merseyside and offers a great selection to see and do.  One of the most popular attractions is the small animal petting area, where kids can get close to a rabbit or guinea pig, hold a chick and even try milking one of the goats.  There are also horse rides available and seasonal events meaning that it isn’t just a summer visiting spot.

Swithens Farm, Leeds

Swithens Farm is near Leeds and combines a working farm and farm shops with a play barn.  Depending on the time of year, animals to see include pigs and piglets, cows and calves, rabbits, ducks and even two micro-pigs.  The play barn is great to run off energy and if the weather isn’t so great.

Church Farm, Stow Bardolph

Church Farm is a rare breeds centre working on restoring rare breeds of farm animals such as the Swiss Valais Blacknose Sheep and the Suffolk Punch horse.  There are also plenty of fun activities including pig racing and animal encounters such as feeding the young farm animals.

Sacrewell Farm, Peterborough

Sacrewell Farm is near Peterborough and combines beautiful countryside, a range of animals and a new state of the art play barn.  There are nature trails to follow where you may spot red kites and brown hares as well as famous Shire Horses that appeared in the film War Horse.  The farm also works on rare breeds of pigs, sheep and goats.

Avoid School Holiday Traffic

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So it’s the school holidays and the weather is good so you plan a day trip somewhere that the kids have always wanted to visit.  However, there is a problem, so has everyone else and the traffic will likely be a nightmare.  Bank Holidays or a sunny day when the schools are off can see thousands of parents are looking for ways to entertain children and set out to popular tourist attractions to spend a day with the kids.  So what can you do to avoid the traffic jams?  And, how to do you keep the kids occupied if you do hit traffic?

Plan Ahead

The first step is to plan ahead – sit down the night before and check the route you are going to take.  The Highways Agency is a good site to check for information on road works on major roads and there are various other traffic sites for different parts of the country that are regularly updated.

Another aspect of planning is to check the weather forecast.  Yes, you want to know if the weather is suitable for the trip you have planned but also will the weather have an effect on the traffic?  If you are going to an indoor venue, there will be more congestion on the roads if the weather is poor.  Alternatively, if you are going somewhere outdoors and it is going to be particularly hot, areas such as the coast will be busier than normal.

Look at avoiding rush hour, as there are far more vehicles on the road at this time of day and prepare an alternative route to the one you intend to take in case something occurs while you are travelling.  Some satellite navigation systems have alternative routes programmed into them or they can even suggest a different route when requested.

During the trip

When you are on the road, tune into the local radio to keep track of any incidents.  The BBC operate radio stations in every area that give traffic information and most modern car radios have the facility to seek out traffic updated.

A smart phone can also serve a similar function if you have someone in the car that can monitor it, which many of the kids are more than able to do nowadays!  Motoring organisations such as the AA are a good place to see what is happening and the Highways Agency do update their site with incidents as well.

Rainy day indoor activities

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On a sunny day, children can play outside or go to the park but when it’s raining, everything seems grim and dull. Wet weather in the school holidays can drive parents crazy, especially for those on a budget and for many that mean’s a day in the house.  How you keep the kids entertained without spending a fortune?

Cupcake Creations

Doing a spot of cookery with kids is great fun and they will enjoy serving up their creations to the rest of the family.  If you aren’t the most confident home baker, then most supermarkets sell bun making or cupcake making kits that need just a little water and an egg.  The kids get to do most of the work with a little supervision and will love arranging the decorations on the icing once they are cooked. 

Cooking, Creating and Painting

As well as edible projects, you can also make salt dough in the kitchen.  This uses 2 cups of plain flour, 1 cup of salt and up to 1 cup of water to make dough that can then be cut with shaped cutters or just by hand.  It is baked in the oven at a low heat for around three hours and can be then be painted with acrylic paint, varnished and glittered.  This activity is great for making decorations or beads to then be strung together. 

Make a Den

There aren’t many kids who don’t love the idea of having a den in the house and a rainy day is a great opportunity to do this.  Get some kitchen chairs together, hang bedding and blankets over them and secure everything with clothing pegs.  The kids can then play inside with their favourite toys and games and will probably be very difficult to get out come bedtime! 

All Children like a Good Treasure Hunt

With a little preparation, a treasure hunt around the house is a great children’s activity idea and will be great fun, with a little treat as the treasure.  Set up clues that have them thinking things through without being too difficult and send them up and down stairs as much as possible – a bit of hidden exercise while in the house.

You could even integrate a little learning into the treasure hunt, ask them a mathematical problem or how to spell a word. 

Marble Runs

Creating marble runs is a brilliant way to get the kids thinking.  Stockpile old toilet roll holders, margarine tubs and anything else they can put together to make a run for their marbles.  It won’t be long before they are becoming ever more inventive and trying to guess where the marble will go.  Just watch out they don’t end up under your feet!

Easter party ideas

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Easter is a time to celebrate the renewal of life with flowers, eggs, rabbits and chicks as you and your family celebrate Easter!  Easter commemorates Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of the Spring season when flowers begin to bloom and baby animals are born.  What better way to embrace this special time of year than with an Easter party? 

Easter Decorations – Decorating for Easter can be lots of fun! You can keep things simple by incorporating traditional baskets around the house filled with eggs, toy animals and spring flowers. Or if you enjoy getting a little more creative, try hanging colourful eggs from a tree, making flowers form tissue paper or even creating an Easter centrepiece by surrounding a candle with decorative grass and tiny blue robin’s eggs.  There are countless other ways to get into the spirit of the Easter holiday just by using materials found around the house and tapping into your artistic side. 

Easter Egg Colouring- There is a basket full of fun activities to choose from in preparation for Easter that you and your friends and family can enjoy.  The first and most popular one that comes to mind is egg decorating. It is amazing how many fun things you and your kids can do with eggs that include dyeing, painting and decorating with everything from glitter and stickers, to stencils and tissue paper. In addition, newspaper or string Papier-Mache can be handy materials to create model eggs, bunnies or chicks which can be painted spring colours after they dry. These children’s party activities and many others are a great way to welcome the Easter bunny and embrace the coming of the Spring season.  

Easter Egg hunt and games – There is only one way the children can know for sure that the Easter bunny has come to visit their home: when there are eggs hidden in the garden to snatch up and collect in their baskets! Not only is the “Easter Egg Hunt” the most traditional children’s party game of the Easter holiday, but it also allows for a variety of ways to play it.  You can have the children in your family collect eggs that they have painted, or plastic ones which you can fill with yummy snacks, chocolate or candy for a sweet surprise. But besides the egg hunt, there are countless other games you and your family can enjoy such as a bunny hop race or Spring art contest to celebrate Easter Sunday. 

Easter egg snacks and treats- All those blissful games and activities wouldn’t be the same without a smorgasbord of savoury Easter dishes and sweet treats to fuel the festivities.  In fact, when most people think of Easter, chocolate bunnies, jelly beans and cream-filled eggs easily come to mind! The Lamb roast is an easy choice for a traditional Easter feast, as well as spring vegetables and new potatoes and of course a simnal cake.

Party Games for Children 5+

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Musical Chairs or Cushions (5 upwards).

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.

Animal Musical Chairs. 

The player left standing must pull the name of an animal, written on a piece of paper, out of a hat. Then, they must act it out while the other guests try to guess what the animal is. Start the music again and repeat the game until there’s only one chair left.

Musical Statues (5 upwards)

Play some music, and watch the children dance and jump about. Without notice, turn off the music and the children need to freeze. If anybody moves, they are ‘out’. As with musical chairs, you might like to have a bowl of sweets to give to this child so they don’t feel too humiliated – but don’t make it so tempting that everybody wants to be ‘out’! Repeat until there is just one person left.

Hot Potato (5 upwards)

Sit the children 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.

Duck, Duck, Goose (5 upwards)

This classic children’s game is perfect for any 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.

Decorate a Birthday Banner (5 upwards)

Unroll a roll of unwanted wallpaper and mount it plain side up on a wall within easy reach of your guests. At the top of the ‘banner’, write ‘Happy Birthday (your child’s name)’. You could lay the paper on the floor if you’re worried some of the artists may mistake your wall for their canvas!

Provide a variety of crayons and felt pens and let the children create their own masterpieces. Don’t forget to ask each artist to write their name and age beside their drawing. You can even encourage them to write a special message to the birthday child. After the party, fold it up and save it, or if you’d prefer, take a close-up picture so you can tuck it inside your photo album later.

Chinese Whispers (5 upwards)

Sit the children in a circle on the floor. Sit with them and begin by whispering a phrase into the ear of the person next to you. One by one, each person whispers the sentence (as they hear it) to the person next to them. It makes its way around the circle and when the last person receives the message they repeat it out loud – usually with very amusing consequences! By this time the children will have got the hang of it so you can extricate yourself from the circle and leave the children to take turns starting with their chosen sentence.

Fishing Game (5 upwards) – wonderful for a sea life themed party

You will need a helper for this activity. Tie a string across the room and hang a sheet over it so no-one can see what is on the other side. Use an old fishing pole, or make one using a stick and some string. Attach a clothes peg to the end of the fishing pole’s string. Let each guest take a turn ‘casting’ their line over the sheet. Get your helper to stand on the other side of the sheet and attach small fishy gifts to the clothes peg, giving the line a slight tug on the line when they’re attached. When the children reel in their lines, they’ll be delighted to see what they’ve caught!

Jelly Eating Contest (6 and upwards) (probably a better game for a smallish party!)

Make one bowl of jelly for each child (plus have a few extra on hand). Line the bowls along the ground. It’s a good idea to place a tablecloth or other protective covering on the ground for easy clean up. Each player places their hands on the ground beside their bowl and must keep them there throughout the game. When the command is given to start, all the contestants begin eating their jelly. The first one to clean their bowl completely, wins. Be sure to have a camera ready to capture the memorable moments! Great pictures to attach to your thank you letters after the party!

Freeze Tag (6 and upwards)

For this popular game, guests need to spread out in the party area (or better still, outside where there’s room to run). Let the birthday child be the first ‘tagger’. The ’tagger’ tries to tag all the other guests. If a player is tagged, he or she must freeze. Players who are not frozen can ‘melt’ frozen players by touching them. The first player to be frozen three times becomes the next ‘tagger’. You need to keep a close eye on who’s being ‘frozen’ – with large groups this isn’t so easy.

Edible Jewellery (6 and upwards – any younger and it takes forever!)

You will need at least 60cm of string for each guest, sweets and cereal with holes, and small bowls to put them in. Before the children’s party, fill the small bowls with the sweets and cereal and place them within easy reach of your guests at the party table. Give each child a length of string with the first sweet or piece of cereal tied on the end – otherwise anything the child threads on will fall off! Let them create a necklace, bracelet, anklet, etc. They’ll have lots of fun creating their own yummy, edible jewellery!