Whether you’ve got toddlers to contend with, or you’re navigating half term with a new baby, we round up all the best baby-friendly activities for family days out.
No matter how old your children are, half term can be a stressful week (or, in some cases, two). If you have children of different ages, you may find the attention once dedicated purely to your youngest while the big kids are at nursery or school is spread thin.
Running after toddlers and tending to a baby can be a juggling act at the best of times, but throw in the pressure of providing 24/7 entertainment and securing play dates it can all seem a little too much.
Planning ahead could be the secret to a stress-free half term. However, finding activities to please the whole family isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you. We’ve compiled a list of all the best days out and activities for the whole family to enjoy this half term.
Things to do in the February 2019 Half Term
Head Down to a Baby Rave
There’s a new party trend in town and this one is fun for all the family. Baby Raves are sweeping the nation. But if you’re picturing a panic-inducing day of nursery rhymes and soft-play, worry not, as these baby raves are pretty darn cool. From chart-topping DJs to interactive light shows these tot-friendly discos are giving Ushuaia in Ibiza a run for its money. So dust off your dancing shoes, grab your kids and get down to one of these family-friendly parties this half term.
Read more about the best baby raves here.
Check out Some Baby-friendly Cinemas
A sure-fire way to keep your bigger kids entertained during a rainy February half term is packing them off to the cinema. However, we all know that sometimes little ones don’t want to sit quietly and still for the duration of a film – which can prove to be a stressful experience for parents and the cinema. Take the worries away by paying a visit to specific baby-friendly cinemas or screenings.
Read more about baby-friendly cinema screenings here.
Dip Into a Family-friendly Swimming Pool
Swimming is not only a fun-filled activity for children, but it is also great for baby development. Pools that offer babies and young children a separate swimming area or shallow paddling pool are worth investigating over half term. Why not tie it in with separate swimming sessions for young families. It’s likely to be easier to build up water confidence in younger children, while the older kids can splash about while fully supervised in a separate pool.
Check out the best baby-friendly swimming pools here.
Visit KidZania London
If you haven’t heard of KidZania already, we’re not entirely sure where you’ve been hiding (or, more accurately, how you’ve been hiding it from your kids). KidZania is essentially an indoor city, where kids call the shots. Children aged 4 to 14 can independently choose from a number of real-life entertaining activities in a secure space. For February 2019 half term, KidZania has added two new activities to their line-up of entertaining and educational activities.
The Royal Society of the Protection of Birds will be joining the KidZania city from Tuesday 19 – Thursday 21 February. Kids will be taught how to create their own bird feeder, which they can take home to help wildlife in their own garden.
Then, Mavericks Snacks – the healthy, junk-free snacking brand that fuels kids for fun – will be bringing their Snacks Labz coming to KidZania this half term from Wednesday 20 – Thursday 21 February.
Additionally, there’s a dedicated Early Years area for the younger siblings aged 1 to 3.
Book your KidZania half term activity here.
Stop by Imagine Children’s Festival
Head down to London’s Southbank Centre this half term as the Imagine Children’s Festival returns for 2019. Offering up free workshops and performances in everything from theatre to literature and music, it’s a fab opportunity to get children’s creativity flowing. Most importantly, the wide range of activities are suitable for ages 0 to 12, so there really is something for everyone.
See the full list of activities and workshops here.
Join the Half Term Hunters at Leeds Castle
Take out little ones on an adventure to become a junior hunter in the grounds of Leeds Castle this half term. Fun for all the family, an activity booklet will provide the guide to help you scavenge through the grounds of the Kent castle, on a hunt to find clues and complete challenges.
The adventure starts with a woodland walk, before tackling the maze and completing a quiz in the birds of prey area. It will definitely keep them busy for a good few hours.
Find out more about the Half Term Hunters here.
Head to Hamleys for Half Term
Hamleys’ flagship Regent Street store is transforming into a giant playground this half term. From 16th February to 3rd March, visitors will be treated to live entertainment, fun workshops, and exclusive prizes. Plus, your little ones could be in with the chance of meeting characters from films including, The LEGO Movie 2 and How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World.
Take Your Kids to a Free Mr. Chef Cooking Class
Mr. Men Little Miss and Haliborange Vitamins have joined forces and will be putting on an interactive event this half term. Aiming to teach children about healthy eating and nutrition, the Mr. Chef event will include games and FREE cookery classes with Mr. Strong. The events will take place on the 21st and 22nd of February at Under 1 Roof, The I O Centre in London. Children will also be given recipes to try at home and parents will be able to take part in a Q&A with a nutritionist where they can ask questions about their children’s nutrition.
For more information and to register for the cooking classes head to Eventbrite.
Read More:
- The Ultimate Guide to Godparent Proposal Gifts
- Best Baby Raves for Ultimate Family-friendly Partying
- Date Night Ideas for new Parents
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