If you have a splash park near you then make the most of it! Children love to run around under sprinklers and get wet when it’s hot, and there are parks with dedicated areas all over the country. They tend not to have paddling pools which keeps it cleaner and arguably safer, and some are... Continue Reading →
Monkey Bizness Softplay, Southampton – Review
We went to a birthday party at Monkey Bizness soft play in Southampton in late 2021 and found it offered just the right degree of challenge for my three (almost four) year-old and her just-turned-five year-old cousin, who was the birthday girl. There’s what is essentially a two storey structure but it isn’t strictly on... Continue Reading →
Cinema with Kids – Juniors and Baby Screenings
Going to the cinema with children may be an obvious suggestion for things you can do as a family – particularly on a cold or rainy day – but did you know there are special screenings for children and even babies? I’m going to cover both types separately, as they are very different – but... Continue Reading →
Days Out with Children – Box Hill, Surrey
Box Hill is a well-known beauty spot with fantastic views over the South Downs – but did you know that it’s also a great place to go for a walk with children, with a dedicated ‘natural play trail’ with plenty of things to climb on, swing from and explore? I’ve lived in this area for... Continue Reading →
Little Seedlings Softplay at Dobbies Garden Centre, Wallington
I was really pleased when the soft play area opened at Woodcote Green garden centre as it’s only a few minutes from where we live. Dobbies, the garden centre chain that recently added Woodcote to its portfolio, runs something called Little Seedlings, which includes soft play and a monthly children’s gardening club, and we have... Continue Reading →
Bounce at the Barn Softplay at Flittons Garden Centre, Wallington
We are very lucky in that recently not one but two new soft play areas have opened within a few minutes of us – and they are both smaller-scale places much more suitable for smaller children than some of the other soft play providers near us. Bounce at the Barn is an inflatables-based soft play,... Continue Reading →
Kidspace Croydon – soft play review
Indoor soft play is a great idea on a rainy day (if you don’t mind it being busy) but I thought last week it would also be the ideal way to keep my three-year-old out of the sun when we were in the middle of a heatwave. The lure of air conditioning outweighed the fact... Continue Reading →
Butlin’s – How to book activities at Butlin’s
If you are thinking of booking a break at Butlin's, or have already booked, you may have heard that you now have to book the activities and shows you want to enjoy during your holiday. You may also have read that the activities get booked up right away, leaving a lot of people unable to... Continue Reading →
Butlin’s Just For Tots – the best activities and shows for kids
In September I went on my first family holiday to Butlin's... since the 1980s! I loved Butlin’s when I was a kid and it has changed a lot since then - but is still absolutely brilliant for children. We had a fantastic holiday - there were some aspects that weren't so great, but overall my... Continue Reading →
Days out with children: Hotham Park Bognor Regis review
Hotham park is a great and relatively cheap way to spend a day if you are near Bognor Regis on the south coast. It’s a surprisingly large space - 22 acres - given its town centre location and is also close to the beach. We visited one day in 2019 when we were staying in... Continue Reading →