Summer Activities 2020

Home , Baddesley Clinton, Kenilworth Castle

Solihull Family Information Service Call: 0800 389 8667 Email: familyinfo@solihull.gov.uk Web: www.solihull.gov.uk/familyinfo

Places to visit Page 1 - 5

Stay active Page 6 - 8

Solihull libraries Page 9

Summer camps Page 10 - 12

Creative art Page 13 - 18

Fun at home Page 19 - 23

Please note: The activities and events listed in this booklet are not registered or regulated by the Family Information Service. It is your responsibility to ensure you are happy that the activities are safe and appropriate for your child. Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens Trust Chester Road, Castle Bromwich, Solihull B36 9BT

We are really pleased to be able to welcome people back into the Gardens again.

In order to open the Gardens safely, we have had to make some changes to how we welcome visitors.

Everyone should book in advance, including Members.

Please see website for further details including booking time slots and the differences you will notice when you now visit. tovisit Places

Dates: Throughout the summer Times: 10.30am to 4.30pm (Wednesdays to Sundays) Cost: £4.50 per adult, £1 per child (under 5s free) Free for Family Activities Annual Pass holders Contact: Pre-book your tickets online to guarantee entry or for more details call 0121 749 4100 Email: [email protected] Web: www.castlebromwichhallgardens.org.uk

Warwick Castle Warwick, Warwickshire CV34 6AH

Welcoming you back to Warwick Castle Warwick Castle is now fully open to the public for day visits, with the reopening of the Castle’s resident attractions and the Falconer’s Quest show.

Visitors can now witness the critically-acclaimed and UK’s largest birds of prey show, the Falconer’s Quest, showcasing over 10 species of bird including the world’s largest, the Andean Condor, with a wingspan of a huge 9ft. Other outdoor activities include story time with a Princess and the Horrible Histories Maze, which has been adapted to a self-guided trail maintaining all of its entertaining and informative elements while keeping little explorers safe.

The Castle’s spectacular interiors are have now reopened, giving guests the chance to rediscover the Great Hall, State Rooms and Royal Weekend Party (limited numbers permitted entry at any one time), as well as following the one-way route through the

1 Kingmaker sensory experience where sounds, sights and smells provide an immersive experience of life at the Castle in the 15th century.

Alongside this the Castle Towers and Ramparts are available to explore, as well as 64 acres of rolling grounds and gardens including the Peacock Garden with its resident flock of colourful birds.

Food and drink is available to takeaway from outlets including the Courtyard Café and Conservatory Tea House as well as a number of takeaway stands.

The Castle has been awarded the VisitEngland 'We're Good to Go' charter mark demonstrating that all of the requisite health and safety processes are in place to ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable visit. As part of the Castle’s enhanced safety measures, all tickets and stays must be booked in advance online.

tovisit Places “We’re delighted to be able to offer the full Castle experience that we know our visitors love, in line with best practice advice on social distancing and hygiene and look forward to welcoming guests back throughout the summer.“

Age: All ages Dates: Throughout the summer holidays (see website) Times: 10am to 4pm (pre-booking online is essential) Cost: Please see website Contact: Check out our FAQs and live chat with us via our website Email: [email protected] Web: www.warwick-castle.com

Baddesley Clinton Rising Lane, Knowle, Solihull B93 0DQ

We have now re-opened the parkland, gardens and kiosk at Baddesley Clinton. You will need to book your visit in advance. We’ll be releasing tickets every Friday. Sadly, if you don’t book, you’ll be turned away, even if you’re a member.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you back!

Age: All ages Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: See website for timed-entry slots Cost: Non-member adult, £5 per ticket (18 years and above) Non-member child, £2.50 per ticket (5 to 17 years) Non-member family (2 adults, max 3 children), £12.50 per ticket Non-member family (1 adult, max 3 children), £7.50 per ticket Under 5s go free National Trust member (adult or child over 5 years) free Contact: Booking essential. See website or for booking details call 0344 249 1895 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/baddesley-clinton

2 West Midland Safari Park Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1LF

We are now back open! The walk-through areas of the Park will be opening, so you can now visit areas like Penguin Cove, Land of the Living Dinosaurs, Ice Age, Aquarium and Reptile House!

Please note: The Twilight Cave, Lemur Woods, Lorikeet Landing and Goat Park will remain closed.

The Theme Park will be open with new safety measures. Ride wristbands and tickets are charged extra.

Booking is essential! All tickets must be booked in advance online with a tovisit Places safari timeslot.

Summer Safari Are you ready to go on Safari and get up close to incredible animals from around the world?

Discover our amazing animals this summer.

Age: All ages welcome Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: 10am to 6pm (last entry and safari 4pm) Cost: £24 per adult, £20 per child (under 3’s go free). Pre-booked tickets only. Includes a free return ticket. Contact: 01299 402114 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wmsp.co.uk

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TR

We are so pleased to be able to announce the re-opening of the Gardens.

The gardens, glasshouses, shops and plant sales will be open, although the tea room and children’s playground will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Cold drinks will be available to buy in the shops and visitors are more than welcome to take a picnic.

To ensure there is effective social distancing, everyone must book a time slot in advance: non-members must buy tickets online to secure their 15-minute entry slot, while members must also book their entry time online, using their membership number.

Please see website for further information on how to plan your visit while we re-open the gardens.

3 Age: All ages Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: 10am to 6pm (subject to change) Cost: See website for admission prices Contact: For ticket information call 0121 454 1860 or book online Email: [email protected] Web: www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden Castle Green, Off Castle Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 1NG

From medieval fortress to Elizabethan palace, Kenilworth Castle has been at the centre of England’s affairs for much of its 900-year history. Today, you can scale the heights of the tower built to woo Queen Elizabeth I, marvel at the mighty Norman keep and walk in the tovisit Places footsteps of the great Tudor queen through the beautiful gardens.

Kenilworth Castle is now open to visit. You now need to book your timed tickets in advance. Tickets are available to book now. We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. If you’re a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance.

Although things might be a little different when you visit, you’ll still be able to enjoy exploring the places where history really happened. And you’ll still be given a warm and safe welcome by our friendly – if socially distant – staff and volunteers.

Please visit English Heritage’s website for more information about the safety measures you can expect when visiting.

Age: All ages Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: Daily from 10am to 5pm. Please note: You now need to book timed-tickets in advance of your visit Cost: See website Contact: 0370 333 1181 Web: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle

4 Twycross Zoo East Midland Zoological Society, Burton Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 3PX

We are excited to welcome you back for a safe day out at Twycross Zoo!

Our zoo operation has changed in line with government guidance and for the foreseeable future we will only be accepting online ticket bookings.

Please see website for further information.

tovisit Places

Age: All ages Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: All visitors (Twycross Members included), will be asked to pre-book an online arrival timeslot Cost: £19.76 per adult ticket £15.26 per child ticket (2 to 16 years) Infant (under 2 years) free TZ Members free Blue Peter Badge Holders free* Contact: 0844 474 1777 Email: [email protected] Web: www.twycrosszoo.org

Dudley Zoo and Castle Castle Hill, Dudley DY1 4QF

We are back open! Pre-bookings and online admission tickets only.

Age: All ages welcome Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: 10am to 5.30pm Cost: See website for daily admission prices Contact: 01384 215313 Email: [email protected] Web: www.dudleyzoo.org.uk

5 Our colleagues at Solihull Active have been working hard to bring you details of all the latest sporting activities that may interest you and your family during the summer holidays…

Tennis in Solihull www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/TennisInSolihull

Courts open in our parks Organising your tennis is now even easier on the park courts in Solihull. active Stay

The refurbished courts at Bentley Heath, Knowle, Malvern and Shirley parks as well as the courts at Elmdon Park can all be booked online for FREE.

Visit our website to find the venue of your choice and once you have created your account you can then book your court from your home or your smart phone.

You will receive confirmation of your booking and then all you need to do is turn-up with your confirmation and play.

The Daily Mile at Home www.thedailymile.co.uk?at-home/

We would like to introduce all families across the Borough to The #DailyMileAtHome. It’s an easy and fun way to keep fit and maintain good health and wellbeing for you and your children.

They’re working with their fantastic partners at London Marathon Events to create weekly challenges for The #DailyMileAtHome!

Every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, there’ll be a new challenge for you. Visit our website to find out about this week’s challenges.

6 Active August www.facebook.com/solihullactive1

Active August for children, young people and families in Solihull.

It is recommended that children be physically active for at least 60 minutes each day. This has been hard during lockdown, but with the easing of the rules, you can now go outdoors with your family this summer and be more physically active while social distancing and having fun.

The Active August campaign active Stay encourages families to get active and keep moving each day by setting daily challenges they can do in their own time. Challenges will be set before 9am daily throughout August via Solihull Actives Facebook page.

We encourage families to share pictures getting active using the hashtag #ActiveAugust

Meriden Adventure Playground Moorend Avenue, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham B37 5TB

Now that restrictions are easing after lockdown and some children are going back to school, we have decided it is time to start also easing into opening up the playground for small numbers of children.

Nevertheless we do have to consider safety in this ‘new normal’ and so to start with, our plan is to only open to twenty children at a time for an hour’s session, three times a day and only for three days a week.

Please note: Children must be booked in advance and in order to try and be fair to everyone, can only come for one session in a week and must be brought by a parent who will stay for the session. Please visit our website and Facebook page for further details and guidance.

Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: See website for timed-entry sessions Contact: Booking is essential. See ‘Contact Us’ section of website for booking details Email: [email protected] Website: www.meridenadventureplayground.com

7 Ackers Adventure Golden Hillock Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham B11 2PY

All our activities take part in over 75 acres of diverse landscape and habitats ranging from open grassland, woodland and marsh cut through by the River Cole, the Grand Union Canal and mainline railways. This creates a fascinating area to have a great outdoor adventure. We are described as a hidden urban oasis, a green gem that overlooks Birmingham city centre.

We are now re-opening with a limited selection of activities! Plus over the coming weeks we are planning to introduce further events, if possible. Please keep checking our website for updates. active Stay

Please note: All of the activities will need to be pre-booked online. We will not be able to take any bookings upon arrival at the centre.

1 Hour Recreational Skiing If you can already ski to the recreational standard (able to perform linked turns, control your speed and use a drag lift) then you can book onto this session.

Disc Golf We are re-opening our 9 hole disc golf courses! Great fun for everyone in the fresh air!

30 Minute Tobogganing Family Session While we are unable to run tobogganing for individuals we are now offering exclusive use of our toboggan slope for 30 minutes for a family group of 6 (including adults and children)!

Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times/Cost: Dependent on activity (see website) Contact: 0121 772 5111 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ackers-adventure.co.uk

Silly Squad – Summer Reading Challenge 2020 www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk 8 www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Libraries/eandaudiobooks

libraries Solihull

The Summer Reading Challenge is back again this year and has moved online. Join the Silly Squad via our website and set yourself a challenge to read books across the summer, this year you can even set your own target for the number of books you read. The Summer Reading Challenge website is packed with fun activities, games, competitions and reading recommendations for kids aged 4 to 12 years.

Just register online and away you go to earn yourself a certificate. Silly Squad is a celebration of funny books that will get us all to laugh out loud. You can get books from our We Select, You Collect service at The Core, Shirley and Chelmsley Wood Libraries or download eBooks and eAudiobooks for free (see above web link), there’s loads of choice. So take up the challenge for silly summer fun!

Summer Activities www.solihull.gov.uk/libraries

Solihull Libraries have a range of activities online through our Facebook page, @SolihullLibraries.

There will be storytimes, rhymetimes and craft activities across the summer with more events still to be added. Check out Facebook or our website for the latest news.

9 The Bugs Group

FootieBugs / MultiBugs Holiday Camp St Alphege Junior School, Widney Manor Road, Solihull B91 3JG

The Bugs Group Holiday Camp offers fun football, mulitsports camps for children. Our camps will be operating in a Covid-19 secure way, with social distancing and strict hygiene measures.

Children will have fun taking part in their favourite sports, they will make friends, be active and have fun with a huge range of games.

As we are running to government guidelines,

we can only accept weekly bookings, so camps Summer children can stay in their small ‘bubbles’.

Age: 4 to 12 years Dates: Mondays to Fridays (throughout the summer holidays) Times: Between 8am – 4.40pm Cost: £110 per week. See website for further details Contact: 0121 777 7792 Email: [email protected] Web: www.thebugsgroup.com/active-camps/

DanceBugs Holiday Camp St Alphege Junior School, Widney Manor Road, Solihull B91 3JG

The DanceBugs Holiday Camp teaches children fun dance moves and routines from a wide range of dance styles including acrobatics, gymnastics, freestyle and many more! Each week ends in a fabulous showcase performance, which will be recorded for parents.

Our camps will be operating in a Covid-19 secure way, with social distancing and strict hygiene measures.

As we are running to government guidelines, we can only accept weekly bookings, so children can stay in their small ‘bubbles’.

10 Beechcroft Multi Sports Club Dickens Heath Community Primary School, Three Acres Lane, Dickens Heath, Solihull B90 1NA

Summer Camp 2020 Dodgeball, netball, football, tennis, cricket and many other sports played.

Age: 4 to 12 years Dates: Mondays to Fridays (throughout the school summer holidays) Times: 9.00am to 4.30pm Cost: From £75 per week. See website for further details Contact: Matt Corp on 0121 796 1330 Email: [email protected] Web: www.beechcrofttennisclub.co.uk

Summer camps camps Summer

ASN Multi Sport Camps West Warwicks Tennis Club, 78 Grange Road, Solihull B91 1DA

During Covid-19 we are offering tennis and other games allowed by the Government and LTA guidelines.

Run by LTA qualified coaches in a safe and secure setting.

Please visit our website for further information.

Age: 4 to 13 years Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays (throughout August) Times: 10am to 12pm Cost: £14 per session. See website for further details Contact: Alison Isaacs on 07846 756264 Email: [email protected] Web: www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/ASNCoaching/Coaching/

Warwickshire Cricket Board Summer Camps Edgbaston Community Sports Ground, Portland Road, Smethwick, Birmingham B17 8LS

WCB Summer Camps offers budding young cricketers the chance to learn all the skills and drills to follow in the footsteps of the England World Cup winning team!

The week includes batting, bowling, fielding, net play and plenty of variety, with fun entertaining games designed to ensure every child learns in a safe environment,

11 whilst loving their cricket!

Our ever popular camps are back for summer 2020 and we can’t wait to see you join us!

We are running across all 6 weeks!

Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: 10am to 3pm Cost: £30 per day or £85 per week Contact: Andy Turnbull on 07720 867547 Email: [email protected] Website: www.warwickshirecricketboard.co.uk

Treeance Outdoor Adventurous Holiday Club camps Summer 184th 1st Kingshurst Scout Hut (with ring-fenced woodland area), Bassettes Grove (off Yorkswood Drive), Kingshurst B37 6DR

Outdoor adventurous holiday club in a secure ring fenced woodland in north Solihull.

Come along and have a go at den building, nature art, safe space sports, fire lighting/cooking on the fire and lots more.

We are a well-established CIC (Community Interest Company) with over 10 years’ experience teaching in primary schools. We are insured, have attended Covid-19 training, qualified in a variety of sports/forest school and hold first aid and safeguarding certificates.

Children are expected to bring a packed lunch and plenty of drinks to last them throughout the day.

Please note: Booking is essential, as children will be placed in ‘social bubbles’.

Age: 5 to 12 years Dates: Week 1: Wednesday 5 August and Thursday 6 August Week 2: Wednesday 12 August and Thursday 13 August Week 3: Wednesday 19 August and Thursday 20 August Times: 10am to 3pm (one parent to drop-off/pick-up and staggered timeslots will be allocated) Cost: £30 for 2 days. Children are able to attend for one week or more Contact: Charlene Bull on 07756 568606 Email: [email protected] Web: www.treeance.class4kids.co.uk www.facebook.com/Treeance/

12 Art at the Heart CIC 11 We are really pleased to announce that our art classes are now online. You will need to book onto the sessions to be sent the access codes. Please visit our website for further details.

Big as a Bus Be part of our community arts project ‘As Big as a Bus’ exploring world culture/nature themes.

Submitted artwork will form part of a giant display (the size of a real bus!). Project is funded by National Lottery.

art Creative Age: 5 years and above Dates: Wednesday 5 August, Wednesday 19 August and Wednesday 26 August Times: 10am to 11.30am Cost: Free Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

Family Art Club – Enchanted Forest (Chapter 1) Enjoy making art together – our family activities encourage creativity, mindfulness and fun!

Take a journey through the Enchanted Forest and draw the creatures that you meet in our specially designed book. What will you find – unicorns, dragons or enchanted frogs? Have family fun identifying forest flowers and animals.

Age: 5 years and above Date: Thursday 30 July Times: 10am to 11.30am Cost: £9 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

Junior Masterclass: Drawing Animals – Kittens and Cats Learn how to draw animals, realistically. We’ll take you through a step-by-step approach showing you how to capture character, movement and textures. Become an expert in using pencils creatively to develop your own style!

Age: 7 to 14 years Date: Thursday 30 July Times: 1pm to 2pm and 3pm to 4pm Cost: £6 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

13 Art Club in the Holidays – Spectacular Starfish Explore, enjoy and express through artistic adventures using colour, line and shape: children will develop visual vocabulary and emotional intelligence and have fun!

Enjoy creating spectacular starfish using either our templates or create your own. We’ll show you how to use wax crayons and richly coloured paints to achieve beautiful patterns and glowing effects.

art Creative Age: 7 to 14 years Date: Tuesday 4 August Times: 9.30am to 10.30am and 11am to 12pm Cost: £6 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

Family Art Club – Enchanted Forest (Chapter 2) Enjoy making art together – our family activities encourage creativity, mindfulness and fun!

Age: 5 years and above Date: Thursday 6 August Times: 10am to 11.30am Cost: £9 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

Junior Masterclass: Drawing Animals – Puppies and Dogs Learn how to draw animals, realistically. We’ll take you through a step-by-step approach showing you how to capture character, movement and textures. Become an expert in using pencils creatively to develop your own style!

Age: 7 to 14 years Date: Thursday 6 August Times: 1pm to 2pm and 3pm to 4pm Cost: £6 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org 14 Summer Art School – Fashion Through Art 3 days of imaginative and creative adventure (option of Arts Award).

Explore, enjoy and express through artistic adventures using colour, line and shape: children will develop visual vocabulary and emotional intelligence and have fun!

Our popular Fashion Art project will get your creative ideas flowing! Learn to develop your own original designs and create a fashion concept in paper.

Age: 8 to 14 years Dates: Monday 10 August, Wednesday 12 August and Friday 14 August art Creative Times: 10am to 11.30am followed by a break and then return at 1pm to 2.30pm Cost: £50 for the course Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

Art Club in the Holidays: Magical Drawing Explore, enjoy and express through artistic adventures using colour, line and shape: children will develop visual vocabulary and emotional intelligence and have fun!

Delve into mythical worlds and breathe magic into your drawings, inspired by Harry and his friends. Learn to use drawing and shading techniques to make your artwork spectacular!

Age: 7 to 14 years Dates: Tuesday 11 August Times: 9.30am to 10.30am and 11am to 12pm Cost: £6 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

Family Art – Exotic Birds Enjoy making art together – our family activities encourage creativity, mindfulness and fun!

Enjoy experimenting with exotic colour and pattern to create your own unique tropical bird artwork. Dazzle those around you with the magic of colour!

Age: 5 years and above Dates: Thursday 13 August Times: 10am to 11.30am Cost: £9 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

15 Junior Masterclass: Drawing Animals – Dragons and Demons Learn how to draw animals, realistically. We’ll take you through a step-by-step approach showing you how to capture character, movement and textures. Become an expert in using pencils creatively to develop your own style!

Age: 7 to 14 years Date: Thursday 13 August Times: 1pm to 2pm and 3pm to 4pm Cost: £6 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

art Creative Art Club in the Holidays: Miniatures - Drawing and Painting Explore, enjoy and express through artistic adventures using colour, line and shape: children will develop visual vocabulary and emotional intelligence and have fun!

Create your own beautiful miniature masterpiece inspired by traditional Indian Mughal art. We’ll be drawing/painting peacocks and garden foliage using finely sharpened pencils and fine detail brushes.

Age: 7 to 14 years Dates: Tuesday 18 August Times: 9.30am to 10.30am and 11am to 12pm Cost: £6 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

Family Art – Paisley Patterns Enjoy making art together – our family activities encourage creativity mindfulness and fun!

Create artwork inspired by the beauty and mystery of paisley, the arty textile pattern that resembles a teardrop.

Age: 5 years and above Dates: Thursday 20 August Times: 10am to 11.30am Cost: £9 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

16 Junior Masterclass: Drawing Animals – Bird of Prey Learn how to draw animals, realistically. We’ll take you through a step-by-step approach showing you how to capture character, movement and textures. Become an expert in using pencils creatively to develop your own style!

Age: 7 to 14 years Date: Thursday 20 August Times: 1pm to 2pm and 3pm to 4pm Cost: £6 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

art Creative

Delve into mythical worlds and breathe magic into your drawings, inspired by fantastic beasts. Learn to use drawing and shading techniques to make your artwork spectacular!

Age: 7 to 14 years Dates: Tuesday 25 August Times: 9.30am to 10.30am and 11am to 12pm Cost: £6 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

Family Art You and I Portraits Enjoy making art together – our family activities encourage creativity, mindfulness and fun!

Enjoy learning how to make a portrait of a family member using new/traditional drawing techniques. You can either draw each other from direct observation or work from a photo.

Age: 5 years and above Dates: Thursday 27 August Times: 10am to 11.30am Cost: £9 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

17 Junior Masterclass: Drawing Animals – Big Cats Learn how to draw animals, realistically. We’ll take you through a step-by-step approach showing you how to capture character, movement and textures. Become an expert in using pencils creatively to develop your own style!

Age: 7 to 14 years Date: Thursday 27 August Times: 1pm to 2pm and 3pm to 4pm Cost: £6 per session Contact: 07772 319303 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artattheheartcic.org

art Creative

Activities for children and families to enjoy whilst at home…

Kids Run Free (Activity Hub) www.kidsrunfree.co.uk/activity-hub/

Kids Run Free's activity hub has a range of exercise and activity videos for primary school children up to teenagers.

It also includes resources and ideas to inspire you to play some active games with the family, plus it has links to even more videos and resources from Kids Run Free's partners including Nike, UK Active & Gymrun.

home at Fun

The Scouts – The Great Indoors www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors

Hundreds of ideas and activities to inspire young minds at home.

While we normally love the great outdoors, we’ve pulled together some inspired indoor activity ideas (if we do say so ourselves) to keep kids entertained.

Activities include: • creating thank you cards for friends • practise your phonetic alphabet and test your manoeuvres as you try to be the best pilot • choose a theme, then design the sprites and background for a computer game

Forestry England www.forestryengland.uk/blog/10-ways-keep-the-kids-entertained-through-covid-19

10 ways to keep the kids entertained through Covid-19 Forestry England has developed a handy guide – 10 Ways to keep the kids entertained through COVID-19, designed to bring the outdoors into your home.

They’ve got an amazing collection of printable activities and games to keep the family busy, including printable Julia Donaldson activity sheets and online resources to help keep learning alive.

There’s even a chance to see less well-seen creatures that call the forest home including one of the UK’s most elusive birds of prey – the goshawk or so-called ‘Phantom of the Forest’. You can view recorded footage of them in their nest, you can even see the parents feeding the chicks.

Blue Peter – 2020 Sport badge www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/joinin/bp-sport-badge-2020?collection=blue-peter-badges

Earn your 2020 Sport badge! To get your hands on this limited edition badge, all you have to do is try a new way of getting active.

This badge is only available during summer 2020, so what are you waiting for?

The Book of Hopes www.literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/9-12/book-hopes/

Words and pictures to comfort, inspire and entertain children in lockdown. home at Fun

Completely free for all children and families. An extraordinary collection of short stories, poems, essays and pictures edited by Katherine Rundell and with contributions from more than 110 children’s writers and illustrators, including Lauren Child, Anthony Horowitz, Greg James and Chris Smith, Michael Morpurgo, Liz Pichon, Alex Scheffler, Francesca Simon and Jacqueline Wilson.

The collection, published by Bloomsbury, is dedicated to the doctors, nurses, carers, porters, cleaners and everyone currently working in hospitals.

CBeebies – Mindfulness for Children www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/curations/mindfulness-for-children

Being able to recognise and cope with anxiety is a skill that will benefit children for life.

Find helpful tips and tricks to help children relax and be mindful of the world around them.

Hungry Little Minds www.hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk

Many little things light up hungry little minds. Kids take everything in, and even the smallest things you do with them can make a big difference.

We understand that due to the coronavirus outbreak, you and your children are spending more time at home and you might be looking for a bit more inspiration for things to do.

Please visit our website for simple, fun activities for kids, from newborn to five.

Fun at home at Fun

Apps for 2 to 5 year olds… We know that phones or tablets are part of many families’ everyday lives and kids love to use them, but it’s not always easy to know which apps and games can benefit your child’s learning. That is why we have given a quality mark to apps that an independent educational panel believes have good educational value.

Why not try these with your child alongside the other activities listed on this site?

The Natural History Museum www.nhm.ac.uk

Virtual Museum: 13 ways to explore from home… Delve into the Museum from home with a virtual self-guided tour of the galleries, an interactive experience about Hope the blue whale and audio guides narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Try this at home… If you can’t get out far to explore nature then visit the try this at home section, where you’ll find activities and ideas to occupy yourself and family at home, in your garden or local outdoor space.

National Geographic Kids www.natgeokids.com/uk/

“There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth. That’s at least a billion trillion!”

Discover some of the coolest facts for kids from around our planet. From animals and geography to science, nature and history, there are so many amazing facts for kids just waiting to be discovered by young explorers like you!

Uncover curious creatures from both land and sea, ancient mysteries and civilisations, incredible destinations and natural wonders – prepare to be wowed Fun at home at Fun by our wonderful world.

Fantastic for Families www.fantasticforfamilies.com

Run by the Family Arts Campaign, Fantastic for Families is a national collaborative programme funded by Arts Council England.

Visit the Fantastic for Families website for things to do with kids at home, plus virtual and online events to tune into.

Activities include: home study art challenges, learn to play the ukulele and a musical narration of the charming story of Ferdinand the Bull, plus a variety of other creative activities for kids and families to do at home.

RSPB – Wild Challenge www.rspb.org.uk

Are you ready to take on a Wild Challenge? You can help wildlife, explore nature and enjoy lots of wild, fun family activities. Tell us what you’ve done and work towards awards.

There are a range of fun activities to choose from and bronze, silver and gold awards to achieve depending on how many you complete.

The activities are in two sections:

Help Nature – making our gardens brilliant homes for nature and our outdoor spaces wonderfully wildlife-friendly!

Experience Nature – getting up close and personal with wildlife and exploring the world of amazing nature right under our noses!

Once you’ve completed each award level, you will receive an exclusive Wild Challenge award certificate and sticker sheet as a little thank you from nature! Please visit the RSPB website for further details.

NASA at Home www.nasa.gov/specials/nasaathome

Let NASA bring the universe into your home.

Find crafting ideas, science experiments with household items and videos to watch as a family.

You can also be a scientist in your own home. NASA has many opportunities for citizen scientists to contribute to ongoing research.

Friends of the Earth home at Fun www.friendsoftheearth.uk/join-us/support-family-get-your-planet-protectors-pack-today

Support as a family – Get your Planet Protectors pack today.

From bee-friendly wildflower seeds to an activity handbook and poster, this special pack is bursting full of resources to help your child become a Planet Protector.

The personalised package contains hours and hours of entertainment, including quizzes, tree facts and instructions on how to make a wild nature corner.

Perfect for 5 to 11 year olds. See website for further details on how to get your Planet Protectors pack.