10 (mostly free) activities for February half term 2023! The last one may surprise you…

‍Explore your local area

Ask your kids to draw a map of your local area. This could include identifying trees (and drawing their leaves), taking stone rubbings and chatting to members of the community to understand your local history.

You could even help them link what they’re learning about at school (e.g. in history or geography) to their neighbourhood.

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Go to the Southbank Imagine Children’s Festival

100+ events for kids aged 0-11 (50% are free)

Dance, dinosaurs, poetry, balloons, Debussy, craft and sensory! There really is something for every child within these 100 events across 11 days in London.

https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/festivals-series/imagine-childrens-festival

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Visit a petting zoo or city farm

Lots are free or ask for a small donation

Petting zoos and city farms are a great way to see and touch animals up-close without the expense of going to the zoo.

There are lots dotted around the country; London includes some in Vauxhall, Surrey Docks, Hackney, Spitalfields, Lee Valley, Stepney, Kentish Town, Crystal Palace, Hounslow, Mudchute, Newham and Surrey Docks.

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Visit the Elmer and Friends Exhibition at the Horniman Museum

£2.50 child, £5 adult, family tickets £8-£12

Celebrate over 30 years of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant at this major exhibition of David McKee’s illustrations! There’s also a giant magnetic Elmer game…

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/elmer-and-friends-the-colourful-world-of-david-mckee/

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Make art for free at the Tate Modern and Tate Britain

Holiday Make Studio: Threads (Tate Modern, free); Play Studio (Tate Britain, free)

Knit with textiles and fabrics at the Tate Modern, which is running daily from the 11th to the 19th February.

Or dress up, make sounds or assemble a sculpture at the Tate Britain’s Play Studio! Suitable for families of all ages.

https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/uniqlo-tate-play/uniqlo-tate-play-threads-holiday

https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/play-studio

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Ask your kids to make or do something for someone else

Perhaps your kids could write a letter to an elderly relative, or create some artwork for a local care home. You could even combine this with a trip to the Tate.

You can find arts & crafts classes near you on Pebble – https://activities.bookpebble.co.uk/activities/arts-and-crafts/around-SW100AA

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Visit the Kew Gardens orchid festival (or go to the children’s gardens for free)

Included with standard entry (kids under 4 go free, adult tickets from £10 after 4pm)

Kew Gardens puts on a hugely popular orchid festival every year, and it’s happening from the 4th Feb to 5th March! Access to the orchids is included with standard entry.

Alternatively, you could take your kids to the children’s gardens for free (advance booking recommended).

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/kew-orchid-festival

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-in-the-gardens/the-childrens-garden

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Do some gardening!

Help your little ones plant seeds and bulbs so they blossom in the summer. You could show them gardening programmes online or take them to a local park to get them excited about flowers & plants.

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Visit the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum

Family tickets from £29.95

Inspire your kids with stunning photographs of our beautiful planet. Maybe you could combine this with bird-watching in your local area, or learning about the bugs living in your garden or local park.

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year.html

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Let them get bored!

An educational psychologist suggests “Be inspired by the research linking boredom and creativity, and treat your child’s imagination to some screen-free plan-free time. It could be half an hour each day, a few hours one afternoon or whatever works for you and yours.”

Sources:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/dealing-with-boredom/zdbbsk7
https://childmind.org/article/the-benefits-of-boredom/

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