Free half-term saviours!

Half-term is here and this holiday is probably one of the hardest. It's always cold, it gets dark early, unlike the Christmas holidays there's no promise of presents and parties.

So I've compiled a list of some great free things in Kent (and a few in London) this holiday . . . if I've missed anything let me know and I'll make sure I add it!

Please double-check that the event is still on before you set off.

Every day

Riverbank Tales
Bank of England Museum, Bartholomew Lane, EC2R 8AH
10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm
Stories from Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham.

Free Family Fun
Lakeside, West Thurrock Way, Essex
Make your own monsters and visit the Monster Garden every day this half-term.


Sunday 12 February

Community Fun Day 11am – 4pm
Sevenoaks Leisure Centre
Trampolining, martial arts and roller disco (from 2.30pm)
 
Making Sense
Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London, W2 3XA
Events for children of all ages.

Art workshops 11am & 2pm
National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
Free hands-on art workshops, meet in the Education Centre Foyer (Orange St entrance). For children aged 5 to 11.

Monday 13 February

Anglo Saxons 10.30-12.30
Folkestone History Resource Centre in Folkestone Library
Meet an Anglo Saxon skeleton, try your hand at Anglo Saxon craft and write your name in runes. Tickets available from the library counter.

Burst of Brightness: Sunsets and Ships
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
(and Tuesday 14) For children aged 2 to 5

Vicious Venoms and Poisonous Parasites Workshops 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm
Centre of the Cell, Newark St, London, E1 2AT
Workshops about the most deadly venoms and poisonous creatures. Age 9+. Also Wednesday 15 and Friday 17.


Tuesday 14 February

Crafty Critters 10.30-12.30 and 2-4pm
Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery
Free art and craft activities throughout half-term (until Friday 17). No booking required.

Romans 10.30-12.30
Folkestone History Resource Centre in Folkestone Library
Touch real Roman objects, design your own mosaic and make a Roman sword. Tickets available from the library counter.

Storyscape 10.30 - 11am
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN 

Interactive story-telling session.

Wednesday 15 February

Community Fun Day 11am – 4pm
Edenbridge Leisure Centre
Trampolining, mountain bike stunt show and pool party

Fossil Fun 10.30am – 12.30pm
Folkestone History Resource Centre in Folkestone Library
See real dinosaur bones, make your own fossil and go on a dinosaur hunt. Tickets available from the library counter.

Bookworms story time 11am – 12pm
Turner Contemporary, Margate
Story time for children under 5.

Feeding Frenzy for Birds 2 – 3.30pm
Jeffrey Harrison Visitor Centre, Sevenoaks Nature Reserve
Make your own bird feeder – donation required. Book on 01622 622 012.

Historical finger puppets 10am – 4pm
Dover Museum
Make your own historical finger puppets.. Entry to the museum is FREE on Family Days. There is no charge for the activities.

Dear Lido
The Construction Gallery 74-80 Upper Tooting Rd, London SW17 7PB
Family workshops
Feb 15: bunting making and a tea party (1-3pm, 4-6pm; all ages)
Feb 16: 'Make a Splash' vintage swimming caps workshop (11am-1pm; age 5+); vintage hair and make-up workshop (7-9pm; age 16+)
Feb 17: set design workshop (11am-12.30pm, 1-2.30pm; age 5-11)
Feb 18: dance workshops (11am-noon, 1-2pm; age 11-16).
Booking by email is essential.

Catch a spider or two stories and crafts
Walderslade Hook Meadow Library
Ages 3-8 years. Booking essential.

Bugs and butterflies stories and crafts
Wigmore Library
Ages 3-8 years. Booking essential.

Toddler Club 10am - 12pm
The Woodlands Farm Trust, 331 Shooters Hill, Welling DA16 3RP
Adult £2, children free


Thursday 16 February

Ladybirds and butterflies stories and crafts 2.15-3pm
Grain Library
Ages 4-10 years. Booking essential.

Caterpillar capers 11-11.45am
Lordswood Library
Ages 3 - 8 years. Booking essential.

Butterfly and ladybird stories and craft 3.45-4.30pm
Thomas Aveling Library
Ages 3 - 8 years. Booking essential.

Forest crafts 2.15-3pm
Wigmore Library
Booking essential.

Bugs and beasties 2.15-3pm
Gillingham Library
Ages 4-10 years. Booking essential.

Beastly bugs 2.30-3pm
Rochester Library
Ages 4-10 years. Booking essential.

Beetlemania 2.30-3.15pm
Cuxton Library
Ages 4-10 years. Booking essential.

Friday 17 February

Feeding Frenzy for Birds 2 – 3.30pm
Romney Marsh Visitor Centre
Make your own bird feeder – donation required. Book on 01622 622 012.

Forest crafts 2.15-3pm
Lordswood Library
Booking essential.

Catch a spider or two 2 - 3pm
Walderslade Village Library
Ages 3-8 years. Booking essential.


Saturday 18 February

3D pancake masterclass 4pm
Atelier des Chefs, 19 Wigmore St, London, W1U 1PH
How to make volcanoes, icebergs, rapids and forests from pancakes. Limited places, please book by email. Age 6+.

Sunday 19 February

Community Fun Day 11am – 4pm
White Oak Leisure Centre, Swanley
Mountain bike stunt show, bouncy castle and more

Struck down!



Calum's festive creation

Our family has been out of action for the whole week up to Christmas . . . horror! No voices, no fresh air, and no real communication with the outside world for the last seven days.

There's only so much Christmassy television I can stand, so today Calum (5) and I had a go at making our very own salt-dough Christmas decorations.

Here's what you'll need if you'd like to try your hand:

* 1 cup of plain flour
* 1/2 cup of table salt
* 1/2 cup of water


We added a very small amount of sunflower oil to make the dough easier to use. We followed these instructions, my dough was horrendously sticky so I added a lot more flour.

We ran out of plain flour so threw in some wholemeal (ha!) self- raising flour and the decorations seem to be fine (they're still baking, so they still have time to grow . . .)

We had more than enough dough to make 20 decorations. Do we need that many?!?

We threw some glitter into the left-over dough and Calum has been playing with it for about an hour. In fact he seems to have had more fun since the decorations went in the oven!

Splish, splash, hop and all things glittery

Orla's wonderful Christmas decoration

Last Friday Orla and I tried out one of Spring House's free offerings. Splish, splash, hop is a great messy play session for babies to two-year-olds.

There was an amazing amount for the little ones to do - we tried our hand at Christmas decoration making (check out the photo of Orla's first ever glittery creation!) Sooo pleased we didn't attempt that at home . . .

Add to that sand pits, fabulously glittery play-doh and painting, along with colouring, toys and books, and you have a fun-filled morning for just about any tot.

Orla loved the sensory corner, with its different textures and water-filled light thing (sure it has a technical name, it was filled with fish and bubbles too).

At around 10am all the babies sat down for a little snack. And then Orla unfortunately went into meltdown because we'd missed her morning sleep so we hurriedly, and quite noisily, left.

We got a really nice welcome from the staff there. Most of Spring House's events have a limited amount of places so you need to get there early, but you won't have hundreds of children to contend with.

Spring House is just behind the hospital, through the top right hand corner of the main car park. It is sign-posted but can be a bit difficult to find if you haven't been there before.

Spring House has lots of free events for the under fives, and I'll be trying out more over the next few weeks. So keep an eye out for more reviews.

Splish, splash, hop
Spring House Family Centre
Hospital Road
Sevenoaks TN13 3PT

(0-2 years) Friday 9.15am - 10.45am
(2+ years) Friday 11.15am - 12.30pm

Maracas, tambourines . . . and the wheels on the bus

Quadrapop

On a damp and grey Thursday morning Orla and I headed off to the centre of Sevenoaks for a spot of singing.

We sneaked into the library late to find around 20 grown ups and their babies shaking maracas and singing nursery rhymes.

Baby Bounce and Rhyme used to be in the main part of the library, but it's now in the gallery upstairs. So everyone's singing skills are a little bit less on show than they were, and there's less chance of your tot getting lost among the books (happened to me more than once).

The volunteers that help to run the session look like they are really enjoying themselves, and there are lots of little instruments for the children to play with.

There was a bit of chatter towards the end as some of the grown ups and children (including mine!) got a bit restless. And the set-up could be a bit better - most of the adults sit on chairs in a circle while the little ones play in the middle.

But Orla loved it and even though she's far too little to join in the singing, she certainly made up for it with the shakers. And we got to sing some of our favourite songs, so Baby Bounce and Rhyme has definitely passed the no price tags test.


Baby Bounce & Rhyme 11 - 11.30am Thursday
Sevenoaks Library
Buckhurst Lane
Sevenoaks TN13 1LQ
Car parking 90p for one hour

More free singing sessions run throughout the area - check your local library and Children's Centre for more details.

Fancy a walk?

Pushchairs and country walks don't always mix . . . if you fancy a walk this weekend check out this website. The walks listed are all around the Weald and perfect for people with buggies and toddlers.

Lord Mayor's Parade - here we come!

Ok so it's not exactly in Kent, but just 20 minutes on the train will get us to the centre of London and right in the middle of the Lord Mayor's Parade this Saturday.

We'll (fingers crossed) be getting there for the flotilla of 40 boats that'll be setting off from St. Katherine Dock at 9.30am.

There are processions most of the day and fireworks between Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridges from 5pm. And with special events and free guided walks around the square mile, I'm really hoping it will be a fabulous free day out.

A cool time on Coolings nature trail

*** Coolings isn't free anymore! Noooo! It now costs £1.50. So not a huge dent in your pocket. Which is why the review is still here . . .***

If you've an hour or two to spare at the weekend, you could do a lot worse than visit Coolings nature trail in Knockholt.

With wallabies, pigs, chickens and sheep, it's like a mini-farm. Add its wigwams and teepees, and its lakes and woodland, and you have a very good afternoon out (as long as the weather's ok).

When we visited the wallaby joeys were just getting brave enough to come out of their mothers' pouches - very exciting! The piglets were very noisy. And the human sundial kept my four-year-old Calum entertained while I fed the baby.

The nature trail is pretty flat, although I did need some help with the pushchair over some huge tree roots.

Parking is free (hurrah!), but don't take picnics. They're not allowed on the trail. There is a cafe onsite, which is not cheap (especially for children's meals) but has quite tasty food.

Oh and don't go to the wrong Coolings! The nature trail is at Coolings Green & Pleasant not Coolings Garden Centre which is very close by.

Opening times

Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm

Sunday 10am - 4.30pm

Map

Bluebells at Trosley

Our first free weekend has been quite a success if I do say so myself . . . we packed the family in the car and headed for Trosley Country Park.

Just outside Vigo, the park is great if you fancy a walk but have a pushchair or a little one who isn't too keen on hill walking! 

Its very flat path has woods on either side for children to explore, and a trim trail which helps to keep everyone moving along (my four-year-old couldn't wait to try out the next exercise. . .) 

A second track seemed a bit more challenging - we didn't try it this time - our pushchair is not an off-roader! 

The really beautiful views across the North Downs and hundreds of bluebells made it a great spring day out.

The visitors' centre is being rebuilt, although there is a refreshment van and loos with baby-changing facilities if you need them. 

Car parking: Monday - Friday £1.50 / Weekends and bank holidays £2.00

Opening times: 9am - dusk / 9pm whichever is earlier 

Free pass at the ready

Ok, so it's not a real free pass, but over the next few months I will be trying out some of the best (and possibly worst) free things Kent has to offer.

The only things I'll put my hand in my pocket for are parking and travel - and even those pretty begrudgingly to be honest.

Yes I will be doing what I do best: resisting the temptation to spend, and dragging my poor family along for the ride.

And then I'm going to tell you all about it so you can try them out for yourselves.

Having a good time shouldn't cost a fortune, let's see if I can prove it!