Medieval Storytelling, Muffins and Meatballs!

Today's activities were sponsored by the letter M! We kicked things off in the car on our way out by spotting as much as we could that started with an M. When we got to Oystermouth Castle in (Mumbles of course!) it was time for a quick snack, some home made muffins:

Then we enjoyed a Junior Park Ranger activity; Medieval Storytelling at Oystermouth Castle. All 4 kids aged 2 - 7 LOVED it. I can't praise Junior Park Rangers enough...I just wish we'd discovered them earlier, all their remaining summer holiday activities are now booked up but they'll be a huge part of our next summer holidays for sure.

It was lunch time when we got back so what else could we have but Meatballs?!

I had a number of letter/M related indoor activities planned (playdoh with letter cookie cutters, a letter M puzzle, books starting with the letter M etc etc) but the weather improved so we decamped to the garden and I had to improvise a little. First up, the big 2 drew chalk Ms and the smaller 2 erased them with a water spray:

Then we dug out some letter 'buried treasure' from the sandpit:

I also hid a number of objects round the garden that started with the letter M. Next week is A!

We're going on a Bug Hunt, we're going to catch a big one!

Today we went to our first Junior Park Ranger activity and we were very impressed! It was a Bug Hunt at Coed Gwilym Park in Clydach and it was really well organised and well attended. The Rangers had lots of great equipment for catching bugs, this one you used the green pipe to suck up little tiny bugs into the pot, perfect for younger children who tend to squish small bugs between their fingers! :

 

 Here's 2 year old Elin inspecting the wood louse she caught:

This might look like a big pile of sticks but is, in fact, a 'Beetle Castle', the Rangers had apparently built it as part of another Junior Park Ranger activity. We found all kinds of mini beasts here; beetles, aphids, slugs, worms, spiders and wood lice. Lovely! A big recommendation for Junior Park Rangers from Hobbsy's House. Make sure you book though, these activities are not surprisingly very popular!

(Summer) Holidays are Coming!

So with only 3 days left in school and no sign of the rain stopping, it's time for a Summer Holiday survival plan. I've scoured the internet to find out what's on in Swansea and Neath - the good news is there's loads, and lots of it is free or at least very cheap:

JULY
21st Victoria Gardens, Neath. 12.30-2.30pm. Jamba Drama Bear Hunt with face painting and crafts. Call 01639 686775 for more information.
21st - 27th Waterfront Museum. 12 and 2pm. Kite Making. Suitable for ages 7+. Book on 02920 573 600.
23rd. Margam Country Park. Birds and Balloons. Environmental Fun with the RSPB 10am - 4pm. Balloon Modelling with 'Dr Bob' 11am, 12, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
23rd. Swansea Community Farm. Between 10am and 3pm. Family Fun Day including treasure hunts, kite making, adventure play, pond dipping, flower bomb making and honey extraction. Call 01792 578384 for more information
23^rd + 24^th Discovery Centre, Brynmill Park. Giant Games in the park. 10.30am - 11.30am . No booking required. Free
24th The Gnoll, Neath. Family Fun Day. 

25^th  Crown and Shield making, Oystermouth castle. £1 per child.
25th and 26th Plantasia. 10.30am - 4pm. Cycle power and Ice Cream Making. Come along to make your own ice cream and learn how to make electricity using pedal power to the sound of the rainforest. Normal admission prices.

26^th Learn to play tennis, Victoria Park. 10.30-11.30. £1 per child. This is a Junior Park Ranger event (suitable for ages 5-11). For booking: 01792 635485
27th Swansea Central Library. Family film. 1.30pm. Contact the library for film information.

29th Waterfront Museum. Urban Sports Skills (football freestyling, basketball, BMX). 11am, 12noon, 1.30 pm and 3.30pm (have a go sessions at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm & 3pm. Suitable for families, book on the number above.

AUGUST

1st-31st St Fagan's Museum, Cardiff. 'Art Cart' art and craft sessions. 11am - 1pm, 2pm - 4pm

2nd Margam Country Park. Mr Bubbles Family Fun with balloon modelling, magic and puppets. 10am - 4pm

4th & 5th Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 'Get Knotted'. Make friendship bracelets. 12-3.30pm. Suitable for families, no booking required.

7th, 8th & 9th Plantasia. Animal Antics, Birds of Prey. Get up close to birds of prey.Book on 01792 474555. Prices: Child: £3.95, Adult: £4.95 (½ price to season ticket holders) 4 shows a day: 10.30am, 12.00noon, 2.00pm and 3.15pm
9th Coed Gwilym Park, Bug Hunt 10.30am -11.30am. £1 per child.

11th & 12th Waterfront Museum. Pirate Weekend.

13th Margam Country Park. Meet Captain Barnacle. A Pirate pantomime show with comedy, music, puppets and mayhem. Shows at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm.
16th Discovery Centre, Brynmill Park. Lots of adventurous games and sports. 10.30am - 11.30am £1.00 per child

18th–24th Waterfront Museum, Swansea. Inflatable Planetarium. 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm & 3pm. Age 7+. Booking required. 40 minute show.

18th & 19th Waterfront Museum, Swansea. Constellation Cotton Bags. 12 – 3.30pm. Families, drop in. £1.50 a bag. Trace the constellations on a cotton bag.

20th Margam Country Park. How the Whale Became and Other Stories. Inspired by the short stories

written by Ted Hughes, these tales are loved by children and adults alike and will leave you with some entertaining answers to these and other questions. Sessions at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.45pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
21st Oystermouth Castle. Medieval Story Telling. We'll be enjoying stories about the past 'Horrible Histories' style! 10.30am - 11.30am £1.00 per child

21st, 22nd &23rd Plantasia. Tribes, teeth & tarantulas.4 shows a day at 10.30am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm and 3.15pm. Price and booking as for Animal Antics above.
23rd Clyne Gardens, Swansea (Meet at Woodman entrance). Treasure Hunt. We'll be solving clues and searching through the gardens. 10.30am - 11.30am. £1.00 per child

24th Margam Country Park. Jimmy Juggles - Circus Workshop. 11am - 4pm

25th–27th Waterfront Museum, Swansea. Bank Holiday Beady Bracelets. 12 - 3.30pm . Make your own beads and bracelets. Families drop in.

PLUS, there are playschemes and a playbus in various parts of Swansea throughout the summer holidays. In Clydach the playbus will be on Park Road (by the Scout Building) on Wednesday 25th July, 15th Aug, 22nd Aug and 29th Aug. 11am - 1pm.

If anyone knows of any other free/cheap events in or around Swansea over the holidays do please comment below. I wish you all luck and sunny weather for the next 6 weeks!

FREE Easter Activities

I'm busy planning for the Easter Holidays and I've found a huge amount of free activities in and around Swansea. In fact there are so many this year that I'm struggling to work out which to go to! Keep checking back here because I'll add any new events that I find out about - and do comment if you know of any that I haven't put on:

• Friday 30th March - not an Easter activity but a good one for preschoolers 'Waterfront Nippers' 10.30-12.30 or 1.30 - 3.30pm. Waterfront Museum, check out their website for more information
• Saturday 31st April - Parti Pasg 12.30 - 2.30 Ty Tawe
• Sunday 1st April - Storytelling & Book Crafts. 1-3pm. Waterfront Museum
• Tuesday 3rd April - Easter Crafts. 1.30 - 2.30pm. Central Swansea Library. Suitable for ages 6-10. Booking necessary.
• Thursday 5th April - Easter Treasure Hunt. 2-3pm. Central Library. Ages 5-10. Booking necessary.
• Thursday 5th April - Bird Watch. 10.30-11.30. Brynmill Park.
• Thursday 5th April - Petal Pictures, making pictures out of flower petals. Ty Blodau, Singleton Park. 1.30pm - 2.30pm
• Friday 6th April - Willy Wonka Easter Fun Day. 12 - 4pm. Waterfront Museum
• Friday 6th April - Monday 9th April - Easter Egg Hunt at St Fagans Museum. 11-3pm.
• Saturday 7th April - Brynmill Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Bonnet Parade. 11.30 am for 10s and under, 1pm for all ages. Brynmill Park.
• Sunday 8th April - Easter Egg Hunt at the Gnoll, Neath. 11 - 3pm. £1 per child.
• Tuesday 10th April - Beaded Jewellery Workshop. Central Library. 1.30 - 2.30pm. Ages 6 - 10. Booking necessary.
• Wednesday 11th April - RSPB are at Margam Country Park making seed cakes for birds. 10.30 - 3.30pm. 
• Thursday 12th April - Disney Stories & Activities at Central Library. Ages 4-8. 2-3pm.
• Saturday 14th April - 12.30-2.30pm Street Science Eggsperiments at the Waterfront Museum.