London Mums Blog

Free and affordable half-term and Halloween suggestions for the under fives in central London ...

If you do not have school-age children yet, you likely are not aware that this week is half-term.  Many small playgroups will be closed and the museums will be packed but there is still on lot going on for even the teeniest of the Under Five’s in Central London.

The Westminster Children’s Centres and the neighbourhood pools will be open; you should ring ahead just to confirm that the times have not changed.  Battersea 1 O’clock club will also remain open from 1 – 4 daily for the under fives. 

If you want to fight the crowds, the Museum of London has some amazing activities for the over 3’s, as does the Transport Museum (£10 per adult with no fee for children, or £30 for an annual family pass).  The V and A has a ceramic workshop where you can make beads or plates.  The Foundling Museum and the National Gallery have storytelling sessions.  The Tate has a great Halloween session.  Whole Foods Market will have some activities as listed below.

The Chelsea Physic Gardens (with kids)

Heavenly Idyll in Bustling Chelsea ... If you don’t mind keeping your children from trampling rare species of plants and herbs gathered from around the world.

From inside the walls of the Physic Gardens, one feels a surge of nostalgia taking in the views of ordered rows of trees, blossoms and plants set against the red brick walls of the gardens and the Victorian mansion blocks and houses outside.  One might even sappily confess to feeling what Chelsea may have been like during Queen Victoria’s reign.  The contrast of the grass and gravel paths, flowering shrubs, lazy willow branches to the unseen, but presence nonetheless, of chaotic traffic outside the garden makes the case for a trip to the Chelsea Physic Gardens.

Half term fun at the National Gallery

As you may know, the National Gallery does fab FREE children's events on Sundays. The good news is that they have scheduled some extras for the October half-term break. The best part is that you can book the half term events in advance.

WHAT: Magic Carpet storytelling

WHO: under-5s

WHEN: Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October 2009; 11.30am

COST: free!

WHAT: Light On The Water: Make an exciting panorama with boats floating on clear blue water under a dazzling sky. Join artist Harriet Mena Hill for layers of fun in this collage workshop.

I have a cunning idea...

It is the school holidays. We're standing in a queue. Children fidget. Watches are checked. It is like a visit to the Post Office. People tut under their breath. Eyes flash suspiciously at would-be queue-jumpers. Someone close by – possibly the dandruff-flecked bloke standing just in front, or perhaps the 5-year-old inquisitor inside my own head – utters the immortal words 'are we nearly there yet?'

As is predictably the case, we are not. We wait. We shuffle. We wait some more. And then at last, bingo, the clock strikes ten. Oh goody, I think as 'Cashier Number 4!' cavorts loudly through my thoughts. I wonder if perhaps the sunshine is going to my head, or maybe I really am now losing my marbles… but I have no time to ponder further as B grasps my hand and drags me forth. The doors to the Science Museum are ceremonially opened. We make our way gratefully in.

Staying in the UK this half term? Try these kids activities...

I used to measure the success of school breaks based on the number of trips made to A&E. One year I had to deal with a 2-year-old who lost her fingernail in a slammed door AND a 3-year-old who broke her arm whilst climbing out of her cot.

We've moved on since then, and so has the economy. The credit crunch means that many people may opt to stay local this half term, rather than the usual trip to France and Euro Disney.

Here are some ideas in preparation for when you wake up on Monday morning and the children ask "what are we doing today mummy?"

And if none of these ideas appeal ... you can always hire a babysitter and get a massage!

All Aboard! Try the IMAX with Children

We took the Boys to the Imax on Southbank yesterday, to see the wonderful movie, 'The Polar Express'. 
 
This is not a review of the film, however; it's been out for long enough (five years) that there's a pretty good chance you'll already have seen it, and if you haven't, I suggest you rush down to Sainsbury's where the dvd is usually on special offer at Christmas for around £5.  Then settle down for an afternoon of escapism with your children - I defy you not to be swept up in the story...

Try ice skating with the kids, it's fun, really...

The Ice Rink and the Christmas Fair at the Natural History Museum are billed as 'London's most spectacular winter attraction'.
 
Well, what could be better for a cold November afternoon when the nights are drawing in and the park is out of the question?  We took our two boys (five and three years old) and a couple of visiting family members to see if it lived up to the hype.
 
To a certain extent, it does.  It's in a fabulous location right in front of the beautiful Victorian façade of the museum, and is prettily lit by twinkling white lights in the surrounding trees, so it certainly looked festive enough.

Nip boredom in the bud! Top 50 activities for children this half term

I used to measure the success of school breaks based on the number of trips made to A&E. One year I had to deal with a 2-year-old who lost her fingernail in a slammed door AND a 3-year-old who broke her arm whilst climbing out of her cot.

We've moved on since then, and so has the economy.

The credit crunch means that many people may opt to stay local this half term, rather than the usual trip to France and Euro Disney.

Here are some ideas in preparation for when you wake up on Monday morning and the children ask "what are we doing today mummy?"

And if none of these ideas appeal ... you can always hire a babysitter and get a massage!