Wednesday 17 December 2014

Soft Play in Streatham at Toddlers' World

Streatham, like West Norwood, has a fairly new leisure centre so not only do locals of Streatham have a new pool (review coming soon!) but they have a new gym and the opportunity to have a new Toddlers' World! How exciting! Soft play spaces for preschool children are always welcome so to see if this one was any good I took my two year old daughter to test it out.

The soft play is located in one part of the leisure centre's main hall. Buggies are parked outside the hall and there are lockers for people's belongings. Toilets are close by though if I remember correctly, there is only one baby change!!! Upon entering the hall, shoes, coats and bags are placed by the wall if you haven't left them locked up.

The space is filled with soft shapes for babies and young toddlers to climb and jump on. My daughter had a clamber on these objects trying to avoid the babies and their mums who were sitting around the space creating an obstacle course.  I had to keep a close eye on my daughter's interactions with the little ones as she doesn't always understand that she needs to be careful around babies.

There is also a big bouncy castle with a slide which clearly works best with older kids. One side is for bouncing which is an easy win with kids (and mums). The other part of this inflatable is a slide. To access the top of the slide the children have to climb up a dark and quite steep tunnel which has no room for a parent's helping hand. Young toddlers regularly attempted to climb the stairs. They would then get scared and stuck, and their mums would have to go in to coax them out.  Often you would see a great big grown-up bottom sticking out of the entrance to the tunnel steps, head inside trying to persuade the nervous child to come back down.

In some cases, the kid would get out of the tunnel at the top and then decide they didn't want to go down the slide. On a normal slide, mum or dad can lean in and help their child down but this isn't so easy to do on this strange bouncy slide thing. So yes, I found myself going up the bouncy tunnel steps to persuade my daughter to slide down with me.

This slide and tunnel really works better with the four to five year old children. Those who were around had no problems, often walking over -  yes over - the small kids who were crying because they were half way up a dark tunnel, not sure how to get down and they couldn't see their parent.

To sum up, everything is still sparkly and new, there are soft shapes for the very little and a big bouncy thing for the big but I'm not sure it serves the 2-3 year old children very well. It also feels overcrowded which means I'm uncomfortable with letting my child really run around.

For me, the most eventful moment was when my two year old managed to bang her head. A big egg bump started to appear and I asked the guy in charge if he had a first aid kit with a cold compress. He didn't so he went up to reception to ask. They told me to put some water on a tissue and hold it to her head. This is a leisure centre with an ice skating rink! No-one was very sure about first aid for a small child!! I really wasn't impressed with that but hope it was a one off.

I'd love to hear other's experiences of the space. Did it work better for you and your family?

Streatham Ice and  Leisure Centre Information

Streatham Ice and  Leisure Centre is located at 390 Streatham High Road  London, SW16 6HX

It costs £2.85 a session.

The centre can be contacted on 020 8677 5758.

The opening times of the Toddlers' World are:

Monday       10:00 to 12:00pm  
Tuesday       10:00 to 12:00pm
Thursday     10:00 to 12:00pm
Friday           10:00 to 12:00pm

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Want to know more about soft play facilities in the Lambeth area and beyond? Read the following:


Sunday 7 December 2014

LattjoPop : A new space to eat, play and shop!

Most parents want somewhere to sit, have a cuppa, a cake and somewhere to let the kids run off some steam so the opening of LattjoPop, a family friendly cafe, in South Streatham is a great addition to the area. Located between Streatham Common and Norbury, on a quiet shopping parade, LattjoPop offers a large relaxing space  which includes room to park the buggies and a little kids play area. There is a big outdoor space which will be great when the weather warms up again.

 
The cafe area
Regular activities for parents and children are held each week including crafts, messy play and singing and storytime. Check out their website for the latest timetables. Special family activities such as seasonal crafts run throughout the year. The space can also be hired for birthday parties.

Making Christmas cards.
Not only is it a family café  but there are things to buy including cards, toys and jewellery offering a much needed opportunity to buy gifts in the South Streatham area. But LattjoPop isn’t just about selling food and gifts; it’s a place which supports local businesses by offering the possibility to rent the space to sell products, to run events or to use it as a hot desk space.
Space to sell
The retail boutique can accommodate two businesses a week to pop up and offer their products to local people. The back office room is available if you need a space to work.  The main café can be hired to run workshops as part of the daily LattjoPop family friendly café or can be taken over for a day or an evening to run an event such as an all-day sewing workshop. This is a really great opportunity for South Streatham and for those looking for a platform to promote and sell their products or services.  

I’m currently doing a free singing and storytime session on Fridays from 1pm to 2pm.  Come along and join in. Bring your instruments – it’s an opportunity to make noise.
Making music!
LattjoPop is located at 544 Streatham High Road, SW16; it is open Monday to Friday 10 til 5 and Saturday 10 til 4. For those interested in the business opportunity, contact Isra through the LattjoPop Facebook page or go and visit the shop.  For those looking to start out in business, there is a great opportunity here.  Let’s use it and not lose it! 


Wednesday 5 November 2014

Taking Baby for a Swim Part 6: West Norwood Health and Leisure Centre

So things are a-changing! New leisure facilities have arrived and they need reviewing!

Princess Boo is less of a baby and definitely a toddler at 2 & 3/4 so our needs at the swimming pool have changed; however some issues are still the same. Let's take a look at Lambeth's latest addition to their swim facilities!

West Norwood's eagerly awaited lesiure centre opened during the summer. Would there be a creche to show that the council and leisure centre understood the needs of local mums? Hell no! The protest by Streatham Mums have been ignored. So although local parents aren't going to get a chance to take a small break from their kids to go to the gym or have a swim, they can bring the whole family for one of the family swim sessions.

The first rule of West Norwood swim is there is only one pool and it looks small. It is a standard 25m long and when it gets divided up so that other users can have private lessons, it starts to feel a little crowded. Saturday's swimming session felt a little cosy at times; however because the session is around lunchtime, most parents will be feeding their kids and shouldn't be taking them for a swim directly after food. A bit of strange planning by the leisure centre!

As Princess Boo is walking and talking and running and screaming, our needs at the swimming pool are slightly different. We still need a buggy park - and they do have a few spaces to store the pushchairs. On arrival, we gathered our swim stuff, parked the buggy (known as robot bug) and headed to the changing rooms. The pool is on the ground floor so easy to get to. There are separate male and female changing rooms. Each facility contains cubicled showers, toilets and changing areas. The changing space are good sizes so that even the single units have enough room for a parent and a child.

Me and Boo did some swift undressing as she kept trying to unlock the door which was very easy for her to do. I then had to load up our belongings into my arms and carry them out to the locker whilst trying to locate a pound coin to work the lock and hold onto a small child who was desperate to throw herself at the water even though her experience of it is limited.I spotted her dad and he came to the rescue so I managed to put our clothes away without dropping them in puddles.

Next up, the pool! Family swim sessions involve lots of floats and my daughter thought this was fab as did her father who tried to build a giant raft. A small area of the pool is divided from the main pool and the floor is 0.8 metres so Princess Boo could just about stand up in it. In this section I could securely rest on the bottom and hold her but in the main bit of the pool I had to stand to hold her which made it a little less relaxing. There are a few steps which lead into the main pool area but it's not really enough space for parents to sit and let their little ones walk up and down. Plus, the space feels a little cold. I was glad to be under the water.

So we had our swim fun and decided to try out the family change space. They have two very  big cubicles outside of the main changing rooms. These have a baby change and you can take in a push chair if needed . We went into the slightly smaller size which was a bit crowded for two adults and one small child who was still trying to open the door and revel naked mummy to the  people of Norwood. The biggest inconvenience of the family changing room was that they were very far away from the showers which are in the male or female changing room so one family member had to sacrifice shower time.

So overall, the facilities aren't bad. The pool looks out onto trees and lets in lovely light. And the space is generally clean and new. It's great for the area to have a pool. Check it out and let us know what you think!

West Norwood Health and Leisure Centre Information

West Norwood Health and Leisure Centre is located at 25 Devane Way, West Norwood, SE27 0DF

At the leisure centre, adults (non-members)  pay £4.20 per swim and babies pay £1.85. The centre can be contacted on 020 8761 1159.

The opening times of the pool are:

Monday - Friday       6:30 - 10:00pm
Saturday                    8:00 to 5:00pm
Sunday                       8:00 to 4:00pm

It's always worth phoning the pool to check it's open or that there hasn't been a change to the timetable.
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Want to know more about swimming with babies in the Lambeth area and beyond? Read the following:

Thursday 3 July 2014

What's on for the family: 5th to 6th July 2014

What's this? Another weekend post? Oh yes, I've actually managed to get it together - enough to pull together a post giving you some highlights of what's going on in and around Lambeth this weekend!

SATURDAY:

  • Telferscot Primary School: Telferscot Road, SW12 0HW
    • @ 12pm - 3pm // Adults: £1, Children: FREE
    • It's Summer Fiesta Time at this little primary school that's jam packed with lots of fun for the family: games, crafts and music workshops with Kinetico Bloco to name a few.
  • Young Lambeth Cooperative: Windrush Square, Effra Road, SW2 1QJ
    • @ 12pm - 5pm // FREE
    • "The Young Lambeth Cooperative (YLC) will be having a Community Launch Party this Saturday 5th July at Windrush Square, 12pm-5pm. The aim of the event is to let the community know who we are, and get everyone signed up as members, so the community can have a say in where the funding goes for young people's services in Lambeth. We will be having food, a chance to sign up as a YLC member, live music & entertainment, and performances from local acts of all ages."
    • "What is the YLC?
      The Young Lambeth Cooperative (YLC) is a membership organisation set up by the community and the council to be the new vehicle that commissions services for young people in Lambeth. Anyone aged 11 and over can sign up and become a member to have a say in what services should be provided for our young people."

SUNDAY

  • Northcote Road Summer Fete 2014: Northcote Road.
    • @ 11am - 5pm // FREE, but rides charge - £15 ride-all-day wristbands are available!
    • You've got the Teacups, Astroglide and a new Toyset Roundabout to play on along with ping pong tables, a live entertainment stage and a market. They've even mapped everything out for you here.
    • The event is supporting Ickle Pickles, a local children's charity - you can find them in the playzone!
    • FYI you can get those wristbands from All Good Gifts and Hamptons International (both on Northcote Road)
  • Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Omnibus Clapham, SW4 0QW
    • @ 11am & 3pm // Adults: £9, Children £7
    • Suitable for 5+
    • Performance by Box Tale Soup, it has wonderful reviews and is sure to be lots of fun for young and old!
  • West Norwood Feast: Norwood Road.
    • @ 10am - 4pm // FREE
    • With July being such a sporty month, West Norwood have incorporated it into this months theme. Head to the children's activity tables or Artisans and one of their lovely volunteers will paint the flag of your choice. 
    • The garden at St Luke's will have the radio tuned in so you can listen to the Wimbledon final whilst munching on a slice of strawberries and cream cake - yum!
ACROSS THE WEEKEND
  • Books About Town: All over the city.
    • Books about town launched on Wednesday - benches shaped like open books are popping up all over London for everyone to find and enjoy.
    • BookBenches feature stories linked to London and are based on some of the most iconic - from children's stories such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to adult titles including 1984.
    • They've also launched a new website which includes family events, activities and quizzes, downloadable trail maps and information on each BookBench.
    • We're particularly excited to check out the Riverside trail - The Gruffalo, Dr. Seuss, Paddington Bear and lots more to add!

**DATE FOR THE DIARY**


If you've been living under a rock like me then you won't have realised that the annual Lambeth Country Show is happening on the 19th/20th July in Brockwell Park.


A fun weekend to be had by all it seems, so be sure to take a look here to see what's going on across the weekend.


That's all for now but be sure to keep checking back for updates!

Friday 27 June 2014

What's on for the family: 28th to 29th June 2014

Hello again Little Lambeth!

It's been a very busy couple of weeks and has seen another weekend without a post, but hopefully this weekend's will more than make up for it! Enjoy...


SATURDAY:

  • Lambeth Parish Fete: SE1 7JU
    • @ 2pm - 5pm - Adults £4 // Concessions £2.50 // Children £1.50 // Family £8
    • Thanks to the lovely people over at Vauxhall, the Oval and Kennington I found out about this wonderful event, with a rare opportunity to view the Lambeth Palace Gardens. Lots of family friendly activities too! Entry is via the garden gate facing the river.
  • St Jude's CofE Primary School Summer Fair: Regent Road, Poet's Corner, 88 Rattray Road, Herne Hill, London, SE24 0EL
    • @ 1pm - 4pm - FREE
    • Lots of games and crafty activities for children, plus lots of lovely locally produced food, music and stalls.
  • The Abbeville Fete: Abbeville Road, SW4 9JU
    • @ 12pm - 4pm - FREE
    • The 18th fete to be run by the community for the community. So much fun going on you must check out their website! They even have a Kids Zone with lots of fantastic activities for your little ones! Plus all money raised goes to local charities - marvellous!
  • East Dulwich Literary Festival
    • @ 1pm - 5pm - FREE
    • Family Fun Day is happening at Harris Girl's Academy in East Dulwich - a jam packed scheduled with lots to do!
  • Friends of Windmill Gardens: Brixton Windmill Gardens
    • @ 10.30am - FREE
    • Whilst entry to the tournament is closed you may like to wander down and support some of the young teams. 
Of particular importance this weekend is:
So, there we have it a short (but rather sweet I'd say) guide to what's on in Lambeth this weekend.

Keep an eye on Twitter for any other things going on in and around the area this weekend and as always, if you want your event mentioned then just drop me an email!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday 12 June 2014

What's on for the family: 14th to 15th June 2014

Happy weekend Little Lambeth, I hope you've all been enjoying the beautiful weather!

Apologies for the lack of last weekends post - I was very fortunate to have a couple of days in Valencia, although no wifi which inevitably meant no post...

SATURDAY:
  • Mad Hatter's Tea Party: CoolTan Arts, Third Floor, 224-236 Walworth Rd, SE17 1JE
    • @ 1pm - FREE
    • CoolTan Arts opens its doors for a fun filled afternoon with four free workshops and the official opening of their new exhibition. The Mad Hatter's Tea Party is part of the Anxiety Arts Festival, challenging the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health. Head over to support a great charity.
  • Little Folk with Albo: Merton Abbey Mills, SW19 2RD
    • @ 10.30am - £4
    • A concert for children aged 0-6 - a great introduction to music!
    • Medieval Summer Festival: The Rookery, Covington Way, SW16 3XB
      • @ 12pm - £2.50 (adults)
      • A great festival for the family in it's 3rd year - so much going on you have to check out the link!
    • The Foundling Museum: The Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ
      • @ 10am (Sat & Sun) - FREE 
      • Celebrating their 10th Birthday, everyone is invited to their weekend long event where there will be a range of activities and performances to suit all ages. Cake is included!
    • Dulwich Bakery: 78 Park Hall Road, SE21 8BW
      • @ 10am - FREE
      • Head over to sample some of their delicious Ladel and Larder chutneys and pickles! Why not pop in to Wigwam to wish them a very happy (belated) first birthday...
    • Marie Curie Blooming Great Tea Party: Clapham Common Bandstand
      •  @ 10am
      • If you fancy a day at the park then why not head to the bandstand for your refreshments; tea and coffee, cakes and raffle tickets, the money all goes to a wonderful charity.
      • If you're there in the afternoon then you can catch Southwark Concert Band A's varied programme of rousing marches, Broadway and West End show tunes and modern interpretations of classic works - @ 3pm.
    SUNDAY:
    • Father's Day Workshop: Brockwell Park
      • @ 10.30am - FREE (donations are very welcome!)
      • Celebrate your dad by making him a fabulous father's day present inspired by their garden.
    • Spitalfields City Farm: Buxton Street, E1 5AR
      • @ 12pm - FREE
      • It's their Summer Market and it's happening every Sunday until the end of September! With performances, family activities and lots to eat and drink you're guaranteed a good day out - definitely worth the trip out of Lambeth.
    • The Fantastical Story Factory: Udderbelly Festival, Southbank
      • @ 2.30pm - £10
      • It's not cheap, but if you fancy a treat for Father's Day then this could be it. Suitable for ages 6+ The Fantastical Story Factory takes your ideas and makes them into stories...
    • The View from The Shard
      • Dad's go free with any full paying adult or child. Another pricey one, but if you're looking for something different then this is another option.
    • Pack a picnic and head to your local park
      • @ anytime you like - FREE
      • Pack up all of your picnic favourites and head down to your local park laden with family friendly games and of course a camera - lots of wonderful memories to be had doing this kind of thing! 
    Well there we are, another little guide to what's on in and around Lambeth this weekend.

    If you know of or are organising any local events then get in touch and we can update the post!

    Have a lovely weekend!

    Monday 2 June 2014

    Yummy Fun - Flapjacks!

    Well I'm not sure how often I'll be able to do these posts, but I had to share this recipe as it's by far the best flapjack I've made!

    On a search for different recipes (tried and tested) I settled upon this one from The Guardian and thought I would let you all in on it.


    Baby A definitely had lots of fun making/eating/licking it and despite the fact that it was incredibly messy - I'm still finding porridge oats - it was worth it for the fun we had.

    You will need:
    - 300g unsalted butter, plus extra to grease
    - 75g demerara sugar
    - 120g golden syrup (6 tablespoons)
    - 250g jumbo rolled oats
    - 200g quick-cook oats
    Method:
    1. Preheat the oven to 190C / 375F / gas 5 (150C / 300F / gas 2 if you prefer them chewy rather than crispy). Line a 30 x 20cm baking tin with baking parchment, cutting slits in each corner so it fits more neatly.

    2. Melt the butter in a small pan with the sugar, syrup and a pinch of salt. Stir well to combine, then take off the heat and stir in the oats. Press evenly into the tin and bake for 25 minutes for chewy, 30 minutes for crunchy, until set and golden. Allow to cool completely in the tin, but cut into squares a few minutes after they come out of the oven, before they harden.
    This recipe makes 16.
    I hope you enjoy them - let me know what you think & show us your photos on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook! (I just took at my pics of Ava & they were incredibly blurry - might be something to do with the golden syrup she was trying to drizzle all over the the floor)

    Sunday 1 June 2014

    Rainy Day Idea # 1

    What's this - a new type of post? Oh yes indeed and one which I hope will be somewhat useful to all you parents trying to entertain the little ones on a rainy day.

    With the weather looking like it could go either way over the next couple of days I thought I would share a recipe that I've tweaked for your own 'DIY playdough' - it's come from Anna over at The Imagination Tree except she has beautiful photos, so please do head on over and check it out.

    You will need:
    - 2 cups plain flour
    - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
    - 1/2 cup salt
    - 2 tbsp cream of tartar
    - Up to 1.5 cups boiling water (adding a little at a time until it feels right)
    - Food colouring (this is optional, but it's always nice)
    - Edible glitter (definitely optional, but how much fun!)

    Method:

    - Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar & oil in large mixing bowl
    - Add food colouring to the boiling water, in turn add this to the dry ingredients (bit by bit!)
    - Stir continuously until it combines (it should be sticky!)
    - Allow it to cool down, remove from bowl & knead vigorously until it is no longer sticky (it took me about 3 minutes!)
    - If it is still sticky then add just a little flour until you get it just right.

    According to the wonderful Anna, if you keep this in an airtight container it can last up to 6 months!!!

    Perfect for those rainy days at home...

    Friday 30 May 2014

    What's on for the family: 31st May - 1st June 2014

    Hello Little Lambeth, it's been a little while since one of these was posted and as it's my first time writing one of these posts I'm hoping I've got the right idea!

    I hope you've all had a good week and for those with young children on half term, I hope you've managed to keep everyone entertained during the rainy spells - there has been a lot of puddle splashing going on here!

    According to the BBC we've got a dry weekend ahead of us - I'm keeping my fingers crossed it stays that way!

    SATURDAY


    Bliss have got their London Buggy Push at Battersea Park for anyone who wants to go along and help raise money 'for babies born too soon, too small, too sick'. It's a 5k walk around beautiful Battersea Park with children's entertainment happening too. PS. You don't actually need a buggy to take part! Meet at 9.15am at the Bandstand!

    There's Venn Street Market at Clapham Common - open from 10am until 4pm get there early for a delicious Pain au Chocolat from The Old Post Office Bakery and head over to the park to enjoy it whilst your little ones entertain themselves in the playground!


    Toddle in the City have got a pre-festival 'toddle' happening in Crystal Palace this weekend at 10am, 1pm and 3pm. Treasure hunts for 3-6 year olds and their favourite adults (that will be A's aunts and grandparents then!). Free for Toddle teams you get given a digital camera and lots of clues of what you can find, but most of all you get to make some wonderful memories.

    If you fancy a trip (a lot) further north to Bethnal Green then be sure to check out the V&A Museum of Childhood. It's definitely a worthwhile journey and I could go on and on about it, but I'll leave that for another time... Every term-time weekend they run four sessions on both Saturday and Sunday: sensory storytelling and arts and crafts are but two - see here for more details!

    While you're there you could take a walk over to Victoria Park which has a lovely playground and some new water-play features according to Kate over at London with a Toddler.



    SUNDAY

    The National Trust's Morden Hall Park is described as a 'green oasis in the city' and with the launch of '50 things to do before you're 11¾' now seems as good a time as any to head down there for some Sunday family fun. Check out the website for how to get there...

    Families with a gallery ticket can enjoy ArtPlay or Gallery Stories at Dulwich Picture Gallery for their Family Sunday. Free for under 18s (£6 for adults going into the permanent collection) and open from 11am - 5pm there's even a Children's Trail to be picked up or downloaded to keep the little ones entertained while you wander through the gallery.  

    West Norwood's community market FEAST is happening this Sunday and it's all about dance, but as always there is something for everyone - they've even got a 'Spot the Local Landmark' quiz! Open from 10am - 4pm you've got the usual children's activities and live music to enjoy.

    Whatever you get up to this weekend I hope you have a wonderful time!

    If you're running any events, any day of the week then get in touch so we can let the people of Little Lambeth know!

    Wednesday 28 May 2014

    *Half Term Timetable Update*

    Although I couldn't get my hands on an electronic copy of the Clapham Manor / Heathbrook Children's Centre half term timetable, they were kind enough to let me know what is going on Thursday and Friday - just incase you are still looking for suggestions:

    THURSDAY:


    Clapham Manor - Make, Bake & Take @ 9.45am (booking req. call 020 7627 9917)
    Heathbrook - Speech & Language group 'Chattertime' @ 1.30pm

    FRIDAY:

    Clapham Manor - Little Diggers @ 10am
    Heathbook - Little Diggers @ 9.30am 
                       - Baby Fun Time @ 10am

    Hope this is helpful! 

    Monday 26 May 2014

    Hurrah for Children's Centres!

    Just a quick post to let you know about some of the Half Term activities going at your local Children's Centres.

    Afternoon sessions are running at Streatham Wells Primary School and Children's Centre (SW2 3NJ). Click here to see what's on!

    Jessop Children's Centre (SE24 0BJ) has a mixture of morning/afternoon sessions, click here to see what's going on!

    At Woodmansterne Primary School and Children's Centre (SW16 5XE) you've got Stay and Play sessions on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 'Milk Spot' on Wednesday afternoon at 2pm. Click here for session times!

    You've got morning sessions at Hitherfield Children's Centre (SW16 2JQ). Click here to see what's on!

    Take a look here for what's going on at Kingswood Children's Centre (SE27 9RD) this week.

    Afternoon Stay & Play sessions are running on Wednesday and Friday at Crown Lane Children's Centre (SW16 3HX) and you've also got 'Dad's Time' on Saturday morning. To see what else is going on and session times, click here!
    Enjoy your half term Little Lambeth and keep an eye on Twitter for last minute half term ideas!

    N.B. Not all of the Children's Centres have an online timetable available, let us know in the comments below if you know of any that are open that aren't listed here.

    Saturday 24 May 2014

    May Half Term Fun

    As is to be expected when your only child is 18 months, I have been completely unaware of the school year and the fact that half term is here! So apologies for the last minute post, I hope that you all find a little something to whet your children's tastebuds!

    Today I've been having a little look around to see what's on in and around Lambeth in the hope that it will give you a couple of ideas if you get stuck!

    Check out Lambeth Council's website here for some family friendly activities available throughout the week. You've got your wonderful library offerings across Lambeth for the under 5s that include stories and craft, along with a couple of half term specials.

    A couple of events to note here are:

    Vauxhall City Farm who are hosting a Spring Open Day tomorrow. You'll see sheep shearing, the Vegetable Orchestra and get to meet the animals as well as take home a free starter growing pack. 

    - Herne Hill Free Film Festival is showing The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! at Carnegie Library at 11.15 am - a great rainy day option!

    If you don't mind the travel then the V&A have a few options for half term, some free, some with charges, some suitable for the whole family, some suitable for children over 5. The Digital Kids event sounds pretty good to me - you get to grow your own garden using drawing, model making and animation.

    The Science Museum also has its fair share of half term happenings, I'm hoping to go along to Up, Up and Away - a free interactive storytelling session suitable for under 7s. 

    Returning south of the river the Horniman Museum has some Family Art Fun sessions running over half term, with a lovely little aquarium and a wonderful outdoor space it's definitely on my list! 

    I should probably mention the much anticipated Postman Pat movie, which you can see at the Ritzy in Brixton, ODEON in Streatham and also the Multiplex in Peckham.

    An alternative choice - not free I might add - is the Comedy Club 4 Kids at the Udderbelly which has a show tomorrow at 4.15pm. It's aimed at children over 6, but has had some pretty good reviews and I think could be great fun for an older child.

    Another activity worth mentioning is over at the Southbank Centre - The Curious Scrapbook of Josephine Bean; it's aimed at children over 7 and also comes well recommended however it does come at a price £14 for adults and £7 for children.
    If you want to look further afield then take a look at The Londonist for their comprehensive guide to half term activities - they are on the ball!

    I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for more local events happening, but for now I'll leave it at that. If you or anyone you know is running an event suitable for families then get in touch at ashleyjane.rogers@gmail.com

    It would be awesome if you readers could let us know if any of these suggestions are useful and what you want to see more of for the next holiday instalment! 

    I will be keeping my fingers crossed for sunny warm dry weather...