Mums and dads will know that the Summer holidays can be long and hard at times! Last week I posted 20 Things to do in & around Bishopston with Young Children this Summer which proved to be a popular article.
This week I wanted to focus on activities for children aged 5 – 11 living in and near Bishopston. I hope that you find it helpful and that it gives you some ideas of activities to enjoy with your kids. Please feel free to contact me if you have any more ideas to add to the list!
1) Visit the Golden Hill Community Garden
Did you know that every Wednesday from 10am – 4pm, the Golden Hill Community Garden is open to the public to drop-in for a visit. The garden is free to visit and it is a great chance for kids to enjoy some fresh air and nature!
2) Golden Fun Adventure Days at Golden Hill Community Garden
Every Tuesday throughout the Summer from 10am – 4pm will be packed full of activities and adventure for kids aged 6 – 12 years. There will be den making, dressing-up, storytelling, pizza making and eating and more! It is £25 per day which includes snacks and pizza made fresh from the froggy pizza over. Places are limited so please call Lucy on 07506 905 394 to book a place for your child!
3) Coaching sessions at Bristol School of Gymnastics
On Monday 18th and Friday 29th August from 10am – 1pm, there will be Gymnastic coaching sessions for school age kids at Bristol School of Gymnastics. There is a great gym there with loads of excellent apparatus so if you would like to book a place for your child, do email shirleyclementsbsg@yahoo.co.uk
4) Make a Muppet Puppet 5-day Holiday Club
If your child enjoys arty crafty activities, this one will be of interest. From Monday 11th – Friday 15th August at 10am – 12pm, there will be puppet making workshops with the artists of Scruffy Chicken.
5) Fantastic parks
We are lucky living in/near Bishopston to have so many parks to choose from!
There is the wonderful St Andrew’s Park (complete with its own nature reserve), Horfield Common with a brand new play area, a play park near Horfield Leisure Centre which is especially good for the 5 – 11 age range, Old Quarry Park in Henleaze and if you fancy a short drive to Westbury-on-Trym, do check out the fantastic Canford Park with its new play facilities especially for older children!
What’s more, there are FREE Pop-up Play in the Park days in several parks near Bishopston this Summer! Take a look at this list…
6) Free/cheap activities at our local libraries
The library is a great place to take kids of any age and break up the day and we are lucky to have Henleaze Library (our personal favourite) and Cheltenham Road Library close by. Kids aged 4 – 11 years can join the free 2014 Summer Holiday Reading Activity and what’s more, both these libraries are planning fantastic free/cheap activities especially for kids this Summer!
- 2 sessions: 10 -11am & 11.15am – 12.15pm
- FREE
Mythical Mask making: Henleaze Library A craft activity for kids aged 5 – 10 years.
- 10.30am – 12 noon
- Child 50p, adult N/A
ZooLab: Henleaze Library Animal handling workshop for kids age 4 – 12 years.
- 1pm
- Tickets: 50p
(Booking is essential for all of these activities).
6) Fit for Sport Summer Holiday Activities at Horfield Leisure Centre
There are reasonably priced sporty holiday activities for local children this Summer at Horfield Leisure Centre. There is a Strawberry Sprinters group for kids aged 5 – 7 years and an Apple Athletes group for kids aged 8 – 12 and you can book your child in either for half-day, standard day or extended day sessions.
7) FREE workshops for dads and their kids
Every Wednesday at the Wordsworth Centre in Horfield, there are free workshops especially for dads and kids aged 5 – 16.
8) Summer Day Camps at St Werburgh’s City Farm
If bushcraft, games and cooking on camp fires sounds up your child’s street this activity at St Werburgh’s City Farm will be of interest. From Monday 4th – Friday 8th August all of these activities will be available for kids on either a pay per day or full-week basis.
9) Tennis or Table Tennis on Horfield Common
Aside from the fantastic new play area on the Common that I mentioned in idea number 5 (plus new toilet facilities at the Ardagh), Horfield Common also has tennis courts which are free for the public to use and enjoy. So if you fancy teaching your child some tennis skills head on up there! Plus, there is even a table tennis table if you fancy a spot of table tennis!
10) FREE Summer Play Scheme at Elm Park Playing Fields
Though slightly further away in Filton, the Summer Play Scheme at Elm Park Playing Fields is specifically for the 5 – 11 year old age range and sounds well worth going the extra mile. There will be arts, crafts, sports & team games and runs on a drop-in basis so there’s no need to book. What’s more, it’s all free!
Now you can’t get better than that 🙂
Bishopston Mum 