Families and children of all ages from across the city can try out exciting activities which will ignite their curiosity and imagination this half term.
Just one of the events this week/next week is the Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity. There will be plenty of free and fun activities to get children interested in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
Science buskers, a pop-up planetarium and space-themed sensory pods are just some of the ways the festival is helping young children discover more about STEM.
Libraries across the city will be joining in by hosting actioned packed days of science experiments and fun activities at Clifton, Central, Hyson Green and Bulwell Riverside libraries.
The festival is aimed at people of all ages but especially children, young people and their families and features a range of free, inclusive and engaging activities at three city centre venues and in Nottingham’s neighbourhoods.
Other active and fun events happening across the city all this half term, include:
- School Holiday Activities for just £1 per day!
Keep the kids entertained and active with School’s Out. Join other children and young people to try out different sports, play games and have a go at arts & crafts. 9am to 4pm every day. For ages 8 to 15 years.
- Wild Wanderings at Wollaton
Follow the Wild Wanderings Trail around the formal gardens and into the Natural History Museum to see if you can find all the wandering animals! More information is available from the Hall reception. Youngsters can take part in crafty fun from 10am to12 noon daily and can create their own mask or collage. Trail £1, Crafts £2
- Chester the Jester Fun Week activities
Try the trail and help Chester the Jester find the missing shields hidden around Nottingham Castle. Find them all and claim your prize! Join in with “make & take” crafts daily from 10am to 12noon. Kids will also enjoy handling objects from our medieval collections daily from 2pm to 4pm. Both activities are just £1
There should be something for everyone this half term with our eight Play & Youth Centres and 18 Children’s Centres across the city offering a range of free and low-cost services and activities for families and their children.
Councillor David Mellen, Portfolio Holder for Early Intervention and Early Years, said: “Helping local families find ways to stay active, socialise and discover new things to do in the school holidays is really important and we’re proud to be able to offer so many educational and fun events for people in Nottingham to get involved in. Our libraries, play and youth clubs and children’s centres across the city are great places to go during the holidays and offer a wide range of low cost and free activities for all ages.”
Services at Children’s Centres can vary according to the needs of the local community but all centres provide links to childcare, family support and a range of parent and toddler activities. All of the centres also have family support teams who work with children and young people from birth to 19 and their families. They offer play and youth activities and support in areas including disability, mental health, emotional wellbeing and school attendance.
Full details about the whole range of half term activities on offer can be found at –https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/febhalfterm
Find your nearest children’s centres here – https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/childrenscentres
Check out some of the event run by the council’s children’s centre, youth and play staff
Aspley, Broxtowe and Bilborough
- Stay, Play and Learn (Chinese New Year) – Tuesday 16 February from 11am – 1pm at Phoenix Adventure Playground. Ages 0-8 years.
- Phoenix Play – Thursday 18 February from 3.30pm-5.30pm at Phoenix Adventure Playground. Ages 5-11 years .
- Aspley Youth Group – Thursday 18 February from 7pm-9pm at the YMCA on Melbourne Road. Ages 11-19 years.
- Stay and Play Meet the Zoo Animals – Tuesday 16 February from 9.30am-10.30am at Edwards Lane Community Centre. Booking by request.
- Stay and Play Zoo animal theme – Wednesday 17 February from 1pm-2.30pm at Sherwood Children’s Centre. Drop-in & Play!
- Forest Fields Play Session GIRLS NIGHT – Friday 19 February from 3.30pm-5.30pm at Forest Fields Play Centre. Lots of activities for girls to take part in: Girls football match Relaxation Techniques for ages 5 – 13yrs .
- Forest Fields Play Session Trip to Balloon Woods!! – Saturday 20 February from 11.30am-3.30pm, meet at Forest Fields Play Centre. Survival activities, orienteering, team building a shelter, archery and fire safety for ages 5yrs to 13yrs.
- Soft play activity – Tuesday 16 February from 10am-12pm at Clifton Leisure centre. Refreshments/snacks on offer in the Party Room for under 5’s. Limited places so please book.
- Winter Walk with park activities – Wednesday 17 February from 1.30pm-3pm. Meet at Clifton Children’s centre and head to Loxley Park. Please book.
- Summerwood community Gardens – Thursday 18 February from 3.30pm-5.30pm at Summerwood Community Gardens. Arts & carts, planting mini pots, woodwork, and bug box making for 8-12 years.
Bestwood, Basford, Top Valley and Bestwood Park
- Arts/ Crafts Active Play – Wednesday 17 February from 1pm-3pm at Old Basford Community Centre. Outdoor Activities games and sports for ages 5 to 13.
- Stay and Play (Messy Play) (Old Macdonald Theme) – Thursday 18 February from 10.45am-12pm at Basford Library.
- The Ridge – Friday 19 February from 3.15pm – 5.15pm. Arts/ Crafts, Active Play, Outdoor Activities games and sports for ages 5 to 13.
- Messy Play – Monday 15 February from1.30pm-3pm at Meadows Children’s Centre. Come along and have some messy fun and explore your child’s senses for under 5’s.
- LIL MINIS Street Dance – Tuesday 16 February from 5pm-5.45pm at Queens Walk Community Centre for 5-8 years old.
- Junior Street Dance – Tuesday 16 February from 5.45pm-6.30pm at Queens Walk Community Centre for 9-12 years.
- Tots Time Story and Rhyme Time – Monday 15 February from 10:30am – 11am at Bulwell Library. Children can experience singing and discovering the wonders of books for ages0–5 Years
- Stay and Play – Thursday 18 February from 1:30-3pm at Bulwell Children’s Centre. Families can have fun exploring a variety of activities which stimulate their children’s learning and development for ages 0-7.
- Stay and Play – Thursday 18 February from 9:30am – 11am at Bulwell Riverside, Play and Youth centre. Families can have fun exploring a variety of play activities which will stimulate their learning and development for under 5s.
Radford, Dunkirk, Wollaton ,Lenton and Lenton Abbey
- We Are Going On A Bear Hunt – Tuesday 16 February from 1am-12pm at Radford Children’s Centre. Come along to join the bear hunt adventure, with messy and sensory activities. Children can bring along their favourite soft toy for a teddy bears picnic.
- Balloon Woods Adventure Playground – Saturday 20 February from 12pm-3pm. Children can take part in Survival and Environmental Activity day for 5-13yrs.
- The Vale Youth Club – Wednesday 17 February from 7pm-9pm at Wollaton vale Community Centre. Lots of activities including projects, sports, games and crafts for 13 to 19yrs
- Epic Community Games – Monday 15 to Wednesday 17 February from 10am – 12pm @King Edward Park. Multisports SAS Football Camp Music/Lyric 1pm-3pm @King Edward Park. A Multisports Tournament with prizes, SAS Football Camp and Arts & Crafts £1 per child £2 per family. Registration 9:45am
- Play Session – Thursday 18 February from 3:30pm – 5:30pm at the Oliver Hind Club. Help to make a Disney “UP” House and take part in a Winter Sports Challenge! Xbox, Arts & Crafts, Sports, Table Tennis & Pool Activities for 5 – 11 years. 30p per session.
- Stay and Play Zoo Animal Theme – Wednesday 17 February from 9:30am -11am at Hyson Green Children’s Centre.
- Forest Fields Play Session GIRLS NIGHT – Friday 19 February from 3.30pm-5.30pm at Forest Fields Play Centre. Lots of activities for girls to take part in: Girls football match Relaxation Techniques for ages 5 – 13yrs.
- Forest Fields Play Session Trip to Balloon Woods!! – Saturday 20 February from 11.30am-3.30pm, meet at Forest Fields Play Centre. Survival activities, orienteering, team building a shelter, archery and fire safety for ages 5yrs to 13yrs.
- Trip to Stonebridge City Farm – Monday 15 February from 11am-12pm.This is a chance to meet and greet different animals’ everyday so please meet sat the farm entrance at 10:45am to be signed in.
- Junior Youth Session – Tuesday 16 February from 6:30 – 8:30pm at Russell Youth Club. Paint Bombing, Sports, Arts and Crafts, Xbox, Pool and Table Tennis for 10 – 13 Year Olds.
- Youth Session – Friday 19 February from 7pm-9pm at Russell Youth Club. Canvas Painting, Forest Football, Sports, Arts and Crafts, Xbox, Pool and Table Tennis for 11 – 16 Year Olds.
- Play Session – Friday 19 February from 3:30pm – 5:30pm at St. Ann’s Adventure Playground. Fun, games, Arts & Crafts, messy Play Free Play Adventure Park Play5 – 13 Year Olds
Anyone who cares for or is expecting a child can register to use the centres. For more information head to www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/childrenscentres