Places to take children during the school holidays
JOBURG - With the school holidays well underway, parents are undoubtedly freaking out ever so slightly about how to keep their kids occupied during their downtime.
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Luckily, there’s a few fun options to choose from.
Animal-loving kids will adore Lory Park Animal and Owl Sanctuary. Smaller than a conventional zoo, Lory Park gives you and your children the chance to get down and dirty with their animals as they often have a few lion, jaguar and even tiger cubs that you can play with for a minimal fee. You have the options of grabbing a quick bite or taking your own meat and making a day of it with a braai while the kids play on jumping castles and jungle gyms. Entrance is R80 for adults and R50 for kids over two years old.
Find Lory Park at 180/1 Kruger Road, President Park, Midrand. Details: 011 315 7307 or visit www.lorypark.co.za
Take a walk on the wild side by checking out the Montecasino Bird Gardens and its fantastic variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and even a few unusual animals from around the world. It’s the perfect place for the kids as there are always a number of shows, activities and holiday programmes available to keep them occupied. Prices vary depending on what activities you’d like to do.
Find the Bird Gardens at Montecasino. Details: www.montecasino.co.za
The Little Cooks Club is perfect for those baking-mad kiddies of all ages, and even their parents, as the club has adult courses available. The aim is to get children to understand food and its nutritional value, as well as get them involved in the cooking process. They’ll be taught how to use kitchen equipment, math skills by learning to measure ingredients and tune their fine motor skills by teaching them how to chop properly. All while baking and cooking up a storm! Everyone wins in this one. They are situated in various areas, and prices may vary.
Details: www.littlecooksclub.co.za
Creative types will want to get craft mad at the Pottery JunXion. They’ve got a fantastic selection of holiday activities for the kiddies over the holidays where they can create plates, mugs, mosaics, cute sculptures and even chess pieces. There are also workshops every Saturday. Their imaginations can run wild … and it’s a great way for you to stock up on homemade gifts. Prices vary depending on the activities and equipment used.
Find Pottery JunXion at 5 Glendower Place, 99 Linksfield Road, Dowerglen Edenvale. Details: 011 453 2721 or www.potteryjunxion.co.za
*Article first published in 2015