Here are a few activities to get your child involved in during the holidays.
The Johannesburg Zoo:
For children who enjoy the creepy crawlies, visit the new Amazon exhibit at the zoo. The exhibit boasts both beautiful and scary creatures which were previously unavailable to the zoo. There is also a new aquarium that will make anyone feel as though they are walking under water.
Children under seven can enjoy a family fun day, which is a guided ferry tour around the zoo. Older kids can even spend the whole morning at the zoo if they want, with the holiday fun programme keeping them busy from 9am until 1pm.
The evening encounters are best if you can get a group together who love nocturnal animals. Everyone will appreciate the hot chocolate and marshmallows that are included in the entrance fee. For all of these events, pre-booking is essential. Details: 011 646 2000; Click here for more details.
Acrobranching:
Acrobranching gives you and the kids the chance to unleash your inner ape and go swinging through the tree tops. The Acrobranch park in Melrose consists of four courses and is equipped with zip lines, swing bridges and Tarzan swings. The courses are family-friendly and safe for children as young as three years of age, and there’s a lot of variety: Sprinting Cheetah for speedsters and Stalking Leopard for testing balance. Details: 078 438 7463; melrose@acrobranch.co.za; www.acrobranch.co.za
Get the little ones active:
Philip and Irene Maxton are offering parents the opportunity to sign their children up for squash lessons these holidays until 8 July.
The squash for beginners holiday programme will be hosted at the Parkview Squash Centre, 5 Emmarentia Avenue, Parkview. Children will need non-marking sports shoes, a squash racket and lots of enthusiasm. Details: Irene on 072 296 5611; Cindy on 082 927 9629.
For the love of arts:
The National Children’s Theatre holiday camp invites all children between the ages of seven and 17 interested in broadening their theatrical skills from singing, dancing and acting to other theatre training to join them. Until 4 July. Details: Claudy on 011 484 1584; booking@nctt.org.za
Dance the morning away with a ballet dancer at the Killarney Mall. Learn the steps to your favourite show and get inside tips and expert advice from these talented dancers from 11.30am to 12.15pm on 6 July. Details: 011 646 4657.
A week-long ballet boot camp, taught by professional dancers and teachers at the Joburg Ballet in Braamfontein. Classes in ballet, contemporary, repertoire, jazz, pointe work, pilates and more. The week culminates in a performance by all participants on Saturday. Classes for juniors are from 8am to 1pm; while classes for seniors are from 8am until 4pm. Until 5 July. Details: 011 877 6898; 011 877 6884.
Reach for the stars:
If stars, constellations and comets are your kid’s thing, the Johannesburg Planetarium should be at the top of your to-do list. The Sky Tonight show runs every Friday at 8pm, and gives you a tour of the heavens. The Space Travel show is for five to eight year olds on Saturdays at 10.30am. The planetarium has experts on- site to answer any of your astronomy questions. Telescopes are also for sale at the planetarium which means you can take star-gazing into your own hands. Details: Tel 011 717 1390; planet@planetarium.co.za; www.planetarium.co.za
