Parents, as you well know, Thursday is THE day. The apocalypse. The end of life as we know it. The day you have dreaded for almost a year.
That's right... it's the first day of the summer holidays.
Ok, so I'm being a little over-dramatic but any parent will know that trying to keep a child (or multiple siblings) amused for six weeks is a gargantuan task. Think Mission Impossible 1, 2, 3 and Ghost Protocol. If you're lucky, you get to the end of the first day without wanting to throw yourself (or your precious offspring) off a cliff. Then you only have five weeks and six days to go...
STAY AWAY FROM THAT EDGE!
thebestof Watford can help. Take a look at our constantly updated Local Events pages and you'll find a whole host of ideas, activities and events that will keep children of all ages out of trouble – and out of your hair.
Here are just a few of our favourites...
Go Ride Club
Go-Ride is British Cycling's development programme for young people, and for the next five Friday evenings, have organised 90 minutes sessions to introduce 5 to 16 year olds to the world of competitive cycling.
Go-Ride Club takes place at Watford Cycle Hub from 5:30pm until 7pm on Friday 25th July, 1st August, 8th August, 15th August and 22nd August. Sessions cost just £1 and need to be booked through Watford Cycle Hub.
Please click here for further details about Go-Ride.
There is also a Go-Ride tour event aimed at kids at Cassiobury Park's Bandstand in Watford on Saturday 26th July.
Kids cycle races are completely free; again, contact Watford Cycle Hub to find out more.
Barracudas Activity Day Camps
How would your child like access to more than 80 fun-filled activities this summer? With Barracudas Activity Day Camps this summer, that's exactly what they'll get – a huge range of things to do, including swimming, archery, fencing, clay model making, motorsports, drama and dance, as well as the chance to make lots of new friends.
And for us parents, you are safe in the knowledge that your child is being looked after by OFSTED registered professionals. Day Camps run from 28th July until 22nd August and prices start at £37 per day or £144 per week. Activities are aimed at children between 4 ½ and 16 years old and hours are flexible, from 8am until 6pm. So if you're trying to juggle work with looking after the children during the summer holidays, this is the perfect solution!
More in-depth information can be found by clicking here.
Big Screen on the Parade
One for the whole family – this summer, the big screen is coming to Watford's Parade, with a range of classic and popular films showing from Wednesday 30th July until Sunday 3rd August. Children will love the weekend's films, which include Wall-E, The Lego Movie and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Click here for the full timetable of movies showing over the weekend.
Get Arty this summer at Watford Museum!
Every Friday throughout the summer, Watford Museum is encouraging local children to get creative. For example, Friday 1st August sees an Origami Workshop for 8 to 13 year-olds, whilst Friday 8th August is all about an Animal Farm Workshop.
Sessions take place between 2pm and 4pm and cost £2 per child. Please note that booking is essential for all workshops.
An example of a Watford Museum Workshop can be found by clicking here.
Creative Colosseum
Come along to Watford Colosseum from Monday 4th August until Friday 8th August for a week of creative arts, designed to inspire children aged between 7 and 14. If your child is into performing arts, they will love Creative Colosseum! Activities include Project Carnival, Circus, Stage Combat/Clowning and Magic, rounded off at the end of the week with a Procession around the venue itself.
The course for the week costs £180; days start at 10am and finish at 4pm.
Want to know more about Creative Colosseum? Simply click here.
Watford Cycle Hub
In addition to their Go-Ride activities, Watford Cycle Hub has planned a number of additional events aimed at kids over the summer holidays. There's a Learn to Ride Course running from Monday 11th August until Friday 15th August for children aged between 5 and 16 who are total beginners. The course costs just £40 in advance (or £10 per two hour session per day).
Please click here for more information.
There's also a Kids Skills Development Course running during the same week for children who can already ride but want to enhance their riding skills.
Click here to find out more.
Family Fun Day
Stanborough Park School in Garston, Watford, is playing host to a fantastic Family Fun Day on Sunday 24th August. With free admission, the whole family will have a great day, with an open air concert, bouncy castle, Tug-O-War, acrobats, sandbag races, beauty treatments and much more planned.
The Family Fun Day is taking place from midday until 6pm. More information about the day can be found by clicking here.
Feel the Beat
Does your child like making noise? Help them channel that energy by taking them along to Holywell Community Centre on Monday 25th August, from 10am until 11am to feel the beat and try out drumming!
The session is ideal for 7 to 14 year olds and costs £2. Please note that limited places are available so we recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.
Please click here for further details.
This is just a selection of the child-friendly activities happening in Watford this summer – make sure you visit thebestof Watford's Local Events pages to stay up to date with everything going on in your area during July and August 2014.
