I don't know where you're reading this from - the wonders of the internet mean you could be on a beach in Hawaii, soaking up glorious amounts of Vitamin-D laden sunshine - but I'm in Britain and it's cold, grey and rainy. Summer has not so much gone away as just never really got started. A few burst of warmth, like athletes out of the blocks, and then "No! it's a false start!". So, I'm thinking hard about what we're going to do all summer long, if sitting in the park and eating ice-cream is out of the question. Luckily, there are plenty of attractions in the South that can help you out.
A museum always goes down well - our default for a while was the London Transport Museum, where kids go free and an adult entry ticket buys you admission for a year. So we could just pop in on a rainy afternoon, and my toddler could run free, in and out of the trains and climbing on the play buses. And then fighting with other small children over who got to drive.
Museums are such different places from when we were small. Back then, they were dusty and dark, with taxidermed samples of things hidden behind thick glass. Now, they are light and airy and really welcome children. Some even have dedicated, indoor play areas - I was excited to see that the Submarine Museum in Gosport has just opened one, called "Busy Boats", where children can play at being submariners. My little boy used to love the submarine exhibit at the Imperial War Museum before it closed, so we'd like to test it out!
But it's not just museums - libraries are also welcoming to children, and often have singing groups where you can meet other parents who are sheltering from the rain. And then there are science centres. These were just emerging when I was at school, but now they're everywhere, from the Science Museum in London to Techniquest in Cardiff. They are hands-on, interactive and educational. One of my favourites is the Intech Centre in Hampshire, which has loads of things to do as well as a cafe and picnic area. It works for entertaining my science-minded friends as well as the toddlers!
So, this summer don't let the drizzle keep you indoors. Find somewhere fun to play and let your kids run off all their energy. They might even learn something at the same time!
A museum always goes down well - our default for a while was the London Transport Museum, where kids go free and an adult entry ticket buys you admission for a year. So we could just pop in on a rainy afternoon, and my toddler could run free, in and out of the trains and climbing on the play buses. And then fighting with other small children over who got to drive.
Museums are such different places from when we were small. Back then, they were dusty and dark, with taxidermed samples of things hidden behind thick glass. Now, they are light and airy and really welcome children. Some even have dedicated, indoor play areas - I was excited to see that the Submarine Museum in Gosport has just opened one, called "Busy Boats", where children can play at being submariners. My little boy used to love the submarine exhibit at the Imperial War Museum before it closed, so we'd like to test it out!
But it's not just museums - libraries are also welcoming to children, and often have singing groups where you can meet other parents who are sheltering from the rain. And then there are science centres. These were just emerging when I was at school, but now they're everywhere, from the Science Museum in London to Techniquest in Cardiff. They are hands-on, interactive and educational. One of my favourites is the Intech Centre in Hampshire, which has loads of things to do as well as a cafe and picnic area. It works for entertaining my science-minded friends as well as the toddlers!
So, this summer don't let the drizzle keep you indoors. Find somewhere fun to play and let your kids run off all their energy. They might even learn something at the same time!