Yes, the holidays, and help is at hand
Be ready. The winter school holidays are fast approaching, and there’s a fair chance the cries of “I’m bored” will soon follow. Start planning now and your children will breeze through the holidays while you breathe a sigh of relief. There’s plenty to keep everyone entertained and learning new things.
Christchurch City Council’s holiday programmes do just that, with 18 locations across the city offering a range of activities for children aged 5 to 16. For as little as $5 a day with a Community Services Card, you can drop the children and know they’ll be in safe hands as they discover new things and make new friends. For a full list of programmes and locations, look online at www.ccc.govt.nz/programmes/holidayprogrammes/ If you don’t have the internet at home, call into one of the City Council libraries and ask one of the staff to show you how to get started.
There’s plenty to see and do just a bus ride away in the central city. Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu is free and during the holidays has two great activities aimed at younger visitors. The My World exhibition explores the world through the eyes of Canterbury children, while Alphabet Adventures (9-24 July, from 10am-4pm) offers interactive experiences of the Gallery and the works on display for 5 to 12-year-olds. There’s no need to book. Again, more on the web, at www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz
Still in the central city, the Central Library’s Centre for the Child is a great place to spend some time, with its books, picture books, DVDs and videos, computers, posters, comics and magazines.
The library also has a young adults area with magazines, internet access and Sky TV. All city residents can join Christchurch City Libraries free, and under-19s also get free reserves. Your nearest community library also offers a wide range of resources for young adults and children. When it’s time to head outside again, the Botanic Gardens has SOS — Save Our Seeds, a garden quest for 7s and over accompanied by a caregiver, from 11am-3pm daily during the holidays.
Finally, just in case you’ve missed it, Christchurch City Council’s 14th annual TV2 KidsFest —www.kidsfest.co.nz — runs from 9-22 July across the city.
Christchurch City Libraries are at the heart of the festival action, with activities throughout the holidays at libraries all over the city, including a four-day course at the South Learning Centre, Beckenham, for 10s and over to create a visual time capsule for 2005, arts and crafts sessions and six special Hairy Maclary storytimes hosted by Hairy’s creator, Lynley Dodd. Please note, however, that most events need to be booked in advance. Find out more at http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Events/Kidsfest
|
