Jack and Molly Xmas Show

La Mama Theatre
18th December, 11am

A show specifically designed for kids under five with lots of stories and songs to get them excited about Christmas. Tickets are $12 each. Visit the La Mama website for bookings.

Children's Carnivale Tiffin

Melba Restaurant @ The Langham Hotel
17th December - 28th January

This is the perfect outing for a 3 to 5 year old who deserves a special treat.
The three-tiered Tiffin stand includes;
◦Fairy floss
◦Popcorn
◦Clown cupcake
◦Three-ring circus punch
◦Balloon Cookie
◦Ham & cheese sandwich
◦Scones

Available between 10am and 1pm Monday to Friday. $25 per child plus the accompanying adult must have the traditional tiffin at $39. For bookings call Melba Restaurant on 1800 641 107 or email rest.res@langhamhotels.com

Playschool Concert 2011

March 2011
Victoria

Anyone with kids under five that watch Playschool should definitely book for the Playschool Concert. Held at various locations around Victoria, this is a fantastic event for this age group and a great first concert experience due to the relaxed and familiar nature of the show. Tickets are $14.50 each and babies under 1 are free. For bookings and further information, visit the Kids Promotions website.

Letters to Santa

Imagine your child's face when they recieve a letter from Santa addressed to them. Australia Post will send replies to letters to Santa. All you have to do is get your little one to write a letter to Santa, address it to Santa at North Pole 9999, include your return address and make sure you send it before the 17th December 2010.

To make it even more fun, post your letter at Santa's Mailbox in the City Square between 5th -17th December, 7am - 6pm.

Look! Exhibition Opening Celebration

State Library of Victoria
Swanston Street, Melbourne
Saturday 4th December, 11am - 4pm

To celebrate the opening of the exhibition Look! The art of Australian picture books today, the State Library are hosting a special family fun day with entertainment from Play School presenter Jay Laga’aia and Christof the clown, plus storytelling, drawing sessions with popular authors and illustrators, tours and creative activities.

Check the State Library website for the full schedule of events.

Sing A Long Mary Poppins

ACMI Cinemas
Federation Square
Sunday 29th May 2011, 10.30am and 1.30pm

I am very excited about this one as its one our favourite family movies and we felt the kids were just a bit too young for the stage show at $100+ a ticket. This is great value and the kids will love the sing a long. Check the ACMI website for further information, details to be posted shortly.

Kids Flicks

ACMI Cinemas
Federation Square

ACMI have a full program of kids flicks being screened over the Christmas holiday period, including Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Brothers Grimm fairytales and Hans Christian Anderson fairytales. Tickets are $6. Check website for session times and details.


Also look out for saturday sessions at Village and Hoyts. Dorothy the Dinosaur meets Santa Claus is playing this week at selected Hoyts cinemas

Walking with Dinosaurs

Hisense Arena
4th-15th May 2011

We're scaredy cats in our household so I doubt we'll be going to this life-size dinousaur show, but if your kids can cope with it I think this would be an amazing experience. Based on the award-winning BBC television series, this show is a "$20 million spectacle of unprecedented size and quality that travels from town to town in a staggering 33 semi-trailers." Pre-sale starts Friday 22nd October at 12 noon.

Danks St Playgrounds & Plum Garland Memorial Park

Danks Street Playgrounds, Albert Park
1. Cnr Victoria Av & Danks Street
2. Cnr Mills Street & Danks Street

This is a fantastic outing with the kids on a sunny day. Start out on Victoria Av picking up supplies at the IGA or grabbing a coffee from one of the cafes near Danks Street. Then head to the Danks St/Victoria Av playground where you can relax or catch up with friends whilst the kids explore the toddler-friendly playspaces and equipment including a birds nest swing (pictured above). Located on the median strip and fully fenced, this is a great playground for under-fives and a nice spot to just hang out with the kids. There is a good table setting for lunch and several bench seats with good visibility of the whole playground. From here you can walk down Danks Street and visit the other playground near the corner of Mills Street. This is another great playspace and it features a rocking tram that the kids will love.


Plum Garland Memorial Playground
Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park (near Victoria Av)

Now its time for a walk. Put the kids in the pram and head up Mills Street, cross over Beaconsfield Parade and walk along the beach until you come to the Plum Garland Memorial Park near Victoria Av. This is a great playground for under-fives as its right on the beach and well covered with shade sails. Being all sand means the kids can kick off their shoes and you don't have to worry about the little ones falling over and hurting themselves. My kids loved the wooden boat with its wheel house and passenger seats, plus the cubby structure where they could scoop up the sand and haul it up to the top level via a pulley system. Being right on the beach means this site can get a bit windy and of course quite hot on a sunny day, but its a great spot and the kids will love it. If you're still there at dinner time, it would be worth checking out the fish n' chip shops on Victoria Av. Otherwise take a walk down Victoria Av to Bridport Street or to St Vincent Gardens where there is another great playground and some nice picnic spots.

Children's Week 2010

Saturday 23rd October - Sunday 31st October

This could well be a state secret with the amount of build-up its recieved. Such a pity as it promises to be a great event for under-fives.

Children's Week is a celebration of young people based on the articles expressed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child highlighting play, wellbeing and protection. Hosted by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in conjunction with local councils, schools and early childhoood services, it focuses on the central theme of 'A Caring World Shares' and offers a program of kids activities in various locations around Melbourne.

The official launch of Children's Week will be held at Melbourne Zoo with a family fun day on Sunday 24th October. Kids under 15 years are free.

Other highlights include;
- Teddy Bear's Picnic at Lilydale Lake, Monday 25th October
- Smartycats at your local library, Tuesday 26th October
- Free Fun in the Park, Boroondara Parks, Tuesday 26th October
- Romp and Stomp Fun Day at Melbourne Museum, Wednesday 27th October
- Kids Day in the Park at Mornington Park, Wednesday 27th October
- African Circus Skills at Werribee Zoo, Saturday 30th October
- Children Week Celebrations at NGV, Sunday 31st October
- Children's Week Picnic at Werribee Park, Sunday 31st October
- The Mudcakes Happy Halloweenie Party, Williamstown, Sunday 31st October

For more information on Children's Week visit the DEECD website. The Children's Week 2010 Event Guide is searchable by local council so its a bit fiddly if you want to find out whats on around Melbourne as a whole but have a look and see what you can find.

ArtPlay

Birrarung Marr, Federation Square


Light Fantastic
Imagine, create and play in outer ‘art’ space. On Friday 8 October children will journey to the moon and explore strange shadow shapes made by different objects. If sunlight suffices, children will also make a photographic print using found objects. The journey continues on Thursday 4 November when children will make light drawings in space using glowsticks and then create a glow-in-the dark wall painting using special phosphorescent paints. Come on both dates, or just one, and explore with artist Hayley Rivers.
Friday 8 October and Thursday 4 November
$15 per child, bookings essential
10.30am to 11.15am (two to three years)
11.45am to 12.30pm (four to five years)


AryPlay Bubs
Spend time relaxing with your little one, tune in together and enjoy playful movement exploration with Susan Maling, an early childhood dance movement specialist. Stay after the session and share a cuppa with Susan and other parents.
Friday 15 and 22 October
$15 per child
10am to 11.30am (Friday 15 – pre crawlers; Friday 22 – crawlers)
12.30pm to 2pm (Both days – walkers)


Wishhh
Grab your suitcase and help Pocketfool create a theatrical journey like no other. Preschool children and their families are interwoven into an adventure that uses original music, art and imaginative play. A bold new production from Pocketfool, and their world premiere to boot!
Wednesday 27, Thursday 28 , Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October
$15 per adult and child pair, bookings essential
Wednesday and Thursday: 10:30am to 11:30 and 1pm to 2pm
Weekend: 10.30am to 11.30am; 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Age: three to five years


Print Place
Print making is fun and creative – and a great activity for preschoolers. Artists Dominic Belvedere and Louise Saxton will lead this new 8 week course that’s bound to create skills, confidence and friendships. Each week children will explore aspects of printmaking such as mono-printing, block-printing, embossing, as well as collage and drawing to create robots, stars, moons, people, animals, the river and the city - a whole wide world!
Fridays 29 October to 17 December
$80 for eight classes, bookings essential
Fridays, 10.30am to 11.15am; 11.45am to 12.30pm
Three to five year olds

For more information on any of these sessions, visit the ArtPlay website

Romp & Stomp Fun Day

Wednesday 27th October 2010, 10am to 3pm
Melbourne Museum
Nicholson Street, Carlton

Yippee! An event designed specifically for the under-fives, not during school holidays, and at a great venue that the kids love. Best of all the kids are free! In celebration of Universal Children's Day, the Melbourne Museum are offering our little ones a day of fun and educational activities, including storytelling, singing, music, craft activities and more. Tickets are $8 for adults and you can pre-book to avoid queues. For bookings call 13 11 02 or visit the Romp & Stomp website for more information.

Planning with Kids

Check out our guest post on Planning with Kids this month. This is a great site with plenty of ideas for kids including recipes and craft activities as well as some interesting articles on subjects like preparing for school and discipline strategies. As a mother of five kids, Planning Queen knows what she's talking about and her articles are really informative, plus she has some fun and quirky suggestions for things to do at home including lego capes and newspaper swords. So become a fan and start getting organised.

Fairies in the Gardens

Fairies at the bottom of the Garden
Enchanting garden magic, storytelling, singing and planting. Fairies, bunyips and elves encouraged to wear own costumes. Suitable for children aged 3 to 5 years.
Royal Botanic Gardens - Children's Garden
22, 24, 28 & 30 September 2010
10am - 11am
$12 per child

Wildflower Fairies and Elves
Fly through the gardens looking for fairies and elves before settling among the wildflowers for fairy crafts. Fairies and elves encouraged to wear own costumes. Suitable for children aged 2 to 5 years.
RGB Cranbourne
21, 28 & 30 September 2010
9.30am - 10.30am
$6.50 per child

Tesselaar Tulip Festival - Childrens Days

September 22nd, 23rd, 29th & 30th
357 Monbulk Rd, Silvan Victoria (Melways Map 123B5)
Open daily 10am to 5pm.

Did you just buy a new digital SLR? No, well I'm sure you know someone who has (rest of Melbourne it seems) so grab them, dress the kids in their sunday best and go frolic in the fields of Silvan this month at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival. On a sunny day this could offer some fantastic photo opportunities and, with a great schedule of kids activities lined up, it sounds like a great day out with the kids.

Daily timetable
•Paul Jamieson 'The Music Man' 11.45am, 1.45pm and 2.45pm
•Black Snake Productions presentations at 10.45am and 12pm
•Fairy Monica 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm
•Animals on the Move 10-4 (breaks timetabled on the day)
•Linda Kent Pottery, Mez’ Card Works, Face Painting, Crazy Hair, Stax the Didgeman, Kids Artworks – various crafts.
•Donuts, Fairy Floss stall, Dutch food stall, our foods, party pies, kids sandwiches, hot dogs, funny faces etc. Icy poles and juices, ice cream stall.

Adults $18, Concession $15, Under 16 free
(Groups of 10 or more $15 each person)
Bookings available online
Food + Drink available, Free off street parking, Wheelchair friendly, Dogs on leads welcomed and most of all dont forget your camera

Also see my post on Children's Week at Skyhigh Mt Dandenong as there are some days that these two events overlap.

Children's Week at Skyhigh Mount Dandenong

Head to the hills during the second week of September school holidays and check out Skyhigh Children's Week at Mount Dandenong. The following children's activities are scheduled, dependant on weather.

Saturday 25th September
Black snake productions - Reptile displays 2pm-5pm
Bouncy castle from 10am to 2pm

Sunday 26th September
CFA display, fire engine and badge making. 10am - 3pm
Igor the Giant’s Treasure Hunt from 10.00am to 5pm

Monday 27th September
Half price maze entry from 11 am to 5pm.
Igor the Giant’s Treasure Hunt from 10.00am to 5pm

Tuesday 28th September
Pony rides from 1pm-4pm
Igor the Giant’s Treasure Hunt from 10.00am to 5pm

Wednesday 29th September
Adventure Walk with Parks Victoria 12.30pm & 2.00pm
Igor the Giant’s Treasure Hunt from 10.00am to 5pm

Thursday 30th September
Story Telling & Magic with Fairy Sarah 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Chalk drawing with Andrew the gardener @ 1pm – 3.00pm

Friday 1st October
Igor the Giant’s Treasure Hunt from 10.00am to 5pm
Didgeridoo Lessons with “Stax” from 12pm to 2pm

Gate fees apply but children's events are free. For more information on Children's Week, visit the Skyhigh website.

Also see my post on the Tesselaar Tulip Festival as there some days on which these two events overlap.

If possible, drive up via The Basin and visit Hand-me-Downs (see post under Shops category) and give the kids a play at the great playground across from the main group of shops there.

Playbooks

Black & White - Tana Hoban
This fold out playbook is a great way to entertain your bubs in their cot or on the floor during tummy time. It folds out accordian style and has pictures on both sides, black on white and white on black, so perfect for those early months when they are still finding it difficult to distinguish between colours.
(photo from greenwillowblog)


Baby Touch Books
We've had several books from the baby touch range and our kids still love them as toddlers. The Playbook is particularly good as it has mirrors at different levels so when they are doing tummy time they can gradually lift themselves up to the higher mirror. Baby Touch books also have different textures, shapes and colours for babies to explore as their senses develop, and words and sounds for toddlers to learn. This makes them perfect for siblings to look at together.

Both of these playbooks are available from Borders.

Name Labels

There is something a bit special about seeing your baby's name in print which is why name labels are a great gift for new parents. Stick on labels are great for labelling bottles & food containers and one pack lasts for ages. There are plenty of companies doing them but I've always ordered from That's Mine and I find their labels stay on bottles even after plenty of washes. Their pack of 56 medium sized labels in assorted brights costs $20. Postage is free for orders of $20 or more, but costs $4.95 for orders under $20.

Time to get out

With the arrival of Charlie last month we have been doing very little as of late. Not only has it been especially cold, but the whole process of getting out the door with three kids requires a level of effort and organisation that is a bit beyond me at the moment. As a result Matilda and James have been busy discovering new ways of entertaining themselves and making mess. James' latest game involves pushing rice bubbles into the heat vent and watching them fly back out, whilst Tilly has tried on every item in her wardrobe in increasingly eccentric arrangments. Yes I think cabin fever has definitely set in and maybe its time to brave the cold.

That being said we have done a couple of outings to some old favourites recently. Maisy's Birthday Party at Dymocks was fun last Sunday, followed by a play in the Birrarung Marr playground. Check out my post on Dymocks Events in the Free or Events category - the Wonky Donky is coming up. We also went to the zoo when my husband was on paternity leave and it was as enjoyable as always despite the cold - check out my zoo post in the Attractions category.

As for new suggestions, I am working on a Things to do with Babies post, so watch this space

Disney Live - Three Classic Fairy Tales

Plenary Theatre
Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre
28th, 29th & 30th January 2011
10am, 1pm and 4pm shows

The time-honoured stories of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast will spring from the storybooks and onto the stage in Disney Live!

The enchanted journey starts when Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald and Goofy find a magical storybook hidden among a treasure trove of costumes and belongings from classic Disney tales. The iconic objects lead them to three classic stories of ‘happily ever after’ featuring Snow White, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. Along the way, you the audience are invited to join the fun by solving clues, dancing, clapping along and singing songs,as the stories unfold before your very eyes.

Ticket prices range between $27.50 and $32.50 through Ticketmaster. Tickets are available to the general public from 2nd September or pre-sale tickets are available from today with Kids Promotions code DL4KP.

Ben 10 Live Show

The Australian premiere of Cartoon Network's BEN 10 LIVE: Power of the Omnitrix is set to tour major arenas around the nation in September and October 2010 in time for school holidays. Everyone's favourite boy-hero, Ben Tennyson, and his alien heroes will come to life on stage in BEN 10 LIVE, a show filled with cool stunts, incredible action and awesome special effects.

Ben 10 fans will love this 95-minute adrenaline-pumping extravaganza of electrifying stunts, action flying sequences and cool BMX and skateboard tricks. All of this in an arena full of incredible costumes, brought to life against a huge digital backdrop, with jaw-dropping effects and lighting.

Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 September 2010, 11am
Hisense Arena (formerly Vodaphone Arena)
Tickets - $23 - $45
For bookings, visit the Ticketek website

Snow Works at Harbour Town Docklands

Rug up the kids and take them for a play in the snow at Harbour Town in Docklands. Running until the 25th July and open weekdays from 11am to 4pm and weekends from 11am to 5pm.

For free entry present a receipt from any Harbour Town retailer for $15 or more. Play sessions are 25 minutes.

Classic Kids 2010

COME DANCE AND SING WITH JAY LAGA'AIA
Playschool presenter Jay Laga'aia sings some classical pieces as well as songs from his new CD Come Dance and Sing

Saturday 28 August 10.00am 11.30am 1.30pm 3.00pm (45 Minutes)
Iwaki Auditorium, Southbank
Family Classic Kids cost - $18 Adult, $12 Childen $50 Family (2 Adults/2 Children)

MAXIMUS MUSICUS VISITS THE ORCHESTRA
Noni Hazlehurst narrates the story of Maximus Musicus Visits the Orchestra based on the Icelandic children’s book. Written and arranged by the principal flautist of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, this tale weaves the story of a little mouse and his adventures amongst the Orchestra. Children will be treated to Ravel’s Bolero in this fine performance with a backdrop depicting the beautiful illustrations from the book.

Saturday 23 October 10.00am 11.30am 1.30pm 3.00pm (45 Minutes)
Iwaki Auditorium, Southbank
Family Classic Kids cost - $18 Adult, $12 Childen $50 Family (2 Adults/2 Children)

For Bookings and further details, visit the MSO website

Babies Love Books

In July major libraries around Melbourne will host a series of special ‘Babies Love Books’ themed baby bounce events as part of the Young Readers Program.

Featuring Young Readers Program ambassadors and multi-award winning children’s authors, Jeannette Rowe and Alison Lester, the free events are a fun way for parents to discover the joy of reading to their babies and meet other parents.

Locations

WHAT: Springvale Library with children's author Alison Lester
WHEN: Monday July 12th, 2pm
WHERE: 411 Springvale Road, Springvale
WHO:Parents with babies 4 months to 2 years of age
COST: FREE
PHONE: 03 9238 1466

WHAT: Frankston Library with children's author Alison Lester
WHEN: Tuesday July 13th, 11am
WHERE: 60 Playne Street, Frankston
WHO: Parents and babies 4 months to 2 years of age
COST:FREE
PHONE: 03 9784 1020

WHAT: Deer Park Library with children's author Jeannette Rowe
WHEN: Thursday July 15th, 10.30am
WHERE: Corner of Neale and Station Roads, Deer Park
WHO:Parents and babies 4 months to 2 years of age
COST: FREE
PHONE: 03 9249 4171

WHAT: Sunbury Library, with Jeannette Rowe
WHEN: Friday July 16th, 10am
WHERE: 44 Macedon St, Sunbury
WHO: Parents and babies 4 months to 2 years of age
COST: FREE
PHONE: 03 9356 6932

Children's Tiffin Morning Tea

Aria Restaurant
The Langham Hotel
Monday 28th June to Friday 9th July, 10am to 1pm

The three tiered childrens' Tiffin stand includes:
◦White chocolate brownie
◦Lemon cup cake
◦Marshmallow and fruit skewers
◦Frangipane tart
◦Frog in a pond
◦Scones with strawberry jam and chantilly cream
◦Ham & cheese sandwich
◦Chicken sandwich

Children are asked to bring a grownup for traditional Tiffin. $18.65 per child (3-12 years young).
For bookings calll 1800 641 107

Kids at The Arts Centre

Theatre is Child's Play
9th - 10th July 2010
10am & 11.30am (18 mths-3 yrs), 1.30pm (0-18 mths)
ANZ Pavillion
How do babies and toddlers experience theatre and story? How do they respond to different environments – atmosphere, images and sound? This gentle, hands–on workshop for little children and their parents is a fascinating and fun exploration which will contribute to a new interactive theatre piece being developed by Polyglot Theatre. Be part of the creative process with Polyglot’s artists and discover the answers to these and other questions.
Running Time: 60 Minutes. Ages 0 - 3.
Tickets: $14 (accompanying adult free).
Bookings - 1300 182 183

Curiosity - Part theatre, part circus and a little bit of magic.
22nd - 26th September 2010, 11am & 1.30pm
*No show at 1.30pm on Sat 25 September
Gallery 1
Alex is being difficult. She doesn’t understand or empathise with her father’s distress. And now she’s been sent to her room. But, when she discovers a passageway through her toy box to the land of Curiosity she begins to learn some valuable lessons. In Curiosity everything seems askew, upside down, inside out or back to front. Nobody agrees on anything and Alex finds herself the mediator in many a strange situation.
Running Time: 50 Minutes. Ages: 3 -10 yrs.
Tickets: $16 or $14 when you buy 4+ tickets.
Bookings - 1300 182 183

Valanga Khoza
22nd - 26th September, 10am
Gallery 1
South African born Valanga Khoza is a dynamic musician, storyteller and workshop facilitator. Enjoy the harmonies of South African chants and songs with rhythms that make you want to dance. Valanga’s motto is “If you can talk, you can sing!”. So, come and join him for a singing experience that will energise your soul and have you singing like never before!
Running Time: 45 Minutes. Ages: 3 - 12.
Tickets: $12 or $10 when you buy 4+ tickets.
Bookings - 1300 182 183

Neda
22nd - 26th September, 12.30pm
Gallery 1
All together we will make a fun, instant Brazil–style singing and playing beat–driven ensemble! Learn traditional and original Brazilian songs with Neda and learn to play big bass drums, shakers, clap sticks, ago go bells and tambourims.
Running Time: 45 Minutes. Ages: 3 - 12.
Tickets: $12 or $10 when you buy 4+ Tickets.
Bookings - 1300 182 183

A Little Piece
22nd - 26th September
Every 20 mins from 10am to 11am, 11.50am to 12.50pm and 1.50pm to 2.50pm. Last show at 12.30pm on Sat 25 September 2010
Fairfax Studio Foyer
Enter a little world of fables, friends and fiction with an audience of only six people! Harry, a grumpy toy hedgehog is flung out of the bedroom and into a world of lost socks, missing teaspoons and stray keys. In a special, intimate setting, the audience opens cupboard doors to reveal Harry’s story.
Ages: 3 - 10. All kids must be accompanied by an adult
Tickets: $7. Bookings - 1300 182 183

School Holidays - June/July 2010

Puppets at Fed Square - 11 July 2010
Federation Square is set to come alive with a children's puppet playground during the winter school holidays, with a week long program of puppet shows, roving performances, workshops, films and parades. Cost: Free

Children's Garden at Royal Botanical Gardens
Pumpkin soup
29 June, 1st July, 6th July, 11am – 12.15pm
What happens when a cat, a squirrel and a duck make soup? Find out in the enchanting story of Pumpkin Soup. Follow the trail where Duck might have gone, then help plant a winter vegetable soup garden and plant your own vegetable to take home. Finally, warm up with a delicious cup of hot pumpkin soup and a bread roll. Suitable for children aged 3 – 5 years; adult participation is required.Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate. Cost: $15 per child / $5 per adult. Bookings required: Tel(03)9252 2429


Gasworks Arts Park
Mudcakes Concert - Ages 1-8
Monday 28 June at 11am
$15 Full, $13 Con/Child, Family of 4 $52, Groups 10+ $10 (+bf phone only)
Bookings: 9699 3253
The MUDCAKES, Sherry and Rick Plant are leaders in the movement towards organic adult-friendly children's music. Singing songs with accompaniment from Kazoos, ukuleles, bongos and harmonicas will all be spotted on stage in a quirky, fun-loving interactive show. With songs celebrating roots music and the ups and downs of family life

Gasworks Arts Park
Tiny Tortoises Paper Shapes - Ages 3-6
29 June to 6 July 2010
9.45am to 10.45am or 11.15am to 12.15pm
Art & Craft Room
Price: $20 +BYO Shoeb
Tiny tortoises swimming in a sea of colourful paper in a shoebox. Cut, bend, fold, curl and glue flat paper into wonderful 3D animals with paper-sculptor and illustrator Meredith Thomas.

Tivoli Theatre, 1390 High Street, Malvern
Alice in Wonderland Pantomine
28th June - 9th July
10.30am and 1.30pm, $17 per ticket (includes fairy bread & lemon drink)
Bookings - 9509 9066

Eureka Skydeck

If you're heading into the city this is a fun thing to do with the kids. We took our daughter up the Eureka Tower for her 2nd birthday, followed by lunch and a visit to Daddy's work.

When you've lived in a city all your life, it is sometimes too easy to dismiss these types of things as 'tourist' attractions, but its great to see how much Melbourne has changed and a bird's eye city view is always impressive.

Tickets are $16.50 for adults and $9 for children aged 4 to 16 (under fours are free). For details visit the Eureka Skydeck 88 website

Scienceworks

Since visiting the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, I have been looking forward to seeing how our own Scienceworks measures up. I was particularly interested in the Nitty Gritty Super City exhibition as it sounded similar to Zoe's House at the Powerhouse which we loved. It’s actually quite different but still lots of fun. Specifically designed for three to eight year olds, this exhibition is set-up as a mini metropolis where children are encouraged to push buttons, pull ropes, investigate materials, encounter sounds, objects and other people. My kids loved the Role Play Cafe where they prepared plates of food and made coffee for their ‘customers’ who were sitting at the little café tables.

Another great exhibition for this age group is Toys: Science at Play which is running until the 18th of July. With plenty of tables set-up with lego, blocks, dolls and other toys it is a great spot to rest for a while and just let them play. The purpose of the exhibition of course is to demonstrate the science of toys and, although this may be somewhat lost on the under-five age group, they still get a lot out of it. Recently I went to a talk at the local kinder about how children learn through play and this exhibition was a fine demonstration of this. Playing with other children at a lego table requires them to use a range of different skills that are invaluable tools for future learning.

Other permanent exhibitions of interest to the under-fives include Sportworks where they can race against Cathy Freeman, Going Places where they can fly an aeroplane, and the House of Secrets where they can run through a giant vacuum cleaner hose, sit on an oversized couch, and discover how water flushes down the drain. And of course in all these exhibitions there are lots of buttons and levers that make things happen, which kids of this age love.

One thing I wouldn't recommend for the under 4's is the lightening show which is a 30 minute demonstration of how lightening and electricity are generated. The woman at the ticket counter assured me that it was suitable for young children but, not only is there a very loud noise at the end, under 4's may find it difficult to sit still for the entire show. The Planetarium show may be better suited but I’m not sure as we didn’t get to this.

The layout of Scienceworks is a little awkward and there is very little signage. The café has good basic options for young kids but nothing much more exciting than what you might bring from home, and the coffee was pretty awful. I found the staff a little reticent for the environment and there were no demonstrations in any of the exhibitions. This being said, Scienceworks is a good day out and whilst it may not be as cool or polished as the Powerhouse, the kids will love it.

If you have kids at different stages, I would suggest visiting Scienceworks on the weekend when you're partner can come along. For a child over 3, it would be good to explain what’s going on in some of the exhibitions or just to be able to sit and play with them without having to run after their younger sibling.

Admission to Scienceworks is $8 for adults and kids under 16 are free. The lightening and planetarium shows incur an additional cost of $5 per adult and $3.50 per child (3-16 yrs). For further information, visit the Scienceworks website.

Sunday Funday at the Lego Education Centre

Lego Education Centre - 37 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds

Every Sunday, the Lego Education Centre in Moonee Ponds has workshops for children aged 4+. Each Sunday has a different theme (Lego Community, Mad Machines, Space Odyssey or Fantasy Fun) and each session is 45 minutes with sessions starting at 11am, 12 noon and 1pm. Price is $5 per person (including accompanying adult). No bookings necessary. For further information visit the Lego Education Centre website.

Weekly Storytime and Art Workshops at Family Life Cafe

Family Life Cafe - 18 Grattan Street, Prahran

'Happily Ever After' Childrens Story Time.
Every Monday 10am - 11am
Tackle dinosaurs, flutter with fairies and explore candy castles as the guest reader embarks on adventures with classic childrens authors. Reading, craft sessions and activities ignite the imagination and bring stories to life with take home-treasures to delight.

Children's Creative workshops with Artist Helen Pollard.
Every Wednesday 10am -11am.
Your little Picasso can develop their arty side with exciting projects in a fun and stimulating environment. Drawing painting, sculpture and hand craft fun (with no clean up afterwards!).

For further information visit the Family Life website or call 9529 6877. This is a free event but bookings are essential.

Mary Poppins Festival

I have warned my husband, we are so going to this next year. Held in the first week of July in Maryborough Queensland, this is a whole festival devoted to our favourite flying nanny. With madcap nanny races, street theatre, penny farthings and traditional games and rides, it sounds like fun for the whole family. Where else but Queensland?

Situated on the Fraser Coast about 3 hours from Brisbane, Maryborough is the birthplace of Pamela Travers, author of Mary Poppins. The festival was founded by a local group called the Proud Marys, an association formed for women all over the world whose name contains the name Mary or any derivative of Mary. Group founder Anne Miller (not a Mary?) says the aim of the Proud Marys is to collect, document and display notable Marys from throughout history and the present day, with a special focus on Mary Poppins.

So get your umbrellas ready and visit the Mary Poppins Festival website for further information.

Alternatively, maybe take your little one to see the Mary Poppins musical at Her Majesty's Theatre. Opening in July, there will be matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays with tickets starting at $99 each. Check the Mary Poppins - The Musical website for details.

Movie Sessions for Pre-Schoolers

Village Cinemas are showing Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - ChooChoo Express at 10.30am on weekends and some weekdays at Airport West, Century City, Doncaster, Fountain Gate, Geelong, Jam Factory, Karingal, Knox, Rivoli and Southland. Tickets are $6.


Hoyts Cinemas are showing Bob the Builder: The Legend of the Golden Hammer at 10am on Saturday mornings at Chadstone, Eastland, Highpoint, Northland, Greensborough, Vic Gardens, Broadmeadows, Watergardens, Woden. Tickets are $6 each.

Weekend in Sydney

I have a major soft spot for our rival city. Not only is it spectacularly beautiful, it has a show pony personality that makes it exciting to visit. However, having only ever visited Sydney for work or boozy weekenders before we had kids, I was unsure on what to expect with two kids under 3 and one on the way. There was certainly a moment when, having been up since 5am to catch cheap flights, we were sitting at Darling Harbour in the midst of a family meltdown and I thought perhaps I had made a bad decision - my husband certainly agreed. But once we discovered what Sydney had to offer the under fives we found that it is definitely worth the effort. These are our picks.

Powerhouse Museum



If I lived in Sydney I would come here all the time. As a science and design museum, it holds a lot of interest for adults and they offer a great range of exhibitions. For the kids, it has something for every age group. However, unlike most museums, the kids sections are incorporated into the overall design so that you get to see what you want to see but the kids remain entertained. There are four areas that are of particular interest to the under-five age group.

Zoe’s House is an interactive playspace designed specifically for 3 to 6 year olds. It encourages collaborative and creative play by allowing children to work together in completing an unfinished house. Donning their bright yellow safety vests, the kids choose from a range of tools including a crane, conveyer belt, rubble chute, rail network, wheelbarrows and lifts to transport the foam bricks to and from the work-site and build the house. Our daughter took great pride in her role as boom gate operator, collecting the imaginary tokens from the builders and raising the gate to let them through. If only play centres had this kind of set-up.

The Magic Garden is an interactive playspace for 2 to 8 year olds that is designed to help kids learn about healthy eating and activity. Using some impressive new technology, kids can chase fish in the digital pond, play among pumpkins and mushrooms and move items around the virtual picnic table.

There are three Kids Interactive Discovery Spaces (KIDS) in the museum - KIDS music, KIDS at home and KIDS on screen. Each of these are related to themes in the Museum’s exhibitions and are designed to involve under 8’s in the museum experience by giving them hands-on activities that appeal to their interests and needs. The music one is particularly fun with an oversized floor piano and activity stations that play different games and songs.

Cogs Playground is located in the courtyard of the museum next to the café and, whilst designed for children aged 5 to 12, it can accommodate toddlers under close supervision. We didn’t eat at the café but it looked very appealing with pre-packaged sandwiches, wrap and salads as well as a range of wholefood snacks. You can also bring your own food from home and eat it at the tables provided. For those with older kids in need of less supervision, the free wi-fi internet would make this a great spot to get some work done or surf the net whilst your children play.

The Powerhouse Museum is located next to Darling Harbour and near Paddy’s Markets and Chinatown. There is a ramp leading to the museum from Paddy’s Market Monorail Station. General Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 4 years and older (under 4’s are free). The museum is open every day from 10am to 5pm.

Taronga Zoo



Taronga Zoo is surely one of the world's most impressive zoos. With spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, it is beautifully sited and only a short ferry ride from Circular Quay. In the old tradition of zoo entertainment, Taronga has birds of flight displays, seal acrobat shows and elephants doing tricks – all of which the kids will love. It is also home to the adorable baby elephant Mr Shuffles. Taronga is a steep zoo with lots of animals to see, so prepare yourself for a pretty exhausting day. Admission is rather expensive at $43 per adult and $21 for children (under 4’s free), however you get free entry if you have a Melbourne Zoo membership so join up before you go.

The best day to visit the zoo is Sunday as for $2.50 per adult and kids over 4 (under 4’s free) you can get a Family Fun Day pass that gives you unlimited travel on Sydney’s trains, buses and ferries. This usually costs $20 per adult and $10 per child over 4 so it’s a great saving.

National Gallery of NSW



Once you work out how to get into the Gallery with a pram (around the back through the handicapped entrance and buzz the intercom for security to let you in), it is actually a lovely place to take the kids for some quiet afternoon time. The gallery has an impressive collection of work from well-known Australian artists as well as some big-note Europeans. It also offers a pleasant café with highchairs and the Domain Gardens opposite are perfect for a pre or post gallery play. The purpose for our visit was to see the Archibald exhibition which was fantastic and definitely worth a look. The winning portrait of Tim Minchin is extraordinary and I also really liked the scratchy portrait of Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.

The Gallery runs a workshop for 3 to 5 year olds a few times a year, check the website for details.

Balmoral Beach



Balmoral Beach is the perfect spot to spend a play day with a friend. Not only is it beautiful, it is extremely well set-up for kids – as indicated by the hoards of young children in the kiosk, beach and playground. After a play at the playground, I would recommend walking further down the beach towards The Beach Pavilion for a quieter picnic spot either on the grass or beach. Make sure you take a ball and a bucket and spade. Both the main kiosk and the pavilion kiosk have plenty of lunch options and The Beach Pavilion restaurant would be lovely with older children.

Bondi Beach



Fish’n chips on Bondi Beach is a great way to finish off the day. Bondi, however, is not the easiest of places to get to. Whilst the train will take you to Bondi Junction, you still need to take a bus from there to the beach as it’s a long and steep walk otherwise. The best option would be to take a bus straight from the city, just make sure you get one of the wide door ones with the handicapped seating area so that the kids can remain in the pram.

Accommodation

We booked a two bedroom apartment in George Street for the same cost as a hotel room. Whilst it wasn’t as luxurious as a hotel, the apartment offered two separate bedrooms, a living area and a kitchenette so we were able to watch a movie once the kids were in bed and fix them a cheap and easy brekkie in the morning. The location was great as it was an easy walk to Circular Quay, across from Wyndham train station and within walking distance of a Coles supermarket, The Strand and the Queen Victoria Building. For cheap rates, visit the Departure Lounge website and use the code found in the current entertainment book.

Other ideas for things to do in Sydney with under-fives include;

- Concerts for 2 to 5 year olds at Sydney Opera House
- A swim and play at Bronte Park
- Visit Nemo and friends at Sydney Aquarium
- Night time viewing of the Smart Life Sculptures as part of the Vivid Festival
- Dandy Lions Activity Group for under fives in the Royal Botanical Gardens
- Petting Zoo at the Entertainment Quarter every Wednesday and Saturday
- Games, craft and storytime at National Maritime Museum every Tuesday
- Visit the adventure playground at Wentworth Common
- Activities for under fives at the Australian Museum
- Visit Centennial Park
- Paddling in one of Sydney's harbour pools

Chestnut Festival

First Sunday in May
Kalorama Reserve

I have to say I was expecting a bit more from this 'festival'. I imagined an ambient event with music, the smoky smell of roasting chestnuts, and quirky hills people spruiking strange chestnut products such as chessboards carved out of chestnut shells - for the serious chess nut!

Alas, it was more of your standard school fete with no chess nuts in sight. Held on a large reserve, there was a lot of empty space and none of the community camaraderie that often makes these events so enjoyable. The highlights were the free petting zoo and playdough tables set up by the Dandenong pre-school, but the other stalls and activities were fairly commercial. The biggest let down, however, were the food options. Having just visited my mum in Olinda and watched her prepare a meal of Stephanie Alexander's chestnut soup and chestnut and mushrooms, I was surprised to find little inspiration at the 'chestnut festival'.

All that being said, if you're planning a day in the hills on the first Sunday of May then its worth a look in to support the local pre-school and give the kids a run around.

Little Big Shots Film Festival

Queens Birthday Long Weekend - 12th, 13th & 14th June 2010
ACMI Cinemas, Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Federation Square, Melbourne

Little Big Shots is a children's film festival that showcases the best in local and international shorts, animations, documentaries and even child-produced films for kids aged 2 to 8 years. The films inspire discussion of world cultures, different languages, cultural diversity, emotional intelligence and human values. They are guaranteed to make kids laugh, whoop, think and create. Each year in June, Little Big Shots returns to its Melbourne home town with a whole new crop of juicy screen adventures to amaze and delight.

Films suitable for the 2 to 5 age group are being screened at the following times
9.10am - 10am on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June
11.45am - 12.35pm on Monday 14th June

For a full list of films visit the Big Shots website
For bookings, visit the ACMI website

Toddler Tuesdays @ Werribee Zoo

Every Tuesday, Werribee Open Range Zoo have dedicated activities for the under five age group. Activities include;

JUNIOR SAFARI
An energetic 35-minute safari bus tour for young children and their families. The tours feature puppets, music and lots of animal action. 11.15am and 12.15pm. Free with zoo entry but bookings reguired - 1300 9667 842.

VILLAGE DANCE PARTY
Tiny tots and the young at heart can dance, sing and laugh in the zoo's highly interactive musical dance theatre. Special zoo songs, written by Melbourne musician Lamine Sonko, encourage children to play bongos, wiggle hips, stamp feet and 'call animals to water'. This section is open Monday to Friday 10am-2pm. Free with zoo entry and no bookings required.

MINI ZOO KEEPERS
Children can enjoy a 90-minute zoo adventure with face-to-face encounters with meerkats, frogs, lizards, snakes and possums, and then go behind-the-scenes and feed our beautiful giraffe. 9.30am-11am. Children and adults $40 (1 child must be accompanied by 1 adult). Bookings required - 1300 9667 842.

Unfortunately my daughter has occasional care on tuesdays so we won't be getting to this until the holiday period. Looks like great fun though so love to hear what it's like. For more information on Toddler Tuesdays, visit the Zoos Victoria website

Wombat Stew

National Theatre
20 Carlisle Street, St Kilda
11th & 12th May, 11.45am

From the producer of Possum Magic The Musical comes another classic Australian picture book live on stage. The simple story of a dingo who catches a wombat and decides to make wombat stew has been developed into a “true-blue-dinky-di-big-aussie-musical” complete with blops of mud, very fine feathers, creepy crawlies, fliesss, gumnuts and a big, bubbling billy can! WOMBAT STEW is a “mouth-watering”combination of story-telling, mime, music, dance and puppetry suitable for children aged 3 to 8 years.