Changes in Zoo Fees

Some exciting news thanks to the Victorian State Government and Zoos Victoria.

As of July 1, kids under 16 years will get free admission into all three zoos (Healesville, Werribee and Melbourne) on weekends, school holidays and public holidays.

For Zoo Members, this means that next time you renew your membership you will only pay for family members over 16 years of age - meaning free entry for under-16's every day of the year.

WIN an Edible Garden Workshop at Petit Atelier

Creative kids hub, Petit Atelier in Prahran, have an exciting school holiday program on offer this July.

In collaboration with Twisted Junior Apprentice, they are hosting a range of fun with food workshops that provide kids with an opportunity to realise their masterchef dreams.

We have one Edible Garden Workshop place to giveaway for Monday 4th July or Monday 11th July. This workshop is aimed at kids aged 2.5 – 6 years and is designed to familiarise them with kitchen utensils, raw materials and basic food groups to make edible art.

For your chance to win, make sure you are a fan of our new Melbourne for Under Fives facebook page and/or a follower of our blog. Then all you need to do is tell me how many workshops Petit Atelier are running these school holidays. Email your response with your name to julia.dixon@optusnet.com.au. Entries close next Tuesday 28th June at 5pm.

For details on Petit Atelier workshops, visit their website, or their facebook page.

Cubbyhouse Canteen

Cubbyhouse Canteen – 43A Union Street, Armadale

One big chocolate grin. Two big marshmallow eyes. And what's that on the spoon.....its a BEAR!

The babychino at Cubbyhouse Canteen is seriously cute. As are their Humpty Dumpty eggs with smiley faces and little knitted hats, and their toastie soldiers served on puzzle plates. Indeed, there are plenty of things here that will make your kids smile.

Sharing its premises with the Malvern Tennis Club in the back streets of Armadale, Cubbyhouse Canteen is the kind of place that I imagine locals would want to keep to themselves. Located next to Union Street Park with its large open grass area and fully enclosed playground, the café incorporates its own gated deck area and toddler friendly playground, as well as on-site toilets and a cosy interior adorned playfully with small tables, a tree mural, jam jars with plants growing inside and a crate of dinosaurs. The ‘hole in the wall’ to the rear of the café, services the park area so there is no need to sit inside if it’s a sunny day, and why not bring the dog down for a run as well. This truly is an all-purpose family destination.

The menu is simple but very tasty and they do all day breakfasts on weekends. They also do healthy kids dinners from Monday to Thursday at 5pm for $8.50 per head. Offerings include lasagne, tuna mornay, fried rice with sticky chicken drummettes, spaghetti bolognese and shepherd's pie. These are served in noodle boxes so you can take them out into the park for a picnic dinner with friends.

Every Tuesday, there are story-time sessions at Cubbyhouse Canteen from 9.30-10.30am for $20 per child/parent and $10 per additional child (cost includes coffee, babychino and light morning tea). Bookings are essential as places are limited. For details visit the My Little Bookcase website.

The Cubbyhouse Canteen website is not yet up and running, but for dinner bookings, text the number of people to 0421173886 or email knockknock@cubbyhousecanteen.com.au

Resource Rescue

Resource Rescue - 7/31 Hosie Street, Bayswater

It's pouring rain outside and it's your day off. Clear the kitchen table, put down a disposable tablecloth, set out some paste & stickytape, then send the hubbie and kids off to Resource Rescue to pick up supplies.

Resource Rescue in Bayswater is brimming with cheap art supplies and sensational art craft materials, all donated by businesses across Melbourne who believe in recycling. You can become a member, or casual prices are $25 for a 54 litre capacity bag, depending on what items you select.

Resource Rescue is open tues-fri 9am - 5pm, sat 9am - 1pm, closed sun & mon. You can also buy selection boxes online and have them delivered. Check website for details.

So, go out and enjoy yourself. You never know, maybe you'll come home and the kids have built that new extension you've been asking for!

NGV Kids Club Membership

This is a fantastic gift idea for the grandparents!

Created especially for the littlest of art lovers, NGV Kids Club encourages children from 0–11 years to experience the NGV Collection, kids’ gallery spaces and superb exhibitions in a fun and dynamic way.

Membership is $50 a year and members receive;

• A cool Crumpler NGV Kids Club back pack filled with wonderful goodies from Micador Group to inspire creative thinking
• An exclusive program each month for NGV Kids Club Members and their families. Artie Mouse and Sketch Glider lead the way for Explorers (0–5 years) and Adventurers (6–11 years) to discover exciting artworks, join in fun activities and create fantastic art
• Personalised Kids Club Membership card and Kids Club lanyard
• An Explorers or Adventurers Kids Club badge
• Discounts on all NGV Kids programs and events
• Free Sunday morning family exhibition viewings and workshops
• A quarterly NGV Kids e-news packed with information, activities and special offers
• 10% discount at NGV Shops, cafes and Persimmon restaurant
• $50 discount for NGV ‘Arty Parties’

How to become an NGV Kids Club Member?
1. In person at NGV International or The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
2. Call 8620 2233 / 8662 1522
3. Download the Kids Club membership form and post it to NGV Members, PO Box 7259, Melbourne VIC 8004

Please note that the NGV Kids Corner at Federation Square has been closed until further notice. However, the NGV Kids Space is now open at NGV International on St Kilda Road. The current exhibition in the NGV Kids Space is Kaleidoscope: Art and Colour.

There are some great activities coming up for under-fives at NGV Kids Space including Colour Mosaic, I can paint rainbows, Family Colour Ball, and TotSpot: Yellow if for happiness. Check website for details.

Congratulations to Erin Young and Melanie Pratt

Thank you to everyone that entered our competition for tickets to Play School's Big Jazz Adventure. I hope our winners Erin Young and Melanie Pratt have a great day out with their families. Their entries are below;

Erin Young
I have two things we love to do.. First is to visit the National Gallery and see the Leonard French stained glass roof which bounces colours all around the room and often ends with kids lying on the floor looking up at it. Second is going at the end of a trip to the vic market, stopping at the bratwurst shop in the Deli section to get big hotdogs and then eating them on the park benches out the front looking at all the people!

Melanie Pratt
We pack a picnic lunch with sandwiches cut into stars & animals, board the 109 tram & head to Port Melbourne. If we get there early enough, we listen to the loud horn & watch the Spirit of Tasmania depart, then run around on the sand chasing seagulls & dipping our toes into the freezing bay. Then we see what we can collect along the waters edge to decorate a sand animal, before tucking into our lunch & tramming home. Afternoon naps always follow!

If you like the sound of these outings, the following posts might interest you - NGV Kids Club Membership and Port Melbourne Playgrounds

For those of you who love Play School - check out this week's Woman's Day for their 45 year reunion special.

Win Tickets to Play School's Big Jazz Adventure

Thanks to the lovely people at 774 ABC Melbourne, we have two family passes to Play School’s Big Jazz Adventure at Melbourne Town Hall this Sunday 12th and Monday 13th June at 10am and 12pm.

Specifically designed for 2 to 5 year olds, this great event hosted by Rachael Coopes and Teo Gebert introduces children to the wonder of Jazz through stories, games, music and songs.

For your chance to win, become a fan of our Melbourne for Under Fives facebook page by selecting the LIKE button. Then tell us your favourite thing to do in Melbourne with under-fives by commenting on our discussion board.

If you're not on facebook, you can enter here on the blog by commenting on this post. The two most creative entries will be selected this Friday, so be quick for your chance to win tickets to this exciting event.