Playschool Concerts

Various Locations

It's that time of year again. Playschool concert tickets are now on sale for Victoria shows running from 2nd-25th March 2012.

Tickets are $14.50. Depending on location, show times available are 10am, 12pm, 2pm. For bookings visit Kids Promotions.

Dads n' Lads and Dads n' Daughters Adventure Weekends

Churchill Island, Phillip Island
Dads n' Lads - 11th/12th February 2012 (4-7 year olds)
Dads n' Daughters - 17th/18th March 2012 (4 to 7 year olds)

This sounds like great fun and a wonderful bonding opportunity for dads.

Ditch the TV, computer games, mobile phones and get back to basics with a weekend of action packed activities. Spend quality time with your child in the great outdoors of Phillip Island and enjoy the activities for both young and old.

Activities include: camping at Churchill Island Heritage Farm – sleep under the stars, tell tales round the campfire and enjoy a BBQ dinner and big breakfast (*own tent required)
- join a ranger for a rock pool ramble and beachcomb
- take part in the farming activities at Churchill Island Heritage Farm
- get competitive with the old time games
- visit the Koala Conservation Centre and see little penguins at the world-famous Penguin Parade.

The cost is $165 all inclusive (dinner, breakfast & activities for one adult & one child). $65 per extra child.

Bookings and information, contact Jade Cranton Tel: 5951 2802 or email jcranton@penguins.org.au

Angelina Ballerina's Big Audition

The Arts Centre
Tuesday 24th January - Saturday 28th January
10.30am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm

This magical production features the Royal New Zealand Ballet dancers performing to a recorded arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s music. With choreography, sets and costumes from the English National Ballet.

Miss Lilly prepares Angelina for her big chance to dance in front of the judges and, although excited about the possibility of an exciting new adventure, Angelina worries about leaving home and Alice behind. During her audition at the Camembert Academy, Angelina meets lots of new friends who introduce her to exciting new twists on traditional ballet, from jazz to hip hop. Will Angelina’s dream of joining the Academy end in tears, or will this be an exciting new chapter in her life?

Total running time is 75 minutes including a 20 minute interval. Suitable for children aged 3 to 8 years. A Reserve tickets are $35. For more information and to book tickets, visit the Arts Centre website or call 1300 182 183. If you book tickets in August, each child recieves a set of hot pink mouse ears which will be posted prior to the event.

Closed Loop Cool Kids Day 2011

Sunday 28th August, 10am-2pm
St Kilda Town Hall

Closed Loop Recycling are transforming St Kilda Town Hall into a kids green zone this Sunday for their 2nd Annual Closed Loop Cool Kids Day. Activities include rock-climbing, craft, face-painting, pot-planting, building and games. Plus there will be food and drink and plenty of information on the environment. This event is aimed at children aged 4-12 yrs. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children (0-3 are free), and a family pass is $60 (2 adults/2 kids). For tickets and more information, visit the Cool Kids Day website.
Alll proceeds from this event go towards the expansion and further development of the Our Cool School Educational Program – the leading online environmental resource in Australia – reaching more than 125,000 students every year.

Explore-a-Saurus @ Scienceworks

Scienceworks Museum
Opens 1st June 2011

Last week my husband and I went to see Walking with Dinosaurs at Hisense Arena. We felt a little guilty not taking the kids, but given our four year old ran screaming from a man dressed up as a choc top at the movies recently, we weren't about to spend $100 a ticket to terrify her good and proper.

Anyway, after this amazing show, I am a little obsessed with dinosaurs and I can't wait for Explore-a-Saurus to open at Scienceworks. In the meantime, I am busy educating my two year old in all things dinosaur, which given my extensive knowledge goes something like "T-Rex goes RRROOOAAARRR!"

Hopefully we will have more to talk about after we see the Explore-a-saurus exhibition at Scienceworks. Featuring a number of animatronic models and interactive displays, this exhibition promises to take children and their families on a hands-on adventure into the world of dinosaurs and forensic palaeontology.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $6 Concession, $5 for kids (3-16yrs) and kids under three are free. Tickets include general admission to Scienceworks. For bookings call 131102 or visit the Scienceworks website.

Also see my general post on Scienceworks.

Mad Hatters Tea Party @ Queen Victoria Market

Have tea with Alice, watch the Mad Hatter dance, and look out for the Queen of Hearts in this all-singing, all-dancing free event.
Thursday 14th & 21st April, 10am to 2pm
L Shed - near Market Espresso

Also at Queen Victoria Market in April, the Twisted Junior Apprentice gang will be holding cooking workshops exploring the world of Easter with Olive Oly and Easter Egg hunts. The kids will decorate cup cakes, hot cross buns and eggs in the middle of the market and take home Easter packs.
Tuesday 12th & 19th April, 9am, 10am & 11am
L Shed
$20 per child, bookings essential - info@twistedtasted.com.au / 0413 061 638

For more information on upcoming events, visit the Queen Victoria Market website

Kids Events @ State Library of Victoria

Toddler Tours
Thursday 14 April 2011, 10:30am - 11:30am
Thursday 12 May 2011, 10:30am - 11:30am
Come dressed as your favourite picture-book character for a discovery tour of the Look! exhibition, then join in the fun of storytime with rhymes, stories and songs. This activity is recommended for children aged one to five years. Bookings are not required. Meet in front foyer of main entrance - 328 Swanston Street.Free event.

The Big Read
Sunday 10 April from 10:15am to 11:30am.
This free event in the Library forecourt is a world record attempt for the largest number of children reading with an adult. Bookings are not required, but you do need to register by emailing vic@cbca.org.au or phoning 1300 360 436.

Children's Book Festival
Sunday 3rd April, 10am - 4pm
Join your favourite authors and illustrators on the State Library lawns for a celebration of childrens books and lots of fun activities including puppet shows, readings, music and magic.

For more information on these and other events, visit the State Library of Victoria website.

Hop Family Fun Day

This new movie looks super cute. Catch a special preview screening, as well as kids activities, face painting and prize pack giveaways at the Hop Family Fun Day on April 3rd at participating locations.

When: Sunday April 3, 2011
Activities Commence: 10:30am Film Commences: 11:30am
Cost: $10 per person (adults and children)
Participating Locations: Airport West, Century City, Doncaster, Fountain Gate, Geelong, Jam Factory, Karingal, Knox, Southland, Sunshine
Bookings essential.

To watch a movie trailer visit the Hop website. To book tickets visit the Village Cinemas website.

NGV Kids Club

In May this year, the NGV turns 150 and to celebrate they will become one of the few galleries in the world to have a dedicated kids membership. The Kids Club is designed to encourage the littlest of art lovers to engage with the NGV and experience their collection and exhibitions in a fun and interesting way.

As part of the launch, the NGV are calling all budding artists to help launch the Kids Club. They are inviting children from preschool age up to eleven years to create an image that will feature on the NGV Kids Club Membership card, associated merchandise and other promotional material. For further info and an application form, click here.

Kids at The Arts Centre

There are several events coming up at The Arts Centre that are suited to the under-five age group.

Wild Things: Live on Stage Exhibition
11th March - 29th May
Gallery 1. Free. Suits 3-12 yrs

Music for Little Monkeys with The Mucakes
Sunday 3rd April, 11am
The Famous Spiegeltent. $16. Suits 2-7 yrs.

Instant Orchestra
13th-16th April, 11am & 12.30pm
The Famous Spiegeltent. $14. Suits 3-12 yrs.

Me and My Shadow
Saturday 21st May, 11am & 1.30pm
Fairfax Studio. $18. Suits 4-8 yrs.

Songs from Above
21st - 28th June, 10am & 11.30am
ANZ Pavillion. $16. Suits 2-4 yrs

For bookings visit The Arts Centre website or ring 1300 182 183.

Wonderland Tea Party and Teddy Bears Picnic

Petit Atelier - 517 High Street, Prahran

Wonderland Tea Party - Monday 11th April, 1pm -2.30pm
The Teddy Bears Picnic - Monday 18th April, 1pm - 2.30pm

Creative kids venue Petit Atelier and catering company Twisted Tastes have teamed up to host a Fun with Food Cooking Program for toddlers and kids during the April school holidays.

Suitable for 2.5 - 5 year olds. $30 per child. For further information, contact Petit Atelier on 9529 2924.

Feeding Fussy Toddlers Healthy Food Event @ Chadstone Shopping Centre

Friday 18th March, 2pm & 3pm
Outside David Jones Lower Level (opposite Pumpkin Patch)

Hosted by Fox FM's Jo Stanley, this free cooking demonstration and presentation on toddler nutrition is designed for mums with fussy eaters. Accredited practising dietitian Sharon Natoli, and food stylist and chef Tami McAdam, will demonstrate some quick, easy and nutritious recipes plus give some tips on satisfying your toddler.

Shopping Centre Events

Various locations

This weather is terrible and my kids are bored of staying at home. Here are some events happening at shopping centres this month.

My Little Pony show at The Glen
Strawberry Shortcake show at Box Hill Centro
Plaster Fun House and Shrek Show at Vic Gardens
Face Painting and Balloon Modelling at Knox Shopping Centre
Be a Rock Star for a day at Eastland
Thomas and Friends & Angelina Ballerina at Docklands
Biscuit Decorating and Boomerang Painting at Malvern Central
Cat in a Hat at Werribee Plaza
Sushi Making at Forest Hill Chase

Alice in Wonderland at Rippon Lea Estate

8th - 29th January 2011
192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick
Monday to Thursday at 11am and 6pm, Friday and Saturday at 11am

Pack a picnic and follow Alice down the rabbit hole at Rippon Lea Estate this January. Directed by Glenn Elston (best known for Wind in the Willows at the Botanical Gardens), this promenade production includes acrobatics, shouting, singing, dancing, riddles and rhymes. There’s lots of fun participation for the kids and even the adults have to turn into cards and march behind the Queen of Hearts – or it’s off with their heads!

PRICES: single ticket $25, group of four ticket $90, booking fee may apply
BOOK: call 1300 122 344 or book online at www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au or Ticketmaster 136 100 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.au

Herring Island Summer Arts Festival

15th January - 26th April (weekends & Australia Day)
Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park

This could be a nice picnic idea for a summers day. Tucked away on the Yarra River in Toorak, Herring Island is accessible only by boat and is a haven for wildlife. The Herring Island Gallery, which is a converted scout hall, are running a number of exhibitions over Summer, including sculpture, ceramics, photography and basketmaking.

Access to Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park & Gallery is by Parks Victoria’s punt service which operates on weekends and on Australia Day from 11am to 5pm from the Como Landing (Melway Map 2M C2). The charge for this service is $2 for adults or $5 for families.

For more information, visit the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival website

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.

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