Janis P.
What are you doing on Mother’s Day? Nothing planned yet? Then take some advice from us. Instead of lying across the sofa with a box of your favourite chocolates, expecting elves to clean your house and your kids to bring you lunch, leave the house and enjoy the day with the little ones. Let them know you’re fun and adventurous and you would love to spend Mother’s Day with them. So attention all mummies, we have the perfect list of things to do with your kids on your special day.
[box]For more ideas of things to do at home on Mother’s Day, also check out our Ideas for all the family this Mother’s Day article…[/box]
Funnybones by Puppet Lab Theatre, Middlesex
Puppet Lab Theatre brings you Funnybones, the three skeletons inspired by Allan and Janet Ahlberg’s books. Let your hair down and have a laugh today because this play guarantees fun. There will be music, song and illustrated adventure as Big, Little and Dog take on an adventure. Together, they encounter fun and frights as well as dancing clocks, spooky houses and dinosaurs and that darned Black Cat also makes an appearance. Kim Bergsagel’s puppets bring life and colour (well, a little considering it’s mostly in the dark) to the stage, but above all mystery, so you mums will also be dying to watch until the end.
http://watermans.ticketsolve.com/shows/126521635/events
Heart of the Shires, Northamptonshire
This option works best if you only have one child because this event is a mother and daughter or mother and son activity. What you and your son/daughter need to do is put on your favourite outfits and head to Heart of the Shires, where a professional photographer will take a beautiful photo of the two of you. The bonus point is that this service is free to shoppers (so get some special goodies while you’re out!) and you get to take the photo home as a keepsake. Why not frame the photo? That way, it commemorates your special day and will be yours forever.
http://www.heartoftheshires.co.uk/shopping_village_events.asp
Mother’s Day Cream Tea, London
Next up is perfect for a Sunday afternoon – cream tea at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. There is something for everyone here. On arrival at the Painted Hall, you are presented with a glass of prosecco whilst kids are given a soft drink and you are taken to your table. Waiters will gracefully set down tiered stands of sandwiches, cakes, tartlets and homemade scones with cream and jam, and you will be offered a selection of teas. What kids will take away from this event is an activity pack and you get to be treated like royalty. Book seats in advance via email, phone or online now – don’t miss out!
http://www.ornc.org/events/detail/mothers-day-cream-tea
Mother’s Day Masterclass at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Buckinghamshire
There is not much effort on your part at this event but you will get something out of it – a handmade gift or card from your children and everyone knows gifts from kids are always cute. All you have to do is take your kids to the masterclass and they will happily create you a butterfly basket or a colourful flower to make your day special. Children of all ages are welcome during opening hours (11am-5pm) and will be admitted free to the class if they’re visitors of the museum.
http://www.roalddahlmuseum.org/whatson/march.aspx
Family Activity: Pots of Fun, Haywards Heath
If you and the kids are the messy type and fancy getting your hands dirty, then this is the event for you! Taking place at Nymans (National Trust), you’ll get to plant seeds as a family in the Potting Shed and be able to take them home with you to watch them grow into beautiful plants. The event is free but standard admission charges apply. There is no need to book – you can just drop in. For more information, call 01444405250 or email nymans@nationaltrust.org.uk.
Snakes and Ladders, Hertfordshire
For mums based in Dunstable, you might want to take a more active approach. If you take your kids to Snakes and Ladders, you will get lots of hugs and kisses on Mother’s Day for all the excitement you’re bringing them. At Snakes and Ladders, there is much fun to be had on the three tiered climbing frame, slides, tunnels, rope climbs and ball ponds. The children will enjoy exploring the vast space there is whilst you and your partner can chill out at the cafe with a cup of tea and a slice of cake, and there’s also air hockey if you’re feeling competitive. If you register with Snakes and Ladders online, you will get a free adult voucher, entitling you to free entry. Take up the offer – it’s Mother’s Day.
http://www.snakes-and-ladders.co.uk/registration.html
A walk in Painshill Park, Surrey
There is nothing more beautiful than the bloom and beauty of March so if you enjoy nature and the outdoors, come to Painshill Park and enjoy the stunning scenery. Take a stroll around the eighteenth century landscape with your kids and partner and learn about the park’s history, take a peek at the Small Walled Garden exhibition and discover the park’s wildlife. To top that all off, you can treat yourself to afternoon tea after the walk. Now that’s a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon, especially when you’re granted free entry for the day when accompanied by children.
http://www.painshill.co.uk/showEvents/Free-Entry-Events/mothers-day-free-entry.aspx
Pottery Painting Session, West Sussex
Based at Stansted House Garden Centre, this event starts from £5 and caters for groups so come down here for a session with the whole family. Together, you can paint and create your very own pottery or band together to make a special gift for Mum on Mother’s Day. Babies and toddlers are very welcome here and they can use their cute little tiny hands or feet to create family heirlooms – something that can be kept for years and years. So get creative and begin some wonderful memories as a family. You’ll be glad you went when you still have a tile of your baby’s feet.
http://www.mobilepotterypainting.co.uk/#!
The Chocolate Festival, Brighton
We saved the best for last because you simply cannot pass it up, so take your kids down to Brighton for the day. Opposite The Royal Pavilion, the festival takes place between 10am and 6pm so you and the kids can spend the whole day sampling lots of yummy chocolate from some of the best Chocolatiers. Adults can also taste cocktails. Here, you can buy chocolate gifts for Easter, chat to chocolate artisans and producers, and discover the benefits of eating raw chocolate. The best thing about this option is that you get to pamper yourself and spoil the kids at the same time. You can’t get much better than that!
http://www.festivalchocolate.co.uk/
Staying home?
If you absolutely must stay at home on this day, that’s fine but make it fun! Here’s an idea: bake some sweet treats such as cupcakes or biscuits together, or if you’re feeling too lazy for that, buy jammy dodgers or jaffa cakes (or whatever sweet things the kids fancy!) from your local shop. Food in place, load blankets onto the sofa and cuddle up with your kids in front of the TV for a film fest. You could theme the film fest by picking films with motherly characters but obviously, choose films suitable to your kids’ age. The Sound of Music or Mrs Doubtfire would be great for older children, whereas younger kids might enjoy The Aristocats or Mary Poppins. Just don’t watch Bambi.
To all the mums out there, have a fabulous day – enjoy all the treats, sweets and bear hugs coming your way.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Image courtesy of Clever Cupcakes on Flickr
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