Archive for August, 2008

this playground is a diamond in the rough

August 16, 2008 at 3:57 pm · Filed under acton, baby, baby activities, playground, slides, swings, toddler activities

Springfield Garden Playground, Acton 3.5 stars

It’s certainly not the most glam of locations – a playground within sight and all the noise of Horn Lane, Acton, but the Springfield Garden’s playground sure is worth a visit – for babies, toddlers and younger children alike.

There was a lot of flooding in Acton in 2007, so Thames water decided that it needed to do waterwork, exactly where the Springfield Garden Playground was. Rather than just lose a playground, Ealing Council rebuilt it, in a different corner of the Park, and this time further back from the ever noisy Horn Lane.

(It must be mentioned though, that the noise from Horn Lane can be a good distraction at times. If your child is excited by vehicles that blow a siren… this is the place for you!)

Sorry, on to the playground…

It’s split into 3 quite defined areas. The first has baby swings, a small little climbing frame (which unfortunately has steps that aren’t the easiest for the smaller children) with a slide and some little roundabouts.

The next one has a more challenging climbing frame and some ‘big swings’. Plus some extra different kinds of swings and equipment to climb and play on.

The third area has a really cool climbing frame with a BIG slide that looks like great fun. Each area provides great physical challenges for children, and each area is covered by that soft squishy flooring that provides a bit of protection should your child (or you!) need it.

The whole area is fenced and gated, and is a decent size that allows your child to have a good run around, and not feel restricted by the boundaries.

I love this playground because it has variety.

It is however let down by some aspects of the climbing frames – whoever designed them seemed to forget that children do need to be able to climb up safely in the first place. With close supervision though, they’re fine.

There is also areas of shade most times of the day and seats for weary parents.

Access: no steps anywhere

Babychange: none

Cafe / Toilets : none, but Acton High Street and Churchfield road are within 5 minutes walk.

Where is it?

Horn Lane, Acton (nr the corner of Rosemont Road)

View Larger Map

How to get there: It’s about a 15 minute walk from Acton Town station (steps) or Acton Central Overground station (step free!). Lots of buses go either up Horn Lane or to Acton High street.

Leave a Comment

newsflash… toddlers love science!

August 13, 2008 at 12:13 pm · Filed under hands-on, rainy day activity, run around, science museum, toddler activities ·Tagged , ,

The Science Museum – 4 stars

It’s free, it’s fun, it’s BIG and it’s got something different each time you visit.

For those still traumatised by school trips or learning, or simply think that their child is too young for museums… time to push those thoughts away and head for the Science Museum in South Kensington.

For your baby or toddler, get yourselves to the basement for ‘The Garden’ and the 3rd floor for ‘the launchpad’.

The Garden is specifically aimed at the under 5’s. There’s areas with different textured items to play with, lots of funny sounds, places to climb in, a mini water rapid (with raincoats provided – okay they just put their hands in, but we all know this means that the whole body can still get wet), and an area with big soft blocks, mini hard hats and wheelbarrows (a firm favourite with Lily).

It’s a nice fairly enclosed area, with brilliant staff on-hand to monitor/help the children.

The launchpad is aimed at older children, but this is really an area for all ages (parents – this is great for us too!). There are big bubble blowers, pumps that push balls through tubes, the ‘big machine’ that is too hard to describe – try and imagine a mix of pulleys, buckets, levers, slides, plus a hell of a lot of confetti! It’s mesmerising! There’s so much more too – lots of the littlies love the magnet block – it’s just a few big magnets with teaspoons. What more could you need?

The surprising thing about the museum is its practicalities. They make it easy for you. Ramps, lifts, pram parks & babychange. Music to one’s ears.

And… it’s in a big building with lots of open space. If it’s a wet weather day, this is a great location just to let your toddler have a run around the long hallways, and play peekaboo in the exhibition areas that erm… well that no-one tends to go into.

One last tip – avoid the weekend rush and go during the week if possible or early on a weekend. Otherwise… let’s just say that the ‘big machine’ gets the kids pretty excited.. and we know how loud a room of excited kids can be!!

Practicalities -

Pram Access: Excellent. Ramps and Lifts throughout the museum. Secure pram park on ground floor (costs). Non secure on all floors.

Cost: it’s FREE

Cafes: there are a few dotted throughout the museum. The ground floor one is the best (and has high chairs). The prices ARE a bit steep (the no-cost entry justifies this to me though), but ‘picnic’ areas are also throughout the museum if you want to BYO.

Babychange: yes. on all floors

Where: Exhibition Road in South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD.

View Larger Map

How to get there: South Kensington tube has a lift (from piccadilly line only) and a few stairs. Plenty of buses run nearby.

Enjoy!

Leave a Comment

things they don’t tell you… FREE books for your child

August 10, 2008 at 8:50 am · Filed under bookstart, booktrust, childrens books, free books, library, reading, rhymetime

Bookstart 4 stars (would be 5 stars if they told more people about it!)

Okay, this isn’t really something ‘to do’ as such, but it is such a great initiative and no-one seems to tell anyone about it!

The Bookstart programme gives a FREE pack of books to EVERY baby. It’s as simple as that. And when your child is 18 months old, they get another FREE pack. AND, when they are 3 years old, they get another FREE pack.

Why isn’t there more education and knowledge about this? I knew about it through a friend who had a baby, who found out through their friend. It drives me crazy that not more people know about it. When my daughter was having her 9 month check up (which seems to be an Ealing thing, not an ‘everywhere’ thing?) I was given a pack, but, not everyone at the same clinic was even informed of Bookstart. It seemed to depend on which health visitor saw your baby. Aargh!

Enough ranting and raving, and soapbox building… more about Bookstart.

It’s coordinated by the charity Booktrust and receives government funding and heavy donations from children’s booksellers and publishers.

In the first pack we received two books which my daughter LOVED. I can highly recommend ‘Happy Dog, Sad Dog‘ by Sam Lloyd. We also received a Rhymetime Song sheet which we still sing from. There are also lists of great books to buy.

The 18 month old pack contained more books (a shame we’d already bought Dear Zoo – another must have for ALL children) and some colouring in pencils and more literature for parents.

How do you get it? Ask at your local library (you don’t have to join, you may however have to bring in your child’s red book), or ask your local health visitor.

A wonderful programme which should be commended… now spread the word!

Leave a Comment

things they don’t tell you… FREE books for your child

August 10, 2008 at 8:50 am · Filed under bookstart, booktrust, childrens books, free books, library, reading, rhymetime ·Tagged , ,

Bookstart 4 stars (would be 5 stars if they told more people about it!)

Okay, this isn’t really something ‘to do’ as such, but it is such a great initiative and no-one seems to tell anyone about it!

The Bookstart programme gives a FREE pack of books to EVERY baby. It’s as simple as that. And when your child is 18 months old, they get another FREE pack. AND, when they are 3 years old, they get another FREE pack.

Why isn’t there more education and knowledge about this? I knew about it through a friend who had a baby, who found out through their friend. It drives me crazy that not more people know about it. When my daughter was having her 9 month check up (which seems to be an Ealing thing, not an ‘everywhere’ thing?) I was given a pack, but, not everyone at the same clinic was even informed of Bookstart. It seemed to depend on which health visitor saw your baby. Aargh!

Enough ranting and raving, and soapbox building… more about Bookstart.

It’s coordinated by the charity Booktrust and receives government funding and heavy donations from children’s booksellers and publishers.

In the first pack we received two books which my daughter LOVED. I can highly recommend ‘Happy Dog, Sad Dog‘ by Sam Lloyd. We also received a Rhymetime Song sheet which we still sing from. There are also lists of great books to buy.

The 18 month old pack contained more books (a shame we’d already bought Dear Zoo – another must have for ALL children) and some colouring in pencils and more literature for parents.

How do you get it? Ask at your local library (you don’t have to join, you may however have to bring in your child’s red book), or ask your local health visitor.

A wonderful programme which should be commended… now spread the word!

Leave a Comment

a little tired.. but it’s still worth it

August 7, 2008 at 6:19 pm · Filed under baby, cafe, gunnersbury park, slides, swings, toddler activites

Gunnersbury Park – 3 stars

If you want to get away from the crowds, and you’re looking for a bit more space than usual, head to Gunnersbury Park. There’s a lot of open space for you and your child to run around, kick a ball or simply just stop being just 1 foot away from the next person (okay, sometimes the amount of people in London does get to me!).

So – if you’re feeling the need for a some personal space – this is the place to go.

There are a couple of playgrounds – one just down from the parking area (yes! you can park here – and it’s free!). There’s baby swings and other baby & toddler friendly equipment including a slide. There are also some ‘big kids’ swings and a climbing frame for different ages. It’s certainly enough to keep your child happy for a while.

Mix this with dog walkers and their owners going past every few minutes, and my daughter is more than happy here for at least half an hour or so.

From here, head to the pond (not fenced off all around) where there are many ducks, geese and other fowl that I have no idea what they are – thank goodness everything at the moment is ‘DUCK!’ and i’m not asked to identify species.

Keep heading around the pond and you’ll get to the little cafe which is somewhat tired, but that doesn’t stop it serving great tea, coffees, cake and small meals. They’re pretty relaxed about kids running around too.

There’s also a little playground next to the cafe… the ratio of bird poo to swing / graffiti to equipment is however a little high, but i reckon you could gulp your tea down in time to trust your little one in this area.

It’s a shame that it hasn’t been kept a lot better – on this Wiki page here there’s more information and pictures of when it looked glam!

Why go here? To feel like you’re not surrounded by others and escape the bugaboo parades! It’s a bit rough and tumble, but we like it!

Where is it?

View Larger Map

How to get there: to be honest, the novelty of driving and being able to park for free is pretty hard to refuse, but you can also get the tube to Acton Town (no step free access) and it’s a 15 minute walk from there. Buses do go past.

Baby change: none – but plenty of privacy

Cost: Free entry, free parking… ah but wouldn’t you know it they charge for the goodies in the cafe ;)

Leave a Comment

a little tired.. but it’s still worth it

August 7, 2008 at 6:19 pm · Filed under baby, cafe, gunnersbury park, slides, swings, toddler activites ·Tagged , , , ,

Gunnersbury Park – 3 stars

If you want to get away from the crowds, and you’re looking for a bit more space than usual, head to Gunnersbury Park. There’s a lot of open space for you and your child to run around, kick a ball or simply just stop being just 1 foot away from the next person (okay, sometimes the amount of people in London does get to me!).

So – if you’re feeling the need for a some personal space – this is the place to go.

There are a couple of playgrounds – one just down from the parking area (yes! you can park here – and it’s free!). There’s baby swings and other baby & toddler friendly equipment including a slide. There are also some ‘big kids’ swings and a climbing frame for different ages. It’s certainly enough to keep your child happy for a while.

Mix this with dog walkers and their owners going past every few minutes, and my daughter is more than happy here for at least half an hour or so.

From here, head to the pond (not fenced off all around) where there are many ducks, geese and other fowl that I have no idea what they are – thank goodness everything at the moment is ‘DUCK!’ and i’m not asked to identify species.

Keep heading around the pond and you’ll get to the little cafe which is somewhat tired, but that doesn’t stop it serving great tea, coffees, cake and small meals. They’re pretty relaxed about kids running around too.

There’s also a little playground next to the cafe… the ratio of bird poo to swing / graffiti to equipment is however a little high, but i reckon you could gulp your tea down in time to trust your little one in this area.

It’s a shame that it hasn’t been kept a lot better – on this Wiki page here there’s more information and pictures of when it looked glam!

Why go here? To feel like you’re not surrounded by others and escape the bugaboo parades! It’s a bit rough and tumble, but we like it!

Where is it?

View Larger Map

How to get there: to be honest, the novelty of driving and being able to park for free is pretty hard to refuse, but you can also get the tube to Acton Town (no step free access) and it’s a 15 minute walk from there. Buses do go past.

Baby change: none – but plenty of privacy

Cost: Free entry, free parking… ah but wouldn’t you know it they charge for the goodies in the cafe ;)

Leave a Comment

songs and silliness – without snobbery

August 3, 2008 at 11:34 am · Filed under bush babies, bush hall, music house for children ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Bush Babies – 5 stars

If you’re looking for a music group for your child you can’t go past the Music House for Children at Shepherds Bush.

Their ‘Bush Babies – Music and Movement’ class is a winner. Nursery rhymes, lots of different instruments, singing, clapping and hey – they don’t even mind if your child chews on the maracas… now that’s my kind of music class!

I’ve been taking my daughter since she was 7 months old – we used to go on a Friday morning and were in the little room at the back of the Music House for Children’s shop.

But go on any other day and you’re in actual Bush Hall itself. It’s an old dance hall built at the beginning of the 20th Century and after a turn as a soup kitchen and bingo hall, it’s now a concert venue (when you’re not in parent mode, try and see an acoustic performance there – it’s small and intimate… but this isn’t a blog about my previous life as a habitual gig-goer.).

Bush Hall has retained its ornate ceilings and grand chandeliers, which makes me smile when you look at the constrast of what’s happening on the floor which is covered in a soft mat, with kids frantically running around, jumping up and down or doing an instrument clap.

Emma, who runs the class (and a co-founder of the company I believe), makes it what it is with her tireless patience (child banging on her piano or trying to strum her guitar? dealt with perfectly) and great variety of songs makes this one not to miss.

Where: 306 – 310 Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush.

View Larger Map

Transport: no tubes provide step free access but loads of buses go to Shepherds Bush. If you’re coming from afar, get off at Hammersmith Piccadilly or District Line which has lift access and catch a bus up Shepherds Bush Road.

Pram access & parking: Excellent

Baby change: above the Music House for children shop

Cost: £6 – £8 per session. Some sessions must be pre-booked. See website for details.

Leave a Comment