Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
After school activities in Suffolk
As the children scurry out of class at the end of the school day, inevitably, they will drift off in a number.png)
of different directions. The appeal of extra-curricular activities are plentiful, each one breeding and developing a range of useful life skills, so choosing the right course or activity for your child can sometimes be a challenge.
A poll conducted by Save the Children highlighted that nearly two thirds of parents struggle to afford many extra-curricular activities for children. Yet, many parents recognise the value of after school provision, viewing it as an investment in their child’s future.
The poll questioned 854 parents about their child’s out of school activities. Interestingly, 48% of children engaged in some form of sporting activity, whilst 19% enrolled in drama and dance clubs, and 16% signed up to learn a musical instrument. Brownies and Scouts clubs remain popular with 18% of children.
Conclusively, the poll identified that children who develop a special interest outside of school benefit from improved confidence and self-esteem.
Here’s a sample of some of the most popular clubs and after school activities...
Scouting Groups
Scouting exists to make young people’s lives better, helping them realise their full potential and take their place in society. The age-appropriate Scout groups, called Sections, are divided into Beavers for children aged 6-8 years, Cubs for 8-10½ years, Scouts for 10½-14 years and Explorer Scouts for 14-18 years.
Beavers - Is for boys and girls aged between 6 and 8 years old. Beaver Scouts usually meet weekly to take part in a wide range of activities including games, crafts, singing, visits and good turns, along with plenty of outdoor activities.
Cub Scouts - Cub Scouts are girls and boys aged between 8 and 10½ years old, and form the largest Section of Scouting in the UK. Cubs take part in a wide range of interesting and challenging pursuits, games, and spend plenty of time outdoors.
Scouts - Scouting is for boys and girls aged between 10½ and 14 years, who want to make friends and widen interests in ways that are both educational and fun. With the emphasis on adventurous activities, action and involvement, Scouting includes a number of thrilling pursuits.
Search for your nearest Scouting Group by visiting www.scouts.org.uk or by calling 0845 300 1818, from 8am–7pm weekdays and 9am–midday on Saturdays.
Guiding Groups
Girlguiding gives girls a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their communities. There are four Sections to Girlguiding: Rainbows for girls aged 5 to 7, Brownies Guides for ages 7 to 10, Guides for ages 10 to 14, and the Senior Section for age 15+.
Rainbows - Any girl aged between 5 and 7 years old can join Rainbows. Young Rainbows are encouraged to learn about their community, take part in a wide range of activities, and visit local places of interest.
Brownies - Brownies are girls aged between 7 and 10 years old. Forming the largest Guiding group it is estimated that around a quarter of all eight-year-old girls in the UK are Brownies. Girls follow the Brownie Adventure that helps to develop confidence and self-esteem through new experiences and new skills.
Guides: Guides is a Section for girls aged 10 to 14, where they play games, take part in adventure sports, participate in a Gang Show and get involved in community action projects.
Search for your nearest Girlguiding Group by visiting www.girlguiding.org.uk or by calling 0800 169 5901.
Sport:
Football: Scores of children play football at the grass roots level. To find a local soccer school or academy visit www.thefa.com
Rugby: The non-contact game of ‘Tag Rugby’ is played in many primary schools. It involves use of either a tag belt or tag shorts to replicate a tackle. To discover more about the junior section of rugby visitwww.englandrugby.com
Athletics: Athletics is packed with individual challenges and variety therefore can be particularly appealing to wide range of children. To find a local athletics club visitwww.britishathletics.org.uk/grassroots
Gymnastics: With their natural flexibility, children have a natural affinity to gymnastics. There’s a big section relating to grassroots clubs on the British Gymnastics website - www.british-gymnastics.org
Swimming: As well as a vital life skill, swimming is a fantastic way to improve cardio-vascular fitness. Outside school, many local pools run courses designed to enhance swimming performance. Be inspired - visit www.britishswimming.org
Fun street dance classes across Suffolk
CDC Street Dance classes are fun, energetic and give children the chance to improve and enhance their dance ability. The principal of the dance school is United Dance Organisation qualified dance teacher, Sophie Dilworth, who runs the classes. Classes are held at the Castle Hill Schools, Beaumont Primary School, Martlesham Primary Academy and St Pancras Schools, whilst out of school classes take place in Claydon, Stratford St Mary, Capel St Mary, Whitton Baptist Church in Ipswich, and Kesgrave. New classes are soon to be launched in Ipswich Sports Centre. The variety of activities on offer is vast and includes fun days, competitions, exams, performances, an annual Christmas show, workshops from professionals and street dance foundation styles, enabling students an opportunity to progress and have fun. For details call 07507 806787 or email cdcstreetdance@outlook.com
Sign up for All Star Cheerleading
Forget images of high school cheerleaders with pom-poms, All Star Cheerleading is a fast growing sport that involves gymnastic style tumbling, high jumps, stunts and spectacular pyramids. Enigma Cheerleading and Dance run a number of Saturday skills classes for children aged 3 to 12 in Cheer, Dance and Tumbling, whilst the competition squad trains on Sunday mornings.
This year Enigma Cheerleading and Dance is also adding street and acro-jazz dance to the mix. Registration is now open for classes and competition squads -beginners are most welcome. To find out more about Enigma Cheerleading and Dance email Enigmacheeracademy@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.enigmacheeracademy.co.uk or call 07825 408730.
Have fun and get fit with Northgate Karate
Karate is a great way for the whole family to have fun and get fit. Socially, it’s a great way to make friends and there are always exciting and rewarding opportunities available. Progress is continual and is achieved through effective coaching and guidance of the instructor. Karate can be applied to everyday life through self-confidence. Northgate and Associated Karate Clubs are a group of thriving and successful karate clubs linked with Arras Karate Do in France.
Classes are held throughout Suffolk with all ages catered for from Red Dragons (4-7 years) to Junior and Adult. Members have competed at local, national and international level and, in particular, club member Georgina Lawson is currently the 4 Nations British Champion. For details call 01473 622707 or visit www.northgate-karate.co.uk or email: admin@northgate-karate.co.uk
What to do at the Weekend
It’s Friday afternoon and that can mean only one thing… forty-eight hours to fill with blissful family time. Indulge this precious time and attend that exciting festival, or roll up your sleeves to get stuck into a messy craft activity, or lace up those boots ready for a mini-hike and idle away the last days of summer…
Sudbury and Great Cornard to be transformed by Real Life Walking Game
‘Beat the Street’ - a fun six-week competition that encourages participants to walk, run and cycle as far as possible in a journey around the world is coming to Sudbury and Great Cornard.
The initiative will transform Sudbury and Great Cornard into a real-life game in which residents are challenged to join a team and see how far they can travel. From 21 September to 2 November, special ‘Beat Boxes’ will be going up lampposts across both areas. Residents will be given special cards which they can tap against Beat Boxes to log their journey and receive points for how far they travel. Players will be encouraged to join and create teams to be able to win big prizes. For more information about Beat the Street, visit www.beatthestree.me/SGC
Explore the Kiddie Zone at Pleasurewood Hills
For over 30 years Pleasurewood Hills Family Theme Park has remained a firm family favourite in East Anglia. Set within 50 acres of enclosed coastal parkland and just 10 minutes from the popular seaside town of Great Yarmouth, the theme park has been refurbished making it an even more vibrant place for a day out for all the family. For the little ones there’s plenty to do in the ‘Kiddie Zone’. Explore the jungle on ‘Safari’, but watch out for those animals hiding around every corner or fly high in the sky on one of the Elephants. For great savings on tickets book online at www.pleasurewoodhills.com, get in contact via email: hello@pleasurewoodhills.com or ring the park direct on 01502 586000 for more information.
Brandon Ferry Tales – a magical celebration of local heritage
Ferry Tales is a magical celebration of Brandon's rich heritage of hospitality and of the people who have passed through. This autumn the Brandon stories will be coming alive with a variety of art forms on Sunday 18 September from 11am to 4pm in Brandon Town Centre.
Market Hill will see two performances, at 11am and 2pm, of Marvellous Imaginary Menagerie by Olivier Award nominated Les Enfants Terribles. Each performance will be followed by an interactive heritage trail, where characters from Brandon’s past will take you from Market Hill, down the High Street to the River and on to the Town Orchard. Have a picnic at the pop-up tea room in the Orchard, join in with print-making activity at Riverside Lodge, or enjoy cake and poetry at Tilly’s Tea Shop. For more information about this event or to get involved, contact Leigh Driver at forestheath@cppmarketplace.co.uk
‘New’ Victorian coach at the Mid Suffolk Light Railway
Visitors to the Mid Suffolk Light Railway will be able to experience what travelling in style in Victorian times was like, as their latest passenger vehicle and the only remaining example of a Great Eastern Railway 1st class smoking coach is now returned to traffic. The 153 year old 1863 4-wheel coach no.140 is believed to be the oldest surviving railway coach that the public can actually ride in. Another good reason for a visit to the Middy! For details visit www.mslr.org.uk
A kaleidoscope of events throughout October at the Family Arts Festival
The fourth edition of the Get Creative Family Arts Festival presents an extraordinary variety of activities for the whole family, suitable for all age groups, during October 2016. From public art, award-winning musicals and plays, innovative performances and workshops to spectacular science shows, there is something exciting for everyone!
Getting creative as a family, and joining one of the festival events is more than just about being entertained. Shared family activities across generations give everyone the opportunity to take some time out of their day to day lives, to craft something, to marvel at something unusual, to be transported into a different world, to see or hear something thought-provoking, and to discuss it afterwards. To find an event nearby visit www.familyartsfestival.com