Families Birmingham DIGITAL July/Aug 2022

FR EE

Birmingham

IN THIS ISSUE

Summer activities Holidays Back to school

July/August 2022

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Familiesonline.co.uk July/August 1

2 July/August

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CONTENTS

Welcome

In this issue

The long summer holiday is nearly here, bringing with it both the prospect of holidays and fun with the family – and the challenge of keeping the kids entertained for six weeks!

4 7

Well, Families has you covered. We have plenty of low-cost summer entertainment ideas and screen-free projects for the kids in this issue.

10

13 18 We hate to mention the word “school” at this 19 time of year so all we will say is – September is (unfortunately) closer than you think so keep the 21 necessary preparations in mind. Check out our 22 recommendations for school bags and pencil 25 cases for the new school year.

26 Finally, in this issue, we have loads of giveaways including cool kids’ backpacks and copies of the book Helping your Child Cope with Change.

By applying, you’ll also ensure you continue to receive this wonderful magazine!

Summer activities Clubs, Classes & Activities Commonwealth Games Holidays Craft Screen-free kids’ fun Summer food Back to school Toys What’s On

Get in touch Competition winners from our March/April issue Congratulations to all our winners.

You can find a list here.

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SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Free printable activities for all ages

Solve the “I’m bored!” problem - remember to take a stash of these with you when your family is out and about!

Seaside Holiday Activities

Stargazing Live Activity Pack

The Usborne Unworry Pack

Including word searches, I Spy Seaside and more.

Activities to explore the night sky from the BBC Stargazing LIVE team.

Collection of fun, mindful activities to help children calm their minds.

Road Trip Games

There Once is a Queen Jubilee Activity Pack

My Holiday Book

Fun-packed games including bingo, word search and maze.

Reading Reward Chart

Encourage the kids to keep reading during the holidays with this chart.

4 July/August

Celebrate Jubilee year with this activity pack.

Ladybird Activity Pack

Bumper activity pack with over thirty pages of fun.

Fun games and activities to entertain kids ages 3-5 on holiday.

Puffin Activity Pack

Word searches, activities, experiments and more.

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SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Low-cost summer fun Something different

Enjoy a wild swim When it warms up, take a dip at your local wild swimming spot.

Let’s fish!

The Canal and River Trust is running free fishing expert guided taster sessions.

Borrow a doggy Join Borrow My Doggy to bond with a dog in need of love while their owners are at work.

Free tennis coaching and court usage The LTA is running free tennis sessions or coaching at venues across Britain.

Out and about

Cinema deals Odeon and Cineworld will be running kids’ screenings with tickets priced from £3.25.

Hop on board the train. Have a rail adventure. Visit somewhere new on the cheap using a Family and Friends Railcard.

Visit a pet store Kids will enjoy checking out the pets for sale. Some stores run animal handling sessions and other activities.

Pick your own berries Gather a heap of juicy strawberries, raspberries or other summer fruit.

Fresh air

Join in National Play Day Join in one of hundreds of community events that celebrate the importance of play.

Go fly a kite!

Cheap and easy to buy or you can even make your own. Read up on tips about how to fly them.

Find the Gruffalo There are themed walks based on the books up and down the country.

Woodland adventure Explore your nearest woodland, enjoy adventure play, off-road cycling and create a den.

Summer Fun in Solihull Awful Auntie LIVE Outdoor Show

The David Walliams classic performed lakeside in Brueton Park, Solihull Wed 3 August 7pm Tickets £13/£12 in advance

Fun Family Films at The Core

All tickets £5 2 Aug 2pm - Big Hero 6 (PG) 9 Aug 2pm - Home (U) 16 Aug 2pm - Wreck It Ralph (PG) 23 Aug 2pm - The Lego Movie (U) 31 Aug 7pm - FB The Secrets of Dumbledore (12A)

The REP Play in a Day

Summer School with Birmingham REP £20 per day (10am-3pm)

HAF places available

8 Aug - The Loft, Chelmsley Wood (7-11yrs) 9 Aug - The Core, Solihull (7-11yrs) 10 Aug - Balsall Common Library (8-13yrs) 11 Aug - The Core, Solihull (12-15yrs) 12 Aug - The Loft, Chelmsley Wood (12-15yrs)

See website for full list of shows & events

www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk Box Office: 0121 704 6962

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July/August 5

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Best holiday activity books for kids Want something to occupy the kids on the plane, train, in a café or restaurant or if they just need a quiet ten minutes? You can’t go past these brilliant activity and sticker books.

What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday Sticker Book

Dinosaurium Activity Book

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Nature Sticker and Colouring Book

Find Tom in Time

Never Get Bored Activity Book

Little Sticker Dolly Dressing Unicorns

Ages 7-9. £9.29

Ages 2-3. £5.57

Age 6+. £7.43

6 July/August

Ages 6-10. £9.28

100 Things for Little Children to Do on a Journey Age 3+. £6.50

Age 3-5. £6.73

Age 6+. £9.29

Sticker by Letter: In the Wild Activity Book

Age 4+. £5.57

Holiday Puzzles and Games Age 7+. £6.50

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CLUBS & CLASSES

Clubs, Classes & Activities

Solihull Young Dancers

The Chocolate Shed

The Running School, Birmingham

BilinguaSing

Ackers Adventure Fantastic fun for all the family. Everything from Abseiling to Zipwire!

Tel: 0121 772 5111

S4 Swim

School holiday courses designed to boost your child’s swimming development.

Rugbytots

Pyjama Drama

Premier Active

Chocolate making Ballet and Tap Lessons.

Classes from age 2½. parties and workshops for chocoholics of all Tel: Kate 07722 732678 ages. Email

Song-filled Spanish & French for little ones!

Email.

Tel: 07539 863024

Staffordshire & Sutton Coldfield. Learn catching, passing and kicking skills. Age 2-7.

Tel: 07842 831450 Familiesonline.co.uk

Imaginative play classes for children filled with songs and drama. Email.

Tel: 07776 837908

Improve running technique, speed and coordination. Email Tel: 07748 139403

Action-packed holiday camps. Age 4-11.

Tel: 0121 514 2344

July/August 7

CLUBS & CLASSES

Performing and developing key life skills with PQA Whether it be diving into their dressing up box or stepping onto the stage, performing is important to children and young people, although its benefits can often go unnoticed. Performing arts can teach children and young people key skills that can be used in everyday life.

Creativity. Naturally imaginative, pretend play and make believe come easily to kids and can assist their social and emotional development, helping them form new ideas and develop resourcefulness.

Problem solving. Solving problems creatively within the safety of a performing arts environment can help kids deal with issues in everyday life. If children feel comfortable exploring and dealing with problems in a non-linear way, this makes them more confident overall.

READ MORE

8 July/August

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CLUBS & CLASSES

Meet your local clubs and classes BilinguaSing Birmingham South

S4 Swim School

Our multi award-winning sensory, musical language classes help to develop your child’s early communication skills, build their confidence, and enhance their physical and emotional development.

S4 Swim Intensive - School holiday swim courses to give your child a real boost with their swimming development:

Sessions for babies, toddlers, nurseries and primary school clubs.

• Max of 5 swimmers per group • On-going swimmer assessment • Taught the S4 way, producing swimmers with technical ability

READ MORE

READ MORE

The Running School, Birmingham

Try something new this Summer.

We help young athletes of all ages and abilities to improve their running technique, speed, balance, body control, and coordination. Improving running technique will see a great improvement in children’s confidence in sport and give them a life skill they can carry with them into adulthood.

READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk

ackers-adventure.co.uk July/August 9

COMMONWEALTH GAMES

How to get involved with the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham By @girlaboutbirmingham The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (28 July – 8 August) are almost upon us.

If you are looking for some family and budget friendly ways to get involved check out the ideas below!

Visit the Venues Many of our favourite locations around the Midlands are being used for the Commonwealth Games events. Some venues such as the Alexander Stadium have been fully revamped, but we’ll have to wait until the start of the Games to see them. However, others are still accessible, so get a sneak preview and take a trip to one of the following: Cannock Chase, Staffordshire will set the scene for the mountain biking, but there’s still time to hunt for the Gruffalo or complete the Superworm trail. What’s really exciting is that the forest has been able to improve its cycle routes: in particular the ‘Pedal and Play’ trail which sounds fantastic for families with kids!

Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield will host the triathlon event. A beautiful park to visit - particularly at this time of year. Why not see the developments that have been made specially for the games before feeding the ducks in Powell’s pool?

10 July/August

Moseley Cricket Club, Solihull has been chosen as a training venue for the women’s cricket teams competing in the games!

Their facilities are currently being upgraded to bring them into line with those at Edgbaston. The club is accepting applications for new junior cricketers aged 7+.

Wyndley Leisure Centre, Sutton Coldfield – a training venue for hockey, triathlon, and para-triathlon.

Improvements have been made to the running track to ensure they are brought up to the World Athletics standards. It’s possible to book a session on the track if you want to run on the ground where the athletes will tread!

Soak up the culture!

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Festival is already in full swing! If you haven’t caught any of the events yet, then go online to check the calendar.

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COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Some family-friendly options that I love are: Key to the City Keys to the City are available from New Street Station beneath the departure boards until 10th July. The keys unlock various secret venues in Birmingham that you can explore with your family until 7 August.

Children’s Poetry Festival A display of local children’s poetry at Birmingham Cathedral which has been inspired by the Commonwealth Games. The themes given for the poems were humanity, equality and destiny, the power of the human body, the spirit of the games or a sporting moment.

July – September.

It’s a marathon not a sprint!

Prepare early to attend free events.

If you haven’t bought tickets for the games but do still want to have a slice of the action, then plan ahead to attend some of the free events, such as: the marathon, cycling and triathlon.

All the routes and viewing points for these events are available here.

The finish line Some final tips from me. Check the website to find out all about Perry, the Mascot for the Games.

There are activities happening at local libraries on 26 July - so check yours out! You can also get involved on social media by following @birminghamcg22 READ MY FULL ARTICLE

visit www.discoverdudley.org.uk There’s lots to see and do in the borough of Dudley

@DiscoverDudley

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@DiscoverDudley

July/August 11

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HOLIDAYS

Perfect eco-friendly swimwear for summer Mix tops and bottoms to suit the occasion. Protect your child’s precious skin in a shortie suit or watch them cartwheel in a cossie!

If we had to pick one ‘can’t live without’ item, it would be the Power Poncho with its fast-drying fabric and hidden game on the inside.

Whatever your summer vibe, Grass&Air has got your family covered. Just add water.

More info HERE. This summer, Grass&Air is coming with you and your kids on every single adventure.

Its new Sun+Swim collection for kids ages 1 to 10 is bursting with clever ideas. Made using recycled plastic bottles and fabric offcuts, each piece has been designed for maximum enjoyment, whether kids are splashing in the paddling pool or doing karate kicks at big waves in the sea.

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July/August 13

HOLIDAYS

How to holiday responsibly We all need to do our bit for the planet so we asked our friends at Tested by Tots for their ideas for some eco-friendly holiday products that can easily be substituted for traditional alternatives.

Beeswax wraps

Washable & reusable for up to six years.

15% discount - TOTS15

Reef-friendly sunscreen

Switch to biodegradable spray from Nivea, freefrom ingredients that damage ocean life.

Beachwear

Frugi clothing uses GOTS certified organic cotton or recycled materials.

14 July/August

Reusable BBQs

Shampoo bars

Sustainable toys

Bamboo nappies and wipes

Saves space and is as The Landmann Piccolino effective as the runny BBQ comes in two stuff. Trial sizes available. colours for under £70.

These use recycled materials and are vigorously safety tested.

10% discount -10GREENTOYS22

Sustainable teethers

Decompose much more quickly than regular products.

50% off newborn starter kit - NBTOT50

Eco sunglasses

Made from sustainable wheat straw.

Made from natural, plantBiodegradeable. Four based rubber. colours for kids ages 5-9.

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HOLIDAYS

Days out – put the kids in charge!

There are so many advantages to this including increased confidence for your kids and less brain work for you!

Benefits

Tips

Builds confidence that can then be applied in other areas eg school morning routines.

Set a budget and be clear what it covers eg entry fees, travel costs and food.

Provides valuable source of additional thinking and planning for you!

Spell everything out. Make sure they understand exactly what they are being asked to do.

Research and planning

On the day

Ensure they gather all relevant information eg opening times, entry fees, travelling times etc.

Let them navigate, whether that’s using a phone, map, tube map or street directory.

Suggest they plan the day including time for departure, arrival, journey and food breaks.

Be tolerant; making mistakes is all part of the learning.

Allows kids to exercise independence and test their abilities.

Offer incentives such as bonus spending money for any savings they achieve.

Put ONE child in charge. Others will get their turn IF they cooperate with their sibling.

Try to back off and not interfere too much but be there in case guidance or intervention is needed.

Keep it up Build on the confidence your child has gained by introducing new family responsibilities.

Get them to plan the weekly dinner menu or help draw up the shopping list.

Start a fun day out ideas jar that everyone contributes to. Pull one out every weekend or holidays.

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July/August 15

16 July/August

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July/August 17

CRAFTS

Have a crafty summer!

Help the kids with these bright and beautiful ocean and summerthemed craft projects this holiday season.

Paper plate aquarium

Ocean dioramas

Butterfly finger puppet

Recycled plastic jelly fish mobile

Fish soap carving

Cupcake liner crabs

Egg carton bumble bee

Sea turtle

Wooden spoon mermaid

18 July/August

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SCREEN FREE

No-screen kids’ summer projects

Desperate for ideas to get your kids away from screens and exploring something in the real world? Check out our top recommendations.

Garage sales

Toy purge

A great way to declutter, reuse unwanted household items and make some money. Help the kids choose a date, decide what to sell, organise the items for easy browsing and label and price everything. You can then get them drawing posters to advertise the event. You can help by posting on social media.

TIPS

Disposing of old toys can be challenging but is worthwhile for children and parents alike. If your child is resistant to parting with old favourites, challenge them to play with them for an appropriate amount of time or donate them to charity. Involve your child in taking their toys to the local charity shop.

TIPS

Put on a show

Retro games day

Challenge your kids to put on a mini-play or concert or re-enact a favourite book or movie scene.

You may have a budding standup comic, magician or storyteller in the family! An old sheet can be a backdrop or curtain; reading lamps can be spotlights.

Get them making tickets and setting up seating.

TIPS

Make a list of your favourite games from your own childhood such as hopscotch, marbles, elastics, Grandmother’s Footsteps, long rope skipping, Oranges and Lemons and spend a fun filled day reminiscing with your kids. For extra nostalgia, provide some of your favourite childhood snacks and sweets.

TIPS

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July/August 19

SCREEN FREE

No-screen kids’ summer projects

Desperate for ideas to get your kids away from screens and exploring something in the real world? Check out our top recommendations.

Water wars

Make a movie

When temperatures rise and tempers start to fray, encourage the kids to have an old-fashioned water fight. Use buckets, sponges, watering cans or fill up some balloons (purchase refillable water balloons). You could invest in fancy water pistols or a novelty sprinkler, water play mat or water slide.

TIPS

If you are prepared to lend your phone for filming, this is a great creative holiday project for older children. A short film is ideally three to five minutes long and it can be factual or story based.

Neighbourhood Scavenger Hunt

Family Mini-Olympic Games

Create a list of landmarks for the kids to find in your street or the local park eg a distinctive house or a large tree. Write clues that help them find these landmarks.

This gets the kids active and requires little equipment. They can make a torch and have an opening ceremony. Races can include a sack race with pillowcases, a tug of war with a dressing gown belt, discus with a frisbee, shot put using bean bags or tennis balls.

TIPS

Go along with them or clearly outline the area of the hunt so they don’t wander too far.

TIPS 20 July/August

Advise your child to keep it simple and start with a plan or better still a script.

TIPS

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FOOD

Summer lunch and picnic ideas

Whip up these delicious dishes with the kids, courtesy of Neha @squashedpickle Click on the images to watch her helpful videos!

Egg & Pea Cheesy Waffles

Sweet Pea Pasta Muffins

This three-ingredient recipe couldn’t be any easier, making it perfect for little hands! You can switch up the vegetables or even use a frozen veg mix if you prefer. The waffles are a great alternative to the usual picnic food or lunch at home.

READ RECIPE

Zac loves pasta. I used to make these a lot when he was young.

They are light on mess, freezable and make a perfect on-thego snack. Kids can learn basic kitchen techniques while they experiment with different sauces and build their own muffins.

READ RECIPE

Pesto Cheese Twists

Pizza Croissants

These twists are super-easy to prepare and so delicious. If you are looking for a kitchen-based activity to do with the kids during the summer, this recipe is great for teaching basic cutting and pastry twists. And you’ll end up with a fabulous snack or lunch option at the end!

READ RECIPE

This is a fun way to use ready prepared croissant dough which is absolutely delicious. You can stuff the croissants with all your favourite pizza toppings.

If you have a child who is fussy with vegetables, try including them in the stuffing. We’ve used mushrooms in this example.

READ RECIPE

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July/August 21

BACK TO SCHOOL

School bags for the new school year Children really love to choose a new school bag at the start of the school year. Here are some of our top suggestions.

Frugi Adventurers Backpack Good quality bag uses recycled and organic materials. £28

M&S Minecraft™ Water Repellent School Backpack

Large, light and great for Minecraft fans. Machine washable. £24

Novelty Rocket Backpack

Eye-catching but practical. Mesh pockets, adjustable straps. £30 22 July/August

LittleLife Big HiVis Dinosaur Kids ActionPak

Eastpak Padded Backpack

Liewood Allan Backpack

Nobodinoz Sunshine Kids Backpack

Babymel Zip and Zoe Colour and Wash Backpack

Adidas Class Backpack

Suits Reception-aged kids. High vis material. £19.99

Sturdy backpack for A4-sized books. Front pockets for smaller items. £47

Stylish, durable but comfortable with padded Made from organic shoulder and chest cotton with water straps. £47 repellent coating. £39.95

Colour your own with washable felt pens. £14

Great for sporty, older kids. Plenty of room for laptop/books. £21.99 Familiesonline.co.uk

BACK TO SCHOOL

Starting school VERY soon?

Want to get organised and prepare your child socially and emotionally?

Watch advice from Emma Lewry at Every Day’s a School Day

Safer sleeping outside for little ones!

Cool backpacks for cool kids!

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Fully lined, pockets, adjustable straps & handle.

Worth £29.99 each

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July/August 23

BACK TO SCHOOL

Top pencil case picks for September Next on the list for kids, after a new school bag, is a new pencil case.

Here are our favourites for the new season.

ZIPIT Talking Monstar Large

Fun pencil case which fits up to sixty pens or pencils. £8.50

Helix Pro Athletic

Large main compartment with wide opening zip, durable material. £4.52

Rachel Ellen Girls Rule the World Stylish and colourful, made from durable neoprene. £7.99

24 July/August

Maomaoyu Large Capacity

Dinosaur Colour & Learn

Smiggle Calculator Hard Top

Narwhal Plush

Durable and super-sized Fun and practical, comes pencil case with 3 zipped with wash-out fabric compartments. £8.69 pens. £12.95

Side panels with elastic pen and pencil holders. £15.50

Easthill Big Capacity Pencil Case

Makes a perfect ‘first pencil case’ for younger children. £3

Brown Paper Personalised

Roomy enough for pens, pencils, sharpeners Great for organisation. and rubbers. Can be Holds fifty pens/pencils personalised. £9.99 with a carry handle. £7.99 Familiesonline.co.uk

TOYS

Diversify your toy box Would you like your child to have toys which reflect the world in which we live? If so, take a look at the recommendations from our friends at Sheni and Teni which offers diverse books, toys and games for kids.

Sheni & Teni card games

Very Puzzled map puzzles

Cica Toys Yorupad

Our Kids Trove

Celebrate the wonders of Feature landmarks/ Africa through four loved attractions highlighting card games. notable people of colour.

Philly n Friends doll

Five African Iconic Leaders & Queens handpainted 9cm peg dolls.

Muffin Sisters

Helping children discover language through play.

An eclectic collection of culturally diverse toys and educational resources.

African-inspired elephant plush toys that encourage tactile play.

Colour Celebrations height chart

Imagine Me Stories subscription box

Learning with Ez emotions flashcards

Track your little ones height as they grow.

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Monthly subscription offering of diverse books and black history activities. Ages 0-12.

Ten double sided full colour emotion and feelings cards.

July/August 25

WHAT’S ON

A-Z guide of family fun!

Ackers Adventure, Birmingham Open daily.

Adventurous outdoor activity centre for all the family.

Birmingham Museums There’s plenty to keep the kids entertained at these 8 venues.

Baddesley Clinton, Solihull Open daily. Explore the great outdoors at Baddesley, creating memories to last a lifetime.

Barber Institute of Fine Art, Birmingham Open Tues-Sun, 10am-5pm. Fun and friendly family trails.

Black Country Living Museum, Dudley Open daily. Step back in time and

enjoy 26 acres of history brought to life.

Core Theatre 2, 9, 16, 23 & 31 Aug Fun family films shown throughout August.

Dudley Museums Exhibits, arts & crafts and family days at fantastic venues.

Dudley Zoo and Castle Open daily.

Free roaming lemurs, feed Rainbow lorikeets, enjoy Farmyard Fun. Hoar Park, Shopping and Craft Village, Nuneaton Open Tues–Sun. Summer Fun: Donkey rides and Bouncy Castle (weather permitting)

BIG BOUNCE - Sunday 25 Sept Interiors Wood Burner Stoves, NEW: Angel & Co – Antiques & Lifestyle Furniture & More Interests Tack, Animal Feed, Florist, Wood-turning, Beadz Galore Craft Supplies, Knitting Wool NEW: Adult well-being workshops, Kids workshops, b’day parties all year & weekends Food and Drink Chocolate Shop, Tea Rooms, Butcher & Farm Shop General Pyrography, Salt Lamps & Crystals, Antiques, Art Gallery & Commissions Fun - Creative Workshops for all age groups CRAFT FAIR DATES 2022 | 17 Jul, 21 Aug, 18 Sept, 16 Oct

Tel: 024 7639 4433 www.hoar-park.co.uk B4114 Nr Ansley, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV10 0QU

26 July/August

Craft Fairs: 17 July, 21 Aug.

Mostly free to visit.

Activities on offer.

Martineau Gardens, Edgbaston Birmingham Open MonSat. Nature trail, wildflower meadows, bird hide, ponds, and beehives.

West Midlands Safari Park Open daily. Safari drive-through, adventure theme park and more.

Packwood House, NT Open daily.

Packwood has lots of fun activities to try for family adventures.

Rush UK, Stirchley Birmingham Open daily.

Trampoline park with soft play, dodgeball, foam pit and more.

Sandwell Museum Service A range of different sites across Sandwell.

Summer Festivals Birmingham Fest 15-31 July St Paul’s Church; Blue Orange Theatre; Crescent Theatre Solihull Summer Fest 23–24 July Tudor Grange Park Insomnia: Gaming Festival 26–29 August NEC, Birmingham For 10% off use code i69FAM10 WV1 Fest 10–11 September West Park, Wolverhampton

Staffordshire Regiment Museum Open daily.

Come and see us at the Museum this summer.

There are lots of activities to get involved in, which keep the whole family entertained.

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