Don't panic parents, help is at hand for school holiday horrors

by Rebecca Blithe
Schools out!
While for kids the news couldn't be sweeter, parents often find themselves wondering just how to harness their little live wires.
But fear not. An array of holiday programmes  is in full swing throughout Northland, keeping parents sane and giving kids the opportunity to try something new.
From dance workshops to clay sculpting and writing classes, there's plenty on offer to keep youngsters entertained.
Northland Ballet and Dance Incorporated are holding an annual week-long workshop for dance students from Auckland to Kaitaia.
The workshop will culminate in a performance on Friday night at Forum North, featuring ballet, jazz, musical theatre and lyrical hip-hop.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and are available from Ticketek.
For water babies, the Whangarei Aquatic Centre is hosting Aquasplash.
The programme  includes aquatic activities, art competitions, movies and trips to Pizza Hut and Chipmunks.
The programme runs throughout the school holidays, for children aged 5 to 12, and costs $38 per child, per day.
The Whangarei Central Library is offering free, hour-long, Juicy Writing sessions for children aged 9 and over and a Fun for Kids programme involving music, stories and crafts for 5 to 8-year-olds.
For artistic youngsters, The Quarry Arts Centre is holding morning workshops where children can create a daily masterpiece in the centre's Kid's Clay programme.
The workshops run from 9.30-11.30 at a cost of $20 per day.
Sport Northland has not run school holiday programmes for three years now. Sport Northland secondary school sports director Grant Harrison said the programmes ended due to staffing issues and the level of training which was required by OSCAR, a network implementing policies for children's holiday programmes.
 HOLIDAY OUTINGS
Kids band The Funky Monkeys will perform at the Riverbank Theatre. July 8, 11am-noon. Tickets available from iticket or 09 361 1000.
Cirque du Soleil, Dralion, at  Alexandra Park Raceway, Auckland. July 10- July 12. Adults from $119. Children from $55. Book at Ticketek.
Northland Ballet and Dance Incorporated workshop concert. July 10 at Forum North. Adults $10. Children $5. Book at Ticketek.
Go-karting and paintball shooting, daily. 203 Hayward Road, Maungakaramea, Whangarei. $10 for 10 minutes.
 Free holiday outings:
Writing, crafts and story sessions at Whangarei Central Library. July 7-10, July 14-17.
Take them along to the bouncy castle at the Gypsytravellers Fair. July 11 at the William Fraser Memorial Park, Heads Rd. Whangarei.
Or to the beach dig for kids, spaghetti-eating competition and performance by kids music group The Funky Monkeys, on July 11 at the Birdman Festival in Russell.