With the school holidays looming we all need to start thinking about entertaining the kids for the two long, cold weeks during the peak of winter. Tahere are always the usual holiday programmes on offer, but if you search deeply enough Whangarei hosts a whole range of activities to keep the kids amused and get their creative juices flowing while giving us parents the chance to get on with work or simply get them out of our hair.
The Quarry Arts Centre in Selwyn Avenue actively encourages children to delve into the wonderful world of art and have designed workshops aimed specifically at youth for these holidays including pot glazing, clay imprints and plaster casts, perfecting paper mache and making beautiful collages. The Papermill offer similar creative two-day workshops where kids can learn to make paper from scratch and then make an A5 colour pad or notepad.
For talented young wordsmiths, local writer Donna Blaber is offering creative writing workshops at the Whangarei Central Library for 9 to 13 year olds, focusing on how to write descriptive settings and creating memorable characters. Also at the Library parents are welcome to bring their children to take part in a series of free programmes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am-11am. They also host a programme aimed specifically at tweens and teens on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 9.30am-12noon, where they can take part in different creative activities like tie-dying, balloon experimenting and rock art.
If you want to take your kids somewhere fun while supporting the local arts, Company of Giants is performing 'Jabberwock' from 8-13 July at OneOneSix. Set in a GIANT sheet fort, the show is immersive and magical, incorporating projection, live music and puppets that transport audience into a dreamy wonderland.
There are so many galleries, museums and fun and educational places like the Planetarium and Kiwi North to take the kids to get them out of the weather and keep them off devices. Make sure you check out www.creativenorthland.com for a more information about what Whangarei is offering these school holidays.
