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Save it for a Rainy Day: Wet Weather Plans

When the weather’s miserable, it’s easy to opt to stay indoors in your onesie. You may have dreamy visions of soup and jigsaws, but the reality is within a couple of hours the kids are climbing the walls, you’re tearing your hair out and the TV goes on!

Here are a few ideas to help keep your children entertained on a rainy day:-

Living History
If the weather is poor, head off to one of our local, family friendly museums. It’s a great way to teach children about how their grandparents lived and worked (the  exhibitions often tie in with school topics).

The Following Museums and Venues all offer indoor activities for children during school holidays:

TIP: Discover a new museum to try with this Midland-wide feature on family-friendly Museums. Click here.

“Red House Glass Cone (always has a trail in the school holidays) ThinkTank, and Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery are good for wet days” Theresa Pearson on facebook.

Climb the Walls
Climbing is an exciting activity you can use to entice the children off the sofa this school holiday – and it doesn’t matter what the weather is like, if you head to the indoor climbing centre at Wyre Forest Leisure Centre. Climbing can boost confidence and help with coordination too. Children from as young as 4 can take part.

Escape!
Have you ever done an Escape Room before? They are great fun. Gather as a group of friends or family. Look for clues and try to solve the mystery within the hour, and escape the room. Courtyard Escapes in Stourbridge High Street are offering Raring2go! readers a 15% discount if you quote Raring2go15.

Stomp it out
Stick on the wellies and brave it out! Trails are a great way to get the kids walking without the moaning –  especially if there’s a prize at the end!    
Follow the self guided trails at Severn Valley Country Park and you could win a treat, or enjoy the Super Worm Trail at Wyre Forest Discovery Centre. Wander around Worcester Woods, or try the trail at Bodenham Arboretum – there’s a new theme each school holiday.

“We love a welly walk at the Wyre Forest  followed by a hot choc at the cafe.  Jo Stephenson on Facebook

Train Spotting
How about a train ride to the Severn Valley Railway’s  Engine House Visitor Centre? Just a short walk from Highley station, there is plenty to explore at The Engine House. You can get up close and marvel at the huge locomotives and enjoy a range of interactive exhibits, including sorting the mail in the original  Royal Mail Carriage or climb on board a real footplate and pull the whistle. Then you could enjoy a bite to eat at the Flag and Whistle Food Stop as you watch the trains go by.

TIP: Entry to the Engine House is free when you purchase a Freedom of the Line ticket.

Explore Science
Thinktank is Birmingham’s award-winning science museum housed at Millennium Point.

There are ten exciting galleries, where you can explore everything from aircraft and steam engines to  intestines and taste buds – and even emotional robots!  Whilst you’re there, see one of the Planetarium shows and learn more about our galaxy.

Children who like interactive exhibitions, will also enjoy Enginuity at IronbridgeIt’s a  perfect outing on a wet day. There are hands on activities for all ages with buttons to press and towers to build. Test your reactions against the speed of a robot,   generate power from water or pull a locomotive by hand, or build an earthquake proof tower.

Full Throttle
Feel the need for speed? How about taking the family to a Full Throttle Raceway at Mill Race Lane in Stourbridge. They don’t just cater for birthday parties. You can drop in during the school holidays too. Have a look at their website for special discount codes.

Role Play
Let your child’s imagination loose at The Little Big Town in Stourport on Severn. Play inside the warm role play cafe Your little one will love exploring the miniature town. Cafe serves child friendly food and delicious freshly ground coffee for you too. Pre-book your play session in advance. Click here.

Soft Play
There’s a a separate toddler role play area at Scallywags Indoor Play Centre in Brierley Hill. Have you been yet? Little ones can play to their heart’s content whilst you enjoy a cup of Soho coffee. (It’s reassuring to know that Scallywags has a top 5* rating for their food hygiene inspection too, so if they don’t want to go home, stay for a bite to eat too!)

Did you know, there’s also a mini soft play are at the new Wyre Forest Leisure Centre?

Indoor fun
Don’t dismiss some of our local farms and attractions just because the weather is poor. Many venues now have indoor facilities too: Hatton World of Adventure has a fantastic large indoor soft play area, suitable for older children too. Little Owl Farm Park near Ombersley have recently expanded their indoor offering for families.

Swimming
Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge refurbished the changing rooms and the 25 metre pool in 2021, for a much more pleasant swimming experience. With waves, rapids, slides, fan sprays and other water features, the leisure pool offers a fun-filled day out. Free swimming is offered to Dudley residents during February Half Term (19 – 27 Feb) at their swimming pools in Stourbridge, and Dudley. (NB Halesowen is closed for refurbishment until Spring 2022).

Wyre Forest Leisure Centre runs Family Fun swimming times at the weekends.

Chill at Home
Sometimes, a pyjama day is the best option – a good opportunity to recharge the  batteries for all of us. Visit the Kids Zone on our website where you’ll find colouring sheets, craft ideas from Mister Maker, as well as the recipe for homemade play dough.

“We love den building, home  cinemas, discos in the living room (we’ve got a light bulb* that is like a disco ball when turned on), teddy bears picnics, and baking “ Lucy Buckland on Facebook. 

How do you like to spend a wet and miserable day? We’d love to hear your ideas too! Email Sally here.

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